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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSchoolgirl’s tearful speech exposes how Jehovah’s Witnesses silence women to protect rapists
The most disturbing revelation came from the stories of three women, whom the girl personally knew. The three women, all of whom remained anonymous, were abused or raped by male members of the church. After they reported to the elders of the church, they were blamed for the violence against them and excommunicated or threatened to.
One of them was a mother of two. After years of abuse by her husband, she finally got a divorce. The elders of the church, who turned away from her when she went to them for help, forbid her to see her children after the divorce and left the children to be raised by her abusing husband who was a devoted Jehovahs Witness.
To make matters worse her children were taught not to speak to her because she was evil, they were isolated by her ex-husband and know nothing other than this religion. They are also terrified of disappointing their father and their god, the girl said.
Another woman who was raped was told by the church elders that she was raped because her job put her near men and she dressed inappropriately. To avoid being disfellowshipped, she had to drop the charges against her attacker, quit her job and dress more conservatively.
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/schoolgirls-tearful-speech-exposes-how-jehovahs-witnesses-silence-women-to-protect-rapists/
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)immoderate
(20,885 posts)But I would be too polite to ask.
--imm
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)after all, she was raised to knock on doors asking others to change their beliefs.
But you're in luck, because she broaches the subject lightly in that article (she's now not sure what she thinks about "god", ... not an atheist but not exactly a believer either.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)She doesn't allude to her beliefs that I could tell.
--imm
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)quote:
Im not an atheist, by the way, but Im not exactly a believer either. My views on that are still developing. For now, I think theres something else out there even if Im not sure that affects me.
Either way, Im pretty sure that Higher Power, whatever it is, doesnt give a damn about whether or not Im wearing a swimsuit.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
jwirr
(39,215 posts)told that a JW family wanted to move to their area and find a home. The church told the couple that they had to make room for these complete strangers to live in their home until they could find a house.
Another family had five children who went to public school where the other children talked about things like Christmas (this was not about celebrating Christmas at school just children mentioning it). The church told the parents that they needed to remove the children from the public school and homeschool them.
Another elderly couple had a severely disabled son who was very hard for them to care for. But the church told them they could not place him in a foster home. Finally when the father died at 80 years old the mother could not lift him any longer and she went against the church and placed him.
This church has way too much control over the lives of their members.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)Sick!
hunter
(38,317 posts).. she'd already burned her bridges with the Catholic Church, but the Witnesses were celebratory of large families too. They were not so fine with my mom's political activism.
My fourth grade teacher explained to our class about religious freedom and stuff, using me as an example, because I didn't stand for the flag salute which, on top of my autistic spectrum ways, added immensely to my reputation as a freak.
In fifth grade my mom got herself shunned for her political activism, and our family became Quaker. The Friends were wonderful, they'd listen respectfully to whatever my mom had to say, and then move on. And in school I still didn't have to say the flag salute, pursuing whatever obsession I had that morning, reading, writing, drawing...
Thespian2
(2,741 posts)would be more appropriate than "religion"...
Aerows
(39,961 posts)throughout Christianity. "Women should not speak in church". Because obviously they have nothing of value to say but gossip.
Woman should submit to her father, until she has a husband to purchase her with a dowry.
Explain to me how you can self-actualize with such constricts?
You can't. Women get lorded over by a man that is just as flawed as any woman is, but is projected as more divine, pure and worthy.
Men have no divine right to godhood, and are no more godly for whatever their religion espouses, particularly when it mandates that women are lower than men.
Thespian2
(2,741 posts)I didn't mean to imply that religions were more amenable to women than cults...I do not favour anyone or any religion that mandates that women are lower than men...I believe that women are far more important than men...
Aerows
(39,961 posts)are more important in the scheme of things, in my view. I just detest religion that tells anyone they are lesser beings.
If religion is to be believed, we are all made in the image of our gods and goddesses. It seems, though, that 99% of religion is founded on telling us how much of a failure we are at measuring up.
That is not a function of gods and goddesses - that is a function of humans attempting to control the beauty that resides inside of all of us for their own gain.
bvf
(6,604 posts)I don't see any.
LostOne4Ever
(9,289 posts)Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)Jehovah's Witness are right up there with the worst, in terms of harm.
LostOne4Ever
(9,289 posts)Andy823
(11,495 posts)Some, like the JW's, get away with it because their members will NOT report the abuse for fear they will make the society look bad, and that's a real problem. When people are so gullible that they believe their salvation depends on protecting the society over protecting children and women who have been raped, there is a problem.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)Paka
(2,760 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Much as are all organizations of any imaginary construct-- politics, nationalism and economics comes to mind too.
However, I do realize we will often rationalize holding one construct to higher standards than the bits of imagination we predicate our daily decisions on...
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Thespian2
(2,741 posts)would notice!
Aerows
(39,961 posts)like this is as bad as any other addiction, and possibly even more harmful, in my opinion.
As a woman, to invite religion like that into your life is to invite servitude, abuse and diminishing self worth.
Venom to the soul.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)Lotta cults and false gurus out there. Cults have all the answers, don't ya know. Just take their entire belief system, add water, and stir, and voila' !! You're saved, or enlightened, or immensely prosperous, or in with the in crowd. Don't bother with asking if you are actually HAPPY or fulfilled. Don't ask questions, use reason, and find your own truth.
Brainstormy
(2,380 posts)I think the JWs qualify as a religion. By my definition, (and I wish I could take credit for it as an original idea) the difference is in the amount of real estate owned. The JWs qualify.
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)Jim Jones fits you definition because they didn't have much real-estate, but I can guarantee you that many more Jehovah's Witnesses have died from refusing blood transfusions than died from drinking Jim Jones koolaid.
Brainstormy
(2,380 posts)don't understand your response. Pretty sure we don't hold antithetical positions on this cult vs religion thing, but don't follow the blood transfusion vs. koolaid dichotomy. ???? My point was that the difference between religions and cults were purely subjective, mostly illogical, frankly silly.
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)wrt the differences being subjective. But having been raised a Jehovah's Witness; and having stuck with it (why? I have no clue... it's so not me) for 36 years, I can tell you that the level of control the borganization had in my and my family's lives is so far beyond anything that a Episcopalian, Lutheran, Catholic, etc., experiences that you do feel like you need special words to describe said control. Words like "cult" and "brainwashing" resonate.
madokie
(51,076 posts)its stories like this one
Initech
(100,081 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)I think people themselves are the root of evil-- we simply have a plethora of creative constructs to justify our actions on.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)People are just the same as others, lots of them do not make good decisions. I am not much on "following" the leaders blindly, there are those who just are not nice and take every opportunity to do whatever they please with others.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)They indoctrinate their followers into irrational belief systems and train them to not question and to obey. The end result is shit just like this, over and over and over again. So yes it is religion. Not all of them, not all the time, but so frequently that all claims that religion is not a problem are suspect.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)future. Having said that, some are easily lead and commanded by others and I do not happen to think the man is the supreme nor would I think the woman is supreme, I a relationship it should be a partnership. Sad state of affairs.
AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,736 posts)If it's a religion that manipulates and harms the weakest members of its family, why should its patriarchs be protected by the Constitution? It boggles the mind.
Teacheral
(33 posts)when the religion of Jesus became the religion ABOUT Jesus.
Takket
(21,577 posts)The JW cult, and it is a cult, has taken its toll on my family as well. Everything she said about how the members are treated is not hyperbole or exaggeration. It is the bedrock principles of the organization. I know, I live it.
I was never a JW, but I married a disfellowshipped member. (FYI: Disfellowshipping means you are kicked out of the organization until you "repent". as part of this process you are shunned by the other members, including your family. they literally will not even make eye contact with you. I have seen this practice taken place, and it is a horrific and barbaric display.) She had a child with her first husband, who is still a member in "good standing". My spouse was disfellowshipped for divorcing her first husband, despite begging the Elders (leaders of the congregation) for help in dealing with his temper. She was told by the elders to "be a better wife and pray more". Yes, that is a quote.
She lost everyone in her life, except for her parents, and that in of itself is unusual. Her parents definitely left themselves open for their own disfellowshipping by talking to her. most JWs are not so lucky. Many are literally kicked out of their homes to live on the street.
My spouse and I shared custody of the child with the husband and his new spouse until the child was 15. we told her many times "don't let them baptize you until you are at least 18. then you can at least make the choice as an adult, with full understanding of what committing to the religion means".
Then, at 15, she declared she wanted to move away with her father. She swore she would never participate in the "shunning". that "you are my mom, I could never do that to you". Little did we know she was participating in a "bible study" with a member of the church that was brainwashing her. She lied to us again and again, and so did her father, promising her mother contact by phone and Skype after she left. A month after they moved, after calling and e-mailing her many times, one day she called her mother, and informed her she was now shunning her, and would not contact her again.
That was over 3 years ago.
My wife has been devastated since.
My child is already engaged and planning to be married at 19, where she will enter into the "headship" arrangement where her new husband is the absolute authority in her life. If nothing else, he SEEMS to be decent, but JW men change once the ring is on your finger. this is what happened to my wife. they say whatever they can to get you to marry them, and then they own you, and if you try to fight back, you are disfellowshipped and shunned.
since I was never a JW, she has no religious grounds not to speak with me. for a while I cut her off, stating that I could not accept the way she was treating her mother, but in the last few months my wife encouraged me to stay in touch with her, saying if she was ever in trouble, she would have nowhere to turn without us. I have told her time and again that we will always love her unconditionally. She will not even tell me when her wedding date is for fear we will "crash" the event. We are taking the high road, but I must be so careful what I say, for if even for a moment I question her on the sanity of what she is doing, I can easily be branded as an apostate against her believes, and the Elders will order her to shun me as well.
These people destroy families, cover up abuse and rape as the girl mentions in her speech, and have caused countless shunned members to commit suicide. One of my wife's dear childhood friends threw himself off a building when he was disfellowshipped. The acceptance from the church meant everything to him. he could not live without it.
If you made it all the way through this post, thank you, and heed this warning...
If they come to your door, do not answer it.
If they leave magazines in your door or workplace, do not read them.
If a loved one is considering joining, do not let them.
They are a smiling, welcoming open armed people when reaching out to the public, but once you are a part of the organization, you are their property, forever.
Andy823
(11,495 posts)Of being a JW. They destroy peoples lives, break up families, and do it in the name of Jehovah. Yes other churches do it also, cover up sexual abuse, rape, etc., but the JW church gets overlooked because the member are so brainwashed they fear if they speak out, or disobey the elders, they will perish when the end comes. They are taught that only those who belong to the group will be saved, so if they are disfellowshipped, or disassociated from the group, they are told they will perish with all the other no believers.
They shun those who are forced out, and anyone who associates with someone that has been DF'd or DA'd could also have the same thing happen to them. The feel they are in the only "true" religion, and they obey their elders no matter what because they fear not being in the "kingdom" when the end comes.
The elders are looked up to because they are told the Jehovah appointed them. The problem is, at least in the congregation I was in, the elders pretty much do all kinds of things they tell others not to do. Many of the molesters in the society are elders who use their position to force women to keep silent, or force families to keep silent when a child is involved. The Catholic church has had some serious problems with child molesting, but the JW organization is just as bad when it comes to covering it up.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid