Portuguese journalist Ana Leal outside the branch office in Alcabideche
Portuguese journalist Ana Leal outside the branch office in Alcabideche

David Splane, of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, visited the branch office (Bethel) in Portugal at the beginning of November 2015.

The purpose of such a cyclical visit is usually to gather information and to check on whether the Branch is operating in compliance with Governing Body guidelines.

David Splane brought news of changes in the organizational structure. He confirmed the rumors of cuts in personnel at Bethel and the removal of special pioneers, both in Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries.

The numbers of those being “released” – sacked, or made redundant – as a result of downsizing is significant. About 30% of Bethelites will have to leave the Portuguese Bethel family and return to ‘serve’ in their former congregations. Similarly, many special pioneers scattered within Portugal and the Islands will be surplus to requirements. The Islands include Madeira, The Azores, Cape Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe.

It must be disheartening to lose a “lifetime career” having complied with the demand to put first the kingdom of God. No doubt many felt safe under the protective wing of the parent organization, recently re-branded as JW dot org.

David Splane made the announcements on Sunday, 1st November 2015 (via internet streaming from Bethel in Carnaxide), to almost 50,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the Portuguese territory and African countries where Portuguese is the official language.

Splane’s visit to Portugal and speech coincided with a major documentary entitled “In the Shadow of Sin” broadcast on the Portuguese Reporter TVI channel by the investigative journalist Ana Leal.

The documentary shown on the 18th October explored, for the first time on Portuguese TV, the impact of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ damaging child abuse policies, their response to domestic violence and other harmful practices.

The documentary prompted many watching Jehovah’s Witnesses who immediately felt betrayed to call Bethel asking questions. They were told the documentary was apostate lies.

Here is the documentary, now for the first time with English subtitles…

Early on in Splane’s speech, he mentioned reports that “speak evil” of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Clearly the purpose of this warning was to calm the fears of his audience who had been disturbed by the documentary shown at prime time on Portuguese TV.

In an attempt at deflecting attention away from the issues of child molestation and other abuses raised in the documentary, David Splane suggested that it is bad journalism to seek only one side of the story.

His comments appeared to be a direct reference to the TVI Reporter documentary and the main investigative journalist Ana Leal.

Splane said, “after all, there are always two sides to the story and a journalist who does not seek to check the facts, hearing only one side is not a professional. A journalist that operates in that way just wants to get a sensational story and, therefore, it will be a bad story, not a factual story.”

Of course, good journalistic practice and ethics demand that both sides of a story should be presented, so that the reader, watcher or curious lurker can draw their conclusions.

What David Splane omitted to tell the almost 50,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses who were listening in, is that the documentary was the responsibility of the well-known and award-winning journalist Ana Leal. He failed to inform his audience not only that the journalist sought the help of Jehovah’s Witnesses by contacting Bethel so that a counter view could be made to the gathered content. He also neglected to mention that she had made videos and transcripts available for comment before the broadcast, and also contacted various congregations inviting them to participate.

She was keen to share positive experiences of what it means to be a Jehovah’s Witness.

David Splane’s speech was disingenuous in attempting to raise doubts as to the credibility of the journalist. But his intentions were clear from his statement “… and so we usually leave things as they are, and let the story die.”

Bethel in Portugal did not provide any statements or offer any comment “contradicting or confirming,” the testimonies or stories within the documentary. All Jehovah’s Witnesses contacted refused to speak or take part.

This fact was made clear at the end of the documentary. TVI’s commentator, Judith de Sousa, stated:

“TVI tried to speak to the Jehovah’s Witness organization about all these charges, but they declined the invitation to take part.”

The journalist Ana Leal was not pleased at David Splane’s shabby attempt at undermining her journalistic integrity.

After listening to Splane’s speech, she had this to say:

“It is easy to see the impressive manipulation of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the hands of their leadership. Mr Splane blatantly tried to suggest that a report is partial and biased if both sides of the story are not shared.”

After listening to Splane’s speech and the comments directly related to her report, she returned to Bethel with a film crew ready to record a Watchtower rebuttal. She was determined to put on record that it was Bethel that had refused to give an interview. Ana Leal filmed outside Bethel and asked again for a response. She was invited into Bethel and waited 30 minutes in a room for the Watchtower to comment. Eventually, Branch Office Committee head, Pedro Candeias, appeared and said: “We have nothing else to add.” (see video below)

The journalist Ana Leal and the documentary team now fully comprehend why the leadership tried to undermine her credibility. The Governing Body’s tactic is clear: they want the documentary to “die.”

But this strategy, on this occasion, has been publicly called out on Portuguese TV.

Now with English subtitles, this documentary with testimonies and survivor stories can be shared more widely. The Governing Body will have to think up a new tactic to silence abuse survivors and journalists who are willing to document Watchtower’s policy failures.

 

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Documentary Translation by Susanna, and subtitles by Carlos Fernandes (TJ Curioso)

For more information on this and other stories in Portuguese, please visit extj.net

189 thoughts on “The Friday Column: Portuguese documentary overshadows Governing Body visit

  • December 4, 2015 at 6:19 am
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    Great Job
    This just shows how untruthful those of the governing body are. They should worry. I just wonder how much sexual child abuse has gone on in Portugal? We see it in Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, USA and I am sure many other counties except they have not made it to the courts yet

  • December 4, 2015 at 6:57 am
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    Thank – you for such a well written and informative article. It’s only by such, the real story will be told…and hopefully others can be free of Watchtower control and mental abuse.

  • December 4, 2015 at 7:04 am
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    Amazing story, cannot believe that Splane would side with”the father of lies”. There is no integrity at Watchtower.

  • December 4, 2015 at 7:26 am
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    This is wonderful. I will have to watch the videos later but its great to see more journalists kicking over this stone to see the creepy underside of this “loving organization”.

    • December 4, 2015 at 8:09 pm
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      Couldn’t agree more. I have had the feeling that in the past, although being rebuffed by the Watchtower, most journos have probably feared being sued by their powerful law team. Doesn’t look like that is the case anymore. You cannot fight the truth forever even with a crack legal team.

  • December 4, 2015 at 7:29 am
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    This has been their strategy since the beginning of time: leave it in Jehovah’s hands and then let it die. A JW child has been abused and what do they do? NOTHING! A JW sister is raped and what do they do? NOTHING! They are very good at this because that’s all they have ever done (that and blame their victims). They have a history of lies and false prophecies that they do not answer for nor apologize for.

    • December 5, 2015 at 8:27 am
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      @Susan

      Your arrow has hit the target!

      Here’s the circular loop logic some elder’s like to use to seeming acknowledge(empathy) wrong doings and then make it rather excusable with, “The wicked men will be removed..” 1Cor 5:13. IF, the NWT is a standard practice to follow being “preventable” why are the GB’s so reactive to crisis? Never saw it coming?!?!?!

      I guess it never dawned on the GB it’s rife with “wicked” men!

      IMHO

      dogstar

      • December 5, 2015 at 8:09 pm
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        Yes! And even their empathy lacks true compassion. An example of that is in a statement I’ve heard from more than one elder when its brought up: “why doesn’t the gb acknowledge when they are wrong? Like with their view on blood fractions in the 60’s with many dying as a result until that was changed years later? Or organ transplants? Both of these resulting in many deaths”. Elders reply? : ” what do you think will happen for those who died for being obedient? That’s why we have the resurrection hope.”

        What a loving and compassionate response to the family of those who died for following the directives of the org right?

        • December 6, 2015 at 11:16 am
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          Spot on Chiafade! Their concept that “God will fix everything” becomes an excuse for all manner of indiscretion and poor judgement. Meanwhile they ruin peoples lives and simply tell them to ‘wait on Jehovah.’ And if someone complains they are demonized by the Org as having a lack of faith or loving the things of the world.

          WS

  • December 4, 2015 at 7:34 am
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    I am a Portuguese American 2nd generation and that video hit home with me as I could see the same Brainwashing effects from the WT are all over the World.
    There Cultish ways are so destructive everywhere. When you take away a persons right to think it pulverizes them into powder. I could relate to many of those things my Portuguese brothers were expressing. When I was an Active JW and Elder for over 22 years I kept asking myself why I was so depressed much of the time and how could the WT come up with some of these CRZY teachings etc and rules. I always thought I wasn’t spiritual enough and I would argue with My Pioneer wife that these rules make no sense and 1914 is not legit and false. She would cry and tell me I needed more faith etc. She even would call me a COWARD if I believed what was saying and still was a JW! It is a VERY BAD and damaging religion. About 10 years ago I told a JW friend that the 1914 teaching was going to bring the WT down bc it just isn’t true and their belief system revolves around that teaching. It is obvious that it is a false teaching but now seeing how SLICK they are and how manipulative they are I am not sure they will come down as fast as I had anticipated? Any thought from you readers on that Idea?

    • December 4, 2015 at 10:24 am
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      So glad you made it out! Leading cult expert Steven Hassan wrote that followers of these types of cults when given a doomsday date, will actually come out STRONGER after that date passes and nothing happens! Sure some wake up and manage to get out, but most stay. They survived all the other false prophecies concerning 1874, 1914, 1918, 1925 and 1975 by spinning the facts, blaming the members for reading too much into it and then they carry on business as usual. Their members have invested too much into the cult: sacrificing an education and a career, possibly not getting married and not having kids, they may have shunned family or lost a loved one who refused blood and they really want the fairy tale to be true – so they stay, closing their eyes to a life they never got to live.

      • December 5, 2015 at 12:08 am
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        Well as an active jw I have asked questions and have not been rebuked or abandoned. Havent lost any to a blood transfusion issue, I am married with 4 kids to wife that was an unbeliever that now serves faithfully. Had a great career and education, still atend family reunions. Those who were serving during those dates you mention still serve faithfully cause letters were address to the congregations about the misinterpreted dates, but on each of those dates in history something did take place, didnt it? So why do we keep slandering religions or people, this is exactly what satan wants. Love jehovah with your whole heart he even says question everything if its from men, but the bible that is what I follow and what I believe in not man. Thank you have a blessed day

        • December 5, 2015 at 3:00 am
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          Hi Drew,
          The video (which I hoped you watched) presents facts and evidence – not slander.

          You said “Something happened” during those dates?
          What happened in 1975? I know the Beatles were on a “Fantasy” concert tour around that time. Jesus Christ Superstar was a film JW’s were upset about. The Rocky Horror show opened. In the 63rd Women’s Australian Open: Evonne Goolagong Cawley beat Martina Navratilova (6-3, 6-2)

          But other than that 1975 was a non event.

          I remember the JW hype. I spent 1975, banging on doors, half panicked and in drone mode.

          I did go and see Jesus Christ Superstar with a school friend. Never told my mom! She is in her 90’s. Does not speak to her daughter, who loves her very much. Another fact not slander.

        • December 5, 2015 at 11:38 am
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          I was born in 1975 :-)

          If you and your family are all 100% happy and fulfilled in your current position, by all means, continue on and enjoy your life to the full.

          “Slander” is “The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.” The key word here is [false]. If what is being said is true, then it is not slander. If it is not true, then WT should defend itself, no?

          Please imagine that one of your four children is right now being targeted by a sexual predator in your congregation, but you don’t know it because nobody knows he is a sexual predator who has been accused of rape in several other congregations, but never reported to or investigated by the authorities. Would you be just fine with that?

          If the JW’s were to change their policies on handling child abuse, and their other emotionally abusive policies, and be open and forthright with their membership instead of consistently covering up the truth, I’m sure right-minded people around the world would have a much easier time getting along with them, and exposes like this would not be necessary.

          Best wishes on your spiritual career. I hope that the things I mentioned never happen to you.

        • December 6, 2015 at 12:05 pm
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          @Drew,

          I think you just have had very limited experience with this organization and are drawing conclusions based on that limited perspective.

          Do more research. A big eye opener for me was when I started reading the old publications (I was fortunate enough to have been given a complete set of Studies in the Scriptures and other similar publications from that period). Since, according to the Watchtower Society, God choose them in or around 1918 to be his faithful and discreet slave based what they were teaching at that time, wouldn’t it benefit us to become familiar with those teachings?

          WS

        • December 7, 2015 at 2:16 am
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          Hello Drew. I had the privilege of serving as a 14 year old baptized witness publisher during 1975. I might even have temporary pioneered during summer break from school. I don’t recall anything of note from the period indicating that fulfillment of prophecy was taking place despite my vigilance. Perhaps something pertinent occurred in your locale and the news didn’t get passed to the proper channels for dissemination. I do remember the reprehensible letter from Brooklyn two years later which accused ordinary witnesses of misinterpretation of the society’s teaching regarding the timing of Armageddon. I happily disassociated from the organization soon afterward and have never regretted my decision. I am glad you find fulfillment in the organization’s teachings, but don’t try to promote old witness failures as victories on this site. There are too many old witnesses here for those stories to fly.

    • December 4, 2015 at 11:56 am
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      I do believe “new light” will come out and we will hear about the “Methuselah Generation”. So they will be good for another 800 years or so.

      • December 4, 2015 at 12:05 pm
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        Overlapping generations 2=1, 3 =1, 4=1…………..Methuselah generation LOL!

        Just a few more generations need to overlap and the end will come RFLOL!

          • December 5, 2015 at 10:40 am
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            @ Dee,

            It’s funny you mention the ‘generation – now, the over lapping generation’.

            Allow me to share a real time experience, ‘the other day at McDonalds, elder E.Smalley, ask, hey we’ve missed you at the meeting’. Small talk about work and such, then the generation (OL) topic comes out. I then say, “this is bs – bs on over lapping generation’.

            Elder Smalley said, I would like to come over and talk with you. I said, talk about what, as if. Theres nothing to talk about. Have to go to work, see ya.

            JWSurvey = ” Unity in Freedom for Thruth ”

            Peace out

  • December 4, 2015 at 7:40 am
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    For: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

    Since we reviewed the May 2015 JW Broadcast and the November 2015 “Why Reduce the Number of Special Full-Time Servants?” announcement, it is with great sadness that we have concluded that there needs to be a donation reduction in what Jehovah’s Witnesses give on a monthly basis. We prayed to Jehovah God for the blessing of this procedure and he gave us the go ahead. If you have issues with this procedure, you may want to talk to God. Be nice. He is not too pleased with your child abuse cases.

    Therefore, as of January 1, 2016, the donations that people will give will be reduced 80%. Which means a United States dollar will be worth 20 cents. So if you gave $20.00 USD/month, you will now give $4.00 USD/month.

    Here’s the formula:

    [Amount in 2015/month] – ([Amount in 2015/month] X 0.80) = Amount in 2016/month.

    Instructions for the uneducated Jehovah’s Witnesses (including Anthony Morris III):

    First, we compute 80% of $20.00. So, put 20.00 in a calculator then press the multiply sign (X), 80% is .80, we enter .80 in the calculator, then hit enter. You should receive $16.00. Write $16.00 on a piece of paper. Next, put $20.00 in a calculator then press the minus sign (-), then enter the number on the paper. In this case $16.00, then enter. You should end up with $4.00. If Anthony is still confused. Then re-read this paragraph.

    May Jehovah continue to bless us with this new Donation reduction arrangement.

    Yours in Jehovah’s service,

    Jehovah’s Witness members

    • December 4, 2015 at 7:49 am
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      You may as well try to teach a monkey to fly a 747. lol

      • December 4, 2015 at 8:24 am
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        It may take a couple of iterations of that paragraph to sink in for the un-educated JWs.

    • December 4, 2015 at 9:03 pm
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      @ Doc,

      Great trigonometry, however, my donation’s are at peak high – volumes at zero+Nada+negative+goose egg= $00.00

      What would the KH servant do, with a donation from an apostate, accept or refuse the donation of $50.00 with a gift card? – from a loving apostate – your brother.

      Accept or refuse donation?

      JWSURVEY = “Unity in Freedom for Thruth”

      Peace out,

      • December 5, 2015 at 3:49 pm
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        Minion,
        You’re right. $0.00 – ($0.00 X 0.80) = $0.00/month for 2016.

        Congratulations you are smarter than most Jehovah’s Witnesses put together.

  • December 4, 2015 at 7:56 am
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    The time left is reduced!! The ever non changing call goes out from the Governing Body. So correct me if I’m wrong. You have a 30 percent reduction or layoff in your operations. Does this mean like any business that your cutting back because of cutting costs due to slow sales?
    When will people really get it that this religion is really no different then any other in that it is a business stealthed under a tax exemption privilege.
    So my question to the Govering body is if the end is so near as you proclaim then really what are all the closures and cutbacks about?
    There is only so long that a smoke screen of media propaganda on your part lasts. Sooner or later the smoke clears and the intelligent thinker can then see clearly the deceptive lies that are spewing out of your mouths.
    Almost like the light getting brighter. Lol
    Throw a label on the wall and let’s see how long it sticks, it mentality just doesn’t work for you folks anymore.
    Most people go through their whole life deciphering what is Truth and Non Truth. But in our age of instant information it is a little easier to discern.
    I hope in time they will vanish off this earth and it will be just a forgotten nightmare for many.

  • December 4, 2015 at 8:42 am
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    It’s important to also say that this documentary hit the record of the most seen/popular documentary of 2015 (TVI confirmed this fact).
    So you can imagine the repercussion on Portugal. In many places the opinion of the common public about the JWs switch from the “good Christian people with a very strange religion but harmless” to “some crazy cult with high control indoctrination”

    • December 4, 2015 at 9:33 am
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      Great to hear the documentary was so popular.
      People will talk about it now escaping to it, the sead is planted…

    • December 4, 2015 at 9:51 am
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      Hopefully, this documentary will be seen in Brazil, which has a Portuguese-speaking population of around 200 million.

      • December 5, 2015 at 10:49 am
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        @ Scot

        Currently (1st place) JWSurvey web site is “attracting” the most viewers at 38.% from Brazil.

        I get crazy emails from Brazil – enticing and the most “attractive” women from Brazil are available and looking for you.

        Just saying,

        JWSurvey – “Unity in Freedom for Thruth”

        Peace out,

  • December 4, 2015 at 8:48 am
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    For those of us that were apart of that abhorrent system,saw the light and escaped,thank you so much for your reporting.The WTBTS is a worldwide virus that has affected millions of people, especially those who cannot protect themselves,children.

    The internet and reports like yours has allowed many of us to connect,share experiences and heal from this deadly pandemic know as the Watchtower

  • December 4, 2015 at 9:00 am
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    “Need to hear both sides of the story…” said David Splane. That is funny. Last time I checked, the GB discouraged JWs from hearing any other stories but those made up by the GB

    • December 4, 2015 at 10:58 am
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      Perfectly put, Startrekangel!
      Whenever they are badly-done-by, JWs claim they weren’t allowed their side of the story. Anything they don’t agree with is ‘apostate lies’. How many more of these types of programmes can apostates produce?!
      If everything against them in the media are produced by apostates, it looks like we are getting very sophisticated! lol.

      • December 4, 2015 at 12:50 pm
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        Let’s ask the children who were molested if apostates made it up, or if dear old brother Groper really did it! Bet the kids don’t think what happened to them was fictitious!

  • December 4, 2015 at 9:28 am
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    Well written, thank u for it.

    This must awake a lot of believers, if I would still be in the congregation, and I would hear this news, I would start to investigate it.

    Hope this will make many jw do research.

  • December 4, 2015 at 9:37 am
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    Thanks for the info,I am more awake than ever before.

  • December 4, 2015 at 10:07 am
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    I have ALOT more to add to this story…..it’s gonna change everything. ….if you just listen. ..ok…here it goes. …NO Comment

  • December 4, 2015 at 10:18 am
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    I think the truly sad thing is the Governing Body has drunk the Kool-Aid.

    They actually believe what they say and preach. They are deluded and will remain deluded. This has nothing to do about making money since they all just live in an apartment (no mansions for them).

    They will go down with the ship, and if for whatever reason God does exist and all the prophecies in the Bible are true they will find out that God views them as he does all the other Religions – as Babylon the Great.

    • December 4, 2015 at 7:21 pm
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      I’ve been saying the same thing for a while now. These current gb members were indoctrinated traveling COs and DOs. They started partaking of the emblems which made them prime candidates for the gb. Then with nostrils wide open with pride they wanted to make changes to the org that reflected their “love” for the ministry. Unlike the previous gb who were mostly bethelites for eons and didn’t know squat about the real work.
      That’s partially how I see them. One thing is for sure. These are some ARROGANT men with NO respect for their followers. It is so clear how little they think of the rank and file. Also, to feel that there is no need to make a defense or to even acknowledge a problem is despicable and disgusting. Then Splane implies that no one tried to contact them.

      It’s mind blowing narcissism. These men are never wrong and will never apologize. That alone should push people far away.

      • December 5, 2015 at 10:03 am
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        The few GB that I have met over the years were not arrogant and in fact were very nice people.
        My observations in my few interactions with the ones I met has been that they are very humble and feel what they are doing is right.
        They are misguided, that is the problem and cannot be fixed.

        • December 5, 2015 at 12:04 pm
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          In that case, you would think they would see their current tribulation as evidence that they have lost Jehovah’s favor and need to make some changes in their policies and procedures and thinking in order to regain it.

  • December 4, 2015 at 10:45 am
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    Regarding: “About 30% of Bethelites will have to leave the Portuguese Bethel family and return to ‘serve’ in their former congregations.” The harsh reality is that these discarded Bethelites will only be able to continue their full time service to the Watchtower Governing Body if their former congregations have both the willingness and the ability to support them.

    In a follow up to his original announcement of drastic Watchtower cutbacks in construction, magazine publishing and personnel, Samuel Herd hinted that these “adjustments” were not due to economic reasons. Herd goes on to emphasize that the Governing Body remains “confident that Jehovah is richly blessing the worldwide work.” However, Herd then throws out a few big numbers which indicate that supporting Special Pioneers and most construction projects is a financial drain that can no longer be sustained.

    Herd goes on to say that the Kingdom work is expanding so rapidly that available funds must be diverted to projects which are most important. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where the money is going: Multi-million dollar child abuse settlements and the palatial Warwick, NY world headquarters, which is being built on a toxic waste dump.

    While Samuel Herd is not my favorite Governing Body member, he does have the ability to tell big lies with a completely straight face. The ability to do this is has become a necessity, particularly now that the future of the Watchtower is on the line.

    Apparently, the Governing Body has chosen Samuel Herd to deliver the really bad news. Hopefully, we will be seeing a lot more of him. To his credit, Herd does not flash his expensive Rolex watch in this video:

    http://tv.jw.org/#en/video/VODStudio/pub-jwbrd_201511_4_VIDEO

    • December 4, 2015 at 11:35 am
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      I totally agree with you, ScotWm.

      The other item I noticed in that particular video is no mention of financial figures. I remember Samuel Herd stating, Can you image what it costs each year for Special Pioneers? I do not know about you, but I need not to imagine people being laid off. I need the financial figures. And the other financial figures that made them come to the conclusion of their financial situation. Watchtower will always hide all the facts. The truth is in the financial records. Not on hearsay.

      • December 4, 2015 at 11:56 pm
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        Regarding Doc Obvious’ comment on the lack of transparency in Watchtower’s financial condition:

        You’re right. Without any meaningful figures, we can only speculate on the cult’s financial status.

  • December 4, 2015 at 10:55 am
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    By the way…a lesson we can learn from this, if your an active jw is if ever hauled before a judicial committee is, don’t talk, ask questions. ..don’t reveal anything, ,they are counting on you talking.

    • December 4, 2015 at 10:59 am
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      Just for clarification, if the org, doesn’t want to answer questions, why should we.

  • December 4, 2015 at 11:23 am
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    I was surprised that the Witnesses who saw the program were shocked. They really and truly have no clue what is going on beneath the surface. Jehovah’s Witnesses are much like mushrooms, they are kept in the dark and are fed sh*t.

    • December 4, 2015 at 7:27 pm
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      “Kept in the dark and fed s**tt” lol that’s great I’m stealing it.

    • December 4, 2015 at 8:04 pm
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      My hubby used to say that about being a Ministerial Servant. He would always say with a mournful look after being told something, but only half of it by an elder “That’s all we are. We’re just mushrooms, kept in the dark.” Those mushrooms were mushrooming everywhere as all those secrets were being covered up.

  • December 4, 2015 at 11:51 am
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    Thank you Susannah. And especially so for the translating and subtitling of the documentary. It really brings home the international misery this cult brings onto people. Good to see so many willing to speak out and share their stories.

    • December 4, 2015 at 12:01 pm
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      Thanks! It is a powerful video. TJ Curioso and I went back and forth with the translation. It is not perfect, but now it will be seen by more people. We plan to translate the other video of Ana Leal outside Bethel.
      It can be followed though, I think, when the whole story is known.

  • December 4, 2015 at 12:19 pm
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    Ms. Ann Leal,

    Great commentary.

    Watchtower Corporation has learn the technique from the Illuminati, ‘you hide the Thruth in plain site’, – well done WT Corporation.

    Watchtower Corporation has the most fear today 2015, perhaps the largest ever lawsuit facing them, and the ones to come from free labor and contracted contractors – due to exposed health risk working at a toxic waste land – Warwick, NY.

    Ms.Leal, keeps us posted, and we hope more friends wake up from JW indoctrination.

    Jwsurvey – “Unity in Freedom for Thruth”

    Peace out,

  • December 4, 2015 at 12:28 pm
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    This in no way is any disrespect to the peoples of Portugal, however, it has always been a prevailing thought among JW (especially those within a rocks throw of Brooklyn Bethel) that things are just different (organizational wise) the further you are from Bethel NY. Example – witnesses in California (reportedly some celebrities) just didn’t tow the line and that was just a okay , why ?, donations of course. So, now that JW (GB) have been exposed and thankfully so in Portugal , a few combative statements are thrown out and now your on your own. Kudo’s to this reporter for going back and putting JW again in the spotlight. Now the rank and file will be asking why ? But , as always there will be that ever popular letter to the congregation suggesting that all this attention (persecution) is expected in the “last days” .

  • December 4, 2015 at 12:40 pm
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    @pow ive been saying this for years ! Keep your mouth shut ! A stubbed toe becomes a broken foot in a matter of minutes.

  • December 4, 2015 at 12:44 pm
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    I’m so outraged that Ms. Leal made the effort to get Witchtower’s side, yet they still outright lied that she didn’t! I shared this article on Facebook! All my friends who aren’t involved with the JW’s will see this and hopefully get the word out. There’s no way this organization has God’s backing when they imitate Satan.

  • December 4, 2015 at 12:57 pm
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    Awh! shucks folks, again, If it wasn’t for those pesky kids they would have gotten away with it! bwahahaha ruthless

  • December 4, 2015 at 2:41 pm
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    All Witnesses should read Leah Remini’s book about her experience in Scientology. While she doesn’t mention the Witnesses, one cannot escape the parallels and similarities of the these two mind-control cults.

  • December 4, 2015 at 4:51 pm
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    Two weeks before today i was driving from work and i heard from a local radio station the statistics about child molestation in europe for the year 2014.
    18 millions children was molested from relatives and strangs.
    i am wondering how many of this 18 million was from jehovah witnesses congregations?

  • December 4, 2015 at 7:57 pm
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    This has been their tactic for years. Just don’t discuss it. Keep telling any curious congregation members that it is the work of the devil and the bad bad media and it will eventually go away. Ha ha ha. Watchtower, you did not realise that God would make available a system where everybody could share their personal recordings of tv programs and news broadcasts. It is called ‘Youtube’.

    Your little trick worked for a good many years, making all those journalists look like liars if the dared to speak the truth, and silencing those who were whistleblowers, but now whose getting the last laugh? It’s not you that’s for sure. Your nakedness is beginning to show for all the world to see, one country at a time. And with each country goes another Youtube video to be watched by yet a bigger audience, till your empire is defeated. And it’s all Our Lord’s doing. “Get out of her my people….”

    • December 4, 2015 at 8:38 pm
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      Hopefully more of this hits the main stream media, maybe as a joint story with the release of Spotlight. That film covers the machine that was in place to keep the rampant pedophilia in the Catholic Church a secret.

    • December 4, 2015 at 9:03 pm
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      Perhaps the Harlot of Revelation who is to be ‘devastated and made naked’ is actually the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society…

  • December 4, 2015 at 8:33 pm
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    I would like to add to what was said before: this documentary was seen by over 2 million Portuguese on the day, the most viewed since 2015. He beat all records and even the journalist was surprised by the interest generated around its report (nothing I had not already told her that was to happen) .

    So much so, that she was invited in the next week to a morning TV show to clarify details on the report and after the second piece journalistic caused by the misrepresentation of Splane, she was invited to an evening of TV program to talk more once on the report.

    This was the first report seriously about Jehovah’s Witnesses, like what has happened in other countries.

    If someone wants to give you congratulations for the part and/or encourage her to continue to investigate the matter, here is your email: amleal@tvi.pt

    • December 4, 2015 at 9:07 pm
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      Ana Leal is wonderful, TJ Curioso. I feel the same way I did when the Australian Royal Commission was happening. The members of the commission became like heroes to me, because they stood up against this cult that has hurt so many people and covered over so many wrongdoings. Now I feel the same way about Ana. Thank you for the email address. My gratitude has been sent.

    • December 5, 2015 at 1:17 pm
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      Thank you for the email. I have sent my sincere thanks all the way from Alberta, Canada

  • December 4, 2015 at 8:40 pm
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    Obrigado, Susannah (e TJ Curioso)! Even though the GB members are themselves deluded, I wonder how much they are all starting to dread these occasions when they have to go explain to faithful brothers and sisters that, “although we’re firing/abandoning MANY of you, make no mistake, Jehovah is still richly blessing the Organization”. I’m picturing them drawing straws to decide who HAS to do it. Geoffrey Jackson gets the short straw and says, “No way, man. I had to do that Royal Commission thing. It’s Splane’s turn!”

    Your article is excellent. I love Ana Leal’s tenacity. It’s so refreshing when we actually see CONSEQUENCES to the GB’s deception, as opposed to when the GB lies to the R&F and gets away with it. “No comment”? Fine. That’s still damning, and it’s there for the public to see. May the Org continue to crumble– the sooner the better.

    • December 5, 2015 at 4:03 am
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      You had me going then JB Reezner about drawing the short straw. What I couldn’t get over is the blatant disregard for the media in such an embarrassing way. Letting the story die. They have no shame these GB members. They think that they are somehow walking around with a shield on where they are untouchable. They can say what they want with no accountability.

      • December 5, 2015 at 7:59 am
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        Exactly! Untouchable and INVISIBLE, Meredith J. It’s like they’re covering their own eyes and thinking no one else can see them. May the spotlight get so bright on the Org and GB that it finally melts their faces off (à la the Ark of the Covenant scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark).

        • December 7, 2015 at 12:26 pm
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          I have seen a number of comments that seem to draw conclusions about GB members state of mind. Some say humble, others arrogant, shameless, untouchable.

          To try to distill the psyche of GB members down to a single element is nearly impossible. They are all different people for sure. They have also themselves been indoctrinated by this cult for a number of years. They each have their own cult personality and their own authentic personalities. Some may legitimately want to help the members of the congregations. But it plays at odds with their cult indoctrination, their own human failings, their sense of fear, and their desire for power. And as per the famous quote “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

          To relate it to the congregation level, back when I was an elder, I saw the seemingly most humble, kind brothers become harsh, conniving, and intolerant under the certain circumstances. I can only imagine it happens all the more so on the GB level. Seems to be the effect this org has on people.

          Keep in mind that seemingly normal, kind, humble people participated in the church inquisitions, the witch trials, and the holocaust.

          WS

        • December 8, 2015 at 12:42 am
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          Winston, do you, or do you not, want to see the GB get their faces melted off, like in the Ark of the Covenant scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark? If the answer is “no”, then we, sir, are at an impasse!

          Naw, I accept your point. In a setting such as this site, though, it seems more fair to forgive the occasional blanket statement by people who wasted half–or more–of their lives in a cult (sometimes enduring great suffering), than it does to expect them to be looking for the good in, or a deeper understanding of, the people who are personally responsible for unapologetically continuing to demand adherence to the dangerous and deadly doctrine/practices that have hurt them and so many others.

          Even though each GB member had a unique journey to where they are, and even though they all likely vary a bit in their motivations and mindsets, their culpability remains. The egregious things the GB members are guilty of are infinitely more serious than the occasional, overly-broad statement made here regarding them.

          On the other hand, blanket statements about the average, lowly JW publishers can go a bit too far. Sometimes, the things we say make us sound like we’ve forgotten that we were Witnesses ourselves. Even then, the blanket statements are less concerning to me when they seem to be a result of the commenter’s own pain. But when the comments are simply meant to mock JWs, it’s unfortunate. (–Pardon this digression.)

          So, I understand your point, Winston. But, together, Meredith J and I called the GB deluded, deceptive and shameless, and implied that they are arrogant and oblivious. Even if some of them possess these qualities to a lesser degree than the others, it seems likely–judging by their actions–that they all do possess them to some extent. Although it might be mildly interesting to learn how each of them became the way they are, it’s not critically important in the grand scheme of things. That’s my opinion, anyway.

          Thanks for the reply, Winston. Your comments are always very interesting, my friend.

  • December 4, 2015 at 9:31 pm
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    This may be a bit off-topic, but it’s been bugging me for a while, and I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to air it out. In the congregation I used to attend, many “sisters” dressed in sexually provocative ways, or to put it more bluntly, like WHORES. Amidst all the talk of modesty and “tight pants” etc., one would see tight, short skirts, revealing tops, the trendiest high-heeled shoes, even black lace stockings — and this includes a couple of the ELDERS’ WIVES!! It was very distracting, especially within a building which was supposed to be focused on “spirituality”. Has anyone else experienced this, or did I just happen to belong to a congregation full of frustrated nymphomaniacs? I mean here they are, pretending to be all Amish and the like, you know, “No part of the world”, and they’re WORSE than the “world”! I defy anyone to visit any church, mosque, synagogue or temple and find women dressed like that. They would be BOOTED OUT on their a**!! This religion (cult, actually) is a JOKE!

    • December 5, 2015 at 8:03 am
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      Lol sorry but I had a good giggle at this. My cong. is pretty conservative but I think a lot of the sisters are closet nymphos’s. Some of the heels could be used to spike the most vicious of vampires… don’t get me wrong… I love my heels too…. that’s a point (no pun).. what do I do with all my shoes when I finally leave? Anyway, I know for a fact that during summer a lot like to go commando… :p Fishnets are often seen around fall/autumn. Hair colour goes across the whole spectrum with many having a blatant streak of colour added. Actually my hairdresser surprised me when she did my hair an awesome shade of purple :) Wonder how that will go down if I go tomorrow lol

  • December 4, 2015 at 10:02 pm
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    The Portuguese brothers and sisters seem all bored and disappointed they had to listen to a foreign speaker speak in a foreign language only to be translated on the spot into their language. Much like I felt and feel ever since they started sharing the video dramas at the assemblies rather than a live drama. Sunday assemblies were always the most anticipated days because we would get, to some extent, a live show. Then suddenly came the videos with horrible lip syncs which is too obvious to even focus on the message.

  • December 4, 2015 at 11:20 pm
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    Just a quick off-topic note. I apologize everyone, for a few uncharacteristically severe comments I’ve made lately. I love–and need–the peacefulness of this site, and I seem to have become hypersensitive to things that look like they may threaten it. A few particularly nasty troll plagues over the last month or so left me a little frayed, leading to a level of impatience that proved to be counterproductive to the very peace that I so appreciate.

    I’ve washed my mouth out with soap, and will try not to lose my cool again.

    Markie and Anonymous4, this video clip addresses the over-the-top level of harshness in my comments to you: https://youtu.be/fbMKjLe-RFA

    • December 5, 2015 at 2:14 pm
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      Sorry if I said anything offensive. Just a side note, my mentioning that I am a tax attorney is really not meant to brag at all. I am just proud of myself and family for going to school and not listening to the GB or elders. Sorry if it comes across as bragging. I remember back in the 70s my dad had a young brother in the car who wanted to go to college and I remember him saying to go and do whatever he thought was best for himself. Me and my brothers, cousins all went to college. Only two didn’t and guess what, they are the only two that have drifted away.
      So your in Florida?

      • December 5, 2015 at 2:16 pm
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        Oh by the way, I have know idea who Anthony is. I have never posted under that name.

      • December 5, 2015 at 3:50 pm
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        I appreciate that, Markie.

        Anthony was a persona who contributed to some unrest here. Just one of many over the last month or so. I didn’t make a connection between him and you, but it can be a tricky to figure out people’s motives for being here.

        This is a welcoming place. Many of us here are on different ends of the spectrum on some important issues, but we try to use the extra-padded gloves when we express our varying opinions, in the interest of keeping things running smoothly. I haven’t always lived up to that. If sensitivity doesn’t come naturally, it can take some practice.

        Yep, I’m in Florida. It was in the 60’s today and I almost froze, lol.

        • December 5, 2015 at 4:13 pm
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          Actually I live on Florida too.

          • December 8, 2015 at 2:07 am
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            Markie, so sorry if my words were a bit harsh last time we spoke. Sometimes a person needs a bit of time to get their head together when they wake up. Also a person who has left for a good while like myself can get hot under the collar when people start defending the Watchtower. I’ll try and be more understanding I promise. I felt I had to defend a friend of mine who was doing it tough. You did not know that of course. Anyway, I should try and exercise a bit more Christian patience. Been in short supply with me lately. Anyway, I’m glad I did not scare you off.

  • December 5, 2015 at 6:49 am
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    Wow! What a great video. It’s sad that many of the witnesses that saw this will write it off as apostate lies. What they fail to realize is that most of the men giving their experiences were once elders in the congregation. My husband was also an elder and “stepped down” because of all these horrendous policies on child abuse as well as many other hypocrisies in the congregation. We no longer go in the ministry because our conscience will not allow us to teach this rediculous idea of overlapping generations. We are mentally out of the organization now but still technically Jehovahs witnesses because our grown children and grandchildren will be forced to shun us if we formally dissasociate. It is no wonder that in the United States bible studies are non existent with all the information out there on the Internet. It’s just really sad that Jehovahs Witnesses are forced to dismiss it and not even look at it. Only when something effects them personally do they begin to question things. Very sad……

  • December 5, 2015 at 6:53 am
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    @Drew, You need to keep track of all your comments. First you imply like you aren’t a Witness, but studying with an elder and now you say you are an active Witness. Which is it?

    You say you left at an early age and went off and made a life for yourself and had a great education and a great career and married out of the “truth” but now you are an active Witness and your wife is serving faithfully. That sounds pretty hypocritical if that is all the truth.

    You didn’t listen to the Society when you were young and went to college and had a great career, so you didn’t have to wash windows in the winter time when it was twenty degrees below zero like I had to do in my cleaning jobs. I listened to the Watchtower and I didn’t go to college but you did.

    It is so easy for you to sit back in your easy chair and praise the Society. I wonder if you would be praising the Society if you had stayed in the “truth” when you were young and didn’t go to college and didn’t get a good job and now be seventy years old with no retirement package and having to wash windows for the rest of your life like a lot of “faithful” Witnesses are having to do right now.

    Your spelling and grammar are terrible for being so highly educated. Sometimes you capitalize the beginnings of the words at the beginning of sentences and then you don’t and sometimes for other proper nouns that should be capitalized, you might and you might not, so I know you can do it on whatever device you are using.

    You can also put periods at the ends of your sentences if you want to so I know that you can do that if you want to. Sometimes you spell correctly and the next time, you don’t spell correctly, so I think you are from the U.S. because at times your spelling is too good to be from another country and if you are from the U.S., you should know how to spell and write sentences correctly, even for a grade school level, let alone, college educated, like you want us to think you are, so I think you are a Watchtower troll, maybe even being so naive’ as to count your time here, instead of going from door to door, like the rest in your congregation would be doing right now, instead of visiting an “apostate” website like this, which is off limits to an active JW, like yourself, that is if you are really telling the truth, which I don’t think you are.

    The reason I know you are not telling the truth about anything you have been saying is that a real Witness is not free to tell the Elders in your congregation what web site you are visiting here and you would be counseled sternly if you actually did tell them what you are doing here. We all know how it works. We aren’t that stupid.

    • December 5, 2015 at 8:45 am
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      Very nice sleuthing, Caroline.

      20 degrees BELOW zero? Yikes… You have my sympathy. It was 50 degrees here in Florida a few days ago and I didn’t think I would survive it, because cold=pain. Sorry for the digression. You just shocked my system with the mere mention of a temperature that low.

      Drew, you’re in a cult that meets the Bible’s definition of a false prophet, with over 130 years of false predictions. Stay in it if you like, or even if you HAVE to because of personal circumstances, but don’t fool yourself into thinking you have the Truth or even something close enough to be pleasing to your God. Don’t spend years, or even decades, watching your confidence turn into regret like so many of us here have.

      • December 5, 2015 at 9:45 am
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        JB, you have to use a really good washing fluid for car windows. That’s what I did. It gets pretty cold in Wisconsin. I have heard how wimpy people are in Florida. In Wisconsin, people go in shorts in the winter time in the teens just because they think they are so tough.

        • December 5, 2015 at 10:26 am
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          Wha? Caroline attacked me, lol! And it’s especially heartless because I’m in an indefensible position due to the fact that… IT’S TRUE! I’m a total wimp. I’m not joking, my heater just cycled on for a few minutes because it’s set to 75. It’s 60 outside, and I can’t handle it.

          But Caroline, who would you say is tougher, folks from Wisconsin, or folks from BC? (If my plan works, we’re about to see a catfight, folks.)

          • December 5, 2015 at 9:40 pm
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            I sleep with my bedroom window open at -20! and BC isn’t classed as cold.

          • December 5, 2015 at 9:45 pm
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            JB, So far this winter, it’s been pretty nice but two winters ago, it was below zero almost all winter and it went for months and months. I don’t know where it’s colder, in Wisconsin or BC but I am sick of winter already and it’s only the beginning of December.

            If you ever watch football games for the Green Bay Packers, you will see people in the stands with no coats or even shirts on in the stands, even when the temps are in the teens but their blood is probably half alcohol too, who knows? I had a friend at the Kingdom Hall who spends her winters in Florida and she’d tell us that when it got to 60 degrees, it was too cold to go in service in Florida but here in Wisconsin, 60 is about the perfect temperature, not to hot and not too cold.

          • December 6, 2015 at 8:16 am
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            Caroline and Tara, my plan failed dismally. That wasn’t much of a catfight, lol.

            To be honest, I didn’t hate the weather yesterday. But you would still laugh because I was in a flannel shirt with a shirt underneath. You guys would be in shorts and tank tops.

            It might be the fact that we spend at least half the summer getting our friggin’ skin melted off in the oppressive, humid heat here. Makes cold weather a bit of a shock? I don’t know.

            I remember going out in service on Christmas morning once when it was in the 20’s. Almost…killed…me. We thought we were being thoughtful for having decided to be brief and not make people stand there in the cold for too long. It would have been more thoughtful to NOT BOTHER THEM ON CHRISTMAS AT ALL!

            Hang in there, Caroline and Tara. May your Northern winter be mild.

          • December 8, 2015 at 4:39 am
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            JB, it is so funny what we get used to. When we get temps in the zeros for weeks and it warms up to 20, we feel like it’s a heat wave and when it’s in the nineties for weeks and it cools down to 72, it feels cold.

            The week-end I was baptized in 1966 in January, we were still going in service at Circuit assemblies and I went out with a group and the temperature was 20 below zero and the wind was blowing like crazy. We each took one door and went back to the assembly.

            In those days, we didn’t know anything about taking into account the wind along with the cold. I remember that poor woman at my door, holding her door open for me and I had to take off my mittens to get out my Bible and showing her a scripture and my hands instantly hurting like crazy.

            In those days, we didn’t take breaks either. We’d stay out all morning long and come home and I would put my feet on the heat vents all afternoon with my feet aching for days afterward. My book bag was so full of books and magazines that my back hurt and our sermons were three to five minutes long and the householders were so nice to let us go on and on, with their doors open in the wintertime, even and I remember going out on Christmas too but instead of meeting at 8:45, we’d meet at 10 and the same for New Years day.

            Boy, the Society has sure had dumbed us down since then, hasn’t it? Or has it made it easier and dumber to attract more followers?

            When Samuel Herd said that the reason for the magazines being printed every other month was because it is too hard to keep up with all the reading material, what does that say? Not only does it save the Society money for printing and paper, it says that Witnesses aren’t reading it anyway. I find the material so lazy and useless and boring and maybe others do too and that’s the biggest reason.

            As long as they are producing “food”, that is all that is important for them to fulfill the “prophecy” about the slave feeding the proper food at the proper time. It doesn’t matter about the quality of the food.

            It’s like working in a factory and pushing out food. If the quality of the food isn’t any good, people will stop buying it and the business will fail, that is, unless those eating that food have been convinced that the food will save their life if they keep eating it, no matter how bad it tastes.

          • December 8, 2015 at 8:41 pm
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            Good grief, Caroline. You paint a miserable picture of wintertime witnessing in Wisconsin. But I believe you. All I can counter it with is the incredibly draining experience of going door to door in the middle of summer when it’s in the upper 90’s with 100% humidity. All of us would be walking around drenched with sweat, hoping householders would open their doors wide enough for us to get a little blast of AC, lol. But I concede that you definitely have me beat. You have my sympathy, my friend.

            Your mention of “dumbing down” reminds me of that simplified version of one of the latest releases that they made. Before it’s all over, they’ll just start focusing the witness work on going straight to nursing homes and mental institutions in the hopes of preying on those who are especially vulnerable– with that being made necessary by the fact that any 9-year-old with an internet connection will be able to thoroughly debunk the falsehoods that had us snowed for so much of our lives. (Extra points to me for using the term “snowed” in this weather-themed comment thread.)

            Crank up the electric blanket and have a good night, Caroline.

      • December 5, 2015 at 10:13 am
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        @ Caroline,
        Damn, great minds think alike. I need to use my spell check more often.

        @ JB,
        I think he’s short on his quota of 0.15 minutes which he needs for November field service time – door to door, oops, I mean, internet to internet.

        @ Drew,

        Your fever with JW cultness is alive and well. As I mentioned before, we all went down this road and exited from the merry-go-round. And that’s Not a bad thing.

        We all fought hard to defend the JW cultness, however, the problem Your having Is Not to defend the indoctrination, Your Problem is You can not explain or defend the the JW cultness of Man-Made beliefs, that are Not found in the gospels of Jesus Christ.

        For example; have your elders share with You the ‘elders book’, and have them explain, why do they have so many chapters – a freaking book. Chapters about oral sex, what you can and can not do in Your Private bed.

        Why they still use the 2 witness rule in the book of Moses (Deut.) To protect crimes against children, teenagers, and adults. Worse they Do Not report the hediuos crime to the police.

        And the list of JW Man-Made beliefs are unfounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

        These are the serious issues your having to grasp. Your having a problem in handling the Thruth.

        However, we in this blog – understand this action. We did the same thing.

        Do you not agree with Jesus Christ, when he said, “I give you a New Commandment, (this expression means everything else would be null and void – No other law before or after Him would matter) to Love one another.”

        To Love as I have Loved you, you must Love one another.

        In summary, to you really believe in all your heart this level of expectation of ‘Love’ of which Jesus Christ speaks of resanates in your congregation, or is it conditional.?

        Understand, we get it – your better off with your live as one of JWs. We will not question your faith.

        However, explain the JW Man-Made beliefs not founded in the gospel.

        JWSurvey = “Unity in Freedom for Thruth”

        Peace out,

    • December 5, 2015 at 2:55 pm
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      Kind of funny. If you weren’t a woman I would have that you were an elder or maybe an x-elder the way you can read Drews heart. Too bad sisters aren’t allowed to be elders you would have made a great one. I make a lot of spelling and grammar errors on my post and I do have an education. Sometimes it’s because I am typing on an iPhone or spell check corrects the words wrongly.

      • December 5, 2015 at 4:44 pm
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        I just wrote something peaceable to you and then dropped down and saw that you’d castigated one of the most respected visitors on this site? Come onnnn, man. You’re killing me.

        Caroline simply listed ALL of the red flags she found, but the most important would be the inconsistencies in Drew’s comments.

        Your next reply: Why not let Caroline defend herself?

        My reply: Why didn’t you let Drew defend himself?

        If you’re really here with good motives, then take some time to figure out why it matters so much if a visitor might just be a troll. Like many of us, Caroline has seen this site be blasted with troll garbage, and just doesn’t want to see it again.

        Count to 10, and resist the urge to lambaste me. I’m not trying to antagonize you. Just try to see where I’m coming from.

        • December 5, 2015 at 6:09 pm
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          Actually not trying to get in a ruckus with anyone. She was just long winded and accusatory. Basically calling him a liar, hypocrite, counting his time and so on. It just reminded me of some of our loving elders who seem to think they know what people are thinking and can say what ever they want with impunity. Sorry just didn’t like her post.

    • December 8, 2015 at 2:20 am
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      Caroline, I believe we have a lot in common. My husband got conned into quitting his good post office job to go window cleaning in order to ‘pioneer’. What a joke. I helped him of course and I also helped him clean supermarket floors. That entailed every few months stripping and sealing them and carrying many full buckets of water up and down stairs destroyed my knees for good. I’ve been there too Caroline.

  • December 5, 2015 at 9:48 am
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    @ JB Reezner

    No worries. No harm, no foul. We all blow our top sometimes. I probably did too. Sorry about that. Anyway, I’m sure we’ve both experienced worse. lol I’m glad you find peace and comfort through this site, and I wouldn’t want to do anything to screw that up. And I’m not the type to hold grudges, either. You seem like a civilized person.
    Cheers

    • December 5, 2015 at 10:15 am
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      Cool, that was the reaction I was hoping for, Anonymous4. Thanks.

  • December 5, 2015 at 9:53 am
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    @ Tara

    Purple hair?? APOSTATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • December 5, 2015 at 9:43 pm
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      Thank you :)

  • December 5, 2015 at 10:19 am
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    What’s with all the “shepherding” in the Borg? No other ‘religion’ does that. Does anyone see priests, rabbis, imams and gurus running to their constituents’ homes making “shepherding calls”, meddling in their private affairs, butting in to their business, sticking their fat noses into the lives of private citizens, forcing their unsolicited advice (and agenda) down peoples’ throats as their self-appointed “shepherds” and life coaches? Are they really there to “shepherd” (what a stupid term btw) or to keep all the peons in line? Back to Orwell’s 1984…Big Brother is Watching…Keeping track…He’ll come to your house if he needs to…Straight out of the KGB handbook. lol Reminds me of an old joke by the Russian comedian who defected to the U.S. in the days of the old U.S.S.R., Yakov Smirnoff. “In Soviet Union, we have 2 television channels. Channel 1 is State Propaganda Channel. Channel 2 is KGB Officer telling you to turn back to Channel 1.”
    Conclusion: Is all this “shepherding” really necessary? Well, as I pointed out, you don’t see other ‘religions’ doing it, and their (billions of) folks seem to be getting along just fine with their lives. Yet another piece of evidence that Jehovah’s Witnesses is NOT a religion, but a CULT…

    • December 7, 2015 at 7:22 pm
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      Anonymous4,

      There is shepherding and there is shepherding. What I mean is there were times when I recall a shepherding call meant visiting an elderly brother or sister and seeing if they needed anything from the store or help around the house. That was truly Christian in my opinion. But then there were times when the elders were there to check up on folks, get dirt, I even knew a few who would peek in the windows.

      Point is it’s not necessarily all bad, but not all good either.

      WS

  • December 5, 2015 at 10:57 am
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    JWSurvey = “Unity in Freedom for Thruth”

    Peace out,

  • December 5, 2015 at 11:51 am
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    Well David Splane is as uncaring and unmoved by the happenings of the religion he supports, he is a business man. The way they treated my mother – they deliberately used her to gain access to her Will and they literally scratched the names of her family and her grandchildren. Then when they left her for dead while she was dying in the home of pneumonia they weren’t anywhere to be found, but when it came time they hid the WILL had lawyers that supported this plunder. As her family we tried to get them to release her body so we could bury her beside her daughter, they left her body rot in the funeral home. Eight months later her body was still in a bag. It was too much for me to continue fighting to get her a proper burial. To this day I have never seen one photo album or any of her personal belongings. They made her disappear. The curator of the funeral home was disgusted and said he’d never seen this in all his years working in the funeral home. These men have no where else to hide, the gig is up it’s only a matter of time.

    • December 5, 2015 at 4:22 pm
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      Sorry that happened. Sounds terrible but it doesn’t surprise me.

  • December 5, 2015 at 12:04 pm
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    @ Deep Thinker

    I respect your personal judgement, but I take exception to your conclusions regarding the GB members you have met. Your assertion is that they are humble, “nice” (an adjective often used to describe Jehovah’s Witnesses) men, who are simply deluded, misguided. But how much can you know about an individual through 1 or 2 interactions. Remember, people (particularly nefarious ones) ALWAYS put on a “false front”, always have a Big Smile for the ‘cameras’. No one could possibly know those, or any, individuals, without spending a substantial amount of time with them, working, playing, hobnobbing, rubbing shoulders, and/or conversing, etc. Besides that, look at what they DO. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. One has to see the Big Picture. Often it’s like a Jigsaw Puzzle. When all the pieces are in place, one sees the TRUE reality!

    • December 5, 2015 at 12:13 pm
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      Clarification: I didn’t mean to say that ALL people always put on a false front. I was thinking of the nefarious ones.

      • December 5, 2015 at 12:56 pm
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        @ a4,

        @ G.Jackson member of the govering body of Watchtower Corporation. Due to your limited education (only attended 8 grade of sckooling.)

        The word used by a4, “nefarious” means;
        Extremely wicked or villainous, iniquitous, a nefarious plot.

        at JWSurvey we like to keep things user friendly to read for All Levels of comprehending. For sure Not a simplified version, as you put out, some even call it a ‘dumb down version’, of what I ask?

        And remember JWSurvey = “Unity in Freedom for Thruth”

        Peace out,

        • December 5, 2015 at 1:05 pm
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          Minion, it’s “Truth”. But that’s okay, spelling can be thricky, lol.

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