First and foremost....a big thanks to Cedars. I gleaned some of these points from him. I sent this letter as well as a copy of the article to NOW.
To the Director:
My name is Sickandtired Ofcults. My wife is an active Jehovah’s Witness. Though not an active Witness myself, I do sometimes read their literature. What is alarming to me is the continually demeaning rhetoric about women being virtually second-rate citizens in comparison with their “head” – man. I am sure you are very familiar with fundamentalist Christian teachings as there are many groups and sects that teach the same things.
But I feel that the enclosed article is different. The article is written from the standpoint of trying to help “divided” households (those where one mate is a Jehovah’s Witness and the other is not) maintain happiness. But the article takes a very dangerous fundamentalist turn with paragraph 12. By liberally applying 1 Peter 3:1 & 2 as well as 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the writers of this article clearly insinuate that it is proper for a wife to endure physical violence from her husband so that, in time, she can “win him over without a word”. In other words, her mild reaction to his physical violence my cause him to soften….the violence may stop….and he eventually may decide to become a Jehovah’s Witness too.
The following may easily be ascertained as well:
1) A wife that is trying to “prove her point” with her husband might be demonstrating a lack of Christian qualities (particularly those described in 1 Cor 13:4-7) and if the husband were to then hit his wife, it would be understandable
2) Feeling sad and apprehensive is not a proper way to respond to being physically harmed by your husband. Instead, a wife should think about how to show more love to him
3) A husband who receives the proper “acts of love” from his wife is probably less likely to hit her, therefore if a wife wishes to remain unharmed physically, it is partially incumbent on her to show those proper “acts of love”.
4) If a wife considers it completely unacceptable to be physically harmed by her husband, she may need to have her thinking “readjusted”
The Watchtower Society (organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses) is very well known for giving improper advice throughout the decades….from advice on foregoing a college education……to the damnation of vaccines. I just feel like we’ve reached a point in society where such reckless suggestions and insinuations as what you will read in the enclosed article should no longer be swept under the rug. I believe this is a dangerous sect whose rhetoric and treatment of women is not in tune with the reality of modern day equality for all. My hope is that your organization will read the attached article and may help publicize the enduring primitive culture that has been and still is the Watchtower Society.
If you have any questions or comments, you may feel free to contact me via my work email address which is [email protected] I thank you for your time and consideration
Best regards,
Me