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News Bulletin: Watchtower Found in Contempt of Court – Hit with $4000 Fine Per Day Until It Complies With Court Order
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Posted on June 25, 2016
campos-pedophileA few months ago, we reported on yet another in a long line of legal actions brought against the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for its now infamous and heavily criticized methods of handling accusations of child abuse inside its organisation.
Journalist Dorian Hargrove reported in the San Diego Reader on the lawsuit brought by abuse survivor Osbaldo Padron against Watchtower due to their alleged mishandling of sexual abuse committed against him by infamous Jehovah’s Witness serial sex offender Gonzalo Campos.
Campos is already the focus of multiple lawsuits against Watchtower from other victims, including abuse survivor Jose Lopez.
In his original article, which we reported on and analysed here, Hargrove wrote that part of the case against Watchtower was that its mishandling of the abuse inflicted on Padron by Lopez fit a far larger pattern of such behaviour from the organisation: a systemic failure to confront child molestation accusations in an effective manner, and a deliberate policy of not bringing such accusations to the attention of the authorities.
It was alleged that documents held by Watchtower proved this accusation; documents that list tens of thousands of alleged Jehovah’s Witness child molesters that the religion has failed to report or act upon, but has instead simply filed away.
Watchtower has confirmed the existence of these documents, but when ordered to produce them by the court in March 2015, they have provided them in an extremely redacted form, rendering them essentially useless to Padron’s legal team.
Therefore in April 2016, Padron’s legal team made a motion for the judge to apply sanctions against Watchtower for each day it refused to hand over unredacted documents.
Today, in a new article, Hargrove reports that the Judge has upheld this motion.
Reports Hargrove (bold is mine):
In March 2015, the church turned over a heavily redacted version of the letter. Opposing attorneys called the redactions excessive, rendering the document illegible. Judge Strauss then assigned a discovery referee to sit with the two sides. But having a referee involved didn’t solve matters. Repeatedly, the Watchtower Society has stated that it will not comply with the order.
“By the time of the hearing on the motion for sanctions, it will have been over a year since the initial order and almost three months since the [referee’s recommendation] was adopted,” reads Strauss’s ruling. “In the period since…Watchtower has shown no effort or willingness to comply with the discovery order.
“Based upon the history in this case and Watchtower’s statements…the court finds that Watchtower’s failure to comply is willful…Watchtower clearly has control over the documents it has already produced and could revise the redactions with regard to those documents. This is obviously and clearly within the scope of Watchtower’s powers which it chooses not to exercise. Continuing to repeat its prior unsuccessful arguments in opposition to the discovery order further illustrates Watchtower’s obstinacy in compliance.”
Those of us familiar with Watchtowers conduct when faced with legal enquiries into its child abuse policies will not be surprised to hear words such as “obstinacy” or “wilful failure” used when describing their court tactics. The last few years have seen Governing Body members flee in panic from chances to give testimony in support of their organisation, as well as senior Watchtower officials caught telling outright lies under oath in regard to this matter. They have even been caught trying to delay trials with tactics described by the Judge in the matter as “bad faith” and “abusive.”
Watchtower’s strategy often appears to be simple: lie, evade, stall.
In her ruling, Judge Strauss has decided to bring Watchtower’s stalling over this matter to a painful halt.
Court Documents obtained by JW Survey render the judgement thus:
“The court orders monetary sanctions of $2,000 per day for every day that Watchtower does not produce responsive documents and an additional $2,000 per day for every day that Watchtower does not search for responsive documents. In view of the acknowledged substantial net worth of Defendant, the court determines that the total daily amount of sanctions of $4,000 per day should be sufficient to determine if Defendant will comply with the discovery order and is not overly harsh.”
But this is just the first step. According to Court Documents, the Judge has also ruled:
“The court sets a status conference for July 22, 2016 to hear from the parties whether the monetary sanctions have been effective.”
This means that, should Watchtower fail to provide the documents by this date, the Judge can apply further sanctions. The pain will go up and up, until Watchtower either complies or is possibly even forced to forfeit their defense, if the events of another trial involving serial abuse Gonzalo Campos are any guideline.
Watchtower might repeatedly tell its followers that reports of it mishandling of child abuse are apostate lies, and that it has nothing to hide, but one only has to look to Watchtower’s conduct in the courtroom to see a very different side to the organisation.
It is not a side many honest-hearted Jehovah’s Witnesses would be comfortable to see.
We will of course keep you updated on further developments, as it seems clear this story is far from over. Will Watchtower produce these damning documents? How bad will the legal sanctions turn out to be?
It looks like we’re going to find out!
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148 Responses to News Bulletin: Watchtower Found in Contempt of Court – Hit with $4000 Fine Per Day Until It Complies With Court Order
Newer Comments →
Rowland Nelken says:
June 25, 2016 at 8:25 am
Can this keep going without Watchtower’s awful reputation becoming general knowledge in the wider world which has never been involved with JWdom?
How many folk still imagine Jehovah’s Witnesses to be nothing more than a rather earnest group of sincere, neatly dressed and polite Christian evangelists?
Even Jonathan Sanders of the Charity Commission has taken some convincing about the reality of the devious and evil outfit with which he is professionally dealing.
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SIRIUS says:
June 25, 2016 at 8:42 am
OUCHIE, that’s a biggie
And to think GB/WT are anti-worldly!
Breath taking… “It was alleged that documents held by Watchtower proved this accusation; documents that list tens of thousands of alleged Jehovah’s Witness child molesters that the religion has failed to report or act upon”
I have to wonder if their defense team has seen ALL the documents? What comes to mind is fiduciary & it’s better to reveal than conceal!
IMHO
dogstar
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Stirring Awake says:
June 25, 2016 at 9:17 am
Maybe the Bethel Branch and GB need to re-read (and take to heart!!) their own articles a bit better, especially considering that’s what they expect the R&F to do.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102008063
*direct from the God’s Love’ book*
RESPECT FOR SECULAR AUTHORITY
18, 19. (a) How would you explain the principles outlined at Romans 13:1-7? (b) How do we show respect for secular authorities?
18 True Christians conscientiously adhere to the principles stated at Romans 13:1-7. (Read.) As you read over that passage, you can see that “the superior authorities” mentioned there are the secular governments. As long as Jehovah allows these human powers to exist, they perform important functions, maintaining a measure of order and providing needed services. We show our respect for these authorities by means of our law-abiding conduct. We are careful to pay whatever taxes we owe, to fill out properly any forms or documents that the government may require, and to comply with any laws that involve us, our family, business, or possessions. However, we do not submit to the secular authorities if they ask us to disobey God. Rather, we reply as did the apostles of old: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”
19 We also show respect for secular authorities by our demeanor. At times, we may deal directly with government officials. The apostle Paul dealt with such rulers as King Herod Agrippa and Governor Festus. These men were seriously flawed, but Paul addressed them with respect. (Acts 26:2, 25) We imitate Paul’s example, whether the official we address is a powerful ruler or a local policeman. In school, young Christians endeavor to show similar respect for their teachers and for school officials and employees. Of course, we do not limit such respect to those who approve of our beliefs; we are also respectful when dealing with those who are antagonistic toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. Really, nonbelievers in general should be able to sense our respect.
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Telescopium says:
June 25, 2016 at 9:37 am
If only all the Witnesses knew where their contributions ended up…
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Chris Benson says:
June 27, 2016 at 4:16 am
Exactly
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JJ says:
June 25, 2016 at 9:40 am
Best case scenario (in my opinion):
The JWs are so full of themselves they proudly refuse these “worldly” courts, hold onto the documents, are thus fined 4,000 dollars daily till they have no other choice but to sell their San Diego properties. I’m sick of seeing their Kingdom Halls wherever I go.
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yawn says:
June 25, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Unfortunately they could probably afford to pay this amount indefinitely. But at least its a start in exposing this disgusting organization.
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Telescopium says:
June 25, 2016 at 1:50 pm
I think we can look forward to the results of the status conference on July 22, 2016. Either there will be headway in obtaining the pertinent documents or a heavier hammer will be unleashed. Can’t wait to see what that will be!
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Chiafade says:
June 26, 2016 at 9:14 pm
They are not going to comply. I can almost guarantee that. The reason I say that is because I just received an email from the RBC. Which is HILARIOUS because I’ve been inactive and since faded for some time now.
The email is as follows: The US branch Resource Recovery department has been authorized to organize private tool liquidations of former RBC assets to benefit the World Wide Work. Former RBC volunteers are being invited to have first opportunity to attend a liquidation event to be held in Findley, OH during selected dates in July. If you are interested and plan to attend, please click immediately on the registration survey button below. The survey will enable planning for the large crowd of people expected to attend. Further details will be sent to those who have registered in advance. This is a private event by invitation only, please do not forward this email to others.
Thousands of items—Ten RBCs combined
Several pallets of hand and power tools – by piece or bulk
Scaffolding
Plumbing Tools
Electrical Tools
Carpentry Tools
Concrete Tools
Many Trade, Storage, and Kitchen Trailers
Various Building Materials
Much much more . . . .
Registration Survey
Resource Recovery
780 Red Mills Road
Wallkill, NY 12589
This is for Ohio in the US. It’s an arrangement that I believe is the first of many RBC liquidations to take place. The other states will follow suit. The usage of the vague “worldwide work” is an indicator that they’ll use it where they see fit. PAYING FINES AND LAWSUITS.
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Telescopium says:
June 28, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Chiafade,
You won’t believe this, but I got similar liquidation emails, one back in February for Mongomery NY (4 RBCs), and another one in May for the Wallkill Bethel warehouse (6 RBCs).
We haven’t been active with the RBC in a number of years either, so the humor was not lost on us either.
I’m looking forward to seeing the heavier hammer…
Twmack says:
June 25, 2016 at 9:48 am
Over a year and the laws demand for original documents
ignored. Handing over the heavily redacted versions
is just a stalling tactic.
It’s obvious their legal team have been unable to come
up with a legitimate way to avoid surrendering these
records. which in itself tells you they are incriminating.
Money is their real and only God, touch that and it’s
like pricking their eyeballs, financial penalties may get
them to cooperate.
I say May because they are between a rock and a hard
place. They know handing over the evidence will result
in successful claims against them involving hefty damages.
Thanks CF for keeping us informed.
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Big B says:
June 25, 2016 at 10:37 am
Don’t think for one nano-second that Watchtower attorneys are, even as we communicate, shredding, hiding or burning these documents.
Maybe, just maybe, this will be the straw that breaks the camels back! Watch and see whether or not they declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy and dump the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. thus changing into jw.org.
This is the only way they can evade these costs without getting a favorable judge (in a higher court) to rescind this current order. Failure to comply would and could mean more fines and jail time for G.B. for ‘contempt of court’.
Although I am not an attorney, I believe that declaring corporate bankruptcy and changing their name does two things:
1. Any sanctions against the Watchtower (while in protective status in Chapter 11) would not be pursued; 2. Any child molestation charges currently ongoing or future allegations would also be irrelevant as they were perpetrated under a defunct WTBTS, not jw.org!
Again, not sure of the above scenario however, I will certainly continue to check jwsurvey for future updates as will others. Many thanks for the continued updates Covert Fade! 🙂
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John ship says:
June 25, 2016 at 11:38 am
I totaly agree after 50 years in jws ive thought for some time that the whole purpose of promoting jw .org so much and the push to get all the rank and file on line is to drop watchtower completly and go fully .org.thereby avoiding the law cases pending against WT .of course by going full on line they will loose older ones who have no interest in downloading reading material.and will simply give up..my wife is keen jw but even she will not go to the new style mid week meetings when it is all about using electronic devices and video presentations..
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Eric Arthur Blair says:
June 25, 2016 at 7:45 pm
This is a viable option, and no doubt they will put some scriptural spin on it – all evidence of bible prophecy being fulfilled and that we are deep in the last days, being attacked by Satan and apostates blah blah blah. No wonder they are promoting bunker videos, because they may need to lock whatever R&F are left in those bunkers to stop them hearing these things and leaving if this all comes to fruition!
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Winston Smith says:
June 26, 2016 at 12:51 pm
@Big B,
If they were to declare bankruptcy due to these lawsuits, they would be required liquidate certain assets and put a certain amount of money in trust for future claimants. At least that is the way it works in the business world if a company is sued for producing a faulty or harmful product.
WS
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Big B says:
June 27, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Thanks for the input W.S.
I don’t think they will get away Scott free and continued fines will certainly get cumbersome. The G.B. must do something soon, they cannot keep gouging the friends or the friends will wise up and start questioning where the monies for the ‘world wide work’ are going to.
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Minion says:
June 28, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Greetings to all:
At that point when The Watchtower Corporation files for bankruptcy. We will then become individually by name, ‘WS Creditor’, ‘big B Creditor’, ‘Lloyd Evans Creditor’, ‘FA75 Creditor’, ‘CF Creditor’ ‘D Creditor’, ‘Ma rkie Creditor’ ‘JR Creditor’, and 20 million +- others.
A creditor – by means of a donation or anything of value can be claim back. Its on the wording it implies and structured. We All become creditors and file a claim against The Watchtower Corporation.
* * Support The Worldwide Work * *
Peace out,
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Minion says:
June 28, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Greetings to all:
All active JWs and bible students need to ask, why all the attention given to the name – Jw.org?
Do a google on images of Jw.org and tell us what you see?
Be sure your in google, with: All, apps, videos, images,news, etc underneath the name google. Then tap or click on IMAGES, then enter on the web line, Jw.org. (enter)
What do you see?
Programming the sheep, to accept the new name Jw.org, because The Watchtower Corporation, the name and all the lawsuits will go bye-bye when The Watchtower Corporation files for bankruptcy. Its a business, what would you do?
Pay millions, perhaps billions of dollars in lawsuits, or file bankruptcy? You know the answer.
* * Support The Worldwide Work * *
Peace out,
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Steve McRoberts says:
June 25, 2016 at 11:34 am
I’m glad Watchtower is getting fined for hypocritically thumbing its nose at the law. But, for a multi-billion dollar corporation, I fear that $4,000 a day is inconsequential.
Too bad the court doesn’t double the fine every day. That would bring Watchtower to their knees well within the 30 days (because the fine would be over 2 trillion dollars a day by then). After only three weeks they’d have paid over 8 billion dollars to hide their secrets, and that would probably be enough to bankrupt them.
As it is, they’ll have only paid $120,000 at the end of 30 days. I’m guessing they won’t feel much pain from this (they can probably recoup it pretty quickly just from the kids’ ice-cream money), and they’ll simply pay this amount as a “cost of doing business” since they believe Armageddon is so close upon them.
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Covert Fade says:
June 25, 2016 at 4:11 pm
Remember, $4000 a day is the opening penalty. If they do not produce the documents after 30 days, the penalty will go up. And up and up.
This could be crushingly painful if they keep holding out.
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Doc Obvious says:
June 25, 2016 at 11:48 am
I agree that $4,000 per day is not going to do it. I would say $12,000 per day and their lawyer put in jail for contempt of court. If a lawyer gets put in jail for contempt too many times, the bar association may disbar him from practicing law. In this case for Watchtower. Then, they would have to pay for a “real” lawyer with “real” fees.
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Martin says:
June 25, 2016 at 12:51 pm
The anointed and GB, will not have to face the music as they believe just prior to The Great Tribulation they will be snatched off the earth to take their seat in heaven leaving the great crowd to preach the new message that it is too late for mankind, the symbolic door to the organisation will close similar to when the angel closed the door to Noah’s ark, then it will be the final battle to cleanse the earth.
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Prof. James Reaugh says:
June 25, 2016 at 12:53 pm
Love the money ticker at the end…great piece!
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Oubliette says:
June 25, 2016 at 1:21 pm
When I was a JW in the ’80s when the Catholic church scandal involving pedophiles was breaking, we would look at them and wag our fingers and shake our heads in disgust saying, “See, that just proves they are a false religion!”
Now the the light of truth is shining on the WTBTS we see that their actions are similarly negligent in protecting the innocent and their hypocrisy is therefore all the greater.
Look in the mirror JWs! Take a good long, hard look in the mirror. “Get out of her … if you do not want to share with her in her sins!” – Revelation 18:4
Oh, and one more thing – Let’s review: It’s a cult!
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SIRIUS says:
June 26, 2016 at 6:07 am
>>>we would look at them and wag our fingers and shake our heads in disgust saying, “See, that just proves they are a false religion!”
And that’s precisely why one should not defend a faith while bashing(my word) another. Just never know what’s lurking in the background. Considering what we know to date, it looks a lot worse just on per capita bases. Odd though, the poor door knocker had no clue what was happening at their HQ during the same time period… I guess spoonfeeding selective propaganda to the masses works.
IMHO
dogstar
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Winston Smith says:
June 26, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Or another way to say it. When you point your finger at someone, there are 3 pointing back.
Also in the words of Bo Didley: “Before you ‘cuse me, take a look at your self!”
WS
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Thinking of leaving says:
June 25, 2016 at 1:26 pm
The thing that really gets me is just how oblivious the R&F are to what is going on. I physically left the religion about 3 years ago and it has only been in the last couple of months that I have mustered up the courage to discuss this with my immediate family members just to be shot down as an apostate. While i am not a lawyer and nore do i live in the americas i think there are a lot of things going on here. I think it may be a bit late now to change the name to jw.org in order to get out of paying out. If this was possible then everyone would be doing it. The damage has been done.
If they can successfully do this and file bankruptcy on WTBTS then how do they explain it to the R&F, where jehovahs chariot ran out of speed because of lack of funds. I kind of wonder how long it will be before jw.org (or what ever the hell they want to be called) will be forced to go front page article in Wt with an apology and finally open up with full disclosure.
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Telescopium says:
June 25, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Thinking of Leaving,
“Jehovahs chariot ran out of speed because of lack of funds.”
This would be an awesome title for the final paper copy of the Watchtower (Study Edition).
Also, based on your comment, you could significantly shorten your screen name if you wish. Perhaps change it to “Left”.
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Hannah says:
June 26, 2016 at 7:58 pm
I appreciated this view on the subject: https://e-watchman.com/watchtowers-child-sacrifice-soon-end/
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Telescopium says:
June 25, 2016 at 2:08 pm
I think it’s interesting that out of all the social institutions the Organization comments about, the judicial branch receives the least condemnation. I wonder if this will continue, or if this new “persecution” will prompt a round of Rutherfordesque attacks against “Big Justice”.
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Mr Watchtower says:
June 25, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Bravo, Covert Fade.
Devastating as ever. It’s so frustrating to know that many will ignore or dismiss this. But for the ones who don’t, I can only imagine how conversations with their elders will go!
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Harry Cadanza says:
June 25, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Great article Covert Fade. The GB and the watchtower lawyers mishandling of their sex abuse cases in court reminds me of a word a comedian named Steven Colbert made up. “Truthiness” He said, “We are divided between those who think with their heads and those who know with their heart. Consider Harriet Miers. If you think about Harriet Miers, of course her nomination is absurd. But the President didn’t say he thought about his selection. He said this: “I know her heart.” Notice how he said nothing about her brain? He didn’t have to. He feels the truth about Harriet Miers.” –Stephen Colbert That quote could be about the GB.
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Harry Cadanza says:
June 25, 2016 at 5:00 pm
“Truthiness” is a word the comedian made up to describe those who refuse to think with their heads and say they know with their heart. The GB act like they are Gods. JWs are becoming Governing Bodyites. The rank and file aren’t allowed to see, hear or speak ill of watchtower. The rank and file closes their eyes to the sex abuse.
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Frederick says:
June 25, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Maybe Watchtower can start a new campaign, “Our international pedophile cover up is conducted on a donation basis”…
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GEM says:
June 25, 2016 at 5:36 pm
They have only to bag the $700 million from the Trump empire and they are off with it in the back of a truck up to Warwick.
Their message to the rest of the world is “Screw You”, as they ditch the old WT logo and emerge in a New Techno. Age as a squeaky clean and cleansed jw.org. Good riddance to folk like my Father who is so disillusioned he stopped attending meetings after giving 50 years as a faithful Elder.
My blood boils at how they have treated the Elderly.
Dad is going to his resting place shattered but still trying to speak up for all that he does know in his now bewildered and demented world. The older ones in his congregation are scrumming down in a Rugby ruck trying to get through this with Faith in tact. Sorry, my tears are just holding back…..
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Michele says:
June 25, 2016 at 10:31 pm
Wow. I’m so curious to hear about long standing jws leaving. I left about 10 years ago. My mom and brother are fully in. I wonder how many people are having doubts and see what’s happening or changing. Especially the older ones.
My dad recently passed away. He admitted to me in a conversation we had about 6 months before and he said he doesn’t always agree with everything they say. I found that comment shocking considering I knew he would never leave the org.
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cathy dodd says:
June 25, 2016 at 11:34 pm
michele,have a look at jwrecovery on fb,they are leaving in droves..new ones every day joining.i was a beleiver for 50 years..
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QuietObserver says:
June 25, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Good article Covert Fade. Enjoyed this one immensely. Now waiting with baited breath for the next installment. Like many here, I am upset by the R&F not knowing anything and how they are going to be blind-sided by this when it finally does blow open. Yet, it has to happen as the Org has left Jehovah and his son Jesus and put faith in the Legal and Accounting departments instead and run off down to figurative “Egypt” to save them.
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Eric Arthur Blair says:
June 25, 2016 at 7:41 pm
Any chance of some just-minded activist hacking into the Watchtower database and putting these documents in the public domain wikileaks style? That might solve the issue and bring them to their knees. And by that I mean held to account and forced to “repent and turn around.”
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Grace says:
June 25, 2016 at 9:18 pm
WOW! Just WOW!
This is the news that I’ve been waiting for!
This is why they are selling off. My gut has been telling me this for a while now.
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cathy dodd says:
June 25, 2016 at 11:40 pm
i do beleive the bunkers are for the gb to go hide in when the rapture begins lol cos heaven is certainly NOT where they will be going and they know it!a script comes to mind about “hiding in caves!?when wtbts is destroyed they will take what money is left and go run into hiding abandoning their poor little lambs…
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Joe Rizoli says:
June 26, 2016 at 2:39 am
I’m just curious, is the Watchtower taking the stand that the Catholic Church would take if a priest was asked to spill the beans and talk about people telling their sins to him in an ecclesiastical way? Wouldn’t that be a privilege of a religious institution promoting their cases to privacy?
In other words the WT would be looking at this like they were in a confessional capacity here and Constitutionally protected? Just an interesting question.
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SIRIUS says:
June 26, 2016 at 5:43 am
@Joe Rizoli
No expert on this but in my humble opinion. The WT organization’s outreach program is to consistently and constantly operate in the “worldly” relm. In essence, Man-made laws trump Jehovah’s laws. JWs may think they are shielded from the handiwork (precieved) of evil but they are not. Perhaps the true JWs should avoid all the perils of “worldly” assimilation and live like the Amish, Mennonite, Hutterites, etc. and acknowledge electricity & chromed car bumpers are Satan’s handiwork!
IMHO
dogstar
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Grace says:
June 26, 2016 at 3:26 pm
That “clergy privacy” argument was thrown out the door at the Royal Commission because it’s not confidential to just one Elder like the confessional to a priest. The persons information from the JC is handled by 3 Elders then passed on to the Bethel HQ in the country (that’s the protocol). It then gets passed from the Service Dpt. to the Legal Dpt. with god knows how many eyes looking upon the information.
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Keith says:
June 27, 2016 at 3:06 am
Good pick-up Grace. Confidentiality is not in the vocabulary, strangely, secrecy is though.
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Everyday Explorer says:
June 29, 2016 at 4:41 am
Absolutely factually correct and pertinent, Grace.
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Kay GH says:
June 26, 2016 at 4:18 am
I was reported to the Circuit Overseer, two weeks ago for using my smartphone to read from the platform and asking too many questions about the doctrines. Now they call me again yesterday to say if I continue to have doubts and not attend meeting on time i will be deleted as an MS. In fact an elder friend acknowledge that he does not agree with the org on blood fractions and organ transplants, even higher education. Upon meeting the Circuit Overseer, he said I forget some of this technical doctrines and focus on what our lives depends on basically Bible truths. That’s after admitting himself finding it hard to believe some of the talk outlines and teachings that he is authorised to deliver on his visits to the congregations. Please how far has the Royal commission gone on the CSA with regard to the JW? Thank you convert fade.
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Matias says:
June 26, 2016 at 7:36 pm
Wow great, you are fully awake, it seems, and still inside. I say the best you could do is, start going to meetings on time, stop that smartphone thing, basically don’t play the ‘rebel’ role, and use your strategical position to deliver information to the R&F, make them question the doctrines. Not an easy task, I know
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Deep Thought says:
June 26, 2016 at 5:57 am
When I mentioned the ARC to my father in-law last year he went into total denial and demanded to know where I got the information. Good thing it was on the news (where I first heard about it) and that the number of abusers was mentioned there also. He still didn’t believe, but did get real quiet after that.
So even if this Court Case and Fine is reported on the news, they will just look at it as persecution unfortunately.
When my in-laws family get together it is always “woe is me” and can’t wait for the new system. I think there comes a time when you have invested so much time and energy into something that it does not matter what is said or done, even if you know in your heart it is not true, it is all you got. Who am I to take away the only hope they have in the last years of their lives.
I think the cut off age is about 50 years old, after that your sorta stuck. Who wants to go out and make new friends and create a brand new social life at that age.
So while I do not see the Fine doing anything meaningful to draw away older members, what I do see is the younger ones (PEW Research) not joining up, and the other possibility is that the Fines (and maybe Bankruptcy) create a schism between the Watchtower Society (Legal) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (non-Legal). Which one do you choose and follow then?
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Quendi says:
June 26, 2016 at 12:12 pm
@Deep Thought
Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? I left the organization when I was 54 years old. I found a new life, new purpose and new friends. If you want them, they are there for the taking. As George Eliot wrote, “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” I have found that to certainly be true in my post-Witness life and am all the better for it.
Quendi
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John ship says:
June 26, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Im 72 have been wide awake for over a year .still have my faith in jesus .wife and most family in or i would DA by now. I think the GB are disgusting for keeping on with denial of the child abuse.i think it will bring them down ..but as been said most in the congregations just refuse to listen they have been forced into being unable to proccess any sort of info that is negative
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Active JW says:
June 26, 2016 at 6:05 am
I am an active Jehovah’s Witness I view myself as a sincere seeker of truth and it was in that light that I started to look up the information on the reported child abuse cases involving Jehovah’s Witnesses yes I will admit my attitude was that oh it’s Satan and his cohorts trying to bring reproach on Jehovah’s name and his earthly organization however the more I read legal documents and the more I heard and saw the governing body members how the address that issues……. I can’t even write down how I feel even writing this comment tears are running down my face the pain in my gut is excruciating what do I do next? Do I follow God’s advice keep testing the inspired expressions, search for the truth because the truth will set you free. I thought I had the truth
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Telescopium says:
June 26, 2016 at 8:03 am
Active JW,
Leaving the Organization was the most painful thing I ever dealt with in my entire life. There were feelings of betrayal, disgust, disappointment, hoplessness, and confusion.
You ask “What do I do next?” The following need not be taken in order, but hopefully can help.
1. Hang in there. It’s gonna be ok.
2. Find yourself. Find out who you really are. Find out what you like or what you don’t like, without the Watchtower blinders. If you like Metallica, listen to Metallica. If you want to do the Twist, do the Twist. FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE!
3. Keep learning. Do your research. We all thought we had the ‘Truth’. We believed it, dedicated our lives to it, sacrificed ourselves for it. We never questioned the information presented to us through the literature. The reality, though, is that there’s always two (or more) sides to every story. Find out what the other side is and weigh the information.
4. Do what you need to do. If it’s asking for a listening ear, seeking professional help, or sharing your experience, do it. Find people who won’t judge you! The biggest relief I experienced was confiding in a “worldly” friend. He and I had a good laugh at how ridiculous some Witness things are. Like the little tract on how to dress (or not to) when visiting Bethel.
The real person you are has been tucked away, hidden, ignored. Let that person out. Let them speak. Let them tell their story.
Begin living.
I hope this helps.
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Sarah says:
June 26, 2016 at 9:20 am
I left the organization because they made me seriously ill. There are secret letters for elders which contain secret rules. The Supreme Court in Ireland stated these rules were unlawful. The UK Charity Commission has that Supreme Court judgment.
However, I did not leave Jehovah. So do as you suggest and keep testing. Matt 23 is good or Matt 24:48-51.
For those interested in the UK Charity Commission I’m not allowed to say much yet while the investigation proceeds, but be assured the findings will be interesting.
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Lesley HUmphreys-Jones says:
June 26, 2016 at 4:02 pm
It is very true that you leave the Org and not Jehovah, I suffered tremendously in my old congregation and have slowly left. I have had contact with the Charities Commission myself but unfortunately Jonathan Sanders only wants to hear from victims from 2011 so I don’t qualify. Dear Sarah look after yourself and in coming forwards yourself you are part of an army of people brave enough to bring some comfort and a sense of justice to other people abused by this cult.
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Harry Cadanza says:
June 26, 2016 at 11:36 am
Active JW, after I became inactive I felt the way you do for about one year and three months. After that I returned to a meeting to see if going there would work for me. It didn’t feel like home any more. Now staying away from that makes me feel better. I feel calm. I’m easy going so I don’t worry about my family members who choose to be brain washed because I know from experience I know I can’t control them. I’m on friendly terms with my JW family but I rarely communicate with them any longer because they tell me I’m only allowed to talk about things I hear at the meetings, assemblies, in the literature or from jw.org. It’s my opinion I can visit them as long as I talk about nothing. What I’m trying to say is after time goes by you will end up feeling happier and happy with yourself. JWs aren’t happy because their minds are conflicted. The JW ‘truth’ smothers thinking. Then GB moves that process along. People are thinking, waking up and leaving. Those who stay in cause people they know to feel uncomfortable. They stir up things and then look at you like what’s your problem. I’m lucky, I left the religion, returned, found out how lame it really is and instead of my family rejecting me like they did in the past I find I have nothing in common with them. It’s easy for me to stay away from them because I want to. What I learned from this is,for me, it’s harder to be rejected and it’s easier to be the one doing the rejecting. I think that’s why I feel happy. I will always care about them. I will always be here for them if they need me. But I no longer feel I have to have their complete approval. I’m happy with living my life. You really will be a happier person in the long run. Getting away from my JW family and then returning to them helped me understand why I don’t want to be like them. They are miserable, praying for the end to come through harmagedon. That’s not happiness.
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Matias says:
June 26, 2016 at 7:54 pm
As for me, not only I don’t need their approval but I look forward to do/say things that will get me their disproval , enjoy that so much 😀
Reply
Celia says:
June 26, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Dear Active JW. Good for you!! Glad you decided to research for yourself. Just follow what the Bible teaches…that’s all. There are many ways to meet new people and stay socially engaged. Start with the community you live in. Right now it’s all a shock to you, as it was for me. It took about 6 months for me to get over the shock. I have been out almost two yrs. now, and I enjoy my life following bible principles. There is life after Watchtower, and it’s very good. 🙂
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Quendi says:
June 26, 2016 at 4:05 pm
@ Active JW
I understand your consternation and pain, but I hope you will forgive me if I am blunt and to the point. Quoting from the New World Translation rendering of 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Therefore get out from among them and separate yourselves and quit touching the unclean thing and I will take you in.”
There should be no fellowship, no association and no alliance with an organization that shields pedophiles from justice, coerces their victims into a shameful and destructive silence and condones other kinds of wrongdoing on a massive scale. That’s the standard the Governing Body hypocritically applies to any and all others, telling their followers that the world outside the organization is Satanic, demonized and fit only for complete and utter destruction. Considering the crimes the WTBTS has committed, such a judgment is what it has merited for itself.
You can move forward, and there is no reason to believe that staying with this organization will work for your lasting good. You may have to proceed with caution, and your progress may not be as rapid as you would like, but the alternative is to do nothing and see your life ebb away. You have many resources available for this journey not the least of whom is God himself. The cited scripture contains the promise of divine help and comfort. Please take advantage of it.
Quendi
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Hannah says:
June 26, 2016 at 8:04 pm
Dear sister, I was in tears too, until I read this book. It explained everything from a spiritual point of view and helped me understand how these things could be going on. It will help you keep your faith intact. http://jehovah-is-king.com/truth/
Reply
ruthlee says:
June 26, 2016 at 9:32 am
I asked my husband what he thought about all of this. The stupid answer was well there is a witch hunt on.So I did the Abraham Sodom reasoning . I said say there is one paedophile in each congregation so that would be around 100,000. Let’s halve it then again then again until we got to around 2500. Say out if them only half were guilty and the society policy was wrong and all those children had been raped and the names of the perpetrators hidden from justice. That still makes over 1000 victims of a genuine crime that should have genuine justice. So say there are “only” about 1000 real victims out of the 8m of today. I would hardly call it a witch hunt. These wilful men are co conspirators.They obviously like the lie. Lets say this is God’s organisation, run by Holy Spirit and has His full approval, well it has certainly gone to seed and they can expect the smashing instrument to start at the sanctuary and smash away at the head down. Or if it is not God’s organisation, then God is not one to be mocked, Whatever a man is sowing he will reap. And don’t we see a bumper crop of deviants that are being exposed. As has been said before, you cannot fix stupid. cheers all Ruthlee
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Matias says:
June 26, 2016 at 7:58 pm
Leave that stupid guy !
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ruthlee says:
June 27, 2016 at 12:31 am
Hi Matias. have thought about that on MANY occasions. The reason I stay is because I take the marriage vow seriously when it states “What God has Yoked together ,Let no man put apart.” I try to live up to because I honestly believe this org is hell bent on destroying the family unit. They work overtime on the shunning of children. Which most of us who married in khalls are products of the cult. And they busy the men with stupid stuff to take them away from their families. I call this a stupid selfish and greedy religion and my husband infuriates me, but I see a bigger picture here and if I did break my marriage it will not be by the watchtower’s foolish rules and reasonings. There must be thousands of marriages that could have been saved if the couples had had time for each other. I can’t begin to imagine the lost conversations and love between parents and children. What victims of war we have before us all down to a wicked cult that rode roughshod over the family, a divine institution. I’m not being naive many people should not stay together but I for my part don’t want to split my family because of cultish thinking,however if he goes to prison for his part in upholding a rotten system on his own backside be it!!!!! Ruthlee
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fallingangel75 says:
June 27, 2016 at 6:19 am
And, do you love him? I love my husband dearly in spite of the rift that has grown because we are religiously divided.
More than principles or vows or any sense of obligation – I genuinely adore my husband. He makes me laugh, he makes me smile – if I’m sad in the middle of the night and I leave the bedroom, he will wake from sleeping because he hears me crying and come to comfort me.
Everything else about our marriage is as good as I could ever expect.
I’m conflicted and frustrated often and speak of leaving him because of it, but I don’t really want to.
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ruthlee says:
June 27, 2016 at 12:03 pm
hi falling angel, yes I do he is my best friend and has been from the day we met. This is what is so heartbreaking because he is so entrenched in the cult and I have my eyes wide open. We are no longer spiritually compatible and for me that was always my priority. I genuinely thought he would wake up and see the religion for what it is but he has dug his heels in even more. He tries to resurrect my old bible studies and does more and more for the cult just to keep busy. All I can hope is that all his work and devotion gives him his panda and log cabin for eternity.unfortunatly I won’t be there so he will have to do with model number two. Meanwhile we keep our friendship going as best we can but we differ as to religious views. I am lucky because he has not dobbed me in but we will have to see after the summer convention. It is an unholy mess and I hope the boys in Brooklyn are happy that another family may go to the wall with their interference cheers all Ruthlee
fallingangel75 says:
June 27, 2016 at 7:42 pm
Ruthlee, I’m afraid of that. I’m hoping my husband will see, but I’m afraid he’ll dig in also, and redouble his efforts.
It’s been only 6 months since my awakening and total disillusionment, so it’s too soon to tell which way this will really go.
But, yes, our spiritual goals and anticipated rewards were always a really big part of our marriage bond.
We weren’t as active as some others, but we always had lively discussions about the study articles and Bible reading and talks we presented. We spent time planning how to help bible students.
All of that is over now. And it saddens me. On so many different levels.
It is nice to hear that you still love your husband and are not just resigned to staying with him. Although I know intimately that at times that makes it more painful.
If you didn’t love him, it would be easier to let go and not care.
Quendi says:
June 26, 2016 at 12:00 pm
The WTBTS is relying on the attitudes others have reported here: a willful and deliberate ignorance on the part of congregation officers about the evils being perpetrated by this organization and the gross naivete on the part of other Witnesses about the organization’s stance with respect to pedophilia and other wrongdoings like financial deception and mismanagement. While some Witnesses like Kay GH and Active JW are coming to the painful realization that the organization is a ‘ravenous wolf in sheep’s covering’ others deny, ignore and resist the truth.
As long as the large majority of Witnesses remain in the dark, the WTBTS is safe. The Governing Body is counting on this to maintain its control. So while some may acknowledge the truth of the situation, they stay with the comforting falsehood that the religion is “God’s earthly organization” and he will in time clean house. Meanwhile, they must exercise patience and “wait on Jehovah” to finally rectify matters. To do otherwise is to ‘run ahead of Jehovah’ and risk his disfavor on their attitudes and actions.
The Governing Body’s so far successful strategy has been to keep the membership in the dark. No mention of any of these legal problems is made in the literature, from the speaker’s platform or in any other Witness forum. So millions of Witnesses truly do not know what is going on in the upper echelons of the organization. The censorship the Governing Body imposes on its subordinate officers and others has been very effective in keeping most Witnesses ignorant of the pedophile crisis, the organization’s financial irregularities, workforce reductions and other problems. Invariably, however, the organization will have a day of reckoning. As Hosea 8:7 puts it so succinctly, “They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind.”
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Frankie's Market says:
June 26, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Wow! What information is so secret that the WT is willing defy court orders and pay a daily fine in order to keep redacted? Could it possibly be info that incriminates someone high up in the organization, maybe even one or more on the GB? If any of the GB gets taken down and has his mug shot taken, that would certainly send out shock waves. Good reporting as usual, Covert Fade. Keep up the good work!
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Average Joe says:
June 26, 2016 at 1:16 pm
My thoughts exactly. Very well explained.
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Matias says:
June 26, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Haha wishful thinking… Let’s hope that’s true, cross-fingers 🙂
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Eyes opened says:
June 26, 2016 at 4:01 pm
@Active JW
Many of us have had that distressing moment when we’ve said ” where will we go?” If not the Kingdom Hall then what church? Peter said to Jesus “Lord whom shall we go away to, you have sayings of everlasting life?”. Remember they didn’t have Kingdom Halls or churches. They met together as like minded individuals. The point is we don’t need a religion to follow Christ. We have his teachings available in the Bible if we want to follow them.
Regards
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Matias says:
June 26, 2016 at 8:22 pm
Or you could also not follow any fictional character and use your brains instead. Make up your own ethical system, compare and contrast with those of others, correct and repeat. Wonder about reality, learn some science, do research. Enjoy the inmense mystery of existence
Reply
Eyes opened says:
June 26, 2016 at 4:05 pm
Question??? Since the society owns so much real estate, do they owe money to any one? Is it possible for them to file bankruptcy? I’m not super informed about these things.
Regards
Reply
Wip it says:
June 26, 2016 at 5:16 pm
We have just had a case here exposed on the front page of the local paper, stating that the JW’s covered over the rape of a child, people sadly are now saying that Jehovah is changing the way we deal with child abuse, thats how brain dead these people are, they will believe anything the GB/WT say, i live for the day when this crooked org is brought to its knee’s.
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Winston Smith says:
June 26, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Luke 12:11-12 “Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”
So why are they resisting giving the documents to the courts and appearing before them? Wouldn’t this be a time to let the whole world see how they are guided by Holy Spirit? If they are truly God’s chosen organization, they should be willing to let the Holy Spirit work through them.
WS
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Outandabout says:
June 26, 2016 at 9:19 pm
My first reaction to this is that the fine of $4000 per day is far too small because they could find that sort of money in their car ashtray.
On the other hand, it sends them the message that the courts are deadly serious. They’re in the shit. If this goes on for too long and that fine get eye wateringly enormous, it will hit the papers. The public are used to institutional child abuse, but with that clock ticking….how long before a betting agency starts taking wagers and it goes viral.
I hope this fine at least doubles every month and they dig their heels in while they wait to be rescued by Jehovah.
Their arrogance and delusion was always going to be their downfall.
I wonder if they look with envy at the way the exclusive brethren cult have their sheep under lock and key.
Reply
ScotWm says:
June 26, 2016 at 9:39 pm
“They have even been caught trying to delay trials with tactics described by the Judge in the matter as “bad faith” and “abusive.”
Watchtower lawyers acting in bad faith? I find this interesting in view of the fact that the October 2016 Watchtower Study Edition is all about faith. As a matter of fact, the word “faith” appears in this issue 148 times.
This faith the Governing Body is talking about is based on the hope (31 times) that Jehovah (78 times) will protect his organization during its worldwide preaching of constantly changing Watchtower doctrine.
It will be interesting to see what effect incrementally increased monetary sanctions will have on these court proceedings. The initial $120 thousand for the first month will be nothing more than chump change for the Watchtower publishing company.
Oh, by the way, you sisters will be glad to know that nothing has changed as far as your station in life is concerned. This statement on page 20 pretty much sums it up: “Of course, a Christian wife should show respect for her husband whether he earns it or not.” —Gal. 5:22, 23.
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Sarah says:
June 26, 2016 at 11:40 pm
Thanks for all the support. Sometimes I think I ought to reply to a post but someone else does it better than I could. I’m doing everything I can to stop the abuse. If anything comes of it I’ll update.
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QuietObserver says:
June 27, 2016 at 12:16 am
Active JW, my heart aches for you. I understand exactly what you are going thru. Some advice that was given to me when I asked that question, “Where do we go from here?” was “Where are you now? Do you have a relationship with Jehovah? Isn’t that what being a ‘Witness” was supposed to be about? Then why do you need to go anywhere? Stay in that relationship with Jehovah. Don’t let anyone (especially Elders or the GB) get between you and Jehovah. Remember the scripture that says, ‘Stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah!’? You just hang on to his right hand and you will be ok. There was no religion in the garden of Eden and there is no religion in heaven now. You don’t need religion to have a strong healthy relationship with Jehovah.”
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James Broughton says:
June 27, 2016 at 4:48 am
Stirring Awake is spot on with those comments. I think it is right to challenge JWs on their statements which are quite hypocritical. How can they claim to be respectful of the law and continue to flout it? They should be held to account.
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Hakizimana J. de Dieu says:
June 27, 2016 at 6:45 am
I long for a day when Africa wakes up, too.
*** g01 4/8 pp. 28-29 Watching the World ***
Each year, 1 million rapes are committed in South Africa,” states World Press Review. This means that a rape is committed about every 30 seconds. The article notes that “South Africa has the world’s highest number of rapes that end with murder.” The number is 12 times higher than that for the United States, which is next on the list, although South Africa has a population of only 40 million. The article adds: “In other countries, people may rape you, rob you, or kill you. But in South Africa people will rape you before they kill you, almost just because you happen to be there. Rape occurs almost automatically in connection with other criminal acts.”
I hope one day the share of Jehovah’s Witnesses, direct or indirect will be put in light!
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Doc Obvious says:
June 27, 2016 at 6:54 am
A common statement in judicial systems worldwide. Watchtower, how would you like to pay for your immoral sex handling? The San Diego judicial system accepts the following forms of payment: cash, credit card, or check.
I cannot wait for another broadcast network from Stephen Lett on asking for more money and not stating the “real” reasons why.
Reply
Telescopium says:
June 28, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Ugh! Not another begging video! I might not survive sitting through another one!
Unfortunately, not everyone feels the way I do. Regarding your reference to Lett’s begging performance in May 2015, the 2016 Yearbook on page 14 says the following about JW Broadcasting:
How do Jehovah’s people feel about this new spiritual provision? Here are just a few of the many expressions of appreciation:
“This is one of the happiest evenings in my life! Tonight my wife and I watched the May 2015 program on JW Broadcasting, and my happiness cannot be described in words. This is one of the most precious gifts I have ever received from Jehovah. We thank the Governing Body and all the brothers and sisters who worked so hard on this wonderful spiritual provision.”
—Indonesia.
Who the heck would say something like this?!? And about the BEGGING video?!?
Something smells really fishy here…
Reply
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← The Worst Convention Ever – Part 4: Propaganda Movies
The Friday Column: To the newly shunned →
News Bulletin: Watchtower Found in Contempt of Court – Hit with $4000 Fine Per Day Until It Complies With Court Order
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Posted on June 25, 2016
campos-pedophileA few months ago, we reported on yet another in a long line of legal actions brought against the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for its now infamous and heavily criticized methods of handling accusations of child abuse inside its organisation.
Journalist Dorian Hargrove reported in the San Diego Reader on the lawsuit brought by abuse survivor Osbaldo Padron against Watchtower due to their alleged mishandling of sexual abuse committed against him by infamous Jehovah’s Witness serial sex offender Gonzalo Campos.
Campos is already the focus of multiple lawsuits against Watchtower from other victims, including abuse survivor Jose Lopez.
In his original article, which we reported on and analysed here, Hargrove wrote that part of the case against Watchtower was that its mishandling of the abuse inflicted on Padron by Lopez fit a far larger pattern of such behaviour from the organisation: a systemic failure to confront child molestation accusations in an effective manner, and a deliberate policy of not bringing such accusations to the attention of the authorities.
It was alleged that documents held by Watchtower proved this accusation; documents that list tens of thousands of alleged Jehovah’s Witness child molesters that the religion has failed to report or act upon, but has instead simply filed away.
Watchtower has confirmed the existence of these documents, but when ordered to produce them by the court in March 2015, they have provided them in an extremely redacted form, rendering them essentially useless to Padron’s legal team.
Therefore in April 2016, Padron’s legal team made a motion for the judge to apply sanctions against Watchtower for each day it refused to hand over unredacted documents.
Today, in a new article, Hargrove reports that the Judge has upheld this motion.
Reports Hargrove (bold is mine):
In March 2015, the church turned over a heavily redacted version of the letter. Opposing attorneys called the redactions excessive, rendering the document illegible. Judge Strauss then assigned a discovery referee to sit with the two sides. But having a referee involved didn’t solve matters. Repeatedly, the Watchtower Society has stated that it will not comply with the order.
“By the time of the hearing on the motion for sanctions, it will have been over a year since the initial order and almost three months since the [referee’s recommendation] was adopted,” reads Strauss’s ruling. “In the period since…Watchtower has shown no effort or willingness to comply with the discovery order.
“Based upon the history in this case and Watchtower’s statements…the court finds that Watchtower’s failure to comply is willful…Watchtower clearly has control over the documents it has already produced and could revise the redactions with regard to those documents. This is obviously and clearly within the scope of Watchtower’s powers which it chooses not to exercise. Continuing to repeat its prior unsuccessful arguments in opposition to the discovery order further illustrates Watchtower’s obstinacy in compliance.”
Those of us familiar with Watchtowers conduct when faced with legal enquiries into its child abuse policies will not be surprised to hear words such as “obstinacy” or “wilful failure” used when describing their court tactics. The last few years have seen Governing Body members flee in panic from chances to give testimony in support of their organisation, as well as senior Watchtower officials caught telling outright lies under oath in regard to this matter. They have even been caught trying to delay trials with tactics described by the Judge in the matter as “bad faith” and “abusive.”
Watchtower’s strategy often appears to be simple: lie, evade, stall.
In her ruling, Judge Strauss has decided to bring Watchtower’s stalling over this matter to a painful halt.
Court Documents obtained by JW Survey render the judgement thus:
“The court orders monetary sanctions of $2,000 per day for every day that Watchtower does not produce responsive documents and an additional $2,000 per day for every day that Watchtower does not search for responsive documents. In view of the acknowledged substantial net worth of Defendant, the court determines that the total daily amount of sanctions of $4,000 per day should be sufficient to determine if Defendant will comply with the discovery order and is not overly harsh.”
But this is just the first step. According to Court Documents, the Judge has also ruled:
“The court sets a status conference for July 22, 2016 to hear from the parties whether the monetary sanctions have been effective.”
This means that, should Watchtower fail to provide the documents by this date, the Judge can apply further sanctions. The pain will go up and up, until Watchtower either complies or is possibly even forced to forfeit their defense, if the events of another trial involving serial abuse Gonzalo Campos are any guideline.
Watchtower might repeatedly tell its followers that reports of it mishandling of child abuse are apostate lies, and that it has nothing to hide, but one only has to look to Watchtower’s conduct in the courtroom to see a very different side to the organisation.
It is not a side many honest-hearted Jehovah’s Witnesses would be comfortable to see.
We will of course keep you updated on further developments, as it seems clear this story is far from over. Will Watchtower produce these damning documents? How bad will the legal sanctions turn out to be?
It looks like we’re going to find out!
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← The Worst Convention Ever – Part 4: Propaganda Movies
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148 Responses to News Bulletin: Watchtower Found in Contempt of Court – Hit with $4000 Fine Per Day Until It Complies With Court Order
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Hakizimana J. de Dieu says:
June 27, 2016 at 7:17 am
In my country, DHS 2014-15 has shown a higher HIV Prevalence among Jehovah’s Witnesses women than “Christendom women”! It is 5.7%!
Also, they have a higher prevalence of “sexual Violence”!
I am afraid statistics may one day reveal that all these are associated with Bible Studies and preaching…
*** w12 8/15 p. 28 par. 13 Stand Firm and Avoid Satan’s Traps! ***
As part of his ministry, Daniel conducted five Bible studies with young men—three of whom got baptized. These newly baptized brothers needed considerable help. When Daniel was busy with his various theocratic assignments, Sarah often provided that help. Soon this pattern developed: Daniel’s former Bible students needed emotional support, and they received it from Sarah. She needed attention, and she got it from Daniel’s Bible students. A deadly trap had been set. “Months of my wife’s giving of herself drained her spiritually and emotionally,” says Daniel. “This, coupled with the fact that I had been neglecting her, led to a disastrous turn of events. My wife committed adultery with one of my former students. She had become spiritually weak right under my nose, and I was too concerned about all my privileges even to notice it.”
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Mitch Jensen says:
June 29, 2016 at 8:01 pm
The Watchtower Study Lesson dated 6/26/2016 at the District Convention in California had the Conductor tell the audience “Jehovah’s Witnesses are going to get rounded up soon, the United Nations has plans to eliminate the ‘Only True Religion’ so we need to keep our mouths quite when it comes to talking to the authorities of the World”. Members who attended this Convention were shocked, some said “I was terrified how creepy the World is turning, that’s why its never good to speak bad about the Organization”. Since I was four years old I heard the same garbage without factual based evidence.
Its fear mongering and scare tactics like this that allowed pedophiles to roam in my congregation for decades. Pedophile Elders, Servants and Rank and File all had access to small children because the Watchtower taught our Elders to handle everything In-house! Why would the Government want to get rid of all its low paid Jehovah Witness workers that pose no threat? What harm are they posing by standing as silent mutes next to little carts and trolleys nobody touches?
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Eric says:
July 5, 2016 at 3:41 am
This sounds like the Hilary Clinton e-mail cover up.
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rob says:
June 27, 2016 at 8:12 am
Interesting comments about the watchtower filing for bankruptcy. But if they did that, the assets that are now owned by the watchtower would subject to claims of creditors within that corporation. Transferring assets out of the corporation at this late date could be considered a reviewable transaction and could be overturned by the Court.
Also, for assets that were sold prior to the bankruptcy filing, the watchtower would have to provide an accounting of the funds and depending upon where the funds were allocated, there could be a judgement issued against any new corporation or entity that benefited from those funds.
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Big B says:
June 27, 2016 at 8:13 am
@Quendi;
“Meanwhile, they must exercise patience and “wait on Jehovah” to finally rectify matters. To do otherwise is to ‘run ahead of Jehovah’ and risk his disfavor on their attitudes and actions”.
Typical of the Watchtower using ‘1984’ Orwellian speak which translates as “do nothing”. If you wait on Jehovah to set matters straight, generations will come and go and you will certainly die of old age not seeing anything resolved.
God will certainly clean house (smash heads) and destroy this monstrosity of hypocrisy that dare’s to use his HOLY name for their twisted, corrupt, money extorting purposes.
What’s even worse, even if the sexual offender is dis-fellowshipped, they can still be reinstated to ply their perversion at the congregation again without the rank and file being forewarned!
Loved your comments they are right on target!
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Jacob says:
June 27, 2016 at 9:41 am
During the discussions on the 1st paragraph of this article that talks about being obedient to human authority i.e.; Government, court, etc. (Matt.22:21; Rom 13:1,2), the recent Contempt of Court decisions in San Diego penalizing Watchtower $4,000 per day for not producing documents related to a sexual abuse case come to mind. That’s hypocrisy at it’s best!
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Outandabout says:
June 27, 2016 at 12:23 pm
What’s to stop the WT from destroying most of the evidence and presenting a couple of thousand mild cases to the court and claiming ‘apostate lies and dishonesties’ for the rest?
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Big B says:
June 27, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Great question Outandabout:
The answer to your question is ‘absolutely nothing’.
People have pondered why President Richard M. Nixon didn’t destroy the White House tapes that plainly incriminated him and his administration for covering up the Watergate scandal. It certainly was an option open for him however, he didn’t do it at the very beginning and soon it was made evident by the Congressional hearing that there were tapes that existed.
Maybe the Watchtower is afraid that since the courts have testimony from other cases revealing that these files exist to destroy them at this time would be considered obstruction of justice along with evidence tampering that the WTBTS would be charged with. A serious jail time offense indeed.
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John Redwood says:
June 27, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Outandabout
While this might seem a logical strategy, willful destruction of documents pertaining to pertinent cases would likely result in criminal charges and would escalate these cases both in the courts and in the press. I don’t believe they would risk that kind of scandal, as it would extend well beyond “theocratic warfare” and would expose them on a level which would be difficult to ignore for many Witnesses. There would be a significant fallout as a result, both figuratively and literally
JR
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Big B says:
June 28, 2016 at 6:43 am
Absolutely, John.
The G.B. would have to completely ignore their attorney’s advice and to do so would put them in great legal peril.
Talk about fallout, how could anyone justify destroying records now that everyone knows that they have these documents going back decades of practicing pedophiles and their victims?
A better question might be: If the media gathers information about the current debacle and does a ’60 minute’ type expose on the Watchtower how in the world will the rank and file respond to defend the organization?
Certainly this would not be something I would want to defend door to door.
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BlindedByTheNewLight says:
July 6, 2016 at 4:57 am
Keep in mind, the WT has already admitted to having possession of these documents. In some states, if a party knowingly and willingly destroys evidence, the party can be sanctioned and the court may assume the evidence destroyed was harmful to the defense. They won’t destroy it. They will stall until they can’t stall any more.
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KTMmadBrit says:
June 27, 2016 at 1:28 pm
To all you who still believe the fairytale of God in your hearts. Grow up and face reality. He has NEVER answered a prayer. Not even his ‘son’s’!!!!
I left at age 50. I have too many friends to cope with. All you need to get over the JW ‘friendship’ thing (being nice to people who bore you sensless) is a fast sports motorcycle and a local club. Skiing is also a good therapy but not so many instant friends.As the Yanks say…Get a life.
Three clean-cut JW men just knocked at the door of my house here in Italy. I was pleasant but speak little Italian so no chance to engage them about the current issues. Yet a hundred local motorcyclists welcomed me with an award at lunch just for traveling from England! YOU DO NOT NEED THOSE PEOPLE.
Ladies. Dump the dumb husband. Find a soul-mate. Preferably with a fast bike!
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John Redwood says:
June 27, 2016 at 1:59 pm
KTMmadBrit
For the benefit of our readers, it must be stated that your comments are neither helpful nor kind to those who may be struggling with doubts inside the JW organization. These comments are incendiary and imply that those who believe in God are immature and do not have a “life.” While many of us are non-believers, we respect the rights of those with faith to believe as they wish without being ridiculed.
As the only “Yank” on the editorial staff, I would never stoop to advising our readers to “get a life.” Your insensitivity betrays your lack of understanding of what it means to grow up inside an organization such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, and you would be better served by learning how to make intelligent arguments to back your position in lieu of emotionally charged statements such as “grow up and face reality.” Also, I doubt many ladies will be impressed with your motorcycle “award” or the speed of your bike.
Sincerely,
JR
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M Saurus says:
June 28, 2016 at 1:16 pm
JR – some people are less tactful and more to the point than others. Some who are on the fence might benefit from a bit less coddling.
I don’t think KTM meant any harm.
And we won’t hold it against you that you are a “Yank” 🙂
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jwreality says:
June 28, 2016 at 12:03 am
That was one of the most pointless comments ive read here in a while. Some event in life has clearly left you a very bitter person.
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GEM says:
June 28, 2016 at 2:51 am
Nope….KTMmadBRIT…clearly has need of something bigger throbbing between his legs. He clearly suffers from an Inferiority complex and should be handled accordingly.. carefully, as with special needs.
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M Saurus says:
June 28, 2016 at 1:44 pm
What a nasty thing to say.
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Hakizimana says:
June 28, 2016 at 3:06 am
@jwreality, let us hope John Redwood did not face a “judiciary committee”!
This is what we can read from Watchtower library 2015:
*** w71 6/15 p. 359 Fear of God’s Anger is Wisdom ***
Still another human agency God uses at times to express his anger is the judiciary committee of a local Christian congregation, […] When this committee, in the discharge of its duties, excommunicates a willful wrongdoer, it is expressing God’s anger against a wrongdoer.
Alongside “judiciary committees”, Jehovah Witnesses believe “God has used a number of means to express his anger”:
1) “supernatural phenomena
– he destroyed the wicked in Noah’s day by a global flood.
– “He used fire from heaven to wipe out the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.”
– “He used various kinds of supernatural means to plague the Egyptians ten times and to destroy Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea.”
2) “the natural laws of retribution, of cause and effect…”
3) “human agencies to express his anger”
4) “local governments, “Caesar,” to serve as a means for expressing his anger against individual violators of proper human laws that harmonize with God’s laws
5) Chief of all instruments used by Jehovah God to express his anger against the wicked are Jesus Christ and his angelic army
If you fail to understand why JWs believe “God has used a number of means to express his anger” including “Judiciary Committee” you will never understand why the world is sinking in troubles…
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Hakizimana says:
June 28, 2016 at 3:08 am
Sorry, in my previous comment I wanted to name KTMmadBrit instead of John Redwood
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M Saurus says:
June 28, 2016 at 9:11 am
While he may have said it in a not-so-tactful manner, KTM is correct in that there is so much to do and so many friends to be made on the “outside” that people really should take the plunge, get out – and not be afraid or clinging to those on the inside for fear that there is nothing else for them. There is. Not necessarily a motorcycle, but you get the point.
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M Saurus says:
June 28, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Although the motorcycle life might not be for everyone, I do see your point. There are many friends to be found outside.
I personally don’t see how anyone, in good conscience, could stay in for any reason – family, friends, or whatever- after reading about this child abuse scandal.
Never mind the UN, the shunning, the constant “new light” (all of which are good reasons to leave).
Staying in an organization such as this because you might end up lonely, is hypocrisy at it’s finest. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see how someone could post here about how bad the org is then stand up and sing “kingdom” songs at a meeting and play a part….
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Search says:
June 28, 2016 at 8:41 pm
That’s an excellent point M Saurus. For many it just takes time depending on how many years they’ve been in the organization, if they have a family with children, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts etc etc. Its not a very easy thing to do unless you were df’d and still one day you want to be able to see & talk to them again in the near future. The last thing you want to happen to you is to be labeled an apostate. If your just awakening like myself, I’m looking for a way to just fade away and even that is difficult because the elders are constantly monitoring me to make sure everything is fine. I too have family in the Org & I don’t want to lose them. I believe that family comes 1st above all things. Slowly & surely I am trying to point out some of the major issues plaguing the org like the Royal commission and this court case in the U.S. among other doctrines J.Ws are teaching which have no scriptural backing like 1914 & the constant evolving generation understanding. Everyone, including myself will leave when the time is right..
Cheers
Search-T
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AussieneedingComfort says:
June 27, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Thank you John Redwood for your response to KTMmadBrit. I for one am not impressed by a motorcycle of any kind. Exhubby loved them, spent lots of time on the back of one….now…never again. Too much testosterone and ego in bikers for me!
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Sam says:
June 28, 2016 at 12:48 am
Why is the organisation simply not settling out of court? The cost and damage to it’s reputation by fighting surely is not worth it?
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Big B says:
June 28, 2016 at 7:32 am
@ Sam
The cost for settling out of court may be just as cost prohibitive as getting a bad verdict. How?
1. The Society has most of its funds in properties, stocks, bonds and other securities with little cash on hand in regular accounts, which takes time to get and depending on where the monies are located may charge penalties for early withdrawal.
In that scenario the Society would suffer twice, the payout to the victim and the penalty for early withdrawal of funds.
2. The Society is playing ‘Survivor’ (T.V. show in U.S.) whose motto is “Outplay, Outwit, Outlast” your opponent. Their pockets are deep and their attorneys are paid little (if at all). The victims, not so much.
3. The majority of Witnesses, a very great majority, don’t even know there is a problem or there is a battle going on. The WTBTS likes to keep its rank and file publishers FAT, DUMB, and HAPPY! It’s the old mushroom treatment:
‘Keep them in the dark, feed them manure, and when their heads get too big for their shoulders…lop them off!’
So far this battle strategy has worked wonderfully for them. The only way they can lose would be if more light shined onto these court cases through the News Media or government intervention (as per the Australian Royal Commission).
The problem with that scenario; only the major players would carry this story as there are so few Witnesses compared to the Catholic Church. As there are so few it’s almost not newsworthy (who cares about these dooms-day, delusional people anyway).
And as far as the government action, well it would take forever to get off their behinds to do something, and as Jehovah’s Witness don’t vote the politicians have nothing to fear at the ballot box for their inactivity.
Only if non-Witnesses (that do vote) petition the government about failure to report pedophiles would then maybe, just maybe the government will act to ‘protect and serve’ the community at large.
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ROBIN MILLER says:
June 28, 2016 at 11:17 am
You have a good way of looking at the whole picture. Especially the “Mushroom Treatment” – “‘Keep them in the dark, feed them manure, and when their heads get too big for their shoulders…lop them off” – I will have to remember that one! LOL.
robin/
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ROBIN MILLER says:
June 28, 2016 at 11:20 am
Also I agree with you on the way the Australian Royal Commission presented things.
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Eyes opened says:
June 28, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Great analysis. You’ve made it easy to reason on.
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Minion says:
June 28, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Greetings to all:
Damn good reads and perspectives. If your not a biker in London.
If our U.S. Government ever needed a distraction, a false flag, to steer away from the ‘real deal’ issues in The White House, I believe they would send ops to California courts and press the issue on The Watchtower Corporation. Headlines coverage on TV, newspapers, radio, worldwide coverage.
What can you do? Send a copy of this article to your local ‘House Representative’, ‘Senator’, and Congress person.
* * Support The Worldwide Work * *
Peace out,
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Erin says:
June 28, 2016 at 8:20 am
I too am a victim of such crimes and cover-up. I am one of many siblings that also were abused and covered up. I will a test and give a written statement if it helps this case.
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Sarah says:
June 30, 2016 at 12:03 am
If you believe you can do it then please do. Sometimes retelling what happened to you can restart the nightmares. Sometimes it’s a good thing to tell what happened. It all depends on how you cope. Be assured we are thinking of you although that’s not much help.
It’s the covering up that is the big problem, apart from it happening in the first place.
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M Saurus says:
June 28, 2016 at 1:32 pm
As far as a bankruptcy goes, not sure how it works for a business, but for personal… ACTUAL damages can be included in a bankruptcy, but PUNITIVE cannot. They must be paid in full to whoever obtains the judgement.
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Harry Cadanza says:
June 28, 2016 at 3:22 pm
The organization deserves what is about to happen to them with being in contempt of court. Personally I feel the problem is with the organization’s attitudes. They use emotional blackmail and are overly controlling in an unhealthy way with member’s minds. For example that is why Candis Conti’s mom didn’t go to the police and went to the elder’s instead. For me the issue isn’t religion or no religion. For me the issue is the abusive control WTBTS has over it’s members. I’d like to rescue the members. I take my eighty eight year old aunt to the baptist church when I visit her. I went to a funeral at the catholic church when a coworker passed away even though my JW family cringed. I don’t like being told what to do when its unreasonable. I’m going to go to whatever church I want to, when I want to, if that’s hypocritical, so what. I don’t need anyone’s approval. I’m a big boy now. And I’m not interested in winning people’s approval. I stay away from those attitudes. That’s why I left the religion. The issue for me isn’t religious. I can go to whatever church I want to whenever I want to and that’s my right. I don’t have to listen to objections. The issue for me is the organization is controlling and they’ve gotten ABUSIVE. For them, being found in contempt, is the tip of the iceburg. Just the beginning. The reason people are leaving the JWs is because the organization’s hold has tightened so much, people are shooting away. For me the issue is the organization’s unhealthy rules and attitudes. Religion isn’t the issue for me. People are going to believe what they want. I’m glad they are being looked at. The real truth always has a way of coming out in the long run. For the JWs some of them are going to be surprised. It’s all starting to come out. One of these days there will be a biogrophy on TV about their child abuse cover up. This case will take on a life of it’s own.
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Winston Smith says:
June 28, 2016 at 4:39 pm
@Harry,
One thing is certain: their mind control practices and child abuse cover ups are contemptible (contempt of court or no). Kudos on not letting the org or your JW family have a hold on you or control your actions.
WS
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Big B says:
June 28, 2016 at 5:22 pm
@ Harry Cadanza
Great points indeed. The WTBTS is a twisted bunch of control freaks without a doubt. There are only two things that motivate those seven mental dwarfs namely; power over people and money. Oh yeah, especially the money.
They don’t give one pinch of owl dung for their adherents suffering from the effects of pedophilia and other abuse. The treasure lost in abuse cases, Jesus Christ, now that’s something totally different! A million dollars here, a million dollars there, soon you’re talking about REAL money.
Oh my what can we do? Cover-up, hide, discourage reporting, when all else fails payoff the victim. Do not go to court or if you do wear the victim out with legal foot dragging. Let them (the courts) beg for evidence and take your dear sweet time finding the stuff, by God.
I have watched peoples faces in disbelief when I’ve told them what actions the “church” would or could take if they found out that I (as a member at the time) celebrated national holidays, displayed the flag on your house on those holidays, observed religious holidays, set up decorations for those religious holidays, etc.
The results of those conversations were a mixture of both disbelief and pity. Glad I’m gone and will never return!
To all others, in or out of the organization, heed the admonition of the angel in mid-heaven: “Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues”. Rev. 18:4
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twistedsister69 says:
June 28, 2016 at 7:40 pm
This is off-topic, but I would like to provide more ammunition against the WTS. I’m also curious as to whether anyone else has witnessed this. I’m talking about racism among Jehovah’s Witnesses. Of course we all know the organization is controlled by 6 old white farts and 1 token black. But when I was growing up (I refuse to reveal my age lol), there were quite a few older German Witnesses in my congregation (some who were elders and servants), and from time to time, in private settings, I would hear a rather disturbing comment about Jewish people. Not only that, but they seemed to have passed on these attitudes to their children. Of course this confused me, since as we all know, Christianity is supposed to be about love, and the JW’s claim to be the “bestest” Christians of all. Everything is either about Jehovah, Jesus, or love, love, love. From the pulpit, racism was preached to be a definite no-no. Later, I came to know a young Witness man who had moved to the big city from a predominantly white community. He happened to fall in love with a young black Witness. However, he gave in to pressure from family, friends, and his “home” congregation, and did not marry her. They all disapproved, simply because the girl was black. Now, any Witness will be disfellowshipped for a major “sin” like smoking, gambling, fornication, alcoholism, homosexuality, etc. But Jesus’ (new) commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” is second only to “love Jehovah with your whole soul,…”. So wouldn’t racism be at least as grave of a sin as smoking or gambling??? I mean, I’m sure any of those people would call 9-1-1 if they saw a black person or Jew lying in the street, but Jesus didn’t say “love your neighbor a little”, but “AS YOURSELF”. That leaves NO room for racism. Yet how is it that the Watchtower Society tolerates racist attitudes, even in their elders, servants, and who knows, even higher up, maybe all the way to the top? I’ve heard arguments that “different people mature at different rates, etc”, but no Witness ever defends a gambler, smoker, or alcoholic that way. It’s “shape up or you’re OUT!” In fact, I would think racism would be one of the easiest “habits” to kick once a person begins a bible study. Then would come the tough stuff, chemical and psychological addictions like drugs, smoking, gambling, etc. There is absolutely NO leeway for those things. Once a person is ready for baptism, they MUST be free of those things. So why is racism tolerated? Next to loving Jehovah, loving your neighbor AS YOURSELF is the GREATEST commandment. Love neighbor. Love your brothers. Love. How can racism be tolerated in an organization that is all about LOVE??? Maybe I’m making the proverbial mountain out of the proverbial molehill. Perhaps my experience was an isolated case. But given the kind of organization Jehovah’s Witnesses are, I seriously doubt it. Once again, I apologize for going off-topic, but this is a subject I would like to see addressed, because If I’m right, it could open up a whole new can of worms, and shed even more (new) light on the hypocrisy of that despicable cult.
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Harry Cadanza says:
June 28, 2016 at 8:47 pm
I honestly haven’t seen that here in Fremont, California around here I’ve seen many, many, many mixed race marriages black, white, brown, white at the kingdon hall and at assemblies. I was born in the religion and I never heard anything negative said about jews. My father encouraged my brother to date a black sister. Maybe the atmosphere is different around here in the bay area.
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Quendi says:
June 28, 2016 at 9:38 pm
Racism among Jehovah’s Witnesses is a big problem. Before I go further, let me say that I am black and the majority of my experiences with Witnesses was with predominantly white congregations in Colorado where I was treated fairly and had many friends–some of whom were the closest I ever had. Much of that was due to the racial climate in metropolitan Denver which was open and welcoming. The Witnesses here reflected those feelings as well and interracial marriages were honored and respected.
The history of the organization itself on this question, however, is decidedly checkered. C.T. Russell definitely thought people of color to be inferior to whites and J.F. Rutherford was an unreconstructed racist as his private dealings and speech made abundantly clear. Despite this, black Americans were particularly drawn to the religion in the 1920s and 1930s with many going into the colporteur (pioneer) work especially in the American South. The first Witness study group and congregation in Birmingham, Alabama was started by blacks. In fact that congregation, the Graymont Congregation, was the one I associated with for four years and was known as Birmingham’s “mother congregation.”
So while black folk were welcome, they weren’t given much in the way of responsibilities and privileges as the religion grew and spread. In the American South, the WTBTS went along with the Jim Crow laws and established segregated Witness congregations. There were segregated circuits and these circuits had separate circuit overseers. The only integrated gatherings were the district and international conventions.
The congregation I originally associated with in Tuscaloosa, Alabama had only recently been integrated when I started attending meetings in 1974. White elders were sent there to help with covering territory and handling congregation responsibilities. They and their spouses were made to feel wanted and welcome and we got along well enough. But not everyone was happy with the new arrangement as the Society began integrating congregations and circuits in the South and there was plenty of grumbling on both sides of the color line as the “mixing” went forward.
I have been told by more than a few that while the WTBTS publicly embraced integration, and men of color served in responsible positions, matters at HQ were different. Assignments at Brooklyn Bethel seemed to follow a distinct pattern with black Witnesses being assigned to tasks and duties that were for the less-skilled. Few ever held down major administrative positions and as has been noted, until the elevation of Sam Herd to the Governing Body, none ever held positions in the highest circles of power. It also should be noted that Asians and other non-European descended men have been shut out as well. I never saw any anti-Semitic behavior among the Witnesses I knew, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.
The bottom line to this is that the WTBTS “talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk.” The composition of the Governing Body is proof of this and there is no reason to believe this will change in the near future. The answer to challenges about the racial makeup of WTBTS hierarchy the organization makes is that since these people are selected through holy spirit, God’s will is manifest and we should not complain. When Jehovah sees fit to make a change, then change will come. But given the racism that was part and parcel of the organization’s founding in the nineteenth century, only the most simple-minded would ever believe that the organization’s current structure in any way reflects the divine will.
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John Redwood says:
June 29, 2016 at 8:12 am
Quendi
Good comment. You might find this article of interest on this topic, as it mentions Herd. I believe Herd has made some passive aggressive comments in speeches which seem to indicate that he has a personal ax to grind, where his position as a GB member is a matter of great pride for him; a badge of honor for rising to the top of an organization amidst a world where racism is still a problem
http://avoidjw.org/2015/10/racial-segregation/
JR
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Quendi says:
June 29, 2016 at 11:30 am
Thanks, John, for the link. I found the reading most interesting and am in full agreement with its conclusions. I’d also like to append another example of the WTBTS doing nothing to promote equality, justice and a better world today.
Back in 1995, Black America was undergoing tremendous turmoil. Black men were being disproportionately murdered, discriminated against, becoming crime perpetrators, school dropouts, making up major segments in prison populations and other ills. It was finally decided to point out to black men that we are responsible for our own welfare and that of our loved ones. To call attention to this, the Million Man March was born.
One of my brothers participated in the mass demonstration in Washington D.C. on 16 October 1995. It was the largest gathering of black men in American history. Marchers were told to go home and get actively involved in their communities, families and religious organizations. We were told we had to be better husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and brothers. We should nurture, mentor and guide our young black men so that they could avoid the situations and circumstances that could only lead to their eventual destruction.
Now it turned out that a number of black Witness men participated in this march. What did these men hear when they returned home? Praise? Questions about what they had learned? What counsel did they have for the local congregation and how could it be implemented? Why no. Instead they were told that the MMM was a political ploy and they should have had nothing to do with it. “God’s Kingdom” was the solution to overcoming the serious problems young black men faced, not some gathering where men talked, encouraged one another, learned and shared ideas of how to help their sons, grandsons, nephews, cousins and brothers.
You’d think that since the organization is losing two out of every three young people born into it by the time they reach adulthood, the returning marchers would have been welcomed with open arms and their experiences eagerly listened to. You’d think that seeing the serious attrition rate among Witnesses, WTBTS leadership both locally and globally would have thought there were lessons to be learned from the March. Instead, Witness marchers were censured and marginalized. That attitude speaks volumes about the WTBTS attitude toward addressing inequality, injustice and serious issues around human growth and development. But then, what else should we expect from an execrable cult like this one?
Reply
Sarah says:
June 30, 2016 at 12:18 am
JR: Samuel Herd spoke to me years ago. I did not agree with him and a few days later he gave a nationwide talk and slammed women stating that there are ‘no queen bees’ in the organization. I wrote to the WT stating that I did not expect GB members to be perfect but I did expect them to know the scriptures.
I know many black people who are highly intelligent, lovely people, so my axe with S Herd is nothing to do with his colour.
Reply
fallingangel75 says:
June 29, 2016 at 11:28 pm
@Quendi: I’m going to say it again. You are one of my favorite people here. I love your insights. 🙂
Reply
Search says:
June 28, 2016 at 9:46 pm
Hey twistedsister69, I used to like some of their music back in the 80s lol. Racism has always existed throughout the ages. Racism exists even among people of the same colour, race, ethnicity, community, family, neighbourhood wherever you may go.. I could go on & on. Now like you said are J.W.s any different or better when I comes to this matter? Their supposed to be, that’s what they preach & print in their literature. Most kingdom halls in urban areas are very multicultural. Its nice to see the mix, so you think. Unfortunately, from my 40 yrs of experience most of those congregations tend to be the most dysfunctional above all. Very clicky, people tend to cling to their language group or colour. The disunity & coldness that exists those halls is terrible. Now twisted69, to answer your question, can the problem of Racism be addressed or fixed in the org ? The answer is no, it cant. The main reason is that you cant fix a problem that no one wants to address or admit to. The elders & members will never admit to it because it will bring great shame to the org. In addition, the org will never admit of the problem, and if there is, its an isolated case. To cover up a bad problem, all they have to do is dissolve the cong & remove or dis fellowship elders & members if need be. Now when problems arise would they make mention of it via the broadcast or printed material? Of course not, because in J.w land everything is peachy, rosy, fine & dandy, we are Gods people. God is blessing us, nothing could every go wrong.. blah, blah blah. Everyone hearing It & reading it will believe it. If we think other religions are bad for being naïve, I think were one of worse. There was a Mafia movie a few years ago, I don’t remember the title, but in J.W land, if things go wrong & bad, the attitude to have is to keep your mouth shut & you wont get hurt.
Cheers
Search
Reply
fallingangel75 says:
June 29, 2016 at 3:18 am
Also, realistically, racism is an extremely complex issue. The debate is raging here in the US about racial equality, profiling, systemic and institutional racism, etc.
It runs very deep and touches every area of life. Those on the receiving end of mistreatment can’t forget or ignore it because they are faced with it in some way every day.
Those who are privileged to belong to a majority race and/or class can pretend or deny it doesn’t exist, or at the very least claim that the affected are exaggerating their disadvantages.
Racism is institutional and generational. It is passed down through families. I’m all for calling the organization out on hypocrisy, but I feel like this is one where they just had to pick their battles.
There is regular counsel on not displaying prejudice and racist tendencies, but I think it is very hard to enforce discipline about it because attitudes are very entrenched.
And as someone else said, a lot of it depends on where you live. It’s not a big deal in some areas, but in other areas it’s a huge problem.
I’ve lived in places where interracial marriages and families were so common, no one ever batted an eyelash and all the families from different countries and backgrounds mingled.
And I’ve lived in places where there was a distinct separation of ‘us’ and ‘them’ and even though everyone went to the same hall, there was not much mixing of the races socially because it was not the habit in the area and people genuinely felt like they had nothing in common.
Interracial relationships were discouraged, but ultimately not prohibited. The younger generation just decided to do what they wanted in that respect and many unions came of it.
But overall, and among the older ones, one group looked down on the other group and the feeling of prejudice was tangible.
I’ve lived in the American South – the Deep South where racism is strong and alive and well. I was in a mixed race group visiting seldom worked territory a few years ago.
Yes, in the 2000s!
The local witnesses told us that in certain communities we should segregate our car groups. That we might be subjected to violence if we were seen riding around together in the rural territory.
We were shocked! Like: what year is this?
We had more than one interracial couple and that was frowned on in the community. An interracial couple in the congregation had had their house vandalized and subsequently burned down a couple of months before we arrived.
They moved away.
The friends were warm and loving and welcoming, but they were in an area where hate ran deep.
It was an agricultural community and economically depressed. Most people had family land and farms and couldn’tafford to move away to somewhere else more progressive and accepting.
I’m 100% supportive of interracial couples, but I understand how living in a place like that where you might have your house burned down or your car trashed would make you self-segregate for self-protection.
I understand how you might not want your child to marry someone from another race because of the real problems they would face.
Of course, what I describe is different from actually believing people of other races are inferior and not worthy.
That attitude exists as well.
When I was in, I really did think that the attitudes and experiences and beliefs that foster and perpetuate racism would have to be left to Jehovah to fix in the new system.
While we’re all imperfect and struggling there’s only so much headway we can expect to make. That was my thought and why I didn’t expect the congregation to do more to end and/or expose racist behaviors.
I think some JWs ignore the problem and don’t acknowledge it at all. I’ve met many who are in total denial of their own privilege and prejudice. And I have met others who are completely, unapologetically racist.
But I think a lot of people at all levels of the organization have simply decided to do the best they can on a personal level and leave it in Jehovah’s hands to fix.
Reply
Quendi says:
June 29, 2016 at 9:03 am
Fallingangel75,
Thanks for sharing your perspective and experience with respect to racism among Jehovah’s Witnesses. They mirror mine, particularly in the years I lived in the Deep South. The racial climate was one among many reasons I moved away, a move I never regretted.
Life in Colorado was much better for me in that regard. I arrived here in 1981 and have had many wonderful experiences. Then, in 2012, I returned to Alabama to recover from the Great Recession and become a caregiver for my aged mother. I had all but forgotten to view life through the prism of race but the nine months I spent in Birmingham reacquainted me with this with almost brutal force. Circumstances allowed me to return “home” to Colorado in 2013 and I seized the opportunity with both hands.
As you astutely put it, local circumstances, history and culture have done much to shape people’s attitudes on this vital question and Witnesses are no exception to this. Many have made changes in their outlook and have opened their minds and hearts to other people willingly and lovingly. And yes, the WTBTS in the past decided to “go along to get along” as it thought it important to establish Witness communities in the region that might otherwise never have come into being.
Still, when the Jim Crow laws were finally repealed by legislatures and/or struck down by the courts, the Society was slow to act. The resistance on the part of local Witnesses–both black and white–had a lot to do with this, but as I reflected above, the WTBTS was far from enlightened in the racial makeup of its headquarters staff. So while the literature might have urged Witnesses to adopt a truly Christ-like attitude on racial questions, the organization’s own leadership was hardly in a hurry to do so. And don’t think this wasn’t noticed by others who would rightly point out that they also should be reluctant to make changes when they saw integration given short shrift by the Governing Body and the U.S. branch office. As Chaucer put it so well, “If gold should rust, what shall iron do?”
Reply
Hakizimana says:
June 29, 2016 at 7:16 am
I see why you are disappointed! You do not have enough information about Racism and Christianity.
Ponder on the following:
*** jy chap. 57 p. 138 par. 4 Jesus Cures a Girl and a Deaf Man ***
Apparently to test her faith, Jesus alludes to the Jews’ negative view of people of other nationalities: “It is not right to take the bread of the children and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15:26) In speaking of “little dogs,” or puppies, Jesus reveals his tender feelings toward non-Jews.
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Winston Smith says:
June 29, 2016 at 8:14 am
I’ll add in regards to racism, that Rutherford was known for making antisemite comments and even tried to show Hitler that no Jews were contributors to the Watchtower Society. See http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/hitler-nazi.php.
As FA75 and others have commented, racism is a real problem, not just in JW circles, but in many others as well. I was once in seldom-worked territory in an all white congregation in the Midwest. Some African American friends from a neighboring congregation came to work door-to-door with us. I was told by the local elders not to let the African American friends work alone – they said the KKK was strong in that area. So, sadly, racism is alive and well in the USA, JW or not.
WS
Reply
ruthlee says:
June 29, 2016 at 11:03 am
with regards to racism ,in my parents time 50’s and 60’s their mixed marriage was frowned upon and he was blighted by his colour. The difference today in my predominantly white cong is that they have no choice. Generally speaking the black bro are more willing to do the work so they have to use them. As my imperious mother would have said “you cannot get the staff”. I think younger people are more accepting thank heavens. I was born in the 60’s and mixed raced unions were not really accepted and children definitely ostracised. Ruthlee
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LJ says:
June 28, 2016 at 8:32 pm
Love how your keeping count.
Reply
ruthlee says:
June 29, 2016 at 12:46 am
I would love to know the figure correlation of those who came in from preaching cold calling, as compared to those born in and the revolving door of disfellowshipped people. Its a bit like belly buttons are you an inny or an outie? all down to the whim of the midwife! cheers Ruthlee
Reply
nullandvoidboy says:
June 29, 2016 at 5:04 am
My comment will be about WTBTS possibly claiming bankruptcy/chapter 11….as I’ve seen a couple of comments on it, I wanted to google some facts….what have other religions done?
One only has to google “catholic dioceses bankruptcy sexual abuse”…there’s your answer.
Yes they can…if they see the writing on the wall, expect this move. Only those who have filed lawsuits will be settled up with. Future lawsuits under WTBTS can’t be brought to court….Only new abuse allegations that happen under the new corporate entity, which I assume will be jw.org, can be brought to a court…all the old stuff is wiped away…..if it hasn’t been filed before the chapter 11 occurs.
You think they haven’t been moving assets, all along, so when this day came they wouldn’t be forced to give up that money? They’re not going to move assets now….but they’ve probably been anticipating the day when they do file chapter 11…so I would assume, a hefty sum has been tucked away….just like Jesus would’ve done.
You think jw.org wasn’t developed, just for this scenario? Don’t be naive…..this multi headed hydra will not die quickly….they are taking the same pages from the catholic church play book….they’ll tell the rank & file some BS new light crap, and unfortunately get away with it…..if it rolls out that way, my blood will boil.
Reply
Big B says:
June 29, 2016 at 8:07 am
@nullandvoidboy
Thanks for research into the Chapter 11. It’s just as I have believed all along. Personally, I feel that the mental dwarfs in corporate H.Q. (Governing Body, et als) have been shuffling/changing properties and accounts to jw.org for some time now. There may be a time sensitive deadline for doing this transfer legally but don’t think for a second that their attorneys don’t watch the clock to see when the deadlines are.
One ray of light in this be-darkened scenario: If the two witness rule is not removed in favor of the ‘girl raped in the field with no witnesses’ as in the Law covenant (Deuteronomy 22:23-29), then changing the name to jw.org will do them no long term good. As you stated ‘Future lawsuits under WTBTS can’t be brought to court….Only new abuse allegations that happen under the new corporate entity’.
Then as the ‘mushroom treatment’ is implemented the rank and file will be kept in the dark and fed some more manure (NEW LIGHT) to keep them in check.
However, please don’t believe that all of the Witnesses will be fooled. Those that want answers and seek the truth will find it and those that want to stay blinded to ‘the truth about the TRUTH’ will remain so. As the old proverb states:
‘There are none so blind as those that REFUSE to see.’
Reply
nullandvoidboy says:
June 29, 2016 at 2:27 pm
@ Big B
Yes….I know that new allegations will form under the new corporate entity, but that obviously means new victims, which really sucks….the bad thing is all the lawsuits that would’ve come out, one after the other….like a boxer caught in the corner getting vicious body blows till they go down for the count…I wanted to see that happen to them…I wanted to see victims receive justice and vindication…..now all they can get is whatever is left in the pool of money watctower decides to leave behind
Reply
Big B says:
June 29, 2016 at 4:36 pm
@ nullandvoidboy
Yes, hopefully more victims will come forward before the door finally shuts them out forever.
A heartfelt message respectfully to all, now is the time for victims of Watchtower abuse to grow a spine. It’s time to either fish or cut bait! Time to take back your lives and report your victimization to the proper authorities or continue as helpless victims with the perpetrators (pedophiles) still having control over your ruined lives as well as others put in harms way.
Truly a sad, sorry, pathetic situation if this is allowed to happen.
Please dear friend contact an attorney or an abuse hotline now, for pity sake! Take back your life!
Reply
nullandvoidboy says:
June 29, 2016 at 6:42 pm
@Big B
Yes, victims need to let their voices be heard now…..but the sad truth is this….no matter how many victims come out, before they would claim chapter11….as soon as they file it, NONE of the cases will be heard….not a one! They will divvy up whatever WT says they have….so if it’s 150 million, then all of it gets divided, among them…obviously the more claims, the less each person gets…..but the enraging part is, they don’t get to tell their story…they don’t get their day in court….wt turns into JW.org and it’s water under the bridge
twistedsister69 says:
June 29, 2016 at 4:24 pm
Wow. I did not expect such a wide response. Thank you everyone. Just confirms what we all already knew: All that “no part of the world” stuff is a load of bullcrap. Jehovah’s Witnesses obviously sway “hither and thither” with the prevailing winds, just like most of the people of “the world” whom they are so quick to criticize. JDubs in a racist region seem to tend to practice / display racism. JDubs in a more metropolitan, multicultural setting, not so much. No need to wake up Walter Cronkite. lol Let’s keep up the pressure on these folks and find EVERY chink in their armor!
PS That stuff about all the restructuring, renaming, and Chapter 11, is quite an eye-opener. I mean, if I read it correctly, all that tactical maneuvering (not to mention all the court mumbojumbo) in the face of rising litigation, points to one thing: The Watchtower Society is indeed GUILTY AS SIN. If they really were the innocent little angels, “victims” of “apostate lies” they would have the public / legal system believe they are, would all this two-stepping be necessary???
Reply
nullandvoidboy says:
June 29, 2016 at 6:52 pm
@twistedsister69,
We were watching this contempt of court order thinking….crazy like a door knob? Ends up being more like, crazy like a fox…
The attorny’s who run wt (and you know they do) know what they’re doing. A last ditch effort to see what they can get away with…if heavily redacted papers work, then great….oh…ok…that didn’t work….get slapped with contempt of court, pay 4 grand a day….ok, we can handle that……if the judge makes it financially non viable, then pull the rip cord and eject out of the flaming plane……and use the parachute of chapter 11 to wipe away all of the problems….just like the fairy tale flood did to humanity…I wish I could laugh at that last sentence, but I will be extremely angry if it plays out that way
Reply
Winston Smith says:
June 29, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Keep in mind that bankruptcy must be overseen by the courts – it’s not just they decide to declare bankruptcy and all is forgiven. The courts must determine the legitimacy of their filing and determine the appropriate fundings toward any existing and potential creditors. And in the case where so many child abuse cases are coming against this entity, you can be sure the courts will put them under high scrutiny. A large corporation like Watchtower declaring bankruptcy is much different than an individual. Any consideration of bankruptcy does not put them out of the woods by a long shot. I speak from being connected to two corporations that have filed bankruptcy for one reason or another.
WS
Reply
Outandabout says:
June 29, 2016 at 10:05 pm
Sounds good, Winston.
Reply
nullandvoidboy says:
June 30, 2016 at 4:23 am
@winston smith
The Catholic church is bigger than wt and they orchestrated dioceses in the USA who were going to get slammed, and it worked….and they saw the writing on the wall and over the course of years funneled money away…look up the dioceses in Minnesota….and the courts question all the financial records….and they had explanations, since the funds were “accounted” for…and they got away with it…..so don’t think wt doesn’t know that..they aren’t figuring it out as they go along…they have plans A, B, C etc….it’s not that hard to screw people over using the laws of the land
Reply
Quendi says:
June 30, 2016 at 3:24 pm
I absolutely concur with you on this, nullandvoidboy. The WTBTS legal department is well aware of developments that would affect any action they want to take. I don’t doubt that the department is in close touch with their opposite numbers in the Catholic Church and its dioceses. We know they joined forces with the Jimmy Swaggert ministries years ago when it was being investigated for taxes the government wanted to collect on literature it was selling. The Society even filed an amicus curiae brief during the litigation and when Swaggert lost, the Society’s reaction was to introduce the “donation” arrangement in its canvassing work rather than asking a set price for its literature.
They keep a close eye on those matters which might directly impact the organization and its different organs. Look at how they separated the office of president of the Society from the Governing Body and other organizational changes to escape tighter government regulation and oversight. They tell the rank-and-file that these adjustments reflect theocratic direction. They are nothing of the kind, of course. Such changes are driven by political reality, not divine direction.
Quendi
Harry Cadanza says:
June 30, 2016 at 5:55 pm
@twistedsister69, You might be interested, In the August 15, 2000 Watchtower, pp 4-7 under The Only Way to Eradicate Hate and under the heading, “What Would Jesus Have Done?” it reads in June 1998, three white men in rural Texas in the United States attacked James Byrd, Jr., a black man. They took him to a remote, desolate area, beat him, and chained his legs together. Then they attached him to a pickup truck and dragged him three miles[5 km] down the road until his body hit a culvert. This has been dubbed the decade’s (1990’s) most horrific hate crime. Three sisters of James Byrd are Jehovah’s Witnesses. How do they feel about the perpetrators of this horrible crime? (The rest of the article didn’t make me feel better.) It was to generic.
Reply
rob says:
June 30, 2016 at 7:44 am
A Bankruptcy Trustee has significant powers with respect to the review of all financial records of a corporation and will look into any transfer of assets. If it is determined that the transfer was done in a way to defeat the creditors, the court could reverse the transaction. Unfortunately this reversal could be tied up in the courts for a long duration.
But remind me again – How is it that God is directing this religion? A religion that now appears to be mired in legal problems, child abuse lawsuits, and court fines.
Hopefully this will situation will be widely broadcast through the news media and will grab the attention of the members, who are still obviously in denial about this entire mess.
Reply
Nullandvoidboy says:
June 30, 2016 at 8:55 am
I do understand that transfer of assets will certainly be scrutinized by a trustee…..but if they been moving assets for years, and they can account for it, then there’s a problem…..besides, don’t they make begging videos, obviously claiming they’re cash strapped? What gets my ire is if they use the laws of the land to minimize damage…..I liken them to an ever changing virus….fighting to survive and infect through mutation.
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Outandabout says:
June 30, 2016 at 7:36 pm
I can’t see this being widely broadcast yet though Rob, unless an unusual twist is added that grabs the attention of a news hungry network or reporter.
Hopefully, the mental dwarfs with their arrogance and delusion will provide that twist.
Like I mentioned earlier, the public is used to institutional child abuse and would probably be quite ho-hum about all this. The average Joe on the street still thinks the JW’s are just a bunch of nicely dressed deluded folk who annoy them on a Saturday morning.
But if that fine keeps ticking away and becomes public, that may cause some discussion and get people wondering just what is going on and “what are they trying to hide”.
Wouldn’t it be sweet if a counter appeared in the corner of TV screens…. just steadily ticking away while watching your favourite show. That certainly wouldn’t look good for the worlds happiest, family strengthening, god chosen organisation with the lowest divorce rate and which claims to totally respect the rights of the individual and then proves that by killing newborns before they even have a chance to speak and ‘be sure of all things’. The killing of babies and the rape of children while protecting their abusers is not a good look. This needs air time.
Refusing a blood transfusion is not just a simple matter of free choice. You have a person in hospital in a weakened and confused state and in come the Blood Goons whispering words to the effect: “you have to die, you have to die”, into your ear. Aided suicide.
It’s a sickness that needs eradicating.
Lets review: It’s a Death Cult. People actually die. When you become a JW, you have bought a lottery ticket for premature death.
End of rant.
Reply
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← News Bulletin: Watchtower Found in Contempt of Court – Hit with $4000 Fine Per Day Until It Complies With Court Order
21st Century Christian martyrdom: Tony Morris praises JW boy who died refusing blood →
The Friday Column: To the newly shunned
Posted on July 1, 2016
comfortLike many ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of my family will soon be attending the 2016 convention entitled “Remain Loyal to Jehovah.”
Dubbed #worstconventionever by many in the ex-JW community, this convention features a number of videos and talks that will serve to further indoctrinate Watchtower’s followers and cause family strife.
Starting today, July 1 2016, my parents will attend the convention in the American Midwest. This afternoon, they will see a video that portrays a fictional character name Sonja who is disfellowshipped after she starts a romantic relationship with a nonbeliever she meets at work. This video shows the parents forcing Sonja out her family home and cutting all ties with her (even ignoring her phone calls) for fifteen years until she decides to seek reinstatement in the organization and is part part of a talk entitled “Shun Unrepentant Wrongdoers.”
I personally have a lot in common with Sonja. As a born-in Witness who left the organization without remorse, I have felt the sting of total shunning. My parents and only sister refuse to be a part of my life and by extension that of my daughter. Like Sonja, I have had to make a life of my own. Due to the fact that I refuse to follow the edicts of the Governing Body, I have been made an outcast by those who should love me most in this world.
Over the past fourteen years (one less than Sonja) I have had to come to terms with the fact that my family members truly are the victims of undue influence and may never be free of Watchtower’s grasp. Through a great deal of reading on websites like JWSurvey and JWFacts, and in books like Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan I have come to understand that Watchtower is a harmful controlling group that will stop at nothing to gain and keep its followers. It is clear to me that this year’s convention is one step further in their efforts to control the thoughts and behaviors of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. Indeed, this talk also appears to tighten the rules on dealing with so-called faders, making it even harder to leave the Organisation with one’s family ties intact.
For many ex-JWs, the commands of this talk, both direct and implied, have caused great trauma. The fact that Sonja’s calls go unanswered seems to be in direct conflict with previous Watchtower guidelines. JW.org still has an article online that says:
“Although there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter, any such contact should be kept to a minimum.”
How do the parents in this video know that Sonja is not calling with an emergency? How can Watchtower possibly teach that ignoring phone calls is a loving provision?
Coping with shunning
screen-shot-2012-02-23-at-4-10-04-amSince the leak of this video and others being shown at the 2016 convention, my social media feeds have been peppered with posts by many in the ex-Witness community who are distraught over what this directive from Watchtower has done or will do to the already strained family relationships they may have managed to keep. I have seen children who are now being completely ignored by parents, parents who are being shut out of the lives of their children and grandchildren, and more. So many disfellowshipped and even inactive Witnesses are being harmed by this new brand of JW propaganda, even those who have gone to great lengths to come to agreements that keep at least some lines of communication open with those they love most.
To those of you just now facing the pain of total ostracism, I want you to know that you are not alone. There are many of us who are dealing with what you are now facing. Please don’t think that you have done anything wrong by leaving Watchtower and its harmful teachings. Wherever you are on your journey away from Watchtower, know that there are others like you who understand what you may be now experiencing. I encourage you to reach out on social media or to the people who truly do show you unconditional love for comfort.
In addition, there is a sort of peace that comes with understanding that your family is not hateful by nature, but that they have been unduly influenced by Watchtower to believe that they are doing the right thing by shunning you. Please take the time to research mind-control so you can understand what is really happening to your family. Just like you, there is always a chance that they may wake up, be free of influence and reunite with you.
Even if that doesn’t happen though, you can still find comfort in the fact that you have made the right choice and that you no longer support an organization that causes so much harm.
You are free.
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135 Responses to The Friday Column: To the newly shunned
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Oubliette says:
July 1, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Jeni, thanks for writing this very compassionate piece.
The pain of being shunned by one’s own family is one of the most difficult things to deal with, as you well know. The worst part is that it is all so unnecessary.
When someone leaves a high-control, authoritarian group they need emotional support and understanding. For better or worse, the are many of us that have been through this and can offer that support to those that are, as you call them, “the newly shunned.”
And while social media and on-line support forums can offer some consolation and direct people to resources for healing, many of those forums are filled with broken, hurt and very angry individuals that still betray many of the negative and hurtful attitudes and behaviors of the very groups they condemn.
It is important to build a social network of people that love you for WHO you are and not WHAT you (pretend to) believe. This takes time.
It also takes time and a lot of hard work to confront the many false and mistaken beliefs we once held to dear, beliefs which are the root cause of many of our own negative thoughts and behaviors. We need to identify them and replace them with positive, healthy beliefs.
We also need to mourn the loss of our family and friends that have abandoned us in favor of a religion run by corrupt hypocrites. There is much healing that needs to be done.
Again, Jeni, thanks for your kind and compassionate words.
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Brenda Johnson says:
July 1, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Thank you for your very well thought out article ,and supportive words.
I think this years convention will be causing more than the usual havoc on ex-JW and their JW relations. No matter how prepared you think you are for shunning it still causes heart ache and pain .
How is it that some people can freely see how wrong it is to emotionally blackmail their children ,and others never see ? Perplexing …
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Steve McRoberts says:
July 1, 2016 at 12:19 pm
My heart goes out to all victims of this cruel, totalitarian religion, both inside and outside the organization. What evil entity could possibly come between the strong bond that exists within a family? Only a mind-controlling cult. It’s so sad that so many people give the governing body such absolute power over their lives — to the point where it usurps even their inherent love for those closest to them.
There is not even a biblical mandate for doing so; quite the opposite, in fact: Luke 12:57;Rom 13:8-10;1 Cor. 7:23
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Mama Joy says:
July 1, 2016 at 12:23 pm
The Good Samaritan was an apostate too.
Jesus was about breaking the rules to show love.
I’ve been married for 21 years and was disfellowshipped for spending the night at an unbelieving boys house (my husband of 21 years). I never had sex until after I was disfellowshipped for them not believing that nothing happened. My children grew up with no grandparents, aunts, or cousins because of this. The harsh militant judgement and unforgiveness from the JW ensure that I will NEVER go back to this group. They have shown me their fruits.
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Winston Smith says:
July 1, 2016 at 2:46 pm
So still no contact after over two decades? How do they think they can call themselves followers of Christ and yet refuse to forgive? There are so many scriptural principles that they are ignoring, they are too many to mention. Only a totalitarian cult can produce such results in its members.
WS
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Mama Joy says:
July 1, 2016 at 7:40 pm
Yes. No contact. I have no idea how they are doing. I do not even have their address and their phone number is probably old too.
I could be dead and they would never know since I live elsewhere. I’m sure I’m no longer in the will. I’ve had to survive on my own, thankfully I have my husband.
It’s as if everyone from my childhood died in the titanic. This I know is not from God.
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Sarah says:
July 2, 2016 at 12:42 am
Another example of injustice and false accusation. WT forces people out of the organization and leaves them trying to cope with the injustice on their own. I agree – not from God.
It’s odd though. Forcing people out is not in WT’s best interests. A kingdom divided against itself . . .
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Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 10:36 am
Sarah,
With all rules and regs that they can disfellowship for, I wonder if someday we will get to the point where there are more exJWs than active JWs.
WS
Amber says:
July 2, 2016 at 3:11 pm
You took the words right out of my mouth! My self-righteous JW parents live right across the street from me, yet my mom only speaks to me if it has something to do with my 10 year old son. Otherwise, when he’s away with his dad for several weeks, I don’t hear a peep. I’ve suffered depression from being raised in this cult & could be lying dead in my apartment, and they would’nt even know it! And the ironic part is I – the “non-christian” still can’t bring myself to release my hurt & resentment on them & their sick cult, because I actually have compassion for them, and dont want to destroy their “hope” even though I know its total BS.
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Maggie says:
July 1, 2016 at 7:43 pm
Shunning is an interesting strategy.
Divide and conquer! The same strategy which is constant as us the strategy used by he opposing team of Babylon the Great. Think of the wiles of the political systems around the world and how they set one people’s against another in rivalry. Whites against blacks, Christians against Muslims, One country against another in warfare and also in sport etc., all planned and used to cause disent and chaos. It brings disharmony around the world. It brings hatred and suffering. Same emotional wounds, just different sources. I saw a JW court case on YouTube, where an elder denied that shunning happened, he totally lied under oath. But I know it exists because as I witness years ago, I was told to shun certain ones in the congregation.
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Athlyn says:
July 3, 2016 at 2:33 pm
And I’ll bet they didn’t have two witnesses to prove you spent the night at the boy’s house. Interesting that when it comes to sexual predators, they rely on that rule to wiggle out of reporting them, but in your case, you were judged without two witnesses and with zero evidence.
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James Broughton says:
July 1, 2016 at 12:36 pm
On Friday evening in the UK I watched the Danish TV programme ‘Dicta’, about a fictional crime reporter in Arrhus, Denmark. It opened with a flashback to when she was a teenager giving birth to an illegitimate child who was subsequently taken away from her. Returning to modern day, she was seen outside a Kingdom Hall and attempted to greet her parents whom she had not seen since then. They refused to have anything to do with her, presumably because she had been disfellowshipped, and the door was closed in her face. I have no idea how it will turn out for Dicte but it is interesting that owing to the success of the series perhaps many people who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses will learn how repulsive this cult is.
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Cedars says:
July 1, 2016 at 12:50 pm
A brilliant article Jeni, full of soul and sensitivity. Thank you for this!
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Cait Hutton says:
July 1, 2016 at 1:05 pm
It has been 12 years since I left the religion and my parents and siblings. I left willingly and gladly – the hypocrisy all around me, the holier than thou attitudes, and the “shepherds” inability or unwillingness to protect or lead fairly were all just the icing on the cake of me being an agnostic since the age of six. My mother tried to maintain contact with me, mostly calling me once a year to invite me to the memorial, but once she had her first grandchild, even this little bit of human contact that I craved stopped dead. I hear what you are saying, and I’m a social work major with a minor in psychology and have done a lot of research into cult mindsets and mind control organizations, but I can’t help but be incredibly angry at those who are supposed to love me unconditionally who view me now as some sort of dangerous entity. I have yet to find a counselor that understands much of this element of my background (which also includes a great deal of physical abuse) but I am just recently opening up my mind to “apostate” websites and social media forums and it’s really helping me feel not so alone and misunderstood.
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Ocma says:
July 1, 2016 at 11:53 pm
I feel for you Cait.
I’ve been out for ten years and mostly feel very good about it, but, sometimes my anger over it all boils up. The anger over treatment received by those so called Christians, is very hard to let go. That they act like hypocrites and so unloving, yet I’m the one who is not worthy of association? Man.
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Concorde says:
July 1, 2016 at 1:26 pm
The scriptures do tell us not to commit fornication, adultery,be confirmed drunkards etc etc. When someone is practising such things the scriptures do say not to greet that person. However, what they don’t say is to ignore that person, possibly for decades after these sins have been committed. In fact, how can a family know what sort of life their relative is now living if they have nothing to do with them? How are they to know if they are sick and need help and more particularly if they refuse to even take their telephone calls? I read in a WT years ago that it was ok to help a disfellowshipped person mend a car puncture if they had got it going to a meeting and if that ruling is still in force is it not slightly ironic that a sick disfellowshipped relative cannot be given needed help? To me it sounds like one of the rules that the Pharisees might have made.
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Sarah says:
July 2, 2016 at 12:47 am
Your family responsibilities still remain even if someone leads a life which in your opinion is not good. Love is more effective than shunning.
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Paul says:
July 1, 2016 at 1:33 pm
Thank you Jeni, your comments are very comforting and much appreciated.
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JBob says:
July 1, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Get over it!
–all the little outspoken, covert faders out there in the dark who made this punishment come down… Covert? do they even know what that means?
lmfao
Whether you’re “active” or “faded,” this group can come up with various reasons to isolate you from family and ostracize you. You could be “marked” as an in-good-standing JW and the congregation and family could have you at a distance.
There are some who remark that this never happened to them, they had friends who accepted them and their “free nature” but were you really accepted? Were you invited to the inner-circle dinners with CO’s, DO’s and those “icons” or the “secret” elder-wives and MS-wives dinners? or, were you naively happy with your “running buddies” who had no clout, no “organizational” power–thus, your current state of discontent?
The cut-off from the insidious trickling of day-to-day videos and outrageous statements coming out of HQ should be a welcome change. When I initially faded, I found my BP spiking with every issue of Watchtower/Awake due to the “cognitive dissonance”.
In terms of the nuclear weapon the Wt seems to be “testing” and being isolated from family, for those who “believe” the verse at Isaiah 54:17.
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Andrea Kosh says:
July 1, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Least I’m not alone….
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Schnufti says:
July 1, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Thank you so much for your articles. Me and my husband woke up in April, mostly thanks to jwsurvey. Now we can’t stand going to meetings anymore and are considering sending a letter to the elders to declare us inactive. We don’t want to dissassociate but to fade and just be left in peace.
What worries me most is not the part about shunning, but I’m so afraid to hurt and dissapoint my parents. Although I love my parents, we don’t really have much contact with each other. The last time I saw them was in October. Sometimes we whatsapp (every 2 months or so) but also then mostly just exchange facts, hardly talking about our feelings or worries. we had never had such a relationship and I think neither me or my parents know about what to talk when we speak to each other. I guess it wouldn’t make a big difference if they would shun me because our contact has never been that intense. But it breaks my heart imagining they being heartbroken, especially my mother. I hope we can fade while preventing to them that everything is okay, but I fear in the end they will find out. I am worrying that the elders will hunt us and ask questions and find out that we are apostates and disfellowship us (even if we won’t spread what we have found out except to my husband’s mother and grandma).
It gives us comfort and strength though reading your articles and watching the videos. Thank you so much for your work!
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Schnufti says:
July 1, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Now that I read it again, my comment seems a bit off-topic. Sorry :-/
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Joe says:
July 1, 2016 at 3:47 pm
Hi everyone, I’m very sorry you’ve been shun by your families. What you need to understand is that your parents made conscious decisions to cut off from you. IT IS NOT ORGANISATION POLICY. I wrote a while ago extensively on this issue. While it’s true that body of elders encourage believing relatives to completely shunned dis fellowship family members; it’s in stark contrast to what the organisation policy states. There is an appendix in the Gods Love Book that references a comprehensive questions from readers in the September 15 1981 Watchtower pages pages 26-30. Cedars would love continuously suppress that article because it’s not consistent with some views he perpetuate. Anyone who says the 1981 article is old need to go to a nearby college to get a decent education about referencing because it’s not my job.
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Grace says:
July 1, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Joe,
You are insulting the intelligence of everyone here.
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Joe says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:06 pm
I’m not, I’m just questioning the objective reasoning people associate with very clear principles. It annoys me as an educator when people deliberately mis construed principles to suit their objectives.
Joe says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Hi Grace, I understand your frustration, we do agree on some points and I clearly understand your point, double standards. It shouldn’t be that way, it was not written that way, unfortunately it’s implemented by a hand full of people that way. I’ve had a dis fellowship uncle before and I use to catch up with him for a meal once or twice a month. When the elders came to talk to me about it I send them to read the article I reference earlier and they never came back. I’ve been in the truth for a very long time of my short life, I’m still very active and will continue to be. I know what I’m saying. The point is exercising sound judgment on the principle of minimum contact. Dis fellowshiping does not BREAK family ties only religious ties regardless of where the person lives.
Joe says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Regarding the videos, people should view them objectively. If you watch those videos carefully all it tells the listener is what a particular family did in a particular situation; it doesn’t in anyway impose that particular course of action on every other family. Yes even though it’s suggest that particular course of action maybe or could be the spiritual way of doing things, it doesn’t implicitly impose it on everybody. From that perspective, it’s highly discretionary as to what course of action a family chooses next. Thats how I look at it, I mean people are different but I’m still amazed as to why no one have explained it in this light on this forum. It’s extraordinary, isn’t it?
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Grace says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Joe,
I don’t want to take over this article by debating with you so I will just say two things.
The WT is clever with its double-speak. The suggestion that it makes on one hand is to… not even say “hello” to such ones as this would develop into a CONVERSATION. Gosh! We wouldn’t want that would we?
Yet on the other hand, you can go about your family business. How confusing for the person reading this.
As for that video, they could’ve taken the high road with that video of the mother not answering her daughters phone call but they didn’t. A normal, loving mother would answer her child’s call. Instead, they took the lowest, down-right, unloving route that a parent could make…don’t answer the phone. What a disgusting example to use. All that did was show the cold-heartedness that a loyal follower of “Jehovah” should make.
The WT’s clever use of linguistics leaves you with the impression that if you do speak to ones that are disfellowshipped or whatever….YOU ARE BEING DISLOYAL TO JEHOVAH.
What choice then does the member have? When they believe that their own salvation hangs in the balance as to whether they are speaking or not speaking to someone DF’d, DA’d, Faded etc. I speak from experience & many here can too that when you see a Witness in the street, they don’t know whether to speak to me or not. I make the first move to greet them & I’m not DF’d or DA’d. Just a fader.
Winston Smith says:
July 1, 2016 at 8:08 pm
Grace,
Joe just doesn’t get it. He wants to see what he wants to see. And he seems to have taken a lesson from the Watchtower society: all the blame is placed on the members, the org bears no guilt.
WS
Mandy Parnell says:
July 2, 2016 at 2:55 am
The presiding overseer saw my mother eating with us (two disfellowshipped sons, one faded daughter and my husband) and pulled her into the back room. It was a warning. She was basically told not to let it happen again. This coming from a man who is the Presiding Overseer of the congregation whose own faded son visits and sleeps in the same room with his girlfriend of ten years. They will dictate our lives to us and do what they like with their own.
Saʀa walker says:
July 2, 2016 at 4:35 am
Wɛʟʟ saɨɖ Jօɛ. Bɨʀɖs օʄ a ʄɛatɦɛʀ ʊsʊaʟʟʏ ʄʟօċҡ tօɢɛtɦɛʀ. Aռɖ ʏօʊ aʀɛ aɮsօʟʊtɛʟʏ ċօʀʀɛċt, ʏօʊ aʀɛ ռօt ʀɛsքօռsɨɮʟɛ ʄօʀ օռɛs aɮɨʟɨtʏ tօ ċօʍքʀɛɦɛռɖ tɦɛ ċօʍքʟɛxɨtʏ օʀ sɨʍքʟɨċɨtʏ օʄ a ʍattɛʀ. Wɦɛռ ɛʍօtɨօռs ɮɛċօʍɛ ɨռʋօʟʋɛɖ sօʍɛ ɦaʋɛ tɦɛ tɛռɖɛռċʏ tօ tɦɨռҡ աɨtɦ tɦɛɨʀ ɛʍօtɨօռs ɨռstɛaɖ օʄ tʀʏɨռɢ tօ sɛɛ օʊʀ aɖʍɨt աʀօռɢ ɖօɨռɢ. Aռɖ ռօt ɛʋɛʀʏօռɛ ɖɛaʟs աɨtɦ ɛʋɛʀʏ sɨtʊatɨօռ tɦɛ saʍɛ.
Wɦɨʟɛ sօʍɛ քaʀɛռts ʍaʏ aɖʍօռɨsɦ a ċɦɨʟɖ ʄօʀ ɮɛɨռɢ ɖɨsօɮɛɖɨɛռt, աɦɨʟɛ aռօtɦɛʀ ʍaʏ ʄɨռɖ taʟҡ tօ tɦɛʍ aɮօʊt աɦat ɦaքքɛռɛɖ ɨs a ɮɛttɛʀ sօʟʊtɨօռ.
I tɦɨռҡ ɨʄ քɛօքʟɛ աօʊʟɖ stօք ɮɛɨռɢ sօ ɛʍօtɨօռaʟ tɦɛʏ ċօʊʟɖ ʍaҡɛ ɮɛttɛʀ ʝʊɖɢʍɛռts.
Chantal says:
July 2, 2016 at 9:27 pm
Joe, you are so correct on some points, as in Watchtower written stance on family association with DF ones. I refer to Shepard the Flock manual. But I totally disagree with your assessment of the videos. They are insidious, mind control propoganda. I am a born in 60 year with total experience in this organization. And by the way, if you are still active, attending meetings, why are you on this website?
Mama Joy says:
July 3, 2016 at 11:57 pm
Shunning isn’t about the disfellowshipped person, it’s about keeping people in fear.
Jesus searched for lost sheep, not kicked them out.
Since they really believe they are Gods ONLY WAY to salvation, then kicking out some sinners (not all sinners because we are all sinners) is a way to keep out people who question them, rebel against the made up rules, and have a hard time believing that they are Gods only chosen people to survive a genocide.
It’s to keep out the smart ones who question things. They only want obedient people.
According to the JW rules:
-the Good Samaritan apostate should be avoided.
– the harlot shouldn’t be spoken to until she proves herself worthy after months or years of meeting with the apostles and showing up to his sermons.
– the Apostles should not stay in people’s homes, but instead should go door to door.
– the numerous holidays that Jesus grew up celebrating as a Jew, Mary and Joseph should have been disfellowshipped over.
– Mary should have been disfellowshipped for conceiving a child out of wedlock.
– Jesus should not have offered the bread and wine to everyone in the crowd but only the 144,000 and should have been called into an elders meeting for it.
– Peter should have lost his privileges in the congregation for betraying Jesus.
– and more.
Mandy Greenaway says:
July 2, 2016 at 10:12 am
Joe, I hope you never find yourself in the position of being shunned. It feels very callous to read from you that the way people are being made to feel is a result of misconstrued information and lack of education. While you may have valid points, you yourself are missing the point of the feelings of shunned family members being expressed here. It feels like you are blaming the people being shunned and the ones shunning them. The “god like” organization should be receiving the blame. I do watch the videos. The members of the organization watching the videos are not being told to view them objectively. They are being presented as fact or a rule. I hear what people are taking from these videos and not one of them has said anything about objectivity. They have all said the governing body has made it clear I need to shun any unbelievers. I understand you may feel you are viewing the videos objectively but you are still viewing them with a JW mindset. That’s a one sided view point. Also I find myself somewhat perplexed that you are even perusing this website if you “have been in the truth for a very long time, and are still very active and will continue to be.” Are you here because you yourself have doubts? If not, then even reading articles on this website is in direct disobedience to the governing body who says not to waste your time on these kinds of things. You should be on their website. Just a few of the thoughts I have had reading your comments lately. Have a wonderful day!
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MM says:
July 2, 2016 at 11:12 am
Hi Mandy,
I’m not going to use my real name on here, but you know me. Our parents grew up together, and so did we for a time. I used to get hand me down clothes from you. I recently started following you on Instagram again as I just opened up an account once again. But I think you must have blocked me, because you think I’m still a JW. I want you to know I am fully “awake”, and would love to reconnect with others who are. I’ve just recently found some old friends who are, and it was a very bizarre process trying to figure eachother out at first using code words and whatnot. When we both knew…. it just felt amazing. I felt relief as they were the first people that we actually knew, that could relate. I didn’t feel so alone.
If you are still uncertain who I am, please ask me more questions. If you know who I am, please reach out to me on Instagram. I do have to be careful on here, because I do not trust the organization, and I’m being cautious because most of my family and everyone I’ve ever known my whole life is “in”.
Please reach out to me old friend.
From J
M Saurus says:
July 2, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Then why is the talk entitled SHUN UNREPENTANT WRONGDOERS ?
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Holy Connoli says:
July 4, 2016 at 9:13 pm
to Joe: we would go to a college an d get a decent education but it is “AGAINST WT POLICIES” to get a college education. Did you forget already? You know shunning is a policy and if you deny that you should not even be A JW or try to protect them. Get Real Joe.
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Winston Smith says:
July 1, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Schnufti
I don’t think you are off topic. If you want to simply fade, then don’t write any letters to the elders. Don’t tell them a thing. If you give them any info, you run the risk of being DF’d. Best to just quietly fade away.
From experience, I can tell you that you may have to eventually confront your parents. Depending on what type of people they are and how indoctrinated they are, they may badger you to the point where you run out of excuses and have to come clean.
WS
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Schnufti says:
July 2, 2016 at 3:39 am
Thank you Winston for your reply. I understand that a letter will raise the elder’s attention to us. But how can we fade without giving them any info? I think a fading couple with relatives in the congregation cannot leave together unnoticed.
We feel haunted already, as for May we gave in a made-up fs report of only one hour. (Which is a realistic number for us, as for the last couple of years we both did only one up to four hours per month at maximum.) In the next two meetings our group elder came to my husband asking him for going to ministry with him. He could postpone it somehow, but this week the elder called him without leaving a message. How much will they even hunt us as soon as we stop going to meetings and fs at all?
I wonder what to tell them when they keep asking us and wanting to make a “shepherd visit”. We cannot make up a depression as an excuse both me and my husband.
The following is what we thought to write in our letter to the elders:
– As they already know, we have fear of man and thus are not very exemplary in ministry.
– We both sat down and thought: Why do we have such a fear of man?
– We both came to the conclusion that it is because we are afraid that householders could ask questions that we couldn’t answer convincingly.
– Lingering doubts, which we couldn’t resolve despite intensive research in WT literature and year-long prayer for more faith, make it mentally impossible for us to stay any longer in the ministry. That is why we herewith declare ourselves as inactive.
– Because of that, we also feel no longer able to have privileges in the Theocratic Ministry School and WT and book studies.
– We point out that we still want to be Jehovahs Witnesses. We also have no intention to talk with anyone about our doubts.
– We make it clear that we like everyone in the congregation and that our decision has nothing to do with them.
– We know that the elders will have the urge to help us after having read the letter. We appreciate their loving efforts. However, we feel that a conversation would just increase psychological pressure on us. We promise that we will actively contact an elder as soon as we are ready for a conversation.
– We understand that this letter is hard for the elders to read, but we trust that they will respect our matter.
We feel that such a letter would increase the chance that they leave us in peace, as they get an explanation why we are inactive. Even if they would contact us, we could repeat what we stated in our letter – that we will contact them as soon as we are ready.
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Telescopium says:
July 2, 2016 at 7:31 am
Schnufti,
I think I understand your concerns about letting the elders know where you stand, but Winston’s comment is entirely valid. If you write anything down, it can be used against you at some future date as everyone begins to realize you aren’t just weak or depressed.
I can only speak for myself and my wife. But we found that as our attitude about the centrality of the Organization changed, so did our beliefs about who we were. Let me clarify: At first, we (like you) decided we couldn’t preach because there were a number of Witness beliefs and practices that couldn’t be defended scripturally. This led to more intensive research and analysis of scriptures used in talks and the literature. Devastatingly (for our JW selves), we found a tremendous amount of misquotes, cherry-picking, out-of-context, etc. It was truly devastating, akin to having a rug pulled out from under our feet. We felt betrayed.
I’m trying to say that this changed how we felt about the Organization. Initially, we didn’t want to leave – we didn’t even think of leaving. We spoke to the elders and said we just needed to take a break and figure things out. But the more info we found, the more we needed to leave.
Now we see everything from a different, broader perspective. And the Organization, (the “most progressive organization”, in its own words) turns out to be just another group of men who want others to listen and obey them. No inspiration, no prophetic utterances, no special interpretation of scripture. Just men, muddling through as best they can and demanding others listen.
Having this understanding has allowed me to become happier now that I ever was (with less stress) and to see my life as a series of awesome opportunities. I hope everything works out well for you.
Winston Smith says:
July 2, 2016 at 10:01 am
Schnufti
Do not put anything in writing or it will be used against you. I went through something similar when I faded.
I was a 5th generation witness on both sides, so just about my whole family was in. I also had served as an elder for nearly a decade, so fading wasn’t easy.
What I did is just gradually started missing meetings and service over a period of almost a year until I was down to nothing. Elders tried to contact me, but I was careful to avoid them, rebuff them, etc. Eventually I had to tell them something. The coordinator kept emailing me so eventually I just said: “I am simply not in a good place spiritually and I need some space to work it out. I’d appreciate it if you respect that.” After that they left me alone for a good long while.
WS
Schnufti says:
July 2, 2016 at 4:39 pm
Winston,
Harry,
Telescopium,
Thanks a lot for your comments and suggestions. We are very thankful you gave us your experiences and appreciate your help.
You have a point, written things can be used against us. We haven’t seen it that way yet. And one of those 14 elders in our congregation might bring up the idea that we might be apostates and our wish to be left alone shall not be respected.
I guess we will just have to think of excuses to tell the elders when they ask my husband out for ministry or want to make a shepherd visit. We admire everyone who has managed to fade – it will be very difficult and we are afraid of the coming months!
We are intending to speak with my husband’s dad next week. He doesn’t know yet that we have woken up. He once was an elder too, and has been inactive for about 20 years. And he still officially belongs to our congregation. So he must have done something right! We hope he can give us good advice additionally to the tips you have already given to us.
As for my parents, I have decided just to let them believe that everything is alright and not to actively tell them anything for now. Their congregation is not in the same circle as ours and we don’t speak to each other enough to make them suspicious. If we are about to get disfellowshipped, I will have to sit them down or write them a letter. But I don’t want to think that far yet.
I don’t want to go further off-topic related to this article but may I please ask one last question: How did you – especially as a couple – manage to step off the Ministry School and WT/book reading?
I’m asking because when my husband told the responsible in May that he wants to quit the audio team (stage service) the responsible didn’t let him go without asking questions and giving a 10 minute talk about being thankful for serving Jehovah and blabla.
And know that the talks in the school are so easy to prepare, we cannot say that it suddenly is too stressful to us.
Aaah if we could only tell them what we really think!
Chantal says:
July 2, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Very interesting thoughts on a your letter. With your permission, I would like to use some points myself, for a second letter to elders. The first letter I wrote, asking to be left alone, was construed as a possible disassociation letter. But no DF.
Schnufti says:
July 3, 2016 at 2:00 am
Chantal,
Of course you can use some of these points. No copyright 🙂 I’m glad if it is helpful to you.
Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 5:31 am
Schnifti
As far as assignments (like student talks, stage team etc.) here are a few thoughts:
– for your hubby, he could say that he is having to deal with mandatory overtime at work and won’t be able to keep up with his job on stage/audio. Say that it’s only temporary, and you will let them know when he can help out again. By the time a few months pass, you can have faded to the point where it’s a non issue.
– student talks: nothing frustrates a school overseer more than no shows for talks. You could simply call and cancel the night of claiming sickness. Or you could say you are having anxiety issues and need to come off the school for a while. Your husband could use the overtime excuse.
– You could also consider switching congregations if that’s an option. Make up some excuse for the switch: meeting times that better fit your schedule, more opportunity for privileges, you just need a change, etc. When you switch halls, you won’t have any responsibilities. Show up for a few meetings and then just slowly fade away.
Just a few suggestions.
WS
Telescopium says:
July 3, 2016 at 6:33 am
Schnufti,
In reference to your question about how to relinquish congregational responsibilities, we dropped them one-by-one and basically told everyone involved that we just couldn’t handle them anymore, which was true.
A little background: My wife was pioneering, I was an elder, we both were on the RBC.
My wife requested to be a householder only for the TMS parts, then over time dropped everything.
Dropping the pioneering prompted an encouragement meeting with the elders.
Dropping the elder responsibilities prompted a meeting with the circuit overseer and another elder, trying to figure out why.
Dropping the RBC prompted nothing whatsoever.
Then we stopped field service.
Then stopped Thursday night meetings.
Then stopped Sunday meetings.
We attended one convention (international) afterward and only went two days. (I got sunburned badly and extremely annoyed at the information. I couldn’t stomach another day).
We were not as awake as you appear to be, so our honest answers to everyone’s questions was “We just need to take a break from it all, to figure it out.”
We’re still figuring it out…
One last thought from my wife. She says: “Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty. You have every right to figure out what your own needs are.”
Tara says:
July 3, 2016 at 7:20 am
Please do not write a letter to them. Just avoid them like the plague and eventually they will get the message. When I faded I was fearful of the knock on the door, the phone call, the post-it, stuck on a tract…. yes it all happened and I just took myself out of the equation. I made sure I was out on a Saturday am…. use that morning to do errands. Keep all the little notes and put a date on them – I have a small stash, just in case you need to produce them as a sign of ‘stalking’. Make a note of phone calls… same reason.
I’ve not been to a meeting since last year. I attended the memorial this year and knew I was done with it all. I am learning to breath free now. I will say, use the literature against them. If asked why you don’t attend use the study article from last August I believe… it says basically, even if you know something is true you shouldn’t talk about it… use this as your get out of jail free card. ‘sorry but I can’t talk about what is bothering me, I’ve taken to heart what the literature said – quote it, and think it is in my best interest that I adhere to watchtower protocol in this regards’. If they keep on just say, ‘sorry but please stop asking me’.
Again, please don’t write a letter. It will be kept on file and used to trip you up.
Harry Cadanza says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:56 pm
@Schnufti, Let your parents be happy. You don’t have to break their hearts. Some info is best left to oneself and can be the most unselfish action you ever do. That’s what I did for my parents and I don’t regret it. They knew I was weak but they didn’t know I was apostate. My parents passed away. My mom died in 1992 and my dad died in 2008. I don’t regret keeping them in the dark about my apostasy because they didn’t have the comprehension to understand. They were to heavily indoctrinated. Don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Listen to your gut intuition. Be happy all the time. Stress can cause you to go crazy. 🙂
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Harry Cadanza says:
July 1, 2016 at 8:51 pm
@Schnufti, I’m also thinking, grown children never tell their parents everything because they love them. For example, I never told my parents about my first sexual experience. I also believe all the friends in the world cant take the place of your parents. Let them be happy. That was the decision I made and I’ve never regretted it.
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Big B says:
July 4, 2016 at 8:09 am
@ Schnufti;
Personally speaking, I wouldn’t write any letter to anyone concerning my “fade” or “inactivity”. Why? Because this is what they desire, to write a letter is to continue to bend to their “rules”.
Just continue to fade, don’t answer their questions or give reasons for your non-attendance at the meetings (this includes phone calls). If a letter comes from the elders addressed to you in the mail, write ‘return to sender’. The same goes for certified mail from the elders or hall. Don’t open it, refuse it and write ‘return to sender’.
After many failed attempts to contact you the elders will get a clue and eventually give up. Good luck to you with your fade!
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SkimmingTheSurface says:
July 1, 2016 at 2:24 pm
More angst among ones whose family members\friends are (maybe have been for some time) no longer associated, have moved on yet committed these sins without action having been taken. Interesting to find out how those ones will deal with the updated reasoning…
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Scrubmaster says:
July 1, 2016 at 3:29 pm
But here is a bit of irony. I am not sure if this is still the case, but it used to be. If the same, I will use parents in this case who have shunned their child for years fall on hard financial times, the elders used to encourage these parents to go ask for financial help from the very child they had shunned for years. As we also know shunning is not mention in the bible and the dis-fellowshipping mention was for a man sleeping with his Mother in law, Something not even practice among the nation.
Also, I think a lot things are happening because of Witnesses(Elders or higher ups) reading sites like these and trying to ebb the tied of people trying to leave quietly and still trying to keep in contact with ones in the organization in order to try to wake such ones up about the organization.
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Winston Smith says:
July 1, 2016 at 8:18 pm
Good point Scrubmaster, I agree that the higher ups probably have henchmen reading these sites and feeding information back to them. But then we also have our “spies” right at HQ who feed info to Lloyd.
WS
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Bad Penny says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:22 pm
A very well written article Jeni –
Thank God I have no fleshly relatives in the org. The shunning process is so cruel! I know an ex JW whose mother and sister cut her off after a Kingdom Ministry article discussing contact with disassociated relatives. The effect on the young woman was devastating at the time but she has now made a successful life for herself without them.
The Sonja video is sick. I am ashamed to think that I was at one time a member of this organisation. They do not know the meaning of REAL love.
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Joe says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:38 pm
Hi everyone, I’m very sorry you’ve been shun by your families. What you need to understand is that your parents made conscious decisions to cut off from you. IT IS NOT ORGANISATION POLICY. I wrote a while ago extensively on this issue. While it’s true that body of elders encourage believing relatives to completely shunned dis fellowship family members; it’s in stark contrast to what the organisation policy states. There is an appendix in the Gods Love Book that references a comprehensive questions from readers in the September 15 1981 Watchtower pages pages 26-30. Cedars would love continuously suppress that article because it’s not consistent with some views he perpetuate. Anyone who says the 1981 article is old need to go to a nearby college to get a decent education about referencing because it’s not my job.
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D. Charles Pyle says:
July 1, 2016 at 5:42 pm
My 2014 copy of the book, “Keeping Yourself in God’s Love,” says that there might be a need for limited contact on rare occasion, but that “any such contact should be kept to a minimum.” It also says that “loyal Christian” ones “do not look for excuses” to find ways to have contact or dealings with disfellowshipped family members not at home.
And, I myself have known Jehovah’s Witnesses who themselves have been shunned for being seen speaking to disfellowshipped ones. The Watchtower video mentioned above also seems to be in keeping with the above information contained in the 2014 “God’s Love” book. Seems to me like the Watchtower advocates almost complete shunning like Cedars says. I’d look it up in the older Watchtowers but the Watchtower Society has forbidden me to look at materials containing that information. Go figure.
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Joe says:
July 1, 2016 at 8:39 pm
D Charles Ply, you sound very reasonably. When i did my first degree, I was require to do a special unit on referencing thats why I’m so passionate about it. Anyone reading the appendix in the Gods love book will know it’s just an abstract or summary of the original article it references. Just a quick lesson for all readers; references serve as an authority over a Piece of work an individual produces. Even though more recent references are always preferred, it has to be comprehensive. That’s why we have peer reviews in the real world, for a research to be seen as valid it has to have more than one peer review. Yes peer review won’t strictly applied in this case, but the concept of authority does. In the absence of substance an older piece of work is always preferred. The most comprehensive article ever produced by the Society dealing specifically with dis fellowship relatives is dealt with in that article. Every subsequent article either is a synopsis or references the original article. If you can’t get that basics concept then it’s extraordinary and your should contribute on this forum. But I really enjoy your reasonable thought Charles . Read the original article and you’ll know the truth. I think for the benefit of this audience please up-load a copy of the article on this forum for everyone to read and stop confusing themselves between conscious decisions their family have made over organisational policies.
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Caroline says:
July 2, 2016 at 3:17 am
Joe are you saying that “old light” trumps “new light”?
Telescopium says:
July 2, 2016 at 10:42 am
Joe,
I don’t understand why you feel the need to make such derisive comments about everyone else’s education. Not necessary, not constructive, not kind.
Back on topic:
-w81 9/15 p. 29-
If a Relative Is Disfellowshiped…
DISFELLOWSHIPED RELATIVES NOT LIVING AT HOME
18. The second situation that we need to consider is that involving a disfellowshiped or disassociated relative who is not in the immediate family circle or living at one’s home. Such a person is still related by blood or marriage, and so there may be some limited need to care for necessary family matters. Nonetheless, it is not as if he were living in the same home where contact and conversation could not be avoided. We should keep clearly in mind the Bible’s inspired direction: “Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person…, not even eating with such a man.”—1 Cor. 5:11.
19. Consequently, Christians related to such a disfellowshiped person living outside the home should strive to avoid needless association, even keeping business dealings to a minimum.
This is all of paragraph 18 and a portion of paragraph 19, taken directly from the article you reference. The subheadings of the article are as follows:
-‘RELATIVES MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS’
-‘IN THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY CIRCLE’
-‘DISFELLOWSHIPED RELATIVES NOT LIVING AT HOME’
-‘SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND DISFELLOWSHIPED RELATIVES’
-‘LESSONS FOR ALL OF US’
In the context of these subheadings, a whole range of situations is discussed. The fact that it even makes a distinction between relatives in the “immediate family circle” and “relatives not living at home” should alert you that they’re going to be treated differently. For relatives not at home the article advises the reader what they should do: “avoid needless association”. THIS IS SHUNNING!
If you ask me, it looks like shunning family members is included in the Organization’s policies.
D. Charles Pyle says:
July 2, 2016 at 11:23 am
Do you know of locations where I can read the actual and fuller articles? I am banned by JWs from using anything in Kingdom Halls. My name is kept in notebooks. No Jehovah’s Witnesses will come to my home or even within a few houses. If they see me they turn around and leave the area. I kid you not. I would read them if I could get access to them short of illegally downloading and installing the Watchtower Library software that is only for Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have no intention of doing anything that will land me into a lawsuit.
Telescopium says:
July 2, 2016 at 1:41 pm
D. Charles Pyle,
A few sites the older literature can be found at:
jwfacts.com
watchtowerdocuments.org
avoidjw.org
I don’t know the depth of your interest, but these sites have an incredible array of documents relating to all aspects of the Organization’s history. Enjoy!
Just a quick story: My first exposure to an “apostate” site was watchtowerdocuments.org, which is Barbara Anderson’s site. I had read a less-than-flattering description of J.F. Rutherford on Wikipedia and was looking for more information. I stumbled onto her site by accident and found tons of valuable stuff. It’s like a goldmine in there!
Hope you find what you’re looking for!
D. Charles Pyle says:
July 3, 2016 at 5:03 pm
Hey Joe,
I just learned for myself that you are being a bit disingenuous about this referencing thing by, after considerable effort, finding a way to get a peek at a recent Elder’s manual (“Shepherd…”). It turns out that Elders themselves are encouraged to use any one of the three sources recommended by the said manual. One of the references indeed is the Watchtower of April 15, 1988. However, the others recommended are the “God’s Love” book, already referenced, as well as the August 2002 “Our Kingdom Ministry.” Not even the “Shepherd…” book says that one must seek only the Watchtower article you suggested, or that one is better than the others, but that one can use any of the three sources suggested to remind members of the congregation of their responsibilities in shunning if they are found to continue contacting disfellowshipped or disassociated persons. That means that no one source is more valid than the other from the perspective of the Watchtower Society’s Governing Body. Any one of them can be used to show official Watchtower Policy regarding disfellowshipped or dissociated ones. I will still continue to seek out the Watchtower article but I already now have sufficient information to know enough about the policy, and that according to the Governing Body, themselves.
factsnotfiction says:
July 1, 2016 at 6:20 pm
@Joe
Not sure exactly what you are trying to imply Joe but just to help you understand, here is a link to the Watchtower policy on the requirement to shun those who have been dis-fellowshipped or have left the ‘truth’ or are considered by the organization to be partaking in ‘Wicked Works’ what ever that means.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102008083
This article shows clearly that ‘IT IS ORGANISATION POLICY’ and It quotes from the Watchtower you mentioned.
Shunning is a Watchtower policy, and families are strongly encouraged and required to cut off all association with family members who have left the organization. The current video’s are strongly reemphasizing this.
This policy is appalling and very damaging, it shows NO love or consideration for the well being of others and no tolerance, which is typical of cults. It does not care who it hurts or what damage it causes to the lives of the people who are effected by its policies, either those that remain OR those that leave. It seeks only to control and seems to go completely against the teachings of Jesus who it claims to follow.
I hope this helps, Joe.
Its a cult!!
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Joe says:
July 1, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Facts not fiction: you’re confusing two things. Dis fellowship family members and everybody else. Lookup the referrences of that the link you PROVIDED to help YOURSELF.
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Chiafade says:
July 1, 2016 at 9:59 pm
You completely lost credibility at ” shunning is not the organizations policy”. You might as well be Geoffrey Jackson on the stand before the Royal commission.
factsnotfiction says:
July 2, 2016 at 2:52 am
I am not confused at all Joe. The link I gave you shows clearly that shunning IS ORGANIZATIONAL policy. Only under extreme unavoidable circumstances is contact with family members allowed. i.e. If a child is too young to leave the family home or as it says
“there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter” but it goes on to say “do not look for excuses to have dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home. Rather, loyalty to Jehovah and his ORGANIZATION moves them to uphold the Scriptural arrangement of disfellowshipping.”
It seems VERY clear to me Joe. Sorry if you are unable to understand it.
Either way treating any one this way is morally wrong and disgusting behavior! That should be obvious to any intelligent thinking person no matter what their Religious persuasion.
factsnotfiction says:
July 2, 2016 at 3:49 am
Hi Joe I think you may be deluding yourself here. You state “disfellowshiped person and “everyone else”. Who do you class as “everyone else”. Do you believe that a “Baptized” person can can become somehow “unbaptized” and return to the world as though nothing happened, to live the life that they choose for themselves. I think you know Joe that the only way to leave this organization once you have been baptized and lead a life of your own choosing is to:
1. Completly cut yourself off from the organization having no further contact with it or its members including family (Disfellowship yourself).
2. Be dissfellowshipped! Many reasons this will happen!
Either way it amounts to the same thing. You cannot choose your own life and maintain close emotional contact with friends and family once you have been Baptized.
That is what these articles are about Joe. The ORGANIZATION STRONGLY discourages any contact with ex-members.
Joe says:
July 2, 2016 at 4:19 am
If you guys don’t have anything to hide upload both references, the 1988 and 1981 and let other people decide for themselves. Because you folks are very confused: upload both articles.
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Joe says:
July 2, 2016 at 4:25 am
Confused and don’t understand how referencing works. It’s quite sad. I suspect you guys suggesting complete shunning been a policy may have been a victim of the WT higher education policy as a result didn’t get higher education and is finding basic concept of dis fellowshiping doesn’t break family ties hard to understand. I guess it’s not too late. Higher education can be acquired by anyone at any age so you better start now before you embarrass yourself some where else.
factsnotfiction says:
July 2, 2016 at 5:27 am
Joe, I am electronics Engineer who has worked in ‘Particle Physics’ for the last 30 years. I have many qualifications in engineering and physics and much experience at solving complex problems using Logic. At work I use referencing on an hourly basis and thoroughly understand the concept, but I can also logically work through a complex problem. So I will try one more time.
The term “DISSFELLOWSHIPING” is a modern invention of the WTBTS to rubber stamp, or make official that an individual is NO longer considered good association. It is done so that even members who are not aware of what a ex-member is doing can shun them. However the underlying policy is simple and is based on the ORGANIZATIONS interpretation of scripture. As the title of one of the assembly talks says “Shun unrepentant wrongdoers” whether they are officially dissfellowshipped or not. Who is an unrepentant wrongdoer? Simple! Any “Baptized” member or ex-member who continues to do something that is “wrong” in the eyes of the ORGANIZATION”.
e.g. Smoking, joining a politial party, joining the army, taking a blood transfusion, going out clubbing, disagreeing with WTBTS teachings(Apostasy), joining another religion, spending the night with the opposite sex whether sex is involved or not etc etc etc.
Any of these actions and many others are considered “wrongdoing” and therefore any member who is aware that a Baptized person is continuing to practice such things knowingly must be shunned(and reported). Knowingly failing to do this puts you in the same position.
Joe you can jump around from old watchtower article to old watchtower article all you want. They vary greatly depending on the time period that they where written and the personality of the person who writes the article. None of this changes the policy of “Shun unrepentant wrongdoers” that is being heavily promoted at the assemblies. I really hope this helps make it clear to you Joe as I don’t have time to help you further. Sorry.
D. Charles Pyle says:
July 3, 2016 at 2:26 pm
You are aware that the Watchtower is looking for excuses to shut this website down, aren’t you? If they did that (posting the full articles on the site) it would be just the excuse the Watchtower needed to go to court over material that is not yet in the public domain. I doubt the owner of this site is going to allow that to happen anytime soon.
Joe Smith says:
July 2, 2016 at 12:24 am
Then why is an announcement made from the podium of the Kingdom Hall telling everyone that you are no longer a JW ?? That is obeying HQ policy – !!
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Tim Smith says:
July 1, 2016 at 4:56 pm
Jeni, this was well written and compassionate, thank you.
I was disfellowshipped in 1982, well before the Internet and social media. To be expelled from the only network you know at the age of 18, and thrown to the curb, is probably the most traumatic experience of my life. The only positive I can see is that it has made me stronger. I still have limited contact with my parents and siblings, but after this convention, that may change.
I found that they instantly placed the blame on me, because I chose not to live a lie and act like I believed just to maintain the family ties. To anyone who have escaped the watchtowers grasp, let me say that you have chosen to open your eyes to reality. It’s not your fault.
I choose to view my family members that remain dedicated to that organization as naive, but good hearted. I will love my family till the day I die, but as its been 34 years, there are nieces and nephews that I barely know.
To anyone who has been shunned, be thankful for technology, it makes it so much easier to find and form a new network of friends that can support you. Just a word to the wise, not all friendly faces will be true friends.
I found that to be the case both inside and outside the organization.
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Gulf Coaster says:
July 3, 2016 at 10:22 am
Tim, I completely understand the trauma you suffered in ’82. I left just before that and since there was no online community for support, it was a very lonely & terrifying place to be.
Previous to that, I went through 5 years of wondering why I felt there was something seriously ‘off’ about the cult I was being raised in, why I couldn’t feel any connection to it, and why I just didn’t feel the ‘love’. I would have loved to have this resource to research things and to confirm my doubts. All I had were a few library books that I had to secretly read and they had little or no focus on the emotional burden & pain.
When I left I was treated like a pariah. Months later, I saw an elder on a downtown street. I naturally smiled and said ‘Hi’. He gave me such a cold look and kept walking. And I wasn’t even baptized. My own mother called me a whore and said it would be better if I were dead. It’s a pretty miserable situation to be in when you have nobody in the same situation to bounce these things off of, like online here.
** Jeni, thank you for your well-written, heartfelt article. If I had something like this to read after I escaped that cult many years ago, I know I would have felt some comfort instead of the painful feeling of being completely alone. **
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Charles Huff says:
July 1, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Nicely written.
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Tara says:
July 1, 2016 at 9:03 pm
Thank you Jeni. For me the shunning that began a while ago has intensified. This weekend my grandchild is being taken to the convention by her mother and other grandparents. Her half siblings do not have to attend because their father refuses to let them go but because my grandchild lives away from her father – my son, her mother does what she likes even though he has expressly said he doesn’t not want her attending meetings etc. We are all worried sick about what she will take in this weekend and how they will interpret it to her. Shun df’d daddy and bad grandma because she doesn’t go to meetings anymore. Hopefully she just plays with the new crayons they bought for her.
On a brighter note Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian readers 🙂
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Telescopium says:
July 2, 2016 at 10:57 am
Here’s to Canadians! My northern neighbors!
-raises glass-
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Tara says:
July 3, 2016 at 7:31 am
and also to our Southern cousins for tomorrow 🙂 Happy July 4th!
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Sharon Christensen says:
July 1, 2016 at 10:17 pm
Thankyou ….and yes they shun…break up families, etc….comes from top…poop falls down hill thing…My husband has a neice going thru same thing at this time…so Joe, should wake up and smell the roses…educated or not. The only reason they did not df me cuz shelter workers threatened to put all they were doing to me on front page news of Wpg. Free Press, so the pres. overseer hung up on her when she told him if they df me…they would be charged with stalking and police would be involved as well as News Papers…he never spoke to me to this day, told the cong to treat me as dead…never read anything from platform but hush hush, informed all somehow…after many yrs, wts from places I do not know personally…will literally ….drop their vegs and run should I show up in same aisle as them at groc store!…They go real slow in service in the area, make …”time” count..:))..til they near my hse…then pedal to the metal and whosh, gone like a …shootin star! :))) mks me laugh every time! Gotta love it! Thanx to all who mk these sites for us to …share our experiences…like a good visit with old friends…take care til next time…smile and enjoy life, cuz once you see the Jworgy for what it is…you will begin to feel a great burden lifted….Jesus said his yoke kindly load light….who are like those who burdened the people with heavy loads they themselves were not willing to bear? Jworgy load is….???? you answer the ques. from life experience…just as this day that past…Canada day here…My Mom, 76 yrs young!!! 🙂 cuz Mom does not want to be old…like the rest of us, proceeded to rise at 3 am…get ready and drive for 3.5 /4 hrs to go to the Convention in Saskatoon Sk. where she sat…trying to take in all the…”spiritual food”, provided at, no doubt dozin all along, but to her credit and so all the other zealots would not ques. her as to why she no show…thanx to my bro. and his friend she made it….and he sent me a pic of the table where the sign informed ….debit or credit cards….pay here…Yeah…you recieved free…give free…but mk sure use debit or credit if not straight cash. Wonder if there was any trinkets to buy, after all was Canada day….and 1st day of conv.! But best I quit now…cuz….take care…thanx again, with love…me
Reply
Joe Rizoli says:
July 1, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Getting out of the JW’s is like getting out of a bad marriage. Its going to
take sometime getting used to being out and making new friends and sharing
during viewpoints. You may still agree with some viewpoints, you may learn
other opinions. Remember, don’t take it too personal. The JW’s are part of
a Christian religion, like the Mormons and other CORPORATE religions and
cults that has taken God and Jesus Christ hostage putting themselves ABOVE
the Father and the Son. This is IDOLATRY. Most JW’s ONLY perform
perfunctory service to God because they are forced too. Its really not in their
hearts to do it on their own, Want proof? See how many times a real JW spreads
his or her beliefs on the social media, or the local newspaper columns? It
is very rare because they are AFRAID to speak unless they have permission
from the WT. If that is the case then you have witnessed a fulfillment of
scripture about the false prophet and how to identify them, they produce FEAR
among the followers instead of heartfelt true love. See Duet 18:22 “you
need not be afraid of him” KJV
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Jan Hoekstra says:
July 1, 2016 at 11:20 pm
Thanks for that it seems that the WTS go soon down
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Jan Hoekstra says:
July 1, 2016 at 11:18 pm
Shunning policy is a need for the WTS, without this pressure, blackmail they lost the power over the members. Scared, fear and mindcontrol issues are the logical way of a cult.So shunning and disfellowshipments is part of the game
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Roberto Avon says:
July 1, 2016 at 11:28 pm
Jeni, so sorry for you. I don’t know how to define my JW wife, she’s practically inactive, doesn’t go to conventions or midweek meetings and maybe once or twice a month she goes to the sunday morning meeting. We celebrate christmas and other holidays but these things can be blamed on me since I am normal ( or like they say ” wordly “).
Her relatives are almost all JWs of which someone ” hardcore “.
Technically after this convention she should be shunned and this would solve the whole “problem” in one move, we would get rid of family and religion but there is no way that they are going to shun her ( unfortunately ). In 30 years that I know them there we cases ( brother in law and father in law ) that were df but they didn’t shun.
I think there are a lot of ” liberal or fake ” Jws that even don’t know what exactly the doctrines or rule are.
Maybe it depends where you live and that Angloamerican or German witnesses are more severe compared to Italian Jws ( thank you for that,Catholicism!! ).
Just my thought.
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Sarah says:
July 2, 2016 at 1:09 am
Re Mama Joy’s post: Elders told me that when my husband had a weekend holiday with another woman, it was not adultery because she took her 12 year old son with her. Elders twist evidence to suit themselves. Nothing is consistent and you will have to cope with whatever injustice they dish out.
Elders can use the secret rules for their own ends. They had already accused me of slander so they could not back down, even when given evidence that proved I was not a slanderer. However, the lack of Christian values showed me what sort of people they really were.
I had to leave the org or die from stress related disorders. I am shunned for it, but I can laugh about the lengths elders went to, to twist evidence to suit what they wanted to believe. I still love God, so they were not able to destroy that. As one solicitor told me – justice is for the ends of eternity.
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Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 5:45 am
@Sarah
Elders: as they say power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I saw so many abuses of power when I was an elder, it made me sick. That’s one of the reasons I resigned from serving.
WS
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Twmack says:
July 2, 2016 at 7:17 am
What qualifies these 7 mere men as spiritual guides
whose word has to be accepted as canon law?
Their perverted reasoning has led to disappointment
and sorrow for thousands who have trusted them.
So many failed dates for Armageddon, (circa 1975,
“Brothers are selling their houses so they can pioneer.
What a fine way to spend the short remaining time
before this wicked system ends”.) We were told!
Many were egged on by that KM, propaganda, only to
end up depressed, down hearted , with no house or
money left. I personally know of one such brother
ending up like that, he died shortly after 1975, in his
early 50s.
Further misery and death caused by unwarranted
bans on Organ Transplants and Blood transfusion,
Some of it rescinded and acknowledged to be un-
scriptural. But much too late for some.
Also, victims of sexual abuse psychologically damaged
by not being believed, due to a gross mis-application
of the 2 witness rule. Much more could be added.
So what single reason do I have to trust in the
guidance of these mortals. By destroying the close
bonds I have with my family through shunning, turning
my face against them?
These men as well as as being proven failures are not
even aware that you and I exist we are just data to them.
I would never put them before my own flesh and blood.
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Cherie says:
July 2, 2016 at 9:49 am
Brava, Jeni! From my own experience, I have found that when people leave your life, the universe will bring someone else in to fill that role for you, whether it is a mother, sister, brother or friend. I firmly believe that blood is not thicker than water, and family consists of people who you care deeply about and who care deeply for you. And, it can change in different stages of your life.
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Nancy Trimble says:
July 2, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Their teachings are so sickenly twisted towards their own end – and thank goodness God will remember what these so called spiritual leaders did to destroy so many families. My husband and I left over 6 years ago and dissasociated ourselves and wrote a long letter stating the reasons why; next thing I knew we were ‘disfellowshipped’ and they have continually gone all over the area slandering our name even to people that have known us (non-witnesses) for years. I’m sure this latest batch of evil propaganda will just further make them look down their self righteous noses even more. The best thing we ever did was leave. And God does send good people into your life to replace. I bet they didn’t have much mention of Jesus in their convention. It’s amazing how stupid people are!!!
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Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 5:56 am
@Nancy
If you kept count of how many times they made reference to Jesus versus the Watchtower org/GB/FDS, I bet Jesus would loose.
They have put their organization in the place of Christ and have relegated him to a position of secondary importance. Really not Christians at all.
WS
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Arvjdy says:
July 2, 2016 at 1:35 pm
One of the most painful to endure in life is to be shun by my mother and siblings. I have my wife but I think I will be alone with the rest of my life
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Doc Obvious says:
July 2, 2016 at 1:42 pm
Great article Jeni. Thanks for your well written piece of journalism. I feel that the people who shun people should likewise be shunned. Let’s see how they feel when people purposefully impose such juvenile behavior. Since the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society discriminates based on sexual orientation, the businesses of the world should discriminate on hiring the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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Eyes opened says:
July 2, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Hi Joe,
I am wondering if you are keeping up with current teachings from the organization. I am and there is no doubt that the current teaching and expectation is to shun family members that are not living in your home. The video at the regional convention removes all argument. There have been multiple articles teaching that we should treat d’fd and disassociated family members like they are dead. They improperly use the example of Aaron to attempt to make their point. Anyone willing to read surrounding verses will discover the GB have twisted scriptures to do this. And its not a matter of interpretation. The scriptures are very clear. Aaron was serving in a dedicated capacity for a specific time when his sons were killed and it would have been inappropriate for him to rip his priestly garments and put ashes on his head. To do so he would have died also. But Jehovah assured Aaron saying the brothers would do the weeping for Aaron’s dead sons. Aaron would have to wait until his priestly duties were over before he grieved. The GB are shameless in their determination to rule or ruin the members. And they have no consideration for tearing families apart. I have children and one has chosen to fade for reasons of conscience. I know no finer christian when it comes to hospitality, generosity and loving kindness even toward strangers. As parents we continue to associate with that child. Our other children refuse to and one of them has decided that we the parents are spiritually dangerous and are now shunning us. My child is my inheritance from God and I will not mistreat my inheritance. Naboth died at Jezebel’s orders because he refused to sell land that was his inheritance. How much more will I treasure and protect my children, even the one that shuns me.
Winston you offer sound advice, do not put anything in writing. It will come back to haunt no matter how innocent one thinks their words are. Besides I don’t play these Watchtower games at the words of imperfect, uninspired men.
Regards
Reply
David Brand says:
July 2, 2016 at 3:47 pm
Thank you Jeni for your well written article. I especially appreciate your remarks about “understanding that your family is not hateful by nature, but that they have been unduly influenced by Watchtower to believe that they are doing the right thing by shunning you.” So often, when I discuss my experience of being shunned by my father with others, they come back with comments such as “that’s his choice,” or “his decision.” They don’t completely understand the indoctrination that occurs, and the inability of my father to actually make up his own mind or make his own decisions. In his world, he has no choice but to refrain from association with me. Yes, indeed, we could see it as his choice to remain a Witness, but for those who are part of authoritarian groups, it isn’t that easy. Those of us on the outside of this harmful and controlling group need to understand the mental state of those still inside. It’s as if an invisible fortress has been built around their hearts and minds, preventing them from seeing any other viewpoint or perspective as having merit. We can hope, for the so many that are still subject to this kind of mind control, that somehow, someday, a small light turns on inside them, and illuminates a path to the real truth outside the JW organization.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 6:13 am
@David
Good points. Something to add: different people react in different ways to cult conditioning. It seems that the majority of JW members are strongly influenced by the Watchtower conditioning. Some, however, are able to resist in certain ways. That’s why we know of some who don’t shun or who do go to college. The effect of Wathtower influence varies. However some who are not susceptible to certain forms of conditioning are susceptible to others. That’s why we get the stray JW apologist who says “I don’t shun” or “that’s their choice to shun.” Because they are not specifically influenced in that way, they believe that everyone is the same as they are. It’s not the case. We all respond differently to various form of external stimuli. We similarly respond differently various forms of undue influence.
WS
Reply
Chiafade says:
July 3, 2016 at 11:17 pm
Very good points Winston. With regard to the region that a specific JW comes from it indeed does have a direct affect on their decisions. Which is exactly why we had this saying in the NYC congregations” the farther away you get from home the crazier the congregations get”.
“Home” in this context would be watchtower headquarters in Brooklyn. So the NYC dwelling witnesses like myself considered those outside of the city as less spiritual because of their proximity to headquarters. So whenever we visited a congregation in an affluent suburb that had most of their children attending college we just shook our heads and silently judged our fellow JWs.
The JWs who live in areas where a higher education is the norm have no problem with sending their children to university. The JWs who came from my area in the urban and poor south Bronx saw attending college and university as a sign of spiritual weakness. The parents encouraged their kids to pursue bethel life or pioneer. Which in itself is a real crime because these young people could have bettered their lives and had the same opportunities as their suburban counterparts but the cult indoctrination steered them in the opposite direction. In this way the cult perpetuates another societal problem.
The organization has gradually been trying to (and somewhat succeeded) in unifying the thinking patterns of every JW. The finally have a vehicle I’m the jw.org to accomplish that. The only problem is that the vehicle has a perpetual flat tire. They are masters at shooting themselves in the foot and getting lucky. The internet has changed things for them. For better and for FAR worse.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
July 4, 2016 at 5:56 am
Good points about regions Chiafade. I used to know of JW congregations in rural areas who would forbid sisters from wearing ANY makeup. If they did, they would be counseled and their husbands or fathers would loose any privileges. Then there were congregations in affluent areas where sisters would “dress to the nines” and look like they were ready for a night of clubbing rather than a church meeting.
WS
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Telescopium says:
July 4, 2016 at 6:25 am
Winston,
I remember judging those people!
Ahhhhh, those were the days…
Harry Cadanza says:
July 2, 2016 at 5:12 pm
Thank you Jeni for your article. Thank you for your remark about family being under their control. I find the personal healthy boundaries I have set for myself CLASH with what my JW family considers their personal healthy boundaries are. My disfellowshipped nephew is in the hospital because of a GI bleed. He already had surgery but he doesn’t want to have any blood transfusions. He lost a LOT of blood. The elders (the blood comity) and his mom (my sister-in-law) came into the hospital room. Because my nephew is disfellowshipped the elders from the blood comity spoke to my sister-in-law who then spoke to my nephew. Whaaaaaa? It was like watching something from a bad comedy. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Here’s the funny thing. My niece (from the same family) never got baptised so everyone talks to her. So, don’t get baptised.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 6:20 am
Harry,
What you describe almost sounds like the bizarre behavior of some alien culture in a science fiction novel. Or something directly out of George Orewell’s writing.
Your right about baptism. That’s why I tell my children never to get baptized. Then they can’t (officially) shun you (although some JWs will).
WS
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Harry Cadanza says:
July 3, 2016 at 9:20 am
@Winston Smith, I felt confused about it so I asked my sister-in-law if the elders saw my nephew broken down on the side of the road, in danger, would they help him as good samaritans? She answered yes, they would help him, but they didn’t speak to him while they were in the hospital room with him because he is living with his girlfriend out of wedlock. Then she became irritated with me when I asked her wouldn’t the blood issue be like helping him as good samaritans? She told me I need to trust in the elder arrangement and put more trust in Jehovah.
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Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 10:23 am
I guess it wasn’t a problem for the Good Samaritan since when he found the Jew by the side of the road, he was unconscious. Thus no need to risk having to speak with him.
They use disfellowshipping to dehumanize those who don’t follow their rules and whims. Much like being thrown out of the synagogue by the Pharisees.
WS
Reply
Gulf Coaster says:
July 3, 2016 at 10:47 am
I didn’t get dunked yet I was shunned, very cruelly, when I left. It must depend on the dynamics at the KH, like who the Alpha-Elder is and how he rolls.
I’m sure if it was pointed out that, technically, I shouldn’t have been shunned, they would have come up with some excuse to justify their inconsistency. They’ll always take the low road when it comes to dealing with us apostates. They dehumanize us and treat us as “the Other” and “less-than”, so it’s easy to take that low-road and very smugly and self-righteously too.
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Winston Smith says:
July 4, 2016 at 6:11 am
Yes, sometimes they do shun unbaptized publishers. The official rule is that they are not supposed to, but some people choose to and some elder bodies try to enforce it.
About 25 years ago, one of my cousins, who was an unbaptized publisher, was actually disfellowshipped for fornication with a judicial committee and everything. That was seen as a major faux pas on the part of the elders and they eventually got the smack down by the CO. They were removed and the disfellowshipping overturned. But it left the congregation not sure how to treat my cousin.
Remember, they are also told to limit association with (or mildly shun) average “worldly” people. Like the one example from the latest DC where the JW woman won’t have a coffee break with her coworkers. The rule that you can’t disflowship an undaptized publisher is kind of a loop hole. I think it really comes to legal issues if they were to try to do so. So the way it works out is that if families want to continue to associate with an unbapatized person, they can, but they still may choose to shun.
Some members of my family typically don’t shun unbaptized members who have left, but they do shun baptized members, even if their only sin is being “inactive.”
WS
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Eric says:
July 4, 2016 at 5:45 am
I like that statement do not get baptized…I left that organization (Chaotic at best ) I was an unbaptized publisher for a while but really felt I needed to see the real deal, anyway here I am no longer an unbaptized publisher yet they do attempt to shun you in their own strange way. I see this as a badge of honor as I really feel their sheparding the flock manual of 2010 has been a power struggle for this organization and will continue to promote the withdrawal of many more people as they see the inner functions more clearly down the road leading off into everlasting happiness 0)
Reply
twistedsister69 says:
July 2, 2016 at 9:30 pm
Yes, the GB believe in the Golden Rule: “Give us your gold, and we’ll make the rules.”
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Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 6:20 am
Well said!
Reply
Active JW says:
July 2, 2016 at 9:57 pm
Joe
I think you are trying to convince yourself that you’re in Jehovah’s organization. However, citing volumes of man written materials from years ago will not convince anyone here. Jehovah’s laws are simple to understand and timeless. Unfortunately the GB in recent years has started to publish their own understanding of various scriptures and demanding absolute acceptance of the aforementioned. Any questions,any hint of insubordination will land you in the back room. You know it I know it, every honest witness knows it.
And by the way since when is the material presented at the conventions for negotiations with ones conscience?
I think it’s time for you to be honest and objective with yourself.
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Gary says:
July 3, 2016 at 12:34 am
The problem comes from the belief that they speak/represent God.
Look at it this way:-
If God has had the bible, with its advice, written and is complete in itself who are these masters of your mind and why would God need them if he’s already spoken?
It should, and rightly so, come down to YOUR conscience inline with the facts and circumstances of each individual case and if it’s behind closed doors where these decisions are made then you are being controlled and your judgement of shunning is illegitimate, unscriptural and false.
You are not the masters of our faith.
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Gyles says:
July 3, 2016 at 12:43 am
Although I’m fortunate enough to have avoided total shunning by my parents, I have come up with a way of thinking about it that does help with dealing with them.
You see, I have four parents. Two are quite lovely; kind and intelligent.
The other two are mad cultists.
When I am with them, as the adult in the relationship it is up to me to control who I spend time with by avoiding the buttons that make the cultists pop out.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
July 3, 2016 at 6:28 am
Absolutely true. Steve Hassan describes the authentic self and the cult self. I have similarly learned to recognize which I am dealing with when encountering my JW relatives. Once the cult self surfaces you have to disengage or change the subject because there is no reasoning with the cult self. It sort of like dealing with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
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Eyes opened says:
July 3, 2016 at 10:09 am
Well Joe, one thing you have learned quite well from the society is to use intellectual intimidation.
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nolongerdelusional says:
July 3, 2016 at 11:01 am
Very well written article. After being disfellowshipped and then reinstated, so I could have easier contact with my parents, I faded. My brother got disfellowshipped and never went back. This happened decades ago. My parents have alternately shunned and when it benefited them, associated with me, not so much my brother. Now that they are older and made no retirement plans, due to the end coming before I would go to junior high (I’m now in my mid-50’s), they suddenly want a relationship with financial subsidizing. This organization’s cult teachings tragically fall short on being a loving, Christian organization. I throw kudos to all that have escaped it’s clutches and are free to think and believe their own thoughts.
Reply
Twmack says:
July 3, 2016 at 12:04 pm
It’s common cult practice to separate those still
in thrall to their propaganda, from ones who have
broken the spell and woken up.
Judging by the amount of material at these assemblies
concentrated on the practice of shunning. It’s apparent
that the WT cult has a big problem with more and more
becoming disenchanted. Hence the need to step up the
separation process.
Shunning has now been extended way beyond any
perceived Bible context, to “Faders”. People who are
by no means evil, but simply want no more to do with the
organisation and have stopped attending their meetings.
Being shunned especially by family is heartbreaking.
But a couple of things to consider I think. 1, If we give
in to coercion and go back for families sake, could we be
happy putting ourselves back under cult control?
And 2, By returning would we not be strengthening the
position of those shunning us? Thereby making it harder
for them to eventually make the break?
And of course by giving in, the controllers shunning
strategy will then have succeeded.
Reply
Telescopium says:
July 4, 2016 at 6:13 am
Twmack,
Very interesting! Most disturbing is how your points perfectly describe a hostage situation.
Reply
Athlyn says:
July 3, 2016 at 3:01 pm
I’ve been thinking about how those who teach and continually reinforce shunning are actually revealing a high level of desperation.
Contrast this to other religions and their ministers who preach but leave it up to the adults in their congregations to apply or not apply what they hear in church. These ministers do not worry about policing and punishing. They know their job is to preach the gospel and it’s the adults’ purview to respond as they will.
So, this begs the question. Why is JW Org so desperate? It is quite possible that they are well-aware that their theology is seriously flawed. They also, by their actions, reveal a lack of faith that what they have to offer has the power to reach hearts or retain members.
When you claim that your members are united in the same line of thought but you severely punish any who disagree, this isn’t true unity, rather, forced compliance. It’s a house of cards built on a questionable foundation.
The leadership claims their preaching is to help people to have everlasting life, yet they practice perpetual non-forgiveness instead of Christian forgiveness and assign people to the spiritually dead category. And even after years or long after someone has stopped sinning, they still aren’t forgiven unless they accept the teachings.
Those who have to use spiritual blackmail cannot be said to be true spiritual shepherds. Jesus was a light shining in a dark place and he never forced anyone to agree with his teachings. He instructed the apostles to do likewise.
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Bright Lightbulb says:
July 3, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Really liked this comment
Reply
Big B says:
July 4, 2016 at 11:36 am
@Athlyn,
“Why is JW Org so desperate? It is quite possible that they are well-aware that their theology is seriously flawed. They also, by their actions, reveal a lack of faith that what they have to offer has the power to reach hearts or retain members”.
Very insightful to the organizations desperation.
My own mother, who had been in the “Truth” for over 60 years, was suffering from dementia for 4 years and on her death bed for the last 13 months of her life. Q. How many shepherding calls did she receive from her elders during the last four years of her life? A. Not one; period!
Did she do anything wrong, other than she could not make meetings or field service due to her health? Nope.
She was SHUNNED by her own shepherds who could have provided her with some encouragement. But as she was already baptized they couldn’t count the time. In addition, she was the “living” embodiment of failed Jehovah’s Witnesses prophecies/predictions of Armageddon’s imminent arrival. Visiting her would be something they would soon face and they can’t take it; that is, cold hard reality of their own mortality.
You can best believe that when she died at 87, one month from her 88th birthday, I did not use the Kingdom Hall or their “memorial services/talk” but wrote in the obituary that “funeral arrangements/services would be private.”
The elders are doing the same to my uncle, in a nursing home, in another circuit. Same amount of years baptized, a former “presiding overseer”. No one visits him either. I ask the nurses when I visit him. Truly a sad state of affairs.
However, what has he done for the congregation or Jehovah’s Organization lately? Is he counting time, supporting field service arrangements, contributing, etc. No, to bad for him, lets SHUN him!
Reply
Chantal says:
July 4, 2016 at 5:44 pm
Athlyn, really liked your comment as well. You have summed it up and hit that nail on the head. All your points of reasoning I have thought of, and agree with. The phrase “forced compliance” is SO true. Especially for born ins.
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Mama Joy says:
July 3, 2016 at 11:41 pm
Shunning isn’t about the disfellowshipped person, it’s about keeping people in fear.
Jesus searched for lost sheep, not kicked them out.
Since they really believe they are Gods ONLY WAY to salvation, then kicking out some sinners (not all sinners because we are all sinners) is a way to keep out people who question them, rebel against the made up rules, and have a hard time believing that they are Gods only chosen people to survive a genocide.
It’s to keep out the smart ones who question things. They only want obedient people.
According to the JW rules:
-the Good Samaritan apostate should be avoided.
– the harlot shouldn’t be spoken to until she proves herself worthy after months or years of meeting with the apostles and showing up to his sermons.
– the Apostles should not stay in people’s homes, but instead should go door to door.
– the numerous holidays that Jesus grew up celebrating as a Jew, Mary and Joseph should have been disfellowshipped over.
– Mary should have been disfellowshipped for conceiving a child out of wedlock.
– Jesus should not have offered the bread and wine to everyone in the crowd but only the 144,000 and should have been called into an elders meeting for it.
– Peter should have lost his privileges in the congregation for betraying Jesus.
– and more.
Reply
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← News Bulletin: Watchtower Found in Contempt of Court – Hit with $4000 Fine Per Day Until It Complies With Court Order
21st Century Christian martyrdom: Tony Morris praises JW boy who died refusing blood →
The Friday Column: To the newly shunned
Posted on July 1, 2016
comfortLike many ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of my family will soon be attending the 2016 convention entitled “Remain Loyal to Jehovah.”
Dubbed #worstconventionever by many in the ex-JW community, this convention features a number of videos and talks that will serve to further indoctrinate Watchtower’s followers and cause family strife.
Starting today, July 1 2016, my parents will attend the convention in the American Midwest. This afternoon, they will see a video that portrays a fictional character name Sonja who is disfellowshipped after she starts a romantic relationship with a nonbeliever she meets at work. This video shows the parents forcing Sonja out her family home and cutting all ties with her (even ignoring her phone calls) for fifteen years until she decides to seek reinstatement in the organization and is part part of a talk entitled “Shun Unrepentant Wrongdoers.”
I personally have a lot in common with Sonja. As a born-in Witness who left the organization without remorse, I have felt the sting of total shunning. My parents and only sister refuse to be a part of my life and by extension that of my daughter. Like Sonja, I have had to make a life of my own. Due to the fact that I refuse to follow the edicts of the Governing Body, I have been made an outcast by those who should love me most in this world.
Over the past fourteen years (one less than Sonja) I have had to come to terms with the fact that my family members truly are the victims of undue influence and may never be free of Watchtower’s grasp. Through a great deal of reading on websites like JWSurvey and JWFacts, and in books like Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan I have come to understand that Watchtower is a harmful controlling group that will stop at nothing to gain and keep its followers. It is clear to me that this year’s convention is one step further in their efforts to control the thoughts and behaviors of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. Indeed, this talk also appears to tighten the rules on dealing with so-called faders, making it even harder to leave the Organisation with one’s family ties intact.
For many ex-JWs, the commands of this talk, both direct and implied, have caused great trauma. The fact that Sonja’s calls go unanswered seems to be in direct conflict with previous Watchtower guidelines. JW.org still has an article online that says:
“Although there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter, any such contact should be kept to a minimum.”
How do the parents in this video know that Sonja is not calling with an emergency? How can Watchtower possibly teach that ignoring phone calls is a loving provision?
Coping with shunning
screen-shot-2012-02-23-at-4-10-04-amSince the leak of this video and others being shown at the 2016 convention, my social media feeds have been peppered with posts by many in the ex-Witness community who are distraught over what this directive from Watchtower has done or will do to the already strained family relationships they may have managed to keep. I have seen children who are now being completely ignored by parents, parents who are being shut out of the lives of their children and grandchildren, and more. So many disfellowshipped and even inactive Witnesses are being harmed by this new brand of JW propaganda, even those who have gone to great lengths to come to agreements that keep at least some lines of communication open with those they love most.
To those of you just now facing the pain of total ostracism, I want you to know that you are not alone. There are many of us who are dealing with what you are now facing. Please don’t think that you have done anything wrong by leaving Watchtower and its harmful teachings. Wherever you are on your journey away from Watchtower, know that there are others like you who understand what you may be now experiencing. I encourage you to reach out on social media or to the people who truly do show you unconditional love for comfort.
In addition, there is a sort of peace that comes with understanding that your family is not hateful by nature, but that they have been unduly influenced by Watchtower to believe that they are doing the right thing by shunning you. Please take the time to research mind-control so you can understand what is really happening to your family. Just like you, there is always a chance that they may wake up, be free of influence and reunite with you.
Even if that doesn’t happen though, you can still find comfort in the fact that you have made the right choice and that you no longer support an organization that causes so much harm.
You are free.
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135 Responses to The Friday Column: To the newly shunned
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Twmack says:
July 4, 2016 at 5:57 am
The “Good Samaritan Parable” categorically shows,
that you cannot love God and at the same time
practice “Shunning”. Luke 10:25-37
The Shunners who refuse even to answer the phone
calls of shunned relatives or former friends. Could
be ignoring a call for help.
In that case they are like the “Priest” and the “Levite
“Who passed by on the other side”
Reply
Winston Smith says:
July 4, 2016 at 6:24 am
Excellent point Twmack.
Much can be summed up with these two statements by Christ:
“Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
“Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ”
By their shunning rules they utterly fail as followers of Christ, but they do a pretty good as followers of the Pharisees who Jesus condemned.
WS
Reply
Chantal says:
July 4, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Amen, Twmack and WS
Reply
Jose Torres says:
July 4, 2016 at 10:06 am
I am an ex JW. Have been out for over 30 years. Became one back in 1958 when my mother joined. Growing up I liked and disliked being a JW. I liked the bonding but hated the rules. I went along out of respect for the family. Married a JW and eventually divorced and then got disfellowedshipped. I have two daughters from that marriage who are now shunning me. I know they are hurting and so am I. I will have to live with it but I am not going to die over it. They made their choice and so did I. If anything their actions have made me see that I could never believe in an organization that preaches this type of behavior towards loved ones. I love them and I know they love me, for now that will suffice.
Reply
Winston Smith says:
July 4, 2016 at 10:40 am
It sounds like you have a good attitude about it Jose. Thanks sharing your perspective.
WS
Reply
rob says:
July 4, 2016 at 11:16 am
In my opinion any organization/religion that even suggests that a parent should not speak to a child or vice versa, is not following the example set by Jesus.
The shunning protocol actually defies the natural affection which is built into us from the day we are born.
Also, I believe that it is inhumane to shun anyone especially grandchildren who are simply caught in the middle of this injustice.
Reply
Outandabout says:
July 4, 2016 at 12:15 pm
I see Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has just gained more say in Australian politics and was in 2013 renewing his call for the establishment of a national cult busting agency to battle the likes of Watchtower, etc. Now is a good time to drop him a line.
Interesting that Watchtower Aust. spokesman Vince O’toole once stated publicly that shunning was a ‘myth’.
Reply
Gulf Coaster says:
July 4, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Mama Joy: “Shunning isn’t about the disfellowshipped person, it’s about keeping people in fear.”
I agree. It’s a weapon of fear they wield over the JWs, to keep them in the cult. It’s a horrible thing to be socially ostracized and can cause some to end up homeless and destitute. Some even take their own lives.
The fear of ending up like that, or of losing contact with your own children, parents, etc., is enough to keep many “in line”. I wonder how many JWs just go through the motions because they live in fear of losing their entire family and community?
It’s not a “loving arrangement”, it’s nasty, malicious, hateful and damaging. It’s emotional abuse.
Reply
rob says:
July 4, 2016 at 1:25 pm
agreed
Reply
Harry Cadanza says:
July 5, 2016 at 12:49 am
The shunning policy is messed up. I remember some years ago at an elder’s school the instructor bringing out different scenarios when making a judgement. One case involved a young girl that got pregnant and SWORE that she never had sex with anyone….. she was disfellowshipped for having an unrepentant attitude. To make a long story short, it was revealed that her dentist raped her while under sedation. Obviously, this case was brought up with the view that the elders needed to be involved. She had the baby. It was a boy. She was disfellowshipped for two years and she never lost her faith in Jehovah. She knew to leave it in Jehovah’s hands.
Reply
Harry Cadanza says:
July 5, 2016 at 1:57 am
I need to add, I remember my father telling me at the time he heard this, the young lady thought she had a vaginal infection. She didn’t understand she had been raped. She was shunned for two years. The truth didn’t come out for four years. That’s all I know.
Reply
VictorE says:
July 5, 2016 at 5:13 am
VictorE
A circuit overseer told me about a sister whose conscience bothered her for committing fornication with her boy friend who was a ministerial servant. The elders asked the brother and he denied it, so they put her on probation for lying and did nothing to him.
My question is: Where is the two witness rule? They didn’t have two witnesses that proved she was lying. So how could they do anything to her?
They didn’t have two witnesses against the brother and didn’t do anything to him. Just shows their hypocrisy!
9 months later she had a boy.
Reply
Chantal says:
July 5, 2016 at 3:25 pm
@ Victor E, SUCH a male dominated organization! I encourage anyone with the SLIGHTEST doubt to read “Shepard the Flock”, the manual for Elders. Those who have not read it will be shocked as I was, I do sincerely believe. And then go on to the ARC testimonies….. what most blew my mind however, was the “Shepard” manual.
Reply
Twmack says:
July 5, 2016 at 2:29 pm
I’m from Yorkshire , home of the notorious ripper
who butchered 13 women, and was baptised as a
JW in Broadmoor.
Those studying with him are reported to be “Emphatic”
that he now shows remorse for his crimes.
It occurred to me, that were he paroled,( and he has
applied for it,) He could walk into the local KH and be
love bombed.
The bizarre point of this is, when I’m out in the
neighbourhood I frequently encounter a young woman.
She never fails to mention the fact that her mother
still won’t let her into the house. She’s being shunned
by her family and the congregation.
Now if she walked back into the congregation that she
grew up in. She would not be spoken to, she would need
to sit at the back and come and go quietly. Until such
times as she proved remorseful. And for what?
Her only crime is, she can no longer accept some of the
things taught in the religion. But the gov, body, says
that she is “Mentally Diseased and a Criminal”.
WT,2011, July 15, p 11
Reply
Chantal says:
July 5, 2016 at 3:29 pm
@ Victor E, SUCH a male dominated organization! I encourage anyone with the SLIGHTEST doubt to read “Shepard the Flock”, the manual for Elders. Those who have not read it will be shocked as I was, I do sincerely believe. And then go on to the ARC testimonies….. what most blew my mind however, was the “Shepard” manual.
Reply
Ateasweet says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Well its simple when it comes to people jobs and income they will drop anyone even there children to be accountable to those the serve and worship or have click up with. I suppose I dont know people religion and I join this site to find out about certain things I needed to know and research for my piece of mind. So I cant grasps and understand different influences. Also If this watch tower is so proud of the God Jehovah and true to the group why havent I met anyfolks lately that when ask or volunteerly say why yes In a JW. I havent met anyone lately thats been around knocking at the door mentioning the wick we be destroy or anything lately. But we all know tge way the spirits moves so and the wiles of the enemies and lwa lord loas. The nations and so forth.
Reply
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← The Friday Column: To the newly shunned
21st Century Christian martyrdom: Tony Morris praises JW boy who died refusing blood
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Posted on July 6, 2016
Tony Morris has been filmed at a convention praising a JW child who died refusing blood
Tony Morris has been filmed at a convention praising a JW child who died refusing blood
The three-day regional conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses are given different themes from year to year.
This year’s theme of “Remain Loyal to Jehovah” offers a fascinating hint of the paranoia gripping the Governing Body leadership as the internet helps an increasing outflow shed their indoctrination.
But despite the changing themes, some things about the convention program remain constant year after year. All Jehovah’s Witness conventions conclude with a long rambling talk in which one of the most senior Watchtower officials in attendance relates a cascade of feel-good experiences intended to bolster the faithful.
Now it seems a convention held last Sunday in Knoxville Tennessee has set a new record for the most disturbing and distasteful Sunday-afternoon motivational experience. The high-ranking speaker who related the story? Who else but Governing Body member, and no stranger to controversy, Anthony Morris III.
A video posted to YouTube by “Cappytan” shows Morris conveying the heartbreaking tale of a young boy named Josh (age undisclosed) who pays the ultimate price for being brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness. Despite doctors quietly urging him to accept a blood transfusion while his parents’ backs are turned, Josh doesn’t flinch and ends up being praised by Morris for martyring himself despite “persecution” from the medical staff.
Morris concludes the experience by reassuring the crowd: “And when he’s resurrected you’ll hear more from him, because Jehovah loves that little fella.” The thousands in attendance then have little hesitation in applauding to signal their approval.
This despite the fact that a young boy, clearly a product of childhood religious indoctrination, is now dead because of the Governing Body’s stubborn prohibition of a medical procedure on which the bible, for all its prodigious rule-making, is silent. After all, how could bible writers ban something centuries before it is invented?
There is no way of knowing how many Jehovah’s Witnesses, like Josh, have had their lives tragically abbreviated by Watchtower’s blood stance, which only dates back as far as 1945. Though the likes of Morris show pride and enthusiasm in sharing these anecdotes before doting audiences, they are curiously less eager to release official statistics indicating the global yearly death-toll resulting from their teachings.
More protection needed
As easy as it is to point the finger squarely at a 21st Century Christian death cult for placing its own interests ahead of the welfare of its followers, I cannot help but feel aggrieved that Josh’s doctors were placed in a position where they were so powerless to keep him alive.
There have been repeated cases in many countries, including the UK, Australia and New Zealand, where judges have intervened to make sure no stricken minor has to pay the ultimate price for their parents’ fanaticism.
The children of Jehovah’s Witnesses NEED the protection of the State in these instances, no matter how convinced of their beliefs they may seem.
There have even been some indications that, faced with this scenario, Jehovah’s Witness parents are relieved that responsibility has been taken out of their hands, giving them plausible deniability when elders (the congregation enforcers) start asking questions. (Accepting blood is a disfellowshipping offense for a Jehovah’s Witness if he is not sorry for it.)
So, what was so different about Josh? Why was he allowed to lay his precious life on the Governing Body’s grotesque altar of loyalty without any State intervention when other minors in his predicament have been rescued?
Details in Morris’ gloating speech are predictably scarce, so perhaps we’ll never know the full story. What we do know, and have known for some time, is that for all its gleeful cries of persecution directed toward “Satan’s system,” the history book shows that nobody, not even Hitler,* is more prolific at killing Jehovah’s Witnesses than Watchtower itself.
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*An estimated 1,200 Jehovah’s Witnesses died under Hitler’s regime.
If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, and you would like further information on why the ban on blood is immoral and unbiblical, please click here.
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46 Responses to 21st Century Christian martyrdom: Tony Morris praises JW boy who died refusing blood
Malachi Sawyer says:
July 6, 2016 at 11:45 am
This is truly sad and disturbing. If a person wants to sacrifice himself on the alter of religious extremism he has that right but to impose this on a child is tantamount to murder. Invariably it will be said that the decision was the child’s but the fact remains that the child was apparently fully indoctrinated by his/her parents who bear full responsibility for the death. To claim that the doctors, whose heartfelt desire it is to see the patient live, were persecuting the child is misleading and false.
Reply
Malachi Sawyer says:
July 6, 2016 at 11:46 am
Damn spellchecker… altar, not alter.
Reply
Jeffreycanning says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Oh! The devil made do it… Yeah sure dude… Spellcheck. Yeah right… The dog ate my homework… Only jokin…
Reply
Jeffreycanning says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:50 pm
Made ME do it… Damn spellchecker
Reply
Telescopium says:
July 6, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Jeff,
I don’t believe in karma, but…
That was karma dude.
Vincent Deporter says:
July 6, 2016 at 11:48 am
~Sad.
The odd thing is that the Bible ONLY talks of blood AFTER death. Deuteronomy 12:16 is clear that the blood must not be eaten but spilled on the ground after the slaughter of an animal.
So the law is NOT concerned with blood coming out of a living person or animal.
Reply
JBob says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Preface, acknowledge the right of individuals to choose medical treatments or refuse medical treatments without duress or undue influence.
But, on a different conscience view.
Those verses are an extension of the commands to Noah, as well, but most JW’s will go to Acts (the verses also used to prop up having a Governing Body, although it is clearly showing this was an ad hoc meeting of not only apostles but several bishops from the area like the Early Church Councils) where it specifically states “abstain from blood and things [meat] sacrificed to idols”. [don’t get your boxers all bunched up, just yet] However, what this exegesis by Watchtower doesn’t accommodate is the where verses later equate blood = life, and in fact Deuteronomy adds that the “soul” (= life) is IN the blood, so by pouring out the blood the soul departs the body and continues on. But, we also have Jesus commenting that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Well, if life is in the blood, what is the greatest act of love?
We know that Christ shows the ultimate act of Love, which Watchtower denies attributing Christ’s passion for ministry to the “urgency” of the ‘last days’ but it was truly Love motivating and driving Him to lay down his life. And, why not, since God is Love–pure Love (1 John 4:8).
I had wanted to post something secular regarding mind-control projects, but somehow I was moved in another direction..
Reply
Telescopium says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:42 pm
I always wondered that.
How could a bag of blood represent the life of an individual if the individual continued living without it?
Reply
Stephane Laliberte says:
July 6, 2016 at 11:49 am
Maybe Josh was between 16 and 18. In Canada, if the kid is 16, he can refuse blood and die.
Reply
Vzdechlina says:
July 6, 2016 at 11:57 am
Death is a sad sad thing. Especially when life is cut short. What does the phrase “abstain from blood” mean? If a doctor tells you to abstain from alcohol or anything else for that matter, would you then inject it? Besides bloodless mesicine is increasingly being taken advantage of by members of the general public. Hey even the US army takes interest in this type of medicine – BLOODLESS surgery I mean. I am not an expert on the bible, does it say you cannot smoke? Does it say you cannot experiment with substances? Its not a book of laws, is it?, but a book of principles. Come on mate. You are one disgruntled human being, but why? You found peace, you found your own “faith”. Why can you not be happy, is that because you doubt your own decisions making “fascilities”? That is why the world is such an ugly place, it is full of people who tear down. I like some of your articles, they are interesting and they make you think outside the square, what I hate is how you also tear down and seem to get kicks out of it. Whether I am religious or not, is not relevant, what is relevant is your constant negativity. I get that, there are many strange religions and cults needing scrutiny, scrutinise by all means, but you lose your argument when you become sarcastic, negative and opinionated, you were a JW? You have your reasons for leaving and the world will never know the real reason for you being so disgruntled. Keep your opinions to yourself, present a story, leave your readers use their own reasonings to come to a conclusion, even if it’s different then your own.
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Stephane Laliberte says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:05 pm
The society is always positive about itself. To offset this, someone needs to point out the negative. This does not mean that John Cedar is a negative man. He enjoys his family life and child. He also enjoy warning others about a cult who has brought him much suffering. I doubt he would have this level of motivation if he had not been shunned by his own family. In short, he is fulled by the hatred received by this group.
Reply
Stephane Laliberte says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:12 pm
By the way, the analogy to blood is stupid. If a doctor tells you to abstain from something, it would be to safeguard your life and you would follow it for that reason… for not wanting to die. Even than… if you were lost in the desert with a bottle of alcohol in your hand, would you still respect that admonition?
Oh, and if you did take alcohol, would it even make sense for the doctor to kill you?
Now, why would God ask you to die for something that symbolizes life? And why would a God that values life, KILL you for taking in blood in a life vs death situation? Its just doesn’t make sense.
Reply
Vzdechlina says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:30 pm
Hang on so, the witnesses break up families as I keep hearing. Perhaps it’s the people that left the religion that break up families. That person makes that choice to leave for what ever reason, I don’t know. So what is being said is that their freedom to associate is more important and overrides the freedom of the person who choses to follow the religion’s rules, which are interpreted from the bible? I don’t want to get into a discussion on interpretations. Let’s look at it the other way around. Perhaps it is the person that leaves that breaks up families. I assume you live in a country which rules you have to follow, I know I do. Some of those rules are outright ridiculous in my view, yet I need to obey these no matter how incredibly ridiculous and unfair some are to a regular citizen. If I break these rules, I suffer the consequences. No body care what I think of the rules. I mean seriously make a point by all means, like I said it makes people think outside the square, but an argument or a point loses credibility when personal opinions based on bias, ignorance, stereotype and even outright hatred is within the theme.
Reply
Garner says:
July 6, 2016 at 4:53 pm
So if an 11 year old is baptized, due to his belief system taught from infancy, he should forever shunned by his family when he learns the truth about the truth?
Reply
Cedars says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:13 pm
1. Alcohol and blood are entirely different substances and behave in entirely different ways when injected intravenously. One kills in that scenario, the other one can save life.
2. Nobody is disputing the advantages of bloodless surgery, but when life is at stake, and a transfusion is the only offer on the table, you take the transfusion – especially if it’s your kid’s life at stake.
3. If you don’t think the bible is a book of laws, then you’re definitely not an expert on it. This website would not exist if people treated it like a book of poetry.
4. Atheism is not a faith. It is the exact opposite of faith.
5. If you want to make me feel guilty about standing up and voicing my disgust at Watchtower’s death-dealing blood policy, I’m afraid it hasn’t worked. You are welcome to cower under the sofa and let bad things happen without doing anything if that’s what makes you feel good. Don’t expect a listening ear when you evangelise your passivity and advocate it for others. The world is awesome but there are also many things about it that need changing, and they won’t change if everyone adopts your head in the sand, “hear no evil speak no evil” approach. As Christopher Hitchens said: “The grave will supply plenty of time for silence.”
Reply
Vzdechlina says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:32 pm
The point was the meaning of “abstain”.
Reply
Nullandvoidboy says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:15 pm
@vzdechlina
Are you for real….when you advocate you criticize the wrong doing….that’s bad in your eyes? Should this be ignored or maybe a feel good fuzzy message instead….a child died needlessly…..do you understand that? Apparently not….so if you’re asking the writer to move on and get on with his life, may I ask what you were even doing on this site to begin with….hey mate! Stop caring to read and get on with your life…..or maybe, take a minute or to to pause on the seriousness of the matter and not be so critical of someone who advocates for freedom from cultish group think and death…
Reply
Miranda Presley says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:44 pm
“Whether I am religious or not is irrelevant…” Well…judging from your use of the trite “abstain from alcohol” scenario every JW is taught, you are in fact, a JW.
So, as someone who once bought that line wholeheartedly, let me share some thoughts for you to consider.
1) To whom was the original directive “abstain from blood” given to?
(answer- Noah, Gen 9:4)
2) Why? – I will let the Golden Age answer that…
“All reasonable minds must conclude that it was not the eating of the blood that God objected to, but it was bringing the blood of the beast in contact with the blood of man.” Golden Age 1931 Feb 4 p.294 How do we know that? Because Deuteronomy 14:21 allowed the selling of unbled animals for food to those bound by NOAHIDE LAW, BUT NOT MOSAIC LAW. The Mosaic Law DID forbid the eating of blood by both alien residents and Israelites, saying to do so meant they would be cut off. Serious, right? So why does Lev 17:15 say that anyone who came across a dead (an obviously unbled) animal and ate it was only to be declared unclean and had to go wash? (I know the answer…but I want you do do a little digging on this yourself)
3) Blood is a sacred symbol, and represents life. So, what is most important to Jehovah? The symbol? Or what the symbol represents? (this requires critical thinking on your part)
4) What is Pikuach Nefesh? (Go on, look it up…)
5) Are you aware that former Governing Body member Ray Franz attested that the MAJORITY of those on the Body voted AGAINST the prohibition of blood transfusions, but because procedure required a 2/3 majority, the minority won? Yeah…these uber holy, communicating directly with God’s Holy Spirit for the most part felt it was unscriptural to apply the biblical principles regarding blood to transfusions…
6) How many times has the Governing Body made changes to, and even REVERSED, parts of its blood policy? (by reversed…old light became new light which became old light again. Until it was new light.)
ANSWER: SIXTEEN. Yep. 16. Can you honestly say that gives indication they are receiving clear spiritual direction on this matter? Really?
7) Do you realize, that because minor fractions are allowed, and all fractions can be broken down into minor fractions…EVERY SINGLE BIT OF BLOOD CAN BE TRANSFUSED SO LONG AS IT IS FIRST SEPARATED INTO FRACTIONS. Because…Logic?
8) And…ding ding ding…the real kicker…where do those fractions come from? Anyone? Anyone?
DONATED BLOOD.
I could go on, but, Paul Grundy dissects the topic quite thoroughly at jwfacts.com
Now….I won’t bother to defend Lloyd, because he doesn’t need my defense. As a JW, you know what is at stake. If what we were taught isn’t true, if it is all one big, fat lie…then the lives and happiness of millions are at stake, for multiple reasons. And that is why apostates do what they do.
Now you, my friend, have been counseled clearly to not be here. To nit comment on apostate sites, to not try to debate…and this is why. Because they know if you do, you will eventually be faced with arguments that make you engage your own critical thinking ability. You will ask hard questions that you dont want the answers to. You came here because you are weak, and you know it, but you felt if you could give a good witness here, that cancels out your weakness in Jehovah’s eyes.
Friend…we have all been exactly where you are now. We aren’t rebels, we aren’t wicked, we didn’t leave because we didn’t want to follow the rules…we simply found out it wasn’t true. And most of us did so by doing exactly what you came here to do…prove that we were right and apostates are wrong.
But truth holds up under fire. Lies don’t. If you truly value your relationship with God, you owe it to make sure you are following the path of TRUTH, because you know what the bible says about those with ties to FALSE religion.
Go to jwfacts.com Of every site out there, that one has the most concise, logical, unbiased information, in the largest volume, regarding the history and teachings of the organization. And what is really nice, is that Mr Grundy has expended tremendous effort to include countless citations from JW Literature, to back it all up. You don’t have to research “apostate lies”…everything you need to know is right in your own KH library, if you know where to look.
You are so close to waking up friend…don’t close your eyes in fear now.
Reply
Big B says:
July 6, 2016 at 1:44 pm
@ Miranda Presley;
Absolutely wonderful questions and comments to this poor J.W. Well, I guess we were all deluded by this doomsday cult at one time.
Another fact worth checking out is how the acceptance of an organ transplant was considered an act of cannibalism not to long ago. God only knows how many J.W.’s died following that consul.
Once again, everyone needs to follow their own conscience and pay the consequences of their own decisions by not surrender their logical thinking ability to a group of ‘uneducated’ morons who are under the delusion they are guided by God’s holy spirit.
The more you research this corrupt doomsday cult the more you will realize this is NOT or ever has been or ever will be God’s earthly organization. Not in a million years.
Reply
Jeffreycanning says:
July 6, 2016 at 4:13 pm
You nailed it Miranda…
Reply
Jeffreycanning says:
July 6, 2016 at 4:13 pm
You nailed it Miranda…
Reply
Bright Lightbulb says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:38 pm
LOL, loved this total tear-down and logical reasoning.
Reply
Telescopium says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Oh my gosh Miranda, that was amazing! You need to write movies!
Reply
Steve McRoberts says:
July 6, 2016 at 1:36 pm
If “it’s a book of principles” what is the principle being espoused by Jesus at Mt 12:1-4?
If you’re not used to answering questions without the Watchtower’s help, here it is:
“In these verses and in the ones following Jesus was calling attention to acts of mercy on the sabbath day, that it was perfectly legitimate to render a show of mercy to one who is in need even though it was the sabbath, and that there is, in effect, no violation of the sabbath by such course of action. He had no rebuke for David’s course.” (Watchtower 1952 September 15 p.575)
The account that the Watchtower cited from Matthew invokes the rabbinic principle known as pikuach nefesh: saving life overrules God’s law. In the above passage, the Watchtower writers agree with this principle. They acknowledge that “there is, in effect, no violation” of God’s law in the “show of mercy to one who is in need.”
Now let’s imagine the figure of Jesus, just as the Watchtower has represented him above, only this time instead of being out in the grainfields with his apostles, he is sitting at the bedside of a child who has massive internal bleeding. The attending doctor has ordered the nurse to administer blood. Suddenly, in storms the elders, Bibles in hand: “Stop!” They shout. “You are doing what is not lawful!” Based on the above Watchtower passage, what do you honestly suppose Jesus would say to them?
Reply
Steve McRoberts says:
July 6, 2016 at 1:52 pm
If a doctor tells an alcoholic to abstain from alcohol, would the patient be right to then refuse an alcohol wipe prior to receiving a shot in the arm? Nope. And that’s a better analogy, because (as the Watchtower now admits) a transfusion is a completely different application of blood than eating.
In any case, “nothing from outside a man can defile him.” (Mk 7:15) So blood can’t defile you. The prohibition was never about US; it was about symbolically showing respect for the life of a slaughtered animal (because “life [is represented] is in the blood.”)
There simply is no law against blood transfusions in the Bible; the Watchtower made it all up. Allowing children to die on the basis of such hollow “reasoning” should be a crime: a very serious crime.
Reply
dee2 says:
July 6, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Maybe Vzdechlina lost a relative or a friend due to the blood ban and the only way for him/her to deal with the needless loss of life is to justify the WT’s blood transfusion ban???
Reply
Patricia says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Your comment is such an eye opener..
“What we do know, and have known for some time, is that for all their gleeful cries of persecution directed toward “Satan’s system,” the history book shows that nobody, not even Hitler,* is more prolific at killing Jehovah’s Witnesses than Watchtower itself.”
Never thought about the blood issue in such a way, but I totally agree. The Gov Body is mass killing their flock, either by refusal of blood or those who commit suicide from emotional disconnection from their families brought on from disfellowshipping or from “choosing” to be gay. (Note sarcasm. I believe one is born gay).
Thank you for spreading the truth about the truth.
Reply
Bright Lightbulb says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Tony Tightpants is such a weirdo. The doctors clearly did their duty in doing all they could to save him. How is it that a misinterpretation and misrepresentation of scripture allowing a child to die, doesn’t equal to murder or manslaughter? Blows the mind.
Reply
Chiafade says:
July 6, 2016 at 1:06 pm
It defys logic. The child isn’t old enough drive. Isn’t old enough to get married. In some cases isn’t old enough to choose their own bedtime.
But they are old enough to make a dedication to an organization. They are also old enough to make a balanced life or death medical decision? It’s pure child abuse. The parents and their indoctrination shared in shedding their own child’s blood. Another wasted human life. All for nothing. His parents are going to miss out on the ONE life that they have and their child HAD.
Reply
Summer says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:12 pm
I worked as an RN for 26 yrs…i can not say what others said or did…only myself.
I can not tell you how many pints of blood…plasma…platelets i spiked and hung over the yrs…i know i would see the orders to infuse after t/cm labs were in…double checked orders against labs and bags…asked pts to sign blood papers…99% did…only 9 refused…of those nine refusals…only 1 was a jw.
Hosp. policy was…explain to pt i was required by law to read the disclosure and transfusion authorization…notify charge nurse (some yrs i was charge and and DON) and dr ordering blood. If the pt was under 18…i had to call social services ( who then called police to file child abuse charges) who then called a judge on call to hold court in the childs room…judge usually remanded child into state custody and ordered blood transfused…blood usually was spiked within two hours from time parents initially refused…parents would either be jailed or served with trespasses orders…a police officer was assigned to guard the childs door.
Only one time was the child transferred to another hospital via chopper because parents kept sending family and friends into hospital trying to stop the infusions…
As a nurse in these situations….iv been verbally and physically assulted…have had threats to my life and had my car followed…one father actually brought a gun into the hospital and threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to hang blood…he accused the staff of trying to infect his son with hiv…
Parents sometimes become violent and godspeed to the hospital personnel assigned to their family members…bullet proof vests became a mute point when copkillers were sold to the public.
Im happily retired now.!!!
Reply
Jeffreycanning says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:59 pm
I’m with you dude…
Reply
Jeffreycanning says:
July 6, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Wow! What a story scary… Enjoy your retirement…
Reply
Tgreat says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:16 pm
I feel sick. Josh is the name of the boy who died in my old congregation from leukemia and refusing blood transfusions. He only lived a month after he was diagnosed. Ugh what makes this worse is my family brought josh and his family into “the truth”. I’m tearing up thinking josh could still be alive if my dad and I had never knocked on their door. This is truly sick if it’s the same person Anthony Morris is referring to.
Reply
nullandvoidboy says:
July 6, 2016 at 6:39 pm
@Tgreat
Do not be hard on yourself….at the time you did what you thought was right and just….there was no malice in your bones…many of us here “brought in” people we wished we never had….myself included….I’m not trying to minimize anything…..just know that it wasn’t your fault.
Reply
George says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:19 pm
I understand that it is not a disfellowshipping offence, but they will eventually consider the person as one that has disassociated himselt. The result is sadly the same.
Reply
Miranda Presley says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:53 pm
George…you are correct. It WAS a disfelliwshipping offense, however, due to coming under fire by the European Human Rights Commission, they altered it, so that they could say, “No, we don’t disfellowship someone for accepting blood!” When in reality, that is exactly what they are doing. It’s clever semantics, and it is deceptive practices like that which really made me open my eyes to their true nature.
If this is God’s law, that those who take blood be cut off…then they should have the balls to stand up for it, not pretend that they leave it as a matter of conscience.
Reply
Chiafade says:
July 6, 2016 at 12:55 pm
That’s correct. It was a legal maneuver adopted after watchtower received severe criticism in Europe. They faced dire consequences for punishing people who were simply trying to save their lives. So their stance changed to “oh no we don’t disfellowship people for taking blood”..which is only half the story. What they don’t tell anyone is that it’s considered an act of disassociation. So you’re still punished. The same goes for donating blood.
Reply
Holy Connoli says:
July 6, 2016 at 4:04 pm
to Chifade: Yes, they do not donate blood BUT they accept BLOOD particles which comes from WHOLE blood which comes from people who DONATE blood! So again the WT accepts blood particles from people soon to be destroyed at Armegeddon but they will not help them with Donating blood. Let’s review…it is a cult!
Reply
Oubliette says:
July 6, 2016 at 1:10 pm
This is truly a needless tragedy.
It’s curious to me that in the long history of the WTBTS none of the Governing Body members have ever “martyred” themselves by refusing a blood transfusion.
What are the odds?
C’mon Tony, Steven, Sammy, et al. Why don’t one of YOU put your money where your mouth is and show us how it’s done?
Let’s review: It’s a cult!
Reply
dee2 says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:25 pm
You’ve read my mind Oubliette!
I’ve been wondering the very same thing – has any member of the GB or the WT’s lawyers ever needed a blood transfusion?
Their stories of matyrdom/unwavering faith should be the most publicized/talked about if any of them have ever found themselves in need of a transfusion.
Well, as the saying goes, you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. So I guess we will never know.
Reply
WhyTheFace2016 says:
July 6, 2016 at 1:49 pm
I was in Lincoln, NE on Sunday, 7/3 and heard the exact same experience delivered. Josh was 15, from what I can recall.
After some Googling, I found this article. I can’t confirm that this is indeed the young man who met such a tragic end, but it could be. I wonder if they took a factual story and embellished it with an uber amount or propaganda as a means to set up the paradise video for maximum emotional effect.
After relating Josh’s experience and just prior to the paradise video, the speaker said “Would you like to see what God has in store for his loyal servants in the future? Let’s tune in to the Paradise TV Channel.”
Gag.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/may/18/jehovahs-witness-dies-refuse-blood-transfusion
Reply
Anonymous mom says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:12 pm
I cringe so hard at this. My parents were at this convention and no doubt clapped at the loss of this child’s life. Its even more sickening knowing that if it were one of my children who had lost their life they would support it the same as they do this child. I can’t believe someone can be so blind to not see the wrong here. I was raised a Jw but I still could never wrap my mind around this. Isn’t valuing life more important than that? Isn’t mercy more important than a sacrifice? That poor child.
Reply
ruthlee says:
July 6, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Oh My God! ruthlee
Reply
John Baptist says:
July 6, 2016 at 4:12 pm
This is absolutely disgusting that they sacrifice their children because of THEIR religious viewpoints. To me the bible talked about the blood of a animal after it was sacrificed. Absolutely cult propaganda. Another life ended way to early due to false teachings.
They should be brought up on murder charges for all those lost due to a manmade doctrine.
Reply
Mama Joy says:
July 6, 2016 at 4:12 pm
Just another example of an extremist religion.
Reply
Frederick says:
July 6, 2016 at 5:37 pm
This is so sad, the odds are this kid would have grown up to leave the organization. Now his life is lost because of the terrible mind control this cult manipulates his parents with. No one can anymore say the organization is just dillisional, this is pure evil.
Reply
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◾nullandvoidboy on 21st Century Christian martyrdom: Tony Morris praises JW boy who died refusing blood
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23 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…
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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.
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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’.
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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.
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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/
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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
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Adrian says:
September 8, 2015 at 3:32 am
I think the Royal Commission videos demonstrate that fragility of the governance within the WT society. Yes, it’s an Australia branch issue but cross examination only points to the seat of control on which the governing body members sit. Everything starts and stops with the governing body, they set the policy but where are they? Sitting comfortably in NY watching from a distance ready to abdicate any responsibility whatsoever. A governing body governs and leads but I see no leadership I see the followers talking and being bashed around the head with questions, all too easy for the legal team.
However, it might just be me but does anyone else not see the lawyer’s gap in knowledge regarding the fundamental rationale for the WT society policies, they fall back in their comfort zone knowing that they can say ‘well we don’t have the authority to go beyond the bible.’
It’s this gap in knowledge of the legal representatives which the WT society exploit. I mean nobody is going to ask ‘ where actually did this translation come from anyway?’ What were the academic qualifications of the translators? Is there a possibility that you have interpreted things wrongly or even worse, translated things incorrectly? If there’s a possibility that your interpretation on how to deal with modern day child abuse cases in congregations may be flawed, then are you in agreement that your policies could result in lasting harm to victims of abuse? In my view that translation is the ‘elephant in the room’ every scholar knows it’s perverse but no one is holding this cult to account. So easy to say it’s all in the bible but should they really be saying it’s all in the NWT instead?
The WT society in the videos almost give of an innocence as if to say, ‘ but that’s what we understand from the scriptures’, and I think it works in their favor, but a savvy legal representative would do well to tease out the basis for the rendering of certain verses on which doctrine, policy and organisational decisions are based. So far the WT Society appears to be one step ahead because their authority is not a person but a book, which they are ‘only trying to understand and live by’. Expose the origin of the NWT and the basis for so many ridiculous uncaring decisions is called into question.
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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?
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Paul says:
April 3, 2016 at 10:24 pm
Indoctrination and mind control in its purest form. Will the BS never end, and is hard for me to understand why JW’S put up with this.
Reply
ian York says:
April 13, 2016 at 4:15 pm
It is hard to fathom how anybody could believe in the legitimacy of Watchtower’s claim to be God’s only organization on earth today when considering it started with the likes if this oaf. One would have to have a belief in predestination, an unscriptural concept, in order to square the circle of the now regarded apostate beliefs if the founder members and today’s dogma.
Reply
Abby says:
May 10, 2016 at 2:51 am
After pioneering for over a decade, I wondered where the GB got the 70 hours requirement. Did Jesus or the 12 Apostles count time? Honestly, I feel enslaved. Hmmm. I grateful to Yahowah for helping me discover this site. The stress is too burdensome for me. OMG We have been taught in the watchtower that when we revenge, we are being presumptuous is DF not presumptuousness? Let’s look at it this way. When you commit a grievous sin, who do you offend, God or elders? Is shunning not a way of doing Yahowah’s work for him. I just learnt that JW’s don’t bury dfd people. This is heart breaking. I call this rennaissance period for any one who wishes to wake up. Jephtah’s case is an eye opener, I had to confirm that from my book of bible stories, story 53. Hmmmm.
Reply
peely says:
May 31, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Hi Abby,
Yes, we know disfellowshiped ones are considered as good as dead.
John 16:2 – “They will put you out of (meaning of Greek is “excommunicate”) the synagogue (“congregation”); in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills (“figuratively or literally”) you will think they are offering a service to God.” (to keep the congregation clean)
“They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.” John 16:3,4
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33
I always wonder why the decision to go ahead of every other bible rendition and take out the possibly spurious John 8:1-11 Leaving it in the NWT would blow a hole in the disfellowshiping doctrine. On the organization’s website, I cannot even find a reference to those scriptures.
From the symbolic book of Revelation: “He was permitted to give a spirit to the image (organization) of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Rev 13:15)
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Paul says:
May 28, 2016 at 4:14 am
Your professional presentation and factually is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your fine effort and tirelessness.
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Paul says:
June 5, 2016 at 12:36 am
Bravo
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21st Century Christian martyrdom: Tony Morris praises JW boy who died refusing blood
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Posted on July 6, 2016
Tony Morris has been filmed at a convention praising a JW child who died refusing blood
The three-day regional conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses are given different themes from year to year. This year’s theme of “Remain Loyal to Jehovah” offers a fascinating hint of the paranoia gripping the Governing Body leadership as the internet helps an increasing outflow shed their … Continue reading →
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The Friday Column: To the newly shunned
Posted on July 1, 2016
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Like many ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of my family will soon be attending the 2016 convention entitled “Remain Loyal to Jehovah.” Dubbed #worstconventionever by many in the ex-JW community, this convention features a number of videos and talks that will serve … Continue reading →
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News Bulletin: Watchtower Found in Contempt of Court – Hit with $4000 Fine Per Day Until It Complies With Court Order
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Posted on June 25, 2016
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A few months ago, we reported on yet another in a long line of legal actions brought against the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for its now infamous and heavily criticized methods of handling accusations of child abuse inside its … Continue reading →
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The Worst Convention Ever – Part 4: Propaganda Movies
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Posted on June 18, 2016
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For decades, Jehovah’s Witnesses have attended yearly multi-day assemblies, often sitting through scorching heat, fighting off sleep, attempting to take notes during an onslaught of talk after talk, all the while secretly praying for the end to come. No, not … Continue reading →
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NEWS BULLETIN: JW.ORG Asks: Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
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Posted on June 11, 2016
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The FAQ section on JW.org has added a new featured post: “Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” In this NEW article dated June 9th 2016, the Watchtower gives their official explanation of how to handle matters … Continue reading →
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The Friday Column: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Doubts
Posted on June 10, 2016
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Like myself, my wife was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and has always loved reading. When she was around 7 years old, she was reading through a science book and came across a chart detailing the evolution of the horse through … Continue reading →
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The Worst Convention Ever – Part 3: Sergei’s Story
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Posted on June 7, 2016
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“The way of the truth is the best way of living.” So begins Kingdom Song 64, “Make the Truth Your Own.” This mantra is one with which Jehovah’s Witnesses are very familiar. In fact, it’s quite common to hear the mantra … Continue reading →
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The Worst Convention Ever – Part 2: The Bunker
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Posted on June 4, 2016
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By now, you may have already seen what have become known as the “Bunker” videos shown during the 2016 Regional convention. The films are centred around a small group of Witnesses huddled in a basement converted into a makeshift bunker, … Continue reading →
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The Friday Column: What it means to be a Jehovah’s Witness
Posted on June 2, 2016
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There’s been a lot of buzz lately surrounding the new video release from JW.org featuring the characters “Caleb and Sophia.” The video series is called “Be Jehovah’s Friend” and aims to indoctrinate children into the Witness religion. Watchtower has obviously watched … Continue reading →
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The Worst Convention Ever – Part 1: Shunning
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Posted on June 2, 2016
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This summer millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide will flock to their regional conventions, a much-anticipated event in the JW calendar. Local newspapers are already lining up to write articles lauding the influx of Witnesses at sports venues and convention centers. … Continue reading →
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News Bulletin: Watchtower tightens shunning rules to include “sinful” inactive ones.
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Posted on May 28, 2016
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Rumours have been flying about in recent weeks that Watchtower might be changing its shunning policy for the worse at the 2016 Regional Conventions entitled “Remain Loyal to Jehovah.” We at JW Survey had been aware of these rumours, and … Continue reading →
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The Friday Column: No Girls Allowed – Growing up as a Female Jehovah’s Witness
Posted on May 27, 2016
Jehovah's Witness Leadership - Girls need not apply
From JW Survey contributor Brooke No girls allowed – a common theme throughout my childhood; raised with all older boy cousins, I had to learn to stick up for myself. I fought tooth and nail for my spot in the video game room, just to watch them play. Just to feel like a … Continue reading →
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Update: JW Survey needs YOU!
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Posted on May 26, 2016
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Last Friday, we put up an article opening the doors to submissions from you, our readers. We have had a number of excellent submissions since then, covering a wide variety of topics. On behalf of the entire JW Survey team, … Continue reading →
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