Id been treated badly by as many people who were Witnesses as I had non-Witnesses. Watch Tower Headquarters asked branches to sell as much equipment as they could liquidate including heavy equipment, printers, etc. For what Christian would ever call somebodys baby a little enimy of God? The people present were Jehovah's Witnesses -- a Christian religious sect first founded in the United States in the 19th century but now has an estimated 8 million followers around the world. Much of their growth from these nations is from people being born into the religion. I have been giving a lot of thought to the young people who are leaving the Watchtower organization in recent years. With all the false end of the world predictions that they have done in the past, theyre still crying that Armageddon is coming soon, and that they will be the only survivors of the battle. A lack of education is also essential to keep members locked in. , Productivity Hacks for the Creative Christian, Three (Unexpected) Life Lessons from College, Dear Teenage Self: Finding God Changes You. Attending My Father's Funeral This article provides basic information on leaving this faith. I have never been able to find anything more true than what is taught by the Church Of Christ. Simple forgiveness isnt in their vocabulary. You know what its like to have no hope. A typical Jehovahs Witnesss life is basically consisting of work or school and field service along with several weekly meetings and Bible studies, or should I say, Watchtower studies. Jehovah's Witnesses will often turn away from any Bible discussion that challenges their beliefs, using the excuse that they cannot listen to apostates. This is another religion. The more the doctrines made sense, the more she wanted to keep learning. Those few born-in Jehovah's Witnesses who do stay in will pay an enormous price in that they will never have gotten to know who they really were. Im astonished at the totally creepy nature of the GB Videos I have seen lately. 1. The origins of the Jehovah's Witnesses go back to 1879, when a Pittsburgh businessman named Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) began publishing the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence. Young Korean Witnesses languish in prison for no reason. That is why I believe they will never adopt the very common sense solutions that could be so helpful to their members; especially the young ones. A man who pleaded guilty to raping two underage girls he met through the Jehovah's Witness congregation they all belonged to has been sentenced to . https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/jehovahs-witness/, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/26/a-closer-look-at-jehovahs-witnesses-living-in-the-u-s/, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/18/jehovahs-witnesses-murder-suicide-keego-harbor/409695002/. No immaterial soul. Aside from the Bethel layoffs, all non-essential branch projects were either cancelled or put on hold. As she grew up as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness, there were certain things . Moriah Hughes, 24, filed her lawsuit last month in. We are in a great position to be a source of strength and compassion for those younger people who are wandering out and stumbling into forums like this. We feel the use of carts allows us to reach people we perhaps wouldnt meet at home due to their work schedules or other factors, said spokesperson Andrew Schofield. Left In 1977. Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. . When you stand in the public square and represent a religion, its just a matter of time before the public connects the dots, and the carts are sent to the junkyard, one at a time. Yet Governing Body members like Samuel Herd have publicly stated how beautiful their new surroundings are at Bethel how they hear the birds chirping as they observe the serene landscape of upstate New York. Once that happens, shunning will have very little power over JWs. This was not a tax, it was a fee paid because New York owns the underground and the airspace. Andrea grew up in a family of devout Jehovahs Witnesses. *my Opinion * / Nostradamus Predictions For World War in 2020 . ET on April 5, 2019. Raymond Victor Franz (May 8, 1922 - June 2, 2010) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses from October 20, 1971, until his removal on May 22, 1980, and served at the organization's world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. How many schools do you know of, that stick preschoolers, high school students, and graduate students all into the same classroom together? JWs are leaving in droves, all because of the internet. 37:2337-Minute Listen. Two years ago, JW.org implemented a 5-year cost reduction program in which they asked all branches to cut costs by a minimum of 10%, up to 25% as a preferred number. It is more like Satans group simply because of the harsh and inhumane rules and regulations that they harbor in their midst. Theyre currently in damage control which means that theyre trying to wipe away their history in the hope that future Witnesses will never find it out. They make up these rules simply because they can. They have been issuing subpoenas from the Southern District of New York to various internet providers in the US, along with Google, Inc., in an attempt to track down the source of the leaks and identify the individuals involved in leaking their literature and videos. . The Jehovah Witness religion is going through some tough times. Currently, in the US, JW.org has just 40% of their publishers registered in the JW.org database system. And they actually tell you that you cant read the Bible alone that you need these other publications written by them to be able to understand scripture because it comes down from the governing body, and what they say goes. And you have no promise. In 2017, Russia's Supreme Court declared the group an extremist organization, lumping its. You dont need to mourn me, I told her once. I have seen many really good kids in the organization totally get neglected because they didnt have a father who was a Witness. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that: God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is "the only true God". Enter the social media - Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube all readily available on your average smart phone. 1. Just because they make the claim doesnt make it so. Jehovah does not mislead us. it is one to really be avoided at all costs and it is really dangerous. Globally there are about eight-and-a-half million Jehovahs Witnesses. And, I think the issue is much broader than what the simple statistics are showing. One would think that relatively simple endeavors like those offered in other churches would be worth it to the Watchtower leaders; when considering their inability to retain the young people. World. The establishment of Jehovahs Witnesses is not in the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses must believe and teach that their group has been directly appointed by God and Jesus. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Jehovah's Witnesses said in a statement it did not join because it does not have the institutional settings that result in children being separated from their parents, such as youth groups, choirs . But she realized she couldnt help her sister if she remained at a distance. Jehovah's Witnesses, Hendricks said, "fundamentally disagree with the idea of the Holy Trinity." "We believe that Jehovah is the sovereign, the only eternal one, and that Jesus Christ is a created being perhaps living in the heavens for billions of years," Hendricks said. Instead, Andrea spent her time attending meetings at Kingdom Hall, sharing her faith, and being with her family. random musings> The Holy Spirit is . To have no faith. They are not allowed to question the Watchtower leadership or teaching. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a member of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Pierce County recently sued the organization. Sections: politics business autos jobs career education romance computers phones travel sports fashion health Contrast this to the July 2009 issue of Awake! Sherrie and Naomi were Jehovah's Witnesses. Originally from Kent, Laetitia says her parents became Jehovah's Witnesses about four years before she was born. They tell you that you need to follow these rules in order to receive salvation and so on. magazine which says: "No one should be made to worship in a way they find . All Witnesses are expected to obey instructions and doctrines that influence every aspect of life: Women are considered subservient to men, higher education is discouraged and homosexuality is not permitted. She was especially close to her sister Cynthia. Spare the rod, spoil the child. It's already a small pool of potential friends and romantic interests in a KH. With all of the publically displayed lies and deceptions that this organization has dished out over the years, people are finally waking up to the real truth about the Watchtower organization and its agenda. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. This raises the issue of whether any benefits will ever be paid to other full-time JWs across the globe, who deserve them equally. Is it the sign of the end or just the end of a religion? Why are you doing this? Andrea was upset. It is law according to the Jehovahs Witness. I remember I was getting ready to leave [for worship service in the Church Of Christ], it was early in the morning and it was on a Saturday. This just comes in a long line of brutal, evil statements that were made by the governing body over the years, and it also proves that this organization in no way is being backed, or supported by God in any way shape or form. Jesus Christ is God's agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. Realistically, though, its a threat to the organisation because education could broaden an individuals mind and open them up to a world of opinions outside the faith. This is human nature. If id seen in the 70s or 80s morons like Lett rambling or the arrogance of Tony Morrison or the incredulous lies that Geoffrey Jackson spews, id saved alot of years of headache. Its the reason they emphasise the dangers and repercussions of searching for answers to faith-related questions in any place except their own literature, calling anything outside this apostasy. 6 months later in a private seminar, branch officials announced that Letts plea resulted in 30 million extra dollars in donations, but this would not stem their financial issues and would continue with layoffs and cutbacks. They adopted the name Jehovahs Witnesses in 1931. Truth Be Told Documentary Like Stockholm Syndrome victims, Jehovahs Witnesses continue to support the only organization they think has the answers, identifying with and revering their captors men who have little sympathy for the victims of child abuse, shunning, or death by blood policy. Watch Tower was spending tens of thousands per year to New York City just to maintain their tunnel and air-bridge spaces between buildings. In Canada, United States, Ireland, Australia, the Netherlands and multiple other countries, the government and media are taking notice of the public outcry for justice justice for abuse victims to victims of imposed and mandated shunning. When you factor how many people are baptized vs. the number of publishers the year before you realize that they . Is the Book of Daniel Prophetic or Historical? Steps 1 Do personal research. On February 4, 2019, rumors of the release of a new Elders manual, meant only for the eyes of the top leaders in each congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), began to surface on ex-JW forums across the Internet. I can never forgive them for betrayal. The life of the Jehovah's Witnesses is guided by those forbidden things and more. The sect is headed by an all-male governing body and elders adhere to policies laid out in a guidebook that's kept confidential from other followers. Jehovah's Witnesses believe these men are anointed as the voice of God on Earth. - Quora Answer (1 of 27): It isn't a religion its a cult. Photos of JWfacts.com being Promoted I have two beautiful children that I adore, that God blessed me with, and are very active in the Church. A key factor to the growth in number of Jehovah's Witnesses is the promise that this system will end at any moment. I remember that first year after Id left the Jehovahs Witness faith. However, the Watchtower stubbornly sticks to a one size fits all program for everyone. I have seen a lot of creativity and progressive thinking when it comes to how they design ministries for young people. It was these friends who became my support network and showed me that people from the world are just the same as people from the faith there were as many lovely people as there were horrible people, as many happy people as there were sad. As a result, most young Witnesses grow up sequestered in their homes and their congregations, fearful of anything outside those boundaries. I have several observations to add to this. To scan all documents located in Brooklyn, retaining only the hard copies they were required to keep by law. Theres absolutely no room for error within the organization. "Jehovah's Witnesses believe that it is their responsibility before God to respect and co-operate with the authorities." A spokeswoman for Social Services Minister Anne Ruston has welcomed the statement but implored the organisation to contact authorities. Only ten years ago, every single member, that is 28 members were Jehovah's Witnesses. Ironically, they cant do that, because the organization has already been identified and branded as a spiritual banquet where nothing is lacking. Brummies happily shopping and going about their day to day business have seen them in their droves, Never miss breaking news by signing up to our free email updates. THE Jehovah's Witnesses religious denomination has been accused of selling assets and sending cash offshore to avoid paying Australian child-sex abuse victims. Brummies happily shopping and going about their day to day business have seen them in their droves. Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson Being a Witness and following the doctrines didnt automatically mark you as different or better than anyone else. There are also members with experiences of Catholicism, Mormonism, the Exclusive Brethren, the Mennonites, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Falun Gong movement. Jehovah's Witnesses ban comes into force in Russia after appeal fails. They govern every aspect of your life from cradle to grave. / The Real Cause Of Chukwuemeka Akachi, UNN Student Death. Jw.org Website . He focused on his defense, like a narcissist who believes they are the center of the universe, unable to empathize with real people with real problems. (Immediately prior to dates the end was specifically expected, such as 1914, 1925 and 1975, growth increased to as high as 20%.) At death, that life-force leaves the body. Internal rules and philosophies among the Jehovah's Witnesses seem to allow abuse to easily be covered up. Sylviane is a relationship coach for women . 10. What would you expect to see if that was a news headline within the coming year? End of the Home Book Study Arrangement About the most exciting thing that most of the young people will get to do is hold up printed signs at conventions that say Please Be Seated, or turn knobs in the Kingdom Hall sound booth. I myself was born and raised in the organization. As she started to lose trust in the unsteady teachings of JW, Andrea turned to the Church Of Christ for doctrinal stability because, in the Church Of Christ, everything that they follow is written in the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they have the one and only true religion and that their Governing Body is appointed by God himself. At 18 I turned my back on the cloistered isolation of my familys faith and began a life where I was free to question ideas and beliefs. The truth is, Jehovahs witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes as adjustments or new light, and they have a long list of beliefs and doctrines that have changed since the church was established. Steven Lett said that when people walk up to admire a little baby, they often would say, Look at that little angel! Steven then went on to say, more accurate, look at that little enimy of God. This statement has circulated round the Internet and has appeared in many YouTube channels and so on. Watch Tower is in the process of implementing a new records management program along with a destruction of documents procedure which is designed to ensure that no documents exist which would tie Watch Tower to any legal responsibility or repercussions. - About 1% of the entire membership is disfellowshipped every year. They believe that ony 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven. She converted a lot of people to that religion.. But why have they stopped knocking on our doors? Already, members of the Watchtower are already being asked to donate money. The groups are handing out copies of The Watchtower from carts outside New Street station. Quick-builds only happen so often, and Bethel just isnt a possibility for everyone. The problem is that former Jehovah's Witnessesand others who've left cults or religionshave had to filter out the language of cataclysmic ending when seeking a secular life. Theres absolutely no evidence of that at all. I also believe this is an area where they are also profoundly disconnected from reality. This is where the Watchtower is at. I was also lucky that both my parents encouraged me to get a good education to work hard at school so I could go to university if I wanted. SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Supreme Court has revived a woman's lawsuit alleging she was forced to listen to a recording of her own rape. Getty Images 08 . If they are really lucky, and they are privileged enough to have a dad whos a prominent elder, they might land an exciting acting role - waving their arms around in huge pantomime gestures in an assembly drama. Are you inspired yet? We are so inured to the concept that it has become meaningless. Their whole going out to knock on doors sounds commendable, but truth be known, the reason why they do it is because theyre trying to earn their own way into Jehovahs new world; paradise Earth. ITV Coronation Street star announces full-time return to soap - leaving fans delighted. Nov. 20, 2019, 9:49 AM PST. Jehovah's Witness pervert who got sexual kicks from strangling children jailed despite cover-up by congregation. Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson callously stated in 2015 before the Royal Commission in Australia that he had not even read the details of the victims who had testified before the Commission. Like Stockholm Syndrome victims, Jehovah's Witnesses continue to support the only organization they think has the answers, identifying with and revering their captors - men who have little sympathy for the victims of child abuse, shunning, or death by blood policy. In many countries, such meetings would be nothing unusual. Watch Tower has taken over responsibility of all kingdom halls worldwide, but many sit in disrepair awaiting renovations in excess of what congregations can afford. Now if they all say this, surely not all of them could be the truth huh? Just imagine if the Ford Motor Company was still manufacturing and marketing the Ford Pinto. Most Jehovah's Witnesses - roughly two-thirds (65%) - are . Jehovah's Witnesses with 1.3 million members in the U.S. who hand out brochures on sidewalks and subway platforms and ring doorbells are one of the most visible religious groups in the . I expect this is partly due to many young ones being DF or DA due to "misconduct" because children and teens are held to the same rigorous standard as fully realized adults. And 67% of the Buddhists surveyed indicate that they were raised in a . She was convinced shed lost me and that Id be changed for ever now, no longer the daughter shed always loved and cherished. They may think they do, but we have seen, we have seen the proof that our God is real. You know I couldnt see my life any other way. One factor that was discussed at length was the high number of young people who do not stay in the organization. Something went wrong, please try again later. One has since died but had rarely attended before her death. If the religion continues to have to pay out millions of dollars to the victems of child abuse, and it they continue to loose new converts simply because theyre finding out the real truth about the religion, then theres no way that it will be able to remain standing. In fact, the July 1st, 1984 issue of Watchtower magazine goes so far as to say that anyone who leaves their religion has decided "to leave the way of truth".. Learn how your comment data is processed. In the spring of 2015, Stephen Lett asked for donations after stating that JW.org had more money going out than coming in. Andrea embraced its teachings and followed all of JWs beliefs to a T. She didnt celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other holidays, and she avoided birthday celebrations. This raises the question: Who is an. Other churches give single parents some relief by offering activities and programs for their children to get involved in and bond with other young people. These doctrines made perfect sense to me!. Jesus himself is truth, not those club-like religions. The reason for this is because theyre on the verge of going totally belly up, and they need money to be able to handle all of the child sex abuse cases that they have under their belts and so on. Find some books which are truthful and sincere and share them. Elders at a Utah congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses allegedly forced a 15-year-old to listen to a recording of her rape over and over again for hours as part of a religious inquiry, a. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The new Toyota Drove! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I've never showered as much in my life. Amber Scorah writes about exiting the Jehovah's Witnesses in Leaving the Witness. There simply isnt anything designed or built into the programs that work with the attention spans of young children. They have their little pet scriptures that they have taken out of context of course and they use those to try and convert you to their brand of religion. Because I love my sister so much, I felt like I had to give her the opportunity to just listen. While they may appear nice and friendly, once you get into the inner-workings of the organization, you quickly discover that the niceness and friendliness is very short lived unless you follow everything to the letter within the organization. You're taught by the organisation that once you leave you will. Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination with an estimated 175,000 followers in Russia. In 2017, Russia banned the denomination, whose members believe in nonviolence and refuse to take up arms in war; Russia . The. Brummies happily shopping and going. If at any point you do have doubts and want to leave, your forced isolation up to that point makes the decision inevitably intimidating and potentially overwhelming because of the prospect of being alone and without a support network to guide you through the process. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that humans have an immaterial nature. Should you Disassociate and Sample Letters, The Hardship of being a Gay Jehovah's Witness. Sparlock Warrior Wizard Many elders have questioned this vocally, and have described the amount of money charged to each circuit as an invoice. Truly the Watchtower organization has absolutely nothing good to say about any other religion because theyre too busy puffing themselves up over them. Should you Disassociate and Sample Letters But why should doctrines change? I went to university, where I made even more friends who showed me that being in the world is completely fine, and that debate and discussion is also OK. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. Was Russell a Freemason? The Jackson family was raised in the Jehovah's Witness faith, but several of the family members, including sister Janet, no longer practice the religion. But its a way of thinking that is ingrained in you by the faith, and its this mentality that makes it so difficult to leave. Meanwhile, Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia have been imprisoned for following Governing Body directives. The rules just keep right on getting tighter and tighter due to the fact that theyre in full damage control, and they want to keep as many people in the organization as they possibly can. Personally, what this all adds up to for me is this: Young people, and most especially men, are leaving this religion in droves. Given the choice between what this media has to offer, versus reading a Kingdom Ministry insert, where do you think a bored and uninspired teenager is going to go? Jehovah's Witnesses detained in inhumane conditions June 4, 2021 Number of Jehovah's Witnesses on trial in Lipetsk grows June 2, 2021 Christian attorney gives advice for staying on good side of law June 1, 2021 Crimean Pentecostals fined for violating Russia's anti-evangelism law May 31, 2021 American prayer breakfast figure feted by Ukrainian . Drunk driver smashed into family car on M6 - while sipping cider, Jehovah's Witnesses denies telling abuse victims not to call the police, BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt halts show to warn Lenny Henry 'you shouldn't say that', Charlie was hosting BBC Breakfast on Thursday - but warned Lenny: "You really shouldn't say that. Nobody at the London HQ would comment on whether the strategy resulted in an increase in followers. The family of Jehovah's Witnesses is writing letters instead of knocking on doors to spread their faith. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. What we see from regimes like North Korea is a disregard for many of the societal endeavors that make a nation stronger, such as infrastructure, good universities, economic freedoms, and democratic processes. - Among all U.S. adults who were raised as Jehovahs Witnesses, two-thirds (66%) no longer identify with the group. Are Watchtower reasons for being the only true religion valid? Branches around the world are struggling to keep up with their own accounting procedures. The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses has never admitted that any valid reasons to leave the religion exist. In some respects, its very entertaining. Photo courtesy of Jehovah's Witnesses Public Information Desk Mandee Reid and her son, Charles Reid, of Kansas City, Mo., like Jehovah's . One troubling result is most high control groups, including the Jehovah's Witnesses and Scientologists, discourage their members from seeking help from mental health care professionals, even when they display troubling signs of acute depression, anxiety, panic disorder, dissociation, suicidal thoughts, autism spectrum disorder or a variety of In March 1997, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the nonprofit organization that oversees the Jehovah's Witnesses, sent a letter to each of its . Nearly all WT published material does not hold up to even a freshman's college essay in terms of sources cited, strawman arguments, and avoidance of logical fallacies. In Namibia, the government has denied Watch Towers plea to remove itself from employer status, since this forces Watch Tower to pay social security benefits to all full-time workers such as Bethelites. Right away, Andrea recognized that there was nothing Biblical about her grandmothers answer. Youre taught by the organisation that once you leave you will become corrupted by the outside world and inevitably descend into selfishness, meanness and false happiness. Consider this: any Witness can now sit in an assembly during the morning session; dutifully nod their head like a bobble head doll; and then walk outside and link up with ex-Witnesses online via their iPhone to express what they really think. . Basically it is in the process of imploding. And so after learning from the Bible that God commissions or sends people to communicate the truth, Andrea came to the conclusion that those who wrote the Let God be True book could not have been commissioned by God. No other religion can do that. Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Nothing is added, subtracted, or changed to conform to societys standards because, in the Church Of Christ, the Bible is the basis of their faith. Its old and we dont use it anymore. It is all about their money. When there has been no specific date set .
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