I am a former JW turned atheist. I have influenced my 14 year old son to also embrace atheism. My wife who is still a devote JW and is pissed off. It is the main reason we are separated. I am known to the JWS as an apostate and am shunned by family members and former friends. In many ways I do respect some of their beliefs but they are serious control freaks. They are not trying to influence schools education directly but many do take their kids out of school and home school them to avoid learning evolution. My son is into astro-physics and if it wasn't for the fact that I got him into astronomy clubs he would have little friends due to the fact that he does not cling 100% to the JW beliefs. The problem is that I don't give a shit about how they treat me for I am 52 and accepting of the fact that they are idiots. But to completely shun a 14 year old is very shameful. I am also an amateur comic and when I get going on religion I start with them. If you visited their headquarters it is like James Bond being in the headquarters of the top villain. The workers walk around like robots. At their large conventions the way they give speeches for 3 days in a row stinks of obvious brainwashing. When I was living with my wife I did not look forward to her coming back from those assemblies because they brained washed her several times to want nothing to do with me for several days. I even heard them say 1 time that the women in the audience with nonbelieving husbands have absolutely nothing to go home to and should be given empathy. One comical thing that happened was when 1 of the elders in the kingdom hall told my son when he was 13 that I was an atheist for reason to live a debauched life. My son answered him by saying that that is not true. My father is actually stricter with me than my mother. He then told the elder that he was going to tell me what the elder said and that I was going to come down there and kick his ass.
My sister is a JW. Her son died when he was 21. He was born with chromosome problems and was confined to a wheel chair his entire life. His mother during his life was very active in groups working to help kids with these problems. He and his mother were so well known for their activities that a state reps wife attended the JW funeral. They spent 5 minites talking about my nephew and never even mentioned the incredible influence he had on the understanding of these birth defects. For the next 20 miniutes they preached their propaganda. They actually had the nerve to say how great it will be when he comes back in the 'new system" perfect. Later that evening my sister sat crying and then screamed out that he was perfect to her when he was born and while he lived. She remains an inactive JW. She is the only JW sibling of mine that will talk to me especially about things she is afraid to admit disbelief. In spite of their lack of respect for her and her son she still clings on the fringes of this group of whack jobs because she remains convinced she will see her son again. She feels that if she formally leaves she will not see him again. She confides in me 'an atheist" because the rest of my crazy family just tells her to get over it.
That's because the elders handbook gives exact instructions on how to do a funeral. 5 minutes on the person and go into recruiting mode. It's sad. And EVERY JW will tell you they have no rules. They'll look at you shocked for even suggesting it. Brainwashing is a powerful thing.
When it comes to normal human emotions, especially grief, JWs do NOT take it seriously. They are so convinced that death is just a temporary break from life. I remember a JW telling a story about an African man in the grocery store. He was crying because of all the food available for dogs, and the lack of it for children in his own country. She burst into laughter at the end of her account. What kind of person would think that famine is funny? I cannot respect these people. They make it impossible. I've been invited to her home numerous times for "family dinners", but I know I'll never go. It seems pointless to have people like this in my life.
They are incredible rude even bulling when your relative days. They have the entitelment to tel you you hve to stop grief - because later in a perfect world - you meet your brother again withaut cancer - yada - yads - and more rudnes and gaslighting yada.... That'd was the point when I startet to hate them. I was even not in yet - they were at me door to try to lurk me in. 3 days after me brother decirses - I wonder if they read the newspaper to know where is a deciesed to go and pray on theyr relatives - prey on the week. My big fout was - I let them in - 3 mounths of insanety and emotional torture. No one rrspected me grief. They talk they are the thru relligion of love - but they dont understand that brother and sister love each other. No empathie - forced fake happieness oll the time - super abusive - theyr systhem is so disgusting.
They are like the fucked up dictatures in the east Europe at the 80s - the worst time to be in - in that time they were moust opressive and paranoid - the elders use the same systhem to rule and hunt down theyr members.
I had a cousin whose mother was a JW. The boy got into a traffic accident and was severely hurt...the mother refused to him a blood transfusion. The father who was not a JW overruled her decision so he did receive proper medical care but sadly did not survive. I never got to even meet him, he died when I was an infant. But just hearing the story was enough to make me hate the JW doctrine with a passion.
Oh and the JWs then used the kid's funeral to preach to my non-JW family. I'm glad to hear this ex-JW mention the travesty that are JW funerals. They ignore the deceased completely and bring a bunch of people who do not even know them in order to better preach. Disgusting behavior. I keep wondering how it would have been if he had survived and found out that his mother refused to give him treatment. This should not even be allowed by law, I do not care what religion you are, you have no right to let your child die. It truly angers me.
***** I'm so glad you left! When it comes to JWs, the blood transfusion ban makes them a danger to their children. It's probably one of the religions that causes more harm and I always rejoice whenever someone leaves it.
I'm a hospital nurse, and JW parents are circumnavigated once the child is in the hospital. Pediatric wards and ER's (at least the one's I've been to) have a list of judges' cellphone and home phone numbers. If a parent won't consent to treatment, they just call up one of the judges and get him to order it. If the parent tried to inter-seed, never heard of it happening, then security would stop them. The problem with the JW's and other crazy groups is that the kids might never be brought to the hospital in the first place.
When this happened, in my country, doctors almst always ignored the parents' wishes but they did so a bit at their peril. While technically they *could* get in trouble afterwards it never actually happened as no sane court even considered pursuing a case against a doctor for doing his duty by his patient. But that there should be any hoops at all, any need to contact anyone, is already insane.
Once my Grandmother a very devout Witness was sitting next to me at my mother's Wedding, 3rd Marriage 1st wedding. My mother was even more devout than my G-ma. Anyway, The brother presiding over the wedding, started going on and on about my mother's proper role as the wife. at this point in my life I had been out of the religion for about 5 years, so it was really weird for me hearing this bull-crap. But the funny thing was, My grandmother grabs my arm, pulls me in close and whispers to me, "I think we get the point!" It was the very first time I had ever seen a crack in the veneer of her belief. I will never forget that.
Thank you for sharing this, TTA!!! :) I'm 44 years old and a disfellowshipped JW (DF'd about 2.5 years ago). I was a fourth generation JW and my brother is very high up in the JW Headquarters. I went to college and got away with it but it was severely frowned upon. I developed Anorexia and many related problems. It almost killed me. They now know me at the emergency room LOL. The pedophilia is rampant (I was molested but not nearly as badly as others.) My mother is the only person in my family that breaks the rule but she is a Mama Bear and gets away with it. My friend just introduced me to your show. Speaking of birthdays, when I was 5, I ate a birthday cupcake and was severely beaten with a leather belt when I got off the school but and came home crying for what I did because I was already riddled with guilt. It is just horrible. It's like once you're in and you find out what's going on, you can't stay in but when you get out you're so socially scarred that "regular" life is very difficult. And on drinking, everybody does it in order to cope. Thanks for sharing this.
I had 2 Jehovahs come over last Thursday. Long story short: I owned them, big time. I knew much more about the Bible and science than they did. But it was a pleasant and relaxed conversation overall. They want to come back this week. I hope they will, we'll see who converts who ;)
Dutch Skeptic First, don't call them Jehovahs... Jehovah is the name of their god... they call themselves Jehovah's witnesses... so you can call them witnesses. That kinda bugs them. And yes, if they leave they will be shunned by their family and friends...and thats important because they don't associate with anyone who isn't a witness. Its a huge thing to leave. But you can sew some seeds of doubt. The knowledge on the internet maybe their nemesis.
***** My comment was to the Dutch Skeptic who said it was "pleasant and relaxed" so it doesn't sound like he was bugged and he wanted to talk to them again so it was just a suggestion. As for them caring if they bug people... they view it as a commandment from god to preach to people. Most of them hate bugging people but they are in a mind control cult so they think they have to do it.
squirrly001 Thanks for the advice. I have talked to them two times after and we're still planning for a next meeting. It's not about knowledge (in that I'm clearly superior, if I do say so myself) it's about the proper strategy and I'm not sure there. I have discovered in many previous debates with religious people it won't help you to just insult them, although you can - depending on the person - make fun of their beliefs a little, as long as you distinguish between them and some of the religious beliefs they may or may not adhere to: don't identify a believer with a belief or you won't talk them out of it. It's a way of trying to convince them of the thought: 'This particular thing is silly, right? Come on, I know you're too smart to believe that.' If you keep doing that, it might get you somewhere, and that's what I've been trying so far. But I'm not sure if I'm making progress, any other tips might be helpful :)
had jehova witnesses at my door this morning. they gave me the watchtower, i asked them if they would like to have a copy of Playboy. they didn't want to talk to me anymore... why not? i thought it was rather nice of me to offer them also something!
I was getting regular visits from jw's at first I was polite but I basically made it clear that I wasn't interested. So when they kept coming I started answering them more and more comfortably by answering the door more and more naked! The last time they came, I was completely nude and sharpening my broadsword! Never saw the again after that, not sure why 😜
I'm a former Jehova witnesses who also once considered the idea of not getting college education. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to travel around the world, getting in contact with other kind of religious people other the Christians was what made me think about the possibility that the Mayne the Christian faith is wrong, it motivated me to search and y'all already know where it led me. Now I'm worried with one of my friends who still is a Jehova's witness, he finished high school two years ago and doesn't want to go to college.
I was raised Jehovah's Witnesses,at 14 years old i told my dad that i want to quit,''thank god''my mom was there,because i think i will not be here.finally a year later i have to go see elders to tell my dad to let me go,a year later my older brother and sister quit's,a and year later my parent leave because my sister and brother were excluded,an parent's could not talk to theyre children's!
I work from home and don't get out much and I don't get a lot of opportunities to socialize with people outside my family. I love it when they come around and I can mess with them. I have had 4 sets of JWs try to convert me. I have a game that I play (they don't know that they are playing along) called "how long can I string them along". My record so far is 4.5 months before they give up. I once spent 3 weeks just on one verse of the bible (when god commanded the Israelites to massacre the Canaanites). Messing with JWs is one of my favorite past times.
I know for a fact that they keep records of the people they visit. I poked my head out while two JWs were at my neighbor's door and told them not to bother knocking on my door. "Oh, don't worry. You're on our "Do not call list." But two weeks later two men with a six-year-old boy came a-knocking. In fact, the last two visits involved a child. I realized that they are using children as human shields for the tough cases. So I asked the child how old he was and started singing "Happy Birthday". Those S-E grins turned to gnashing teeth. "He gets plenty of presents," said the younger man. The older man snarled, "Jesus never celebrated his birthday!" "How would you know? You weren't there. Maybe he did!" They hustled the child away from this horrible influence. Haven't been visited in a decade!
I was raised in the Jehovah's Witnesses. This horrible religion filled me with paranoia, gave me catastrophic nervous breakdowns, ruined my education and ruined my entire life.
+Jon Collins I thought he sounded like Paul Harvey the first time I heard him, too. Straight, serious delivery. A couple episodes in, I heard language Harvey would never use, and the humor. He's much hipper than Harvey. ; )
I agree fully, including the Mormon Church that has well over $150 BILLION DOLLARS in reserves. With over $150 Billion dollars that would make a good dent into the US National Debt!
my fam is all still in it going back to before they came over to the us from italy in the 30s, one thing that gets me is i found out someone i knew she and her little girls wore getting beaten by her husband for almost 16 years and he was a drunk and i when i found out that everyone knew it was going on but didnt do anything, it just makes my blood boil.
I have family that are in this cult. My stepbrother once told me , I had the devil in me trying to get to him. We were close and that hurt me that he could believe that. I'm not butt hurt over that, but we grew apart after that as his beliefs drove a wedge between us. That happened when we were 17, in 1980.
David Paul I had a friend that is JW, and he was very logical and inteligent, never the less, I was very worry for him, because not matter how inteligent he was, if he had an accident his family wouldnt give him a blood transfusion and he would die, that really make me angry, and how ilogical it was, and how easily he acept it.
It is frustrating, and is hard to under stand. They said they could not eat meat that had not been bleed "properly" , but you cannot ever get all the blood out of meat.
David Paul The defence mechanism kicks in and the shields go up. Its well constructed on their part but its so dishonest and its a shame that it drives wedges between families. I know how you feel David as my mum was disfellowshipped and although I kept going to the kingdom hall for a couple of years I slowly stopped believing. This was probably due to my education in science but that's irrelevant here. I am no longer close with any of my cousins, and that's what I really miss. My mum has been shunned by most of her family and her friends.
The thing is, from experience as a Jehovah's witness youth up until the age of 18 as well a a young woman; the watchtower no doubt uses women and children as free labor. Women are the majority but are treated like the refuse. They argue that god and the bible says that's women are to be treated as "Compliments" to men. Basically that means, women are too cook for the special meals for traveling elders and circuit overseers, or cooking for or working on congregation hall building projects. And as a daughter/grand daughter of 2 fulltime pioneers (My mother and grandmother) who put in 90+ Hours a month, women do most of the preaching work. They are restricted in who they can choose for mates. So Jehovah witnesses ladies typical either do 2 things. They settle with the first brother who proposes, even if they aren't compatitible or they remain alone. The women are very oppressed the children are oppressed the people are oppressed except for those in charge who are as you know, not female. And even they're oppressed by the governing body. The kings of the God filled, empty cave..
***** I'm sorry you feel that way. But unfortunately everything I posted above IS indeed FACT. I lived the hypocrisy. I watched it. I researched it in the watchtowers own publications! The evidence was literally right in front of me. I have nothing to gain from this other then warning others of this dangerous and very deceitful organization. I'm not attacking you or your hopes and belief. I'm attacking the 8-12 older men, of the governing body, who allow the things that happen in this wretched place happen. You just have to open your mind. It's funny when you say "Hear both sides of the story." Because the watchtower would only have you hear 1 side. There's. Tell me, it's obvious your affiliated still with Jehovah's witnesses. What research have you done on this group you follow exactly? The bible you follow says to keep testing to be sure you have the true faith. That includes your own beliefs. It also says that if a false prophet makes a prediction and it doesn't come to pass that you are to no longer follow that prophet? (Watchtower and it's leaders predicted the end in 1914, 1918, 1925, 1938, 1975) I don't mean what other people say about the watchtower either. I mean have you seen what exactly is in the older publications? All the false predictions of the time of the end? All the flip flopping doctrines(Light getting brighter? More like light shut off and then switched back on then off again. All the just plain bad advice? I'll start you off with something simple. Why did the watchtower state that 1914 was the year Christ chose them as the "Only true religion." It's not for reasons you think.
Very very interesting podcast, I definitely learned a lot from this. One of my close friends is a JW, and even though he has never tried to recruit/convert me (he knows I am too smart to fall for it, so he didnt even try), we have talked about these things, and I've asked him a few things about his cult. However, there was always some sort of mysticism about that particular cult, not him (my friend I mentioned), nor anyone else reveals a lot about it, its almost as if they have something to hide. And I realize it now, they hide anything that might give a bad name to them, anything that a person can use to point the finger at them that would make them look bad. About Satan that was mentioned in the end, yeah they are extremely superstitious about that stuff. They consider a lot of movies, video games, pictures, artwork, symbols, or even phrases to be Satanic. Not just evil or bad, but LITERALLY from Satan and his demons, that might affect their brain and maybe taint them with evil. I dont know if they actually believe in demonic possession, but I do know they believe that you can be affected by demons in a way. Lastly, I really liked the last e-mail, really made me empathize and feel for the poor person who had his whole life turned around in an instant, all his loved ones abandon him merely for the fact that he dared question and think for himself. Just for the fact that they will abandon and never speak to close relatives who are apostants, this horrible cruel shunning is enough to convince me that they are evil. What a horrible thing to do, what absolute brain-washing one has to be subjected to in order to go that far.
Well, you don't really have it all correct regarding what witnesses believe, but I fault the source, not you. I'm afraid people base their beliefs largely on media as their source. As Howard Zinn pointed out, "History is selected for us." Which raises a question, 'If we're not in a named 'religion' would it be accurate to say we're not religious? Mostly people follow the State and whatever it says which according to Chomsky "...is far worse than any other religion." Think about it: "Markets know best", "Consume", "Infinite growth on a finite planet", "Austerity" etc. Of course 'Austerity' applies to the unfortunate neighbors who are being sacrificed in the Eurozone. Remember the Aztecs? Non of this is directly from the Watchtower, but one can do his own analysis and inference. The situation in the world is pretty bad when looked at through your own eyes and not through the lens of media; don't expect the networks to frame a dire picture for you. But do expect much of the needed information about the world to be hidden! The Bible is the only source that exposes why the world is the way it is and how it will be corrected.
nota2cdtime _"you don't really have it all correct regarding what witnesses believe"_ - I've actually learned a lot since then, but whatever. _"people base their beliefs largely on media as their source"_ - Sure thing, but I don't. I base my beliefs on reason and evidence, and I couldn't give a rats ass about what other people think or what the mass media propagates. _"History is selected for us."_ - Not for intelligent skeptics that value the truth. History may be selected for the masses though, yes. _"would it be accurate to say we're not religious"_ Of course, but if you are referring to JW's then no it wouldn't be accurate. Personally I am more concerned about people's beliefs relative to the supernatural, regardless if they are part of an organized religion or not. Theism is basic belief, while religion isn't a belief. Religion relates to or involves people's beliefs but it isn't a belief in and of itself. _"Mostly people follow the State and whatever it says which according to Chomsky "...is far worse than any other religion."_ I disagree. First of all, people don't just "follow the State" people have a direct influence on what the State is and what it represents. The State is meant to be a tool by which we establish order, rules and laws in order for society to function, and it is established by people, run by people, and altered/changed by people. Ultimately, the State can be modified and its rules and laws altered by people, and their mass movements. However it is true that most people just go along with the established order of affairs and accept the State as it is, either because they have no other choice or because they cannot think of anything else. But the statement I disagree with the most, is that "its far worse than any other religion". How can you possibly say that? The worst and most influential religions have brought nothing but war, pain and suffering. It takes a religious delusional mind to believe that by killing hundreds of people in a single blow while killing yourself at the same time, is a good thing and will make the world a better place. Only with religion you can get people to commit the worst atrocities, and still feel they've done something good, something great. The State offers order and control, and the same can be said about religion, but the biggest difference here is that religion has no means of sustaining that order and preserving life, has no rules or laws that are proven to work for a sustainable society, and most importantly, isn't even trying to provide an alternative to a State. Religions tell you how to live your life, without any regard for what is actually possible, and without any regard for what is true, sustainable, or beneficial for our species. A religion would have you actually believe that what you do here and now, in this life that we all know that we have, DOES NOT matter. That whether you live or die does not matter. Do not compare State with religion. None of them is perfect, but the State has its uses. Religion serves no purpose, not anymore at least. It cant even provide us with a system that works, because it isn't based on evidence. _"Markets know best", "Consume", "Infinite growth on a finite planet", "Austerity" etc. Of course 'Austerity' applies to the unfortunate neighbors who are being sacrificed in the Eurozone"_ - Yes, these are the rules of the free-market capitalism that we have right now. A horrible immoral system that I strongly oppose. And it also had its use for a time, but not anymore, it is terribly obsolete and destructive, and we could/should have done without it a long time ago. The options are NOT: Either Capitalism or religion. That is a false duality. As I previously stated, religion isn't even trying to provide the answer to these problems, it simply can't. You can use already existing theocracies that exist in certain countries right now as an example, but I don't think you'd want to argue for something like that, at least I hope you wouldn't. _"Non of this is directly from the Watchtower"_ - It doesn't matter, as I didn't say that the Watchtower is the root of all evil, nor I'd even imply something like that. Also, you don't seem very firm on this, are you arguing in favor of religion in general, or for your specific religion, which is JW as I'm inferring from this post? And btw, the Watchtower is responsible for other horrible things, nobody is really concerned about the Aztecs anymore, at least not in any practical sense. Please don't make me point out the family shunning, superstition, delusional irrational beliefs and fear-mongering, horrible doctrine, childhood indoctrination, atrocious rules against positive health care, etc, that your religion is responsible for. We can do without all that crap. We must do without it. _"when looked at through your own eyes and not through the lens of media"_ - I don't "look through the lens of the media", and I don't really know why you keep suggesting that. Could it be that you're counting this TTA as "media"? Technically it is, but usually people call mass media as "media", not a radio podcast that most people have never even heard about. Also, if you must know, I've been to several JW meetings, including different Kingdom Halls in different areas, talked to a number of people (witnesses) in public and in private, read an extensive amount of info on the official website (jw dot org), and done my own little research for all kinds of things that I was curious about. Sadly, the more delve into the rabbit hole, the more horrible disappointing things I dig up. _"The Bible is the only source that exposes why the world is the way it is and how it will be corrected."_ - Thank you for demonstrating just how dishonest you are, firstly by not explicitly stating that you are JW, and then by ending your semi-rational post (at best) with the statement that the Bible is true and correct. Would you care to provide any evidence as to how the Bible accurately explains "why the world is the way it is", why is that true, and why its predictions will come true? Oh right, of course you cant, because you've bought into a fairy tale that doesn't even relate to the real world and lacks even the most basic evidence. Of course, I know very well what you really mean by that statement: You believe that the world is corrupt and evil, because God made a bet with Satan. And because of Satan, and God keeping his distance from us, there is too much evil in this world. And before all that, mankind (just 2 people) made a terrible mistake by disobeying God's orders, even though God knew that, and he planned for it. And because of those 2 people, and because God is a fucking asshole, we must all suffer in return. But its all good and well, because in the end God will kill everyone *except* good and faithful Jehova's Witnesses that he'll welcome into his Kingdom in Heaven. What a nice God. In fact, the Watchtower has published many writings where its explicitly stated that only the few will get in heaven, and the rest of us are screwed, aka will cease to exist as punishment. This belief is so firm that you even used to have a number for the people that will get in Heaven, didn't you? There's even a hierarchy about a very small number of people that will rule in Heaven with God, and the rest of the good ones will be in a lower class, in which they will be granted a new perfect body to live on earth forever happily with everything they will ever need. The rest of us can go die in a fire, right? A good God, a truly omnibenevolent God would NEVER have a divine plan that involves the death, pain and suffering of billions of people. A good God would never allow Satan to have any sort of influence in his creation, and he would make sure that his beloved creation is happy, safe and sound at all times. A good God would look *nothing like* the God of the Bible. I could type for hours, and I can provide sources for all these Watchtower publications, but this post is already massive, so I'll leave it at that. I will only say one last thing: If you really think that your God, Jehova the almighty, is a good kind loving God, and everything he does is just and good, then you truly are a corrupt immoral piece of garbage, and for that I am sorry.
I think God's name is actually Harold, not Jehovah. Because when I was a kid and Mom would take me to church, I could hear the adults praying: Our Father Who art in Heaven Harold be Thy name
@@Kuswasinnam As a cradle Catholic old enough to remember Latin masses, I mis-heard many things, the best of which was the blessing, "Domino pizza, domino pizza, domino piiii-eeeee-zaaaa!" I also thought that the Ave Maria had something to do with underwear. Thus, "And blessed be the Fruit of the Loom, Jesus." I hope Harold had a good laugh.
I had a friend who was forced to become a JW. His wife was one and figured it was perfectly fine with threatening to turn him in to legal authorities for an unintentional mistake he made many years ago if he didn't join. He was a kind man and many people lost a good friend when his wife turned on him. How is any of this okay? What a sick bunch of hypocrites.
The first question I get from this is: If it's paradise on earth, why do they need rulers in heaven? Paradise suggests perfect behavior in a perfect world, doesn't it?
Thank you for saying the things you do (and for sounding so great while you're doing it!) New fan, currently binge-watching everything you've got! xoxo
Years ago, two JWs rang the doorbell at my current place. They mentioned my "no soliciting" sign, which suggested to me that they didn't think the sign applied to them. I was annoyed at the intrusion, but being a non-confrontational person, I politely told them that this wasn't a good time for me to talk. They claimed they would return some other time, but they never did (that, or my doorbell failed to sound). Given how persistent they are known to be, it surprises me that they never bothered me again. I wonder about them from time to time. Knowing what I know now, I can't help but feel badly for them, as they were both women, as best I can recall.
My father was a staunch Catholic, and when Jehova's witness people knocked on our door, he'd invite them in and debate theology with them, .. after an hour or so they'd be pleading to be let out :-)
I always laugh at Jehovah Witnesses. I like to tell them "If you can't even get God's name right, how can I trust your actually talking to him? Considering the Hebrew language doesn't have a 'J' sound, it's impossible that his name was 'Jehovah.'"
IngetKant I kinda pointed out something along these lines to them and they pointed out 30+ times in my own bible where it says his name is in fact Jehovah, also saying those who do not recognize his name as Jehovah will not be accepted into the kingdom, so you better start recognizing. Lol. Jk.
It's remarkable how much the Watchtower knows about a god that is invisible and unknowable. I was brought up a Catholic and never met any of the characters I was supposed to believe in and worship.
Wow, I honestly didn't realize how little I knew about Witnesses until today. Love your podcasts as always and I look forward to calling/emailing someday.
Secondly, Excellent show and very well constructed . I predict this podcast will surpass every other podcast in terms of sheer viewer numbers by the next few years especially when the organization is forced to merge or dissolve into another mechanism of control at that time there will be a massive influx of viewers seeking help from beautiful people like the host of this podcast. Get ready for an avalanche my friend there will be a need for another podcast soon labeled (Emergency help for suicidal JWs )
True story pt2 One day I got for a job interview for Tuesday next in London, an hour plus away by train, with no way to tell the JWs I'd be out. After the interview and getting back to the train station there a suitable train just about to leave. I ran down the platform picked a random carriage, a random door, climbed in and sat down. Sitting opposite me was Christine. Assessing my suit and shiny shoes she simply smiles, leans forward and says "Obviously God didn't want us to miss you today".
This was a fascinating show so thank you for all of the info. I have a friend who I met a law school who revealed herself to me as a witness towards the end of the second semester and I have always been a little confused about the clear contradictions between her personality, level of university education, personal history etc and religious beliefs. The last time I had knockers at the door I politely told them that I am an atheist, it worked very well!
masonic...both russell and rutherford were into the masons, as well as pyramidiology... the 2 men westcott and hort who put together their so called greek text were involved with the occult.. they would try to summons dead people. a man named johannes greber is a person they gave them many so called 'correct' translations to scripture in their bible was a literal satanist... so theres some food for thought regarding the jw cult. all anyone has to do is a little research.
My friend was a Jehovah's witness growing up. My other friends and I used to lie to her parents to get her out of the house, so that we could throw her birthday parties. Turns out her mum knew that we were doing this, but let it happen anyway. As far as I know, my friend never did get in any trouble from her parents. Thankyou Patsy for not being so strict with your religious rules :)
It's always nice to know, no matter how many people shun you for not having religion, no matter how many family members shun you, you always have a place. Without religion, you're apart of a bigger family. The Human family.
I completely kick myself for buying into this sect. I remember saying "I'm open minded about religion" when accepting a study. So open minded, as Dawkins put it, 'that my brain fell out.' Glad I was skeptical enough to investigate their claims-first within their publications, and then on the web- to be able to get out. Three years that I will never get back. Glad also that I didn't connect too much with them. I can only imagine how those born into the cult can contemplate leaving.
My wife is in the witness protection program. A recovering witness. I protect her from looking back. They try to get her to come back and cannot for the life of them see that the things they say drive her further away. They are doomsday nuts.
Hi VS. I'm trained as a biologist and I have the temperament of a teacher. I really enjoy offering them the experience of knowledge based logic, insofar as my own limited knowledge allows. I don't see this as a waste of time but, rather as recreation.
Yeah, I put them right under Scientology and Mormonism. They will shun the shit out of you, this means they will not even acknowledge that you exist if you leave. They have Crazy shit. They think the Arch Angel Michael and Jesus are the same being.
While I was in elementary school (K-6) at a very tiny school ...yes VERY tiny, there was one JW of the twelve students in my class (yes only TWELVE). We never understood the reason his mother came to get him every time we had a party for ANY reason and he was not allowed to participate in P.E. Class. I am not certain the reason because he had an older brother who attended high school at the school, but after 6th Grade, he and his younger brother would pulled out and was home schooled. About ten years ago, I added him to Facebook, then suddenly discovered his account had been deactivated. I have since done a little research that made me wonder if he either discovered (previously didn't know) that Facebook was not allowed by the faith or was using Facebook without the knowledge of the church and someone found out. As a child, he was a normal kid...other than having to leave when we had parties.
It cracked me up when I found out that the name "Jehovah" was the result of a crude early attempt to reconstruct the Hebrew name of god (YHWH), which nowadays is better translated "Yahweh" or "Yahve". Even better, the "Jehovah" translation was made by German academics, so even if you go with that translation, it should be pronounced according to the German spelling scheme: "yay-hoe-fah."
I would. I may be bias, I seem to have a deep contempt for them because of the huge amount of money they're making from business etc. But yes, I would like to hear about them.
I'm eagerly awaiting a JW visit, but it's been a few years. The last time was when I told them I had something for THEM and handed them a couple of FFRF pamphlets. They had a look of confusement, thanked me and left. I wonder if my address was put on a blacklist? Shucks.
I wasn't a 'witness' but we were taught that patriotism was sinful for the same reason, that is was like worshiping something other than God/Jesus. I thought that this was just a Canadian Christian thing, so I was surprised when I heard this. The stereotype of "God 'N' 'Murica" was very foreign to me as a child.
You should have Jill give a list of the questions the Jehovah's Witnesses couldn't answer. Next time a Jehovah's Witness showed up on my doorstep I could ask them.
I asked them what happens to their ideal life here on earth when our sun turns into a red dwarf and the earth is incinerated. God will provide, was the answer!
There is a JW campaign in full swing in the UK at the moment. This is a great source of information to refute all the crap that they are now churning out at railway stations! Keep up the good work Seth
Only once did the Jehovah's Witness knock on my door. I told them I am an atheist and I have nothing to say to you. Then I said do not knock on my door again next time I will not be nice. It's been 18 months and they have not knocked on my door since.
It's that bad. I was a JW 26 years. It's all the worst bullshit you can imagine. It's all about selling for your organization. The people who sell the most and put the most hours in selling the religion get the most prestige.
I remember one Halloween my friends and I went to a house that we found out later was a home to Jehovah's Witnesses. They gave us, as well as everyone else that stopped there that night, religious tracts. Yeah, when we walked by that house later that night, it had already received a good covering of eggs and toilet paper.
this is the best accurate Jehovah Witness info I have heard. The reasons you get different version of JW is because there's a difference between the old and new generation of JW also there's a slight differences in different countries and congregation. That difference was the one that drove me away from the religion and had me searching info on my own. I have been out of the cult for 15 years and became an atheist 10 years ago.
Went with a JW friend a couple of times to Easter service and was told not to drink the wine because only the chosen ones could !! So I was told specifically by my friend that I can't possibly be one of the 144 000 like she new that🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 The utter naive ignorance , and I should say arrogance is mind blowing , because a friend of my mom actually knows she's one of the chosen ones hahaha and has basically been out casted by the congregation lol. The hypocracy is sickening and I'm no longer able to stomach my friend because of her childish JW view of reality 🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐
I think that JW's also are taught to accept no other source of information except their own publications as true. I'm quite sure only ex JW's or lapsing ones will look up information from the websites mentioned because doing so would be highly frowned upon.
My uncle joined the Jehovah's Witnesses in order to get out of the military. At least that's what I was told as a kid. But anyway, his kids were not allowed to celebrate holiday parties in class. They literally had to sit out in the hall when other kids celebrated. We were never told we couldn't spend time with them, though. I enjoyed spending time with his daughter. Sadly, I fell out of touch with her, b/c he molested me at a sleepover & I never had any contact with them after that.
aloma alber thats what we want to celebrate now that we’re no longer religiously affiliated. Exchange presents and have fun on Christmas for science! :p
Is it just me or audible dot com have been sponsoring the entirety of youtube? Not that i"m complaining. This makes the presence of many good youtubers easier to sustain.
I'm not, nor ever have been, a JW but I have had some experience in dealing with JW parents of children needing blood transfusions. I think the adults can make decisions for themselves, even if I think they're in error but they have no such right over children. It's a lot easier these days (almost a rubber stamp) to get a court order to give blood products to children if they need them. I may be misjudging the parents but I think this has become a bit of a get-out-of-gaol-free card for them because their children get the blood products they need and the parents don't have to make the decision to either endanger their child or go against their religion. As much as I think the JWs are wrong, I think most of the blame for their wrong beliefs can be sheeted home to Rutherford. C. T. Russell was wrong, especially insofar as his prophecy was concerned, but I don't think malice motivated him. Rutherford was a whole nother ball game.
I have a relative who converted to JW years ago. I remember as a kid all of a sudden we didn't get Christmas gifts from her anymore, or birthday gifts or cards. And I wondered why. I asked my mom and she mumbled something about this relative not believing in these things anymore because she'd joined some church. Not believe in a BIRTHDAY? I found that strange. She came to visit us a few years back & brought a tablet - I didn't have a tablet yet & asked her to show me the ropes & what it could do. So she turned it on & opened the JW literature on it. I said - well show me the internet. She looked at me and said 'Oh we're not allowed - it's pre-loaded with Kingdom literature and that's all it is meant for.'. The mind boggles. I don't fight with her but have been told many times that I'm going straight to hell....which is not a very nice thing for a relative to say. Thankfully she lives across the country and we don't have much contact.
It's obvious you're telling a lie because Jehovah's witnesses don't believe in a burning hell that people go to for godless living. I was a witness for years so I know their doctrine.
I love how specific and detailed you are. Well... 1. no there is not (except of course in the mind of people) and 2. i think we're both wasting our time right now.
They actually have a rather twisted view of head of the house. A man seems to only be the head of his house and his wife if he is acting in agreement with the directives of the organization This implies an interesting view they entertain of women. They believe that Eve was tricked but Adam wasn't which screams out male intellectual supremacy over women. When I was a member I wanted my son to go to the " seasonal" holiday at school since the principal had the decency to rename it in an effort to include all children. That was when I lost my role as head of the house and received a phone call from one of the elders telling me to listen to my wife instead. They also seem to at times use the head of the house crap to find a scapegoat when family problems erupt. As I was on my way out I use to tell them that view. My own mother wants little to do with me. However atheism is like the mother I always wanted to meet. It has improved my life in many ways. I am more easy going and rational. Atheism has given me answers to questions I had since I was a kid. One atheist I know said to me that I may have been a closet atheist since childhood. She may be right.
To think that this superstitious cult that causes so much misery was started by an obsessed, dysfunctional, twisted, man who relied on a tribal book written in the Bronze Age by unknown Hebrew authors to do his thinking for him. How sad for the children of the 144,000.
They do not celebrate ANYTHING. It is a joyless apocalyptic cult. They are waiting for their god to kill everyone, except the 8 million JW's so they can live on a Paradise earth.
@ kay jay They do celibrate some things, such as Easter/Good-Friday, just not in the twisted/secular way with the Easter bunny, chocolates/candies, or such. Also one doesn't need to do special stuff on arbitrary days to have fun or enjoy life. I enjoy my live great without doing anything on my birthday.
Hey ex-JW's. How do you suggest we treat the JW door knockers? I used to debate them till I learned of the wonderful shunning. Now I just ask them to take me off their list.
I am a former JW turned atheist. I have influenced my 14 year old son to also embrace atheism. My wife who is still a devote JW and is pissed off. It is the main reason we are separated. I am known to the JWS as an apostate and am shunned by family members and former friends. In many ways I do respect some of their beliefs but they are serious control freaks. They are not trying to influence schools education directly but many do take their kids out of school and home school them to avoid learning evolution. My son is into astro-physics and if it wasn't for the fact that I got him into astronomy clubs he would have little friends due to the fact that he does not cling 100% to the JW beliefs. The problem is that I don't give a shit about how they treat me for I am 52 and accepting of the fact that they are idiots. But to completely shun a 14 year old is very shameful. I am also an amateur comic and when I get going on religion I start with them. If you visited their headquarters it is like James Bond being in the headquarters of the top villain. The workers walk around like robots. At their large conventions the way they give speeches for 3 days in a row stinks of obvious brainwashing. When I was living with my wife I did not look forward to her coming back from those assemblies because they brained washed her several times to want nothing to do with me for several days. I even heard them say 1 time that the women in the audience with nonbelieving husbands have absolutely nothing to go home to and should be given empathy. One comical thing that happened was when 1 of the elders in the kingdom hall told my son when he was 13 that I was an atheist for reason to live a debauched life. My son answered him by saying that that is not true. My father is actually stricter with me than my mother. He then told the elder that he was going to tell me what the elder said and that I was going to come down there and kick his ass.
larjjlion wow i love your story and more importantly your son,for not getting brainwashed like the rest of them 👍🏽
Good job. I know it's been 6 years, so how is it going now?
larjjlion you think JWs are strict, Mormons are worse
🤣💯%
Good dad. True to yourself. Bty I remember 75
I was raised as a Jehovah Witness.... It was by far the most mundane and miserable existence. Glad I'm out.
That's why the Harry Krishnas are the one true religion. Lol
I agree
Mundane is honestly the best adjective to describe that life . So effing boring
Jehovah's*
HKpanzer l
My sister is a JW. Her son died when he was 21. He was born with chromosome problems and was confined to a wheel chair his entire life. His mother during his life was very active in groups working to help kids with these problems. He and his mother were so well known for their activities that a state reps wife attended the JW funeral. They spent 5 minites talking about my nephew and never even mentioned the incredible influence he had on the understanding of these birth defects. For the next 20 miniutes they preached their propaganda. They actually had the nerve to say how great it will be when he comes back in the 'new system" perfect. Later that evening my sister sat crying and then screamed out that he was perfect to her when he was born and while he lived. She remains an inactive JW. She is the only JW sibling of mine that will talk to me especially about things she is afraid to admit disbelief. In spite of their lack of respect for her and her son she still clings on the fringes of this group of whack jobs because she remains convinced she will see her son again. She feels that if she formally leaves she will not see him again. She confides in me 'an atheist" because the rest of my crazy family just tells her to get over it.
That's because the elders handbook gives exact instructions on how to do a funeral. 5 minutes on the person and go into recruiting mode. It's sad.
And EVERY JW will tell you they have no rules. They'll look at you shocked for even suggesting it. Brainwashing is a powerful thing.
When it comes to normal human emotions, especially grief, JWs do NOT take it seriously. They are so convinced that death is just a temporary break from life. I remember a JW telling a story about an African man in the grocery store. He was crying because of all the food available for dogs, and the lack of it for children in his own country. She burst into laughter at the end of her account. What kind of person would think that famine is funny? I cannot respect these people. They make it impossible. I've been invited to her home numerous times for "family dinners", but I know I'll never go. It seems pointless to have people like this in my life.
They are incredible rude even bulling when your relative days.
They have the entitelment to tel you you hve to stop grief - because later in a perfect world - you meet your brother again withaut cancer - yada - yads - and more rudnes and gaslighting yada....
That'd was the point when I startet to hate them.
I was even not in yet - they were at me door to try to lurk me in.
3 days after me brother decirses - I wonder if they read the newspaper to know where is a deciesed to go and pray on theyr relatives - prey on the week.
My big fout was - I let them in - 3 mounths of insanety and emotional torture.
No one rrspected me grief.
They talk they are the thru relligion of love - but they dont understand that brother and sister love each other.
No empathie - forced fake happieness oll the time - super abusive - theyr systhem is so disgusting.
They are like the fucked up dictatures in the east Europe at the 80s - the worst time to be in - in that time they were moust opressive and paranoid - the elders use the same systhem to rule and hunt down theyr members.
I had a cousin whose mother was a JW. The boy got into a traffic accident and was severely hurt...the mother refused to him a blood transfusion. The father who was not a JW overruled her decision so he did receive proper medical care but sadly did not survive. I never got to even meet him, he died when I was an infant. But just hearing the story was enough to make me hate the JW doctrine with a passion.
Oh and the JWs then used the kid's funeral to preach to my non-JW family. I'm glad to hear this ex-JW mention the travesty that are JW funerals. They ignore the deceased completely and bring a bunch of people who do not even know them in order to better preach. Disgusting behavior.
I keep wondering how it would have been if he had survived and found out that his mother refused to give him treatment.
This should not even be allowed by law, I do not care what religion you are, you have no right to let your child die. It truly angers me.
*****
I'm so glad you left! When it comes to JWs, the blood transfusion ban makes them a danger to their children. It's probably one of the religions that causes more harm and I always rejoice whenever someone leaves it.
I'm a hospital nurse, and JW parents are circumnavigated once the child is in the hospital. Pediatric wards and ER's (at least the one's I've been to) have a list of judges' cellphone and home phone numbers. If a parent won't consent to treatment, they just call up one of the judges and get him to order it. If the parent tried to inter-seed, never heard of it happening, then security would stop them. The problem with the JW's and other crazy groups is that the kids might never be brought to the hospital in the first place.
When this happened, in my country, doctors almst always ignored the parents' wishes but they did so a bit at their peril. While technically they *could* get in trouble afterwards it never actually happened as no sane court even considered pursuing a case against a doctor for doing his duty by his patient.
But that there should be any hoops at all, any need to contact anyone, is already insane.
Once my Grandmother a very devout Witness was sitting next to me at my mother's Wedding, 3rd Marriage 1st wedding. My mother was even more devout than my G-ma.
Anyway, The brother presiding over the wedding, started going on and on about my mother's proper role as the wife. at this point in my life I had been out of the religion for about 5 years, so it was really weird for me hearing this bull-crap. But the funny thing was, My grandmother grabs my arm, pulls me in close and whispers to me, "I think we get the point!"
It was the very first time I had ever seen a crack in the veneer of her belief. I will never forget that.
I rather wonder why the JWs even bother with a wedding, why not just go straight to the cattle sale
@@jandrews6254 that is how they feel about women.
Thank you for sharing this, TTA!!! :) I'm 44 years old and a disfellowshipped JW (DF'd about 2.5 years ago). I was a fourth generation JW and my brother is very high up in the JW Headquarters. I went to college and got away with it but it was severely frowned upon. I developed Anorexia and many related problems. It almost killed me. They now know me at the emergency room LOL. The pedophilia is rampant (I was molested but not nearly as badly as others.) My mother is the only person in my family that breaks the rule but she is a Mama Bear and gets away with it. My friend just introduced me to your show. Speaking of birthdays, when I was 5, I ate a birthday cupcake and was severely beaten with a leather belt when I got off the school but and came home crying for what I did because I was already riddled with guilt. It is just horrible. It's like once you're in and you find out what's going on, you can't stay in but when you get out you're so socially scarred that "regular" life is very difficult. And on drinking, everybody does it in order to cope. Thanks for sharing this.
I hope you're living in a better environment now. Best wishes to you,
My life story is this mans life story. This is the most accurate description of JW doctrine and thinking I've ever heard.
SHE CANNOT MAKE HER SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREE...
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I had 2 Jehovahs come over last Thursday. Long story short: I owned them, big time. I knew much more about the Bible and science than they did. But it was a pleasant and relaxed conversation overall. They want to come back this week. I hope they will, we'll see who converts who ;)
Well, weren't the people on this podcast all ex-Jehovahs? Didn't they also choose to pay the price because living honestly was worth more to them?
Dutch Skeptic First, don't call them Jehovahs... Jehovah is the name of their god... they call themselves Jehovah's witnesses... so you can call them witnesses. That kinda bugs them. And yes, if they leave they will be shunned by their family and friends...and thats important because they don't associate with anyone who isn't a witness. Its a huge thing to leave. But you can sew some seeds of doubt. The knowledge on the internet maybe their nemesis.
*****
My comment was to the Dutch Skeptic who said it was "pleasant and relaxed" so it doesn't sound like he was bugged and he wanted to talk to them again so it was just a suggestion. As for them caring if they bug people... they view it as a commandment from god to preach to people. Most of them hate bugging people but they are in a mind control cult so they think they have to do it.
squirrly001 Thanks for the advice. I have talked to them two times after and we're still planning for a next meeting. It's not about knowledge (in that I'm clearly superior, if I do say so myself) it's about the proper strategy and I'm not sure there.
I have discovered in many previous debates with religious people it won't help you to just insult them, although you can - depending on the person - make fun of their beliefs a little, as long as you distinguish between them and some of the religious beliefs they may or may not adhere to: don't identify a believer with a belief or you won't talk them out of it. It's a way of trying to convince them of the thought: 'This particular thing is silly, right? Come on, I know you're too smart to believe that.'
If you keep doing that, it might get you somewhere, and that's what I've been trying so far. But I'm not sure if I'm making progress, any other tips might be helpful :)
***** are you saying you got a JW to listen to reason? Wow.didn't know it was possible.
had jehova witnesses at my door this morning. they gave me the watchtower, i asked them if they would like to have a copy of Playboy.
they didn't want to talk to me anymore...
why not?
i thought it was rather nice of me to offer them also something!
xerox1959 I realize this post is a few yrs old, but I love this. EPIC AS HELL.
I was getting regular visits from jw's at first I was polite but I basically made it clear that I wasn't interested. So when they kept coming I started answering them more and more comfortably by answering the door more and more naked! The last time they came, I was completely nude and sharpening my broadsword! Never saw the again after that, not sure why 😜
I'm a former Jehova witnesses who also once considered the idea of not getting college education. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to travel around the world, getting in contact with other kind of religious people other the Christians was what made me think about the possibility that the Mayne the Christian faith is wrong, it motivated me to search and y'all already know where it led me. Now I'm worried with one of my friends who still is a Jehova's witness, he finished high school two years ago and doesn't want to go to college.
I was raised Jehovah's Witnesses,at 14 years old i told my dad that i want to quit,''thank god''my mom was there,because i think i will not be here.finally a year later i have to go see elders to tell my dad to let me go,a year later my older brother and sister quit's,a and year later my parent leave because my sister and brother were excluded,an parent's could not talk to theyre children's!
I work from home and don't get out much and I don't get a lot of opportunities to socialize with people outside my family. I love it when they come around and I can mess with them. I have had 4 sets of JWs try to convert me. I have a game that I play (they don't know that they are playing along) called "how long can I string them along". My record so far is 4.5 months before they give up. I once spent 3 weeks just on one verse of the bible (when god commanded the Israelites to massacre the Canaanites). Messing with JWs is one of my favorite past times.
I know for a fact that they keep records of the people they visit. I poked my head out while two JWs were at my neighbor's door and told them not to bother knocking on my door.
"Oh, don't worry. You're on our "Do not call list."
But two weeks later two men with a six-year-old boy came a-knocking. In fact, the last two visits involved a child. I realized that they are using children as human shields for the tough cases. So I asked the child how old he was and started singing "Happy Birthday". Those S-E grins turned to gnashing teeth.
"He gets plenty of presents," said the younger man.
The older man snarled, "Jesus never celebrated his birthday!"
"How would you know? You weren't there. Maybe he did!"
They hustled the child away from this horrible influence. Haven't been visited in a decade!
Fucking right on, man!
as an exJehovah's Witness I approve this Podcast
I was raised in the Jehovah's Witnesses. This horrible religion filled me with paranoia, gave me catastrophic nervous breakdowns, ruined my education and ruined my entire life.
Sorry For Your Situation..., I Hope You Find The Lord Who Is The Truth!!!.....
I love this guy's voice. Kinda reminds me of Paul Harvey.
Jon Collins To me, he sounds like a calmer, far less dickish Bill Maher.
RobbyRaccoon I get a sort of Bryan/Brian Cranston vibe, but I know what you mean haha
+Jon Collins I thought he sounded like Paul Harvey the first time I heard him, too. Straight, serious delivery. A couple episodes in, I heard language Harvey would never use, and the humor. He's much hipper than Harvey. ; )
+Jon Collins - I think he sounds exactly like George Noory from Coast to Coast AM.
ex Jehovah ho here, so glad we got out many years ago, still have relatives that are in this stupid religion, peace to all xoxo
Why join that in the end that you'd only leave in the end!?!
Éliane Szostak you mean cult.
Proving JW's cult status and factoids on why religions need to be monitored and regulated (and taxed heavily!).
I agree fully, including the Mormon Church that has well over $150 BILLION DOLLARS in reserves. With over $150 Billion dollars that would make a good dent into the US National Debt!
my fam is all still in it going back to before they came over to the us from italy in the 30s, one thing that gets me is i found out someone i knew she and her little girls wore getting beaten by her husband for almost 16 years and he was a drunk and i when i found out that everyone knew it was going on but didnt do anything, it just makes my blood boil.
Carl Sagan said Ignorance is bliss to the ignorant but a pain on the butt for the rest of us.
"Evolution is just a theory? Well, so is gravity and I don't see you jumping out of buildings." ~Richard Dawkins.
I have family that are in this cult. My stepbrother once told me , I had the devil in me trying to get to him. We were close and that hurt me that he could believe that. I'm not butt hurt over that, but we grew apart after that as his beliefs drove a wedge between us. That happened when we were 17, in 1980.
David Paul I had a friend that is JW, and he was very logical and inteligent, never the less, I was very worry for him, because not matter how inteligent he was, if he had an accident his family wouldnt give him a blood transfusion and he would die, that really make me angry, and how ilogical it was, and how easily he acept it.
It is frustrating, and is hard to under stand. They said they could not eat meat that had not been bleed "properly" , but you cannot ever get all the blood out of meat.
David Paul The defence mechanism kicks in and the shields go up. Its well constructed on their part but its so dishonest and its a shame that it drives wedges between families. I know how you feel David as my mum was disfellowshipped and although I kept going to the kingdom hall for a couple of years I slowly stopped believing. This was probably due to my education in science but that's irrelevant here. I am no longer close with any of my cousins, and that's what I really miss. My mum has been shunned by most of her family and her friends.
The thing is, from experience as a Jehovah's witness youth up until the age of 18 as well a a young woman; the watchtower no doubt uses women and children as free labor. Women are the majority but are treated like the refuse. They argue that god and the bible says that's women are to be treated as "Compliments" to men. Basically that means, women are too cook for the special meals for traveling elders and circuit overseers, or cooking for or working on congregation hall building projects. And as a daughter/grand daughter of 2 fulltime pioneers (My mother and grandmother) who put in
90+ Hours a month, women do most of the preaching work. They are restricted in who they can choose for mates. So Jehovah witnesses ladies typical either do 2 things. They settle with the first brother who proposes, even if they aren't compatitible or they remain alone. The women are very oppressed the children are oppressed the people are oppressed except for those in charge who are as you know, not female. And even they're oppressed by the governing body. The kings of the God filled, empty cave..
*****
I'm sorry you feel that way. But unfortunately everything I posted above IS indeed FACT. I lived the hypocrisy. I watched it. I researched it in the watchtowers own publications! The evidence was literally right in front of me. I have nothing to gain from this other then warning others of this dangerous and very deceitful organization. I'm not attacking you or your hopes and belief. I'm attacking the 8-12 older men, of the governing body, who allow the things that happen in this wretched place happen. You just have to open your mind. It's funny when you say "Hear both sides of the story." Because the watchtower would only have you hear 1 side.
There's.
Tell me, it's obvious your affiliated still with Jehovah's witnesses. What research have you done on this group you follow exactly? The bible you follow says to keep testing to be sure you have the true faith. That includes your own beliefs. It also says that if a false prophet makes a prediction and it doesn't come to pass that you are to no longer follow that prophet? (Watchtower and it's leaders predicted the end in 1914, 1918, 1925, 1938, 1975) I don't mean what other people say about the watchtower either. I mean have you seen what exactly is in the older publications? All the false predictions of the time of the end? All the flip flopping doctrines(Light getting brighter? More like light shut off and then switched back on then off again. All the just plain bad advice? I'll start you off with something simple. Why did the watchtower state that 1914 was the year Christ chose them as the "Only true religion." It's not for reasons you think.
My parents are JW's and only half of the "you cannot pick your own mate" thing is true. You can, BUT, it has to be another JW.
Very very interesting podcast, I definitely learned a lot from this.
One of my close friends is a JW, and even though he has never tried to recruit/convert me (he knows I am too smart to fall for it, so he didnt even try), we have talked about these things, and I've asked him a few things about his cult.
However, there was always some sort of mysticism about that particular cult, not him (my friend I mentioned), nor anyone else reveals a lot about it, its almost as if they have something to hide. And I realize it now, they hide anything that might give a bad name to them, anything that a person can use to point the finger at them that would make them look bad.
About Satan that was mentioned in the end, yeah they are extremely superstitious about that stuff. They consider a lot of movies, video games, pictures, artwork, symbols, or even phrases to be Satanic. Not just evil or bad, but LITERALLY from Satan and his demons, that might affect their brain and maybe taint them with evil.
I dont know if they actually believe in demonic possession, but I do know they believe that you can be affected by demons in a way.
Lastly, I really liked the last e-mail, really made me empathize and feel for the poor person who had his whole life turned around in an instant, all his loved ones abandon him merely for the fact that he dared question and think for himself.
Just for the fact that they will abandon and never speak to close relatives who are apostants, this horrible cruel shunning is enough to convince me that they are evil. What a horrible thing to do, what absolute brain-washing one has to be subjected to in order to go that far.
Well, you don't really have it all correct regarding what witnesses believe, but I fault the source, not you. I'm afraid people base their beliefs largely on media as their source. As Howard Zinn pointed out, "History is selected for us."
Which raises a question, 'If we're not in a named 'religion' would it be accurate to say we're not religious? Mostly people follow the State and whatever it says which according to Chomsky "...is far worse than any other religion."
Think about it: "Markets know best", "Consume", "Infinite growth on a finite planet", "Austerity" etc. Of course 'Austerity' applies to the unfortunate neighbors who are being sacrificed in the Eurozone. Remember the Aztecs? Non of this is directly from the Watchtower, but one can do his own analysis and inference.
The situation in the world is pretty bad when looked at through your own eyes and not through the lens of media; don't expect the networks to frame a dire picture for you. But do expect much of the needed information about the world to be hidden!
The Bible is the only source that exposes why the world is the way it is and how it will be corrected.
nota2cdtime Yeah, sure. Shit's gonna hit-the-fan any second. How many times you panic-mongering fuckers predicted that? Kingdom, schmingdom...schmuck.
Indoctrination+mind control+fear=religion. Divisive and cruel, all of them.
nota2cdtime
_"you don't really have it all correct regarding what witnesses believe"_
- I've actually learned a lot since then, but whatever.
_"people base their beliefs largely on media as their source"_
- Sure thing, but I don't. I base my beliefs on reason and evidence, and I couldn't give a rats ass about what other people think or what the mass media propagates.
_"History is selected for us."_
- Not for intelligent skeptics that value the truth. History may be selected for the masses though, yes.
_"would it be accurate to say we're not religious"_
Of course, but if you are referring to JW's then no it wouldn't be accurate.
Personally I am more concerned about people's beliefs relative to the supernatural, regardless if they are part of an organized religion or not.
Theism is basic belief, while religion isn't a belief. Religion relates to or involves people's beliefs but it isn't a belief in and of itself.
_"Mostly people follow the State and whatever it says which according to Chomsky "...is far worse than any other religion."_
I disagree.
First of all, people don't just "follow the State" people have a direct influence on what the State is and what it represents. The State is meant to be a tool by which we establish order, rules and laws in order for society to function, and it is established by people, run by people, and altered/changed by people.
Ultimately, the State can be modified and its rules and laws altered by people, and their mass movements.
However it is true that most people just go along with the established order of affairs and accept the State as it is, either because they have no other choice or because they cannot think of anything else.
But the statement I disagree with the most, is that "its far worse than any other religion".
How can you possibly say that?
The worst and most influential religions have brought nothing but war, pain and suffering.
It takes a religious delusional mind to believe that by killing hundreds of people in a single blow while killing yourself at the same time, is a good thing and will make the world a better place.
Only with religion you can get people to commit the worst atrocities, and still feel they've done something good, something great.
The State offers order and control, and the same can be said about religion, but the biggest difference here is that religion has no means of sustaining that order and preserving life, has no rules or laws that are proven to work for a sustainable society, and most importantly, isn't even trying to provide an alternative to a State.
Religions tell you how to live your life, without any regard for what is actually possible, and without any regard for what is true, sustainable, or beneficial for our species.
A religion would have you actually believe that what you do here and now, in this life that we all know that we have, DOES NOT matter. That whether you live or die does not matter.
Do not compare State with religion. None of them is perfect, but the State has its uses. Religion serves no purpose, not anymore at least. It cant even provide us with a system that works, because it isn't based on evidence.
_"Markets know best", "Consume", "Infinite growth on a finite planet", "Austerity" etc. Of course 'Austerity' applies to the unfortunate neighbors who are being sacrificed in the Eurozone"_
- Yes, these are the rules of the free-market capitalism that we have right now. A horrible immoral system that I strongly oppose.
And it also had its use for a time, but not anymore, it is terribly obsolete and destructive, and we could/should have done without it a long time ago.
The options are NOT: Either Capitalism or religion. That is a false duality.
As I previously stated, religion isn't even trying to provide the answer to these problems, it simply can't.
You can use already existing theocracies that exist in certain countries right now as an example, but I don't think you'd want to argue for something like that, at least I hope you wouldn't.
_"Non of this is directly from the Watchtower"_
- It doesn't matter, as I didn't say that the Watchtower is the root of all evil, nor I'd even imply something like that.
Also, you don't seem very firm on this, are you arguing in favor of religion in general, or for your specific religion, which is JW as I'm inferring from this post?
And btw, the Watchtower is responsible for other horrible things, nobody is really concerned about the Aztecs anymore, at least not in any practical sense.
Please don't make me point out the family shunning, superstition, delusional irrational beliefs and fear-mongering, horrible doctrine, childhood indoctrination, atrocious rules against positive health care, etc, that your religion is responsible for.
We can do without all that crap. We must do without it.
_"when looked at through your own eyes and not through the lens of media"_
- I don't "look through the lens of the media", and I don't really know why you keep suggesting that.
Could it be that you're counting this TTA as "media"? Technically it is, but usually people call mass media as "media", not a radio podcast that most people have never even heard about.
Also, if you must know, I've been to several JW meetings, including different Kingdom Halls in different areas, talked to a number of people (witnesses) in public and in private, read an extensive amount of info on the official website (jw dot org), and done my own little research for all kinds of things that I was curious about.
Sadly, the more delve into the rabbit hole, the more horrible disappointing things I dig up.
_"The Bible is the only source that exposes why the world is the way it is and how it will be corrected."_
- Thank you for demonstrating just how dishonest you are, firstly by not explicitly stating that you are JW, and then by ending your semi-rational post (at best) with the statement that the Bible is true and correct.
Would you care to provide any evidence as to how the Bible accurately explains "why the world is the way it is", why is that true, and why its predictions will come true?
Oh right, of course you cant, because you've bought into a fairy tale that doesn't even relate to the real world and lacks even the most basic evidence.
Of course, I know very well what you really mean by that statement:
You believe that the world is corrupt and evil, because God made a bet with Satan. And because of Satan, and God keeping his distance from us, there is too much evil in this world.
And before all that, mankind (just 2 people) made a terrible mistake by disobeying God's orders, even though God knew that, and he planned for it.
And because of those 2 people, and because God is a fucking asshole, we must all suffer in return.
But its all good and well, because in the end God will kill everyone *except* good and faithful Jehova's Witnesses that he'll welcome into his Kingdom in Heaven. What a nice God.
In fact, the Watchtower has published many writings where its explicitly stated that only the few will get in heaven, and the rest of us are screwed, aka will cease to exist as punishment.
This belief is so firm that you even used to have a number for the people that will get in Heaven, didn't you?
There's even a hierarchy about a very small number of people that will rule in Heaven with God, and the rest of the good ones will be in a lower class, in which they will be granted a new perfect body to live on earth forever happily with everything they will ever need.
The rest of us can go die in a fire, right?
A good God, a truly omnibenevolent God would NEVER have a divine plan that involves the death, pain and suffering of billions of people.
A good God would never allow Satan to have any sort of influence in his creation, and he would make sure that his beloved creation is happy, safe and sound at all times.
A good God would look *nothing like* the God of the Bible.
I could type for hours, and I can provide sources for all these Watchtower publications, but this post is already massive, so I'll leave it at that.
I will only say one last thing:
If you really think that your God, Jehova the almighty, is a good kind loving God, and everything he does is just and good, then you truly are a corrupt immoral piece of garbage, and for that I am sorry.
I think God's name is actually Harold, not Jehovah. Because when I was a kid and Mom would take me to church, I could hear the adults praying:
Our Father
Who art in Heaven
Harold be Thy name
BlatzBeer OMG your so funny! Never heard it expressed like that love it!
Lead us not into Penn Station...
A cousin had a glue ear when young, she'd say:
"Our Father,
Who art in Heaven,
Halloway pipeye nay.
@@Kuswasinnam As a cradle Catholic old enough to remember Latin masses, I mis-heard many things, the best of which was the blessing, "Domino pizza, domino pizza, domino piiii-eeeee-zaaaa!" I also thought that the Ave Maria had something to do with underwear. Thus, "And blessed be the Fruit of the Loom, Jesus." I hope Harold had a good laugh.
@@mcervantes362 Aye, at least there were some laughs 👍🏾
I had a friend who was forced to become a JW. His wife was one and figured it was perfectly fine with threatening to turn him in to legal authorities for an unintentional mistake he made many years ago if he didn't join. He was a kind man and many people lost a good friend when his wife turned on him. How is any of this okay? What a sick bunch of hypocrites.
The first question I get from this is: If it's paradise on earth, why do they need rulers in heaven? Paradise suggests perfect behavior in a perfect world, doesn't it?
Good call Larry. I noticed that too.
Yes. Good observation. Let's ask them when they show up at our door.
Thank you for saying the things you do (and for sounding so great while you're doing it!) New fan, currently binge-watching everything you've got! xoxo
This year I’m buying a Jehovah witness advent calendar, behind every door it says “f**k off!”
Wow? Are you kidding? 😯🤪🤩That's the second good laugh I've had tonight.
Years ago, two JWs rang the doorbell at my current place. They mentioned my "no soliciting" sign, which suggested to me that they didn't think the sign applied to them. I was annoyed at the intrusion, but being a non-confrontational person, I politely told them that this wasn't a good time for me to talk. They claimed they would return some other time, but they never did (that, or my doorbell failed to sound). Given how persistent they are known to be, it surprises me that they never bothered me again.
I wonder about them from time to time. Knowing what I know now, I can't help but feel badly for them, as they were both women, as best I can recall.
My father was a staunch Catholic, and when Jehova's witness people knocked on our door, he'd invite them in and debate theology with them, .. after an hour or so they'd be pleading to be let out :-)
I am a new listener to your podcast and I love it! Keep up the good work as I have now subscribed to all of your future podcasts.
I always laugh at Jehovah Witnesses. I like to tell them "If you can't even get God's name right, how can I trust your actually talking to him? Considering the Hebrew language doesn't have a 'J' sound, it's impossible that his name was 'Jehovah.'"
IngetKant I kinda pointed out something along these lines to them and they pointed out 30+ times in my own bible where it says his name is in fact Jehovah, also saying those who do not recognize his name as Jehovah will not be accepted into the kingdom, so you better start recognizing. Lol. Jk.
you're*
It's remarkable how much the Watchtower knows about a god that is invisible and unknowable.
I was brought up a Catholic and never met any of the characters I was supposed to believe in and worship.
Wow, I honestly didn't realize how little I knew about Witnesses until today. Love your podcasts as always and I look forward to calling/emailing someday.
Secondly, Excellent show and very well constructed . I predict this podcast will surpass every other podcast in terms of sheer viewer numbers by the next few years especially when the organization is forced to merge or dissolve into another mechanism of control at that time there will be a massive influx of viewers seeking help from beautiful people like the host of this podcast. Get ready for an avalanche my friend there will be a need for another podcast soon labeled (Emergency help for suicidal JWs )
+celestialruby888 As many podcasts as there are out there, Seth's has made the top three.
Touching story Wayne. Glad you have found happiness, and support in your life.
somewhat ironically, I've learned most of what I know about religions besides christianity from other athiests, e.g. this show
Another awesome video Seth! Thank you for all the hard work you do to entertain and educate us!
I wish the former JW woman would have mentioned what the questions were, which the "elders" couldn't answer.
this is my first time watching one of your vids. It's great; soothing voice, logical discussions and a sense of humor! - Australia
True story pt2
One day I got for a job interview for Tuesday next in London, an hour plus away by train, with no way to tell the JWs I'd be out.
After the interview and getting back to the train station there a suitable train just about to leave. I ran down the platform picked a random carriage, a random door, climbed in and sat down.
Sitting opposite me was Christine. Assessing my suit and shiny shoes she simply smiles, leans forward and says "Obviously God didn't want us to miss you today".
This was a fascinating show so thank you for all of the info. I have a friend who I met a law school who revealed herself to me as a witness towards the end of the second semester and I have always been a little confused about the clear contradictions between her personality, level of university education, personal history etc and religious beliefs. The last time I had knockers at the door I politely told them that I am an atheist, it worked very well!
Funny in the picture how they got Jesus with short hair. I can hear it now " Jesus ain't no damned hippie ". Lol. 😀😀.
lol
From what I'm hearing lately, he wasn't white either. Lol lol lol lol.
"This Means You."... I love it.
Great show as always.
The terms used by the Watchtower sound so Orwellian. Even the term Watchtower itself. Creepy.
masonic...both russell and rutherford were into the masons, as well as pyramidiology... the 2 men westcott and hort who put together their so called greek text were involved with the occult.. they would try to summons dead people. a man named johannes greber is a person they gave them many so called 'correct' translations to scripture in their bible was a literal satanist... so theres some food for thought regarding the jw cult. all anyone has to do is a little research.
My friend was a Jehovah's witness growing up. My other friends and I used to lie to her parents to get her out of the house, so that we could throw her birthday parties. Turns out her mum knew that we were doing this, but let it happen anyway. As far as I know, my friend never did get in any trouble from her parents. Thankyou Patsy for not being so strict with your religious rules :)
You guys are true friends. If we should all have been so lucky....
When they knock on your door, go to the door naked,
It's always nice to know, no matter how many people shun you for not having religion, no matter how many family members shun you, you always have a place. Without religion, you're apart of a bigger family. The Human family.
They are NOT banned in Canada - they're very active here.
In the past they had been banned in Canada.
I completely kick myself for buying into this sect. I remember saying "I'm open minded about religion" when accepting a study. So open minded, as Dawkins put it, 'that my brain fell out.' Glad I was skeptical enough to investigate their claims-first within their publications, and then on the web- to be able to get out.
Three years that I will never get back. Glad also that I didn't connect too much with them. I can only imagine how those born into the cult can contemplate leaving.
My wife is in the witness protection program. A recovering witness. I protect her from looking back. They try to get her to come back and cannot for the life of them see that the things they say drive her further away. They are doomsday nuts.
Hi VS. I'm trained as a biologist and I have the temperament of a teacher. I really enjoy offering them the experience of knowledge based logic, insofar as my own limited knowledge allows. I don't see this as a waste of time but, rather as recreation.
Aawww imagine not being able to celebrate talk like a pirate day! Y'arr breaks me heart it does!
ademetal you win the internet
wow i didnt know the JW was that bad. holy cow.
Yeah, I put them right under Scientology and Mormonism. They will shun the shit out of you, this means they will not even acknowledge that you exist if you leave. They have Crazy shit. They think the Arch Angel Michael and Jesus are the same being.
Who'd want to be a woman and a JW? What a miserable self servant life.
The quickest way to get red of a JW is to say no thankyou, I already have plans for the afterlift.
Man Wayne's letter I was about to cry.
Jehovahs Witless, I call 'em.
Richard Healy Jehovah's Nitwits
While I was in elementary school (K-6) at a very tiny school ...yes VERY tiny, there was one JW of the twelve students in my class (yes only TWELVE). We never understood the reason his mother came to get him every time we had a party for ANY reason and he was not allowed to participate in P.E. Class. I am not certain the reason because he had an older brother who attended high school at the school, but after 6th Grade, he and his younger brother would pulled out and was home schooled. About ten years ago, I added him to Facebook, then suddenly discovered his account had been deactivated. I have since done a little research that made me wonder if he either discovered (previously didn't know) that Facebook was not allowed by the faith or was using Facebook without the knowledge of the church and someone found out. As a child, he was a normal kid...other than having to leave when we had parties.
It cracked me up when I found out that the name "Jehovah" was the result of a crude early attempt to reconstruct the Hebrew name of god (YHWH), which nowadays is better translated "Yahweh" or "Yahve". Even better, the "Jehovah" translation was made by German academics, so even if you go with that translation, it should be pronounced according to the German spelling scheme: "yay-hoe-fah."
"yay hoe fah" sounds like something a german person would yell at a soccer game!
I really enjoyed listening to this. I was raised in a JW household and have some stories of my own.
I wonder about Seventh Day Adventist, I would Love to hear Seth discuss it, anybody else agree?
I would. I may be bias, I seem to have a deep contempt for them because of the huge amount of money they're making from business etc. But yes, I would like to hear about them.
looks like your getting a better ads. thanx for another good show, seth.
cheers.
im so glad i woke up at 13 and left those nuts behind.
Seth is brilliant!
Jehovah's Witnesses are not outlawed in Canada; I live in Ontario, and there's a JW church that's about a 10-minute walk from my house.
+RobbyRaccoon This is correct, I also live in Ontario and there are JW's here. I believe they were outlawed during ww2, but thats it.
I'm eagerly awaiting a JW visit, but it's been a few years. The last time was when I told them I had something for THEM and handed them a couple of FFRF pamphlets. They had a look of confusement, thanked me and left. I wonder if my address was put on a blacklist? Shucks.
I wasn't a 'witness' but we were taught that patriotism was sinful for the same reason, that is was like worshiping something other than God/Jesus. I thought that this was just a Canadian Christian thing, so I was surprised when I heard this. The stereotype of "God 'N' 'Murica" was very foreign to me as a child.
Everyone, me included started to open the eyes at early 30s. Interesting things happen that change life around that age, great work Seth!
You should have Jill give a list of the questions the Jehovah's Witnesses couldn't answer. Next time a Jehovah's Witness showed up on my doorstep I could ask them.
Ask them why they don't celebrate Mother's Day....
+RyujinZero I'd love that. Throw it back at them; make it obvious how nonsensical it all sounds.
I asked them what happens to their ideal life here on earth when our sun turns into a red dwarf and the earth is incinerated. God will provide, was the answer!
There is a JW campaign in full swing in the UK at the moment. This is a great source of information to refute all the crap that they are now churning out at railway stations! Keep up the good work Seth
Ive not had a JW knock on my door in the 14 years i've been DF'd. They keep track of where 'apostates' live and keep them on a no-call list
Only once did the Jehovah's Witness knock on my door. I told them I am an atheist and I have nothing to say to you. Then I said do not knock on my door again next time I will not be nice. It's been 18 months and they have not knocked on my door since.
I've been to a Jay-z concert, so guess I'm a Jay-Hova Witness
Bahaha yes. AmenAH!
Seth....SLAM!!!! THAT WAS SO DAMNED FUNNY🤣😅😂😆
I nearly fell off my chair.
It's that bad. I was a JW 26 years. It's all the worst bullshit you can imagine. It's all about selling for your organization. The people who sell the most and put the most hours in selling the religion get the most prestige.
Just out of curiosity, what exactly do they "sell?"
It's like an MLM.
Remember, I told you the truth because I love you.
I remember one Halloween my friends and I went to a house that we found out later was a home to Jehovah's Witnesses. They gave us, as well as everyone else that stopped there that night, religious tracts.
Yeah, when we walked by that house later that night, it had already received a good covering of eggs and toilet paper.
That is my sincere hope. Thanks sepiasiren. I just subscribed to you. Thanks.
These people ideas got go!
this is the best accurate Jehovah Witness info I have heard. The reasons you get different version of JW is because there's a difference between the old and new generation of JW also there's a slight differences in different countries and congregation. That difference was the one that drove me away from the religion and had me searching info on my own. I have been out of the cult for 15 years and became an atheist 10 years ago.
Went with a JW friend a couple of times to Easter service and was told not to drink the wine because only the chosen ones could !!
So I was told specifically by my friend that I can't possibly be one of the 144 000 like she new that🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The utter naive ignorance , and I should say arrogance is mind blowing , because a friend of my mom actually knows she's one of the chosen ones hahaha and has basically been out casted by the congregation lol. The hypocracy is sickening and I'm no longer able to stomach my friend because of her childish JW view of reality 🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐
Thanks volound. That's a great idea. I can't wait for their next visit.
I think that JW's also are taught to accept no other source of information except their own publications as true. I'm quite sure only ex JW's or lapsing ones will look up information from the websites mentioned because doing so would be highly frowned upon.
that is correct...high control, brainwashing, cult....
My uncle joined the Jehovah's Witnesses in order to get out of the military. At least that's what I was told as a kid. But anyway, his kids were not allowed to celebrate holiday parties in class. They literally had to sit out in the hall when other kids celebrated. We were never told we couldn't spend time with them, though. I enjoyed spending time with his daughter. Sadly, I fell out of touch with her, b/c he molested me at a sleepover & I never had any contact with them after that.
I just learned december 25th is also Issac Newton's birthday!
aloma alber thats what we want to celebrate now that we’re no longer religiously affiliated. Exchange presents and have fun on Christmas for science! :p
Darwin’s birthday is February 12 or what used to be celebrated as Lincoln’s birthday in the USA
Is it just me or audible dot com have been sponsoring the entirety of youtube?
Not that i"m complaining. This makes the presence of many good youtubers easier to sustain.
I'm not, nor ever have been, a JW but I have had some experience in dealing with JW parents of children needing blood transfusions. I think the adults can make decisions for themselves, even if I think they're in error but they have no such right over children. It's a lot easier these days (almost a rubber stamp) to get a court order to give blood products to children if they need them. I may be misjudging the parents but I think this has become a bit of a get-out-of-gaol-free card for them because their children get the blood products they need and the parents don't have to make the decision to either endanger their child or go against their religion.
As much as I think the JWs are wrong, I think most of the blame for their wrong beliefs can be sheeted home to Rutherford. C. T. Russell was wrong, especially insofar as his prophecy was concerned, but I don't think malice motivated him. Rutherford was a whole nother ball game.
such an excellent show. thank you so much.
gift days, I do not remember gift day! must be recent.
I do not recall gift day OR goodie night, after study.
Mr. Zimmerman is a fine example of someone who gave up personal advantages because of his intellectual honesty. Good for him.
I have a relative who converted to JW years ago. I remember as a kid all of a sudden we didn't get Christmas gifts from her anymore, or birthday gifts or cards. And I wondered why. I asked my mom and she mumbled something about this relative not believing in these things anymore because she'd joined some church. Not believe in a BIRTHDAY? I found that strange. She came to visit us a few years back & brought a tablet - I didn't have a tablet yet & asked her to show me the ropes & what it could do. So she turned it on & opened the JW literature on it. I said - well show me the internet. She looked at me and said 'Oh we're not allowed - it's pre-loaded with Kingdom literature and that's all it is meant for.'. The mind boggles. I don't fight with her but have been told many times that I'm going straight to hell....which is not a very nice thing for a relative to say. Thankfully she lives across the country and we don't have much contact.
It's obvious you're telling a lie because Jehovah's witnesses don't believe in a burning hell that people go to for godless living. I was a witness for years so I know their doctrine.
I love how specific and detailed you are.
Well... 1. no there is not (except of course in the mind of people) and 2. i think we're both wasting our time right now.
They actually have a rather twisted view of head of the house. A man seems to only be the head of his house and his wife if he is acting in agreement with the directives of the organization This implies an interesting view they entertain of women. They believe that Eve was tricked but Adam wasn't which screams out male intellectual supremacy over women. When I was a member I wanted my son to go to the " seasonal" holiday at school since the principal had the decency to rename it in an effort to include all children. That was when I lost my role as head of the house and received a phone call from one of the elders telling me to listen to my wife instead. They also seem to at times use the head of the house crap to find a scapegoat when family problems erupt. As I was on my way out I use to tell them that view. My own mother wants little to do with me. However atheism is like the mother I always wanted to meet. It has improved my life in many ways. I am more easy going and rational. Atheism has given me answers to questions I had since I was a kid. One atheist I know said to me that I may have been a closet atheist since childhood. She may be right.
I wish more people were willing to be skeptic, and really love family and friends no matter what they know or labeled.
To think that this superstitious cult that causes so much misery was started by an obsessed, dysfunctional, twisted, man who relied on a tribal book written in the Bronze Age by unknown Hebrew authors to do his thinking for him.
How sad for the children of the 144,000.
That is an excellent description of the Watchtower Society - great comparison to drug dealers!! May I borrow that?
I didn't realize that JW's aren't even allowed to celebrate Christmas, wow! even atheists celebrate Xmas :-)
They do not celebrate ANYTHING. It is a joyless apocalyptic cult. They are waiting for their god to kill everyone, except the 8 million JW's so they can live on a Paradise earth.
@ kay jay
They do celibrate some things, such as Easter/Good-Friday, just not in the twisted/secular way with the Easter bunny, chocolates/candies, or such.
Also one doesn't need to do special stuff on arbitrary days to have fun or enjoy life. I enjoy my live great without doing anything on my birthday.
Hey ex-JW's. How do you suggest we treat the JW door knockers? I used to debate them till I learned of the wonderful shunning. Now I just ask them to take me off their list.
So basically, the Jehovah’s Witnesses view on fun in general is identical to the Mormons?
1:20:22 SLAM! I spit my coffee out, thanks Seth.
I'm glad I ddin't have hold of my cup. I nearly fell off my chair.😂