Is there some purpose to be gained by attacking Bill Bowen and SilentLambs? Do you honestly feel that Bill Bowen can be equated to the GB and is exercising his own form of brainwashing? Are his motives so disingenuous? Is the real purpose of SilentLambs to destroy and overthrow the WTBTS, as youve alluded to?
The following is just one of several exchanges from another popular ex-JW site:
Atlantisdragon writes With today's silentlambs march in NYC, it got me to wondering something. How did you view Ex-Jw's when you were active? I wondered, as I had to put myself into this past thought to see how a common Witness would have seen today's march.
The Witness mind speaks ... (Not the current me) "Personally I see these actions as just another example of how far these people have fallen from Jehovah's grace. They are under the control of Satan and only want self-glory in their anger towards their own actions. They are the stubborn goats, that tries to lead without listening. They are wasting their time and using this cause for protecting abuse, to channel their own personal hatred."
Basically : I see these actions as nothing more then a strengthening to my faith, and a building of my fear to ever speak out on anything. Thus I risk falling into such a depraved condition.
Okay I will snap out of that then ... did not like the feeling of thinking the old way again. The thing is, in all honesty. I don't see where the march is going to have any affect on active Witnesses. When the Ex-Jw's protested in front of the Kingdom Halls and assemblies, we laughed at them. When they wrote letters to the newspapers, or started Ex-Jw support groups ... we figured it was Satan controlling them.
So I ask something, do you think silentlambs is having any affect on turning people away from the organization or do you think they are building some peoples faith? After all, they see such a thing as a "sign of the end!"
Kelsey When so few, if any of the rank and file are even aware of these events I agree with dragon. The few who may be aware will just shake their heads in dismay and pity the poor fools who gave up their everlasting life by not waiting on jehovah. To me that is the long and the short of it.
Legal avenues must be persued to make this effective. Personally I have the feel that the feel that the founders and leaders of the silent lambs org is demonstrating hat and anger against the WT. I have never found that such motivation brings lasting change or finds a large audience.
Dragon I also find that when someone is motivated by hate, they attract people with a lot of anger too. The ones who actually want to help, turn away in time when they see that their is not really enough help happening.
This happens in politics all the time. I could name a million examples.
Kelsey As I have stated before I have gotten the feel that to give any criticism to the silent lambs founder is like having critisized a jw elder.
I belonged to a cult before and I not interested in belonging to another- bowenite or whatever.
I have noticed- especially on the other board that many have offered up the "shunning" process to those who would question the authority of bro bill or silent lambs. We sit as an ex-jw to a active jw in comparrison. I am for aiding the victims and bringing a positive change in churhc policies. I am against acts motivated by hate and anger or seeking vindication for ones stand. I Had enough of that also when I was a jw. "Spanking those bad boys" or loud mufflers and squeeling tires in fron of a KH does no good for the victims and certainly does not change WT policy. Laws can force the change.
as you indicate in your post dragon- the jw's aren't giving much positive thought to the actions of an ex-jw.
Dragon Kelsey I have noticed what you said too. I think it is a example of "old habits hard to break." I know it has not been on this board, but the examples on others has made me very disappointed in silentlambs. I want to distance myself completely from another's vendetta.
Did you see the post where someone called me a a**hole for asking a question about silentlambs?
The following are again, my own comments (BB)...
I think it is very easy for armchair quarterbacks to criticize the work of others, especially if they would never be caught dead supporting an event like, themselves. It would mean revealing their true identity to those they claim to support, but more importantly, it would mean that they would finally have to come from behind the curtain in the Societys eyes and risk expulsion.
Are those who have already had their lives destroyed pinning false hope on the SilentLamb organization? Those of us who actually attended the march in support of the few valiant lambs who were able to attend (and in recognition of the thousands of other victims who were not able to) should we just count ourselves fools for somehow allowing ourselves to be sucked in?
I think not.
Ill count the march on September 27, 2002 as one of the most wonderful and rewarding events in my lifetime. Ill never forget the memorable statements of the SilentLambs and the weight of their poignant message in front of the society world headquarters.
Nor will I forget the stand of those who have already been disfellowshipped, or who were about to be disfellowshipped. In a way, these persons make the ultimate statement in love and courage. To be willing to stand against the societys policy in support of SilentLambs, knowing full well that they will be sacrificing their religion and lifelong relationships with family and friends, is nothing short of incredible.
As I see it, this is not just the efforts of a single individual, but the combined efforts of concerned individuals, from around the world to effect a policy change.
Those that have helped to organize this (and other events) are not lemmings who blindly follow a single charismatic individual, the very thought (with our similar backgrounds) is repulsive and ludicrous.
Finally, I appreciate the opportunity to have been a part of this effort and would welcome the chance to lend my support in the future.
BB