Michael Jackson 48 hours before his death

My personal impressions of Michael Jackson have only changed over the years because of his obsessions and because of the molestation accusations.  But Michael was a real genius artist and a one-of-a-kind.  It's kind of a sad story, really, because all the time as a Jehovah's Witness I could see how he would be miserable -  being brought to fame instantly, having to grow up without a childhood, and being haunted by that very deprivation the rest of his life… to the point of consuming him completely in seeking his lost childhood.

It was an obsession. Everything about Michael was about having a childhood of his dreams. Since he could not have that, he sought to fill this need through others, mainly children.  Michael loved to entertain; he loved to make children happy. The sorrow the world now expresses is unprecedented – he was loved by so many millions, not only for his exceptional musical ability and dance moves, but for being who he was.

Children, especially gifted children and artistic children, are often very sensitive emotionally.  They also crave a higher way of life, a spiritual life, whatever form it may take.  For Michael, he did not have much choice, he was raised a Jehovah's Witness.  Yet his very spirit inside could not be held back by such an oppressive fundamentalist system that actively seeks to suppress any ounce of talent, or any effort to stand out from the crowd.

Michael finally managed to extract himself from the Witnesses by the late 80s, but by then the damage was irreversible.  His obsessions and his fame morphed his body and his mind. His obsession with children, with fantasy, and with the magic of being a child, was all part of a process that led to his early death.

This is not a phenomenon that occurs with most belief systems.  It is only the ones that stifle imagination, creativity, talent, and popularity.  They are the ones that scowl at children. They spank them repeatedly to make them behave, forcing them to sit in church and listen, or else.  Somehow they think that this will brainwash the child into loving God, but in the end it destroys them.  Not only do the children never end up loving such a cruel God, they end up being afraid of the wrath of the designers of that god should they not follow the dictates of those designers.

In the case of Jehovah's Witnesses, these designers are the Governing Body that make up all the rules. They convey the unspoken attitudes and promote the oppressive spirit in the Watchtower organization.  Ever since the days of Joseph Rutherford, an abusive drunk who was the second president of the Watchtower Society, the youth-creativity-popularity has been squelched by the equivalent of an evil nun raising children alone in a convent. Birthdays, Christmas and other holidays are strictly forbidden. Further education is frowned upon and discouraged by the old authoritarians in charge.

It is interesting to see the young people of Iran rebel against this type of oppression by their formidable religious leaders. It is all over the issue of oppression.  Oppression of free speech, of talent, and of popularity.  It's all the same issue:  religion, politics or otherwise.  People will seek to control other people to their detriment, even as they believe they are doing them a favor.

If you have a child (and I'm speaking as a former pastor who has helped many families), please don't force your beliefs on your children.  They will never have a healthy loving view of a God that has a stick behind his back, ready to beat them into submission.  If God is good, then love and grace and kindness should be the lure, not threats of annihilation or hell.

I can understand why Michael would want to become a Muslim in the end.  First many of them were his friends, and were not so judgmental like the Jehovah's Witnesses.  Many of them were talented professionals, and they had the same sense of “morality” as the Witnesses.  In many ways they were very similar.  Probably they are more kind and loving them the Witnesses with children, I do not know.  But I do know that Michael sought solace from their companionship and apparently it was enough to make him decide to convert to Islam.  We all have our own intricate reasons for the choosing of what we are going to believe. Many of these reasons (or should I say drives; because they are not intellectual enough to be called “reasons”) are from roots much deeper, more primal than the thoughts in your head and speculations of your mind.  For many people, the drive for religion is often due to pain, of loneliness, of helplessness.  Of course, that is why Jesus is so popular, as he represents kindness love and peace to others.  May Michael be at peace.

Discover the issues concerning African Americans and the Watchtower Society

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written by Myrna McPheeters , July 08, 2009

Apparently the truth about Jehovah's Witness is not accurate. The truth is that through the Bible we are advised to disfellowship to protect the disfellowshipper and the concregation. Disfellowshiping is a loving rule that we need to obey. For example if your child is associating with someone with a contagious disease, you must do your best to stop the child from associating with the other child so he/she does not contact the disease also. The bottom line is that the elders are obeying Jehovah. It is not the elders but Jehovah God. The gift God promises is everlasting life here on earth in perfect conditions. So to put the blame on the elders is wrong, they are only obeying what God has written in the bible. I pray Katherine reads this. As I watched Michael Jackson's memorial, my heart went out to Katherine, his mom. I was so impressed that she did not want to be part of the lime light. It impressed me that she is leaving her son in Jehovah's care because only God will judge Michael and the rest of us. I pray that Jehovah will protect her and with his will, she will see her son again. I lost a son also, and have the same prayer she is praying.

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written by agoben tesky timothy , July 09, 2009

Myrnna is very very right. Michael's Jackson at one point in his life might have been raised as a JW. But he did not live his life as one of jehovah witnesses. All thoses who are saying things they don't know should be very careful.

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written by KAREN MONTES , July 16, 2009

THE JW'S DO NOT ALLOW YOU TO THINK FOR YOURSELF....THEY HAVE A RULE AND CONDITION FOR EVERY WORD AND STEP YOU MAKE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE...VERY VERY SUPPRESSING....

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written by william white , July 19, 2009

If you wanted to learn about a monkey,would you interview a monkey or a person who claims they used to be a jackass? If I wanted to learn about you I wouldn't ask a jackass because a jackass should not represent you. Get it?

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written by Anna , July 19, 2009

I want to thank you for your thoughts about Michael's life and childhood. I was touched by your description of JWs and I could partly recognise myself though I had a rather turbulent teenage and "fell into the rhetoric" of the JWs but later on find my own path after a rather shocking break up from my friends in the JWs. I’m sure that amongst the JW there is good people who want to do good, but I’m having doubts and scepticism of the organization and its desire to control the people and their lives, limiting their habitats and charges of artificial rules I denounce.

We don’t need any accusations or haunting of witnesses that probably would just be contra productive. But I do want to emphasize the importance of the media to review JW and their role in Michael's life. Perhaps Michael's tragic life and death may be a starting point for a discussion among faith practitioners themselves? A discussion that is not led by pastors who talk about what you may or may not be thought, no just a discussion of what you simply do against each other in this life on earth. What is okay and not okay? Unfortunately, I have personally seen many people first included in an assembly, and then excluded and become outcasts if they do not follow the rules and worst of all become separated from their families and left alone. Again one has to wonder if this is what religion should aim for? Rejecting and make people feel inadequate?

However about Michael I’m glad he decided to dedicate his life to the art and music, it gave the world so much hope and joy… and so sad as it seems that was exactly what he couldn’t have in his private life…

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written by la shea Dickson , July 26, 2009

Readers please note that JW's do not try to rule their members lives. This is untrue, they simply live their lives close to bible principles. this can be compared to an appliance, all appliances have a guide or a manual which would clearly tell how it should be used. God as the giver of life has the authority to tell us how to live our lives, This he does by his word the bible.

JW's are never treated as outcasts, if they become disfellowshipped, members do not have any thing to do with them until they have brought their lives in harmony with bible principles. to illustrate, if one rotten fruit were to be placed among good ones what would be the result?? They would eventually be spoilt. It is the same thing among Jehovah's people. Many expect to lead a double life and still remain among his people, it cannot and will not work that way. We must obey God as ruler rather than men.

Kindly get your facts straight about us. I can tell you about disfellowshipping because my ex-husband and two members of my family are disfellowshipped.

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written by elijah , July 31, 2009

I recall the Michael Jackson Era (1983), how could I not, I went thru the same abuse. I was kidnapped [by the mere fact I was passenger in my own car and ordered the man to turn back home (half way on a 19 hour drive), or to get out because I would drive my own car back home. He refused. He pulled over and the elder behind us, came up said whats the problem, and said I cant go back because they love me and are taking me away from my evil JW mother]. But I would disagree with the claim that the GB controls. The reason being that if you write the GB they will tell the elders to settle this horrid matter they have created, at which time the elders tuck tail and say how could you do this to us. This makes us look bad. If you do tis to us you are doing it to the faithful discreet slave who chose us. LIARS. But I wish to say that I asked many JWs after a special 2-day assembly at Janesville WI where JR Brown read a personal private letter to the public with ALL ages present. It was disgusting that they should even share the fact that ONE and ONLY ONE young 13 year old girl write a letter saying she was a JW (no proof in letter she was baptized) and that she had to have Michael because she masturbated while looking at his posters. I personally am not the only one who saw a pervert on stage, because I specifically conversed with many in the assembly hall afterward whether that was appropriate information. Mouths were hanging open everywhere. Do not judge the GB for what Judas hands out for food. Scripture strongly verifies that while Judas (JR Brown) sat beside Jesus (the GB) that he kept for himself the good food and the money while he gave scraps to the poor. The perfume he regarded as wasted on Jesus feet was money he wanted for himself. The current Judas does NOT want Armageddon to come, he is thriving in his seat beside the GB. I do not speak without experience. On a bus home from an assembly, merely because I looked thru an elder DeLacy's wife new 1983 Bible which had a lunar chart and that those who know astronomy and calendar understand that the 13th month moves the month so it is not always half of one month and half of another, her brother-in-law Reuben(another elder) stood up on the bus in a rage and declared apostacy as if he were some alien monster eviction casting out a bodysnatching pod. Needless to say I was ignored by everyone after that; oh except when they needed my video equipment.
There are people who quit going to the Hall because of these incidents of bad elder behavior.

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written by Mel , September 02, 2009

Michael did not convert to Islam. Jermaine converted to Islam; spoke to Michael about the Muslim religion. Michael never claimed conversion, and Jermaine openly stated that Michael never converted.

God blessed Michael with inimitable gifts. He always thanked God, giving everything he had to help make the world a better place. His love and charity are his legacy. The words he shared through his compositions and lyrics; his beautiful voice and amazing dance: he was an instrument for healing and joy. He had the heart of a child, the patience of Job, and the drive of a warrior.

Many times Michael spoke openly of God, Jesus, and his faith. Michale understood God's purpose for him. Though he clearly fought internal battles that raged throughout his life, his light shone because of Jesus. We hurt because we sense the loss of that light. But truly, Michael's spirit has finally discovered peace and rest from all those who sought to destroy him. The miracle is that Jesus continues to do His work through Michael even now, after Michael's death. Many are now understanding what this man did for the world through God's gifts.

The light will continue to shine, and Michael will continue to smile.

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written by Maria Gomez , September 09, 2009

As the people continue to speculate about Michael's beliefs in the lord. On more than one occasion publicly Michael gave thanks to god for his unique talents and he shared his god given gift with the world, unconditionally.Can you imagine if there were more people like Michael, the world would be a better place. In my opinion, Michael never left gods side.

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written by John Hoyle , January 12, 2010

Myrna states in her comment, "Apparently the truth about Jehovah's Witness is not accurate. The truth is that through the Bible we are advised to disfellowship to protect the disfellowshipper and the congregation. Disfellowshiping is a loving rule that we need to obey..."
I wonder how she can write this and then look herself in the mirror? How does she sleep at night after writing this? Anyone who has been a JW who has been disfellowshipped or has had someone close to them DF'd knows that there is no love at all connected with being disfellowshipped.

I recently spoke to a JW elder who shared the fact that only about 1 in 5 disfellowshipping actions were due to immoral behavior. In fact, in many cases involving a JW who admitted to adultery or other sexual misdeed, including acts involving children, the penalty was being "reproved" and put on probation for an average of 3 to 6 months.

By far the majority of JWs who are being DF'd and shunned are those who have openly expressed doubts or concerns about JW teachings and practices. The Watchtower is far more concerned about critics within its ranks than fornicators.

Disfellowshipping someone because they have doubts or have chosen to follow a different philosophy is not a loving rule. Call it whatever you want, but don't call being disfellowshipped an "act of love."

The real way to avoid being disfellowshipped is to never ask questions, don't ever express doubts, don't share your real feelings with other JWs (they WILL turn you in), and don't get caught reading anything that is critical of the Watchtower. In other words, be a hypocrite and keep your doubts to yourself.

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