tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post3931521795351114000..comments2021-03-26T02:36:30.091-07:00Comments on Death or Obedience: Appeal letter to London BethelMatthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413266173326117804noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-41191799411978226512018-02-25T17:07:11.544-08:002018-02-25T17:07:11.544-08:00Sorry this is not to do about this but jah witness...Sorry this is not to do about this but jah witnesses would rather support a sexual abuser and someone who has been told he us a danger to his sin ,daughter and grandkids, I've told elders just to be told they don't want to know ,my daughter and I haven't been for a while due to this so we area deemed as bad association made desperate calls in tears to elders even my 17 year old daughter made calks won't even help us with shopping even jah witness family members won't help ,even told bethgel but was told to leave it with elders this is our last plea for help plz plz plz Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-83826754565149786702016-09-19T02:20:18.467-07:002016-09-19T02:20:18.467-07:00Matt
Thanks for posting your letter. You are not...Matt<br /><br />Thanks for posting your letter. You are not alone, there are many of us who have been on the receiving end of a harsh judicial process. By hook or by crook they got me out. I didn't attend my initial disfellowship for apostasy but went to appeal and the charge for apostasy was dropped. However, the appeal commitee brought a charge of reviling as i had called two of the congregation eldes agents of satan. I made pretty good defence of this charge, of course to no avail, the appeal commitee brought the charge and the appeal commitee found me guilty. I requested another appeal, was told a request would be made to bethel (london). When the letter came only the chairman of the appeal commitee was in the room with me and apparantly my request for appeal was denied. I never questioned it, big mistake. I have been d/f, unjustly i believe for nearly 12yrs now.anointed25https://www.blogger.com/profile/15927632857766696784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-72791299785172059942015-08-25T09:07:01.553-07:002015-08-25T09:07:01.553-07:00Hi Matt, as a "fading" J.W. I've act...Hi Matt, as a "fading" J.W. I've actually met Mr. Hunter in recent times, and was left in no doubt that here was a company man - someone who thrived on the position given to him by the Org. Let him enjoy it - the Pharisees did the same. In order to continue sharing REAL truth with innocent-but-deceived J.W.'s, I'd like to leave Bible proof which proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that J.W.'s are blinded far more than they'd ever believe!<br />Ask any J.W.'s why they are called JEHOVAH'S witnesses - they will gladly show you on their tablet, Isaiah 43:10,12.<br />Now ask them for ONE Christian Greek scripture which says so. <br />They can't show you one, because there ARE none!<br />However, straight from their own 'Silver Sword', the following verses make a nonsense of the designation "Jehovah's Witnesses." <br />EVERY Witness should be shown these:<br />Matthew 10:18 - ".....for my sake, for a witness to them and the nations. <br />Mark 13:9 - "......before governors and kings for my sake, for a witness to them." <br />Luke 24: 47,48 - "....and on the basis of his [Jesus'] name....You are to be witnesses....." <br />John 1:15 - "John bore witness about him..." [JESUS] <br />John 5:37 - "the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me." <br />John 8:18 - "the Father who sent me bears witness about me." <br />John 15:26,27 - "the spirit will bear witness about me; and YOU in turn, are to bear witness." <br />Acts 1:8 - "You [11 faithful apostles] will be witnesses of me...." <br />Acts 4:17,18 - ...upon the basis of this (Jesus') name .... upon the basis of the name of Jesus. <br />Acts 10:39 - "And we are <br />Acts 10:43 - "To him [Jesus] all the prophets bear witness....." <br />Acts 13:31 - "who are now his (Jesus') witnesses to the people. <br />Acts 22:15 - "because you are to be a witness for him [Jesus] to all men......" <br />Acts 22:20 - "......the blood of Stephen your [Jesus'] witness was being spilled..." <br />Acts 23:11 - "..... a thorough witness on the things about me in Jerusalem..." <br />Acts 26:16 -"I [Jesus]..choose you as an attendant and a witness..respecting me" <br />Romans 8:16 - "The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit..." <br />1 Corinthians 1:6 - "even as the witness about the Christ..........." <br />1 Timothy. 2:6 - "......what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times." <br />2 Timothy 1:8 - "............of the witness about our Lord.......[Christ]" <br />1 John 5:9 - "the witness God gives...the fact that he has borne witness concerning his Son." <br />Revelation 1:9 - "....for speaking about God and bearing witness to Jesus." <br />Revelation 12:17 - ".......and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus." <br />Revelation 17:6 - "........and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus." <br />Revelation 19:10 -".....the work of witnessing to Jesus.... bearing witness to Jesus." <br />Revelation 20:4 - "............ for the witness they bore to Jesus." <br /><br />p.s. Mr. Hunter has a copy of this research!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-78029600505832381612013-03-11T13:05:04.913-07:002013-03-11T13:05:04.913-07:00Great story Matt.
Is there any way to get the po...Great story Matt. <br /><br />Is there any way to get the podcast of the JC working again on iTunes? Or you could rmail it. <br /><br />Thanks. <br /><br />EdinburghAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-62273691727556966822013-01-21T01:23:35.735-08:002013-01-21T01:23:35.735-08:00Mathew,
Thank you for publishing your letter. T...Mathew, <br /><br />Thank you for publishing your letter. The more of this published the more signposts there are for those people dazed and confused by the Watchtower Society to escape from 'the truth'. <br /><br />I know it is a while now but was there any communication from them regarding your letter? Or any further action? It would be really good to know, thank you.<br /><br />FYI - I have been 'out' for over 40 years but am searching the web (how wonderful it is for this kind of thing) for potential help for a friend of mind who seems to be in the process of joining. She has been a good friend and I am traumatised at the thought of loosing her to the Watchtower Society.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-61601612149174818332013-01-21T01:10:23.719-08:002013-01-21T01:10:23.719-08:00Dear Anon 30th August,
I was deeply moved by your...Dear Anon 30th August,<br /><br />I was deeply moved by your story, thank you for sharing it (so great for your sisters to at least still have you). I 'left' in 1968 but still bear the scars of being raised in such an abusive 'religion' (more properly described as a cult in my opinion). It is vital for those still struggling with 'the truth' to hear stories like yours, bravo, and best wishes to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-58764978209738125722012-08-30T02:37:58.640-07:002012-08-30T02:37:58.640-07:00Im going to open a big can of worms with this one....Im going to open a big can of worms with this one.....<br />Matt,your a fantastic gifted writer,unfortunatly i do not have your way with words.<br />I left the jw's about 12 years ago.when i was in my late teens.i took up a job offer,which took me out of my home town.i had wanted to leave the "truth" for years,but never had the strength,so i used this oppotunity of escape.i faded into the background as a jw,where i was now living i never attended meetings,over the years ,i met someone,and moved in(not married) i continue to live my life,away from where i was brought up,but if i vist family,and see other jws,they will talk to me.hmmmm,this makes m very angry.i have 2 sisters,that also left jw's,they were disfellowshipped,they lost contact with everyone they ever knew.it almost near broke them.they left for the same reasons as me,and now live with there partners like me.my parents now favour me above my sisters,becauses i was never disfellowshipped.this also makes me very angy.i have come so close so many times,wanting to ring the elders an tell them to just do it,becaus i feel such a hypacrite ,what holds me back? My daughter.if i get disfellowshipped,that will be the end o her relationship with her grandparents.<br />Thata not all.....when i was growin up,from about th age of 8 -14 i was sexually abused by a respected member of the congregation.i never reported it,i was afraid i would never be believed.i let it go and moved on with my life.a few yrs ago,i met up with a girl who had also left jw's,she also was sexually abused,but by a different member of the congregation,she did report it to the elders,it was swept under the carpet.2 days ago,i heard a couple i had known when i was in it,had split up.talkin to her,she told me her husband used to beat her.she told the elders,it was swept under the carpet.<br />This religion,that i supposed to be all the and kindness...........really????<br />For a fews years after i left,i respected it,its the members choice to believe etc etc,but the damage it has done to my family,to me and to 1000s of othera out there,its alarming.when your brought up in the jw's from a baby,your absolute whole world revolves around it.if you decide to leave,everyon you have ever known,totally blanks you.your lost for a while in a big world,wih no friends or family.everything about your personality has been drummed in by jw's,so you can feel so lost as a person.<br />I hate the religion now and everything it represents.i cant say theres not a god,i dont know that,but everything about that organization angers me so much.do i feel better now after a rant? No,the religion can leave scars that will never go away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-82166586666375058242011-12-27T05:11:03.833-08:002011-12-27T05:11:03.833-08:00The so called worldly courts would not be impresse...The so called worldly courts would not be impressed with the procedures of Watchtower court hearings. The representation that is allowed in the so called worldly courts puts the Watchtower procedures to shame. To appeal your hearing and front up to three more judges without representation to help you with your spiritual or legal rights is wrong. It reminds me of the observations of one scriptural writer when he recorded under inspiration. "I have seen princes walking, and servants riding horses."<br /><br />How can justice prevail?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-58451685644065363972011-09-26T09:26:57.812-07:002011-09-26T09:26:57.812-07:00The Watch Tower Society's raison d'être is...The Watch Tower Society's raison d'être is simply to expose all other religions as false and theirs as "the truth".<br /><br />For many, many Jehovah's Witnesses, this involves speaking out against the religion their family raised them in. The Watch Tower Society pours hundreds of millions of dollars per year into aiding Jehovah's Witnesses to do this religious work.<br /><br />Shouldn't it, therefore, be reasonable for those who have left the religious order of Jehovah's Witnesses to put some effort into exposing the problems, lies and dangerous, unethical behaviour put forward by the Watch Tower Society as being "pleasing to God"?Mark Hunterhttp://thegoverningbody.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-3092796605263113552011-09-25T11:14:26.989-07:002011-09-25T11:14:26.989-07:00Firstly I did not want to be a JW anymore but it w...Firstly I did not want to be a JW anymore but it wasn't my choice how it played out. I did put some time and effort in around the time left, these days I'm maintaining the blog,writing a few articles and moderating/replying to posts.<br /> I am "getting on" , as you bluntly put it, with my life and for the most part am "over it" thanks. And yeah I did do something against the rules ; disagreed with their teachings. Is that worthy of "punishment" as you term it? <br />And thanks for your kind advice, but I'll decide for my self wether to stop what I'm doing, and leave the readers and listeners to be convinced or otherwise for themselves. Perhaps you fail to see that people do care about this issue, perhaps not about me personally, but they do care. I could be mistaken but last time I checked there were 22,000 hits here and several thousand downloads of the poscasts from itunes, not to mention the numerous emails and comments. However you are correct when you say none of this would have happened had I not "broken the rules". That is the whole point of this blog. Don't have the audacity to tell me what to do or how quietly to do it. I'm assuming that you are the same person who has just posted above. Whatkind of truth is it you just "laid bare"? The same one you are too blind or ignorant to acknowledge you are defending? <br />MattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-90458862610448925412011-09-17T04:23:18.200-07:002011-09-17T04:23:18.200-07:00hmmm... you get to approve what gets to posted and...hmmm... you get to approve what gets to posted and what doesnt...lets see if you have the guts to publish the cold truth I just laid bare...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-71584051746727170142011-09-17T04:21:33.974-07:002011-09-17T04:21:33.974-07:00If you have chosen not to be a Jehovahs Witness, w...If you have chosen not to be a Jehovahs Witness, why put so much time and effort into NOT being a Jehovahs Witness. Get on with whatever you chose to do that does not agree with their beliefs and get over it. Clearly you did something against the rules and thus received the discipline for it. Stop trying to convince everyone else you were treated unfairly, no one else cares how you live your life or if you feel you have been treated unfairly in the past. The bottom line is that if you hadnt broken the rules in the first place then non of this would have happened, you have made your own bed, now lie in it...QUIETLY!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-8487920741833863052011-09-11T09:52:43.712-07:002011-09-11T09:52:43.712-07:00Well firstly the reason I acted as I did is to pub...Well firstly the reason I acted as I did is to publiscise these events. Since the Governing Body insist that these proceedings take place in secret, without any representation on my behalf I felt it prudent to record it all. This would not have been possible had I revealed a secondary recording device. However it must be asked why did this event take place in secret? The Bible , which JW's claim to live by directs the exact opposite to be the case 1 Tim5:20,21 "Reprove before all onlookers persons who practice sin, that the rest also may have fear. I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to keep these things without prejudgment, doing nothing according to a biased leaning."<br />The direction is clear; reprove before all the congregation, and "without prejudice" or "biased leaning". If you listen to the recordings and read the essay at the trial of a Jehovah's Witnesess you would see that niether of these advisments are followed.<br />So does the fact I followed my own agenda on this occasion mean that my claim to be a Christian and my relationship with God is no longer valid? The fact is every adult of every religion on the planet has lied at some point, does this mean we're all doomed? And also I feel duty bound to point out that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses sponsor lying for their own purposes. Their policy is explained in Insight On The Scriptures, vol. 2, pg. 245 (1988). In the article about Lying (“Lie”) they write: <br /><br />“While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge truthful information to people who are not entitled to it.”<br />So they can lie but still claim to be "Christian" and have "a relationship with God" ,but I can't? <br />Also My argument is not nullified at all. Do you even know the issue at stake? <br />Or are you so lacking in objectivity and reason that you fall at the first hurdle?<br />My issues are :Do Jw's represent the "truth" on earth and if so when did God appoint them as such? All my recordings and the articles serve to question this notion, and I would hope that after a person has read and listened they can objectively evaluate Jehovah's Witnesses as being the "true" religion. So really whether I lied in answer to one question is not really the issue at all. <br />Thanks for your comment and I wish you well in life's journey.<br />Matt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-27399986301953486382011-09-11T05:10:43.664-07:002011-09-11T05:10:43.664-07:00Mathew why did you lie when asked if you were reco...Mathew why did you lie when asked if you were recording the meeting? You claim to be a Christian and have a relationship with God but your own recordings prove that you tell lies. You have defeated your whole argument.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-39959728254036753082010-12-30T04:08:47.993-08:002010-12-30T04:08:47.993-08:00Thanks for sharing your story Matthew. My family ...Thanks for sharing your story Matthew. My family was destroyed by an over-zealous elder, Richard Pinkerton, who had made up his mind that my daughter was trash even before a judicial committee was formed. She was DF'd at the tender age of 15, mostly because of his harsh attitude against her. She was sorry for what she had done, but she refused to say so to the elders because prior to her judicial hearing Pinkerton verbally bashed her, calling her candid responses, "The dumbest thing I ever heard." He was very angry with her, which is a shame, because she was giving the two elders visiting us heartfelt, honest answers, and instead of trying to 'recover' her, Pinkerton was chomping at the bit to get her thrown out of the congregation. After she was DF'd he said, "Good riddance to bad rubbish."<br /><br />Ditto Anonymous' comment posted on 11 May 2010. I, too, was asked to meet with the elders and my soon-to-be ex, after I delivered a letter to one of the elders explaining why I was filing for divorce. I refused to meet them in person, and stated I would only converse with them by email or postal mail. Of course they never got in touch with me, and now I see how that actually worked out for the better.<br /><br />I understand the desire to be able to walk away from the organization without being DF'd. People in our situation who have come to have our eyes opened don't deserve to be DF'd, but the GB and all their cronies certainly do. It will be interesting to see what happens on Judgment Day with the GB and all their loyalists, like Pinkerton. <br /><br />Keep up your faith in Jehovah and Jesus. Even though at this time we can't have the kind of association with like-minded believers that we would like to have, at least we have some measure of association through the internet. The promised helper will help us get through these difficult times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-28515027568129837642010-12-14T15:20:17.498-08:002010-12-14T15:20:17.498-08:00Hi Matthew -- ex-jw from the states here. I was j...Hi Matthew -- ex-jw from the states here. I was just wondering if you ever heard from the GB in response to your letter (which is very well written by the way)? I have seen several letters on various sites -- and some have been answered, while others have not.<br /><br />I was also not attending the meetings when the elders decided to come after me. I'm sure my elder stepfather had something to do with it as I had just recently moved in with my now husband. JW's are the only religion that comes after people even when they aren't attending. It's ridiculous. I am now df'd and my family has minimal contact with me. I have moved 1500 miles away from them, so it's much easier for me. It's been five years, and I still get angry about it when I read cases like yours and others on the internet. <br /><br />At any rate, I just wanted to see if you'd heard anything.<br /><br />I wish you well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-80205241865139456242010-08-06T03:39:41.912-07:002010-08-06T03:39:41.912-07:00Well, well... I've been reading awfull alot of...Well, well... I've been reading awfull alot of thing and I cannot make my mind on who us right! It does raise a problem to you! Who are you going to congregate with now? How will you take care of your spiritual life and your wife? I know eclesia doesn't stand for a organization, but raises the problem where and who to associate with? Do you raise your own religion? Do you know that Bible students (the ones that decide not be witnesses) still exist? And that are many churches than don't preach eternal fire/trinity, but will you associate with them? I wish you all the best and that if you sincerely seek that God you will find Him no matter where.David@Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453625178990247414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-45447014129576921312010-05-20T13:37:49.140-07:002010-05-20T13:37:49.140-07:00Thanks for the reply Matt. It makes things a litt...Thanks for the reply Matt. It makes things a little clearer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-80597165418482492932010-05-19T11:09:36.502-07:002010-05-19T11:09:36.502-07:00Thanks for your comment anon. I'll try and ans...Thanks for your comment anon. I'll try and answer your questions. The "appeal" of course is not my mechanism but that of the Watchtower Society. The announcement that I am no longer one of jWs has a massive impact on one's life and that is what I was seeking to avoid.<br />Yes I do slate the teachings of JWs as I do not agree with their claim of authority over others nor do believe many of their teachings to be scriptural. I had decided to stop attending the meetings and they bobviously felt I represented a danger to their members locally so they acted to remove me.<br />Regarding my "appeal" being "hypocritical" the website was formed post DFing and the whole process of appeal and Judicial meeting etc which is presented here is to show how JWs deal with those who dissent. It was inevitableI would be removed in any case so the whole saga was something of a charade on both sides.<br />It is important that this episode was made public though so my own personal agenda is really only of secondary importance.<br />Matt.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08413266173326117804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-29483682557676982062010-05-19T07:07:35.480-07:002010-05-19T07:07:35.480-07:00Matthew,
I am very confused. What are you appeal...Matthew,<br /><br />I am very confused. What are you appealing against? In this blog, you slate the teachings of this religion, based on your experience.<br /><br />Are you appealing against your expulsion? Why did they have to expel you in the first place? Surely, given your current beliefs, you would have wanted to resign from the orgainisation of your own accord?<br /><br />It does not make sense to continually appeal against your removal when your statements on this website make it crystal clear that it is hypocritical to do so.<br /><br />A very confused reader.!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-3976969427251919492010-05-11T06:15:19.859-07:002010-05-11T06:15:19.859-07:00Im glad I insisted the elders contacted me directl...Im glad I insisted the elders contacted me directly if they wanted a word, which they never did..... sounds like I was being set up for a fall.<br />All I did was leave my abusive/cheating husbandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-33698010207938304672010-04-24T09:19:16.398-07:002010-04-24T09:19:16.398-07:00Great site! Looks like I have some reading to do l...Great site! Looks like I have some reading to do lol.<br /><br />Blessings...jehovahsjudgmentexposedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13070669306836183265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-53679928062595519192010-03-24T22:24:29.340-07:002010-03-24T22:24:29.340-07:00Hi,
so what did eventually happen with this situa...Hi,<br /><br />so what did eventually happen with this situation? Did they have the courage admit they did not follow their own protocol, go to podium and retract their earlier announcement?<br /><br />regards,<br /><br />AnonUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134680554924378224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-73839732206282164212010-03-22T06:30:14.378-07:002010-03-22T06:30:14.378-07:00Yet another example of the disgraceful behaviour o...Yet another example of the disgraceful behaviour of elders full of their own superior importance and who revel in the powers they hold and abuse. I wish you all the best Matthew. I doubt that you'll get much help from Bethel though, sadly. <br />Lozhasleft.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850995487033495036.post-17368938074826967032010-03-15T20:08:55.489-07:002010-03-15T20:08:55.489-07:00Courage to you, Matthew. May Jehovah save you out ...Courage to you, Matthew. May Jehovah save you out of the mouth of these 'judicial' lions. <br /><br />With Christian love and best regards.<br />--iloowyJavierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05270789134214997313noreply@blogger.com