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They are not allowed to question the Watchtower leadership or teaching. Mr. Lopez alleged he was abused by a church elder named Gonzalo Campos. In South Africa, over 1400 congregations struggle to file their government mandated tax returns required of each congregation. As she grew up as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness, there were certain things . 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. At what point do they begin to ask themselves if there is something that THEY are doing wrong? -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. But she realized she couldnt help her sister if she remained at a distance. Branches around the world are struggling to keep up with their own accounting procedures. 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. 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. That our faith is true. I also believe this is an area where they are also profoundly disconnected from reality. In most cases of child sexual assault, the pedophile commits the heinous acts when alone with the . 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. Well here goes. 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. Quick-builds only happen so often, and Bethel just isnt a possibility for everyone. ", BBC Beyond Paradise star Jamie Bamber is married to Eastenders actress. 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. Most people who currently identify as Jehovah's Witnesses (65%) also were raised outside that tradition. Imagine if Ford was blaming the consumers - saying that consumers had poor judgment for not wanting to buy the Pinto anymore. Brummies happily shopping and going. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that humans have an immaterial nature. 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. 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. I have never been able to find anything more true than what is taught by the Church Of Christ. How long will all of this take? They are told to just go and pioneer.). Witnesses are being approached and asked hard-hitting questions about child abuse, shunning, and other matters. 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. . Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult? 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. ET on April 5, 2019. 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. They compared the doctrines taught by the churches with what the Bible really teaches. Jehovah's Witnesses, Hendricks said, "fundamentally disagree with the idea of the Holy Trinity." "We believe that Jehovah is the sovereign, the only eternal one, and that Jesus Christ is a created being perhaps living in the heavens for billions of years," Hendricks said. The Watchtower organization simply has nothing new to offer, and no new ideas. I was lucky enough to have parents who brought me up more loosely than most Jehovahs Witnesses. 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. Amber Scorah writes about exiting the Jehovah's Witnesses in Leaving the Witness. With multiple documentaries being filmed, protests being organized, news reports being written and lawsuits being filed, Jehovahs Witnesses can choose to buckle up and attempt to survive the crash or they can release that belt and get the hell out of the vehicle which is about to catch fire. 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. Is it any wonder that the turnover among the young people is so high? According to Watchtower's own figures, know the number of Jehovah's Witnesses decreased 0.6% from 2019 - 2020 (this represents 46,823 average publishers, for anyone interested) BUT I found a few other interesting facts that indicate, to me at least, that this cult's days are numbered and you can see you feel about it as well. And even though it was a challenging journey, she doesnt regret it. This article provides basic information on leaving this faith. Contrast this to the July 2009 issue of Awake! 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. If the Jehovahs Witnesses were the true religion, sanctioned by God, there would be no room for error and no mistakes!. Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson 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. You know what its like to not have the spiritual substance that you can grab on to. She was especially close to her sister Cynthia. Press J to jump to the feed. Are you inspired? Followers famously wont accept blood donations - nor do they celebrate birthdays, claiming such celebrations displease God. 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. Its hard to say. I myself was born and raised in the organization. So if Jesus said that, then that means all of these cultic religions are not the truth as they claim that they are. . -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. 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. To scan all documents located in Brooklyn, retaining only the hard copies they were required to keep by law. Learn how your comment data is processed. She converted a lot of people to that religion.. Watch Tower was spending tens of thousands per year to New York City just to maintain their tunnel and air-bridge spaces between buildings. . When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. Those eight men up in New York are worshipped because they follow every single word they say. Nothing is added, subtracted, or changed to conform to societys standards because, in the Church Of Christ, the Bible is the basis of their faith. It was important for Andrea to have a relationship with God, and to worship Him the right way. Jesus himself is truth, not those club-like religions. And, it doesnt help the organization at all when governing body members like Jeffery Jackson get onto the stand in court and lie about their organization saying that it would be presumptuous to say that theyre the only spoakspeople for God when in fact, it says just that very thing in their literature. As education becomes increasingly important to eek out even a meager living, Witnesses are already being forced to become more educated. 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 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 dont have any groups or programs tailored to them as teens, or which meet their needs. This religion contains more rules on what you cant do rather than what you can do. Believers honor Jehovah, the God and Creator of all things. As a result, most young Witnesses grow up sequestered in their homes and their congregations, fearful of anything outside those boundaries. 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. She tried to push his friendship away, which meant pushing Cynthia away too. Because I love my sister so much, I felt like I had to give her the opportunity to just listen. I have my duty. ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. Two thirds of those disfellowshipped never return. The church shares some traditional views with the Catholic church but holds several unique ones, including the belief that there is one God, not a Trinity. 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. It is already collapsing under its own weight. (Immediately prior to dates the end was specifically expected, such as 1914, 1925 and 1975, growth increased to as high as 20%.) There is dissent in South Africa right now because of the fixed per capita amount assigned to each publisher who attends a circuit assembly. They affirm that GodJehovahis the most high. The important thing for us is to show them that there is a great life to be lived after leaving the Watchtower. Yes, money is a problem for Watch Tower. When you factor how many people are baptized vs. the number of publishers the year before you realize that they . Clearly, this organization is a satanic religion posing as Christian. Jehovah's Witnesses ban comes into force in Russia after appeal fails. ITV Coronation Street star announces full-time return to soap - leaving fans delighted. One has since died but had rarely attended before her death. 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. The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses has never admitted that any valid reasons to leave the religion exist. . Religious fact, faith and delusion, home> 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. 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. 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. Truth Be Told Documentary As many of you know, the cutbacks were significant. Does this sound familiar? I have seen many really good kids in the organization totally get neglected because they didnt have a father who was a Witness. "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. Basically it is in the process of imploding. 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. And then from that day, I never looked back. Its not what we post on AvoidJW.org that should worry Watch Tower. However, none of that is really working and people are still waking up from this brutal North Korean type religion. 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. All rights Reserved. Find some websites which you believe are honest and accurate and share them. This is definitely one organization that you need to steer clear of at all costs. In order to avoid climate passivity, we must redefine Armageddon. Theres absolutely no evidence of that at all. I have several observations to add to this. In some respects, its very entertaining. At that time, a small group of Bible students who lived near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States, began a systematic analysis of the Bible. Its what we dont post. 100 years is a pretty long time to wait. 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. Are Watchtower reasons for being the only true religion valid? Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination with an estimated 175,000 followers in Russia. Boom Boom Boom! The. The Jehovahs Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which was founded by Charles Taz Russell, a Christian Restorationist minister. THE Jehovah's Witnesses religious denomination has been accused of selling assets and sending cash offshore to avoid paying Australian child-sex abuse victims. *my Opinion * / Nostradamus Predictions For World War in 2020 . 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. The Jehovahs Witnesses have a bunch of rules, regulations and policies much like the religious leaders of Jesus day had. Jehovah's Witnesses 'use the Bible to victim-shame,' sex abuse survivor says. "They knocked on our door and caught my mum at a vulnerable time of crisis . 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. Was Russell a Freemason? I believe this with my whole heart. But in another respect, its quite sad, when considering the young people in the organization who desperately need and yearn for something more. And its peppy acceleration will get you far and away from Zeb and his feisty cart crashes!. Once more and more world wide governments either ban Watchtower from their nations, or make them pay for all the evil that they have done through their evil practice of shunning and other terrible things not mentioned here, the Watchtower organization may be forced to shut its doors. End of the Home Book Study Arrangement Many teenagers in the organization have issues that require a little more remedy than sitting with a notepad at the assembly and counting with tally marks the number of times the speaker says Jehovah. This has happened in other countries as well. Marriage to an unbeliever starts to look a little inevitable. A former Jehovahs Witness shares why she walked away for good, We would have Bible studies, and I even preached from door to door. You dont need to mourn me, I told her once. 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. Evolution & Creation Misrepresentations Many will have had to cover over passions and talents that would have given their lives much greater meaning. Already, members of the Watchtower are already being asked to donate money. 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. Every time I . His wife's parents are among the 130,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Ukraine. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. And, I think the issue is much broader than what the simple statistics are showing. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. According to the organisation, there are currently more than 70,000 Witnesses in Australia. Am I an Apostate? 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. 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. Witnesses believe that they are living in . The purpose? And at one time their teaching was that Jesus was like God or was a God.. Jehovah's Witnesses are among the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in America. They believe that salvation is impossible outside of the Watchtower. The Internet is what is really hurting the Watchtower organization bigtime because in the past, information could be controlled and managed. Watch Tower has made it clear these records are to be destroyed according to their new records management and destruction procedures. You're taught by the organisation that once you leave you will. The graph below shoes how the 18-29 crowd have aged up, but new young adults are not replenishing the numbers. Does a recession/pandemic/war indicate Armageddon? 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. They may think they do, but we have seen, we have seen the proof that our God is real. Leaving the faith at 18 changed my life completely. Andrea sat down. There is a question regarding the longevity of JW.org given the events of the past few years. Im a Choir Member. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a member of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Pierce County recently sued the organization. Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. 37:2337-Minute Listen. However, the Seventh day Adventists say that theyre the only true religion, the Mormons say it and so do the Catholics and so on. My father and i have discussed this. 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. 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. Realistically, though, its a threat to the organisation because education could broaden an individuals mind and open them up to a world of opinions outside the faith. This was not a tax, it was a fee paid because New York owns the underground and the airspace. It is more like Satans group simply because of the harsh and inhumane rules and regulations that they harbor in their midst. There is absolutely nowhere in the Bible where Jesus disfellowshipped anyone. - About 1% of the entire membership is disfellowshipped every year. I believe this is a huge factor in the turnover of young people leaving the organization. Jehovahs Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes. 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. 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. 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. Jehovah does not mislead us. 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 . Meanwhile, Watch Tower purchased four $8,000.00 scanners. Sylviane is a relationship coach for women . It will be 1 friend out of 6 shunning rather than all of them - not nearly as effective. They began publishing what they learned in books, newspapers, and the journal that is now called The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom.