by The Searcher 69 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
True, Apognophos. The use of guilt to keep people in line is an age-old social "device" perfected by religious groups - but not unique to them. There is a well discussed observation that the Roman Catholic church "inculcates" guilt into its children and exploits it to keep them in line.
So sad that religious beliefs contort what it means to be "true" believers by often turning to FOG (i.e., Fear, Obligation and Guilt) to "bolster" back-sliders' commitment.
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What if they are able to get it upheld as a legally binding contract and go after anyone for breach of that contract? Someone that is 6 years old would be signing away all rights to be joke-hova free. They realize it is a lie, they cannot keep up the pace, or they simply want to leave Christi-SCAM-ity altogether. But they have that legal contract, on top of the disfellowshipping threat. Would a 6 year old be able to sign a mortgage on a house? Or a lease on a car? What if a 6 year old were to walk into a coin shop alone with payment for a silver eagle? They would probably not be allowed to buy that silver eagle, unless the parents are there.
Yet, they are being hounded to sign a potentially legally binding contract--one judge is enough to uphold it. Once signed, they get forced to pious-sneer and do all they absolutely can with disregard for health and material security. Fun is ruined. And, there is the possible threat--especially now with Saturn headed for Sagittarius, when such is more likely to happen. You never see that on a mortgage--the worst that can happen is foreclosure. The worst that can happen with the silver eagle is the child is out the price and loses the coin. Yet, soul damnation that can potentially be enforced is a real risk--can anyone under 30 really understand that? Or, anyone that doesn't have full understanding of the law, which can be intentionally confusing with these hidden gotchas in them?
I was taught in 1994 that they needed to come to accurate knowldege. That Christ wasn't baptized as a young one, but then in Oct. 2013 at the Annual meeting they slid in how parents had been holding their children back from being baptized.
So, this is not surprising at all. They always set the stage first.
They just aren't right. None of it is...
Not legal to drink alcohol
Not legal or old enough to have sex
Not old enough to marry
Not old enough to leave basic school
Not old enough to drive a car
Not old enough to pay taxes
Not old enough to vote in elections
Not old enough to legally get a tattoo
Not old enough to enter clubs or music venues
BUT...old enough to get baptised?
WTF!
Has anyone tried the reasoning...
"Sure, among JWs they think it's wonderful to make their little kids go d2d and baptize them when they're prepubescent, but what do onlookers really think?
"From my experience, when the shoe is on the other foot, JWs reason that infants being baptized and teenagers going through confirmation is coercion and the kids aren't mature enough to make an informed decision. It's really quite hypocritical of the JWs to practice the same things that they condemn other religions for doing. And if a JW is called before a court or draft board, what are people going to think when the JW says they were ordained as a JW minister at the age of 10?
"Similarly, when a child goes to someone's door to talk about religion what is the real response going to be in the householder's mind? Again from my experience, some householders may think it's cute, others have no hesitation to be rude and nasty, but most will feel pity for the kid. They may listen, but will they really respect the religion for this tactic? Can the householder really believe that this child has explored many religions and been able to conclude that they have 'the truth'? If a child was going d2d selling insurance, what would you think of the company? Would you think of the parents of the child? would you think, 'this kid must really be an insurance expert!'?
"And as I look back, how unfortunate that the kids have to spend so much time preaching, but they don't get any presents at Christmas or birthdays, and really don't get to have any fun. Particularly in my history with the religion, they don't have picnics or anything fun for kids like they the little that they used to. At best they'll get an ice cream cone at FS break. It just ain't right."
Why stop at baptizing children? I know some perfectly insightful and obedient members of the canine family who'd make superb Witnesses. And they've already got the barking mad criterion in place - which will render them at home in the local kingdom hall.
Yes, but can they Listen and Obey? ...Oh, they can?
It is not as if baptism was a meaningless episode that you could just walk away from. On the contrary, it is a life commitment that you break at the cost of your family ties and relationships... and they want them to make that at an age when they are too young to manage a bank account?
This is not new however, although the norm used to be late teens ot twenties. This was in the WT study copy :
The caption reads " at my baptism aged 10 years old" This was in 1939 ...(Wt 04/14 somebodies lifestory )
Hey Blues Brother...I would love to see how many are still in "the truth" too after so many years!
