An Open Letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses
The following is an open letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses that is included as an appendix in my book A Voice From Inside - Notes On Religious Trauma in a Captive Organization.
Dear Brothers,
Perhaps you are uncomfortable with me addressing you as such; my Brothers. But we are all connected as spiritual brothers and sisters in ways that extend beyond the unity of belief. Our spiritual kinship transcends the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, transcends the Holy Scriptures, transcends Jehovah.
My words may sting like a locust strike (Revelation 9:5), but the fact that I have not held back from publishing the criticisms in A Voice from Inside is evidence of my continued belief in the potential of your human kindness and courage. I am confident that you can identify within yourselves the kind of bravery that will empower you to attain new heights of leadership strength; strength to humbly accept our organization’s errors and boldly act to correct the doctrine and policies of Jehovah’s Witnesses that “extinguish the smoldering flaxen wick” (Matthew 12:20).
In this context, the “smoldering flaxen wick” is the lowly PIMO; the physically-in-mentally-out Jehovah’s Witness who can no longer maintain belief in the religious values that they once held so dear. They have supplicated Jehovah to help them maintain their faith in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, but their prayers were not answered in the way they expected. Instead, their magnificent brains drew data from the awe-inspiring creation around them and birthed a new system of beliefs that more adequately addresses their unique spiritual needs. Despite ethical objections to their old system of beliefs, they are unwilling to surrender their loving social and familial relationships by formally disassociating. They remain imprisoned by the policies of our organization.
As you no doubt agree, science is not at odds with true spirituality. This includes the scientific field of psychology. A study of the natural world, human behavior included, can surely be interpreted as peering into the book of creation (Romans 1:20). May the description of my experience with Religious Trauma Syndrome, and the research presented in A Voice from Inside, represent just that: evidence from the “book of creation.” Evidence that something needs to change. You alone, have the power to make such a change happen by ending the captive policies of disfellowshipping, disassociation, and enforced shunning.
The chariot is on the move (Ezekiel 1:21).
Catch up!
Your Brother,
Geoffrey R. Wallis
A Voice From Inside - Notes on Religious Trauma in a Captive Organization discussed the challenges of Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS)as they relate to disillusioned Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The book is also a memoir of the author’s experience with RTS and a discussion of the phenomenon of physically-in-mentally-out (PIMO) Jehovah’s Witnesses because of the organization’s shunning policies.
