Greetings!
I had hoped to have my website up by now but lots of stuff has come up and I am way behind so I wanted to go ahead an announce this.
This is your invitation to particate in the first "THEN THEY WILL KNOW" DAY, an idea of mine that I hope will catch on and become an annual event of silent and perhaps not so silent protest against the (bad) policies, harm, lack of freedom, etc.of the Organization.
The following Q and A explains everything:
What is "Then They Will Know" Day?
On "Then They Will Know"Day all persons--reformers, opposers, and friends are encouraged to attend the services at the nearest local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses for the purpose of conducting a peaceful protest and to let those active Jehovah's Witnesses know that WE are not forgotten, that we are not hiding away in the dark corners of cyberspace, that we are unafraid, that we love them and are concerned about their well-being and that we are firm in our resolve to bring about change.
What is the Objective?
Your very presence will serve as a reminder to Jehovah's Witnesses that there is life outside of the Organization and the strict regiment of prescribed "theocratic life." Your joyful demeanor will likely be in contrast to the expectations of Jehovah's Witnesses. The fact is that despite sometimes lip-service to the contrary, Jehovah's Witnesses want those who disagree or who desire change within the Organization to just go away and "disappear." Out of sight, out of mind. Your very presence will let them know that you will not just be forgotten.
How Can I Particpate?
Simply attend the services at your nearest Kingdom Hall on Then They Will Know Day and take along family and friends for support.
What Should I Do?
Be Peaceable. The public meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses are open to all. You cannot be denied entry, requested to leave or removed unless you are deemed to be causing a disturbance to the proceedings. Do not cause a disturbance by carrying in signs (t-shirts with writing are ok, but no profanity please), talking during the services, distributing literature inside the Hall (on the sidewalk or in the parking lot may be ok) or the like.
Be Firm. As long as you are not causing a disturbance you have the right to be there. It is highly unlikely that you will be asked to leave, however if the brothers ask you to leave. Politiely decline. If the insist you may loudly (but not shouting) state that you are not causing a disturbance, that the meeting is supposed to be open to the public and you may wish to add the following: "I am here today as a peaceful protest because I love God and wish to know the Truth about His word and about the Watchtower Organization. Your claims that our Organiztion is an open and freedom loving Society are being contradicted by your request that I leave."
In the extremely unlikely event that law enforcement officials are called, shoudl these ask you to leave you should immediately comply but you may politely state the above to the officer and reiterate that this is a public meeting and that you are not causing any disturbance by your conduct.
Note: Should the brothers attempt to physically remove (or prevent you) from the premises. You should state that is in violation of directives from the Society and that you will further pursue any violations of your rights and any torts committed upon your person. (Battery = an unlawful touching of your person. Assault = a threat of Battery.)
Note: It is extremely unlikely that you will be confronted unless you are creating a major disturbance.
FOLLOW YOUR OWN RULES
Dress as you would like. Be comfortable. You may wear jeans, a short skirt, shorts, whatever but understand that dressing in anything than a suit and tie for men and plain dress for women will immediately give you away as an outsider, assuming you are not "known" to the congregation. However, do please remember that the Kingdom Hall is a "house of worship" even if you do not accept that some courtesy and modesty shoudl be extended. You do not want to reinforce negative stereotypes of "those outside the Organization." If you are not known, some may take you for a new bible study which may open the door for a conversation. Be who you are and just be normal. BE HAPPY and SMILE! If any Jehovah's Witnesses wish to engage you in conversation go ahead! In fact, if you act like you want to talk to them they probably will talk to you (again assuming you are not known as an opposer or to be disfellowshipped.)
As for the Watchtower Study or Public Discourse you may choose to follow along or not. Some may wish to read a newspaper, magazine or even the Bible! Others who have the literature, or who obtain it prior to the meeting beginning may wish to follow-along. The main point is your presence itself.
Before and After the meeting, talk to your friends and family that have come with you. There is no reason to enter and exit in morbid silence, like so many disfellowshipped persons often do. Likewise there is no reason to leave immediately. Stay and chat awhile and if you have the opportunity to talk to any Jehovah's Witnesses, do so and explain why you are there.
Should I Interact with Jehovah's Witnesses?
Yes if possible. Depending on your appearance, whether you are known to be "bad association," "disfellowshipped" or an "opposer" (JWs don't even conceive that a person is a "Reformer"), the local Jehovah's Witnesses may treat you like you have the plague or if none of the above are the case they may greet you warmly believing you are there to learn more about the Truth. If your appearance is outside the norm, even if you are not known to them they will likely treat you with some caution. Likely Elders or Ministerial Servants will approach you to find out why you are there and who you are and you may say that you were invited to attend by Brother Leaton. (Let them puzzle that for a while.) But is also likely that the sisters may approach you first. Do what you like. You can state why you ar there as part of TTWK Day as part of a protest, etc. or whatever you like. Understand that the minute you state your intentions you will be treated like a skunk has taken residence in your hair so pick your moment.
Some bolder persons may wish to more closely blend in if possible, follow along with the Watchtower discussion and raise their hand in order to get called upon. If you are successful, you may wish to state the reason why you are there or you may wish to state something from the bible or creatively interpret the paragraph, whatever you like. Have fun!
Even if you don't blend in or are known to the Congregation you should raise your hand during the Watchtower discussion. This will cause much consternation on the part of the Speaker. It may be best to wait for one of those inevitable moments when the speaker says he is looking for "new hands." Even if you do not get called on it will be hilarious!
Note: If you are Disfellowshipped and it is not known to the Jehovah's Witnesses at the Kingdom Hall you are attending it is up to you to decide whether you wish to comply with the Shunning Policy. Some persons believe and feel very strongly that voluntary disclosure of your DF status and complying with the shunning by not engaging Jehovah's Witnesses in conversation only perpetuates an evil and bibilically unsupportable policy. Others consider the friend's consciences and comply in order not to make THEM Feel Bad for having spoken to you. (Yes it does happen.) This choice is up to you.
Should I Bring Anything?
If you have some literature that you wish to distribute you may bring it and discreetly distribute it as best you can. You can also leave some copies in the restrooms, back counter, on your seat, etc. (just the way JWs love to do at public facilities.) You should not distribute the literature directly in the Hall as this will likely be ineffective. You might also leave flyers or pamphlets on the windows of the vehicles in the parking lot or have an associate do this during the meeting.
If you want to advertise your protest you may wear buttons, a t-shirt with lettering (no profanity please) etc. but do not bring any large signs. If you want to bring a small sign and hold this in your lap this may be possible but you may be asked to put it away. You can refuse but if this causes a disturbance then you should follow the procedures noted above.
This is Great! When is "Then They Will Know" Day?
"THEN THEY WILL KNOW" DAY for 2004 is SATURDAY MARCH 27-SUNDAY MARCH 28
You should attend the Kingdom Hall on either Saturday or Sunday depending on when it has its Public Address and Watchtower Study. If you are uncertain you can call the number in the telephone book or ask any local Jehovah's Witness on the street or that you know.
It is my hope that this will be an annual event. I have designated the weekend before the Memorial to be TTWK Day for several strategic reasons. First, Jehovah's Witnesses typically have a special Memorial related talk on the weekend immediately prior to the Memorial where they make a special effort to invite the public. Thus your attendance in order to "protest" may at first be overlooked. Secondly, because of the proximity of the Memorial, if you are not known to them, it is likely that Jehovah's Witnesses will be eager to invite you to the Memorial. This will present a good opportunity to discuss Christ Jesus and or why you are visiting the Kingdom Hall. Third, it is my hope that large numbers will participate in TTWK Day both locally and internationally. The inflated attendance numbers will wreak havoc on their statistics, and more importantly, it will provide a visual demonstration that may spur some thinking. Imagine if there were more numbers attending Then They Will Know Day than there were the Memorial?
I hope you will join me in this important protest and participate. If you do participate, I would appreciate hearing from you or it would be interesting to read any experiences that may result in this forum.
Sincerely,
Eduardo Leaton Jr.