or all you wrote, basically I say, P** off unless you plan on Manning up and walking in our shoes. Yes a lot of us are upset , some of us have had horrible things happen to us. We might seem crazy to you but if your g t randdaughter is molested by an elder and it is covered over- come back and tell us how you feel then. Or your wife raped and the rapist is still an elder, tell us how you feel.. Otherwise, don't preach to me, Pharisee.
and I don't care if my grammar is not good or I use too many comas, take a flying leap
Violia, I agree with your sentiments. I am sorry you have suffered so much from the actions of those in the org. I also do not have much respect for someone who has not “manned up” to his convictions and then attempts to advise those of us who have “manned up” (at great cost to ourselves) on how we should conduct ourselves. The more I have considered his article, the more offended I have felt. My opinion of him is that he is a pompous a__! I understand the each of us has the right to express our opinion, but if you put your opinion out there, others have the right to voice a rebuttal.
Here are a few of the things I found offensive.
The author, “Shadow Elder” presents his “bona fides.” He is an active Jehovah’s Witness who lives “just outside of New York City…right next to the Brooklyn Bethel headquarters.” What does this mean and why is it relevant to his “bona fides?” Does living “right next door to the Brooklyn Bethel headquarters” convey some special knowledge or understanding, through osmosis perhaps, greater than that of Jehovah’s Witness who are far removed by distance i.e. live in Wichita, Kansas or Seattle, Washington? Is the “Holy Spirit” not able to convey this knowledge and/or understanding beyond the NE corridor of the USA? “
“If you want to know what “average Jehovah’s Witnesses are thinking, New York and New England would be a good place to start.” What are you saying? Should we conclude that Jehovah’s Witness in others parts of the USA are not “average” or do they not think?
The author tells us that he is in his mid-fifties, married, has five adult sons, owns his own home and drives an old car with four doors (uck) that is perfect for using in field service activity. He’s getting by on his salary but he is not rich. Why is this relevant to the discussion? Does owning a home and having children add to an individual Jehovah’s Witness’ credibility, and if it does, why is this so? Does not being single and childless give a JW more time to devote to serving Jehovah and the WBTS. Is a person renting a home or apartment somehow less credible than one who owns his own home? I never knew these were prerequisites for credibility in judging the pros and cons of internet web sites. Jesus did not have children or own a home. Does this detract from his credibility?
Mr. Shadow Elder next tells us that he and his parents have been long life faithful witnesses, his father “professed to be of the anointed class” but his mother did not. He himself has held a variety of positions of authority in the congregation.
Is this supposed to impress. It does not impress me! Perhaps I am being petty, but the tone of his article is pompous and condensending. As for his being in a
crisis of conscious, we've been there, done that!
