An Elder shares his honest opinions
August 2nd, 2009
By “Shadow Elder”
Before I express my opinion to the readers and contributors to this website (www.ex-jw.com), I would like to explain who I am and to present my bona fides as someone qualified to comment on this website and Jehovah’s Witnesses in general.
First of all, I am an active Jehovah’s Witness living just outside of New York City. Being a large metropolis, 
New York has many Kingdom Halls located within the city and several more in surrounding boroughs, counties, and suburbs. This puts me right next to the Brooklyn Bethel headquarters, in an area where Jehovah’s Witnesses are quite active and well represented in the local population. If you want to know what average Jehovah’s Witnesses are thinking, New York and New England would be a good place to start.
I am in my early 50s, married, with four adult sons. My wife and I own our home and I drive an older four-door Japanese sedan – a perfect car to use for field service. I work as a manager for a national company connected to the food services industry. I earn a decent salary, but we are far from being rich. We get by, but it can be very expensive living in a large city, even when your needs are modest.
I have been a Jehovah’s Witness for most of my life. My parents were Witnesses and remained faithful in the Truth until they passed away a few years ago. My father professed to be of the Anointed class – my mother did not. I have been selected as an elder and have held ministerial servant and overseer positions at several Kingdom Halls.
Now that I’ve explained who I am, I would like to share some of my observations and opinions, not only about this website and others, but also about the attitudes of many current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I think that the readers of this article should consider it to be a “come to Jesus moment” for all of us. Hopefully, when I’m finished we’ll all see the light, recognize the errors of our ways, and take a new approach to jumping in on the ongoing debates over the teachings and lifestyle of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Debate over Watchtower teachings
I realize as an elder that I am speaking out against the very organization I try to faithfully represent, but I personally think that the Governing Body is wrong by teaching that only what they teach us, as printed in the Watchtower publications, should be considered to be “the truth.” They’ve made the expression of any personal opinions or group debates over their official versions of Biblical truths subject to disciplinary action – often leading to someone being disfellowshipped.
That is why I feel that I must keep my own identity somewhat anonymous. I don’t feel that addressing problems within the organization should be punished as long as it is done with good intent and an honest heart, but that is the way things are at this time. Until Jehovah changes the hearts and understanding of the Governing Body through his Holy Spirit and love for his Witnesses on Earth, I don’t want my family to suffer because I want to speak out. I’m not ready for that. I’m not sure I will ever be prepared to leave the Truth.
To be a faithful Witness of Jehovah, according to the Governing Body, you must accept what they teach without question and without debate. I personally know of several excellent and otherwise faithful brothers and sisters who have left the organization or have been disfellowshipped because they honestly questioned just a few details of the Watchtower’s doctrinal teachings.
I personally disagree with several current teachings of the Watchtower. My firm belief is that while we are trying to spread the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom and trying to live an exemplary Christian lifestyle, not everything in the Watchtower is totally correct. My choice, at least at this time, is to keep my opinions to myself when in the presence of other Jehovah’s Witnesses and hope that the Holy Spirit clears up what errors we might be teaching as younger, more thoughtful, and loving men take the leadership of Jehovah’s earthly organization. That said, I do have some serious issues with the credibility of the current leadership of the Watchtower Society.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses – Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom book describes the process of gaining full understanding of the truth as entering a dark room and allowing the light to shine brighter gradually until the room is fully lit. At the same time they wrote, “…Truth remains truth. Jehovah’s will and purpose, as outlined in the Bible, remain fixed…But their [the WT organization’s] understanding of these truths gets progressively clearer ‘at the proper time,’ Jehovah’s due time.”
It makes no sense that honest debate about the truth of certain beliefs can be treated as a sin against the Holy Spirit, while the final version of the “truth” is still being fine tuned. After all, the Governing Body VOTES on what new teachings will be published or presented at our assemblies. Does that mean that their debates and votes are also a sin against the Holy Spirit? If the Governing Body is acting under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t all their votes be unanimous? Are those who voted against the majority being influenced by Satan? After the vote is taken, why should that particular teaching ever be changed due to “new light”? Does not the Holy Spirit know what is true and what is not? Or does the Holy Spirit inspire the Governing Body to purposely publish incorrect information from time to time – just to keep us off-kilter? This entire concept of the Governing Body being guided by Holy Spirit is frankly ridiculous and inconceivable.
I feel that the Watchtower Society is totally wrong by holding this unsupported position. After all, very few of the teachings of Russell and Rutherford are still held to be “truth.” Where was the Holy Spirit prior to Rutherford’s death in 1942, back when almost every Witness was considered to be a member of the Anointed remnant? Who was guiding the leadership of the Watchtower Society back then?
I feel that the only honest position to be taken is that the Watchtower Society is still, like the rest of us, studying the Bible and trying to find the real truth of God’s Word. Until that is finally achieved, if that should ever come to pass, honest debate and personal study of the Bible should be encouraged – not treated as an act that deserves punishment and banishment from the rest of Jehovah’s people.
Support of Watchtower teachings by current Jehovah’s Witnesses
As I read the comments sections on this and other so-called “apostate” websites, I see many responses that have been submitted by those who are studying or consider themselves to be faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses. My comment to them is that they may be doing more harm than good in the way they respond. Let me explain:
Learn how to write! How can you support the Watchtower’s position that getting a higher education is a waste of time – time better spent in Kingdom service – if you can’t spell, punctuate, and develop a well-considered thought? For Jehovah’s sake – learn how to use your spell-checker. Even Yahoo and Google mail have built in spell checkers. Before you submit your comment, write it in a word processor or as a draft email – then spell-check and grammar check it. Your comments do not have to be perfect, but writing like an ignorant 8-year old hillbilly is not giving Jehovah the good representation he deserves. (If you are either an 8-year old or a hillbilly, please accept my apology.)
Many Witnesses will deny the facts of a story that’s been printed and then make statements that details presented were untrue or that the article writer was lying. Take funerals for example: There have been many descriptions of Witness funerals on this website and others, especially connected to the Michael Jackson stories. I have to be honest with you – they quite accurately describe what happens at a JW funeral. The writer on this website even provided a link to a funeral talk outline as supporting documentation. His descriptions, I’m sorry to say, were right on the mark.
I’ve given funeral talks and have used an outline that is very close to the one shown on the link. I’ve counseled families before the talk began to please control themselves and to hold their emotions until a more appropriate time, preferrably in the privacy of their own home. If there were ushers assigned, they were told to politely hush or escort out anyone who might seem to lose control and cause a disturbance.
Most accurately described was the fact that the speaker is very restricted as to how much he can say about the deceased. If the family insists, then we ask that they hold any additional memorial presentations until after the talk is over and the mourners have been excused. We suggest that they handle those remembrances at the reception, or in their own home later, but not during the funeral program.
The family will often ask to play a favorite song of the deceased before or after the talk. If it is from the Kingdom Song Book, then we could allow it to be played. If it was a secular song or instrumental then I was supposed to deny their request. What possible harm to anyone could result from the playing of a beautiful secular classical piece or movie theme music? When the son of a deceased elder, a professional musician, asked to play a song of his own for his father’s funeral – his request was denied. I feel the Watchtower Society does its members a severe disservice by not allowing a faithful Witness to be properly remembered and mourned.
For a Witness to access this, or any other website, and then try to deny the truth of what really happens during a Witness funeral, a Watchtower study, an assembly or convention, or even what we really do during field service – is in itself promoting a lie. What happens when new people actually do come to the Kingdom Hall or go to a Witness funeral and realize that what was written on an “apostate” website was really the truth – and that the comments by Jehovah’s Witnesses were lies?
What about the question of “shunning?” As Jehovah’s Witnesses we all know what the Society’s rules are about the treatment of disfellowshipped and disassociated former members. To get on one of these websites and then deny that we shun anyone, especially family, is clearly misstating the facts. When is the purposeful misstating of facts not a lie?
What about the facts surrounding the failed prophecy of 1975? To say that the Watchtower “never said that Armageddon was going to come in 1975” is also a dishonest and misleading statement. There is printed proof, YouTube videos, and published articles in major newspapers and the Society’s own publications that prove that 1975 was the central theme of nearly every book, magazine and public talk from 1968 to 1975. I was very active at that time and I know the truth. What do you gain by denying it and saying that it never happened?
So be honest with yourself. Are you really doing the right thing by denying the truth? What impression does that leave with those who are on the fence about joining us in preaching the good news? Is it not better to remain silent than to deny the truth? Does Jehovah really need or want you to lie to protect his earthly organization? Can we not admit the truth of our past mistakes and just move on?
Critics of the Watchtower – Are you being honest about your motives?
At one time or another I’ve probably seen most of the so-called “apostate” websites. I have to say that by far the majority of them are junk – poorly written, angry, and ridiculous. Many websites are poorly laid out, hard to read, and out-of-date. Ever try to read a sentence in 10-point type that goes clear across the entire page on a wide-screen monitor? Many ex-Witnesses apparently felt the need to get online and publish their angry tirades in an attempt to hurt the Watchtower and make Jehovah’s Witnesses look like fools. After a while they lost interest and never updated or modernized their websites. My suggestion to those persons is to just take them down – they are only detracting from your message and hurting the reputations of other serious and well-designed critical websites.
Likewise, I have to admit that there are many nicely presented and well written websites. Besides presenting their arguments in well-written formats and in clear language, several of them contain a lot of good documentation that is no longer available from any other source – some even acceptable for use by active Jehovah’s Witnesses – such as old Watchtowers and the early writings of Pastor Russell. I’ve seen some very impressive apostate videos showing up on YouTube that have professional graphics and narration that are comparable to the productions of major TV and online news outlets.
Unfortunately, too many of the apostate sites have been set up to promote and support the teachings of some other religious organization, church or personal ministry. I’ve seen several that are clearly evangelical or mainstream Protestant in tone and in teachings. Believe me when I say there are enough negatives about the Watchtower Society and Jehovah’s Witnesses to be discussed on your website without trying to convince your readers to once again believe in the doctrines of The Trinity, Heaven and Hell, or some other fable of Christendom. I’m sorry, but you are wasting your time and your website won’t draw any real interest from Jehovah’s Witnesses if you attack their core beliefs while supporting the archaic and rehashed orthodox teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and major Protestant denominations.
I suggest that if you want to run a successful anti-Watchtower website you use the examples of this one (www.Ex-JW.com) or Randall Watters’ www.FreeMinds.org . Concentrate your fair and truthful arguments against the history, culture and teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses on one website. Then link to a different website where you can present your own personal religious beliefs – whatever they might be. Keep your websites focused on their main purpose and leave the doctrinal debates to another time and another website.
Advice to Bloggers and Apostate website editors
To the critics and apostates who create and publish blogs and websites, I offer the following advice with all seriousness:
Stop being stupid and amateurish; unless you are a professional comedian, you are not funny. Stay away from satire or parody if you don’t understand how to present them properly. Don’t create videos or write on your blog after you’ve just finished off a six-pack or a joint. Get rid of the stupid baseball cap and shave if you are going to appear in your own videos. Speak and write clearly in acceptable English; lose the slang and profanity. You do not help your cause by becoming a stumbling block to the very people you are trying to reach because of your obnoxious use of language and bad behavior.
That’s all I have to say for now. I thank the editor of Ex-JW.com for allowing me to present my arguments even though he and I hold very different opinions about the Truth as preached by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Maybe someday I’ll even send him another article.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally sent to me by email. The writer wasn’t sure if this should be a comment to an existing article or sent separately. I asked his permission to publish it as a contibuted article. He agreed as long as he could disguise his identity a bit to avoid any problems for him and his family since he is currently an elder in his congregation. He allowed me to edit the article for readability and organization, but the words and thoughts are all his. I think his presentation is fair-minded and balanced and might represent the thinking of many active Jehovah’s Witnesses. I invite other Witnesses that would like to contribute their personal stories or opinions to submit them to me. Please contact me by email or through the use of the contact form located elsewhere on this website.
Related Posts:
Categories: JW Teachings, Opinion
Isn’t it strange that the author claims to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, most of his life, yet he seems to be unaware that the word ‘Jehovah’ is a proper noun? Therefore, he was ‘one of’ Jehovah’s Witnesses, or ‘is’ as the case may be. Perhaps stranger is that he follows later with:
Learn how to write! How can you support the Watchtower’s position that getting a higher education is a waste of time – time better spent in Kingdom service – if you can’t spell, punctuate, and develop a well-considered thought? For Jehovah’s sake – learn how to use your spell-checker. Even Yahoo and Google mail have built in spell checkers. Before you submit your comment, write it in a word processor or as a draft email – then spell-check and grammar check it. Your comments do not have to be perfect, but writing like an ignorant 8-year old hillbilly is not giving Jehovah the good representation he deserves.
Kevin,
As the Editor of this article I take note of your issue with the wording and take full responsibility for any grammatical errors that make it into the final version, but I can’t determine which specific sentence you are referring to. Of course “Jehovah” is a proper noun, but I am not sure where the name or the title was misused.
I’ve read my edited version of the article and his original email draft, and I do not see where you read anything that would indicate his credibility to be questionable. I’d like to know how you determined that in your own mind. Feel free to reply here or send me an email.
By the way, you have an extra comma between “Witnesses” and “most of his life…”
Kevin,
You’re off-base. Please support your claim more specifically.
Wow! What a powerful statement you just made. And all you’ve done is plainly speak the truth as you know it to be. But alas, I’m not certain that the people who should be reading this post and acting accordingly will do so or will be able to do anything about it. It will only be your secret. But, it’s now out there and we will see what we will see.
When I was at Bethel, I learned that many of the long-time members were non believers, but they also believed it was too late for them to leave. Fortunately for me at age twenty, I decided that I could no longer live my life this way. I had to be true to myself and so I left the organization. And forty-five years later, I have absolutely no regrets.
This is nothing new. As an ex Jehovah Witness, I have personally seen not just a few, but hundreds of people leave the organization after the failed prophesy of 1975. I was one of them. The Bible is very clear about people that say they are prophets and make false prophesies. There is also a warning in the Bible that says to get out of her my people, speaking of false religion. Jesus also told Pilot that his kingdom was no part of this world. In that statement Jesus is showing that his Kingdom, is no part of this world, and He taught that in the proper time his Kingdom would rule the earth. So, if what Jesus said is true. Then there is no organization on the earth from the time of Jesus to this very day that is part of God’s kingdom. The Good News or gospel is about God bringing his Kingdom down to earth with his Christ as king. Only then will the earth have a kingdom that is part of God’s heavenly organization.
I question why the Jehovah’s Witness Bible has different translations than all of the mainstream Christian Bibles. For example in Luke, when the Angel Gabriel makes his announcement to Mary, she replies “Behold, Jehovah’s slave girl”. Rather, the other translations refer to her as handmaiden. The Latin word is ancilla from whence we derive the word ancillary or helper or support person. If she is Jehovah’s slave girl, it makes God seem like a tyrant who would just use a woman as a vessel and in the process she has no free will. God does not ask us to be “slaves” but free servants. After all, she was to carry Jesus in her womb, hardly a task that a “slave” would do.
I personally enjoyed “Shadow Elders” e-mail, not only because it was interesting and entertaining, but I’m happy that he also can see that the GB are only men no more “inspired” than the rest of the Witnesses or any other believer in Christ striving to seek the truth in Scripture.
I thought that he was RIGHT ON! Quite correct concerning many of his observations with his advice for both JW and former JW.
I do want to say this though: If he is waiting for the GB to change their mind concerning the 1914 doctrine, I hope that he is not holding his breath! And God is not going to make them change their minds. They’ll have to change them on their own just like the leaders did the other “old light” which God didn’t give to them since it was not light in the first place at all but error.
I’m glad at least to see that he now has his eyes opened concerning the GB and that not all their teachings are correct. Thanks for sharing his e-mail
Sheila Rae
PS He’s got a lot ahead of him now. Once a person gets their eyes opened to the WT Society, there’s no going back to the way a person’s mind was before.
@Anchor – Oh, yes, another thing. Since ALL of the “anointed” have the job of “feeding the sheep at the proper time”, then why, during all of those earlier Watchtower years (and even till now) were all of the books and literature mainly written by just a few “anointed” men? : C.T. Russell (during his presidency) and “Judge” Rutherford during his presidency. Freddy Franz books and writings during bro Knorrs presidency and a handful of men after that? Since there are thousands of the “anointed” still alive then why is there non “anointed” writing in the writing department? All of the writings have to be edited by the GB?
What’s the other THOUSANDS of the other “anointed” doing? Taking orders? Why didn’t they also write books and why aren’t they ALSO “feeding the Sheep”? Why doesn’t the GB place an “anointed” in each congregation (if there isn’t one) and let THEM ALSO, carry out their commission of “feeding the sheep”? Seems like most of the “anointed” have been either slackers or the WT Society has been taken over by just a few men, and the other “anointed” are afraid to speak up for fear of also being disfellowshiped for QUESTIONING the GB teachings and given THE BOOT?
Is the GB (12 men) afraid that the others don’t have enough Holy Spirit to also oversee and “feed” the congregations? Why are they so silent?
These are questions all Jehovah’s Witnesses should be asking. Something is just too fishy here with this scene. As I said, most of the books have been written by mainly a handful of the “anointed” since the begining of the Watchtower Society and the Watchtower began it’s printing. Why aren’t the rest also feeding the sheep and writing books? First C.T. Russell, and all of his “Studies in the Scriptures” and other books and literature, then Rutherford and all of his “rainbow book series” and more (which you can see in the Proclaimer’s book) then Knorr, who mainly let Freddy Franz do a lot of the writing, and the few men who are doing it today. Again why the silence from the other thousands of “anointed”?
Sheila Rae
Anchor,
I thought that “Shadow Elder” made an excellent point regarding the remnant of the “Anointed” class. We were taught that the 144,000 heavenly bound ones would rule with Jesus and lead his people on Earth. In reality, many of those who were originally included as being among the “Anointed” never had any say in what was taught in the Watchtower or by the Governing Body. With 9,000 “anointed partakers of the emblems” still available, why are so many in high positions at Bethel considered to be members of the “great crowd.”
“Elder’s” point about all of the changes in doctrine and policy since the 1920s and 1930s is very strong and should be given great consideration. How could the Watchtower Society, when it was populated almost entirely by members of the “anointed class” get things so wrong – and yet now, when most of those people are dead and gone, the WT is supposedly getting closer the the truth when mostly “other sheep” are running the show?
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed; Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; not as being lords over those entrusted to you but being examples of the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will recieve the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5: 1-4.
John 21: 15-17, Jesus told Peter 3 things, Feed My lambs, Tend My sheep and Feed My sheep. This is the call or responsibility of the earthly shepereds, i.e. elders and ministers, an awesome responsibilty. This means lives!
And finally, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7
If you are in doubt, then why not be the example that you are to be and state your concerns to the GB. Who knows, you may have been raised up for such a time as this.
At the end of the day, who cares how a website looks or if there are errors in spelling. The fact of the matter is, the JW’s have replaced the use of God’s Word with the WT. By accepting the unauthorized earthly GB, they have also replaced the gospel of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, Who is the Head of the Body (church or congregation) and Who sits at the right hand of Adonai (Jehovah).
I also have a youtube channel – http://www.youtube.com/hebrews413
I am not a JW or an ex-JW. I just wanted to say that I appreciate the “shadow elder’s” article. I have been studying with some JW’s and have questioned some things, I have been lied to and facts from the past have been deemed “irrelevant” by those I have been studying with. If all JW’s had the same mentality as this elder, maybe they wouldn’t be so “brainwashed” as to defend the Watchtower at all costs. If that was the case, then we could actually go to the Bible, and the Bible alone, to see what is the truth using critical thinking rather than whatever some man (or group of men) has told us what the Bible says. Either you, sir, are the most rational and independent JW I have ever heard (in this case read of), or you are well on your way to leave that cult. Good for you.
@William –
It didn’t show up, but my website is http://www.springhillcoc.webs.com
@William – William – thank you for your comment. If you leave a website when you register to post a comment then it will show up when someone clicks on your name if the color is blue. If the color is black, then that means that the person who wrote the comment did not include a website address. Try it out! It’s all automatic.
Mike,
Please keep your comments to the subject at hand rather than attacking others personally. You don’t know what knowledge Hannah has about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their teachings. I won’t judge your own personal level of understanding, but so far all I’ve seen you do is paraphrase Watchtower publications. Try appealing to the logic and facts of an issue, rather than attacking others or simply quoting from JW literature. You’ll gain no converts here by being either a hawk or a parrot for the old men in Brooklyn.
Editor’s Note: Please note that since I submitted the above reply, this poster has been permanently banned from Ex-JW.com for plagiarism. See my comments below.-JH
There are members of the anointed that are doing exactly as Jesus instructed. “Feed My Sheep”. Those that are mourning and sighing over the detestable things are finding the web-sites. Take care my brothers
I was born and raised as a JW and my father is an elder. I’m nearly 40 (so that puts my birth a few years before the 1975 fiasco) and this organization has become more unreasonable and ridiculous even since I’ve been alive.
More and more emphasis is put on the GB being the FINAL word on anything and how they’re NOT to be questioned less Jehovah’s wrath be incurred.
THAT, my friends, is one hallmark of a cult. A charismatic leader who is not to be questioned. Granted the GB is not one person but 9 old men who essentially functions as “the leader.”
They are mentioned in talks, assemblies, and publications more than ever. When I was a child, you didn’t hear all this constant praise and “thank you Jehovah for providing the GB” during prayers.
That’s leader WORSHIP, my friends.
I would not be surprised if soon the witnesses will be praying to Jehovah THROUGH the GB rather than Jesus.
The organization is also getting more and more controlling over witnesses. Most witnesses are led to believe that it’s for their own good, but that is yet another hallmark of a cult.
I lost all faith (which I consider to be a good thing) in my late teens/early twenties. The first thing I was surprised to learn was that not every so-called “apostate” was evil, vengeful, or hateful or trying to start their own religion. Many are people who have been hurt terribly.
Here’s something interesting about apostates. Being labeled an apostate can be time specific. One year you’re a faithful servant of Jehovah, the next year you’re an apostate if you don’t accept what the GB publishes.
Really what finished off my faith was finding out how the GB operates (Franz’ Crisis of Conscience).
VOTING?! Especially on doctrines that affect each and every witness’ understanding of scripture and in some cases, lives (blood policy).
Time was, you abstained from blood, and that mean everything. Now there’s fractions and componenets that are acceptable. How many people have died over the blood issue? Too many. What do you say to the people who lost a loved one when the blood issue was more strict (no blood or fractions at all) when an accepted (now) fractioned would have saved them?
Blood guilt to be sure.
When does a ham sandwich cease being a ham sandwich? Answer that and then explain the blood fractions.
And what about the WT’s status as an NGO in the UN? Hypocritical considering the vitriol spewed in the Revelation book towards that particular organization.
If you believe the WTBTS and the JWs to have the truth, fine. But quite frankly, the GB (and subsequently JWs as well) has destroyed their credibility as the only ones with the truth.
Thank you for the article.
well, interesting reading, but may I clear up one point.
I believe it’s only if the funeral is held at the kingdom hall that kingdom songs rather than secular music is preferred. My dad was an elder and we had his favourite jazz track playing at the end of the service, but it was held at the crematorium, likewise with another friend, his favourite classical piece, again, at the crem..
I have to say that I find criticisms of Witnesses’ grammar to be rather cheap and little more than a form of victim-blaming. There is a classic dichotomy in every congregation that any ex-JW can attest to — the educated, upper-class elites and the uneducated, lower-class followers. The lower-class Witnesses — those more likely to suffer from socioeconomic problems, physical and emotional disabilities, and the general despondency caused by the organization — are routinely put down by the upper-class elites as a form of social control via establishment of intellectual, religious, and economic dominance. Any kid with a semester of Intro to Soc under their belt could spot that same tactic, whether intentional or not, in this post from a mile away, particularly since the entire post is structured with the establishment of higher-than-yours credentials leading into authoritarian views of what is and isn’t acceptable. It’s an attempt to demean other Witnesses for not being at the same level as you. You’re an elder, the epitome of godliness in the eyes of most low-level Witnesses, and you’re calling out the flock for not being good enough. How do you not see the issue with that?
To criticize Witnesses and blame them for their lack of education is to ignore the entire structure of the organization. As even this very blog has noted, most Witnesses today are struggling to obtain any form of education or socioeconomic advancement. Homeschooling is rampant, higher education is associated with walking into a pit of fire, and the only “literature” Witnesses are supposed to read is written at a level of 2-3 on the literacy scale. Witnesses are deliberated prevented from obtaining higher literacy skills, particularly reading comprehension. And as we all know, the only way to develop good writing skills is to first develop good reading skills. In turn, they are kept down economically, which dumps them into that “hillbilly” category you deride. How can we ask people to maintain a high level of literacy when they’re still working to achieve a merely functional level? Be careful about the way you choose to criticize what you help to enforce.
I applaud every Witness, current and former, who is so much as trying to make an effort to communicate. They shouldn’t have to be ashamed of who they are and how they write at a time when they are dealing with much more significant issues. Calling people out for their grammar — or their “low-class” beards, baseball caps, and beer — is the intellectual equivalent of fish in a barrel. Considering that you already exert substantial social control over the behavior of others in your flock, please don’t feel the need to seek it on-line as well. Unless, of course, you also don’t want your arguments to be taken seriously. And please, check your own privilege when trying to “guide” us in the right direction.
Ashley,
Thank you for your comments on the article by “Shadow Elder.” In a recent email to me, he commented on the criticism he has received about his remarks on the quality of writing by both current JWs and ex-JWs who either reply to blogs or set up their own websites. He wrote, “I was probably too tough on some people and too soft on others. I don’t want to over criticize nor judge the sincerity of anyone who feels the need to write about their JW faith – or lack thereof. The point I was trying to make was that their own lack of writing skills could stumble unaffiliated readers who are interested in reading different points of view. Most of my criticism was really directed to the ex-JWs who try to convince their readers that the Witnesses are less than honorable Christians, while they present themselves in their blogs or on YouTube as being obnoxious and incoherent “stoners.” Do they really think that acting that way gives them any credibility? I think it hurts their cause.”
“Shadow Elder” might come off as an elitist JW since he has some authority over the flock of his Kingdom Hall. I feel that his main problems with the Watchtower Society are not with the average JW who is trying hard to be a good Christian so that they can get through this world and survive Armageddon. His problem is with the Governing Body and others at the WT headquarters that really do not care about their “great crowd” of followers. As most major religious organizations are becoming more modern and liberal in many of their views, it seems as if the leadership of the Watchtower Society is becoming more hard-line, more controlling, and far less liberal about their teachings. They claim that they are both led by the Holy Spirit, but do not have any special inspiration or prophetic powers. They compare themselves to the prophets of old, yet they claim that no angels or spirits actually guide them. They do not claim to be infallible and admit to making mistakes and not fully understanding all Bible truths, yet they do not allow any suggestions, commentary or dissent from their followers. Where is the logic in that?
Ashley, I also agree with your position that every JW and former JW who feels the need to communicate should be able to and not be deterred by anything, including their own lack of writing or communication skills. Anyone wanting to submit an article to Ex-JW.com is welcome to do so; we will be happy to edit it for them to correct grammatical and spelling errors, as well as trying to make their article more readable. That’s what I did with Shadow Elder’s article submission and he was OK with the final results. We don’t ask for perfect writing skills – what we want are good, honest ideas and comments that will interest our readers and get people to think about their own positions and beliefs.
How is it that among the supposed 144,000 anointed class, there are women – and men with wives and children? The Bible – and this is in your Jehovah’s Witness Bible, true believers! – says in Revelations 14:4 that the 144,000 are all “men who have never laid with n or touched a woman”. The words are not simply “pure” or even “virgin”. “Men who have never laid with nor touched a woman” is very specific, very clear and down-to-earth language.
I went to the Memorial in 2009 (Easter for Witnesses, basically.). The scripture read was Revelations 7 to about 15 or so. They read each and every line aloud until they came to that wonderfully precise, obvious, clear line about how the 144,00 were all “men who have never laid with or touched a woman”. And what happened when they reached that line? The leader/speaker skipped smoothly over it – not reading ONLY that ONE line – and the congregation did the same. Why did they skip over just that single line? It seems obvious that someone in charge realized how it could take down the faith in a heartbeat. There isn’t just the false prophesies and “old light/new light”: now any reasonable person can see that most of their “anointed” brethren were not anointed, after all. Unless they are male virgins or gay males, perhaps? “Men who have never laid with or touched a woman” – you can’t twist this sentence to make it include women and “family men”. And the leader of the reading KNEW that….that’s why he skipped that line and only that line.
@Bettie Weinberg – These are excellent points, Bettie, and some that Jehovah’s Witnesses should consider. There are so many issues with the Watchtower’s interpretation of Revelations. Much of what they teach actually is in direct opposition to what Revelations is quite clear about. For instance, how can they claim that Jesus return as King to rule over all of the world in 1914 was “invisible,” when Revelation 1:7 states quite emphatically that “Behold, he comes with clouds; and EVERY EYE shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen!”
Thanks, Bettie, for taking an interest in Ex-JW.com and offering so many well-considered comments.
you guys are so ignorant, wait till the end comes, you all will be crying and shouting to the heavans so that God could spare your lives… apostates….
I understand why you feel that way. I have read WT publications too long years until stomach got full and now ready to throw up all of it. All it need is honestly in the heart, open EYES, and open MINDS to see the truth and error. The counterfeit closely resembles the original. The only way to test what is right is to bring it and test them in the Bible. The Bible is our only safe guide to eternal life. but Watchtower teaching contradicts the teaching of the Bible. It needs prayerful and careful examination of Scripture.
There going to be surprises at the end. You will be surprised who was apostates !! The Bible appropriately apply the symbolic word :Babylon to “apostate (fallen spiritual world. The false teachings are symbolized as “wine of Babylon”. Many are drunk of the false teaching and need to come out of it to see God’s truth. Rvelation14 & Rev.18 chapters illustrate well).
All good comments. Depending what one knows, and poine of view established through W T experiences and considering the publications of W T doctrine through the G B since it was establilshed.
As to who is an apostate. I believe the Bible considers an apostate “one who brings teachings other than what Jesus taught as received or learned from our God and Father, the law and the prophets. So where conscienciously can the the G B enforce their “Apostate”
practice to the harm of so many families, individuals?
Just one point. How can they say that Jehovah is the God of the Bible, since it was not framed until 1270 according to the Aid Book and Insight Book references. So who and what is Jehovah? Not Yaweh, as Jewish scolars prefer but an adaptation of the Latin Jehova to Jehovah? So who and what are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and what do they witness to since no end as predicted as come since late 1800s or throughout all of the 1900s? Thank You for listening. former, quit witness.
Elmay
@Editor – Here you go:
1. Paragraph 2 – First of all, I am an active Jehovah’s Witness living just outside of New York City. (This should be “I am an active Witness of Jehovah…”)
2. Paragraph 4 – I have been a Jehovah’s Witness for most of my life. (This should be “I have been an active Witness of Jehovah for most of my life…”
This misuse of the term is one of the most common misunderstandings outside the ‘organization’, in every country I’ve been to or lived in around the world. That’s why I found it highly suspicious that an Elder would make that mistake, twice.
@Hannah – I’m not off-base, actually. See my reply to the Editor. I’ve quoted the errors.
Kevin,
I’m not sure what you are hoping to accomplish with your nitpicking about his use of the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
He does use that term in his article when he writes, “To be a faithful Witness of Jehovah, according to the Governing Body…”
I can assure you that “Shadow Elder” was, and still is, an active Witness of Jehovah. I was a Jehovah’s Witness for many years and I still have family who are Witnesses. While many JWs do identify themselves as “Witnesses of Jehovah” in more formal settings such as funerals and weddings, and even in field service, among each other they just use “Jehovah’s Witnesses” when chatting or communicating. That’s why they still refer to themselves as “JWs,” not “WoJs.”
Communications between me and “Shadow Elder” were by email. After I received his submission, I edited his story for readability and for the style used by Ex-JW.com. I can’t remember specifically what edits I made because so much time has passed, but he might have used the WoJ title at some other point in the article that I edited back to JW.
In any case, I challenge your assertion that somehow the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” is no longer in use. In 1931, Joseph Rutherford officially renamed the International Bible Students, announcing the new name as “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” I have an official handout (copyright 2009) given to me by a Jehovah’s Witness that came to my door. In every case, this handout refers to “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” not Witnesses of Jehovah. The Proclaimers book (p. 151-154) lists the official name in English as “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
For many years, the Watchtower has tried to extend the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” back to early Christian times to somehow give modern JWs more credibility. In recent years they have begun calling the apostles and disciples “early Christian witnesses of Jehovah.” I know that some modern JWs have begun calling themselves “Christian Witnesses of Jehovah,” but as far as I know that name has no official standing and it sounds rather formal to me.
The official media site of the Watchtower Society states the following: “Jehovah’s Witnesses are members of a worldwide Christian religion who actively share with others information about God, whose name is Jehovah, and about his Son, Jesus Christ.”
I’m sorry, but if the Watchtower Society states that the official name of their followers is “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” then I think that “Shadow Elder” should be able to use that term in his article without criticism.
Remember, “Shadow Elder” was writing to current and former JWs, not directly to outsiders. I see no reason for him to use a more formal term in a post intended for JWs.
Kevin, why don’t you address “Shadow Elder’s” other comments that really need some review. What about the use of voting by the Governing Body, supposedly under the influence of the Holy Spirit?
You are always welcome to comment, but you could make better use of your time and space on this website by addressing the more meaningful issues brought up by “Shadow Elder.”