Rodney Stark issue

john123

Hi everyone,

Recently sociologist Rodney Stark made some comments that angered
many of those who have left the JW religion. He appeared on a segment
of a video under the topic how of the reliability of dissidents.
Srark said that the views of dissidents are the most reliable. This
is true. The views of those who are upset at a religious organization
and leave with emotion and biases that could taint informtion, but
this does not mean everything that is said by a dissident in 100%
wrong. I have run into countercult organizations who are so biased in
what they do it is hard to separate fact from opinion, misinformation
and disinformation.

Stark did say there are a few reliable souces. He also said that
these reliable sources are sometimes exploited. This is also
possible. I do not think it is a matter of what Stark said, but
rather a matter of how the Watchtower Society presented it.

Also the attack that Stark is a Christian Scientist has been raised
by several people. Be carful with this kind of attack. Attacking the
person's character, rather than the argument presented could
backfire. Besides in Religion, Deviance and Social Control by Stark
and Bainbridge the Christian Scientist religion is called a "cult."

I do have some questions about some other facts and figures presented
in that video.

1. The Watchtower Society keeps talking about a supposed policy
regarding pedophile cases, but I have
yet to see a written policy that outline what to do in such
cases. I would like to see this policy in writting
and the date is was put into effect. It is not enough to say
there is a policy. For all I know this policy was
started right after the pedophile issue erupted.

2. My next concern is the untrained clergy in local JW congregations.
Are JW elders willing to go through
some sort of crises intervention training for child victims of
sexual crimes? This might help them in there
ability to be spiritual sepherds.

3. One thing that Stark said that I will dispute is this: Its hard to
get into trouble in a group like this.
Stark does not realize that the JW religion is strict, and you do
what you are told or you are disciplined

I hope this is able to help everone.

LDH

He appeared on a segment
of a video under the topic how of the reliability of dissidents.
Srark said that the views of dissidents are the most reliable. This
is true.

Um, no, that's not what the segment said. It said that dissident views were particulary unreliable. At least, that's the video segment I saw on the WBTS website.

Could you tell me what video segment you are referring to?

Welcome to the board.

Lisa

Jayson

I have not read starks books yet. So this is opinion; If someone leaves one religion for another or just becomes irreligous is reason enough to dismiss them and anything they say. He also says that people who are inside the religion are the only true sources of information. If so, then why should any Jehovah Witness who comes to my door be believed when they speak about any other religion or even the irreligious? IMHO they can't have it both ways. Come to Catholic mass with me (if I were catholic) before you can have an opinion of them. If it [information or opinion] did not come from the Catholics, and blessed by the Pope, then it is not relevant. According to what I understand of Stark he is a patsy.

To many he has a point but, he is a patsy.

ashitaka

He appeared on a segment
of a video under the topic how of the reliability of dissidents.
Srark said that the views of dissidents are the most reliable. This
is true.

So, let's take bets on how much he got paid for that.

ash

Rodney Stark issue

john123

LDH

Jayson

ashitaka

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