This is really an irritating article, and like most these days, dangerous to one's mental health.
My three gripes:
1. No real wonder, Blondie, why they don't attribute the author, especially with the quote from Wallerstein: it is intelligent, considered and reveals an understanding of emotional health that the WT writers will never grok. If they allow the readers to know who wrote it, they run the risk of being upstaged by much better advice: real marriage counseling.
The quote refers to separating from the family of history and the ability to resolve conflicts; when was the last time the WT ever dealt with such sophisticated ideas?? Never.
2. They just can't give women any credit; instead of allowing that women are emotionally stronger than men, they talk about their weaknesses and their PERIODS. [There; not so hard to say it, huh? Please, no more euphemisms for it; it is a fact of life. Why are the WT writers so afraid it?? Never grew up I guess. I would venture to say that if men had periods, they would call in sick for days, and people would routinely get killed or beat up even more.]
Anyway, they instead talk of the requirements for women being the same as for men, and opportunities for life in the New order, etc etc. No mention either of the fact that Paul and Peter lived in and were influenced by the Middle Eastern culture of no respect for women and no allowance of women in positions of power. 2 weeks ago we sat through the GHASTLY article telling us why Lot was not a scumball for offering up his daughters for rape; Peter called him righteous don't ya know and that means (in LaLa WT land) that what Lot did was OK. Yikes.
They were cooked in the Mideast stew of lack of respect for women!! Just admit it, and then we can have the discussion of why women should have all the same positions men do in the congregation. About time, too.
3. Never have I seen such a lack of respect for people who are not witnesses. How DARE you call a non-witness an "unbeliever" just because he is not a JW?? Any non-witness who sits through this intellectual mugging would be insulted to be called an "unbeliever" if he believes in God and Jesus!!
And how would you like to be a witness with a non-witness mate at this WT study? Your marriage is a success only "in the sense" that it can be happy and productive. Wow. Marriages between a witness and a non-witness are probably more accustomed to power sharing and respect than marriages in the "truth"; how about some KUDOS for people who work it out and are stronger for it? Grrrrrrrrrrr. The arrogance of the WT is beyond description.
All in all, most people should NOT be present for this stinker if you care about your marriage. Some men will have their misogynistic tendencies reinforced; women will again be insulted by insinuations they are simpering, emotionally whipsawn victims of their hormones. Dubs with non-witness mates will again be made to feel unwelcome and less than all others, and doomed to less of a marriage in the eyes of the congregation if they can work it out at all. Non-witness mates will be insulted by being called "unbelievers".
Stay home, instead, and try to download that very good article by Wallerstein and Blakeslee; determine to tell your mate that you love them, appreciate their sacrifices for you and your children, and that you are fortunate to have them in your life. That will do more for your marriage than this twisted mess.
