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The Bethel “Happy” video – unauthorized shenanigans or calculated propaganda stunt?
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Posted on January 31, 2015

The Bethel "Happy" video: the work of an individual, or Watchtower?
The Bethel “Happy” video: the work of an individual, or Watchtower?

In Spring of last year I helped organize a group of former Jehovah’s Witnesses from various countries to film our own dance video to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. I felt this was a great way of showing the world that so-called “apostates” are not angry and bitter, but are moving on with their lives in a positive, purposeful way.
The thought did briefly cross my mind: “Could it be that Jehovah’s Witnesses would ever do their own dance video to this song?” Though not completely inconceivable, I felt this would be unlikely given that, growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, it was always frowned on to even own the music of rap/hip hop stars, let alone dance to it on camera!
Well, it seems I could not have been more wrong.
Since I made the “Happy” video there have been at least two instances of Jehovah’s Witnesses dancing to this particular track: one in a kingdom hall while entertaining international convention delegates and, more recently, a full-blown dance montage to the Happy song at various Bethel locations has been uploaded to YouTube…


The above video was initially available on a number of YouTube channels, but was taken down after complaints from JWs – including from one JW who claimed to speak on behalf of the makers of the video who strongly objected to it being posted to YouTube. (I would present evidence of this, but unfortunately the video was taken down before I could get a screengrab of the comments.)
Indeed, it wouldn’t surprise me if the embedded video above ends up getting pulled from YouTube at some point. If you’re reading this article later on and the version of “Happy” shown above is embedded from my Russian “RuTube” account, you know why.
Why would Jehovah’s Witnesses object?
It hopefully shouldn’t require explanation as to why an undoubtedly positive and upbeat video such as this would ignite controversy among seasoned Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I’ll spell it out for you anyway.
Though this particular song contains no lyrics that can be interpreted as sexually explicit, the same cannot be said of other music by Pharrell – including the following…
◾Take It Off (Dim The Lights)
◾Creamsickle
◾Come Get It Bae
◾Gush
◾Get Lucky (collaboration with Daft Punk)
◾Blurred Lines (collaboration with Robin Thicke)
And the following quotes give some indication as to why long-standing Witnesses who actually read and apply the instructions found in Watchtower literature might be perplexed at this latest stunt…

“Consider the case of a young man who wants to buy a certain music album. What he has heard from the album is very appealing, but he is concerned because the back cover indicates that the lyrics are sexually explicit and profane… As a lover of Jehovah, this young man is interested in His thoughts and feelings on the matter. How can he perceive what God’s will is in this regard?” w03 12/1 p.21
“Since Bible times, unwholesome music has been a tool of Satan to stimulate unclean behavior. (Compare Exodus 32:17-19; Psalm 69:12; Isaiah 23:16.) Not surprisingly, then, music with sexually seductive—if not explicit—lyrics, profanity, and wild, arousing tempos is popular.” w99 9/1 p.10
“What about the lyrics? Do they promote sexual immorality, drug use, or other wrongs that are ‘shameful even to relate?’ (Ephesians 5:12) The Bible says that such things should ‘not even be mentioned’ among God’s people, much less set to a beat and repeated over and over again. (Ephesians 5:3) What about the album-jacket design? Does it contain spiritistic themes or sexually arousing pictures? Perhaps you need to make some changes in the type of music you choose. If you have records, tapes, and discs that carry immoral and demonistic themes, you should immediately dispose of them.” w93 4/15 p.24
Would a JW teenager be allowed to own a Pharrell Williams album?
Would a JW teenager be allowed to own a Pharrell Williams album?

Regarding that last quote, young JWs who were forced to throw away albums featuring lyrics that fell short of Watchtower’s standards would have had no defense in holding on to these simply because a single song on them had lyrics that were harmless.
How, then, can the makers of this “Happy” video have no qualms about endorsing the music of Pharrell Williams when so much of it would be considered “a tool of Satan to stimulate unclean behavior?”
I believe the answer lies in the fact that Watchtower is changing – drastically. It is not the same religion that most Witnesses and ex-Witnesses grew up in.
The Watchtower of the 20th Century was unyielding, uncompromising and proud to be loathed and unpopular. The Watchtower of the 21st Century is image-obsessed, beguiling, and willing to bend a few of its rules for the sake of portraying itself in a favorable light.
The work of a rogue individual, or an inside job?
Some will doubtless argue that this video MUST be the ill-advised work of some rogue, over-enthusiastic, spiritually-weak Witness individual. But there are numerous reasons for asserting that this video is in fact a calculated internal propaganda stunt by Watchtower.
Anyone who has spent any amount of time in Bethel will tell you that you simply do not get that sort of access to the various departments (not to mention the cooperation of the bethelites working IN those departments), without the consent of the departmental overseers.
Dancers behind the reception desk at Patterson
Dancers behind the reception desk at Patterson

You cannot just wander into the lobby of Patterson with a camera and get the receptionists to dance wildly for you at your command.
Another telling sign that this is an inside job comes at 1:13 in the video, where a caption pops up that reads “Hmong RTO.” Hmong is an ethnic group from South-East Asia, and “RTO” stands for “Remote Translation Office.”
The use of organizational jargon in this caption, without any attempt to explain things for those not familiar with the inner workings of Watchtower, would seem to indicate that this video was intended for distribution only among the Bethel family.
The unfettered access to various Watchtower locations and departments, the full and enthusiastic cooperation of so many bethelites, and the use of an internal acronym that most JWs would be unfamiliar with, all points to this being an inside job – authorized at the highest level.
If I’m wrong, and it’s really so easy to roam around Bethel getting bethelites to dance for you in front of the camera, excuse me while I book the first flight to New York!
Reasons for optimism?
But forensics aside, what can we take away from this video? Are we to conclude that bethelites are deliriously happy with their lives? Can we dare to suggest that Watchtower is becoming more easy-going, down-to-earth and mainstream?
On the first question, I would point out two things: (1) you should really check out Brock Talon’s book “Journey To God’s House” and the recent JWpodcast interview with Kam Deo if you want to know whether life in Bethel is all smiles and laughter, and (2) there is a big difference between dancing on camera and being genuinely happy. Yes – I realize you can make this same argument about my own interpretation of the Happy song, but the reasons for an ex-JW to be happy are, in my opinion, far more plausible than those of a JW.
The annihilation of non-JWs at Armageddon - a reason for happiness?
The annihilation of non-JWs at Armageddon – a reason for happiness?

A JW’s “happiness” originates from knowing that he is serving Jehovah (when in fact he is serving an organization), and from the absolute conviction that one day he will live in a world where everyone who disagrees with his beliefs has been slaughtered.
Those are definitely reasons to be happy, but they are not good reasons.
An exJW’s happiness comes from knowing that they have been emancipated from the control of a small group of deluded men in New York, and from knowing they are free to live their lives according to what they think and believe rather than having their personal convictions prescribed for them.
Speaking for myself, there is also a great deal of joy to be derived from knowing that the love you have for your child is unconditional, and that no personal differences need ever threaten to separate your dearest little one from you.
As to the idea that this video represents a softening on the part of Watchtower – if only that were true!
In order for Watchtower to become more “mainstream” and easy-going it would need to loosen up its harsh and damaging rules on such matters as shunning, blood transfusions, child abuse and higher education. Rather than doing that, if anything Watchtower is circling the wagons more and more on those issues, as the recent rant by Tony Morris on higher education indicates.
Unfortunately what we are seeing in this Happy video is Watchtower trying to have the best of both worlds. It wants to be the cool dad at the party, but also the dad who, behind closed doors, spanks his child brutally for the slightest misdemeanor.
As heartwarming and endearing as this video will undoubtedly be for most who watch it, what it actually represents is a sickly propaganda stunt by an organization willing to punish its adherents in one of the most wicked ways imaginable (through family estrangement) if they fall out of line, while bending its own rules whenever advantageous to do so.

new-cedars-signature2







***UPDATE***
 Since writing this article I have had the opportunity to speak directly to the maker of the video, and I’ve been told that although the concept and execution of this video was carried out by him individually for the “Bethel Family Night” – the project was approved by the Bethel Family Night Committee and received their endorsement and cooperation. I’m relieved that the individual concerned will not get into trouble for making this video, since he seems to have done everything by the book and consulted properly with his superiors. However, his account does verify that Watchtower went into this with its eyes open and saw no double-standards or hypocrisy in using Pharrell Williams to promote life as a bethelite.
Further reading…
◾Partying in the kingdom hall – why OK for convention delegates, but not newlyweds?
◾Two days after the memorial – apostates reveal the secret of happiness
◾Why is God’s earthly organization so slow?
Related video…




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← Tony’s JW Broadcasting rant against higher education: a masterclass in cult propaganda
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177 Responses to The Bethel “Happy” video – unauthorized shenanigans or calculated propaganda stunt?

← Older Comments

 Neal Krouni says:

 February 17, 2015 at 10:02 pm

just testing here – I posted b4 but didn’t c it
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 February 17, 2015 at 10:57 pm

This latest fiasco only confirms that the Watchtower society and all their sheepish followers have finally deteriorated into a pathetic joke. There is NO Jehovah. There NEVER was.
THERE IS ONLY ALMIGHTY GOD.
Anything else is blasphemy.
 God has NO need for a name.
 jehovah / yahweh is the FALSE god of an Iron Age tribe of nomadic, desert-dwelling goat herders. The so-called governing body and their merry band of gloriously deluded followers have truly earned the name, jehovah’s witLesses. LOL They have, however, unfortunately, managed to somehow extend their influence (effluent?) all the way around our precious globe like a poison, or more precisely, a virus, far beyond their own meager numbers. They MUST be outlawed, as must be all organized religion. Organized religion = Fairy tales. The time has come for humanity to take the next step in our evolution (or whatever) and extract itself from its dream world full of rainbows and unicorns, and GET REAL. “Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.” Happiness comes from living in the REAL world!!
Reply
 
 heather says:

 April 21, 2015 at 1:02 am

i like your comments BUT get your facts right first. The name was INVENTED as a Latin substitute word for LORD by a Spanish monk in the 13th century, Raymundas. This can all be verified by looking in Google. It was certainly NOT the name for the God of Israel. JW’s confirm this in their “AID TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING” book on page 884/5. check it out. after 38 years of being brainwashed I am now free. Please read one of my journals. pitn.wordpress.com
Reply
 
 

 A. Nonymous says:

 March 3, 2015 at 10:16 pm

WOW! From watching that video I realize that I have been wrong about Jehovah’s Witnesses all along. They are not in a cult. They are happy people. They’re cool! They know how to have fun! And to the music of Pharrell Williams! I’m going to join them!
 Just joking. I was a JW once. It’s a cult.
Reply
 
 Kirtley W. Burggraf says:

 March 10, 2015 at 7:07 am

Ha! you had me going.
Reply
 
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 7, 2015 at 7:56 pm

I’ll bet life is pretty crappy@bethel.
Reply
 

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Top Posts & Pages
Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
 Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
 Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
 Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
Links 
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Why it is morally wrong for Watchtower to push baptism on children 
 Why it is morally wrong for Watchtower to push baptism on children 
Videos 
 Videos 


 

Key Articles

Is JWsurvey.org an apostate website?
What is the new light on the faithful slave?
Has Watchtower ever lied or withheld informatiion?

Open Offer

Open Offer to all bethelites
 Do you work at Brooklyn, Patterson or Wallkill? If so, please click here.

Our Promise
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 Is there something incorrect or unfactual on this website? If so, please let us know and we will correct it.

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New commercial-style standard kingdom hall design unveiled to elders
avatar
Posted on February 3, 2015

If you live in the United States, could this be what your next local kingdom hall will look like?
If you live in the United States, could this be what your next local kingdom hall will look like?

On Saturday, January 31st a special meeting was held for all elders in the United States Branch Territory. A letter sent out in advance advised elders that the meeting would be to unveil “a new, dramatically different Kingdom Hall design.”
Since then, images of the proposed new standardized “cookie cutter” design have been leaked on an ex-JW forum. They show a building that appears to have been envisioned with commercial applications in mind if the building ever needs to be sold in future.
One elder’s notes from the two-and-a-half hour meeting, also leaked online, indicate that elders were urged by Governing Body helper Robert Luccioni not to become like the Israelites who complained after leaving Egypt.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 was read, which says: “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ for it is not out of wisdom that you ask this.” The application was made that elders should not dwell on the past or point out flaws in the new arrangements.





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Robert Luccioni co-hosting the February 2015 JW Broadcasting episode
Robert Luccioni co-hosting the February 2015 JW Broadcasting episode

Leon Weaver, also a Governing Body helper, then revealed that there had been heated discussions within the US branch committee through the night as to whether the design for the new standardized kingdom halls was to be residential or commercial. Eventually, however, it seems all voted in favor of a commercial-style model – with windows.
JWsurvey has already reported on the changes that are being introduced by the Governing Body regarding how kingdom halls and assembly halls are built and financed. These changes involve all congregations sending a fixed donation to Watchtower every month, even if they were not previously in debt, and relinquishing all surplus funds to Watchtower.
Though the majority of rank-and-file publishers seem to have greeted the changes under the false impression that Watchtower is waiving the debts of congregations, not everyone has fallen for it.
On my Facebook page I was sent the following PM by an active publisher, who is happy for me to share it while asking to remain anonymous…

Hey John. I’m a baptized JW. I created this hidden account for myself for obvious reasons. I’m married to a zealous sister…my family are 90% JW and I was raised one from birth.
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. I have been doing a lot of digging around and watching videos on YouTube… including yours on this organization. Reason why? Some things just don’t seem right. Some things just don’t seem logical..etc.
Last night a letter was read at my KH – by the way I’m from [country deleted]… The letter said that from now on, all contributions we make will be towards one global fund… so no more KH building fund box, world wide work box etc. It’s just one contribution that will go into a global fund. Now there was a resolution from the headquarters to be passed by all congregations that each congregation will send a certain amount to this global fund monthly.
The amount that was set for our congregation was [equivalent to] US $113. Keep in mind this is separate from Congregation expenses. We have around 70+ publishers. I thought if our brothers are struggling to pay congregation expenses… how are we going to keep this up monthly? Anyways they say it will go to everything like disasters, building halls, printing etc.
BUT THIS IS WHERE I WAS DISTURBED. AFTER THE MEETING I WAS CLEARING THE CONTRIBUTION BOX… AND I WAS TALKING TO AN ELDER ABOUT THE LETTER WHO IS THE SECRETARY… JUST TO UNDERSTAND IT FULLY. HE SAID TO ME… “WE WILL NEED TO KEEP IT UP SO THAT JEHOVAH’S SERVICE WILL BE CARRIED OUT… FOR EXAMPLE…I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD SAY THIS YET… BUT IT WILL BE NO SECRET SO I GUESS I CAN. DID YOU KNOW THAT LAST WEEK ALL CIRCUIT OVERSEERS GOT A BRAND NEW 2015 RAV4 FROM THE SOCIETY?”
I SAID “WHAT!!!!” HE SAID “YES BRAND NEW.” SO I SAID “BUT THE CO WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO WITH AN OLDER 2001 CAR?” THE ELDER SAID…”WELL I GUESS HE HAS 2 CARS NOW”… IN MY MIND I’M LIKE WHAT!!! THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT!!!
 I AM STRUGGLING TO PAY MY BILLS AT HOME..I’M ENCOURAGED BY THE SOCIETY TO KEEP LIFE SIMPLE…DON’T START ANYTHING THAT’S GOING TO TAKE UP TIME LIKE A NEW BUSINESS EXTRA HOURS AT WORK ETC… AND NOW YOU ARE TELLING ME I MUST CONTRIBUTE MY MONEY SO THAT CIRCUIT OVERSEERS CAN DRIVE BRAND NEW CARS…ON TOP OF THAT…THE ELDER SAID THEIR SUVS WILL HAVE FREE SERVICING EACH TIME IT NEEDS IT AND ANY PARTS THEY NEED THIS WILL ALL BE PAID FOR BY THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY.”
KEEP IN MIND IT COSTS AROUND $217 TO SERVICE ONE OF THESE SUVS EXCLUDING PARTS. I WAS THINKING IN MY HEAD…YOU MEAN PAID BY ME AND OTHER POOR BROTHERS WHO EITHER HAVE TO WALK EVERYWHERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE A SIMPLE LIFE OR IN MY CASE I HAVE AN OLD LITTLE CAR THAT NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF PARTS RIGHT NOW… I DON’T EVEN HAVE A/C IN MY CAR, AND I’M TO GIVE MY MONEY TO HELP BUY 2015 SUVS AND MAINTENANCE…
CAN’T BELIEVE THIS… MY WIFE THINKS ITS A BLESSING FROM JEHOVAH…BUT I CAN’T TALK MY FEELING BECAUSE WHENEVER I DO..SHE SAYS I’M AN APOSTATE! …WHAT DO YOU THINK? CAN YOU DO A VIDEO ON THIS? I’m not sure if the COs only in [my country] got 2015 SUVs or it’s a worldwide thing…but it’s shocking to me. I’m just in a puzzled state right now.”
Publishers like my friend above can expect to be even more bewildered as they see Watchtower continue its downsizing trend. Where once the organization prided itself on huge investment and global expansion – consolidation, thrift and cost-saving is now the order of the day.
Watchtower is now big on style, low on substance.
And with this new standardized kingdom hall, it appears Watchtower has one eye on what publishers will expect in return for accepting the new stealth-tithing arrangement, and one eye on making kingdom halls as marketable as possible should they eventually need to be sold off.

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Further reading…
◾Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations
◾Watchtower completes stealth-tithing smash-and-grab
◾JWsurvey articles on Watchtower downsizing


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132 Responses to New commercial-style standard kingdom hall design unveiled to elders

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 Robert says:

 February 10, 2015 at 11:01 pm

You are right, I did not intend to veer the comments off off target. I thought I might mention you use a softer tone at times that may be able to target a different type of fence rider so to speak. You are also right, I was much smarter than I am now. But you see there was this thing were I ingested a couple of hundred pills to arrange a meeting with my maker. The only thing it accomplished was it fried my brain fairly well. However I’m past feeling sorry for myself. For once in my life, I feel relieved and living in peace. I know there is much more talented people on this board and I did not wish to engage them, therefor the false modesty you speak of. But just this very night, my son was removed as a publisher. He probably would have been DF if I had not insisted on him not being baptized. He is smart kid with an IQ of about 132, but could not tell you which way is north. So needless to say he is young and has a lot to learn. As for me, I have been DF’d twice, reproved more times than I can count. I just didn’t want that for him. Being associated with some of these people and the power they can wield over you can drive you insane. Just so some of you know I got the street cred “thuggish American term” to speak on this board as anyone else if it truly is an open forum. So there is that. I have no ill will to the Org. But I love most of the people, so keep doing your thing.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 February 11, 2015 at 1:30 pm

@Minion. I looked at those pictures of Mariner watches and Herd’s watch sure like a Submariner to me. If I had one of those watches, I’d be loving it so much that I’d be hating to take it off, even for a minute and I’d be hiding it under the table too. If anybody ever catches him at an assembly, they should ask him what time it is so he can show them his watch if he wears that same watch in public and isn’t ashamed to show it off.
@Lawrence, even though JW’s don’t ask for money to place the magazines, they are supposed to ask for a donation but every time I went out, very rarely did anybody actually ask for a donation but every now and then, somebody would give us money. The money that Witnesses get out in service for any literature is supposed to go in the contribution box towards the world wide work. But the thing is, when Witnesses take out the magazines at the Hall, it is expected that they would pay for the magazines first out of pocket, whatever they can afford into the contribution box for the worldwide work. So, the Society doesn’t “give” the magazines away. Every month, the congregation takes the money that the brothers and sisters put in the contribution box towards those magazines and books and CD’s etc. and sends it to the Society. So, then when the householder actually gives the Witness some money towards the printing of the literature, then that money goes into the contribution box, so in effect, the Society is getting paid two times for the literature. That’s a scam.
@Robert. I also took a bottle of pills when I was young but thankfully went to the hospital in time so no bad effects but it did teach me that I’d never let the religion make me think I’d take that way out ever again. That isn’t to say that my life hasn’t been miserable though because I chose to get baptized into this religion.
I do have ill will towards the Society. I have no ill will against the people but I do have very much ill will towards the Governing Body and I am not afraid to let it show in every comment I make.
When I first started “waking” up, I wasn’t as angry but the more I learned about the underbelly of the Society and all the lies, the angrier I got and I want for anybody who is questioning their religion to see my anger.
I don’t want to give the impression of being “soft” on this religion. It is one of the most harmful ways of life that a person could live and I want that feeling to come across loud and clear in every comment I make.
I have had 50 years of experience in the religion and I could write a book about it and that would only be scratching the surface of my hate. If we on this site are “soft” in our comments, it isn’t going to help people to see the real “truth”. I want every person who comes on here, to feel our love for them so they don’t have to suffer like the rest of us have and either get out of it or never join. That is my hope.
Reply
 
 Lawrence says:

 February 12, 2015 at 4:40 am

Anonymous,I believe that the Society is losing money supporting third world congregations.Poor Africans who hardly have enough money to put food on the table wouldn’t pay for all those Watchtower publications.In all likelihood,the Society has to foot the bill for the publications as well as Kingdom Hall building/renovation projects.What about Latin America,Southeast Asia,etc.?
Reply
 
 

 Pickled brain says:

 February 11, 2015 at 3:18 pm

@Anonymous. I enjoyed your last comment& you have been through so much & I understand you Want to SHOUT from the ROOFTOPS How EVIL this Religion is & Not to Let them off Lightly as They are DESTROYING FAMILIES & TEARING Them Apart!!
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 February 12, 2015 at 2:44 am

@Pickled brain, and to think that every day, there’s probably another 1,000 men, women and children being baptized into this mind-destroying cult. It’s like trying to shovel snow with a feather. But, eventually if there’s enough of us out here shouting and screaming about all the abuses, it will stop some of them from getting baptized or help them to see what it’s really all about and get out.
It’s the children who are the most vulnerable and we have the internet on our side. I am so glad I finally found the real truth about the “truth” before I die anyway.
The other night one of the elders (nice young man) called to find out my husband’s time and asked me if I had seen the latest February broadcast and asked me about what I thought about the American Indian part and I told him straight out that I can’t say anything good about it. I told him that over and over again and it was like talking to a brain dead Zombie. Those people are so hypnotized, it is pathetic.
I lay awake at night, thinking of words to describe my hatred of the Society so there’s more coming. It will be a while before I run out of my vitriol towards the Society and I am not worried about hurting any feelings when it comes to my description of the Society.
If people come on here and expect me to be kind towards the Society, it ain’t gonna happen. Like I said, every day, there’s at least 1,000 more people who will have their present and future life taken away from them because of this religion and I have no pity for the Organization that is using and abusing them for their own greed and self-exaltation.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 February 12, 2015 at 7:11 am

@Lawrence, when we had to pay for our literature outright at the magazine counter when we picked it up, our congregation was sending $500 to $600 a month for the “world wide” work and then when it went to putting the money in the contribution box instead of paying for the literature outright when we picked them up, the amount sent to the Society was between $300 – $450. I always felt so bad about that, thinking just as you do that at least our congregation should pay what it would cost to produce the literature and our congregation was falling way short of even that much.
The amount put in the contribution box towards the upkeep of our Kingdom Hall was always enough but then the congregation was not only paying for upkeep but bills to the Society for insurance and the loan to pay off for the remodeling so it was made clear how much was needed for upkeep and that was contributed each month. Now, my congregation is paying over $700 a month to the Society, when their loan was already paid off but the Society tricked our congregation into paying off that loan forever with no end in sight, with the idea that that money is supposed to be paying for Kingdom Halls in poor countries. I find that being fraudulent. The elders had 4 pages to that letter but only read the first page, making the congregations thinking that if somebody had a loan to pay off, that they didn’t have to pay it off but it was only a trick. It wasn’t sincere. Then the elders were to meet in secret and make up a story to the congregations how the elders had decided that they wanted to give the same amount as the paid off loan to the Society to help poor brothers and sisters. The thing is, the Society asked them to do it that way. It was deceitful. Do you think Jehovah would use deceit on his people like that, or do you think it’s not backed up by God, after all. If it was backed up by Jehovah, why would he resort to deceit to extract money for his work?
Last year, I felt just as you do now, that the Society was losing money in the poorer countries where the people couldn’t afford the literature and in the richer countries such as the U.S. we should make up for the poorer brothers and sister but I did some research and found out that the Society is very wealthy because they have dozens of ways of making money that the rank and file have no idea how it’s done. I am sure it costs millions every day to pay for all the printing of the publications, special pioneers, bethel buildings, bethelites upkeep, the farm, circuit overseers and on and on so I am well well aware that to keep the whole thing is very costly.
When it comes to all the money the Society brings in and how much they are worth in properties and investments, nobody has any idea. There is zero transparency as far as how much they take in and how much they spend and on what. We have no idea where the money goes or for what but like the Bible says, if it wasn’t for willing preachers, God could make the stones cry out.
This religion has turned into an organization that is much more concerned about building projects than the preaching work. If it was more concerned about telling people that if they don’t turn to God they will be killed at Armageddon, they could produce one book and study it with people and that book could have gone back 100 years with no additions or subtractions, if it really was the “truth”. They wouldn’t need dozens and dozens of publications to study the Bible with people. Just one book would do it. Simple. No need for Bethelites and no need for Bethel buildings. Simple. Cheap.
If it was just the one book, then people could pick the thing apart and make sure it is according to the Bible. The way it is with the Watchtower, with all the publications they put out, it is almost impossible for the average rank and file to prove or disprove anything. It’s us that have been in it a long time who still have all the old literature to see all the flip flops.
The newer people and children have no idea all the lies and flip flops and believe it as the real “truth” with no way of either proving it or disproving it unless they are brave enough to go on the internet and start researching the Society and trying to prove the existing doctrines the Society is passing off on new recruits as the “truth”.
Once a person starts trying to actually prove the doctrines that they teach as “truth”, they will be sadly disappointed to find out there is very little that the Watchtower puts out as “truth” that actually is true at all.
Once a person finds out about all the lies about the real history of the organization, very few people would be impressed with this religion anymore but actually be ashamed of it because it doesn’t come near to being a real “Christian” religion. Anybody with a working knowledge of the scriptures can prove any Witness wrong on many Watchtower doctrines that don’t agree with the Scriptures.
The person not afraid to research the doctrins would come to realize that Witnesses are actually worshipping the Organization, rather than the God of the Bible but they don’t realize that because they have been sucked into it so gradually.
So, no, I don’t buy it that the Society is losing money on poorer countries and poorer people. They have more money than they know what to do with. You need to do some research to find out how much money they take in and where it goes and how much they own. You will be up against a brick wall if you do that.
I won’t support an organization that there is no transparency.
What have they to hide????
Reply
 

 Pickled brain says:

 February 14, 2015 at 4:52 am

@Anonymous ! BRILLIANT Comment. In a Nutshell We want TRANSPARENCY!! Governing Body send Each Congregation Your ACCOUNTS Every Year for LAST 10 YEARS Itemising EVERYTHING !!!
Reply
 

 M. Rhodes says:

 February 14, 2015 at 4:34 pm

I find it interesting that after repeatedly drilling home that donations were voluntary and never taken, unlike the churches, now there is a set amount that congregations have to send. So much for voluntary donations. This is just like tithing but simply has a different name–whether called the donation arrangement or the global fund.
And Witnesses are so conditioned to switch tracks that very few will see how this is the total opposite of what they were told only a few short years ago.
Reply
 

 Roxanne Temple says:

 February 14, 2015 at 10:44 pm

Circle K-ingdom hall…
Reply
 

 Roxanne Temple says:

 February 14, 2015 at 10:50 pm

well they did just sell $500,000,000 in NY hotels in the last few years. That is half-a-billion in major bank right there alone. I think the public record is around 900 Mil from NY real estate liquidations alone in the last decade.
It is easily feasible they control a couple billion in total international assets and may have liquidated far more than just that present in NY since 2007.
Reply
 

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← The Bethel “Happy” video – unauthorized shenanigans or calculated propaganda stunt?
The day I prank-called a Governing Body member →

New commercial-style standard kingdom hall design unveiled to elders
avatar
Posted on February 3, 2015

If you live in the United States, could this be what your next local kingdom hall will look like?
If you live in the United States, could this be what your next local kingdom hall will look like?

On Saturday, January 31st a special meeting was held for all elders in the United States Branch Territory. A letter sent out in advance advised elders that the meeting would be to unveil “a new, dramatically different Kingdom Hall design.”
Since then, images of the proposed new standardized “cookie cutter” design have been leaked on an ex-JW forum. They show a building that appears to have been envisioned with commercial applications in mind if the building ever needs to be sold in future.
One elder’s notes from the two-and-a-half hour meeting, also leaked online, indicate that elders were urged by Governing Body helper Robert Luccioni not to become like the Israelites who complained after leaving Egypt.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 was read, which says: “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ for it is not out of wisdom that you ask this.” The application was made that elders should not dwell on the past or point out flaws in the new arrangements.





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Robert Luccioni co-hosting the February 2015 JW Broadcasting episode
Robert Luccioni co-hosting the February 2015 JW Broadcasting episode

Leon Weaver, also a Governing Body helper, then revealed that there had been heated discussions within the US branch committee through the night as to whether the design for the new standardized kingdom halls was to be residential or commercial. Eventually, however, it seems all voted in favor of a commercial-style model – with windows.
JWsurvey has already reported on the changes that are being introduced by the Governing Body regarding how kingdom halls and assembly halls are built and financed. These changes involve all congregations sending a fixed donation to Watchtower every month, even if they were not previously in debt, and relinquishing all surplus funds to Watchtower.
Though the majority of rank-and-file publishers seem to have greeted the changes under the false impression that Watchtower is waiving the debts of congregations, not everyone has fallen for it.
On my Facebook page I was sent the following PM by an active publisher, who is happy for me to share it while asking to remain anonymous…

Hey John. I’m a baptized JW. I created this hidden account for myself for obvious reasons. I’m married to a zealous sister…my family are 90% JW and I was raised one from birth.
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. I have been doing a lot of digging around and watching videos on YouTube… including yours on this organization. Reason why? Some things just don’t seem right. Some things just don’t seem logical..etc.
Last night a letter was read at my KH – by the way I’m from [country deleted]… The letter said that from now on, all contributions we make will be towards one global fund… so no more KH building fund box, world wide work box etc. It’s just one contribution that will go into a global fund. Now there was a resolution from the headquarters to be passed by all congregations that each congregation will send a certain amount to this global fund monthly.
The amount that was set for our congregation was [equivalent to] US $113. Keep in mind this is separate from Congregation expenses. We have around 70+ publishers. I thought if our brothers are struggling to pay congregation expenses… how are we going to keep this up monthly? Anyways they say it will go to everything like disasters, building halls, printing etc.
BUT THIS IS WHERE I WAS DISTURBED. AFTER THE MEETING I WAS CLEARING THE CONTRIBUTION BOX… AND I WAS TALKING TO AN ELDER ABOUT THE LETTER WHO IS THE SECRETARY… JUST TO UNDERSTAND IT FULLY. HE SAID TO ME… “WE WILL NEED TO KEEP IT UP SO THAT JEHOVAH’S SERVICE WILL BE CARRIED OUT… FOR EXAMPLE…I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD SAY THIS YET… BUT IT WILL BE NO SECRET SO I GUESS I CAN. DID YOU KNOW THAT LAST WEEK ALL CIRCUIT OVERSEERS GOT A BRAND NEW 2015 RAV4 FROM THE SOCIETY?”
I SAID “WHAT!!!!” HE SAID “YES BRAND NEW.” SO I SAID “BUT THE CO WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO WITH AN OLDER 2001 CAR?” THE ELDER SAID…”WELL I GUESS HE HAS 2 CARS NOW”… IN MY MIND I’M LIKE WHAT!!! THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT!!!
 I AM STRUGGLING TO PAY MY BILLS AT HOME..I’M ENCOURAGED BY THE SOCIETY TO KEEP LIFE SIMPLE…DON’T START ANYTHING THAT’S GOING TO TAKE UP TIME LIKE A NEW BUSINESS EXTRA HOURS AT WORK ETC… AND NOW YOU ARE TELLING ME I MUST CONTRIBUTE MY MONEY SO THAT CIRCUIT OVERSEERS CAN DRIVE BRAND NEW CARS…ON TOP OF THAT…THE ELDER SAID THEIR SUVS WILL HAVE FREE SERVICING EACH TIME IT NEEDS IT AND ANY PARTS THEY NEED THIS WILL ALL BE PAID FOR BY THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY.”
KEEP IN MIND IT COSTS AROUND $217 TO SERVICE ONE OF THESE SUVS EXCLUDING PARTS. I WAS THINKING IN MY HEAD…YOU MEAN PAID BY ME AND OTHER POOR BROTHERS WHO EITHER HAVE TO WALK EVERYWHERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE A SIMPLE LIFE OR IN MY CASE I HAVE AN OLD LITTLE CAR THAT NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF PARTS RIGHT NOW… I DON’T EVEN HAVE A/C IN MY CAR, AND I’M TO GIVE MY MONEY TO HELP BUY 2015 SUVS AND MAINTENANCE…
CAN’T BELIEVE THIS… MY WIFE THINKS ITS A BLESSING FROM JEHOVAH…BUT I CAN’T TALK MY FEELING BECAUSE WHENEVER I DO..SHE SAYS I’M AN APOSTATE! …WHAT DO YOU THINK? CAN YOU DO A VIDEO ON THIS? I’m not sure if the COs only in [my country] got 2015 SUVs or it’s a worldwide thing…but it’s shocking to me. I’m just in a puzzled state right now.”
Publishers like my friend above can expect to be even more bewildered as they see Watchtower continue its downsizing trend. Where once the organization prided itself on huge investment and global expansion – consolidation, thrift and cost-saving is now the order of the day.
Watchtower is now big on style, low on substance.
And with this new standardized kingdom hall, it appears Watchtower has one eye on what publishers will expect in return for accepting the new stealth-tithing arrangement, and one eye on making kingdom halls as marketable as possible should they eventually need to be sold off.

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Further reading…
◾Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations
◾Watchtower completes stealth-tithing smash-and-grab
◾JWsurvey articles on Watchtower downsizing


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132 Responses to New commercial-style standard kingdom hall design unveiled to elders

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 Robert says:

 February 10, 2015 at 11:01 pm

You are right, I did not intend to veer the comments off off target. I thought I might mention you use a softer tone at times that may be able to target a different type of fence rider so to speak. You are also right, I was much smarter than I am now. But you see there was this thing were I ingested a couple of hundred pills to arrange a meeting with my maker. The only thing it accomplished was it fried my brain fairly well. However I’m past feeling sorry for myself. For once in my life, I feel relieved and living in peace. I know there is much more talented people on this board and I did not wish to engage them, therefor the false modesty you speak of. But just this very night, my son was removed as a publisher. He probably would have been DF if I had not insisted on him not being baptized. He is smart kid with an IQ of about 132, but could not tell you which way is north. So needless to say he is young and has a lot to learn. As for me, I have been DF’d twice, reproved more times than I can count. I just didn’t want that for him. Being associated with some of these people and the power they can wield over you can drive you insane. Just so some of you know I got the street cred “thuggish American term” to speak on this board as anyone else if it truly is an open forum. So there is that. I have no ill will to the Org. But I love most of the people, so keep doing your thing.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 February 11, 2015 at 1:30 pm

@Minion. I looked at those pictures of Mariner watches and Herd’s watch sure like a Submariner to me. If I had one of those watches, I’d be loving it so much that I’d be hating to take it off, even for a minute and I’d be hiding it under the table too. If anybody ever catches him at an assembly, they should ask him what time it is so he can show them his watch if he wears that same watch in public and isn’t ashamed to show it off.
@Lawrence, even though JW’s don’t ask for money to place the magazines, they are supposed to ask for a donation but every time I went out, very rarely did anybody actually ask for a donation but every now and then, somebody would give us money. The money that Witnesses get out in service for any literature is supposed to go in the contribution box towards the world wide work. But the thing is, when Witnesses take out the magazines at the Hall, it is expected that they would pay for the magazines first out of pocket, whatever they can afford into the contribution box for the worldwide work. So, the Society doesn’t “give” the magazines away. Every month, the congregation takes the money that the brothers and sisters put in the contribution box towards those magazines and books and CD’s etc. and sends it to the Society. So, then when the householder actually gives the Witness some money towards the printing of the literature, then that money goes into the contribution box, so in effect, the Society is getting paid two times for the literature. That’s a scam.
@Robert. I also took a bottle of pills when I was young but thankfully went to the hospital in time so no bad effects but it did teach me that I’d never let the religion make me think I’d take that way out ever again. That isn’t to say that my life hasn’t been miserable though because I chose to get baptized into this religion.
I do have ill will towards the Society. I have no ill will against the people but I do have very much ill will towards the Governing Body and I am not afraid to let it show in every comment I make.
When I first started “waking” up, I wasn’t as angry but the more I learned about the underbelly of the Society and all the lies, the angrier I got and I want for anybody who is questioning their religion to see my anger.
I don’t want to give the impression of being “soft” on this religion. It is one of the most harmful ways of life that a person could live and I want that feeling to come across loud and clear in every comment I make.
I have had 50 years of experience in the religion and I could write a book about it and that would only be scratching the surface of my hate. If we on this site are “soft” in our comments, it isn’t going to help people to see the real “truth”. I want every person who comes on here, to feel our love for them so they don’t have to suffer like the rest of us have and either get out of it or never join. That is my hope.
Reply
 
 Lawrence says:

 February 12, 2015 at 4:40 am

Anonymous,I believe that the Society is losing money supporting third world congregations.Poor Africans who hardly have enough money to put food on the table wouldn’t pay for all those Watchtower publications.In all likelihood,the Society has to foot the bill for the publications as well as Kingdom Hall building/renovation projects.What about Latin America,Southeast Asia,etc.?
Reply
 
 

 Pickled brain says:

 February 11, 2015 at 3:18 pm

@Anonymous. I enjoyed your last comment& you have been through so much & I understand you Want to SHOUT from the ROOFTOPS How EVIL this Religion is & Not to Let them off Lightly as They are DESTROYING FAMILIES & TEARING Them Apart!!
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 February 12, 2015 at 2:44 am

@Pickled brain, and to think that every day, there’s probably another 1,000 men, women and children being baptized into this mind-destroying cult. It’s like trying to shovel snow with a feather. But, eventually if there’s enough of us out here shouting and screaming about all the abuses, it will stop some of them from getting baptized or help them to see what it’s really all about and get out.
It’s the children who are the most vulnerable and we have the internet on our side. I am so glad I finally found the real truth about the “truth” before I die anyway.
The other night one of the elders (nice young man) called to find out my husband’s time and asked me if I had seen the latest February broadcast and asked me about what I thought about the American Indian part and I told him straight out that I can’t say anything good about it. I told him that over and over again and it was like talking to a brain dead Zombie. Those people are so hypnotized, it is pathetic.
I lay awake at night, thinking of words to describe my hatred of the Society so there’s more coming. It will be a while before I run out of my vitriol towards the Society and I am not worried about hurting any feelings when it comes to my description of the Society.
If people come on here and expect me to be kind towards the Society, it ain’t gonna happen. Like I said, every day, there’s at least 1,000 more people who will have their present and future life taken away from them because of this religion and I have no pity for the Organization that is using and abusing them for their own greed and self-exaltation.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 February 12, 2015 at 7:11 am

@Lawrence, when we had to pay for our literature outright at the magazine counter when we picked it up, our congregation was sending $500 to $600 a month for the “world wide” work and then when it went to putting the money in the contribution box instead of paying for the literature outright when we picked them up, the amount sent to the Society was between $300 – $450. I always felt so bad about that, thinking just as you do that at least our congregation should pay what it would cost to produce the literature and our congregation was falling way short of even that much.
The amount put in the contribution box towards the upkeep of our Kingdom Hall was always enough but then the congregation was not only paying for upkeep but bills to the Society for insurance and the loan to pay off for the remodeling so it was made clear how much was needed for upkeep and that was contributed each month. Now, my congregation is paying over $700 a month to the Society, when their loan was already paid off but the Society tricked our congregation into paying off that loan forever with no end in sight, with the idea that that money is supposed to be paying for Kingdom Halls in poor countries. I find that being fraudulent. The elders had 4 pages to that letter but only read the first page, making the congregations thinking that if somebody had a loan to pay off, that they didn’t have to pay it off but it was only a trick. It wasn’t sincere. Then the elders were to meet in secret and make up a story to the congregations how the elders had decided that they wanted to give the same amount as the paid off loan to the Society to help poor brothers and sisters. The thing is, the Society asked them to do it that way. It was deceitful. Do you think Jehovah would use deceit on his people like that, or do you think it’s not backed up by God, after all. If it was backed up by Jehovah, why would he resort to deceit to extract money for his work?
Last year, I felt just as you do now, that the Society was losing money in the poorer countries where the people couldn’t afford the literature and in the richer countries such as the U.S. we should make up for the poorer brothers and sister but I did some research and found out that the Society is very wealthy because they have dozens of ways of making money that the rank and file have no idea how it’s done. I am sure it costs millions every day to pay for all the printing of the publications, special pioneers, bethel buildings, bethelites upkeep, the farm, circuit overseers and on and on so I am well well aware that to keep the whole thing is very costly.
When it comes to all the money the Society brings in and how much they are worth in properties and investments, nobody has any idea. There is zero transparency as far as how much they take in and how much they spend and on what. We have no idea where the money goes or for what but like the Bible says, if it wasn’t for willing preachers, God could make the stones cry out.
This religion has turned into an organization that is much more concerned about building projects than the preaching work. If it was more concerned about telling people that if they don’t turn to God they will be killed at Armageddon, they could produce one book and study it with people and that book could have gone back 100 years with no additions or subtractions, if it really was the “truth”. They wouldn’t need dozens and dozens of publications to study the Bible with people. Just one book would do it. Simple. No need for Bethelites and no need for Bethel buildings. Simple. Cheap.
If it was just the one book, then people could pick the thing apart and make sure it is according to the Bible. The way it is with the Watchtower, with all the publications they put out, it is almost impossible for the average rank and file to prove or disprove anything. It’s us that have been in it a long time who still have all the old literature to see all the flip flops.
The newer people and children have no idea all the lies and flip flops and believe it as the real “truth” with no way of either proving it or disproving it unless they are brave enough to go on the internet and start researching the Society and trying to prove the existing doctrines the Society is passing off on new recruits as the “truth”.
Once a person starts trying to actually prove the doctrines that they teach as “truth”, they will be sadly disappointed to find out there is very little that the Watchtower puts out as “truth” that actually is true at all.
Once a person finds out about all the lies about the real history of the organization, very few people would be impressed with this religion anymore but actually be ashamed of it because it doesn’t come near to being a real “Christian” religion. Anybody with a working knowledge of the scriptures can prove any Witness wrong on many Watchtower doctrines that don’t agree with the Scriptures.
The person not afraid to research the doctrins would come to realize that Witnesses are actually worshipping the Organization, rather than the God of the Bible but they don’t realize that because they have been sucked into it so gradually.
So, no, I don’t buy it that the Society is losing money on poorer countries and poorer people. They have more money than they know what to do with. You need to do some research to find out how much money they take in and where it goes and how much they own. You will be up against a brick wall if you do that.
I won’t support an organization that there is no transparency.
What have they to hide????
Reply
 

 Pickled brain says:

 February 14, 2015 at 4:52 am

@Anonymous ! BRILLIANT Comment. In a Nutshell We want TRANSPARENCY!! Governing Body send Each Congregation Your ACCOUNTS Every Year for LAST 10 YEARS Itemising EVERYTHING !!!
Reply
 

 M. Rhodes says:

 February 14, 2015 at 4:34 pm

I find it interesting that after repeatedly drilling home that donations were voluntary and never taken, unlike the churches, now there is a set amount that congregations have to send. So much for voluntary donations. This is just like tithing but simply has a different name–whether called the donation arrangement or the global fund.
And Witnesses are so conditioned to switch tracks that very few will see how this is the total opposite of what they were told only a few short years ago.
Reply
 

 Roxanne Temple says:

 February 14, 2015 at 10:44 pm

Circle K-ingdom hall…
Reply
 

 Roxanne Temple says:

 February 14, 2015 at 10:50 pm

well they did just sell $500,000,000 in NY hotels in the last few years. That is half-a-billion in major bank right there alone. I think the public record is around 900 Mil from NY real estate liquidations alone in the last decade.
It is easily feasible they control a couple billion in total international assets and may have liquidated far more than just that present in NY since 2007.
Reply
 

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← Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”

Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
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Posted on May 21, 2015

A new Watchtower cartoon urges Witness kids to give up their pocket money
A new Watchtower cartoon urges Witness kids to give up their pocket money

As Jehovah’s Witnesses the world over continue to digest the latest “historic” JW Broadcasting episode, in which the Governing Body admits to having a shortfall in funds and asks Witnesses to give their “valuable things” to compensate, a video has emerged indicating that Stephen Lett and Co. even have their eyes on children’s ice cream money.
The video, which is intended to be shown during the 2015 series of Witness conventions, shows Sophia (from the “Become Jehovah’s Friend” cartoon series) day-dreaming about spending her pocket money on an ice cream while at the kingdom hall.
But when Sophia sees her mother putting money in the contribution box, her thoughts turn to kingdom halls, literature carts and bethel buildings, and she decides to forgo her ice cream and put her dollar in the contribution box for Watchtower’s “worldwide work” instead.


The video represents the latest specimen in a relentless stream of propaganda material targeting children. The “Become Jehovah’s Friend” series first launched in 2012 with a video aimed at guilt-tripping kids into believing that plastic wizard toys are Satanic. Then, more recently, another cartoon has shown Caleb and Sophia essentially being threatened with death if they don’t pay attention at meetings.
Masters at child indoctrination
The Governing Body must surely understand that, despite the launch of JW.org and the metropolitan witnessing initiative (i.e. literature carts), most adults in developed lands are simply not interested in joining a cult with a horrendous online reputation of failed prophecies, shunning, child abuse and refusal of certain medical treatments. Their only way around this is to focus on child indoctrination, making sure as many people raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses are retained as possible.
One way of doing this is by turning up the pressure for kids to get baptized as young as possible. After all, once a Witness child is baptized, he or she is essentially locked into the religion for life, and is not allowed to leave without facing the punishment of shunning by family members.
Misha Anouk over on JW Alumni has brilliantly covered some recent alarming comments made by Mark Sanderson during a public talk in Germany on May 9th. In his talk, Sanderson urged Witness parents to make sure their children are baptized as young as nine years old, telling his audience such a practice corresponds with the “viewpoint” of the Governing Body.
Going without an ice cream so that Watchtower can balance its books clearly pales into insignificance compared to the prospect of being shackled to a cult for life under threat of being estranged from your family. But at least by churning out such ill-advised and clearly exploitative child propaganda material the Governing Body is showing its true colors for those old enough to think for themselves.
Despite styling itself as “the faithful and discreet slave,” the Governing Body is proud to be taking ice cream money from the hands of young children, and has thus revealed itself to be just as cheap and shameless as any other tawdry group of televangelist swindlers.


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Further reading…
◾JW Alumni article on child baptism
◾“Pay attention or die!” – A disturbing glimpse of JW child indoctrination at work
◾JWsurvey articles on child indoctrination


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← Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”

52 Responses to Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!

 alanv says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:07 am

I found this video just before Lloyd posted this article. I am truly sickened by the governing body’s blatant aim at getting children to donate now as well as adults. For an org that says it never asks for donations, this shows total hypocrisy on their part. Hopefully this new video will help many JWs see how the religion is just interested in growing itself whatever the cost to its members.
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 Everyday Explorer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:21 am

Blatant indoctrination of young impressionable minds, hearts and souls. Surely this is over-reaching on the part of the WT, bearing in mind their often-professed statements that they do not proactively seek donations? Surely even the long-suffering rank and file will find this short video a bit of a conscience-churner? Who has not been a kid and wanted an ice cream?! Give a kid a break! This is dreadfully sad, mean-spirited bilge from an incomprehensibly deluded Governing Body. Talk about by their acts, shall you know them.
Reply
 

 Mike Pollard says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:25 am

I fail to see how this is possible when net worth is calculated in many, many millions – up to a billion!
 How can that be all gone and where too?
 Maybe it’s a McDonalds’ ploy by getting kids emotionally tied to the organisation.
Reply
 
 Everyday Explorer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:32 pm

Yes, indeed. It is a policy which embraces devious wheels within devious wheels, careering off through all generations. And, at the same time, real meaningful lives — like yours and mine, whatever our ages, including those of our young ones who must be protected to the best of our ability — are affected by such life-denying propaganda. Folks, we know we can speak out against such insidious, far-reaching hurt-speak. The WT Governing Body really has no idea of the Pandora’s Box they is a’-openin’ via the good ole worldwide web. The GB deserve this exposure of their unprincipled callousness. Those seven deluded men are directing the spotlight brightly on their own uncaring hearts. I hope there will be a peaceful resolution soon to all this sorrow.
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 chatpal says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:28 am

I will be interested in how many parents watching the video will also feel that is going too far. the constant ‘reminders’ will wear on people the same way as the Armageddon warnings.
 How long will it take for people to think on their own and see for themselves these are no more than money grabbing guilt rants by male chauvinist video ‘stars’ begging in the name of God. And to add,
 Im at a total loss trying to wrap my head around the whole idea of baptism of children. to me, the Bible says nothing of the sort.
Reply
 

 Designer Stubble says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:31 am

***Proclaimers book (1993) jv chap. 21 p. 340 How Is It All Financed? ***
 As early as the second issue of the WatchTower,in August 1879, Brother Russell stated: “‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.”
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 Robert Crompton says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:36 am

What vile money-grubbing racketeers they have become!
Reply
 

 Maria says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:47 am

Have they ever tried to get children to donate before, or is this a first time? When I grew up (born in 1989) I never felt any pressure to donate, so I never did.
Reply
 
 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:13 am

I was never pressured to donate as a child, Maria, but that was in the sixties. I think they’re getting desperate!
Reply
 
 Stephane Laliberte says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:36 am

I remember that we were being told the same thing. The parents were told to give us (the kids) money so that we would put it into the contribution box for the family.
So, this video, although being much more visible, is still the same message that has been going around since, at very least, the 80s.
Reply
 
 
 

 William Niles says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:57 am

What a LOW. I am a parent and this is just too much. My wife and I would NEVER encourage our 8-year-old daughter to give up what little bit of allowance $ we can afford to give her for the purposes that WT is showing in that video. That is sick propaganda; plain and simple. The Ice Cream truck comes by our neighborhood once a week and sometimes we just don’t have the extra $ for it and we teach our daughter that sometimes we just can’t do it; there’s a time for everything–she understands that. Yeah, our daughter definately thinks about the Ice Cream truck or buying Ice-Cream at the store like the video is showing…and she looks forward to it because she knows we can’t do it all the time. What that video is depicting is absolutely disgusting…the WT is at a desperation point. Thanks for sharing John Cedars.
Reply
 

 John Walsh says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:04 am

I think we can be pretty sure where this is going eventually. Good chance they will be baptising babies soon enough, ‘New Light’.
At around 12yrs of age I offered all of my money about $15 [1969] to the young Circuit Oversea with a sound financial family backup, and he had no problems taking that from an indoctrinated child from a poor family.
 Says it all really, certain types work there way to the upper positions in the JW’s and they are all ‘tared’ with the same brush.
Reply
 

 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:04 am

“When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.””
I hope they put their money (or lack thereof) where their mouth is, Designer Stubble, and suspend publication of that nonsense immediately!
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:00 am

Don’t hold your breath!
Reply
 
 

 John Walsh says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:11 am

If they practised what they preached they would follow Christ’s perfect example. Jesus was baptised at 30, when he reached adulthood. He was perfect they say, and could instruct scribes at the temple, yet not ready for baptism until 30.
 As the GB know very well, if children are not locked in by 20 most will be out of there.
Reply
 
 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:19 am

Kids are a lot more savvy nowadays, John, which is why they’re desperate to get them before they become teenagers.
Reply
 

 Scrubmaster says:

 May 21, 2015 at 6:52 am

@John that is what is so interesting to me. Like you said Jesus was baptized at 30 and since in Israel a male was not considered an adult until age 30 this is why I am sure they got baptized at an age when they could make adult decisions. I am quite sure since the early Christian’s were of the heavenly class, no kids were baptized. It is huge decision kids are making with out even having lived life and having the opportunity to fully understand or even look at other beliefs.
Reply
 
 

 Excelsior! says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:24 am

Folks,
For you religious folks, there is no example of child baptism in the bible. All baptisms in the bible are adults.
Further, the age of majority in those times was older than it is now!
This is a disgusting, shameless piece of propaganda and it makes me feel sick to my stomach!
Oh well, I’ll just go and get myself some ice cream….
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Steve McRoberts says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:58 am

Another Watchtower-induced dilemma for Jehovah’s Witnesses: should kids get paper-routes or other forms of employment in order to contribute financially to the organization that is sucking their lives dry: or would such jobs interfere with time they should be spending in spreading the propaganda?
 Too bad they’re not allowed to have a childhood and develop into mentally healthy adults rather than being coerced into slaving away for this sick organization their entire lives: http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/cult/the-garden-of-love/
Reply
 

 Searcher says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:04 am

Wow! This gives new meaning to the bully who stole the kid’s lunch money or ice cream money. How do these people live in their skin? The GB and WTS leadership is truly a disgusting bunch!
Reply
 

 StrongHaiku says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:45 am

Maybe I am overthinking their strategy and/or giving them too much credit, but it seems to me that this particular ploy isn’t just about getting children to donate the few pennies or dollars they may have. I think the amount would be negligible compared to what the adults would donate.
It seems to me that this strategy also serves two other purposes.
1. It works as a shaming tactic to the adults. If the child is donating what little they have I believe the parent will feel compelled to do the same.
 2. It works as a way of getting children to start donating early so that it becomes a habit as they grow up. And, by “donating” I would include time, resources, and their very life and not just money.
In other words, while the short-term/obvious gain is to go after the children’s cash I think there is a more long-term and not so obvious gain. Just a thought…
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:18 am

@StrongHaiku. ALL Your Points were EXACTLY What I was thinking . This is Very Very Clever Mind Manipulation by the GB !! GUILT TRIPPING the Children & the Parents & Each other !!! Are the GB Using Psychologists to Instruct them???
 THIS is SO BLATANT yet SPOOKY CULT Behaviour!!
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 May 21, 2015 at 9:25 am

They’re (i.e. GB) good aren’t they? Real good! And not in a friendly way either.
Reply
 
 
 

 anonymous says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:13 am

The Society ain’t no dummy. If there’s 1 million children in the Organization and they each donated their piggy banks with a worth of $20, there’s another $20,000,000.00 they will collect. If each of those 1 million kids donated the $2.00 they had in their piggy banks for an ice cream cone, then that’s $2,000.000.00.00. Not a bad haul even if it’s just bunch of ice cream cones from little kids.
Lett said in his latest broadcast that in poor countries, people will donate their last dime even if they don’t know how they will survive the next day. How can they take money from people who are that poor? They should be giving those people money, not taking it from them.
The Society wants those parents to think that their kids’ ice cream cone money is going to all those poor kids in Africa who have to be sitting in the rain for their talks and that ice cream money is going to make it so those poor brothers and sisters can sit in an “appropriate” Kingdom Hall, like what they have but if those parents realized where the money is really going, they might not feel quite so generous.
Reply
 
 StrongHaiku says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:33 am

Good points, @anonymous… As you point out, with enough children, “ice cream” money can quickly add up to some serious cash.
And, to clarify my previous comment; I may have come across as saying that there is little value in getting kids to break their piggy bank. Sorry if that was the case. I totally agree that there is the immediate influx of cash which the GB would never turn down. But I think it might be worth to point out that the GB’s “currency” is also guilt and habit, which has additional pay offs.
This is not the first time (or last) where the GB has used children as leverage to get the adults to listen, obey, and do more.
Reply
 

 ziddina says:

 May 21, 2015 at 11:32 am

I agree, Anonymous. I was doing some calculating (please feel free to double-check my math) & if each of the approx. 8 million JWs (rounded up for ease of calculation) gave ONLY $6 PER MONTH, the Watchtower Society would gross OVER A HALF-BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR.
I am flabbergasted & dumbfounded by the bottomless, black-hole aspect of their endless greed! They’ve just made approximately $1 BILLION dollars in sales of Brooklyn real estate; they’re probably receiving AT LEAST a HALF-BILLION a year just in donations, & they want MORE?? To the point of depriving poor, mind-controlled Sophia of her one small treat by demanding HER money from her, too?
I cannot even understand that level of vicious greed & stupidity – on the part of the Watchtower Society & on the part of the victimized Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:18 am

More blatant guilt propaganda to manipulate young minds.
 All these “Jehovahs Friend” videos have used the mind
 control techniques of guilt and fear. Shameful !
As they’re so desperate for funds, I have some suggestions.
During the War, many schools in Britain got the kids to collect
 jam jars and old newspapers, these could be sold to help the
 War Effort. The kids loved it you had that “All in it together
 feeling”.
Scrap paper would be no problem for JWs, there must be
 thousands of tons of obsolete books out there that are just an
 embarrassment to them.
As a final thought, how about second hand clothing stalls
 along side the literature carts. Unlikely you think?
 Well, having plumbed the depths, begging for kids ice cream
 money, I would rule nothing out.
Reply
 
 ziddina says:

 May 21, 2015 at 11:34 am

Good points. You’d think they’d learn from the Baptists & have the sisters do bake sales for money, instead of trying to rob ice cream from small children…
Reply
 
 

 alanv says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:42 am

When I was a witness I used to think the magazines were actually good value. This was when there was a fixed contribution cost. What I completely forgot is that they were not just making a small profit on one magazine, but that profit was times millions of magazines. In fact one new magazine per week in those days. All this with virtually free labour added up to a massive amount of money every year.
Reply
 

 David says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:44 am

This organisation just cares about its own aims without realising the great damage cause to people. They are free to practice religion but when a person decide to follow a different path must suffer a huge injustice.
Encouraging young children to get baptized shows a complete lack of love and decency. They know how a life of a young person can be completely destroyed if he/she decides with maturity that no longer agree with jw.org ideas.
They incourage to COMPLETELY ignore that such a person even exists.
The primary focus for them is numbers, grow even at the cost of innocent lifes. Shame on you GB.
Reply
 

 ScotWm says:

 May 21, 2015 at 9:23 am

What a dilemma! How to squeeze even more money out of cult members who are, for the most part, lower middle class.
Ever since the 1940s, Watchtower leaders ruled out higher education because the end of the world would come long before graduation. Later, higher education was described as a worldly cesspool that would strip impressionable young witnesses of their Watchtower bible trained consciences. Now that the worldwide witnessing is producing converts largely located in very poor countries, the billion dollar New York real estate windfall will not last very long.
While I would never advocate joining a cult based on the hallucinations of Ellen G. White, it is obvious that the Seventh Day Adventists long ago took the necessary steps to insure their financial future. Rather than continually threaten its followers with eminent destruction, Watchtower leaders should have created institutions of higher learning. The graduates of these schools could have earned much more money and contributed accordingly to the so called world wide work.
Here is one example of how higher education and religious indoctrination can work together:
“Does my family have to be Adventist for my child to attend an Adventist school? Absolutely not, though you and your child will gain the most benefit from Adventist education if you are a Christian or at least sympathetic with Christian beliefs.”
http://adventisteducation.org/about/adventist_education/faq
Reply
 

 Simon Kestral says:

 May 21, 2015 at 10:35 am

@ScotWm, WT has opposed university education ever since Fred Franz dropped out of college in 1913. His influence has shaped WT policy for 100 years now.
At the first circuit assembly I ever attended they interviewed a young man who dropped out of college. He was so happy to escape the worldly influence of college and give more time to WT. And his “brothers” were so proud of him! Another disciple of Fred Franz …
WT says they need people who have university degrees. But they’re not willing to grow their own. They think enough pre-educated “worldly” people will join WT and provide the needed skills. YOU UNEDUCATED PUBLISHERS JUST NEED TO PREACH MORE AND BRING THEM IN!
The hypocrisy is mind boggling.
Reply
 
 ziddina says:

 May 21, 2015 at 11:41 am

Simon Kestral wrote: “WT has opposed university education ever since Fred Franz dropped out of college in 1913. His influence has shaped WT policy for 100 years now.”
I think it goes all the way back to Charles Taze Russell, who never attended high school, let alone college. In forewords to his “Studies in the Scriptures” books, he warns against even attending HIGH SCHOOL, as well as college.
I suspect his envy & distrust of those better-educated than he, led to the establishment of that long-running antipathy towards higher education, which the Watchtower Society foolishly carries on to this day.
Reply
 
 

 Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:

 May 21, 2015 at 10:55 am

“plastic wizard toys are Satanic”!!!!! It seems Satan is becoming everything among Jehovah’s Witnesses.
 The new Watchtower Magazine (study edition) says: “The religious, political, and commercial elements of this world—including their information channels—are under the influence of “the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil. (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19)”!!!!!
Reply
 

 danman says:

 May 21, 2015 at 12:03 pm

Growing up a jw in the years 1948-1981. Child publisher giving my own presentations from door to door at age 5. Living every aspect of a good jw life publisher, servant, pioneer, serve were the need was great, elder, assembly parts, oversee large departments at assemblies, actor in district convention dramas, I can lay claim to enough experience to say the following:
The “Truth” ain’t what it used to be.! The almost sacrosanct pride I (we) had as regards the glaring difference between ‘Babylon the Great’ (all other religions) and Jehovah God’s earthly organization was a source of strength to the convictions held.
•No overt collection of funds just a simple contribution box. Vs: Evil Christendoms collection plates and direct solicitations via cash, credit, or pledges. Now Jehovah seems to be allowing his organization full license to do exactly the same.
•No catchy music programs, tv broadcasts, cartoons, or boasting about structures or properties. Jehovah now allowing all of the former no-no’s. Has Jehovah’s willingness to accept these worldly modern methods, changed? Or is it the men at the helm of this obviously human run organization?
•No higher education. I mean to the point of restricting privileges for those who chose to attend college. Now my own nephew bethelite was offered and accepted a fully paid scholarship by the Watchtower to attend college and obtain his lawyers license. Extracting every ounce of his time and hard efforts after attaining his credential. Using my relatives good nature and life’s talents to further their religious desires. Yet they still try to influence the rank and file jw to avoid such higher education so as to further their grunt work in the local congregations. Talk about a clergy laity class, well hidden it may be, we who know can see through their chicanery.
I have almost an endless list to proceed with, but this has got me started.
Reply
 

 John Baptist says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:03 pm

Now does this mean I might have to give up my Good Humor route due to possible lost sales? Lol What a complete mental insanity!
Reply
 

 Mitch Jensen says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:34 pm

“The video represents the latest specimen in a relentless stream of propaganda material targeting children. The “Become Jehovah’s Friend” series first launched in 2012 with a video aimed at guilt-tripping kids into believing that plastic wizard toys are Satanic. Then, more recently, another cartoon has shown Caleb and Sophia essentially being threatened with death if they don’t pay attention at meetings.”
Author’s Words
There’s no escaping the guilt, Cedars is too young to remember all the guilt and fear mongering kids prior to 1975 dealt with. Do you have any ideas how bad we kids had things? We were told all our friends at school 1st to 4th grades at the Woodland Hills,California and Dodger Stadium and of course our regular Meeting that focused on “Stay Alive till 75!”.
Cedars, is there any way we can stop the bleeding before these children are ruined? Is the EU more progressive, are they able to see through the ruse put on by a religion that does nothing to make the world a better place? How can we get their tax-exempt status revoked, what grassroots movements can a army of Kingdom Hall lurkers do to stop the madness? Unbelievable how children have not right to a little treat after enduring the Tuesday Night Guilt Meet! Very good writing and coverage, how do we change them?
Reply
 
 Mitch Jensen says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:38 pm

We were told all our friends were going to be “foods for the birds as their corpses lay rotting through the street”. Than one of the Watchtower guys actually said “Jehovah will use anti-matter to clean up all these bodies because only a million to clean up billions of bodies!” That’s the rat crap kids growing up in the 1950s to late 1960s endured, we are the “generation of fear”, the Watchtower Society is losing it’s ability to beat the drums of fear, their really sick demons!
Reply
 
 

 johnamos says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:44 pm

I couldn’t help but notice the following from this website while watching the video:
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 Help us make continued improvements to this website and its content.
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Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:26 pm

@johnamos, do you think it’s wrong to accept donations then? I noticed in Stephen Lett’s talk when he was talking about those brothers that moved a lady’s shed back onto the foundation that when she offered them money that they didn’t turn it down.
Also, johnamos, there’s a huge difference between donating to someone from the heart and being coerced to do it because “God sees it if you don’t donate”.
Reply
 
 Melka says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:52 pm

And to add to this, I actually value this website and think it’s a big reason why a lot of people wake up. Mr. Cedars is contributing to the cause we’re all invested in, which is trying to wake people up, by bringing light to the despicable ways of the Watchtower. And that takes time. And in case you don’t know, it costs money. He is fully in his rights to let people know that it costs money, and if people donate, that means they believe in him and what he has to say, and they want to make sure he can continue to contribute. I personally think Cedars website puts out the best information, so I for one think we need him desperately. And I actually want people to wake up. I would look up Peter Gregersons role in helping Ray Franz write Crisis of Conscience if I was you. He paid Ray Franz a weekly salary so that he could write his book. Ray Franz obviously took the money, otherwise maybe he couldn’t produce that extremely important book. Without help, who knows what would have happened. Donating and cashing in are two vastly opposite things.
Reply
 
 
 

 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:32 pm

“Scrap paper would be no problem for JWs, there must be
 thousands of tons of obsolete books out there that are just an embarrassment to them.”
Nice one, Ted! (LOL)
Reply
 

 johnny blaze says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:52 pm

Leave it in jehovah’s hands. ……he will provide. ………don’t hold your breath. ….
Reply
 

 Grace says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Who ever put this piece of propaganda together didn’t think it through. Instead of putting the pictures of the buildings & more buildings like high-rises (reminding me of the picture of satan tempting Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world), they could have put pictures of something that looked like a 3rd world country going from meeting in the hot sun to having a dwelling. It shows where there heart is. Not on helping those in need but expanding the real estate empire.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:14 pm

@johnamos. HMmmm!!’ How About DONATING to a Good Cause Instead of Donating to The GB who are Paying Out TENS of MILLIONS of DOLLARS in CHILD ABUSE CASES & LUXURIOUS BUILDINGS & OVERSTAFFED HQ& WHO BREAK UP FAMILIES by SHUNNING if Someone DARES to Question the GB on Continuous FAILED PROPHECIES!!!
 What’s wrong with Donating to Cedars who is trying to Awaken JWs up & Save them from WASTING Their Lives & also from Helping New Ones from making the mistake of getting Baptised!!
Reply
 

 Everyday Explorer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:40 pm

Really like the incisiveness of your point, Grace. Fantastically nailed another absurdity of that obscenely blatant video. Respect.
Reply
 
 

 rob says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:04 pm

I find it immensely repugnant when they say “give to Jehovah” when in fact people are simply donating to a cash hungry organization. I also find it irritating when someone comes up to me and wants me to return to the meetings and says “come back to Jehovah” or “don’t leave Jehovah”.
When did the watchtower become Jehovah? Why do otherwise intelligent people equate a religion with God?
This religion has nothing but failed predictions and pharasaic rules and now they shamelessy want money from children.
And child baptism? Eight or nine years old? What is next? Maybe they will start asking the rank and file to pay admission to enter the kingdom halls or pay a fee to attend assemblies. Sad thing is that many would actually pay.
Reply
 

 johnny blaze says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:05 pm

Just like apple….if one feels one is putting a good product out there you feel compelled to get involved and invest…….but if you never put your money in market no one would know………wait…….Jehovah will know……….keep up the good fight …….Thx…..Lloyd. …
Reply
 

 Ohforgoodnesssake says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:08 pm

This actually made me cry with sadness. I really need to show this to someone as a stand alone link or from the JW.org webpage. Is there a way of getting this link. Thanks in advance.
Reply
 

 Finn Sawyer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:27 pm

This video is sick.
Reply
 

 Thinking of leaving says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:24 pm

That just inspires me to go and get some ice cram in my tight pants. Yeah you rock tight pants and ice cream you rock!!!!
Reply
 

 Ariel says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:44 pm

I have never been and never will be a JW. I do have inlaws that are heavily involved in this organization. They have been pushed down and deprived of lifes joys because of the guilt ridden sermons and publications that are a weekly burden to the flock.
I wonder, at what point do they, ( the flock ) realize that they have been taken as fools?
When children become a source of income to a belief that is beyond their own comprehension, then it is apparent that understanding does not equate to true worship.
Reply
 

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← Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”

Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
avatar
Posted on May 21, 2015

A new Watchtower cartoon urges Witness kids to give up their pocket money
A new Watchtower cartoon urges Witness kids to give up their pocket money

As Jehovah’s Witnesses the world over continue to digest the latest “historic” JW Broadcasting episode, in which the Governing Body admits to having a shortfall in funds and asks Witnesses to give their “valuable things” to compensate, a video has emerged indicating that Stephen Lett and Co. even have their eyes on children’s ice cream money.
The video, which is intended to be shown during the 2015 series of Witness conventions, shows Sophia (from the “Become Jehovah’s Friend” cartoon series) day-dreaming about spending her pocket money on an ice cream while at the kingdom hall.
But when Sophia sees her mother putting money in the contribution box, her thoughts turn to kingdom halls, literature carts and bethel buildings, and she decides to forgo her ice cream and put her dollar in the contribution box for Watchtower’s “worldwide work” instead.


The video represents the latest specimen in a relentless stream of propaganda material targeting children. The “Become Jehovah’s Friend” series first launched in 2012 with a video aimed at guilt-tripping kids into believing that plastic wizard toys are Satanic. Then, more recently, another cartoon has shown Caleb and Sophia essentially being threatened with death if they don’t pay attention at meetings.
Masters at child indoctrination
The Governing Body must surely understand that, despite the launch of JW.org and the metropolitan witnessing initiative (i.e. literature carts), most adults in developed lands are simply not interested in joining a cult with a horrendous online reputation of failed prophecies, shunning, child abuse and refusal of certain medical treatments. Their only way around this is to focus on child indoctrination, making sure as many people raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses are retained as possible.
One way of doing this is by turning up the pressure for kids to get baptized as young as possible. After all, once a Witness child is baptized, he or she is essentially locked into the religion for life, and is not allowed to leave without facing the punishment of shunning by family members.
Misha Anouk over on JW Alumni has brilliantly covered some recent alarming comments made by Mark Sanderson during a public talk in Germany on May 9th. In his talk, Sanderson urged Witness parents to make sure their children are baptized as young as nine years old, telling his audience such a practice corresponds with the “viewpoint” of the Governing Body.
Going without an ice cream so that Watchtower can balance its books clearly pales into insignificance compared to the prospect of being shackled to a cult for life under threat of being estranged from your family. But at least by churning out such ill-advised and clearly exploitative child propaganda material the Governing Body is showing its true colors for those old enough to think for themselves.
Despite styling itself as “the faithful and discreet slave,” the Governing Body is proud to be taking ice cream money from the hands of young children, and has thus revealed itself to be just as cheap and shameless as any other tawdry group of televangelist swindlers.


new-cedars-signature3






Further reading…
◾JW Alumni article on child baptism
◾“Pay attention or die!” – A disturbing glimpse of JW child indoctrination at work
◾JWsurvey articles on child indoctrination


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← Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”

52 Responses to Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!

 alanv says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:07 am

I found this video just before Lloyd posted this article. I am truly sickened by the governing body’s blatant aim at getting children to donate now as well as adults. For an org that says it never asks for donations, this shows total hypocrisy on their part. Hopefully this new video will help many JWs see how the religion is just interested in growing itself whatever the cost to its members.
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 Everyday Explorer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:21 am

Blatant indoctrination of young impressionable minds, hearts and souls. Surely this is over-reaching on the part of the WT, bearing in mind their often-professed statements that they do not proactively seek donations? Surely even the long-suffering rank and file will find this short video a bit of a conscience-churner? Who has not been a kid and wanted an ice cream?! Give a kid a break! This is dreadfully sad, mean-spirited bilge from an incomprehensibly deluded Governing Body. Talk about by their acts, shall you know them.
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 Mike Pollard says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:25 am

I fail to see how this is possible when net worth is calculated in many, many millions – up to a billion!
 How can that be all gone and where too?
 Maybe it’s a McDonalds’ ploy by getting kids emotionally tied to the organisation.
Reply
 
 Everyday Explorer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:32 pm

Yes, indeed. It is a policy which embraces devious wheels within devious wheels, careering off through all generations. And, at the same time, real meaningful lives — like yours and mine, whatever our ages, including those of our young ones who must be protected to the best of our ability — are affected by such life-denying propaganda. Folks, we know we can speak out against such insidious, far-reaching hurt-speak. The WT Governing Body really has no idea of the Pandora’s Box they is a’-openin’ via the good ole worldwide web. The GB deserve this exposure of their unprincipled callousness. Those seven deluded men are directing the spotlight brightly on their own uncaring hearts. I hope there will be a peaceful resolution soon to all this sorrow.
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 chatpal says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:28 am

I will be interested in how many parents watching the video will also feel that is going too far. the constant ‘reminders’ will wear on people the same way as the Armageddon warnings.
 How long will it take for people to think on their own and see for themselves these are no more than money grabbing guilt rants by male chauvinist video ‘stars’ begging in the name of God. And to add,
 Im at a total loss trying to wrap my head around the whole idea of baptism of children. to me, the Bible says nothing of the sort.
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 Designer Stubble says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:31 am

***Proclaimers book (1993) jv chap. 21 p. 340 How Is It All Financed? ***
 As early as the second issue of the WatchTower,in August 1879, Brother Russell stated: “‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.”
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 Robert Crompton says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:36 am

What vile money-grubbing racketeers they have become!
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 Maria says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:47 am

Have they ever tried to get children to donate before, or is this a first time? When I grew up (born in 1989) I never felt any pressure to donate, so I never did.
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 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:13 am

I was never pressured to donate as a child, Maria, but that was in the sixties. I think they’re getting desperate!
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 Stephane Laliberte says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:36 am

I remember that we were being told the same thing. The parents were told to give us (the kids) money so that we would put it into the contribution box for the family.
So, this video, although being much more visible, is still the same message that has been going around since, at very least, the 80s.
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 William Niles says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:57 am

What a LOW. I am a parent and this is just too much. My wife and I would NEVER encourage our 8-year-old daughter to give up what little bit of allowance $ we can afford to give her for the purposes that WT is showing in that video. That is sick propaganda; plain and simple. The Ice Cream truck comes by our neighborhood once a week and sometimes we just don’t have the extra $ for it and we teach our daughter that sometimes we just can’t do it; there’s a time for everything–she understands that. Yeah, our daughter definately thinks about the Ice Cream truck or buying Ice-Cream at the store like the video is showing…and she looks forward to it because she knows we can’t do it all the time. What that video is depicting is absolutely disgusting…the WT is at a desperation point. Thanks for sharing John Cedars.
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 John Walsh says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:04 am

I think we can be pretty sure where this is going eventually. Good chance they will be baptising babies soon enough, ‘New Light’.
At around 12yrs of age I offered all of my money about $15 [1969] to the young Circuit Oversea with a sound financial family backup, and he had no problems taking that from an indoctrinated child from a poor family.
 Says it all really, certain types work there way to the upper positions in the JW’s and they are all ‘tared’ with the same brush.
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 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:04 am

“When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.””
I hope they put their money (or lack thereof) where their mouth is, Designer Stubble, and suspend publication of that nonsense immediately!
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 Searcher says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:00 am

Don’t hold your breath!
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 John Walsh says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:11 am

If they practised what they preached they would follow Christ’s perfect example. Jesus was baptised at 30, when he reached adulthood. He was perfect they say, and could instruct scribes at the temple, yet not ready for baptism until 30.
 As the GB know very well, if children are not locked in by 20 most will be out of there.
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 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:19 am

Kids are a lot more savvy nowadays, John, which is why they’re desperate to get them before they become teenagers.
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 Scrubmaster says:

 May 21, 2015 at 6:52 am

@John that is what is so interesting to me. Like you said Jesus was baptized at 30 and since in Israel a male was not considered an adult until age 30 this is why I am sure they got baptized at an age when they could make adult decisions. I am quite sure since the early Christian’s were of the heavenly class, no kids were baptized. It is huge decision kids are making with out even having lived life and having the opportunity to fully understand or even look at other beliefs.
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 Excelsior! says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:24 am

Folks,
For you religious folks, there is no example of child baptism in the bible. All baptisms in the bible are adults.
Further, the age of majority in those times was older than it is now!
This is a disgusting, shameless piece of propaganda and it makes me feel sick to my stomach!
Oh well, I’ll just go and get myself some ice cream….
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
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 Steve McRoberts says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:58 am

Another Watchtower-induced dilemma for Jehovah’s Witnesses: should kids get paper-routes or other forms of employment in order to contribute financially to the organization that is sucking their lives dry: or would such jobs interfere with time they should be spending in spreading the propaganda?
 Too bad they’re not allowed to have a childhood and develop into mentally healthy adults rather than being coerced into slaving away for this sick organization their entire lives: http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/cult/the-garden-of-love/
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 Searcher says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:04 am

Wow! This gives new meaning to the bully who stole the kid’s lunch money or ice cream money. How do these people live in their skin? The GB and WTS leadership is truly a disgusting bunch!
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 StrongHaiku says:

 May 21, 2015 at 7:45 am

Maybe I am overthinking their strategy and/or giving them too much credit, but it seems to me that this particular ploy isn’t just about getting children to donate the few pennies or dollars they may have. I think the amount would be negligible compared to what the adults would donate.
It seems to me that this strategy also serves two other purposes.
1. It works as a shaming tactic to the adults. If the child is donating what little they have I believe the parent will feel compelled to do the same.
 2. It works as a way of getting children to start donating early so that it becomes a habit as they grow up. And, by “donating” I would include time, resources, and their very life and not just money.
In other words, while the short-term/obvious gain is to go after the children’s cash I think there is a more long-term and not so obvious gain. Just a thought…
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 Pickled brain says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:18 am

@StrongHaiku. ALL Your Points were EXACTLY What I was thinking . This is Very Very Clever Mind Manipulation by the GB !! GUILT TRIPPING the Children & the Parents & Each other !!! Are the GB Using Psychologists to Instruct them???
 THIS is SO BLATANT yet SPOOKY CULT Behaviour!!
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 May 21, 2015 at 9:25 am

They’re (i.e. GB) good aren’t they? Real good! And not in a friendly way either.
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 anonymous says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:13 am

The Society ain’t no dummy. If there’s 1 million children in the Organization and they each donated their piggy banks with a worth of $20, there’s another $20,000,000.00 they will collect. If each of those 1 million kids donated the $2.00 they had in their piggy banks for an ice cream cone, then that’s $2,000.000.00.00. Not a bad haul even if it’s just bunch of ice cream cones from little kids.
Lett said in his latest broadcast that in poor countries, people will donate their last dime even if they don’t know how they will survive the next day. How can they take money from people who are that poor? They should be giving those people money, not taking it from them.
The Society wants those parents to think that their kids’ ice cream cone money is going to all those poor kids in Africa who have to be sitting in the rain for their talks and that ice cream money is going to make it so those poor brothers and sisters can sit in an “appropriate” Kingdom Hall, like what they have but if those parents realized where the money is really going, they might not feel quite so generous.
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 StrongHaiku says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:33 am

Good points, @anonymous… As you point out, with enough children, “ice cream” money can quickly add up to some serious cash.
And, to clarify my previous comment; I may have come across as saying that there is little value in getting kids to break their piggy bank. Sorry if that was the case. I totally agree that there is the immediate influx of cash which the GB would never turn down. But I think it might be worth to point out that the GB’s “currency” is also guilt and habit, which has additional pay offs.
This is not the first time (or last) where the GB has used children as leverage to get the adults to listen, obey, and do more.
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 ziddina says:

 May 21, 2015 at 11:32 am

I agree, Anonymous. I was doing some calculating (please feel free to double-check my math) & if each of the approx. 8 million JWs (rounded up for ease of calculation) gave ONLY $6 PER MONTH, the Watchtower Society would gross OVER A HALF-BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR.
I am flabbergasted & dumbfounded by the bottomless, black-hole aspect of their endless greed! They’ve just made approximately $1 BILLION dollars in sales of Brooklyn real estate; they’re probably receiving AT LEAST a HALF-BILLION a year just in donations, & they want MORE?? To the point of depriving poor, mind-controlled Sophia of her one small treat by demanding HER money from her, too?
I cannot even understand that level of vicious greed & stupidity – on the part of the Watchtower Society & on the part of the victimized Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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 Ted says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:18 am

More blatant guilt propaganda to manipulate young minds.
 All these “Jehovahs Friend” videos have used the mind
 control techniques of guilt and fear. Shameful !
As they’re so desperate for funds, I have some suggestions.
During the War, many schools in Britain got the kids to collect
 jam jars and old newspapers, these could be sold to help the
 War Effort. The kids loved it you had that “All in it together
 feeling”.
Scrap paper would be no problem for JWs, there must be
 thousands of tons of obsolete books out there that are just an
 embarrassment to them.
As a final thought, how about second hand clothing stalls
 along side the literature carts. Unlikely you think?
 Well, having plumbed the depths, begging for kids ice cream
 money, I would rule nothing out.
Reply
 
 ziddina says:

 May 21, 2015 at 11:34 am

Good points. You’d think they’d learn from the Baptists & have the sisters do bake sales for money, instead of trying to rob ice cream from small children…
Reply
 
 

 alanv says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:42 am

When I was a witness I used to think the magazines were actually good value. This was when there was a fixed contribution cost. What I completely forgot is that they were not just making a small profit on one magazine, but that profit was times millions of magazines. In fact one new magazine per week in those days. All this with virtually free labour added up to a massive amount of money every year.
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 David says:

 May 21, 2015 at 8:44 am

This organisation just cares about its own aims without realising the great damage cause to people. They are free to practice religion but when a person decide to follow a different path must suffer a huge injustice.
Encouraging young children to get baptized shows a complete lack of love and decency. They know how a life of a young person can be completely destroyed if he/she decides with maturity that no longer agree with jw.org ideas.
They incourage to COMPLETELY ignore that such a person even exists.
The primary focus for them is numbers, grow even at the cost of innocent lifes. Shame on you GB.
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 ScotWm says:

 May 21, 2015 at 9:23 am

What a dilemma! How to squeeze even more money out of cult members who are, for the most part, lower middle class.
Ever since the 1940s, Watchtower leaders ruled out higher education because the end of the world would come long before graduation. Later, higher education was described as a worldly cesspool that would strip impressionable young witnesses of their Watchtower bible trained consciences. Now that the worldwide witnessing is producing converts largely located in very poor countries, the billion dollar New York real estate windfall will not last very long.
While I would never advocate joining a cult based on the hallucinations of Ellen G. White, it is obvious that the Seventh Day Adventists long ago took the necessary steps to insure their financial future. Rather than continually threaten its followers with eminent destruction, Watchtower leaders should have created institutions of higher learning. The graduates of these schools could have earned much more money and contributed accordingly to the so called world wide work.
Here is one example of how higher education and religious indoctrination can work together:
“Does my family have to be Adventist for my child to attend an Adventist school? Absolutely not, though you and your child will gain the most benefit from Adventist education if you are a Christian or at least sympathetic with Christian beliefs.”
http://adventisteducation.org/about/adventist_education/faq
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 Simon Kestral says:

 May 21, 2015 at 10:35 am

@ScotWm, WT has opposed university education ever since Fred Franz dropped out of college in 1913. His influence has shaped WT policy for 100 years now.
At the first circuit assembly I ever attended they interviewed a young man who dropped out of college. He was so happy to escape the worldly influence of college and give more time to WT. And his “brothers” were so proud of him! Another disciple of Fred Franz …
WT says they need people who have university degrees. But they’re not willing to grow their own. They think enough pre-educated “worldly” people will join WT and provide the needed skills. YOU UNEDUCATED PUBLISHERS JUST NEED TO PREACH MORE AND BRING THEM IN!
The hypocrisy is mind boggling.
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 ziddina says:

 May 21, 2015 at 11:41 am

Simon Kestral wrote: “WT has opposed university education ever since Fred Franz dropped out of college in 1913. His influence has shaped WT policy for 100 years now.”
I think it goes all the way back to Charles Taze Russell, who never attended high school, let alone college. In forewords to his “Studies in the Scriptures” books, he warns against even attending HIGH SCHOOL, as well as college.
I suspect his envy & distrust of those better-educated than he, led to the establishment of that long-running antipathy towards higher education, which the Watchtower Society foolishly carries on to this day.
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 Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:

 May 21, 2015 at 10:55 am

“plastic wizard toys are Satanic”!!!!! It seems Satan is becoming everything among Jehovah’s Witnesses.
 The new Watchtower Magazine (study edition) says: “The religious, political, and commercial elements of this world—including their information channels—are under the influence of “the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil. (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19)”!!!!!
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 danman says:

 May 21, 2015 at 12:03 pm

Growing up a jw in the years 1948-1981. Child publisher giving my own presentations from door to door at age 5. Living every aspect of a good jw life publisher, servant, pioneer, serve were the need was great, elder, assembly parts, oversee large departments at assemblies, actor in district convention dramas, I can lay claim to enough experience to say the following:
The “Truth” ain’t what it used to be.! The almost sacrosanct pride I (we) had as regards the glaring difference between ‘Babylon the Great’ (all other religions) and Jehovah God’s earthly organization was a source of strength to the convictions held.
•No overt collection of funds just a simple contribution box. Vs: Evil Christendoms collection plates and direct solicitations via cash, credit, or pledges. Now Jehovah seems to be allowing his organization full license to do exactly the same.
•No catchy music programs, tv broadcasts, cartoons, or boasting about structures or properties. Jehovah now allowing all of the former no-no’s. Has Jehovah’s willingness to accept these worldly modern methods, changed? Or is it the men at the helm of this obviously human run organization?
•No higher education. I mean to the point of restricting privileges for those who chose to attend college. Now my own nephew bethelite was offered and accepted a fully paid scholarship by the Watchtower to attend college and obtain his lawyers license. Extracting every ounce of his time and hard efforts after attaining his credential. Using my relatives good nature and life’s talents to further their religious desires. Yet they still try to influence the rank and file jw to avoid such higher education so as to further their grunt work in the local congregations. Talk about a clergy laity class, well hidden it may be, we who know can see through their chicanery.
I have almost an endless list to proceed with, but this has got me started.
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 John Baptist says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:03 pm

Now does this mean I might have to give up my Good Humor route due to possible lost sales? Lol What a complete mental insanity!
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 Mitch Jensen says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:34 pm

“The video represents the latest specimen in a relentless stream of propaganda material targeting children. The “Become Jehovah’s Friend” series first launched in 2012 with a video aimed at guilt-tripping kids into believing that plastic wizard toys are Satanic. Then, more recently, another cartoon has shown Caleb and Sophia essentially being threatened with death if they don’t pay attention at meetings.”
Author’s Words
There’s no escaping the guilt, Cedars is too young to remember all the guilt and fear mongering kids prior to 1975 dealt with. Do you have any ideas how bad we kids had things? We were told all our friends at school 1st to 4th grades at the Woodland Hills,California and Dodger Stadium and of course our regular Meeting that focused on “Stay Alive till 75!”.
Cedars, is there any way we can stop the bleeding before these children are ruined? Is the EU more progressive, are they able to see through the ruse put on by a religion that does nothing to make the world a better place? How can we get their tax-exempt status revoked, what grassroots movements can a army of Kingdom Hall lurkers do to stop the madness? Unbelievable how children have not right to a little treat after enduring the Tuesday Night Guilt Meet! Very good writing and coverage, how do we change them?
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 Mitch Jensen says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:38 pm

We were told all our friends were going to be “foods for the birds as their corpses lay rotting through the street”. Than one of the Watchtower guys actually said “Jehovah will use anti-matter to clean up all these bodies because only a million to clean up billions of bodies!” That’s the rat crap kids growing up in the 1950s to late 1960s endured, we are the “generation of fear”, the Watchtower Society is losing it’s ability to beat the drums of fear, their really sick demons!
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 johnamos says:

 May 21, 2015 at 1:44 pm

I couldn’t help but notice the following from this website while watching the video:
Support JWsurvey
 Help us make continued improvements to this website and its content.
****Donate*****
 all major credit cards
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:26 pm

@johnamos, do you think it’s wrong to accept donations then? I noticed in Stephen Lett’s talk when he was talking about those brothers that moved a lady’s shed back onto the foundation that when she offered them money that they didn’t turn it down.
Also, johnamos, there’s a huge difference between donating to someone from the heart and being coerced to do it because “God sees it if you don’t donate”.
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 Melka says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:52 pm

And to add to this, I actually value this website and think it’s a big reason why a lot of people wake up. Mr. Cedars is contributing to the cause we’re all invested in, which is trying to wake people up, by bringing light to the despicable ways of the Watchtower. And that takes time. And in case you don’t know, it costs money. He is fully in his rights to let people know that it costs money, and if people donate, that means they believe in him and what he has to say, and they want to make sure he can continue to contribute. I personally think Cedars website puts out the best information, so I for one think we need him desperately. And I actually want people to wake up. I would look up Peter Gregersons role in helping Ray Franz write Crisis of Conscience if I was you. He paid Ray Franz a weekly salary so that he could write his book. Ray Franz obviously took the money, otherwise maybe he couldn’t produce that extremely important book. Without help, who knows what would have happened. Donating and cashing in are two vastly opposite things.
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 Charles Costante says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:32 pm

“Scrap paper would be no problem for JWs, there must be
 thousands of tons of obsolete books out there that are just an embarrassment to them.”
Nice one, Ted! (LOL)
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 johnny blaze says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:52 pm

Leave it in jehovah’s hands. ……he will provide. ………don’t hold your breath. ….
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 Grace says:

 May 21, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Who ever put this piece of propaganda together didn’t think it through. Instead of putting the pictures of the buildings & more buildings like high-rises (reminding me of the picture of satan tempting Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world), they could have put pictures of something that looked like a 3rd world country going from meeting in the hot sun to having a dwelling. It shows where there heart is. Not on helping those in need but expanding the real estate empire.
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 Pickled brain says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:14 pm

@johnamos. HMmmm!!’ How About DONATING to a Good Cause Instead of Donating to The GB who are Paying Out TENS of MILLIONS of DOLLARS in CHILD ABUSE CASES & LUXURIOUS BUILDINGS & OVERSTAFFED HQ& WHO BREAK UP FAMILIES by SHUNNING if Someone DARES to Question the GB on Continuous FAILED PROPHECIES!!!
 What’s wrong with Donating to Cedars who is trying to Awaken JWs up & Save them from WASTING Their Lives & also from Helping New Ones from making the mistake of getting Baptised!!
Reply
 

 Everyday Explorer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:40 pm

Really like the incisiveness of your point, Grace. Fantastically nailed another absurdity of that obscenely blatant video. Respect.
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 rob says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:04 pm

I find it immensely repugnant when they say “give to Jehovah” when in fact people are simply donating to a cash hungry organization. I also find it irritating when someone comes up to me and wants me to return to the meetings and says “come back to Jehovah” or “don’t leave Jehovah”.
When did the watchtower become Jehovah? Why do otherwise intelligent people equate a religion with God?
This religion has nothing but failed predictions and pharasaic rules and now they shamelessy want money from children.
And child baptism? Eight or nine years old? What is next? Maybe they will start asking the rank and file to pay admission to enter the kingdom halls or pay a fee to attend assemblies. Sad thing is that many would actually pay.
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 johnny blaze says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:05 pm

Just like apple….if one feels one is putting a good product out there you feel compelled to get involved and invest…….but if you never put your money in market no one would know………wait…….Jehovah will know……….keep up the good fight …….Thx…..Lloyd. …
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 Ohforgoodnesssake says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:08 pm

This actually made me cry with sadness. I really need to show this to someone as a stand alone link or from the JW.org webpage. Is there a way of getting this link. Thanks in advance.
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 Finn Sawyer says:

 May 21, 2015 at 3:27 pm

This video is sick.
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 Thinking of leaving says:

 May 21, 2015 at 4:24 pm

That just inspires me to go and get some ice cram in my tight pants. Yeah you rock tight pants and ice cream you rock!!!!
Reply
 

 Ariel says:

 May 21, 2015 at 5:44 pm

I have never been and never will be a JW. I do have inlaws that are heavily involved in this organization. They have been pushed down and deprived of lifes joys because of the guilt ridden sermons and publications that are a weekly burden to the flock.
I wonder, at what point do they, ( the flock ) realize that they have been taken as fools?
When children become a source of income to a belief that is beyond their own comprehension, then it is apparent that understanding does not equate to true worship.
Reply
 

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 Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
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New videos are constantly being uploaded to the John Cedars YouTube channel.
Here is a playlist featuring the most recent uploads…
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11 Responses to Videos

 KtotheRAD "Konrad" says:

 August 25, 2013 at 6:55 pm

With every word they reveal and “impart” far more than they ever intended…
Reply
 

 george says:

 August 27, 2013 at 4:45 am

Sorry Cedars, I can only access the first video on my I pad. There are a lot of over sized play icons and they won’t work.
Reply
 

 Luke says:

 October 27, 2013 at 5:27 pm

Continue the good work on this site that expose what Watchtower Organization really are — a fanatic end-time driven cult that only serve interests of its leaders. I left this
 cult three years ago for good. My only regret is that I had not left the Watchtower Cult earlier! On Easter Sunday this year, I was baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and received into Eastern Orthodox Church, apostolic Church that preserved the Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Cedar, you have my blessings of your work on this site that
 will yet help millions of JWs to see the truth of so-called ‘Truth’.
Reply
 

 Fred says:

 November 2, 2013 at 12:09 pm

Forget taking your numbers from a 1974 yearbook if you question the amount of those killed, interned, etc get the numbers from the Holocaust museum. You forgot to mention the ‘JEWS’ were and its quoted several times in the Watchtower publications as it is related in the bible, “ONCE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE” but they did not remain that because of their actions. Your quotes from WT publications are based on the latter that they fell out of favour in God’s eyes. They therefor were NOT written in an anti-Semitic nature. Many Jews have become JW’s over the years are they lesser beings because they were of Jewish blood?…ABSOLUTELY NOT! All races are equal so this video in my opinion is twisted in its presentation. Not to mention the ridiculous claim of Rutherford’s so called love letter to Adolf Hitler. No blinders on here, I have checked the facts. Sorry but this video paints an untruthful twist of events and statements about the WT as regards the comments on the Nazi’s and Jews.
Reply
 

 Palma says:

 February 28, 2014 at 3:48 am

Hi everybody! Hi cedars!
 I found this article about a discovery in egypt that brings light to the origin of story of joseph in the bible.
 What do you think?
http://www.davidovits.info/the-lost-fresco-and-the-bible-my-new-book-in-french/
Reply
 

 Idris says:

 March 27, 2014 at 8:12 am

Thank you for this page, it has been a great help to me, as I seek the truth of the word of God, however I noticed in the video ‘Does the Bible speak of ‘Paradise Earth’ the speaker quotes Luke 21v43 twice, regarding Jesus word on the cross, there should be a correction note as the verse he mentions is in Luke 23 v 43.
 Keep up the good work
Reply
 

 Julia Orwell says:

 July 17, 2014 at 3:47 am

Been to internationals before and this elaborate souvenir thing is entirely new. The last one I went to in 2009, the last ones they had, had nothing like this so it’s not a matter of you having not noticed it in the past, it’s a matter of it being a new phenomenon.
 I theorize that the wt motives for this involve keeping the masses busy and therefore obedient. Jws would volunteer to do this because there are no other legitimate outlets for creative expression. Armageddon being near has nothing to do with it: it’s about keeping the sheeple busy and happy. Making stupid trinkets is also a team building activity as it involves jws working together, thus reinforcing the herd mentality jws have.
Reply
 

 frankie fernandez says:

 February 27, 2015 at 4:44 pm

dear friends I was baptized in 1974. Thank God I am no longer a member of the WT. Free at last and oh what a relief it is. A member of my former congregation who I considerd my best friend molested a minor. There was a big argument amognst the elders on the judicial committee. One elder who was a maverick, wanted to notify the police. But, instead they followed the instuctions of the society. They kept this crime against the child, hush hush. So as not to tarnish the name of Jehovah. But in reality it was a coverup to protect the wt’s reputation. Meanwhile this poor child that was raped has to carry the heavy burden of a victim for the rest of thier lives without compensation and without justice. While the abuser has remaind a member in good standing. The congregation he is attending now has not been notified that he is a sexual preditor.
Reply
 

 Kirtley W. Burggraf says:

 March 11, 2015 at 11:16 am

Tell me, since governing body members are elected (replacing someone who dies) at what point do do they become “divinely inspired” or “spirit guided”? Were they always thus in the lower ranks or does this just “happen” the moment that they are appointed? What’s Watchtower’s take on this?
Reply
 

 Alone in MD says:

 March 31, 2015 at 6:00 pm

Regards your video on the Memorial Service. I am one of those “non believers” married to a baptized witness. I go to just keep the peace but I’ve made it known that I consider this service one of the worst religious ceremonies that I have ever been to. “Anointed What”. Also it was announced at last years meeting that “this may be the last memorial service”. They are at it again. Thanks for the great videos.
Reply
 

 frankie fernandez says:

 May 10, 2015 at 9:50 pm

IF CHRIST WAS ENTHRONGED IN 1914, WHY ARE THE WITNESES STILL CELEBRATING THE MEMORIAL? CHRIST SAID THAT AFTER HIS ARRIVAL NO ONE WAS TO CELEBRATE THE MEMORIAL .ALSO HE SAID THAT THE DAY OF HIS PRESENSE, IT WILL BE LIKE LIGHTNING FROM ONE POINT OF THE EARTH TO ANOTHER. LIGHTNING TRAVELS AT THE SPEED OF 3500 MILES PER SECOUND. SO IT WILL TRAVEL AROUND THE GLOBE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. HE ALSO SAID THAT ALL EYES WILL SEE HIM. NOT LIKE THE WTS THAT SAYS WE ARE IN HIS INVISIBLE PRESENSE.
Reply
 

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JWSurvey.org thanks all visitors in advance for respectfully observing these guidelines. Any who persistently fail to do so, despite warnings, may find themselves blocked from making further comments at the discretion of the site moderators, whose decision will be final and not open for debate.

  


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Top Posts & Pages
Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
 Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
 Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
Links 
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Welcome 
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Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
 Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 


 

Key Articles

Is JWsurvey.org an apostate website?
What is the new light on the faithful slave?
Has Watchtower ever lied or withheld informatiion?

Open Offer

Open Offer to all bethelites
 Do you work at Brooklyn, Patterson or Wallkill? If so, please click here.

Our Promise
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◾Mitch Jensen on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
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◾Wanderer on Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”

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Videos

New videos are constantly being uploaded to the John Cedars YouTube channel.
Here is a playlist featuring the most recent uploads…
 style="overflow: hidden; height: 105px; width: 600px; border: 0;"<br /> scrolling="no" frameBorder="0"><br />
And here is a playlist of recommended videos from other channels…




Share this:



















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11 Responses to Videos

 KtotheRAD "Konrad" says:

 August 25, 2013 at 6:55 pm

With every word they reveal and “impart” far more than they ever intended…
Reply
 

 george says:

 August 27, 2013 at 4:45 am

Sorry Cedars, I can only access the first video on my I pad. There are a lot of over sized play icons and they won’t work.
Reply
 

 Luke says:

 October 27, 2013 at 5:27 pm

Continue the good work on this site that expose what Watchtower Organization really are — a fanatic end-time driven cult that only serve interests of its leaders. I left this
 cult three years ago for good. My only regret is that I had not left the Watchtower Cult earlier! On Easter Sunday this year, I was baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and received into Eastern Orthodox Church, apostolic Church that preserved the Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Cedar, you have my blessings of your work on this site that
 will yet help millions of JWs to see the truth of so-called ‘Truth’.
Reply
 

 Fred says:

 November 2, 2013 at 12:09 pm

Forget taking your numbers from a 1974 yearbook if you question the amount of those killed, interned, etc get the numbers from the Holocaust museum. You forgot to mention the ‘JEWS’ were and its quoted several times in the Watchtower publications as it is related in the bible, “ONCE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE” but they did not remain that because of their actions. Your quotes from WT publications are based on the latter that they fell out of favour in God’s eyes. They therefor were NOT written in an anti-Semitic nature. Many Jews have become JW’s over the years are they lesser beings because they were of Jewish blood?…ABSOLUTELY NOT! All races are equal so this video in my opinion is twisted in its presentation. Not to mention the ridiculous claim of Rutherford’s so called love letter to Adolf Hitler. No blinders on here, I have checked the facts. Sorry but this video paints an untruthful twist of events and statements about the WT as regards the comments on the Nazi’s and Jews.
Reply
 

 Palma says:

 February 28, 2014 at 3:48 am

Hi everybody! Hi cedars!
 I found this article about a discovery in egypt that brings light to the origin of story of joseph in the bible.
 What do you think?
http://www.davidovits.info/the-lost-fresco-and-the-bible-my-new-book-in-french/
Reply
 

 Idris says:

 March 27, 2014 at 8:12 am

Thank you for this page, it has been a great help to me, as I seek the truth of the word of God, however I noticed in the video ‘Does the Bible speak of ‘Paradise Earth’ the speaker quotes Luke 21v43 twice, regarding Jesus word on the cross, there should be a correction note as the verse he mentions is in Luke 23 v 43.
 Keep up the good work
Reply
 

 Julia Orwell says:

 July 17, 2014 at 3:47 am

Been to internationals before and this elaborate souvenir thing is entirely new. The last one I went to in 2009, the last ones they had, had nothing like this so it’s not a matter of you having not noticed it in the past, it’s a matter of it being a new phenomenon.
 I theorize that the wt motives for this involve keeping the masses busy and therefore obedient. Jws would volunteer to do this because there are no other legitimate outlets for creative expression. Armageddon being near has nothing to do with it: it’s about keeping the sheeple busy and happy. Making stupid trinkets is also a team building activity as it involves jws working together, thus reinforcing the herd mentality jws have.
Reply
 

 frankie fernandez says:

 February 27, 2015 at 4:44 pm

dear friends I was baptized in 1974. Thank God I am no longer a member of the WT. Free at last and oh what a relief it is. A member of my former congregation who I considerd my best friend molested a minor. There was a big argument amognst the elders on the judicial committee. One elder who was a maverick, wanted to notify the police. But, instead they followed the instuctions of the society. They kept this crime against the child, hush hush. So as not to tarnish the name of Jehovah. But in reality it was a coverup to protect the wt’s reputation. Meanwhile this poor child that was raped has to carry the heavy burden of a victim for the rest of thier lives without compensation and without justice. While the abuser has remaind a member in good standing. The congregation he is attending now has not been notified that he is a sexual preditor.
Reply
 

 Kirtley W. Burggraf says:

 March 11, 2015 at 11:16 am

Tell me, since governing body members are elected (replacing someone who dies) at what point do do they become “divinely inspired” or “spirit guided”? Were they always thus in the lower ranks or does this just “happen” the moment that they are appointed? What’s Watchtower’s take on this?
Reply
 

 Alone in MD says:

 March 31, 2015 at 6:00 pm

Regards your video on the Memorial Service. I am one of those “non believers” married to a baptized witness. I go to just keep the peace but I’ve made it known that I consider this service one of the worst religious ceremonies that I have ever been to. “Anointed What”. Also it was announced at last years meeting that “this may be the last memorial service”. They are at it again. Thanks for the great videos.
Reply
 

 frankie fernandez says:

 May 10, 2015 at 9:50 pm

IF CHRIST WAS ENTHRONGED IN 1914, WHY ARE THE WITNESES STILL CELEBRATING THE MEMORIAL? CHRIST SAID THAT AFTER HIS ARRIVAL NO ONE WAS TO CELEBRATE THE MEMORIAL .ALSO HE SAID THAT THE DAY OF HIS PRESENSE, IT WILL BE LIKE LIGHTNING FROM ONE POINT OF THE EARTH TO ANOTHER. LIGHTNING TRAVELS AT THE SPEED OF 3500 MILES PER SECOUND. SO IT WILL TRAVEL AROUND THE GLOBE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. HE ALSO SAID THAT ALL EYES WILL SEE HIM. NOT LIKE THE WTS THAT SAYS WE ARE IN HIS INVISIBLE PRESENSE.
Reply
 

Leave a Reply

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Name *
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You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

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Comment posting guidelines:
Kindly observe the following requirements before posting any comments to our articles or pages:
◾ABUSIVE COMMENTS - Do not post comments that include swear words or may be considered abusive, lewd, blasphemous, obscene or threatening
◾ILLEGAL COMMENTS - Do not post comments that condone or propose illegal activity, or that breach copyright law
◾OFF-TOPIC COMMENTS - Do not post comments that are off-topic and bear no relation to the page or article
◾RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY - Do not post comments that are evangelical in nature or may be construed as imposing one person's religious beliefs (or lack thereof) over those of another
◾LANGUAGE - Visitors from all countries and language groups are welcome. You may post comments in languages other than English, but we would appreciate if you could make any such comments brief. We would also be grateful if you could run any such comments through Google Translate and convert these to English, but this is not an absolute requirement.
◾LINKS - You may post links to third party websites, so long as (1) you limit these to 2 links per comment, and (2) the content on these links doesn't contravene ANY of the first four points. Specifically, you may not post URLs to websites that are evangelical in nature. Our links page has an extensive list of such sites for any who are curious about Christian beliefs in the context of Jehovah's Witnesses.
JWSurvey.org thanks all visitors in advance for respectfully observing these guidelines. Any who persistently fail to do so, despite warnings, may find themselves blocked from making further comments at the discretion of the site moderators, whose decision will be final and not open for debate.

  


 Notify me of new posts by email.
  
 



Click on 
Visit JWalumni.org for help and advice with leaving Jehovah's Witnesses
Visit JWfacts.com for more information on JW beliefs
Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses
JW Recovery forum
Visit JWstruggle.com for helpful information on exiting JW mind control

 

Support JWsurvey
Help us make continued improvements to this website and its content.

       

Article Categories
◾Apostates (23)
◾Blood transfusions (11)
◾Books (4)
◾Cedars' Blog (201)
◾Cedars' Story (4)
◾Celebrity JWs (2)
◾Child Abuse (44)
◾Child Indoctrination (13)
◾Divine Direction (4)
◾Domestic Abuse (2)
◾Doomsday Predictions (1)
◾Downsizing (6)
◾Evolution and creation (6)
◾General Information (1)
◾Governing Body (32)
◾Higher education (3)
◾History and scandals (6)
◾JW.org (7)
◾Life Stories (9)
◾Mental health (5)
◾Mini-Surveys (5)
◾News (175)
◾Property sales (5)
◾Publications (6)
◾Shunning (10)
◾Support (5)
◾Survey (10)
◾Undue influence (11)
◾Warwick headquarters (4)

Search JWsurvey

  

Subscribe to JW Survey


Enter your email address to receive notices of new posts by email.
Join 759 other subscribers
Email Address  
    

Listen to JWpodcast

Check out the latest episode of JW podcast! 

Latest John Cedars video


Popular JW sites in other languages
Languages         
More languages...

Select... Croatian Czech Dutch Estonian Finnish 1 Finnish 2 French 1 French 2 French 3 German 1 German 2 Hungarian Italian 1 Italian 2 Italian 3 Japanese Polish 1 Polish 2 Polish 3 Portuguese 1 Portuguese 2 Romanian Russian 1 Russian 2 Russian 3 Serbian 1 Serbian 2 Serbian 3 Slovak Spanish 1 Spanish 2

Top Posts & Pages
Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
 Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
 Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
Links 
 Links 
Videos 
 Videos 
Welcome 
 Welcome 
Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
 Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 


 

Key Articles

Is JWsurvey.org an apostate website?
What is the new light on the faithful slave?
Has Watchtower ever lied or withheld informatiion?

Open Offer

Open Offer to all bethelites
 Do you work at Brooklyn, Patterson or Wallkill? If so, please click here.

Our Promise
Making corrections
 Is there something incorrect or unfactual on this website? If so, please let us know and we will correct it.

2015 results at a glance
Number of respondents to the 2015 Global Survey
Site Stats
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◾johnamos on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Mitch Jensen on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Mitch Jensen on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Wanderer on Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”

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Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
avatar
Posted on May 21, 2015

A new Watchtower cartoon urges Witness kids to give up their pocket money
As Jehovah’s Witnesses the world over continue to digest the latest “historic” JW Broadcasting episode, in which the Governing Body admits to having a shortfall in funds and asks Witnesses to give their “valuable things” to compensate, a video has emerged … Continue reading →

52 Comments
 
Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”
avatar
Posted on May 5, 2015

The May episode of JW Broadcasting features Stephen Lett asking JWs to cover a shortfall in funds
The May 2015 episode of JW Broadcasting was billed by its host, Governing Body member Stephen Lett, as being a “historic” one. It ended up being just that, but for none of the reasons given. Lett opened the program by … Continue reading →

482 Comments
 
JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote
avatar
Posted on April 19, 2015

JW.org has removed their misquote of Rama Singh from digital versions of Awake! magazine
Some of you will remember that back in January we reported on the latest example of a Watchtower publication misquoting an academic to get its anti-science views across. Biologist Rama Singh was quoted in the January 2015 Awake! magazine with … Continue reading →

76 Comments
 
“We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision
avatar
Posted on April 16, 2015

Candace Conti (pictured in her interview with ABC) has spoken out for the first time about the appeal court decision
As current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses digest the news that Watchtower’s appeal against the Candace Conti verdict has faltered, albeit with the punitive element of the judgment reversed, Candace has reacted for the first time by telling me: “We are … Continue reading →

73 Comments
 
Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed
Posted on April 14, 2015

The appeal court in the Conti case has overturned Watchtower's punitive damages, but upheld the judgment of negligence
It’s a bittersweet day for Candace Conti, her family and supporters, as they digest the appeal court’s reversal of the “cause of action” for Watchtower’s punitive damages in her sex abuse case. Though the amended verdict remains a victory in … Continue reading →

41 Comments
 
My response to the haters (and why I can’t always shake it off)
avatar
Posted on April 11, 2015

Abuse from fanatical Cedars-bashers like Tony Balchen (pictured) is beginning to take its toll
I suffer from depression, but even at my darkest moments, when my mind has briefly flirted with notions of suicide, I’ve always thought what a bad choice that would be. There are just so many different ways a person’s life … Continue reading →

212 Comments
 
Harmful beliefs – woman and her unborn child perish after she refuses a blood transfusion
avatar
Posted on April 7, 2015

Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, where a Jehovah's Witness woman and her child have died due to the blood policy
Is there such a thing as a lifesaving blood transfusion? To some that may seem like a silly question, but it’s something many Jehovah’s Witnesses are skeptical about. Section 4 of their new “history” book mentions the concept while talking … Continue reading →

52 Comments
 
Ashya King reported as cancer-free by parents
avatar
Posted on March 24, 2015

Ashya King with his mother while being treated in Prague last year
The parents of five-year-old Ashya King have told reporters that their son is now cancer-free, after receiving proton therapy for a brain tumor in Prague. Readers may recall the family made headlines last August after an international manhunt commenced when … Continue reading →

26 Comments
 
Witnesses on Instagram respond to images of tragic JW mother who died refusing blood
avatar
Posted on March 23, 2015

Michelle, who would die refusing blood after giving birth, is pictured at her baby shower
Since a doctrinal decision reached at Watchtower headquarters some time in 1945, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been prohibited from receiving various medical treatments involving blood. This has resulted in untold numbers of Witnesses over many decades (including children) dying out of … Continue reading →

120 Comments
 
Jehovah’s Witness New Orleans airport machete attacker dies
Posted on March 23, 2015

Richard White pictured shortly after the incident
Richard White, 63, a Jehovah’s Witness, has been identified by authorities as the man who wielded a machete on Friday night (March 20, 2015) at Louis Armstrong, New Orleans International Airport. Also armed with insect spray during the attack, White charged … Continue reading →

66 Comments
 
Gregorio Smith gives JWsurvey readers exclusive offer as he takes “Truth Be Told” on European Tour
avatar
Posted on March 20, 2015

Filmmaker Gregorio Smith is taking his production to audiences in Europe
As the HBO film “Going Clear” earns rave reviews for shining a light on the inner workings of the Scientology cult, it is worth remembering that the Watchtower organization is not without its own hard-hitting film expose. Released online last … Continue reading →

52 Comments
 
What is JWsurvey’s approach to science, religion and the bible?
avatar
Posted on March 19, 2015

Religious neutrality is an essential element of JWsurvey
Frequent visitors to JWsurvey will be familiar with this website’s posting guidelines for comments, which include the following rule regarding religious neutrality: “Do not post comments that are evangelical in nature or may be construed as imposing one person’s religious … Continue reading →

88 Comments
 
Big Eyes, Big Lies: Painter Margaret Keane and the Truth
avatar
Posted on March 16, 2015

Big Eyes starring Amy Adams (left) tells the story of JW painter Margaret Keane (right) and the fraud that shook the art world
It wasn’t easy as a creative child growing up in a devout Jehovah’s Witness household. My early dreams of becoming an artist were squashed by the future forced upon me. According to my indoctrination the only real career outlet for … Continue reading →

66 Comments
 
← Older posts
 
 



Click on 
Visit JWalumni.org for help and advice with leaving Jehovah's Witnesses
Visit JWfacts.com for more information on JW beliefs
Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses
JW Recovery forum
Visit JWstruggle.com for helpful information on exiting JW mind control

 

Support JWsurvey
Help us make continued improvements to this website and its content.

       

Article Categories
◾Apostates (23)
◾Blood transfusions (11)
◾Books (4)
◾Cedars' Blog (201)
◾Cedars' Story (4)
◾Celebrity JWs (2)
◾Child Abuse (44)
◾Child Indoctrination (13)
◾Divine Direction (4)
◾Domestic Abuse (2)
◾Doomsday Predictions (1)
◾Downsizing (6)
◾Evolution and creation (6)
◾General Information (1)
◾Governing Body (32)
◾Higher education (3)
◾History and scandals (6)
◾JW.org (7)
◾Life Stories (9)
◾Mental health (5)
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◾News (175)
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◾Publications (6)
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Search JWsurvey

  

Subscribe to JW Survey


Enter your email address to receive notices of new posts by email.
Join 760 other subscribers
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Listen to JWpodcast

Check out the latest episode of JW podcast! 

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Popular JW sites in other languages
Languages         
More languages...

Select... Croatian Czech Dutch Estonian Finnish 1 Finnish 2 French 1 French 2 French 3 German 1 German 2 Hungarian Italian 1 Italian 2 Italian 3 Japanese Polish 1 Polish 2 Polish 3 Portuguese 1 Portuguese 2 Romanian Russian 1 Russian 2 Russian 3 Serbian 1 Serbian 2 Serbian 3 Slovak Spanish 1 Spanish 2

Top Posts & Pages
Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
 Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
 Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
 Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
Links 
 Links 
Why it is morally wrong for Watchtower to push baptism on children 
 Why it is morally wrong for Watchtower to push baptism on children 
Videos 
 Videos 


 

Key Articles

Is JWsurvey.org an apostate website?
What is the new light on the faithful slave?
Has Watchtower ever lied or withheld informatiion?

Open Offer

Open Offer to all bethelites
 Do you work at Brooklyn, Patterson or Wallkill? If so, please click here.

Our Promise
Making corrections
 Is there something incorrect or unfactual on this website? If so, please let us know and we will correct it.

2015 results at a glance
Number of respondents to the 2015 Global Survey
Site Stats
Visitor stats for JWsurvey

Like us on Facebook!

Cedars’ Twitter Feed
 

 

Who's Online
◾0 Members.
◾29 Guests.

Reader Comments
◾Ariel on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Everyday Explorer on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Everyday Explorer on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Thinking of leaving on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!

Menu
◾About JW Survey
◾Contact Us
◾Experiences
◾Get Involved
◾Global Surveys ◾2011 Global Survey
◾2012 Global Survey
◾2013 Global Survey
◾2014 Global Survey
◾2015 Global Survey
◾JW Broadcasting
◾JWthink.com
◾Links
◾Videos
◾Welcome

Login
 ◾Login

Scan JWsurvey.org

 



Copyright © 2011-2013 JWsurvey.org. Site design and support by The Small Web Master.

    StatCounter - Free Web Tracker and Counter     











          http://jwsurvey.org/




















Skip to content
JWsurvey 


Welcome

Cedars’ Blog

About JW Survey

Global Surveys
»




















Videos

JW Broadcasting

Get Involved

Links

Contact Us
  






Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
avatar
Posted on May 21, 2015

A new Watchtower cartoon urges Witness kids to give up their pocket money
As Jehovah’s Witnesses the world over continue to digest the latest “historic” JW Broadcasting episode, in which the Governing Body admits to having a shortfall in funds and asks Witnesses to give their “valuable things” to compensate, a video has emerged … Continue reading →

52 Comments
 
Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate “valuable things”
avatar
Posted on May 5, 2015

The May episode of JW Broadcasting features Stephen Lett asking JWs to cover a shortfall in funds
The May 2015 episode of JW Broadcasting was billed by its host, Governing Body member Stephen Lett, as being a “historic” one. It ended up being just that, but for none of the reasons given. Lett opened the program by … Continue reading →

482 Comments
 
JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote
avatar
Posted on April 19, 2015

JW.org has removed their misquote of Rama Singh from digital versions of Awake! magazine
Some of you will remember that back in January we reported on the latest example of a Watchtower publication misquoting an academic to get its anti-science views across. Biologist Rama Singh was quoted in the January 2015 Awake! magazine with … Continue reading →

76 Comments
 
“We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision
avatar
Posted on April 16, 2015

Candace Conti (pictured in her interview with ABC) has spoken out for the first time about the appeal court decision
As current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses digest the news that Watchtower’s appeal against the Candace Conti verdict has faltered, albeit with the punitive element of the judgment reversed, Candace has reacted for the first time by telling me: “We are … Continue reading →

73 Comments
 
Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed
Posted on April 14, 2015

The appeal court in the Conti case has overturned Watchtower's punitive damages, but upheld the judgment of negligence
It’s a bittersweet day for Candace Conti, her family and supporters, as they digest the appeal court’s reversal of the “cause of action” for Watchtower’s punitive damages in her sex abuse case. Though the amended verdict remains a victory in … Continue reading →

41 Comments
 
My response to the haters (and why I can’t always shake it off)
avatar
Posted on April 11, 2015

Abuse from fanatical Cedars-bashers like Tony Balchen (pictured) is beginning to take its toll
I suffer from depression, but even at my darkest moments, when my mind has briefly flirted with notions of suicide, I’ve always thought what a bad choice that would be. There are just so many different ways a person’s life … Continue reading →

212 Comments
 
Harmful beliefs – woman and her unborn child perish after she refuses a blood transfusion
avatar
Posted on April 7, 2015

Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, where a Jehovah's Witness woman and her child have died due to the blood policy
Is there such a thing as a lifesaving blood transfusion? To some that may seem like a silly question, but it’s something many Jehovah’s Witnesses are skeptical about. Section 4 of their new “history” book mentions the concept while talking … Continue reading →

52 Comments
 
Ashya King reported as cancer-free by parents
avatar
Posted on March 24, 2015

Ashya King with his mother while being treated in Prague last year
The parents of five-year-old Ashya King have told reporters that their son is now cancer-free, after receiving proton therapy for a brain tumor in Prague. Readers may recall the family made headlines last August after an international manhunt commenced when … Continue reading →

26 Comments
 
Witnesses on Instagram respond to images of tragic JW mother who died refusing blood
avatar
Posted on March 23, 2015

Michelle, who would die refusing blood after giving birth, is pictured at her baby shower
Since a doctrinal decision reached at Watchtower headquarters some time in 1945, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been prohibited from receiving various medical treatments involving blood. This has resulted in untold numbers of Witnesses over many decades (including children) dying out of … Continue reading →

120 Comments
 
Jehovah’s Witness New Orleans airport machete attacker dies
Posted on March 23, 2015

Richard White pictured shortly after the incident
Richard White, 63, a Jehovah’s Witness, has been identified by authorities as the man who wielded a machete on Friday night (March 20, 2015) at Louis Armstrong, New Orleans International Airport. Also armed with insect spray during the attack, White charged … Continue reading →

66 Comments
 
Gregorio Smith gives JWsurvey readers exclusive offer as he takes “Truth Be Told” on European Tour
avatar
Posted on March 20, 2015

Filmmaker Gregorio Smith is taking his production to audiences in Europe
As the HBO film “Going Clear” earns rave reviews for shining a light on the inner workings of the Scientology cult, it is worth remembering that the Watchtower organization is not without its own hard-hitting film expose. Released online last … Continue reading →

52 Comments
 
What is JWsurvey’s approach to science, religion and the bible?
avatar
Posted on March 19, 2015

Religious neutrality is an essential element of JWsurvey
Frequent visitors to JWsurvey will be familiar with this website’s posting guidelines for comments, which include the following rule regarding religious neutrality: “Do not post comments that are evangelical in nature or may be construed as imposing one person’s religious … Continue reading →

88 Comments
 
Big Eyes, Big Lies: Painter Margaret Keane and the Truth
avatar
Posted on March 16, 2015

Big Eyes starring Amy Adams (left) tells the story of JW painter Margaret Keane (right) and the fraud that shook the art world
It wasn’t easy as a creative child growing up in a devout Jehovah’s Witness household. My early dreams of becoming an artist were squashed by the future forced upon me. According to my indoctrination the only real career outlet for … Continue reading →

66 Comments
 
← Older posts
 
 



Click on 
Visit JWalumni.org for help and advice with leaving Jehovah's Witnesses
Visit JWfacts.com for more information on JW beliefs
Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses
JW Recovery forum
Visit JWstruggle.com for helpful information on exiting JW mind control

 

Support JWsurvey
Help us make continued improvements to this website and its content.

       

Article Categories
◾Apostates (23)
◾Blood transfusions (11)
◾Books (4)
◾Cedars' Blog (201)
◾Cedars' Story (4)
◾Celebrity JWs (2)
◾Child Abuse (44)
◾Child Indoctrination (13)
◾Divine Direction (4)
◾Domestic Abuse (2)
◾Doomsday Predictions (1)
◾Downsizing (6)
◾Evolution and creation (6)
◾General Information (1)
◾Governing Body (32)
◾Higher education (3)
◾History and scandals (6)
◾JW.org (7)
◾Life Stories (9)
◾Mental health (5)
◾Mini-Surveys (5)
◾News (175)
◾Property sales (5)
◾Publications (6)
◾Shunning (10)
◾Support (5)
◾Survey (10)
◾Undue influence (11)
◾Warwick headquarters (4)

Search JWsurvey

  

Subscribe to JW Survey


Enter your email address to receive notices of new posts by email.
Join 760 other subscribers
Email Address  
    

Listen to JWpodcast

Check out the latest episode of JW podcast! 

Latest John Cedars video


Popular JW sites in other languages
Languages         
More languages...

Select... Croatian Czech Dutch Estonian Finnish 1 Finnish 2 French 1 French 2 French 3 German 1 German 2 Hungarian Italian 1 Italian 2 Italian 3 Japanese Polish 1 Polish 2 Polish 3 Portuguese 1 Portuguese 2 Romanian Russian 1 Russian 2 Russian 3 Serbian 1 Serbian 2 Serbian 3 Slovak Spanish 1 Spanish 2

Top Posts & Pages
Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
 Cough up, kids - Watchtower needs your ice cream money! 
Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
 Stephen Lett admits income/expenditure shortfall as he reminds Witnesses to donate "valuable things" 
Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
 Governing Body instructs congregations to pledge fixed monthly donations 
Links 
 Links 
Why it is morally wrong for Watchtower to push baptism on children 
 Why it is morally wrong for Watchtower to push baptism on children 
Videos 
 Videos 


 

Key Articles

Is JWsurvey.org an apostate website?
What is the new light on the faithful slave?
Has Watchtower ever lied or withheld informatiion?

Open Offer

Open Offer to all bethelites
 Do you work at Brooklyn, Patterson or Wallkill? If so, please click here.

Our Promise
Making corrections
 Is there something incorrect or unfactual on this website? If so, please let us know and we will correct it.

2015 results at a glance
Number of respondents to the 2015 Global Survey
Site Stats
Visitor stats for JWsurvey

Like us on Facebook!

Cedars’ Twitter Feed
 

 

Who's Online
◾0 Members.
◾29 Guests.

Reader Comments
◾Ariel on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Everyday Explorer on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Everyday Explorer on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!
◾Thinking of leaving on Cough up, kids – Watchtower needs your ice cream money!

Menu
◾About JW Survey
◾Contact Us
◾Experiences
◾Get Involved
◾Global Surveys ◾2011 Global Survey
◾2012 Global Survey
◾2013 Global Survey
◾2014 Global Survey
◾2015 Global Survey
◾JW Broadcasting
◾JWthink.com
◾Links
◾Videos
◾Welcome

Login
 ◾Login

Scan JWsurvey.org

 



Copyright © 2011-2013 JWsurvey.org. Site design and support by The Small Web Master.

    StatCounter - Free Web Tracker and Counter     











          http://jwsurvey.org/