An atheist journalist enjoys the convention

[Jim Jam]

https://www.vice.com/el/article/martyres-iexova/

 

The author is an atheist ("Ένας Άθεος Ανάμεσα σε 40.000 Μάρτυρες του Ιεχωβά" = An Atheist Among 40,000 Jehovah's Witnesses). His firsthand impressions are largely favorable.

Positive points

The article repeatedly praises the Witnesses for:

• Excellent organization ("Ήρεμα και οργανωμένα" – calm and organized).
• Cleanliness and volunteer work, especially cleaning the Olympic Stadium.
• Courtesy and hospitality, mentioning the constant offers of help, water, coffee, and seats.
• Discipline and order, describing 40,000 people as remarkably coordinated.
• Respectful behavior, noting that almost no one smoked and that public arguments were extremely rare.
• Well-dressed appearance, especially among the men and women.
• Successful event management, saying organizers deserve praise ("πρέπει να βγάλουμε στους διοργανωτές το καπέλο" – "we have to take our hats off to the organizers").

 

Some particularly positive remarks include:

• "Ποτέ ξανά δεν είχα ξαναδεί τόση ευγένεια..." ("Never before had I seen so much politeness...")
• "Respect στον τρόπο που οργανώθηκε η συνέλευση..." ("Respect for the way the convention was organized...")
• "Άψογη οργάνωση" ("Flawless organization.")

 

The article repeats some common public perceptions (that Witnesses are viewed by some as a "sect"), but attributes that to his grandmother and Wikipedia rather than endorsing it himself.

 

The conclusion sums it up well:

"No, I am not thinking of becoming a Jehovah's Witness. But that doesn't mean I don't respect the faith and beliefs of these people."

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Jim Jam