Do apostates go too far?

by sleepy 6 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  sleepy

  In our eagerness to highlight all thats wrong with Jehovahs Witnesses I some times wonder if we go too far.

  There are many good points to be made about flaws and problems amoung Jehovahs Witnesses.But sometimes there just seems to be a bit of nit picking,exagerrated acusations, pointing out problems that apply to virtualy any person or group and making it seem like its only applies to witnesses.

  Also sometimes we fail to seperate the general witnesses and those in charge when criticising the society.

  These are really two seperate groups, although some charges apply to both there is a usually a difference in accountability and motive between those who make the rules and those who follow.

  These are some of the reasons apostates or others who thought they could prove the truth wrong to me, had no sucsess with me before.They didn't understand what motivates witnesses.I could see for example that witnesses in general tried to be loving, they failed often just like everyone else on earth does.Any lack of love witnesses failed to show to each other is usualy down to human failing not governing body policy.Another point of example is that I never believed that works could save me, I truly believed my works were a demonstration of my faith.So when born agains accused us of trying to be saved through works I could just laugh it off, as that is not what motivated me, nor most witnesses.

  Most witnesses believe they are doing Gods will and that God is the most loving kind being.Anything strange he asks of us is just down to our inability to understand.So they believe that shunning for example is loving they don't usualy do it out of spite.

  Of course Witnesses are wrong and what they do hurts people, but the point is we must understand the motives of witnesses and when highlighting errors and not twist the motives.We must show them why shunning is wrong , why refusing blood is stupid, that there are paedophiles in their religion

  The danger is If we just want to criticize because for the sake of it we could turn just witnesses push in closer to their religion.

  Edited by - sleepy on 21 August 2002 14:46:43
• 

  ozziepost

  Yes, I would agree with you, Sleepy, but..................

  we fail to seperate the general witnesses and those in charge when criticising the society

  Is there any real difference? The 'general witnesses' can be the most vindictive when applying what the organisation directs in the way of its shunning policies.

  Can we not hold the general population accountable along with the leaders for what took place in Nazi controlled Europe?

  IMO the Borg is also a controlling organisation. Are not the R&F also accountable?

  Cheers, Ozzie
• 

  Guest 77

  The answer is both yes and no. When a point is well taken and something is done about it, it should end there. The pedophile issue with the org. doesn't go away because the GB doesn't want to take measures to correct the problem. Why not?

  My favorite quote is from Romans 2:21, "....do you, however, the one teaching someone else not teach yourself? You the one preaching "Do not steal," do you steal?" I make it a policy to check myself before opening my mouth and I have been happier for it.

  Guest 77
• 

  joannadandy

  There are many good points to be made about flaws and problems amoung Jehovahs Witnesses.But sometimes there just seems to be a bit of nit picking,exagerrated acusations, poniting out problems that apply to virtualy any person or group and making it seem like its only applies to witnesses.

  Ya think? This is something I have been harping on for ages...I couldn't agree more sleepy.
• 

  joelbear

  Our goal should be to help both witnesses and ex witnesses live a full life.

  Pointing out all the possible alternatives to the Watchtower is part of that.
• 

  Pathofthorns

  I agree with what you wrote and we could be more precise in our comments, sometimes less extreme etc. But sometimes you have to hit people over the head with bold comments to get through the blindness that a high control religion causes people to have.

  .But sometimes there just seems to be a bit of nit picking,exagerrated acusations, poniting out problems that apply to virtualy any person or group and making it seem like its only applies to witnesses.

  I think the Witnesses have been known for doing the exact same thing to other religions, particularly the Catholic Church. When the shoe is on the other foot and they are "victims" of exactly what they've dished out for decades they cry "persecution". The way I see it, as long as our facts are accurate they deserve everything they get.

  No other religion could live up the the JW's ridiculous standards. And when they are exposed for not living up to their own standards they call it "nitpicking" and say "we're imperfect"? Give me a break.

  Path
• 

  hillary_step

  Sleepy,

  I agree with you, you present some very important issues.

  Sometimes it is neccessary to differentiate between the 'conditioned' and the 'conditioners' before we attack any group for its collective social behavior. The process of differentiation is not hard to achieve. For example with the WTS, remove the 'conditioners' and you have no conditioned, but remove the 'conditioned' and you have not really affected the real problem, or dealt with the real issues.

  I always use the analogy that you might get personal fulfillment from blanket bombing every JW and JW shaped issue in sight but the collateral damage can be massive. A carefully trained sniper however, can reach the right targets with little damage to those hapless followers conscripted into a war that they really do not understand.

  Bill Bowen has proved that the GB, the real target can be reached. Affect the thinking of the GB and you affect the thinking of six million of the WTS adherents.

  Good thoughts Sleepy - HS