The point is very simple. Double standards. What one experience is to one person can be viewed differently by another. Until the observer feels the same has happened to them. Then the viewpoint seems to change. Names of the participants aren't really that important, it can be applicable to anyone here, don't you think? I guess what I hope to achieve would be to encourage an objective view to what others endure, almost as if you yourself were enduring it.
Ladonna, you seem to be a bit irritated that I was never a JW and you seem to imply I cannot possible relate to your "issues", therefore having no business posting here. My dear let me tell you that I am no stranger to oppression or injustice. As I have gotten a few inquiries regarding my history with the WT and answered them individually, I saved one and will post it here:
Anyway, you asked about my background with JWs. I was very interested in learning about religion, this having been peaked when I learned about the Reformation's role in history. Anyway, they came to my door, I thought it'd be interesting and educational. Boy I didn't know the half of it, eh? :-)
Anyway, I got to be good friends with the gal I studied with. She had kids close to the ages of mine and they made friends. We visited socially. Keep in mind too that at the time I was a pretty faithful Catholic. I had returned to my faith after some traumatic times in my life. We enjoyed our studies because we always went off on side conversations. We both liked to research stuff. It did occur to me that she did *all* her research from WT books. ;-)
She was a very kind, generous and loving person. I enjoyed her company a lot but I did notice she acted a little "differently" when certain people were around (JW men to be exact). More serious and straight-laced etc.
I studied with her (and various people of course, always brought a "study buddy") for 18 months or so. I only attended one meeting in all that time, it was a memorial. I thought it odd. At the end of their little study/indoctrination book is the part about deciding to become baptized and the pressure started. It had been very no pressure up till that point.
I found this an unpleasant development and looked into the WT. I hated their books and how they wanted the studies to go. Hated those stupid questions and the canned answers they obviously fished for. I had heard little things too throughout my time with my friend. How it is the job of others to keep the org clean and stuff. One lady laughed about how her daughter's kids would cry about "I don't want a spanking" while being carried away to the bathroom. "Kids just have to learn respect"....my friend was uncomfortable during this "slip" as she knew I wouldn't approve of such. Anyway, lots of red flags and then I went looking for more info.
Well as you can guess I found plenty and then even more when I found h2o. I confronted my friend with some of the stuff I printed up, they ran away and never came back. I got a letter from her like a year later. She told me she thought I was just using that as an excuse to stay with the Catholic church (which btw, she had taken care to bring me any bad article/news on she could find throughout relationship). She let me know we would have no further contact. I felt horribly betrayed by her when I learned how the borg really worked. I didn't understand how she, knowing me as she did, could possibly think I could be happy with such a religion. So oppressive.
In time I learned that it is *she* who is the real victim. I learned a lot more than that too, as you may guess. I grew attached to some of the posters from h2o and followed the migration to JWD. I have things in common with many of the folks actually. One of which is the quest for understanding this world we are in. I too have only just awakened to it in the past decade or so, at least on a much higher level than before. I credit hardship for the progress. ;-) Another thing I have in common with them (and of course countless others) is the dysfunctional environment in childhood so I can relate to much of that. I also like to keep tabs on the org and would do anything I could to help put a stop to the oppression they do.
You'd be surprised at how much I learned has helped me academically too (mostly at h20 but the learning continues at JWD too). You will notice how some posters have very high standards for "proof" and sources etc. I learned to apply that to all things (not to sound like a WT pub), especially my history studies and am a much more disciplined student for it. I will always be grateful for the personal and academic progress I have been able to make thanks to the people on these DBs. I learn from those much further in their journey and from those just starting out. I guess you can learn something from every one, eh?
So there you are. My background/association with the WT.
I hope this meets your criteria Ladonna for me to continue associating with you all. I think it is common knowledge that those outside of the WT actually know more about it than those in. I mean how many loyal JWs do you think know about the UN thing? I am horrified at what this org. does, was extremely disappointed to learn the truth of it too. Lost what I considered a valued friend too.
I wonder why you ask me these questions in this thread.
Julie
