amac wrote:
I've no doubt this has happened many times, but I would attribute this to the upbringing and current culture of those elders that said it, not as a directive from the WT
Having been a witness all my life, I no longer think that. I have learned that on many issues there are two tracks, one the official one and the other the unwritten rule that really applies.
At a meeting for service less than ten years ago, Jack Thomas covered material from the WT about physical abuse and that brothers are not to physically abuse their wives in any way. After dutifully covering the information, he then sarcastically said, "Now this does not mean that if your husband slaps you up you should go running to the elders." Of course, that is exactly what the information meant, but the CO, the WT's man in the field, the one most in touch with what Brooklyn wants, downplayed the information.
Letters were written to the Society constantly about this CO and nothing was ever done to reverse what he said about this and many other things.
Silence is compliance.
Regarding this sad tragedy, who knows what caused him to snap. I suspect depression as the cause, but then witnesses are told that if they are more spiritual and attend meetings more, that they will feel better. (This is from the Watchtower magazine constantly; the Awake puts forth the token acknowledgement of depression, but I cannot recall ever reading the WT itself recommending treatment for depression.)
I feel so sorry for the family that is left.
