JW’s are certainly encouraged to make their own decisions – just so long as they are in alignment with the goals of the guys in Brooklyn. Jehovah’s Witnesses receive constant “guidance” on even the smallest issues. If you want more official JW sources, a reading of even the cleaned-up versions at the official site will give you a sense of things. Putting your spirituality first is encouraged – that’s one way to put it.

As far as wanting to be praised for my academic achievements, I have to say that it’s a pretty common (and tired) objection. Is that the best you can do? Can you not understand that my purpose here is to be a resource for others who have been JWs or who are dealing with JWs? Frankly, it’s not rocket science to be able to do that. It just takes the experience of having grown up as a JW, in a JW family, and paying attention, and being able to draw a line – even in the Christian tradition – between following the authority of the Watchtower Society (or any other authoritarian group or party) and the higher values (which do not seek to control others) of compassion, spirituality and wisdom. My academic studies certainly helped me to understand how misguided some of their teachings and biblical interpretations are, but I rarely get into that sort of thing here.

There are many reasons why each individual former JW decides to leave. In my own case, there were multiple reasons. Ultimately each person’s spiritual path is their own. We are all unique, and each has their path to follow.

My opposition is not to rank and file JWs, who for the most part mean well and who simply follow what they believe God wants them to do, as laid down by the corporations of the Watchtower. It simply doesn’t occur to the average JW to question why he or she should serve in an unpaid salesforce to such a wealthy set of corporations. They don’t ask who owns their Kingdom Hall. They don’t ask why they aren’t allowed to help non-JWs (except by bringing them what they call “good news’), or why they are discouraged from supporting the larger community in any way – even by voting. They listen to mindless, boring and repetitive brainwashing for hours a week, and believe that independent thinking and research are against their religion. I only have pity for such, not anger. My quarrel is with the authoritarian leadership who controls so many aspects of a JW’s life – and doubly so for women. I see no evidence whatsoever that any god approves of them.

thanx xxxxx

ps. ‘virus head’ seems to dislikes jehovahs witnesess. if you want more accurate information about our beliefs please contact actual jehovahs witnesess, who will do their best to help you.

something is wrong with the anti spam thing. this is the 3rd time iv tried to post my comment :S

btw: if ‘virus head’ decided to stop being a jw because their academic acheivments were not rewarded, then it is clear that you just want praise for your ‘knowlege’, which is not what jw s feel is the most important. accademic supiriority is not a part of jws so i gather. all jws are equal. in fact its probably a good job youre not a jw, or youd give them a bad name.

please reply to me, im not sure how this works, if i get a reply on email or if i have to come back here, i would just like a better understanding on how other people feel and why they have decied not to be jws anymore.

thanks mel

Witnesses keep track of their hours and report them, through the congregation, to New York. Pioneers and auxillary pioneers – who witness door-to-door for a specific number of hours per month – have special status. I’m not sure what the required hours are now – I believe they have been reduced somewhat.

In each congregation, there are also “ministerial servants” which is the mid-range position for a man judged to be responsible and upright, and then there are a group of congregational “elders.” They receive “direction and guidance” (rules, a handbook, and “public talk” -sermon- topics and outlines for each week) from headquarters in New York. There are some training centers for various functions within the organization, but congregational elders are discouraged from pursuing any real training in pastoral work, theology, history, or anything like that. The only qualifications are that you are a male in good standing when there is a vacancy and that the elders approve of you.

District and circuit “overseers” travel around, inspect each congregation and discipline the elders, and they give special “talks” to the congregation. From there, it’s a little hazy and secretive.

There is a “governing body” of men in New York, and a president of those men. JW can find out who they are, but somehow that’s not really a line of thought that many JWs pursue. They are usually aware of who the president is, but beyond that they are careful, under the idea that no-one should be receiving too much attention. That is also the reason stated for not saying who writes the Watchtower articles. In fact, there are writers, but everything has to be vetted by the governing body, since the “guidance” provided is taken as straight from God. The “governing body” is considered to be “God’s channel” on earth. It is assumed that they are all of the chosen, the elect, the faithful and discreet slave, of the 144,000 who will rule as kings with Christ in heaven after the destruction of this system of things. The “great crowd” of other believers who are not killed will live on a paradise earth (that’s the big draw). There are other living members of the elect, but they appear to have no say in much of anything.

There are other workers – a pretty serious legal team, writers, the whole publishing house, farms, outposts in several countries, and so on. Some people do receive pay – and housing – but it’s not very much. The primary salesforce is of course unpaid, although the hours are reported.

The Watchtower is the thematic bible interpretation, with articles that are “studied” in the second hour of the Sunday meeting. The Awake! has human interest stories, and articles of wider interest.

People advance by adhering to rules, not asking awkward questions, and expressing commitment and absolute loyalty to the organization. There are stories, both good and bad, about life among the Bethelites, but the average JW is pretty disconnected from that. JW life is centered at the congregational level, except for local and national “assemblies” which energize them with guidance
for days at a time.

Who makes the decisions? At the family level, the man is the head of the household. At the local level, the word of the elders is absolute and the congregation is to submit to them. The elders in turn submit to overseers and New York. The governing body gets it right from God, they say. It’s a top-down organization – they refer to it as a theocracy, and they mean it (despite the fact that one of their early rallying cries was “religion is a snare and a racket”).

There was a restructuring a few years ago, partially to separate different interests into organizational structures for legal protection. And there may be a lot more to unravel here, such as the financial arrangements, ownership of the kingdom halls and other properties, and so on. Much of this is opaque.

But I think I’ve answered your questions?

I’d really appreciate an answer.
Thanks,
Elainna