The Watchtower Society is a monolithic power invested by its own self with power of attorney representing the Supreme Being in his dealings with mankind. The Watchtower represents itself as the "mouthpiece of god". It speaks FOR Jehovah.
But, does it treat the persons it deals with fairly and with due process? Are all persons within its membership treated equally in accordance to the law?
Or, is there lack of representation on behalf of members when they are accused or suspected of some grievous infraction?
For instance, if any person feels they have been dealt with unfairly is there a way to speak up and voice their personal grievance without being censored or reproved?
If somebody has cause to suspect the leadership locally or at a higher level is misrepresenting the will of God in word, deed or doctrine is there a process by which Loyal Opposition can be mounted without reprisal?
No and No!
The Watchtower Society is insular. It is self-protected from criticism and appeal publicly. This is made repeatedly clear in its published articles which seek to defame, demonize and ostracize any voice which may differ with its policies.
There is no means by which the critic, however well-intentioned or with good cause, merit and evidence may speak out and hold to account the administrators, elders or governing body! NONE. Why? Members have NO STANDING legal or otherwise against the Governing Body.
Let us ask ourselves why this is so and whether it is at odds with how Jehovah has dealt with humanity in the past.
In the Old Testament we see instances of men arguing with God and pleading their case for hearing and reconsideration. (Moses pleading for the idolators at Mt.Sinai, Lot pleading for the lives of the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, etc.)
Jehovah listened and heard insignificant man plead his case!
We also recall the role of such men as were called Prophets who criticized the duly anointed Kings of Israel and the nation as a whole.
Individuals such as Job argued with God and complained bitterly of treatment the felt was unjust and unfair.
Jesus, who represented his Father, argued with the highest officials of his religion and often bested them in the process.
Paul argued with religious the caretakers of christianity in Jerusalem such as Peter and James over differences of opinion on doctrine and pure worship.
So, why is today any different?
Why is the voice of the Loyal Opposition silenced? Why is there no accounting by high officials for policies, doctrines and printed statements which are demonstrably false?
Could it be the labeling of critics as "evil slaves" and "apostates" is mere despotism? Is the denial of Due Process a symptom of a haughty spirit that cannot bear scrutiny?
It is the sorrow and the pity of present day Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society that there is an iron curtain of censorship in place to prevent the airing of differences.
There is no process, no mechanism in place in which matters of doctrine or policy can be publicly debated as was clearly the case in Biblical times. Is that no evidence enough that the men in Brooklyn who run the corporation are in clear defiance of justice and fairness on purpose?
The denial of due process is a symptom of an evil laying waste to freedom of religion; the freedom of choice that informs and enlightens worshippers who possess free will.
If you are denied the right to make choices you are not a free person.
The right to disagree is the right possessed by thinking people who are rational and demand more than authority and the brusque, cold hand of the censor clamped over their mouth when they need to speak.
Brothers are not allowed to wear facial hair and become an elder.
Families are denied the right to make medical decision vitally affecting their children's lives.
Voting to better local government is denied infringing on federal laws.
Sexual malfeasance by members of the congregation is kept under wraps.
Parents have no say in certain medical treatments for their own children.
The level of education a young person may pursue is curtailed and severly controled.
The manner of employment a breadwinner may engage in is not a matter of free choice.
How a family uses its free time is limited, ordered and enforced.
The list is endless. Voices are silenced.
The Watchtower Policy of labeling contrary views within their own ranks as heresy, apostate evil and the symptom of spiritual illness is a sick policy that needs changing.
Who has the fortitude to bring about this change? How might it be carried out with a peaceable spirit of benevolence and fairness?
By creating a closed system and keeping it impenetrable by fiat, the Watchtower Society is able to maintain an illusory sense of a protective bubble. Yes, but, the Governing Body is protecting ITSELF from owning the blowback of ill-conceived errors of judgement.
Beliefs which are true can withstand any amount of discussion, testing, interrogatory scrutiny or examination. Jesus never ran away from a tough question, did he? No. But, the Watchtower Society has jiggered the system and short-circuited the Q&A in the Socratic method which Jesus used to teach.
The Watchtower closes off natural curiousity, going so far as to create exactly WHAT QUESTIONS are asked and providing exactly WHAT ANSWERS are to be parroted back!
But, they will never engage you in actual "thinking-it-through". No JW is able to think it through. Why? They are not allowed to THINK for themselves at all. They are indoctrinated to respond to a stimulus. Beyond that there is no "there" there.
A new interested person who is engaged in a JW "bible study" may ask questions, sure. However, if those questions reach the very edge of indoctrination the one teaching the study goes BLANK, balks and mumbles: "I'll have to get back to you on that one!" NO THINKING is allowed beyond what is memorized!
Any religion which only permits the closed system of thought and enforces it by threats and recriminations is a religion based on control and fear.
JW's are among the most fearful of all believers. Why? Because they are assured their very lives and futures hang in the balance with every deed they do and every word they utter. Is it any wonder they self-examine to the point of implosion?
It is the rare individual who can speak up and challenge this censorship. In a system that destroys individuality it is scarcely possible.
They'd end up expelled.
A closed system must remain closed.
I call it the inducement of the invisible "gun".
The Watchtower Society breaks in to your mind and pulls an invisible gun on you (the threat of destruction at Armageddon).
They disarm you by breaking down your confidence in your anchor points by pointing to "error" in your own religion. They humiliate you by constantly belittling your worth as a human being (sinful, imperfect, deserving of death, without hope, etc.).
The gun is always there pointing right at you.
Threat also of disfellowship is another kind of gun (Shun Gun.)
Indoctrination, inveteration and the gradual loss of rational defenses leads to inclusion in the new world society at the point of Conversion.
What holds members inside?
The absence of due process and the threat of the invisible gun.