Articles 
| African American Celebrities Brought Up Under Jehovah's Witnesses |
| Written by Daniel Grissom |
| Sunday, 22 February 2009 14:39 |
 Michael Jackson
Question: Does any one remember what it was WT put out shortly after all the Michael Jackson eruption? I remember there were comments, but just shy of a name. We all knew who they were talking about. Any one remember?? It was a Watchtower article.
Answer #1: I can add to this the known fact that the WTS harrassed Jackson about the Thriller video, causing him to add a disclaimer to the video that it did not represent his beliefs about the supernatural. He also gave an 'interview' in the Awake! magazine saying he was naughty and sorry and he would never do it again. Does nayone have that? Answer #2: This might be the one. Awake! May 22, 1984 p. 19-20 "What About Music Videos? ***Would Never Do It Again!" In another popular video, Thriller, the performer is seen to transform first into a "cat person," then a dancing "monster." Evidently not wanting viewers to conclude that it promoted spiritism, the film begins with the disclaimer: "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult.-Michael Jackson." Nevertheless, it was so realistic that some who saw it admitted that they were horrified at first. What was this short film intended to convey? And how does the performer, Michael Jackson, feel about it in looking back? "I would never do it again!" says Jackson. "I just intended to do a good, fun short film, not to purposely bring to the screen something to scare people or to do anything bad. I want to do what's right. I would never do anything like that again." Why not? "Because a lot of people were offended by it," explains Jackson. "That makes me feel bad. I don't want them to feel that way. I realize now that it wasn't a good idea. I'll never do a video like that again!" He continues: "In fact, I have blocked further distribution of the film over which I have control, including its release in some other countries. There's all kinds of promotional stuff being proposed on Thriller. But I tell them, 'No, no, no. I don't want to do anything on Thriller. No more Thriller.'" Also I got a book called Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness by J. Randy Taraborreli. This book goes into some interesting situations that the gloved one had with the elders in his congregation. I quote some things from the book: "Despite the fact that Michael was a devote Jehovah's Witness-and no doubt had donated quite a bit of money to the religion-the church's elders were extremely upset with him, mostly because of the "Thriller" video. p.324 "But before he had even finished work on the "Thriller" video it brought to a head the ongoing conflict between the church elders of the Encino Kingdom Hall and Michael regarding his fame and his career....Im meetings between Michael and the elders...he was not receptive....He refused to make any kind of statement repudiating his work, and the church insisted he should .....Finally, when the elders threatened to force him to leave the religion Michael became extremely upset" p.326 This obviously had a serious effect on the gloved one so he decided to destroy the tapes. We're talking about a million dollars of work here. It was brought out to Michael that the church elders should not dictate Michael's "artistry." Michael's attention was brought to the fact that Bella Lugosi was a very religious man yet he played out his artistry as Dracula and Lugosi's religious beliefs had no bearing on his "art." So it was suggested that Michael put a disclaimer at the beginning of the video stating that the video in no way reflect Michael's religious convictions. Michael agreed to this. John Landis, the director, didn't want to do it but if he didn't agree then the whole thriller video was going to be scrapped. The book continues: "How ironic that Michael's benevolent spirit wasn't enough to satisfy the elders of his Jehovah's Witness congregation. They expected him to restrict his entertainment practices as well. At this time, Michael was called into another meeting with the witness elders over the "Thriller" video. Again they told him that they were considering excluding Michael from the religion. Michael left the meeting particularly shaken. He did not want to be disfellowshipped. He decided he would disown "Thriller" if he had to....Furthermore Michael would make a public statement about his sin in an issue of the Witness periodical, Awake! ( May 22, 1984 ) p.359 Finally Michael became like the rest of us in this group. "In the spring of 1987 Michael disassociated himself from the congregation and that he no longer wants to be known as a Jehovah's Witness."
Read more about Michael Jackson Jehovah's Witness Discover the issues concerning African Americans and the Watchtower Society
Venus and Serena Williams famous tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams who are Jehovah's Witnesses SYDNEY -- "Unstoppable Venus Williams laughed off the suggestion she had nothing left to achieve in tennis after adding an Olympic gold medal to her growing list of triumphs." [NBC Olympics.com] The fact that Venus (and her sister Serena) are both active Jehovah's Witnesses participating in the Olympics has provoked an interesting reaction from the organization. None at all. So while many Witnesses cheer for Venus, they know deep in their hearts that they would be subject to judicial procedures for much lesser offenses. And when Venus stood on the podium to receive the gold medal to the tune of the American national anthem, she became a different kind of pioneer than to which we are accustomed. A usual matter of contention among Witnesses is whether the Williams sisters are actually Jehovah's Witnesses or not. Their mother certainly is one of us (JW), and has been for years. The father certainly is not. (He often takes cigarrette breaks during the sister's matches.) Based on Venus' and Serena's own words and actions, the answer is yes. She was asked in a recent interview what her involvement is with Jehovah's Witnesses. quote: Venus Williams: Well, we believe -- it's just like tennis. You can't just go once a month and expect your game to be on top. You have to reiterate everything. We believe in good association, association with fellow Witnesses, not becoming too involved with people that don't have the same beliefs and same values that we do. We go to meetings three times a week. They encourage us. You learn there, you learn more, just continue learning until you get a better understanding of things. I guess you are aware that we do house-to-house witnessing. I can't do that at all because I'm on the road. Getting more popular, I don't know if I can go house-to-house. I'm thinking about that. It is apparent that Venus is one of the best tennis players ever, and the best in the world today. That she is one of Jehovah's Witnesses makes that even more remarkable. Damon Wayans
 interview quote from "Taming Wayans" by Kevin Koffler, photographed by Greg Henry: "My father is a Jehovah's Witness, and he raised us under a very strict hand. He believed that if he did not spare the rod, he would raise functional, obedient children. He failed to realize that he didn't need to beat [us] all of the time; he needed to talk to us, to try to understand us. I think that he learned [to do that] towards the end of his career as a father. [When I was young], he didn't know there was any different way of being. He's two generations away from being a slave; [when he was growing up] he got beat, so he passed it on. The good thing is I don't [beat] my children, and none of my brothers and sisters do to theirs. We've broken the chain." December 1996 MOVIELINE p. 75 (contains an excellent special issue on Black Hollywood. write PO Box 469004, Escondido, CA 92046-9982. $11.75 for 12 issues.) La Toya Jackson Book Review (reprinted from the May/June 1993 Bethel Ministries Newsletter; now the Free Minds Journal) LA TOYA - Growing Up in the Jackson Family - 1991, New York: Penguin Books Many are aware that both entertainers Michael and Janet Jackson were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses, but few details are known about the family that raised them and how the religion figured in their lives collectively. La Toya tells a great deal about how the Watchtower affected them, and I have noted a few of her memoirs, revealing experiences that are all too common among those raised in the Witnesses. On Holidays "After Mother became a Jehovah's Witness, we no longer celebrated Christmas at home. So my grand-parents, feeling sorry for us, took us to Christmas parties and gave us gifts and money. Although this went against my mother's religious beliefs, she permitted it, seeing how happy it made us." p. 21 On Dating and Door-to-Door "While my older brothers were dating, the opposite sex was the last thing on my mind. For one thing, Michael and I were very active in the Jehovah's Witness faith. By this time most of our siblings had basically given it up. Five days a week the two of us and Mother studied the Bible at home and attended the Kingdom Hall.... Every morning Michael and I witnessed, knocking on doors around Los Angeles, spreading the word of Jehovah. As my brother's fame grew, he had to don disguises, like a rubber fat suit he bought years later, around the time of Thriller. Adults were easily fooled by Michael's incognito, but it was a rare child who didn't see through his costume...." p. 53, 54 On Personal Grooming "As an entertainer and idol of millions, Michael was always being reproached for such things as the length of his hair and for wearing widely flared bell-bottoms. My brother loves vivid colors, particularly red, causing one elder to criticize, `The colors you wear are too bright, and you're attracting attention to yourself. You must stick with brown and black.' Some Witnesses refused to associate with us at all." p. 56 On Popularity "Whatever long-standing reservations these Witnesses held about Michael being a pop idol crystallized the night he won those record-breaking eight honors at the 1984 Grammy Awards. The very next morning one elder issued him an ultimatum that my brother must choose between music and the religion. `What you're doing is wrong,' the man declared." p. 197 "Truth be told, many Jehovah's Witnesses used to congregate outside the Kingdom Hall hoping to catch a glimpse of Michael Jackson, knowing full well this kind of adulation was forbidden." p. 197 On Disfellowshipping La Toya recounts the treatment her closest friend received by the elders: "During a meeting, Darles bravely challenged one of the elders. `Why is it that I will be saved,' she asked innocently, `but my parents won't be? They may not be Witnesses, but they're perfectly nice people.' The elder's reply was typical. He cited the scripture, which supported his position but did not really address Darles's point. So she wrote a letter further explaining her feelings and doubts. This outraged the other elders. One day Rebbie's husband, Nathaniel, also an elder, cornered me. `La Toya,' he said, `you're never allowed to speak to Darles again. Ever.'" "But why?" La Toya recounts the time when Michael was told not to ever talk to his sister (meaning La Toya) again: "`La Toya, I ...' The words came out in a torrent. `I can't talk to you ever again.'" "What do you mean?" "The elders had a big meeting, and they told me never to speak to you because you haven't been coming to the Kingdom Hall." "Michael then excused himself, drove over to his friend Marlon Brando's house, asking his advice. Marlon advised him, `For heaven's sake, Michael, that's your sister. If that's the way they're going to do things, you don't need to be part of that. You can always get another religion, but you can never get another sister.'" "Michael decided to disobey the elders' edict and after that never attended any more meetings. To this day we've never discussed exactly what happened, but I know he subsequently severed his ties to the organization through a formal letter." p. 199 Gloria Naylor The novelist Gloria Naylor, b. New York City, Jan. 25, 1950, was a Jehovah's Witnesses missionary from 1968 to 1975, then worked as a telephone operator in New York City hotels while attending Brooklyn College (B.A., 1981). Next, while earning an M.A. (1983) from Yale University, Naylor became famous for The Women of Brewster Place (1982), which won the American Book Award for best first novel. In linked stories the book portrays seven strong black women against the background of a rundown urban neighborhood. It became a television miniseries in 1989 and the basis for a short-lived weekly series in 1990. Naylor's second novel, Linden Hills (1985), applies the pattern of Dante's Inferno to a prosperous black suburb whose people have escaped the inner city, but at a high cost. Mama Day (1988) blends elements from Shakespeare's The Tempest with a tale of modern-day magic and mystery. Completing what the author called her "novel quartet" is Bailey's Cafe (1992), which explores the theme of female sexuality.
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Comments (27)
  written by reed, June 04, 2009
The people that were raised as a jw, they know what's up, and what they are suppose to do. i was raised as one myself, i have not been baptized, but i do know whats right and whats wrong, the other people that were raised as one and the baptized ones that are not active, are not ready to give up some of the things that are going on in their lives. you have to be ready, i mean really ready to go on with that, but look at the world that should make you ready, including myself. if you have never been there then its hard to explain a jw, and the ones that know and is still dogging the religion, you know deep in your hearts. pray about it yall!
 written by Khris palmer, June 05, 2009
Good for them they were brought up right. Some of the today's children are out of hand because you dont spare the rod. Some of these kids she be in prison with harden crimnals need the death penalty without stay of extension just done in. Those they drifted away from Truth like the misfits you have above, just look at em. A waste of breath especically the Wyan family!!!!!Trash
written by Khris palmer, June 05, 2009
Look at this trsh above. This generation now is so out of control and they should be in jail with harden crimnals or on death row with no stay of executions.
Look how this trash above you are reading about turnout leaving the Truth!!!
 written by Kevin, June 08, 2009
The American people had such a hard time accepting the African American earlier in this century. Why? Because they did not understand. They were ignorant. They beat them; swore at them; spit on them and yes, even killed them. The African Americans have gone a long way to be understood. JW's are in the same boat. They are misunderstood. People do not understand their way so they bash them. If they took the time to do some research they will realize that they are actually decent people. The representation of the elders in these cases are personal and faulty. You don't have to like someone but you do not have mistreat them and falsely accuse them of misconduct.
 written by toy, June 11, 2009
the truth is that when people find it hard to conform to what is right they blame other for their faillings. Beign a JW is wonderful experience. you are free from ignorance that affect the rest of mankind as far as god is concerned. though jw are not know it all but they are certainly doing fine than most religions you know it guys.
 written by carol Horner, June 11, 2009
my sister's a jehovah's witness and her family her son lenny is in bethel, and her daughter has a computer she is on facebook with other jws and they talk about drinking too much booze last night, i was disfellowshipped 30 yrs ago so i do know what goes on behind closed doors, please watch jws
 written by Sarah, June 19, 2009
Before I was baptized as a JW less than a year ago I 1st examined ALL of the negative points people bring up & found that it was usually due to false info re beliefs, someone was bitter over their personal situation, or having been raised with parents that had an IMPROPER view of discipline . Everyone in the world is imperfect, including JW's...if every JW acted just right all the time the world would have a group of 7 million perfect people. There is hypocrisy in EVERY religion. Regarding beliefs, they are the only religious group that I found that did not tweek, personalize, or disregard certain teachings from the bible to suite their personal understanding of the way things should operate. Some things seem harsh such as disfollowshipping but if they disregarded or overlooked the instruction in the bible re such matters they would not be true christians. In a world of customized self-serving religions it was nice to find the one that followed God's instructions even if the world things their harsh.
 written by bunny, June 19, 2009
PPL ARE TRIPPING...MICHAEL GAVE HIMSELF UP..IT WASNT..JW'S FAULT HE MESSED UP...PPL THAT DONT UNDERSTAND THE RELIGION CANNOT SIT HERE AND JUDGE...MICHAEL KNOWS WASSUP...AS A MATTER OF FACT HE DISSOCIATED HIMSELF BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH GOD'S PRINCIPLES...STRANGELY THOUGH...WHO WAS HE CALLING ON WHEN HE WAS GOING THROUGH THE SANTA BARBARA CALIFORNIA SCANDAL? HE WAS AT THE KINGDOM HALL...TRYING TO GET JEHOVAHS HELP! YUP...HE KNOWS THE TRUTH AND WILL ALWAYS KNOW THE TRUTH...I HOPE THAT HE IS INCULCATING JEHOVAHS PRINCIPLES IN HIS CHILDREN...WHAT A BLESSING THAT WOULD BE..BEING IN THE RELIGION DOESNT MEAN YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF RESTRICTIONS...EVERYONE HAS FREE WILL...AND NOTHING GOD ASKS OF US IS SO BURDENSOM THAT IT WILL HARM US OR OTHERS...SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST WEAKER THAN OTHERS...AND EVEN GOD UNDERSTAND THIS....
 written by Ms. Lee , June 23, 2009
Is JW's the ppl to hate? I was raised as a Jehovah Witness by my mother. It is not a Cult. U can't get out of a cult. You freely choose whether U want to be a JW or NOT. I have no problem with the religion at all. People misjudge the religions & its teaching & allways ready put the few messed up JW's on blast & use them as a mirror for the whole religion. There are FAKE ppl in every religion. I will never talk bad about the faith da raise me or every Blame my mother or any other Witness for the way i was raised.
 written by Suzan Bulca, June 25, 2009
So great a talent that Michael Jackson had, even the 'truth' couldn't conceal his true feelings for his passion to sing and perform.. but he probably had a natural desire to want to be happy in family life and to want to live forever, as anyone fearing the thought of death, would. I really hope Michael Jackson didn't feel guilty about disassociating himself or leaving the religion because if he did, it could have resulted in his unusual behavior later in life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrBXTvuAT1g Please view any videos made on the origins of the organisation to reveal the real truth.
 written by jojo, June 26, 2009
I was raised as an Jehovah's Witnesses and I really happy. There is no other way to live, but to be honest, loving, respectable people in today world.
 written by cath, June 26, 2009
I was raised as a JW and left before being baptised at 17 . I did allsorts!! and at 25 decided that life without God was wasted. I have seen both sides! I needed stability and security as I could see this world was going DOWN!!! I came back to the truth as an adult and without ANY influence of my parents. I am happier now than ever with a husband and two kids who all serve Jehovah and have a solid future to look forward to. I wish Michael had seen that life in Gods new world is better than any fame or fortune this world has to offer... Did it make him happy? I dont think so....
 written by swtbby88, June 27, 2009
All you sitting and judging....You all need to read your bible a little bit more and stop judging others. Who cares who did what and when. ...who cares that you got disfellowshipped and they didn't...who cares that you don't believe or understand this religion or not...it ain't your place to judge....at the end of the day...it's between you and god. No1 else.
Everyone is imperfect...we all make mistakes. Pray for those on the wrong path, do not judge...pray...and focus on your relationship with god. It will make you a better person. Praise Jehovah for those who keep him close. God be with you all!
 written by mike, June 28, 2009
"you are free from ignorance that affect the rest of mankind as far as god is concerned. though jw are not know it all but they are certainly doing fine than most religions you know it guys."
As a former jw I can testify that jw's are anything but free from ignorance. They only believe what the Watchtower tells them to believe, they have no clue about the history of the religion and all the false prophecies that have been spewed from the WT. We are in the internet age...I dare all JW's to honestly explore the roots of their religion with an open mind. Trust me you might not like what you find.
 written by EMEKA, June 29, 2009
good-day every one,am very happy to be wittness of jehovah,though now i,ve not atanding meetings for some some year,s still am proud to be JW.anybody who is out there talking matter,s about JW,is westing up he is time;let me tell some peoples,jehovah wittness is one of best religion.as for michael jackson when he was a wittness he know;s the thruth likewise to anyother one,s but sorry for late michael jackson,only jehovah,s our true God know,s how he reward him.my prayer to the family of jackson that jehovah will help tham to come back to thruth if they real wan,t to saved jehovah.lastly to all gud readers of watchtower may our lovily father jehovah help everyone of us come to know him well.as bible book of james say come close to jehovah he will come close to you.i still belong to my God jehovah,nomatter condition i find myself though i ve not atanding meeting for sometime now,i ve respecting myself base on the things i do,if not what i lean from the thruth for so many year,s ago who know what my life would have been,thanks to jehovah wittness who help me,may my greatest thanks go to almight God jehovah,the giver our spirit and wisdom.pls who ever is talking bad of wittness should stop before it is too late to tham.thanks
 written by Gia, June 29, 2009
when JWs get Disfllwdship the elders dont ask you not to talk to your family members.what it is that they ask is not to communicate with them within the hall or associate with them in big events because if nondisfllwdshipd Witneesses assoc. with them its like the sin they committed was acceptable so there are certain limits. we could talk to are family and encourage them yes we fell bad what had happend but we rejoice when they return. and we do not look down upon them cuz we are all NOT PERFECT!! im a JW and my father is disfllwshipd. Also this is not a rule we make about disfllwshipping our fellow sisters and brothers its in the bible everything we do is cause of the bible!
 written by joey , June 29, 2009
"I dare all JW's to honestly explore the roots of their religion with an open mind. Trust me you might not like what you find."
trust me, most JW's already know the roots of the organization the different groups who have splintered off to start their own thing or to just simply bash JW's. what you are missing is you can talk all you want about imperfection and false prophecies, because all religions have them...trust me on that, but what makes people who were raised JW's or were associated, is the simple truth from the Bible. something you cannot understand. these celebs are often seen in a meeting or convention once in a while because they know its still the truth. you maybe df or not active or have never associated with JW's and you bash them. BUT guess what? Jehovah is still God Almighty and Jesus is the Christ and one day there will be paradise.
 written by Joshua, June 30, 2009
Being a JW is cerainly the best thing I've Done in my life. I myself dissasocaited from the organization by choice like Michael Jackson but soon realized that the truth IS what keeps us alive and nothing else can give us what the Bible and Jehovah gives us. I just would like for people to know what our intentions are and that listening to us when we are at their door can do for them. Many have done it and say its the best choice of their life . I am so glad I restarted my relationship with Jehovah and hope that eeveryone does... is's only for the best. God will bring judgement and we all have to be ready.
 written by Luke 17:10, July 01, 2009
The organization of Jehovah is PERFECT but every individual who's in it is NOT. If you want to seek mistakes from a JW, you may find many, even a list of those, BUT before you do that have you first research the good they have done? The sacrifices, forcing one to disown himself and serve only to God? Also, have you even compared to yourself if you CAN do what they do? (Matthew 7:3-5)
Yes, we can all judge everyone and anyone, but the question is DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT? (Matthew 7:1, 2) Even the perfect man himself, Jesus, did not do such things. So why would we as IMPERFECT persons do what the PERFECT PERSON had not? All JW's beliefs are regarding to what they have learned in the Bible and everyone's question is answered through Jehovah's word itself. So people, please, before saying anything, please research first. Praise to the ONLY and TRUE God, Jehovah...
 written by Richard, July 01, 2009
I am a JW, and I never usually comment on JW disparaging on websites, but the question I have for all these websites that try to tear down JW's as a whole is what do YOU have that is better? Is it so called living for today chasing after money, success, and the present moment. People need to realize success and money can be taken from you in an instant, and no disrespect but Michael Jackson is a prime example passing away at 50. If you look at his life regarding the successes he truly wasn't respected and recognized until his death. And I'm sure he wasn't happy with his life when he was living (Vitiligo, Child molestation charges, etc.) which is evident by his seclusion up until his comeback tour. My main point is being a Jehovah's Witness you learn about God's original purpose and what he has in store for the future, which gives you something which no amount of money can buy, and that is peace of mind.
 written by Karen Dagenais, July 01, 2009
Please listen......God is a title like King is a title...but God has a name like a King has a name...Psalms 83:18 tell us Gods name is Jehovah. Jesus is his son...Jesus is not God...Jesus even quoted that "the father is greater than I am" Remember Jehovah's Witness do not make up rules...everything they do comes from the bible...problem is that most people do not open their bibles let alone read them. CHECK out the bible and see that what you think Jehovah's Witnesses are doing or saying whether it comes from the bible...Remember that some people think Jesus was born DECEMBER 25th...well he wasn't...look up on your own computer and see he wasn't....there are so many lies out there about Jehovah's Witnesses because most people are ignorant...there is nothing wrong with a good upbringing from the bible...where do you think most of our laws came from THE BIBLE...because that is the only way to go..the book of Matthew talks about what will happen in the last days and they are so here...careful of what you say until you put your own nose in the bible and read and decifer and look up your own history of what is right and wrong...but the BIBLE is NEVER wrong and Jehovah's Witnesses strive very hard to follow it...but because they are imperfect like all of you they fail but that is why Jesus died for us...to forgive us of our sins...if we stop practicing the sin. We do not stiffle creativity or force anyone to worship the true god...look at the magazines and the picture on it...all done by Winesses(how creative is that)....but for the good not the bad that circulates out there....as for Micheal Jackson and who ever is so called famous...they are not famous in Jehovah's eyes....Micheal probably had a talking to by the elders because he was making THRILLER and this is a video about the dead....this is so contrary to the bibles teaching what he was doing...the bible quotes that the living know they will die...but the dead are conscious of nothing at all....so for him to know this scripture and go against the bible was something...but the elders tried to correct his path...but money spoke for Micheal...I am sure he was sorry for it...but he has a chance to be in the new system that the bible talks about and Micheal knew this to the very end. He didn't critizise the Witnesses because he knew what the bible taught...not the Witnesses making it up. Remember when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit(it was never mentioned what kind of fruit they ate) but Jehovah told them before this that they were to populate the earth and subdue it....well if they had not eaten this fruit WHERE WOULD WE ALL BE TODAY...on earth in paradise like they were...so you see this is Jehovahs goal is to get people to understand that we can have this paradise again...but you need to work at it and follow his laws...his laws are the BIBLE...remember even people who claim they are witnesses make bad judgements
but that does mean Jehovah does not exist...we all make mistakes...and some went wrong with discipline on their children...but that doesn't mean Witnesses condone this behavior.... it is the person inside that needs to change by following the right bible principles...whether a Witness or not...LOOK IN YOUR own bible and read it for the first time....most Witnesses are well adjusted...because they follow as close as they can to gods laws...but everyone is different (mentally and emotionally) and sometimes these people cannot be fixed and yet claim to love Jehovah(and I am sure they do) but mental illness or whatever can cloud behavior whether you are a Witness or just any old religion etc......PRAY and use Jehovah's name in your prayers...and always leave your prayer in his sons name Jesus...try it ..ya never know.
 written by Malcolm L, July 01, 2009
I don't argue that being raised a JW is the most terrible thing in the world - there are a lot more terrible things that one could experience. But suffice it to say, there are serious doctrinal errors within this religion that ultimately begins to undermine any legitimacy that it may claim as being "the truth". For one, the long history of false predictions about the end times. This fact alone suggest that they believe that they know more than Jesus, who said no one knows the day and hour. And when it comes to the person of Jesus, the WTS gives a slant on him that is inconsistent with Scripture - Big God creates a little god but then says in the 10 Commandments "you should have no other gods before you." To suggest that God needed a helper to create the universe pretty much implies that God is not all-powerful - just sort of powerful. (John 1:1) I am not traditional trinitarian, but I believe that the WTS, like many of the churches miss the point. The very name that God gives himself - YHWH - is not actually a name but a definition of the potential of whomever and whatever God may choose to be, specifically "I shall be what I shall prove to be". More space would be needed to expound on the fullness of God's diversity in the person of YHWH, Elohim, Adonai, Kurios and the manifestation of the person of Iesous (Jesus) the Christos. The WTS miserably over-simplifies the aspects of God's Deity with pseudo-scriptural backing. Finally, two critical points of contention: a 2-party Church (heaven bound/earth bound) with a "faithful and discreet slave" represented by a Governing Body is not only unscriptural, but is antithetical to the Oneness of the body of Christ; and secondly, that the WTS is the only conduit for salvation. To make such a suggestion is to effectively say that Jesus' death just wasn't quite good enough and you need us to save you. Those who are born again by the spirit of God and have the adoption as sons "Abba Father" (Rom. 8:15) are directed and lead by God alone and not an intercessory body. The WTS does exactly what it talks about so much by raising itself up in the temple of God as if it were a god. And the final point: God does not need man to vindicate Himself.
I humbly submit to you as someone raised as an African-American JW, that people open themselves up to the spirit of God so as to be lead and taught and not be mislead into believing that you are not worthy of His grace and mercy unless you are a member of a dying breed of 144,000 (actual Jews) and this erroneous idea that the "other sheep" is a "great crowd" excluded from such mercy. Even C.T. Russell believed and taught that the 'other sheep not of this fold' referred to the time when Gentiles would be brought into the one Body of the Church and that the Great Multitude of Rev. 7:9 is identical to that in Rev. 19:1 - which finds itself in heaven. You're either saved or you are not saved - there is no class-distinction with God.
 written by chimanga williams, July 03, 2009
i was raised in the faith since age 8.it is the best thing for me.i never felt it was to repressive rather than protective.theres nothing wrong with a discplined conservative lifestyle.
 written by 1521, July 03, 2009
I am a jehovah witness the reason why micheal jackson was kicked out is because of the video Thriller he knew that the video was not wat jehovah's witness belived and the elders told him to not make it and he did micheal caused hiself to leave the oragnization he also knows that anyone who has die does not come back! so all you people who have no idea what jehovah witness are need to go to a local kingdom hall and ask and they will tell you what we belive and know is right. Also we listen to the watchtower because it is a other guide for us to remind us what we have to do! Every thing is find in the bible and is the answer to alot of questions! But I hope that the jackson family would go back to the truth before the time of the end comes becuase only jehovah nows the day when the world comes to a end and we have to be ready for whatever happens! So all we should be remind to is if you really don't know what jehovah witness's belive ask one and they will tell and if you don't like us 'fine' but just like when noah warned the people of the flood that it was coming and they did not listen jehovah's day is coming and i hope you are listening! And i have respect for all you judgemental people out there because without you people we would never preach the word of god and get it around.FYI we are the only religon that has over 7,124,443 millon people in the truth that love jehovah god!
Next we are not perfect us jehovah's witness we are just like you we make mistakes everyday our life sytle is great!I will also like to tell you micheal jackson could talk to his sister but not on a spritual and religon's background!So stop making up stuff! [b
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