Midwestern Gothic

Now, I’d like to think of myself as an understanding person and I’ll be the first to admit that there’s a great deal of things out there in the world that I couldn’t even pretend to wrap my mind around. Do I know with any sort of certainty what religion is right, if any? No, of course not. Do I know when Heroes is going to stop sucking this season? I wish I had the answer. And although it may be fun to be critical of people, in jest, I am understanding of any and all beliefs, if that’s what you so choose and as long as it doesn’t affect me in any way. More power to you.

But Jehova’s Witnesses? Really?

(photo courtesy of boingboing.net)

Now, if you don’t know, one of the founders of the Jehova’s Witnesses had predicted the

visible return of Christ at 1873, and when that failed to occur, he revised the prediction to 1874.

Okay, fair enough. By skimming ancient texts and prophecies, This same guy then redacted this second claim and

decided Christ had returned invisibly to Earth in 1874.

Okay, obviously this didn’t happen either. The founders split up in subsequent years and the new leader of the JWs predicted that Armageddon would happen in 1914. Again, a misfire. They went through a few more hoops before they decided that the dates were actually “God’s dates” and they went on to claim that

“We are not prophesying; we are merely giving our surmises . . . We do not even aver that there is no mistake in our interpretation of prophecy and our calculations of chronology. We have merely laid these before you, leaving it for each to exercise his own faith or doubt in respect to them.”

Yeah, okay. On top of this, JWs believe in a host of things, such as a patriarchal family system, that abortion is murder and that homosexuality is a sin. That gambling is strictly forbidden and modest dress is encouraged. Oh, and celebrations, even birthdays, are not to be partaken in. Fine, whatever. To each their own, I guess. But then things get wacky and they believe that they are never allowed to store, transfuse, or ingest blood. No matter what.

Now, why am I bringing all this up? Because a 22-year-old mother died after giving birth to twins and refusing a blood transfusion. Even the father refused to overrule her wishes.

“We can’t believe she died in childbirth in this day and age, with all the technology there is. What makes it even more sad is Emma had time to hold and start to bond with her twins before complications set in.”

Yes, I should say that is a bit sad. And really? The father is “in pieces”? Whooda thunk it. Man, I don’t get it. You think your god doesn’t want you to live, even in these circumstances? I mean, wouldn’t you expect to be miserable if your wife died? If your children would never know their mother? If we’re only here for a limited time, should we spend our measly lives cowering from a vengeful god rather than enjoying the big ole world he supposedly planted us on? Should we seriously be so pigheaded as to think it evil to cure anailing spouse or sickly children if they’re in dire need? I dunno, just seems a bit off.

And come on, in this day and age, yes, we should know better. By putting yourself wholly out there and waiting for things to happen…well, they don’t ever happen. The only certainty in life, honestly, is that the only person you’re held accountable for in any capacity is yourself. Not your wife, not your kids, not your friends. Only you. You were born with only one mind and in charge of your being alone. No matter how you try to take charge and raise good and obedient children or mold the perfect husband/wife it’s still up to them if they choose to comply or not.

And I think it’s hokey that these kids have to grow up and know their mother died from a loss of blood that could have been prevented if she’d just get off her butt and tell them to stick the stupid thing in her vein! Plus, who knows how this might affect these kids later in life and - undoubtedly - if given the chance to explore the world and the people in it, those same kids will come to hate that religion which took their mother needlessly away from them.

Time to revamp our values, folks. I mean, sacrificing virgins to a Wicker Man will not make your crops come in early. We’ve outgrown these sorts of religious rites in lieu of scientific breakthroughs. In a sense, and I apologize if this is stretching, it seems that this is as silly as believing in witchcraft or ghosts. Jehova’s Witnesses, as true with most world religions, is a religion that focuses on belittling us, that wants us to walk sunken our entire lives always afraid that we’ve sinned in some capacity and that going through this hellacious human life will eventually open the door to a greater kingdom after we die.

Fine, but let’s just pretend for a moment that there really is no afterlife, that when you die you just die and fade to black and that’s that. So, in this scenario, wouldn’t you be a bit peeved to know that instead of exploring the world and making friends of all sorts of creeds and colors and sexual orientations, instead of opening your heart and mind to those who are different, instead of just enjoying this big green and blue ball for what it is, you’ve squandered the only chance you’ve got to be happy? That you’ve lived for however many years always hoping that there would be something better, finally realizing that as you find yourself among the rubble and wreck it’s up to you and you alone to dig yourself up and out? I know I’d be pissed. Only you can choose to shine bright, if that’s what you want.

And before I get too much flack, I do understand that a belief is just that, something you may not be able to prove. But, I feel like a good dose of common sense goes a long way in the end.

Then again, common sense would mean nothing to write about on this site.

Quotes about the Jevhova’s Witnesses are from the Wikipedia JW page here and check out the article here.

Ciao.