I will explain this once. I cannot respond to your email address, because I am a member of
Jehovah's Witnesses who has to hide the fact that I no longer believe the doctrines. If I were
to be discovered as a former believer (and I don't know you), the WT organization would tell
my JW mother to shun me.
I was a former elder who got disillusioned by the doctrines themselves, and by the fact that
JW's have turned their elders into a clergy class with special privileges.
1. Who is God?
I currently can say that I was tricked into a mind-control cult, so I don't want to say
for a fact who God is, because I was wrong for 2 decades while I was a JW. So I could
be wrong still.
JW's told me that God was named Jehovah, an English version of the tetragrammaton,
the Hebrew writing of God's name. He had no beginning, He is all powerful, and he is
not a Trinity. The JW's say that the Holy Spirit is His active force or his power- the
ability to do the miracles and the creating comes from holy spirit. (No caps)
JW's believe that Jehovah is a perfect balance of love, justice, power, and wisdom
based on the scriptures.
2. Who is Jesus Christ?
Right now, I am not 100% sure if Jesus was entirely fictional or if he was a smart Jew that
rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to make people believe he was the messiah.
As a JW, I was taught that Jesus was the "first-born of creation" who had a pre-human
existence as Michael the Archangel. That means that Jehovah created Michael, who in
turn created everything else alongside Jehovah. (That's why Genesis 1:26 says "Let US make man in OUR image." Jehovah transfered the lifeforce of Michael into a virgin making
the baby exempt from being born into sin, thus Jesus was perfect. He was the sacrifice
that was given to mankind to make up for the perfect life that Adam lost when he ate the fruit
in the Garden of Eden (JW's take this literally).
3. Who is the Devil?
Again, as a former JW, I am not sure who Satan is. I have a feeling that he is not real, but
is a creation of the Jews who wrote the scriptures.
As a JW, I was taught that Satan was a powerful spirit creature that may have been used
extensively in the creation of things on the earth. He became jealous of Jehovah's receiving
worship and desired worship for himself. He transformed into the serpent in the Garden of
Eden (literally) and tricked Eve into disobeying Jehovah's command to not eat from the
tree in the middle of the Garden. The fruit was just ordinary fruit, but it represented allowing
Jehovah to rule over his creation- a test of Adam and Eve. Satan stayed in Heaven afterward
as the book of Job shows. He was cast to the earth according to Revelation- this happened
in 1914 according to JW's. That was when the last days started according to current doctrine.
He is the original serpent, the father of the lie. He manipulates all of mankind, especially
including all religions except JW's, but also through all the governments and business of the
world. He rules over a large number of demons who are also fallen spirit creatures (angels) like
Satan. They fell because they desired sexual relations with human women according to the
Genesis account. They materialized into human bodies and took women as wives until the flood
came in Noah's day, and then they went back to heaven. God prevented them from materializing
into human form ever again. They have been cast to the earth with Satan in 1914, and now help
him deceive the entire earth.
4. What is God's purpose for the people of the earth?
According to the JW's- The people of the earth were created to have dominion over the perfect
earth- the plants and animals. They were to have perfect health and each person was to live
forever as long as he praised and obeyed Jehovah forever. According to JW's, that purpose will
be restored after Armageddon. While JW's are not allowed to judge anyone, they generally
believe that only they will survive Armageddon, but anyone who has died in the years prior to
Armageddon has a chance at a resurrection (except for those that have already been judged, such
as people who died at the flood or at Sodom and Gomorrah, and of course at Armageddon, itself).
5. What is the kingdom of God?
According to JW's, the kingdom is a literal government that Jehovah set up to bring his purpose
back to mankind after Adam and Eve sinned. The kingdom established a people (the Jews) to
be a cleansed people through whom the Messiah would be born. The kingdom would establish
impossible rules for the Jews to live by, so they would see the need for a perfect sacrifice (Jesus) to
cover over their sins. The kingdom brought the Messiah to mankind, then he did not resist the
taking of his life after he brought attention to the kingdom. Jesus will be the king of that kingdom
and 144,000 people who have served God and followed Jesus' example will rule with him. They
will bring the earth back to perfection and it's original purpose during their 1000 year reign, then they
will turn the rule back to Jehovah.
6. Family life that pleases God.
I am not sure what you are looking for. Everyone is supposed to serve Jehovah God and his kingdom
first in their lives. This includes the family. JW's are told that dating is only for the purpose of marriage.
Married partners (one male and one female) are the only ones allowed to have intercourse. The man is
the head of the family, the woman is to follow his lead. In the JW's, family life that pleases God is life
where the family attends all the meetings at the Kingdom Hall, and goes out in the door-to-door ministry
every week.
7. Practices that you believe God to hate?
Among practices that JW's believe God to hate are lying, drunkenness, gambling, smoking tobacco, gluttony,
independent thinking, sex without the benefit of marriage, homosexuality, using your life for your own purposes,
interfaith (including celebrating holidays and birthdays), involvement in politics (including voting), ingesting or
receiving blood in a transfusion, any type of sex except vaginal sex of married couples (seriously) .
8. JW's beliefs and customs.
JW's believe that the Bible is absolutely literal, but is full of proof that it points to secondary fulfillment of
most prophecies. They believe that complicated Bible chronology proved that "the last days" prior to
Armageddon started in 1914, and that Armageddon is imminent. The only celebration they have is the
annual celebration of the Lord's Evening Meal (Memorial of Christ's Death). They believe that a remnant of the
144,000 people chosen by God to rule with Jesus are stil alive, and that only these ones of the remnant
(currently about 8000 of them) partake of the wine and the bread at the Lord's Evening Meal. Everyone else
who has a hope of living forever on earth are participants by just watching the wine and bread (the emblems)
passed around. This means that most congregations have absolutely no partakers, and the emblems are
just passed around and unused.
They believe that at Armageddon, only those that know that Jehovah is God, and demonstrate that knowledge
by their door-to-door ministry will survive. All others that are alive at the time of the end, while JW's cannot
judge them, will most likely be destroyed and never live again. JW's believe that there is no literal Hell so all
those that are destroyed will just be dead.
9. How are JW's organized?
In Brooklyn, the Governing Body is made up of a group of men. There can be less than a dozen of them,
but as many as 17 of them. These men are members of the 144,000. There is no proof of anyone's being
in that group (called the anointed), but they just know they are in that group, and the Governing Body members
pick their own new members to replace those that die. There are branch overseers in the various countries that
answer to the Governing Body. The members are not aware of how the Governing Body decides what God's
teachings are. But a former Governing Body member, Ray Franz, wrote a book (Crisis of Conscience) that
reveals that they need a two-thirds vote to change any doctrine.
The doctrines are spread to the members through the Watchtower Magazine, the monthly "Our Kingdom Ministry"
which is a bulletin studied at their meetings, and various other publications which are released to them at their
yearly District Conventions.
District Overseers are assigned over several circuits. Circuit Overseers are assigned over several congregations,
usually about 20. The Circuit Overseer visits each congregation about twice a year, and the District Overseer visits
each Circuit Overseer at one of the congregations he is visiting. The circuit overseer examines the records of
each congregation to make sure they are all doing their door-to-door ministry, and that their financial records are
in order. Elders from the various congregations become circuit overseers only by being pioneer ministers. That
means that they engage in at least 70 hours of the ministry every month. Virtually all members who attain
positions higher than elder had to be pioneers. Also, all the volunteers that are chosen to work full time making the
literature (for just room and board and a small allowance) are chosen from pioneers. That ensures that everyone
thinks that everyone else should prioritize the door-to-door ministry.
Women are allowed to be pioneers also. The bulk of pioneers are women. There is no pay for being one.
Circuit overseers and District Overseers get a small monthly stipend, and turn all their expenses in to each of
the congregations they visit. Circuit Overseers usually live in an apartment attached to a local Kingdom Hall or else they live
in the homes of some of the members while they visit their congregation. District Overseers usually have an apartment
included at the large Assembly Halls scattered around the country. Both Circuit Overseers and District Overseers
have many talks they give at assemblies. Circuit Overseers give talks at the congregations they visit. Most of the
Circuit and District Overseers serve for 3 years then are rotated to a different location.
Each congregation has a body of elders. These are men that are viewed as spiritually mature. They are in charge
of all the operations of the local congregation. They are chosen by a recommendation of the other elders being given
to the Circuit Overseer. He includes the recommendation for new elders in his report of the congregation that goes to
the Brooklyn headquarters (or a branch office in another country) where Witnesses believe that the Governing Body
prays over their appointments without ever having met the men. In reality, if the staff at Brooklyn have never heard of
a man, and he has no known bad reputation, they follow the recommendation of the Circuit Overseer.
In each congregation, the men must first qualify for Ministerial Servant before they are considered for elder. Ministerial
Servants are usually put in charge of all the mundane and routine operations of the congregation like collecting money
and distributing the literature, so that elders can focus on teaching and caring for the members' spiritual needs.
Members are expected to get out in the door-to-door ministry every month and turn in a report of their activity, including
how many books and magazines were "placed" with people in the terrritory. Every congregation has territory boundaries
established so that they can organize the ministry to reach each and every home. Members are encouraged to become
pioneers, and male members are encouraged to become Ministerial Servants, then elders.
10. How do you know what God requires?
The Governing Body tells JW's what God requires. You may get a more detailed explanation from some, but that is
really it. They are supposedly guided by the holy spirit and then print God's requirements for members in the Watchtower
magazine or other publications that are studied by the members.
11. How do you draw close to God?
A JW thinks that he is drawing close to God by reading his New World Translation of the Bible every day, primarily by
reading Watchtower Society literature that is to be studied that week and referring to the scriptures listed in them that
proves that everything in the literature is accurate according to God's will. A JW also prays to Jehovah each and every
day, including before each meal and before and after each meeting at the Kingdom Hall. Many men lead the family in
prayer (women can only lead minor children in prayer) at home especially at meals and before studying any Watchtower
literature. Men always lead the prayers at the Kingdom Hall.
Each JW must also be obedient to any rules imposed by the Governing Body. The rules allow them to have a clean life
approved by Jehovah. Although the Bible says that Jesus summed up the law with two principles (Just love God and love
your neighbors) the Governing Body has endless rules that tell you how to do that. The number one rule is to "preach" to
all your neighbors to show that love, and "place" Watchtower literature with them for their voluntary donations, then get them
to come to the Kingdom Hall and eventually convert them to JW's. That way, they can live forever- the greatest love. That
means JW's have no permanent charity set up. They put all their efforts into the "ministry." They also ask members who
are able to, to go to areas where disaster has struck in order to help out their fellow JW's. But you must be approved as
a volunteer before you can help.
12. Describe a servant of God?
According to JW's- A servant of God puts God first in his life. In reality, he puts the Watchtower organization first in
his life and does whatever he can to get their literature into the hands of people outside of the organization. But he doesn't
realize that he is really dedicated to an organization instead of God.
13. What are the important holidays and traditions of JW?
They would hate the word "holiday." They "observe" the Lord's Evening Meal at the annual Memorial.
14. How has religion shaped your life?
I was at the lowest point in my life, I had attempted suicide. I thought God saved me, then I thought God sent the JW's to
me, so that I could learn God's Will. I am now bitter at them, and I am angry with a God that I am not sure exists for allowing
me to be tricked into this mind-control cult. I am examining the Bible critically now, and am a skeptic about any organized
religion. While I am no longer against holidays, fear of discovery of my disbelief by JW family prevents me from participating
in holidays.
15. What are the challenges, if any, to practice JW?
JW's are expected to spend virtually no time with nonmembers. They are expected to socialize with JW's and even limit their
time spent with non-JW family members. Lack of participation in holidays and their busy schedule of meetings and ministry
keeps them from having much social life anyway. Children are expected to avoid sports or after-school activities, and they are
chastised by other children because they don't celebrate holidays, birthdays, or say the Pledge of Allegiance at school.
Watcthower organization discourages college, as it only requires a basic education to "place" literature. Young members
are often encouraged to become pioneers after their basic education. The biggest challenge is for those that find out that
they no longer wish to be JW's if they cannot live by the rules or discover that it's all lies. Their friends and family that are
JW's are required to shun them- avoid them. Even grandparents are expected to shun grandchildren if they were baptized
JW's that stopped being faithful to the rules.
16. When did JW's have their modern-day start?
Around 1880, a man named Charles T. Russell broke away from Adventists and started printing the Watchtower.
Interestingly, very little of his teachings are the current teachings of the organization.
17. How are meetings conducted?
They have 5 weekly meetings. Two of them grouped together are the Public Talk and the Watchtower Study.
An elder (or experienced ministerial servant) gives the Public Talk. These have been 45 minutes long but will
be shortened to 30 minutes starting in January 2008. The Watchtower study is the study of an article in the
Watchtower magazine. There are about 20 paragraphs with questions. The questions and the answers in the
paragraphs tell JW's exactly what to believe. The questions are asked after someone reads the paragraph then
members raise their hand to answer the questions. While answers are supposed to be in their own words, most
answers are virtual parroting of the words in the paragraph. Any deviation from the answer wanted will cause the
elder who asks the questions to clear up the matter with the correct understanding, so no real discourse of
teaching is allowed.
Two other meetings on a weeknight grouped together are the Theocratic Ministry School (TMS) and the Service
Meeting (SM). The TMS included male members reading from the Bible or a Watchtower article, and both male
and female members giving short talks. Female members are not allowed to teach the congregation directly, so
their talk is to another female member in a skit, a simulation of a ministry activity or of two members in a discussion.
These talks are assigned ahead of time, complete with a theme. The SM is a study of information in the monthly
bulletin called "Our Kingdom Ministry." This is also the meeting that includes any announcements of financial
obligations, upcoming events, or the removal of members.
The fifth meeting is the Book Study. This is a smaller meeting. The congregation is broken into groups of 15 or so
members to each book study. They study a piece of literature in the same manner as the Watchtower study.
This allows the small group to make many comments during the meeting.
The TMS and SM are held on weeknight evenings and children are expected to attend. This makes getting
homework done very difficult and tires the children. There is no special meetings for children. They are expected to
attend the same meetings that adults attend. The material is not tailored to them in any way. Many children are
enrolled in the TMS to give talks after they are old enough to read. The Book Study meeting is often on another
weeknight evening, but may be on the weekend as is needed.
18. How are expenses cared for?
There are donation boxes at the Kingdom Hall. Donations are all voluntary. Members are asked to make
voluntary donations to the local congregation and to the "Worldwide Work" in separate boxes. Most of the
donations to the worldwide work are from the members who receive literature to "place" with people in the
territory. Members are expected to donate enough money of their own to cover the expenses of making that
literature, then to also turn in any donations from the people they placed the literature with. Every month, the
expenses of the congregation are announced, so the members know how much they are donatiing and if more
is needed.
The assemblies and conventions have a similar setup. They let the members know what the expenses were to
have the assemblies and how far short of covering their expenses they are midway through the assembly or
convention. Included in the expenses is a donation that elders have decided to give to the organization.
19. Who takes the lead in each congregation?
The whole body of elders is supposed to be made of equal members. One member is assigned as the
presiding overseer who communicates with the Circuit Overseer and the organization. The number of elders
varies, but there are generally between 3 and 8 elders per congregation. The elders divide all the assignments
and generally do things exactly as instructed by the organization and through the Circuit Overseer.
20. What larger meetings are held each year?
Every year, JW's go to a "Special Day Assembly" and a "Circuit Assembly" and a "District Convention."
The Special Day Assembly is one day, the Circuit Assembly is two days, these are on weekends. These two
are for the circuit and there may be less than 2000 people at these (often much less).
The District Conventions are much larger and can have several thousand in attendance. depending on the size of
the stadium rented, enough of these conventions are scheduled to accomodate all the members attending them.
Conventions are currently two-and-a-half days starting on Friday afternoons. Most are during the summer to
allow the children to attend.
All these events are talks all day with interviews of JW's that have managed to successfully devote their lives to
the organization. All these events include a Baptism before lunch. JW's bring their own lunches. The conventions
include a drama, usually one set in ancient times.
21. What work is done at JW headquarters and branch halls?
The headquarters gets the printing done. All the branches tabulate the exact number of hours that members have
served in their ministry, how many pieces of literature are placed, how much money has been donated. The printing
has been divided up into regions, so that it is actually done at branches on each continent now.
