Cult at a Funeral – A Jehovah’s Witness Funeral

Both Ben and I have attended Jehovah’s Witness funerals in the past few years. It always saddens us when someone takes their delusions to their grave without ever being free from the cult. What saddens us more, however, is how the Faithful and Discreet slave see fit to disrespectfully exploit such events for their own gain.

Thankfully, JWB has obtained the talk outline. Click here to download the talk outline for Jehovah’s Witness funeral services.

For those of you that would like to see what the funeral talk outline says, here it is in all its glory:

Funeral Discourse

Remarks Regarding The Deceased (Use any that apply and are appropriate)

• Details regarding age, birth, when married, and so forth
• By whom the deceased is survived
• Dedication record, including privileges of service
• Exemplary qualities displayed by the deceased (Eccl: 7:1)

The Hope The Deceased Entertained

• Worshiped Jehovah, the God of wisdom, justice, love, power
• Had faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12)
• Appreciated God’s purpose regarding Earth (Gen 1:28)
• Sure to be realised (Isa 11:9; 55:10, 11; Rev 21:4)
• Why good people die
• Disobedience of Adam (Gen 3:19; contrast with Genesis 2:7)
• Offspring inherited death (Rom 5:12)
• Condition of the dead
• Soul is mortal (Ezek 18:4, 20)
• Dead are unconscious (Ps 146:4; Eccl 3:19; 9:5, 10)
• The resurrection hope
• Made possible by sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Matt 20:28)
• Christ’s resurrection a guarantee (1 Cor 15:22,23)
• God uses Jesus to raise the dead (John 5:28, 29)
• For the anointed, resurrection is to heavenly life (1 Cor 15:51-54; Rev 20:4, 6)
• “Other sheep” resurrected to life in Earthly paradise (Luke 23:43; John 10:16)
• Armageddon survivors can hope to see the deceased one again soon
• Others too are in line for resurrection (Acts 24:15)

Why It Is Good To Go To House Of Mourning

• Can comfort the bereaved; loss is mutual
• Take to heart uncertainty of life (Ps 90:12; Eccl 7:2)
• Makes us think about how we are using our life

How We Can Benefit From Being Here

• While living, make good name with Jehovah God (Eccl 7:1)
• Lay up treasures in heaven (Matt 6:19-21)
• One way is to take zealous part in witness work, if qualified (Matt 24:14; 28:19,20)
• In this way and by godly conduct, we contribute to sanctification of Jehovah’s Name (Prov 27:11)
• Resurrection hope an incentive to learn and do divine will (1 Cor 15:58)

(Note: Opening with a prayer is optional. Instead of eulogizing the deceased, use the material in this outline to give a fine witness concerning the truth. Good balance should be observed in this respect. Doctrinal points can be presented as beliefs of the deceased, which served as motivation for him. Purpose of talk is to uphold Jehovah God as a God of love and mercy and at the same time bring comfort to the bereaved. Use of a song such as No. 111 is optional. A brief prayer at the close is fitting. When arrangement is made to go to the grave, it is well to consider quite briefly the hope through the Kingdom, reading one or two scriptures, such as Job 14:14, 15 and 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57. This service may also be closed with prayer, thanking Jehovah for the resurrection hope, which is of great comfort. The talk need not exceed 30 minutes.)

This funeral talk outline explains why all Jehovah’s Witness funerals are basically multi-level marketing events.

Let’s break down the outline. As you can see, just a very small part of the talk is actually dedicated to remembering the deceased. The Jehovah’s Witness elder then focuses entirely on what the deceased did solely for the Organization, rather than all the good deeds they may have done for the community. The outline moves swiftly away from remembering the deceased and starts pushing doctrine down vulnerable people’s throats.

Some people may say that reminding the bereaved of the resurrection hope is comforting, and to some it is. Unfortunately, all Jehovah’s Witness funerals end the same way; with the elder asking if the audience is doing enough in their service to Jehovah so as to be with the deceased one when they are resurrected in the New System (not Windows 8).

Should that be the point of a funeral? I’ll point you quickly to the 2011 Jehovah’s Witnesses District Convention Programme Teeny put together. You can see the gist of what I’m saying in the bottom section of that article.

The most disgusting part of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Funeral Discourse Outline are the notes at the bottom. While we usually write our articles with a sense of humour, this is really so disrespectful and disgusting, I can’t muster up any jokes. A funeral should be about remembering the deceased, but not according to Jehovah’s Witnesses, as it says, “Instead of eulogizing the deceased, use the material in this outline to give a fine witness concerning the truth.” Do they have no shame?

The value of a deceased Jehovah’s Witness is apparently only thirty minutes worth, 28 of which will be spent giving a “fine witness.”

Another related, almost tragic, point to make here is that most Jehovah’s Witnesses won’t see this as an issue. They have been conditioned (brainwashed; there, I said it) to accept abnormal behaviour as the norm. They aren’t even given time to absorb the loss of their loved ones before being told to do yet more for the failing book publishing Organization.

At least, when they die, they’ll be remembered for two minutes and used as a marketing tool. God’s loving people? I think not.

PS. Most of you may not understand the image we’ve used. It’s partly taken from the notes section of the funeral talk outline, where it mentions that a “good balance should be observed.” It’s also a personal joke. You see, an elder in the Nicosia English Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cyprus, told me to see a doctor because I couldn’t accept his reasoning of having faith. I asked him to prove to me that Jehovah’s Witnesses were the right religion and he told me that having faith alone, shows him and 7 million others that they are right.

I won’t be having my funeral at any Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses…