Amac,
Let me rephrase then...actually I can't quite remember exactly what my original phrase was, but replace "pseudo-intellects" with "the organizers of many other religions" and see if that works.
Yup, that works for me. Since I'm intimately acquainted with the world of Witnesses, that tends to be the religion I focus on, though.
I don't know a single JW that is "thriving on the anticipation of the imminent deaths of billions and billions of people, including children and babies." Every single one I know is thriving on the survival of themselves and their family.
The survival of themselves and their family from what? From Armageddon, the Great War of the Mighty Jah that will cause the blood to flow like a river in the streets (I am practically quoting Watchtower articles, convention talks, Kingdom Ministries, et cetera). Witnesses read and parrot and distribute literature proclaiming the great news of this genocide all the time -- why? -- in order to save themselves and their families.
"The masses of people facing annihilation if they fail to respond to the good news include out unbelieving relatives, neighbors, workmates, schoolmates, and acquaintances. But our concern is to reach out to ‘all sorts of men’ in imitation of God, who manifested his love for the entire world by giving his Son, Jesus Christ, as a ransom for all (John 3:16). We must zealously invite all to flee to God’s place of safety. By fully carrying out the preaching work, we can avoid bloodguilt." – Kingdom Ministry, September 2000, p. 1
It isn't, of course, that Witnesses think exclusively of blood and genocide all of the time -- in fact, much of their thinking on this subject is softened by euphemisms in their day to day lives. Consider the quote above. Does it mention blood and genocide? Well sort of -- the annihilation of an entire range of people, including young "schoolmates." But phrases like "flee to God's place of safety" quickly soothe over exactly what it is Witnesses are fleeing from -- the death of every single non-Witness. Sure, Witnesses don't come off in person like bloodthirsty vampires. But when it comes to genocide, they believe in it, hope for it, wait eagerly for it.
Is it wrong to criticize individual Witnesses for clinging to their faith? Sure. They're criticized by us far less harshly than we are by them.
Waiting,
JW persons. They are individuals, just like we are. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. I think some of us slam them as a group....because they're JW's. I disagree. Not ALL elders' wives are gossips. Not ALL pioneers live off foodstamps. Not ALL jw's look down on everyone else.....well, many do.
Agreed. However, all Witnesses slam us ex-Witnesses as a group -- we are, to each and every Witness, filthy, vile apostate dogs that have returned to their vomit and aren't worth saying hello to. (And any Witness who disagrees with this sentiment will soon be one of us. ) People here have a variety of views about Witnesses and are allowed to express them without repercussions in their personal lives. Witnesses, on the other hand, have one view of apostates and aren't allowed to express any views to the contrary without risking the safety of their personal lives. Big difference.
Logansrun,
That being said, I admit I get very annoyed when people make ridiculous remarks about the JWs and try and use fallacious material to criticise them. For example, one ex-JW website I saw said that JWs are not allowed to watch fireworks. Of course, they were exaggerating the fact that JWs would not celebrate US Independence Day, but I grew up a JW and watched fireworks all the time. So, their argument was not only weak, but inaccurate.
I agree with you -- there are enough really awful things to complain about without going nuts about the viewing or nonviewing of fireworks. (Although I must confess that I was not allowed to watch fireworks, was physically "disciplined" by my father for pulling one of those noisemakers at a family gathering on the 4th, and, when I was older, was spoken to by an elder for going to a 4th of July fireworks show with a sister from another congregation. Make of that what you will.)
There's no need to quibble about such things when the religion preaches a doctrine of world genocide. Fireworks is small beans compared to that.
Prisca,
I feel that JWs are unfairly held up to higher standards than they should be.
You mean the standards they set for themselves and the rest of the world? Is it wrong to point at the people of my former congregation, who refuse to speak to me and gossip gleefully of my imminent destruction, and say, "Hey, that's really cruel and inhuman for people in a religion that's supposed to be based on love!" Is it wrong to point out the hypocrisy of a group of people who characterize everyone else in the world as a "goat," when their behavior is so "goatish" they hope for the climax of death that is Armageddon?
Sure, they put themselves up on a pedestal, but many I know are good, caring people, who think that they are serving God.
Good and caring for whom? For each other exclusively. And that "thought" they have -- that they are serving God -- makes them do cruel things, inhuman things, or, at least, it makes them disposed to doing cruel and inhuman things, to anyone who doesn't become or refuses to remain part of their organization.
After all, we were all JWs once, didn't we try to do things as best we could. Were we all perfect, or did we make mistakes now and then? Does being an ex-JW make us somehow more superior to JWs? I don't believe we are. Regardless of our religion or culture, we are all humans trying to make the best of what we've got.
I was raised a Witnesses and wanted out for the entire duration of the experience. And I left, the one thing any Witness can do to redeem his or her humanity and live without bigotry and hate in the guise of "love."
Now, going back to the original question: does the harsh criticism of a group of people who endorse mass genocide while patting themselves on the back for epitomizing Godly love constitute a "double standard"?
I don't think so. But hey, that's just me.
Dedalus