Some,ones young folks and youths are from the theocratic lexicon. So are John the Baptizer, the issue of universal sovereignty, Jehovah's visible organization, the Governing Body and spiritual paradise.
Can You Discern What The Society Is Really Saying?
by minimus 58 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
UnDisfellowshipped
Scully,
Sorry, I don't have any Scans of the Watchtower February 1st 2003 Question from Readers, but below is the text.
It is about the "Scream or be Disfellowshipped" Rape Policy.
It seems to me that this "Question From Readers" uses a lot of Theocratic Warfare in order to confuse the hell out of everyone, just like all of the other "Question from Readers" Articles I've seen.
The Watchtower February 1st 2003 Issue:
Questions From Readers
Why does the Bible say that a person should scream if threatened with rape?
Anyone who has not personally experienced the horror of being brutally assaulted by a rapist can never truly understand how it can shatter one's life. The experience is so terrifying for the victim that it may trouble her for the rest of her life* [FOOTNOTE SAYS: Although this article speaks about female victims, the principles discussed also apply to males who are threatened with rape.]. A young Christian woman who was attacked by a rapist some years ago relates: "Words cannot express the sheer terror I felt that night or the trauma I've had to overcome since," Understandably, many prefer not even to think about this frightening subject. Yet, the threat of rape is a reality, in this wicked world.
The Bible does not shy from recounting some cases of rape and attempted rape that occurred In the past. (Genesis 19:4-11; 34:7-7; 2 Samuel 13:1-14) But it also offers counsel on what one should do when threatened with rape. What the Law says on the matter is found at Deuteronomy 22:23-27. This covers two situations. In the first case, a man found a young woman in a city and lay down with her. Even so, the woman did not scream or cry for help. Consequently, it was determined that she was guilty "for the reason that she did not scream in the city." If she had cried out, people nearby might have been able to come to her rescue. In the second Instance, a man found a young woman in the countryside, where he "grabbed hold of her and lay dawn with her." In defense, the woman "screamed, but there was no one to rescue her." Unlike the woman in the first instance, this woman clearly did not give in to the actions of the attacker. She actively resisted him, crying for help, but she was overpowered. Her screaming proved that she was an unwilling victim; she was not guilty of wrongdoing.
Although Christians today are not under the Mosaic Law, the principles mentioned therein provide them with guidance. The above account underscores the importance of resisting and screaming for help. Screaming when threatened with rape is still viewed as a practical course. One expert on crime prevention stated: "If a woman is attacked, her best weapon is still her Lungs." A woman's screaming may attract others, who can then assist her, or it may startle an attacker and make him leave. A young Christian woman who was attacked by a rapist stated: "I screamed with all my might, and he backed off. When he came toward me again, I screamed and ran. In the past I had often thought, 'How can screaming help me when some big man grabs me with only one thing on his mind?' But I've learned that it works!"
Even in the sad case where a woman is over powered and raped, her struggle and screaming for help is not in vain. On the contrary, it establishes that she did all she possibly could to resist her attacker. (Deuteronomy 22:26) Despite going through this ordeal, she can still have an undefiled conscience, self-respect, and the assurance that she is clean in God's eyes. The horrifying experience might leave her with emotional wounds, but knowing that she did all she could to resist the attack will greatly contribute to her gradual healing.
In understanding the application of Deuteronomy 22:23-27, we must realize that this brief account does not cover all possible situations. For example, it does not comment on the situation where the attacked woman cannot scream because she is mute, unconscious, or paralyzed with fear or is forcibly prevented from screaming by a hand or tape over her mouth. However, since Jehovah is able to weigh all factors, including motives, he deals with understanding and justice in such cases, for "all his ways are justice." (Deuteronomy 32:4) He is aware of what actually took place and of the efforts the victim put forth to fight off her attacker. Therefore, a victim who was unable to scream but otherwise did all she could under the circumstances can leave matters in Jehovah's hands. -Psalm 55;22; 1 Peter 5:7.
Even so, some Christian women who have been attacked and violated are incessantly pained by feelings of guilt. In hindsight, they feel that they should have done more to prevent the incident from happening. However, instead of blaming themselves, such victims can pray to Jehovah, ask for his help, and have confidence in his abundant loving-kindness.-Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:5.
Hence, Christian women who are presently coping with emotional wounds resulting from an encounter with a rapist can be confident that Jehovah fully understands the painful feelings they are dealing with. God's Word assures them: "Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves." (Psalm 34:18) Further help to cope with their trauma can come from accepting the sincere understanding and gentle support of fellow believers in the Christian congregation. (Job 29:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) Moreover, the victims' own efforts to concentrate on positive thoughts will help them to experience "the peace of God that excels all thought"-Philippians 4:6-9.
-
Scully
Undisfellowshipped:
Thanks for going to the trouble of transcribing that article!
The Watchtower February 1st 2003 Issue:
Questions From Readers
Why does the Bible say that a person should scream if threatened with rape?
Anyone who has not personally experienced the horror of being brutally assaulted by a rapist can never truly understand how it can shatter one's life. The experience is so terrifying for the victim that it may trouble her for the rest of her life* [FOOTNOTE SAYS: Although this article speaks about female victims, the principles discussed also apply to males who are threatened with rape.]. A young Christian woman who was attacked by a rapist some years ago relates: "Words cannot express the sheer terror I felt that night or the trauma I've had to overcome since," Understandably, many prefer not even to think about this frightening subject. Yet, the threat of rape is a reality, in this wicked world.
So why are men writing articles about how women should respond when faced with rape, when most likely they will be the ones doing the raping, rather than experiencing the violation?
The Bible does not shy from recounting some cases of rape and attempted rape that occurred In the past. (Genesis 19:4-11; 34:7-7; 2 Samuel 13:1-14) But it also offers counsel on what one should do when threatened with rape. What the Law says on the matter is found at Deuteronomy 22:23-27. This covers two situations. In the first case, a man found a young woman in a city and lay down with her. Even so, the woman did not scream or cry for help. Consequently, it was determined that she was guilty "for the reason that she did not scream in the city." If she had cried out, people nearby might have been able to come to her rescue. In the second Instance, a man found a young woman in the countryside, where he "grabbed hold of her and lay dawn with her." In defense, the woman "screamed, but there was no one to rescue her." Unlike the woman in the first instance, this woman clearly did not give in to the actions of the attacker. She actively resisted him, crying for help, but she was overpowered. Her screaming proved that she was an unwilling victim; she was not guilty of wrongdoing.
Although Christians today are not under the Mosaic Law, the principles mentioned therein provide them with guidance. The above account underscores the importance of resisting and screaming for help. Screaming when threatened with rape is still viewed as a practical course. One expert (Who?)on crime prevention stated: "If a woman is attacked, her best weapon is still her Lungs." A woman's screaming may attract others, who can then assist her, or it may startle an attacker and make him leave. A young Christian woman who was attacked by a rapist stated: "I screamed with all my might, and he backed off. When he came toward me again, I screamed and ran. In the past I had often thought, 'How can screaming help me when some big man grabs me with only one thing on his mind?' But I've learned that it works!"
Even though Christians are no longer under Mosaic law, the elders are still going to use these archaic rules to judge a woman who has been raped.
Even in the sad case where a woman is over powered and raped, her struggle and screaming for help is not in vain. On the contrary, it establishes that she did all she possibly could to resist her attacker. (Deuteronomy 22:26) Despite going through this ordeal, she can still have an undefiled conscience, self-respect, and the assurance that she is clean in God's eyes. The horrifying experience might leave her with emotional wounds, but knowing that she did all she could to resist the attack will greatly contribute to her gradual healing.
So someone who doesnt or cant scream isnt doing everything she can to fend off her attacker, and is not clean in God's eyes?? Those B@$T@RD$.
In understanding the application of Deuteronomy 22:23-27, we must realize that this brief account does not cover all possible situations. For example, it does not comment on the situation where the attacked woman cannot scream because she is mute, unconscious, or paralyzed with fear or is forcibly prevented from screaming by a hand or tape over her mouth. However, since Jehovah is able to weigh all factors, including motives, he deals with understanding and justice in such cases, for "all his ways are justice." (Deuteronomy 32:4) He is aware of what actually took place and of the efforts the victim put forth to fight off her attacker. Therefore, a victim who was unable to scream but otherwise did all she could under the circumstances can leave matters in Jehovah's hands. -Psalm 55;22; 1 Peter 5:7.
When the elders question her about all the gory details of her attack, they are still going to ask her whether she was wearing panties or a thong.
Even so, some Christian women who have been attacked and violated are incessantly pained by feelings of guilt. In hindsight, they feel that they should have done more to prevent the incident from happening. However, instead of blaming themselves, such victims can pray to Jehovah, ask for his help, and have confidence in his abundant loving-kindness.-Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:5.
Whether a woman does everything she can to fend off her attacker, she is still going to be wracked with guilt. Feeling guilt is something that a lot of women are very good at, even when they have no need to feel that way.
Hence, Christian women who are presently coping with emotional wounds resulting from an encounter with a rapist can be confident that Jehovah fully understands the painful feelings they are dealing with. God's Word assures them: "Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves." (Psalm 34:18) Further help to cope with their trauma can come from accepting the sincere understanding and gentle support of fellow believers in the Christian congregation. (Job 29:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) Moreover, the victims' own efforts to concentrate on positive thoughts will help them to experience "the peace of God that excels all thought"-Philippians 4:6-9.
"Sincere understanding" and "gentle compassion" from fellow believers includes having to recount the ordeal in gory detail in front of three untrained men who are trying to determine whether she "invited" the attack by wearing a thong instead of panties.
It doesn't appear that anything has changed. If you don't scream, and are wracked with guilt, it's because you didn't do everything you could to stop the rape from happening, and you're unclean in God's eyes, so they'll DF you.
If I say anything else on the subject, I'll use language that will get me kicked off the board. I'll come back to this later, when I've simmered down.
Love, Scully
-
minimus
I just showed this to my wife and she is appalled!!! This is one of the most disgusting articles I've read in a while.
-
blondie
Same old crap, Scully. Good job of cutting through it!
As to that quote, note the 1984 WT is more complete and I have provided the website of the West Yorkshire Crime Prevention Bureau.
2/22/84 Awake page 27 They Resisted Rapists
According to Chief Inspector Keith Kilbride of the West Yorkshire Crime Prevention Bureau in England, "if a woman is attacked, her best weapon is still her lungs."http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/Crime%20Prevention/crimehome.htm
Blondie
-
NeonMadman
"The brothers wondered what to do and where to go when the Watchtoer of 15 Jan 1938 showed the way in a brilliant flash of light, how garteful those brothers were" type stuff. It is written as if the Watchtower was some etherial 'being' totally indepenant.
Good point. It's really a propaganda technique, albeit (imho) a rather transparent one. Most organizations, in writing about themselves, would use the first person ("we" or "us"). Not the JW's. Whenever the Watchtower or Awake refers to Jehovah's Witnesses, it uses the third person ("they" or "them"). In doing so, they attempt to convey the impression that the writer himself is not a JW and is therefore more "objective" in his assessment of the Witnesses than a writer who is a member of the group. That actually used to bother me when I first started reading the magazines (and I was only 14 at the time!). Just the same, I quickly overlooked it in view of the "marvelous truths" I was learning (gag, retch, puke).
-
JT
Good point. It's really a propaganda technique, albeit (imho) a rather transparent one. Most organizations, in writing about themselves, would use the first person ("we" or "us"). Not the JW's. Whenever the Watchtower or Awake refers to Jehovah's Witnesses, it uses the third person ("they" or "them"). In doing so, they attempt to convey the impression that the writer himself is not a JW and is therefore more "objective" in his assessment of the Witnesses than a writer who is a member of the group. That actually used to bother me when I first started reading the magazines (and I was only 14 at the time!). Just the same, I quickly overlooked it in view of the "marvelous truths" I was learning (gag, retch, puke).
YOU ARE ON THE MONEY sorta the Bob Dole mindset of 3rd person
-
JT
For example, it does not comment on the situation where the attacked woman cannot scream because she is mute, unconscious, or paralyzed with fear or is forcibly prevented from screaming by a hand or tape over her mouth. However, since Jehovah is able to weigh all factors, including motives, he deals with understanding and justice in such cases, for "all his ways are justice."
this is truly deep notice these 2 very powerful points from the wt:
1. Jehovah is able to weigh all factors-
now ask yourself WHAT FACTORS rape is forcing a woman to have sex when she doesn;t want to- but wt is refering to DRESS- TIME OF DAY- WHO SHE IS WITH, ETC yes jah will weigh those factors in and decide if the woman is worthy of being forgiven for allowing herself to be raped-
you got to love wt writers
2.including motives- now this is truly deep for wt is implyin that god must consider the motives of the woman in allowing a man to rape her, how sick can you get
-
CC Ryder
In the second instance it said that there was no one to come to her aid although she screamed. That implies to me that no one heard her scream. So how is this supposed to justify their rule about screaming out being the determining factor as to the victim doing all they could within their power to resist?
Minimus, your right, this article is digusting! Rediculous reasoning!
CC
-
Elsewhere
What is their solution to a person suffering emotional and psychological pain resulting from the rape?
such victims can pray
Absolutely NOTHING is mentioned about encouraging a person to seek professional help.