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Criticism of Jehovah's Witnesses

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Major Ongoing Controveries

Blood Problem

There are two inconsistencies in the current policy that groups such as “Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood” are attempting to have addressed. Accepting a blood component does not adhere to the principle that blood be poured out. Furthermore, if blood fractions are accepted then Jehovah’s Witnesses should also be allowed to donate blood.

If a person has previously been disfellowshipped for accepting a blood fraction that is now permissible they are not automatically reinstated, as the disfellowshipping is considered to be a result of showing disrespect for the leadership of the Organization as much as the issue of blood.

Regardless of the medical considerations, Jehovah Witnesses advocate that physicians should uphold the right of a patient to choose what treatments they accept or do not accept.[1] Accordingly, US courts tend not to hold physicians responsible for adverse health effects that a patient incurred out of his or her own requests.[2] However, the point of view that physicians must, in all circumstances, abide by the religious wishes of the patients is not acknowledged by all jurisdictions (for one example, see France).

The situation has been controversial, particularly in the case of minor children. In the United States, many physicians will agree to explore and exhaust all non-blood alternatives in the treatment of children at the request of their legal guardians. However, some state laws require physicians to administer blood-based treatment to minors if it is their professional opinion that it is necessary to prevent immediate death or severe permanent damage.

A peer-reviewed essay entitled, "Jehovah's Witnesses, Blood Transfusions, and the Tort of Misrepresentation," found in the Autumn issue of Baylor University’s Journal of Church and State, published December 13, 2005, discusses the potential vulnerability of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ legal corporations to significant claims for compensation because of the religion’s possible misrepresentation of the medical risks of blood transfusions. According to the essay, constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion do not remove the legal responsibility that every person or organization has regarding misrepresenting secular fact. If actual court cases follow the legal argument suggested by this essay, the total awards to those who have lost relatives as a result of the doctrine could easily total hundreds of millions of dollars, crippling the organization financially. The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses has decided to now issue a new directive on blood to all congregations from January 2006, and this replaces the 1995 directives, which are to be removed from organizational files and "be destroyed".[3]

Bulgarian Blood Problem

In 1998, in order to receive legal recognition from the government of Bulgaria, the Watchtower Society signed an agreement with the Bulgarian government in which they stated that “members should have free choice in the matter for themselves and their children, without any control or sanction on the part of the association.” A press release distributed in 1997 by the European Commission of Human Rights clearly explains the understanding of the Commission and the Bulgarians of the Society’s stated position: “In respect of the refusal of blood transfusion, the applicant association [i.e., the Jehovah’s Witnesses] submits that there are no religious sanctions for a Jehovah’s Witness who chooses to accept blood transfusion and that, therefore, the fact that the religious doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses is against blood transfusion cannot amount to a threat to ‘public health.’

The Watchtower Society’s perspective on the agreement can be found in a press release it distributed on April 27, 1998. In announcing the agreement with Bulgaria, the only information about the agreement to allow transfusions is the statement: “The agreement also includes an acknowledgment that each individual has the freedom to choose the type of medical treatment he receives.” This vague statement, while not openly contradicting the agreement, also contains no indication of the historic compromise to which the Society agreed by ostensibly allowing blood transfusions. The 1997 press release by the Commission, explaining their position regarding the then-unsettled case, alerted many people to a perceived doctrinal change by the Society. To prevent the media or other Witnesses from drawing their own conclusions about doctrinal changes, the Society stated in its press release: “The terms of the agreement do not reflect a change in the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses.”

The position of the Watchtower Society was clear: despite their agreement to allow Witnesses to receive blood transfusions in Bulgaria. The Society will continue to levy religious sanctions against Witnesses who receive blood transfusions, forcing the Witnesses to decide between possible death or “excommunication or disfellowshipping.”[4]

Sex Abuse

Jehovah's Witnesses, as an organization, have been accused of covering up cases of child molestation committed by their members. The religious group came under scrutiny parallel to the discovery of systematic abuse and cover-ups, most famously, within the Catholic Church in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although other religions had less-noted issues concerning sexual abuse. (Anglicans in Australia, Unitarian/Universalism, and possibly Greek Orthodox Christians)

In February 2001, Christianity Today printed an article alleging that Jehovah's Witness policies made reporting sexual abuse difficult for members, and did not follow legal norms on the issue. Shortly after, in 2002, Erica Rodriguez filed a suit in the US District Court in Spokane, Washington. Manuel Beliz was convicted of abusing her and, was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment for his crime. In her suit, Rodriguez sought unspecified damages from Beliz for her abuse, and also from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. In 2003, Heidi Meyer alleged that her pleas concerning sexual abuse were dismissed and that this is a widespread problem.[5]

In response, Jehovah's Witnesses stated their opposition to any form of child abuse, declaring that where child abuse can be proven to their standards (two adult Jehovah's Witness witnesses or voluntary confession), and the member is unrepentant, he or she is (or ought to be) disfellowshipped (expelled from the religious institution). However the Jehovah's Witnesses organization and its adherents have nevertheless faced criticism for leniency on this issue.

William H. Bowen, a critic and former member of the religion, who founded Silent Lambs[6], went so far as to state: "I refuse to support a pedophile refuge mentality that is promoted among bodies of elders around the world. Criminals should be ousted, identified and punished to protect the innocent and give closure to the victim." [7]

Witnesses do not accept such charges. They defend themselves by stating that they obey all legal requirements for reporting sex offenders, and that they do discipline and disfellowship (excommunicate) pedophiles. They also vigorously dispute statements that encourage a negative view of an already oft-persecuted religious group.

One common criticism of Jehovah's Witness policy regarding sex abuse is that the victim is encouraged to first report the crime to the elders. Later, the victim may decide to report the crime to civil authorities. The elders are not instructed to encourage or discourage a report to civil authorities, nor do the elders themselves report the crime (though in some cases, elders have suggested to the victims that reporting the case could tarnish the reputation of the organization)[8]. Any delays in reporting sex crimes to civil authorities and collection of available evidence decreases the likelihood of successful prosecution of the accused offender. [9] (PDF format)

The BBC reported on the controversy around Jehovah Witness child abuse in July 2002, in the Panorama program "Suffer the Little Children". The details and transcript are at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/2114320.stm.

The Change on Disassociated Ones

On 18 March 1981, according to Peter Gregerson, due to stress and constant badgering and intimidation, he submitted a letter of resignation from the organization, as those disassociated were still allowed normal and friendly contact with their fellow Witnesses, friends and family. He describes he could not tolerate the constant harassment and unchristian manner he was being targeted for, regarding a private conversation about the Watchtower article using the incorrect Greek word for the location of the 'Great Crowd'. Soon after his resignation, the Watch Tower Society rapidly changed its policy for those "disassociated" and reversed it to a previous stance, and classed them now the same as those "disfellowshipped" (excommunicated), this being a much more serious condition. Those disfellowshipped (excommunicated) were then routinely classed in the same ranks as "wicked sinners, antichrist, anti-God, fornicators, idolaters, drunkards and extortioners", as were also any who were guilty of the crime in the Society's eyes of "independent thoughts" as stated in the Society's 1 September 1980, letter to all Circuit and District overseers. See article on Ray Franz

This change also had a side effect that benefitted the organization in the there is no judicial commity hearing leaving the organiziation hands looking clean. This has been used in other areas like the blood issue (See Above Blood). The taking of a blood transfusion is considered an act of diassociation on the part of the recipient, even if the party says they are repentent they will be shunned because there is no judicial commity hearing to rule on it.

Doctrinal Cotroversies

These are problems that The Watchtower was caught doing that contradict what the have written in several of their publications.

UN NGO

During the 1990’ the Watchtower society was affiliated with the UN as an NGO. This is in apparent contradiction to the Watchtower societies stand on the organization stand as the wild beast. ( see Revelation Grand Climax book ) also this goes against the Watchtower stand that any religion that is affiliated is going to be destroyed in Armageddon. The Watchtower has put out a letter saying that it only sought this status to receive access to the UN library[10]. A statement put out by the UN has said NGO status was not necessary for this and that any student may have access to their library.[11] Infact anyone with internet can go to the UN libary and access said information.[12] This story was broke by the guardian newspaper. [13]( scroll down link to find article ). Since this story broke the Watchtower has cut ties with the UN.

Sales Tax

In 1990 the Watchtower eliminated set prices for literature in some nations. Few knew the change really took place because Jimmy Swaggart lost cases in court. Early 1980 State of California informs Jimmy Swaggart Ministries that tax is due for religious books and tapes sold in the state since 1974. Swaggart eventually pays the tax--$183,000.00--but sues for a refund. The case begins moving toward the U.S. Supreme Court. February, 1989 U.S. Supreme Court rules it is illegal for Texas (and 14 other states) to exempt religious books from sales tax. Some states had been taxing religious books all along. June 22, 1989 Watchtower Society, files amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Jimmy Swaggart case. This adds to the controversy because the society has disfellowshipped people for just attending other churches. This also goes against the example in (Luke 20:24) about paying taxes. Another thing that adds to this is that a lot of poorer countries still have the old pay first system in place which adds a burden to them while richer more well protected countries don't have to pay.[14]

Internet

Curently The Watchtower has warned it's followers not to look to the internet for information on the organization or any matter the pertains to the study of the bible.

Quotes.Watchtower.ca

A collection of online Watch Tower Society publications maintained by a current Jehovah's Witness devoted to collecting and preserving interesting and/or significant quotes from Witness source documents and references. The website has no connection to the website formerly at "quotes.watchtower.ca", or its owner, Peter Mosier, who was sued by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in October 2005 for the sum of US $100,000 for copyright infringement, trademark violations, "try[ing] to embarrass the Plaintiffs," and other tortuous acts. Without admitting guilt, Mr. Mosier elected to avoid the legal battle, due to legal fees that "could easily be up to $50,000 to $100,000 before ever getting in front of a judge" and court costs of $10,000 per day. Terms of Settlement (The mirror site has no connection to Mr. Mosier.) This website also contains a mirror of Mosier's previous website.

Other Controversies

1975

During the 1960s and early 1970s, many Witnesses were stimulated by articles in their literature C4 and further encouraged by speakers at their assemblies prior to 1975, to believe that Armageddon and Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975. Although the views of Armageddon and Christ's millennium beginning in 1975 were never fully or explicitly supported by the Watch Tower Society, many in the organizations' writing department, as well as several leading Witnesses, Elders, and presiding overseers in the organization, heavily suggested that Christ's millennial reign over earth would begin by 1975. One outstanding example is F.Franz expecting it for September 5 after sundown[15]. While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975.

Some Witnesses gave up good jobs, notes C5 college, scholarships, and some imprudently sold their houses in the hopeful expectation that God's Kingdom would literally be established on earth in 1975 after the biblical Armageddon, encouraged by the Watch Tower Society: "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.-1 John 2:17."[16] notes C6 It is worth noting that similar language persists in publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, who still hold that the time remaining in the present system is relatively short, and that having an active share in the preaching work is the best use of a believer's time. Some Jehovah's Witnesses irresponsibly ran up debt believing they would not to have to pay it back, and some unwisely spent their life savings believing that the 1975 date was a certain and unchangeable fact due to the many encouraging Watch Tower articles. C7 In spite of the Watch Tower Society's previous admonition that Witnesses should let nothing cause them to tire and give out (Watchtower, 15 August 1968, p. 501), there were many who left the organization (or became inactive) due to the disappointment of Armageddon not coming in 1975, although the majority remained. The large numbers leaving or becoming inactive were seen as baptisms continued at over 100,000 per year (around 200,000 in 1976). However, the organization still continued to lose more members than it gained for several years after 1975, until 1979 when numbers started to recover and increase again.

In 1980, the Society acknowledged some responsibility of the 1975 incident. "With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man's existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a build up of the expectation already initiated." — The Watchtower magazine, 15 March 1980 p.17

1914

Christ's presence (Greek: parousia) is considered to be his invisible rule from heaven and is believed to have begun in 1914. Witnesses believe that Jesus' prophecy recorded in Matthew 24 have been being fulfilled since that time. They identify the same period with the 'last days' referred to by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. It is taught that starting with World War I in 1914 (which actually began several months before the prophesied October fulfillment), as well as increases in other conflicts and natural disasters since then are proof that world conditions have worsened since the alleged expulsion of Satan from heaven in 1914.

The date 1914 is based on the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 607 BC B.C.E. The problem is that all non-Witness scholars place that destruction at 587 BC twenty years later. Which would push the return of Christ presence to 1935. It is virtually untenable for the Watchtower change this doctrine now so the society still states in all of it's publication's that the destruction of Jerusalem is 607 BC. Another problem is the thousand year heavenly reign of the Christ is said to have started in 1914. That leaves only 909 years left as of 2005. Which means that if armageddon doesn't come soon the organization is left painted into a corner with it's doctrine.

New World Translation Bible

See article on New World Translation

Former Governig Body Member Ray Franz

See article on Ray Franz


Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his Jehovah's Witness Background

See article on Dwight D. Eisenhower

References

  • reexamine.org This website also contains a mirror of Mosier's previous website.
  • 607: The Shaky Foundation of the 1914-Doctrine An essay discussing the Witnesses' claim the Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar in 607 BC from both a Biblical and a historical perspective. Their belief that the "last days" started in 1914 is based on their 607 BC date.
  • Discussion of Historical Evidence Discussion of the evidence that Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar and the Neo-Babylonians in 587/6 BC, not 607 BC as claimed by the Witnesses, the date they use as the basis for their belief that the "last days" started in 1914.
  • Free minds - Detailed discussions about Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrines, history, and claims from a critical perspective.
  • Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood A large site that promotes changes to the Watch Tower Society's blood doctrine. Many original Watch Tower Society source documents and references.
  • Jehovah's-Witness.com A very large archived message board community discussing Jehovah's Witnesses and their Watch Tower organisation.
  • Silent lambs - For those Jehovah's Witnesses who claim they were victims of sexual molestation within their religious organisation. Criticism of the Watch Tower organisation, and its controversial policies of how it deals with child molestation within the organisation.
  • Jehovahs-Witness.org | LambsRoar.org Abuse Survivor Forums Dedicated to the support and healing of Abuse Victims - Survivors worldwide.
  • The Watch Tower's United Nations Controversy - Discusses the relationship of the Watch Tower Society with the United Nations, believed by JWs to be the "Image of the wild beast" of Revelation"
  • Watchtower News A site that lists the most current news items involving Jehovah's Witnesses or the Watch Tower organisation
  • Watchtower Information Service Provides information on the Watchtower Society and Jehovah's Witnesses. Everyone can partake in online discussion of the presented articles.
  • JW Files-Research on Jehovah's Witnesses A large researched site headed by subject grouping, with many original scans from the Watch Tower Society's literature, and discussing many important doctrinal and ethical issues from a critical perspective.
  • Rick A. Ross Institute of New Jersey - Information The Rick A. Ross Institute has gathered about Jehovah's Witnesses
  • JWDOM.org - A Large Collection of Articles Related to the Beliefs, History and Practices of the Watchtower & the Jehovah's Witnesses.
  • JWForum.com A medium size message board community discussing Jehovah's Witnesses and their Watch Tower organisation.
  • e-Jehovah's Witnesses.com A Discussion Board for current and former Jehovah's Witnesses that discusses perceived inconsistencies and alleged problems associated with the Watchtower organization's teachings and policies.
  • My letter to the Governing Body Letter written by a Witness to the Governing Body detailing and asking clarification about the numerous proofs that Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar in 587/6 BC, not 607 BC as claimed by the Witnesses, 607 BC being the date they use as the basis for their belief that the "last days" started in 1914.
  • Time and Prophecy: A Harmony of Time Prophecy with History and Archaeology A detailed look at the archaeological evidence that Jerusalem must have been destroyed in 587/6 BC, in direct contradiction to the Witness claim that it happened in 607 BC, from which they derive that the "last days" started in 1914. Among many other things, it includes a table on page 25 (page 23 if looking at the page numbers on the PDF itself) counting the dated commercial tablets found from just one city (Sippar) for every year of every Neo-Babylonian king, which coincides perfectly with all the other evidence for the date of the destruction (and even with some Watchtower quotes) and also directly contradicts the Witnesses' claim.



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