"We're hiding, sort-of," says Ann. "If my family found out about this, I don't know if they'd talk to me anymore," says Ann. "Ben's family doesn't know about it. And the religion we came from could track us down and get us in trouble."This fear of familial repercussions is a common theme amongst ex-JWs. I have an uncle who was a leading light in the JW for may years. These days he's set on promoting creationism. All this from a man of science.
Many years back though, when his children were growing up he removed one of them from school because the apocalypse was due and there was obviously no point in learning history and maths when the world was about to end. That decision has obviously affected his son for the rest of his life. One of his other sons has basically been disowned for leaving the church.
Witnesses are allowed to lie to non-JW folk, and even to other JWs if they are of lower standing.
(QUALIFIED TO BE MINISTERS (1967 edition), p. 197.) The Society actually teaches Jehovah's Witnesses to cover-up or lie about certain facts. They call this tactic -- Theocratic War Strategy. The Watchtower instructs Jehovah's Witnesses that, "As a soldier of Christ he is in theocratic warfare and he must exercise added caution when dealing with God's foes. Thus the Scriptures show that for the purpose of protecting the interest of God's cause, it is proper to hide the truth from God's enemies." (WATCHTOWER, June 1, 1960, p. 352.)How is it possible that anybody can be drawn to a religion which admits that it will lie to them with impunity if it means they gain a convert?
No, really. I want to know. Answers on a postcard please.
2 comments:
Because they don't actually know this, and the JWs pray on people who are weak at the time (through a loss of a loved one, usually). I hate them, plain as that.
All religions pray on the weak. Mainly that means the indoctrination of children who have not yet acquired critical thinking skills.
While I can't stand any of the religions, I can't bring myself to hate the people - after all most of them are victims of the same indoctrination process and are only passing it on. We just need to break the chain somehow.
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