Is this the proverbial example of a smoking gun or is it a worldwide modus operandi of the Jehovah's Witnesses? But why do they do it? Sexual abuse.
Most know of the sexual abuse cases against the Catholic Church....but why do the Catholic's abuse sexually?
I know the history of the Catholic Church so I can bash their history thoroughly, but a lot of that is history. And as Christians it is one of the tenets of faith to forgive.
The modern Catholic faith has improved significantly. I am not talking about the Vatican....would not give you 2 cents for any of that....I am talking about the Catholics in the pews the local priests and such. I love the Catholics and fellowship with them so what I say here is not from an uninformed or biased stand point.
So why does the Catholic Church have such problem with sexual abuse? Any denomination can have a sexual abuser in it ranks, but why is the Catholic Church unique in this? The Catholic Church has had a history of demonizing sex but in modern times it is my opinion that it is the misunderstanding of perversion. Setting up an institution of celibacy is against the natural order that God created....an actual perversion in itself. A large organization filled with a bunch of sexually frustrated people....priest and nuns....is a formula for bad things to happen.....because it is not natural. That is one of the problems.
The other problem is that it attracts perversions. People of conscience that are homosexual or child abusers think they can save themselves by joining the priesthood and become celibate. The concept is sin no more.
In practice it probably works for some....put obviously not for all. It is not like homosexual coaches that get jobs to be close to boys. So there could be a good intent, it just does not workout all the time. The Catholic Church would solve some of its problems by abolishing the celibacy rule for clergy and nuns. Getting rid of the homosexuals and turning the child molesters over to the authorities.
But the Jehovah's Witnesses is a different story. Why? Well I believe that they are cultural misfits. Unlike the Jews who have strived to modernize their religion, the JW's relish in the culture and religion of the Old Testament period. Intentionally favoring the Old Testament culture. Focusing on Jehovah.... That is another topic....His name is Yahweh. Focusing on God the Father while trying to dismiss God the Son.
Their issues....and that is issues, like many....it is not just sexual abuse it is physical abuse of wives and children. There practices regarding physical and mental abuse and excommunication even within families, is the reason they have earned the reputation of being cultists. Their religion is certainly heretical by Webster's definition of heresy. But some see their practices as also cult like. Some of it is, like the testimony of a victim that I heard, that was tied and whipped by her own family because she was dating a Baptist. Of course she was having relations with this young man so I think that was part of the motivation for striping her and beating her with a switch. So that sort of thing crosses the line into the proper definition of cult. But again why?
I believe that it is their focus on the Old Testament culture and religion. Women and children were property and the Mosaic Law only gave so much guidance as to how a man treated his property.
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
Proverbs 13:24
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
18 If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” 21 Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.
On the topic of wife beating, this is a cultural thing for the Jews that continued until more modern times. No Mosaic Law against it. Like I said....his property so.....he had rights to treat as he saw fit. So it is evident that some JW's have embraced this Old Testament custom.
The JW's consider Christianity as false religions....other religions....and at times treat Christians as if they were Pagans.
Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth. Exodus 23:13
It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Deuteronomy 8:19
So I can tell you for sure that the JW's consider Christian religions as false and Christians as idolaters. So if a person, son, daughter, or wife wants to leave the JW's religion it is treated as a betrayal of the faith, and a betrayal of God and their treatment can be physical or emotional abuse or excommunication from the religion or even their families. Family divisions is something that comes up very often. This is another way they ring the bell for cultism and raise the red flag for authorities.
Now I am not a professional interventionist but I have participated with them and law enforcement to rescue wives and children. Not just with the Jehovah's Witnesses but some Calvinist separatists and one strange group called the Children of God. But when you talk to these people you get to know the rhetoric of cultism. Their manner of speech changes, almost like you are hearing the voice of the person that drilled this into their heads.
Cultural misfits sums it up. They are practicing a religion that was formulated and weaved from Old Testament beliefs and cultures...the Hebrews/ Israelites/ Jews did not believe in hell and still do not believe in hell. Their messiah was suppose to be a human, not a God. A human warlord king that would free them from their oppressors .....not a God of peace and love that offered heaven as a reward and saved them from hell and the devil.
My aunt was a JW and as a youth I spent some time in a Kingdom Hall so I know how this stuff is practiced and how it is drilled into them.