Flipper,
It is so easy for us to see the malarky of this article now that we are out. Yet when we were in this washed over us like a tidal wave.
bennyk and OODAD were spot on when they showed the doctor-patient relationship is nothing like the elder-publisher relationship. For one thing doctors have had years of training in their field; most elders don't have more than a high school education (I've known a few with less). When I read your thread to my husband TotallyADD, who had been an elder for 25 years, his reaction was, "Another illustration that doesn't apply!" As an aside, my husband has told me that one of the elder's schools he attended was totally about how to use the Concordance to find information in the publications, and another school spent most of their time on the variations of Porneia. Yes, they're really qualified to give counsel! I know TotallyADD felt badly many times that he wasn't able to help those who came to him. In his later years as an elder he began advising some to seek help through AA or psychological counseling.
Not "jeopardizing the peace of the congregation" is more important to the GB than honestly letting them know what is happening in their midst.
Yes, only the elders have the "right" to make judgments that affect our lives.
Only the elders have the "right" to know if a pedophile is in the congregation.
Only the elders have the "right" to break up families by disfellowshipping.
Only the elders have the "right" to talk to disfellowshipped ones.
Only the elders have the "right" to decide what is appropriate apparel in their congregation. (This varies from congregation to congregation.)
Truly this SCREAMS MIND CONTROL!!!
I am so thankful we are no longer a part of the cult.
Reopened Mind