Parental Love – An open letter to Mom and Dad
Mom & Dad, In previous text messages, Mom kept repeating that, “You’re just trying to make yourself look good.” I couldn’t understand what she meant and she wouldn’t answer when I repeatedly asked. However, I think I may understand what she was getting at and I think it is directly related to dad’s comment, “You’ve […]
NORWAY: Paul Gillies Lies Again
On February 11, 2021, Paul Gillies, Overseer (Director) of Public Relations at World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, along with Marc Hensen (European Public Relations Officer), Jørgen Pedersen (Scandinavian Branch Office Board Member) and Dag-Erik Kristoffersen (Danish Public Relations Officer), met with Reid Ivar Bjørland Dahl & Irene Tvedt Wangen, Norwegian government representatives “to correct misinformation […]
BELGIUM: Unia says Anti-Discrimination Act forbids shunning or targeting former believers
A religious group should never subject apostate members to a “shunning policy”, often with very damaging consequences for the family ties of the people involved. In connection with this, the court of first instance in Ghent sentenced the non-profit organization Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses to a fine of 96,000 euros for inciting discrimination and […]
BELGIUM: Jehovah’s Witnesses respond to Ghent Ruling
On March 16, the Court of First Instance in Ghent ruled against the “Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses” in Belgium with regard to the application of the biblical norm of ceasing or limiting contacts with an excommunicated person or having made the decision to voluntarily withdraw from the group. For the first time since the […]
BELGIUM: Jehovah’s Witnesses Convicted of “Shunning Policy”
The non-profit organization behind the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been convicted of inciting discrimination and hatred or violence against former members who chose to leave the faith community. The court in Ghent has decided this. Jehovah’s Witnesses are fined €96,000. “The religious rules are not above the law in our society,” emphasizes the judge. Originally published […]
BELGIUM: Jehovah’s Witnesses fined 96,000 euros for inciting hate
The non-profit organization behind the Jehovah’s Witnesses is guilty of inciting discrimination and hatred or violence against ex-members who have left the community. The organization will be fined 96,000 euros, the Ghent criminal court ruled on Tuesday. Originally published on Nieuwsblad on March 16, 2021 A former member of Jehovah’s Witnesses went to the Ghent […]
Netherlands: Sander Huls Leaves Jehovah’s Witnesses and Shares His Experience
Originally published on NPO Radio 1 on March 3, 2021 They don’t vote, don’t celebrate birthdays, refuse blood transfusions, but are best known for their ‘field service’; the foot in the door. The Netherlands has about 30,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses. Sander Huls was one of them, but left the religious group about 7 years ago. Sander shares his experiences on […]
BELGIUM: Jehovah’s Witnesses in court to respond to incitement to hatred
The Jehovah’s Witnesses, prosecuted in particular for inciting hatred against former members of this community, will appear before the Ghent Criminal Court on Tuesday. The former Center for Equal Opportunities and the Fight against Racism Unia and about fifteen people have joined as civil parties. Originally published on Le Vif on 16 February 2021. A former […]
Born with a Red Pill in my Mouth
Is it better to have believed and lost faith, or to have never believed at all? My story is of the latter; I was born into the JW organization in 1976 to a devout mother. My father’s path to the religion is a little unclear for me; all I know is that he was not […]