Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. My grandmother was a pioneer. Am I an Apostate? Woman born into Jehovah's Witnesses says she was raised in a cult Problems Facing JW.org - Jehovah's Witnesses The graph below shoes how the 18-29 crowd have aged up, but new young adults are not replenishing the numbers. 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. Why Are People Leaving The Jehovah's Witness In Droves. "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 Jehovah's Witnesses had changed over the years. It is all about the rules and their governing body. It is more like Satans group simply because of the harsh and inhumane rules and regulations that they harbor in their midst. Is it the sign of the end or just the end of a religion? Jehovah's Witnesses Face the Challenge of the Coronavirus Outbreak Obsessed By The Song Ororo By Bro Joshua Iginla - Religion - Nigeria There is absolutely nowhere in the Bible where Jesus disfellowshipped anyone. 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. Man who raped Jehovah's Witness girls sentenced to 5 years in prison ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. However, the Seventh day Adventists say that theyre the only true religion, the Mormons say it and so do the Catholics and so on. 12 Outrageous Facts about Jehovah's Witnesses you need to Know Strangely, their newspapers only had good news to publish about the Soviet government, and only had bad news to report about Western democracies. With the recent crack-downs on college education, the Watchtower is looking less and less like a spiritual paradise, and is looking more like North Korea. It should be noted that the Soviets used the same methods of argumentation and reasoning claiming that nothing was lacking in Mother Russia. It made them revered. 37:2337-Minute Listen. A lack of education is also essential to keep members locked in. Doomsday images from Jehovah's Witnesses publications. Well, the reason for the recent increase is simply due to a change in tactics, according to our sister title the Chronicle. Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. On the heels of a $35 million jury award to a woman who alleged the congregation mishandled her childhood abuse, other . How a former Jehovah's Witness follower is facing the trauma after But why have they stopped knocking on our doors? magazine which says: "No one should be made to worship in a way they find . 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 . 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. Tell your story. But I will say this each one of us can play a part in sharing what we know with the public. Again, they continue to enforce a one size fits all education and worship program to both children and adults. Jehovah's Witnesses must believe and teach that their group has been directly appointed by God and Jesus. While I tried to maintain the utmost respect for their beliefs and not attempt to preach my own, they refused to extend me the same courtesy, and many assumed Id left so I could experience more freedom for worldly things. They affirm that GodJehovahis the most high. There's a limit on how long you can tell people that the world is about to end for so long before they get sceptical. / The Real Cause Of Chukwuemeka Akachi, UNN Student Death. 1. - Quora Answer (1 of 27): It isn't a religion its a cult. Ironically, they cant do that, because the organization has already been identified and branded as a spiritual banquet where nothing is lacking. 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. At what point do they begin to ask themselves if there is something that THEY are doing wrong? Its this picture of the world the word they use to refer to anything outside the faith that was painted for me as a child, and I was warned away from cultivating any close friendships with non-Jehovahs Witnesses for this reason. 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. Theres absolutely no room for error within the organization. Truth Be Told Documentary People are finally not afraid to talk, and the very massive Ex-JW community is really having a huge affect on Watchtower and on those still inside of it. A key factor to the growth in number of Jehovah's Witnesses is the promise that this system will end at any moment. They tell you that you need to follow these rules in order to receive salvation and so on. Nobody at the London HQ would comment on whether the strategy resulted in an increase in followers. "Overseers of Jehovah's People", an article in the group's publication called the Watchtower . When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. She was convinced shed lost me and that Id be changed for ever now, no longer the daughter shed always loved and cherished. Less than 24 hours later, the manual was leaked and seemingly non-stop analysis and comparison to previous versions began. My parents chose my brother, my abuser, over me. Finish the statement: "JWs are leaving in droves, all because Only ten years ago, every single member, that is 28 members were Jehovah's Witnesses. When Andrea learned that the re-emergence of the Church Of Christ is clearly found in the Bible, she looked into the origins of JW and found that there was no Biblical proof to support JWs establishment. With a spacious trunk, with low clearance to fit that pesky literature cart! Meanwhile, Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia have been imprisoned for following Governing Body directives. And now with other countries finding out the harshness of their rules and their inhumane practices of shunning, and not turning child sex abuse cases over to the police is really causing a huge problem for Watchtower. ITV Coronation Street star announces full-time return to soap - leaving fans delighted. Why are you doing this? Andrea was upset. She tried to push his friendship away, which meant pushing Cynthia away too. Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. 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 I'm going to do the most non-Jehovah's Witness-y thing ever and, instead of just making up any shit I please, I will actually supply sources for my data so you can look it up for yourself: - 52% of Jehovah's Witnesses are 50 years of age or older, - Only 29% of Jehovah's Witnesses are parents to children under 18 - a decrease of 8% over the past 7 years. 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. "I would be sick. I myself was born and raised in the organization. You have no place in this house. He told me to pack my things and go.. 10. 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".. Sawyer and many others like her are now denouncing the church's shunning practices in the wake of a recent murder-suicide in Keego Harbor that killed a family of four ex-Jehovah's Witnesses who . . Id been treated badly by as many people who were Witnesses as I had non-Witnesses. There are also members with experiences of Catholicism, Mormonism, the Exclusive Brethren, the Mennonites, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Falun Gong movement. Every time I . How many schools do you know of, that stick preschoolers, high school students, and graduate students all into the same classroom together? Simple forgiveness isnt in their vocabulary. Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses say church's shunning caused too many suicides This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Many of them had some very deep emotional issues that never got resolved. 'Leaving The Witness': Amber Scorah Reflects On Losing Her Faith - NPR.org Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. 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. The organization of Jehovahs Witnesses is not Gods organization and never ever will be either. This does not sit well with many elders, particularly those is less than affluent areas. Ukrainian Jehovah's Witness sentenced for talking about the Bible in 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. Beginning in 2018, JW.org will implement a program in which every single JW will be assigned a database number and their information will be in JW.orgs global database. Many will have had to cover over passions and talents that would have given their lives much greater meaning. But in another respect, its quite sad, when considering the young people in the organization who desperately need and yearn for something more. For years, members have gone door-to-door to spread the word about the faith. Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes. The Jehovah Witness religion is going through some tough times - Quora Internal rules and philosophies among the Jehovah's Witnesses seem to allow abuse to easily be covered up. Religious fact, faith and delusion, home> But now members are heading into the city to try and reach out to more people. You dont need to mourn me, I told her once. 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. 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. JWs are leaving in droves, all because of the internet. 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 Prayed and was met by a Witness Im a Choir Member. Moriah Hughes, 24, filed her lawsuit last month in. Theres absolutely no evidence of that at all. I have never been able to find anything more true than what is taught by the Church Of Christ. In some respects, its very entertaining. However, none of that is really working and people are still waking up from this brutal North Korean type religion. 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 purpose? I have a loving husband that I adore. Change in teachings? Conflagration and Catastrophe: On Jehovah's Witnesses and the Doom of Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Kings County, New York - On May 18, 2021, in New York City, Robins Kaplan LLP filed three lawsuits against the Jehovah's Witnesses parent-organization, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. ("Watchtower"), on behalf of survivors who were sexually abused when they were minor members of two different New York State congregations. (source: Detroit Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/18/jehovahs-witnesses-murder-suicide-keego-harbor/409695002/). The important thing for us is to show them that there is a great life to be lived after leaving the Watchtower. 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. 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 . They are told to just go and pioneer.). I have my duty. 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. And, I think the issue is much broader than what the simple statistics are showing. 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. For Some Americans, Ukraine's Fight Feels Close to Home Is the Book of Daniel Prophetic or Historical? Have you lost your mind? The Internet is what is really hurting the Watchtower organization bigtime because in the past, information could be controlled and managed. Jehovah's Witnesses, a sect formed in the 1870s and eventually incorporated as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, maintained for much of their early history that 1914 would mark the end of . it is one to really be avoided at all costs and it is really dangerous. Jehovah's Witnesses in Newcastle City Centre. When there has been no specific date set . 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. These elders are being retrained, and have been called disobedient by the branch. Jehovah's Witness 'ordered to renounce faith and join Russian army' Europe. The "soul" is simply the life-force within a person. She didnt party, she didnt drink, and she stayed out of politics. And you have no promise. 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. If they act up and dont sit still; spankings are usually soon to follow. 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. Are Watchtower reasons for being the only true religion valid? The Jehovah Witness religion is going through some tough times. And at one time their teaching was that Jesus was like God or was a God.. 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. I remember that first year after Id left the Jehovahs Witness faith. Already, members of the Watchtower are already being asked to donate money. Watchtower Caught Dumping Chemicals Jehovah's Witnesses can now be found in Birmingham city centre. Was Russell a Freemason? Its old and we dont use it anymore. . And its peppy acceleration will get you far and away from Zeb and his feisty cart crashes!. I dont remember feelling that way 30yrs ago, but perhaps I am starting to get back to normal? 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. 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. 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. 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. Ria Williams sued the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's. End of the Home Book Study Arrangement If a Jehovah's Witness were to break any of the rules they could be spoken to by an elder (the equivalent of a . Like all enthusiastic followers, they owned a copy of the Let God Be True, which was written, printed, and distributed by the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Because I love my sister so much, I felt like I had to give her the opportunity to just listen. 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. They believe that ony 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven. 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. 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. There are now 11 of us that are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses, and that is in ten years. It is law according to the Jehovahs Witness. I have several observations to add to this. random musings> 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. Photos of JWfacts.com being Promoted Growth is pretty much stagnet in America and other countries like Great Brittan, Austrialia and other English speaking nations. You're taught by the organisation that once you leave you will. 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. 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. At death, that life-force leaves the body. Jehovah's Witnesses across the nation moved to letter-writing and phone-calling instead of door-to-door evangelizing when the organization suspended door-knocking in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its hard to say. He grew up in a Strong JW family in the USA but now thinks most of it is BS and Nonsense, By the way he does love Sweden and I need to go visit him. She was especially close to her sister Cynthia. Left In 1977. Many of us here paid that price, only to wake up to it years later. Jehovah's Witnesses Run Away From Bogus Copyright Claims After Judge We shared everything our whole lives, and I felt like I had to give her that opportunity to the point where, if this was the wrong path, at least I would have a chance to change her mind. Found some information I thought you all might be interested in. She met George, his family, and a few others from the Church Of Christ, including Brother Eddie San Gabriel, a Minister of the Gospel. Steps 1 Do personal research. Jehovah's Witnesses ban comes into force in Russia after appeal fails. Does a recession/pandemic/war indicate Armageddon? 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. We have far more than they realize we have, and there is nothing they can do to stop the flow of information outside of headquarters. Andrea grew up in a family of devout Jehovahs Witnesses. . We grew up together. interesting topics> 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. Photo courtesy of Jehovah's Witnesses Public Information Desk Mandee Reid and her son, Charles Reid, of Kansas City, Mo., like Jehovah's . Leaving the faith at 18 changed my life completely. The Russian Supreme Court's shocking ban of the Jehovah's Witnesses on 20 April 2017 also violates Russia's own Constitution which, in words, guarantees freedom of religion. The Holy Spirit is . Last night, I was reading the thread posted by jwfacts a while back in which he provided some statistics and graphs showing the rapidly declining growth in the Watchtower. Identifying True Worship, Part 1: What Is Apostasy according to the They worship the organization in which theyre a part of. *my Opinion * / Nostradamus Predictions For World War in 2020 . Issues such as shunning and adjusting to normal life outside the faith can prove challenging to those wishing to leave. BBC - Religions - Witnesses: Beliefs 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. This article provides basic information on leaving this faith. Getty Images 08 . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Reasons Why I Left the Jehovah's Witnesses - incmedia.org Coronation Street favourite Julia Goulding has confirmed she's back on the cobbles. For what Christian would ever call somebodys baby a little enimy of God? And even though it was a challenging journey, she doesnt regret it. I believe this with my whole heart. Jehovah's Witnesses to join redress scheme | 7NEWS This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. All the books in the Bible.. Leaked 'Branch' and 'Elders' Manuals Pull Back the Curtain of Inner Instead, all of the nations human capital is invested in one thing: warfare. 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. 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. 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. I eventually left the faith at 18. Find some websites which you believe are honest and accurate and share them. Can baptism be Annulled? 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. Sherrie and Naomi were Jehovah's Witnesses. ET on April 5, 2019. Biblically, however, the word "soul" is multifaceted. When youre a convert, you know what its like to be in the world. I began a life where I could decide what to believe for myself, and I wasnt afraid of someone telling me I couldnt. Sitting through hours upon hours of talks and Watchtower studies is not going to help them with many of the emotional and social challenges theyre grappling with. 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. 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.. 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. 2020-06-14 - NATALIE O'BRIEN. I was very well versed in the Bible. Globally there are about eight-and-a-half million Jehovahs Witnesses. 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. All monies were directed at finishing Warwick, then selling off their cranes and millions of dollars worth of vehicles and other high prices tools, right down to a 5 dollar screwdriver. Witnesses believe that they are living in . I have seen a lot of creativity and progressive thinking when it comes to how they design ministries for young people. Watch Tower is very upset and concerned about all the leaks coming from their headquarters. Ali's account of leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses was traumatic to write It is all about how much you can do in the organization that earns you status and salvation. Reportedly, one of the rules is that unless a perpetrator confesses to committing a sin, two people must witness the commission of the sin. 10 Reasons Why Jehovah's Witnesses Are Unhappy - Medium Animal Suffering 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. 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 .
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