One of the main themes I have noticed to former Jehovah?s Witnesses boards, is the mentioning of apostate Jehovah?s Witness organizations and publications. While I realize the reason behind these organizations, I also see them as far less powerful then many would like to think. Not that their efforts are wasted, as I know many take a lot of passion and time to their work. More that the power they think they hold, is just not there. Why do I say this?
As a former Witness, I have had enough time to learn what the real world thinks of the Witness religion. They do not think it is a religion ran by God, they do not think it is perfect and they do not think it is the one true religion. In most cases, they think it is a small religion that is basically a cult. Being such, they see this cult as something they expect the worse from and not something wonderful and inspiring. So when apostates write books and are seen on news programs exposing the Witnesses, it only enforces their existing negative impression. Why then, as a former Witness, do they seem so much more powerful to you?
Well it can be summed up in one thought, familiarity. You are familiar with the Witnesses and their life-style. You know from years of association, with the Witnesses, what kind of image they think they are displaying and some where down the line you thought others really felt that way about them too. Mostly, because you heard examples on stage and read of examples in publications, of people saying such wonderful things about the Witnesses. Yet, did you ever wonder why these people did not become Witnesses? It was because, despite their positive comment (that could have been censored and edited) they knew the religion was a cult.
In my circle of friends, I know teachers, employers and other professionals. I will tell you, many of these people will say, "Witnesses are often good students and good employees. They are hard workers and often very honest." Yet does this mean they have a positive opinion of the Witness religion? No, in all cases they see these as morals taught to the children that could easily be mentioned about their other students and employees, as well. Yet the other employees and students have not been as open about what religion they are, as the Witnesses have been. So it kind of makes the classification easier with the Witnesses. However, I have also learned, that many of my friends have very high and higher opinions of Mormon children and employees too. You will never see that in a Watchtower.
So am I saying that Apostates are wasting their time? In some ways, yes. Only though, if they are getting into the effort with the faults hope of thinking they are exposing something to the world that is simply not new. If they think the world revolves around the Witnesses, they would be wrong. If they think the general public even cares about the Witnesses, they would be wrong too. They are seen as a cult, they are expected to show cult problems and traits and they expect nothing less. So who benefits from these Apostate efforts?
Former Witnesses are often in a inner mental battle of trying to convince themselves that the organization is really what the world already knows. They want to hear others give examples and they want to see others history in writing and in media, to see they are not alone. So that they keep themselves strong enough, to stay away and not return to the thing that gives them so much trouble. Yet, because we as humans, see the universe orbiting us. We start to convince ourselves that what is so important to us, should be as important to others. An easy mistake to make, as it is our cause and history and it has personal meaning to us. Especially when you realize how much the religion was your whole life. Just don?t fool your self and get frustrated.
When you read about something the Witnesses did, exposed into the main stream media. Don?t sit there thinking, "this is going to take the organization down and show the world I am right." It wont! Apostate groups were around in the time of Russell and there was only a few thousand members then. Apostates will always be in the picture and they will always be exposing what people expect to see from a cult, yet they will not take the organization down. That will only happen when an individual inside the religion, leaves for their own reason and takes it down themselves from inside as one person.
I am convinced, that in a hundred years, there will be the Witness religion in some form and there will be apostates with a new message an a new exposure of problems to broadcast and I am convinced that there will be former Witnesses that think the world will be surprised, and I am convinced that they wont be. Why? Because it is the same in the past, the present and why not then, the future.