Bill Bowen "Kidneys"

by HildaBingen 87 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  bakedcanuck

  and so it continues...
• 

  Englishman

  Bill Bowens motives in putting himself to the forefront are totally reasonable.

  Some of us are introverts, some of us are extroverts, some of us want to hide, others perform well only to an audience.

  My nature is always to "go up front". I can't post quietly and anonymously anywhere! It's part of my personality and it may well be a part of Bill's personality too. So what?

  Hilda Bingen, you never heard of born leaders? Don't you realise that to be most effective you have to have a personality for people to relate to?

  Englishman.
• 

  ignored_one

  To everyone except the troll.

  Please stop the feeding.

  Hopefully he/she/it will disappear back to their tasks at Watchtower house once their lunchbreak is up.

  The important thing is that the lambs are being heard not the way Bill Bowen has done things.

  Ignored One.

  <END OF POINTLESS TOPIC>
• 

  HildaBingen

  To Thatsucks:

  :Okay, thank you. Now I realize that you wish to question Bowen's motives. That's fine. But, since his primary concern is reforming WT policy so that it is more protective of innocent children, I must ask you what motivates YOU? Why would you, who so clearly detests child molestation, question the motives of someone who's clear intent is to stop it? Would you know what I think motivates YOU? It's protecting the JW organization. Therefore, when you say you "have no desire to protect the image of any religious organization", in my humble little opinion, you are lying.:

  The problem is that I am not sure what Bowen's motives are. He could want to reform WT policy and he might want to both reform policy and make a name for himself. I don't know. But it seems that if the man was so concerned about children and not self-glory, he would tell members of this JW.com to stop praising him so much. Think what you want, my dear. I only answer to God and Christ.

  To Precious Mimilly

  :Hilda -

  It is YOU who needs to examine YOUR kidneys and motives here. You have yakked your way around in circles since posting. You are not interested in truth or the protection of abused ones. Anyone who is, does not yak their way around in circles. It is not an issue to be side-stepped. It is YOU who is on the fence.:

  I am not yakking my way in circles, dear. Sorry if you have been abused but you fail to understand the mystic. The contemplative moves circularly in an upward spiral as she aims for ultimate truth. To the unilluminated, it may seem that the mystic is yakking around. But appearances can be deceptive, dear.

  :It is people such as yourself who allow the abuse to continue. Maybe you don't like the whole thing being exposed because, just maybe, YOU are an abuser! Keep it all silent, wait on God.. blah blah blah. How convenient for you.

  silentlamb with a voice. Must be terrifying for you eh?:

  I am no abuser, hon, I can assure you of that. I have suffered abuse however. So I know what you are going through, dear. However there is a right way and a wrong way to expose abuse. One does not have to get pats on the back when he or she decides to uncover power/knowledge structures that undergird abuse. The righteous have no reason to fear anyone and they do all things to the glory of Yahweh.
• 

  RedhorseWoman

  The light always causes the vermin to try to run and hide. Keeping things in the dark only allows the evil to continue.

  Bill Bowen was thrust into the position in which he now finds himself, and he is doing what he feels he must do to effect change from within the Organization.

  Anyone who has ever been a practicing JW knows full well that a person who has DA'd themselves becomes a non-entity. Their words and actions have no effect. Anything they say can be countered by the WTBTS as being from a disgruntled ex-JW who couldn't live up to the "standards" of God's Organization. This is, of course, untrue, but it is believed by all active JWs.

  By remaining within the ranks, Bill can be heard and his points might at least have a chance of consideration by other active JWs.

  As far as his seeking support here....why not? If using others as a sounding board for his ideas and receiving "backslaps" helps to give him the strength to continue on....why not?

  I belong to several mailing lists for people working for various causes, and in every case, people share their ideas, their victories, their problems in order to garner encouragement and assistance.

  People don't do their best work in a vacuum.
• 

  ThatSucks

  Thank you for your response HildaBingen. You said:

  The problem is that I am not sure what Bowen's motives are. He could want to reform WT policy and he might want to both reform policy and make a name for himself.

  What difference does it make if Bill Bowen is known as a witness who protested the child abuse policy of the WatchTower/CCJWs? None at all. The children need to be protected. Besides, even if Bill Bowen tried his darndest to remain anonymous, people like you would be searching him out to question his motives, just as you are now.

  I don't know. But it seems that if the man was so concerned about children and not self-glory, he would tell members of this JW.com to stop praising him so much.

  So, we see that you were formerly a member/lurker here. Doesn't it seem an odd coincidence that you are now "speaking out" regarding Bill Bowen now that he is in the papers? Besides, most of the posts I see are simply thanking Bill for what he is doing. Do you not thank someone for helping you? Is it not common courtesy?

  Think what you want, my dear. I only answer to God and Christ.

  If you are indeed a loyal Jehovah's Witness and not of the annointed than you are sadly mistaken. Go smoke a cigarette in front of other JWs, and when you are called for a judicial hearing, be sure and tell the elders there that "you only answer to God and Christ". I'm sure they will be very pleased to know this as they prepare to inform "God's People" that they should all ignore you as if you were dead.

  Now, if you ARE a loyal Jehovah's Witness and of the annointed, why don't you think of one thing regarding "God's organization" that you feel should indeed change, and inform the governing body in writing of your thoughts, and remember who you claim to follow as they prepare to have "God's People" ignore you as if you were dead (unless they try to readjust your thinking).
• 

  HildaBingen

  Dear Ken,

  I hope all goes well with your bother-in-law's operation. I want to get back with you later about evil and God. Hilda understands how you feel--in some ways.
• 

  Celia

  Hilda,
  

  However there is a right way and a wrong way to expose abuse. One does not have to get pats on the back when he or she decides to uncover power/knowledge structures that undergird abuse. The righteous have no reason to fear anyone and they do all things to the glory of Yahweh.

  So, what is the right way ?
  What should be done to stop the abuse of JW kids by JW elders, MS and others ?
  What should be done to make the leaders in Brooklyn understand that they have to change their policies that are harming so many innocent children ?
  Going public with the hundred of stories he knows about was the only efficient way for Bill Bowen to make this horror known to the public and the authorities.
  He couldn't do that anonymously now, could he.
  Bill, I have only admiration for what you're doing !
  Hilda, none so ever for you !
• 

  HildaBingen

  Dear Celia,

  I know that the truth can sometimes hurt, dear. Bill says what you want to hear and you like him. I speak an unpopular message or, to be more exact, I ask unpopular questions--and it pains some here. Oh well. God and Christ come first in my life, hon.

  But to answer your question, I think the right way to handle matters is by waiting on God and following his holy book.

  Practically that can mean that one works for change within an organization or social movement without undermining the very organization that one SAYS he is trying to change. As far as the excuse about wanting to remain a Witness so as to effect change more effectively, I simply do not buy it. How many Witnesses are willing to listen to Mr Bowen now that they have read his remarks on the inet, in Christianity Today or on any other public medium? Maybe a few but surely not that many. Bowen knew that he would be viewed as a dissident the moment he went public. If he did not know this, he is not the brightest candle in the cake.

  Maybe Bowen should have obtained a sociology degree before opening his mouth. He could have learned something about social movements, especially, religious ones.
• 

  ThatSucks

  Celia, if I may, allow me to answer these questions with Hilda's current stance:

  What should be done to stop the abuse of JW kids by JW elders, MS and others ?

  Nothing. God will take care of things in his own time.

  What should be done to make the leaders in Brooklyn understand that they have to change their policies that are harming so many innocent children ?

  Nothing. God will take care of things in his own time. The leaders in Brooklyn already understand the problem, and are doing the best they can by following the principals set forth in God's word. We should not blame their policies when a few bad persons are taking advantage of the sheep.

  [Translation: Don't do anything, just let God handle it.]

  [Reality: Jimmy does Sally, Sue, Jamie, Rhonda and Jodie while everyone is letting God handle it.]