Jehovah's Witnesses Plan Exodus from Brooklyn Heights

The witnesses tell everybody that "the end is near, prepare for the end", then they go selling buying a building new facilities. They are obviously planning for things to be around for a while.

For a glimpse into more of their hypocrisy:

1. Their current issue (Aug 2010 page 3) of "Awake" it says "At the very least, you are entitled to truthful answers. So do not listen to prejudicial hearsay, or rumor, but search for the facts. Says the Bible at Proverbs 14:15: 'A simple man believes every word he hears; a cleaver man understands the need for proof.'"

That's how they get you in. But once you get in, they want you to avoid all folks who left the organization, and never have religious conversations with them. The are also advised to refrain from any website, book, material that questions the teachings of the Watchtower. They should only get their information from the Watchtower. Once you are in, they want you to believe the Watchtower and their prejudicial hearsay, or rumors, and avoid searching for the facts. Why the fear? The Watchtower tells it's followers that those who left the faith are liars, haters of the truth, etc. but that is nothing more than spreading "hearsay" and "rumors". And for witnesses to repeat that stuff without actually knowing all the circumstances is "gossip".

2. To read material that shines a brighter light into the deception, false prophecies, and doctrinal flip-flops of the WT, is viewed as viewing "spiritual pornography" by the WT. Why does the WT allow its believers who are professional photographers to produce images of nude/semi nude women? (Sister Cantrell)

Why does the WT allow it's members to create websites that have nudity on the sites (an elder at that)? The same site has links to Protestant websites in the ads, and links to "apostate" sites in the forums. I guess that elder in south Louisiana donates lots, and so the WT is strangely silent.

3. "theocratic warfare" - it is when witnesses lie or bend the truth in order to protect the WT organization. Jesus and the rest of the Bible has strong words for those who lie. And isn't God's enemy referred to as "the deceiver"?

4. They look with a microscope at the history of the Protestant and Catholic churches, noting anything that they can label as "pagan" and forbidding such practices as celebrating birthdays, Christmas, etc. Yet, when someone asks about the pagan teachings (pyramids, etc) of JW founder Charles Russell, then, they tell you that you are persecuting them and that it is proof that they are the true religion. Huh?

5. They say they love everybody, and they will as long as you don't ask questions, and embrace their teachings. If you walk away from the JW's they treat you in a very un-loving way. If you are obedient to the Aug 2010 Awake, and ask for proof, you will NOT see a lot of love.

6. They are all taught that the unusual "translation" of the bible they use is accurate. But, when you ask them who served on the translation committee, and if they knew the original languages, the JW's won't answer directly and hid the fact that nobody on the committee knew the original languages with any authority. Only one had any knowledge of the original languages, and his knowledge was limited to one of the three languages, and he had only a basic understanding of that language.

If any of you Jehovah's Witnesses think my words are lies, deception, or otherwise, please for the sake of your own eternity, look it up. Dig around. "Search for the facts" That is what the WT told you to do. You now have not only permission, but you are commanded to by the WT.

May God bless you.

jehovahs witnesses i just wanted 2 remind you of 1cor. 15:33 this site is full of apostates.

If you have energy to spend on trying to improve people, why not start with more concrete situations such as helping out in foodbanks or volunteering in any number of public/private organizations to really help people

Well, obviously complaining on the internet does not preclude doing any of those things.

Some of us complain because we actually know a lot about them from direct experience. We provide a counterpoint to the way they portray themselves. Their image, is, after all, carefully crafted and part of their pitch.

Despite your positive view of them, they are not benign. The consequences for families can be quite severe. Their apocalyptic worldview and "us vs. them" attitude is, to put it plainly, immoral, deeply irrational, and bad for the welfare of the individual believer. And unlike most religions they aggressively seek converts (and have a high turnover) - proselytizing is the point of the religion, not just something unusual they do.

There's nothing wrong with offering a critical perspective on it. People deserve to know more about the person knocking on their door.

I'm coming late to this discussion following a link from LAist....

I am not a JW, I belong to another church but...

In living in a small town I observed:

When other people were out getting drunk and having auto accidents, the JWs were home, or at Kingdom Hall

when times were tough financially, they helped each other out...not all other local churches did anything to help their parishioners

If neighbors, they didn't gossip or spread rumors

They might not agree with what the schools were teaching but their children were sent/taken to school--unlike some other parents who couldn't be bothered.

What I did see:

People criticising the JWs fro not observing birthdays or Christmas or Halloween, and the usual complaint was about how they were denying their children the experiences. Often these are the same parents who had little or no parenting skills themselves.Pot-kettle?

Most of the people who complained about the JWs were people who were not part of a church or group and of those that were, were often part of a small pentecostal church without trained ministers. I remember once such chapel where the minister's wife ran away with a truck driver because she couldn't stand being his wife and the way the congregation tried to control their lives. Not the best representative of a Christian congregation.

I have also observed (in that small town, and now in LA) that people who criticise certain religious groups (I do not include Scientology in that category) are often people who criticize religion in general.

If you're happy with where you're at religiously/spiritually/personally, then why are you worried about what other people are doing?

If you have energy to spend on trying to improve people, why not start with more concrete situations such as helping out in foodbanks or volunteering in any number of public/private organizations to really help peopel--instead of spending your time complaining about how people [who have the constitutional right to worship as they please] live their lives.

As far as selling the Brooklyn property, just sounds like a good business decision to me. And, I imagine, the people who work there would be happier to live in a less stressful environment.

You can smell a Watchtower cult troll shill a mile away!

Man oh man does this JW cult ever shill a lot,like the carnival snake oil sales geeks.

Hello! I was a 3rd generation JW my entire clan was defrauded of our financial assets by the Watchtower racket.

The JW cult is a deadly scam.

Zombies but that is what organized religion creates.

Lol, Their still around ? I thought they went out of business .

All churches are the same.

JW or OCM. Same Sh*t.

Wow! Totally green facilities. That's really motivating...

Green facilities seem kind of pointless for a society founded on prophecies of imminent apocalypse.

It's not "pointless" when you take time to consider we also value our Earth and want to keep it as clean and green as possible.

Its a waste of time trying to argue with a JW - they are blind to anything apart from what their head publicists tell them.

For the more open minded the second half of the attached blog is an amusing take on JW's

www.religiosityandintelligence...

The cult and its apparent authority are so contradictory its hard not to find it amusing - if not for the tragedy that comes with people being drawn apart and so many wasting their lives believing in such zealous extremism.

All you can do is hope they come to their senses, and leave them to it.

no one says you have to join;it's your option,just don't complain about the consequences of your own choice.& remember handsomedevil,they weren't the ones getting excited & saying it was God's punishment on USA,it was the rockcandy mountain preachers[who promptly backed off when everyone screamed].at least someone thinks you're worth saving--what will it mean when they quit knocking?

if muslims, jews, hindus, atheists, or buddhist went door to door trying to convert people you know that there would be riots.

Don't worry about rioting, start worrying when they stop knocking !!

Good Riddance.

Good riddance to you too!

In addition to the buildings, they also own a bunch of parking lots scattered around DUMBO which they will presumably no longer need. One of them is an entire square block, right next to the York St station: $$$$$

So, basically they own most of New York? Smarter than I thought. I still wonder why they are getting out. Perhaps they know something we don't.

Why is it that those in charge of these ultra-religious organizations, devoted to God and steeped in all matters ethereal, are ever so...worldly?

That being said, good timing on those sales.

What's wordly about selling off property and expanding in a cheaper area according to green standards? WT (the corporation no the religion) is a international organization. You think it can be run out of the back of a pick-up truck in Central Park?

In the Bible's description of a capable wife, it depicts her as shrewd in matters of business (Proverbs 31:16). Wouldn't you sort of expect the same from an organization publishing those biblical views?

Unrighteous riches (Luke 16:9)

Those prices in the Brooklyn Paper can't be right. In what imaginary NYC could someone have bought a 26-story tower for $18 million only a few years ago?

For a while I was at peace with the Witnesses, until 9/11. I imagined all the honchos gazing out the windows of their HQ and getting excited. After all, it fit pretty well into their end-of-days scenario, with "nation rising up against nation." So I could see them wondering "Is this it? Is this how it begins?"

So, good riddance. You're either with humanity or against it. The Witnesses look forward to you and everyone around you getting destroyed.

The 9/11 tragedy took the life of 14 of our brothers and sisters, how can you dare to say that "the Witnesses look forward to you and everyone around you getting destroyed'. That's a very ignorant statement, The Awake of January 2002 was a detailed brochure that was all about the twin towers and the tragedy that came upon us that day. In a VERY NEAR future the end will come but we pray that everyone will be saved-yes EVERYONE. ALL of Gods children; this is why today more than every we are preaching at unheard of presidency, so everyone will get a chance to hear about Jehovah and his kingdom. Please listen www.watchtower.org

You are one of Jehovah's children and even if you don't like it we do have the truth, that is a fact and you need to act NOW before it's too late.

It does not surprise me at all that Witnesses know the count of their members lost in 9/11, or that they pored over the events afterwards. The event feeds into their worldview. The question, though, is how much they really care about the other 2959.

The whole armageddon fantasy would make 9/11 look like a day at the beach. That's my point.

"but we pray that everyone will be saved-yes EVERYONE"

Why do you guys repeatedly misrepresent what you believe to make it sound better? You know that nowhere near everyone would be saved.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7:13)

That's a favorite of yours.

Yes, we know the count of the brothers and sisters that we lost that day. That doesn't mean that the others who passed away in the 9/11 tragedy don't matter read the Awake of January 2002 - During the first few days that followed the disaster about 70 people found shelter in the watchtower offices, immediate help was sent and rescue teams as well. Don't make it sound like we only care for JW's - if that were true then we wouldn't go door to door and teach our neighbors about Gods Kingdom.

Matthew 7:13

You are right many have chosen the wrong path but we go door to door in hope of finding the ones who will choose the narrow road.

It's not our job to judge a person but to teach them what the Bible says and then Jehovah God will take of the rest. Jehovah is such a loving God that he want no one to die but to repent.(2Peter 3:8) As his children we want the same for our neighbors.

This is your "imagination" running wild. Actually, JWs use their time, energy, resources to "warn" of what we perceive as an impending global war directed by God. We certainly don't gloat over anyone dying. This is a figment only of "your" imagination.

I see, so if someone were to write something like "start worrying when they stop knocking!!" that wouldn't come off as a tad gloaty. I can really feel the concern there for others' well-being.

Or, let's look at "just don't complain about the consequences of your own choice" - sounds a lot like I portrayed it, huh. (I said "you had your chance, and soon you're gonna pay" - same idea just amplified a smidge.) Oh, and there's that slogan again - "what will it mean when they quit knocking?" Hmmm, what is that supposed to mean?

This is the Witness voice I know. It's not the sound of love.

Let's try this non-PC one on for size:

For a while I was at peace with the Muslims, until 9/11. I imagined all the imans gazing out the windows of their HQ and getting excited. After all, it fit pretty well into their end-of-days scenario, with "nation rising up against nation." So I could see them wondering "Is this it? Is this how it begins?"

OR no, this one is even better:

For a while I was at peace with the makers of the movie 2012, until 9/11. I imagined all the movie execs gazing out the windows of their HQ and getting excited. After all, it fit pretty well into their end-of-days scenario, with "nation rising up against nation." So I could see them wondering "Is this it? Is this how it begins?"

Handsomedevil, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU ABOUT? Like you had some dream about the JWs and now you don't like them?

Well, as you can see from the discussion that ensued, I have experience with these folks. For a while I was just happy to be free of them, but 9/11 was a reminder of what they really believe. A literal taste of what they wish on all mankind (except for themselves, natch.) So yeah, I "don't like them."

What's funny is that, though I was immediately branded a "moron," I got two responses that confirm I'm correct. Read 'em carefully. GrantGresson even admits to thinking exactly what I conjectured on 9/11.

Sure, I said that. But I don't understand why you have a problem with that. I wonder about a lot of things. That doesn't mean that I welcome the death of anyone. We mourn the deaths of JWs and non-JWs alike, just as you would. What happened then was terrible and tragic and it pains me even now to think of the suffering and loss. But it was a significant turning point in world affairs, that much is indisputable. Like most people, I was simply trying to understand what it meant.

I admit to wondering, "Is this how it begins?" during 9/11. I think it was a natural thing to wonder. Most people were confused and scared by those events. But it was hardly a gleeful, "Now they'll get what's coming to them!"

Jehovah's Witnesses hold God's view on the matter, stated in 2 Peter 3:9: "He does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance."

I am definitely, 100-percent for humanity.

"The Witnesses look forward to you and everyone around you getting destroyed."

No they don't, you moron!

That's all you got, huh. Fact is, that's what their whole religion is based on. They don't use heaven and hell like other religions do, but rather the promise of a "new system" on earth in which God rules and people live forever.

Sounds great, huh? How do we get there? Why, armageddon of course. Everybody dies. Except for them, practitioners of the one true religion. And they really expect to see this happen in their lifetime - it's not some far-off abstraction.

When that smiley man or woman knocks on your door proffering a magazine, you don't realize they are saying "join our religion OR DIE." But that's the deal. That's why they are so smug about it - it's no skin off their back when you decline. Their whole belief system is a giant revenge fantasy - you had your chance, and soon you're gonna pay.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1l4h4_the-final-exammormons-are-the-answe_news

It pained me to no end to read your comment. I understand your line of reasoning, but please be careful not to jump to conclusions before at least taking the time to confirming your suspicions with an actual member. Prejudice is an incredibly powerful destructive force.

Witnesses love people, that is why we preach. We could be like the many other churches who believe that God is going to punish non-believers to eternal fiery torment, but are too wrapped up in their own personal salvation to do anything to help others. Instead, we take our own personal time, with money out of our own pocket, to tell people that this is what the true God is doing (straight out of scripture Mat 24:14).

That said, how do you think God will react to those who: (1) defame him by saying he will burn people for eternity, despite the fact that there is not a single scripture saying that people have an immortal soul (check the internet for yourself, Compare with Ec 9:5, 10). Regarding this, he even going so far to say that burning people is something that "did not come into [his] mind" (Jer 32:35). (2) refuse to warn people of their impending judgement, despite every single Christian being aware of 'The Great Commission' (Mat 28:19, 20). (3) Continue to meddle in secular politics, despite Christ telling his followers time and again to be "no part of this world" (4) or, continue to blame God for the many self induced tragedies that we see so prevalently these days.

The point is, God (and not us) has written in his word, (regardless of what Bible you choose) that he is going to bring to ruin all those in opposition to him. We all have a choice, read his word, and obey his commands and enjoy the consequences, OR ignore him or oppose him, and reap the consequences (Gal 6:7). But, please don't think this work is something thought up by 'The Watchtower', it's straight out of scripture.

Finally I can sleep late on Sundays without being disturbed.

The apocalyptic Watchtower cult has promised the end-of-the-world-coming any minute &-the-paradise-going-to-fix-all-your problems.

This causes followers to not plan for a future in 'this system' so they don't save for their retirement,don't go to college,don't take care of their long term health care.

These are the facts!



Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult and they will take any body's money wolves in sheep's clothing.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Jehovah's Witnesses guilt-goaded a million followers to give them their assets including retirement savings promising them a 'return' of everlasting life in their own lifetime.

They are worse than Enron,think about that!

Dude, what have you been smoking? That's not how they operate at all actually... Most of my family is JW's and even though it's not my thing I've been around it and I have never seen a case of them asking anyone for any large sum of money.

They don't even pass a collection plate like most Churches do so I'm pretty sure you need to get your facts straight and maybe lay off the Crazy O's at breakfast time.

Do you ever sleep?

That picture does not depict the JW headquarters, just one of their printing plants. If they abandon that, it's going to put a whole new spin on the BPP proposal, as it's in a sweetheart location for residential development. Boylemelgreens busted, but I wonder if Walentas or the Toll brothers won't come sniffing around. A definite game-changer.

Does that mean that the city can now collect property tax on all that prime real estate?

If so that seems like a good thing.

I wonder what the law really says about it. NYU and Columbia own tons of residential and commercial real estate and I'll bet they don't pay what they're supposed to.

Knock knock knock knock knocking on Jehovah's door!

Q: Why are there no Jehovah's Witnesses in Italy?

A: You know how they feel about witnesses.

"Why are there no JWs in Italy?"....Please know that the JW Organiztion is worldwide and there are plenty of JWs in Italy, over 243,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Italy. Not sure where you got your "facts" from. There are Jehovah's Witnesses all over the world that teach and believe and try as best they can to abide by bible principles. There is true unity and love between them worldwide...and they love everyone (not just JWs)they are a peaceful religion and would never harm anyone in anyway. And JWs respect peoples opinions about the JW Organization. Like the saying goes..."to each his own". God made everyone with freedom of choice...you choose to think and live how you want. JWs choose to live and follow in Jesus footsteps as he followed his father Jehovah God. The JWs do not force anyone to join them. You learn what the bible says and you decide for yourself how you want to live your life. Its between you and God. He gave everyone life and only you can decide how to use that wonderful life he has given you. Jesus Christ while on earth chose to live his life for his fathers Kingdom and to help others...as he himself said...he was not part of this world and neither were his true followers. And only God knows who will be saved in the last day...not the JWs. Thank you and Enjoy Your Day.

It was just a joke, you know, Italians, mafia... witnesses.

Not sure where you got your "facts" from.

Of course, NannyState was just making a joke. I guess you didn't see the punchline there.

Welcome to Gothamist, BTW. I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here. Be sure to click on the American Apparel ad and buy some sexy underwear.

(This is why your elders tell you to be careful on the internet.)

Ha, funny.

HAHAHA XD

thanks for the morning laugh

Does that mean that the city can now collect property tax on all that prime real estate?

yes it does. If I have the address correct 360 Furman Street was sold to the witnessess by a cosmetic company. That owner could not get a tax break so he intentionally sold to them. ( if it was not 360 it was close by.)

*Predicts waves of predictable comments*

Lifelong Jehovah's Witnesses dissident speaks out on JW belief system .

A) They are at your door to recruit you for their watchtower society corporation,they will say that "we are just here to share a message from the Bible" this is deception right off.

B) Their 'message' creed is a false Gospel that Jesus had his second coming in 1914.The problem with this is it's not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim "..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple."

C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban against *whole blood* has killed thousands.

D) once they recruit you they will "love bomb" you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off.

----

Danny Haszard Jehovah's Witness X 33 years

Jehovah's Witnesses were/are the largest landowner in Brooklyn?

The Watchtower Society corporation in 2010 is cashing in on their Kingdom assets.Selling off property in Brooklyn and moving upstate to their Patterson complex.

Three generations of my Jehovah's Witnesses family donated heavily to the Watchtower investing in their *new order* after Armageddon.

Jehovah's Witnesses are noted for their chief doctrine that Jesus had his second coming in 1914 and going door to door with Watchtower magazines,google * Jehovah's Witnesses Watchtower * for facts on this group.

-

Danny Haszard www.dannyhaszard.com

I am not a former JW and never was but my family is in it.

Jehovah's Witnesses deny their members the Constitutional Right to Free Speech. If a member speaks out against the local elders or the Watchtower Corporation they are disfellowshipped. That means the are dead to all JWs even their own family.

First you start out with a Bible study that turns out to be only a book study.

They gloss over the part about disfellowshiping.

Down the road when you realize that you can't disagree with even the smallest teachings of this high control group...your freedom of choice (they same they used to encourage you to join) and your relationships including family, friends and associates are leveraged against you.

If it looks like a cult, and sounds like a cult, then it is a cult.

The JW operate, look, sound, act and treat members who disagree EXACTLY like Scientology

Please verify your information before you post it as "fact". What you have written here is not accurate.

Jehovah's Witnesses do follow the Bible's instructions not to associate with ones who have a gross disregard for God's laws (see 1 Cor. 5:11), and this practise is known as disfellowshipping, in other words, not having fellowship. This is done only in cases of serious, unrepentant wrongdoing, such as adultery or long-term abuse of alcohol, for example, (Note 'abuse' rather than 'use of'; yes, most JW's do drink alcohol) and ONLY as a last resort.

It is never done because of a minor disagreement about a particular doctrine or scriptural understanding.

The bible study program isn't a bait and switch routine. No one is encouraged to be baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses before they are ready and fully understand their decision, including the practise of disfellowshipping. But if you disagree with God's Laws on the sorts of things that would cause you to be expelled from the congregation, you probably aren't interested in being one of Jehovah's Witnesses anyway.

And someone who has been disfellowshipped is not "dead to us". We still love them sincerely and hope that they return to the congregation. Of course, their doing so would mean that they have given up whatever practise led to the disfellowshipping in the first place.

I don't know much about Scientology (or Amway, for that matter), or their practises as they relate to expelling, so I can't comment on any similarity. However, it's is probably safe to say that a major difference is the fact that our basis for doing so comes directly from God's Word, the Bible, and theirs does not.

I don't have a problem with anything you just said regarding the JW's supposed way of acting. What I have a problem with is that they say the same things you just did, but then when you arrive for a worship service, instead of glorifying God as most houses of worship do, you're subjected to an hour or two of grandstanding and detrimental talk about Catholicism or other sects of Christianity. That is exactly what bait and switch is all about.

To put it in terms you might understand, "He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight."

If that was your experience, then I'm sorry that happened. But tearing down other religions is not what we're about. For me, the things that I say are the same as what I hear at a meeting, the same as what I teach my children and the same as what I study in the Bible and our publications. It's the same for JW I know, in every congregation I've ever been in.

Most of the almost 7 million JWs around the world are people just like me: doing my best to understand what the Bible really teaches, grasp what it is that God wants of me and to try to do it each day. That's all.

I don't go around vilifying the Catholic Church. And besides, its involvement in scandal, politics and wars is public record. A discerning person can come to their own conclusions.

What we do want to do, though, is shed light on teachings that are inconsistent with the Bible, like the idea of eternal torment in a fiery hell, as was mentioned earlier.

Perhaps non-biblical teachings are the lies referred to in that scripture?

But tearing down other religions is not what we're about.

Sorry Grant, you seem like a nice guy - certainly you are doing a better job here than your less articulate colleagues. But, that's totally disingenuous. Witnesses are OBSESSED with being the only correct religion, and spend a huge portion of their time obsessing over the minutiae of other belief systems and finding fault.

For instance:

What's wrong with having a crucifix up in your house?

Answer (according the Watchtower society, my paraphrase): First off, it's inaccurate. Jesus wasn't crucified - he was put to death on a torture stake and not a cross. And furthermore, it's kind of sick when you think about it, it's like keeping a replica of the murder weapon that was used to kill a family member.

You know that's dead on. Your bible studies are full of this kind of script-flipping, taking something that other people cherish and turning it upside down. As if a loving, benevolent God would even care what's in your house.

I kind of believed you when you professed to love everybody. But this post is ridiculously hypocritical.

>

I guess the most accurate thing I can say is that it's not what I'm about, then. And I hope you do believe me when I say that I care about people, because I truly do. Even if I disagree with particular beliefs or doctrines taught by other religions, I don't have a problem with the people who practise those religions.

handsomedevil, you seem to have had a LOT of exposure to the Witnesses. I'd be interested in hearing more about your story.

A lot of people in this world are genuine in their faith, regardless of what faith they are in. How that will play out in the final analysis, I have no idea. Fortunately, I'm not the one making the decision. I, for one, don't say, "If you are not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you will die at Armageddon." I personally believe it will have a lot more to do with a person's heart condition and their willingness to accept God's direction.

We believe that the bible is the inspired Word of God. It's a perfect message. But the message is being spread by imperfect people who don't always express it well. So, please forgive the ones who get a tad (or more than a tad) over-zealous in their comments.

I can't really express it any better than the way it's written already, which is why I always try to refer to a scripture.

How closely we listen to God's message indicates whether we really care about doing things His way. And isn't that what a religion is about? Being the best person you can be, living your life in a way that pleases God and trying to do what he asks of you?

That's why I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Because I believe this to be the most accurate understanding of that message, so far.

Since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you exactly what my deal is. This is against my better judgement, but what the heck.

But, it's a long story. Too long for here. So, I made a little blog for you.

http://blogforgrant.blogspot.com/

Also, an aside: There's nobody here right now but me, you, and the other visitors from The Truth who choose to look. But, if this post hits the "top five of the week", it'll go ca-RAZY. The Gothamist regulars are a rowdy bunch.

hey handsome devil, thanks for your words here. as someone who was raised a JW I can relate. I think you are a bit more at peace with it then I, as my family were even more heavily entrenched in this cult. I still feel like so much of my life was spent in a half life, waiting for the end of the world. But I try to focus on the positive things I can take away from that time of my life, which was from when I can remember till I was around 22 and finally decided that I wanted to go to college and make my own life better. Anyway, I like to hear about people who have gotten out and manage to live healthy, positive lives. awesome.

hey handsome devil, thanks for your words here. as someone who was raised a JW I can relate. I think you are a bit more at peace with it then I, as my family were even more heavily entrenched in this cult. I still feel like so much of my life was spent in a half life, waiting for the end of the world. But I try to focus on the positive things I can take away from that time of my life, which was from when I can remember till I was around 22 and finally decided that I wanted to go to college and make my own life better. Anyway, I like to hear about people who have gotten out and manage to live healthy, positive lives. awesome.

WOW!!! It's crazy how much you remind me of my brother, he was disfellowshiped almost three years ago.

"People like me sometimes know as much or more about The Truth as somebody like you. You gotta admit that I know quite a bit, and that the facts I've presented so far are accurate."

Just because you know about the Truth doesn't make you right, in fact do you remember what James 2:14-17 says

you know so much about the Bible and yet you doubt to believe that Jehovah God doesn't exists and think the Big bang theory is true. How could that be, just stop and think how your heart pumps about 60 times per minute without you instructing it to do so. Could an explosion really cause this? The energy of the atomic bomb didn't create new life, it destroyed life.

You're a smart guy you should really, REALLY listen to what your mom and other relatives talk to you about.

People are imperfect but the organization is run by Jehovah and in the future we won't have to deal with imperfection, till then they CO's and elders are put there by Jehovah and should get our respect for that reason alone.

... he replies after looking up the meaning of 'disingenuous' ;)

"I don't go around vilifying the Catholic Church. And besides, its involvement in scandal, politics and wars is public record. A discerning person can come to their own conclusions"

Oh yes you do.

Having an adoptive brother who was in Amway and then the JW's*, I can tell you for sure that there are remarkable similarities between the two groups' insistence on doctrinal purity. Both prey on people in vulnerable circumstances. Both strongly discourage association with family members who disagree with their teachings. And both are very efficient money making enterprises which claim a spiritual mission.

* (He's better now)

Not to defend or support the JW's, but the constitutional right to free speech only protects you from the conduct of the government, not private entities. Since the JW's are not a governmental organization, they can pretty much restrict whatever they want of their members in the same way that Gothamist, which is not of course a government-run blog, can restrict what is said in their comments section.

That's about what I was going to say. Sounds very much like Scientology.

sounds like Scientology + Amway.

- the cool personal care products!

I'm all for it if means they darken my doorstep in Queens less often. Something tells me it won't change a thing.

(how's that?)

Jehovah's Witnesses controversy in nutshell:

Cult-like hard core apocalyptic fundy Watchtower is an 1870 splinter group from the William Miller *great disappointment* fallout.

They have kept followers on the edge of the seat and drained them dry after pinning all their hopes and dreams on the always just around the corner post armageddon *paradise".

They took scam everything from many followers including lots and lots of money.NOW bloated with wealth... all they can do is stagger around and shoot critic messengers and say the Catholic church was worse with it's atrocities and exaggerate some of the few beneficial JW legacies.

They ripped off millions most who just grew old and died so can't say anything back now.

The A number one fear of the Watchtower is bad PR and lawsuits for fraud,just like Scientology same lawyers same spin doctors same shills same everything.

Our intent is not to disturb anyone. Ask the next JW to simply put you on our "do not call list." It'll take awhile for this to go into effect, but we are only looking for ones who want to hear the word of God.

Because they do go door to door and cold-call at our homes you deserve special scrutiny!

The Jehovah's Witnesses on one hand fill their books and lectures with details about how evil and corrupt every other religion is, but then when theirs is exposed as corrupt they fall back on how it's "voluntary" to be a member, and how it's not nice to say nasty things about them, and how they're being "persecuted."

The Jehovah's Witnesses,don't 'pass the collection plate' or tithe,but leaders do strongly "encourage" followers to freely donate...donate...donate..there are donation boxes at Kingdom Hall

James 1:27 "look after widows and orphans in their tribulation".

This is what true Christians must do,Jehovah's Witnesses canvass Watchtower literature door to door with a false 1914 Gospel and ask for donations for this literature.

That's pretty good.