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married a Swedish JW and moved to Sweden.He is pretty much inactive but occasionally attends meetings but is afraid to completely leave bc of being shunned by his wife's family. I can never forgive them for betrayal. I had panic attacks. Why so many raised as Witnesses leave The graph below shoes how the 18-29 crowd have aged up, but new young adults are not replenishing the numbers. Since then, four Ukrainians from occupied Crimea have been sentenced to six or more years' imprisonment: Serhiy Filatov; Artem Gerasimov; Viktor Stashevsky and Igor Schmidt. I dont remember feelling that way 30yrs ago, but perhaps I am starting to get back to normal? The Holy Spirit is . Watch Tower has taken over responsibility of all kingdom halls worldwide, but many sit in disrepair awaiting renovations in excess of what congregations can afford. The family of Jehovah's Witnesses is writing letters instead of knocking on doors to spread their faith. Brummies happily shopping and going about their day to day business have seen them in their droves, Never miss breaking news by signing up to our free email updates. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. At death, that life-force leaves the body. I just want you to listen, Cynthia begged. Theres absolutely no room for error within the organization. Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult? In situations such as this, I have often noticed that the kids dont have much in the way of emotional support and guidance. Once that happens, shunning will have very little power over JWs. Spare the rod, spoil the child. Is it any wonder that they would seek to fill the void in their life with sex, drugs, and alcohol? Instead of adjusting the menu, or admitting that the chef isnt as good as he thinks he is, the owner simply blames the customers, and claims that the patrons taste buds must not be working properly. World. I have seen a lot of creativity and progressive thinking when it comes to how they design ministries for young people. Nov. 20, 2019, 9:49 AM PST. Found some information I thought you all might be interested in. Only ten years ago, every single member, that is 28 members were Jehovah's Witnesses. In a recent private video for Bethel members only, this war against questionable pants, socks, and tights was restated, with Watch Tower doubling down on matters which would baffle Jesus himself were he to walk the earth today. Its not what we post on AvoidJW.org that should worry Watch Tower. She didnt party, she didnt drink, and she stayed out of politics. She met George, his family, and a few others from the Church Of Christ, including Brother Eddie San Gabriel, a Minister of the Gospel. Meanwhile, Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia have been imprisoned for following Governing Body directives. Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes. One has since died but had rarely attended before her death. Brummies happily shopping and going about their day to day business have seen them in their droves. Watch Tower is watching its assets in Russia vanish while paying settlements in the US and elsewhere for child abuse mishandling and other legal cases. Many of them not only help the young people with their unique issues, but also really inspire them enough to get active and pay it forward. The more that they grit their teeth, lash out at dissenters, and shake their fists at the internet, the more they motivate their disenchanted young people to satisfy their curiosities about what is on the net. More than that, though, it infuriated me the way my most important reason for leaving was brushed aside because it was the most irrefutable: I simply did not believe in the Bible and God, and by extension any Christian belief. Yes, money is a problem for Watch Tower. Is it the sign of the end or just the end of a religion? They are told to just go and pioneer.). She was convinced shed lost me and that Id be changed for ever now, no longer the daughter shed always loved and cherished. The Supreme Court of Canada will rule this year in a case involving shunning and discrimination, and if Watch Tower loses this case, the repercussions will be felt worldwide. . Two years ago, JW.org implemented a 5-year cost reduction program in which they asked all branches to cut costs by a minimum of 10%, up to 25% as a preferred number. Already, members of the Watchtower are already being asked to donate money. Two thirds of those disfellowshipped never return. Today it has 252 members, with those who have been associated with Pentecostalism, the Anglican and Baptist churches and the Jehovah's Witnesses dominating the group. As she grew up as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness, there were certain things . Yet Governing Body members like Samuel Herd have publicly stated how beautiful their new surroundings are at Bethel how they hear the birds chirping as they observe the serene landscape of upstate New York. Jehovahs Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes. Steps 1 Do personal research. And when youre a member of the Church Of Christ, the peace that you have in knowing that the promise that God has made to you will be fulfilled is everything. I began a life where constantly questioning and improving my beliefs and ideas and always being open to those of others were my only constant doctrines. Moving to Warwick eliminated these costly payments. Clearly, these eight men will lie just to protect their money because thats their first love. With multiple documentaries being filmed, protests being organized, news reports being written and lawsuits being filed, Jehovahs Witnesses can choose to buckle up and attempt to survive the crash or they can release that belt and get the hell out of the vehicle which is about to catch fire. The "soul" is simply the life-force within a person. However, disfellowshipping is. The Let God Be True book was written by imperfect men, and imperfect men make mistakes, and it was a mistake. Imagine if Ford was blaming the consumers - saying that consumers had poor judgment for not wanting to buy the Pinto anymore. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Its psychology 101. As a matter of fact, theres absolutely nowhere in all of scripture that even remotely leads to anything that the Jehovahs Witnesses are the true faith. Witnesses are being approached and asked hard-hitting questions about child abuse, shunning, and other matters. When you take a look at many of the mega-churches for example, it is very impressive how much they put into creating support groups and programs for their young people. young ones leaving. Jehovah's Witnesses, Hendricks said, "fundamentally disagree with the idea of the Holy Trinity." "We believe that Jehovah is the sovereign, the only eternal one, and that Jesus Christ is a created being perhaps living in the heavens for billions of years," Hendricks said. . On the heels of a $35 million jury award to a woman who alleged the congregation mishandled her childhood abuse, other . You're taught by the organisation that once you leave you will. "Jehovah's Witnesses believe that it is their responsibility before God to respect and co-operate with the authorities." A spokeswoman for Social Services Minister Anne Ruston has welcomed the statement but implored the organisation to contact authorities. The leader Kim Jong is so deluded that his idea of inspiring his people is to walk out on his balcony with his huge Elvis glasses and clap his hands. I have a loving husband that I adore. And, I think the issue is much broader than what the simple statistics are showing. The Jehovahs Witnesses have a bunch of rules, regulations and policies much like the religious leaders of Jesus day had. Right away, Andrea recognized that there was nothing Biblical about her grandmothers answer. The important thing for us is to show them that there is a great life to be lived after leaving the Watchtower. Being a Witness and following the doctrines didnt automatically mark you as different or better than anyone else. Each member carries a "Health Care Proxy" card, declaring his or her desire not to receive a blood transfusion for any reason as stated by Acts 15:28, 29. With a spacious trunk, with low clearance to fit that pesky literature cart! By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. The turnover in membership is something that is only going to grow; as is the percentage of the young Jehovah's Witnesses who eventually leave. They dont bring salvation to your door when they come but instead, they talk about a paradise Earth and so on. - About 1% of the entire membership is disfellowshipped every year. Globally there are about eight-and-a-half million Jehovahs Witnesses. (Translation they are on their own: no health care, no jobs, no training. First of all, I think the Watchtowers problems with their inability to retain the young people runs very deep. Amber Scorah writes about exiting the Jehovah's Witnesses in Leaving the Witness. It there is a large turn-over in the congregation, it must mean that Satan is working overtime; not that that anything could ever be wrong with the organization itself. I have observed that children in families like this most often never thrive, and are swiftly on their way out by the time they reach teenage years. In 2015, the court hit Watchtower with a $13.5 million verdict after the organization failed to turn over documents and provide witnesses in a lawsuit filed by Jos Lopez. Sparlock Warrior Wizard Photo courtesy of Jehovah's Witnesses Public Information Desk Mandee Reid and her son, Charles Reid, of Kansas City, Mo., like Jehovah's . . By the time many young Jehovah's Witnesses reach their teen years, not only have they been conditioned to associate worshipping Jehovah with great displeasure; but they still dont have any groups or programs tailored to them as teens, or which meet their needs. Watch Tower demands their freedom of speech but attempts to deny it to those sharing their publicly available materials which, by the way, are not being distributed for monetary gain. They have been issuing subpoenas from the Southern District of New York to various internet providers in the US, along with Google, Inc., in an attempt to track down the source of the leaks and identify the individuals involved in leaking their literature and videos. They really have no proof of God giving them this high and mighty position of being Gods only spoksperson on Earth. The Jehovahs Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which was founded by Charles Taz Russell, a Christian Restorationist minister. Sitting through hours upon hours of talks and Watchtower studies is not going to help them with many of the emotional and social challenges theyre grappling with. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Beginning in 2018, JW.org will implement a program in which every single JW will be assigned a database number and their information will be in JW.orgs global database. However, the Watchtower stubbornly sticks to a one size fits all program for everyone. I was very well versed in the Bible. They worship the organization in which theyre a part of. A big part of the JW organization's power comes from keeping dissenters isolated until they give in due to loneliness. Jehovah's Witnesses, a millenarian denomination of Christrianity, follow strict guidelines regarding the use of blood in medical practices. (source: Detroit Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/18/jehovahs-witnesses-murder-suicide-keego-harbor/409695002/). It is already collapsing under its own weight. Photos of JWfacts.com being Promoted "They knocked on our door and caught my mum at a vulnerable time of crisis . Jehovah's Witnesses ban comes into force in Russia after appeal fails. 37:2337-Minute Listen. When a religion starts telling you what to wear, what you can and cant do, whether you can vote, join the military, play sports, read literature from other religions and whether or not you can do certain things within marriage is a religion that is a pure cult. Should you Disassociate and Sample Letters, The Hardship of being a Gay Jehovah's Witness. all because thats THE NEW FOUR DOOR SEDAN BY TOYOTA! The fact that the [Church Of Christ minister] can go to the Bible and prove when, where, and how the Church was established in these last days is the reason I am a member of the Church Of Christ! Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that humans have an immaterial nature. Andee. However, it is too late because it is all laid bare for everybody to see online and it will never ever be erased or taken down. Mum, I havent died. Watch Tower must pay these benefits. Yes, one would think so, but this would involve the Watchtower leadership reinventing, and rethinking matters that they are convinced have already been settled. It was these friends who became my support network and showed me that people from the world are just the same as people from the faith there were as many lovely people as there were horrible people, as many happy people as there were sad. My Story of Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Lloyd Evans 108K subscribers Subscribe 7.2K 232K views 4 years ago (Cedars' vlog no. Kings County, New York - On May 18, 2021, in New York City, Robins Kaplan LLP filed three lawsuits against the Jehovah's Witnesses parent-organization, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. ("Watchtower"), on behalf of survivors who were sexually abused when they were minor members of two different New York State congregations. That is why I believe they will never adopt the very common sense solutions that could be so helpful to their members; especially the young ones. The rest will live forever in a paradise on Earth, never meeting the person who died for them - Jesus Christ. They believe that salvation is impossible outside of the Watchtower. This is an area where I believe the Watchtower leadership shows an astounding lack of insight. It should be noted that the Soviets used the same methods of argumentation and reasoning claiming that nothing was lacking in Mother Russia. Website powered & protected by Jehovah's holy spirit. The more the doctrines made sense, the more she wanted to keep learning. Everyone has a different "wtf" trigger and access to that information is just a curious click away. Much like Kim Jong walking out and clapping his hands, the Watchtowers idea of motivating its people is to deliver talks denouncing college, Watchtower articles ridiculing those who disagree with them, and the repetitive promise that the end is just around the corner. And instead of just forgiving you of your sin, this evil shunning practice is what they do to you until youre reproved and brought back into good standing which by the way can take a very very long time. None of these religions are the true religion. So when Cynthia invited her to meet George and his family at a gathering, she felt obliged to go. Tell your story. The cart-witnessing program is finally beginning to backfire. Religious fact, faith and delusion, home> Are Watchtower reasons for being the only true religion valid? It made them revered. Andrea started to panic and pulled Cynthia aside. How many schools do you know of, that stick preschoolers, high school students, and graduate students all into the same classroom together? This is human nature. That our faith is true. You know what its like to not have the spiritual substance that you can grab on to. -65% of JWs are women, compared to only 35% men. Other programs that would make for a much stronger, robust, and enthusiastic membership are pushed aside and dismissed due their possibly interfering with proselytizing. Jehovah's Witnesses will often turn away from any Bible discussion that challenges their beliefs, using the excuse that they cannot listen to apostates. Find some books which are truthful and sincere and share them. I myself was born and raised in the organization. Many will have had to cover over passions and talents that would have given their lives much greater meaning. It is law according to the Jehovahs Witness. The Hardship of being a Gay Jehovah's Witness When youre a convert, you know what its like to be in the world. Evolution & Creation Misrepresentations We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. A former Jehovahs Witness shares why she walked away for good, We would have Bible studies, and I even preached from door to door. Jehovah's Witnesses with 1.3 million members in the U.S. who hand out brochures on sidewalks and subway platforms and ring doorbells are one of the most visible religious groups in the . Jehovah's Witnesses are among the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in America. Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. Their whole going out to knock on doors sounds commendable, but truth be known, the reason why they do it is because theyre trying to earn their own way into Jehovahs new world; paradise Earth. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a member of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Pierce County recently sued the organization. They put peoples lives in bondage to the religion. Included with this the commissioning of the Last Messenger! Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they have the one and only true religion and that their Governing Body is appointed by God himself. Just imagine if the Ford Motor Company was still manufacturing and marketing the Ford Pinto. The new Toyota Drove! I eventually left the faith at 18. The truth is, Jehovahs witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes as adjustments or new light, and they have a long list of beliefs and doctrines that have changed since the church was established. ITV Coronation Street star announces full-time return to soap - leaving fans delighted. On February 4, 2019, rumors of the release of a new Elders manual, meant only for the eyes of the top leaders in each congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), began to surface on ex-JW forums across the Internet. The Watchtower organization simply has nothing new to offer, and no new ideas. This is where the Watchtower is at. The rules just keep right on getting tighter and tighter due to the fact that theyre in full damage control, and they want to keep as many people in the organization as they possibly can. Given the choice between what this media has to offer, versus reading a Kingdom Ministry insert, where do you think a bored and uninspired teenager is going to go? They compared the doctrines taught by the churches with what the Bible really teaches. Meanwhile, Watch Tower purchased four $8,000.00 scanners. Jesus himself is truth, not those club-like religions. Jw.org Website However, today, information is in the form of aTsunami which cant be stopped. Watch Tower continues to try to plug these leaks like the proverbial dam in Holland, but they are running out of fingers and attorneys to plug these leaks. What we see from regimes like North Korea is a disregard for many of the societal endeavors that make a nation stronger, such as infrastructure, good universities, economic freedoms, and democratic processes. In 2017, Russia banned the denomination, whose members believe in nonviolence and refuse to take up arms in war; Russia . Once more and more world wide governments either ban Watchtower from their nations, or make them pay for all the evil that they have done through their evil practice of shunning and other terrible things not mentioned here, the Watchtower organization may be forced to shut its doors. This article provides basic information on leaving this faith. The groups are handing out copies of The Watchtower from carts outside New Street station. Again, they continue to enforce a one size fits all education and worship program to both children and adults. Simple forgiveness isnt in their vocabulary. Elders at a Utah congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses allegedly forced a 15-year-old to listen to a recording of her rape over and over again for hours as part of a religious inquiry, a. Change in teachings? All monies were directed at finishing Warwick, then selling off their cranes and millions of dollars worth of vehicles and other high prices tools, right down to a 5 dollar screwdriver. JWs in Eritrea have been rotting away in prison cells some for decades while the coalition of overweight, business-class-flying governing body members feign tears for the men and women who are effectively their slaves. Originally from Kent, Laetitia says her parents became Jehovah's Witnesses about four years before she was born. - The number of young Jehovah's Witnesses (aged 18-24) has dropped by 6% over the past 7 years. Jehovah's Witness 'ordered to renounce faith and join Russian army' Europe. All Witnesses are expected to obey instructions and doctrines that influence every aspect of life: Women are considered subservient to men, higher education is discouraged and homosexuality is not permitted. AND I'm going to do the most non-Jehovah's Witness-y thing ever and, instead of just making up any shit I please, I will actually supply sources for my data so you can look it up for yourself: - 52% of Jehovah's Witnesses are 50 years of age or older, - Only 29% of Jehovah's Witnesses are parents to children under 18 - a decrease of 8% over the past 7 years. I also believe this is an area where they are also profoundly disconnected from reality. There was always an air of mysti'c never seeing them except on occasion at a district convention. Jesus said himself that he was the way, the life and the truth and that nobody comes to the father but through him. It was important for Andrea to have a relationship with God, and to worship Him the right way. I just want you to listen to the doctrines. After completing her Bible studies, Andrea was baptized into the Church Of Christ in 1981. I tried at all costs to avoid any discussions of faith with Jehovahs Witnesses with whom I was still in contact mostly because I didnt want to be forced into an argument with them over my anger and frustration at some of the doctrines. In many countries, such meetings would be nothing unusual. "(We) encourage them to make urgent contact with the Department of Social Services so . Something went wrong, please try again later. Last night, I was reading the thread posted by jwfacts a while back in which he provided some statistics and graphs showing the rapidly declining growth in the Watchtower. The Russian Supreme Court's shocking ban of the Jehovah's Witnesses on 20 April 2017 also violates Russia's own Constitution which, in words, guarantees freedom of religion. But why should doctrines change? Besides meetings and literature, what is the Watchtower doing, or even attempting to do to truly refresh, uplift, and inspire their young people? No more than four-in-ten members of the group belong to any one racial and ethnic background: 36% are white, 32% are Hispanic, 27% are black and 6% are another race or mixed race. And you have no promise. The gathering was a Bible study. There are also members with experiences of Catholicism, Mormonism, the Exclusive Brethren, the Mennonites, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Falun Gong movement. Witnesses believe that they are living in . And 67% of the Buddhists surveyed indicate that they were raised in a . Was Russell a Freemason? Most congregations have not filed returns for 2 to 4 years, primarily because local elders do not understand how to file returns, and are quite frankly not interested in the business aspect of this religion. We have hope, and we have a promise that no one else on this Earth has. How can anyone watch these buffoons and think theyre Gods voice. Copyright 2023 Jehovah's Witnesses. This is not to say that there are no enthusiastic young people in the Watchtower organization, because there truly are. It is just too much even for them to handle. These groups are designed to approach the young people where they are at right now not from where someone thinks they should be. Jehovah does not mislead us. When Cynthia became friends with George, who was a member of the Church Of Christ, Andrea had her guard up because she refused to let someone from another religion influence their faith. We feel the use of carts allows us to reach people we perhaps wouldnt meet at home due to their work schedules or other factors, said spokesperson Andrew Schofield. End of the Home Book Study Arrangement "Overseers of Jehovah's People", an article in the group's publication called the Watchtower . I expect this is partly due to many young ones being DF or DA due to "misconduct" because children and teens are held to the same rigorous standard as fully realized adults. The modern-day organisation began at the end of the 19th century. . That takes us to 27. No other religion can do that. it is one to really be avoided at all costs and it is really dangerous.