As a new Christian, these videos are great for learning what others believe, I feel really sorry for JW. I'm glad you didnt bash them too much. "Most of the people you know who are JW, are only JW because they will lose everything if they aren't"
The people who are born in and know nothing else, only that they don't believe in it I feel sorry for. They have everything to lose, their families and friends because you don't associate with "the world".
@@ciaracairns1778then why are you here watching apostate videos darling 😂 I'm going to report you to the congregation! Don't think you'll be very happy when they fellowship U lol
It's pretty much the most awful widespread Christian Church. The Mormons have some fucked up beliefs, but you don't have to refuse medical help, avoid further education, or cut off your family.
'Living as a JW is like living in a sensory deprivation tank.' Accurate, and especially heartbreaking for those of us who have a sensory seeking neurotype. We just got taken to the back of the hall and got spanked if we fidgeted too much.
I'll second what you said about being kind to religious people as an atheist. I was mormon for all of my life until 6 months ago and it was drilled onto my head since birth that those outside of the church aren't nice or good people. And I kept meeting nonmembers throughout my life who were wonderful people and it helped me break through that programming which eventually helped me leave the church. Also I checked out your music and it's good shit! Im always happy to discover new metalcore
It’s crazy how some areas or wards apparently do this as I hear it every now and then from former lds members. At 42 years old and a member my whole life I can’t think of a time I’ve been taught that. It’s always been people are good and just like me no one is perfect. I’m stoked when I meet someone or watch something online or tv where someone sincerely believes in Jesus and isn’t of the same religion as myself. And likewise, I love it when I see atheists being good people without believing in Jesus. Again, I’m sorry you got hit with a ward that had that kind of culture you experienced. I’ve lived in 15 or so different wards around Utah and the US and I never heard anyone teach hate or that non members are evil. Some members that think that way? Of course, but they’re few and far between. But you’ll find that amongst any religion, any major group or organization, nation, amongst atheists and agnostics because…humans. Anyways, I hope you’re happy in life!
Exjw here. Atheist. Exited (disassociated) at 38, now 70. The first time I remember feeling a really spiritual experience was at the temple in Burning Man 2013. The reverence and emotions were incredibly powerful. I left a photo and poem for my dad who had just passed amongst many others. Sunday they burned the whole thing. The emotions were so powerful and uplifting. I shared a community of love. So in 38 years as a JW the best experience probably were the large but boring conventions in sports stadiums just from the crowd size. But nothing compared to that Burning Man experience. Not bad for an atheist.
As an Ex-JW I can totally relate to everything said in your video... sitting in a kingdom hall and listening to the program was always to be considered as being close to god and directly receiving gods guidance. As soon as you start to doubt and disconnect from indoctrination and manipulation, you can't stand a kingdom hall anymore. They look the same, speak the same way, do the same gestures, etc. You can perfectly see how programmed people are, how individuality and free thinking was completely ripped out of them or in many cases, was never developed properly. Watchtower acts the same way as any other cult... the take away your individuality, isolate you from the outside "bad" world, foster a feeling of being special and part of the only true religion, keeping you in constant fear because of persecution or the upcoming armagedon... and especially they keep you in bay by making sure that if you leave, your loosing everything... because family and friends will shun and treat you as you would have ever existed. Thanks for that important video Jared and for sharing your viewpoints. If you or anyone else wants to have ore information on JW's, please feel free to comment or asking questions.
Jared… thank you for building bridges and being humble. You choosing to use your time and energy in this way as someone who “lacks a belief in God/gods” is very intriguing and inspiring. Keep up the good work 🙏
Hey bro. Protestant missionary in Asia. Seen a few of your videos and the advice on kindness to those you disagree with you, even a cult, is like a hot coal to my mind and I pray to others as well. My heart breaks (and angers) for this terrible cult for various reasons as well. Yet loving our enemy is what changed the globe 2000 years ago til today. As a Christian that is a place where we as Americans christians have failed. I’ll leave it at that. Shalom.
I was just told they would likely reject outside help from others to rebuild. Not certain on that as I don’t know many of them but they are an isolationist bunch.
I'm formerly a Jehovah's Witness now turn into a Ortho bro. My parents are still Jehovah's Witnesses a lot of my extended family are Jehovah's Witnesses and I pray that they receive salvation and I do help them whenever I can that is not the Orthodox way to cut people off entirely but to struggle towards them
Wait is Orthobro like a good or bad term now? Been Orthodox all my life and just now looking at online Orthodoxy. Some is cool, a lot on line is not really correct t though.
At least when we could go to bigger stadiums or municipal auditoriums, there was stuff to look at. When they built a local assembly hall in my area and ALL assemblies and conventions were held there from then on, the blank walls just bored me to tears
@Heliocentric, I gotta tell ya... You are doing the best JW-centric commentary on the internet in my opinion. I look forward to your videos. I am an indie musician and former JW/current athiest (watch the movie Witness Underground if you want to learn about the underground JW music scene I grew up in) and I think there are SO FEW people online who are trying to show compassion, empathy, and understanding to the JW experience in the way you have. Growing up as a JW puts you in such a bubble that you struggle to see the group from the perspective of the non-JW even after you leave. Videos like this are so healthy, so helpful, and so rare, that I cannot help but be amazed by your work. Thank you so much for sharing this perspective with the world. I hope more JWs and XJWs find your videos because yours is a voice that actually has a chance to promote some of the healing that JWs desperately need. This is the kind of message that encouraged me to work on the Witness Underground documentary and, man, I just gotta say... good work. Keep it up.
Hi, Jared, Jared here. Exjw, myself. A really important angle about the JW that is sort of talked around is psychological programming. 1. Yes they do drink, booze and food are the two big JW 'poisons'. 2. The psychological. The more you look into the mechanical side of the JW machine, the scarier it becomes. For one. Halls after a certain years have no windows - intentionally. 3. All the songs have motifs that are used in video programs, to layer in ideas subconsciously. For example, there is literally a song called "Listen, Obey, and Be Blessed" and it will play faintly in moments of "meaning" in their children's animated content, or in video content at their assembly. [This is just one example] 4. Having visited the art department where this stuff is made, I can tell you that they aren't stock images. They are JW made, and they are all very intentional. They aren't using art to excentuate a message, they are using images to superimpose their specific viewpoint. Their viewpoint IS reality. That's the main thing. 5. The act of their studying is for sheer repetition. By weekly reinforcing, they get that big hit of dopamine. But you likely know all this
You're full of it. I go to a local kingdom hall that has been recently renovated. There are windows all over the building and glass doors. The rest of the "points" you make are garbage as well. Yes, they even use melodies from their own songs in their other publications (*gasp*) what a sinister, novel idea!! 😂 Every time i read comments from ex JWs, they are so full of inaccuracies and nitpicking.
@@Fatman_JackInteresting and hostile response from a man of God. Majority of halls do not have windows. If you happen to be in one that does, I am happy for you. I grew up in the one hall that had windows out of our neighboring 20 halls. The other points the gentleman above mentioned are in fact another perspective of a truth. You may disagree, but that doesn’t make his statements false. Although that might need years of new neuro pathways to understand. Lastly, do your congregation elders know that you are watching apostate styled RUclips videos? I am glad you are, when you’re ready, make sure you seek out a therapist who specializes in Religious Trauma Syndrome. And give the guys documentary about underground JW music scene a look- it’s very well done.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not teetotalers. They are allowed to consume alcohol, most of the elders in our congregation when I was a ministerial servant were drunks.
That feeling you have for Kim and Peter, wishing they had something better, but still just wishing them well in their little life... that's how so many of us ExJWs feel about our parents.
Very valid points! Thank you for handling this so well. I've watched other XJWs and they tend to just lambast God, not all gods, just the Christian God. It's understandable, but I appreciate your gentler rhetoric. I'm sorry for everything you've been through.
Seasoned JW’s like that can be some of the most dangerously effective, especially when it comes to keeping people’s doubts at bay and stamping out questions. They come across as reasonable, well educated, empathetic, the works. They are usually the ones who came to the fork in the road of their own doubts years and years ago, making the very conscious choice to ignore or make excuses for the glaringly wrong things in favour of their sunk-cost fallacy. They will say things like: “I proved to myself that the org was Gods one true channel long ago, I don’t need to keep questioning” “Every organisation and religion has its problems, we are just a perfect organisation led by imperfect people” “I have seen too many clear instances of God blessing us directly for it to possibly be false” “I promise you that if you just give it 12 months of dedicated service with ministry, Bible reading, meeting attendance etc. that your doubt will melt away when you see the blessings” These people unknowingly become some of the most effective cult brainwashers in their field.
Mormonism is similar. Either you get to a point where you are willfully ignorant or you become so nuanced that what you believe no longer resembles the church’s dogma.
Translate those statements to Mormonese: "I know this is Christ one true Church because I can feel the Spirit everytime I am here." "The Church is perfect, the people in it are not." "I have such a strong testimony in the truthfulness of the restored gospel for this to be false." "If you just re-read the Book of Mormon, say your prayers, and keep paying your tithes I assure you that you will see the Lord bless you."
@@AarmOZ84well, for me, when I do not and have not participated in church activities, I have noticed how my life has gone. My life is significantly better as an active latter day Saint. As a teenager I went back and forth in the church. And I must say, being apart of it is much better.
I am a Catholic, but also an exJW and former JW elder, and I love your videos. I will say though that the “help them build” will not work. It’s a great idea, but the JWs will reject it, and the elders would never let on to the congregation that we offered. But yes, definitely be nice to them. I was very angry and bitter for a while when I first left, but I have done a lot of work in letting that go, and I would go out of my way to help any of my former “brothers and sisters”. I am overly nice to them when I see them around town, and they have softened a lot. I was the “apostate” who they used to turn the other direction when they saw me, and now many will smile and wave (keep in mind, even with the new shunning rules, as an apostate I’m still supposed to be shunned). I can see them as humans now trying to do what is right, and as long as you are mean and cold to them, they will just continue to believe it’s because they have THE TRUTH.
A few days ago JW stopped by my house. I told them that I was Catholic and that the only evangelizing in my home is of the Catholic faith. I said if they weren’t open to that they would have to leave. They asked me to pray a Psalm with them and I told them I just finished praying the Liturgy of the Hours. I recommended that they check out the Divine Office app. They left. Should I have handled this differently?
As an active JW now, and also gay, yet also awake to the organization. You’re speaking out to the world I can’t ever say out load without the fear of being REMOVED (disfellowshipped). So thank you Jared. We need people like you.
It’s so much better on the other side. My mom knows I’m bi and and she knows most of the stuff i do. If your family ditches you, it’s on them. I know it’s hard, but fuck em. You deserve to be happy
I am so sorry... Please, find a place where you can be accepted and loved. Being removed sucks, it's traumatic, but the trouble your brain goes through by pretending to be someone you're not has a long lasting damaging effect. Seek help, some coaching, or even better, therapy to help you out. I wish you all the best!
I can promise you, the more you make videos on JWs, the more your channel will grow. Every one is interested in knowing more about them, and you're one of the few non ex JWs talking about them without trying to convince us your church is better. Keep up the good work.
Most ex JW don’t try to convince anyone’s church is better because most ex JW channels are also atheist..been following Ex JW channels for years..there’s many of them. Great channels too
@@SundayVibesmusicJW Escape is an ex-JW who's now a believer in the Gospel. There are other Christian channels by ex JWers, but I can't recall them offhand.
I knew that assembly hall looked familiar! I spent many assemblies wandering the halls and walking around aimlessly during the talks lol or sitting in the cafeteria.
I am struck in every video with how much you love people! Praise God that you kept that or were born with that love (obviously you don't have to praise God for that but I would like to if that is okay)! Thank you for sharing these videos and for continuing to go to church yourself! I gotta get one of your CDs cause Iove Christian heavy metal like For Today and Fit for a King. Also, random fun thought: every time you mention the school you went to and how on fire with their music they were I think about Rend Collective. Also also, if you ever have the urge to visit churches in the Dallas area, hit me up. I know you are far but I would love to share a meal with you!
Literally grew up going to that assembly hall. Wild! Fun fact, the museum area where the cafeteria is used to be where food was served back when the assembly hall was first built. Great video! Have been following for a while now and I really appreciate how you cover this in such a respectful manner. No longer active but love seeing an outside perspective.
What you say about the inane in depth examination of the images is so true. We would give observations like “you can see from clock on the wall that it’s late in the evening but man in the picture is still at work showing that he is prioritising making money over being with his family and maybe it’s their family worship evening this night and so he’s skipping out on that to make money”
@@champagne.future5248 The boring, droning nature of it is by design, like hypnosis. There's LOTS of zoning out involved. I don't remember most of it, except all the rules.
When I was a JW I was taught that people were worldly and bad association. However, when my child was diagnosed with a disability people that did not know me were the only ones to show us kindness and support... I started to see people differently, and now that I am out of the organization even more. The JW community is shunning my family and I for disassociating...The fear and control does not allow them to see the humanity in others outside and they are taught to show kindness as a means to convert them.
One of the main reasons I never became a Witness despite being raised one, no sense of the divine, nothing that I felt was actually spiritual. The way I've described it, is that JW is a black and white photocopy of a religion, they have the outline of what should be there, but they don't realize that the colour was actually important. I remember them talking about things other religions did and how proud they were that they didn't do it, but it was things that like, 95% of other religions had, and like, maybe that's actually important to have, maybe those things bring people closer to the divine.
I can't imagine why God would consider it his one and only or.blessed religion ...poor representation of God who must be a boring grey haired man in a grey suit sitting on a chair with flash cards.
THIS! oh my god you put into words. I've been around jws before I was ever conceived and yet not once was I convinced to join. it's just SO goddamn boring! I can't even get a jewel encrusted cane for you to beat the word of god into me?
You confirmed what I was suspecting for quite some time: since they rejected the immortal soul/spirit in human beings, which is the one of the main tenets of 95% of religions since ancient Babylonian times, no wonder that no spirituality is possible in such religion. How we are supposed to triumph over corruptible matter and decaying flesh if we have no spirit? As a founder of comparative religious studies Max Müller said: “Without a belief in personal immortality, religion surely is like an arch resting on one pillar, like a bridge ending in an abyss.”
I'm continually impressed with your insightful analysis. Your research is incredibly thorough and your reviews are without malice or resentment. I wish there was more journalism done on this organization.
❤ Well said sir. As an ex-JW born-in as they say. You hit the nail on the head. I wasn't even aware of how I felt about Kingdom halls growing up. I never knew anything else. But the empty, devoid of meaning and beautyless spaces the organization standardized is brutalist and suffocating. I hated our "meetings" they were especially void and painful to sit through as a child. There was only one retreat my own mind, so at least I had that. Now, I know you are an atheist, but I have to say it anyway 😅. God loves you, Jesus loves you, I love you. So I pray that you rekindle your faith. And, find a real relationship with Jesus Christ. That you can find that lost humility to repent of your own desires and sin and reconcile yourself to yours and my creator. But as long as you're still warning people about the cults to avoid. You are doing the Lords work. God bless you. 😊❤❤❤
The Kingdom Halls are tacky and ugly. You can do great design on a budget. I wondered why our literature, Halls, and conventions were so ugly and dreary. We had windows in my day.
All those dreaded meetings as a kid I think, gave me extra strong abilities for self reflection and a creative imagination. Escaping into my mind and my itchy stockings were the only things to keep me awake. 😅
You are allowed to drink, yes. But you are not allowed to get drunk. That’s a sin and worthy of punishment. Funny thing is, everyone is a closet drunk in that religion. I hate this religion so much. My mother, sister, and 3 nieces don’t speak to me because I’m disassociated. It really messes with you.
That was so good and incredibly moving Gerard, you really do absorb the religious elements and especially concern for the believers ❤ thank you for having such an open mind. You are not just knocking the whole thing down but have a great insight to how it affects anyone inside the religion. I’m a ex JW
There’s this sweet old lady I see in my line of work who’s a Jehovah’s Witness. And it’s always a little sad to me that this is her source of devotion. All I can do is pray for her. Either that she be revealed truth or that God sees her desire for Him in spite of the false doctrine. Edit: since my comment later became more relevant towards the end. I definitely agree. I don’t know how I feel about helping build a place of worship, but the heart of what you’re saying is spot on. People are often way too caught up on correctness and winning debates, when it’s a peaceful spirit that will save thousands according to St Seraphim of Sarov. That was a very challenging proposition, because I don’t know the best reaction but indifference to it definitely isn’t
Lutheran from Finland here. I liked your point about JWS thinking about their uniqueness. I have met several JWs and I still remember one conversation, where this JW guy talked how their organisation is different than anyone else. He said that they have no leaders. When I said that they have Governing Body he said it is Faithful Slave, which only serves, not rule people. Well, that's not changing anything, they still rule, because they tell everyone what to do. In Catholic Church one of the Pope's titles is "Servant of the servants of God", but still everyone knows that he is also ruler of his Church. Other thing was that he said that they don't gather offering in their services. I asked how they get money to their work. He said that they have two boxes near the door, one for homeland, one for abroad (if I remember correctly). Again, that is the offering. I remember how exited that guy was when he talked to me. He really thinked that his organisation is unique and that it is one sign about their truthness. For me it showed only ignorance about any other religion or denomination.e
Thank you so much for sharing your art and so much symbolism and their meanings! It's so beautiful, I'm going to share this with my bros! They love heavy metal.
AHHHHH YES YES YES everything you said in this video is sooooo on point. I love that it’s not petty or harking on heresy but just brings out the truth you can’t see unless you look at this religion from the outside
I don't know if you're aware of this or not but every Kingdom Hall does the same basic service every week. That's the thing that sets the Jehovah's witnesses a part in their own minds is that every Kingdom Hall is going over the same watchtower article and the only thing that's different is whatever the talk is before it which is usually based on something that someone in the congregation did that's meant to make them who is smoking cigarettes or not getting enough witness again. The questions are the same and the picture review from the watchtower is the same. It's the same with the midweek meeting the things that they are practicing saying at doors. Its part of the mind melting brainwashing
They're basically being graded on their level of conformity, the number of times they comment in meetings, and to some extent how much material from previous watchtowers they can infuse into the current meeting.
I have been to that assembly hall and my last assembly was held there. That would be about 3-4 years now. There's a big pond in front that was filled with fish and would follow you around begging for food. It's fenced now. The lobby is really nice with a little water falling amongst the plants. The mini museum is filled with bits of JW history and artifacts. I've been an exJW for about 4 years now. I was disfellowshipped, then I got reinstated after 3 years, then I officially disassociated. My parents don't talk to me. All my old friends are gone. Relationships that felt closer than family simply just vanish. As I learned more, I realized that JW life and teachings are in direct opposition for developing a spiritual life. Everything they teach and everything they do is in an effort to stunt any real, deep spiritual growth and replace it with blind brand loyalty. I feel more spiritual now than ever, and I'm a stone cold atheist! Thank you for shedding light on this cult. Please, don't forget to expose their CSA, shunning, and blood abstinence issues. This cult feeds on people's spirituality, but also their lives.
You nailed it with this video. I visited a Kingdom Hall a little over a year ago and then was asked by a JW what I thought. I said, “it was depressing.” I wish I had elaborated more at that time as to why I felt that way but damn, you nailed it on the head as to exactly why I felt that way!
Catholic here. What I love about your videos is that you do them like for yourself in the 1st place, on desire of deep analysis, from the social & spiritual perspective and not for entertaiment purpose only. Your videos touches the soft spot. Keep it going buddy, your doing great work.
I’m an ex jw I love your videos. Ask altworldly about the young people ask movies especially ‘what should I do with my life’? Watch that if you want to see how JWs perceive any type of career that deviates from them
I toured a Kingdom Hall once and they were giving a talk about how we should not use images in worship. No pictures of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the saints. Yet, like your video showed they could post other images and use images in the watchtower during their talks and teachings of the watchtower magazines. I don't think the Jehovah's Witnesses see the inconsistencies of this practice. I personally find the orthodox and catholic churches to be some of the most beautiful buildings. It really is a teaching tool of the gospel and the events of the Bible that is meant to elevate your mind to the transcendent.
@@bigol9223 The Orthodox and Catholics don't worship the images. Worship is given to God alone see CCC 2112-2113 Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and mammon." Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast" refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God.
You brought up some very accurate and important points. They 100% are taught that everything and everyone around them is against them and when you can show just a little kindness it goes a long way and maybe one day they will wake up
😢😢😢I kno!! I remember meeting those old couples like that It’s sad 😞 thanks for reminding me to be more kind to them. I’m still jaded after leaving this June. You’re right though! If they didn’t shun me I would do more but maybe there will be something else I can do. It was that transcendence I was looking for that lead me out! I love these 😊there so validating 🎉
t felt like this book was following me-every comment section, every convo with my friends, someone was bringing it up. i wasn’t even planning on reading it, but the curiosity got to me. Magnetic Aura by takeshi mizuki was hard to track down, but now i get why so many people were talking about it. within two weeks, my confidence shot through the roof, people started noticing me in ways they never did before, and my goals feel so much more within reach. it’s wild how fast things shifted.
I found your channel last week because I've been obsessed with the video of father seraphim singing psalm 51 to the pope in Aramaic. From there I was recommended your video at the orthodox Church and I've been listening to a chunk of your stuff ever since (one of your videos you weren't sure how people were finding you so there's my story lol) I love how knowledgeable you are on the different religions. I learnt today that JWs have different beliefs about jesus 🤯 i always just assumed they were door knocker Mormons. And I always thought Mormons were just polygamy protestants. So next I will be down a rabbit hole of what it is they believe haha. Please never stop speaking, your voice is amazing. If you don't want to do this stuff at any point in the future please read audio books or something or find something else to talk about. It's a shame you're no longer a pastor because you would have been mesmerising
Regarding the simplistic contrived pictures...How should I put this??? There is a bit of a weird status scramble, trying to see very deep things in the simple pictures that others don't "notice" lol. This is like a humble-brag jw flex type thing. It displays to the group that you are a very spiritual person that spends long hours in prayerful prestudy of the weeks lesson. This is especially evident during the Watchtower study the week of the Circuit Overseer visit...
Love the channel! As a Mormon, though, I’d push back on one point. When people extend help to us, the church spins it as them acknowledging how good we are, so it’s a lose lose. If you don’t help it’s persecution, if you do help, it’s validation. I think being kind and compassionate and loving to individuals is the way to go, but I’m skeptical of how effective helping out the organization is.
everything must be bland on purpose to avoid excessiveness in any regard, as you pointed out voices are overly calm and slow and monotone, the message is bland, the delivery is bland, the artwork has to be bland too, extremely boring, numbing and depressive
This is why people gravitate to videos like this. As an LDS member I have seen first hand the things people go through. That's why we need to reach out to each other and learn about each other. Find the common we have with each other. We might not agree with everything another religion believes but truth is truth no matter where you find it, so search for truth.
everywhere i looked, people were mentioning this book in comments, and even a friend brought it up. i ignored it for a while, but curiosity got the best of me, and i finally tracked it down. Magnetic Aura by takeshi mizuki wasn’t what i expected-it was so much better. two weeks later, i’m attracting the kind of energy i’ve always wanted. my relationships, health, and even my work have all leveled up. i see now why everyone was raving about it.
What you say towards the end about transcendence is true. Jehovah’s Witnesses like to style themselves as “logical” and not “emotional” and view transcendent experiences as a kind or religious manipulation. If someone related an experience like that to other JWs it would be viewed with skepticism and perhaps even thought of as either heresy or mental illness.
It is indeed a pseudo-intellectual group. Or at least--it used to be. Back in the day, it was about types and anti-types and second and third fulfillment of prophesy, and history lessons, and "evidence", and calculations. It gave the illusion of depth, that of course, collapses on critical examination. But since 2000, the shift to "simplication" have dumbed things down to a third-grade level. No more pseudo-intellectualism. But then, one is left with emptiness. Governing Body member David Splane has seemed to move the needle with the whole, "How Does It Make You Feel?" But that appeal to emotionalism was anathema a non-overlapping generation ago.
Dude u should go to Stanley Theater Assembly hall in Jersey City New Jersey whenever you're in the East Coast. They have actual art that you're talking about and it lacks that boring, drab ambience. It's like a one of a kind assembly hall
5:53 Oh no, you got it all wrong. Those aren't stock images from Adobe. The images in their material are actually highly staged photoshoots created with propagandistic attention to detail! They definitely do not use stock images.
Dying from the part where he's talking about photo analyzing during the meetings. "Could this be a representation of mans effort to seek Jehovah?...sister Carroll " Jared you're spot on with the way the witnesses speak on stage. Not sure if you've visited a midweek meeting yet but you should check one out if you have time or check out the monthly broadcasts they put out.
I am a very confused 28 year old Jehovah's Witness. Was super dedicated and loyal to everything I was taught until recently when I went through a lot of trauma. I am rethinking my life and asking myself "would I join this faith if I hadn't been born into it?". I got so depressed that I caved in and started doing external research on my religion from multiple sources including your own videos. While I disagree with some of the arguments made against us I find a lot of the observations really eye opening. It doesn't surprise me that imperfect humans leading the organisation have made mistakes because that happens everywhere, but the specific ways that we are taught and the fear-mongering are all very concerning to me. It doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel like something Jehovah or Jesus would approve of. I don't mind the bland buildings because I've never considered the material structure to be as important as the spiritual. I also think the way we do preaching is unique in its scale and effort. But I have also felt a loss of sacredness in our teachings. I grew up taking it all extremely seriously but then as I got older I saw more and more JWs around me behaving and talking in ways that went counter to our beliefs. But they were never put right. Many got promotions in the faith. Some left "the truth" to marry someone who wasn't JW and then were reinstated like nothing happened. Children of elders get special treatment and attention rather than the ones in weaker families. I'm waffling a bit but all of these things just leave a bad taste in the mouth. Don't get me wrong I love my brothers and sisters but I feel like most of them are here for the community rather than their own personal beliefs and research. As I said I'm a little confused and will continue to do my research
I'm an exjw. I left in my mind about 4 years ago. I was inactive for 8 before that. Tim mackie of the bible project was a huge help to me. Someone could break down the bible into digestible chunks without removing the transcendent beauty of Jesus and Christianity. If you are open enough I invite you to youtube the bible project. And if those videos call to you at all there's also a podcast on spotify. I pray God blesses you in whatever your path from today looks like. And if I may be so bold to claim to you as a current jehovahs witness, Jesus is God and loves you.
Ex-JW here. Regarding the images in the Watchtower, once they didn't have any captions. But since some people were commenting stuff that was not related to the intended message the religion wanted to convey (sometimes because people couldn't really tell what the image was about) they started adding captions explaining what is happening in each image. And you're spot on about the lack of transcendence. When I started investigating other religions while being a JW that was the first thing that stood out to me.
Few weeks ago I was approached by 3 teenage girls that wanted to talk to me about god. They were non denominational christian missionaries, which is pretty rare in my country. I myself am pretty young, still in my early 20s and started calling myself an atheist around the same age they were at the point of our meeting. Videos of religious people getting fact checked by nonbelievers were for years one of my favorite content to watch (still brings some satisfaction ngl) and I actively looked for chances to argue with christians over their fate myself. When I met those girls, for the first time in my life I thought to myself "I wanna show them that atheists can be kind, understanding and knowledgable the bible". I was calm, I stated the things I find problematic in bible constantly using phrases like "from my perspective...", "to me seems like...", showing how I see it instead of challenging their views. They seemed startled a bit and in the end I tried to reassure them that I wish the best for them and I encourage them to question things that seem weird to them. What you said about your experience with atheists while traveling made me think of them, cos I selfishly wish I had some impact on them. I felt bad, that instead of hanging out with their friends they were made to believe that preaching is what they are supposed to be doing right now, and I approached them with that empathy. I strongly agree that showing religious people that god-less morals do exist, and we are not as scary as they believe we are is more powerful than arguing with them and judging them face to face, tho I felt how hard that is to actually execute. I feel like its still better to not bat an eye at religious people, even if we get more confrontational then just let them insert their believes over us, but showing kindness is probably far more effective in changing their minds.
So many good points you brought up, but I will zero in on one topic. The practice of commenting on the pictures. It comes down to that the publications, including the illustrations, are viewed as spiritual food at the proper time coming through God's one channel, the "Faithful Slave" aka the Governing Body. The words and pictures in the publications aren't "inspired scripture", but are "provisions of Jehovah", through his "spirit-directed organization". But in essence, it boils down to the same thing. Quasi-scripture, "spirit-directed not inspired", but in practice but not word viewed as quasi-inspired. I remember when I waking up, there was a drawing in publication with either Herod Agrippa or Felix, and the study conductor asked what could be learned from it. Various audience members raised hands and commented in detail about the person's disposition and so forth--based on one drawing. But in my head, I was like, "You do realize this is a drawing, right? This isn't a historical photo? That some guy in New York drew this?" But in the mind of the adherents, all this is blurred.
Wow you absolutely nailed the feeling of being a witness. If your prefrontal cortex still works while in it you truly do feel like you're in a sensory deprivation tank. This is super helpful to see an insightful outsiders perspective on this. Makes me feel less judgmental and crazy about what I experienced. When you bring up these points to active witnesses they look at you like you have lost your mind.
i swear, every time i scrolled through youtube, someone was talking about this book. at first, i thought it was just overhyped, but then even my friend mentioned it, so i had to check it out. Magnetic Aura by takeshi mizuki wasn’t easy to find, but man, it was worth the search. in just a couple of weeks, i’ve seen huge shifts-people treat me differently, my confidence is on another level, and things in my life finally feel like they’re falling into place
Wow. You really nailed it here. Being in this group is incredibly boring, sterile, and super fake. Incredible presentation quality. Thank you for putting in the time to research and make this. When you put up the picture of the two guys and did a spot-on JW elder impersonation, I could not stop laughing!! That earned you a subscriber here, for sure!
This has just reminded me !! I used to be on the quick build team, and I was on the suspended ceiling team . We were taught to make sure all the joins ran from the back to the front, so there were no edges to catch anyone's eye and distract them while they were listening to the talks !!! Believe me ! I used to make patterns out of the dots in the ceiling tiles, I was that bored !!! 😂
2 very nice JWs came to my door the other day for the first time in like 20 years (obviously I thought of you instantly). The one man told me they were going door to door to encourage us (in Minnesota) amidst the fires (in California). He read me two passages; “the meek shall inherit the earth” and “the righteous shall inherit the earth”. Handed me one of their unbelievably uninteresting brochures (which I read) and left. It was bizarre. But God bless them, Ofcourse! And it was a thoughtful gesture of hope, I suppose.
Once again, your appreciation and respect for religion is astounding and inspiring.
As a new Christian, these videos are great for learning what others believe, I feel really sorry for JW. I'm glad you didnt bash them too much. "Most of the people you know who are JW, are only JW because they will lose everything if they aren't"
I converted to JW, none of my family are JW. I have no one to "lose". I stay because I believe.
The people who are born in and know nothing else, only that they don't believe in it I feel sorry for. They have everything to lose, their families and friends because you don't associate with "the world".
@@ciaracairns1778then why are you here watching apostate videos darling 😂 I'm going to report you to the congregation! Don't think you'll be very happy when they fellowship U lol
It's pretty much the most awful widespread Christian Church. The Mormons have some fucked up beliefs, but you don't have to refuse medical help, avoid further education, or cut off your family.
@@ciaracairns1778 That's very fortunate, but know that your experience is _not_ universal.
'Living as a JW is like living in a sensory deprivation tank.' Accurate, and especially heartbreaking for those of us who have a sensory seeking neurotype. We just got taken to the back of the hall and got spanked if we fidgeted too much.
I used to count the ceiling tiles as a kid. So bored.
Witnesses dont just drink, they drink more than the average person. Its one of the only vices they are allowed in life so they overdo it
Here's one... ✋️ my desire to drink basically went away when I stopped going to the kingdom hall. Go figure
Is that true?
I'll second what you said about being kind to religious people as an atheist. I was mormon for all of my life until 6 months ago and it was drilled onto my head since birth that those outside of the church aren't nice or good people. And I kept meeting nonmembers throughout my life who were wonderful people and it helped me break through that programming which eventually helped me leave the church. Also I checked out your music and it's good shit! Im always happy to discover new metalcore
It’s crazy how some areas or wards apparently do this as I hear it every now and then from former lds members. At 42 years old and a member my whole life I can’t think of a time I’ve been taught that. It’s always been people are good and just like me no one is perfect. I’m stoked when I meet someone or watch something online or tv where someone sincerely believes in Jesus and isn’t of the same religion as myself. And likewise, I love it when I see atheists being good people without believing in Jesus. Again, I’m sorry you got hit with a ward that had that kind of culture you experienced. I’ve lived in 15 or so different wards around Utah and the US and I never heard anyone teach hate or that non members are evil. Some members that think that way? Of course, but they’re few and far between. But you’ll find that amongst any religion, any major group or organization, nation, amongst atheists and agnostics because…humans. Anyways, I hope you’re happy in life!
Exjw here. Atheist. Exited (disassociated) at 38, now 70. The first time I remember feeling a really spiritual experience was at the temple in Burning Man 2013. The reverence and emotions were incredibly powerful. I left a photo and poem for my dad who had just passed amongst many others. Sunday they burned the whole thing. The emotions were so powerful and uplifting. I shared a community of love. So in 38 years as a JW the best experience probably were the large but boring conventions in sports stadiums just from the crowd size. But nothing compared to that Burning Man experience. Not bad for an atheist.
As an Ex-JW I can totally relate to everything said in your video... sitting in a kingdom hall and listening to the program was always to be considered as being close to god and directly receiving gods guidance. As soon as you start to doubt and disconnect from indoctrination and manipulation, you can't stand a kingdom hall anymore. They look the same, speak the same way, do the same gestures, etc. You can perfectly see how programmed people are, how individuality and free thinking was completely ripped out of them or in many cases, was never developed properly. Watchtower acts the same way as any other cult... the take away your individuality, isolate you from the outside "bad" world, foster a feeling of being special and part of the only true religion, keeping you in constant fear because of persecution or the upcoming armagedon... and especially they keep you in bay by making sure that if you leave, your loosing everything... because family and friends will shun and treat you as you would have ever existed. Thanks for that important video Jared and for sharing your viewpoints. If you or anyone else wants to have ore information on JW's, please feel free to comment or asking questions.
Jared… thank you for building bridges and being humble. You choosing to use your time and energy in this way as someone who “lacks a belief in God/gods” is very intriguing and inspiring. Keep up the good work 🙏
Hey bro. Protestant missionary in Asia. Seen a few of your videos and the advice on kindness to those you disagree with you, even a cult, is like a hot coal to my mind and I pray to others as well. My heart breaks (and angers) for this terrible cult for various reasons as well. Yet loving our enemy is what changed the globe 2000 years ago til today. As a Christian that is a place where we as Americans christians have failed.
I’ll leave it at that. Shalom.
I was just told they would likely reject outside help from others to rebuild. Not certain on that as I don’t know many of them but they are an isolationist bunch.
I'm formerly a Jehovah's Witness now turn into a Ortho bro. My parents are still Jehovah's Witnesses a lot of my extended family are Jehovah's Witnesses and I pray that they receive salvation and I do help them whenever I can that is not the Orthodox way to cut people off entirely but to struggle towards them
I’m an ex JW now Orthodox as well. My dad and brother are both elders. Pray for me.
Same here man! Welcome home!
Wait is Orthobro like a good or bad term now? Been Orthodox all my life and just now looking at online Orthodoxy. Some is cool, a lot on line is not really correct t though.
I am an Ortho Sis 😂
I am a follower of Jesus Christ and I follow the Bible
the assembly hall is a torture chamber of boredom i have lived through many of these almost 6- 8 hour sessions
At least when we could go to bigger stadiums or municipal auditoriums, there was stuff to look at. When they built a local assembly hall in my area and ALL assemblies and conventions were held there from then on, the blank walls just bored me to tears
@Heliocentric, I gotta tell ya... You are doing the best JW-centric commentary on the internet in my opinion. I look forward to your videos. I am an indie musician and former JW/current athiest (watch the movie Witness Underground if you want to learn about the underground JW music scene I grew up in) and I think there are SO FEW people online who are trying to show compassion, empathy, and understanding to the JW experience in the way you have. Growing up as a JW puts you in such a bubble that you struggle to see the group from the perspective of the non-JW even after you leave. Videos like this are so healthy, so helpful, and so rare, that I cannot help but be amazed by your work. Thank you so much for sharing this perspective with the world. I hope more JWs and XJWs find your videos because yours is a voice that actually has a chance to promote some of the healing that JWs desperately need. This is the kind of message that encouraged me to work on the Witness Underground documentary and, man, I just gotta say... good work. Keep it up.
Hi, Jared, Jared here. Exjw, myself. A really important angle about the JW that is sort of talked around is psychological programming.
1. Yes they do drink, booze and food are the two big JW 'poisons'.
2. The psychological. The more you look into the mechanical side of the JW machine, the scarier it becomes. For one. Halls after a certain years have no windows - intentionally.
3. All the songs have motifs that are used in video programs, to layer in ideas subconsciously. For example, there is literally a song called "Listen, Obey, and Be Blessed" and it will play faintly in moments of "meaning" in their children's animated content, or in video content at their assembly. [This is just one example]
4. Having visited the art department where this stuff is made, I can tell you that they aren't stock images. They are JW made, and they are all very intentional. They aren't using art to excentuate a message, they are using images to superimpose their specific viewpoint. Their viewpoint IS reality. That's the main thing.
5. The act of their studying is for sheer repetition. By weekly reinforcing, they get that big hit of dopamine.
But you likely know all this
You're full of it. I go to a local kingdom hall that has been recently renovated. There are windows all over the building and glass doors. The rest of the "points" you make are garbage as well. Yes, they even use melodies from their own songs in their other publications (*gasp*) what a sinister, novel idea!! 😂 Every time i read comments from ex JWs, they are so full of inaccuracies and nitpicking.
@@Fatman_JackInteresting and hostile response from a man of God. Majority of halls do not have windows. If you happen to be in one that does, I am happy for you. I grew up in the one hall that had windows out of our neighboring 20 halls. The other points the gentleman above mentioned are in fact another perspective of a truth. You may disagree, but that doesn’t make his statements false. Although that might need years of new neuro pathways to understand.
Lastly, do your congregation elders know that you are watching apostate styled RUclips videos? I am glad you are, when you’re ready, make sure you seek out a therapist who specializes in Religious Trauma Syndrome. And give the guys documentary about underground JW music scene a look- it’s very well done.
@@Fatman_Jack hey man what are you doing lurking these videos!
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not teetotalers. They are allowed to consume alcohol, most of the elders in our congregation when I was a ministerial servant were drunks.
Including my father, who served as Presiding Overseer at times.
Heavy drinking and alcoholism is common among the JWs.
@@presidentbob720As an elder's son, I'm lucky to not have a drunk for a father
@@presidentbob720Need I say, over 90% of their marriages sucks/unhappy and just pretending..?
I can say firsthand as a Christian that Nigel Thornberry in Sailor Moon cosplay is most definitely a representation of man's desire for God.
That feeling you have for Kim and Peter, wishing they had something better, but still just wishing them well in their little life... that's how so many of us ExJWs feel about our parents.
Yep. so true.
Damn bro... 🥺 So true that even hurts...
Very valid points! Thank you for handling this so well. I've watched other XJWs and they tend to just lambast God, not all gods, just the Christian God. It's understandable, but I appreciate your gentler rhetoric. I'm sorry for everything you've been through.
this is like the third video of yours i’ve watched, and i’ve loved them all so far. especially the orthodox church audit. i am a huge orthodox fan.
Seasoned JW’s like that can be some of the most dangerously effective, especially when it comes to keeping people’s doubts at bay and stamping out questions. They come across as reasonable, well educated, empathetic, the works.
They are usually the ones who came to the fork in the road of their own doubts years and years ago, making the very conscious choice to ignore or make excuses for the glaringly wrong things in favour of their sunk-cost fallacy.
They will say things like:
“I proved to myself that the org was Gods one true channel long ago, I don’t need to keep questioning”
“Every organisation and religion has its problems, we are just a perfect organisation led by imperfect people”
“I have seen too many clear instances of God blessing us directly for it to possibly be false”
“I promise you that if you just give it 12 months of dedicated service with ministry, Bible reading, meeting attendance etc. that your doubt will melt away when you see the blessings”
These people unknowingly become some of the most effective cult brainwashers in their field.
Mormonism is similar. Either you get to a point where you are willfully ignorant or you become so nuanced that what you believe no longer resembles the church’s dogma.
Translate those statements to Mormonese:
"I know this is Christ one true Church because I can feel the Spirit everytime I am here."
"The Church is perfect, the people in it are not."
"I have such a strong testimony in the truthfulness of the restored gospel for this to be false."
"If you just re-read the Book of Mormon, say your prayers, and keep paying your tithes I assure you that you will see the Lord bless you."
@@AarmOZ84well, for me, when I do not and have not participated in church activities, I have noticed how my life has gone. My life is significantly better as an active latter day Saint. As a teenager I went back and forth in the church. And I must say, being apart of it is much better.
You hit the nail on the head. Ex-Jw here. Left during covid.
Damn I’ve heard all of those quotes….
Jared another AMAZINGLY done video. Your honesty is refreshing!
I am a Catholic, but also an exJW and former JW elder, and I love your videos. I will say though that the “help them build” will not work. It’s a great idea, but the JWs will reject it, and the elders would never let on to the congregation that we offered. But yes, definitely be nice to them. I was very angry and bitter for a while when I first left, but I have done a lot of work in letting that go, and I would go out of my way to help any of my former “brothers and sisters”. I am overly nice to them when I see them around town, and they have softened a lot. I was the “apostate” who they used to turn the other direction when they saw me, and now many will smile and wave (keep in mind, even with the new shunning rules, as an apostate I’m still supposed to be shunned). I can see them as humans now trying to do what is right, and as long as you are mean and cold to them, they will just continue to believe it’s because they have THE TRUTH.
A few days ago JW stopped by my house. I told them that I was Catholic and that the only evangelizing in my home is of the Catholic faith. I said if they weren’t open to that they would have to leave. They asked me to pray a Psalm with them and I told them I just finished praying the Liturgy of the Hours. I recommended that they check out the Divine Office app. They left. Should I have handled this differently?
Clicked on the upload notification faster than a JW denying the trinity
Bahahahaaa!
Or a Mormon. Damn I hate that cult so much
It's not just JWs denying the creed of the trinity. The trinity is nowhere to be found in the Bible.
@@alexblake5743 that's been debunked so extensively it's hard to believe people still say this
@@alexblake5743 wrong but ok
As an active JW now, and also gay, yet also awake to the organization. You’re speaking out to the world I can’t ever say out load without the fear of being REMOVED (disfellowshipped). So thank you Jared. We need people like you.
We need something to help people transition out of cults.
It’s so much better on the other side. My mom knows I’m bi and and she knows most of the stuff i do. If your family ditches you, it’s on them. I know it’s hard, but fuck em. You deserve to be happy
@Being_Joe 💯
Visit an Episcopal Church. You will definitely feel loved!
I am so sorry... Please, find a place where you can be accepted and loved. Being removed sucks, it's traumatic, but the trouble your brain goes through by pretending to be someone you're not has a long lasting damaging effect. Seek help, some coaching, or even better, therapy to help you out. I wish you all the best!
I'll say it again we need "At least Im not at a kingdom hall" merch. Love your videos man.
Your compassion and empathy is so moving. It reminds me that we were all (and some still are) victims of this cult but we can be kind and bold!
I can promise you, the more you make videos on JWs, the more your channel will grow. Every one is interested in knowing more about them, and you're one of the few non ex JWs talking about them without trying to convince us your church is better. Keep up the good work.
I can attest to this 👌
Ex-JW here. That’s all. Hi.
I love this
Most ex JW don’t try to convince anyone’s church is better because most ex JW channels are also atheist..been following Ex JW channels for years..there’s many of them. Great channels too
@@SundayVibesmusicJW Escape is an ex-JW who's now a believer in the Gospel. There are other Christian channels by ex JWers, but I can't recall them offhand.
I knew that assembly hall looked familiar! I spent many assemblies wandering the halls and walking around aimlessly during the talks lol or sitting in the cafeteria.
Love your videos, man. Thrilled that you love My Epic, too. They're the best ones doing it, imo.
“But WE have martyrs”
The Orthodox Church: “am i a joke to you?”
Not 10’s or 100’s but millions of Martyrs.
LGBTQ have Martyrs too...
@@kevwatski3351Slavs being Slavs
It's not a contest.
@@alexm2048You're forgetting the OGs, the Greeks. One of the most popular Orthodox saints of today is St. Paisios, who reposed in 1995. He was Greek.
I am struck in every video with how much you love people! Praise God that you kept that or were born with that love (obviously you don't have to praise God for that but I would like to if that is okay)! Thank you for sharing these videos and for continuing to go to church yourself! I gotta get one of your CDs cause Iove Christian heavy metal like For Today and Fit for a King. Also, random fun thought: every time you mention the school you went to and how on fire with their music they were I think about Rend Collective. Also also, if you ever have the urge to visit churches in the Dallas area, hit me up. I know you are far but I would love to share a meal with you!
Literally grew up going to that assembly hall. Wild! Fun fact, the museum area where the cafeteria is used to be where food was served back when the assembly hall was first built. Great video! Have been following for a while now and I really appreciate how you cover this in such a respectful manner. No longer active but love seeing an outside perspective.
What you say about the inane in depth examination of the images is so true. We would give observations like “you can see from clock on the wall that it’s late in the evening but man in the picture is still at work showing that he is prioritising making money over being with his family and maybe it’s their family worship evening this night and so he’s skipping out on that to make money”
I would not survive five minutes of that
Lol yaaaasss 😂😂😂
lol yeah. Sometimes they'd be 7+ comments on one photo analysing the minutest of details because "Bethel put them there for a reason".
@@champagne.future5248 The boring, droning nature of it is by design, like hypnosis. There's LOTS of zoning out involved. I don't remember most of it, except all the rules.
When I was a JW I was taught that people were worldly and bad association. However, when my child was diagnosed with a disability people that did not know me were the only ones to show us kindness and support... I started to see people differently, and now that I am out of the organization even more. The JW community is shunning my family and I for disassociating...The fear and control does not allow them to see the humanity in others outside and they are taught to show kindness as a means to convert them.
g-word farmhouse? I personally don’t think the Romani people deserve such disrespect.
@jrojala I meant no disrespect ..it has a special meaning to me.
Love your videos. They are interesting, informative, loving, emotional and funny.
One of the main reasons I never became a Witness despite being raised one, no sense of the divine, nothing that I felt was actually spiritual. The way I've described it, is that JW is a black and white photocopy of a religion, they have the outline of what should be there, but they don't realize that the colour was actually important. I remember them talking about things other religions did and how proud they were that they didn't do it, but it was things that like, 95% of other religions had, and like, maybe that's actually important to have, maybe those things bring people closer to the divine.
I can't imagine why God would consider it his one and only or.blessed religion ...poor representation of God who must be a boring grey haired man in a grey suit sitting on a chair with flash cards.
That’s a good way of putting it. What a depressingly dull way to live
THIS! oh my god you put into words. I've been around jws before I was ever conceived and yet not once was I convinced to join. it's just SO goddamn boring! I can't even get a jewel encrusted cane for you to beat the word of god into me?
You confirmed what I was suspecting for quite some time: since they rejected the immortal soul/spirit in human beings, which is the one of the main tenets of 95% of religions since ancient Babylonian times, no wonder that no spirituality is possible in such religion. How we are supposed to triumph over corruptible matter and decaying flesh if we have no spirit? As a founder of comparative religious studies Max Müller said: “Without a belief in personal immortality, religion surely is like an arch resting on one pillar, like a bridge ending in an abyss.”
Nice comment, thanks for sharing. "The divine" is arguably just 'make believe' really, so yeah, at least make it fun and enjoyable.
I'm continually impressed with your insightful analysis. Your research is incredibly thorough and your reviews are without malice or resentment. I wish there was more journalism done on this organization.
4:38 The impression is so good it gives me flashbacks 😂
Was about to comment the same thing 😅😂
❤ Well said sir. As an ex-JW born-in as they say. You hit the nail on the head. I wasn't even aware of how I felt about Kingdom halls growing up. I never knew anything else. But the empty, devoid of meaning and beautyless spaces the organization standardized is brutalist and suffocating. I hated our "meetings" they were especially void and painful to sit through as a child. There was only one retreat my own mind, so at least I had that.
Now, I know you are an atheist, but I have to say it anyway 😅.
God loves you, Jesus loves you, I love you. So I pray that you rekindle your faith. And, find a real relationship with Jesus Christ. That you can find that lost humility to repent of your own desires and sin and reconcile yourself to yours and my creator.
But as long as you're still warning people about the cults to avoid. You are doing the Lords work. God bless you. 😊❤❤❤
The Kingdom Halls are tacky and ugly. You can do great design on a budget. I wondered why our literature, Halls, and conventions were so ugly and dreary. We had windows in my day.
All those dreaded meetings as a kid I think, gave me extra strong abilities for self reflection and a creative imagination. Escaping into my mind and my itchy stockings were the only things to keep me awake. 😅
You are allowed to drink, yes. But you are not allowed to get drunk. That’s a sin and worthy of punishment.
Funny thing is, everyone is a closet drunk in that religion.
I hate this religion so much. My mother, sister, and 3 nieces don’t speak to me because I’m disassociated. It really messes with you.
That was so good and incredibly moving Gerard, you really do absorb the religious elements and especially concern for the believers ❤ thank you for having such an open mind. You are not just knocking the whole thing down but have a great insight to how it affects anyone inside the religion. I’m a ex JW
Who is Gerard?
@ sorry wrong spelling Jared !
There’s this sweet old lady I see in my line of work who’s a Jehovah’s Witness. And it’s always a little sad to me that this is her source of devotion. All I can do is pray for her. Either that she be revealed truth or that God sees her desire for Him in spite of the false doctrine.
Edit: since my comment later became more relevant towards the end. I definitely agree. I don’t know how I feel about helping build a place of worship, but the heart of what you’re saying is spot on. People are often way too caught up on correctness and winning debates, when it’s a peaceful spirit that will save thousands according to St Seraphim of Sarov. That was a very challenging proposition, because I don’t know the best reaction but indifference to it definitely isn’t
I'd wish she escapes religion and finds genuine happiness elsewhere, not jumps out of the frying pan into the fire...
Díky!
Lutheran from Finland here. I liked your point about JWS thinking about their uniqueness. I have met several JWs and I still remember one conversation, where this JW guy talked how their organisation is different than anyone else. He said that they have no leaders. When I said that they have Governing Body he said it is Faithful Slave, which only serves, not rule people. Well, that's not changing anything, they still rule, because they tell everyone what to do. In Catholic Church one of the Pope's titles is "Servant of the servants of God", but still everyone knows that he is also ruler of his Church.
Other thing was that he said that they don't gather offering in their services. I asked how they get money to their work. He said that they have two boxes near the door, one for homeland, one for abroad (if I remember correctly). Again, that is the offering.
I remember how exited that guy was when he talked to me. He really thinked that his organisation is unique and that it is one sign about their truthness. For me it showed only ignorance about any other religion or denomination.e
Thank you so much for sharing your art and so much symbolism and their meanings! It's so beautiful, I'm going to share this with my bros! They love heavy metal.
AHHHHH YES YES YES everything you said in this video is sooooo on point. I love that it’s not petty or harking on heresy but just brings out the truth you can’t see unless you look at this religion from the outside
I don't know if you're aware of this or not but every Kingdom Hall does the same basic service every week. That's the thing that sets the Jehovah's witnesses a part in their own minds is that every Kingdom Hall is going over the same watchtower article and the only thing that's different is whatever the talk is before it which is usually based on something that someone in the congregation did that's meant to make them who is smoking cigarettes or not getting enough witness again. The questions are the same and the picture review from the watchtower is the same. It's the same with the midweek meeting the things that they are practicing saying at doors. Its part of the mind melting brainwashing
They're basically being graded on their level of conformity, the number of times they comment in meetings, and to some extent how much material from previous watchtowers they can infuse into the current meeting.
They actually don't like it if you try and mention other art or thoughts that you have that aren't in the text itself.
Ty jaRED for letting me eat, I was serching for something to watch. Also, really nice videos as always. Pls never change bro
I love how Christians, atheists, Hindus, agnostics, Buddhists, Muslims, etc all can get such a good laugh out of your videos.
I love the work your doing! Keep going! I agree your spin on this topic is fresh approaching
I have been to that assembly hall and my last assembly was held there. That would be about 3-4 years now. There's a big pond in front that was filled with fish and would follow you around begging for food. It's fenced now. The lobby is really nice with a little water falling amongst the plants. The mini museum is filled with bits of JW history and artifacts. I've been an exJW for about 4 years now. I was disfellowshipped, then I got reinstated after 3 years, then I officially disassociated. My parents don't talk to me. All my old friends are gone. Relationships that felt closer than family simply just vanish. As I learned more, I realized that JW life and teachings are in direct opposition for developing a spiritual life. Everything they teach and everything they do is in an effort to stunt any real, deep spiritual growth and replace it with blind brand loyalty. I feel more spiritual now than ever, and I'm a stone cold atheist! Thank you for shedding light on this cult. Please, don't forget to expose their CSA, shunning, and blood abstinence issues. This cult feeds on people's spirituality, but also their lives.
You nailed it with this video. I visited a Kingdom Hall a little over a year ago and then was asked by a JW what I thought. I said, “it was depressing.” I wish I had elaborated more at that time as to why I felt that way but damn, you nailed it on the head as to exactly why I felt that way!
Catholic here.
What I love about your videos is that you do them like for yourself in the 1st place, on desire of deep analysis, from the social & spiritual perspective and not for entertaiment purpose only.
Your videos touches the soft spot.
Keep it going buddy, your doing great work.
Just commenting to say thank you for sharing My Epic, Lower Still is a masterpiece
I’m an ex jw I love your videos. Ask altworldly about the young people ask movies especially ‘what should I do with my life’? Watch that if you want to see how JWs perceive any type of career that deviates from them
When you had concluded talking about your art, I died. Needed that laugh.
As a Christian, I really appreciate your videos. You really have a gift. ❤
I toured a Kingdom Hall once and they were giving a talk about how we should not use images in worship. No pictures of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the saints. Yet, like your video showed they could post other images and use images in the watchtower during their talks and teachings of the watchtower magazines. I don't think the Jehovah's Witnesses see the inconsistencies of this practice. I personally find the orthodox and catholic churches to be some of the most beautiful buildings. It really is a teaching tool of the gospel and the events of the Bible that is meant to elevate your mind to the transcendent.
the tradition of iconography was largely to communicate to the laymen, which for the majority of history was illiterate.
@@sabiti5428 I know. I am not sure JWs realize this or have thought this through.
I don't think it's really inconsistent, they aren't worshipping these stock photos
Don't they literally have a pixaresqe animated jesus?
@@bigol9223 The Orthodox and Catholics don't worship the images. Worship is given to God alone see CCC 2112-2113
Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and mammon." Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast" refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God.
You brought up some very accurate and important points. They 100% are taught that everything and everyone around them is against them and when you can show just a little kindness it goes a long way and maybe one day they will wake up
😢😢😢I kno!! I remember meeting those old couples like that It’s sad 😞 thanks for reminding me to be more kind to them. I’m still jaded after leaving this June. You’re right though! If they didn’t shun me I would do more but maybe there will be something else I can do. It was that transcendence I was looking for that lead me out! I love these 😊there so validating 🎉
t felt like this book was following me-every comment section, every convo with my friends, someone was bringing it up. i wasn’t even planning on reading it, but the curiosity got to me. Magnetic Aura by takeshi mizuki was hard to track down, but now i get why so many people were talking about it. within two weeks, my confidence shot through the roof, people started noticing me in ways they never did before, and my goals feel so much more within reach. it’s wild how fast things shifted.
What cute little assembly hall. The Grantville, PA one I went to is like ten times that size and more like an amphitheater than a future wedding hall.
I found your channel last week because I've been obsessed with the video of father seraphim singing psalm 51 to the pope in Aramaic. From there I was recommended your video at the orthodox Church and I've been listening to a chunk of your stuff ever since (one of your videos you weren't sure how people were finding you so there's my story lol)
I love how knowledgeable you are on the different religions. I learnt today that JWs have different beliefs about jesus 🤯 i always just assumed they were door knocker Mormons. And I always thought Mormons were just polygamy protestants. So next I will be down a rabbit hole of what it is they believe haha.
Please never stop speaking, your voice is amazing. If you don't want to do this stuff at any point in the future please read audio books or something or find something else to talk about.
It's a shame you're no longer a pastor because you would have been mesmerising
Regarding the simplistic contrived pictures...How should I put this??? There is a bit of a weird status scramble, trying to see very deep things in the simple pictures that others don't "notice" lol. This is like a humble-brag jw flex type thing. It displays to the group that you are a very spiritual person that spends long hours in prayerful prestudy of the weeks lesson. This is especially evident during the Watchtower study the week of the Circuit Overseer visit...
Yesss. I was a nihilist even as a JW. This fake profundity always garnered an internal eye roll.
Was not expecting to see My Epic in here - he is a killer lyricist! Very raw at times
Love the channel! As a Mormon, though, I’d push back on one point. When people extend help to us, the church spins it as them acknowledging how good we are, so it’s a lose lose. If you don’t help it’s persecution, if you do help, it’s validation. I think being kind and compassionate and loving to individuals is the way to go, but I’m skeptical of how effective helping out the organization is.
9:04 “I made that when I *WAS* an Atheist.”
Godspeed indeed.
I don't think he meant it THAT way, but we'll all take it. 😂
everything must be bland on purpose to avoid excessiveness in any regard, as you pointed out voices are overly calm and slow and monotone, the message is bland, the delivery is bland, the artwork has to be bland too, extremely boring, numbing and depressive
This is why people gravitate to videos like this. As an LDS member I have seen first hand the things people go through. That's why we need to reach out to each other and learn about each other. Find the common we have with each other. We might not agree with everything another religion believes but truth is truth no matter where you find it, so search for truth.
15:17 Not Heliocentric teaching me how to be a Christian better than some pastors
everywhere i looked, people were mentioning this book in comments, and even a friend brought it up. i ignored it for a while, but curiosity got the best of me, and i finally tracked it down. Magnetic Aura by takeshi mizuki wasn’t what i expected-it was so much better. two weeks later, i’m attracting the kind of energy i’ve always wanted. my relationships, health, and even my work have all leveled up. i see now why everyone was raving about it.
I'm thankful for my preacher, he always ends the sermon with me in tears, even if I have to stay at home and watch it online
What you say towards the end about transcendence is true. Jehovah’s Witnesses like to style themselves as “logical” and not “emotional” and view transcendent experiences as a kind or religious manipulation.
If someone related an experience like that to other JWs it would be viewed with skepticism and perhaps even thought of as either heresy or mental illness.
It is indeed a pseudo-intellectual group. Or at least--it used to be. Back in the day, it was about types and anti-types and second and third fulfillment of prophesy, and history lessons, and "evidence", and calculations. It gave the illusion of depth, that of course, collapses on critical examination.
But since 2000, the shift to "simplication" have dumbed things down to a third-grade level. No more pseudo-intellectualism. But then, one is left with emptiness.
Governing Body member David Splane has seemed to move the needle with the whole, "How Does It Make You Feel?" But that appeal to emotionalism was anathema a non-overlapping generation ago.
As a Christian these videos are top 2 things that happen on Sunday
What type of Christian are you?
@ I’m nondenominational!
Dude u should go to Stanley Theater Assembly hall in Jersey City New Jersey whenever you're in the East Coast.
They have actual art that you're talking about and it lacks that boring, drab ambience. It's like a one of a kind assembly hall
@@stephs8665 only cause they bought it like that and I think they legally can't change the historical elements.
Thanks for the detail and nuance in your view of "love bombing".
5:53 Oh no, you got it all wrong. Those aren't stock images from Adobe. The images in their material are actually highly staged photoshoots created with propagandistic attention to detail! They definitely do not use stock images.
On some videos, they thanks to Shutterstock on the end
They do both. And they plagiarize art.
Dying from the part where he's talking about photo analyzing during the meetings. "Could this be a representation of mans effort to seek Jehovah?...sister Carroll "
Jared you're spot on with the way the witnesses speak on stage. Not sure if you've visited a midweek meeting yet but you should check one out if you have time or check out the monthly broadcasts they put out.
Oh my God! Seeing that My Epic song took me way back. They're such an obscure band, even in Christian music, it's cool to see them mentioned!
You re so honest. I really admire you.
You should look up the pillow gate talk.
I agree! 😂
I am a very confused 28 year old Jehovah's Witness. Was super dedicated and loyal to everything I was taught until recently when I went through a lot of trauma. I am rethinking my life and asking myself "would I join this faith if I hadn't been born into it?". I got so depressed that I caved in and started doing external research on my religion from multiple sources including your own videos. While I disagree with some of the arguments made against us I find a lot of the observations really eye opening. It doesn't surprise me that imperfect humans leading the organisation have made mistakes because that happens everywhere, but the specific ways that we are taught and the fear-mongering are all very concerning to me. It doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel like something Jehovah or Jesus would approve of. I don't mind the bland buildings because I've never considered the material structure to be as important as the spiritual. I also think the way we do preaching is unique in its scale and effort. But I have also felt a loss of sacredness in our teachings. I grew up taking it all extremely seriously but then as I got older I saw more and more JWs around me behaving and talking in ways that went counter to our beliefs. But they were never put right. Many got promotions in the faith. Some left "the truth" to marry someone who wasn't JW and then were reinstated like nothing happened. Children of elders get special treatment and attention rather than the ones in weaker families. I'm waffling a bit but all of these things just leave a bad taste in the mouth. Don't get me wrong I love my brothers and sisters but I feel like most of them are here for the community rather than their own personal beliefs and research. As I said I'm a little confused and will continue to do my research
I'm an exjw. I left in my mind about 4 years ago. I was inactive for 8 before that.
Tim mackie of the bible project was a huge help to me. Someone could break down the bible into digestible chunks without removing the transcendent beauty of Jesus and Christianity.
If you are open enough I invite you to youtube the bible project. And if those videos call to you at all there's also a podcast on spotify.
I pray God blesses you in whatever your path from today looks like.
And if I may be so bold to claim to you as a current jehovahs witness, Jesus is God and loves you.
Ex-JW here. Regarding the images in the Watchtower, once they didn't have any captions. But since some people were commenting stuff that was not related to the intended message the religion wanted to convey (sometimes because people couldn't really tell what the image was about) they started adding captions explaining what is happening in each image.
And you're spot on about the lack of transcendence. When I started investigating other religions while being a JW that was the first thing that stood out to me.
Few weeks ago I was approached by 3 teenage girls that wanted to talk to me about god. They were non denominational christian missionaries, which is pretty rare in my country. I myself am pretty young, still in my early 20s and started calling myself an atheist around the same age they were at the point of our meeting. Videos of religious people getting fact checked by nonbelievers were for years one of my favorite content to watch (still brings some satisfaction ngl) and I actively looked for chances to argue with christians over their fate myself. When I met those girls, for the first time in my life I thought to myself "I wanna show them that atheists can be kind, understanding and knowledgable the bible". I was calm, I stated the things I find problematic in bible constantly using phrases like "from my perspective...", "to me seems like...", showing how I see it instead of challenging their views. They seemed startled a bit and in the end I tried to reassure them that I wish the best for them and I encourage them to question things that seem weird to them. What you said about your experience with atheists while traveling made me think of them, cos I selfishly wish I had some impact on them. I felt bad, that instead of hanging out with their friends they were made to believe that preaching is what they are supposed to be doing right now, and I approached them with that empathy. I strongly agree that showing religious people that god-less morals do exist, and we are not as scary as they believe we are is more powerful than arguing with them and judging them face to face, tho I felt how hard that is to actually execute. I feel like its still better to not bat an eye at religious people, even if we get more confrontational then just let them insert their believes over us, but showing kindness is probably far more effective in changing their minds.
ahh good ole Salisbury Assembly Hall. Lots of good memories there... and of course lots of boring ones. 😆
So many good points you brought up, but I will zero in on one topic. The practice of commenting on the pictures.
It comes down to that the publications, including the illustrations, are viewed as spiritual food at the proper time coming through God's one channel, the "Faithful Slave" aka the Governing Body. The words and pictures in the publications aren't "inspired scripture", but are "provisions of Jehovah", through his "spirit-directed organization". But in essence, it boils down to the same thing. Quasi-scripture, "spirit-directed not inspired", but in practice but not word viewed as quasi-inspired.
I remember when I waking up, there was a drawing in publication with either Herod Agrippa or Felix, and the study conductor asked what could be learned from it. Various audience members raised hands and commented in detail about the person's disposition and so forth--based on one drawing. But in my head, I was like, "You do realize this is a drawing, right? This isn't a historical photo? That some guy in New York drew this?" But in the mind of the adherents, all this is blurred.
4:09 bro I can’t I’m dying of laughter because this is so true 😭😭😭💀💀💀
Great videos. Hopefully can see a review on TLM or a Catholic ordinariate parish.
Excellent. Keep up the great work with jehovah's witnesses. Love it!
Wow you absolutely nailed the feeling of being a witness. If your prefrontal cortex still works while in it you truly do feel like you're in a sensory deprivation tank. This is super helpful to see an insightful outsiders perspective on this. Makes me feel less judgmental and crazy about what I experienced. When you bring up these points to active witnesses they look at you like you have lost your mind.
YOU MAKE HEAVY METAL? omg i know what my next listen is
i swear, every time i scrolled through youtube, someone was talking about this book. at first, i thought it was just overhyped, but then even my friend mentioned it, so i had to check it out. Magnetic Aura by takeshi mizuki wasn’t easy to find, but man, it was worth the search. in just a couple of weeks, i’ve seen huge shifts-people treat me differently, my confidence is on another level, and things in my life finally feel like they’re falling into place
Thank you so much for your work! As an Ex JW since 17 years who grew up in there I am so grateful for what you do.
I got baptized at that assembly hall! I was shocked to see it come up in the video
Wow. You really nailed it here. Being in this group is incredibly boring, sterile, and super fake. Incredible presentation quality. Thank you for putting in the time to research and make this. When you put up the picture of the two guys and did a spot-on JW elder impersonation, I could not stop laughing!! That earned you a subscriber here, for sure!
Finally! Sunday afternoon posting instead of Sunday morning. 🎉😂
Almost spit my lunch out at 4:14 that was unhinged bro haha
Hi. I really love your videos. As someone who is seeking, I would really love to hear your deconversion story.
This has just reminded me !! I used to be on the quick build team, and I was on the suspended ceiling team . We were taught to make sure all the joins ran from the back to the front, so there were no edges to catch anyone's eye and distract them while they were listening to the talks !!! Believe me !
I used to make patterns out of the dots in the ceiling tiles, I was that bored !!! 😂
Me too, and the faces/ shapes in the stucco texture on stage
@MrTmab13 anything to pass away the time !! What torture !
I attended that assembly hall, and the water feature was the best 😅
2 very nice JWs came to my door the other day for the first time in like 20 years (obviously I thought of you instantly). The one man told me they were going door to door to encourage us (in Minnesota) amidst the fires (in California). He read me two passages; “the meek shall inherit the earth” and “the righteous shall inherit the earth”. Handed me one of their unbelievably uninteresting brochures (which I read) and left. It was bizarre. But God bless them, Ofcourse! And it was a thoughtful gesture of hope, I suppose.