Fresh off the recent 1-day elders school. To keep things readable I'll post "highlights" over the next several days in different topics
Point 1: They have progressed from "just plain" stupid to dangerously stupid.
One marked difference with this year's school was the use of video. Well over 2 hours of the school was presented as "instructional" videos. showing "real life" situations and how the WTS says elders should, and should not, handle situations. Much of the content of these videos was presented in a manner very similar to the "modern day drama" videos they have been producing for a number of years (right down to the silly gestures and wooden dialogue!).
One of the "real life situations" presented was a young sister whose husband had died a year earlier. During a meeting, the song being sung was one of the new "resurrection" songs. The sister ran crying to back of the KH.
Next we were treated to "Goofus and Gallant" contrasting efforts by elders on how to handle the situation.
During the course of her being distraught, the sister mentioned that she was thinking of "just going into the garage, closing the door, turning on the car, and going to sleep".
The "goofus" elder, upon hearing that, told her "Exodus [chapter] [verse] tells us that it is against God's law to murder, and that includes self-murder".
Obviously not a good thing to say.
However, the "gallant" elders, showing the "Society approved" way to handle such a shepherding call, handled it something like this (not direct quotes, but the gist):
"We know how difficult this is. When we are upset, it is easy for irrational thoughts to occur. Did you know that Job experienced wild thoughts when he was suffering? Look at Job [chapter][verse] (something about how his life was detestable to him). Also Job [chapter][verse] (something about how he wished he had never been born).
"So you see, even Job had these irrational thoughts. Yet he was determined to be an integrity keeper, and you can do the same."
There was a lot more "filler" in there, but that's the idea.
The "gallant" shepherding call ends with the sister drying her tears, realizing she forgot to set out cookies for the brothers, and going off to get them. I.e., all is wonderful and back to normal now.
And I'm thinking, wait a minute.....
Sister Distraught is crying uncontrollably (the actress was pretty good, actually, at least at crying)....she's been in mourning for a year....she's thinking suicide....not just the thought, but she's got the method already picked out.....
And the difference between the "bad" way to handle it vs. the "good" way is....
Just make sure you pick the right scripture to read? ???
WTF?!?!
Don't suggest that she needs professional counseling...don't offer to look up suicide prevention hotline numbers with her....but just make sure you pick the right effin' scripture to read her?
How utterly clueless are these morons about the minds of suicidal people? God knows they ought to have enough experience by now.
Now we've got several 10's of thousands of elders in the US who are left with this thought: "Suicidal sister? Oh I remember - I've got to read her some scriptures from Job. Then she'll get me some cookies."
They have gone from just plain stupid to dangerously stupid. How many more suicidal JWs who reach out to the elders are going to go ahead with it anyway, because the elders bungle it?