Why I left the Jehovah’s Witnesses

Sexual abuse.

AUSTRALIAN ROYAL COMMISSION.

FORBIDDEN FROM LAYING CHARGES, UNLESS THE ELDERS ARE CONVINCED OF THE PERPETRATOR’S GUILT.

EXAMPLE 1: THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF HOLLY BREWER.

For years and from as early as the age of three, Holly Brewer was sexually abused by her Jehovah’s Witness stepfather, Paul Berry who was an esteemed member of the organization.

By the age of five, “Holly knew how to please her stepfather sexually” and she was told by him that is she didn’t keep quiet, she wouldn’t survive Armaggedon.

Paul Berry took Holly into the barn or to his “secret room” beneath the house. Over the years, Holly learned how to satisfy her stepfather and was groomed to prepare the room making it “suitable for rape”.

Holly’s mother, Sara Poisson, who was physically abused by Paul Berry, eventually tried to seek help from the Jehovah’s Witness elders, where she was told to “pray more” and “be a better wife”.

The elders failed to report the case to the authorities and got away with it when they were challenged for it in court by exploiting a legal loophole to avoid the moral obligation of reporting child sex abuse.

Holly’s sex abuse only stopped when she built up the courage and reported the matter to the police herself at the age of sixteen in March of 1997.

Even though Jehovah’s Witnesses supported Paul Berry in court when 30 members of Paul Berry’s congregation testified as character witnesses for him, and with legal assistance funded by donations from members of the organization worldwide, Paul Berry was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 56 years in prison.

It is estimated that well over $500,000 has been spent in donated funds of Jehovah’s Witnesses for the legal defense of Paul Berry.

Blood doctrine.

Jehovah’s Witnesses hang on to their prohibition of life-saving blood transfusions, forcing their interpretation of the bible on even their young children, even if it means their death.

Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that many children have died on the basis of the blood ban, but in other publications, they commend the thousands of young ones who have sacrificed themselves by rejecting blood.

NOT BASED ON SCRIPTURE

LIES ABOUT STATISTICS

1994 Awake Youth’s Who Put God First

Deliberate deception.

“Are you trying to recruit me?” “No, I’m just sharing something meaningful with you”…

In Jehovah’s Witnesses, I was taught to use deception by not telling the public our most extreme beliefs. I was taught to lie, leave out important information, or distort information.

When “preaching”, we start them off with “Soft Food” to get them interested, and then lure them in with other teachings one layer at a time. The deeper they go, the more they are required to commit, and the more difficult it becomes to escape.

We were doing these things without even realizing that we were practicing deception. In the Jehovah’s Witnesses, this is called spiritual warfare.

The leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses do the same thing in court. David Gnam, and Geoffrey Jackson to name a few.

DAVID GNAM LYING IN COURT.

Jehovah’s Witnesses water down the emotional abuse that takes place among the group in the form of disfellowshipping. Here, David Gnam blatantly lies in the supreme court of Canada. He tries to mislead the court by whitewashing the practice of disfellowshipping.

He testifies that shunning is not an accurate term for their practice of disfellowshipping when in reality, the word “Shun” perfectly describes the practice of disfellowshipping.

“shunpersistently avoid, ignore, or reject (someone or something) through antipathy or caution.”

Oxford Dictionary

He gives more false testimony when he says “normal family relations continue”. He tells this to the public when behind closed doors, families are directed to fully cut off disfellowshipped mothers, fathers, daughters, or sons.

A study article entitled “Display Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped” directs Jehovah’s Witnesses that they are forbidden from having any association with disfellowshipped relatives. How can I actively support an organization that blatantly lies to conceal the truth from the public?

“What sort of fellowship with disfellowshipped and disassociated people is forbidden? … loyal Christians do not have spiritual fellowship with anyone who has been expelled from the congregation. But more is involved. God’s Word states that we should ‘not even eat with such a man.’ … Hence, we also avoid social fellowship with an expelled person. This would rule out joining him in a picnic, party, ball game, or trip to the mall or theater or sitting down to a meal with him either in the home or at a restaurant.”

Display Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped – Our Kingdom Ministry

Nebuchadnezzars reign.

A quick Google search of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign yields thousands of results showing the same date, 605 – 562 BCE. But on JW.ORG, this year is shown as 624-581 B.C.E.

The date of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign is tied to so many other historical events, that this date is indisputable without rewriting our entire history.

“After the defeat of Pharaoh Necho’s army by the Babylonians at Carchemish in 605 BCE, Jehoiakim began paying tribute to Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. Some of the young nobility of Judah were taken to Babylon.”

Wikipedia – The Babylonian Captivity
“Nebuchadnezzar waged his first war against Egypt in the region of the Euphrates, in the last year of his father’s reign (605). In that year he defeated the Egyptian armies in a battle fought at *Carchemish on the Euphrates”

Encyclopedia.com – NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Why the discrepancy?

The Bible clearly states that Jerusalem was destroyed in Nebuchadnezzar’s 19th year. Working back from when he started his reign in 605, we get to the date of 586BC for Jerusalem’s destruction. This presents a serious problem for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

This leads me to my next point, 607.

Jerusalems destruction, 607.

Jerusalem did not fall in 607BC as taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

2 Kings 25:8 tells us that in the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he destroyed Jerusalem along with the temple and all other important buildings. All other sources prove that Nebuchadnezzar started to rule in 605BC, and if he destroyed Jerusalem in his 19th year according to the Bible, the date would come to 586BC, not 607BC.

We can also be sure that Jerusalem fell in 586BC because evidence shows that the temple was restored in 516BC, marking the end of the 70 years of desolation beginning in 586BC Daniel 9:2.

1914, False Prophecy.

1914 TEACHING PRE-1914

Prior to 1914, Jehovah’s Witnesses were told:

  • Armageddon would end in 1914.
  • The fall of all other religions would be complete.
  • The end of all governments would be complete.
  • The resurrection would take place.
  • The establishment of paradise on earth would be complete.
we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished near the end of A.D.1914.”

Studies in the Scriptures – The Time is at Hand (1889) 1911 ed. p.99

Other pre-1914 claims made by the organization about 1914:

Make no mistake, these were “established truths” according to Jehovah’s Witnesses at that time. They wholeheartedly were expecting the end of all Governments, and the Destruction of False Religion along with the unbelievers would take place before the end of 1914.

None of the above happened. The publications were recalled and rewritten to cover up their false prophecy.

1914 TEACHING POST-1914

Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that they accurately predicted the end of the Gentile Times. There is no mention at all of what they actually predicted in any of their new publications. In fact, most modern-day Jehovah’s Witnesses have no idea about the history of the 1914 teaching.

“Very noteworthy was the striking accuracy with which that book pointed to the end of the Gentile Times, “the appointed times of the nations.”

Yearbook 1975 p.37

Today, the Organization also teaches that Jesus’ (invisible) presence started in 1914. They claim that the second coming happened in 1914, but just not in a visible way.

But there is a scriptural problem with this teaching. The Bible warns us of those announcing his presence and that his presence is hidden from others [invisible?] and refers to these ones as false prophets.

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 Look! I have forewarned you. 26 Therefore, if people say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be.

Matthew 24:23-27

The Bible also tells us that his presence will be like lightning shining over from the east to the west, which is visible and even audible for everyone to see and hear.

United Nations affiliation.

Jehovah’s Witnesses preach that the UN is part of the wild beast, Babylon the great, a great evil organization led by Satan himself.

While members were forbidden from association with political organizations, even when their very lives and freedom are at stake. This rule was lorded over members and enforced with threats of disfellowshipping, while the leaders of the organization were formally associated with the UN, for many benefits.

Jehovah’s Witnesses concealed this fact and only disassociated only when they were exposed.

https://www.un.org/en/civil-society/watchtowerletter

Inconsistent teachings

SMOKING VS. OVEREATING.

Jehovah’s Witnesses may not use tobacco. Even recreational use is forbidden on the basis that it defiles the body.

At the same time, the majority of witnesses are extremely unhealthy and obese from overeating. Studies prove fast food once a week is more damaging to your health than a cigar, yet you can be disfellowshipped for one and not for the other.

If you mention these studies to fellow Witnesses or Elders, you’re accused of apostasy. If you do not repent, you risk being disfellowshipped, shunned, and cut off from your family.

Inconsistent application of laws

Jehovah’s Witnesses boast that their laws are perfect, and look down on secular laws. I find the Jehovah’s Witness laws to be quite contradictory.

For example:

Need a second witness to establish a case when it comes to child abuse

When a person comes forward with an accusation of child sex abuse, even with plausible circumstances, it is rejected and the victim is silenced if there is no second witness or a confession.

If the child abuse victim kays charges against a fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses without first establishing guilt through the elders, that person risks being disfellowshipped and losing their entire family.

No need for a second witness to establish a case when it comes to suspected (consensual) unmarried sex.

Elders can find a person guilty of fornication with only circumstantial evidence if they are found to Spend a night in the same house with a person of the opposite sex or a known homosexual if the person is of the same sex.

“Listed below are offenses that may require review by a judicial committee … 11. Evidence (testified to by at least two witnesses) that the accused stayed all night in the same house with a person of the opposite sex (or in the same house with a known homosexual). –

Pg. 58-61, Elders Manual: “Shepherd the Flock of God”

Secrecy (Layered teachings)

“And down the rabbit hole, we go”

The Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other cults are structured like an onion, with the most benign and helpful features on the outside, and the most sinister and controlling features in the secret inner core.

  • Level 1 – Non-Jehovah’s Witnesses are only exposed to the surface-level teachings which are predominantly accepted in society. These teachings are easy to find, even though Google, on their public website JW.ORG.
  • Level 2 – Bible students are slowly subjected to deeper and deeper teachings, like layers of an onion, but at this level, the teachings are still quite tolerable to outsiders.
  • Level 3 – When a bible student becomes baptized, a new reality is imposed by new teaching that is more extreme.
  • Level 4 – Elders, circuit overseas, etc, only (Elders Books, etc.).
  • Level 5 – Writing committee.
  • Level 6 – Governing Body.
  • Level 7 – ???

False prophecy.

“Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past.” – George Orwell, 1984

1914.

1925.

1975.

2000’S.

The organization is captive by design.

Information control.

Obsession with homosexuality, masturbation, and intimate lives of couples.

Elders are constantly questioning members about their private sex lives.

Elders interrogate women to extreme detail when they suspect that she has had sex. If they admit it, they ask questions like “Did you come?” “Did he come, and did he come inside you” “Were you wet when he entered you?” “Where did you have sex?” “How many times?” “Did you give him a blowjob?” Young women who have been abused are also subjected to similar questioning to establish if the sex was consensual or not. Most time’s the member being questioned is not allowed to have a friend or family member accompany them to the questioning.

Questioning is forbidden and even punished.

Freedom of thought is taught as evil and should be subdued.

Freedom of speech is forbidden and punished severely.

Divorce is forbidden unless there is proven adultery.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to apply for a divorce without proving to the elders that their spouse is guilty of adultery. They will also never be allowed to remarry, unless they were granted a “scriptural divorce” by the elders on the basis of adultery, or if their spouse is dead.

Exploited by resentful partners.

Puts lives in danger, despite the law of the greater good.

Dress, grooming, and beards.

Negative world view.

Constant threat of Armageddon.

Hate speech.

Praying for mass genocide.

Former members are shunned and slandered.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are expected to shun former members, especially those who openly discuss anything critical of the organization. Former members who have changed their beliefs are also expected to be shunned. Failure to shun these former members (whether they are family or not) could result in being disfellowshipped and shunned too.

Animosity towards non-Jehovah’s Witnesses as wicked and unrighteous.

Avoidance of worldly people.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are told to “hobnob with worldlings at office parties, in outings or in sports groups”, because those who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses “are not governed by God’s principles”. It is also said that when it comes to non Jehovah’s Witnesses, a “nice exterior can conceal wicked intents.”. The WatchtowerSet Apart from the World,

“While some contact with worldly people is unavoidable​—at work, at school, and otherwise—​we must be vigilant so as to keep from being sucked back into the death-dealing atmosphere of this world.”

The Watchtower, Breathing This World’s “Air” Is Death-Dealing!

I know dozens of so-called worldly people that a lot more compassionate, forgiving, and kinder than any Jehovah’s Witness I have ever met.

Outside charity work is forbidden.

Charities outside of the Jehovah’s Witnesses are part of “Satans System”.

The leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses does not allow members to take part in any

Alcoholics Anonymous, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other churches.

Break up families.

Arrogant Narcissistic and Authoritarian Leadership

Exploitation.

TIME

MONEY

Extremism.

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