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I know murder is not quite sexual in nature that I know of BUT ON INSIDE EDITION THEY DID A STORY ON THE PERFECT family THE LONGOs --- well they was JWs and attended the KH regularly -- BROTHER LONGO skipped town after killing SISTA LONGO and their 3 adorable kids...THE PIX. of the KH they attended did turn out perfect...QUEEN OF APOSTATES
If anyone knows the name of the US or Int org that deals with child sex slavery, usually orphans being forced to be prostitues, please send it to me sudubsaarung@yahoo.com
I would just like to thank everyone out there who had enough courage to post their traumatic stories and obstacles that they have overcome on this site. If it wasn't for these unbelievable stories that I myself had enough courage to read(I was afraid I would die in armageddon for going into an apostate site) then I would of never been able to see the light.I'm just glad that I am finally 18 and my parents cannot make decisions for me anymore. All my life I've been told to go preaching, make 60 hours, do talks,blah blah blah. It was terrible!! And now there telling me I can't go to college since armageddon is just so close by that I should become a secretary instead and regular pioneer till I'm old and brittle.(Oh I forgot, I'll never grow old..sure, whatever!) And I was going to go along with it just like I always do until I started doing my own little research and found the REAL TRUTH!! Thank you to everyone out there!!! You people have endured so much and yet it sounds as if once you left that retched cult, your lives became peaceful again. Well, I know what I have to do now.START APPLYING TO COLLEGE!!!! No more lies and sick and twisted demands the Watchtower gives as "suggestions." I feel so free now. Like I could do anything!! I feel like pointing out every elder who has eyed my body up and down sexually with their eyes. I want everyone to know about all the so called "perfect examples in the congregation" who I have known to get drunk, have sex and even curse while in service(OH NO!!) in concluision thank you to everyone out there!!!---CRYING
YOU AINT TO FAR OFF THE MARK REGARDING THE WT ORG..I am not going to lead one astray and say it peaches and cream once one is outside of the ORG...but once mother and kids are away from the pervert paradise WT ORG ___ life improves greatly...MOTHERS are of great importance in protecting their children AND bonding with them and making a new family MINUS the pervert AND WT ORG as well of course and the healing begins with the assistance of a good WORLDY therapist..time heals all wounds or at least most all---depends on the individual.....(((((healing hugs)))) TO ALL E-MAIL ME YOU SO CHOOSE---I HAVE BEEN THERE DONE THAT queenapostate@webtv.net ONE DAY AT A TIME and PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION is the name of the game folks..
Hello I would also like to point out that Jehovahs WIttnesses are people and in every religion their are people who do things wrong. Just as in every other religion, for instance the many catholic priest who have been covicted to chisd molastation and only moved to another parish. I'm not sure though what exactaly you want the Elders to do. We cant sue the person and if they have served the time and have truly changed yes they will be allowed back in the kingdom hall. But only if they are repentave. We cant do much more. And for all those who are victims I truly am sorry. But plese dont leave the truth because of what one person has done or what many people have done because that only certifys that you wont make it to the new system. Plese dont give up. If you feel it nessary go to another congragation but dont give up on Jehovah. U can contact me at Semitana@aol.com
To Semitana@aol.com Yes you're right. No religion is perfect because they are run by imperfect men and in every religion such as the catholic priests have done ungodly acts and sinned against God. So what make Jehovah's Wittnesses so different? BECAUSE THEIR OWN "CATHOLIC PRIESTS"(the elders of course) claim to be authorized by God to lead the sheep. So anythng we do that could make the elders mad or displeased its as if we're displeasing Jehovah himself. They act as if we're bringing reproach upon his name when its actually them themeselves who are. What do you mean you not exactly sure what you want the elders to do? STOP TRYING TO COVER UP!!! Don't you know its against the law to not bring a child molestor to the police?!How can the elders just disfellowhipp a man from such a disgusting act and tell the victim not to go to the police? Disfelloshipping someone who is doing something IILEGAL is not enough. Disfellowhipping someone is not gonna keep that person from doing it again. It scares the fuck out of me to think I could be sitting next to someone at the hall or even have a elder at the house alone with me and he may possibly have been a rapist or molestor. So much for being safe in "Jehovah's organization." How dare you say "we can't do much more." There's plenty you can do. What if it was you're daughter or son who was taken away they're innocence by someone taking adavantage of their positon? How would you be able to keep quiet? WHat if that person was to strike again to another little girl or boy? And who the fuck are you to tell me leaving the "truth"(and that is in very big quotes.) will not bring me into the new system. UH OH! I think someone is judging. TSK TSK. and another thing! What will going to another congregation solve? I thought Jehovah's Wittnesses are a unified people who practice the same beliefs and worship in the same fashion? Should everyone in this website who have been victimizied just go to another congregation? Will that really help them heal? I just think its just so sad how all these years I've been blinded. But I'm happy also because I am at the peak of my womanhood and as soon as I graduate fromm high school I'm telling my family I'm OUTTA HERE!!! Get your're facts straight'Semitana' --From: Crying
I have been inbvolved in covering up child molesters in the local hall of wolverine mi. any one who wants to talk to one who knows write to me at george schroder 12587 peters rd. wolverine mich. 49799. the destruction of life that we in this cult have caused is horrible. belive it folks.
When my daughter was seven years ago one of our elder's sons came over to visit. Since he was the son of an elder I left him alone in the room with my daughter as she was happily showing him all of her toys. When I returned this 18 year old male was on top of her. I cannot speak more of this necause it is just too upsetting. But we did report this to the elders who held a meeting and told us to keep this quiet from the rest of the congregation and that they would handle it. My daughter is now 24 and we are still waiting.
I am a surviver of religeous and sexual abuse. I have been unable to expose my father and am afraid that he still tortures children. I am hoping to find support and encouragement from your site and may the real God bless you!
Dear Crying; I am 41 years old and have been out for almost 20 years. I admire your spirit. when I first left the witnesses I did alot of drugs and almost distroyed my life. It has taken me years to de-program. Be careful with yourself, enjoy your life and may you go with true grace. K
I HATE ALL JEHOVAH'S WITTNESSES. PLEASE STOP KNOCKING ON MY DOOR!!! NEXT TIME YOU DO I'M GONNA LET GO MY DOG BECAUSE YOU ALL LIE TO YOURSELF AND TRY TO LIE TO EACH OTHER. THANKS TO YOU ALL MY GIRLFRIEND CAN'T EVEN TELL HER PARNETS ABOUT ME!! BUT AT LEAST I'M STILL GETTING BOOTY!!!
I was raised in the truth,and most of my family are active. In fact my father is an elder,I however am not active although I firmly beleive it is the truth. I think that most of the people on this site are scared to death of where they are and are using this site to make themselves feel better about being apostates. I have been around the truth my whole life and know for certain that no witness whether it be an elder or any member with a conscience would ever cover up child molestation or any other reprehensible act. That is absolutely ridiculous. To the person who said to the other people to stay off "our turf," you are obviously comfortable being on "Satan's turf." Enjoy it. This earth won't be his turf much longer.
I grew up in a Worldly-Dad/JW-Mom house as part of a Mass. congregation during the 70's. Our congregation had a family of four: husband, wife, son and daughter. It wasn't until she got married and had twin girls that the daughter finally got up the courage expose her father for the slimy ham-handed child molester that he was. He and his wife were the most pious, self-righteous know-it-alls in the Hall. Even after his years-long lecherous betrayal of their daughter was exposed, his wife defended him. He was reinstated in less than a year.
By the way, all my earliest sexual encounters were with older women who were wives of either elders or ministerial servants. They were 28, 37, and 42. Sexual abuse? Probably not, I was 19 and quite willing. But now that I am 42, I realize that they all had serious problems.
Based on the other stories, it sounds like I got off light. What a loony bin.
To the person who posted comments on Wednesday February 6 at 1:10 p.m I'd just like to introduce myself. You know, the person who commented about you so called "examplerary christians" staying out of our turf. I would believe you are more in "satan's turf" (how you like to put it) then anyone else in this site! Let me get this straight: You are an INACTIVE 'christian' who basically believes that were all liars.Yes, you're probbably right in JUDGING us. Did I mention that you said you were INACTIVE!!!!!!!?????
Note to 'Lisa' (comment posted Nov. 30, 2001 "best friend molested by father ..." )
This story seems awfully familiar. Did you grow up in Mass.? I grew up on Partridge St.
- Buster
There is a way to PREVENT Sexual Child Abuse, not merely to cope with its aftermath: A new book introduced this October as a part of “DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH”— and formally released in connection with the 108th Annual IACP Conference: Law Enforcement Education and Technology Exposition, held in Toronto October 27th through 31st. [IACP, i.e., The International Association of Chiefs of Police, sponsoring organization of the Conference, is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives, with over 19,000 members in over 100 different countries.]
If I’d Only Known… Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, by renowned psychologist Dorothy M. Neddermeyer*, courageously confronts the issues surrounding this HIGHLY UNDER-REPORTED CRIME. It is is a comprehensive, practical manual for parents and others who work with children, and a valuable resource for Law Enforcement/ Crime Prevention communities and a wide variety of professional practitioners. [Reference: New York Times Cover Article, September 10, 2001 (the day before the Terrorist Attacks): “Children's Sexual Exploitation Underestimated, Study Finds” By Raymond Hernandez]
“Sexual Abuse is really a form of terrorism", states Neddermeyer, an abuse survival specialist, who from her New York/ New Jersey office has recently been counseling survivors of the 9/11 atrocities, “The trauma to victims of sexual abuse can be even more severe than that resulting from witnessing of horrendous nationally targeted terrorist attacks.”
[New York Times, September 18, 2001: “Stress From Attacks Will Chase Some Into the Depths of Their Minds, and Stay” By Erica Goode: “One large survey of Americans' mental health found that of those who said they had been exposed to trauma, about 25 percent developed the hallmarks of post-traumatic stress disorder… ...researchers, including Dr. Edna Foa of the University of Pennsylvania, have come up with higher numbers for the victims of rape....”]
If I’d Only Known… "No one is born a child molester (or a terrorist of any kind), yet crimes of this nature tend to be self-perpetuating. Victims become perpetrators."
An easy-to-read volume of barely 200 pages, If I’d Only Known…Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention provides step-by-step instructions for protecting our children. Based on more than 20 years clinical practice, the Neddermeyer book courageously confronts the issues and is projected to decrease Sexual Abuse crimes by as much as 50% within the next generation. It is certain to be embraced by parents, guardians, caretakers and a wide variety of professional practitioners for its straightforward approach to circumventing the perpetuation of America's greatest unacknowledged scourge.
In troubled times, it is important to remember that PEACE BEGINS AT HOME.
*Dorothy M. Neddermeyer specializes in sexual abuse, incest and physical abuse survivor recovery, as psychotherapist, author, consultant, lecturer, trainer, New York State certified, New Jersey Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a recognized authority on this subject.
If I’d Only Known… Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention is available at a discount direct from the publisher at www.gen-assist.com and from major booksellers everywhere.
To the person who commented on wednesday, February 06, 2002, 01.10.PM, this is for you.
I too was raised a witness and my family still are. My dad an elder till the day he died as well as my brothers and sisters being missionarys in distant lands.
However, I was molested by a ministerial servant 20 years ago and my family covered it up - too scared that "I would be blamed"!!!
Yes, I too believe like you that it is the truth, but I read this site not because I am "apostate" but because it helps me heal, as I know there are other people out there with similar problems to mine.
You however, are a complete moron with minimal inteligence if you think that none of this takes place. Actually, you're probably one of those people that believes it only happens in other churches!!
Well this is my suggestion moron - go back and join the witnesses, and one day when you have children lets hope this site has done enough good to protect your little person, because if nothing happened to you, there is a strong chance it could happen to your kids.
I personally know of many instances of child molestation within the J.W. organization, along with wife/child abuse from the years that I was attempted to be raised as a J.W. Anyone who makes light of an illegal act whether it be child molestation or wife abuse demonstrates their ignorance.
As well, any person that complains about sites like these being initiated "only for J.W.'s" needs to do some internet surfing and they find that there are many complaint web-sites for various religions, and companies for that matter. People really need to get their facts in order before they open their mouth and fill the air with unverifed and empty statements which are a waste of oxygen.
God bless any of these sites for which a victim can it in a cathardic manner. Individuals need to express their frustrations and feelings about any abuses they have been subjected to. It is all about the healing process. Do not read into any negative comment within these sites, only pity such uncouthness and unsophistication.
There is good and bad in all things but any religion that overtly tries to cover up and "handle" an action that is illegal by law is a tragedy.
ANYONE who reads this and has been a victim should be aware that they have a legal right in this country to talk with an attorney and should do so immediately in order to get some advice in handling these types of tragedies as well as speaking with the police.
DNA evidence is more than enough evidence in the court of law. It is especially better than any "two witnesses" who may have seen an illegal action.
Absolutely incongruous to require a child to have two witnesses of child molestation!
My heart goes out to any child within this "organization" who is suffering alone. Run to your nearest police officer and get out of that situation. You will be helped!
Date:
I also was sexually abused from the time I was 7-14. My mother was baptized so she could marry a witness and it all started right away. I was scared but I also spoke out. It was always swept under the carpet and nothing was done to prevent it from continuing. At 16 years of age, I left home while the biggest punishment given to him was loss of his ministerial priveleges. (selling magazines behind the counter after meetings) I also informed my much older sisters that for the sake of their daughters who were only slightly younger than me, that they should keep them away from him. One didn't listen and her daughters were molested as well. Still to this day, after alot of crying and asking for apologies or even acknowledgement, I still only get a brick wall of denial. The elders completely back this up as well since it would be a disgrace to admit it happened at all. My stepfather got his priveleges back after a few months, but I feel the pain and shame and humiliation forever.
This is very hard for me to discuss, I just hope someone out there has some answers for me.I was born and raised Pentecostal, I was taught and I beleive that whatever you ask in his name beleive it and it shall be given to you. I have prayed for years that God would remove this unforgiving tortured pain I've carried since I was just a small child. Sad to say it has worsened over the years.I was molested as a child, my uncle did this to not only me but to my oldest sister and other neices. This is my mom's sister's husband.At the age of 3 I knew every thing there was to know about oral sex and how to tempt most anyone I wanted to. I was married at 16 to a man who was 23,during the time I was to be married my uncle came to me and ask me not to marry him. He told me that he had loved me from a child and he would take care of me. I loved my husband and there was nothing he could say or any one else could do to stop me. Later, the next day my aunt came to me and ask if my uncle had ever had any sexual contact with me, I didn't answer at first but then she promised she wouldn't be angry with me or tell any one else. I trusted her and told her everything. She confronted my uncle that heart breaking day and he confessed to everything concerning me. In the end she hated me.Imarried my husband and found that I wasn't in love, I was only running from the the things that had happened to me.We seperated not even a year after we were married and I ran as wild as I could. About ten years later I found God again and thought my life was on track until I was convicted with not having a forgiving heart,I just can't bring myself there. Thirteen years later I have remarried to the very first boy I ever kissed, he has 2 boys and 1 girl and I thought beings that I've never had children of my own that this would bring me to a better place in my heart and mind. It hasn't, it's worse. Every thing was fine until I walked in the bathroom to check on his little girl and found him in there using the bathroom and her standing there staring at her daddy, no one will ever know the fear that pierced through my bones that day. With in the 3 years we've been married God has given me 3 more children through social services and they have been molested and sad to say they are my neices and nephew. I am so afraid that I lock my chidren under lock and key at night just so I can rest a little. Recently my husbands youngest son has been complaining with his bottem and slight traces of blood. I'm more afraid now than I've ever been, to the point of not trusting anyone not even my husband. Can someone tell me why God allows innocent children to be braught to the slaughter, because that's what it is.
To the woman 'raised Pentacostal':
1. The youngest son MUST get to a doctor - NOW!!! Be prepared to deal with the rammifications when the doctor insists that he must report the situation to the authorities.
2. Get rid of the husband. If you suspect him of abuse and don't get rid of him yourself, the authorities will - while they're taking the foster children away from your unsafe home. If you act, you may be able to participate in the rescue of his children as well as the foster kids.
But you already know all this, so,
3. You need therapy to find out why you tolerate such messes in your life. (or it'll never stop)
I am really known as "CRYING" on this site beacuse if you were to look at my previous posts you would find that currently I am only 18 years old and up until I found this site I was a dedicated Christian who tried to auxiliary pioneer(only to please my parents) was forced to get baptized at the tender age of 14 and have undergone constant verbal and emotional abuse(no sexual; thank you Jehovah!) for never doing enough in "jehovah's service" Just the other day we had our yearly circuit assembly in Plant City Florida(by Orlando) and it happend to be 30 degrees!! Of course most people had no idea was to be that cold so most of us dressed in cool clothing. I didn't even have pantyhose on yet I was forced to broom the outside sidewalks of the assembly hall for 2 hours. (You should be happy to do "jehovah's"work the elders said to me while thay drank their coffee and kept looking at me everytime I bent down. Please don't be so damn naive. Whaen I said that this site was "Our turf" i meant for people who need to express their feeling and emotions without being judged by whoever. This is supposed to be a place of healing not a battle ground. If I had never found this site I would of never stopped Crying every night. ---From: Crying
I to was abused by an elder and ministerial servant from 1972 the time I was 6 till I was 16. It got into soft pornography at District Assemblies when others would join in. When I came out about it - it was a disaster. I was treated horrible. my mother even knew about it. I turned from God for many years - but now realize that God had a plan for my life. I have helped many people through my experiences.
jehovahs whitness do not promote such acts and those who do are wrong, and they should be punished. Any of you who bad mouth jehovahs whitnesses in general are slanderas people and you are almost as bad as them. I totaly feel for any one who had this hapend to but this world is sick and theirs nothing we can do about it. Nobody can blame jehovah whitneses in general for these disgusting things only the people responcable. every body makes mistakes its just like the united states goverment that their own prison camps for the japs in ww2. Weather they had any thing to do with the war or not they had all of their belongings taken away and they were all sent off to camps. the goverment thought it s was for the best
I have been a jw all my life. I can not believe how many people experienced what my brother experiences as a child. My brother was molested by a ms and my uncle who was a ms. I am not really sure what my feelings are about Jehovah Witnesses. I have been inactive for over 2 years. I will never get over what happened to my brothers. He is no longer a witness. I do feel that the organization does brainwash it's members. Because as I write this comment. I am afraid.
http://www.intrex.net/tallyman/WT_Evil.html
I'm sure more details will arise on the Bryant and Longo cases regarding their association with the witnesses. The similarities are sure to pique the public interest enough to bring on the media big time.
Lets say this: We've seen plenty of people get DFed and we all know people with particularly hard financial situations. But they don't usually kill their families and themselves - even witnesses understand that. BUT, can you imagine the isolation of a family that is (1) having tough financial times, (2) has already pushed away all 'worldly' family and friends, AND, (3) is now being shunned at the hall as they try to take their punishment and get back in good standing. Going through that with your family as you try to do what is right - absolutley horrible.
The public doesn't yet know why these people were DFed. But, again, I suspect we will. 'Disfellowshipping' as a punishment that one must endure for a while and then can expect to get back into good graces is an abusive practice. Adults can take responsibility for themselves. But we this must be screwing up the kids.
I am a father and even all the above wouldn't cause me to take out my family. But it would tear a person up inside. An obviously mentally unbalanced person may have been pushed over the edge here by these factors.
Spiritual bullying, abuse of all forms is a daily experience in the Watchtower Organization, a person would have to be completely blind to not see this. One thing that I have learned over the 20 some years that had been a Jehovah's Witness is that blindness is a characturistic deeply engrained in the organization.
When I was a young Ministerial Servant, the Elders had a meeting with my wife and myself about how we should discipline my 3 year old son. They told me that I should follow the example of another "brother" who regularly dragged his daughters out and beat them with a hairbrush which both the screaming and the smacking sound could be heard in the main hall very clearly, what a fine example.
I saw many cases where children were smacked and humiliated if they fell asleep during the meeting and forced to answer a question so that the parents could appear as though they were training their kids. The ears and eyes of the leadership seemed to be glued shut because I never saw anybody step up to the defense of those who couldn't defend themselves. I complained but all it got me was someone pulling out the Bible or one of the WT. publications and show me where I was being too critical or what a fine example these people were setting.
I never knew of any sexual abuse but I can see how it could happen right in the middle of the Kingdom Hall and nobody would admit it happened.
C.M. Illinois
Former Witnesses Speak: It is one thing to be at a KH week after week and go thru the indoctination. But if you who still have your heads in your butts can just step back for a minute. Take a look at the organization, its track record, and how it isolates and abuses people. You revel in the beating and emotional abuse of children. It is so extreme and you are so committed to the insanity taht it makes sense to you to keep cases of sexual abuse unreported and the perpetrator treated with a one-year shunning. I doubt this will get to any intended audience - being apostate and all. But it feels good to say.
- FreeMind
Fellow Ex witnesses. I was molested twice by Jehovah's witnesses. One was my step father when I was 5 years old. After that ,when I was 15 I was molested by Monte Florez. He held me down and raped me. My mom still doesn't believe that I don't want to be a JW... LOL She's lost
I am a JW, and have been for the 17 years of my life...I have siblings that are disfellowshipped and even they would not think to make up the disgusting bull shit that it posted here, it is clear that the majority of the things posted here are falsified and although things do happen within the religion that should not...those people are dealt with. A comment board on bashing? come on people...lets get a life
HELP!! I have 31 1/2 days until I graduate and now I am not so sure I can tell my family I don't wanna be a wittness anymore. It will hurt them so much and my parents are getting old. But how can I continue living a lie? It just does not make sense for me to keep to continue going to meeting pretending I am paying attention, preaching about things I do not practice and looking as if I prepared my watchtower when I really just put a bunch of lines. I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!! But I will be completely disowned from them since they will go ahead and kick me out of the house then I will have no choice but to move in with my boyfriend and then I will be disphellowshipped because of "living in sin". Its like there is no way out!! No matter which road I choose to think will disaster be awaiting? Someone, anyone please tell me what I should do. ---Anti Ascetic
I came across this site by a mistake, I was looking for an article for one of my classes, and I can't even began to digest these things you all are saying about jah and his organization. To go as far as calling it a calt shows me just how much faith you all put into jah and how serious you took the truth. My heart really goes out to you and the things you had to endore, but to slander the name of JW Because thats the only way you can deal with your problem or come to grips with what happened to you is terrible. You have to know that those people will be held accountable for their action, and if you don't realize that then you never had a real relationship with Jah. I'm not trying to be crul and I hope non of you take what im saying the wrong way, I just see some people who are still hearting and don't konw how to deal with the pain, so im going to leave you some advice that I hope you will consider... after reading this say aheart felt prayer and ask Jah to help you understand and come to grips with what you are going through, also make some of the meetings, try and build a relationship with Jah.
P.S You are kinda right about one thing fornication is the only real grounds for ending a marriage,but the abuse that was discribed in theses articles are dangerous and if the wife really wanted to she could have divorced. the elders would've sweep such ungodly under the rug.
I have done my research and have found various documents including "Letters Fomr the Governing Body" which are meant to be strictly confidential.(My father is a ministerial servant.) They don't read all those letters to the congregation you know! Anyways, I have found that elders are indeed instructed to keep quiet about pedophiles and other molestors in the congregation.. And I quote: "if a brother or sister in the congregation has been disciplined for acts of sexual misconduct let that one be welcomed among all as long as he shows repentance to Jehovah. It is not necessary for ones in the congregation to know of such a brother's personal buisness..." and it goes on about how he can also be allowed in service and so on. So to everyone on this site who thinks were 'satan's children' doomed in armageddon. I ask you one thing: "IT IS TIME TO NOT ASK QUESTIONS BUT TO QUESTION THE ANSEWRS" because Jehovah-my best friend, blessed me with a sharp mind and eye for knowledge and suspicious activity and I think he is proud that for once I am not just taking other people's word for things. I am looking for the RIGHT words. --AntiAscetic
I have sat here and read this board and cried. For many reasons I have cried. I am not, nor ever have been a JW, nor has anyone in my family. However, I have been molested, beat, and raped by members of my own family, who were/are Christian. This abuse went on for many years. The church that my father and other family members attended chose to not believe me, because my family was an upstanding family among the church, and there is no way they would do anything of the nature to which I discribed.
I soon realized that my issue was not with the church, nor with those who chose to believe or not believe what I told about my life, it was with the perpetrators themselves. It was my choice whether to remain in the situation or to remove myself from the situation. I chose to leave the situation. I ran away. My life changed after I took control of where my path led me. Some of it bad, some of it good.
The reason I am replying to your posts is because I am confused. It seems that the main problem you are discussing is the fact of the JW organization not coming to your rescue and covering it up. This is not in anyway only a JW problem, but occurs in many religions and non-religious families. It is almost as though you are blaming the JW religion for what you've experienced. It is not the religion at fault, but the perpetrator themselves who have harmed you.
I do not follow JW doctrine, as I do not believe a church or religion should stand between a person and their relationship with God. So I am not defending the actions of the JW organization's elders and their lack of action on your behalf. However, I am curious as to why so many of you did not take action yourself? You each have so much strength within yourselves. Just look at what you survived! I read one post where the person had been recommended to contact the police and was ex-communicated because s/he refused to do so. To me, the fact that she had been recommended to contact the police speaks highly of those that were guiding her. It did not sound as though they were willing to cover it up, but she herself was by her lack of action.
Abuse is a silent crime. The abuser often coerces in some way the silence of his victim. It is through the victims silence that the abuser is allowed to continue doing what he/she is doing and to do to another. It is only through our voice, the voice of survivors, that abuse no longer is a silent crime. We have to find our voice. Blaming the church, any church, for not speaking out on the abuse that is going on is not right imo. We are the ones that need to speak out. It is our pain, our hurt, our anger, shame, guilt, that will make others realize the depth of abuse and it's affect on those that have survived it or are surviving it now.
If anyone would wish to email me, I can be reached at Carasoul@hotmail.com. I'm sorry if any read this in the wrong light. I am not here to harrass anyone, just trying to understand how a religion can be blamed for our silence?
Peace and Love, Carasoul
A husband and father in Clavary, Canada has been shuuned from his family due to making the heart-wrenching decision to give his dying daughter a blood transfusion for her leaukimia. All the brothers and sisters and family refuse to allow him to see his own daughter and keep her hospital romm purposely occupied and full. The girl has even announced that she hates her own father. Who out there actually beleives that this sick cult brings families togethor?
I HEARD ABOUT THE STORY TOO. THANK YOU. I JUST RIPPED UP MY BLOOD CARD.
I am going to use real names today as I have been deeply touched in a VERY GOOD WAY by a very loving MAN RANDY WATTERS...he took an Hawaiian vacation recently and brought us both something very pretty back LISA got first choice..LINDA is having a hard time verbalizing without tearing up with emotion (GOOD) emotion...I think I am going to wear it to bed--it is soo very pretty...I LOVE U and LISA loves you too and since you have been so good to US Mamie kitty loves you too !!!!
These are beliefs I was raised with. So natuarally I can only be careful when concluding they are all wrong just beacause of he said/she said. So therefore in continuation of my extensive investigation I will continue to uncover files that I have retrieved mainly through my dad's ministerial servant files and other resourses. I call AA's SLEUTH FOR THE TRUTH. IT FEELS GOOD TO BE FINALLY THINKING FOR MYSELF!!!
THE THINGS I WISH TO SAY: By: Anti-Ascetic I wish I could tell them how I feel inside that my whole life has become a lie. I wish I could let them see how htings really are about where I'm going when I take the car, and who I'm talking with on the phone, and all the ohter secrets that are left unknown. I wish they could understand being 18 and afraid of what my world will bring me someday about how it will treat me till my dying day. Most of all, I wish I could show them the inside of my heart and let them see I am not meaning to break them apart.
From Sleuth for Truth Investigation: "CHRISTIAN PARENTS INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT UP TO YOUR CHILDREN TO CHOOSE WHICH WAY IS BEST FOR THEM, WISELY TRAIN THEM IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD GO..ADULTS KNOW FROM EXPIERENCE THAT THEY CANNOT TRUST THEIR OWN JUDGEMENT;THEY MUST RELY ON JEHOVAH(AKA-SOCIETY) TO MAKE THEIR PATHS STRAIGHT..PARENTS AS YOUR CHLDREN APPROACH THE TEEN YEARS OR EVEN EARLIER TALK TO THEM REALISTICALLY ABOUTHTEIR CAREER GOALS. SCHOOL COUNSELORS,TEACHERS,AND CLASSMATES WILL TRY TO INFLUENCE THEM IN FAVOR OF WORLDLY MATEREALTISTIC PURSUITS..IN MANY CASES ALONG WITH VOCATIONAL AND/OR ON THE JOB TRAINING MAY BE ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO CARE ADQUATELY FOR ONE'S NECESSITIES THILE STARTING OUT IN THE REQULAR PIONEER SERVICE. ENCOURAGE YOUTHS TO PURSUE THE "GIFT OF SINGLESS (COME ON!) --reprinted by permission of myself/
My folks found out about my boyfriend!! Not only that but I cannot to to Grad Nite (the senior trip we take to go to Disney World) Can you believe it! ANd guess who squeled Some Jehovah's wittness girls across the street who are gonna get their asses beat. My boyfriend told me not to worry about them. Why would a bunch of teenage girls tell on you for having a boyfrined. What's the big deal? I told him he don't know nothing about jehovah's wittness girls. they are raised to squeal!!! Please someone stop with all the fighting and bickerig for just one moment and tell me what I should do. Move in with my boyfriend since from now on everyone is gonna treat me like I am "bad association" or just hope all of thiss will blow over even though the elders are coming to interrogate me today. Should I tell the entire truth and risk disfellowshippment? Or keep it all inside. PLEASE!! I KNOW THIS SEEMS SO TRIVIAL BUT IT REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE I CAN TALK TO!!! ---WIHT LOVE ANTI ASCETIC
Has anyone seen that new video:" Young People Ask; How To make Real Firends?" I never noticed how the sick governing body continuously teaches people to seclude themselves away from society. Can you imagienhow hard this is on a young person? Especially ones who happen to not have friends their age in the congregation which was the case with me. I was basically left no choice but to hang out with 12 and 13 year olds when I was 16. HEY! I JUST RELAIZED SOMEHTHING. THE GOVERNING BODY IS MADE UP OF A BUNCH OF OLD EEWWWW. I BET THEY TOUCH EACH OTHER!!!!
AA: You are in a tough spot. But I think you need to resist the temptation to go jump into something - especially anything like moving in with your boyfriend. That can only create problems. I know several JW girls that left their families as soon as they could (at 18) and either got married then pregnant or got pregnant then married. Not that you are planning either, but this is time to be careful. If you don't have the skills/income to support yourself, you will need something.
It seems that you are unlikley to be able to drive some reason into your parents heads. If they were to decide that they were being overly judgemental, then thy would have to deal with the abusrdity of how they treated your sister. That is a big step that you cannot expect them to take.
And the damn elders are not entitled to know about your private life.
So let me throw this out and let me know if it seems reasonable: 1. Lie, lie, and lie some more. Keep in mind that their little organizational procedures will require the elders to have two separate sources corroberate and singel event. Give them the old 'Love believes all things' line. The elders will have to back off and it sounds like your mother may be willing to let herself be convinced. 2. Assess your options - friends that will let you into their family home while you get straightened out - your skills and potential income to support yourself - potential roommates (not the boyfriend) 3. Think about social services. We all pay taxes for people to be ready to provide advice. For instance, if you get yourself declared 'an imancipated minor' you may be entitled to some support as you further your education.
But above all, don't rush. You don't want to eliminate any options that will make the entire rest of your life more difficult. You'll miss some stuff like the Senior trip and you will need to remain secretive about the boyfriend . But that will all seem inconsequential in just a year or two.
Let me know what you think,
- Cliff
All the children in our family were abused physicaly and emotionaly. I myself now suffer as an adult as a result of medical neglect when I was a child.. I have watched my brothers and sisters all suffer as well. None of us have actually gotten over it.It is even more sad when I find out that many diffrent friends in the congregations knew of the abuse yet chose to turn thier backs. May God forgive them all.
Dear Cliff, You advice seems reasonable enough. But even though I wish not to hurt my mother who is already sick with clinical depression (a typical trait in most devoted witnnesses) won't continue lying be even worse? And end up hurtng both me and everyone else in the long run even more? Jesus' words: "the truth will set you free" matters more now than ever before. Last night ANOTHER elder came over to basically pick his big fat nose in my buisness. I told the same story about the cousin of the "boyfriend" living at the house and that I was going to see her. Of course I was again turned to 1 corinthians 15:33-bad assocaitions spoil useful habits. I tried to argue the scripture with him.(you should've seen the look on my folks' face!) But again he concluded that anyone who is not a jehovah's wittness is part of satan's system and blah blah blah. I was so angry!! I continued to fearlessly question the society for an hour with him asking why there was no info on Raymond Franz, what was up with the society against organ transplants and wether they could be wrong about blood transfusions also and why does the society continuously change its policies in the wathctowers especially with the issue of a woman screaming if raped. Then the question that of course caused him to suddenly realized he was "running late":How exactly is the process of writng the watchtowers and awakes done? "Oh, well would you look at the time!!" he said. WHATEVER!! Anyways does anyone out there know about 1 corinthinas 15:33 and how that verse is meant to be interperted? Did God really want us to seclude oursleves from society? Please Respond. Anyone!!! WITH LOVE; ANTI ASCETIC
I've been reading through this but don't see any hard edvidence of any forms of abuse, rape, molestation or any other kinds of unlawful or unchristian activity. You'll need hard evidence and proof! www.102x.com Sista Sweetly
AA: There is no way we are intended to sequestor ourselves from society. It is unnatural. It separates families. It causes otherwise caring people to treat others as though they were less than human. I am no scholar, but I did take a moment to read 1Cor 15. Verse 33 seems almost out of context. But there is no evidence that the admonition was to avoid all non-Witnesses. Most would agree that Bad people are worth avoiding. The problem is when any one group decides that they have the authority to decide who are the good and the bad. Anyway, in the larger context, the chapter is about the Corinthians giving credence to those that were denying the resurrection - trying to get the early Christians to abandon a major tenet of their belief. He was not referring to neighbors, work or school mates, or people on the street.
It is too bad that your mother is ill - but there will be time later in your life to turn your concern to her well-being. Now is the time for you to focus on getting your life started. Your parents should be focused on the same thing. Getting started will be hard enough without their emotional support. But the answer is not to back off and feel guilty about needing to grow up and make your own decisions.
I'm sure you felt quite spunky kicking some stuff back in the elder's face. But you have tipped your hand and even called in the name of the world's greatest apostate: Ray Franz. His books have been of the best reading I've done in years. I find it particularly interesting since I left the truth about the same time. You can expect more unwelcome visits from the elders.
Good luck,
- Cliff
AA: By the way, how did you hear about Ray Franz? Is it something Witnesses talk about much? Have you read anything by him? Other than the absurd 1975 debacle, his is the most interesting Witness story since C.T. Russel went out on the Brooklyn Bridge on New Year's Eve in 1914 in a white robe to get himself raptured up to heaven.
I heard about Ray Franz in pratically every anti-witness website out there but NEVER not once in any of the society's publications When I asked the elder why, he asked me sarcastically wether I was related to him or something. If not then why should I be worrying about him.(I HATE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO BE FUNNY WITH ME!!) I had no idea who he was but knew I had to find out.So far I retireved one of the few public speakings he gave in an issue of gave to TIME magazine . There was a full blown pitucure of him. You could see all the years of pain and exhaustion in his eyes of dedication he made to the only to be left alone without a friend in the world neither witness nor "worldly" (how convenient) My mother was almost in the brink of tears last night when she asked me if I wanted to serve jehovah.As hard as it was for me to look at her, I said Of course! But firmly added I DO NOT want to serve the society. I just don't believe anymore that we must be part of an organization to serve GOd. It's through Jesus.I've learned so much with just a computer in only 6 months then I've learned in 6 years of being a wintess!! Now I just have to get that book 'Crisis of Conscience' It sounds like such a page-turner!! P.S; Do I have a right to refuse to talk to the elders anymore. They make me so uncomfortable no matter how much I try to be tough. Could I say discreetly for them to just leave me alone? --ANTI-ASCETIC
Hi, I'm White Violets. AA- I find it interesting that you have been a JW for 6 years and yet you turn to people on an anti-JW site for advice. That tells me that you've already made your decision. But for your comfort, I will tell you that when I stopped putting off meeting with the elders and told them that I had a boyfriend that I loved very much, they gave me two options: either marry him, get dis'd for marrying outside the cong and get reinstated; or break up with him and just get reproved. I refused to break up with him, and so I was dis'd. I was sad to leave what I had known my entire life, but I wasn't there the night they made the announcement. After that meeting, it was virtually painless. I think you know what you want to do. Tell them the truth and make your decision. This is your first test of adulthood. That having been said, I would like to share my story: When I was 16, a brother came down from New York to Georgia to start a new life. He made friends with my brother and, eventually, with me. As we got closer, we spent more and more time together with his girlfriend and another young girl. He gave hugs freely and everyone in the cong trusted him with their lives. But in October of my junior year of high school, we spent more and more time alone together. He even took me to his girlfriend's house and persuaded me to make out with him. The night after a close friend's wedding, we all spent the night at his gf's house. Although she went to bed, she left him alone with me in the living room. With her sleeping in the very next room, and with the bedroom door open, he began to molest me. I shudder to think what pleasure this 30-year-old man derived from fondling a tiny 16-year-old girl. I felt that if I didn't do what he wanted me to, he would force himself on me. He was rather large, and I weighed little more than 100 pounds. He asked me back to his apartment, but I knew he would have raped me. He told me he loved me, he told me that if he got dis'd, it would be all my fault--- that I would ruin his goal of becoming an elder and going to Bethel. He molested me three times over the course of a few months, but when my mother began to suspect something, he severed all ties with me and went after my best friend. My best friend finally admitted to me that HE had been intimate with this vile man and that he felt so guilty about it that he went to the elders. The elders, though, dis'd my best friend because, OF COURSE, the 30-year-old didn't admit to his actions and my best friend was dis'd for slandering the man's name. That was the following September. I finally had to step up and tell the elders what happened. I couldn't believe that this man so easily dropped me and then molested my male best friend. I waited until after I graduated high school, but I finally told them everything. The elders made me repeat my story to the elders in the now 33-year old's cong. They dis'd him FINALLY but he appealed, denying all of the allegations. He smugly countered me when we had to meet with a panel of elders (numbering 15-20) from the whole circuit. However, he was dis'd again. He ended up marrying the woman whose livingroom we violated, later getting her pregnant. If there were a hell, I'd want him to rot in it. I want to know, without disclosing too many details, if anyone in the New York area was molested by a round-faced Puerto Rican "brother." He preys mainly on young, pretty girls from dysfunctional homes, and trusting young boys that don't really fit in. I want to know if this man hurt anyone else like he hurt me and my best friend. WhiteViolets@aol.com
I am so Happy to find this site I was a JW for 40 years and as a child I was molested by many elders in the congregation. It is a challenge to leave a place where you have been controlled to belief one way and if you do not belief this way you will die, (what a thing to tell children)and you only have the congragation as friends (but are they true friends). You feel so alone abandoned as a child and then abandoned when you choose to leave. I am grateful I left and have processed enough to be free of the assumption belief's I took on as I child. I am free to live and experience life. No longer frozen by the abuse I am Free to Live. Being molested as a child had trama, also the violence that I sustained as a child to keep me from talking about it left with many scares in my skull. I belief in healing as the bible talks about and I am on that journey of courage now I wish healing to all hurt by molester.
hello I hope I'm in the right area my 32 yr old daughter just told me today after 25yrs she was sexually molested by a boyfriend of mine and I always told my girls if any man touch's u u let me know she said she was afraid how do I handle this matter ty
THIS MESSAGE GOES TO THE PERSON WHO WROTE ON APRIL 24TH SAYING HE SAW NO HARD EVIDENCE OF ABUSE IN ANYTHING HE READ. FIRST OF ALL WHO ARE YOU GOD? OH YA YOU MUST BE A jW I FORGOT YOU ALL HAVE A LICENCE TO JUDGE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE HELL HAPPENS IN ANY OF THESE CASES GOD SEES ALL. HE WILL JUDGE IN DUE TIME. IAM SO SICK OF SUCH SELF RIGHTIOUS PEOPLE LIKE YOU. IN THE JW RELIGION SUFFERING AS A CHILD IS A VERY COMMON. IKNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT THERE IS ALOT OF ABUSE AMONG THE JW THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE NEGLECT, PHSICAL AND EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS SEXUAL.. BUT GREATFULY GOD HAS GIVEN MOST OF US A WAY OUT, AND THA'TS OUT OF THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ORGINIZATION ITSELF. i PRAY TO GOD THAT ALL THOSE WHO SUFFER ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF ONE OF THOSE MEN GAIN THE FREEDOM I HAVE. IALSO HOPE YOU KNOW THAT THE WORST ABUSE TO BE SUFFERED ON THESE PEOPLE IS ACTUALLY THE EMOTIONAL MIND CONTROLING ABUSE WE HAVE ALL TAKEN SO THAT THEY COULD KEEP US QUIET AND AND STAY MEMBERS BLANKITY BLANK BLANK RELIGION. I AM SORRY TO BE SO ANGRY BUT AT THIS TIME I JUST HAVE TO SPEAK OUT FOR US. IAM NOT SAYING ALL WITNESESS ARE BAD PEOPLE BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE YOUR ATTITUDE.
I just want to say that I believe all the life events of being molested by JW's and the organization is trying to keeping these events hushed! Healing is possible and then live your own life free from guilt, pain and anger.
I've thought long and hard this weekend and have decided to just take things slowly. There's no reason for me to make any crazy decisons especially when I am still so young. The most important thing for me to do now is just focus on college and my future. But I am scared. MY boyfriend has noticed my sudden change especially after I told him I didn't want to move in with him anymore. He keeps talking all weird to me and saying stuff like "I won't let you leave me," "I gave up my heart for you and that's it" I don't know wether to be scared or irratated. -AA
Well... I just told my mom last night that I was sexualy abused when i was younger by one of her old boyfriends father. This happend when i was about 3 and now im 18. I didnt know if it really happend or if some reason i made it up. But I know it had to of happend b/c i have clips of it in my mind about him asking mt to take off my underwear. Im not sure how to deal w/ it yet. My mom told me today i told her when i was little about it. I dont remeber telling her but im glad i did bc we moved far away from it. Its just kinda crazy how for so long i blocked it out. I still think im blocking some out. Im not sure. I have an appointment Thursday to talk to someone but im just affraid of what might come to me once i talk more.
My situation began when I was 15 years old. A sister and her husband who had 5 kids together and had been married for years befriended me. The sister started to take a special interest in me and began to include me in her family activities. I was a very shy person back then and I didn't have many friends. My mother and I didn't get along. So it was nice to have a friend that took me out. I had alot of fun at first. Then she started saying that I needed more affection. So she started to hug me. Then she wanted me to spend the night. Her husband went to the couch. I thought that was wierd but didn't say anything. That is when the sexual abuse started. Her husband eventually got involved. He was the principal of the school for JW's. The sister was the 4th and 5th grade teacher at that same school. The abuse lasted for 5 years. When I finally told my mom she contacted the elders at her local congregation. One of them was my uncle so it was very embarrasing. Bottom line...nothing was really done. I was told not to contact the police because it might bring reproach upon Jehovah's organization. The elders in the other congregation put these two people on private reproof!! Not even disfellowshiped. After 5 years of my life ruined. I have never fully recovered from this. My mom is still a JW. So is the couple. They used to reside in Arizona. I am not sure where they are at now.
All this is nothing short of SICK PROPAGANDA. You make it too easy to post Lies and More Lies. May God have mercy on all your souls.
To the one whose 5 years of abuse started when 15: For those like your family members who would stay in such an organization after knowing of such endemic and systematic problems, I have little concern. Not very Christlike, but I accept my flaws. Nonetheless, I would ask you to seriously consider pursuing this. These abusers don't stop. Someone is probably in your place. Your mother, uncle, the elders, and the organization responsible for the sentiment that it should be swept under the rug, are ALL collectively responsible for the abuse your replacement is undergoing right now - maybe literally right now. You were the victim, and it can take time to get your feet under you and find the courage. But can you live with yourself, just because they are far away and you don't know their current prey? You can find help here or at other sites, including the Silent Lambs site.
If you can't yet, then you can't. Please think about it and let me know what you think.
- Cliff
That is just so sad-the one abused for 5 years. You are so young and yet scarred for life. Is it hard to live a secure life? Or are you moving forward just fine? I hope so. I just hope you are not too angry at the world beacause being angry really sucks the energy out of a peson. (TRUST ME!) Well my prayers are with you. -antiascetic P.s 'ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES AND COME UP SWINGIN" i LIKE THAT CLIFF!!!
I think this site is great. It really gives these victims a chance to share what is on thier minds without being ridiculed. Except for some rude comments every now and then. In the jw's religion it is very common to cover up such sad events. I know it happened to my sister.She was basicly called a liar. I think this site is a great oppritunity for ones to actually not feel alone. because with abuse you do feel so alone. My prayers are with you.
I was raised as a JW. I feel so sorry for the children that went through this. Molestation is sick. JW's do try and keep their organization clean. But there is so many witnesses that do believe this is sick and despise it. I know they would try and help. Please take legal action as we have seen in the news with other religions. My brother is an elder and he says that if a person ever does something like this they are to never have a standing in the church like an elder or ministerial servent. But to make all witnesses seem bad that is just not true. I do not believe in it anymore but I do know many loving and caring people in their organization. This happens in all religions. However the witnesses that looked over these poor kids need to pay for not helping them. Take legal action against the people that are to blame and not the religion. Then if the society is protecting them then sue the organization.
I was raised as a JW. I feel so sorry for the children that went through this. Molestation is sick. JW's do try and keep their organization clean. But there is so many witnesses that do believe this is sick and despise it. I know they would try and help. Please take legal action as we have seen in the news with other religions. My brother is an elder and he says that if a person ever does something like this they are to never have a standing in the church like an elder or ministerial servent. But to make all witnesses seem bad that is just not true. I do not believe in it anymore but I do know many loving and caring people in their organization. This happens in all religions. However the witnesses that looked over these poor kids need to pay for not helping them. Take legal action against the people that are to blame and not the religion. Then if the society is protecting them then sue the organization.
DEFINETLY A GOOD IDEA. THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW THAT CATHOLIC PRIESTS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES OUT THERE BEING DIRTY. NOBODY REALLY KNOWS ABOUT THE DARK SIDE OF JWS. THEY KNOW THERE ALWAYS THERE TO WAKE THEM UP ON A SATURDAY MORNING. --AA
Hello. I am new to visiting sites as pertains to JW's. You will not find me to be in a state of angst, rather, concern and a good deal of hurt and bafflement.
Mu husband and I were pioneers in areas of the deep rural south. I loved the friends and my life as a full time minister. We started a family in the early 80's. I won't go into all the details but the events and outcomes of creating tragedy greater than the abuse itself.
My husband was not sexually abusive but he was very abusive physically to my children. It started as what one could I suppose be termed nominal physical assault, no broken bones. Grabbing my daughter by the hair, violent shaking and real propensity for choking! All this I brought to the attention of the elders. The response was, there is no proof, ( at the mouth of two or more witnesses, which I can understand ss far as taking action against my husband). However, I knew it to be so and felt a greater responsibility to protect my kids than to wait for witnesses. I began searching for information on abuse at the library and other sources. Not much info, so how could I leave and he get them in the summer and on wk ends? If I stayed, at least there would be a degree of protection by my presence.
When my kids were pre-teen, we moved to another town, college town, different environmet altogether. Additionally,child abuse was beginning to come to the fore of the public eye affecting changes e.g. counceling and legal serviices. When we made the move, my youngest, then 5 years old, my husband choked her. I also had a post witness.. a sister stopped by after field service and my daughter said " look sister ..... what my daddy did, her neck was still blood red from his grabbing her by the neck. I left with a proviso that he had to get counselling, frowned upon by the congregation. However, he agreeed and I went back. As long as we were in counseling, he did o.k. no physicall assaults etc.
Approx. 4 yers later, there was a progressing in his behavior that let me know to prepare for I knew he was approaching a time when he was aging going to assuslt one of us. He did. I left in 1996, he was turned into DHR, three times. The CO saw me and said "sister ..... I was sorry to hear of the problems with brother..... but to get the authorities involved. This needs to be handled by the brothers not the world". My reply, "beleive me, this was a last resort on my part. Jehovah requires that I care for and protect my children and that is what I am doing". My husband was removed but no restrictions whatsoever. He put on a very sad face, and I'm sure he was sad, as being the poor victim of a wife who would not be in subjection etc. We were ostracised and eventually we broke.
I have tried since then to get back the faith I lost and to reconnect to new friends in new congregations, I just can't get it back.
Even in biblical times of old, Jehovah delt with and through an identified grooup. Even Jesus went to the temple, though there was no righteous person there to properly represent Jehovah. So, I am seeking answers, not criticistm and fingeer pointing.
To the last entry: Better late than never. Your children will always remember that you stood up for them - even if the face of severe opposition. Don't bother to try to 'get back the faith.' God does not require you to tolerate these clowns.
Almost time to face judgement. 10 more days until seniors are let out and my folks have already started packing. I know I said I was going to just take things slow and not tell them I didn't wanna be a jw anymore but I've been taking things slow sicne I was 14. Its time for me to finally take responsibility. --AA
AA: Whats the plan? Move in with your sister that they threw out before? With a friend? Plans for more schooling or a job - or both? I wonder if your parents, or the rest of the jw's for that matter, will ever understand how unloving and unchristian their stance is.
- Cliff
CC, a message from the unasked: I don't think you understand just how peculiarly JW your questions are. You accept as axiomatic that characters in a parable necessarily represent some specific set of modern-day people in the JW organization. That predisposition is evident in your question. In fact, one needn't read the passages you quote as representing some Jesus-defined striation among his followers. Notice that two servants of Matt. 25 that doubled their money both got the same reward - though one earned five and the other two. The message there is to do the best you can with what you've got.
As far as Matt. 24, you have a presumption in your question that the 'household' to whom the servant is to provide meat represents the non-governing body of JWs. It is quite egocentric to think that the master considers his own household so narrowly: as a class of master slaves and the rest. Note also that verse 45 is actually a question that I think we should all answer for ourselves, "Am I doing what I can to help the greater household?"
I think you would do yourself a favor by trying to see that the scriptures were not written for such a small audience. A larger view would fit better than trying to narrow the implications down to just the folks that write your Watchtower and sit through meetings with you.
- Cliff
I just want to say I'm so sorry for the victims of the child sex charges. I'm not a victim but I do have a similar experience. I been sexual harrassed by an elder. It happen four years ago. FOUR YEARS AGO. And what do the committee did, nothing, not a thing. And it happen to me again, and this time, a married brother tried to get with me. I tried to avoid him. One thing about Jehovah's Witnessess, they think they always right. Especially the elders. I'm in process of leaving the watchtower organization. My opinion, is to read the bible. I mean read the KING JAMES VERSION, BOOK BY BOOK, VERSE BY VERSE, CHAPTER TO CHAPTER, AND COVER TO COVER. That's the truth. not the watchtower org. It's a cult. And that's the fact. Believe in Jesus. And to the victims, I'm truly sorry. It's time you'll need to get with Christ, of course believe our creator Jehovah. He send his son. Jesus is coming back with a vengence. It's time we need to get ourselves together and start reading the bible and stop depending on man. Jer saids blind leading the blind and he cannot direct his step. It's time to start reading the bible now. Jehovah's Witnesses org. is going down right along with the roman catlolics, mormons, islams, latter day saints. Jesus is the Truth, the father is the truth, the word is the truth, and most of all the bible. Jehovah's Witnesses, I don't even consider as a religion, is a CULT. That's all I have to say. IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!
TODAY is MAY 11th 2002 and all I gota say Rev. Watters and Silentlambs too in regards CNN ans AP going ahead of DATELINE and the poopoo hitting the fan so to speak -- it does not look all that great publically speaking for the WT ORG at the moment but you guys that have disfellowshipped CELEBRATION TIME is at hand !!!!!!!!!!!!! QUEENIE / badassmum@webtv.net peace HAPPY MOTHERS DAY and any other holiday to celebrate too !!!!
I am an Ex JW and am very interested in the Dateline Story on sexual molestation. My son, then 13 or 14, and his friend were studying "the bible" with one ministerial servant who was around 27 years of age. My son is now 24. We recently found out that the other boy was molested by the ministerial servant. He was reproved and lost his position, but was never prosecuted. After looking back on it, my son said that this person would always "tickle" him on the bed, but nothing ever happened. Anyway, the other boy, who would now be 25 years of age, committed suicide last year.
I am totally outraged that that brother is still a Witness probably in good standing.
I would love to give his name, but I probably would be prosecuted. Linda
My mom read my diary. She knows everything now. About my boyfriend, my indiffernece towards the witnesses and my "doubts concerning the truth." How she even found my diary I am still baffled but of course my stubborn father made it clear that if I do not want to be a wittness anymore I have to leave home. What is the big deal anyways? So I want to change my religion, why must i be kicked out? With graduation just 2 weeks away!! Its as if I have just told my folks I am a porn star or something. --AA SO WHAT NOW?
AA: Now is an important time in your life. Don't try to go it alone. You must have any ally or two - perhaps a sister, close friend, or some other relative. Are your grandparents possible candidates? If they are alive and aren't poisoned by the 'witness or die' mentality, they may be a good bet. You'll need a job, and if you have any educational plans, I hope you pursue them. But stay away from the boyfriend - he may be an OK guy, but it just adds complications that you don't need.
- Cliff
I am 12, and when I was about a year old my sister was molested. She was 10 at the time. I could have been molested, but I was too young for anyone to know.
I AM ALL ALONE. NOBODY CAN HELP ME. THERE IS NOBODY OUT THERE I CAN TRUST. I WISH I WAS NEVER A WITTNESS I THE FIRST PLACE. BETTER- I WISH I HAD EVER FOUND THIS SITE. AT LEAST THINGS WOULN'T OF CNAHNGED SO FAST LIKE THEY DID. 4 MORE DAYS TILL SCHOOL'S OUT. SEEMS LIKE EVERYOE HAS THESE BIG PLANS FOR COLLEGE AD EVERYHTHING. --AA
AA: Try to stay on even footing. Whatever your parents' motivation, they may be trying to force the issue knowing you have few options. But don't panic. No grandparents, aunts or cousins? Close friends that may have a place that would spot you until you get a job? I've read enough of your postings to believe firmly that someone as thoughtful as you has collected some people that can be counted on for help.
Next option, especially if you live in a city, is social services. Grab the phone book and make some calls. Try to look for services aimed at ensuring that teens don't find themselves on the street when they have hit the skid with their family.
Perhaps even better, talk to the guidance councelor at school. They live for this stuff. These people's primary job is to be just such a resource for students that need some direction. I'll bet you can get some direction that will also include a couple potential options for college. May I suggest that a Junior College is an excellent option for a Freshman that hasn't had time to finalize school plans. All colleges has a base set of requirements that you can work on at a local, inexpensive JC.
Above all, stay calm so you can make rational decisions.
- Cliff
I APPLIED TO A COMMUITY COLLEGE YESTERDAY. AND HOPEFULL MY FINANCIAL AID APPLICATON WILL GO THROUGH SINCE I CLASSIFIFED MYSELF AS A INDEPEDANT.BUT MY MOM SAID THIS MORNING I CAN MOVE WITH THEM. BUT I FEEL SO SUFFOCATED!! SO LOST AND SEQUESTERED. I HONESTLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE.BUT I'LL BOUNCE BACK. I KNOW I WILL.
AA: Excellent. Sounds like you have some breathing room - your suffocation comment not withstanding. A job and a roommate may be the next steps. School will have a service that will help you find a roommate - most likely, they will have a desk for assistance in seeking a part-time job or two.
Go get 'em,
- Cliff
To Crying, I haven't seen anything posted lately by you, hope all is better by this time, it's been awhile since I posted but I understand that Dateline will be airing the Interviews with JW'S and ex JW's regarding the sexual abuse cases by several members and former members and this will be Tuesday May 28th on DATELINE If you want to see more on another religion that was suppose to be HOLIER THAN THOU, SOME EYES MAY BE OPENED AND WIDE. LNG (The date is May 28th Tuesday 2002)
May 28th Tuesday 2002 Dateline airs the Child Molestation Interviews withm Former JW's and JW's should prove to be interesting
I was molested as a young child and nothing was ever done or said about it. I am not even sure if my mother is aware of it. I am just positive that it was covered up and I know who the molester was and he was just told to stay away from us and nothing was ever done to make sure it never happenned to anyone else.
GM, BC Canada
To the 12-year old from a few days back who wrote, "I am 12, and when I was about a year old my sister was molested. She was 10 at the time. I could have been molested, but I was too young for anyone to know.":
Sounds like you and your sister have had trouble. I'm glad that you may not have been molested. Please talk to your sister and try to decide between the two of you if you should take the issue to the authorities. You both will find support out there.
like many of you i was raised a JW. Because of my faith in God and ignorance God will always hear the cries of his people. I too was molested by my brother and one of my brothers by a man when he was a teenager. all the above statements on this website are true as i remeber over 26 years of being involved in the only thing that i knew!! i am here today to say I am a student of a Bible college i have received Jesus christ as my Lord and Savior and have been equipping myself to follow the words of the bible to go back and set the captives free. It is easy to complain and remeber but the bible says forget those things that are behind. I ralize due to my own situation that it takes time and even more that reading it takes change., find the proper people to help you deal with how to change but My testimony is until i confessed with my mouth the "Jesus is my lord and savior that he is the great I am of the Old Testament and the New testament and that what I was taught was a lie that he is not God is a great Lie. I have researched and confessed that the Watchtower and Bible tract Society's biggest crime was hiding the real truth about Jesus and sugar coating his true Diety. That he is God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit in one. The Blessed trinity is the truth and this organization will be called to order at the day of judgement. Please I beseech you all pray the prayer of Salvation and seek Jehovah Gopd for your self. Jehovah is the name of God and so is Jesus I declare the bondage of untruth is broken in all of your lives as you read this message in the name of Jesus and that devil will no longer have his way in your minds. Do not fear knowledge beyond your past look for truth and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior and then begin a work that call has called you too. AMEN.
Jehovah is the name of God in the old Testament. When Jesus arrived on the scene Jehovah God was now showing himself as Jesus. Jesus then left this earth and promised that he that sent him would send a helper. i realize since I spent may years as a jehovah's Witness that the hardest thing is getting past this truth. But it is the word of God. The greek translation of the scriptures has a code that translates into numbers without too much information for now please know that those numbers of Jehovah God and anything that means God are 888 biblically the number for new beginning. When researching Jesus and anything representing Jesus Christ 888 appears each time. What is the purpose of these numbers 888 (new beginning) so that if anyone tries to translate the bible and attempts to seperate Jehovah God from Jesus these numbers would be interrupted. Ex: 868, 880 etc. When the bible is translated in any language it should never be translated to replace the name of Jesus with Jehovah where it was not intended. The purpose if the Watchtower was to remove Jesus Christ from as many arrears of our lives as they could. The Holy Spirit is more than and active force he is God in spirit that wants to come inside of you and fill you with his revelation knowledge. The Holy Spirit is the spirit person of God that lives inside of us once we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior and receive water baptism to wash us. The holy spirit does more than recal things to your mind. He will heal and deliver you from your past abuses. I know he lives inside of me after being abused by my brother a jehovah's witness and after being abused by my Mother physically and spiritually. From their teachings the history of the Watchtower and those who were formerly part of the "Body of christ" is bitterness. They left the faith due to imperfections and sins and mostly denial of their own sins and sought to live a bitter life angry at the church. Many have been angry with the Church for not teaching from the bible in the past. Many are correct that the church denied the essence of God while preaching more than teaching. It is my expereince and knowledge that the "Body of Christ" the church is in a great revival that only God himself could be orchestrating. It is now time to hear the call of God for those who never knew the Gospel as it truly is the true deity of God is Jesus Christ the Great I am. Do not let the very thing that keeps the watchtower Bible tract Society in bondage keep you from having eternal life. Confess Jesus as Lord of your life and ask him to come into your spirit and remind you of who you were before the foundations of the earth. The church is coming out of their traditions and even ignorance and teaching only Kingdom principles. Any religion that does not point to Jesus as God, or Jesus as the only means of salvation beyond just talking about what he did or ending prayers by saying "in Jesus name" is not of God. Jehovah was clear in the Old Testament about his laws and principles. But when he emptied himself out a d took the form of man and came to the earth he needed to show us another side of him and that is as Jesus Christ the anointed and compassionate God of the whole Bible. Jesus is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords". the Alpha and the Omega
Hey '888' boy: Your're insane. You think God is some kind of numerology buff? Don't you think He has something better to do with his time than to play some form of cosmic Yahtzee with the likes of you? You are funny - I'll bet dollars to doughnuts you're from the West Coast.
- Cliff
Stop picking on 888 Boy! - you vicious people with coherent thoughts. He is obviously onto something here. I spent years researching this very topic. But the furthest I could get was 800. I tried the 900 number but it just seemed silly. Now I see the big picture - the light truly does grow brighter as the end draws nearer! Those CarrotTop commercials are clear to me now. All we need to do is dial down the middle: call 1-888-CALL-GOD
Gotta go, time for the Prosac.
LIARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You just don't want to except the fact that this is the truth.This is not the catholic church.You all know for a fact that it gets taken care of jehovah does not let these things go.
To the one calling "LIARS": There it is again. The fatalistic attitude that Jehovah will take care of it. According to your beliefs, one day your final judge will ask you to explain how it is that he took the time to give you a brain, complete with a conscience, and plenty of written instruction on caring for your fellow man (with more direct exhortation with regards to children) - and yet, you did nothing. How will you answer? Are you going to say, "I though you were going to take care of it?" Or perhaps you will say, "The Society said so ... ?" I'm pretty sure that God would consider you an abysmal failure if you took either of those positions. I am mortified for your children if you really believe in what you say.
- Cliff
to:Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 Time: 10:43 AM
Get real. This is going on everywhere. Jehovahs kingdom is the only solution. Not the Christain congregation. How dangerous to seperate oneself from Jehovah out of spite of seriously imperfect men and women. Why would anyone reasonably be surprised to see this. They lied against Jesus and put him to death. Are you going to chastise the Sovereign for allowing this? The day WILL COME when all people on the earth worship Jehovah in spirit and truth.
If you have suffered in any way related to molestation, trust in Jehovah, not the congregation. The congregation is a provision for those who trust Jehovah. It is not the kingdom, thus we pray to this day for the kingdom to come. Don't give the "wicked one" success.
Reply to the brainwashed above: I don't expect you to understand. A mind that could think for itself would never have been able to post such an absurdity. Your post boils down to, 'Take it for now. God will avenge.' You utterly abdicate your christian duty to help abused children, to prevent further abuse. Pull your mind out of the Watchtower and try to cloak yourself in a christian attitude. Try to take some advice from the New Testament instead of harkening to the rules and regulations spouted by a man-made authority structure. Yes God does provide help for the oppressed and abused - you , me, and everyone else. He does provide direction to care for your fellow man, especially children. If you decide not to help, you will have some explaining to do.
Back in 1977 my girlfriend and her sister were attending the local kingdom hall along with their jehovahs witness father. She confided in me that they were being sexually molested by him and that it had been going on for years. As a young man of 17 years old I thought I did the right thing by going the elders in his congregation. They told me that they would take care of it. However when my girlfriend continued to be subject to his abuse, I went to the elders again and was told that they would take care of it. After my repeated attempts to have the elders act on this information, they told me it was none of my business and to leave it alone. I wanted to go to DSS. But I did not receive any support from my family or friends( who were also jehovahs witnesses ). I was told to wait on jehovah. NOTHING happened!! That's disgusting... What a heavy burden to place on a 17yr old kid. I've since Dis-Associated myself and hope that the society gets nailed to the wall on these cover-ups.
DATELINE NBC: TUESDAY 5-28-02, 10:00 P.M.
"CURRENT AND FORMER JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SAY DENOMINATION ELDERS HAVE COVERED UP CASES OF CHILD MOLESTATION.NEW.(CC)(STEREO)"
I WAS NOT SUPRISED TO SEE ANOTHER FORM OF WORSHIP NAILED TO THE CROSS AND CRUCIFIED, FALLING TO THE WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH.
ALL RELIGIONS AND FAITHS HAVE BEEN (LIKE ANY DEVELOPEMENT) A PRODUCT OF MAN.AND SUCH AS IT IS, MAN CAN MANIPULATE AND/OR ACCLIMATE HIS/HER RELIGIOUS BELIEFS TO A LEVEL OF COMFORT SIMPLY AS ONE WOULD ADJUST A THERMOSTAT TO A COOL SETTING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.
I WAS ONCE TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT,"THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS A HAVEN AND SANCTUARY FOR CHILD MOLESTERS AND PERVERTS".I LAUGHED AND REPLIED,"I THINK THAT YOUR STATEMENT JUST SCRATCHES THE SURFACE".
THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.WE WERE JUST BEING A COUPLE OF 15 YEAR OLD DUMDASS KIDS WITH NEW WINDOWS INSTALLED IN OUR ABDOMENS SO WE COULD SEE WHERE WE WERE GOING WITH OUR HEADS UP OUR ASSES!
I REFLECT ON THT STATEMENT NOW WITH DEEP CONCERN DUE TO THE RECENT CATHOLIC AND JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ALLEGATIONS. DO I BELIEVE THESE ALLEGATIONS? YES.
LOOK INTO THE SOULS (EYES) OF THE ACCUSERS AND SEE THE REALITY OF THIER PAIN AND CONFUSION.ASK YOURSELF ,WHY WOULD THEY MAKE SUCH STATEMENTS AND/OR ALLEGATIONS?DO THEY HOPE TO PROFIT OR JUSTIFY? AND MOST OF ALL, WHY AREN'T THE ACCUSED OPENLY DEFENDING THEMSELVES IN OUTRAGE AS YOU OR I WOULD CONCERNING THE PRESERVATION OF OUR HONOR AND SELF- RESPECT?EVEN MORE SO, CAN THEY?
WE'VE ASKED ALL THE QUESTIONS,ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE US ALL THE ANSWERS?
My name is julie. i was born into "the truth" and was in for 15 years. When i was younger i was molested by my sister, who was a babtized witness. i didnt tell anyone for years. I was able to deal with it but when i finally moved with my mother who is disfellowshiped because she devorced my father for molesting her sister and cousin. He was babtized at the time He was disfellowshiped for a time but came back and became a elder. I worry all the time if he is hurting someone else although i have never been molested by him. i have watched many of my family members who by the way are still in the truth cry about it and it happened many years ago. my grandfather(on my mothers side)which was a elder knew and did nothing. Jehovahs witnesses have hurt me and most of my family. They do have many problems!! my email is hersheykisses33333@yahoo.com about it and did nothing
i'm a 31 female who was raped by an elder/family member when I was 14 years old. When it all came out he was disfellowshiped for 1 year not becuase he raped me and other but becuase he came out as a drug user and he cheated on his wife. His other victims and my self was able to only say what he did to us but we did not have enough wintness. We were asked when he kissed us why we did not yell out when he touched us why we did not yell stop! I felt the blame was placed on us as the victims and not him.As I grew up I was still had many issues and I was a good witiness and spoke to my elders and I was told to get over it, and Jehovah has taken care of it. But my needs were not meet. at age 23 I had enough I left I've never been back. I'm on two types of psychiatric medictions.I getting my head clear at last. FREE!
I have just discovered this site after listening to Dateline the other night. I am appalled at the treatment of the victims of child molestation and other rape cases!! I have personally known of cases where nothing was done to the gulity party, not a disfellowshipping or any prison time? The elders and the society do not want these cases to be known to others, but rather choose to handle themselves or to simply ignore them and hope they go away. What a Shame! MAY JEHOVAH REBUKE THEM!!!
Hi, this is my first time on this site. My heart goes out to very survivor. Iam a survivor myself. Iam now 16 years old and I was molested by my uncle when i was seven years old. He was also a JW. I strongly believe not all but most of JW's moleste children. They do it and then run back and everyone for gives them. Thats their place to hide out. I think that that religion has to be looked into. Everyone knows what goes on and no one does anything about it. These people have to pay for what they did. I know iam putting down the religion but you are bringing it on yourselves. You all know what is going on and you sit back and let it happen. Why dont you stop for a minute and think of the children that are being. These children did nothing wrong but trust a person that they love. Thats all children want is to be loved and you have the nerve to take that away from them. But hopefuly that wont happen to much longer.
I MISSED THE DATELINE NEWS TORY BY A LONG SHOT! I WAS OUT OF TOWN WITH MY FOLKS BUT A LETTER WAS READ TO THE CONGREGATION THAT WE VISITED AND IT WAS INFORMING THE BROTHERS HOW TO HANDLE CONFRONATION AMONG PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK US ABOUT US. YOU REALLY ALL SHOULD'VE BENN THERE. ANYWAYS JUST WANTED TO SAY HI. --AA
Just a nod to one former post - "cosmic yahtzee" is a term I will never stop giggling about. Beyond that, I am pursuing legal options to bring my abuser and the elders who protected him (which enabled my abuse) to justice. My personal wish right now is that everyone who has endured a situation like this and is looking for some real justice would find out what they need to do to get it. I've got the ear of the attorney handling the cases that were named on the Dateline show, and he specializes in this kind of abuse. Anyone who wants to know whether or not they've got a case, please contact me at jhkoval@earthlink.net . Now, as for those poor souls waiting on Jehovah to take care of this in his own time - this is it. Jehovah IS taking care of it. That doesn't mean that your abuser is going to be delivered, bound and gagged to your doorstep, ready and willing to give a confession. No, you will need to WORK for this. But it is JUSTICE, and it is so worth working for. The more survivors that tell their story, the more the Society will be forced to do something about this. And you will feel better knowing that you did everything you could to protect that little child you once were who has nobody else to protect them. Those are my ramblings - I hope that I made some of the survivors out there stop and think. I wish all of you the best.
Wow so much has been written since I have last really visited. I am away at this time but I don't exactly know my plans now that I have finally graduated from h.s. I just missed the dateline story (I should be able to order a copy from them) but the folowing week at a local congregation that my folks were visiting an elder read a letter from the governing body with nearly 10 scriptures in there to read concerning the matter of how elders deal with sexual abuse cases in the congregation. They repetedly claimed that the elders take the utmost concern when it comes to sexual abuse and in no way try to protect the abuser. I was in total shock how the society tried to sugarcoat the entire subject by saying "how lucky we are to be in Jehovah's organization where things like that rarely happen." I wanted to get up and leave. I felt the tears coming through my eyes because I just cannot believe I was part of such an organization for so long and I've just been living some lie. It really breaks you apart inside. Then a brother raised his hand and asked if this very long letter had anything to do with the Dateline story. Guess what the elder said :NO! absoulutely not. It was because of all the media attention made concerning the recent sexual cases concerning the catholic priests. Can you beleive they would lie like that?! What purpose did that serve?! So they were writing a letter to the congregation about the dateline story. SO WHAT?! Why lie and say its for something else. Man, I wish I could steal a copy of it. It's really somehtinhg else. Nontheless, even without seeing the dateline story And to all those who are saying to just let Jehovah deal with it... you could not be more wrong. That is not right! These men who are supposedly the faithful and discreet slave are too much like the Pharisees that it scares me. --AA
Boy,Boy,Boy. First let me say that the reason I am on this site is because of the dateline show and because other witnesses have talked about apostates who r running around with nothing better to do but chase witnesseses and say " oooh, look at what their doing. I LOVE JEHOVAH, N DESPISE PEDOPHILES, AS HE DOES ALSO. BUT HOW STUPID CAN YA BE TO THINK THAT THEIR AREN'T DISGUSTING PIGS OUT HERE WHO R WOLVES. SOME STORIES I BELIEVE, BUT SOME R JUST STRAIGHT BULL BY PEOPLE WHO R WEAK AND COULDN'T HACK IT. WHAT R U GONNA SAY ON JUDGEMENT DAY HUH!!! U GUYS R WORSE THAN THE ISRAELITES. LOL LOL LOL
Fact: Jehovah's Wittnesses are NOT the true religion. If they were thesse problems would not be evident.
Fiction: The elders do as much as possible to care for young ones victims of sexual abuse. Really, normally you would never hear about such problems in "God's organixation." But all of a sudden like wildflower all these bits and pieces are coming togethor. It just has to make you htink. The BIble encourages ones to look into the scripturers and see if the things you are reading are true. NOT into the Watchtowers or little books but the SCRIPTURES.
After reading some of the comments my heart and prayes go out to everyone in their time of need. Unfortunalely some cases of abuse and sexual abuse are never proven. It is a very complicated matter because with time things become distored. I was abused as a child and I kept silent for quite some time. I talked about the matter to my mother and she did admits that she did not handle the situation right. She will have to deal with the guilt on her own conscious. Also after hearing various of testimonies I believe that Jehovah had a hand in revealing the matter. The cases of abuse on children are complex because adults are the stronger minds and the children are the weaker ones but there is exceptions to this rule also. I believe that the society with the help of Jehovah will resolve the matter. There are so many cases even today that can not be proven. However, no matter how hard the case may be to prove if abuse did or did not happen I think that the laws should have a more stiffer penalty. Cases of abuse in the JW congregation are no light matter and like any other case can be hard to prove. I know for a fact that lots of people never talk about what happens to them until months or even years later and thats what makes it so hard to put the pieces together. I also beleive that Jehovah will help that individual who prays for help on how to deal with the matter.
To the one that thinks the Society will resolve the matter: You were abused and kept silent. Yet you feel that Jehovah had a hand in revealing these matters. (Of sourse that presupposes that he was waiting while a child was being sexually abused.) I am so sorry for you that you feel you need to tolerate child sexual abuse because you need to wait for God to intervene. In your past you went thru this torture, most likely at the hands of someone you should have been able to trust. Please ask yourself these: 'Was there someone that I should have been able to go to?,' and 'Why didn't I?' That person that should have been able to help SHOULD have seemed more available so you would go to that person. That person failed you. If you want to say that Jah provides, then I say that He provided that person, and that person failed you and Him.
You will need to stop taking the blame, and stop excusing those that should help yet do not.
- Cliff
I was lied to and beat for many years until i was kicked out of my home at age 13 i kicked out of the home because i didn't like my step father who was witness. He kicked my older brother out when he was around 13 or 14. He sexually abused my sister whom i haven't seen since 1982 and i haven't since my mother who stays just down the road from me since 1982 also. I beaten so bad once before that my teacher at school took me to the guidance counselor at she been to cry when she saw the marks on my back and legs from getting beat. Also i had to steal food from my own home because i was hungry, i stole light bed and hide it underneath or inside my matteress but as you can guess they found out and cut my food down een more. I can still remember the night my step father pulled out a gun and pointed to me and my oldest brother head and said he would kill us. I have know probably with giving names out of the people and places. They cause my life to be a up and down one. And yes my step father was and elder. Oh all the elders had there little click they thought they where big stuff. Had every scared to death for years. My step father use to bet to the pint were there was blood coming out. Eventually my aunt and uncle took me in and my mother and step father told them that if they took me in they were going to pay for it. My mother has not spoken to her own brother who stays right down the road from her in also 20 years as well. BI can sit for days and tell you some of the things that went on i the kingdom hall and with some of the elders there. I can write a book and then some. I have proof and witnesses. Here it is now also 20 years later and people are finally starting to see the lies and abuse some of these elders have done to people. I will for one expose everyone of those abuser and liars one by one starting with my mother and my step father for doing those things to me and my brother and sister.
It is sad that we measure our love for Jehovah with the imperfections of men. People will pay for their indecretions, but the truth stands alone. We know that the truth is the truth and men are imperfect in deed and word, but our love for the Almighty should never falter. Remember Korah and Dathan. Jehovah will correct all things in there due time. We have always been instructed to pay Ceasar's things to him, but God's things to him.
A few days ago I found this website and in my spare time i've been gradually reading all of the entries. I can honestly say i'm not surprised by what i've seen here. I was raised as a jehovah's witness. my grandfather began going just before i was born and as i lived with him from birth i naturally went with him. fortunately i escaped many of the atrocities i've read about and am quite ashamed to say that i advocated and supported their faith for years. i only began to see them in a different light a little over a year ago. my grandfather became very ill and was in the hospital for several months before he eventually passed away. i hadn't been living with him for almost five years but i knew for a fact that every week he would be found at the same kindgom hall that he'd attended since before i was born. often on my visits home to visit him he would take me with him to church and i would see the people i'd basically grown up around. anyway, to make a long story short not once did anyone from the congregation come to visit him in his time of need or bother to even call. however, a pastor of a dear family friend visited regularly and never once brought up their difference in beliefs. once my grandpa finally passed i called his KH several times. to my disbelief every time i called they claimed they didn't know who my grandfather was. i continued to call every sunday for almost a month just to see the response i would be given. i even called at different meeting times to make sure i was reaching everyone who attended the kingdom hall. to this day i can't believe those people. even though i'd never been baptized i would proudly claim i had been raised jehovah's witness, now i'm just ashamed. in my opinion religion is what should bring people together. you should be there to worship god and to learn more about him. i haven't attended a single church since my grandfather died. in the years after i moved away i explored several different religions looking for something that felt right, every church i went to didn't measure up to jehovah's witnesses at the time. now since his death i've realized that the people i care about, the ones that were there for me in my time of need and who continue to be there till this day are the type of people i want to be around. not hypocrits who claim to have found god but still turn there back on people. it's possible that the people in my inner circle may do things the jehovah's witness's claimed were evil, but they were there for me in my time of need. they comforted me, held me, told me it was going to be ok. they DID NOT criticize, reprimand or make me feel guilty. to put it quite simply they've given me what any religion, especially what jehovah's witness's have been unable too, unconditional love. isn't that what God is supposed to be about?