“The way of the truth is the best way of living.”
So begins Kingdom Song 64, “Make the Truth Your Own.” This mantra is one with which Jehovah’s Witnesses are very familiar. In fact, it’s quite common to hear the mantra expanded on in the following way:
Even if this wasn’t the Truth, it would still be the best possible way to live.
If you’ve been associated with the Witnesses, you’ve probably heard a statement like this, often in response to doubts or challenges about how valid Witness teachings are. The narrative being presented is that even if Watchtower is wrong, living according to the Governing Body’s commands would still result in the most satisfying life possible.
It’s a win-win scenario!
But is this statement true?
Well, let’s take a look at how Watchtower presents Witness life in a series of videos being played at the 2016 Remain Loyal to Jehovah Regional Convention. The videos follow a character, Sergei, from childhood to most-likely, his death.
As we see his story unfold, I’d like you to keep in mind that oft-made claim:
Even if this were not the Truth, this would still be the best way to live.
Let’s see if the story of Sergei’s life supports that claim.
Sergei – When Young
Sergei’s story begins when he is a boy, and we fade in on him playing the violin with considerable skill. The narrative unfolds to show an exceptionally talented Sergei being offered special tuition by a music conservatory which would help him make a career out of the art he loves so much.
Great! Not many people get the chance to explore their gifts in this way, and it seems the young Sergei could be starting on a thrilling road of self-discovery and creative fulfilment. Who knows, maybe his artistic legacy will live on for centuries?
Except that Sergei’s father has other ideas. He dismisses Sergei’s musical aspirations by telling his son that the pressure will be something he cannot handle. He dismisses the idea of a young Witness making music “their life, their career.” Sergei is warned that he will have to compete with other musicians, that he will be surrounded by people who do not love Jehovah (sn: just like every day at school or work) and that he must show Jehovah he loves him first.
Apparently, Jehovah hates professional musicians.
If you didn’t know beforehand that the father’s position was the one that Watchtower was promoting, you could play this scene word-for-word, beat-for-beat, and the audience would see Sergei’s father as a closed-minded parent, brutally crushing his son’s dreams and aspirations. Indeed, it’s heartbreaking when the young Sergei pleads with his father, “But I really love it, and I’m not good at anything else! This is what I’m good at!”
I can relate to his plea.
The things I was really good at as a child, the skills and talents around which I would ordinarily have built a satisfying career in the creative industry, were not things I was allowed to make a career due to my Witness beliefs. Instead, I had to choose another road, one far less satisfying and interesting to me, and at which I simply was not as good. Granted, now that I have left the cult, I am trying to resurrect the career I should have started all those years ago, but the lost time and experience is something I will never recover.
So in summary, what do we see from the first video? Sergei’s dreams of being a professional musician are crushed, not because he lacks talent or the drive to succeed, but because his parents are Jehovah’s Witnesses that enforce Watchtower’s strict lifestyle choices upon him. Sergei the violinist will never exist, his potential works lost to future generations, and his dream future denied to him.
Now remember, we are exploring the following statement:
Even if this were not the Truth, this would still be the best way to live.
Do you think this video supports that claim?
Sergei – When Persecuted
We next see Sergei as a young man, conducting a Bible Study. As the scene progresses, it becomes clear that he is living in a country where Jehovah’s Witnesses are under ban. The Witnesses are risking arrest by practicing their faith and carrying out Watchtower’s commands. During the video, Sergei returns home to discover that the police are waiting inside and have brutalized his father.
(Possibly by subjecting him to their awful acting.)
The police demand to know where Sergei has hidden the Watchtower literature. Sergei refuses to answer the questions, and later, refuses to play the national anthem on his violin. This is not a random choice on Sergei’s part; Watchtower instructs Witnesses, like Sergei, that to do so would compromise Watchtower’s particular interpretation of political neutrality. (Never mind that Watchtower has compromised this doctrine on numerous occasions for its own benefit, often carefully ensuring that normal Witnesses never find out.)
As a result, the police incarcerate Sergei.
This is sadly an all-too-plausible scenario. In many counties across the world over the past century, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been subjected to horrific persecution for obeying Watchtower’s commands on political neutrality. From the savagery meted out in Malawi to the dreadful inhumanity of the concentration camps of the Third Reich, Witnesses have been incarcerated, tortured and murdered by repressive regimes. No one who respects the concept of universal human rights can do anything other than unreservedly condemn such barbaric repression.
Those who wish to sincerely practice their faith in a manner that does not infringe on the human rights of others, should always be free to do so, but obviously no one would wish to endure the kind of savagery Sergei encounters for serving a religion that was not true.
Now remember, we are exploring the following statement:
Even if this were not the truth, this would still be the best way to live.
Do you think this video supports that claim?
Sergei – When Tempted
Our next video finds Sergei still in prison, reciting scripture to keep his spirits up. The prison officials give him the tragic news that his father, also an inmate, is dying.
Weeping, Sergei requests permission to see his father, and the prison officer offers Sergei “an even better solution.” He offers to let Sergei and his father, both, leave the prison! All Sergei has to do is sign a document renouncing his faith.
Watchtower is unequivocal on this point. There is no room for an individual Witness to decide that the paper and “renunciation” are meaningless, okay to sign, and then continue worshiping as normal, once they are free. “Theocratic Warfare” may allow Watchtower leaders to lie in court when being questioned about not reporting child abuse, but it does not allow Witnesses to sign documents they give no credence to in order to alleviate terrible suffering and regain their freedom.
Witnesses are expected to refuse all such offers, no questions asked.
So, Sergei does what Watchtower expects and refuses to sign. Then, he is then dragged back to his cell where he is to serve out the rest of his five-year prison term, never to see his father again.
Now remember, we are exploring the following statement:
Even if this were not the Truth, this would still be the best way to live.
Do you think this video supports that claim?
Sergei – When Praised
We next meet Sergei some considerable time later, as a middle-aged man, serving as a substitute Circuit Overseer for Watchtower.
For those unfamiliar, a Circuit Overseer (C.O.) is someone who works full-time for Watchtower, travelling to visit a select, geographic group of congregations. They will hold meetings with the Elders, Ministerial Servants and Pioneers, give special talks from the platform, organize the Field Service for the week, and generally make sure that the congregation is running according to Watchtower’s policy. It’s an exhausting job, often requiring long days of activity for little remuneration, though the meals and board for a C.O are usually provided for by the host congregation. A substitute C.O is often someone training to be a permanent C.O, and they will step in when the regular C.O is ill or indisposed.
He is reunited with his old friends Alexia and Natalia, with whom, in the second video, he was shown studying. He and his wife accept and share a meal together with some friends. During the meal, Sergei is complemented on the quality of his talks, as well as his unwavering faith; those present infer that they wish he was the permanent C.O, citing a number of perceived flaws with the present one.
My personal experience, having met many C.O’s in my time, is that they vary significantly in quality and temperament. I’ve met kind, sincere men who genuinely cared about their flock, and I’ve met unkind, hard, cruel men who made the lives of those in their Circuit a misery. It’s common for a hard-pressed congregation to desperately wish for a change, especially if they’ve met one of the nicer C.O’s on the list.
How does Sergei respond to the conversation? Granted, it must be awkward for him to hear others complain about his colleague but how does he deal with these complaints, along with complements given to him?
He rejects them all. He refuses to take credit for any of his abilities. He has no sense of ownership for his achievements. With downcast eyes, he credits everything to Jehovah’s spirit. He also makes this point: “Jehovah chooses those who serve in the congregations” and this is a way to imply that such men are above criticism from the rank and file.
(Does Jehovah choose the Elders who’ve covered up child abuse, or Servants who are actually child abusers? Watchtower can’t have it both ways. Either the “appointed men” are chosen by God or they are not.)
Now, remember how excited and full of confidence little Sergei was in the first video? As a young child, Sergei had found his passion, his calling, and was full of confidence that he could achieve wonderful things with his music. He was good at it, and he KNEW he was good at it. He had full confidence in his abilities. The future lay before him, vast and glittering, before his father tore his confidence and dreams away. What do we find when we look at Sergei now?
A man working long hours as a religious administrator in return for very little compensation, his dreams of music forgotten, his father lost to religious persecution, along with apparently five years of his own life. A man so lacking in self-worth that he cannot even bring himself to take credit for the experience and skills that others see in him and admire.
Now remember, we are exploring the following statement:
Even if this were not the Truth, this would still be the best way to live.
Do you think this video supports that claim?
Sergei – When Tired
The next video finds Sergei at his place of employment, a factory or workshop of some kind, welding torch in hand, a far cry from the concert halls or recording studios in which he could have spent his life. He looks tired and drawn as he pulls off his welding mask, and is summoned to his managers office.
We find out that Sergei has been working to cover the shifts of others and is exhausted. Nonetheless, his manager barks orders for him to start attending a facility one hour away to cover another absent employee. Sergei protests. He has a family and religious responsibilities to attend to.
It transpires that the manager claims to show consideration for Sergei’s meeting times and religious duties, and Sergei doesn’t challenge this so we are left with the impression that this assertion is correct. Nonetheless, Sergei is given a choice. Go cover the absent employee or go find another job.
Sergei relents and makes preparations to attend the new work plant, but then ponders his Bible and remembers that he needs to attend his family Bible study that night.
He returns home to his family instead of work, and carries out the family study.
No mention is given about what happens to Sergei’s job, but given the attitude of the manager, and that he apparently just walked offsite without notifying anyone, one can safely assume that he was fired. However, in the video, no acknowledgment is made for this possibility and whilst Sergei’s family seem to be eager for the “spiritual food” they are about to receive, I fear that before long they will discover that physical food is rather important as well.
Now remember, we are exploring the following statement:
Even if this were not the Truth, this would still be the best way to live.
Do you think this video supports that claim?
Sergei – When Abandoned
The next installment of what is fast becoming “The Tragedy Of Sergei” takes place when Sergei is an older man, with greying hair. Once again, we meet Sergei’s friend, Natalia, though it seems that his other friend Alexi, is absent. Sergei asks if he can stop by and visit Alexi but a grief-stricken Natalia whispers,
You can’t.
Has Alexi died? Has he been dragged off to prison? Did he emigrate to Outer Mongolia?
No.
It appears that all that has happened to Alexi is that he stopped believing the Watchtower religion. (It’s not specified if he was Disfellowshipped, Disassociated or simply faded)
So good news Sergei!
You CAN go and see him! He’s probably at home right now and all you need to do is pop on round, ring the bell, and chat with your old friend who, despite no longer believing that Steven Lett represents God’s appointed channel on Earth, is probably the same guy you’ve known and loved all these years.
Except that Sergei is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It doesn’t matter that his old friend is probably the same man he always was, Sergei is not allowed to judge his friends by their character, but can do so only by their opinions on Watchtower doctrine.
Make no mistake, Sergei is now under orders from Watchtower: If Alexis has been disfellowshipped or disassociated, Sergei must treat his old friend as if he no longer exists, as if he has died. If he passes Alexi on the street he must not even say a greeting. Total shunning is to be enforced. Even if Alexi has successfully faded without Judicial Sanction, Watchtower makes it clear that unless Sergei has a very good reason, he shouldn’t be interacting with him at all.
And as of this 2016 convention, if the faded Alexi does anything on Watchtower’s prohibited list, like celebrate a birthday, attend a religious service, or give blood, then the shunning laws snap right back into place.
So Sergei, clearly devastated, turns his back on a man he describes as a second father, for no reason other than his religion expects and demands it of him. It is not Alexi who has abandoned Sergei, but rather Sergei who has abandoned his friend.
Now remember, we are exploring the following statement:
Even if this were not the Truth, this would still be the best way to live.
Do you think this video supports that claim?
Sergei – When Facing Death
“The Tragedy of Sergei” is drawing to a close. In the final video, we see Sergei in a hospital bed, gravely ill. His daughter, looking through his old photographs, sees young Sergei with his violin. She shows it to him and says:
I didn’t know you played the violin.
Sergei shrugs and replies.
I lost interest in it, I guess.
It’s no surprise to see that Sergei’s passions and talents have been beaten out of him over the years, given all that he has been forced to give up and to suffer on account of Watchtower commands and doctrine. He has lost his art, his father, five years of his life, his closest friend, and spent a life toiling in a punishing career that he clearly never wanted to have, a career that he possibly even endangered or crippled at one point due to following Watchtower commands about time spent at work.
Nonetheless, things are going to get worse. It’s made clear that unless Sergei undergoes an operation, he is doomed. The doctor advises him that the chances of surviving the operation are much lower if he refuses blood.
Again, Watchtower doctrines snap into place here. If Sergei is judged to have willingly and unrepentantly accepted a blood transfusion, he will be viewed as a disassociated person and shunned by all of his family and friends. Additionally, Sergei will have been indoctrinated all of his life to view such a transfusion as sinful, an act that could jeopardize his chances at gaining eternal life in the paradise earth yet to come.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that Sergei refuses blood, thus lowering the chances he will survive the operation. In the closing moments of the video, Sergei and his daughter both talk about their hope for the future, of being reunited in the Paradise Earth that Watchtower teaches is yet to come. We flash back through the key moments of Sergei’s life, where loyalty to Watchtower first set him off on a journey of hardship, denial and persecution, and Sergei faces what is potentially his death with a tearful smile on his face.
And thus we come to the point.
If Watchtower teachings are correct, and Sergei’s tragic life of missed opportunities, suffering, persecution and lost friends, has enabled him to get access to a wonderful paradise, where his dead loved ones are reunited with him forever, one can make the argument that his life of denial and pain was worth the sacrifice.
But if Watchtower teachings are wrong, then Sergei’s tragic suffering due to following their commands has been entirely without meaning. Quite simply, it is absurd to suggest, given what we have reviewed above, presented by Watchtower itself no less, that there can be any credibility in the statement:
Even if this were not the Truth, this would still be the best way to live.
If this were not “the Truth,” Sergei would have been far better living a normal life. Had he taken the other road, we could be looking at Sergei, the respected and successful musician, who was able to see his father when he died, who didn’t lose five years of his life to incarceration, who never had to shun his closest friend, who spent his life following his passions and not toiling in a workshop, and who is being assured by the doctors that there is a good chance he will survive.
Sergei’s story might be extreme, but it’s not uncommon among Witnesses, and even those who suffer less, still have to give up and sacrifice much on Watchtower’s altar.
Before one sacrifices the life they have now, in the hopes that they will gain a life to come, one needs to research both sides of the argument. There is too much at stake to do otherwise. If you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses reading this, I urge you to study carefully the following places of information.
JWfacts.com is a great place to start your journey. I invite you to double and triple check every fact and assertion there made and compare them with the claims made at jw.org.
I invite you to do the same for the articles residing here on this website. Check our claims, check our sources, check our facts.
But don’t stop there.
Question everything, research everything, and take note of the fact that, should your elders become aware you are doing this, they will likely try to stop you.
And when that happens, remember this:
Truth has nothing to hide. Falsehood is terrified of questions.
For even more analysis of “The Tragedy Of Sergei,” please click on the link below, which will take you to the video companion piece to this article, presented by JW Survey founder Lloyd Evans
Wow! So many fascinating experiences here of ex-JWs being able to relate to the Sergei video. Count me in as someone once having musical aspirations to play in an orchestra or to teach,… only to have that dream be crushed by my mum, who is a devout Witness even to this day. I don’t know if I had the talent to make a livelihood in music, but it would have meant so much to have had parents who were supportive, like so many of my “worldly” associates had. Instead, my mum ridiculed and discouraged me from playing bass beyond high school. My dad (not a Witness) was just indifferent to the whole thing. So the dream just died as I put my nose to the grind with trying to live up to the expectations of being a zealous JW and getting a “practical” education. Fortunately, my parents allowed me to pursue a university education, so I am doing okay now. But I still think about what might have been, doing something for a living that I really loved and had a passion for instead of just settling for a 9 to 5 job that pays the bills.
I faded away from the society more than a decade ago. But I can’t help thinking that this video might actually stir up feelings of regret and misgivings in the minds of some active JWs, instead of having its intended effect of keeping Witness sheep loyal to the GB. The rascals in Brooklyn are getting desperate as their cult is beginning to crumble apart.
@Fallingangel As you can see my name is “A patient man”. There is a reason for that. My father was one of the most patient men I have ever known. Leading the family of five messed up kids because of this so called “best way of life” was a real challenge for him. So I have adopted the patient attitude from him. I don’t think I do it as well as he did, but I try. As time passes and the universe readjusts itself, if you are patient things eventually right themselves and the problems you are facing today eventually change and the problems don’t seem as insurmountable. My wife’s father was a very wise man and when I worried too much about bad things coming my way he would tell me, “99 times out of a hundred the problems you are worrying about will hit the ditch before they hit you” Many years ago we believed that as the 1914 generation of the special class died off and received their reward the number would go down, which it did. Then if one failed in his or her calling they would be replaced, causing the number to stay the same, which it did. We believed this, and did so for a lot of years. In my lifetime as a witness, (I am currently real close to being completely out) I have know some of these special ones, (I use the term “special” with a frown on my face), some were genuinely nice people, and then some were very hard edged individuals who I avoided at all costs. Why the discrepancy? Were they really chosen by a God who reads hearts and is in control of so much? As we know now the overlapping generation teaching has changed much, especially making room for more partakers because the original belief of the 1914 class is no longer in force. That original teaching of this class dying within their lifetime was written in stone, now not so much. The picture is all muddy now. One of the biggest things I have noticed that the age of some of these special ones is quite young, so if that trend continues for a number of years, where is the end of times? All I know is that for so many years a lot of the teachings were hard to follow and hard to remember, now I feel it is more confusing than ever, it is no wonder some feel that life on earth is not so great anymore, and the pearly gates are looking better than ever. One thing I have learned for myself is listen to people that have real wisdom, not perceived spiritual knowledge, then make the changes in your life that have real meaning, even when the costs are high.
@ a patient man, thanks the encouragement.
I was thinking about all the comments as I went about my day and I was extremely distracted at work. I always compose my own posts on my phone because I share a computer with my husband and we’re almost always together.
He’s not controlling or jealous. We’re just broke. Small living space, rented room, shared kitchen and bath, one car, and no money for separate pursuits and hobbies.
Maybe Jehovah is preparing us now for life in that bunker. :-/
Seriously though, I keep reading all the comments where people say they aren’t going to attend the convention and no one can make them!
And, no judgment from me at all.
But I have to go with my husband. Why?
Because.
As much as I have written about the change in his hope and how it had affected me/us, I have not said this before: I attended the last 3 conventions and the last 5 assemblies without him.
He didn’t come. He stayed home and I went alone. I was the one who had to put on a brave face and try to make plausible excuses for why he wasn’t there.
Over and over again.
At the time I was worried about his spirituality. He was also missing most meetings and inactive in the ministry for a period of almost 3 years.
To be fair, I was too.
But as much as I was struggling with meeting attendance, I did still look forward to the large gatherings. They were always special in my childhood, teenage years, and also as a single young adult.
A chance to see old friends and make new ones. I volunteered in food service way back when. There was travel to the convention city. So there are fond memories.
And I looked forward to the reminders about how to do better in my service. I really did.
Hearing experiences and news reports from around the world. New releases! Wow!
My husband has none of these memories. He looked forward to none of these things.
He hated conventions.
He always complained about the crowds and the rude people and the uncomfortable seats. He never took notes or followed along in his bible or showed any enthusiasm at all.
He was respectful and he listened (when he was there), but often he just wouldn’t come.
I was planning on letting him be the one sitting awkwardly alone this time. (Our extended families live in different regions and are assigned elsewhere. ).
But several times I have mentioned that people are inclined to double down in the face of evidence that should cause reasonable doubt.
I look back over the last 4 years of our marriage and I feel like both of us were fading without either of us making a conscious decision to do so.
We had fits and starts where we had greater activity and meeting attendance, but by and large we were weak and on the fringes.
There are so many more details I want to provide. …
But anyway, I really do HAVE to see how he reacts to the program – my husband who HATED conventions.
I just have to see for myself if he will nod and clap and agree, or if he will see any of what I see.
I’m truly in great suspense about it.
And, yes, to preempt the questions about whether I pointed out that he was inactive, etc., and how did that fit in with his calling.
I did. He read me the scripture: that is what some of you were.
And I was kinda like: no. We’re talking about what you are….
I think and hope the part of his brain that was also trying to reconcile the discrepancies – I know he has it, we talked about it – just malfunctioned and turned his great doubts into greater conviction.
But that the blatant propaganda will be a shock to his system and sensibilities.
I don’t know though. But still I have to see.
A patient man, I have noticed that the age of the special ones, as you call them, is trending downward. I said elsewhere that my husband is 37, but many I’ve talked to of late are even younger: like 29 and 30!
What?
I was a very mature 30, and I don’t believe that age has bearing on a person’s relationship with God and Christ in a way that would disqualify them.
Jesus was young when he started his ministry. You’ll get no age discrimination from me. However…the conflict it has with the doctrine and chronology we were all taught is where I have the biggest problem with the changes even if I take myself and my personal experience with my husband completely out of the equation.
As you say, once it was written in stone but now the explanation has become conveniently and suspiciously fluid, and, yes, therefore muddy and unclear.
How people keep seeing all of these changes as greater and more accurate understanding is beyond me!
I also agree with your assessment that some I knew who professed to be of the anointed class were genuinely Christ-like and I was drawn to them as a child.
I didn’t doubt that if anyone was called, it would be someone like them, but others were hard-edged and mean. Some were just unpleasant people that no one wanted to be around, but there was an obligation on account of not wanting to mistreat one of Christ’s brothers.
That always struck me as odd. Even when I was a young child, it didn’t seem right.
But I was nonetheless told to respect my elders and trust in Jehovah.
Wow! Is right! Just an incredible essay. Covert Fade, you hit every emotional high and low note of a born in JW. And you are correct, The truth has nothing to hide. Period, end of story
Great article.
Falling a75, I read through your comments in response to what I wrote and I can respond to them. I notice there is a new article and most will stop reading and sending to this page. If you care for a reply let me know via this page as any reply may be off topic on the next article
regards
Yes. Please reply. Thank you very much.
Yes. Please reply. Thank you very much.
Sorry for the double post. Phone glitch. This one and the duplicate can be deleted, if admin wants.
Hi Fallenangel75, read your concerns about thought police, it is always a worry. We have same views I can provide an email address here as a one off which you can reply to only, as I will answer no other mail. Less restriction of replies Let me know, cheers
Ok. Thx. I hope you can tell that I am sincere. My story would be a pretty elaborate fake identity. I always think: who has the time? Someone does, I’m sure. Thx again. :-)
I logged onto fb last night to see what the comments would be from those who attended the friday convention….. well, there were no comments what so ever. I was quite stunned really. Normally there are pictures and posts and love bombing but not one post was seen. It was a wall of silence.
Things that make you go hmmm. …
Excellent analysis….
When can we expect part 4?
Excellent job! To me, the message is loud and clear: sacrifice your entire life, give up all your passions, your love, everything enjoyable this world has to offer, then die like everybody else. What a huge waste and a disrespectful way to throw your life away. You can worship God and enjoy life – but Watchtower demands all your allegiance, so it’s not possible if you’re a JW. Any happiness in that organization is just an illusion.
FA75 I can be reached at nosuchname250@gmail.com
The story of Sergei is the main reason that kids leave the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion. Kids realize that their dreams are being squashed by religious men.
The act of learning how to play a violin does not mean that you will be joining the world. This shameful documentary on Sergei’s life and his sacrificing his talents just shows the depth’s Watchtower will go to diminish people’s value.
All I see from this video, is how a Jehovah’s Witness can be depressed and then resort to depression drugs to get the him/her through the day.
It is extremely depressing to watch and see.
My thoughts exactly Doc.
What a dismal video this is. I don’t know how any Witness can watch this and feel encouraged in any way. Loyalty to Watchtower to the bitter end. This should never be confused with loyalty to God. Jesus was clear and simple in his teachings. In contrast, Watchtower has become a monstrosity of rules and regulations that can no longer be reconciled by Christian scripture. Hopefully Sergei had an awakening (pun) and realized he was under the control of a legal corporate entity based out of New York, not God.
Talk about hypocrisy, you must all see this video by Watchtower Reviewz:
https://youtu.be/IYv5LG1uH0o