Attending My Father's Funeral 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 Witnesses believe that they have the one and only true religion and that their Governing Body is appointed by God himself. Examining the total number of people entering and leaving each religion provides the most complete picture of the dynamism of the American religious landscape. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It is more like Satans group simply because of the harsh and inhumane rules and regulations that they harbor in their midst. 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. Not even Watchtowers huge lawyers can stop it. Biblically, however, the word "soul" is multifaceted. (Rutherford must be having a meltdown in his grave). Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. You're taught by the organisation that once you leave you will. It made them revered. 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. Its the reason they emphasise the dangers and repercussions of searching for answers to faith-related questions in any place except their own literature, calling anything outside this apostasy. They believe that ony 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will go to heaven. THE Jehovah's Witnesses religious denomination has been accused of selling assets and sending cash offshore to avoid paying Australian child-sex abuse victims. First of all, I think the Watchtowers problems with their inability to retain the young people runs very deep. The Jehovah Witness religion is going through some tough times. 37:2337-Minute Listen. She was especially close to her sister Cynthia. These groups are designed to approach the young people where they are at right now not from where someone thinks they should be. There are now 11 of us that are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses, and that is in ten years. Shunning seams to be one of their favorite topics and favorite things to do. They are told to just go and pioneer.). 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. You have no place in this house. He told me to pack my things and go.. In some respects, its very entertaining. 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. This is an area where I believe the Watchtower leadership shows an astounding lack of insight. Many churches offer separate classes, services, or groups for children that are compatible with their maturity level and that get them acclimated to going to church. Find some books which are truthful and sincere and share them. The Holy Spirit is . "(We) encourage them to make urgent contact with the Department of Social Services so . 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. Their lackluster growth will only continue; and they will find it harder and harder to recruit new members. Religious fact, faith and delusion, home> However, the Watchtower stubbornly sticks to a one size fits all program for everyone. There is dissent in South Africa right now because of the fixed per capita amount assigned to each publisher who attends a circuit assembly. Today it has 252 members, with those who have been associated with Pentecostalism, the Anglican and Baptist churches and the Jehovah's Witnesses dominating the group. 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. Many will have had to cover over passions and talents that would have given their lives much greater meaning. 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. Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Watch Tower Headquarters asked branches to sell as much equipment as they could liquidate including heavy equipment, printers, etc. A key factor to the growth in number of Jehovah's Witnesses is the promise that this system will end at any moment. 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. Many of these were good kids too. Im astonished at the totally creepy nature of the GB Videos I have seen lately. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. magazine which says: "No one should be made to worship in a way they find . Updated at 12:25 p.m. I've never showered as much in my life. I was lucky enough to have parents who brought me up more loosely than most Jehovahs Witnesses. They have their little pet scriptures that they have taken out of context of course and they use those to try and convert you to their brand of religion. All rights Reserved. When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. 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. 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. When you factor how many people are baptized vs. the number of publishers the year before you realize that they . The organization of Jehovahs Witnesses is not Gods organization and never ever will be either. 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. 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. It is already collapsing under its own weight. Being a Witness and following the doctrines didnt automatically mark you as different or better than anyone else. Currently, in the US, JW.org has just 40% of their publishers registered in the JW.org database system. 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. 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 Witnesses still experience growth, but at a huge expense. She didnt party, she didnt drink, and she stayed out of politics. Boom Boom Boom! - The number of young Jehovah's Witnesses (aged 18-24) has dropped by 6% over the past 7 years. 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. On top of this, many Jehovah's Witness adults expect children to silently sit still through long convention talks on Daniels prophecies or the nuances of the word parousia. "I would be sick. Once that happens, shunning will have very little power over JWs. It is truly a heavily works based religion. Was Russell a Freemason? 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. Press J to jump to the feed. A former Jehovahs Witness shares why she walked away for good, We would have Bible studies, and I even preached from door to door. Aside from the Bethel layoffs, all non-essential branch projects were either cancelled or put on hold. I had to see it, I had to look it up, and I had to read myself. Andee. For Ali Millar, the experience of writing her difficult life story wasn't cathartic, it was traumatic. The verdict has since been overturned, but the case is still being litigated. It is law according to the Jehovahs Witness. Can baptism be Annulled? - The number of young Jehovah's Witnesses (aged 18-24) has dropped by 6% over the past 7 years. My Story of Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Lloyd Evans 108K subscribers Subscribe 7.2K 232K views 4 years ago (Cedars' vlog no. - Quora Answer (1 of 27): It isn't a religion its a cult. Are Watchtower reasons for being the only true religion valid? Authorities have also been accused of failing to look into allegations by whistleblowers that Jehovah's Witnesses may be hiding its money . That our faith is true. Statistically, two-thirds of born in members leave, and of those that leave on. Most importantly, these endeavors just might diminish time and resources that are used for going door-to-door. 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. "They knocked on our door and caught my mum at a vulnerable time of crisis . If a Jehovah's Witness were to break any of the rules they could be spoken to by an elder (the equivalent of a . The Internet's most comprehensive resource for ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, a community for support, recovery and a few laughs along the way. The life of the Jehovah's Witnesses is guided by those forbidden things and more. The "soul" is simply the life-force within a person. My grandmother was a pioneer. We have hope, and we have a promise that no one else on this Earth has. Within ten years, a / The Real Cause Of Chukwuemeka Akachi, UNN Student Death. Jw.org Website Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. Show your compassion for those still trapped. Witnesses are being approached and asked hard-hitting questions about child abuse, shunning, and other matters. 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. Im grateful every day for my education and my desire to learn and think independently, a skill that fostered in me those initial doubts about Jehovahs Witnesses, and enabled me to have the strength to search for answers elsewhere in non-biased literature. Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. 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. 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. Only ten years ago, every single member, that is 28 members were Jehovah's Witnesses. The. Andrea sat down. But she realized she couldnt help her sister if she remained at a distance. They make up these rules simply because they can. 10. Clearly, these eight men will lie just to protect their money because thats their first love. This has happened in other countries as well. 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. You can get shunned just by reading literature from another church, and you can even get shunned for smoking a cigarette. In more recent news concerning the Watchtower organization, Steven Lett made a really shocking and quite frankly damning statement concerning babies. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. Because I love my sister so much, I felt like I had to give her the opportunity to just listen. 2010 Elder's Book The Jehovahs Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which was founded by Charles Taz Russell, a Christian Restorationist minister. When youre a convert, you know what its like to be in the world. You dont need to mourn me, I told her once. This is definitely one organization that you need to steer clear of at all costs. Are you inspired yet? 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. The Let God Be True book was written by imperfect men, and imperfect men make mistakes, and it was a mistake. 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. Nobody at the London HQ would comment on whether the strategy resulted in an increase in followers. They put peoples lives in bondage to the religion. This is where the Watchtower is at. Young Korean Witnesses languish in prison for no reason. 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. While they may appear nice and friendly, once you get into the inner-workings of the organization, you quickly discover that the niceness and friendliness is very short lived unless you follow everything to the letter within the organization. The fact that the [Church Of Christ minister] can go to the Bible and prove when, where, and how the Church was established in these last days is the reason I am a member of the Church Of Christ! This religion is indeed a cult and a terrible one at that. It will be 1 friend out of 6 shunning rather than all of them - not nearly as effective. It was important for Andrea to have a relationship with God, and to worship Him the right way. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. . If all of this keeps up, it might not be long before you will see jw.org gone from the scene, as well as other things tied to this diabolical evil religion. Jehovah's Witnesses, a millenarian denomination of Christrianity, follow strict guidelines regarding the use of blood in medical practices. 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. All the books in the Bible.. Most people who currently identify as Jehovah's Witnesses (65%) also were raised outside that tradition. 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. By Elizabeth Chuck. 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. I dont remember feelling that way 30yrs ago, but perhaps I am starting to get back to normal? She converted a lot of people to that religion.. We are so inured to the concept that it has become meaningless. Strangely, their newspapers only had good news to publish about the Soviet government, and only had bad news to report about Western democracies. When there has been no specific date set . Jehovah's Witnesses must believe and teach that their group has been directly appointed by God and Jesus. 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. Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult? My father and i have discussed this. 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 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. They dont bring salvation to your door when they come but instead, they talk about a paradise Earth and so on. Jehovah does not mislead us. 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 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. 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. 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. Leaving the faith at 18 changed my life completely. Andrea started to panic and pulled Cynthia aside. I remember that first year after Id left the Jehovahs Witness faith. 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. She learned she couldnt get that from being a Jehovahs Witness. This religion contains more rules on what you cant do rather than what you can do. That is why I believe they will never adopt the very common sense solutions that could be so helpful to their members; especially the young ones. Simple forgiveness isnt in their vocabulary. Quick-builds only happen so often, and Bethel just isnt a possibility for everyone. Its not what we post on AvoidJW.org that should worry Watch Tower. I had panic attacks. They rely upon the Watchtower more than they rely upon the Bible. Several people tried to convince me to return to the truth the term they use to refer to anyone in the faith. Were a year and a half apart. (Immediately prior to dates the end was specifically expected, such as 1914, 1925 and 1975, growth increased to as high as 20%.) None of these religions are the true religion. They believe that salvation is impossible outside of the Watchtower. BeyondJW - Timothy Campbell 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. Is it any wonder that they would seek to fill the void in their life with sex, drugs, and alcohol? , Productivity Hacks for the Creative Christian, Three (Unexpected) Life Lessons from College, Dear Teenage Self: Finding God Changes You. Nov. 20, 2019, 9:49 AM PST. Growth is pretty much stagnet in America and other countries like Great Brittan, Austrialia and other English speaking nations. 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. 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. They use Office 365 now and embed data into PDF files in an attempt to track where the leaks are coming from. 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. 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. The Watchtower organizations sole purpose is to proselytize, whereby all of its human capital must be channeled into that goal. Their whole going out to knock on doors sounds commendable, but truth be known, the reason why they do it is because theyre trying to earn their own way into Jehovahs new world; paradise Earth. I just want you to listen, Cynthia begged. Jehovahs Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes. Globally there are about eight-and-a-half million Jehovahs Witnesses. Truth Be Told Documentary Many elders have questioned this vocally, and have described the amount of money charged to each circuit as an invoice. I have been giving a lot of thought to the young people who are leaving the Watchtower organization in recent years. Imagine if Ford was blaming the consumers - saying that consumers had poor judgment for not wanting to buy the Pinto anymore. But now members are heading into the city to try and reach out to more people. 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. 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. Contrast this to the July 2009 issue of Awake! Those eight men up in New York are worshipped because they follow every single word they say. A big part of the JW organization's power comes from keeping dissenters isolated until they give in due to loneliness. I have seen a lot of creativity and progressive thinking when it comes to how they design ministries for young people. And its peppy acceleration will get you far and away from Zeb and his feisty cart crashes!. It is all about the rules and their governing body. 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. Now if they all say this, surely not all of them could be the truth huh? Less than 24 hours later, the manual was leaked and seemingly non-stop analysis and comparison to previous versions began. (source: Detroit Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/18/jehovahs-witnesses-murder-suicide-keego-harbor/409695002/). 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. Why so many raised as Witnesses leave Yet, ironically, its clear that their growth is already suffering due in part to this stubbornness.