Critics of Jehovah`s Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses - Religion/Spirituality

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About Andrew
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Expertise
I don't object to Witness theology, but rather their use of social pressure & deceptive manipulations to undermine family ties & control minds. (This may seem contradictory to Witnesses, who draw no distinction between spiritual belief & organizational policy.) I do not engage in theological debate. I support persons impacted by an experience with the Witnesses & advocate early education for everyone so that they can protect themselves from cults by understanding what to watch out for.

(Ex-)Witnesses: I know how upsetting it is to experience doubts (or anger) about your experience. Time does not heal this wound until you first remove the splinter, which takes more time & effort than you may realize. So unless you have already put in that time & effort, don't be surprised if you are deeply affected long after the experience. But there is good news! You're NOT an enemy of God for doubting or for failing to meet the requirements of a human organization. People who lie cannot represent a God of Truth. Tell me where you're at. I'll understand. I can show you how to begin or continue your recovery & make a life for yourself worth living.

Non-Witnesses: Describe your experience with your friend/relative who is (becoming) a Witness. I can help you understand the Witness indoctrination & social dynamics that are affecting him or her (which are probably not apparent to you). I can help you put your options into perspective. Keep in mind that people make their own choices, & you may not be able to affect this person's choices, no matter how much they impact on you. A few people manage to do so, but don't count on it.

Despite my struggle to recover from my experience with the Witnesses, it was worth it. I will never let anyone cloud my clarity of mind again. Let me use that clarity to help you gain clarity. You deserve it. Every living thing deserves truth, compassion, discovery, and wonder; not manipulation, judgementalism, dogma, or control.

Experience

I was a Witness for 30 years, and a volunteer at their headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, for a year. I have attended many congregations across the United States, carefully observing patterns of behavior. Although being a Witness was difficult and I gradually had more and more doubts about Witness teachings, I was a true believer, so I kept trying to make it work somehow. I stopped attending meetings in 1997 only after receiving an answer to a prayer about doing so, and have since been actively involved in recovery, both my own, and supporting others in theirs. Recovery can include reading books, communicating with others in recovery, and participating in support groups and/or therapy. It always involves reclaiming one's own mind and discovering the other sides of the issues that you have been blinded to in the past.

The Witness organization is not like other churches. Most non-Witnesses really cannot imagine what it is like to be a Witness. The organization has unimaginably extensive rules and monitoring that affect every aspect of life (so there is no privacy and no sense of personal independence).

The organization insists on absolute conformity, and claims to directly represent God; so dissent is not tolerated, and authority is totalitarian. Being a Witness is more like living in China or the former Soviet Union than being a member of a religion as you know it. It was the research of Robert J. Lifton, WHO WAS STUDYING TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN, that first began to illuminate the problem of totalitarian cult religions around the world.

Witnesses often experience extremely dysfunctional lives and problems including broken family ties, stunted social development, inner unrest resulting from repressed doubts, inability to defend boundaries, and an extreme, persistent feeling of shame for no apparent reason. I can help people impacted by an experience with the Witnesses by revealing in detail the policies and social dynamics in the Witness organization that cause these problems.

My gradual awakening was socially, psychologically, and spiritually tumultuous. I lost everything from my former life. My suffering was epic.

But I have gained everything, so it was worth it. Only after beginning my recovery, I gained social, psychological, and spiritual healing and growth; I gained peace of mind; I gained self-respect; I discovered who I am; and for the first time I discovered the meaning of real brotherly love.

For more resources on this topic, try these web sites:
http://freeminds.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freedomofmind/

You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Jehovah's Witnesses > Critics of Jehovah`s Witnesses

Subject	Date Asked	Expert

Dating between Witnesses and non-Witnesses Causes Suffering	11/16/2009	Andrew
Q: I was raised Catholic and feel in love with a JW girl. She has been my friend for a long time. After ... A: On the one hand, congratulations that you have found something pleasant. On the other hand, I am ...
The devastating effects of normal dating	11/11/2009	Andrew
Q: For the past 14months I have been dating and having a sexual relationship with a non-practicing ... A: > From the beginning I was honest and upfront about what I wanted > from a relationship. It was by ...
Young love between a Baptist and a Witness	11/4/2009	Andrew
Q: I'm 15 years old. And I am a Baptist young man. I have fallen in love with a wonderful young girl ... A: > her mother said she and her husband are trying to raise > her daughter to be a pure Christian. ...
Marriage between Witness & non-Witness	11/3/2009	Andrew
Q: I have been with my partner almost 1 yr not till 3wks into r relationship did he tell me that he is ... A: > To be honest i have no idea what a J.W is all about Some of us hold the position that they are ...
Marriage between Witness & non-Witness	11/3/2009	Andrew
Q: I have been with my partner almost 1 yr not till 3wks into r relationship did he tell me that he is ... A: You haven't given me much specific information about your case so that I could zoom in and respond ...
Surrounded by Witnesses	10/31/2009	Andrew
Q: I recently started working at a place that has several JW employees. They are not being agressive ... A: You are in a situation where your intellectual certainty about what seems wrong with the Witness ...
Dangerous Intimate Partnership	10/10/2009	Andrew
Q: I am a non-witness and began dating a witness a few months ago. From the beginning he told me he ... A: I'm so sorry you got in so deep without knowing what was involved. Witnesses should have "danger" ...
Witness insanity & divided households	9/30/2009	Andrew
Q: Some Background I married a JW 4 yrs ago, one of the nicest people I know. All of her family are at ... A: In order for a Witness to marry a non-Witness, your wife would have had to be in a state of decline ...
Friendliness to preachers?	9/30/2009	Andrew
Q: Just finished a "visit" from a couple of JW's (they have actually been coming around for a couple of ... A: I understand your desire to be friendly with the visiting Witness preachers. However, they are not ...
The Plausible Deniability Campaign of JW's	9/23/2009	Andrew
Q: Andrew. I realize that you are an ex-witness. Sorry to hear that. But your discussions about how ... A: I realize you are under the spell of cult mind control as practiced by the Witnesses, and therefore ...
Sometimes Better Off as a Witness?	9/22/2009	Andrew
Q: My mom is just such a wonderful person. I was raised in a Lutheran home, we went to church on ... A: If she is only 55, and grandkids are likely at some point, I think you should try to steer her away ...
Sometimes Better Off as a Witness?	9/22/2009	Andrew
Q: My mom is just such a wonderful person. I was raised in a Lutheran home, we went to church on ... A: There isn't just one right answer to every question. Although I would rarely look at it from this ...
will it work?	9/19/2009	Andrew
Q: I'm a non jw but my boyfriend is. we've been dating for about two years now and he has promised me ... A: Based on the limited information available to me, no, I don't think it will work. Although ...
Dangers of Association Between Witness & Non-Witness	8/2/2009	Andrew
Q: Recently I started a new job and learnt that my manager is a practising Jehovah's Witness. He ... A: I don't think you have anything to worry about in terms of getting your manager in trouble with his ...
Witnesses & Masturbation	7/30/2009	Andrew
Q: Why do Jehovah's Witnesses see male masturbation as such a bad sin? A: My area of expertise involves the social and psychological dynamics used by Jehovah's Witnesses ...
Friend converting -- not healthy.	7/6/2009	Andrew
Q: My best friend met a guy at the end of last year who had been exiled from the congregation for ... A: I don't know your friend personally, and there is huge variation from person to person; but based on ...
Who Can Speak for God?	6/17/2009	Andrew
Q: My two best friends have become Jehovah witness. I have studied with my cousin who is also Jehovah ... A: My area of expertise is exposing cult tactics in the preservation of family integrity and freedom of ...
Who Can Speak for God?	6/12/2009	Andrew
Q: My two best friends have become Jehovah witness. I have studied with my cousin who is also Jehovah ... A: I think it is insightful and wise of you to avoid fundamentalism. It is arrogant for men to speak ...
Getting a visit from a JW girl	6/11/2009	Gordon Cook
Q: I wanted to ask for some advise, because I'm getting a visit from a JW girl, that I have knowen for ... A: Firstly let me say that I am surprised that a JW, is going to visit you, in fact that she has a ...
where am i	6/11/2009	Andrew
Q: i wanted to say hi and find out who you are. i imagine the possibility you know me or someone in my ... A: I feel it's essential to achieve a state of somewhat complete recovery before we can enjoy a new ...
Confused by JW's ex boyfriend actions	6/9/2009	Gordon Cook
Q: 4 months ago I met a guy who had recently left his wife. He left after finding out she had been ... A: By the sounds of it you have hit JW double standards. Yes he was quite happy to smoke, drink, have ...
working for homosexuals and accepting charity	5/24/2009	Gordon Cook
Q: Both my sister and husband are landscapers. In the past three years their main clients have been ... A: Firstly working for homosexuals. I don't think that would conflict with their beliefs. They are ...
new findings	4/6/2009	Gordon Cook
Q: I have come across some information that jws can't become a police man, does that pertain to the ... A: I will try to answer you questions as best as I can, from what I recall having been a JW. 1) Police ...
Don't Give Inches; Witnesses Take Miles	3/31/2009	Andrew
Q: My wife became a witness without even talking to me about just how it would change our lives. At ... A: It's unfortunate, but not uncommon, for idealogy to take precedence over family ties where cults are ...
JW Families, Shunning, & Busybodying	3/30/2009	Andrew
Q: My question is in regard to meeting with JW's and in particular meeting with a JW "in-law". I 'm in ... A: I'm so sorry you've fallen into this difficult, awkward, and depressing situation. I can understand ...
Accepting the Lost Family; Beginning Recovery	3/21/2009	Andrew
Q: I was born into a Strict second generation Jehovahs witness family and was raised as such. THis ... A: I'm so sorry you had such an awful experience with the Witnesses, especially during your teen years ...
Raised Jehovahs Witness	3/19/2009	Gordon Cook
Q: I was so and encouraged to read about your experience with Jehovahs Witnesses. My mother became a ... A: I'm glad that you managed to leave the JWs. From your experience you know how JWs are and they way ...
Witness Children Who Preach	2/26/2009	Andrew
Q: I am a former JW with a JW wife. I don't have children. But a friend is in a similar situation, ... A: "Field service" is Witness jargon for door-to-door preaching. They systematically and repetitively ...
Jesus the son of God	1/30/2009	Gordon Cook
Q: I studied with the JW's once in awhile. There is an angel in the Book of Daniel that is like the ... A: JWs of course teach that Jesus is the Archangel Michael. You are correct in thinking that the ...
JW mother vs. Christian father	1/30/2009	Andrew
Q: Andrew I am embattled with my wife over our growing children and the WTS influence. She is 3rd ... A: Usually the questions I address deal with politics and psychology, which I am adept at navigating; ...
Battle for children's minds: JW mother vs. Christian father	1/30/2009	Andrew
Q: Andrew I am embattled with my wife over our growing children and the WTS influence. She is 3rd ... A: Tell me a little more about yourself. I know all about the Witnesses, but tell me about your ...
Why Jehovah's Witnesses Act Friendly	1/18/2009	Andrew
Q: Before I begin, I would like to apologize if you receive this question twice. I posted it on Friday, ... A: First, I'd like to congratulate you that you saw through the ruse and now realize that her ...
Micheal is Jesus	1/10/2009	Gordon Cook
Q: From the article Micheal is Jesus; In his prehuman existence Jesus was called "the Word." (Joh ... A: Is Jesus Michael the Archangel? This is the question the Watchtower [hereafter WT] means to ...
Jehovah Witnesses	1/9/2009	Debra Johansen
Q: Does J.W."ask" members to give a portion of thier income or worth to the church? A: No, the Watchtower does not ask members to give a portion of their income to the church. However, ...
Still Captive Despite Betrayal	12/30/2008	Andrew
Q: Perhaps I should explain the situation with my fiance's sister a little more. She was married to a ... A: Oh I see, this is quite different from the impression I had before. Simply because your fiance is ...
Mainstream injustice & active addiction	12/29/2008	Andrew
Q: I've been dating my fiance now for a year and a half. When we met, he was married to a JW and he ... A: The injustice you and your fiance have experience is outrageous. In your situation, I would be very ...
Disfellowshipped after Long Inactivity?	12/24/2008	Andrew
Q: The question I have is not about doctrine. I am not a member of JW nor do I have any desire to ... A: I understand most, if not all, of what you've said here. I'm sorry you're suffering with this ...
How Witnesses Divide Families & Conquer Minds	12/12/2008	Andrew
Q: After a 15 year hiatus my husband is returning. I'm a devout Catholic and he has always respected ... A: I don't think it's a good idea to share this letter with your husband just yet. It would likely ...
The Problem with Fundamentalism	12/12/2008	Andrew
Q: I have been looking at many of your past answers and your profile. Your main objection to cults (eg ... A: It is your worldview, not mine, that a sharp line of demarcation should be drawn between people who ...
The Problem with Fundamentalism	12/11/2008	Andrew
Q: I have been looking at many of your past answers and your profile. Your main objection to cults (eg ... A: My area of expertise and outreach efforts involve organizations which employ cult mind control to ...

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