Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “watch tower”
At nineteen, I fell in love and made the choice many young people make—I became intimate with my boyfriend before marriage. But as a Jehovah’s Witness, this simple act of human intimacy triggered a cascade of consequences that would shadow my marriage for 26 years. The elders of my congregation subjected us to humiliating interrogations about our intimate moments. My …
As the February 2025 appeal trial in Oslo approaches, the spotlight intensifies on the brave individuals whose voices have exposed the harmful realities of mandated shunning. This trial has its roots in Norway’s decision to deny Jehovah’s Witnesses state subsidies and revoke their registration as a recognized religious community. The Norwegian State argues that the organization’s exclusion practices amount to …
I was born in 1983 in Toulouse, France, into a Jehovah’s Witness family. My earliest memories are woven with the strict doctrines and rigid expectations that came with being part of the organization. As a child, I often felt confined, surrounded by rules that dictated every aspect of life—what to believe, whom to associate with, and even how to think. …
OSLO, Norway – As the pivotal appeal trial approaches in February 2025, the spotlight turns to the victims whose bravery brought the harmful practices of mandated shunning into public view. Their testimonies not only influenced Norway’s decision to revoke Jehovah’s Witnesses’ status as a recognized religion but also stripped the organization of substantial financial privileges. These victims are now preparing …
I was born into Jehovah’s Witnesses. My parents, young and hopeful, immigrated with me from El Salvador to Portland, Oregon, when I was just 18 months old. My mom was only 23, and she had been baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness when she was just 14. For her, the Organization wasn’t just a religion—it was her identity. Moving to a …
OSLO, Norway – A historic appeal case will take place at the Oslo Appeal Court from February 3-14, 2025, with critical testimonies scheduled for February 7 and 10. This case, brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) against the Norwegian State, has the potential to reshape how mandated shunning is understood and addressed legally. The Norwegian State previously revoked JW’s status as …
I started studying the Bible with the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1986, at the age of 13, following my mother’s lead. By January 1988, I was baptized and quickly immersed in the congregation’s activities, becoming an Auxiliary Pioneer, and six months later, a Regular Pioneer. Being new to the congregation, I naturally tried to be friendly. One day, I greeted a …
Three years before “Armageddon” was supposed to happen in 1972, my parents became Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW’s). I was only 8 years old and I trusted them to make the “right choices” for themselves, me, and my younger brothers. How could I have known then that I’d become a researcher of cult characteristics and that such knowledge would lead me to …
Translated by SMS from the original language I have spent almost 40 years of my life as an active member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For 20 of those years, I served as an elder (local congregation pastor), which is a highly respected position in the congregation. In 2005, my daughter was disfellowshipped and decided she would not return to the organization. …
I was born in 1969 to parents who were both Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) from birth. Their parents were also Jehovah’s Witnesses, so it’s all I ever knew growing up. From a young age, my life was shaped by the doctrines and high-control environment of the religion. I was taught that God’s name was “Jehovah” and that our religion was the …
