Witnesses are accustomed to think that Watchtower generated rules would make the
world a peaceful happy place. Let's examine that claim:
Western nations are founded on the principle that individual humans have rights
that governments must respect. What rights do I have under the Watchtower system
of governance?
If I am accused of a crime, a grand jury may have to decide if the accusation
is valid - then I may choose to be judged by 12 of my peers in open court.
None of this applies to the Watchtower's secret tribunals.
The government must inform me of my right to counsel and give me legal representation
if I cannot afford one. In Watchtower- land, legal counsel is forbidden, in writing,
and may automatically result in my being 'found guilty', in effect.
I have the right to confront my accusers and question them. As a Jehovah's Witness,
you have no such right.
I can reasonably expect that I can openly disagree with anything the government does,
and that I can protest or seek to change it's policies - without having my citizenship
revoked or being severely punished. The Watchtower allows none of this.
In most enlightened nations, there is a presumption of innocence of the accused.
Also, juries will be told they must be certain 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.
Apparently, Circuit Overseers are telling elders to simply disfellowship
people in cases where they have any doubt - the opposite! - and a notable change
from when the Governing Body instructed erring on the side of mercy. ( Br. Sullivan,
for example).
I can worry about politicians preserving Social Security - or I can put my trust
in the Watchtower rulership, which recently discarded a 120 year tradition of
subscriptions because they are running out of money. They also got rid of most magazines
on tape and large print editions that older people favored. Finally, it has often
been observed that older Witnesses are simply told to 'depend on Jehovah' in their
retirement rather the organization providing any material support. Which system seems more trustworthy to you?
I can observe worldly leaders being exposed for crimes and moral lapses in an open
society where the media is allowed to investigate and report such things. Does any
of this apply to a secretive, closed organzation that endlessly brags about
how 'clean' it supposedly is? And that counsels its members NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN SURVEYS
THAT MIGHT REVEAL THINGS THEY DON'T WANT EXPOSED ( Kingdom Ministry & elder's letter).
Isn't it obvious that the issue of child molesting exposed just how backward and
inferior the Society's 'system of justice' is? That many have been forced into
'worldly courts' because they had no other way to obtain justice?
Would you really prefer the Watchtower to rule so they could organize mobs, Taliban
style, and stone adulterers to death - along with anyone who disagrees with them?
( which equals 'apostasy', in their minds).
If you can see all this clearly, why are you supporting them with meeting attendance
and contributions? Is this the kind of tribal barbarity you like? Should judges be trained
, independent professionals - or untrained, self employed, 'volunteers' acting with
almost no oversight, even from the Society?
I'm going to vote next month.
I don't like many of the candidates but I still will vote with enthusiasm
like some person who left a third world dictatorship behind.
All because I can now appreciate what a system of injustice looks
and feels like.
metatron