Watch Tower is watching its assets in Russia vanish while paying settlements in the US and elsewhere for child abuse mishandling and other legal cases. The following is just my opinion and observations based on events from the past year. His wife's parents are among the 130,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Ukraine. Sylviane is a relationship coach for women . A survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a member of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Pierce County recently sued the organization. When Cynthia became friends with George, who was a member of the Church Of Christ, Andrea had her guard up because she refused to let someone from another religion influence their faith. Most people who currently identify as Jehovah's Witnesses (65%) also were raised outside that tradition. Many of these were good kids too. It isnt Christian and it isnt Gods organization. This is where the Watchtower is at. 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. Lets make it happen. 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. I have observed that children in families like this most often never thrive, and are swiftly on their way out by the time they reach teenage years. Boom Boom Boom! However, none of that is really working and people are still waking up from this brutal North Korean type religion. Religious fact, faith and delusion, home> But now members are heading into the city to try and reach out to more people. They thought the end would be here now with the old generation teaching. Jehovah's Witnesses can now be found in Birmingham city centre. The turnover in membership is something that is only going to grow; as is the percentage of the young Jehovah's Witnesses who eventually leave. My grandmother was a pioneer. It should be noted that the Soviets used the same methods of argumentation and reasoning claiming that nothing was lacking in Mother Russia. The faith discourages more than the bare minimum education, advising that higher education is a waste of time that could be better dedicated to ministry (a practice that is deemed so important every individual is required to submit a report card of the amount of hours theyve spent preaching each month), and that it fosters a materialistic and selfishly ambitious attitude. 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. 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. 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. This has happened in other countries as well. Find some websites which you believe are honest and accurate and share them. But in another respect, its quite sad, when considering the young people in the organization who desperately need and yearn for something more. 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. It was important for Andrea to have a relationship with God, and to worship Him the right way. They are not allowed to question the Watchtower leadership or teaching. Jamie Bamber plays Archie Hughes in Beyond Paradise on BBC One. Yes, money is a problem for Watch Tower. Watch Tower was spending tens of thousands per year to New York City just to maintain their tunnel and air-bridge spaces between buildings. Is it any wonder that the turnover among the young people is so high? Meanwhile, Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia have been imprisoned for following Governing Body directives. This was not a tax, it was a fee paid because New York owns the underground and the airspace. The purpose? And even though it was a challenging journey, she doesnt regret it. The Watchtower organization simply has nothing new to offer, and no new ideas. random musings> To have no faith. 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. It is already collapsing under its own weight. Franz stated the request for his resignation and his subsequent disfellowshipping resulted from allegations of apostasy. The minister who was teaching my Bible lessons (in the Church Of Christ) mentioned the Let God Be True book in my studies, and he asked me if I knew that the doctrines of the Jehovahs Witnesses had changed over the years. I was born into it which means of course that I completely missed my childhood and early adulthood. The modern-day organisation began at the end of the 19th century. When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. And, as is human nature, it is much easier for Watchtower leaders to put all of the blame for this on invisible metaphysical characters such as Satan, instead of dealing with the elephant in their own living room. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that humans have an immaterial nature. So if Jesus said that, then that means all of these cultic religions are not the truth as they claim that they are. Abuse allegations? She didnt party, she didnt drink, and she stayed out of politics. In 2017, Russia banned the denomination, whose members believe in nonviolence and refuse to take up arms in war; Russia . "Overseers of Jehovah's People", an article in the group's publication called the Watchtower . 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? The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses has never admitted that any valid reasons to leave the religion exist. Truth Be Told Documentary Instead, Andrea spent her time attending meetings at Kingdom Hall, sharing her faith, and being with her family. Jehovah's Witnesses 'use the Bible to victim-shame,' sex abuse survivor says. She met George, his family, and a few others from the Church Of Christ, including Brother Eddie San Gabriel, a Minister of the Gospel. Mum, I havent died. I have never been able to find anything more true than what is taught by the Church Of Christ. The records management overseer related an experience where one hand-written note cost watchtower over $200,000 simply because a JW elder at headquarters was honest and produced a written document which tied Watch Tower to a major litigation case with a prior vendor. They may think they do, but we have seen, we have seen the proof that our God is real. . Again, they continue to enforce a one size fits all education and worship program to both children and adults. 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. I think the issue is much more serious than they would like to admit. Jehovahs Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes. Spare the rod, spoil the child. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The groups are handing out copies of The Watchtower from carts outside New Street station. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Eventually (it's a slow process), there will be a tipping point where the individual communities (KHs) are too small to avoid marrying or being friends with non-JWs. The more the doctrines made sense, the more she wanted to keep learning. 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. This article provides basic information on leaving this faith. Copyright 2023 Jehovah's Witnesses. - The number of young Jehovah's Witnesses (aged 18-24) has dropped by 6% over the past 7 years. World. 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. They are told to just go and pioneer.). We have hope, and we have a promise that no one else on this Earth has. 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. And instead of just forgiving you of your sin, this evil shunning practice is what they do to you until youre reproved and brought back into good standing which by the way can take a very very long time. When commenting on the young people who leave the organization, another common tactic that the organization uses is to cynically compare them with the ungrateful Israelites who found Jehovahs manna to be undesirable. What are you doing? This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. I began a life where I could decide what to believe for myself, and I wasnt afraid of someone telling me I couldnt. ITV Coronation Street star announces full-time return to soap - leaving fans delighted. Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. I dont think Ive ever seen my mum cry so much, so often. There simply isnt anything designed or built into the programs that work with the attention spans of young children. "(We) encourage them to make urgent contact with the Department of Social Services so . How many schools do you know of, that stick preschoolers, high school students, and graduate students all into the same classroom together? (We already know that growth has become stagnant and more and more people seem to be waking up than previously.). all because thats THE NEW FOUR DOOR SEDAN BY TOYOTA! Jehovah's Witnesses do not provide a dignified resignation process for members who wish to leave. Since then, four Ukrainians from occupied Crimea have been sentenced to six or more years' imprisonment: Serhiy Filatov; Artem Gerasimov; Viktor Stashevsky and Igor Schmidt. Many teenagers in the organization have issues that require a little more remedy than sitting with a notepad at the assembly and counting with tally marks the number of times the speaker says Jehovah. Quick-builds only happen so often, and Bethel just isnt a possibility for everyone. Evolution & Creation Misrepresentations 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. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world. They use Office 365 now and embed data into PDF files in an attempt to track where the leaks are coming from. It will be 1 friend out of 6 shunning rather than all of them - not nearly as effective. Website powered & protected by Jehovah's holy spirit. 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. Truly the Watchtower organization has absolutely nothing good to say about any other religion because theyre too busy puffing themselves up over them. As many of you know, the cutbacks were significant. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Is it the sign of the end or just the end of a religion? A life of meaningless sex, drugs and alcohol is often woven into this picture. One factor that was discussed at length was the high number of young people who do not stay in the organization. I began a life where constantly questioning and improving my beliefs and ideas and always being open to those of others were my only constant doctrines. However, the Seventh day Adventists say that theyre the only true religion, the Mormons say it and so do the Catholics and so on. Animal Suffering This is another religion. Simple forgiveness isnt in their vocabulary. Tell your story. But fortunately, after having been out for a number of years, many of us are getting to know who we really are and what gives our lives meaning. . At death, that life-force leaves the body. The establishment of Jehovahs Witnesses is not in the Bible. (Translation they are on their own: no health care, no jobs, no training. And its peppy acceleration will get you far and away from Zeb and his feisty cart crashes!. And, it doesnt help the organization at all when governing body members like Jeffery Jackson get onto the stand in court and lie about their organization saying that it would be presumptuous to say that theyre the only spoakspeople for God when in fact, it says just that very thing in their literature. Imagine if Ford was blaming the consumers - saying that consumers had poor judgment for not wanting to buy the Pinto anymore. Clearly, these eight men will lie just to protect their money because thats their first love. Why are you doing this? Andrea was upset. In order to avoid climate passivity, we must redefine Armageddon. I can never forgive them for betrayal. 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. A former Jehovahs Witness shares why she walked away for good, We would have Bible studies, and I even preached from door to door. There are millions trapped inside a mental prison, but we can help them. 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/. 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. Change in teachings? 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 . The cart-witnessing program is finally beginning to backfire. No immaterial soul. The. If anyone defected, the leaders simply blamed it on American influence, the defectors lack of gratitude, or on some horrible personal defect of the defector. However, disfellowshipping is. By contrast, about two-thirds of those who were raised as evangelical Protestants (65%) and Mormons (64%) still say they are members of those respective groups. I had panic attacks. I have been giving a lot of thought to the young people who are leaving the Watchtower organization in recent years. Many will have had to cover over passions and talents that would have given their lives much greater meaning. Basically it is in the process of imploding. 37:2337-Minute Listen. There are now 11 of us that are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses, and that is in ten years. Contrast this to the July 2009 issue of Awake! 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. Id been treated badly by as many people who were Witnesses as I had non-Witnesses. The lawsuits are piling up, the fines are compounding, the public awareness of Watch Towers dangerous and controlling cult influence on followers will become a spectacle in 2018. They began publishing what they learned in books, newspapers, and the journal that is now called The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom. Sherrie and Naomi were Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination with an estimated 175,000 followers in Russia. And you have no promise. Brother Eddie San Gabriel challenged Andreas beliefs, and in the process she learned two powerful things that peeled her away from remaining a Jehovahs Witness. Ironically, they cant do that, because the organization has already been identified and branded as a spiritual banquet where nothing is lacking. 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. Steps 1 Do personal research. Is the Book of Daniel Prophetic or Historical? With all of the new doccumentaries being produced about this organization, YouTube channels and other types of media being produced, Watchtower doesnt stand a chance at survival. Are Watchtower reasons for being the only true religion valid? The shorter the expected time left, the higher the growth. (source: Detroit Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/18/jehovahs-witnesses-murder-suicide-keego-harbor/409695002/). Believers honor Jehovah, the God and Creator of all things. Its old and we dont use it anymore. By Elizabeth Chuck. I knew the Bible back and forth. 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. 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 . All rights Reserved. When you take a look at many of the mega-churches for example, it is very impressive how much they put into creating support groups and programs for their young people. These doctrines made perfect sense to me!. I dont remember feelling that way 30yrs ago, but perhaps I am starting to get back to normal? This religion is indeed a cult and a terrible one at that. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Meanwhile, Watch Tower purchased four $8,000.00 scanners. And when youre a member of the Church Of Christ, the peace that you have in knowing that the promise that God has made to you will be fulfilled is everything. First of all, I think the Watchtowers problems with their inability to retain the young people runs very deep. Jehovah's Witnesses will often turn away from any Bible discussion that challenges their beliefs, using the excuse that they cannot listen to apostates. There is absolutely nowhere in the Bible where Jesus disfellowshipped anyone. Jehovahs Witnesses can now be found in Birmingham city centre. - Among all U.S. adults who were raised as Jehovahs Witnesses, two-thirds (66%) no longer identify with the group. The major damage has been done and it will only continue to spread throughout the organization as more and more proof of this religions terrible practices are leaked out and spread all over the Internet. Issues such as shunning and adjusting to normal life outside the faith can prove challenging to those wishing to leave. At what point do they begin to ask themselves if there is something that THEY are doing wrong? I believe this is a huge factor in the turnover of young people leaving the organization. All Jehovahs Witnesses will be given a number and tracked unless we can stop this invasion of privacy here in the US and around the world. Photos of JWfacts.com being Promoted If a Jehovah's Witness were to break any of the rules they could be spoken to by an elder (the equivalent of a . Have you lost your mind? THE Jehovah's Witnesses religious denomination has been accused of selling assets and sending cash offshore to avoid paying Australian child-sex abuse victims. Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult? Only ten years ago, every single member, that is 28 members were Jehovah's Witnesses. Watch Tower has made it clear these records are to be destroyed according to their new records management and destruction procedures. Brummies happily shopping and going. Jehovah's Witnesses are among the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in America. 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. Many of them not only help the young people with their unique issues, but also really inspire them enough to get active and pay it forward. Globally there are about eight-and-a-half million Jehovahs Witnesses. I have two beautiful children that I adore, that God blessed me with, and are very active in the Church. It is all about the rules and their governing body. Now if they all say this, surely not all of them could be the truth huh? How can anyone watch these buffoons and think theyre Gods voice. The church shares some traditional views with the Catholic church but holds several unique ones, including the belief that there is one God, not a Trinity. But why should doctrines change? This is an area where I believe the Watchtower leadership shows an astounding lack of insight. 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. Leaving the faith at 18 changed my life completely. I myself was born and raised in the organization. The Internet's most comprehensive resource for ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, a community for support, recovery and a few laughs along the way. I just want you to listen, Cynthia begged. Strangely, their newspapers only had good news to publish about the Soviet government, and only had bad news to report about Western democracies. They adopted the name Jehovahs Witnesses in 1931. There was always an air of mysti'c never seeing them except on occasion at a district convention. Jw.org Website If they act up and dont sit still; spankings are usually soon to follow. For Ali Millar, the experience of writing her difficult life story wasn't cathartic, it was traumatic. It is the interpretation given those prophecies by men like Stephen Lett and the other members of the GB over the decades that has caused so many witnesses to lose their faith and even, in the case of many, to turn away from God entirely. I was allowed to make friends with people outside my congregation. Once that happens, shunning will have very little power over JWs. 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. He lives in Stockholm. Most congregations have not filed returns for 2 to 4 years, primarily because local elders do not understand how to file returns, and are quite frankly not interested in the business aspect of this religion. 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. No other religion can do that. Included with this the commissioning of the Last Messenger! The important thing for us is to show them that there is a great life to be lived after leaving the Watchtower. The rest will live forever in a paradise on Earth, never meeting the person who died for them - Jesus Christ. Well, the reason for the recent increase is simply due to a change in tactics, according to our sister title the Chronicle. 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. 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. Getty Images 08 . They make up these rules simply because they can. And at one time their teaching was that Jesus was like God or was a God.. Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, and the Catholic Church have all issued statements saying that their religion does not prohibit members from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. (Immediately prior to dates the end was specifically expected, such as 1914, 1925 and 1975, growth increased to as high as 20%.) 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. A few weeks later, the Jehovah's Witnesses closed on a $200 million sale of that building to the private equity firm Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors, which plans to turn the property into . (source: Pew Research: https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/jehovahs-witness/) and https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/26/a-closer-look-at-jehovahs-witnesses-living-in-the-u-s/). Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. Literature carts are being used not just in the Newcastle area but all over the world and we foresee them being a regular feature of our public preaching for many years to come.. They dont bring salvation to your door when they come but instead, they talk about a paradise Earth and so on. 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