Expert: Gordon Cook - 12/17/2007

Question
The watchower should be legislated to provide a an submit  policies and procedures, terms of  agreement document  giving detailed rules and regulations in every and  all detail of member and organization expectations.

EXAMPLE:

As a member all rights are waived to call into question  any and all conduct, actions of any and all  representation of authority, (elders, circuit, district, overseer, branch committee) breach i.e  reporting misconduct, abuse of authority, arbitrary injustice, judgement, negligence that causes physical, emotional psychological harm out side of the organization. will be sanctioined, with dicipline as far as and up to excommunication.

As a member all rights to whistleblower provision are waived, and will be sanctioned up to and as far as diciplinary action as loss of priviledge or and excommunication.

As a member (women) all rights are waived to free speech, in regards to giving any advise, to younger female members, on grooming, or terminology especially of different race or cultural background as theses will be interpreted as "rebellious, unsubmissive, and subject to sanctions of loss of priviledge.  Even if ones husband does not find scriptual basis for such a ruling.

As a member all rights are waived  to independant bible study group, or disscusion, with outside literature, or and reffrenceses, as this will be viewed as  deviating from organizational interpretation, and doctrine  that will be subject to labeling as apostate, and disfellowshiping.

As a member if you no longer agree to or are comfortable with any of the terms, even if you have not made any sexual, or doctrinal violations you will be labeled and dishonorably dismissed as the same.  And will have no further contact with friends, family, aquaintances, less you risk their immediate expulsion by their contact with you.

Get the idea!

We all know that  noone in their right mind and fully informed would voluntarily  signup for such archaich, drachonian terms  but here we are, because this only comes out when  the circumstances of damage controll, or more frighting just controll.  


Please you who have the legal where-with-all persue this!  Right so very many Wrongs.
And get a windfall!

Answer
I understand were you are coming from. The points you raise are never made known to those who may be having "a study" with JW's. When you think about it there is no "probation" period for a new JW. A person spend about 6 months having a "study" they are taught the basics of JW belief. But nothing of the culture, rules and whats expected as a JW. No one says "While you are having the study you can ask questions. But once you are baptised you can't."
As a "study" you can attend the occasional meeting when you can. Once baptised you will have to attend every meeting, otherwise they will want to know why you are not.
While a "study" you can try the door-to-door work now and then. Once baptised they want at least an average of 10 hours a month service.
If you're a woman, once baptised you become a "second class" member, men are your superiors and don't forget it.

But as you say would they get anyone to join if they revealed how they truly are.

Also you could apply this to those like the Mormons, Moonie Scientologists and others.