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

VICE

14 May 202409:27

Summary

TLDRThe 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.

Outlines

00:00

🙊 Silence and Isolation within Jehovah's Witnesses

This paragraph discusses the strict control and fear within the Jehovah's Witnesses community, highlighting the emphasis on reputation and isolation from the outside world. The speaker, a former elder, shares personal experiences of indoctrination from a young age, the belief in the end times, and the strict hierarchy within the organization. The paragraph also reveals a cover-up of sexual abuse within the community, the speaker's own experiences of abuse, and the subsequent impact on his family, including his daughter's abuse and the congregation's reaction. The 'two witness rule' is mentioned as a barrier to addressing abuse, and the consequences of being disfellowshipped are explained, including the shunning of family members.

05:00

😔 The Struggle for Freedom and Realization of Manipulation

In this paragraph, the speaker describes the controlling nature of the Jehovah's Witnesses, including the restrictions on thought and the pressure to conform. He recounts the moment of his personal epiphany during a meeting with senior elders, where he was told to abandon his daughters to maintain his position. This led to a profound realization and decision to leave the organization, which was accompanied by a sense of liberation. The speaker reflects on the lost opportunities due to his involvement with the group, such as education and career choices, and expresses relief that his daughters escaped the cult-like environment. The paragraph concludes with a note on the joy of embracing life's celebrations, which were forbidden as a Jehovah's Witness.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian denomination known for its door-to-door evangelism and strict moral code. In the script, the speaker describes growing up as a Jehovah's Witness and the profound impact it had on their life, including the belief in the end times and the organization's practices regarding social isolation and handling of sexual abuse.

💡Isolation

Isolation refers to the state of being separated from others. The script mentions that Jehovah's Witnesses are purposely isolated from the world, which is a practice intended to maintain their religious purity and focus on their beliefs. This isolation is also related to the organization's policy of shunning, where members who leave or are expelled are cut off from contact with the community.

💡Elder

An elder in the context of Jehovah's Witnesses is a male member who holds a position of authority and responsibility within the congregation. The speaker mentions becoming an elder, which involves teaching and giving talks from a platform, indicating a leadership role within the community.

💡End Times

The End Times is a belief held by some religious groups, including Jehovah's Witnesses, that we are living in the final days before the end of the world as we know it. The script describes this belief as a central tenet of the Jehovah's Witnesses' faith, influencing their actions and priorities.

💡Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is a serious violation and crime that involves non-consensual sexual contact. The script discusses the prevalence of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses community and the difficulties faced by victims in seeking justice or acknowledgment due to the organization's policies and attitudes.

💡Two Witness Rule

The Two Witness Rule is a doctrine within the Jehovah's Witnesses organization that requires two witnesses to an event before any action can be taken. The script explains that this rule can make it difficult to address instances of sexual abuse, as it is often the case that only one victim comes forward.

💡Shunning

Shunning is the practice of deliberately avoiding social contact with someone as a form of punishment or disapproval. In the script, the speaker describes the experience of shunning their own daughters who were expelled from the congregation, highlighting the emotional toll this practice takes on families.

💡Fellowshipped

To be 'fellowshipped' in the context of Jehovah's Witnesses means to be formally accepted and part of the congregation. However, the term is also used to describe the act of being expelled, as in the case of the speaker's daughters, which involves a public announcement of their exclusion from the community.

💡Cult

A cult is a social group defined by its religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and practices that are often considered unconventional or extreme. The speaker reflects on their realization that they and their family were part of a cult, indicating a shift in perspective and understanding of the controlling and isolating nature of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization.

💡Allegiance Oath

An allegiance oath is a formal declaration of loyalty. The script mentions that the speaker was unable to join the police force due to the requirement of saying an allegiance oath to the queen, which conflicts with the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, illustrating the extent to which their faith influenced their life choices.

💡Freedom

Freedom in this context refers to the liberation from the constraints and control of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization. The speaker describes a moment of realization and the emotional release experienced when they decided to leave the organization, symbolizing their newfound personal autonomy.

Highlights

Jehovah's Witnesses maintain silence out of fear to protect their reputation.

There are approximately 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide.

Belief in the end times and the importance of preaching is paramount in their faith.

Narrator's indoctrination into the faith began at the age of 5.

Narrator's belief that all other religions were false and under Satan's influence.

Narrator's role as an elder involved teaching and public speaking.

Control over members' thoughts and consequences for disagreeing with beliefs.

Prevalence of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses community.

Narrator's personal experience of sexual abuse as a child.

Narrator's daughter also a victim of sexual abuse within the community.

Resistance and disbelief from the congregation regarding the abuse allegations.

Legal actions taken by the narrator's daughter and others against the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Settlements made out of court with non-disclosure agreements.

The 'two witness rule' and its impact on reporting and proving abuse cases.

Isolation and shunning of members who are officially disfellowshipped.

Narrator's struggle with helping his disfellowshipped daughters while adhering to faith rules.

Moment of realization and decision to leave the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Narrator's wife's eventual departure from the faith after 10 years.

Reflection on the loss of personal freedom and opportunities due to the faith.

Celebration of life after leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses, including participation in holidays and traditions.