I grew up in Fulton, Ky , which is right in the heart of the so called " Bible Belt ". As a child, I attended one of the local Methodist churches with my parents. It was one of those small country churches, and the Preacher also preached at several other Methodist churches in the area. Most of the church members were snobs, and they would often turn their noses up in the air when I would try to strike up a conversation with them. Gossip was also a problem in this church.
Then there was the collection plate that was passed around, and the Preacher yelling out " Fire and Brimstone " and " Eternal Damnation ". I wasn't very wild about all of this, but then again I was just a kid, so what did know ? This was the only form of Relegion that I knew at the time, so I went along with it.
Then in 1978, my Grandparents moved back here from Michigan , and they introduced the Jehovah's Witnesses to my mother. It wasn't very long after that when my Mother convinced my Dad to go to a meeting at the local Kingdom Hall, and I was right there with both of them. Afterall, I needed a change, and at 18 years of age, I thought that this just might be the change that I needed.
When we walked in, we were greeted right up front by one of the Elders, and it wasn't very long before other members were right there shaking our hands. Kind of a nice change from the Methodist church full of snobs as far as I was concerned. One of the Elders gave the daily talk in a soft tone of voice, whick was a very welcome break from the " Fire and Brimbstone " sermons by the Methodist preacher. Also, there was no collection plate being passed around, which was a nice break indeed. I did notice a collection box in the back of the Kingdom Hall where people could donate at their choice.
The first thing that I noticed about these people was how friendly an hospitable they were. Again, a very needed change for me at that time.
Shortly after this, my Mother hooked me up with a very young Jehovah's Witness couple for a Bible Study. They told me about a Paridise on Earth that would be ruled by Jesus and 144,000 chosen ones. No " Hell Fire and Brimstone " , just a peaceful Earth with people living in harmony with the animals.
I thought that this concept was great, so I continued my study with these people. This went on for several years. In 1984 I was transferred by my company to Dyersburg ,Tn where I continued my study with the witnesses. Then I was off to Monroe, Louisianna , Prestonsburg, Ky, Georgetown, Ky, Murray, Ky, Camden, Tn, Bolivar,Tn, Ripley, Tn . I attended meetings at the Kingdom Halls in all of those communities as well as Bible Studies, and the friendly and hospitable behaviour on the behalf of the witnesses was prevalant in all of those congregations.
In 1995, I decided to move back to Fulton and really dig in with these people. I started going out in the door to door service on a regular basis, and I joined the Theocratic Ministry School where I gave public talks that were graded by the elders. I had to write my own material for those public talks, and I always received high ratings from the Eleders. I was on a high at that point. I had no experince in writing or giving public talks, and these guys were giving me high ratings ? This was great !
When I started going door to door, I wasn't very comfortable with facing my former Methodist counterparts out here in the field, nor was I comfortable knocking on my neighbor's doors uninvited. At that point, I started to be a bit sceptable, however I continued forward.
In 1997, I took the plunge after a lot of pressure from the elders. I was " Baptized " and dipped under water in Memphis, Tn. From that point forward, things took a drastic change.
Working in retail as I do, there was no doubt that I would miss a few meetings and door to door service due to my work schedule. It wasn't long after I missed a couple of meetings and some door to door service before the Elders showed up at my house.
One of the Elders asked me " How do you think that Jehovah feels about you missing meetings and field service? " My response was " I would guess that this is between Jehovah and myself, and you don't have a dog in this fight "
Then the elder suggested that I shoud perhaps take a job in the floor cleaning buisness, or maybe even in construction which would allow me the time to go to meetings and go out in the field service. Then the guy actually had the nerve to tell me that I should sell my Pontiac Trans Am, and buy a four door car so that I could take the brothers and sisters out in the field service.
This harrasment continued on and on. I couldn't mow my own yard without these guys showing up. When I was shopping for groceries, there they were. Heck, I couldn't even go through the McDonald's drive through without one of these people behind me. If I ordered a Pizza, you could bet that the delievery person was a " Brother " or " Sister ". In fact, these guys had a one up on the CIA.
Then the storys about the Elders sexually abusing children started cropping up. Appx 35,000 complaints filed at the Watchtower headquarters in New York of sexual abuse by the Elders.
Considering all of this, I quit attending the meetings and going out in the field service. It wasn't long after this before the Elders started harassing me at work. I consulted an attorney considering this situation, and he wrote up a letter for me to send to the Elders announcing my resignation from the organization, and legal action if they chose to contact me in the future.
I handed the letter to one of the Elders, and I haven't seen any of them since.
The Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult without a doubt. They paint a rosy picture up front, and they try to control and manipulate their members from that point foward. They sexually abuse children in the name of Jehovah, and then they disfellowship those who report those crimes for " Defaming the Organization "
What a dispicable organization. Just how many lives have these people destroyed ?
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Comments: 48
I was raised Catholic, but attended Methodist with my grandma who was raising me as well. After my second marriage I started attending Baptist. None of these really fit me. But I have now started attending a Cowboy church with a Baptist affiliation. There are still things I don't agree with but I take the most out of it and believe in the things I believe.
I hope you continue your quest for religion and find God in your heart.
found out where he was and came after him. They didn't follow him but came to his door one time and sent many letters telling him it would be best if he returned.
He didn't respond and was finally left alone. Yes, cults is what I think some religions are, also. I'm sure you will find the one that is right for you. I don't know if you ever went into homes when you were out in the field, but I never let them in.
Good luck in all you do.
try silentlambs.org
"Where did you get this news."
Look for California lawsuits that are the most recent...
"They would of been taken care of and disfellowshiped."
only after two witnesses actually saw them molest.
"Theres no where in the bible that allows this."
of course not, however there are verses about keeping the congregation clean, which have been perverted to say nothing where the law did not require it. As well, the congregation is never told openly of such a transgression towards children. They could still be sitting there amongst your kids and you would never know. I has happened for a long time.
"I heard they pretty much go step by step at whats in the bible. "
Yes they believe you will die at their Armageddon...you are not a believer. As well, please feel free to deny you child a blood transfusion and have them die, because of your beliefs.
"So why didnt you just tell them to leave you alone. That you needed space."
You really thinks that works with a high control group?
They are in your schools amongst your own children. So much for the Truth hugh ?
Yeah, they're not perfect, but then again they are a controlling child molesting CULT , and they are doing these things in the NAME OF JEHOVAH GOD.
If you don't believe Travis and I , just join that organization yourself and see what happens to you. It's not quite as easy as you say.
Sorry to digress.
There are a lot of disaffected Jehovahs Witnesses out there
and yet they are constantly recruiting new members. Lately it seems as if the
local Kingdom Hall here in S.A. is actively recruiting new immigrants. It's as if
they get to them soon after they arrive here and start indoctrination before
these people have even found their feet in their neighborhoods, nevermind the community as a whole!
I have no quarrel with people practising whatever religion they choose
(as long as human sacrifice isn't a part of it) just don't try and foist your religion on me... if I am interested I will seek the information out and come to you!
Hmmmm, Pastafarians... sounding better by the day :)
Every one of the ex-jws I've come to know over the years experienced the very same control.
I've spoken to women who were molested by men in their congregation. One woman I know was raped by a fellow JW at a district convention. When she brought the situation up, she was told to keep quiet about it and not go to the police and the elders would take care of it. Do you want to know how they took care of it? They disfellowshipped HER! The victim! They bullied her into not reporting it to the police and then trashed her out in her own family and congregation.
You see, the JW's have a rule- a "two witness" rule. You cannot bring "charges" in the congregation against another without having 2 witnesses to it. How many rapes do you know of that have any witnesses except the 2 people -the perpetrator and the victim? So she was the only witness and they chose not to believe her. Because there is also a rule that men mean something and women don't mean a thing. It would have brought shame onto their congregation and they swept it under the carpet and with it this young woman's soul!
They made a decision and they chose to disfellowship her because she was so distraught that she wanted to go to the police. They pre-empted that by placing her in the worst position you can be in as a JW- disfellowshipped. She lost everything and everyone. She was shunned by her own family members- because you see, that is another rule- if someone is disfellowshipped, you musn't have anything to do with tham and certainly don't eat a meal with them-even if they are your own flesh and blood.
She lost all of her friends too. And because she was raised a JW and was only supposed to hang out with other JW kids- she had no other friends besides the JW ones that were now shunning her.
You want to put yourself in someone else's shoes? Try hers on for size.
I've personally spoken with dozens of men and women who were sexually abused in their Jehovah's witness congregation-some by men in their own families. I am amazed at the strength they possess to have gotten through it all under those circumstances.
So- if Timothy and Travis are "mad at them" I don't blame them one bit. I despise the group myself and I wasn't personally subjected to the suffering that so many of them were.
We have choices. We have the choice to believe that the moon is made of cheese, that all soup must have chillies in it, that bread must be made with carrots.
We also have the choice to believe that Adam getting cross with Eve was not true, that Noah taking tons of animals in a small boat during a flood was merely a story......that every single word of a huge collection of old legends, stories and alleged quotes, bundled together and specially selected by a self-appointed hierarchy of religious elders some time in the Middle Ages..... is not entirely true, is not even that important, is just one of many books claiming to know how the human race gets along. Once upon a time, the authorities would have you burned at the stake for thinking for yourself. Religion was used as a form of social control. Today, we have that option of thinking for ourselves! Use it - or lose it!
We HAVE the choice to learn, to research, to check facts, to find out for ourselves if what is being told to us is 100% true and not just hearsay. We don't all HAVE to join a big club which repeats the readings from a book of contradictions, over which many have argued and none have reached conclusions. We don't HAVE to go to tall, lofty, vastly expensive buildings once a week to hear someone preaching about being humble and how the poor shall inherit the earth. Frankly, the poor in Africa, for example, need the earth now, plus a few other basics.
Once you join a group, any group, other factors start working, start to creep in, the dynamics of the desire for power, the needs of some people who want to diminish you, to control you in order to confirm THEIR existence. I think politics also proves that! Without being careful, we give away our power to so many people. I prefer to think for myself when it comes to belief.
BE AWARE......AT ALL TIMES!
Peace!
The whole system is set up to keep them separate from the rest of the world and any outside information. They are told to discard any information that is contrary to what they are taught.
They are not allowed to participate in anything that would expose them to activities that would build "self" or promote self esteem or teamwork or an interest in anything other than their work for the JW group. Their interest in researching or checking facts, etc. is squashed before it is able to do them any good. Education is not important to them unless it is the constant indoctrination of the JW beliefs and control mechanisms. Higher education used to be prohibited and is now still discouraged. They certainly don't want their young people on a college campus learning all that one does in that quest.
Every facet of their life is controlled to keep them away from the very facts that would enable them to think for themselves and from what I've seen up close is the success of this control on the thinking patterns of so many long after they get out- if they are able to do so.
If they break free, by design it is a costly endeavor for them. Many will never have relationships with the only people they've ever known; including their entire family. Their own parents and siblings will shun them and some will even go as far as attempting to discredit them... all because they chose to stop believing.
It is abuse of the highest order. Some come out of it and do well. I've met many folks who were born and raised into this group and now, even after they've been out for many years, do not fare well in the world with all of its choices. Their thinking patterns are messed up. Their social skills are bent. They don't know what it takes to form real bonds with people because they were raised in a group that one day you might be loving a certain person and the next day it is announced that person is now to be shunned. And then, the shunned person may redeem themselves and now it's time to love them again. Forgiveness is only offered if you do what we say and then it's shallow at best.
I can see it's hard for some to get out of JW. My opinion was mainly for those outside that system.....and all other groups too. We still have to be strong - and aware - whatever group we choose to belong to or not to belong to. Don't drop your guard...especially when you are responsible for the innocents.
These people are notarious for recruiting the vulernable. Not only do they recruit the immigrants, they target drug addicts, alcoholics and the poor and needy.
Very seldom are they successful in recruiting people from other denominations, or people from the upper middleclass neighborhoods.
I only hope that the JW's will get it in the end.
I have a few in-laws involved with a group called The Way International. It's a destructive cult with pretty much a lot of the same goings on as described in your article and what others have said in their comments. My wife and I looked into hiring a deprogrammer in the mid 90's but that's a scary proposition also, lots of legal ramifications if your unsuccessful.
I don't condemn organized religion, I just believe its not in someones best interests to follow someone else's interpretation of the Bible, Koran, Vedas, etc. I was born and raised Catholic (did the whole catholic school and altar boy thing). Currently I believe if you need to talk to your God, you just need to find a peaceful place and speak to him.
I had never heard of the molesting, but with all the reports you hear of other religions molesting in the name of God.. it really has to make you wonder...
thanks for sharing this with us... It truly is a great article.
You tickle my funny bones no matter what you write. You have written a serious article but I could not help laughing in the middle of the article when the Jws won't even let you drive thru a McDonalds. I have had my share of JWs visit me. I have had talks with them before and after I knew Christ. After reading the Bible (New King James version) the JWs have their own Bible - I used to ask them one simple question -
If only 144,000 people are going to be saved - why would you want more competition ?
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http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976859646
As far as 1914 goes, the generation that was alive then won't pass away until armaggedon. They have now changed their teaching on that issue. They change their teachings up to suit them it seems.
Also, Gehenna, according to the JW,s, symbolizes everlasting death.
Grew up Catholic, did the altar-boy thing too. Still prefer to live by example. I believe if people are looking for Him and they see one of His followers happy and well balanced, they will come to ask the reason, and we will answer any question presented, together. Running around 'preaching' or banging on doors is for Amway rep's.
Religion should be presented in our acts, not our words.
In life, it's who we surround ourselves with that forms us.
If you hang with losers, you will probably become one too.
If you hang with 'winners' you'll probably become a 'winner', too!
I have 11 rules that seem to keep my behavior in check....
The "Golden Rule" and the 10 Commandments.
A pretty simple list!
Good and bad will always be around, and the best thing to do when making a decision is to look at whether it is Really a good thing to do , or will others be hurt by your actions. I guess we cannot know GOOD unless we have not-so-good to compare it to, eh?
I'm sad to hear these details about JW's because my daughter was brought up by her mom as a JW. At least my daughter understands my position, and when the subject comes up, we simply agree to disagree....and let the subject go.
I DO however love to antagonize those who approach my door. I usually send them off totally frustrated...knowledge is more power than their education provides!
Nowadays concening me, I still believe that we were created by some higher power, but I'm pretty much down on organized religion. But then again, I live in the Bible Belt where I get hit from all angels, and that combined with my JW experience has turned me against organized relegion.
Interesting what you said about Thailand. We have a few Thai students at the University. Like you said, they are some of the nicest and kindest people you will ever meet, but they are a bit too quirky and too easily offended to suit my tastes. I've done a lot of research on Thai culture, and I've found that they have a lot more social rules than we do, and if you're not careful, you will offend them without even knowing that you did., and they will never tell you what you did wrong because of their issue with " Face ". You offended them causing them to lose face, and in turn, they will cause you too lose face if they tell you what you did wrong, way too complicated for me.
One of friends is married to a Thai lady that he met in Bangkok during the Viet-Nam war. I was telling a couple of Thai guys about this, and they said " No, he meet her in Pattaya ". Now considering the fact that he married this lady long before these two lads were born, I had to wonder where they came up with that information. Anyway we argued back and forth, and after I saw that I wasn't going to win that argument, I just gave up. The guys still won't speak to me this day. Oh well, too bad so sad.
I did become friends with one Thai girl, but she eventually weirded out on me too.
Nowadays I just say hi, and let them go on their merry way ( with the exception of my friends wife, she's a hoot! Good sense of humor, laid back and easy going, and not easily offended, maybe she's a Thai hillbilly? ).
With all of that said, Thailand is still a place that I hope to visit someday.
And yes Gehenna is everlasting death, which is what awaits Satan he is unleashed after the thousand year reign of Christ, plus any that fail "the test" when that happens. Just wacky...
And no, I have no intention of researching anymore of that drivel. I understand what and why they think what they do and it isn't pretty. As well, I spent the larger part of three years doing that and would rather not anymore LOL
Has anyone noticed that most of the elders of the JW congregations are usually quite wealthy? One of the elders in my home town owns at least half of that town, and it's pretty much the same here in the town that I live in now. Wonder where they got that money ? No paid preachers in the JW congregations ? Yeah, right.
Lots of good essays there and current information...
Unfortunately, I stlll have a lot of fight left in me, but I'm not sure that's a good thing.