12540717_1008463605843228_8931144894773544989_nWould you like to help make a difference?

We are looking to expand our voluntary writing team in order to keep pace with the increasing amount of Watchtower related news stories, and also to keep pace with our growing community of readers of both Witnesses and former Witnesses. We know from reading our comments section that many of you are skilled, eloquent and informed when discussing matters related to Watchtower. Your comments will already have helped many visitors to this site to evaluate their own beliefs, and given them the resolve to act on any changes they make to those beliefs.

You have already made a difference.

Would you like to make even more of a difference?

Would you like to write for JW Survey?

We are happy to consider articles for publication. Here are some suggestions for topics you might like to cover:

  • Life stories. How did you come to feel that the Watchtower’s teachings were not satisfying you? Do you have personal experiences from your time as a Witness that you feel might help others? Did you personally observe matters relating to current hot issues or historical events in the Watchtower world? Please let us know.
  • Articles that analyse and discuss a specific aspect of Watchtower history or doctrine. For example, are you a history buff who is able to lay out in a detailed but readable way the flaws behind Watchtower’s 607 BCE date for the fall of Jerusalem? Can you discuss medical inconsistencies in Watchtower’s blood transfusion and transplant policy? Do you understand the Mexico/Malawi scandal, or are you fully versed in the way that the New World Translation blurs the original Hebrew and Greek texts to falsely support Watchtower doctrine? We’d love to see an article from you.
  • News articles the report upon the latests developments in the world of Watchtower. Perhaps your have seen coverage of the Witnesses in the press that made your blood boil, or was spot on in its detail and tone? Perhaps there is a news event you are aware of that JW Survey has not yet had the time or ability to cover? Get writing!
  • Can you provide useful articles that may help those who have left the Watchtower, or who are considering leaving, to adapt and make the most of their new life? What strategies worked for you to re-start your career, re-enter education, make new friends, or free yourself from Watchtower indoctrination that you found to be harmful?

Please note that any submissions are on a voluntary basis. Much as we would love to pay for articles, the funds for this simply don’t exist, and all of our writers are currently working pro bono, myself included.

Here are some guidelines for any submitted articles:

  • Length of around 1500 words is preferred. A little less or more won’t hurt, but please contact us if your article might be significantly longer so that we can discuss possibly splitting it into smaller articles or reducing the article length.
  • Articles must not seek to evangelise. Our aim here at JW Survey is to give current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses the information they need to objectively and factually analyse their faith and come to an informed decision as to whether or not they want to leave. Our goal is not to promote a specific alternate faith, or a lack of one. We are happy to accept articles from writers of all faiths or none, but the goal of the article should be to encourage critical examination of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, not to encourage conversation to another specific religious or secular viewpoint. (The two slight exceptions to this rule are if the subject under discussion cannot be discussed in a way that might not also impact wider religious beliefs, such as a discussion of Watchtower’s attitude towards evolution, or if a Friday Column writer is telling a life story that necessitates discussing how their changing religious or secular viewpoint enabled them to recognise shortcomings in Watchtower doctrine and practice. Editorial discretion will be exercised in such cases, and the editors decisions will be final.)
  • Cite your sources. As much as possible, please try and provide links and sources for any factual statements you make. You are discussing an online news article on the BBC? Please include a link to that report. You claim that Watchtower once banned the use of organ transplants for Witnesses? Please include the Watchtower reference. Backing up your claims with facts shows that your claims are true and that your arguments can be trusted, and will vastly increase the helpfulness of your article to those who read it.
  • Try to emulate the tone found in existing JW Survey articles. We do not seek to alienate those who might disagree with us, but rather to create a safe environment where a current or former Witness can consider the evidence and arguments and come to their own conclusions. Many of us have strong feelings about Watchtower and its leadership, and its perfectly fine to show a degree of emotion in an article, otherwise it might be quite dry and stale. Outright mockery or furious anger, however, will not be acceptable in an article. Ad Hominem is not a legitimate debating tactic. Calm, rational discussion and presentation of facts is the best way of convincing those who might otherwise disagree with you. Having said that, please do try to stamp your own unique voice on your articles; your own sense of humour and style is what will make your work stand out.

We cannot promise to use every article submitted to us, but we do promise to read every single submission you send. Please email your submission in MS Word format to contact@jwsurvey.org.

Please help us make a difference.

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129 thoughts on “The Friday Column: JW Survey needs YOU!

  • May 26, 2016 at 3:14 pm
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    I just saw the link. Thanks Freed. Sarah, you have been through alot. I have been through a similar experience as well. I know how it feels.

  • May 28, 2016 at 12:01 pm
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    I am willing to write an article re: Australian Royal Commission into Child Abuse, I live in Far North Queensland and Elders Dino Ali (Mareeba) and Kevin Bowditch (Mossman) served at our circuit conventions. I personally know about another scandal at a nearby town far worse than the ARC Mareeba case study.

    Currently there is another ARC into Domestic Violence, the ARC investigators a looking into the tragic murder of Jehovah’s Witness sister Karina Lock at a Gold Coast McDonalds restaurant. This has been reported on extensively in the media. I knew the Lock family when they lived in Far North Queensland.

    Regards Not da Judge.

    • May 28, 2016 at 2:33 pm
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      Not da Judge,

      Hi, I’m looking forward to your article if you post it. I’m from Qld as well. There is so much to be said for the domestic abuse as well.

    • May 28, 2016 at 8:42 pm
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      Just a clarification … the ARC Child Abuse is a Federal (covers all Australian States) Royal Commission. The other Royal Commission – Domestic Violence was set up by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews after the tragic death of young boy Luke Batty. The Victorian enquiry would not cover the death of Karina Lock because she lived in Queensland.

      Not da Judge

  • May 29, 2016 at 6:19 am
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    Can you provide useful articles that may help those who have left the Watchtower, or who are considering leaving, to adapt and make the most of their new life? What strategies worked for you to re-start your career, re-enter education, make new friends, or free yourself from Watchtower indoctrination that you found to be harmful?

    I’ve often thought it would be a lot of fun to write a self-help column a la Dear Abby. I’m a former born-in JW who faded as an adult. I left in 2008 at the age of 32, a single mother with two small children. I’m also a masters-level licensed mental health therapist with my own private practice in the U.S. Please contact me if this is something that sounds like it might be a good fit for this site.

    • May 29, 2016 at 11:03 am
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      g’day sunnie,

      great ideas thanks for the suggestions.

      my background – came from dysfunctional worldly family, joined jw cult early 1984, baptized may 1985, first book study held at lock family residence in cairns.

      when i left jw cult, joined community groups ie history society and garden club. proudest moment in life was not my baptism but having a ww2 naval site and a regional botanic garden heritage listed. see tanks art centre and cairns botanic garden.

      i still keep in touch with old ex jw friends.

      my user name not da judge came from my sharing a surname with old booze boy and bully jf rutherford.

      i don’t care if people know my real name.

      kind regards ex bro. david v rutherford.
      cairns, queensland, australia.

      • May 30, 2016 at 2:02 am
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        Wow! I’m plucking up the courage to do it!
        Because they’ve stumbled my lovely son, and so I am fading! I’ve been cheesed off with the “new light” and the general shenanigans of WT for some time! I’m going carefully because my husband is still in, although as fed up as I am, and he’s very conscious of the fact that,(in watchtower parlance)
        he is the head of the house!
        I still believe in a Supreme Being, the name I know for Him is still Jehovah! I have no argument with Him, in fact I talked to Him in prayer about the way I feel about how the way things in the .org are going! Ok you will be hearing more, thank you!

  • June 1, 2016 at 4:17 pm
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    Do you provide the new information to write about?

  • June 15, 2016 at 11:02 pm
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    SI DESEO COMENTAR LO SIGUIENTE , POR DONDE SE LE BUSQUE LA WT, ESTA ERRADA, EQUIVOCADA. POR EJEMPLO EN EL 2014 FUIMOS A LA ASAMBLEA DE DISTRITO A 1000 MILLAS DE DONDE VIVO Y GASTAMOS 1000.DLLS A LOS ESTUPIDO CADA FAMILIA EN PROMEDIO GASTA ESO POR ,ASISTENTES O MIL FAMILIAS DE TRES PERSONAS ES UN GASTO INUTIL Y STUPIDO Y MILLONARIO PRA QU NOS TRATEN COMO SI NO VALEMOS NADA, Y PARA COLMO DEBUTO MR JAKSON EN TX,, HABLANDO Y COMPARANDO A LOS PRDEDICADORES CON HINCHAS, EN UNA CANCHA DE FOOTBALL,QUE COMPARACION MAS ESTUPIDA,, SEGUN ESTAN VRSADOS EN LA PALABRA, LA COMAPARACION ES VERDADERAMENTE ESTUPIDA, YO INVESTIGUE EL ORIGEN DEL FUTBOL Y EL ORIGEN EN MEXICO ES SINIETRO, DE HECHO EST ASOCIADO AL SACRIFICIO HUMANO, LOS ANTEPASADOS JUGABAN Y LUCHABAN , Y A LOS PERDEDORE SE LES DECAPITABA Y JUGABAN CON LAS CABEZAS DE LAS VICTIMAS, OSEAERAUN SACRIFICIO HUMANO , POR QUE LOS JUEGAN LOS HERMANOS O LOS TESTIGOS DE JEHOVA, SABIENDO QUE ERA UN RITUAL CON SACRIFICIOS Y DECAPITACIONES Y POR QUE ESTE ESTUPIDO MR,,JACKSON TODAVIA BROMEA Y SE CARCAJEA COMPARANDO ALOS PREDICADORES CON ESOS HINCHAS Y ,PONE A JEHOVA COMO EL RIVAL VENCEDOR QUE DENIGRACION TAN BARBARA PARA EL CREADOR ..para mas informacion ver LIBRO DE MISTERIOS Y COSTUMBRES , ME PARECE QUE ES DE READERS DIGEST OJALA SIRVA ESTO PARA DESENMASCARAR MAS LA HIPOCRECIA Y EL DEGRADO DE LA PERSONA DEL DIOS,

    • June 18, 2016 at 10:07 pm
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      Es mejor que comentes en inglés, yo te entiendo pero supongo que la mayoría de los que visitan esta página no entendieron nada :(

  • June 15, 2016 at 11:12 pm
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    SERIA POSIBLE RECAUDAR FIRMAS O HACER UNA PETICION FIRMADA POR ESTE EMEDIO DE MILES DE FIRMAS DE NOSOTROS , LOS QUE HEMOS SIDO VICTIMAS DE ESE MAL LLAMADO CUERPO GOBERNANTE PARA LLEVARLOS A LAS CORTE PENAL INTERNACIONAL, LA HAYA, PARLAMENTO EUROPEO O LA INTITUCION PERTINENTE O ALGO ASI PARA QUYE PAGUEN TODO EL DANO QUE NOS HAN HECHO…. Y DEJEN DE FANFARRONEAR DICIENDOSE TENER EL PRIVILEGIO DE VER Y PREGUNTAR A JESUS HASTA EN PERSONA , SEGUN PALABRAS DEL , JACKSON EN LA ROYAL COMISSION. DE QUE DIJO LE VA APREGUNTAR A JESUS ALGO EN EL FUTURO ,CUANDO ESTE CON EL EN EL CIELO… QUE DESCARO…

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