Most of us get a kick out of all the pharmaceutical ads we constantly see on the TV. There are pills to "cure" almost everything from asthma, to diabetes to hair loss, erectile dysfunction, purple pills, green pills, red pills and other pills for just about everything!
Just make an apppointment to go see your favorite medical pusher and your problem will be solved. Well, that would be true except for those pesky small print warnings that the law requires to be disclosed in advertisements. You know what I'm talking about, the ones that say, "Some cases were reported where people using this product contracted hoof and mouth disease, had healthy limbs just fall off, developed gangrene, required heart transplants, contracted syphillus and became serial killers, although these cases are rare." And that was just the disclaimer for an over-the-counter product for dandruff!
At least the drug companies are required to notify people of the possible side effects of using their drugs. So, I guess we could say they practice "truth in advertising."
I think religions ought to be required to do the same. Newly recruited Jehovah's Witnesses really don't have a clue what is in store for them when they get dunked, for example. Then it is too late. When I got dunked, I was dunked into a religion that baptised me in the name of Jesus Christ and I pledged my loyalty to Him and Jehovah. Later, that all changed. Dubs then got dunked into a "spirit directed ORGANIZATION" and pledged their loyalty to it. My dunking vows became null and void and ex post facto were replaced with the new dunking vows without my consent. I was not given the opportunity to get re-dunked with the new vows. I was stuck with them.
Therefore, if the WTS wants to be the honest religion they claim to be, all literature should be required to do just what the drug companies are required to do: tell the truth about the "side effects." I propose the WTS put a disclaimer on all their literature which states something like this:
"You are welcome to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and we encourage you to do so. After you become one of Jehovah's Witnesses you will discover other rules and restrictions and punishments that will be incumbant upon you, and that anything you are taught today can change at any time. You will still be required to believe and teach such changes and teach them, even if you may not agree with them. If you do not, we can and will ruin your life, destroy your family and friendships."
How many people would become dubs if they were able to know what they are really getting into, if the WTS actually did implement truth in their advertising?
Farkel