How do Jehovah's Witnesses become apostate?

Mark Jones, Ex-Jehovah's Witness of 31 years
Answered Apr 5, 2019
Research.

The best source comes from their own literature.

One only has to be honest and research the history of the organization, the beliefs and read the bible on it’s own to see that what the Watchtower society is teaching and claiming is the most far removed from Christianity as one could be.

Next comes asking questions. Do that as a Jehovah’s Witness and you’ll quickly see that you’re not allowed to. At first you’ll be told to “wait on Jehovah” (ironically, a phrase their founder Joseph Rutherford said was something only those weak in faith would say) and if you keep asking questions you’ll be told to keep quiet.

But, keep researching. Research their literature, their previous literature, compare it to the bible, read Crises Of Conscience[1] by former governing body member Ray Franz and speak to ex-members.[2] Then you’ll see that ex-members are not at all like what the Watchtower society paints them like. In fact, look at the answers on here by active Jehovah’s Witnesses. Rather than give you an honest answer they’ve responded with accusations about what apostates are and what their intentions are.

My intentions are to inform. Not to have followers or to tell others what to do. The same was someone who bought a broken TV from Dixons would inform other shoppers that the TV is broken and to make sure they inspect the contents of the box before they buy one.

There’s a reason their governing body dont want them to speak to ex-members… they know that ex-members have nothing to gain or lose by speaking the truth. Silencing criticism is not the sign of a healthy relationship.

JWFact.com

Footnotes
[1] The story of the struggle between loyalty to God and loyalty to one's religion(https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Cy3RPbbzxXRW9uQlUyb3JLdlk)
[2] Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information (https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/)

Source: https://www.quora.com/How-do-Jehovahs-Witnesses-become-apostate

Could the recent video of Tony Morris buying $800 of hard liquor cause some Jehovah's Witnesses to stumble?

Mark Jones, Ex-Jehovah's Witness of 31 years
Answered Apr 4, 2019
No.

You need to understand that the governing body members could do absolutely anything and their followers would excuse their behaviour. Over the years the governing body has had members that did terrible things that got excused. Joseph Rutherford was a anti-Semite and admirer of Adolf Hitler[1], Leo Greenlees molested a 14yo boy[2] , Jeffrey Jackson lied in court[3] - yet these things are easily excused by the Witnesses as “they’re imperfect men that god is using”.

To be honest, even I as a critic of this religion don’t think there’s anything to speak of when it comes to Tony Morris buying all those bottles of expensive scotch. I do think he was likely buying all that scotch as gifts for someone. I mean, I’ve done stuff like that over the years, haven’t you?

The only thing I think is a little hypocritical is that the money to buy all that booze would have come from donations from the members. Donations that were supposed to be for building kingdom halls and producing propaganda (sorry, “literature”). But, seriously, an old man buying expensive scotch is nothing to write home about, cult leader or no cult leader.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4oBqrQ1UY

Footnotes
[1] Rutherford and the Watchtower's support of Hitler (https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/hitler-nazi.php)
[2] Leo K. Greenlees (https://www.theworldnewsmedia.org/topic/1678-leo-k-greenlees/)
[3] [Day 8; Part 1]Governing Body, Geoffrey Jackson - Jehovah's Witnesses Child Sexual Abuse: 2015-08-14 (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erWV8YnTFto)

Source: https://www.quora.com/Could-the-recent-video-of-Tony-Morris-buying-800-of-hard-liquor-cause-some-Jehovahs-Witnesses-to-stumble

Leo K. Greenlees
By Jack Ryan, March 13, 2016 in Topics
JW Insider - March 13, 2016

Governing Body member Leo K. Greenlees was forced to resign and leave Bethel in late 1984. He entered the Toronto, Canada Bethel in 1936, eventually becoming treasurer of the Canadian branch and of the IBSA of Canada. In 1964 he went to Brooklyn Bethel, and in 1965 was elected as a director of the Society's New York corporation. As a director Greenlees automatically became a "governing body" member when that body was formally instituted in 1971. He often spoke at Gilead graduations, and was the concluding speaker for the day at the Watchtower Centennial business meeting at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1984. A 1982 Watchtower mentions him as being on the Teaching Committee of the Governing Body. Greenlees' last mention in Watchtower publications is in the December 1, 1984 Watchtower where he is said to have passed out diplomas at the September Gilead graduation.

In late 1984, Greenlees was allegedly convicted by the rest of the Governing Body of molesting a ten year old boy. My information is that the boy's parents had complained to the Society and it took action. Greenlees was a friend of the family and often visited them. After leaving Bethel Greenlees served as a Special Pioneer and eventually an elder in the "Downtown" congregation in New Orleans, Louisiana. He died in the late 1980s.

Interestingly, the boy who Greenlees molested applied for Bethel service a few years later, around 1991, and was rejected. Watchtower leaders apparently feared that other Bethelites would tell him the 'rumors' about Greenlees, not knowing that he was Greenlees' victim, and cause the young man to know that justice had not been done. He might then have confirmed the rumors.

Source: https://www.theworldnewsmedia.org/topic/1678-leo-k-greenlees/