Born in and raised a JW for 30 years. Your review was spot on. There are genuinely good people in there. The problem is that they’re brainwashed to follow the doctrines, even if it removes their humanity. The disfellowshipping and shunning arrangement is barbaric. I was disfellowshipped in October of last year after I had too much to drink with a coworker and I ended up having to sleep on their couch while out of town for work. My wife at the time wouldn’t believe nothing happened. So they booted me for drunkenness and circumstantial cheating. She chose divorce and unalived herself shortly after our divorce in January. Since I had to be shunned, only 6-7 people bothered to approach me at her funeral. I sat sobbing by myself for 30 minutes until my mother got there. From what I’ve been told, people believe I didn’t cheat and they didn’t understand why she couldn’t believe me. They care about me but the shunning still continues and nobody from the congregation, besides my best friend, has even checked on me. After that, I realized there was something wrong with this organization and I allowed myself to do research. Looked at all the no-no sites and have concluded that it’s a cult. Now I’m just agnostic because I’m still deconstructing my faith.
My friend, I'm sorry to hear this. I can only imagine the pain you have been going through. I suggest you visit an Eastern Orthodox Church - it's the original and ancient church; it's a hospital for sinners, and encourages to live a life of repentance, of loving God and neighbor and looking at yourself before you judge others. It changed my life and it's there for all who want it to change theirs. Western Christianity has ruined so much, but things are changing. The EO encourages a life of prayer, not just "knowing things" and saying you therefore know God. As Father Roman Braga (a prisoner in the communist prisons): "God is not in the books". If you try to reason your way to God, you will fail or at the most be stranded on an island of ideas, but with no experience of the living God. Come and touch and handle Christianity as it's meant to be. If I may recommend a book I suggest you read "mountain of silence" and check of "roots of Orthodoxy" UA-cam channel. May God grant you a healed heart and a path for your feet.
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss and the difficulties surrounding being shunned. It's horrible and I don't blame you for moving away from religion and becoming an atheist. It can ironically be a step in the right direction spiritually speaking as it may be for you. Eternal be the memory of your wife and may the Theotokos comfort you in your time of mourning.
@@RonPOMO-ps9fm thank you so much. The fact that I can get a simple condolence from a “mentally diseased apostate” and not a single one from my old congregation speaks volumes! I follow your X page, by the way! Thank you for your work. 🫡
Ex-JW here….54 years of my life loyal to them and WASTED! I lost out on so much. I finally woke up at age 54….now 56. I’m still bitter. They completely change your entire way of thinking and feeling and basically hi jack your brain. You lose your identity. I’m sick that my only son and two sisters are still trapped inside. I really believed these people had the truth for my whole life….until 2/3 of my life was gone. It’s a devastating cult. I related to EVERYTHING you said. I feel some kind of justification listening to you. You just earned my sub.
You wasted 54 years of your life????? LOL And you blame THEM???? LOLOLOLOL And you add ZERO details of allllllll that time??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Suuuuuuuuuuuure buddy with your fake little story LOL. Pathetic.
I'm 47 and I just deconverted. I initially felt the same way you do but may I suggest you focus on the freedom of mind you now have? Cheer up friend. Life still has lots to offer. 👍🏽
Left 8 years ago. The elders told me I was going to be miserable and unhappy out in the "world", but the truth is, that even my worst day in the "world" is better than any good day as a JW. You couldn't pay me any money to go back.
My husband and I also left 8 yrs ago. They told us the same thing. Over and over they told us we’d be miserable and beyond unhappy and so would our children. And that we were ending our children’s lives by leaving. It was crazy. They harassed us so badly, unannounced home visits, phone calls to home and cells, texts, emails, hand written letters. It was intense. Our fading turned into full on disappearing lol. We moved and changed our numbers.
Well done! And you haven’t even touched the CSA issue. I was a victim many times over. However, I didn’t ‘have two witnesses to bring a charge against my brothers…and a sister.’ Keep digging if your mental health can take it.
@MW-rn1vg so happy to hear this! I was told at my disfellowshipping judicial committee: "good luck with your kids!" At that time my boys were 9 and 11. Now they are 16 and 14. They are both on the honor roll, they don't party they go to the gym for fun, they work and are loved by parents and teachers alike. I am so proud of them and they are doing amazing. JW kids don't hold an exclusivity on "good" kids.
I was born into this organization and have survived escaping it. I lost everyone who ever mattered to me in the process. The only thing that kept me strong was knowing that someone in my line would have to break the cycle and that I was willing to suffer. Thank you for shedding light on what you experienced so that others might avoid entangling themselves with this maleficent force on earth.
Losing religion was hard enough for me. I genuinely cannot imagine the weight of suffering POMOs experience when that is compounded with losing friends and family. I'm so sorry for everything you've had to go through. Here's to hoping more people see the light. Thanks so much for being here, friend.
@@HeliocentricOfficialI admire your empathy- deconstruction is devastating and disregulating but doing it while you’re being shunned is a uniquely harrowing torture.
SONG 11 Your glory, God, your mighty works abound, In skies above, their praise for you resounds. Creation speaks without a voice or word; In all the earth, its message can be heard. Creation speaks without a voice or word; In all the earth, its message can be heard. 2.True wisdom starts with wholesome fear of you And guards our way in all we say and do. Your wise commands enlighten young and old- A treasure far exceeding finest gold. Your wise commands enlighten young and old- A treasure far exceeding finest gold. 3.By knowing you, our life is not in vain, And by your word, our life will be sustained. The greatest honor anyone can gain Will come to all who sanctify your name. The greatest honor anyone can gain Will come to all who sanctify your name
“Dont think or debate theology” is a huge red flag for me. As a former lutheran whos converting to orthodoxy, i have NEVER been discouraged from asking questions or debating or researching, and have almost always been encouraged to learn more.
As an atheist whos looking into Orthodoxy, I was fuckin flabbergasted by the idea that Orthodoxy actively encourages questions. It's so far from what I was raised around, I was actively confused that I wasn't expected to turn my brain off.
Dude! I'm a former Lutheran who is converting to Orthodoxy. I will be starting catechism in August. From what I've discovered so far is that there are a LOT of people converting to Orthodoxy. When I told my Lutheran pastor I was leaving, he confirmed of the small exodus leaving Lutheranism. What made you switch?
Former Presbyterian who converted to Orthodox. Yeah I see it first hand at my parish I think we have 20-25 catechumens right now. Glory to God! The truth of holy Orthodoxy is spreading like wildfire.
@@jonahanderson9101 A member of my Antiochan church said that 10 years ago the congregation was about 90% cradle Orthodox. Now it's been flipped to 60/40 converts to cradle. Amazing. By contrast the Lutheran church I am leaving has an average age around 70+ with very few coming in. Sad to say, but they won't look the same in 10 years.
Thats good you left that church. Martin luther was a very evil man. To show you what you left i will state a letter he wrote to his wife one time that basically said "i cannot get a errection to prostitutes and i blame the jews for putting this curse on me." Thats martin luther for you. He also had many scatological rants about how to fight demons. Scatological means "relating to or characterized by an interest in excrement and excretion."
The reason they want their members to ignore and shut out all "Apostate" material is because they know that if they have it a second thought, their critical thinking might start working and they'll leave.
@@gregorybaynham1122ok let’s see You can’t ask deep questions or disagree about their most serious doctrines If you’re kicked out your family is forced to no longer speak to you or they will be kicked out Insanely misogynist women have no power They have record books and databases of pedos inside the religion who hurt children inside as well because they can’t allow the reputation be tainted They follow 6 (or more I forgo) old men who say they are inspired by or told directions by god via Holy Spirit and no one is allowed to question that I mean Pretty culty I have so much more to list the fact they had to sell Kingdom Halls to pay for CSA law suits is a big thing you ever wondered why halls were being merged and sold off back in the day!?
As someone who is currently trapped, everything you said is spot on! You can’t ask a single question that contradicts the belief system or risk losing absolutely everything you’ve grown up with, even if you bring up logical fallacies or issues with translations.
I know it's hard to be trapped there now!! But I promise from experience that it will be so worth it to get out! Losing everyone can be scarey... but being free is an absolutely priceless gift
I stopped attending, nothing about my lifestyle changed. But I’ve lost 98% of my friends and family becomes I stopped attending. No one asked why and I never volunteered my reasons
If you have the financial means to live on your own get up outta there brother. if u don’t tho, tough it out, I tried leaving when I was 17 and the only reason I wasn’t homeless is because of the kindness of some of my “worldly”friends at school, and that only lasted a couple months understandably. I floundered in a shitty apartment I could barely afford for another 9 months before I lost my job. my parents by then had come around, and although they didn’t and still haven’t left the organization, they went against doctrine and let me and my brothers live with them until we had the means to live on our own , and since have respected our beliefs and no longer push to get back into the religion, but realistically I had it good . others don’t have any contact with, or help from their family to this day. Regardless it’s no way to live, and I feel the majority of people would be happier in “ the world”.
My step-brother became a JW in the 80's. Before, he was a fun-loving guy; great to hang with. When he joined his personality totally changed. When he found out he couldn't convert me, he pretty much forgot me. Strange thing is that I always love talking about my faith. Most JW's will only talk with you a few times and when you don't come to their side, they will drop any type of friendship with you. Very much cult personality.
Yes you are correct. I left last year and they couldn't change me. My brother is not the same person he was 20 years ago. He has told me that he doesn't care that I don't attend meetings anymore, but...and a big but, If he hears I am "apostate" he will never speak to me again. Absolute borg member and subscribes to all of their cruel and elitists views of the Bible. They make me sick!
@@alannaandersons619 That is so so sad. I hear stories like this all the time. I just don’t understand how the borg has that much power over people. Prayers for sure.
@@CJ-jk9mp just saying hello is one thing, then there is what JW’s and Mormans and Fundies do when they see an unfamiliar face at a meeting for the first time. Here’s how normal people say hello to strangers: “Hello. New here? My name is bob. Nice meeting you. Ok so… See you maybe next time.” Here’s how live bombing sounds, being surrounded by at least 3-12 people: “Hiiiiiiiiii!!!!!! Where are YOU from? It’s SOOOOO GOOOD to meet you. WhAT’s YOUR NAME?!?” We are SOOOOO GLAD you’re HERE!!! Tell us ALLLL ABOUT YOURSELF… WOW!!! WE’RE ALL FAMILY HERE!”
Yep. I left in 1991 after turning 18 and immediately joined a gym, went to parties and gatherings and freely associated with my forbidden undercover 'worldly' friends that I had made along the way. Very important to have a network in place when leaving.
@@sylkelster I didn’t have a network in place when I left but wish I did. I already had children, my husband and I left at the same time because we woke up and realised the truth about the truth. Definitely think having support while you are leaving and making sure you have good support after, it very important and needs to be part of the plan.
And it's not fake - they really are delighted that there is a new potential sucker in their midst. But after they convince you to give up all your friends, music, hobbies, and personality, they keep you in with the threat of disfellowshipping - where you lose all your "friends" and resources if you dare to disagree, even slightly, with any of their doctrines.
Yep spot on. All of these weird and culty aspects don't fully stand out to you as a JW until you start to question the religion. You know aspects of it are strange, but you don't fully grasp to what extent until you're mentally out. You make excuses for most of them as a JW but don't understand that you are fully playing into the indoctrination tactics. Well done!
Tried doing that. At least with gpt3 it doesn't know what you mean by asking it for a specific duration of talk. Asked for 30 min and got like 2 paragraphs. Also JW talks bash other groups alot and GPT refuses to do that so if you were going to use gpt you would have to add all the negativity in yourself. Just another instance of gpt sycophancy.
As a 4th generation (ex now) JW you’ve crystallized the whole experience. There isn’t any real concern for people it’s just “butts in the seats”. I left because well, I learned critical thinking and I became the most critical SOB they’d ever seen. Even people that had known my parents and great-grandparents were glad to see me go.
I am also 4th generation. I left after tears of mental & emotional abuse, i tried so hard to be one of them but they constantly treated me as the black sheep. I am so much happier since I left in 2015 never to look back. I miss my family but I won't allow myself to be used and abused by people who like to gossip and judge and act like they are the Holy ones of the earth
Totally agree. Im an ex witness and this was actually very validating for me especially the weird creepy vibe you get with people and especially the speakers tone. And literally a cult has information control. The truth doesnt mind to be questioned, but a lie hates to be challenged
7:17 as an exjw I can tell you that NO ONE ever wants to sit through those meetings. We always put on a fake happy demeanor because of the fear of being judged by others. But trust me, we were always truly happy once the meetings were over😂
And you were happy when the speaker didn't show up on Sunday, so the meeting was just half an hour. Or every once in a while, the power went out, and we got to go home early 😂
I left after 30 years being a JW. When you're in the Organization you don't see clearly how much the leadership controls your thinking and acting and take away your individuality. Leaving the JW was one of my best dissision, worth all there shunning.
@djparsons7363 I was a JW until 30 yrs old. I know alot about it. In fact I know that if your elders found out you were watching videos like this and commenting on them, you could get yourself in a lot of trouble. You're not supposed to be watching anything negative about your organization. What kingdom hall do you attend? I'll be calling your elder body to let them know.
@@djparsons7363 We know everything about it, dude. We know how quickly the friendlyness disappears once you dare to be "different" in any way and stick out as an individual instead of conforming to the grey anonymous mass. Even if you don't break any of the organization's rules. Even if you truly believe, never oppose any order or question any "new light". Individuality is frowned upon and makes you a pariah.
@@DudeinDallas well that’s really not an answer to any of my questions. However, that is a statement. I do accept that I am in a cult. Cults take on many forms that can enslaved you such as sports or your work environment. You could also say that’s a cult anything that takes over your life and takes control of it. However, it hasn’t stopped me from asking questions and making up my own mind. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be commenting on this thread. I do believe that the religion I grew up in has changed immensely and it’s not what it used to be. I do believe Ed has now a cult.
@@myrmillionade3512 your teammates in your sport of choice and your workmates wont stop speaking to you or refuse to take your calls as a matter of policy if you quit the team or get a different job. Neither of those things condition you to refuse life saving medical treatments or send representatives to the hospital to make sure you're complying. Your workplace and sports leagues never tell you they are the only acceptable organization under God's direction, all other organizations are evil and under the devil, and your very life depends on being in those organizations and surrounding yourself with friends from said organization and excluding friends from others because they are "bad association." C"mom. Deep down you know this.
Also, the Jehovah's Witness who shared his story with you about how he ended up joining this organization, is textbook cult recruitment, he was emotionally devastated because of his wife and socially isolated because the church people didn't reach out, and that's the perfect time for a high control group to swoop in. So many exJW activist are trying to bring attention to this group because, like you said at the beginning of the video, most people just know No blood, no birthdays, and door knocking. They don't know that this group is responsible for more deaths than Jonestown.
That's absolutely true, but just because it didn't happen all at once in one place, they continue to hide their dangerous indoctrination in plain sight
Textbook??? Lmao to share his experience??? 😂 You’re a wiiiiierdo. We preach and if others want to listen, great! If not….great! 😂 we did our job and we will continue to know on your door and talk to you but we won’t chase you lol
You’re wrong I’ve been a JW my whole life sure they’re are some weird people who shouldn’t be here but theyre are some good people and the stories are true
@@ConnorScott-od3hy You're one person and many speaking up in this comment section are former jws or current jws who are afraid to leave and lose their family and friends. If you want us to hear you out on your experience being good, maybe you should also care about others' experiences too. I was a jw my whole life, confused why people say they care for and love me but don't act like it. I felt it even more when I left and they cut off all contact. But it was easy to leave because I never felt very loved there anyway. Yes I had friends and some people who cared, but I always knew it was conditional. They could take it away at any moment and they did just that.
😂😂😂 you are spot on, i am a 4th generational witness and left the organization about 8 months ago at 40 years old. The best decision ever this is a sick, weird and phony religion, you noticed all the right things 🧐👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾👍🏽🤜🏾🤛🏾
As a former witness, I have to say you were completely spot on! Everything you said, observed and thought was exactly what so many of us who've left felt. I'll never understand why individualism wasn't encouraged. It's similar to the Stepford Wives. And sadly the kindness they show changes the moment you start to question the beliefs. Not all, but so many are quick to gossip and spread lies about a person and there are many who think they are better than others because they have more money. Even though it's supposed to be a religion that frowns on materialistic thoughts. It's just sad how much control this organization has on so many. I think if they actually took the time to think for themselves, they would lose all their parishioners.
Agree. The environment is so much like the Stepford Wives that as soon as you start to even sound like you are not in 100% agreement, it is immediately picked up and you are looked at suspiciously.
The "good" of them being friendly is what we POMOs call "Love bombing" they are incredibly kind and sweet to everyone in an effort to make them feel welcome and want to come back, ideally before they research doctrine and problematic issues.
Can confirm. There is lots of kindness when you show signs of interest/advancement in the religion, but you often can't depend on that kindness to have any depth to it beyond that.
@@MrMASH50 I know what you think you’re saying, but that nonsense really diminishes the harrowing lived experience of people escaping high control groups/cults.
@@helfyre6115 yup. Funny enough, when I heard the BITE model described in a podcast about a cult, I thought “well that sounds familiar…” Then I unfortunately put that in my mental shelf.
Not enough people are talking about the dangers of this cult. Absolutely shreds families. Many suicides in their wake. 😢 I was going through divorce and even my own family turned their backs and shut me out. The pain of divorce is temporary - the pain inflicted by this cult lasts a lifetime and is even multi-generational
This video was so well done. It's so refreshing as an ex JW (who's lost my entire family and 33 years of friends) to hear the thoughts of a person who has no prior misconceptions; give their unbiased opinion and observations. I have a long and sad history in this cult. PROMISED: (be a good, kind, chaste girl who follows all the rules) everlasting life and happiness in spending my time door knocking 70 hours a month, RECEIVED: an abusive teen marriage, PTSD, loss of everything I owned financially and finally when I walked away from the cult loss of family and friends..... I clearly remember the fear in my little heart as a child raised in this environment. Afraid of Armageddon, thunder storms (que the JW artwork with the sky on fire and people dying), the demons, smurfs! Afraid of "worldly" people corrupting me, every offering of birthday cake or halloween candy made me tense and shrink. Every playing of the national anthem got the muscles in my body to flex. My mother repeatedly telling me that it would be better for my grandparents (non JW) to die before Armageddon so they could be resurrected and I could see them in paradise as opposed to them dying at the hands of Jehovah's fireball (because they were non believers). "Stay faithful to Jehovah at all cost" is not an easy task as a child or teen and it causes so much terror. These people are not happy, they are stressed and worried. I was constantly told: "the end is coming, you won't even go to highschool, you'll never have children in this wicked system, paradise is just around the corner". Living your life like this from birth is incredibly difficult to break free from. Just want to say to all the current Jehovahs Witnesses out there: if you are watching this, don't immediately dismiss it as an attack. This person is giving an honest, genuine analysis of your beliefs. Take a pause and just think about it. If nothing else just laugh! Cause he has done an excellent job at understanding the culture you are inundated by. Just wanted to say Jared: your response really resonates with me. For most of my life I was physically sick to my stomach attending these meetings. But no one would have ever known. The conflicting emotional response you have is totally justified because there's more here than meets the eye. And that is perhaps the most dangerous part of this organization. Maybe this is a bold statement, but think Mafia vibes covered in Barbie pink. Thanks for making this video.
You nailed it. Emotion and individuality could be Satan talking through you, best not to try it just in case. Witnesses will love bomb new people, its all about conversions. In my day we would keep track of how many hours were spent in the ministry and if it was less then congregation average i would get a pep talk/shame visit from the elders. I think soulless is a fair way to describe the worship. They are really scared of scandals because they paint a divinely inspired picture of their leadership and if that image gets shattered a lot of witnesses would become disillusioned. The leadership is supposed to be more like cloistered holy men in their propaganda. They have had some big scandals last few years so that is something they are big on now. A practicing witness would get in some trouble if it was found out they watched a video like this. You have exactly the right impression of what a meeting is and why its designed that way. It is a high control group no doubt about it. But the rank and file are genuinely really nice people that take the gospels seriously also. If i was to give them a complement, they are the type that take their stuff to heart and very seriously. If you get "disfellowshipped" your family and friends are not supposed to contact you anymore or even to speak to you on the phone. And most witnesses are serous about it. I could go on way to long about this stuff ha. If your up to it, take a shot of whiskey and go into their theology and history. 1914 is a year Satan was cast out of heaven and the doomsday clock started ticking down. Its a bit of a ride. I would love your takes on it! Its very uniquely weird. Great video. Thanks!
I'm pouring my Jack Daniels now. Thank you so much for your thoughts, man. It's absolutely wild to hear the experiences of people who lived in communities like this.
@@HeliocentricOfficial Man, you really would like this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_Conscience JWs history is a fantastic rabbit hole, and most of the followers are ppl who have no idea where they are.
@@HeliocentricOfficial also study their memorial teaching. Its honestly horrifying in a christian context that they gaslight the rank and file into actively denying the body and blood of christ so their "elites" who are "anointed" can be the only partakers. Conveniently there aren't many ways to tell if they are legit or not, so basically you have to blindly trust and put faith in them and not christ.
I'm also Jared the Athiest and I WAS a Jehovah's Witness. This is fantastic. Especially the breakdown of the way they preach was perfect. I call them 'cult-lite'. Again, you nailed the voice and delivery. I did scream a lot and I did lose my mind.
Omg!!!!!! I left after 33 years. I was born and raised in. Left a year and a half ago. You are spot on with every single thing u seen and observed. Like so spot on it blows my mind. And you were able to pick all of this up by only going to 2 meetings. Its very very sad and insane!!!! 😂😂😂 Im out and still have siblings and family that are still in. And it feels like im watching a bad zombie movie with ppl who have had their brain eaten and turned into one but are completely unaware. 😢 very robotic and unnatural. Im so happy to be out and call myself a free agent/atheist 😅 But im the crazy one in their eyes 😂
As a born-in jw of 6 decades of indoctrination, love your take on it from the outside because you are spot on. They are required to smile and be a happy people. No one is allowed to be negative no matter how they are feeling. Includes the recent loss of a loved one. Basically, if you have any pain or trauma of any sort, you must suck it up buttercup look up child.Abuse of jay dubs, such as the Australian Royal Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney generals rulings on elders in the organization being arrested for CSA. I have seen so much horror in my lifetime that I need to write a book on it. I’ve even had offers of people want to write stories of my life and things that I knew about in the organization. Anyway, just let you know from former JW perspective. by the way, I left when I realized how rampant the childabuse was.
@@cultytalk Exceptions within a cult!? Hmm 🤔 how interesting...I'm also a tattoo artist and I have literally a neck tattoo. No problems in my congregation. Another exception? We went yesterday (the brothers) to a bar to watch the final England vs Spain having some beers ... Another exception from the evil, brain Washington cult
I was a Jdub until I was in my mid 30s and YES, you're expected to behave a certain way, dress a certain way. Even the makeup, hairstyles and basically any kind of individuality has to be hidden or suppressed. We were only free to be ourselves, sort of, among our closest friends and family. It’s difficult being a teenager and trying to find yourself as a jdub. 😢 This really brought up some triggers and past trauma but it's good. Im still healing. The only people who convert usually are going through a crisis. Back in the 90s we were actually given a list of vulnerable people to pry on and get them to convert. This was share with "regular pioneers" during one of their annual meetings. A regular pioneer is what they call full-time ministers.
@@smooth1748 Your comment is very strange and false. You’re not expected to dress a certain way, you can dress how you want. We follow biblical principles and it says be MODEST in your dress. You can do whatever hairstyle you want, don’t lie to people reading this. Make up???? What makeup can’t you wear??? What are you talking about? A CLOWN MAKEUP STYLE??? Correct! You can’t go in looking like a CLOWN face.. You couldn’t find yourself??? Why? Because you didn’t want to do Gods will because of peer pressures to do drugs and party and drink and have sex with whoever?? That’s on you. Everyone has their own choice to make. You’re still healing from trauma??? Oh your poooooor thing, LIES. Who you trying to fool? The 3 people that hate God also? lol Pity you. I was disfellowshipped and that was MY CHOICE. You are a big time apostate and you’re scorned or you’re just a liar. Either one. Put your big girl panties on and grow up
You are spot on! I grew up in this cult and my husband and I escaped but are being shunned by our parents and so called friends all because we don’t believe in their church anymore. I once heard: “ a bad person will do bad things and good person will try to do good things but to get a good person to evil things that takes religion.”
If the Jehovah witnesses say they are the 144000 chosen don't listen to them the 144000 chosen are said to be virgins but the Bible does state through the love of Jesus people will make it to heaven
This is by far the BEST JW analysis I’ve ever watched! You had me laughing so hard I almost peed myself. 😂 Your impersonation of various church leaders and how they talk from various religious organizations was so ON POINT it’s ridiculous. And the impersonation of the JW’s speaking was so EXACT. I don’t know HOW you do it. 🤣 Keep it up! New subscriber here. You definitely earned my views. I look forward to watching your videos in the future. Btw….The JWs’s are SO FAKE. I was born and raised inside that cult. 3rd generation. Officially left altogether when I was 18. That was in 1997. When I was a JW they didn’t have TV screens in the Kingdom Halls. But everything else was pretty much the same. So glad I’m out of that high control group of a cult! Zero Regrets! Also the CSA that goes on and is covered up by Watchtower leaders is so rampant it’s disgusting! 🤮 Another reason I’m happy to be no part of that child abusing cult. Thanks again for the laughs! It was great!!
Grew up as a jw got out when I was 18. It’s been 5 years since I went to a meeting. My family is finally out of it too but my whole extended family is still in it. Everything you’ve said is spot on and i still have a hard time with the brainwashing. There’s a lot of movies I didn’t watch, music I didn’t listen too. It took me years to stop calling it “the truth”.
Protestants regard the JW religion as heresy, as the JW reject central parts of the historic faith such as the Holy Trinity and the Divinity of Christ. (We also regard them as a cult, because they are a high control group, but that's a separate issue.) They are basically an entirely separate religion that uses the same holy book.
I was a Jehovah’s Witness for 39 years, from the day I was born up until last July. . Thank you for providing a very fair and unbiased review. You just scratched the surface, I hope you do a follow up video. While on the surface this religion may seem innocent and harmless. It is VERY dangerous and has hurt a lot of people.
Well done on getting out. I was sane age when I woke up and left I've been out 25 years now best thing I ever did. They cover up CSA (from personal experience) and the blood stance has killed many many JWs and their kids
I was raised a jw and left 3 years ago so a believer for 32 years. Glad to see youve left the cult! Not sure where you are now in your view on God. I know a lot of exjw become atheists which is understandable but if it is acceptable for you to hear id love to tell you Jesus is king and he is God. Thats all, i wont push for a bible study lol
I grew up in this cult in Nigeria, i was a member for 19 years. Im 21 now but i still had to be a PIMO (Physically In Mentally Out) for a year because i was living with JW family friends for my schooling in the US. At the time i didnt know where to go so i just kept pretending like i gave a fuck bout their teachings to survive. Your'e very spot on in your analysis of this cult, rq tho, they still believe in the 144,000 doctrine lol. Indoctrinating kids is the primary way this cult grows it number. As a child i remember having panic attacks whenever i committed a "sin", i am artiste so i hate the homogenous nature of the cult as well. You're actively encouraged to NOT learn about who you are, told to kill your dreams and pursuit for the sake of the cult, told to isolate yourself from non members. As a kid i felt like an alien, and they indoctrinate you to feel proud of being different from other kids, youre expected to act like an adult from an early age, sitting with the adults as they talk about adult topics like sex and drug use, but you're also simultaneously infantilized by the materials and teaching. For most of my childhood, i remember having conversations with my siblings about what we would do if we werent JW's. And though i belived it was the truth ...something always felt off and it became more apparent as i started to do more research outside their website and publications. They tell members not to get any information of any kind about the cult except from their website. Fear mongering and prescribing solutions to problems that they create are their greatest feats. This cult makes member elitist and narcissistic, looking down on people who are not actively members then saying some shit like "We preach to them because we love them" how disgusting. I am the only member in my family who has woken up and everyday i want nothing more than for them to leave but it has to be by their own accord, no amount of evidence and convincing will change their minds unless they allow themselves to see the information. if you wish to be in this religion in the age of the internet it is because they are actively choosing to be ignorant. Its not easy to break out of their pseudo norm and actually do research and open your mind because they use thought stopping tactics like saying all bad news about the cult is from satan bla bla bla. Some family members know my true feelings towards this cult and most dont, but i fear the most for my little sisters, they are bright and talented, especially the youngest...she an artiste down to her very core and i fear as she grows in this cult will steal her spark. There are tons and tons of law suits coming out about this religion and a lot of press so i'm happy that people are beginning to know what this cult really is about. The members are not at fault, they are merely victims to the governing body that actively play with its members lives, freedoms for their bidding. For more info on the org and the governing body members read Ray Franz's crisis of conscience or just look up exjw on yt. cheers to a good video.
You’re right they create problems and then they make solutions. Living with hostility to the outside world. Classic manipulation. Glad you got out good luck to you!
The sweetness is an act. The amount of child abuse in the homes, mental, physical, and sexual is astounding! The beatings I got would have put both my patents in jail if anyone outside of the organization knew about it. I've been happily shunned for 35 years just because I didn't want to be JW anymore.
Raised a JW. the reason why they're so nice is because they're not allowed to be sad or upset they will be reprimanded for it. If someone close to you dies, angry because you were wronged, or just depressed don't be sad they'll be resurrected, still sad? you'll be visited by people telling you not to, not feeling better? you'll be set in a private room with elders reading you scriptures that have nothing to do with what you're going through, still not working? well then you're yelled at for being "difficult" "get over it!" and "you're not allowing Jehovah into your heart!" You'll be labeled and treated lesser than. They do this to children too while trying to discredit therapy and psychology you know people that can actually treat your mental health because"all you need is the word of God"
@@billhicks9056 actually they did but sort of the same revivalists period in the early to late 19th century. This is the era of Quakers, Shakers, Amish, Mormon, Witnesses. In the 19th century there was this big explosion of factions as Christians became less regulated by central authority of a larger "Church" aka, Catholic, Orthodox, etc. The smaller protestant churches went off looking for their "Truths" in the Bible.
@@billhicks9056 They're both "restorationist" movements, but the Mormons came first. Mormons were founded in 1830 and the JW were founded in the 1870s. There was a bunch of chaos after the founder died in the early 1900s and they broke off into several competing groups. I used to be a mormon and when I was a mormon missionary, we used to run into the JW people in apartment buildings all the time, so I've had a lot of conversations with them.
Yeah most Mormons aren’t as culty as Jw and some others like that. Most of them are good people. Weird beliefs for sure and Joseph smith was definitely a fraud, but they do good works. They have some issues with parents kicking gay kids onto the street but I’ve seen that in some other churches and the Mormon church doesn’t officially say to do that
They're instructed to shun anyone who disassociates from the religion, even if it's their own parents, their adult children, their siblings. It was the same with respect to those disfellowshipped only now they can invite them to a meeting and greet them - no conversation allowed. If they associate with an apostate outside of the family then they will be disfellowshipped themselves. They have the cheek to talk about making family life happy when they break up families.
They are sweet to you initially to try and draw you in. As soon as you question anything and then get “disfellowship” and then shunned. Even your own family shun you. They will act like you’re dead.
thought the bible states that. Luke 12v32 LivEng Do not be afraid, little flock; because your Father has been pleased to give you the kingship Rev20v6 Happy and holy is he who has a part in the first resurrection: over these the second death does not have dominion, but they shall be priests of God and the Christ and shall reign with him for the thousand years. Rev14v3 gives fixed number 144000 bought from the earth. Makes sense as you cannot really be a king or priest without subjects. Rev7v9 un-numbered who shall be ruled over. So it is biblical, not just made up, but hey ho lets bash the JWs hey!
@@Hymmalapeak “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Revelation 7:4 it said that they r israelis “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” Revelation 7:9 what do you think about that?
@@리리-f6n hi thks for the reply. Rev where it talks about this tribe then that tribe the list is not the original tribes of Israel. The tribe of Dan is omitted and Levi inserted, indicating and opening for the gentile nations, Cornelius being the first one to this calling. These 144000 receive heavenly kingdom rulership as their reward. The Rev7v9 are the 'other sheep' not of the little flock John 10 This parable Jesus told them; but they did not know what the things he spoke to them meant v16 And I have other sheep which do not belong to this fold; those too I must bring, and they will hear my voice, and there will come to be one flock, one shepherd. The bible clearly shows two groups. He obviously spoke firstly to the lost house of Israel being a Jew. They had first option to become part of this small group. Sadly, they did not respond. Hence pentecost and it was open door for the gentile nations. The 'other sheep' group he talks about are those that hear the kingdom message and respond. Repent, accept JC as their saviour & get baptised, then do the preaching work that Jesus did. Mat24v14 and this gospel of the Reign will be proclaimed in all the world of men, for an attestation to all the nations. And then the end will come. Notice 'REIGN' rulership/priests/kings. Over whom? Mat 5v5 Jesus promised Happy are the meek, because they shall inherit the earth. (and b ruled by JC heavenly government/rulership so that universally we shall be shepherded as one flock one shepherd. make sense?
I was raised a JW, I was a JW for 35 years. If someone’s wife cheated on them and left them as a JW, we would do the exact same thing. We would avoid and isolate the person.
I was thinking the same thing when I heard the elders " backstory" I thought, he will definitely shun you after a divorce too. It's so sad and upsetting what they do to their " loyal followers " of brainwashed sheep.
That's not true at all. In my 20 years in the organization ive seen 2 cases of divorce. The one who did the cheating of course would not attend because of so many issues like embarrassment and also they don't want to attend the same congregation as the person the cheated on and also they may have been disfellowshipped. But They chose to continue attending because they were deeply sorry and after a few months they were reinstated....so it's your personal choice to leave or not. The elders never avoid the person they vist them and contact them to check on them yearly. I know because it happened to me and they always checked up on me.....so.....you can keep lying but i don't know why you'd be lying other than just to lie to people lol You do you buddy....LIAR.
I was a member of this organisation for 27 years and I think you described the ugly truth behind the seemingly glittering first appearance of this group. I started to think how forced my upbringing really was growing up in this religion. Thank you for this video ❤ keep up the great work 🤘
I'm speechless. Thank you SO much for your kind words here. It breaks my heart to read these comments and hear what this organization has done to families and children. I'm so glad that you're out and thriving. Wishing you joy and peace as you move forward.
@@Mr.Market777 Hey my dude, if I'm not mistaken, this was the first gift anyone has actually ever sent me (or at least one of the first). I think I've been gifted less than $30 in all my years of UA-cam.
SONG 6 .O God, you know my rest and waking, When I lie down and when I rise anew. You search my thoughts, my inmost inclination, The words I speak, the ways I walk, you know them too. You saw when I was made in secret, My very bones not hidden from your sight. You saw my form; its parts were down in writing. I love the wonder of your ways and praise your might. Your knowledge, God, is wondrous, awe-inspiring; Of this my soul is very well-aware. If I should fear that darkness might enfold me, Your spirit, God, would find me, even there. Where could I hide from you, Jehovah, Or be concealed, be hidden from your face? Not in the Grave nor in the highest heaven, Not in the dark nor in the sea; there is no place.
Born, raised and lived in the JW cult until I was 42. You have absolutely nailed it. The pressure of remaining separated from society is what kept me from figuring out I was in a cult. You DO NOT question the leaders, ever!! I lost almost everyone when I left, my family and the only community I’ve ever been allowed to know and build relationships with but even with all that loss I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Thank you for your honest review, I hope JW’s see this and they wake up too
Monotone, that's the perfect word. It's very mind numbing. I'm surprised we didn't all die of boredom. Being a JW during the pandemic must have been a wonderful change of pace by not actually having to go to the Kingdom Hall.
Growing up JW I had to go to those meetings Monday night, Thursday night, and Sunday. We were expected to go out and preach door-to-door on Saturdays too. I hardly had enough time to do homework and barely passed high school. We were told not to get too close with classmates because they aren't JW's, but at the same time there weren't many people at the Kingdom Hall my age to make friends. JW's discourage higher education and pursuing a career. The indoctrination worked on me because everyone in my family was involved in it. I was told growing up that the Armageddon is coming any day, so a lot of JW's don't make much plans for the future. I didn't wake up from the indoctrination until i was turning 30 years old and realized I wasted a lot of my life. That is the real tragedy of this religion in my opinion. Children are thrust into it without a choice.
Excellent and unique video. As an exjw, everything you felt, every impression you had was spot-on. You were far too polite. All I'd say for anyone interested in JWs is RUN.
The sweetness is fake. It's a high intensity control group and they monitor and inform on one another for the slightest infringement of their rigid rules. Also the horrible music is particularly egregious when you consider they had access to Michael Jackson and Prince!
Jackson was not an active jehovah witness and prince dabbled but was never one. So no they did not " have" prince and mj. Fun fact jazz guitar player George Benson is an active JW to this day.
Such a generous and nuanced take on JW, they're low hanging fruit that are all too easy to bash but we all forget the human beings living behind the over the top smiles. great vid!
You made great observations! Very diverse, very friendly, and less money hungry than other religions. But as a former JW here, the shunning, refusal of life-saving care (blood transfusions), and 2 witness rule in order to prosecute a molester are huge issues they don't discuss openly. I was born in, but lucky my parents got out when I was 12. I knew as a child something wasn't right. I dreaded looking at those beige walls, hearing the montone talks. I often asked why only sisters could do skits and only brothers were allowed to speak at the podium. I remember asking difficult questions on the car rides home after bible study, and my parents did not know what to tell me. I'm agnostic now and don't get too focused on what to believe in. I've had enough childhood religious trauma than to be worried about what religion is the "true one." All I know is that I'm happy to be free. I wouldn't have made a good submissive jw wife 😅.
So glad I ran into your chats with Jake from AltWorldly. Your perspective on these things is invaluable to those on both sides of that divide--Witnesses of course could learn a lot from what you say, but so could those who ridicule them from a Christian perspective. I grew up in a split family--Dad's family converted when I was little and mom's family were bog-standard Christians of various descriptions. I spent all of my teenage years with Dad and growing up gay in that environment was harrowing and frightening. I left right after I graduated high school. It has been 20 years, and I'm still not over it. My dad died a few months ago and we hadn't talked since he kicked me out. I have two sisters I've never met. And it took me a long time to have the compassion for my former fellows that you have. Funnily enough, I went from that to a more moderate version of Pentecostalism. I went to Foursquare Gospel churches for a long while after, both because the shelter where I had stayed required you attend church to stay there, and because the scene was so different and the emotional resonance so much the opposite of what I had experienced. I've mellowed out, come to terms with myself, etc. And I find a lot of beauty in more traditional/High Church style services now too. I am a kinda weird Christin hybrid that doesn't fit anywhere in the constellation of churches. So yeah, after what I've seen and watching this, you're one I'm going to have to follow. You seem such a nice guy, you have an open mind, etc. All my best to you, my good sir. Thank you for doing this and for your compassion.
Ex-mormon here, I think it would be interesting for you to check out General Conference. They have it twice a year and the next is in October I think. You mentioned the way the JWs spoke during their talk, and it's almost exactly like General Conference. So many similarities between JW and LDS. Anyhow, you immediately got a sub. Production value is top notch 🤘
As an Ex-JW I can tell you they are all miserable, but brainwashed into toxic positivity and that we have to be a people of God's Love. It is literally jammed into our heads to be overly abundantly nice to anyone new who shows up to the hall so we can "set a good example and encourage them to keep coming." It's a cult of appearances, but the people are lulled so deep into the brainwashing they literally can't see what is happening to them. Not only are you apostate if you say anything negative, but you can be shunned for it, and even your own family is supposed to ignore your existence because it's "showing God's loving punishment, in hope they will return."
It's insanity to even define God's Love that it can bother punishing others and justify it as love. This was what always raised a huge eyebrow when I was in. No wonder I was surrounded with JWs who are critical and judgmental, and were insecure and anxious being driven by fear, not love.
I consider myself somewhat of an expert being in it for 38 years and an elder and ministerial servant for most of the time. I disassociated myself back in 2014 and recently went back to see if they would still shun me since they changed their shunning policy recently along with many other changes to become more mainstream. No one knew me there since it was in Florida not PA. You are spot on because I could not stand how mind numbing simplistic and boring compared to other churches I have attended and there have been many. It is the BITE mind control model that Jim Jones used for his cult in Jonestown. They have no clue they are being brainwashed. Truly sad and yes, very scary, because they are going to give them "orders" soon that won't make any sense and told to just obey. My children are still in it and won't even talk to me. Very well presented on your part and 100% correct in all your observations.
Im an Ex JW. Left the organization a few months ago at 22. I was born into this. I've lost the majority of my old JW friends due to their shunning policies. By some miracle my parents have decied not to shun me, im one of the lucky ones. Thank you for your video 😊
As a smart and curious kid, going to JW meetings 3 times a week for 13 years was pure torture. I recognized that the watchtower study was bullshit at a young age. I used to count the ceiling tiles to keep myself entertained. I was so bored. I also understood that not being allowed to question is not a feature of people that have “the truth”. I also wasn’t allowed to have any friends that weren’t JWs or pursue any extracurricular interests. I couldn’t wait to leave as soon as possible. Oh, they also predicted the end of the world 3 times and were wrong. In my day, JWs were not allowed to go online much so I doubt you’ll have anyone come here to talk
Bro this video was SPOT ON!!!!!! thank you for taking the time to make this ..as a former JW elder in it, I can tell you, like the others here, you were love bombed at first and the WT study is designed to be a repetitive discussion without any content against itself
Thank you so much for making such an amazing perceptive video. Often times videos on the JW are made from a smug atheist angle that really washes away all the details that make the JWs unique. Hopefully you got around to researching their shunning practices which are horribly cruel. I know from experience after a traumatic outing to my parents as a gay male. My experience of their “judicial committee” procedure forever marred them in my eyes. None of them knew anything they were talking about. Endlessly asking if I had been molested or swayed by someone. I had to cut myself off from my family because I knew I just couldn’t handle having them disapprove of my life and treating me like a lost cause. They think I’m “wicked” and doomed to eternal destruction. They chose their cult over their own son. It was fun hearing about all the humorous aspects of JW life. The ultra bland whitebread aspect of it all. Depressing kingdom halls, terrible songs, horrible simplistic writing. But the illustration art, at least in the past was funny as hell. We all remember this illustration of Queen Jezebel decked out like a drag queen being shoved out a window with her scarlet dagger fingernails extended out.
Hey! Same situation here! It's kind of footnote how ignorantly homophobic they are, but geesh. The description of certain types of people needing a boring cult, yeah definitely that's true. If you don't fit the mold though, you're going to have a bad time.
You have NO idea how validating this video is. Raised as a JW from birth. Non of us liked to go sit for 5+ hours a week and endure this but we were made to feel guilty because we didn’t like it. But if that’s all you’ve ever know you don’t know better.
You should go back to the Orthodox Church as a palate cleanser. It's like the JW take the beauty of the Orthodox and invert it into a sterile, corporate, bureaucratic caricature. Great series, keep it up!
@@Katiegirlluv Every place on earth has problem people. The Church is no exception, even if, it (as an Orthodox Christian) is the fullness of faith. This is because the Church is not a place for the perfect but a hospital for sinners. God bless
@@Katiegirlluv Being "extreme" must be pointed towards God to be good, especially in the Church. Fr. Seraphim Rose posed a question in his book, God's Revelation to the Human Heart: "Why does a person study religion?" If you're searching for religious experiences, you will find a Christianity without the Cross, hollow and devoid of substance, hypocritical, and often used for political/charismatic purposes. If you're searching for Truth, then you will find repentance, fasting, constant prayer, confession, and the complete death of the self to the world so that you might live for Christ. The lives of our Saints are a testimony to this "extreme" struggle for Truth. God bless "Christ is the only exit from this world. All other exits - sexual rapture, political utopia, economic independence - are but blind alleys in which rot the corpses of the many who have tried them." Fr. Seraphim Rose
Moses was the first cult leader. He took a group of people from enslavement and a promise of freedom to the middle of the desert, told them ONLY he could speak with god and god was telling him he’d bring plagues and threats if they didnt do as they were told. If they made a mistake they were stoned to death (of course today if you saw that you’d keep in line out of fear), if you were gay you would be stoned to death. Women had zero rights. Exodus 21:20-21 if you beat your slave and he died you must be punished but if he recovered IT WAS OK and no punishment. Why do you think slavery was accepted among christians for so long? I could go on and on. People can believe what they want to believe except when its hurting other people. And christianity is hurting other people.
Wow! Thank you SO much for this. I am a former JW, currently a therapist who specializes in helping ex-JW recover after leaving. Everything is so spot on, hilarious, and speaking for other ex-JWs we are so grateful for someone who can reveal the absurdity of this cult.
I was born and raised as a JW. Got baptized at 16 years old. Left the cult when I was 20 because I had enough supressing my true self and the cult not accepting my sexual oriantaion. My family, friends and others cut contact with me cause of this. I was really releaved to have left the cult but devestated to lose my whole social life. Even tho I had to prepare the outcome, I could not live a life of lies. SO happy more are speacking up about this and really greatfull you made this video
The stuff about ignoring any and all criticism regarding the organization has been going on for a few weeks or so (or at least that's how long ive been noticing it) bc they're in panic mode rn.
@@HeliocentricOfficialYes, there are a lot of problems inside, like cover-up of sexual abuse, they hide that information to their members,the big majority of JWs don't know about that. Those are the "false acusations". And You have to add the mental health problems, no education, no Blood transfutions, no Friends outside the organization, the list is Big. It's difficult to leave. They are a cult. (English is not My first language)
@@HeliocentricOfficial I'm a atheist too, but I found this video by the subreddit exjw, the thing that kicked this off is that they are currently in court cases with some country near norway I think, I don't remember exactly which one and that's what kinda have started it, if you want to know more r/exjw is my recommendation if you want to know more, ppl saying their stories etc. I'm not the best at saying information again lol.
@HeliocentricOfficial I can't think of one specific thing that set off alarms for the higher-ups, but it could likely be because there are a bunch of csa victims coming out against the Watchtower for the severe mishandling of csa and other serious/criminal situations that involve their members. The court cases in question, were in the more recent years, including this year. They also made a recent mention in one of their broadcasts, I believe about how the world governments need to back off or else "Jehovah will punish them" or something along those lines. This "coincidentally" came very soon after Norway got on their asses in court for their shunning practice and how inhumane it is. So I assume it's that kind of shit that's making them paranoid.
@HeliocentricOfficial also yes, I am still in the organization. But not by choice, I'm living with my parents who are jws and I have to attend meetings and stuff if I want to continue living with my parents, or else I'll be removed. But don't worry, I am working on moving out.
How is that different from any other religion. I was taught as a Catholic that if you aren’t a believer you will burn in hell forever. And anyone that believed a different way would be in purgatory until someone prayed them out. What religion doesn’t teach that unbelievers are in hell?? To me that’s everyone’s experience that’s in organized religion.
I discovered you from your Orthodox video where you gave a very respectful review. I hope you do some further inquiry into it. I'm really enjoying this series.
The difference between a religion and a cult is what happens to you when you leave. The love bombing that you experienced when you were there, the exact opposite happens when you leave…they act like you’re completely dead even your family. Born and raised and left when I was 52. Hardest thing I ever did and lost my entire family who was witnesses on both sides. I have a two year-old granddaughter that I’ve never met. Now tell me these are nice and happy people. love your video and your spot on!
As an Ex-JW (that was shunned by my grandparents so I haven't talked to them or seen them since 2019) the reason why their Kindness looks off is because they are endocrinated into "faking it till they make it". This runs deeper than what you saw. The hierarchy is horribly misogynistic. They even monitor your friendships and frown upon "outside" friendships so when a new person comes along they are in desperate need of new people to befriend. Also, they are very naive and infantalized. My 45 year old cousin who is JW just got her first BF and they must have a chaperone every single time they hang out. No excuse. Not even drive on the same car alone for 5 minutes (I've seen how this situation or similar became the talk of the congregation and source of gossip for months at a time and they way people would even treat them like criminals for being alone in a room is insane)
You are on the money about the behaviors and mannerisms of JWs, especially converts. These are GENUINELY great and kind people- but a lot of their individuality and personality is kinda stripped. There’s a saying that goes “take off the old personality” essentially talking about removing bad habits and such. But a lot of the time, especially converts, this is taken to literally abandon their past selves- negative and positive traits. Again to reiterate that these are good people with good intentions- but they are misguided by cultural expectations and teachings. Your experience sounds 85% accurate to what you’ll probably find in every congregation (at least in the US). I really appreciate your empathy and nuance during this video though, it’s something a lot of these JW criticisms kinda miss. Great video!
I was a 3rd generation born in who was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. My folks were, or at least my dad, was never a big believer in mental illnesses and always thought that Jehovah would always provide to help. Growing up I didn’t really like the religion because it made me different from other kids at school. Preaching was exhausting and early in the mornings at 6am. I was young as 9 when I was brought along for preaching work. I hated how boring it was and anxiety inducing it was when I had to knock and talk. I always lost my words but whenever I failed the other brothers just went “no worries, you’re doing Jehovahs work you just need to be better and keep trying.” We were raised to never question what was taught, and when I asked how Lots daughters essentially forced themselves on him, no one liked that’s how I saw it at a young age. Most of the Bible stories didn’t make sense to me because my way of thinking was different. I was discouraged for it and when I got invited to a birthday party by my best friend in school in third grade, I Was punished for associating with worldly people. We aren’t allowed to watch or celebrate anything that’s not JW approved. I’d start sneaking around pokemon games friends would let me borrow and whenever I got caught I was in a heap of trouble and told how satanic Pokemon was. Was not allowed to talk to anyone after school for it. I began rejecting going in high school, I was tired of pretending to be happy and people questioning when I’d get baptized, especially my old crush when I was 12 who I confessed to, asked if I was baptized. I was too scared because people had expectations because my grandpa was an elder. I struggled with social communication and was always overwhelmed with crowds which built my anxiety disorder over the years I stayed in. When my JW friend Luke, at 14, decided to leave, he was disfellowshipped (as he was baptized) and had to live in a trailer in their family’s backyard until he graduated high school. No talking no to him as disfellowshipped people are discouraged and banned to talk to and are considered dangerous and apostate. He went on to make a music career like he wanted to. After I left (I was never baptized) I was quite shunned by a lot of old people I used to know, but not my family. After talks and therapy they finally understood and respected that I didn’t want to be a JW anymore (which is rare that they didn’t just cut me out of their life.) I’m 24, and I absolutely despise this cult for what it put me through. There’s a lot more but I don’t want to overshare as a stranger on the internet ^^’ Edit: please look at the Australian Royal Commission case regarding how they handle predators. It’s also a big thing that happened growing up as to why I didn’t feel safe there.
Yes, I haven't seen everything yet, but yes. I am an ex-Jehovah's Witness and yes. It is a unified being that you are supposed to become. Now imagine growing up in it and not being allowed to develop any personality of your own, you are supposed to put on the theocratic personality, become it. That is such a violation of the child's ego and do you know how difficult it is to become your own ego when you have escaped the cult? And yet you always remain a stranger in the "normal" world. Some may overcome it, but for me, a part of me always remains a stranger. What I find great is the idea of simply being a human being on earth. I liked the idea that all people are equal and I kept it to myself. Not in the negative sense of conformity, no, in the positive sense that we are all equal. In my case, I thought further, because the diversity of people is what is exciting. When I heard the description of the Watchtower study, I had to laugh out loud. Can you imagine how exotic someone seems who gives very personal answers? My mother was someone like that. Yes, she was brainwashed in a certain way, but she always remained an individual. She never avoided me either, which she really should have done because I'm out of the religion. Her answers were sometimes laughed at in the meeting, but she had acquired a kind of reputation over many difficult years that allowed her to be an individual. But that was an exception. In addition, her individuality often got her into trouble in the community. Yes, I do think that many of the members take refuge there because they get simple answers about how the world is and why the world is like that and the information that you just have to stay away and warn people, God will do the rest for you. So there's no need to fight for the world to become a better place, because it is being changed by God and cannot become better because of the devil. Very hurt souls and people in difficult situations are particularly good victims for such an organization. Sorry, you would prefer to contact more Jehovah's Witnesses for an open exchange, but that will probably be difficult. That's why you're more likely to get feedback from ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. Or from Witnesses who take a defensive stance and simply claim that they are being wrongly accused and that all ex-Jehovah's Witnesses are lying and evil. I didn't notice the songs before, but I've been out of the group for a long time. Since 2001, and a lot has changed. Above all, the way we use new media, which didn't exist before. I find the videos really bad when I see them today. Especially the ones for children. So terribly manipulative. Enough of that, I think your video is brilliant and it even showed me again how the whole thing works when you look at it openly from the outside and aren't involved. Thank you for that.
Unity is critical and that was made clear for decades by the men who run the show. "Unity, unity at all costs." Direct quote. Conform. Control by conformity
The “nice” persona that witnesses put off is strictly for show. We’re taught to swarm new comers, share your tablet with them, smile and be super friendly so they want to come back. The moment you’re sucked in to the point of baptism, you see the backstabbing and dirty tactics that go on in the organization. It’s like a wake up call with a hammer
The niceness is fake. It's all fake. Paid actor is a good analogy. I grew up in it and have seen them change personalities between home and the Kingdom Hall. My dad would be screaming at what pieces of crap we all were the whole way to the kingdom hall and then flip the switch and be all happy and spiritual as soon as he got out of the car. They're all like that. Try growing up in it and then telling them its all crap. That fake niceness drops immediately. I left and lost most of my family and all of my "friends" that i grew up with. They isolate you with how great they are, and then they dig the screws in and start controlling you once you've lost your "worldly" support system.
Raised in this Cult, I’m a SRA survivor through this Cult. There is NOTHING sweet about this group at all. It’s taken me my entire life to recover from the abuse I was put through. I’m also fully shunned by my family because I speak out about this Cult and I’m talking about what happened to me.
As an ex-JW, you were right on about creepiness of their "kindness." They only want you to join, but if you leave, they'll just ignore you known as shunning. Also, you did an incredible job impersonating their cadence, you sounded just like a JW elder!!! LOL!!!
I've spent a lot of time with JWs in my business (I do computer repair and the local Kingdom Hall ALL come to me). So iv'e had the chance to get to know some of them behind the scenes - there are two versions of them - church and ministering version, and home version. They're just like everybody else at home.
@@thegreatdeconstruction I had a JW friend in primary school (still catch up with him sometimes) and I can agree that at home they're like anybody else. My friend left the cult a few years ago, thank God.
@@billhicks9056 yea, my partner (a trans man) and I sometimes have dinner with a couple of them, never felt anything but love from them -and they have a child who has left the faith as well and they do have a relationship with her.
Your mileage may vary. Often times the ones that are normal at home are also not completely devout, and are likely on their way out one way or the other. JWs aren’t allowed to call an outsider a “friend”, though they may allow you to call them as such if they think you might be a potential convert. If their congregation found out they called an outsider their “friend”, they would be shunned unless they renounced their friendship with you.
Hahaha dude Im one of the JW's, honestly i like your honest opinion about our organization and people in our wordlwide community 😂, i like the part that you acting different type of speech, the monotone one makes me laugh, and honestly you are right! But dont worry when I will give a talk in our congregation I'll try my best to give a speech that is not monotone but a natural speech without losing my individuality 😂😂 . You are the coolest Atheist that I've encountered online 😂
Yeah. I was a JW all my life and when my ex left me, nobody in the congregation got in touch with me either. I finally thought, "maybe no one knows." When I called I found out they knew but didn't care. They took his side without ever speaking to me. So I guess that's just how people are. They believe the first story they hear and it's hard to change their mind. That guy who thought JWs are different, has a big surprise waiting for him down the road. I'm an atheist, now, too. And you're spot on about your observations, even noticing some things I had never considered. Great job!
Born in and raised a JW for 30 years. Your review was spot on. There are genuinely good people in there. The problem is that they’re brainwashed to follow the doctrines, even if it removes their humanity. The disfellowshipping and shunning arrangement is barbaric. I was disfellowshipped in October of last year after I had too much to drink with a coworker and I ended up having to sleep on their couch while out of town for work. My wife at the time wouldn’t believe nothing happened. So they booted me for drunkenness and circumstantial cheating. She chose divorce and unalived herself shortly after our divorce in January. Since I had to be shunned, only 6-7 people bothered to approach me at her funeral. I sat sobbing by myself for 30 minutes until my mother got there. From what I’ve been told, people believe I didn’t cheat and they didn’t understand why she couldn’t believe me. They care about me but the shunning still continues and nobody from the congregation, besides my best friend, has even checked on me.
After that, I realized there was something wrong with this organization and I allowed myself to do research. Looked at all the no-no sites and have concluded that it’s a cult. Now I’m just agnostic because I’m still deconstructing my faith.
My friend, I'm sorry to hear this. I can only imagine the pain you have been going through.
I suggest you visit an Eastern Orthodox Church - it's the original and ancient church; it's a hospital for sinners, and encourages to live a life of repentance, of loving God and neighbor and looking at yourself before you judge others.
It changed my life and it's there for all who want it to change theirs. Western Christianity has ruined so much, but things are changing.
The EO encourages a life of prayer, not just "knowing things" and saying you therefore know God. As Father Roman Braga (a prisoner in the communist prisons): "God is not in the books". If you try to reason your way to God, you will fail or at the most be stranded on an island of ideas, but with no experience of the living God. Come and touch and handle Christianity as it's meant to be.
If I may recommend a book I suggest you read "mountain of silence" and check of "roots of Orthodoxy" UA-cam channel.
May God grant you a healed heart and a path for your feet.
So sorry man! That's really sad. My condolences.
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss and the difficulties surrounding being shunned. It's horrible and I don't blame you for moving away from religion and becoming an atheist. It can ironically be a step in the right direction spiritually speaking as it may be for you. Eternal be the memory of your wife and may the Theotokos comfort you in your time of mourning.
@@RonPOMO-ps9fm thank you so much. The fact that I can get a simple condolence from a “mentally diseased apostate” and not a single one from my old congregation speaks volumes! I follow your X page, by the way! Thank you for your work. 🫡
Holy moly that’s so terrible 😢😢😢
Ex-JW here….54 years of my life loyal to them and WASTED! I lost out on so much. I finally woke up at age 54….now 56. I’m still bitter. They completely change your entire way of thinking and feeling and basically hi jack your brain. You lose your identity. I’m sick that my only son and two sisters are still trapped inside. I really believed these people had the truth for my whole life….until 2/3 of my life was gone. It’s a devastating cult. I related to EVERYTHING you said. I feel some kind of justification listening to you. You just earned my sub.
Hear you loud and clear 🤝💪
Strength and health to You.
Glad you made it out. Best of luck to you.
You wasted 54 years of your life????? LOL And you blame THEM???? LOLOLOLOL And you add ZERO details of allllllll that time??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Suuuuuuuuuuuure buddy with your fake little story LOL. Pathetic.
I'm 47 and I just deconverted. I initially felt the same way you do but may I suggest you focus on the freedom of mind you now have? Cheer up friend. Life still has lots to offer. 👍🏽
As someone trying to leave the JWs, them being friendly is how they get you. The love bombing is how they get people to stay.
Yeah that's why I am avoiding getting too close. They are trying to lure me
The shunning is what gets people to stay
@@eiredalta True. They reel you in with the love bombing and keep you in with fear and the threat of excommunication.
@@eiredaltayup. They reel you in with the love bombing and keep you in with the threat of disfellowshipping/excommunication.
@@Katiegirlluvas soon as they realise you don’t want to be a cult member, you will die to them. Literally.
Left 8 years ago. The elders told me I was going to be miserable and unhappy out in the "world", but the truth is, that even my worst day in the "world" is better than any good day as a JW. You couldn't pay me any money to go back.
My husband and I also left 8 yrs ago. They told us the same thing. Over and over they told us we’d be miserable and beyond unhappy and so would our children. And that we were ending our children’s lives by leaving. It was crazy. They harassed us so badly, unannounced home visits, phone calls to home and cells, texts, emails, hand written letters. It was intense. Our fading turned into full on disappearing lol. We moved and changed our numbers.
Well done! And you haven’t even touched the CSA issue. I was a victim many times over. However, I didn’t ‘have two witnesses to bring a charge against my brothers…and a sister.’
Keep digging if your mental health can take it.
@MW-rn1vg so happy to hear this! I was told at my disfellowshipping judicial committee: "good luck with your kids!" At that time my boys were 9 and 11. Now they are 16 and 14. They are both on the honor roll, they don't party they go to the gym for fun, they work and are loved by parents and teachers alike. I am so proud of them and they are doing amazing. JW kids don't hold an exclusivity on "good" kids.
That will happen at the tribulation when you realize you either return to Jehovah with your tail tucked between your legs or be destroyed.
Well done. Stepping into the dark takes courage.
I was born into this organization and have survived escaping it. I lost everyone who ever mattered to me in the process. The only thing that kept me strong was knowing that someone in my line would have to break the cycle and that I was willing to suffer. Thank you for shedding light on what you experienced so that others might avoid entangling themselves with this maleficent force on earth.
Losing religion was hard enough for me. I genuinely cannot imagine the weight of suffering POMOs experience when that is compounded with losing friends and family. I'm so sorry for everything you've had to go through.
Here's to hoping more people see the light.
Thanks so much for being here, friend.
@@HeliocentricOfficialI admire your empathy- deconstruction is devastating and disregulating but doing it while you’re being shunned is a uniquely harrowing torture.
SONG 11 Your glory, God, your mighty works abound,
In skies above, their praise for you resounds.
Creation speaks without a voice or word;
In all the earth, its message can be heard.
Creation speaks without a voice or word;
In all the earth, its message can be heard.
2.True wisdom starts with wholesome fear of you
And guards our way in all we say and do.
Your wise commands enlighten young and old-
A treasure far exceeding finest gold.
Your wise commands enlighten young and old-
A treasure far exceeding finest gold.
3.By knowing you, our life is not in vain,
And by your word, our life will be sustained.
The greatest honor anyone can gain
Will come to all who sanctify your name.
The greatest honor anyone can gain
Will come to all who sanctify your name
I’m proud of you for breaking the cycle! It’s not easy but worth it to be free!
@@HeliocentricOfficialsometimes not believing is an act of faith in itself. I learned that from an Orthodox priest (not to me personally).
“Dont think or debate theology” is a huge red flag for me. As a former lutheran whos converting to orthodoxy, i have NEVER been discouraged from asking questions or debating or researching, and have almost always been encouraged to learn more.
As an atheist whos looking into Orthodoxy, I was fuckin flabbergasted by the idea that Orthodoxy actively encourages questions. It's so far from what I was raised around, I was actively confused that I wasn't expected to turn my brain off.
Dude! I'm a former Lutheran who is converting to Orthodoxy. I will be starting catechism in August.
From what I've discovered so far is that there are a LOT of people converting to Orthodoxy. When I told my Lutheran pastor I was leaving, he confirmed of the small exodus leaving Lutheranism.
What made you switch?
Former Presbyterian who converted to Orthodox. Yeah I see it first hand at my parish I think we have 20-25 catechumens right now. Glory to God! The truth of holy Orthodoxy is spreading like wildfire.
@@jonahanderson9101 A member of my Antiochan church said that 10 years ago the congregation was about 90% cradle Orthodox.
Now it's been flipped to 60/40 converts to cradle.
Amazing.
By contrast the Lutheran church I am leaving has an average age around 70+ with very few coming in. Sad to say, but they won't look the same in 10 years.
Thats good you left that church. Martin luther was a very evil man.
To show you what you left i will state a letter he wrote to his wife one time that basically said "i cannot get a errection to prostitutes and i blame the jews for putting this curse on me."
Thats martin luther for you. He also had many scatological rants about how to fight demons. Scatological means "relating to or characterized by an interest in excrement and excretion."
The reason they want their members to ignore and shut out all "Apostate" material is because they know that if they have it a second thought, their critical thinking might start working and they'll leave.
Facts!!
They call it "apostate" but I call it "whistleblower"
Proud apostate here
@@FranktheBlindArtist ditto bro! It’s “the best life ever” 🤣
@@Jeron_Benton man have you seen any of the new dramas. All gaslighting members for being miserable. It’s so painful to watch their sad lives
They don't like individuality because they are a cult.
no they arent what a dumb thing to say
@@gregorybaynham1122 yeah they are. They meet the BITE model criteria.
@@MimiscellaneousCULT✅
@@gregorybaynham1122ok let’s see
You can’t ask deep questions or disagree about their most serious doctrines
If you’re kicked out your family is forced to no longer speak to you or they will be kicked out
Insanely misogynist women have no power
They have record books and databases of pedos inside the religion who hurt children inside as well because they can’t allow the reputation be tainted
They follow 6 (or more I forgo) old men who say they are inspired by or told directions by god via Holy Spirit and no one is allowed to question that
I mean
Pretty culty I have so much more to list the fact they had to sell Kingdom Halls to pay for CSA law suits is a big thing you ever wondered why halls were being merged and sold off back in the day!?
@@gregorybaynham1122they’re a doomsday cult. Sorry to burst your bubble, but if you’re a JW, you’re in a cult.
As someone who is currently trapped, everything you said is spot on! You can’t ask a single question that contradicts the belief system or risk losing absolutely everything you’ve grown up with, even if you bring up logical fallacies or issues with translations.
I hope you can get out.
Im so sorry your still trapped
I know it's hard to be trapped there now!! But I promise from experience that it will be so worth it to get out! Losing everyone can be scarey... but being free is an absolutely priceless gift
I stopped attending, nothing about my lifestyle changed. But I’ve lost 98% of my friends and family becomes I stopped attending. No one asked why and I never volunteered my reasons
If you have the financial means to live on your own get up outta there brother. if u don’t tho, tough it out, I tried leaving when I was 17 and the only reason I wasn’t homeless is because of the kindness of some of my “worldly”friends at school, and that only lasted a couple months understandably. I floundered in a shitty apartment I could barely afford for another 9 months before I lost my job. my parents by then had come around, and although they didn’t and still haven’t left the organization, they went against doctrine and let me and my brothers live with them until we had the means to live on our own , and since have respected our beliefs and no longer push to get back into the religion, but realistically I had it good . others don’t have any contact with, or help from their family to this day. Regardless it’s no way to live, and I feel the majority of people would be happier in “ the world”.
I love your "something's off" comment!! The deeper you dig and research the more you find just how "off" they are!!!
I just started down this JW rabbit hole recently. Wow. Fkd up organization.
My step-brother became a JW in the 80's. Before, he was a fun-loving guy; great to hang with. When he joined his personality totally changed. When he found out he couldn't convert me, he pretty much forgot me. Strange thing is that I always love talking about my faith. Most JW's will only talk with you a few times and when you don't come to their side, they will drop any type of friendship with you. Very much cult personality.
I was a JW from about 2004-2020. I'm 40 now. Their thing is you must "put on the new personality." It's cringe.
Yes you are correct. I left last year and they couldn't change me. My brother is not the same person he was 20 years ago. He has told me that he doesn't care that I don't attend meetings anymore, but...and a big but, If he hears I am "apostate" he will never speak to me again. Absolute borg member and subscribes to all of their cruel and elitists views of the Bible. They make me sick!
I haven't heard a word from my daughter in 3 years.
@@alannaandersons619
That is so so sad. I hear stories like this all the time. I just don’t understand how the borg has that much power over people. Prayers for sure.
They even have a phrase for it, they call it ‘the new personality’
The warm reception you experienced that was the “good thing” is what is commonly known as “love bombing”.🙃
Yep, they are being really nice to people they think they can convert.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Saying hello is love bombing?
@@CJ-jk9mp just saying hello is one thing, then there is what JW’s and Mormans and Fundies do when they see an unfamiliar face at a meeting for the first time.
Here’s how normal people say hello to strangers:
“Hello. New here? My name is bob. Nice meeting you. Ok so… See you maybe next time.”
Here’s how live bombing sounds, being surrounded by at least 3-12 people:
“Hiiiiiiiiii!!!!!! Where are YOU from? It’s SOOOOO GOOOD to meet you. WhAT’s YOUR NAME?!?” We are SOOOOO GLAD you’re HERE!!! Tell us ALLLL ABOUT YOURSELF… WOW!!! WE’RE ALL FAMILY HERE!”
@TheCultRecoveryCoach ...come for a bible study, when is it convenient for a home visit?
Wow, you nailed it 100%! I was born and raised in this cult. I'm glad I left before having my own kids. Free now for over 30 years.
Totally agree
Same here. I am genuinely happy. I struggle with my upbringing because of the damage it did
Yep. I left in 1991 after turning 18 and immediately joined a gym, went to parties and gatherings and freely associated with my forbidden undercover 'worldly' friends that I had made along the way. Very important to have a network in place when leaving.
@@sylkelster I didn’t have a network in place when I left but wish I did. I already had children, my husband and I left at the same time because we woke up and realised the truth about the truth. Definitely think having support while you are leaving and making sure you have good support after, it very important and needs to be part of the plan.
They’re love bombing you- upon joining, their kindness quickly turns to criticism (help)
@@fixairplane3624 💯💯
Narcissism to an extreme. Love bombing -> control -> gaslighting-> brainwash -> abuse.
And it's not fake - they really are delighted that there is a new potential sucker in their midst.
But after they convince you to give up all your friends, music, hobbies, and personality, they keep you in with the threat of disfellowshipping - where you lose all your "friends" and resources if you dare to disagree, even slightly, with any of their doctrines.
Yep spot on. All of these weird and culty aspects don't fully stand out to you as a JW until you start to question the religion. You know aspects of it are strange, but you don't fully grasp to what extent until you're mentally out. You make excuses for most of them as a JW but don't understand that you are fully playing into the indoctrination tactics. Well done!
ChatGPT "Write a 2 hour religious service meant to keep people from leaving the organization"
Make it boring and add the name of the demiurge ‘jehoover’ as much as artificial Intelligence allows😉
@@Des7iny7😂😂😂🤙
I'm not joking, I know several JWs that have been using chatgpt to write the talks LMAOOO
Tried doing that. At least with gpt3 it doesn't know what you mean by asking it for a specific duration of talk. Asked for 30 min and got like 2 paragraphs.
Also JW talks bash other groups alot and GPT refuses to do that so if you were going to use gpt you would have to add all the negativity in yourself. Just another instance of gpt sycophancy.
Yooo
As a 4th generation (ex now) JW you’ve crystallized the whole experience. There isn’t any real concern for people it’s just “butts in the seats”. I left because well, I learned critical thinking and I became the most critical SOB they’d ever seen. Even people that had known my parents and great-grandparents were glad to see me go.
I am also 4th generation. I left after tears of mental & emotional abuse, i tried so hard to be one of them but they constantly treated me as the black sheep. I am so much happier since I left in 2015 never to look back. I miss my family but I won't allow myself to be used and abused by people who like to gossip and judge and act like they are the Holy ones of the earth
Totally agree. Im an ex witness and this was actually very validating for me especially the weird creepy vibe you get with people and especially the speakers tone. And literally a cult has information control. The truth doesnt mind to be questioned, but a lie hates to be challenged
As a ex-JW, everything you said and felt is right on!
7:17 as an exjw I can tell you that NO ONE ever wants to sit through those meetings. We always put on a fake happy demeanor because of the fear of being judged by others. But trust me, we were always truly happy once the meetings were over😂
😂😂
then you aren’t a true JW
@@jaqqeen4493 How?
I can't have sympathy if that's how you feel but keep going.
And you were happy when the speaker didn't show up on Sunday, so the meeting was just half an hour. Or every once in a while, the power went out, and we got to go home early 😂
I left after 30 years being a JW.
When you're in the Organization you don't see clearly how much the leadership controls your thinking and acting and take away your individuality.
Leaving the JW was one of my best dissision, worth all there shunning.
If followers act like Stepford Wives that's definitely a red flag.
The genuine sweetness is an act. It's called lovebombing. They are only that nice to new people who walk in.
Bull! You know nothing about it.
@@djparsons7363 you know nothing about what other people know.
@djparsons7363 I was a JW until 30 yrs old. I know alot about it. In fact I know that if your elders found out you were watching videos like this and commenting on them, you could get yourself in a lot of trouble. You're not supposed to be watching anything negative about your organization. What kingdom hall do you attend? I'll be calling your elder body to let them know.
@@djparsons7363 if you are a JW, what are you doing on here? Isn’t that forbidden?
@@djparsons7363 We know everything about it, dude.
We know how quickly the friendlyness disappears once you dare to be "different" in any way and stick out as an individual instead of conforming to the grey anonymous mass.
Even if you don't break any of the organization's rules.
Even if you truly believe, never oppose any order or question any "new light".
Individuality is frowned upon and makes you a pariah.
The answer to all your questions is one word.
CULT
*Doomsday Cult, yes.
@@DudeinDallas this right here…☝🏽
@@DudeinDallas well that’s really not an answer to any of my questions. However, that is a statement.
I do accept that I am in a cult. Cults take on many forms that can enslaved you such as sports or your work environment. You could also say that’s a cult anything that takes over your life and takes control of it. However, it hasn’t stopped me from asking questions and making up my own mind. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be commenting on this thread. I do believe that the religion I grew up in has changed immensely and it’s not what it used to be. I do believe Ed has now a cult.
@@myrmillionade3512anything from the bible is an evil stupid cult
@@myrmillionade3512 your teammates in your sport of choice and your workmates wont stop speaking to you or refuse to take your calls as a matter of policy if you quit the team or get a different job. Neither of those things condition you to refuse life saving medical treatments or send representatives to the hospital to make sure you're complying. Your workplace and sports leagues never tell you they are the only acceptable organization under God's direction, all other organizations are evil and under the devil, and your very life depends on being in those organizations and surrounding yourself with friends from said organization and excluding friends from others because they are "bad association." C"mom. Deep down you know this.
Also, the Jehovah's Witness who shared his story with you about how he ended up joining this organization, is textbook cult recruitment, he was emotionally devastated because of his wife and socially isolated because the church people didn't reach out, and that's the perfect time for a high control group to swoop in.
So many exJW activist are trying to bring attention to this group because, like you said at the beginning of the video, most people just know No blood, no birthdays, and door knocking. They don't know that this group is responsible for more deaths than Jonestown.
Between the deaths from the "no blood" doctrine and covered up CSA you are not wrong.
That's absolutely true, but just because it didn't happen all at once in one place, they continue to hide their dangerous indoctrination in plain sight
Textbook??? Lmao to share his experience??? 😂 You’re a wiiiiierdo. We preach and if others want to listen, great! If not….great! 😂 we did our job and we will continue to know on your door and talk to you but we won’t chase you lol
You’re wrong I’ve been a JW my whole life sure they’re are some weird people who shouldn’t be here but theyre are some good people and the stories are true
@@ConnorScott-od3hy You're one person and many speaking up in this comment section are former jws or current jws who are afraid to leave and lose their family and friends. If you want us to hear you out on your experience being good, maybe you should also care about others' experiences too. I was a jw my whole life, confused why people say they care for and love me but don't act like it. I felt it even more when I left and they cut off all contact. But it was easy to leave because I never felt very loved there anyway. Yes I had friends and some people who cared, but I always knew it was conditional. They could take it away at any moment and they did just that.
😂😂😂 you are spot on, i am a 4th generational witness and left the organization about 8 months ago at 40 years old. The best decision ever this is a sick, weird and phony religion, you noticed all the right things 🧐👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾👍🏽🤜🏾🤛🏾
It is a sick, weird, and phony religion
@@latishabennett702 I also left at 40 but 8 yrs ago lol. Born in. It’s a wild ride leaving after it’s been your whole life.
🎉🎉🎉
I am so glad to hear it! That is not easy but you have so much to be proud of.
Very happy for you.
As a former witness, I have to say you were completely spot on! Everything you said, observed and thought was exactly what so many of us who've left felt. I'll never understand why individualism wasn't encouraged. It's similar to the Stepford Wives. And sadly the kindness they show changes the moment you start to question the beliefs. Not all, but so many are quick to gossip and spread lies about a person and there are many who think they are better than others because they have more money. Even though it's supposed to be a religion that frowns on materialistic thoughts. It's just sad how much control this organization has on so many. I think if they actually took the time to think for themselves, they would lose all their parishioners.
Agree. The environment is so much like the Stepford Wives that as soon as you start to even sound like you are not in 100% agreement, it is immediately picked up and you are looked at suspiciously.
The "good" of them being friendly is what we POMOs call "Love bombing" they are incredibly kind and sweet to everyone in an effort to make them feel welcome and want to come back, ideally before they research doctrine and problematic issues.
Can confirm. There is lots of kindness when you show signs of interest/advancement in the religion, but you often can't depend on that kindness to have any depth to it beyond that.
It's like being in an abusive relationship. Exactly the same
This is a cult with a weirdly strong hivemind
That’s the power of fear, baby
Like all religions and clubs. Peloton, CrossFit, Mormonism, etc
The BORG.
All religions r cults don't tell anyone tho
@@MrMASH50 I know what you think you’re saying, but that nonsense really diminishes the harrowing lived experience of people escaping high control groups/cults.
they hit every point of the B.I.T.E model for cult identification. You have already seen a tiny example of the Information control
@@helfyre6115 yup. Funny enough, when I heard the BITE model described in a podcast about a cult, I thought “well that sounds familiar…” Then I unfortunately put that in my mental shelf.
I can make literally anything fit into the BITE model, it's just way too broad
@@obesegiraffe9520 nah stop the cap
Not enough people are talking about the dangers of this cult. Absolutely shreds families. Many suicides in their wake. 😢 I was going through divorce and even my own family turned their backs and shut me out. The pain of divorce is temporary - the pain inflicted by this cult lasts a lifetime and is even multi-generational
This video was so well done. It's so refreshing as an ex JW (who's lost my entire family and 33 years of friends) to hear the thoughts of a person who has no prior misconceptions; give their unbiased opinion and observations.
I have a long and sad history in this cult. PROMISED: (be a good, kind, chaste girl who follows all the rules) everlasting life and happiness in spending my time door knocking 70 hours a month, RECEIVED: an abusive teen marriage, PTSD, loss of everything I owned financially and finally when I walked away from the cult loss of family and friends.....
I clearly remember the fear in my little heart as a child raised in this environment. Afraid of Armageddon, thunder storms (que the JW artwork with the sky on fire and people dying), the demons, smurfs! Afraid of "worldly" people corrupting me, every offering of birthday cake or halloween candy made me tense and shrink. Every playing of the national anthem got the muscles in my body to flex. My mother repeatedly telling me that it would be better for my grandparents (non JW) to die before Armageddon so they could be resurrected and I could see them in paradise as opposed to them dying at the hands of Jehovah's fireball (because they were non believers).
"Stay faithful to Jehovah at all cost" is not an easy task as a child or teen and it causes so much terror. These people are not happy, they are stressed and worried.
I was constantly told: "the end is coming, you won't even go to highschool, you'll never have children in this wicked system, paradise is just around the corner". Living your life like this from birth is incredibly difficult to break free from.
Just want to say to all the current Jehovahs Witnesses out there: if you are watching this, don't immediately dismiss it as an attack. This person is giving an honest, genuine analysis of your beliefs. Take a pause and just think about it. If nothing else just laugh! Cause he has done an excellent job at understanding the culture you are inundated by.
Just wanted to say Jared: your response really resonates with me. For most of my life I was physically sick to my stomach attending these meetings. But no one would have ever known. The conflicting emotional response you have is totally justified because there's more here than meets the eye. And that is perhaps the most dangerous part of this organization.
Maybe this is a bold statement, but think Mafia vibes covered in Barbie pink.
Thanks for making this video.
No he's giving an analysis of his religion 😮😢
You nailed it. Emotion and individuality could be Satan talking through you, best not to try it just in case. Witnesses will love bomb new people, its all about conversions. In my day we would keep track of how many hours were spent in the ministry and if it was less then congregation average i would get a pep talk/shame visit from the elders. I think soulless is a fair way to describe the worship. They are really scared of scandals because they paint a divinely inspired picture of their leadership and if that image gets shattered a lot of witnesses would become disillusioned. The leadership is supposed to be more like cloistered holy men in their propaganda. They have had some big scandals last few years so that is something they are big on now.
A practicing witness would get in some trouble if it was found out they watched a video like this. You have exactly the right impression of what a meeting is and why its designed that way. It is a high control group no doubt about it. But the rank and file are genuinely really nice people that take the gospels seriously also. If i was to give them a complement, they are the type that take their stuff to heart and very seriously. If you get "disfellowshipped" your family and friends are not supposed to contact you anymore or even to speak to you on the phone. And most witnesses are serous about it. I could go on way to long about this stuff ha.
If your up to it, take a shot of whiskey and go into their theology and history. 1914 is a year Satan was cast out of heaven and the doomsday clock started ticking down. Its a bit of a ride. I would love your takes on it! Its very uniquely weird.
Great video. Thanks!
I'm pouring my Jack Daniels now.
Thank you so much for your thoughts, man. It's absolutely wild to hear the experiences of people who lived in communities like this.
@@HeliocentricOfficial
🍻
They have a book called The Book Of Revelation that has all the fun stuff plus some really wild and creative art
I was gonna comment, but your assessment is spot on.
Well said, my friend.
@@HeliocentricOfficial Man, you really would like this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_Conscience
JWs history is a fantastic rabbit hole, and most of the followers are ppl who have no idea where they are.
@@HeliocentricOfficial also study their memorial teaching. Its honestly horrifying in a christian context that they gaslight the rank and file into actively denying the body and blood of christ so their "elites" who are "anointed" can be the only partakers.
Conveniently there aren't many ways to tell if they are legit or not, so basically you have to blindly trust and put faith in them and not christ.
I like how much you slapped the shit out of that Watchtower magazine.
Truman Show sponsored by Watchtower
Haha yes - with Stepford wife women.
I'm also Jared the Athiest and I WAS a Jehovah's Witness. This is fantastic. Especially the breakdown of the way they preach was perfect. I call them 'cult-lite'. Again, you nailed the voice and delivery. I did scream a lot and I did lose my mind.
Omg!!!!!! I left after 33 years. I was born and raised in. Left a year and a half ago. You are spot on with every single thing u seen and observed. Like so spot on it blows my mind. And you were able to pick all of this up by only going to 2 meetings. Its very very sad and insane!!!! 😂😂😂 Im out and still have siblings and family that are still in. And it feels like im watching a bad zombie movie with ppl who have had their brain eaten and turned into one but are completely unaware. 😢 very robotic and unnatural. Im so happy to be out and call myself a free agent/atheist 😅 But im the crazy one in their eyes 😂
As a born-in jw of 6 decades of indoctrination, love your take on it from the outside because you are spot on. They are required to smile and be a happy people. No one is allowed to be negative no matter how they are feeling. Includes the recent loss of a loved one. Basically, if you have any pain or trauma of any sort, you must suck it up buttercup look up child.Abuse of jay dubs, such as the Australian Royal Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney generals rulings on elders in the organization being arrested for CSA. I have seen so much horror in my lifetime that I need to write a book on it. I’ve even had offers of people want to write stories of my life and things that I knew about in the organization. Anyway, just let you know from former JW perspective. by the way, I left when I realized how rampant the childabuse was.
@aspen.k.
That is so sad & ridiculous. So much hate in that org.
@aspen.k.
I'm a JW. My friend is too and his wife is a non JW so...
@@kant.68 Right let me finish that sentencefor you... so.... you're the EXCEPTION.
@@cultytalk
Exceptions within a cult!? Hmm 🤔 how interesting...I'm also a tattoo artist and I have literally a neck tattoo. No problems in my congregation. Another exception? We went yesterday (the brothers) to a bar to watch the final England vs Spain having some beers ... Another exception from the evil, brain Washington cult
@@kant.68 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 now I know u lie. Bye! 👋 🤡
I was a Jdub until I was in my mid 30s and YES, you're expected to behave a certain way, dress a certain way. Even the makeup, hairstyles and basically any kind of individuality has to be hidden or suppressed. We were only free to be ourselves, sort of, among our closest friends and family. It’s difficult being a teenager and trying to find yourself as a jdub. 😢 This really brought up some triggers and past trauma but it's good. Im still healing. The only people who convert usually are going through a crisis. Back in the 90s we were actually given a list of vulnerable people to pry on and get them to convert. This was share with "regular pioneers" during one of their annual meetings. A regular pioneer is what they call full-time ministers.
But now men can have beards and women can have pants suits so problem solved!
@@misterdoctor9693beard fractions were not always allowed. Unless you were an elder, 😂
@@Des7iny7 nice
@@smooth1748 Your comment is very strange and false. You’re not expected to dress a certain way, you can dress how you want. We follow biblical principles and it says be MODEST in your dress. You can do whatever hairstyle you want, don’t lie to people reading this. Make up???? What makeup can’t you wear??? What are you talking about? A CLOWN MAKEUP STYLE??? Correct! You can’t go in looking like a CLOWN face.. You couldn’t find yourself??? Why? Because you didn’t want to do Gods will because of peer pressures to do drugs and party and drink and have sex with whoever?? That’s on you. Everyone has their own choice to make. You’re still healing from trauma??? Oh your poooooor thing, LIES. Who you trying to fool? The 3 people that hate God also? lol Pity you. I was disfellowshipped and that was MY CHOICE. You are a big time apostate and you’re scorned or you’re just a liar. Either one. Put your big girl panties on and grow up
I got "counseled" for wearing too brightly colored tights with my modest skirt and blouse! 😂 forgot to bring out my standard gray and black hosiery!
You are spot on! I grew up in this cult and my husband and I escaped but are being shunned by our parents and so called friends all because we don’t believe in their church anymore. I once heard: “ a bad person will do bad things and good person will try to do good things but to get a good person to evil things that takes religion.”
If the Jehovah witnesses say they are the 144000 chosen don't listen to them the 144000 chosen are said to be virgins but the Bible does state through the love of Jesus people will make it to heaven
This is by far the BEST JW analysis I’ve ever watched! You had me laughing so hard I almost peed myself. 😂
Your impersonation of various church leaders and how they talk from various religious organizations was so ON POINT it’s ridiculous.
And the impersonation of the JW’s speaking was so EXACT. I don’t know HOW you do it. 🤣
Keep it up! New subscriber here. You definitely earned my views. I look forward to watching your videos in the future.
Btw….The JWs’s are SO FAKE. I was born and raised inside that cult. 3rd generation. Officially left altogether when I was 18. That was in 1997. When I was a JW they didn’t have TV screens in the Kingdom Halls. But everything else was pretty much the same. So glad I’m out of that high control group of a cult! Zero Regrets! Also the CSA that goes on and is covered up by Watchtower leaders is so rampant it’s disgusting! 🤮 Another reason I’m happy to be no part of that child abusing cult.
Thanks again for the laughs! It was great!!
Grew up as a jw got out when I was 18. It’s been 5 years since I went to a meeting. My family is finally out of it too but my whole extended family is still in it. Everything you’ve said is spot on and i still have a hard time with the brainwashing. There’s a lot of movies I didn’t watch, music I didn’t listen too. It took me years to stop calling it “the truth”.
As an Orthodox Christian, looking at the bland insides of protestant churches makes me die a little inside. 😢😢😢
Jehovah's Witnesses aren't protestant or Christian
Jehovah's Witnesses don't even have windows in their churches!
Protestants regard the JW religion as heresy, as the JW reject central parts of the historic faith such as the Holy Trinity and the Divinity of Christ. (We also regard them as a cult, because they are a high control group, but that's a separate issue.) They are basically an entirely separate religion that uses the same holy book.
@@jeremyfirth And they're not Protestant, neither are the LDS they're cults.
As a man converting to Orthodoxy, looking inside of Orthodox churches make my spirit feel redeemed
One of the weirdest things about the way they speak to you, is they speak one way to a "worldly" person and completely differently to each other.
💯💯💯💯💯
so true and all over the world
I was a Jehovah’s Witness for 39 years, from the day I was born up until last July. . Thank you for providing a very fair and unbiased review. You just scratched the surface, I hope you do a follow up video. While on the surface this religion may seem innocent and harmless. It is VERY dangerous and has hurt a lot of people.
What woke you up so recently? Fascinated.
@@milham76 the blood doctrine.
Good for you for thinking for yourself.
Well done on getting out. I was sane age when I woke up and left I've been out 25 years now best thing I ever did. They cover up CSA (from personal experience) and the blood stance has killed many many JWs and their kids
I was raised a jw and left 3 years ago so a believer for 32 years. Glad to see youve left the cult!
Not sure where you are now in your view on God. I know a lot of exjw become atheists which is understandable but if it is acceptable for you to hear id love to tell you Jesus is king and he is God.
Thats all, i wont push for a bible study lol
I grew up in this cult in Nigeria, i was a member for 19 years. Im 21 now but i still had to be a PIMO (Physically In Mentally Out) for a year because i was living with JW family friends for my schooling in the US. At the time i didnt know where to go so i just kept pretending like i gave a fuck bout their teachings to survive. Your'e very spot on in your analysis of this cult, rq tho, they still believe in the 144,000 doctrine lol. Indoctrinating kids is the primary way this cult grows it number. As a child i remember having panic attacks whenever i committed a "sin", i am artiste so i hate the homogenous nature of the cult as well. You're actively encouraged to NOT learn about who you are, told to kill your dreams and pursuit for the sake of the cult, told to isolate yourself from non members. As a kid i felt like an alien, and they indoctrinate you to feel proud of being different from other kids, youre expected to act like an adult from an early age, sitting with the adults as they talk about adult topics like sex and drug use, but you're also simultaneously infantilized by the materials and teaching. For most of my childhood, i remember having conversations with my siblings about what we would do if we werent JW's. And though i belived it was the truth ...something always felt off and it became more apparent as i started to do more research outside their website and publications. They tell members not to get any information of any kind about the cult except from their website.
Fear mongering and prescribing solutions to problems that they create are their greatest feats. This cult makes member elitist and narcissistic, looking down on people who are not actively members then saying some shit like "We preach to them because we love them" how disgusting. I am the only member in my family who has woken up and everyday i want nothing more than for them to leave but it has to be by their own accord, no amount of evidence and convincing will change their minds unless they allow themselves to see the information. if you wish to be in this religion in the age of the internet it is because they are actively choosing to be ignorant. Its not easy to break out of their pseudo norm and actually do research and open your mind because they use thought stopping tactics like saying all bad news about the cult is from satan bla bla bla.
Some family members know my true feelings towards this cult and most dont, but i fear the most for my little sisters, they are bright and talented, especially the youngest...she an artiste down to her very core and i fear as she grows in this cult will steal her spark. There are tons and tons of law suits coming out about this religion and a lot of press so i'm happy that people are beginning to know what this cult really is about. The members are not at fault, they are merely victims to the governing body that actively play with its members lives, freedoms for their bidding. For more info on the org and the governing body members read Ray Franz's crisis of conscience or just look up exjw on yt. cheers to a good video.
You’re right they create problems and then they make solutions. Living with hostility to the outside world. Classic manipulation. Glad you got out good luck to you!
I've read it is especially hard in African countries. Evangelical/Prosperity preachers as well.
The sweetness is an act. The amount of child abuse in the homes, mental, physical, and sexual is astounding! The beatings I got would have put both my patents in jail if anyone outside of the organization knew about it. I've been happily shunned for 35 years just because I didn't want to be JW anymore.
Is a disgrace cult!!
That's the result of living in a group that makes any form of sex and education look bad because "the bible said so (even though it often didn't)"
Once you get over the initial shock of being disfellowshiped, you realize they're doing you a favor by leaving you alone.
Raised a JW. the reason why they're so nice is because they're not allowed to be sad or upset they will be reprimanded for it. If someone close to you dies, angry because you were wronged, or just depressed don't be sad they'll be resurrected, still sad? you'll be visited by people telling you not to, not feeling better? you'll be set in a private room with elders reading you scriptures that have nothing to do with what you're going through, still not working? well then you're yelled at for being "difficult" "get over it!" and "you're not allowing Jehovah into your heart!" You'll be labeled and treated lesser than. They do this to children too while trying to discredit therapy and psychology you know people that can actually treat your mental health because"all you need is the word of God"
LOL 😂😂 Witnesses bro, make Mormon look downright normal.
I know they're different but don't know how. Did the Mormons come first? I guess I'll watch the video and see what I can find out.
@@billhicks9056 actually they did but sort of the same revivalists period in the early to late 19th century.
This is the era of Quakers, Shakers, Amish, Mormon, Witnesses.
In the 19th century there was this big explosion of factions as Christians became less regulated by central authority of a larger "Church" aka, Catholic, Orthodox, etc. The smaller protestant churches went off looking for their "Truths" in the Bible.
@@billhicks9056 They're both "restorationist" movements, but the Mormons came first. Mormons were founded in 1830 and the JW were founded in the 1870s. There was a bunch of chaos after the founder died in the early 1900s and they broke off into several competing groups.
I used to be a mormon and when I was a mormon missionary, we used to run into the JW people in apartment buildings all the time, so I've had a lot of conversations with them.
Yeah most Mormons aren’t as culty as Jw and some others like that. Most of them are good people. Weird beliefs for sure and Joseph smith was definitely a fraud, but they do good works. They have some issues with parents kicking gay kids onto the street but I’ve seen that in some other churches and the Mormon church doesn’t officially say to do that
Until you remember Mormons believe they can become gods, multiple levels of heaven, polygamy etc 😅
They're instructed to shun anyone who disassociates from the religion, even if it's their own parents, their adult children, their siblings. It was the same with respect to those disfellowshipped only now they can invite them to a meeting and greet them - no conversation allowed. If they associate with an apostate outside of the family then they will be disfellowshipped themselves. They have the cheek to talk about making family life happy when they break up families.
I’m an ex-JW and your takes have me rolling. So spot on. Glad I stumbled across your channel.
As a former JW this is the BEST video I have EVER seen!!!!! It’s so accurate in what is going on with the brainwashing
They are sweet to you initially to try and draw you in. As soon as you question anything and then get “disfellowship” and then shunned. Even your own family shun you. They will act like you’re dead.
Ex-JW here. Joined at the same time with my mother and I left after 6 years. She doesn't speak to me. :( It hurts so much.
No, they still believe that only 144,000 will go to heaven to reign over the survivors of Armageddon. 😂
@@Mattukexjw While wearing Togas, carrying bow & arrows and riding horses 🐎 😄
thought the bible states that. Luke 12v32 LivEng Do not be afraid, little flock; because your Father has been pleased to give you the kingship Rev20v6 Happy and holy is he who has a part in the first resurrection: over these the second death does not have dominion, but they shall be priests of God and the Christ and shall reign with him for the thousand years. Rev14v3 gives fixed number 144000 bought from the earth. Makes sense as you cannot really be a king or priest without subjects. Rev7v9 un-numbered who shall be ruled over. So it is biblical, not just made up, but hey ho lets bash the JWs hey!
But he’s right that they keep modifying that doctrine by way of the “new light”
@@Hymmalapeak “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
Revelation 7:4
it said that they r israelis
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
Revelation 7:9
what do you think about that?
@@리리-f6n hi thks for the reply. Rev where it talks about this tribe then that tribe the list is not the original tribes of Israel. The tribe of Dan is omitted and Levi inserted, indicating and opening for the gentile nations, Cornelius being the first one to this calling. These 144000 receive heavenly kingdom rulership as their reward. The Rev7v9 are the 'other sheep' not of the little flock John 10 This parable Jesus told them; but they did not know what the things he spoke to them meant v16 And I have other sheep which do not belong to this fold; those too I must bring, and they will hear my voice, and there will come to be one flock, one shepherd. The bible clearly shows two groups. He obviously spoke firstly to the lost house of Israel being a Jew. They had first option to become part of this small group. Sadly, they did not respond. Hence pentecost and it was open door for the gentile nations. The 'other sheep' group he talks about are those that hear the kingdom message and respond. Repent, accept JC as their saviour & get baptised, then do the preaching work that Jesus did. Mat24v14 and this gospel of the Reign will be proclaimed in all the world of men, for an attestation to all the nations. And then the end will come. Notice 'REIGN' rulership/priests/kings. Over whom?
Mat 5v5 Jesus promised Happy are the meek, because they shall inherit the earth. (and b ruled by JC heavenly government/rulership so that universally we shall be shepherded as one flock one shepherd. make sense?
New Heliocentric album: 4 hours of JW-adjacent hymns praising Bob Iger recorded on a 1999 Casio keyboard. The world is ready for it.
I was raised a JW, I was a JW for 35 years.
If someone’s wife cheated on them and left them as a JW, we would do the exact same thing. We would avoid and isolate the person.
I was thinking the same thing when I heard the elders " backstory" I thought, he will definitely shun you after a divorce too. It's so sad and upsetting what they do to their " loyal followers " of brainwashed sheep.
That's not true at all. In my 20 years in the organization ive seen 2 cases of divorce. The one who did the cheating of course would not attend because of so many issues like embarrassment and also they don't want to attend the same congregation as the person the cheated on and also they may have been disfellowshipped. But They chose to continue attending because they were deeply sorry and after a few months they were reinstated....so it's your personal choice to leave or not. The elders never avoid the person they vist them and contact them to check on them yearly. I know because it happened to me and they always checked up on me.....so.....you can keep lying but i don't know why you'd be lying other than just to lie to people lol You do you buddy....LIAR.
@@Mr.Market777 ok then bro. weird man
I was a member of this organisation for 27 years and I think you described the ugly truth behind the seemingly glittering first appearance of this group. I started to think how forced my upbringing really was growing up in this religion. Thank you for this video ❤ keep up the great work 🤘
I'm speechless. Thank you SO much for your kind words here. It breaks my heart to read these comments and hear what this organization has done to families and children. I'm so glad that you're out and thriving. Wishing you joy and peace as you move forward.
You pay on all this guys video because you're the same account
@@Mr.Market777 Hey my dude, if I'm not mistaken, this was the first gift anyone has actually ever sent me (or at least one of the first). I think I've been gifted less than $30 in all my years of UA-cam.
@@HeliocentricOfficial Seeing you delete comments is CRINGE. Reply to my other comments to you…the important ones, not about some donation you got bro
SONG 6 .O God, you know my rest and waking,
When I lie down and when I rise anew.
You search my thoughts, my inmost inclination,
The words I speak, the ways I walk,
you know them too.
You saw when I was made in secret,
My very bones not hidden from your sight.
You saw my form; its parts were down in writing.
I love the wonder of your ways
and praise your might.
Your knowledge, God, is wondrous, awe-inspiring;
Of this my soul is very well-aware.
If I should fear that darkness might enfold me,
Your spirit, God, would find me, even there.
Where could I hide from you, Jehovah,
Or be concealed, be hidden from your face?
Not in the Grave nor in the highest heaven,
Not in the dark nor in the sea;
there is no place.
Born, raised and lived in the JW cult until I was 42. You have absolutely nailed it. The pressure of remaining separated from society is what kept me from figuring out I was in a cult. You DO NOT question the leaders, ever!! I lost almost everyone when I left, my family and the only community I’ve ever been allowed to know and build relationships with but even with all that loss I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Thank you for your honest review, I hope JW’s see this and they wake up too
Well done! Former elder here. Many compare the experience to the Truman Show. Excellent job picking up on the 'cadence'....
Monotone, that's the perfect word. It's very mind numbing. I'm surprised we didn't all die of boredom. Being a JW during the pandemic must have been a wonderful change of pace by not actually having to go to the Kingdom Hall.
Tons of people woke up at that time
The cadence is because they are literally being hypnotized and taught to hypnotize each other. That's why they look so content
Growing up JW I had to go to those meetings Monday night, Thursday night, and Sunday. We were expected to go out and preach door-to-door on Saturdays too. I hardly had enough time to do homework and barely passed high school. We were told not to get too close with classmates because they aren't JW's, but at the same time there weren't many people at the Kingdom Hall my age to make friends. JW's discourage higher education and pursuing a career. The indoctrination worked on me because everyone in my family was involved in it. I was told growing up that the Armageddon is coming any day, so a lot of JW's don't make much plans for the future. I didn't wake up from the indoctrination until i was turning 30 years old and realized I wasted a lot of my life. That is the real tragedy of this religion in my opinion. Children are thrust into it without a choice.
Yes, I agree especially about children being thrust into it without a choice
Excellent and unique video. As an exjw, everything you felt, every impression you had was spot-on. You were far too polite. All I'd say for anyone interested in JWs is RUN.
Definitely this.
The sweetness is fake. It's a high intensity control group and they monitor and inform on one another for the slightest infringement of their rigid rules. Also the horrible music is particularly egregious when you consider they had access to Michael Jackson and Prince!
Jackson was not an active jehovah witness and prince dabbled but was never one. So no they did not " have" prince and mj. Fun fact jazz guitar player George Benson is an active JW to this day.
Such a generous and nuanced take on JW, they're low hanging fruit that are all too easy to bash but we all forget the human beings living behind the over the top smiles. great vid!
You made great observations! Very diverse, very friendly, and less money hungry than other religions. But as a former JW here, the shunning, refusal of life-saving care (blood transfusions), and 2 witness rule in order to prosecute a molester are huge issues they don't discuss openly. I was born in, but lucky my parents got out when I was 12. I knew as a child something wasn't right. I dreaded looking at those beige walls, hearing the montone talks. I often asked why only sisters could do skits and only brothers were allowed to speak at the podium. I remember asking difficult questions on the car rides home after bible study, and my parents did not know what to tell me. I'm agnostic now and don't get too focused on what to believe in. I've had enough childhood religious trauma than to be worried about what religion is the "true one." All I know is that I'm happy to be free. I wouldn't have made a good submissive jw wife 😅.
So glad I ran into your chats with Jake from AltWorldly. Your perspective on these things is invaluable to those on both sides of that divide--Witnesses of course could learn a lot from what you say, but so could those who ridicule them from a Christian perspective.
I grew up in a split family--Dad's family converted when I was little and mom's family were bog-standard Christians of various descriptions. I spent all of my teenage years with Dad and growing up gay in that environment was harrowing and frightening. I left right after I graduated high school. It has been 20 years, and I'm still not over it. My dad died a few months ago and we hadn't talked since he kicked me out. I have two sisters I've never met. And it took me a long time to have the compassion for my former fellows that you have.
Funnily enough, I went from that to a more moderate version of Pentecostalism. I went to Foursquare Gospel churches for a long while after, both because the shelter where I had stayed required you attend church to stay there, and because the scene was so different and the emotional resonance so much the opposite of what I had experienced. I've mellowed out, come to terms with myself, etc. And I find a lot of beauty in more traditional/High Church style services now too. I am a kinda weird Christin hybrid that doesn't fit anywhere in the constellation of churches.
So yeah, after what I've seen and watching this, you're one I'm going to have to follow. You seem such a nice guy, you have an open mind, etc. All my best to you, my good sir. Thank you for doing this and for your compassion.
Ex-mormon here, I think it would be interesting for you to check out General Conference. They have it twice a year and the next is in October I think. You mentioned the way the JWs spoke during their talk, and it's almost exactly like General Conference. So many similarities between JW and LDS.
Anyhow, you immediately got a sub. Production value is top notch 🤘
As an Ex-JW I can tell you they are all miserable, but brainwashed into toxic positivity and that we have to be a people of God's Love. It is literally jammed into our heads to be overly abundantly nice to anyone new who shows up to the hall so we can "set a good example and encourage them to keep coming."
It's a cult of appearances, but the people are lulled so deep into the brainwashing they literally can't see what is happening to them. Not only are you apostate if you say anything negative, but you can be shunned for it, and even your own family is supposed to ignore your existence because it's "showing God's loving punishment, in hope they will return."
It's insanity to even define God's Love that it can bother punishing others and justify it as love. This was what always raised a huge eyebrow when I was in. No wonder I was surrounded with JWs who are critical and judgmental, and were insecure and anxious being driven by fear, not love.
Mom wake up new heliocentric vid just dropped
*EVERY JEHOVAH'S WITNESS MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO*
💯💯💯
Why? We know it's total garbage, not a shred of truth to it.
@@djparsons7363 - List the things that were not true.
I'll wait.
@@djparsons7363 - Why don't you make a list of the lies?
@@djparsons7363 - Oh, please, do take your time.
I consider myself somewhat of an expert being in it for 38 years and an elder
and ministerial servant for most of the time. I disassociated myself back in 2014 and recently went back to see if they would still shun me since they changed their shunning policy recently along with many other changes to become more mainstream. No one knew me there since it was in Florida not PA. You are spot on because I could not stand how mind numbing simplistic and boring compared to other churches I have attended and there have been many. It is the BITE mind control model that Jim Jones used for his cult in Jonestown. They have no clue they are being brainwashed. Truly sad and yes, very scary, because they are going to give them "orders" soon that won't make any sense and told to just obey. My children are still in it and won't even talk to me. Very well presented on your part and 100% correct in all your observations.
Sorry about your children. I too have a daughter still "in" but my other offspring all got out
Former elder here as well. The endless insult to our intelligence has only gotten worse, hasn't it? They've dumbed the whole thing down.....
Im an Ex JW. Left the organization a few months ago at 22. I was born into this. I've lost the majority of my old JW friends due to their shunning policies. By some miracle my parents have decied not to shun me, im one of the lucky ones. Thank you for your video 😊
I’m so happy that your family have decided not to shun you. That’s so rare ❤
As a smart and curious kid, going to JW meetings 3 times a week for 13 years was pure torture. I recognized that the watchtower study was bullshit at a young age. I used to count the ceiling tiles to keep myself entertained. I was so bored.
I also understood that not being allowed to question is not a feature of people that have “the truth”.
I also wasn’t allowed to have any friends that weren’t JWs or pursue any extracurricular interests. I couldn’t wait to leave as soon as possible.
Oh, they also predicted the end of the world 3 times and were wrong.
In my day, JWs were not allowed to go online much so I doubt you’ll have anyone come here to talk
Omg I grew up a JW too and would count the ceiling tiles too 😂😂😂
You are me😂
I'm 15 years old and we're stuck on this front line called JWs.
@@LazyHuman124 only 3 more years my friend
I would stare at the fans of the ceiling. Son of bitches robbing kids of their childhood.
Bro this video was SPOT ON!!!!!! thank you for taking the time to make this ..as a former JW elder in it, I can tell you, like the others here, you were love bombed at first and the WT study is designed to be a repetitive discussion without any content against itself
Thank you so much for making such an amazing perceptive video. Often times videos on the JW are made from a smug atheist angle that really washes away all the details that make the JWs unique.
Hopefully you got around to researching their shunning practices which are horribly cruel. I know from experience after a traumatic outing to my parents as a gay male. My experience of their “judicial committee” procedure forever marred them in my eyes. None of them knew anything they were talking about. Endlessly asking if I had been molested or swayed by someone.
I had to cut myself off from my family because I knew I just couldn’t handle having them disapprove of my life and treating me like a lost cause. They think I’m “wicked” and doomed to eternal destruction. They chose their cult over their own son.
It was fun hearing about all the humorous aspects of JW life. The ultra bland whitebread aspect of it all. Depressing kingdom halls, terrible songs, horrible simplistic writing. But the illustration art, at least in the past was funny as hell. We all remember this illustration of Queen Jezebel decked out like a drag queen being shoved out a window with her scarlet dagger fingernails extended out.
Hey! Same situation here! It's kind of footnote how ignorantly homophobic they are, but geesh. The description of certain types of people needing a boring cult, yeah definitely that's true. If you don't fit the mold though, you're going to have a bad time.
You have NO idea how validating this video is. Raised as a JW from birth. Non of us liked to go sit for 5+ hours a week and endure this but we were made to feel guilty because we didn’t like it. But if that’s all you’ve ever know you don’t know better.
The best description of Jehovah's Witnesses that I've ever heard was that they're like the Far Cry 5 cult if the Far Cry 5 cult wasn't cool.
I haven't played FC5, but I have to imagine that cult was way more into violence.
Not at all. JWs are pacifists. They are a cult though.
@12:07 “Christianity is metal as shit”. This video keeps getting better.
You should go back to the Orthodox Church as a palate cleanser. It's like the JW take the beauty of the Orthodox and invert it into a sterile, corporate, bureaucratic caricature. Great series, keep it up!
Orthodox have extremists within, esp now with the trad mvmt
@@Katiegirlluv Every place on earth has problem people. The Church is no exception, even if, it (as an Orthodox Christian) is the fullness of faith. This is because the Church is not a place for the perfect but a hospital for sinners. God bless
💯
@@Katiegirlluv Being "extreme" must be pointed towards God to be good, especially in the Church. Fr. Seraphim Rose posed a question in his book, God's Revelation to the Human Heart: "Why does a person study religion?" If you're searching for religious experiences, you will find a Christianity without the Cross, hollow and devoid of substance, hypocritical, and often used for political/charismatic purposes. If you're searching for Truth, then you will find repentance, fasting, constant prayer, confession, and the complete death of the self to the world so that you might live for Christ. The lives of our Saints are a testimony to this "extreme" struggle for Truth. God bless
"Christ is the only exit from this world. All other exits - sexual rapture, political utopia, economic independence - are but blind alleys in which rot the corpses of the many who have tried them." Fr. Seraphim Rose
Moses was the first cult leader. He took a group of people from enslavement and a promise of freedom to the middle of the desert, told them ONLY he could speak with god and god was telling him he’d bring plagues and threats if they didnt do as they were told. If they made a mistake they were stoned to death (of course today if you saw that you’d keep in line out of fear), if you were gay you would be stoned to death. Women had zero rights. Exodus 21:20-21 if you beat your slave and he died you must be punished but if he recovered IT WAS OK and no punishment. Why do you think slavery was accepted among christians for so long? I could go on and on. People can believe what they want to believe except when its hurting other people. And christianity is hurting other people.
Wow! Thank you SO much for this. I am a former JW, currently a therapist who specializes in helping ex-JW recover after leaving.
Everything is so spot on, hilarious, and speaking for other ex-JWs we are so grateful for someone who can reveal the absurdity of this cult.
So glad to know people like you are offering your unique perspective to help others. I get constant requests for therapists.
I was born and raised as a JW. Got baptized at 16 years old. Left the cult when I was 20 because I had enough supressing my true self and the cult not accepting my sexual oriantaion. My family, friends and others cut contact with me cause of this. I was really releaved to have left the cult but devestated to lose my whole social life. Even tho I had to prepare the outcome, I could not live a life of lies. SO happy more are speacking up about this and really greatfull you made this video
The stuff about ignoring any and all criticism regarding the organization has been going on for a few weeks or so (or at least that's how long ive been noticing it) bc they're in panic mode rn.
That's so interesting to hear. Has there been something that's sparked that panic? Also, are you still on the inside of the organization?
@@HeliocentricOfficialYes, there are a lot of problems inside, like cover-up of sexual abuse, they hide that information to their members,the big majority of JWs don't know about that. Those are the "false acusations". And You have to add the mental health problems, no education, no Blood transfutions, no Friends outside the organization, the list is Big. It's difficult to leave. They are a cult. (English is not My first language)
@@HeliocentricOfficial I'm a atheist too, but I found this video by the subreddit exjw, the thing that kicked this off is that they are currently in court cases with some country near norway I think, I don't remember exactly which one and that's what kinda have started it, if you want to know more r/exjw is my recommendation if you want to know more, ppl saying their stories etc. I'm not the best at saying information again lol.
@HeliocentricOfficial I can't think of one specific thing that set off alarms for the higher-ups, but it could likely be because there are a bunch of csa victims coming out against the Watchtower for the severe mishandling of csa and other serious/criminal situations that involve their members. The court cases in question, were in the more recent years, including this year. They also made a recent mention in one of their broadcasts, I believe about how the world governments need to back off or else "Jehovah will punish them" or something along those lines. This "coincidentally" came very soon after Norway got on their asses in court for their shunning practice and how inhumane it is. So I assume it's that kind of shit that's making them paranoid.
@HeliocentricOfficial also yes, I am still in the organization. But not by choice, I'm living with my parents who are jws and I have to attend meetings and stuff if I want to continue living with my parents, or else I'll be removed. But don't worry, I am working on moving out.
They will lie to your face about their true beliefs. The truth is far too violent and dark.
So true. At first it’s about the hope of the New World, being around nice people..but then the more you learn, it’s literally a horror movie.
How is that different from any other religion. I was taught as a Catholic that if you aren’t a believer you will burn in hell forever. And anyone that believed a different way would be in purgatory until someone prayed them out. What religion doesn’t teach that unbelievers are in hell??
To me that’s everyone’s experience that’s in organized religion.
I discovered you from your Orthodox video where you gave a very respectful review. I hope you do some further inquiry into it. I'm really enjoying this series.
Hey thats where i found him too
Same
Same!!! Waddup Bill
Same here
I see familiar names around here. The algorithm has drawn the Orthobros.
The difference between a religion and a cult is what happens to you when you leave. The love bombing that you experienced when you were there, the exact opposite happens when you leave…they act like you’re completely dead even your family. Born and raised and left when I was 52. Hardest thing I ever did and lost my entire family who was witnesses on both sides. I have a two year-old granddaughter that I’ve never met. Now tell me these are nice and happy people. love your video and your spot on!
As an Ex-JW (that was shunned by my grandparents so I haven't talked to them or seen them since 2019) the reason why their Kindness looks off is because they are endocrinated into "faking it till they make it". This runs deeper than what you saw. The hierarchy is horribly misogynistic. They even monitor your friendships and frown upon "outside" friendships so when a new person comes along they are in desperate need of new people to befriend. Also, they are very naive and infantalized. My 45 year old cousin who is JW just got her first BF and they must have a chaperone every single time they hang out. No excuse. Not even drive on the same car alone for 5 minutes (I've seen how this situation or similar became the talk of the congregation and source of gossip for months at a time and they way people would even treat them like criminals for being alone in a room is insane)
You are on the money about the behaviors and mannerisms of JWs, especially converts. These are GENUINELY great and kind people- but a lot of their individuality and personality is kinda stripped. There’s a saying that goes “take off the old personality” essentially talking about removing bad habits and such. But a lot of the time, especially converts, this is taken to literally abandon their past selves- negative and positive traits. Again to reiterate that these are good people with good intentions- but they are misguided by cultural expectations and teachings. Your experience sounds 85% accurate to what you’ll probably find in every congregation (at least in the US). I really appreciate your empathy and nuance during this video though, it’s something a lot of these JW criticisms kinda miss. Great video!
Please, please, please, do research about the Jehovah's Witnesses and make more videos about what you learn... Please.
I was a 3rd generation born in who was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. My folks were, or at least my dad, was never a big believer in mental illnesses and always thought that Jehovah would always provide to help. Growing up I didn’t really like the religion because it made me different from other kids at school. Preaching was exhausting and early in the mornings at 6am. I was young as 9 when I was brought along for preaching work. I hated how boring it was and anxiety inducing it was when I had to knock and talk. I always lost my words but whenever I failed the other brothers just went “no worries, you’re doing Jehovahs work you just need to be better and keep trying.”
We were raised to never question what was taught, and when I asked how Lots daughters essentially forced themselves on him, no one liked that’s how I saw it at a young age. Most of the Bible stories didn’t make sense to me because my way of thinking was different. I was discouraged for it and when I got invited to a birthday party by my best friend in school in third grade, I Was punished for associating with worldly people.
We aren’t allowed to watch or celebrate anything that’s not JW approved. I’d start sneaking around pokemon games friends would let me borrow and whenever I got caught I was in a heap of trouble and told how satanic Pokemon was. Was not allowed to talk to anyone after school for it.
I began rejecting going in high school, I was tired of pretending to be happy and people questioning when I’d get baptized, especially my old crush when I was 12 who I confessed to, asked if I was baptized. I was too scared because people had expectations because my grandpa was an elder. I struggled with social communication and was always overwhelmed with crowds which built my anxiety disorder over the years I stayed in.
When my JW friend Luke, at 14, decided to leave, he was disfellowshipped (as he was baptized) and had to live in a trailer in their family’s backyard until he graduated high school. No talking no to him as disfellowshipped people are discouraged and banned to talk to and are considered dangerous and apostate. He went on to make a music career like he wanted to.
After I left (I was never baptized) I was quite shunned by a lot of old people I used to know, but not my family. After talks and therapy they finally understood and respected that I didn’t want to be a JW anymore (which is rare that they didn’t just cut me out of their life.)
I’m 24, and I absolutely despise this cult for what it put me through. There’s a lot more but I don’t want to overshare as a stranger on the internet ^^’
Edit: please look at the Australian Royal Commission case regarding how they handle predators. It’s also a big thing that happened growing up as to why I didn’t feel safe there.
Brilliant 👌 . Since leaving and looking back i feel like being a part of the JWS was like being in The Truman Show
Yes, I haven't seen everything yet, but yes. I am an ex-Jehovah's Witness and yes. It is a unified being that you are supposed to become. Now imagine growing up in it and not being allowed to develop any personality of your own, you are supposed to put on the theocratic personality, become it. That is such a violation of the child's ego and do you know how difficult it is to become your own ego when you have escaped the cult? And yet you always remain a stranger in the "normal" world. Some may overcome it, but for me, a part of me always remains a stranger.
What I find great is the idea of simply being a human being on earth. I liked the idea that all people are equal and I kept it to myself. Not in the negative sense of conformity, no, in the positive sense that we are all equal. In my case, I thought further, because the diversity of people is what is exciting.
When I heard the description of the Watchtower study, I had to laugh out loud. Can you imagine how exotic someone seems who gives very personal answers? My mother was someone like that. Yes, she was brainwashed in a certain way, but she always remained an individual. She never avoided me either, which she really should have done because I'm out of the religion. Her answers were sometimes laughed at in the meeting, but she had acquired a kind of reputation over many difficult years that allowed her to be an individual. But that was an exception. In addition, her individuality often got her into trouble in the community.
Yes, I do think that many of the members take refuge there because they get simple answers about how the world is and why the world is like that and the information that you just have to stay away and warn people, God will do the rest for you. So there's no need to fight for the world to become a better place, because it is being changed by God and cannot become better because of the devil. Very hurt souls and people in difficult situations are particularly good victims for such an organization.
Sorry, you would prefer to contact more Jehovah's Witnesses for an open exchange, but that will probably be difficult. That's why you're more likely to get feedback from ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. Or from Witnesses who take a defensive stance and simply claim that they are being wrongly accused and that all ex-Jehovah's Witnesses are lying and evil.
I didn't notice the songs before, but I've been out of the group for a long time. Since 2001, and a lot has changed. Above all, the way we use new media, which didn't exist before. I find the videos really bad when I see them today. Especially the ones for children. So terribly manipulative.
Enough of that, I think your video is brilliant and it even showed me again how the whole thing works when you look at it openly from the outside and aren't involved. Thank you for that.
I truly appreciate your perspective. Always good to see how a person with no preconceived idea of this group actually sees it.
Unity is critical and that was made clear for decades by the men who run the show. "Unity, unity at all costs." Direct quote. Conform. Control by conformity
The “nice” persona that witnesses put off is strictly for show. We’re taught to swarm new comers, share your tablet with them, smile and be super friendly so they want to come back. The moment you’re sucked in to the point of baptism, you see the backstabbing and dirty tactics that go on in the organization. It’s like a wake up call with a hammer
The niceness is fake. It's all fake. Paid actor is a good analogy. I grew up in it and have seen them change personalities between home and the Kingdom Hall. My dad would be screaming at what pieces of crap we all were the whole way to the kingdom hall and then flip the switch and be all happy and spiritual as soon as he got out of the car. They're all like that. Try growing up in it and then telling them its all crap. That fake niceness drops immediately. I left and lost most of my family and all of my "friends" that i grew up with. They isolate you with how great they are, and then they dig the screws in and start controlling you once you've lost your "worldly" support system.
Raised in this Cult, I’m a SRA survivor through this Cult. There is NOTHING sweet about this group at all. It’s taken me my entire life to recover from the abuse I was put through. I’m also fully shunned by my family because I speak out about this Cult and I’m talking about what happened to me.
💔
As an ex-JW, you were right on about creepiness of their "kindness." They only want you to join, but if you leave, they'll just ignore you known as shunning. Also, you did an incredible job impersonating their cadence, you sounded just like a JW elder!!! LOL!!!
Oh, and they're a cult btw, not a religion.
I've spent a lot of time with JWs in my business (I do computer repair and the local Kingdom Hall ALL come to me). So iv'e had the chance to get to know some of them behind the scenes - there are two versions of them - church and ministering version, and home version. They're just like everybody else at home.
@@thegreatdeconstruction I had a JW friend in primary school (still catch up with him sometimes) and I can agree that at home they're like anybody else. My friend left the cult a few years ago, thank God.
@@billhicks9056 yea, my partner (a trans man) and I sometimes have dinner with a couple of them, never felt anything but love from them -and they have a child who has left the faith as well and they do have a relationship with her.
Your mileage may vary. Often times the ones that are normal at home are also not completely devout, and are likely on their way out one way or the other. JWs aren’t allowed to call an outsider a “friend”, though they may allow you to call them as such if they think you might be a potential convert. If their congregation found out they called an outsider their “friend”, they would be shunned unless they renounced their friendship with you.
So true...yet many of these "home" versions will still shun their nearest and dearest if the elders announce they are no longer jws.
@@thegreatdeconstruction Does everyone at home shun their own children because they don’t go to their church anymore? They are a harmful group.
And you were completely correct 💯 there's No criticism allowed within or out
Hahaha dude Im one of the JW's, honestly i like your honest opinion about our organization and people in our wordlwide community 😂, i like the part that you acting different type of speech, the monotone one makes me laugh, and honestly you are right! But dont worry when I will give a talk in our congregation I'll try my best to give a speech that is not monotone but a natural speech without losing my individuality 😂😂 . You are the coolest Atheist that I've encountered online 😂
Yeah. I was a JW all my life and when my ex left me, nobody in the congregation got in touch with me either. I finally thought, "maybe no one knows." When I called I found out they knew but didn't care. They took his side without ever speaking to me.
So I guess that's just how people are. They believe the first story they hear and it's hard to change their mind. That guy who thought JWs are different, has a big surprise waiting for him down the road.
I'm an atheist, now, too. And you're spot on about your observations, even noticing some things I had never considered. Great job!