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← A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries
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Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
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Posted on September 28, 2015
Is Warwick already becoming a new Mecca prized by the Governing Body above all else?
Is Warwick already becoming a new Mecca prized by the Governing Body above all else?
The Watch Tower Society is continuing to hemorrhage information. Hot on the heels of the leak of the annual meeting announcements, yet more details have emerged hinting at growing resentment among bethelites as downsizing intensifies.
JWsurvey has been contacted again by someone inside bethel who this time confirmed earlier rumors of a letter that was read to bethelites at morning worship last Wednesday warning of substantial changes.
Taken as a whole, a picture is emerging of an organization in crisis, increasingly running out of funds, led by a group of greedy, deluded men obsessed with seeing their Warwick fantasy come to fruition at the expense of everything else – including, perhaps, the health of their volunteer work force.
As with all bethel informants I have promised to strictly guard the anonymity of my source. With the annual meeting leak I was able to reproduce an entire letter, but this informant has asked that I merely convey information in my own words (rather than verbatim) so as to minimize the risk of discovery. What follows will, therefore, be my own wording based on what I have been told.
An incriminating image
Those of you who follow JW.org will be aware that Watchtower has been posting updates on the progress at Warwick in the form of “photo galleries.” The latest gallery covered work from January through April 2015 and came under the heading “Warwick Photo Gallery 3.”
My source brought it to my attention that this page has since been removed from JW.org, which indeed it has – although a Google cached page is still available on this link.
This raises the question, why was this photo gallery removed? The answer is – embarrassment over THIS picture…
diver-warwick-small
The picture seems fairly innocuous at first. Some guy, presumably a brother, is working in the lake – probably putting up nets to stop debris contaminating the lake, or to stop wildlife getting harmed.
But if you scroll down the cached page, the caption sheds more light…
A hired diver in Blue Lake replaces an old valve with a new one. With the push of a button, the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane.
Two things now become apparent. Firstly, this is NOT a brother. It’s a “hired diver” – a so-called “worldly” contractor for Watchtower – presumably being paid handsomely due to the skilled nature of his work and the expensive equipment he’s using.
The second thing to notice is the job he’s doing. This is not an effort at preserving the environment or saving wildlife. The diver is “replacing an old valve with a new one” so that “the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane” with “the push of a button.”
You might be thinking, so what? Why would Watchtower want this image pulled? Basically, it all falls into context once you read on and learn of the reasons for growing disgruntlement among bethelites. They are seeing branches closed, construction work halted, and face lay-offs on an unprecedented scale in the interests of cutting costs, while the Governing Body is lavishing dedicated funds on outside contractors just so they can have their own remote-controlled lake.
Living on borrowed time
The lay-offs rumored to be in the pipeline are official, and will commence from the winter of 2016, conveniently coinciding with the new Warwick headquarters becoming operational.
Certain bethels WILL be shutting down their laundry, kitchen and housekeeping services to cut costs. The total number of those being shown the door is not yet known, but it is expected to be into the thousands.
Not all Brooklyn bethelites will be following Splane, Morris and Co. to Warwick
Not all Brooklyn bethelites will be following Splane, Morris and Co. to Warwick
Hence, as the Governing Body members begin moving into their plush lakeside retreat, many of their “fellow worker” bethelites will be sent packing into the cold of winter – the majority of whom have forsaken higher education to serve the organization.
Many, my source says, are in their 40s and 50s, with nowhere to stay outside bethel, and precious few qualifications or employment prospects. There are fears that this displaced army will place further strain on congregations as frustrated, let-down, childless and homeless former-bethelites struggle to integrate themselves into the less glamorous fringes of Witness life.
There had previously been an unspoken rule that if a brother or sister accrued more than 15 years of bethel service, they were guaranteed to be cared for by Watchtower for life – deep into their old age. But this rule is out of the window, at least for those who will be axed. Despite many years of loyal service, they will have to fend for themselves – turning to the kindness of wealthy non-bethelite brothers and sisters in their new congregations (who they would have once looked down on to some extent for not “putting kingdom interests first”).
Having announced this hammer-blow news that so many bethelites are on borrowed time, the letter concludes by assuring those who will be forced to leave that Jehovah will care for them. According to my new source, the tone of the letter is eerily evocative of the words found at James 2:15-17:
“If a brother or a sister is lacking clothing and enough food for the day, yet one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.”
The financial crisis deepens
The letter announcing the lay-offs was read at morning worship on Wednesday 23rd, not just in the United States, but at bethels all over the world. A similar letter was also sent to those in special pioneer service, and construction servants.
The letter speaks of a need to save money, and specifically mentions the May JW Broadcasting episode in which Stephen Lett admitted a shortfall between income and expenditure. (See below)
This is interesting, because comments made by Sam Herd in the August episode seemed to imply the desired funds had since been received, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that this was not so – at least not to the extent needed.
But rather than admitting these drastic changes are being forced on Watchtower simply due to a lack of money, the letter describes the need to speed up the preaching work as being a factor. Thus, laid-off bethel workers are now expected to enter regular pioneer service soon after being tossed out to fend for themselves.
The argument that these changes are inspired by the need to advance the preaching work soon unravels, however, when you consider that special pioneers are ALSO being laid off by these changes. (Special pioneers were receiving a monthly stipend from the organization in exchange for their extra preaching hours.) And it has not gone unnoticed by bethelites that laying-off special pioneers is not a way of speeding up the preaching work, despite Watchtower’s spin. This is purely about saving money by whatever means possible.
An ivory tower on poisoned land
It is becoming increasingly apparent that, despite recent JW Broadcasting episodes heralding its grand building projects all over the world, Watchtower has now frozen virtually all its building programs worldwide so that it can focus on getting Warwick over the finish line.
The late Guy Pierce admitted doubts over Jehovah's direction concerning Warwick
The late Guy Pierce admitted doubts over Jehovah’s direction concerning Warwick
Warwick will be Watchtower’s new Mecca, and its completion is now the Governing Body’s top priority even as finances dwindle.
Since its inception, the Warwick project has had more than a hint of controversy.
When announcing the plans at the 2011 Annual Meeting, the late Guy Pierce made the frank admission that the Governing Body were “not yet certain of Jehovah’s will regarding Warwick,” but irrespective of this were “proceeding to develop the site with the intention of relocating the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses there.”
Since then the Governing Body has made no secret of its lofty aspirations for their new residence, even telling those who wish to volunteer in its construction that they will be involved in a work akin to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah.
“Similar to the call that Nehemiah made to his fellow Israelites, there is a need to call upon the ‘strengthened hands’ of skilled volunteers to complete the Warwick project,” said one service meeting outline attached to a Watchtower letter dated August 21, 2013.
Have Warwick workers been warned to take precautions against dangerous pollutants?
Have Warwick workers been warned to take precautions against dangerous pollutants?
But far from being an unblemished utopia, ordinary bethelites are aware of a media report that circulated back in June to the effect that the Warwick site was contaminated with dangerous chemicals by its previous owners – International Nickel.
Watchtower never responded to requests for comment by Hema Easley of the Times Herald-Record, but it seems there are concerns at bethel that the Governing Body may have been less-than-transparent with Warwick workers about the contaminated nature of the environment in which they are working.
Easley’s article reports that, according to Watchtower’s suit against International Nickel, the organization knew about the problem as far back as 2012/2013 and have been “cleaning the property under the direction of the DEC.”
But given Watchtower’s own dubious track-record with handling pollution, concerned bethelites would be forgiven for wondering whether the Governing Body have really taken all necessary precautions to stop Warwick workers coming into contact with polychlorinated byphenyls – or PCBs – banned in the United States as probable human carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) as far back as 1979.
Thinking Witnesses would do well to question how the Governing Body could be considered “faithful and discreet” by forging ahead with a project while admitting uncertainty over God’s backing. And if they DID have God’s backing all along, why has Jehovah guided his organization to build its new headquarters despite having a shortage of funds, and on land drenched in potentially life-threatening pollutants?
Another scripture will no doubt come to mind for thinking Witnesses, this time in Luke 14:28…
“For example, who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it?”
Exciting times
We are now entering a fascinating phase in Watchtower’s history. Over the next couple of years we will all have front row seats to a bizarre spectacle – a cult running out of money, but desperately trying to preserve credibility regardless.
Previously Watchtower could at least count on its army of die-hard bethel workers to rally to its side and hold the fort, but even this alliance is not as solid as it once was, as these new leaks demonstrate.
The recently-announced lay-offs are, I am told, destroying trust in the Governing Body’s leadership among those at bethel – as well they should. These brutal measures bring to the fore the increasingly-noticeable greed and narcissism of the Governing Body – a deluded group of men who shamelessly put their own needs and comfort ahead of those who serve them.
Not satisfied with lavish accommodation and all-expenses-paid trips around the world to attend zone visits and receive adulation at international conventions, these men are now pouring everything into their lakeside retirement retreat – complete with infirmary and adjustable lake.
The Warwick headquarters continue to take shape
The Warwick headquarters continues to take shape
Those they have cut loose to help rescue their dream of a potentially cancer-causing cult compound face a more uncertain future. With few prospects, many soon-to-be ex-bethelites will be forced to rely on the already over-stretched resources and generosity of the congregations.
Some ex-Witnesses watching these events unfold remain skeptical that Watchtower truly can be running out of money. Watchtower is, in their minds, too worthy an adversary to ever be vanquished. But I am told my recent speculation regarding possible bankruptcy isn’t that far-fetched. Regardless of how much money an organization may start out with, if income fails to catch up with expenditure consistently year-on-year something will eventually have to give.
And while commercial organizations are usually able to adjust their scope of operations almost on a whim, it is virtually impossible for Watchtower to downsize to a scale corresponding to its income gracefully and seamlessly without people noticing and starting to question its religious claims. In short, the threat of the organization collapsing suddenly under its own weight is very real, and the Governing Body knows it – hence its recent desperate attempts to steady the ship.
This of course does not mean an end to Jehovah’s Witnesses. It simply means that the organization that Jehovah’s Witnesses look to as God’s sole channel with mankind could, in our lifetimes, become a shadow of its former self. And the downsizing has long since started, with Watchtower already well beyond the zenith it reached around 2005 (the last year of full magazine-printing) and 2010, when branch numbers started plummeting.
What lies in store?
The end game is far from certain, but given what we are witnessing, I fully expect Watchtower to eventually be reduced to little more than a cult-compound in upstate New York where dwindling numbers of devout followers flock on occasional pilgrimages for a photo opportunity with their dear leaders.
Nothing will be printed. Everything will be accessed online, with Governing Body members addressing their devotees through videos, assuring them that Armageddon is surely just around the corner because Jehovah’s organization is under attack as never before.
A Scientology Ideal Org in Hamburg
A Scientology Ideal Org in Hamburg
We may live to see the day when Watchtower becomes similar in size and set-up to Scientology, with its 50,000 (or less) followers and a highly-insulated leadership.
There would be no real congregations to speak of, because the vast majority of kingdom halls, having already surrendered their autonomy, would be among the first assets to be sold off. Perhaps a few “ideal orgs” (along the Scientology model) spread out across major city locations might spring up as local focal points for Witness activity. But, as the organization’s woes become more apparent, what were once millions of Witnesses will be reduced to perhaps hundreds of thousands of oblivious, hardcore cult followers who steadfastly refuse to look at objective information on the internet despite the clear evidence that their beloved organization has long since crumbled.
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but now that I’m no longer a Witness I’m allowed to speculate. It may not happen overnight, or to quite that extent. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny that something is happening in the bowels of this fiercely proud organization, and I for one feel privileged to witness it.
new-cedars-signature3
Click here for a Spanish translation
Further reading…
◾Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on Warwick
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing
Related video…
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← A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries
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201 Responses to Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
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Tipper says:
September 28, 2015 at 7:38 am
Lloyd – Your efforts are so greatly appreciated, Thank you!
It is thrilling to think that changes are happening and that hopefully in the near future the hold that the GB have over this organization will lessen and that their collapse will occur for all of us to “witness”.
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Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 7:40 am
@Cedars . I think you have ASTUTELY ANALYSED the Current situation very Accurately! Something any one who has studied Economics & The Law of Excessive Supply & Dwindling Demand can’t Fail to Notice ! The Watchtower has OVERSTRETCHED itself in Committing Financial Reserves to Too much CAPITAL EXPENDITURE in the form of BUILDINGS & Too Slow Real Growth Rate at about 1% . They haven’t Got Enough DONATIONS coming in & with the increase in CHILD ABUSE COMPENSATION CASES to Cost probably £100s of Millions ,The GB are in BIG BIG TROUBLE!! OHhh HAPPY DAYS are HERE AGAIN!! … But ONLY for Those of US SHUNNED ONES!! It Would BE SO NICE to See the 7 PYGMIES to take up PART TIME JOBS maybe as WINDOW CLEANERS ????
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Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:00 am
I Forgot to ADD … MILLIONS of POUNDS WASTED on a FLASH EXPENSIVE TV STATION & 100s of MILLIONS of Pounds on 170 RTO Buildings with Little increase in Disciples DONATING in POOR JWs from Third World Countries speaking Obscure Languages & MORE IMPORTANT of ENCOURAGING JWs to take DEAD END JOBs to Pioneer so you have MILLIONS of UNEDUCATED JWs in DEAD END BADLY PAID JOBs STRUGGLING to PAY BILLS which leaves them PRACTICALLY ZERO to Contribute towards DONATIONS!! The Governing Body have MADE BAD ERRORS of JUDGMENT & NOW it’s HITTING HOME BIG TIME !!!
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Panhandlegirl says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:08 am
@Pickledbrain,
You are so RIGHT, so many bad errors coming home to roost.
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Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:27 am
@PanHandleGirl . You have a Cool
Name … NEARLY as COOL as PICKLED BRAIN , & Thank you for your comment it is APPRECIATED!!
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Panhandlegirl says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:34 am
@ Pickled brain, Thanks…and yes, your name is Cool. It is very visual. Although I have been on this site for a long time, I have just recently, last week, started to read the comments. I find them very interesting and insightful;much more than any comments I have ever heard at the kingdom hall or heard from any “active” believing jw.
JB Reezner says:
September 28, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Hey, heyyy, remember PB, we are working on HUMILITY! 😛
OntheReal says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:00 pm
very well said!
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Baccolo says:
September 28, 2015 at 7:54 am
Very good news about the fall of one of the most reactionary US religious organisations.
One wonders whether the masses of bethelites became redundant would address the National NLRB to have some justice and start a sort of an industrial action to attract public attention.
It could be a historic breake in religious industry.
It’s time to actually Awake!
Baccolo
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JJ says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:06 am
“Disgruntled Bethelites”
Now this could get interesting!!!
Imagine thousands(!) of hard-core, self-centered, spiritual giants that have been pampered and pandered to being kicked out of their homes with the loss of work, food, ammenities, retirement hopes and prestigue. Now there is the makings of a revolution!
Better get ready for more ‘moles’ and a whole lot more information coming your way, John Cedars.
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Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:48 am
when one looses their job do they really stay on with an employer who has destroyed their lives…. is loyalty that strong? Maybe we will see an early exodus of not so happy ex Bethelites who decide to take the early train home….
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Tara,
Maybe they’ve started by kicking out the ones that did that “happy” video to teach them a lesson:)
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Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:34 pm
It wouldn’t surprise me. We were asked to remove any trace of it from off our fb pages.
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Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:31 pm
@JJ. I think you are Seriously Right on your Assessment of the Situation regarding Disgruntled Bethelites & NEW MOLES for Cedars to Disseminate more inside facts at Warwick!
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da' says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:06 am
Of all the info that’s been posted to date regarding the org, this saddens me the most. There’s no doubt in my mind these bethelites dedicated the best part of their lives to the advancement of kingdom interests (whether that was right or wrong), now not only do they have to vacate , they’re expected to enter the pioneer ranks ?!
What ??? How ??? Lets hope for best for them. hopefully they do have family to assist them re-enter the real world, especially if it was the family that pushed them there to begin with. Now , what really boggles the mind … that great big compound in upstate New York. Correct me if im wrong , isn’t Armageddon imminent ? Arent they heading north (and I don’t mean Warwick) ?
So, the Pope finished up his United States tour in Philadelphia , PA , with an APOLOGY to all those abused by the clergy ! GB be careful who you condemn , because now you really look lame !
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JJ says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:10 am
Don’t feel sorry for them, they can rely on Jehovah to look after them!
(That means government assistance)
Funny how Satan runs all of the ‘worldly governments’ and these are the very organizations that end up looking after ‘Jehovah’s Servants’ whether it is medical care, Social Security or a place to live.
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Ben Menegazzii says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:28 am
Here in America you have to work in order to receive social security benefits and it’s prorated. I think it’s capped at 20 years, so the less you work the less you get. The proper thing for the WTBTS to do is give the bethelites some money in order to get back on tract. $ 25,000 each is a start.
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SR says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:44 pm
SS is based on the average over 40 years. It’s not that much anyway but someone can’t start paying in at 40 and expect to get much. Having enough to live on in old age takes decades of planning. As bad as all that is I think the feeling of being used would be the cherry on top. I am so glad I didn’t have what it took to be the best and brightest in the WT organization.
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Ready 4 to Fade says:
September 28, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Agreed, “sucking the milk of the nations” as it were. Maybe the updated translation says something about “availing oneself of food stamps.”. Half of my old congregation is on public assistance.
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Chiafade says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:48 am
I feel bad for them too. I have a brother in a foreign bethel assignment and he is due to return next year. I’m afraid that he’ll return to a pink slip after 18 years of service. No exit or severance package from the org but very literally a “keep warm and well fed” upon his exit from bethel.
Once you lose the title of bethelite you are treated VERY differently. Your prestige is gone. The desire to take you out to eat and give you a green handshake disappear even if you’re pioneering. Pioneering just doesn’t carry the same weight as being a bethelite. No more vacations paid for by rich publishers that many a bethelite enjoyed. All of the fringe benefits that come with that title will be a thing of the past and only the most indoctrinated will be able to cope. I think it’s disgusting on the part of the org to do such a thing after actively encouraging young people for years to give their youth to bethel. They shrug off their responsibility to the local congregations without even a thought that it may create a hardship on them as well. In large part because of the thinking that “this system is temporary and if you end up on the street don’t worry because the new system is near”. This kind of thinking allows them to dismiss all kinds of responsibility. Telling the rank and file and future jobless bethelite about their wonderful future meanwhile the gb doesn’t have to wait for anything. They benefit right now meanwhile the average JW waits for a secret benefactor.
The fact the current gb and past gb have never apologized for anything including the deaths of those who refused blood fractions and organ transplants shows the depth of their depravity. To not see the need to at the very least apologize to child abuse victims is deplorable.
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Panhandlegirl says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:24 am
@Chiafade,
did one of the gb members not just call (on a video)the bethelites “those on the front lines” or something such like the privileged ones just under the gd? My how things change when it comes to money. I also have some sympathy for anyone who is discarded without any means to survive. I don’t think they even have any social security benefits. They discarded Ray Franz in much the same manner. They are heartless!
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Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:50 am
@da’ . I Noticed yesterday’s main NEWS was the POPE APOLOGISING for CHILD ABUSE within its Ranks ….. WELL WELL WELL …MOST HEAVENLY STEPHEN LETTS!! … How about Apologising for your …,INSULTING COMMENT on TV.JW.Org?? You know ??? APOSTATE DRIVEN LIES!!!
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will says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Your comment about the Catholic Church is interesting. I thought the same thing. Unfortunately, the Watchtower lacks humility. Their “apostate lies” comment proves that. I used to be Catholic, so I’m not a fan of them either, but at least it’s something.
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shannon says:
September 28, 2015 at 3:51 pm
I thought the same way too, if Armageddon is so imminent why build? I asked my JW sister that very question..She said “these buildings will make it right through Armageddon, they will NOT be destroyed.. I should have asked how she knew that, but her reply would be the same. “Never Question the Society.!
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Average Joe says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:11 am
Thanks for the update Lloyd and you’re spot on with the application of those two scriptures: “keep warm & well fed” indeed whilst you suffer the consequences of us NOT ‘calculating the cost of building’ our new HQ.
Cutting back allowances for Special Pioneers: that’s what the money should be primarily used for; ie. spreading the good news!
Never been a fan of Bethel to be honest and the army-like inflexibility of hours. Add to that the fact that you can get kicked out of US Bethel for being spotted socially wearing blue jeans and being forbidden to have a beard, it then loses its appeal. It was fun to go to as a kid but then so is any big building with lots of machines in it and friendly workers to chinwag with.
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Sean says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:11 am
They gave their first-fruits and got back a mealy apple.
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Average Joe says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:13 am
(please delete this one if duplicated)…
Thanks for the update Lloyd and you’re spot on with the application of those two scriptures: “keep warm & well fed” indeed whilst you suffer the consequences of us NOT ‘calculating the cost of building’ our new HQ.
Cutting back allowances for Special Pioneers: that’s what the money should be primarily used for; ie. spreading the good news!
Never been a fan of Bethel to be honest and the army-like inflexibility of hours. Add to that the fact that you can get kicked out of US Bethel for being spotted socially wearing blue jeans and being forbidden to have a beard, it then loses its appeal. It was fun to go to as a kid but then so is any big building with lots of machines in it and friendly workers to chinwag with.
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Stephane Laliberte says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:14 am
Great Job John. Thanks for your work!
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df. says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:17 am
poor Caleb will be disappointed when he finds he can’t go to Bethel when he grows up!!
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Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:34 am
@df . & SOPHIA won’t be able to MARRY a BETHELITE because they will be ALL SACKED!!!
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David says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:18 am
The similarities between JWs and other cults are overwhelming.
If you spend some time studying cults you will not fail to notice the striking similarities.
JW orgs is in crisis for certain. They have been saying that the end is around the corner for more then a century.
A century of leadership meetings and holy spirit guidance,…how accurate! Their credibility is zero.
As many have said… We wanted to be the truth, but it wasn’t! Intelligent people would adjust the situation instead of continue with the lie.
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Nemorino says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:22 am
Count me among the skeptics that Watchtower is facing an impending financial collapse.
From what I’ve read… please correct me if I’ve overlooked anything along the way … that published reports of the revenue generated from sales of their Brooklyn properties to date amount to several hundreds of millions of dollars, whereas most estimates for Warwick and several smaller projects add up to just tens of millions.
What, then, if anything, am I missing?
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Jose says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:22 am
I so glad that the Watchtower cult is coming to an end. This cult cost my father dead.It’s worth exposing this cult the lives and families it has ruined.Thanks for your efforts Jwsurvey and give up truth.
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Average Joe says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:28 am
(having trouble with this one as well today Lloyd)…
By the way, I’ve created a PDF file of that deleted page with all the photos (11 pages in total) for when the cached version is eventually removed. It’s on WeTransfer as per usual so you might want to bung it on your server Lloyd once you’ve downloaded it (if you feel it would be useful for others of course).
The link: http://we.tl/LjQWue5V9e
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Cedars says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:13 am
Thanks Average Joe! :)
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M. says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:25 pm
thanks
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Heather Bennett says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:31 am
Thank you for sharing this information! I can’t wait to see what happens next. I really truly hope that someday, my family wakes up and sees what these men are doing, that it is not direction from their God that drives them!
I worry about my grandmother, as the widow of grandpa Guy, my grandfather is not there to keep her from being one of the ones let go. I just hope that she has somewhere, some body.
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Panhandlegirl says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:48 am
@Heather Bennett Hope your grandmother is not thrown out in the cold. That would be really mean.
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Dazi says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:28 pm
Hi Heather, Is the grandma you referring to named Penny, Guy Pierce wife? Our family’s go way, way back to the California days.
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Dazi says:
September 29, 2015 at 11:56 am
Hi again, I just saw your comments from last year regarding your grandfather. I was sad to hear of his passing. A relative of mine performed the ceremony/talk for Guy & Pennys wedding. Im often conflicted with my feelings regarding family I love and know are loving people…but, see that they are livng in a bubble! As a child I thought they were so intellegent and special as I matured it was emotionally tramatic to realize they are delutional. So many secerts too!
Take care, Dazi
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Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:42 am
OMG OMG IT’S TRACY ISLAND!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNhk_-v0SMs
The governing body are international rescue
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wifibandit says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:48 am
Full backup of the Warwick Album #3 http://imgur.com/a/KlNlG
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Cedars says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:14 am
Great, thanks! :)
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Panhandlegirl says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:03 am
While watching your video I was reminded of a doctor’s comment when I asked about my patient’s symptoms.The patient’s limbs were mottled and his blood pressure was extremely low. The patient was septic.The doc said that these symptoms were due to the body directing most of the blood to the body’s core in order to protect the vital organs. The body can live without limbs. I seems that the organization is doing the same thing; protecting its core (Warwick) and willing to discard the limbs (bethelites)in order to survive.
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TheFlyingBastard says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:04 am
“This begs the question, why was this photo gallery removed?”
Hey Cedars. Just dropping in to say that it “raises” the question. Begging the question is a logical fallacy in which the conclusion is assumed in one of the premises.
Other than that, carry on. Love your work, dude. :)
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Cedars says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:12 am
Well spotted, and fixed! 😉
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Doc Obvious says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:21 am
Can you hear the construction song of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society? It is a familiar sound.
All the people are singing in unison. Its the song of the Smurfs and the opening scene of the Smurf Cartoon series. Yes. The annoying La-La song. If you do not know what I mean give this YouTube video a look at. Smurf Song. Notice how they dance and work just like the Bethelites of Watchtower. Did you notice the Smurf band. Watchtower has a band too. Did you notice all the happy Smurf faces? Watchtower has happy, smiling Bethelite faces.
See how the smurfs are working on construction projects in Smurf Village. There is no money exchanging hands for work done. The Smurf economy, as noted by Wikipedia at The Smurfs – Smurf economy is “The Smurfs’ community generally takes the form of a cooperative, sharing, and kind environment based on the principle that each Smurf has something he or she is good at, and thus contributes it to Smurf society as he or she can. In return, each Smurf appears to be given their necessities of life, from housing and clothes to food without using any money in exchange.”
Layoffs in Smurf Village are coming. The Smurfs are frustrated. They have been smurfing for several years. This does not sound good to the smurfs. What shall the Smurfs’ do? Will they just stay and do the construction work until it is done? Or, will the Smurfs drop what they are doing and go home? Leaving the work for the Watchtower to do.
Does this not sound all too familiar? It sure sounds a lot like the Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York.
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Doc Obvious says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:23 am
Sorry. Here is the YouTube reference to the Smurf song. If you do not know what I mean give this
youTube video a look at. Smurf Song.
Reply
Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:33 am
absolutely, no way am I going to get the smurf song stuck in my head NO WAY! I am too busy singing the Thunderbirds theme… see my previous post 😉
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JBob says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:47 am
LOL!!!
It’s a lot like Merry–Kingdom–Melodies, Tara..
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Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:01 pm
La la la la la la la
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:31 pm
I’ve got the “happy” song stuck in my head.
Panhandlegirl says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:34 am
@cedars
Yes, thanks for all your efforts. I came home from work this am eager to see if you had posted the new “leaked information.” So happy to see it! Will post it on my fb page today.
Reply
ScotWm says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:47 am
RE: “Previously Watchtower could at least count on its army of die-hard bethel workers to rally to its side and hold the fort…”
The poor treatment of Bethel slaves is going to hurt the Watchtower’s reputation more than anything else.
Ordinary rank and file Watchtower cult members who become disgusted with the organization will generally fade away. On the other hand, the majority of disgruntled Bethel slaves who get kicked out will be repatriated to their home congregations or other congregations while harboring huge grudges against the Governing Body.
As we have already seen, some current Bethel slaves have already turned against their masters. Once this army of Bethel throwaways is kicked out on the street, we will hear insider stories from them that will make Raymond Franz look like a Watchtower cheerleader.
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Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:41 pm
@ScotWm . Discarded Bethelites with LIMITED Finances & Job Prospects Will NOT Be Happy & They WILL NOT Be SINGING PHARRELL WILLIAMS SONG!! INSIDER DISCONTENTMENT will DO A LOTTA More Damage than I think the GB have Anticipated !
Reply
ScotWm says:
September 28, 2015 at 7:52 pm
“The rapid growth in Jehovah’s organization is creating an increased demand for more Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls, theocratic school facilities, remote translation offices, as well as branch buildings in various places. Hence, in October 2013, the Governing Body established a new department so that the work of designing, building, renovating, and maintaining our facilities could be carried out in the most efficient and economical manner.”
Fast forward two years to October 2015 and we see all of the Watchtower construction efforts focused on the Governing Body’s lavish new lakeside resort in Warwick, New York. Shrinking financial resources require that all surplus Bethel slave labor workers not needed to complete the Warwick project will be dumped on the street.
These disposable Bethel slaves will definitely not be singing songs of praise to their greedy, delusional Watchtower Governing Body slave masters.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/302015053#h=5
Reply
RobertoPerez67 says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:00 am
Fantastic article and video Lloyd.
I believe many of these loyal to Jehovah bethelites will simply come to realize that they don’t need to slave for a publishing house in order to serve the almighty himself. I really do hope they find stable work and a happy existence outside of Bethel. I’m sure many here can attest to finding true happiness at escaping the mental hold these false prophets had over them. I’ve posted before, but incase its your first time at jwsurvey, please keep the following words in your heart
Deutoronomy 18:20-22 Part of Moses locker room talk before entering the promised land with a strict warning to Jehovahs people.
“‘If any prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name that I did not command him to speak or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 However, you may say in your heart: “How will we know that Jehovah has not spoken the word?”22 When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word is not fulfilled or does not come true, then Jehovah did not speak that word. The prophet spoke it presumptuously. You should not fear him.’ (Don’t fear the Borg)
Proverbs 30:5,6
5 Every saying of God is refined. He is a shield to those taking refuge in him. 6 Add nothing to his words, Or he will reprove you, And you will be proved a liar. ( I believe we are witnessing the reproval of men who twisted Gods word to fit their multi billion dollar empires agenda, making all sort of false prophecies in gods name along the way. Things that never came to pass, to their embarrassment.)
Revelation 22: 18-21 Final words in all Bible uttered as a warning by Jesus Christ himself to all who put faith in his promises.
18 “I am bearing witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone makes an addition to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll; 19 and if anyone takes anything away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take his portion away from the trees of life and out of the holy city, things that are written about in this scroll. 20 “The one who bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’” “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” 21 May the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus be with the holy ones.
( There is nothing in there about a group of men in the “end times” being deputized to add or omit to scripture at their leisure. The passage is perfectly clear on not adding your self righteous brain farts to what is written and that is everything the Watchtower is dedicated to. Twisting and adding amendments to scripture calling it new light, by quoting a passage that was written a millennia before Jesus Christ pronounced these closing remarks on the bible. Basically saying Jesus got it wrong, or he snoozed on these last little bits and thank God were here to finish his thoughts for him. Shunning, two witness rule, preaching quotas, secret trials, selective men that would live off the donations of others, false prophecies, every decade or so) Please go through this entire site and then visit http://www.JWfacts.com for more specific crimes committed by this “organization”
Hey anyone remember that one time Jesus himself excommunicated doubting Thomas for doubting the words of other elders? No? Me neither or Abraham for questioning God himself to his face over Soddom and Gommorah? How about Jonah for outright defying gods instructions and heading in the opposite direction, remember how God abandoned him? Or when Gideon doubted gods words and insisted on physical proof or when Abraham and Sarah laughed at gods promise with disbelief? How abaout Habakuk? So on and so forth. The point is these executioners of Gods sheep have everything they deserve coming to them.
Reply
ruthlee says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:24 pm
dearest brother YOU have said it all and in Gods name . It is all in scripture God is not to be mocked. We are awaiting our liberation but not before justice is served.rl
Reply
Khaleesi says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:11 am
I wonder if the GB is realizing that the broadcast has done more harm than good ( for us it’s done more good than harm just confirms doubts of the people they are)…
I concur poor bethalites I mean the WT keeps saying “no to superior education” and even recently with the visiting CO’s talks about “wasting 4 years in a college and then ending up working in McDonalds and not keeping spiritual pursuits first, and you should’ve first started with working at McDonalds making all meetings, service, etc.. and you would’ve not wasted 4 years in a university, hey but you made the meetings and go out in service”…. now I have a defense to say about setting realistic goals for my child that I am paying for him/her to go to a university because I don’t want him to get Laid-off at 40-50 yrs old for pursuing “kingdom interest first”… I don’t understand why JW don’t see the reasoning behind how quickly you are dispersed when you are no longer needed, money always come first…
Reply
Mama Joy says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:15 am
This is a standard in the world of business. If you want to open up and build something new, there is a time period that people will be layer off.
Unfortunately, this is a business masquerading as a religion. For the people who worked for free all those years only to be kicked out for a new building, I’m sorry for them because they truly were a slave.
Reply
Mama Joy says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:16 am
*sp Layed off
Reply
Panhandlegirl says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:39 am
@ Mama Joy,
As I grew up and out of the borg, I realized that, yes, that is what this organization is, a publishing “business masquerading as a religion” and they have stolen so many young lives. I would like nothing more than to see this corporation go down in flames. I do not expect the “religion” to go down anytime soon, but large corporations do go down, let’s hope this is happening to the WTBTS.
Reply
seztholz76 says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:19 am
I am noob to all this but mentally i am out of the BORG.
My concern is those of us who are in physically but out mentally really need to figure out how we can help more people as the BORG crumbles.
I feel sorry for these brothers who gave so much for so long….see yall over at ex jw reddit same name seztholz76
i love you all and hope to help all i can
Reply
TheLordHumongos says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:24 am
I’m actually not surprised by these moves. Warwick by the Lake will be completed, then what use are all of the other branches and HQ’s? Zero. Get everything together in one giant cult compound to save money, then cut off the other money-draining Branches in order to save money. One cult compound, one HQ, one Ark. Makes sense if you are running a Cult real estate corporation. Also, drastic cut-backs on the amount of printed material, with everything being made to be put on the internet. Again, no more worldwide printing facilities needed. They aren’t hurting for money, they are merely being SMART with it. Consolidation. Remember, the accountants and lawyers run the WTBTS, not the GB. Follow the money.
Reply
Sarah says:
September 28, 2015 at 12:30 pm
I agree. This is exciting, and I think they maybe be running out of money also…but are also just a business restructuring the way they operate. Probably any publishing company is feeling the need to cut back on printing in the age of the Internet. The world and the way people get information is changing. I wonder if many of the non bethelite Jws will even think anything of it.
Reply
Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:07 pm
So say’s Thomas Brackenreid 😉
Reply
Dee says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:28 am
Can I just hug you??? I seriously just read that entire thing twice, and I could hear the curtain being rent back, the Great Wizards of Org exposed for who they are…greedy, self aggrandizing men who readily kick aside those who have bowed down and served them. I hope they NEVER move into Walkill, and the pollution problems make it uninhabitable! Thank you Erin Brockovich! Im soooooo excited! Conjecture on, my friend.
Reply
James says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:29 am
“Everything will be accessed online, with Governing Body members addressing their devotees through videos, assuring them that Armageddon is surely just around the corner because Jehovah’s organization is under attack as never before.”
Mark my words, pretty soon (next 15 years) the Watchtower will tell their followers that we are now living in the Great Tribulation. A lot of witnesses will be caught off guard, since the expectation of JWs (especially since the macabre imagery in the Revelation book) is more akin to a Hollywood disaster movie, with intense persecution.
But thinking Witnesses will realize something is wrong when the look outside and realize that nothing is different than before.
Reply
ProphetMoeshe says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:54 am
Exodus 32 – I am reminded that the Bethelites released a “Happy” dancing video last year–dancing about a pagan icon. And, now, Moses has come down from the mountain of the Most High and the wages of dancing are impending layoffs. Perhaps acts of contrition and repentance will lift the disapproving anger of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah?
[distant thunder rumbling and ground shaking]
Who’s sorry now?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ws60MDF7OY
Reply
Rowland Nelken says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:07 am
Great artice and vids, of course, great news about a foul outfit in crisis.
The closing appeal to the Gov. Bod., if those aloof oafs bother to listen, will certainly rankle. I can imagine, however, that after reflection they will put a typically perverse JW spin on the situation.
They love to brag about any outsiders’ complimentary observations on JWdom, whether or not they have spun, edited or otherwise distorted the comments.
They also, however, turn to their advantage public disdain and They can point to all the prophecies about true followers of Jesus getting flak for their commitment in the Last Days. They share this with other End Times Christian sects.
If the exposure of JWdom’s awfulness gets too obvious to ignore then these little Biblical words may come in handy: http://biblehub.com/matthew/10-22.htm
Reply
eyes opened says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:15 am
Perhaps it was the unsuspecting, ever faithful bethelites that are the “faithful and discreet slave”.
Reply
Mel says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:15 am
Is it not likely that the governing body will tell the congregants that the downsize is due to armageddon being imminent?
Reply
Faithful Witness says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:16 am
Are we getting ready to “obey instructions, whether they make sense from a human standpoint or not?”
Reply
Dee says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Oh yes….they’ve been prepping the flock for this for years. It’ll be all about loyalty and “no matter what we throw at you, will you drink the koolaid?”
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:45 pm
@ Faithful Witness . NICE COMMENT & Anticipation of what next to expect from the GB !!
How about BLOW UP Stephen LETTS HEAD!
Reply
ruthlee says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:15 am
I really DID laugh out loud.. Still laughing rl
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Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:43 am
@ruthlee . ITS GOOD to MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH !!! Thanks for your Comment.!
I Wonder if STEPHEN LETT could STILL LAUGH if his HEAD Was BLOWN UP!
STEPHEN Does AMAZING THINGS with his FACE !! … Anything is Possible if you are going to HEAVEN … I Suppose?? … It’s FASCINATING to PONDER these ‘ DEEP SPIRITUAL POINTS ?? .. OHHh Well .
Reply
eyes opened says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:16 am
My smiley face didn’t show up. I was being silly.
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Frank says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:32 am
Don’t be too surprised if there is an increase in applications for/from these uneducated about to be let go Bethel pioneers for welfare, disability and Snap (formerly Food Stamps) benefits. You see, many of these people are unprepared for the outside world as they are told that a higher education in “this current system of things” is unfruitful, unnecessary and above all, a waste of time. This increase in the filing of these applications, especially in New York state, where these events are happening, will be dutifully reported on the news when this happens. The thing is one corner of their mouths, the JW’s, under the guidance of the WTBTS and it’s GB, preach and teach that their followers and would be hopeful followers that they are to have nothing to do with “this current system of things”, but at the same time, these future “laid-off” pioneers will have no choice but to apply for these particular handouts(so to speak). This simply again shows the hypocrisy of this particular religion and the organization, including it’s leadership, the GB, behind it. Thank goodness I dropped out when I did. I wouldn’t want to be in there now with all the negative hullabaloo going on in the borg now. Pathetic and hypocritical indeed.
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Troofily says:
September 28, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Great article! John, I feel this might be fantasizing too much about the end of this wt cult but nevertheless these changes are going to shake things up a bit, especially in developed countries. In less developed countries like African countries many people will be prepared to open they’re mouths wide to ANYTHING!
All this is happening because the GB themselves are deeply brainwashed and they have no idea they are deluded. That is why they keep on doing these things.
Reply
Paul says:
September 28, 2015 at 12:33 pm
You would think that this increasing focus on cutting costs, reducing other projects, just to focus on Warwick would alert a greater number of JWs to what is really going on.
However, I talked with an elder yesterday, and although he admitted that Letts May broadcast had “disturbed him” he still pushed the official line that funds were needed because of the huge expansion taking place worldwide. He cited 5 Kingdom Halls per day being built… Which is at odds with figures that I have seen. I advised him that several sources overseas told me that construction was being halted in many countries. His reply was still that the increases were massive and hence the need for more funds.
From this we can see that the average JW is totally taken in by the false information being sent out by Watchtower via its communications and representatives.
How much longer can they pull the wool over their eyes?
Reply
TommyTom says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:02 pm
“…it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny that something is happening in the bowels of this fiercely proud organization…” This is soooo true. As an “active” witness I can attest to the fact that the older generation of active JW’s in my and many other congregations (and I’m talking about individuals who have been members for at least 30 years and some were elders for many of those years) are feeling that something is wrong… Many say they know something is out of place… something is odd, and although they don’t know what it is (or can’t speak ther minds due to fear of consequences), they all agree that something is happening… It’s like there is a mutual feeling deep inside everyone (counting myself in) that tells something isn’t right but again, I think some DO know that these are signs that Jehovah can’t be guiding this organization contrary to popular belief; however, they know if they show any sign of concern or doubt, they will face consequences. Sadly, I’m trapped as well. Is there anyone who identifies with my observation?
Reply
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← A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries
Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter →
Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
avatar
Posted on September 28, 2015
Is Warwick already becoming a new Mecca prized by the Governing Body above all else?
Is Warwick already becoming a new Mecca prized by the Governing Body above all else?
The Watch Tower Society is continuing to hemorrhage information. Hot on the heels of the leak of the annual meeting announcements, yet more details have emerged hinting at growing resentment among bethelites as downsizing intensifies.
JWsurvey has been contacted again by someone inside bethel who this time confirmed earlier rumors of a letter that was read to bethelites at morning worship last Wednesday warning of substantial changes.
Taken as a whole, a picture is emerging of an organization in crisis, increasingly running out of funds, led by a group of greedy, deluded men obsessed with seeing their Warwick fantasy come to fruition at the expense of everything else – including, perhaps, the health of their volunteer work force.
As with all bethel informants I have promised to strictly guard the anonymity of my source. With the annual meeting leak I was able to reproduce an entire letter, but this informant has asked that I merely convey information in my own words (rather than verbatim) so as to minimize the risk of discovery. What follows will, therefore, be my own wording based on what I have been told.
An incriminating image
Those of you who follow JW.org will be aware that Watchtower has been posting updates on the progress at Warwick in the form of “photo galleries.” The latest gallery covered work from January through April 2015 and came under the heading “Warwick Photo Gallery 3.”
My source brought it to my attention that this page has since been removed from JW.org, which indeed it has – although a Google cached page is still available on this link.
This raises the question, why was this photo gallery removed? The answer is – embarrassment over THIS picture…
diver-warwick-small
The picture seems fairly innocuous at first. Some guy, presumably a brother, is working in the lake – probably putting up nets to stop debris contaminating the lake, or to stop wildlife getting harmed.
But if you scroll down the cached page, the caption sheds more light…
A hired diver in Blue Lake replaces an old valve with a new one. With the push of a button, the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane.
Two things now become apparent. Firstly, this is NOT a brother. It’s a “hired diver” – a so-called “worldly” contractor for Watchtower – presumably being paid handsomely due to the skilled nature of his work and the expensive equipment he’s using.
The second thing to notice is the job he’s doing. This is not an effort at preserving the environment or saving wildlife. The diver is “replacing an old valve with a new one” so that “the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane” with “the push of a button.”
You might be thinking, so what? Why would Watchtower want this image pulled? Basically, it all falls into context once you read on and learn of the reasons for growing disgruntlement among bethelites. They are seeing branches closed, construction work halted, and face lay-offs on an unprecedented scale in the interests of cutting costs, while the Governing Body is lavishing dedicated funds on outside contractors just so they can have their own remote-controlled lake.
Living on borrowed time
The lay-offs rumored to be in the pipeline are official, and will commence from the winter of 2016, conveniently coinciding with the new Warwick headquarters becoming operational.
Certain bethels WILL be shutting down their laundry, kitchen and housekeeping services to cut costs. The total number of those being shown the door is not yet known, but it is expected to be into the thousands.
Not all Brooklyn bethelites will be following Splane, Morris and Co. to Warwick
Not all Brooklyn bethelites will be following Splane, Morris and Co. to Warwick
Hence, as the Governing Body members begin moving into their plush lakeside retreat, many of their “fellow worker” bethelites will be sent packing into the cold of winter – the majority of whom have forsaken higher education to serve the organization.
Many, my source says, are in their 40s and 50s, with nowhere to stay outside bethel, and precious few qualifications or employment prospects. There are fears that this displaced army will place further strain on congregations as frustrated, let-down, childless and homeless former-bethelites struggle to integrate themselves into the less glamorous fringes of Witness life.
There had previously been an unspoken rule that if a brother or sister accrued more than 15 years of bethel service, they were guaranteed to be cared for by Watchtower for life – deep into their old age. But this rule is out of the window, at least for those who will be axed. Despite many years of loyal service, they will have to fend for themselves – turning to the kindness of wealthy non-bethelite brothers and sisters in their new congregations (who they would have once looked down on to some extent for not “putting kingdom interests first”).
Having announced this hammer-blow news that so many bethelites are on borrowed time, the letter concludes by assuring those who will be forced to leave that Jehovah will care for them. According to my new source, the tone of the letter is eerily evocative of the words found at James 2:15-17:
“If a brother or a sister is lacking clothing and enough food for the day, yet one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.”
The financial crisis deepens
The letter announcing the lay-offs was read at morning worship on Wednesday 23rd, not just in the United States, but at bethels all over the world. A similar letter was also sent to those in special pioneer service, and construction servants.
The letter speaks of a need to save money, and specifically mentions the May JW Broadcasting episode in which Stephen Lett admitted a shortfall between income and expenditure. (See below)
This is interesting, because comments made by Sam Herd in the August episode seemed to imply the desired funds had since been received, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that this was not so – at least not to the extent needed.
But rather than admitting these drastic changes are being forced on Watchtower simply due to a lack of money, the letter describes the need to speed up the preaching work as being a factor. Thus, laid-off bethel workers are now expected to enter regular pioneer service soon after being tossed out to fend for themselves.
The argument that these changes are inspired by the need to advance the preaching work soon unravels, however, when you consider that special pioneers are ALSO being laid off by these changes. (Special pioneers were receiving a monthly stipend from the organization in exchange for their extra preaching hours.) And it has not gone unnoticed by bethelites that laying-off special pioneers is not a way of speeding up the preaching work, despite Watchtower’s spin. This is purely about saving money by whatever means possible.
An ivory tower on poisoned land
It is becoming increasingly apparent that, despite recent JW Broadcasting episodes heralding its grand building projects all over the world, Watchtower has now frozen virtually all its building programs worldwide so that it can focus on getting Warwick over the finish line.
The late Guy Pierce admitted doubts over Jehovah's direction concerning Warwick
The late Guy Pierce admitted doubts over Jehovah’s direction concerning Warwick
Warwick will be Watchtower’s new Mecca, and its completion is now the Governing Body’s top priority even as finances dwindle.
Since its inception, the Warwick project has had more than a hint of controversy.
When announcing the plans at the 2011 Annual Meeting, the late Guy Pierce made the frank admission that the Governing Body were “not yet certain of Jehovah’s will regarding Warwick,” but irrespective of this were “proceeding to develop the site with the intention of relocating the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses there.”
Since then the Governing Body has made no secret of its lofty aspirations for their new residence, even telling those who wish to volunteer in its construction that they will be involved in a work akin to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah.
“Similar to the call that Nehemiah made to his fellow Israelites, there is a need to call upon the ‘strengthened hands’ of skilled volunteers to complete the Warwick project,” said one service meeting outline attached to a Watchtower letter dated August 21, 2013.
Have Warwick workers been warned to take precautions against dangerous pollutants?
Have Warwick workers been warned to take precautions against dangerous pollutants?
But far from being an unblemished utopia, ordinary bethelites are aware of a media report that circulated back in June to the effect that the Warwick site was contaminated with dangerous chemicals by its previous owners – International Nickel.
Watchtower never responded to requests for comment by Hema Easley of the Times Herald-Record, but it seems there are concerns at bethel that the Governing Body may have been less-than-transparent with Warwick workers about the contaminated nature of the environment in which they are working.
Easley’s article reports that, according to Watchtower’s suit against International Nickel, the organization knew about the problem as far back as 2012/2013 and have been “cleaning the property under the direction of the DEC.”
But given Watchtower’s own dubious track-record with handling pollution, concerned bethelites would be forgiven for wondering whether the Governing Body have really taken all necessary precautions to stop Warwick workers coming into contact with polychlorinated byphenyls – or PCBs – banned in the United States as probable human carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) as far back as 1979.
Thinking Witnesses would do well to question how the Governing Body could be considered “faithful and discreet” by forging ahead with a project while admitting uncertainty over God’s backing. And if they DID have God’s backing all along, why has Jehovah guided his organization to build its new headquarters despite having a shortage of funds, and on land drenched in potentially life-threatening pollutants?
Another scripture will no doubt come to mind for thinking Witnesses, this time in Luke 14:28…
“For example, who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it?”
Exciting times
We are now entering a fascinating phase in Watchtower’s history. Over the next couple of years we will all have front row seats to a bizarre spectacle – a cult running out of money, but desperately trying to preserve credibility regardless.
Previously Watchtower could at least count on its army of die-hard bethel workers to rally to its side and hold the fort, but even this alliance is not as solid as it once was, as these new leaks demonstrate.
The recently-announced lay-offs are, I am told, destroying trust in the Governing Body’s leadership among those at bethel – as well they should. These brutal measures bring to the fore the increasingly-noticeable greed and narcissism of the Governing Body – a deluded group of men who shamelessly put their own needs and comfort ahead of those who serve them.
Not satisfied with lavish accommodation and all-expenses-paid trips around the world to attend zone visits and receive adulation at international conventions, these men are now pouring everything into their lakeside retirement retreat – complete with infirmary and adjustable lake.
The Warwick headquarters continue to take shape
The Warwick headquarters continues to take shape
Those they have cut loose to help rescue their dream of a potentially cancer-causing cult compound face a more uncertain future. With few prospects, many soon-to-be ex-bethelites will be forced to rely on the already over-stretched resources and generosity of the congregations.
Some ex-Witnesses watching these events unfold remain skeptical that Watchtower truly can be running out of money. Watchtower is, in their minds, too worthy an adversary to ever be vanquished. But I am told my recent speculation regarding possible bankruptcy isn’t that far-fetched. Regardless of how much money an organization may start out with, if income fails to catch up with expenditure consistently year-on-year something will eventually have to give.
And while commercial organizations are usually able to adjust their scope of operations almost on a whim, it is virtually impossible for Watchtower to downsize to a scale corresponding to its income gracefully and seamlessly without people noticing and starting to question its religious claims. In short, the threat of the organization collapsing suddenly under its own weight is very real, and the Governing Body knows it – hence its recent desperate attempts to steady the ship.
This of course does not mean an end to Jehovah’s Witnesses. It simply means that the organization that Jehovah’s Witnesses look to as God’s sole channel with mankind could, in our lifetimes, become a shadow of its former self. And the downsizing has long since started, with Watchtower already well beyond the zenith it reached around 2005 (the last year of full magazine-printing) and 2010, when branch numbers started plummeting.
What lies in store?
The end game is far from certain, but given what we are witnessing, I fully expect Watchtower to eventually be reduced to little more than a cult-compound in upstate New York where dwindling numbers of devout followers flock on occasional pilgrimages for a photo opportunity with their dear leaders.
Nothing will be printed. Everything will be accessed online, with Governing Body members addressing their devotees through videos, assuring them that Armageddon is surely just around the corner because Jehovah’s organization is under attack as never before.
A Scientology Ideal Org in Hamburg
A Scientology Ideal Org in Hamburg
We may live to see the day when Watchtower becomes similar in size and set-up to Scientology, with its 50,000 (or less) followers and a highly-insulated leadership.
There would be no real congregations to speak of, because the vast majority of kingdom halls, having already surrendered their autonomy, would be among the first assets to be sold off. Perhaps a few “ideal orgs” (along the Scientology model) spread out across major city locations might spring up as local focal points for Witness activity. But, as the organization’s woes become more apparent, what were once millions of Witnesses will be reduced to perhaps hundreds of thousands of oblivious, hardcore cult followers who steadfastly refuse to look at objective information on the internet despite the clear evidence that their beloved organization has long since crumbled.
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but now that I’m no longer a Witness I’m allowed to speculate. It may not happen overnight, or to quite that extent. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny that something is happening in the bowels of this fiercely proud organization, and I for one feel privileged to witness it.
new-cedars-signature3
Click here for a Spanish translation
Further reading…
◾Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on Warwick
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing
Related video…
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201 Responses to Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
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1914 ha ha ha says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:03 pm
I dont think the average r&f will care to much. My mum & elder dad both know for a fact all consruction has stopped here in UK. They didnt bat an eyelid. Go figiure.
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ruthlee says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:36 pm
well isnt this a pretty picture! who’s speeding up what at the moment then? Yesterday we had a bro hijack the wt to drum up more funds for the greedy org. We were also informed our KH passed as being in good repair by a new (appointee). I cannot remember the official title of the dude but he goes aroung the Kh’s assessing their state of repair. I’m a bit skeptical I think the assessment is to see how much everything is worth for a quick sale. Is that too cynical? on a side note as some of us have songs in our heads ,mines a little premature here goes. “Ding dong the witch is dead”. ruth lee
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:41 pm
ruthless,
I think you’re on to something there. I would say that would be what the assessor or whatever his title is doing. Watch out for a “for sale” sign out front of your KH!
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JB Reezner says:
September 28, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Either that, or watch out that the ROOF doesn’t fall down on your head! With the GB’s new allergy to spending money, they’re probably wanting to make SURE that none of the Kingdom Halls out there are getting any “unnecessary” repairs, like functioning toilets and lights that come on when you flip the switch.
“ruthless”– That was cute Grace. I don’t know if you meant to do that, but it gave me a chuckle. :)
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Oops! No I didn’t mean that to happen. Damned automatic spelling.
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ruthlee says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:23 am
Dear Grace…. disgraceful!!!!! when we meet up i might just adopt your new handle for me. I just love being an aposty right now the new kind of miracle wheat. (those with long long memories will know my reference). any way ruthless or ruthlee i WILL print my thoughts on this site when allowed of course and all the regulars keep up the sterling work. Thanks Cedars once again you can’t begin to really imagine how valuable your work is and continues to be. ruthlee
Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:41 pm
Ha ha funny you said that because I was tempted to go buy a FOR SALE sign and put it up on the fence during the night… naughty me…
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Haha Tara,
You & I have a similar sense of humour. Make sure it’s one that says “quick sale” or “liquidation sale”.
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Or better still, one that says “Business for sale”.
Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:09 am
Yard Sale springs to mind.
The Swede says:
September 28, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Excellent info Cedar. Can’t wait to see the Watchtower put out of action.
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will says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:13 pm
The society’s emphasis on videos (as per your video) during the meeting is just Watchtower having more control on what’s said. The elders are idiots, so they have to deliver the talks the right way. I remember a number of years ago when we were discouraged from using outside sources for talks. Apparently, the Society’s publications have everything we need. Again, control. Lloyd, thanks for the information!!!
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J*L*C*R says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Down, down, down…in a burning ring of fire! :)
After everything we have all gone through; I know nothing would make me happier than to see this cult crash and burn.
Sing it Johnny Cash!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhWJF35Q81k
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:46 pm
J*L*C*R,
Good one, now I have that song stuck in my head.
I didn’t realise how much I actually dislike this religion for what it has done to so many peoples lives. My mum always taught us not to hate because it rots you inside so I have tried not to hate but every now & then I get these thoughts of absolute disgust in my head & feel a hatred towards the cult.
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J*L*C*R says:
September 28, 2015 at 5:27 pm
@Grace,
Yeah…LOL, sorry about the tune. 😉
As an ex JW I also feel anger towards this religion/cult because of the many years I wasted in it; most of which were my childhood and young adult years.
I try not to let anger and hatred in though, for anyone or anything. In the end, the only person that such feelings hurt are ourselves.
The best thing that any of us can do is live our new lives to the full and in freedom.
Good luck to you.
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Thank you J*L*C*R.
Actually I like that old tune, it was always one every one sang after a hot chilli dinner.
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Tara says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:46 pm
we don’t need no Gov-ning body,
we don’t need no thought control,
no dark sarcasm from the elders,
Jackson ‘leave those kids alone….
Hey Watchtower… leave those kids alone!
All in all your just another brick in the hall.
will says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:21 pm
WOW!! Your closing on the video is powerful. Shunning is shameful. The 1/8/1947 Watchtower blasted the Catholic Church for its excommunication policy, even saying it’s “foreign to Bible teaching.” Fast forward only a few years and they adopt the Church’s policy.
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1914 ha ha ha says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Ruthlee, the gov bodys song must be, rage against the machine, ”killing i in the name of”.I dont know if you know the song,hell you would probably face a jc, just for listening to it.lol.
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ruthlee says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:47 am
sure hell yeh! ima muso, any Warhead anyone? thats directed at you JB Reezer. Sorry all off topic to bring it back.My hammerheaded hubby finally had the penny drop in his dear ol brain He was referring to the broadcast about all the new KHs needed and now all work has stopped He got that dawning moment. Funny really, IM disgusted over Biblical things and doctrinal differences.He is glimmering awake over money. So my thought is that these throwaway bethelites will not wake up unless they are hit in the empty purse. There is no way they would give up that ivory tower lifestyle. Maybe this cull is God’s way of making an escape route out of the tower.One more thing and I have said this again and again and I am not popular MY drop comment is “How is it as soon as you make the little ones pioneer, you steal them away to play with bricks and buckets? I thought the preaching was the most important thing.And we NEVER see them preaching on a Sunday “it’s their day off. Funny that it’s worldly peoples day off too but from a proper job.I can’t count the many hours i do helping the forgotten sisters the widows with no real estate so not courted by the CO.I don’t want to record the damn hours it’s my honour and joy to help our dear abandoned ones who already have been shunned in the nicest possible way.Guess what we sit and read the Bible together just like the good ol days Bible students but of course that would be frowned upon.My conclusion no win no fee cant win with this cult dont care. Any one know The Cult we serve a hollow man waiting for a revolution but i remain your sweet soul sister ruthlee
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sammy says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:41 pm
The translation in french of this pagehttp://www.jehovahforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1013&p=5877#p5877
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Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:46 pm
“Purge” is what I can see in the game the GB has played for now years.
Their irrational teaching gives them opportunities to “purge” the organization where reasoning people leave and the GB ensures it is followed by spiritually traumatized “blind led by the blind”!!
Believe me, such people are found everywhere in the world!!
*** w99 3/1 p. 24 Over 40 Years Under Communist Ban ***
The Watchtower of April 1, 1956, reported that “a great purge” of Jehovah’s Witnesses was carried out on April 1, 7, and 8, 1951. “These are dates unforgettable by Jehovah’s witnesses in Russia,” The Watchtower explained. “On these three days all of Jehovah’s witnesses that could be found in Western Ukraine, White Russia [Belarus], Bessarabia, Moldavia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia—more than seven thousand men and women . . . were loaded in carts, carried to railroad stations and there put in cattle cars and sent far away.”
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J.B. Reezner says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:47 pm
Okay okay Lloyd, I’ll stop saying that they have a fortune, lol! Interestingly though, under your “What lies in store?” section, you state almost EXACTLY what I suspect the ultimate fate of the Org will be– possibly even giving them a little more benefit of the doubt than I do.
Given their substantial worldwide holdings–including every single KH on planet Earth–I simply expect that they will end up with enough bucks in the bank to easily, VERY comfortably sustain a half-dozen or so cult leaders and their efforts to maintain a meager following of either completely brainwashed people, and/or completely brain-DAMAGED people for quite awhile. The dumbing down even further of the main offerings seems to indicate that they’ve already resigned themselves to that eventuality.
Another minor point (since you asked): To say that those who believe the Org is unlikely to go from billions to zero in a few years see the Org as “too worthy an adversary to ever be vanquished” is a little bit creepy. I would say the situation is more of a Brewster’s Millions thing. That is to say, it can be fairly hard to blow a fortune in a short amount of time. If you haven’t seen the picture, I highly recommend it. It’s a documentary featuring R. Pryor, once one of America’s leading financial experts. 😉
Having said all that, I’m not actually presumptuous enough to think you had me in mind at any point during the writing of this excellent article. It just seemed a more fun way to approach this comment. Thanks for all of the new hope-inspiring info!
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Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:
September 28, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I have really failed to understand who is behind this organization! Satan or Jehovah, I can’t tell the difference!
Consider the following:
*** w97 1/1 p. 24 Giving Up Much for Something Greater ***
One day I began to read an article in The Watchtower that described the brutal persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malawi. It told of a 15-year-old girl who was tied to a tree and raped six times because she refused to compromise her faith. Deeply shocked, I dropped the magazine, but I kept thinking about it. I realized that no girl in my church would show that sort of faith. Later that evening, I took up the magazine and read the page again.
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Awake! says:
September 28, 2015 at 3:10 pm
@Tara
Thunderbirds are awesome!!! Of course, the WTBTS are NO Thunderbirds! LOL — Case in point: I recently viewed some Youtube clips of the Australia Royal Commission, and was surprised to learn that Geoffrey Jackson (Mr. “This is our Constitution”) dropped out of high school (at 15, if memory serves) to “pioneer”. So here is a high-school dropout who believes he is qualified to sit on a panel of individuals who believe THEY are qualified to dictate to 8 million other individuals, how to live their lives!!! INTERESTING!!!
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rob says:
September 28, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Consolidate into one compound. Close branches, stop all construction, divest of human capital and then start to sell off properties worldwide. No explanation given and no accountability for these actions. Everyone accepts and follows with no questions asked.
Create urgency, tell everyone that for sure now the end is so close.
Then just sit back and enjoy the cushy life in a cushy resort in upstate New York with lots of money in the bank.
They really have it all figured out.
But God is watching.
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Awake! says:
September 28, 2015 at 3:57 pm
There’s always a bigger fish. lol
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RobertoPerez67 says:
September 28, 2015 at 4:36 pm
They would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for those meddling apostates.
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jacqueline says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Rob, I think it is part of the delusion that God is watching. He does not consider them any different than other similar sects. He never was with them. They don’t really matter to him it is just the witnesses that are affected by them. The other people in the world doesn’t even care. I once thought he will get THEM! but was a fool for not thinking for myself once I got 18. But we can be happy to say we saw it in time and got out. Take Care
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Gameisover says:
September 29, 2015 at 12:46 am
I think God is watching as He does all
cults. sects, religions (and not) worldwide and sees those individuals who honestly want to worship, serve Him in some way, those who would like to believe but are too disappointed with what they see. People are precious to Him.
I am convinced that for those who did and do what they believe is right in the matter of religion, whichever the group, it’s ok.
I don’t want to think that the past 50 years
We’re an utter waste.
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Gameisover says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:48 am
were
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John Plummer says:
September 28, 2015 at 4:29 pm
Lloyd, you are not “getting ahead of yourself” re the demise of the Watchtower Society. I recently had a conversation with a (current) active Witness about the “1914 overlapping generation” and he agreed with me that the Society cannot get away with claiming that someone born a few months before the last person who witnessed the year 1914 passes away, “counts” as part of that overlapping generation. He estimated that Armageddon must come within the next 20 years. When I asked him what he would do if it didn’t come and showed no signs of coming… he shrugged his shoulders and had no answer for me.
My guess is that long before 20 years the game will be up. The G.B. will be bleating that it “misinterpreted” that 2010 overlapping generation “increased light” from Jehovah. But, if they admit they got that light wrong, what about all the other “increased lights”? What about the no-blood “light” revealed in 1945? And if they truly did misinterpret the overlapping generation light, why didn’t Jehovah immediately correct them? According to the Feb 15 2006 Watchtower Jehovah uses that “increased light” to constantly “refine” His people, “organizationally, doctrinally and morally”. How moral would it be of a perfect God to allow His people to continue preaching a lie with regard to the timing of Armageddon?!
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Sheree Stokell says:
September 28, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Good stuff. Interestingly, a Nigerian jw recently lamented on Facebook that work to build halls in Nigeria had been stopped. This dovetails with what your bethel sources have reported.
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Ted says:
September 28, 2015 at 4:49 pm
I can see Warwick with its luxury accommodations.
sports facilities and acreage, as ideal for renting out
to big corporations. For conferences and team building.
Other than that it seems to have little practical purpose.
Just a grandiose scheme, born of vain, pompous, self
Important and deluded minds. I just can’t connect it to
spreading the Gospel, or to Christianity in any way, shape
or form.
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Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:00 am
So it’s the JW version of Vatican City. Where all the wealth of the JW church will be hidden to get them through Armageddon. Or the huge ‘arks’ that are being built to store vast amounts of seeds etc for the coming Apocalypse. Sorry vast amount of faithful minions you have been found wanting and you shall not enter. This wretched hive of scum and villainy built to carry the chosen 7 through into the new world…. and a finger poked out of heaven and a searing blue light was seen to emit from the finger and all that once was Warwick went ‘POOF’. and the finger was raised back unto the heavens and a nose like someone blowing down the barrel of a gun that had just been discharged was heard by all the minions of the earth and there was great rejoicing in the land.
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Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:01 am
or even a noise
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Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 12:13 pm
@Tara . Warwick is Maybe 7 MIDGETS Version of Rutherfords Version of BETH SARIM ??
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Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Oh ya! with more rooms and a Tracy island lake!
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Excelsior! says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:40 am
Tara,
The big difference between the Vatican and Warwick is that the Vatican is a separate country!
I also love your quoting of Obi Wan Kenobi! The WTBTS is a wretched hive of scum and villainy indeed!
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
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1914 ha ha ha says:
September 28, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Ceders, i think the term ”fire sale” comes to mind. ( Im not sure it might be ”fire cell”) If in doubt watch diehard 4.0 This ones for the gb. Yippie ki a, mutha ,better stop there.lol.
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Slave says:
September 28, 2015 at 5:25 pm
I am vey interested in all that has been said so far, and this might have been mentioned already but I believe the reason the Warwick progress photos were pulled was not because of the diver photo but more importantly the pictures of the apartments and the associated caption. Just my opinion but the idea of getting kicked to the curb while the headquarters staff pick their personnel residence out of the beautiful apartments shown might be too much for some bethelites to handle.
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Garrett says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Something for all of us to ponder.
If we appreciate Lloyds hard work ….
Are we making a contribution to him?
I sent in a donation for the first time last week.
It will be the first of many.
Lloyd spends sick amounts of time dealing with all of this stuff. He has a family, bills and a house that never seems to get any further on in progress. Those in Bethel have someone to share insider info with ONLY because Lloyd so selfishly puts himself out there to have a website and deal with all this crap that he would just like to be done with.
Let me make sure we are all givers as well.
I say this as my own reminder as well.
If everyone chips in he won’t have to choose between feeding his family and doing activist work.
Best of wishes to all of you my kin.
One day we will all celebrate the WT downfall together. Heads up. Our deliverance is near.
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Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 7:25 pm
@Garret. REALLY REALLY EXCELLENT COMMENTS You have made!!!
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ScotWm says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:39 pm
JWsurvey is indeed a worthy cause which certainly deserves all contributions it receives. Since its inception in 2011, this site has provided a library of nearly 200 in-depth Watchtower topics.
After providing a long list of negative factors affecting the Watchtower cult, Lloyd provided the following summary:
“Not only is the Society unable to function in the longterm with this state of affairs, they are already experiencing a negative impact as the money starts to dry up. This has resulted in drastic measures being taken to reduce costs, abandon expansion plans, and gather in funds from anywhere they can think of.”
This accurate statement came from Cedar’s blog, posted on April 23, 2012.
I would advise everyone to go back to the beginning and browse through the wealth of information provided by JWsurvey:
http://jwsurvey.org/category/cedars-blog/page/17
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Billy Sugger says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:31 am
Garrett,
I gave him 20p for a lolly when I worked with his Mum and himself in service, he was about 8 or 9 at the time, I’m sure that counts.
OK, OK……I’ll send him another 20p.
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Keith says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:50 am
Money poisons the well.
This is what we do for love of our fellow man.
What we give our lives for in war.
its called self sacrifice.
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Pburford says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:53 am
@Garrett, great point you made. I will start contributing myself.
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Panhandlegirl says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:55 am
@Garrett,
Agree and will do. If/when we benefit from so much effort on Lloyd’s part, we need to fund this benefit
we are receiving.After all, he is not a Bethelite, he has a life,a family,one of us, and needs to be compensated for his work.
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Garret,
So true, I was only thinking that myself the other day. I only have PayPal though. Might have to get a Visa card.
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ScotWm says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:13 pm
I live in California and I used the PayPal option to donate to JWsurvey. This can be found by clicking the DONATE button near the top right side of this page.
I don’t know how PayPal works in other countries. Also, if you buy a prepaid VISA card, you may need to make sure that it can be used worldwide.
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Grace says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Thank you Scot, that was really easy.
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ScotWm says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:41 pm
You are very welcome Grace.
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ScotWm says:
September 28, 2015 at 10:54 pm
You are most welcome Grace.
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Kieren says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:35 pm
A brilliant article Lloyd. You aced this one! Recognition/appreciation also goes to the bethelites who are Disseminating this information from the inside
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1914 ha ha ha says:
September 28, 2015 at 6:55 pm
I still find it hard to believe how these greedy b@$€¶#£$ can throw everyone and there hopes and there halls under bus, after robbing all the kh savings and stand there smileing. You can bet the money grab gets worst.
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ScotWm says:
September 28, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Regarding: “They are seeing branches closed, construction work halted, and face lay-offs on an unprecedented scale in the interests of cutting costs, while the Governing Body is lavishing dedicated funds on outside contractors just so they can have their own remote-controlled lake.”
On the other hand, the Watchtower Governing Body would have cult members believe that their contributions are not being devoted exclusively to construction of the Warwick palace and grounds:
From the JW dot ORG website: “In each congregation, there are boxes clearly labeled “Contributions for the Worldwide Work—Matthew 24:14.” These funds are used in a variety of ways according to the need, including the construction of Kingdom Halls. Such funds are not used to pay salaried executives because Jehovah’s Witnesses have none.”
Perhaps no Watchtower “salaried executives” are being used — just salaried outside contractors.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002362#h=21
Reply
Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:37 am
Haven’t they recently changed the boxes at the back of the halls… I wasn’t paying much attention but I think ‘Local contribution box’ has gone and now it all goes into one with some fancy name. I could be wrong but I’m a woman so probably not 😉
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Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 9:35 am
@Tara .. I think You are RIGHT.. My EYESIGHT isn’t too good these days But I am sure the NEW CONTRIBUTION BOX is Labelled … ‘LUNCH BOX for 7 MIDGETS of BROOKLYN ‘
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Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:05 pm
You funny 😉 The song ‘Charities fine, subscribe to mine’ springs to mine, get out and pick a pocket or two’ springs to mind.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:02 pm
@Tara . Which One is FAGAN?? LETTS or MORRIS or JACKSON !!
Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 5:48 pm
@Pickled Brain
PRICELESS!!! LMAO!!!
But I would add “MENTAL”, as in “7 MENTAL MIDGETS of BROOKLYN”. Still hilarious though.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:00 pm
@Awake . Sorry my friend .. A slip of my MENTAL TONGUE or Should I say MENTAL FINGER??!
Ooohh !! …this is beginning to sound ‘ X’ RATED ??
VinceDamiano says:
September 28, 2015 at 9:36 pm
The WTBTS is doing what it supposed to as a corporation, that is, cutting costs, streamlining, laying off, and optimizing operations in the name of profit. All things point to a corporation and not an organization led by God.
With the bad press on JW’s and notions of cult like activity, the bethelites better think twice about putting the WTBTS on their resume if they want a job in society.
Getting let go is a hard pill to swallow and resentment will run rampant. This will lead to ‘BOSTATES’ that is Bethelites turned apostates (first to coin the phrase). Jw’s will then follow the lead of the bostates.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:29 pm
@Vince.. REALLY LOVE the Terminology ‘BOSTATES’!! .. Brilliant … But you are right !! Young JWs who have SACRIFICED a GOOD EDUCATION to work at BETHEL & SACRIFICED Good Job Prospects only to be THROWN OUT on the SCRAPHEAP & Told to RELY on JEHOVAH will not go down to well Because that is what they did by going to Bethel!
How about CHUCKING the 7 MIDGETS of the GB out of WARWICK to Get a Job & Rely on Jehovah! .. I have seen 7 VACANCIES at our Local MACDONALDS they could Apply for !!
Reply
Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:23 pm
@Pickled Brain
Re: 7 vacancies at McDonalds — I doubt the 7 mental midgets would be qualified! Plus, they could never handle the stress. I’ve seen how some of those McD’s servers and frycooks hustle!!
Reply
Ready 4 to Fade says:
September 28, 2015 at 11:48 pm
I prefer the anti-typical bethelite. 😉
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:54 am
Ready 4 to Fade. Good comment . Wasn’t FRED FRANZ an Anti- Typical Bethelite or Maybe RAY FRANZ?? as they Practically Chucked him out of bethel !!
Reply
enuffsenuff says:
September 29, 2015 at 12:30 am
I haven’t seen the Splane video on the “overlap, and don’t want to, but the issue of the 144 000 is an interesting one. The bible gives no time frame for the selection process other than it began after Christ died and concludes sometime before Armageddon. Meaning that Christ would offer that offer to those that wanted it and met his criteria of that group, until the number was filled. Unlike the WT’s view that it more or less stopped in 1935 is unsupportable.
Which brings us to Math 24:34-35 which says, “this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” He adds that “heaven and earth” would pass away but his words wont. The first question might be is there anything there that says the “generation” is referring to the anointed? Not as far as I can see. It was just humankind in general.
So logically who would comprise that generation? I need to say many on this page if 1914 is the correct time. I think it is, not because of the WT, rather in spite of them, but others will draw their own conclusions.
In the Awake article of April 1988 the WT quotes The New International Dictionary of the New Testament of Theology, (I like it when they quote from external sources, it avoids spin) which discusses the Greek word “genea” (generation)and defines it, Those born at the same time… associated with this is the meaning- the body of ones contemporaries, an age. A Greek English Lexicon of the NT states- “the sum total of those born at the same time, expanded, to include… all those living at a given time generation, contemporaries.
What all that means is all those who were “alive” during the year 1914 whether they were 8 or 80 yrs old or a new born child, comprise that generation.
Thus when I first became a witness in the late sixties the discussion always centred around how old you had to be so that you could understand what was going on around you and so be part of that generation.
Looking back, it was a silly question. The operative word according to the dictionaries above, is, were you “alive” not were you anointed, or did you understand.
Understanding the events was not needed you just had to be alive. A contemporary.
Because the GB have sought to justify their “calling” as anointedin view of the verses mentioned and because of their erroneous/ false view that the generation had to be anointed, they suspended belief in the Master’s words that generation would not pass away and invented the “overlap theory” to explain what they see as a fault in the prophecy. How cynical can they be?
But is there a fault in the prophecy? The reader has to make up their own mind. But if you Google the question “how many people born in 1914 are still alive” you may very well be quite surprised. I checked a few months ago and around the world it is estimated that there is over a million still going. The rate of decline is fast though.
Also I point out the obvious was Christ crowned as king in 1914 since no human saw that and neither were we meant to? It is a personal matter of individual faith. We will all find out one way or the other as to who gets it right, time decides.
While talking about Greek words, I often see the WT refer to, “the great tribulation.” A careful look at a English interlinear of a Greek text shows that the definite article “ho” (in English, the) does not appear in front of the words “great tribulation” in Math 24.
What this means is, that great trib’n is a period of time not an event in time as the WT claims. The reality seems to be that we are having great trib’n now, beginning 1914. If we aren’t try telling some of the Syrian refugees fleeing for their lives that they face a GT somewhere future. They would laugh. What worse things could a Gt do to them than what they already have?
All things being equal I try to keep an open mind and think for myself.
Reply
GEM says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:10 am
I apologise if this comment causes offence to any of our U.S. posters but I have to say it.
Watchtower work and business ethics reflects the American Hire and Fire culture. If you are broken cog in the machinery or surplus to needs…you are disposed of. Time and again I hear stories here in the U.K of men and women who are laid off, redundant, three weeks or so before Christmas so that when the Stock Exchange bell tolls on January 2nd, the Accountants can present a healthy report on Company assets and funds. No feeling for the poor bu**ers who have put their heart and soul into their career and family!
Same applies to American Foreign Policy…as long as the Yankee Dollar is safe… sod the consequences for those in its all invasive path. Makes my blood boil!
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:27 pm
@Gem . You Don’t need to Apologise . I feel the same way . The 7 MIDGETS in their BUSINESS SUITS, FLASH WATCHES & RINGS . .. NOT to MENTION the EXTRAVAGANT LAKESIDE HQ at WARWICK & FANCY PLUSH TV STUDIO & WEBSITE …. ALL COSTING TENs of MILLIONs of DOLLARS !! These 7 PYGMIES are COPYING their IDOL… JUDGE RUTHERFORD & BETH SARIM & FANCY CADILLACs he Drove & Flash Suits he wore!!…. Now Contrast that with JOHN the BAPTIST & what he wore & ate … Simple Food & Clothes & What about Jesus who had nowhere to Lay his head or Apostle Paul who worked as a TENTMAKER so as not to be a Financial BURDEN on the Brothers!! … HMmmmm !!!
Reply
Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 5:54 pm
I’d love to see the gb eat a plate of locusts. lol
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:06 pm
@Awake .. I would LOVE to SEE them EAT a ….’FIELD of LOCUSTS’ !!!
Reply
jake says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:27 am
Waco, sorry Warwick.
Reply
Holy Connoli says:
September 29, 2015 at 2:48 am
I Shared some of the “Secret” information Lloyd gave us about the changes coming to the WT etc with my Pioneer wife who is off to the annual meeting in NYC. She received tickets from the GB and she is so PROUD that she was “chosen” to go. When I told her beforehand what was going to be happening she was stunned! She demanded to know where I received that information so I told her I have a friend at Bethel( Theocratic Warfare! lol) who was sharing information. She said what is his name ?
She wants to KNOW so bad where I find out this info from!
I felt like she wanted to snitch on him/her to the GB connections she has. SO I said ok his name is Steve Hansen ( made up name ) of course she did not believe me. I Said what difference does it make if you know his name or not? She said you should not have that information before it is announced! She is a very delusional JW who believes the WT an GB can do know wrong and everything they do is for the Kingdom etc.
Anyway she is off to WT land and will be in her own Nirvana for a few days. I hope she doesn’t drink the Cool-Aid when they pass it around at the Annual meeting.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:08 pm
@Holy Connoli .. DITTO .. My Wife is like yours!! Show you how the GB DIVIDE FAMILIES !!
Reply
Wanderer says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:00 am
My parents Hall has been sold. They were given talks by The Society showing JWs in Africa meeting in tents & under trees etc. then they were told the proceeds from the sale of their hall would build 10 halls in Africa. Does anyone know if there is a large building program in Africa?
I don’t want to upset my elderly parents, but they keep on saying that once The Society showed them how happy the African brothers are with their new halls how could the congregation say no to selling their hall.
I just feel like they have all been duped, they are an elderly congregation in a working class suburb who all worked and saved very hard to pay off their hall many years ago.
Reply
Giac says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:37 am
@Wanderer: where did this selling occurred?
I am in Scotland, UK and so far we have not heard anythung like this happening. Although I can see it coming if the WTBTS need more funds to pay lost court cases and building project(s). We are indeed living in interesting times for the Org. let’s and wait and see.
Reply
Big Brother says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:48 am
The WTS is a corporation passing off as a religious organisation. That is why after perpetrating advance salvation fraud on us witnesses, and we are now seeing through it, the self-appointed, self-styled FDS aka GB is adopting a corporate business strategy to downsize, and enjoy the booty they fleeced us of with their few cronies.
Reply
Average Joe says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:28 am
Just a quick question to those of you in the know…
Do hurricanes occur frequently in New York state then?
I wonder where the water goes to once the level of the lake has been lowered with their fancy new valve replacement? Hmmm
Reply
Pburford says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:01 am
@Average Joe… I had read this off there site about the new valve, and thought at the time about the mentioned hurricane how odd that was…
Reply
eyes opened says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:18 am
Hi average Joe, hurricanes Irene and Sandy both hit New York. Major flooding especially in the Catskills when Irene hit.
Reply
Joe Smith says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:37 am
Although I come from Africa I was kinda wondering the same thing !
Reply
Pburford says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:04 am
@Lloyd… I like how you compared them to Scientology. I actually had this same thought the other day reading something off your blog….
Reply
keinlezard says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:53 am
Hello,
But picture is always :) … not directly , but always here
http://assets.jw.org/assets/m/ijw16ac/502016504/ijw16ac_id-502016504.art/502016504_univ_gal_20_lg.jpg
Reply
RobertoPerez67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 9:24 am
So, close…Lets see if we can chip a little further into the psychological torture that millions are submitted tohttps://www.change.org/p/launch-an-investigation-to-determine-if-jehovah-s-witnesses-have-a-right-to-use-coercion-forms-of-mental-torture-to-force-its-members-not-to-leave
Reply
RobertoPerez67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 9:30 am
It already has a little over 6,000 signatures and needs 7,000 for an official investigation to begin. Hopeing for something similar to the Australian Rotal Commision here in the states.
Reply
Searcher says:
September 29, 2015 at 9:39 am
I agree with most who are also blogging here. This is typical of a large corporation downsizing, selling off, and then enjoying the profits. The GB and cronies at Brooklyn are basically getting ready for a trade-in and up-grade in living. Of course you have to pump it up and then dump the hapless worker bees. That’s typical of a corporation’s PR before the axe falls.
I really feel for the rank and file of this organization. They are the ones who get it in the end. Just like the underlings of the Pharasees in Jesus’ day; sheered and thrown about.
Reply
Prodigal son says:
September 29, 2015 at 10:31 am
This my assessment of the situation. They need that check for the rest of those properties in Brooklyn real bad so they’re putting all their effort into Warwick. Remember they haven’t moved out of Brooklyn yet. So they haven’t got paid yet for them. Gets call robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Reply
Grace says:
September 29, 2015 at 5:03 pm
That makes sense that they need to rob Peter to pay Paul to try to get the lakeside retirement villa ready to move in to but what gets me is that they spin it to sound like they have to now “urgently preach” to distract everyone from questioning their decisions.
So when they start their grand rebuilding projects again what will they tell everyone about the preaching work being urgent?
They’re just full of stinky gas that’s blowing out of their backsides.
Reply
Ted says:
September 29, 2015 at 10:48 am
Watched the “Shawshank Redemption” last night, and the
scene where the old lag ( con,) paroled after 50 years of
Institutionalisation was unable to deal with life outside.
He ended up hanging himself .
This put me in mind, particularly of long term Bethel servers.
Who after living for many years, in a centrally heated,
every thing provided, and insulated system, are to be thrown
out, without any support, into the real world.
Am I being too dramatic? I don’t think so ! An elderly bro,
gave a talk to a class of elders. He was extolling Bethel life,
then he said, ( with great passion and fervour). “I’d sooner
be DEAD than out there” ( Meaning in the world.)
Suicides? I certainly hope not! but there will be plenty of
problems both practical and emotional. What a reward for
years of free labour. They stand condemned by standards
of human decency, and by the book they claim to follow.
Reply
ruthlee says:
September 29, 2015 at 11:53 am
“By the book they claim to follow”. You did it again Ted! those words sum up what we see before us. They have totally forgotten The Good Book and what it stands for .It is very shameful.Some will be lemmings and casualties others maybe lucky and scooped up by friends and relatives.Is it me or have they really not taken God into account at all? Surely the bethelites have tiny brains that work they cannot all have come from stepford.It’s getting crazy now whilst we wait. Blessings to you and yours ruthlee
Reply
Robert67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Very interesting point Ruthlee. I do recall a few years ago we recieved one of the previously laid off bethelites as a special pioneer at our congregation after having served 20 plus years in his assignment. Well, if you’ve ever seen the movie Jack with Robin Williams you’ll understand the kid in a grown ups body, trying his very best to pretend to be a grown up. He was absolutely clueless as to the actual hurdles witnesses in the real world have to go through in order to survive and put food on the table, keep their homes, manage teenagers. I believe what really changed him was one of the judicial cases that most impacted me. A young boy of 13 years that was baptized in full love of Jehovah and with Bethel in his sights was seduced by a 17 year old relative of witnesses and committed fornication. We had just viewed the video that traveled with the overseer a few weeks prior on how to deal with the situation and damned if senior elders didnt insist on ignoring the kid and his good standing families pleas for mercy in order to just stick to what Jehovah showed he wanted in that video. This bethelite to his credit did state that the whole thing was wrong. He couldn’t understand that these line manager elders were completely incapable of sticking with scripture for any decision. You have no idea the anger I feel at myself for not having told that family what I wanted to say. Like a good pos elder I supported what the majority pushed for. Never again.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 12:08 pm
@Ted . NO I don’t think you are DRAMATIC at all. I Think you are SO RIGHT after being COSSETTED for so long having everything done .., WASHING,IRONING,COOKING, BILLs PAID,NO TAXES, JOB FOR LIFE Until Armageddon??… NO REAL TESTS of FAITH as SURROUNDED by People who Believe the Same Things, Etc …, such a SHELTERED & ARTIFICIAL LIFE… You Mention Possible SUICIDES!….. WELL I Think you could be SO ACCURATE in your Assessment !! … The SHOCK that maybe the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN’might not be SO MAGNIFICENT after all!! & NEW LIGHT might be no better than a LIGHT BULB Hanging from the Ceiling !! VERY SAD for ALL Those WASTED LIVES of what could have been ?
Reply
Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Any Bethelites on this site, tell your friends (the ones you can trust). It will give you at least the psychological bracing you will need if the unthinkable happens and you end up on your a** out in the cold, cold world — Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you’ve been led to believe. But you WILL need new life skills, as well as marketable employment skills. Take advantage of ALL financial resources, including family, friends, and Biff Brother (government), to acquire said marketable skills. Be smart. Plan ahead. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!!!
Reply
Ready 4 to Fade says:
September 29, 2015 at 1:06 pm
When I was a bethelite, a group of us once watched the Shawshank Redemption and were blown away by the similarities.
Reply
James says:
September 29, 2015 at 11:21 am
Sorry if this comment duplicates. I left it yesterday but can’t find it.
I just wanted to throw a prediction out there: eventually, the Watchtower won’t be able to use the “consolidation” or “streamlining” excuse. People will wonder why the Watchtower, who once bragged of their global footprint as evidence of God’s backing, no longer have that global footprint. If they lose significant numbers of members and properties, this is what will happen:
The Governing Body, probably through a video, will address their masses and drop the bombshell that we are, now, in fact, living in the GREAT TRIBULATION!!
This will affect JWs in different ways. Watchtower imagery (especially since the “Revelation” book) has portrayed the Great Tribulation and subsequent Armageddon as a Hollywood-disaster-movie-esque event with intense persecution around every corner, having to meet in secret, etc. Basically like a Holocaust with “true religion” members as the main victims.
So if the GB announces that due to “new light” and the “obvious” signs in the world that we are in the Great Tribulation, thinking Witnesses won’t buy it, hopefully.They’ll look outside and see that things are pretty much the same as they always have been.
Reply
James says:
September 29, 2015 at 11:25 am
And I can’t believe that the JW religion is turning into a video production company posing as a religion, instead of a printing company posing as a religion!
Reply
Marques says:
September 29, 2015 at 2:26 pm
I had to leave class while the ‘flag salute’ happened. I had no holidays as a child. I turned down a lot of great women because they weren’t JWs. I have lost 2 sisters and lots of great friends to the JWs. Its poetic justice to see the GB exposed for all of their spiritual crimes. Maybe now I can read Crisis of Conscience with my mother and laugh…I just went too far!!!!! Good article.
Reply
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← A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries
Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter →
Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
avatar
Posted on September 28, 2015
Is Warwick already becoming a new Mecca prized by the Governing Body above all else?
Is Warwick already becoming a new Mecca prized by the Governing Body above all else?
The Watch Tower Society is continuing to hemorrhage information. Hot on the heels of the leak of the annual meeting announcements, yet more details have emerged hinting at growing resentment among bethelites as downsizing intensifies.
JWsurvey has been contacted again by someone inside bethel who this time confirmed earlier rumors of a letter that was read to bethelites at morning worship last Wednesday warning of substantial changes.
Taken as a whole, a picture is emerging of an organization in crisis, increasingly running out of funds, led by a group of greedy, deluded men obsessed with seeing their Warwick fantasy come to fruition at the expense of everything else – including, perhaps, the health of their volunteer work force.
As with all bethel informants I have promised to strictly guard the anonymity of my source. With the annual meeting leak I was able to reproduce an entire letter, but this informant has asked that I merely convey information in my own words (rather than verbatim) so as to minimize the risk of discovery. What follows will, therefore, be my own wording based on what I have been told.
An incriminating image
Those of you who follow JW.org will be aware that Watchtower has been posting updates on the progress at Warwick in the form of “photo galleries.” The latest gallery covered work from January through April 2015 and came under the heading “Warwick Photo Gallery 3.”
My source brought it to my attention that this page has since been removed from JW.org, which indeed it has – although a Google cached page is still available on this link.
This raises the question, why was this photo gallery removed? The answer is – embarrassment over THIS picture…
diver-warwick-small
The picture seems fairly innocuous at first. Some guy, presumably a brother, is working in the lake – probably putting up nets to stop debris contaminating the lake, or to stop wildlife getting harmed.
But if you scroll down the cached page, the caption sheds more light…
A hired diver in Blue Lake replaces an old valve with a new one. With the push of a button, the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane.
Two things now become apparent. Firstly, this is NOT a brother. It’s a “hired diver” – a so-called “worldly” contractor for Watchtower – presumably being paid handsomely due to the skilled nature of his work and the expensive equipment he’s using.
The second thing to notice is the job he’s doing. This is not an effort at preserving the environment or saving wildlife. The diver is “replacing an old valve with a new one” so that “the level of the lake can now be lowered to prevent flooding in the event of a hurricane” with “the push of a button.”
You might be thinking, so what? Why would Watchtower want this image pulled? Basically, it all falls into context once you read on and learn of the reasons for growing disgruntlement among bethelites. They are seeing branches closed, construction work halted, and face lay-offs on an unprecedented scale in the interests of cutting costs, while the Governing Body is lavishing dedicated funds on outside contractors just so they can have their own remote-controlled lake.
Living on borrowed time
The lay-offs rumored to be in the pipeline are official, and will commence from the winter of 2016, conveniently coinciding with the new Warwick headquarters becoming operational.
Certain bethels WILL be shutting down their laundry, kitchen and housekeeping services to cut costs. The total number of those being shown the door is not yet known, but it is expected to be into the thousands.
Not all Brooklyn bethelites will be following Splane, Morris and Co. to Warwick
Not all Brooklyn bethelites will be following Splane, Morris and Co. to Warwick
Hence, as the Governing Body members begin moving into their plush lakeside retreat, many of their “fellow worker” bethelites will be sent packing into the cold of winter – the majority of whom have forsaken higher education to serve the organization.
Many, my source says, are in their 40s and 50s, with nowhere to stay outside bethel, and precious few qualifications or employment prospects. There are fears that this displaced army will place further strain on congregations as frustrated, let-down, childless and homeless former-bethelites struggle to integrate themselves into the less glamorous fringes of Witness life.
There had previously been an unspoken rule that if a brother or sister accrued more than 15 years of bethel service, they were guaranteed to be cared for by Watchtower for life – deep into their old age. But this rule is out of the window, at least for those who will be axed. Despite many years of loyal service, they will have to fend for themselves – turning to the kindness of wealthy non-bethelite brothers and sisters in their new congregations (who they would have once looked down on to some extent for not “putting kingdom interests first”).
Having announced this hammer-blow news that so many bethelites are on borrowed time, the letter concludes by assuring those who will be forced to leave that Jehovah will care for them. According to my new source, the tone of the letter is eerily evocative of the words found at James 2:15-17:
“If a brother or a sister is lacking clothing and enough food for the day, yet one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.”
The financial crisis deepens
The letter announcing the lay-offs was read at morning worship on Wednesday 23rd, not just in the United States, but at bethels all over the world. A similar letter was also sent to those in special pioneer service, and construction servants.
The letter speaks of a need to save money, and specifically mentions the May JW Broadcasting episode in which Stephen Lett admitted a shortfall between income and expenditure. (See below)
This is interesting, because comments made by Sam Herd in the August episode seemed to imply the desired funds had since been received, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that this was not so – at least not to the extent needed.
But rather than admitting these drastic changes are being forced on Watchtower simply due to a lack of money, the letter describes the need to speed up the preaching work as being a factor. Thus, laid-off bethel workers are now expected to enter regular pioneer service soon after being tossed out to fend for themselves.
The argument that these changes are inspired by the need to advance the preaching work soon unravels, however, when you consider that special pioneers are ALSO being laid off by these changes. (Special pioneers were receiving a monthly stipend from the organization in exchange for their extra preaching hours.) And it has not gone unnoticed by bethelites that laying-off special pioneers is not a way of speeding up the preaching work, despite Watchtower’s spin. This is purely about saving money by whatever means possible.
An ivory tower on poisoned land
It is becoming increasingly apparent that, despite recent JW Broadcasting episodes heralding its grand building projects all over the world, Watchtower has now frozen virtually all its building programs worldwide so that it can focus on getting Warwick over the finish line.
The late Guy Pierce admitted doubts over Jehovah's direction concerning Warwick
The late Guy Pierce admitted doubts over Jehovah’s direction concerning Warwick
Warwick will be Watchtower’s new Mecca, and its completion is now the Governing Body’s top priority even as finances dwindle.
Since its inception, the Warwick project has had more than a hint of controversy.
When announcing the plans at the 2011 Annual Meeting, the late Guy Pierce made the frank admission that the Governing Body were “not yet certain of Jehovah’s will regarding Warwick,” but irrespective of this were “proceeding to develop the site with the intention of relocating the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses there.”
Since then the Governing Body has made no secret of its lofty aspirations for their new residence, even telling those who wish to volunteer in its construction that they will be involved in a work akin to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah.
“Similar to the call that Nehemiah made to his fellow Israelites, there is a need to call upon the ‘strengthened hands’ of skilled volunteers to complete the Warwick project,” said one service meeting outline attached to a Watchtower letter dated August 21, 2013.
Have Warwick workers been warned to take precautions against dangerous pollutants?
Have Warwick workers been warned to take precautions against dangerous pollutants?
But far from being an unblemished utopia, ordinary bethelites are aware of a media report that circulated back in June to the effect that the Warwick site was contaminated with dangerous chemicals by its previous owners – International Nickel.
Watchtower never responded to requests for comment by Hema Easley of the Times Herald-Record, but it seems there are concerns at bethel that the Governing Body may have been less-than-transparent with Warwick workers about the contaminated nature of the environment in which they are working.
Easley’s article reports that, according to Watchtower’s suit against International Nickel, the organization knew about the problem as far back as 2012/2013 and have been “cleaning the property under the direction of the DEC.”
But given Watchtower’s own dubious track-record with handling pollution, concerned bethelites would be forgiven for wondering whether the Governing Body have really taken all necessary precautions to stop Warwick workers coming into contact with polychlorinated byphenyls – or PCBs – banned in the United States as probable human carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) as far back as 1979.
Thinking Witnesses would do well to question how the Governing Body could be considered “faithful and discreet” by forging ahead with a project while admitting uncertainty over God’s backing. And if they DID have God’s backing all along, why has Jehovah guided his organization to build its new headquarters despite having a shortage of funds, and on land drenched in potentially life-threatening pollutants?
Another scripture will no doubt come to mind for thinking Witnesses, this time in Luke 14:28…
“For example, who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it?”
Exciting times
We are now entering a fascinating phase in Watchtower’s history. Over the next couple of years we will all have front row seats to a bizarre spectacle – a cult running out of money, but desperately trying to preserve credibility regardless.
Previously Watchtower could at least count on its army of die-hard bethel workers to rally to its side and hold the fort, but even this alliance is not as solid as it once was, as these new leaks demonstrate.
The recently-announced lay-offs are, I am told, destroying trust in the Governing Body’s leadership among those at bethel – as well they should. These brutal measures bring to the fore the increasingly-noticeable greed and narcissism of the Governing Body – a deluded group of men who shamelessly put their own needs and comfort ahead of those who serve them.
Not satisfied with lavish accommodation and all-expenses-paid trips around the world to attend zone visits and receive adulation at international conventions, these men are now pouring everything into their lakeside retirement retreat – complete with infirmary and adjustable lake.
The Warwick headquarters continue to take shape
The Warwick headquarters continues to take shape
Those they have cut loose to help rescue their dream of a potentially cancer-causing cult compound face a more uncertain future. With few prospects, many soon-to-be ex-bethelites will be forced to rely on the already over-stretched resources and generosity of the congregations.
Some ex-Witnesses watching these events unfold remain skeptical that Watchtower truly can be running out of money. Watchtower is, in their minds, too worthy an adversary to ever be vanquished. But I am told my recent speculation regarding possible bankruptcy isn’t that far-fetched. Regardless of how much money an organization may start out with, if income fails to catch up with expenditure consistently year-on-year something will eventually have to give.
And while commercial organizations are usually able to adjust their scope of operations almost on a whim, it is virtually impossible for Watchtower to downsize to a scale corresponding to its income gracefully and seamlessly without people noticing and starting to question its religious claims. In short, the threat of the organization collapsing suddenly under its own weight is very real, and the Governing Body knows it – hence its recent desperate attempts to steady the ship.
This of course does not mean an end to Jehovah’s Witnesses. It simply means that the organization that Jehovah’s Witnesses look to as God’s sole channel with mankind could, in our lifetimes, become a shadow of its former self. And the downsizing has long since started, with Watchtower already well beyond the zenith it reached around 2005 (the last year of full magazine-printing) and 2010, when branch numbers started plummeting.
What lies in store?
The end game is far from certain, but given what we are witnessing, I fully expect Watchtower to eventually be reduced to little more than a cult-compound in upstate New York where dwindling numbers of devout followers flock on occasional pilgrimages for a photo opportunity with their dear leaders.
Nothing will be printed. Everything will be accessed online, with Governing Body members addressing their devotees through videos, assuring them that Armageddon is surely just around the corner because Jehovah’s organization is under attack as never before.
A Scientology Ideal Org in Hamburg
A Scientology Ideal Org in Hamburg
We may live to see the day when Watchtower becomes similar in size and set-up to Scientology, with its 50,000 (or less) followers and a highly-insulated leadership.
There would be no real congregations to speak of, because the vast majority of kingdom halls, having already surrendered their autonomy, would be among the first assets to be sold off. Perhaps a few “ideal orgs” (along the Scientology model) spread out across major city locations might spring up as local focal points for Witness activity. But, as the organization’s woes become more apparent, what were once millions of Witnesses will be reduced to perhaps hundreds of thousands of oblivious, hardcore cult followers who steadfastly refuse to look at objective information on the internet despite the clear evidence that their beloved organization has long since crumbled.
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but now that I’m no longer a Witness I’m allowed to speculate. It may not happen overnight, or to quite that extent. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny that something is happening in the bowels of this fiercely proud organization, and I for one feel privileged to witness it.
new-cedars-signature3
Click here for a Spanish translation
Further reading…
◾Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on Warwick
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing
Related video…
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← A new low? Jehovah’s Witness counts time by mailing grieving families via the obituaries
Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter →
201 Responses to Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
← Older Comments
Bearwoody says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:04 pm
So will Tony 3 be doing his own laundry and cooking? My guess is that Mrs. 3 will be down at the shore slapping those clothes against the polluted rocks, and figuring out how to use the microwave. Hints: When it’s time for the final rinse, just pull that “Raise the water” switch, and don’t put any metal in that oven!
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:51 am
@Bearwoody . I REALLY LIKE your FORWARD ‘VISION’ …Perhaps I can add to it … I hear the Warwick site is Contaminated with TOXIC METALS such as MERCURY !! I hear Mercury can DAMAGE BRAIN CELLS??? … Hmmmm….. Can TONY 3 get any more Damaged Brain Cells ???… HARD to IMAGINE!!!!
Reply
Jason says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:49 am
I don’t understand your use of capital letters. “HARD to IMAGINE!” Like no one speaks that way. Scream ‘hard,’ whisper ‘to,’ and yell ‘imagine.”
Reply
Outlookingin says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Have you not worked out PB’s cleverly hidden messages within those capitalised words? Take all the capitalised words, take the second letter from each of them, read it all backwards…no, I can’t work it out either, though I will admit I’ve tried really hard! I had a bit of a meltdown when JB Reezner dipped his toe in the style!
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:51 pm
@Outlookingin .., AH I am GLAD my GOOD FRIEND … JB Reezner got a MENTION !!
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:49 pm
@Jason . PARDON !…., I must THANK MY STYLE of COMMENTING to my ExCeLLent ThEOCRATIC SCHOOL OVERSEER !! Praise the LORD!!
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:14 pm
@Jason . YoU SaY NO-one SpEaKs LiKe WhAt??
Meredith J says:
October 2, 2015 at 2:03 am
Ha ha, you blokes always make me laugh.
Judy Leith says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:40 pm
It is sad they are casting off the older ones who gave their youth are are all spent. They are no different from the Catholic.
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 2, 2015 at 2:06 am
No, Judy Leith. The Catholics look after their nuns and priests when they are too old to be of any service. The Watchtower is a lot worse. It’s now become “Thanks for all you’ve done. See ya later.”
Reply
Roxanne Temple says:
September 29, 2015 at 11:30 pm
It will occur “overnight” so to speak, and it will be WORSE than you expect.
That’s my speculation, you are being too kind.
Reply
M. Rhodes says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:49 am
Just think of all the money JW ORG could save if members were told to just use the Bible. There would be no need for compounds, no need for expensive building projects and a publishing empire. And all those donations could go to actually help people.
But, we all know, that scenario would do nothing to support the leaders who don’t have to work at an outside job for a living, nor earn their daily bread.
How far have they strayed from the simple method laid out in the Bible.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:42 pm
@M Rhodes. SUCCINCTLY PUT My Friend & Never a TRUER WORD SPOKEN !!
Reply
Giac says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:39 am
On that point, I’d like to add that for certainty there are several Bethelites (I slaved there for 5 years in Rome during the mid 80’s) who enter Bethel as spiritual men and leave dead (after commiting suicide), utter disgusted about the Org (witnessing class disticntion and hipocrisy) or stay there as long as thay manage to avoid becoming homelss. i feel sorry for some of them and honestly I feel it is not the right place for several young ones. The GB are far removed form reality and although I am in the Org, because I feel there are no other churches which are closer to Bible teachings than JWs, I am sad to see how many adore the GB instead of looking at Jesus and Jehovah primarily for the Bible and its message which ultimately is true!
Reply
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:15 am
@Giac .. I Find that VERY SAD that you know of 5 Former BETHELITES who Committed SUICIDE!! ..you seem a CARING & KIND Person.. I would like you to Read MARK 9v.38-40 & you will see we DON’T NEED an ORGANISATION to be a CHRISTIAN
Reply
df. says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Another outside contractor http://www.hudsondesign.pro/ left hand column, third from the bottom….
Reply
Elwin says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:09 pm
Thank you for the continuing information Cedar.
What would we do without you.
You’re right, this could collapse sudden. Maybe a charity status reversal/tax backlog, pedo verdict/compensatory damages and the uncertainty of Jehovah’s support will be clear for all to see. “I never knew you!” (Mat. 6&7)
BTW, the link to the photo gallery is inoperable.
But it’s still here with original commentary:https://picasaweb.google.com/110145248941734623281/WarwickConstructionProgressNewWatchtowerWorldHeadquarters?authkey=GDnRrEF74xM
(or search on: “jehovahs-witnesses/activities/construction/warwick-photo-gallery-january-april-2015”)
Reply
df. says:
October 1, 2015 at 10:56 am
http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Jehovah-s-Witnesses-deny-rumours-UK-headquarters/story-27899763-detail/story.html
Reply
peely says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:18 pm
“Not satisfied with lavish accommodation and all-expenses-paid trips around the world to attend zone visits and receive adulation at international conventions, these men are now pouring everything into their lakeside retirement retreat – complete with infirmary and adjustable lake.”
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,
his upper rooms by injustice,
making his own people work for nothing,
not paying them for their labor.
14 He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace
with spacious upper rooms.’
So he makes large windows in it,
panels it with cedar
and decorates it in red.
15 “Does it make you a king
to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
He did what was right and just,
so all went well with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?”
declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
are set only on dishonest gain,
on shedding innocent blood
and on oppression and extortion.” Jer 22:13-17
Reply
ruthlee says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Wow the Bible speaks so plainly. Thankyou so much peely. This so made my day ruthlee
Reply
Robertoperez67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Excellent application
Reply
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← Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
avatar
Posted on September 29, 2015
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
On Thursday, September 24, JWsurvey reproduced a Watchtower letter that had been leaked by a bethel insider. Dated October 4, 2015, the letter advised (or WILL advise) congregations of the announcements that are to be made at Saturday’s annual meeting.
The most dramatic announcement was arguably the scrapping of the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School in favor of a session of preaching presentations.
Another eyebrow-raiser was the news that magazine printing is being further reduced, with public editions of the Watchtower and Awake! to be printed once every two months from January onward.
Within 48 hours of the letter being leaked, this website received nearly 23,000 visits. Interest in the letter was substantial, and the contents were mulled over by the ex-Jehovah’s Witness community in various corners of social media.
Unsurprisingly, given the sensitive nature of the letter, some suggested it might be a hoax. I even briefly pondered myself whether I might be on the receiving end of an extremely elaborate prank designed to undermine this website’s credibility.
But any doubts as to the letter’s authenticity were put to bed today when JWsurvey’s webmaster, John Hoyle, received an email from our hosting company notifying us of an email from Watchtower’s legal department. Apparently, as was the case with the notorious October 1st 2012 child abuse letter, Watchtower’s lawyers consider the leaked letter copyrighted material, and have demanded it be taken down from our pages.
Our web hosting company, seeking to have the matter resolved quickly, advised us of two options: (1) to take the disputed material down, or (2) to issue a counter notification. Since the letter is now freely available elsewhere online, and our work in disseminating it is now effectively done, we have no interest in becoming embroiled in a legal scrap with Watchtower over whether the letter should be on our pages or not.
If anything I am grateful to Watchtower, and specifically its legal department, for once more shooting themselves in the foot so spectacularly. We had a similar situation only 9 months ago regarding Tony Morris and his tight pants fixation, and it seems lessons have not been learned.
By issuing a DMCA complaint, Watchtower has decisively claimed authorship of the letter. And by forcing us to take it down they have demonstrated that (1) they are embarrassed, and (2) they are completely clueless as to how the internet works. Once information is distributed on such a scale it cannot be undistributed.
The whole debacle is yet further proof that Watchtower, like any cult, is struggling to come to terms with the information age. The Governing Body and their men in suits assume the internet can be brought to heel, and that everyone who runs a JW-related website will play by their rules.
But even workers within bethel walls are starting to wake up and find their voice. With each fresh leak the Governing Body’s grip on power is slipping, and with each attempted cover-up there is further proof that this hapless organization is far from the worthy adversary many would assume.
new-cedars-signature3
For obvious reasons the letter in question is no longer available on these pages, but I am confident a copy can easily be traced with some persistent searching on Google. The Reddit Ex-JW community would also be a useful place to look.
Further reading…
◾Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
◾Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on Warwick
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing
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← Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
319 Responses to Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
Newer Comments →
bobow says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Good Job, John,
again thanks to you and also to your source of information.
wishing all the best
B.
Reply
Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Oh this is priceless. The smirk on your face Lloyd says it all :) I hope you have a wonderful sleep this evening. Love from Canada.
Reply
ForestDaughter says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:18 pm
It’s wonderful isn’t it. How nice it is to feel good and positive about the things that are happening to/with the org, rather than angry at the things that the org are continuing to do. I think I might manage to resist saying muwahahahaha. Oh blimey, I just said it! 😉
Reply
Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:23 pm
tisk tisk ROFLMAO…. sorry how did that go Muwhahahahahah.. forgive me an evil titter.
Reply
James Kingstone says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Brilliant news. The fact that their actions confirmed the leak as true is a delightful double-whammy! I wish it were possible to legally request back some of my major donations (with accruing interest of course) as a person who was ‘tricked’. Like PPI claims against banks… anyone know a good solicitor? as Tesco says, ‘Every little helps’…
Reply
Garrett says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:01 pm
I guess I’m just blown away that these lawyers and GB can think that they have some heavenly or earthly reward waiting for them for sweeping the truth under the rug, threatening those who are honest and supporting a cult who has predicted the end of the world more times than any cult , religion or sect in the history of mankind . What is your end game lawyers and GB??????? Everyone knows you are a joke and a farce. Just hanging on to a retirement ? What pathetic creatures you are all in Brooklyn.
Reply
Meredith J says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:08 am
Apparently, these lawyers have been making these threats for years from what I remember reading. They succeeded in taking websites down as Watchtower was almighty, or so it thought. Great work for uncovering this pitiful move by them. This decision will be of great disappointment to many who thrive on the school for ideas and encouragement. The truth has to come out.
Reply
Veaney Arteaga says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Can you publish the 2 lawyers letter?
Reply
Cedars says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:13 pm
If a letter can be copyrighted, then an email can be copyrighted too – but I have shown the pertinent part in the video. :)
Reply
Miker Tower says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Well I translated it to Spanish!
So now our dear bros in Spain…and from Canada to Antarctica can read it as well.
Reply
Chiafade says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:14 pm
What’s the point? The letter is going to be released in a few days anyway. It’s not like the letter will suddenly disappear just because they demand you take it down.
Reply
ForestDaughter says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:30 pm
I think it’s due to their arrogance and the erroneous belief that they have the power to control. They don’t understand what it means to have self determination and think the world should cede to them. Such delusions of grandeur.
Reply
Pj wilcox says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Great post
Thanks so much for your diligent work at exposing these taliban JWs
Reply
Liette says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Thanks you for the update, I notice the letter was gone and I was wondering why( maybe iit was a hoax all along) . Now we know it’s for real…
Reply
Pburford says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Thanks for all you do… I just dont understand what all the hoopla is all about, when they will be announcing it in a few days anyway… So much drama…
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Garrett says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:36 pm
The “Hoopla” is that they have defectors in their own ranks at the highest levels. The “Hoopla” is that the organization is falling and like a fruit tree that is dying is only putting out token buds. The “Hoopla” is that they can’t whisper in quiet back rooms and plot and scheme anymore . We see and hear all they do.
We will watch them crumble close up and in real time.
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R1madbrit says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:33 pm
First time I visited JW.ORG (the rebranding to get rid of Jehovah’s name) and this shameless guilt-tripping of children to beg for money is being pumped into my grandkids??? So where is the Jehovah will provide lies from my youth?
http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/be-generous/
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Garrett says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Great point R1…. Lesson 19- “Be Generous”
Give the Governing Body Hell !!!!
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:03 am
@R1madbrit. GOOD NAME you have got … WE ALL FEEL MAD at being DUPED!! I presume you are from UK like myself ,& YES when an Organisation starts BEGGING for MONEY from CHILDRENs ICE CREAM MONEY & SHOWING TEENAGERS DONATING with CREDIT CARDS on their Website especially when the GB have condemned this type of Begging from other Religious Organisations ,it is SO HYPOCRITICAL & SICKENING !!!
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Samuel Clemente says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Just pause and think for one moment: can you picture Jesus Christ and his apostles wanting his disciples to build an extravagant, luxurious and ostentatious palace so they can have all the comforts and pleasure of life? I think not. He rather instructed his disciples to feed the hungry, to look after the orphans and widows after their affliction.
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:37 am
@Samuel .. Excellent Comment ..You Nailed it in one small sentence basically ‘IS THIS the WAY Jesus Would Behave ?? … NO
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R1madbrit says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:44 pm
Dear Garrett, not long to go and they can all retire to our lovely England. One assumes to escape some forms of legal punishment they see looming. Or just to actually see some beautiful pubs? Or is it because the Brits donate the most to charities? Money-grubbing, evangelical swindlers don’t last too long here.
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jeff canning says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:44 pm
good stuff, keep it up….
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liette says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:46 pm
The way I see it, its like the kids in my pre- k class ,if one has the task of putting the class lights on, and another child beats him to it he/she will get upset and at times have a meltdown. Now Lloyd best them to it and ruin their moment. I think these over grown toddles need a permanent time-out.
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R1madbrit says:
September 29, 2015 at 4:59 pm
I’d like to see some UK journalists probe a little into why a massive US corporation would MOVE to England as opposed to simply having a branch here. Somehow Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Warwickshire just doesn’t work too well. And how do these yanks get permission to live and work here? One needs a UK passport! Somats dodgy I say!
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Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:21 pm
They betray their own contentious nature by subconsciously picking a place that begins with the word “War”.
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Average Joe says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:06 am
Actually @AWAKE that place name is like many in the USA, borrowed from other countries. Warwick is a town in the UK (with a nice castle too) and actually pronounced Warrick (the UK town I mean). Fact of the day!
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Outlookingin says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:58 am
Phonetic pronunciation of the UK town with the beautiful castle is Worrick. The ‘o’ should sound as it does in ‘orange’. Oh…the English language!!
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Paul says:
September 29, 2015 at 5:09 pm
God, they’re stupid.
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TommyTom says:
September 29, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Wow… The GB has got to be so bothered and disturbed to the point of asserting that Satan has infiltrated a mole deep in the organization… it’s comical just thinking what is going thru their minds. I wonder how they will handle their suspicions now that they know there is a high ranking bethelite with “apostate” connections within their confines… They will certainly keep a VERY close eye on any “suspicious” activity. Cedars, whoever your informant is, he/she must be very careful when conveying these letters to you and you must try not to write these word by word. The GB may issue letters to different people and/or departments with slight but deliberate changes that may be traced back to your informant and compromise him/her. Keep up the great work but try to minimize any exposure that your informants may have.
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SDL says:
September 29, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Someone I told about the letter said “looks like they’re losing attendees, and don’t want to admit it, if they have to keep cutting meetings”.
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Grace says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:08 pm
I personally think that this new “theocratic school arrangement” or whatever it is, is just the same cake with different ingredients, a distraction to keep people from walking.
The Royal Commission & many news outlets have put the Society out for the public to see & the public are possibly asking the R&F hard questions which hopefully is making them question things themselves.
If they change things up a little it gives the R&F something else to talk about while they frantically try to keep the ship from sinking.
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Garrett Reinhardt says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Grace Hardenburgh?
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Chiafade says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:40 pm
That’s the way I see it. “Everything is fine look at what we have over there on the buffet table!” Then everyone gets all excited about the “new” changes and starts saying things like “how exciting! A meeting with more emphasis on how to preach! And we even get a model video on how to do it right because we suck at it! The slave is really getting us ready for the end”.
If someone even attempts to say something that is perceived as negative it will be quickly dismissed. One thing not to minimize though is the guaranteed gb rants that will be front and center of this annual meeting to remind us of just how controlling and nutty they can get.
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Meredith J says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:15 am
Rearranging, yeah rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. That was their own illustration about Christendom. It appears like many things, they were talking about themselves.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:15 am
@Grace .Exactly my thinking.! .. DISTRACTION is the NAME of the GAME in the GB EYES to keep the R&F talking about New Things Rather than focusing on the Negative Publicity . POLITICIANS do it ALL the TIME !!
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M. Rhodes says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:10 pm
These deluded men have been so used to wielding iron-clad authority, they must be panicking to see it slipping away.
If they weren’t afraid of the information at this site, they wouldn’t bother to respond. We all know they are in a financial crises and to chase after stuff like this only happens when they do not consider it “small fry.”
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R1madbrit says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Does anyone else think that Stephen Letts speaking style is closer to Pinocchio than any human? His exaggerated mouth, eyes and hand movements are choreographed to such a puppet-like suspiciously ‘kind/gentle/reasonable/honest’ degree that it borders on the absurd! Ultra suspicious if you ask me.
Irritating at the least. If I had to listen to him give a full 45 minute talk I’d set fire to my hair and chew tinfoil…
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Bearwoody says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:17 pm
It was easy enough to quit the UN. It’s a bit more difficult to quit the internet. It’s a shame they can’t disfellowship the internet, since it was never baptized. I suppose the most they could hope for is an e-mail of disassociation. Hey, here’s an idea: Maybe they could downsize from JW.org to a mere Twitter account.
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Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:27 pm
More like a “twit” account.
I’d love to see a gb try to baptize a computer, and see what happens — ZAPPPPP!!! lol
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Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:35 pm
With so many faders and doubters, etc., in the Truth Cult, one must wonder, Since the individual stones are already crumbling, how much longer can the Watchtower stand???
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Richard says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:39 pm
The Watchtower is so profoundly stupid it’s hilarious. If the movie “The Happening” became an organization, it would be called The Watchtower.
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Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:45 pm
On a somewhat humorous note, I’ve been ploughing through Season 5 of “The Walking Dead” on Netflix, and I keep expecting to see one of the zombies pushing a “witnessing cart”. My apologies, but it would seem SO appropriate.
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RobertoPerez67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 6:58 pm
Lloyd, is there some way you can set up a form of LLC for jwsurvey? Maybe this way you wouldn’t have to worry about the societies legal whining as much. Perhaps setting it up as an educational or investigative journal.
Really happy the letter was confirmed.
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Prodigal son says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:09 pm
It seems to me that this site is renting some space in the GBs head.
So if the R&F can’t look at these sites. Why can they? It’s so hard for me to understand why JWs can’t see though this farce. My hypocrisy only goes so far the organization has no limits.
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RobertoPerez67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:25 pm
In my time as an elder, and it might just be me who was looking out for this, but I noticed that the absolute majority were clueless as to life in general and just happy to have others do their thinking for them. Scripturaly, monetarily, matrimony, kids, jobs, I was approached regularly as to which of two roads to take on every sort of matter. The society gives a step by step blue print a la 1984, on every aspect of life. These individuals are completely blind to the hipocracy, so long as the food (life instructions) keep coming.
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Chiafade says:
September 29, 2015 at 10:05 pm
The CO wants to stay in my house is that OK?
I’m getting a pet snake/lizard fish is there anything wrong with that?
I want to see this movie do you think that’s wrong?
Is this song OK to listen to?
I like rare steaks do I need to change that?
I bought a new ring is that materialistic?
All questions that have been asked before. No you are not the only one. What’s happened is the culture created by JWs has reverted adults into a child like state where they can’t make a decision without verifying whether they are “scripturally free to do so”. Instead of thinking for themselves they ask for permission first.
The gb likes to say that they don’t tell people what to do and that it’s a conscience matter but the reality is quite different. When someone makes an independent decision its ” you should have asked us for direction”.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:31 am
@Chifade. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT SYNOPSIS of What it is Like to be an ADULT JW ….. CHILDLIKE !!!
I remember the questioning of many JWs back in the 1970s about whether we could eat ….. RED SMARTIES!!! Why? Because the Colouring contained BEETLES BLOOD!!’
BUT Now it’s OK because it is only a FRACTION !!! Some younger JWs may be Laughing & thinking I am Joking , but Ask @ Ted or any of the Older JWs & they will tell you This is TRUE!!! … ABSOLUTELY FARCICAL !! How Could we ALL FALL for this UTTER CLAPTRAP ???
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ruthlee says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:55 am
You remember that! We had a thing about white chocolate too. My mum wrote to the choc company to confirm yah or nay.In retrospect we were socially shunned from that time because mum thought for herself. I really should write the book.You will need wee pads ha ha ha (sorry thats a bit off colour) I’m off for breakfast umm white chocolate with smartie sprinkles followed by an oxo bovril mix.rl
Garrett Reinhardt says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Yes yes yes, great job Cedars! I cannot think of much that could top this, other than the Borg loosing their Non-profit status.
The action taken by the Watchtower clearly identifies guilt and paranoia!
Sunday shall be Super Bowl Sunday to us EX JW’s; more importantly may it wake more active JW’s that are just starting to think!
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PinkUnicorn says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:20 pm
ROFL!!!
Excellent work Mr. Cedars. The WT is indeed clueless. They have no idea how the mighty Ex-Dub Army has risen up to defeat their phony Jah. Thanks to higher education, thousands are at the ready to continue our relentless attack on the underfunded, dopey WT.
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Marilyn White says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:20 pm
I am so happy to live to see The Watchtower Publishing Organization finally being exposed for the controlling, destructive cult that they are. The damage they have done to millions of families is atrocious and criminal. I am more than halfway through my Criminal Psychology and Criminal Behaviour Program. My lowest grade is 96. I never knew what I was capable of after having my childhood robbed and being brainwashed into believing I was nothing and being taught very little real life skills. I will be 50 in October and I can honestly say it’s never too late! Don’t ever give up. I have ongoing treatment with a psychologist to help me try to reverse the damage of the lies told to me daily for most of my childhood. My father shunned me for over 20 years because of the JW cult. He was DF when he overdosed alone in a room he was renting because his second wife had divorced him and he was DF. But I didn’t know anything about him as he had cut himself off. My husband met him for the first time lying all bloated on a gurney at the back room of a local funeral home. There was to be no viewing, no service, nothing. A quick cremation followed by a 5 minute mention at their regular meeting. I did not attend but I was told it was briefly announced in the basement meeting room. I’m surprised the did anything because he was DF. Maybe they were hoping to recruit one of his 9 siblings. I believe he committed suicide. He had made previous attempts, always calling me to come to him. His ex-wife kept his 1961acoustic guitar in spite of our request for it. She has since remarried. Where is the justice for my father and his family?
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RobertoPerez67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Your father is guilty of commiting a mistake while not being related to an elder or other member of the society who’s reputation or effectiveness as a line manager could be affected by his shunning. Please see a show called Borgias to learn more about the princes in the society. The shepherding the flock book(elders manual free pdf online) clearly lets them know to factor in the privilege circle jerk when making a judicial decision.
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Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Oh Marilyn I am so sorry. What a terrible series of events for you. I take my hat off to you also because you have take charge of your own life. My ex, non witness husband abandoned me in my now adoptive country with our older children. I had a breakdown and I do not recall one elder visiting me whilst I was hopitalised. My ex remarried but I never have for three reasons I guess. 1) I was told I could only marry another witness. 2) I was counseled when my childhood sweetheart found me and then backed off because of the witnesses 3) my ex abused me and I am terrified of being with anyone else. I am also semi shunned due in part to an incident involving my daughter who was df’d for her actions. My son has been df’d for at least 5 years now but during this time I have secretly kept good contact with them. I have nothing to thank the WT for. Even my friends are ‘conditional’ friends except for a few dissident ones who have watched out for me.
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RobertoPerez67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:13 pm
@Marylin and Tara I really feel for you and the hurt these cult leaders have submitted your families to. With an average of 1% of witnesses dissfelowshiped every year, that now works out to 80,000 “sinners”,plus their family members going through extreme psychological mental and emotional abuse. A great chunk of these will never return, but go on living with the mental guilt programming these criminals subjected them to. Please be active in helping others come to know that the whole thing was fabricated by false wealth seeking prophets. Please study the real jw truth that is out there and most of all live life to its fullest, knowing that God, the real God, loves unconditionally and he wishes to save those that love him, not damn them everytime they make a mistake.
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Tara says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:43 pm
Everyday for the past two years I have gone through scenario after scenario in my head as to what I would say or do if I was dragged into their star chamber… I decided I would say thank you but no. JJ on jwstruggle helped me with that one. My son has encouraged me in a profound way to start my escape but it’s not that easy is it. Angus Stewart called them a captive religion or something like that. He was right. Even when you leave they still hold onto a part of you and they squeeze it every now and then just to let you know they are there.
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:05 am
Squeeze back.
Meredith J says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:25 am
Marilyn, that is a tragic story. No wonder you are getting professional help knowing what happened to your Dad. I hope you keep healing and you deal with all your fears as you grow in confidence of yourself. You are doing so well.
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Faded says:
September 29, 2015 at 7:52 pm
OMG! Hilarious. They’re just such (delusional) legends in their own minds. Ugh. Good work as usual, Lloyd.
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Awake! says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:04 pm
@Pickled Brain
Re: 7 vacancies at McDonalds — I doubt the 7 mental midgets of the gb would be qualified! Plus, they could never handle the stress. I think we’ve all seen those McD’s servers and frycooks hustle!!
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Pickled brain says:
September 29, 2015 at 10:27 pm
@Awake . THANK YOU for Referring to the NEW THEOCRATIC TERMINOLOGY & Adding to it….. 7 MENTAL MIDGETS of BROOKLYN !!!
You are right they probably couldn’t handle the stress of MacDonalds!!!
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:53 am
Glad to be of service…
😉
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Ken says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:23 pm
JWs are probably wondering what’s going on ? I kinda worried about the ” org ” . I for one know that if the ship sinks so does the people . Remember the Titanic hitting the iceberg ? The few who had life boats got out and survived precariously . In the last few years the Watchtower’s actions have only demonstrated that some kind of takeover is going on . I see mismanagement , and hasty decision making . I guess you think I’m showing sympathy, maybe but I fear the worse . I have see and wait.
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RobertoPerez67 says:
September 29, 2015 at 8:33 pm
I believe Luther ( the badass apostate, not the chief inspector) said it best
Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. ‘The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And HE (the gb and all their bubble boys) who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared’ (Luther).
These cowards push things on all of us living in the real world that none of them are willing to do. The word of God and in Jesus words condemns them Luke 11:46
Then he said: “Woe also to you who are versed in the Law, because you load men down with loads hard to carry, but you yourselves do not touch the loads with one of your fingers!
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:49 am
SPOT ON!!!
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Ziran says:
September 29, 2015 at 9:05 pm
When I first read your news about this letter, I thought it sounded like misinformation to discredit you too. My very next thought was “We’ll know in a few days, because Watchtower will issue a takedown notice if it’s true”. When I saw the 2016 TMS schedule on the information board at my Kingdom Hall on Thursday, it made me wonder even more if the letter was a fake. I wonder no more.
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Mama Joy says:
September 29, 2015 at 10:05 pm
By claiming they have copyrights means they are stating it’s legit.
The future mags published once every two months? Wow, I never thought I’d see the day.
Their Business is definitely downsizing!
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Catalina says:
September 29, 2015 at 10:10 pm
I agree with Chiafade, What’s the point? The society is nuts to make a big deal. The letter is going to be released in a few days anyway. It’s not like the letter will suddenly disappear just because they demand it taken down. I am also glad the letter is confirmed. This Sunday will be the last meeting I go to. I’m going to walk out as soon as the letter is read. I was going to meetings to make my sister happy. I’m no longer going. My sister told me I’m dead to her. I married my catholic boyfriend. She said I never learn. I’m actually relieved to be free. It’s easier for me to walk away and be free now because I can only be rejected so many times and now I just don’t care. I’m relieved to be free because they are such an arrogant people who are apart of an arrogant organization.
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:01 am
I wish I could throw you a party Sunday evening. Anyway, Congratulations and Good Luck, in advance. ‘Good News to Make Us Happy’
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Catalina says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:43 am
Thank you Awake, that makes me feel really awesome. I met my husband’s family this week. They came all the way from Aguascalientes, Mexico for our wedding and I don’t know any Spanish. My husband is seventyone. His aunt raised him. She is 92. I like her a lot. My husband stopped going to church 20 years ago. He is so relieved I’m not going to meetings any more. He never complained. He says he was never going to complain but he’s glad I’ll be home. He says he notices I’m a lot more relaxed now. It feels good the pressure is off of me. It is like walking on egg shells when I’m around JWs.
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EverydayExplorer says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:11 am
Wow, Catalina, I will be thinking of you this Sunday visualising you at your last ever meeting and sending you warm positive thoughts from the UK. Your journey is inspiring. Keep us posted.
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Holly Chu says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:22 am
That is fantastic Catalina! I too planned my last meeting. Sunday August 9, 2015. Attended last Convention, Sunday August 16th. Thought it might be a little sad, but convention such a joke I regretted wasting my valuable time. No elder from KH has contacted me yet. But coming soon. I don’t plan to meet or speak on phone reasons for my absence. I feel better every day, and you will too.
I will also keep you in my thoughts here in the sunny Southern United States and will “pop the cork” on a bottle of champagne and send you a toast!
Amy says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:19 am
Yay! So happy for you! Congratulations… from the heart! Feels wonderful to finally use your heart, doesn’t it!? FREEEEEEDOM! Woohoooooo!
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Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:48 am
Congrats on your marriage hun. I’m excited for the Sunday meeting too…. HAHA never thought I would say that! lol can ust imagine all us ex/fading/shunned witnesses turning up for a meeting.
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shannon says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:02 pm
So HAPPY that you will be done with the JW’s this week….I’ll be thinking of you here in Alberta, Canada!
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ScotWm says:
September 29, 2015 at 10:57 pm
The austerity measures announced in the leaked annual letter are largely brought on by the Governing Body’s decision to move their world headquarters to Warwick. The Governing Body is also losing the adulation of its followers by appearing in a series of awkward videos. As a result, many cult members, who once looked to the Governing Body for spiritual guidance, are realizing that they have put their faith in false prophets.
Raymond Franz revealed in his book, “Crisis of Conscience”, that the Governing Body consists of leaders and followers. At this time, it is difficult for outsiders to determine which Governing Body members have power and influence over the others. But whoever these dominant men are, they have been able to get the weaker members of the Watchtower elite to follow and obey them.
As the Watchtower organization continues its descent into insolvency, the greedy and deluded Governing Body members will probably begin turning on one another. Low level Bethel slaves may not be the only ones who get thrown out on the street. Joseph Rutherford once reigned as the undisputed leader of the Watchtower cult. The Governing Body’s internal struggles could once again leave the Watchtower Society with a single leader.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:12 am
@ScotWm . VERY GOOD FUTURE ANALYSIS of what will happen … Like any body of Elders I have known there tends to be one or two who DOMINATE Proceedings! … I Imagine Tony, Stephen, Geoffrey & David being the Dominant ones … BUT who will Emerge like Rutherford as their MESSIAH ?? … Sorry I meant Leader.. Maybe CONTORTIONIST LETTS or LAWYER JACKSON or VIETNAM MORRIS or DRACULA BLOOD SUCKING SPLANE???
I am sure our contributors on this site have other IDEAs??
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:47 am
Wasn’t VIETNAM MORRIS a consultant on the set of “Apocalypse Now”? Or was it “Rambo”? I know. Stupid. But kinda funny on a couple of different levels, no?
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:48 am
@Awake . I MUST SAY… VERY APPROPRIATE !! …. ‘APOCALYPSE NOW’ ….. Could be New Title for a Book Release at NEXT YEARS CONVENTION …. Maybe an UPDATE of REVELATION BOOK?? .. Good Idea????
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Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:50 am
HE’S NOT THE MESSIAH! HE’S A VERY NAUGHTY BOY!
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:07 am
@Tara …, AHaaa!! A MONTY PYTHON FAN like myself..! Naughty Naughty!! But I like it!!
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:17 pm
That makes at least 3 of us (not quite sure if that’s something to be proud of)… Now I want to make this perfectly clear — NO ONE is to throw a stone, EVEN IF, and I stress this, EVEN IF, someone says, “Jehovah”!!! LMAO… Gotta love those guys… Forgotten, but not gone…
Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Sorry, I meant “at least 5 of us”. You know, 1…2…5.
ScotWm says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:45 am
One Governing Body member who is definitely not a follower is Senior Governing Body member Gerrit Lösch, who claims he does “not answer to Watchtower,” and has even declared that Watchtower “does not, and never has had, any authority over me.”
The refusal of Gerrit Lösch to comply with court orders left the Watchtower with a default judgment of $13.5 million for its part in the abuse suffered by Jose Lopez at the hands of Gonzalo Campos. Campos was allowed to molest multiple victims in San Diego in the 80s and 90s without the organization’s intervention.
“One of the reasons why the lawsuit went so badly for Watchtower was due to its failure to comply with court orders requesting, among other things, the organization to produce the most senior Governing Body member, Gerrit Lösch, for a deposition.”
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/i-do-not-answer-to-watchtower-stunning-gerrit-losch-declaration-revealed
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Robertoperez67 says:
September 30, 2015 at 7:32 am
Wouldn’t it be something, if these leaks were coming from a conscious loaded member of the GB? Boom! Mind blown.
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ScotWm says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:33 am
It is possible that the Governing Body is already being dominated by a couple of aggressive men, but the alpha male may not yet have achieved total control. After reviewing the resumes of the seven Governing Body members, I have tentatively listed them in the following categories:
Top dogs: Gerrit Lösch and Samuel Herd.
Top dog wannabe: David Splane.
Lap dogs: Mark Sanderson, Anthony Morris III, Geoffrey Jackson and Stephen Lett.
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/the-governing-body-of-jehovahs-witnesses-explained
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ruthlee says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:46 am
“Ding dong the witch is dead la la la la la la” Ooooh hello all of us in the real world. Just practising my exit song.A few thoughts, how about they ‘wait on Jehovah ‘and not jump the gun so much for gb faith! I really dont see Jesus in a suit with a team of nifty lawyers.Let’s see if they have the savvy to rewrite this letter before the AGM ,guess what? New light shining brightly on the dimboids. Yes damnwell new light. A ruddy great spotlight to expose all the drivel and drool spouting from the imbeciles.As with a spotlight you get residual heat .So same thing the heat is on and it will not go away.Last point of my rant of the day.How dare they do all this in the name of the almighty. Call themselves representatives of JC .This nasty cult is being exposed everyday now, new folks read our testimony and nod ,cry ,yip amen and join the ranks of awakened ones. “Ding dong lalala” ruthlee/ruthless
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Grace says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Haha Ruthlee,
Good to see you adopted the new, don’t-mess-with-me name that I accidentally gave you. I think we should go to the tattoo shop & get your name tattooed on your knuckles. R.U.T.H on one hand & L.E.S.S. on the other.
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Catalina says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:08 am
One time I was on vacation. we were in a hotel. That night an unhappy hotel worker set a large garbage can on fire and left it in the stairway on the fifth floor causing two floors to get smoke. The smoke alarms went off. Many hotel guests wouldn’t leave their rooms. That reminds me of the JWs who stay in the org. For them to admit they’re wrong about the org would be like emotional suicide. They’ll stay in that religion no matter what. I’m thinking of my sister when I say this.
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← Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
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Posted on September 29, 2015
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
On Thursday, September 24, JWsurvey reproduced a Watchtower letter that had been leaked by a bethel insider. Dated October 4, 2015, the letter advised (or WILL advise) congregations of the announcements that are to be made at Saturday’s annual meeting.
The most dramatic announcement was arguably the scrapping of the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School in favor of a session of preaching presentations.
Another eyebrow-raiser was the news that magazine printing is being further reduced, with public editions of the Watchtower and Awake! to be printed once every two months from January onward.
Within 48 hours of the letter being leaked, this website received nearly 23,000 visits. Interest in the letter was substantial, and the contents were mulled over by the ex-Jehovah’s Witness community in various corners of social media.
Unsurprisingly, given the sensitive nature of the letter, some suggested it might be a hoax. I even briefly pondered myself whether I might be on the receiving end of an extremely elaborate prank designed to undermine this website’s credibility.
But any doubts as to the letter’s authenticity were put to bed today when JWsurvey’s webmaster, John Hoyle, received an email from our hosting company notifying us of an email from Watchtower’s legal department. Apparently, as was the case with the notorious October 1st 2012 child abuse letter, Watchtower’s lawyers consider the leaked letter copyrighted material, and have demanded it be taken down from our pages.
Our web hosting company, seeking to have the matter resolved quickly, advised us of two options: (1) to take the disputed material down, or (2) to issue a counter notification. Since the letter is now freely available elsewhere online, and our work in disseminating it is now effectively done, we have no interest in becoming embroiled in a legal scrap with Watchtower over whether the letter should be on our pages or not.
If anything I am grateful to Watchtower, and specifically its legal department, for once more shooting themselves in the foot so spectacularly. We had a similar situation only 9 months ago regarding Tony Morris and his tight pants fixation, and it seems lessons have not been learned.
By issuing a DMCA complaint, Watchtower has decisively claimed authorship of the letter. And by forcing us to take it down they have demonstrated that (1) they are embarrassed, and (2) they are completely clueless as to how the internet works. Once information is distributed on such a scale it cannot be undistributed.
The whole debacle is yet further proof that Watchtower, like any cult, is struggling to come to terms with the information age. The Governing Body and their men in suits assume the internet can be brought to heel, and that everyone who runs a JW-related website will play by their rules.
But even workers within bethel walls are starting to wake up and find their voice. With each fresh leak the Governing Body’s grip on power is slipping, and with each attempted cover-up there is further proof that this hapless organization is far from the worthy adversary many would assume.
new-cedars-signature3
For obvious reasons the letter in question is no longer available on these pages, but I am confident a copy can easily be traced with some persistent searching on Google. The Reddit Ex-JW community would also be a useful place to look.
Further reading…
◾Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
◾Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on Warwick
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing
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← Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
319 Responses to Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:25 am
Here’s the thing: Folks who cannot or WILL not live in the present will NEVER be happy. They will ALWAYS dream up some FUTURE Utopia where everything will be “perfect” (whatever that means). But I guarantee you, take them all and put them into that “Utopia” which they claim to crave so much, and they will STILL be dissatisfied and unfulfilled, fearful and insecure. Because it won’t be some future dreamworld any longer. It will be NOW. And people like that simply cannot live in the NOW.
It’s like those who pursue riches. When I’ve made my first million, I’ll be happy. And it happens, oh oh, still not happy. Why? Well, I just don’t have enough. What I really need is 10 million, then I’ll be happy! So I’ve got my 10 million, still not happy. Hmmmmm. Now I’ve got it!! All along, what I really needed to be happy was 1 billion $!!! And so on and on until they’re worm food. It was never a question of quantity, but rather of quality. Those folks can’t be happy because they’re not LIVING!!!
I mean, you’re either alive or you’re dead. There’s nothing in between.
People who refuse to live in the real world will always be walking around in a trance, daydreaming on rainbows and unicorns.
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Grace says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Awake,
Excellent comment, my sentiments exactly. The whole religion is setup on a future dream of non realities. Even the whole “imagine yourself in the new system” fantasy. I’m sure that some believe it will be a truman show type of world without any of the natural elements left just a big world-wide development planned suburb. Most of the witnesses I knew weren’t comfortable around nature & animals.
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Come to think of it, I don’t recall many outdoorsy types in the borg.
Guess they’re more comfortable just looking at pictures.
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keinlezard says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:21 am
Hello,
Letter always on the Web … I found it and Save it :)
And the better here, now I know it is not a hoax
Thanl MamaWatch Lawyers :)
Reply
Jake says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:45 am
The bully is losing his grip, must be so frustrating that the threats of death are becoming like water off a ducks back, it’s very liberating to no longer live in fear :-)
Of course Jesus’s words, who is their master, are not matter of copy write.
What are you trying to hide and control, YOUR religion?
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Grace says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Jake,
“BULLY” is the only word that you can describe the leadership of this religion. Once you lose that fear & guilt, it’s so liberating to tell them that they are in a cult when they try to save you from being destroyed & to be able to say it confidently without nerves when doing it.
My husband & I have had several ones with good intentions try different tactics like the usual, “miss you” text messages, visits just before the royal CO visit to hear the “encouraging talks” he will be giving or I have something for you as they go to pull out the “Return to Jehovah” brochure.
The thing that gets me riled up though is when they start lying when I hit them with questions. I have said to them several times, “I’m not a naive householder your talking to, I’ve been in this religion 20 years to know the inner workings of what goes on. So please don’t use double speak with me”.
That comment is usually after they have lied to me, otherwise if they truly want our friendship, we have told them that it is not going to be based on our religious beliefs. Anyway, no one seems to come back which suits us fine.
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:59 pm
A relative gave me a copy of the “Return to Jehovah” brochure. I drew horns on the shepherd and fangs on the lamb and returned it to them. :)
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:44 am
@Awake… NICE ONE .. You impress me more & more with each comment!!
Oh what ARTISTRY could you Draw if you had a Picture of the 7 MENTAL MIDGETS??
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Garrett says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:52 pm
Hahahhahhahaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
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covertfade says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:46 am
It never ceases to amaze me how adept the Watchtower corporation is at machine-gunning it’s own feet. They gain nothing with this move except grant further credibility to their opponent, in this case JW Survey, as a source of legitimate insider information.
It’s the latest in a long line of horribly counter productive moves in the media, in court, and in Royal Commissions, that showcase what happens when your leadership is drawn from a group of people who are by nature of their creed forbidden from raising or answering legitimate criticism, and from thinking critically.
Honestly, the governing body are like the anti-Machiavelli or something, with every move planned to be as stupid, as unsubtle and as counter-productive to their cause as possible…
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KateWild says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:57 am
I have redistributed the letter on a closed Fb group.
Lloyd you are a member
It’s also on JWN
Lol
Kate xx
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Nemorino says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:00 am
Great work John, I would love to have been a fly on the wall at the GB emergency session after the poop hit the fan!
I can only imagine what your Italian ex-JW neighbors call a “caccia alle streghe” (“witch hunt”) ensued!!
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Jake says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:44 am
@nemorino
Good point about the witch hunt.
As long as this website keeps publishing leaks the more observable is the Watchtowers totalitarian deluded attitude. For those at Bethel, please keep the information coming as it highlights this to other sincere witnesses (potentially life saving), but be aware a witch hunt will come. Such is the reaction of a wounded animal.
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Jake says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:40 am
It boils my blood. .
No you can’t have fractions, yes you can
No you can’t have an organ donation, yes you can
The generation of 1914 won’t all die because in actual fact it’s two joined generations
No you can’t have an inoculation, yes you can
The superior authority’s are?, no their not
Oral sex a grounds for a scriptural divorce, yes, no.
Appointed over all the masters belongings, yes , no
How the bloody hell are you supposed to kept up with all these false teachings?, and the Watchtower has the audacity to call others false teachers and apostates, the hypocrisy is breath taking. I didn’t post this crap all around the world for years and then punish a person if they dared to disagree, outrageous and EVIL!
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ruthlee says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:15 am
OH jake you are angry. I so agree with you. My dad used to say people will have their comeuppance.Great word isn’t it? That is what we are waiting for.The thing is God’s waiting room may get a little more crowded before long.Ithink what really convinces me now they told lies is that I can’t explain the doctrines anymore. Ican’t keep up with the flip flops.There is no scriptural backing to the wacky notions.More importantly I don’t want to defend lies, half truths (whatever that means), unscriptual belief.So like you I get angry too and impassioned about this sorry mess.This site is a beacon to the world that some of us did see it for what it was.rl
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Jake says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:24 am
I’m not angry for me, just want the subterfuge to end.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:59 am
@Jake . Excellent Summary of the LUDICROUS Ever Changing FLIP FLOPS of the GB of Brooklyn !!
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Mc fan says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:49 am
Does anybody here think that there will be another GB body member who will jump ship like Ray Franz and expose more of the organizations dirty secrets??
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Mary says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:20 am
It would be awesome if that did happen again. Remember, when Ray jumped ship there was no such thing as the internet and for the most part, we had to accept whatever bullsh*t ‘reasoning’ they gave us as to why he got The Axe. I remember being told that, like Judas, Ray had “allowed a place for Satan” into his heart, etc. etc.
Of course, had it happened today, the fallout would have been a million times worse than what they experienced in the early 1980s. All anyone would have to do is to Google “Ray Franz” and boom—it would be there for you to view in your own home.
If another member of the GB jumped ship now and did a ‘tell-all’, the fallout would be astronomical.
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John Baptist says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:37 am
It’s only a matter of time when something like that happens. If Ray was alive today he would see his words proving true. This organization can never be wrong because of their self righteous arrogant attitude that is now catching up to them. CULT CULT CULT.
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Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 7:44 am
The more the Borg tell people not to look at internet sites the more ‘thinking’ people will. You tell a child not to do something and they will push the bounds. The more the Borg say ‘no’ the more the minions, hopefully, will say ‘why not?’ Of course there will always be those who do exactly what they are told ‘those faithful in the little things’… we cannot beat these ones into submission, nor do we want to. We have to spoon feed them a little unadulterated milk at a time… Yes I guess we can turn what we learned to our advantage. I can think of an elder and his wife who will hang on by the skin of their teeth until the GB sprout wings, a forked tail and turn red before they will say ‘well MAYBE we got it wrong’. For most of us we don’t want to turn away from our faith in God just from the deceit from the GB. I’ve said it before. I will never be part of any religious organisation again. My prayers are free and between me and Jehovah and through his son. If I meet him on judgement day and I have gotten it wrong then I can innocently say ‘these men you gave me deceived me by their cruelty’. Because that is how I view them. It’s not what the Bible says it’s their interpretation of it and how they have twisted it all. Lloyd has exposed them and judging by all the other sites I have taken a peek into, the word is out there and the can not do a thing about it. I wouldn’t put it past them to delay the reading of the letter just to try and say ‘we’ had made it all up’.
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Doug says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:05 am
“Does anybody here think that there will be another GB body member who will jump ship like Ray Franz and expose more of the organizations dirty secrets??”
Moreover, Franz didn’t have the internet to leak his info in real time, so perhaps his departure was seen as ‘containable’ by the leaders of that time. Nowadays, however, If a GB member, or another leader/s were to defect from the Org, armed with damning information, available to the masses at the click of a mouse, I wonder if we would start seeing some Mafia type ‘hits’ against the whistleblowers. Anyone think they’d be capable of such a thing? Would they spin it internally, as a form of ‘theocratic warfare against Jehovah’s enemies?’ Makes ya wonder.
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:23 pm
I don’t wonder. I’m sure they are capable of such actions. Sociopaths and Narcissists have a way of coming up with justifications for ANYTHING!!!
I’m not saying it WILL happen. I’m just saying it’s well within the realm of possibility.
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Jake says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:03 am
Son of God
Son of Adam
Son of Seth (etc)
Son of David
Son of Solomon (etc)
Son of Joseph
Chirst.
All one generation as each generation overlaps another. . . It’s a biblical teaching, you wouldn’t understand. . . Just believe.
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eyes opened says:
September 30, 2015 at 7:14 am
Hi Jake,
Here’s an overlapping generation for two extremely important dates…creation of man and the flood. Methuselah overlapped with Adam and Noah. That’s about a 1600 year overlapping. So let’s see, from1914, we must have about 1500 more years to go, haha.
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pearlsB4swine says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:10 am
Items to discuss at the next GB meeting…..
1. Bethelites to sign an official WT secrets clause.
2. Copyright everything that is or has ever been thought, said, written, emailed, or conveyed in any way on WT property.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:45 am
@pearlsB4swine .I think you could be nearer to the TRUTH than you think !!… That is Exactly what I think will happen .. Bethelites signing an OFFICIAL SECRETS CLAUSE.. Then they can be SUED if they open their mouths!!
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Chiafade says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Yes and then much like Sylvester Stallone in Rocky five when the promoter said “touch me and I’ll Sue” Rocky socks him and then says “Sue me for what?!”.
The poor broke bethelite then leaves bethel after leaving Tony Morris laid out on the floor. The end.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:09 pm
@Chiafade.. That would be a LOVELY SENSE of JUSTICE… Tony Morris Knocked FLAT OUT on his FACE!!!
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Pat says:
October 1, 2015 at 6:16 am
Hahahahaha. You guys all have a vivid imagination!
Its a good thing that we can laugh through all the hurt we’ve suffered.
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GEM says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:20 am
@McFan: Yes… I do think there are some who will stand up for what is right. And now, as in Ray’s time, is the right time.
Ray had his supporters. He also made some very courageous, yet controversial decisions.
I find it hard to accept that all 7 are “Mental Midgets” looking for hard graft at Micky D’s.
There again, I could equally be… wrong!
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:43 am
@Gem … GOOD FIRST Part of your comment…. BUT I HATE to DISAPPOINT YOU ….. YES !!!ALL 7 are DEFINITELY ….. ‘MENTAL MIDGETS!!!! Maybe I will grant you They don’t need to work at Micky D ? …Judging by the Way they dress & Property & shares they have accumulated,They Probably OWN 99% of MacDonalds Shares!! I like your SENSE of HUMOUR!!
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Oh no! If the 7 MM’s own 99% of McD’s, they’ll probably run it into the ground as well…Damn, and I love their mango frostees. :(
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Chris says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:48 am
Streisand Effect. Look it up, watchtower, because you still haven’t figured it out.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
Reply
EverydayExplorer says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:49 am
What a gift from the WTSoc. So glad the GB confirmed for us so quickly that the leak wasn’t a hoax. What a positive development in keeping the spotlight on this so-called charity’s repressive and cruel policies.
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Grace says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Here’s a thought, maybe there’s a rogue group of Lawyers that have convinced them to send the letter so that the rumour can be verified. The paranoia would be through the roof!
Next GB meeting will be: “we can’t even trust our own bloody lawyers now”.
Reply
MimiLove says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:50 am
Part of my family left in the 80’s. They were bethelites and said they couldn’t discuss what they saw. I was to far into the borg to believe them, however I refused to shun them. That got me locked in a low lit room with a district overseer…still I believed in this crazy cult. I am so stupid and have wasted 51 years of my lift doing this…..I’m determined to rescue the rest of my family. Thank you Lloyd for everything you do. My donations have been redirected to your efforts!
Reply
Tom Durbridge says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:46 am
John Cedars, I recommend you not host any of Watchtower’s copyright material on your site. Instead, have it backed up locally and place it on other sites and link to it from within your own site. That way, the Watchtower’s legal department cannot request your web hosting company to remove the copyright material since the copyright material is not on their servers. So, if you wanted, you could upload the letter again, this time to another location such as dropbox, google drive etc and link to it.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:02 am
@Tom . Cautious as Serpents!! Good idea Tom!! Let’s all play Theocratic Warfare & BEAT the GB at their OWN GAME!!
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Juan Viejo says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Tom Durbridge: Thank you for the suggestion, however, that is not quite accurate. If a document or photo visually appears on your website, even if it is sourced from another site, you are still subject to takedown action. What you can do is provide a link to a photo or document appearing on another site (as you would typically do for a news article in the New York Times). What you can do is quote freely from a document as long as you annotate heavily and do not over quote. It’s kind of like the old example I learned in journalism: You can write and say that “Mr. X was caught with his pants down in a public restroom” (if it’s true) but you can not publish a photo of him with his pants down – unless YOU took the photo. That leads to the obvious question: why would you be in a public restroom with your camera? So while Cedars could quote freely from a document he received, technically he could not show that document unless he had permission to do so. The problem then becomes one of credibility – which is a common defense whenever a blogger like Cedars gets “insider information” but nothing physical to confirm that information. It’s a very thin tightrope we all have to walk.
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Tom Durbridge says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:22 pm
@Juan Viejo: That’s exactly what I am saying to do – simply link to it, quote from it as you like, but don’t have / present the content on one’s site. 😀
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Juan Viejo says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Right on, Tom!
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A Patient Man says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:19 am
Here is a little story for you, I was a ministerial servant at the age of 16, (back when they allowed that), then the years passed quickly to 1980, I was 28 years old. My wife and I decided not to have children, so we made the decision for me to go under the knife, (I love my wife by the way). I made the mistake of telling a lifetime friend, who was an elder, what I had done. I never dreamed that he would tell the body of elders. Pretty soon meeting parts stopped, no one said a word to me, including the one I considered a friend. When I asked them why they said we need to meet with you, once again no one told me why. When the meeting finally happened, the told me that they wrote the ” powers that be” and they recommended that I be removed as a servant. Then I received a letter from headquarters telling me, or should I say chastising me for the decision my wife and I made together. They said I did not have appreciation for the gift of life. The letter further mentioned what if the power of procreation were never returned to you in the future? Not a very good time in my life. Looking back I should have left then! And I ask you, now what is their stance on birth control? None of us wants to be told what very personal decisions we can make in our lives. Here again in my life was an example of FIG, Fear, Intimidation, Guilt. Sad, very sad.
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San Diego says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:59 am
The GB has become just like the religions they used to make fun of or even condemn. In this case they poke at the Vatican for not allowing contraception, and yet they do the same thing, just their own version of it (the one you mentioned).
Not to mention their hypocrisy. I remember a sister who told me about some “landmark” convention talk (I think in the 80s) where they basically said, Don’t have kids the end is too near. Now they are relying on Witness kids for memberships growth. Too bad for them the kids are leaving in leaps and bounds.
The other point of hypocrisy: apparently the WT lawyers (who are volunteer Witnesses at the legal department in Patterson) are apparently excempt from the whole “don’t look at apostate websites”.
I dated a sister who went to the condemned higher education ivy league for law. Somewhere during that time she was df’d for other reasons. At one point she thought “maybe I should quit school.” So she called Bethel and asked their opinion, saying she had wanted to be a Bethel lawyer (remember the official stance has always been “Don’t go to college to get skills for Bethel, you can learn everything you need when you get here.”) They said “No! Don’t quit college we need lawyers at Bethel!” They are as 2-faced as Harvey Dent lol.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:59 am
@A PatientMan .. I REALLY found your Comments Very Sad as like many here are Really Decent people who wanted to BELIEVE SO MUCH that this was the Organisation that JEHOVAH was Using & we all MANY TIMES Gave the Governing Body the Benefit of the Doubt ….NO LONGER WILL WE BE FOOLED,CONTROLLED & MANIPULATED by this GROUP …..of ‘THE SEVEN PYGMIES of BROOKLYN ‘ !!! … May STEPHEN LETTS HEAD .. ‘BLOW UP’ & May TONY MORRIS be STRANGLED by His TIGHT PANTS!!…. WOW !! That would be a Sight for SORE EYES…!! May Jehovah Show them Mercy & They SUFFER SLOWLY . .. Have a NICE DAY.. I do Love these AMERICAN SLOGANS…. Such Class!!
Reply
ruthlee says:
September 30, 2015 at 11:38 am
Oh God! damned if you do, damned if you don’t. It was between you and your lovely lady .I’m convinced now ALL the horror stories have to be exposed so there will be no excuse. Anyone who in the sage words of Wallace who are still “prevaricating around the bush”will just be plain stupid. blessings to you both patient man rl
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Holy Connoli says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:09 am
To Patient man: That story shows how hypocritical they are bc for decades up decades the WT was discouraging even having children. I was baptized in the early 70’s and then got married in mid 70’s and I remember quite well that when my wife got pregnant many were raising eyebrows bc of the scriptural Counsel,”Woe to the Pregnant woman in those days!”
Even back then I was flabbergasted that the Wt had that much control over people to even bring up the Idea of who can and should have children. That Idea faded as the years went by but it was still strong in the 70’s just like if someone bought a House back then in my congregation the JW’s would all whisper, “Oh he has no faith in the New system” look at him buying a home and obligating himself for 30 years on a loan! Why would he do that if he REALLY believed the END is SO Near?
There was a elderly sister back then who died in 1989 at the age of 90 and in the 1980’s she was telling us stories of how she would pioneer in the 1930’s in the Mountains of Northern California for months peddling Rutherford’s publications, sleeping in barns, trading WT books for eggs and food and living out of a old car like a Gypsy. The incredible story is that she did all this and left her small child with family so she could pioneer before the end came. All with the blessing and encouragement of the WT of those days. They are full of double standards and hypocrisy. they know it and we know it.
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Baccolo says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:36 am
“Watchtower’s lawyers consider the leaked letter copyrighted material”….wow! They got us to accept they definetely are a Business player. So why they still hold the tax-exempt status? Because they’re a tool in the hands of the US State Department throught USAID?
(Look at the USAID’s “Violence Prevention Programme”, highlighted even by JW.ORG: see http://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/guatemala/youth-violence-in-schools).
In compliance with this USAID-funded program the WBTS works alongside the Canadian State-based jesuite CECI in Guatemala: see http://www.ceci.ca/en/where-we-work/americas/guatemala/projects/violence-prevention/).
By withstanding the WBTS you are not withstanding a church; this is not a theological dispute; You are withstanding a political force!
Remember this!
Reclaim the political right to free speak against the Watchtower mobs threats! Don’t let your minds be trapped within a religious cube while confronting these matters. This corporation is playing a political role!
Baccolo
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Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:17 am
Just a little heads up for those who don’t go to meetings anymore. The 3 talk in the school for wk starting the 5th is ‘To whom does the term ‘Antichrist’ refer.
Thought that was kind of funny considering the leaked letter, the announcement to come on the Sunday prior to it etc. I also noticed that the glossary for the info refers to it as representing those who oppose Christ and or his disciples.
Off to work now :)
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:28 pm
@ Tara .. The Answer to who is the ANTICHRIST??
SIMPLE PIMPLE…. Like ‘The SLAVE CLASS’ as described by the Watchtower & in GREEK it is in The PLURAL …. Which Means the ANTI- CHRIST IS: …. Wait For It….., the MOTHER & FATHER of STEPHEN LETTS !!! I Told you it was SIMPLE . Tara.. GONE to WORKkkk!!! You Don’t know what you are MISSING??
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Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Lol I love this site…. slaps self across side of face… why didn’t I think of that. duh! slap slap slap. Yeah sunny warm day in Canada and I get to work. sucks to be me.
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Doc Obvious says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:04 am
Can you feel the love of the brotherhood? Its awe inspiring.
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Jwpow says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:13 am
Wasn’t sure if my first post went thru…I’m brand new at this…long time follower though.
Just saw a interesting parallel between Pope Leo X Building project remodel of st. Peter’s and Warwick. ..one fueled the reformation and the other….I have done a multi month tour of duty at the site, basically they build everything once for practice, tear it down, start over and build it again, so it’s easy to see why it is way over budget.
Back to topic though, if they dumb the meetings down any further (which the leaks indicate is the plan)…then it’s probably a good thing that they recently said we could drink ancholic beverages BEFORE we go.
P.s.. can I count service time for this?
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Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Oh count as much time as you like sweetie :) Wow. so I hope they recycle all that timber!
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Jwpow says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Good, I’ll count it in 15 minute increments but the service committee will have to approve.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:33 pm
@JwPow .. SMOOTH ANSWER .. I answered in the Watchtower on the Alcoholic Beverages before Meetings which is now allowed. I said … Perhaps the ELDERs should have a meeting so they can DISCUSS what ALCOHOL we can drink % Proof Wise!! Got a Few Giggles!!
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EverydayExplorer says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:51 am
Pickled Brain, I know you are also UK-based like myself. I’m really interested in this new ‘advice’ (really increased-control-edict) from the WTSoc re permitting an alcoholic drink before meetings. Can you ref it for me, please, so I can look it up? It’s just something that I think would be fruitful to bring up with some of our family members as a point of discussion. I loved your subversive query about ‘perhaps now the elders can let us know what percentage of alcohol we can sup’ in that meeting! I bet you’re a source of some comfort to some in your congregation, with your sane ‘hang on, is we ain’t or is we adults?’ ripostes!
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:54 am
@Everyday Explorer.. Thank you for your Kind Remarks .. The Watchtower NOW ALLOWING US to DRINK ALCOHOL Before MEETINGS& FIELD SERVICE is 15th November 2014 Study Edition& the Page is 20 & the Paragraph is 18!! Have a good read on the ‘NEW LIGHT’ !!
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EverydayExplorer says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:38 am
Thank you! Look forward to arming myself with that — us worldly ‘goats’ haven’t heard a word about it! :)
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:15 am
are we talking Nov. 15, 2014 mag. or study article nov. 15 2014?
Ted says:
September 30, 2015 at 11:37 am
Pickled Brain.
Your right about the smarties, they’re ok but don’t eat the red ones,
don’t even give em to your dog. And if there’s blood in that tin of pet
food he can’t have that either, and what about those headaches
and bad stomachs you keep getting? It’s those aluminium pans,
get rid of em, they result in almost as many problems as syphilis…
These are some of GOD’s directions, via the Watchtower.
Paranoia sets in when you become a JW, it’s like walking in a
minefield, constantly looking for the traps that Satan has set for
you. Your suspicious of all those worldly people who are under
Satan’s control. You need JHVHs org, to guide you through the
minefield. Did I really get conned with all that pig swill ? ( hog
wash ) . It must have been someone else!
Thanks for your knowledgable and perceptive comments PB,
and everyone, and to Lloyd & Co, the articles get more riveting
all the time. I’m on the edge of my seat here.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:33 pm
@Ted . Well I regard it quite an honour to be commended by you Ted… I believe you said you were 84 so with your vast Knowledge of The Then as we Believed it TRUTH I always Read your comments carefully as it is from Genuine Knowledge of what you have been through & witnessed like many here on this website.
I think CLAYTON WOODWORTH who was Editor of the Golden Age prior to the AWAKE came up with the Ridiculous assumptions of the Dangers of aluminium Saucepans & the Wonders of the E.R.A. Machine which was Farcical.. BUT the Way we Analysed Everything we ATE .. Like RED SMARTIES because of Beetles Blood which might have been a DREADED ‘FRACTION’or BOUGHT a Pair of Jeans from a Charity Shop which might have been worn by a Spiritualist?? .. WELCOME to the CRAZY CRAZY WORLD of the GOVERNING BOTTY??
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Thiago says:
September 30, 2015 at 11:50 am
They should start sending letters by Snapchat
Reply
Jwpow says:
September 30, 2015 at 12:30 pm
What do mean, they invented disappearing corspondence, it’s called a b.o.e. letter. Please destroy all previous letters…this will self destruct in 15 seconds. .and we will disavow any knowledge of it.
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Juli says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:11 pm
This is so funny. They have pretend lawyers, pretend policemen, and a pretend channel to God. Who wouldn’t want to live in their world of make believe? Glad to see they’re following you Lloyd, as you figured they were. Maybe you’ll be able to get through to those 7 thick headed old geezers in NY someday.
Reply
Village Idiot says:
September 30, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Cedars, You should issue a counter-notification. If you take this letter down it will embolden the Watchtower to issue similar complaints in the future.
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Garrett says:
September 30, 2015 at 7:08 pm
Village idiot
I agree… Don’t give in..’fight the worthless
F-ers’
Reply
rob says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:08 pm
The world that the gb and bethelites live in is very very institutional and insular – and their fort is protected by the lawyers and accountants, who think for them and pull all the strings.
But little did they realize that the protectors of the fort were not protecting the bethelites (inmates), but really were only protecting the gb and the vast fortune that the fort had accumulated and most importantly protecting their own livelihood.
I know it was mentioned earlier but it is so true that once they are released from the institution – or given the pink slip, so to speak – it is very hard for them to integrate into a normal environment and many just cannot cope.
Being let go from bethel is probably a shock to their system and will catapult these individuals into a world that they are not ready to tackle. Rank and file can maybe try to help these ones but only to a certain extent. Some will accept and some will cope some will be angry, some will revolt and some may just fade away.
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JB Reezner says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:13 pm
I only have one active JW that I am able to talk to about my feelings about the Org. It pains me to see the gymnastics he will engage in to continue to believe that the Org is divinely endorsed. When I told him about all of the things happening in the Org right now (branch closings, Bethelites set to be displaced by the thousands, special pioneers defunded, building projects canceled), he said “Well, the pla-“, and in that instant, I knew he was about to tell me that the first few plagues affected the Israelites too (meaning that these things only show how close we are to the end). And he did go on to say that. And although I was not surprised, it still made me sad.
Reply
JB Reezner says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Well maybe he got the WHOLE word “plague”out. I’m just saying I’ve had these conversations with him so many times, his answers have become predictable. Maybe because I was able to blurt out horribly flawed rationalizations myself when I was neck-deep in the cult, for most of my life. God my comments are dumb. Sorry folks.
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Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:50 pm
If I hear one more comment about keeping up with that chariot i’m gonna to push them under it. Yeesh WHY CAN’T THEY WAKE UP!
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JB Reezner says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Lol, thanks I needed that laugh, Tara 😀
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:00 am
@Tara.. I HEAR that ONE WHEEL has DROPPED OFF the CHARIOT!!!
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Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:02 am
Tony’ll fix it
Jwpow says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:50 pm
News flash ..just in from undercover Brooklyn reporter…Warwick will get a name change, Beth-Sarim 2,, also to be referred to as BS2. Be careful B.S.2 is now copyrighted
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pearlsB4swine says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Beth-Sarim 2 or Beth Sham?
Reply
Holy Connoli says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:29 am
pearls befores wine:
Maybe they should call it Beth-Serum instead? As in “TRUTH Serum”.Lol
Reply
pearlsB4swine says:
September 30, 2015 at 2:50 pm
What next microfilm, coded letters?
All very silly and totally arrogant of them.
Or, they indeed have much to hide, and their paranoia is justified.
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:47 pm
PearlsB4Swine. The NEXT 007 Will Be ..,, VIETNAM MORRIS the THIRD!!… I heard it from The ‘OAK ‘ Website …. Oops I meant ‘CEDARS’ … Getting My TREES MIXED UP??? Anyone who is 60 will understand .
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:36 pm
I believe he turned down the role — the pants were too tight.
Reply
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:30 am
@Awake … Very Good Answer .. I Really Like your sense of Humour!! Are you from ‘GOOD OLD BLIGHTY ‘by any chance ?? If you are American it must be in your GENES because Practically Everyone in Good Old USA originates from us COLONIAL BRITS!!
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Jake says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Can the governing body appreciate why so many people visit this site, because they apostates and liars?, no, because their looking for the answers, their looking for reasonable argumentation and a listening ear. What do the GB offer, hell fire and brim stone, paranoia, fear and an unyielding authority, of all the mistakes the Watchtower has made this has to be the worst, the arrogance and the Instilling of fear and position. Having studied the Watchtowers literature for 30 years and having considered the good with the bad, I think its time it apologised for the hurt it has caused and show in a meaningful and genuine way that it cares for people, I believe it should be more open, honest and willing to address concerns and criticisms.
Is it any wonder the money is drying up and the growth rates stagnate?
Faith on tracks, prescribed, judged, controlled, directed and ultimately pointless.
Reply
Jwpow says:
September 30, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Sorry, to comment up a strom, you know I’ve been in talking to myself, outta self-preservation for too long. But, here’s a question that if any knows the history of it I would love to hear it. The main drive thru Warrick is Kings drive..when and who came up with that name?
Reply
Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 7:59 pm
@Jwpow . KINGs DRIVE. Warwick…, who came up with that Name??…… Ermm … KING ANTHONY MORRIS … PROBABLY ??
Reply
Jwpow says:
September 30, 2015 at 4:16 pm
One more question, and a little off topic.
Can anyone verify the story of the university professor in the latest video. I mean this guy was trained to be a priest then bounced all over the place religiously specking. Then finds jws, but what blow my mind was, it wasn’t hell fire or neutrality or something like that. …it was our handling of pedfiles and transparency of leadership. Really????
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Chiafade says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:10 pm
That video was EXTREMELY suspect and timed to purposely counter all of their bad publicity. Propaganda at Its best. Instead of apologizing for the mishandling and revictimizing of child abuse sufferers they follow cult policy 101. Deny any wrongdoing and continue to brainwash followers.
What I say to JWs who try to defend the gb and their stubbornness is this: The pope just recently apologizeed for the mishandling of child abuse. When is the gb going to apologize? I’m met with DEAD silience. The most recent response I got was “well the pope didn’t really apologize”. (Rolls eyes bangs head on desk)
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 7:49 pm
@Chiafade. When those JWs say the POPE didn’t Really mean it when he APOLOGISED for CHILD ABUSE I will say to those JWs at LEAST he DAMNED WELL Said He Was SORRY for the Child Abuse within his Rsnks! SO the Minimum the Governing Body could do would be TO APOLOGISE !! But I Understand how you feel when you Ssid YOU ROLLED YOUR HEAD & BANGED YOUR EYES on the DESK!!!
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Pickled brain says:
September 30, 2015 at 7:54 pm
@JwPow .. The HYPOCRISY of the GB knows no bounds . I mentioned that 5 minute 20 second video on TV.JW.Org on a previous post , ,,, I Really don’t know how the GB have the Nerve after they have been found GUILTY of Protecting CHILD ABUSERS by the Royal Commission in Australia !!
Reply
Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:54 pm
I knew someone who once met and spent a little time with a current member of the GB (the name is irrelevant). They said this individual was, in person, quite cold, aloof, even arrogant. One word they used particularly stands out: “businesslike”.
Go figure.
Reply
sally says:
September 30, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Brilliant! JUST Fabulous!! Watchtower has shot itself in the foot yet again! VERIFYING the letter is genuine! See how closely they follow jwsurvey!! Of COURSE I copied the letter and SAVED it, the better to SHARE It with EVERYONE! These posts of yours are being shared with the facebook groups, Thousands have seen it! Good work!! Keep up the good work! And now you know that any message you give to the governing body WILL be heard by watchtower as they apparently follow your posts!!
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Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 11:16 pm
It is rather shocking that someone (or group) would be stupid enough to repeatedly ‘shoot themselves in the foot’. Then again, maybe not THAT shocking. To quote a line from my all-time favorite vampire film, “Blade” (the ORIGINAL, 1998): “When you understand the nature of a thing, you know what that thing is capable of.”
Reply
Struggling Mom says:
September 30, 2015 at 6:05 pm
I was just thinking of all the parents who will say..
“Oh, #*)@, they just extended the midweek meeting
another 10 minutes, and with Brothers ‘Big Wind’ & ‘Long Tom’ always making their 10 minute parts 20 minutes, we’re looking at 2 grueling hours” : ( Guess that answers whether we’ll have to ‘bail’ after the first hour so Caleb and Sophia can make it to school tomorrow. Follow the yellow brick road….
Reply
Enuffsenuff says:
September 30, 2015 at 8:22 pm
Can any one enlighten me on the relationship between the President of the WTS and Board members, who are heading up the Corporations and the GB? It is known that the GB separated itself legally from the Board for their personal protection to prevent being sued. There is also 500(?) shareholders with voting rights etc. What happens if one group thinks the other has gone astray? Who makes all the Corporate decisions? Do the Board of Directors and the GB agree on all things? If the BoD thinks the GB is out of control could there be a Corporate coup d’etat?
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 10:35 am
Basically, the corporation is a pupet, your local k.h. is a also probably a corp. (In us.) But, has no real power. Even in regards there own hall. The wt.has layers and layers of cooperations, ultimately the buck stops at G.B. Even if a group of nethium attempted a hostile takeover (highly unlikely to even get off ground w/o being ratted out.) What would they get?
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 10:45 am
Wisely, Rutherford plugged that hole after he used it.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 11:08 am
Kinda of like when luke skywalker finished off the death star with a shot down ventilation tube, The new and improved star “fixes that”
Reply
Catalina says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:15 pm
My sister’s son lives in Bethel. He said he and his room mate watched an old movie The Island. This movie is about clones who live in a city and when people get sent to an island they are never seen again. Later in the movie it turns out they are killed. My sister’s son says people at Bethel feel like they are being sent to the island because they know they are being sent home. He has no skills. My sister also has a son-in-law. Her son-in-law was disfellowshipped a year ago. This is the third time he’s been disfellowshipped. He is bi-polar. He told the elders he needs to return to rehab. They disfellowshipped him. They tell him disfellowshipping isn’t a revolving door so they wont reinstate him. My sister said she isn’t having anything to do with him. It is an unloving, haughty religion.
Reply
Tara says:
September 30, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Sat through a boring meeting tonight but the highlight was an announcement that ‘A letter will be read and a video will be shown on Sunday.’ Totally worth the boredom because I could barely hold in a laugh. I sat next to my daughter and showed her all of Lloyds postings… could see her eyes widen as she scrolled down on my iphone. Her first question out of the door was ‘So in effect we could loose the hall if they need money’.
I also noticed how many times they mention that we have to be in subjection to the FDS even if we don’t understand what is happening because the light is so bright now and the chariot….. I did not throw the speaker under it… there were witnesses (did you see what I did there eh, eh) is speeding up.
Give me strength to get Sunday out of the way…. oh and two elders want to ‘swing by and see how I am doing’ – just great.
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:24 am
@ Tara .. Same letter read out at our meeting.. I have said to certain ones .. Wouldn’t it be a SURPRISE if they ABOLISHED the Theocratic Ministry School!! .. Brothers were saying to me … ‘DONT be SO RIDICULOUS !!!… Hmmm .. Maybe come Sunday these brothers will think I AM the NEW …FAITHFUL & DISCREET SLAVE?? .. Imagine that .. NEW LIGHT!! Hallelujah.. PICKLED BRAIN is the ‘F&D SLAVE!! ..Well WHY NOT ?? I Reckon I couldn’t make a bigger MESS of interpretation of Scriptures than the 7 MIDGETS of BROOKLYN !! PRAISE BE PICKLE??
Reply
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:11 am
Or they may take you out into the parking lot and stone you as a witch! I’d let a pet MS in on it and was waiting to give him the wink ut he never turned round. I gave him the ‘told you so’ at the end of the meeting but he said it will be so exciting and what a shame someone was spoiling the news for us… bit like posting the new releases on fb.
This is like wading through mud with a loaded gun carriage strapped to your ankle…. WAKE UP PEOPLE
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:58 am
@Tara … NOW!! Don’t give them ideas Tara…. Then they can SHOUT… ‘The WITCH is DEAD… The WITCH is DEAD!!’
Reply
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:33 am
But think of all those little munchkins in the Emerald City by their Tracy Island lake.. Tony in his ruby slippers and tight pants… no on second thoughts, I’m eating my brekkie and that makes me feel sick :(
JB Reezner says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:37 pm
Tara and PB, you guys are KILLING ME! And yes, “ALL HAIL PICKLE”! Pickle’s the new CHOSEN ONE, and he don’t give a damn ’bout no remote controlled lake. But he IS bringing back sacrifices. Don’t worry, though– only, ehh, SEVEN will be required to satisfy him…
gustas says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:20 pm
The watchtower society is built on faulse prophesies, the only reason people get trapped into systems in the first place is because us humans put to much trust in man made systems.
If a person keeps working away at carving out some kind of image or idol, evetualy they will get it looking perfect, yet the person carving it out is full of contradictions and issues.
Most of us human beings are so gullible to begin with, which is why we get fooled into believing in these man made prophesies.
That’s why Jesus had to spell it out to people in (math 24) that faulse Christ and faulse Messiahs come in lots of shapes and forms.
Anthony
Reply
gustas says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:36 pm
All I say to anyone reading this is, ( don’t ) give the watchtower society the power to begin with.
Take the power back from them, be in control.
The witnesses were not having much success on the doors, so they went public, holding out there books and mags, And did notice that every time someone stops to talk to them, or get a book of them, they start feeling powerful, as if they really do have the answers, you can sell literally ( Anything ) if you package it right.
Anthony.
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:15 am
@Gustas .you are SO RIGHT that you can practically sell anything if you package it right !! Look at the Sugary,Fatty,Salty RUBBISH that Ronald MACDONALDS serves up getting CHILDREN ADDICTED to HEART ATTACK & DIABETIC LADEN FOOD …. Another AMERICAN KILLING MACHINE ???
Reply
gustas says:
September 30, 2015 at 10:49 pm
Take the power back from the watchtower society.
They don’t have a ( real ) life to begin with, they feed of others, I really don’t like being harsh on anyone, since we are all humans, but the witnesses are an arrogant self righteous religion, thinking they can judge all people and religions based on there super efficient organization, which means absolutely ( nothing ) in the eyes of Almighty.
( Don’t ) give them the power, ( Take ) it back from them.
You will feel good for it afterwards.
Anthony gustas z
Reply
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← Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
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Posted on September 29, 2015
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
On Thursday, September 24, JWsurvey reproduced a Watchtower letter that had been leaked by a bethel insider. Dated October 4, 2015, the letter advised (or WILL advise) congregations of the announcements that are to be made at Saturday’s annual meeting.
The most dramatic announcement was arguably the scrapping of the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School in favor of a session of preaching presentations.
Another eyebrow-raiser was the news that magazine printing is being further reduced, with public editions of the Watchtower and Awake! to be printed once every two months from January onward.
Within 48 hours of the letter being leaked, this website received nearly 23,000 visits. Interest in the letter was substantial, and the contents were mulled over by the ex-Jehovah’s Witness community in various corners of social media.
Unsurprisingly, given the sensitive nature of the letter, some suggested it might be a hoax. I even briefly pondered myself whether I might be on the receiving end of an extremely elaborate prank designed to undermine this website’s credibility.
But any doubts as to the letter’s authenticity were put to bed today when JWsurvey’s webmaster, John Hoyle, received an email from our hosting company notifying us of an email from Watchtower’s legal department. Apparently, as was the case with the notorious October 1st 2012 child abuse letter, Watchtower’s lawyers consider the leaked letter copyrighted material, and have demanded it be taken down from our pages.
Our web hosting company, seeking to have the matter resolved quickly, advised us of two options: (1) to take the disputed material down, or (2) to issue a counter notification. Since the letter is now freely available elsewhere online, and our work in disseminating it is now effectively done, we have no interest in becoming embroiled in a legal scrap with Watchtower over whether the letter should be on our pages or not.
If anything I am grateful to Watchtower, and specifically its legal department, for once more shooting themselves in the foot so spectacularly. We had a similar situation only 9 months ago regarding Tony Morris and his tight pants fixation, and it seems lessons have not been learned.
By issuing a DMCA complaint, Watchtower has decisively claimed authorship of the letter. And by forcing us to take it down they have demonstrated that (1) they are embarrassed, and (2) they are completely clueless as to how the internet works. Once information is distributed on such a scale it cannot be undistributed.
The whole debacle is yet further proof that Watchtower, like any cult, is struggling to come to terms with the information age. The Governing Body and their men in suits assume the internet can be brought to heel, and that everyone who runs a JW-related website will play by their rules.
But even workers within bethel walls are starting to wake up and find their voice. With each fresh leak the Governing Body’s grip on power is slipping, and with each attempted cover-up there is further proof that this hapless organization is far from the worthy adversary many would assume.
new-cedars-signature3
For obvious reasons the letter in question is no longer available on these pages, but I am confident a copy can easily be traced with some persistent searching on Google. The Reddit Ex-JW community would also be a useful place to look.
Further reading…
◾Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
◾Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on Warwick
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing
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← Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
319 Responses to Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
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Newer Comments →
Awake! says:
September 30, 2015 at 11:05 pm
C Controlling
U Unreasonable, Uncompromising
L Lie-based
T Tricks & Traps — psychological, intellectual, emotional
Reply
GEM says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:45 am
@Pickled Brain: What are you saying Pickled?
Do you want the seven mental midgets to switch to Burger King? (much better quality in my book)…or,
continue to add a final cholesterol laden layer of burger and cheese and just sit back and wait for a massive heart attack?
Americans may criticize we Brits for poor culinary skills (not so true any more btw!) but by God the Yankees ought to look at their guts and arses in the mirror! :)
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:04 am
@Gem .. Too True we are CULINARY EXPERTS NOW … We have MARY BERRY?? & PAUL Whathisname??
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Idontknowhatodo says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:13 am
I have just been to see my Doctor and I spilled out all my feelings to her about being in this organization all my life and how my own children and husband would behave if I walked away from it I told her everything and ended up using half a box of her tissues…I told her how I am heartsick at the amazing opportunities I have passed up in my life because of it…and that at 57 and truly loving my family above all else that I feel its too late for me after a lifetime of lies…she was about half my age and was truly wonderful…she listened and gave gentle advice…and after explaining the fading avenue of leaving she said I have to at the same time construct a life outside for myself..discreetly…she also dignosed depression in my case which she said was probably due to my circumstances…so if I have offended anyone with my comments on here in the past I sincerely apologise…I seem to divide my emotions between dispair/anger/desperation/gloom/hope…etc etc…its like a roller-coaster …. this lovely oh so young Doctor has arranged for me to see a counsellor…I feel so much better just from talking to her…I just feel a real hatred for these men who are in control of my life…who do they think they are?….I hope they are proud of the depressed sad unhappy life they have left me with…and I am not the only one there are sooooo many like me….sorry to go on…thanks for this site
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Jake says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:06 am
@idontknowwhattodo
The Watchtower has a culdesac point of view. Once your in there you can only travel so far in a straight line before you are forced to turn round, It’s a dead end. As painful as it is personally there are many who are doing the same (turning around). When you pass someone on your way out on their way in explain where you’ve been.
As regards belief that’s a personal story, but if there’s one thing about it you’ll never be dogmatic, so for that Watchtower I thank you :-)
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EverydayExplorer says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:10 am
Idontknowwhattodo, I have so much respect for you. What a brave, and believing-in-better thing to do: to go to your doctor and speak your reality, despite all the fear and nervousness you must have felt. I am so glad you met a good doctor — there really are so many of them out there.
You know what? You’re on your way. You can do this, you can fade, and that way you’ll still have your dear family and friends. Believe or not, but you really are strong. And in helping yourself you’re going to help others.
Oh, well done, dear lady. You’ve made your choice, and now you’re going to be on an amazing, individual adventure. Take it day by day; that’s all — one day at a time. Lots of respect! :)
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anonymous says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:12 am
Idontknowwhattodo, I don’t think you have anything to apologize for. I have read all your posts. I am glad you went to that doctor and she was right about making a life outside of the organization. If only we hadn’t found out about all the lies. But I am glad I found out about all the lies. When it finally dawned on me that the “truth” was all lies, the dark cloud that had been over my head all those 50 years I was in “it”, lifted.
Yes, I no longer have any of those “friends” from the Kingdom Hall but if they were really friends of mine, they would have asked me why I stopped going to meetings and they would have listened to me but none of them have done that so that tells me that I didn’t lose any friends because they were never my friends in the first place. You can’t mourn a loss of a friend if they weren’t a friend in the first place. Thankfully I still have one of my daughters who I can still talk to and the world is much friendlier than we were taught when we “believed” in the “truth” so if you can make a life outside the Organization, that is what you should do.
My husband confirmed that they gave a marking talk about me a couple months ago and I am being shunned because of it. According to the Organized book, they were supposed to admonish me again and again about “disorderly” conduct before giving a talk like that but they never admonished me about any disorderly conduct and so that is making my husband quite angry with them but of course, he thinks it’s just rogue elders. I think it’s orders from the Society but he won’t believe me.
They won’t use a person’s name in the talk so they can’t be sued for slander so what they do is describe the person so everybody knows exactly who they are talking about and slander them that way. That confirmed to me even more that the Watchtower is a cult and I don’t want anybody else to get involved in a cult like that that would do that to a person who found out about the lies and decided not to support them anymore.
Please know that our thoughts and good wishes are with you. We are all going through this hell together and we are all here to support each other and we are all so glad for this site to help each other. Thanks Lloyd!!!
Reply
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:31 am
Anonymous, your point about ‘marking’ struck home to me because that is what happened within my family. A sisters son – non witness and my daughter – witness got pregnant. They married. Marking talk given for sister because she staged wedding…. no names given but the whole scenario was dragged out at hall so everyone knew. I wasn’t marked but fell under the same judgement so I have spent nearly two years without my ‘so called’ friends. Two years of coming home from work and not seeing another soul. No invites to hang out, go camping, go for coffee. Now my daughter is back everyone wants to be friends again. Makes me sick. Friendship is conditional at the hall and where is the real love in that?
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 2, 2015 at 4:57 am
Maybe you can make some cyber friends here Tara. We all have a lot in common.
Reply
Tara says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:12 am
I’d like that :) Having friends who have been through the same thing or really understand why you still don’t want to do certain things because …. well you have been conditioned not to, makes it easier. Living where I am makes it hard because everyone knows everyone else within a four hour drive – or so it seems. But I like you lot on here :) most of you are daft and I like that but most of all there is compassion and empathy for each other. Big hugs my new cyber friends x
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:33 am
@Idontknowwhattodo . YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL LADY on the INSIDE & I SUSPECT on the OUTSIDE as well !! .. Your Husband & Children are Very Lucky to have someone SO CARING, KIND & UNDERSTANDING !! …. So the SEVEN STUPID MENTAL MIDGETS can …’BOG OFF’!! That is a NEW THEOCRATIC PHRASE ??
Reply
Ready 4 to Fade says:
October 1, 2015 at 6:39 am
@idontknowhatodo It may not be the moment yet, but in the future I would highly recommend going back to college online, you’re never too old to broaden horizons. You’re obviously adept at expressing yourself in writing which is 90% of the online coursework. It would do wonders for you to concentrate on something you were passionate about and to discover new passions. I can’t imagine where I might be now if I’d never gone on to college.
Reply
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:23 am
Well done! You are brave lady for doing what you have done. The first step is always being able to talk to someone. We all know that, that is something you cannot do in the hall. They say you can and how loving and kind they are but that is false. Talking to your Dr. and getting much needed help is a huge step on your road to recovery. As you begin to feel stronger emotionally you will then be able to look at your next step and so on. I was on medication for such a long time and this week I actually spoke to a professional too although it was impromptu it helped. You have friends here who you can really talk to because we don’t judge you, because we are all in the same boat. You are a wonderful kind caring person and although we do not know each other on here we have found a safe haven. Lloyd may not have thought his site would ever have the effect it has on individuals but it is giving many of us the strength we need to keep going. Love and hugs xxxx
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Pat says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:13 am
I understand completely what your going through. Last month I wrote my letter to the elders. It was a though decision which I didn’t make overnight, but contemplated on over a period of 3 years.
Although i am an adult, mother of a son in my fourties, I was nervous of informing my mother and siblings about my decision.
But living a lie is the cruelest thing you can do to yourself and your children.
I still hope and pray that they will someday see that this organisation is not what they think of it.
Till then I will have to live with being out of their lives.
Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to gradually get the strenght to losen the strings you’ve been so thightly attached on for years.
We’re here for you. So anytime you panic dont’t hesitate to come to this platform.
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 2, 2015 at 2:26 am
Idontknowhatodo, it is so beautiful to hear you express yourself and very heartwarming that you actually wanted to apologise for offending anybody. Certainly not in my book and I am sure not in anybody else’s either.
I am so pleased that you went and sought professional help. You know I am 60 and can understand a little of how you must be feeling. It is all the time wasted and unfulfilled dreams that get to you and make you angry and sad. So sorry that you are suffering from depression. Maybe your husband might actually start taking notice of his dear wife’s emotional wellbeing from now on. We are here as all those suffering in a similar way can understand also how you feel. Take care. You are very brave.
Reply
GEM says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:35 am
@Idontknowwhattodo: There is no need to apologise. Many of the folks here are “walking wounded” because of WT policy. Those of us here who have spent a long time in recovery have strong shoulders. Those shoulders are there for you.
I don’t know where you stand on the issue of actually believing in a god or Creator but here goes with my comment to you….
Imagine Jehovah looking down at night whilst you are asleep…the great Farmer…there in this wooden frame is the product of his labour, You. He smiles sweetly at his produce…and then writes at the end of the bed..
“Fragile Goods…. Handle with Care”
Sleep well tonight, and believe in UNconditional love.
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ruthlee says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:15 am
Those naughty gb cult club members no longer have comely feet because they have shot themselves so many times now.Is it not evident the blind are leading the daft.Oh dear confession time …One of my best friends still in love with the whole outfit and a believer.She and me nearly fell out yesterday. How can I destroy her delusions ? This is the hardest dilemma I feel morally obligated to say something to help her awaken but dont want to be the messenger.Then I had a thought if I just mentioned one little corruption i could think of.Of course I could not think of one. The points of contention kept coming and coming.And that is where i think we are folks. There is so much rot coming out this org it fails on many levels. In fact the whole head is in a diseased condition. Better not look in the mirror gb boys because you wont be singing “Oh you beautiful doll” insert “Troll”. When i read some of the comments there is real pain and anger.Maybe just maybe when the bethelite chuckouts are in the real world we will be the ones to guide them through because we have already been rejected and have gained strength ruthlee/ruthless
Reply
Jake says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:33 am
I was watching the morning worship video a few days ago. Tony Morris was discussing the subject of obedience and and to the faithful slave. Hear for yourself the delusion and the arrogance.
My point is this, if Christ has not decided who’ll be appointed over all the belongings why describe yourself now as faithful and discreet?, and as Geoffrey Jackson said before the commission ‘it would be arrogant to say we are the only ones who speak for God’ one mouth two voices.
Reply
Robertoperez67 says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:25 am
Geoffrey Jackson, most likely unknowingly freed many captives with those words of truth. If only he would continue Gods work by continuing to drop those small but potent morsels. Remember Jesus words at John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will by no means walk in darkness, but will possess the light”
to the hipocratical religious leaders verse 14
“You judge according to the flesh; I do not judge any man at all.”
And we’ve all experienced verse 31-32
“Then Jesus went on to say to the Jews (not a jew, but former JW) who had believed him: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
There is only one mediator not seven between God and man.
Reply
Jake says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:56 am
‘The faithful slave is not dogmatic’. To identify yourself with the term faithful slave (at this time) is dogmatic! http://tv.jw.org/#video/VODProgramsEvents/pub-jwbmw_201509_1_VIDEO
Reply
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 5:00 am
@Jake . I watched Anthony Morris Basically contradict himself saying the F&D Slave is NOT DOGMATIC … WHAT a FRIGGING JOKE!! If anyone EVEN Says a Dicky Bird(English Terminology ) against the teachings & interpretations of TONY & ‘THE MOB’ you will be SHUNNED , HUNG,DRAWN & QUARTERED(English Pirate Terminology ) !!
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 2, 2015 at 5:05 am
Sorry Jake, I could not help focusing my attention on the impeccable pale blue satin striped tie with the matching silk handkerchief. My goodness. What a distraction and also what expensive taste.
Reply
RetiredLE says:
October 2, 2015 at 9:27 am
As a retired LEO, my first opinion and ever growing ‘reasonable suspicion’, as I watched was/is -“This civilian is DUI” or more correctly, “DAD”- drunk and disorderly. LOL
Blood shot eyes, blurred speech, difficulty or dullness in cognitive function. Had I met this person in my official capacity I would have required a sobriety test. Also, having been trained in detecting deception and more importantly, years of experience in “interviews”. I can only say ‘wow, you WT guys probably need to go back to none DTV and move this guy back from the camera a bit.’ If anyone else out there spotted the OBVIOUS ‘tells’ at 4:00,4:37, 5:49, 6:07, and 7:25-7:35,(and others, throughout) please confirm my observations. I know what I’ve seen, but would like a corroboration. I can elaborate, if you’d like.
Reply
ruthlee says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:09 am
Just watched the link Jake.NOW i have boiling blood!!!!! Oh well pride before a crash rl
Reply
Jake says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:13 am
Put it this way, a person goes for a job interview after which he tells his friends he has the job before he receives conformation, or he is invited to a meal and he takes the best seat.
‘Who really is’ seems to a indicate a future delusion.
Reply
ruthlee says:
October 1, 2015 at 5:50 am
Last thought to ponder today.As the squeeze gets tighter, do yo think the gb will insist on a public oath of allegiance to them to root out the apostates? Would this be the mark of the beast or just delusions of grandeur? If they did this i wonder what scripture they would twist? Also those of us who are fading would be put in a dilemma as we want truth and not be caught in a lie tricky situation eh? Any thoughts on this brave souls out there.I would hate to have my hand forced but won’t lie. rl
Reply
Idontknowhatodo says:
October 1, 2015 at 5:56 am
That would be the end game with me ruthlee…I will never do that…and I suppose I would have to take the consequences.
Thanks all who made a reply to my last post…GEM reduced me to tears…and though I no longer believe in God or The Divine…you said it with such beautiful kindness and compassion…you must be a lovely person….and my dream now is exactly that…to give and recieve unconditional love.
Thank you everyone.
Reply
ScotWm says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:42 am
Regarding: Will the Governing Body require a public oath of allegiance to the Watchtower organization: They already do. In 1985, the Governing Body changed the Watchtower baptism questions:
Baptismal questions from the Watchtower 1985 Jun 1 p.30:
(1) On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
(2) Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?
There is no longer any mention of the holy spirit and the person baptized pledges allegiance to the Watchtower organization.
Contrast the Watchtower baptism procedure with what is said at Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the holy spirit”.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/baptism.php
Reply
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 6:01 am
@ruthlee I like your line of reasoning ,But I think there is already an OATH or is that OAF of Allegiance …. It’s Called ‘ BAPTISM into an ORGANISATION !! The Second Baptismal Question which was inserted after 1985 ! Fortunately I was baptised before this date so my Baptism wasn’t into an Organisation !
But Ruth, I suppose the GB could introduce a THIRD Question ? Who Knows the GB will just call it NEW LIGHT & the Sheepie will LAP it up!
Reply
ScotWm says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:05 am
After looking at your comment, I checked and found out that the Governing Body also eliminated any reference to the holy spirit in their baptism questions in 1985. Perhaps some old light has come back as new light:
Joseph Rutherford, second president of the Watchtower, actually claimed that holy spirit was no longer needed as a Helper to the church, since Christ was now invisibly present and would direct the organization in person through his angels!
“With the coming of the Lord to his temple and the gathering together unto himself of the chosen ones (2 Thess. 2:1) the holy spirit would there cease to function as a paraclete or advocate for the church.” Preservation, Rutherford, 1932, p. 46.
Rather than having “holy spirit” directing things from afar, Rutherford taught that the angels, or ministering spirits, were now communicating directly with the organization.
As we can plainly see, the Governing Body is having great difficulty determining where the guidance from “ministering spirits” ends and the hallucinations begin.
http://freeminds.org/psych/activfor.htm
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Meredith J says:
October 2, 2015 at 5:13 am
“Do not be grieving the Holy Spirit” Ephesians 4:30.
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eyes opened says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:42 am
Hi ruthlee,
I think I would tell them that at my baptism I dedicated myself to God and Christ. That they have my allegiance and anything else would be idolatry. But if push comes to shove my answer is absolutely not because I won’t give them my integrity. I’m still active (but faded for all intents) and already been told by my own daughter that we will only have limited association. I wouldn’t give up my integrity for her I sure won’t for a group of admittedly uninspired men. Of note too is when you were baptized. Prior to 1984 the questions for baptism didn’t include the organization but those questions changed in1984.
Regards
Reply
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:55 am
@eyes opened . I AM HEARTENED on one hand by your comment that Your INTEGRITY is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE of being TRUE to Yourself ,BUT I AM SADDENED by your Daughter who is choosing to Limit Association with you, HER OWN MOTHER… This PROVES these 7 PYGMIES are NOTHING But a CULT!! … Sickening !! These 7 Midgets just want your MONEY,TIME & ENERGY to Build their LUXURY RETIREMENT HOME at WARWICK & All you Dear Lady only want your Daughters LOVE!! These are 7 CRUEL CONTROLLING MUPPETS!!!
Reply
ScotWm says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Regarding “I wouldn’t give up my integrity … for a group of admittedly uninspired men.”
Particularly when a group of admittedly uninspired men say things like this:
“At that time, (when the future attack on God’s people begins) the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.”
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20131115/seven-shepherds-eight-dukes/
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:49 am
Hear is a bit of irony. The announcement concerning the letter and video to be released Saturday @3pm. E.S.T. and then played Sunday was NOT to announced ahead of time the letter explicitly says to keep confidently till then. Getting harder and harder to keep the cat in the bag..even for the r&f.
Reply
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:03 am
That’s interesting. As capt. Jack Sparrow is want to say. Yet it was the first thing out of the brothers mouth for announcements last night. Hee hee hee
Reply
eyes opened says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:06 am
Hi pickled brain,
Thank you for your kind remarks. When people understand it takes some of the sting away. BTW my husband and I always enjoy your comments.
Regards
Reply
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 11:05 am
@eyesopened . Thank you & your Husband ! Glad you enjoy the comments. I think Satirical Laughter is a good anti-dote against the BARBARISM of these 7 MONSTERS!!!
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:09 am
Ohhh. He shouldn’t feel bad….I made.same “mistake “
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:35 am
In all seriousness, a wounded organization will not go down without deploying every tool in the toolbox. We have a long history of doubling down, rewriting and concealing facts
I remember when Ray F. left, almost immediately the smear campaign started and it came right from H.Q. Don’t be surprised at what measures will be instituted to stop the hemorrhaging.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:45 am
Not sure what happened to last post. Maybe went to service desk instead.
In all seriousness though, a wounded organization will not go down without a fight.
We have a long history of doubling down, rewriting and concealing facts. I remember when Ray F. left, the smear campaign started and it came right from H.Q. don’t be surprised at what measures will be instituted to stop the hemorrhaging.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:50 am
And….quite to the contrary, when Leo Greenlee left the G.B. in N.Y.C. not a peep.
Reply
Chiafade says:
October 1, 2015 at 10:47 am
That right there is sick sick sick. That man was the definition of pervert who deserved jail time. I’m convinced that he is one of the reasons the org fights so vehemently against releasing the names of pedophiles in their database. Along with Edward Chitty and even Theodore Jaracs was accused of molestation.
The fallout of a pedophile on the gb would be tremendous.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:01 pm
For not celebrating Halloween we have an awful lot of skeletons, demons, devil’s and real life monsters in our ever growing closet.
Reply
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Lol I like you POW
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:04 pm
This year I going to blow everyone’s mind by trickery treating as a j.w., scarey huh?
Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Will you be pushing a cart?
Jake says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:02 am
As for an oath or some such, it’s possible. Possibly a confidentiality claus making a person legally liable. They could, if they wished, by a show of hands ask the audience at a meeting wether they believe that God is directing the faithful and discreet slave or themselves to be a Jehovah Witness. . . .Always smart to have an answer at the ready.
Reply
Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:59 am
Just think of the bigger movement and raise your hand. Definitely need people on the inside ready to state simple facts whenever anyone expresses doubts. In the meantime have a laugh on the JW writing departmenthttp://youtu.be/6eo1O5qMaGU
Reply
Actigall Ur says:
October 1, 2015 at 11:14 am
That was hilarious but too close to the “Truth” for most!
I remember reading satire in a local newspaper and it was basically someone from Bethel who left and was writing about how the GB handles the 1914/607 debacle. I was rolling on the floor laughing my ass off! Good stuff!
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ruthlee says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Hi Jake this was the thread i was thinking about. I was baptised 1981 so feel it is valid. But i thought about a resolution in the kh and the sneaks taking a census would really force our hands (literally). A note to the gb spies on this site. I thought of this Before YOU and asked my friends advice because I dont trust you. for the record , if you do such a sneaky thing I will not raise my hand. ruthlee/ruthless.
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eyes opened says:
October 1, 2015 at 10:07 am
Since the “society” knew about the leaked letter on this site, it is obvious someone at HQ monitors this site. I’m reasonably sure they would read the comments also ( out of curiosity if nothing else) so where is their conscience? How can one read of the pain, suffering and loss and be able to brush it off and sleep at night? (Who knows perhaps they are troubled also and don’t see a way out) Anyway I am moved by the plight of so many on this site and I too am grateful for this site as both a support system and an avenue of freedom.
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Idontknowhatodo says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:35 pm
I never thought of this before…cant they see the excruciating pain this cult is bringing to people…I know ones wh have not spoken to thier relatives for 30 years!!!… how can they read these posts and live with themselves…unless they are the brave whistleblowers!…. my mind is blown by the high control of this cult…mostly because I am an A level student…5 ‘A’ passes and yet my intelligent questioning mind never woke up and saw the truth…I truly had my critical thought subdued…I feel stupid!
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Actigall Ur says:
October 1, 2015 at 11:05 am
I’m a long time lurker of this site and never posted before but I feel I just wanted to give you guys a heads up from a “friend.”
I can’t say too much because I know for a fact that “they” read message boards and forums, watch Youtube videos and comments for “apostate” materials and visit websites like this often – hoping to catch anyone they can find who is leaking info or spreading “apostate material” because there are more and more instances of moles. Finding these moles is getting harder and harder and thus, “they” have resorted to almost state level espionage-like tactics. Yes, if you are at Bethel, your IP has been traced at the minimum. So what I want to say:
Their mole hunt is heating up. Be careful. Consider using your own private mobile data network to post instead of internal WiFi or LAN connections at Bethel and at the kingdom halls. Do your own research on how to cover your internet tail.
The building site at Warwick – WOW! I was there during a meeting about safety. It was announced that this site will NOT be “environmentally friendly” due to “costs” and the fact that they will “leave it in Jehovah’s hands” to worry about chemicals, recycling and other environmental hazards! I could not believe it when I heard it with my own ears! The brother sitting next to me joked, “I guess Revelation 11:18 doesn’t apply to us” and he laughed it off. It made me sick to my stomach!
Their plan to get “worldly people” to visit their website has backfired incredibly. Most people do their own research and within the first 5 searches they will find what is really going on and how they use mind control to keep people inside their cult. Most worldly people don’t even visit the site! 99% of the site views are JWs downloading their study materials and old JWs looking for the JW broadcasting. Old people and technology! LOL
Their plan to brainwash young people is also failing thanks to the internet. What this means is within the next 7-10 years (if this cult makes it that far) they will have nobody to replace their ancient elders and servants. Their push to “appoint” elders at younger and younger ages is also failing but I will not go into that. I myself (less than 30) was recently visited for my “fine work and conduct” as an MS and they said they think I am ready to reach out for more. We all know what that means. Little do they know I am a proud apostate, biting my tongue for the sake of my family and parents who would subsequently disown me and shun me for all eternity.
I heard a “rumor” that Anonymous is now lighting a fire under this cult’s “leaders.” No private or public organization should be able to hide ANYTHING from the public, and that includes financial holdings and accounts! Transparency is coming, whether they like it or not. And when that comes to “light,” hold your nuts!
All that I can say is thank “YHWH” (or whatever the bleeeeeeep his name is) for the internet! The light is indeed getting brighter and brighter and shining on the cockroaches. Watch them scurry. After ** years in this cult, I enthusiastically await the collapse of ALL mind controlling cults!
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Actigall Ur says:
October 1, 2015 at 11:40 am
* I want to clarify that by “Anonymous” I mean the hacktivist group Anonymous is lighting a fire under this cult’s leaders. I don’t think we will have to wait much longer before a wikileaks style data dump comes out and all the s— is spilled. And really guys, China is on to your s— there as well. Sneaking literature into the country is never a good thing. Do you even care that people’s lives are at risk? Oh, that’s right. You don’t care. The light is getting brighter brothers! LOL
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Donald Duck says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Seriously!? They said that about environmental safety? I would think OSHA would be involved it was really bad…No?
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Actigall Ur says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:49 pm
No, sadly I am serious about this s— and it pisses me the hell off thinking back about it because at the time I was still under the mind control and well, like those still inside this cult, we accept and believe everything we do is for “Jehovah.” But it was still disturbing.
But to clarify something you said, the brother said they were “not environmentally ‘friendly’,” key word ‘friendly.’ There is a difference between that and ‘safety’ as you said. Its not like they were purposely dumping toxic waste or anything LOL but they made it very clear they were not concerned with recycling, green, energy conservation or anything that would add cost to the project. That was their bottom line. If it was cheaper to dump all the aluminum or metal in the container instead of separating and recycling, you know what they would do. And did.
Like I said, some brothers actually got a laugh out of it and said “yeah Jehovah will take care of that!” So now to find a recording of that would be incredible evidence. Anyone who was there should contact OSHA and the EPA.
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ScotWm says:
October 2, 2015 at 12:18 am
“Reports are emerging through the Associated Press that the Watch Tower Society may face penalties over chemical waste that was buried many years ago near the Watchtower Farms complex in upstate New York.”
“The Times Herald-Record reports that several 55-gallon drums containing benzene, xylene, and other chemicals hazardous to human health have been unearthed. The drums were retrieved at three different sites across the 1,141 acre property, but the scale of the pollution and full scope of the clean-up operation is not yet known.”
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/watch-tower-faces-clean-up-bill-for-ruining-the-earth
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Meredith J says:
October 2, 2015 at 5:41 am
That is amazing. Sounds like a dodgy elcheapo worksite. Not how you would ever imagine a theocratic spiritual Christian one would be like. So pathetic.
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:48 pm
I think the E.P.A. has an.anonymous hotline.
Leaving it in Jah’s hands is how we ended up in ridiculously molestation lawsuits. ..I think G.Jackson said it best…I would have thought someone would have called.
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ruthlee says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:49 pm
HI Actigall ur if you believe in god ,God bless you! If you dont, blessings from me .A great post. we need these reassurances thankyou so much ruthlee
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Actigall Ur says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:30 am
Thank you! No, I can’t believe in a “god” at this point, at least not a “loving GOD,” for if he/she/it exists or existed then he/she/it is either long dead or an evil son of a bi— and definitely not worthy of my respect and worship.
And I am SICK and TIRED of the excuses. This “organization” is a “organization” of excuses. Any question that challenges ANYTHING has at the minimum 6 different possible answers or rather excuses. My three favorite which are being used more and more to excuse the BS being exposed are – “we need to wait for the new scrolls to open up…” and “if Jehovah wanted us to know it then he would have written it down for us…” and “Jehovah’s thinking is higher than ours.”
And before I began to think, I accepted that as the final answer.
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MimiLove says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:55 am
unfortunately my belief in any god has been shattered by this cult.
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Jake says:
October 1, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Be yourself., . . . Even if your wrong:-)
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Tara says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Can I say a huge thank you to those of you who risk so much to bring this info to us. I know how I feel being a humble minion when I express myself on here…. ‘what if big brother is watching me… and I know you are. Hello Mr eye in the sky.. have a really nice day and report back to T3. Seriously though, to all you who live and work at Bethel, to Lloyd and his team.. to those who just open their hearts to us on here… THANK YOU. Yes the light is indeed getting brighter because brave brothers and sisters are opening our eyes to what is really going on…. take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Recently in one of the study’s it asked “what would Jesus have done?” Kind of our own version of wwjd. I quess , SO if he was good jw, he would keep his mouth shut, not question the powers that be and accept the “truth as taught priests” if he just would have done that then he.might not have needed to be df-ed.
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Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I am a former elder (I resigned and wont say the reason for privacy reasons) but I am still an active preacher of Gods word that works amongst Jehovahs witnesses. I refuse to be called a “publisher” I don’t own a printing shop. As an elder I learned the importance of recording everything when you are called into that windowless room. If you visit this site and out of nowhere you have elders or a circuit overseer wanting to speak with you, my sincere advice is to take a recorder or atleast a phone that records with you. I truly believe that the time will come when financial reparations will be sought against this cult and what better proof than an actual voice recording of what they hunted you down for.
A lawsuit for invasion of privacy would be the death nail on the Borg. If you could get solid proof that they are actually hunting down dissenting members, well $$$$$$$$$
Here is a repeat video that new visitors to jwsurvey.org or jwfacts.com must watch before dismissing “apostate” activism.http://youtu.be/u5JnngqQYvc
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 1:44 pm
A recording device, you must be kidding, why would that be necessary when you have the perfect memory of 3 impartial judges/jury/executioners.
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Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Your right, foiled by the months and months and month these knights of wisdom spend getting home schooled. Who can fight the mighty neurons of these GED semi gods.
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Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Unless its a Spanish congregation in the U.S, then you just resort to communicating through coloring books.
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Is that the one that is paint by numbers? It’s sooooo hard to stay inside the lines.
Grace says:
October 1, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Love what Paul says:
September 29, 2015 at 5:09 pm
God, they’re stupid.
AMEN
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Hey Lloyd, got a suggestion, get a Roku channel, then we could catch the monthly broadcast and your timely analysts all at one time.
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Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Here is something I found on the Spanish version of jwsurvey on Saint Rutherford.
We can call it “Millions now living will never get wasted and write great books.”
Walter Salter’s Letter to J. F Rutherford, who was kicked out as a dissenter for writing it.
Obviously you aren’t going to see anywhere in WTS publications where Chitty and Greenlees were taken off the GB for being practicing homosexuals. The society cares more about it’s image than it does with being frank.
There’s plenty of circumstantial evidence. Around the time they left the ranks of the GB, the society talked print about some JWs who were very high up in the organization succumbing to sexaul immorality and “even homosexuality.” The society made no mention in print about why those two left the GB. If they were ill, or otherwise incapaticated, I’m sure the society would have mentioned that.
A.F. has posted in here before on the matter and has some pretty compelling circumstantial evidence to offer.
Regarding Rutherford’s alcoholism, that was well-known at Bethel during his term as President of the WTS. People who lived during that era have frequently written about it. During prohibition Rutherford wrote an article in the WT which was a scathing attack on the Satanic U.S. Government for passing the law on prohibition. Below is a letter from W.F. Salter who left the society in 1937 in disgust over Rutherford’s antics.
You will note that he mentioned expensive booze being smuggled from Candada by the CASE for Rutherford’s personal use.
Here’s the letter Salter wrote:
P.O. Box no. 404
Toronto, Canada
April 1, 1937
Hon. J.F. Rutherford
4140 Braeburn Road
Kensington Heights,
San Diego, California
I wrote you on January 25th embodying an article which I believe proved by the Scriptures that our Lord has not returned and that the saints have not yet been resurrected. That Christ has not returned is proven clearly by His statement in Matthew 24 wherein, having outlined all the things to occur at the end of the age, including the great tribulation, He said: “When ye see ALL these things know that He is nigh even at the door.” Verse 33, Diaglott; and margin King James version. Mark well the Master’s words for He says even after ye see all these things He would not be present, but near, even at the door. Well did He warn His true followers not to be deceived by any man saying He was present when He was not?
I also suggested, that “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” is not necessarily “the battle Of God Almighty” but merely a mighty and final battle of Satan’s visible forces among themselves, in which God would put it into their hearts to destroy churchianity. The time of the battle is the day of God Almighty, just as one might say in the day of Shakespeare, and that would in no sense prove that God was going to fight any more than it would prove Shakespeare was going to fight. God’s act of destruction of Satan’s forces will be beyond Armageddon.
Two years ago last summer you made the statement to me and another that you had bluffed all your life. I believe that was one of the truest statements you ever made and I am now calling your bluff, and challenge you to answer the article above referred to point by point and prove from the Scriptures that Armageddon is the battle of God Almighty.
The premise of all the teachings of the Society’s publications which might be spoken of as spiritual teaching i.e., teachings which are supposed to be for the Lord’s people, is that Christ has returned and is at His temple for judgment. The burden of the Society’s message to the world is that God at Armageddon will destroy all the forces of Satan. If Christ has not returned, and I now believe He has not, and if Armageddon is not God’s battle, and I believe it is not, the light in that connection has come to us not through the WATCHTOWER but from another source, which, proves that the WATCHTOWER is not the channel through which God is feeding His people and not only so but that all the teachings presented therein since 1918 and based on these false premises are wrong!
So much for doctrine: now a word regarding what I feel constrained to state concerning the corruption otherwise of the Society.
As the scales by the Lord’s grace, have fallen from my eyes I have been astounded to see how blinded I have been to your actions, through a superstition that the WATCHTOWER was the Lord’s channel of meat in due season for the household of faith and that you as President of the Society were God’s chief servant amongst His people, and that you being responsible we should be submissive to whatsoever you required done, foolishly thinking that I had no responsibility in the matter and that anything you did that was wrong, or that I did as ordered by you, the Lord would overrule. It was with this thought in mind that I, at your orders would purchase cases of whiskey at $60.00 a case, and cases of brandy and other liquors, to say nothing of untold cases of beer. A bottle or two of liquor would not do; it was for THE PRESIDENT and nothing was too good for THE PRESIDENT. He was heaven’s favorite, why should not he have everything that would gratify his desires for comfort. True, I had a part therein for I partook of your hospitality, or shall I say the Society’s hospitality for it was the Society’s money but I partook, as above stated, being blinded with the idea the THE PRESIDENT was in charge and therefore responsible and not I. Today I see that the thought was absolutely wrong and that the squandering of the Society’s money in that respect was a mis-appropriation of funds, and I should have taken no part therein whatsoever. I confess my wrong before the friends and before the Lord and ask their forgiveness and His.
Often as I thought about this extravagance and waste and then thought of the lot of the pioneers I was puzzled, but my conscience was lulled by the belief that the Lord was using you to serve His cause and people and therefore I did not and dared not say anything that I thought would cause the friends to lose confidence in you as a servant of the Lord. True, I have humorously said to those whom I thought were our mutual friends things regarding your idiosyncrasies that all MEN between friends say one of another, just as you have said of me, which things I know have been traitorously (Matthew 24:10, John 16:1,2) reported to you not along out of their setting but so out of their spirit that none who wanted to know the truth would recognize them as the original statements, and before my God I can state I have never to my knowledge done anything intentionally to injure you, the work of the Society, or its interests, in my life. In that betrayal you joined hands – not that I mind in point of fact I thank God that He permitted it and assure you I would do good to any of the conspirators had I the opportunity.
While recognizing your position as President of the corporation I have always reserved the right to think. It has been well said, “A man who cannot think is an idiot, a man who won’t think is a fool, and a man who is afraid to think is a coward.” I absolutely refuse to have any person do my thinking for me. I could not do otherwise and be faithful to my God. I could not be a Russellite and be faithful to God; I could not be a Rutherfordite and be faithful to God; I could not be a Channelite and be faithful to God; and I could not be a Dawnite or any other Ite and be faithful to God. To be such, to my understanding of the Scriptures, would mean one was defiled with women (organizations) and subject to their will and not the will of God. (Revelation 14:4) “He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully (And not the deductions and sophistries of men” no matter what they may claim for themselves or their office – or organization with which they happen to be associated,) “Behold. I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord…and cause My people to err by their lies, and by the lightness.” Jeremiah 23:28,42 . True, all these Ites or Iarns have some truth: some more, some less. Otherwise they could not deceive the people. It is with that very truth, together with the sophistries of men, that Satan blinds men; in fact the more truth they have when wrongfully used, the more deceptive they are. Each claim to speak with authority, some much more dogmatically than others. Paul well counsels, “Beware any lest man spoil your through philosophy.” – Col. 2:8.
The squandering of the Society’s money on liquor was only one thing I had cause to wonder over; there were other things. I could not help but contrast with the lot of the pioneers the luxury that you surrounded yourself with and the comfort that I enjoyed, and among these luxuries I cannot refrain from mentioning the following:
1. Now one but two 16-cylinder cars, one in California and one in New York. One would not suffice for THE PRESIDENT nor would a 6 cylinder car be big enough for THE PRESIDENT, but a 4 would do for a pioneer, or a bicycle or a hand-sleigh, or trudging along without any vehicle at all.
2. Your New York apartment, easily worth a rental of $10,000.00 a year. And its luxurious furnishings.
3. Your palatial residence on Staten Island, camouflaged as essential to the broadcasting station WBBR.
4. As though that residence were not sufficient, a further small place of seclusion in the woods of Staten Island where you can go and rest your weary body while the pioneers and others trudge from door to door.
5. Your further abode at San Diego, for which you yourself told me you were offered $75,000.00, but of course it could not be sold and the funds used to help the pioneers because it was deeded to David – what hypocrisy!
6. Commodious and expensive quarters in Magdeburg, Germany, for the convenience of THE PRESIDENT, to say nothing of the provision made for your comfort in London.
As what is your mental attitude toward all this? Why you glory in it and brazenly advertise it to the friends. “Who dares find fault therewith? Am I not THE PRESIDENT?” Yes, you glory in it, glorying in your shame.
Nothing is too good for THE PRESIDENT. He must have every comfort and every consideration, but he feels very sympathetic and so tenderly disposed toward the “dear pioneers.” Words are easy, but actions speak louder than words and I cannot imagine a more striking illustration, even as between the clergy class and laity, than between yourself and the pioneers as referred to be Jesus words when he said: “For they (the hypocrites) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their little fingers…Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye devour widows houses…ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte. And love…the chief seats in the synagogues…and to be called by men, “Rabbi Rabbi” (some distinctive name). Truly the pioneers and others have had burdens heaped upon them that you would not move with one of your fingers. Truly the widows have been robbed at your suggestion, or rather I should say command, for your command to the friends is, “Take their last penny for a book; they need it more than bread.” What a spirit! And yet the friends submit to it. While a few will take the penny and as Paul says, “glory in their shame,” how the vast majority hate it, but feel they must obey – God is speaking. What sacrilege! What blasphemy! What trafficking in the name of the Heavenly Father! The friends have served you faithfully, they have unknowingly been your servants, robbed by you of everything even the word of God and his precious promises which you have made null and void by your vain babblings; trudging on day by day, wondering but without a murmur. My what faithfulness, and what a taskmaster! I feel sure many will have their eyes opened, for 7,000, at least at heart have not bowed the knee to Baal even though they have advertised your name more than that of God Almighty. I would that you had gone from door to door as the pioneers and others have, and you would then know what you are talking about.
I could go on at much length about the things I know considering your personal conduct and the contrast between yourself and the pioneers, but I choose not. My sole purpose in outlining my personal experience with you is with the earnest hope of awakening the friends to the fallacy of putting confidence in man above God’s word, or idolizing an office and putting confidence in that office above God’s word. A Christian must learn that to honor God he must put faith in God’s word and God’s word alone, making it his shield and his buckler and not a man or body of men or corporation, no matter what claim is made for that man, body of men or corporation, for soon we get into the paths of human reasoning and that invariably leads us to disaster as the wrecks all along the pathway of the Gospel Age bear witness to. One organization after another Satan has overreached and brought into subjection of his will. The clergy class being overreached by Satan tried to establish the Kingdom before its time and convert the world. Of course, they claimed they were not doing it but God was. So today Satan has overreached the Society and has caused the friends through the WATCHTOWER to believe the time has come to establish the Kingdom and gather together the great multitude before the time, claiming of course that they are not doing it but that God is. But God is not and they are therefore not getting nowhere as all honest brethren are now admitting and are asking the questions, “if the millions who will never die, constitute the great multitude, are being gathered, where are they? For they certainly are not coming in our town or city.” You know and I know, all who read the reports intelligently know, that despite all our stupendous effort – there are less than 50,000 associated with the Society in its work! If for the next ten years there should become associated an average of 50,000 a year, at the end of that time there would then only be 550,000. How long would it take at that rate to gather the “millions who would never die,” and if such must take their stand before Armageddon, as you teach, how far away is Armageddon? Well, someone will say, “Well, if that be true what are we doing now?” The Bible answers the question: “We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not brought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the earth fallen.” Isaiah 26:18. “Not everyone that saith unto me,’ Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” – Matthew 7:21-23. The Roman Catholic Church is doing a great work but in the name of the Roman Catholic Church. Likewise the Protestant systems are doing a great work in their names, and the Salvation Army is doing a great work in its name, but the Society is doing it in His most holy name (Jehovah). “In fact, Lord, we’re so busy with works we have hardly time to open our Bibles, let alone study them. You see, Lord we have our YEAR BOOK to study now and that tells of our wonderful works, and our PRESIDENT, too, is very busy writing books. And oh, Lord, he is so courageous and his faith in Thee so great that he gets behind four walls, or surrounds himself literally with an armed bodyguard, and bellows away his dreams (Jeremiah 23:31,82) [sic] and sends us out from door to door to face the enemy while he goes from ‘drink to drink,’ and tells us if we don’t we are going to be destroyed. But don’t misunderstand us Lord, we don’t do it from fear or for reward, but because of our great love for you, and therefore will not be disappointed if we get no reward, but our hope is we will spared through Armageddon. Our PRESIDENT, Lord, is really a very important man. Of course he says he is not even though he thinks he is, but then that you and it is not for us to reason why; ours is but to do and die; and ‘we love to have it so.’ Of course he says when he speaks personally it might not be correct to say he is speaking for you, but when he speaks as PRESIDENT or through the WATCHTOWER or books then you speak; is it not wonderful!”
In fact these publications, he says, contain your commands and we must obey. My, what a difference a little man-made office or a little paper and ink make. How authoritative one then becomes and just on a par with the Catholic priest who says bread and wine is just bread and wine but he blesses it, oh my, it is the actual body and blood of Christ!! How alike Mr. Rutherford (excuse me, I should have said ‘Judge’) is to Mr. Ratti, for does not Mr. Ratti say when he speaks personally it is nothing but when he speaks as the Pope, he speaks infallibly. “Oh,” some will say, “the Roman Catholic Church is the counterfeit of the true and the Society is the true church.” But the question might be asked is it not more reasonable to conclude that the Society is the counterfeit of the Roman Catholic Church even though the Catholic Church is not the true church, do not appear to be the work of the same potter? Note, the spirit of both: pride, arrogance, intolerance, bombast, to say nothing of the spirit of judging. Furthermore, Paul’s statement in 2nd Thessalonians 2:4,8 seems to have application to both organizations. These verses read: “…so, that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (When we speak officially, God speaks commands. Beware!)…And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall annihilate with the brightness of his coming!”
Now a word regarding the financial progress of the Society. You inform the friends and the public that the books and booklets are placed with the public at cost – they surely are and more!! You well know that the price to the pioneers until recently covered all costs including all appropriate overhead charges and even now the loss is only slight on some items, while on the other hand the price to the companies and public nets the Society at least 100%! What is this 100% if it is not profit? Poor gullible friends. How they believe everything you tell them!!! Where do they think the millions of dollars invested in buildings, machinery, stock, etc, at Brooklyn, Magdeburg, London, Toronto and other places, to say nothing of your own dwellings, etc, come from if not from profit on the books? You know and I know that the gain the Canadian Office alone during the past few years was a hundred thousand dollars. And at the time I was relieved of my duties there was not only a large sum in the bank as customary but also over $25,000.00 in cash was lying in the Society’s vaults at 40 Irwin Avenue and had for years, which could be used for the needs of the President or those whom he might designate in case of an international emergency – and the dear pioneers? Well, of course they could go hungry. Poor gullible friends!! My, were we not blind, and how blind the friends still are! And yet the annual reports tell of our great losses and how it is hoped the Lord will make it up. Well, it is said, “figures don’t lie, but liars do figure.”
From the article “Upon Our Lord’s Return” which shows it is a future event, which the vast majority of the friends now have, and which others may have upon application, they can choose between a “thus saith the Lord” as found therein and your bombast, bluff, and follow which they choose. Furthermore, from the above testimony, which is true before the Lord as you know it to be, the friends can determine whom you are serving. Many no doubt will decide, “I will remain with the Society until THE PRESIDENT himself through the WATCHTOWER tells me I must go.” Poor, deluded children, may God have pity upon them is my earnest prayer. They ultimately will be forced by the logic of events to realize their mistake even as I was forced to, blindest of the blind.
It seems strange that after our experiences of 1914 and 1925 we should still fail to draw a clear cut line of demarcations between deduction and a “thus saith the Lord”, and go on dogmatizing regarding the Lord’s presence, dogmatizing about the Lord being at His temple, and dogmatizing concerning what Armageddon will bring about. But there are “none so blind as those who won’t see” and they will go on prophesying false dreams until events themselves prove the folly thereof. And this, even though such false teachings bring dishonor to God and His word, for what is prone to dishonor God’s word more in the minds of people than testimony that is made with a declaration that it is based upon God’s word when that testimony is found to be false. One does well to take heed to Deuteronomy 18:21, 22, which reads: “If thou say in thine heart how shall we know the word, which the Lord hath spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the things follow not nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoke, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptously; though shalt not be afraid of him.” (An outstanding example, our nonsense concerning what God was going to do in the year 1925.) And again I quote Jeremiah 23:28-82 [sic] “He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully…Behold, I am against them that prophecy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness.”
Up until the time I received the article “Upon Our Lord’s Return”, above referred to, I believe the Society was the Lord’s organization. That article shook my belief therein. I wrote you to see if the article could be answered. It has not been answered. I cannot be answered because it is the truth, and I now no longer believe the Society is the Lord’s channel of truth or that you are a servant of the Lord, whatever else you might be. As God is against the Society (Jeremiah 23:98-82) [sic] and every other adulterous woman that defiles men and makes them puppets or “yes men”, so must I be. I was active in the service work up to and including the “Jehovah of Hosts” testimony period and then was forced to the conclusion that such service was not only not of God but dishonoring to His Word and Name. Why, one may ask? I answer: because the message contained in the publications is largely based upon the false premise that our Lord is present, the He is at His Temple and that God at Armageddon will destroy Satan’s organization and usher in His Kingdom in power and glory upon the earth. The message is spoken presumptously and is based upon philosophy or deduction of man and not upon a “thus saith the Lord.” In other words, it is what the Lord speaks of as “false dreams” and He say He is against such and therefore I must be. Was the Lord please with our false dream concerning 1925 and the zeal of the friends in that connection? He was not. Was it a lie. It was. Did we learn any lesson therefrom and humble ourselves before the Lord? We did not but went right on presumptuously heralding broadcast our further dreams in His name. Will He be any more pleased this time with our dream and zeal than he was in 1925? He will not, and therefore it behooves a faithful child of God to courageously take a stand and “come out of her that he be not a partaker of her sins.”
But someone may ask, “if the Society is not doing the Lords work, what is the Lords work?” The answer to this question must stand until a later date. Suffice to say now that just as one required to see in a measure at least the corruption of Churchianity and be dissatisfied therewith before he could accept what truth the Society had, so likewise one must see in a measure at least the corruption of the Society and how far it has departed from a “thus saith the Lords” before he can receive the answer to that question. In the meantime, I would suggest that any who read this letter should read carefully and prayerfully 1st Corinthians 18 and Philippians 4:8, pausing after each sentence to think on what he has read.
While hardly related to the matter at hand, I could not help but think as I read a recent copy of the GOLDEN AGE of Paul’s word in Phil 4:8 which reads: “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, THINK OF THESE THINGS.” I wonder how one could read such blood-curling stuff and obscene language as the GOLDEN AGE contains and at the same time carry out Paul’s admonition. But I can hear some scoffer saying, “Oh that was only Paul and he said it long before the Lord came to his temple in 1918. Since then we are taught to be real “He” men, real “Christians” that know how to use strong language.
In all my twenty years association with you I always had a kindly feeling of love toward you in the Lord and have in sincerity always closed my letters to you giving expression thereto. Even upon this occasion I cannot refrain from saying that I would to God that you would awaken to your position and make full confession before Him, for I have no ill will toward you whatsoever; I pity you and would do you good if I could. Remember, God is a God of loving kindness and tender mercy; His mercy endureth forever!
As I survey the whole matter I am reminded of Jesus words in John: “This is the condemnation that (cometh upon you) lit is come into the world. And me (you) loved darkness rather than light because their (your) works were evil”, not truth but lies, false dreams, vain babblings. “Am I therefore you enemy because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
Sincerely,
W.F. Salter (signed)
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:29 pm
Wow, great read…judge Rutherford would be sooo proud of the new H.Q. today…you can just visualize him driving a group of groupie sisters around the facilities in a 16 passenger Merzadise sprinter van, long Island ice tea in the cup holder..Definitely would be way to busy to spend any with wife and son…
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Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:38 pm
No, he definitely would still be rocking a Cadillac, he loved his top of the line luxury cars. The real question is would it have spinner wheels? Would he wear Air Jordan’s, Dolce and Gabana, Michael Kors? I’d hand out with him and we’d cruise to
http://youtu.be/uPqnrQfm8oU
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 3:52 pm
I can guarantee that tm3 wouldn’t be riding shotgun, no way , he’d be lucky to be in backseat. .and outta sight.
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Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:12 pm
That’s true he’s more conserved with beating the watchtower to death, that all mighty JW.ORG might rise like a fiery Phoenix in the universe of Cyber Cults and drain the bank accounts of millions now living. Given all the money woes and the unmasking taking place a friend on another site predicted the seven samurai would soon be raptured to some Caribbean island with no extradition by a giant pile of money. Im waiting to see what happens.
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:25 pm
OHHhh MY GOD ..,,, Mr SALTER!!… YOU ARE SUCH an HONOURABLE & COURAGEOUS MAN!!
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ScotWm says:
October 1, 2015 at 11:44 pm
Regarding the 1937 letter that W.F. Salter wrote to Joseph Rutherford at his Beth Sarim mansion in San Diego: Great letter outlying the hypocrisy of the man who named his religious cult Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is common knowledge that Joseph Rutherford was a belligerent drunk. However, the added information provided makes Rutherford look even worse.
Two items from this letter are of particular interest to me:
“… a superstition that the WATCHTOWER was the Lord’s channel …” Superstition! An irrational belief, especially with regard to the unknown. That’s the explanation that I have been looking for. That’s why so many Jehovah’s Witnesses remain faithful to the Watchtower when it is so obvious that it is not God’s channel of truth. They’re superstitious!
“… the message contained in the publications is largely based upon the false premise that our Lord is present …” Nothing has changed in nearly 80 years. The Governing Body will say anything to promote its false 1914 teaching. The ridiculous overlapping generation doctrine is a prime example of this.
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Robertoperez67 says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:28 am
Great observation
Reply
VinceDamiano says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Jehovah witnesses deny rumors UK headquarters move to Chelmsford could collapse!
Further confirmation that the WTBTS is in peril!
Sorry maybe this is old news it broke 18 hours ago.
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Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:54 pm
You’ll hear of branch closers and reports of branch closers, but the end is not yet…
Reply
Robertoperez67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:55 pm
Hope to hear more soon, last one out hit the lights.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 1, 2015 at 5:05 pm
One of the composite signs of the last of the last of the days…branch closers. ..
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Pickled brain says:
October 2, 2015 at 6:08 am
@JwPow .. Another part of the COMPOSITE SIGN is … Eviction of Bethelites ..As Well as Branch Closures.. THEN another part of the SIGN…. IS STEPHEN LETTS WASHING HIS OWN …, UNDERPANTS !!! … But the END is NOT Yet!!
When you Catch Sight of the DISGUSTING THING?? … ANTHONY MORRIS Cooking HIS SAUSAGE??? …Pardon Me !!’
BUT When you see GEOFFREY JACKSON coming on a CLOUD..!! … You Know you HAVE HAD ONE TOO MANY!!!
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Robert67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Laser keyboard + autocorrect = spelling fail
Reply
Chinchilla says:
October 1, 2015 at 5:51 pm
I am an elder looking for advice.
Goal is to fade eventually. Have been baptized 6+ years. Wife was born JW.
I would like to resign from being an elder. I don’t know how to go about that. What can my reason be for it without a cause for questioning?
My concern as I explained to my wife was Letts comment that we should not believe the media’s “lies” that Jehovah’s organization is covering up cases of sexual abuse. We saw that Morning Worship on broadcast together. I expressed my concerns with that comment and what we as elders are expected to do. I told her how Lett is lying to our faces. That is hypocrisy. I commented on the audacity to now put up two videos which mention how this org does not handle child sexual abuse inappropriately. She saw how upset I was and commented I should probably not continue as an elder if I was this bothered. I agreed. And glad she sees it this way.
My wife continues to believe that Jehovah will take care of this in due time but still defends the org. I am happy that she agrees with me on stepping down as elder.
Now, any experience or suggestions on how to go about this? Please help.
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Garrett says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:49 pm
Chinchilla
Just leave. Period . No matter what the cost just walk away. You MUST be true to yourself and to the real truth. If you lose family or contacts or sociability…so be it. Would your really want friends who only love you for agreeing with 7 dilusional men in New York???
Get the hell out… Start your new life. No excuses, no tap dances, no guilt….. Just plain leave. It all gets better after that.
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Robertoperez67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 6:11 pm
Tell the truth the way they do. Without being specific, just say your under a lot of stress and can’t handle the anxiety of your own drama, much less anyone else at this time. Let them know and don’t take no for an answer, if you wish to fade slowly, make no mention of what you know about anything. Never, ever give up any personal information as far as school work, friends etc.. Watchtower policy is that anything you say can and will be twisted against you. Express no doubts, just enjoy the meetings and service from a spectators point. Your first meeting after being freed of hipocracy will be your best one ever. Keep sharing bible knowledge without the jw agenda if you can. Don’t give up on God he’s still there, only your religion will be your personal relationship with him.
Reply
Chinchilla says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Thank you Robertoperez67. May I ask what you mean by not giving personal information? As in to the elders during that meeting?
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Robertoperez67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:52 pm
I’ve come across all sorts from the rare authentically humble and discreet elder to the raise to the top by burying the competition, anyone with an education, liked by friends, etc (the vast majority-sad but absolute truth) after you step down they will brain fart over your true reasons for stepping down at first amongst each other and then to family and finally to anyone who brings up your stepping down. I served for along time as both elder and off and on auxiliary overseer. I learned that the poison in each congregation always begins with these glory seekers and their very, very false humility. Keep your business to yourself. You know very well through our training that we are professional meddlers and have been trained to hunt, not help, any weak links in the chain. A weak sheep is an unproductive sheep and like a bad apple that weak thing can bring the other friends spirits down with their stupid illnesses and problems. Remember your training for what it was. We were line managers of a pyramid scheme without a salary.
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Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 11:12 pm
@RobertPerez67…. NEVER a TRUER WORD SAID,Robert….. I can tell you speak from BITTER Experience & I Understand WHY!! I have Spoken & went to REGULAR PIONEER SCHOOL back in 1982 & Many ,not All had MOST of the FAULTS you have Mentioned as Mr SALTER in his Letter to Rutherford Brilliantly written shows ‘NOTHING HAS CHANGED Since 1937!! Because as. Mr SALTER Realised it is NOT GODS ORGANISATION !!
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Robertoperez67 says:
October 1, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Darn you autocorrect *rise not raise
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minion says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Isn’t it ironic that the letter that was leaked on JW Survey was dated October 4th….JW Survey day.
Happy 4th anniversary JWSurvey – to be observed on October 4, 2015.
from All your friends with true unconditional Love, all 1.5 million viewers and Bethelites – Congratulations!!
The No Spin Zone.
Reply
Catalina says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:30 pm
RobertPerez is right because any information is used like a weapon because it isn’t a loving religion. In their own way they will kill you if they can (disfellowshipping) Jehovah’s Witnesses religion isn’t really a religion because it would have to be forgiving for it to be a religion. My sister’s son-in-law is disfellowshipped for the third time because he is alcoholic. He is bi-polar. He’s manic depressive. He almost killed himself by hanging. His knees were on the ground. He almost died by strangulation. He’s disfellowshipped because he admitted to the elders he smoked pot and needs to return to rehab. The elders disfellowshipped him. They chastised him rather than help him. RobertPerez is right, don’t share personal information with the elders. It will make things worse.
Reply
Catalina says:
October 1, 2015 at 8:48 pm
The JW org worries more about copy right laws than it does about child abuse cases. The org doesn’t worry about the right things. They need to get a new lawyer.
Reply
Catalina says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:04 pm
Religion is stupid. During the war between the Spaniards and Hispanics somewhere in Mexico the Spaniards told the Hispanics “Our virgin Mary is better than your virgin Guadalupe.” The other side, the Hispanics said Noooo, our virgin Guadalupe is better than your virgin Mary so the Spaniards blew a cannon ball through the virgin Guadalupe’s head on the flag. The Hispanic men got upset and screamed ahhhhhhh and they blew a cannon ball through virgin Mary’s head on their flag. Both sides were screaming blowing cannon balls through each others flags and both sides had a lot of casualties. Religion is stupid. I’m going to bed now.
Reply
minion says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:25 pm
Top Ten worries from WT Corporation:
1). Make sure no copied written letters leaked – Bethelites.
2). Strong consideration to move annual meeting date away from JWSurvey day – observed on October 4th.
Fourth year anniversary of JWSurvey on Oct, 4, 2015. Congrats!!
3). Make sure no internal videos leaked – Elders & Bethelites.
4). To file bankruptcy – Lawyers have stolen all the money.
5). Must tighten the chains on members.
6). Announce someone did say – religion is a racket and a snare!
7). Ask for more donations – from who? The check books have spoken.
8). Announce the great tribulation has started – a lie.
9). Cry wolf – and blame Satan for our woes – a lie.
10). Close the doors and curtains at WT – by the hand of Jehovah.
Peace out,
Reply
Pickled brain says:
October 1, 2015 at 9:35 pm
The LETTER by Mr SALTER to RUTHERFORD in 1937 is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING !! All the points he makes could be Repeated today . I am AMAZED & STUNNED!! Mr SALTER… Such an HONOURABLE ,BRAVE&COURAGEOUS MAN ! WOW & Intelligent …. I Just LOVE His Qoute….’The MAN who Can’t Think is an IDIOT; The MAN who Won’t THINK is a FOOL; The MAN who is AFRAID to THINK is a COWARD!! Brilliant !! Also He Says The WATCHTOWER ORGANISATION became a SUPERSTITION!! How TRUE TODAY !!
Reply
ScotWm says:
October 1, 2015 at 10:47 pm
What should the Governing Body do when apostate Bethel members leak confidential letters and other secret information? It’s time to lecture the domestics on the importance of obedience.
Governing Body member Anthony Morris III has just delivered a talk so full of lies that even he doesn’t seem to believe what he is saying. Actually, he looks worn out, possibly from worrying about the sorry state of the Watchtower organization. Here are some highlights from his talk, “Jehovah Blesses Obedience”:
Those who are dogmatic accept a belief or teaching as being true without questioning it. Apostates and opposes try to convince God’s people that the faithful slave is dogmatic.
Morris states that Jehovah’s organization is a Theocratic arrangement and that Jehovah is blessing the faithful slave that dictates Watchtower doctrine. This composite slave consists of 7 Governing Body members, who’s decisions and decrees are made collectively.
Morris goes on to claim that the Watchtower organization is ruled by God. The Governing Body does not issue man made decisions, because the Watchtower is governed from heaven. Therefore, if you want Jehovah’s blessings you will obey the Governing Body.
http://tv.jw.org/#home
Reply
Awake! says:
October 2, 2015 at 1:59 am
@Pickled Brain
In answer to your query, I’m from the good ol’ USA, currently in exile for poking fun at Donald Trump’s hair. I kid. Trump doesn’t need me to make him look silly. :) But you are absolutely correct about our shared sense of humor. The British sense of humor (or is it “humour”? – we can agree to disagree) is unparalleled. I noticed in an earlier post you’re a Monty Python fan. Well, honest to God, I GREW UP on Monty Python. It was like Mother’s Milk to me! That zany group of of doctors, lawyers, and English professors who met at Oxford while studying their respective professions, is more than a comedy troupe, they’re a BLESSING. Sorry to get off topic here, but I do have a point. They gave the world an extensive, wonderfully funny body of sketches and films. They instilled in me, or at least cultivated, a zany sense of what’s potentially funny, a sense of humor that has carried me through many a stormy time. The value of a sense of humour (or humor) must never be underestimated! It’s what makes us human. I believe that the people we are opposing on sites like this, are people who have lost that, or perhaps never had it. Sorry to be so long-winded about it.
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Pickled brain says:
October 2, 2015 at 4:43 am
@Awake . Thank you for your comment . Good to see you were Raised on MONTY PYTHON Sense of Humour& you are Knowledgeable about their background . FAWLTY TOWERS with John Cleese is brilliant !!! & I Loved watching ‘CHEERS’ with Ted Danson ! Great Satirical Humour! NOW the TENUOUS? LINK with the TOPIC …. SATIRICAL Humour HELPS DEFLECT the PAIN & WASTED TIME SLAVING for 7 MENTAL MIDGETS??? Have a NICE DAY!!!
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Tara says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:27 am
What have the Watchtower ever done for us?
They gave us ‘tight pants Tony’
Well ok besides tight pants Tony… What have the watchtower ever done for us?
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ruthlee says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:44 am
Come on Tara, they gave us irrational fears. UNbirthdays (every year).Fear of death, people, the future,the world.Our special assemblies where we were bored together without any recollection of what was droned into us so we had lovely washed brains all shiny and smooth ready for the next session. Tara didnt you just love not being part of the world but not fitting in with the elderettes ? I’m surprised at you not having a single thing to remember but tonytightpants. I hope i’ve reminded you of some of the blessings that you have clearly forgotten. Last one dear friend, all that wasted time and energy priceless. tee hee ruthlee
Reply
ruthlee says:
October 2, 2015 at 2:19 am
Mr Walter Salter. Another beacon shining among the fecal matter.Every day i learn new things ,great things and brave brave souls who went before us.I wrote in my journal, the quote you mentioned PB “A man who cannot think is an idiot….”What is so amazing about this dear brother’s testimony, like all truthful things it is timeless and stands the test of time.Also cannot be buried ,truth will always out. And it is timely.I say this because Satan like God don’t change.But far more clever than us dupes.Having said that we all can see light in a dim place.When all the sewerage is finally exposed and cleaned we will look back to the modern heros like Bro Salter and Bro Ray Franz and honour them as they did the honourable thing.Note ;I always wondered what it meant to be defiled by women as it never made sense. I can go with it being an alluring organisation. My vision of our poorly mother and her fawning seven sons are draped in lovely purple and scarlet hope they like wine. ruthlee/ruthless.
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Pickled brain says:
October 2, 2015 at 5:02 am
@ruthlee.. Ruth you are SO Right !! Mr WALTER SALTER & MR RAY FRANZ were BRAVE SOULS & HEROES as you say in your comment!! These REAL MEN were willing to LOSE EVERYTHING .., PRESTIGE, POWER, WEALTH & a JOB for LIFE at BETHEL because they Weren’t COWARDS like the 7 Mental PYGMIES of Brooklyn … Who are hanging on to their Luxurious lifestyle & cosy comfortable way of life… The GB are DISGUSTING whereas RAY & WALTER are INSPIRATIONAL,HUMBLE, MODEST Yet SO BRAVE & Had INNER STRENGTH & DETERMINATION to do What was RIGHT & LOSE EVERYTHING … But NOT THEIR INTEGRITY just like CHRIST JESUS !!… These MEN really MOVE US ALL To See this FIGHT to the BITTER END!!!
Reply
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← Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
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Posted on September 29, 2015
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
Lawyers at Watchtower have forced us to remove the leaked annual meeting letter from our pages
On Thursday, September 24, JWsurvey reproduced a Watchtower letter that had been leaked by a bethel insider. Dated October 4, 2015, the letter advised (or WILL advise) congregations of the announcements that are to be made at Saturday’s annual meeting.
The most dramatic announcement was arguably the scrapping of the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School in favor of a session of preaching presentations.
Another eyebrow-raiser was the news that magazine printing is being further reduced, with public editions of the Watchtower and Awake! to be printed once every two months from January onward.
Within 48 hours of the letter being leaked, this website received nearly 23,000 visits. Interest in the letter was substantial, and the contents were mulled over by the ex-Jehovah’s Witness community in various corners of social media.
Unsurprisingly, given the sensitive nature of the letter, some suggested it might be a hoax. I even briefly pondered myself whether I might be on the receiving end of an extremely elaborate prank designed to undermine this website’s credibility.
But any doubts as to the letter’s authenticity were put to bed today when JWsurvey’s webmaster, John Hoyle, received an email from our hosting company notifying us of an email from Watchtower’s legal department. Apparently, as was the case with the notorious October 1st 2012 child abuse letter, Watchtower’s lawyers consider the leaked letter copyrighted material, and have demanded it be taken down from our pages.
Our web hosting company, seeking to have the matter resolved quickly, advised us of two options: (1) to take the disputed material down, or (2) to issue a counter notification. Since the letter is now freely available elsewhere online, and our work in disseminating it is now effectively done, we have no interest in becoming embroiled in a legal scrap with Watchtower over whether the letter should be on our pages or not.
If anything I am grateful to Watchtower, and specifically its legal department, for once more shooting themselves in the foot so spectacularly. We had a similar situation only 9 months ago regarding Tony Morris and his tight pants fixation, and it seems lessons have not been learned.
By issuing a DMCA complaint, Watchtower has decisively claimed authorship of the letter. And by forcing us to take it down they have demonstrated that (1) they are embarrassed, and (2) they are completely clueless as to how the internet works. Once information is distributed on such a scale it cannot be undistributed.
The whole debacle is yet further proof that Watchtower, like any cult, is struggling to come to terms with the information age. The Governing Body and their men in suits assume the internet can be brought to heel, and that everyone who runs a JW-related website will play by their rules.
But even workers within bethel walls are starting to wake up and find their voice. With each fresh leak the Governing Body’s grip on power is slipping, and with each attempted cover-up there is further proof that this hapless organization is far from the worthy adversary many would assume.
new-cedars-signature3
For obvious reasons the letter in question is no longer available on these pages, but I am confident a copy can easily be traced with some persistent searching on Google. The Reddit Ex-JW community would also be a useful place to look.
Further reading…
◾Watchtower in crisis: Frustration grows at bethel as Governing Body focuses everything on Warwick
◾Theocratic Ministry School GONE as 2015 Annual Meeting announcements leaked in advance
◾More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
◾Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
◾JWsurvey articles on Warwick
◾JWsurvey articles on downsizing
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319 Responses to Watchtower issues DMCA takedown over leaked annual meeting letter
← Older Comments
tiger123 says:
October 2, 2015 at 4:06 am
To all faders.
Here are some suggestions that might help
Step1
Watchtower has always had a built in way of leaving Bethel, being an elder, pioneer etc and it actually will enlighten you. You can resign gracefully for personal health reasons. It worked for me. The Elders were sad to see me.go, but I was glad to be free. The congregation will quickly lose interest in you and you can get to.fading.
Step 2
Business meetings are acceptable ways of socializing with non JWs. Take the time to make new friends and call them.business functions.
Step3
Be honest with yourself and in time you will realize being honest with JWs and tbe borg is way easier than you thought. The only people.worth keeping the truth from are people you.love. I.E. Honey does this dress make.me.look bad? Nooo way! You look great! G.B. Does this Watchtower make.js look stupid? Hell yes it does, you pigheaded arrogant piece of…….
See the difference
Step 4
Find a hobby you love and go do that. You will find people.that have similar interests to you that way. WARNING: addictive making friends with people who you have fun with.
Step 5
Life is too short. Get about finding what makes.you.happy. The time.you.have lost until now cannot be recovered. Dont waste a bunch more time trying to get even. The country is run by lawyers and they are the ones who will win if you chase the borg. Lawyers are not much better than the GB. You only stand to lose more time and heartache in such an endeavor.
Step 6
You must be true to.yourself. More important than anything else. The Bible which says it best and I am.paraphrasing, ‘If Christ was not raised up, then eat and drink.for tomorrow we are to die.’ Ask yourself this one simple question. Did you promise yourself.if this was not the truth you would not be a part of it and not waste so much time with all.of tbe meetings and field service. To thy own self be true. By doing this you.now.are empowered.to live your own life whole and free. Better to be disliked.for.who you are than liked for who you are not.
Last thing, to all who are angry. I once was as angry as you or as angry as any person can be. My ahaa moment came.when I stopped focusing on the hurt and found things to.do that made me happy. When you.let go of the hurt, the world looks totally different, the sun is brighter, the grass is greener and their is reason for hope and happiness.
Best Wishes to all in your journey wherever you find yourself
Reply
Actigall Ur says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:14 am
Tiger, good advice, but I am not one to just walk away when a harm has been done to myself or my family and I believe a grave injustice has been done to us- financially, spiritually, psychologically, emotionally- and retributions must and will be paid.
Don’t just fade out of existence! You are doing harm to others by not doing anything at all for fear of “lawyers.” Don’t do anything illegal and they can’t touch you. It is that simple. But there is much work to be done!
Distributing flyers questioning 587/607/1914 for example, at the Kingdom Hall is a great way to start. Getting people to THINK and to QUESTION EVERYTHING is the start to breaking free from this cult. Remember, we were inside the Borg too at some time, so we know what automatic defenses they have to keep their brains under Borg mind control. Use that to your advantage.
Or, write emails to all of your friends using a anonymous email address. Ask them what they think about 607/587/1914. I bet you most will say that they do not believe it! I know I never did since I was a child but just accepted it (and dozens of other false teachings) as something I’ll have to wait for until “the new scrolls” are opened… LOL OMG retrospectively, I must have been INSANE to believe that! I remember talking to my uncle who was an elder at the time and asking him why animals get sick, and suffer and die in the same way we do if they had nothing to do with the “downfall of MAN” – keyword MAN. I mean animals never did anything! And his answer at the time was vague and comprised of: “good question; I don’t really have an answer; the bible says Jehovah removed the protective barrier from the earth so everything was in chaos; I don’t know really except what the GB tells us to believe so it must be true; I guess we will have to wait for the new scrolls to be opened to see.”
My god! Of course it makes no sense because it is total bull—-! What does answer this very clear is that the entire universe must follow the rule of ENTROPY! It is that simple.
Well I could on a rant for hours about all of this BS but the point is, why not help others to break free while still remaining inside the Borg collective?
I’m not saying this is for everyone. It takes a mentally strong person to pretend you still belong to the Borg. I’ve been doing it for over 2 years now as an MS, having to drag myself to the meetings and listen to the BS, answers from self-righteous holy holy holy assholes who think they are better than everyone because they are friends with the circuit overseer and they pioneer, and then to have to discuss the BS after an assembly with my family. It literally is enough to make you go insane! Like I said it is not for everyone but my goal is to help as many as I can “come to an accurate knowledge” of this cult.
Bottom line is, if you are not able to openly question what you are being taught, then it is NOT the “truth.”
Ok, now I need a whiskey. Or ten.
Reply
MimiLove says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:36 am
This is a very helpful comment. Thanks so much!
Reply
Doc Obvious says:
October 2, 2015 at 6:34 am
Lloyd, Is your web site hosted in the United States? Is there a way to host your web site out of the United States where the laws may be more flexible for your cause?
Reply
Tara says:
October 2, 2015 at 7:54 am
I received a text last night from a person who was concerned about our ‘friendship’. The person is a non witness and in the public field. This person was in contact with a witness who informed ‘her’ that the witnesses do not have friends outside the organisation. ‘She’ contacted me upset that what she believed to be a friendship with me was in fact nothing more than an ‘acquaintance’. I told ‘her’ that it is true that ‘we’ are discouraged from making non witness friends but that I classed ‘her’ as a friend because…… I then went on to explain to ‘her’ the policy. I also directed ‘her’ to this site so ‘she’ could pick through the various articles at the right of the home page and discern for herself what it was like for some of us in the org.
I hope it was the right thing to do because so many are asking questions… they are being flooded out with JW.Org but need to see JW.Borg. I can no longer tell people how wonderful it is to be part of an organisation that has tried to split up me and my family. I am waiting for a text today.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:03 am
No, no no…your supposed to show em a picture from the revelation book about what happens to them and.their family at a
ARMAGETTON, then let them know if they join our service time pyramid scheme, and.make it past level 1 and have enough points BY . D-DAY, then they will be awarded 2 acres of land per person.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:08 am
The revelation book is aka “climax bk”
Reply
MimiLove says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:27 am
So looking at an “apostate” site I came upon this website which is a government site….. Click on “Form 990” and you will see thru the years of a trust that was given to the society from a sister. It is just one example of the many trusts that haven been left to Watchtower. If you scroll thru the 2014 one you will see what all this trust is invested in. Now I thought when you received a trust you had to keep it just so with the various investments but you will note that there are many companies that this trust is invested in that promote war such as Lockhead Martin. The brothers in my area aren’t allowed to work at this facility because all it does is make war planes. Now I know that Mrs Riley initially set this trust up with questionable stocks but to continue to choose the same stock options for years????? WTH…
Can anybody help with finding the US accounts? Could one of the bethel leaks send out a spreadsheet? I’m great with spreadsheets can analyze the crap out of them.
Reply
MimiLove says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:27 am
Sorry here is the website…
http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/386043103
Reply
Robertoperez67 says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:43 am
Just a request to see if anyone possibly has a copy of the four page letter that the circuit overseers were traveling with in 2008 letting elders know that if any of their children attended higher education schools they would be disqualified from being elders as they set a poor example. I know it made its rounds on the interwebs, but lost mine.
Reply
DoctorJW says:
October 2, 2015 at 9:13 am
Robertoperez67,
While there is a letter cautioning against higher education, it does not disqualify elders from serving if their children pursue it. It simply asks to examine motives. I am a doctor, an elder, and a Regular Pioneer. My two sons are both MS and also in college. While I can see some bodies taking the caution to the extreme, which is sad, there is no law that bans higher education or disqualifies elders from serving. Our Coordinator has a higher education degree as does our Secretary. In fact, a little half of our elder body possesses at least a BA, some MS, and myself a doctorate.
Reply
Robertoperez67 says:
October 2, 2015 at 9:32 am
@ DoctorJW ,32 years in the organization and have never seen the like, and I sat at these meetings with the overseer as this four page letter was read and left no doubt what would happen to elders with such children and candidates for eldership. I know the letter can be found by someone on this site. To this day the fact that your a doctor would absolutely mark you as someone to watch in the circuit. I’ve had hundreds of elders sit at my dinner table over the decades and one of the most brought up subjects was making sure our youth stayed clear of college and opted straight for training that could be used by the org (Borg) Free labor from trained carpenters, electricians,plumbers, landscapers etc. This site is replete with victims of this fact who passed on becoming doctors, scientist, lawyers etc..because only those with one foot still in Satans system would do so. I fortunately defied this system myself and yes, I credit university with helping me develop critical thinking skills which have led to my salvation from this suicide cult.
Reply
Ted says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:47 am
On the question of exiting the JW stockade, I’m with Garrett on this.
Just get the hell outta there, I appreciate the emotional ties of family
and wanting to avoid shunning. But that means, as long as family
decide to stay in the cage we’re stuck in there too, living a lie.
Faders will still be under control for a long time. If you want to buy
a lottery ticket, or vote in a political election or take part in any
other proscribed activities, you’ll need to keep looking over your
shoulder. What a way to live !
My own experience was, I sent a letter to the branch resigning my
position, then never attended another meeting. The elders were
convinced I’d committed some bad sin, the C,O quizzed my wife
and said if she covered up for me, she’d be a sharer in the sin.
I’m convinced they were very disappointed when they couldn’t
get anything on me.
Not everyone avoided me, the real Christians greeted me in a
friendly way. It was only the priggish Pharisees that crossed.
over the road .
I’m just stating my own personal view here and would not presume
to tell others what to do, or what’s right or wrong. Our personalities
vary, so do our circumstances, each has to find their own way.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 2, 2015 at 8:57 am
Just remember, a few cardinal rules…
1. If you make the rules, you can break the rules.
2.if that doesn’t seem fair..well, life’s not fair.
3.honest is the best policy, for you..not us.
4. When we speck something that does not reflect the facts, that’s not a lie…but if you did that , of course it.would constitute a lie and would require immediate judicial action.
Reply
Jwpow says:
October 2, 2015 at 9:09 am
Subnote on rule#4…heck, we can form a committee on a publisher for speaking the truth..if we don’t like the “truth” you’re speaking.
Reply
Robertoperez67 says:
October 2, 2015 at 9:13 am
@Ted, I myself cannot just walk away and leave family and friends to luck. I am in a position where the friends actually listen and being an ex elder, still come to me for advice. I am spreading the truth about the watchtower truth from within. I still try my best to adhere to bible principles in my personal life out of respect to my creator not the Borg, I commit nothing which requires my having to look behind my back. I know there is a possibility that I will be singled out or “marked” with time, but that is something I am happy to face if I can jump start as many minds as possible. It is the Borg and all its hipocratical leadership I have a problem with not my friends. If all of us waking up just keep moving ahead leaving everyone in that burning building, what does that really say about us. This site and others like it are treasure troves of facts that can be shared with the friends. How can I share them if I’m no longer allowed contact? I hope God, the one true Gid whatever his name turns out to be will bless our efforts. I hope people of conviction like Lloyd keep up the great work of weaning friends off the JW kool-aid.
Reply
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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…
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And here is a playlist of recommended videos from other channels…
13 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
pj wilcox says:
July 31, 2015 at 3:21 am
I watched the latest video of the inept elder being questioned by the commission. Who prepared this man for testimony? You all are aware of the dentist who shot Cecil the lion in Kenya? Well his life is over. He is in hiding. What he did ,did not break laws in Kenya and his is in a world of trouble with public sentiment. But this elder being questioned is far worse. He covered deeds that drove people to think of killing themselves. Should he not go into hiding? Is his life over? Has he know conscience? Emotion, caring? You know the answer. Bet ya, damage control is working overtime on this.
Reply
Adrian says:
September 8, 2015 at 3:32 am
I think the Royal Commission videos demonstrate that fragility of the governance within the WT society. Yes, it’s an Australia branch issue but cross examination only points to the seat of control on which the governing body members sit. Everything starts and stops with the governing body, they set the policy but where are they? Sitting comfortably in NY watching from a distance ready to abdicate any responsibility whatsoever. A governing body governs and leads but I see no leadership I see the followers talking and being bashed around the head with questions, all too easy for the legal team.
However, it might just be me but does anyone else not see the lawyer’s gap in knowledge regarding the fundamental rationale for the WT society policies, they fall back in their comfort zone knowing that they can say ‘well we don’t have the authority to go beyond the bible.’
It’s this gap in knowledge of the legal representatives which the WT society exploit. I mean nobody is going to ask ‘ where actually did this translation come from anyway?’ What were the academic qualifications of the translators? Is there a possibility that you have interpreted things wrongly or even worse, translated things incorrectly? If there’s a possibility that your interpretation on how to deal with modern day child abuse cases in congregations may be flawed, then are you in agreement that your policies could result in lasting harm to victims of abuse? In my view that translation is the ‘elephant in the room’ every scholar knows it’s perverse but no one is holding this cult to account. So easy to say it’s all in the bible but should they really be saying it’s all in the NWT instead?
The WT society in the videos almost give of an innocence as if to say, ‘ but that’s what we understand from the scriptures’, and I think it works in their favor, but a savvy legal representative would do well to tease out the basis for the rendering of certain verses on which doctrine, policy and organisational decisions are based. So far the WT Society appears to be one step ahead because their authority is not a person but a book, which they are ‘only trying to understand and live by’. Expose the origin of the NWT and the basis for so many ridiculous uncaring decisions is called into question.
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Tweets
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30 Sep
Going To Win @amadmavworld
@cedarsjwsurvey I admire you for the work you do. Keep up the fight, and never give up! Watchtower is getting desperate.
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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29 Sep
JW.borg @jw_borg
@cedarsjwsurvey Heard you got DMCA'd for recent org letter post? Well done sir!
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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29 Sep
Going To Win @amadmavworld
Watchtower tries to cover up leaked annual meeting letter - Cedars' vlog no. 93 #watchtower #jw #funny http://youtu.be/LrLM-CtK8q0
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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28 Sep
Reveal ✔ @reveal
Jehovah's Witnesses have invoked "theocratic warfare" to mislead outsiders. What that may mean for sex abuse: http://ow.ly/SJcWF
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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26 Sep
Evan Harrison Cass @evancass
'Simplifying' to $urvive? @CedarsJWsurvey: http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/theocratic-ministry-school-gone-as-2015-annual-meeting-announcements-leaked-in-advance … Dang about the Ministry School; practical skills were gained for sure.
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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27 Sep
AvoidJW.org @avoidjw_org
@cedarsjwsurvey writes a finely written post about the lies from GB member Geoffrey Jackson: http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/12-things-we-learned-from-geoffrey-jacksons-testimony-at-the-royal-commission …
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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28 Sep
Snoop-a-Loop @Alesiskorg
@cedarsjwsurvey I also think KHs will be on chopping block too. Easy cash grab for them
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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28 Sep
AvoidJW.org @avoidjw_org
Is Watchtower / http://JW.org (the organization behind Jehovah's Witnesses) starting to implode? Let's hear @cedarsjwsurvey view.
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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28 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
A further #watchtower leak suggests deep frustrations among bethelites as lay-offs loom... #jehovahswitnesses http://wp.me/p1TWXJ-27c
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26 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
One #jehovahswitness in Florida thinks it's ok to preach to grieving families via the obituaries... http://wp.me/p1TWXJ-273
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25 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
If new #watchtower releases were honest... pic.twitter.com/Gtg95V7Mvr
View image on Twitter
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25 Sep
AvoidJW.org @avoidjw_org
@cedarsjwsurvey has released the http://JWsurvey.org Global Jehovah's Witnesses Survey Results for 2014: http://jwsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2014-JW-Survey-Results-PDF.pdf …
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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24 Sep
AvoidJW.org @avoidjw_org
Jehovah's Witnesses are to get rid of their mid-week Theocratic Ministry School. http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/theocratic-ministry-school-gone-as-2015-annual-meeting-announcements-leaked-in-advance … #exclusive #apostatenews
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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24 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
My video discussing the annual meeting leak is now up on YouTube! #jehovahswitnesses https://youtu.be/G3xa71kfh-A via @YouTube
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23 Sep
JWR @JWRecovery
Reveal: Jehovah's Witnesses routinely lie in court to protect the church's interests https://www.revealnews.org/article/jehovahs-witnesses-can-hide-the-truth-in-court-to-protect-religion/ … #jworg #jwonly #watchtower
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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24 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
A #jehovahswitness insider has leaked details of some BIG announcements at #watchtower's forthcoming annual meeting http://wp.me/p1TWXJ-26t
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23 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Things are starting to get interesting for bethelites if multiple sources are to be believed... #downsizing http://wp.me/p1TWXJ-26l
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23 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
I've just passed the 5,000-subscriber milestone. Thanks to all who have helped make this possible! https://www.youtube.com/user/johncedars1929 …
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23 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
A quick rundown of the results of the 2014 survey of #jehovahswitnesses from the heart of Zagreb! https://youtu.be/yplwaE8M4AU via @YouTube
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23 Sep
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Fantastic piece by @treybundy on "theocratic warfare," AKA organizationally-mandated lying https://www.revealnews.org/article/jehovahs-witnesses-can-hide-the-truth-in-court-to-protect-religion/ … via @reveal
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