Dear Friends,
Seems like everyday there are more and more new ones finally getting brave enough to come forward. We want to WELCOME you all! And WELCOME to all you lurkers too!! Seems so overwhelming when you are first begining to have doubts, and shocking when you start to investigate and do research, because the answers you thought you would find are not at all what you have been taught by the organization. I thought I would start a thread where some of us who have been in your shoes, can post some of our findings that made us reach our decision about the organization. Hopefully you will get much helpful information here!!
Sincerely,
Lady Liberty
P.S. Remember...you are not wrong in Jehovah's eyes for examining your faith! Afterall how many of us asked this of others in the ministry? A thorough examination of ones faith should only be faith strengthening if one indeed has the truth. Infact, Jehovah himself says, to "keep checking, keep making sure of ALL things..hold fast to what is fine." So no matter what anyone tells you, you are not wrong for wanting to get to the bottom of your questions, and find solid answers. There is nothing to fear when you have the truth because it can stand up to anything. Only someone with something to hide would tell you NOT to examine your faith.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/122192/1.ashx
I came acrossed some notes I made many months ago when I was going through the research phase of getting out. My intent was to cover every subject I came across. But... I never finished it. However, there is quite a bit of info. gathered here for any of you who are just starting your journey. Please let me know if you need any more info. on any of these subjects, as I have file folders full of data, and my parents have literal volumns they have put together exposing the organization. Anyhow, I hope this helps someone.. (please excuse the spelling errors)
My Findings With The Organization
- 586/587 is the destruction of Jerusalem, not 607. There is not proof outside the Societies literature to support that date. It is not in harmony with the scriptures.
- There was no governing body until 1975. And in 1975 before the big change, Fred Franz, the Watchtower President was totally against the change to a governing body. He is taped in a public Missionary talk going into great detail as to how unscriptural it was and not in accord with the early Christians, stating there clearly was no governing body in Bible times.
- 1914 was based by Charles Russell by the measurements of the Pyramid of Gehza. He taught that this Pyramid was God’s Stone Witness, and literally measured passages in the tunnel corelating them with Prophecy.
- The New World Translation has replaced God’s name in the Hebrew language. However, they have inserted Jehovahs name throughout the Greek Scriptures, and the Greek scriptures never originally had Jehovahs name in them. By inserting Jehovahs name every place where the original manuscripts read "Lord", it many times is inserted where clearly Jesus name should go when reading the context.
- Over and over the Society misquotes from secular authorities. This is clearly done to decieve the reader into believing that the secular authority agrees with the thought trying to be conveyed. Such quotes are used to give weight to the material being discussed.
- Earthquakes are one of the signs that we are living in the last days according to the Watchtower. The facts clearly show, when examined, that the rictor scale is a fairly recent machine. There has been no way to determine the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes until this machine. Clearly not being very honest with the readers of the Watchtower, because their statements are not based on facts.
- Mexico/Malawi incident. During the same time that our brothers in Malawi were being persecuted, raped, tourchered and murdered for not having a "party card", our brothers in Mexico at the same time were bribing the officials for military cards, and that was ok with the Society. Interesting that the "party cards" were much like our social security cards here in the U.S. There was onlyone party in Malawi, so by having this card, they were not taking "sides". But still the Society demanded complete obedience to their policy. Yet far away in Mexico, every Mexican citizen was required at a certain age do become a Mexican militant, and to serve in the military for a length of time. Rather than doing the time, the Witnesses were bribing the officials to give them a card. Thus becoming a Mexican militant. This was ok with the Society, as was being a militant. The Mexican brothers felt very guilty that they were given the "green light " by the organization, yet their brothers in Malawi at the same time were not and they were dying for their stand for Watchtower policy.
- The "good news" that the early Christians preached about, as well as Jesus preached of was the "good news" about Jesus. What his life meant and the salvation to all who would just have faith. Today the emphasis is on the Kingdom and the Paradise. If we were to tell ones in the congregation we were speaking of the good news of Jesus, they would think we belonged to the Mormons or another faith. Why had the message changed. Why did the Master Christ Jesus put in place a simple message of salvation for the slave to change that message. What message could ever be greater, than the one he gave his followers?
- During the 2 nd World War, the Society behaved in a very disturbing way. They were clearly anti sematic, anti British, and anti American. When you read the literature published at that time regarding what the Nazis were doing it is shocking. For it clearly shows the Society not taking a firm stand, but rather compromising trying to gain ther Nazis favor.
- The Society points the finger at other religons who have prophecied and yet the prophecys have failed to come true. Yet they claim that they are Gods prophet and not one prophecy of theirs has ever come true. Be sure not to confuse the prophecy of the Bible that did come true, with prophecy of the Watchtower that has never come true. By their own definition, they are also a false prophet.
- If in fact in 1919 the faithful slave was chosen as God’s channel on earth, and Christ Jesus, the Master approved of them, why is it that we do not still teach the things taught back then? Why are they considered, "old light"? Yet it was considered truth for that time. Truth does not revert back to falsehood if it was indeed truth to begin with. Why has the slave rejected what the master had approved of?
- In 1925 Bethsarim was built in San Diego for the "princes" that would be resurected and brought back to life on earth. Abraham, Issiac, Jacob etc… Interestingly enough though, this mansion was occupied until their grand return by Rutherford. But their prophecied grand return never came.
- Blood doctorine- As long as I can remember the command was to abstain from blood. Now, fractions are ok. Who changed that command? What of all those who have died because they were faithful to that policy? What of all those who needed blood and took blood? Were they invited back into the congregations because now the fractions they possibly took which got them disfellowshipped from the congregation in the first place is now ok?
- The light gets brighter excuse for change. When something gets brighter, the light does not get dimmer in the process. Light is added to more light. So something that was wrong, will always be wrong, but there may be continued light as to why it was wrong. But never would light be bright, then get dark, as old ight, being discarded and replaced with something new. Many times the light reverts back and forth back and forth. Clearly these are but mens teachings and not that of Jehovah.
- Child Molestation- The Watchtowers policy of two or more Witnesses applies to child molestation. Yet what molester would ever commit such a crime with two or more witnesses? The offender is not turned over to the authorities if there are not witnesses, and the molester is still able to have access to other children in the congregation to repeat, and victimize other children. Unfortunately other parents have no idea abuse or alegged abuse has taken place. There is no way for them to protect their own children.The congregation is a "safe haven" for molesters that should be turned over to the authorities. They are trained in such areas whereas the elders are not. Most of the time the parents of the abused children are told not to go to the authorities as it would bring reproach of Jehovahs name. They are told to keep silent.
- Christ’s reign was supposed to have began in 1799, 1873, 1874, 1878, 1914.
- Organ transplants were once considered cannibalism. Now they are a conscience matter. What about all those that took a heart transplant etc. against organizational policy. Now that it is a conscience matter, are those who were disfellowshipped for taking a transplant, are they reinstated into the congregation? Or are the still banished from family and friends?
- U.N. involvement. The Society has for years called the U.N. the Wild Beast. And no Christian was to have any participation in it whatsoever. Yet, for 10 years the Society secretly was a NGO member. Their claim was that this was done in order to recieve a library pass to the U.N. library. However, they did not need to join as a NGO member but rather only needed to fill out a application and a letter of recommendation in support of the research. The application is approved and sent to U.N. Security. The U.N checks the application and if approval is granted, instructs the Pass office to issue a library pass for the applicant. The issuance of a library pass is independent of NGO status or any other status. The Society only disassociated themselves after they were exposed. Then made the claim that they had to register as a NGO to have a Library card. Yet how many did they disfellowship for interfaith such as joining the local YMCA? For voting etc…
Sincerely,
Lady Liberty