Reason on the Facts

Nov 1 2012 - WTPracticing what they preach has never been a virtue of the Watch Tower Society! That fact was reaffirmed in capital letters in the November 2012 issue of the The Watchtower magazine in an article titled, “Is Religious Faith an Emotional Crutch?” The reasonable (but damning) piece of evidence reads:

“Really, how foolish it would be to accept an idea as true without checking the facts! That would be like covering our eyes and trying to cross a busy street just because someone tells us to do it.”

Yet, the Watch Tower Society turns a blind eye to facts every day in the name of faith. In so doing, they harm its followers who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, their non-believing family members, and the community at large.

To prove my point, I would like to share the following facts:

Fact 1: Children exposed to violent images – whether on television, in cartoons, or in real life – can be emotionally damaged. Research documentation from studies at Bowling Green State University states, “Three major effects have been proven by psychological research caused by children seeing violence on television are that the child may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others; children who watch violence do not fear violence nor are they bothered by violence in general and the children are more likely to become aggressive or use harmful actions towards others.” (http://bit.ly/14DzobC)

Although evidence is clear that violent images are potentially harmful to children, Jehovah’s Witnesses are required to expose their young children to images of Biblical violence on a regular basis. This is done at weekly congregational meetings where Watchtower publications are studied and at in-home Bible studies where other Watchtower-published materials are used. These images include graphic depictions of Armageddon’s destruction of mankind, murders, etc. Even cartoon-style sheets designed to teach young children, and available for download from the Watchtower’s website, contain violent graphic images.

The Watchtower’s actions fly in the face of its condemnation of violence, as published in its Keep Yourselves in God’s Love, which states, “Those who value life as Jehovah does and who want to keep themselves in his love also avoid violence in all its forms.”

Fact 2: Higher education, where critical thinking skills are fostered, benefits individuals and society as a whole. Here’s a short list of benefits, as noted by the College Board (http://bit.ly/17hgcmm):

  • There is a correlation between higher levels of education and higher earnings for all racial/ethnic groups and for both men and women.
  • Any college experience produces a measurable benefit when compared with no post-secondary education, but the benefits of completing a bachelor’s degree or higher are significantly greater.
  • Higher levels of education correspond to lower levels of unemployment and poverty, so in addition to contributing more to tax revenues than others do, adults with higher levels of education are less likely to depend on social safety-net programs, generating decreased demand on public budgets.
  • College graduates have lower smoking rates, more positive perceptions of personal health, and lower incarceration rates than individuals who have not graduated from college.
  • Higher levels of education are correlated with higher levels of civic participation, including volunteer work, voting, and blood donation.

However, in the face of these facts, the Watch Tower Society tells its members, “Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking.” (Study edition of The Watchtower, November 2013, pp. 20, ¶17) Watchtower leaders promote fear of college culture, parties, too much time spent studying, and the finances required to pursue an education, saying, “How sad that some have fallen away from the faith as a result of succumbing to the demands on their time and energy or of getting entangled in unscriptural conduct at college!” (The Watchtower, 10/05, “Parents—What Future Do You Want for Your Children,” pp. 26-31)

Fact 3: Pedophiles harm children, and frequently a perpetrator is someone the child knows. Often this person is in a position of authority to the child. Parents Against Peadophiles (Resources for Informed Parents) states, “You need to be strong, act quickly and work with your local authorities to investigate and stop a suspected pedophile.” Some of the steps required are to:

  • Stop your child’s communication with the pedophile.  Take strong, bold actions to make it physically impossible for any further communication to take place.
  • Call the police – if your child is in danger, contact them immediately.

Instead of taking the bold action necessary to report an accused offender within the congregation, the Watch Tower Society only reports accusations of molestation to the authorities if required by law. They require two witnesses to an offense before they will take any action against the alleged perpetrator. (Shepherd the Flock of God, published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2010, pp. 71-72) It is commonly known that child molesters do not like an audience, so it is usually a child’s word against the pedophile’s. Therefore, perpetrators are free to continue enjoying fellowship within the congregation and show up at the public’s doors while engaging in their ministry work. Children are further traumatized by being subjected to seeing their molester on a regular basis.

Fact 4: Ostracism is emotionally damaging. In less than five minutes from exposure to ostracism, individuals report lower satisfaction levels of four fundamental needs—belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence—and higher levels of sadness and anger. Ostracism appears to be unique in threatening all four of these four basic human needs simultaneously. ~Williams, K., & Carter-Sowell, A. (2007). (Ostracism. In R. Baumeister & K. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Psychology, (pp. 642-644))

Despite the scientific research on the damaging effects of ostracism, Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to shun former members of the congregation, whether or not they are family. Recently, the Watch Tower Society reaffirmed their stance on shunning saying, “Really, what your beloved family member needs to see is your resolute stance to put Jehovah above everything else – including the family bond. … Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail.” (The Watchtower, 2013 Jan 15 p.16)WT Nov 2012

Extreme shunning tears families apart on a daily basis, and has resulted in tragic consequences, including suicides. Many former Witnesses are unable to participate in normal activities such as weddings, births, and sometimes, even funerals of loved ones who are active in the faith.

Conclusion: While the Watch Tower Society tells its members that they should “follow reason” and to “reason on evidence and reach sound conclusions that are based on facts,” their actions belie those words. Current and potential members need to take a close look at the facts (all the facts, not just what the Watch Tower Society prints), identify the gaps, and reason based on the evidence. As The Watchtower says, do not “accept an idea as true without checking the facts!”

Posted on by October 15, 2013

About Steph Le Gardener

I'm a former 4th generation JW who's been out since 1992, re-creating my world and family of the heart. I keep busy with my work for a not-for-profit organization which specializes in education for senior leadership in healthcare, as well as my many hobbies, including: gardening, crafting, nature photography, reading, and writing. For nearly eight years, I've been an active voice in the ex-JW community, supporting those who have found their way out of cult life, and now I add my voice with others as an active volunteer for Advocates of Awareness of Watchtower Abuses (AAWA). I can be reached at writers@aawa.co.

Comments

Reason on the Facts — 5 Comments

  1. Wow. Extremely well written and accurate – fact based material. I think every one should be whatever religion they want – as long as they know the facts. I hope witnesses out there can read this and least think for themselves for a moment.

  2. Great Article. I would like share a story. I grew up in the watchtower religion in Jamaica. In the 1980s, I was attending a kingdom hall with my parents and there was a man (he was either an elder or ministerial servant) who was at the podium busy telling everyone how to live their lives, and in the audience was his wife, his daughter and his son. His daughter was the mother of his son. He was molesting his daughter and got her pregnant at the age of 12 or 13 yrs. As a teenager (I was about 13 yrs. when I met the family) I tried to understand the situation…. not knowing that this situation was, in fact, a crime. All the adults seem to accept the situation as normal. At no time did my parents discuss it and said this was wrong. This man who molested his daughter never spent a day in jail, the police was never called as “IT WILL BRING REPROACH ON GOD’S ORGANIZATION”. Based on watchtower policy, I guess the daughter never screamed so she must have wanted it, and it was not rape and somehow it is her fault that her father molested her. I cannot imagine what that daughter went through; when I met them the entire family (the child molester, the wife, the molested daughter and the son) were all living under the same roof.

    I now live in Canada and last year (2012) a watchtower man and his wife claimed they could answer my religious questions (I have not been a part of this religion from in the mid-1990s, but somehow kept holding on, thinking it might the true religion). Anyway, as I listened to the watchtower man and his wife, I had to wonder if they think I am stupid based on the outrageous things they were saying (not attending the meetings for so long, my brain washing became outdated). When I inquired about the many cases of child abuse that are now in the news, the watchtower man informed me that there were no abuses, AND SATAN IS USING THESE CHILDREN TO ATTACK THE ORGANIZATION. If that is the thinking on the watchtower people, I have to say that this crime will continue in the watchtower organization.

  3. Watchtower claims they are no part of the world! They think, speak, act like the world they condem. Hypocrits? Criminals as the world of inhumankind. To err is human to forgive is divine! Where is the repentence-the turn around and do GOOD as GOD is GOOD and we are made in God’s image. May God have mercy on US ALL.

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