Truth Be Told Documentary This was not a tax, it was a fee paid because New York owns the underground and the airspace. Many will have had to cover over passions and talents that would have given their lives much greater meaning. 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. And he [my dad] told me that, If you go to that Church, dont come back. The Watchtower organizations sole purpose is to proselytize, whereby all of its human capital must be channeled into that goal. Evolution & Creation Misrepresentations They affirm that GodJehovahis the most high. And, I think the issue is much broader than what the simple statistics are showing. Not even Watchtowers huge lawyers can stop it. 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. As many of you know, the cutbacks were significant. Andrea sat down. As a matter of fact, theres absolutely nowhere in all of scripture that even remotely leads to anything that the Jehovahs Witnesses are the true faith. There is a question regarding the longevity of JW.org given the events of the past few years. 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. There simply isnt anything designed or built into the programs that work with the attention spans of young children. Many of us here paid that price, only to wake up to it years later. 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 . The purpose? Franz stated the request for his resignation and his subsequent disfellowshipping resulted from allegations of apostasy. He [the minister] handed me the Bible, and he told me, From now on, when we look up a scripture, I want you to look it up, and I want you to read it. And that was the biggest help for me in reaffirming me that what he was telling me was the truth. Jehovah's Witnesses 'use the Bible to victim-shame,' sex abuse survivor says. Many of them had some very deep emotional issues that never got resolved. Within ten years, a Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. 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. The modern-day organisation began at the end of the 19th century. You can get shunned just by reading literature from another church, and you can even get shunned for smoking a cigarette. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) The pandemic may leave a. 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. I think the issue is much more serious than they would like to admit. The "soul" is simply the life-force within a person. In 2017, Russia banned the denomination, whose members believe in nonviolence and refuse to take up arms in war; Russia . 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. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that: God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is "the only true God". Its what we dont post. She tried to push his friendship away, which meant pushing Cynthia away too. Jehovah's Witnesses, a millenarian denomination of Christrianity, follow strict guidelines regarding the use of blood in medical practices. My Story of Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Lloyd Evans 108K subscribers Subscribe 7.2K 232K views 4 years ago (Cedars' vlog no. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Should you Disassociate and Sample Letters Does a recession/pandemic/war indicate Armageddon? Tell your story. Its hard to say. 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 . Just because they make the claim doesnt make it so. 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. Instead of adjusting the menu, or admitting that the chef isnt as good as he thinks he is, the owner simply blames the customers, and claims that the patrons taste buds must not be working properly. Jehovah's Witnesses can now be found in Birmingham city centre. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses will often turn away from any Bible discussion that challenges their beliefs, using the excuse that they cannot listen to apostates. 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. Being a Witness and following the doctrines didnt automatically mark you as different or better than anyone else. 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. She has never found a discrepancy between what is written in the Bible and the teachings taught in the Church Of Christ. Show your compassion for those still trapped. Mum, I havent died. Its not hard to figure out why so many Jehovah's Witness children are conditioned from an early age to associate drudgery with the meetings and assemblies. Have you lost your mind? Watch Tower Headquarters asked branches to sell as much equipment as they could liquidate including heavy equipment, printers, etc. 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 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. 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 . I eventually left the faith at 18. it is one to really be avoided at all costs and it is really dangerous. . Sections: politics business autos jobs career education romance computers phones travel sports fashion health (We already know that growth has become stagnant and more and more people seem to be waking up than previously.). A big part of the JW organization's power comes from keeping dissenters isolated until they give in due to loneliness. I myself was born and raised in the organization. She was convinced shed lost me and that Id be changed for ever now, no longer the daughter shed always loved and cherished. Quick-builds only happen so often, and Bethel just isnt a possibility for everyone. The Witnesses still experience growth, but at a huge expense. We grew up together. ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. I would love it if the young ones were leaving in droves, and I believe because of the Internet this will happen, but I don't see a great deal of evidence at present. 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. No other religion can do that. Biblically, however, the word "soul" is multifaceted. . 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. [1] People are waking up and leaving in droves. ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher announced Jayne is out of surgery - and it was a success. This is definitely one organization that you need to steer clear of at all costs. Are Watchtower reasons for being the only true religion valid? 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. Mr. Lopez alleged he was abused by a church elder named Gonzalo Campos. Instead, all of the nations human capital is invested in one thing: warfare. Id been treated badly by as many people who were Witnesses as I had non-Witnesses. ET on April 5, 2019. Examining the total number of people entering and leaving each religion provides the most complete picture of the dynamism of the American religious landscape. (Immediately prior to dates the end was specifically expected, such as 1914, 1925 and 1975, growth increased to as high as 20%.) Jehovah's Witness pervert who got sexual kicks from strangling children jailed despite cover-up by congregation. In most cases of child sexual assault, the pedophile commits the heinous acts when alone with the . Does a recession/pandemic/war indicate Armageddon? 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. Doomsday images from Jehovah's Witnesses publications. Jehovah's Witnesses and Covid-19 In order to avoid climate passivity, we must redefine Armageddon. Is it the sign of the end or just the end of a religion? Is it any wonder that they would seek to fill the void in their life with sex, drugs, and alcohol? 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. 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. A life of meaningless sex, drugs and alcohol is often woven into this picture. 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. magazine which says: "No one should be made to worship in a way they find . I believe this with my whole heart. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. 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. 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. 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. The gathering was a Bible study. 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. They worship the organization in which theyre a part of. Are you inspired yet? Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. Copyright 2023 Jehovah's Witnesses. 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. We have hope, and we have a promise that no one else on this Earth has. By Elizabeth Chuck. This religion is indeed a cult and a terrible one at that. 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. 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. You know I couldnt see my life any other way. The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses has never admitted that any valid reasons to leave the religion exist. 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. Watchtower Caught Dumping Chemicals I also believe this is an area where they are also profoundly disconnected from reality. Sparlock Warrior Wizard This is an area where I believe the Watchtower leadership shows an astounding lack of insight. 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. - Among all U.S. adults who were raised as Jehovahs Witnesses, two-thirds (66%) no longer identify with the group. Most importantly, these endeavors just might diminish time and resources that are used for going door-to-door. 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. However, it is too late because it is all laid bare for everybody to see online and it will never ever be erased or taken down. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. They put peoples lives in bondage to the religion. 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. But why should doctrines change? They rely upon the Watchtower more than they rely upon the Bible. 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. Contrast this to the July 2009 issue of Awake! Meanwhile, Watch Tower purchased four $8,000.00 scanners. In some respects, its very entertaining. Website powered & protected by Jehovah's holy spirit. 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. 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. 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. Yes, one would think so, but this would involve the Watchtower leadership reinventing, and rethinking matters that they are convinced have already been settled. It is just too much even for them to handle. Im still here, and Im still the same. 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. Is it any wonder that the turnover among the young people is so high? Something went wrong, please try again later. The verdict has since been overturned, but the case is still being litigated. When a religion starts telling you what to wear, what you can and cant do, whether you can vote, join the military, play sports, read literature from other religions and whether or not you can do certain things within marriage is a religion that is a pure cult. Watch Tower was spending tens of thousands per year to New York City just to maintain their tunnel and air-bridge spaces between buildings. Its not what we post on AvoidJW.org that should worry Watch Tower. They began publishing what they learned in books, newspapers, and the journal that is now called The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom. Am I an Apostate? And the more she embraced the truth, the more her family tried to stop her. Its psychology 101. Brummies happily shopping and going about their day to day business have seen them in their droves. 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. 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. The Hardship of being a Gay Jehovah's Witness I remember that first year after Id left the Jehovahs Witness faith. JWs are leaving in droves, all because of the internet. Jehovah's Witnesses do not provide a dignified resignation process for members who wish to leave. Imagine if Ford was blaming the consumers - saying that consumers had poor judgment for not wanting to buy the Pinto anymore. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. I had to see it, I had to look it up, and I had to read myself. 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. Updated at 12:25 p.m. After completing her Bible studies, Andrea was baptized into the Church Of Christ in 1981. 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. Watch Tower must pay these benefits. As a result, most young Witnesses grow up sequestered in their homes and their congregations, fearful of anything outside those boundaries. In the book, they [JW] taught that Jesus Christ is a Mighty God. Much of their growth from these nations is from people being born into the religion. . 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. 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. The. Meanwhile, Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia have been imprisoned for following Governing Body directives. 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. This is human nature. There are now 11 of us that are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses, and that is in ten years. Internal rules and philosophies among the Jehovah's Witnesses seem to allow abuse to easily be covered up. Jehovahs Witnesses can now be found in Birmingham city centre. I have two beautiful children that I adore, that God blessed me with, and are very active in the Church. Jehovah does not mislead us. They dont bring salvation to your door when they come but instead, they talk about a paradise Earth and so on. My parents chose my brother, my abuser, over me. Many former friends, including my best friend of 10 years, shunned me. Young Korean Witnesses languish in prison for no reason. For what Christian would ever call somebodys baby a little enimy of God? I was lucky enough to have parents who brought me up more loosely than most Jehovahs Witnesses. The Jehovah's Witnesses congregation is a millennialist restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs. Jesus said himself that he was the way, the life and the truth and that nobody comes to the father but through him. 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 the spring of 2015, Stephen Lett asked for donations after stating that JW.org had more money going out than coming in. But why have they stopped knocking on our doors? I was allowed to make friends with people outside my congregation. Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson In situations such as this, I have often noticed that the kids dont have much in the way of emotional support and guidance. The groups are handing out copies of The Watchtower from carts outside New Street station. There are also members with experiences of Catholicism, Mormonism, the Exclusive Brethren, the Mennonites, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Falun Gong movement. Most people who currently identify as Jehovah's Witnesses (65%) also were raised outside that tradition. 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. But the fact that there is such a large turnover of the young people is a major symptom that something is deeply and fundamentally wrong with the Watchtowers model. Currently, in the US, JW.org has just 40% of their publishers registered in the JW.org database system. 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. Found some information I thought you all might be interested in. However, disfellowshipping is. 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. 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. Can baptism be Annulled? What would you expect to see if that was a news headline within the coming year? Truly the Watchtower organization has absolutely nothing good to say about any other religion because theyre too busy puffing themselves up over them. 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. Instead of engaging in some honest soul searching and introspection about how to help and nurture young people at an organizational level, the Watchtower leadership, writing department, and traveling overseers all attribute the high turnover to their favorite straw man: Satan. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. Again, they continue to enforce a one size fits all education and worship program to both children and adults. 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. I have seen a lot of creativity and progressive thinking when it comes to how they design ministries for young people. Jehovah's Witnesses are among the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in America.
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