Hello. I have recently done a research project on people with disabilities and religion. First, people who have mental disabilities, while do not seem intelligent to some of us, have their own thought processes and feelings (as valid as ours).
While my research did not focus on Jehovah's Witnesses, I did my own thinking about the subject because of my previous affiliation. I believe that in a way Jehovah's Witnesses actually recruit mentally disabled people. For example, many of the controlling elders could be diagnosed obsessive compulsive and many of the pedophiles could also be seen as disabled (chemical imbalance???). But in respect to new members in the congregation, people with disabilies are a good target for Jehovah's Witnesses. Because they are often treated as not intelligent members of society, they are easily told what to do. Plus, because most of society cannot accept people with disabilities, the hope of paradise where everyone is accepted and perfect (i.e. non-disabled) is especially luring.
However, the problem is that once they become Jehovah's Witnesses, people do not know what to do with them. In truth, they are waiting to be fixed. This puts hold on their lives. They are not allowed to accept their disability as part of their person but must fight it through faith and obedience. The problem occurs emotionally when the end never comes and faith doesn?t cure them. This actually stands for all disabled people (i.e. including physical disabilities). When society in general is so bent on making everyone relatively perfect (i.e. normal), the person doesn?t take time to learn and grow as a person. For example, when somebody gets into an accident and becomes disabled (perhaps mentally, a head injury or physically uses a wheelchair) it is a major life change. If somebody is not allowed to deal/adapt with this change, they can experience large amounts of discomfort and emotional pain (depression). Especially when they are viewed in an entirely different light than previous status (i.e. lowered responsibility and participation).
However, being incompetent is not the only stereotype that comes up. Sometimes they are often used as a type of faith/love trophy (i.e. my cross to bear). Less common in Jehovah?s Witnesses (to my knowledge) is the ?physically blind but can ?see??. This implies that they have a better ?minds eye? or more faith. One of the most gross but deep penetrating stereotypes is that disability and sin are directly linked. Often when you read in Jesus miracles of curing disabled people, it?s accompanied by ?your sins are forgiven? or demons are expelled. I don?t remember exactly were these scriptures are but there are numerous examples (the man lowered into the house on a cot and the tale of the wild man). And this follows through to my pervious topic, of paradise and perfect. There sin is eradicated by getting rid of the disability.
In addition, there is a definite harsh language used in the bible towards people with disabled. If you look into the Old Testament, you?ll see discrimination against people with disabilities and priest hood. I talked to a few pastors (note: not Jehovah?s Witnesses) that told me the harsh terms were the result of the scribes and translators. But if the bible was inspired by God, the scribes at least should have been sensitive through their divine connection to God. In turn, the society, a type of right hand to God, should also know better.
Of course there have been stories that illustrate the problem of waiting to be cured. For example, out in field service I heard a lady in the car group recount a story. A woman in a wheelchair studied and was baptized. She however, was very shocked that right after baptism when was not ?cured?. An especially hard area dealing with disabled people and Jehovah?s Witnesses is in field service. The mentally disabled aren?t really trusted to say the right things. In fact, an older woman had a mental disability and began saying the wrong things at the door. She was, of course, promptly disfellowshiped.
In the end, I believe retention of people with disabilities is lacking because while some people may not be able to critically think, emotionally they know something is wrong.
(One last point, correct terminology for people with disabilities usually is 'people first' terminology. This means that whenever referenced, people is always stated first (i.e. people with disabilies). This makes sure that the person, not the disability, is being focused on. Maybe it will help some people to see them as people. It would be great if we all just saw them as people.)
Thank you, forgetmenot
