Jehovah's Witnesses
A prominent denomination that believes the end times have already begun
1870 - present
The Jehovah's Witnesses are one of the most prominent groups on this website, with millions of members and a strong focus on evangelizing. Influenced by the Millerites, Charles Taze Russel founded the Bible Study movement based on his unorthodox beliefs, which branched into several different groups. After Russell's death, Joseph F. Rutherford took over as the leader and instituted many of the controversial beliefs and practices that they are most known for. Although the movement continued to grow to become one of the most prominent denominations in America, it is often criticized for having heretical beliefs, exercising high control over its members, and covering up child sexual abuse.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Adventist
Founder: Charles Taze Russell
Founded: 1870
Location: International, headquartered in Warwick, New York, US
Size: 8.7 million (as of 2021)
The "high-control environment" in the church has caused various mental health issues among members, especially women (source)
Additional instances of abuse are discussed below
Members believe that human governments are a "product of the Devil" (source)
Members are forbidden from taking "any action to change governments," including voting, running for public office, serving in the military, and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance (source)
Despite their opposition, members still respect governments and follow their laws (source)
Members are discouraged from attending college (source)
The church forbids blood transfusions, even in a life-or-death situation (source)
This prohibition of blood transitions has resulted in deaths and accusations of child abuse (see the "Child Abuse Lawsuits," "Murder," and "Suicide" sections below)
Members have been reluctant to seek mental health support from members outside the church (source)
An Australian commission found that the church failed to report alleged child abuse for over 1,000 perpetrators and destroyed documentation about these incidents (source, source p. 12)
The church's stance on refusing blood transfusions has been criticized for harming children (see the"Anti-Medicine" above and "Murder" section below) (source)
See also the "Sexual Allegations" section below
The denomination believes that humanity is currently in the end times, which began in 1914 (source)
The church has acknowledged that at least 26 children have died as a result of the church's stance against blood transfusions (source)
Members are discouraged from having close relationships with those outside of the church, including joining groups or teams that involve non-members (source)
Members are discouraged from engaging in various forms of entertainment, including certain websites, books, and movies (source)
Members choose not to associate with people that they consider to do "bad things," such as disobeying God (source)
Members are only expected to marry other members (source)
The denomination has been widely accused of attempting to conceal sexual abuse within the church, including discouraging victims from reporting their abuse (source, source, source)
A Norwegian investigation determined that the rate of sexual abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses was similar to that in general society, but was critical of how the church handled child abuse allegations (source)
The church believes that a sin must have two witnesses to be acted upon in the absence of a confession. This doctrine has been criticized for protecting pedophiles (source)
A practice they call "disfellowshipping" (source)
Going to the police or other non-members is highly discouraged, according to one former member (source)
A 2021 study found that shunning by Jehovah's Witnesses can increase the risk of mental health issues (source)
a 2014 study reported that shunning affected members' ability to receive medical help (source)
Approximately 594 members die each year (more than 30,000 total) due to the church's doctrine against blood transfusions (see the"Anti-Medicine" section above) (source)
Other info:
Believes that they are the only religion to express true Christianity (source)
Only accepts the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures as authoritative (source)
Does not believe in the traditional view of Hell and believes in that only 144,000 will go to heaven, although many will be resurrected on the earth (source, source)
Does not observe Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or many other holidays (source, source)
Has been banned in Russia, and members have allegedly been tortured by authorities (source)
The church has been criticized for making a number of failed predictions (source)
Members are commanded to "avoid independent thinking" (source)
At first, the Watchtower Society seemed harmless to William J. Schnell, even valuable as a way to develop his faith in God and pass it on to others. This book is Schnell's fascinating account of his involvement with the cult, which effectively enticed him in the 1920s and continues to lure countless individuals today. Readers will learn, as Schnell did, that the Jehovah's Witness religion he had joined was anything but innocent. For thirty years he was enslaved by one of the most totalitarian religions of our day, and his story of finally becoming free is riveting.
Readers will be alerted to the inner machinations, methods, and doctrines of the Watchtower Society, arming them to forewarn others and witness to their Jehovah's Witness friends, relatives, neighbors, and the stranger at the door. With more than 300,000 copies sold, 30 Years a Watchtower Slave is truly one of the classic testimonies of freedom from a powerful cult.
Growing up in a doomsday cult isn't easy! You need to study hard, work harder and learn nothing useful whatsoever!
Neil Gardner takes you through life in the "Rank and File" of the biggest cult around, The Jehovah's Witnesses.
Whether worrying about the end of the world coming "Any day now", his budding love affair with shrubbery or building bunkers before leaving school to become a full time Minister at 16 you'll find something to cringe about.
He also talks about nearly losing and then actually losing his sister to the cult before discovering her all over again, Neil takes you on a funny and awkward jouney with a pretty happy ending!
Neil's first book on the subject of the Jehovah's Witnesses "How To Leave A Cult" is available on Amazon and has sold literally dozens of copies.
Numerous books have been written by ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses, exposing the false claims and practices of the cult or describing their personal challenges while leaving it. But when it comes to providing help to individuals in the process of exiting and recovering from the effects of membership in the cult, few compare with EXiting the JW Cult: A Healing Handbook.
Author Bonnie Zieman was born and raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, leaving after thirty years to gain the higher education that she was denied and build a professional life as a psychotherapist. She knows firsthand what it’s like to deal with the inhumane punishments inflicted on anyone who leaves the Watchtower organization—foremost among them, the complete shunning by family and friends.
Drawing from both her personal and professional experiences, Zieman provides aid, advice, encouragement, and insight into the many challenges faced by current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses who are struggling to extricate their lives from this all-controlling cult.
This empowering healing handbook is designed to be used as a reference that individuals can take down off the shelf and use to help themselves during difficult moments along their path to healing emotional wounds and coping in an unfamiliar world.
Other tags:
Disfellowshipped - Documentary on Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses