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Anonymous A started this discussion 2 months ago#124,683
I need to know everything regarding Jehovah's Witnesses. From their inception to their modern day operations. I've personally know a former JW, but he was affilited with the religion at a time where it was just hippie Christian mutterings. However, I have a friend whose active, so I must stand on guard if they're getting worse. Only factual statements please.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 2 months ago, 3 minutes later, 5 minutes after the original post[^][v]#1,354,387
Subject: Comprehensive Briefing on Jehovah’s Witnesses
Classification Level: Unclassified, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Requested By: POTUS (pretend)
I. Origins and Inception
Founded: Late 1870s by Charles Taze Russell in Pennsylvania, USA.
Original Name: Initially associated with the Bible Student Movement.
Name Adoption: "Jehovah’s Witnesses" formally adopted in 1931 to distinguish themselves from other Bible Student groups.
Core Belief Shift: Early teachings focused on end-times prophecy and literal interpretations of the Bible. Russell rejected traditional Christian doctrines like the Trinity, hellfire, and immortality of the soul.
II. Organizational Structure
Governing Body: A small, centralized group of male elders based in Warwick, New York. They claim divine guidance but not infallibility.
Legal Entity: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania—primary publishing and legal organization.
Global Reach: Active in over 240 countries, with about 8.7 million members worldwide (2023 est.).
Funding: Funded by voluntary donations; they do not pass collection plates or charge for literature.
III. Beliefs and Practices
Scripture: Use their own translation: New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
Evangelism: Known for door-to-door preaching and literature distribution (e.g., The Watchtower and Awake! magazines).
Apocalyptic Worldview: Believe Armageddon is imminent, with God's Kingdom soon to rule Earth.
Blood Transfusions: Strict refusal of blood transfusions; seen as violating biblical law.
Neutrality: Refuse military service, voting, or allegiance to national symbols (e.g., flags, anthems).
Holidays: Do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or national holidays; viewed as pagan or political.
Disfellowshipping: Strict shunning policy for members who violate teachings or leave; includes family members.
IV. Modern-Day Operations
Technology Use: Modernized via JW.org and JW Broadcasting. Use apps for meetings and literature.
COVID-19 Pivot: Shifted to virtual meetings and online preaching during the pandemic.
Legal Issues:
Child Abuse Allegations: Global scrutiny over handling of child sexual abuse cases; accusations of internal cover-ups and lack of reporting to authorities.
Russia Ban: Declared extremist and banned in Russia (2017); property confiscated, members imprisoned.
Legal Victories: Frequent litigation to defend religious freedom, notably in the U.S. Supreme Court (e.g., West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 1943).
V. Public Perception and Criticism
Critics label them cult-like due to high control over members' lives, strict discipline, and social isolation practices.
Known for high turnover—many members leave, but recruitment efforts remain aggressive.
Seen by some as peaceful and law-abiding, while others criticize intellectual conformity and suppression of dissent.
VI. Intelligence Assessment
Security Threat: Historically non-violent, non-political, non-militant; pose no known national security risk.
Concerns: Watch for potential psychological harm due to shunning, coercion, and pressure on members to conform.
Foreign Operations: Under surveillance in certain authoritarian regimes; not considered subversive in U.S. or allied nations.
Domestic Impact: Active litigants for religious freedoms, potentially influencing U.S. case law and civil rights.
Summary: Jehovah’s Witnesses are a strict, centralized religious organization with a long history of apocalyptic beliefs, evangelism, and legal advocacy. While non-violent and non-political, internal practices like shunning and refusal of medical care raise social and ethical concerns. No indication of worsening threat level, but watchful monitoring warranted due to ongoing legal issues and high-control dynamics.
Would you like a follow-up on specific legal cases, organizational finances, or international operations?
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 2 months ago, 1 hour later, 1 hour after the original post[^][v]#1,354,397
@previous (C)
I just want to know warning signs in case my friend is in danger. Right now, she seems content, but seems crippled with overall anxiety and hides a lot of what's bothering her. I want to be ready in case they try something against her. She thinks I'm "weird" either due to me not being from her worship OR because I'm trans. Which I'm not sure if she knows or not. She has a close friend whose gay too.
> I just want to know warning signs in case my friend is in danger. Right now, she seems content, but seems crippled with overall anxiety and hides a lot of what's bothering her. I want to be ready in case they try something against her. She thinks I'm "weird" either due to me not being from her worship OR because I'm trans. Which I'm not sure if she knows or not. She has a close friend whose gay too.
Tell her how the founder predicted the end of the world multiple times and it never happened. Probably one of the worse cults one could join. Even Mormons seem normal compared to JWs.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 2 months ago, 7 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,354,669
@1,354,597 (Kook !!rcSrAtaAC)
I just heard that they might have progressed further into the cult category and that's never good.
I have another friend who was raised this, but he was one at a time when it was just hippie shit.