Jehovah’s Witness Michael Jackson?
Interesting article from Silent Lambs. In 1987, it was publicly announced that Michael Jackson was no longer a Jehovah’s Witness. However, the recent news articles say that he is.
Jesse Jackson is saying that although Michael Jackson is a Jehovah’s Witness, they pray together (a “nondenominational prayer”). That is SO not allowed! I’ve been in contact with a grandmother who was barred from seeing her grandchild simply because she brought him to a site where they were planning to build a church. Any other JW would be disfellowshipped for praying with an outsider.
As the article points out, the PR wing of the Watchtower Society has neither confirmed nor denied Michael Jackson’s status as a Jehovah’s witness. That’s interesting especially in light of the multiple child abuse scandals and the Society’s ludicrous policies concerning same. They even went out of their way to disfellowship any questioners or whistleblowers. Family members were urged to shun previous members, and made to choose between their loyalty to the organization and their love for family members. One wonders if he was in the JW database of thousands of molesters not reported to authorities.
The media has not yet delved into some of the background of Michael Jackson’s involvement with Jehovah’s Witnesses - and what effect this group may have had on him. On the other side, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not questioning his role in the organization. When one of the so-called “elect” - Firpo Carr - even functioned as Michael Jackson’s spokesperson in 2003, there wasn’t a peep about his working for a disfellowshipped JW - again, something strictly prohibited. So either special rules applied to Michael Jackson, or else he was a member in good standing. What seems incontrovertible is that if Michael Jackson is a current Jehovah’s Witness in good standing, he certainly has a special status strenuously denied the rank and file.
Techorati Tags: child abuse | disfellowshipped | Firpo Carr | Jehovah's Witnesses | Michael Jackson | shunning | Silent Lambs | watchtower society
Internal Tags: child abuse | disfellowshipped | Firpo Carr | Jehovah's Witnesses | Michael Jackson | shunning | Silent Lambs | watchtower society
Mojoey Says:
Hi - nice post. I know Firpo Carr. He was an instructor at the UOP in Fountain Valley two years ago when he said he was a JW. Then two years later, a friend of mine took the same class. Firpo deniged being a JW. I posted on it in my blog.
Deep Thoughts: Nutball Altert: Firpo Carr changed his religion
Posted on May 28th, 2005 at 10:05 am
alskdjfkd Says:
i don’t know why everyone hates on JWs! I’m not one, but I have many friends that are, and I’ve even attended their meetings! I can assure you that they are harmless people! my friends are extremely happy, and i can assure you that they have not been hurt in any way. this religion, as in any other, has people that may not take their beliefs as seriously as they should, and may even make them look bad, but then again, which religion doesn’t? Why not look at a few years ago, when all those Christian priests turned out to be gay and child molesters… why is that not such a big deal… how come everyone magically seemed to forget about those so quickly? Now, if Michael Jackson was a JW, then he should act like a JW; don’t depend on the organization for answers, look at his actions, and what he represents. All these mental cases that supposedly have arised from being in this cult is simply a personal issue. That is a rare possibility; everyone just seems to highlight the JW cases. If you would really take the opportunity to receive personal study from the JWs to reason with them and ask them your questions instead of posting it all over the internet, where you most likely will not receive clear answers, you would really truly understand the religion, instead of making false claims.
Posted on June 16th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
Heidi aka VirusHead Says:
To the anonymous defender of the JWs: I find it hard to believe that you are not JW - you reason like one, and you use their standard lines.
I don’t hate JWs and I don’t make false claims. The “organization” doesn’t answer questions - try going to their website and see for yourself. I don’t need more personal book studies - I used to lead them myself and after leaving the JWs earned a PhD in Religion and Literature. I ask my questions of JWs when they visit me - but they will not comment on the Jackson case or on the predator files they keep(but don’t share with authorities).
In fact, the pedophiles in the Catholic church were an incredibly “big deal” - one of the reasons that JW victims felt that they could finally speak. Those who are interested in the details should check the Silent Lambs site.
Like all authoritarian groups, the JWs are destructive to individual human freedom, compassion and tolerance. They raise sheeple and they are proud of that. If you need that high level of regulation, alienation, and so on, no problem. My site is here only for those people who might like other information and options. In any case, the structure of the organization does not encourage spiritual growth or compassion in any authentic way - those who manage it are the exception not the rule. The JWs aren’t the worst by any means, but they are the group with whom I have had personal experience. I know and have used their methods, and am grateful that I am no longer the person they wanted me to be. I’m entitled to that judgment, and you are certainly free to disagree. You can assure me anything you want, but I assure you that I have a bit more information and experience to support my arguments than you do yours.
Still - thanks for the interesting presentation. I haven’t really seen all that much focus on JWs myself - usually it’s just jokes about the door to door service. People would have to be really invested to “hate” them - they just aren’t a significant enough group to bother hating…
Posted on June 21st, 2005 at 3:59 pm
Dorothy Says:
Here, here! When I was in the organization, which was just three years ago which means that I spent 51 years in and around it. I found it was quite the opposite of what “alskdjfkd” says. The Watchtower org. is very good at pointing fingers both inside and outside of itself
Posted on July 18th, 2005 at 3:20 pm
Romayne Says:
I am a jehovah witness and i would never leave jehovah it is just plain wrong
Posted on August 13th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
daniele & romayne Says:
We are jehovah witnesses and we would nerver leave jehovah it is plain wrong
Posted on August 13th, 2005 at 12:17 pm
BuitseachRua Says:
Michael “left” the Woodland Hills, California, congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1987. One of the Elders there was persecuting him mercilessly. It was a little more like he was driven out.
Posted on September 9th, 2005 at 3:28 pm
amelie jonquieres Says:
Hi BuitseachRua,
I was wondering how you know about this Elder persecuting Michael, were you in the same congregation, I honestly feel Michael is very sensitive, and not understood, I also felt he needed encouragement not pointing the finger back then, I have met Prince and believe me I will defend him if I needed too, one needs to be following the footsteps and example of Jesus when one speaks to his fellowman, whether you are an elder or whom we are, at the same I appreciate the work the elders do for us at the Kingdom Hall , I know they work very hard ,you need to win them with all your heart, I believe Michael stills loves Jehovah we need to give him time, I believe he has been attending the meetings where he lives, he is a grown man and he is not alone now as an Entertainer who has been in the truth, today there is Prince and Larry Graham which I also met, a fine Brother a nice Brother indeed, Billy Ocean, George Benson and many others, if he does come back he has many friends celebreties he can get encouragement from, as a Jehovah’s Witness I love my brothers and sisters and I would be so happy, so happy if Michael Jackson would be reinstated I would like to be there and hug him warmly and welcome him back.
Lots of love to you all, and look forward to read your comments:
Amelie Jonquieres…….
Posted on September 30th, 2005 at 10:54 pm
secretslost Says:
HI. I understand that you all are questioning what is different. I do however have to point out why Michael is not a Jehovah’s witness ,a dn the alligations made up top.
First off, if an alligation is made of child molestationinthe hall, the elder will have to step out of the position untill the POLICE finish investigating the matter. if he is found guilty by the POLICE he will be disfellowships untill he corrects his lifestyle. this does not go against anything written in the bible. 1 Corinthians5 : 9-11
Second
michael does not live a lifestyle that is lived by many jehovah’s witnesses. if you look at us most live modestly, with moral standards that many of you praise. The bible tells us to marry in the lord and to keep persuing things pleasing to god. It also tells us that anyone who loves the world does not love Jehovah God. (1 john 2:15) Michael has dated many people that do not share his faith or the morals that God expected us to live by. While that sounds harsh to many you have to understand the long term benifits that come from having a companion that can spiritually strenghten you and give you bible based corection. (1 corinthians 7:36)
We have also seen many things that michale sings about such as sex between unmarried couples and the type of dancing. MOST JEHOVAHS WITNESSES WHO ARE IN GOOD STANDING IN THE CONGREGATIONS DO NOT ENGAGE IN THIS BEHAVIOR.
I Understand that this may sound harsh to many people but michael is not a jehovahs witness by any strech of the imagination. it is a well known fact in the congregation. All religions have standards and rules. Ours are clearly outlined in the bible and are not imposed by any other institution. For any other questions about jehovah;s witnesses i can be reached at secretslost22@hotmail.com.
thanks you.
Posted on December 28th, 2005 at 11:58 pm
VirusHead Says:
Ok, the POLICE are usually not notified because of 1) the theocratic war strategy that allows them to argue that it isn’t their concern and 2) they would need two witnesses to the behavior before they would notify police. As evidence, they have yet to release the database of known pedophiles to the authorities.
Most JWs - who had not contributed that amount of cash - would be disfellowshipped. Remember, you can be disfellowshipped for smoking or having a beard.
However, notice that Michael has not been disfellowshipped.
How do you explain this?
Posted on December 29th, 2005 at 11:05 am
BRSANKO Says:
Ok first of all you can’t be disfellowshiped for having a beard! It’s discouaged because we like to look very clean cut for our ministry but nobody gets in trouble for growing a beard. I have grown one myself several times. Michael Jackson was disfellowshipped after makeing the Thriller Video and has had no association with Jehovah’s Wittnesses what so ever since!! I have heard rumors that Prince was disfellowshipped but those are just the kind of rumors that go around. If Prince did have dealings with MJ’s music career it would be a business relationship and would not violate any rules or whatever. Jehovah’s Wittnesses handle child abuse cases about as fairly as I could imagine anyone doing, and do not keep a database of offenders as if such a nonlegal document would have any value in a court of law anyway. The posters here are critisizing our “harsh dealing with our congregation out of one side of their mouth while being upset why we don’t do anything out of the other side! I think this is a good indicator that a good balance of dicipline is in effect.
The people who are defending Michael Jackson keep saying he’s so sensitive, and he never had a childhood, and he like children because they don’t judge him. If they knew anything about psychology they would realize that they are describing the perfect profile of a child molester. The media’s portrayal of molesters as completely amoral, freakish, evil people blinds us to the fact that people we know who are otherwise good, kind, productive people could still be hurting our children.
Posted on March 25th, 2008 at 11:32 pm