Mason Miller, a journalist for the website Vice.com, has published an insightful article on his experience as an outsider attending the 2014 New Orleans International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Having personally been an attendee at these events in my youth, I was immediately reminded of my own convention experiences. As an adult looking back, I must say his assessment is delightfully accurate.
The article entitled “The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Annual Convention Was So Organized It Was Creepy” gives an account of Miller’s strange day at the New Orleans event, minus any personal bias or political correctness.
Miller begins by mentioning a few pieces of odd Witness trivia, including Watchtower’s ties to Prince and the 144,000 doctrine. He also shares his preconceived ideas about Jehovah’s Witnesses before attending, and relates some of his interactions with other attendees throughout the day.
The homemade lunches get a mention, with their all-too-memorable aromas filling the air. It is also noted that concession stands were closed to attendees who may not have remembered to pack their own food.
The article tells of a B movie-esque video drama complete with bad acting and make-up that elicited laughter even from some in the crowd. The anticipatory “Quiet Please” signs held by attendants were also the subject of some bemusement.
Miller also includes five photos of convention goings on. Two of the images are attributed to the PR Team of Jehovah’s Witnesses, including one that blatantly shows three very young girls being readied for what the author describes as “mass baptism.”
As this website has repeatedly emphasized, the increasing onus on child baptism is one of Watchtower’s more disturbing trends. Once a child is baptized as a Witness they become prone to shunning in their later years, but this is a risk the Governing Body is more than willing to take since child indoctrination is fast becoming the only truly effective means of acquiring fresh converts.
In his concluding remarks, Miller sums up by saying, “while I still don’t understand the Jehovah’s Witness faith or its people, and while I may still think of them as cult-addled nuts, they’re still just people.”
Those of us who have grown tired of the obligatory flattering convention report in the local newspaper will appreciate this man’s honesty, and his ability to look through the crowds of “cult-addled nuts” and see real people trying to navigate their lives of indoctrination and ceremony as best they can.
Further reading…
If the Jews would have had cars, then Jesus would have been baptized at age 16 – then Tony would allow Joseph and Mary to give Jesus the car keys.
Everyone on this site is always pretending to be positive when in fact they are not. What hope do you have for the future? Is the bible true? Or is it all rubbish? There needs to be a unifying of thought and conviction in something solid and reliable. Is the Truth to be found?
Bloater,
I am positive. I want to improve the lives of women and children in the WTBTS.
Your questions on whether the bible is true, hope for the future etc are interesting, but not suitable for this site.
We are not offering an alternative to your belief. We expose the many grave issues that surround your religion. What you do with that information is up to you.
Will you help us to protect women from domestic abuse? Will you help us protect children and young people from sexual abusers in good standing in your religion?
I hope you will.
Peace be with you,
Excelsior!