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Update on “Truth Be Told” Documentary About Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses
  By The Atheist Geek | December 28, 2011  |  Announcements, Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW News and Links 
 
I just received an update on the “Truth Be Told” documentary about ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses. I mentioned it here a little while back. Aside from all the other video snippets that you can see at the web site (I think any ex-Witness will find these interviews encouraging) the official trailer is now available online as well. You can view it on Vimeo or Youtube right now!
I hope everyone is psyched about this. Especially those who’s lives were deeply affected by their experiences as former Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s not every day you get to have your side of any story told, especially in a real documentary that many people will see.  Please consider supporting the documentary by clicking on the “Support Now” button at the top of the website and spreading the word.
You can also share your story as an ex-Witness here.
I’m really looking forward to this one.













Interview With “Truth Be Told” Creator, Gregorio Smith
  By The Atheist Geek | July 4, 2012  |  Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW Commentary, XJW News and Links 
 
A picture of Watchtower Headquarters in black, white, and red.I have been advocating Gregorio Smith‘s Truth Be Told documentary about ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses since I first heard about it from a member of the production staff. So I was very excited when Gregorio emailed me with more information a few weeks ago. He even agreed to give me an interview.
If you’re looking forward to the documentary as much as I am and want to find out more about Truth Be Told, here’s a good place to start. If there are other questions you’d like me to ask Gregorio Smith, I will try to pass them along. (Just remember, he’s a really busy guy.)
Here’s a comment about the documentary from its creator that I thought was worth sharing. Especially in light of any criticism that may follow from the Society or Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Per the official synopsis, TRUTH BE TOLD is not an indictment of religion but rather a retrospective. The purpose of the movie is to provide a comprehensive forum for anyone that has a story to share – to start a new conversation intended to heal, not hurt. And while the ultimate product may not be even-handed, it will be honest.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Gregorio Smith
Director – Truth Be Told
I’m sure many of you were wondering if Gregorio had any personal experience as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, or if he was coming at this completely from the outside. I asked him some questions about his background, and he was very open in providing details.
The interview follows.

Q. I understand that the film is complete. How close are you to getting the documentary into theaters?

The public phase of Truth Be Told is just beginning. The documentary has been submitted to a number of national and international film festivals/markets. Festival screening dates/locations will be posted on the movie website once confirmed. And while there is no official release date (yet) there will be one-off private theatrical screenings in select cities starting with NYC in July.
Q. Will there be a DVD or a downloadable version of the documentary available in the future? If so, is there any chance of a commentary or other extras?

Absolutely. There is a considerable amount of content that did not make the current theatrical cut that we plan to resurrect for the home video and VOD markets. These extras will include (but are not limited to), director’s commentary, deleted scenes, interviews with production personnel, production art/media galleries, and a making-of featurette.
FYI – films typically become available on DVD six months after its theatrical release.
Gregorio hard at work on Truth Be ToldHear that, guys? There will be extras, and hopefully, we’ll get a director’s commentary as well. I’d really like to hear about things going on behind the scenes of the film, so that’s very cool. Look out for the release date of the film so you can start the six month countdown to getting your own version at home!
Q. Any chance that Truth Be Told will make an appearance on TV, like Knocking?

Sure. It all comes down to distribution. And independent films are subject to the same market forces and trends as that of major motion picture releases. The distribution of a film generally takes 2-3 years to fully exploit all territories and markets so it can be some time before we’ll see Truth Be Told on (free) television.
So maybe Truth Be Told will make it on something like Independant Lens the way Knocking did.
Q. Were you able to interview any Jehovah’s Witnesses for the film? (Maybe to offer their side of the experiences of the ex-Witnesses featured, for instance.)
NOTE: Pay special attention to the answer, guys. It’s a doozey. Emphasis is mine in the following quote, not Gregorio’s.

We reached out to the entire Witness community during preproduction – active/inactive Witnesses, Bethelites, those ‘riding the D-train’ (disfellowshipped) etc.. Active witnesses represented about 1/3 of the several dozen candidates interviewed for the film.
Thing is, no active witness would agree to share their story on camera. Not one. Not even in silhouette with their voice altered. They all expressed concern (dread really) of considerable retaliation/blowback from their family and the organization if their participation in the documentary was found out. Then there were those who sat for the preliminary interview with no intention of appearing in the movie at all. They just needed to talk.
Wow. So it seems there were active Witnesses who had things to say, but who couldn’t bring themselves to appear on camera – even with their identity’s protected – because of fear. I have to say, the fact that no one wanted to talk on camera suprises me less than the fact that they wanted to talk, but couldn’t do it.
For those who doubt the power of disfellowshipping, what do you think about it now?
Q. Did you try to get an interview with any representatives from the Watchtower Society?

I contacted the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s media relations department directly on 11/17/2011 at 3:17pm. I spoke with someone named Daniel and told him that I was a local filmmaker doing a documentary about growing up in the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion and that I needed to verify some information and had some additional questions for the organization.
After being put on hold for about 5 minutes Daniel returned, took my contact information, took all the information about the movie (title, website, content links etc.), then said that he would forward my questions to the appropriate department and that they would respond presently.
Haven’t heard a peep since 11/27/2011.
Watchtower HeadquartersThis one doesn’t surprise me, though I’m impressed that the attempt was made. The funny thing is that you’d think the Society would want the chance to counter any criticisms made during the interview, or to explain things with their own “spin” on it. In the end, I suppose they will explain themselves once the documentary comes out. Only they’ll be explaining them to Jehovah’s Witnesses in the literature where they can frame the discussion in their own way. Also, by not participating, they can label the film as an attack or an apostate diatribe.
Q. What sort of questions did you want to ask the Society’s representative?

Questions for Society was a mixed bag but mostly about disfellowshipping policy and the Bethel culture.  Considering how they brandish their annual world ministry stats (peak witnesses, numbers of hours preached, number baptized etc.), I wanted to know how many witness were disfellowshipped that (fiscal) year.  I can’t imagine they don’t track that.
Q. How many ex-Witnesses are featured in the film?

7 ex-Witnesses appear in the documentary. 6 males, 1 female.
Q. Were all of the ex-Witnesses from the same area, or were ex-Witnesses from other parts of the country interviewed as well?

One subject was raised in Detroit, another in the Dominican Republic. The rest are from NYC. I had planned to fly out to Oregon to interview Nate Quarry but the trip was scuttled at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict. Fortunately Nate’s travels included a stop in NY and we were able to do the interview here a few weeks later.
So the ex-Witnesses interviewed aren’t all from the same neck of the woods. Good. I’d like to see as many different perspectives as possible.
Q. I understand that your mother was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Is she still a Witness? What about your father and other family members?

My mother is still a witness. My father passed away years ago. Most of my siblings harbor a healthy and consistent aversion towards all religions. I do, however, have one sibling that professes to be a witness but is a dyed-in-the-wool hypocrite – the situationally-devout type that engages in behavior unbecoming of a christian (let alone a witness) yet never misses an opportunity to sermonize about the evils of celebrating birthdays and holidays.
Q. Do you still have any contact with your family, or have you been shunned like many former Witnesses?

Its been some time since I have spoken with my mother. I use the term ‘mother’ specifically because she hasn’t been a ‘mom’ in decades.
Just to be clear, I love and respect my mother. Unfortunately there is a tragic sense of martyrdom/self-determination amongst the aging witness parent population and I believe that they view estrangement and/or the active shunning of their non-witness children/grandchildren as a test of their devotion to Jehovah.
Matthew 10:37
“He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.”
here-lies-the-truthIn fairness, it has to be pretty distressing for these people to consider the possibility that they failed as parents. Armageddon/paradise must be a pretty attractive reward to justify a lifetime of sacrifice, regret, and unconditional submission to theocratic order.
I’m cool with all my siblings (save for the one). I was never baptized so I was never disfellowshipped (so no official shunning).
When I was about 12 or so I told my mother I wanted to get baptized – mostly because all the other youths in my Kingdom Hall were stampeding down that path. I was an honor student, a talented artist, and first chair saxophone, yet spiritual pursuits were the ONLY way to get any form of attention or praise from my mother and other congregation members.
Puberty kicked in as did a formative sense of rebellion and I soon had no interest whatsoever in a spiritual career. I was beaten several times for refusing to participate in weekly baptism-related bible studies. Toughed it out for several more years then stopped attending meetings altogether around 16.
Like me and many of you, Gregorio has not been officially disfellowshipped (love the term “riding the D-train” for “disfellowshipping” that he used earlier). Wonder if that will hold up or if he’ll get a letter in the mail when the film comes out, if not before?
Two women with lit sitting on a benchI have heard from others that many older Witnesses seem to feel abandoned by the younger generation. That may not be quite what Gregorio meant, but some claim the young ones are leaving in great numbers. I wonder if that is true? Do you guys have any thoughts on that?
I would like to mention that I do have a tiny fleck of sympathy for Witnesses in the position of having to shun their own family members. I acknowledge that they are in something of a bind, really. I have not seen much criticism leveled against them in congregations, however, just sympathy. And they have other Witnesses to lean on. Ex-Witnesses…not so much. So my sympathy only goes so far.
Q. Is your family aware of the documentary? How do they feel about it?

Most of my siblings helped with the production, including an older brother who is interviewed in the film. I also have non-jdub relatives who appear as extras. So on balance the family has been extremely supportive.
Not sure if my mother knows about the documentary (or that I’m a filmmaker for that matter).
I have an aunt that’s a super J-dub – a lifelong regular pioneer. She won’t receive it too well. And I fear that once she finds out about it I will no longer be her nephew…just a faceless apostate.
I think it’s really cool that some of Gregorio’s family got involved. That suggests they’re willing to stand up to the Society, which we have to respect. Is it just me, or does the idea of cutting someone off because they disagree with your religious views seem a bit…unhealthy? Especially when that someone is your child, your nephew, or a sibling? Gregorio hasn’t been officially disfellowshipped, but it sounds like his own mother barely knows him.
I maintain the view that I put out there years ago: being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not a happy or healthy place to be.
Q. What are your current religious views?

I don’t have any particular religious views. Not in the parochial sense anyway. And that incessant saccharin refrain of ‘I’m not religious… I’m spiritual’ is at once lazy and boring.
My religion – the belief system that I am bound to is simple: Be moral. Work hard. No excuses.
And if there is to be an elevated and healthy discussion about religion people should take a more layered and fundamental approach – beginning with the definition what religion actually is (the etymology of the word). If this cannot be determined then the entire conversation is in crisis.
Q. Any comments to make on Knocking?

Did not see Knocking so I can’t comment on it. I am curious though as to whether or not the film touches on the organization’s (purported) zero-tolerance policy toward homosexuality (the director of Knocking is an openly gay former witness). I also wonder if the society would have granted him the access/information that they did had they been aware of his sexual-orientation.
Knocking DVD CoverThat’s a good question. I don’t remember hearing that Knocking’s director is gay. (I may have just forgot about it.) I don’t remember anything in the film that mentions the Society’s treatment of homosexuals. That might be a worthwhile documentary on its own. FYI,the link to Knocking, seen in Gregorio’s answer above, is one that I added. He did not include it.
Q. I know this doesn’t relate directly to your film, but if you’re familiar with the Society’s new DVD (the one featuring Sparlock the Warrior Wizard) do you have any thoughts or impressions you’d like to share? Many people who saw it found it disturbing.

Saw the Sparlock video online before the society put the kibosh on it. It took me back to a day in my JW youth when an elder admonished me not to play with Transformers since, per the bible, ‘Satan was the first Transformer’ (2 Corinthians 11:14.) He and his wife advised me to stop playing with Transformer toys immediately and that throwing away my collection would be what Jehovah wants.
I remember they both had the same exact look and tone of self-righteous condemnation, intimidation and manipulation as the mother in the Sparlock video. And I was equally impressed and disturbed by how the filmmakers were able to accurately capture that singular aspect of pious bullying in an animated character. It also proves that the society has a pattern, policy and a script to demonize anything that kids might find enjoyable. What worked 25 years ago is still enlisted today.
Its an insidious form of child abuse.
CODA – That elder and his wife never had kids. And I still have my Transformers collection (including an Optimus Prime in the original box).
I say, “Cheers for Optimus Prime!” Please note that I added the links in Gregorio’s comments.
Q. Is there anything you’d like to say about the Candace Conti pedophile case?

Its a milestone decision and I suspect just the tip of the iceberg. I hope it emboldens other people to come forward with stories of abuses suffered within the organization (physical, psychological, intellectual, spiritual, sexual etc.).
That said, I don’t believe that the $27 million judgement signifies the imminent demise of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. And all the chatter around the case is making it difficult to track and validate new developments (ie the supposed 2-yr freezing of the Society’s real estate holdings).
Yeah, I don’t think the Society is going anywhere for a long time. I’m still waiting to see if there’s anything really happening with its holdings if that’s just a rumor based on the court documents. But it doesn’t sound like it works that way many people thought it did.
Q. Anything else you’d like to share with us about Truth Be Told or yourself?

Truth Be Told offers an honest glimpse into the culture of growing up in the Jehovah’s Witness religion. The film is immersive, informational, expository and controversial. It will trigger both emotional and rational responses.
Those that were hoping for a ‘Michael Moore’ type movie should consider that a film does not have to be sensationalized to be critical. I’m a filmmaker, not an activist and at the end of the day good art needs to be moral.
Lastly, there is no rule that requires documentaries to present ‘both sides of the story’. And after 100+ years of Watchtower dogma, propaganda and administrations we respectfully submit that Truth Be Told is the other side of the story.
We’re extremely proud of the documentary and we look forward to sharing it with a global audience.
I should think so, Gregorio. I would love to do what you have done and I’m sure lots of other ex-Witnesses feel the same way. Good luck. And please keep us posted! Personally, I think a less sensationalized film is likely to be more honest.
So what did you guys think out there? Share your thoughts with Gregorio. Or even better, help spread the word about Truth Be Told.










News And Links For Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses: Truth Be Told Documentary Promotion At Bethel
  By The Atheist Geek | March 29, 2013  |  Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW News and Links 
 
Hi everybody. Despite the prayers of your local Kingdom Halls, I’m not dead. :-P   I’m a busy college boy who hasn’t had time to write much or to fix all the quirks that were left in the aftermath of the big reboot here at AGN. Right now, you find me in the midst of Spring Break. And unlike your Spring Break, I’m here instead of getting drunk or making out with chicks.
Wow. Now I’m just sad. Avoidance-mode engaged!
VIDEO: Truth Be Told Documentary Promotion At Bethel

This was the film’s second public showing in New York. A number of ex-Witnesses were there (wish I could have been one of them). But here’s the sweet part: 1) it took place less than two miles away from Bethel headquarters 2) it took place the day after the Memorial 3) the video shows Gregorio and others blanketing the general area near Bethel with flyers that promote the documentary.
On a related note, here’s a little bonus: Interview with filmmaker Gregorio Smith talks about “Truth be Told.”
This features an interview with Gregorio himself! If you’d like to read my interview with Gregorio, get it here. It looks like Atheism TV will be running a story about it as well, so stay tuned over the next week or so for that.
“New light” Watchtower magazine leaked from organization weeks ahead of general release

The July 15 2013 Watchtower, which has been leaked weeks in advance of its scheduled release, offers more questions than answers regarding the Governing Body’s “new light”
That “new light” refers to the Body’s decision to declare themselves the Faithful and Discrete Slave.
VIDEO: Lord, Save us From Your Followers

Whether someone is Atheist, Agnostic, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, – or yes, even Christian – all can identify at times with the cry, “Lord, Save Us from Your Followers!” Fed up with the divisive bumper sticker mentality overtaking America, director (and follower) Dan Merchant donned his Bumper Sticker Man suit and set out on the daring search for meaningful dialogue and the true face of faith.
Yes, it’s on Hulu…sorry. But if you have Netflix, you can actually watch it without the commercials!
Deliverance at Hand! – Freethought House

Deliverance at Hand! is James Zimmerman’s account of growing up as a zealous Jehovah’s Witness in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.
Mama, I’d Like to Introduce You to Me

When parents disown their teenaged or young adult children, they miss out on seeing them mature. I daydream about the conversation I’d have with my mother now that I am in my mid-thirties. I’d love for her to get to know me. What would she think of her grown up daughter?











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Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Jehovah’s Witnesses.
By Adam Bourque on July 6th, 2012
Isaac J. Harris is an atheist and skeptic blogger. He is an ex Jehovah’s Witness and has graciously agreed to write us a series guest posts about them. You can read more of Issac’s work at  his site, The Atheist Geek News. If you would like to become a guest blogger, let us what you would like to say at our Contact Us page.
——————————————————————
10 Things You Don’t Know About Jehovah’s Witnesses
by Isaac J. Harris, The Atheist Geek
In the aftermath of several recent stories about Jehovah’s Witnesses, including the Candace Conti pedophilia court case and the DVD that launched the Sparlock Meme, I have been invited to do a series of articles about Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was a Witness myself for about six years and have been married to one for more than sixteen years. I am now a skeptical atheist with Witness in-laws (Everybody say it with me in their best Everybody Loves Raymond voice, “Thaaaat’s right!”) and very active in the ex-Jehovah’s Witness community.What is the good news of God's Kingdom Magazine cover?
Fair warning: so long as the Michigan Skeptics Association has articles about Jehovah’s Witnesses on its website, it’s very likely that Witnesses will come here and try to debunk any unflattering claims I make. It happens on ex-Witness sites across the web, and I doubt this site will escape their notice forever. Which brings me to the reason there are so many links on the page. By posting links to their own web site (and a few others) to support my claims, you will be able to see for yourselves that everything you read here is true.
And now, here are ten things you don’t know about Jehovah’s Witnesses.
10: Jehovah’s Witnesses Don’t Believe In The Trinity.
Jehovah’s Witnesses can be described as Arian, or at least Semi-Arian, in their view of God, Jesus, and holy spirit. But don’t panic: being Arian or Semi-Arian doesn’t have anything to do with the Nazis. That’s an entirely different sort of Arian.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the holy spirit is actually God’s “active force,” or energy, not a person as Trinitarians might see it. It’s also something that doesn’t get capitalized in their literature, which is why I’m not capitalizing it here.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is also a separate person from God, though he could be called a god in his own right. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, God only made one thing on his own: Michael the Archangel! You thought I was going to say Jesus, didn’t you? Note that there is only one archangel in their pantheon of angels and his name is Mike. Michael the Archangel made everything else in creation, from heaven to Earth, in accordance with God’s plan. Even the angels were made by Michael. Later, Michael was sent to Earth and became Jesus. (Tada!) So while Jesus is awesome and everything (duh) his father is even more awesome in the eyes of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Jehovah God, as you may have guessed, is still the same big man he is to all other denominations of Christianity.
9: Jehovah’s Witnesses Don’t Believe In A Literal Hell
This may surprise some of you. I mean, how do they whip everybody into compliance with their rules if they don’t believe in a literal Hell? I’ll answer that one later. (Hint: it rhymes with Armageddon.) For now, just understand that whenever your Bible talks about Hell, Jehovah’s Witnesses say it’s really talking about something else, like the grave. Note that their Bible, the New World Translation, doesn’t use the word hell. It simply uses the original words in the biblical manuscripts, like Sheol or Gehenna, without bothering to translate them into English. So, to Jehovah’s Witnesses, when most of us die, we simply…well…die. At least until we’re resurrected. That means that red heads aren’t so different from the rest of us in the world of Jehovah’s Witnesses. To them, none of us has a soul. Not even blonds, so stop asking me.
8: Only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses Go To Heaven
In case you’re wondering, there are actually about seven million baptized Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide right now. You may have noticed that this is a lot more than a 144,000 people. This may sound like a problem, but they’re not sweating it. Most Witnesses aren’t looking forward to any sort of heavenly afterlife at all.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only the anointed Witnesses (who are also called the “Hundred-and-Forty-Four Thousand,” or “the Faithful and Discrete Slave class”) will go to Heaven to rule at Jesus’ side. They will become “spirit creatures” in heaven, similar to the angels. In theory, it’s the still-living anointed “slave class” that has been delegated authority to run God’s earthly organization, The Watchtower Society. By the way, whenever you hear Witnesses or ex-Witnesses talking about “the Society,” they’re really talking about the Watchtower Society I just mentioned.
So how do you know if you’re one of the anointed? Well, you just know is all! There is no litmus test per se. Note that there have been way more than a 144,000 Witnesses claiming to be anointed already and Armageddon isn’t even here yet! Apparently more than a few anointed were mistaken about being part of the Faithful and Discrete Slave. Of course, faking it could get you kicked out of any sort of paradise, so it’s not a smart move.
7: For Most Witnesses, Paradise Means An Eternity Spent On Earth
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Earth will be restored to a paradise after Armageddon and that the human race will be “perfected.” All of this will take place over a thousand year period because we, as human beings, are just plain awful. The task of perfecting us will be overseen by Jesus and the anointed. Once that’s complete, Jesus will hand the Earth and its inhabitants back over to Jehovah God’s ruler-ship.
So what does it mean to be perfect? They say we’ll be made young and healthy forever. But what happens if you slip on a banana and get sucked into a wood chipper? No one really knows. I always assumed that perfect human beings would have regenerative powers like Wolverine from the X-Men. Honestly, your guess is as good as anybody’s.
6: Armageddon’s Coming, Mister! Or Maam
As stated earlier, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe that bad people go to Hell when they die. Witnesses believe that the dead are unconscious, so threatening one of them with eternal hellfire isn’t really going to motivate him much. But many Witnesses will cringe at the mention of Armageddon.
Witnesses believe that Armageddon could strike at any second. Maybe now. Or even now!!! Oh, so close. When it does, only good Jehovah’s Witnesses will survive. Unless you’re one of them, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been a good person or not. Jesus will smite ye! Yet being a Witness doesn’t guarantee that you’ll survive Armageddon either. You have to be an upstanding member of the religion. Remember, Jesus sees all and knows all. Even what’s in your mind. That’s why I try to keep my thoughts as dirty as possible; he can only take so much depravity. That keeps my thoughts nice and private.
If you are killed during Armageddon, that’s it for you. You’re dead and gone for good. Like the people of Noah’s day, it’s assumed that the world will be a raving cesspool of wickedness by that point and that every non-Witness alive will be deserving of death. If you died before Armageddon, however, then you will probably be resurrected and reeducated by Armageddon survivors during Christ’s Millennial Reign (the thousand year period I mentioned earlier). In other words, Witnesses who survive into the Millennial Reign will teach the truth (their religion) to those who are resurrected. If resurrected ones reject these teachings, then they die all over again and that will be it for them too. Hey, that’s how free will works people! Take it or else.
5: Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe That Other Religions Are Demonically Inspired
Jehovah’s Witnesses generally see other religions as an affront to God. Many (or all) other religions are thought to have demonic origins. Some Witnesses even believe that pagan deities, like Thor and Zeus, were actually invented by fallen angels. The point is that other religions are generally out there to mislead people and to draw them away from God’s one, true religion. Note that the word “Christendom” is often defined as “the Christian world,” but Witness literature uses it to refer to “false Christianity” instead. Any religion other than their own which calls itself Christian is a part of Christedom.
As you might have guessed by now, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t do interfaith very well. Or at all, really. In fact, even stepping inside a religious building like a church or a Mosque can get you in trouble if you’re a Witness. So can a lot of other things, but we’ll talk about that another time.
4: World Governments Are Under Demonic Control
Satan is the ruler of the world and it’s governments, so Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to directly participate in politics or to serve in the military. Doing so would be like joining Satan himself. That means Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t vote, will always find you innocent if they’re forced to serve in a jury (good to know), and view world governments as nothing more than a necessary evil until the beginning of Christ’s Millennial Reign. All armies and human governments will be destroyed during Armageddon, so you don’t want to be a part of them when the big A hits…unless you’re a worldly person. In which case, you’re toast anyway.
3: All Non-Witnesses Are Part Of Satan’s World
I suppose I could have narrowed these last three into a single heading called, “Trust No One!” But these points each deserve their own explanation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are strongly discouraged from forming strong ties to non-Witnesses, who are also referred to as nonbelievers or as “worldly people.” This is because we worldly types are all part of Satan’s world, or “This System of Things.” That’s right my friends. Whether you know it or not, you are Satan’s unwitting pawn. To Jehovah’s Witnesses, letting a worldly person into their lives represents a threat to their spirituality. Satan could use us to corrupt them, so all worldly people (or all non-Witnesses) are generally assumed to be “bad associates.”
Don’t get me wrong. Witnesses are more than happy to convert us. But if a Witness invites you over to his house, it probably isn’t for the company. Expect to leave with a few magazines or at least a tract before you go.
3: Jehovah’s Witnesses Practice Disfellowshipping (Shunning)
You can think of disfellowshipping as a severe dose of excommunication with a dose of the cold shoulder treatment thrown on top. If a Witness is disfellowshipped, he not only sacrifices any hope of living forever in a paradise Earth, he is also cut off from any form of communication with anyone who is still one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Even if they are members of his own family. Any Witness who violates this rule by talking or eating with a disfellowshipped person runs the risk of being disfellowshipped himself.
Of course, some families do break this rule from time to time. But it’s rarely a good thing for an ex-Witness when they do. Many Witnesses only do it so they can tell their disfellowshipped relatives how disappointed they are in them. When a Witness breaks protocol to communicate with a loved one who has been disfellowshipped, it usually happens in the form of a letter or an email. Note that some congregations are more liberal than others and will allow some face time if the Witness gets permission from his elders. But make no mistake, disfellowshipping is a very powerful way of keeping Witnesses who lose faith in the Society’s teachings in check.
I want to stress that disfellowshipping is a huge issue, one that people sometimes underestimate. Many ex-Witnesses have been emotionally devastated by it. In fact, many ex-Witnesses pretend that they still believe in “the truth” (what Jehovah’s Witnesses call their religion and their community) just to avoid being disfellowshipped. That alone should tell you something about the power it holds over them.
2: Women Who Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Always In Subjugation To Men
Like everyone else at your closest Kingdom Hall, women are in subjugation to congregation elders (who are always male) and to their own fathers until the day they move our or get married. (I mean when the women get married, not the fathers.) Even then, they are forever in subjugation to their husbands and are to obey him out of respect for Jehovah’s arrangements and their husband’s “headship” over the family. If a woman is required to take on a responsibility that only a male is normally allowed to carry out, she must wear a head covering. Any head covering, even a book held on top of her head, will do.
Women are not allowed to directly teach, or instruct, from the podium at any Kingdom Hall unless no suitable males can be found. They are allowed to instruct by example, however. Congregation sisters will perform a hypothetical scenario in front of the congregation, sort of like a play. For instance, one sister might pretend to be a householder while another pretends to be a Witness trying to place a magazine with the householder; this serves as an example so others can see how it’s done. It reminds me of my days as a salesman, where management would force us to act out different scenarios at sales meetings. We hated it, but it’s generally regarded as a privilege to perform in front of an audience at a Kingdom Hall if you’re one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
1: The Light Gets Brighter As The End Draws Near
In theory, Jehovah’s Witnesses are led by Jesus Christ, who has been delegated authority to lead them by Jehovah God. In practice, they’re really led by a bunch of old guys from a place called Bethel, which is currently in New York. These old guys are called the governing body, and their authority was delegated to them by Jesus. Well, allegedly delegated. Your mileage may vary.
Jesus, it is believed, is guiding the leaders toward the absolute truth in a very subtle, vague sort of way. So subtle that the leaders make mistakes just like everybody else, including people who are not divinely inspired by Jesus. This might lead you to assume that it’s hard to tell someone who’s divinely inspired from someone who merely claims to be. But that you would be a very wrong and obvious thing to say.
The point is that “the truth,” as they understand it, is ever-changing, even though Jehovah and Jesus are not forever changing their minds. These changes are often described as “new light” by the Society’s leaders and are not to be taken as a sign that their leaders are misguided. Instead, it just means they get stuff wrong and Jehovah’s Witnesses shouldn’t let it bug them. The light (or the truth) gets brighter as Armageddon draws near, my friends. So stop relying on your own understanding and trust Jehovah to make it clear in his own good time. (These are things that real Jehovah’s Witnesses say, by the way. No, I’m not kidding.)
Openly flaunting any difference of opinion with the Society’s governing body can get you disfellowshipped for apostasy, especially if you try to convince others that your opinions are right and the leader’s teachings are not. That’s a major no-no in the world of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’ll get your bus pass into paradise revoked in a heartbeat, buddy. So don’t even go there.
——————————————————
That’s it for today class. Stay tuned for more articles about Jehovah’s Witnesses in the near future. In the meantime, feel free to check out my website at Atheist Geek News



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25 Responses to “Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Jehovah’s Witnesses.”



 Danny Haszard says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 9:52 am 
Well done!
 More on blood transfusions.
 Jehovah’s Witnesses blood transfusion confusion
Jehovahs Witnesses take blood products now in 2012.
 They take all fractions of blood.This includes hemoglobin, albumin, clotting factors, cryosupernatant and cryo-poor too, and many, many, others.
 If one adds up all the blood fractions the JWs takes, it equals a whole unit of blood. Any, many of these fractions are made from thousands upon thousands of units of donated blood.
 Jehovah’s Witnesses can take Bovine *cows blood* as long as it is euphemistically called synthetic Hemopure.
 Jehovah’s Witnesses now accept every fraction of blood except the membrane of the red blood cell. JWs now accept blood transfusions.
 The fact that the JW blood issue is so unclear is downright dangerous in the emergency room.
More than 50,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses dead from Watchtowers deadly arbitrary blood ban. That is 50 times more than died at Jonestown massacre,some estimates run as high as 100,000 dead
–
Danny Haszard ajwrb(dot)org
 JW blood reform site

 
 Ashley says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 11:24 am 
A little story, in my 10th year of highschool, one of my best friends decided that she wanted to follow her father and become a jehovie. Ultimately, she vanished. I haven’t seen nor heard from her since we were fifteen. One of the last conversations I recall having with her was about he potentially moving into a ‘convent’ or a ‘group jehovie home’. This twisted cult is deplorable, it’s almost as bad as christianity or scientology.


 eric says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 2:39 pm 
Probably the “Watchtower Farms” – a largely self-sufficient compound where they print the magazine.
I toured it once when I got forced into that BS cult for a while.

 
 
 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 12:59 pm 
Ashley, any chance your friend was going to Bethel or someplace like that to work on the publications?
Bear in mind that JWs, like SDAs and other small religious groups, have many break-offs that are even more extreme. Some actually use the Society’s literature, but swear loyalty to another group.

 
Diez cosas que no sabías de los Testigos de Jehová (ENG) | Desde.CO says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 12:59 pm 
[...] » noticia original Esta entrada fue publicada en desde cuando por admin. Guarda el enlace permanente. [...]

 
 Reubarbarian says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 2:51 pm 
Great article Isaac!
It does tend to be difficult to get solid info that isn’t accompanied by proselytizing. Having read your article and taking it at face value, it really helps me to put some questions concerning an old coworker in perspective. It still boggles me that any woman would ever want to be a part of any group that is so bent on the subjugation of women. That’s what I get for trying to use uncommon sense!
Thanks and keep up the great work!


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 4:44 pm 
Thanks a lot for the kind words. I should probably mention that I’ve never heard of a Sister being disfellowshipped for disobeying her husband, though an elder could try to “set her straight” if she disobeyed him publicly. Many things can affect a Witness’ standing within the congregation. It’s all a matter of degree.
I like to think of it this way. All society’s and cultures have certain expectations and consequences for meeting or failing to meet those expectations. In the U.S., people often frown on those with disabilities that aren’t readily noticeable. I once suffered from migraines so severe that they interfered with my ability to work. The consequence was that many people, including family and in-laws, did not approve of me in general. I was not arrested or whatever for it. But some thought I wasn’t a very good person and just assumed I didn’t want to work. (Fortunately, I have pretty much overcome these issues.)
Likewise, if a Sister is disobedient, she is likely to be seen as “worldly” and having a “spirit of rebelliousness.” Or even–dare I say it?–guilty of “relying on her own understanding!” That’s how Satan gets you, you know. She may not be DFed, but she will not be treated very well, either. Others may not speak to her unless forced to do so. She will already be one-strike down in the public eye.

 
 
 Amelia says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 7:37 pm 
Isaac – thanks for the information! I have to ask – you say you are married to a Witness and have Witness in-laws. Does that mean your wife is still a Witness? And were you disfellowshipped? Thanks!


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 8:12 pm 
My wife is still one of JWs, though she is probably considered inactive and in danger of becoming “worldly” by their standards. Bear in mind that JWs have high standards in terms of what allows you to call yourself a JW. You have to be baptized as one first, or raised by JWs, to be counted as one. There are as many as 18 or 19 million people who believe that JWs have “the truth” based on Memorial attendance, yet they only count about 7 million each year. Many celebrities and historical figures who are cited as JWs by various websites are not, in fact, considered full fledged JWs by the Watchtower Society. Many do not believe the Jackson family to be “real” JWs, for instance.
I was never DFed, though I have been shunned by several of them. Note that DFing is not a requirement for shunning; you merely have to be seen as a bad associate. I was never shunned (though I sure wanted to be at times) until after I admitted to being an atheist to an in-law who didn’t know when to leave me alone about my life-choices. It was actually one of the many weird experiences I’ve had since leaving the WTS with JWs who are determined to confront me about my leaving. I would love to write these experiences down, but I fear there’s no way to tell them with much justice to all involved.

 
 
 Eric says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 7:54 pm 
Witnesses in Norway refute mandatory military service. Consciencious (that’s a hard word) objectors like them and myself get sent social service “camps”. During my “imprisonment” in this camp I met several of these witnesses. All of them were of semi- or lower education. Higher education is not encouraged, don’t give them any ideas, I guess. In Norway there is a clear anti-sentiment towards religious people, and perhaps, especially JW. But I was appalled by these people. I’ve never met so brazenly racist, narrow-minded, sheeple in my life. But alcohol? One of them crashed the camp minivan in a garbage-container DUI. Another guy got caught surfing kiddie-porn at the public computer. Really?? Wtf? I’m embarrassed of these people, but they don’t care. They “have seen the light”, fucking brain-washed is what they are…..


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 8:29 pm 
As an atheist, I am intrigued by countries that are deemed to be highly secular. I think Norway is one. Am I right, Eric?
The WTS has traditionally frowned upon higher education in most countries. There is an old saying among ex-Witnesses like myself: JWs are a religion of window washers. Not because they’re dumb or because window washers are dumb, but because they’re expected to dedicate themselves to the WTS and its cause from an early age. Hence, many end up in low paying jobs or doing grunt work all their lives. I am nearly 40, and I’m only now starting my first year of college (though there are many reasons for that which have little to do with JWs). The fact that many JWs disapprove of higher education is enough to keep most of them as far from it as possible in order to gain the approval of their families and potential spouses.
Your experiences with their behavior are not terribly uncommon, but not all JWs are alike. I can attest to that much, at least. I would like to suggest that you not judge them all too harshly. There is at least one study suggesting that JWs are more likely to be emotionally unstable, though I’m not sure it’s fair to give too much credit to a single study. Note that while I am a critic of the WTS and, to some extent, JWs, I do not hate them and try not to turn them into stereotypes. (Not that you were, either, Eric.) Mostly, I am a critic of the corporation behind their religion (the Watchtower Society) and their culture, which I believe has many problems.

 
 
 Carla says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 9:17 pm 
I grew up in a witness family, my parents are still practicing members. I was never baptised, nor was I disfellowshipped. But I am still ostracized and ignored by the congregation members in my city. I believe that the JW faith is a cult, and yes I do agree that goals to obtain higher education are quashed by the religion. The only members I have met that have a formal qualification of any type are the members that joined the religion after attending university… I would have thought that higher education would have won over, but brainwashing works in mysterious ways…
Thank you for this article. Now I can give it to my friends and explain what my parents believe in. It’s easier than trying to find ways to explain it!


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 7, 2012 at 9:15 am 
I did not grow up with a family of JWs. I went to my first meeting on my 18th birthday. The fact that my parents were not “in the truth” made this more difficult than it needed to be. As a kid, all the elders and some other adults felt entitled to treat me as if I was one of their kids. Not all, but many of them, seemed to have what I would call “control issues.” Several elders kept henpecking me for things that seemed petty, even trivial, and far from worth the effort. Being a teenager, I kept doing them for the first year or so just because I could. :-)
Darn my spirit of rebelliousness!
As a side note, I should mention that some on my father’s side of the family were Mormon-wannabes. They couldn’t really join the Mormons. Too many rules about smoking and drinking. :-) But when you think about how close I could have come to being a Mormon instead of a JW…oh boy.

 
 
 Brendan says: 
 July 6, 2012 at 9:39 pm 
Very interesting. I’ve been raised around more liberal religious types, so I never really experienced these pressures. My mother certainly rode me hard about going to church once I stopped, but it was more like she thought it would do me good than she thought I would burn in Hell. She eventually became an Anglican priest, and married another Anglican priest, so I’ve had a lot of Jesus in the house (and sermons in the car). Moralistic stuff, some judgmental treatment. I’m just glad my father is an atheistic cynical recidivist so I had another path to tread.
My life has lead me to atheism, but I harbour a deep fascination with religion and myth. I’ve studied a lot of different religions from different periods. It sounds like the WTS has an operation much like that of orthodox Jewish societies, with the shunnings and the elder councils.
***btw I know that in many places the Anglican Church is very conservative, but I’m from Canada, where it is pretty liberal (no gay marriages yet, but same-sex blessings skirt that issue closely, and certainly homosexual priests and parishioners).


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 7, 2012 at 8:52 am 
Brendan, I am a skeptical atheist these days, but I’m also fascinated by religion and myth. I used to read books about mythology when I was waiting for the bus back when I was in elementary school. As always, the best parts of mythology are the parts you don’t learn about in school. I see it as an extension of the human psyche.
BTW, JWs don’t approve of homosexuality either. Moderate, or maybe even liberal, JW congregations do exist. But they are usually looked down on by the rest. When a JW is about to be baptized, they have to go before 2 elders who will ask questions and offer advise before approving the baptism. At my meeting, the elders warned me not to go to 2 specific congregations, calling them “Sodom and Gomorrah.”
To give you a perspective on the congregation I was from–which I think was pretty typical of a Kingdom Hall–one of the reasons they cited was that, “Brothers are allowed to give talks without a suit jacket from the podium.”
No running through the halls, kids!

 
 
 Michael says: 
 July 7, 2012 at 1:19 am 
I used to be an elementary school teacher and one year I had about 5 or 6 JW in my fourth grade class. After about six weeks or so they were all taken out of my class. One boy in particular, was very smart and we had amazing conversations about science, history, politics, and even mathematics. When he became rebellious at home is when all of the JW were placed in different classes because I was not a good fit. I stayed in some contact with that one student because I live near where I taught, and one day he told me that everyone was taken out of my class because the parents complained about me because, in his words, “I was teaching them to think too much outside of the approved curriculum.” Now my house sit up above the Kingdom Hall and I sometimes look for him, but hopefully he made it to college and left that stuff behind.


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 7, 2012 at 9:05 am 
I don’t suppose the subject of evolution came up, did it? Or blood transfusions? Or any history that might cross into “Bible times?”
JWs often have a mistrust of science, especially older JWs. I don’t know how long ago this was, but if their parents smelled the possibility that you might “mislead” their kids with…you know…facts as the rest of us know them, they might have gone into “save our kids from worldly influences” mode. You know…get thee behind me, Satan!
Bear in mind that the Watchtower Society wrote “Life–How did it get here? By evolution or by creation?” This is an infamous creationist book that is…well…disturbingly inaccurate. And so popular among even non-Witnesses that Richard Dawkins addressed it in “The God Delusion” despite the fact that the book was just going out of print after a run of more than 25 years. A paper exists online that debunks its many inaccuracies (note that it was written soon after the “Life…” book and that the situation is even worse now) and that paper is actually several times bigger than the book it debunks!
JWs also believe certain odd things about history and medicine. If you crossed any of those lines in your conversations, that might explain why you got such a unanimous reaction from all the JW parents.

 
 
 Robert King says: 
 July 8, 2012 at 11:06 am 
I don’t know why the 1914 doctrine didn’t make your top ten list. Seems to me to be the most important teaching of the Watchtower


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 8, 2012 at 1:07 pm 
Robert, I have been to your website on occasion. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve always had the impression that your approach in dealing with JWs and their beliefs is a religious one. That is to say, you appear to be a Christian or even a fundamentalist Christian who feels some outrage over what you believe to be false teachings.
To you, as is the case with many other critics of the WTS who are still Christians, the 1914 issue is probably a big deal. I respect that, and mean no disrespect when I tell you that to me–as an atheist–it is not a big deal at all. It doesn’t even really affect the day-to-day lives of most JWs. Or at least it had little impact on mine when I was a Witness back in the 90s, and now that the generation teachings has changed, it probably matters even less. If a Witness came to a skeptic’s door, it is unlikely that the issue would come up directly in a conversation.
Try to understand that you and I are coming at this from very different points of view. To me, as an atheist, the basic teachings of JWs are no more true or false than anyone else’s. That isn’t what my approach is about, nor is it a focus of contention for me. I will point out the irrationality of their beliefs in a heartbeat. But I don’t have another “truth” to steer people toward the way many Christian critics do.
Also, please remember that this is a skeptic website, not a Christian website. There could be readers here who are Christian, but they are likely to be Christian moderates instead of fundamentalists. So, to go into 1914 and the whole generation issue, I would have to explain why any of the readers here should care about it before I even addressed the actual issue of 1914.
Robert, with all respect, that does not suggest that it warrants an entry here, especially since the article is already quite long.
To me, as an atheist, 1914 only has one interesting feature: it is based on an incorrect understanding of history. A small article could cover that. But it doesn’t interest me in the way that it clearly interests you. I’m sorry Robert, but I would probably be nearly out of ideas before I wrote much about 1914.
I happen to notice that you have an article up right now that talks about 1914. Perhaps people who are interested can go there. If you can write an article about 1914 that is geared toward skeptics/atheists instead of Christians, you could also try submitting it as a guest writer here. There is a message at the top of my article from the webmaster inviting others to do just that.
Best of luck to you and the eWatchman, Robert. :-)

 
 
 Paul Murray says: 
 July 8, 2012 at 11:48 pm 
JW is a very straightforward moneymaking scam.
You get to heaven by “witnessing” for Jehovah.
“Witnessing” means “handing out literature produced by the Watchtower bible and tract society”.
Which you pay for.
 At what they claim is “cost price” (LOL!!!)
The Watchtower ferociously guard their copyright. Any JW that suggests that it could be produced more cheaply down at the local print shop instantly gets in a whole mess of trouble. To help enforce this, everyone in the hierarchy down to the local bishops gets a cut of the action – just like Amway and their inspirational tape selling racket. Really, it’s hard to tell the two apart.
The pressure to “witness” is so great that JWs will buy literature and throw it in the bin, just to pretend that they are “witnessing”. It isn’t God they are trying to impress – it’s their brothers and sisters in church, who will ostracise them if they don’t (again – Amway people will buy stuff they don’t use, just to keep the numbers up).
And that’s pretty much all there is to it.


 Isaac J. Harris says: 
 July 9, 2012 at 11:32 am 
Paul, how do you know that everyone in the hierarchy gets a cut of the action? I think you mean elders, not bishops, BTW. But I would be interested in hearing more about that. Even former elders who are now XJWs have never said anything to me about that. Same for former Witnesses who used to work at Bethel headquarters.
Thanks in advance for filling in the blanks.


 Isaac B. says: 
 July 15, 2012 at 2:41 am 
There are no blanks to fill in. I don’t know where Paul is getting his info but his use of the word bishops tells me he doesn’t know much about witnesses.
The society stopped charging for their literature about 20 years ago. You can’t claim to be a non-profit org if you are selling something. It was just easier to stop charging and start asking for a donation to cover the printing costs.
All of the witness leaders at the local level are unpaid volunteers. Circuit overseers and various other missionaries as well as those who work at their headquarters receive small monthly stipends. If anyone thinks these people do it for the money, they are misinformed. Anyone at that level is a true believer and not in it for the money. I don’t say that to defend them, it’s just the way it is.

 
 
 
 Gabriel says: 
 July 9, 2012 at 2:14 pm 
I had a ex girlfriend who is a JW and I witnessed some of the stuff they do. Believe this is not a religion for everyone they are soooo sharp in their rules. I recall she wasn’t allowed to deliver those pamphlets at the street because she was been considered “rebelious” cause she hang out a lot with non JW friends. Her ex hit her a few times and her family told her to not expose him because he was probably right in doing it. She had to hide our relationship from her dad because she didn’t wanted her dad to suffer from the shame. After the service on sundays the elders make a lottery to select people to stay and clean the whole place. Everything related to literature has to be made and approved by the big church in Bethel so all of them are reading the same. If there is a dispute between members it is usually solved by a counsel of elders who solve stuff, most of the child molesting cases and adultery wich both are punishable by law are being solved “closed doors” so that’s why no one knows what happens in there. I left her because she was too afraid of what her family and JWs would do to her if they knew about that.

 
 Harold Gerber says: 
 July 17, 2012 at 11:11 am 
Well written accurate posts. I remember dropping out of high school and moving out of my parents home to pursue a different happier life. My parents who were full fledged strict Jehovies did’nt try to talk me out of it; but rather emphazied a higher education was not necessary because the ‘new world was just stound the corner.
 They simply said Jesus Christ was’nt a university scholar but a ‘humble’ lowly carpenter. I should be emulating him.
 But to my loss, that was back in 1966 and the new world is’nt here yet.
 That cult had profound negative impact and basically ruined my life!

 
 Jane Thompson says: 
 July 17, 2012 at 2:51 pm 
I didn’t get past the point where he misspelled “Aryan.” I don’t care, I stay away from Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses and pretty much all
 Christians. The kindest thing I can say about them is that they are hypocrites.

 

 
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5 Ways To Stop Jehovah’s Witnesses From Knocking On Your Door
By The Atheist Geek on December 24th, 2012
You don’t have to look hard to find lots stories on the web about people trying to scare Jehovah’s Witnesses away so the Witnesses won’t come knocking again. One classic example is the guy who greets them dressed as a Satanist. Another is the guy carrying a scary animal that’s supposed to freak out visiting Witnesses. Kyria Abrahams described such an experience in her book, I’m Perfect, You’re Doomed: Tales of a Jehovah’s Witness Upbringing. Note that in Kyria’s book, the Witness who knocked on the snake owner’s door didn’t run away. She merely asked if she could pet the snake and make nice with it, much to the householder’s disappointment.
Tricks like these usually don’t work. Aside from the fact that they’re really obvious attempts to scare Jehovah’s Witnesses away, they also present Witnesses with a challenge to their faith that must be accepted and conquered. If the Witness fails to meet the challenge, then he is putting his fear ahead of his faith, which just won’t cut it in his world. Like many evangelists, most Witnesses relish the thought of proving their loyalty to God and will do so with gusto if given the chance. That’s exactly what stunts like these help them do.
Many people – including many former Jehovah’s Witnesses – think that all you have to do is tell a Witness you’re an apostate and the Witness will magically vanish in a puff of smoke and tears. I have met a few Witnesses who are paranoid enough to simply run away at the words, “I’m an apostate,” but in many cases, it won’t be that simple. Darn it all. In fact, you’re just as likely to get a visit from the elders as you are to run them away for good if you try that one.
Most congregations won’t let you get away with the old “put me on your Do Not Call List” line, either. You can try it (it’s on the list below) but many congregations won’t let you off the hook that easily.
So what can you do? Here are a few things you can try that might stop them from knocking on your door forever…or at least for a little while.

1. Be A Scary Apostate
For our purposes, an apostate is someone who wants to ruin a Witness’ chances of everlasting life by filling his head with poisonous lies. By lies, I mean anything that Watchtower leaders disagree with. This is probably the most difficult route to take, but in many cases, it can yield the best results if you play your cards right.
A good apostate – the kind that should be avoided instead of helped to see the error of his ways – is kind of a know it all. He’s proud, assertive, and even a little offensive. The ideal apostate is also intellectually intimidating because he knows the Bible as well as any Jehovah’s Witness and can debate circles around them. For most Witnesses, saving him from his evil ways is pointless because his heart has hardened itself to “the truth” (the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses) so he cannot be saved. Since Witnesses have nothing to gain by arguing with him and have everything to lose if he sews the seed of doubt in their hearts, the scary apostate should be avoided.
If you decide to go this route, then you must be defiant and impossible to reason with, but you must not appear to be a laughable buffoon, either. An idiot-apostate is just entertainment for most Jehovah’s Witnesses. On the other hand, an apostate determined to prove how right he is will only frustrate and confound them. If you succeed in being a good apostate, rumors will spread that your home should be avoided by other Witnesses at the Kingdom Hall. If you’re very successful, their elders may even declare your home off limits. Achievement unlocked!
You should, of course, know a thing or two about the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses if you really want to pull this one off. My articles at Atheist Geek News will be of some help. You might want to do some reading here and here for other articles I’ve written at Michigan Skeptics. Please note that you should not actually refer to yourself as an apostate when talking to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. That would be too obvious. It will also lead to other questions or inquiries you’ll never be able to answer unless you really are a former Jehovah’s Witness. Like me! So unless you have it on good authority that local Witnesses really will avoid you if you simply declare yourself to be an apostate, don’t go there.
2. Make Them Feel Unbearably Awkward
If you don’t have what it takes to be a good apostate, you can try going on the offensive by making them feel so uncomfortable that they don’t ever want to come back. Remember the real point of this one is to challenge their claim that they have the one, true religion that everyone should want to join. They may try to dismiss these topics, but you must make it clear that they matter a great deal to you. The fact that you’re asking them to defend their organization against perfectly valid complaints will matter to them as well.
Here are some uncomfortable topics to bring up when conversing with Jehovah’s Witnesses at your front door:
•Evolution. More on that here, and here. (Check the comments, too!) If evolution isn’t your strong suit, you can also use other topics that the Society has written about and gotten very, very wrong.
•Charges of pedophilia by elders, or other Witnesses, that were not reported to authorities by congregation elders. More here.
•Their many failed predictions about the end of the world. Don’t let them off the hook when they tell you that these predictions didn’t happen or that the lives of many Jehovah’s Witnesses weren’t devastated when the predictions failed.
•The obvious manipulation of the parents (and the video’s creators) in the infamous Sparlock video. It was so bad that many Witnesses thought the video was a fake when it first came out, too.
•The plight of ex-Witnesses who have been shunned by their own families, as shown in testimonies across the web and the Truth be Told documentary.
•What some see as the cult-like behavior of the Watchtower Society and it’s  leaders.
•Their low retention rate, both for those converted and those “born in” (raised to be Jehovah’s Witnesses by their parents). Ask them why their retention rates are so low if God is really on their side or ask them why people keep leaving if life as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is really an improvement over your life as it is now.
•The rationale for refusing blood transfusions and the fate of those who have refused necessary transfusions due to this teaching, including children with Witness parents.
NOTE: If you have the Web of Trust plugin on your computer, it may red flag a couple of the links above. This is not because they contain harmful software. Jehovah’s Witnesses can vote at Web of Trust the same as you and I. Many have understandably chosen to vote these sites down to stop people from visiting them. These sites will not harm your computer in any way, however.
If you play your cards right, they’ll go ahead and label you an evil opposer for giving them a hard time and add you to their Do Not Call List.
3. Come Right Out And Ask Them To Stop Visiting You
Let me tell you the problem with this one right away: in most cases, it will only keep them at bay for about six months. That’s the policy as I understand it, and even then, many Kingdom Halls don’t follow it. Some have congregations have an entirely different policy of their own. Still, if you live in a neighborhood where Jehovah’s Witnesses visit so often that it borders on harassment (yes, such places do exist) then this sure beats having them drop by every morning.
When asking Jehovah’s Witnesses to stop calling on you, try being forceful but respectful. Be prepared with an answer when they ask you why you don’t want them to bother you anymore. They will probably try to talk you out of it, but be sure to stick to your guns and stay on topic. Note that confidence will work better than meekness in this situation, and don’t get angry with them unless they get angry with you. But make sure they know you’re serious about this request. Then ask them – point blank – if they intend to honor it. If they say no, tell them you’re prepared to complain to the congregation overseer or that they’ve left you no choice but to complain to the police.
Remember, all Kingdom Halls are different. Some congregations will honor a request like this, so it’s worth a try. If they come back after you asked them not to, then it may be time to try option number 4…
4. Try Calling The Kingdom Hall And Asking Them To Leave You Alone
In some neighborhoods, a call to the Kingdom Hall will actually get you routed to the congregation overseer, also known as a Presiding Overseer, unless you happen to call during meeting hours. Either way, you should ask to speak with an elder or the Presiding Overseer. Then make your case to him directly.
This may have some impact if the elders at that congregation are especially moderate, or if you have legal grounds – such as being visited so frequently that you’re ready to pull your hair out or to call the cops on them for harassment. (See suggestions #5 below.) If the Witnesses who have arrived at your home were rude, inconsiderate, or otherwise not very nice, you could try explaining this to the overseer and citing it as one of the reasons you don’t appreciate their visits. You could mention other reasons as well, like accidental damage to your property. For instance, there were several cases at my former Kingdom Hall where Witnesses actually ran over someone’s dog by mistake! I know of one case where the Witnesses held open the householder’s door to prevent him from closing it on them, only to have the householder’s pet bird fly away! These are not the sort of experiences Jehovah’s Witnesses want to be known for, and they might be enough to persuade the overseer to spare your house from further visitations. You could also tell him that you have pets that might injure the Witnesses, such as an aggressive dog, and you frankly don’t want to deal with a lawsuit if a Witness gets bitten.
Once you’ve made your case, make sure to ask the overseer if he intends to honor your request or not. If he refuses to make any promises, make sure to let the overseer know what you’re prepared to do if anymore Witnesses come knocking. Please do not threaten him or any Jehovah’s Witnesses with any form of violence. Yelling and screaming probably won’t help, either. But you can threaten to take your case to the authorities or even take legal action by contacting a lawyer if he seems unwilling to mark you as a Do Not Call.
If nothing else, you can tell the authorities that you asked the congregation to leave you alone – and that they refused – when you try the next suggestion, which is…
5. Talk To The Police
As a last ditch effort, you can try calling the police if Jehovah’s Witnesses are calling on you far too often. There are rules in different countries and in different states that could justify making your home off limits to the entire congregation if they won’t leave you be. If nothing else, a phone call to the police will let you know where you stand and what’s required for the authorities to get involved.
Be forewarned that some Jehovah’s Witnesses might visit you anyway just to prove to Jehovah God that they aren’t afraid of defying local authorities in his service. But you can still let the police know about it if they do. Be sure to get the Witness’ name as well. If there’s a fine for this sort of thing, the congregation elders won’t like making a cash pay out. That might be enough to get the elders to enforce your request.
Will Any Of These Suggestions Guarantee Success?

An old but infamous photo.
Sadly, no. It all depends on your local congregation and the elders. As I have stated several times already, all Kingdom Halls are not alike. Things that work at one Kingdom Hall won’t guarantee success at any other.
Note that some Witnesses are genuinely proud to be known for visiting people who’d rather be left alone. They see it as giving us a chance for everlasting life whether we want it or not. We may feel that we’re entitled to be left alone, but they feel that we’re entitled to know about life everlasting on a paradise Earth. Many Witnesses also feel that it is their duty to preach to others, not only for our sakes, but for their own. They want to earn their way into paradise too, and evangelizing is one of their principle ways of getting there.
To quote many of the Witnesses who have tried to reconvert me over the years, “I have to do this and you have to let me do it!”
Do we really? Well, I don’t think the witnessing work should be made illegal. I’m all for free speech. But I certainly think the rest of us have the right to be left alone if that’s what we want, too.
Either way, if you have any real suggestions you’d like to share with us, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Just remember, if you’re a former Jehovah’s Witness or currently a Jehovah’s Witness, Kingdom Halls do vary quite a lot. If your Hall handles these requests differently than the ones I’m familiar with, let us know with some suggestions below.
 
 
 



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Categorized under: Jehovah Witness.
 Tagged with: AWAKE!, door to door, evangelism, evangelist, field service, Jehovah, Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower, Witnessing work.
  
18 Responses to “5 Ways To Stop Jehovah’s Witnesses From Knocking On Your Door”



 Hittman says: 
 December 25, 2012 at 1:38 am 
If I have the time, I prefer to mess with them – to lead them down unfamiliar paths and try to make a brain cell or two fire. I’ve actually had made their hands shake as they flip through their bible.
Hey, everyone needs a hobby.
http://www.davehitt.com/blog2/can-i-get-a-witness/

 
 John Bowen Brown says: 
 December 27, 2012 at 7:14 pm 
Points 2 & 5 will not work. if you make a JW feel awkward, a different JW may still come to that same door when it’s time to cover that area again. In most places, their door-to-door religious activity is a protected practice. if you have any further questions email me– me@johnbbrown2.net

 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 December 27, 2012 at 7:50 pm 
As I have said in this article and many others, no 2 congregations are alike. The same goes for JWs. Some methods will work sometimes, others at other times.

 
 Ken says: 
 December 30, 2012 at 2:02 pm 
Why do you want to promote prejudice, and where will it stop? If a black neighbor knocks on your door will you tell him to go away because you are white? There is no reason to fear these people, what harm can there be in simply being courteous and allowing their occasional visit? If you are not confident in your personal belief system, it may be time to reexamine it. Instead these “suggestions” encourage people to ignore strangers, or treat others as lesser people, not worthy of a few minutes of your time. So sad.


 Adam Bourque says: 
 December 30, 2012 at 2:27 pm 
Ken,
Are you saying that it’s prejudice to not want to be witnessed. Is it prejudiced to want to be left alone. Is it my duty to listen to the same argument over and over?
As you are a Jehovah’s Witness yourself, perhaps you could answer a question for me. Why wont you respect the rights of people that just want to be left alone? Why over and over must you knock on my door and harass me? If I ask you to stop and you don’t, yes, that is harassment.
It’s not prejudice to not want the Jehovah’s Witness at your door. I don’t hate you or think less of you. I want you to stop trying to “save” me from something I don’t think even exists.


 Ken says: 
 December 30, 2012 at 4:45 pm 
Adam, my questions remain. What possibly do you and others have to fear by simply practicing common courtesy? There has to be something you/they are afraid or ashamed of that brings out this negative reaction to fellow humans.


 Hittman says: 
 December 30, 2012 at 7:44 pm 
Common courtesy? Like the common courtesy of getting people to drastically change their lifestyle in order to join a cult?
The common courtesy you show anyone who changes their minds (grows a brain)and rejects your beliefs? You’ll do the common courtesy of having all their friends and family shun them, forever – refusing to speak to them, making them as miserable as possible. That kind of common courtesy?
The common courtesy of taking a doctors advice when he says your child needs a blood transfusion to live, as opposed to your common courtesy of letting your own child *die*?
That kind of common courtesy?

 
 Ken says: 
 December 30, 2012 at 8:31 pm 
cour·te·sy
 /ˈkərtəsē/
Noun
The showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behavior toward others.
 A polite speech or action, esp. one required by convention.
Synonyms
 politeness – civility – comity – urbanity – mannerliness


 Adam Bourque says: 
 December 31, 2012 at 8:38 am 
That is a good question. What do you have to fear by leaving someone be? By showing the common courtesy of leaving someone alone?
Your question does not remain. I have asked Jehovah’s Witness to stop visiting me. They have ignored this request. Where is the courtesy in that?
Are you saying that I have to sit down and talk with them every time they visit?

 
 
 
 
 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 December 31, 2012 at 11:40 am 
Unfortunately, I have found the attitudes expressed here by Ken to be fairly common among JWs and other evangelists. They often express a desire to be treated with greater courtesy by those they visit, lament the fact that they are only doing what they believe is right and that others should therefore let them do whatever they want to them as potential converts, express a desire to be allowed to treat potential converts any way they like, etc.
They often use terms like respect and courtesy to describe the behaviors they want from others because this sounds like a good, reasonable thing. But what they really are describing is total deference. Worse, many evangelists fail to return respect or courtesy to those they visit.
This isn’t about hating JWs, though it probably makes it easier to rationalize the lack of welcome they receive from householders when they perceive it this way.
I’m sorry Ken, but you need to understand this isn’t about disliking JWs because they are JWs. It’s about the things many JWs do. Not all JWs, mind you. But the bad ones are the ones that make the loudest,
 longest lasting impression. Note that JWs aren’t the only evangelists who suffer from this sort of attitude, but they are the ones I know the most about as I used to be one.
I daresay your comments here haven’t done anything to change anyone’s mind about this, either. This is not the sort of behavior that draws in converts. It pushes us away.
Maybe that’s something worth thinking about, especially if making converts is supposed to be a top priority for JWs who want to make it into a paradise Earth. I contend that JWs who behave badly when preaching to others are more absorbed with their own goals than they are with selflessly saving others as they claim.
Ken, we would have been far more impressed with your example if you had asked us why we want to be left alone instead of opening up with accusations of hate and prejudice. You are not making a very good impression and are actually reinforcing the need for articles like this one.

 
 Ken says: 
 December 31, 2012 at 3:01 pm 
First, let me apologize if the way I worded my original, or subsequent posts was offensive. It was most certainly not intended to be. What I began to address was the issue of why a person allows his dislike of someone knocking at his door to fester inside and make them act in a negative way. Frankly, after close to 60 years in this ministry, I find this growing animosity to our calls to be most pronounced in the religionists, especially those claiming to be Christian, than in Atheists, Agnostics or skeptics that I meet. In fact, the vast majority of those who do not want to talk to me say so in a kind manner, and do not resort to deception or unkindness in doing so.
As a guest in your internet “home” I specifically avoided, even when someone tried to provoke me, discussing or explaining my religious views since you made it clear you did not like that. I continue in that vein. My first post was a concern that persons who feel the need to resort to the ruses proposed would prefer to act in that manner instead of simply saying to the caller “I do not wish to speak with you” or the like. In this way, you honor your fellow man’s right and desire to call, while avoiding the discussions that seem to bring you angst. But instead, to allow this activity to make you mad is not good for you psychologically, mentally or physically. This bitterness is simply not in people’s best interest, and as a fellow human I expressed concern. That is what I was addressing, and again I apologize for not stating it more succinctly.
With deep respect, Ken


 The Atheist Geek says: 
 December 31, 2012 at 3:31 pm 
Ken, the reason people actively seek advice in stopping these visits is because – in the vast majority of cases – simply asking the Witnesses at your door to stop this or any future visits does not yield the desired result. In most cases, the Witnesses will become incensed, take offense, and proceed to behave in a manner that causes so many people to dread visits from evangelists of all stripes in the first place. Hence, people look for other ways to deal with the issue.
On a related note, when I first decided to leave my KH to sort out my feelings about the Society’s “truth,” I was mercilessly harassed by local Witnesses. I continue to have problems with them to this day, though I would no longer characterize their occasional interventions as harassment. But it was their bad behavior that pushed me to do research on the Society, it’s teachings, and JWs. That, in turn, led me away from them and, over a period of years, toward atheism.
Do JWs a favor: spread the word that bad behavior does not make more JWs. It makes more apostates, opposers, XJWs, and increases resistance to the spread of the teachings of JWs. They are hurting their cause, not helping it.
Thank you for apology as well.

 
 
 Ken says: 
 December 31, 2012 at 6:02 pm 
Let me take my leave by quickly violating my word not to bring religion into your “home”.
I have no reason to doubt or deny your observations. I was a young man when my rose colored glasses (as to my brothers) first went clear. I also have a son who has similar experiences and feelings as you, though he still believes there is a God. I have no doubt that I have myself, along the way, not been as kind or considerate at the door as I should have been, and I KNOW I have been guilty of harming my brothers’ feelings. I have tried to forgive myself, as I have asked for their and God’s forgiveness.
But I leave you with what I tell my son and others who express similar feelings against our religion. Every person that has harmed or hurt you has harmed or hurt themselves. But it was NEVER Jehovah who did it. And until I can see His Spirit on some other organization, I will remain ever loyal to its imperfect oversight and members as it and they have to me and all my faults.
Thank you for the courtesy of allowing me to say this, and I wish you all the best, in all sincerity

 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 December 31, 2012 at 11:51 pm 
Never forget, Ken, that I do not believe in Jehovah’s existence. So I do not blame him, or credit him, for anything at all. Nor do I blame all JWs for the actions of those who have done more harm to their cause than good.
Have a good day.

 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 January 1, 2013 at 12:47 am 
For the record, I do think that the culture of JWs works against them in many areas, including the issue of how to convert others respectfully and in working with others (non-Witnesses) and learning from them instead of fearfully treating them with suspicion or as being a source of potential corruption. Don’t even get me started on how ex-JWs like myself are seen.
Nevertheless, when JWs act badly, those JWs deserve the blame. When they act well, those JWs deserve the credit, too.

 
 Timour Lang says: 
 March 17, 2013 at 12:06 am 
this is simple. there is a public property and private property. if you are trespassing on the private property while seeing NO TRESPASSING sign, you are asking for being removed by force, as you have decided to ignore the sign and carry on towards my home. if police can’t help me, i will help myself. period.
 i have two large signs in a clear view prohibiting Witnesses from entering my property. they do not care. why exactly should i care about their twisted feelings and continue politely asking them to let me be? why should i waste my precious time on making special signs when NO TRESPASSING/NO SOLICITING sign says it all?
 no, i will not take lightly some pricks bothering me, making my dog bark its lungs out and etc…everything must have a limit.
 how can i possibly have any sympathy towards Jehovah’s Witnesses, if they have no respect for me, my time, and my property?


 The Atheist Geek says: 
 March 17, 2013 at 10:31 am 
Two problems worth mentioning are that 1) unless you know something I don’t, no trespassing signs do not apply – legally – to the activities of JWs. They certainly don’t apply to them where I live, though I know many local towns have tried to make it stick to them only to be shot down later. And 2) JWs don’t care. Worse than that, it encourages them.
To be honest, I really think you should be able to post a sign and not be bothered by JWs, Mormons, life insurance salesmen, girl scouts, and so forth. But in the case of JWs, it is a badge of honor to knock on a door where they know they are unwelcome. If it’s against the law and they risk being thrown in jail, so much the better. Preaching in the face of adversity is as close to sainthood as JWs get these days, I’m afraid. Being an anointed isn’t even as big a deal as it used to be. But getting tossed in jail for their beliefs is. And a No Trespassing sign is a challenge that many of them will accept. In fact, they’ll probably feel good about themselves afterward. They’ll be the talk of the KH for weeks if that happened. And more would surely follow.
I agree that this is disrespectful of them. I was harassed by JWs for several years when I stopped going to meetings myself. I just don’t think it will work the way you believe it should, unfortunately.

 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 March 17, 2013 at 10:33 am 
As to removing JWs by force, that’s another subject entirely.

 
 

 
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Shunning: How Jehovah’s Witnesses Discipline Their Own
By The Atheist Geek on May 1st, 2013
ShunWhen one of Jehovah’s Witnesses does something that his local elders deem a serious offense against God and Watchtower, he will probably be disfellowshipped and therefore shunned by other Jehovah’s Witnesses. When I say that he’ll be shunned, I don’t mean he won’t get any presents on his birthday or that he won’t be invited over for Christmas. I mean that he is dead to them. In most cases, the Witnesses will simply pretend he’s invisible (like that episode from the Twilight Zone) and many will simply wander off if he attempts to communicate with them in any way. Either that, or they’ll get angry and blast him for it.
They call it “congregation discipline.” When they speak of it, they make it sound like it’s a punishment from Jehovah God himself. In reality, the decision to disfellowship is made during a closed-door session with three local elders. It’s how they keep their followers in line.
So how does it work and how far does it go? Technically, people living in the same household aren’t required to shun one another or expel the wrongdoer. But I know of many cases where the local elders did pressure parents to kick out their adult (18 years old+) children even if those children had no where else to go. Since good Jehovah’s Witnesses are supposed to obey their elders, this can put the parents of the disfellowshipped person in a tight spot. So while the elders can make it hard for the family, at least they do have the right to say no to the elders. That’s mostly because the Society hasn’t made expelling family members from the home mandatory, even though shunning in every other respect is mandatory.

There’s no rule that forces married couples to split up if one of them is disfellowshiped. But many do. It should be noted that the Society encourages couples in this situation to stay married in the hope that the “wrongdoer” can be brought back to the light with the help of his or her devoted spouse. That fact has not stopped many Jehovah’s Witnesses from leaving spouses who have been disfellowshipped, however, especially if the disfellowshipped individual was deemed to be an apostate. Many Witnesses will leave their disfellowshipped spouse for fear that they will be lead astray, or because they want to prove that their love for Jehovah is greater than their love for their spouse. The Witness hopes that this will ensure his own survival when Armageddon strikes and avert any chance that Jehovah will hold them guilty of bad association.
Despite the rigidity of the rules about disfellowshipped individulas, some exceptions do get made at some Kingdom Halls.
There are cases where Jehovah’s Witnesses are given special permission to write to – or even talk to (gasp!) a disfellowshipped person. These are usually special cases where an exception has been granted by local elders just once and only once. There are also stories – legends, almost – of congregations so liberal that they allow Witnesses to have some level of regular contact with disfellowshipped relatives so long as religion is not a topic of discussion. I have never seen this happen with my own eyes, but like Big Foot or alien abduction, it could be true. But it’s far from the norm. And more to the point, the Society’s literature makes it more than clear that it does not approve of any meaningful contact between its loyal Witnesses and disfellowshipped individuals for any reason. Period.

So here’s the bottom line: it doesn’t matter if it’s your best friend, your kids, your parents, or your siblings, all disfellowshipped individuals must be shunned by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Loyal Jehovah’s Witnesses are not to speak with them, write to them, or even eat a meal with them in silence. Note that even the sharing of meals with a disfellowshipped person is explicitly forbidden by the Society. The Society does allow disfellowshipped family members to live under the same roof as Witnesses in good standing, but in many cases, pressure from elders, the disapproval of other Witnesses, or even the family’s own fear of divine retribution can drive them to expel disfellowshipped members of the family.
Unless you ask the Watchtower Society or many of its Witnesses, that is…
Denial of Shunning
I had to put this in because it’s something you’ll hear from time to time. It’s also completely wrong.
The Watchtower Society – the corporation behind the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses – has publicly denied telling its Witnesses to shun the disfellowshipped on more than one occasion. One example comes from the The Independent:

Rick Fenton, a spokesperson for the Watchtower Society, insisted last night that ostracisation was “a personal matter for each individual to decide for himself”. “Any one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is free to express their feelings and to ask questions,” he said. “If a person changes their mind about Bible-based teachings they once held dear, we recognize their right to leave.”
Watchtower article
Click here to read a clip from the Watchtower that encourages Jehovah’s Witnesses to shun the disfellowshipped
I need to point out something here. When it comes to its more controversial practices, the Watchtower Society has a knack for … um … obfuscating the details, dare I to say. For instance, it is technically true that a person can change his mind about the Society’s “Bible-based teachings,” which he “once held dear.” Yes, he will be shunned for it and condemned to die at Armageddon like a mangy dog, but it’s not like they can chain him to the Kingdom Hall or cement him to the floor. So yes, technically, he can leave whenever he chooses. He just can’t leave with his friends, family, or his honor intact. I know former Witnesses who lost their jobs because they were employed by Jehovah’s Witnesses and, after being disfellowshipped, were fired. For some, even their livelihoods could be in jeopardy if they leave their Kingdom Hall.
So while it is technically true that Jehovah’s Witnesses are physically capable of choosing to leave the faith as the Society suggests, for many of them, it isn’t a real choice at all.
Another infamous example of an elder denying the practice of shunning to the public – in court, no less – can be found right here in glorious video. The overseer featured in the video starts out by hemming and hawing over the meaning of the word “shunning.” It takes a while for him finally deny that this is what Jehovah’s Witnesses are told to do. But deny it he does.
If there’s nothing wrong with the practice of shunning, then all of this denial seems pretty weird to me. Wouldn’t it be better – and more honest – to simply admit it and explain why it’s done?
Why Do They Deny Shunning?
There are several likely reasons. I suspect one of them has something to do with the fact that the Society has been sued more than once over the practice of shunning. It isn’t illegal to shun for religious reasons in the U.S., but defending yourself in court still takes a lot of money. Here’s another point: the Society isn’t just an American religion. It can be found in many countries, and some of them aren’t so tolerant of shunning in the legal sense. Maybe this, combined with a desire to avoid the whole creepy-cult-like-vibe that could run prospective converts down the road screaming, has something to do with it.
What’s even weirder is the fact that they talk about it – a lot – in their literature despite their denials to the media and courts. Even the Society’s website acknowledges that shunning exists, although the Society goes about this in its usual no-we-don’t, yes-we-do style of explanation. Let me show you what I mean.

Those who were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses but no longer preach to others, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned. In fact, we reach out to them and try to rekindle their spiritual interest.
Oh, I guess I was wrong. They don’t shun … but wait.

If, however, a baptized Witness makes a practice of breaking the Bible’s moral code and does not repent, he or she will be shunned or disfellowshipped. The Bible clearly states: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”—1 Corinthians 5:13.
Um … which is it, guys? Please note that the Society’s literature is full of contradictions like these, especially when that literature is open to public consumption. Somehow, Jehovah’s Witnesses usually know which lines count. Note that what the Society sees as a violation of the Bible’s moral code may not jive with yours and mine, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Here’s another quote that is technically true but also leaves out certain details that you and I would probably deem important.

Disfellowshipped individuals may attend our religious services.
Yes, that’s true. In fact, attending meetings is a critical step for any disfellowshipped Witness who wants to be reinstated so he can have the ban on communication lifted. What the article doesn’t mention is that no one will speak to him, that he will have to sit alone, that he will have to scamper off with his head held low right after the prayer, or that anyone who does speak to him can be disfellowshipped too. So it’s not as if he’ll be welcomed with open arms. But hey, that’s probably not important. (Yes it is.) It’s not like that detail completely alters the impression made on anyone who reads the article, right? (Well, I think it does.)
More recently, on page 16 of the January 2013 edition of the Watchtower, under the article entitled “Let Nothing Distance You From Jehovah,” it tells Jehovah’s Witnesses the following:

Really, what your beloved family member needs to see is your resolute stance to put Jehovah above everything else – including the family bond… Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail. (1 Cor. 5:11).
Maybe it’s time they stopped pretending that this doesn’t happen? It’s starting to get embarrassing already.
I'm shunning youNote that there are degrees of shunning. For instance, I was never officially disfellowshipped by my old Kingdom Hall. Yet many Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to talk to me anyway. I’ve literally had some of them approach my wife to talk to her about her meeting attendance or to offer her the latest magazines (to remind her that she isn’t living up to their expectations) while completely ignoring me as if I wasn’t there. They have done this while literally standing three inches away.
While I was talking to them. Waving my arms. Jumping up and down. Offering to shake their hand. And getting nothing – not even an acknowledgement of my existence – in return.
As a former Witness, I am a very bad associate. So many Jehovah’s Witnesses will shun me even though I was never officially disfellowshipped. And that’s without any of them knowing that that I have written articles like this one. If they did, I would be disfellowshipped for it!
For many Witnesses, that’s a devastating loss of family, friends, even livelihoods.
I should mention that some Witnesses commit suicide after being disfellowshipped. I personally know of one case where a disfellowshipped Witness finally committed suicide after years of separation from his wife and children. His death had a big impact on many in the ex-Witness community. As you can imagine, developments like this don’t make the Society look very good, either.
What Can Get Jehovah’s Witnesses Disfellowshipped?
Only the most horrible of crimes! Like putting up a Christmas tree. Smoking. Openly disagreeing with the Society’s teachings. Expressing a lack of faith in the Society’s leaders or in Jehovah God. Accepting a life saving blood transfusion. Celebrating someone’s birthday. Premarital sex… Well, you know that last one would do it. They all hate the sex. And the gay. But you get my point. Surprisingly, masturbation won’t get you disfellowshipped. They don’t approve of it. I sure hope they aren’t checking you for it, either. But they consider it better than premarital sex.
Bear in mind that the rules about disfellowshipping do change from time to time. It used to be that you could be disfellowshipped just for going inside of a church (a place of worship that wasn’t in the control of Jehovah’s Witnesses) and for things like participating in “worldly” governments or joining the military. But those waters have gotten so muddy – and the teachings have changed so many times – that I hesitate to include them here. For now, just remember that those things are bad too.
Conclusion
In the end, Jehovah’s Witnesses do shun and they do it because the Watchtower Society tells them to. Many will deny it unless you ask the question in the right way. Don’t waste your time with something like, “Is it true that you guys shun your own family members?” Many of them will deny it if you ask it like that. Their excuse? Technically, they don’t call it shunning, which is the word you used when asking the question.
No, I’m really not joking.
But if you ask them, “Is it true that you refuse to talk or interact with family members who have been removed from the congregation for serious wrongdoing?” many more will admit it then. Just remember, once again, that their idea of serious wrongdoing isn’t the same as yours and mine.
Note that the Society’s Insight on the Scriptures book defines a lie in the following way:

The opposite of truth. Lying generally involves saying something false to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him or another person.
Are we evil worldly-types entitled to know the truth about disfellowshipping? I bet you know the answer to that one.
But the truth is that Jehovah’s Witnesses do shun and shunning does irreparable harm to most of the people who experience it.



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8 Responses to “Shunning: How Jehovah’s Witnesses Discipline Their Own”



 F. Bacon says: 
 May 3, 2013 at 7:04 pm 
My former Conservative Wesleyan congregation did something similar, but perhaps not so extreme. Yes, you can attend and even have dinner with a congregant in good standing, but little you say will be taken seriously. You will be viewed as “worldly” and your opinions will be viewed with suspicion.
Your manner of dress will be viewed as subversive unless you continue to dress exactly as dictated by their belief system. You will not be allowed to share worldly literature (though if they are kind enough to accept it, they will quietly dispose of it without reading it), worldly entertainments will not be discussed (TV, cinema, plays) questions as to what their god is will never be handled in any manner except as they choose (not on your terms) and you may eventually be requested to leave their homes, (since “Satan” is not welcome there), nor do they wish to allow you to influence any of their family members. Translations and interpretations of scripture outside KJV and Arminianism will not be considered fit material to be discussed in any degree of seriousness.
In short, anything average people do will not be treated with any kind of dignity and you are faced with being entirely alone in any of your Earthly pursuits.

 
 Joseph Zarola says: 
 May 4, 2013 at 10:38 am 
The act of shunning has been perfected by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Disregarding the command to “Love your enemies” issued by the Lord Jesus, these religionists have usurped the very intent of His coming, Love, Grace and Mercy.
Jehovah’s Witnesses refer to the Psalms of King David, preferring his admonition to “hate them with a complete hatred”, to Jesus’ new command of Love.
It is more convenient for the JW’s to shun someone with questions or doubts, than to research and give an answer based on the ample provided Biblical direction, of a God of love.
To remove a man’s dignity, for the interpretations of men, is tantamount to social murder.

 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 May 6, 2013 at 11:44 am 
The thing is that many JWs deny that they shun. Some will come to sites like this and purposefully deny it because they don’t want others to know. They are also OK with denying certain practices in court (look-up “theocratic warfare”). That’s why I felt like I had to address denials in the article.
I have heard of congregations with liberal-moderate elders that allow some communication, but this is still forbidden by the Society and their literature hammers that point home time and time again. The truth is that their local elders are acting against the Society’s clear instructions and that these situations are rare and atypical. Also, moderate KHs are looked down upon by all their conservative neighbors. I know because I’ve seen it.
When JWs do admit to shunning, they deny all responsibility for it by quoting scripture, as if there isn’t any other possible interpretation. (Joseph gave us some examples that there are, in fact, choices on this point.) Clearly, that’s not an excuse to enforce this sort of policy.
If their Governing Body changed its policy on shunning and decided it was actually scriptural to seek out those who have disassociated themselves so as to encourage them to return, most JWs would immediately change their ways. So in the end, they shun because the WTS tells them to shun, not because the scriptures tell them to. The GB has the power to change this cult-like practice any time it wants.

 
 Meghan Chen says: 
 May 10, 2013 at 2:19 pm 
When a judicial committee decides that a baptized Witness has committed a serious sin and is unrepentant, the person is disfellowshipped. A person can appeal if they believe that a serious error in judgment has been made. Requests for appeal must be made in writing and within seven days of the decision of the judicial committee. If the decision is not appealed, an announcement is made at the Service Meeting that the named individual “is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses”, without any further explanation. Shunning starts immediately after the announcement is made.


 The Atheist Geek says: 
 May 12, 2013 at 9:26 am 
I don’t see anything in your comment that contradicts the article, Meghan. Were you just adding some information about the appeal process, or was there something you disagreed with?
Incidentally, I know of very few appeals that have been successful. Most of them simply delay the announcement to DF by a week or so. But that may be different where you’re from. As I keep saying, congregations vary more than many JWs and XJWs think.
Thanks for leaving a comment, BTW.

 
 
 Ursula X. Gould says: 
 May 25, 2013 at 2:05 am 
toward me now that I’m not attending the meetings. I’ve chosen another religious path. They do speak to me (after all, I am not disfellowshipped or DA) but yet every now and then I see how they really feel. If I was DF or DA, I’m sure they’d desert me.This situation is not what Jesus taught us about. The bible says that we should pray for unbelievers, and win them over by our actions. Also, think about how the bible says God views the “world”.

 
What You Don’t Know About Jehovah’s Witnesses And Pedophiles | Michigan Skeptics Association says: 
 May 30, 2013 at 5:04 pm 
[...] well as the perpetrator of the crime. Note also that Candace and her mother, like many others, were disfellowshipped for reporting the abuse she suffered to authorities outside of the [...]

 
 Brandi Williams says: 
 June 3, 2013 at 2:04 am 
I don’t care what the JW’s practices are for shunning whether they are found in the Jewish and Christian religious texts or not. These texts support slavery, it is an undeniable fact. So why don’t the JW’s believe in holding slaves, if they want to take the text literally?
 This just makes them cherry-picking hypocrites like all other fundamentalist denominations and movements within Christianity. I don’t think people should be excommunicated for having sex without being married or having a romantically and sexually active relationship with the same gender or being lgbt. I never agreed with the JW’s bigoted views towards lgbt people, same-sex couples, the military or their prejudices towards the U.N., holiday celebrations or birthdays or towards people of other religious, spiritual or non-religious beliefs. That is not acceptable at all and there is no justifcation for it, whether it is written in an outdated religious text or not.

 

 
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What You Don’t Know About Jehovah’s Witnesses And Pedophiles
By The Atheist Geek on May 30th, 2013
Candace Conti
Candace Conti.
Everyone in the United States knows that the Catholic Church has a major issue with pedophiles, but hardly anyone knows that Jehovah’s Witnesses have similar problems. Many cases involving Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society have been reported to the public (a search string using “Jehovah’s Witness pedophile” will yield pages of results, including video of various newscasts) but most of these stories have failed to sink into the public psyche. Even Candace Conti, who was awarded millions of the Watchtower Society’s dollars, is mostly known by former Witnesses like me and few others. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses have yet to hear the name of Candace Conti and are blissfully unaware that child abuse is a real issue within the organization on any level.
The Watchtower Society may not be as big as the Catholic church, but officially, there are nearly eight-million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. Even if there are only eight-million people who believe in the Society’s “truth” (there could be as many as nineteen-million who believe the Society has “the truth” if you go by Memorial attendance) that’s still a lot of people. I’m not suggesting that there are millions of cases of pedophilia here, but I do think the public should know more about pedophilia among Jehovah’s Witnesses and how the Society’s policies have done more harm than good. Especially Bible studies (or students) of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have children. It’s a big enough issue that several organizations like Silent Lambs and JW Survivors were formed specifically to oppose pedophilia within the Watchtower Society’s Kingdom Halls.

The Problem with Pedophilia Among Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Watchtower Society claims that child abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses is rare. The Wikipedia page, entitled “Jehovah’s Witnesses’ handling of child sex abuse,” says that:

Details of the Society’s child abuse policies have been published in Jehovah’s Witnesses’ publications, although more specific guidelines are only made available to elders, or on request. Press releases issued by the Watch Tower Society’s Office of Public Information confirm that if a person accused of molestation repeatedly denies the charges of his victim, and there is no other witness to the incident, “the elders cannot take action within the congregation at that time”, however [they] would report to authorities if required
This is the first part of the problem. I don’t think you have to be an expert to realize that sexual abuse of children probably won’t happen in front of an audience. But does the Society really tell its elders to report cases of suspected child abuse to authorities when required? The quote shown above says yes, but the real answer appears to be no.
The Society’s policy is pretty well laid out at Religious Tolerence, which says:

If abuse cannot be proven, the elders of the congregation “are expected to report the allegation to the branch office of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in their country, if local privacy laws permit. Again, privacy laws permitting, a record is made a the branch office that the individual has been accused of child abuse….The aim is to balance the right to privacy of the individual with the overriding need to protect the safety of children.”
Here’s a little more from Religious Tolerance that explains the real upshot of all this:

Jehovah’s Witnesses [have] a dual policy concerning cases of child abuse which meet their standards of proof:
• Local elders are required by the WTS to alert police and/or child protection services only in those political jurisdictions which require religious institutions to report suspected cases of abuse. Some states in the U.S. do not have mandated reporting. Other require certain professionals like physicians, teachers, and social workers to report, but allow religious leaders to remain silent. Some states have no laws at all in this area.
• Where reporting is not mandated by the state, their policy is to keep keep the matter secret. Communications between elders and members are kept confidential. They generally do not report abuse but attempt to handle it within the organization. An abuser will often be encouraged to confess to authorities. A disciplinary hearing may be held. However, only elders can take notes, which are later collected and kept in a secure location. No tape recordings are permitted.
The Witnesses hold that the privilege of clergy confidentiality applies to any confidential communication among its members, including statements at disciplinary hearings which involve multiple elders and witnesses.
Between this, and the policy involving the two-person rule (at least two people must have seen the molestation with their own eyes for the elders to charge the accused with an actual violation), few cases get reported. It was this policy that allowed Candace Conti to hold the organization responsible as well as the perpetrator of the crime. Note also that Candace and her mother, like many others, were disfellowshipped for reporting the abuse she suffered to authorities outside of the organization.
More Information
pedophilia instructions for elders
This is how elders are told to handle allegations of pedophilia within their Kingdom Hall.
“>The point of the links below isn’t to beat a dead horse. It’s to give interested readers easy access to specific cases and to simply demonstrate the abundance of claims that are out there. With problems like this, most Jehovah’s Witnesses think these are rare issues or that they are being blown out of proportion. The “world” (everything outside of their institutions) is always out to get them and to make them look bad. I think the weight of the allegations and the reasons behind them (as explained above) shows that it isn’t that simple. Some of the articles below deal with similar issues, but contain different information. But the real conclusion I hope everyone reaches is that the Society, regardless of its intentions, has a faulty set of rules that simply don’t work and need to be changed.
HINT: If you read only one of these links, read Slamming the Door on Jehovah.
A similar list can be found at my website as well.
New evidence in Jehovah’s Witness allegations – NBCNightlyNews
The Watchtower Pedo-Files at Silentlambs.org

Inside sources reveal 23,720 reported/unreported child molesters on file at Jehovah’s Witness headquarters in New York
My disfellowshipping by Bill Bowen – From the founder of Silent Lambs

When I first came forward to the media with my allegations of abuse cover-ups in the organization, one thing I made clear to reporters was that they would [disfellowship] me for speaking out on this issue.
Slamming the door on Jehovah
Child abuse with the Jehovah’s Witnesses

Erica Rodriguez repeated to DATELINE the way she was treated when she reported her molestation. When she informed the elders at her congregation in Sacramento of the sexual abuse of Beliz who was not yet disfellowshipped, the elders told her to not report the crime to the police. They went on to threaten her with disfellowshipping if she tried to report the matter: “if you go to the police, you will be condemned by God.”
JW Survivors | Victim Advocacy Group for survivors of the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Australia

JW Survivors is a volunteer not-for-profit community based victim advocacy group for survivors of the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses within Australia. The group was founded by Steven Unthank. The seeds of JW Survivors were planted by current and former members of the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and their families, in response to the Victorian Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Organisations, and an extensive submission made in relation to the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their administrative controlling corporation, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia.
Jehovah’s Witnesses Pedophilia (Australia) on Vimeo
Results of Youtube search for “Jehovah’s Witness pedophile”
Jehovah’s Witnesses Revealed
Jehovah’s Witness pedophile walked free from court despite one of his victims was a baby

A Jehovah’s Witness pedophile was spared prison despite admitting carrying out a string of sex attacks on young children.
Legal Loophole Used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to Avoid Moral Obligation

It was a sad blow Friday July 15, 2005, when the majority of judges in an appeal hearing before the Supreme Court of New Hampshire ruled against continuing the case. It represented a four year battle with hundreds of thousands of donated funds of Jehovah’s Witnesses be spent with law firms in the New Hampshire area to files numerous frivolous motions to prolong and run up costs on the civil case. Jehovah’s Witness lawyers supported Paul Berry, a convicted child molester, by providing him with free legal assistance to protect his religious right from further convictions of child abuse. While victims and advocates sat on one side of the court room, Jehovah’s Witness attorneys sat with Paul Berry and offered testimony in his behalf to protect him from further criminal prosecution. Paul Berry remains a Jehovah’s Witness in good standing and upon his release from prison will be required to make visits to the homes of the public to start bible studies. It is estimated that well over $500,000 has been spent in donated funds of Jehovah’s Witnesses for the legal defense of Paul Berry.
Child Abuse | JW Leaks

Documents and court cases relating to child abuse within the church of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
 Updated Regularly!
See also Candace Conti | JW Leaks
Jury awards $28M in Jehovah’s sex abuse case – CBS News

(AP) OAKLAND, Calif. – A Northern California jury has awarded $28 million in damages to a woman who said the Jehovah’s Witnesses allowed an adult member of a Fremont church to molest her when she was a child in the mid-1990s.
Why the Watchtower Society has Been Punished over the Candace Conti Child Abuse Case

It doesn’t stop there either. Elders have been known to bully victims and their families into not telling others what has happened, and go as far as threatening these ones with being disfellowshipped on the grounds of slander if they try to warn other families about a child abuser that’s present within the congregation.
JW Class Action | official information site

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: December 1, 2012
 A $3 Billion class action lawsuit is being launched in Australia on behalf of up to 6,160 children within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Documents relating to the class action reveal over 14,000 serious criminal breaches of mandatory child protection laws, committed against these children by elders and “ministers of religion” within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses over the past 4 years.
Clinical and Scientific Findings Regarding Sexual Abuse Perpetrators, Victims, and Traditional Moral and Social Values (Downloadable PDF)
Janet Heimlich discusses religious child abuse – National Social Issues



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 Tagged with: abuse, Candace Conti, Catholic Church, children, Jehovah's Witnesses, pedophile, pedophilia, Watchtower Society.
  
23 Responses to “What You Don’t Know About Jehovah’s Witnesses And Pedophiles”



 Danny Haszard says: 
 May 30, 2013 at 11:42 pm 
Thanks for posting this vital information!
At a glance what is wrong about the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their unique TWO WITNESSES take down.
 As a regular practice or as a deliberate subterfuge to cover up wrong doing they require the testimony of two eyewitnesses to every act of,civil,criminal,scriptural wrongdoing.
 The Watchtower Bible society leadership over extends the scripture at 2 Corinthians 13:1 (read it) and the two witness rule is selectively enforced with prejudice and favoritism.
 Example-If a favorite ministerial servant assaults me they will require that I present two witnesses to the act.If I do the same they won’t require it from him.
 This two witness protocol permeates everything at the kingdom from pedophile crimes to gossip backstabbing.
 Moreover-The agonized victims are told to ‘leave the matter in Jehovah’s hands’ ‘wait on Jehovah’ because ‘any day we are going to be in the righteous new system’. So villain perpetrators continue to carry on in this festering enviroment.The victim is made to look like an unforgiving discontent.
 This is another element that makes crimes unique in the Jehovah’s Witnesses the issue of their apocalyptic dogma,any day it will all end and you will be in paradise.
–Danny Haszard Bangor Maine
Respond 
 
 Danny Haszard says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 12:21 am 
Jehovah’s Witnesses pedophile abuse.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses require ‘two witnesses’ to a crime or it didn’t happen,you are supposed to ‘leave it in Jehovah’s hands’ wait on the lord. How many pedophiles allow an eyewitness? These people engage in a door to door ministry, possibly exposing children to pedophiles. The Watchtower corporation has paid out millions in settlement money already.
 The official policy is that the elders of the *Church* are supposed to handle the matter internally, without contacting the police. They do this so that shame will not be brought on the religion.
 Its important that they keep a squeaky clean image to the public.
 They believe the police and courts are Satan’s organizations and any crime by a JW should be dealt with internally.The elders will contact the police ONLY if they’re forced to by state law. Otherwise they are forced to follow official policy from headquarters. Some states require that *priests* or *pastors* report child abuse to the authorities. If they are not forced to report them then they cover it up.
 Same issues as the Roman Catholic Church Priest molestation scandals.
–
Danny Haszard *tell the truth don’t be afraid*
Respond 
 
 vash says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 8:44 am 
This article is ridiculous. I may not be a Jehovah’s whiteness, but I don’t see you describing anything close to the catholic church here. The only thing I see wrong is expecting their religion to handle a pedophile instead of the police. It would be one thing if you were accusing them of
 actively and institutionally protecting pedophiles, THAT would be like the catholic church. All you offer here is ridiculous speculation based on speculative articles. I can come up with 100′s of web sites that say that all of our world leaders are lizard people, would you be willing to believe that with equivalent citing as this article?
I wish people could be more rational…
Respond 

 The Atheist Geek says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 3:00 pm 
Let me take this one at a time.
Vash, with all due respect, I think your reaction is pretty ridiculous. Did you actually read the article? If so, I would like to suggest that you read it again. You completely missed the point.
I take it you didn’t notice the clips of actual instructions from the Watchtower Society to its elders? Even then, it isn’t the easiest thing in the world to get the Society to admit to wrongdoing. They won’t even admit to stuff that is clearly posted on their website and in their literature, like teaching JWs to shun their own relatives. Many JWs seem to have a similar problem when confronted by critics. The fact we have anything concrete here is due to the fact that some elders do, in fact, have a conscience all their own.
Incidentally, the main focus of this article is the harm that the Society’s policies have caused. I don’t see anything that suggests some big conspiracy. Useless stubbornness and misplaced priorities, yes. But not a conspiracy.
I never said that the Society had the SAME problems as the Catholic Church with pedophiles, either. The Catholic Church’s problems can be described as premeditated and conspiratorial. The Society’s are simply a side effect of stupid policies that they have chosen to stubbornly cling to despite the harm those policies cause. This is typical authoritarian thinking. If you check out the MANY links provided throughout this article, you will see reports from actual news agencies (not quacks or conspiracy theorists) showing you that the end results are pretty much the same as those of the Catholic Church. Lives ruined, victims silenced, beliefs crushed for no good reasons, etc. So the problems are similar – which is what I called them on line one of the article – but not identical.
BTW, I’m pretty sure that the Society choosing to handle these problems internally, doing a rotten job of it, and even DFing people who turn to “worldly” authorities for justice is pretty terrible all by itself. That is, in a nutshell, just dumb. If they let the police handle it, then they would not be sued and little blame could fall upon them. Instead, they have dug in their heels. Of course, the police are part of the world and controlled by demons. Just like me. And you, if you’re really not one of JWs. That’s really what they believe.
Finally, I want to thank you for telling us that you aren’t one of JWs. If you hadn’t thought to mention that, we might have assumed you were just trying to downplay the whole thing to preserve the Society’s image. There is something we agree on, however: I too wish that people could be more rational.
I hope you’ll take some time to think about the article some more before posting another response. But I thank you for giving me an excuse to summarize the whole thing for everybody. Have a good day.
Respond 
 
 
 Emily Paiva says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 3:33 pm 
Let’s please not forget that children suffer from all forms of abuse. Even more prevalent then sexual abuse is physical and emotional abuse that is laid upon the children left within. Usually they continue the cycle of abuse since seeking out metal health care is frowned upon. One of the reasons I was DF’d is because I began going around and asking children if their parents were hurting them. Most were telling me yes. I was advising them to tell a teacher or the authorities. I was just twenty years old and beginning to realize that the way my parents treated me was not normal but may JW children believe that beatings and being verbally stripped of any dignity is normal. I understand the importance of spreading the word about peddos within. I just really believe that these others forms of abuse are not counted. Do you know what it feels like to go through torment and then reach out for help only to realize you don’t count? That is the way these other abused feel. They too are silenced. Maybe we should begin mentioning them in articles about abuse within the org. The org has an ABUSE problem. ALL abuses on ALL levels.
Respond 

 The Atheist Geek says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 4:19 pm 
Thank you for sharing this with us, Emily.
Respond 
 
 
 Erik says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 3:51 pm 
Vash only said, “I MAY not be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Well, I MAY not be either…or I MAY be. Clever use of wording there. Also I think the best point in the article is “Many Jehovah’s Witnesses have yet to hear the name of Candace Conti and are blissfully unaware that child abuse is a real issue within the organization on any level.” Have YET to hear. Have YET. It took awhile for the whole Catholic scandal to become heard about beyond the church walls too! Predators will always go where they can get access to their prey. Always. We need to make it much much harder for them ASAP.
Respond 
 
 Steph Le Gardener says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 3:57 pm 
Great post! It’s high time the light is shined into the dark corners of the Watch Tower Society’s policies that harm children, while protecting their abusers. Reporting abuse to authorities should not be optional–they are professionals who are trained to deal with these situations, versus the untrained lay clergy of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They would rather hide these issues than deal with them. Heaven forbid their image be tarnished!
Respond 

 The Atheist Geek says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 4:18 pm 
Steph, that’s exactly what I think. If they did that one simple – and morally correct – thing, it would be very different. Let’s hope they change.
Respond 
 
 
 toni says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 4:26 pm 
I studied the bible with Jehovahs witnesses for many years, this is how I came to be an atheist. In our congregation if a pedophile admitted to the abuse and said they were sorry and “showed” remorse they were allowed to remain in the congregation because Jesus forgave people their sins so (sometimes they would be publicly admonished – within the Kingdom Hall, but not always) and the congregation was expected to do the same and firgive the offender who was not called a paedophile but merely someone who did th wrong thing but was as deserving as the rest of us of forgiveness of transgression and given a clean slate so long as he claimed to be walking with Jesus. Sadly most Jehovah’s witnesses are so knd, compassionate and naive they have no idea the nature of a pedophile. They think it’s a sin like any other, on par with giving into temptaion and drinking too much one day, cheating on your wife or telling a lie to your parents. Forgiveness is encouraged…pretty much garanteed as long as you promise not to do it again. Padophiles paradise!
Respond 

 Erik says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 5:12 pm 
Jesus never intended for shepherding the flock to be turned into a legalistic game in which the innocent can so easily be hurt!
Respond 
 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 5:27 pm 
That’s one way of looking at it, Toni. And I’m sure it’s true of some JWs. KHs vary more than many JWs and XJWs seem to realize. But I believe that, overall, the culture of JWs has fallen into the trap of authoritarianism. Yes, they can be naive, but they can also be dispassionate and cruel in their adherence to the rules as laid out by the Society. They are taught that the Society is speaking for Jehovah God, so even if it seems wrong or doesn’t make sense, if they say it, then it must be what Jehovah wants. Even if it isn’t what he wants, he wants them to obey the Society, so it amounts to the same thing either way in the end.
This is one way that needless harm can be done for no good reason.
Note that JWs tend to be very suspicious of non-Witnesses, so they aren’t as naive as you might think.
Respond 

 toni says: 
 May 31, 2013 at 5:53 pm 
I really think they’re so brainwashed and scared. It’s drummed into them that if they don’t obey they miss out on eternal life with their loved ones and they will be slaughtered at armageddon which they all firmly believe is just around the corner…like they did 20 years ago. Logic and reason is smacked out of them at young age in many cases. Their teens struggle with depression and confusion but I do believe they are mostly naive. They will welcome anyone into their congregation with loving arms and give u the shirt off their back if u show the slightest inkling u might be looking for God or a righteous path. They go out witnessing door to door in the hope of “saving” people and if they question authority they are swiftly shamed and humiliated. I really feel for them. Even those who have the guts to leave are usully riddled with fear and uncertainty for years to come.
Respond 
 
 
 
 Richard E.Kelly says: 
 June 2, 2013 at 4:44 pm 
Kudos on the post. Well-written and thoroughly researched. This injustice needs to be shared with the world. Thousands of children will be in harms way until the Watchtower’s fatally-flawed policy is corrected.
Respond 
 
 Terry Carey says: 
 June 26, 2013 at 8:23 pm 
Their policy states that child sex victims be immediately protected from further abuse, and that abusers convicted under the ‘two witnesses’ rule be prevented from finding additional victims.
Respond 

 The Atheist Geek says: 
 June 28, 2013 at 8:32 am 
Terry, their policy just isn’t working. Also, if you read my article, then you know that the “two witness rule” is half the problem. As I stated earlier, people don’t generally commit pedophilia in front of an audience. If there aren’t 2 witnesses, or if the pedophile doesn’t admit to their crime, then they are declared innocent. End of story. And the family cannot go to outside law enforcement without being disfellowshipped for slandering another JW.
As I explained in the article, the whole system is simply stupid. Pointlessly and stubbornly so, in fact. That was the point of the whole article.
Respond 

 Erik says: 
 June 28, 2013 at 12:24 pm 
Terry, Service, the most sacred gift we can give to our creator, is putting young people at risk if/when troubled JW’s are still allowed to use the public ministry for gaining access to and for manipulating young ones. Remember when Jesus told his disciples to let the children come to him and to stop hindering them? If Jesus were here would he go along with the policies of Jehovah’s Witnesses that are being challenged here?
Respond 
 
 
 Steph Le Gardener says: 
 June 28, 2013 at 8:35 am 
Terry, where are the details on how these children are to be protected from further abuse? Unless parents in the congregation are notified of the molester, there is no way to protect them. The “two witness” rule is a loophole that protects pedophiles. There is rarely a witness to the crime of a child molester (they don’t prefer audiences), let alone a second witness.
Respond 
 
 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 July 20, 2013 at 11:15 pm 
Another recent story related to this article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2365992/Gordon-Leighton-child-abuse-trial-orders-Jehovahs-Witness-leaders-evidence.html#ixzz2ZEmKwdUg
Respond 
 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 July 22, 2013 at 4:12 pm 
This one is specifically related to the question of whether the Watchtower Society has been covering up the allegations from authorities.http://www.10news.com/news/investigations/team-10-obtains-video-of-admitted-child-molester-in-jehovahs-witnesses07222013
Respond 
 
 Daniel Muller says: 
 August 11, 2013 at 1:30 am 
What a gratuitous slam against the Catholic Church in an unrelated article. The scandal in the Catholic Church that “everyone knows about” was homosexual liaisons with adolescents (ephebophilia, if you want), but the mainstream media do not like that storyline because it is not politically correct to consider that a scandal at all. Better to frame it as paedophilia whether it is or not; that sells.
If you are really interested in combatting paedophilia, take a look at schools, including and especially public schools. Also, take a look inside families. The problem has nothing to do with this religion or that but rather situations in which children naturally but mistakenly trust adults.
Respond 

 The Atheist Geek says: 
 August 11, 2013 at 8:49 am 
Daniel, the definition of gratuitous is “Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.”
I fail to see how the comment you cited even comes close to any of that.
It is true that the Catholic Church is under scrutiny for many pedophile cases. Period. I am attempting to raise awareness about the fact that JWs have a similar problem. So the comparison is neither uncalled for, lacking in good reason, or unwarranted. Your personal theories about “homosexual liaisons” notwithstanding. I was making a point that everyone knows about those issues–which is also basically true, like it or not–but few know about similar problems with JWs. That’s it. Whatever else you think is going on here isn’t going on here.
And I hardly think that it’s fair to say that the article is “unrelated.”
BTW, AFAIK, most pedophiles are not, in fact, homosexuals. It’s a completely separate thing.
Let’s flip this around. If I were a homosexual, I could miss the point of your comment entirely and let you have it for comparing homosexuality to pedophilia. Would I be right for doing that? Or would I be guilty of a knee jerk reaction to something I’m a bit too sensitive to?
I am being a little hard on you here, but you were hard on me. If you are nice, I will be nice. :) Either way, I hope you see my point.
Respond 
 
 The Atheist Geek says: 
 August 11, 2013 at 8:56 am 
Now that that’s done, I need to take a look at this statement:
“If you are really interested in combatting paedophilia, take a look at schools, including and especially public schools. Also, take a look inside families. The problem has nothing to do with this religion or that but rather situations in which children naturally but mistakenly trust adults.”
Daniel, I don’t think you read the article if you actually believe this. I’m not so sure you understand the pedophilia issues within the Catholic Church either.
The point is that both institutions are handling these cases in disastrous ways. My article focused on JWs because I am a former JW and I know a lot more about them. Public ignorance on this issue is a problem, while most people know something about the Catholic Church’s problems.
Even I know that there are reports of major coverups within the Catholic Church that have been going of for many decades. Whether you accept that is another matter entirely. The fact that the reports have come out remains true. Looking at mishandling of pedophilia in schools is, in fact, a very similar issue. Supposedly, authoritarian institutions are breeding grounds for these kinds of situations. If schools have them, then that’s another area people should be looking at. But it does not mean that we cannot look at the problems of JWs or Catholics. Your point here does not make any sense to me.
With respect, I don’t think you are seeing this issue very clearly.
Respond 
 
 


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