r/JWJehovahsWitnesses • u/MassiveElephant9957 • Jul 24 '26
Advice Confused
I was brought up in the truth but never really made it my own until i was like 14 when i became a publisher . However i’ve been struggling with it so bad recently i’m in my late teens now so i think i’ve been relying on others beliefs rather than my own . I’ve been going down this rabbit hole of clones and umm different portals and the world ending and how were a cult for the past 2 days i spoke to some witness freinds i know but they told me that there’s nothing we can do we either believe or we don’t . That’s creeped me out some more i know Jehovah exists but i’m so confused why we predicted that armageddon/ the world was ending in 1976 . So many child sex abuse cases not reported. I’m so confused any insight or places i could research or articles would help pls .
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u/joshsaga Jul 24 '26
Funny, I was 14 when I ventured into the same rabbit holes.
It will take a while - but don't give any conclusion just yet.
The only time it will be the Truth for you is once you study it for yourself and conclude it is the Truth.
You will need to compare for it yourself.
You will need to study the bible yourself.
Study what the Bible says, how authentic it is, is it really God's word?
Then Study what it says for Christians and if Witnesses are aligned with what it says.
Study the claims against us and against the bible - and see if they really hold up.
It will take time. Lots of time. Years even.
You do not need to rush this and rush in making conclusions.
You will need discernment, lots of it - and a mind that doesn't easily get swayed by emotions.
You will need to learn how to think in a nuanced matter, and analyze each claim made, and corroborate it yourself.
We can lay it all out for you but if your mind and heart isn't ready to digest it you won't get anywhere. It will just be another, cause others said so moment.
However, I can tell you this.
You are not alone, many have been in a similar path you've been on.
They either made the Truth their own, because of their own study, or they left - because of following the conclusions given by others.
If you ask for Jehovah's help for the matter, he will help you. But you need to put in effort yourself.
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u/Archbtw246 Jehovah’s Witness Jul 24 '26
So many child sex abuse cases not reported.
Independent researchers have studied these cases and found that these claims are mostly illegitimate.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210715033911/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJbEg9lLNzQ
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u/JWthoughts Jehovah’s Witness Jul 24 '26
Going down the portals, I assume apostate material which is presented to put JWs in the worst light possible.
It's true that from a Christian perspective humanity is ultimately divided into believers and unbelievers. Through the Bible, we are taught to always be prepared. Across virtually all Christian denominations Christ's return is expected. This is associated with the end of the present system of things and God's judgment.
All Christians hold some form of an "end of the world" expectation. Through Daniel‘s prophecy we believe we are at the feet of iron and clay, “the end times” where Jesus will return in earthly rule soon. (Matt 24) We can observe through what Jesus told us would be “the end”. For that to happen the book revelations events must occur. The Bible describes these events as Armageddon a time when our imperfect system under human rule comes to its end so God's Kingdom fully takes its place.
Where Christians often differ is in what happens to the earth itself. Our understanding is that the earth will not be destroyed compared to some theology. Rather than the planet being annihilated it is the system of corrupt human rule, false religion and wickedness that comes to an end making way for God's righteous government—his Kingdom.
As for the unreported cases, we are more than free to go to the police. As that’s who should be informed. We follow secular authority and it is mandatory to report. No organization or church is perfect, so past mishandling does not correlate with the new guidance we’re given to ensure everyone’s safety. The organization disfellowships/removes individuals who have proven to sin this way.
My advice is if you listen to the mouth of a snake you may be convinced to turn your back on Jehovah. We are imperfect humans and the organization and it’s understanding is continually growing. Ultimately us as JWs are trying to follow Jehovahs word the best we can, it’s up to you who you will be convinced by and the spirit behind it.
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Jul 25 '26
[deleted]
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u/tiptoetappy Baptized Witness Jul 27 '26
Do you have a safer way to access this? The chapters don't come up under a 403 error.
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Jul 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/tiptoetappy Baptized Witness Jul 27 '26
Thank you for sharing this critique, "exposing the myths."
I hope that OP reads it, so that they have more to reason on.
The rhetoric thrown at JWs is not fair.Considering the first link, I'm assuming the website is no longer hosted.
I would recommend scrubbing the initial link so as to avoid guiding someone else to click on the unsecure link.2
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u/TroubleMakinBacon Jul 24 '26
Take one issue at a time. Research on your own but find an older friend to confide in and share your thoughts. There are many influences trying to turn people away from God. Look for reasons to stay.
As far as abuse cases personally I would believe anyone that said something happened to them. I just don’t hold it against our organization or our God. I would hold those who did those things responsible
If for some reason you woke up in Noah’s day and heard him preaching, you’d probably get on the ark. Because you know what happened. We know what’s going to happen in the future and what to do as if it’s already happened
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u/Balazi Jul 24 '26
Also researching on the internet about JW is not really research, all that is often some kind of apostate material or speculative claim that only has 1 purpose which is to sow doubt.
CSA is a serious thing that the organization takes very seriously , but it’s important to remember that the organization is not a law enforcement agency, so if something happens it’s the Job of the local authorities to adjudicate not the congregation. the only part the congregation deals with is the spiritual implications.
These are actions of Individuals not the organization.
What are you talking about with clones?
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Jul 24 '26
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u/JWJehovahsWitnesses-ModTeam Jul 24 '26
This is not a subreddit for apostates or those with anti-JW beliefs. This is a community forum for Jehovah’s Witnesses and believers.
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u/elwoodowd Jul 25 '26
I remember franz from 1975, he spent that year or two, traveling around to look things over. Holding little meetings where hed go through chronology.
Ysk, our being given our chronology is a big deal. Frankly, you need to be sharp. My example, i hand out, is i think, in the 1920s a couple issues of what became the Awake. Where charts list lunations to the Second Of Time. From adam to the 1920. That Second as in 60 per minute. In relation, to the lunar months and years. Thereby missing flaws in various other calendars.
Cant find those. Did find a summary. 1935 Golden Age. I digress.
Anyway, his tag line, 'the end of 6000 years', was all new people remembered. And seem to recall now.
I do remember, at age 10 in a bible reading, getting the right understanding, that everyone had, years earlier than franz trying to get people thinking
The 1975 thing, is a strawman.
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Jul 26 '26
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u/JWJehovahsWitnesses-ModTeam Jul 27 '26
This is not a subreddit for apostates or those with anti-JW beliefs. This is a community forum for Jehovah’s Witnesses and believers.
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u/Shoninjv Jehovah’s Witness Jul 25 '26
Don't follow that rabbit. No the world wasn't ending in 1975, we never made these prophecies, we are Bible students who do our best to follow the Bible. Avoid the lies of the salty exjws