by Addison0998 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I'd tell him that you hope that the organization has adjusted its policies and have stopped asking (young) people such obtrusive, invasive, inappropriate and potentially litigious questions (where is ok for 3 grown men to ask a young person (or a woman of any age, really) sexually intimate questions? ) Grooming, anyone?
Scare the shit out of him!
Talk to a lawyer get him/her to write a letter to the Elder (he/she will know how to word it ) even if their is nothing legally that can be done about it you can bet your life its going to scare the shit out of the Elder/s and it will be well worth the money you paid for a lawyer to send the letter .
Just my 2 cents worth
edit to add : I liked Simons last post
Very good question.
I think it's something we should make the world more aware of as most people would be appalled, especially as pertaining to teens.
Watchtower would be made to look like the haven for perverts it surely is.
I agree with the use of a lawyers letter other wise its just you complaining about him to him. Thats a train going nowhere.
Addison0998 - I'm sorry you've gone through the cult's star-chamber system, but hopefully you'll benefit from having shared it here.
You said, "It pisses me off so much how much power and influence they have over people."
Sorry to correct you, but you should have said, "It pisses me off so much how much power and influence people allow them to have over them."
When JW's waken up to the facts that -
a) they are not scripturally commanded to confess serious sins to any elders, and
b) that they are not scripturally commanded to discuss/reveal their private & personal issues with elders - that's when the elders lose their self-claimed & fictitious power over the congregations.
Create your own elder-firewall - "It's not something which I can/want to discuss at the moment, but if things change, I appreciate the fact that I can call on you for your help. Thank you, and goodbye, scumbag!"
Politely, but firmly, shut them out of your personal business - and your life!
don't forget to tell the elder that questioned you that hes a sick unit.
And be sure to do it while his wife and mother are within listening ear.
And yes, in the work place, such questions would be considered sexual harassment and grounds for a huge lawsuit settlement. I'm confident it is not grounds for suing a "religion". (Separation of Church & State and all that.)
I love the idea of having a lawyer send a "threatening" letter -- IF you're not trying to quietly "fade". Don't stir the shit unless you're ready to find yourself involved in a stinky mess.
Inappropriate, demeaning and insulting, but not SH
SH is a civil complaint specific to the workplace.
It is not a criminal charge, like assault, which is illegal in any context.
When I first heard that the jc's & elders worked this way I was appalled. My jw still doesn't believe the jc's/meetings go this way. You should hear the outrage when you tell other non jw's about the invasive questions by these perverted elders. Verbal porn for later if you ask me.
I would blame the organization more than the elders (though both of course are culpable).
In the secret elders manual, there are described various "degrees" of "sin" that must be measured. If the elders don't ask those questions, they won't know the "degree" and thus won't know what to "charge" you with. Thus, the ultimate fault lies with the GB / Service Dept. who mandated these nitpicking guidelines.
The above is offered as an explanation of their actions, not as justification or an excuse.
Its an over intrusion into your personal life to be sure, of course if there is fornication or adultery then it becomes something more because of the behavior laws this religion has.
Don't want this kind intrusion then move on.
Being overly and rigidly judgemental is part of this religion, there are similar ones as well.
In Catholicism its a personal matter that you have to approach a priest about if you seek help or want to confess your sin .
