a little confused (page 2)

onlycurious

The JW's are a social cult and are not doctrinally sound. Over the years they have changed their doctrine and hidden the many false prophecies. It's sad to see innocent people get sucked up into this trap. Stay here, you'll see how this cult has effected all these people's lives.

jwfacts

I have been working on an article about this for a while, so have pasted it below. Sorry about how long it is, but it will show you the way the Watchtower attempts to control the lives of its followers and the strange way it forces JWs to think.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH BEING ONE OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

Religion can benefit people by:
1. Focusing attention on God and his everlasting purposes
2. Outlining moral guidelines
3. Providing community

The Watchtower Society has benefited the lives of many people by achieving the above goals in their lives. Jehovah’s Witnesses are generally sincere, clean living people that wish to serve God. Many are well meaning and devote their lives to serving Jehovah in the manner prescribed by the Watchtower Society, attending several meetings and preaching every week. Being a Jehovah’s Witness does not create the same level of problems for individuals or society as a whole that certain extremist organizations and cults have done.

However, being a Jehovah’s Witness has also greatly damaged many lives. The fault lies not with the followers but with the system and the manner in which the Watchtower Society forces followers to think and behave. As a JW personal freedom gives way to unquestioningly following the rules of the Watchtower Society. Any disagreement with them results in a possible life time of shunning by family and friends.

The focus of what is wrong revolves around a single point, the high control that the Watchtower Society has over its members. This affects both spirituality and day-to-day living. Freedom is regarded as the highest aspiration of mankind. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights preamble states;
“Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,”

Shunning
Common amongst high control groups is the demand to shun former members, taking away the freedom of members to choose who should or should not be associated with. In Combating Cult Mind Control page 109 Steven Hassan advises that the first question a person should ask before joining any controversial group is “Does your group impose restrictions on communicating with former members? This is one of the most revealing sets of questions you can ask any cult member. Any legitimate organization would never discourage contact with former members.” As discussed at the chapter on disfellowshipping, the Watchtower practice of shunning goes well beyond scriptural guidelines and exists as a method of control.

A Jehovah’s Witness can be disfellowshipped for numerous reasons, including smoking, gambling, drunkenness and fornication. Once disfellowshipped they are not to be spoken to or even greeted by their friends, including in the street, socially or at the kingdom hall.

A person who openly questions Watchtower doctrine is referred to as an apostate and described in the Watchtower 1993 October 1 p.19 as a rebel against Jehovah; Jehovah’s Witnesses are to ““feel a loathing” toward those who have made themselves God's enemies, but they leave it to Jehovah to execute vengeance." The Watchtower 1994 July 1 p.12 claims those who stop following the Watchtower Society are feeding “at Satan’s spiritual table, the table of demons, [and] will be forced to attend a literal meal, no, not as partakers, but as the main course—to their destruction!”

Shunning Family Most if not all major cultures recognise that family if of utmost importance in life. Healthy family relationships are a key contributor to happiness and emotional stability. Family is the core of society and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 12 which states;

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation.

The Watchtower Society contravenes this right by forbidding members from having general association with their own disfellowshipped family members (unless they are too young to leave home).

Watchtower 1988 April 15 p.27 “It might be possible to have almost no contact at all with the relative. Even if there were some family matters requiring contact, this certainly would be kept to a minimum…”

Pay Attention to Yourselves and all the Flock p.103 shows that a person can be disfellowshipped for talking to their disfellowshipped family members.

Many of my disfellowshipped friends have been advised by in-laws that they are never to visit, call, email or even send an sms, unless they return to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. What mother wants to face the future knowing she may never again speak freely to her children, or child want to face a lifetime of exclusion from family gatherings? The Watchtower Society insists upon this and many Witnesses have had virtually no contact with their parents and children for decades because of this rule.

Unnecessary Death & SufferingJehovah's Witnesses are to put Jehovah first, even if this will result in death. Thus no compromise is to be made in order to save ones own life.

Worship the Only True God p.89 “Jehovah’s servants have built up an outstanding record as integrity keepers. When put under pressure, they have proved that ‘they do not love their own souls’ more than they love Jehovah. (Revelation 12:11) Wisely, they do not abandon Christian principles trying to save their present life. (Luke 9:24, 25) They know that even if they lose their life now because of loyally upholding Jehovah’s sovereignty, he will reward them by means of the resurrection.”

Theoretically commendable, this fails to recognise that Jehovah's Witnesses put Watchtower interpretation of Jehovah’s requirements first. The interpretation in life threatening areas has continued to change (unlike Jehovah’s standards) resulting in Witnesses unnecessarily suffering and dieing for principles that later apparently were not what Jehovah required.

Malawi
Jesus commanded that we “pay back Caesars things to Caesar”, and Paul advised that we obey the political rulers at Romans chapter 13, so it is will little justification that the Watchtower Society insists Jehovah’s Witnesses refrain from voting and politics. This has been a cause of unnecessary persecution for many followers. Most reprehensible has been the plight of Witnesses in Malawi. In the 1960’s the Watchtower decreed that Malawian Witnesses were not to hold a political card in a one party state. This resulted in many thousands of deaths, rapes and displacements of innocent Witnesses between 1963 and 1992. (Yearbook 1999 pp.149-223)

Medical Advice
The Watchtower has a history a providing unusual and wrong medical advice. The Golden Age contained warnings against everything from using aluminium saucepans to eating before lunch. In the 1970’s organ transplants were banned as being cannibalism. Currently blood transfusions are not allowed. The Awake! 1994 May 22 p.2 admits that this advice has led to lose of life claiming that “thousands of youths died for putting God first.”

Though presented as from God the advice continues to change, indicating otherwise. Even the prohibition of what components of blood must be avoided has constantly changed, resulting in Jehovah’s Witnesses continuing to die based on the opinions and whims of men.

When eighty Branch Davidians died in 1993 under the leadership of David Koresh and hundreds died in mass suicide in Jonestown 1978 the world reeled in shock and horror at the destructive power of damaging religious groups. Yet the death toll at the hands of these two leaders is minor in comparison to the accumulated yearly death toll of Witnesses that have been manipulated by false Watchtower medical doctrine.

Jail instead of military service
United in Worship of the Only True God p.167 “An examination of the historical facts shows that not only have Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to put on military uniforms and take up arms but, during the past half century and more, they have also declined to do noncombatant service or to accept other work assignments as a substitute for military service. … Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been imprisoned because they would not violate their Christian neutrality.”

After tens of thousands of young Witness men in the prime of their lives have spent years in jails for refusing civilian service in 1996 the Watchtower decided such a choice was not unchristian and a matter of choice.

Watchtower 1996 May 1 p.20 “What, though, if the State requires a Christian for a period of time to perform civilian service that is a part of national service under a civilian administration? … That is his decision before Jehovah.”

How does the Watchtower justify such needless suffering? Rather than apologize they claim it was Jehovah that allowed it!

Watchtower 1998 August 15 p.17 In the past, some Witnesses have suffered for refusing to share in an activity that their conscience now might permit. For example, this might have been their choice years ago as to certain types of civilian service. A brother might now feel that he could conscientiously perform such without overstepping his Christian neutrality regarding the present system of things. Was it unrighteous on Jehovah’s part to allow him to suffer for rejecting what he now might do without consequences? Most who have had that experience would not think so. Rather, they rejoice that they had the opportunity of demonstrating publicly and clearly that they were determined to be firm on the issue of universal sovereignty.”

Planning for the Future
Since inception, the Watchtower Society has claimed the end is about to come. Over 130 years of failed expectations have passed. Throughout this period dates and terms like “within the next few years” have gone unfulfilled. Yet this has not prevented the Watchtower society building urgency by saying that the end will shortly take place. Because the end is ‘so near’ the Watchtower continues to recommend members postpone plans for the future and devote themselves to distributing the Watchtower and its message, praising those that do.

Kingdom Ministry May 1974 p.3 How Are You Using Your Life? “Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end.”

By building up these expectation followers’ lives and the decisions they make are affected in regards to education, children and planning for the future. The following are specific statements the Watchtower continues to recommend Witnesses recommend when making such decisions.

Advanced Education
The Watchtower does not specifically forbid advanced education, but has regularly warned against it. As early as 1910 Russell advised against advanced education.

What Pastor Russell Said (Leslie W. Jones Chicago 1917) pp.57,58 “My advice is, then, give your children an education up to public school limit, not even attempting to take them through high school, for they get plenty of Higher Criticism [sic] in the high schools, and it will not be long before they have it in the common schools also.”

This negative attitude to further education has been expressed ever since.

Watchtower 1967 February 1 p.76 “Rather than being content with “sustenance and covering,” those who devote themselves to getting a “higher education” usually want to be able to enjoy “the rest of the things” that money can buy.”

Awake! 1989 May 8 p.13 What Career Should I Choose? “A university degree may or may not improve your employment prospects. But one fact is indisputable: “The time left is reduced”! (1 Corinthians 7:29) For all its presumed benefits, would four years or more in a university be the best use of that remaining time?—Ephesians 5:16.”

During the 1990’s the difficulty some Jehovah's Witnesses were having in obtaining sufficient employments led to a softening of the anti-education sentiment, though still with warnings and provisos.

Watchtower 1992 November 1 p.20 “If Christian parents responsibly decide to provide their children with further education after high school, that is their prerogative. The period of these studies would vary according to the type of trade or occupation selected. For financial reasons and in order to enable their children to get into the full-time service as quickly as possible, many Christian parents have chosen for them short-term study programs in vocational or technical schools. In some cases youths have needed to be apprenticed to some trade but always with a full life of service to Jehovah as the goal. If additional courses are taken, certainly the motive should not be to shine scholastically or to carve out a prestigious worldly career. Courses should be chosen with care. This magazine has placed emphasis on the dangers of higher learning, and justifiably so, for much higher education opposes the “healthful teaching” of the Bible. (Titus 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:20, 21) Further, since the 1960’s, many schools of advanced learning have become hotbeds of lawlessness and immorality. “The faithful and discreet slave” has strongly discouraged entering that kind of environment. (Matthew 24:12, 45) It must be admitted, however, that nowadays youngsters meet up with these same dangers in high schools and technical colleges and even in the workplace.—1 John 5:19.”

Watchtower 1999 September 1 p.17 “Remember, too, that “the time left is reduced.” (1 Corinthians 7:29) How much time will you devote to such education? Will it consume the bulk of your youthful years? If so, how will you apply the Bible’s encouragement to “remember, now, your Grand Creator in the days of your young manhood”?”

This relaxed stance did not last long, with articles reverting back to a focus on the dangers of education and an attitude close to contempt for those that hold out plans for education and riches.

Watchtower 2006 April 15 p.27 “Do you not agree that to continue enjoying divine blessings, we must resist seeking things for ourselves at the expense of Jehovah's worship? That is so whether the activity or interest diverting our attention is the pursuit of wealth, get-rich-quick schemes, ambitious plans for advanced education to have a desirable career in this system, or programs of personal fulfilment.

Such things may not be sins in themselves. However, do you not see that from the standpoint of everlasting life, those really are dead works? In what sense? They are spiritually dead, vain and fruitless. If one persists in them, such works could lead to spiritual death. It happened to some anointed Christians in the apostles' day. It has happened to some in out time. You may know of some who were gradually distracted from Christian activities and from the congregation; now they show no inclination to return to Jehovah’s Service.”

The result can be seen in a 1993 survey of 113,000 people by Kosmin and Lachman. Of the thirty religious groups listed Jehovah’s Witnesses had the lowest level of college graduates and the lowest aggregate social status, with aggregate social status based on home ownership, annual household income, college graduation and percent working full-time. Where as 49/5% of Unitarian Universalists and 20% of Catholics had a degree, only 4.7% of Jehovah’s Witnesses did.

Advice Against Children and Marriage
The Watchtower Society encourages children and marriage to be postponed as it detracts from the work of spreading their message in these “last days”.

Watchtower 2000 August 1 p.21 Why Do They Have No Children? “Although Noah’s three sons were all married, none fathered children until after the Deluge. … While this does not imply that it is wrong to have children today, many Christian couples decline to have children so as to become more fully involved in the urgent work that Jehovah has given his people to do. Some couples have waited for a time before having children; others have decided to remain childless and consider the possibility of bearing children in Jehovah’s righteous new world.”

Particularly during times of heightened expectation of Armageddon has advice against marriage and children has been delivered. This occurred in the build up prior to the end of the millennium.

Watchtower 1988 March 1 p. 19 Childbearing Among God’s People “If the expansion of Christianity was to come about mainly by childbearing, Jesus would not have encouraged his disciples to “make room” for singleness “on account of the kingdom of the heavens.” (Matthew 19:10-12) …How should Christians view marriage and childbearing today, in this “time of the end”? (Daniel 12:4) It is truer than ever that “the scene of this world is changing,” or, as another translation puts it, “the present scheme of things is rapidly passing away.”—1 Corinthians 7:31, Phillips. Now, as never before, “the time left is reduced.” Yes, only a limited time remains for Jehovah’s people to finish the work he has given them to do, namely: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) That work must be accomplished before the end comes. It is, therefore, appropriate for Christians to ask themselves how getting married or, if married, having children will affect their share in that vital work. …During all this pre-Flood period, Noah’s sons and their wives had no children.”

In the lead up to 1975 this same reasoning was expounded.

Awake! 1974 November 8 p.11 "Today there is a great crowd of people who are confident that a destruction of even greater magnitude is now imminent. The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major fulfilment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time. They have chosen to remain childless so that they would be less encumbered to carry out the instructions of Jesus Christ to preach the good news of God's kingdom earth wide before the end of this system comes. -Matt.24:14."

In 1941 the Watchtower said that the followers were in the remaining months before Armageddon." (w41 9/15 p.288) The lead up to this period specifically warned it would be inappropriate to marry and have children.

Face the Facts (1938) pp.46, 47, 50 "Would it be Scripturally proper for them to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is supported by the Scripture…. Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone..."

Watchtower 1938 November 1 p.324 "...mark the words of Jesus, which definitely seem to discourage the bearing of children immediately before or during Armageddon

Children (1941) 3,000,000 ed. pp.312-313 "Should men and women, both of whom are Jonadabs or "other sheep" of the Lord, now marry before Armageddon and bring forth children? They may chose to do so, but the admonition or advice of the scriptures appears to be against it.

Rutherford had a particularly negative view of marriage, as reflected in magazines during his time. The Golden Age 1937 January 27 edition contained an article “That Delusion Called Love” that contained bizarre statements and recommendations, such as recommending arranged marriage such as in the times of the Israelites. It concluded: “God’s consecrated people do well to refrain from marriage unless they find themselves continually tormented with desire for sexual intercourse, in which case they should marry. … For those of the younger or older who have need to marry on this score, let them dispose of the matter in candor and honesty … shunning the blight, the delusions and illusions of “love” so called and courtship, which bring reproach on the holy name of Jehovah.”

Many that adhered to the advice in the 1930’s have since passed away without experiencing the joy of matrimonial love, children and grandchildren.

View of “Worldly People”
In order to make the members stay close to the Watchtower Society everyone not a Jehovah's Witnesses is described as a “worldly person”. This is ‘loaded language’ as the term worldly person does not appear in the Bible. Worldly people have been described in the vilest of terms, creating a negative and unrealistic opinion of anyone that is not a Jehovah's Witnesses. Those raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses do not know any better and often actually believe that all worldly people are bad and not be trusted, creating a fear of leaving the Watchtower Society.

Following are a few examples of how worldly people are described.

Watchtower 1987 September 15 pp.12,14 “While some contact with worldly people is unavoidable—at work, at school, and otherwise—we must be vigilant so as to keep from being sucked back into the death-dealing atmosphere of this world. … Let the world go along in its way, reaping its bad fruitage in the form of broken homes, illegitimate births, sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS, and countless other emotional and physical woes.”

Proclaimersp.84 “Brother Rutherford released the tan-colored book Enemies. It denounced false religion as “a great enemy, always working injury to mankind.” False religionists were identified as “agents of the Devil

Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! (1988)
"... the clergy of Christendom have been the most prominent members of Satan's seed." (p30)
"All her hundreds of millions of church members, if they continue to support Christendom's religion, become like scorched blades of grass, spiritually wilted in God's eyes." (p134)

Watchtower 1984 October 1 p. 15 Remain “Without Spot From the World” “We must avoid the speech, conduct and attitudes that are so common among worldly individuals, but that are out of harmony with God’s Word. For instance, hatred, greediness, shameful conduct and obscene jesting have no proper place in our life.”

Watchtower 1989 January 15 p.22 “Some even leave negotiations to worldly relatives, who then demand an exorbitant price. While this bargaining goes on, the situation could push the young people into fornication. This is what takes place among worldly people.”

Watchtower 1966 June 1 p.341 “If you are one of those rare persons that wants to serve the Creator today…”

True Peace and Security – How Can You Find It? (1986) p.122 Survivors Must Be “No Part of the World” “Thus the “world,” that is, the mass of mankind alienated from God, “is lying in the power of the wicked one…. This may sound hard to believe. Yet, do not most people of this world clearly manifest the attitude and works of God’s Adversary?””

Relationship with God
Spirituality and a relationship with God are strictly regulated by the Watchtower Society, which places itself as spokesman, intermediary and mediator between God and Man. The Bible plainly states that it is Jesus alone that fills these roles. Every time the Watchtower Society speaks of following the Organization it diverts attention away from who we should be fixed on; Jesus. It is interesting to compare what the Bible states with the Watchtower spin.

Fix our Eyes on … the Organization
Bible -Hebrews 12:2
(NWT) “look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus…”
(NIV) “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”

Watchtower 2003 February 15 p.31 “Jehovah’s people today carefully fix their eyes on the progressive Bible-based instructions that Jehovah gives through his earthly organization. (Psalm 123:1, 2) Yes, they act on his direction, being alert to whatever Jehovah indicates through “the faithful and discreet slave.””

Whom do we go to … the Organization
Peter said whom could we go to apart from Jesus. The Watchtower states that whom means where.

Bible John 6:68 “Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.”

2 Corinthians 1:21 “But he who guarantees that YOU and we belong to Christ and he who has anointed us is God.”

Watchtower 1975 September 1 p.531 “Where could we turn if we would leave God’s organization today? There is nowhere else! (John 6:66-69)”

Who are we baptized to – The Organization
When a Jehovah’s Witness gets baptized the second baptism vow asks that you wish to be identified as part of an organization. This is in conflict with biblical guidance on baptism; no mention was made of joining an organization consisting of earthly intermediaries.

Bible Matthew 28:19 “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit”

Acts 2:38 “let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”

Watchtower 1985 June 1 p.30 “[Baptised] as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?”

Who is our mediator … the Faithful Slave
Jesus said that he alone is the mediator for mankind and it is only through him that a person can have a relationship with God. The Watchtower applies this just to the leaders, all others need to align themselves with the leaders to receive these benefits.

Bible 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,”

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Watchtower 1979 April 1 p.31 “So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the “mediator” only for anointed Christians.”

Watchtower 1979 November 15 p.27 “They recognize that they are not spiritual Israelites in the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ, nor part of the “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. … To keep in relationship with “our Savior, God,” the “great crowd” needs to remain united with the remnant of spiritual Israelites.”

Watchtower 1981 November 15 p.21 “…the invitation to come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation”

Who is the Bible for … the Leaders!
United in Worship p.111 “Special attention was being given to making up the government that would rule mankind for 1,000 years, and nearly all the inspired letters in the Christian Greek Scriptures are primarily directed to this group of Kingdom heirs—"the holy ones," "partakers of the heavenly calling.”

Watchtower 1974 June 15 p.376 “Also, it is to the spirit-anointed Christians who will rule in that kingdom that most of the Christian Greek Scriptures is directed, including the promises of everlasting life.”

Watchtower 2002 February 1 p. 23 “All of this should impress upon the minds of the other sheep why the Christian Greek Scriptures focus so much attention on Christ and his anointed brothers and their central role in the outworking of Jehovah’s purposes. The other sheep therefore consider it a privilege to support in every way possible the anointed slave class while awaiting “the revealing of the sons of God” at Armageddon and during the Millennium.”

The Watchtower Society claims there are two groups, the 144,000 leaders and the Other Sheep. As shown above the claim is made that the Bible was written principally for the leaders, Jesus is mediator only for them, and only they receive the Holy Spirit. The other sheep are a secondary class that needs to follow the leaders for everlasting life and are judged on how they treat the anointed.

Watchtower 2002 February 1 p.22 “In that parable, Christ clearly showed that the salvation of the other sheep is closely linked to their conduct toward the anointed, whom he called “my brothers.”

The Bible, on the other hand, shows that Jesus came to create a single united class of his people, joining Jews (little flock) and Gentiles (other sheep) under the New Covenant when he said at John 10:16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.”

Legislative
Jesus message was that his followers were to be freed from the burdens of the Mosaic Law, condemning the Pharisees for their petty rule making. He promised “my yoke is kindly and my load is light.” (Matthew 11:30) Individuals were to base their behaviour on principles of love. Paul repeatedly showed that the Law was superseded (Romans 7:6) and Acts 15:28 the older men stated that “the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things.”

The Watchtower Society however has built a preponderance rules. The Branch Organization Procedure book has over 1,100 rules and regulations. There are over 30 reasons to be disfellowshipped. In addition to the rules already discussed, there are a plethora of rules both written and unwritten, stated directly or implied, in regards to dress codes, beards, entertainment, the size of gatherings and so forth.

Fear
Fear is a powerful way of control, successfully used by religions for centuries. Use of fear by the Watchtower is discussed in detail in the chapter on Fear and Cult Mind Control.

Prior to the 1978 release of My Book of Bible Stories, as a child my Bible stories book was the 1958 From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained. As a child I had recurrent nightmares of falling off a cliff and I have little doubt that the following picture had negative affects on impressionable children.
Negative view of life

From its inception the Watchtower Society consistently has been preaching doom and how unliveable life is.

Watchtower 1894 July 15 p.227 “… Our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They say that they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain.”

To be a Witness requires a special thinking process, one that motivates a person to urgency in these unprecedented wicked ‘last days’. Negative imagery is constantly presented to keep members in a constant downcast state about the people around and the times we live in. This is ‘proof’ that few years are left before Armageddon.

There is constant reference to scriptures saying “that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here”, that “men and impostors will advance from bad to worse” and there will be “woe for the earth and for the sea” (2 Timothy 3:1, 13; Revelation 12:12) For instance over the last 53 years, the Scripture on” critical times hard to deal with” is referred to 897 times whilst the well known verse from Psalm 23:1 “Jehovah is my Shepherd. I shall lack nothing” is only mentioned 111 times in the Watchtower. The following are typical Watchtower statements.

Watchtower 1993 3/1 p.4 “Two world wars, hundreds of smaller armed conflicts, famines, great earthquakes, pestilences, wave after wave of crime and violence, and a worldwide preaching campaign all together constitute a dramatic warning that human society is rapidly approaching a cataclysmic crisis.”

Kingdom Ministry April 2005 p.1 “Critical times are here. Civil strife, ethnic wars, natural disasters, and other horrific events are common place. Now more then ever, the human family needs good news.”

The reality of the times we live in is quite different. A study of history shows that live in a time of comparable peace. Human rights, particularly for women and children are far greater than ever. Medical advances mean that the life expectancy in many countries has doubled in the last 100 years and can be enjoyed with far less pain. The average person living in developed countries enjoy luxuries few Kings had access to in centuries gone by. It was stated in the March 24-28th 2005 Australian Financial Review that we are living in the healthiest, most peaceful, best period of time in all history

The Watchtower needs to prove conditions are far worse than they are to prove it to be the Last Days and create urgency in followers to devote themselves to growing the organisation. Healthy religions do not need to create negative urgency as they are based around serving God rather than serving for salvation. Positive religions focus on improvement in life by establishment of schools, hospitals and charities, whilst a Witness waits and waits for a future time when things will get better.

Ability to reason
In an effort to create unwavering unity Jehovah's Witnesses are forced to suppress questioning and reasoning abilities. This creates unity based, not on truth, but on the mindless following of everything within the pages of Watchtower publications. On leaving it is disconcerting to become aware of how much you once wholeheartedly believed on doctrine and other aspects of life they was quite senseless. It takes time to trust your own thinking ability and to learn how to evaluate information on its merits. Following are some of the direct statements in the Watchtower that discourage healthy questioning of Watchtower information.

Watchtower 1987 November 1 p.20 “False religious propaganda from any source should be avoided like poison! Really, since our Lord has used “the faithful and discreet slave” to convey to us “sayings of everlasting life,” why should we ever want to look anywhere else?”

Watchtower 1983 January 15 p.22 Avoid Independent Thinking “[Avoid]… questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization

Qualified to be Ministers 1955 p.156 “‘Believe all things,’ all the things that the Watchtower brings out…”

Watchtower 1967 June 1 p.338 “In Jehovah’s organisation it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organisation who are assigned to that very thing…”

Children
Children of Jehovah’s Witnesses are raised to feel like the odd-ones-out at school, prevented from engaging in many normal childhood activities such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter and a range of public holidays. Engaging in ‘competitive’ sport is frowned upon as is associating with worldly friends.

The Watchtower Society provides little activity for children. Sunday school is criticised as parents shirking their responsibilities to train their own children.

Awake! 1970 September 22 p.19 “Many parents feel that Sunday school is an easy and popular shortcut to religious education for the young, relieving themselves of the responsibility.”

On the other hand mainstream Christianity provides numerous activities for children, ranging from Sunday school to clubs, music nights and camping trips.

As discussed in the section on paedophilia, the Watchtower policies on child molestation has been to protect the reputation of the Watchtower Society ahead of the wellbeing of the children.

No doubt the most destructive attribute is coming to the realisation that Jehovah’s Witness parents only have ‘conditional love’ for their children. Witness children know their parents will look down on them as being part of the world or even shun them if they choose not to remain Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Children raised in high control religions are not allowed to develop their true identities. Strict adherence to rules and punishment for deviation hinders the development of personal boundaries. On leaving the high control group as adults, former members find all personal boundaries require re-evaluation, and can embark on self destructive behaviour during this phase.

Assistance to society
It is normal for religion to assist the community through the provision of charities, schools and universities. Unfortunately the Watchtower interprets being separate from the world to mean that the Organization and members should do little to assist anyone that is not a Jehovah’s Witness.

References to charities in the Watchtower negatively describe them as corrupt and ineffectual. Information about charities generally is confined to reports about misuse of funds and the creation of “rice Christians”.

Watchtower 1969 May 1 p.280 “If there is any material giving, to charities for instance, it is because there is need to salve a conscience, or because one’s reputation is at stake.”

The Watchtower justifies its stance by claiming preaching is the only strategy with any long term effects.

Watchtower 2003 June 1 p.7 Giving That Pleases God “When it comes to organized charity, though, we need to be cautious as we evaluate the many appeals we receive….There is a kind of giving that is even more important than charity. Jesus alluded to this when a rich young ruler asked what he had to do to get everlasting life. Jesus told him: “Go sell your belongings and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come be my follower.” (Matthew 19:16-22) Notice that Jesus did not just say, ‘Give to the poor and you will get life.’ Instead, he added, “Come be my follower.” In other words, as commendable and beneficial as charitable acts are, Christian discipleship involves more. Jesus’ chief interest was in helping others spiritually.”

Jesus said that there will always be the poor and to be no part of the world but neither of these statements indicate that poor people should not be cared for. It also overlooks Jesus parable of the Good Samaritan, his command at Matthew 19:19 to love your neighbour as yourself. In both cases there is no limitation on restricting love to those of a single organization, in fact Jews considered Samaritans to be apostates.

The Watchtower says that time is better spent preaching and converting people, as this leads to everlasting life rather than a temporal prolonging of this life. Ironically, charities are an effective way to preach whilst alleviating immediate suffering. For instance, the Salvation Army and many Church groups spend considerable time assisting others, and in the process are able to also assist people spiritually. Equally practical is the Sydney Adventist Hospital, Australia’s largest non profit hospital. A website entitled www.guidestar.org lists over 60,000 Christian Charities. An article entitled “Religious Charities Do It Better” by Robert A. Sirico in Investor's Business Daily, February 2, 2001 stated;

“… the Bush administration is highlighting the essential role of private charity, including that provided by faith-based institutions. This represents an attempt to shift away from failed administrative, approaches and toward humane initiatives undertaken by those who actually know and love those who need help”

Never Growing Old or Dieing
Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15 “If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things.

As incomprehensible as it would seem to most people, Jehovah's Witnesses do not expect to grow old or to die. They expect to live forever on this earth. Every generation of newborn Jehovah's Witnesses is told that they will not grow old and will never die. As a child I did not expect to reach high school, or at least hoped not to.

From inception the Watchtower has preached that its members would not grow old. Russell believed that in 1878, just 2 years after forming the Watchtower Society that he was to be raptured to heaven. From 1918 Rutherford promoted “millions now living will never die”, on the understanding that the earthly resurrection would start in 1925.

This leads to many Witnesses putting little planning into their future, old age or retirement. It leads to great emotional turmoil to those that leave the Watchtower Society who come to the realisation that old age will be a normal part of their life.

For 2000 years Christians have hoped that Jesus second coming would occur in their lifetime. However, healthy groups do not put their lives on hold for such an eventuality. Though such an occurrence is greatly welcomed, it does not prevent them from looking forward to and planning for long and healthy lives if need be.

Conclusion
There are groups that are more manipulative than the Watchtower Society. Like many Jehovah's Witnesses, I had a good upbringing with nice family and friends. I can not complain about what I consider to have been a charmed life. Many that join the religion have come from unfavourable backgrounds and joining the Watchtower Society has been a great improvement. However there are many religions that provide equally well for their followers without the adverse affects of a manipulative belief structure.

For those raised as Witnesses believing they would never have to graduate, never get a wrinkle or grow old, never have to work or think about retirement it is devastating to learn it was all a lie. For those who never set boundaries because it was all set for you (down to whether you can have a beard, smoke a cigarette or buy a lotto ticket), leaving in mid life is traumatic having no idea of who you are or how you really should behave. It appears around two thirds of all Jehovah’s Witness children leave. Worst of all, the majority are baptised in their teens, so when leaving results in being disfellowshipped they go for years with virtually no contact from their childhood friends and family.

High control groups create rules that go beyond the accepted law of the land and the principles of the Bible. Paul aptly asks at 1 Corinthians 10:29;

“For why should it be that my freedom is judged by another person’s conscience?”

Fred E Hathaway

to emilyblue: These certainly are days of analysis for you. Morality. Maturity. The potential of a person. The value of others whose customs and traditions differ from what you're used to. The meaning of a friend, and where you find them. The value of even a "very strict" lifestyle, and "narrow" beliefs. The treacherousness of any person's heart, even of one "raised" with good values. The benefits of counsel, over experience. "A big deal" may become "not a big deal at all", with the benefit of hindsight. Also, what was "not such a big deal" may conversely become "of major importance" when new evidence is uncovered, as you're rediscovering.

"Sucked in" is wonderful, if life is simplified, choices are healthier, and stress is relieved. It's terrible if, on the other hand, you feel extra anxiety, and life is more clouded. I think that the speed of your job resignation shows the likelihood of your experience. After all, Jehovah's Witnesses are often in favor of what is called "non-blood-primed cell salvage". In the case of surgery, this termed is used where blood loss is minimized by "sucking in" the blood that would otherwise be lost, and cleaning it and reusing it for your your own recovery. Education comes in many ways. The Bible study with JWs may have given you an ironic advantage and blessing that is helping even your now-ex, as he is forced to face himself more head-on. Sometimes decisions we make have unexpected downsides, but this one may come to have a number of unexpected upsides, as you get to know and love Jehovah, whom you may have otherwise not recognized the value of having as your best friend.

J-ex-W

In the case of surgery, this termed is used where blood loss is minimized by "sucking in" the blood that would otherwise be lost, and cleaning it and reusing it for your your own recovery. Education comes in many ways.

emilyblue---------If I had relied on this when I had my MAJOR back surgery last fall, I would be dead now. Literally. I'll tell you more about it in a PM, if you wish. I used to spout off a lot of ignorant JW apologist stuff just like this.....

Doug Mason

asleif_dufansdottir,

You are absolutely correct.

JWs believe everything the Governing Body (aliases include: 144,000 and FDS) because of WHO it claims to be.

Doug

needproof

Jwfacts kicked some serious ass in this thread

fullofdoubtnow

Hi emilyblue, and welcome to the forum.

I am NOT going to become a JW because I can't give up holidays and birthdays, but I do have a few questions. I'm a little disturbed at myself because I'm wondering what is so wrong about being a JW, even though I know I could never do it.

Stick with that decision, don't waver in it at all. There is NOTHING beneficial to be had from being a jw, whatever some of the jw apologists on this forum might say.

I had always thought of JW's as weirdos and joy-killers

They are once you become one. You say you couldn't give up holidays and birthdays - join them and you would be expected to do so, or face disciplinary action.

. Learning more about it, it just seems like a very strict lifestyle based on very narrow beliefs,

That's exactly what it is, and mostly false beliefs at that.

All the best with whatever you do, but for your own sake, don't become a jw.

Linda

a little confused