 The best way to defend is to attackBy: Mishael (dadamishael More Quotes | Submit Quote |
2. Claiming salvation is dependent upon belonging to the JW denomination
3. Claiming that the organization speaks for and is controlled by Jehovah, thereby equating the organization with God himself
4. Centralizing authority in an organization instead of letting Christ be the head of each Christian
5. Claiming that the “faithful and discreet slave” is the “anointed class” rather than each individual Christian who shows himself or herself to be responsible and obedient to Christ
6. Teaching that the early Christians were led by a governing body
7. Teaching that Jesus appointed the “anointed remnant” as his true church in 1919
8. Viewing the so-called “anointed” class (actually, the governing body) as God's channel and prophet
9. Placing WT literature above the Bible
10. Frequently taking Bible texts out of context in order to build support for the organization's man-made teachings and procedures
11. Teaching that Jesus returned in 1914 and is “invisibly present” since then
12. Teaching that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BCE when no historical records confirm this and the actual date is believed by nearly all historians to be 587 BCE
13. Falsifying the fact that Charles Russell predicted for 1914 the end of the world, not Christ's return
14. Lying about a so-called “increase” in earthquakes, warfare, famines, persecution, etc., since 1914
15. Contradictorily condemning military organizations and frowning upon JWs who choose alternative service in lieu of military service while the headquarters organization at the same time owns stock in a military product organization (REGI)
16. Taking a conflicting stand with regard to the United Nations, claiming that it is the “wild beast” of Revelation that leads all nations in a fight against God and Christ at Armageddon, but signing on as an NGO member and publishing articles that present the UN in a favorable light
17. Teaching that it's wrong to celebrate birthdays and all holidays
18. Teaching that Abraham and the faithful men and women of old are not among the holy ones who will rule with Christ in his Kingdom
19. Interpreting Jewish restoration prophecies as fulfilled in “the anointed remnant”
20. Teaching that the Scriptures are directly addressed only to “the remnant of anointed ones”
21. Teaching that only the “anointed” must be born again
22. Teaching that the “great crowd” are not begotten or anointed by the Holy Spirit
23. Teaching that the “great crowd” are God's grandchildren and not his sons and daughters
24. Teaching that the “great crowd” are not members of the bride of Christ
25. Teaching that Jesus is not the mediator between God and the “great crowd” of Revelation chapter 7
26. Teaching that the resurrection of the “anointed” precedes the resurrection of the “other sheep” and that it has already begun
27. Teaching that only “anointed” JWs will receive immortality in the resurrection
28. Inviting only the “anointed” to partake at the memorial
29. Claiming that spiritual food comes from the “anointed” class whereas nearly all the writers of WT publications are members of the “other sheep” class
30. Creating a climate of fear by authoritarianism
31. Controlling what individual JWs may read of Bible-related publications that are not produced by the WT Society
32. Arrogantly pretending that the JW organization maintains higher standards than any other religion and proclaiming publicly that all other churches are members of Babylon the Great
33. Forbidding attendance and participation at other churches
34. Class distinctions such as “governing body,” “anointed remnant” and “great crowd of other sheep”
35. Class distinctions such as publishers, auxiliary pioneers, regular pioneers, special pioneers, circuit overseers, district overseers, Bethelites, Governing Body, etc.
36. Prohibiting women from serving in any meaningful role in the congregation while expecting them to do the bulk of the work in “field service”
37. Constantly prodding the membership by means of literature, meetings and conventions to do ever more and more in the service of the organization, promoting an atmosphere where many feel their best is never good enough
38. Setting dates for Armageddon and thereby urging the membership to abandon normal living, this often resulting in the ruination of health and family life, as well as creating employment and financial hardships
39. Teachings that lead the members to believe righteousness and salvation can be earned by devoted and loyal support of the organization's slavish programs
40. Keeping meeting attendance and field service records as a gauge of an individual's spirituality
41. Organizationally requiring no blood transfusions instead of letting it be a matter of conscience, thereby cruelly informing all members that they will be shunned by the organization if they accept a transfusion that might restore health following a life-threatening accident or illness
42. Allowing their own infants and children to die instead of allowing doctors to give them necessary blood transfusions
43. Teaching that the “congregation” of Matthew 18:17 is the body of elders
44. Holding heresy trials and disciplinary hearings in secrecy from the rest of the congregation
45. Withholding information that would be helpful to persons who have been accused of wrongdoing
46. Conducting heresy trials of members who have doubts or who think differently upon the Scriptures
47. Defining apostasy as against the organization instead of against God
48. Being quick to disfellowship instead of making efforts to restore persons who have done something wrong
49. Unnecessarily and abusively shunning members even for minor infractions such as smoking or not complying with the whimsical directives of elders, thereby causing personal and family turmoil that often results in immense guilt, shame, fear, depression, bitterness, hatred, murder and suicide
50. Prohibiting fellowship with disassociated persons who show no inclination toward causing dissension
51. Showing favoritism by advising innocent victims to “leave it to Jehovah” instead of the elders taking decisive action to deal with some members who have been accused of harmful wrongdoing.
52. Ignoring or minimizing clear evidence of child molestation and other abuses simply because only one witness is available to testify against the member accused of such serious wrongdoing
53. Covering over and hiding damaging facts about the JW organization
54. In many cases, neglecting the care of their own sick and elderly members who no longer have the strength and energy to attend all the meetings and to be regular in “field service” as they did for most of their lives
55. Blatantly lying to the public by declaring to news media that members may leave the organization at any time, of their own free will and without any repercussions from the organization
For more information http://www.freeminds.org