Reading responses to JW72's current post I was reminded of a book I read more than ten years ago that makes it all fit together now.
Being one who has hung on for years hoping for major reform within the JW administration I feel I now must accept reality. Why does the GB hang on to such unpopular and harmful teachings such as Blood, confidentiality for pedophiles, disfellowshipping, meddling in personal matters, irritating people with their door to door preaching and on and on?
Years ago, I read a book by Dr. Scott Peck entitled People of the Lie. What the Author explains early on is that it is not a common practice for Mental Health professionals to label anyone as Evil, they simply display socially unacceptable behavior. But Doctor Peck also accepted reality, that there are some people who are truly evil. They are people who will persistently hurt others for what they can gain from it. I would at one time have argued this could not apply to the GB because they are not getting anything. I can vouch for them as for as financial issues go. True they live on some nice property but so do the “new boys” at Bethel who do not make the decisions. So what do they get out of sticking with mindless traditional teachings that cause great harm when they have the power to change them?
I will summarize how Dr. Peck explains as for as my memory serves me. He explains that evil people, for fear of admitting they took a wrong course way back in life,(in this case WT history) are dedicated to building and preserving an image of goodness or perfection. This image must be preserved at all cost to hide not just the imperfection that exist, not just the harm they have caused, but the evil of not having changed the policies a long time ago. Their conscience can not stand the reality of what they have done and what they are, so when confronted with their own faults they lie, justify, or blame others. (Really, this is in the book) Some how they must appear to have either
(1) Done the right thing or
(2) The good they are doing is hidden by someone else’s evil.
Basically, these people are evil deep in side but put on a pretence for themselves and others that they are good. The evil shows up when they are willing to lie, or "sacrifice" someone else in order to preserve their appearance of "good". Beck says, "strangely these people are trying to destroy evil" sincerely thinking of themselves as righteous in their efforts. I guess this makes it even harder to admit their own evil.
It’s a good read. Peck is also the author of “The Road Less Traveled” with which, I hope, many or familiar.
Jst2laws
WT self incrimination: ‘When counseled, have we tried to justify ourselves, minimize the seriousness of the situation or shift the blame to someone else. Have you ever reacted in that way?” United in Worship, page 125