History of Jehovah's Witnesses Puns

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1May7e2STg

So I submitted a Subject Access Request, as per everyone who lives in Europe has the right to do thanks to GDPR law, to have access to all the data my local congregation has on me. Long story short, it is shocking what they record.

Anyway, as per my rights, I requested them to delete all data they can. Now while I understand they have the right to keep my name and status, disfellowshipped, on record for their sake, they have refused to delete years of highly sensitive comments on my mental health, ranging from when I was 16 to when I left shortly before my 21st birthday, aswell as comments and history of my sexual history. Considering I was under 18 for some of that, it is highly disturbing they wish to keep that on record.

So the Jehovah’s Witnesses will happily delete any record of your hours, placements, and remove you from the contact list, however state that for their legitimate religious purposes, they need to keep on file highly sensitive, traumatic comments and notes on your mental health and so on, despite also saying in the judicial meeting that ‘Anything written down during this judicial meeting will be destroyed of and is just for our benefit during this meeting’.

Years after leaving, the Jehovah’s Witnesses insist on holding onto your personal information. For what purpose is beyond me. A truly sickening organisation that will continue to prey on vulnerable people for years.

I have submitted a complaint to the ICO, who process GDPR complaints in the UK, that the data they are refusing to delete goes beyond what they need for their legitimate religious purposes, so hopefully they’ll be able to assist me and thus possibly other ExJWs in the future with removing any sensitive, traumatic data from the organisations cruel, evil hands.

If any European(inc. UK) based ExJW wishes to submit a Subject Access Request, I have made a nice template you can use, and just need to fill in the data relevant to you and send it to your ‘local congregation’ who hold your ‘records’.

Great doc on the history and changing beliefs from the 80’s. Forgot about the generation teaching of that time. Worth the watch!

https://youtu.be/VE3zp9FiyiQ

Early history of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Lineage: Roman Catholics -> Church of England (Anglican) -> Puritan Separtists -> Baptists -> Millerites (Adventists) -> Adventist Christian Church -> The Life and Advent Union -> Seventh Day Adventists -> The Watchtower Society -> Jehovah's Witnesses.

Adventist Roots: Around 1869, 17-year-old Charles Taze Russell attended a meeting in Pittsburgh with a group he called "Second Adventists" and heard preacher Jonas Wendell expound his views on Bible prophecy. Wendell interpreted scriptures in the books of Daniel and Revelation to predict that Christ would return in 1873. Russell became convinced that God would reveal his purpose in the last days of the "Gospel age" and formed an independent Bible study group in Pittsburgh. He rejected Adventist teachings that the purpose of Christ's return was to destroy the Earth and instead formed the view that Christ had died to pay a "ransom price" to atone for sinful humans, intending to restore humans to perfection with the prospect of living forever. Like Wendell, he rejected the concept of "hellfire" and the immortal soul.

In January 1876 Russell read an issue of Herald of the Morning, a periodical edited by Adventist preacher Nelson Barbour but which had almost ceased publication because of dwindling subscriptions. Barbour, like other Adventists, had earlier applied the biblical time prophecies of Miller and Wendell to calculate that Christ would return in 1874 to bring a "bonfire"; when this failed to eventuate he and co-writer J.H. Paton had concluded that though their calculations of the timing of Christ's return were correct, they had erred about its manner. They subsequently decided that Christ's return, or parousia, was invisible, and that Christ had therefore been present since 1874. Russell "rejoiced" to find that others had reached the same conclusion on the parousia and decided their application of Adventist time prophecies — which he said he had "so long despised" — merited further examination. He met Barbour, accepted his detailed and complex arguments on prophetic chronology and provided him with funds to write a book that combined their views.

1879 - The first Bible study group led by Pastor Charles Taze Russell takes place.

1881 - Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society is established to begin disseminating Russell's thoughts to the public. In 1884, Russell states this is not a religious organisation, it is

I've never fully understood the eschatology or their view of past events

As the title reads, I was raised and indoctrinated in the cult known as the "Jehovah's Witnesses" to this day I still find myself subconsciously responding to things (fears, bad dreams, etc.) In the way I was brainwashed to do so, it took many years of effort to get to a comfortable status of understanding and not feeling drawn back by some misguided sense of fear. If you're interested in knowing anything about the effects, the inner workings, or the struggle of leaving, go ahead and ask!

Edit: sorry for the absence for a few hours, I've been severely ill the past few days and ended up falling asleep after taking a dose of cough medicine, I have gone through and answered every question I could find that was aimed at me :)

Edit 2: I just wanted to thank everyone for being supportive, I appreciate the questions and the knowledge that others hold regarding this situation, thank you all ❤

I’m so angry. i’m so angry that man, Rutherford, who rose to power in an untrustworthy and deceitful way, he highjacked a movement and made it his own. he made it a cult. A man who was raised in dirt poverty, saw his opportunity for watchtower president and power, and he took it. He made so many doctrinal and organizational changes, that thousands of Bible Students left. he stressed on elders the need to obey the societys directions (HIS directions) without complaint, and he doubled down, claiming salvation is tied to association with “the society” and anyone disobeying or disagreeing should be shunned. he claimed jesus chose the organization, and now people take that as fact?? so hardcore in their belief it’s “god’s organization” they’ll shun their own CHILDREN, just because Rutherford SAID jesus chose this organization? where is the proof? such a bold claim should have a plethora of proof in order to verify that statement. he then chose a name for HIS organization, to distinguish it from the many groups that had left due to his changes. Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Rutherford moved into a 10 bedroom mansion in california during the GREAT DEPRESSION, he bought this from a direct donation set up. (don’t worry it’s not for him, he’s just keeping it warm for the soon resurrection of the prices of the bible) with an adjacent two car garage for his two Cadillacs. Oh and he took Hitlers side, before Hitler banned Watchtower propaganda due to complaints from the catholic church. and just because this man was so power hungry, and manipulative, and succeeded in creating a cult, my whole life was effected. i couldn’t have the simplest of things. Prom. normal friends, being a cheerleader. stupid things, but still. not to mention the thousands of others hurt so deeply by this evil, and manipulative cult.

in conclusion, fuck Rutherford, and if his burial site was listed, i would make the trip to personally piss on his grave.

I saw the news article briefly pop up on the radar of /r/atheism a few days ago, and I was surprised that it didn't even make the front page. As you can see, this story is starting to get a tremendous amount of coverage: Google News, as it should.

There is more to this story than just how it affects Jehovah's Witnesses. Being an ex-Witness myself, I'll admit that I have a dog in this fight. But even though this ruling has the potential to affect me in a positive way (by helping more JWs come to realize that their religion is not the "Truth," at minimum), this is a bigger story than just the Jehovah's Witnesses.

This is, as I understand it, one of the largest monetary awards to have been given to someone who had been abused, at least partially because of a church's malicious negligence. Is this what starts to help people realize that culpability of the Catholic Church? Does seeing a religious institution held responsible cause people to realize that perhaps religion in general shouldn't have such a privileged place in society?

I hope that it's a step in that direction. And, I hope that this story continues to gain traction. I know of people who have had their eyes open as a result of this story, along with others like it. This one is unique, though, in so many ways, and is a better opportunity than some that have come in the past for some of the reasons I've mentioned.

I think that this HUGE group of people within /r/atheism predominately want to see our society move closer to secularism. I think most of us want to see religion lose it's position as an unquestionable entity, and it seems to me that we're seeing that happen, one step at a time. A case like this has the potential to move these efforts forward in a big way. I hope we are able to give it the exposure and attention that it deserves.

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My best childhood friend is a JW. She was born into it, as was her mum (dad converted at age 19). We're still close and in-touch - they're great people, who've always welcomed me and my friends (they gave up trying to convert me, but I've visited Kingdom Halls plenty of times because of my relationship with her). That said, there's so much wrong with this cult. Her dad is an elder and I remember them discussing a member for being disfellowshipped because he was guy. That said, a guy in the same congregation admitted to molesting his nephew, but was pardoned and never reported to the police. It was disgusting, and I remember arguing with them many times over it, which is why our friendship sizzled a little.

I just don't know how to approach such a discussion with her. Over the last decade, we've just steered clear of the topic. But I don't know how to tell her that her life would be so much better and freeing without it.

I know my words would be twisted as being 'evil', and that this would be Satan's pull on her trying to leave the church. Over the years I've slowly tried to get her to hang out with my non-JW friends, so that she could see that we're all normal folk, and she's always had a great time. Does anyone have any other suggestions out there? I just want to see her actually living her life, especially since we're both 30 now.

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For the benefit of those who don’t know the r/exjw terminology... PIMO => Physically In, Mentally Out

They won't read it. It's apostate material. Their brains just completely shut down if presented with apostate material. Also, if you say "I am an apostate" when they come to your house, they will blacklist you and NEVER come back.

Always disliked the JWs based on their brutal abuse of my mother for allowing me, as a very sick 2 year old, to have a blood transfusion. Recent JW knockers were very smug when they said that wasn't taught anymore. Upset my mum, so they get the go forth and multiply.

Just came across this info:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8510925/Parents-Ghislaine-Maxwells-lieutenant-fear-charged-Epsteins-sex-ring.html

Great documentary from the 80’s by an ex elder. I forgot about the generation teachings of that time. Worth the watch https://youtu.be/VE3zp9FiyiQ

1800 victims and no justice: Inside the Jehovah's Witnesses' alleged history of sexual abuse.

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Author: /u/stilllovesjah