Often when discussing with Jehovah's Witnesses the problems of the organization, it is common for them to say they think you are lying. They may feel in some way or another that you have fallen away from the pure light, and have become blinded to Jehovah, and opened your eyes to Satan's false teaching. These words, and the thinking I have expressed, should sound very familiar to any reader who has spent time in the organization. The point we often forget though, in our post-Witness life, are that these people are correct from the small amount of knowledge they posses.
Take for example a country that wants to build a nuclear bomb. They may have one part built in the north that looks innocent to the builder, another part in the south that looks like a toy or object that is not dangerous, another part built in the east that looks like some kitchen tool, and still another part in the west that looks like a part for a boat motor. Each factory is told only what they need to know, to make the part they are working on. The government may even place production goals before them, and reward them for hard work in a way that promotes them above others. Which works off of self-esteem and pride, which develops into loyalty. If you took one person from each location and interviewed them separately, and then said "did you know you were building pieces to a bomb?" Most likely they would argue with you, and not believe your comments. Why? Because they only see what little piece they work on, and that piece could never cause the harm you are describing. These pieces are then shipped to one central location, where only a small group of people assembles them, and have the true knowledge of what the products entailed. This type of organization, is an example of "strategic placement of duties and knowledge." Meaning, by only showing people the small pictures, they could never focus on the larger picture that is unfathomable to their limited knowledge base.
In the Witness religion this is seen in the authority and congregation structure. The Governing Body members make decisions in a fashion mentioned by Raymond Franz, behind closed doors. These are only seen and explained to those, on a need to know basis. These actions affect the Overseers who deliver these directions to the congregations under the pretense of divine enlightenment. The elders then discuss these issues under the thought that they are "mature enough" to handle the information, and are obligated to not share the information with the average publisher. In fact, they are told that people "spiritually mature" must first prove themselves before being handed these elder responsibilities. With a strong value being placed on " confidential talk." The elders in Canada do not share thoughts with elders in Texas, with elders in Florida or elders in New York. So they too, do not know what is happening around the world. Circuit Overseers do not call, and are not encouraged to do so, other Circuit Overseers from around the world to compare notes and ask question. In the case of the elders, Circuit Overseers and other branch positions, the recommended method is to call headquarters and speak to the main offices. Why?
By doing so, no one man or congregation could ever see the over all understanding of the organization. The information could then be filtered, reworked and corrected to be published into magazines that make it seem that such desires to know more are, you've guessed it "Satan's false teachings." This type of movement of information is common, when you are trying to control people. The key to controlling the masses, lies in controlling the news medias and other lines of communication. This is seen currently in the country of China, where they are trying to stop the spread of the Internet into their borders.
So when you are sitting down to eat with a Witness relative or friend and you make a statement like, "what do you think about the UN connection with Jehovah Witnesses?" Do not be surprised to see a blank look, followed by the warning signs of apostate information. This is not because they know this information, and want to forget it. It is because their small piece of work, their individual pieces to the over all bomb, does not give them enough material to work with to come to the conclusions your new life has allowed you.
The individual factories are running all around us. In the individual members of the Witness faith, in the congregations, the circuits and in the world's countries. The bomb building will go on, and the people will remain none the wiser, unless they quit the factories and step back to see what was being produced the whole time. Remember, do not blame the workers, as they really think they are doing a good job. Perhaps they are wanting to achieve, "employee of the month"
Edited by - whyhideit on 20 December 2002 18:9:39