The Dark Secret at the Heart of the Jehovah’s Witnesses | Informer

Summary

The video script narrates the personal journey of a former Jehovah's Witness, detailing the strict beliefs and practices of the organization, including isolation from the outside world and a 'two witness rule' complicating the reporting of abuse. It reveals the narrator's experience with sexual abuse within the community and the subsequent cover-up, leading to a crisis of faith. The story culminates in the narrator's decision to leave the religion, embracing freedom and family after a life of control and regret.

Takeaways

• 🙊 The speaker grew up as a Jehovah's Witness, inculcated with the belief that all other religions were false and under Satan's influence.
• 📢 Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their door-to-door activities, believing that they are living in the end times and that their outreach is paramount.
• 👨‍🏫 The speaker served as an elder within the organization, responsible for teaching and giving talks, but was not allowed to question the beliefs.
• 🤫 There is a prevalent issue of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses community, which is often covered up.
• 😢 The speaker was a victim of sexual abuse and later found out that the same person abused another family member and his own daughter.
• 👥 The community often disbelieves victims, labeling them as troublemakers, until multiple victims come forward.
• 📜 Jehovah's Witnesses have a 'two witness rule' which makes it difficult to prove abuse cases, as it requires two witnesses to an incident.
• 🤝 The organization has settled many abuse cases out of court, often requiring victims to sign non-disclosure agreements.
• 🏆 The speaker's daughters were 'fellowshipped', or officially shunned by the community, which led to a 10-year period of shunning by their parents.
• 💡 The speaker's realization of the cult-like control within the Jehovah's Witnesses led to his departure from the organization.
• 🎉 After leaving, the speaker and his family began to enjoy holidays and celebrations that were previously forbidden, indicating a happier and more open life.

Q & A

What is the main reason Jehovah's Witnesses maintain silence according to the speaker?

The main reason Jehovah's Witnesses maintain silence is out of fear and to protect the reputation of the organization.

How many Jehovah's Witnesses are there in the world today according to the script?

According to the script, there are about 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses in the world today.

What does the speaker believe about other religions due to their upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness?

The speaker was inculcated to believe that all other religions were false and under Satan the devil's influence.

What role did the speaker hold within the Jehovah's Witnesses community?

The speaker held the role of an elder, which involves teaching and giving talks on the platform.

What is the speaker's experience with sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses community?

The speaker was sexually abused by a Jehovah's Witness and later found out that the same person abused another member of their family and their own daughter.

Why did the speaker's daughter decide to take Jehovah's Witnesses to court?

The speaker's daughter decided to take Jehovah's Witnesses to court because they did not receive an apology for the abuse she suffered.

What is the 'two witness rule' within the Jehovah's Witnesses community?

The 'two witness rule' is a belief that before a matter can be proved, there need to be two witnesses, which makes it difficult in cases of sexual abuse where it's often hard to find two witnesses.

What is the consequence for a Jehovah's Witness who is officially thrown out of the organization?

The consequence is being 'disfellowshipped,' where the person's name is read out, and they are told they are no longer a Jehovah's Witness, signaling that the congregation has nothing to do with them.

Why did the speaker and his wife shun their daughters for about 10 years?

The speaker and his wife shunned their daughters because they were 'disfellowshipped' by the congregation, and as Jehovah's Witnesses, they were not supposed to have anything to do with them.

What was the turning point for the speaker in realizing the control and manipulation within the Jehovah's Witnesses?

The turning point was when a senior elder told the speaker to 'give up his daughters and stay an elder,' which led to an extreme stress response and realization that the situation was ridiculous and unsustainable.

How has the speaker's life changed after leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses?

After leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses, the speaker enjoys celebrating holidays and events like Christmas, birthdays, and Halloween, which were not allowed as a Jehovah's Witness, and feels free from the control and manipulation they experienced within the organization.