What percentage of brothers in USA were told that? I was never told that.
Nixon stopped the draft a month before I was scheduled to appear.
______________
A per one hundred breakdown is not within my capability because I only have
surreptitious access to the still living / still in Brothers who were in prison.
I've been very careful, methodical, and circumspect in my queries. Out of the
40 or so Brothers I spoke with back in the late 60s, every one of them was
privately counseled the same way. They were from Southern states, Oklahoma, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Texas mostly. As a sample size - I don't know how representative this is.
There were 5 Draft Age Bros. in my home congregation. Only 2 of us went to the clinker.
With the other 3 it was a "don't ask - don't tell" situation.
One Bro had a mom who was best friends with the head of the local Draft Board. She was
not a JW. He ended up working at a GOODWILL INDUSTRIES job for 2 years.
Another Bro had a wealthy dad. So, every variation on that theme was possible.
I discovered a few years back, when an EXJW confessed it to me - he had bribed his way out.
Cash changed hands. A political thing. He is a wealthy engineer and he comes from money.
There are thousands of stories in this experience. Maybe there is no "there" there as far as
that goes.
If you want to know what a REAL conscientious objector, true-believing Christian would do -
Watch the movie HACKSAW RIDGE about the real life C.O. Desmond Doss (An Adventist).
Now THAT was courage and integrity!
We JW boys pretty much had a relatively easy time of it all things considered.
Yes, I was sexually molested - but - it didn't kill me and at the time - didn't wreck my faith.
I lied about the severity of it to my prison Brothers, inventing a kind of "Jehovah saved me" scenario as might be expected. In reality, so many of us were brutally treated one on one and lying about it for the sake of the FAITH BUBBLE. Who knows what any would be Christian in history really experienced, eh?
It has a name: Pious Fraud.
It happens because True Believers don't want to ruin the fantasy for the others.
"Pious fraud" is a term used to describe actions or deceptions that are committed with the belief that they serve a greater good or a religious or moral purpose. While these actions may involve dishonesty or deception, they are often rationalized by those who commit them as being for a higher cause. Here are several examples:
1. **Forgery of Religious Artifacts:** Throughout history, individuals have created or altered religious artifacts, such as relics, in an attempt to strengthen the faith of believers. For example, in the Middle Ages, some churches claimed to possess pieces of the True Cross, but many of these were likely forgeries.
2. **Religious Propaganda:** Some religious texts or writings may contain exaggerations or embellishments to promote faith. For instance, hagiographies (biographies of saints) often included miraculous events or deeds to inspire piety.
3. **Religious Charlatans:** Certain individuals throughout history have claimed to have divine powers or connections to the divine, using their perceived authority to exploit believers. These charlatans may use deception to gain followers and accumulate wealth.
4. **Apocryphal Texts:** Some religious traditions have included texts that were not included in official scripture but were revered by certain sects. These texts may have been written with good intentions but contain exaggerated or false claims.
5. **Altered History for Religious Reasons:** In some cases, religious leaders or organizations have altered historical events to fit a particular religious narrative. For instance, changing the dates of significant events or claiming divine intervention in historical battles.
6. **Religious Miracles:** While many people genuinely believe in the miracles attributed to religious figures or events, some skeptics argue that some of these stories are embellished or even fabricated to promote faith.
7. **Suppression of Contradictory Information:** In some cases, religious institutions or leaders may suppress or downplay information that contradicts their beliefs. This can include censorship of historical evidence or the suppression of scientific discoveries.
8. **Pseudoscience and Health Claims:** Some individuals or organizations promote pseudoscientific or miracle health remedies with religious undertones, claiming that these remedies are in line with divine will.
9. **Misrepresentation of Religious Texts:** In an attempt to make religious texts more appealing or relevant to modern audiences, some individuals or groups may interpret or translate religious texts in ways that deviate from their original meaning.
10. **Invented Relics:** Creating and promoting relics, such as the purported burial cloth of Jesus, the Shroud of Turin, which some claim as evidence of the crucifixion and resurrection, is seen by some as a pious fraud.
It's important to note that the term "pious fraud" is subjective, and what one person considers a deception for a greater religious good, another may see as deliberate dishonesty. These examples illustrate the complexity of the concept and its historical significance.
