Life is no fairytale. But we have the right to make it one.
Do you ever think about death?
I do.
I’m thinking about it right now.
I’m thinking about how - and where - and what it will feel like.
I’m thinking about after – how people will react.
I’m thinking about the silence it will provide me.
Many times I’ve stood on the balcony, six floors up. In an instant I can see myself catapulting over the handrail. Spreading my arms bird – like, trying to catch the air with my invisible wings. I know it would be quick. But in my head I imagine it taking an eternity for me to fall. Instead of being afraid, I feel at peace in this thought.
No one should feel this way.
I do.
Do you?
This was something I wrote when I was still a Jehovah’s Witness. I was a lost boy, in a sea of unhappiness. 6 months after I wrote this passage, I left the organisation known as Jehovah’s Witnesses, as guided by the Watchtower, Bible and Tract Society. An organisation I have long felt was not inspired by a heavenly source. A religious entity I was trapped within.
I’m 29 years old.
I was raised in a family of 7. I have two brothers and two sisters. Two loving parents.
You would never have considered our family wealthy as such. Dad worked hard to support us all, we were never destitute.
My entire life I have only ever known one path. The path of the ‘truth’. See, my family is blessed. They walk the way of the ‘truth and the light’. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we were set apart from the cursed world around us. We were in a ‘spiritual paradise’. I loved that decisiveness. Knowing there was only black and white.
Moral certainty keeps you warm at night.
There is only one problem.
I am a homosexual.
One night, after crying long into the hours of the morning, I came to the conclusion that I, Robert Watkins, could no longer pretend that being a homosexual was not sewn into my heart. It was with this realisation that I knew that any ‘God’ should he exist, could not possibly expect me to live a lie. ‘He’, if ‘he’ existed had created me as a homosexual male. And it was illogical to think that he would then curse me with a sinful existence. It was at this point I knew it was all a lie.
What leads a man to think his family must choose between God and their Son/Brother?
You think it’s about the sex, don’t you? Driven by base desires, one young man chooses his sexual desires over family ties.
It is not about the sex.
It had NEVER been about the sex.
It is not about the sex.
The thought of putting my family in such a position makes me physically ill. I am later to hear that my mother did not leave the house or speak to anyone for weeks after my shock split from the church.
Sex could never be the driving force behind such a wrenching ‘betrayal’ of my family and their ‘righteous standards’.
There was a motivating factor. To admit to it seems self serving. In a way, I guess it is. It doesn’t remove the fact I was out of options.
You see my motivating factor was simple – Of a morning, when I woke up, I would go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. A simple mundane task, the ritual of oral hygiene. As I brushed those teeth, I needed to look at myself in the mirror.
Here’s the clincher:
I didn’t know the man who looked back.
The stranger who brushed his teeth with me each morning was not the man I was inside.
I was not unaware of how this would proceed. I did not step blindly past the barrier, and expect some sort of invisible protection. I knew I was going on alone.
I see organizations such as PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends Of Lesbians And Gays) and I ache. It is impossible to explain, but I am envious of those with such support from their families. I begrudge them that ease. This is petty, and unworthy. Everyone deserves a family bond that withstands all manner of adversity.
Should God be divisive, a stumbling block, a hidden catch to the family unit he supposedly created?
I grew up a fundamental Christian. I was not a blind follower. I earnestly loved the principles of my faith. As a Jehovah’s Witness I studiously endeavoured to be the finest servant of God I could be.
I am ashamed to admit that I followed their laws of Christian purity, and shunned all those who had accepted the faith and then turned their back on it.
That is my hypocritical stain.
Just as I have now been excommunicated for my rejection of their beliefs, I have historically turned my back on friends or family whom have taken the same stance.
Grant me forgiveness, those I have wronged.
I understand now the pain of that silence.
I am so proud of having left behind the cult that is Jehovah’s Witnesses. While everyday I struggle with the idea that I am not fit to be a part of my own family, I grow ever stronger. I would never return to that religion, or that life. I am proud of who I am, and outspokenly so. I have found a beautiful core of friends. Perhaps some day I will write more here of my life, and what it has meant to leave the people I loved for the sake of my own sanity and because I do not believe they have any concept of ‘truth’, despite what they have been taught, and despite what they continue to try to teach others.
I am ever grateful to the online community of ex JW survivors, and am always amazed at their strength and compassion for others. They fuel my own drive to continue to be the person I am supposed to be, and I will forever be in their debt. Together we will become the people we are supposed to be, and lead the lives we are entitled to. Life is not fairytale, but we have the right to make it one.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Thank you so much for the strength and courage it must have took to share your story here so openly and so poetically. Reading your words I feel sadness, anguish and at the same time pride and gratitude. You are an inspiration. From someone who once, as a teenager, also thought about suicide, and who eventually found freedom and serenity in freeing one’s self from the corrupt teachings and judgmental edics of a man-made organization - I feel so fortunate to have escaped. Others have not been so lucky.
Thank you again for your bravery and strength!
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:27 am
I don’t have a gay bone in my body (that i am aware of) but I am old enough to be your dad and I only hope your family will in time see fit to get around the wt view of things and realize what they are missing.
April 4th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
…iv’e been waiting. . . been waiting for this moment. . . all my life. Thanks for sharing. Everyone’s focused with such shine. I relate. . . It’s the room. the sun, and the sky….”
April 11th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Hi there,
I was doing some internet searches to look for ways to deal with my own JW problems in my household and came across your story. I can’t imagine having to go through what you are going through. My situation is at times bad, but not nearly as yours.
Although you did make a comment that you are not fit to be apart of your own family. I certainly hope I read this incorrectly. Because honestly I believe your family is not fit to be apart of you. I know my husband’s beliefs about homosexuality and I know it has a lot to do with his religious upbringing and I think it’s sad that he will put aside getting to know someone who is a wonderful person just because of their sexual preference. And unfortunately he is back in this “cult.” And I call it that because of personal experiences going on. At first I tried to view it with an open mind and after I saw first hand, I realized what it was all about. I certainly hope one day that your family sees the light and realize that they are missing out on a relationship with their son.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Thankyou_ Very Powerful. Wonderful to hear your story & know you are in recovery.
Thankyou
April 21st, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Incredibly beautiful writing. I am so moved. I am also amazed by the strength and compassion of the hearts here too… Like yours!! Thank you for sharing.
May 11th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
My heart goes out to you for being such a strong young man…
I have learned since I left the organization so much about the realities of life…
I’m not hidden away and condenming others…most of my teenage life my best friends were gay and I had to tell them I couldn’t be firends with them anymore because they were gay… this has haunting me so bad, I mentioned it to a friend and she told me she knew where one of them lived and she took me there because I knew in my heart that I had wronged him and I needed to let him know how bad I felt…
I know that Homosexuality is not a choice… I watched my friends suffer and try to live their lives
under great humiliation… I’m old enough to be your mother so I understand…
I can only say that I hope your family realizes the mistakes they have made by allowing that cult to destroy a family as it has so many for one backwards belief after another…
Take care you will be fine…
I know that we are all the awareness of God being born, livng life and dying…we are all one.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:35 am
i’m sorry everyone but i do believe in a god i had to many tragics where god stepped in, when i was around 10 yrs old i was in ocean my mom on beach a wave came took me under i said i’m going to drown than i heard a voive it said stand up so i did i said thank god i’m alive than my mom andi were out driving i was driving my mom can’t drive than all of a sudden at the red light i blacked out i said god you got to help me to see my mom can’t drive and the children are in the back seat god has always been there for me there is alot more so please believe.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
What happened to Dinah when she left the safety of her home, to go prattle around with her “friends”, the Canaanite girls?
How do you feel having such liberty? Maybe better. I won’t argue any point, but i will just say this… Satan’s world will end; the sirens are flashing red.
Don’t let your sexual predilections ruin a life you could merit… everlasting life, in a peaceful new world.
How do you deal with the sinking feeling when you indulge your appetites? Like an inveterate alcoholic, on rehab but dealing himself each chance he gets. It doesn’t mean his thirst is right simply because it won’t go away… it just means his physiology is hooked on the harmful chemicals.
Your sexual leanings are what they are. They might not be fully overcome; however they can be managed.
Try all you can to make peace with the One to whom you belong.
June 6th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
to reywald:
“How do you deal with the sinking feeling when you indulge your appetites?”
Really? I’m not a homosexual, just a straight married ex-JW. That sinking feeling that you get when you masturbate, maybe watch porn, think about that cute girl? Do you feel that reywald?
When you have a healthy sexual life, not harming anyone, and allow yourself to enjoy your sexuality that ’sinking feeling’ disappears! Yes, gone! Maybe that ’sinking feeling’ is guilt that has been ingrained in you for so long?
I have some gay friends now who used to be married to women as JW’s or Mormons. I myself was married to a JW woman who cried every time we had sex and she climaxed. Now that I and my friends are free of the immense guilt and repression of sex being a JW involves we enjoy healthy, fantastic sex lives and are better people for it!
As for “sexual leanings” being “managed”. Um, think about it this way. Could your sexual leanings be “managed” to enjoy the sexual company of men? No? Hmm…maybe you just haven’t met the right guy.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:12 am
you stinking homo apostate. you are the ones ruing families with your lies and demonic betrayal.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:24 am
exjjww.
Attaboy, attack the poster, not the content of his post or the strength of his character reflected in his words above.
You Witnesses are such lovely, caring and kind people.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Thank you for sharing your powerful and wonderfully written experience!
And do not let those here who comment negatively take that away from you. They are only demonstrating their true colors. JW’s claim to be love, but their love is merely a thin skin covering hate and disgust and intolerance as exjjww so clearly exemplifies.
And those ruled by guilt, who’s minds are so deeply entrenched in the dogma of the WTS, they believe that the guilt is inborn, they don’t realize that the guilt they suffer for doing nearly any act is a function of the mind control and brainwashing tactics employed to keep them in line. They assume that the guilt they feel is normal and felt by everyone. Their minds, completely dominated, will impose those feelings of guilt onto all they come in contact with, and this is clearly exemplified by reywald.
“Forgive them for they do not know better.”
You have been freed. Enjoy your freedom, and use your experience to free others. Education is the most powerful tool at our disposal. Educate people about the pain and suffering, about the mind control tactics, about the lies and misinformation, about the dangers that membership in a cult causes.
Thank you so much for putting your experience up for others who are out there suffering to read. And thank you for surviving and living, and more importantly, for finding happiness in this short, but magnificent life.
June 9th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Marcus.
I never said I was a JW. I used to study and read the bible on my own now.
I know about the JW’s and I know about every other christian religion. And I know that homosexuality is not approved by the bible WHEN YOU ACT ON IT AND SLEEP WITH THE SAME SEX. Its selfish to do what you want and not wait on God.
June 9th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Gigaflop.
Same goes for you.
I may be as they say worldly but I know bullshit when I hear it. I may not be kind and loving but I know God is. Let him decide who’s right and how we should live. I hate Faggots but thats me. I will answer for my own intolerance and sin. Just let people live, EITHER WAY.
Why am I wrong for expressing my hate.
June 9th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
exjjww,
Ok, I’ll try the olive branch first.
If you want to leave it to God, how do you interpret Matthew 5:43-48?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
What about John 8:7-11?
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11″No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Notice, Jesus could have expressed hate. Instead he choose compassion.
Thanks to the original poster, your story is one that needs to told again and again and again.
June 9th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Just one more note on my response.
I do not believe homosexuality is a sin. Sin…LOL, who defines it? Ultimately we do.
June 9th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
My post was always going to cause some controversy.
The question we should ask ourselves is WHY?
Why should my life, or my sexuality be of any cause for controversy?
Because its not YOUR experience. It is always controversial to try and understand why anyone else does anything different to your own way of life. You cannot see inside my head. You cannot understand my inner voice. Nor do you need to.
Why?
I don’t ask you to understand. I ask you to accept that my experience is THIS one. I am a homosexual man, and I live a homosexual life. Why anyone would ask me to live a life that would have ended in suicide over a fulfilling, happy life is beyond me.
Live and let live. My being an atheist is irrelevant. Simply ask yourself if you would like to be judged with the yardstick with which you are judging others. Allow people to BE themselves. Allow them to BE.
Much Love
Rob
June 10th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
michael.
thanks for the olive branch and scriptures, now apply them in context to yourself for not allowing me to be me. Afterall, isn’t that rob wants, to be a fag and not have anyone judge. I want to be me too. A self righteous, hypocritical hater. I sleep with all sorts of women and thats a sin too. BTW God defines sin, not us.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Thanks, Robert, for having the courage to post your story. Hopefully it will help others to gather the strength to leave themselves.
exjjww: You have a strange sense of humor. I’m sure you’ve been told before but your jokes betray your terrible taste. You say you hate yourself (a womanizer), and homosexuals as well. I don’t know what has contributed to your misanthropy (and your autophobia), but you would do well to conserve your energy rather than waste it in promoting such a warped, quixotic world-view.
P.S. You forgot that we define God, we have invented him/her/it/them. And so even if God defines sin, in the end we are putting words in God’s mouth.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:45 am
Jehovah’s witnesses are heretical cult and this article tells it very assertively.
http://koti.phnet.fi/elohim/jehovaswitnesses
July 12th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Again, thank you Robert for sharing your story. Although I am heterosexual, I relate fully to the pain and turmoil of knowing you don’t fit into the cult and how the brainwashing creates intense guilt and even suicidal thoughts.
I find it disturbing, no, DISGUSTING that on a site that is meant to be for supporting people who seek happiness in life outside the organization, that J.W.’s or anyone judgmentally religious for that matter, would even comment on this site. The people whom this site IS for, got more than enough condemnation from the church, they do not deserve to get more of it in the one place they should be supported.
You are the sorts of people who would shoot fish in a barrel and torture small animals. Have your beliefs and your faith if you need them but stay out of this site, you do not belong here and it is not here for you. Get out and let these people recover from the mind-f**k.
Seriously, f**k off!
September 30th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Hi Robert. Wondered how you are getting on, and hoping you are OK. I thought your post was beautifully written. Well done, you are a talented individual and should be proud of your acheivements. When I left the JWs, I knew I was taking a big step, but in no way was prepared for the difficulty of getting out of this mental prison. Hopefully, through my own sheer determination, I have gone on to make a better life.
The one thing that stayed in my mind throughout the years of suffering and adjustment was advice I was given from my beautiful, troubled young ‘JW’ friend, who also went on to suffer terribly in later years. Her advice was this: no matter what, you have to be true to yourself. Remember that no matter what happens and no matter what you are going through. You WILL get through. YOU have the power over your life, NOT the JW’s, haters, or anyone else for that matter. You can do it! Have the courage to be yourself and you will become free. Love and light x
October 15th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
This story is very similar to my own, thanks for sharing your powerful message. It was brave of you to leave the JW’s; I have faded been gone for ten years actually, but I’m not df-ed yet. I had those suicidal thoughts too, leaving that organization has made my life so much happier. I have always been too afraid to come out to my parents and lose the pathetic and weak “relationship” I have with them.
I’m shocked at all the JW’s that are looking at this website hurling their nasty cruel comments. Your god Jehovah would be ashamed of you morons, I haven’t been to a meeting in ten years, but thats some real unchristian like behavior. Maybe you should rethink your denomination and join Westboro Bapist Church instead, you can march around with those freak shows.. Its a big “no no” for JW’s to even look at “apostaste” materials, so what the hell you doing here? Go pick up a Watchtower or Awake if your bored. I’m sick of idiot homophobe JW’s. They recruited a f****ng child rapist and child torturer and murder to their fold, yet homosexuals are the worst thing on the planet. Give me a break, seriously this is some of the most morally flawed reasoning I have ever heard.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2635300/Baby-Ps-evil-stepdad-becomes-Jehovahs-Wtiness-in-prison.html
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Thank you for your story.
I struggled with a lot of the same things. I prayed. I begged. I wanted to be just like everyone else.
I guess God as I understand Him just has different ideas for me. But I can respect that you don’t believe in God, too. As a former JW, I can respect your views now whereas there was little room for love and tolerance while I was in “The Truth.” I’ve reached a point where I’m just too tired to judge anymore.
I find humor helps the healing process. The world could always use good ex-JW humor.
Check out my blog.
http://jwsmurf.blogspot.com/
November 4th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I am so proud that the XJW movement has reached this level of legitimacy evidenced through Moxie’s (et. al) efforts. Trying to put a name to it, I’m calling it “XJW 2.0″, a mature and beautifully presented meme. I should have expected it, given how the Web 2.0 is bringing people together from all over the world…why not XJWs?
So many people expressing the exact same memories and impressions, I thought I was entirely alone! Which is just how the JWs wanted me to feel.
There were particular elements of my experience that made it that much harder. My dad was always out, my mom was always in. Coupled with school and non-JW relatives, my life was split into many parts, a few of which were entirely split from reality. I remember 3 distinct phases of an average day: wake up sleep-deprived after a meeting the night before, wait for the bus, talk to nobody, worry that the entire load of children would be killed. I feverishly memorized the bus route so I could walk home if Armageddon killed the bus driver.
I often ran away from the sound of airplanes…into the basement.
I was informed that I was spiritually fatherless. An elder stepped in to pick up the slack — I know this sounds nutty (and it was) but this elder told me to view him as my spiritual father.
Only by being absolutely perfect would my real father see the benefit of being a JW, so his life was entirely in my hands. I regularly over-achieved and my report cards were utterly perfect: numeric 120% grades, A+++
I was quickly grinding myself to pieces, and it took many years to find a new path. Thanks for all this….
December 7th, 2009 at 5:32 am
Robert,
I enjoyed your article, thank you. It is a pity though, to see so many former Witnesses in recovery returning malice for malice. Guys and gals, do not repay with what you accuse the WT of. Many of those naughty Witnesses posting here are also only “captives of a concept.”
Robert, can you provide a private e-mail address, please? I’d like to get your thoughts on certain matters.
Thank you once again,
Jaco
December 17th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
to the original poster, thank you for sharing your experience with us. having been born a jw and leaving after 30 yrs of bs, i understand what you went through. it usually means losing all your friends and often your family. I’m not surprised when i see the vitriol and hatred some posts emit. but then it really is an organization based on hate, just the opposite of what they claim. good luck!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Robert, you have managed to put in words exactly how I felt as JW teenager. Thank you.
I still suffer from depression, and even though it would be unfair to blame it all on the JW, I can no longer ignore the role this sect has in my disease. I left the JW 18 years ago (oh boy, it’s been that long!) and it’s only now that I start to fully understand the impact they had in my life.
Until recently I had been trying to forget that I once belonged to this group: I never mentioned them to no one, not even in therapy!; I never thought of them (except when I was unable to really enjoy a birthday or a Christmas party). Then I came across a book, a novel (The 19th Wife) that made me think of the JW as a cult. I decided to check the Web to see whether I was wrong or right. That’s how I found Moxie’s site and then this one, and it is as if suddenly you all are showing me pictures of my past, the pictures I had decided to hide. It is clear to me now: I did not escape unharmed from the JW and it’s about time to heal those wounds.
February 10th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Great article.Hope that Christian churches will stop persecuting gay people!God loves us all.God Bless!!
March 6th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
I am so sorry to hear all this stories, I am not a JW, but someone who loves God and believes in trinity. I am shocked to hear that JW is not a loving, and carying religion or as some say cult, we humans are supposed to love each other, to help the poor and needy and let God make the judgement. I believe we all are sinful. Now which sin is bigger, mine or yours — not sure — but lets pray for each other and ask God for forgivness in the name of Jesus. May the mercy and grace of our wonderful God shine upon each of us, and may love for each other be part of our everyday life.
March 9th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
A young woman, depressed and suicidal sought counseling in a psychotherpeutic community, she was persuaded by the other elders to exit the counseling and to be afraid of the attitudes of the ‘worldly’ counselors. Last time I heard..she had gone back into the congregation.
When I sought counseling for my problems, I was still a JW. The elders tried to disuade me from entering into counseling with ‘worldly’ counselors too. I got all the Watchtower volumes from a ten year period and using all the articles I could find on depression, sent a 12 page letter to the elders, proving I had a scriptural right as a CHRISTIAN, TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP… I consider my 2 years inside the psychotherapeutic community, the richest portion of my life until then, and I thank my god and my personal Jesus for leading me there. I got my counseling and also recoverd from being held hostage within the JW organization. I want to help other recovering or needy JWs in their exiting journey too. I encourage you to get all the counseling you can, join support groups, write on this forum. I live near Atlanta GA, if anyone is interested in starting a support group or wants private counseling, write to me at carolinamoon33@yahoo.com.
All Peace and Love
Caroline
March 26th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Your courage is an inspiration.
I hope you keep growing stronger in your journey to freedom.
Kindly,
G.F
May 30th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Cari nel Signore ,sono un giovane credente ,scrivo poche righe di riflessione a riguardo di vari incontri avuti con giovani e anziani testimoni di Geova.
Dai vari incontri avuti ,sono rimasto perplesso dal vostro insegnamento, e vi chiedo un chiarimento.
Infatti asserite che siete guidati dal Corpo Direttivo della Società Torre di Guardia, ‘’ossia lo schiavo fedele e discreto., il quale darebbe cibo spirituale a tutti i testimoni di Geova ,perché guidato dallo Spirito Santo.
Avendo un po’ studiato la storia della nascita dei testimoni di Geova , e della Società Torre di Guardia, cioè ,che sono nati circa nel 1860 sotto la guida di Charles Taze Russel , e che allora erano chiamati ‘’Studiosi biblici e poi testimoni di Geova’’. Ho appreso che a sostegno della sua dottrina il fondatore aveva profetizzato attraverso dei calcoli , che nel 1875 ci sarebbe stata la fine del presente sistema di cose, e che il Signore Gesù avrebbe dato inizio al Suo regno ’’Profezia non avverata’’, visto ciò spostò la data al 1914 poi al 1915, poi la rimandò al 1925, ma nel 1916 morì. ‘’ Ma anche quest’ultime profezie non si avverarono’’. Tutto ciò è documentato !
Dopo la sua morte l’ avvocato J. F. Rutherford fu il successore , che addirittura profetizzò che nel 1925 ‘’ I PATRIARCHI , ABRAMO, ISACCO , GIACOBBE E ALTRI ‘’ sarebbero risuscitati, per vivere sulla terra, e l’avvocato,per questo grande avvenimento , fece costruire una villa lussuosa , dove avrebbero abitato ; tutto a spese dei fedeli seguaci. Anch’essa risultata falsa .’’ A conferma di ciò vi sono molte video testimonianze degli stessi fondatori Russel e Rutherford’’!
Quando alla data stabilita la profezia non si avverò Rutherford , si stabilì con la sua famiglia nella lussuosa villa . ‘’Anche ciò è documentato da molte fonti storiche’’.
Dopo la sua morte , Nathan H. Knorr fu il successore , che operò molti cambiamenti nella società e profetizzò che nel 1975 ci sarebbe stata la fine del presente sistema di cose ,eccetto i testimoni di Geova.
Anch’essa risultata falsa. ‘’Anche questa è documentata’’
Quindi è chiaro che si sono mostrati falsi profeti.
Uno dei cambiamenti più significativi operati da Knorr , è stato senz’altro abolire dalla traduzione Nuovo Mondo , tutti i versetti dove al Signore Gesù viene tributata l’adorazione, che invece sono riportati correttamente in tutte le sacre bibbie esistenti , ‘’come la Luzzi, Diodati , CEI ecc.’’
Infatti dalla traduzione Nuovo Mondo del 1967,’’copertina verde’’, i versetti citati con adorazione ,riferiti a Cristo , sono stati sostituiti con le parole ‘’GLI RESERO OMAGGIO’’, ad eccezione di ‘’EBREI 1, 6 dove è scritto : e tutti gli angeli di Dio lo adorino ‘’riferito a Cristo Gesù’’.
Mentre nella traduzione Nuovo Mondo successiva ,oggi in uso, questo versetto è stato così adattato; EBREI 1,6 : e tutti gli angeli di Dio gli rendano omaggio . Perché questo ulteriore cambiamento ?
Quindi dopo aver esaminato questi fatti documentati dalla storia e da tutti i Media , mi viene spontanea una domanda:
SE I FONDATORI DELLA TORRE DI’ GUARDIA E IL CORPO DIRETTIVO CHE ANCORA CONTINUANO A GUIDARE I FEDELI TESTIMONI DI’ GEOVA, DICHIARANO DI’ ESSERE GUIDATI DALLO SPIRITO SANTO ; QUALE SPIRITO LI’ HA GUIDATI E ISPIRATI , MENTRE PROFETIZZAVANO TUTTI QUEGLI AVVENIMENTI RISULTATI FALSI, E MENTRE NEL TEMPO HANNO OPERATO LE NUMEROSE MODIFICHE ALLA TRADUZIONE NUOVO MONDO ?
Parliamo della Parola di Dio come della Verità ,ma la Verità cambia ?
NON CERTO LO SPIRITO DI’ DIO, CHE E’ SANTO , MA UNO SPIRITO BUGIARDO, PERCHE’ LO SPIRITO DI’ DIO NON PUO’ SBAGLIARE, E NEMMENO INDURRE LE PERSONE A SBAGLIARE !
Infine , domando ad ogni onesto credente dei testimoni di Geova, come può porre la sua fiducia in una organizzazione ,che nel tempo si è definita ‘’lo schiavo fedele e discreto ‘’, e che nel tempo ha mostrato di essere guidata da uno spirito bugiardo che ha operato notevoli cambiamenti , profetizzando cose false?
Non passa per la mente ad ogni fedele, che come la Torre di Guardia , ha dichiarato tante eresie, anche tutto quello che ancora oggi detta ai testimoni di Geova sono insegnamenti che non vengono da Dio?
Non ho scritto per aprire una contesa ,ma perché credo che i testimoni di Geova sono delle persone intelligenti e mi meraviglio del fatto che se sono a conoscenza delle cose che ho citato, possano ancora accettare tutto ciò che l’organizzazione opera nel nome di Dio, e affermare che sono l’unica vera religione esistente ! ‘’ Io sapendo ciò sarei già scappato da tempo’’.
Per quanto mi riguarda io ho accettato l’invito del Signore e Salvatore Gesù, che dice, in Matteo 11,28-30 dice: Venite a me voi tutti che siete travagliati e aggravati e io vi darò riposo….Da allora ho trovato la pace e la gioia vera , e Lo cerco ogni giorno.
In attesa di un cenno di riscontro vi saluto e che il Signore Dio vi benedica.
enzodifoggia@libero.it
June 19th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Very touching story. Glad you are out and about and not feeling guilty anymore.
Funny thing is –I found this page, because I googled USO Party and Jehova Witness. I have a USO party planned, and I was just told two people will not attend, because they are JW’s. Sheesh! That really sux
Some of you on here who think gays can be changed and that they CHOSE their life are most likely direct decendants of the witch burners –either them or the Brontosaurus. I’m not sure which brains were smaller
While I’m here, I might as well leave some relevant comment. I don’t know what to believe in. The bible, the koran, greek gods/goddesses, etc. The JW bible? Since in their words is a Translation and NOT a Version? On this, it might be a translation, but it’s only a Translation of MAN’S word. Just because it’s hundreds of years old, or any bible for that matter, doesn’t make it true. They seem to be be great guides, but with so many different religions and cults reading it differently, I just stick with the basics. I try to be good, honest, friendly, helping, etc. Don’t take my pork away
I don’t think anyone knows the meaning of life. It just is. Someone or something started or created it. Hundreds of different religions think they KNOW the answer and are practicing the correct way and everyone else is going somewhere bad. So scary. I’m trembling. He He
Many people over the years have pointed to this book or that book to prove their beliefs, but the authors of these books always had some mortal man write it. They are just words of men who came before us.
Til someone shines the light bright enough, I’ll just keep trying to live a good life as best I know how. I hope there is something more than this life, cuz the supreme being who supposedly created it, sure missed the mark by a long shot
July 24th, 2010 at 12:38 am
Thanks, It makes me feel a little more at ease in letting things out as to what happened to me as a young boy. My parents became JWs when I was 7 yrs old. It was hard for me to understand that up until that time I was like all the other kids– Christmas, Halloween, birthday parties, etc. I made it through my younger years by more or less lying to my friends, saying I got this and that for Christmas, my birthday and so on. The trouble really began when I went into the 6th- 7th grade. I could have no friends unless they were JW, My parents went to my school and told them that I was not to salute the flag and I was not to participate in any holiday activities. I could not participate in sports because that would interfere with Tuesday night Bible study, Thursday night, whatever they call it, Saturday morning Watchtower and Awake placement and of coarse Sunday, the big day- all day. (excuse my memory, I’m 62 now). But in any case I grew to despise my father because of the fact that he was completely, totally involved with this “cult”. He run the family (his family) along with the neighbors, friends, even people in the grocery store away! He was was an absolute fanatic. I lived this life until I was old enough (legally) get out on my own. I, too am a homosexual and an alcoholic. I am not saying that he caused my sexual preference but I will always wonder. I do believe that he is responsible for me being a drunk and having a miserable life.
If you are a Jehovah’s Witness I beg of you to let your kids choose their own way once they are able to voice their own opinion or desires. If you are not a Jehovah’s witness I truly hope that you never become one!
Thanks for your time.
August 1st, 2010 at 1:24 pm
There is a place in every persons heart that is reserved for fellowship with our creator. The one true God. Many have come saying they are Him But there is a true God and a lot of counterfiet ones. The true God is a triune being. God in three persons but one in essance. God the Father is a Spirit and no ine has ever seen Him. God the Son is the body form of God. The Holy Spirit is also a Spirit and when Jesus left earth, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in the hearts of every believer. God requires a blood sacrifice for sin. (We are all born with a sin nature that must beforgiven. Jesus came to earth to be a perfect, sinless sacrifice for our sins. If you believe that He did that for you and confess to Him, you’ll be forgiven. There is no sin that cannot beforgiven.God wants a relationship with each of us. He is the loving Father that many of us never had. Ask Him to show you the way. He loves you and will help you to understand.
August 1st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
God loves you so much…….. no matter what sin you’ve committed. He wants you to be in heaven with Him. That is why Jesus came to die in your place so that you might have eternal life with Him. God knew that not even one of us could keep the ten commandments. They are guidelines for our lives. We try our best but still fall short. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins so that we could be forgiven. Every sin that you can think of can be forgiven. It can be washed away by the cleansing blood of Jesus. It is the love of God and what He did for us, that draws us to Him. Don’t run away from Him…..run to Him and He will forgive you. You will feel more love and acceptance that you have ever felt in your life. The bible promises that anyone who comes to God, He will not cast out. He is waiting for you because He loves you so much!
August 9th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Me again- I left a statement above.
I would like to add that when my mother died, the funeral home was jam packed- people out side, standing room only- all JWs. When my Dad died two years later and it became known that I was not a JW there was not enough of the so called congregation to fill three rows of seats. Does this tell you something? You think it out and let me know- I’d appreciate it.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
One question that no one has ever answered for me-
If God created man and put Adam and Eve into a paradise, why would they have to prove that they were not perfect? Why would God not have made them perfect to begin with? Trial Run? Why would he put a Devil (posed as a snake) to be on this earth with them in first place? Last, but not least, why does a man that has no intelligence become a so called god over so many people? HE DIDN’T LIKE THE RELIGION HE WAS BEING TAUGHT, SO OUT OF THE BLUE HE MADE HIS OWN? AND A CHILD MOLESTER ON TOP OF IT. I truly hope you people wake up out of your fair tale dream soon!