http://jwalumni.org/2015/06/05/jehovahs-witnesses-attack-apostates/
Jehovah’s Witnesses again verbally abuse former members, call criticism ‘gangrenous and empty’
Jehovah’s Witnesses are famous for resorting to name-calling when faced with criticism. For example, former members have been labeled “mentally diseased” publicly by JW.org in the past. In today’s Daily Text, they do it again. Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses respond to criticism with arguments instead of libel? Find out in this article.
Screengrab from: Examining the Scriptures Daily, by JW.org
Examining the Scriptures daily is a little brochure produced by the Watchtower Society. It is supposed to be part of Jehovah’s Witnesses daily morning routine: For every day of the year, there is a selected Bible scripture which is accompanied by JW.org’s very own interpretation. This brochure is read by every Jehovah’s Witness around the world.
Today’s daily text on June 5, 2015 is taken from 1. Thessalonians 5:8: “Let us keep our senses and have on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” How do Jehovah’s Witnesses interpret this scripture?
Once again, they use a Bible text to defame critics, resorting to name-calling instead of countering different opinions with facts and arguments.
This is what they write:
With a good helmet, a soldier in Bible times could survive blows to the head without suffering serious injury. We build hope in Jehovah’s saving acts by studying his Word. Strong hope enables us to resist apostates and their gangrenous “empty speeches.”
Notice the pattern: Jehovah’s Witnesses not only call former members who voice objective criticism “mentally diseased” – they also utter “empty speeches” that are gangrenous. JW.org continues to build on the “illness narrative”. In other words: Former members of Jehovah’s Witnesses are allegedly contagious and should be avoided.
To get a grasp of the scope: Every Jehovah’s Witness is encouraged to read this brochure daily. There are over 8million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. So, today, Friday 5th, over 8million Jehovah’s Witnesses will go about their daily affairs conditioned to view former members – friends and family – as something sick, infectious, to be avoided at all costs. Is this kind of hate speech the hallmark of a true religion?
But how does Jehovah’s Witness hate speech match up to reality?
– Thank you. Enjoy the rest of this post! –
So-called “apostate websites” like JWAlumni.org, JWsurvey.org, JWfacts.com and others strive to never insult Jehovah’s Witnesses. To the contrary: It is my aim to expose Watchtower failure through evidence-based debate, using their own literature and scientific facts to debunk their teachings. You can take a look at any article on JWAlumni.org. Whether it is an article
- questioning Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to being the true religion
- criticizing their shunning policy
- explaining their association with the United Nations
- or illustrating how Jehovah’s Witnesses do indeed ask for money
every post published on JWAlumni.org substantiates its claims with proof from Jehovah’s Witness literature or other evidence. And even if it is very personal subject (like my mission statement) I always aim to stay fact-bound, without having to insult Jehovah’s Witnesses.
What do we learn from Jehovah’s Witnesses’ name-calling?
The logical fallacy of abusing one’s opponent is known as argumentum ad hominem, or abusive fallacy, and is described as
“Attacking the person making the argument, rather than the argument itself, when the attack on the person is completely irrelevant to the argument the person is making.”
It is interesting to note the tip given at the bottom of this definition:
When others verbally attack you, take it as a compliment to the quality of your argument. It is usually a sign of desperation on their part.
Thinking Jehovah’s Witnesses should therefore ask themselves:
If “we apostates” are wrong, why should one avoid their writings if the claims can be so easily debunked?
At least the Watchtower Society got one thing right: Truth is contagious. In fact, truth is highly viral, as this video of a brave former Jehovah’s Witness High School student shows that has been seen the world over. When you watch it, note the difference between her discussion culture and that of Jehovah’s Witnesses: No hate speech on her part, just arguments, plain and simple. What do you take from this?
