Where is the false accusation?

The conviction (not accusation, conviction) of the JW who whipped his daughter to death?

The way JWs were (and maybe still are) encouraged to beat their children? I’m speaking from my own experience. Are you saying that I’m lying about that?

In my house, it was more likely a belt than a spoon or switch. I remember my mom asking my dad to use his hand, so that he could feel how hard he was hitting, and he refused.

I don’t think they ever really considered all the effects of combining the biblical verses with the whipping…

But, I remember the letter from the “Society” (world headquarters) that said to stop taking children into the parking lots for spankings because neighbors would get the wrong idea.

I’m so glad I left before I had children!

In my case, I was raised a JW - no choice about it at all. In addition, I felt at the time as though I were in possession of the truth about God and the world, and that my faith would be rewarded by life on a paradise earth. I was primed with arguments as to why holidays were wrong to celebrate, etc. I still agree with the JWs that saluting the flag isn’t an appropriate sort of thing at all, and that fighting in wars of aggression is just wrong, especially given that many on the other side are your religious brethren. In a certain sense, they have questioned certain things that others seem unable to question.

However, when you self-righteously believe that you are right and others are wrong, it’s an easy step to believing that you are good and others are evil. Then, others within the group are evil and must be punished and expelled. Then, everyone must be controlled. etc etc Your worldview is small, your paranoia is large - and of course we were all waiting for the end of the world anyway.

In the case of JWs, it was also a totalitarian structure - constant meetings with reinforcement of basic messages, reinforcement from all sides - peers and family and elders - the demonization of outsiders, and so on. But the main spine of the whole thing is the belief that a few guys in Brooklyn are God’s messengers, and that to question anything from them amounts to a wholesale rebellion against God.

A lot of it depends on one’s view of God, along with the arrogant idea that we can know what God would be about - really. The JWs aren’t the only organization that works this way. But it’s one of the least worked out versions because it doesn’t compensate for what it asks, except for the feeling of involvement with “the truth”. Their people are pretty disposable - they don’t care for the flock very well, and their numbers show it (not to mention the almost total lack of authentic spiritual insight).

As a result, many people are incredibly, viciously damaged by their mostly well-meaning family and former “friends.” The mindset can almost be said to have a self-destruct button for when people leave. But hey, they are a superrich corporation, and they have an amazing MLM scheme - all their salespeople work for free.

What I do not get is this - and it is not just JW issues but all religions that preach such, to me anyway, barbarity - why, when you seem like an intelligent woman, would you believe - or have faith at least - in something that you know is wrong?

What causes a rational thinking human being to start thinking irrationally like this? Is it because you have no more hope in life and the religion gives you a hope?

I know i’m just an ignorant Aussie, but for the life of me, I’ll never understand what makes an intelligent preson not question things around them.

I know fear would be a big part of it (NAZI Germany is one example), infact, that is the only reason I can see.