Which is worse: thinking for yourself or raping children? Most sane people in the world, whether religious or not would clearly say the latter was the worse, and worse by as large a margin as could be conceived. Unless, that is, you are a Jehovah's Witness.
In Jehovah Land, thinking anything contrary to the organisation is the worst of crimes
From the very outset of his rebellion Satan… promoted independent thinking. …To this day, it has been Satan’s subtle design to infect God’s people with this type of thinking… How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization. (The Watchtower, Jan 15th, 1983, p22)Indeed, even looking at the writing of someone who has cross-examined the Society’s literature is worthy of sexual mutilation as a fitting punishment
We enjoy the blessing of continued freedom from religious error, but to keep that liberty, we must reject apostasy… Paul wished that advocates of circumcision seeking to subvert the Galatians’ faith not just be circumcised but get themselves sexually mutilated. Strong language indeed! But we must be just as firm in rejecting apostasy if we are to maintain our God-given freedom from religious error. (The Watchtower, Mar 15th, 1992, p20)A person who criticises the Society openly faces disfellowshiping as a certainty if they refuse to recant. What happens to a child molester if they say they are sorry after being caught? I will give a personal testimony:
About 4 years ago an MS in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, was exposed as being a serial child molester. This included children at the Kingdom Hall, at the District Assembly in Leeds, as well as local non-JW children in our area. He had been perpetrating these crimes for 15 years or so. He had been appointed as an MS for about 3-4 years before getting caught. The only reason it wasn’t hushed up was because one of the children told their mother who made it clear that if the elders did not deal with it properly then she would go to the police. Faced with being turned in anyway, he confessed and “repented”. Thankfully he went to prison for his crimes. But, according to “Jehovah’s representative Government on earth”, The Society, he deserved no greater punishment than being publicly rebuked and removed from his post. That’s it. Nothing more. Not a word of the danger he posed to other children, not a word of warning – it was several months later that the local newspaper brought everything to light, but nothing would have been known had it not been for our local reporters.
What makes it even sadder is that one of the girls abused has had her loving uncle & aunty disfellowshiped over exposing The Society’s lies. They are apparently deserving of death, whilst this bastard John was free to associate with her.
Since then he has been released from prison and moved, I believe, to Bristol, Avon. Whilst he will never hold another position of responsibility in the Borg, he will be viewed as a trusted “brother” to the dubs in the new congregation and trusted “uncle” to more young children who do not know he is a pervert.
This prompted a series of questions for me:
1. John was an approved man, his appointment taking place after roughly 11-12 years of abusing children.
2. According to WT teachings, he was approved or appointed by the Holy Spirit at the same time he was attacking children.
The only logical conclusion is that either the Holy Spirit approves of paedophiles, or The Society’s claim that Holy Spirit appoints their men is a lie.
I think the overall conclusion is clear. In Jehovah Land, whilst child abuse is obviously not approved of, child abuse clearly isn’t nearly as bad as criticising the organisation.
Religion n.
An organisation designed to promote atheism.