(Page one …, In Australia, according to the Mirage news source reports, the Queensland Government is urging participation by all religious …, On June 28, 2020, Australia’s ABC NEWS reported that Jehovah’s Witnesses and five other institutions were specifically and …, The following report presents parts of the speech given by Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, as he …, Editor’s note: The following article was published on July 25, 2018, by New Zealand’s The SPINOFF news. Child abuse lawyer Kathleen Hallisey believes there could be thousands of victims across the country who have not come forward because of the "two witness" rule. Marriages must be monogamous. Rodriguez was not punished, she said. The arrogance of Russell was incredible, with little education and no direct apostolic contact with God, he reasoned his volumes needed to be read to understand Scripture. Jehovah’s Witnesses “use the Bible to victim-shame” NBC News published a report by Elizabeth Chuck on October 7, 2018, that “on the heels of a $35 million jury award to a woman who alleged her Jehovah’s Witness congregation mishandled her childhood abuse, other survivors say there’s a … They abstain from celebrating religious holidays and birthdays and reject many customs that they claim to have pagan origins. “They were willing to turn their back on their own child to pursue a religion rather than support their own child,” she said. Jehovah's Witnesses have had a major impact on US constitutional law concerning civil liberties and conscientious objection to military service. This property acquisition took …, Those of us from an older generation often looked forward to reading “advice columns.” Twin …, From: The Charity Commission Published:26 July 2017 The charity regulator reports on its investigation into …, On July 24, 2020, Catholic Weekly published an article by Margaret Doumit for their Australian readers. Paradise Luke 23 2 Cor 12 Rev 2: 7 Phil 1 Walter Martin and Cults Would be good to have his book, "Kingdom of the Cults." The elders "basically told me that it was my fault. Other former Jehovah’s Witnesses say they have experienced a pattern of covering up abuse to protect the religion’s reputation dating back decades. Robert Bowman, and expert on JWs. Unique Videos Everyday! Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the only scriptural hope of surviving Armageddon comes through cleaving to the biblical teachings, including faith in Jesus' shed blood. These men are literally flying by the seat of their pants. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jehovah is the one and only true God, the creator of all things, and give him the title "Universal Sovereign". It's sad that even with their history of false prophecys they still believe this religion. Not only that, but I could potentially be shunned.". In practice it seeks neither advice nor approval from any "anointed" Witnesses other than high-ranking members at Brooklyn Bethel when formulating policy and doctrines or when creating material for publications and conventions. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It is not a loving brotherhood and certainly not a shelter from the storms of life. Lewis, concerning Free Will and Hell The Kingpin68, Lecture and Study Notes The Kingpin68: Do you have a soul? As I stood holding my three year old child, an old friend walked up, and without catching my eye, or acknowledging my presence, started to speak to my son, and then walked away. Victims say the secretive organisation instructs members not to report crimes to the police. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Satan is the evil, invisible ruler of the world. ", Wow. Formal discipline is conducted by congregation elders. When reached by phone, Rodriguez repeatedly told NBC News that he had no comment. Other former Jehovah's Witnesses say they have experienced a pattern of covering up abuse to protect the religion's reputation dating back decades. Smith said she hopes that by taking legal action, she will prevent what happened to her from happening to other Jehovah’s Witness children. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that death is a condition of non-existence without consciousness. He has books. Lewis (parts 13-24), "Mere Christianity" by C.S. However, Jehovah's Witness doctrines provide no legitimate reason for baptised members to leave the religion. Jehovah's Witnesses are probably best known for their efforts to spread their beliefs throughout the world. Witnesses express their world-renouncing beliefs in many ways. No child is ever going to feel like they can come forward.". Divorce is allowed only for adultery. There would be fights and physical altercations today if Jehovah's Witnesses insisted on marching in front of churches.russell pyramid. We pay for videos too. In 1961, accepting a blood transfusion resulted in expulsion from the religion. Watch Tower publications stress that members of the religion are not compelled to remain part of the congregation. “They talked about putting Jehovah first, putting God first in your life, and I wasn’t, apparently, doing that to their standards.”. They do not have things in place to get these dangerous people out of the midst of their children.”, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jehovah-s-witnesses-use-bible-victim-shame-sex-abuse-survivor-n916326, Published October 11, 2018 / Barbara Anderson. They told me that I wasn’t sorry enough to God for what I had done,” said Smith, who has since left the religion and works in the Spokane, Washington, area as an administrative assistant at a private medical company. They consider the Bible to be the ultimate authority for their teachings and practices. Members follow an interpretation of the Bible taught by preacher Charles Taze Russell in Pennsylvania, US, in the late 19th century. On one occasion, I attended an event with Witnesses present. Doctrinal positions are obtained by what Witness publications describe as "progressive revelation". I know people who are Jehovah's witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was Jehovah's first creation, that Jehovah then created everything else by means of Jesus, and that the initial unassisted act of creation uniquely identifies Jesus as God's 'only-begotten Son'. Do you report it to the police, do I report it to the police? The Kingpin68: Do you have a soul? Their most important and sacred event is the celebration of the "Lord's Evening Meal", or "Memorial of Christ's Death". Elders maintain general responsibility for congregational governance, setting meeting times, choosing speakers and conducting meetings, directing the public preaching work, and creating "judicial committees" to investigate and determine disciplinary action for cases that are seen as breaching scriptural or organizational laws. To learn more about their belief in the bible go to our Bible quiz page. The religious group is separate from mainstream Christian churches. Their hope for life after death involves being resurrected by God, either with a new body on earth after Armageddon, or to heaven as one of the limited number of 144,000. “When elders learn of an accusation of child abuse, they immediately consult with the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses to ensure compliance with child abuse reporting laws. I will show it to Darren.Cool. Rodriguez was not punished, she said. SUMMARIES OF NEARLY 600 JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES LAWSUITS & COURT CASES The following website summarizes 310 U.S. court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah's Witness Parents, including 100+ cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children: DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com The following website summarizes over 275 lawsuits filed by Jehovah's Witnesses against their Employers, and/or incidents involving problem JW Employees: EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS EMPLOYEES http://jwemployees.bravehost.com. Another woman, from Worcestershire, said she was raped as a child by a friend of her brother. The BBC said it also spoke to male and female victims in Birmingham, Cheltenham, Leicester and Glasgow who told gave similar accounts. Bowen is also the national director of Silentlambs, a victims’ support group where abuse survivors who have gotten kicked out of the religion anonymously share their stories. “It is absolutely an environment where the abuser is set up to abuse again,” she said. Note: Neither this website nor the information herein are official or authorized by any of the churches represented therein. (Romans 13:1) Even if the elders have no legal duty to report an accusation to the authorities, the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses will instruct the elders to report the matter if a minor is still in danger of abuse or there is some other valid reason," says one bullet point in the document. Jesus served as a ransom sacrifice to pay for the sins of all humankind. I know that feeling from personal experience, numerous times. Smith says that kind of protection was never offered in her case. They do not work in industries associated with the military, do not serve in the armed forces and refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment. Deity of Christ. Any mention of that and I always found these grown women (especially those raised in the religion) saying, “Ewww! It directed NBC News to its "scripturally based position on child protection," a two-page document on its website that intersperses Biblical references with denouncements of child abuse and outlines how the congregation aims to protect its children. 16 comments: A study by sociologist Andrew Holden indicated they are therefore highly selective in choosing who they spend leisure time with and usually select the company of other Witnesses. "At some point, they have to understand that this is not tolerable in a civilized society," Zalkin said. Even worse, when she finally told her family a couple of years later that she had been in a sexual relationship with an older man at age 14, she says they accused her of flirting, and have since stopped talking to her because they view her as a "spiritual threat" to their own commitment to their faith. In the tight-knit Jehovah’s Witness community, outsiders, including authorities, are often viewed suspiciously, according to religious scholars. The organization is headed by the Governing Body â an all-male group that varies in numbers, but since 2007 has comprised nine members, all of whom profess to be of the "anointed" class with a hope of heavenly life â based in the Watch Tower Society's Brooklyn, New York headquarters. Witness publications teach that God's Kingdom is a government in heaven, ruled by Jesus Christ and 144,000 people selected from the earth. Those who do not present such faith and become part of God's "organization" face destruction at Armageddon. 07-09-23 04:49:16 _____ Lewis, concerning Free Will and Hell. Smith says it was in October 2012, five days before her 15th birthday, that Rodriguez had sex with her in the bedroom of the house she lived in with her father, a respected Jehovah's Witness elder. “There’s no list of questions or protocols. “She was the one who they, in essence, prosecuted.”. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. These men are literally flying by the seat of their pants. Witness publications teach that all of humanity lies in a sinful state. Louise Palmer told the BBC she reported her rapist brother to church authorities, Children who were raped by Jehovah's Witnesses told NOT to report abuse, Louise said she was told going to the police would shame the religion, Angie Rodgers was abused from the age of 11 by her father and then by a Jehovah's Witness elder when she asked for help, abused by her father from the age of 11 and then by one of the Jehovah's Witness elders she asked for help, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Sex education is looked down upon by JW’s and they for decades have preached to the congregations not to let their kids study that subject in school. Even worse, when she finally told her family a couple of years later that she had been in a sexual relationship with an older man at age 14, she says they accused her of flirting, and have since stopped talking to her because they view her as a “spiritual threat” to their own commitment to their faith.