Pure Worship or Pure Control? Inside the 2025 ‘Pure Worship’ Convention

Some features are clips from the 2025 Convention ‘Pure Worship’

Published and Written by: Miss Usato on May 26th, 2025

Pure Worship: Where questioning is rebellion, illness is prideful, and apostates are apparently Satan’s interns. Welcome to the 2025 Jehovah’s Witness convention ‘Pure Worship’

‘Pure Worship’ 2025 Convention

As the 2025 Jehovah’s Witnesses convention approaches under the theme “Pure Worship,” AvoidJW takes a closer look at what that phrase really means — and it’s not what it seems.

Behind the carefully crafted talks and dramatizations lies a familiar pattern: manipulative language, emotional control, and logical fallacies designed to reinforce obedience and silence dissent. The message? Don’t think for yourself. Don’t question the organization’s authority. Don’t draw attention to your struggles. In short: conform — or else.

This year’s program doesn’t shy away from disturbing content. “Bad social Media” causes a Witness to delete an app. “Materialistic Views” for wanting higher education are criticized. “Apostates” who show critical thinking are equated with Satan. A cancer patient is portrayed as selfish for considering sharing her journey. Everything is conveniently packaged under the banner of “purity.” But when you strip it down, the real theme becomes chillingly clear: “Shut up and obey.” Sound familiar? It should. Because this isn’t just a religion — it’s cult behavior.

AvoidJW has obtained and analyzed the complete 2025 convention program, breaking down every talk so you can watch and evaluate for yourself. You can find them through this link. But what has many former Jehovah’s Witnesses especially uneasy is a newly leaked video about “apostasy” that is now being shown around the world at this convention.

Being labeled an apostate is used as a weapon in this Organization. Most ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses were born into the religion, baptized young, and believed wholeheartedly in its teachings. To be dismissed as evil, mentally diseased, or satanic for waking up is not just unfair — it’s dehumanizing.

Below, I’ve exposed how the organization speaks about so-called “apostates” in their own words, not including all of the videos referencing apostates as well. This isn’t just about doctrine. It’s about control, language, and fear. Once you read their literature repeatedly, and it becomes “factual” in your “common sense”, you’ve become indoctrinated and brainwashed to believe it strictly. Your friends, family, and anyone who has “questioned” this organization’s teachings are labeled below.

The Jehovah’s Witness Organization’s Terminology on Apostates

Name-calling: Emotional and Moral Condemnation

“Mentally diseased”- “They are not content with simply leaving the organization that they perhaps once loved. Instead, they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. … They are ‘mentally diseased,’ and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings.”
— The Watchtower, July 15, 2011, p. 16
“Despicable”- “What a despicable course that is!”— Referring to those who leave the faith and speak against it. — The Watchtower, February 15, 2006, p. 28
“Like Satan, they are slanderers”- “Like their father, Satan, who is the father of the lie, apostates too are slanderers.”— The Watchtower, March 1, 1996, p. 14
Wicked- “Apostates are ‘wicked men’ who are ‘trying to draw away the disciples after themselves.'” — The Watchtower, March 15, 1986, p. 10
False brothers- “Such ones are false brothers who have slipped in to spy on our freedom.” — The Watchtower, August 1, 1980, p. 21

Describing Apostates as Dangerous Thinkers

“Gangrene”- “Their word will spread like gangrene.”— Often quoted from 2 Timothy 2:17 to describe apostate ideas. — The Watchtower, July 15, 2011, p. 16
“Poisonous” and “venomous”-“Apostates are like a cancer that spreads corruption and death.” “Their teachings are poisonous.” — The Watchtower, July 15, 2011, p. 11
“Haters of truth”- “They are not lovers of truth but haters of it.” — The Watchtower, August 1, 1980

Instructions on how to deal with apostates

“Keep away from them” –“Keep away from individuals who show a critical attitude toward Jehovah’s organization.”
— The Watchtower, March 15, 1986, p. 12

“Avoid them like the plague” –“We must avoid them as though they were a plague.”
— Circuit overseer and elder talks; variations of this appear in convention material and JW broadcasts.
“Do not even say a greeting to them” –“We do not speak with apostates or greet them.”
— The Watchtower, July 15, 2011, p. 16

Warnings and fear-inducing labels

“Agents of Satan” –“Apostates are part of Satan’s seed and are used by him to mislead others.” — The Watchtower, August 1, 1980, p. 29
“Deluded” –“They are often deluded and led by pride or bitterness.” — The Watchtower, April 1, 1986
“Rebellious” –“Apostasy is, in reality, rebellion against Jehovah.” — The Watchtower, October 1, 1993, p. 19
“Treacherous” and “traitors” –“They have betrayed Jehovah and his organization.” — Often stated in local elder talks and older publications.

“Ravenous wolves” –“They are like ravenous wolves, seeking to devour the unsuspecting.” — The Watchtower, May 1, 2000

JW Broadcast & Modern Language

“Twisted thinkers” –“Apostates are twisted thinkers who want to tear down your faith.” — JW Broadcasting, 2017
“Slick and seductive” –“Apostate ideas are often slick and seductive—don’t fall for them.” — JW Broadcast talk by Anthony Morris III
“Loyalty testers from Satan” –“Apostates are tools of Satan to test your loyalty.” — JW Broadcasting, multiple episodes from 2016–2020

Clips from the 2025 Convention

The Power of Coercing what you view

The following are clips that will be shown at the 2025 Convention. The storyline is mainly following a Jehovahs Witness family, where the son is deciding his future, the wife has Cancer, and the husband has concerns regarding social media. Chris and Nicki, Jehovah’s Witnesses who have been gone for 15 years, are moving back into a congregation they used to attend with this family.

In this clip, the Jehovah’s Witness husband and father scrolls through social media, then quickly hides his phone. He starts judging how some of the photos show women with “barely anything on” and questions how it showed up on his feed. It cuts to showing Satan, as if a tempter, twice in one day, where his social media feed is showing degrading photos. (a woman in a workout outfit) The Witness thinks, “Satan always tries to exploit our natural desires. Like he did with Jesus,” He exclaims that trying to meet desires in a selfish way is not right. He then decided to delete the whole account on the app (It looks like Instagram) so as not to be “tempted.”

The Power of Language in Shaping Perception

To the right is a new video that will be shown at the 2025 Convention. This particular scenario is about dealing with those who question the Organization. By presenting their interpretations as the only “truth” and using fear of “bad news” or the “end” as motivators, then backing it up with such an innocent term as “Pure,” The conventions aim to maintain strict control over the beliefs and behaviors of the attendees. However, these tactics can have significant negative impacts on the intellectual, emotional, and social well-being of the adherents, as they are encouraged to close themselves off from questioning, critical thinking, and broader social engagement. It’s all psychologically draining, and there’s no doubt that after this year’s convention, many former Jehovah’s Witnesses and Active ones will feel a new tug of manipulation, pain, and sorrow.

The Power of Guilt for “attention seeking”

The next video shows a scene where a sister is battling cancer. It is clear that she is depressed, tired, and lonely, and leaves the dinner table with their friends early. Another sister comes to her room and tries to cheer her up by taking a selfie with her and expressing how beautiful she is. The sister then invites her to join a Facebook group of fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses enduring illnesses, which offers mutual support and encouragement. She says, “If people could hear your truth, you would be an encouragement to so many people.” A beautiful, natural human moment. As the sister with cancer considers it, the video cuts jarringly to Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness, with the message that Satan tried to get him to draw “undue attention” to himself. The apparent point in the end is that it feels wrong to share what you are going through, because it’s “unnecessary attention” to yourself. She says, “Updating friends and family is one thing, but this feels wrong”. You can imagine how some in the crowd at the convention who have social media and try to help others in this way would feel.

The Power of Persuasion: Do not focus on yourself

The following clip is about Materialistic thinking. The married couple who recently moved, Chris and Nikki, is talking to a younger Jehovah’s Witness about his future. Once the sister mentions how they have a comfortable life and are still witnesses, it cuts to the sister with Cancer sending her a questionable look as she says, “You are so young and smart, there are so many opportunities. You need to be realistic.” Later on, the kid’s father goes to his room and mentions that the couple’s focus have seemed to be “off.”

The kid then scrolls through social media, seeing his friends and others traveling, then thinks, “Satan has always done this. He tried to tempt Jesus with what the world could offer. But Jesus didn’t focus on himself. He focused on Jehovah and doing his will…That’s what I’m going to do.” He then goes off the social media apps and starts watching a JW broadcasting video.

The Power of giving it all up -Governing Body Brother Lett Discuss joining SKE

On Sunday Morning, Lett says that since 2014, this 2-month School for Kingdom Evangelizers has helped pursue “further Kingdom Interests.” He then goes into how others “hold back” on joining the school…”Why?” He asks. “The governing body understands, it’s not easy to uproot into the unknown, but before you dismiss, we, the Governing Body, warmly invite you to prayerfully consider making yourself available to Jehovah for this training to expand your service. Don’t let the unknown hold you back. You don’t want to miss out! If your heart moves you to reach out to SKE, you’ll see firsthand how Jehovah will care for you. no matter what your circumstances may be. If you trust in Jehovah, he will clear the way for you. Former obstacles and fears will be pushed aside and replaced with new friends and unimaginable joys. Why? Because Jehovah will go out before you.”

Encouraging critical thinking and open dialogue is essential in discerning truth from manipulation. By examining the organization’s messaging and practices, individuals can make informed decisions about their beliefs and affiliations. This convention is purely about control, not trusting your thinking, not wanting better for yourself, and trusting and giving your all to ‘Jehovah.’ This article will provide more updates regarding the 2025 Convention as we go through the following videos and talks.