This religion is indeed a cult and a terrible one at that. The Jackson family was raised in the Jehovah's Witness faith, but several of the family members, including sister Janet, no longer practice the religion. You know what its like to not have the spiritual substance that you can grab on to. The family of Jehovah's Witnesses is writing letters instead of knocking on doors to spread their faith. They put peoples lives in bondage to the religion. Is it any wonder that they would seek to fill the void in their life with sex, drugs, and alcohol? "Overseers of Jehovah's People", an article in the group's publication called the Watchtower . How many schools do you know of, that stick preschoolers, high school students, and graduate students all into the same classroom together? Authorities have also been accused of failing to look into allegations by whistleblowers that Jehovah's Witnesses may be hiding its money . Find some books which are truthful and sincere and share them. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. My parents chose my brother, my abuser, over me. Are you inspired? We feel the use of carts allows us to reach people we perhaps wouldnt meet at home due to their work schedules or other factors, said spokesperson Andrew Schofield. Brother Eddie San Gabriel challenged Andreas beliefs, and in the process she learned two powerful things that peeled her away from remaining a Jehovahs Witness. I dont think Ive ever seen my mum cry so much, so often. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. I remember that first year after Id left the Jehovahs Witness faith. Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes. Its a great field service vehicle with four doors and plenty of ankle length dress room in the back! The present study of 50 Jehovah's Witnesses admitted to the Mental Health Service facilities of Western Australia suggests that members of this section of the community are more likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital than the general population. I was one of them. But now members are heading into the city to try and reach out to more people. The Watchtower organizations sole purpose is to proselytize, whereby all of its human capital must be channeled into that goal. 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 never once doubted the decision that I made on that day to leave my family and to become a member of the Church Of Christ.. World. No other religion can do that. Jehovah's Witnesses, a millenarian denomination of Christrianity, follow strict guidelines regarding the use of blood in medical practices. Why are you doing this? Andrea was upset. 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. However, disfellowshipping is. 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. In many countries, such meetings would be nothing unusual. For them to stay in the organization and have an approved standing, they will have had to squash their inner self, and adopt an organizationally-created identity. 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 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. Jehovah does not mislead us. Jw.org Website They believe that salvation is impossible outside of the Watchtower. 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. There is dissent in South Africa right now because of the fixed per capita amount assigned to each publisher who attends a circuit assembly. Show your compassion for those still trapped. Watch Tower is very upset and concerned about all the leaks coming from their headquarters. Should you Disassociate and Sample Letters 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.. Jehovah's Witnesses will often turn away from any Bible discussion that challenges their beliefs, using the excuse that they cannot listen to apostates. 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. 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. The graph below shoes how the 18-29 crowd have aged up, but new young adults are not replenishing the numbers. Given the choice between what this media has to offer, versus reading a Kingdom Ministry insert, where do you think a bored and uninspired teenager is going to go? The life of the Jehovah's Witnesses is guided by those forbidden things and more. I dont remember feelling that way 30yrs ago, but perhaps I am starting to get back to normal? 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. According to the organisation, there are currently more than 70,000 Witnesses in Australia. (We already know that growth has become stagnant and more and more people seem to be waking up than previously.). I had to see it, I had to look it up, and I had to read myself. "They knocked on our door and caught my mum at a vulnerable time of crisis . Its what we dont post. I tried at all costs to avoid any discussions of faith with Jehovahs Witnesses with whom I was still in contact mostly because I didnt want to be forced into an argument with them over my anger and frustration at some of the doctrines. 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. For years, members have gone door-to-door to spread the word about the faith. I was very well versed in the Bible. 2. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses can now be found in Birmingham city centre. Its old and we dont use it anymore. It is more like Satans group simply because of the harsh and inhumane rules and regulations that they harbor in their midst. . 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. 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. Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. I myself was born and raised in the organization. (source: Detroit Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/18/jehovahs-witnesses-murder-suicide-keego-harbor/409695002/). One has since died but had rarely attended before her death. Photos of JWfacts.com being Promoted it is one to really be avoided at all costs and it is really dangerous. How can anyone watch these buffoons and think theyre Gods voice. Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned in Russia since 2017. This does not sit well with many elders, particularly those is less than affluent areas. Meanwhile, Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia have been imprisoned for following Governing Body directives. Why Are People Leaving The Jehovah's Witness In Droves. She learned she couldnt get that from being a Jehovahs Witness. This is an area where I believe the Watchtower leadership shows an astounding lack of insight. Evolution & Creation Misrepresentations This is definitely one organization that you need to steer clear of at all costs. However, the Seventh day Adventists say that theyre the only true religion, the Mormons say it and so do the Catholics and so on. 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. ET on April 5, 2019. What we see from regimes like North Korea is a disregard for many of the societal endeavors that make a nation stronger, such as infrastructure, good universities, economic freedoms, and democratic processes. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. What would you expect to see if that was a news headline within the coming year? 726 Followers. To have no faith. There was always an air of mysti'c never seeing them except on occasion at a district convention. 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. It made them revered. Now if they all say this, surely not all of them could be the truth huh? Issues such as shunning and adjusting to normal life outside the faith can prove challenging to those wishing to leave. And so after learning from the Bible that God commissions or sends people to communicate the truth, Andrea came to the conclusion that those who wrote the Let God be True book could not have been commissioned by God. She didnt party, she didnt drink, and she stayed out of politics. I also believe this is an area where they are also profoundly disconnected from reality. So if Jesus said that, then that means all of these cultic religions are not the truth as they claim that they are. The Jehovahs Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which was founded by Charles Taz Russell, a Christian Restorationist minister. Young Korean Witnesses languish in prison for no reason. Many will have had to cover over passions and talents that would have given their lives much greater meaning. ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. The Hardship of being a Gay Jehovah's Witness 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. They rely upon the Watchtower more than they rely upon the Bible. It should be noted that the Soviets used the same methods of argumentation and reasoning claiming that nothing was lacking in Mother Russia. Imagine if Ford was blaming the consumers - saying that consumers had poor judgment for not wanting to buy the Pinto anymore. Yet, ironically, its clear that their growth is already suffering due in part to this stubbornness. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that: God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is "the only true God". If they act up and dont sit still; spankings are usually soon to follow. Religious fact, faith and delusion, home> 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. 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. Leaving the faith at 18 changed my life completely. And its peppy acceleration will get you far and away from Zeb and his feisty cart crashes!. Within ten years, a 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. I just want you to listen, Cynthia begged. 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. 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. Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. 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. 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. Is the Book of Daniel Prophetic or Historical? I have just loaded my spiritual cannon, and I am about to fire away! 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. I have seen a lot of creativity and progressive thinking when it comes to how they design ministries for young people. 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. 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 . Less than 24 hours later, the manual was leaked and seemingly non-stop analysis and comparison to previous versions began. In some respects, its very entertaining. 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. And 67% of the Buddhists surveyed indicate that they were raised in a . Jehovah's Witnesses in Newcastle City Centre. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men.