Do Jehovah witnesses exploit the most vulnerable in society?

by Blind_Of_Lies 37 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  steve2

  Blind of Lies, you raise some pretty relevant questions about JWs and prosletyzing religions in general. These types of groups generally do not appeal to people who are just getting on with their lives and who are in loving stable family relationships.

  In my opinion, people who are suffering significant pain would find the promise of a better place - whether it be heaven, earth or some other place - alluring. Consequently, JWs tend to attract people who are in some way suffering. Whether you call this exploitation is another question altogether. The Witnesses certainly do not get much monetary benefit from attracting mentally unwell individuals who, as a rule are more likely to be unemployed, probably already in considerable debt and have meagre sickness benefits.

  JWs are no better or worse than other religions that 'play'on people's fears. In the mid 1980s I attended a couple of pentecostal revival meetings out of curiosity. In both, the same large number of societal down-and-outers went up on stage to have the pastor pray over them to release the bad spirit. In both cases, they left the revival just as troubled and in pain. Is that exploitation of people's vulnerability??

  If mentally unwell individuals join the witnesses it would not take them too long to find that the witnesses do not have the promised answers. It's good also to kep in mind an incontrovertible fact: Although the path leading into the kingdom hall is narrow, the fire exit is huge: In some areas, those leaving the religion outnumber those joining.
• 

  sizemik

  Has it been your experience or observation that in the past… say 10 years… the vast majority of people who “study” or even eventually get baptized are in some way “damaged”?

  This could be people with mental issues

  Mental illness

  Physical disabilities

  OR children/adults who came from or are currently in abusive homes

  I've been out for almost 10 years so can't speak for that period.

  As a general observation from my own WT experience and subsequent reading . . . I would consider the above conclusion a little simplistic. I think it's more accurate to say JW's recruit all types of people WHEN they are vulnerable . . . not "vulnerable people". The window of opportunity may be quite small with some who would otherwise not respond.

  A lack of parenting factors has been singled out as making young adults vulnerable to conversion for a period . . . but this does not necessarily constitute abuse, nor is it inevitable.

  Certainly, some who might be considered permanently "vulnerable" fall prey . . . but not disproportionately so IMO. Remember, 1 in 3 adults will suffer some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Also . . . those with an acknowleged mental illness are often carefully watched by others close to them, and so are not as vulnerable as they appear.

  Finally . . . "normality" is a fallacy. Nobody is normal. We all just spend a lot of time and energy trying to prove that we are . . . instead of just embracing our individuality and enjoying being different. JW's exploit vulnerability . . . not vulnerable people . . . that's why they keep coming back. It's a subtle but distinct difference.
• 

  kokyong.soon3

  I offer a twist to what is posted here. I am a mentally illed person. I appreciate the loving consideration of the 'brothers'. Finacially I am supported by my own sister. As long as I regularly take the medicine I do not post any problem to the congregation.
• 

  LongHairGal

  Blind of Lies:

  Of course you know many people in our society nowadays take medication and are not considered dangerous, and I myself once took medication when I was going through a depression. But, I realize you are referring to extremes.

  I heard a rumor a while back that somebody was murdered by their bible study. I am not saying what state this occurred in but the person who told me was a non-JW who heard it whispered from a relative. The point is: stories like this are very much suppressed.

  The religion keeps bad stories like this under wraps so as not to scare the unsuspecting people there as to what DANGER they are in when they take on "bible studies".

  And, you are correct that certain individuals with "issues" are passed around from person to person in the hall. Do you think this is right to pass on somebody who is dangerous to somebody else??? And, yes, it is most probable that it will be some poor woman/sister that is asked to take on this problem. As far as jackassing all over the place doing things, this is what these sucker sisters nowadays end up doing.

  Many years ago I dumped a study and she wasn't even dangerous. She was just an older lady who was a waste of my time and just wanted company to chit-chat with. She wasn't interested in making progress in the religion.

  Nowadays, the sisters in the religion can be in some REAL danger from the people they are "studying" with. I saw the handwriting on the wall ages ago.
• 

  KateWild

  I would gladly give my time to a lonley person for chit chat rather than help them progress in the WT, wouldn't you? The vulnerable need regular visitors to make sure they are doing okay.

  Kate xx
• 

  LongHairGal

  Kate:

  I agree with you, but this was back in the day when we were expected to help people make meetings, etc. This lady just wanted the social aspects of it. Now, I realize this is not so bad. Now, we know the religion is B.S.

  The point I was making is that the religion does not care how safe its members are.

  After all the bad news I have heard about the religion in recent years, I am grateful to be done with it.
• 

  KateWild

  The point I was making is that the religion does not care how safe its members are.-LHG

  So true, the elders don't care what burdens they put on us in the cong, and send sisters alone in dangerous areas. Good point. Kate xx
• 

  SaritaJ

  I thought to post this here since the subject is related to this thread.

  Though Nepal has never been part of the Commonwealth, the Gurkhas have fought under the Union flag since 1815, when their bravery and tenacity in skirmishes with the East India Company was so impressive that they were invited to join the British Army.

  It is estimated that 45,000 of their soldiers have since died for this country, and they have been awarded the Victoria Cross on 26 occasions.

  The campaign for all Gurkhas to be allowed to settle in Britain began after it emerged that only those who retired after 1997 — when their base moved from Hong Kong to Aldershot — would be permitted to live here. But it really captured the public’s imagination when Miss Lumley — enormously popular after her role in the TV sitcom Absolutely Fabulous — took up the cudgel

  Because they are so unhappy and homesick, you see them in the churches and religious halls, too, particularly those of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are said to have converted hundreds from Hinduism and Buddhism after a slickly targeted recruitment drive.

  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2835216/Joanna-Lumley-s-legacy-misery-fought-allow-retired-Gurkhas-Britain-heart-right-place-Five-years-say-s-backfired-terribly.html
• 

  sowhatnow

  what concerned me, when i saw how many mentally challenged people went to one congregation in florida that i visited,

  was what results are there going t be having these people go out in service? they cannot teach, all they can do is hand out magazines and read a scripture. they are embaressing in returaunts, no fault of thier own, but why so we have to go to a resturaunt in meeting clothes with them? why cant it be in normal clothes. people already say retarded jws around here.

  they should not be required nor placed with such a burden[or burdening everyone else more so] of doing teaching work when they theseves have problems. its stupid.

  its not very appealing to have a handicapped person in the car that you have to go through 5 minuets of helping them out of the car while sitting in the middle of the driveway or street, with on lookers, so they can be helped up to a door to stand there and just knock.

  its slows every one else down. its foolish. its all done so they can cunt hours to report to teh society and members to add to teh number,.

  jws will study wit h anyone no matter how handycapped they are, and study with the elderly alzheimers people in nursng homes just to get hours. its a waste of time.

  then there are the older ones who are past the ability to properly care for thier appearence , cant pull on panty hose anymore, comb or wash their hair, eeww veiny legs craked toes hanging off sandles, and dry skin, and really bad breath,

  who are still going out door to do that look like bag ladies nad homeless people, its out right embaressing to these poor souls.

  they also cannot hold down a study. so whats the point? [and some are still doing talks!! why???]

  they are babblin on nonsense and making the home owner uncomfortable, ive been there. the home owners take the mags just to get rid of them. then guess what, a place ment and a return visit, add it up. make the numbers look grand , all for nothing.

  we have a huge amount of people in our area who will study with wittnesses just to have a social life. and a ride somplace.

  they are poor often have no transportation, and have no money. they depend on the people at the hall to get them proper meeting clothes and often even more, plus pick them up. they have no cars.

  so its not at all that they are doing good works, they cant.

  they do not have to do anything, as God knows thier situation and will not expect them to do the works of men.
• 

  Apognophos

  I observed this too -- that most converts were mentally ill or social misfits. But I viewed it as evidence of the love in the religion that JWs would work so hard to bring these people in and help them go out in the ministry. I still think it's to the credit of any JWs who have the patience to deal with these people, but counter-balancing that, I also am aware now that the JW is motivated to make converts in order to affirm his own beliefs, and I'm also concerned over the pros/cons of being in the religion.

  People who are adrift in society or who have substance abuse problems may in fact be better off in the religion than they were before, but what about the pressures that the religion places on them? And even within the religion they'll always be a second-class citizen if they are not capable of "reaching out" for "privileges".