JW.org has just announced that an additional eighth member of the Governing Body has been appointed: longtime writing committee helper Kenneth Cook.
This is the first new appointment since that of Mark Sanderson in 2012, and the first notable change to Governing Body personnel since the death of Guy Pierce in 2014.
The Statement, which can be read on JW.org here, reads:
On Wednesday morning, January 24, 2018, it was announced to the United States and Canada Bethel families that Kenneth Cook had been appointed to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Prior to being appointed to the Governing Body, Brother Cook was a helper to the Writing Committee.
Brother Cook started pioneering on September 1, 1982, and began serving at the United States branch on October 12, 1984. The Governing Body is now composed of eight anointed brothers.
It is our united prayer that Jehovah continue to bless the Governing Body as it oversees the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.—1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13
Cook’s appointment comes at a very difficult time for the religion, which is being rocked by an ongoing worldwide child sexual abuse scandal. We have covered the story many times but you can find a selection of articles below:
Australian Royal Commission Hears That 1006 Alleged Child ABusers Were Covered Up By Watchtower
International Conference Discusses Sex Abuse Crisis Amongst Jehovah’s Witnesses
Watchtower Surrenders and Settles in Lopez Lawsuit
Confidential Watchtower Child Sex Abuse Documents Leaked Online
14 Year Sentence for JW Child Abuser – Victim Speaks Out
UK Charity Commission Report Slams Watchtower Organisation Over Sex Abuse Handling
Not only this but the religion’s overall growth appears to be stagnating, with some countries, especially those in Western Europe, seeing notable declines in their Witness populations. In other parts of the world such as Russia, members of the religion are being arrested and persecuted by the police. Additionally, the religion is coming under increasing fire for its practice of shunning those who choose to leave, with the influential Australian Royal Commission labelling the practice as “cruel” in its report.
Lastly, there have been a number of high profile and tragic deaths due to refusal of blood, including that of Eloise Dupuis, which have caught the public attention and proved to be a PR disaster for the religion.
Overall, Cook is stepping into a leadership role within an organisation facing significant challenges both now in the coming years. So far it seems that the current Governing Body team has been unable to make much headway with these issues; it remains to be seen if Cook will be able to bring fresh insight that could shift the religion in a new direction, or whether he will continue to follow the path set by his fellow Governing Body members.
We will bring you a more detailed profile of the new Governing Body member soon.
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He was chosen by the guys who love the status quo. Nothing will change. He’ll conform to his elite brothers lest he be removed à la Ray Franz. “God” didn’t choose him… he was chosen for a reason by these hypocrites.
Good point.
Keith said ~ “Nothing will change”…Oh but it will!:
“As events unfold, a fresher, fuller and “clearer” understanding permits me to update my Blog posts below. It is truly an exciting time! (Luke 21:28, Romans 15:4, 16:20)
I stated previously regarding Daniel 11:44, 45 that “it cannot possibly be so since modern day Jerusalem holds no Holy radiance…” in reference to the modern day ‘King of the South’, that is the governing powers of the USA “placing the tabernacles of his palace…in the glorious Holy mountain…” (Please read below on this Blog: http://www.watchtowercriminals.blogspot.com >Ignore any safety or certificate warnings since they come from the Watchtower Society…any irregularities such as being blocked or incomplete access need to be reported to FBI.gov and again to IC3.gov, copy and paste the link in a new window if necessary)
Allow me to state that I could have been less dogmatic in my expressing, “It can not possibly be so…” when in reality both things are true!
Not only just as I have written below but also when we consider in light of current events that Daniel could only describe things for us from his perspective. Just as he knew them as revealed to him in his terms, era and customs in his divinely inspired visions. (Daniel 12:5-9)
In fact, it is a dual application of scripture. Much like but not quite the same as the extended application of “The man of lawlessness” or “Son of Destruction being revealed” at 2 Thessalonians 2:3 which yes, took place first fold in the early church and carries on through the centuries but look!:
2 Thessalonians 2:3
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come , except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (Italics and underscore occur in the Bible, KJV)
This passage above right now has a specified and extended application in support of Matthew 24:48-51.
As well, just as the book of Daniel and all prophecies in the ancient Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) refer to God’s people of today in terms of “Jews”, “a remnant” left over in the earth or “Israel” since they were the only approved people of God at that time.
Daniel 12:1 refers to “The Children of thy people” since they are a legacy of him through Jesus Christ (Joel 2:32 Romans 9:27, 10:11-13) so also, Jerusalem was the approved “Holy City” sitting on the Holy Mount Zion at that time. These were all the only things that Daniel could possibly understand or relate in his writings.
The only direct reference to the modern day State of Israel in the Bible is found at Daniel 11:14b. Daniel 11:14a refers to, “The sons of the robbers” who evidently represent the next generation after those who stole land (Palestine) from the resident owners in false belief that it was willed to them by God. However, it is soon to meet its end or “fall” due to the disparate ideologies of dissension, “Iron and clay” (Daniel 2:43) as seen at the feet of Daniels image (Daniel 2:34) of the legacy of world powers leading up to the conclusion of events. This as spirit bore it to him while interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:31-47)
Spanning the breadth of the world’s presently failing follies such as attempts at “European Unions” and International Trade Agreements, Common Currencies and Borders, strife and tensions between Liberal versus Conservative versus Militaristic aggression versus Socialized and Democratic (who have now seemingly abandoned their once seeming rock solid image of doctrinal freedom and rights) (Daniel 2:43) , mass migrations of people fleeing war and oppression and starvation, “Roaring of the seas” (Luke 21:25c) of mankind in protest of this and that since their “Heavenly” Governments have shaken off or otherwise lost credibility and their power to rule (Matthew 24:29d) The collapsing economic crises one after another and nuclear threats emerging like molehills…just to name a few of the stresses upon the earth at the moment. (Revelation 12:12, Woe indeed!)
The fantastical things taking place phenomenally of late in the cosmos over the last months and couple years with increased frequency even to way back with the start of the space programs and the moon landing. Now to include the finding scientific evidence of the sought after “Planet-X” and new sets of apparently inhabitable planetary systems. (Luke21:25) Not to mention of course, the marked increase in earthquake events of note so common that we scarce but get news reports and have to look online for them now. (Luke 21:11)
However, it is all mere evidence that it (The nation State of Israel) will “fall” with all Human Governments at the hands of Jesus Christ, the great warrior prince. (Daniel 2:34, 2:44 Revelation 21:1)
(With all this being said, nothing is ever known for sure until it happens and then sometimes not in full detail until afterwards.)
Daniel 11:45, 12:1…
And he [The King of the South] shall plant# the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain, yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him. (12:1…) At that time, Michael will stand up…”
• While other ancillary things may very well occur regarding the geographic land of Palestine or modern State of Israel, certainly regarding “Out of the sun rising and the north”, It is entirely possible that a military or political deployment may take place. We also will need to watch very keenly if the New US President Donald Trump moves the American Embassy (The tent or “Tabernacle” representing his palace) from its present location to Jerusalem, “In the Glorious Holy Mountain”.
• We will see if around that time we don’t hear talk of “Peace and Security” connected to some of these events (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
The legal groundwork for the moving of the embassy was laid decades ago within the US government’s legislative process “Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995” and although several initiatives have been made with that objective, no doubt with the delusion of currying God’s favor, no man can force Jah’s hand! (Acts1:7, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
# “plant” indicates “laying stakes” or “Digging in” in the initial sense. There is no further information as to what extent or completion of the actual moving into the embassy will take place before, “Michael will stand up…” (Dan: 12:1)
Zechariah 14:8
“In summer and winter shall it be”
If these things are indeed very shortly to take place then will it mean within days or weeks of the upcoming Vernal Equinox? The Summer Solstice in June? Not too likely since that is still in mid-summer. The Autumnal Equinox in September or the winter solstice in December?
Only time will tell….”
Does anybody know what the hell the point of “honest Counselor” is? or is he just trying to ramble on for the fun of it. You cannot be serious Honest counselor?
Seriously, the guy all of a sudden went from “earthly hope” to ” heavenly hope”?
After all these years? I mean hello, yes this one was ” chosen” by “God”, but hey, I can sell you a bridge too if you’re interested!
Notice how Cook’s date of baptism is not included in the statement? maybe it would cause a stir if he were to be compared to other “faithful” brothers having seniority and they were passed over by a “newbie” …only guessing at this
Or maybe as another commenter stated, another overlapping generational “class” to be introduced?
Thanks so much, so exciting “meat in due season”. Another play mate for ??
So ridiculous why no one ever wonders why no women are ever appointed they too are so called anointed. Maybe then you would see some changes. It’s such a men clubs.
I know…what about Deborah?
The only female judge. She had the task of overseeing and judging the entire nation of Israel. Barak even had to listen to her.
How boring. Witnesses will love this and see this as Jehovah looking out for them. Nothing will change!!
@Will nailed it! I also would say “rocked by scandal” is a bit dramatic liberty, too. For the average JW who has drank the flavor-aid and kool-aid, there is no scandal, it’s “persecution”. And, as long as HQ is getting pennies on the dollar fines and settlements, there is no “scandal” because they are versed in the art of squeezing blood from turnips and gold from former junkies.
What should wakeup Thinking JW’s (or soon to be former JW’s) is why and how can there be growth in anointed–helper to singing the new song with Jesus– with the “time so short” and the imminent end “just ahead”? Goes back to the old question Second Adventists faced from the first date flop: is the door shut or open? [the door for heavenly class that the foolish virgins found shut in the parable]. Shut door as Rutherford derived meant creating an earthly class to explain the excess count of members (over 144,000–never dreamed of reaching that count during the initial bible student groups?). So, the door is shut and only fallouts are replaced–so, earthly fallouts, or fallouts from heaven [sealed off from Satanic influence]? Are these heavenly fallouts immediately cast into the abyss? or sealed into Tartarus (Hell; 2 Peter 2:4-6) with other wicked and evil angels? So, a place of darkness where one waits for judgement. Only for angels?
So, lots and lots of little questions…
Ah where s the token Chinese rep or aboriginal aussie or heaven forbid a woman. Will he cook the books.?
Can someone open up the can of worms called”Jah Jireh” homes for the Elderly
I am very interested in your comment having had dealings with Jay Jireh homes. What is it you are meaning.
Now they have the 8th Pope. Four more Popes may be added to hit the 12 total number Popes.
Oooh numbers Pascal I bet you could write a whole book on these 8 dukes (of hazard) I’m sure with a bit of number crunching and adding some odd dates from Daniel’s prophecy we could arrive at a magic 12 , Pick me pickme ill shave my beard and cut my hair and wear a1950’s suit . Oh damn I’m a woman but I am jewish does that count. I don’t mind being patronized and called popess can I have one of the fancy carts to go around in. I do hope my fellow readers see my fantasy and irony is as about as probable as God in heaven choosing yet another American suit to run this rusty sinking ship.
Logical decision for an American business corporation to have only Americans…obviously not an International one
oh they do Have brother Leusch who is Austrian right?
Ruth please do not ruin the good name of the Duke Boys. That was a classic series and they were 100 times more just that the GB! :)
Weird how there are never any deaf brothers or sisters appointed too or disabled ones? And God only appoints those that have been helpers or on committees instead of anointed ones that have been serving faithfully in other countries?
Cadê os BR?
Thank you so much Covert! I appreciate you and all your hard work! Even more than words can tell. Sincerely yours S.
probably designed as ‘nothing wrong here, look, Jehovah has even appointed another’. Smoke and mirrors. It’s worked so far. Annoy’s me a bit tho because I can’t refer to them as the seven headed beast anymore. Perhaps that’s it…….
We can’t call them the seven dwarves anymore either. What group has eight in it?
How about The Hateful Eight?
Good one there, Butch.
Hey that sounds good, how about the h8teful slave.
They could form a Boy Band called “TPT & The H8tful Slave”
Frodo the Hobbit set forth for Mount Doom with 8 companions.
You are right: all the members of the GB are around the same size, like little round hobbits.
Yes Ricardo, and also, they all live in a fantasy world.
I call them The Octopussies.
Sometime back when Watchtower was explaining overlapping generations they spoke of a third generation. The third generation would not overlap with the 1914 generation. These last couple appointments may be token 3rd generation appointments just to look like they know what they’re talking about…looks can be deceiving, lol.
Peace
Watchtower cult leaders had a big problem and they attempted to lie their way out of it. The first imaginary 1914 anounted generation — that would by no means pass away before the Great Tribulation – – passed away. Fred Franz (1893-1992) was used as an example of this original generation. Members of the second imaginary anointed generation were anointed while the 1st generation was still living and are overlapping “contemporaries” of the first generation. All of the current Governing Body members are part of the imaginary second group. Those who were anointed after Franz died comprise the 3rd imaginary group and are non-contemporaies of the first generation.
And then there’s the anointed group of Jesus’ time, and the anointed group who died before 1914 who overlapped with Franz’s group. So up to this time there have been five distinct groups of anointed. Until this current group gets overlapped. Then there will be six.
Anyone else feel they are living in fantasy land?
Covert, as Donald Bump would say your little article is full of fake news. Notable declines in witnesses in European countries. It looks like most of the countries the declines is around 25 publishers. Is that notable? I guess wishful thinking on your part. Rocked by pedophile cases? Yeah they handled the situation wrong, but rocked by it? It’s just like any other organization with their share of bad apples. I guess I am stupid to expect fair and balanced reporting on this site. Your the Fox News of the anti-Jehovahies websites.
@Markie,
The report is not fake news. This is not a fox news style of reporting. (maybe you are being sarsastic?) The org. has a little more than a share of “bad” apples. The policies are more like a destructive cult than “like every other religious org.” This site is fair, and balanced. It is not the fox news of anti jw webs. You may take issue to some of the adjectives used in this article, but,these issues brought up here are rocking many people. The information available here and else where on the internet are impacting this religion.
Are you really so naive to think that a website run by disgruntled ex jws is unbiased? So there are having a little down turn in some countries. Remember there is always new light and the Methuselah generation.
Markie, a fall of 25 publishers may not seem like much at first, but it signals the start of a trend as publisher numbers peak and the Org goes into decline in the West because the West is at the sharp end of news and information. Developing countries will be slow on the uptake and may take decades to react because those countries are more likely to be steeped in superstition which in turn goes hand in hand with ignorance – prime hunting ground for the likes of Watchtower, and they, as do all churches, know it.
You see a trend in one report because there are 25 less publishers out of thousands? Sorry but that certainly is wishful thinking.
@Markie, in the 2012 Yearbook there were 25 countries which had a decrease. In the 2016 Yearbook there were over 50. The 2017 Yearbook had more than 70. Can you see a trend, my brother? Now we have no Yearbook for 2018 so we can’t see how many countries are having a decrease.But given that the worldwide increase in the annual report was the lowest since the 1970’s the figures would not have been pretty.
Markie – glad you are still hanging around. Without JW apologists, life would not be so colorful. Indeed there is quite a decline in the realm of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In fact, the areas which show an increase are equally in decline – in some cases more so. You need to calculate the rate of population growth as well as the death rate, then factor in the rate of youth baptisms, then add to this the rate of attrition among those who are baptized as minors. When factoring all of these items, we see decline even when a tiny percentage of increase is published. You might not understand this mathematically, but give it a few years and I think you will get the picture.
As for the child abuse cases, indeed they are being rocked. This is another example of the process which takes place by which one story leads to another, then another, and within a few years the problem is widely known, not only within the media, but within the Jehovah’s Witness membership itself. When the Catholic Church scandal finally hit national headlines, what many are not aware of is that the Boston Globe Spotlight team had already written 300-400 articles about abuses within the church. There was no expectation that any one of those stories would go viral at that time. It was a cummulative effort which took years of reporting and research before the entire nation’s attention was turned to this scandal. Will Jehovah’s Witnesses receive the same attention? Time will tell. They are much smaller than the Catholic Chruch – but in many ways more notiorious.
Yes, I suppose in your own words you are “stupid” for expecting fair and balance reporting about Jehovah’s Witnesses on JW Survey. What exactly do you expect – news which tells the public that Armageddon is near, and that Tony Morris is God’s spokesperson?
We are here to wake people up to the fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses are ultimately good people who have been deeply indoctrinated, and that none of their teachings bear any truth. If the teachings themselves were true – we would report that. Our site contains truthful information about Jehovah’s Witnesses which Witnesses themselves are most often blind to. You certainly won’t get truth from JW dot org. You will get false hope, false prophecy, false science, and everything else which comes along with cult membership. Keep reading – you might thank us one day.
JR
Narkie? Cute. This may be an assumption on my part but I would assume that your one of those ex-jws that never went to college, am I right? Come on tell the truth! On my way to my law degree I minored in statistics so yes, I can read and interpret numbers. I actually could care less if there is growth or not. I was just trying to point out your misleading exaggeration.
Also, you are wrong about the organization being rocked by pedophilia cases. Your assuming that the 8 little porkers in their new digs even care about it. Its not their money. The only people that seem to care are disgruntled ex-jws, ex-jw website and those who try to make money off of it. The main stream media does not seem to cover the issue that much and why should they, JWs are just a small fraction of the size of the Catholic church. So its just not as newsworthy.
And I would have to say your last paragraph sounds like your buddy Tight Pants Tony wrote it. Very cultish. “Everything the JWs say is a lie and our wonderful website tells truthful information about Jehovah’s Witnesses”. Really? You are no better then they are.
I don’t think you or I will ever live long enough to see the downfall of the JWs. They have “new light” on their side. And I bet someday you will get tired of this and move on with your life.
I guess I will be banded now.
Markie are you a JW? I doubt if you will be banned. Mud slinging from the commenters often gets much messier than your comments.
Are you currently practicing law? Both my father and his father were criminal attorneys. If you are an attorney wouldn’t you agree that there is a good chance WT will eventually suffer class actions lawsuits due their child protection policies, especially if WT does not drastically change its child protection policies?
If you research Zalkin, just one of the lawyers presently fighting WT, you might find that he worked on similar cases against one or two Catholic dioceses. I read about it some time ago so the info is not in front of my memory, but I do remember the settlement amounts. One was for 200 million and the other was for 800 million. I believe on one of those cases he worked along with at least one other other law firm. I also remember that one of those cases just involved a hundred and some plaintiffs. Zalkin is presently handling about a dozen individual plaintiffs against WT. I’m pretty sure he would like to eventually maneuver a number of JW clients into a class action suit, and do so as quickly as possible.
I’m not a lawyer. Presently I teach. When I was 30 years old I built and ran a company for 20 years which involved a lot of selling on my part. I’ve sold over a thousand companies on the idea to become repeat customers of mine. I sold a product that I won’t name because that would identify me; it wasn’t a service like a lot of JWs have (window cleaning or some other). I’m pretty sure if I practiced law and was in Zalkin’s position I could maneuver a class actions suit. But I’m a very good salesman. Eventually Zalkin, or another law firm, will do what I know I could in his position. You see in building my company I didn’t wait for customers. I went out to where they were and sold them on the idea to do business with me, buy my product to sell to their customers in their retail establishments. That’s all a law firm has to do, find the abused JW victims through various marketing means, and then sell them on the idea of putting a half million or more dollars in their pocket. That should not be too difficult for someone that knows how to do it and has the ability to do that.
@Markie
You could care LESS? That means that you DO care a LITTLE.
I love American grammar! :)
Thanks for pointing out the typo. I see you read too much into it and called it “cute” – when it was a typo. I think you are misunderstanding the significance of the child abuse cases, and the media coverage. We are not trying to win an award for the most noteworthy number of pedophilia cases within any religion. We already know the size of the Catholic church, and why their cases became so notorious. But you might stop for a moment and think about the organizations who are a close second to notoriety in this area. Jehovah’s Witnesses are right there near the top – enough to bring Mike Rezendez of the Boston Globe Spotlight team to London to help us raise awareness and connect with the public about the seriousness of this issue.
If Witnesses were not a story – there would be no Australian Royal Commission, nor any of the thousands of media reports of cases worldwide. Jehovah’s Witness leadership has brought this upon themselves – and where it ultimately goes is up to the victims as well as Watchtower, who continues to double down on its policies and practices. It will only get worse for them until something changes. Meanwhile – anyone researching JWs will find this information easily and be able to identify they they are by no means the true religion.
In the end, that’s our goal – to raise the awareness, tell the story behind this religion, and give people a chance to get out. I agree with you – we both might never see the downfall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They have inertial from the past 150 years which does not come to an end overnight. Their financial assets are really what is keeping the organization afloat. If you can create the illusion that God is blessing an organization and its many properties, then use the Bible as the basis for your religious belief system – you have a recipe for a cult which will stick around for a while – even with declining membership.
Will we get tired of this and move on? Perhaps we will – that’s what life is all about – living it in the present and not the past. However, for now, we have tremendous positive feedback- not from disgruntled ex-JWs, but from actual JWs who are waking up and fading out of the organization. As long as they need our help – we will be here. And when any one of us leave this site or other sites – we will be replaced by two more persons who will carry on with this work.
Will you be banned? No for disagreeing with us you won’t. Keep it respectful according to our guidelines posted and you can disagree all you wish. That’s what free speech is all about – and something Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have
JR
JWsurvey has aided tremendously in waking me and others I associate with. It has certainly helped me to see that child abuse in our org is not a matter of a few bad apples but is rampant. When I think of the CO who was d’fed for pedophilia, about the Australian brother who came to serve where the need was greater but who now before the courts in Australia because he was referred to the police by the Australian Royal Commission, and thirdly about the elder who was writing love letters to young brothers who I mentioned to the elders but the elders covered over, I realize I know quite a few pedos in the org.
I have been rocked by the revelations brought out by JWsurvey and so have many others, because we believed the org was as pure and perfect as it claimed. But we have seen behind the curtain.
It would be to your benefit, Markie, if you pulled your head out of the rubbish and saw behind the curtain too.
Its an earthly organization, I was never under the assumption it was a perfect organization. That’s one of the big reasons I became a lawyer.
@Markie, there comes a point where continued defence of our organization becomes untenable. All that we hear at the meetings is how good our org is, how it’s a spiritual paradise and how the brothers are so loving and supportive. From one side of the mouth we hear how good everything is. When we point out it isn’t, the other side of the mouth says it’s an earthly organization. When we point out the culture of bullying that permeates the org, we are told it is our fault. Then we are called bitter and apostate. When we can collect the evidence of bullying and wrongdoing, we will get d’fed. For me, there is just too much cognitive dissonance to make the defense you are making.
That you are making any defense is surprising to me. Being a lawyer and seeing the way WT behaves in court should disgust you. Watching the ARC disgusted many of us. Are you sure you are a decent human? Do you have feelings? Do you feel for the victims? If so, how can you defend the indefensible? Watchtower has behaved badly and needs to own up. Keeping silent and enforcing a culture of silence on the congregations will only make the problem much much worse.
@Markie, I don’t get it. You became a lawyer because WT is not perfect. huh?
The Watchtower Society and its Governing Body is dying and doomed to imminent death. As someone who has killed virtually thousands of animals in the wild and on the farm in my youth, I know very well what any living creature does when it is well aware of its death throws. It will grasp and tear and rip at anything in desperation, especially the one(s) who are bringing the final death thrust or are perceived to. They will deny, and fight and struggle, even keeping up all appearances as much as possible while licking their wounds even up to the very end with all vital energy but they absolutely will die: http://www.watchtowercriminals.blogspot.com
Does anyone know K.Cook’s age?
If he got baptized at 8 and then started pioneering at 10, he would be 45. At the youngest. But actually, right at the moment I don’t think anyone knows who he is.
Thanks Ricardo, I figured the Borg would pick up a younger guy.
@Peggy, I don’t know anything about him. But I think to be a GB member, a person needs to be a total zombie completely brainwashed. Surely he would need to be baptized young to get in such a state.
I’m wondering whether the GB bothered to give this new geezer a DNA ( excuse the profanity) test before taking him on. If he has a European heritage, sure as eggs he will have Neanderthal genes in him which means he will not be pure stock because his ancestors have mated with a lesser Hominoid. Jehovah will not be pleased because if he’s going to resurrect this guy’s ancestors he going to have to resurrect not only Neanderthal but another group of Hominoid called Denisovan who’s DNA is 5% of some modern humans. Just how far back in our family is poor old Jehovah going to have to go without upsetting anyone and how many boatloads of bananas will he be forced to bring in for the Resurrection Feast.
out and about Ha ha ha ha you made my day
no worries, Ruthlee. Thanks for tuning in.
Just relax, Markie, and try not to get narky. Things will take their natural course anyway and Jehovah is headed for the scrap heap to keep his mates Apollo and Zeus company out there in ‘never existed in the first place land’. When religious fundamentalism has guy’s like Ken Ham out there spending 100 million to prove how great Noah was and only scoring an own goal instead, well, better to be thought a fool than to build an Ark and remove all doubt. It took 1000 men 2yrs to build that Ark which equates to 2000 man years of labor using modern cranes, electric tools and nail guns, etc Noah did in in ‘several decades’, apparently. Another myth bites the dust.
Markie is just upset they have to defend WT against pedo lawsuits…so they’re trying to make themselves feel better by talking down to everyone here.
You disgruntled people do nothing but make assumptions that are just plain wrong. Not sure how you got that opinion that I am defending the pedo cases. Go to college. Learn to read with understanding. I am so glad that I had the guts to go despite my so called brothers giving me crap about it.
Actually Markie,
I can see where you’re coming from. I like seeing differing views on here, it shows that we can have an opinion without feeling like where living in NK or WT.
I don’t think that its very clever of you though to put people down because you assume that they don’t have smarts because they don’t have a formal education. I think it was Einstein who said “the only thing getting in the way of my learning is my education”.
Some people learn & comprehend without it. We have a lot of successful uneducated people in this country (Australia) & we also have a lot of bums with an education that didn’t go anywhere with it either.
I know plenty of highly intelligent people who didn’t pursue Higher Ed that still maintained a successful life because they worked hard & earned their way there.
@Markie, I went back to read your comments so as not to make wrong assumptions. I couldn’t really see what you were imparting,except refuting the claims that there is a trend of general decrease in our org, and the org has been rocked by the child abuse scandals.
As I explained, the number of countries having decreases is growing year by year, giving the smallest worldwide increase in decades. That is a downward trend.
As to being rocked, go to YouTube and count the number of people who have put up videos explaining why they are no longer JWs. Almost all of them explain that the Australian Royal Commission had something to do with their decision.
Another evidence of something wrong going on in our org is by looking at other groups not involved in child abuse scandals: the Seventh Day Adventists. They are currently having the largest increases they have ever had.
I believe you are wrong on both counts. I have given my proof. Can you give evidence to support your educated opinion?
I don’t think it would matter if I did. You are seeing what you want to see.
This website is dying, its all the same disgruntled people posting over the years. I don’t see any new names.
BTW, do you think possibly that the people that run this website have monetary interest in doing so?
This website will shut down long before the JW.Org does.
Bye and good luck to you!
I started commenting here a year ago and liked it so much I’m still commenting. I consider myself new. I don’t really care how long this site lasts. After listening to the elders and noticing the disconnected ‘light’ coming from the GB and wondering if I am going insane, it is a breath of fresh air to see that there are others who think just like me. And I have found out that the uneasy thinking I was having is called cognitive dissonance. And then it all made sense and fell into place.
The fact that a body of fallible uninspired men can make explanations about prophecy which are wrong, but at the same time force people to accept what they say with threat of disfellowshipping, didn’t sit well with me. I hadn’t realized this situation for the years since I got baptized. But the overlapping generation theory blew my mind. I was confused. Then I found this site and my worst fears were realized: our religion is insane. Anyone who can swallow all the rot we witnesses have to is very much in a fantasy world. Our organization gives new meaning to the words imminent and generation. I prefer reality.
Markie,
I hope that you don’t go because I like your “narkiness” (no auto word correct?). Anyway, I do mean that with all sincerity. I like that you bring criticism to the discussion. I may not agree with you but I don’t always agree with others too. I just like to listen to peoples opinions.
I grew up in a very politically orientated household so I’m used to heated discussions. Australians speak their minds & are not that politically correct. They ruffle feathers & offend but we also like that about ourselves. We like that we can live in a society that is allowed to speak up.
Yes, you are right. The site seems to have the same people commenting. I’ve gone away to get on with my life, come back & see the same names after months of not reading anything XJW. I know for a fact though that there are lurkers on here. I have had some open up to me that are still in (trapped) say that they read XJW stuff.
Hi Markie, I agree that there are bad people in EVERY organization on planet earth, which is why I feel it achieves very little to discuss/debate such with active JW’s.
The only discussions I wish to have with active JW’s, concern the org’s Bible teachings. However, JW’s no baulk at the idea – because they cannot PERSONALLY explain or justify many of the blatantly UNSCRIPTURAL teachings of the org.
Instinctively you’ll cry out, “Name ONE.”
I have a list, but for brevity, here’s one of the org’s;
“NEW scrolls will be opened DURING Christ’s millenium; these scrolls will contain wonderful NEW TEACHINGS for mankind.”
Read Revelation 20:1-12;
There is no mention of NEW scrolls.
The scrolls are opened after Satan is destroyed – not during the millenium.
And the scrolls contain JUDGEMENTS – not “new teachings.”
The alleged “faithful slave” commands that THEIR version of the scriptures must be obeyed – under penalty of disfellowshipping. Do YOU believe everything they say?
Alexander, you’re right!!!
Most JWs are too scripturally illiterate to believe they are not right. They know the scriptures, but they don’t know what those mean. Once they believed WT’s interpretations of the “faithful and discreet slave class,” (and the) “other sheep ” they were mentally trapped into WT’s culture. The threat of expulsion adds pressure on them and is a contributory reason to stay, but accepting those two beliefs, “the faithful slave,” and “the other sheep,” was the trap that got them inside WT and keeps them there. Because they believe!!!
We can’t know how many of the higher echelon brothers are still deceived by those teachings. From working with circuit overseers and elders it appears to me that practically all, or literally all the ones I’ve worked with believe those teachings as much or more than most regular publishers.
But the idea you brought out is what I believe also. The reality that will free JWs from the false teachings of WT is if, or when, the individual Witness understands that too many of WT’s past and present teachings on fundamental Bible scriptures and ideas are unscriptural. The behavior of individuals or even the org can always be excused because of “human imperfection.” It always is excused that way and always will be by a believing Witness. The concept of “human imperfection” is the way the org distances itself from the thought that it is not appointed by God when things go wrong or its teachings fail.
I always knew a decent percentage of elders were dirty. But I stayed in. I didn’t agree with all WT teachings. But I stayed in. But once I realized WT actually does not accurately teach the scriptures, then their house of cards fell as fast as those models we sometimes see in motion pictures displaying the domino effect. WT has so many wrong ideas about Bible scriptures and important Bible concepts that its teachings are perfectly positioned for the domino effect inside the minds of those that can see. But sight into accurate scriptural knowledge is only granted by God, and for his own reasons he with holds that from some, for at least a time.
“A ruling group is a ruling group for as long as it can nominate its successors.” George Orwell, 1984.
true,…….and conduct their own internal investigations.
Funny how a world wide organisation that translates its literature in to hundreds of different languages and apparently has no racial or cultural boundaries has a very specific requirement for being a member of its governing body…. you must speak American. And live in America. And ideally just BE American. Please wake up and smell the Americano.
…..and the Westernization of a dead Palestinian, Ella. How did Jesus get to be a white guy?
I’ve always wondered how people in other parts of the world buy into this, obviously, American cult?!?
Don’t people have some pride in their own religious beliefs and traditions???
Looks a healthy chap. Give him a few months travelling first class around the world and he’ll soon become porky like the rest of his GB chums!
I presume this is a recent photo:
https://goo.gl/images/W9YYPN
There are so many holes to so many JW beliefs that you literally will drive yourself crazy. I remember doing deep scriptural study and finding so many conflicts. I’ve had elders tell me to ignore things that conflict!
A few years ago there was a subtle remark as to how close we are to end because of the age of governing body. But based on my simple estimation, this new member is in his 50s, since he probably started pioneering at 18.
This is the never ending overlapping generation. To be a good JW, you must be able to hold two different and opposing thoughts at the same time. That’s what causes the mental stress. Welcome to George Orwell’s draconian nightmare!
I would like to say that if we want to count any child abuse in other religions in this world there will be no end to child abuse or sexual misconduct of any kind with any religion. So to say that JW’s have it wrong is not even comparable to other organizations world wide.
Some organizations don’t seem to have a problem with child abuse, so let’s give credit where credit is due. The Seventh Day Adventists, for instance, didn’t rate a mention in the Australian Royal Commission. I have not heard of any court cases against them. They may have a problem we don’t know about, but so far they seem to have a winning formula. Which makes your statement above lacking in factual credibility. As a reward, perhaps, the SDA’s are having absolutely amazing increases. I am not an SDA, I am a JW, but I can notice the SDA’s have an effective system.
Our organization, on the other hand, has a dysfunctional judicial committee system which is not based on the Jewish system of elders at the gates, nor based on any Biblical examples. It is a system devised by our organization leadership. Thus, any corrections to the system could easily be made by the GB. But the GB changes nothing. It can change a song (Guard Your Hearts) and come out with a new songbook, but it refuses to change the Judicial Committee system, thus leaving opportunities for more victims to come.
Add to this a leadership group of elders who back up one another, a trend the GB knows about but does nothing about.
And then add a prevailing culture of bullying that permeates our org. The GB knows that the elders mentally and emotionally abuse the flock, but the GB does nothing about it except tell the flock to be submissive.
Add these three factors together and you get the perfect storm: an abusive leadership who are also sexually molesting the kids, covered over by a leadership who support one another, with a judicial system which has secret meetings where justice is very difficult to obtain. With oversight by a GB which knows about the problems but does nothing.
Add to that a flock with the conditioned mentality of yourself, who chant a mantra that it is happening in all organizations and that we should just wait on Jehovah to fix it up.
The result being that many many witnesses are leaving the org in disgust, and one can only wonder what Jehovah feels to see an org which took his name onto itself now behaving badly.
The numbers coming into our organization are drying up, and you haven’t seen anything yet. When we have our Weinstein moment many many more will leave in disgust.
And yet we can’t express our surprise, shock or disgust in the congregation because there is an understood conspiracy of silence. Although we exposed the Catholic church when such child abuse was happening in the church, when it is happening in our organization we don’t put any reports about it in our magazines, talks, website or broadcast. We just have to pretend it doesn’t exist.
It is quite obvious that we could have a better system, that the whole leadership structure of our org needs restructuring. To put your hands in the air and give up, and even worse by being an apologist for this dysfunctional system is pathetic. Voices should be raised, abuses exposed and demands made for change. I have made my personal protest to Bro Lett when he visited my city. What we need is more protests. We need change. We don’t need pathetic bedwetting like you are giving.
Right on !!!!!!!!!!
Ricardo, you said – “one can only wonder what Jehovah feels to see an org which took his [GOD’S] name onto itself.”
As a fading JW, I can now see that the org even gets THIS wrong.
Not ONE scripture says that Christians were to “adopt” God’s name, (they were called CHRISTIANS) and even more importantly, Christians were not instructed to witness for GOD
The following scriptures prove that they were to witness ONLY for Christ – because Jesus ALONE was the faithful & true witness.
Isa. 62:2; Acts 11:26; Matt. 10:18; Mark 13:9; Luke 24: 47,48; Acts 1:8;
John 1:15; John 5:37; John 8:18; John 15:26,27; Acts 10:39; Acts 10:43;
Acts 13:31; Acts 22:15; Acts 22:20; Acts 23:11; Acts 26:16; 1 Cor. 1:6;
1 Tim. 2:6,7; 2 Tim. 1:8; 1 John 5:9; Rev. 1:9; Rev. 12:17; Rev. 17:6;
Rev. 19:10; Rev. 20:4.
Not every organization has the same type of problems regarding their child protection policies WT has. For instance, we sometimes here of a teacher having sex with a minor student. But what happens? The teacher is legally busted and exposed to public humiliation. The same thing with a doctor abusing a patient, whether minor or adult. And their organizations, schools, hospitals, etc. are legally responsible for turning them over to the law, and by extension to the greater public to suffer humiliation and other consequences.
In contrast many pedophile priests that were uncovered by their churches were moved from parish to parish, even while they remained practicing pedophiles.That’s why the Catholic story was so huge once the public found out. It was a cover-up spanning decades, or centuries for all we know. WT did the same thing with some of its servants, according to public admissions in filed court documents. WT is in a similar position that the Catholics were, but it also has unique circumstances surrounding its pedophile problem.
You’ve probably already read about some of WT’s unique circumstances here, since those are frequently discussed. But if not here’s one . In the past ( and just how far back into the past does this go? Who knows.) JW elders/overseers/JW clergymen told abused victims and parents of sexually abused victims not to share their allegations of abuse with other congregation members under a threat that they could be disfellowshipped for slander if found doing so.
So, what’s your thought on that? Is it okay that an abused victim could be disfellowshipped for telling a third party (no matter who that third party is) that a grown Jehovah’s Witness sexually molested them?
Where I live a legal defense against slander is truth. In law it is not slander if the story is true. In Jehovah’s Witness hearings a story is slander if the elders holding the hearings say it is. In Jehovah’s Witness mythology the truth is not what is factual, neither is the truth Jesus Christ, as Christ claimed it was. In Jehovah’s Witness mythology WT doctrine is “The Truth.” At least agree on that point. Because if you don’t you are not a believing Jehovah’s Witness nor are you giving accurate expressions of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ doctrine.
Yay he could get a pinky ring……congrats
Does anyone know when he began to “partake” lol. and count himself chosen? Cause it is just so silly that more and more sheeple are joining team heaven, at this late in the so called game.
@ Peggy,
Which which leads me to believe that the 144,000 is a symbolic number as are the 12 tribes listed in Revelation. The entire book is written in “signs and symbols” so why is this number literal? Twelve symbolic tribes multiplied by 12,000 symbolic members from each symbolic tribe cannot equal a 144,000 literal number. Only in the minds of wacky Jehovah’s Witnesses can this be a considered explanation. No other religious group, to my knowledge, believes this explanation.
The anointed class will continue to be gathered until they are whisked away before the end of this system of things in what Christendom refers to as the “Rapture”. See the timeline shown in the July15, 2013 Watchtower, which was not discussed during the study!
I wonder why? Is it hiding the truth in plain sight?
The same holds true for the absurd explanation that Jehovah’s Witnesses give for the identity of the “other sheep” that Jesus plainly states that he ALREADY has in the first century. All of Christendom believes they are the non-Jewish believers who have already put faith in Jesus not some kind of unknown adherents yet to be gathered 1900 years into the future! Go figure; either Jesus is grammatically incorrect, thus is not perfect or a liar! Another explanation would be Jehovah’s Witnesses are, as usual, dead wrong in their interpretation of the scriptures! If they are wrong in the above two cases it begs the question, what else are they wrong about?
Many Christian churches, those labeled Christendom by WT, believe the 144,000 Jews described in Revelation are literal Jews living on Earth during the tribulation which is described as starting in chapter 6 of Revelation. The 144,000 are first mentioned in chapter 7 (Rev 7:1 reads after this I saw…) After what? After the start of the tribulation.
In their line of reasoning the Christian church will have already been whisk away to be with Christ (Rev 3:10). Converted Jews after the church is removed is who this 144,000 class is believed by them to be. That class, the two witnesses Revelation later speaks of (Rev 11:3), and the angels in mid-heaven ( 14:6-12) telling people to repent would be, or will be along with other repentant people God’s witnesses to Christ’s kingdom during the end times tribulation.
If their view is correct WT’s is terribly wrong on its whole interpretation of Revelation. And if their view is correct those on this site that ask the question why would God, and complain that he will destroy people without revealing himself to them first have an answer. God won’t. If their view is correct those people left on Earth during the tribulation of Revelation will at that time make a choice to follow Christ or their existing governments at that time that will be forbidding allegiance to Christ.
@ messenger,
I appreciate your comments immensely, thanks for writing.
However, if those in Christendom believe that the 144,000 are literal Jews then where do they (adherents of Christendom) fit in as Revelation mentions no other reigning class except for perhaps the 24 elders pitching their crowns before God? Everyone believes they are heaven bound, so if not reigning with the Christ what do they plan on doing?
I don’t believe the Watchtowers explanation of the 4 horsemen either when you compare the Olivet prophecy which gives the exact order of the signs and lists the them in the same order as the horsemen of Revelation. If this is so, and I don’t believe Jesus would tell John one thing on the Mount of Olives and then give another explanation to him in Revelation, then the rider of the white horse is a false Christ that Jesus warned his disciples about. The false Christ does not have to be a real person but just a rumor. The ramifications of this, if true, would be staggering! Most Adventist movements would be discredited, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses, who have been pronouncing the birth of the Kingdom and return of Christ for over 100 years.
If this is so, then the second coming has not yet happened; which would coincide with scriptures that talk about “every eye will see him and that the nations will beat themselves in grief” or words to that effect. None of this has been seen as the nations and their peoples have not recognized an “invisible presence” and Christendom still awaits the second coming.
Big B,
Those I’ve heard from in Christendom do believe they, as the Christian church, are the ones that will rule the new earth with Christ. Those Christians believe after the church is raptured and during the onset of the great tribulation God through Christ will turn his attention to natural Israel and to fulfill all his promises to them that were written in the Hebrew Bible but not yet fulfilled. For instance, the Jewish people both ancient and present have not yet occupied the totality of the land promised to them in the Hebrew scriptures. So, those Christians believe the “Mount Zion” spoken of at Rev 14:1 is in literal Israel. And they believe Christ will lead these 144,000 Jews to help him convert other Jews prior to Har-Magedon.
No place in Rev chapter 7 or chapter 14 does it state this group of 144,000 rules the earth with Christ, and that they are the Christian church, or that they rule along with the Christian church. That absence doesn’t mean they won’t share in rule, but it means they might not. Christ promised that rulership to the returning Christian church.
Rev 14:3 does state the 144,000 are bought from the earth, and vs 4 says, “These are bought from among mankind as first fruits.” But that implies other fruits from among mankind are also bought from the earth, and it does not imply rulership. Their singing before the throne at Rev 14:3 is similar to the statement made about those coming out of the great tribulation (see Rev 7:9 people are “standing before” instead of singing before the throne). Therefore that statement does not necessarily mean that those members of the 144,000 class are in heaven and not included among those people coming out the great tribulation.
Christ returns twice. First to take his church (Rev 3:10), and then once again after the tribulation is underway to fight the nations, judge mankind, and rule those he lets live. (Rule along with his church). Like you, I believe Christ has not yet returned, and no one knows when he will but he and God. Unless they told some others in heaven by now.
The basic idea in Revelation, to repent and follow Christ is easily understood. But like Paul said about knowledge concerning God not all knowledge about God is understood. Right now we see it as a hazy outline. It’s enough to follow Christ. That’s what he stated, telling his apostles there were many things he wanted to tell them but they would not understand at that time.
WT, with its dogmatic approach has stepped over the line by demanding its followers accept its view about those parts of the Bible that are so difficult only a sinner would demand others follow their interpretations before teaching people they can be baptism, and that they must continue to believe all its interpretations to remain Christian. Christ warned Christians about Watchtower and other organizations like it.
Its always good to hear from you Big B.
messenger
Big B, I had not considered the gospel writings having stated that Jesus has, other sheep. Other sheep way back in the 1st century. The scripture does not say I will have other sheep in the future. Or the writings are grammatically incorrect. HA ! Or the WT is all wrong in interpretations. And, yes, Revelation is symbolic so why a literal 144,000? I do not know.