Posted by 5GJW on March 19, 1999 at 14:34:32 {MWZNJSg.uPfFk}:
In Reply to: *Satire & FPP posted by Rick on March 19, 1999 at 10:10:20:
Hi Rick, here are some of my thoughts on your critique of my post:
"This post was humorous in a sense, but came across as tearing down others who have devoted their entire lives to service in this religion."
I like to use humor, because I know that it the message will often stay with you much longer than other ways of making a point. I was trying to be irreverent, which I expected would be disturbing to someone who takes being a JW seriously.
"Is this the expense of entertaining those who can't stand JWs?"
I think if you took a poll, you would find very few here who can't stand JWs. You might find a large number of people who feel sorry for them, and wish to help them escape.
"Satire on this site should be of the sort that is subtle enough to bring laughter to even a staunch JW while subtly bringing an awareness of what the satire is out to criticize. That is far more beneficial to that person than satire they interpret as a tasteless attack. We don't want to give anyone a reason to leave this site in disgust just so that a few can laugh heartily at their expense."
I wish I could write as well as you ask, but I can't. I would ask you to consider that JWs are among the bluntest people on the planet, in terms of the ways that are used to deliver their message. Due to this, JWs can develop a very thick skin with regards to criticism of their message. How many doors have you had slammed in your face? How many times have you been told to get off of someone's property? To get through this thick skin, to reach the person, a sharp criticism may be just the thing required.
"Someone emailed H2O a comment I tend to agree with; like Catholocism, Jehovah's Witnessism consists of sincere people willing to do anything to please God not caring what others think. This is a commendable trait, and a redeeming value I gained as one of JWs."
It is commendable as long as no one is hurt, or even killed by this zeal.
"The problem is that some people will poke for at you for trying too hard. You might have reached the end of your rope emotionally, found this religion, and are perhaps trying too hard to the point of overzealousness. Then there are others who are pointing fingers at you and making tasteless jokes, which that deleted satire post did without any consideration for others feelins."
How dare I kick their crutch? So that they will find out that they don't really need it.
"How would you feel, if you were in the shoes of that person? Who knows what problems you've had to overcome in your life and why you've decided to become a JW, or a Catholic, or any religion where there's a lot of self sacrifice and emphasis on earning your salvation? Someone in that predicament might have decided to stay with their religion through thick or thin, and if anything needs to find balance in that religion. Our web site might be one of the few opportunities we have to reach those who make the rules and have the power to help millions of our brothers and sisters find happiness as Christians."
I was that person, for fifteen years. Your web site IS one of the few opportunities we have to reach those who make the rules. However, change is not brought around by polite suggestions that the ruling class makes a few improvements. You need a few rabble rousers to stir things up.
"Why would anyone but those holding permanent grudges against a religion want to prevent someone from shaping that religion into something beautiful that God approves of? Charles Taze Russell is dead and buried. Can't we let him rest in peace and deal with our lives as JWs today?"
I hold no permanent grudge, I am perfectly willing to associate with JWs. Even now, I am missing old friends that I no longer contact, out of respect of their beliefs. To rephrase your question, why would any religion hold a permanent grudge against those who disagree with its' teachings? Why wouldn't you expect those people to resent this religion, and be critical of it? It isn't the spirit of Russell, but the spirit of Rutherford and Franz that the struggle is against, both from the inside and the outside of the organization today. I truly hope that you are successful in your attempts to reform the JWs, many of my friends and family will benefit from it. I think that I am helping in this effort, by saying the things that you can't.
5GJW