Responses to “proud brother”
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE WITNESSES; YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE REAL SMART. YOU CAN TELL THEY DON'T TEACH SPELLING AND GRAMMAR IN THE KINGDOM MINISTRY SCHOOL .....
YES, THINGS DO GO WRONG IN EVERY RELIGION; THAT'S WHY I'M NOT A MEMBER OF ONE....
I DO FEEL THE WHISPER OF SPIRIT IN MY LIFE, THOUGH; UH-OH, DOES THAT MEAN I'M ONE OF THE ANNOINTED??? (BUT I WAS BORN IN 1972...)
NO, I'M NOT DISFELLOWSHIPPED, AND I DIDN'T WRITE A LETTER TO THE SOCIETY OR THE CONGREGATION DISASSOCIATING MYSELF (DUH, THAT WOULD BE DUMB!), I JUST STOPPED ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY HAVE ANY POWER OVER ME...AND THEY WENT AWAY!
I JUST CAN'T HELP WORRYING, THOUGH THAT I'LL HAVE TO PAY EVENTUALLY FOR ALL OF THOSE SUMMERS SPENT AUXILLIARY PIONEERING.....
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS PERFECT!
PS. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD, AND MY HOME OFTEN LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL DISASTER HAS STRUCK. THE NEXT TIME THE WITNESSES STOP BY, I WONDER IF THEY'D BE WILLING TO HELP WITH CLEAN UP? I'D SURELY BE WILLING TO HELP THEM WITH THAT RAFTER.....
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Sometimes you wonder whether some people think before they criticize something. The proud brother obviously does not seem to understand what silentlambs is all about. On one hand he says, Jehovah's Witnesses are the best on the other he agrees that there are some bad elements just like in other religions. So for him its ok to bash other religions in the Watchtower and Awake! but the Witnesses should not be criticized for doing the same wrongs. Double standards! He did not give his opinion on Child Abuse or may be he doesn't care. As for giving aid to Africa , he must be a very ignorant person. The Watchtower doesn't give aid to Africa, they ask brothers in Africa to help their own who are in trouble. I am in Africa so I Know. The proud brother should wake up. He is living in another world.
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Wow, you sure are an "angry brother". So much for the humility which the JW's are always preaching. Anyways, I always find it interesting when they think they know everything. You obviously think you know everything. Well, guess what? You don't. What you don't understand is the majority of the visitors to this site have lived these experiences. Have you lived the experience of sexual abuse? It is obvious that you have not. Consider yourself blessed. You haven't experienced what it is to be victimized, not only once, but twice.
First, by your abuser then by your own faith. These elders are people you have known your whole life (like in my case). Men that I saw as uncles and brothers. In fact, I still have a decent relationship with these people. They can't help what they are directed to do. Like I've said before, they are like sheep to the slaughter, they never even question it. Don't blame Bill Bowen because you haven't a clue. Just because you haven't heard of any cases like ours, doesn't mean they aren't happening. I dare you to question your elders on something...ANYTHING. I guarantee you that if you don't like the answer they have given you and you question it, you'll be in some hot water. It's just the way things are in that religion. The elders are taught to teach from the resources given from the Society. They aren't allowed to think on their own. All the books and tracts that are issued to the Congregation are all written to make you and all the other followers think a certain way.
And they insist that it is the ONLY way. I don't blame the elders, I blame the Governing Body. They have control of the masses. They are the only ones who can make that change in policy. I've seen it done on more than one occasion. Before 1992, a university degree was discouraged. Once they realized that they were creating a bunch of dummies and there would be no one with a brain to run the WTC once they died, they changed their mind. Especially since Armageddon doesn't see to be a foreseeable as they thought. Another change in policy is organ donations and recipients. It wasn't until recently that the Governing Body decided that it was up to your conscience whether you donate or receive an organ donation. It was considered cannibalism. It has to make the families of those who forewent a transplant and died to make the Society happy very angry. The funny part is when I asked my mother about the change in policy, she replied the Society has received new information and decided to change it's policy. Ironically, the New World Translation of the Bible hasn't changed a single word. So I ask myself, where did the new information come from? God? The JW's themselves preach that God hasn't spoken to Man in centuries. So? Where did it come from? My dear proud but angry brother, don't criticize what is new to you.
I've lived it since I was 4 years old and I'm now 34. After all the false Armageddon predictions and policy changes, I've given myself a break from all that and decided to find things out for myself.
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My response to "a proud brother writes" who really shouldn't feel so proud: If you did any research at all you would know that Bill Bowen started Silent Lambs while still in good standing in the congregation. He was disfellowshipped not for anything immoral, but for speaking out against molesters being protected in the Jehovah's Witnesses' congregations, and for not keeping quiet about the "two witness" policy that allows children to be victimized by so-called brothers or even elders, with the elders looking the other way and punishing the victims for speaking out or going to the authorities.
If you are so worried about how people make money, then why don't you look into how much money the WT Society makes each year, and is spending on lawyers, protecting molesters instead of their victims? Silent Lambs is a nonprofit organization, spending thousands of dollars supporting lambs nationwide, even in other countries, and bringing this scandal out in the open, just as the Catholic scandal was. The difference: The Catholic Church has admitted their problem with priests molesting their parishioners, and have changed their policy and taken steps to prevent this from happening, and take care of those who have been harmed. The "Society" will not even admit there is a problem, and try to silence those who have suffered at the hands of this policy by telling them to "wait on Jehovah", and then disfellowshipping them if they don't, and turning their families and "friends" against them.
Fact: The Society does not donate money to third world countries for natural disasters, it helps its own. Period. The purpose of JW missionaries to visit other countries, is to convert, and teach the bible - they do not have any "feed the poor" programs. And for your information, I experienced more love and true fellow-feeling by strangers I met at a local chapel in my time of need than I ever received from my so-called "brothers and sisters" a few years ago. And I was not expected to do anything in return, it was truly a gift. Not a single church that I have been to since leaving the JW "religion" has ever, EVER asked me for money, or contributions at church or anywhere else. In contrast, the elders are constantly mentioning how you should be "contributing to the worldwide work out of a pure heart" at every chance they get. You know it's true, you just don't know how think for yourself. Your information is based on propaganda fed to you at the JW cult ! meetings.
Maybe instead of learning Hebrew, you should learn English, so you will be able to spell, and write grammatically correct.
Maybe you should even consider whether something other than the lies and misinformation that are force fed you at all of these WT book-meetings (as opposed to a bible meeting) may actually be the "Truth". All religions think they are the only true one. Maybe none of them are. It's your life, your choice, why do you let others make your decisions for you?
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This guy doesn't know what he is talking about.
Mormon only have to pledge 10% and they can stay in even if they don't pay anything. If he really could read Hebrew and Greek he would see all the inaccuracies in the NWT.
I've never seen any Greek or Hebrew Scholar praise the NWT.
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I have to wonder if this man would judge us to be witnesses if we were to use the same "language" as he does? I guess he proves one thing with his letter. A good education is not required to be a witness! I don't mean to put this person down, but I was a witness for 30 years myself and, although I know that not everyone who writes on your site has been a witness for that long, or maybe they only studied, the content shows that they know what they are talking about. Shame on this brother for judging those who he doesn't know, and worse yet, for excusing the mishandling of molestation cases as if they don't exist. I really hope that none of his loved ones ever find themselves in the position of victim in the congregation! As for Witnesses opening their door to the general public who is in need, I have to ask when that ever happened? From news reports regarding 9-11, which is the nearest to a disaster of this volume that we have seen, the witnesses locked the door of the Watchtower buildings to all but their own! Although it is true that they show brotherly love to their own, and I have seen this first hand when I was a witness, I remember well, being taught that we need not expend ourselves to anyone in the world in any way other than the preaching work. If they wanted anything more from us it was required that they show more than just a causal interest in the message we preached! As for these poor victims of molestation within the congregation, it is even worse. They suffer the horrors of molestation, and then to top it off, suffer the humiliation and degradation of being shunned in the congregation, and even by their own families who choose "Jehovah" first! So much for the scripture, "by your fruits they will recognize you!" What I saw was equivalent to graves filled by whitewashed bones!
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A "real " brother is immune to criticism because it feeds their persecution complex.
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Excuse Me? on 9/11 didn't Brooklyn Bethel only admit those in good standing?
In the Florida Hurricanes, why were the kingdom halls up first, then Brothers in Good standing assisted.
Closer to Home in NZ, 12 months ago we had disastrous floods, how come the 'Truth" helped only it's own
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Dear Brother??
You can go on various web sites and find the story of Bill Bowen, freely available to all. To the best of my knowledge Mr. Bowen has never been accused of slander or libel. Search and Investigate!
Local brothers deal with the situations in their own neighborhood including expenses. No money is given to them from Head Office unless it is paid back with interest. Search and investigate!!!
You should also search and investigate what the Head Office in Brooklyn does with all their fabulous wealth( last time I looked 40 billion US dollars). That is in the US alone.
I also suggest that if you want someone to give your comments attention, you refrain from bad language. Can something good come from something bad?
Regards. L
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This would be my reply:
First of all, your sarcasm is not necessary. The purpose of Silent Lambs is to help people. With very few exceptions, which are usually the ignorant mud-slingers like you, the people on this site have been far more polite to, and tolerant of, the rude perverts who defend the WT's sick and twisted policies concerning child abuse. Why Bill Bowen was disfellowshipped is frankly none of your business. You are not anyone's judge, much less his. In fact, you technically could be disfellowshipped yourself for visiting this site. Why don't you be a man and identify yourself? Then we'll see what the WT's open-minded logic has to say about your comments. Or do you like being a hypocrite?
Bill is not giving out false information on this site. Everything here is the truth and can be proven, either through court, police, and other records. The only people giving out false information is the WT, which they have done for decades. If the WT had told the truth all along, much of this site's work would not be necessary.
You claim that you learned to speak and read Hebrew, but I somehow doubt that. Your English is horrific and barely understandable. I counted at least 49 spelling and grammar errors. Perhaps you should finish 3rd grade before you write any additional letters to this site. Maybe if you are a good boy, your new 4th grade teacher will give you some new crayons to write your next letter with.
Most of the people who have posted on this site WERE Witnesses. That's the whole point. Are you so ignorant that you don't understand that? Apparently so. I don't think this site makes money or makes up s tori es in order to make money. Actually, the WT is making money, and it is doing so by breaking Bible principles every day. No one has to make up s tori es to "bad mouth" Jehovah's Witnesses. They are guilty of enough unscriptural conduct to provide all the s tori es anyone would ever want. Actually, the people on this site wish that there were NO s tori es about the Witnesses to tell, especially concerning child abuse. If the WT didn't handle child abuse incidents that way that they do, there would be no need for this site.
There are "SOME" people who go overboard? I should say so. There are thousands who go overboard. For instance, the GB, the writing committee, the CO's, the elders, and many other Witnesses who have handled child molestation improperly. Not to mention the millions of JW's who blindly turn the other way whenever this topic is mentioned. Or the JW's who won't watch a TV show such as Dateline, which told only the truth, simply because a letter was read to all the congregations telling them not to. Are you proud of the fact that 6 million people whom you call fellow JW's are too stupid to be allowed to watch a truthful TV show and make up their own minds about the evidence?
It's not the same in "EVERY" religion. Other religions don't disfellowship or shun members who report child abuse. They don't call them names. They don't accuse them of slander when they warn other families that a child molester is in the congregation. Only JW's are world famous for doing these things. If you believe that Jesus would approve of such behavior, you are a very, very stupid person. And you certainly are not a Christian. The next few sentences your wrote were impossible to decipher, so I'll just ignore them.
Why don't we say anything good about the religion? We're not here to praise the WT. They pat themselves on the back enough as it is, and far more often than they deserve. I don't know of any "millions" donated to people in need anywhere. The WT has been accused before of not having soup kitchens, shelters for the poor, charity hospitals, and other similar things. They might build a few Kingdom Halls, but they always try to have the congregation pay them back with interest. Don't even get me started on the KH fund issue. You don't know anything at all. I used to be a JW for over 25 years. I was a book study conductor and did everything in the congregation that it is possible to do. I've seen it all. And I was raised Catholic, so don't lecture us about their actions. Whenever there is a natural disaster, they help only other JW's, often driving trucks loaded with food and water right past other needy people in their rush to get to the "brothers" quickly so that they can then publish in the Awake or local newspapers how loving and generous they are. This behavior is hypocritical. Or don't you remember the Good Samaritan?
Witnesses do NOT help everyone. They don't let people stay in their homes. In fact, when 9-11 occurred, I heard they locked the doors at Bethel so that people streaming across the Brooklyn Bridge trying to escape the dust and to find water couldn't get in. I live close enough to watch the towers burn, so don't tell me about Bethel 's actions. I keep up with the news here. If you could spell and read, perhaps you might do the same someday. Every religion does not require you to give money. If the Mormons "tithe" 10% of their income, that's due to their beliefs. They are not thrown out if they can't afford to do it. Individual Catholic Churches might not smile at people who never give money, but that's not as bad as JW's disfellowshipping people who displease them, is it? And the issue here isn't money, fool, it's child molestation.
The Catholic religion's new Bible lies? What Bible is that? How would you know? Your knowledge of the English language and your utter disregard for truth makes me doubt that you are capable of knowing what the Catholic Bible even says. Why are you reading their Bible anyway? If you chose to be a JW because of the New World Translation, you made a big mistake. It is commonly accepted among all respected scholars that the NWT is grossly inaccurate and was translated by incompetent people who claimed they wished to remain anonymous due to "humility". That is patently false. They didn't wish to identify themselves because they had no credentials and no ability or right to produce a Bible and they knew it. They knew that if they revealed their names that their work would be attacked, and with good reason. By the way, what language is "original hewbrew"? (Is that Jewish Beer?) If you can't spell "Hebrew", how can you possibly expect anyone to believe that you can read it? Pretty sad, to say the least. The NWT changed many things in order to make it fit the beliefs of the WT.
No one has engaged in "filthy talk" about the Witnesses. The average Witness might be a nice person. But they are brainwashed and don't know it. And the leaders of the religion absolutely know what's going on and they are sinning and will answer for it. Bill started this work before he was disfellowshipped, so how can it be true that he's annoyed because he got disfellowshipped? I'm not disfellowshipped and I'm not happy with the policies of perversion that the WT defends. Who cares what you think about anyone agreeing with the "whole process of it"? Why would sane, normal people approve of child abuse victims being disfellowshipped because they went to the police or tried to warn others? If that is a disfellowshipping offense in God's eyes, then God has a problem. But people here generally believe that God is NOT behind the actions of the WT. The WT stands on its own in this matter and they will pay for it.
To conclude, making money is not the issue. And as you can see, your letter was put on the site. I believe that the purpose of posting one moron letter per month is to remind all of us just how badly the WT cult brainwashes people like you and how sick Witnesses who follow the WT's policies really are. Your attitude is sick and you are a sad, twisted person. Today, I earned my degree in Psychology, so don't bother offering any objections to my comments or to the comments of anyone else who answers your perverted remarks. Any kindness shown to you was more than you deserved and its purpose is to show the world that the WT produces far more cruel and mentally disturbed people than you think are on this site.
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If this person reads and speaks Hebrew. Who taught them English. If you are going to speak out for a cause of any kind you need to learn how to spell or at least do spell check
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The lies this bloke tells about the Catholic Church is extraordinary. could he please tell me what the Greek word for Jehovah is and could he please show me where it was in the earliest Greek NT documents.
While he's at it, he might like to tell us what the Hebrew for "Jehovah" is.
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Wow! My "educated" guess Is: He will soon make it to elder position! He has the attitude that some of them have. What a senseless letter. Is he saying here that just because molestation happens in other organizations, that it is quite okay to hide it? or to do nothing about it? If he is such a convinced witness, what is he doing going into ..an "Apostate" site?(JW term). And as far as what he says about the WT Society donating "millions" to poor third world countries for their true needs..I would love to see proof of that! Sure they send boxes and boxes of Watchtowers and other books. People as far as I know
don't eat books! This person needs to do some research.
Keep up the good work Bill Bowen.
Sincerely,
Maria..JW for over forty years.. Out seven and happy about it. Not disfellowshipped..just out! Thank God
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This guy reads Hebrew? Hell, he can't even write English.
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Sounds like another 'proud brother' [can I insert arrogant here] who just can't face the facts.
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To proud brother:
Why are you on the SilentLambs website if you consider us to be so bad? You are
sinning right there according to your religion. SilentLambs helps people who have been
traumatized in abuse situations when the organization of JWs has failed to comfort and provide. Silentlambs is a non-biased organization geared to acknowledging that abuse
happens in ALL religions, not just the JWs.
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="So William Bowen, what did you get disfellowshipped for? I can't believe
the false information you are giving about Jehovah's Witnessess. You are putting
statements in your website that clearly the people were never a witness you can tell
by the way they word there s tori es. Is is the only way you know how to make money,
by making up s tori es to bad mouth Jehovah's Witnessess? Sure there SOME people who
go overboard and do things the wrong way. But it is the same in EVERY religion,
whether it is Catholic, Mormon, etc..
Well, I guess that means the Jehovah's Witnesses cannot blame "Catholics, Mormon, etc" for their short comings.
I'm sure there are some cases where
molestation was handled bad. I never heard of any cases like that but no one is
perfect. In fact I know of an instance where there was a child molestation and it
was handled in the different from what you are stating.
How was it handled?
Why don't you say anything
good abouyt the religion like how millions are donated each year to the people in
need every year like in Africa and several other third world countries,
We know that Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) help only other JWs.
how in
natural disasters Witnesses help EVERYONE with cleanup letting starngers stay in
there home, contributing money.
Helping only those who happens to be jws.
There is no other religion in the world who will do
that enless they expect to make money.
I know several local churches in my area go out to the 3rd world countries to help people out. They are not making money, rather they donate and help whether those poor people would join their church or not. But jws always have a string attached to their work. They would not do a thing unless the person shows interest in their religion. Once the person expresses no interest, the jws drop him like a hot potato. Now that is NOT a sincere charity.
Every religion reguires you to pay them money
in order for you to stay in there church. The Mormon religion reguires 20% of the
household income. If your a Catholic and you do not pay the church, they look down
on you and do not help anymore. The Witness organization is the only religion that
does not require to pay money, and you get treated the same.
Not true! So called voluntary donation is always so emphasized that every time you take the magazines to door to door, you look like a sales man.
Besides the jws weren't allowed to go to colleges until mid 1990s. So most of them are poor. But they still are encouraged to quit their jobs and to go to door to door to sell their magazines.
The Catholic religions
new bible lies. They took out Jehovah's name and replaced it with lord. There new
bible is completly different from the Old King James version. They changed
everything. I use to be catholic. I learned to speak and read Hebrew just so I can
compare all the bibles of today to the original hewbrew bible that is in your public
libary. I choose to be a Jehovah's Witness because there bible was the most accurate to the original manuscript. There where no changes between the two except the New Translation was worded so everyone could understand.
Your writing shows that either you are not an English speaking person or you are poorly educated. So I have a hard time believing that you studied enough to understand Ancient Hebrew. By the way if you really research in the public libraries, you should find how the Watchtower Society's prophecies and claims are wrong. But I bet you don't even want to try it to see the true.
Anyways all your filthy talk about Witnesses are completly uncalled for. Your just pissed off because you got disfellowshiped and you don't agree with the whole process of it. How much money are you making now? I'm sure you won't put this letter on your website."
First I'm not Bill Bowen. And he is not doing this work because he got disfellowshiped. He got disfellowshiped because he was working for the victims of abuse. Sexual harassment/abuses happen and because of jw's silent policy, it gets covered up. It happened in my congregation, and lost almost half of the members at that time. People thought it was the body of elders who tried to cover up. Little did they know that it was coming from upstate NY.
Another thing I want to tell you is that the jws lie in order to recruit new members, and when they leave they, the jws, spread lies about the person who "simply left." I am one of those victims of lies. So I beg you. Please do not lie to the innocent people.
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How ridiculous! You said that ALL religions have some bad in them. This appears to be true as they are made up of imperfect people. However, the true worshippers expose the ungodliness and take the risk of losing popularity among their peers. That is how God works. He takes the weak things of the earth and makes them a stronghold for his name.
Some people have been victimized in the churches, but find their way to God's way of thinking and become thrivers. God works on their heart as He prepares them to be stewards and protectors of the innocent so that they step out of their "box" to take a Godly stance to expose wickedness. They can no longer stay blind under peer pressure.
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His comment:
Why don't you say anything
good abouyt the religion like how millions are donated each year to the people in need every year like in Africa and several other third world countries, how in natural disasters Witnesses help EVERYONE with cleanup letting starngers stay in there home, contributing money. There is no other religion in the world who will do that enless they expect to make money.
My answer:
You should have been in Moore , OK , for the May 3, 1999 F5 tornado that literally took out half of the town. My 2 uncles lost their homes. I was helping one of my uncles with the clean up. Salvation Army, Red Cross, the local Catholic, Lutheran, Church of Christ, etc., not to mention just people who came out to help, but not ONE of Jehovah's Witness came around to help non JW's. The brothers from the area arranged for donations for JW's ONLY to be dropped off at a neighboring KH. They had to stop that telling the Brothers and Sisters this was not a garage sale to bring junk to. That is the giving spirit of JW's. The locals did give Housewarming parties to the local brothers and sisters who lost everything in the tornado. That was neighbor helping neighbor, not the Watchtower society. It was embarrassing to see all the other churches helping out with food, blankets, clothes, etc. and JW's not doing one thing. Especially so since the Baptist church less than a mile down the street from the local KH was where all the media was parked.
William,
I know you get alot of hate mail. You're doing a fine job. Most people are just morons. I think you did a great job on the Michael Jackson Secret Childhood special that has been running on vh1. You told exactly the truth. You were very professional about it too. I know you will be called upon to do more interviews as the trial gets underway. I think you did a good job of stating the truth and having a professional demeanor.
Keep up the good work. Don't let the idiot sticks get you down.
jka"
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Well proud Brother, the same reason many have been disfellowshipped for. You see once the WBTS figures out that a person sees through the Hypocrisy in the organization, they are afraid that they will loose more income from others like myself so they implement their tactic of having communication between others that are not aware of their Deception, stopped so as not to decrease monetary support, and having others expose them for what they really are. The policies regarding child sexual abuse are not reflective of the Christ the Bible speaks of. So they take his name out of the way he said things should be done. Remember if Christ who was under the Law at the time he told his followers to save an "Animal" out of a ditch, on a Sabbath. How much more important would a Child be in his eyes? One can certainly see this person is not very Perceptive, or in the least he realize that the witnesses are now no different than the Religion he listed....ether way it i! s a relief to see the mentality of people like this, it is a Good reason to teach my Daughter that she does not have to be clueless about what Jesus taught like this individual and many more that are still in the Dark. He should be thankful someone is pointing this out to him!! But then again the Pharisees didn't Get it either...You can lead a Horse to Water..........
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Hope he reads and speaks Hebrew better than English. :-)
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Say Bill, when you find out what this guy is smoking let me know cause I wanna buy some. Also if you'd like me to write a reply to this character just let me know and I'll happily do so. Peace, you disfellowshipped evil one you, Yer brother,M
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By the wording in this article the person appears to be unable to spell properly which makes me believe that they are lies or untruths when he says things like he has studied Hebrew, neither does he use capital letters.
It is more like an email from a young person who is a stirrer.
He does not sound too much like a true Christian as well with some of the statements.
Regards,
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I would hold that.....Denial and Continuance will be far more comfortable course of action for this gentleman, rather than Repentance and Change?
Kind Regards
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Well good for you and your blinders you have and as far as Bill is concerned he is the most honest man I know and he hides from nothing can't say that about the JW cult . Go on believing your the fool !!! Have a real happy blind life with your rose colored glasses
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I think it's interesting that "brothers" write and use words like pissed off. ????
I think the problem this so called brother is talking about is rose colored glasses and over zealous loyalty. There are many fine people among Jehovah's witnesses but there is also a great deal of cliches, social status seeking, gossip and other very unchristian behavior. It's hidden because in able to be approved they must put on a false front. Everyone must conform and that is their comfort zone, that is what they want. Real spirituality is not about competition with other religions, it's a gentle space in your heart that causes you to act a certain way, a Christ like way. You're carrying Jehovah God's son in your heart so it becomes a compass to your life. Putting the organization before Christ is what is apostate but most JW"s can't see that.
Don't you know that when you deny someone elses pain that you are denying them? You are holding them in contempt. You are demeaning them, blaming them for their pain. When someone victimizes someone else they need to do all they can to restore that person to a good place. Sexual abuse, sexual predators hurt far more than what you see on the outside. It affects the whole life of the victim because it takes away their since of value and dignity. How do you think a victim of a sexual assault feels when others call the offender a wonderful person and looks up to them while the assault has left the victim hurting?
Your denial is just that, a failure to see the truth of the matter because you don't want to. One whose been there an knows first hand.
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January 31, 2005
Dear sir:
Thank you kindly for your Electronic Mail.
Sadly, Mr. Bowen and others like Ms. Barbara Anderson and the Fitzwater family of Nevada were "disfellowshipped" about one (1) year after going to the public with their child abuse concerns within the Jehovah's Witnesses leadership. Many of their Jehovah's Witnesses families and friends now shun them per the doctrines used by the Watchtower.
Mr. Bowen with the help of many present and former Jehovah's Witnesses have brought public attention of this serious Jehovah's Witness tragedy by using real life examples that are or were or before the Courts and by exposing the actual written child abuse policies within the Watchtower.
The main reason why Silentlambs and others, including Jehovah's Witnesses, publicly speak out about the child abuse issue is due to the fact that there is a serious lack of accountability in the leadership of the Jehovah's Witnesses and that the leadership's ten (10) plus year refusal to change policies that endanger the Jehovah's Witnesses' children. Silentlambs has no other quibbles with any beliefs or practices within the walls of the various Kingdom Halls.
I note that you have informed me that other religions prescribe members to make payments to the various Churches. I am very aware that many mainstream religions, such as the Roman Catholic Church, ask for donations, not remuneration, through the collection plate system which is similar to how Jehovah's Witnesses utilize the four (4) collection boxes located in a typical Kingdom Hall. I am also aware that many religious groups have a formal voluntary donation arrangement that is very similar to the Watchtower's 32 page donation system called " Charitable Planning to Benefit Kingdom Service Worldwide ".
Many of these Religious groups, unlike the Watchtower, have made themselves publicly accountable for how they spend their donated monies toward human disaster relief. To date no independent or dependent accounting firm has publicly verified exactly how much money the Watchtower and its hundreds of corporations have actually donated to human disaster relief efforts through its Worldwide Funds. Thus, I have no way of confirming or denying that millions of Worldwide Funds are donated each year to the general public by the Watchtower in Africa and elsewhere.
I am glad you believe you have found a religious group that provides you accurate bible information. I wish you the best in your journey with the Watchtower. While in the Watchtower, I hope you can join with us to bring pressure on the leadership of the Jehovah's Witnesses to change its child abuse policies, to take responsibility for their actions over the years, to financially help victims, to protect the innocent children of Jehovah and to bring judicial justice to those who practice child abuse or harbor child abusers.
Yours truly,
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What a sad, misled fellow this guy is! He has no clue that all the literature he MUST buy makes millions for the Watchtower. If he wanted to learn another language, he should have studied Greek because it is the New Testament that is so badly translated and changed to fit the Watchtower's doctrines. I feel sorry for him just as I do for all the --other millions who are trapped by misinformation.
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How sad that some are so blind.
In reference to the "proud brother..." I find it difficult to believe that he studied Hebrew, considering he can't spell and has a 5th grade level of English grammar.
First of all, he complains about how the Catholics wrote their own bible, is he not aware that the JW's did the same but with magnificent biased changes? Is he aware of who, in fact, wrote their bible?
I am a Christian of another faith, and we do NOT have to pay the church. It is recommended that we tithe 10% or whatever we can afford. It isn't a requirement, though the Bible tells us that it is.
At least we don't send people out to sell books just to forward all that money to one of the largest and most wealthy religious empires in the world. What money people tithe goes to pay for church expenses, and yes our pastor.
I have read more information than I can tell you, about the JW's. I am not, nor have I ever been a JW, and I only study about them to understand why my daughter is in the organization.
I do not believe that God would have set up an organization in the last days to fulfill prophecy. Jesus Christ is our mediator, He came here as prophesied, to fulfill the law. Nowhere does God indicate that he would bring in a human organization in the last days.
Matt 23; 8, 10 says "But you are not to be called "Rabbi," for you have only one Master and you are all brothers...Nor are you to be called "teacher," for you have the Teacher, the Christ.
"You know that in the world, rulers lord it over their subjects, and their great men make them feel the weight of authority; but it shall not be so with you. Among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant."
To phrase Raymond Franz, "Men can make no greater claim to authority than to claim to speak for God - even more than that to claim to be his sole "channel of communication" to all mankind. To occupy such a position would be an awesome responsibility indeed, and one that should logically call for the greatest of humility on the part of imperfect humans if they were in fact assigned to fill it."
The written Word of God does not need the addition of traditions which are the private interpretations of men and of religious organizations. We need only to read the Bible to understand what God wants for us. The Holy Spirit will bring us into all truth.
I recently read the book, "The Tetragrammaton and the Christian Greek Scriptures" about whether or not the name Jehovah is in the Greek Scriptures. After much research and careful study, the writer discovered that it was the Watchtower who changed it to place the name Jehovah where they thought it should be. There is nothing verifiable that the Tetragrammaton was ever in the Greek. It is amazing the wealth of information out there for those who truly want the truth.
I am not criticizing the Jehovah's Witnesses...I think there are many wonderful Witnesses out there. My daughter is one of them, and I am friends with many through my daughter.
I DO feel however, that JW's are victims of victims - blind followers of blind leaders, obedient servants of a multibillion-dollar religious empire, conducting followers on a guided tour of the Bible.
I have been following Bill Bowen's work since it started, and as a victim of molestation, (not from a JW) I am thankful there is a place for victims of abuse to go. Some might not otherwise be able to open up to their s tori es of horror.
I praise his work, I praise his sacrifice, I praise his loyalty to innocent victims of deception and I praise his love of truth!
Thank you, Bill for all the wonderful things you do! If I were closer in proximity, I would be one of your many volunteers!
May God continue to bless you!
WJ
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What a sad, misled fellow this guy is! He has no clue that all the literature he MUST buy makes millions for the Watchtower. If he wanted to learn another language, he should have studied Greek because it is the New Testament that is so badly translated and changed to fit the Watchtower's doctrines. I feel sorry for him just as I do for all the other millions who are trapped by misinformation.
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guess i'm glad he's happy but my experience of 32 years in the borg was much different. including the handling of my sex abuse and following trauma. keep up the good work bill!
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HI BILL: YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE OF US, TAKE THIS GUY ON A TOUR OF THE KINGDOM HALL PEDOPHILES. THERE WERE THREE AT THE KINGDOM HALL I LAST ATTENDED AND ONE MOVED AND THEN THERE WERE TWO. HE IS ONE WHO LOVES TO WORSHIP MEN, SO HE IS LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IN THE W.T.B.T.S. THEY WOULD GO TO COURT AND TRY TO GET THE PEDOPHILE OFF. HANG IN THERE, BILL,
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I suppose it's cute to include these little letters from those who don't agree or understand with Silent lambs. But why dignify these ignorant and often poorly written letters with a response? Besides, if he is such a stellar brother than why is he communicating with a DF'd individual?"
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Dear Bill,
I would like to respond to this message. This elder challenged you to post his message on your site. You posted the entire message sent by this narrow-minded, person who sees only what is in his small range of vision. I was one of Jehovah's Witnesses from age 3 until age 43-1/2.
This elder speaks of "a case" of molestation which was handled very well. ONE CASE among hundred of thousands worldwide. That does not make a strong impression on me in regard to the cult that took away my life from me. I was not allowed to warn others about my molesters. They were never removed from their positions. I was put on private reproof and told that I could only go from door-to-door.
How dare they do that to me! After I was treated like a whore and responsible for my own abuse and punished for letting others know the identity of my abusers in the congregation, why would I even think of knocking on the doors of others. I was being pushed out the back door to be kept quiet. How could I, in good conscience, invite interested persons to come into a Kingdom Hall of loving, nonjudgmental, loving individuals.
I had experienced their conditional love first hand. I was told that I was not disfellowshipped simply because I was not a strong presence in the congregation. I was afraid to leave my home and listened to meetings on the phone. Being sanctioned from giving talks, commenting at meetings, and praying at meetings for field service were ludicrous. I had been unable to witness from door-to-door since I was 32 years of age. I was told that everything about my case spoke of demonism and help from the elders was better spent on someone who could be helped.
I am not someone posing as an ex-JW trying to make the "brothers" look bad. They behaved badly toward someone in need whose faith had been shaken down to its foundation and was pulverized dust! I sought help and was slapped in the face, knocked down, and kicked unconscious in a metaphorical way.
So, dear elder, when you have broadened your knowledge base, then you can knock Bill Bowen and those of us who truly loved being Jehovah's Witnesses until we started to think for ourselves, ask questions of suspicious behaviors, and tried to help those tossed aside by the congregations' elders. Bill has mentioned over time that there were sincere people in the organization. However, in regard to this matter of molesters being protected, those who are sincere become defensive, protective, and even brutal. They said how loving the elders were and how they dealt according to organizational procedure with the molesters. They disfellowshipped those who spoke out, not just to the congregators but to the world.
When you have had contact with many like myself, then you will see how wrong your attack is toward Bill and those who are brave enough to speak the truth. I felt no love in your message, no caring, no love of Christ! I feel shivers down my spine as I read a message which exudes judgment, hate, grudges held from misinformation, false accusations, and censorship of the truth!
Does not "your precious bible" ( New World Translation) say, "Love your neighbor," "Hate what is bad," and "Shun the appearance of evil!" What is more evil than defending molesters, especially those who have been convicted by the law and allowing them to remain in the organization to hurt other children? "They repented!," you say! How much research has the organization done regarding the likelihood of a molester only molesting one child or one time? Don't be lead around like a pig with a ring in it's nose tied to a rope. Do the research. You spend hours researching information to prepare talks, preaching, and for bible studies. Use your own mind and research the truth which stares you in the face and which you interpret as lies and innuendo. You sound like someone who has the ability to see truth and light. However, you may have to look outside of a Kingdom Hall door to see it!
The other information in your message that talks about the good that Jehovah's Witnesses do is irrelevant to the issues of Silentlambs and Mr. Bowen. That organization did nothing for me. It was my contact with Mr. Bowen and the help offered by Silentlambs that helped maintain my sanity and help me to understand that I had been victimized. Catholicism and other religions full of ritual offers no promises. You attend the services and live your life. You do not have to give up your life as you do in becoming a Jehovah's Witness. You are given promises that you may get if you are found worthy. You are kicked out when you are found unworthy and told that such decisions are sanctioned by Jehovah.
Helping victims of disaster financially is admirable. But when you look at the many victims who have been deserted emotionally, there is no comparison. "Take care of those in your own backyard before you go to help someone else." When I see that happening and apologies given for mistreatment, then, and only then, will I even begin to look in the direction of Jehovah's Witness (not to come back) to see if they merit the respect you so boldly proclaim is their due!
Regards,
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What an idiot.
Too bad while he was learning to 'read and write Hebrew' he didn't learn English grammar..
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Bill,
I read some of these letters in wonder. A person says they are literate in the Hebrew language ('reading and writing'), but cannot spell the word Hebrew? Their expressions, they write "there" when it should be "their" and so forth, and the way the overall impact of the criticism is, strikes me as so odd. It dumbfounds me why they would even write a "disfellowshipped" person, unless the letter was written while they were 'hot under the collar' so to speak, that caused, in general, such foolish accusations and expressions. From the sentiments of the letter, they are very new if even one of Jehovah's Witnesses at all. You and I know that most 'witnesses' would not "lower themselves" to write to you, but surely would TALK about you. Someone may have picked up on the verbal or unsaid expressions and comprised their own statement, or, may feel that it is an honor to be a vigilante. A shame, huh?
Hope all is well,
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What a pitiful letter of deception.
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"There is no other religion in the world who will do
that enless they expect to make money. Every religion reguires you to pay them money
in order for you to stay in there church."
This is a lie that the Jehovah's Witnesses want you to believe. I can say it is a lie because I belong to one of "those churches" that you are saying the above about. My church has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for people we do not know, here and abroad, to help them recover from disasters such as fires, hurricanes and wars. We have sent missionaries all over the world to help people not only learn the gospel but to supply them with everyday needs. Things we in the US take for granted. I am extremely proud to be counted among the millions of Christians around the world that put on the friuts of the spirit and show compassion for others. Regardless of the sin, we would not shun or excommunicate someone from the love of Christ. In our church ALL sin counts the same and we are ALL guilty of it. Who are we to judge? No one tells us who we can or cannot show love to. (Especially someone related to us in the faith.)
Jehovah's Witnesses allow their love to be turned on and off at the whim of the Society. You pick and choose who you want to "keep in the truth," often treating the world better than you do the faltering ones in your congregation. Never forget that even the world knows what sin is. We offer our fellow sinners our love and support to overcome sin. We DO NOT leave them out in the cold to help themselves. Jesus would NOT do that to us, and in our effort to imitate Him, we do NOT do that to others. My father has been an elder for many years and continues to treat others far better than he ever treated his family.
Over the past five years, my family has received help from the local United Methodist Church without even being a member. We give when the spirit moves us and when we have it to give. We are a family of six on one modest income - and we have received over the years much much more than we have EVER been able to give in return. And I would not trade their "face of Christ" for all the promises of an earthly paradise in Jehovah's Witness history.
Take another gander at what you are involved in and then decide if you can honestly say that you yourself are not the frog being slowly boiled to death.
In His love,
DHC
P.S. As for the way molestation cases are handled: I know ours was handled with little love or care for my young daughter and myself. They were too busy saving their image. At least the Catholics know when to admit trouble and are willing to make amends. Jehovah's Witnesses refuse and continue to fight victims in court. How terribly sad for them and for you. You would do well to heed the Bible when it says in Mat 18:6 But who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Or Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
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Just another dillunsional person who believes everything he hears and reads from the WTBTS. He must be relatively new as a JW.
For his benefit....after 32 years I learned the real "truth" about the Society and the "truth has truly set me free." What the JW's teach sounds soooo good and it is taught in such a way that one wants so badly for it to be true that you skip over all the parts that don't make sense.
There are many good people who are JW's but good people can be misled and controlled. The WTS should take pride in the effective job they have done of brainwashing so many vulnerable people.
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Hmmmmm......I guess he must have seen you on VH1 the other night.
By the way.....GREAT JOB there! I think you really drove home the point how JW's are the most sexually oppressed in the world and that this sexual oppression can lead to very strange behavior and double lives
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Bill.
You put the letter in from a Witness and I doubt that he was ever a Roman Catholic. His attack on you was certainly very unchristian and very much like a typical Jehovah's Witness in attacking you.
My wifes father died recently. He was an elder in Michigan . My wife was a full time pioneer who was married to an elder when they left the "truth". You know the drill. She was shunned by her family for years. We went to her fathers memorial service at the Kingdom Hall and her youngest brother told me that there would be a dinner after the memorial in a hotel. I would be invited but my wife could not come because she was disfellowshipped. He attempted to give me $100 to take her out for dinner. Imagine that? There were probably 200 people there witneses and non-Witnesses and the only person who could not go to this dinner was my wife? Amazing! I refused his offer of money and told him he could take his sister out for dinner any other night he would like. This brother has not seen his sister in approximately 20 years, hugged her, told her he loved her, told her he wanted her to come back to the religion but then told her she couldnt join family and friends for dinner after the memorial for her dad. What am I missing here?
Jehovahs Witnesses are strange people practicing a strange religion that after all is said and done is a cult more than any form of christianity that I have ever seen. They are not capable of any type of independent thought and only know what they read in the watchtower and what they are told by their leaders. They criticize this country but yet they don't vote and will not fight in any war to defend it.
The letter you published talks about Catholics looking down on you if you dont pay them money. This statement proved that the writer was a Jehovah's Witness and never was a Catholic. He woud know that this statement was a boldface lie.It is the type of statement that a Witness would make about a Catholic. My brother-in-law said all witnesses do their religious work for charity and priests expect to be paid. When I pushed him on this he was speaking about a Lutheran priest not a Roman Catholic priest. I had to explain there is a difference but I knew he knew that. He conveniently chose to lump all christian ministers together for his purpose at that time. A less informed person would have fallen victim to his argument.
Lastly, I am happy to report that my wife the former Jehovah Witness, fulltime pioneer who has continued to study the Bible for the past 20 years since she left the "truth" is now studying to become a Roman Catholic as is her daughter also. They will probably both be baptized this year.
Keep up your good work Bill!
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He may be able to read Hebrew, but he sure can't spell English.
Hahaheheh
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screw him!!
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Well my friend.
I read your letter & as you say> True ! where ever men are there will be abuse.Be they what ever RELIGION!!!But as Russell the founder advised you " Religion is a racket"Why not have a RELATIONSHIP with God.... That is why Christ paid it all.
But as for your loyalty to the Watchtower- you are sadly informed. Helping others????? I am sorry I must disagree with you. I was a loyal Jehovah's Witness for 25 years. I KNOW Jehovah's Witnesses on occasion help their own! I also know MANY are wonderful Loyal folk - they think it is to GOD!!!!! The Creator of all. But Please do your home work. You are following a false prophet.... Check out ALL the promises of the Organisation. NOT ONE has come true. Your Organisation teaches HATE- The Creator teaches LOVE even of your enemies.
Bill has helped many--- And remember the way you are judging is the way you will be judged.
I remain a LOVER of GOD ____
Grace ( or as you wish to translate it " Undeserved Kindness"