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I'm joined by John cedars he's a former Jehovah's Witness elder and a 2005
graduate
have one of the religions training schools he's now senior editor
over JW surveyed dot or.org
which is an X Jehovah's Witness community website
John really great to have you here I think I want to start with just kind of
your background briefly which was
were you born into the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses with is this a
religion that you adopted
at a certain point in your life and then left I would say
David most witnesses least mostly
design of buoyancy the religious I was jus me
and I rule and oxygen hose witness
and no need to know New England Manchester
on it was it very much and real think the meeting with this evening
%um I grew up believing armageddon these
did on imminently I mine
I live so it was something I was truly invested in
didn't really know bookshelves all the time being it shows
okay so then what happened at a certain point
that made you question what you had been taught and made you
I don't know if it was simply to stop believing in her to seek alternative
ideas
well the thing is a job with the
they are training not hot downblouse
so I think I'm putting my this last month 20
with the way it would US whole
down through it about being the be Press
they called waiting on Jehovah on
so when you have down the idea is to push the Miss Palmer buck
possible well what labor's say is do you reset
obviously one when they say we seize the needed you most hope will be patient you
are absolutely
not allows dewey anywhere older than most ok
Asian obviously they don't know how the amp
school really big question lot look
e-books so what happened it up my case
you who goes down are Mon and it was only
when I and was just E
between it I was just leave my twenty
Dhoni it the the doubts of
it uses now what one of the things in popular culture
that exists about Jehovah's Witnesses and it may be a stereo type or it may
not be I guess that's what I want to ask you
is that different religions proselytize
to different degrees some not at all and some extensively
1 I'm the stereotypes about Jehovah's Witnesses is that is that they're very
aggressive proselytize there's a new hear jokes about
I couldn't get them to leave my house typeof thing
is this in your experience is something that is
accurate or not accurate and is there are those who seek the Prophet
proselytize that other's homes
are they trained to stay as long as possible
yes they are a.m. they have
a week a meeting you but it goes saves the
which is really he you will making a Jehovah's Witness
of but you out possible %uh across the
on so when you get called on by would
you not get in Columbus too long you you
up the %uh and a halt on the way
a.m. there is you know some nice
used to it will really at jobs witnesses
up party on an hourly basis especially Chinese
not list ordinary witnesses book and
there is there are witnesses who rushed targeted to do at least 70
I was a month but was the case with me no remember is
I'm what I would say I YouTube videos
I'm I'm that 100 and a
done with it the comic in on the idea is
how to get which those witnesses I my advice would be
do it do you think that you definitely shouldn't do
if you want to get with these hoes this thing
it you should not you re uses who
if you do this they will insipid it %uh
execution state I'm all you
basically be doing is a.m. you link the
at this QC on but don't be but
sucking in you shouldn't do it sucks that early
just some people think well if a platelet-rich it may be to leave me
alone in
I'm although all but does it make it will is one interested in on the people
in into it three weeks so I mean
I'm not saying he shouldn't be pellets which you can find it
you want undated yellow you should look although it
you're not just lit should on the 02
a.m. yet a.m. what I would do if you want to get widget those witnesses
is just simply say I understand you have a list
0 people who do not want cool these by the other
bubblez and he do that they were firm program
so I had a number two different groups
up to Jehovah's Witnesses so four in total come to my home shortly before
moving to New York City and you know I was very polite
the man just said you know I'm I'm not currently interested thank you
and my regret was that
I should have told them I would actually like to talk to them
about the child abuse situation and it's happening within the Jehovah's Witnesses
apparently because we've talked on this program about how
extreme elements up many religions seem to have this problem with abuse
have children be it physical *** for psych
or psychological or some combination the Jehovah's Witnesses are not exempt from
this is that correct
%uh you in other who is what with the
you shouldn't feel guilty about not mentioned because
most homes witnesses are completely insulated
any negative all about child abuse
if you started 15 not when they belong little
again it West do the people would think this
you they don't Luke not and
scott klug I recently did an arc my blog on the lawyer called
to invoke in it will only so low
down website he it now humbly 11
child abuse lawsuit again lost I
all with you both low-level all as
I'll being put to the how about the situation in I'm lost you
up on computed during which
what so it damages ok a $28 million
uses you would use around about the
will nevertheless huge the bustin your is
will I'm may I'm always amazed at how little exposure
at what I would get considering how
howdy out the problem boat without ok
let me ask you this before I asked my next question just to provide some
context
what what portion of the above the US and/or world population
consider themselves to be just hope as witnesses sometimes religious groups
maybe over or underestimated most people for example don't know
that the world population of jews is only around
point 2 percent so that we have context
how many for home as witnesses are there nearly eight million
I'm not nearly eight million practicing
witnesses so thereof this perhaps not practicing
or whose the case you need to wouldn't be did not Fig
and that in the United States or the world box in the world
okay so a very small group you're so the night my next question is this:
there when it comes to Christianity Judaism
Islam catholicism there are many individuals
living today who might be the four
eighth 12 generation that kind of casually considers them part of part
part themselves part of that religion
therefore their beliefs are very casual they may not literally believe the
teachings but they could for cultural reasons consider themselves part of the
religion
scientology on the other hand as a result a bit being a very new religion
most followers not all but most are either first or second generation
and therefore very actively believed or sought out the literal teachings and
and adhere to those where it is Jehovah's Witnesses
ball on that kinda range
it doesn't matter the I'll long your family has been
associate with this issue could be cool its sixth generation
all witnesses house take it literally
I obsolete seriously they have to recognize
the eight-man you me don't New York
out the the he he between does
I'm just doesn't how long will
ok organization everybody has to take extremely
I would say you mentioned quality Italy
a whole me I how much and meet you expose
on you get is over on the close-up
and lot of people on a and on I'm 13
end of the book well out speech
and yet you think they have all the Republic owes
yet don't get me wrong I'm poses terrible terrible
religion might be just amazes me how
you think those Saranya homes those
all right we've been speaking with John cedars his website is JW survey dot
already there is a wealth
love interesting information fascinating stories there so I encourage you to
check it out
John thanks for being on with us today in absolutely
I'm today