Shane Green disassociated himself from the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses 03 September, 2015. He wrote a letter to the Body of Elders at his local congregation. This letter outlines some of the many reasons why he wanted to disassociate. For the most part, it seems, his conscience was bothered by the fact that the religion he believed was “the truth” lied, or failed to tell the full truth about events in its history.
Shane Green’s Letter
Note: Small edits have been made to the letter to improve readability and to create links to support claims being made. The intent has not been altered. To read the unaltered version of the letter, click here.
03/09/2015
Dear Brothers,
Job 13:7 says, “Will you speak unjustly on Gods behalf, And will you speak deceitfully for him?”
The answers to the above questions are obvious, which leaves me in a quandary.
I watched governing body member Geoffrey Jackson on the stand at the Australian Royal Commission (ARC). He was subpoenaed to appear by the ARC on institutional child abuse (case number 29). I find it difficult to comprehend how a man, who claims to be a pillar and support for ‘Truth’, can then under oath (sworn on the NWT) go ahead and tell so many lies.
He was on the stand for over three hours, surrounded by a team of lawyers in the wings. He claimed he didn’t know the answer to basic policy questions that any elder would be able to answer. He blatantly lied about who comes under the authority of the organisation. He couldn’t even recall an instance of a female judge in the bible saying it has always been men “since the time of Adam” (Deborah anyone?). How can a man who claims to be anointed by holy spirit, and have the backing of Jesus Christ who promised to ‘call back to mind all the things learned’ not even recall such a basic biblical ‘truth’?
The Australian branch overseer behaved in the same appalling manner. He even had to apologize to the commission for lying when evidence was sent in (the branch manual I think) that called the lies out. How is that a ’good witness’ to the world looking on?
The Elders appearing at the commission were quite literally being ‘thrown under a bus ’ for following branch directives. They themselves were unable to recall the most basic of things.
The intellectual dishonesty in our publications.
Why does the book ‘Life how did it get here, by evolution or creation‘ contain over 100 misquotes of scholars? These misquotations it uses as authority to back up its claims. One must look at the original quotes not just the partial quotes. Does Jehovah need to use lies to bring people to the right conclusion? (Read Job 13:7)
One of the main ‘contributors’ to the Evolution book is a man who advocates the paranormal. He is a young earth creationist who BELIEVES in evolution but that evolution was guided by a higher power. He was a professional dowser. How can he possibly be a credible source to disseminate ‘truth’?
Why does the ‘evidence’ from scholars provided in supporting 607 C.E. as the date for Jerusalem’s destruction once again come in the form of misquotes? Look at the original quotes not just the ‘partials’. None of the scholars quoted advocate 607 C.E. bThey regard 586 or 587 C.E. as the correct date. There are 17 lines of independent evidence to support this and zero for 607 C.E. (Read Job 13:7)
I could go on. The Trinity brochure, Gods word or man’s book, brochures and magazines full of misquotes and very dubious sources.
In 1992, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York applied to be a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Associate Member of the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI). This is the CLOSEST relationship an NGO can form with the UN. The application was renewed annually and is a matter of public record. (I HAVE THE RECORDS FROM THE UN).
Watchtower remained an Associate Member until a few days after knowledge of this involvement became public through the release of breaking news in The Guardian on 8th October 2001. How can this possibly be right!!?
Their excuse was that they needed to become an NGO to get a library card. (Source here and here). This a blatant lie! Nobody has ever needed to join the UN to get a library card. It is open to the public. You can get one if you wish. (Read Job 13:7)
Mexicans were allowed to bribe Mexican officials. Meanwhile our dear brothers and sisters in Malawi were being raped and murdered for refusing a political card.
At the same time that Witnesses were forbidden to hold a card in Malawi, a comparable situation arose in Mexico with the Governing Body ruling in the opposite direction for Mexican brothers. In Mexico, military service was compulsory for young men. On completion of service young men would receive a “Cartilla” card. This card was similar to the card in Malawi. It was required for transactions such as obtaining a passport and drivers license. Young Witness brothers experienced persecution and imprisonment for refusing their obligation to attend military service.
In order to relieve this suffering, the Governing Body ruled that it was acceptable for Mexican brothers to bribe officials to obtain a government Cartilla card. This approach exempted them from military service. This is discussed in the following letter to Mexico Branch Committee dated June 2, 1960:
As to those who are relieved of military training by a money transaction with the officials who are involved therewith, this is on par with what is done in other Latin American countries where brothers have paid for their relief through some military official in order to retain their freedom for theocratic activities.
If members of the military establishment are willing to accept such an arrangement upon the payment of a fee then that is the responsibility of these representatives of the national organisation. In such a case the money paid does not go to the military establishment, but is appropriated by the individual who undertakes the arrangement.
If the consciences of certain brothers allow them to enter into such an arrangement for their continued freedom we have no objection. Of course, if they would get into any difficulties over their course of action then they would have to shoulder such difficulties themselves, and we could not offer them any assistance.
But if the arrangement is current down there and is recognized by the inspectors who do not make any inquiries into the veracity of the matter then the matter can be passed by for the accruing advantages. Should a military emergency arise and confront these brothers with their marching card it would oblige them to make a decision by which they could not extricate themselves by a money payment and their mettle would be tested and they would have to demonstrate outright where they stand and prove that they are in favor of Christian neutrality in a determined test.
Faithfully yours in the Kingdom ministry,
Watchtower B.&T. Society of Pennsylvania
It is interesting that for Mexico it could be justified that holding a governmental card through bribery is acceptable, since it allowed the brothers to continue in “theocratic activities”, yet obtaining a political card legally in Malawi was not acceptable even though it would have allowed the same freedoms.
There are even more scandals with a full documented paper trail.
This is only the tip of the iceberg for the GRAVE concerns I have. To go on would take reams of paper.
In view of this I find I have no choice than to formally disassociate myself from the Watchtower Publishing house and the Jehovah’s Witnesses Religious Organisation.
I apologise that this will no doubt cause distress to many but I have to follow my conscience.
An Awake of July 2009 page 29 has this to say: No one should be forced to worship in a way he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his beliefs and his family.
You brothers will always have a warm place in my heart and I know you will follow ‘the rules’ regarding this decision. I bear no malice toward any of you over this and wish you all the best for the future.
Kind regards and Love to you all
Shane Green
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Good evening. Here is my contribution. Apologize for my English 🙂
1. To Society Watch Tower, Watchtower and corporations
2. To Jehovah’s Witnesses and all assemblies
3. To all whom this concern
Declaration on termination of membership to a religious community of Jehovah’s Witnesses
I was baptized in 1977 at the age of 17, then a minor. But, in good faith I answered the following two questions just before baptism, which is symbolized my dedication to God in terms of the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses religion.
At that time (before the change of June 1 1985) questions have read as follows;
A) Have you repented of your sins and converted, recognizing yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
B) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
Since I have over decades closely followed the changes in various aspects of activity of this religion, I noticed some frequent collisions (1 John 4:1; 1 Th 5:21). It is visible in: a) the content of the various interpretations; b) in the theory and practice of action in everyday life issues. Overview of many historical aspects of the spiritual heritage, which the organization has, since its inception in the 19th century, left to its members-followers, and wants to cover it up, revise and incorrect display, is astounding. Who wants to drink a water from a cup in which there is a single drop of dangerous substances?
The purpose of my statement is not to explain doctrine and practices of society and the board of directors, who are disturbed my conscience and reasoning within the love, faith, knowledge and understanding that I feel and I have to God and Jesus Christ and to the people, so I will taxatively single out only a few of them (Rom 14:4). These are obvious example, on the one hand, theological acrobatics from the main church body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and on the other hand, their dishonesty and practice in which one they are learns, and other they are works;
1) Confusing conceptions about their own identity (Who shared spiritual food? One servant, all 144 000, a composite body or the governing body …,)
2) Pragmatism in changing dogmatic interpretations before the change was “firmly biblical established”, such as a series of explanations about the “generation” …,
3) Speculation about the meaning of biblical statements and how they should be understood. More than once the revised interpretation were in style of YES-NO-YES-NO; then this year’s “changed approach to the interpretation of reports from the Word of God” …,
4) Switching of responsibility from the governing body and their representatives on the ordinary believers in respect of the decisions and attitudes that members should be carried out, when it becomes apparent that they were endangered spiritually, mentally and literally health of fellow believers (eg, multiple expectations of Armageddon, Malawi and Mexico of the 1970s, questions about blood, juvenile members / Bulgaria /, neutrality …,)
5) Co-operation and association with political organizations such as the UN and the OSCE.
6) Increasingly open calls for financial donations and contributions to the funds of the corporation.
7) Careless and unkind treatment of victims of pedophilia within the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Regardless of how, as collective or personal, members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses treat me after this letter of resignation, considering the worldwide-known practice of ignoring and avoiding (shunning) that Jehovah’s Witnesses apply to all who are outside of their religion (“worldly” people, dissociated and disfellowshiped) – I with fully conscious and reason declare still this; My relationship with the people / persons in the Jehovah’s Witness religion and those who are not, is based on the words of Jesus; “Love your neighbor as yourself”; “Love those who hate you”; “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.”
I expecting from you, that any kind of information which is stored anywhere, in connection with me and has my full name, such as personal files, or any other files you immediately destroy!
Zagreb, July 27/2015 Srećko Šoštar ————-
Verified by notary public