Steven Hassan and Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Elder António Madaleno: A Journey of Awakening and Advocacy
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- Опубликовано: 20 окт 2024
- Did you know there are 8.6 million dedicated members of the Watchtower Society or Jehovah’s Witnesses, and supposedly, over 20 million people attend their annual big meeting (memorial attendance) worldwide? Since the publication of my first book, I have been contacted by many, many people who were born or raised in this destructive authoritarian cult.
#watchtower #exjwsthink #exjw #jehovahswitness #biblecult #religiouscults
#drstevenhassan #stevenhassan #cults #mindcontrol #brainwashing
#BITEmodel #influencecontinuum
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I came out of the JW with PTSD, clinical depression, clinical anxiety and suicidal. I had been coerced to stay with my abusive, elder husband.
Glad I am free and 4yrs later my mental health is much improved 😊
What makes you think the JW organization created your mental challenges? I have PTSD, ADHD and a few other letters of the alphabet and none of them was created by my association with JWs. People have a right as a free moral agent to dislike anything they want but why use such things as a person's imperfection as an excuse to denigrate the JW organization.
Love this and Steve Hassan. Once I read Cult and Mind Control I knew I was in a Cult, and it gave me the courage to tell my husband that after 45 years of being raised as a JW, I was leaving!!!! Thank you ❤
As fourth generation JW I know this kult really well. Now, me and my husband we made a big decision and leave this organisation. Our daugters are so happy. But I have PTSD and some other problems.
I seem to have anxiety only when we see a jw we knew , but getting better as the weeks and months pass. What helps is that I pray for them to wake up and see the real truth ❤
@@veronikj.4231 By leaving a cult that controls your life is a healthy and right decision. Your PTSD will disappear as time goes on. I hope for your recovery and healing ❤️🩹. Even the Bible said, “The truth shall make you Free”🥰.
Thank you for this, I enjoyed it. I was baptized young 15 after my mother only being in this cult for a few years. I only got baptized to make my mother happy, I really didn't know much about this cult but felt pressured to get baptized. I left at 19 and got disfellowshipped for smoking, I lost my mother and sister because of the shunning and that was 45 years ago. I was married and had a baby by 21 and knew I did not want to raise my daughter in this cult. I have never spent time with my mother and sister in all those years because of my decision. They have not even bothered with my daughter and later my son. I glad of my decision but had a lot of hard years mentally because of it. I'm good now but it's really sad it had to happen this way.
@@cherylhennessy57 I so sorry for losing your close relationship with your mother and your family.However , your only cancellations and strength is that you made a right decision and should lead you to a much better life. I hope your mother and your family Will soon come to a realization that you made the right decision and choice that will lead you and family to reconcile and become one family again. I wish you luck.
That is SO messed up! ! Sorry you got roped into something you didn’t even understand at such a young age. It’s astonishing how this religion can twist peoples rational and natural love.
Keep being the best person you can and find fulfillment in your life, because your success is the best revenge!
Ah Cheryl, I'm sorry to hear of the heartache you've suffered because of such an unchristian act as rejecting family. How on earth did that help you or them? I thought Jesus came to teach us how to overcome our differences and learn to care about even our 'enemies'. I therefore don't know what they're preaching worldwide, but it sure doesn't seem to be that!
You certainly learned to stand on your own two feet and take responsibility from a very young age. Maybe one day they'll learn that too. ❤
@@ruthpocock7135 Thank you!❤️
@@manny2032 Thank you! ❤️
As an ex JW ( I left in 1997 ) I found this interview interesting and fascinating. Thank you. I’ve heard of the BITE model and now I know who wrote it. Thank you again. I left because my daughter was molested by my then brother in law. When I learned about it, I went to the police to report it, but my then husband , an elder and pioneer, ruined the investigation by telling his sister and brother in law . So he ruined the element of surprise. I lost all respect for him and left him and the cult at the same time. It wasn’t easy because I lost my mother and stepfather and all my so called friends. I’m happy I got out of the cult though. I just lost my mother a few days ago, technically, she was 95 and died . The truth is I lost her so many years ago.
Interested to know why you're still connected (mind-wise) despite leaving in 1997. I left in 2016 so am a bit of a younger worldling than you...
So many thanks to Dr. Hassan and Mr. Madaleno for this conversation. I have never been subject to domination by a 'recognized' cult but I was raised in a western catholic tradition which has elements of it, as I believe all religions do. I escaped the catholic church at age 18 and cannot even imagine how difficult it must be for others trapped in even more rigid organizations to escape. We must all do our best to shed sunlight on, and challenge, any and all dogmatic institutions that strip individuals of their own ability to reason. That applies to politics as well as religion.
You are very genuine, Antonio. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us.
This was a great interview. I am a 4th generation pimo. Trapped by a large multi generation JW family and JW business partner. I don't think I will ever make it out. I believe there are thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands like myself.
Must be hell. I was lucky that when I was 25 in 1997 and researched JWs and decided to leave I was able to talk about it with my parents. They never judged me and after the elders df'd me they never shunned me or treated me differently. Of course baby friends abandoned me but some friends quit around the same time for totally different reasons but that made things easier. Now those friends were not good people, they deserved to get kicked out a lot more than I did but they never got df'd because they never expressed any apostate ideas to anybody. They were into fraud, theft, drugs but you know what they never included me in any of that stuff because they knew I wouldn't like it. I don't know what I'd do in your situation. Meetings and field service made me physically sick, I could not go anymore. I felt terrible for a lot of the people in the congregation. But I didn't have near as much to lose as you do. I hope some day the watchtower goes the mormon model where if you aren't active you're still cool.
Hey, you can make it out. You've got plenty of people rooting for you and it's easier than you think. I don't know what your living situation is like, or what country you're from, but it most certainly is possible. Just stay hopeful, friend
Oh wow, my heart aches for you 💔 must be a very lonely and fake life. I pray more of your family members wake up and find true peace, joy and salvation thru Jesus Christ ❤
My father converted to Jehovah Witness and he tried persistently to convert me. When I refused he cut me out of his life because he claimed I was worldly. Over the years I became a atheist and I am not ashamed to say so! Religion robs you of your money and your mind.
Slam dunk comment ❤. I hope that you are living your best life. Many have suffered the loss of their families and close friends due to these sinister DOOMSDAY CULT types of religious institutions. Yes, they take your mind and money. I now call them: M & M groups...
Not surprised.. that's what's cult do.. very evil
I'm sorry you have experienced that😔. But, I'm happy that you seems to be coping with that experience pretty good!
Right decision you made. Your dad should be adult enough to to respect your decision. His undying love to you should prevail. Your Dad should be mature enough to enough to respect your choice. I hope he is not brainwashed enough to have an inches of respect and love.
Thank you for this interview 👍🤗
Well done Antonio and Steven Hassan.
When I almost made the mistake of becoming a witness over 20 years ago, I saw that they had incredibly boring services. All they do is read the watchtower magazine questions and the pre printed answers out loud. Listen and repeat.
If you’re curious, go get a free copy of the magazine when you see them at their stand usually just standing there. You can read it for yourself.
Standing at these booths, going door to door, no holidays, birthdays and everything else is an incredibly isolating and depressing lifestyle. That was my takeaway but somehow the organization continues
That's how you brainwash people. Open discussion and discord encourage you to form your own opinion and make your own decisions.
Congratulations, by so important information and discussion, I'm from Brasil, I'm awaked since 2015, when I saw governing member Jeofrey Jackson liyng im Australia Royal Commition. Since than I became inactive, and never went to meeting, because of my family that are stil in. Good Job!
Thank you Antonio for the good work your doing!!
Please please make more Videos like this one Thank you so much your saving lives!!
Thank you for covering this, so many people are still in this mind prison and they have no idea. The more information that gets out their, the more likely it is that these poor people will wake up and realize they are in a cult 😢
Fantastic Friends ❤
I would like to know more on autism spectrum and brain washing with JWs. My son is an elder I raised him in this cult my daughter also has Asperger’s any recommendations on helping to help them see truth gently?
I am also searching for autism research and religious trauma. My father brags about how he would have let my mother die after i was born because he refused a blood transfusion for her, after a difficult birthing experience.😢
@@chroniclesofluciferI’m an exJW & also autistic. It would be easier if they were younger because you can just teach a younger person about critical thinking & then just let their own mind figure it out. My own faith died the death of a thousand unanswered prayers, then I started to research the bible from a scholarly perspective, rather than JW doctrines & theology. I also developed a special interest in mythology from absolutely everywhere, so it was easy to see the bible as just another book of mythology. It depends on your own beliefs too, I’m definitely not Christian anymore, so that is a big risk if you are still Christian. I always had questions, none of it made much sense to me, I just went along with my family, I now realise my whole life has been wasted & unfortunately I’m going to loose my whole family over it.
Fantastic 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
No one or the donor is dying, you’re actually saving a life. In our case happy that I got rid of some family members 😅 thank you for bringing awareness ❤great video.
Free the Friends ❤
Great video exposing the Jehovah's witness cult. Thank you!
Thank you Dr Hassan for an excellent and interesting interview with Antonio. And thank you for your tireless work in educating us in the dangers of and tactics used by cults. Will Antonio's book be published in english too?
Maybe one day. 😊
I don't think they realize that their Bible has been changed to the extent that it has.
The NWT was written to promote the god created by Watchtower.
The NWT is not a Bible, and the Watchtower corporation will get sued (again) if they call their book a "bible."
Although my parents are devoted JWs, when I decided to go to college, they were all supportive. They are gone now, and I miss them so much. While in college, I became a religious critical thinker and began to doubt JW's teaching. And I decided to shy away from JW and married a catholic nurse. We have 3 wonderful kids ( 2 boys and a girl), all baptized Catholics, blessed with 7 grandkids
We want our Children and grandchildren to be nonjudgmental about any religious belief and to treat them with respect as long as it does not harm them. We taught them that God is Universal. He or She is not jealous, not weak, and has no competition.... so He or She should not be mad or angry at anyone who names their God differently. God hears all prayers from all different religions. After all, we are all His/Her people.
I'm so happy to hear your parents supported you furthering your education. Unfortunately, it's not the norm. I'm also happy to hear that you found a more fulfilling life outside of the organization. I wish you continued success in life. 😊✌🏾
@@heavykoe Thank you. I discovered that life is so fulfilling with the freedom to think critically. I believe that an understanding God is a loving God who understands all of his people. God is not a botcher who kills everyone who is not JWs but treats everyone with his Godly understanding. After all, he is an almighty who doesn't have any competition. Other "gods" are just fake and don't exist. Hence, God doesn't have any reason to be jealous. We teach our kids and grandkids to respect all religions as long as it doesn't harm them. Their upbringing. So far. is awesome.
@@heavykoe Yes, at 65 now, and having spent my first 40+ yrs as a Witness, one of my top regrets is that I turned down two different college scholarships; I never furthered my formal education past High School! As I know you're aware, pursuing college/University education was Highly "frowned upon" by the Society.. you might not be disfellowshipped for going but you were most definitely "marked" by your congregation and fellow JWs - no privileges within the congregation, not being invited to get-togethers/outside fellowship with other Witnesses, and more depending on your congregation.
Brothers and sisters, alike, were to concentrate on door to door ministry, putting God's Kingdom first, aka- putting the Society's interests first - 5 meetings per week, studying for those meetings, putting in as many hrs in field service as you possibly could(and even then, no matter how many hours you put in, hearing.. "couldn't you have put in just one more hour"?!🤔🙄), preparing for any Ministry school talks you might have.. attending circuit assemblies, district assemblies, Oh, My, lol!😵💫😳 I have No idea how my mom carted us 3 kids to Dodger Stadium every year to 4 full day District Assemblies, not to mention the occasional International Assemblies which used to last up to 7 days long- yes, I remember going to the 7 day Assembly.. my mom was a saint, bless her heart, lol! But I digress ... 😉
As someone who was born & raised "in the truth"(as a JW) and remained a steadfast believer from 1959-2001, there were a few inaccuracies stated within the first 10 mins of this video.
I plan to watch it in it's entirety when I have time this evening, but for the sake of accurately sharing the truth with viewers, I hope the remainder of this video will be more spot on with it's facts regarding Jehovah's Witnesses. You don't want a Witness or someone who doesn't fully realize the dangers and problems of becoming a JW to dismiss this video's valuable information simply because they hear something they know to be inaccurate, and therefore, use that error as grounds to dismiss the rest of the video and Steven Hassan's body of work in general.
every one looks at things from their point of view in relation to what you know at the moment in time
Very good video. My cousin a JW and my brother has started to study with them. But the Dr seems a little bit arrogant. The people in this organisation as we victims in lots of cases like my brother who is getting loved bombed. They need firm love to awaken them. Looking down on them won't help.
Any " religion " that forbids you from being around your family is NOT of GOD. You don't have to be the same faith to love each other
Absolutely
Hi Steven, I appreciate your scientific work and wonder if you would enjoy some friendly 'push-back' on some of your arguments about Jehovah's witnesses. I'm 71, baptized a JW at 16, attended Bethel at 19. Maybe I'd be considered a POMI because thoughts about the organization have never left me even though inactive for many years.
The word "cult" might not translate the same in other countries. For example, to my Pentecostal family members a "cult" is their service celebration (what to catholics is the mass). Sect translates to "Secata" which is the word they understand as "cult".
Yes. In Portugal the meaning of cult is a service celebration. That is why I translate the word to Destructive Sect.
Same in Brazil, where we call it "seita" (sect), whereas a "cult" (culto) can be just a cerimonial religious service. The JWs (TJs, here) hate to be called a "seita"... 😂
I have to say how incredibly arrogant and presumptuous to tell somebody what terminology they oughta use from their experiences. Hassan might be helpful in areas, but he comes across as a very arrogant horse’s Hind end . He can just respect other people and how they feel about things and allow them to use the terminology that they feel applies best. It is their experience, not his. And a guy who fell for the Moonies and needed rescuing himself should know better.
As you learn more your opinion can change
What are the definitions of "religion" and "Christianity" in the context of this discussion? What would make a group Christian vs non Christian or religion vs not a religion.
As of July 2024, on the JW Broadcasting they’re teaching them how to critically think by being aware of apostate videos like these. They speak so infantile, it’s creepy.
Yes I was a JW they sold the same plan as North Korea we fell for it
Dr Hassan, I am not in agreement with JW doctrine; however, please see Benjamin Kedar’s references to the NWT Bible and advise your comments further with regards to your comments in this video.
There is no such thing as an NWT "bible."
Watchtower has already been taken to court over that and cannot legally call their book a Bible; the changes are too numerous, it is not considered a "bible", but a "translation."😮
@mattmurdock2868 Yep! Its own title reads "New World TRANSLATION of the Holy Scriptures"... not to be confused with the "Bible". 🤔
18:38 are any of Antonio's books printed in English?
Also, as an ExJW, taking control of terms such as "apostate" is VERY empowering. I respect your work and the BITE model is exactly how the JWs are structured.
My story is here:
ruclips.net/video/0KcLuo_7gUc/видео.htmlsi=jr4szRx3K-iuydK2
Unfortuntly no. Only in portuguese.
Holy Trinity is the only True religion
No
Anyone know if Steve still kidnaps people for “deprogramming?”
So disrespectful, "stop calling it a religion"? Have you looked up the definition of religion. And JW's do not tithe.
It’s not a religion, it’s a cult.
@@irisramos4702 you could say that about any religion.
@@wideawake333actually no, you can’t say that about any religion, a lot of them don’t meet the definition of a cult. I personally would consider JW’s a religious cult. They are a religion, but they also meet the definition of a cult. While JW’s don’t tithe, the governing body seem to talk more about donating to the organisation than any other topic (providing free labour to build & maintain Kingdom Halls is also donating, it’s money they don’t have to spend). Their actions make it more than clear money is extremely important to the organisation.
@@heidijay5902 One video on donations does not mean that it's a topic of discussion at every opportunity.
Watchtower is a satanic cult disguised as a real estate company.
Most truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.q John 13:16 . Jesus was SENT BY GOD - and called as SERVANT OF GOD. Acts 4:27
WHO IS OVER ALL? Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. GOD and FATHER is OVER/ABOVE ALL and that "All" includes the SON so they are NOT EQUAL
THE BIBLE teaches that Jesus was MADE As Lord and Christ and as Son (ACTS 2:36, Prov 8, HEB 1:5), CREATED/PRODUCED/INSTALLED (Prov 8) , COME INTO BEING/MADE (Mat 21:42 - egeneto) and GIVEN LIFE by the Father - John 5:26 and it uses TODAY (Heb 1:5), and uses future tenses and is a prophecy in Isa 9:6 (Isa 9:6, - WILL BE) . If you are called MADE AND CREATED AND GIVEN LIFE, and NEVER CALLED in the BIBLE as Creator or Maker , then you are A CREATION. ALL FROM THE BIBLE
From the Lord was this (this is referring to the chief cornerstone who is Jesus) , the word WAS is egeneto (made or came into being) - Matthew 21:42 and the exact Greek word used in John 1:3 - MADE, egeneto (came into being) - JESUS WAS MADE/CAME INTO BEING FROM THE FATHER , yes, Jesus was MADE/CREATED!, See also Acts 2:36, Heb 1:5, 1 john 5
Jesus in FACT mentioned the FATHER IS GREATER than I am. JOhn 14:28. BEFORE he WAS SENT, the Father is ALSO GREATER than Jesus.
Most truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.q John 13:16 . Jesus was SENT BY GOD - and called as SERVANT OF GOD. Acts 4:27
AFTER his resurrection the FATHER IS STILL GREATER than Jesus - WHO IS OVER ALL? Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. GOD and FATHER is OVER/ABOVE ALL and that "All" includes the SON so they are NOT EQUAL
@@Mr.DC3.1914 I abhor someone who still use the word “ Slave”. Slavery is evil and should be not used as a practice specially in the holy Bible. God should not be associated with slavery. It is evil .
@Mr.DC3 1914 please read Hebrews 7:3 it speaks of Melquchizadek, King of Salem, priest of the Most High God. He was also referred to as "King of Righteousness" without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually NOTICE that the word "made" in this Bible text cannot possibly mean " created"... because both Jesus and Melquizadek (who could very well have been the materialized "Word", pre His earthly existence) had no beginning of days nor end of life...
@@eileenjoycemomsen3568 SO you think actually that the human Melchizedeck is UNCREATED And you made him another person who is UNCREATED like GOD?
@@manny2032 Romans 14:18
For whoever slaves for Christ in this way is acceptable to God and has approval with men.
that in the BIBLE is NOT EVIL but ACCEPTABLE to GOD. Maybe you are talking of SLAVES of MEN. and it is NOT talking of BONDAGE, it is talking about in service and submission to GOD
@@Mr.DC3.1914 God is all knowing so He/She should know how evil slavery is. I think someone made a mistake using this word in a holy book.
Hmmm. This guy, Antonio, not too bright at all. He said j-dubs are a large group? 8 million 😆 first off , they don’t have anywhere near that amount. That’s a big lie. Perhaps they have 6-7 million, maybe ! Secondly there are over 8 Billion normal people on the planet, if they even have 8 million followers it’s a tiny % of the world’s population. A fraction of 1 %. They are a tiny, tiny, bunch.
Stop being so harsh on António. The important thing is, he is telling the truth about what the org. claims. The org claims to have 8 million followers... that is a big number not comparing to the world population, but to other so-called religous organizations. He is Portuguese, speaking in English. Come and live here and see how difficult it will become if you were interviewed by a Portuguese. The org. Won't divulge their true numbers and that is probably why they have now done away with counting hours on feild service reports, relaxed on dressing for meetings and the use of beards...
I was bright enough to leave the cult and to write two books published by Penguin Random House. ;)
About the number… Yes, there are religious groups that have much more members. Even so, 6-7-8 million followers is a great number for a cult! Not counting with sympathizers.There are countries with much more less population than JWs.
@@antoniomadaleno Good for you Antonio, I’m happy for you. What I’d like to know is, how can anyone be so gullible to go along with such nonsense ? This is not a religion. It’s a scam, a con job, a hoax ! I don’t know if you are aware of the fact that the JWs are rapidly losing members and they have nowhere near 8.5 million members. It’s quite likely they will be going the same place as the Titanic ! Many people actually believe them to be a satanic cult. Here in the U.S., when they come knocking on doors most people simply pretend to not be home. Why ? Because they have such a bad reputation. Anyway I’m happy for you, now you can go and have a normal, happy life. Do not worry about the end of the world, it’s not coming anytime soon.😉
Enough members to profit billions on real estate, and inheritances and free labor tax free😢
@@elainebraindrain3174 yes that’s true. They are very wealthy ! Hmmm., what does that do for you ? Anything ? Do they do anything good for society ? Every religion that the JWs condemn, all have charities set up that help people, All people. It shows just how dopey the followers of the j- dub organization are. Look at you ! Here you are defending their wealth, when you’ve already left them, but you still somehow feel the compulsion to say how fabulously wealthy they are. Why ? It just goes to show how brainwashed you were. Thank you Jesus, I am as you call us a worldly, Normal person. Not a slow witted person believing a bunch of nonsense. Hmmm., I’ve seen and heard you on many other X-j-dub channels. You still carry water for this wicked, evil organization ? 🤔
ALL of my beliefs are based on a decades long study of the holy scriptures none of them were uncritically accepted based on the perception that the brothers are prophets or saints or infallible or any such nonsense the consienceless lies of "xJWs" notwithstanding.
So you are saying in good conscience that you studied the Bible for decades using sources other than Watchtower publications and reached the same exact conclusion as what the watchtower teaches in their version of interpretations of scriptures?
@@ArshidKhodai look at my debates online and you will see that I NEVER use the NWT in fact it is always my interlocutors who are the first to bring up the NWT ,
@@aservantofJEHOVAH7849 where do we find your debates?
You aren't using critical thinking if you need the Watchtower Society to explain simple bible fables to you, and then you think they are literal or historically correct. That's called delusion bro.
@@ResearchThis if the Bible is nothing but fables there is nothing to explain, I am convinced that the men who wrote the Bible are men who are willing to suffer for the sake of the truth up to and including death. And who reported even that truth that was unflattering to their nation and even themselves in many cases . They are much more worthy of trust than atheists, why EVERY Single government you people have founded has been a mass murdering thugocracy. You have proven even worse than Christendumb's tyrants I will not spoken down to by you fools.