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The 2016 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses is launched!
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Posted on February 8, 2016
More than 6,000 had their say in the 2015 Global Survey of Jehovah's Witnesses
More than 6,000 had their say in the 2015 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses
You will all be pleased to know that the 2016 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses was launched this weekend, and already has 124 responses.
To add your voice to the new survey, simply click on the “have your say” graphic at the top of the right-hand column (or click here).
Last year’s survey attracted a record 6,083 respondents, including 1,022 active Jehovah’s Witnesses, 145 serving elders (including 25 coordinators), 772 inactive ones, 1,706 faders, 1,461 disfellowshipped/disassociated ones, and 949 non-baptized voters (including 597 with JW relatives).
The data yielded from such impressive numbers was tremendous, and I will do my very best to get the results published earlier this time round – hopefully in the Spring.
A few quick stats for you:
◾67% of inactive voters said they would leave the organization if shunning were abolished
◾90% of disfellowshipped/disassociated ones say they are happier since leaving
◾66% of inactive/faded/former JWs were baptized at 17 or younger
◾Only 19% of inactive/faded/former JWs became Witnesses through the preaching work
◾27 elders say they are aware of pedophiles in their congregation
◾46% of active JW voters would either secretly or openly accept blood
◾13% of JW voters would allow their child to die for want of a blood transfusion
◾152 JW voters know of a fellow believer, or child of Witness parents, who has died from refusing blood
◾46 memorial partakers took our survey
◾77% of JW voters do not believe elders are appointed by holy spirit
◾58% of JW voters say they have never assisted anyone to baptism
◾Geoffrey Jackson is the most likeable GB member among JW voters
◾Anthony Morris is the least likeable GB member among JW voters
◾Sam Herd is considered the least controversial GB member among JW voters
◾Anthony Morris is considered the most controversial GB member by JW voters
◾50% of JW voters do not donate any money to Watchtower
◾10% of JW voters are happy for their donations to be spent in legal costs arising from sex abuse cases
◾22% of JW voters say that even if their religion were proven untrue, they would stick with it
◾78% of all voters have known or heard of a JW committing suicide
◾47% of all voters suffer from depression
◾766 say they suffer from depression but haven’t yet obtained professional help
◾1,123 voters say they have contemplated or attempted suicide as a result of their JW beliefs, or the prospect of shunning
◾907 voters say they have self-harmed as a JW
◾13.5% of voters were home-schooled as JWs
◾54% of voters say they were bullied at school as a result of their beliefs
◾55% of voters say they have experienced financial disadvantage as a result of JW teachings on higher education
◾113 voters say they are victims of child sex abuse within Jehovah’s Witnesses
◾58% of the 4,265 polled on their current beliefs expressed varying degrees of unbelief
◾The stigmatization of higher education continues to be the most-disliked Watchtower teaching
◾Only 136 out of 6,083 voters say they agree with all Watchtower teachings
I am sure, like me, you would consider some of those statistics as headlines in themselves, worthy of considerable press exposure. The fact that 27 out of 145 polled elders are aware of pedophiles within their congregation is nothing short of scandalous, as is the fact that our survey of over 6,000 current and former Witnesses yielded 113 professed victims of child sex abuse.
As shocking as these numbers are, I can only be grateful that we have this information at our disposal, and I am confident that our recently-expanded team at JWsurvey, temporarily under new management, will find time and opportunity to give these figures the exposure they deserve.
Meanwhile, I would like to thank each and every one of you who participated in last year’s survey, and I would urge all of you to do the same in 2016. By combining our voices on the harm being inflicted by Watchtower, we are no longer the silent majority.
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Please note: a new feature of the new 2016 survey is the possibility of seeing the results at a glance once you’ve finished. However, I have already started getting feedback from people who are confused because they are seeing questions they weren’t asked. Please bear in mind that not every voter answers every question. For example, someone who is not an elder will not be asked questions for serving elders, and someone who has never been disfellowshipped will not be asked questions for those who are disfellowshipped, and so on. I may withdraw this feature if it ends up causing too much confusion, but for now I trust that many of you prefer to see how the survey is shaping up after you have taken it.
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← The Friday Column: Watchtower and Dinosaurs
The Friday Column: The Blood Issue and Leukemia: One Man’s Story →
170 Responses to The 2016 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses is launched!
Newer Comments →
Matt says:
February 8, 2016 at 4:39 am
I think Q6 for disfellowshipped people needs an N\A option.
Cheers!
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Imgonaburn says:
February 8, 2016 at 4:45 am
I can’t find the ‘have your say’ option to enable me to participate in survey…
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Cedars says:
February 8, 2016 at 4:47 am
Do you see the image of the person in the field with outstretched arms?
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Imgonaburn says:
February 8, 2016 at 4:49 am
I found it now. I was just viewing email (on phone) and it wasn’t there but when I viewed on full site the option appeared. Thanks
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Cedars says:
February 8, 2016 at 4:52 am
Great. :)
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Johannes Hoekstra says:
February 8, 2016 at 4:47 am
Amazing work you did…..but it is difficult to reach you or how we can support you?
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Cedars says:
February 8, 2016 at 4:56 am
Thank you very much! Yes, I’m afraid I’ve had to make myself deliberately hard to reach so that I can focus on my activism work. People are supporting JWsurvey in numerous ways, either through sharing our articles on social media, or translating them into non-English blogs, or donating to our work via PayPal, or spreading the word about our survey among friends. Any means by which you can advance our work is greatly appreciated!
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Ron says:
February 8, 2016 at 5:36 am
The figures are remarkable. I was shocked that 22% would stay even if proven untrue. Crazy.
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Jay Garrison says:
February 8, 2016 at 5:12 pm
That just goes to show you how brain washed these people are. I was one for 20 years.
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Big B says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:06 pm
Consider yourself lucky (fortunate)! I was raised as a J.W. and was baptized in 1969. I started my fade around 2011. That amounts to over 40 years of work for no compensation what so ever.
I wish I had a $1.00 for every hour I spent preaching their “doomsday” message as I wouldn’t be so cash strapped now on Social Security.
Oh well, to late to smart but free none the less.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 9, 2016 at 5:42 am
@Ron. I think the 22% mentioned that would stay are like any other religion of people. If you are raised Catholic or Protestant and you find out your church has some bad history or unscriptural teachings many if not most stay with the church. The difference with the JW”s is “WE” are taught from the moment we become indoctrinated that we are the ONLY true religion on earth and everyone else is false etc. Most other people are not taught that their Church is the absolute only one true religion so it isn’t a big deal with them if something is shown to be wrong or not true. With the JW’s it is almost a epiphany or an entire emotional depressing moment if they are found out to be not true and to MOST JW’s they have other things to think about if they decide to leave the church. Their families, shunning, no friends,their whole mental health, it is much deeper reality I think for a JW. In my case when I began to awake I went through many months and years of realization and I was in fear my family would not talk with me.
The WT is a cruel religion overall. It isn’t like if you are Catholic and not attending mass that the Priest will come knocking on your door with a bunch of Elders questioning you.Or if you go to a movie that is rated R you will get the minister of your church giving you a phone call or brought before a judicial committee etc.
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Winston Smith says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:26 am
Many Witnesses cannot conceptualize that the religion ever could be proven untrue. For them it is simply an impossibility due to thier cult conditioning.
WS
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ForestDaughter says:
February 8, 2016 at 5:50 am
Those statistics are absolutely fascinating. So many which surprised me, but one that stood out for me is that 50% of JW voters don’t donate to the organisation. It seems to me that not to do so (and so many who don’t) shows an indifference to, and possibly a disbelief in, an organisation that’s supposedly directed by their god. Quite an eye-opener.
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peggy says:
February 11, 2016 at 11:00 am
@ForestDaughter,
This was the point statistically which was significant to me. 50% do not donate! I can tell you personally, I stopped my donations to Watchtower when I no longer believed it was the truth. And I would not want my money going to defend abuse law suits. Time will tell if this lack of funding will effect the operation even more so.
Peggy
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peggy says:
February 11, 2016 at 11:00 am
@ForestDaughter,
This was the point statistically which was significant to me. 50% do not donate! I can tell you personally, I stopped my donations to Watchtower when I no longer believed it was the truth. And I would not want my money going to defend abuse law suits. Time will tell if this lack of funding will effect the operation even more so.
Peggy
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Felipe says:
February 8, 2016 at 5:53 am
something very important is missing, the comparisons with previous years. That will offer a view into important trends.
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Cedars says:
February 8, 2016 at 5:55 am
The full results will be published at a later date, and past results are available for those who want to do comparisons. :)
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Gerardo Aguirre says:
February 8, 2016 at 6:02 am
Exelente information, the discontent against the watchtower organization among Active and inactive Jahova witness is evident in this survey
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Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:
February 8, 2016 at 6:29 am
Have you wondered why Anthony Morris is considered the most controversial GB member? It is in harmony with the Bible…
(Exodus 23:26, 27) . . .The women in your land will not suffer a miscarriage or be barren, and I will give you a full life span. 27 “I will send the fear of me ahead of you, and I will throw into confusion all the people you encounter, and I will cause all your enemies to flee from you in defeat.
I believe Controversy to create confusion is still their main weapon!!!
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Imgonaburn says:
February 8, 2016 at 6:40 am
Very interesting survey! I too noticed that only 50% of respondents contribute financially to organisation. However, it’s worth noting that the people doing the survey that don’t contribute financially are a small representation within this group. The majority of voters don’t go to the meetings any longer, and those that do still attend meetings but come on here are a tiny minority.
Having said that, my husband contributed his regularly monthly deed of covenant for the whole year that he missed meetings. He continues to do so now that he’s back in the fold. The money is paid from our joint bank account and I’m sooo tempted to just go online and cancel it but it’s an account that I don’t use don’t pay into.
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Cedars says:
February 8, 2016 at 7:45 am
The 50% figure was for active JW voters. :)
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Imgonaburn says:
February 8, 2016 at 8:01 am
Doh! I misunderstood that then…you may have noticed that I’m a bit scatterbrained at times lol
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Alexandria R says:
February 8, 2016 at 10:21 am
That’s amazing.
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Alexandria R says:
February 8, 2016 at 10:27 am
The fact 50% of active witnesses in the survey don’t contribute shows their unhappiness with the org. My sister who is fully indoctrinated grumbles about the org. The funny thing is it’s o.k. when she grumbles about the org but she doesn’t like it when I do.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 9, 2016 at 5:50 am
@imagonnaburn. What is this new monthly donation I am hearing about? Is everyone encouraged to donate now on a monthly scale or some kind of official pledge? Do they actually sign up for it?
What if you do not do it or want to do it? How long has this been going on? Please share.I am worried about my wifr giving money I never approved of. One time maybe 19 years ago I found out she “loaned” the WT $40k from my account without even consulting me. I found out bc a letter was on her desk that thanked her for the loan from the WT! I demanded it back and wrote the WT telling them of my disapproval etc. They did send it back but to her after about 1 month. She is a JW fanatic more than most JW’s. I was a former long time Elder and 20 years ago woke up and it caused a lot of pain bc she thought I was an apostate and we could not talk about religion freely if anything EVER was said negative about the WT.
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Jaime says:
February 9, 2016 at 8:30 am
For about five years, I don’t remember exactly, they have been asking for a pledge. Every May they pass out pieces of paper to each family and we are supposed to put down how much we “have determined in our heart” to give to the congregation. If you happen to be in a hall about to get a remodel or new kh, they say it is about the upcoming project. However, anyone that remembers that it happens every year knows that is bs. I don’t know the exact year it started. I do know that the elders take that figure, and divide it by two because they only get about half! :) They stress not to put your name the piece of paper, it is meant to be anonymous.
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Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 9:07 am
@Holy Connoli, two years ago this summer, at the district convention (the first one I did not go to), my husband charged $200 on our charge account as a donation towards the “world wide work”.
I had no idea what he had done until I got the charge bill and I couldn’t figure out where that $200 had been charged to and I asked him about it and he told me. I was so angry that I thought that my head would almost explode. The Society had some talk on the program and it made him cry and that’s why he did it.
The Society knows exactly what they doing when they give those kinds of talks.
All those fifty years, I was also generous towards the Society, because I thought that the Society was “poor” and I wanted to help out where the need was great but in the back of my mind, the thought was always there: How could they afford all those branches and all those buildings in New York and how could they afford to house and feed all those Bethelites etc. if they were really all that poor but I didn’t let that stop me from thinking that what I had was the “truth”.
Now I realize that the Society is just like any other religion that are really good con artists in taking advantage of gullible old ladies and dumb kids, stringing them along like the Society really cares and loves them. All those people are to the Watchtower Society is dollar bills.
There is a name for that kind of cunning cheaters and scam artists who con lonely old women out of their money and an inheritance that might have been left to their children.
It’s called “Catfishing”.
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Winston Smith says:
February 9, 2016 at 12:20 pm
@Caroline
When you have time, see if you can find the Marjoe Gortner documentary on YouTube. This guy was pushed into being a revivalist preacher (swindler) by his parents, but got out of it and revealed all the money making scams in the process.
In one interview he stated: “There’s one guy that gets into it so heavy that he prophesies and he told me how he did it. I mean he sat…he looked right across the table back and forth at me and he told me how he confiscates money. He says he’s on this station that has over 40 states and uh, he’ll go on and he get on the radio and he’ll say, “I know listening in my little voice tonite that there’s some lady out there and you got $10 dollars put away in a cookie jar, now God spoke to my heart and told me to go and tell you to get that $10 dollars and get it in the mail and send it to me and God will bless you. God will give you a reward as you have never known before” Then he comes back to me and tells me if you’re on the radio and you’re going on over 40 states and you’re on at prime time and have thousands of people listening. Chances are that there are at least two or three hundred little old ladies who got a $10 dollar bill in a cookie jar and so even if you get a couple hundred go ahead and get it and send it to you that’s two grand you’ve made just like that. And so, you know, if you’re going to get into big time religion this is the games you gotta play. Things like that. Going into it like a business and work it as a business”
The Organization knows how to ‘work it as a business” too!
WS
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Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 2:54 pm
@Winston, I watched three of those Youtube videos about Marjoe Gortner and I saw the one that you were talking about.
I would say that the Society really knows how to “work” an audience, judging by how generous my husband was that day. Normally, he only put about $40 in the contribution boxes at the end of the district assemblies, which I already thought was way too much.
When it comes to jwbroadcasting, the Governing Body could take some acting lessons from Jimmy Swaggart when it comes to pulling off some crocodile tears if they want to make some really big bucks from their audience because even having a captive audience of eight million that they can “work”, their acting skills lack beliveability.
Holy Connoli says:
February 10, 2016 at 12:44 am
@Caroline. I thought it was called stealing! lol. I am a night owl so sometimes at 2-3am in the morning I watch these TV evangelsits and they are always begging for money. Especially this one guy with weird hair and a brown beard. He keeps pushing every listener to put in a “SEED” for $1000 dollars. Seems like that is all he talk s about. The WT is more subtle about it but the end result is the same.They are all beggars for themselves. The WT is one of the wealthiest corporations in NYC and you know there is a lot of wealth there. Caroline? are you the former Anonymous? I notice there is also a anonymous4.Is there a connection between all of you?
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anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 12:55 am
Not as far as I’m concerned. “anonymous4” is my only handle. :)
Caroline says:
February 10, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Hi Holy Connoli. I was anonymous for quite a while. There was somebody else that was Anonymous too but I had a small a starting anonymous.
I have also seen that guy who is always asking for “seed” money. He seem really creepy but he must be making money or he wouldn’t keep his show going.
One thing the Watchtower Society taught me anyway, was to make me wary of con artists like that. I just wished I hadn’t been so blind to the Watchtower also being con artists.
Lesley HUmphreys-Jones says:
February 11, 2016 at 1:14 pm
50,000£ we were asked to raise for a new KH and theGB said they would match it with the same sum. A lot of hard work was done to raise this money, it took 5yrs then guess what, they took the money and renaged on the plan and kept the money and no new hall. Really really sickening. Really ungodly people.
Big B says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Good God, 40K! and didn’t consult you.
That’s not being a submissive Christian wife. :) If my wife “borrowed” monies out of our account without my consent (which she wouldn’t dare) I believe my next discussion with her would be to show her all of the child molestation judgments running into the 10’s of millions of dollars, which is where her (your) 40K would have probably ended up.
That’s just my two cents worth. I am so glad you recovered your funds.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 11, 2016 at 5:19 am
@ BIB B. My wife is so fanatical about the WT you cannot hold a normal conversation with her. She is aware of the molestation case and her only answer is oh all religions have sin but we DF them! The WT religion has destroyed many lives and families including my own to a large degree.
When I was a JW I was like most other brainwashed JW’s but to a lesser extent. My NON JW parents always taught me to recognize hucksters and my mon would say that if you are wrong you are wrong and admit it. Those words always lingered with me even when I was a JW and when I saw Things not being right I finally could not hide behind the “WE HAVE THE TRUTH” belief.
To many things were not right but the fear of being DF is always there and losing your family etc. It is a religion of fear.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 11, 2016 at 5:28 am
Big B. Oh she was never “submissive “believe me!Tons of arguments and wastin g money etc. She never worked only “pioneered” bc the end was so near! Did not want to be materialistic but yet would spend enormous amounts of money on nonsense, eating out,new car, new clothes etc. How much she gave away to the WT I will never know. Her WT thinking caused a lot of problems for us. Then she pressured my 11 year old kid at the time to get Baptized and I told him to wait she did not like that. He is a grown happy adult now and he cannot stand the WT religion. He said to me Dad, I had a tough time growing up in that religion and so glad we are no longer part of it.His Mother thinks I influenced him to leave and I said he made up his oen min=d based on his experiences.I guess that is one main reason among many others the wife and I are not living together these days! Sad but true.
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Rowland Nelken says:
February 8, 2016 at 8:04 am
It bears out, in grotesques fashion, all the great achievemnets of this registered charity.
Unnecessary deaths through refusal of blood; rate of depressive illness well above average; loads of folk compelled to go through the motions of believing the nonsense purely to keep from isolation and family breakup; a known culture of paedophile protection and a pathetically tiny percentagevwho actually believe that JW TRUTH is true.
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ruthlee says:
February 8, 2016 at 9:17 am
Fascinating so far what an incite into the trend of what is really going on in jw land.org rot is showing. ruthlee
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Caroline says:
February 8, 2016 at 9:53 am
It is disturbing to know that 13% responding JW’s would let their child die for not taking blood. Before becoming a Witness, I thought it was barbaric that Witnesses would let their child die for not taking blood and then I was talked into thinking it was what God demanded, to let your child die.
Now that I see the Watchtower for what it really is, I am not afraid to tell people how I really feel about blood to save the life of your child.
Last week, two brothers came by to see my husband and the topic of blood came up and one was talking about how people live with saline to increase volume and I came right out and told him that saline won’t help when a person has low platelets like my daughter did when she had her c-section for her twins.
There is no way that saline would have saved her life and I told those two brothers that and the one asked me what did my daughter to then and I told them that she took platelets and I am not sorry that I was the one that told her to take the platelets and I told them that my husband thought that would have been better for her to die than to transgress God’s laws and then I looked at both of them and said that I am not sorry that I told her to take the platelets and if they wanted to disfellowship me for doing that, then go right ahead.
I am not afraid to speak up anymore and I don’t care what they think of me either. Maybe others think the same as I do but they are afraid to speak up because they think that nobody else feels the same as they do.
If we all spoke up as to how we “really” feel about all the man-made laws and regulations that the Society imposes on the Witnesses, maybe then the Society would be forced to change it’s ways.
As it is, we are forced to keep quiet on the threat of being expelled and shunned and that threat of being shunned is what keeps everybody else around us scared to speak up too about how we or they “really” feel about being in that religion. No wonder so many of the respondents have thought about suicide or committed suicide and harmed themselves and are depressed.
Thank you so much Lloyd for giving us the opportunity to come out of the prison of our own minds and express how we really feel about this religion through your survey. It has to be a tremendous amount of work for you and we all appreciate it so much!
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dee2 says:
February 8, 2016 at 2:13 pm
Meat can never be completely rid/cleaned of its blood. Meat purchased from the supermarket still has blood in it, thus everybody who eats meat eats some blood. JWs should therefore be vegetarians since they shouldn’t consume blood.
I am sure the JWs, especially the females eat meat as a source of iron – the irony being that meat is a good source of iron because it has blood in it but nevertheless, JWs are forbidden from getting a blood transfusion.
I am sure there are also JWs who eat liver, which is blood-rich, and onions or chew on chicken bones which contain bone marrow (red blood cells).
Blood can also be passed on from mother to child via breast milk (Google this).
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anonymous4 says:
February 8, 2016 at 7:08 pm
@ Caroline
Absolutely. Do not fear to speak up / speak out. Do not fear the b*st*rds. Tyrants fear words & ideas. Make THEM fear US!!!
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Winston Smith says:
February 8, 2016 at 10:17 pm
@Caroline
The positive side is that while 13% would let their children die, that means that 87%, like you and I would not do that.
Yes, don’t be afraid to speak your mind to those Pharisees. Deep down they are cowards! Only when they think you’ll let them push you around do they show any backbone. Much like the schoolyard bullies.
WS
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MimiLove says:
February 9, 2016 at 7:05 am
Caroline, I would love to know what the reaction was from those brothers and if there were any repercussions that you suffered. I admire your boldness and am bracing myself for my “shepherding call”.
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Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 7:23 am
@MimiLove, I am wondering too if there will be repercussions from what I said to them. If so, I can’t wait for it.
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EverydayExplorer says:
February 9, 2016 at 7:32 am
Well done you, Caroline! Much respect.
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Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 10:35 am
Thank you all for your kind remarks. It’s amazing how easy it is to speak up, when you are 100% sure that those elders don’t have a leg to stand on anymore.
anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 12:58 am
Kick ass!
Holy Connoli says:
February 11, 2016 at 5:32 am
@Caroline. I think I remember you had mentioned your husband was sick and had an operation? Is he doing ok? I hope he is feeling better these days. Do the JW’s come over to visit him?
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Pow says:
February 8, 2016 at 10:43 am
Thanks for info, I find myself, more and more, trying to figure out what my fellow witnesses are thinking. I know of a couple of individuals who must have visited sites and seem to “know” information, a few seem to be asking the hard questions “usually resulting in shock and disgust “, but most, seem to be content with the same view that Roman Catholics have that is, we must be the true church, but it’s not for me to think about. So I’ll just repeat empty comments like “it’s never been this bad”, and everything from the price of gas to the dead spot in my lawn is a sign of the impending day of Jah. AND I concur the threat of disfellowshipping is the only thing that keeps this boat afloat.
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Winston Smith says:
February 8, 2016 at 10:11 pm
@Pow
“I find myself, more and more, trying to figure out what my fellow witnesses are thinking”
That’s exactly the issue: they fail to engage in any rational, logical thought. More to the point the thought-stopping techniques of this cult cause their powers of perception to fail.
WS
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Holy Connoli says:
February 10, 2016 at 12:47 am
@ Winston Smith. Are you still officially attending meetings and considered an active JW? If so how do you handle being there when you have awoken and know that it is not true and a cult? Just wondering how you handle it.
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Winston Smith says:
February 10, 2016 at 9:20 am
@Holy Cannoli
No, I haven’t regularly attended for a few years now. I still attend the memorial to appease my JW relatives – I absolutely dread it.
When I first started waking up (as I have probably shared on other posts previously) I used to try to mentally remove myself from the meetings; just sit there and replay some favorite movie or book in my head. My JW wife eventually caught on and confronted me, which in the long run aided me in fading more quickly as I did not any longer have to keep up appearances at home.
Since then, there has been much marital tension, but we have minor children at home still. Plus financially, i am the bread winner, so I am sure that influences her decision to stay.
WS
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Holy Connoli says:
February 9, 2016 at 5:56 am
@POW. The price of gas is actually pretty good right now! lol The dead spot on my lawn is a sign though bc I live in drought striken California. The end is near.
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Pow says:
February 9, 2016 at 9:12 am
Every doomsday movie has ARMAGETTON starting in new York city, but, we all know it’s really gonna be L.A.
So, thats why the droughts and earthquakes, I would suggest at least moving to where the need is great, East of San Andrews fault. Lol.
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David says:
February 8, 2016 at 10:51 am
I still feel that we need a different approach. Perhaps we need to campaign just for the shunning policy. How it is against basic human rights. We should work together and find a why of making people know about this injustice. New web site > donation > legal team created > public distribution of leaflets > bring the case in courts. But thanks for the big efforts Cedars.
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Winston Smith says:
February 9, 2016 at 4:13 am
Not sure if my last reply was removed or just didn’t do through. David, check out AAWA linked on the JWSurvey home page. They are trying to make the public aware of these damaging policies of the Watchtower Org.
WS
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Big B says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Maybe a letter writing campaign to U.S. congressional people or to state delegates? Asking them to investigate this cult, especially the pedophile protection that is going on.
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Jarred Booth says:
February 8, 2016 at 11:09 am
Completed the survey for the first time. One of the questions was: Are you happier having left the JW religion? Emphatic yes! Watchtower propaganda long told me I would be very unhappy if I left. That has been as far from the truth as possible.
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John Henry Kurtz says:
February 8, 2016 at 11:24 am
Good job! Thanks,
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Shayna says:
February 8, 2016 at 2:06 pm
This is astonishing. It needs to go very public with the press and any other means! Expose WT for wolves they are.
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AussieneedingComfort says:
February 8, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Glad to see you here Cedars. We have all missed your level head and calm heart greatly! For me, survey completed for 2016 and happy to do so. Hope you can come by and visit more often! Really enjoyed your article and waiting for your next input, whenever you can get to it.
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anonymous4 says:
February 8, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Great work, Lloyd!
Some shocking results: -almost half of all respondents are experiencing depression -77% of JWs don’t even believe elders are appointed by “holy spirit” -27 of 145 elders know of pedophiles in their ranks-that’s almost 20%!!!!!!!
Like I said, shocking.
Just like to repeat a comment I made earlier: Let’s not be afraid to speak up / speak out. Tyrants fear words & ideas. Make THEM afraid of US!!!
Thanx again.
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Winston Smith says:
February 8, 2016 at 10:03 pm
The growing number of participants in the survey and the high percentage that express disagreement with the Watchtower’s teachings, is indicative of the overall disillusionment among the members of this organization.
WS
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anonymous4 says:
February 9, 2016 at 2:12 am
I’m not a psychiatric professional, but I know the causes of depression & anxiety are often difficult to ascertain. Obviously, biochemical factors are involved. But there are also ‘life’ factors. Has religion or cultism ever been found to be the culprit? Literally millions of JW’s could be experiencing depression without having any idea that it could be linked to their ‘religion’. & mental illness, like cancer, is more profitable when it’s treated, rather than cured. How many psychiatric professionals are willing to bore down deep enough to the root cause, especially if it’s faith-related? Talk about opening up a can of worms!!! Can u imagine a psychiatrist grabbing someone by the collar, yelling, “It’s your Goddamned religion!!! That crazy cult of yours! Get out of it! That’s what’s screwing you up. Screwing your brain & your emotions. Get out of it now!!!”
Yeah, right. Bye bye lucrative psychiatric practice, Hello car wash – Wax on, Wax off. “Freedom of Worship” ‘laws’ go a long way.
Here’s an interesting clip of another dystopian society, George Lucas’ THX 1138:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thx+1138+opening+scene
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anonymous4 says:
February 9, 2016 at 2:30 am
I know no psychiatrist would actually grab someone’s collar & start yelling. But I myself have never even heard of a psychiatrist gradually, gently, & sensitively weaning someone off a religion or cult.
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anonymous4 says:
February 9, 2016 at 2:35 am
…unless it was part of a Deprogramming regimen, but of course, that’s not what I’m talking about.
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Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 3:41 am
anonymous4, it is almost for certain that very few witnesses will go to a psychiatrist for help with depression because we were all brainwashed right from the beginning, that anybody who would encourage us to stop studying are from Satan the devil and want us to get off of the “road to everlasting life” and that even includes our families and friends. The Society makes all Witnesses paranoid of anybody who isn’t a Witness.
A friend of my husband and me encouraged me to get in touch with a Witness psychiatrist a couple of years ago and she was supposed to help me with my depression. This friend said that even brothers that he knew in the “truth” had gone to her and I couldn’t believe what he was telling me because for one thing, this psychiatrist was a woman and men in the Organization are not to be “taught” by women and secondly, why would this psychiatrist be listening to people who are being depressed by the very religion that she is a part of and stay a Witness?
Witnesses are never encouraged to seek professional help when it comes to mental problems. They are encouraged to talk to the elders and pray and read the Bible and take pills and that’s it, and if the Society tells Witnesses that they can go to a professional, they are told not to divulge “confidential” things, like for instance that they might be being beat up by their elder husbands or have been molested by another Witness or they are afraid of Armageddon or they have doubts about the religious teachings and they have no way of escaping the religion without being shunned.
What psychiatrist can help a Witness cope with all the problems that are involved in finding out that they have been duped by their religion and have no way of getting out of it by either being shunned by all their family and friends or living a lie for the rest of their life?
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Idontknowhatodo says:
February 9, 2016 at 3:57 am
An elder made the comment to me that brothers are suffering from depression because of this old system and its pressures….what a joke….its because they were stopped from acheiving their true potential as human beings and are now confused and lost because we are still here and the terrible end has not arrived and we are not sitting under our own fig tree petting a lion…and our parents who brought us up to beleive this was going to happen are passing away and we are in the Autumn of our lives…aaarrrggghhh…so frustrating…why doesn’t everyone see whats happening!
Holy Connoli says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:06 am
@Caroline. Just curious was the JW Lady Psychiatrist from Colorado? My wife use to spend a lot of time with a JW Psyke on the phone as the lady was in Colorado and we were in California. Just wondering bc it is rare to find a JW Doctor anywhere bc of the ANTI_EDUCATION position the WT takes. Of course they could have become a JW after their education. I knew of a Medical Doctor who was A JW and also a Super smart Former CIA agent who was a JW. They were almost worshipped by other JW’s every time they came around. It was amazing . The JW’s would all gather around nd ask them questions like little kids.Of course their careers were stared before they were JW’s but just shows you how unbalance the WT is.
Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:13 am
@Holy Connoli, yes, if I remember right, that lady psychiatrist was in Colorado because that is where our friend is from.
Tara says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:12 pm
I ended up in the hospital for over a month and had Psychiatric counseling. Not one elder came to visit me. Not one. I had one of their wives pop by and a couple of friends. One was a false friend and another sister – who, by the way is df`d now, found me crying in the corner of my room after the `false friend`had given me the whole `pull your self together`talk. Although I wouldn`t say this incident was wholly cong. instigated it was certainly part of it. However, even now I suffer from anxiety on meeting nights and days…. even though i no longer go. It`s like being weened off a drug. I feel so much better not going to the hall but I have to leave the house on a Saturday mornings just in case they `pop`round. Or I lock my door and retreat into a room where they can`t look through the windows. Yes, I suffer from PTSD and the WT adds to it.
Winston Smith says:
February 10, 2016 at 11:27 am
@Tara
Ah the pop ’round (or we call it the pop-in). First time they pulled it with me was on a Sunday after the meeting. I got some perspective on how rude it was to just show up at someone’s house unannounced. As Witnesses, we used to do that all the time. Now I typically find somewhere to be on Sat and Sun or I just don’t answer the door if I’m not expecting anyone.
WS
Caroline says:
February 10, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Tara, I lived in constant dread of meetings and service. It never left me. Finally I don’t have that terrible feeling of dread come over me anymore but even just listening to jwbroadcasting or going onto jw.org and listening to one of their magazine readings or reading articles out of my husbands magazines or looking at the new version of the kingdom ministry, I get those same feelings of dread and doom and gloom back again but I refuse to feel any guilt, no matter how much those articles are designed to do that to people.
I never had that feeling of doom and gloom before becoming a Witness, but once I got involved, that depression of dreading of having to go to meetings and service was always there, 24-7.
I wished more than anything I could have gone to a psychiatrist and unloaded on him or her. Living like that doesn’t only affect our lives, but our children too. I don’t know how any child can grow up “normal” in the JW religion.
Tara says:
February 11, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Arrived home today to a note left in the door jam. ‘Just popped around to see if you were in’. signed by two elders…. hmm.
Winston Smith says:
February 11, 2016 at 8:49 pm
@Tara
Maybe your elders were reading the comments on JWSurvey and got inspired. LOL
WS
Tara says:
February 11, 2016 at 9:32 pm
Turns out the ‘popped round’ to see my daughter as well… neither of us were in. But it sent my anxiety up. I am on my own. I think it is wrong that two men can turn up on a single sisters door without an invite. In a way I view it as entrapment… I spoke to a non witness friend about this same subject the other day and he said that some hierarchy from his church tried that on him once…. he told them in no uncertain terms never to do it again. I now dread being in my own home in case I get more visits. It almost feels like stalking.
Winston Smith says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:39 am
@Tara
Sorry. Didn’t mean to make light of a situation causing you anxiety. I believe you have said in other posts that you don’t DA because of family. If you were DA’d they’d leave you alone and if not you could simply get a restraining or cease and desist order from a court. But as a fader that’s tough. I have found that all you can do is wait it out until they eventually give up on catching you. Could be ’cause we are coming up on the memorial season and there is some mandate to contact inactive ones. I am a fader too, but because I don’t go to any meetings (other than memorial for relatives) they pretty well leave me alone as a lost cause. I think you said you go to occasional meetings for appearances. As such they see you as a weak sister needing assistance rather than a lost cause. Sorry I don’t have any better suggestions. Perhaps others in the community will have better ideas.
WS
Tara says:
February 12, 2016 at 7:56 am
No worries WS :) yes I think you are probably right… weak sister syndrome….. ha ha.
Gary says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:17 am
Very interesting statistics regarding the number of Elders knowing an abuser (approx 37%) and the number abused (appox 8%), that’s a cause for real concern.
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Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:57 am
About the 90% responding, saying they are happier since leaving the Organization, I am one of those, even though most of the people that I knew as an active Witness either don’t talk to me and ignore me when they see me out and about and that is after being a faithful Witness for fifty years. I am still happier.
As a Witness, I felt always depressed as if there was a dark cloud over my head all the time. The fear of Armageddon and the guilt of never feeling as if I was doing enough was always there, bringing me down. I would go to a meeting and the meeting would make me depressed for several days and then the next meeting would bring on that dark cloud again and the same for service. I always felt down and depressed but since leaving, I don’t have that dark cloud over my head any longer and it feels great. If I missed a meeting, then that would make me depressed too. I couldn’t win.
When a Witness is having doubts and suffers from depression, you are not allowed to confide even in your closest friends or even your family and even to those on the “outside” because anything you say will send up red flags to those people and it will be held against you and taken to the elders. Witnesses are so afraid of losing their own that they will fear that that person is falling “out of the truth” and the sad thing is that any friends or family will think that the elders will “help” that loved one, but the opposite is what happens.
Any time a Witness expresses doubts over either losing faith in the Bible or God or the Organization to the elders, the elders will sense an apostasy and instead of helping that person by answering their questions and helping them with their doubts, will chastise them and either disfellowship them for apostasy or give a marking talk about that person to the congregation, without even giving that person a hearing ear, and once that happens, the person has absolutely nobody to confide in because those who had been their friends and family will refuse to talk to them or listen to them. There is no help coming from the elders and nobody to confide in, without being “turned in” to the elders for one reason or another.
It is an Organization of fear and intimidation. It is no wonder that each and every Witness doesn’t suffer from depression. If it’s not because of the constant threat of doom and gloom or the battle of Armageddon, then it’s the guilt over not doing enough for Jehovah and then there’s the thought that one or more of their family members is either disfellowshipped or doesn’t want anything to do with the “truth” and those people will be killed at Armageddon.
It doesn’t matter to the elders what it does emotionally to the disfellowshiped one or the marked one, because the elders are brainwashed to put the Organization’s “cleanness” above anything else. That person who they had formerly treated as a friend and even family member will be looked as if they are working for the devil and are then “unclean” and bad association and deserving of death at Armageddon.
Even knowing all that, I am still much happier after I stopped going to the meetings because I realize now that all of the remaining Jehovah’s Witnesses who are still active in the cult are wasting their precious lives away on lies.
Even though I learned it the hard way that I had been duped for those fifty years of the best years of my life, at least I still have some life to live and I will make the most of the remaining time I have left on this earth, and for that I am grateful.
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EverydayExplorer says:
February 9, 2016 at 7:42 am
And your valuable experience is inspiring others to find their own way out of an inauthentic lifestyle, Caroline.
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James Broughton says:
February 9, 2016 at 8:54 am
Thank you Caroline for that brilliant testimony.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:10 am
@Caroline. Sometimes I notice after a comment there is NO REPLY link respond to a comment.Does it happen to any of you also and f so I wonder why?
Caroline It maybe the same Psych JW lady in Colorado bc how man JW doctors can there be since the JW’s are very low on the totem pole for education. I guess it would not be proper to mention name on here if I found it .Well, I will just describe the city she is from and then we can check
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Caroline says:
February 10, 2016 at 6:23 am
@Holy Connoli, when I see there is no reply link, I go up the comments until I see where I can reply and then the reply usually posts under the very last one. I don’t know if that is what you are talking about though.
I would bet that the lady Witness psychiatrist is the same one also. I don’t think there are that many Witness lady psychiatrists in Colorado, if anywhere else in the U.S. for that matter.
I guess what my husband’s friend was saying about her is true then. It seemed so weird to me that it was hard to believe it. If I remember right, my husband’s friend even said that circuit overseers have gone to her for help.
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Winston Smith says:
February 10, 2016 at 9:33 am
After a comment is replied to, the text indents and you can reply to either the original comment or to the last reply. I think the system allows you to reply at one more level in, but after that it does not allow more replies, I think because it would indent too far over to read. At that point you can simply reply to the previous comment and your new reply will be placed below.
At least that’s how it works on my smart phone.
WS
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Average Joe says:
February 10, 2016 at 5:35 am
As I wrote the other day on http://jwsurvey.org/governing-body-2/the-friday-column-shunning-a-toxic-practice-in-which-everyone-ultimately-loses
I can only hope my recently disfellowshipped friend finds himself happier outside the organisation. He’s really been through the mill with the judgemental jokers on the JC.
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Tara says:
February 10, 2016 at 8:34 am
I followed your link from the JWSurvey 2016 post AJ. This is disgusting. I wish your friend well and hope he can come to terms with it. I hope he doesn’t go to the JC meeting.
I have noticed that late last month and just this week, two of the elders wives have tried to contact me via texts. Both have said how much they miss me at meetings. I politely told them I miss them too. Which is true from a human point of view but from a logical view on the matter, I believe they are being used by the elders to ‘contact me’ to see what is going on.
Please can you let me know what is in these letters that ask you to go to a JC meeting. I have heard about them and I recal one elder gloating how he and another elder literally camped outside a witness house until he came home and then forced the letter into his hand telling him, he was going to be df’d. He told those in the car group about this with such pride it made me feel sick, even back then. I think I would be taking it to a lawyer if I was ever given/sent one.
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Winston Smith says:
February 10, 2016 at 9:18 pm
@Tara
The last part about the DF letter reminds of an elder I got to know a bit just before I faded (in fact his negative impact helped speed the process along). About 25 years older than me and a long time elder, he used to brag about all the people he had the pleasure to disfellowship. Seriously, he was like a serial killer or rapist who got off on reliving the details of each of his crimes. There was no other way to describe him other than a fat, pompous, egotistical, maniacal a$$hole.
Sometime after I faded, he led the judicial committee that disfellowshipped a friend of mine. At the end of their meeting, she had already been informed she would be disfellowshipped (even though she had approached the elders to confess her “sin”), and she asked if they were going to close with prayer. Fat-ass responded “we don’t say prayers for disfellowshipped people!”
Really? What did Jesus say about praying for your enemies? What a tool!
WS
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Average Joe says:
February 11, 2016 at 3:27 am
Sadly Winston, elders like that are not an exception. I know of one who still brags about the same thing. Funny thing is, that it’s all supposed to be done by Holy Spirit yet when it comes to disfellowshipping, it’s the elders themselves who do it. Curious. These types of individuals on a power trip deserve everything that’s coming to them.
Tara says:
February 11, 2016 at 8:12 am
How can individuals put faith in these men to look after them and pray for them. when they ‘popped over’ to have an encouraging talk with me and then interrogated me on going to my sons wedding I saw the other side. I haven’t been to a meeting or out in service for months now but I am seeing the effects. So called ‘friends’ no longer post on my fb page. text messages have stopped, friendly waves as they pass me in the car have stopped. I guess they will be keeping a close eye on me though, waiting for me to make a slip up so they can pronounce judgement. The thing is I am no longer concerned… the only thing that worries me is my granddaughter who’s mother and family are strong witnesses. I am sure they will try to stop her from seeing me.
Winston Smith says:
February 12, 2016 at 12:20 pm
When you read the few scriptures that support the idea of disfellowshipping, there is no provision made for a judicial committee. The rebuke came from the congregation in general. The whole judicial committee idea is manmade.
WS
Winston Smith says:
February 12, 2016 at 12:25 pm
@Tara
As far as the conditional friendships from the various congregation members, my opinion is: who needs ’em? I have no use for such people as friends. But I understand the real danger you face in regard to the threat to the relationship with your granddaughter.
WS
anonymous4 says:
February 9, 2016 at 7:38 am
Elders are NOT mental health professionals. All they have is their ‘Dr. Seuss’ advice from the bible & WT BS society literature. The WT Corporation puffs up their heads into believing they are qualified to deal with such things, but they are not.
Anyone experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, etc, should seek PROFESSIONAL help. At least start out by talking to your family doctor, or getting an evaluation at a hospital. If cost is an issue, get advice from such people; there may also be government-sponsored programs or government assistance.
Even if you have to do it ‘on the sly’.
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Bad Penny says:
February 13, 2016 at 8:42 am
The amount of JWs with mental health problems is disturbing –
About fifteen years ago (whilst still a JW) I was getting anxiety attacks and went to my GP, who referred me for counselling.
I attended one session and felt so guilty – after all I was a JW, I should not have these problems! I should be a happy bunny! I ended up in floods of tears and decided not to attend again. On leaving the session, I bumped into a ‘sister’ on her way in!
There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses having these problems, who keep it secret. The root of the problem is the control the WT have on our minds, it seems our brains can’t always take it and they rebel! I’m sure it also effects ones physically. After all, how many able bodied witnesses have we known who seem to let themselves go and end up obese, disabled and in wheel chairs? Perhaps another question for the Survey?
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James Broughton says:
February 9, 2016 at 8:51 am
Lloyd, thank you for the survey which makes challenging reading. It is how we use those statistics that will be important over the coming months. Clearly the issue of paedophilia is paramount but so is shunning, education, mental health and the Governing Body. It is useful to time them in with current Watchtower literature. For example, the recent Watchtower is given over to ‘Honesty’ and the recent Awake! is about ‘Attitude’. Asking relevant and penetrating questions with Witnesses is sometimes a more useful tool than bombarding them with cold statistics, as helpful as they may be to those of us outside.
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Twmack says:
February 9, 2016 at 9:00 am
Good on ya Caroline, Your an inspiration, you tell it like it
is. You’ve lost some shallow “friends” but made many
genuine ones here.
I’ve been ignored on the the street by people, pioneers,
who for 12 years, spent every Wednesday evening at my
home having meals, watching TV etc. My crime, I was no
longer interested in their religion, but I’m much happier
without such conditional association.
I still have some affection for them, but I pity them. Such
Narrow mindedness.
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Jaime says:
February 9, 2016 at 9:04 am
Thank you for all your hard work Lloyd; I appreciate it greatly. The kindness and gentleness you show to us who are newly coming out is outstanding. Best Regards, Jaime
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Alexandria R says:
February 9, 2016 at 10:37 am
The fact that 766 people in the 2015 survey say they suffer from depression but haven’t yet obtained professional help shows the society manipulates people into ignoring their own healthy boundaries. Unhappiness results because people feel powerless. When you’re awake and you have JW family they will affect you because you can’t control them. I’m awake but my sister isn’t. I deal with her as an ill person. I know when to back off and show restraint. I reason with her every day. She ignores the JW hypocrisy. I know she has to wake up on her own. She knows how I feel.
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Winston Smith says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Dealing with JW relatives as when with a mentally ill person (I am assuming you meant mentally and not physically ill) – that’s a good way to handle it.
WS
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anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:08 am
…or more precisely, “mentally diseased” – sound familiar btw? 😉
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Bright Lightbulb says:
February 9, 2016 at 10:48 am
Can someone help me with this?
Some of these stats are scary indeed but I have a dilemma of sorts. In almost all cults or when we look at certain preachers who live in incredible luxury on behalf of everyone giving their money, we don’t really see this with WT. Therein lives a small part of my dilemma. I don’t see or know of incredible wealth nor luxury. Yes the GB appear to live a comfortable life but not luxurious in that same way. So then what is the modus operandi other then exercise control? part of me says the GB know their 1914 teachings are false and so status
quo has to be upheld at all cost. But for what? what is their ultimate goal? Like with previously mentioned preachers, cults etc its almost always money for themselves.
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Caroline says:
February 9, 2016 at 12:14 pm
@Bright Lightbulb, these are my thoughts about what you are saying:
I don’t believe that the Governing Body are deliberately deceitful. I believe they are deluded with the idea that they really are preaching the end of the world and so feel they really are the “guardians of doctrine” for Jehovah’s organization and don’t think about the real estate empire they are building up as “money in their pockets” but as belonging to Jehovah.
The problem is that they don’t really read the Bible for what it really says, but they rely on the writing committees to come up with the articles and then they approve of them or go over them for any mistakes.
I feel they really do think that God has appointed them over all “His” belongings and they really do feel they have to keep the Organization going because if they don’t do everything they can to make sure all the world has heard the “good news of the kingdom” before Jehovah destroys the world of mankind at Armageddon.
I feel the Governing Body and all those in New York have not allowed themselves to “think” any more than the rest of the rank and file have allowed themselves to think and to question their “faith”.
In my opinion, if the Governing Body or any of those in the Bethels or the writing committees or any of the rest of the active JW’s who are running the whole thing come to the realization that the whole thing is nothing but an illusion or a delusion, they would have a “Crisis of Conscience” just as Ray Franz had what happened to him and it would be devastating for them, just as it has been for the rest of us who have wakened up from our delusional sleep.
Unless at least one of them (the Governing Body) “wakes” up and comes out like Ray Franz did and exposes them as deluded, it will keep going on just as it has been all these years.
If that doesn’t happen, then I am hoping that one by one, people start waking up and it implodes from the inside.
The whole thing depends on the Bethelites doing all the hard work. If they start waking up and realize they are being “used” and refuse to work for them for nothing, maybe then it might crumble too.
I am in the hopes that at least one of he Governing Body has a working conscience and starts to actually read his Bible for what it really says and his brain wakes up and he decides not to rely on the “converted” Bible that he reads now and has the courage to be another Ray Franz.
When I look at the internet and the avalanche of the Youtube videos exposing the Watchtower, I think that sooner or later, the Society has to realize it can’t win, no matter how hard they try to suppress the real truth about the Organization and because of the avalanche of those videos, they will have to change it’s policies and suffer the shame of having misled millions of people and suffer the shame and guilty consciences for being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people due to not taking blood,including many innocent babies and children.
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Bright Lightbulb says:
February 9, 2016 at 4:44 pm
Thanks. That makes sense. Although I doubt that last part will ever happen.
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Winston Smith says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:20 pm
The organization can only grow so much with its current structure. It’s choices will be to either reform and go mainstream or to dwindle. It could also splinter off.
WS
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Winston Smith says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Although the GB does not enjoy the opulence of some of those televangelists, they do enjoy privileges and prestige well beyond the means of most of the rank and file.
Ray Franz wrote of his time on the GB: “If security and comfort were my aim, I certainly would have opted for staying where I was, for all our physical needs would have been provided us as part of the headquarters staff. Our long years of “seniority” would give us the choice of some of the better rooms that periodically became available in the Society’s many large buildings. Our vacation time would increase to the equivalent of some six weeks a year and, because of being a Governing Body member, it would always be possible to combine this with speaking engagements that cartied one to points all over the United States and Canada, or with zone visits that took one to points all over the earth. (Governing Body members can regularly take their vacations in places the average person could only afford
to dream about.) In 1978, my wife and I found ourselves boarding planes over fifty times in that one year, and over the years we had traveled to Central and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
If prestige or prominence were what was sought, I could not reasonably have asked for more. I was already declining, on a monthly basis, about three or four invitations for speaking engage- ments for every one that
I accepted. Internation-
ally, if traveling to Paris,
Athens, Madrid, Lisbon,
Mexico City, Sao Paulo,
or almost any other major
city, it was only neces-
sary to advise the Branch
Office and a meeting
would be arranged to
which thousands of
Jehovah’s Witnesses
would flock. It became al-
most commonplace to address audiences ranging in size anywhere from five thousand up to thirty thousand persons. Practically anywhere a Governing Body member goes he is the guest of honor among his fellow Witnesses.”
WS
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anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:19 am
A Bethelite strike. Now THAT would be something! Unfortunately, there may not be 2 sets of b*lls among the lot of them. lol
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anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:33 am
@ WS
Thanx 4 that eye-opening info. I didn’t realize the GB had such opulent lifestyles. WOW!!! Must be nice!!!
Power is also a motive. Power & control, not to mention the adulation & worship that come from being man-gods walking the Earth.
Televangelists may enjoy more opulence, but that’s related to power. Money is a form of power. Most of the enjoyment simply comes from flaunting it.
Personally, I honestly believe the GB down to the vast majority of elders are fully aware of what they’re doing. How else do they invent & spread all the fairy tales. It’s obvious there is no “holy spirit” telling them what to write. Where does it all come from? & how about all the cult manipulation & mind-control. The GB r deluded? Not in my view. I think they know exactly what they’re doing, & why.
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Winston Smith says:
February 10, 2016 at 3:49 am
@A4
You hit the nail on the head: Power is the key motivation.
But I think that as far as being deluded, the GB and at least part of the local elder bodies live in two worlds as it were. On the one hand they do have a sense of what they are doing – maintaining their power, controlling others, etc. But they keep that sense buried beneath their delusion that they really are being led by God. They may have moments of clarity, where they know exactly what the real deal is, but then their psyche buries it beneath all the fairy tale wonder. And when you have thousands of people worshiping and adulating you, it’s easy to convince yourself that all the lies are true.
At the same time, I think there are a number of local elders who genuinely think that they are doing God’s will, and they just blindly follow the leadership. Their own cognitive dissonance keeps them under the spell.
WS
Winston Churchill says:
February 10, 2016 at 5:54 am
@Winston Smith & @Anonymous4
Joseph Rutherford being the main man (Top GB Member) had a very opulent lifestyle with 2 Cadillacs & Luxury homes in Manhattan, Germany (the Real reason he opposed Hitler )& obviously Beth Sarim (massive mansion .
I used to visit a friend in Mill Hill Bethel in the 1970s & he took me on a tour of the million pound homes around Mill Hill which the society owned & still own which certain district overseers & branch members & their wives lived in rent free plus free cars,food, clothes all paid for by ordinary brothers donations & as the Watchtower is a registered charity no one pays any tax.
So it is a very fine line and difficult to know whether present day GB Members have their own private homes & what wealth they have as the GB print no Financial Accounts just very hazy videos about donations going to build Kingdom Halls in third world countries with ice cream money .
I hope I am wrong because it would sadden me if ordinary rank & file JWs donations are being misused in any way. The only way to prove otherwise is to print public financial records like the Church of England does. I just googled it & their accounts are very very detailed so come on GB if Babylon the Great can do it surely Gods Organisation ?? Can.
Winston Smith says:
February 10, 2016 at 9:48 pm
@Winston Churchill,
Very good points. Rutherford was probably the worst of the whole lot. Much of the cult control can also be traced back to his presidency.
But that lends itself to another good point. And that is this: the GB members are each individuals with their own level of delusion and there own level of reality. We tend to think of them as a united front, but there is not the level of unity we imagine (Crisis of Conscience helped bring this out). So some are more under the delusion of being God’s directed servants, while others are more enticed by the overwhelming power they wield. But they are all seduced by the absolute power to some extent.
WS
Bad Penny says:
February 13, 2016 at 8:55 am
Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely!
(Lord Acton, British historian)
MARS says:
February 9, 2016 at 10:53 am
AS SCHOCKING AS IT IS. Will this survey ever lead to serious reform IN THE WATCHTOWER? We can only hope the participants come out of the Schell.
Reply
Pow says:
February 9, 2016 at 11:10 am
Just a thought concerning “Elders appointed by holy Spirit ” evidently the 23% didn’t get the memo from the org..the idea that Elders are directly appointed by h.s. has been modified. The current doctrine is h.s. directed paul to record the qualifications of an older man, and to the degree that body’s of elders today appoint in harmony with those directions then it is said to be “in agreement with holy Spirit ” thus when it turns out that a rapist, pedophile, wife beater, adulterer ,ect is appointed it’s because of failure of the local body. It should have been more evident in his publisher record cards.
Reply
Twmack says:
February 9, 2016 at 1:16 pm
I’m not surprised that 22% would stick to the religion
even if it were proved to be untrue.
One sister in our circuit stated, “if the society told her
to jump off Blackpool Tower she would do it”
They’ve become Zombies, everything but the masters
voice is blocked out.
Reply
Johannes Hoekstra says:
February 9, 2016 at 2:50 pm
Remaind that the Watchtower are one of the powerfully institutions of in this world. They have one of the biggest influence and have everywhere agents. Brooklyn is more than 7 GB members for me. They never give up like Kaddaffi in Libia, they start to be mad even.
Reply
anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:39 am
They have lots of power.
Reply
Alexandria R says:
February 9, 2016 at 6:24 pm
My family are JWs. They don’t realize they are using self deception as a way of hiding the truth from themselves and for hiding it more deeply from others. A person is susceptible to self-deception when they have emotional attachments to beliefs, which in some cases may be irrational. Self-deception enables someone to believe her or his own distortions. Self-deception can be used both to act greater or lesser than one actually is. Self-deception lowers cognitive cost; that is to say, it is less complicated for one to behave or think in a certain manner that implies something is true, if one has convinced oneself that that very thing is indeed true. Simple instances of self-deception include common occurrences such as: the alcoholic who is self-deceived in believing that his drinking is under control. JWs have a difficult life and suffer from depression because they lie to themselves.
Reply
Wip it says:
February 9, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Good to hear some points on donating money, this of which i stopped years ago, mainly due to being in Elders meetings at the circuit assemblies & one days when they would read the financial report, even though at that time early nineties to say 2012 they had 3/4 of a million in kitti, they then would extort more from the congo, so i guess all that money has been taken by the WT, i recently heard through an active elder that they had disbanded the RBC, so what about our refurb, well we did get some new concrete, he also told me of a KH being sold of & a fairly flush congo that had a million dollars, at least we only had $50k, what about all the years we gave to the world wide work???, i hate to think how munch money the society has taken of us, some say oh its an equalizing & their is a new KH being built every day, show me the proof, the money/greed thing is one of my big turn offs.
Reply
anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:40 am
They’re glorified con men.
Reply
Cedars says:
February 10, 2016 at 1:42 am
Do you think you could limit the number of one-line off-topic comments? It would be much better if you treat each comment as an actual comment rather than a new line in a private message exchange.
Reply
anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 2:45 am
How exactly was I being off-topic?
Reply
Cedars says:
February 10, 2016 at 2:51 am
As I scroll down your latest comments, I see a list of one-liners…
“Funky Cold Medina.”
“They’re glorified con men.”
“They have lots of power.”
“Kick ass!”
“Potato – PoTAHto.”
Some of those comments may be relevant to the post, but I doubt all of them are.
I am just asking that you treat the comments section as a comments section rather than a PM exchange. That’s all.
anonymous4 says:
February 10, 2016 at 7:04 am
ALL those comments were relevant to the current discussion. U don’t seem to have a problem with other folks’ replies. Why r u singling ME out?!
Cedars says:
February 10, 2016 at 8:04 am
I’m not singling you out. I don’t know anything about you, so I have no reason to discriminate. This is my website, and I am making a polite request for you to stop the one-liner off-topic comments. If you check our posting guidelines you will see that they are non-negotiable. Rather than wave the flag of persecution, it would be easier if you just took it on board.
ruthlee says:
February 10, 2016 at 2:29 am
Hopefully this is not too off topic but I have a point to make. Yesterday the UK news reported for the first time a Catholic mass was heard at Hampton court palace since the break with the church in Henry 8th’s time. This is a big deal in England because of the schism in this country is all pervasive. I dropped into the conversation with hubby “do you think god maybe allowing this because of the churches repentance and financial recompense and the public apology they have made over the child abuse within their ranks?” Its a bit of a long shot but the point i’m making is that the catholic church have stepped up to the plate and said so publically so they can actually move forward whereas the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny all such claims and call such accusations “ridiculous” If god is not using any particular religion, but individuals, then if a religion cleans house he could motivate a positive response for worship whereas us who cry out for justice see our form of worship invalidated by the diseased head ie the Gb . Not until the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses publically, verbally. and in writing accept their Christian responsibility for their mistakes, errors and lies on the issue of child abuse, they will never be approved by God .God will never bless or validate any act of worship they direct. You cannot mock God.Ruthlee
Reply
ScotWm says:
February 11, 2016 at 12:48 am
ruthlee: The only defence the Governing Body has for not reporting child abuse is the “two witness” rule. Admitting this so called scriptural defence is wrong would be an admission that they protect pedophiles. I seriously doubt that they will ever back down on this doctrine.
However, some courts are not happy with the Watchtower’s Pedophile Protection Policies (PPP). Here’s a story of two elders who failed to report child abuse in their congregation: “They, and the congregation, now face a lawsuit from the Delaware attorney general accusing them of violating the state’s mandated (child sex abuse) reporting laws.” https://www.revealnews.org/blog/jehovahs-fight-law-requiring-child-sex-abuse-be-reported-to-police/
The defendants also claim the elders were protected from having to report the abuse by a legal exemption for clergy. The court isn’t buying that defence either. The most interesting aspect of the case is that two elders and their congregation (not the Governing Body) are being prosecuted by a state agency.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 11, 2016 at 4:16 am
The Watchtower has never been one to apologize. When the various dates predicted for Armageddon failed, they turned around and blamed it on the rank on file members. So no surprise that they won’t apologize for their policies that have protected pedophiles and led to more child abuse.
WS
Reply
Winston Churchill says:
February 11, 2016 at 5:33 am
@Winston Smith. I was thinking along similar lines in regard to the organ transplants fiasco when from 1966 to 1980 it was regarded as cannibalism so no JW would dare to have one . Then 1980 it was suddenly alright . But no apologies to those who might have died for refusing a transplant & very upsetting for those family members who might have lost a beloved mother,father,son or daughter due to refusal of a kidney,heart,lung,etc
This is what I find disturbing in the 2016 Survey that 22% would stay with the religion even if it was untrue! Quite frightening especially when Jesus said ‘ The Truth will set you free’ so if those 22% found out the organisation was not the Truth then they cannot be set Free from false religion because those JWs are part of it.Absolutely crazy logic .
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 12, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Good points on organ transplants. That’s why when it comes to life or death decisions, each person must make up their own mind. They must not defer to another entity. Of course the organization would not have it that way. They must have complete control. Thus they have a lot of blood on their hands.
WS
Delishus says:
February 10, 2016 at 8:44 am
Hey Cedars, theres an issue on the first slide where you have to pick your Country. There is no Other button, so to be able to write on the Other space provided you have to select one of the other countries in order to write yours down. Im from the Caribbean, P.R. to be exact, so the options provided dont quite fit. I hope it can be fixed.
Reply
Cedars says:
February 10, 2016 at 9:25 am
I’ve just checked, and there is a text box below the options – “Other, please specify.”
Reply
Winston Churchill says:
February 10, 2016 at 9:31 am
@Cedars. It is encouraging only 50% are making donations which is good news & may go even lower next year with more investigations into the way the GB handle child abuse .
Reply
Winston Churchill says:
February 10, 2016 at 10:40 am
In the Survey the statistics that state 78% have known or heard of a JW involved in a suicide attempt is very disturbing. Maybe shunning has caused this by family members or never ending pressure to do more or The Paradise kept being postponed? Who Knows?
Reply
SIRIUS says:
February 10, 2016 at 9:25 pm
Re: 55% of voters say they have experienced financial disadvantage as a result of JW teachings on higher education
Keeping ‘em ignorant is a great tool and to me it’s a form of slavery. Sadly, a higher education could provide a higher level of critical thinking and assist in identifying flawed WT reasoning! My real concern is… are any GB family members or any of the hierarchy (i.e. Elders) sending their kids to college/university either to private or public institutions? The reasoning, “do as I say and not as I do”!
Any flies on the wall?
IMHO
dogstar
Reply
Average Joe says:
February 11, 2016 at 10:27 am
Hi Sirius,
I went to Uni. It was never discouraged in our congregation but most of our elders, when I was growing up, all had higher education. Great quality of assignments too, especially on the school. The large majority of us kids at least benefited from that training.
I realise that our cong was the exception that proves the rule. However, as a cong we didn’t take the literature as gospel, especially with all the American grammar and ideas. By the way, 3 out of the 5 elders had beards too (though they never got to give talks at the assemblies or in other congs).
Reply
SIRIUS says:
February 11, 2016 at 2:02 pm
@Average Joe, Thank you for your comments!
Interesting! Were you born to JW parents or a convert? Are you holding a position of authority within the congregation? And would you comment on the following?
You have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to young children.—Matt. 11:25.
Of course, Jesus did not mean that his disciples were children in a literal sense. Rather, he knew that they seemed to be children compared to the intellectual and highly educated ones in the land, who were wise in their own eyes. More important, Jesus taught his followers to be like children, remaining humble and teachable. (Matt. 18:1-4) How did they benefit from being humble? By means of holy spirit, Jehovah helped them to grasp vital spiritual truths while the wise and intellectual ones, who scorned them, remained blinded by Satan and by their own pride. No wonder Jesus was so pleased! It made him happy to see the way Jehovah revealed deep spiritual truths to humble people of all sorts, regardless of their education or intellectual gifts. He was delighted that his Father approved of this way of teaching. w15 3/15 1:2, 3
An university degree is Satan’s blindness & the sin of pride?!!? How did the GB get “intellectual ones” to mean university educated?
BTW, I am no JW or will I ever be… my interest is purely research based (comparative) analysis.
IMHO
dogstar
Reply
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← The Friday Column: Watchtower and Dinosaurs
The Friday Column: The Blood Issue and Leukemia: One Man’s Story →
The 2016 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses is launched!
avatar
Posted on February 8, 2016
More than 6,000 had their say in the 2015 Global Survey of Jehovah's Witnesses
More than 6,000 had their say in the 2015 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses
You will all be pleased to know that the 2016 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses was launched this weekend, and already has 124 responses.
To add your voice to the new survey, simply click on the “have your say” graphic at the top of the right-hand column (or click here).
Last year’s survey attracted a record 6,083 respondents, including 1,022 active Jehovah’s Witnesses, 145 serving elders (including 25 coordinators), 772 inactive ones, 1,706 faders, 1,461 disfellowshipped/disassociated ones, and 949 non-baptized voters (including 597 with JW relatives).
The data yielded from such impressive numbers was tremendous, and I will do my very best to get the results published earlier this time round – hopefully in the Spring.
A few quick stats for you:
◾67% of inactive voters said they would leave the organization if shunning were abolished
◾90% of disfellowshipped/disassociated ones say they are happier since leaving
◾66% of inactive/faded/former JWs were baptized at 17 or younger
◾Only 19% of inactive/faded/former JWs became Witnesses through the preaching work
◾27 elders say they are aware of pedophiles in their congregation
◾46% of active JW voters would either secretly or openly accept blood
◾13% of JW voters would allow their child to die for want of a blood transfusion
◾152 JW voters know of a fellow believer, or child of Witness parents, who has died from refusing blood
◾46 memorial partakers took our survey
◾77% of JW voters do not believe elders are appointed by holy spirit
◾58% of JW voters say they have never assisted anyone to baptism
◾Geoffrey Jackson is the most likeable GB member among JW voters
◾Anthony Morris is the least likeable GB member among JW voters
◾Sam Herd is considered the least controversial GB member among JW voters
◾Anthony Morris is considered the most controversial GB member by JW voters
◾50% of JW voters do not donate any money to Watchtower
◾10% of JW voters are happy for their donations to be spent in legal costs arising from sex abuse cases
◾22% of JW voters say that even if their religion were proven untrue, they would stick with it
◾78% of all voters have known or heard of a JW committing suicide
◾47% of all voters suffer from depression
◾766 say they suffer from depression but haven’t yet obtained professional help
◾1,123 voters say they have contemplated or attempted suicide as a result of their JW beliefs, or the prospect of shunning
◾907 voters say they have self-harmed as a JW
◾13.5% of voters were home-schooled as JWs
◾54% of voters say they were bullied at school as a result of their beliefs
◾55% of voters say they have experienced financial disadvantage as a result of JW teachings on higher education
◾113 voters say they are victims of child sex abuse within Jehovah’s Witnesses
◾58% of the 4,265 polled on their current beliefs expressed varying degrees of unbelief
◾The stigmatization of higher education continues to be the most-disliked Watchtower teaching
◾Only 136 out of 6,083 voters say they agree with all Watchtower teachings
I am sure, like me, you would consider some of those statistics as headlines in themselves, worthy of considerable press exposure. The fact that 27 out of 145 polled elders are aware of pedophiles within their congregation is nothing short of scandalous, as is the fact that our survey of over 6,000 current and former Witnesses yielded 113 professed victims of child sex abuse.
As shocking as these numbers are, I can only be grateful that we have this information at our disposal, and I am confident that our recently-expanded team at JWsurvey, temporarily under new management, will find time and opportunity to give these figures the exposure they deserve.
Meanwhile, I would like to thank each and every one of you who participated in last year’s survey, and I would urge all of you to do the same in 2016. By combining our voices on the harm being inflicted by Watchtower, we are no longer the silent majority.
new-cedars-signature3
Please note: a new feature of the new 2016 survey is the possibility of seeing the results at a glance once you’ve finished. However, I have already started getting feedback from people who are confused because they are seeing questions they weren’t asked. Please bear in mind that not every voter answers every question. For example, someone who is not an elder will not be asked questions for serving elders, and someone who has never been disfellowshipped will not be asked questions for those who are disfellowshipped, and so on. I may withdraw this feature if it ends up causing too much confusion, but for now I trust that many of you prefer to see how the survey is shaping up after you have taken it.
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← The Friday Column: Watchtower and Dinosaurs
The Friday Column: The Blood Issue and Leukemia: One Man’s Story →
170 Responses to The 2016 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses is launched!
← Older Comments
Winston Churchill says:
February 11, 2016 at 12:09 am
Another fascinating point from the survey is 66% inactive,faded or former JWs were baptised at 17 or younger which shows that baptism at an early age does not work & all that creates are many many divided families because baptism has very very serious consequences if you are a JW because then the shunning of the person begins even from close family members which is devastatingly traumatic & creates a cycle of depression & suicidal tendencies.
I believe the GB think they are onto a winner by trapping people into baptism at an early age but I think it is backfiring by producing dysfunctional families & a lot of angry hurt ex JWs which makes them determined to bring this organisation down .
Reply
Cedars says:
February 11, 2016 at 1:44 am
The 2016 global survey is already a victim of its own success, and will be closed until March 5th. On our current subscription plan with surveymonkey we get a maximum 1,000 responses per month (which would be 12,000 per year). Considering our record for a year so far is just over 6,000, this isn’t normally a problem. But within a few days of launching the new survey we are already approaching the 1,000-mark. Hopefully I will soon be upgrading our subscription plan, but until then I appreciate your patience!
Reply
Tara says:
February 11, 2016 at 7:56 am
Wow! that is amazing. That in itself is a news worthy item. Just shows the amount of feeling out there towards the org. Both from within and from those formally associated. Word is spreading.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 11, 2016 at 8:20 am
Yes, it would be awesome if we could break 10,000 this year. It shows the level of dissatisfaction within the organization and the number of folks starting to wake up or at least realize that something is not right.
Still, even if we were to surpass 100,000 I don’t know if it would phase the governing body, wrapped in its cocoon of policies and elitism. And while Lloyd has an open offer to the GB engage in a healthy dialogue in regard to the survey, I don’t think that’s the main point of it all. I think the main point is raising awareness of the evils of this org and to give a voice to those it has tried to silence.
Cedars/Lloyd thanks for all your hard work in giving us this opportunity to be heard.
WS
Reply
Robert67 says:
February 11, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Just finished listening to the late podcast and remembered this being linked on a Spanish speaking forum. Perhaps the law firms and dates will narrow down your search.
The Associated Press
February 10, 1986, Monday, PM cycle HEADLINE:
Local Church Wins Fight With National Office
DATELINE: BONHAM, Texas
Members of a Jehovah’s Witness congregation have declared victory in their legal fight with the denomination’s national organization over ownership of a local church.
Justice of the Peace Don Jones ruled that leaders of the national group, the Watchtower Society, unlawfully changed locks andtook over the church.
The denomination, known for its door-to-door evangelism, has filed an an appeal of the ruling. The dispute centered on ownership of the Kingdom Hall and began last summer when Ralph Deal sent 14 letters to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in New York asking for answers to particular theological questions.
Deal testified that when he persisted with his questions, the Watchtower Society sent a committee to Bonham on July 14 to choose new officers for the church. The group changed locks on the church after the new officers were chosen.
Deal, along with Tony Jones, Wesley Ruddell and Tommy Johnson, were notified by letter that they had been “disfellowshipped”_ or dismissed for disciplinary reasons _ from the church. They filed suit to retain possession of Kingdom Hall.
The title to the property is filed with the county under “Trustees of the Bonham Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
After Friday’s ruling, lawyer David Mercot, representing the local church, said he thinks other individuals and congregations dissatisfied with the Watchtower Society will be encouraged to stand up.
“For 40 years or more, the Watchtower Society acted like the local congregations were their pawns while in public denying any hierarchy,” Mercot said.
The suit was filed because the local members were “rousted” from the church, Ruddell said. “We were intimidated to do exactly asthey said.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses was founded by Charles T. Russell in 1884. The denomination is distinguished by its belief that only 144,000 people will go to heaven.
Critics say defections from the denomination began after the world failed to end in 1975 as leaders had predicted. Other dates cited by church leaders included 1914, 1920, 1925 and 1938.
Official spokesmen for the denomination have declined to answer questions about the case.
Reply
Robert67 says:
February 11, 2016 at 2:38 pm
@Cedars
Recent letters on the matter in Spanish
http://www.extj.com/attachment.php?s=d2bdb97b3b3888c7f22daaa6c53301f3&attachmentid=16272&d=1454956717
http://www.extj.com/attachment.php?s=d2bdb97b3b3888c7f22daaa6c53301f3&attachmentid=16274&d=1454970650
http://www.extj.com/attachment.php?s=d2bdb97b3b3888c7f22daaa6c53301f3&attachmentid=16273&d=1454970518
Courtesy of the GBB
Goberning
Body
Bank
Reply
rob says:
February 11, 2016 at 10:29 am
I don’t believe anything short of a complete uprising within all of the congregations would catch the attention of the powers that be in New York.
They live a comfortable lifestyle, do not have to worry about money or the economy, the lawyers have protected them from any personal liability and therefore they appear to have cocooned themselves quite comfortably.
Does it really matter to them that out of 8 million, maybe 10,000 or 50,000 or 100,000 have woken up and have left? Apparently not. They still have lots of money in the bank, and still have witnesses that believe that they are God’s spokesmen and nothing has really changed- shunning still happens, higher education is still frowned upon and questioning the GB on anything is not tolerated.
The lawsuits will take years to figure out and with appeals etc, they could be dragged on for many many years.
In the meantime families are destroyed, and the rank and file simply keep on the hampster wheel and routine that is the everyday life of a witness.
I wish things were different and I could have back my relationships with my family, but the religion still trumps all.
Reply
Robert67 says:
February 11, 2016 at 10:54 am
Stay the course Rob
Yes this movement is not an outright destroyer of this cult, but it is making steady gains as time passes.
I wish I could show you pictures of my neighbors doors. I went to a sticker making website a few months ago and had a few hundred door stickers made with JW.org font instructing any witness to visit this site as well as jwfacts in order to prepare for the bible questions this house hold will have. I passed them out to all my neighbors sharing very crucial Australian royal commission and other pertinent WT facts with them and the danger this doomsday cult was to our community. I am very proud to say that I have successfully been able to convince 82 of my neighbors to place these on their front doors.
I live in a suburb outside of Chicago and have made it my life’s mission to protect people seeking Christ from this dangerous faith killing cult. I hope to soon grow the stones necessary to post a video of my local work.
If your truly worried about your family. I would recommend getting the truth about the “truth” to them indirectly by doing what you were trained to do so well. Go door to door in your best clothes and present yourself as a good neighbor and JW cult survivor. Explain some of the atrocities and anti biblical practices of this cult and how you’ve made these stickers in order to keep these brainwashed zombies away from their door and how together as a community you can keep them either out of the area or forced to confront facts about their cult.
This Saturday I will be visiting local churches and canvassing for possible volunteer ant JW activist. I truly hope this helps JW’s in my area start asking the important questions.
Reply
kittycat says:
February 12, 2016 at 3:06 am
You are very brave. Thank you for standing up….it only takes one word or idea to start the awakening. Good luck.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 12, 2016 at 12:24 pm
@Robert67. Hi Robert. Your Ides are quite interest and energetic for sure I thought that you said you were still attending meetings and “active” in FS and I thought you said also you are a current Elder in the Chicago area? If that is correct how can you do these things that you speak about and not draw attention the Elders in yr congregation? We all know how the JW’s work They will gladly turn anyone in that they think is not following the rules.
If I did that in my area I would be spotted immediately and turned in to the JW police. Then as we all know a Tri would be set up and get DF’d ASAP. If you are doing that and still an active official JW that is quite amazing to me. Please share.
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Winston Smith says:
February 11, 2016 at 2:49 pm
The only thing that seems to phase the GB is noted drops in overall publishers. Back after the disappointment of ’75, they wouldn’t even comment on it until they saw two consecutive years of publisher drops.
Currently, some of larger publisher bases are fairly stagnant (e.g. the US), but the overall growth continues. I am not looking at actual numbers right now, but from memory the conversion-retention rate is about 2:1 a for every 2 converts made, they loose 1. I predict that eventually this will slow to 1:1 and could start to go the other direction. That will get them worried. But it may be a ways off.
WS
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Sliced says:
February 12, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Rob,
I totally get where you are coming from. I actually have felt like that many a day since I woke up. However, don’t give up… it takes time to chip away at something that seems so rock solid- but the day will come when the Watchtower will be fully exposed. Keep active and positive that one day other members of your family will wake up too. :)
Reply
Robert67 says:
February 11, 2016 at 10:34 am
While we wait eagerly for the survey I have some food for thought.
As most all here would recognize in a heart beat what Matthew 24:45 means to this Cult and its doctrines, I was wondering about its wording as used by the WT.
This specific verse is, as the JWpodcast would describe a key piece of the Jenga puzzle that forms Watchtower doctrine.
Decades as a witness, 23 years as an elder, now mentally free for a few years and I had never stumbled across the way the Kings James Bible translates this verse.
King James Version says the following at Matthew 24:45
Who then is A faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Notice it doesn’t ask Who then is THE, but rather who is A faithful and wise servant
We all know for a fact that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Printing society take all sorts of liberties in misquoting and outright rewording Bible passages to harmonize their WT agendad Bibles with their brand. The way the Kings James Bible words Mathew 45:45 completely eradicates the notion that Christ left everything as pertains to Earth in charge of any specific human being or group of people.
Jwfacts under the subject Goberning body, makes it clear how even that phrase “Goberning body” or the notion of a centralized headquarters for Christians administrating Jesus affairs on Earth is extra biblical and completely fabricated by this cult, but somehow this interesting factoid on the Kings James version of Mathew 24:45 is missing from the article.
Would anyone here have any other source that could back the King James Version of Mathew 24:45 us of the word “A faithful slave” vs “The faithful space?
The Kings James version would lead us to understand that all Christ followers hold that position and are in charge of Christ message during their short time on this rock. I know which Bible passage I’ll be sharing next time I get a knock on my door.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 11, 2016 at 11:55 am
@Robert67
Once I awoke and was able to read that scripture with an open mind, I found some new perspective on it as well. First of all, I found the Holman Christian Study Bible to be a pretty good translation and this is how it reads there: “Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?”
Something I realized is that the use of chapters and verses in the bible is somewhat arbitrary and can separate lines of thinking that really were part of one thought. Thus I propose that Matthew 24:45 through Matthew 25:46 are all part of the same line of reasoning with 4 parables about being ready for the return of Christ: the faithful and evil slaves; the wise and foolish virgins; the slaves and the talents; and the sheep and the goats. They are all the same lesson and all apply to individuals, not to any specially selected groups.
That’s my take on it.
WS
Reply
Caroline says:
February 11, 2016 at 12:34 pm
@Robert67, here again is another example where the Watchtower took liberties and rewrote that part of the Bible for the New World Translation. In the King James Bible at Matthew 24:45-51, it says that if the faithful and wise servant turns into an evil slave that beats his fellow servants, then that evil slave will be cut asunder. How the Watchtower worded “cut asunder” in the K.J., the Watchtower put “punish him with the greatest severity” in the N.W.T. at Matthew 24:45-51.
The reason the Watchtower most likely changed those words is because people like to think of the Christian scriptures as not as violent as the Hebrew Scriptures. There can be no other reason for that change except they want people to think that Jesus wasn’t violent in his speech.
That same expression about the evil slave being “cut asunder” in the King James is repeated at Luke chapter 12 in the K.J. and the same expression “punished with the greatest severity” is also repeated in the New World Translation at Luke chapter 12.
Reply
Robert67 says:
February 11, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Brings to mind the Genesis of all modern ex-Jw movement when Chris and Norma Sanchez of the Spanish translating commite uncovered the blatant liberties the watchtower took in outright rewording the bible to their own agenda. Their discovery of the 144,000 fabrication led to fantastic private Bible studies across Bethel, which eventually led to mass dissfelowshipping, which eventually put a Goberning Body member by the name of Raymond Franz out the door. Where the 607 b.c fabrication hit the awakened witness like a nuclear freedom bomb.
You will come to know the truth and the truth shall set you free-
Quoting Jesus at John 8:32 before the “faithful slave” has it removed like it did with most of this chapter of the Bible
Reply
Lynda says:
February 11, 2016 at 10:25 pm
The Living Bible Matthew 24:45 reads : Are you A wise and faithful servant of the Lord? Have I given you the task of managing my household,to feed my children day by day?
Reply
GEM says:
February 11, 2016 at 12:19 pm
@ Robert67: Could A faithful Slave be referring to the same boy of Older Men that met and penned what is now the book of Acts 15? and, interestingly, may Jesus have even been referring to….Himself?
Just curious
Reply
A Patient Man says:
February 11, 2016 at 12:58 pm
While we are on the topic of the governing body taking on the role of the slave class I have a question I would like to ask. I wonder if any of the 15,000 partakers of the emblems were ask, “How did you personally feel when the title of Faithful and Discreet Slave was taken from you and given to a few?” The reason that I ask this question is my wife’s grandmother was of the anointed and she was a very outspoken, very strong woman. In fact her grandfather was Alexander Majors one of the founders of the original pony express. She comes from very tough stock, and had a very tough childhood traveling under harsh conditions to wind up in Kansas. If she were alive today and you tried to take something that was very important to her away from her you better put your PF Flyers on so you could get away quickly from her because she was coming after you. I know that current witnesses will tell you that the ones of that class would never do anything like that, or have a very adverse reaction to the title of Faithful Slave taken away from them, but are you sure about that? That would be a very intriguing conversation with them would it not? The next question I would be asking them is how in the world did the number go from 8,000 to 15,000? I have yet to hear an intelligent answer on that one.
Reply
Pow says:
February 11, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Well to answer your question, a few years ago there was this huge party in heaven, there was a full bar, rock band and dancing, you know the works….unfortunately, about 8000 of the 138000 already in heaven got reassigned. .as in lost their spiritual virginity ….let that be a lesson. …anyway. soon after another 7783 vacancies were filled. ….
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Pow says:
February 11, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Actually, to be serious for a minute. ..what happens at bethel is a reflection of what’s happening in heaven. ..turns out,, that with computers and the Internet, ,they don’t need 144k anymore,….So, the heavenly class has been downsized to 1000, and may even be reduced even further. …all these ones who think there of the anointed are really gonna be pissed when they find themselves doing dead body clean up on this fried earth.
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Winston Churchill says:
February 12, 2016 at 12:28 am
@Cedars. Not only is the Survey proving more& more popular but also your YOU TUBE channel has over 6000 subscribers & increasing daily which goes to show more& more thinking witnesses are waking up & enjoy logical reasoning about the falseness of the organisation.
Reply
Raymond says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:43 am
Says survey is closed. Said same yesterday. I tried both the ad on the side of the article and the link within the article. Is there another link I should try?
Reply
Cedars says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:44 am
Hi Raymond. Please scroll up the comments. Unfortunately I have had to temporarily pause the survey until March 5th.
Reply
Sliced says:
February 12, 2016 at 9:47 pm
I am anxiously awaiting! Looking forward to taking the next survey. Thanks for making them and for this site! I am not kidding when I tell you that your particular line of reasoning (in your articles and videos) played a key role in keeping me awake! I had woken up from our own (or should I say WT own material) and stayed in a bit of denial over it for a good while. I am slowly but surely getting stronger each day! (Like learning to walk for the first time) Just wanted you to know how much of a POSITIVE IMPACT this site and your videos are having- and I know there are many who are afraid to post anything on here- so I will speak for them too- and say THANK YOU!! Keep up this fight!
Reply
Raymond says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:48 am
Ignore me, just saw the post indicating the problem. Will check back next month.
Reply
Malachi says:
February 12, 2016 at 3:17 pm
Congrats on overrunning your SurveyMonkey limit. All good news!
Reply
Folino says:
February 15, 2016 at 8:38 am
This is an amazing site!! Wish I had something like this 30 yrs. Ago when I was trying to find correct words to express my thoughts in why a person would deny intelligent thoughts. And blindly follow “GB”! As of novemember 1998 I formally gathered the courage to disassociate myself from Jw’s. Knowing that decision would come with heavy price tag! Aka…loss of parents, life long friends and children. It was worth paying that price!! Please keep up fine research and postings.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 16, 2016 at 4:18 pm
A heavy price indeed! But in the big picture, no price is really too much to gain your freedom. To live a life enslaved to the trickery of conceded men, full of their own self-importance, is really no life at all. You had the courage to stand up for your true self – that is admirable.
WS
Reply
Luke says:
February 15, 2016 at 3:59 pm
It says it is closed. I really want to do it. Thanks please advice.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 16, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Luke,
See comment from Cedars above – the survey will reopen March 5th.
WS
Reply
Idontknowhatodo says:
February 16, 2016 at 4:20 am
Please say Lloyd you are going to reply to the Garlic Bread February Broadcast….I know its off topic but I just watched the rubbish….and know people are really going to take this all in!
Reply
Tara says:
February 16, 2016 at 5:39 pm
My daughter went to the last meeting because her friend asked her to. She said she was ‘love bombed’ by many but hounded straight away by elders who either wanted to know where she had been, how disappointed they are in her or they just sat and glared at her from across the hall. I’m so glad I have not been for weeks. Why would anyone want to subject themselves to that.
Reply
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← The 2016 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses is launched!
Phelicity Sneesby: The story Watchtower didn’t tell you →
The Friday Column: The Blood Issue and Leukemia: One Man’s Story
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Posted on February 12, 2016
donaldToday would have been my brother’s fifty-eighth birthday. My brother, Donald, died ten days before turning twenty-eight. He was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) on December 11th, 1985 and died on February 2nd, 1986.
A diagnosis of AML, for a faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses, is a death sentence. Leukemia is cancer of the blood and the main treatment for AML is a bone marrow transplant and blood transfusions. Donald was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was a Ministerial Servant, well on his way to becoming an elder. As one who believed Watchtower doctrine, he would not consider a bone marrow transplant or blood transfusions, even when faced with a terminal diagnosis. His physicians told him that without treatment, he could expect to die within one to six weeks.
Although bone marrow transplants were once forbidden, in the Watchtower magazine’s March 15th, 1980 edition, there was a reversal in their position regarding organ transplants. Bone marrow transplants are placed in this category, so you would think it is allowed. However, in order to assure that a patient’s body will be strong enough to receive a bone marrow transplant, many pints of blood are transfused into a patient’s body prior to receiving a bone marrow transplant. Therefore, Jehovah’s Witnesses will refuse a bone marrow transplant.
Watchtower’s blood stance has evolved through the decades. In recent years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been told that they can receive “blood fractions” as a matter of conscience. Although this new change of position would not have helped my brother (as he needed whole blood), it matters to those whose family members died before these changes were implemented. The Watchtower’s current stance on whole blood and blood components is complicated and somewhat nonsensical. I will provide links to websites devoted to that subject at the end of this article*.
Before you read my brother’s story, it will help you to know that he was the only one in my family who was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He became a Witness at age twenty, along with his wife.
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The day his fate was sealed. Donald, holding a towel, moments after his baptism. A crowd of Jehovah’s Witnesses greets him.
He was not raised as a Witness and our parents were not Witnesses. I studied and attended the Kingdom Hall for eleven years (even after his death), but was never baptized.
A few months before his terminal diagnosis.
A few months before his terminal diagnosis.
I’m not sure why he looks so serious in this picture! What I notice most in this picture is how colorful he looks. His lips are a healthy shade of pink and his cheeks and nose have color to them. Months later, his face was extremely pale and his lips were completely white.
Donald’s Diagnosis
Like many Jehovah’s Witness parents, my brother and his wife home-schooled their kids. In the autumn of 1985, they drove from their home in Florida to Arizona. They called their adventure a “field trip” and my brother sent postcards to me and my mother while he traveled. In a few of his messages, he mentioned having a cold that would not go away. He visited a physician in Arizona and was told that he had pleurisy. The physician gave him medicine and suggested that he cut his trip short.
He and his wife, Carole, traveled back to their home in Florida. By the time they got home, he was feeling much worse. He was so short-of-breath, he couldn’t complete a sentence in one breath. Every three words or so, he would need to inhale. He went to see his physician in December 1985 and learned that he did not have pleurisy. Bloodwork and a bone marrow biopsy revealed that Donald had tons of immature white blood cells (leukocytes) that were interfering with his bone marrow’s ability to produce normal red blood cells. His red blood cells were misshapen (not round) and were not able to do their job of transporting oxygen. His bone marrow was full of these immature white blood cells and misshapen red blood cells. That was the reason he felt so sick and was having trouble catching his breath. In order to live, he needed to have his bone marrow replaced.
Prognosis: One to Six Weeks
On December 11th, 1985, I was at home in Connecticut. I just got home from the library when my father told me to call my sister-in-law Carole. When I called her, she told me that I needed to fly to Florida as soon as possible. She explained the situation to me and said that the doctor told her that my brother might die within one week. Just in case he was going to die that quickly, my father bought tickets for my mother, me and my brother Mike to fly down to Florida. My father chose to stay home because he couldn’t believe that Donald was really going to die. He didn’t think anyone was lying. He just couldn’t grasp that it was really happening.
The next day, I was sitting on a plane with my mother and brother Mike. The plane was filled to capacity and I felt claustrophobic. I closed my eyes to escape my surroundings, but I couldn’t escape my thoughts. I kept trying to imagine what Donald would look like when I finally got to see him. I envisioned walking into his bedroom and seeing him looking ashen, with a gray face. All of a sudden, I felt like I had to vomit. My brother Mike held the bag (those bags on an airplane that you think you will never need.) Mike held my hair back with one hand and held the bag with his other hand. I never felt his love for me as strongly as I did in those moments. We were both scared about what we would face when we got to Donald’s house.
When we finally got to his house, a lady came out onto the porch and told us to wait. She was the wife of an elder who was “visiting” Donald.
One-by-one, my sister-in-law, Carole, let us go into Donald’s bedroom. My mother went first, then Mike, then me. Carole didn’t let us all go in at once because she thought Donald would try to talk and might get out-of-breath. When I saw him, I made the following observations: he was wrapped in a sheet; his lips were completely white and he was breathing like a rabbit—rapid and shallow breaths. (Later on, I tried to mimic his breathing to see what it felt like and I immediately became dizzy. I couldn’t even do it for one minute.)
I asked him why he had a sheet wrapped around him. He said, “My skin hurts.” The skin on his entire body hurt. Can you imagine?
In this picture, you can see how pale Donald’s lips were and, of course, he was wrapped in a sheet. Though he knew he was dying, he still found reasons to laugh and smile
In this picture, you can see how pale Donald’s lips were and, of course, he was wrapped in a sheet. Though he knew he was dying, he still found reasons to laugh and smile
Donald wore sunglasses a few days before his death, as his eyes became sensitive to light. Here he is drinking beet juice while his exhausted wife, Carole, sits beside him on the bed
Donald wore sunglasses a few days before his death, as his eyes became sensitive to light. Here he is drinking beet juice while his exhausted wife, Carole, sits beside him on the bed
Elders Hovering Around the Room
Three elders were in Donald’s bedroom during the day. They stayed for hours and came back day-after-day. They actually took shifts so that my brother was never alone with me, my brother Mike or my mother. Looking back, I believe it is because the elders knew we were not Jehovah’s Witnesses. They must have thought we would try to talk Donald into receiving a blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant.
After five days of having these strangers hovering around Donald, I had enough. I asked them to go home. I told them that my time with Donald was limited and I wanted them to give us time to be a family. Thankfully, the elders respected my wishes and left. I was only able to be in Florida for one week, so by the time the elders finally went home, I only had two full days to spend with Donald.
A few years later, the Watchtower implemented “Hospital Liaison Committees”. However, in late 1985-early 1986, the HLC didn’t exist yet. Instead, the three elders in my brother’s bedroom were serving in that capacity under the guise of having a “Bible Study” with him. I could hear them reading scriptures to Donald, mostly about “keeping his eyes on the prize”.
Donald did not want to die, but he also did not want to “betray Jehovah” by receiving a blood transfusion or a bone marrow transplant. His wife, Carole, read about nutritional supplementation that would build up the iron in his blood. She began to make juice out of beet roots and leaves. She also crushed various herbs and put them into oatmeal for him to ingest. (You can see the beet juice and pink oatmeal in the image of him wrapped in a sheet).
The Nights Spent Holding My Hand
At night, while everyone was sleeping, I stayed awake all through the night. I lay on the floor beside his bed. He would put his hand over the edge of his bed and I would reach up and hold it. While we were holding hands, he would watch “Cheers” and “The Three Stooges” on video tape. He also watched episodes of “I Love Lucy”. He told me that he wanted to watch things that made him laugh.
One night, while we were watching “The Three Stooges”, I fell asleep and my hand let go of his hand. All of a sudden, I heard him say “Karen!” really loud. (Keep in mind, he had been whispering and breathing shallow for a week). I woke up in a panic! Donald explained to me that the reason he wanted me to hold his hand all night was because he wanted someone to be awake in case he died. He didn’t want to die in the middle of the night, all alone, while everyone slept.
It was at that moment when I realized just how important my presence was to him. Another thing that made me feel special was that I was the only person (besides Carole) that he felt comfortable having empty his urinal. It may seem trivial (and maybe even gross), but I felt honored that he chose me to hold his hand in the middle of the night and to empty his urinal. As I write this, I still feel honored.
Typing His Assigned “Blood Talk”
Donald was a Ministerial Servant. He was eager to become an elder, so he was thrilled when he was assigned to give a talk. It was assigned to him before he felt sick. The topic: “Why it is better NOT to have a blood transfusion”. When he became sick and his skin hurt, he still continued to type his talk. He began working on it before he felt sick and was determined to finish it before he died. During the time I was with him in Florida, he typed until his finger pads hurt. I offered to type, but he said that he must do it. He wanted to finish the task. He was using a manual typewriter, so it required pushing down hard on the keys. He told me that he preferred typing instead of writing because his vision was getting blurry.
My mother, my brother Mike and I eventually had to go back to Connecticut. Donald kept in touch with us through typed letters. Last night, as I prepared the images to go along with this article, I found the last note my brother ever typed to my mother. He died ten days after my mother received this note in the mail.
Here is page one:
Even though he had less than two weeks to live, he was making jokes! “You’d think I was sick or something! I really look bad!!"
Even though he had less than two weeks to live, he was making jokes! “You’d think I was sick or something! I really look bad!!”
Here is page two:
We went to Ponderosa and I had salad bar, grilled halibut (mmm…) and baked potato. I got real tired though. As soon as I got home, I stripped and crawled into bed for a nap. It was worth it and I had a good time
We went to Ponderosa and I had salad bar, grilled halibut (mmm…) and baked potato. I got real tired though. As soon as I got home, I stripped and crawled into bed for a nap. It was worth it and I had a good time
Going out to eat was a huge ordeal since the clothes against his skin caused him a lot of pain. Walking, even a few steps, made him get out of breath. Chewing, swallowing and digesting food requires a lot of energy so going out to eat was a huge ordeal. Since his blood was not delivering adequate amounts of oxygen to his organs, it must have been completely exhausting. Yet, in his final note to my mother, he tells her that it was worth it.
Throughout his illness and six weeks of suffering, he never lost his sense of humor or his gratitude. I asked him how he felt about dying. He said to me, “Don’t feel bad for me. I have the easy part. All I have to do is go to sleep. Then I get to wake up in the New System.”
Although he was speaking as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, his peace of mind was incredible to me. I was so amazed by his attitude toward his impending death that I became a hospice nurse a few years later.
My brother continued to lose his vision and eventually wasn’t able to type or write. However, he did manage to finish his “blood talk” before he died.
My brother died sitting up in bed. He was leaning against his wife, Carole, and kept saying, “I’m going to die today.” Carole said, “Don’t say that. You will be fine. We’re going to get through this.” Then he said, “I can’t see.” Carole told me that Donald didn’t speak for another ten minutes.
Then, Donald said, “I’ll see you when I wake up.” Those were his last words.
As we know, Donald believed that when he died, he would be asleep in his grave. He believed that he would wake up in the New System. To anyone else, his last words would make no sense. However, to any Jehovah’s Witness, it makes perfect (although misguided) sense.
Watchtower, January 1, 2014, pages 6-7
Watchtower, January 1, 2014, pages 6-7
After Donald’s Death
Donald and his wife celebrated their wedding anniversary on January 27th. He was able to sit up and eat a piece of fish. On February 2nd, 1986, he died sitting up next to his wife (as I described above).
On February 5th, 1986, one of the brothers at the Largo North (Florida) congregation read Donald’s talk on behalf of Donald. I have a cassette recording of the talk. I can’t bring myself to listen to it because the “Brother” begins the talk by describing how Donald was a ‘martyr’ and that it was no coincidence that my brother was assigned this talk. The “Brother” implied that my brother getting leukemia and dying after refusing treatment only made the talk that much more meaningful.
On February 7th, 1986 the Largo North congregation held a memorial for Donald. My family was in Connecticut, so my sister-in-law made sure we received a recording of the talk. On the outside of the cassette, the words “196 in attendance” are written. I have only heard the tape one time. A different “Brother” gave his memorial talk. That “Brother” also referred to Donald as a martyr.
My brother was not a martyr. He was a card-carrying victim.
This card represents a death sentence
This card represents a death sentence
I understand that my express refusal of allogenic blood or primary blood components will be regarded as absolute and will NOT be over-ridden in ANY circumstance by a purported consent of a relative or other person or body
I understand that my express refusal of allogenic blood or primary blood components will be regarded as absolute and will NOT be over-ridden in ANY circumstance by a purported consent of a relative or other person or body
(Source for images 7 and 8: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/publications/docs/jehovahs_witness.html/@@download/pdffile/Jehovah’s%20Witnesses.pdf)
In the September 15, 2015 Watchtower magazine, the following can be found on pages 9 – 10:
Source of photo: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015682
Source of photo: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015682
Conclusion
Thirty years after my brother’s death, Jehovah’s Witnesses are still instructed to refuse blood transfusions. My brother is just one of thousands who have lost their lives due to this doctrine.
Today, February 12, 2016, my brother will not get to turn fifty-eight years old.
karenne
*For further information on this story and other matters of interest Jehovah’s Witnesses who wish to be set free from the Watchtower religion, please visit Karenne’s website at:
http://jwchoices.org/2016/02/12/the-irony-of-a-newborns-blood-transfusion/
* JW Facts: “Jehovah’s Witnesses and Blood Transfusions”
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/blood-transfusions.php
* AJWRB: “Watchtower Approved Blood Transfusions”
http://ajwrb.org/watchtower-approved-blood-transfusions
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73 Responses to The Friday Column: The Blood Issue and Leukemia: One Man’s Story
Paul says:
February 12, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Beautifully written Karenne.
The utter folly and conceit of The Watchtower is heartbreaking.
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Peggy says:
February 12, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Karenne,
I can not imagine what you went through. I am so sorry you lost your brother. This Watchtower doctrine prohibiting blood transfusions has cost so many lives. When I was a kid I used to be so afraid of getting sick and needing blood. I knew my parents would let me die. They would have told me I would just go to sleep and wake up in paradise. Believe me I know many who died refusing this life saving medical treatment. When I was fading a few years ago, I needed surgery. I decided not to tell any of the elders. I signed my hospital consent to have a blood transfusion if necessary. It felt so very strange. But, I wasn’t about to die, and leave my kids with out a mom. I wish those elders would have given you more time alone with your brother. It angers me. It is not right. Thank you for this article. I hope it will help someone to see the senseless waste of precious life.
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Idontknowhatodo says:
February 14, 2016 at 5:05 am
Me too Peggy…I lived in fear of nosebleeds and any cut or accident because I knew my parents would have let me die…to me that in itself is child abuse ….and living in a home where you were loved…but on condition that you obeyed the rules and realised you were subject to the rules under all circumstances…Im bitter towards my parents… one has passed away and one is mentally ill and left poor by the decisions she made to stay faithful…Karenne’s story has actually left me heartbroken it is sad beyond belief…what a waste of a wonderful man.
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smmcroberts says:
February 12, 2016 at 1:28 pm
Thank you, Karenne, for sharing your brother’s story. Maybe it will help others to see the senseless folly of the Watchtower’s blood policy.
Here is another link: to a series of articles on JWB showing how baseless and stupid the ‘no blood’ policy really is: http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/blood-transfusions/why-jehovahs-witnesses-dont-accept-blood/
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Winston Churchill says:
February 12, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Karen . My heart goes out to you. Thank you for writing this . You are a brave,kind & warm person .
What is so annoying is before 2000 Hemoglobin which is a fraction ( a flipping big fraction)was prohibited which is 33% of Red blood but now after year 2000 it is allowed by the GB . I said to an Elder ‘thank goodness for worldly people for donating blood as that is the only way JWs can get fractions .
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ScotWm says:
February 12, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Winston Churchill: Not being able to donate blood, yet being able to accept blood fractions does seem like a conflict of interests.
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Ejecting to Sanity says:
February 13, 2016 at 10:38 pm
I’ve got to remember that one!
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Tara says:
February 14, 2016 at 8:14 am
Yes that does make you stop and think doesn’t it. What was the reaction WC? ……. oh dear that sounds like I am calling you a water closet/toilet lol.
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Chiafade says:
February 12, 2016 at 2:03 pm
The fact that no apology was ever uttered in print or verbally for their stubborn stance on blood fractions and organ transplants for years is appalling. The fact that it makes no sense is even worse.
I remember a brother calling me and asking what they should do about a pioneer who donated blood because she needed money. At the time I said “I don’t think you should do anything”. Naturally like anything that they aren’t sure of they called the branch office. They told that body of elders that donating blood is an act of disassociation. I didn’t want to hear anymore after that. It’s like they want you to play this game to see which step you take actually leads into a bottomless pit.
It is inexcusably ignorant to make someone accountable even for just donating blood. It as if they are unaware that the blood fractions they depend on comes from ACTUAL DONATED BLOOD. No blood equals no blood fractions which makes the whole thing incredibly stupid. But that’s day to day operations at Watchtower.
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Bright Lightbulb says:
February 13, 2016 at 12:56 pm
The bloodguilt on the account of the GB must be massive. So sad and inexcusable.
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Matthew P says:
February 12, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Karenne, thanks for sharing Donald’s story with us. I found it beautifully written and incredibly moving.
Thank you.
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Vox Populi says:
February 12, 2016 at 2:21 pm
This is so tragic. As others have mentioned, thank you for sharing Donald’s story.
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Leesa says:
February 12, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Watchtower demands complete obedience to its morally/ethically and medically faulty no blood doctrine. I thought you treated your brother Donald’s story with much respect and love. These stories need to be out there in the public domain. Thankyou for a well written article.
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Terry Statton says:
February 12, 2016 at 4:07 pm
This is a disgusting cult. I know because my 2 brothers and I spent our entire childhood under Watchtower fear as our mother was under their mind control.
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Eric Arthur Blair says:
February 12, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Thank you for this article Karenne, I really appreciate your courage and I’m sorry for your pain.
Ten years ago my youngest some was born with a congenital heart condition that usually required open heart surgery in the first 3-6 months. It was diagnosed in utero and, before he was born, we had to negotiate with the director of the Royal Children’s Hospital here in Melbourne (Australia), who is a world class heart surgeon, to ensure the surgery could be performed without blood. It was a very confronting situation and he would not acquiesce to our beliefs other than to say that if our child made it to 10 months old they would perform the operation without blood anyway, as that was their policy when weighing up the risks of blood transfusions with the benefits. It meant we had to face risking him dying from his condition before the 10 month mark by refusing surgery, or accepting blood and offending Jehovah. I remember praying at the time, “please Jehovah, don’t let me have to make that choice.”
Fortunately, he made it to 18 months before he needed the surgery (a rare case with his condition) and the whole thing was performed without blood. Of course, at the time I saw it as an answer to my prayer, now I just see it as good fortune and I am grateful to the medical community, particularly the aforementioned surgeon, as well as his cardiologist, for their professionalism and for saving our son’s life. It frightens me to think that Watchtower might have robbed us of that if we had been forced into that choice, and now that my wife and I are completely faded, having realised that this is not “the truth” after all, I would be living with that regret now too. As it is, we have a healthy, happy, delightful 10 year old boy who lights up our life every day. And he has never looked back. The only evidence that he ever had a heart condition is the scar on his chest.
In a strange way though, this is one of the many things along the way that led to my awakening. The lasting legacy of that experience was the lack of love and support we received from our “brothers and sisters.” Despite being an MS at the time (and soon after appointed as an elder, largely as a consequence of the “faith” we had shown) we didn’t receive one visit the whole week our child was in intensive care – from any elder or any of our “friends.” While my wife and I kept a bedside vigil and juggled the care of our other son, 2 years old at the time, between us (we had no family who could help,) we didn’t get a shepherding call or anything. The only person who dropped by to offer us comfort from the scriptures was the hospital chaplain! It was the same the week our son was born – although he was only given a 50/50 chance of surviving birth, and despite the hospital being in the next territory to our congregation, and despite all the hard work, hospitality and generosity we had shown in the congregation over many years, there was nobody there to support us when we a faced a crisis.
It really bothered me at the time, but I pressed on believing this still to be the truth and putting all that down to human imperfection. However, I wasn’t an elder long before I started to realise the real truth about the watchtower society, and within two years of my appointment I was deleted for speaking out about the child abuse policy, amongst many other things that were just plain wrong. It was an agonising time, and I floundered for the next five years before finally cutting ties last year once and for all. I felt like I had come out of a long dark tunnel, and I am still adjusting to the light! Mostly I am grateful that we have our son and the sanity of the medical community prevailed over my cult indoctrinated mindset.
On reflection it is a good reminder to me that the cult undoes itself at times. I kept thinking of John 13:34,35 and saying to my wife ” I just don’t see it.” But it’s also a reminder of how strong the indoctrination is and how hard it is to break through that mindset. Articles like this help, thank you again Karenne.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 13, 2016 at 2:51 am
@Eric Arthur Blair.
I to lived in fear that my kids might need a blood transfusion and I did have the strength to let them die for the teachings of the WT.I prayed I never had to face it .I do not know what I would have done.I am so glad to be out of the cult and use common scientific medical sense and make my own medical decisions. One Brother was distraught one time and very depressed. I talked with him and he had 2 young girls and he said he had been doing a lot of thinking and said if his kids needed a blood transfusion he could not let them die.
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Winston Smith says:
February 13, 2016 at 6:14 am
When under the Watchtower’s control an already stressful and frightening medical situation becomes even more horrifying. It puts parents at odds with the doctors that are trying to save your child’s life. Fortunately, here in the States the hospitals have gotten quite good at getting a court order to force a transfusion for children in only a matter of hours. I find most witness parents are simply relieved when this happens as the matter is out of their hands and they are not forced to make a horrible decision.
I knew a witness couple whose young son was diagnosed with leukemia. The hospital simply got a court order and the little boy responded to treatment and fully recovered. The HLC simply accepted it as a matter of fact when the court order was given. A while back the father gave me some grief because he found out I had stopped attending meetings. I wanted to bring up that if he been allowed to follow this organization without the government’s intervention, his little boy would be dead, but I just didn’t have the heart to say that to him. But it’s amazing how people who are still under the control of this cult simply don’t see the connection.
WS
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Karenne Gionet says:
February 13, 2016 at 6:50 am
In that circumstance, I would also have been tempted to remind this parent of what would have happened if the court order hadn’t been put in place for his child. I agree that most JW parents hope that a hospital will get a court order so their child can receive treatment without the parents having to voice their desire to go against Watchtower doctrine.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 13, 2016 at 11:29 am
@WS. I don’t think most JW’s know what they re signing up for when they become JW’s. Especially new ones. Born ins know it to a larger degree but then when they are faced with a life or death situation it starts to become reality that they might b in a dictatorial Cult. Unfortunately too many have lost their lives over this archaic unscriptural policy.How about those that refused to have a needed organ transplant and now are long dead. How about those who refused a simple vaccine bc of WT teaching and now maybe have polio or some other disease or something else. TH WT is not a Medical institution and they do not know jack Squat! They ruin so many lives with this nonsense and other things. The list goes on. So glad to be out. The wife is still in BIG time and a true WT Fanatic and has caused tremendous marital issues. She even had an Elder sign her blood card and make him POA over me! That hurt but I guess she figured I would not honor her request for no Blood even in the face of death. Another reason we are no longer living together.
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Winston Smith says:
February 13, 2016 at 3:17 pm
To a born-in JW (as I was) the concept of accepting a blood transfusion was absolutely foreign to the mind. This stand is indoctrinated on you from the time you are very young. You are taught to look at doctors as if they have some evil intention to violate you with a blood transfusion almost on par with rape.
Then there is the pseudo-science in the Watchtower magazine and brochures like “How Can Blood Save Your Life” which upon critical review are simply full of fallacies. There certainly are risks associated with blood transfusions. But good doctors are willing to help patients weigh those risks against the risk of not transfusing.
WS
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Jarred Booth says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:09 pm
An Australian man, James Harrison, who himself was saved at age 14 by a blood transfusion, has donated blood plasma over 1,000 times and saved an estimated 2.4 million unborn babies due to the discovery of strong antibodies in his blood. Posted a video about it on my Youtube channel.
Unbelievable that the GB still can’t see the clear distinction between eating blood as part of your daily meals and receiving blood into your veins during a life-saving medical procedure. How incompetent can they possibly be?
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Tara says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:15 pm
Thank you Karenne. That took enormous courage to write. I send you my love and respect.
I removed my blood card from my wallet late last year. It felt strange doing it as we had always been told to carry it with us no matter what. After I took it out a feeling of relief swept over me. I told my kids what I had done. My son told me he was proud of me – he is df’d and hasn’t carried a card in years. My daughter hugged me and said she had removed hers ages ago but out of respect had not mentioned it to me. What a relief to know our health care is back in our own hands and not that of some misguided rule handed down with an iron fist from the Borg.
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Doublegame says:
February 12, 2016 at 7:00 pm
I removed the blood card from my wallet 7 years before leaving. The folly of this doctrine was clear to us. If Jesus said that one should be willing to give his life for his friends and if the “blood is the life” then shouldn’t one fight for the privilege to give his blood to a dying friend?
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Winston Smith says:
February 13, 2016 at 6:24 am
I am sure have posted this thought before, but as it is germane to this article I will reiterate: In the Bible blood is used as a SYMBOL for life. The whole sanction on eating blood is to teach respect for life. The Watchtower completely misses the point here. They assign more value to respecting the symbol than that which it represents: LIFE.
So in the final analysis, they disrespect life in order to show reverence for a symbol for life. How backwards!
WS
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Caroline says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Thank you so much Karenne for sharing with us about your brother Donald and how he died because of following the dictates of a bunch of imperfect men called the Watchtower Society. It is such a shame that he got involved in the religion that in the end made it impossible for him to be cured of cancer.
The only good thing about a person who is at the end of their life and they are a Witness is that they have the hope of waking up in the new world. That is the ONLY good thing about being a Witness in my opinion.
My husband has cancer and unless some miracle comes through for him, he is also facing death sometime in the near future and it is so very sad and at this time in his life, I won’t take that hope away from him, even though I know that the Society is nothing but a bunch of hypocritical, arrogant, self appointed boorish and lying ignorant dictators over the lives of eight million and counting.
The saddest thing is when a child’s life is taken away from them because of the brainwashed parents who think they are following what the Bible tells them to do. At least when it comes to adults, they can make the choice to take blood to save their life but if they do take the blood, then according to the Society, they are disassociating themselves and will be shunned. That isn’t a very appealing future either. It’s either die without the blood or live with blood and be shunned for taking it for the rest of their lives.
When a person dies for the “truth”, they will be quickly forgotten by the people in the congregation that they were trying to please. When they are dead, so much for the love that they were craving. If they live through the ordeal, nobody will pat them on the back for more than a few days. After that, their story is boring to them. They only want to talk about themselves. They could care less what happened to anybody else and how they made it through without taking blood.
It is so much better to take the blood and live and F***k the Society. We only get one chance at life and it’s a gift. Why throw it away to please a bunch of stupid men????
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Eric Arthur Blair says:
February 12, 2016 at 7:30 pm
So true.
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Karenne Gionet says:
February 13, 2016 at 7:03 am
Caroline,
I’m sorry that your husband is going through a similar circumsance as my brother. I completely understand your desire to let your husband think whatever makes him feel hope as he faces his impending death. When I was spending time with my brother, I didn’t try to talk him out of refusing treatment. He knew what he wanted and was unable to have a conversation because he was having trouble taking deep breaths. I didn’t want to make him have to talk, which would have been required if I wanted to try to convince him to accept blood/bone marrow transfusions. Instead, I just cherished the time we had together and made it as comfortable for him as I could. You are SO right… we only get one chance at life and it is a gift. It’s devestating to see lives cut short when the medical technology is available to help Jehovah’s Witneses who will opt out of treatment believing that to do so will “please Jehovah”. Please know that my thoughts are with you and your husband.
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Tara says:
February 13, 2016 at 8:07 am
I’m sorry to hear about your hubby Caroline. xx
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Caroline says:
February 13, 2016 at 8:07 pm
To Karenne and Tara, thank you for your comments and thoughts.
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Kate says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:45 pm
I really feel for you Karen…what a tragic waste of a valuable life. I a terrified this may happen to my only son one day. I managed to bring my two lovely daughters out with me when I left, but my son followed his father’s lead unfortunately. Thanks for sharing your story.
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ScotWm says:
February 12, 2016 at 9:58 pm
My next door neighbor was a long time Jehovah’s Witness elder who desperately needed an artificial knee. This medical procedure would cause a great deal of blood to be lost. However, the lost blood could be immediately reclaimed and pumped back into his body during the operation.
My neighbor said that his conscience would allow this procedure because he regarded the reclamation of his own blood to be nothing more than an extension of his own circulatory system. The operation was a complete success and he remained an elder until he died at age 96.
A few years earlier, Jehovah’s Witnesses were forbidden to use their own reclaimed blood during a medical procedure. The Watchtower’s original blood doctrine was, “NO BLOOD!” Then it was changed to “NO whole BLOOD!” Gradually, most of the other blood issues became a matter of conscience.
How can a Jehovah’s Witness properly train his or her conscience when Watchtower doctrines are constantly changing? Do Jehovah’s laws change? Or is it just the Watchtower’s misinterpretations of His laws that continually change?
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Man from the lions pit says:
February 12, 2016 at 10:34 pm
Thank you Karen for sharing this touching story !
Its full of love although sad.
No matter what you believe at present Karen this is my believe for Donald based on his own words :
“Don’t feel bad for me. I have the easy part. All I have to do is go to sleep. Then I get to wake up in the New System.”
AND HE WILL !
love and peace
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Karenne Gionet says:
February 13, 2016 at 7:18 am
What matters to me is that, when he was dying, he was conscious and awake, sitting next to my sister-in-law. He was able to share his thoughts with her. He felt at peace (according to what she told me) and was not in terrible pain in those final moments.
I don’t like to think or write about how I feel regarding his post-mortem status, but I will in response to your comment. My brother was cremated and I have his cremains (in a sealed brass box). I do not believe that he is “sleeping”, spiritually or otherwise, in that box.
All that matters to me is that, at the moment of his death, it comforted him… and made him less afraid… to think he was just going to go to “sleep” and would get to wake up in the New System. As a hospice nurse, I have seen people die. Not all deaths are as pain-free and smooth as was my brother’s. Regardless of what I believe (and don’t believe), I only care that he had a comfortable dying experience.
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ScotWm says:
February 13, 2016 at 1:34 am
Karenne, It was around the time of your brother’s tragic death that the Watchtower’s blood doctrine gained some respect from non-Witnesses:
“In 1983, scientists discovered the virus that causes AIDS. The virus was at first named HTLV-III/LAV (human T-cell lymphotropic virus-type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus) by an international scientific committee. This name was later changed to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).”
I remember there was a lot of “we told you so” chatter among the Witnesses at that time whenever the blood doctrine was discussed. Was the risk of getting AIDS from a blood transfusion ever a topic of conversation when you talked to the elders who were stalking your brother?
http://www.theaidsinstitute.org/education/aids-101/where-did-hiv-come-0
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Karenne Gionet says:
February 13, 2016 at 7:24 am
The AIDS epidemic was a serious concern at the time my brother needed blood. My mother and I talk about it. We both had “O-negative” blood, which is the universal donor type. My mother and I were prepared to have our blood and bone marrow tested to see if it would have been a match for my brother, but he said that he didn’t want us to go through with it. He had a bone marrow biopsy and said it was extremely painful. He didn’t want us to go through that experience because he knew he would have refused treatment even if we had been a match.
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ScotWm says:
February 13, 2016 at 5:34 pm
Thank you for the quick response. You and your mother did all you could in an attempt to save your brother. Donald would have been spared the added worry of getting an AIDS tainted blood transfusion if either you or your mother had been a suitable match. The unfortunate circumstances surrounding Donald’s death only add to your grief. I am truly sorry for your loss.
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susanna says:
February 13, 2016 at 2:20 am
Thanks Karenne!
When I was 12 I had an openheartsurgery without blood. All my “friends” and family thanked Jehovah…but less than a week later my bloodlevels dropped and I needed blood. This was 1975 and I knew that even if I died I would soon wake up in the paradise. I didn´t want blood, but the swedish Child care Agency said that they would take custody from my JV-mom and force blood on/in me. I got blood and survived and my people was praying to Jehovah to forgive me. I never understood that, I didn´t want the blood so why did I need forgiveness? I cried for days, imagined Satan and his demons sitting on my bed laughing, feeling great while I got that sinful blood into my body. During my whole time as a JW I felt dirty because of getting the blood. Today I can´t understand that the JW didn´t make sure that this JW-kid didn´t feel bad and guilty for something that she couldn´t do anything against. Some years after leaving JW I needed a new heartsurgery and this time I was greatful for the doctors and the blood and I recovered faster not feeling bloodguilty. The blood issue among other issues made me leave JW. How could a loving god encourage and demand that children got motherless because refusing a symbol of life?
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Karenne Gionet says:
February 13, 2016 at 7:29 am
I agree. It’s a terrible burden to put on a child. Even when adult choose to accept “fractions” as a matter of moral conscience, members in their congregation will see them as “less faithful” and as having “tainted blood”.
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Nina says:
February 13, 2016 at 2:31 am
Thanks a lot for sharing.
The hands of the governing body are covered with blood.
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Caroline says:
February 13, 2016 at 4:03 am
https://youtu.be/2WaAK8jroeI
Everyone should watch Peter Gregerson’s video. It was thinking about blood transfusion and he started thinking about what if one of his children had been in an accident and would need blood to live and that is what got him to question whether or not the JW religion was the one and only true religion and how he started researching the real history of the organization and realized it was all lies.
It is one of the best videos you will ever listen to.
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Patricia says:
February 13, 2016 at 7:50 am
This makes my heart hurt. I am sending you love and support. Thanks for sharing your story.
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James Broughton says:
February 13, 2016 at 8:10 am
Karenne, what a heart-rending story. It certainly counterbalances all those glowing life stories that we seem to be reading in the Watchtower literature as of late. The quote of the article for me is: My brother was not a martyr. He was a card-carrying victim.
The late British politician Tony Benn once said: “I have all the time in the world for those who die for their faith. I have no time at all for those who kill for the doctrine.” Salutary words.
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Awakened E.African brother. says:
February 13, 2016 at 8:14 am
I have just found this info:http://forum.theworldnewsmedia.org/topic/416-two-jehovahs-witnesses-congregations-abolished-by-courts/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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Karenne Gionet says:
February 13, 2016 at 10:23 am
I just read two of the articles. That is incredible! I’m not thrilled with Vladimir Putin, but I must say… Russia is doing a good service to its citizens in this regard. Putting a stop to the spreading of JW extremist doctrine with regard to the blood doctrine and shunning is a good thing.
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Tara says:
February 14, 2016 at 8:45 am
Great news. Putin is an odd ball but then which leaders are not. I wonder how the JW world will react to this one.
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Chiafade says:
February 16, 2016 at 10:02 pm
They will play the victim as usual. A story will be posted on JW.org about the unfair treatment they’re receiving. Same old crap.
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Chiafade says:
February 16, 2016 at 9:59 pm
Thank you for sharing this. Fantastic news.
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JBob says:
February 13, 2016 at 12:27 pm
A very tragic situation, and my condolences to you after these many years, Karenne.
The blood issue is yet another indictment of the erstwhile claims that the Organization and its current incarnation of the Governing Body as dreamed-up-in-1971 (Watchtower, Dec 15, 1971, first capitalization and entitlement of GB) were “appointed” and/or hand-picked by Jesus, as He tied on a dust-protecting bandana to begin cleansing and setting the sanctuary aright. It goes to the issue that prior to 1950’s blood transfusions and blood usage was not a Shibboleth matter, but after the 1940’s and 1950’s it becomes as sacrosanct as the 7DA Sabbath observance.
But, as medical-legal and medical articles advanced and showed the overwhelming benefits of blood by-products, like Evolution v. Creation, the Watchtower has had to scrape away crusty barnacles of old, obsolete statements.
What should put any potential adherent or current adherent on edge (on notice, even) is the telling details regarding Donald’s wife grinding up beets and other herbs thought to build up iron in the blood. I’m unsure what that medical benefit this purposed to do–it’s certainly a “cure” for some forms of anemia but I’d like to see the medical studies/research showing this creates needed mature white cells to reverse leukemia effects.
And, as the state of permitted for JW’s medically with blood is murky, it behooves any adherent or student of JW’s to do their own research in “current” Watchtower literature rather than be bound by statements and raised-disapproving-eyebrows of [human] elders, or other Jehovah-Witless/Clueless types, when it comes to protecting health.
**It is a broad and invalid assumption to conclude that the many of JW’s home-school–some, yes. Home-schooling is an expensive project and as discussed on this blog, most aren’t possessing the wealth to afford opening a “home school” that passes certifications of the government. Also, not to be discounted are the tendency of some JW’s to be a tad “eclectic and eccentric” regarding diet, healthcare and education which gets treated as “live and let live” (or enabled if not encouraged) by the leadership. So, the Watchtower doesn’t mandate home-schooling, but it doesn’t banish it either with a “come as queer as you are [unless you are queer or gay]”.
Reply
CM says:
February 13, 2016 at 12:46 pm
I am so so sorry for your loss I literally am crying at how descriptive and detailed your memories are of the last days you spent with your brother. I had a very good friend of mines die of leukemia as well about 4 years ago he jas just turned 21 and refused a bone marrow transplant, he was so kind and full of life as a matter of fact today is his bday….I have seen dozens of witnesses pass away or come damn near close to it for refusing blood. Even the jews who abstain from consuming blood will accept blood transfusions to save their lives, and hell they wrote the the hebrew scriptures. So sad and once again I am so sorry for your loss and thank you so much for sharing your story though I know it must have been so hard to recall these memories I hope that it reaches jws and their families to make them realize how idiotic and non bible based their blood abstinence is all it does is cause pain and loss.
CM
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 13, 2016 at 3:30 pm
@CM
Your reference to those of the Jewish faith who have a much more balanced view of blood reminded me of a great article on JWFACTS.com about Pikuach Nefesh – Life overrides Law.
See: http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/blood-transfusions.php
WS
Reply
Pow says:
February 13, 2016 at 1:45 pm
I have been reluctant to add my voice to this discussion, as I tend to resort to sarcasm to vocalize my dissatisfaction with the rightly conversely doctrines of this faith. And this subject in particular, as in the case of child abuse, is all ready so painful. But, put simply, the current “understanding ” of what jwdubs stand on blood is beyond understanding. …there’s more loopholes and inconsistencies in this policy then the average publisher can imagine. …I know from experience that if you took 3 different brothers from 3 different hospital lesion committees, and they where giving a series of questions related to treatments involving a variety of products, there by no means would be uniformity in their answers. ….obviously, if this was in fact a clear bible directive, like say adultery, we would not need ever expanding guidelines and discussions to discern right and wrong. And we would not need specially trained men to attempt to give us the right answer at that moment, subject to change, later. In conclusion, my stance for sometime has been that the org. painted itself into a corner with this doctrine, and now is attempting to create so much confusion that in reality if the medical field just takes the blood and modifies it to a point where it’s now referred to by some other title, then “whole blood transfusion ” then it’s now a conscience matter. It’s a way of saving face.
Reply
Pow says:
February 13, 2016 at 2:21 pm
One more comment in this regards,
IN the mid 90s the org. was attempting to legalize their activities in certain eastern European countries, and the blood issue was a real sticking point. At one point the societys legal team offered the concession that “blood transfusions would become a personal matter” well, when word got back stateside it was like a bomb went off, you see many families that had faced this issue including some who had lost members, as a result of this policy were outraged. ..in essence, we had to face this , so should you….how could this be a conscience matter for you, when my little son/daughter had to die?…the position was quickly reversed.
Reply
Alexandria R says:
February 13, 2016 at 6:38 pm
I looked on the internet for info about eating blood and found out the scripture also reads not to eat a strangled animal. Bleeccchh! After reading that info it made me totally understand why people become completely grossed out at the thought of eating an animal and become vegetarian…I considered it…for like 15 minutes…
My fully indoctrinated sister explained to me they don’t accept blood transfusions in order to please Jehovah and out of love for him and to be obedient to him and in order to make it into the new systems of things. They don’t accept blood transfusions for those reasons, medical reasons have nothing to do with it.. My ‘worldly’ husband had blood transfusions. My family was scared from the propaganda. My husband had a bad ulcer. He fully recovered. Many years later he died from a heart attack. I was scared at the time that he would catch a disease from the blood. I was happy I was shown proof the donor blood was tested.
Reply
SIRIUS says:
February 14, 2016 at 7:35 am
@Karenne, truly a heart wrenching and heartwarming experience. Thank you for revealing an “interworking’s of the JWs” practice. There’s no substitute for experience including laying it on the table for all to understand!
@Alexandria R
>>>My fully indoctrinated sister explained to me they don’t accept blood transfusions in order to please Jehovah and out of love for him and to be obedient to him and in order to make it into the new systems of things. They don’t accept blood transfusions for those reasons, medical reasons have nothing to do with it..
I’ve always been at odds with those touting “holier than thou” and hyping we own the truth because we have cracked the mysterious code others have been blinded by. Let me throw in my Ace card into the game of which-card-lands-closer-to-the-wall. In Islam, it too plays the same superiority guilt game but it has evolved into a higher plateau such as “a man becomes what he eats”. Here, consuming pork like consuming blood transfusions is harmful because consumption creates lowliness in character and destroys moral and spiritual faculties in a man. Abstention from eating pork is one of the steps taken by Islam to practice hygiene and to attain purity of soul. What a wonderful stealth way at pointing at all the ills of the west or the WTs, “worldly”. I’m waiting for the WT to attain this higher level of understanding or in WT’s level of intelligence “light gets brighter” logic. Will JWs eventually be required to be selective and distinguish between Halal/Kosher (Lawful) and Haram (Unlawful) foods next? Odd though, if you are what you are from eating and muslims avoid pork, then what foods causes a muslim to be a suicide bomber… as I want to avoid that diet!
IMHO
dogstar
Reply
Alexandria R says:
February 14, 2016 at 9:51 am
Exactly. They don’t make sense. They allow organ transplant as long as no blood. My mother had cornea replacements in her eyes so she can see. She knew they were donated by someone who had died. My father who was an elder most of his life , and everyone else congratulated her and was happy for her. They are allowed a transplant but no blood. It doesn’t make sense. Donated blood is tested. It is safe.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 15, 2016 at 10:39 am
i think it was in reference to organ transplants (when they were under ban by the watchtower), and I cannot recall if they ever applied it to blood, but the watchtower used to teach that when you accepted an organ transplant that you also got part of the personality of the donor too. So if the donor was a murderer, you might be inclined to commit murder too. What a bunch of hogwash!
WS
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 15, 2016 at 10:43 am
Here’s the reference (thank you JWFacts):
“A peculiar factor sometimes noted is a so-called ‘personality transplant.’ That is, the recipient in some cases has seemed to adopt certain personality factors of the person from whom the organ came.” Watchtower 1975 Sep 1 p.519
WS
Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:
February 14, 2016 at 12:34 am
It seems religions are nothing but illusions. Your brother is not alone as you can see…
*** g97 10/8 p. 14 The Crusades—A ‘Tragic Illusion’ ***
Albert of Aix states that when the Jews at Mainz “saw that the Christians did not spare even their little ones nor had pity on anyone, they threw themselves on their brothers, wives, mothers, and sisters and slew one another. The most heartrending thing was that mothers themselves cut their sucklings’ throats or ran them through, preferring them to die at their own hands rather than be killed by the arms of the uncircumcised.”
Reply
Idontknowhatodo says:
February 14, 2016 at 5:22 am
Me too Peggy…I lived in fear of nosebleeds and any cut or accident because I knew my parents would have let me die…to me that in itself is child abuse ….and living in a home where you were loved…but on condition that you obeyed the rules and realised you were subject to the rules under all circumstances…Im bitter towards my parents… one has passed away and one is mentally ill and left poor by the decisions she made to stay faithful…Karenne’s story has actually left me heartbroken it is sad beyond belief…what a waste of a wonderful man.
Reply
eyes opened says:
February 14, 2016 at 9:04 am
As we all know the GB are more than willing to cross lines and make rules. Their ever-changing rules on blood is clear evidence of that. Currently it is acceptable to have some of your blood removed, have some medicine mixed with it and then returned to your body. Yet they say we cannot store our blood. They fail to render a ruling on the appropriate amount of blood the mix can be made with. This is playing God and is ridiculous. Just another form of control and abuse. In the scriptures, to my knowledge, reference to the pouring out of blood was associated with the death of an animal you intended to eat. It was evidence of respect. It was used in sacrifice, again the animal dying. This would be relative to Jesus side being punctured and his blood poured out in sacrifice. The scrips say to avoid things strangled, again because blood was not poured out. The blood rulings in the scriptures always associated with death. Blood transfusion is something that should be a matter of conscience. The GB has no right to make decisions for someone else’s life. How much sadness they are responsible for. Too much to ever answer for.
Regards
Reply
Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:
February 14, 2016 at 11:00 am
@ eyes opened
Consider this you will find where the rules come from
1) *** w90 7/1 p. 22 par. 18 The Coming Finale of “the Book of the Wars of Jehovah” ***
In the six-day war of 1967, fleshly Israel took possession of all rebuilt earthly Jerusalem. However, there is not a shred of evidence that Jehovah God took any part in the fighting then. His enthroned King, Jesus Christ, does not reign in earthly Jerusalem, and it is no longer “the city of the great King,” that is, of Jehovah.—Matthew 5:35.
2)*** w85 9/1 pp. 17-18 par. 7 Kingdom Ministers Meet the Challenge ***
For some 53 years after 1914, or until the Six-Day War of 1967, earthly Jerusalem continued to be trodden down by non-Jewish nations. Evidently, however, Jesus was not referring finally to the Jewish Jerusalem of today but to what that city represented up until 607 B.C.E. And what did it represent? Why, the Kingdom of Jehovah God by means of his anointed King of the royal house of David!—Luke 1:32; 1 Chronicles 29:11
3)*** w83 8/1 p. 18 par. 5 Israel and the “Times of the Gentiles” ***
So earthly Jerusalem continued to be trampled upon by the Gentiles until 1967. But since then, to all outward appearances, Jerusalem has ceased to be trampled by the Gentiles. However, we feel obliged to say, “So what?” Did Israel’s putting a stop to Gentile trampling upon Jerusalem back in the year 1967 bring blessing to all mankind? Instead of accepting it as a blessing, many nations resent the existence of Israel. Certainly the creation of the modern nation of Israel has not led to the establishment of the Kingdom of the Jewish Messiah. Manifestly, Israel is not looking to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, namely, Jehovah, for help and salvation. Its government is no kingdom with a genuine descendant of the royal line of ancient King David seated on a throne at Jerusalem.
Let us wait for Jehovah’s Kingdom to solve the issue of blood transfusion…
Reply
eyes opened says:
February 14, 2016 at 11:43 am
Thank you for your reply. Most interesting, however I believe Jesus came into power in 33ce just as he said “all authority is given to me”. Also that the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 was Armageddon. Since 2 Tim. 3:16, 17 says the scriptures make us fully competent and completely equipped, I feel that anything we need to know can be discerned by Bible study. I certainly appreciate the research you’ve done in making your reply but I don’t understand the relevance of the quoted Watchtowers with respect to the rule making. Again thanks for taking the time.
Regards
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 15, 2016 at 10:31 am
@eyes opened
Jesus condemned the religious leaders of his time for making up a bunch of rules that went beyond God’s law. Ironic that professed Christians proceed to follow the same formula which Christ condemned.
WS
Reply
eyes opened says:
February 15, 2016 at 2:59 pm
How true the words “religion is a snare and a racket”. : )
Reply
Wip it says:
February 14, 2016 at 4:53 pm
I no longer carry a blood card, havnt done for years, i always wondered though how many JW would cave placed in the life or death situation, its ok to be strong when we are healthy, i watched both my parents die from cancer & leukemia, my dear dad had leukemia, he wasnt a JW so took blood, after his 1st transfusion he didnt want anymore because of upsetting my JW mum, i watched mum tell my dying father that she wasnt upset about the blood, as a human she didnt want to see him die, which is understandable, i found it quite conflicting watching my mum get happy when his health picked up breifly after a BT, i have also had a sister say to me whose young child had a BT forced on him through the courts, & survive that she was secretly happy.
Reply
JWIntellect says:
February 15, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Wonderfully written article!
Reply
MARS says:
February 16, 2016 at 7:09 am
My father in 1982 faced surgery , it was life threatening. Luckly my two non ‘ JW aunts were at the hospital to secretly push for my dad to have a transfusion. The elders showed up trying to argue with the surgeon,to do non blood surgery. while my aunt faught to get the blood as a medical treatment. Thanks to my auntie , My dad lived another 30 years , almost faced a JC hearing a year later after the news leaked that he had a blood transfusion.
The question , the JW leaderdhip pushed so hard against blood transfusions , why are they not teaching Kosher Koshrt laws? So far they banned blood for medical use but , dont follow strict jewish laws on food containg blood ?
Reply
Wip it says:
February 16, 2016 at 8:09 pm
In that situation as a blood relative you can ask the Doctors to remove any unwanted visitors
Reply
Twmack says:
February 17, 2016 at 7:28 am
The odds of any one of us being conceived and seeing the light
of day, are just mind boggling. Therefore the value of life is
inestimable, a never to be repeated prize.
To needlessly throw life away on the basis of ancient writings, of
highly dubious origin, is a tragedy. To be influenced to that
extent by a bunch of flat earth’ers is just mental.
Any religion that can brainwash parents into allowing their children
to die, when the remedy is at hand, is immoral and dangerous.
It needs expunging, obliterating from normal society.
Anyone under such influence needs to look in the mirror and ask
themselves, am I really in my right mind?
Reply
Pow says:
February 17, 2016 at 11:01 am
Or…..you allow your relative to die, because the lifesaving medical procedure is Not on the official approved list…..then, 4 weeks later “new light” comes out, but it’s too late for your family. ..oh, well that’s what the resurrection is for.
This concept of the resurrection reversing injustices, has some philosophical implications, Since Jesus was resurrected 40 hours after his death, can anyone be held liable for his murder? Even Revelations deals with the cries of justice from those executed by the axe.
The point I’m making, when any person/persons determines for another the course of actions that one MUST take and it turns out to be the wrong decision, and even leads to death….that’s bloodguilt. Maybe not intentional, but still blood guilt.
Reply
Pow says:
February 17, 2016 at 11:18 am
Here’s a little more on this argument,
Let’s say I’m driving a forklift at bethel, and one day I’m overloaded and in a big hurry, I round a blind corner and run right over TONY MORRIS 3, and the result of that is he is now transferred to his new assignment in heaven with his big brother. Could it really be said that was manslaughter? Should I be rewarded or punished?
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 17, 2016 at 11:42 am
Good points Pow. It seems that the Watchtower’s ressurrection teaching leads them to devalue human life.
To add a bit of humor to a serious topic, I am reminded of the movie Tommy Boy where David Spade mocks Chris Farley by saying: “Hey everybody, I’m Big Tom Callahan’s son. My dad will take care of everything, so I’m allowed to be a moron.”
To apply to the Watchtower: “Our dad (God) is going to wave his magic wand and fix everything, so we can come up with whatever latest line of BS we want to and it doesn’t matter if we ruin people’s lives with it.”
WS
Reply
Lynaire Williams says:
February 17, 2016 at 1:59 pm
Yes, the Watchtower in it’s wisdom sees all life as expendable and any claim to the contrary an unfortunate embarrassment, to be tidied up with untruths.
As one of the “expendables” I emphatically challenge that. I know I am “life”. There is nothing else I can be, because said life is all there is. Just like the seasons, we are born, grow, change and die. However life is not completely adrift, after sensing danger it responds and adapts.
There is a revolution of freedom overtaking us, we have responded. Anything that tries to halt that momentum will, sooner or later implode. Paradise regained.
Reply
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← The Friday Column: The Blood Issue and Leukemia: One Man’s Story
Phelicity Sneesby: The story Watchtower didn’t tell you
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Posted on February 17, 2016
ps“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” -Mark Twain
February’s edition of JW Broadcasting, the televangelism arm of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, featured the moving story of Phelicity Sneesby, a young Australian girl born with a serious heart condition that cast severe doubt on her chances of surviving birth. As it turned out, thanks to the efforts of skilled medical professionals, Phelicity was able not only to survive birth, but has also been able to live to the age of 13.
You can view the JW Broadcasting episode in question here, but there are a number of things in the video worthy of comment.
Firstly, Watchtower showcases the fact that 13 year old Phelicity is baptised, and presents this practice of child baptism as a positive thing that other JW parents are clearly expected to imitate. This continues the trend of Watchtower putting increasing pressure on young children commit to the Organisation long before they can make an informed adult decision based on greater life experience.
Most civilised societies do not allow children to make life changing commitments at a young age. Activities such as marriage, serving in the armed forces, voting in elections, accepting financial burdens such as a loan and so forth are deliberately kept away from children, as it is recognised that they do not have the life experience, mental and emotional stability, or the education to make informed decisions on such issues.
Yet Watchtower is increasingly putting pressure on pre-teen children to make a binding lifelong commitment of obedience to the Governing Body that they cannot take back on pain of shunning. One wonders how long it will be before Watchtower starts to glowingly report the baptism of pre-school infants.
However, there is another very important aspect to this story that you won’t get if you only view Watchtower’s broadcast.
Phelicity is dying.
The high costs of Watchtower doctrine
ps2According to recent news reports, Phelicity is currently in the US, undergoing treatment for a complication in her condition. Sadly, it appears that this treatment has failed, and that Phelicity is now terminally ill. However, it was not possible to fly her home due to the costs involved in the special medical flight that would be required. The cost of the flight would be a colossal sum of $150,000, money the family simply did not have. They have apparently expended all of their money funding previous trips abroad to obtain treatment for their little girl, and simply could not afford to bring her home for the closing days of her life.
Thankfully help came, not in the form of Watchtower, but in the form of a gofundme campaign. For those not familiar, Gofundme is one of many crowdsourcing sites available online, where people from around the world can contribute funds to ideas, business or charitable causes.
There are three points we can learn from this.
Firstly, the root cause of having to fly a critically ill girl around the world for treatment was seemingly not a matter of the required treatment being unavailable in her home country. Hospitals in Australia capable of providing this treatment do exist, but the hospital Phelicity was taken to in the US is one that many Jehovah’s Witnesses apparently rely on for performing bloodless surgeries. Whilst no definitive statements from the family or other sources have so far been made, this strongly indicates that the Watchtower’s ever changing and contradictory “no-blood” policy was a driving factor in this family feeling obligated to bankrupt itself flying thousands of miles to obtain medical treatment that might otherwise have been easily and cheaply available had blood not been an issue.
Secondly, whilst it is clear from the comments in the gofundme page that many witnesses are now contributing to the campaign, it also appears that a huge bulk of the donated funds come from people who are, as Watchtower likes to say, “in the world.”
The kindness of the world
679Watchtower frequently uses the derogatory term “in the world” or ‘worldly” to denigrate and dismiss people who do not subscribe to the doctrines and behavioural commands of the Governing Body. Watchtower literature frequently groups all non-witnesses together under a single banner, and attributes to them en-mass almost every negative human trait you can think of. Here are just a quick selection of the countless references available at jwfacts.com.
Awake 1996 October 22 p.15
Since worldly people are existing as slaves of corruption, their company cannot bring you true happiness.
Watchtower 2013 Feb study ed. p.24 “Our choice of associates. Of course, some contact with unbelievers — such as at school, at work, and when sharing in the ministry — is unavoidable. It is quite another matter, though, to socialize with them, even cultivating close friendships with them. Do we justify such association by saying that they have many good qualities? “Do not be misled,” warns the Bible. “Bad associations spoil useful habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33) Just as a small amount of pollution can contaminate clean water, friendship with those who do not practice godly devotion can contaminate our spirituality and lead us into adopting worldly viewpoints, dress, speech, and conduct.”
Watchtower 1984 October 1 pp.15, 19 Remain “Without Spot From the World”
“We must avoid the speech, conduct and attitudes that are so common among worldly individuals, but that are out of harmony with God’s Word. For instance, hatred, greediness, shameful conduct and obscene jesting have no proper place in our life. We must ‘put up with one another and be forgiving, even as Jehovah has freely forgiven us.’ (Colossians 3:13) That is not the common worldly way of dealing with others, but it is the godly way.”
Have the people of the “world” involved in this gofundme campaign been acting in the way Watchtower implies above? Wicked? Obscene? Hateful? Selfish?
$240,000 and counting says otherwise. Additionally, The Age reports that Qantas Airlines, a “worldly” business, have contacted Phelicity’s family to see if they can assist, potentially resulting in a significant cost saving for the flight.
Thirdly, it appears from the available facts that, although a number of individual Jehovah’s Witnesses have indeed come forward to donate to the gofundme campaign, the Watchtower itself has apparently not done so. This is despite its sale of properties in Brooklyn expected to net them over 1 Billion US dollars.
Why is this relevant?
Watchtower: The charity that doesn’t engage in charity.
charity
In many countries, Watchtower is registered as a charity. By doing so, it avoids paying significant amounts of tax towards the upkeep of the social structures and institutions of the countries in which it operates, and often obtains significant help from governments that would be unavailable were they not listed as a charity.
Yet does Watchtower really qualify for such status? Significant concerns have been raised in this area, resulting in the UK Charity Commission undertaking an investigation of Watchtower’s UK arm. Does this incident shed any light on the legitimacy or otherwise of Watchtower’s claim to be a charitable organisation?
Well, here is the definition of a charitable organisation:
charity: noun
an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.
“the charity provides practical help for homeless people”
synonyms: non-profit-making organization, non-profit organization, not-for-profit organization, voluntary organization, charitable institution; fund, trust, foundation, cause, movement
“they raised money for an AIDS charity”
In other words, this should be a perfect opportunity for Watchtower to step in and give some charitable assistance. $150,000 is a lot of money, but it’s a drop in the ocean when you’re cheerfully banking $1 Billion in real estate profits.
Did they step in?
No.
Whilst clearly happy to feature Phelicity for propaganda purposes, and to pressure other witness parents into baptising their young children, their interest in her clearly didn’t extend to actually helping her in the final days of her life. That is something they left to their followers to handle, many of whom are already short of cash and being squeezed for even more.They did not even update the JW Broadcasting episode to highlight the gofundme campaign so that their followers would know of its existence.
Thankfully, the people of the “world” were able to step up and help out when Watchtower either could not, or did not care to, and the media outlets of the “world” were able to champion her cause when JW Broadcasting fell silent.
The thoughts and sympathies of the JW Survey team are with little Phelicity and her family at this difficult time.
For additional links on this story, please see below, and please visit the gofundme campaign if you are able to assist Phelicity and her family in this matter.
UK Daily Mail Article on the Story.
ABC news article on the story.
The Age.com article on the story
Gofundme page
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← The Friday Column: The Blood Issue and Leukemia: One Man’s Story
66 Responses to Phelicity Sneesby: The story Watchtower didn’t tell you
Bright Lightbulb says:
February 17, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Very interesting and well written article. This makes me shameful of even having been associated with the Brooklyn Cult. Certainly there’s no shame there among those stoic old men!
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Doc Obvious says:
February 17, 2016 at 3:03 pm
Phelicity Sneesby is not one of the 1000 projects that are on Watchtower Bible and Tract’s list to invest money into. Watchtower’s interest is in their global construction program. Worldly people acting more neighborly than Jehovah’s Witnesses is not a good situation. Watchtower needs to take a look in the mirror and seriously ask themselves what are the more important things in life. Great Article, CovertFade. Appreciate you letting me know. Thanks.
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chuck says:
February 17, 2016 at 3:06 pm
matt 7:17 jesus said, .. you will know them by their works,..imagine all those wicked people helping, while the righteous watchtower does nothing
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Honza says:
February 17, 2016 at 3:07 pm
Thank you!
Big consent!!! So is playing Watchtower society with his People…
Honza
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Imacountrygirl says:
February 17, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Thank you for bringing Phelicity Sneesby’s story to our attention.
I have felt for many years now that it is a mockery and a sham for the Watchtower organization to call itself a charity.
What I have witnessed is an appalling lack of charity. What good does it do when you take a beautiful color picture of a banquet to someone who is hungry and out of groceries, under the precept of taking them the good news of God’s kingdom?
In my nearly fifty years experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses, I have never seen the organization give anyone anything. Period. I have seen individual member’s provide assistance to one of their own, even when they are struggling financially themselves.
I hope one day an investigation is made into their so-called charity status.
Phelicity looks like a precious child and I am so happy she will be home when her little life comes to an end, thanks mostly in part due to the kindness of strangers who have been touched by her story.
This world is a much better, kinder place due to all the “worldly people that Jehovah will slaughter at Armageddon”.
Yes, that is sarcasm you smell.
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Peggy says:
February 18, 2016 at 3:10 pm
@Iamacountrygirl,
I was thinking about how one might take money from the devil himself if it would pay for a sick child’s medical bills, or make her well. Here just normal “worldly folks” are helping out in this case. Yes, the JW parents will take that money, and forget about the fact they believe such ones shall be executed by jehovah very soon. That’s some serious hypocrisy. I am not faulting them for accepting the assistance, just saying they really have something here to consider.
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Alexandria R says:
February 17, 2016 at 3:30 pm
I’m so glad this article brought up the fact WTS calls itself a charity organization when it actually isn’t one. At the meeting Tuesday night an announcement was read saying that on the first two Saturdays of the month in March everyone will be invited to go out in service for twelve hours each of those days from 7am to 7pm. The JW org considers that charity. For them it’s all about the org and it’s not about feeding the poor or clothing orphans and widows as the scriptures read if you get what I mean.
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Holy Connoli says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:52 am
@Alexandria R. Is that actually true what you said about everyone going in FS for 12 hours the first 2 Saturdays of March? What is the purpose in that? Perhaps to “INVITE” people to the memorial?
How can they stay out or 12 hours o maybe they mean doing it in shifts. I Remember back in my JW days were doing major remodel kingdom hall and lot’s of JW volunteering etc. We had a food line for Lunch and this Homeless type person came and asked for food rather humbled.. he was embarrassed.
the building project manager treed him with disrespect not want to give any food and I spoke up for the homeless person and brought him a plate of food. then the Project manager told him he could not eat with us etc. The guy went ay with his food. I felt terrible with this attitude I saw ad asked myself where is the scriptural concern for those less fortunate?
I mean we were only talking about food. Like the homeless or others in bad situation do not need to eat also? He said oh the guy is a bum. SO what I said he is hungry. let him eat. The JW’s like to brag that they show “LOVE” for humanity by preaching to them and offering bible studies etc.Not much love there if that is all they do and how does that show concern for people if they are hungry or sick or in need of physical aid? I always thought they were fake in helping people and I am glad I am no longer subject to their brainwashing selfish ideas.
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Alexandria R says:
February 18, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Holy Connoli, You show the kind of person you are. You have a big heart. There is a lot of love in your heart. Good for you. You show common sense the society brainwashing takes away from people. Last Tuesday an elder made this announcement from the platform, I can quote him. He said, “In order to help our auxiliary pioneers make their time, the first two Saturdays of March we will meet at 7am for public witnessing work then we will meet at the hall at 9:30 for field service then we will have afternoon field service then after that we have a table set up at Washington Park and a table set up at the Farmers Market. We encourage those who want a head start on their hours to join us.”
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Markie says:
February 17, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Shame on you for using this little girls condition to propagate your hate.
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John says:
February 17, 2016 at 5:37 pm
I see no ‘hate’ in this article or this website…just facts.
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Winston Smith says:
February 17, 2016 at 8:49 pm
Shame on the Watchtower for using this little girl’s condition to propagate their cult!
WS
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dave buskirk says:
February 17, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Markie how is it hate to post a link to help this poor little girl out? The only hate I see is the Watchtower impersonating a legitimate charity while making billions and not helping their own in need as well as fomenting hate and prejudice toward generous loving people in the world.James 2:16 New International Version (NIV)
If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
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kittycat says:
February 18, 2016 at 3:50 am
The Watchtower make it way to easy to bring the ‘truth’ to light. If they were as loving as they say, why is it so very easy to find the evil in their hearts. This article is well written only stating the facts, the Watchtower a heartless organization serving only themselves.
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Covert Fade says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:00 am
Markie, please feel free to back up your accusation with facts. Are there facts in the article that you dispute or wish to challenge? Are there facts we missed out?
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Roman Castañeda says:
February 18, 2016 at 5:01 am
I believe y’all misunderstood Markie. He, or she, simply stated that this article contains NO hate, just facts (sorry for the caps; not tech savvy).
Like he mentioned, there was no hate of any kind in this article. It presented the facts very admirably. You are very eloquent Covert Fade. It’s not like the Watchtower keeps saying that all “apostate” websites are filled with hate and bitter people who are simply butt hurt. In fact, this and other websites alike share way more content than the Watchtower ever could, and y’all do it in such an orderly fashion. So please do not feel attacked
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Markie says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:31 pm
You said that the Watchtower used her for propaganda purposes. The “fact” is your doing the exact same thing. Your obviously using her situation to propagate your agenda against the Watchtower. I agree with a lot of things said here about the Watchtower but it doesn’t change the “fact” that you are doing the exact same thing your accusing them of. By the way, have you sent her any money? Just to be clear, I haven’t.
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Covert Fade says:
February 18, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Markie, by your logic, you are now using this girl for propaganda purposes as well, as you apparently draw no difference between an act on the one hand and criticism and analysis of said act on the other.
Or can you perhaps suggest how to critically discuss, analyse, and provide news coverage of Watchtowers actions in this matter without mentioning the girl at the heart of it all?
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Winston Churchill says:
February 17, 2016 at 4:12 pm
@ Covert Fade . Good Analysis of Watchtowers so called ‘Charity Status’ This article goes hand in hand with The new Cedars video on You Tube about donations for Circuit Assembly days with no transparency in charitable donations .
As a charity the Watchtower pays No Rates on their Circuit Assembly halls so when donations are asked to cover expenses it can only be for heating,lighting & water as most assembly halls are paid off years ago.
Yet as mentioned in this article Watchtower are selling 3 buildings this year for at least $1.2 Billion. Plus in 2004 they sold one building for $200 Million & in 2013 sold 5 buildings for $ 375 Million to the Kushner Organisation . Plus the hundreds of millions of dollars in donations each year from ordinary brothers in the boxes, real estate donations, wills & legacies, etc
All Tax free plus the Bossart Hotel sold for $81 Million 3 years ago.
Yet Watchtower couldn’t bring this baptised child home with some of their own money ! Very very sad.
There is a saying my Church of England Grandparents taught me .. ‘Charity begins at Home’
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ForestDaughter says:
February 17, 2016 at 4:15 pm
It’s no surprise that they took the parable of The Good Samaritan out of their version of the bible. ‘By their fruits you shall know them’…which also includes those who pretend to be charitable and are most decidedly not, as they stand out a mile for their hypocrisy and their lies.
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Peggy says:
February 18, 2016 at 3:32 pm
@Forestdaughter,
The Good Samaritan parable is in their bible. Luke 10:29-37.
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Pow says:
February 17, 2016 at 4:24 pm
Honestly, has the society (the org. where donations are sent) ever once came to the financial aid of a rank and file member. Even official relief work, never involves the giving of monetary funds…it involves overseeing volunteer labor and donated materials…most natural disasters are a windfall of cash for the org. Money flows one direction to bethal,
How, many new kingdom halls have you seen being built in last 3 years..since time when all congregations started paying a mortgage, whether they had one or not….now we have letter that says 5 congregations must share hall each with their midweek filling hall to capacity before they would be on list for new hall.
Now, retired c.o’s and D.O’s are being assigned to congregations to “assist ” them financially.
The point is if I was running a “charity” like this, I think the government would shut me down.
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Chiafade says:
February 17, 2016 at 5:28 pm
I’ve done my share of relief work many times. One thing I know for damn sure is that the only ones cutting checks are those on the receiving end of the so called relief.
I remember terrible flooding in the Midwest. Cedar rapids Iowa had over 1000 city blocks flooded. The publishers were “encouraged” to donate their insurance checks. One sister was upset and even said “I don’t have money for furniture” “you fixed my house but you’re not going to furnish it I need the money”. The watchtower society wants to get paid for its so called free Relief work. She could have hired the work done for less than the total of the check she was given.
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Winston Smith says:
February 17, 2016 at 8:54 pm
“Has the society…ever once came to the financial aid of a rank and file member.”
But you can bet if this was some GB member no expense would be spared to get them the best medical care possible.
WS
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John Baptist says:
February 17, 2016 at 4:58 pm
The Watchtower meets all the Criteria of a Cult on all fronts. It uses the us vs them mentality when dealing with the “World”. They use indoctrination to hold their members in enslavement to their flawed Doctrines. They use a two sets of rules mentality as well.
They are and will go down as the most hypocritical religion ever known to man.
They use you for their gain and when you disagree with them they toss you out like a piece of garbage.
They lie lie lie and label it theocratic warfare.
I feel sorry for anyone who involves themselves in such a destructive religion.
Their day is coming soon!
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eyes opened says:
February 17, 2016 at 5:53 pm
It would seem if the org is going to use Phelicity’s story, the least they could do is offer some financial assistance. It would certainly be the honorable thing to do. They are binding heavy loads and not lifting a finger to help.
Regards
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jacob says:
February 18, 2016 at 12:04 am
James 1:27, Taking care of those who cannot is a christian obligation. more so than preaching. I pray JW ‘s really considers this.
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Lydia says:
February 18, 2016 at 12:36 am
I hope the John Cedars rebuttle of this broadcast will be on Youtube soon!!! I can´t wait for his rebuttles!
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Kat says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:01 am
Markie don’t you have any gratitude towards those terrible pagan worldly people or are you just grateful to the JW that helped. as the scripture says.
Matthew 5:46-48New Living Translation (NLT)
46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends,[a] how are you different from anyone else?
Here we have total strangers helping out your little sister and you have nothing to say accept to come on here and show your hatred, because your religion is being exposed again as an uncaring so called only true religion on this planet.
would you help a worldly person in the same position would any JW for that matter?
I personally would like the parents to give a public thank you to all including those worldly people, among could very well be Catholics, atheists, Buddhists yes and Muslim who knows.
The GB of JW should hang their head in shame they do nothing for no one not even their own.
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Jarred Booth says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:46 am
I recall I used to give the public talk on mercy. It covered the neighborly Samaritan. Yet one of the points in the outline was, essentially: Don’t give money to “worldly” people who need it or ask for it, instead you should preach to them. Yes that is Watchtower’s definition of “mercy”. I can’t believe I used to push their propaganda like that.
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Eric Arthur Blair says:
February 18, 2016 at 2:26 am
Great investigative work covert fade. It really annoys me that they don’t mention blood on the broadcast – they clearly didn’t want to prejudice their own case. At one point the father says that the doctor told them “there was no chance in Australia she could be operated on…” then a quick edit cuts away from the rest of his words, but I suspect he went on to say “without blood” – but that’s just my conjecture.
I know for a fact that this operation can be performed here. I made a comment on the most recent Friday column regarding my experience as a father of a child with a congenital heart condition – we have some of the best surgeons in the world here in Australia, as well as some of the most advanced facilities and, perhaps most importantly, the best health care system. Despite the fact we had private health care cover at the time, our sons operation was perform under Medicare – the tax funded health system every Australian is entitled to. Our private health cover only gave us the right to chose our surgeon, rather than be assigned one, and it paid for the hospital stay (which still would have been covered by Medicare if we hadn’t had private health cover.) So this is all about the blood.
I really feel for this family. Unfortunately they have had a very difficult, painful and complicated situation made all the more difficult, painful and complicated, unnecessarily so, by the pharisacial governing body who bind up heavy loads for others but do not lift a finger to help.
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Caroline says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:00 am
@Markie. You are such a coward. Why don’t you put your real name on your post? You come on here and make a blanket statement about how this article is trying to spread “hate” but either you are too scared of the Society’s finding out that you have been on an “apostate” website and commenting or you are working underground for the Society. Which is it?
If you are too scared of the Society’s finding out what your name is, why are you scared? Shouldn’t anybody be allowed to question their own religion by looking at the websites that might have something to say that might question their doctrines with facts? If it’s really the truth, you should have nothing to be afraid of when it comes to apostate “lies”.
The only reason you are not allowed to come onto “apostate” websites is because the Society will disfellowship anybody who admits to going onto “apostate” websites or reads anything that might make a person stop and think and question their own religion and find out that what they have been taught from the Society can not be backed up by either facts or the Bible and they will “hate” the Society like I do and stop supporting them and stop sending them money.
I was always taught not to lie and I hate liars. If you are not afraid to put your religion to the test, then don’t be afraid to put your real name up. If you are afraid to put your real name up, that means you should be ashamed of belonging to a religion that prohibits it’s members from putting it’s teachings to the test. As Witnesses, we were always encouraged to put our Bible Study’s religion to the test, so Witnesses are hypocrites if they don’t put their religion to the test as well.
Your life is important. Every life is important and should not be thrown away on a bunch of lies. I for one, don’t want anything to do with a religious corporation that lies and makes up their own version of a Bible to trick people into believing them and using that Bible to trick people out of their money to get rich in real estate and neither should you.
If you have anything to say that will convince me that you have the real “truth”, my ears are wide open. If you don’t then why are you here?
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Adrian says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:31 am
Couldn’t care less about who is helping this little girl – just extremely glad to see humanity coming together to make it happen.
Those climbing on the bandwagon to turn this into a story either pro or anti WT should be ashamed of themselves !
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Caroline says:
February 18, 2016 at 5:21 am
Adrian, are you Markie in disguise? Nobody would know about this story in the first place if the Watchtower hadn’t “used” her to wrench money out of the Witnesses.
You say you couldn’t care less about who is helping this little girl? Talk about being heartless????
If that is the kind of person you are, it’s because of your religion or maybe a religion like the Watchtower is right up your alley because that is the kind of person you are in the first place?
There is only one reason you are in the Watchtower Religion and that is because you are a selfish person.
You aren’t in that religion to help other people. You are in that religion because you think that by serving the Organization, you will gain everlasting life in the “new world”. You are selfish and that is why you are in that religion. We were all there so we know how that religion works. You can’t pull the wool over our eyes. You serve the Organization and you think you will be saved through Armageddon. You are in that religion for selfish reasons. If it wasn’t for the idea that you will be saved through Armageddon through your preaching work, you would not be in that religion. If you were in that religion just because it’s the “best way of life” and you didn’t have the “promise” of the new order, you would not be preaching. The reason for the preaching is to save lives through Armageddon and to save your life. You are serving God for selfish reasons, just as Satan told God in the book of Job.
Even the reason you pray to Jehovah is to get something out of it. You don’t pray to have God restore limbs because you know it ain’t gonna happen. You only pray for stuff that you know He can’t do anything about. So, is your God even real, so that you have to obey HIM??? Can you prove God is real or are you serving an illusion? If you can’t prove God is real, then it’s sad that you are wasting your life on a religion that is taking advantage of your naivete. Why not ask for something that God can actually do like help that little girl not to die????? You have no pity and no love and the Watchtower Religion teaches it’s followers to have no pity and no love. I know that because I was in it for fifty years. You can’t fool me. I know how it works and so do you.
The reason for this article is because you and the Watchtower Society don’t have any love for that little girl but people who the Society teaches Witnesses to “hate” have more love and compassion for that little girl than you do. That is why you could care less about who is helping her get back home to her parents.
The ones who are disgusting are the ones who will use a dying little girl to wrench money out of it’s followers like the Watchtower Society did and do absolutely nothing to help her or her parents out when she is dying.
Don’t come on a website like this and try and turn the tables away from who the real culprits are here.
Stay away and go to the people in your religion such as heartless people such as yourself and keep your comments to yourself.
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Markie says:
February 18, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Caroline it seems that your hate for JWs is really eating you up. My I kindly suggest therapy?
Mark is my real name. Markie is my nick name. I have no idea who Adrian is. Sorry. I am using my first name just like you. So I guess I can ask are you a coward?
Saying JWs are in this religion because they are selfish is very unkind and untrue. Most JWs use a lot of their free time to help other people learn what they think is the “truth”. You may not agree with it but preaching is not a selfish act.
And I agree with most people on this website. I think its crazy that the GB would rather you hand a Watchtower to a staving person instead of a loaf of bread. But in their minds they think the are helping in the long-term.
I do think that whoever wrote this blog is exploiting this poor little girls condition for their own means. It seems very hypocritical to accuse the Society of the very thing they are doing.
By the way, did you send the family any money?
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Caroline says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Markie, I don’t hate JW’s and I never hated JW’s and the people who comment on this website do not hate JW’s. You either don’t read the comments here or you are new to the site.
Anybody who is familiar with this site, realizes that most of us were JW’s or have family and friends who are JW’s and why in the world would we hate them for being in the religion when we were in it so long ourselves, not knowing what the true background is of the religion ourselves? Some of the nicest and sweetest people in the world were my friends who longer are allowed to talk to me, simply because I won’t go to the meetings any longer. I miss them and I am sure that they think that I have gone demonic, which is taught to them from the Society and I should know because I was also taught to be paranoid of anybody who stopped going to meetings.
I myself was a JW for fifty years and so I know a whole lot more about the JW religion than you give me credit for. I don’t know how old you are, but if you can beat my time in the “truth”, I’d be curious about just how much time you devoted to preaching the “good news” like I did all those years.
Everybody who belongs to any religion does it for selfish reasons. They expect to get something out of their time and effort.
People don’t just preach the “good news” because they just want to. We all know that Witnesses are expected to preach each and every month and are expected to turn in their time on their time slips to the brothers and if they don’t put in time, then they are called and if they don’t report time, then they are put down as “irregular” and considered weak and bad association. We all know how it works. Going in service is required if you want to remain in good standing in the congregation and if you want any friends, which of course we know JW’s are only allowed to have “friends” who are also JW’s in good standing.
If we didn’t have to report the time that we go in service, then how many would go out? If we weren’t considered weak and bad association, how many would go out? JW’s go in service for selfish reasons, even if you don’t want to admit it. It’s to save their lives. If it was to save others’ lives, then why did we have to report our time? We’d just be preaching all the time and not punching a clock.
Do you know your Bible well enough to be asked questions by those you preach to or are you told not to “debate” them? Are you allowed to take their literature or are you prohibited from taking their literature? Why is Ray Franz’s books banned for JW’s? If Ray Franz’s books are full of lies, then why hasn’t the Society sued him or his family? You are not even allowed to read history books that tell the truth about when Jerusalem was destroyed and if you tell anybody about when Jerusalem was really destroyed, you will be disfellowshipped for apostasy. What kind of religion doesn’t allow it’s followers to even find out the facts about ancient historical facts and not be able to tell their “friends” about it? What kind of closed and cloistered cult do you belong to?
No, you are in a cult and so was I. I am not putting my name here because I am not disfellowshipped but I know full well that if I put my name here that I would be disfellowshipped and that is the very same reason you are not using your full name and I know it and so does everybody else who is reading your posts.
You belong to a dangerous religious cult that is no different than the people who live in North Korea and are not allowed to see anything on television or read anything that does not promote their leader as a god.
Your god is not Jehovah and it isn’t Jesus Christ. It is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
You are not allowed to even put your religion to the test without being disfellowshipped for it and you know it and so does everybody else who is commenting here because we belonged to this religion. We can’t be fooled by anything you have to say.
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Winston Smith says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:08 pm
@Caroline,
I think the word “selfish” is a poor choice to describe the JW motive to preach. Of course there are some who propose that everything we humans do is motivated by selfishness.
But that aside, to state that all JWs preach out of selfish reasons is to generalize in the same manner the Watchtower org does when they say all apostates are bitter and angry.
Some JWs preach out of genuine concern for others. Some do seem to “get off” on telling others how wrong they are. But for the majority I think it comes down to fear and guilt. They are afraid that if they don’t preach they will die at Armageddon and/or they have been guilted into preaching by the Watchtower and they seek to alleviate that guilt.
I think saying they are selfish conveys the wrong idea.
WS
ruthlee says:
February 18, 2016 at 6:27 am
Caroline you have much to say and well said too. I have to agree with you. I think my conclusion this religion is heartless. They have built up layers and layers of an elaborate system to con, fool, cajole and deceive ALL of us. Especially the born ins who because of accident of birth had no choice. The charity status actually adds insult to injury because it is a thin veneer that looks good. I really hope the God they claim to venerate thinks on these little ones as sparrows. Unless the boys in Brooklyn can squeeze a dollar out of each victim they see no worth in such sparrows. Not even meat in their mouths. Time and time again we see the bricks crumbling. Someone once said this religion is the jewel in the devil’s crown. So true they proudly wear a badge of dishonour and cannot see it. When it finally falls there will be a lot of gnashing teeth. If this was the truth people would flock to it despite the problems and fallibilities but actually joe blogs in the street is not so stupid. Being worldly wise means that although they don’t know the ins and outs that we do they can smell a rat . The kingdom smile is like teeth veneer it suits the person makes them feel more socially acceptable but it is fake and if you look you can see. The eyes of love do not exist among well taught Jdubs because actions really do speak louder than words. If the gb gave a hand out to that poor girl’s family, the flood gates of sob stories real and fake would come pouring in. They would be broke within the month and hey! they would inherit the kingdom! ah! silly me they don’t want that do they only the façade, the veneer, the rotten teeth, and all the blood money for themselves. Greedy pigs! Ruthlee
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Gary says:
February 18, 2016 at 7:06 am
Somebody made the comment that this little girls sad plight was highlighted due to to hatred of JW’s (allowed cough), are you completely stupid?
If you are suggesting that we are movitvated due to hatred so as for you to make your judgement you are sadly misled.
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Winston Smith says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:21 pm
I don’t know, I certainly hate the way I was lied to and manipulated by the Watchtower society. I hated being used and being denied the facts. I hated the undue influence. Do I hate the indiviual members of the JWs? No.
Do I think this article was in anyway hateful or inappropriate? No. The Watchtower used this little girls condition to promote their own agenda. In their typical bad journalism they left out critics facts of the story. This article fills in what the watchtower left out. How is that a bad thing? Totalitarian governments only have one source for news so they can control the content. In free lands, there are many sources so we can get the big picture. The Watchtower would like to have total control of information. But sites like this one give the public an alternative to the sterilized watchtower rhetoric. If you don’t like what you hear on this site, feel free to “change the channel.”
WS
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Winston Smith says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:23 pm
“critics facts” should be “critical facts”
damn autocorrect!
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Jaime says:
February 18, 2016 at 8:01 am
Oh boy. JW Survey must be doing something really good here to be hit by so many trolls. Or hit by one troll with many faces. Maybe it is a trinity troll?
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Marty says:
February 18, 2016 at 8:04 am
Totally sums up the Borg this article. A hateful, greedy, death-dealing cult with absolutely no interest at all in humanity, just the almighty $!
Reply
Tara says:
February 18, 2016 at 8:12 am
This is so heartbreaking. This poor little girl and her family have suffered so much and there are many others out there who are putting blind faith in a man interpreted doctrine. Yet, as has been brought out, the Borg. won’t lift a finger to secure a few thousand dollars for a flight home for her. Remember little Ashya King… the trauma those parents went through and I recall the JW’s being divided on his plight. These babies are pawns on the Borg. glory train but when you look deeper we see the greed that really motivates the pious facade. I can’t even look at the broadcasts anymore, they make me sick. I hope and pray for this little girl and other like them.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:27 pm
@Tara
I concur. The psycho-babble from watchtower, either in video form or in writing, turns my stomach.
WS
Reply
Jaime says:
February 18, 2016 at 8:18 am
This article got me thinking about the psychosis of corporations. WT is of course worse, as instead of paying people to lobby, advertise, build, etc. they get them to volunteer their services! It’s a narcissist’s dream! Here they are using poor Phelicity to advertise how to dedicate you precious few days on this planet to WT/JW.org. Meanwhile, taking her parents donations, and binding up heavy loads with the blood doctrine.
The tobacco companies marketed to children until laws were enacted. WT/JW.org would find a way to evade those laws if they came, by having elders and C.O.s encourage child and teen baptism by one on one conversations instead of putting it on t.v., watchtowers and such. (As an example the page in the Shepard’s book that the elders write up verbatim themselves, leaving WT in the clear.)
Reply
vieuxcolon says:
February 18, 2016 at 9:08 am
Hi everyone,
I want to let you know how a great job you are doing by exposing the Watchtower society. Whether you realize it or no you have helped and continue to help thousands to overcome their fears and leave this organization that cares about nobody but only about its money. Thanks for these well researched writings. After 14 years in this organization, you helped free me this modern day slavery. I just agree with everything written in this article. Well done.
Reply
Losangelos says:
February 18, 2016 at 9:41 am
Can it be possible that this family will be asked (encouraged) to donate the money they raised on gofundme to the Watchtower?
Reply
Pow says:
February 18, 2016 at 9:53 am
Lets, talk about fundraising for minute. ..every assembly, their’s a business meeting with the Elders, where without discussion they are told the costs of the program, ,something like..15.00 per head then travel expenses for the special speaker ect..So, what the audience hears is “brothers we have incurred 12756.23 in expenses, and so far their has been 7956.34 in contributions to offset the expenses , we want to thank you in advanced for your caring for this matter. ” this is not really the cost of the program, it’s a bill., just like your monthly payment to the society for your Phantom hall mortgage, where you pay back money never borrowed form your donated funds to start with, another bill.
Maybe Jesus should have cost factored a 10.00 per head feeding cost at his sermon on the mount. 5000 men plus woman and children, say 15000 X10.00 per head (recommend donation ).plus travel costs, =160000.00 not bad for 20 min. speach.
Reply
Winston Churchill says:
February 18, 2016 at 10:58 am
@Pow. I like your style . Your comment made me smile, but everything you say is so true!
Reply
Pow says:
February 18, 2016 at 10:13 am
Oh, and one more comment to Markie,
If talking about the facts related to a publicized subject constitutes hate speech, let’s see Watchtower has talked about Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinist, Mormons, Baptist, Presbyterians, Adventist, Pentecostal, ect, even standing on the doorsteps of this church’s handing out pamphlets, depicting there members and building being destroyed by God’s executioners. Would that constitute Hate speach?
Reply
Winston Churchill says:
February 18, 2016 at 11:01 am
@Pow . Your reply to Markie’ is perfect. Absolutely perfect !
Reply
Pow says:
February 18, 2016 at 11:06 am
Thanks , sometimes one wonders if their really making sense, especially when your still “in” and you have to suppress your true feeling 24/7.
Reply
Twmack says:
February 18, 2016 at 10:22 am
They are the antithesis of The Good Samaritan. Through
guilt and fear and false promises, they rob people of
their life’s potential, their energy and time. Enough is never
enough, Phelicity’s story is used for that end, and nothing
more.
Like the priest, they will pray for you, but if real on the spot
practical help is needed ( especially if it requires digging into
their own pockets they will pass by on the other side.
It’s left to the Samaritans, the despised, the Worldlings
to pay the innkeeper.
Ask any aged pioneer now restricted through infirmity and
after a lifetime of service. Who is providing for his, her life’s
necessities? And who is it that has crossed to the other side.
Reply
Winston Churchill says:
February 18, 2016 at 11:06 am
@Twmack. So true about aged pioneers. I have a friend who has been made redundant ? from Brooklyn Bethel after 35 years service ? Or should I say slavery? With no pension or golden handshake except told to be a special pioneer & the worldly Government are subsidising her here in England on housing benefit & £50 a week subsidy from Bethel ! Amazing example for young JWs who want to go to Bethel !
Reply
Doc Obvious says:
February 18, 2016 at 10:25 am
When a religion does not act neighborly, how can you expect its members to be neighborly? If you can’t take care of your own people that you do have, how can you take care of people you do not have?
As one elder put it to me when I was going through a divorce: That’s not our problem; that is your problem.
Can you imagine Jesus Christ saying that?
I hate to say it, but that is what the Watchtower Babble and Tract Society probably told her parents and her.
Sad. But true.
Reply
eyes opened says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:42 pm
While talking about hate speech, let’s not forget about Rutherford, one of the f&ds who showed support for Hitler and condemned “big business jews”. Not very faithful or discreet. His actions led to blood guilt. For more info, reference the 1935 yearbook.
Regards
Reply
eyes opened says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Oops 1934 yearbook!
Reply
Doc Obvious says:
February 18, 2016 at 1:56 pm
I have read several posts to the JW Survey articles and realize that many of you tell the group how controlling the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is. It is as though they have puppet strings on their members. Why would members allow such a puppeteer (parasite) to have so much control on them? It seems that members allow the Watchtower to control them.
For me, I realized how much control they had when I experienced a panic attack by thinking about the many things if you do not do something Watchtower wants you to. For example, the Governing Body made a statement that they appreciate the members who donated extra in June and July as following the “Faithful and Discreet Slave Class”. Does that mean, that people who did not donate were not following the “Faithful and Discreet Slave Class”. What control!
When they tell single sisters that finding a good spiritual brother is by finding him at the Watchtower Construction projects. Put simply, the only good Christian marriages is one where the husband is in the construction trades and is donating his time to the Watchtower construction program. These subliminal messages just adds puppet strings to each member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I find that each special JW Monthly Broadcasting always involves a segment on one of the Watchtower’s Construction projects. Either the Governing Body is telling us something about a construction project or highlighting one of their members involved in the Watchtower Construction Program. Talk about Puppet Strings.
Personally, I like reading articles about simply cutting the puppet strings. Clinical Psychologist, Robert Puff Ph.D., has written an online article for Psychology Today on cutting the Puppet Strings. The article is “Cutting the Puppet Strings of Praise and Blame – We have the ability to be happy by simply cutting the strings!”. It is located at https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meditation-modern-life/201409/cutting-the-puppet-strings-praise-and-blame. It is a good article.
Another good book, “Pulling Your Own Strings: Dynamic Techniques for Dealing with Other People and Living Your Life As You Choose” is by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.
Please, cut the puppet strings and live a happier life. Many things that Watchtower states is absolute crap. A happy marriage has nothing to do with marrying a construction worker. There is no correlation.
Reply
Winston Churchill says:
February 18, 2016 at 3:05 pm
@Doc Obvious . Fascinating analogy ‘Praise & Blame’ with reference also to Puppet Strings In regard to breaking the cycle .
The GB is very manipulating . We get More Praise if we auxiliary pioneer than if we are Just a Publisher;
But even more more praise if we Regular Pioneer. & if we Special Pioneer or go to Gilead ,well even more, more praise & commendation & the cycle of the treadmill goes on. It becomes ever more addictive like a drug especially if we have come from damaged emotional backgrounds then the praise we get from the organisation replaces the praise we should have got from maybe a parent.
The GB need damaged individuals as these are the ones who will push themselves ever more & more In the ministry so they get approval & commendation from Elders,Circuit Overseers & are used on the platform at meetings,conventions etc.
Reply
Pow says:
February 18, 2016 at 3:27 pm
@Winston Churchill
And I will add to that, since it’s really a matter of self-fulfillment, self validation, that’s why there’s so much competition between perceived equals.
Pioneers compete with other pioneers.
Elders are constantly locked in power struggles or choose to lay low to avoid being targeted.
Each C.O. will infer that his predecessors really screwed things up.
Bethal is a hotbed of back stabbing, butt kissing , nepotism. It’s famous for the expression “its not what you know, but who you know”.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:37 pm
To apply Doc Obvious’ comment to what you describe Pow – “dance puppets, dance!” (Insert evil laugh here)
WS
Reply
david says:
February 18, 2016 at 3:37 pm
how can the GB sleep at night!
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 18, 2016 at 4:39 pm
@david
I’d have to say “very well” with the rank and file paying the way for them.
WS
Reply
Caroline says:
February 18, 2016 at 5:53 pm
david, in 2014, when there was that four page letter from the Society that was sent to all the congregation elders where the congregations were tricked into thinking that their loans were paid off and the elders were instructed to read only the first page to the congregations where the congregations were led to believe that the Society was being so nice in telling the congregations they didn’t have to repay their loans but the last three pages of that letter was to ask the elders to tell the congregation at a later meeting that they had decided to send the same amount to the Society every month anyway so as to spread the cost around for poor brothers and sisters who couldn’t afford a new kingdom hall, I confronted the (what used to be called the presiding overseer) about it and I asked him how he could sleep at night because not only did he deceive the congregation about repaying the loans but they had been saving up for a new parking lot repaving which was $15,000 and he (the presiding overseer) put it to the congregation to hand over half of that money ($7,500) to the Society and of course the congregation all raised their hands and agreed to it. His answer to me was:
“I went home that night and slept like a baby.”
I believe the reason they gave a marking talk on me shortly after that and took away my privileges for being able to call in to the meetings was because I called him on it and that marking talk was for revenge.
I told him that what they did was deceitful and they should be ashamed of themselves for what they did but he (presider) only got mad at me for calling him on it. I told him that those letters go online because there are so many people in Bethel who want the rank and file know what those letters say but they can’t hide those letters anymore.
When they read those letters, the elders are fooling themselves if they think they can keep that underhanded stuff secret anymore. It’s just a matter of time before everyone knows the real “truth” about the Society.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
February 18, 2016 at 6:07 pm
So long as there is a voice of authority telling them what they are doing is sanctioned by God, they are able to excuse themselves from exercising their conscience. The nazis who ran the concentration camps tried to say the same thing (i.e. “we were only followinfg orders”), but found out at Nuremberg that it wouldn’t hold up.
On the same line of thought, check out the Milgram experiments on YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vXn2SZfwuSc
WS
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New videos are constantly being uploaded to the John Cedars YouTube channel.
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17 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
Holy Connoli says:
November 17, 2015 at 1:14 am
Frankie.If I were you I would turn him into the police now even though it may have been several years ago he committed this crime. Many sexual predators get turned in years later after the crime is reveled. At the very least he will be investigated and his Name will be mud for being a creep.
He deserves it and so does the WT for its NON protection of the flock and not caring for the victim but only their phony reputation.
Reply
Lesley HUmphreys-Jones says:
February 15, 2016 at 10:10 am
Tell the police.
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
Rick Viger says:
November 10, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Thanks John for all you do with your videos.
I’m an ex JW for 40 years now. I hope your videos reach some witnesses and make them think. For all of you that have left Watchtower remember you made the right decision.
Reply
S.T. says:
November 24, 2015 at 9:48 pm
I was wondering if anyone has heard that Jehovah’s witnesses are telling there congregations that the end of this system could have only hours left? My sister who is a Jehovah’s Witness said they are preaching this at the congregations. Has anyone else heard this?
Reply
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◾Winston Smith on Phelicity Sneesby: The story Watchtower didn’t tell you
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4h
James Rhodes ✔ @JRhodesPianist
The dolphin selfie story just makes me want to retire from humanity forever
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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9h
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
But no surprises as to which religion has the narrowest majority... https://twitter.com/publicreligion/status/700341841351282688 …
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13h
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Full credit to @imtishams and others who are risking so much to help people out of the king of cults... https://twitter.com/vicenews/status/700262056071688192 …
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17 Feb
Covert Fade @CovertFade
Phelicity Sneesby: The story Watchtower didn't tell you http://jwsurvey.org/general-information/phelicity-sneesby-the-story-watchtower-didnt-tell-you …
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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17 Feb
Steven Hassan @CultExpert
How child sex abusers get reinstated as Jehovah’s Witnesses | Reveal http://ow.ly/Yrp1s
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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17 Feb
Trey Bundy @TreyBundy
You may not get kicked out of Jehovah's Witnesses for abusing a kid, but you might if you don't say you're sorry. https://www.revealnews.org/blog/how-child-sex-abusers-get-reinstated-as-jehovahs-witnesses/ …
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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17 Feb
Reveal ✔ @reveal
.@treybundy has covered allegations of child sexual abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses for more than a year. His work: https://www.revealnews.org/author/treybundy …
Retweeted by Lloyd Evans
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17h
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Most who write about child abuse in #jehovahswitnesses cover one story, but @treybundy gives you the bigger picture https://twitter.com/TreyBundy/status/700094143364784128 …
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17 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Yet another #jehovahswitness tragedy hijacked by Watchtower as a propaganda opportunity... http://jwsurvey.org/general-information/phelicity-sneesby-the-story-watchtower-didnt-tell-you …
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16 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
If you haven't yet watched this award-winning film about the exposure of #childabuse, please do! https://twitter.com/SpotlightMovie/status/699004561176948738 …
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16 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
There has been an awakening... https://twitter.com/ApostateAwake/status/699620077881184256 …
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16 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
An important movie getting the recognition it deserves... https://twitter.com/MarkRuffalo/status/699661130210213888 …
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14 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Indoctrinating a child with doomsday religious hogwash is nothing to be proud of. Anyone can do it. https://twitter.com/JWNewsHistory/status/698816231223091200 …
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14 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Barbara Anderson gives a glowing tribute to @TreyBundy on a full year of reporting #watchtower's abusive policies http://watchtowerdocuments.org/trey-bundy-one-year-of-reporting-jw-child-abuse/ …
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14 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
With an active membership of between 10 and 20 thousand, Scientology is surely dead on its feet... https://twitter.com/religionnews/status/698592633862692864 …
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13 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
There aren't many cults that make Watchtower look like a day at the beach, but... https://twitter.com/imtishams/status/697503845715472384 …
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12 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Surprise, surprise. Guess who wins first prize for ignorance/denial of human evolution? https://twitter.com/AngTheodorou/status/698157887684673537 …
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12 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Surprise, surprise. #jehovahswitnesses win the award for ignorance/denial of human evolution... @AngTheodorou @PewReligion
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12 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
Church elder who sexually abused vulnerable children was invited to speak at first victim’s wedding http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14271622.Church_elder_who_sexually_abused_vulnerable_children_was_invited_to_speak_at_first_victim___s_wedding/?ref=twtrec …
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10 Feb
Lloyd Evans @cedarsjwsurvey
When you take on a cult, apparently you need to "defend" yourself for doing so... https://twitter.com/ChtyCommission/status/697491971909226496 …
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