I'm inviting former JWs to file a class suit against the Watchtower for psychological, sociological, physical, intellectual, biological and financial damages.
A. Psychological damage:
1. Followers are made to believe that the Christian Bible is the sole and exclusive Word of God. I beg to disagree. The Old Testament was solely written to unite the Hebrews and the New Testament solely to unite the Jews. Worse, the Watchtower has its own interpretation of the Bible, not to mention its own version of the Bible itself (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures), that is, to unite the JWs. The Watchtower propagates its own idea of who will and will not be resurrected. Oh, come on...
2. Followers are made to believe that Armageddon will come every tomorrow. As a result, they religiously go through all five meetings a week, aside from attending various assemblies and going from house to house. Watchtower representatives, in particular, pointed to the year 1975 as the "end of the world." I was an impressionable 12-year old at that time during which I was baptized. Imagime, I was having goose bumps every time Armageddon was echoed from the pulpit!
3. Children born in JW families are made to "go from house to house" at an early age. Formal indoctrination (which they call "bible study") prior to baptism usually starts at age 12. Becoming an "ordained minister" while still a minor can hardly be considered willful and legal.
B. Sociological damage:
Followers are admonished to be "separate from the world." They consider outsiders as "worldly." They cannot enter politics and become president, nor can they become a police or a military general. They consider the United Nations as the "Wild Beast." What? (Oh, man, gimme a break!) Me, maybe as the long-awaited 666 or Anti-Christ. The Watchtower only made the world of JWs smaller.
C. Physical/Health damage:
1. As a result of Item A-2 above, Sunday is like a working day. No rest.
2. Many have been bitten by dogs, hit by a speeding car (my brother-in-law's mother was hit and killed by a jeep while going through her routine of being a "regular pioneer"), and stricken with a host of maladies associated with "seeking first the Kingdom." (Oh, my God, I'm getting emotional!)
3. The Watchtower holds the Bible superior than science. My mother died in 2004 due to leukemia. She could have lived for a few more years if she just had blood transfusion, and we could have still enjoyed her company. In comparison, my grandmother (my mother's mother) lived for more than twelve years, because I had her infused with blood, even as I was then a JW but already with nagging doubts. The story went like this. My grandmother had an accident and she was operated on in an orthopedic hospital. I was alone accompanying her during the day of the surgery. It was successful but the doctor said that she needed to have blood transfusion to recuperate, if not, she would die. I phoned my mother. Knowing me, she left the fate of her mother in my hands.
D. Intellectual damage:
1. College education is discouraged. Careers in law and medicine are a no-no. What for? Doctors and lawyers, as JWs say, are not needed in the "new system of things." As a result of the 1975 blunder, many JW youth stopped attending college and instead pursued "pioneer" work.
2. Excelling in academic pursuit is like eyeing for the moon. In my case, I was the 1) Most Outstanding Student, 2) Best in Math and 3) Best in English during elementary. I was able to qualify for entry to the University of the Philippines Integrated School (high school), and I took up college in the same premier university. But after my laurels in elementary, I never did take my schooling seriously afterwards. What for? Armageddon is nigh.
E. Biological damage:
1. "Bethelites" are not allowed to have children. If ever couples have children, they have to leave the office/factory.
2. Many so-called "pioneers" are not able to marry, hence becoming old maids and old bachelors. They are practically deprived of sex! Even masturbation is prohibited!
F. Financial/Economic/Professional damage:
1. JWs, who are legally "ordained ministers," are not paid for their proselytizing work.
2. The Watchtower has no economic development programs for its followers. It preaches its own economic motto: "Keep your eyes simple." The five meetings a week apart from periodic assemblies get in the way of professional, employment and business work.
3. If you want to become a Bill Gates or a Rockefeller, forget it. If you are middle class and you, unfortunately, become a JW, you cannot rise up the next rung of the economic ladder anymore. In fact, the "seek first the Kingdom Hall" mentality will pull you down financially. Again, as a result of the 1975 blunder, many JWs, at least in my country, sold whatever property they could dispose of, even carabaos, so they could have means of support while keeping themselves busy with their "end of the world is coming" commercial. Kinda reminds me of Mr. Bean in the movie "Johnny English" wherein he was surprised to read the tattoo on the fake Archbishop's buttocks that says, "Jesus is Coming; Look busy."
