Jehovah's Witnesses release video--hiding in bunker during Armageddon

There is a bizarre conversation about the evils of coffee breaks at work as well.

Jehovah's Witnesses allegedly put child in company of known molester; defy court

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/14/jehovahs-witness-lopez-sex-abuse-appeal/

Anti-Gay Jehovah’s Witness Video Teaches Kids That LGBT People “Can Change”

http://www.newnownext.com/anti-gay-jehovahs-witness-video-teaches-kids-that-lgbt-people-can-change/05/2016/

Hospital wins blood transfusion case

http://www.4bc.com.au/news/hospital-wins-in-jehovahs-blood-transfusion-case-20150629-gi092c.html

Alternative Medicine and Jehovah’s Witnesses

When I was a jw child, as I have written about before, essential medical care was withheld from me. 

At that time (and for the record, this was before the discovery of HIV in the blood supply), the jws I was associated with were heavily into folk "remedies".  They did not trust, and avoided, standard medical care. I happened to come across some older publications that rather thoroughly document this "race memory", if you will, that jws have about modern medicine. Back then of course they were no longer producing those bizarre, paranoia-fueled cartoons, conspiracy theories, and calling doctors "The Serum Trust" and things like that. But the paranoia and bizarre beliefs remained as strongly as it had been in earlier decades.

Many of the jws were distributors of a line of vitamins and herbs known as Shaklee. They were really taken in by the sales pitch, believing Shaklee had a remedy for everything, eliminating the need for Western medicine. They had all the answers and doctors were blinded by Satan, who was trying to trick jws into taking blood products.

Blood was the subject of many of their delusions. It became routine to hear a rumor of animal blood being hidden in a certain product, jws boycotted it and engaged in letter writing campaigns to the manufacturers (counting this as evangelizing on their required monthly time cards). I was not allowed to eat Milky Way candy bars, hot dogs, and lunch meats at various times because of alleged "hidden blood". (There were similar issues with witchcraft—there would be a rumor that a company donated to Satanism or witchcraft, so we’d throw out the products and boycott them too.)

Doctrine prohibited them from having any medical treatment involving blood, even a drop. If you research this, yes, you will find some literature quotes contradicting this, along with ones confirming it. That's one of their tactics--if they don't want you to do something but don't really want to commit to it in writing, they use veiled and contradictory statements in print, while verbally prohibiting it from the pulpit. Many times they would say anyone taking blood was weak of conscience and therefore should be socially scorned within the group (socialization outside the group was prohibited too).

That being said, you can begin to imagine what it was like having a life-threatening genetic disease that can only be treated with blood, while being a part of this religion. What a paradox for a parent! The elders helped mine resolve it by teaching us that I'd be resurrected and it was ok to die for faith. (This “sacrifice” was bragged about in Awake! Magazine, whose cover featured dead children.) That paradox was further glossed over by placing a lot of faith in Shaklee’s unproven cures to save me.

One thing jws are infamous for is reading enough medical information to be dangerous, and misapplying it. There have been several instances when they read about a treatment for one disease and think it's effective for other diseases.

One of those remedies, for me, was Shaklee alfalfa tablets.  Alfalfa naturally contains Vitamin K. This company's products were touted as completely safe, free from side effects, because they were "natural". This product, though, does have some serious side effects, which I experienced.  Alfalfa contains Vitamin E, which makes my disease worse.

My condition deteriorated and I was on the brink of death multiple times, which you can read about here or here.

Pathetically, the jws’ delusions about modern medicine flipped the truth on its head. Their use of herbs was fine because it was “in the Bible and Jehovah gave them to us to use”, while modern medicine was considered witchcraft.

Ironically, the jws only believed in certain alternative healing and completely scorned others. I was often told the story of Rasputin, who they said used false religion and demons to cure a blood disorder. They ruminated about this, and with each iteration, the belief took another turn. Eventually, I was personally demonic because Rasputin was.

Scientific illiteracy is dangerous and deadly!

Free letter template: Stop Jehovah's Witnesses from visiting your home

Why:

• Jehovah's Witnesses are a dangerous high control group with bizarre teachings.
• A major activity of theirs is recruitment in neighborhoods, to save you from a grisly death in the War of Armageddon, that will be happening any day now.
• The biggest recruitment activity occurs in Spring, when they invite people to attend an observation of Christ's death.
• If you notify them not to trespass on your property, they must stay away (according to most state laws).

Instructions:

1. Get the address of the closest Kingdom Hall (Congregation) of Jehovah's Witnesses.
2. Complete this letter.
3. Send it by US Mail with delivery confirmation.
4. Save the delivery confirmation, along with a copy of the letter. This is your only proof you've issued the proper warning.

Template:
[Current Date]

Jehovah's Witnesses
[Address of closest congregation]

Dear Sirs:

This letter is to serve as formal notice that effective today you may not enter the property of [your address]. This “No Trespass” notice will remain in effect until rescinded by me. Failure to comply with this notice may result in your arrest by police, citizen's arrest, and civil litigation, in which you will be named personally and as an organization. Furthermore, please do not contact me in any way.

Please refer to the following.
-[cite your state/local laws on trespassing here]
-[cite your state/local laws on citizen's arrest]
-Correspondence regarding trespassing from the Watchtower Society to you dated September 2004

Sincerely,

[signature]

[printed name]

Comedian Makes Up Story About Satanism, Becomes National Expert

5 Insane Scams That Should Have Failed (But Didn't) | Cracked.com

Any of you who were in a fundamentalist religion in the 1980s probably remember the Great Satanic Cult Scare.  This article gives some great insight into how it started--it was a complete scam from the beginning!  An interesting study into how lies can foster hysteria and orthodoxy.

One would like to believe, in this Modern Era, Salem-style hysteria would not occur.  And yet it does. 

As this article points out, human nature still contains within it the potential to continue to believe something that has been proven false.

The first thing I remember is the McMartin preschool case.  I remember absolutely nothing of the fundamentalists admitting the accuser had paranoid schizophrenia, or that the accusations were implausible.  I remember it being used as a tool to scare members into huddling closer to the cult.  One defendant spent years in jail prior to being acquitted.

The mess also had its dire consequences upon psychiatry.  “Recovered memory therapy” did damage to countless people.

Critical thinking is surely one of the most important things humanity can accomplish.

Going to college is like putting a gun to your head

What do you think?  Is this typical of what a normal religions teach?

This quote says it all!

Watchtower Magazine 09/15/41 p. 287
In the Kingdom the 'great multitude' will look to the Lord to guide as to selecting each a mate for himself. Why, then, should a man who has the prospect before him of being of the great multitude now tie himself up to a stack of bones and a hank of hair?

Jehovah's Witnesses may be in violation of religious hatred laws in the UK

Police inquiry over Jehovah's Witness magazine 'mentally diseased' article - Telegraph

The Jehovah's Witnesses have published a statement that former members are "mentally diseased", and in some countries this may constitute a violation of religious hatred laws.

To read the original magazine, click here. Download the study version of the 7/15/11 issue.

Here is a direct copy and paste from that issue:

"'Apostasy' is a standing away from true worship, a falling away, defection, rebellion, abandonment."

The definition of an 'apostate' is anyone who abandons a set of beliefs. And then:

"Well, apostates are 'mentally diseased,' and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. (1 Tim. 6:3, 4) Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid contact with them."

Calling God "The Great Physician" underscores the disease analogy.

This is not the first time this church has called former members diseased. In fact, not only have they been labeled with frightening diseases, they have been called demon possessed.

In fact, the church in 1909 clearly stated apostates were all former members, and all of them were stricken with rabies, mental illness and are Satanic. (Remember, this church teaches they have always been the source of truth and the truth does not change, so this old teaching is still valid.*)

The Watch Tower of October 1, 1909 states:

“All who cut loose from the Society and its work ... these manifest anger, malice, hatred, strife, ‘works of the flesh and of the devil’ such as we have never known worldly people to exhibit. They seem inoculated with madness, Satanic hydrophobia[rabies].”

Click the link at the top of this post to read the news story about the police inquiry into this suspected violation of religious hate laws.

What do you think? Please take our poll at the top left of this blog, and post a comment below.
_________________________________
*"...this one supreme, almighty God. His religion is one of right belief and is harmonious in all its expressions...The true religion of the one God does not disagree with itself, deny itself or get divided with itself. If it had internal disagreement, contradiction and disunity, it could never stand; it could not be simple truth; it would disagree with the scientific laws of the universe; it could not triumph in the long-drawn-out conflict between true religion and false. But true religion must triumph, because truth cannot be destroyed. That is why, despite all the many false religions in the world, the true religion has lived through till this day..."--Watchtower 11/15/1963

Have Jehovah's Witnesses (Watchtower Society) ever predicted the end of the world (rapture)?

Judge for yourself.  Read these carefully.  Do these quotes seem to be remarks from some sincere Christians eager to meet Jesus, or do they rather clearly state the end of the world is coming within a certain time frame?

What do you think?  Please post your reactions below.

1874: "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear it: and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878, A.D." [Studies in Scriptures Series IV (1897) p.621]

“the battle of the great day of God Almighty--The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in Scripture as October 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874." [Zion's Watch Tower 1892 January 15 p.23]

1877: Christ's kingdom will hold full sway over the earth in 1914; the Jews, as a people, will be restored to God's favor; the "saints" will be carried to heaven. [The Three Worlds (1907)]

1878: "The year A.D. 1878, being the parallel of his assuming power and authority in the type, clearly marks the time for the actual assuming of power as King of kings, by our present, spiritual, invisible Lord...." [Studies in the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come p.239]

1891: 1914 will be "the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men.” [The Time Is At Hand (1891)]

1914: "But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.  [Zion's Watch Tower 1894 July 15 p.226]

"…1914; at the end of which, Babylon the great, will have fallen, and the "dragon" be bound: that is, the nations will be subdued, and "the prince of this world cast out.""[Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World (1877) p.143]

"…with the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown in prophecy." [Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come (1891) p.153]

"October, 1914, will witness the full end of Babylon, "as a great millstone cast into the sea," utterly destroyed as a system." [Watch Tower 1911 June 15 p.190]

"True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved …. we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished at the end of A. D. 1914…Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced." [Studies In the Scriptures Series II - The Time Is At Hand (1889) pp.99, 101]

"…we have seen that God has a set time for every feature of his plan, and that we are even now in this "Day of Vengeance," which is a period of forty years; that it began in October, 1874, and will end in October, 1914 (very shortly)." [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance -pp.546, 547]

“…not until the full end of Gentile Times (October, A.D. 1914) should we expect the earthly phase of God's Kingdom; for in giving a lease of dominion to the Gentiles until that date God made no mistake and his plans alter not.” [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance pp.624, 625]

"…A. D. 1914, when the day of wrath will be passed, and the resurrection and return of the "whole house of Israel" due." [Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World (1877) p.166 ]

"The beginning of the earthly phase of the Kingdom in the end of A.D. 1914 will, we understand, consist wholly of the resurrected holy ones of olden time-from John the Baptizer back to Abel-"Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the holy prophets." [Studies In the Scriptures Series IV - The Day of Vengeance p.625]

“That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest…” [Studies in the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1908 Ed.]

1915: “That the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest…” [Studies in the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1915 Edition]

1916: World War I will terminate in Armageddon and the rapture of the "saints". [Watch Tower, 1916]

1917: In 1918, Christendom will go down as a system to oblivion and be succeeded by revolutionary governments. God will "destroy the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions." Church members will "perish by the sword of war, revolution and anarchy." The dead will lie unburied. In 1920 all earthly governments will disappear, with worldwide anarchy prevailing. [The Finished Mystery, 1917]

1920: Messiah's kingdom will be established in 1925 and bring worldwide peace. God will begin restoring the earth. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful patriarchs will be resurrected to perfect human life and be made princes and rulers, the visible representatives of the New Order on earth. Those who showed themselves obedient to God will never die. [Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920]

1922: The anti-typical "jubilee" that will mark God's intervention in earthly affairs will take place "probably the fall" of 1925. [Watch Tower, May 15, 1922]

1924: God's restoration of Earth will begin "shortly after" October 1, 1925. Jerusalem will be made the world's capital. Resurrected "princes" such as Abel, Noah, Moses and John the Baptist will give instructions to their subjects around the world by radio, and airplanes will transport people to and from Jerusalem from all parts of the globe in just "a few hours". [The Way to Paradise booklet, Watch Tower Society, 1924]

1925: …the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized.... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old… [Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp. 89, 90]

1938: In 1938, Armageddon is too close for marriage or child bearing. [Face the Facts, 1938]

1941: There are only "months" remaining until Armageddon.  [The Watchtower, Sep. 15, 1941, p. 288]

1942: Armageddon is "immediately before us.” [The Watchtower, May 1, 1942, p. 139]

1966: It will be 6000 years since man's creation in the fall of 1975 and it will be "appropriate" for Christ's thousand-year reign to begin at that time. [Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, Watch Tower Society, 1966, pp. 29–35]

Time is "running out, no question about that.” The "immediate future" is "certain to be filled with climactic events ... within a few years at most", the final parts of Bible prophecy relating to the "last days" will undergo fulfillment as Christ's reign began. [Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Society]

1969: Human existence will not last long enough for young people to grow old; the world system will end "in a few years." Young Witnesses are told not to bother pursuing tertiary education for this reason. [Awake!, May 22, 1969, p. 15]

1974: There is just a "short time remaining before the wicked world's end" and Witnesses are commended for selling their homes and property to "finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer (ministry) service.” [Kingdom Ministry, Watch Tower Society, May 1974, page 3]

1975: Armageddon has to be over, and paradise introduced in, or earlier than, 1975. [The Watchtower (1968 May 1 p. 271) and Awake! (1968 October 8 p. 14) and Aid To Bible Understanding (1971 p. 538)]

Many currently alive will witness Armageddon during their natural lifetimes.  [Watchtower 1965 March 15 p. 177; Awake! 1968 October 8 p. 13-14; January 1982 Awake!; Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920)]

1984: There are "many indications" that "the end" is closer than the end of the 20th century. [The Watchtower, Mar 1, 1984, pp. 18-19]

1999:  Mathematical calculations indicate Armageddon will come by the end of the century. [Let God Be True (1946)]

Shortly within our 20^th century, the “battle in the day of Jehovah” (Armageddon) will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom. [The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah-How? 1971 p. 216]

With confidence in the vision’s complete fulfillment during the decades of this 20th century the anointed remnant of the bride class have never let up in saying “Come!” Every effort has been made to broadcast the message to all nations. [1989 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 3]

The preaching work will be completed within the 20^th century, with Armageddon to immediately follow. [The Watchtower 1989 January 1 p. 12]

History of false prophecies about the end times

Jehovah's Witnesses and their parent organization, the Watchtower Society, today deny ever having firmly predicted the second coming of Christ in a particular year.  In fact, that is completely false. 

"THE "Time of the End," a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures. "The Day of His Preparation" is another name given to the same period …" Studies in the Scriptures Series 3 Thy Kingdom Come p.23 

Here is a scan of a publication stating the second coming will occur in 1874 and Armageddon would occur in 1914:

Even after failure of the prophecies and revising them a bit, they stuck to their claims: 

"WE HAVE no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925." Watchtower 1922 May 15 p. 147

"The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874."  Watchtower 1922 March 1

For many more false prophecies involving specific dates, click on the title of this post.  Thanks to JWFacts.com for preserving this evidence.

So have they learned their lesson?  Judge for yourself.

Here's one that makes a similar claim about 1975:

"Does God's rest day parallel the time man has been on earth since his creation? Apparently so. … In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man's existence and also the first 6,000 years of Gods rest day come to an end? The year 1975. … It means that within a relatively few years we will witness the fulfilment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the "time of the end"." Awake! 1966 October 8 pp.19-20

"The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the "last days" have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God." Awake!1968 October 8 p.13 

"If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the "last days" in 1914, Jesus foretold: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur."-Matt. 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in highschool and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!" Awake!1969 May 22 p.15 

But there's more!

"And if the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century, which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation." Watchtower 1980 October 15 p.31

"Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom." The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah p. 216

"Some of that "generation" could survive until the end of the century.  But there are many indications that "the end" is much closer than that!" Watchtower 1984 March 1 pp.18-19

"He was laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century". Watchtower 1989 January 1 p.12.

Religion discourages participation in school sports

Are earthquake trends fulfilling the Bible's end time prophecies?

Downloadable graph: Severity and frequency of worldwide earthquakes with 1,000 or more deaths since the year 1900 with forecast based upon trend

Jehovah's Witnesses and other Christians believe earthquakes have become more frequent and severe in recent years, and this is a sign of Armageddon approaching. Here is a graph of data collected by the US Geological Survey regarding the frequency and severity of worldwide earthquakes since 1900, with a mathematical forecast to 2050.

Breaking news--1st ever public criticism of anti-transfusion church by a Jehovah's Witness hemophiliac now published

The unique story by a hemophiliac who spent part of her childhood in a fundamentalist cult that only prohibited one type of medical treatment--the one she needed to stay alive--is now available for download.

This first-ever critique of the church by a hemophiliac member details her experiences nearly dying for the church.  The church's now-failed 1975 apocalyptic prediction diminished her ability to get proper treatment.  Her family and church elders adopted a dismissive attitude, because the resurrection was to happen in the immediate future.

As a young child, pastors did practice drills with her on how to evade medical questions, refuse blood, and escape from a hospital if given a transfusion.  She suffered bleeding episodes that lasted hours, even days at a time, while having grisly adventures trying to survive amidst kooky cultists who claimed she was a demon-possessed vampire.

The church's archaic beliefs about the inferiority of women affected their handling of this girl's medical care, right down to telling her that her life-threatening menstrual periods were deserved because of Eve's original sin.  The church's teachings at the time claimed women were intellectually and spiritually inferior.

An effective treatment for her disorder--birth control pills--was not allowed because elders claimed it would cause her to be morally loose.  Members even interfered with how she held her head during nosebleeds and told her she would be regarded as "damaged goods, like a rape victim" if she had a transfusion.

As an adult, she spoke with a former member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, who informed her the church had secretly reversed its position on hemophilia treatment without announcing it, for fear of embarrassing itself over its wrong decision.  It was this that led her to share her personal story and the private details of her experience that illuminate the brutality of the church's actions in her case.

The article contains extensive references to church literature and secular sources to support her claims.

The church's teachings and actions have not improved much since then.  Their website still clearly states this medical treatment is a serious sin.  In the mid-1990s its magazine cover proudly featured photos of children who died from failure to get this treatment.

For more information regarding concerns over the church's actions and teachings, visit http://ajwrb.org/.