The silent majority are slowly finding their voice
The silent majority are slowly finding their voice

Nearly three years ago this website was launched with the aim of gathering the opinions of the “silent majority” – the multitudes of current and former Witnesses whose lives are profoundly impacted by the Governing Body but who have no say in how these men devise and implement their policies.

Since then our “Global Survey” has gone from strength to strength, with 1,751 making their voices heard in last year’s Survey, and already more than 3,000 voting in the new improved 2014 Global Survey with over four months to go!

But surveys are meaningless unless you get to see the results, and due to various factors (including the birth of my daughter) it has been more difficult than I anticipated to sit down and make some sense of the data that was received last year.

Thankfully, after a major push over the last few days, I’ve managed to get the results formatted into a handy PDF document, which you can download on the link below…

Download the 2013 Global Survey results

Rather than repeat what I have already written in the results PDF, here is a rundown of some of the most eye-catching statistics from last year’s poll…

  • As mentioned, 1,751 voted on the 2013 Global Survey – an 18% increase on the previous year
  • 67% of voters were from North America, 18 voted from Asia and 2 from the Middle East
  • 63% of voters had been baptized for between 10 and 40 years
  • 292 active Jehovah’s Witnesses (16.7% of voters) participated (although this figure is already as high as 588 for the 2014 Survey)
  • 28 serving elders voted
  • 17 professed “anointed” voted
  • 3 active bethelites voted (already 12 have voted in the 2014 Survey)
  • 1 voter claims to have previously served on a branch committee
  • 78% of inactive voters say they can “no longer preach about something that [they] do not believe in [their] heart”
  • 63% of DF’d/DA’d voters say they left due to disagreeing with JW teachings (only 28% say they transgressed the moral code)
  • 81% of unbaptized voters say they have JW family (up from 61% the year before)
  • 18 unbaptized voters say they are romantically involved with a JW
  • 77% of unbaptized voters say Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult, only 1% (three individuals) aspire to be a JW
  • 35% of the professed-anointed voters “just know” that they are heaven-bound
  • Only 11.5% across all voter categories think of the 144,000 as a literal number
  • Two thirds of voters across all voter categories agree that the “new light” on the faithful and discreet slave was a “cynical attempt at consolidating control of the organization” by the Governing Body
  • Two-thirds of self-avowed apostates say the Governing Body “should be held to account for their actions”
  • 44.5% of all self-avowed apostates say they love Jehovah’s Witnesses and are concerned about them being misled
  • 44.6% of active Witness voters would accept a blood transfusion, either secretly or openly
  • 77.6% across all voter categories don’t think JWs should have charitable or non-profit status
  • 79% of DF’d/DA’d voters say they are shunned by JW family members (up from 76% the previous year)
  • 59% of inactive voters say they are remaining inactive through fear of being shunned (75% would leave if shunning were abolished)
  • 64% of inactive voters experience “pre-emptive shunning” as so-called bad associates
  • 44% of elder voters say elders are motivated by a desire for prominence
  • 93.2% of voters across all categories say elders are NOT appointed by holy spirit
  • 88.7% of voters across all categories say there is no freedom to express a difference of opinion among JWs
  • 48.9% of voters across all categories say they have been the subject of a judicial committee hearing
  • 76% of elder voters say they have regretted a decision they arrived at on a judicial committee
  • 71% of inactive voters say they no longer attend the memorial
  • 58.4% of inactive, DF’d/DA’d and non-baptized voters are atheist, agnostic, or have no religious beliefs
  • Only 6.5% of inactive, DF’d/DA’d and non-baptized voters believe they will be resurrected on Earth after they die
  • 95% of DF’d/DA’d voters say they are happier since leaving
  • 2% of DF’d DA’d voters say they could recommend becoming a JW
  • 86.3% of voters across all categories say Jehovah’s Witnesses are NOT God’s spirit-directed organization
  • 52.6% of voters across all categories say the organization should be abolished rather than reformed
  • 209 individuals say they have been reinstated purely to have access to family members
  • 85.8% of voters across all categories say they have heard of a Jehovah’s Witness committing or attempting suicide
  • 62% of inactive voters say they have experienced family/marital problems due to their inactivity
  • Higher education remains the most contentious of all Watchtower teachings and practices for the third successive year, with 96.2% of voters objecting
  • 16.9% of voters (266 individuals out of 1,573) ticked to say they agree with all Watchtower beliefs and practices

Taken as a whole, the survey results will not make enjoyable reading for the Governing Body!

That said, the Governing Body are arguably the least likely to be interested in examining the results, as previous surveys have shown. Indeed, the indifference these men have shown to what we are trying to do on this website has led to a “Message to the Governing Body” on page 4 of the results PDF that is far more terse and to-the-point than in previous years!

But irrespective of the Governing Body’s apathy regarding the opinions and concerns of those they rule over, it is encouraging to note that this has in no way hampered the growing popularity of our Global Survey, as the following graph demonstrates…

Total number of Global Survey voters

survey-progressIt seems like only yesterday when the only voice I had as a Witness was the ‘privilege’ of putting my hand up at meetings, or occasionally standing on the platform at meetings and assemblies, to parrot words that Watchtower had put in my mouth over years of indoctrination.

Now I consider it a pleasure and an honor to be joining my voice with the growing numbers both inside and outside the organization who feel “enough is enough,” and who aren’t afraid to say so.

 

new-cedars-signature2

 

93 thoughts on “At last! The results of the 2013 Global Survey are finally published

  • August 6, 2014 at 11:46 am
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    That letter to the Gov. Bod. is a masterpiece.

    They can shrug off the occasional court case about a paedo in the news, or another death through lack of blood.

    Their lawyers’ bills must be mounting, and their inability to hoodwink the media as they used to (well behaved, happy, neatly dressed crowds at assemblies etc….) can only be a torment.

    Having reviled the internet, they are making a belated attempt to use it. They will fail. Dicators in the days of Hitler, Rutherford and Stalin could use print, film and radio to their advantage. It was top down only.

    The internet is interactive, and thus the enemy of tyrants everywhere.

    The Gov. Bod. have nowhere to turn. The End is Nigh!

  • August 6, 2014 at 11:49 am
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    great words ,,enough is enough ,,!!! great job Mr Cedar .

  • August 6, 2014 at 12:16 pm
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    Thanks John another great result cant wait to see this year’s figures keep up the good work xxx

  • August 6, 2014 at 12:52 pm
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    Thank you very much John for all your hard work, very much appreciated.

    I have noticed a big increase in the amount of forums popping up with JW waking up and discussing their views, also on youtube more making videos, its happening and the GB have only themselves to blame, they treat JW like idiots, and take advantage of their losing their families, it really is an evil way to treat anyone especially those they are suppose to love and care for.

    Once one realises its a business then its all over.

    I think that once this anniversary year is over more will go.

  • August 6, 2014 at 12:56 pm
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    Wow! 47 pages, quite some work! I do wonder though, how representative the results are with respect to all inactive/df/da’d. I mean the ones that do not care, probably also do not search for this site, or are bothered enough to fill in the survey. Therefore, I’d say results might be skewed towards “I disagree with the teachings”… But as you say, the new survey is an improvement in this area (being easier to access), so very looking forward to seeing the results of this year! Thanks for your efforts.

  • August 6, 2014 at 1:23 pm
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    Amazing detail and such a lot of work. Well done.
    Do you know if those that filled in the first survey repeat each year, or is there no way of knowing that?

    • August 6, 2014 at 1:27 pm
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      No way of knowing, sorry Alan! There is an option on the new surveymonkey survey where people can go on a mailing list for next year’s survey if they choose, so hopefully it will get easier and easier to gather votes with each progressive year.

  • August 6, 2014 at 2:28 pm
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    Great job! Keep up the good work.

  • August 6, 2014 at 2:29 pm
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    Some more feedback (hope you don’t mind):
    – on page 32, the rows “Yes”/”No” have been switched when comparing 2013 and 2012 (makes comparing a bit harder).
    – if one disassociates by sending a letter to the elders, then that one does not have a JC hearing? Or is there always a hearing? (Then this might be another explanation for the 29%)
    – on page 33, in case of regretting a JC decision, perhaps the question could be detailed into Yes (should not have DF’ed), and Yes (should have DF’ed)?
    – on page 39, “have you ever been reinstated just for family?” does this mean that all these people have ever been disfellowshipped? If someone hasn’t experienced DF’ing, then they might be tempted to give the “proper” answer more easily
    – on page 40, about the suicide it might be interesting to know whether the suicide was within their congregation, or their circuit, or elsewhere (seen the fact that so many say “yes”); (I mean, for comparison, sake of argument, most people will know some celebrity “in the world” having committed suicide, but this is statistically not so interesting; suicide are quite a “high profile” / “high impact” event)
    – on page 45, you mention (only) “information control” but I think the results also show behavior and emotional control very clearly, look at significant differences between active JWs and former for topics like whole blood transfusion, treatment of women, and magical toys.

  • August 6, 2014 at 2:40 pm
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    Great job Cedars much appreciated, But your offer
    to help them sort out their problem areas is too
    kind. I just want to see them decimated, liquidated,
    obliterated,

    They’re just a bunch of con men and crooks.
    F,A,D,S, heavenly calling indeed, What a joke, They’ll
    end up with their pals Rutherford, and Freddie the
    Oracle, Franz. In Sheol, Hades,

    Anything rotten can’t be restored, it’s only fit for burning.
    Hope I live to see it. The thought keeps me going.

  • August 6, 2014 at 2:56 pm
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    Hey, people! Ya da ya da. Yep, I think back to when I went to the Lutheran seminary. I was almost ordained and getting ready to branch out to a congregation somewhere. I must note, I went to the seminary without holy spirit and was motivated beyond belief, because I wanted to serve God. It mattered not about an organized religion. I just wanted to preach and help others. They gave us psychological profiles to determine where to place us, and the church location, all of that. The Profs turned to me and said,”Jim, do not be a minister in a large city. You will be up against the selfishness and arrogance of Man, something we studied for years in college and the seminary. Go out to the rurals, Jim. Find a country church and help them.” They were right. I never did that, tied to the big city, getting the truth, and busied myself with all the spiritual machinations of assisting a congregation. I have had 54 years of arrogance and selfishness of Man, all in the big city. I say to that, Booschwa! Who gives a hoot? I am not here to worry about a religious organization. I am here to preach and secure my own salvation as well as assist others. I do not care how any religion operates internally. We all have to carry our own bag of rocks. If they are messing this up, they will be butchered on the Day of Judgment. So be it. As for me, I’m plugging along, with or without holy spirit, and preaching the best I can from the scriptures. I hope all religion is destroyed soon. Gives me the chance to do the will of God. I can bash organized religion, but it is a waste of time. Better to get out there and encourage the downtrodden and those crying out for spirituality. Leave Judgment in the hands of God

  • August 6, 2014 at 3:13 pm
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    Great job Cedar’s!!! Very Powerful letter to the governing body! Excellent!! Great to read results of those leaving the watchtower, thanks so much for gathering this information and sharing it with us.

  • August 6, 2014 at 3:21 pm
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    I m Brazilian. Im following this work for 2 years
    I read you every day. Its very good!
    Thank you for everything

  • August 6, 2014 at 3:58 pm
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    Thank you, Mr. Cedars, for providing the platform to have my voice heard.

  • August 6, 2014 at 4:01 pm
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    I disassociated myself by writing the body of elders a letter. I once served as a ministerial servant, an elder, a vacation pioneer also called a temporary pioneer, played in many dramas, gave public talks etc, still have old outlines for public talks. I dont experience the shunning because I remarried a non JW and have two children. I am convinced that JW is a cult and my life is fruitful. I am a college professor and do not feel guilty about any decisions made against JW and in my favor. I really dont care about them . Ex JWs must do lots of research about this cult especially the number of times they predicted the world would end. Dont let them drive fear into you about not getting everlasting life. I grew up as a JW. My siblings are still JWs but I don’t worry about them. I enjoy life and celebrate all major holidays. If any of you former JWs are depressed, just call me 954 558 7427 or 954 201 6344. I teach at broward community college in Davie, Florida.
    Dr. Cecil Scott

  • August 6, 2014 at 7:03 pm
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    Wow!!!! John what a great job!!!!!!!!
    Thank you to you and your dear wife for her sacrifice.

  • August 7, 2014 at 2:44 am
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    John, thanks for the hard work. Great to see such detail and parsing of the numbers.

    I am curious though, about how your views of the organization have changed since the inception of the survey and how that has affected your views of the actual survey and its goals.

    • August 7, 2014 at 3:03 am
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      Good question Reader. I guess my outlook has changed somewhat since I first set up the survey in September/October 2011. I feel I’ve learned a LOT more about the Governing Body by studying their behavior, listening to their talks, etc over the past three years. This has led to me becoming quite jaded by their indifference and obvious delusion, which is probably reflected in my latest letter to them. I can no longer begin a letter to them with the words “Dear Brothers,” put it that way! But regardless of their apathy to the concerns of current and former Witnesses I still consider the Survey a useful resource for empowering people and giving them a voice. Just because the Governing Body clearly doesn’t want to listen to anyone who disagrees with them (or refuses to bend their knee to them), doesn’t mean people whose lives are affected by their whims on a daily basis shouldn’t be able to collectively voice their contempt for their actions.

  • August 7, 2014 at 6:09 am
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    Thanks for the thoughtful answer.

    Although I agree with you about the indifference of the GB, and that efforts to influence their decisions at least seem to fall upon deaf ears, I do believe that there is value in the survey. Probably the greatest value is just as your stated goal is, “giving voice to the silent majority.” The power of having a voice, of having a place to air their concerns is therapeutic, even if their voice is ‘I have no concerns.’

    I’m sure you are well aware of the power of being able to voice your issues.

    Personally, I’m getting closer and closer to being an ex-exJW. The only thing that is holding me back, I believe, is the desire to help others reach a new level of happiness.

  • August 7, 2014 at 6:17 am
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    Enough is enough! Yes!! Great work, John

  • August 7, 2014 at 6:45 am
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    Reader, you think that being a JW is reaching a higher level of happiness and that’s the only thing holding you back from not being one? I was happy UNTIL I BECAME A JW AND IT WAS DOWNHILL EVER AFTER. Being a JW, means always being afraid of Armageddon, afraid of not going to all the meetings, afraid of not getting enough hours in service, afraid of not having a Bible Study, afraid if I didn’t look up every scripture of every study and service meeting and always being AFRAID I was going to do something wrong or say something wrong all the time. Being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the meaning of being afraid and depressed all the time. Do you call that, giving people a new level of happiness???? Do you think the carrot of “living forever in a paradise earth” if you live a perfect JW life (which is impossible) is what gives a new level of happiness but in the meantime, having to live a life of abuse, until after the battle of Armageddon is what brings happiness? I sure don’t.

  • August 7, 2014 at 7:07 am
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    Thank you John Cedars!

  • August 7, 2014 at 7:09 am
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    Anonymous,

    You have misread my statement. I am an exJW.

    There is a differnce between exJW and ex-exJW.

  • August 7, 2014 at 7:14 am
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    John, I admire your efforts to offer a landing pad for former and/or DF’ed witnesses, the sincere, respectful, and non-confrontational atmosphere you maintain in dealing with current JW’s and their issues helps greatly. I have never been a JW, although I have long been familiar with many teachings, former leaders and the organizational history. I share the title apostate albeit from another group regarded as a cult. A close friend, married a JW woman, had a family, he joined his family in meetings acted as his wife’s sidekick on service, in all he seemed to be a dedicated, hardworking dad and a kind husband. He did not wish to be baptised, while his mom and dad were alive, but when the patience of the Elders was running out, they threatened D. with separation from his family and kids if he did not commit to be baptised. They forced him to leave his job in the Tulsa city parks and recreation because he was in charge of scheduling kids baseball, adult softball, fields and leagues. He played baseball all thru school and had a baseball scholarship offer in hand, prior to his marriage at the early age of 18. His boys were no longer to play baseball in the leagues or anywhere else and they had inherited families long history in loving baseball and having amazing skills. His wife clearly stated that she and the kids would be gone if he did not set up his baptism before the district convention. They talked cried together, he took a walk that night and shot and killed himself in one of the dugouts at the baseball complex. I have tremendous love and sympathy for each one of you, I have read your stories about the treatments at the hands of the Tower, the shunning and breakups. D’s death memories bring up tears very often. I wish I know how to be supportive in a way that helps those of you who are hard a tough time. Please contact me, if you need a friend or an ear.
    John, how should someone like me fill out the study? Last year, I checked non-baptized as that was the closest of the choices in my mind. Would you rather that other apostates, friends of JW’s not participate?

  • August 7, 2014 at 7:20 am
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    Reader,

    It’s your choice to either follow or leave the WTBTS. You can’t be a Jehovah’s Witness and not be bound to the WTBTS. They are one and the same thing. You know what is really happening in that religion.

    It is entirely possible to be a Christian and not be a Jehovah’s Witness. No Christian was a JW until Rutherford invented the name. So for most of Christianity’s history not one of them was a Jehovah’s Witness.

    The promises found in the bible do not depend on following them.

    As I say, it’s your choice but I humbly and earnestly beseech you not to go back. You will have to live with the sure knowledge that your religion is continuing to cover up child abuse, domestic abuse and is continuing to instruct members to shun ex members.

    Do you want to do that? More importantly, would Jesus want you to do that? Remember he is your Redeemer and your Mediator and your King. He is the one who sacrificed himself so that all may enter into Paradise. It is Him you must follow, not seven men in a Governing Body. Everything you need to be a Christian is found in the Bible. You do not need a church or “bible based literature”.

    I don’t think you will find one of is here who would encourage you to go back. Of you do decide to return, then you are always welcome here. We will still want to help you if we can. I do not believe in shunning and I want there to be a channel of communication and respect between JWs and the rest of us. That is a fitting tribute to Jesus of Nazereth, whose ideas I still respect.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • August 7, 2014 at 7:42 am
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    Dear Art Fern, I am so saddened to hear about your friend, this is truly tragic, but sadly not that uncommon.

    Thank you so much for caring and your posts are encouraging, because you care.

    Thank you for caring and showing the kindness that Christ showed for all those that are in need of mercy, love and compassion.
    You have really helped so much!!

  • August 7, 2014 at 7:50 am
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    People, read carefully.

    I am not a JW.

    There are no promises found in the bible, just false hopes.

    I’m close to being an ex-exJW. That means that my former beliefs barely affect my day to day life. I have no dealings with current JWs to make me feel out of place. Although I do have many friends that are former JWs, many who are suffering due to their time in and their family situation now, my own slate is clean(ish).

    Neither am I, like some, intent on bringing down the WT. What happens happens.

    While I used to haunt various ex-JW sites, this is the only one I visit now. And even that is becoming less frequent.

    My days as an exJW may soon be coming to a close. And there is a vague sense of relief from that. Vague because the JWism of my former life is a distant memory.

  • August 7, 2014 at 8:06 am
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    That’s your opinion. I will balance out your experience with my current and ongoing one as a JW. I am happy as a JW and I don’t have the fear and persecution model that you had. I feel very much alive and full of spirit and joy as a JW. I feel an overwhelming sense of elation that fills me when I attend the assemblies having gone recently to the international assembly here in the USA.

    I feel a tremendous sense of relief from NOT, I repeat NOT having to celebrate any worldly non-Xtian festivals (birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New Years, etc, etc). It has been like taking a massive weight off my back. I have been freed from the disgusting commercialization of all these holidays and I ask myself don’t people see that!

    Some non-JWs do see this. I have no burden derived from having a clear conscience from not serving in any military services that when wartime comes they kill their fellow men. What other Xtian groups do this? I am also happy as a JW from not being involved in any of the political wranglings that go on or from belonging to any political party. So being a JW has given me exactly what it did not give you- HAPPINESS!!!!

    • August 7, 2014 at 10:52 am
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      Oh Dear, JW4 ever. It may be, and I hope it is, that your title will soon be history.

      I cannot see how an organisation as duplicitous and destructive as the Watchtower can last much longer.

      You describe your happiness at being part of the JW organisation. You mention refusal to do military service or observe trad, Christian feasts. These are not unique to JWs. That, however, is not the main theme of my reply.

      Is there not something a little perverse, if not obscene, in being obsessed with the imminent execution of the bulk of your fellow humans, for the capital crime of not obeying, to the letter, every diktat of a bunch opf self appointed and controlling old men in New York?

      I refer, of course, to the JW Governing Body. Their entire authority rests upon their claim to being the Faithful and Discreet Slave as referred to by Jesus in Matthew 24. I have asked countless JWs to provide evidence to support this claim. None has supplied any. There is a reason for that. There is no evidence. The claim is bogus. The authority of the JW bosses is based upon an illusion.

      Do you, JW4ever, have any evidence to support the Gov. Bod’s outrageous F. and D. slave claim?

      If you do, please inform us. When you have done that perhaps you could explain why Jesus decided, in 1918, on his invisible return to earth, that the Bible Students, the JW predecessors, were the one true branch of Christianity. The Doctrine (or THE TRUTH) at that date was utterly different from today’s JW TRUTH. Do you have confidence, therefore, that today’s TRUTHS, which you so confidently spout on the doorstep, and parrot at your Kingdom Hall, will not be binned, like the indifference to blood transfusion, the OKing of Christmas celebrations, the Rapture, the use of Pyramid measurements to calculate the date for Armageddon and the string of duff prophecies for the date of Armageddon?

      ANnswers please, therefore, for the following:

      1. Why feel so satisfied at the prospect of an imminent mass execution?

      2. Please provide evidence for the connection between the Faithful and Discreet Slave and the JW Gov. Bod.

      3. Explain why Jesus selected an organisation whose ‘truths’ the JWs no longer believe.

      4. How can you spout, with sincerity and confidence, JW doctrines, which, based on the past history of the JW movement, might be arbitrarily binned at any moment?

    • August 8, 2014 at 4:51 am
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      Well, JW4ever, you have now received a range of replies informing you how the global publishing and property corporation known as the Watchtower Society is based upon a fraudulent claim. None of its ‘TRUTHS’ stands up to any scrutiny.

      Will you now do, as all other JW defenders on this, and other internet discussion groups have done, abandon your hopeless quest and offer no more defence?

      Your Theocratic Ministry School equips you to prey on the lost, the lonely and the vulnerable by dangling this fantasy carrot of an imminent Paradise Earth in front of those who can only see a bleak future for themselves and humanity. The TMS training is useless when paraded before those of us who know the appalling history of JWdom, its cruel practices, and have known the cult from the inside.

      Have you any defence to offer us? I imagine, though I have no evidence, that these would be JW defenders retreat to their Kingdom Halls, desperate, despite all the evidence, to maintain the fiction that JW TRUTH is true.

      This is quite understandable. The JW bosses have persuaded you, under threats of Armageddon annihilation, to abandon all other contacts in the world, thus making you dependent for company, and for a sense of identity, on being ‘IN THE TRUTH’.

      Creating a new life can be difficult, particularly if you have family and friends who will shun you. This is why shunning is being ramped up; this is why children are being baptised. With the internet it is now very easy, at the click of a mouse, for anyone to discover that JWdom is a cruel and fraudulent organisation which has no place in a civilised society.

      You have, jw4 ever, commendably disregarded your controllers’ edicts and visited an ‘apostate’ website. May I recommend a vist to http://www.jwfacts.com ? A study of its pages will reassure you that any doubts you might have about JWdom are well founded.

      Best wishes! Here’s to your awakening and escape!

    • August 10, 2014 at 10:41 am
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      But can you continue to be happy now you have been informed of the truth about JW TRUTH? You, JW4 ever, have been cruelly and tragically conned into being nothing more than unpaid mag pusher for a corrupt corporation which cares for you only so long as you continue to help augment its capital value.

    • August 13, 2014 at 1:56 am
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      Well, JW4ever, are you now an ex JW? You might as weell be, for you have dfied your God’s exclusive earthly appointees and engaged with apostates on an apostate website.

      Do not imagine that Jehovah has not noticed. Your name is now on his Armageddon execution list!

      Fear not. The whole Armageddon twaddle is simply a means to control you using fear; a means to keep you spending your spare time and cash in boosting the cpaital value of the Watchtower Corporation.

      As an ex JW you have no obligation to celebrate Christmas or Birthdays; you can still be a campaigner for peace, and, should there be military conscription you can still be a conscientious objector. These are not the sole preserve of the Watchtower bods.

      Best wishes.

  • August 7, 2014 at 8:17 am
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    You may find this strange but I like your post. It has a macabre Edgar Allen Poe feel to it. It reads as a poem. It has a melodious funerary feel to it as a distant ship lying on the horizon to steal a line from Pink Floyd.

    I appreciate the fact that you are not of the militant type that wants the WT to be brought down, dismantled, dismembered because neither do I. As my moniker states though I will be a JW 4-EVER!!! But I respect your decision.

    I want the JW org to reform some of what I consider to be minor issues and just one major issue being the pedophilia problem. This could easily be cleaned up within hours. But I want to end to the JW ORG. I want it to continue on forever.

  • August 7, 2014 at 8:21 am
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    Sorry, I didn’t direct my posts. The 1ST is to anonymous and the second is to Reader.

  • August 7, 2014 at 8:30 am
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    JW4ever, there are other religions that do not celebrate holidays, that do not fight in wars, but one thing that stands out to me is that you are here posting to apostates, one thing is for sure you are not an obedient JW, no JW I ever knew that was so happy and contentend would ever dream about disobeying their leaders.

    Or perhaps you just feel more superior that you don’t celebrate holidays ect, and come to inform others of your more holier than thou status.

    But those of us that have been JW for many, many decades see a different picture, one that would suggest that you not really a JW in the fuller sense rather a weak JW.

    What ever your posts are intriguing to say the least, keep looking in maybe you will have a light bulb moment.

    If you are an active loyal JW to the organization, How can you truly be happy when you disobey those taking the lead.

  • August 7, 2014 at 8:44 am
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    Thank you John for all the work that has been put in. I am amazed at many of the results, so many to pick from and re quote back to you as highlights for me. Its so great to see the tide slowly turning against these truly vile people enjoying their adoration and control. They have much money and power too shift blame, and control many as they have done for decades as they always will, but the cracks are starting to appear little by little. I could waffle on for hours. In Short, thank you for the great work and please keep it up. JW Survey is a brilliant site, my favourite for all information of many.

  • August 7, 2014 at 8:58 am
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    Excellent work here ceders. Maybe to get more attention you should take it to the media and journalists. They may put it in papers or even start looking deeper into the witness culture. Its just an idea. Atm its early days and its still a relatively small amount of data but its getting bigger by each passing year. Keep up the good work. Some witnesses only have this as an escape or to voice there opinions.

  • August 7, 2014 at 9:01 am
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    JW-4EVER!!! You should listen to some of John Cedars videos. He has one where he reads a letter from the Watchtower telling elders that a person can be disfellowshipped for not BELIEVING every thing that comes through the Watchtower. You don’t even have to tell anybody else what you think. So, according to the Society, we don’t even have freedom of thought. Do you realize that? I would think for a person to be completely happy as an JW, you’d have to be brain dead. I think to be totally happy in life, though the best solution is to be brain dead.

  • August 7, 2014 at 9:29 am
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    JW-4EVER!!!,

    Thank you for the kind words. Being compared to Edgar Alan Poe is a good thing in my books, and the Pink Floyd reference is excellent.

    I am happy that you find happiness within the organization. There are many that do. I hope that your happiness can continue if you ever do decide to change your mind, that is where the beginning of issues lay for many.

    There are more issues than just pedophiles, but that is indeed a major one. However, I did not leave because of the actions of some people. Even if some of the GB were indeed evil, they are just men. That’s what happens to humans sometimes. The group of people is no different than any other group of people, there are good ones and bad ones.

    I did leave because they are wrong. They are no more wrong than any other religion, arguably anyway. But wrong is wrong. (With that, you can compare me to Dr Seuss.)

  • August 7, 2014 at 11:06 am
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    J,W,-4 ever,

    We were all J,W,s 4 ever, Until unchristian, cult,
    dogma, destroyed our family unity, left our
    children with life long psychological problems
    through abuse, not to mention losing them in
    death through what is nothing more than an
    ancient dietary law regarding blood.

    you mention the trite benefits of not having to
    celebrate Christmas, Birthdays etc, How
    shallow. I sincerely hope your life is never more
    troubled than having to excuse yourself from
    from these things. Which incidentally have lost
    their original significance and by W,T, reasoning
    we are now free to join in. (Check out W,T, and
    the Piñata, on the net.)

    “Where ignorance is bliss tis folly to be wise”.
    So if knowing the truth makes us un happy,
    close your mind to reality.

  • August 7, 2014 at 12:46 pm
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    Thanks brother for conducting this survey. I have yet to vote, but I want to make my voice heard in 2014. I’m an active witness and an MS until I can escape. I love reading the blog.

  • August 7, 2014 at 1:13 pm
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    When I was a witness I also thought how liberating it was to not have to be part of the commercialization of Christmas and other holiday celebrations and not worry about voting etc. But as I looked around me I saw families torn apart by shunning. I saw firsthand the protection of pedophiles in the congregation. I was considered spiritually weak because I pursued secondary education. Then the constant “new light” that just didn’t make sense which came from imperfect men in Brooklyn who placed themselves on a different stratosphere than all others and never being able to question them on anything for fear of being labeled an apostate. All of this made me realize that I could never be a JW -4EVER.

    I believe that staying in an organization while knowing that there are major and minor problems that are not being addressed and will probably never be addressed is basically like being an ostrich that simply puts its head in the sand.

  • August 7, 2014 at 1:38 pm
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    J,W,-4 ever!!!

    War is horrific and tragic although the Bible tells us,
    “There’s a time for war and a time for peace,
    A time to kill and a time to heal”

    We all hate war, But I have to ask myself. If millions
    of frightened but brave men and women had not
    fought against the dictator Hitler, Would there be any
    Jews left in Europe,? Would there be any mentally or
    physically handicapped people,? Would there be
    anyone who was classed as a burden on the Third
    Reich,? In fact would there be any Jehovah’s
    Witnesses,?

    You obviously abhor the thought of killing your fellow
    man, as any sane and compassionate person would.
    Yet it is claimed, Jehovah is going to do this on a
    monumental scale, leaving only Jehovahs Witnesses
    alive. Which I assume is your view also, as a loyal
    Witness.

    To me that kind of reasoning is perverse in the extreme.

    You mention a feeling of ,Elation attending assemblies.
    Well exactly that same feeling has been expressed on
    this site many times, It’s a feeling that comes from
    taking back control of ones own life, and not having to
    look to other men to tell us what we have to do to serve
    God. It’s a wonderful feeling and not reserved just for
    special occasions. We’ve all experienced the elation
    you talk about and found it unsatisfying temporary.

    God Bless, (And I’m not being cynical).

  • August 7, 2014 at 2:28 pm
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    THANK YOU! You’ve said what I’ve been thinking for a while now. I am an inactive Jehovah’s Witness, no longer agree with all doctrine of the witnesses, still hold onto some. I consider myself a born again Christian, have learned to read the Bible on my own and have a personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ outside of the confines of organized religion. I do not see Jehovah’s Witnesses as most do here – as the devil incarnate. I think that even though they may be wrong in many things, they are also right in many things. I feel that a lot of what is published on this site is just a case of sour grapes and petty judgement. There is no one religion on thus earth that thinks they are false. All think they teach the truth. Some of what is published here is good and informative, but some of the stuff I just skim over, roll my eyes, and move on. My motto now is to be the best Christian that I can be, help others where I can, and let live.

    • August 7, 2014 at 3:42 pm
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      Before I left the JWs, Veronica, I thought as you do; that all religions presume to have THE TRUTH. This simply is not true. I joined the Church of England after the JWs, and was amazed at how varied, from one layperson to another, from one cleric to another, were their beliefs. All they had in common was a sense of unknowing, of confronting a mystery. Quakers do not even have a nominal creed, and Buddhism is not a set of doctrines at all.

  • August 7, 2014 at 3:34 pm
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    Jehovah is the only true god

  • August 7, 2014 at 3:39 pm
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    John, this last comment is another anonymous. There’s evidently 2 of us now and one’s making fun of me.

Comments are closed.