Getting Even With The Watchtower Society—Is It Necessary?

by The wanderer 39 Replies latest jw friends

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  J-ex-W

  Getting Even With The Watchtower Society—Is It Necessary?

  I don't know...getting 'even' with a rapist...is it necessary?

  ...Not being facetious here! --Really grappled with that one for a long time (still do) regarding my--still active--JW ex-husband's 15-year history of sexual harrassment/ molestation/ rape of me, and molestation of two of his sisters. Is it petty, getting 'even' to come forward publicly with the truth about this? Or could it result, finally, in some healing for the victims already harmed and possibly prevent others from being victimized? --Not to mention the potential to restore many victims' formerly good names, at least in the eyes of discerning congregants.

  Lots of fall-out from speaking an upopular truth, certainly...but in the end, which is better? Stay silent, so one won't be perceived as aiming to 'get even?' Or actually aiming for a balancing of the truth--for true justice? The WTS operates on a level of psychological rape, IMHO--complete with stealth methods, control tactics, and denials of wrongdoing...crazymaking for its victims, every step of the way.

  Which reminds me...soon I will be posting a letter I wrote to my former in-laws regarding the truth about their son.... With the aforementioned in mind, please keep an eye out for it. I need all the honest, helpful feedback I can get, in contemplating sending this. Thanks, everyone--and don't mean to hijack this thread...The Wanderer--back over to you....

  J-ex-W
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  avidbiblereader

  The revenge business can be a very tiring business and a complete waste of a life.

  abr
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  parlay

  If we care anything about others, we warn them of danger. Especially if we have personal experience concerning that danger.

  To allow another to blindly fall into a hole we struggled to climb out of, would be heartless. Wouldn't we want someone

  to alert us of a danger we knew nothing about? "There's more happiness in giving than in receiving" right, so giving the truth about "the truth" brings happiness to us and them, if they listen. If not, at least we know we did what we could.

  Someone said earlier that you can't get revenge against a corporation or organization. Corporations, organizations and even governments have been brought down by the persistence and determination of those that fought for what was right and just.
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  RollerDave

  The wasted lifetime I spent on the WTS treadmill can never be avenged, it's too big.

  But they say, the best revenge is living well and in that regard I am having an EXCELLENT revenge.

  If the proceeds from a tell-all book that addresses a need, and warns others against a known danger helps you to support 'living well' it has the added benefit of extracting value from what had previously been without value;your previous existance and experiences within the group conscience of the WTS.

  More power to 'em, I say!

  Roller
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  Anne Marie

  The Watchtower has always been good at saying things like, "If you knew there was a dangerous storm coming, wouldn't you feel a moral obligation to warn others about it??" This is the motivation for JWs to get out and preach "the end of the world" to the innocent public.

  Once we know that the Watchtower is built on lies and fear and control...that they are not the "voice of God," then some of us are moved to tell "the truth" about "the" truth. It is natural to want some form of "revenge," but in that vein, I think this is more of a need to "heal" from the effects of being lied to; to find the strength to regain some sense of normalcy, and life in freedom.

  By the way, the book: "30 Years A Watchtower Slave," by William J. Schnell, (published in 1956, available at http://www.bakerbooks.com), is a wonderful and enlightening book on how the society developed, and "perfected," mind control...beginning in Germany, and then practiced in America. I agree...the title does sound "negative," but back then, the Watchtower had many "classes" of JWs, and many were viewed as "slaves"; and the author is only stating in the title what he, himself, was to the Society.

  I do hope that you will look into getting this book for yourselves. It is an easy read, and extremely informative!! It really gives the reader an understanding of how the society went from a simple publishing company (that let each congregation guide themselves) to this current All Controlling "Theocracy" Government.

  I have read MANY books exposing the truth about the Watchtower Organization, but this one book really brings EVERYTHING into focus.

  Thank you
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  J-ex-W

  They are experts at assisted suicide (no blood), protect pedophiles, and destroy families.

  Interesting observation, betterdaze. One of the (many) reasons I continued putting off a MAJOR surgery--even though it was the only means to relieve incredible pain!!!--was that it would REQUIRE copious blood transfusing... period. I was trying to decide not only the doctrinal implications (regarding my own faith) but also the JW social ramifications of choosing LIFE (i.e., accepting blood)...as well as whether or not I wanted to LIVE...or let this be my quiet suicide....

  With the emotional stressors and traumas caused by the congregation's handling of me--and my JW ex-husband/ rapist/ abuser--who, because of my multiple physical health problems, has custody of the kids...and has been making liberal use of the religion to turn them against me...yes...for a while it seemed like a very convenient and appealing way to 'check out'....

  Among other things, I had to wait it out before making that decision, to proceed with surgery...till I was no longer influenced by the insidious oppression/ depression that very nearly and fully drained the life blood out of me...quite LITERALLY....

  To this day, I don't know if my acceptance of blood transfusion is a factor in my kids' subsequent complete shunning of me.... (I'm inactive...not disfellowshipped/ da'd, etc.)

  So...yeah...if suicide ever DID become an eventual outcome in my case [not expecting it to, so don't worry]...you could definitely say that it was assisted by the WTS. It very nearly was accomplished through the surgery--even with that conscious thought in mind!--before I decided my life deserved to be lived, and my story deserves to be told. And the truth deserves to known, period. [Hadn't told it yet...couldn't die yet. Simple as that.]

  Getting even.... No...I don't think so....

  Getting balance of truth restored --which inevitably tips in favor of victims and against the WTS.... All for it.

  Revenge--no. Scales brought back to balance--yes. ...A thousand times, yes !!!!!!!!!!

  J-ex-W
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  Crooked Lumpy Vessel

  I am not sure if it has to do with revenge as much as it may have to do with setting the record straight.

  As a JW I was told that Jehovah was 'sweeping house' in the 70s and that apostates had intentionally infiltrated the Watchtower Society in an effort to do great harm. I was also told that those who left were only in God's organization for paradise and not for God himself. When I read CoC it came across as more of a 'setting the matter of truth' straight and the moral delimas involved in the legalistic agenda of the WTS.

  When we are in court, we listen to both sides of the story. I find the WTS only offers their version of events and then scare those who dare to investigate the whole story with tactics like 'the devil is out to snare you. or that they are apostates with only one agenda -- to rip you away from Jehovah'

  Once you take the leap and dare to investigate the other side of the story and discover that the WTS lied to you and that the 'so-called enemy' was speaking the truth regarding specific matters, its hard to keep quiet. Some of us lick our wounds in the corner while others feel very dedicated to exposing the lies.

  The WTS spends a lot of energy diffusing outside sources of truths with scare tactics. So I think its all fair game.
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  J-ex-W

  I am not sure if it has to do with revenge as much as it may have to do with setting the record straight.

  As a JW I was told that Jehovah was 'sweeping house' in the 70s and that apostates had intentionally infiltrated the Watchtower Society in an effort to do great harm. I was also told that those who left were only in God's organization for paradise and not for God himself. When I read CoC it came across as more of a 'setting the matter of truth' straight and the moral delimas involved in the legalistic agenda of the WTS.

  When we are in court, we listen to both sides of the story. I find the WTS only offers their version of events and then scare those who dare to investigate the whole story with tactics like 'the devil is out to snare you. or that they are apostates with only one agenda -- to rip you away from Jehovah'

  Once you take the leap and dare to investigate the other side of the story and discover that the WTS lied to you and that the 'so-called enemy' was speaking the truth regarding specific matters, its hard to keep quiet. Some of us lick our wounds in the corner while others feel very dedicated to exposing the lies.

  The WTS spends a lot of energy diffusing outside sources of truths with scare tactics. So I think its all fair game.

  Crooked Lumpy Vessel--- You just described to a "T" the dilemma/ dynamic molesters create for their victims...and with this extra-added layer of deception/ protection from the WTS's practice of information control...boy, it truly DOES become a molester's paradise!!!
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  greendawn

  I see them as being part of Babylon the Great so they deserve to get back double of the wickedness they pushed on their victims. They should be hammered down mercilessly for their cynical nature. Also warning people so as not get involved with them and become new victims is a great sport.
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  Scully

  I don't need to "get even" or bring them down or see them destroyed.

  For me, it's enough that I'm out and my immediate family is out and that my children will never have to experience the oppressive nature of being a JW.

  My life is pretty good right now.... and that about sums up the amount of revenge I need: Living well is the best revenge.