Do we have double standards about JWs?

by Skeptic 38 Replies latest jw friends

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  Skeptic

  Do we have a double standard as far as JWs are concerned? Yes, I know that their claims of being better than any other religion sets them up for higher expectations. And yes, generally JWs are judgemental. But even those things have limits.

  Picking examples out of my head:

  Rudeness by Witnesses often gets commented on. But other people are rude too.

  Any misconduct by elders. Statistically, some elders are going to be bad eggs (unless a perfect God appointed them, of course). Do we have same standard for our church? (assuming we attend one).

  Misconduct by JWs. Do we have similar standards for our friends?

  This thread was inspired by a poster here. In two unrelated threads, this poster thought abusive behaviour was both OK and terrible. The "OK behaviour" was done on purpose by non-JWs/ex-JWs, and the "terrible behaviour" was by JWs, most likely out of complete thoughtlessness (the behaviour itself was still inexcuseable). I am sure the poster is not aware of the apparent double standard. I am not going to get more specific, as I am not looking for a flame war. If it bugged me enough, I could just email the poster; I almost did but thought What's the point? So I left it, and this morning wondered about double standards that we all have, including myself.

  Now, I know that the JWs set themselves up to an extent. But JWs are human too, and I wonder if sometimes we have a bias against JWs, and tend to think that bad behaviour of a few means they are all rotten.

  Do we hold JWs to a similar standard that we would hold anyone else to? Or are we needlessly harsh when it comes to JWs?

  Richard
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  dedalus

  Witnesses sanctimoniously proclaim to be absolutely superior and correct about religion, morality, science, behavior, earth, heaven, death, and life. The look down on every single person who is not a Witness. They therefore deserve any criticism they get for being so much less than they claim to be. In fact, I don't think they get enough criticism.

  Dedalus
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  amac

  Great questions! I see some emphatic replies coming. I think it's hard to blanket everyone as being one way or another...but the loudest minority is often seen as the majority...and there are plenty on this board that let their bitterness and anger taint their view of JW's. I've been labeled as a JW Apologist for sticking up for them when I think they are unfairly criticized.
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  SpannerintheWorks

  Hi, Skeptic! I know what you are saying, and yes, I agree that there is good and bad in everyone. But the Watchtower religion is a cultic religion; the same cannot be said of everyone!

  Spanner
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  amac

  Witnesses sanctimoniously proclaim to be absolutely superior and correct about religion, morality, science, behavior, earth, heaven, death, and life.

  Dedalus, I do not think the JW's are the only ones that think this way. I would have to say the same thing about every average pseudo-intellect.
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  blacksheep

  This difference I see is that the JW CLAIM to be the only org god is dealing with on earth. They CLAIM to be better people, they CLAIM to be honest, loyal, hardworking, good citizens, have "love among themselves." They actively DOWNPLAY goodness in other people and groups (in fact, my mother, when she say the heroic, selfless rescue of travelers on a crashed plane several years ago on the news, insisted that the many who risked his life to help others MUST have been a witness...ugh. It's like she couldn't process that there could be brave heroic people outside JW's org...

  If JW's didn't make such a big deal about how wonderful, and god-blessed they are (unlike everyone else of course), I don't think they'd get as much flack. I don't believe too many other religions try to promote such a flawless image. If they do, then yes, I think they do deserve to have their flaws pointed out.
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  Skeptic

  amac,

  I've been labeled as a JW Apologist for sticking up for them when I think they are unfairly criticized.

  Human nature is interesting, isn't it? When I was a moderator on H2O, people thought I was a rabid JW. And I primarily only gave warnings for posts that contained unprovoked rudeness. Richard
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  Skeptic

  If JW's didn't make such a big deal about how wonderful, and god-blessed they are (unlike everyone else of course), I don't think they'd get as much flack. I don't believe too many other religions try to promote such a flawless image.

  I agree that they would get much less flak if they didn't make such grandeous claims for themselves. And if they allowed members to leave without any consequences.

  If they do, then yes, I think they do deserve to have their flaws pointed out.

  I agree to an extent; but I believe that this has limits. Exactly what those limits are, I am not sure. Whatever is reasonable, I guess.
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  rocketman

  I agree with blacksheep for the most part - their 'holier than thou' attitude sets them up for criticism.

  That being said, it often depends whether one refers to the organization or the people in it. I think, many times, we see the jws as just being people like ourselves, prone to errors and mistakes.

  But, let's say for a moment that I sat here and told you that I was God's "channel", covered up my mistakes without admitting them, blamed others for my mistakes, and never apologized when I was wrong....... well, I'd be setting myself up for some scathing criticism.
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  Sentinel

  The standard they should be held by should equal the standard they project. They claim to be the perfect organization of god on earth. They believe all their members are better than anyone who happens NOT to be a JW. I place them in the same category with all other religions and cults...and a bit worse, since they claim to be god's chosen people, yet most have no real love or compassion. They have been reduced to mere puppets, who for the most part, cannot do hardly a thing, unless they first check with the "societies rules and regulations". I have no respect for any who are so self-righteousl pompas, judgmentary, as to shun family and friends who have made their own choices. They do not respect anyone else, so I find it difficult to respect them and the false doctrines they preach. When I say them, I'm not directing it at any one individual, but at the organization as a whole. But, on the other hand, we are known by the association we keep.

  Most religions have a set of doctrines and that's it. JW's keep changing their doctrines, and these doctrines are the ones that hurt their own people, cause them pain, grief and death. Their members are not allowed to listen to their own conscience, or read other informative literation. They are unreasonable with their demands. And, this light of theirs keeps changing. Doctrines keep changing and being twisted in the way they are written, to keep members confused and paranoid about making any decision themselves. They lose "self" and become like robot drones.

  When you go "outside" and you breathe slowly and you really stand back and view the whole picture, you can see how distorted it all really is. You begin to learn how to live in this beautiful world and be loving and compassionate and not have to be full of guilt and fear.