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Critics of Jehovah`s Witnesses/Watchtower Society Disfellowships 'For Hang Gliding'
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Question
Hello Andrew. My name is Derrick Holland, and I am a volunteer in the other JW category. I was just reading your response to Gordon, where you listed many activities forbidden by the Watchtower Society.
I came across one that I was unaware of, and I wanted to ask you about it. What is their objection to hang gliding? I have never heard that one before.
Thanks man.
Derrick
Dear Derrick,
It wasn't intended as a list of "forbidden activities", rather as a list of excuses for disfellowshipping. When it comes right down to it, there is only one real reason for disfellowshipping: Independent thinking.
Since graver "sins" with "repentance" (meaning capitulation or renouncing independent thinking) often lead to forgiveness by judicial committees of Witness elders, and lesser "sins" without "repentance" (meaning maintaining one's God-given personal dignity and thinking for oneself), all the apparent reasons for disfellowshipping are really only a means of measuring whether a person practices independent thinking.
This is why the list is so long, and why they count "apostasy" (the ultimate in independent thinking) as the gravest sin of all. Of course, it is only because Witnesses identify a fallible human organization with God himself that they interpret criticism of the sociology and politics of the organization as an attack on God.
I never seek to undermine faith in God, nor any theological doctrines from which people derive benefit. In my opinion, any theology which brings joy and peace and comfort, and helps people discover the best within themselves is worthy of respect; so whether or not people agree on theology is less important than whether it forms a stepping stone that helps people lift themselves into an experience of God.
While independent thinking is tolerated in new students, as they gradually work to erode it, it is absolutely not tolerated after the indoctrination period is completed. This is the real reason 10,000 Witnesses a year are disfellowshipped. (That figure is many years old, the current figure is probably higher.)
Thus what may be an excuse for disfellowshipping in one case may be completely overlooked, even celebrated, in another case. So it is not a list of consistently applied "forbidden activities" but rather a list of excuses for disfellowshipping when independent thinking is suspected.
As with all cults, thinking for oneself is the real concern, because people who think for themselves cannot be easily controlled by well-meaning men who claim to represent God. If independent thinking (a natural condition) were to spread, it could unravel entire organizations, but only threatens abusive organizations where members capacity to think for themselves has already been eroded.
The Witnesses frame this mindset of control as proper by citing a scripture regarding a little 'yeast fermenting the whole loaf'. Since there was no deception or control among early Christians, the true meaning of that verse must be quite different. Perhaps in reality the yeast represents deception and control, and the pure unfermented loaf represents freedom of mind or a true experience of God. Let each person discover true theology as God inspires in him.
As I recall, the renunciation on hang gliding from the Watchtower Society came somwhere around 1980 on the basis that any extreme sport which (in their judgement) unnecessarily puts a dedicated life at risk means disturbing God's property. You should be able to find it in your Watchtower Library on CD unless it was in a Kingdom Ministry or elder manual or otherwise omitted for plausible deniability reasons as some material is.
Best wishes,
Andrew
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Andrew
Expertise
I don't object to Witness theology, but rather their use of social pressure & deceptive manipulations to undermine family ties and control minds. (This may seem contradictory to Witnesses, who draw no distinction between spiritual belief and organizational policy.) I do not engage in theological debate. I support persons impacted by an experience with the Witnesses and advocate early education for everyone so that they can protect themselves from cults by understanding what to watch out for. (It's not what most people think.)
(Ex-)Witnesses: I know how upsetting it is to experience doubts (or anger) about your experience. Time does not heal this wound until you first remove the splinter, which takes more time and effort than you may realize. So, unless you have already put in that time and effort, don't be surprised if you are deeply affected long after the experience. But there is good news! You're NOT an enemy of God for doubting or for failing to meet the requirements of a human organization. An organization that lies cannot be the exclusive spokesman for the God of Truth. Tell me where you're at. I'll understand. I can show you how to begin or continue your recovery and make a life for yourself worth living.
Non-Witnesses: Describe your experience with your friend/relative who is (becoming) a Witness. I can help you understand the Witness indoctrination and social dynamics that are affecting him or her. I can help you put your options into perspective. Keep in mind that people do make their own choices (even though they may sometimes do so under outside influence) and you may not be able to affect this person's choices, even though they impact on you. After all, you do not have the arsenal of tactics that a cult does (and wouldn't want to). A few people manage to save their friend/relative, but don't count on it. What you can count on is navigating the maze more successfully by becoming more informed about your own options.
Experience
I was a Witness for 30 years, and a volunteer at their headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, for a year. I have attended meetings with many Witness congregations across the United States, a thorough cross-section, carefully observing patterns of behavior. Although being a Witness was difficult, and I gradually had more and more doubts about Witness teachings--I was a true believer, so I kept trying to make it work somehow. I stopped attending meetings in 1997 only after receiving an answer to a prayer about doing so, and have since been actively involved in recovery. This includes both my own and supporting others in theirs. Recovery can include reading books, communicating with others in recovery, and participating in support groups and/or therapy. It always involves reclaiming one's own mind and discovering the other sides of the issues that you have been blinded to in the past.
My gradual awakening was socially, psychologically, and spiritually tumultuous. I lost everything from my former life. My suffering was substantial.
But I have gained everything, so it was worth it. Only after beginning my recovery did I gain social, psychological, and spiritual healing and growth, peace of mind, and self-respect. Only then did I discover who I am; and--for the first time--the meaning of real brotherly love.
For more resources on this topic, try these web sites:
http://freeminds.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freedomofmind/
Education/Credentials
Like most Cult Recovery Counselors, I am a cult survivor. I have life experience, not professional training. Also I feel no need to apologize for that. People with professional training cannot understand what it is like to survive a cult unless they have been through it themselves, which few professional therapists have. Understanding what really happened and what works in this unusual social context is as important as psychological training. Most professional therapists are not specifically trained to support cult survivors. Those who are represent a rare and precious resource.
I sometimes refer people to professional therapists regarding deep personal issues. But surviving a cult is a broad experience with other dimensions. Professional therapy can be very helpful as part of your recovery process, assuming that you choose the right therapist. When choosing a therapist, remember that you are the client and they are a service provider. You are the one who holds authority about the relationship. You get to interview the therapist and decide which one to employ.
Be sure to ask what specific training and experience they have around recovery from cult mind control. Most therapists do not have relevant training. Some carry serious misunderstandings about what cult mind control is; and therefore will misunderstand your struggle. So it pays to be selective as a consumer of professional therapy services.
Past/Present Clients
The Witness organization is not like other churches. Most non-Witnesses really cannot imagine what it is like to be a Witness. The organization has unimaginably extensive rules and monitoring that affect every aspect of life, so there is no privacy and no sense of personal independence. "Independent thought" is considered their greatest "sin".
The organization insists on absolute conformity, and claims to directly represent God; so dissent is not tolerated, and authority is totalitarian. Being a Witness is more like living in China or the former Soviet Union than being a member of a religion as you know it. It was the research of Robert J. Lifton, who was studying--not religions--but totalitarian governments, who first began to illuminate the problem of religious cults around the world, which employ exactly the same tactics as totalitarian governments. His work remains a cornerstone for Cult Recovery Counselors still today. (This may be why many governments are tolerant of cults, to avoid exposing their own control tactics.)
Witnesses often experience unusually dysfunctional lives and an extensive array of personal problems stemming from broken family ties, stunted social development, inner unrest resulting from repressed doubts, inability to defend boundaries, and an extreme, persistent feeling of irrational shame. I can help people impacted by an experience with the Witnesses by revealing in detail the policies and social dynamics in the Witness organization that cause these problems.
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