Showing posts with label JW Survey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JW Survey. Show all posts

Thursday 18 June 2015

Jehovah’s Witnesses Shunning ex-members adverse effects on family relationships

pt: Salão do Reino das Testemunhas de Jeová, P...
pt: Salão do Reino das Testemunhas de Jeová, Portugal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Majority of former Jehovah’s Witnesses believes the organization’s policy of shunning ex-members has had adverse effects on family relationships.

When you meet Jehovah Witnesses mostly they say they do not have any schisms in their organisation. None of them seems to have ever done something wrong when a Witness of Jehovah. Before they became a Witness it might well be that they did something wrong, but the changed and when a baptised Witness from then onwards they do not seem to do bad things any more.

Though we can find many ex-Witnesses. From those who left the organisation we do find some who kept to the Most High and left because their own changed views or where asked to leave the organisation because of their other views. But we also do find lots of ex-JW who were put out of the organisation because their lifestyle did not fit a lifestyle of a Christian.

98% of the people responding to the questioning by JWAlumni.org said leaving the faith impaired or destroyed their relationship with their family. Though we do have to question what was destroying the family relationship really. In the 1950ies we also in Catholic families could find quarrels about attending or not the church services and having family members going out of the house wanting to have an other way of life. It is also not so long ago that in many atheist and Christian families gay people became excluded form the family, and it still happens in such families today.
Big problem with the JW seems to be what happens when one family member quiets the organisation and what the organisation then demands from the other family members.

According to the survey, 76 percent of former Jehovah’s Witnesses are being shunned (minimized or no association) by their families. 90 percent were told it was due to the respective member not being a Jehovah’s Witness any-more. Strangely enough not so much effort was or is put in trying to get them back into the flock. We wonder how much time is invested in trying to keep the person in the faith.

Whereas the Catholic Church encourages association with excommunicated members and tries to keep them involved in the community, JW.org (or the Watchtower Society) admonish avoiding former Jehovah’s Witnesses all together.

Shunning was introduced by Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1952, only five years after they had denounced excommunication as an instrument of “ecclesiastical power and secular tyranny” that is “altogether foreign to Bible teachings.”

Though we may not forget that also in many other religious groups excommunication exists and also brings problems in families making siblings not coming together any more under one roof or having children loosing contact with their parents. Certain social and gender reasons have also serious percussions in non-religious families.

JWalumni - Jehovah's Witnesses News asked former and active members
 “How have Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW.org) affected your family?”
in a survey* they conducted in May 2015 among 1,055 individuals in the USA, Australia, Canada, UK and Germany.

One of the bigger impacts for the JW members may come from them growing up in a religion where they are taught to centre their life around it. Everything is supposed to conform to specifications set out by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. While the consequences are less drastic when it comes to recreation or one’s choice of entertainment, they are all the more dramatic in regards to association. Granted, the rank and file Jehovah’s Witnesses all have a measure of contact with Non-Jehovah’s Witnesses through work or school. But the average Witness will limit their contact with ‘worldly people’ to such unavoidable occasions. So when they leave the so-called truth, they are literally on their own and do feel the shock only when they feel the solitude once out of the group, because before that they did not socialise enough with others.

Misha Anouk, Founding Editor of JWAlumni.org and author of the german-language bestseller Goodbye, Jehova! in her book Goodbye, Jehova!  describes the hell she went through in the years following her departure.

According to her the  system of shunning is purposely used to let the doubting or leaving person feel the loneliness.
The ‘shunning policy’ relies on: emotional blackmail through social isolation which will eventually make you want to go back. And the strategy sadly works in one of three cases.

Experts call the silent treatment manipulative punishment – something JW.org condemns in their literature.
Steve Hassan, Cult Expert at Freedom of Mind and Author of Combating Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults says:
Information Control (all the others too: Behavior Control, Thought control, Emotional Control) is a major reason cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowship and threaten to disfellowship. They do not want people speaking with ex-members because they will start thinking independently. They will realize the phobia indoctrination (emotional control) is just that – people can leave and live a happy, spiritual life outside of the confines of the group. I do believe all totalistic cults need to stop violating their members fundamental human rights.”
When we look at the magazines and go to a Kingdom Hall meeting, at a service or at a Bible study meeting we can not ignore that the questioning- answering system has something of an indoctrination system. Often it looks like people are also not free to make their own opinion and to discuss their other view openly with others in the group.

Much too often we do hear that such person doubting or having questions about certain teachings do not want to receive the 'new light' or are not yet ready to see the light and should be more patient.

Very often families shunning other members of the family even do not want to see the real reasons of the other being disfellowshipped or why he or she wanted to leave the organisation voluntary.
Most of them added that the reason for them leaving the group had to do with what JW leadership commanded them to do.
We also cannot ignore that the organisation seems to victimize their members time and again, with horrific policies that hurt them when they stay and punish them when they leave.
The shunning often has had adverse effects on family relationships: two-thirds feel that Jehovah’s Witnesses doctrine “destroyed or seriously disrupted” their family.
Shunning is an extreme form of excommunication (“disfellowshipping”) whereby a person who committed a sin according to the Watchtower Society’s standards or who has chosen to revoke their membership in the organization is then socially isolated by Jehovah’s Witnesses – including family members.The Watchtower Society, the corporation overseeing Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide, promotes the policy of shunning former members
72 percent of families who shunned a disfellowshipped member did so because of what the Governing Body told them through the literature of JW.org. And 59 percent admitted that the reason for shunning their relative was the hope they would return to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Only 2 percent of Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses who are being shunned feel that the practice of disfellowshipping and isolating former members socially had no effect on their family.

In contrast, 52 percent stated that their Jehovah’s Witnesses family wanted “no contact at all”, with 17 percent only getting in touch when they “need something”.

The findings are not surprising, given the fact the not so family friendly shunning policy of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been called cruel and inhumane by cult experts like the Australian Psychologist Raphael Aron and is even categorized as psychological torture. Nonetheless, only 50 percent of Jehovah’s Witness families who are actively shunning a relative would welcome a change in policy, despite the fact that they have hardly any contact.

Read more about it >

Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘destroy or seriously disrupt’ Families due to their Shunning Policy, Survey finds

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Monday 4 March 2013

Surprising figures about Jehovah Witnesses


English: George Storrs, former preacher, write...
English: George Storrs, former preacher, writer, editor, publisher (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Many Jehovah Witnesses may think the modern-day organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses began in the 1870’s.  In a way they are not totally wrong, but also not totally right, because the organisation of today has nothing to do with the root of that Bible Student Group from the early days.

From the years 1870 through 1875 Charles Taze Russell, his father Joseph, his sister Margaret, along with several other interested friends and associates, such as the well studied Millerite pastors George Storrs, and George Stetson, were actively engaged in careful, analytical Bible Study.
Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916).
Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Russell started his own periodical entitled "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence" with the issue July, 1879.
In 1881 "Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society" was founded with the purpose of disseminating tracts, papers, doctrinal treatises and Bibles, and was officially chartered in 1884.

The different small groups in the 19th century who were looking for the Biblical truth brought forth many sorts of Bible students groups and organisations. Several of those seriously interested Bible Students began rediscovering long-lost Bible truths.

After  the death of Ch.T. Russell in1916  an immense and messy struggle for control of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society began at the Brooklyn "headquarters". Joseph Rutherford, the Society's lawyer, on a technicality that would have equally applied to him, summarily dismissed four influential members of the Board of Directors, and then literally tossed their belongings out onto the street. Pastor Russell's "Last Will and Testament" was both ignored and violated. Through legal and personal manipulations, Rutherford essentially appointed himself the second president of the Society, and within a period of only ten years turned the course of the Society around in a completely different direction, having discarded many of Russell's views, to the chagrin of tens of thousands of members. 
English: Picture of Joseph F. Rutherford from ...
English: Picture of Joseph F. Rutherford from the 1911 Bible Students Convention Souvenir Booklet. At the time this picture was taken, Rutherford was serving as chief legal counsel for Pastor Charles Taze Russell. Rutherford became President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in 1917 and later renamed the movement Jehovah's Witnesses. Rutherford died in 1942. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 1931 the Bible Students got some schisms because there where some disputes about the way Rutherford was going. The name Jehovah’s Witnesses was adopted by one of the split groups with the most of money. With their publications they managed to get even more income and financial grounds to build a whole empire.
Through the years those who did not want to agree with change in the teachings or new ideas of the Governing Body where cast out and had to find other ways to keep active in their faith. Shamefully lots of ex-Jehovah Witnesses where so disgusted by the Brooklyn Society they totally lost interest in the Faith and became atheist or a fighter against the non-trinitarians. Many ex-Jehovah Witnesses found themselves without family, but often also without believers around them who wanted to share the same love for God. A big problem that so many also got totally stuck in their thinking which was brought on by the organisation that all others in the world had the wrong believes and should be avoided. So many do not dare to make contact with other faith groups and often have no idea that there are many other non-trinitarian Bible Students.

The Jehovah Witnesses grew every year and became a very strong organisation.

Last year a second JW Survey showed again very revealing figures:

The results are available for download in PDF format on this link. They show that the overwhelming majority of 1,488 voters who participated disapprove with some or all of the Society's teachings and practices. Some of the more shocking statistics are as follows:

  • Only 5% of active Witness voters agreed with ALL Watchtower beliefs and practices
  • 70% of inactive voters stopped attending meetings because they no longer believe that Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion
  • 61% of unbaptized voters believe Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult
  • 31% of anointed voters do not believe 144,000 is a literal number
  • 65% of active Witness voters believe some apostates may have legitimate concerns
  • 31% of serving elder voters consider themselves to be "secret apostates"
  • 60% of former Witness "apostate" voters have nothing against Jehovah's Witnesses but would like to see the Watch Tower Society dissolved
  • 49% of active Witness voters would either openly or secretly accept a blood transfusion
  • 60% of active Witness voters object to all forms of shunning
  • Three quarters of former Witness voters say they are being shunned by JW family members
  • 84% of inactive Witness voters would leave the organization if shunning were abolished
  • Three quarters of all inactive Witness voters experience "pre-emptive shunning" even though they are not disfellowshipped
  • Half of all serving elder voters feel elders are motivated by a desire for prominence and an ambition to succeed
  • More than 80% of active Witness voters DON'T believe elders are appointed by Holy Spirit
  • 58% of serving elder voters regret a decision they have reached on a judicial committee
  • Two thirds of active Witness voters don't believe Jehovah's Witnesses represent God's spirit-directed organization
  • 81% of all voters have known or heard of a Jehovah's Witness committing or attempting suicide
  • 60% of inactive voters experienced marital or family problems through their decision to become inactive
The Watchtower, Jehovah's Witnesses National HQ
The Watchtower, Jehovah's Witnesses National HQ (Photo credit: ad454)
No doubt the Society would dismiss the above statistics as merely representing the opinions of a few "bitter apostates," but one of the most interesting things about the JW Survey group their survey is that even active Witnesses who attend meetings have had a share in making their voices heard. The Society cannot claim to have the unquestioned loyalty of all those in its kingdom halls while increasing numbers of such ones are venturing online and making their voices heard through websites such as this.
Whether the Governing Body acknowledges these hundreds of people or not, the JW Survey group will continue to run the survey and gather the opinions of the "silent majority."
The 2013 Global Survey is now online!
In case you are a Jehovah Witness or are interested in their activities, or want to have your say, we would encourage you to react and why not to one-and-all to take part by clicking on this link to get started. 
If you are unfamiliar with how the survey works, please take your time to familiarize yourself with the instructions before proceeding - and be sure to read the questions carefully before casting your vote!
As to the results of last year's survey, these will still get posted to Brooklyn even if they go straight in the Bethel mailroom's bin. Why? Because when the media eventually takes an interest in the efforts of the JW Survey Group (which we believe they will) they want to be able to tell them that they have mailed their surveys to the Governing Body each and every year, and they never replied. Of course, they would rather the Governing body DID reply - but this is out of their hands. And even if the JW Survey can't force the Governing Body to take an interest in the opinions of hundreds of current and former Witnesses, they can still produce their UPS tickets as proof that they tried!
 For all those who love Jehovah it might also be an important step, because all God's lovers should become untied at the end. And more Jehovah Witnesses and ex-Witnesses should get to learn that there is more than only the Jehovah Witness movement. They and other Christians shall have to get to know that there are more non-trintiarian Christians than only the Jehovah Witness, who do witness for Jehovah. In some countries there are even groups who call themselves Jehovah People and as such could perhaps be better positioned to say that they are the people of God because they really bear the name of being the people of Jehovah.
But also other movements like the Nazarene Friends, Ex-Jehovah Witnesses, church of God, Church of Abrahamic Faith, Christadelphians, they all go for Jehovah and do their best to get to know the Only One God and to serve Him at their best.
In the world Christians who have their heart on the right place should dare to come out and say their ideas, willing to give signs to others so that they can correct or change direction.
For ex-Jehovah Witnesses and for those who have doubts about certain writings of the organisation it might seem as though there is little point in voting if the Governing Body isn't listening, but we honestly don't see things that way. The more the Governing Body ignores the many pleas for mercy and reasonableness, the more they prove themselves to be entirely unfit for the role they have assumed on the behalf of so many Jehovah Witnesses. So, with that in mind, please continue to add your voices to the project of the JW Survey Group - and spread the word among your friends too! Let the silent majority speak loud and clear...
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English: Personal bible study Português: Estud...
English: Personal bible study Português: Estudo pessoal da bíblia Italiano: Lo studio personale della bibbia Deutsch: Persönliches Bibelstudium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Those who think people who talk about Jehovah are Jehovah Witnesses better look further and do find many other faith groups which also use the Name of God. It is namely not the sole right of the Jehovah Witnesses to use the proper Name of God.
For those interested to learn more about Jehovah and other faith-groups or churches which want to honour the Only One God, we do advise to have a look at other websites, like for example:
The Christadelphians or to get to know better the Christadelphian People What Christadelphians believe or look at the world wide community of Christadelphia with Christadelphia Worldwide communities or ecclesiae
  1. Charles Taze Russel Official Website
  2. Thomasites
  3. Unitarian Church of God
  4. Friends of the Nazarene
  5. Restoration Fellowship
  6. Bible Student Websites 
  7. Associated Bible Students of Central Ohio - Official Website
  8. Dawn Bible Students Association
  9. Biblestudents  
  10. Bijbelvorsers 
  11. Bijbelvorsers Webs
  12. Bijbelvorser = Bible Researcher
  13. Broeders in Christus  
  14. Belgian Christadelphian Ecclesia
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