An official magazine for Jehovah’s Witnesses that described those who leave the church as “mentally diseased” is at the centre of a police inquiry, it has emerged.
Read more from the UK Telegraph here:
Check out related articles on the “Ask Jacqueline” page of this website.
The official magazine for Jehovah’s Witnesses has described those who leave the church as “mentally diseased”, prompting an outcry from former members and insiders concerned about the shunning of those who question official doctrine.
An article published in July’s edition of The Watchtower warns followers to stay clear of “false teachers” who are condemned as being “mentally diseased” apostates who should be avoided at all costs. “Suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease,” the article reads. “You would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning. Well, apostates are ‘mentally diseased’, and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings.”
A copy of the magazine, distributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world, was given to The Independent by a current member of the church who has become unhappy with official teaching but is afraid to leave for fear of losing his family.
My concentration is poor and I’ve tried to read and grasp all u have written. But I cant make sense of it. I was once a JW about fifteen years ago, since then there have been alot of changes.
To me this site is a half way house between JW doctrine and dogma and yr own beliefs.
I have no beliefs left. I’m very comfortable with that.
But please in a nut shell and as brief as possible can you explain how you dither from JW’s and why?
Also I wasnt surprised to read you uncovered sex abuse and the protection of paedophiles and deviants, its a huge problem. Rather than obeying caesers law they obey the GB laws.
Hi Rhiannon, I will try. That is what our Wednesday Skype study is about, seeing what is different. { Organizational differences}: There is no headquarters, only printing facilities. Each ecclesia is on it’s own with elected elders by the whole cong. a majority vote is needed. You do not sit down with a Judicial commitee, there is none. You are allowed freedom to correct yourself and go directly to Jehovah through Christ to get forgiveness of sins. If a bad situation is affecting cong. It is handled in an open forum, (I saw this play out this summer at the general convention). If in a very rare instance there is a need to DF, it is accomplished by a majority vote of the whole cong. All Bible based talks are not scripted. Each brother gather infomation, so you can make and draw own conclusions with Bible, different translations, encourage and used. { Doctrinal differences:} Varied; example is Armageddon. JW says only persons inside of organization will survive. BS sticks to what Bible says only, Armageddon is not judgement day, it is the take down of the whole system, religious, political, commmercial.. Persons will survive (see site info). Persons and all of Adams descendents will be resurrected. Including any that died during great Battle of Armageddon, both JW and non JW to be in Judgement day of 1,000 yrs reign of Christ with 144,000 as Bride, king-priest. You see some personal expressions here and on other Bible Student web-sites because BS have freedom and liberty in Christ to think. There are however some very basic Bible truths that are cemented. You can say what a scripture means to you and get feedback. You will not be labeled if you can’t seem to get it. Love and caring for each other on a personal basis is out front more. Knowledge puffs up, Love builds up. It isn’t so important to be duplicates and all have only one thought on a scripture. When that is the case generally only one person or organization is thinking. We are the early BS before Br. Rutherford changed the name to JW in 1931. Br. Rutherford changed the doctrines to be different and distance himself from the 75% that remained with the teaching of “Studies in the Scriptures.” When you see a new point in the watchtower that makes sense, you can normally go back to studies in the scriptures and find the thought. Many witnesses are not aware of this as all books before 1950 has been ordered out of the libraries and deleted from the CD library. I hope I have helped “Nutshell it”. The site has more detail and you may come in on our study on Wednesday nites to hear these differences discussed. Feel free to ask for more clarification. Conclusion: BS are from Br. Russell and early Brothers of the watchtower. Jehovah Witnesses started with Br. Rutherford in 1931. In bonds of unity and grace. Thank you
My sisters and I were brought up in this belief system. And it appears that it is even worse now. To declare that we are mentally diseased is opening up a can of worms that they may not be able to recover from…… It is outrageous and destructive. I am so glad that other ‘members’ are seeing the truth of what a destructive force this religion really is. The fear of losing family members is very real and it happens constantly. You are viewed as ‘dead’…And now to publish that it is a mental disease if you choose to leave this way of life. And the ultimate comment from the Watchtower of July 2011… “why do we take such a firm ( read evil, my pov) stand? Because of love. We love the god of truth, so we are not intersted in twisted teachings that contradict his word of truth”…Love? Truth? This type of teaching to me has nothing at all to do with love. It is twisted and completely contrary to any kind of compassion or beauty, or love. To treat others with this kind of contempt is beyond any kind of compassion. The God they claim to believe in is not a god that I would want anywere near me or anyone on this earth. I seems that others are ‘waking up’ now and I can only be grateful..Just to be clear, I am not a J.W. or even a friend of a J.W. I am writing this to express my utter horror that the W.T. has finally been exposed as just what it is. Condemned from their own mouth. They are no different then any other religion. As far as I am concerned all religion is responsible for the wars and divisions in the world and The WTS is worse then most of the others.
patee, thank you so much for your comment. May I make it a part of the body of the article so it does not get lost? I will just put it on the end as a comment to the article. Comments are pushed down everyday and I think you comment speaks volumes on this article. I will wait on your answer. Thank you.
You are very kind Jacqueline, thank you.
I shall look forward to reading the article Jacqueline.
Meanwhile, I leave you with a favourite quote of mine,
“When a slave and a freeman die, they lose different things.
A freeman loses the pleasure of life, a slave loses his pain.
Death is the only freedom a slave knows, that’s why he’s not afraid of it.”
Spartacus 1961
Okay, that is insightful Malcolm. Guess what? I wrote an article, research and all. It was wiped clean. So I will began anew tomorrow. My son has cleaned my computer now. It was weird what happened. I do want to comment on something however that was not in the article. It is the long wait, it seems he is delaying now. But imagine wondering about Gen.3:15 then the world except 8 souls died, some might have had hope for relief (Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech) Gen.5th chapter.
Then look at the trek thru the wilderness, the the long wait for Jesus, the dark ages and now as Daniel foretold the age of great knowledge. They all eventually happened. Now we can fly and really set up a government to help the whole world. But man will fail and at the right moment in time he will act for the good of all. Hold on, even if we die, we have lived and will enjoy and appreciate our coming back. We are slaves to sin and you know what you just wrote about slaves. But we want to be there to welcome it in, so we lift our heads up, because our deliverance from slavery is near. Luke 21:28. That is called FAITH, it is not a possession of all men so we are special as Christian. 2Thess.3:2
Malcolm, I have completed the article and sent it to the Admin to approve. I am glad the other article just erased, because it was not completely in harmony with the Spirit in retrospect.. I feel this one is in line with the Bible Student brothers thoughts of harmony and helping. When it is posted, please feel free along with anyone else to give additional views on how to cope with this war of words going on between JW and those that have chosen to exit the religion. Maybe explore why the GB won’t just let people leave without trying to destroy them and their relationship with family. I am going to go out and put my tulip bulbs in the ground now so I can have some pretty flowers to greet me if I make it to spring. They say Chicago’s weather is going to be brutal this winter. Something pretty from Jehovah will be a blessing in spring.See Ya.
I know that scripture well sister, I used to read it all the time and tell myself it was talking to people like me. But, time has swiftly passed me by and things have stayed pretty much the same, yet, more bad things have happened. And so these verses now just sound like empty poetry, dead print on dead wood. I have lived through to much pain and suffering sister, been desperate beyond words, had some very severe nervous breakdowns, and I tell you, when this happens to you, you begin to see life and people and God and the holy bible in a completely different light, its scary.
Suffering, I mean prolonged severe suffering, changes the way your brain works, it does damage that leaves you kind of half dead. I feel like I am dead but just not buried. Its only the constant pain that reminds me that I am still alive.
Ps
Helium Tanks? Lol! No sister your not to old, most people in the younger crowd would know what I was talking about either.
No my dear sister, helium tanks are a new way of killing yourself, a peaceful way.
Shalom
Malcolm, I need to tell you some things but I will do it in an article written to you to give you some tips on awakening the brain. That is basically how I write article in answer to someone. It will be under “:Ask Jacqueline” as it will be rather extensive.
Also now you see why we need to talk and hear other peoples take on a matter. I had formed my opinion on the helium you see. I thought oh,Helium is light and floats baloons way up high, So I reasoned Malcolm wants to float away in the air with the clouds near God. See where I am going with this. Had I not got more imput, isolate my ideas, I and everyone I told would not understand the helium referral. Dialogue is the key to understanding. Jesus talked, talked , talked, then wtiters wrotw by spirit.
My article , however will be more in tune with things you have said. Look for it later on under the asl J. Tab
We’ve never worshipped the GB. That was the problem. We were naive to “the truth”, we had our own religion within a religion. We were never really controlled by the society like everyone else was but we were affected or at least me and my young brother were, by the way the magazines suppressed deep thinking and feeling.
As for reading the bible independently, I always have, I am a thinking person and so I am always at conflict with most people anyway, be they religious or worldly. I have not read the bible for months now. I pray a lot, but thats it. I don’t know what to believe or trust any more. The last 8 years I have read so much and thought so much but still feel dissatisfied, don’t feel Gods spirit or anything, just feel extremely depressed and can’t wait to get my helium tanks.
Malcolm, What are helium tanks? Remember I am the over 60’s crowd here. Good for you in not worshipping the GB. You are ahead of the game. I have heard this just yesterday from a brother that was an elder and just walked away. Jehovah knows how you feel and he knows your heart Malcolm. This is a description of what has happened to you. God knew it would happen and it is not your fault. If you cut yourself you bleed. You have received a deep cut. Try and read this slowly, tell me if this describes most exJW. Sometimes you hang by a thread. I kept going because of people like you Malcolm. You aren’t aware that this site receives over a thousand or more hits. You are helping people by commenting. I know some that say they just check the site and read, that’s why we print scripture. They can’t open their Bible. Healing takes time. Depending on the injury some takes longer than others. You might have had a stroke and a heartattack from all this, so it will take more time to heal than someone who just btoke and arm or finger or toe. You might have a head wound, that’s critical. But heaven can heal it, just hold on, he’s coming.
Ezekial 34: 3-10 1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
Yes with JUSTICE MALCOLM.
This post sister Jacqueline is truly one of your best! I love your honesty your openness your courage and your strength. I agree with all that you have said.
I am deeply sorry about your son. He is is to be most pitied for his shameful lack of natural affection for his own mother, and for his fanatical allegiance to the GB. Very disturbing and very upsetting for you sister, my heart is with you.
As for “These are not shepherds, they act like wolves to be on guard against!”
Dear sister, my mother, young brother and I were thrown to the wolves (ELDERS) many years ago, so I know exactly what you are talking about. I have lived in fear night and day and I have seen not only the wolves but also the snakes and the dogs and the evil one himself, Satan.
Sister I see everything! Everything!
Malcolm, I understand your pain. I have witnessed, in congregations that I have been in, the mistreatment of the little ones. In fact my son told me as he was being considered for an elder position he went on calls where the brothers bragged in the car about how they handled cases with sisters. He admitted they treated the sisters inhumanely and made them cow down. He decided he never wanted to be a witness elder. He and his wife went to about 7 different congregations to find one that suited them. He was a fighter against a peodophiles in his congregation along with other elders. He says he realized, before me, that there is a problem, but he thinks I should wait on Jehovah to clear it up. He is a sweet son but he would have drank the kool aid with Jim Jones.
If there is no man not a witness in your mother , your and your young brother’s life, you were fodder. Brothers with positions would be no help in your life, for many a fathers put their children out so they can keep their positions.
Malcolm, I would really like to just never mention the JW again in my life and glory in the the new friends and truths that I enjoy. I could do without even remmebering them.
But, that is not the way of a Christian footstep follower of Christ. You have to after getting off the Titanic, try to reach back to others that are swimming for their life. I don’t mean to bad mouth the GB, they print enough articles that does that. I write what I know if it is the truth.
Your and your family suffering will in a long run make you tough!. I used to be very gullible *(especially with brothers as men). Now I am very alert and tough. I was made this way by the things Jehovah and his divine providence allowed. He showed me, I better just lean on him only. The work that is set before thoise of the “concious class” (you are of that class also) is not easy, you have to be tough and not be afraid of men. The society uses scare tactics and Bullying to keep publishers in place. I am afraid of Jehovah, (of displeasing him). I find now I keep myself in check. For the first time in my life I do good because of my fear of Jehovah, which is the begining of wisdom. Witnesses have so many additional rules and regulations that you never get the chance to see what you are really made of spiritually.
So now Malcolm, we get that chance without some men looking over our shoulder and laying out your every step and inflicting punishment if you err. Now we can go to CHRIST, something that is missing in the witness community. GB is the phrase that is inserted where a normal Christian would say Christ. I will pick up and carry this cross. I would rather never talk about these people again.
How is your mother coping? has she gone on? What about your little brother have they made new friends? Encourage them to now really read the Bible, they will be shocked to see how holy spirit can get through now with worship of the GB out of the way
BTW. I could not keep going to the KH. It was making me sick physically to sit there and here that stuff, also because of my going to court against them I was on their hit list and they (CO) was noit giving up. For a while I stood up to them openly in the KH, but these ar just little bullies on the playground and I didn’t want to play anymore. I had grown up and realized they are only powerful when they had their posse with them in the KH. When I would file a complaint at the police station with each assault, they would say show me the complaint. When they realized I was building paperwork on them as the prosecuter told me, they weren’t so powerful. So, why would my son want me to stay in an environ where it was a waste of time and injurious to me? Hopefully he will really see one day and I know he will and I will forget all of his unkind words. Because this son was lost and now he has been found. I might have to wait until Millenium, but that’s ok.
Oh how many times I have read articles like that sister, and how many times have I been cut to pieces and tortured by it. These men write like devils. I could always tell that there was something wicked behind there “smooth words”. No one ever believed me though. The “loving” elders and all the rest them said I was depressed and paranoid and had no appreciation for the wonderful spiritual food Jehovah was providing. They were not interested in REAL TRUTH, but just “being in the truth”, whatever that means.
I realised early on that I was dealing with cowardly people who have no strength of character or integrity which REAL TRUTH gives to you.
Those who really “love the truth” are not afraid of it, no matter who tells it or where it comes from, because “there is no religion higher than truth”.
Even if you are a minority of one the truth is the truth.
Ghandi
Titue 3:2 ( Under Christian conduct) says: As regards subjection to rulers and authorities to be obedient, to be ready to whatever is good, to slander noone, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” This it seems would also be proper conduct towards other humans. Persons that leave the org. leave for various reasons. Only persons searching for whatever reason comes to websites to get comfort and try and learn more than just one point of view. Most sites have overwhelming evidence to support the things they say as most of personal experiences. Most persons that have left know not to talk to their relatives about their newfound truths. It is normally the witness that will initiate conversations and expect the former witness to not defend themselves. They have done this at the doors so long they believe they are authority on everything. When really they are only an authority on what the GB says and only their interpretation of scripture. They really don’t know as much as the average person at the door because the isolate themselves like the GB does in New York. They are not in touch with the real world or reality it seems sometimes.At best they are mean spirited when they write.
The spokesperson for the society says it is up to the individual whether to shun. The article also states “you would know what the physician means and follow him strictly”. These are buzz phrases that can incite one to action. What does the physician mean? And what do they mean some elders will have to act like Jehu? Jehu was obeying Jehovah. They are not Jehovah, they don’;t have the right to tell anyone to kill an” apostate”‘ Let’s consider some scriptures.
Pro.19:26 says a son or daughter does not have the choice to choose to obey the GB or the bible. ” He that is maltreating a father that chases a mother away is a son acting shamefully and disgracefully.” Ex. 20:12 is restated by Jesus as a commandment that even he wasn’t going to go against Matt. 15:1-9 gives full discussion. So the bible says a chistian does not have a choice, but of course if one is not claiming to be a Christian then yes he can obey the GB
This website shows what can possibly happen with the alledged mental priming of a very devoted worshipper of the GB. I want to say beforehand this is a shocking site but a point needs to be made to show that this is a seriouis situation here.
http://www.watchtowernews.org/familymurders.htm.
Now, could this really happen now? I will get personal. One of my sons stated he would die for the governing body. I reminded him that Jesus has done that already and he nor I can redeem ourselves let alone the GB. In response as to why he did not contact me at all when I was very ill. He said as far as I am concerned you are dead. I said I was near death. He said then you would have gotten a ressurrection. He stated as it stands now if armageddon comes, you will die and go to Gehenna not hades. I informed him that now he has taken the place of God and commands ones into Gehenna.
I had to change my medical directive to not let him have any say so in my medical care or decision making or be in the room alone if I am unconcious. When I write something it is usually a personal experience or I have the person telling me their experience. So now my son has this suggestion to “elders may have to act like Jehu”. His mind is to weak to have such a suggestion. I am talking about MY son. He acted against his father harshly without this suggestion. Now that he has the words of the GB behind him, one has to be on guard if he has to make life or death medical decisions for either of us. We came to these conclusions before he had this extra fire power and suggestions from the organization. Here is an article that I wrote to try and combat the evil attitude existing among some JW. I talked to Patterson Ed. ctr. https://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/2011/09/is-it-wrong-to-change-your-religion/ They speak with a forked tongue, like a serpent.
Jas.3:8-11in part says that” no man has been able to tame the tongue, it is full of deadly poison. vs 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. vs 10 out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing.” It goes on to show that bitter and sweet can’t come out of the same fountain. These are not shepherds, they act like wolves to be on guard against!
This applies to everyone including me. But I don’t claim to be the ONLY PERSON ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH THAT GOD TALKS TO AND THROUGH! The GB says everything written in the pages of the watchtower is from God. In fact the watchtower itself has become an idol for most JW like the statue of Mary is for the Catholic church. (See how my tongue is uncontrollable). So I will try and not get emotional over this, but even if they modify their stance on doing as “Jehu did to the apostates” of his time.
THE BULL HAS BEEN LET OUT OF THE PEN , ALREADY! And many witnesses will obey their god the GB. Something has got to be wrong with these writers, they know how JW react to their leanings! Have they lost their minds?
Al quaida talks like that to it’s people and they respond. Religion it is said is the “opium of the people”.
I personnally am only going to go around relatives that will talk to me on the phone. If they don’t answer or return my voice mail messages, I am going to keep my distance until this thing blows over. Most witnesses know it will, for JW react for a short time to the watchtower then go right back to what they were doing. So by January they will be “awright”.(:) Hopefully but I am watching my back. They will imagine they have done God a favor. Matt 24 chapter warned of these serious times an 2Tim 3 chapter is referring to things due to happen in the congregation of those having a form of Godly devotion. So all of this is to be expected from those that have seated themselves in the house of God and act like a man who is lawlessness. Those articles are Bullying at it’s meanest!
To call former witnesses “mentally diseased” based on the New World mis-Translated, enraged my friends enough that we reported this to the Portsmouth Constabulary. There is no ongoing “investigation” but the complaint has been lodged and given a crime number. Any verbal or physical abuse against “aposates” by current JW’s, will be given some attribution to the words printed in the article.
Angus – Thanks for commenting. This must be a very troubling experience for you and your friends. Those who formally called you brothers, now view you as a danger and “mentally diseased.” Didn’t Jesus tell us to even love our enemies? Is this the example the Society really wants to impress on the world? Thanks for visiting us and reporting your experience. We hope you and your friends will be safe.
Hi AngusRobertson, thank you so much for commenting and clearing up a few things. It is nice to get it straight from the ” horses mouth so to speak”. There was simutaneous web podcast going on Saturday night with over 800 participants. As well as the international phone hook up with Barbara Anderson. This website has a large international audience. Au., UK, Spain, Russia, Canada, South Africa and a huge United States viewing to name just a few of the countries. We would really appreciate it if you could come on and just tell us about what is going on. Would this be possible, please? Our audience seemed to have spiked with your comment and would no doubt be interested in hearing more from you. Feel free to talk as much as possible and have your friends talk. You may also respond back to the questions of the other readers that might come on. Presented in a spirit of Love and concern. Jacqueline
PS This is the exact quote from : The November 15, 2011 Study version of the Watchtower, has this to say in an article praising Jehu’s actions against the family of Ahab. “The prophet Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu as king and to instruct him to kill every male of the apostate house of Ahab.—2 Ki. 8:28; 9:1-10.” “Though the thought of violence is unpleasant, we should realize that in those days, Jehovah used his servants to carry out his judgments…. Today, no servant of Jehovah uses physical force against opponents of pureworship. “Vengeance is mine,” God says. (Heb.10:30) But to rid the congregation of potentially corrupting influences, Christian elders may have to act with courage similar to that of Jehu. (1 Cor. 5:9-13) And all members of the congregation need to be determined to avoid the company of disfellowshipped individuals.— 2 John 9-11.” “Jehu announced that he intended to hold “a great sacrifice” for Baal. (2 Ki. 10:18, 19) “This is a clever play on words on the part of Jehu,” says one scholar.While the term employed here “generally means ‘sacrifice,’ it is also used of the ‘slaughter’ of apostates.” “It is true that Jehu spilled much blood. Yet, the Scriptures present him as a courageous man…
I am not so much concerned about Elders acting with similar courage as Jehu. I am concerned with family members who might feel their loved one’s death, is the only way for them to get life. JW believe if you die you pay for your sins, thus eligible for resurrection. I know of one mother that has had to include in her medical directive that one of her children not be left alone with her if she is unconcious. The adult child really believes death before armageddon is the only hope for the mother. How sad. These statements can have terrible repercussions on persons that reads between the lines of what they are suggesting should really happen if in Jehu’s day. What are they thinking?????
Today October 02,2011, here is another article and a conference is convening.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/jehovas-witnesses-defectors-cop-a-blast/story-fn7x8me2-1226155212128
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/26190/police-inquiry-over-jehovahs-witness-magazine-mentally-diseased-article
This is a video news report. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/28/jehovahs-witness-magazine_n_985479.html
Barbara Anderson is on discussing this tonite on Richard Rawe’s show.The society, one source in Bethel alleges, this is creating concern at Bethel by the GB.
It seems they were not aware of a basic law, that states: For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction.
Many children have heard this and now think their grandparents and some other relatives have a contagious mental disease.
The December magazine (Private edition)says that Jehu ran apostates through. Thus killing apostates. You cannot make such suggestions to persons that are trained to listen to the leaning of what is said. That scripture is in the Bible and from Jehovah. The GB isn’t Jehovah.
This can be poterntially dangerous as there is alledgedly a significant amount of persons that might, again I say might, feel that is the only way to save their loved one.
Witnesses believe if you die you have paid for your sins and will get a ressurrection on that basis, not on the merit of Christ sacrifice.
But feeling Armageddon is near and one might die at armageddon they can take this the wrong way. This is serious. Wtnesses believe that only JW will survive armageddon. It is believed it is best for them to die before armageddon.
The scene of the world is changing. Many that are still witnesses are crossing the god-line and speaking out against those putting themselves in the seat of God, standing in a place where they ought not. The same magazines mentions that israelites parents had to be the first to stone their disobedient children. This is contrasted with shuning. Persons that have been trained not to think but to obey can not be injected with this type of talk on the subjecr of shunning. They may take it to far. To discriminate against a group of people and say things that might cause them to be harmed is unchristian and out right dangerous.
PS. One source from Bethel alleges the missionary school is being eliminated. Waiting for update.