Jehovah's Witnesses - A warning.

escapethematrix

So you get knock on your door at 10:30 on a Saturday morning. A young man/woman with a smile and smart clothing wants to talk to you about your thoughts on some topic. If you oblige the individual will share
with you some information from either the Watchtower/Awake, a loosely connected scripture will be used to add weight to their argument. They may leave you a piece of literature.

Question:
Why do they call?
Simply put they believe with strong conviction that they have the truth. They believe they are part of the only organization/religion on earth today that God is using. They believe you are part of a false
religion. If you do not listen to them you will most likely be killed in Armagedon (gods war)

How is their work financed?
Voluntary donations but since these are often not that forthcoming the normal members of the congregation are encouraged to give money on a regular basis. This is anonymous. It is important to realise
however that no-one in the congregation gets paid. The kingdom halls (church buildings) are constructed by volunteers. Although the HQ may give a mortgage to a congregation this is always paid back. The
magazines are produced in large factories called "bethels". There are many of them around the earth, the largest of such are in Brooklyn, London, Germany. All the people working in them are volunteers. They
get paid a small allowance (we are talking very small) and they have to work like slaves, they get no benefits. Since the recession and the fact that JWs are a property rich organization, they have been hurt
badly. You may be aware that the newly constructed "bethel" in Newcastle Dublin is being shut down. This is happening in other places in Europe and South America.

Why are they dangerous?
On the surface they appear friendly, kind,willing to help. This has one condition though, that you agree to attend meetings or take a study. Their interest in you only exists because they feel they can
convert you. If you outrightly state that you want to be their friends but no longer want to hear about their "religion" contact will cease. If this happens count yourself lucky.

JWs home in on the vulnerable and weak. Those who have recently lost a loved one in death are easily pursuaded because they talk of being able to see your loved one again. That it was not gods plan. That
your loved one is in gods memory. etc etc. While you may never have bothered about jWs in the past, now you are more open.
When you become a JW you must accept 100% without question everything that a group of men in New York say God is telling them. These directions can have major impacts on you, for example many JWs do not seek further education as it is discouraged.

Decisions over who you can be friends with are not your own. Basically if you are associating with "worldly" people you are not being a good JW. More drastic are decisions on health care. JWs do not accept whole blood transfusions, they are permitted (as their conscience allows) to take fractions. Ignorance and this overly complicated policy means many JWs may refuse treatment, the lucky ones survive and thank god. The other ones die but good on them for pleasing god... Even though there are documented flip flops on doctrine each JW must still believe in what they are being told even going as far as sacrificing their childs life. Thankfully in this country the courts will act in the best interests of the child. However this isn't the case in some countries. To illustrate, the position on organ transplants has changed about 5 times in the last 100 years. So either God can't make his mind up or someone isn't the spirit directed "servant" they believe they are.

JWs have been involved in child sexual abuse cover ups. Elders have tied to keep the lid on sexual predators to avoid exposure and bad press. Normal members of the congregation will not be told when a
pedofile is present. They are even allowed on the ministry (to go door to door and find their next prey). Often the victims are pressurized into keeping quiet and if they don't actions within the
congregation are taken against them.

JWs contribute very little to society, they are discouraged from giving to charities because this money should be given to the JW organization. Many remain unemployed and take up "pioneering" a voluntary
form of preaching where they spend 40-60 hours a month engaged in the preaching work. All the while they are claiming benefits and being perceived in the eyes of the congregation as "good examples". Yes,
that's right our tax money is used to finance this organization preaching its "truth". The majority of JWs are unqualified nixxers and the common job that is carried out is window cleaning (at least in Ireland + UK). They maybe offered good jobs but they refuse them because they would "miss their meetings". It is a requirement to attend all meetings, if you don't you will be visited by the elders who will "encourage you". The only acceptable reason for missing a meeting is due to sickness...

What is the structure of JW congregation?
Male dominated like majority of Christian religions. Elders are like priests, there can be multiple ones in each congregation and normally they have different assignments, they give public speeches and "look
after the congregation". They are referred to as shepherds. Then there are ministerial servants, these are usually younger men or those who are progressing to be elders. They are given more of the donkey
work, account keeping, distributing books etc. then there is the normal classes... Baptized publisher and unbaptized publisher. Both of these are able to preach the JW religion however baptism means you have
fully subscribed to the religion. You are now tied to it forever. If you realise one day that something doesn't make sense you can do the following:
Remain silent for the rest of your life.
OR
Tell the elders about it

It is of little importance to the elders that something you believe in goes contrary to what you are being told. You must accept everything that is being told by the Faithful and Discreet Slave (the men in
New York). This quote is taken directly from the "Study" Watchtower (different from the ones left at peoples homes)


"Sadly, though, some have become casual or even cynical about reminders concerning the need to stay awake. ‘We have heard that same reminder for decades,’ they may say.However, those individuals should keep in mind that by making such remarks, they are actually questioning Jehovah and his Son, not just the faithful slave class. “Keep in expectation,” Jehovah said. (Hab. 2:3) Likewise, Jesus stated: “Keep on the watch. . . because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matt. 24:42) In addition,Peter wrote: “What sort of persons ought you to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah!” (2 Pet. 3:11, 12) Never will the faithful slave class and its Governing Body take a casual view of those earnestwords!"

So they make themselves equal to God + Jesus.

If you do not accept that you are wrong and they are right you will be disfellowshipped. This means a public announcement will be made to the congregation. At this point *everyone* will ignore you. You will
cease to exist. Your best friend will walk by you. Even your family may ignore you. You maybe kicked out the family home. Since you have been told not to be "friends of the world" you find yourself without
anyone to turn to. You don't have any friends. If you decide you want to return to the JW's you must admit you were wrong but even then you must sit at the back of the Kingdom Hall, you will still be ignored
and only after months (sometimes years) the elders will finally reinstate you.

JWs are a cult and a high control group. If you know of anyone that is studying with them you should warn them. However JWs love to be persecuted and often they will tell their study "expect your friends and family not to be happy with you associated with JWs, Satan is very clever and will use the ones you love against you..." Mind control at the beginning is less strong however if left to long it can be almost impossible to reach your family/friend. The longer your friend/family associates with JW the further he/she will become from you...

I was a JW for all my life. I served as a ministerial servant and have seen many of the ugly things that happen behind closed doors when your mind starts to question things. If anyone here is associating with JWs and needs more information please contact me. I don't mean to bash JWs but their doctrines had a profoundly negative influence on my life and if I can spare one person from getting involved then I have "saved" that person...

X

PDN

escapethematrix wrote: »

JWs have been involved in child sexual abuse cover ups. Elders have tied to keep the lid on sexual predators to avoid exposure and bad press. Normal members of the congregation will not be told when a pedofile is present. They are even allowed on the ministry (to go door to door and find their next prey). Often the victims are pressurized into keeping quiet and if they don't actions within the congregation are taken against them.

Not just the JWs that this applies to, is it?

weiland79

Hmmm i have an aunt an uncle that are JW. I see them both at least once a week and in all my life they have never mentioned anything at all to do with God.

My uncle ownes and runs his own successful business. Whenever they attend a family gathering be it a wedding (not at ceremony) or Christmas ( will only show up on Stephens day) they are both the life and soul. In fact i might go as far as to say they are two of my fav relations.

They are the only JW's i know in my life,but they are far from the Dan Brown characters you paint them all to be.

caseyann

I worked with a JW didnt believe in anything i did,but i got on great with him,and we had many a funny friendly talk about his beliefs.
But the ones who knock on the door and preach not into it.
And no religious representative should do that.
If slip a leaflet in a door fine,if they decide to go and see for themselves fine.But other than that leave people alone.
I had some knock on the door and they had some born again junkie with them.He was stoned off his head.And they were trying to get me to invite them in.

escapethematrix

weiland79 wrote: »

They are the only JW's i know in my life,but they are far from the Dan Brown characters you paint them all to be.

It's nice that you have a relationship with your aunt and uncle. This is so often not the case.

I did not attempt to paint a dramatic picture just to explain a bit behind the scenes. It is not nice what this organization does to families, to children, to those who have genuine verifiable doubts.

escapethematrix

PDN wrote: »

Not just the JWs that this applies to, is it?

No. But at least the Catholic church admit it openly now. JWs have never.

www.silentlambs.org

Pushtrak

escapethematrix wrote: »

No. But at least the Catholic church admit it openly now. JWs have never.

www.silentlambs.org

They admit it because of things like the Murray report. It'd be like Bill Clinton suddenly saying that Monica Lewinsky thing didn't happen. (Not as if the latter really matters, just that neither would have any credibility)

Edit: An aside, please don't use that mini text. I'm sure I"m not the only one who wouldn't read it in that form. Quoted it and tried reading it that way, but got sick of reading it that way too.

dvae

Just to start off I'm not a Jws but id like to ask the question, if i was to start a thread with the title Catholics a warning or Jews a warning or perhaps Muslims a warning and, then go on to make all sorts of allegations about these religions, how long would this thread last .
Please remember Jw are a legal Christen organization in this country.

Fanny Cradock

Agreed. Oversight on my part. Thread locked.