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Dear
XXXX,
I
was struck by several things you said... struck hard. Please forgive me,
but I feel compelled to address several points you made, and I do so
with all the love in my heart and concern for you. After reading my
thoughts, you may not feel like corresponding with me anymore, and if
so, I respect that. But I humbly ask you to consider what I’ve
written. I respect you as a Human Being, and my heart hurts for people
who are suffering from the injustice of others, such as you.
You
said: "I do not wish to go into the sight you recommended as
I don't want to know any more injustices and drag Jehovahs' name
thru the mire."
XXXX,
there is something inherently wrong with these words. With all due
respect and kindness to you, you have been neatly programmed with a
certain mental attitude. I was also programmed with this attitude. This
attitude is “if we stick our heads in the sand, maybe the problem will
go away.” But this attitude is exactly why you were disfellowshipped;
this attitude is exactly why there is so much injustice in the
Organization, and exactly why there have been no positive changes within
it.
I
respectfully ask, how in the world would "Jehovah's name be dragged
thru the mire" by you visiting a website? It simply would not. This
is simply the programming we have all received from the Society to not
look at anything contrary or negative about the Organization. Now I
know you may refute this because you did see the UN information on a
website, but there is much more to be seen, and so much that should be
seen by informed adults. There are things the Society is responsible for
that puts them high up on the bloodguilt ladder. I do not say this
lightly, or in a spirit of bitterness. I say it in a spirit of Truth and
uprightness.
If
the Truth is the truth, it will stand on its own. If the Truth is the
truth, then the Society should welcome others to thoroughly examine it
from both sides in exactly the same way they tell people of other
religions to do. But the Society does not preach the same thing to its
own members as it does to people of other religions. Why do you think
this is so? If the Truth is the truth, it will stand up under strong
scrutiny. There should be nothing to fear.
To
size up your situation: The Society has arbitrarily established a rule
to not read “apostate” (contrary) literature. This rule has the same
power as if it came down from God. Then when you innocently come across
something such as the UN matter—something that gives you serious cause
for legitimate concern—you are punished with disfellowshipping. The
Society is in essence saying: “There, do you see why we warned you
about reading apostate material? Do you see how it has resulted in your
spiritual endangerment? Jehovah has disciplined you and He must keep His
Organization clean.” This is nothing less than a high-control tactic.
But
where is the Society’s accountability? By becoming a member of the UN,
the Governing Body (GB) has quietly betrayed the very essence of Truth
that they have publicly held up as God’s Truth. They are guilty of the
very sin that they have vehemently accused other religions of: Spiritual
Harlotry. To use their own term, they have “whored” themselves out
to the “Wild Beast.”
And
how do they justify and excuse this betrayal of all they have taught for
decades; the very foundation of “being no part of the world”? Their
pathetic response is that they did so in order to gain access to the UN
library. So in other words, they betrayed their core values for a
library card! Furthermore, the same information in the UN library is
available elsewhere. I guess in the GB’s “esteemed intellect,”
going to bed with the “enemy” is a means that justifies the end.
You
also said: “I now know why he allowed me to be disfellowshipped.
I know too much but with the airing on TV about the case in XXXXX, XX
and it will soon be aired on Niteline or primetime so I am told- I
realize that after people around here see this I don't want them to know
that I am associated with such people until Jehovah cleans it all up.”
I
am well aware of the pedophilia issues that will be airing on Dateline
soon. Things have gone on too long with this matter. Too many
injustices... too many good people hurt.
I
also know how important it is for us humans to try to make some sense
out of the injustices and adversities that come our way from time to
time. This is a natural human process and I believe this is what you are
endeavoring to do. But again, think through your words logically. Please
ponder the following questions:
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If
this is truly God’s Organization, why would you be ashamed of it?
-
Is
it really true that Jehovah would in essence “protect” you by
allowing you to be deeply hurt? by destroying your good name and
reputation? by, in essence, “casting you out,” of that which has
been your life, your world, and your reality for your whole life? Is
it truly reasonable and logical to conclude that a kind and loving
Father would “protect” you by allowing you to be harmed?
-
And
if He did in fact allow you to be disfellowshipped to protect you,
then what about all of the other dear friends? Why are they not
protected as well? Are they not loved by Jehovah too? Are they not
the very ones who will have to pay for the Society’s lack of
discretion and good judgment with the people they meet
door-to-door?
-
Is
it really reasonable to conclude that Jehovah will ever “clean
up” the Organization? He has not seen fit to do so in well over
100 years. Many terrible things have occurred during this time.
Could it be that this line of reasoning is simply an attempt to make
some rational sense out of why Jehovah has been so silent in this
matter? Could there actually be another explanation?
You
also said: “The Elders are responsible for not reporting it to
the proper authorities in the State of XX which is the legal requirement
for such things.”
It
is certainly true that the elders do bear personal responsibility for
their actions. But you must also understand that they are acting on
guidance from the Society. When I was an elder, I remember getting the
letter about contacting the legal department if any case of pedophilia
ever arose, and they would then tell us what to do. I also remember how
the elders discussed “ecclesiastical privilege” if they were ever
subpoenaed by the court. They would not tell anything
“confidential,” even if it involved the molestation of an innocent
child. This was morally wrong, and yet, I bought into it—even me. I am
very thankful that I never had such a situation arise; I wonder if I
could live with myself for not protecting the children.
We
all bear personal responsibility for our actions. But elders and JW's at
large, are all trained and conditioned very well at five meetings a week
to rely on what the Society says as having come from God, rather than
thinking for themselves. You may not accept this, but it is true to a
fault. It was true with me too at one time, but no longer.
The
elders and the GB are morally responsible for and share in the sins of
any pedophile that is not handed over to the secular authorities and put
behind bars. It is a known fact that pedophiles cannot be reformed.
Period. Therefore, there is absolutely no place for them in
society—let alone in the congregation. Period.
It
is true that the Society has recommended in limited cases that the
elders contact the local authorities. But it is equally true that the
Society also cultivates an environment based on the concept that
“God’s Law is higher than man’s law” that enables pedophiles to
be covered up by incompetent men, and then harm again.
You
also wrote: “It is soooo sad to see how people who are honest
are treated within the organization-but we also know the
culprit.”
Yes
it is sad to see so many ones hurting so deeply, and you have no idea
how many are out there. If you would like to get a mere taste of
the hurt, visit www.silentlambs.org.
It will open your eyes.
As
far as the culprit, I assume you are referring to Satan. But again, with
all due respect and loving kindness to you, this is not clear thinking.
Please consider this question: Why is it that Satan’s power to
harm and attack transcends Jehovah’s power to comfort and protect?
The
conditioned response we all learned at the meetings is that it’s
because “Satan is the ruler of this System of Things,” and also that
“it is a test of loyalty to Jehovah.” But again, this is faulty
reasoning. Consider this example:
A
man has a family with several sons and daughters. The children are all
good and kind, except one son. This son is mean and cruel, and
continues to verbally abuse the other children. The father has tried
in vain to talk with and readjust the cruel son, but to no avail. The
other children constantly beg their father to do something about the
situation, but the father only tells them that it is an opportunity to
grow strong, and doesn’t take any further action.
For
years, the cruel son continues to attack the others verbally, until
one day he actually physically abuses them. Again, the father has a
strong talk with the abusive son, but again, to no avail. And again,
the other children implore their father to do something, but he
continues to play it down telling them that the “time is not
right.” The father is aware that his abusive son is causing a lot of
harm and hurt within the family, but still does nothing to correct the
situation.
The
cruel son continues to verbally and physically abuse the others, until
one day, he actually kills one of his siblings.
Who
do you think is ultimately responsible for this murder? Yes, the cruel
son is personally responsible for his actions, but the father is
ultimately responsible for the escalation of this situation because he
did not protect his other children when
he had the power to do so.
The father is now bloodguilty.
The
scripture says, “When one knows what to do and does not do it, it is
sin for him.” As we have learned quite well, God—by His own
decree—must abide and hold to His own law, and therefore, Jehovah must
be taken at His own word. Now I am not saying that Jehovah is
bloodguilty, but I am asking: Could there be another explanation?
I
ask you in all fairness: What parent would stand by while one child
abused the other children? What parent, after seeing that there was no
hope with a cruel son, would not take necessary action to protect his
family from further harm? I submit that there is no sane human parent
that would permit a situation of this sort to continue for any
substantial length of time. Yes it would pain the father to “put the
cruel son out.” But a rational father would comprehend that it must be
done in order to protect his innocent family.
Here
is another critical point: How would human laws come into play in such a
situation? Would not human justice demand that the guilty son and
the father be held accountable? It most certainly would. And this is
mere human justice! Is not God’s Law higher than man’s law? If human
law demands justice in such a situation, then how much more so
would God’s?
If
a lowly human father would take whatever steps necessary protect his
family, is it not reasonable to conclude that the Almighty should do the
same and much more? Again, the conditioned response is that “there are
issues of Free Will and Universal Sovereignty at stake, “ and, “we
do not see the whole picture like Jehovah does.” Again, this is faulty
reasoning. Please consider these questions:
-
What
possible reason could there be for a loving, kind, and just Creator
with a proven track record to have to “prove” anything to
anyone? After all, Jehovah is the Almighty.
-
What
“Bigger Picture” could possibly exist that would morally justify
the suffering, turmoil, and murder of countless billions of sentient
human beings over many thousands of years? What of these poor
people’s right to Free Will? What of their right to live their
lives free of the threat of suffering and death at the hands of a
supernatural being?
Again
I ask you, could there be another explanation? It is not my purpose nor
intention to answer this question, but rather, to provoke you to
thought.
As
I mentioned, we all must assume personal responsibility for our actions,
and this includes rank and file Witnesses. But how long will the friends
continue to avert personal responsibility and thinking for themselves on
the basis of “We were only following orders”? This concept has
already been tried with the Nazi’s and failed miserably. This argument
is also the epitome of shirking personal responsibility. Now I am not
attributing this argument to you. I am only making an observation about
Witnesses in general.
Personal
responsibility must by default include thinking for one’s self. As I
have pointed out to my mom, there is a big difference between being true
to Jehovah and the Bible, and being loyal to the Society. [Someone I
know] loves Jehovah and the Bible with all her heart. You obviously do
too, and this is fine. But she has a difficult time overlooking and
condoning the atrocities committed by the elders in the name of God. Any
idea how much emotional energy it requires to continually suppress
one’s moral values, especially when prompted by an organization
claiming to be God’s one and true Organization? An enormous amount.
There
must come a time when each one of us steps up to the plate of personal
responsibility and intensely examines whether the GB have responsibly
“provided food at the proper time,” as Christ’s Stewards, or not.
Have they honestly and responsibly handled the “King’s Talents?”
Have they tenderly cared for the “King’s possessions,” that is,
his people in a way that befits his Glory?
Only
an honest and thoughtful examination of the evidence will answer these
questions. Furthermore, this examination is a personal one; we must each
one come to our own conclusions. Moreover, each one of us has the
God-given right of Free Will to make this examination. No other human
being, including the GB, has the authority or the moral right to deny
any of us of our inalienable human rights. None. Do you know the common
term for those who try to micromanage and control others’ lives?
“High Control Groups.” With these groups, there is an open door
going in, but no way to leave honorably and intact.
I
sincerely hope I have not offended you or turned you off by this letter.
I can only take so much of the unnecessary hurting of others, and this
includes yours. It is also my genuine hope that you will think about all
these points carefully and prayerfully. I urge you to stand up for your
right to examine anything you choose, and without retribution. It is
your God-given right. And if God gives it to you, who has the right to
take it away from you?
I
wish you all my very best,
FreePeace
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