Hey friend, where is this video? And why was it deleted from the JW.borg website?

Please remember, this was not some random upload. It was official material, presented as spiritual instruction from God's organization. I remember giving many needs talk based on this.

So, what changed? was the information wrong? was it embarrassing? or are we just supposed to forget it existed because the current version of the organization no longer wants it sitting there?

And here's something I find interesting as a comparison. The Seventh day Adventists have an official archive dedicated to Ellen White where her published writings are available for people to search and read. They aren't pretending their history didn't happen. They preserve it. Even the material coming from someone they regarded as prophetically guided is sitting there where critics, members and anyone else can examine it.

WT itself is perfectly happy to tell you what Catholics have taught about Mary, what other religions have taught and where those teachings came from. Apparently examining another religion's historical record is important when WT is doing the examining.

So why is the "True Religion", the "Only Channel" dispensing "spiritual food", removing parts of its own historical material and going after people who preserve and archive it? Why should everybody else's religious history be open to inspection while WT's own record becomes harder to examine?

Why can't we get official access to Studies in the Scriptures? Why isn't Millions Now Living Will Never Die digitized and available on JW.borg? These were not obscure pamphlets from some fringe group. They were publications produced and distributed by the organization itself. If they were part of the historical stream of "spiritual food", why shouldn't Witnesses and the public be able to read them directly from the official source?

Where is the Sonja Ericsson video? Why was it removed? What else has disappeared? If yesterday's material really was spiritual food from God's organization, why shouldn't I be able to inspect it today? And if WT has nothing to hide, why does accessing its own history requires 3rd party access?

-----------
Edit: A dishonest and coward Bethellite posted a link to the "Beliefs Clarified" summary as if that answers the questions I am posing here. It doesn't. A summary written by WT about how WT says its beliefs changed is not the historical record. The question is why the original publications, videos and talks themselves are not fully available for inspection.

My Facebook feed shows me AI generated pictures of young girls in the ministry. None of the comments debunk them as AI, everyone sends hearts and bibletexts.

Boomer behaviour or just blind?

My sister went to the international convention in Milwaukee this past weekend and posted a collage on insta. I thought this sticker was disturbing. HAVE A GREAT TRIBULATION 😁😁 like wtf!

i’m baptized, over 18, and still live with my parents. i’ve been with my boyfriend for a year. i went to visit him and lied to my parents about where i would be. i won’t go into specifics, but today my mom went through my things and discovered not only that i have a boyfriend, but that we had sex.

obviously, it did not go well at all. she’s extremely upset and crying, and i know she’s going to tell my stepdad everything, which makes me even more anxious. she says she’s going to tell the elders if i don’t tell them myself within a week. i have no idea what to do. this is definitely not how i wanted her to find out.

i’m honestly scared because i hate being the center of any drama, and i really don’t want to go through the humiliating process of telling the elders what i’ve done. up until now, i’ve never had any major issues or problems. i’ve always tried to be a good daughter, and now i feel like everything is breaking around me.
i know i’m an adult and can make my own decisions, but when you’ve lived this life your whole life, it’s hard. you’re still treated like a child, and it feels like my mom thinks i owe her every part of my life as if i’m still a kid.

please help. i feel so lost and embarrassed, and i don’t know what to do. do i talk to the elders or refuse? has anyone been through something similar, especially while still living with their parents?

Before arguing about what "some" JW's supposedly imagined about 1975, let's establish the facts.

On February 10, 1975, Frederick W. Franz, then vice president of the Watch Tower Society and later its president, delivered the talk “The Time In Which We Are Now Interested” at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

The recording says approximately 22,000 people were present in Los Angeles, including the servant bodies from 550 congregations, while another 8,000 were assembled in Oakland listening to the program. That puts the audience at roughly 30,000 people.

So, this was not a rumor circulating among a few excitable publishers.

This was one of the highest ranking officials in Watchtower addressing a massive Witness audience about the significance of 1975.

The introduction also names Nathan H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Society and fellow Governing Body member, as part of the evening program.

Watchtower’s later official history presents its position carefully. Jehovah’s Witnesses Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom says Franz had warned people years earlier not to be specific about what would happen in 1975, while admitting that later statements were “more definite than advisable”.

The March 15, 1980 Watchtower goes further and acknowledges that the organization itself created the expectation.

WATCHTOWER, 1980: “considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975”

WATCHTOWER, 1980: Published statements implied that fulfillment by that year was “more of a probability than a mere possibility”.

Now compare that retrospective explanation with Franz speaking in 1975. He called 1975 a “critical year”. He explained that Watchtower chronology placed the end of 6,000 years of Adam’s existence in early autumn 1975. He then introduced the unknown interval between Adam and Eve as the reason the expected events did not necessarily have to occur by September 5.

He specifically discussed October, November, December, 1976 and even 1977 as possibilities depending on how much time separated their creation. He was not telling the audience that expecting the end around 1975 was wrong, instead, he was explaining why that expectation could continue beyond September.

FRANZ, 1975: “We know it’s a critical year, we know we’re near something, but we’re not saying.”

FRANZ, 1975: “things could happen and it looked very likely that they’re going to happen.”

FRANZ, 1975: “They can come quickly within a short time after the terminal days of the lunar year 1975.”

Then Franz stopped talking merely about chronology and told people how that expectation should affect their lives. He warned them against assuming there would be enough time for “raising a family of kids”, “going to college for a few years”, learning engineering and establishing a good career. These were concrete life decisions. Education. Employment. Children. The audience was being told that the remaining time was too short to plan normally.

FRANZ, 1975: “No! The time does not allow for that, dear friends.”

FRANZ, 1975: “evidently there’s not much time left.”

Finally Franz invoked the 1914 generation. He pointed out that 61 years had already elapsed since 1914 and argued that the generation was approaching normal human life expectancy. Then he told his audience not to make plans inconsistent with how late the hour supposedly was. Only after all of this did he warn them against making “unwarranted predictions” and becoming false prophets. That qualification is part of the record. So is everything that came before it.

FRANZ, 1975: “that day, that day, and hour which God has fixed is here”.

FRANZ, 1975: “let’s not fool ourselves about the matter and start making plans and entering into projects which are not warranted by the lateness of the hour”.

Now, I want to keep the claim precise.

Watchtower did not officially announce, “Armageddon is guaranteed on September 5, 1975”.

It did something that the historical record makes impossible to dismiss as merely rank and file speculation. Its own vice president stood before roughly 30,000 listeners, called 1975 critical, said the expected events looked “very likely”, explained why the expectation could extend beyond September, said there was “not much time left”, and explicitly told people there was not enough time for college, careers or raising a family.

Watchtower later admitted that its own statements made 1975 look more probable than merely possible.

Of course, this is not the only way they pushed this idea; COs, District Overseers, public talks, and printed statements like these pushed the same urgency

That the WT blames ordinary Witnesses or "some brothers" for “running ahead” is bullshit. They were doing exactly what the leadership conditioned them to do: treat publications, public talks, and especially convention talks as spiritual direction from Jehovah’s organization, then make major life decisions accordingly.

At the time, this material was presented as “food at the proper time”. You were not dealing with casual opinions that members were free to ignore. Openly rejecting, challenging, or criticizing that direction could cost you your reputation, your privileges, your family relationships, and eventually your entire social world.

The same organization that created the urgency also created the consequences for questioning it.

The evidence is clear.

Well, the title of the 2027 Convention was just revealed in a letter to the congregation. Its:

"Jesus: O Caminho" / "Jesus: The way" (Portuguese / direct translation to English).

This makes it even more clear how the HQ are trying to shift the tone more and more into Jesus, especially alongside the drama series theyre producing. Its the first time Jesus features in a Convention Title since the start of the drama series.

I must say, and this part is purely self-made, with no information to back it up - maybe the conventions of 2028 and 2029 will just complete the text (Jesus: The truth; Jesus: The life). That seems logical to me but I must stress its not official.

Just wanted to tell you guys. Probably will be told all over the congregations during the midweek meeting (which I hope is something that ends, please!!).

I saw this post on thread by @edd_alvarez1978 and thought I should share it because it is absolutely on point:

“JWs will Google the restaurants they visit, the products they buy, and the places they go. They’ll Google medical, financial, and scientific subjects. But they won’t Google their own organization because the Internet can’t be trusted.”
— @edd_alvarez1978

They’ll literally google everything except their own religion

I went to the convention this past weekend, and I just need to rant for a minute.

For context, I’ve been POMO since the beginning of the year. I haven’t been to a meeting or service at all. Before that, I was appointed, a regular pioneer, and basically the golden boy of my circuit/city. So naturally, I haven’t really seen many of the people I used to consider friends.

When I went to the convention, I was actually kind of excited to see some old friends. I hadn’t really thought about how those conversations were going to go.

And then they started asking questions.

“Where are you serving now?”

“Did you move somewhere where the need is greater?”

“Are you still appointed?”

At first, I tried to deflect. I wasn’t sure if they knew I wasn’t attending anymore, or if they were genuinely asking. But after hearing the same kind of questions from several people, I eventually just started telling them that I’m not going to the meetings right now.

And holy shit, the change in their faces was something else.

Their mood changed almost immediately. And that’s what really bothered me. These were people I hadn’t seen in months, and they didn’t ask how I was doing, how life was going, or even how I was feeling, despite knowing I’ve had some health issues.
The main thing they seemed interested in was my spiritual status.

Maybe they didn’t mean it that way, but it honestly felt like, “If you’re not doing well spiritually, then I’m not really interested in talking to you.”
And honestly, I don’t consider these people my friends anymore. I was still nice to them, but the whole thing was just disappointing.

What really gets me, though, is realizing that I used to be part of this environment too. I was appointed, pioneering, very active, and completely immersed in that culture. I don’t think I was ever exactly like this, but I do wonder how much of that programming I accepted without even realizing it.

At the time, things like someone’s “spirituality” being one of the first things you asked about seemed completely normal.

Experiencing it from the other side now, it feels incredibly weird.

Anyway, that’s my rant. Just disappointing as hell.

I put my last field service report in January 26. Have not been to a single meeting or field service arrangement since. At the end of every month I have received an email from elder requesting me to 'tick a box'. It was starting to annoy me. Yesterday 31st August and today I have received no email.

I am hoping that now I am 'officially' past the 6 month mark that they will finally quit this crap.

September 1st is def the start of the new 'Freedom Service Year' for me. Free to say & believe what i want & free to not bother strangers at home. Free to not feel I always have to 'give a witness' when out shopping, queuing somewhere, etc

I will pop the champagne tonight 🍾 🎊

James 1:27 gives a surprisingly simple description of “pure religion”:

Care for orphans and widows in their distress.

That’s awkward... Because for an organization of more than 9 million publishers, large-scale charity toward the general public is remarkably absent from what defines their worldwide activity.

Yes, they provide disaster relief... But much of the assistance they publicize is directed toward their own brothers and sisters... Which creates another wonderfully inconvenient biblical problem.

Jesus explicitly asked: if you love only those who love you, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Don’t the people of the nations do the same? (Matthew 5:46-47)

But apparently identifying the “one true religion” requires 1914, overlapping generations, a faithful slave, worldwide preaching, organizational unity, and several charts explaining why all of this definitely makes sense.

Meanwhile, James basically said:

Help people in need.

And Jesus added:

Not just your own people.

Apparently the Bible’s criteria weren’t complicated enough.

I have the unfortunate pleasure of watching my father work himself into the grave trying to keep up with everything. He is in charge of a couple different things for the upcoming international or special convention, I can't be bothered to remember what it's called. Every day it looks like he's been chewed up and spat out for someone else to kick into the ground. I'm trying my best to help with work, but we're already do worn down from our regular schedule that none of us can keep up.

On top of dealing with other issues in the hall, including members who have seen videos online and are doubting, I'm worried that this might be the thing that tips him over the edge and kills him. Legitimately kills him. I respect the man but he can't keep going like this. Still, there isn't anything I can do without getting yanked into the back room for a talk and public reproval at best (there's plenty of elders who want my dad off the body, and they'll do anything to make it happen).

Am I going to lose my dad over this? Are we going to be okay after the convention? I don't know. I don't know anymore. I've heard horror stories about this from other halls where the brother snaps, and I'm worried about it while trying to keep a level head and put up the facade for my family.

If anything happens to my dad, though, there isn't really too much holding me back from leaving. Shoot, I don't think I'll be able to attend without him anyways; everything is set up so I'm financially dependent on him, and if he kicks the bucket I'm out of or a job and home, and even a car. It'll be fine, I'll manage, but I'm worried about my mom and sister.

Oh well. Can't really do much right now. Guess we'll ride it out and see what happens.

Hi all,

Recently on here I asked about child baptisms and spoke about the advocacy work that I am taking a part of on here, so I hesitated to write this, but I feel too that I have the right to ask for support, because I am also a victim to all of this. I am a 27. I finally moved out of the home of my elder father and elder's wife mother a year ago, after a tense year of constant manipulation (if you don't go to the hall, we're going to "kick you out,) "friends" from the hall "discovering" that I was attempting to move out online and "reporting" it to my parents without my knowledge and consent, and just the constant walking on eggshells that I had to do as an adult young woman (attempting to date for the first time in my lates 20s, meeting men simply to get to know them secretly)

I moved out so quickly and in such a rush that it did not dawn on me that my life as I know it will never be the same. My relationship with my parents is so deeply fractured because it's not based on any semblance of actual love, truth, or authenticity. I have to hide my basic thoughts about God, life, religion, just to maintain a connection with them. The constant fear of potentially being disfellowshipped because of my advocacy work and for seeing a non witness. My gossiping Aunt and Grandma who now see me as "spiritually weak." It's endless.

I was a pioneer for 3 years, starting at age 19. I pioneered all throughout college while many in my congregation I feel was waiting for my downfall or my "slip up." While my peers were doing study abroad, creating friendships, etc. I had a military type lifestyle, a color coded schedule that included when I ate, when I slept, when I would go out in service, when I would work my part-time job, and when my full-time college classes were. I was praised for this, and I myself thought it was normal.

Now I am 27 with the same one "safe" non-witness friend I had since I was 9. I am also going through issues with my landlord where I am at, and because of where I am at with my parents, I feel like I can't safely tell them anything without my business being exposed or for it to become some sort of religious/morality conversation. While others have their partners to move in with or bonds they already created, I am starting from absolute 0, every single time. There are no words that can describe the amount of damage and pain that I feel due to this.

I was just trying to survive and have been repressing this pain. But now I see I shouldn't have to bear this alone. Any sort of words of encouragement would help, and if I can make a friend or two that would be great.

I don't want to trauma bond. I simply want to build bonds based on a mutual understanding and empathy. Despite all this I am taking active steps for recovery, building my own business, going on friend dates, dating someone that I truly do love and has been a God-send, and just trying to limit contact with family as much as possible for my own mental health.

I am not a victim, but have been victimized.

Thanks all.

I just saw on FB that KC passed away. Loved his book and his posts on here. He will be missed.

Je voulais simplement prendre un moment pour vous dire merci.

J’ai été Témoin de Jéhovah pendant plusieurs années et, pendant longtemps, je pensais sincèrement avoir trouvé « la vérité ».
Puis j’ai commencé à chercher et je suis tombé par hasard sur ce subreddit.

Vos témoignages, vos discussions, les anciennes publications de la Watchtower, les archives, les affaires judiciaires, les documents historiques et toutes les sources que vous partagez m’ont permis de découvrir énormément de choses que je n’aurais probablement jamais vues autrement.

Mais au-delà des informations, c’est surtout votre authenticité qui m’a marqué.

J’ai lu tellement de commentaires dans lesquels j’ai ressenti de l’humain, du cœur, de la gentillesse et de la compassion.
Beaucoup plus que durant mes 25 ans dans cette organisation.

Je pense que beaucoup d’entre vous sont probablement de très belles personnes qui ont été profondément blessées, voire détruites, par cette organisation. Et malgré tout, vous avez trouvé la force de raconter votre histoire, de chercher, de partager et d’aider les autres. Whaouuu vous êtes tellement admirable !

Du fond du cœur, j’espère que vous avez pu vous reconstruire. J’espère que vous avez retrouvé votre liberté, votre paix et une vie qui vous ressemble.

Vous ne saurez probablement jamais l’impact que certains de vos posts et commentaires ont eu sur ma vie et sur probablement beaucoup d’autres.

Alors simplement :
Merci infiniment 🙏🏾
Merci pour votre courage.
Merci pour votre authenticité.
Merci pour vos sources.
Merci pour vos témoignages.

Et surtout, prenez soin de vous. Soyez bénis et ayez tous une belle vie ❤️

Back in 2015, Geoffrey Jackson testified before the Australian Royal Commission (ARC) about child sexual abuse within Jehovah’s Witnesses:

“I accept that child abuse is a problem right throughout the community”

He also acknowledged that some policies needed to change. In the context of an inquiry examining, among other things, the failure to report CSA allegations to the authorities, that’s quite an admission.

Fast-forward to August 2026. In his newly released JW.org Morning Worship, “Imitate Jesus When Responding to Unjust Accusations,” Jackson says:

“all sorts of ridiculous accusations about us, even saying that we hide and cover over child abuse.”

So, if I understand correctly, Geoffrey Jackson is including himself among those making “ridiculous accusations” about the CSA problem within the organization? 🤔

Ah, wait… I think I get it now. The Governing Body warned us that we might receive instructions from the organization that could seem illogical from a human standpoint.

Well, for once, I agree with the Governing Body: there’s nothing more illogical than this double standard!

hi I am 17 F, currently in a relationship with 16M who's non jw. One of his friends is a pimi girl his age, some of his friends know about us but I am just super worried about her finding out because her dad is a powerful elder also my dad is a elder. if anyone such as the elders were to find out about our "activities" I'd definitely get a judicial committee. I really love him, I just feel so trapped in my current situation with the jw shit. I find it hard that I can't be open about my relationship but it's just what it is. I just get so scared of her finding out because it could ruin my life.

UPDATE: my boyfriend told his jw friend that he's dating a pimo, she says she won't tell anyone. I told him it's okay to Tell her it's me. now I'm scared but also fuck it

Watchtowers view point on NGOs 

“As in other countries the Catholic church in Vietnam has not confined her activities to religious matters but has been deeply involved in the country’s politics… 
was directly responsible for the first armed intervention by French colonialists in Vietnamese political affairs.” The Catholic politician Ngo Cong Duc”

https://wol.jw.borg/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101971615?q=Ngo&p=doc
Remove b

Watchtower is a NGO 
2018

“According to Watchtower International, a Jehovah’s Witnesses-affiliated nongovernmental organization (NGO),”
https://2021-2025.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/republic-of-korea/

2022 

“rejected a request by the Jehovah’s Witnesses NGO Watchtower Association for recognition as an official religion in the country.”

https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/israel-west-bank-and-gaza

Since I was young I have always had a stutter when it comes to my speech. As you well know, the dubs do not have many accommodations for people that may have special circumstances. Now this may seem minor compared to other ailments, but the anxiety I had because of it was off the chain! You were expected to give talks and preach like every other rank and file witness. It was a nightmare the weeks leading up to a talk and even going out in service every week! When I expressed my concerns to my family, I got the same answer ......the "rely on jehovah" nonsense, or read a scripture like Philippians 4:6–7....didn't really help. Given, my mother did read with me, but no speech therapy. As I got older I have learned certain techniques to cope, such as word substitutions and breathing exercises ....... but you know what has helped me the most, WAKING UP FROM THIS FKN CULT! My anxiety levels have dropped so much since leaving, my stutter is virtually gone! I work at a university, so my job involves communication with individuals on a day to day basis, many phone calls (I dreaded the phone as a avid stutterer) and work meetings ... I embrace them all! The witnesses not only held my mind captive but also my voice. It feels so good to be free now, in both aspects. What ailments did you have to suffer through as a witness that has subsided after leaving?

My brother, after 12 years of not acknowledging me, just sent me a text. It reads in part:

“I remember the day you answered yes to the question: "Have you dedicated yourself to Jehovah, accepting His way of salvation through Christ Jesus?" And, we* **all were so happy to see you get* baptized! So, it was your religion too. You chose to leave Jehovah. Just try to imagine how sad, disappointed, wishing you would return that Jehovah is. He is your creator and life giver. That's the most important relationship you can have. I do hope for the best for you. There's no need to burn all your bridges”.

So at 13 years old I was expected to know what I wanted from my life and the impact of reciting what I was told. Should’ve married me off at the same time too.

I’m filled with so much anger at the moment from this message. It’s taking everything within me to not reply.

I need help to calm my mind & keep me centered.

I am PIMO, and I recently attended a International Convention in my country, I barely listened to the talks, I had the most fun speaking to delegates and people from other congregations, its unCONDITIONAL love - that sense of community feels really good. Now, I have a good amount of friends outside jw land, but I felt bad for those that aren't as fortunate as me, those that didn't/don't have friends outside of JWs after they left, so I was just wondering how some of you guys dealth with that.

I'm hoping to accelerate my exit from the organization by gaining my currently PIMI, tho seriously struggling, wifes support. My plan was to see what they announce at the annual meeting since we watch every year, and try and get her to start asking some questions then. But, before that, I was wondering if anyone had success trying to sneak some "apostate lies" into the everyday life of someone they are trying to help. Thanks to all for the support!

The question is self explanatory.

If a religion is constantly changing

Reinventing themselves

Changing or deleting it's history

Destroying their cultural heritage

Being embarrassed of what it used to teach or believe

Calling apostate someone for reading or display what the Truth used to teach

Is it the same religion?

Or is it a different religion?