12540717_1008463605843228_8931144894773544989_nWould you like to help make a difference?

We are looking to expand our voluntary writing team in order to keep pace with the increasing amount of Watchtower related news stories, and also to keep pace with our growing community of readers of both Witnesses and former Witnesses. We know from reading our comments section that many of you are skilled, eloquent and informed when discussing matters related to Watchtower. Your comments will already have helped many visitors to this site to evaluate their own beliefs, and given them the resolve to act on any changes they make to those beliefs.

You have already made a difference.

Would you like to make even more of a difference?

Would you like to write for JW Survey?

We are happy to consider articles for publication. Here are some suggestions for topics you might like to cover:

  • Life stories. How did you come to feel that the Watchtower’s teachings were not satisfying you? Do you have personal experiences from your time as a Witness that you feel might help others? Did you personally observe matters relating to current hot issues or historical events in the Watchtower world? Please let us know.
  • Articles that analyse and discuss a specific aspect of Watchtower history or doctrine. For example, are you a history buff who is able to lay out in a detailed but readable way the flaws behind Watchtower’s 607 BCE date for the fall of Jerusalem? Can you discuss medical inconsistencies in Watchtower’s blood transfusion and transplant policy? Do you understand the Mexico/Malawi scandal, or are you fully versed in the way that the New World Translation blurs the original Hebrew and Greek texts to falsely support Watchtower doctrine? We’d love to see an article from you.
  • News articles the report upon the latests developments in the world of Watchtower. Perhaps your have seen coverage of the Witnesses in the press that made your blood boil, or was spot on in its detail and tone? Perhaps there is a news event you are aware of that JW Survey has not yet had the time or ability to cover? Get writing!
  • Can you provide useful articles that may help those who have left the Watchtower, or who are considering leaving, to adapt and make the most of their new life? What strategies worked for you to re-start your career, re-enter education, make new friends, or free yourself from Watchtower indoctrination that you found to be harmful?

Please note that any submissions are on a voluntary basis. Much as we would love to pay for articles, the funds for this simply don’t exist, and all of our writers are currently working pro bono, myself included.

Here are some guidelines for any submitted articles:

  • Length of around 1500 words is preferred. A little less or more won’t hurt, but please contact us if your article might be significantly longer so that we can discuss possibly splitting it into smaller articles or reducing the article length.
  • Articles must not seek to evangelise. Our aim here at JW Survey is to give current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses the information they need to objectively and factually analyse their faith and come to an informed decision as to whether or not they want to leave. Our goal is not to promote a specific alternate faith, or a lack of one. We are happy to accept articles from writers of all faiths or none, but the goal of the article should be to encourage critical examination of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, not to encourage conversation to another specific religious or secular viewpoint. (The two slight exceptions to this rule are if the subject under discussion cannot be discussed in a way that might not also impact wider religious beliefs, such as a discussion of Watchtower’s attitude towards evolution, or if a Friday Column writer is telling a life story that necessitates discussing how their changing religious or secular viewpoint enabled them to recognise shortcomings in Watchtower doctrine and practice. Editorial discretion will be exercised in such cases, and the editors decisions will be final.)
  • Cite your sources. As much as possible, please try and provide links and sources for any factual statements you make. You are discussing an online news article on the BBC? Please include a link to that report. You claim that Watchtower once banned the use of organ transplants for Witnesses? Please include the Watchtower reference. Backing up your claims with facts shows that your claims are true and that your arguments can be trusted, and will vastly increase the helpfulness of your article to those who read it.
  • Try to emulate the tone found in existing JW Survey articles. We do not seek to alienate those who might disagree with us, but rather to create a safe environment where a current or former Witness can consider the evidence and arguments and come to their own conclusions. Many of us have strong feelings about Watchtower and its leadership, and its perfectly fine to show a degree of emotion in an article, otherwise it might be quite dry and stale. Outright mockery or furious anger, however, will not be acceptable in an article. Ad Hominem is not a legitimate debating tactic. Calm, rational discussion and presentation of facts is the best way of convincing those who might otherwise disagree with you. Having said that, please do try to stamp your own unique voice on your articles; your own sense of humour and style is what will make your work stand out.

We cannot promise to use every article submitted to us, but we do promise to read every single submission you send. Please email your submission in MS Word format to contact@jwsurvey.org.

Please help us make a difference.

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129 thoughts on “The Friday Column: JW Survey needs YOU!

  • May 20, 2016 at 8:39 am
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    Just out of curiosity, would you accept articles that are not so censorious of the religion? Or do all the submissions need to be of the critical nature?

    • May 20, 2016 at 9:23 am
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      I prefer “objective” and “sceptical” over “critical,” and we make no apologies for taking that approach. Heaven knows Watchtower devotes enough paper and man hours to putting a positive spin on its destructive teachings and policies. I think our readers appreciate hearing the other side of the story.

      • May 20, 2016 at 10:05 am
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        Indeed. As Lloyd said, our role here is to portray the counterpoint to Watchtower’s point of view and give the side of the story that most Witnesses do not get to see. For us to publish articles that simply give unqualified support to the organisation is not our mission statement.

        You welcome to submit an article Markie, as from what I gather from your previous comments you are a serving Witness who nonetheless has some problems with current Watchtower policy, if I understand correctly?

        I think an article from you elaborating on where you diverge from Watchtower’s policy, and why, could certainly have a place here. I know of a number of Witnesses who consider themselves loyal to the faith overall but strongly disagree over specific policies such as higher education, child abuse or blood. They cannot voice these concerns in the congregation because of possible judicial action, but they are welcome to voice them here. They do not need to disown their faith in their article, I’m happy for them to state that they are Witnesses and intend to remain so.

        Does this help?

      • May 22, 2016 at 3:57 am
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        I hope and imagine that a sober and interesting ANALYSIS of some aspect of Watchtowerism, even if not overtly critical or disdainful, would also be acceptable? Of course it would not be apologetic either. The approach of a religious scholar would (ideally speaking) simply be to try to understand — to figure out what makes the Witnesses tick. The fact that there is no express “debunking” going on would not mean that the scholar shares the faith he is writing about, or even considers it wholesome; he just recognizes what the proper angle of scholarship is.

        • May 22, 2016 at 4:15 am
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          It’s difficult to know what “analysis” you have in mind without any examples to hand. My own position is that the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a whole is not true, even if certain teachings are more inert than others. When you have a religion that is (1) not true, (2) teaches loyalty even at the cost of one’s life (blood), (3) splits apart families and (4) has a track record of endangering children, what you have is a cult that is utterly deserving of criticism, rebuttals, debunking, mockery, and so on. If someone is interested in learning more about courtroom victories for freedom of expression in the 50s, or teachings about abstaining from drugs and alcohol, or some other backwater of Witness theology, innumerable resources are available to them both in Witness literature and non-Watchtower sources. But just because we are a JW-based site doesn’t mean we are obligated to address all these avenues of study. The most urgent task we have set ourselves is to help free people from indoctrination to a harmful cult, and that is a task we unapologetically stick to.

    • May 20, 2016 at 9:42 am
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      Hi Markie. What sort of article were you thinking of writing? What would be the subject?

    • May 22, 2016 at 12:12 am
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      How can write about Charles Manson or Adolf Hitler in an “not so censorous” manner?

      The WT deceitful, hypocritical history makes it impossible to write favorable about this group.

  • May 20, 2016 at 9:12 am
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    I’ve never been jw but my husband is inactive. I’ve personally witnessed how destructive this organization is. If I submitted something from the point of view of outsider looking in, might it be published?

    • May 20, 2016 at 1:31 pm
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      Personally I would love to see such articles, as they give a wider perspective and could be helpful to current JWs who may not see themselves or the Organization and teachings as others do.

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:13 am
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      Hi there Jennifer. Absolutely, please do. It would be fascinating get an article written from the viewpoint you described :)

  • May 20, 2016 at 9:21 am
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    I can’t wait to submit an article. I’m a young mom, ex jw, married a non-jw with believing parents. It has definitely been a bumpy road leaving WT… But I would love to help someone see there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

  • May 20, 2016 at 9:26 am
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    Can the redaction correct the English before publishing. Because English is not our native language.The point is to bring the text in perfact English in which we are not able.

    • May 20, 2016 at 10:06 am
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      We can certainly assist with correcting the article, as long as we can understand the original text. If it helps, I understood the english in your question perfectly so I’m sure I could assist you correcting any errors in what you submit :)

  • May 20, 2016 at 10:19 am
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    Sounds good. I’ll work on something.

  • May 20, 2016 at 10:19 am
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    yep I’m in if you would like my contribution . One day I would like to tell my story because it really is amazing but would need quite a lot of help collating the details. Until I’m that brave if you would like an article I think my first foray would be into the emotion that comes from realising I was lied to that dawning moment has such an effect on (from my point of view) as a woman that I think it may help younger women who are starting their journey in life. cheers Ruthlee

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:15 am
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      Hi Ruthlee. Thank you, looking forward to reading your submission :)

  • May 20, 2016 at 10:34 am
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    I was baptized as a young man who was raised Catholic in 1972. I have served as an Elder and am currently in the amazing awakened yet still observing from the inside the mind control phase with ,I’m sure, some stunning experiences in the future as well as the past to relate.The level of shock continues to amaze.It all started in Feb.2015 with Steven Lett and the “apostate driven lies” rant.I could and may write a book.

    • May 20, 2016 at 1:34 pm
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      Would love to hear your story. Lett was the one who finally tipped me into the exjw community with his May 2015 JW Broadcasting begging. I found it sickening and insincere.

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:22 am
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      Joe, Paul, I think the Governing Body have personally managed to wake quite a few people up with their lunacy.

      Looking forward to your submission Joe, I know how hard it is to be awake but still inside. Stay strong dude.

  • May 20, 2016 at 10:40 am
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    I also would like to write a article! But I would need someone to look it over and correct my punctuation. is that something you’d be willing to do?

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:23 am
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      Truth, fantastic, we look forward to reading your article. :)

      Melanie K, that is very kind of you :)

  • May 20, 2016 at 11:07 am
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    Looking forward to sooo many interesting stories etc. :)) I would also be willing to write my life story as to Jw.org…From way back when,my family has always been looked down by the org. for being …poor, or what have you, never measuring ” up”, to the …polished, baggy pantz kinda witness, and the imagine that they wish to present to the world…Kinda like the “white washed graves” of Jesus’ illustration. ://. The more a person tried to do to please them…the more one was looked down upon…way back as a child, I seen how they treated my Father who was the real geniune kind of person, who truly cared for people and tried to immitate Jehovah and Jesus in mercy and kindness to all people. But my Father was not a fake…he also spoke up when he seen their hypocrisy, so they removed him…then they turned their attention to my brothers…and little by little crushed their spirit and inner self worth. To the point of their not feeling worthy of Jehovahs care. My one brother tried soo hard to measure up to their standards, he pushed himself to the point of physical limits…tired and sick, he still had to work to support himself and his wife, and to do his utmost to please the Dear Bros…at Jw .org, to no avail…he was killed in a logging accident. As for me, my whole life was affected to, and conts to this day…I know one should not hate them in chàrge and all who promote and listen to them….but from a small child til now…57 yrs old…I have to be honest…I hate them! They have affected too many lives and they must pay one day. My family suffered and conts to from their controlling ways etc., too many lives have been lost or ruined…thankyou to this site and the hard working people of, and the info and support it gives. I love the little cartoon illustration, simple….but made tears come to my eyes. ;//. Good tears….I like drawing cartoons to…even make myself laugh or cry at times! I know, may sound strange….but, heh…side affects of Jw.org!!!! :)))). Life is good…if we do not let that wicked orgy take away our happiness and life, and appreciate all there is to enjoy in life. If only those who have taken their own lives because of feelings of sadness, aloneness…of feelings of being unworthy of life and happiness…because of some group of themselves…imperfect men, full of sin themselves…claiming they are representatives of God on earth and have authority from Him to judge and give orders as to how and what…where and when…etc. Thankyou all once again…good work!!!!

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:31 am
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      Hi Sharon. Thanks so much for sharing your story. If you’d like to expand it a little, write it up as an article and send it in we’d be happy to consider it :D

    • May 24, 2016 at 11:21 am
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      oh my your situation is so similar to my own and my
      parents (who have passed away).
      abuse comes in all forms and this is not what Jehovah is all about. Shame on all those who made you and your family feel worse. its like going from the frying pan into the fire.

      bless you!

  • May 20, 2016 at 11:24 am
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    Hi,

    This is my first comment,
    Your cartoon made me cry. I was that man in the hole. I would still be there is someone hadn’t taken the time to stop and look inside. Thank you so much!!!

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:32 am
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      Hi Karl. I know what you mean, I was that man too. I think many of us were. So good to hear you’ve been able to escape :)

  • May 20, 2016 at 11:31 am
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    Forgot one thing…spoke with someone the other day….in regards to the upcomming convention programs…apparently much emphasis on how NEAR we are to…”the end”… sooo close! So we MUST make sure we are in “good standing”…. so as to be saved! The end is near…almost HERE!!! So instead of sitting and blinking…we should fear! ☺….Just a little tidbit of info…passed on to me by a Witness very distarught as to why child turned back on….”Jehovah” since …end near/here! Wolf?

    • May 20, 2016 at 6:45 pm
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      Soooo close, well back in 1974 I was out door to door when the visiting District Overseer confided in me just how close the end was… He told me that the brothers in Bethal had started compiling names of all the brothers who work in the essential areas such as power, gas, running trains atc. in Sydney (Australia) so that there would be a seamless transition when the end of this system came… WOW!! How close are we I was supposed to think. He told me as I had told our local overseer I was going to leave my wife and this was a ‘Hang in there’ speech due to Armageddon being just around the corner… Oh sooo close, but hang on that was over 40 years ago…
      ..

      • May 20, 2016 at 9:43 pm
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        @J

        I remember a list going around with names of brothers or sisters, who worked at utilities companies here in the states.

        My question to The Watchtower Corporation, how many have died since there name was added to this list?

        The Watchtower Corporation is not that dumb, however, they love to leverage at every opportunity and give the desert god – or say, “it must have been Jehovah’s hand” or holy spirit. Right?

        I’m a fader (8 months) with LDC appointment – go figure.
        The other day I received a phone call, from brother Browsers from Wisconsin, and he said, he was updating all the files, and he had a few questions to ask me.
        Of the six questions he ask, one stands out like a sore thumb, he ask if I knew of any JW Attorneys?
        I replied, I know and have retained the services of the best Attorneys in North Texas, however, they are Not one of JWs.
        Brother Browser replied, thank you for the information, and thank you for your hard work.

        My only question to him was, “‘wheres are the projects – I’m ready to invoice my tradesmen”, he replied, well, you know, there’s Not that much going on.

        There you go folks, Brother Browser from Wisconsin ph. 715-878-4995, has confirmed several points.

        The Watchtower Corporation – new kingdom Hall’s expansion was a scam.

        The Watchtower Corporation – cash and crab, or get it and hit it, empty out the donations funds.

        The Watchtower Corporation – new tithe implemented on all members.

        The Watchtower Corporation – your new and improved – its true or its not.

        Peace out,

        • May 23, 2016 at 9:33 am
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          Hi Minion,
          Same situation here. Fading, and husband was approved for the “LDC” a good while back. I used to be on the RBC- but was not approved for revamped LDC… Ohhh what a loss… lol Have never heard a peep as to jobs or anything… its like they shut down every project that was on the books. Things are getting weirder and weirder when you know whats happening behind the curtain. I feel so sorry for my current JW friends who are just going along- giving every ounce of energy (and $$) to this blood sucking beast. ughhh

  • May 20, 2016 at 12:10 pm
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    what about translators? im living in mexico and in this country there is no pages like this, o jwfacts. I´ll be very glad of the oportunity of translate the articles to the Cervantes lenguage.

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:43 am
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      Thank you very much for this offer, we will get back to you ASAP :)

  • May 20, 2016 at 2:17 pm
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    Do you think it could make sense to translate articels into German language?
    And to have further languages in future?

    • May 21, 2016 at 1:45 am
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      That’s a good question. Translation is a big time and effort but we do understand the need to have as much material out there as possible for Witnesses and former witnesses of all languages. If people would like to volunteer their services in this area, it’s something we might be able to consider.

  • May 20, 2016 at 3:53 pm
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    This is really exciting, I love reading people life’s stories!

    I especially love the life stories that tell how their progress went. From feeling trapped inside to finding their way out & successfully moving on with their lives.

    One of the things I said to my Dr the other day was that I have struggled with feelings of grief when I left & have been stuck in an emotional rut. I hadn’t realised how much of a wall the cult made me build around myself. I’m only just letting people in now after 2 or so years.

  • May 20, 2016 at 4:18 pm
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    Thank you, JWsurvey, for this wonderful opportunity. I’ve been working on a piece of writing for the last few weeks that speaks of my initial involvement with the JW’s. I can’t wait to submit it.

    • May 21, 2016 at 4:29 am
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      Fantastic :) Looking forward to reading it :)

  • May 21, 2016 at 8:20 am
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    Lloyd, as you may know from previous correspondence, I am a committed Christian as well as having been involved with the JWs as a teenager. I write for Christian organisations which exist to help JWs see an alternative within the Church rather than being entirely critical, so to be honest it is difficult to remain ‘religiously neutral’. The reason I support JW Survey is that it does such brilliant work at exposing falsehood, which, for me, is a proper preliminary to the work that I do. It would not be fair to reveal the counterfeit without showing the genuine.

    • May 22, 2016 at 2:14 am
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      Thanks James. The good news, from your perspective, is that there has never been any shortage of “alternative” versions of religious belief available to exiting JWs. Ray Franz’s works were all written from a Christian perspective, and Christian exJW websites far outnumber their atheist/secular counterparts. Our approach is that exiting JWs should be free to choose what they believe or don’t believe, without any undue coercion from us.

  • May 21, 2016 at 8:57 am
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    Hi Cedars (Lloyd Evans)

    About a year ago, I did sent you all the lies, flaws and bad research inside the 2015 JW’s Yearbook, this time dedicate to the Dominican Republic.

    Can you imagine what a bombshell? Do you want me to re-write it and send it to you?
    Here is a small example of the really bad research they have, (Who ever runs that department):

    https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/2015-yearbook/history/overview/

    “Islanders have a passion for baseball, music, and dancing, especially the merengue. The guitar is very popular, as are drums, flutes, and marimbas.”

    Of course dominicans likes and loves merengues, but we do not use the marimbas to play it.
    Huge mistake !

    Here are some musical expresions:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxyVROUgYO0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GycRXNQvj98

    Newspaper clip talking about “National Day of Merengue”
    No mention of the musical instrument “Marimbas”.

    http://eldia.com.do/dia-nacional-del-folklore-dominicano/
    (Spanish)
    Baile

    El ritmo del baile dominicano tiene tres instrumentos principales que distinguen la música de este país, los cuales invitan a el danza: Güira, la tambora y el acordeón.

    I have more links to show.

    There is more lies, included the presumptuous story that they were the first organization that was in Haiti with help, after the guru-guru, as haitians calls the earthquake of 2010.

    Muchas gracias, thank you very much, Merci beaucoup

  • May 21, 2016 at 1:12 pm
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    Rubbish

    • May 22, 2016 at 11:03 am
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      @ M,

      You mean The Watchtower Corporation is rubbish, compared to JWsurvey no spin zone – its true or its not.

      You may have heard, there’s 3 types of society of humans, those that 1) make things happen,
      2). those that watch things happen,
      3). those that don’t know What Just Happen.

      JWsurvey, has evolved into an ‘reach out program for knowledge and intelligent wisdom – without the Spin zone of The Watchtower Corporation’.

      So, M, we understand the rubbish just fine.

      Peace out,

  • May 21, 2016 at 3:13 pm
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    I have much that I would like to say about my experience growing up and trying to raise children in the organization. Unfortunately, my family situation is unique enough that writing about it in any detail would almost certainly out us to our congregation. As long as my husband works for a brother, I have to be careful. However, he is already getting interviews, so things may change very soon.

    My experiences touch on what it’s like to deal with mental health issues; raise special-needs children; lose a child in death (and more) inside an organization that is coldly indifferent to any problem that can’t be solved with prayer: an organization that will “mark” someone as faithless because they asked for help too many times.

    I do not have any formal writing qualifications, and my punctuation is occasionally bizarre (though usually technically correct). This site has helped me immensely these past few weeks! I’d be happy to contribute as soon as my husband finds a job, if you think my writing could be useful.

    • May 21, 2016 at 3:27 pm
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      I forgot to mention that I’d be happy to do proofreading as well. I have proofread at the community college level; working mostly with students for whom English is a second language. If that’s something you need, please let me know.

  • May 22, 2016 at 8:48 am
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    Oh my goodness! I’m so glad for this invitation. I have not so much as commented until now, but I’ve been reading for just about a year. I’m a long-winded commenter, and I have never wanted to post an equivalent to an article in posts.

    I’m a former pioneer, rbc volunteer, daughter of a pioneer elder father, pioneer mother, pioneer brother and sister, etc., etc. My entire family is all-in.

    I gave my first talk at 5, was baptized at 11, started pioneering at 15, passed on college in spite of being Valedictorian and having near perfect SAT scores.

    I did everything right. I was never reproved for sexual misconduct, drugs, alcohol, anything. And not because I never got caught. I really stayed out of trouble. And was proud of this fact, not in a haughty way like I was better than anyone.

    Like it was a battle hard won.

    Well, 6 months ago my young (37 year old) husband told me his hope has changed and he is going to heaven to rule with Christ. He no longer expects or desires to live with me on earth and have the family we planned.

    Jehovah needs him more than I do and I should loyally and obediently accept the change in his destiny, and the resulting changes to our common future. I should trust it is all for the best.

    I don’t want to tell all my business on the Internet, but knowing him intimately as a wife knows her husband, I am pretty sure that’s a load of crap.

    However, separate from this, I was already beginning to address doubts I’d always had, and that was my final push.

    I’ve read and reread many of the articles here and often thought I would like to elaborate on topics raised, but again, the length and details I had in mind seemed inappropriate for the comment section and you seemed to have a clear policy about unsolicited submissions.

    I’m working a lot of hours at my job because I will probably be leaving my husband soon. He has said we have no future together if I will not abandon my apostate leanings and he will not let me jeopardize his eternal reward.

    So I will not have anything to submit immediately, but definitely in the coming months. I’m very excited.

    • May 22, 2016 at 11:47 am
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      @ F75,

      Your actions speak louder than words. You are to be commended to have the conquest of fear – ‘Courage’.

      Perhaps, your husband may need to be reminded of 1935, when the anointed class were sealed.
      (Jehovah does not need me or anyone else in heaven).

      Establish the “motive” or pureness of ‘having the calling’ to be with Jesus.

      Since your family is All in, your journey in life is at a cross road – only You can decide what to do.

      Be strong, stay strong, keep hope alive!

      Peace out,

      • May 22, 2016 at 1:54 pm
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        Thanks Minion. I am indeed at a cross roads. It’s a strange situation. It would be easy to assume that my husband wants out of our marriage. Or that he doesn’t love me.

        We’ve been through a lot of trials in the last few years, some of which are because of choices we made in connection with being faithful witnesses. Choices that are not considered wrong in other circles. Choices that are considered perfectly acceptable in non-witness circles.

        Like not taking six figure jobs with companies that have a division that has military contracts. Or companies that have interfaith religious affiliations.

        As a result my husband was unemployed for 2 years and is still not working in his field as an engineer. A career he chose and went to college for.

        We are told that if we put Jehovah first and don’t compromise in these ways, Jehovah may not provide a luxurious life, but sustenance and covering.

        Well, instead, we slipped farther into poverty. My husband came to believe he was being persecuted and tested because he is one of Christ’s brothers, and Satan is trying to dangle temptations in front of him not unlike when Satan took Jesus to the mountain top.

        Now, not to toot my own horn, but I am a loving and supportive wife. And when it seemed like my formerly loving and supportive husband was having a minor psychological breakdown, I was willing to stand by him.

        Even through losing our home and struggling financially. Our marriage is forever, right?

        But I drew the line at him saying that I am apostate for not believing he was called and maybe he should seek help to deal with the stress that was clearly causing a break with reality.

        We went to the elders who were actually loving and kind. I find no fault with how I was treated by them on an emotional level.

        However, on a practical level, they fell horribly short.

        I felt like the sister in the video who was contemplating suicide. They are counseled not to tell anyone professing to be anointed that they might be delusional.

        So, basically I was told to treat him with respect and love and pretend to go along, but accept in my heart that Jehovah will sort it out in the future.

        And my husband was told to treat me with love and compassion until such time that I come around and accept that Jehovah will care for me and satisfy my desire for a new husband and children in the new world once he is gone to heaven.

        Yes. That same common theme of playing both sides when there is an impossible logic conflict that cannot be resolved or explained by their interpretation of scripture.

        Wait on Jehovah, eventually he will explain. All will be revealed. Be loyal. Be faithful. Trust. Obey.

        Ignore that voice in your head telling you this is all wrong. Keep repeating the lies until they feel like the truth again.

        Meanwhile we have to live every day in THIS world and make decisions that affect our lives now.

        It is painful living with the man I love who has now shifted his focus to an eternity that he doesn’t even expect to share with me.

        If he would wake up, we could fix every one of our problems now and not have to wait on Jehovah or the new world.

        He is very smart and has marketable, enviable skills and degrees. But he is denying it all and becoming a living martyr.

        I’m expected to go without everything I want and need now so that he/we can be rewarded with a future hope I don’t believe in at all anymore.

        I still love him, and he hurts for me because he loves me too and he believes I’m on a path to apostasy and destruction at Armageddon.

        He’s a very good man who wants to do the right things, but like so many others in the organization, he has been misled and is afraid to leave because it will mean shunning at best and perhaps his everlasting cutting off at worst.

      • May 22, 2016 at 2:07 pm
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        With the new overlapping generation teaching, I think you will see more and more professed annointed ones coming out. I forget the exact stats, but I don’t believe any of the current GB members were even baptized before 1935. I am looking ahead to the time when memorial partakers actually exceed 144,000. Then there will be new light to explain that, I am sure.

        @F75,
        My circumstances are very much like yours: Born in, whole family in, pioneered after HS, being male, an elder at a very young age. But I eventually saw through all the smoke and mirrors and realized we were all being manipulated. Leaving was hard, but you have to follow your conscience.

        So welcome to our band of rebels. I look forward to seeing articles you submit In the future.

        WS

        • May 25, 2016 at 10:55 am
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          @ WS

          You bet there will be “New Light”! The organization will finally fess up to the reality that the 144,000, like everything else in Revelation, is a symbolic number. Thus, 12 symbolic tribes x 12,000 symbolic members from each symbolic tribe = 144,000 symbolic members. There is nothing literal there .

          Does anyone think that the early Christian church was not composed of millions of adherents by the beginning of the 2nd century? Why else would the Roman Empire be in such an uproar persecuting Christians during Domitian’s reign if the Christian church was just a few thousand members? Because its membership was in its millions! And where were those adherents promised their reward, “Paradise Earth” or rule with Christ in heaven.

          If you look at the Memorial attendance vs. partakers the attendance is truly on the down slide while the partakers (for the last ten years) average over 500 world wide. In other words there are more than 5,000 partakers now than there were say 11 years ago.

          Are all those people now partaking delusional? Are they just guests believing they are heaven bound? Or have the rank & file members taken matters in their own hands and decided that the “cut off” date of 1935 is just baloney? Interesting indeed.

    • May 22, 2016 at 5:02 pm
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      I feel sorry for you to go through this, but if its any comfort and you still hold a faith, i urge you to carefully examine the bible, because the answers are all there.

      Mankind has only ONE hope as Jehovah intended for Adam and Eve, and its clearly mentioned in the bible, having two hopes is complete nonsense and goes against everything the bible teaches.

      Do you really think Jehovah would want to separate families and take some up in heaven with their sons, daughters and wives left here on earth?

      As im still JW, i cant share this freely without being considered an apostate.

      This is the first time ive commented on any such site, and i just cant sit here anymore and read comments like yours without saying something.

      All the answers are in the bible, im trying to stay neutral here with in the rules, but there is alot more to the picture than you realize.

      Ill leave it as that, and hope its some relief. :)

      P.S
      If anyone reading this can recommend any places that i can discuss JW teachings and share my views, i would like to know, i cant write an article here without it not sounding evangelical, since i want to share my personal christian views.

    • May 23, 2016 at 11:19 am
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      I am already very intrigued by your story- hope to read more soon. :)

      • May 23, 2016 at 2:44 pm
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        bible_truths,

        Try the Borean Pickets website.

        • May 23, 2016 at 3:31 pm
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          Grace, thanks for that!
          Their sites have lots of great resources!

  • May 22, 2016 at 10:15 am
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    It’s important for the articles being submitted to be truthful and not have lies in them. As a doubting JW, what attracted me to the ‘John Cedars’ you tube videos was the fact he used the society’s own publications to expose them. He does a great job. Three of my ‘worldly’ relatives and I watched his you tube videos together. We started to watch a girl’s video bur she was so sarcastic one of my cousins said “Oh, she’s just angry” and turned it off to a different video. People can tell when they’re being loaded up verses when someone is being honest. Let me give you an example, one time a coworker who hates mormons told me mormons teach they are all going to be Mr. and Mrs. Gods when they go to heaven. I believed him. I asked another coworker who is a practicing mormon if what I was told was true and he said NO they don’t teach that. The point I’m trying to make is witnesses who are waking up will know what the religion’s teachings are and they’re here because they want conformation regarding their doubts. ‘John Cedars’ really has helped a lot of people. I know he helped me.

  • May 22, 2016 at 2:13 pm
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    CF,

    I started writing an article a couple months ago with the intent of sending it in to see if you would publish it. Other demands have prevented me from finishing it, but your latest request provides me with new incentive to get it done.

    WS

    • May 22, 2016 at 4:39 pm
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      Thanks Winston, I look forward to seeing what you have to say as well. Absolutely. I agree that more and more are claiming to be anointed.

      I was surprised when I started to talk to my friends about my husband how many people younger than us and around our age were having the same experience.

      Honestly, in my circle of friends, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t say, oh yeah, my brother-in-law, or my best friend, or my pioneer partner just started partaking.

      And they are newlyweds and young couples just starting families.

      Why would God do that? Why would he let young people just starting out in life fall in love and start a family and then immediately call one of them to heaven. One and not both, with no indication that they will ever get to be together again?

      Oh, right. They are now using the phrase ‘extend an invitation’. But anyway, how is any of that an expression of God’s eternal love for us?

      No one wants to address the fact that this is in direct opposition to what we were all taught and that all the publications still emphasize that it is supposedly a completely unnatural desire to go to heaven.

      Except when it isn’t?

      Jehovah will give you everything wholesome you ever wanted.

      Except when it doesn’t fit in with his purpose?

      Jehovah unites and blesses families.

      Except when he decides to take husbands and fathers from their wives and children because: kings and priests forever? Wait? What? Why?

      And absolutely every one of my friends is looking at me like I have two heads for asking those questions.

      Everyone tells me that I should talk to the person they know. And find out what they did to make peace with it.

      Ummm. No. I want this to stay uncomfortable. I want it to feel wrong and unacceptable because it is.

      I want them to see that it’s wrong and doesn’t fit. It isn’t loving.

      It doesn’t even make sense within the framework of their own mythology. The internal conflicts even within their own publications and teachings are so maddeningly convoluted and frustrating.

      Ugh! I’m so glad to have found this group though. Otherwise I would be going out of my mind right about now.

      • May 23, 2016 at 6:20 am
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        Hi guys –
        I’ve done some extensive research on ‘The Memorial’ and all it entails. The very fact that most JWs reject the bread and wine as they “are not one of the anointed” is a mockery of what Jesus instituted. He died for ALL, not just a few.
        The whole JW concept is flawed. I’m trying to get it all down in writing so I can send it on to you – OK?
        It will help ones like Fallingangel to come to terms with her husband’s ‘hope’.

        • May 23, 2016 at 9:24 am
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          Thanks Bad Penny,

          Yeah, about that.

          Coming to terms with my husband’s ‘hope’….

          I appreciate your concern for me and others who are in a similar situation.

          I am interested to read what you have put together, but I have already completely rejected the teaching in my own mind and heart.

          I attended the Memorial this year as I have done every year of my entire life. My husband told me about the change in his hope a few months beforehand to prepare me for the eventuality that he would partake.

          I was still trying to allow for the fact that I might have been wrong. I’m not sure if you were a witness or not, BP, I’m sorry I don’t remember the details about you.

          But we are taught that it is a terrible sin, an unforgiveable sin, to grieve or resist the holy spirit.

          I was still praying to Jehovah for help, for comfort, for understanding, and for peace. If he was going to help me accept this change and preserve my marriage, I did not think I could hope to accomplish that by staying home on this ‘most important occasion, the only one that Jesus commanded his followers to celebrate.’

          I wanted to be there to allow his holy spirit to comfort me or give me peace and new insight if such a thing were possible.

          How could a loving God extend this invitation to my husband and wreck my world and shatter my faith without throwing me a lifeline of some sort?

          I poured my heart out to him in prayer for weeks leading up to the Memorial and cried more tears than I ever did in my life.

          Surely if he had caused this change, and he saw that I was earnestly seeking comfort and understanding from him and through his organization, he would answer me.

          Guess what? Nada. Big surprise. :-/

          Oh my God! I sat there with nothing more than extreme bitterness and resentment in my heart, for one.

          But for another thing, I sat and I listened and all of the explanations and illustrations just made absolutely no logical sense to me.

          I wondered if it was the same talk and teachings I’d been hearing all my life, how did it suddenly sound so ludicrous?

          Even though I was raised in the truth, I’ve always had issues with the teaching of the two destinies, not the smallest of which was that it invariably separates families and marriage mates, potentially forever, and at the very least for the duration of Christ’s thousand year reign.

          But I was always encouraged not to think too deeply on it, or ask too many questions.

          Having the paradise hope instilled in me since childhood, I never had any personal desire to go to heaven, nor any fear of a burning hell.

          My parents and siblings never expressed a heavenly hope, so even though it didn’t sit right with me, I was able to largely ignore my concerns since it didn’t directly affect me or my immediate family.

          I can remember having conversations with my friends growing up about how tragic it would feel if our mate had a change in their hope, but we also took great comfort in the fact that everyone we knew who professed to be of the anointed was old. Really old.

          Like, we were teenagers and they were in their late 70s and 80s. Even as younger ones in their 50s and 60s started to partake, we were still in our 20s.

          So, it started to be an evident concern among more people we knew, but still it was our parents’ friends, and not us.

          I always thought: I could not accept that. I could not accept that. Jehovah knows that I could not accept that.

          He knows me and loves me as an individual. He would not test my faith in this way. He would not ask me to prove my loyalty in that scenario.

          So, I still thought it was a painfully unfair arrangement, but I just imagined that there was something else that others knew, or that Jehovah knew about them that I didn’t.

          Who is going to say: ‘Hey. I married this man when I was 19 and if I had been older, wiser, more experienced in the ways of the world, I would have chosen someone else. He is a good man, and he loves Jehovah, but I really don’t want to be married to him forever, so I’m ok with the fact that Jehovah is taking him and I get a do-over in the new system.’?

          But I secretly believed that the only way marriage mates could not be completely devastated about losing their husband or wife to heaven was that they didn’t really love them as completely as I was going to love my husband, or that somehow their faith and trust and love for Jehovah was on a level mine would never reach and they had some divine insight and/or understanding and/or peace and ability to be self-sacrificing that I would never attain.

          But still, ok, nothing I would ever have to deal with on a personal level. Because I’m just too young.

          And I love my husband dearly, but of all the men and women that have EVER lived and died and with a finite number of people left for Jehovah to choose to take to heaven of his servants now living, he is more uniquely qualified? Umm, no….

          Always with the questions that cannot be answered reasonably, the elders, and the organization come back to this: frequently they admit that the bible doesn’t support the doctrine and explanation that has been given by them.

          But then they make it about your everlasting salvation and the strength of your faith and the level of your trust in Jehovah and they say, ‘We really don’t have a good answer for you, but do you want to die at Armageddon and miss out on your reward, just because you had unanswered questions? These questions are likely to be answered fully and to your satisfaction in the new world. Perhaps explained in the new scrolls. Just get there. Focus on getting there. You’ll be so glad you did and you’ll wonder why you were ever upset about any of it in the first place.’

          And that God’s thoughts are higher than man’s thoughts.

          This is what I was told even before it became so personal for me.

          It didn’t ring true then, and it rang even less true when it was my husband and the love of my life, and our eternal future in question.

          I know I mentioned we were having problems, but we actually had a very good marriage up until this. In spite of the financial difficulties and strains, we were really sticking together and supporting each other and not laying blame or pointing fingers. We were making the best of a bad situation.

          I was really proud of us.

          I am still not certain what I am going to do next in life. Or where I will go. Literally, physically, I am not sure where I will live or how I will replace the friends I will inevitably lose.

          Spiritually, I am not sure if I will become affiliated with any other organized religion or if I will try to have a personal relationship with God, the real God, apart from organized religion.

          Is there a ‘real’ God? I’m not sure.

          Does he want us to worship him? How does he want us to worship him? Also, not sure.

          But I am certainly never again going to spend my time and energy stripping other people, not even current witnesses, of their long-held and cherished beliefs.

          As I said before, my entire immediate family, and most of my husband’s family are all Witnesses in good standing, and I have been one for all of my life.

          However, I have been inactive in the ministry and I have not attended meetings since he made his change in hope known to me.

          But because I have such a good track record of never having been in trouble, and everyone understands this to be a traumatic turn of events for me, I am currently getting a pass and have not been dealt with judicially in any way.

          Only lovingly (yes, really) encouraged to return to Jehovah and his congregation and the brotherhood that loves me.

          I’ve gotten greeting cards and phone calls and texts reminding me that they love me and Jehovah loves me too. I cannot say I was shown the door and rejected or abandoned, as many have expressed.

          I am not sure how long that will last and I feel like it would certainly immediately be revoked if I were outed for commenting in this way on this site.

          Needless to say there is a lot of uncertainty in my immediate future.

          But sincere thanks to you, BP, and all of the kind strangers here who have offered words of encouragement and support!

          • May 23, 2016 at 11:41 am
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            Fallen- wow, again- your circumstances are so intriguing to me. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to hearing more from you soon! ;)

          • May 23, 2016 at 3:35 pm
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            FA, have you read my earlier comment?

            Thanks :)

          • May 23, 2016 at 5:40 pm
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            Yes, bible_truths, I would like to try to speak with you further, but I am not sure how to reach out to anyone individually without outing myself completely. I’m not prepared for the consequences of that. I am too fragile emotionally, right now.

          • May 24, 2016 at 4:41 pm
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            FA, thats quite understandable.

            You are indeed in a real sticky situation like alot of us right now.

            Whatever you do on the internet, dont ever say anything that could personally identify you.

            Register a free anon email at salusafe if you ever decide to engage with anyone. Its also useful to use as an email when commenting here or registering on any forums also.

            Grace earlier mentioned the Borean Pickets website, and ive found the same reasoning as what ive believed for some time now.

            As a child I was distressed by the heavenly hope after we studied the revelation book, I used to ask Jehovah in prayer that I was not one of the 144000 as I was frightened i would be taken up there if I was a “good” example.

            Ive got the answers ive been looking for, and its a real relief to know the truth, it really does set you free.

            We are told to study the bible, yet if we come to an understanding (from our personal study) that contradicts with what we are told, that its apostate. Hang in there, you will find the answers :)

          • May 24, 2016 at 7:12 pm
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            @BP, @FA, @S @WS,

            Isn’t informative – a web site as JWsurvey, one can share life’s experience as extensive as FA is reporting. And report breaking news.

            I’m a fader of 8 months, I did attend the memorial with my wife, and a few family members of which they are also becoming faders. We attended, no big thing – we had super and picked-a-part the lame memorial talk.

            I don’t follow JW dot org, or read the over-lapping under-napping publications.

            Based on the reference material sited, from The Watchtower Corporation, it seems to me they will be adding more men in addition to the 7 men – the governing body.

            Also, its been rumoured The Watchtower Corporation will be appointing the first Latino to be part of the GB.
            Why does he have to be Latino?
            Why not from the north or south pole?

            There you go folks, you heard it first from JWsurvey. The no spin zone.

            Peace out,

  • May 23, 2016 at 12:16 am
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    Hi there,
    I love this site, and it’s really drawn me in with its balanced coverage and reasonable criticisms.

    Although never baptised, I basically grew up in this religion (mostly unhappily, but with a glazed-over cult-face, believing that death in armageddon was my fate). I would preach as little as possible, in the ghetto areas of Johannesburg, until I followed my brother and did my research (including Ray Franz’ book) and made my escape at age 23. Life suddenly improved drastically in terms of freedom of action and speech, and my brother and I eventually talked my mother into a mode of inactivity. But because she was baptised and much more indoctrinated, her life did not immediately get better. The elders gave her their own piece of hell.

    I’d like to write more about my story and JW-related events here in South Africa. I’m still vaguely in touch with a few JWs. The force appears quite strong in them here :p but I’m sure there are many that would like to get out. Also, apparently 250 Bethelites were asked to leave recently? I would love to investigate the fallout from that.

    My view of JWs in general is that they are mostly sincere, well-meaning people, brainwashed into holding onto false hope with all their might, while the GB is basically running a worldwide land-grabbing operation under their noses. I have no idea whether the GB believes their own drivel or not, but Stephen Lett’s bizarrely condescending beaming high-brow face is one of the creepiest things I’ve ever seen.

    Thank you for providing this wonderful platform for JW survivors.
    Nicky, Cape Town

    • May 23, 2016 at 1:07 am
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      Nicky, I look forward to hearing your story also. I agree with you. Most JWs I know are sincere, caring people. I’ve moved quite a bit and been a part of many congregations.

      I also traveled a lot when I was younger and single. I was welcomed into so many homes and fed and given shelter while working on construction projects.

      My father visited congregations and gave talks, and we were often treated to meals in homes or local restaurants.

      People I just met felt like old friends because we had ‘the truth’ in common. I always took that to be evidence that this is God’s representative organization on earth.

      I would like to hear what is happening in South Africa. I thought of moving there once about 10 years ago. I was having expat (I’m American), exjw fantasies then.

      It was before I got married and I thought long and hard about leaving my family and friends behind and reinventing myself in a place where no one knew me.

      I agree with you as well that many more than we know surely want to leave, but the fear of dying at Armageddon and/or losing their loved ones now is what keeps them in.

      If I believed Armageddon was real and really just around the corner, I’m still willing to take my chances. I know I’m a good person with a kind heart. I have a hard time believing that a just God would judge me worthy of death, simply for having questions and doubts.

      And if there is a God who would punish me with death for such, I don’t want to serve that God for eternity. The price of admission to that new world is one I am unwilling to pay.

      However, the thought of being without my extensive network of lifelong friends now, deeply grieves me – much more than the thought of missing out on eternal life.

      I’m certain there are thousands, if not tens or hundreds of thousands still in who feel the same way, not even counting those who had the courage to leave already.

      • May 23, 2016 at 8:46 am
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        Thinking about the welcoming spirit you experienced when traveling, and yes many JWs are kind hearted people. However, would they extend that kindness to non-JWs who they were not ‘related to in the faith?’ Think about the ‘Good Samaritan’ of Jesus parable. He was not related to the Jewish man in faith and even despised by many Jews. JWs often treat worldly people like 2nd class citizens (except when they see them as potential converts). And if someone DF’d or even just inactive they often treat them as a non-person. My point being that the so-called love they show others is conditional and can quickly evaporate when circumstances change.

        WS

        • May 23, 2016 at 9:36 am
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          Preaching to the choir, now WS. I USED to think it was evidence that they were God’s one true organization. No more.

          But there is still a lot of love and compassion extended and shared between those who are in good standing.

          The conditional love is not unique to Witnesses, neither is the evaporation of so-called love and friendship when circumstances change.

          Many people who were rich find they have no friends when they lose their money and can no longer pay their own way or pay for others to keep a certain lifestyle, for example.

          So, that is not anything I judge them harshly for. In my opinion it is neither pro, nor con, it sort of cancels out.

        • May 23, 2016 at 10:35 am
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          WS and Falling Angel. The Love the JW’s have is extremely conditional. More than most other people and religions I am aware of.For Example my wife whom I currently do not live with is a “PIONEER” and a WT corporate lady and thinks they can do no Wrong. Even though she readily admits some horrendous mistakes they have made she justifies it as “progressive revelation”.

          She likes to proclaim to me that her organization and friends have “UNCONDITIONL LOVE” for her and the JW’s. I always point out that actually the very opposite is true bc if you dare question, leave or become inactive the love is pretty much over. If you get DF’d you are not spoken to and shunned on the streets and in your own home. Even if you have been a Faithful JW WT person for 35-50 years once you challenge or doubt or have an awakening your “Unconditional Love” id over forever! I have seen it happen many, many times to JW’s. One Super humble Brother got DF’ds for a bad “attitude”! He did nothing wrong just ws challenging some decisions made by the elders to a personal friend of his and wanted Justice. So they DF’d him? They have the power and abuse it,any times. I tolds her as long as you stay within the BOX of the WT you will be ok. But dare to step outside that box and think for yourself and even speak it out loud and you will be SHUNNED and all that “LOVE” is thrown out the door. “WORDLY” people do not throw their own family and friends under the Bus like the KW’s do. It is heartbreaking to see it happen. The reality is there really si s not the Love they speak of bc they have to answer to th WT Headquarters and they themselves will be DF’d if they show love to a DF person. There are many good JW’s who do show love bu t the WT org with all of its many made up pharisaical rules will not allow it. I have experienced in my years as a JW many great people that were good folks but also the many, many harsh folks of reality
          and nonsense teachings that divided many people and destroyed family. Believe me, there is more love outside the org than inside the org.

          • May 23, 2016 at 12:52 pm
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            @ Holy Connoli,

            I’m pretty sure Winston and I were both in agreement with you that the JW love is conditional.

            Part of why I am having such a mighty struggle now is the fact that I know the change in my own hope, as it were, and the change in my belief system will cost me all of my dearest relationships, including my husband.

            Even if I do not get disfellowshipped as a result, I will become persona non grata at family functions, on vacations, even to public events like plays, concerts or movies.

            I will not be invited to weddings or baby showers or housewarming parties. I will be unwelcome at events I used to attend alongside unbelieving mates and siblings and cousins who were never baptized and never served ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in the ministry or on construction projects.

            It is a terrible fate to contemplate, and for some, I understand how it can seem a fate worse than death.

            Shunning is a cruel practice.

            But I also understand, from the inside, and the other side how completely reasonable it is made to sound.

            It is explained as a loving arrangement and on the surface, and when it isn’t you or your loved ones, it does not seem as harmful as it truly is.

            We are led to believe that most people who leave do so because they choose not to take the moral high ground or were not faithful under test.

            They have done something that Jehovah and the bible says is wrong, and they have said they are not sorry and do not wish to abandon their wrong course.

            Or, what they did was so wrong, they must be disciplined regardless of whether they were sorry.

            We are told that it is to teach the unrepentant wrongdoer a lesson they would not have learned otherwise and that the goal is to bring them back to an approved state.

            We are taught that people who leave and stay out do so because they are CHOOSING not to make things right by bringing their lives in line with Jehovah’s requirements.

            They are actively choosing to separate themselves from Jehovah and their own loved ones. They are actively choosing a sinful course over the love and support of their family.

            Non-JWs do cut off family members. They dislike job choices, or choice of marriage partners, or determine that an individual is a truly toxic influence due to drug addiction or sexual perversion. Non-JWs do have legitimate reasons and also selfish, petty ones for cutting off family members.

            So when you are on the inside and you compare the noble reason of shunning a friend or a family member in the hopes that they will see the error of their ways and return to the fold, it does not seem as harsh and heartless.

            I am not saying this to defend the practice. I am saying this to say that I understand how good and loving people go along with it, in spite of the fact that it should feel wrong to us all.

            We are not told why people are df’d and are usually left to draw our own conclusions, which may or not be correct. Elders are not supposed to discuss the particulars. Unless a df’d person is a friend or family member, they may not ever tell you what happened. And we are led to believe that the vast majority leave because of fornication or adultery.

            When it is framed as a choice that they made to leave Jehovah, and a choice that you are making to help them return, it really doesn’t seem so bad.

            Granted, it is. It is terrible, and I have thought so for years, even before I was facing it myself.

            But I fell back on the scripture that many of my friends have read to me of late: who will separate us from the love of Christ?

            And I really thought we were applying it correctly. That no matter what had gone on, and even if things were mishandled, as individuals we should try to seek Jehovah’s forgiveness and try to realign ourselves with his organization.

            It’s what I was taught. It’s what all of us were taught. And the people who believe differently are not around to offer a counterpoint. We are not allowed to discuss it with them.

            I see how wrong all of that is, but I still understand how it continues, and my heart aches because I don’t know how it will end.

            However, I still also feel that conditional love and exclusion takes many forms in this world we live in, and JWs are not the only ones who practice it.

            There may not be many other groups who carry it out on such an institutional and organizational scale, or who dictate to members that they should separate themselves from friends and family as a result of rules and beliefs they may not even fully endorse.

            That is wrong. I do not support or defend it.

            But I also feel that it does not diminish the value of the love that one individual in the organization shows to another individual.

            I think it is important to separate the ire and contempt we might feel for the organization and it’s harmful policies from what we feel for individuals who are misled and really believe they are doing the right thing to protect the congregation and work out the eternal salvation of their loved ones.

            It is a harmful practice, to be sure, and it needs to go!

            But it is as unfair to say that all JWs are mindless and heartless to follow the teaching, as it is to say anyone who is not a witness will be devoted to destruction.

            Many people do go along with it because they have not thought about it deeply enough, and we keep hearing that it is the right thing to do.

            We are even repeatedly told that it is an expression of our love and loyalty to Jehovah and our love and loyalty to the df’d individual, which does sound ludicrous to me now, but it didn’t always.

            I don’t think JWs have a corner on the market for showing love, or for withholding it. There is a lot of kindness and generosity in the world at large, but also a lot of cruelty, abuse, and neglect both on a large and small scale.

          • May 23, 2016 at 5:09 pm
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            @FA75,
            Not sure if you have seen this before, but I recommend checking out this article on fear and mind control on jwfacts: http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/fear-cult-mind-control.php

            It helps explain what is behind seemingly kind people being able to act so unkind towards others, even members of their own family, when told to do so by a religious authority.

            WS

    • May 23, 2016 at 11:31 pm
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      Ahhh…a fellow SAfrican! Now I am finally ready to post my first comment!!
      So many times while reading the site over the past couple of years I had the idea that most who commented were foreigners and that very few in SA were even aware of what was “out there” concerning ttatt…I am the only JW in my family but my husband’s family were all in…likely drawn in by the insinuations made ahead of 1975. As the boys have grown older their views have changed and they no longer subscribe to it (much to their parents’ distress) but the underlying vibe that has resulted makes family get togethers unnecessarily stressful events. I wish for the sake of my own children that it didn’t have to be this way…who knows? Maybe writing an article about my own experience will be cathartic. Like many who have commented previously, I have mulled over it many times in my head wishing I could put the words to paper…the time for that may have arrived!

  • May 23, 2016 at 2:02 am
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    Rejoicing Jehovah = Making Satan sad; Rejoicing Satan= Making Jehovah sad.

    Let’s not be partial and rejoice both “Masters”! This will surely be a safe way for humans to deal with these powerful spiritual dictators…

    *** w15 5/15 p. 12 par. 10 Be Watchful—Satan Wants to Devour You! ***
    Satan no doubt rejoices when one of God’s servants becomes stained with serious sin. In fact, such victories may be among the things the Devil uses to taunt Jehovah

  • May 23, 2016 at 12:17 pm
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    Bit off topic I’m afraid. .But does anyone know how I can get hold of two lapel cards for the UK district convention ?
    I want to be there on the Friday to hear the talks on Shunning and the talk about loyalty being better than life.
    My older bro is very much immersed in this hideous cult and I’m concerned about the new directives being spewed out by the GB.
    I’d like to hear first hand what is being taught and also to get a feel for what the general reaction/atmosphere will be.
    Anyone able to advise Please?

    • May 23, 2016 at 12:33 pm
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      Just go. No-one will stop you even if you don’t have a card. You can tell us what happens.

      • May 23, 2016 at 12:44 pm
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        Ah.. thought I couldn’t get in without a lapel card.
        Cool. I shall attend – Feel sick just thinking about going… its been 20 years….

        • May 24, 2016 at 7:23 am
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          Just turn up and say you got an invitation through the door. They will be all over you, love bombing etc…. Man on the inside, I love it. I’m not going. The elders have already left an invite in my door with a little note attached…. they wrote exactly the same thing on the one they left in my daughters door lol. How very personal.

          FA, my heart bleeds for you. It reminded me very much of a story I read about a woman who’s husband left her and her family to become a Monk. She was devastated obviously. I think I would feel betrayed as I am sure you must. When my husband left me, alone in a new country with two children, for another woman and a ‘new life’ I was numb. I couldn’t believe he would do that. I relied on the brothers to help me and for a while they did. When other things happened in my life, the kids being df’d etc I found their love was conditional. I haven’t been to a meeting now for 6 months. I went to the memorial but it meant nothing to me. The love bombing was fake. I am so glad you have had the courage to open up on here. The support is amazing.

  • May 23, 2016 at 12:26 pm
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    Winston, I’d like to read your story when it appears here. You might like to know that after the Supreme Court ruled that JW secret rules were unlawful, I sent a letter to several KHs to explain to elders that, should they continue to use these secret rules, they would be held responsible if someone committed suicide as a result.
    I wrote letters to the coroners’ office to alert them to the danger too.
    The secret rules state that elders must not inform an accused person of what they are accused! That accused person cannot defend himself because he doesn’t know what he is accused of. An appeal committee speaks to the original committee in secret before discussing an appeal case with the accused. Thus the appeal committee is prejudiced. There are lots more of course.
    These secret rules are similar to those of the Inquisition.

    Winston, as a former elder, can you add to this or comment on it? Thanks.

    • May 23, 2016 at 5:31 pm
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      Sarah,
      From my experience with the judicial process, elders have to tell the accused what they are being accused of and allow them two confront their accusers (while this process is not proper in a child abuse case, in does protect the accused in other types of cases). It is true that in some cases the elders do not fully disclose all the charges or provide a list of witnesses until the judicial hearing (providing the accused no opportunity to prepare a proper defense). Because the hearing takes place behind closed doors (witnesses are only allowed to offer testimony and then told to leave) it is not surprising that justice is often perverted. Quite a difference from cases in Bible times which were decided at the gates of the city.

      The proper procedure from back when I served was to first form an investigative committee. In this committee often two (but sometimes 3) elders meet with the accused and/or witnesses to determine if their is sufficient evidence to hold a judicial committee. Often they may not meet with the accused, but only the witnesses. The primary purpose of the investigative committee is to determine guilt or at least evidence of guilt. The primary purpose of the judicial committee is not to determine guilt (since this has often already been determined by the investigative committee), but rather repentance and whether to disfellowship. So to your point often guilt is determined before the accused even knows that they are being investigated. If the elder body is large enough it is often recommended that the different elders serve on these two committees, although often this does not occur. Because the whole process takes place in secret, it is easy for those with hidden agendas and ulterior motives to take advantage of the situation and manipulate things to a certain outcome.

      I never got much involved in the appeals process. What I recall from KM school was that there needed to be new evidence that was not available before or something has come out as grossly improper in the first case in order for the appeal to be granted.

      WS

      • May 23, 2016 at 10:46 pm
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        Many thanks, Winston. In court WT’s barrister said that an accused person would be informed in general terms. I was accused of slander but not told what the slander was nor who I had slandered! As I hadn’t slandered anyone I was confused, to say the least. As you say the JH was only to see if I was repentant. How could I be repentant of something I didn’t know about? I told the committee I couldn’t lie and therefore I refused to attend. Thereafter I threatened to go to court but the branch office quickly arranged an appeal. If I had known the appeal committee speaks with the original committee first in secret I would not have agreed to one. I would have gone to court immediately.
        I was exonerated but only after the most awful harassment. I had to face 7 elders on my own. I only got through by writing continually to the branch office.
        However, after five years the matter was raised again by someone and the harassment started again. Elders lied about apologizing to me and so on.
        The courts took the view I was statute barred, but told WT that their secret rules are unlawful due to breaching the laws of natural justice. The court hoped WT would take notice. They did not.
        Many thanks for help.

        • May 24, 2016 at 8:21 am
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          Sarah,
          In my opinion, someone had it in for you. The injustice you suffered is typical in what many have here referred to as the “JW Kangaroo Court”. You are supposed to be able to confront your accusers. Did they ever produce the person that said they had heard you slander and allow you to address those charges with them?

          It’s a harrowing process dealing with this system which is set up to favor the organization / BOE. I had a friend in a similar situation where the elders were pursing him relentlessly over a past business dispute (and these guys have what legal training in such matters?). The only way it was resolved was when he contacted his attorney and the attorney sent a cease and desist letter directly to the branch. i can’t imagine the amount of time, effort, and resources the branch must spend based on botched judicial cases. All I can say is stupid is as stupid does.

          WS

          • May 25, 2016 at 12:05 am
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            Thanks WS. The original committee made dreadful mistakes and
            thereafter could not admit their wrong.
            But the point is that because the J Hearing is only to see if you are repentant you do not have an opportunity to defend yourself. By that time the elders have already made up their minds as to the guilt of the accused person. This is against all principles of law.
            If the first time an accused person is allowed to confront his accusers is at a meeting where the decision has already been made, then justice has already gone out the door.
            The principles of natural justice are very interesting and one of which WT is very well aware. but they believe they do not have to conform to these, although these principles of law are ones Jehovah has set in place.
            Irish law is based on scripture which is probably why the judges reached their rulings concerning the unlawfulness of WT’s secret rules.
            The other thing is, the crazy things said against me came as such a surprise that I was not prepared to answer them.
            Later 2 elders apologized to me in private but five years later in a secret elders meeting they claimed they had not apologized. When I found out about it, one of the elders got cross and stated that an elders’ meeting is confidential and I should not have found out what they had said.
            I am so grateful to be able to expose this in public, so thanks WS.

  • May 23, 2016 at 2:53 pm
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    Hi fallingangel75,

    Your are indeed in an interesting situation. Just wondering,

    How does your husband KNOW that he is uniquely qualified to go to heaven to be a part of the 144,000? For that matter, how does anyone KNOW this?

    Have you ever been able to discuss the 144,000 doctrine with your husband, for example:

    – How is it that God has has been able to find almost 8 million true Witness Christians to date yet he has not been able to find 144,000 true Christians over a period of almost 2000 years since Christianity’s beginning until now?

    I suppose he will have an interesting rationalized answer to this question.

    – If you can get him to read Revelation 20 about those who will be kings and priests with Christ for a thousand years, point out to him that Revelation 20 also states that these persons had not worshiped the beast nor its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. Ask him how will this be possible if the 144,000 (which are assumed to be the same persons in Revelation 20 according to WT theology) will not be on earth during the reign of the beast, according to WT theology (It seems their not being on earth during the reign of the beast is really how the 144,000 will avoid worshipping the beast or its image and receiving its mark on their foreheads or their hands).

    – Does he think the description of the 144,000 given in Revelation 14 is literal or figurative?

    – According to Revelation 20, those who granted the first resurrection, will reign with Christ for 1000 years.
    According to WT theology, the heavenly resurrection began in 1918 after Jesus’ enthronement in 1914. (Revelation It’s Grand Climax At Hand 1988, pg. 103)

    So given that, according to WT theology:
    * Christ commenced reigning in 1914
    * the heavenly resurrection of the 144,000 commenced in 1918 *BUT Christ’s 1000-year reign is yet future, then it is clear that the 144,000 will rule with Christ for more than 1000 years.

    I suppose it can be said that those of the 144,000 who have been resurrected since 1918, won’t take up their duties until the millennium begins. In the meantime, they are just sitting around in heaven twiddling their thumbs. If that’s the case, why did the heavenly resurrection commence in 1918?

    Best wishes.

    • May 23, 2016 at 5:34 pm
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      Believe me, dee2, we have been around and around about it! I’ve already made lots of long posts here about my feelings on the matter in the last 72 hours. You can be sure I have thoroughly discussed this with my husband and questioned him inside out and up and down!

      Do I seem like the kind of person to let a subject go without exhaustively looking into it?

      Therein lies our problem and probably the end of our marriage. My line of questioning for him on a personal level and about the doctrine as a whole is what led him to say that I was an apostate and should turn myself in to the elders and tell them how I really feel so that I can be disfellowshipped / disassociated.

      He is thoroughly convinced. Anyone who is still attending meetings and/or keeping up with the magazines would have read the recent study article that addressed the invitation anointed ones receive.

      January 2016 Study Edition, Week of March 14 -20. Title: The Spirit Bears Witness With Our Spirit. It was studied at the Sunday meeting around the time of the Memorial this year.

      All my friends wanted to call me and text me and tell me what an amazing and encouraging article it was. Such evidence and proof that Jehovah and the faithful and discreet slave are looking out for us and giving us food at the proper time.

      Proof that Jehovah knew that I would need this to shore up my faith.

      *dramatic eye roll*

      I felt like it was a lame attempt to explain why so many more have professed to be of the anointed in the last 10 or 15 years. And I suppose a lame attempt to comfort the divided, heartbroken families and spouses.

      This was an actual subheading: How the anointing process works.

      Paragraph 6 –

      “So not all are anointed in exactly the same manner. Some may have had a rather sudden realization of their calling, while others experienced a more gradual realization. However, no matter how this anointing takes place, each one has what the apostle Paul described: ‘After you believed, you were sealed by means of him with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance.’ (Eph. 1:13,14) This special operation of holy spirit becomes like a down payment, a guarantee (or, a pledge) of what is to come. An anointed Christian gains an inner conviction because of this token that he or she has received. 2 Corinthians 1:21,22; 5:5”

      Got that? Clear as mud, right?

      I thought it was pretty vague. I kind of summarize it thus: one day you wake up and you feel like God called you, or maybe also, little by little over time.

      Yeah. Okay. Sure.

      Theme scripture Rom 8:16, “The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

      Lovely. Sounds legit.

      Did I mention that the article says that whether it is our hope to make our home in heaven with Jesus or live forever on a paradise earth, our lives are deeply affected by the events of Pentecost 33 C.E.?

      Damn, skippy!

      In paragraphs 8, 9 the article gets even more specific (no, not really) as it goes on to elaborate (again, no, not usefully) under the subheading How Does Someone Know?

      The writer admits that it is difficult for most people to understand what happens when someone is anointed, because, ‘It is not something they experience. God’s original purpose was for mankind to live forever here on earth.’ It also goes on to say, ‘this calling causes a profound change in the thinking, outlook, and hope of a person when he is anointed. – Eph 1:18’

      This HAS happened for my husband, but I feel that it is the way of any self-fulfilling prophecy or major delusion. I do not see it as evidence of the holy spirit bearing witness with his.

      But he says that I am just determined to tear him down because I find it too painful to believe that we won’t be together. My disbelief isn’t the result of lack of proof, it is because I have allowed my emotions to guide and mislead me. I am not seeing the situation through eyes of faith.

      It isn’t possible that I am the rational one who is dealing with truth and reality. It isn’t possible that he has swallowed a pack of lies.

      Again, back to the article, it states at the end of paragraph 9, “Simply put, by means of his holy spirit, God makes it clear to that person that he is invited to become a future heir in the Kingdom arrangement.”

      Oh, okay. Yeah. I understand perfectly now. Thanks for the thorough explanation. Why did I have doubts?

      We’re going to go with, ‘Because Jehovah said so’, as our logical linchpin.

      Paragraph 10 goes on to say, “Jehovah leaves no doubt whatsoever in their minds and hearts.”

      Again: doubting, questioning, hurting friends and family be damned. Feeling left out in the cold and abandoned? Remember Jehovah loves you and it’s all for the best.

      Don’t question their conviction even if you don’t understand or agree, “the most powerful force in the universe has given them this conviction!”

      Yes, the lead in is mine, but what appears inside the quotation marks is actually taken word for word from the last sentence of paragraph 10.

      The article goes on to reiterate how impossible it is to fully explain this personal calling to those who have not experienced it.

      It even talks about how at first these ones cherished an earthly hope, and wanted that future, but the change comes because of operation of God’s spirit, which changes their thinking and hope.

      There is so much more I could say about my feelings on the matter. But, yes, yes, yes! I have questioned my husband, and these are the kind of unsatisfying answers he gave me as well.

      It all boiled down to some version of: when you know, you know. I’m sorry this hurts you. I’m sorry you can’t understand. I’m sorry you can’t come with me.

      I kept saying to him in the beginning: if it is only an invitation, say no. Don’t accept it. If you feel like God is calling you away from me and that does make you sad and you do hurt for me, and you do love me more than life, say no. Say you don’t want it and you want to stay with me forever.

      ‘I’m sorry, my love, that isn’t how it works’, he said. ‘The invitation was extended. I am compelled to accept it.’

      And, so we remain at an impasse. And I still cry every day about it. None of you know the rest of our story, but I am going to say this: there are parts of it that read like a romance novel and before this I knew, KNEW, I married a man who would move heaven and earth to be with me. Who would love me and care for me through anything. I knew he would never leave me and only death could sever our bond, but still not diminish the love we had for each other.

      That is why all of this is so painful. And I just can’t wrap my mind around it, but nonetheless, I do have to deal with it and move on with my life.

      • May 23, 2016 at 11:00 pm
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        My dear, you are in a terrible place. Writing about it may hurt but it’s bringing all the hurt to the surface. This is a way of grieving and very necessary.

        However, if you love your husband, why leave him? It’s your decision of course and people here will support you whatever you do. Remind your husband that if an unbelieving wife is agreeable to living with her husband then he cannot leave her.

        Maybe your husband is wrong. If you left him and then he discovered he is not going to heaven you might be devastated.

        However you know all the circumstances and are in the best place to decide. Whatever that is be assured we will be thinking of you and trying to help if we can.

      • May 25, 2016 at 2:44 am
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        Falling Angel –
        I was a JW for 30 years and came out in 2013 when I discovered the truth about the ‘truth’.
        Your husband, it seems, has delusions of grandeur. He is obviously a ‘spiritual’ man and has let the WT doctrine go deep into his heart and mind. He is under their spell. To convince him otherwise at this stage would be cruel. I suggest if you truly love him, and he still loves you, that you just go along with it for the sake of your marriage.
        His belief, I’m afraid, will not come to fruition. From my intensive research I can assure you that his destiny will not be any different from yours. You ain’t going to lose him to heaven anytime soon. The reality is that you will probably grow old together and then die a normal death. Then you will be parted. It will not be by some miraculous event such as being ‘caught away to heaven in a rapture’ and leaving you bereft.
        On a personal basis, I was very close to a sister many years ago. Our kids were friends and we used to spend happy times together having coffee while they played together. Her marriage (to a ‘brother’) was unhappy. He was abusive to her and pushed her downstairs on one occasion. Needless to say, she fell into the supportive arms of another man and was disfellowshipped. I cried when I first heard at the loss of a dear friend as I knew I could not now talk to her. After many years of living with this man and having never married him, she finally left him and took the steps of returning to Jehovah. She was re-instated. She has now become very spiritual… She is convinced that she has been anointed, having experienced something like an electric shock all through her body on a couple of occasions. Nothing will now deter her from her course. She has become wide eyed and holy!
        When I first heard about this I immediately asked if she was menopausal! It seemed highly unlikely to me that this former friend was now in spiritual company with the likes of Moses and Abraham!
        I did not however, reject her claim. If it made her happy, who am I to destroy that?
        So, FA, don’t say anything at the moment. As your awakening continues you will find out all about JW.org, where it all started and who really pulls the strings. Your husband may be won over eventually …. now is not the right time to destroy his belief.
        Hang in there. Read the old JW Survey articles. They will help you.

        • May 25, 2016 at 6:26 am
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          to Fallen75. I also knew of a brother who after many years claimed to be anointed, He to had lost his job and was financially destroyed. This is my observance and I reserve the right to be wrong. I believe a man needs to be productive in his life. As men we need to feel we are accomplishing something. In my case I know when I was not working or got laid off from my job I became very depressed after a short while. I kept hoping Armageddon would come to relieve my insecurities etc. This Brother and I have known others similar to him had to much time on his hands. He became depressed and started saying and doing strange things. Over time he became more and more elusive but always a nice person. Over a few years the next thing he did was partake at the age of around 50 years old which was like 13 years ago for him. His wife thinks he is mental and that he is just emotional and thinks to much of himself. I have known a woman who did the same thing, She had an unhappy marriage to an unbeliever and left him to live on her own. She also was a very strange and very independent for a JW woman. She would go out in FS on her own. Seldom meet with the group and you would see her around town walking the streets offering the WT to people all on her own. She did attend meetings but was almost living in a separate world from the Cong yet claimed to be anointed etc. I have kon many that did the same thing and one thing they all had in common was they wanted to be “martyrs” or were very separate from the typical JW. My point is I believe they all had some mental issues and perhaps your husband does also. What I am reading is very similar to what I have experienced.

          I think the good people on here have given you some great Ideas and suggestions. If you leave him does that mean your life will be easier or better? In many cases no it does not.
          Sometimes it is better to try to let things calm down and work things out at the present situation. In a short time things will probably settle down an you can see things better. It is not always a good Idea to make decisions when there is high emotion involved, I believe your husband feels like a failure at the moment bc he as no job, no personal fulfillment
          and is looking at his life as failed. HE has a degree he is not using,having marital problems,in his life, Probably sitting home alone quite often, you are working and bringing the income, few JW’s contact him and so his mind is going in many directions. So by becoming anointed it solves all his problems. He is important, he is somebody, His degree now is no longer important, probably going thru a mid life crisis of Identity also, he will go to heaven and leave a challenging wife, God has called him, So if God CHOSE him al his problems are solved and ARMEGGEDDON is Immediate so he won’t have to deal with his problems anymore.

          • May 25, 2016 at 8:20 am
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            Awesome analysis Holy Connoli!……….you sound like a psychologist :-)

          • May 26, 2016 at 6:26 am
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            Bad Penny,

            “She has now become very spiritual… She is convinced that she has been anointed, having experienced something like an electric shock all through her body on a couple of occasions. Nothing will now deter her from her course. She has become wide eyed and holy!”

            The “electric shock” is a mind-body interaction and response within the central nervous system which psychologists and others have observed takes place when persons engage in intense spiritual practices such as intense prayer, intense meditation, intense fasting etc. When persons engage in these intense spiritual practices they can enter a non-ordinary state or altered state of consciousness or mystical state in which their bodies release energies that move through the body like the one which you have described.

            Persons may also experience altered perceptions that can be frightening, and “false enlightenment” associated with delightful or terrifying visions. Dissociation, depersonalization or derealization have also been observed.

            In the Hindu tradition this energy release is known as a kundalini awakening.

            Persons may become inflated and grandiose as a result of intense spiritual experiences as in the case of your friend who felt that she was now of “the anointed” class.

            A related experience is the religious conversion experience which some persons have whereby they feel as though “something” moved through their body from the crown of their head to their feet or vice versa at the time of their conversion.

          • May 26, 2016 at 10:22 am
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            Good points dee2. The fact that so-called mystical phenomena occur in many varied religious frameworks is significant. Some will say, “I am certain this is the truth because [insert reference to the supposed mystical experience here].

            The fact that there are scientific/biological reasons for such phenomena explain why it transcends nearly all paths of religious perspective. If someone is a baptist and had something similar occur, then it would strengthen their faith in the baptist church and so forth.

            WS

          • May 26, 2016 at 12:04 pm
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            That’s a very important conclusion which you have drawn WS.

            Indeed, both Christians (of various denominations) and non-Christians have these types of mystical/spiritual experiences with associated energy releases, which should therefore make one wonder if this is just simply a physiological/biological response given that the response is universal and is not unique to or confined to persons of just one denomination of a given religion, or should they read more into the experience.

          • May 26, 2016 at 4:15 pm
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            WS,

            BTW, I should also add that the energy release response also occurs for persons who are not part of a religion but who also engage in intensive meditative or spiritual practices. So it’s not just persons who are a part of a religion (Christian or non-Christian) who have these experiences.

  • May 23, 2016 at 11:43 pm
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    Hi fallingangel75,

    I can clearly see that you have your wits about you and that you are able to critically and objectively analyze what is going on with your husband.

    I asked about your discussion regarding the 144,000 doctrine with your husband in order to get a sense of how you have been dealing with his change of hope issue and where his thinking is.

    I am not a psychologist and would like to suggest that you see one who deals with transpersonal/spiritual/religious issues in order to get the best support and advice regarding how to deal with your husband’s situation. I wish, however, to make some unprofessional observations about your situation, based on my personal opinion.

    Your assessment of your husband suggests that he is having a psychological problem:

    “………when it seemed like my formerly loving and supportive husband was having a minor psychological breakdown………”

    “……..maybe he should seek help to deal with the stress that was clearly causing a break with reality.”

    “……..he is denying it all and becoming a living martyr.”

    ” I feel that it is the way of any self-fulfilling prophecy or major delusion.”

    Psychologists have come to realize that persons have experiences which they term spiritual/religious/transpersonal experiences/mystical experiences with psychotic features, which may or may not be pathological. Psychologists have come to the realization that the overlap of spiritual/religious experiences and psychosis can lead to mood-congruent delusions, such as being controlled by the devil or punished by God. Or persons in the manic phases of bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder may believe that they are Jesus Christ or that God has called them and they have divine missions to fulfill. Some person’s biology predisposes them to schizoaffective disorder. This psychotic state can be induced/precipitated by stress or trauma or PTSD or depression. I note that you mentioned the following stresses which seem to have impacted your husband:

    “In spite of the financial difficulties and strains”

    “As a result my husband was unemployed for 2 years and is still not working in his field as an engineer. A career he chose and went to college for.”

    “Even through losing our home and struggling financially.”

    I would like to encourage you to seek counseling from a psychologist who deals with spiritual/religious/transpersonal problems/issues, who can help you to develop the best approach to deal with your husband’s situation.

    Best wishes.

    • May 24, 2016 at 3:06 pm
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      Dee 2, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I’m willing to be wrong here, but I think fallenangel’s husband is showing signs of psychosis and although each person will have their own set of symptoms according to their circumstances, there are four main symtoms;- hallucinations, delusions, confused and disturbed thoughts and lack of insight and self awareness.
      Fallenangel…..you need professional advice on this. Confront it head-on and go for the best advice available and then you’ll at least know what you’re up against. Don’t waste time with any alternative therapists who are more than likely to be a waste of time, or even make things worse.
      Good luck.

    • May 25, 2016 at 11:01 am
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      To Dee. Thanks. Not a Psychologist but I have seen many “strange ones”become anointed when their lives went haywire. there was another couple who in the 80’s repaired televisions and radios for a living. They were in the San Fransisco Bay are at the time in a cong with me. The husband and wife both started partaking and they felt that the “MAFIA” was controlling the industry that they were in and wanted them out of the TV repair business! They all started partaking when their business went down and they thought the MAFIA was driving them out of business.

      So they packed up everything and moved to Hawaii to start their TV repair business over there. I actually visited them in Hawaii when I was on vacation and they still thought the Mafia was after them. One very strange thing about them was that about every 6 months – a year they would move and change areas. I mean they would move hundreds of miles away each time and across the OCEAN! it wasn’t just across town. JW’s have a very high percentage of mental illness. No doubt due to the mental damage the WT does to people and the EXTREME GUILT they make people feel.Any Cult will do mental damage but the WT passes it on from one generation to the next and he last few years the WT is making more people feel guilty bc they are losing members at a rapid pace. If you take away the young kids getting baptized they are actually decreasing in numbers. It is a sad situation for JW’s these days. The rug is being pulled out from under them.

      The point is that many of those professing to be of the anointed have had bad lives and incomplete lives and feel depressed and guilty and unfulfilled so they”become anointed” problem solved in their minds.

  • May 24, 2016 at 3:07 am
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    I absolutely agree, keep talking. We were once alone, isolated. . We can never allow that to happen again. As the say went ‘united we stood and divided we fall’, never again.
    Thank you JWSurvey X

  • May 24, 2016 at 3:12 am
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    The days of ‘divide and conquer’ are over :-)

  • May 24, 2016 at 3:36 am
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    How is it that the heart can rule the head and the head refuses to see?

  • May 24, 2016 at 3:38 am
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    Hi falling angel (uncomfortable about your name but still love you for your bravery) You have written much and your grief is great . I hope we can all help you in small ways. Like you I married my friend and I thought we would go through to next life together and forever. This awakening process has been very painful and I do not know if my marriage will survive. I never thought my marriage could break over a spiritual division to me the only thing probable was the usual suspects ie he or me falling for someone else. This is what makes this cultish religion so damaging . We cannot leave graciously or without their malice. There is not a single jehovahs witness who is still indoctrinated , who would let bygones be bygones they will insist on punishing you and making themselves righteous. For me I am grieved that my husband and I who were so close have to agree to disagree on the most basic fundamental beliefs that we once held in common and that I now want to avoid like the plague. Don’t get me wrong I read the Bible every day and my prayers go further than two foot off the ground. I’m trying not to say too much as there are strict rules for posting. Angel 75 you are at the tender stage of your awakening and it takes time to adjust but we hope we can support you in some small way. I think when our life experiences are published you will find very interesting thoughts to help meanwhile just keep researching and stay with us on this bumpy ride of a journey cheers Ruthlee

    • May 24, 2016 at 4:19 am
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      Four legs bad, two legs good.

  • May 25, 2016 at 4:00 pm
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    While I can certainly think of a few areas where I could write, my plead to JWsurvey is different. There is a great need for articles of these qualities in the Spanish language. Remember! Latin America is where their growth is happening. We can not ignore this fact because there is where it will make the greatest difference. I will be happy to help translate articles that others write. Lets get the hispanic world up to speed on what is going on with the org.

  • May 25, 2016 at 6:09 pm
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    Hi all, I was born in the org. I have been visiting jw survey for a while but this my first comment. I have a legal background and I would be happy to write legal articles and about the issue of higher education.

    • May 26, 2016 at 1:57 am
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      we need YOU bro cheers Ruthlee

    • May 26, 2016 at 7:08 am
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      Welcome Brother :) happy and elated to have you on board :)

  • May 25, 2016 at 6:32 pm
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    Sarah, can I have the full reference of the Surpreme Court case that you mentioned please?

    • May 26, 2016 at 12:16 am
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      Go to http://www.courts.ie then when you have the home page up write in Moram in the search line and click on judgments and determinations. The legal case is named Ruth Moram v Watch Tower etc.
      Let me know if you have trouble finding it. The courts made the wrong decision when they ruled that nothing was hidden from me but that is because WT hid their true agenda from the courts.
      All the best

  • May 25, 2016 at 6:48 pm
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    I think it is fantastic that everyone is offering what talents they have.
    If everyone chips in the work load is light .
    If we all pull together as a team we can bring this organization down.
    Just think of what skills you have as an individual… What are they?
    How can you apply them or make them useful to destroy this cult.?
    Best wishes to all!
    Garrett

    • May 25, 2016 at 9:06 pm
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      Greetings to all:

      “Support The World Wide Work” – JWsurvey rocks!

      Peace out,

  • May 26, 2016 at 4:28 am
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    Sarah thanks for your response, however, I can’t find the case on http://www.courts.ie. When was the case decided? Have you considered taking your case to the European Court of Human Rights? Actually, I have other skills as well. I speak different languagues.

    • May 26, 2016 at 10:56 am
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      Did Freed Mason’s post help? Otherwise I’ll find another way. Thanks. It’s paragraph 21 I think which is of interest.
      thanks to JWSurvey for the use of the website.

  • May 26, 2016 at 4:47 am
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    That’s good to know sister ruthlee. Thanks

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