My Lord. Some interesting news. If you recall I had nominated the local Kingdom Hall as a Pokestop for the game Pokemon Go. Well. It has now become a Pokegym. Which is a big deal. Now even more people show up to battle. Those running it were furious but can't do anything as long as the players don't go on the property. So we all stand across the street in the back parking lot of a supermarket. One of the players got a hold of a huge number of Chick tracts (remember those) against the Witnesses. So when some of the members come over to criticize or convert, he hands them that tract. It's hilarious. They react like a vampire before the sun. I'll continue to update my Lord. Your loyal Antipaladin.
Sadly, they can ask Niantic to remove the stop, they will probably figure that out eventually. I’ve seen a few churches here and there over the years do it, 2 cemeteries too. But until they do…. Dude! Awesome!!!!
Speaking as someone raised Methodist, we also have confirmation. I got baptised when I was maybe like 7, but it's normal for babies and toddlers to be baptised. Once you turn 12 you can enter the confirmation process. Basically it's going to classes on Christianity and "soul searching" and at the end of the process you are confirmed in front of the congregation and become an actual member of the church. Because at 12 you are considered an adult in the eyes of the church.
Not cool. 12 YRS old is too young. Personally, the baptism wouldn’t bother me so much as long as the confirmation was left up to the individual at age 18 & up.
Also a confirmed Methodist here. I was definitely in NO WAY ready or had any real ability to "soul search". All I knew was what was expected of me and what my parents wanted. Over the years since reaching *actual* adulthood, I've decided to go my own way and find my own approach to spirituality. Since my brain fully developed and I've had a child of my own, I won't be getting them baptized, or take them to a church. I firmly believe that church is not a place for children, regardless of their parents' belief system.
@@DarthMagog I know that my soul searching included a lot of punk music, Pokemon, and teen angst of fitting in. Definitely the time to plan out the rest of my life lol. The pastor who ran mine was one I was cool with, but it did feel a lot like just testing our knowledge of bible stories and "if a then b"
I remember getting baptised when I was 12 as a Presbyterian and immediately after words I started doubting if I was saved and it scared me I thought my parents would think I had lied,they gave me a new bible I could take communion and I was scared. And here I am now no longer in the church my whole family is deconstructing together and it is such a relief.
My mother remarried when I was eight, his family was really religious, and although he initially had no problem with us not being religious, eventually, we were pressured into joining a church and at nine, I was forced to be baptized in order to truly be accepted. It was an extremely weird and humiliating ordeal, the entire church was present during this to witness a child being made to do something against their will, but they all lined up afterwards to touch me; a man I didn’t know literally grabbed my hand and kissed the palm without my consent, and I couldn’t do or say anything about it. It certainly made me uncomfortable. And then I had to join this girl group the church had, and that’s another story.
The demand placed on kids by religion is pretty unreal if you ask me. You have to get entirely involved in something you don't entirely understand, and if you're anything less than zealous, it's a problem.
@@DarthMagog I mean, i'm an ex christian who lives in a christian house. I was baptized at like 7. I'm forced into this life. I can't wait until i'm out of the house at 18(i'm a minor still so i have to go to church and stuff)
Grew up spending summer with JW grandma, the level of shame that adults put on actual children for being tired, or dejected after constantly getting slammed and walking around on your day off in stiff clothes…. Jfc… They treated us like we were being genuinely selfish and bad people, and like showing that we were tired was in itself a disrespect to Jehovah
That is exactly how they see it. They see it as "life saving work" and if you don't participate then you're "blood guilty" so to speak. Like, if they're killed at Armageddon because you took a day off from field service, then that blood is on your hands. It's pretty gross.
@@DarthMagogThis is legitimately a form of emotional abuse. It is NOT AT ALL okay to tell a child this, as it can cause lifelong problems for them. It doesn't matter if you believe in God. It's still wrong to tell children that they're "blood-guilty" if they don't go preaching. 😬😬😬
18:10 I was thirteen when I got baptized. When I started falling away from being a Southern Baptist, my mom was pretty hard and disappointed in me because of it. People can change their minds, especially preteens/young teenagers. She was disappointed in me because I wasn't being fully committed to it but being holier than thou towards her, my sister and the rest of my family.
It's a hard adjustment, and religion doesn't do well when people discover more about themselves and become comfortable. At least not most religion. There are churches out there that are a little more "come as you are" and I think that's plenty healthy imo.
I was relatively late into the Unbaptized Publisher scene, becoming one after I turned 16 due to my long term fear of public speaking, and I remember the dread I felt once the questioning would begin by the Elders for approval. I became a Publisher because the congregation members (especially the Elders' wives) wouldn't leave me alone and kept asking when I'd become a Publisher or get baptized. I did it out of duty, because it was what was expected of me by my parents and the congregation. But in no way would I have done so if I knew then what I do now...
Hindsight is always 20-20, and cultural pressure is a powerful tool. I know you regret the path, but you shouldn't feel ashamed. You were a literal child just trying to survive, you've done no wrong.
@@DarthMagog Thank you, Darth Magog. That means alot. I got baptized when I was 22 years old and deeply regret that now as well. It's something I worry will be used to guilt trip me later of my "promise" to serve Jehovah if/when I ever become fully POMO.
It's mutually beneficial. Sure saves my family and close friends a lot of venting time 😅 jokes aside it's good to have a creative outlet, and if I can help validate a few experiences here and there, then that's just gravy brisket 😁
I was baptized when I was a little kid and the only thing I recall thinking at the time was that some stranger attempted to drown me and my parents couldn't figure out why I was so upset. They really should have known better since I've always had an intense fear of water from a very early age, it wasn't until I was 16 that I could even get myself to dunk my own head underwater and even then I could only do so if I was wearing goggles. I'm still religious but I've never been baptized again, cuz honestly I don't believe that I need to be. My belief in Jesus naturally cleanses me of my sins with my acceptance of his sacrifice and love for me, and I'm sure God can still recognize me as His own even without someone holding my head underwater.
@@DarthMagog That's the reason why I don't go to church despite being religious, well, that and the blatant hypocrisy and cherry picking Biblical passages, and the whole "this is what the Bible says, but this is my personal interpretation of it and I demand you see it that way too."
I became a publisher at 12 but didn't get baptized until I was 17. I knew something wasn't clean in the buttermilk back then. I stalled my baptism because I didn't completely believe that this religion was "the truth" and I also wasn't satisfied with their vision of "the best life ever". I caved after my parents started laying the pressure on. Adults at the hall would make snide comments or look surprised when I said I wasn't baptized. My mom would pester me about every morning and get angry if I ever pushed back. My dad would start accusing me of having a "weird habit" I'm keeping secret (whatever that means). So, to keep them off my back I got baptized. That actually nudged me to wake up because I realized just how unhappy I was, how thin my parents live for me was, and how superficial and image based the organization is. I just wish it didn't take getting dunked to acknowledge and explore my own feelings and opinions.
Hey, don't beat yourself up about it now! When you grow up in a house full of smokers, that second hand smoke takes it's toll ya know? Same with this toxic indoctrination. I'm glad the water opened your eyes. Ironic that it's what got you out of the religion, but we take the wins where we can I suppose. I'm glad you're awake.
Some years ago I got a visit from a JW man and his son. He was s VERY uncomfortable human being to be near. The child was a sweet boy, who clearly hated every second of the experience. I would too, if I had such an aggressive father. I ended up telling the boy, that he would always be welcome if he needed to be somewhere, where everything wasn't about Jehovah. Poor child.
My best friend in primary school was a JW. I found out the other day (after not seeing her for more than 15 years) that she and her mum and dad are no longer JW’s (which honestly made my day, I was so happy to see that she and her parents were able to get out)!
@@DarthMagog Great to hear. To try to answer your question about Catholicism and confirmation, I attended a Catholic school so confirmation started in grade 7/8 where we would take classes to learn more about the process and what it meant. Thinking back to it, it's questionable whether or not it was consent when our family and school expected us to go through it. So technically, you become a full Catholic when you're older but whether or not it's a choice is debatable.
As someone raised Catholic, I can confirm that you're baptized as a baby, then go through Confirmation when you're older. I can't remember the exact age, but I was in 8th grade. But I also didn't really feel like I had much of a choice because I wasn't exposed to many other religions. But it also wasn't a "do this or we hate you or you're kicked out" sort of thing. I went to Catholic grade school, so it was just more a "everyone is doing it. Everyone in my family did it (well, my dad joined as an adult because he married my mom. He was Lutheran.) So now it's my turn." I just didn't even really consider trying to join another religion because I was pretty happy as a Catholic at the time. I stopped going to church weekly by high school, and no one had a problem with it. And I still went to mass on big holidays. It's the story of a lot of Catholics. There's a whole story behind why I'm no longer Catholic, and ironically, it had little to nothing to do with the Catholic Church. The scandals with them just cemented in my mind that I made the right choice.
It is so awesome and refreshing to see this video from you, my Lord, Darth Magog! It felt like forever and a day since your last. No criticism, that’s just how much I love this channel, especially with these great rebuttals and analysis of Calsphia videos with your Stormtrooper of child psychology at your side. I believe that both of you do such valuable work!
Glad to be back. They do admittedly take some time to make and we certainly notice the scheduling gaps ourselves, but it's good to see the community is still benefitting from the videos.
It seems like the constant rejection also helps cement the victim mentality and causes the young ones to be more invested in the idea of we all have to stick together against the cruel world of unbelievers. This seems like pretty powerful indoctrination
I’m so glad that you mentioned that as the older sister she would be the example and she would have to be baptized first. That was a point of contention in my family because my oldest sister did not want to get baptized, but ended up doing it due to peer pressureand our sister wanting to be baptized.
Thank you for the discussion of Baptism. I was raised Southern (ILBP like) Baptist. My spouse was baptised as a Methodist as a baby. I remember being appalled at the whole idea of, but after watching this, I realized I was done the same when the church coerced me to get Baptised at 11, pressuring me into it so they could finally get some new members in. ((We no longer associate with any church at all, and are kids are being raised agnostic!))
Good to hear you and your family are free to choose for yourselves now. Coercion is the worst part of the religion imo. Well, it's in the top 10 for me frankly. Maybe I should do a video with 10 proper reasons I hated being a JW.
I am Anglican and we have confirmation as well. You can choose to do it from about 13 (based on the president of Judaism I think) but a lot of people wait until they’re older. There’s a course you have to do about Christian theology and what being a Christian means. One major difference I’m seeing between Anglicanism and Jehovah’s Witnesses theologically is how “being saved“ actually works. There is nothing you need to do to be saved as far as Anglicanism is concerned. You are saved by the grace of God, you are explicitly not saved and cannot be saved by what you actually do. Obviously you’re expected to behave in a certain way, but that’s a case of following instructions and examples of Jesus because that’s how you live a good life, not as a mandatory step toward salvation.
I'm not a smoker, but I do enjoy the occasional hand-rolled cigar (never cigarettes). Maybe about once a month. I once had a door-knocking Jehovah's Witness knock on my door. So, I decided to have a little... fun with him. I answered keeping my cigar hidden. I was acting like I was interested and listening to his "good news." I then pulled out my cigar, lit it and took a puff (looking a little like that one skeleton meme). And the look of fucking horror on his face was priceless! Haven't had any JW's knock on my door since.
As an unbaptized ExJW, I enjoy your insight into the inner workings of the cult, and the care you point behind the statements you make. I didn't really suffer more than the standard, but just thinking about the bad cases makes me unable to envision a future with them. On a lighter note, I'd love to hear some "channel lore" behind Darth Magog and his role. I could even help design a unique flagship!
@@DarthMagog Are there particular design aspects that you would prefer, my Lord, or do the Imperial Shipmasons have your permission to make one from scratch?
Dude! “Unbaptized ExJW”!!!! I don’t know why I’ve never heard that put in such an obvious way but that’s what I am! I’ve always needed to explain my situation, your way is just so much better! Thank you for that!
I was baptized into the LDS faith when I was eight. We were also taught Sacrament meeting on Sunday was a renewal of the covenants we made and received at baptism, so it offered some hope. It was impressively stressful, however, to have fear and guilt loom over your head the longer one went without attending. Besides this, as the eldest in my family, I was expected to be an unerring example in all things. My siblings were watching me, after all. It always felt that if I erred or went astray, I would be murdering their souls.... Or causing them to stumble. Not to mention any other younglings who were pointed to my family and I as examples. Especially as I went through the entire process. Baptism (padawanship), temple endowments (my knighting ceremony), and a mission.... By most statistics, I should not have fallen to the dark side. It has been quite a journey to dismantle the teachings and to step away from the temple....
Can confirm as a "recovering Catholic", while we get baptized as infants we go through confirmation later. Usually around age 16 or so for my diocese (aka district), but it can be done any time you have passed the "age of discretion", about 7. Confirmation is what makes you an "adult" in the church, though that's now how Canon law puts it. It gets into a whole bunch of stuff about receiving the Holy Spirit and attaining a special state of grace. In my diocese the bishop would come around every two years to perform confirmations, so we were in confirmation classes that covered two school years of kids. You get to choose a "confirmation name" as well - no one actually calls you by it, but I believe it's supposed to symbolize the beginning of a new life (kinda like nuns, monks, or popes take new names as well). Mine was Francesca-Rose - for St. Francis of Assisi (known for his love of animals) and St. Rosa (the first woman canonized in the Americas). In my experience, most of us saw confirmation as graduation from the Catholic church - after all, if we're now old enough to make our own spiritual decisions, we can decide to never come back. The vast majority of the kids in my CCD classes (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, aka Sunday School) never went to church, not even at Christmas or Easter. I think their families just made them go out of tradition. Hilariously enough, I once got in trouble for being late to CCD because mass went long. It was a very, very lengthy homily (aka sermon) that day. So technically our priest was to blame for my tardiness, but I still got in trouble for it. You also go through First Communion and First Reconciliation/Confession when you're much younger, around 7 or 8. What sins does an 8 year old have to confess? I'm pretty sure nearly all of us used "honor thy father and mother", come to think of it. And what sort of penance would you even give them? Apparently three Hail Marys and an Our Father. Tiny-child-me felt that wasn't enough, so I did a few more. Talk about Catholic guilt.....
@@DarthMagog if I had my way, religion wouldn't be for anyone because we'd all realize we don't need large institutions to tell us right from wrong! I've got nothing against individual faith, whether that be in God or in Justice or Human Decency or anything else. But when you start getting people together and giving some power over others, it becomes a mess very quickly.
In the church my Dad took us to after moving to England, first confession is about halfway through the schooling for first communion. In the one we went to before that, which was an English-speaking one in Switzerland, it was first communion one year and the next was first confession. We actually moved not long after my first communion (about 8) so I had to attend the same communion class as my brother until the confessions and was allowed to leave since I had communion already. Still, a couple of hours of Sunday school and a mass once a week feels like bugger all compared to what a JW kid had to do DX
@@AcanthaDante I'm definitely not arguing that Catholics have it worse. We've all got it bad, and I don't really think there's anything good that comes out of "my suffering was worse than yours"..... but the JWs 100% have it worse than I did. Really weird that they let you do communion without confession. That's supposed to be "against the rules", because you weren't in a state of grace without confession. But the Catholics are starting to get wishy-washy about the rules around confession, because people really don't like it. Even when I was a kid that still considered themselves Catholic, I thought confession was stupid. If God is everywhere and knows everything, he knows if I'm sorry for my sins and can forgive me himself. I didn't see the necessity for a middle man.
Former catholic here, my lord! Can confirm about... confirmation. I was confirmed as a young teen. I was sent to a Catholic school as a child and they made a whole deal about it. Religion class taught us what was going to happen and we were taught what to say, when we were going to say it, how we were supposed to respond. I remember it being we had to renew our baptismal vows now that we were able to say them for ourselves which just involved my year level and I saying in loud and proud voices "I renounce them" or "I believe" depending on the question. ("Do you renounce Satan and all his worldly temptations" or "Do you believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth"). And we were supposed to ask a relative to act as our godparent and they had to be a practicing Catholic themselves and would be responsible for our religious upbringing or something.
Good to have you back, My Lord, Commander. Fascinating video once again, especially to someone like me, who was Catholic for some time of her life. But it's fascinating in a train wreck kind of way, where I'm mortified but can't look away. Leaving Catholicism, even surrounded by it from all sides at all times, wasn't really that difficult. I can't imagine how horrible it must be for these poor children who are indoctrinated into a cult from birth, have little to no way out, and if they do find one, they lose everything.
Glad to be back. As for being a JW kid, it's a unique challenge even in more lax households. Being front and center is a nightmare frankly, and I *really* felt bad for the Elder's kids.
In Catholism the progression of those raised in Catholicism is babtism as a baby, First Communion by the age 7 through 9, and Confirmation at the age of 13 or 14 through 15. You are right Confirmation is when the child decides to stay Catholic or leave it. The only difference is they are not excumicated if they leave. We still hold on to our brothers and sisters and pray with them, encourage them, and hopefully they come back.❤
No, we are heartbroken but we don't shun them. We listen to try to understand and pray for them. I work in a Catholic store, parents talk with me and I tell them "Don't give up on them, give them time. As long as we're patient they will come back as better stronger Christians. The desert years are a tough teacher." The desert years is what I refer to as the atheistic years for me. I didn't want to believe in God in my 20s so I went wild but I came back.❤️
"Of Age" is 13 or so, currently for Catholicism, and it was for me, but it used to be based more on when a bishop could visit your parish. My mom was 8. She'd just had communion and was being asked to confirm a faith that, frankly, we weren't exactly well informed of at 13 (and which didn't end up working for me) . That part still blows my mind, but it WAS the 60's.
Happened to me in the 90's. Instead of making the Bishop come twice a year for communion and confirmation, they combined the two, so second-graders received both at the same time. I barely even remember being told anything about confirmation, either. The whole year was spent focusing on communion (I was in the local Catholic school). The whole thing still really bothers me. Even from a religious standpoint, a major sacrament was basically hand-waved just cause it was more convenient. I've heard it's not like that anymore, at least.
As always, these videos are so informative. I was not a JW. But I find learning about Jehovah's Witnesses so very interesting. And its so damn depressing how Caleb and Sofia are just being used as pawns in a game they really don't know the rules to which makes these very insidious.
It gets worse on a cosmic scale too, when you realize that JWs are just there to provide volunteer hours for the Watchtower. The power balance in all of these relationships may as well be a straight line going up to Watchtower
I did my Roman Catholic confirmation. It is, as you said, supposed to be like... an actual, self-aware, voluntary thing, as opposed to the baptism that you don't get a say in yada yada. Maybe there are kids out there who felt 'in control' of their confirmation, but I mostly felt like if I didn't do it I was Horrible. Even though I had started having doubts about this whole church thing, I was terrified that if I didn't say yes to confirmation I'd be... ruining my life, basically. I'd be despised by my family, despised by the church folks, despised by my friends (I was much, much older when I discovered Catholic is not the 'default' religion and that most people weren't, and assumed everyone I knew was Catholic), and then I'd further be ruined in the afterlife and be cast out by God, not allowed in heaven to play with my dog, forced to endure hell, et cetera. but you know!! totally my choice to be confirmed or not!! as a young teenager I was totally unmanipulated or coerced!!
Yeah cultural pressure doesn't seem to be absent in any relgion I've studied so far. You could make an arguement for bhuddism but I've only read about that as an adult so...
I have a question for Commander Fives. Why did the Kaminoans program childhood development and psychology into some clones? Was it so the Republic army could better handle the refugees and orphans the Clone Wars would surely create?
Good question @commanderfives7229 you got this? I vaguely remember something about wanting to deprogram Jedi children after Order 66, but Anakin... let's say made that deprogramming unnecessary...
I remember when I'd gotten the call (literal phone call) for catholic confirmation. It was evening, late at night. I still don't know why it was so late. We didn't expect a phone call, so it took me a little while before I could give the answer as I don't like making uninformed decisions. Once I was told what they meant with confirmation, I could not have made an easier choice. Never have I made a major life decision so easily. So that is the last time I ever had to deal with the church for my sake. Honestly, the only reason I even got baptised and did my first communion in the first place was the family on the Irish side. It's just something you do. You do baptism and first communion, that's all. Only times I've ever been to church for myself. In general while I have had contact with things that are technically religious (Think christian school), I've hardly actually come into contact with religion. So much so that when I was a kid I actually forgot that the school I was in was a christian school, during GODSDIENST even (Godsdienst literally translates as god service. It is actually just education into different religions and life-philosophies, such as Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Humanism, etc.).
18:36- i literally had to pause the video to go down a 30ish minute rabbit hole into childhood memories because I recognized that cover. I HAD THAT BOOK AS A CHILD. No, I was not JW- my whole family was raised Protestant (Methodist) after my parents (who did not belong to a church) liked the minister who married them so much they joined that church. Upon asking my mom, she said she didn't buy that book, it was given to her. As for who gave it to her, I WONDER WHO...
You know I've been hearing that a lot lately. I think when it was published in the 70s, a lot of them got placed in the door to door work, and they got used on the children of those young adults they were placed with later in the 90s and 00s. It's interesting to see.
New Magog video yay! Informative as always, but it was a little sad how Commander Fives yearned for a happy ending, no matter how sappy, to break the monotony of these kids being inculcated so many toxic stuff. Wish there was a heretical ending where they grow up and work through their trauma
2:53 in my headcanon, Caleb lost his best friend on the episode when his Mom Made him toss the wizard toy he borrowed. "His friends" at school or not friends at school are their customers to get into their religion since they don't believe in celebrating their birthday, another reason why he doesn't have real friends.
The sad part is, at his age, it's the easiest time he'd have making friends and where he'd learn how to socialize properly. Shared interest is key in a number of relationships, those parents are really stunting that boy's growth.
A genuine comment out of character: I actually *like* having young ones evaluate their day. If they learn early to set themselves goals and evaluate ways they can adapt their own dealings with the world to reach them, then they can be better equipped for adult life where schedules, checklists and evaluations become common by necessity. But we should tell kids to be their own auditors, and seek help to shore up places they think they're lacking, figure out how and why they think and feel the way they do. We as adults should foster further development, not set arbitrary quotas and hand out grades that are entirely pass/fail. From my own experience: I had my niece start journaling. In the morning: Today I want to... In the eveing: Today I... and I allowed all the time in between for her to figure out all the thoughts and emotions that led to her decision making. And I and her mother hear out what she has to say, make it make sense from a "grown" perspective, and approach tomorrow with fresh eyes and determination. I would never dream of making that girl feel ashamed for not doing what a book and a slip of paper tells her just the way it says. I also know my sister would drown me in lead if I did. But that's because we're adults (and crazy, according to the rest of our God Fearing family.) So take it as you may.
@@DarthMagog Millie and Lily both lay out their journals in the morning before breakfast, but they don't tell us parents about it. After dinner we get together and put down our thoughts. Then they go off on their own and do their journaling. If they have any questions they come to us old folks. (Us old time fucks, my mentor always said.) But you get it?
The Baptism section really struck a cord with me. I grew up Baptist (Its the one that follow the teachings of Jesus and John the Baptist.) So, it was almost a mirrored image to being a(n Ex-)Baptist. In order to be Baptized you had to pray to Jesus for eternal forgiveness and you were good. You didn't have to prove anything. And it struck a cord with me because children as young as 6 were getting Baptized. And in the eyes of the church that was signing a contract that you would show up and be a member to a church that you were Baptized in. (I did talk about this in another video. I forget which video. But it was about me staying up on a school night because of a meeting) I would like to add to the last story I had told about: Anyone under the age of I think 13 was exempt from going to meetings. I was Baptized at the age of 10 and was exempt until the age of 13 where I was seen as an adult to my church. Luckily I didn't have to go until later but it was still torture. Edit: I would like to add, in my old church, my old Pastor never Baptized a baby. I don't know if it was because it wasn't part of the religion or if it was because the parents weren't members.
Oh man I would have LOVED a "get out of meetings free" card. Woulda been huge. My brother would just always fake sick since it was the only appropriate way to miss a meeting 😅
Man, I wish I was allowed to slam the door on proselytizers. My dad was Mormon so my mom still allows them to come to our house once in a while and preach to/check up on us.
Catholic here. Or, raised so but never forced into it (even my parents are not much into going to the church save for special days). I started watching these videos of yours and Commander Fives in a mix of curiosity and kind of trying to learn the mindset of an old JW friend of mine, but with these videos highlighting things my autistic brain would never have got I'm a mix of watching some trainwrecks and kind of surprised by the contrast with how I was taught. About your questions about baptism in the catholic church, or at least my experiences with it, Yes, you are baptized as a baby, for as children are sinless the Kingdom of God is open for them all, with a godmother and godfather set to be as a second set of parents for if you ever need (hopefully it'll only be an honorary position though). Specifically, I was the godfather of my little sister with an aunt of ours as her godmother. Also, while a priest is expected to do the baptism, and there is kind of a ritual for it, any catholic is allowed to perform someone's last rites so the dead can at least hope to do so at any age. As you age, you also have church classes, but only a few hours a week (can't remember right now if it was once or twice for me as a child), but you are also expected to go to mass at least once a week. I myself did not do it for long, just a year or two, because I kinda was too curious and kept asking about when dinosaurs lived if they are so old, and about fished during the flood, this kind of thing, and so the nuns asked my parents to give me some years of a break until I could be more into a mindset to take it spiritually or something. I'm... not much of a churchgoer still, to be honest. Anyway, when you are in your teens you take more specific classes, and going to mass weekly is more of a requirement, if you are going for your First Communion. From then on you can join the line on masses, and is thus considered a catholic "for real". You are expected to confess your sins to the priest not too long before your next communion, as it is a ritualistic repeat of the Last Supper where the apostles ate bread and drank wine blessed by Christ as if his own flesh and blood, thus putting you closer to him. But catholicism, as far as I was taught at least, is more about accepting people (even if trying to guide them to be good people), and confessing and repenting for your sins. As long as you confess and repent, including accepting your due punishment (most of the times saying a set number of prayers), Jesus would forgive you. Helping others IS better, of course.
The place where I buy games is up the street from a Kingdom Hall, which I pass on the way to the Light Rail Transit system. One day, I passed when a number of the members were performing work outside, painting the rails, that sort of thing. It included several younger ones... who I'm guessing would have rather been anywhere else. And were not being paid for it.
As a former Episcopalian, I can confirm the Confirmation. Baptism, for centuries, was a way of ensuring continued parental care of children should the parents die, which happened a lot. When a Catholic (or associated sects) baby is baptized, there are adults who step up to be their Godparents and promise to take the children in if something happens to the children. Confirmation comes when you're older and feel you're ready to commit. There's no age limit to baptism or confirmation in this case. I've seen adults baptized in my old church.
I was raised by a methodist minister (my mum) and a church of england vicar (my dad) for my whole life and was confirmed in the church of england just before my 10th birthday. My dad used to talk a lot about the other servers at his old churches so I thought he’d like me more if I was confirmed and a server. In the church of england, you’re supposed to have MONTHS of lessons talking about religion and working out if it’s the right thing for you, but my dad forgot to actually give me them so I didn’t do any of that. I was 100% unable to fully understand it, especially as a 9 year old autistic. I wasn’t even able to tell the person doing the confirmation that I didn’t want to drink the alcohol, I had to get my dad to. Having a confirmation seems like a great idea BUT ONLY IF SOMEONE IS AN ADULT THAT FULLY UNDERSTANDS IT.
I also had religious OCD and periods of spiritual psychosis where I thought I was a terrible person and was going to hell. If churches are going to have children there in the main service, they need to make the services appropriate. Otherwise it can have such a bad impact on the child’s relationship with religion and their mental health/development in general.
Yeah religious leaders are not great selections for child care support I'm finding more and more. It's basically authoritarianism based parenting with a magical realism component
In Denmark we got confirmations (lutheran). The fun part about that is that Danes aren't very religious but church traditions are very culturally ingrained
I know it can differ depending on the branch- but as someone who was raised Roman Catholic there was a lot of rigorous education around the sacramental process. Once you accept the Eucharist you are seen as being able to accept the spiritual responsibility of going to church (if you’re younger than this- I believe I was 8, you’re allowed to sleep or not pay attention etc- after that there’s a lot of emphasis on being a participant in the church and holidays). Once this process has taken place, you go to “Sunday school” (tho the actual day can depends on the church. I actually went to my classes from the time I was in like, 2nd grade all the way through to my confirmation in 8th grade. Every Thursday night for two hours every week- with exams and everything). Then before your confirmation you choose a saints name that you identify with and wish to embody the teachings of (mine was St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music and the arts) that becomes your “confirmation name” and it’s how you’re addressed in the church and on paper (my mom actually was born without a middle name so her confirmation name became her legal middle name). At this point getting confirmed means you have passed your classes and you’ve been educated on the values of Catholicism and what it means to be a catholic- and you’re ready to be seen as an official member of the church, you also can’t get confirmed without a sponsor (someone who vouches that you’re a worthy asset to the church) To take it a step further - your confirmation certificate with your new name, is entered into the sacramental records of the diocese (the larger group of churches overseen by the bishop)
Will this is to insure you are serious. Don’t forget we live in a country that values freedom of religion. When Catholicism first started they didn’t have luxury of being able to practice their faith freely. Even today many Christians are killed for their beliefs. Jesus said “ if you deny me, I will deny you”. Meaning if someone points a gun to your head and tells you to deny God, you shouldn’t deny him and take the bullet. This also goes for the lest extremes such as if a job makes you do things that are considered sinful like wearing a “pride pin”. It has to be thorough because this is you life and your immortal soul. It isn’t some silly vapid tradition that sadly most people treat it as. Even when people become Catholic at an adult age one has to take about three to four years of Catholic education, because it has to be an educated choice. Believe it or not Catholics really push reasoning. Read some St Thomas Aquinas (spelling may be off) he liked to use steel man objection to prove the faith.
I'm Catholic, as everyone said the Confirmation is about what you said, but at least in my Church I think I was 16 or 17 when I went through Confirmation classes. There is a point when you're 10-12 where you can start taking Communion and they prepare you for that, but otherwise it's definitely as you said "you get Baptized as a baby or toddler so you can go to heaven in case of the worst". Which is probably a practice, despite any concerning social elements, born out of necessity from back when child death was a lot more common and people had way more kids. You know like how the homophobia of Christianity is based out of Old Testament concepts from when the Jews were lost in the middle of the desert for 40 years.
To add to the bit about if Sofia's mother fully believing her daughter will be destroyed if she's not baptized: Absolutely. When I came out to my family and got on track for gender-affirming surgery I was emotionally guilted in every way possible. While my mother partially was upset because it reflects badly on the family, her biggest issue was that I won't be there with her in Paradise. I'm still trying to work through the guilt of causing my family pain; I luckily wasn't baptized and am so grateful every day for that (the added trauma of my family being forced to shun me would have been horrendous). It definitely is performative, I remember disassociating from my body every time I had to play my assigned gender role. I also remember being ticked that I was banned from doing certain things just because of how I was born. People were treated differently based on their gender. Misogyny was rampant. Going to therapy had a stigma where I'm from, most people felt like you could pray your depression away. There's so much I have to unlearn yet, certain mindsets that genuinely make me struggle when it comes to forming relationships with people and accepting that I am enough just as I am (even after being baptized you're still taught to believe that you're not good enough, that you can always be better). I wasn't even born into the religion but the first time I watched one of these videos I was shaking afterward; I felt like I had committed a massive no-no even though I didn't want to affiliate with them anymore. Questioning anything is a massively frowned upon practice and I feel silly for not looking at the other side of it sooner. I'm glad my family finds fulfillment and peace by doing what they're doing, I really am. My mother has made many good friends and finally has a sense of belonging to something greater/a purpose. I fully respect that for her. But at the same time I wish that respect went both ways sometimes. Anyways that's my rant, needed to get that off my chest. Keep on keeping on .
Hey, glad that we could provide a space for you to share your story. I was "lucky" enough to be born in with the right set of "equipment" and even then it was a mess, so I couldn't even begin to fathom how hard it was for you. Glad you've made it out and have aleast a little space to heal 💙
i’m so so so glad you were never baptized! it’s sounds like things were awful enough without completely loosing everything and everyone you knew. how are things going now, if you don’t mind me asking?
Yeah kids don't *normally* get to do carts. We didn't have those back in my day, we did "street witnessing" which was like the primitive version of cart witnessing, but only pioneers and elders were allowed to do that. And some MS
I have the greatest story about my JW baptism! I was 11yrs old and my MOM wanted me to get baptized she was soooo worried that if I didn't I would die at Armageddon and it was any day now. We had to answer ALL those questions and I have had ADHD my whole life so it's hard for me to sit and pay attention so I had a hard time with the 80 or whatever it was questions. So my Mom being desperate she wrote the answers to all the questions as small as she could and instead of teaching me the answers she taught me over and over how to READ the answers look up at the Elders use hand gestures etc... LMAO so I cheated, my Mom taught me how to lie and deceive in order to get baptized. I don't think my mother quite understood the whole concept of Baptism because I don't think God would be to happy that I lied my way into it👍😋
Lol the fact that God needed you to be held underwater in the first place just to remember NOT to murder the little girl during his global genocide is pretty silly within of itself, so your Mom skirting the requirements a little bit actually makes a degree of sense.
Even as an adult, I find the door-to-door thing uncomfortable, my Lord. I had to do it at a Seventh-Day Adventist school, even though I’m not Adventist.
Yeah, going to someone's home, on a day off, early in the morning, to tell them that they're going to die unless they join your club? I'm surprised we saw what little success we had in the ministry, really looking back at it now.
We went during a school day. I was at least with a teacher I really liked and fortunately we didn’t hand out much literature. I think it was just a pamphlet, but not one of the scary ones.
@@DarthMagog im not sure if we all do it, but WELS Lutherans definitely do. I like to joke that it's cause we're the original protestants before it became cool, so we still have quite a few things in common with Catholicism
Cradle Catholic. We do confirmation, even get to choose our own Saint based on the characteristics we already do/want to see in ourselves. I think the biggest difference, like you’ve said, is how we are welcome and don’t have to work for it. Can be lazy and resented within the congregation but you still belong, but you can be kind and courteous which will make you revered in the eyes of your peers. We have considerably more freedom. Main difference between us and Protestant Christians is that we can’t just ask for forgiveness, we have to earn it through our actions, but it’s not militant like in JW. It’s also disturbing how JW can’t be friends with people who aren’t just like them. I have many friends who live their lives in ways I don’t agree with, but I accept them for the people they are. I don’t have to engage in activities with them but it’s important to have that mutual love and respect.
Others have explained confirmation for the most part, but one thing I will note that might be of interest is that priests do not hold confirmations, they are held by bishops (the next step up) so they are usually arranged in conjunction with the entire diocese. Another thing that might be worth noting is that infant baptism is also the source of godparents in Christianity, who promise to support the child's spiritual journey and to become the child's guardians if the child is orphaned at an age where they need the role. It is believed in many sects of Christianity that those who are not baptised will go to Purgatory so infant baptism was largely due to the high infant mortality rate of history. If you overlap society's problems you can see the patterns emerge.
Ah that makes sense. Yeah I notice religion seems to always have a "fix" for a lot of modern problems (modern at the time) that just turn back into traditions later. Also didn't know that Bishops did the baptisms. That's like a Circuit Overseer doing a JW Baptism personally. Very interesting...
@@DarthMagog Baptisms are done by priests, confirmations are done by bishops. I did feel thinking about it that the confirmation is closer to a JW idea of a baptism because it's a diocese wide ceremony. Of course, instead of dunking in water, the bishop simply rests his hands on the person's head and then follows it with an anointing using oil. Incidentally, babies born out of wedlock were not allowed to be baptised back in the day, and those who are not baptised are not allowed to be buried in the church's graveyard when they die, so it was hung over people's heads in the past.
Ok so this kinda reminds me of an experience i had with a classmate in 5th grade who was temporarily in my class (iirc she had some disabilities and maybe went into homeschool or something or had medical issues) but her family was very mormon and when we became friends she would often at lunch start talking to me (who was already Christian/Baptist, sorta) about the importance accepting Jesus (which I'd already done) or straight up converting to mormonism because she didn't want me to go to hell. I remember sitting there uncomfortable like "i just wanna talk about Pokemon" (yanno because I was like 11).We also once had a sleepover which was during a church even so she brought me along to her church which was kinda awkward and half guilty bc i partly felt I wasn't supposed to be there. Because I *wasn't mormon* Anyway like I said she dropped out of my class later and I hold no ill will toward the girl but i look back and kinda.... feel almost bad for her i guess that maybe she was being so deeply indocterinated that she didn't get to just be a child Like I have my issues with things i learned from the church and all but.... at the very least I was lucky enough to have parents who were understanding of letting me and my siblings just... be children. They didn't even ban us from Halloween like a large number of families who we went to church with did. My gosh you don't need to be and shouldn't be filling your kids with this fear of the end times so much that they're not allowed to just have kid time.
also we were like Carolina flavor southern baptist and the major church i remember going to actually had a lot of pretty fun activities and I will admit I did have a good time and appreciated some of the things the youth program would allow us to do. I don't know how common that is in churches depending on the type. But sometimes Youth was .. kinda almost like a kinda religious flavored social group a lot of times.
My Pepe (Great Grandpa) was born in 1895, and, I think that he had his First Holy Communion and Confirmation together, I think that he was 13 years old, which would make it 1908, but, unlike in the photo of Sophia’s mom, my Pepe wore a suit (that was popular for boys at the time, and, no doubt, a present from his aunts) , and a ribbon on his arm to show that it was a Religious Ceremony. The jws who were showed getting baptized were dressed very informal.
That or the transfer between technically being Special Forces to being part of the regular military. Gotta ask the Emperor the next time we have a staff meeting.
@@DarthMagog Lord Magog I'm confused. Does a Commanders advancement not carry between duty stations. From my own military experience a Lieutenant Commander who becomes SF EoD is made a Commander upon his promotion just the same. The Empire needs to figure its forms out. Respectfully as I can say so, of course. He made Grand Admiral. Branch change or not, he should wear his due rank.
Because by Imperial Law there can only be twelve at a time and unless this LARP is taking place during the Heir to the Empire books there's already twelve.
@@DarthMagog Actually after the failed coup by Admiral Demetrius Zaarin there is an opening for a new Grand Admiral. Update: Never mind. the job was given to Thrawn.
I was born into a Catholic family and baptized when I was only a few months old, which is kind of messed up. At the same time, I actually started reading the Bible, decided I didn't want anything to do with that mess, and left the religion when I was 13 and my family, while disappointed, otherwise took it in stride and didn't let it affect our relationship. I strongly doubt JWs would be so open-minded if a child in their family abandoned the faith.
Hi Lord Magog I will second other comments from Catholics about confirmation but before we are confirmed as teenagers, as children we get first communion I must have been in the second grade around spring 2002 and I went to public school so my parents enrolled me in CCD, I remember during first communion practice they gave out wafer like candies and grape juice as the body and blood of Jesus. I also got alter/stage fright from reading one of the lord here our prayers. I was a very shy kiddo back then. I had to wear a white dress and a white veil and I had a First Communion party after my event. I remember the Eucharist host tasting like cardboard.
Each congregation gets their territories. A lot of small towns are attached to congregations in larger areas. We had some small rural towns that we'd preach in, despite having plenty of suburban area in our own city to cover.
Greetings to the Dark Lord of the Apostates and his trusty commander. I’ve got a question that isn’t strictly apeaking relevant to Caleb and Sophia, but anyway: I’m a never-JW who for reasons I can’t fully articulate got interested in the Ex-JW movement. Recently, I moved into an apartment that just so happens to be across the street from a Kingdom Hall, so all of a sudden I see witnesses all the time, and I can’t stop thinking about them and whether some of them are silently suffering. Do you have any advice for an outsider as to how to deal with witnesses? Anything I can do to encourage secret PIMOs? Or just some basic acts of kindness from a worldly person that someone stuck inside might appreciate?
Hey there Ellinor, great question. As far as "dealing" with them, if they ever come to your door you can just tell them to put you on the "do not call" list and they'll leave you be, at least for the next decade anyway. As far as general kindness, just treating them like normal human beings is more than fine. The religion loves to tell us that there's no genuine love or kindness in the world, so showing them the opposite is more than encouraging.
@@DarthMagog"You can tell a man all day he's wrong. He'll call you a damned idiot. But show him, really show him, make him see... He'll come around, or he'll shut you off. Either way, you win." -My friend and mentor Ol' Sam Hopkins.
Why... Why must we suffer... Gosh I need a mop. Take multiple things i said about the visuals of these moving pictures called a video. "How are these kids backs not hurting?" "HOW TALL IS KALEB" "His eyes to me are literally saying 'HELP ME'" "
There are videos someone made about the harrowing adventures of adult Caleb and Sophia. The sound quality is iffy (like I can criticize others on that score), but the story is interesting. Could you review/react to those some time? They are largely similar, so just picking any one would be enough.
Been considering it, I've seen a couple variations made. I feel like most of the commentary is just what I'd say, but I betcha Fives might have a different perspective.
i was raised non denominational christian (with a twinge of evangelical and southern baptist). i was baptised as a child once i was old enough to understand what it meant, but really i had always had doubts about religion. i clung to faith as a coping mechanism for my severe anxiety, so i got baptised as my own choice in an attempt to reaffirm my own belief and salvation. when i got older and became more introspective and self-aware, i stopped going to church. thankfully my parents arent control freaks and have never forced religion onto me, and while half my family is christian, the other half is mainly athiest or agnostic (plus one jw but we dont speak to her lol).
As much as I don’t care to be disrupted in going about my day, it seems like there are Witnesses "Going in Service" through my neighborhood most days. Which is rather odd, considering most of the properties around here are typically larger pastures or hobby ranches, small-timers raising a few bantha or eopies. My wife and I rent a semi-detached apartment on one of these parcels, and even though the homeowner has repeatedly warned Witnesses against heckling us tenants, they still come. Make no mistake, I send them away every time, but I will offer them sealed bottles of cold water or some form of acceptable beverage to take on their way. Wearing full formal suits in the heat and humidity here is no joke. Especially when you're trying to outrun a nest of pissed-off acklay, or a pack of feral massifs.
Oooof, you just brought back from fun memories. We always had to look for vornskr and anubis before we got in, some of the householders had a bad habit of releasing them on unsuspecting JWs.
We actually have confirmation as a huge cultural milestone in Norway. It’s so big that there are non religious alternatives to religious conformation. For example my brother got confirmed via the Humanist Association. Traditionally parents start saving up money for their children when they are born and at around 14-15 when the kid gets confirmed the kid gets all the money that the parents have saved up. Usually it’s in savings they can’t access til they are 18, but still they have a chunk of money that is indisputably theirs that they can depend on when they go off to college and stuff. Usual sums are like the equivalent of 5,000 dollars or thereabout. And gifting may include a Norwegian national costume (bunad). But yeah it’s cultural rather than religious.
@@DarthMagog Yes. That's exactly what it is. And it's traditionally set during May which is around the same time as our Constitution day (May 17th) which kind of synergises with the whole festive atmosphere.
Just a little bit of knowledge, when it comes to baptizing infants, in the Presbyterian Church anyway, the baptism is for the parents of the child. They are pledging to bring up the child in the church and according to its teachings. It is their burden to carry if the child sins and it continues to be their responsibility until the child joins the church, usually in high school. So the baptism isn't for the baby, it's for the parents.
My niece just got baptized, she's 8. No crazy congregation or anything- just your normal small town Baptists. But, while I'm happy she's happy with it, I never really bought into kids younger than 10 or 11 taking the dip. It's in the same vein of pre-teens doing the purity/promise rings spiel.
Yeah it's pretty wild some of the stuff we see. Eight is just barely old enough to be able to manage themselves to a degree, and not without adult supervision.
I grew up church of christ, the whole idea of "you will be rejected and this is a good thing" is so prevelant there too. Theres also this culture around "turn the other cheek" and it makes young people so vunrable to abuse, not only from their family members, but their employers and coworkers (if they have a job). Homeschooling isnt a requirement, but it is highly encouraged. If you dont homeschool your kids, you and your family will be ostricized and isolated from the rest of the group. They also do child baptisms, but they believe that babies and toddlers are covered by god, the confirmation IS the baptism. Children really dont know what theyre signing up for when they do get baptized, and according to coc, baptism is a permenant decision. Apostacy can never be redeemed ever. Its awful.
Also I have a question, if you were out door knocking, what would the ministers tell you to do if you were invited in gave your presentation and all that and then the person who invited you said "Btw, I'm a disfellowshipped ex JW! You just committed a sin by talking to me!"?
The title made me think of a book I read as a teen, about a JWs in 90s Germany, it's been ages since I read it, so don't remember much. Main character is named Hannah, I guess she and her family could be described as standard "believing/non-practicing" roman catholics, she is a single child and has mom and dad. Around age four to six something happens to her mom (I assume either cancer or road accident), dad becomes apathetic, some time later he meets a woman who is a JW, they marry, all convert, I think she might have half siblings because of it? Her first JW shock was when she just got generic "pray for Jehovah's blessing" birthday wishes at age 9 and her surprise she isn't getting cake, presents, party. Dunno, but there was a scene describing her "baptism", and end of the book told how her father at the age of 50 fell ill and needed blood transfusion, which he of course refused, and died. Lord Magog: "...you record all the time you spend the door knocking, and speaking to people and writing letters. And that's all turnrd into the Kingdom Hall Elders at the end of the month" Oh so there's more to that standing on the streets in busy areas. "That's why we get baptized in public" Eh? In the book Hannah was pushed underwater in some well-like thing that I think was located in the Kingdom Hall. I do agree that she wasn't baptized alone but with few other kids (and I say kids cuz she was baptized when she was like, 10-13 years old).
Ah yeah that sounds about right. They do them at their Conventions. So the big meeting and assembly halls "publicly" in front of the congregation and any visitors. Also if you have the title of that book, I'd love to read it 👀
@@DarthMagog YEESH I forgot, but I got it. Author is Jana Frey, book was translated into Polish as "Chłód od raju", translated back into English would sound something like "A chill from the heavens".
Sadly, you do have to be "approved," to go in the "ministry," just like the Ethiopian Eunuch who famously asked "What prevents me from getting baptized [and telling others about Jehovah]?" And Phillip the Evangelizer famously tells him "repeat the pre-approved answers to standardized questions to a group of local men and then you can get baptized and preach."
@@DarthMagog yup. They insert the organization between you and God. You aren't allowed to have your own relationship with God or explore science on your own. Everything is a precooked answer to every question in life. You take comfort in that, and so does every single person in your sphere.
The whole unbaptized people instantly going to purgatory isn’t really a believed thing in the Roman Catholic Church. I mean, the Nicene Creed says “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin. “ , but, most Roman Catholics don’t believe that only people who are baptized as Roman Catholic will go to Heaven. Although, in the 1940s, a 13 year old boy who was possessed for about a month after he used a spirit board got baptized as a Roman Catholic during the time that he had the Exorcisms. Though, in my opinion, I prefer Roman Catholic Baptisms over JW Baptisms because Roman Catholic Baptisms have more formal wear, and, with Roman Catholic Baptisms, there’s special Baptismal gowns and Baptismal bonnets and Baptismal bibs which both girls and boys wear, and, the Baptismal gowns and bonnets and bibs can be family heirlooms.
I happen to have a Christian Standard Bible because my brother thought it would make me a better Christian. It hasn't. Let's hear abridged versions of the Bible stories referenced in these Caleb & Sophia episodes! Matthew 21:16 is part of a brief story about Jesus doing what he usually does, like getting the Pharisees mad at him. Despite this, the children praise him. Jesus just turns around to the Pharisees and says, "They like me; why don't you?" Owned with facts and logic. Acts 16: 32-33 is about Paul and Silas getting a jailbreak thanks to an earthquake. Guard comes in, freaks out and tries to kill himself. Paul says, "Daddy, chill, we're still here!" Dude escorts the prisoners to freedom and asks how to be saved. Paul says, "Jesus." Whole family gets baptized that night. And then everyone clapped. Galatians 6:9 (nice) isn't actually a Bible story; it's a section of an Epistle, so an explicit teaching instead of a teachable moment. It's about shouldering each others' burdens because it'll pay off in Heaven. Verse 9 is about not tiring because of said heavenly reward. So, finally, a verse that's directly about the episode topic! I just wish it wasn’t. That was a lot of work for a long comment that won't look good on mobile. Eh.
Luckily for you, I'm answering comments on the main viewing screen :) Also thanks for making the abridged versions, I always forget to reference the scriptures (I guess that's an artifact of my JW training, very telling lol)
The Acts verse is heavily a thing of the guard knowing that if the prisoners in his charge escaped, he's going to end up dead in a likely very painful way due to how romans tended to do executions. He would be very, very grateful that he and several others would be dead...especially when Paul and Silas could have easily waltzed out of the area and nothing would have happened to them for it there
Some have no problem being mean to kids. I went to a door when I was six, and the woman opened the door on purpose to let her three, angry and growling German shepherd chase me back to the car. It wasn't until I was in my 30s that I got over a phobia of that specific breed.
I disagree with Five at that last bit. He is correct that Caleb is not a fan of Cheetos boy, and I’d even say he is correct that Cheetos bot isn’t going to wish to learn about Jehovah. But I feel that’s kind of a win for Caleb, doubly. Number one, since Cheetos boy isn’t going to watch it, Caleb doesn’t have to spend any more time with his ass. That’s a win. Secondly, if the boy doesn’t join the fold then, in Caleb’s tiny, indoctrinated brain, Cheetos boy isn’t invited to paradise. So Caleb gets to personally turn him to dust beneath their feet and go to paradise without that little mofo bc at least he tried to tell him. That’s a HUGE win.
You know, you'd figure that. But at least in my experience it tends to make it worse. You feel like you've failed, desperately running around the neighborhood, pleading with people, because you've "literally" got the answer to life, the universe and everything, and no one is listening. And if you don't go, or don't try hard enough, it's your fault that they died. Very rarely does it get put on the householder that closed the door. At least that's just me spitballing while I stroll down memory lane.
@@DarthMagog that’s even worse. I hoped at least if it was someone who was awful to you, you’d get a moment of “well good, I didnt want your ass in paradise anyway” But if you think you’re the one who is responsible for getting everyone over to paradise, even that dick Cheetos boy… yeah. Just more trauma. Stupid ass religion, not even letting you gloat over the dust of your enemies.
The emotions are 10 times more wild. You get tired faster, upset faster, get angry, because you're so convinced you're saving people and they're being stupid on purpose. No amount of preparation actually makes it any better. Worst part is, you feel terrible that you're not conducting a Bible Study.
Most kids can't either admittedly. And they're typically punished if they lose interest or fall asleep. And that's not including the 3 days of 8 hour talks at District conventions
I thought the door to door video had the instructions on how to dress, 'tight pants, but not TOO tight'. Or was that another one? I had to sell chocolate bars door to door for our Christian school,, but at least most people wanted to buy those. You did get the occasional 'what does god need money for?' or along those lines. And you could always buy the bars yourself.
My Lord. Some interesting news. If you recall I had nominated the local Kingdom Hall as a Pokestop for the game Pokemon Go.
Well. It has now become a Pokegym. Which is a big deal. Now even more people show up to battle. Those running it were furious but can't do anything as long as the players don't go on the property. So we all stand across the street in the back parking lot of a supermarket.
One of the players got a hold of a huge number of Chick tracts (remember those) against the Witnesses. So when some of the members come over to criticize or convert, he hands them that tract.
It's hilarious. They react like a vampire before the sun. I'll continue to update my Lord.
Your loyal Antipaladin.
HAHA! That just made my day, pinning the f*ck out of this comment!
Sadly, they can ask Niantic to remove the stop, they will probably figure that out eventually. I’ve seen a few churches here and there over the years do it, 2 cemeteries too.
But until they do…. Dude! Awesome!!!!
And... I'm gonna go on a trip in my spaceship.
This is awesome!
I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THIS. THIS IS HILARIOUS!
Speaking as someone raised Methodist, we also have confirmation. I got baptised when I was maybe like 7, but it's normal for babies and toddlers to be baptised. Once you turn 12 you can enter the confirmation process. Basically it's going to classes on Christianity and "soul searching" and at the end of the process you are confirmed in front of the congregation and become an actual member of the church. Because at 12 you are considered an adult in the eyes of the church.
12 being concerned an adult is scary, especially when you consider ... what happens,🤮
That is a LOT of adult responsibility to put on a middle schooler.
Not cool. 12 YRS old is too young. Personally, the baptism wouldn’t bother me so much as long as the confirmation was left up to the individual at age 18 & up.
Also a confirmed Methodist here. I was definitely in NO WAY ready or had any real ability to "soul search". All I knew was what was expected of me and what my parents wanted. Over the years since reaching *actual* adulthood, I've decided to go my own way and find my own approach to spirituality. Since my brain fully developed and I've had a child of my own, I won't be getting them baptized, or take them to a church. I firmly believe that church is not a place for children, regardless of their parents' belief system.
@@DarthMagog I know that my soul searching included a lot of punk music, Pokemon, and teen angst of fitting in. Definitely the time to plan out the rest of my life lol. The pastor who ran mine was one I was cool with, but it did feel a lot like just testing our knowledge of bible stories and "if a then b"
I remember getting baptised when I was 12 as a Presbyterian and immediately after words I started doubting if I was saved and it scared me I thought my parents would think I had lied,they gave me a new bible I could take communion and I was scared. And here I am now no longer in the church my whole family is deconstructing together and it is such a relief.
Yeah that's the age where you really start being able to reason and think critically, I'm glad your family understands and supports you.
I was in a very similar boat. I would later be diagnosed with religious-type OCD, or "scrupulosity".
My mother remarried when I was eight, his family was really religious, and although he initially had no problem with us not being religious, eventually, we were pressured into joining a church and at nine, I was forced to be baptized in order to truly be accepted.
It was an extremely weird and humiliating ordeal, the entire church was present during this to witness a child being made to do something against their will, but they all lined up afterwards to touch me; a man I didn’t know literally grabbed my hand and kissed the palm without my consent, and I couldn’t do or say anything about it. It certainly made me uncomfortable.
And then I had to join this girl group the church had, and that’s another story.
The demand placed on kids by religion is pretty unreal if you ask me. You have to get entirely involved in something you don't entirely understand, and if you're anything less than zealous, it's a problem.
@@DarthMagog I mean, i'm an ex christian who lives in a christian house. I was baptized at like 7. I'm forced into this life. I can't wait until i'm out of the house at 18(i'm a minor still so i have to go to church and stuff)
Grew up spending summer with JW grandma, the level of shame that adults put on actual children for being tired, or dejected after constantly getting slammed and walking around on your day off in stiff clothes…. Jfc… They treated us like we were being genuinely selfish and bad people, and like showing that we were tired was in itself a disrespect to Jehovah
That is exactly how they see it. They see it as "life saving work" and if you don't participate then you're "blood guilty" so to speak. Like, if they're killed at Armageddon because you took a day off from field service, then that blood is on your hands. It's pretty gross.
@@DarthMagogThis is legitimately a form of emotional abuse. It is NOT AT ALL okay to tell a child this, as it can cause lifelong problems for them. It doesn't matter if you believe in God. It's still wrong to tell children that they're "blood-guilty" if they don't go preaching. 😬😬😬
18:10 I was thirteen when I got baptized. When I started falling away from being a Southern Baptist, my mom was pretty hard and disappointed in me because of it. People can change their minds, especially preteens/young teenagers. She was disappointed in me because I wasn't being fully committed to it but being holier than thou towards her, my sister and the rest of my family.
It's a hard adjustment, and religion doesn't do well when people discover more about themselves and become comfortable. At least not most religion. There are churches out there that are a little more "come as you are" and I think that's plenty healthy imo.
I was relatively late into the Unbaptized Publisher scene, becoming one after I turned 16 due to my long term fear of public speaking, and I remember the dread I felt once the questioning would begin by the Elders for approval. I became a Publisher because the congregation members (especially the Elders' wives) wouldn't leave me alone and kept asking when I'd become a Publisher or get baptized. I did it out of duty, because it was what was expected of me by my parents and the congregation. But in no way would I have done so if I knew then what I do now...
Hindsight is always 20-20, and cultural pressure is a powerful tool. I know you regret the path, but you shouldn't feel ashamed. You were a literal child just trying to survive, you've done no wrong.
@@DarthMagog Thank you, Darth Magog. That means alot. I got baptized when I was 22 years old and deeply regret that now as well. It's something I worry will be used to guilt trip me later of my "promise" to serve Jehovah if/when I ever become fully POMO.
Unrelated but I think you may have the coolest username I’ve ever read
@@Galvatron759 Oh, thank you if you're referring to me. Lol.
@@alphadragonwolfwarrior6373 Yes I was
my favorite crossover starwars and educational content about cults, love that you give people a place to talk about their experiences
It's mutually beneficial. Sure saves my family and close friends a lot of venting time 😅 jokes aside it's good to have a creative outlet, and if I can help validate a few experiences here and there, then that's just gravy brisket 😁
Yeah, I love it too! It’s very creative!
I was baptized when I was a little kid and the only thing I recall thinking at the time was that some stranger attempted to drown me and my parents couldn't figure out why I was so upset. They really should have known better since I've always had an intense fear of water from a very early age, it wasn't until I was 16 that I could even get myself to dunk my own head underwater and even then I could only do so if I was wearing goggles. I'm still religious but I've never been baptized again, cuz honestly I don't believe that I need to be. My belief in Jesus naturally cleanses me of my sins with my acceptance of his sacrifice and love for me, and I'm sure God can still recognize me as His own even without someone holding my head underwater.
That sounds pretty reasonable to me. There ceremony is purely a man-made thing.
@@DarthMagog That's the reason why I don't go to church despite being religious, well, that and the blatant hypocrisy and cherry picking Biblical passages, and the whole "this is what the Bible says, but this is my personal interpretation of it and I demand you see it that way too."
I don't mean to be rude, but that thing your parents did was pretty tone deaf!
I became a publisher at 12 but didn't get baptized until I was 17.
I knew something wasn't clean in the buttermilk back then. I stalled my baptism because I didn't completely believe that this religion was "the truth" and I also wasn't satisfied with their vision of "the best life ever".
I caved after my parents started laying the pressure on. Adults at the hall would make snide comments or look surprised when I said I wasn't baptized. My mom would pester me about every morning and get angry if I ever pushed back. My dad would start accusing me of having a "weird habit" I'm keeping secret (whatever that means).
So, to keep them off my back I got baptized. That actually nudged me to wake up because I realized just how unhappy I was, how thin my parents live for me was, and how superficial and image based the organization is.
I just wish it didn't take getting dunked to acknowledge and explore my own feelings and opinions.
Hey, don't beat yourself up about it now! When you grow up in a house full of smokers, that second hand smoke takes it's toll ya know? Same with this toxic indoctrination. I'm glad the water opened your eyes. Ironic that it's what got you out of the religion, but we take the wins where we can I suppose. I'm glad you're awake.
The Dark Lord Magog has requested our council
We would be honored, if you would join us :)
@@DarthMagogIt is an honor to join you and Commander Fives for this reaction Lord Magog.
Some years ago I got a visit from a JW man and his son. He was s VERY uncomfortable human being to be near. The child was a sweet boy, who clearly hated every second of the experience. I would too, if I had such an aggressive father.
I ended up telling the boy, that he would always be welcome if he needed to be somewhere, where everything wasn't about Jehovah. Poor child.
Yeah, the over saturation is partially what saved me. Can't do one thing constantly all the time, you burn yourself out
You shall be rewarded.
My best friend in primary school was a JW. I found out the other day (after not seeing her for more than 15 years) that she and her mum and dad are no longer JW’s (which honestly made my day, I was so happy to see that she and her parents were able to get out)!
Yay, got out with the family intact! That's cause for celebration 🍾
Wonderful to see you and Clone Commander 5 again! Great video as usual. I hope your both doing well.
So far so good my friend, glad to be back
@@DarthMagog Great to hear. To try to answer your question about Catholicism and confirmation, I attended a Catholic school so confirmation started in grade 7/8 where we would take classes to learn more about the process and what it meant. Thinking back to it, it's questionable whether or not it was consent when our family and school expected us to go through it. So technically, you become a full Catholic when you're older but whether or not it's a choice is debatable.
As someone raised Catholic, I can confirm that you're baptized as a baby, then go through Confirmation when you're older. I can't remember the exact age, but I was in 8th grade. But I also didn't really feel like I had much of a choice because I wasn't exposed to many other religions. But it also wasn't a "do this or we hate you or you're kicked out" sort of thing. I went to Catholic grade school, so it was just more a "everyone is doing it. Everyone in my family did it (well, my dad joined as an adult because he married my mom. He was Lutheran.) So now it's my turn." I just didn't even really consider trying to join another religion because I was pretty happy as a Catholic at the time. I stopped going to church weekly by high school, and no one had a problem with it. And I still went to mass on big holidays. It's the story of a lot of Catholics. There's a whole story behind why I'm no longer Catholic, and ironically, it had little to nothing to do with the Catholic Church. The scandals with them just cemented in my mind that I made the right choice.
It is so awesome and refreshing to see this video from you, my Lord, Darth Magog! It felt like forever and a day since your last. No criticism, that’s just how much I love this channel, especially with these great rebuttals and analysis of Calsphia videos with your Stormtrooper of child psychology at your side. I believe that both of you do such valuable work!
Glad to be back. They do admittedly take some time to make and we certainly notice the scheduling gaps ourselves, but it's good to see the community is still benefitting from the videos.
It seems like the constant rejection also helps cement the victim mentality and causes the young ones to be more invested in the idea of we all have to stick together against the cruel world of unbelievers. This seems like pretty powerful indoctrination
Yup, that's exactly what we talked about after being ignored at a door or having the door slammed in our face.
I’m so glad that you mentioned that as the older sister she would be the example and she would have to be baptized first. That was a point of contention in my family because my oldest sister did not want to get baptized, but ended up doing it due to peer pressureand our sister wanting to be baptized.
Yeah they love to centralize the blame on children :(
Thank you for the discussion of Baptism. I was raised Southern (ILBP like) Baptist. My spouse was baptised as a Methodist as a baby. I remember being appalled at the whole idea of, but after watching this, I realized I was done the same when the church coerced me to get Baptised at 11, pressuring me into it so they could finally get some new members in. ((We no longer associate with any church at all, and are kids are being raised agnostic!))
Good to hear you and your family are free to choose for yourselves now. Coercion is the worst part of the religion imo. Well, it's in the top 10 for me frankly. Maybe I should do a video with 10 proper reasons I hated being a JW.
I am Anglican and we have confirmation as well. You can choose to do it from about 13 (based on the president of Judaism I think) but a lot of people wait until they’re older. There’s a course you have to do about Christian theology and what being a Christian means.
One major difference I’m seeing between Anglicanism and Jehovah’s Witnesses theologically is how “being saved“ actually works. There is nothing you need to do to be saved as far as Anglicanism is concerned. You are saved by the grace of God, you are explicitly not saved and cannot be saved by what you actually do. Obviously you’re expected to behave in a certain way, but that’s a case of following instructions and examples of Jesus because that’s how you live a good life, not as a mandatory step toward salvation.
I'm not a smoker, but I do enjoy the occasional hand-rolled cigar (never cigarettes). Maybe about once a month. I once had a door-knocking Jehovah's Witness knock on my door. So, I decided to have a little... fun with him. I answered keeping my cigar hidden. I was acting like I was interested and listening to his "good news." I then pulled out my cigar, lit it and took a puff (looking a little like that one skeleton meme). And the look of fucking horror on his face was priceless! Haven't had any JW's knock on my door since.
Efficient JW repellent evidently 😅
As an unbaptized ExJW, I enjoy your insight into the inner workings of the cult, and the care you point behind the statements you make. I didn't really suffer more than the standard, but just thinking about the bad cases makes me unable to envision a future with them.
On a lighter note, I'd love to hear some "channel lore" behind Darth Magog and his role. I could even help design a unique flagship!
OMG I'd love some art of an Apostate-Class Star Destroyer, that'd be so sweet! Glad you enjoyed the video
@@DarthMagog Are there particular design aspects that you would prefer, my Lord, or do the Imperial Shipmasons have your permission to make one from scratch?
Dude! “Unbaptized ExJW”!!!!
I don’t know why I’ve never heard that put in such an obvious way but that’s what I am! I’ve always needed to explain my situation, your way is just so much better! Thank you for that!
Permission Granted Agent Walker :)
@@DarthMagog The working model is complete, Lord Magog. How shall I send to you for approval?
I was baptized into the LDS faith when I was eight. We were also taught Sacrament meeting on Sunday was a renewal of the covenants we made and received at baptism, so it offered some hope. It was impressively stressful, however, to have fear and guilt loom over your head the longer one went without attending.
Besides this, as the eldest in my family, I was expected to be an unerring example in all things. My siblings were watching me, after all. It always felt that if I erred or went astray, I would be murdering their souls.... Or causing them to stumble.
Not to mention any other younglings who were pointed to my family and I as examples. Especially as I went through the entire process. Baptism (padawanship), temple endowments (my knighting ceremony), and a mission.... By most statistics, I should not have fallen to the dark side.
It has been quite a journey to dismantle the teachings and to step away from the temple....
You've done well Lord Erin. A great and powerful Apostate Lord you have become
Can confirm as a "recovering Catholic", while we get baptized as infants we go through confirmation later. Usually around age 16 or so for my diocese (aka district), but it can be done any time you have passed the "age of discretion", about 7. Confirmation is what makes you an "adult" in the church, though that's now how Canon law puts it. It gets into a whole bunch of stuff about receiving the Holy Spirit and attaining a special state of grace. In my diocese the bishop would come around every two years to perform confirmations, so we were in confirmation classes that covered two school years of kids. You get to choose a "confirmation name" as well - no one actually calls you by it, but I believe it's supposed to symbolize the beginning of a new life (kinda like nuns, monks, or popes take new names as well). Mine was Francesca-Rose - for St. Francis of Assisi (known for his love of animals) and St. Rosa (the first woman canonized in the Americas).
In my experience, most of us saw confirmation as graduation from the Catholic church - after all, if we're now old enough to make our own spiritual decisions, we can decide to never come back. The vast majority of the kids in my CCD classes (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, aka Sunday School) never went to church, not even at Christmas or Easter. I think their families just made them go out of tradition. Hilariously enough, I once got in trouble for being late to CCD because mass went long. It was a very, very lengthy homily (aka sermon) that day. So technically our priest was to blame for my tardiness, but I still got in trouble for it.
You also go through First Communion and First Reconciliation/Confession when you're much younger, around 7 or 8. What sins does an 8 year old have to confess? I'm pretty sure nearly all of us used "honor thy father and mother", come to think of it. And what sort of penance would you even give them? Apparently three Hail Marys and an Our Father. Tiny-child-me felt that wasn't enough, so I did a few more. Talk about Catholic guilt.....
Man that is a lot of work for a kid. Makes me think religion just isn't for kids at all.
@@DarthMagog if I had my way, religion wouldn't be for anyone because we'd all realize we don't need large institutions to tell us right from wrong! I've got nothing against individual faith, whether that be in God or in Justice or Human Decency or anything else. But when you start getting people together and giving some power over others, it becomes a mess very quickly.
In the church my Dad took us to after moving to England, first confession is about halfway through the schooling for first communion. In the one we went to before that, which was an English-speaking one in Switzerland, it was first communion one year and the next was first confession. We actually moved not long after my first communion (about 8) so I had to attend the same communion class as my brother until the confessions and was allowed to leave since I had communion already.
Still, a couple of hours of Sunday school and a mass once a week feels like bugger all compared to what a JW kid had to do DX
@@AcanthaDante I'm definitely not arguing that Catholics have it worse. We've all got it bad, and I don't really think there's anything good that comes out of "my suffering was worse than yours"..... but the JWs 100% have it worse than I did.
Really weird that they let you do communion without confession. That's supposed to be "against the rules", because you weren't in a state of grace without confession. But the Catholics are starting to get wishy-washy about the rules around confession, because people really don't like it. Even when I was a kid that still considered themselves Catholic, I thought confession was stupid. If God is everywhere and knows everything, he knows if I'm sorry for my sins and can forgive me himself. I didn't see the necessity for a middle man.
deadass i actually cried when i got confirmed at the Catholic Church bc it was so fucking stressful for me (i was 12)
Former catholic here, my lord! Can confirm about... confirmation. I was confirmed as a young teen. I was sent to a Catholic school as a child and they made a whole deal about it. Religion class taught us what was going to happen and we were taught what to say, when we were going to say it, how we were supposed to respond. I remember it being we had to renew our baptismal vows now that we were able to say them for ourselves which just involved my year level and I saying in loud and proud voices "I renounce them" or "I believe" depending on the question. ("Do you renounce Satan and all his worldly temptations" or "Do you believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth"). And we were supposed to ask a relative to act as our godparent and they had to be a practicing Catholic themselves and would be responsible for our religious upbringing or something.
Ah that makes perfect sense. Thank you Agent Crow!
Good to have you back, My Lord, Commander. Fascinating video once again, especially to someone like me, who was Catholic for some time of her life. But it's fascinating in a train wreck kind of way, where I'm mortified but can't look away. Leaving Catholicism, even surrounded by it from all sides at all times, wasn't really that difficult. I can't imagine how horrible it must be for these poor children who are indoctrinated into a cult from birth, have little to no way out, and if they do find one, they lose everything.
Glad to be back. As for being a JW kid, it's a unique challenge even in more lax households. Being front and center is a nightmare frankly, and I *really* felt bad for the Elder's kids.
In Catholism the progression of those raised in Catholicism is babtism as a baby, First Communion by the age 7 through 9, and Confirmation at the age of 13 or 14 through 15. You are right Confirmation is when the child decides to stay Catholic or leave it. The only difference is they are not excumicated if they leave. We still hold on to our brothers and sisters and pray with them, encourage them, and hopefully they come back.❤
Ah, leaving isn't a shunning offense. I think I can accept this a Catholicism
No, we are heartbroken but we don't shun them. We listen to try to understand and pray for them. I work in a Catholic store, parents talk with me and I tell them "Don't give up on them, give them time. As long as we're patient they will come back as better stronger Christians. The desert years are a tough teacher." The desert years is what I refer to as the atheistic years for me. I didn't want to believe in God in my 20s so I went wild but I came back.❤️
"Of Age" is 13 or so, currently for Catholicism, and it was for me, but it used to be based more on when a bishop could visit your parish. My mom was 8. She'd just had communion and was being asked to confirm a faith that, frankly, we weren't exactly well informed of at 13 (and which didn't end up working for me) . That part still blows my mind, but it WAS the 60's.
Happened to me in the 90's. Instead of making the Bishop come twice a year for communion and confirmation, they combined the two, so second-graders received both at the same time. I barely even remember being told anything about confirmation, either. The whole year was spent focusing on communion (I was in the local Catholic school).
The whole thing still really bothers me. Even from a religious standpoint, a major sacrament was basically hand-waved just cause it was more convenient. I've heard it's not like that anymore, at least.
I had no idea so many (former) Catholics watched the show lol. This has been incredibly informative
Real happy to see y'all back!
Glad to be back!
@DarthMagog we missed you!
Thanks Darth and Commander fives ❤ Good to see you back in our universe, 🏴☠️🗡
Grand Admiral Fives. I will not let this fire die.
Glad to be back Dan
All I can say it is time to Groom Sophia & her brother in the next generation of Cult members rather than want it or not. 😨😢
As always, these videos are so informative. I was not a JW. But I find learning about Jehovah's Witnesses so very interesting. And its so damn depressing how Caleb and Sofia are just being used as pawns in a game they really don't know the rules to which makes these very insidious.
It gets worse on a cosmic scale too, when you realize that JWs are just there to provide volunteer hours for the Watchtower. The power balance in all of these relationships may as well be a straight line going up to Watchtower
I did my Roman Catholic confirmation. It is, as you said, supposed to be like... an actual, self-aware, voluntary thing, as opposed to the baptism that you don't get a say in yada yada.
Maybe there are kids out there who felt 'in control' of their confirmation, but I mostly felt like if I didn't do it I was Horrible. Even though I had started having doubts about this whole church thing, I was terrified that if I didn't say yes to confirmation I'd be... ruining my life, basically. I'd be despised by my family, despised by the church folks, despised by my friends (I was much, much older when I discovered Catholic is not the 'default' religion and that most people weren't, and assumed everyone I knew was Catholic), and then I'd further be ruined in the afterlife and be cast out by God, not allowed in heaven to play with my dog, forced to endure hell, et cetera.
but you know!! totally my choice to be confirmed or not!! as a young teenager I was totally unmanipulated or coerced!!
Yeah cultural pressure doesn't seem to be absent in any relgion I've studied so far. You could make an arguement for bhuddism but I've only read about that as an adult so...
I like how I specifically asked to be notified for this vid, and UA-cam just... refused, I guess?? Anyway, looking forward to it, my lord!
That's UA-cam for you. Glad you still get to watch it :)
I have a question for Commander Fives. Why did the Kaminoans program childhood development and psychology into some clones? Was it so the Republic army could better handle the refugees and orphans the Clone Wars would surely create?
Good question @commanderfives7229 you got this? I vaguely remember something about wanting to deprogram Jedi children after Order 66, but Anakin... let's say made that deprogramming unnecessary...
@@DarthMagog Well, at least the Watchtower didn’t get to those younglings
34 minutes, let’s gooooo!! These are my favorite (series?) videos of your Magog! >:D
They seem to be favorites for all :)
Just finished it, amazing video as usual! ^^
I remember when I'd gotten the call (literal phone call) for catholic confirmation. It was evening, late at night. I still don't know why it was so late. We didn't expect a phone call, so it took me a little while before I could give the answer as I don't like making uninformed decisions. Once I was told what they meant with confirmation, I could not have made an easier choice. Never have I made a major life decision so easily.
So that is the last time I ever had to deal with the church for my sake.
Honestly, the only reason I even got baptised and did my first communion in the first place was the family on the Irish side. It's just something you do. You do baptism and first communion, that's all. Only times I've ever been to church for myself.
In general while I have had contact with things that are technically religious (Think christian school), I've hardly actually come into contact with religion. So much so that when I was a kid I actually forgot that the school I was in was a christian school, during GODSDIENST even (Godsdienst literally translates as god service. It is actually just education into different religions and life-philosophies, such as Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Humanism, etc.).
18:36- i literally had to pause the video to go down a 30ish minute rabbit hole into childhood memories because I recognized that cover. I HAD THAT BOOK AS A CHILD. No, I was not JW- my whole family was raised Protestant (Methodist) after my parents (who did not belong to a church) liked the minister who married them so much they joined that church. Upon asking my mom, she said she didn't buy that book, it was given to her. As for who gave it to her, I WONDER WHO...
You know I've been hearing that a lot lately. I think when it was published in the 70s, a lot of them got placed in the door to door work, and they got used on the children of those young adults they were placed with later in the 90s and 00s. It's interesting to see.
New Magog video yay! Informative as always, but it was a little sad how Commander Fives yearned for a happy ending, no matter how sappy, to break the monotony of these kids being inculcated so many toxic stuff. Wish there was a heretical ending where they grow up and work through their trauma
Maybe someday the animators will wake up and make us one.
2:53 in my headcanon, Caleb lost his best friend on the episode when his Mom Made him toss the wizard toy he borrowed. "His friends" at school or not friends at school are their customers to get into their religion since they don't believe in celebrating their birthday, another reason why he doesn't have real friends.
The sad part is, at his age, it's the easiest time he'd have making friends and where he'd learn how to socialize properly. Shared interest is key in a number of relationships, those parents are really stunting that boy's growth.
A genuine comment out of character: I actually *like* having young ones evaluate their day. If they learn early to set themselves goals and evaluate ways they can adapt their own dealings with the world to reach them, then they can be better equipped for adult life where schedules, checklists and evaluations become common by necessity. But we should tell kids to be their own auditors, and seek help to shore up places they think they're lacking, figure out how and why they think and feel the way they do. We as adults should foster further development, not set arbitrary quotas and hand out grades that are entirely pass/fail. From my own experience: I had my niece start journaling. In the morning: Today I want to... In the eveing: Today I... and I allowed all the time in between for her to figure out all the thoughts and emotions that led to her decision making. And I and her mother hear out what she has to say, make it make sense from a "grown" perspective, and approach tomorrow with fresh eyes and determination. I would never dream of making that girl feel ashamed for not doing what a book and a slip of paper tells her just the way it says. I also know my sister would drown me in lead if I did. But that's because we're adults (and crazy, according to the rest of our God Fearing family.) So take it as you may.
Actually I quite like that. It's nice for kids to have some autonomy.
@@DarthMagog Millie and Lily both lay out their journals in the morning before breakfast, but they don't tell us parents about it. After dinner we get together and put down our thoughts. Then they go off on their own and do their journaling. If they have any questions they come to us old folks. (Us old time fucks, my mentor always said.) But you get it?
@@DarthMagog Now in character APPOINT FIVES GRAND ADMIRAL ALREADY! The Emperor is (respectfully as I can be) too slow.
The Baptism section really struck a cord with me. I grew up Baptist (Its the one that follow the teachings of Jesus and John the Baptist.) So, it was almost a mirrored image to being a(n Ex-)Baptist. In order to be Baptized you had to pray to Jesus for eternal forgiveness and you were good. You didn't have to prove anything. And it struck a cord with me because children as young as 6 were getting Baptized. And in the eyes of the church that was signing a contract that you would show up and be a member to a church that you were Baptized in. (I did talk about this in another video. I forget which video. But it was about me staying up on a school night because of a meeting) I would like to add to the last story I had told about: Anyone under the age of I think 13 was exempt from going to meetings. I was Baptized at the age of 10 and was exempt until the age of 13 where I was seen as an adult to my church. Luckily I didn't have to go until later but it was still torture.
Edit: I would like to add, in my old church, my old Pastor never Baptized a baby. I don't know if it was because it wasn't part of the religion or if it was because the parents weren't members.
Oh man I would have LOVED a "get out of meetings free" card. Woulda been huge. My brother would just always fake sick since it was the only appropriate way to miss a meeting 😅
Man, I wish I was allowed to slam the door on proselytizers. My dad was Mormon so my mom still allows them to come to our house once in a while and preach to/check up on us.
Lol I'm sure they just appreciate being able to get in out of the sun
Catholic here. Or, raised so but never forced into it (even my parents are not much into going to the church save for special days).
I started watching these videos of yours and Commander Fives in a mix of curiosity and kind of trying to learn the mindset of an old JW friend of mine, but with these videos highlighting things my autistic brain would never have got I'm a mix of watching some trainwrecks and kind of surprised by the contrast with how I was taught.
About your questions about baptism in the catholic church, or at least my experiences with it,
Yes, you are baptized as a baby, for as children are sinless the Kingdom of God is open for them all, with a godmother and godfather set to be as a second set of parents for if you ever need (hopefully it'll only be an honorary position though). Specifically, I was the godfather of my little sister with an aunt of ours as her godmother.
Also, while a priest is expected to do the baptism, and there is kind of a ritual for it, any catholic is allowed to perform someone's last rites so the dead can at least hope to do so at any age.
As you age, you also have church classes, but only a few hours a week (can't remember right now if it was once or twice for me as a child), but you are also expected to go to mass at least once a week.
I myself did not do it for long, just a year or two, because I kinda was too curious and kept asking about when dinosaurs lived if they are so old, and about fished during the flood, this kind of thing, and so the nuns asked my parents to give me some years of a break until I could be more into a mindset to take it spiritually or something. I'm... not much of a churchgoer still, to be honest.
Anyway, when you are in your teens you take more specific classes, and going to mass weekly is more of a requirement, if you are going for your First Communion.
From then on you can join the line on masses, and is thus considered a catholic "for real". You are expected to confess your sins to the priest not too long before your next communion, as it is a ritualistic repeat of the Last Supper where the apostles ate bread and drank wine blessed by Christ as if his own flesh and blood, thus putting you closer to him.
But catholicism, as far as I was taught at least, is more about accepting people (even if trying to guide them to be good people), and confessing and repenting for your sins. As long as you confess and repent, including accepting your due punishment (most of the times saying a set number of prayers), Jesus would forgive you. Helping others IS better, of course.
The place where I buy games is up the street from a Kingdom Hall, which I pass on the way to the Light Rail Transit system. One day, I passed when a number of the members were performing work outside, painting the rails, that sort of thing. It included several younger ones... who I'm guessing would have rather been anywhere else. And were not being paid for it.
Yup, all volunteer hours. They build the Kingdom Halls with the same sla- err Volunteer Labor Force...
As a former Episcopalian, I can confirm the Confirmation. Baptism, for centuries, was a way of ensuring continued parental care of children should the parents die, which happened a lot. When a Catholic (or associated sects) baby is baptized, there are adults who step up to be their Godparents and promise to take the children in if something happens to the children. Confirmation comes when you're older and feel you're ready to commit. There's no age limit to baptism or confirmation in this case. I've seen adults baptized in my old church.
I was raised by a methodist minister (my mum) and a church of england vicar (my dad) for my whole life and was confirmed in the church of england just before my 10th birthday. My dad used to talk a lot about the other servers at his old churches so I thought he’d like me more if I was confirmed and a server. In the church of england, you’re supposed to have MONTHS of lessons talking about religion and working out if it’s the right thing for you, but my dad forgot to actually give me them so I didn’t do any of that. I was 100% unable to fully understand it, especially as a 9 year old autistic. I wasn’t even able to tell the person doing the confirmation that I didn’t want to drink the alcohol, I had to get my dad to. Having a confirmation seems like a great idea BUT ONLY IF SOMEONE IS AN ADULT THAT FULLY UNDERSTANDS IT.
I also had religious OCD and periods of spiritual psychosis where I thought I was a terrible person and was going to hell. If churches are going to have children there in the main service, they need to make the services appropriate. Otherwise it can have such a bad impact on the child’s relationship with religion and their mental health/development in general.
Yeah religious leaders are not great selections for child care support I'm finding more and more. It's basically authoritarianism based parenting with a magical realism component
Fantastic video Lord Magog and commander!
And we have more in the pipeline :)
@@DarthMagog cant wait :D
In Denmark we got confirmations (lutheran). The fun part about that is that Danes aren't very religious but church traditions are very culturally ingrained
Interesting balance. So It's more of a cultural thing, but it's kept pretty separate from daily life?
I know it can differ depending on the branch- but as someone who was raised Roman Catholic there was a lot of rigorous education around the sacramental process.
Once you accept the Eucharist you are seen as being able to accept the spiritual responsibility of going to church (if you’re younger than this- I believe I was 8, you’re allowed to sleep or not pay attention etc- after that there’s a lot of emphasis on being a participant in the church and holidays).
Once this process has taken place, you go to “Sunday school” (tho the actual day can depends on the church. I actually went to my classes from the time I was in like, 2nd grade all the way through to my confirmation in 8th grade. Every Thursday night for two hours every week- with exams and everything). Then before your confirmation you choose a saints name that you identify with and wish to embody the teachings of (mine was St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music and the arts) that becomes your “confirmation name” and it’s how you’re addressed in the church and on paper (my mom actually was born without a middle name so her confirmation name became her legal middle name). At this point getting confirmed means you have passed your classes and you’ve been educated on the values of Catholicism and what it means to be a catholic- and you’re ready to be seen as an official member of the church, you also can’t get confirmed without a sponsor (someone who vouches that you’re a worthy asset to the church)
To take it a step further - your confirmation certificate with your new name, is entered into the sacramental records of the diocese (the larger group of churches overseen by the bishop)
Dang, is it Catholic Confirmation or the Chunin Exams from Naruto? Because right now the deadly ninja test seems like slightly less work 😶
Will this is to insure you are serious. Don’t forget we live in a country that values freedom of religion. When Catholicism first started they didn’t have luxury of being able to practice their faith freely. Even today many Christians are killed for their beliefs. Jesus said “ if you deny me, I will deny you”. Meaning if someone points a gun to your head and tells you to deny God, you shouldn’t deny him and take the bullet. This also goes for the lest extremes such as if a job makes you do things that are considered sinful like wearing a “pride pin”. It has to be thorough because this is you life and your immortal soul. It isn’t some silly vapid tradition that sadly most people treat it as. Even when people become Catholic at an adult age one has to take about three to four years of Catholic education, because it has to be an educated choice. Believe it or not Catholics really push reasoning. Read some St Thomas Aquinas (spelling may be off) he liked to use steel man objection to prove the faith.
heyyy its my favorite guys! welcome back magog!
Thank you kindly, happy to be back!
Kids like adults need breaks, they aren't like shows where everything is a back to back marathon.
Kids even more so, they're still developing.
Yeah, kids need breaks. They shouldn't be guilted into continuing even when they're obviously tired and disappointed.@@DarthMagog
I'm Catholic, as everyone said the Confirmation is about what you said, but at least in my Church I think I was 16 or 17 when I went through Confirmation classes. There is a point when you're 10-12 where you can start taking Communion and they prepare you for that, but otherwise it's definitely as you said "you get Baptized as a baby or toddler so you can go to heaven in case of the worst". Which is probably a practice, despite any concerning social elements, born out of necessity from back when child death was a lot more common and people had way more kids. You know like how the homophobia of Christianity is based out of Old Testament concepts from when the Jews were lost in the middle of the desert for 40 years.
I've learned SO much about Catholicism from this comment section
Wait, you made a great point about child death and baptism but I didn't understand the one about homophobia(I only have 4 hours of sleep afterall!)😅
Glad you're back
Glad to be back
You really see the quality of animation improve when seeing those flashbacks. Now if only they PAID the animators!
Still hoping for a big internal studio walk out personally.
To add to the bit about if Sofia's mother fully believing her daughter will be destroyed if she's not baptized: Absolutely. When I came out to my family and got on track for gender-affirming surgery I was emotionally guilted in every way possible. While my mother partially was upset because it reflects badly on the family, her biggest issue was that I won't be there with her in Paradise. I'm still trying to work through the guilt of causing my family pain; I luckily wasn't baptized and am so grateful every day for that (the added trauma of my family being forced to shun me would have been horrendous).
It definitely is performative, I remember disassociating from my body every time I had to play my assigned gender role. I also remember being ticked that I was banned from doing certain things just because of how I was born. People were treated differently based on their gender. Misogyny was rampant.
Going to therapy had a stigma where I'm from, most people felt like you could pray your depression away. There's so much I have to unlearn yet, certain mindsets that genuinely make me struggle when it comes to forming relationships with people and accepting that I am enough just as I am (even after being baptized you're still taught to believe that you're not good enough, that you can always be better).
I wasn't even born into the religion but the first time I watched one of these videos I was shaking afterward; I felt like I had committed a massive no-no even though I didn't want to affiliate with them anymore. Questioning anything is a massively frowned upon practice and I feel silly for not looking at the other side of it sooner.
I'm glad my family finds fulfillment and peace by doing what they're doing, I really am. My mother has made many good friends and finally has a sense of belonging to something greater/a purpose. I fully respect that for her. But at the same time I wish that respect went both ways sometimes. Anyways that's my rant, needed to get that off my chest. Keep on keeping on .
Hey, glad that we could provide a space for you to share your story. I was "lucky" enough to be born in with the right set of "equipment" and even then it was a mess, so I couldn't even begin to fathom how hard it was for you. Glad you've made it out and have aleast a little space to heal 💙
i’m so so so glad you were never baptized! it’s sounds like things were awful enough without completely loosing everything and everyone you knew.
how are things going now, if you don’t mind me asking?
As much as I am annoyed to see JW posted outside of my workplace just about every day, I’m also thankful I have not seen any children with them. Yet
Yeah kids don't *normally* get to do carts. We didn't have those back in my day, we did "street witnessing" which was like the primitive version of cart witnessing, but only pioneers and elders were allowed to do that. And some MS
I have the greatest story about my JW baptism! I was 11yrs old and my MOM wanted me to get baptized she was soooo worried that if I didn't I would die at Armageddon and it was any day now. We had to answer ALL those questions and I have had ADHD my whole life so it's hard for me to sit and pay attention so I had a hard time with the 80 or whatever it was questions. So my Mom being desperate she wrote the answers to all the questions as small as she could and instead of teaching me the answers she taught me over and over how to READ the answers look up at the Elders use hand gestures etc... LMAO so I cheated, my Mom taught me how to lie and deceive in order to get baptized. I don't think my mother quite understood the whole concept of Baptism because I don't think God would be to happy that I lied my way into it👍😋
Lol the fact that God needed you to be held underwater in the first place just to remember NOT to murder the little girl during his global genocide is pretty silly within of itself, so your Mom skirting the requirements a little bit actually makes a degree of sense.
Even as an adult, I find the door-to-door thing uncomfortable, my Lord. I had to do it at a Seventh-Day Adventist school, even though I’m not Adventist.
Yeah, going to someone's home, on a day off, early in the morning, to tell them that they're going to die unless they join your club? I'm surprised we saw what little success we had in the ministry, really looking back at it now.
We went during a school day. I was at least with a teacher I really liked and fortunately we didn’t hand out much literature. I think it was just a pamphlet, but not one of the scary ones.
19:10 I started confirmation classes in High School, I was confirmed as a Lutheran at about 16 years.
Oh I didn't know the Lutheran's did that too! I'm learning all sorts of new stuff.
@@DarthMagog im not sure if we all do it, but WELS Lutherans definitely do. I like to joke that it's cause we're the original protestants before it became cool, so we still have quite a few things in common with Catholicism
Cradle Catholic.
We do confirmation, even get to choose our own Saint based on the characteristics we already do/want to see in ourselves.
I think the biggest difference, like you’ve said, is how we are welcome and don’t have to work for it. Can be lazy and resented within the congregation but you still belong, but you can be kind and courteous which will make you revered in the eyes of your peers. We have considerably more freedom. Main difference between us and Protestant Christians is that we can’t just ask for forgiveness, we have to earn it through our actions, but it’s not militant like in JW.
It’s also disturbing how JW can’t be friends with people who aren’t just like them. I have many friends who live their lives in ways I don’t agree with, but I accept them for the people they are. I don’t have to engage in activities with them but it’s important to have that mutual love and respect.
You guys get Saints? And choices?
Others have explained confirmation for the most part, but one thing I will note that might be of interest is that priests do not hold confirmations, they are held by bishops (the next step up) so they are usually arranged in conjunction with the entire diocese.
Another thing that might be worth noting is that infant baptism is also the source of godparents in Christianity, who promise to support the child's spiritual journey and to become the child's guardians if the child is orphaned at an age where they need the role. It is believed in many sects of Christianity that those who are not baptised will go to Purgatory so infant baptism was largely due to the high infant mortality rate of history. If you overlap society's problems you can see the patterns emerge.
Ah that makes sense. Yeah I notice religion seems to always have a "fix" for a lot of modern problems (modern at the time) that just turn back into traditions later. Also didn't know that Bishops did the baptisms. That's like a Circuit Overseer doing a JW Baptism personally. Very interesting...
@@DarthMagog Baptisms are done by priests, confirmations are done by bishops.
I did feel thinking about it that the confirmation is closer to a JW idea of a baptism because it's a diocese wide ceremony. Of course, instead of dunking in water, the bishop simply rests his hands on the person's head and then follows it with an anointing using oil.
Incidentally, babies born out of wedlock were not allowed to be baptised back in the day, and those who are not baptised are not allowed to be buried in the church's graveyard when they die, so it was hung over people's heads in the past.
Yisssssssss so happy to see a new video from you boys
Glad to be back and better than ever!
Ok so this kinda reminds me of an experience i had with a classmate in 5th grade who was temporarily in my class (iirc she had some disabilities and maybe went into homeschool or something or had medical issues) but her family was very mormon and when we became friends she would often at lunch start talking to me (who was already Christian/Baptist, sorta) about the importance accepting Jesus (which I'd already done) or straight up converting to mormonism because she didn't want me to go to hell. I remember sitting there uncomfortable like "i just wanna talk about Pokemon" (yanno because I was like 11).We also once had a sleepover which was during a church even so she brought me along to her church which was kinda awkward and half guilty bc i partly felt I wasn't supposed to be there. Because I *wasn't mormon* Anyway like I said she dropped out of my class later and I hold no ill will toward the girl but i look back and kinda.... feel almost bad for her i guess that maybe she was being so deeply indocterinated that she didn't get to just be a child
Like I have my issues with things i learned from the church and all but.... at the very least I was lucky enough to have parents who were understanding of letting me and my siblings just... be children. They didn't even ban us from Halloween like a large number of families who we went to church with did.
My gosh you don't need to be and shouldn't be filling your kids with this fear of the end times so much that they're not allowed to just have kid time.
also we were like Carolina flavor southern baptist and the major church i remember going to actually had a lot of pretty fun activities and I will admit I did have a good time and appreciated some of the things the youth program would allow us to do. I don't know how common that is in churches depending on the type. But sometimes Youth was .. kinda almost like a kinda religious flavored social group a lot of times.
ngl, caleb and sophias dad is a major heartthrob, smash
Lol he's got that Anime Rizz 😂
My Pepe (Great Grandpa) was born in 1895, and, I think that he had his First Holy Communion and Confirmation together, I think that he was 13 years old, which would make it 1908, but, unlike in the photo of Sophia’s mom, my Pepe wore a suit (that was popular for boys at the time, and, no doubt, a present from his aunts) , and a ribbon on his arm to show that it was a Religious Ceremony. The jws who were showed getting baptized were dressed very informal.
Last question Lord Magog:
Why is Fives still not Grand Admiral? Paper work?
That or the transfer between technically being Special Forces to being part of the regular military. Gotta ask the Emperor the next time we have a staff meeting.
@@DarthMagog Lord Magog I'm confused. Does a Commanders advancement not carry between duty stations. From my own military experience a Lieutenant Commander who becomes SF EoD is made a Commander upon his promotion just the same. The Empire needs to figure its forms out. Respectfully as I can say so, of course.
He made Grand Admiral. Branch change or not, he should wear his due rank.
Because by Imperial Law there can only be twelve at a time and unless this LARP is taking place during the Heir to the Empire books there's already twelve.
@@DarthMagog Actually after the failed coup by Admiral Demetrius Zaarin there is an opening for a new Grand Admiral.
Update: Never mind. the job was given to Thrawn.
@@556deltawolf ah dang it, we'll have to execute some other Grand Admiral. Errrr, I mean, reassign them 😅
I was born into a Catholic family and baptized when I was only a few months old, which is kind of messed up. At the same time, I actually started reading the Bible, decided I didn't want anything to do with that mess, and left the religion when I was 13 and my family, while disappointed, otherwise took it in stride and didn't let it affect our relationship. I strongly doubt JWs would be so open-minded if a child in their family abandoned the faith.
Yeah generally JW parents aren't nearly as forgiving if a child bails out on the faith. It makes things... awkward.
The comment section is littered with stories of shunned children. It's really sad to read!
Hi Lord Magog I will second other comments from Catholics about confirmation but before we are confirmed as teenagers, as children we get first communion I must have been in the second grade around spring 2002 and I went to public school so my parents enrolled me in CCD, I remember during first communion practice they gave out wafer like candies and grape juice as the body and blood of Jesus. I also got alter/stage fright from reading one of the lord here our prayers. I was a very shy kiddo back then. I had to wear a white dress and a white veil and I had a First Communion party after my event. I remember the Eucharist host tasting like cardboard.
Not gonna lie, yours sounds like it was the most fun First Communion described in this thread lol
what if you live in a small town? do you just go preach at the same houses your whole life or do you drive off to another town?
Each congregation gets their territories. A lot of small towns are attached to congregations in larger areas. We had some small rural towns that we'd preach in, despite having plenty of suburban area in our own city to cover.
@@DarthMagog ohhhh makes sense thank you!
Greetings to the Dark Lord of the Apostates and his trusty commander. I’ve got a question that isn’t strictly apeaking relevant to Caleb and Sophia, but anyway: I’m a never-JW who for reasons I can’t fully articulate got interested in the Ex-JW movement. Recently, I moved into an apartment that just so happens to be across the street from a Kingdom Hall, so all of a sudden I see witnesses all the time, and I can’t stop thinking about them and whether some of them are silently suffering. Do you have any advice for an outsider as to how to deal with witnesses? Anything I can do to encourage secret PIMOs? Or just some basic acts of kindness from a worldly person that someone stuck inside might appreciate?
Hey there Ellinor, great question. As far as "dealing" with them, if they ever come to your door you can just tell them to put you on the "do not call" list and they'll leave you be, at least for the next decade anyway. As far as general kindness, just treating them like normal human beings is more than fine. The religion loves to tell us that there's no genuine love or kindness in the world, so showing them the opposite is more than encouraging.
The "trusty Commander" is Grand Admiral now. No I will not break character for this Lord Magog. You are Sith. Make the pencil pushers do their jobs!
@@DarthMagog"You can tell a man all day he's wrong. He'll call you a damned idiot. But show him, really show him, make him see... He'll come around, or he'll shut you off. Either way, you win."
-My friend and mentor Ol' Sam Hopkins.
Why... Why must we suffer... Gosh I need a mop. Take multiple things i said about the visuals of these moving pictures called a video.
"How are these kids backs not hurting?"
"HOW TALL IS KALEB"
"His eyes to me are literally saying 'HELP ME'"
"
The sad part is it's all based on the real experience of JW children.
@@DarthMagog Time to get the dang floor cleaning spray. Get the water too, we're just gonna full on clean our eyes 😢
There are videos someone made about the harrowing adventures of adult Caleb and Sophia. The sound quality is iffy (like I can criticize others on that score), but the story is interesting. Could you review/react to those some time? They are largely similar, so just picking any one would be enough.
Been considering it, I've seen a couple variations made. I feel like most of the commentary is just what I'd say, but I betcha Fives might have a different perspective.
i was raised non denominational christian (with a twinge of evangelical and southern baptist). i was baptised as a child once i was old enough to understand what it meant, but really i had always had doubts about religion. i clung to faith as a coping mechanism for my severe anxiety, so i got baptised as my own choice in an attempt to reaffirm my own belief and salvation. when i got older and became more introspective and self-aware, i stopped going to church. thankfully my parents arent control freaks and have never forced religion onto me, and while half my family is christian, the other half is mainly athiest or agnostic (plus one jw but we dont speak to her lol).
I use this videos both as JW and SW documentaries
Calling that a win :)
As much as I don’t care to be disrupted in going about my day, it seems like there are Witnesses "Going in Service" through my neighborhood most days. Which is rather odd, considering most of the properties around here are typically larger pastures or hobby ranches, small-timers raising a few bantha or eopies. My wife and I rent a semi-detached apartment on one of these parcels, and even though the homeowner has repeatedly warned Witnesses against heckling us tenants, they still come. Make no mistake, I send them away every time, but I will offer them sealed bottles of cold water or some form of acceptable beverage to take on their way. Wearing full formal suits in the heat and humidity here is no joke. Especially when you're trying to outrun a nest of pissed-off acklay, or a pack of feral massifs.
Oooof, you just brought back from fun memories. We always had to look for vornskr and anubis before we got in, some of the householders had a bad habit of releasing them on unsuspecting JWs.
We actually have confirmation as a huge cultural milestone in Norway. It’s so big that there are non religious alternatives to religious conformation. For example my brother got confirmed via the Humanist Association. Traditionally parents start saving up money for their children when they are born and at around 14-15 when the kid gets confirmed the kid gets all the money that the parents have saved up. Usually it’s in savings they can’t access til they are 18, but still they have a chunk of money that is indisputably theirs that they can depend on when they go off to college and stuff. Usual sums are like the equivalent of 5,000 dollars or thereabout. And gifting may include a Norwegian national costume (bunad). But yeah it’s cultural rather than religious.
So it's more of a "coming of age celebration?" See that i can get down with.
@@DarthMagog Yes. That's exactly what it is. And it's traditionally set during May which is around the same time as our Constitution day (May 17th) which kind of synergises with the whole festive atmosphere.
Just a little bit of knowledge, when it comes to baptizing infants, in the Presbyterian Church anyway, the baptism is for the parents of the child. They are pledging to bring up the child in the church and according to its teachings. It is their burden to carry if the child sins and it continues to be their responsibility until the child joins the church, usually in high school. So the baptism isn't for the baby, it's for the parents.
Well that's a bit more reasonable a system.
My niece just got baptized, she's 8. No crazy congregation or anything- just your normal small town Baptists. But, while I'm happy she's happy with it, I never really bought into kids younger than 10 or 11 taking the dip. It's in the same vein of pre-teens doing the purity/promise rings spiel.
Yeah it's pretty wild some of the stuff we see. Eight is just barely old enough to be able to manage themselves to a degree, and not without adult supervision.
YES!
I love these
We have fun making them :)
Can't wait for the new video!
Already cookin another one as we speak.
the first comment, very good
I grew up church of christ, the whole idea of "you will be rejected and this is a good thing" is so prevelant there too. Theres also this culture around "turn the other cheek" and it makes young people so vunrable to abuse, not only from their family members, but their employers and coworkers (if they have a job). Homeschooling isnt a requirement, but it is highly encouraged. If you dont homeschool your kids, you and your family will be ostricized and isolated from the rest of the group. They also do child baptisms, but they believe that babies and toddlers are covered by god, the confirmation IS the baptism. Children really dont know what theyre signing up for when they do get baptized, and according to coc, baptism is a permenant decision. Apostacy can never be redeemed ever. Its awful.
The similarities are eerie. Tell me is "Church of Christ" the same thing as "World Mission Society Church of God?" Or is that a different group?
Also I have a question, if you were out door knocking, what would the ministers tell you to do if you were invited in gave your presentation and all that and then the person who invited you said "Btw, I'm a disfellowshipped ex JW! You just committed a sin by talking to me!"?
The elders would just have you end the conversation, make a note, and report it to them. They'd "handle" it.
The title made me think of a book I read as a teen, about a JWs in 90s Germany, it's been ages since I read it, so don't remember much.
Main character is named Hannah, I guess she and her family could be described as standard "believing/non-practicing" roman catholics, she is a single child and has mom and dad. Around age four to six something happens to her mom (I assume either cancer or road accident), dad becomes apathetic, some time later he meets a woman who is a JW, they marry, all convert, I think she might have half siblings because of it? Her first JW shock was when she just got generic "pray for Jehovah's blessing" birthday wishes at age 9 and her surprise she isn't getting cake, presents, party. Dunno, but there was a scene describing her "baptism", and end of the book told how her father at the age of 50 fell ill and needed blood transfusion, which he of course refused, and died.
Lord Magog: "...you record all the time you spend the door knocking, and speaking to people and writing letters. And that's all turnrd into the Kingdom Hall Elders at the end of the month"
Oh so there's more to that standing on the streets in busy areas.
"That's why we get baptized in public"
Eh? In the book Hannah was pushed underwater in some well-like thing that I think was located in the Kingdom Hall. I do agree that she wasn't baptized alone but with few other kids (and I say kids cuz she was baptized when she was like, 10-13 years old).
Ah yeah that sounds about right. They do them at their Conventions. So the big meeting and assembly halls "publicly" in front of the congregation and any visitors. Also if you have the title of that book, I'd love to read it 👀
@@DarthMagog I'll come back some time later as I forgot the title. Oof.
@@InessaMaximova No worries, I'll be here :)
@@DarthMagog YEESH I forgot, but I got it. Author is Jana Frey, book was translated into Polish as "Chłód od raju", translated back into English would sound something like "A chill from the heavens".
I can't get over that Sophia is my namesake. Did my father name her just to mess with my head?
At Tony Morris' suggestion, yes.
Awesome coverage
Thank you kindly :)
🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩 the more clone comander comes on here the more donuts!!
Yeah buddy!
Hard to focus on church with autism and restlessness
Shoot it's hard to focus on it WITHOUT autism and restlessness, I can't imagine what those kids must go through!
Sadly, you do have to be "approved," to go in the "ministry," just like the Ethiopian Eunuch who famously asked "What prevents me from getting baptized [and telling others about Jehovah]?" And Phillip the Evangelizer famously tells him "repeat the pre-approved answers to standardized questions to a group of local men and then you can get baptized and preach."
Yeah that's pretty much it. I always found the concept of the process a lot more daunting than the actual "requirements."
@@DarthMagog yup. They insert the organization between you and God. You aren't allowed to have your own relationship with God or explore science on your own. Everything is a precooked answer to every question in life. You take comfort in that, and so does every single person in your sphere.
The whole unbaptized people instantly going to purgatory isn’t really a believed thing in the Roman Catholic Church. I mean, the Nicene Creed says “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin. “ , but, most Roman Catholics don’t believe that only people who are baptized as Roman Catholic will go to Heaven. Although, in the 1940s, a 13 year old boy who was possessed for about a month after he used a spirit board got baptized as a Roman Catholic during the time that he had the Exorcisms. Though, in my opinion, I prefer Roman Catholic Baptisms over JW Baptisms because Roman Catholic Baptisms have more formal wear, and, with Roman Catholic Baptisms, there’s special Baptismal gowns and Baptismal bonnets and Baptismal bibs which both girls and boys wear, and, the Baptismal gowns and bonnets and bibs can be family heirlooms.
Sophia called the details of baptism "so cool"... imagine of she siad it to a friend at school.
Hmmmmmmm, that gives me an idea for which Caleb and Sophia to watch next!
I happen to have a Christian Standard Bible because my brother thought it would make me a better Christian. It hasn't. Let's hear abridged versions of the Bible stories referenced in these Caleb & Sophia episodes!
Matthew 21:16 is part of a brief story about Jesus doing what he usually does, like getting the Pharisees mad at him. Despite this, the children praise him. Jesus just turns around to the Pharisees and says, "They like me; why don't you?" Owned with facts and logic.
Acts 16: 32-33 is about Paul and Silas getting a jailbreak thanks to an earthquake. Guard comes in, freaks out and tries to kill himself. Paul says, "Daddy, chill, we're still here!" Dude escorts the prisoners to freedom and asks how to be saved. Paul says, "Jesus." Whole family gets baptized that night. And then everyone clapped.
Galatians 6:9 (nice) isn't actually a Bible story; it's a section of an Epistle, so an explicit teaching instead of a teachable moment. It's about shouldering each others' burdens because it'll pay off in Heaven. Verse 9 is about not tiring because of said heavenly reward. So, finally, a verse that's directly about the episode topic! I just wish it wasn’t.
That was a lot of work for a long comment that won't look good on mobile. Eh.
Luckily for you, I'm answering comments on the main viewing screen :) Also thanks for making the abridged versions, I always forget to reference the scriptures (I guess that's an artifact of my JW training, very telling lol)
The Acts verse is heavily a thing of the guard knowing that if the prisoners in his charge escaped, he's going to end up dead in a likely very painful way due to how romans tended to do executions.
He would be very, very grateful that he and several others would be dead...especially when Paul and Silas could have easily waltzed out of the area and nothing would have happened to them for it there
Let’s go they’re back
The Governing Body can never banish the Apostate Lords 😎
Yay another episode of Darth Magog
Let's gooooooo!
I seriously want to hear the mom and dad. They just seem pretty robotic and very condescending.
Rumor has it that a subscriber knows the real family that does the voices, and aside from the art, I understand these are pretty accurate depictions.
Some have no problem being mean to kids. I went to a door when I was six, and the woman opened the door on purpose to let her three, angry and growling German shepherd chase me back to the car. It wasn't until I was in my 30s that I got over a phobia of that specific breed.
I disagree with Five at that last bit.
He is correct that Caleb is not a fan of Cheetos boy, and I’d even say he is correct that Cheetos bot isn’t going to wish to learn about Jehovah.
But I feel that’s kind of a win for Caleb, doubly. Number one, since Cheetos boy isn’t going to watch it, Caleb doesn’t have to spend any more time with his ass. That’s a win.
Secondly, if the boy doesn’t join the fold then, in Caleb’s tiny, indoctrinated brain, Cheetos boy isn’t invited to paradise. So Caleb gets to personally turn him to dust beneath their feet and go to paradise without that little mofo bc at least he tried to tell him. That’s a HUGE win.
You know, you'd figure that. But at least in my experience it tends to make it worse. You feel like you've failed, desperately running around the neighborhood, pleading with people, because you've "literally" got the answer to life, the universe and everything, and no one is listening. And if you don't go, or don't try hard enough, it's your fault that they died. Very rarely does it get put on the householder that closed the door. At least that's just me spitballing while I stroll down memory lane.
@@DarthMagog that’s even worse. I hoped at least if it was someone who was awful to you, you’d get a moment of “well good, I didnt want your ass in paradise anyway”
But if you think you’re the one who is responsible for getting everyone over to paradise, even that dick Cheetos boy… yeah. Just more trauma. Stupid ass religion, not even letting you gloat over the dust of your enemies.
I feel bad for Sophia and Caleb. Rejection hurts enough as an adult, can you imagine how kids would take it?
The emotions are 10 times more wild. You get tired faster, upset faster, get angry, because you're so convinced you're saving people and they're being stupid on purpose. No amount of preparation actually makes it any better. Worst part is, you feel terrible that you're not conducting a Bible Study.
As someone on the spectrum with ADHD, I could NOT sit through a TWO HOUR long mass.
Most kids can't either admittedly. And they're typically punished if they lose interest or fall asleep. And that's not including the 3 days of 8 hour talks at District conventions
@@DarthMagog😮
Okay, that's torture, to put it simply!
Hello icon! We missed u :)
I thought the door to door video had the instructions on how to dress, 'tight pants, but not TOO tight'. Or was that another one?
I had to sell chocolate bars door to door for our Christian school,, but at least most people wanted to buy those. You did get the occasional 'what does god need money for?' or along those lines.
And you could always buy the bars yourself.
Actually there are 3 other Door Knocking training videos. We'll make a compilation
Okay. They could almost be cute... if they weren't so horrible.@@DarthMagog
I know this seems random but
You GLOVES, they are a masterpiece! Where did you get them?
Ah just part of an old Halloween costume.
@DarthMagog how does it feel to finally celebrate Halloween?