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The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
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Posted on October 16, 2015
Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell performing their famous "tight pants" skit
Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell performing their famous “tight pants” skit
A few weeks ago I was contacted by one of a number of active elders who are “awakened” from Watchtower indoctrination, but who must keep up a pretense of being loyal to the organization due to being threatened with shunning.
This elder told me that he had recently attended the special meeting between his circuit overseer and the local body of elders.
Apparently, an unusual topic was brought up towards the end of the discussion involving official instructions on dress and grooming that echoed Tony Morris’ infamous “tight pants” rant at the 2014 US branch visit.
There was little I could do about this story at the time, because it was one anonymous person’s anecdotal account that was impossible to corroborate. Occasionally I have to put a story like this on the back-burner until further details emerge.
But then, to my delight, a bethelite recently approached me with parts of the circuit overseer “outline” featuring the exact material the elder described. Scans of the pertinent parts are below. You will notice that circuit overseers are only to start discussing the material once ministerial servants have been dismissed from their part of the meeting…
tight-pants-lawThree things stand out about the above instructions to elders. Perhaps most significantly, the guidelines shamelessly discriminate against people who, by their nature, display traits of the opposite sex.
Homosexuality has long been condemned by the organization thanks to various passages from the Bible. But now Watchtower is taking matters one step further. It is not enough to simply refrain from acting on one’s homosexual impulses, which are widely acknowledged to be with someone from childhood rather than being learned behavior, as Watchtower insists.
In the wake of these new guidelines, merely acting in a camp or effeminate way if you are male, or in a tom-boyish way if you are a female, is enough to render you a second-class citizen if you are a Jehovah’s Witness.
This removes arguably the last argument commonly used in defending the organization’s homophobic stance – that it is okay to be gay so long as you don’t act on it. Now a person’s very nature is being brought under scrutiny, and elders now have a free license to inflict misery on any Witness who wrestles with their feelings toward others of their gender even if they are being careful to observe the bible’s prohibitions on homosexuality.
The second, rather obvious point is that sanctioning the kind of clothes someone wears is the very essence of totalitarianism. These latest instructions could have come straight out of a page of George Orwell’s 1984.
Whether someone chooses to wear tight fitting clothes or not, or is inclined to wear their hair in a style reminiscent of the opposite sex, is clearly a personal choice and has nothing whatsoever to do with whether they are a good person or not. Watchtower’s obsession with appearance demonstrates to any reasonable onlooker that the organization is now primarily concerned with the superficial rather than the spiritual – with the earthly rather than the heavenly.
It would be hard to imagine Jesus pulling someone to one side and scolding them because their garments were too “tight fitting,” “revealing” or “highlighted the body.” By contrast, Watchtower is now pursuing such trifling matters with pharasaical fervor, to the point of telling someone they can’t go preaching if they don’t fall in line. (I understand many ex-Witnesses reading this would feel relieved to be banned from the tedious door-to-door work, but let’s remember the mindset of indoctrinated Witnesses, who feel their participation in the ministry is a life-or-death matter.)
It was in 1 Corinthians 4:6 that Paul (whose words are so often quoted in support of Watchtower’s ideas about clothing) is reported to have instructed: “Do not go beyond the things that are written.” It will be difficult for any Witness reading this information to not see that this is precisely what the Governing Body is unashamedly doing – going beyond what is written in the Bible and making up new, arbitrary rules based on nothing more than personal opinion and preference.
For some reason known only to the likes of Tony Morris, the style of dress and grooming that was fashionable in the 1950s is what God has in mind for all Christians if they want to survive Armageddon, and anyone who wears anything more modern and fashionable is treading on thin ice.
This brings me to my third and final observation, which is to note the ease with which Tony Morris’ personal homophobic fixations have translated into official Watchtower policy.
As I noted at the time of his eccentric ramblings at the 2014 U.S. branch visit (see above), the smartest thing for the Governing Body to do in the wake of Tony’s ludicrous performance would have been to eject him from their inner circle. Doing so would have sent a powerful no-nonsense message that the Bible is the organization’s sole authority, and there is no room for egos or personal crusades.
Instead, with the issuing of this circuit overseer outline, the Governing Body has done the opposite. They have shown that either (1) they are easily manipulated by a strong personality, or (2) they have shared Morris’ “metrosexual” concerns all along and just didn’t have the guts to enact laws on the subject until now.
Either way, the evidence that the Governing Body is deluded and completely unworthy of respect or veneration is there for all to see. And as yet more secretive, eyes-only material like the above continues to seep from Watchtower’s increasingly porous walls, we are being treated to a warts-and-all portrait of a backwards bunch of senile, deluded men with nothing left to offer but narrow-mindedness, bigotry, and a doomsday fantasy.
new-cedars-signature3
Further reading…
◾Tony Morris scapegoats gay people in bizarre child abuse denial rant
◾Dear Watchtower, THANK YOU for your “tight pants” copyright complaint!
◾Rawstory: Jehovah’s Witness leader promotes child safety cartoon with homophobic rant
◾Freethinker: JW chief targets gays in child abuse video
◾Pink News: Jehovah’s Witness Leader, “homosexuals” are child abusers
◾After his branch visit performance, is “Tight Pants Tony” now a liability for the Governing Body?
◾Deluded or dangerous? – My thoughts on Anthony Morris III following his Rome visit
Related video…
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← Betrayed and exploited: Dismissed ‘special pioneer’ lashes out against downsizing
Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider →
558 Responses to The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
← Older Comments
Pow says:
October 22, 2015 at 9:36 am
One last comment then I really need to get some work done, or else…..as far as acceptance, and it’s been stated before.
But if it’s your very first meeting ever, you can dress up like jack black’s character “nacho libera” and be welcomed with open arms. (In most halls). The problem is eventually you will be expected to fit excally in to an ideal mold. Which goes way beyond anything biblical, rules about hair,clothing, education, vacations, type of car, house, shoes, service time, meeting/assembly attendence including where and when, bedroom activities with your spouse, vasectomys, movie ratings, type of work and for whom, music, playing ball with your neighbors or workmates, what holiday customs are acceptable, like anniversaries and which are not like thanksgiving, ect ect…so, and so on…
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Robert67 says:
October 22, 2015 at 9:51 am
Once you sign your soul over to them……
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Tara says:
October 22, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Reading Harry Potter and wearing Spandex…. bite me.
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Beth Sarim says:
October 22, 2015 at 10:46 am
Yes, in the Borg ”appearances” are clearly what makes you or breaks you. What is in your mind/heart means nothing at all.
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rob says:
October 22, 2015 at 10:46 am
clones with plastic smiles
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Pow says:
October 22, 2015 at 11:01 am
If you need help figuring if denim jeans or pants slacks are approved most halls, back on the information board have a nice little full color brochure to help you see how to dress, both formally and informally, obstenely it’s for visiting bethel facilities, however, most c.o.’s have instructed local bodys to leave it there so that the publishers “know whats expected from them”
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Tara says:
October 22, 2015 at 6:24 pm
sat on the loo today and noticed that my tight, skinny jeans are 2% spandex – bite me.
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Idontknowhatodo says:
October 25, 2015 at 3:44 am
Oh yes….the Devils Denim!…. its not even just about Jeans….no Denim skirts or dresses…..obviously its too alluring!
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Idontknowhatodo says:
October 25, 2015 at 3:44 am
Oh yes….the Devils Denim!…. its not even just about Jeans….no Denim skirts or dresses…..obviously its too alluring!
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eyes opened says:
October 22, 2015 at 11:30 am
Hi Grace,
Your comment about reconnecting with family surely resonates with a lot of us. So many ways to go about it. Sometimes a simple “I’m sorry I made a mistake and I’d really like to spend some time with you” would be enough to open some of the doors. Meet for coffee or invite them over. You’re in the driver’s seat and you can go about it any way you’re comfortable. I’ve been in the process myself for a little while now. It’s such a realignment of thinking for us as jw’s. But it is paying off I’m happy to say. I’m confident you’ll have success. Regards
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JB Reezner says:
October 22, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Lloyd/Admin, please have a look back at yesterday and today’s comments. This will be the most repulsive act yet, if it is what it appears to be. I don’t know technically what your options are, but hopefully it’s possible to block someone’s IP address so that no matter what ID they try to use, they can’t get on. I can send you a private message if you don’t catch what I’m talking about. Thank you.
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Ted says:
October 22, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Excelsior
“Rules create more rules”. That is so true, the orgs,
strict ruling on neutrality prompted questions. from
W,T, readers asking for rulings on the rule.– Is the
bread delivery man violating neutrality by delivering
to an army camp? Is it alright to pay the political levy
that’s added to your union dues? ( I had a heated
argument with our union steward, I refused to pay the
6p levy, he said I was splitting hairs. Which of course
I was, I’m embarrassed to think of it.)
As regards the walking, it’s a little bit slower these days
but I’m accepting the modern view that 80 is the new
60. And the margin could be even less when you get
there Excelsior, you could be sprinting round your chosen
route, or like one person in the news recently, you could
could be celebrating your centenary with a sky dive.
Best wishes, Ted.
—————————————————–
Rob & Pow. Good supplementary comments. Many thanks.
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Ted says:
October 22, 2015 at 3:59 pm
There’s something about a certain domestic bird
on here that smells foul.
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JB Reezner says:
October 22, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Exactly.
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ruthlee says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:28 am
What is going on ? rl
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Laughing Turkey says:
October 22, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Someone said to me once what a Man Soweth thou shall ye reap . I found Psalm 36v.1 really encourages me where it says ‘The utterance of transgression to the wicked one is in the midst of his heart; There is no dread of God in front of his eyes.’ .. I don’t know if anyone has any opinion on this advice?
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JB Reezner says:
October 23, 2015 at 12:07 am
You were so well-liked, Pickled Brain. I would guess that some here would somehow STILL be able to rationalize liking you, because you’ve meant so much to them. How could you devolve into the most offensive commenter and greatest liability on this whole site in such a short period of time?
Coldly chiding Anonymous, one of the most genuine, thoughtful commenters on the site, was reprehensible and unconscionable. Now, you’ve come back with a lie regarding your opinion of her mental state as your original motivation, which is really just a transparent, half-assed excuse to justify treating her so badly.
Then, you repeatedly attacked Excelsior, again one of the most insightful and well-respected commenters on the site, with incessant, bizarre taunts that sound like they’re coming from the mind and mouth of an eight-year-old.
Then, you challenged Lloyd to remove you by posting a hate-filled rant about obese people and homosexuals, and even added some sacrilege to it in the middle.
Most disgustingly to me, because it threatens the foundation of trust this site is built on, you then posed as someone searching for truth, and even went on to reply to a young man with a very serious issue just so you could wink at your own lack of insight and then make another inappropriate joke.
I’m embarrassed that I fell for your initial comment as that character. More importantly though, I’m disturbed by the fact that I now have to wonder whether or not a new person seeking encouragement is really just you wanting to keep playing your appalling game.
And now, a new character is born, and you’ve added the misuse of the Bible as part of your game to your list of offenses. I hope that will settle the issue in the minds of your remaining supporters as to how unhealthy you’ve become to this site.
As much as I liked you in the past, I wanted you out of here as soon as you started your second round of insults toward Excelsior, me, Anonymous and others. But you got another chance, and all you did with that chance is commit offenses that were more egregious than the ones you started with.
I’m not sparring with you right now. Don’t be trying to think of a reply that you think will score some points against me, or anyone else. You’ve always portrayed yourself as a believer. I’m not. But if you really are, then ask yourself what God thinks of you reveling in all of the chaos you’ve created on a site that exists for the purpose of educating and encouraging those who have been hurt by a cult that has proven itself to be such an enemy to Him.
Find a way to understand that you need to stop this activity of yours that is so detrimental to the health of this profoundly important site. Please.
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Wanderer says:
October 23, 2015 at 2:02 am
I agree. How anyone could turn on Anonymous is beyond me. There are so many brilliant posters here that I look forward to reading, Anonymous is without doubt my favourite poster. Her knowledge and writing style are absolutely brilliant, she makes so much sense to me. I look forward to more posts from Anonymous and I hope this person has not put her off.
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Rosie says:
October 23, 2015 at 2:34 am
When I was a teenager, I overheard an Elder and several MS making derogatory and offensive remarks about my sweet, kind and sincere mother. This made me feel sick. As she walked past them, they were sweetness and light to her face, exchanging pleasantries with her; I felt even sicker then.
Some of that group of brothers are still in the position of Elder within the same congregation and some are now ex-JWs; they may even be readers and commentators of JW Survey.
I had no desire to be friendly towards anyone who exhibited these behaviours when I was in the Org, and I have no desire to be friendly with them now, be they ex-JWs / anti-JWs or not.
To bring such insulting behaviour to this site is equally sickening, especially as most people here are hurting and have suffered due to the JW-Org.
I was most upset to read the unkind remarks directed at anonymous and my good friend Excelsior.
In the past I have supported commentators who are working undercover as active-JWs, and I will continue to commend such ones for their genuine efforts. My once Elder father was awoken by an active-JW who had furtively done his homework and prior to leaving the Org to become a visible activist, worked hard as a “double agent” to enlighten others in the KH about TTATT. I am eternally grateful to that brother for his invaluable undercover work.
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anonymous says:
October 23, 2015 at 4:43 am
Wanderer, thank you so much for what you said. Lots of times, I feel that I am really running off at the mouth and they might be irritating to read as they get so long at times.
I am so grateful for all of you who have stuck up for me and said you enjoy my comments!
Being able to get our thoughts down helps us so much mentally, instead of the thoughts driving us nuts during the night when we wake up during the night and have nobody we can talk to about it.
When I first “woke up”, I had the idea to write a book about how awful it is to be a Witness but then the more I researched and the more experiences I saw here and on other youtube videos, I realized that I am not the “only” one going through this hell and we all have a “book” inside of us, I am sure. That is not a good thing to say about our religion. All I can say about it is that instead of making me happy, it made every single day of my life depressing. The only good thing I can say is that I have three children that I love and if it wasn’t for my religion, they would not exist.
When I first woke up, I felt completely alone in my revelations about the Society but now I know there are probably thousands who are in the same boat as me and we could all write our own book about what we are going through and have gone through.
Knowing what the real truth is about the “truth” and not being able to tell our closest friends and relatives is living in a “hell” that nobody else can understand unless you are one going through the same experience too. That is why Lloyd’s idea of this web site is a godsend for all of us. It is saving our lives and I am so glad for having an outlet for my feelings!
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Excelsior! says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:04 am
J B Reezner,
Thanks for alerting Lloyd to this situation.
Also, thank you for this excellent comment. I am very pleased that we still have you on this site.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
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Art Fern says:
October 22, 2015 at 10:34 pm
Whoa Nellie, with the soon coming of the series of horrible events resulting in the end of the world including the sickening and very violent deaths of all but a handful of earth’s inhabitants, THIS is what the Watchtower worries about?
We are truly seeing the ultimate “Cookie Cutter” religion on overload. Be Different and Beware.
If any of you are familiar with the terribly repressive country North Korea, the Watchtower seems to taking lessons from the infamous Kim family.
North Korean men have their choice of 3 hairstyles, women 5; if you try to be different, you may be killed or imprisoned along with 3 generations of your family. Clothing for the men is restricted to a black suit, white shirt and red tie, the women have their choice of three colors of the very blousey, flowing dresses covering the wrists to the ankles and up to the neck Informal wear is also restricted to very utilitarian, ultra conservative styles, oh and the pin with the faces of the former Great Leaders is a must wear.
We have long since left the notion that a woman’s dress plays any role in assault or rape incidents. Rapists rape because of their sick need to be in power, to control another being, is the Watchtower any different by attributing a person’s character to the clothes on their back?
Where is the joy, the freedom promised to those who follow Jesus?
I am a happy Metrosexual, which has nothing whatsoever to do with a confusion of one’s sexuality or wearing feminine like clothing. The term simply describes a man who is concerned with details in his dress. That may mean wearing clothes that are tailored to fit well or taking time to shine your shoes, sometimes wearing cuff links, ties that match your shirt and suit, your belt having the same color as your shoes etc. In what should be a positive, Metrosexuals avoid the sloppy/dressing down tendency. But what the Hey, these folks have no clue as to what spandex, Spanx or even a woman’s work out clothing might describe.
It would be so positive and refreshing for the leadership to be more concerned with domestic violence, a lack of mutual respect in marriage as well as the need to treasure the talents of each spouse making for a stronger relationship. I guess this might be a ways off until god sees fit to bless a woman with a larger brain. Clearly Metrosexual thinking.
*is it just me or was anyone else horrified by the call to “Readjust the thinking” of the flock? If you don’t see “1984” or North Korea in such words, you may be suffering from blind faith syndrome.
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Pickled brain says:
October 22, 2015 at 11:46 pm
@Excelsior .. I think I owe you a Big apology . Maybe I misjudged you by calling you a Self righteous pompous twit. But I realise no-one is perfect & we all have faults . I try to apply the saying at Colossians 3v.13 about Continue putting up with one another forgiving one another freely just as Jehovah forgave you’
We all sin & fall short of the glory of God and no-one knows what a person who comments on here their background & what makes them react in a certain way. Emotional damage & hurt can be formed in childhood by parents & sub- consciously carried on in life sometimes bringing that emotional pain into new relationships, even into marriage & then inflicting that same behaviour on their children’s minds to behave in the same manner.
But I believe everyone deserves patience to try & change like Jesus did with his disciples when each of them wanted to be the greatest among them& God was patient so many many times with the nation of Israel even though they did vile things like Mannasseh who sacrificed his children to false gods by passing them through the fire.
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Pickled brain says:
October 23, 2015 at 12:14 am
@JB Reezner … You really really impress me. You are quick, intelligent, & if I was a fan of James Bond movies a worthy opponent . I mean this when I say you are kind,caring,warm & genuine individual .
The human mind is complex & the human body is wonderfully designed . No Scientist can ever replicate the intricacies of the way everything interacts so well. The beauty of a woman to a man: the eyes can reveal so much about a person , seduction,attraction,jealousy,anger yet passion.
The way the mind & mouth can interact to say such beautiful things or even such hurtful comments can make life interesting. No animal can compare. I ask myself if evolution was true why is there no half man , half ape or half fish or any fossil to explain the intermediary stages.
I am still learning & changing as a person as we all do in life. & yes I could be wrong in my assumptions but There has to be some kind of greater intelligence behind the complexities & beauty of this universe & if that is the case there has to be a plan for the future ?
I do not wish to impose my views on anyone here but I know my mouth does run away ahead of my mind sometimes .Deep seated emotions from past emotional hurts & pain not easily discussed can affect all of us .
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Meredith J says:
October 23, 2015 at 3:56 am
I understand you Pickled Brain. I know how we are all products of our environment, whether good or bad. The Watchtower can produce pretty nasty stuff. I guess what I was trying to say previously was that, while still being in it, one can reflect it’s traits.
For many, who have escaped, these traits are repulsive and frightening. For someone still in it, this does not ring true as they are only seeing things on their side of the fence. I did not explain myself very well as I did not want to offend anybody personally. That was what I meant and I am sorry if I caused you pain. I must have sounded very angry. I was I guess. Too emotional. I know you are a good soul with a big heart under a lot of pressure. We are all learning and growing.
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JKL says:
October 22, 2015 at 11:49 pm
A new article has been written on the subject of the 144.000. I hope it is all right that I post a link to it here: http://www.avoidjw.org/2015/10/are-you-one-of-the-anointed/
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Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 1:16 am
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
It has come to our attention that a visitor to this website is posting under multiple names, including the following…
Pickled brain
Laughing Turkey
Mashed pickles
Mashed pickle
Mashed brain
Happy Hen
On further investigation, it seems this individual uses the same email address for each comment, but rotating IP addresses, which indicates a level of sophistication – not to mention considerable persistence and underhandedness.
Posting under multiple identities, especially with a seeming intent to stir up arguments and controversy, is a clear violation of this website’s commenting feature, which is intended to help people express themselves on the topics raised in the articles.
Apart from anything else, it is extremely burdensome for me to have to give up time that I would like to spend making videos or writing articles in order to deal with unnecessary, manufactured controversy.
Though I have blocked the email address, it will be impossible to block him/her next time they re-emerge given that they will likely switch to a new email address and continue rotating IP addresses.
It is also extremely likely he/she will try posting again since they have left 1,011 comments since they started posting nearly a year ago in November 2014.
I request the help of our valued regular posters in being vigilant to any potential re-emergence of “Pickled Brain” by notifying us of anything unduly suspicious.
I would also like to introduce “Admin Julia” who is joining our team to help moderate the increasingly busy comments sections of our articles. Please help make her work as easy as possible by sticking closely to our Posting Guidelines.
And as a final word on commenting, please note that if your comment is held for moderation and you genuinely believe you have said nothing untoward, there is no malice intended on our part. It is just that our spam filter (which shields us from an unending torrent of undesirable comments) has detected something fairly innocuous about your comment that it associates with spam. Please be assured we will clear your comment from the “pending” list as quickly as we can, and in the meantime we appreciate your patience, understanding and cooperation.
[Edit: Please also note that any future comments containing “pickle” either in the username or text will be flagged by our spam filter.]
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Ready 4 to Fade says:
October 23, 2015 at 4:57 am
Thanks so much Cedars for your due diligence. We all value your hard work in our behalf. I must say I never found much substance in the posts from these above user names. Mostly the same continuous, repetitive banter and replies to others comments. Good riddance for posts that were a waste of everyone’s time.
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Average Joes says:
October 25, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Thanks for the heads up Lloyd. It’s a shame that such individuals are attracted to this site. In the end you can’t hide who you are for good or for bad.
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Catalina says:
October 23, 2015 at 2:28 am
Oh No then I felt mad for the wrong reasons while all of this was going on because of pickled brain. I wonder what it means when a person does something like that? I was really excited a co wife was with us. Even so this web site makes me feel better. There are good loving people on here. Far far far from being mentally diseased. Pickled brain doesn’t even act like a JW. Pb doesn’t act like an x JW either. People usually want to be liked and accepted. I feel better because people here do research. That’s enlightenment and I need that. It’s taken me a full year to feel normal again. I need you guys.
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Catalina says:
October 23, 2015 at 2:39 am
I remember one time I was really mad at something written and Meredith said the right thing and calmed me down. What she wrote shows the kind of person she is. She makes peace. Many on this website are peace makers and have good reason. This web site is important to me. I sign on five times a day. You guys are important to me. Wow, we go through a lot together and that’s a compliment.
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Meredith J says:
October 23, 2015 at 4:05 am
I just read this. Thank you so much Catalina. That makes me feel good. Your comment is peaceful in itself. And you are so right. There are so many on here who are peacemakers. Makes you realise that there is some kind of purpose to all of this.
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GEM says:
October 23, 2015 at 4:56 am
Hi Guys and Girls: IT’S SO GOOD TO BE ALIVE.
For all those who wished me well…a big hug. The Cardio procedure was a complete success. I chose to refuse transfusion and opted for Cell Saver instead. My choice… no religious pressure.
Unfortunately 24 hours after discharge I had developed a massive Chest infection and was Blue lighted to A&E. Never had Morphine before, but it sure makes the world a happy place and a strange sensation when you are facing the back of the ambulance and you think you are going forward! Get outta here…magic way to be snatched from the jowls of death! So, so very grateful for my family and the Paramedics.
Anyhow, I am just a tad sad to read about a potential cyber troll…. nasty little gremlins… a bit like the bacteria that took over my lungs in my hour of weakness.
Don’t give up…any of you that have an open heart. People who need People…are the luckiest people in the world.
Make this site a place to be proud of. Thank you, Lloyd. It has take more than 30 years of isolation and mental loneliness to break free of WT grip. Many here are not just awakening….they are breathing deeply again…and punching for the moon.
THANK YOU
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anonymous says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:26 am
Gem, I am so glad you are okay after your procedure and I am also so happy that after 30 years of suffering from the “isolation and mental loneliness” that the Society makes us go through after we learn the truth about the “truth” that you are finally “breathing deeply and punching for the moon”!!!
What would be so wonderful is if, once we learn the real “truth” that we could warn all those we know and love so they can get out of it too. I am not a big believer in God but I do think there is something about demons and if anything is demonic, it is the Watchtower Society in the way it isolates those who “wake up” away from the rest who are still brainwashed into thinking that God could have anything to do with it.
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Tara says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:40 am
So glad to hear your news GEM. Welcome back :)
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GEM says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:48 am
@anonymous and tara: Your humanity is greatly appreciated. I sat, ailing at the side of the road…and, you did not not pass me bye. Thank you, again
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Meredith J says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Great news GEM. Great outcome even though sounds like you were at death’s door. All the same we do care about you.
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GEM says:
October 24, 2015 at 1:16 am
errm: it was quite a loud knock. I did die once before (under the knife), but that was very peaceful, and I was unaware of 36hours on the ICU…this time I just could not breathe and was “drowning” in front of the paramedics.
The first time, changed my life and my raison d’etre…because I had “an out of body” experience. This would be a topic I would love to throw in for debate some time. I have a few very sane and very pragmatic associates that have experienced the same. Another time…. After Tight Pants Tony has embarrassed himself to the max.
Thank you Meredith for your TLC
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Excelsior! says:
October 23, 2015 at 4:58 am
Folks,
Well, I was right!
This manipulative, untrustworthy individual has finally been revealed.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during this trying time. It gladdens my heart to know that so many people genuinely respect and appreciate me. Thank you very much.
Needless to say, that disgustingly fake apology has not been accepted!
We need to be trusting, but we must also be cautious. Sadly, there are some very nasty people who like nothing better than upsetting other people.
With the revelations of the level of effort and expertise required, it would not surprise me in the least if this individual is an agent of our real enemy, the WTBTS.
Or he or she could just be bonkers!
I shall continue to comment and I shall always be recognisable. I am Excelsior! My name roughly means onward and upward, and that is what I wish for all of us. I want us all to achieve our potential, or get as close to it as we possibly can. If I can help to achieve that, then I want to.
Let us hope that we can return to the calm and respectful
discussions that we all enjoy!
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
anonymous says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:20 am
Excelsior, it is so funny as I had the same thoughts as you for a while now. I wondered if a certain poster was really an ex-JW or not and if he was for real. Thank you so much for sticking up for me. I have been gone a lot during the last week and missed a lot of the ugly comments against me so I am so grateful that those who saw them stuck up for me and I echo your comments about what a great web site jwsurvey is for us all here and we how we all want to keep it that way. The last thing we need is for the Watchtower to look right in making us jw “apostates” look like nut cases. We have a genuine case against the religion and it needs to be exposed in a sane and sensible manner.
Thanks again Excelsior and all your great comments!
Reply
Aphrodite says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:19 am
@MeredithJ . I was thinking the same things as you . I understand PB . He or she seems to be a product of what Watchtower organisation turns people into .
PB did make me laugh quite hard at times but he or she did push boundaries & maybe could have been more tactful .
Complex personalities like PB do fascinate me as I am doing an Honours degree in Psychology. It is a shame he wasn’t allowed to continue as I could have done a case study on the person !
Reply
Aphrodite says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:40 am
@MeredithJ . Just carrying on from your earlier comment where you said you understood PB & as I am studying Psychology for a degree course. This PB character showed a level of sophistication that drew the poster Excelsior out that in his post after PB was excluded from this site ,Excelsior comes over as gloating & arrogant & quite unforgiving yet PB was trying to be conciliatory .
From my studies this PB seems to understand the way the human mind works & has deep insight .
I really like his argumentation about a woman’s eyes & also when he discusses deep ingrained personality problems going back to childhood .
Reply
SwimmingWild says:
October 23, 2015 at 2:14 pm
@Aphrodite – a rose by any other name would smell as sweet – or sour…
SwimmingWild
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:54 pm
Aphrodite, you probably have your work cut out for you on this website. There must be so many complex characters visiting here and saying stuff that could I’m sure fill a book.
I think the Watchtower has caused so many to feel that they will fail if they break away, which makes them feel unable to. The problem is that when someone is still in it, they could easily not see what is acceptable in normal social situations. Anyway, you are very observant and I hope you do well in your studies. It is an intriguing subject.
Reply
Aphrodite says:
October 25, 2015 at 9:43 pm
@MeredithJ . Thank you for your kind comments and wishing me well with my studies in Psychology . You may I say are a kind insightful person who understands deep emotions & strong feelings.
From my studies about this PB character I know as he or she will have felt they had proven a point about certain personalities on this site , the case is closed.
Also as the most interesting person I was researching that is PB is no more ,my research is finished .
MeredithJ take care of yourself & I may occasionally look back at this site just to see the topic discussed and read comments from yourself & that other kind person JB Reezner.
Reply
ruthlee says:
October 23, 2015 at 1:14 pm
hi folks. I suppose alls well that ends well. I also am sorry that happy hen was a hoax. It will teach me to not go jumping in so quickly. It was what some of us wanted. Anyway its seems our mashed brains has got himself into a jam from mole to troll to rat .We all are damaged goods on this site and need therapy not smacking or insulting, we had enough of that when stuck in the sheep pen.So here is an apology from me if my daft comments got way too off topic with certain others here Hopfully we will all get back on track with new things to talk about. thanks Cedars for sorting this out. Note to Gem welcome back and hope all is ok. reguards ruthlee.
Reply
GEM says:
October 24, 2015 at 1:09 am
0) to everyone
Reply
SwimmingWild says:
October 24, 2015 at 1:59 am
@Meredith J – I could imagine it would need concentration for Aphrodite to keep track of the multiple personalities posting here.
SwimmingWild
Reply
Average Joes says:
October 25, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Just finished watching your video Lloyd and I love your idea for calling your bathroom “Bethel”. I think I’ll secretly call mine that too, then when people ask me if I’ve ever been to Bethel I can say “yes, I visit it every day!”
Good points about the erroneous 1914 doctrine being in the Live Forever and Reasoning books.
Totally agree with you about TPT. I can’t even bear to watch him or listen to his self-righteous inane rants. His name for me is synonymous with “Pharisee” or at least that’s how I imagine they were and we know what Jesus thought of THEM!
Reply
Average Joe says:
October 25, 2015 at 5:50 pm
Sorry, an extra S appeared in my name. That’s one for your new Admin staff, sorry!
Reply
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← The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
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Posted on October 23, 2015
The November 2014 JW Broadcasting episode shows mail being sorted at Watchtower's correspondence department
The November 2014 JW Broadcasting episode shows mail being sorted at Watchtower’s correspondence department
The last few weeks will have been deeply frustrating for the Governing Body, as multiple leaks have exposed a growing resentment of their attitudes and policies among an increasing number of bethel workers.
And now a fresh leak from a Watchtower insider has blown the lid wide open on how the organization deals with issues affecting the rank and file.
“Correspondence Guidelines” is a 118-page document issued to key staff at bethels around the world, giving cookie-cutter responses to a long list of scenarios involving various doctrines.
Previously only available to a privileged few, a 2011 edition of the document is now freely available, effectively meaning that anyone who has the document knows how Watchtower will reply to almost any letter they write before they even put pen to paper.
For the avoidance of further entanglements with Watchtower’s legal department over its interpretation of copyright law, we at JWsurvey have decided not to distribute the Correspondence Guidelines on this website.
Whether you, the reader, choose to access the material from elsewhere on the internet is entirely your decision.
pictureThe Correspondence Guidelines were virtually unheard-of until mentioned by former Governing Body member Ray Franz in his follow-up to Crisis of Conscience – In Search of Christian Freedom – on page 242.
in-search1 The subject list continues over a further two pages before Franz summarizes on page 245…
in-search2After spending an hour or so last night perusing the pages of this fascinating document, I can fully concur with Franz’s characterization of it as “Talmudic.” A plethora of subject headings delve into areas as diverse as transvestism, refugees, animal blood, hermaphrodites, sterilization and “retarded persons” with giddying pedantry.
The writers of the document themselves seem to recognize how ridiculous it is by their attempts at defending it in their opening remarks…
Bear in mind that much of what is published on matters of conduct is to be viewed not as law but rather as mature Christian counsel. So it is not always necessary to think in terms of imposing sanctions if a person does not fully conform to the counsel given.
But this disclaimer is overtly contradicted on only the next page…
If the one inquiring reflects a challenging, disrespectful attitude, it may be advisable first to contact the elders to determine the person’s standing in the congregation and what assistance they have been able to render.
Therefore, anyone who writes to the organization with anything other than praise and flattery, or who gives the impression they know what they’re talking about, can expect their local elders to get a phonecall – an underhanded breach of confidence that surely represents a “sanction” in and of itself.
Further contradictions present themselves as the reader delves into the various subjects. For example, accepting a blood transfusion without regret, even if it proves to be life-saving, remains a disfellowshipping offense…
A baptized person who willfully and unrepentantly takes a blood transfusion thereby chooses to reject the Scriptural sanctity of blood and violates God’s law. Three elders (not a judicial committee) should meet with him. If a blood transfusion has been accepted without repentance, the congregation will consider that the person has disassociated himself. It would then be announced: “[Name of individual] is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” The matter would be dealt with as in other cases of disassociation.—w86 10/15 31; w73 9/1 543-4.
But if you happen to be a JW nurse or doctor, and you are instructed to administer a blood transfusion to a non-JW patient, you can do so without fear of reprisals…
A Christian who is a nurse or a doctor respects the Scriptures and therefore would not recommend or order a blood transfusion for a patient. If he or she as an employee is not responsible for deciding the matter and is directed by a superior to administer a transfusion to a non-Witness, whether to obey is a matter for personal, conscientious decision.—w99 4/15 28-30; w75 4/1 215-16.
On the other hand, if you’re a farmer and allow a blood transfusion for one of your animals, expect a slapped wrist at the very least…
It is not proper for a Christian to administer a blood transfusion to an animal owned by him or to authorize another to do so.—w64 2/15 127-8.
Since this is a 2011 edition, we have no way of knowing whether the subject of child abuse has been addressed more comprehensively in more recent editions (which seems likely given all the media exposure on that subject since the Candace Conti victory in 2012).
Even so, given the fact that mishandling of child abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses has been highlighted since at least 2002 (when BBC Panorama and Dateline documentaries first exposed the issue to a mass audience), you would expect the safeguarding of the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses from sexual predators to merit more column inches than, say, discussing the propriety of Tae Bo.
But child molestation gets only three passing mentions in this document. Pages 41 and 110 give far-from-unequivocal guarantees that molesting a child will prevent a Witness male from serving in a position of responsibility.
For example, the sin may involve past child abuse, and this would likely disqualify him for many years.
Some who are guilty of child molestation, even if not disfellowshipped for such actions, might never qualify for special privileges in the congregation.
Then on page 53 the writers ponder the situation of a minor girl who is raped and falls pregnant. Rather than worrying about the girl’s well-being and the urgent need to pursue justice for her assailant, attention turns to the living arrangements of the resulting baby, and whether the abused child will have to marry her attacker or not.
Child that results either from fornication or from rape of a minor girl: The father of the single, minor girl (or the mother in a singleparent home where there is no father) bears the responsibility to decide whether the infant will be raised in the home or elsewhere. It shows consideration on his part to consider the minor’s valid wishes. He must also decide whether to permit the girl to marry the male who caused the pregnancy. Being pregnant does not require marriage to the father of the child simply to avoid illegitimacy. A hasty or improper marriage may only make a bad situation worse. Emotional support from individuals in the congregation is sometimes helpful.
The failure of the writers to adequately explore and address what we now know to be a rampant problem of child abuse in the organization, with 1,006 suspected pedophiles on the records of Watchtower in Australia alone, highlights either stunning naivety on the part of the Governing Body (who will have sanctioned this material), or deliberate negligence of their duty to protect children from a clear threat.
Ray Franz described the "Correspondence Guidelines" as "Talmudic"
Ray Franz described the Correspondence Guidelines as “Talmudic”
The proper handling of domestic violence, also a huge problem in the organization, is similarly given short shrift. Page 51 briefly mentions court action as being favorable in the case of a violently abusive husband for the protection of his victim, but nowhere does it suggest that a believing woman who finds herself in such a situation would be allowed to find happiness with a new husband.
In contrast to the terse treatment of such a pressing issue that affects battered spouses in countless marriages, nine pages are devoted to the various nuances of divorce, adultery and remarriage. Every conceivable permutation of marital infidelity is explored in fanatical detail.
Again, “Talmudic” is the only word that can do justice to Watchtower’s obsession with sex and morals. And only the word “pharasaical” can describe their corresponding indifference to the countless victims, past, present and future, of physical abuse in its various forms.
Finally, I was struck by the section on “bloodguilt,” which had the following to say…
The Bible condemns murder, a sin for which a person may be disfellowshipped.—Rev. 21:8.
Bloodguilt may also be incurred if a person causes loss of life through carelessness or because of violating a traffic law or other safety law of Caesar. If a Witness is liable for someone’s death in an accident, the elders should investigate and if warranted appoint a judicial committee to hear the matter, for the congregation wants to avoid community responsibility for bloodguilt.
One can’t help but wonder just how much blood is on the hands of Watchtower leaders past and present, from Knorr to the likes of Morris, Splane and Lett, for the countless lives that have been lost due to the ridiculous prohibitions on blood.
How many lives have been brutally cut short as a result of indoctrinated cult victims declining medical treatment with blood, a practice on which the scriptures are silent? We may never know. And that is to say nothing of the unknown number who have ended their lives as a result of Watchtower’s ruthless shunning practices.
One thing is certain, namely that the Governing Body won’t be making changes to save lives or protect the vulnerable any time soon. But at least there is some comfort in knowing that a growing number within bethel corridors are awakening to the full reality of a shared struggle, and working with myself and others to give thorough exposure to this devastating cult.
new-cedars-signature3
Further reading…
◾PDF download of Crisis of Conscience, by Ray Franz
◾PDF download of In Search of Christian Freedom, by Ray Franz
◾Recent articles on leaks related to downsizing
Related video…
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← The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
200 Responses to Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
Newer Comments →
Chloe says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:45 am
If your not interested in seeing literal blowing of “lids” DO NOT go to this link. Is October fools day over Croatia?
Reply
Chloe says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:08 am
That’s what I get for not typing in http… Thanks Lloyd! This amazing!! Fantastic article as well.
Reply
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:21 am
Thanks Chloe, glad you found your way to the material! :)
Reply
James says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:50 am
I think Chloe is referring to the fact that the shortened link actually directs to a gay porn website!
Reply
James says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:52 am
Oh, it seems to be case-sensitive.
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 10:35 am
Thanks – I’ve changed the link to avoid this problem. Sorry about that!
Summer says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:44 pm
And here i thought i was gobsmacked..
Turns out it was just a technical foul
RC says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:46 am
Thank you Lloyd for your discussion on the Correspondence guidelines. It so happens that i stumbled upon this document . Coincidence of course . Further ammunition to confront my misguided cousin on JW practices.
Reply
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:54 am
Congratulations. You’re not the only one who has revealed to have coincidentally had disclosure of a sensitive Watchtower document immediately after I’ve helped make it available to everyone, making it impossible to verify your claim. Interesting timing.
Reply
Garrett says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:50 am
Thank you Lloyd for your hard work on this,
And thank you to our spies on the inside in Beth-Hell who give us “food at the proper time”.
Reply
BG says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:03 am
That’s funny, beth hell…
Reply
BG says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:06 am
Thank you for directing us to the document on correspondence. It’s nice to have this info.
Reply
RC says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:51 am
We who are in India suffering from seeing our loved ones in this cult have immensely benefited from your timely suggestions. Keep up the good work Lloyd. This is one of the few sites which has helped us where there are scarce helpful resources available. I lost my cousin to this cult 7 years ago . Now we are trying to get him back.
Reply
Susannah says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:57 am
The link to the document is case sensitive. If you do not put the link as it is with uppercase then you will go to some nasty stuff.
Great article, thanks Lloyd
Reply
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:59 am
Thanks Susannah! I would give more detailed instructions but I don’t want to risk making it too easy! 😉
Reply
noblemindedthinker says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:58 am
Here is a nice little bit of disgusting hypocrisy for you
Correspondance Guidelines page 96 on Segregation –
Where the law of the land legislates certain segrega- tion practices, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not flout such laws. Also, we take into consideration predominating local sen- timents and customs. While not endors- ing segregation, Jehovah’s Witnesses keep foremost in mind the commission to preach the good news, not making a big issue of segregation or integration any more than Christians in the first century made an issue of slavery.
Watchtower 1987 Sep 1 p.13 –
“This command from the Highest Level of authority in the universe put the responsibility upon each Israelite to report to the judges any serious wrongdoing that he observed so that the matter might be handled. While Christians are not strictly under the Mosaic Law, its principles still apply in the Christian congregation. Hence, there may be times when a Christian is obligated to bring a matter to the attention of the elders. True, it is illegal in many countries to disclose to unauthorized ones what is found in private records. But if a Christian feels, after prayerful consideration, that he is facing a situation where the law of God required him to report what he knew despite the demands of lesser authorities, then that is a responsibility he accepts before Jehovah. There are times when a Christian must obey God as ruler rather than men. Acts 5:29”
Reply
Shelia Noyah says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:00 am
Keep in mind that segregation policy was followed to the letter in the Deep South of the United States when Jim Crow laws were enforced. There were segregated assemblies held, and there were “separate but equal” administrative hierarchies for Afro-American (Negroes) and Whites–no standing up for beliefs. Integration of the Kingdom Halls only happened in some holdout locations well after 1975. After integration the White administration of circuit and district regions often assumed total control relegating former Black CO and DO to Northern and West Coast duties or retirement to pioneer.
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:05 pm
I wonder how many would have joined up if we had known their conservative stance on segregation? I don’t live in the Land of Liberty but really, 1975? Disgraceful. Another sin shoved under the rug.
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 24, 2015 at 10:56 pm
I meant ‘stand’.
Reply
Tara says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:24 am
There are a number of Witnesses who work in our local hospital. Would this mean that if, when they were dealing with documents, blood work etc and your name came up on screen for having a blood transfusion they would, to clear their ‘Christian conscience’ feel free to go to the elders with the info? If that being so, would the patient having just cause to suspect this breach of confidentiality be able to take the elders and the witness to court or would they be able to weasle their way out of it?
Reply
noblemindedthinker says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:36 am
It certainly is possible. The official doctrine is that God’s law overrides mans law and JW’s are duty bound to inform on their fellow witnesses even when it requires breaking the law to do so.
Read an example of this actually happening
in “In Search of Christian Freedom” pp. 365-368
https://www.watchtowerlies.com/linked/in_search_of_christian_freedom_franz.pdf
In this case the Doctor realized that he was indeed exposed to the possibility of a lawsuit and increased his liability coverage to cover him from this exposure.
Reply
Tara says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:58 am
Thank you for that info. Not sure if I am totally saddened or totally infuriated. Probably both. Thank goodness we have sites like this which seek to help us wake up and smell the roses so we know who our enemy is.
Reply
Summer says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:53 pm
I worked as an RN over 26 yrs…in that time…twice i had JWs as patients…both were in ICU…when push came to shove…both finally accepted BTs..
Not once did i think to snitch…
Just saying
Reply
Tara says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:41 am
We need more like you Summer :) I could name at least three in our hospital who would run straight to the elders with a fat cat smile on their faces.
Reply
Actigall Ur says:
October 23, 2015 at 3:16 pm
You want something disgusting to ponder over that proves the JW cult is NOT following the bible but their OWN interpretation of it?
Notice this phase that they use dozens of times in the Correspondence Outline:
“things contrary to Bible truth as taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
Read that again.
“things contrary to Bible truth AS TAUGHT BY JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES.”
Now I’ve heard that before but at the time, when my brain was still in zombie mode, it wasn’t clear what it really means. AS TAUGHT BY JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES.
NOT “TAUGHT BY THE BIBLE OR GOD THROUGH THE BIBLE.”
Once again, I’m STUNNED at how incredibly BRAIN WASHED I WAS FOR ALL THOSE YEARS!
Reply
dee says:
October 24, 2015 at 10:01 am
Watchtower October 1, 1967 pg. 587:
“…..the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason, the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind”.
Watchtower February 15, 1981 pg. 19:
“We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave’ organization”.
Reply
dee says:
October 24, 2015 at 10:21 am
@Actigall Ur:
Watchtower September 1954, pg.528:
“In view of its unbreakable connection with the Christian Theocratic organization, the Bible is organization-minded and it cannot be fully understood without our having the Theocratic organization in mind…….all sheep in God’s flock must be organization-minded like the Bible.”
Watchtower May 1957, pg.274:
“If we are to walk in the light of truth, we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our father but his organization as our ‘mother’ “.
Reply
jose says:
October 23, 2015 at 5:59 am
Yup, things just got real… And Mr. Franz discoveries wont be in vain. I also thought how strange we are encourage to look intently at the “Reward”, but at the same time its a “free gift” its a paradox.
Thank you Cedars for the info.
Reply
Mamajane says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:00 am
I wonder how much longer it will be before God exposes them fully for the world to see? I hope I live to see it.
Reply
Chiafade says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:02 am
Incredible! Copy and paste answers for those who are asking questions for their individual concerns. It seems that if we have written letters ourselves in the past and never received an answer we can just find it ourselves.
Thank you for posting this Lloyd and thanks to the individual that leaked this for all to see. It was always clearly apparent that anything critical would go to the local elders. This would ensure that you were investigated for heresy. If such was the case they could remove you or offer to study/reprogram you by means of consecutive visits.
Reply
Chiafade says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:48 am
Refusal to provide for family: Adamant refusal to provide for wife and/or children when having the means to do so, leaving them destitute.—1 Tim. 5:8; w88 11/1 22-3; km 9/73 8.
So in light of what is happening to special pioneers and bethelites in 2016 can the above ruling be applied to the JW.org?
Reply
Chiafade says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:53 am
Heres another goody: Work that is not in itself unscriptural but that closely links one with a wrong practice or makes one a promoter of it: EXAMPLE: A brother learns that a small portion of the equipment he normally makes on a line producing commercial aircraft will now be diverted to a use out of harmony with Isaiah 2:4.
Does being the majority shareholder for a company that develops a special engine for the military a violation of being “out of harmony” with Isaiah 2:4?
This is going to provide endless ammo. I can’t wait to hear the excuses the witnesses make.
Reply
Pow says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:47 am
Ammo, as in making ammo, surly that’s a no, no…
Reply
JD says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:06 am
just remember exact and case sensitive – thanks
Reply
Tara says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:26 am
Thank you Lloyd and our friend in Bethel.
Reply
dontknowwheretogo says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:29 am
Shall get my hands on the document from *somewhere* and read it later but I’m thinking that Lloyd will start to really irrate the GB with this…not for this article in itself but rather the several mentions in this post and Lloyd’s last few posts of the moles inside Bethel that are leaking it.
I would hazard a guess they will up their efforts a lot to find out who they are and expel them. I’m sure both Lloyd and the moles are aware of this.
Reply
Jaak says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:30 am
Off-topic, but I heard this one recently :
The congregation of Houthalen (Belgium) is closing and all JW have to move to Zolder, a near congregation.
Not a big deal you would say but the thing is the land(actually there is place for 3 Residentials) was gifted by an elderly couple.
The older couple lived next to it, for them it would be really easy if they could go to the meeting just the door next to their house.
You can understand that the the people are not happy with this, they lose their money they spend on it and now they have to drive 10km further or so.
I think i should share this with you all.
Reply
Patrick Haeck says:
October 24, 2015 at 7:31 am
Can we get in touch, Jaak?
Mvg,
Patrick
Reply
Arlis Scott says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:54 am
I’ve read some of this document, and my head hurts just reading some ofit. Oh lord, no wonder they don’t want this public, it is such a derogatory and delusional form of cult if there ever was one. Holly crap! I’m soooooo glad I’m out!
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jw_secrets says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:16 am
RIP RayFranz!
Reply
David says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:20 am
They are worse than the Pharisees. It is very disturbing going through that long list. That is totally not Christian. They make people slave not free.
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Nancymnd says:
October 26, 2015 at 12:55 am
Ditto. My dad was an elder and I had no idea this document existed and I thought I knew everything. They are the Jewish nation that Jesus condemned. Man’s rules are subject to conscience in cases of emergency, blood transfusions are a man made rule, in emergencies, you can save a life. I can ignore a Stop sign if a truck is bearing down on me and I have to speed through to get myself to safety or dash to the side of the road ignoring the stop signs and stop lights. If you can save an animal that fell down a well on the sabbath you can save a person’s life. So called God’s laws are not breakable, like gravity, laws of nature, you can break it but probably will get hurt and might die. JWs are amazingly blind to all their man made rules with their threats of shunning and disfellowshipping, this document just makes me furious.
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Idontknowhatodo says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:28 am
Thank you Lloyd and thanks to the very brave whistleblower at Bethel ….. I went to the meeting last night…first one in a month… and there was a letter read from the almighty all knowing GB asking for donations from the congregation for the Global Work…this was aside from the usual contributions and our little congregation donated 350 pounds….(multiply that and more by a few thousand congregations!) ..we have already donated the majority of the money we had in the bank not that long ago…it seems things are getting desperate…I have never known in my 57 years as a JW the request for money being so so important… And up went all the hands…Im sick of it… I watched a documentary about Scientology the other day…. the comparison was incredible…. uniforms next!
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almost anonymous says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:54 am
Yes. All the hands went up, but in reality no one is giving. If you do the math in our congregation, we should be wallowing in all the money they keep asking for, but the monthly financial statements keep on showing that we run in the red all the time.
Not quite sure where they are getting the money every month to send to the Society.
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Chiafade says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:37 am
That’s becoming more common. Usually it’s the elders or just one wealthy elder that ends up paying the bill.
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wifibandit says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Was it this letter?https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5O25TquiW0xb0ZpX2dLTzN0eU0/view?usp=sharing
Reply
abc says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:37 am
Unable to dowload from send space any other link please
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wifibandit says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:41 pm
Rumor has it some unscrupulous individuals, with no respect for US Copyright law, are trading in such files here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/3pweu5/cedars_article_on_latest_leak_highlysecretive/cwa1u8x
Reply
Finn Sawyer says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:51 am
Lloyd,
This is a significant release. Thank you.
Reply
george says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:55 am
Might be off topic, but I just watched the OCT jw TV program, two observations I like to share
the GM member mentioned Jw should do kind work, which includes helping fellow worshipper in the congregation. Making me wonder this implies congregation will help those dismissed special pioneer and bethel workers. good timing.
do kind work to outsiders, GM member mentioned and praised an experience: two Jws took cares of an elderly Catholic, even treating him like a family member. Making me wonder whether anyone giving them counsel on being too close to someone in false religion.
sounds pretty fake.
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Chiafade says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:45 am
It’s possibly very fake. One thing for sure is that it’s very very uncommon. The reason they included that in the broadcast is two or even threefold. I know for sure that since their charity status is being questioned they want to make sure that some segment was included showing them “encouraging the witnesses to be charitable”. The second you already mentioned. Taking care of special pioneers and bethelites who are getting the boot. Even the revised O.D. book included a paragraph on ” taking care of the needy in the congregations “.
Despicable leaders who count on the gullibility of their followers.
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Pow says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:01 am
Ok, guys let’s give the original Pharisees a little slack, at least they were willing to put all their laws out in the open. We have 1000’s of rules and the vast majority are not seen by the publishers eyes…we’re all left guessing, .what really is the will of the g.b? I think the most ardent Pharisee might be aghast at the level of rule making we have now achieved. I say let’s go head to head with the Mishnah right now, I pull out all the rules , hell, we can probably sink them just on judicial committee rules alone.
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ForestDaughter says:
October 24, 2015 at 2:31 am
My thoughts too. Even under Talmudic law, if there’s a situation in which the choice is between either keeping the law or saving a life, the emphasis is on saving the life. Blood is sacred but life is even more so.
Reply
San Diego says:
October 24, 2015 at 2:45 pm
It seems a bit ironic that the GB forbits blood transfusions, even if it means death, and as support for that idea use Scriptures that say “Life is in the blood.” Um, hello? Anybody notice a contradiction here? If “life is in the blood”, then you need blood for life. Therefore, at times, without any better alternative, blood transfusions are needed.
Second, wasn’t it King Saul who forbade his army from eating anything until they had won a certain military battle, resulting in the men eating the animal meat along with the blood? Saul wanted to punish someone, but when he inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah ignored him. Saul was even going to put Jonathan his son to death, but the men stopped him. What I draw from that account is that God wasn’t angry at the men for eating the blood, or at Jonathan for breaking Saul’s arbitrary rule, rather he was angry at Saul for being so unreasonable. And when it comes to blood transfusions, the GB is equally unreasonable. They have so much blood on their hands, how is it they have not been arrested by the NYPD for this?
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Robert67 says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:08 am
Thank you so much for this JWSurvey, I’ve read Crisis of Conscious, but was not aware of his other book. Will start reading immediately. Two great gifts for victims of this cult in one article. God bless
Reply
dee says:
October 23, 2015 at 6:45 pm
@Robert 67:
Don’t know if you have read this one but
CAPTIVES OF A CONCEPT, written by a former elder, is also a good book to read: http://www.captivesofaconcept.com
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Robert67 says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:22 pm
On it, thank you.
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San Diego says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:23 am
“Perhaps a request can be made for the military ceremony to be dispensed with”, in the case of a veteran who commits suicide. Unbelievable.
“A Christian woman threatened with rape should resist strenuously, including screaming and physically resisting, where possible.” And then it goes on to forbit the learning of any technique that would actually help her to resist her attacker.
They call apostates mentally diseased? These men are among the most mentally diseased I’ve ever seen.
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Summer says:
October 23, 2015 at 10:00 pm
This is why i now ALWAYS carry my sidearm.
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Donald duck says:
October 24, 2015 at 12:14 am
@san diego, I couldn’t agree more! I’ve agrued with my husband about this over and over… Makes no sense to me whatsoever.
Reply
ForestDaughter says:
October 24, 2015 at 2:48 am
‘ “A Christian woman threatened with rape should resist strenuously, including screaming and physically resisting, where possible.” And then it goes on to forbit the learning of any technique that would actually help her to resist her attacker.’
How disgusting; they aren’t concerned about her being able to get away unharmed. They couldn’t care less if she’s traumatised and physically hurt. All they care about is her keeping their laws.
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Meredith J says:
October 24, 2015 at 11:04 pm
When I was studying in the early ’80s, the pompous sister I studied with, who I never really liked, related a story of a woman who was raped in Central Park, NY. The victim put her fingers down her throat and threw up all over her attacker, who quickly fled.
This sister went on to explain to me that unless we were prepared to vomit all over our attacker on purpose then we deserved to be raped. In my head, I thought. “Man, that’s crazy.” Sounds like it’s this crazy thinking that drives their doctrines. Why did they always have to be so controversial?
Reply
San Diego says:
October 26, 2015 at 8:09 am
There is no making sense of it. It’s a religion that claims respect for women, but when it comes to the important things, they really have no concern for a woman’s well-being or self-esteem.
A sister once asked me if abortion was allowed if it resulted from rape. She said she thought it should be. I agreed, but said I didn’t know. Well, here’s the answer: “Abortion is wrong in cases involving adultery, fornication, or even rape.” And that is actually under the subheading about a minor girl. That right there says volumes about how much they care about women and girls. They should just say: “It’s a personal matter, and it’s none of our business” (because it’s not).
Reply
JBob says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:33 am
Are you sure this is the UPDATED version, ‘cuz, page 80, “Meetings,” and I allude to–,
“newly interested ones may enroll in the TMS”
???
Lloyd you may post your link to the “censored” JWSurvey article on meeting revisions… :-)
Reply
Covertfade says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:35 am
Lloyd, a massive thank you and to the brave anonymous source who made this available.
If anyone is curious as to how this might be used to help in discussions with indoctrinated JW’s who are having doubts, look at the section dealing with membership of organisations, ask them if they agree with the council given, and then maybe discuss the documented and verified membership that the Watchtower had with the UN for 10 years…
Reply
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:46 am
Thanks, and that’s a great angle to pursue.
Reply
RC says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:38 am
Hi Lloyd,
i got it from the picture of the link you posted. Sorry if my efforts at a joke fell flat. Anyway this is one of the few sites i visit to understand about JW. I am a Hindu from India and i did not hear about this cult till last year August when my cousin’s father asked me to help get his son back from this cult. My cousin had gone to US , got ensnared came back thoroughly indoctrinated and has been a source of great sorrow to his family. I started reading about this cult because i frankly dont know much about Christian beliefs, much less the JW beliefs. It is only after reading Raymond Franz books, Carl olof jonsonns , steven hassans and the Bible did i begin to get a sense of what is happening. Your site and Jwfacts have also been of immense help in countering my cousins claims. Dont know whether he will come out but we just are soldiering on. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Reply
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:45 am
Thanks RC – sorry, I had no idea you were joking! I had a similar situation come up with the annual meeting leak when, only AFTER the veracity of the leak was confirmed, certain exJWs came out of the woodwork claiming they had the information first from their own ‘sources’. You unintentionally touched a sore spot, but I apologize for jumping on you like that, and I’m glad you have found this website and other resources helpful in educating yourself about the Witnesses.
Reply
RC says:
October 23, 2015 at 10:17 am
Hi Lloyd,
Thanks. Well rest assured on that count. I am no ex-JW. I am a great fan of what you do. Your rebuttals on youtube and your comments on “tight pants” Tony are informative and downright hilarious. Keep up the good work. It is helping us strip down my cousins delusions. Thank you,
RC
Reply
wifibandit says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:47 pm
They are targeting your country: https://youtu.be/a1iHxElQovc
Reply
dee says:
October 24, 2015 at 9:17 am
@RC
Another book that may help you with your cousin is CAPTIVES OF A CONCEPT, written by a former JW elder: http://www.captivesofaconcept.com
Reply
ThePenthouseExperience says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:44 am
At least the nine-inch spiked heels and riding crop are not banned outright. [loud cracking of crop against bare flesh]. (the heels, they ain’t for walking… by the way)
Reply
Veaney Arteaga says:
October 23, 2015 at 10:13 am
Wow ! Outstanding job. They must be shaking the kness
To bad hurricane Patricia is going to hit México this afternoon.
Should be in some exclusive part in NY; where’s that place called Warwick?
Thanks Cedars to you and the person inside the Watchtower.
I still can’t believe you have not requested all the lies of the Watchtower’s inside the JW 2015 Yearbook, this time dedicated to the DR ( Dominican Rep).
Here are some few examples:
-Page 89 (Spanish JW 2015 yearbook) Is that Brother Franz in the photo? Is it Ray? or His uncle?
-Page 93 Who is the speaker? Upper left photo
-Page 84 Last word is Marimbas; JW is telling to the world that marimba’s is embedded in our culture.
Completely wrong, bad research, extremely bad research they did.
And the list goes on and on
Reach me if you please at @veaney_arteaga, same in facebook
Reply
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 10:29 am
Thank you for the compliments. I can understand why you would feel strongly about dubious material in the latest yearbook that happens to touch on your particular country, but hopefully you can appreciate that not everyone from other parts of the world will get quite as excited. And I would thank you not to foist this issue on others in the form of an off-topic addendum to your comment. If you feel so strongly about it, start your own blog.
Reply
wifibandit says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:52 pm
Can we discuss this on https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw ?
I did notice that they didn’t mention Ray Franz, and would like to hear your thoughts.
Reply
da' says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:20 am
“Highly secretive ” , If this wasn’t so sad (or funny) still cant decide which for myself. Here in the states we have
Judge Judy , afternoon TV show and her motto always is “when you tell the TRUTH (caps on purpose) you don’t need a good memory .” So…. why does the org need a long list of cookie cutter responses . It should always be TRUTH (not a contrived, well thought response) if you worship “the God of truth” !
Reply
da' says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:24 am
Cedars- what gives. this is the 2nd comment that requires moderation that I did not moderate at all. I don’t want to appear on this site as a commenter that needs moderating
Reply
Cedars says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:28 am
Nothing gives. Usually I have lots of other things to do other than comment moderation, but on this occasion I noticed your comment get trapped and approved it straight away. There is no malice, it’s just we need a spam filter to shield the website from a constant barrage of undesirable material, and sometimes good stuff gets flagged along with the bad. The alternative is to have a human sorting through each and every comment 24/7 as they come through. Do you know anyone?
Reply
JHK says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:25 am
True Christians are children of light. Who is the father of the dark?
Thanks, Cedars!
Reply
John Henry Kurtz says:
October 23, 2015 at 11:26 am
True Christians are children of light. Who is the father of the dark?
Reply
Actigall Ur says:
October 23, 2015 at 2:41 pm
I know of a sister in my former hall who was DF’d because she wrote the branch a letter questioning the reasoning and scriptural basis on blood transfusions when her husband needed to undergo surgery. I was not privy to the letter but she must have made a very strong argument because Bethel wrote to the elders FIRST telling them to make a shepherding call on her and find out if she “still believes the faithful and discreet slave are guided by Jehovah and if this is Jehovah’s ONLY earthly organization.” Only then would they respond to her…
I assume her answer was no because she was DF’d. HOWEVER and this is what really caused a lot of problems in my hall- another elderly sister who DID HAVE A BLOOD TRANSFUSION A FEW MONTHS LATER WAS NOT DF’D BECAUSE SHE WAS LEAVING HER WILL TO THE ORGANIZATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, certainly IF this was truly GOD’S organization, would they be more concerned with “obedience or sacrifice?” All the elders reading this should know the answer. This organization is a greedy money grabbing cult and it must be destroyed.
Of course, if you call up Bethel, they will say, “oh but these IMPERFECT MEN made the mistake, not JEHOVAH.”
That is always their excuse when the error falls on their favor. But when their lies are exposed in the media, then it is those “evil mentally ill apostates!”
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHAAAAA! It makes me so made. But KARMA paid them a visit.
Because of that incident, several ended up leaving either by writing letters or fading away and it left a sour taste behind but at that time, I was sad to see them go and looked at them as “spiritually weak” people… now I am so happy that they left and wish that MORE would have left and exposed those elders and this CULT!
BTW if that link should get shut down, there will be several mirror sites available and nothing this cult can do about it…
Reply
Tara says:
October 23, 2015 at 4:37 pm
For some reason – probably me being dumb; I can’t download it :(
Reply
Robert67 says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:20 pm
I love placing .pdf at the end of my searches.
Reply
Tara says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:48 pm
😉
Reply
wifibandit says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:55 pm
Rumor has it some unscrupulous individuals, with no respect for US Copyright law, are trading in such files here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/3pweu5/cedars_article_on_latest_leak_highlysecretive/cwa1u8x
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:23 pm
I couldn’t either Tara and then when I saw how many pages, I didn’t want to anyway. I’ll just be content with reading the feedback about it. One thing for sure, whatever it contains, it’s certainly turning some heads.
Reply
DG says:
October 23, 2015 at 4:42 pm
It would be nice if you did not use “talmudic” as some sort of insult. The Talmud is a central book to Jews, and we have nothing to do with your religion’s problems or issues. In fact, the sort of suppression of dissent that you note is actually opposite to the talmudic process which rewards vigorous debate by all, not just a few elders.
Reply
Cedars says:
October 24, 2015 at 12:09 am
The Talmud, like it or not, is a long list of rules. “Talmudic” is an insult if applied to a document produced by a Christian organization, since Christians believe the Jewish law code was nailed to the stake/cross with Jesus. But if you are Jewish, and a believer that a divine authority has published an exhaustive list of rules for the benefit of mankind, there should be no reason for offense. If anything you should be offended at the organization that presumes to create their own version of the Talmud.
Reply
Catalina says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:20 pm
I feel disappointed and sad that in the guidelines document it reads a brother who uses sterilization for birth control isn’t allowed to be used for higher privileges in the congregation. My nephew-in-law didn’t know about this rule. The most he has done is pioneer. I feel bad for him. The guidelines document is enlightening. It’s amazing the things we learn on cedar’s website. What an eye opener.
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 24, 2015 at 12:02 am
Hi Catalina, I haven’t forgotten what you said previously and I will never forget it. Just curious to know, how long you have been out.
Reply
Catalina says:
October 24, 2015 at 3:11 am
Hi Meredith, I’ve been out for one year. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 24, 2015 at 2:36 pm
Good for you.
Reply
Donald duck says:
October 24, 2015 at 12:23 am
@catalina, I know for a fact two men, one a relative who had vasectomies. One served as an elder and one still is. I guess because it’s not “talked” or known about it’s okay… Once again, different set of rules…
Reply
Catalina says:
October 24, 2015 at 3:14 am
Oh wow, that’s interesting. I think some elders are probably stricter than other elders. Thank you
Reply
HomebytheSea says:
October 23, 2015 at 7:35 pm
I can’t believe that people are willing to share such personal information! It’s absolutely none of their concern if someone gets a vasectomy or tubal ligation! Are they going to feed all of the additional unplanned children when people are surviving on low wages as it is?
Reply
Catalina says:
October 23, 2015 at 8:42 pm
It also irritates me they don’t share their view about sterilization with the rank and file in the congregation. I didn’t know sterilization is supposed to be a sin. And they complain about Catholics.
Reply
Robert67 says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:28 am
You ever wonder how Circuit Overseer couples and special pioneers don’t have any children? Hipocrites, who knows what kind of freaky they employ to avoid a pregnancy and they’ll be the very first to scream “off with their heads!” If any rank and file commit any of this.
Reply
Darlene Alexander says:
October 23, 2015 at 9:06 pm
Cedars, can you or someone get this document to the ARC asap? I think they, and even the UK Charity Commission, would be very interested in reading it.
Reply
Robert67 says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:44 am
Darlene I would advice you to take the initiative and send an email and brief description to anyone on that commision. Lloyd can’t do it all. We all have to put in a bit of our time and actively participate in activism against this cult. If your like me stuck on the inside and unwilling to sacrifice all friends and family to try and prove a point to brainwashed ears, there are alternatives. Call the authorities whenever you see a cart put up and explain a bit of how this cult victimized you and others. Flood every witness you know with links to this and other pertinent JW truth websites on their Facebook, twitter, email. Write to people in your hall with a well articulated explanation of the ex-jw cause, they certainly will try to fill yours with theirs. I’m currently befriending many people in my neighborhood watch and hopefully will build up the courage to start a http://www.jwfacts.com and http://www.jwsurvey.com sticker campaign with signs people can place on their lawns the way politicians do.
I was thinking of a small sticker people can put on their fron door that states “This home is awake to Watchtower lies and rampant abuse of children. We do not accept your cult on our property, please leave or we will call the authorities. For more details visit http://www.jwfacts.com
http://www.jwsurvey.com
As they are handed out freely to the public a brief “this will keep those child abusers away” explanation can be given. People can visit the websites and curious witnesses that read the stickers will be more informed.
The ideal thing would be if this site or jwfacts offered them for a paypal donation that would help keep these sites running. Those of us able to purchase in bulk would happily do so.
Reply
Robert67 says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:49 am
http://www.jwsurvey.org forgot the .org, facepalm.
Reply
Redgreenyellow says:
October 24, 2015 at 1:16 am
Thank you for this truthful info…I look forward to coming on your website because i find truth… when i was a Jw all i seen was lies They lie about lying when its obvious! Thats enough to get anyone sick..
Your doing a great job in helping those in jw darkness; thats now being exposed ..
Reply
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← The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
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Posted on October 23, 2015
The November 2014 JW Broadcasting episode shows mail being sorted at Watchtower's correspondence department
The November 2014 JW Broadcasting episode shows mail being sorted at Watchtower’s correspondence department
The last few weeks will have been deeply frustrating for the Governing Body, as multiple leaks have exposed a growing resentment of their attitudes and policies among an increasing number of bethel workers.
And now a fresh leak from a Watchtower insider has blown the lid wide open on how the organization deals with issues affecting the rank and file.
“Correspondence Guidelines” is a 118-page document issued to key staff at bethels around the world, giving cookie-cutter responses to a long list of scenarios involving various doctrines.
Previously only available to a privileged few, a 2011 edition of the document is now freely available, effectively meaning that anyone who has the document knows how Watchtower will reply to almost any letter they write before they even put pen to paper.
For the avoidance of further entanglements with Watchtower’s legal department over its interpretation of copyright law, we at JWsurvey have decided not to distribute the Correspondence Guidelines on this website.
Whether you, the reader, choose to access the material from elsewhere on the internet is entirely your decision.
pictureThe Correspondence Guidelines were virtually unheard-of until mentioned by former Governing Body member Ray Franz in his follow-up to Crisis of Conscience – In Search of Christian Freedom – on page 242.
in-search1 The subject list continues over a further two pages before Franz summarizes on page 245…
in-search2After spending an hour or so last night perusing the pages of this fascinating document, I can fully concur with Franz’s characterization of it as “Talmudic.” A plethora of subject headings delve into areas as diverse as transvestism, refugees, animal blood, hermaphrodites, sterilization and “retarded persons” with giddying pedantry.
The writers of the document themselves seem to recognize how ridiculous it is by their attempts at defending it in their opening remarks…
Bear in mind that much of what is published on matters of conduct is to be viewed not as law but rather as mature Christian counsel. So it is not always necessary to think in terms of imposing sanctions if a person does not fully conform to the counsel given.
But this disclaimer is overtly contradicted on only the next page…
If the one inquiring reflects a challenging, disrespectful attitude, it may be advisable first to contact the elders to determine the person’s standing in the congregation and what assistance they have been able to render.
Therefore, anyone who writes to the organization with anything other than praise and flattery, or who gives the impression they know what they’re talking about, can expect their local elders to get a phonecall – an underhanded breach of confidence that surely represents a “sanction” in and of itself.
Further contradictions present themselves as the reader delves into the various subjects. For example, accepting a blood transfusion without regret, even if it proves to be life-saving, remains a disfellowshipping offense…
A baptized person who willfully and unrepentantly takes a blood transfusion thereby chooses to reject the Scriptural sanctity of blood and violates God’s law. Three elders (not a judicial committee) should meet with him. If a blood transfusion has been accepted without repentance, the congregation will consider that the person has disassociated himself. It would then be announced: “[Name of individual] is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” The matter would be dealt with as in other cases of disassociation.—w86 10/15 31; w73 9/1 543-4.
But if you happen to be a JW nurse or doctor, and you are instructed to administer a blood transfusion to a non-JW patient, you can do so without fear of reprisals…
A Christian who is a nurse or a doctor respects the Scriptures and therefore would not recommend or order a blood transfusion for a patient. If he or she as an employee is not responsible for deciding the matter and is directed by a superior to administer a transfusion to a non-Witness, whether to obey is a matter for personal, conscientious decision.—w99 4/15 28-30; w75 4/1 215-16.
On the other hand, if you’re a farmer and allow a blood transfusion for one of your animals, expect a slapped wrist at the very least…
It is not proper for a Christian to administer a blood transfusion to an animal owned by him or to authorize another to do so.—w64 2/15 127-8.
Since this is a 2011 edition, we have no way of knowing whether the subject of child abuse has been addressed more comprehensively in more recent editions (which seems likely given all the media exposure on that subject since the Candace Conti victory in 2012).
Even so, given the fact that mishandling of child abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses has been highlighted since at least 2002 (when BBC Panorama and Dateline documentaries first exposed the issue to a mass audience), you would expect the safeguarding of the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses from sexual predators to merit more column inches than, say, discussing the propriety of Tae Bo.
But child molestation gets only three passing mentions in this document. Pages 41 and 110 give far-from-unequivocal guarantees that molesting a child will prevent a Witness male from serving in a position of responsibility.
For example, the sin may involve past child abuse, and this would likely disqualify him for many years.
Some who are guilty of child molestation, even if not disfellowshipped for such actions, might never qualify for special privileges in the congregation.
Then on page 53 the writers ponder the situation of a minor girl who is raped and falls pregnant. Rather than worrying about the girl’s well-being and the urgent need to pursue justice for her assailant, attention turns to the living arrangements of the resulting baby, and whether the abused child will have to marry her attacker or not.
Child that results either from fornication or from rape of a minor girl: The father of the single, minor girl (or the mother in a singleparent home where there is no father) bears the responsibility to decide whether the infant will be raised in the home or elsewhere. It shows consideration on his part to consider the minor’s valid wishes. He must also decide whether to permit the girl to marry the male who caused the pregnancy. Being pregnant does not require marriage to the father of the child simply to avoid illegitimacy. A hasty or improper marriage may only make a bad situation worse. Emotional support from individuals in the congregation is sometimes helpful.
The failure of the writers to adequately explore and address what we now know to be a rampant problem of child abuse in the organization, with 1,006 suspected pedophiles on the records of Watchtower in Australia alone, highlights either stunning naivety on the part of the Governing Body (who will have sanctioned this material), or deliberate negligence of their duty to protect children from a clear threat.
Ray Franz described the "Correspondence Guidelines" as "Talmudic"
Ray Franz described the Correspondence Guidelines as “Talmudic”
The proper handling of domestic violence, also a huge problem in the organization, is similarly given short shrift. Page 51 briefly mentions court action as being favorable in the case of a violently abusive husband for the protection of his victim, but nowhere does it suggest that a believing woman who finds herself in such a situation would be allowed to find happiness with a new husband.
In contrast to the terse treatment of such a pressing issue that affects battered spouses in countless marriages, nine pages are devoted to the various nuances of divorce, adultery and remarriage. Every conceivable permutation of marital infidelity is explored in fanatical detail.
Again, “Talmudic” is the only word that can do justice to Watchtower’s obsession with sex and morals. And only the word “pharasaical” can describe their corresponding indifference to the countless victims, past, present and future, of physical abuse in its various forms.
Finally, I was struck by the section on “bloodguilt,” which had the following to say…
The Bible condemns murder, a sin for which a person may be disfellowshipped.—Rev. 21:8.
Bloodguilt may also be incurred if a person causes loss of life through carelessness or because of violating a traffic law or other safety law of Caesar. If a Witness is liable for someone’s death in an accident, the elders should investigate and if warranted appoint a judicial committee to hear the matter, for the congregation wants to avoid community responsibility for bloodguilt.
One can’t help but wonder just how much blood is on the hands of Watchtower leaders past and present, from Knorr to the likes of Morris, Splane and Lett, for the countless lives that have been lost due to the ridiculous prohibitions on blood.
How many lives have been brutally cut short as a result of indoctrinated cult victims declining medical treatment with blood, a practice on which the scriptures are silent? We may never know. And that is to say nothing of the unknown number who have ended their lives as a result of Watchtower’s ruthless shunning practices.
One thing is certain, namely that the Governing Body won’t be making changes to save lives or protect the vulnerable any time soon. But at least there is some comfort in knowing that a growing number within bethel corridors are awakening to the full reality of a shared struggle, and working with myself and others to give thorough exposure to this devastating cult.
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Further reading…
◾PDF download of Crisis of Conscience, by Ray Franz
◾PDF download of In Search of Christian Freedom, by Ray Franz
◾Recent articles on leaks related to downsizing
Related video…
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← The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
201 Responses to Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
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Caroline (formerly anonymous) says:
October 24, 2015 at 4:33 am
For those of us who have been associated for a lot of years, we would have known about how we can’t get sterilized unless if a woman gets pregnant, she will die but most new people wouldn’t know that unless they start talking about doing it and then they would get counseled.
Can you imagine getting a new Bible Study and start telling them all about the more than one thousand rules that Jehovah’s Witnesses have to follow right at the start of the study? How many of those people would continue to study?
They wouldn’t continue the study and so the person is first convinced that the Bible is from God and then they are convinced that the Watchtower has a personal one on one relationship with God and that they are the only ones who can interpret the Bible and then they convince us that Armageddon is going to wipe out every single man, woman and child at any moment, who doesn’t convert to Jehovah’s Witnesses because only Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only one using “His” name and preaching it. That is their modus operandi.
The Watchtower doesn’t hold anybody responsible if they had done those things before being converted, so if a man or woman got sterilized before becoming a Witness, they could still have all the privileges that anybody else could have but if you are a new Witness and go ahead and commit one of those offenses, they would remove them from any privileges.
I know of a couple who the husband is the father of the girl’s first husband. He broke up his son’s marriage and married his own daughter-in-law and that man and wife are in the same congregation as her ex-husband but because this all happened before becoming Witnesses, everybody is supposed to accept that marriage with open arms and they do. It’s crazy to me.
The Watchtower expects that once a person gets baptized, they should know all the rules going back one hundred years. Who could keep up? The Watchtower has though. They must have a list of all the offenses.
As long as Witnesses break these rules in private, nobody would know but it’s the telling of others (by mistake because of not being informed of all of them) that gets them into trouble.
Being a Witness, means that if you do know all the “rules” then you can’t talk about what you do in your private life if you are breaking one of those rules, or if you don’t know all the rules, you are bound to break a rule and get into trouble if you talk about what you do in your private life because you are bound to break them, since you don’t know what they all are.
You can’t have any close friends either who will blab to the elders about something you have done which means, to be a Witness, it is almost impossible to have a real friend in the “truth”.
All those rules are passed on from generation to generation and Bible Study to Bible study and it’s gradual. If it happened all at once, people would be so turned off but first it starts with real little things, like you can’t say gosh or golly as it’s short for God.
After they have been Witness for years and years and learn all the rules, they think it’s perfectly normal and anybody who breaks these rules are bad.
It is all very sinister in how the Society tricks people into it.
Can you imagine telling a regular person in service, that we can’t play chess because it’s too “violent”? They would run the other way so fast and realize that that religion is stupid. Witness are expected to know every silly rule going back one hundred years and how they have also changed and how the light got “brighter” too.
What ten year old child is going to know all that when they get baptized? But once that kid get baptized and breaks one of those rules that they were never told about before getting baptized, they face getting disfellowshipped.
One of the most important rules is that if you find out that the Society is telling lies, you will be forbidden to tell anybody about it or you will be disfellowshipped for apostasy.
Why don’t they tell anybody about those rules when they first start studying with them????
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dee says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:34 am
@Caroline:
“Why don’t they tell anybody about those rules when they first start studying with them????”
I’ve often wondered the same thing. The JWs entice you into their religion with lots of love bombing and makes it sound so nice, they magnify the problems in the world, Armageddon is always imminent – this is how they trick you into joining the religion. A lot of people fall for it because of the lure of a Paradise earth but they aren’t told up front of the consequences they will face should they decide to exercise their right to freedom of religion and cconscience and decide that they no longer wish to be a JW.
They aren’t told up front that if they disassociate themselves from the religion they will be shunned and cut-off from family and friends because the rules of the religion are designed to ensure that persons will regret their decision to leave. CULT!!!!
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dee says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:57 am
They trick people into joining the religion by creating a ‘specialness’ about the group:
1. Only JWs use God’s name.
2. JWs will be persecuted for their faith; Satan will cause relatives and friends to say bad things about the group. JWs see persecution as a sign that they are doing it right – after all, Jesus did tell them to expect persecution.
But people aren’t told up front what exactly they are getting themselves into regarding the rules of the religion.
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SR says:
October 24, 2015 at 3:59 pm
I swear “Jehovah” is a trigger word for the indoctrination. Watching them say it gives me the creeps.
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Sardec says:
October 25, 2015 at 8:35 am
I know from personal experience that when I even say that name in my head it feels like there’s a surge of dopamine released…I don’t know how they do it, but that’s what happens.
Meredith J says:
October 24, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Good Day Caroline. Or should I say G’day Caroline. When I was studying, I could not get over how many rules and regulations there were. Yet, there were more and more and more and more. I should have followed my instincts and ran for my life.
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Idontknowhatodo says:
October 25, 2015 at 3:17 am
I love this Caroline!….. they go on and on about the fact Jesus only gave 2 principles to base our life on and then go and conjure up a million rules!
I remember being very cynical about people leading ‘double lives’….. now I am the Queen of double life!… because if you have a brain in your head and have to stay shackled to this cult its the only way to survive.
What you said about friends is so true as well…I have dear friends but if I gave them an inkling of what I was really thinking they are so indoctrinated they would shop me so fast….I know Iv done it myself many many years ago…it was the precurser to my first real doubt that this was The Truth…because I felt like such a sorry human being afterwards….well done Caroline you have described the idiocy of this organisation in a few well chosen words.
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Lisa says:
October 25, 2015 at 11:20 am
I too at one time felt that way “Idontknowhattodo” It wasnt till I finally took a stand for myself and children. I sat my parents down and told them I could no longer be a JW. My mother stood up and walked out of my home. Didn’t speak to me for 10 years! But what freedom my family finally received. Born Free!!!!
It takes amazing courage and strength.
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Idontknowhatodo says:
October 26, 2015 at 1:27 am
I would think it would take amazing courage and strenth Lisa and maybe I am a coward but I couldnt face my grown children shunning me…they are all away from home now but devoted to this organisation all the same… I am trying to build a life outside but that is hard…Im no Spring Chicken and have been in this cult my entire life…so for myself I would find that too much to do…I would be alone…I feel cowardly many times in the day and have found friends on this site…I admire you I really do…you saved your family.
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JBob says:
October 25, 2015 at 6:53 pm
I’m going to counter you on that @Caroline because if you read a little further in the Correspondence Guidelines, you’ll notice that the Watchtower does expect SOME “sins” to be reversed. Like if you had your baby-maker removed because mentally you felt like a woman, and not a Shania Twain thing but a Caitlin thing, so now you got to stop the hormones and dress like a man. Granted a man with breasts and big lips and hips, but dress like a man. And, if you got married to a man, you would have to get divorced–unhitched.
So, you see the Holy Spirit (God’s divine tool) sometimes gets a little confused and has a 180-degree change regarding handling matters.
On the other hand, if you wanted to have a franchise that handles matters consistently across the board, with the same looking McKingdom Hall in every city, the same uniformed McElders, the same McMeetings, and the same McGuidance, yeah, you need a branding manual with policies and guidelines.
Religion. Business. Enterprise. Religion. Business. Enterprise. Puppy. Tail. Religion. Business. Enterprise. Puppy. Tail….
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Pow says:
October 26, 2015 at 8:18 am
Jbob,
That’s hilariously accurate, so when we start the Christian life and ministry meetings,
( the dumbed down version ).
I got one question …can I super-size that for you, and do you want fries?
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Sy says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:18 am
I’m disassociated for 20 years now – I got kicked out by my JW mother because I started to question things more openly at age 17. My JW father beat me regularly from the age of 2 until I ‘left’ home as well as having seven shades of shite kicked out at mr throughout every year of school for being a JW child. My dad would even give me beatings in the KH toilets and dig his nails so deep into my hands and arms I’d bleed so when I’d sfinally stopped crying I’d have to go back into the hall and sit on my hands so nobody could see the bleeding. The elders knew what was going on. The whole congregation knew what was going on, yet nothing was done. My abuse was only physical (and mental) so in a way a blessing (of sorts) compared to some unfortunate children. To allow this to happen to a child you must have to be utterly brainwashed.
And that is how this cult operates. Reels you in with false/non-scriptual promises after feeding on peoples fears/fragile emotional states, and just bombards you day after day after effing day. No respite. No days off for good behaviour. 3 meetings a week. It doesn’t matter how far you are from a KH – BE THERE. Squillions of magazines, books and pamphlets repeating themselves over and over. Here’s more new shit. Here’s some more new shit. Hey, I know it’s only been a week but here’s some more new shit. Apparently there’s some more new shit coming out next week. The week after, 3 lots of new shit will be held aloft by the speaker during a special announcement WHICH YOU WILL BE AT. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM – DON’T EFFING QUESTION US – BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM aaaaaaannnnnd… BOOM there’s some more new shit landed in your lap to read/adhere to/not question. Contribute financially if you can, or with your ‘time’ if you like.
My mother is still in the clutches of this horrid cult who are, ultimately, responsible for death of thousands due to there blood policy and shunning policy. They cannot claim manslaughter. They are God’s chosen spokespeople, apparently. God wants this. His Holy Spirit says so. About as believable as Joseph Smiths’ sear stone in a smelly old tophat. No. This is murder. No spirit visits these men. No moans or clanking chains. No whispers in the ear or ‘visions’ or any of that BS. They are fully aware of their actions. God did not send Casper the Friendly Ghost along to the GB to help draw out a paedophilia policy so utterly disgusting that – even trying to stretch our own compunction of how life, space and time works – makes you wonder if the GB are stuck in a perpetual loop of April 1st days.
My mother has been in for 40 years now. My Dad has always been half-in, half-out. My 3 brothers have faded but my sister is still in. I think. None of them are talking to me, because various men make themselves a foot-and-a-half taller by standing on a platform with nice angled lighting and tell them not to talk to me. Oh, and while I’m on the platform Brothers and Sisters… BOOM here’s a new book called ‘The A-Z of Shunning’ please obey it.
Back to Mum. I wish she’d just take a break. I miss speaking with her. She’s so lovely but utterly indoctrinated. Brainwashing doesn’t do holidays though. Wouldn’t that be nice for those ‘still in’? Just take a month off. Treat yourselves. Come ooooon – you’ve been in for 4 decades. Take the weight offa yo feetsies. I assure you ‘God’ won’t judge you for it. You’ve put a lot of time and effort in. Just a month. No literature. No meetings. No JW.org on your tablet and any of the new songs that make me wanna eat my own fricking feet with embarrassment. The New System should’ve arrived long before now. I can guarantee you it ain’t gonna arrive within the next month. Sit back. Relax. Reflect. Question. Reason. NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! SAY THE GB – BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM AND ANOTHER BOOK IN YOUR LAP OR AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD THROUGH APPLES’ APPSTORE SOON BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM.
I’ve come to the conclusion that those that are still in – and who must be aware of all the radical changes at the top followed by the trickledown to all the filth that’s happening at the KH end – are terminally deluded. From a Humanistic standpoint, these people need urgent mental help.
Jehovah’s Witnesses. Please. Treat yourself to a month off.
Reply
Sy says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:29 am
Oh, and as a by-the-way being as my post wasn’t really on-topic, I’ve flicked through this latest document. If I’m honest, it’s no best-seller. Actually, it’s quite shit as fictional works go.
Reply
David Adam says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:34 am
Can I get the whole letter?
Reply
wifibandit says:
October 24, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Rumor has it that some are trading it here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/3q0azf/pdf_link_to_leaked_correspondence_guidelines/
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Anna Adam says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:38 am
Thanks John
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RK says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:50 am
I’m curious how the watchtower keeps from lawsuits by threatening disassociation if one accepts blood to save their own life. If someone in your car does not have a seatbelt on, and you say stayed up all night. Then drove while exhausted and hit a tree killing the passenger. You would go to jail.
There has to be some form of negligence (legal that is) on the part of watchtower for indoctrinating people to not except the blood transfusion by forcing them with disassociation. I always thought they couldn’t disfellowshipped someone or basically disassociate them if they willingly accept a blood transfusion, because it would cause legal issues. But now after reading this information it appears that if you willingly except a blood transfusion and you are to be disassociated. So really one is actually forced by the fear of separation from family. But somehow they make it the person’s own choice by them signing the DPA.
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JBob says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:23 pm
@RK – keep in mind the Watchtower lobby and then the naive general public has the attitude that individuals are free to choose to abide by or toss aside any community or club guidelines (not standards or laws, or rules). Viewing JW.org as a club means that individuals choosing to not take blood were aware of the risk (dying) and assumed it. This legal dog and pony show has been shown often, and Watchtower, Inc always comes out smelling like Febreezed horse manure.
Reply
Ozzy Steve says:
October 24, 2015 at 5:51 am
Such understanding treatment of Transgender persons requesting baptism! Was this written in the 50’s? Truly appalling, although what would you expect:(
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Ted says:
October 24, 2015 at 7:06 am
Covertfade.
Your comment on membership of organisations, listed in the
secret document, and linking it to the org, joining the UN as a
NGO, was excellent, and very coincidental for me.
Just 3 days previously, my brother in law elder asked to see me
for a discussion on questions I had previously raised about the org.
I prepared for his visit by printing out “The Guardian” article on the
orgs, hypocrisy and also the UNs letter showing that NGOs had to
agree with its charter, I pointed out to him page 112 in the Flock
Book, that shows that he would not only lose his eldership, but
would be D,A-d, for membership of a political org. The extra info
from the secret file would have been most useful.
Brother in law made the feeble response, “That we all sign things
without reading the small print. ( We all know the org,lawyers check
every full stop and comma,)
We also discussed Shunning. I had printed. an article from the
January 8 1947 Awake, “Are you Excommunicated”. The last
paragraph describes excommunication as “A Weapon of Tyranny
used by the clergy, that finds no parallel in history. I asked, why
is a weapon of tyranny being used against gods flock today?
He left, rather subdued and took the printed material with him.
I didn’t get any Joy from this, he’s been a JW 57 years and is
getting on in years himself. But it was he who requested the
discussion, and I had no intention of listening to WT propaganda.
I’ve had my fill of that.
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Meredith J says:
October 24, 2015 at 2:34 pm
What a victory. Maybe he will have a crisis of conscience too.
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Mark-O says:
October 26, 2015 at 12:10 pm
The UN NGO is now a bit of a distraction. What WTBTS did was join the UN Secretariat “Deartments and Offices” as an annex of the UN DPI, by way of the “grassroots” tier of the Outreach Division of the DPI.
So the UN NGO is a low level “affiliate” “partnered” membership, that now dovetails out to many UN “Intergovernmental Organizations” that the WTBTS is now involved with, out of the UN NGO shell, but still performing UN lobbying in organizations intended to influence national legislation.
The OSCE activity, a UN IGO, is not the only place the WTBTS still lobbies for the various layers of the UN international agenda, which penetrates all nations by various routes like “religious freedom” and “human rights” and “sustainable development”.
For example then OSCE is at the core an “arms control” focused organ, so what is the WTBTS having to do with “arms control”? So it was just an in to allow the WTBTS to continue to “ride the wildbeast” under various “good intention” cloaks.
But in the end, the WTBTS is used to influence national directions for the UN agenda into national politics.
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Freedomancy|Void ab Initio says:
October 24, 2015 at 10:22 am
“…for the congregation wants to avoid community responsibility for bloodguilt.”
There it is: the reason the WatOrg will never fully allow blood transfusions. Instead, they’ll slowly decrease restrictions so that, when they’re done, accepting blood becomes a matter of conscience. No announcement is made, no new light blooms. Witnesses will be able to take blood in everything but name. They nearly can already.
It’s all about the liability, guys.
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Pow says:
October 24, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Excally. !!!
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Ted says:
October 24, 2015 at 10:56 am
The genuine person who disclosed this nauseating
document is obviously someone who is disillusioned
and unhappy with the wt,orgs, principles and conduct.
Furthermore they see Lloyds site as a major influence
in combatting the cult control that many are trapped in.
it’s a privilege to have a little part in it.
Reply
Pow says:
October 24, 2015 at 3:44 pm
With this kind of “inside and insightful ” information, for once the light is really getting brighter.
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Tara says:
October 25, 2015 at 8:22 am
It def. makes reading the scriptures different.
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WikiFade says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:28 pm
@Ted – really this is old news. As Lloyd outlines, RFranz served up this in his 1st book, CoC. No lawsuits in that case. The material has surfaced once and again, over the decades intervening, but now that we have wikileaks… and activist hackers..
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RC says:
October 24, 2015 at 11:16 am
Hi dee,
Have read that book by Don Cameron as well. Also reasoning the scriptures with jehovah witnesses by Ron Rhodes. If there are any other books please let me know.
@wifibandit
Thanks for the link.they can target my countrymen as much as they can but so far their efforts have not yielded much success. People here are a little bit ambivalent when it comes to religion. Being majority hindus they generally dont listen to JWs . The government has not granted permission for the JW to receive foreign donations. They appealed in court but seems like the case is going on for at least a decade with no end in sight.
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dee says:
October 25, 2015 at 6:49 pm
@RC
Just wondering, has your cousin expressed the reason(s) why he has decided to become a JW? Why does he believe that this is the true religion?
I recall that when I used to be a JW, I was told that the best way to preach to Hindus (I assume your cousin was formerly a Hindu?) was not to discuss their religious beliefs but just show them the pictures of the coming paradise in the JW publications and ask them:
If they could be in Paradise without having to go through several cycles of death and rebirth, would they prefer that?
What if the Paradise could be on earth instead of in heaven? Would they prefer that?
Based on their answers they were then told that the Bible teaches that there is a coming paradise on earth without the need to go through several cycles of death and rebirth before getting to that Paradise.
At the time I was living in a country with a very significant Hindu population and some of the Hindus did fall for this apparent express route to Paradise and became JWs. Perhaps your cousin has fallen for these arguments as well?
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ScotWm says:
October 24, 2015 at 11:56 am
What to do when you are of advanced age — with health problems — and the faithful slave no longer wants to support your missionary work, traveling work or district work? Being demoted to the Special Pioneer work does provide a meager income, but all other provisions are gone. Surely the answer lies in the “Correspondence Guidelines” document. Well, maybe not.
However, there’s no need to become discouraged because the Governing Body has lovingly provided “Iron Sharpens Iron”, a video which shows how to “throw your burden on Jehovah” when God’s visible Earthly organization throws you out on the street. First, you must focus on the privilege and joy of serving the Watchtower organization and pleasing the Governing Body members who have a great abundance of love for you.
Next, you must actually throw your burden on the local congregations to which you are now assigned. Therefore, you should try to relocate in areas where you are already known for your faithful Watchtower service. Then, think about why the Governing Body has made these “adjustments” and the benefits that are going to come to the congregations.
Always think about the good times you had when you were young and serving the faithful slave, not about the stark reality that you are all used up and being discarded because the Watchtower has no further use for you.
As a loving provision, the Governing Body has compiled all of these helpful survival tips and many more into one simplified video:
http://tv.jw.org/#en/video/VODIntExp/pub-irn_x_VIDEO
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Pow says:
October 26, 2015 at 8:24 am
Basically let me sum that video with a more accurate title. ” go and be warm and well fed”, now go on and get the hell outta here
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M. says:
October 24, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Guidelines for Traveling Overseers
available in Spanish : https://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/230501492?access_key=key-wuyQetUvsQ8V4D8G4y55&allow_share=true&escape=false&show_recommendations=false&view_mode=scroll
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Debbie smith says:
October 24, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Thank you for the work that you do. I have been cut off from my entire immediate family and suffered years of depression due to being a witness. I applaud you.
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Catalina says:
October 24, 2015 at 7:12 pm
I just looked under the section about sexual conduct. Do you remember the dentist here in the U.S. who raped women patients while they were unconscience in his dental chair? It took several years before he got caught. According to my sister a regular pioneer got pregnant by that dentist and was disfellowshipped because she kept telling the elders she didn’t know when it happened or who the father was. The elders didn’t believe her until DNA proved the rapist was the father. It took years before she was reinstated because the elders thought she was unrepentant. It took DNA to help her. It turned out she was telling the elders the truth the whole time. Things like this proves these are man made laws and not from Jehovah or Jesus. She kept going to meetings until she got reinstated. Now she is inactive. Disfellowshiping and shunning scars people for life.
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dee says:
October 24, 2015 at 7:30 pm
@Catalina:
If this is really God’s spirit-led organization, why didn’t God’s Holy Spirit tell the elders that the raped sister was telling the truth?
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Catalina says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:56 pm
Oh Yes, that is such a great point. I get what you mean. When an elder is chosen it’s supposed to be by holy spirit. According to my sister the elders felt the pioneer sister was hiding something and wasn’t being forthcoming. If holy spirit was really there they would have trusted her. I never thought of that.
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Meredith J says:
October 24, 2015 at 10:51 pm
She must have felt like “Why would I bother?” Sounds like she didn’t when they never believed her. Classic story. The Holy Spirit was never there.
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Caroline (formerly anonymous) says:
October 25, 2015 at 4:02 am
Catalina, in my circuit there was a regular pioneer sister who left her husband and married another Witness man and she wasn’t even publicly reproved. That was in 1974 and because she didn’t even get a slap on the wrist, there was a rash of divorces (probably because that sister didn’t even get publicly reproved and so they thought they could do the same thing).
It all depends on if they say “sorry” good enough and if they are innocent, that person would still have to say “sorry” to satisfy the requirements not to get disfellowshipped. It is much like in the U.S. if a person is convicted of a crime that they did not commit, if they want to get out of jail in a matter of years later, they have to say they were sorry for the crime they did not commit and if they refuse, the criminal system will keep that person in prison, that is unless they are released because of finding DNA evidence to exonerate them.
Holy Spirit has nothing to do with their decisions. The elders’ first order of importance is that they have to make people on the “outside” believe that the Watchtower Organization is the cleanest religion in the world because after all, it is God’s “only” organization that He is communicating with today.
When the elders play favorites and don’t disfellowship somebody and not the next person for the same “sin”, nobody in the congregation is privy to what went on behind the closed doors of the committee hearing and are forbidden to even ask questions.
Those elders should not be put in that position. If a sister shows up pregnant and is not married and she says she can’t remember how it happened, the elders have no other choice but to disfellowship her.
I am sure that after she was exonerated, they felt bad for their decision to disfellowship her but their conscience was clear because they were following the Governing Body’s orders.
They should feel very ashamed and brokenhearted though because of all the pain that that Sister went through all those years and those elders can’t take that back from her and in any other organization, she could sue the pants off those men for what they put her through.
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Catalina says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:57 am
Caroline and Meredith, that’s probably it, she wouldn’t say sorry and the elders cared to much how things looked because she was pregnant.
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ThePenthouseExperience says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:45 pm
@Catalina – This may be off-topic, but since it is Halloween.. JW’s are noted for NOT observing any holidays, and especially, the Halloween festivities as being “Satan’s Day/Night,” so no telling of ghost stories, etc. But, JW’s do have their own style of Halloween ghost stories–demon stories.
The famous ones are related about some poor pioneer sister who frequented flea markets and garage sales to recycle and salvage items to furnish her rental. As it goes, she finds an innocuous little curio item and places it inside the home. Nothing major happens, but she begins to notice little strange things–items seem to be out of place, doors open that she thought she closed. Then, as the elder or MS, continues the story, one night, or morning, an Incubus calls and without a graphic telling molests (rapes) the sister.
Now, stories of this origin are steeped in superstition but the reasons for these tales derive from uncles and household males attempting to avoid suspicion of incest. A woman’s story of rape–perhaps being drugged–would be interrupted by the predatory interjecting the Incubus as culprit to throw suspicions off of himself.
In light of the rise of molestation cases and what we know of predators using drugs to subdue females for rape, I wonder if these stories were brought up by these JW men to cover their own outrageous actions–throwing confusion into the heads of the woman that had been, or would be, a target of their rape?
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elderfaded says:
October 26, 2015 at 6:55 am
Catalina … If I may ask … the incident of the Dentist you mentioned … in what State did that happen ?
I ask because I also know of a similar case that happened where I lived . I know of one Sister who worked for this Dentist ! If its the same case … I have inside information for you .
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elderfaded says:
October 26, 2015 at 7:04 am
Catalina … If I may ask … the incident of the Dentist you mentioned … in what State did that happen ?
I ask because I also know of a similar case that happened where I lived . I know of one Sister who worked for this Dentist ! If its the same case … I have inside information for you .
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1914 ha ha ha says:
October 24, 2015 at 7:50 pm
How many jws does it take to change a lightbulb? It doesnt fµ¶€½%# matter, youre getting new light next week. Just remember,todays new light is tomorrows darkness!!!
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Catalina says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:59 am
1914 ha ha ha, that joke made me laugh and laugh and laugh out loud.
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1914 ha ha ha says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:01 pm
How many jws does it take to change a lightbulb? It doesnt fµ¶€½%# matter, youre getting new light next week. Just remember,todays new light is tomorrows darkness.
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shannon says:
October 26, 2015 at 8:44 am
I would buy that T-shirt !
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1914 ha ha ha says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:11 pm
sorry about the repost, i just cant get my head around the mindset of (my mum & dad) jws. Are they really that gullable?
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Jake says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:14 pm
If a person is to be judged on their love of what is truthful how is the Watchtower getting along?
Uzziah burnt incense in the temple and was struck with leprosy for doing so, how different is it to proclaim you have been appointed to a position ‘over all’ when you have not and have disfellowedshipped those who have disagreed with you?
It is not apostasy to disagree with those who promote false teachings.
If we are to ‘test the inspired sayings’ then questioning the Watchtower Society is the right and proper thing to do, especially in view of its horrendous past record of false teachings and bully boy tactics.
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Jake says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:35 pm
The Watchtower loves it when people rant against them, it’s how they made their money, they laugh at people like us, in fact they love people like us (it’s a rather scornful arrogant organisation).
But if you present a sound and scriptural argument against them, regardless of what they say, they are the ones they fear.
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Robert67 says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Spot on Jake
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Tara says:
October 25, 2015 at 8:27 am
They believe we are helping them fulfill scripture but as POW mentioned earlier the light is getting brighter but for a totally different reason than they – WT think.
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Jake says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Beware it’s ‘unity at all costs’.
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Jake says:
October 24, 2015 at 8:59 pm
The Watchtower lauds Christ, and yes I might die, but he did not bow to religious oppression.
So on your bike with one shoe that fits all.
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konceptual99 says:
October 24, 2015 at 9:43 pm
Amazing leak.
In some ways it’s not the content that should raise much in the way of eyebrows. With some notable exceptions, much of what is in there can be established from published WT articles. You could even argue that this is simply an internal document for use by Bethel staff and not especially “secret”.
It’s also something so that whatever minion gets to write letters back can have some point of reference without having to trawl through years of flip flops, changed light and confusing doctrine.
I think what is far more interesting is the mere fact it has been leaked. This is the latest in a bunch of documentation that has had relatively restricted distribution, only to those in trusted, senior roles, yet here it is being shared openly.
The contradictory nature of the WTS claiming to be led by principles and basic Christian values whilst producing lengthy document after document after document about process is being exposed time after time after time.
Great work!
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Jake says:
October 24, 2015 at 9:48 pm
What is it about Northenden and the 1920’s?
1990 and if I could of said I would. Did like the dinner tickets and the 1st floor though :-)
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Cassandra says:
October 25, 2015 at 1:07 am
So upset that I can’t get a copy!
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Richard says:
October 25, 2015 at 4:35 am
Amazing that even in the case of murder, it doesn’t say squat about reporting it to the authorities… and for manslaughter, it seems to imply that it should stay in-house. WTF?!?!
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JBob says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:51 pm
I think I posted a few years back here, you could get away with murder as a JW?
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Kat says:
October 25, 2015 at 5:31 am
Cassandra try this.
http://www.metafilter.com/154120/Secretive-Correspondence-Guidelines-used-by-Jehovahs-Witnesses-leaked
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Caroline (formerly anonymous) says:
October 25, 2015 at 8:23 am
On page 63, under Holidays and Anniversaries, it lists Hanukkah and refers to the Awake 1990 Dec. 8, pages 11-13 where that article actually admits that from the scripture at John 10:22,23 that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah in the wintertime.
The article went on to explain what Hanukkah was and how they had decorations with lights etc. but really no explanation why Christians would not celebrate it except that the Law Covenant came to an end but on page 12 of that article it says:
“Even though this festival was not a part of the original covenant God made with Israel, Hanukkah became an accepted part of the Jews’ worship, much as the Festival of Purim had become in previous years. (Esther 9:26,27) Like Purim, Hanukkah was celebrated with songs and prayers in the synagogues, unlike the three major festivals mandated by he covenant (Passover; Festival of Weeks, or Pentecost; and Festival of Booths) that required trips to the temple in Jerusalem. – Deut. 16:16.”
This is how that article concludes:
“So even though the rededication of the temple was an important event in the history of God’s ancient people, there is no reason for Christians to commemorate Hanukkah.”
What is interesting about this is that if you say to Witnesses that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah which is a winter holiday right around Christmas and it has nothing to do with the festivals that were in the Law Covenant, most Witnesses would be surprised by that fact. That little sentence and that scripture in that article went right past me, and I bet almost every Witness.
That article doesn’t answer the question about whether or not a Christian could celebrate Hanukkah because it refers to the Law Covenant being done away with. It doesn’t answer the question because it had nothing to do with the Law Covenant in the first place.
If brother who is answering correspondence, is being asked that question, all they would tell the writer to do, is to look at that Awake article for their answers and the article doesn’t answer the question at all but just gives the runaround.
If it had been me who had written to the Society for an answer to that question, the answer would not have satisfied me and that is because the Watchtower can’t answer it satisfactorily because Jesus celebrated Hanukkah and it had nothing to do with the Law covenant.
The Watchtower has to give the runaround when it comes to Jesus celebrating Hanukkah because that is one scripture that they could not leave out of the New World Translation but if they could leave it out, they would have so they slide right over it with a slippery answer, hoping that nobody will notice.
Slippery little answers like that, just go to show that they don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to the Bible. They just want the rank and file to think they have all the answers and the rank and file won’t put their brains in gear to question it.
We read that stuff but didn’t think about what we were reading and that is because we were ordered to read all the magazines and so we read them, to get it over with. We didn’t really read them because they were interesting articles.
We read them to get it over with so if a householder asked us a question like “did you read it?”, we would be able to answer with a clean conscience, “yes I read it.”
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Pow says:
October 26, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Carolina,
Good point, in fact I remember a question from readers that dealt with whether a jdub.could attend a bar mitzvah, somehow the answer was worked around Paul’s counsel concerning what sharing does Christ have with Belial, really, like Paul never stepped foot in a synagogue. So the Jews were devil worshipers? Didn’t Jesus and Paul and James , ect….all worship at the temple and local synagogue.
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idontbeliveyou says:
October 25, 2015 at 11:12 am
I dont even read it.
Cause i just can not believe how stupid you all pretend to be.
This one part of article clearly says that JW is true religion.
How blind all of you has to be to not see it?
*** w12 9/1 p. 15 Now I Know the God I Worship ***
Though my father and brother now vehemently opposed me, two weeks before my baptism as a Witness, I mustered up the courage to go home to burn all the things I had used in my former work as a pastor. After doing so, I realized that any special powers previously given to me were gone. In the past, when I slept, I felt that something was constantly pressing down on me. That feeling was gone too. The shadows I used to see at the window of my room never appeared again. My study of the Bible had taught me that any so-called gifts today, like the power to heal, are not from God but from wicked spirits. I am so happy that I broke free from their influence, just as the servant girl did whom Paul freed from “a demon of divination.”—Acts 16:16-18.
Why would demons leave her?
WHY?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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Donald duck says:
October 25, 2015 at 11:42 am
Who’s to say this experience is true… Personally I think just telling this experience is weird. I don’t talk about demons at all! Witnesses are more preoccupied with the spirit world more than any group I know..:/
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Catalina says:
October 25, 2015 at 12:11 pm
You got that right. Before I became inactive I remember during a meeting some comments made about spiritism. While I was inactive my step daughter played a cassette tape in my car of ghost stories. The copy right date was 1959. The stories I heard on the cassette tape were identicle to the comments I heard at the meetings. That was the first time I realized I what I heard at the meeting was fiction.
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dee says:
October 25, 2015 at 2:55 pm
@idontbeliveyou:
There are members of other religions who have also claimed that demons stopped attacking/harassing them once they joined that religion. Would that make those religions true as well or is it only the JW religion that is true when its members have this kind of experience????
It seems to me that you have fallen for the ‘specialness’ ploy used by the GB whereby the GB creates a ‘specialness’ about the JWs so that they can in turn claim that on account of this ‘specialness’ JWs must be right:
1. Only JWs use God’s name.
2. JWs will be persecuted for their faith. Satan will cause relatives and friends and other religions to say bad things about the religion. So we must be doing it right as, after all Jesus did tell us to expect persecution.
3. The demons can’t attack you if you flee to Jehovah’s organization.
Freedom from demonic attack/harassment has also been claimed by members of other religions so maybe the JWs aren’t so special after all???? So, I wonder if the JW religion is really the true religion????
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dee says:
October 25, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Alleged claims of freedom from demonic harassment/attacks does not in and of itself proove that the JW religion is the true religion since this is not a unique experience – members of other religions have also claimed to experience freedom from demonic harassment/attacks when they joined those religions.
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dee says:
October 25, 2015 at 4:02 pm
*prove
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Grace says:
October 25, 2015 at 4:45 pm
I can say that from experience and this story will sound far-fetched but it is true. A couple of years ago, my cousin had a so-called “demon possession” experience inside her kingdom hall with elders holding her down while she was spitting at them & screaming foul language at them. Apparently she was so strong that the 5 men that had to calm her down were struggling to hold her down.
It came out that she has been diagnosed with some severe mental illness. I don’t exactly know what she has been diagnosed with because I was leaving the religion at the time & was labelled by her as an apostate for not going along with the whole superstitiousness of it all. I kind of thought that she was inviting the whole thing on anyway. Also, if she really was possessed & the kh is god’s house & is free from demons then why did she have it in the kh.
So many people were having mental illness problems & physical illnesses that were making them depressed that I started to question the sanity of this religion & the impact it had on everyone. Then it dawned on me how much the underlying negative messages were. Everything was so negative with a topping of fantasy to sweeten it.
At the time, I felt like the woman in the original 1984 film where she was looking out of the window at the woman hanging the clothes out on the washing & longing for that sense of freedom. The sad, tragic thing about that movie was that they went back because the mind control & groupthink was so powerful.
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Ejecting to Sanity says:
October 25, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Just lost the screen while I was writing a comment, so if anything across not finished, that’s me..
Not many surprises in the guidelines, it just reinforces the controlling aspect of the cult. The rigidity and the inability of ‘appointed’ ones to use common sense, impartiality and empathy is truly heinous.
After 20 years in and currently doing a quick fade, I have seen so many cases of rules being overlooked for those who are a pioneer, part of an elder’s family, or just good at sucking up. But have any independent action or thinking, secular success, family problem or brain usage and any of these rules would be used to the maximum against you..
Examples: sterilization in families has not ever been an issue in the standing or privileges in congregation here. Our presiding overseer and his wife were in Bethel for a time and she had her tubes tied while she was there. She just didn’t want children. And when my husband had a vasectomy, it was certainly not frowned upon. Had we been on tbe outs then, apparently this was shameful decision.
Also, the common practice of friending disfellowshipped family and former associates on Facebook and other social media. Our disfellowshipped ones and uninterested young adults are frequently asked about, talked to, eat at families homes, etc..and the common phrases when asked about this person is: ‘well Jehovah knows their heart’. This is certainly in contrast to what the same families would say at a meeting when answering who’s going to make it into Armageddon. There they would follow the direction and say’ Oh only us wonderful baptized in good standing witnesses’. I don’t know how they keep a straight face when commenting.
Anyway rules are made to be used for ugly purposes and watch out if you look funny at them when they’re breaking them theirselves. You’re in for it!
As I’m exiting, I’ve shared some the rules and expected behavior conditioning with friends from work and life (yes, I have always maintained WORLDLY friends. .ao naughty) and they are appalled by what I and others have accepted as truth, standards and doctrine. If I hear anyone us studying, I will find them and give them a copy.
Thank u for this site..it’s truly helped me to have courage to choose this great life forward!
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Doc Obvious says:
October 25, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Watchtower states that it is nonpolitical. Really? Think about the following.
A lawyer is a person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor. Watchtower has lawyers on their staff. What is a law? A law is a rule made by a
government that states how people may and may not behave in society and in business, and that often orders particular punishments if they do not obey, or a system of such rules. Therefore, the government creates laws. Who in particular creates the laws in the government? In the United States laws are created by Congress. Congress is made up of men and women who represent political parties. A political party is an organization
of people which seeks to achieve goals common to its members through the acquisition and exercise of political power. Who ultimately owns the political
power? Could it be…Satan.
Watchtower believes that having lawyers on staff is acceptable. Jesus Christ, while he was on earth, did not have one lawyer on his staff. Jesus did not want
his father’s laws to be interfered with government laws. Jesus would state having lawyers on his staff would be a conflict of interest.
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Anonymous says:
October 25, 2015 at 6:43 pm
The Watchtower never states it is non-political, but neutral. However, being neutral in their view means they are not taking a stand, or side, on any issues, which as we can see from the halal and hijab codes listed here is not the case. They clearly have a moral stand and moral stands ARE political in that they affect the lives and rights of individuals, just as laws do.
That leadership doesn’t seem to follow the same “boogey-man” behind the political system fears as the r/f would indicate the leadership doesn’t really buy into the beliefs being served up. After all, the sovreign is never subject to the laws imposed on the plebes.
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Doc Obvious says:
October 26, 2015 at 10:24 am
The Watchtower magazine’s masthead states that they are nonpolitical. Here is the quote: “This magazine has been published continuously since 1879 and is nonpolitical.”
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Ted says:
October 25, 2015 at 6:12 pm
All kinds of people suffer all kinds of hallucinations
and delusions. Religion seems to have more than
it’s fair share,
And no wonder, the idea of a very exacting God
intruding constantly on every private thought,
24 hour surveillance, it’s enough to drive anyone
mad, not everyone can deal with that scenario.
Orwell got it right.
Then the very ones who have created the problem
claim they are the only ones with the cure. It’s the
oldest con in the world. It’s not just the JW org,
we need to wake up from.
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Kat says:
October 25, 2015 at 6:48 pm
From my experience what I have found of those that are recruited many seem to have had some sort of demonic experience in their lives before becoming a JW, and they experience more while studying, JW say its because the demons don’t want to let you go and just say Gods name out loud and they will flee, get rid of all books or things on the occult or anything someone may have given you that was involved in the occult, and crosses and heavy metal music and so on….
But these people all seemed to not be happy after becoming a JW, and had depression and mental issues.
I think the JW religion does attract a certain type for the most part.
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dee says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:07 pm
@Kat & Grace:
Good points.
There was also some research done on the problem of mental illness among Jehovah’s Witnesses by Dr Jerry Bergman, a former JW elder. He discussed some of the issues in the following video:
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dee says:
October 25, 2015 at 7:15 pm
Correct link for Dr Jerry Bergman’s video:
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Grace says:
October 25, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Thank you Dee,
That is a very interesting video. I would love to see stats on the mental state of JW’s. I do believe that it attracts those with prior mental health issues as was my cousin who was converted. She always had signs of something amiss & was the sweetest personality but over the years it seemed as though she was getting sicker & sicker. I also noticed that she became hypersensitive about demons & it became her focus a lot of the time.
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dee says:
October 25, 2015 at 9:44 pm
@Kat:
“I think the JW religion does attract a certain type for the most part”.
Could it be that such persons are overwhelmed by life’s challenges as they find it difficult/ lack the ability to cope with life’s problems or get in control of life’s challenging situations and this difficulty/inability causes them to have mental health problems?
This inability to cope is what causes them to be attracted to the JW religion because of the fantasy paradise doctrine, as they see paradise as a panacea to their inability to cope with life’s problems?
But once they are in the religion constantly hearing the negative message about how bad everything around them is, as this thought must be kept foremost to remind them of the imminence of Armageddon, they become depressed from hearing too much negativity and this exacerbates any mental health issues which they may have had before joining the religion?
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Meredith J says:
October 26, 2015 at 3:25 am
Really, who is to know who is influencing us anyway? It would be easy to fake these things as if they were really coming from the true God. We were ripe for the pickins. Real suckers.
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Catalina says:
October 25, 2015 at 10:06 pm
I agree with what was said towards the end of this video. For me it is traumatic to be shunned by my family but in the long run I am happier. It took months for me to feel better. I say, It doesn’t work well to go back to what didn’t work. I was born and raised in the ‘truth’ I left it the first time in 1988. I felt guilty when I left for letting my family down. I returned a year ago and saw it was worse than when I left. They are like puppets. The society controls their mouths, minds and actions. They are unhappy. That’s why it’s so unhealthy. No one is allowed to think for themselves. Because of their marking and shunning policy they are very judgmental. This causes them to dislike each other and in the end it even causes them to dislike themselves, that explains the mental illness.
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Catalina says:
October 26, 2015 at 12:19 am
Dee you are right. The nice thing about this site is listening to people who make sense.
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Catalina says:
October 26, 2015 at 12:31 am
I agree, many who come into the religion already have mental issues. They are worshiping a God who can’t stand mankind so much he brought on the flood to destroy them and in the end he couldn’t even stand himself so he felt regret for doing the flood. I don’t know. It sounds so warped to me.
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Kat says:
October 26, 2015 at 3:05 am
I agree Dee and as the time passes and no Armageddon but more of the same it puts ones hopes up then you go down again, up and down up and down, no wonder people in this religion can’t cope and suicide especially if they are DF and lose family and friends they have nothing to hang onto. Fighting to come back into the religion feeling unworthy takes its toll.
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Caroline (formerly anonymous) says:
October 26, 2015 at 4:48 am
One week ago, my husband went to the hospital for some tests and they ended up keeping him for a week. While he was in the hospital, two of the elders from his congregation came to see him. They are lovely men, especially when they drove eighty miles one way. They were dressed in suits and looked really nice. You could tell they were “shepherding” my husband.
When they were there, they asked my grown son to read a scripture to my husband and when my son was done reading the scripture, the one elder commended my son on what a good job he did reading the scripture. My son has been baptized since he was a teenager and is in his thirty’s and loves the “truth” and so commending him like that was demeaning.
Reading that scripture to my husband was demeaning and it insulted my husband. I told my husband that those elders were doing their “job” as how they felt they should do. They had no idea by reading that scripture to “encourage” my husband was insulting but it was.
It was so nice of them to go to see him but what they don’t realize is that we are all supposed to be “ministers” on equal standing when you are a Witness.
When a fellow Witness “encourages” us by reading scriptures to us, they are saying in effect that “that they are “above” you in the “truth” but we all supposed to be ministers on an equal plane.
When a paid minister from Christendom goes to the hospital to visit patients, they are being paid to do that and the patient expects the minister to read scriptures to the patient but when a fellow “minister” of Jehovah’s Witnesses goes to the church, who is the “minister”?
Can you imagine that a paid preacher from a church is lying in a hospital bed and a “lay” person comes to the minister’s room and starts reading scriptures to the paid preacher who is lying in the bed to “encourage” the paid preacher?
Why would all of a sudden the lay person start “encouraging” the paid minister with scriptures? Shouldn’t the lay person be quiet and wait for the paid preacher to start reading the scriptures, even if that paid preacher is lying in the bed? That is not how it works when the church members are paying a preacher to be their minister when it comes to Bible understanding.
When my husband has been in the “truth” since birth and he is seventy years old, he shouldn’t be treated now as if another elder is the “minister” and he is not a fellow minister.
When we are called into a committee meeting or any other time we are with fellow “ministers” we should all be treated with equal respect and when the elders start with the scriptures and we are not allowed to get out the Bible and show them scriptures where they are going wrong, they are putting themselves in the position as the paid preacher in a church and we are the “lay” person who doesn’t know anything about the Bible.
When the Society tells us that we need to be “obedient” to elders, they are saying that we are no longer ministers but “lay” people.
It isn’t just the elders who think they are superior. Anybody who isn’t “just” a publisher is put in their place by the next person up the ladder who gets more time in service or is a man.
No matter how much the Society likes to tell new people who are studying that we are all equal, it is not true.
Those rules that the Society has come up with, proves that.
Reply
elderfaded says:
October 26, 2015 at 6:40 am
The posting of the “correspondence guidelines” manual brings to attention an issue that has always been an unsettling inside paradox. ( status of citizenship ) I served as an elder for almost 20 years (as P.O. / C.O.B.E. , school overseer, WT conductor and secretary) and have faded from the Organization about 3 years ago. But during my time as an elder, our congregation shared a multi congregation Kingdom hall capable of holding more then one meeting at the same time. Among the Congregations that shared the facility were 3 foreign language congregations. Two were Spanish. It was common knowledge that within the Spanish appointed bodies – ½ of the elders and about 1/3 of the ministerial servants were “ illegal aliens “ and did not have the legal right to be in the country nor work within it. Although many of them had been in the country for many years. One time after a “ operating committee “ meeting between congregations a couple of us asked the P.O. of one congregation and substitute Circuit Overseer (unbeknown to us an illegal himself) how is it that men are appointed despite the clear direction within the “ shepherd “ and the “ pay attention “ book that such men “ would not qualify or be considered exemplary because of a loss of freedom of speech “ because of their status. His response ? He said that many brothers have had to give parts about obeying Caesars law … despite the fact that they themselves were also in violation of it! He said it’s a topic that only gets mentioned lightly
He said: The honest answer is … If the Society enforced that … then there would never be anyone to take the lead! He said it’s an example of Bible counsel NOT APPLYING TO MODERN TIMES ! I never forgot that. It was a prime example of what is written for guidelines and instruction was ALWAYS negotiable, it could be omitted if it was uncomfortable. Conversely it could be strictly enforced to the letter of the law … If you just plain old didn’t like the individual you were counseling ! Fair ? Consistent ? Scripturally Guided ? Spirit Moved ?. We were taught constantly both orally and in written form that jehovah’s Laws were unmovable and to be obeyed, no matter how difficult, because doing so yielded peaceable fruit. Just one proof to me at the time , that what was written was not from God … but wishy washy doctrine of men !
Reply
Ted says:
October 26, 2015 at 7:10 am
The title, “Correspondence Guidelines” indicates that this
document was needed because of questions coming in from
the R & F. Unlike the Apostle Paul, a mature Christian, who
felt no guilt in buying meat from the market and asking no
questions about it. The guilt of JWs is so intensely cult-ivated
that many need to go into every nuance, for example, 8 pages
devoted solely on questions of employment.
A dependence on the self appointed God”s org, is created
to sort out the minutiae and provide answers and reassurance.
Despite claims to the contrary, mature Christian development
is neither encouraged or produced. Using the Bible and your
own conscience to make your own decisions is strongly
discouraged. WT Oct 1st, 1967 p 587, “The Bible cannot be
understood without Jehovah’s Org, in mind”,
WT July 1st 1967 p 338, “There’s no need to spend a lot of time
in Bible research, there are bros, in the org, assigned to do that
for you”
In an association of Mature Christians, a document entitled
“Correspondence Guidelines” would be superfluous, not
needed. Only immature children are dependant on others
to make decisions for them.
Reply
Tara says:
October 26, 2015 at 7:55 am
When I first came into the ‘truth’ I was impressed that I was encouraged to search for the answers myself. I remember the sister who studied with me, telling me that she herself was brought up Catholic and that when she asked her priest a question he would tell her not to worry about questioning the scriptures because that is what the church was for. That they understood them and that they – the cong. only had to follow what they said. My church, Protestant, never said anything to us, just read scripture on a Sunday and told us to be good for the week. So the ‘truth’ was amazing and I loved studying and asking questions.
Now I am too scared to ask a single question about anything because of the inquisition that will follow. So I stay quiet, do no study and just pray to the God I knew before I went to any religious organisation. He looked after me then and I trust him to do the same now without any man made org. telling me what I can and can’t believe.
I am sad though. I have no friends in the world and have slowly pushed the ones away in the hall because I know they – or most of them are conditional friends who will not be around when I fade out completely or end up being investigated and df’d. It’s a lonely life.
Reply
Idontknowhatodo says:
October 26, 2015 at 9:40 am
It really is Tara…. I am in the same position…. and though they are lovely people you cannot trust them…they think they are ‘saving’ you and if they tell on you they are keeping the congregation clean…. I am trying at the age of 57 after a lifetime in this cult to forge a life for myself outside while still just slowly fading…it is lonely…thats why this site is invaluable…it gives us the validation we need without judgment….I have listened to wise advice from Excelsior…JB…and sympathised with the experiences of ruthlee and meredith…it is a gift and though life in our situation can be lonely its good to know we are not alone.
Reply
fader~blues says:
October 26, 2015 at 11:15 am
dear lonely Tara, Please know I am a friend,whatever u do…me,myself & others too. really appreciate ur humor,we share the same hollow feelings….wishing family was a million miles away…to make things legitimate & real,for the phone y excuses for not coming by,which leave u simply reeling! To me u are so very dear,dearer than any Phone y sister with a foggy brain~ U help me see things so much clearer!! So maybe it’s time somebody told ya,Tara…your comments bring happiness to my soul & thats testimont that we all cara!!!
Reply
EverydayExplorer says:
October 26, 2015 at 7:56 am
Great that this 2011 Correspondence Guidelines for JW Bethelites has been leaked and is now available to all who wish to access it. Knowledge is power, as we all know; and facts should be able to withstand scrutiny.
I, for one, might well be able to prove to one of my JW extended family members that the diktats on blood transfusions/blood fractions have indeed changed over the years. I was recently told that this wasn’t so. Now I can present the ‘Blood’ section of this document, should the subject again be brought up by that family member.
Congratulations to all involved with this leak. So many people are going to be helped by this further exposure of the Watchtower Society’s secretive, high-control rules and regulations. Every leak like this erodes jw.org’s power and influence, and leads to more good-hearted rank and file JWs waking up. Well done!
Reply
Pow says:
October 26, 2015 at 8:42 am
Look up the Jensen letters, correspondence between an elder and the service desk. ..if there still available on line. long read but definitely leads one to the conclusion that the g.b. is just making up arbitrary rules as they go….without any need to even be consistent, kinda like defining a generation as consisting of anyone who overlaps another. Which means here in the United States that the generation that remembers Lincoln’s assassination is getting.up there in years.
Reply
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← The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
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Posted on October 23, 2015
The November 2014 JW Broadcasting episode shows mail being sorted at Watchtower's correspondence department
The November 2014 JW Broadcasting episode shows mail being sorted at Watchtower’s correspondence department
The last few weeks will have been deeply frustrating for the Governing Body, as multiple leaks have exposed a growing resentment of their attitudes and policies among an increasing number of bethel workers.
And now a fresh leak from a Watchtower insider has blown the lid wide open on how the organization deals with issues affecting the rank and file.
“Correspondence Guidelines” is a 118-page document issued to key staff at bethels around the world, giving cookie-cutter responses to a long list of scenarios involving various doctrines.
Previously only available to a privileged few, a 2011 edition of the document is now freely available, effectively meaning that anyone who has the document knows how Watchtower will reply to almost any letter they write before they even put pen to paper.
For the avoidance of further entanglements with Watchtower’s legal department over its interpretation of copyright law, we at JWsurvey have decided not to distribute the Correspondence Guidelines on this website.
Whether you, the reader, choose to access the material from elsewhere on the internet is entirely your decision.
pictureThe Correspondence Guidelines were virtually unheard-of until mentioned by former Governing Body member Ray Franz in his follow-up to Crisis of Conscience – In Search of Christian Freedom – on page 242.
in-search1 The subject list continues over a further two pages before Franz summarizes on page 245…
in-search2After spending an hour or so last night perusing the pages of this fascinating document, I can fully concur with Franz’s characterization of it as “Talmudic.” A plethora of subject headings delve into areas as diverse as transvestism, refugees, animal blood, hermaphrodites, sterilization and “retarded persons” with giddying pedantry.
The writers of the document themselves seem to recognize how ridiculous it is by their attempts at defending it in their opening remarks…
Bear in mind that much of what is published on matters of conduct is to be viewed not as law but rather as mature Christian counsel. So it is not always necessary to think in terms of imposing sanctions if a person does not fully conform to the counsel given.
But this disclaimer is overtly contradicted on only the next page…
If the one inquiring reflects a challenging, disrespectful attitude, it may be advisable first to contact the elders to determine the person’s standing in the congregation and what assistance they have been able to render.
Therefore, anyone who writes to the organization with anything other than praise and flattery, or who gives the impression they know what they’re talking about, can expect their local elders to get a phonecall – an underhanded breach of confidence that surely represents a “sanction” in and of itself.
Further contradictions present themselves as the reader delves into the various subjects. For example, accepting a blood transfusion without regret, even if it proves to be life-saving, remains a disfellowshipping offense…
A baptized person who willfully and unrepentantly takes a blood transfusion thereby chooses to reject the Scriptural sanctity of blood and violates God’s law. Three elders (not a judicial committee) should meet with him. If a blood transfusion has been accepted without repentance, the congregation will consider that the person has disassociated himself. It would then be announced: “[Name of individual] is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” The matter would be dealt with as in other cases of disassociation.—w86 10/15 31; w73 9/1 543-4.
But if you happen to be a JW nurse or doctor, and you are instructed to administer a blood transfusion to a non-JW patient, you can do so without fear of reprisals…
A Christian who is a nurse or a doctor respects the Scriptures and therefore would not recommend or order a blood transfusion for a patient. If he or she as an employee is not responsible for deciding the matter and is directed by a superior to administer a transfusion to a non-Witness, whether to obey is a matter for personal, conscientious decision.—w99 4/15 28-30; w75 4/1 215-16.
On the other hand, if you’re a farmer and allow a blood transfusion for one of your animals, expect a slapped wrist at the very least…
It is not proper for a Christian to administer a blood transfusion to an animal owned by him or to authorize another to do so.—w64 2/15 127-8.
Since this is a 2011 edition, we have no way of knowing whether the subject of child abuse has been addressed more comprehensively in more recent editions (which seems likely given all the media exposure on that subject since the Candace Conti victory in 2012).
Even so, given the fact that mishandling of child abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses has been highlighted since at least 2002 (when BBC Panorama and Dateline documentaries first exposed the issue to a mass audience), you would expect the safeguarding of the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses from sexual predators to merit more column inches than, say, discussing the propriety of Tae Bo.
But child molestation gets only three passing mentions in this document. Pages 41 and 110 give far-from-unequivocal guarantees that molesting a child will prevent a Witness male from serving in a position of responsibility.
For example, the sin may involve past child abuse, and this would likely disqualify him for many years.
Some who are guilty of child molestation, even if not disfellowshipped for such actions, might never qualify for special privileges in the congregation.
Then on page 53 the writers ponder the situation of a minor girl who is raped and falls pregnant. Rather than worrying about the girl’s well-being and the urgent need to pursue justice for her assailant, attention turns to the living arrangements of the resulting baby, and whether the abused child will have to marry her attacker or not.
Child that results either from fornication or from rape of a minor girl: The father of the single, minor girl (or the mother in a singleparent home where there is no father) bears the responsibility to decide whether the infant will be raised in the home or elsewhere. It shows consideration on his part to consider the minor’s valid wishes. He must also decide whether to permit the girl to marry the male who caused the pregnancy. Being pregnant does not require marriage to the father of the child simply to avoid illegitimacy. A hasty or improper marriage may only make a bad situation worse. Emotional support from individuals in the congregation is sometimes helpful.
The failure of the writers to adequately explore and address what we now know to be a rampant problem of child abuse in the organization, with 1,006 suspected pedophiles on the records of Watchtower in Australia alone, highlights either stunning naivety on the part of the Governing Body (who will have sanctioned this material), or deliberate negligence of their duty to protect children from a clear threat.
Ray Franz described the "Correspondence Guidelines" as "Talmudic"
Ray Franz described the Correspondence Guidelines as “Talmudic”
The proper handling of domestic violence, also a huge problem in the organization, is similarly given short shrift. Page 51 briefly mentions court action as being favorable in the case of a violently abusive husband for the protection of his victim, but nowhere does it suggest that a believing woman who finds herself in such a situation would be allowed to find happiness with a new husband.
In contrast to the terse treatment of such a pressing issue that affects battered spouses in countless marriages, nine pages are devoted to the various nuances of divorce, adultery and remarriage. Every conceivable permutation of marital infidelity is explored in fanatical detail.
Again, “Talmudic” is the only word that can do justice to Watchtower’s obsession with sex and morals. And only the word “pharasaical” can describe their corresponding indifference to the countless victims, past, present and future, of physical abuse in its various forms.
Finally, I was struck by the section on “bloodguilt,” which had the following to say…
The Bible condemns murder, a sin for which a person may be disfellowshipped.—Rev. 21:8.
Bloodguilt may also be incurred if a person causes loss of life through carelessness or because of violating a traffic law or other safety law of Caesar. If a Witness is liable for someone’s death in an accident, the elders should investigate and if warranted appoint a judicial committee to hear the matter, for the congregation wants to avoid community responsibility for bloodguilt.
One can’t help but wonder just how much blood is on the hands of Watchtower leaders past and present, from Knorr to the likes of Morris, Splane and Lett, for the countless lives that have been lost due to the ridiculous prohibitions on blood.
How many lives have been brutally cut short as a result of indoctrinated cult victims declining medical treatment with blood, a practice on which the scriptures are silent? We may never know. And that is to say nothing of the unknown number who have ended their lives as a result of Watchtower’s ruthless shunning practices.
One thing is certain, namely that the Governing Body won’t be making changes to save lives or protect the vulnerable any time soon. But at least there is some comfort in knowing that a growing number within bethel corridors are awakening to the full reality of a shared struggle, and working with myself and others to give thorough exposure to this devastating cult.
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Further reading…
◾PDF download of Crisis of Conscience, by Ray Franz
◾PDF download of In Search of Christian Freedom, by Ray Franz
◾Recent articles on leaks related to downsizing
Related video…
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← The Tight Pants Rule: Wearing “disturbing” clothing gets you banned from preaching
201 Responses to Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
← Older Comments
Nestor Kuilan says:
October 26, 2015 at 8:51 am
I remember when I was working in the Service Department of the Branch in Barcelona, Spain, looking for “guidelines” in this Talmudic” material. It was all about examples of different situations involving violations of the Watchtower policies and how to answer correctly.
The idea was to keep the organization uniform and to avoid personal thinking, they did the thinking for everyone.
At that time I was very appreciative of the “help provided” by the organization, not realizing that they were destroying my thinking capacities and I was transferring to them my right to take decisions about how to answer the correspondence.
Reply
Catalina says:
October 26, 2015 at 11:50 am
Nestor Kuilan, It is so nice people with backgrounds like yours are on this website. Sometimes my comments sound really negative. In reality, believe it or not, I am a very positive person. I’m working at getting my mind straight. It wasn’t until several months ago I figured out how off the organization is. I’m in good standing. My husband passed away over two years ago and my family is shunning me because I remarried and my new husband is catholic. When I told my sister I remarried she said, “You never learn, your dead to me.” My feelings were hurt and I went through depression for a year. My family is giving my husband a terrible witness. I love my new husband. He is 71 years old. He is the finest man I have ever known. He is easy going, meek and mild. I can’t approve of any religion that causes family to act so judgmentally. Even so I’m still wrapping my head around all of this. In the JW religion I see sometimes JW family is harder on their own family members than the rank and file.
Reply
rob says:
October 26, 2015 at 10:21 am
Just wondering something – If GB is directed by God’s Holy Spirit – why do they need 2/3 majority to pass “new light” or any other doctrinal changes or other procedures? Wouldn’t they always be unanimous?
Also, if judicial committees are directed by God’s Holy Spirit, would they not always be unanimous in their decisions? And again if Holy Spirit has directed the decision, why allow for an appeal?
Just wondering?
Reply
Pow says:
October 26, 2015 at 10:51 am
Rob, I can answer that question for you, and it’s helpful if recall some fine 70’s music that really provides the answer. .remember meatloaf the artist? ..”cause two outta three an’t bad….
Hope that helps.
Reply
dee says:
October 26, 2015 at 11:48 am
@Rob
Of course the GB is directed by Holy Spirit…………it just so happens that Holy Spirit only directs 2/3 of them! LOL!
Reply
Actigall Ur says:
October 26, 2015 at 11:18 am
You guys can write Brother James or Brother Slater at legaldept@jw.org and ask them if they’re still being advised to tell the courts that the “Faithful and Discreet Slave are not real” but “figurative” and thus cannot be held liable for litigation, and how much money they need to reserve in escrow for 8000+ child abuses cases. I’d say $9 billion. Nah, make that $11 billion just to be safe. Hmm you guys are making the Vatican blush!
While you’re at it, ask them if they can sleep at night with a good conscience knowing what they are doing is immoral and unethical and if they still believe that “Jehovah” is directing this organization.
Reply
Pow says:
October 26, 2015 at 11:28 am
Ouch !!!
Reply
Meredith J says:
October 26, 2015 at 1:31 pm
I just had another thought. As far as JW’s belief in how Christ died is concerned, I am definitely not convinced. They always claimed he died on a torture stake. This was something I found extremely hard to believe when I was studying.
Every other church in the world believes that Jesus died on a cross. In fact if I was to wear a cross around my neck, I would be immediately regarded as a Christian. Yet, the obstinate Watchtower Society quashed all that.
I even remember as a child reading about it in our old Encyclopedia Brittanica which was very precise. There was no mention of a stake. It has always been a cross. The things these men have degraded have to be relearned as a Christian. By their denial of this symbol, were they in fact adding weight to the spirit of the anti-Christ?
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◾Pow on Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
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New videos are constantly being uploaded to the John Cedars YouTube channel.
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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.
Reply
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Cedars’ Twitter Feed
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◾Pow on Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
◾Meredith J on Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
◾Mark-O on Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
◾Catalina on Highly-secretive “Talmudic” Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider
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25 Oct
Watchtower&Awakening @ApostateAwake
So the #ClocksGoBack.
Great, could someone let #Creationists know they can bring theirs forward a couple of thousand years?
Cheers guys.
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23 Oct
Susannah JW Reporter @JWReport
Dont bother to write to #Jehovahswitnesses here is what they are told to say #bonkers #Awake or just #wakeup #free http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/highly-secretive-talmudic-correspondence-guidelines-document-leaked-by-watchtower-insider …
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23 Oct
JW.borg @jw_borg
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/highly-secretive-talmudic-correspondence-guidelines-document-leaked-by-watchtower-insider … very interesting guidelines for JWorg, regarding correspondence. Thanks @cedarsjwsurvey and to whoever leaked this.
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23 Oct
AvoidJW.org @avoidjw_org
Racial Segregation & Jehovah’s Witnesses http://avoidjw.org/2015/10/racial-segregation/ …
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23 Oct
Anthony @armathenia
Cheers to @cedarsjwsurvey and his insider getting this out. http://jwsurvey.org is bogged down, but check out his article soon.
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23 Oct
JW.borg @jw_borg
@HowardandCarlos @cedarsjwsurvey Big day for this leak. It splashed on reddit.....hard. The more people who know about this cult, the better
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23 Oct
Claire Gorman @ClaireGorman12
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Just out of work and read the latest article. Good work! Very interesting. More leaks about the orgs shenanigans!
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23 Oct
Snoop-a-Loop @Alesiskorg
@cedarsjwsurvey didn't know a "true Christian" does not participate in tying of tubes/vasectomy unless life danger pic.twitter.com/eX957ltyjS
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23 Oct
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Announcing the latest leak of highly-sensitive #Watchtower documents... https://youtu.be/BCqT4tvqzOg via @YouTube
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23 Oct
AvoidJW.org @avoidjw_org
Highly-secretive "Talmudic" Correspondence Guidelines document leaked by Watchtower insider: http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/highly-secretive-talmudic-correspondence-guidelines-document-leaked-by-watchtower-insider …
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23 Oct
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Watchtower's fabled "Correspondence Guidelines" document, in all its "talmudic" glory, has been leaked by an insider http://wp.me/p1TWXJ-29Q
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22 Oct
Steve Guziec @sunafterfog
Jehovahs Witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves http://buff.ly/1QVk2ok Parent choose what children learn @cedarsjwsurvey
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22 Oct
Claire Gorman @ClaireGorman12
@cedarsjwsurvey
Lloyd love your articles, so well informed and engaging. Thanks for setting me free and keep posting!
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22 Oct
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
I've had #watchtower's top secret "Correspondence Guidelines" document leaked to me. Look out for an article soon! :)
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22 Oct
The Atheist Geek @TheAtheistGeek
News and Links for ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses: Child Sexual Abuse within Jehovah’s Witnesses on Australian TV http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/news-and-links-for-ex-jehovahs-witnesses-child-sexual-abuse-within-jehovahs-witnesses-on-australian-tv/123 …
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22 Oct
Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta
Canadian Judge Rules That Jehovah’s Witness Couple Can’t Push Their Faith on Grandchild http://bit.ly/2005jP1
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22 Oct
The Freethinker Mag @FreethinkerMag
New post: Judge protects child from religious conflict http://freethinker.co.uk/2015/10/22/judge-protects-child-from-religious-conflict/ …
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17 Oct
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Jehovah's Witnesses Formalize "Tight Pants" Rule: No Preaching Unless You Conform to Gender Norms - http://go.shr.lc/1jLNr9l via @Shareaholic
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16 Oct
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Wearing "disturbing" clothing can get you banned from preaching if you're a #jehovahswitness http://wp.me/p1TWXJ-29o
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16 Oct
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Tony Morris' personal crusade against #tightpants has morphed into official #Watchtower policy! http://wp.me/p1TWXJ-29o
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