Posts by AndersonsInfo

9

New Haven, CT abuse case filed

by wifibandit in

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-jehovah-witness-lawsuit-20141001-story.html.

.

AndersonsInfo

http://www.branfordseven.com/news/local/article_5a686dc0-49e4-11e4-9a67-001a4bcf6878.html

Not one but four lawsuits filed in New Haven, CT today.

25

Some interesting points when considering Russell's masonic activities.

by oldguy in

jw
friends

this will be the first time i have communicated with former witnesses in this manner, so please be patient with me as i figure out how this all works.. it would be great to find a brother in scotland who could trace the membership records of the knights templar division of the masonic lodge that russell belonged to.. if indeed he was a 32nd degree master mason in the order, then he would have been practicing secret rituals for a considerable number of years during his adult life in order to achieve the title of master mason and being referred to as "worshipful master".. small wonder he was so determined to have his father (a mason with powerful contacts) on board the original bible study group.. makes it somewhat more understandable how he was able to give lectures in carnagie hall, and attract financing donations during the early years of the society.. what more could the rich families in america that supported the early zionist movement ask for than to support zion's watchtower and it"s elitist form of heavenly class distictions.. there are claims that joseph rutherford was also a member of the same masonic lodge as his mentor charles russell.. all this begs us to ask can a rotten tree ever produce good fruit?

or can a crooked tree be made to grow straight?.

welcome your thoughts and comments.

AndersonsInfo

Back in 2001, I requested historical information from the ANCIENT ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY, VALLEY OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, asking if Charles Taze Russell, his father, Joseph Lytel Russell, and his uncle, Charles Tays Russell, were Pennsylvania Freemasons. This is the answer I received in a letter:

“AFTER A SEARCH OF OUR RECORDS, WE DETERMINED THAT THE THREE RUSSELL’S WERE NOT MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION.”

In their letter, the Pittsburgh Chapter recommended that I send an inquiry asking for further research into this question to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, which I did. On April 27, 2001, I received this reply:

“THE RECORD BOOKS IN THE GRAND SECRETARY’S OFFICE ARE UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME AS THEY ARE BEING CONSERVED AND SHOULD BE BACK SOME TIME IN THE FALL.”

Inasmuch as I was very involved with other, more pressing things then, I did not follow-up and eventually my desire for resolution of this question faded out of my mind, that is, until September 2005 when I sent a follow-up email to the Masonic Temple, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Shortly thereafter, I received this reply:

DEAR MS. ANDERSON,

CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL WAS NOT A PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON. NOR DOES HE APPEAR IN THE RECORDS OF ENGLAND OR IRELAND.

I SHALL CHECK THE RECORDS FOR THE OTHER TWO RUSSELLS.

BEST,
GLENYS A. WALDMAN
LIBRARIAN

I never checked back with Ms. Waldman to see whether the other two Russell’s were Pennsylvania Freemasons, but there has never been any evidence they were, so I didn’t bother.

In any event, I would hope the answer from a search of the original records will forever put this claim to rest that Charles Taze Russell was a Pennsylvania Freemason because he absolutely was not. If anybody should know it's the Masons themselves.

Further Information:

Grand Lodge of British Columbia & Yukon – Anti-masonry Frequently Asked Questions – Section 3, Version 2.9 http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry03.html#russell

Charles Taze Russell “Claims have been made that “Pastor” Russell” (1852/02/16-1916/10/31), founder of the International Bible Students Association — forerunner of the Jehovah’s Witnesses — was a freemason; that the banner on the front of early issues of the Watchtower contained masonic symbols; and that Russell’s gravestone bears a masonic cross and crown symbol.

“Russell was not a freemason. Neither the symbols found in the Watchtower nor the cross and crown symbol are exclusively masonic. And the cross and crown symbol does not appear on his gravestone in the Rosemont United Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — it appears on a memorial erected some years later.

“In an address delivered in a San Francisco masonic hall in 1913, Russell made positive use of masonic imagery by saying, “Now, I am a free and accepted mason. I trust we all are. But not just after the style of our masonic brethren.” He further develops this idea: “true Bible believers may or may not belong to the masonic fraternity, but they are all masons of the highest order, since they are being fashioned, chiseled and polished by the Almighty to be used as living stones in the Temple Built Without Hands. They are free from sin, and therefore accepted by the God of Heaven as fit stones for the heavenly Temple.” Later in this address, Russell stated quite clearly that “I have never been a mason.” Those who claim Russell was a freemason quote this address out of context without noting the rhetorical imagery.

“Although Russell wrote about the pyramids and the Knights Templar, the pyramids are not a part of Freemasonry and Russell’s understanding of the relationship between the modern Knights Templar and Freemasonry displays an outsider’s ignorance of both organizations.”

http://watchtowerdocuments.org/charles-taze-russell-was-not-a-pennsylvania-freemason/

Barbara

13

Wales - ITV Report: JWs sex abuse victims call for organisation to be held accountable

by AndersonsInfo in

itv report (wales).

29 september 2014 at 6:00am.

jehovahs witness sex abuse victims call for organisation to be held accountable.

AndersonsInfo

ITV Report (Wales)

29 September 2014 at 6:00am

Jehovah’s Witness sex abuse victims call for organisation to be held accountable

Karen Morgan wants the governing body of the Jehovah's Witness organisation to be held accountable for the abuse she suffered as a child. Photo: Wales This Week

The Jehovah’s Witness organisation has often been described as the “greatest preaching campaign the world has ever known”. They are a close-knit community of evangelical Christians well known for going door to door, handing out literature about their faith. They do not have blood transfusions, serve in the military, celebrate Christmas or birthdays. But now, claims are emerging from some past and present members of the church that there may be a pattern of sex abuse that the organisation has not only failed to report but has actually helped to keep from the authorities.

The judge said Sewell had abused his position power as an elder in the Jehovah’s Witnesses to exploit and abuse women and children. Credit: Wales This Week

In June, 53-year-old Mark Sewell from Barry was jailed for 14 years after being found guilty of eight historic sex offences. The judge at Merthyr Crown Court said Sewell had used his position of power as an elder in the Jehovah’s Witnesses to exploit and abuse women and children. There have been 25 similar convictions in Jehovah’s Witness congregations across the UK in the last four years. Two of Mark Sewell’s victims have waived their rights to anonimity and have spoken to talk to Wales This Week after claiming the organisation has kept allegations of abuse hidden. Wales This Week - Witness to The Truth, Tonight at 8pm on ITV Cymru Wales.

Karen Morgan was abused by her uncle from the age of 12. Credit: Wales This Week

Karen Morgan was 12 when Mark Sewell started abusing her. Karen and her family were members of the Kingdom Hall in Barry. As another member of the congregation, Mark Sewell was not only a brother to them in church terms, he also became a real member of the family after he married Karen’s aunt.

He would sort of lay next to me and pull me up on top of him and he would get into bed with me in the night wearing just his underpants. He came into the bathroom when I was in the shower.
– Karen Morgan, Victim

She reported it to her parents but she was told she had misunderstood her uncle’s affections.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the bible is the literal translation of God’s word. It says when a brother has sinned, you should first confront him before going elsewhere.

If your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained a brother. But if he does not listen, take along one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter be established.
– Matthew: Chapter 18 verses 15-16

Karen was now in a particularly awkward situation, as she had to face Sewell in a series of meetings, at HIS home.

Mark Sewell was an elder in the organisation. Which placed him in a position of considerable trust. It was Karen’s word against his and so Karen spent the next two years feeling ignored and disbelieved.

Marc and Cora Latham help run Advocates for the Awareness of Watchtower Abuses, AAWA. Credit: Wales This Week

Marc and Cora are two former Jehovah’s Witnesses who campaign to give a voice to victims like Karen. Based in Cheltenham, the couple helped launch Advocates for the Awareness of Watchtower Abuses, or AAWA.

The Watchtower is the governing body all of jehovah's Witnesses. It is based in New York. Credit: Wales This Week

The Watchtower is the Jehovah’s headquarters in New York. Marc and Cora feel the church is instilling a culture of undue influence which violates the basic human rights of its members, especially in the protection of children. They say a series of letters and a secret handbook purely for the eyes of elders looks at protecting the organisation first and foremost over and above that of the victim.

We are trying to change the whole policy of the the way that they look at the individual that is being accused because this is somebody that can continue to carry on abusing people. They don’t see it as a crime, they see it as a sin, they see it as a weakness of that person.

They also say that:

The secrecy surrounding any allegations of abuse around molestation or rape were, are so tightly controlled by the organisation that most Jehovah’s Witness, your average witness does not know anything about it.
– Marc and Cora, Advocates for the Awareness of Watchtower Abuses

Marc and Cora say the fundamental reasons there is such an issue revolve around the misguided application of the two witness rule and the instruction that elders must handle accusations internally rather than go straight to the police.

They have this two witness rule which covers everything so it could be someone smoked, they would have to be seen by two separate people. Or it could be a child has been abused and that abuse would have to be seen by two separate people and when does anybody ever see a child get abused.
– Karen Morgan, Victim

Shepherd The Flock of God is a manual handed to all elders. Credit: Wales This Week

The book tells elders they should never suggest that a victim should not go to the police. It says they should inform victims that it’s their personal decision. However, it clearly states this information should only be given if directly asked and only after guidance has been sought from the branch office, or Bethel.

Karen spent 20 years fighting to be believed as she did not have another witness. It was only 17 years later after 3 other women came forward that she was successful in getting Mark Sewell before a jury.

The Jehovah’s Witness Organisation say that they have “an absolute and unequivocal abhorrence of child abuse”, they “work in harmony with the law” and “do not condone” child abuse under any circumstance. They also do not “shield from the authorities anyone committing offences of this nature.”

They went on to say that they “support any victim or parent who reports this horrible crime to the authorities”. And that “such authorities have the absolute right to investigate, try and punish criminals.”

In relation to the Mark Sewell case specifically, the church claims that “he has not been a member of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor has he been in any position of responsibility, for twenty years.” They say “It is a matter of public record that when allegations of child abuse involving his family members first surfaced, the police were informed and investigated the case.” They were also “not aware of any congregation or one of its members obstructing police inquiries. Such would be contrary to their beliefs, practices and child safeguarding policy.”

The Home Office has ordered a major inquiry into why historic cases of child abuse have been hidden for so long. Now Karen and AAWA have called for the Jehovah’s Witness organisation to be scrutinised as part of that investigation.

The Home Office told us it was still early days and that:

Details of what will and will not be included in the scope of the inquiry will be clearer after the terms of reference are set
– Home Office Spokesperson

With Sewell now firmly behind bars, Karen and his victims are looking to hold the governing body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses responsible for what has happened.

Candace Conti was abused by a fellow Jehovah's Witness at the age of 9. Credit: Candace Conti

They have employed a firm which is part of a network that recently helped 28 year old Candace Conti from California win a landmark ruling against the organisation. She won 28 million dollars in damages, after she was abused by another Jehovah’s Witness at the age of 9 years old.

To hear more of this story catch Wales This Week - Witness to The Truth, Tonight at 8pm on ITV Cymru Wales.

For further information:

JW.org AAWA

Last updated Mon 29 Sep 2014 <img alt="Jehovah’s Witness sex abuse victims call for organisation to be held accountable" src="http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/481930/category_article_update_img.jpg" />

Jehovah’s Witness sex abuse victims call for organisation to be held accountable

42

2014 AGM announcement rumour

by yadda yadda 2 in

from barbara anderson, former watchtower headquarters researcher and writer, on another recent thread:.

it is expected that at the 2014 annual meeting, usually held the first saturday in october, will serve watchtower leaders well to cover-up all the 100-years of prophetic nonsense.

rumor has it they are going to celebrate their 100-years of announcing the kingdom in an adroit way by featuring a move of "great" significance to do with the expansion of the governing body to an "apostolic" 12 or some other fantasy idea.. .

AndersonsInfo

Remember it's just a rumor and it's fun to pass along rumors without being threatened with disfellowshipping. I heard the rumor from someone who posts on this board who heard it from someone who called him, who heard it from someone inside Bethel. Does that answer your question?

37

AD1914.com Coming Soon!!

by ABibleStudent in

i visited the jehovah's witness report website today.

i read the following article:.

on october 1st 2014, barbara anderson will join in and participate in the launch of a new website ad1914.com.

AndersonsInfo

Enzo, the new website is not about me and there aren't any articles there that I wrote at this point, but who knows...

I can appreciate that you might question my testimony because, as you pointed out, there's alway another side to a story. However, no one has come forward to disprove anything I've written about because they can't. I only speak the truth, just like it happened. Just because I'm no longer a JW doesn't mean I have an agenda to discredit the organization. I tell my tales like they happened because it gives insight into a non-transparent religious organization and that's what helps JWs make an informed decision about leaving or staying. There's good in the JW organization. If there wasn't, I wouldn't have stayed with it for 43 years. But when I discovered the "dirty little secrets," I was determined to reveal what I learned to others "no matter where the buck stopped."

Barbara :-)

37

AD1914.com Coming Soon!!

by ABibleStudent in

i visited the jehovah's witness report website today.

i read the following article:.

on october 1st 2014, barbara anderson will join in and participate in the launch of a new website ad1914.com.

AndersonsInfo

In the January 2014 study issue of the Watchtower, there is an article that states, "In 1914, Jesus Christ—pictured as riding a white horse—was given his heavenly crown. He immediately went forth to complete the conquest of Satan’s wicked system." The article ends with these words: "Christ will soon complete his conquest of this ungodly society by waging the final war in righteousness." (Bolding done by me)

During the 100-years between 1914-2014 Bible Students/JWs did not let up using the "soon" word about Jesus "conquest" at Armageddon. Of course "calling wolf" over and over again with nothing happening proves that Jehovah's Witnesses are false prophets but Watchtower leaders don't want to call attention to this in October during their Annual Meeting. How will they disprove that charge? By celebrating that they spent 100-years announcing God's Kingdom, but of course neglecting to mention what everyone knows – that their date-pointing prophecies failed.

It is expected that at the 2014 Annual Meeting, usually held the first Saturday in October, will serve Watchtower leaders well to cover-up all the 100-years of prophetic nonsense. Rumor has it they are going to celebrate their 100-years of announcing the kingdom in an adroit way by featuring a move of "GREAT" significance to do with the expansion of the Governing Body to an "apostolic" 12 or some other fantasy idea.

Former JWs have wondered how they could call attention to the 1914 lie. Beginning late in 2013, a number of them put their heads together and decided to create a new website dedicated to exposing that lie. The purpose of it is to rub Watchtower's nose in their lies. Of course, there are many wonderful XJW websites exposing the harmful doctrines of the Watchtower, but this website is different in that it not only exposes the 1914 error, but celebrates the lives of people who exposed the Watchtower by telling the truth during that century of lies no matter what the cost was to them personally and to their family.

The website creators want to preserve the names and history of these truth-tellers for posterity. Most of these truth-tellers are old and many are gone, but their names should live on. Many JWs are exiting the organization due to the work of XJWs in this young 21st century and have no idea about our forerunners in this work.

Barbara

30

Article: If God saved an American doctor with Ebola, why did he let 1,200 Africans die?

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/25/ebola-africans-die-god-american-doctorif god saved an american doctor with ebola, why did he let 1,200 africans die?it must be lovely for people such as dr kent brantly to be so sure of god's existence.

for the rest of us, it's not so easy.

ebola survivor dr kent brantly.

AndersonsInfo

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/25/ebola-africans-die-god-american-doctor

If God saved an American doctor with Ebola, why did he let 1,200 Africans die?

Michele Hanson

The Guardian, Monday 25 August 2014 06.59 EDT

It must be lovely for people such as Dr Kent Brantly to be so sure of God's existence. For the rest of us, it's not so easy

Ebola survivor Dr Kent Brantly. Photograph: Tami Chappell/Reuters

Lucky Dr Kent Brantly, the American doctor who has recovered from Ebola, having been given a dose of the experimental antibody serum Zmapp, whizzed home to the US, and given another dose. He is now thanking God for saving his life. Through the medical team and drugs, he admits, but ultimately, it seems, God was in charge. And he chose Brantly, not the other 1,200 mainly west African people who have died horribly, which seems a bit picky.

It must be lovely for Brantly to be so sure of things. I tried, aged 10, to work out whether God was around or not, but couldn't. "What was his actual shape?" I wondered. And how could he be everywhere, all at once? How big, for example, was his toenail? Did it cover Ruislip, where I lived? I imagined him constantly on the go, distant enough for an effective overview and able to home in on catastrophes and act. But it was very hit and miss. Would he be on the spot when you needed him, like Brantly did? On and on I went for years, trying to believe in him. I even went camping with a tremendously religious youth organisation, but despite the prayers and observances, even the devout did some frightfully rude things in their tents. And there was no divine retribution. I gave up on God, for ever.

Millions didn't. They seem to be obeying his instructions to the letter, which isn't doing the world any favours. But at last, a bit of good news. The Jehovah's Witnesses are mellowing. They have a new tactic. Instead of just knocking on doors, they're also allowed to stand beside their literature, smiling, near shops and stations, letting us approach voluntarily. Marvellous. It's a shame they didn't do this years ago, when my old friend was a Jehovah's Witness. She was terrified sick of being sent to knock on our door. Luckily it never happened.

If only all religions would take this hands-off approach and let us all believe whatever we like. No pressure. I hope that one day, that will happen. I would say "Please, God," but I can't.

3

I need contact information for Ron Frye

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

during the 1980's and 90's, ron frye - former pioneer, special pioneer, circuit servant - was a leading xjw exposing the wt.

he had excellent newsletters that went out to hundereds of former jws.

ron frye has been ill and many of us would like to check up on him and give him lots of support.

AndersonsInfo

During the 1980's and 90's, Ron Frye - former pioneer, special pioneer, circuit servant - was a leading XJW exposing the WT. He had excellent newsletters that went out to hundereds of former JWs. Ron Frye has been ill and many of us would like to check up on him and give him lots of support. We want him to know he's not forgotten and is a hero to many of us who, no matter what the personal cost has been, have taken up the gauntlet because of his courage and fortitude to press on to expose the lies of the Watchtower.

If anybody has contact information for Ron, please send it to me through my website, www.watchtowerdocuments.org or send me a PM. I have Ron's address which I found in an older post here on JWN, but, if possible, would like to have his email or phone number.

In addition, is there anybody out there that has a copy of Ron's book, My Christian Quest, From Jehovah's Witness to Son of God, who would let me borrow it for awhile?

Thank you,

Barbara

74

Breaking News :Charity Commission takes Wathtower to Tribunal in Britain

by raymond frantz in

breaking news :charity commission takes watchtower to charity tribunal in britain.

two weeks ago we run an article about the abuse case in moston manchester congregation .it would seem that the coverage from the main local newspaper manchester evening news and two national newspapers has alarmed the charity commission the official regulator for charities in england and wales and now for the first time !

they opened an official investigation on both charities ,the local one ,moston congragation and the central one jehovah's witnesses of britain indicating that in their eyes these two are connected and liable for any misconduct .this is the time for a concentrated campaign from all of us to inform the charity commission why the watchtower should not be a called a charity .the article above has a link for the charity commission complaint page .follow it!.

AndersonsInfo

Vidiot: Watchtower behaved magnanimously about Vicki paying their legal costs and forgave them. It was a nice gesture, but not enough to make up for all that Vickie suffered, especially the top brass from the Canadian Bethel not exactly telling the truth when they were being cross-examined. We know that for sure because we (Joe, me and Jim Penton) were in the court room and heard their testimony and couldn't quite believe what we heard.

Vicki won only part of her lawsuit against the Watchtower and that's why she was ordered to pay court costs. She was able to prove that the elders made her confront her abuser (Matthew 18) and that this was a Watchtower policy which victims of molestation had to do when bringing forth an accusation. For what it's worth, the elders ivolved in the case denied that this was a Watchtower policy, but Vicki's attorney provided the evidence that showed it was.

Barbara

18

Excellent article: Inherited Religiosity: What it means for how nost 'Believers' believe

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

inherited religiosity: what it means for how most believers believe.

by yoginder sikand.

03 april, 2012countercurrents.org.

AndersonsInfo

Inherited Religiosity: What It Means For How Most ‘Believers’ Believe

By Yoginder Sikand

03 April, 2012
Countercurrents.org

T hroughout the world, the overwhelming majority of people who believe in, or otherwise feel emotionally linked to, a particular religion are those who have been born into it. This fact has crucial implications for how most ‘believers’ come to develop notions of what they regard as ‘true’ and, conversely, ‘false’, religion.

For almost all people, their religious faith is something they inherit from their immediate families. From infancy itself, they are carefully socialized by their parents and other close relatives into accepting the religious doctrines, beliefs and rituals of their families. At this stage in their lives, children are most susceptible to the influence of their parents. Unable to think for themselves about matters such as religion, they naturally accept whatever is taught to them by their parents, whom they implicitly trust. Being wholly dependent—psychologically, emotionally and materially—on their parents, they automatically imbibe the religious beliefs and prejudices of the latter. This is how blind, unquestioning belief in the religion that they inherit at birth becomes so deeply-rooted in most people as to make it almost impossible for to shake off at a later stage in life. Along with this, in many cases children are also socialized by their parents into believing that their religion alone is true and that all others are false, impure or deviant. Naturally, all these religious prejudices—about the supposed superiority of their own religion and the putative falsity of all other religions—that they inherit at this impressionable age remain with many people deep into adulthood and last till they die.

The fact of the matter, then, is that what almost all ‘believers’ —irrespective of religion—passionately regard as ultimate religious truth is simply the collection of religious beliefs, rituals and prejudices that they unthinkingly inherit from their parents, and which, through very effective indoctrination, they are trained into blindly believing as Absolute Truth. This means that the vast majority of the world’s Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Sikhs, ‘pagans’ and so on are such only because they happened to have been born into families linked to the particular religion that they grew up to believe in. If almost all ‘believers’ regard their respective religions as the best among all or as the truest or as most fully manifesting the Ultimate Truth, it is almost inevitably only because this is what they have been reared into believing by their parents from a very young age itself. Such faith in the superiority of their inherited religion is rarely, if ever, based on a careful, objective, unbiased and neutral examination of all religious, including their own.

There is more to the reality of the inherited nature of notions of religious truth that most ‘believers’ adhere than this. Every religion is susceptible to multiple interpretations, and this explains the existence of fierce sectarian divisions within each of them. Each sect within a larger religious tradition claims to monopolise religious truth in quite the same way as most religious traditions themselves do. Here, too, membership in a particular religious sect is almost always based on one’s birth in it and consequent socialization into its doctrines from a young age. Almost inevitably, a person is a Sunni or a Shia Muslim, and, then, a Deobandi Sunni or a Barelvi Sunni or an Ithna Ashari Shia or an Ismaili Shia, not on the basis of conscious, informed choice made in adulthood, when alone such a choice can be made, or as a result of a careful comparative study of the competing doctrines of these rival Islamic sects, but simply because he or she was born into a particular sect whose beliefs he or she is then socialized into believing represents the ‘true Islam’—which, in his or her mind, is equated with Absolute Truth. The same principle holds in the case of sectarian divisions in other religious communities, too.

What does all this mean for our understanding of religious truth? Quite simply, it indicates that for the vast majority of us, what we fervently regard as ‘true religion’ (which a very great many of us spend our entire lives ardently believing in, defending, and passionately seeking to convert ‘non-believers’ into accepting, through persuasion or even, sometimes, coercion) is simply the bundle of religious beliefs, rituals, traditions and prejudices of the families we happen to have been born into and which, through no fault of our own, we have been made to believe represents Absolute Truth—even if it really doesn’t!

That most people simply inherit from their families their understandings of what they regard as Ultimate Truth indicates another key aspect of their religiosity: a fundamental inability or unwillingness to search, think and experience the Truth for themselves. Being effectively drilled into accepting the religious beliefs of their families as representing the Ultimate Truth, they see no reason to search for such Truth, for, so they think, they already possess it! So effective is this indoctrination in most cases that to even contemplate such a search and to think of going beyond their inherited religion comes to be regarded as a dangerous lack of faith that supposedly merits Divine wrath. Little wonder, then, that relatively few people are able to escape the totalitarian religious brainwashing that they are subjected to as children, and relatively fewer are courageous enough to even question if their inherited religion is truly the perfect embodiment of Ultimate Truth or the Divine Will that its unthinking votaries insist it is.

Yoginder Sikand is a regular contributor to Countercurrents and the author of several books on Islam-related issues in India.