A family of four Jehovah's Witnesses have been found shot dead in an apparent murder-suicide
A family of four Jehovah’s Witnesses have been found shot dead in an apparent murder-suicide

A congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Carolina has been rocked by the apparent murder-suicide of a Witness family of four.

Sheddrick Miller’s mother hadn’t heard from her son and his family for two days and went to their home to see if they were ok.

She stumbled on the grim discovery of her son’s body, together with that of his wife Kia and their two young children.

Police were then called to the home near Irmo, South Carolina, and encountered what they would later describe as a “shocking murder scene.”

Police spokesman Sgt. Curtis Wilson told the Charlotte Observer that the two children were found dead in their respective bedrooms, whereas the two adults were found together in the master bedroom.

All four were shot in the upper body, and a hand gun, the presumed murder weapon, was found next to the body of the father. Initial evidence is said to suggest a domestic disturbance, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

A family friend Rachel Hinson, 25, described the Millers as a good family. She told reporters that she had attended a bible study at their home and visited the local Kingdom Hall with them. “It’s confusing, and it’s not understandable why something like that would happen,” she said.

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This horrific incident will be all the more shocking to Jehovah’s Witnesses since the religion prides itself on being a “happy people” who live in a blissful “spiritual paradise” where everyone contentedly immerses themselves in doing God’s work.

Though it may never be clear what the exact circumstances were that led to this tragic incident, we can be almost certain this Witness homestead had deep-rooted problems that Watchtower teachings were powerless to alleviate. If anything, the family’s religious beliefs could have only worsened matters.

This website runs an annual survey for those connected with Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of the questions we ask is “Have you ever known or heard of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses committing or attempting suicide?” So far 904 people have participated in the 2014 Global Survey, and this is how they responded to that question…

Chart_Q46_140118Not long ago I had a telephone conversation with a dear friend of mine, a Witness elder from one of my former congregations, who had recently experienced a nervous breakdown. He suggested that as many as 1 in 5 in his congregation were taking antidepressants of some form due to various mental and emotional ailments. “And that’s a low estimate,” he said.

Whenever I see Watchtower boasting of how happy and joyful Jehovah’s Witnesses are, I think back to that conversation. This religion has no monopoly on happiness. To the contrary, it could be that its relentless rule-making, apocalyptic fear-mongering and threats of family estrangement for personal indiscretion make it one of the most wretched and depressing faiths a person could have.

 

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Further reading…

85 thoughts on “Witness couple and two young children found dead in shocking ‘murder suicide’

  • January 18, 2014 at 4:48 am
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    My late younger brother was plagued with mental distress. Whatever its root, being devoted to our mad JW mother only aggravated his condition.

    Whereas my sister and I had fled our mother’s lunacy and had taken refuge with our grandparents, Laurie remained with his mum. She became a baptised JW and the Kingdom Hall and its miserable literature and meetings were the centre of her life until her death.

    Laurie never was a convinced JW. He would always be telephoning, however, full of distress about the imminence of Armageddon and the effect, not only on him, but on his non JW family and friends (i.e. everybody he knew except his loony JW mother whom he somehow loved).

    Laurie was often a resident in psychiatric hospitals, and in the last few weeks of his life, he followed my mother to the Kingdom Hall. His death was not suicide, but the JWs had made an enormous contribution to his misery.

    My mind was only poisoned by the Watchtower as a child. It is sites like this which will help to spread the word about this malign cult which projects itself as a group of polite, earnest and pious religious enthusiasts.

    The whole world must know that it is as constructive, benign and useful to mankind as the Ku Klux Klan or Al Quaedr.

  • January 18, 2014 at 4:55 am
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    The Watchtower attempts to mislead their members and those they are trying to get to join their Society that they are such a HAPPY people. Believe me and I write from many years of Watchtower experience, that is a MISERABLE group of brainwashed people. Our family suffered so much over the years from being in the Watchtower CULT, starting when I was 7 years old in 1956. I finally got out as an adult.

  • January 18, 2014 at 6:19 am
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    Consequences of poisoning minds with foolish Bible stories like this:
    *** my story 62 Trouble in David’s House ***
    And what trouble David has!
    First, Bath-she′ba’s son dies. Then David’s firstborn son Am′non gets his sister Ta′mar alone and forces his love on her. David’s son Ab′sa·lom is so angry about this that he kills Am′non. Later, Ab′sa·lom wins the favor of many of the people, and he has himself made king. Finally, David wins the war against Ab′sa·lom, who is killed. Yes, David has a lot of trouble.

    Catholic church was right denying Bible access to laypersons taking myths as realities!! Look at consequences now that the Watchtower boasts about its worldwide distribution of the Bible.

  • January 18, 2014 at 6:25 am
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    Hi Cedars, I know you are very respectable when it comes to correcting information on your website. So i was just wondering if links to the original news post(s) could be added to this article for further reading, if that is the case? Like with Wikipedia, links are posted as reference to reputable sources so the information is provable as valid and true. Thanks :)

    • January 18, 2014 at 6:27 am
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      Thanks ATS! Please see the section “further reading” beneath the article for source links.

  • January 18, 2014 at 6:29 am
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    *looks at further reading*

    feels stupid

  • January 18, 2014 at 6:51 am
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    I have know of four suicides within two congregations, this is just so sad and shows that the so called spiritual paradise is a lie.

    The pressure that some brothers have to go through to maintain their so called spiritual status through the rules of men has nothing to do with Christ.

    Christ’s load is light and adds no further burden, the GB pharassaic rules add the measuring line for a persons spirituality.

    So sorry, so sad.

  • January 18, 2014 at 8:38 am
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    A truly dreadful situation. Prayers and condolences for the families.However is this really the time to be point scoring against an organisation who may or may not bear a measure of responsibility before we know the facts.It is also rare for similar incidences to have the victims religion so emphasised as if it were the principal reason for such a sad situation.Once again deepest sympathies for the families.

    • January 18, 2014 at 8:43 am
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      Hi free thinker, welcome to JWsurvey – where you are free to think for yourself!

      I’m not sure what you mean about “point scoring.” All I have done is write what I know about mental health among Jehovah’s Witnesses, and shared statistics left by visitors to this site regarding suicide, and allowed people to draw their own conclusions. I have also made it clear that we can never know the full details of what happened in this tragedy. I fail to see how I am wrong in taking this approach, but you’re entitled to your opinion.

    • January 18, 2014 at 9:30 am
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      I watch a lot of true crime stories and they will point out anything that may define a person, either perpetrator or victim. For example, they might mention if they were on active duty in the military, if they were a police officer, or were known for their volunteer work. I’ve seen many stories where they bring out the person’s religion, if they were very involved in that religion (i.e., “Debra Smith, who was known for never missing her Sunday mass at the local Catholic church…”).

      Some stories involve love triangles within a church that resulted in murder, and of course the church is mentioned. JWs are not the only ones where the name comes up.

      JWs are also known for constant activity within the religion, so it would stand to reason that they would mention it.

  • January 18, 2014 at 8:43 am
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    In many cases when a man kills his family and himself it’s because he’s lost his job or some type of status and he doesn’t want his family living with the problem. I have to wonder if this man lost a job or was deeply in debt. The Witnesses put so much pressure on you to excel and do more and have a perfect smiling little family, it’s a wonder more aren’t cracking at the seams. Look at the yearbook; “Hey, this person is in a coma and pioneers! This guy has no job but his family eats rocks and dirt so they can pioneer and they all love it!”

    This “happy smiling” facade is also presented to women when encouraged to stay with violent, abusive men. I can guarantee from personal experience that no woman just happily puts on a Mrs. Brady smile for a man that regularly beats and even sexually assaults her, but trying telling that to the governing body.

    No, this religion is not a happy one. I knew few people who were happy being in and far too many who are happier and HEALTHIER once they leave, myself included. Sad indictment.

  • January 18, 2014 at 8:47 am
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    In my former congregation, the story was no different. A bunch of people parading under the banner of “We serve a happy god”, but our lives were stunted in some form or the other. Souls that were unhappy and sexually unfulfilled because they were encouraged to remain single since the “end was at hand. People who felt constantly guilty since they secretly loved and desired ‘worldly pleasures’ such as popular movies and songs, which the Watchtower labeled as coming from the devil. Unhappy kids who were literally dragged to attend meetings by believing mothers; old and lonely people who had precious little practical support from the brothers in their frail, golden years. And there was this lingering and unspoken sadness tinged with doubt as each long-time Witness wondered if the long- promised new system of things would ever come. I came to see beyond the happy faces of the brothers and sisters in the congregation who desperately tried to stay true to the happy pictures of a joyful people united in true worship. It took me two decades to finally realize that I was part of an unhappy facade.

  • January 18, 2014 at 9:01 am
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    I am so sad to hear this story. I know when we are speaking of the WTS, they neither know how to truly help those in need of assistance, as they are not qualified nor do they refer their members to those who can help. The WTS is so determined to maintain a pretty little picture it would rather sacrifice lives than admit its failings. An elder told us that aprox 50 % of his congregation that he knew of was on psych medications. My thought is, if you are not ill when you get in you will be when you stay in.

  • January 18, 2014 at 10:18 am
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    I remember of just one case from my childhood. Someone I knew very little, committed suicide. All I could see about him that he was a very quiet and kind person.

    It’s always very sad to experience such cases .

  • January 18, 2014 at 12:11 pm
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    How sad, what cute kids. My son is over at a sleepover tonight with a friend. How I will hug him tomorrow when he comes home! What agony one must suffer to come to that decision.

    Infidelity, crushing debt, mental illness, so many causes, sadly all made worse by J.W. fear mongering, shameful policy and constant need for façade. People make mistakes but there is mainly judgement from witnesses.

    I will hope that we can as a community provide hope and a haven to others that are suffering.

  • January 18, 2014 at 12:18 pm
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    I often wondered what the suicide rate was among Jdubs.
    Truly sad :(

  • January 18, 2014 at 1:56 pm
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    I am afraid there was story of sex behind the event;

    *** w91 11/15 p. 22 par. 15 “An Overseer Must Be . . . Self-Controlled” ***
    How much harm to the truth has resulted because some elders did not exercise self-control in their dealings with sisters in the congregation! A few years ago, an elder was disfellowshipped because he had committed adultery with a Christian sister whose husband was not a Witness. On the very night that the disfellowshipping of the former elder was announced, the aggrieved husband strode into the Kingdom Hall with a rifle and fired at the two guilty individuals. Neither of them was killed, and he was at once disarmed, but the next day a major newspaper featured on its front page the news of ‘a shooting at a church.’ What reproach that elder’s lack of self-control brought upon the congregation and upon Jehovah’s name!

  • January 18, 2014 at 3:02 pm
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    Thank you for your response.However my main point is the timing of some of your observations on possible reasons for such an extreme situation. Perhaps it would demonstrate a measure of sensitivity to the families to withold such observations until all the facts are known.Blame is rarely black and white.

    • January 18, 2014 at 3:16 pm
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      Thanks freethinker, but again I’m not sure I’ve apportioned blame to anyone. I’ve shared my experiences about mental health, and the views of over 80% of our readers that suicide among Jehovah’s Witnesses is not uncommon, and I’ve offered reasons why I believe this is so. You, like any other JWsurvey reader, are free to reach your own conclusions, which is more than can be said for Witnesses when they study Watchtower literature.

  • January 18, 2014 at 3:22 pm
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    I had a first cousin go out in service, come home, and shot himself in the head. He was a pioneer. His family has mental issues as well. All Jw’s! Sad!

  • January 18, 2014 at 5:20 pm
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    it happens to us all, JB–don’t freak out.

  • January 18, 2014 at 5:31 pm
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    First, this is a tragedy regardless of the family’s religious beliefs, and this sort of violence happens rarely but that is too frequently when it comes to the loss of lives.

    Next, wow, that’s quite a lovely home for impoverished Jehovah’s Witnesses who must hand over all resources and funds to the Watchtower, huh? The whole back story hasn’t been revealed, so unclear if the family were involved in Watchtower prior to move-in, and whether this is a couple that perhaps aligned itself with Witnesses after finding financial success (difficult as it is for a minority couple in the Southern states of USA).

    The facts as reported trend toward murder-suicide not the unusual case of someone with motives for entering and shooting children, wife and husband then assigning blame on husband through placement of the gun.

    I will not post answer here, but any one recall the Watchtower research on possessing a deadly weapon/firearm or of mass destruction?

  • January 18, 2014 at 5:39 pm
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    ONE BIG CULT.
    People need to wake up and see this cult for what it is. Always predicting the end of the world. Is really a new denomination, less than 150 years old. Is not of the Apostolic origins in the Book of Acts. Was formed by a man, and led by several different men. Has a governing body of all men, used to be all white men, don’t know if they have added a non-black or a woman. Understand that the governing body does not go from door to door. Once celebrated Christmas and birthdays. Do not celebrate birthdays but sanctions baby showers. Don’t celebrate birthdays because according to them, two bad incidents occurred in the Bible at the time of birthdays. Yet the same cult would go and purchase food at stores that sell cigarettes and lotto numbers. See the analogy??? Same cult will use a knife to cut kitchen foods even though people use knives to kill others. See the analogy???
    Well again, one big CULT.
    Dr. Cecil Scott
    Florida

  • January 18, 2014 at 5:56 pm
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    My mother works as a counsellor. Most of her clients are from her local or surrounding congregations….go figure!

  • January 18, 2014 at 8:02 pm
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    @Haki, I was thinking similar thoughts; the betrayed husband, wife, his mistress or her paramour angered and seeking vengeance. There was a similar case a few years back where a woman dating a man with a mistress was murdered by the man & mistress when she demanded exclusivity. I think it was in the same area of the USA–maybe the same county/parish?

  • January 18, 2014 at 8:02 pm
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    My condolences to the family.

  • January 19, 2014 at 2:29 am
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    I know of suicides and murders. Look up the Freeman murders in Emmaus PA near Allentown PA. Two oldest sons turned into skinheads instead of JWs and killed parents and young brother. Enormous pressure put on young people and many rebel against the authority.

  • January 19, 2014 at 4:33 am
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    What a tragic situation. I feel so sorry for the friends and family of the deceased.

    Why did a JW have a sidearm? That seems totally wrong to me. Are JWs allowed to own guns?

    I am convinced that the detrimental mental health of JWs is disproportionate with the general population.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • January 19, 2014 at 5:57 am
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    I suffered with PTSD and now cope quite well,but at the time i was using substances to self medicate,but saw this a wrong thing i did and went to the elders(which i thought was right) this was a great sin as i was told, i got DF also as i ask many questions in the Judicial which provoked suspicion on my part in believe of the watchtower(recent faithful and discreet slave issue last year was oen of them) and hence i was DF, i got angry with the committee because of them not listening or reasoning,on the grounds of “insufficient repentants”(were that came from i don,t no),but the moral round this is that people don,t see the harm mentally the Watchtower has on people and sadly sometimes Death,since my DF i don,t self medicate now and feel the watchtower puts immense pressure on people,but when ones self does become ill or emotional stressed i feel there,s lack of love in these situations ,at one point i was told its not helped you spiritually being ill”what”…and because you hear things that are not there it could be Demons,it was trauma end of i no that thing is since Being DF i now work with people in this area iam not under pressure to come up to standards and have moved on healthy mentally ,which i feel puts added pressure on people in the JW and leads to Depression,as far as shunning it was hard and did effect me for a while but looked at that those from the congregation are frowned on to talk to “me” not me to “them” so i always let on as i feel this kind of makes it seem that i,am not suffering but my friends are who are who i still have love for,but there to scared to say “hello” for fear of man,i don’t have an issues with God or the Bible but i do with the organization who are guilty of indoctrinateing fear and triggering mental illness to the point of pushing people to that breaking point of suicide, and if its all you have known total cut of its like taking your life away mentaly and sadly many suffer through this,it,s took me along time to get to a point were things did not make sense so i Questioned!!,my heart goes out to those who suffer/suffered due to “Watchtowers”Fear tactics and don’t remotely show any love at at all,what Did it for me was the faithful discreet slave issues,and most of all the fear of the governing body who are nothing but BOGAT(bunch of guys around a table)and i have come to a point this was what i was scared of all them years and people become ill mentally because of them and there teachings not Gods…

  • January 19, 2014 at 7:57 am
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    Deano, thanks for sharing your story with us. I offer my sincere sympathy for your PTSD. It is good that you received proper care for your condition.

    I was appalled by them referring to your mental distress as “demons”. It just goes to show that the GB are an ignorant bunch of idiots.

    I remember reading in the insight book that the GB believe that severely mentally ill people are most probably demonised, or demon possessed!

    I mean, how dumb can you be?

    They pressurise a moral standard that is flawed and unliveable, and then punish weakness with cruel rules.

    Thank goodness we have access to accurate information and current treatments once we are out of the Watchtower madness!

    I would urge any witnesses reading this article to seek professional help if they are suffering from depression. By all means, pray and study your bibles, but seek medical health first.

    I think that the human spirit subconsciously knows it is being brainwashed by the GB and rebels against it.

    I hope that the reason behind this tragedy can be ascertained. It is yet another reason why the GB have no special status with Jesus. They are ignorant and arrogant – a combination that always lead to suffering.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • January 19, 2014 at 9:35 am
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    ’20 years’ wrote one of the best summaries of how jw present themselves as the “happiest” people, but the reality and practice is far different.

    Underneath the careful facades lives deep seated guilt, dissapointment, backbiting, and all sorts of emotional issues. Every congregation suffers these often well hidden symptoms of Watchtower induced trauma.

    Often the elder bodies at war with each other, over postitions or just simple jealousies. The congregation can only reflect what the leadership practices. I really hope this family is not ignored by the Watchtower gb, as they are famous for only using sterling examples of been a ‘good little happy jw publisher’. They will someday answer to the millions they have misled and abused. May that day come soon.

  • January 19, 2014 at 12:18 pm
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    Dr. Cecil Scott! Excellent comment!! They should avoid alcohol, too, because…

    (Genesis 9:20, 21) . . .Noah started off as a farmer and proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 And he began drinking of the wine and became intoxicated, and so he uncovered himself in the midst of his tent. . .

    (Genesis 19:30-32) . . . “Our father is old and there is not a man in the land to have relations with us according to the way of the whole earth. 32 Come, let us give our father wine to drink and let us lie down with him and preserve offspring from our father.”

    So, why do they drink! The cult are hypocrites of first degree…

  • January 19, 2014 at 12:38 pm
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    As someone who does study watchtower literature I am excercising my right to an opinion. My contention is not regarding information about the mental health of people I do not personally know. It is simply the timing of such a discussion in view of the recent tragedy involving many family members.Ecclesiastes Ch 3 : 7b “a time to be silent and a time to speak.

    • January 19, 2014 at 12:52 pm
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      For someone with a name like “free thinker” you don’t seem to be too hot on free speech. We are not under Watchtower’s rules on this website. No disrespect has been shown in the article. We have reported the facts, and some information on mental health and suicide among JWs, and allowed people to reach their own conclusions. If you’re looking for a website that toes the line and keeps quiet about what’s really going on, I would encourage you to stick to JW.org.

  • January 19, 2014 at 12:58 pm
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    Sometimes, if you do not speak, because of the feeling that its not the right time, you miss the opportunity to stop this happening again. I wish I had not waited 30 years before I spoke up and said this mind control has to stop. Some of my relatives would still be alive! Cedars, please do not stop the associations you are making, with painful situations and choices or lack of choices that people are still trying to sort out. If it wakes people up to what they fear might happen or stops one person from going crazy and saves a family then your article has more than served its purpose.

  • January 19, 2014 at 4:52 pm
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    @Free Thinker,

    I’m sure you are well aware that Jehovah’s Witnesses are quick to point the finger when bad things happen to individuals who the organization, and say something along the lines of “This is what happens when you leave Jehovah’s protection”.

    Well, Jehovah’s protection in this circumstance was mysteriously absent. Being a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses may not have had anything to do with this situation, but it certainly didn’t prevent it, and exposes the facade of a “spiritual paradise” to be exaggerated at best, and at worst a cheap and dishonest marketing scheme.

    Honestly, if being a JW is so great, why does this happen? If there is this amazing brotherhood, why was assistance not provided to this family? Everyone who knew this family thought they were happy and content, which means they were hiding any and all of their issues. How is this compatible with a “spiritual paradise”? How many other “happy” witnesses are hiding suppressing there issues? What does “spiritual paradise” even mean?

  • January 19, 2014 at 8:00 pm
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    It happens over and over again. This is suppose to be the only true religion on our planet earth. They are a in a spiritual paradise and they supposedly don`t have these kinds of problems. I knew of three JWS that committed suicide in a former congregation that I attended before I left over 15 years ago. The JWS are snapping right and left because of all of the pressure the WT places on their people. I`m just so thankful to not be one of Jehovahs Witnesses. They hurt and break apart so many families all over the world. I`ve heard story after story about how they hurt so many people. Suicides are very common in the JWS. Because of all of the incredible pressure they elders placed on my couisin after they disfellowshipped him, he attempted suicide. He is now permanently disabled. He tried to kill himself with a gun. He has a bullet in his brain and they can`t remove it because it may kill him. This is a very tragic situation when things like this occur. I hope the governments put a stop to their shunning policy. This drives a lot of people to suicide and marriage break ups. They have cause the death of tens of thousands of people because of their stiff ban on JWS getting life saving blood transfusions. I`ve heard that it is estimated that possibly over 200,000 may have died from this serious false teaching. May God bring these people to justice soon. I hope the governments will stop all of this insanity. There are also a lot of pedophiles that are covered up in the JWS. They have a humongous pedophilia problem in the JWS. It is so awful to hear these stories about the innocent victims of child molestation in the JWS.

  • January 19, 2014 at 8:37 pm
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    I know several of Jehovahs Witnesses that have commited suicide, including a family member. Its tragic. Im aware that people of all religions do this, but I think its prevalent in this organization because when people disagree with, or stray from the organizations teachings, they know they stand a good chance of losing everyone they love because of their inhumane disfellowshipping policy, and the humiliation they’re subjected to. They are also disillusioned by the promise of “spiritual paradise.” I remember my Father in Law (who is a Presiding Overseer to this day) joking that they should just hand out Prozac at the door. Everyone was on depression medication, including him, his wife and…no kidding…even their cats.

  • January 19, 2014 at 10:39 pm
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    Free thinker, here is a clue about the mental health of people you do not know:

    Memorial partakers. This is the number of baptized individuals who partake of the emblems at the Memorial worldwide. Does this total represent the number of anointed ones on earth? Not necessarily. A number of factors—including past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance—might cause some to assume mistakenly that they have the heavenly calling. (http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=w11+8%2F15+p.+22)

    Another clue:
    At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. (http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=w13+11%2F15+p.20+par.+17)

  • January 19, 2014 at 10:43 pm
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    Enjoyed so many of the comments. While like all of you I am saddened for the family especially the innocent children. I can’t help but think of all of the times that I heard experiences where we were told that by going to meetings or in service, this person, that person was spared. Later only to say we are not immune to the problems in the world, due to Satan, by GB spin doctors. Over the years they have pointed to divorce rates (distorted by GB) of people in general, constant attacks on Catholics.

    Simply stated they poison the minds of Devotees, against the public and members of other religions by spinning world events and things that are happening to members of their faith.

    To “Free Thinker” I would like to make an observation, I am certain that not one of us and certainly not Cedars rejoices at this tragic situation, but to turn a blind eye to it only allows the GB to spin this however they see fit and ignore their statements of the past. If you read all of the comments on here, many of which are excellent, you will see that the GB have cost many lives. The JW religion at its core is nothing but a high control group. I for one can say for a fact that the threat of disfellowshipping is the reason that my brother in law took his life. He was a gentle and kind man, who DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE. We could not reach him. I miss him terribly and so do both of his boys. He spoke of his embarrassment in his suicide letter.

    While we do not know the reason this man killed his family, it underscores that the witnesses do not live in a Spiritual Paradise, only a façade, illusion that misrepresents the harm someone faces in joining. I hope that you would not argue, at the very least this man needed mental health counseling. How can anyone seek it when the GB discourage it. Only after seeking the counsel of the elders (janitors, construction workers, truck drivers etc. not doctors) are they allowed. By then it is often to late as scriptures and platitudes do not help.

    Here is one last piece of information you have not noticed. Cedars loves his family, he has paid a high price for being honest and standing up to WT tyranny, he has lost his father and his family. Have you contacted the Jehovah’s Witness faith to tell them how poorly timed their decision was. He and his wife have a baby on the way and more importantly he has done nothing to deserve this sick punishment. If not why do you feel ok to question his motives?

    Final thought for Free Thinker. Cedars is doing a valuable work in exposing the hypocrisy of the JWs. He is helping the living have a chance and a place to go. If you took the time to read the other comments you would know that there are many here who want the GB oppression to end and to not be dead to their families especially when we have done nothing wrong! Before you challenge his motives, get to know the man and I believe you will feel differently. I mean you no harm, I only hope you will have the courage to pick the right side of this. Yes their are sides and no middle ground, Watchtower drew the line in the sand, we didn’t, but to be certain we are not cowards!

    Best wishes to all

  • January 20, 2014 at 2:23 am
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    @Tiger, free thinker acknowledges he does not know the mental health of JWs. You are talking about their “constant attacks on Catholics”!

    Apparently, he does not know anything about their constant attacks on Higher education (w13 10/15)!!

    *** w05 10/15 p. 3 What Kind of Education Can Make Your Life a Success? ***
    does higher learning help you to be a good parent, mate, or friend? For that matter, people admired for their intellectual achievements may develop undesirable personality traits, fail in their family life, or even end up committing suicide

    free thinker can lead this from this link: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=w05+10%2F15+p.+3

    free thinker, you need to think free! The GB says “… people admired for their intellectual achievements… fail in their family life, or even end up committing suicide”!!!! Do you agree?

    It is sad they can associate higher education with suicide and fail to associate it with their education!!

  • January 20, 2014 at 2:55 am
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    @Hakizimana My statement about Catholics was more of a reference to the earlier comment of Free Thinker who said Cedars was trying to score points at a poor time. The reason I acknowledge Catholics, is this Christmas a Catholic family that we barely knew came to our home and left hundreds of dollars worth of gifts for our family. They would have remained anonymous, except for our neighbors seeing them leave and telling us what they looked like and drove. We were moved by this extraordinary kindness and were sad that we had believed the lies told to us.

    The timing of stories and articles that the WT published about Catholics had nothing to do with their decision to publish any article. Never have they displayed any concern for the feelings or sentiments of others when they chose to “score points” for their cause.

    My list of things by no means was exhaustive, rather a few examples that were added to the many excellent ones listed here, like the one you so well cited.

    As for the WT comment on higher education, I know I must have been asleep mentally, as I was an elder in 2005. It sickens me that I was a part of such stupidity. Honestly, I am amazed at how many references, so many have made to the incredibly ignorant, moronic and stupid GB articles in the WT. The fact that the GB are so stupid and arrogant and have a following is probably the 8th wonder of the world without equal.

    The very best to you Hakizimana

  • January 20, 2014 at 3:38 am
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    Wow! I wasnt really expecting such an emotionally personalised response to a simple request for us all to take a breath and allow time to reveal the facts rather than assumptions about this tragic case.Freedom of expression carries a responsibility for us all to do so with a measure of trying to understand the other persons point of view.

  • January 20, 2014 at 3:55 am
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    Here is a link to how Socioeconomic Status (SES) affects people. SES is measured as a combination of education, income, and occupation. http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/factsheet-cyf.aspx

    You will find that in every case, whether it is mental illness, depression, suicide etc they are increased by a persons lack of education and income. The WT again uses propaganda and lies to support their position as pointed out by Hakizamana. If it were not for the constant door knocking they would lose all of their money in time due to socioeconomic factors caused by their ruining the lives of their followers. I hesitate to point that fact out, as I know they read this site and will no doubt seek to find ways to encourage education at least at a trade level for all their followers so as to keep the coffers full and perpetuate their lies.

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