paulGrundy:
One such case involves a New Hampshire woman. Early in 2015, Janelle Jones received a bundle of cash ($2,631) as she exited the drive-through of a fast food restaurant.

Ultimately, within an hour, she returned the money.  Then, she and her husband, both Jehovah’s Witnesses, explained that they did so because “Jehovah sees everything [emphasis given]” (New York Daily News, Jan 2015).

This story was covered my multiple media outlets and shared by many Witnesses.  Experiences, such as this one, drive home to current members the taught truth that they are “the most honest people on earth.”

Watchtower reiterates the idea that most of the world, human society that exists outside the true Christian congregation, would not act the same way.

Finders Keepers

 

How do you feel when you find something valuable that someone has lost? To many, this arouses immediate feelings of possession, causing them to wave aside any thought of returning it [emphasis added]. They have a “finders keepers” philosophy. Some may feel that there is no harm done. After all, they reason, the owner has undoubtedly written it off as a loss. Others say that it is not their responsibility to seek out the owner—a chore that might entail a lot of effort. …

How many people do you know who sincerely strive to be honest all the time [emphasis added]? Just imagine being with 50, 100, or 200 persons who are. That is the happy experience of Jehovah’s Witnesses at their Kingdom Halls. (w10 3/1, pp. 13)

However, there are many examples of unbelievers returning found money/belongings.

They are not motivated by fear of judgment, disappointment or guilt of sanctions.  Instead, the moral compass of most people is inherently good.

Misha Anouk, in his article entitled “After The Burger King Money Find: 7 People Who Returned Loads Of Money Without Being Jehovah’s Witnesses,” states: “honesty simply is not unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses” (Taze.co, 2015).  He illustrates this point with seven examples.

This brings me to two, personal experiences that demonstrate the opposite of what is taught by the Governing Body.

On a Saturday afternoon, myself and five others were driving around looking for people with whom to preach.  In one shopping center, near the front of a major store, the Witness driver parked and walked over to the bus stop.  Upon returning to her vehicle, she looked down and found a diamond ring.  As no other cars or people were nearby, she excitedly took the ring.  She was thrilled at her find.  That very morning, she prayed to Jehovah for help, as she and her husband were having a tough time paying their bills. My friend sincerely thought it was not wrong to sell the ring.  This way, she could continue spending her days in the ministry.

She is not alone; many of Jehovah’s Witnesses are struggling to make ends meet.  They place more importance on spiritual matters than earning a living.  Constantly, they are told to put Jehovah first and pray for help in matters of food, clothing and shelter.

Now, I knew keeping the ring was wrong.  It appeared to be valuable; surely, someone would return looking for it.  I asked to see it, and took it inside the store.  I gave it to the manager where he locked it in the safe.

At first, this sister was upset at me.  She said, “How do we know someone from that store lost it? I bet the employee will just keep it for himself!”

Guess what? Wordly people can “do the right thing.”

Later that day, the manager informed me that it was reclaimed.  The lady who lost it, retraced her steps.  The ring had fallen off her hand while she reached in her purse.  She was devastated, upset, and scared that it was gone for good.  She was grateful we turned it in.

I can remember telling ones, “If one of Jehovah’s Witnesses had not found that ring, she would never have gotten it back.”  I gave no further thought to how the sister planned on selling it.

That is, until last Sunday.

You see, my aunt lost her ring while attending a local garden show with me and my husband.  She was sickened by the loss.  While I canvassed the area, looking for this heirloom piece of jewelry, I was calm.  I knew that people were good and someone would turn it in.

I was right!  The very next day, the show office called her; someone found it while cleaning up and returned it.

My point is not to accuse all of Jehovah’s Witnesses of being dishonest. Rather, I want to debunk the idea that one needs to be a religious follower of Bible standards in order to be moral and good.

Elizabeth Palermo, in her article “Religion Doesn’t Make People More Moral, Study Finds,” writes:

The moral high ground seems to be a crowded place. A [2014] study suggests that religious people aren’t more likely to do good than their nonreligious counterparts. …

Researchers asked 1,252 adults of different religious and political backgrounds … to record the good and bad deeds they committed, witnessed, learned about or were the target of throughout the day.

The goal of the study was to access how morality plays out in everyday life for different people, said Dan Wisneski … .

The study’s findings may come as a shock to those who think religious or political affiliation helps dictate a person’s understanding of right and wrong.

[They] found that religious and nonreligious people commit similar numbers of moral acts. …

(Live Science, 2014)

It is a misconception that only Jehovah’s Witnesses can keep to high moral standards.

Reflecting on the two experiences mentioned above, I cannot help but realize that my mind is clearing from the fog of indoctrination; I can clearly see that “wordly” people are moral, honest and good. I no longer worry that I will be harmed or mistreated.  I am happily finding a place for myself in this world.

http://jwsurvey.org/mind-control/the-friday-column-are-jehovahs-witnesses-more-honest-and-moral-than-unbelievers