JW GoneBad: " Compare that spirit to the spirit of the JW community: I was at my JW congregation meeting today and not one mention by the visiting speaker in his talk expressing his condolences over this horrific shooting; and not one mention expressing concern over the loss of life nor for the surviving family members in either the opening or closing meeting prayers. I’m sure it was the same loveless spirit in many if not most of the other 100,000+ JW congregations worldwide. "
Although the public speaker did briefly mention the Connecticut shooting, seeming to suggest that JWs express "concern" over it, my parents, especially my mother, kept commenting during the public memorial and candlelight vigil which was televised live on CNN that "we really shouldn't even be watching this because it is an inter-faith service." There were representatives of the major religions shown taking turns offering condolences and comfort each in their own way, after which President Obama gave an address to those present as well as to the nation.
I felt rather indignant at such an attitude - or "spirit" - being shown by my mother, who kept saying, "Most Witnesses probably wouldn't be watching this. We really shouldn't be watching this." Now, I know that the JWs have quite an exclusivity stance (i.e., they, and ONLY they, are correct and approved), but, come on - it was a memorial service for a most unfortunate tragedy, which very well could have been for one of their own children affected. As Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, "Better is it to go to the house of mourning than to go to the banquet house, because that is the end of all mankind; and the one alive should take [it] to his heart." I think that everyone, whether they are JW or something else or whatever, should feel totally free and justified to watch that memorial service, whether it's "inter-faith" or not.
There were representatives from the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim religions who had the decency and humility to give of themselves during that memorial event - I guess that shows what kind of "spirit" they show!
