Does a recession/pandemic/war indicate Armageddon? However, the rate of growth has almost certainly also been dependent on child baptism for several years and, with the average age of the membership growing older and decades of discouragement from current members having children, there are also simply fewer children to indoctrinate. Are you inspired? For them to stay in the organization and have an approved standing, they will have had to squash their inner self, and adopt an organizationally-created identity. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. A few weeks later, the Jehovah's Witnesses closed on a $200 million sale of that building to the private equity firm Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors, which plans to turn the property into . Was Russell a Freemason? As she grew up as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness, there were certain things . Nov. 20, 2019, 9:49 AM PST. . I have never been able to find anything more true than what is taught by the Church Of Christ. This is another religion. Jehovah does not mislead us. The records management overseer related an experience where one hand-written note cost watchtower over $200,000 simply because a JW elder at headquarters was honest and produced a written document which tied Watch Tower to a major litigation case with a prior vendor. The mountain of bullshit has finally gotten high enough that it's starting to collapse on itself. Well, the reason for the recent increase is simply due to a change in tactics, according to our sister title the Chronicle. Young Korean Witnesses languish in prison for no reason. In the book, they [JW] taught that Jesus Christ is a Mighty God. There's a limit on how long you can tell people that the world is about to end for so long before they get sceptical. JW.org has been spinning the cutbacks as simplification, and have coerced dozens of those who lost their full-time jobs to give testimonials about how happy they were to accept their new assignment in the field. *my Opinion * / Nostradamus Predictions For World War in 2020 . 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. I believe this with my whole heart. 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. You can get shunned just by reading literature from another church, and you can even get shunned for smoking a cigarette. We are in a great position to be a source of strength and compassion for those younger people who are wandering out and stumbling into forums like this. The organization of Jehovahs Witnesses is not Gods organization and never ever will be either. "(We) encourage them to make urgent contact with the Department of Social Services so . With the recent crack-downs on college education, the Watchtower is looking less and less like a spiritual paradise, and is looking more like North Korea. The Let God Be True book was written by imperfect men, and imperfect men make mistakes, and it was a mistake. Have you lost your mind? There simply isnt anything designed or built into the programs that work with the attention spans of young children. What would you expect to see if that was a news headline within the coming year? Not even Watchtowers huge lawyers can stop it. Spare the rod, spoil the child. 726 Followers. Learn how your comment data is processed. Contrast this to the July 2009 issue of Awake! Additionally, it has been noted by many of us that when there is a family in which the father does not hold some kind of office, the family is often left out on the periphery without much social support. It is the interpretation given those prophecies by men like Stephen Lett and the other members of the GB over the decades that has caused so many witnesses to lose their faith and even, in the case of many, to turn away from God entirely. The shorter the expected time left, the higher the growth. 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. The carts also provide the public with the choice of approaching us or not, which some people appreciate. Can baptism be Annulled? 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. The Jehovah's Witnesses congregation is a millennialist restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs. There are also members with experiences of Catholicism, Mormonism, the Exclusive Brethren, the Mennonites, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Falun Gong movement. 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. Its hard to say. The more the doctrines made sense, the more she wanted to keep learning. Branches around the world are struggling to keep up with their own accounting procedures. Why Are People Leaving The Jehovah's Witness In Droves. In many countries, such meetings would be nothing unusual. But it's a way of thinking that is ingrained in you by the faith, and it's this mentality that makes it so difficult to leave. I have two beautiful children that I adore, that God blessed me with, and are very active in the Church. Show your compassion for those still trapped. 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. Im still here, and Im still the same. Watch Tower must pay these benefits. Truly the Watchtower organization has absolutely nothing good to say about any other religion because theyre too busy puffing themselves up over them. For Ali Millar, the experience of writing her difficult life story wasn't cathartic, it was traumatic. It is more like Satans group simply because of the harsh and inhumane rules and regulations that they harbor in their midst. 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. By contrast, about two-thirds of those who were raised as evangelical Protestants (65%) and Mormons (64%) still say they are members of those respective groups. It is law according to the Jehovahs Witness. She learned she couldnt get that from being a Jehovahs Witness. According to the organisation, there are currently more than 70,000 Witnesses in Australia. Brummies happily shopping and going. However, disfellowshipping is. Most people who currently identify as Jehovah's Witnesses (65%) also were raised outside that tradition. It isnt about the children. Witnesses believe that they are living in . The important thing for us is to show them that there is a great life to be lived after leaving the Watchtower. Less than 24 hours later, the manual was leaked and seemingly non-stop analysis and comparison to previous versions began. I dont remember feelling that way 30yrs ago, but perhaps I am starting to get back to normal? Originally from Kent, Laetitia says her parents became Jehovah's Witnesses about four years before she was born. Jehovah's Witnesses can now be found in Birmingham city centre. Is it any wonder that the turnover among the young people is so high? The family of Jehovah's Witnesses is writing letters instead of knocking on doors to spread their faith. As many of you know, the cutbacks were significant. That our faith is true. The gathering was a Bible study. By Brendan Cole On 7/28/20 at 11:09 AM EDT News Russia Intensifies Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses with 110 Armed Raids The. Much of their growth from these nations is from people being born into the religion. While they may appear nice and friendly, once you get into the inner-workings of the organization, you quickly discover that the niceness and friendliness is very short lived unless you follow everything to the letter within the organization. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses will often turn away from any Bible discussion that challenges their beliefs, using the excuse that they cannot listen to apostates. Yes, money is a problem for Watch Tower. Its not what we post on AvoidJW.org that should worry Watch Tower. The life of the Jehovah's Witnesses is guided by those forbidden things and more. Witnesses hold a number of traditional Christian views but also many that are unique to them. But why have they stopped knocking on our doors? Statistically, two-thirds of born in members leave, and of those that leave on. Personally, what this all adds up to for me is this: Young people, and most especially men, are leaving this religion in droves. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a member of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Pierce County recently sued the organization. Updated at 12:25 p.m. However, the Watchtower stubbornly sticks to a one size fits all program for everyone. They govern every aspect of your life from cradle to grave. If all of this keeps up, it might not be long before you will see jw.org gone from the scene, as well as other things tied to this diabolical evil religion. random musings> (Translation they are on their own: no health care, no jobs, no training. Does this sound familiar? Realistically, though, its a threat to the organisation because education could broaden an individuals mind and open them up to a world of opinions outside the faith. Other churches give single parents some relief by offering activities and programs for their children to get involved in and bond with other young people. Watch Tower was spending tens of thousands per year to New York City just to maintain their tunnel and air-bridge spaces between buildings. Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, and the Catholic Church have all issued statements saying that their religion does not prohibit members from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Change in teachings? 239) In this video I share the story of my transition from believing. Lets make it happen. The reason for this is because theyre on the verge of going totally belly up, and they need money to be able to handle all of the child sex abuse cases that they have under their belts and so on. Andrea sat down. The modern-day organisation began at the end of the 19th century. Should you Disassociate and Sample Letters I just want you to listen to the doctrines. If the Jehovahs Witnesses were the true religion, sanctioned by God, there would be no room for error and no mistakes!. And the more she embraced the truth, the more her family tried to stop her. There are millions trapped inside a mental prison, but we can help them. To scan all documents located in Brooklyn, retaining only the hard copies they were required to keep by law. 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. Aside from the Bethel layoffs, all non-essential branch projects were either cancelled or put on hold. Jehovah's Witness 'ordered to renounce faith and join Russian army' Europe. This is not to say that there are no enthusiastic young people in the Watchtower organization, because there truly are. The Watchtower organizations sole purpose is to proselytize, whereby all of its human capital must be channeled into that goal. One would think that relatively simple endeavors like those offered in other churches would be worth it to the Watchtower leaders; when considering their inability to retain the young people. The Jehovahs Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which was founded by Charles Taz Russell, a Christian Restorationist minister. In some respects, its very entertaining. It is all about the rules and their governing body. Photo courtesy of Jehovah's Witnesses Public Information Desk Mandee Reid and her son, Charles Reid, of Kansas City, Mo., like Jehovah's . Included with this the commissioning of the Last Messenger! They make up these rules simply because they can. 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Jehovah's Witnesses in Newcastle City Centre. Many of us here paid that price, only to wake up to it years later. Only ten years ago, every single member, that is 28 members were Jehovah's Witnesses. 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. And 67% of the Buddhists surveyed indicate that they were raised in a . Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned in Russia since 2017. An organization that has established itself as the sole possessor of truth and the single place of refuge from the coming apocalypse cannot divert time and resources to anything that is not related to its recruitment activities. When these programs do address the children directly, it usually only entails an assembly drama about Samuel, or the promise that very soon, they will be able to play with tigers and elephants. 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. While I tried to maintain the utmost respect for their beliefs and not attempt to preach my own, they refused to extend me the same courtesy, and many assumed Id left so I could experience more freedom for worldly things. Just imagine if the Ford Motor Company was still manufacturing and marketing the Ford Pinto. JWs are leaving in droves, all because of the internet. With all of the new doccumentaries being produced about this organization, YouTube channels and other types of media being produced, Watchtower doesnt stand a chance at survival. Photos of JWfacts.com being Promoted As she started to lose trust in the unsteady teachings of JW, Andrea turned to the Church Of Christ for doctrinal stability because, in the Church Of Christ, everything that they follow is written in the Bible. Two thirds of those disfellowshipped never return. A life of meaningless sex, drugs and alcohol is often woven into this picture. They use Office 365 now and embed data into PDF files in an attempt to track where the leaks are coming from. Biblically, however, the word "soul" is multifaceted. We have far more than they realize we have, and there is nothing they can do to stop the flow of information outside of headquarters. It made them revered. When you stand in the public square and represent a religion, its just a matter of time before the public connects the dots, and the carts are sent to the junkyard, one at a time. Those eight men up in New York are worshipped because they follow every single word they say. Like Stockholm Syndrome victims, Jehovahs Witnesses continue to support the only organization they think has the answers, identifying with and revering their captors men who have little sympathy for the victims of child abuse, shunning, or death by blood policy. I have been giving a lot of thought to the young people who are leaving the Watchtower organization in recent years. But fortunately, after having been out for a number of years, many of us are getting to know who we really are and what gives our lives meaning. Many teenagers in the organization have issues that require a little more remedy than sitting with a notepad at the assembly and counting with tally marks the number of times the speaker says Jehovah. Answer (1 of 10): Well, it's resulted in them having to resort to baptizing children to keep their numbers up (something they used to criticize the Catholic church for). Watch Tower is in the process of implementing a new records management program along with a destruction of documents procedure which is designed to ensure that no documents exist which would tie Watch Tower to any legal responsibility or repercussions. Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. . I had panic attacks. When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. He lives in Stockholm. 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. Watch Tower has dispatched a team of elders to correct their thinking and their accounting procedures. Left In 1977. The Internet's most comprehensive resource for ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, a community for support, recovery and a few laughs along the way. ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. Why so many raised as Witnesses leave Jehovah's Witnesses believe that: God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is "the only true God". They may think they do, but we have seen, we have seen the proof that our God is real. ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher announced Jayne is out of surgery - and it was a success. When curious JWs find communities like this one, they realize they're not alone and there's hope/life for them outside the borg. Many former friends, including my best friend of 10 years, shunned me. The graph below shoes how the 18-29 crowd have aged up, but new young adults are not replenishing the numbers. Mum, I havent died. "I would be sick. Basically it is in the process of imploding. Its old and we dont use it anymore. Mr. Lopez alleged he was abused by a church elder named Gonzalo Campos. I remember I was getting ready to leave [for worship service in the Church Of Christ], it was early in the morning and it was on a Saturday. That takes us to 27. 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? 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. She converted a lot of people to that religion.. And its peppy acceleration will get you far and away from Zeb and his feisty cart crashes!. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I just want you to listen, Cynthia begged. Its psychology 101. Imagine if Ford was blaming the consumers - saying that consumers had poor judgment for not wanting to buy the Pinto anymore. Their lackluster growth will only continue; and they will find it harder and harder to recruit new members. Examining the total number of people entering and leaving each religion provides the most complete picture of the dynamism of the American religious landscape. Religious fact, faith and delusion, home> You know what its like to have no hope. The present study of 50 Jehovah's Witnesses admitted to the Mental Health Service facilities of Western Australia suggests that members of this section of the community are more likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital than the general population. Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson callously stated in 2015 before the Royal Commission in Australia that he had not even read the details of the victims who had testified before the Commission. Therefore, if young people are uninspired, bored, or unmotivated to engage in the theocratic treadmill, Jehovah's Witnesses can simply blame it on the influences of MTV, high school, or on their favorite buzzword: the world. I never once doubted the decision that I made on that day to leave my family and to become a member of the Church Of Christ.. The Jehovahs Witnesses have a bunch of rules, regulations and policies much like the religious leaders of Jesus day had. The groups are handing out copies of The Watchtower from carts outside New Street station. Nothing can be allowed to take any time away from the Watchtowers sole purpose of existence: proselytizing. She met George, his family, and a few others from the Church Of Christ, including Brother Eddie San Gabriel, a Minister of the Gospel. The. Its this picture of the world the word they use to refer to anything outside the faith that was painted for me as a child, and I was warned away from cultivating any close friendships with non-Jehovahs Witnesses for this reason. Jesus himself is truth, not those club-like religions. Found some information I thought you all might be interested in. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that humans have an immaterial nature. She was convinced shed lost me and that Id be changed for ever now, no longer the daughter shed always loved and cherished. The Holy Spirit is . If they are really lucky, and they are privileged enough to have a dad whos a prominent elder, they might land an exciting acting role - waving their arms around in huge pantomime gestures in an assembly drama. Ironically, they cant do that, because the organization has already been identified and branded as a spiritual banquet where nothing is lacking. Instead, Andrea spent her time attending meetings at Kingdom Hall, sharing her faith, and being with her family. These doctrines made perfect sense to me!. And he [my dad] told me that, If you go to that Church, dont come back. This article provides basic information on leaving this faith. Witnesses are being approached and asked hard-hitting questions about child abuse, shunning, and other matters. I've never showered as much in my life. I can never forgive them for betrayal. All the books in the Bible.. Jehovah's Witnesses 'use the Bible to victim-shame,' sex abuse survivor says. 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. Getty Images 08 . I myself was born and raised in the organization. . No other religion can do that. Sawyer and many others like her are now denouncing the church's shunning practices in the wake of a recent murder-suicide in Keego Harbor that killed a family of four ex-Jehovah's Witnesses who . My Story of Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Lloyd Evans 108K subscribers Subscribe 7.2K 232K views 4 years ago (Cedars' vlog no. When Andrea learned that the re-emergence of the Church Of Christ is clearly found in the Bible, she looked into the origins of JW and found that there was no Biblical proof to support JWs establishment. No religion can claim that. Theyre currently in damage control which means that theyre trying to wipe away their history in the hope that future Witnesses will never find it out. Drunk driver smashed into family car on M6 - while sipping cider, Jehovah's Witnesses denies telling abuse victims not to call the police, BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt halts show to warn Lenny Henry 'you shouldn't say that', Charlie was hosting BBC Breakfast on Thursday - but warned Lenny: "You really shouldn't say that. 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. ET on April 5, 2019. Find some websites which you believe are honest and accurate and share them. This was not a tax, it was a fee paid because New York owns the underground and the airspace. After completing her Bible studies, Andrea was baptized into the Church Of Christ in 1981. And you have no promise. The problem is that former Jehovah's Witnessesand others who've left cults or religionshave had to filter out the language of cataclysmic ending when seeking a secular life. All rights Reserved. Earlier this year, we wrote about how the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, better known as the Jehovah's Witnesses despite a long history of litigating many, many important 1st. 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. The purpose? "The minister who was teaching my Bible lessons (in the Church Of Christ) mentioned the "Let God Be True" book in my studies, and he asked me if I knew that the doctrines of the Jehovah's Witnesses had changed over the years. But I will say this each one of us can play a part in sharing what we know with the public. Now that their arrogance has has gotten the better of them and they mistakingly feel theyre better than anyone else to sit in front of the camera and pontificate, we see how bad they are. I began a life where I could decide what to believe for myself, and I wasnt afraid of someone telling me I couldnt. Its the reason they emphasise the dangers and repercussions of searching for answers to faith-related questions in any place except their own literature, calling anything outside this apostasy. (Rutherford must be having a meltdown in his grave). It should be noted that the Soviets used the same methods of argumentation and reasoning claiming that nothing was lacking in Mother Russia. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world. Attending My Father's Funeral The church shares some traditional views with the Catholic church but holds several unique ones, including the belief that there is one God, not a Trinity. But why should doctrines change?