Followers famously wont accept blood donations - nor do they celebrate birthdays, claiming such celebrations displease God. Nov. 20, 2019, 9:49 AM PST. And then from that day, I never looked back. Why so many raised as Witnesses leave I tried at all costs to avoid any discussions of faith with Jehovahs Witnesses with whom I was still in contact mostly because I didnt want to be forced into an argument with them over my anger and frustration at some of the doctrines. Additionally, it has been noted by many of us that when there is a family in which the father does not hold some kind of office, the family is often left out on the periphery without much social support. Church, charity and 'cult' refuse to join sex abuse redress Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. Many of them had some very deep emotional issues that never got resolved. Globally there are about eight-and-a-half million Jehovahs Witnesses. The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses has never admitted that any valid reasons to leave the religion exist. As a result, most young Witnesses grow up sequestered in their homes and their congregations, fearful of anything outside those boundaries. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they have the one and only true religion and that their Governing Body is appointed by God himself. Watch Tower must pay these benefits. 12 Outrageous Facts about Jehovah's Witnesses you need to Know The Jehovah Witness religion is going through some tough times - Quora Jehovah's Witnesses believe that: God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is "the only true God". Watch Tower continues to try to plug these leaks like the proverbial dam in Holland, but they are running out of fingers and attorneys to plug these leaks. Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. And even though it was a challenging journey, she doesnt regret it. The Let God Be True book was written by imperfect men, and imperfect men make mistakes, and it was a mistake. Updated at 12:25 p.m. There are millions trapped inside a mental prison, but we can help them. What are you doing? I Prayed and was met by a Witness Leaked 'Branch' and 'Elders' Manuals Pull Back the Curtain of Inner Andrea sat down. Ali's account of leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses was traumatic to write Jehovah's Witnesses must believe and teach that their group has been directly appointed by God and Jesus. Each member carries a "Health Care Proxy" card, declaring his or her desire not to receive a blood transfusion for any reason as stated by Acts 15:28, 29. Authorities have also been accused of failing to look into allegations by whistleblowers that Jehovah's Witnesses may be hiding its money . It's already a small pool of potential friends and romantic interests in a KH. A moment that changed me: dropping out of university | Anne T Donaghue, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Leaving the faith at 18 changed my life completely., remember that first year after Id left the, Former Jehovah's Witness elders call for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, MPsdemand action over Jehovahs Witness abuse allegations, Jehovah's Witnesses accused of silencing victims of child abuse, Child sexual abuse inquiry considers Jehovah's Witnesses UK investigation, Jehovahs Witnesses criticised over handling of child abuse case, Jehovah's Witnesses charity drops attempts to block abuse inquiry, Jehovah's Witnesses did not protect children from abuse, inquiry finds, Jehovah's Witnesses under pressure over handling of sexual abuse claims, Jehovah's Witnesses accused of damaging Otomi religious site in Mexico. In 2015, the court hit Watchtower with a $13.5 million verdict after the organization failed to turn over documents and provide witnesses in a lawsuit filed by Jos Lopez. "Overseers of Jehovah's People", an article in the group's publication called the Watchtower . There are also members with experiences of Catholicism, Mormonism, the Exclusive Brethren, the Mennonites, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Falun Gong movement. RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS RECENT NEWS ITEMS - Stetson University I just want you to listen to the doctrines. 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/. They compared the doctrines taught by the churches with what the Bible really teaches. 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. 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. The Witnesses still experience growth, but at a huge expense. (Translation they are on their own: no health care, no jobs, no training. They worship the organization in which theyre a part of. I was lucky enough to have parents who brought me up more loosely than most Jehovahs Witnesses. 10 Reasons Why Jehovah's Witnesses Are Unhappy - Medium ET on April 5, 2019. Man who raped Jehovah's Witness girls sentenced to 5 years in prison Watch Tower demands their freedom of speech but attempts to deny it to those sharing their publicly available materials which, by the way, are not being distributed for monetary gain. Identifying True Worship, Part 1: What Is Apostasy according to the PDF The Jehovah's Witness Tradition - Advocate Health Pandemic forces local Jehovah's Witnesses to reshape door-knocking 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. The mountain of bullshit has finally gotten high enough that it's starting to collapse on itself. In a recent private video for Bethel members only, this war against questionable pants, socks, and tights was restated, with Watch Tower doubling down on matters which would baffle Jesus himself were he to walk the earth today. By Brendan Cole On 7/28/20 at 11:09 AM EDT News Russia Intensifies Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses with 110 Armed Raids The. 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. The Jehovah's Witnesses - CULTWATCH - 63% of current Jehovah's Witnesses are a high school education or less. However, the rate of growth has almost certainly also been dependent on child baptism for several years and, with the average age of the membership growing older and decades of discouragement from current members having children, there are also simply fewer children to indoctrinate. young ones leaving. Judging 'sincerely held' religious belief is tricky for employers By Elizabeth Chuck. We are so inured to the concept that it has become meaningless. 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. 2010 Elder's Book 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. A lack of education is also essential to keep members locked in. I dont think Ive ever seen my mum cry so much, so often. Found some information I thought you all might be interested in. 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. 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. Lawsuit filed against Milton Jehovah's Witnesses congregation | Tacoma 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. Biblically, however, the word "soul" is multifaceted. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. None of these religions are the true religion. It is truly a heavily works based religion. Being a Witness and following the doctrines didnt automatically mark you as different or better than anyone else. 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. Quick-builds only happen so often, and Bethel just isnt a possibility for everyone. Nothing can be allowed to take any time away from the Watchtowers sole purpose of existence: proselytizing. 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. She met George, his family, and a few others from the Church Of Christ, including Brother Eddie San Gabriel, a Minister of the Gospel. I had panic attacks. Inside The Lost Jehovah's Witnesses Tunnels Under Brooklyn Heights 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. Therefore, if young people are uninspired, bored, or unmotivated to engage in the theocratic treadmill, Jehovah's Witnesses can simply blame it on the influences of MTV, high school, or on their favorite buzzword: the world. These elders are being retrained, and have been called disobedient by the branch. One has since died but had rarely attended before her death. 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. Change in teachings? They govern every aspect of your life from cradle to grave. Can baptism be Annulled? The new Toyota Drove! Im a Choir Member. Jehovah's Witness 'ordered to renounce faith and join Russian army' Europe. Moving to Warwick eliminated these costly payments. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. It made them revered. The Jehovah's Witness Religion is Literally Dying Off : r/exjw - reddit But she realized she couldnt help her sister if she remained at a distance. Growth is pretty much stagnet in America and other countries like Great Brittan, Austrialia and other English speaking nations. Ironically, they cant do that, because the organization has already been identified and branded as a spiritual banquet where nothing is lacking. The important thing for us is to show them that there is a great life to be lived after leaving the Watchtower. The more that they grit their teeth, lash out at dissenters, and shake their fists at the internet, the more they motivate their disenchanted young people to satisfy their curiosities about what is on the net. They thought the end would be here now with the old generation teaching. Within ten years, a Just because they make the claim doesnt make it so. it is one to really be avoided at all costs and it is really dangerous. Simple forgiveness isnt in their vocabulary. 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. Currently, in the US, JW.org has just 40% of their publishers registered in the JW.org database system. But why should doctrines change? Jehovah's Witnesses will often turn away from any Bible discussion that challenges their beliefs, using the excuse that they cannot listen to apostates. Many elders have questioned this vocally, and have described the amount of money charged to each circuit as an invoice. Is it any wonder that they would seek to fill the void in their life with sex, drugs, and alcohol? Jehovah's Witnesses - News, views, gossip, pictures, video - mirror Reasons Why I Left the Jehovah's Witnesses - incmedia.org I made a concentrated effort to stop using the word, because I knew it wasnt the truth to me, and that its use was just a very 1984 Newspeak method of subtle control. Internal rules and philosophies among the Jehovah's Witnesses seem to allow abuse to easily be covered up. As education becomes increasingly important to eek out even a meager living, Witnesses are already being forced to become more educated. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I was very well versed in the Bible. For what Christian would ever call somebodys baby a little enimy of God? Beliefs. Its a great field service vehicle with four doors and plenty of ankle length dress room in the back! Two years later he founded Zion's Watch Tower and Tract Society, which was incorpo-rated in 1884 in Pennsylvania. JWs are leaving in droves, all because of the internet. Basically it is in the process of imploding. By the time many young Jehovah's Witnesses reach their teen years, not only have they been conditioned to associate worshipping Jehovah with great displeasure; but they still don't have any groups or programs tailored to them as teens, or which meet their needs. Tony Morris declared on multiple occasions that he was incensed with European trousers for men, designed by the homosexuals he hates so passionately and followed this tirade by producing a side by side photo of what proper trousers look like versus tight pants. 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. Much like Kim Jong walking out and clapping his hands, the Watchtowers idea of motivating its people is to deliver talks denouncing college, Watchtower articles ridiculing those who disagree with them, and the repetitive promise that the end is just around the corner. The establishment of Jehovahs Witnesses is not in the Bible. 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. Because I love my sister so much, I felt like I had to give her the opportunity to just listen. 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. Problems Facing JW.org - Jehovah's Witnesses They use Office 365 now and embed data into PDF files in an attempt to track where the leaks are coming from. The leader Kim Jong is so deluded that his idea of inspiring his people is to walk out on his balcony with his huge Elvis glasses and clap his hands. Jehovah's Witness Child Abuse Lawsuit - Class Action 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. 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. Brummies happily shopping and going about their day to day business have seen them in their droves. Much of their growth from these nations is from people being born into the religion. Show your compassion for those still trapped. Jehovah's Witnesses to join redress scheme | 7NEWS Believers honor Jehovah, the God and Creator of all things. Their lackluster growth will only continue; and they will find it harder and harder to recruit new members. JW.org has been spinning the cutbacks as simplification, and have coerced dozens of those who lost their full-time jobs to give testimonials about how happy they were to accept their new assignment in the field. In the book, they [JW] taught that Jesus Christ is a Mighty God. Jehovah's Witnesses ban comes into force in Russia after appeal fails. Im still here, and Im still the same. First of all, I think the Watchtowers problems with their inability to retain the young people runs very deep. Andrea grew up in a family of devout Jehovahs Witnesses. Am I an Apostate? No immaterial soul. In situations such as this, I have often noticed that the kids dont have much in the way of emotional support and guidance. Ria Williams sued the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's. They still teach that everybody else is doomed except for them. I remember that first year after Id left the Jehovahs Witness faith. 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".. Jehovah's Witness elders made teen listen recording of her rape for Marriage to an unbeliever starts to look a little inevitable. Is the Book of Daniel Prophetic or Historical? The present study of 50 Jehovah's Witnesses admitted to the Mental Health Service facilities of Western Australia suggests that members of this section of the community are more likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital than the general population. Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson This was not a tax, it was a fee paid because New York owns the underground and the airspace. Issues such as shunning and adjusting to normal life outside the faith can prove challenging to those wishing to leave. Tell your story. The Jehovahs Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which was founded by Charles Taz Russell, a Christian Restorationist minister. Obsessed By The Song Ororo By Bro Joshua Iginla - Religion - Nigeria This is where the Watchtower is at. They began publishing what they learned in books, newspapers, and the journal that is now called The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom. Many former friends, including my best friend of 10 years, shunned me. Earlier this year, we wrote about how the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, better known as the Jehovah's Witnesses despite a long history of litigating many, many important 1st. 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. "(We) encourage them to make urgent contact with the Department of Social Services so . When these programs do address the children directly, it usually only entails an assembly drama about Samuel, or the promise that very soon, they will be able to play with tigers and elephants. When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. However, the Watchtower stubbornly sticks to a one size fits all program for everyone. I knew the Bible back and forth. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. The Jehovah Witness religion is going through some tough times. It isnt about the children. Jw.org Website 2020-06-14 - NATALIE O'BRIEN. BeyondJW - Timothy Campbell All the books in the Bible.. They are told to just go and pioneer.). Jesus himself is truth, not those club-like religions. In many countries, such meetings would be nothing unusual. Witnesses are being approached and asked hard-hitting questions about child abuse, shunning, and other matters. The Watchtower organization simply has nothing new to offer, and no new ideas. The Jehovahs Witnesses have a bunch of rules, regulations and policies much like the religious leaders of Jesus day had. Beside simple boredom, what we also see in the Watchtower organization are many emotionally troubled people and single parent families who join the religion for the promises of relief that it holds out for them. . Answer (1 of 10): Well, it's resulted in them having to resort to baptizing children to keep their numbers up (something they used to criticize the Catholic church for). 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. Besides meetings and literature, what is the Watchtower doing, or even attempting to do to truly refresh, uplift, and inspire their young people? Conflagration and Catastrophe: On Jehovah's Witnesses and the Doom of Personally, what this all adds up to for me is this: Young people, and most especially men, are leaving this religion in droves. 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. The Internet is what is really hurting the Watchtower organization bigtime because in the past, information could be controlled and managed. 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.