My name is Welber Mascarenhas Dias and I was born and raised in a home of Jehovah's Witnesses. Father, mother, grandparents, uncles, cousins. A great and exemplary "Christian family". When you are born in these conditions, you do not have much choice. Free will turns into illusion and a joke. It is true that the very person who decides to be baptized (when you officially become a Jehovah's Witness), but to be baptized is everything they would expect of a young man who was "born in the truth." Yes, you end up being coerced. You have the right to choose, but all the "brothers" expect you to pick the baptism, all your family expects you to do that. It's what all the other kids of there do, and if you are not baptized, you're like the ugly duckling. People look at you like there's something wrong with you. An internal discrimination comes to happen, and it gets worse as you grow.

Well, for years I was the ugly duckling. I actually believed that everything Jehovah’s Witness taught was the absolute truth. Nevertheless, I just did not fit. So I have postponed the baptism as much as I could. And people began to notice. They began to say bad things about me. My father was threatened to be removed from the post of elder (equivalent to pastors of evangelical churches). I did not want to baptize me because I knew that Jehovah God would not accept me. Why? Because I learned that God does not like homosexuals. And yes, I'm gay.

However, in 2009 I felt myself touched by Jehovah God. I thought I could suppress any "wrong trend", and I finally decided to try it. On November 21, 2009, I got baptized in the Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Goiânia, Goiás. There was great rejoicing in the congregation of God this day, after all I was doing the only right choice. For two years, I could fulfill my role as a Jehovah's Witness. But that was not me. That was who I had to be. All I really wanted to do was wrong and forbidden.
As time went on, I could hide my cheerful and spontaneous way less and less. I drew a lot of people young at heart. But the most fanatical wanted to be away from me because I was a danger to their spirituality. I saw that I never ceased to be one ugly duckling. Over time, I became involved in a sinful course with another brother of the congregation. We both were punished with a reprimand. A reprimand is when you are prevented from performing your "privileges" as a Jehovah's Witness. For that, I needed to go through a Judicial Committee, formed by three elders, where I had to confess my sins in detail. I felt embarrassed. As I waited outside the Kingdom Hall for the decision, I cried a lot, I felt unworthy before God, humiliated. When they called me and gave the verdict, that would not disfellowship me (expel), just reprimand me, I was very happy! After all, I didn’t want to be expelled. Being expelled mean public humiliation, where all my friends and family would turn their back on me until I return.

Again, I tried to harmonize my life with the way that Jehovah's Witnesses teach the Bible. I was willing to try again, and to eliminate once and for all the real me. But what happened next? It happened that the matter treated in my committee began to spread within the congregation, and very fast. A few months after my reprimand people were talking about my case behind my back. Friends started to delete me from Facebook, and I suffered a lot with this rejection, which happened well before I stop being a Jehovah's Witness. All I ever wanted while I was there was to be accepted. Then I started noticing that the members of this religious institution are not so loving, that when you follow strictly the standard, it's okay, they embrace you. But if you can not adapt, they spew the Bible at you, reject you, they spread rumors about you, and shut you out. This all led me to a picture of depression. Three suicide attempts. Several fights at home. And much, much lost time.

With psychological counseling, I began to get better. I realized that out of the Organization of Jehovah there are people who do know how to love, and good people. I started researching more deeply into the Bible, and I found that Jehovah's Witnesses are not the owners of the truth. I found several inconsistencies in the teachings thereof. In addition, with a more detailed search, I comprehended that it is irrational to live in the XXI century basing your whole life on one book written for a society which lived about 2000 years ago. From the moment that the Bible has become a book of stories (some fanciful), I find the way of life to which I was trying so hard to fit me even more ridiculous.

But after all, what is really being a Jehovah's Witness. Well, actually it's more of a list of absurd prohibitions. I'll name a few:

 

 

• Forbidden to celebrate birthdays.

• Forbidden to celebrate Christmas, New Year, Carnival, Halloween, bonfire parties, Easter, or any other celebration.

• Forbidden to have friendship with people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses.

• Forbidden dating people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses.

• Forbidden to have sex before marriage.

• Forbidden to enter competitions.

• Forbidden to go to parties that have many hours of duration.

• Forbidden to go to concerts.

And what is strongly discouraged?

 

• Going into higher education, because this world is ending and it's not time for that.

• Search to have a successful career, because this world is ending and it's not time for that.

• Have children, because this world is ending and it's not time for that.

And whereas it is strongly ENCOURAGED?

 

• Preach from house to house, warning people that their religion is wrong and that the world is ending.

• Read the Bible every day. When you read it from cover to cover, you start over.

• Spend hours studying the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses.

If you do all of this, congratulations! You are what is considered a genuine Jehovah’s Witness. You will not even think about seeking the pleasures of the world, and God will be smiling at you from ear to ear. And you know why you will not seek the pleasures of the world? Because you will have no time for that! I know that this decision of mine puts me in a very unfavorable position in the eyes of my family. Watch the video below and you'll understand what I mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to disconnect yourself from the Jehovah's Witness religion?

There are only three ways: (1) Be expelled for doing something that was forbidden, and without  repentance. (2) Ask to be formally turned off making use of a letter sent to the elders of the congregation you used to attend. (3) Overriding your baptism. This is virtually impossible because the person is baptized in "free will". I never come to know of any case.
For those who want to read, below is a digital copy of my letter of disassociation (disconnection) in full. An identical copy of the following letter was printed and delivered in the congregation to which I used to belong:

 

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Dissociation Letter of Welber Mascarenhas  Dias

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goiania – GO, november 6th, 2014

To the Vale do Araguaia Congregation of Goiania 

 

Dear members of the body of elders;

 

I make use of this letter to formally request my detachment of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion.

 

For many years I was among people who believe they are the only ones chosen by the Almighty as God's people, and I tell you in all truth, I thought the same way. However, about three years ago I started to pull away from the society of this religion, and during that time I allowed myself to doubt and questioning (something that is forbidden in). While I "looked at things from afar with the eyes of reason," I could see a lot of misconceptions, fallacies, and speculation that the Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization have committed. The conclusions that I got, I allude below:

 

THE 1914 "PROPHECY"

 

Like all Jehovah's Witnesses well know (or should know), chapter 4 of Daniel's prophecy refers to 7 days when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon would be exiled from his kingdom. Such a prophecy would have a greater significance however, which applies to "seven times" that God's Kingdom would be trampled. It is also known that these seven times refer to 2520 literal years - understanding obtained by applying the rule of Numbers 14:34 "a day for a year", reaching seven years, and the application that each year would actually be a prophetic year of 360 years each, thus arriving to the 2520 years.

 

Well, with the year 607 BC as the date of the destruction of Jerusalem (previous symbol of the God's Kingdom on earth), starts counting the aforementioned prophecy, coming to 1914 AD when Jesus Christ would have been enthroned as King of God's heavenly. Currently, it has been said that this date marks the beginning of the "End Times".

 

However, the historical record contradicts this understanding, since several sources show that Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC, not 607 BC *. Now, if the start date of the count is wrong, obviously all speculation ever made about the year of 1914 also are.

It is interesting notice that all dates already obtained for the biblical narrative events are imported from archeology, since the Bible itself provides no specific date. In view of this fact - the Bible does not provide dates - and the known maximum of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial.... so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work "- I understand that this preoccupation with dates is not important for the practice of the TRUE Christianity.

 

SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD

 

For several years we have already heard that the "end is near", so that the maintenance of the members' sense of urgency of all congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses around the globe is one of the main concerns of the Governing Body (Board of men that play a role as supreme leader, carrying the responsibility to promote, coordinate and lead the work of Jehovah's Witnesses in the tens of thousands of congregations). However, there were several times in the chronology of this religion that the world's end was announced. Some I elucidate down below:

 

1914

 

In 1876, Charles T. Russell wrote the first of many articles that pointed to 1914 as the year of the end times of the Gentiles mentioned by Jesus Christ. (Luke 21:24). In its number of October 15, 1913, The Watchtower said:

"According to the best chronological reckoning of which we are capable it is at about this time, in October 1914, or later. With no dogmatizing, we are waiting for certain events: (1) the end of the Gentile Times - Gentile supremacy in the world -. and (2) the beginning of Messiah's Kingdom in the world. "

With the approach of 1914, the expectations grew. In The Bible Students Monthly (Volume VI, No. 1, published in early 1914), Russell wrote:

"If we have the correct date and chronology, Gentile Times will end this year - 1914. What does that mean we do not know for sure. Our expectation is that the active domain of the Messiah will begin around the end of the grant of power to the Gentiles. Our expectation is that there will be wonderful manifestations of divine judgments against all unrighteousness, and this will mean the collapse of many institutions today, if not all of them. "

 

1925

 

The speech "Millions Now Living Will Never Die", given by JF Rutherford on March 21, 1920 at the Hippodrome in New York City, United States, directed attention to the year of 1925. In a pamphlet published that same year, it was said that if 70 full jubilees were calculated from the date on which Israel entered the Promised Land, this could point to the year 1925.

On the basis of what is written there, many who had expected the heavenly hope to receive your reward in heaven in 1925. That year was also related to the expectation of the resurrection of pre-Christian faithful servants of God, to serve on earth as chief representatives of the heavenly Kingdom. If this had really happened, it would mean that mankind would have entered an era in which death would be no more and millions living at that time could hope to never disappear from Earth. Although mistaken, the Bible Students, as Jehovah's Witnesses were then known, eagerly shared that hope with others, coming to the point of building homes to receive the resurrected ones (see Beth-Sarim). Time calculations and the expectations created caused serious disappointments (Proverbs 13:12).

 

1975

 

The book "Life Everlasting - in Freedom of the Sons of God", released in a series of District Congresses in 1966, pointed to 1975 as the era in which made up six millennia since Adam's creation. Still in place when lawmakers examined the contents, the new book has elicited numerous comments about 1975. At the congress held in Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, the concluding speech was delivered by FW Franz. He began by saying:

"Shortly before climbing to the rostrum, a young man approached me and said: 'Tell me, which means that in 1975?'" Franz mentioned many questions about whether the material in the new book would mean that Armageddon would occur in 1975 . He added, in summary: "It may be, but we are not saying that. All the things are possible to God, but we are not saying that. Nobody be specific when talking about what will happen from now until 1975. But.... , dear brothers, the big question is: time is short, time is running out, no doubt about it. ".

In the years that followed 1966, many Jehovah's Witnesses began creating vivid expectations, that of course, were not fulfilled. The book Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, published by the Watchtower Society in 1993 on page 633, after mentioning expectations concerning 1925, states:

"Again, in 1975, there was disappointment when expectations about the beginning of the Millennium failed to materialize. As a result, some have departed from the organization. Others, because they tried to subvert the faith of members, were disfellowshipped. No doubt, disappointment regarding the date was a factor, but in some cases, the roots were more profound. "

Regarding what is talked about in 1975, the book admits, on page 104:

"Other statements were published on this subject, and some were likely more definite than advisable."

 

We're already in 2014, and despite having less weight than they used formerly to have, speculations about when the end will come still are being made. Some teachings came to be readjusted in order to carry the "Absence of the said End". I would like to bring to your attention the following text: "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32). How was disregarded this principle throughout the last century!

 

OSTRACISM

 

The Governing Body determines to be disfellowshipped (excommunicated) from among all those Jehovah's Witnesses who do not agree with all the teachings emanating from them. The main text used to justify such judicial measure is to 1 Corinthians 5:11: "But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man."

 

What kind of person is this? Verse 13 of this same chapter itself defines the practitioner of all things:

 

“Remove the WICKED PERSON from among yourselves.”

 

Even though the term "disfellowshipping" does not appear in the Bible, the idea and the principle are undoubtedly present through the word "remove". But who applies this text? The wicked, that is, the person who, in stubborn mode, practicing any of the offenses listed above, as to be properly called a fornicator, idolater, drinker, etc. This is the kind of person to whom Paul said that we should "remove" among Christians. Such a person would be like "leaven that leavens the whole lump." (Galatians 5: 9) Even for these, however, what exactly does this text mean?

If you look at page 1318 of his own New World Translation with References (1986) observe in a footnote that "stop keeping company" is the Greek word mesynanamígnsthai, literally meaning "do not mix with you". In The Watchtower December 15, 1981, page 21, paragraph 23, the Society condemns, to give a simple "Hello" to a disfellowshipped person. This is, however, a humane education that goes beyond what the text says in 1 Corinthians 5:11.

 

Also notice that 1 Corinthians 5:11 does not mention people using the Bible to disagree with some teaching that Bible in fact does not bring. Does this text commands to not even greet the person?

 

See what 2 Thessalonians 3:14,15 says:

 

"But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked and stop associating with him, so that he may become ashamed. And yet do not consider him an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother." The context indicates, and the Governing Body itself recognizes that it is not talking here of people "removed" from the Christians; these should be admonished as brothers. It is noteworthy that both in 1 Corinthians 5:11 and in 2 Thessalonians 3:14, the Greek word used is the same, mesynanamignsthai! This can be given in a publication of the Society itself, the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, pages 743 and 910. However, they use this same Greek word translated in two seemingly different ways: in 2 Corinthians 5:11 is "stop keeping company"; in 2 Thessalonians 3:14 is "stop associating with ". You even can scan pages 1318 and 1366 (New World Translation with References, 1986), in the footnotes referring to 1 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:14. Comparing the two you will see the literal translation of both is "do not associate with."

 

So what the Bible says is that the treatment of both the "removed" (disassociated) for misconduct and the "taken note" ones is to not mix with them, ie, not to have intimacy, companionship, coexistence. Consequently, treatment is the same in both cases. That's what the Bible says, recalling that 1 Corinthians 4:6 states: “Do not go beyond the things that are written”.

 

Now let us review how the Governing Body directs that those expelled, or those who deliberately chose to disconnect themselves from the religious institution must be treated: "Treat disfellowshipped loved ones as slain by Jehovah, and do not whine about them!" (The Watchtower, November 15. 2014 study in an article entitled: "We must be holy in all our conduct").

 

Here, the Governing Body clearly mandates that members of the congregation have to look upon loved ones who are no longer part of their religion as "slain by Jehovah," and still claim not to be pitied, not even greeting them! Even though they are closest relatives (mother, father, brother, grandmother, grandfather, uncle, aunt, etc.). It is clear and beyond any doubt how ostracizing is this commandment ordained by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses.

 

HOMOPHOBIC SPEECH

 

Since the equal civil union is gaining momentum in today's society, there was an outbreak of homophobic attacks. Disseminated speeches by religious leaders in general, help to spread hatred for people who are just using their free will. With Jehovah's Witnesses are no different. The doctrine says that unless a person "suppress their tendencies," it will be rejected by God. The problem is that growing up listening to it cause severe damage.

 

If you are a homossexual who tries to harmonize yourself to be accepted by family and religious community, the chance of having emotional problems is almost 100%. There are the extreme cases where occur even suicide attempts. If you are not a homosexual, growing being exposed to this type of speech most likely turn you into someone homophobic and intolerant.

 

The negative weight that is put on this issue is scary. I've heard reports of actual members of the congregation that have said they prefer "to deal with a child user of drugs, than a fagot" (sic). I recognize that there is a text in the Bible which clearly condemns homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6: 9). However, what are the greatest commandments of Christianity? 'Love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22: 37-39). Speeches and treatment provided to homosexuals within the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses are far from being an expression of love.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Having in view all the above, I come to ask that I, Welber Mascarenhas Dias, be formally disconnected from the Jehovah's Witness religion from the knowledge of this letter. I used the Bible itself to directly counter the teachings of the Governing Body, in the topics above mentioned.

 

There are however, many other issues with which I disagree. But, I have no interest in publishing a book of 300 pages. By openly disagreeing with their ideology, and being fully convinced that this religion has no divine endorsement, no longer makes any sense that I remain associated with this institution.

 

I understand that my family, overwhelmingly, apply exactly the lines contained in the numerous publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, in detestation and ostracism towards my person. And honestly, I suffer and am very sorry about that. I know that I will be deprived of many good family times, from the moment my shutdown is publicly announced, because I know well how sententious members of this religion are. However, I give this letter head up, without any trace of shame, because among these uncomplicated lines, drains the courage of a person, grounded by their strong convictions, that have had the courage to go against every kind of fence. May God be with me. Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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References

* I - The Chronicles of Nabonidus (Nabonidus # 8, # 18 Nabonidus Nabonidus H1, B); II - Real List of Berossus; III - Canon of Ptolemy; IV - Cuneiform Tablets Selling and Administrative dated to the Neo-Babylonian period; V - VAT Astronomical Diaries 4956 and BM 32312; VI - Chronicle Aquito; VII - Texts Saros (tablets on lunar eclipses during the Neo-Babylonian period).