The Aftermath of Marrying an Excommunicated Jehovah’s Witness
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- Опубликовано: 15 июн 2024
- Once excommunicated from the Jehovah's Witness faith, Rome's life completely changed. Shunned from his mother and other family members, he meets India, who slowly helps him deconstruct and acclimates him to a world full of Holidays and birthday celebrations. A beautiful love story of patience, understanding and acceptance.
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Chapter Markers:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:20 Growing up Jehovah's Witness in Virginia
00:03:37 Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses?
00:06:44 Not being able to experience holidays as a child
00:09:47 Not being able to celebrate his Birthday
00:12:26 A new translated bible that came with altered rules
00:15:45 The ever changing "doctrine"
00:18:14 His father wasn't JW. Problems that caused
00:23:52 Trying out for the "forbidden" basketball team in HS
00:26:23 His experience of excommunication
00:31:47 Shunning and the awful disconnection process
00:35:07 India's reactions to Rome's excommunication/shunning experience when they first met
00:37:36 India studied JW with Rome's mom! Mom's reactions
00:42:56 India's advice to someone who is in a relationship with a person who left a high control group
00:50:29 Did he repair and/or strengthen his relationship with his dad?
00:52:11 Exploring a different Christian faith and the outcome of that
00:55:25 Their current beliefs
01:00:27 Linda, Listen
Find Rome and India:
IG: @romedidit & @_india_renee__
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Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara
*Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.*
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As an ex-Jehovah’s Witness, I had the hardest time dating… until I started dating an ex-JW. Now we get shunned and forget about holidays together ❤😂
I always thought I was weird for not caring about holidays or my birthday, and then a religious trauma therapist told me that's a side effect of being an ex-JW and constantly being told your needs aren't important because that's selfish (especially as a girl). 😅
@@vanell3532 Nothing was worse as a guy as some old lady with no sex drive saying that masturbation was selfish. That is like saying sleeping is selfish.
@@vanell3532total opposite for me, I celebrate every single holiday and love to decorate for them + love my bday! 😆
@@polystrate1😂😂😂😂
Another example of Cruel Cults… I now celebrate holidays and my birthday again… I didn’t grow up a JW, I married one for 12 years… some of The JW men are so damn confused or maybe it was just my exJW husband…😂😂
I am absolutely blown away by the beauty of India. India's patience, empathy, sympathy, and foresight and love is something very rarely witnessed. This couple, their strength and love is human goals.
Thank you so much 🙏🏼 for this interview. My husband and I just escaped the same cult a year ago at the age of 49 and 50 😳 3rd generation born in. We’ve lost our entire family and friends because we chose to walk away. I appreciate the people speaking up and speaking out. ❤❤
I’m happy you escaped!! Live your life and experience it all! (ex JW kid here)
I'm glad you found the strength to get out!!! 🎉🎉 Life's good out here and people are more sincere
La BIBLE si dieu d,APPRÉCIE tu TOUJOURS la est la QUESTION ? ? .
::hugs:: That’s horrible that you lost your previous circle. But I am so glad you have each other’s support.
Wow, that is so wrong. I hope you find new friends and maybe some family you didn’t know about who left before.❤❤
This is probably one of my favourite episodes so far. India is such a patient and loving person. I want so badly for her to perhaps do a lecture or two on how to handle and ne patient with a loved one’s religious trauma. She would make a great counselor with her inquisitive nature, patience, and ability to not just hear someone like Rome, but truly, deeply listen and grow her understanding with his past.
this. india, i’ll be your first listener 😂❤
As a former school teacher it was so sad for the poor JW kid who had to sit out while others kids celebrated and made fun holiday crafts. If the parents only knew how difficult it is for kids who did not chose this lifestyle. No kids wants to be left out or singled out! You want to belong! It’s human nature!
The parents knew. It didn’t matter. In their mind, the kid was doing this for god.
I had the same thing. There was a JW family with four children, all of whom came through my class over a ten year period. The mother required them to “sit quietly” through all the forbidden activities. That included birthday parties, holiday programs, holiday art projects, assemblies, school centered events like funny sock day, pajama day, etc. They didn’t participate in Field Day, graduation ceremonies, field trips… If there was an assembly, they’d sit in another classroom, a field trip, I had to come up with extra independent work and they’d sit in another room or the office. Not one child ever had a play date or any friends. They didn’t ride the bus. They’d get dropped off at the last moment and picked up 10 minutes ahead of the last bell. The holiday gift exchange was awful. They’d just sit there and watch everyone open their gifts.
Omg I remember a kid had to be taken out of class because her parents didn't allow her to learn about her anatomy... Literally... We were separated the girls and guys for these videos too! But she wasn't allowed to sit in. Another time the same kid couldn't sit in class when learning about the Holocaust and other certain history topics. When someone mentioned a god or some religion she would flat out tell people that, that was our false reality and at home they were taught about the true form of earth.. nobody liked to talk to her or sit with her, it was sad too because she could be lovely until her robot eyes turned on.... That's not an exaggeration either... It was wild... Now that I'm older... I get it.
My best friend growing up was a JW and it makes me so sad to think back on how she acted about holidays and birthdays. In addition to having to leave the room, if she ever heard something like a holiday song she'd instantly cover her ears until it stopped. Her parents at least had the care to let her stay home for big holidays like Halloween or Valentine's Day. There was another JW kid who was usually in our class, so at least my friend didn't have to sit alone whenever she left the room. She did happily take any Halloween candy I shared with her at lunch.
That’s so awful. Thanks for sharing this perspective, Karen ❤️
I grew up with Rome...
I got out that cult myself, I haven't seen him since we were teenagers
I love when you see a couple where each person is great but together that greatness is amplified. Loved this interview!
I grew up in a very rural part of the United States, so anytime there was a family in the community that didn't subscribe to mainstream Christianity, it was an anomaly. My mom taught 3rd grade at the local elementary school for a number of years and one year she had a student that was from a JW family. And despite being only a 3rd grader, his parents made it clear he wasn't allowed to participate in class birthday parties. I was really young that year so I don't remember everything that happened but I remember my mom coming home in tears whenever someone brought cupcakes in for their birthday but the JW boy wasn't allowed to have any. She said it was the most heartbreaking thing, but she had to respect his parents' wishes. 😔 Poor kid. I think about him sometimes, I hope he ended up ok
I posted a TikTok recently where I explained that my mum once turned her head away from me so that she didn't have to see my face and a lot of people called me a liar and said they didn't believe me. A few even implied that I must have done something really terrible to warrant that kind of treatment from my mother.
Lmao what a wildly specific thing to lie about
I'm so happy he brought up Charles Russell, many people just do not acknowledge this. I grew up and was born into the JWs and when I heard this point and learned it, I wasn't happy and made me questions so mich more. Love to all disfellowshipped. We are a unique group indeed. I've been out for 19 years and have never looked back. I would never have my kids grow up in something like this. I left so they could be free.❤
As to questioning doctrine, one of the isolating factors of JW is the discouragement from secular higher education; this plus the end-times drumbeat and the shunning leaves people so vulnerable. Props to his dad and wife.
You hit the nail on the head with your synopsis!
Another ex here!. I left because my friends who were faithful, that had crappy husbands get stomped on by elders. Men rule. Women and kids are treated like nothing. They are trapped and those elders are spirit crushing. Being a JW is exhausting.
As someone that was raised as JW from the ages 6 till 13 and it was a horrible experience. The father figure in the house was disfellowshipped and that was tough even though I had quit believing myself. The adult's were dysfunctional as it was being a JW just made things worse. I left home at 15 and started celebrating holidays right away. I would say because of the way I was raised I go overboard on celebrating holidays. I am 65 in July and I would say it had a hard time hard time dealing with it because I was molested. And I think that someone told others and I was molested by 9 JW. I have had a lot counseling. Thank you for what you are doing and thank you you to all your guests. Somehow I felt like I got permission from you and guests to continue to explore and question religion. I go to church and I don't agree with a lot that others do and I feel guilty that I don't believe everything that is preached. So thanks everyone
I’m an ex JW kid too. Sending you a hug. ♥️ They cannot ruin our lives anymore. They don’t deserve that power.
Watchtower will be protested on October 31st, 2023, in Washington D.C. at the WHITE HOUSE. Watchtower's cover-up of CSA and their SHUNNING PRACTICES are inhumane and cruel. This needs to STOP. Join the protest. Help expose watchtower
This two will have the most gorgeous children 😊
Thanks so much for this video. You guys help me with how I should handle and be patient with my husband who was raised and born into the JW religion. He is not physically in but still mentally. We’ve had talks or debates, but now I have realized that I can’t change him and my job is to love him with the love of Christ
What a great interview! The patience and emotional maturity India had not to take things personally is a great example.
The organization of Jehovah’s witnesses ruined my family. I have older siblings my parents shunned for the most arbitrary crap. So I missed out on years with my siblings and my siblings missed out on having a family. Also, all the holidays are tainted for me because my gut feeling about them are that they are a sin to participate in. Therefore I won’t get to the “New World” and won’t be with my family forever. It was SO confusing as a kid because I was always in the honors classes but higher education wasn’t recommended to JWs. It promotes critical thinking which could sway us. And it did for me. Issues like being a leader, getting an education as a woman, LGBTQ people, holidays, and so much more we’re topics I was so confused on. I haven’t been forced to go to Kingdom Hall since I was like 16 and I’m almost 28 and some things are still hurting my mental health.
I can relate. It does take time. I went through so many phases for the first 10 years out. My whole family is still in it. But i can say, ince you heal , move forward and build your new reality and family, kife can be so amazing and your mental health can get better. I think all ex Jehovahs witness have a struggle finding there way . Sending you love, healing and an amazing future. ❤
I think your positive interview will help lots of people coming out of a cult and people that are marred to ex-cult members. Patience is key. Glad they are thriving.
I had a classmate in elementary and middle school whose family was JW. I remember that he dated somebody in middle school, which was a big no-no since she was not of the same faith. When his parents found out, I never saw him again. I hope you're doing good Taze. I hope you got out.
Oh no. They actually removed him! That’s awful!
I love these two together...as Rabbit's Refuse stated, I am impressed with how India has handled Rome's transition out and it shows how much they loved their way through it. Great job Shelise and great podcast!! Really looking forward to this afternoon's episode with Apostate Alex...two of my very favs!
This interview gave me a little bit of PTSD flashbacks! Worldly, pioneering, new light, end times, ewwwwwww, definitely some trigger words left in there! My brother and sister are disfellowshipped and I am apostate. My parents and sisters are still super in it. After over 20 years those words still make me feel, I don’t know what actually, but I don’t like it that’s for sure!
I get the first bday party thing though. When I turned 19 my husband at the time and my friends threw me a huge Winnie the Pooh 1st bday party and it is one of my favorite memories.
Glad to see this guy doing well and moving on and healing.
❤️❤️❤️
My friends threw a 1st b’day party for my 19th too, so much fun. I stopped celebrating again because I just didn’t care about it after I turned 21. But I’ll never forget what my friends did for me on my 19th & also what my parents neighbours did for me on my 21st.
I know off a young man who was shunned his family. He chose to exit this life. It was heartbreaking.
Great interview Shelise! Rome and India's story is genuinely inspiring. I love that they have been so supportive of each others experience and willing to learn from and for one another. That speaks great volumes about their relationship. I will be checking out their book for sure.
Let's just ALL go out there and be good people!
May the memories of love outweigh the grief of loss of your father.
This couple is so sweet! I’m so glad they have each other ❤️
I once had JWs knock up my mother’s door. They asked some question about Christ and I just stared at them and said “Why yes, I read the Bible cover to cover when I was seven and eleven and it says that.” Freaked them out. They didn’t know what to do. So then they offered literature. I put my hand on one woman’s arm and said “Oh honey, I know how much it costs to make those. You should save them for someone who doesn’t study the Bible.
😂Great strategy!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this. Im not married or engaged or committed, but my best friend, a straight man who is so opposite me and didn't try to call me "ex-gay," helped me relearn everything. His care and patience, I get choked up thinking about it. I don't think he realizes it. In a sense, he saved me, and I see how this man's better half did so much for him. Also, going into a church is still VERY triggering for me. So much there. Again, thank you.
I love seeing supportive couples unpacking religious trauma together 💗
I think I have fallen in love with this beautiful couple, Shelise! Rome is so chill, and India is so, so kind and very, very smart (not to mention adorably cute)! Wow, what a great interview! Baby steps, but positive steps. 😊👍💕
I wish - and, yes, pray - for a wonderful, joyful life for them! 💕❤💕
I really, really enjoyed this episode. Firstly, what an inspirational couple! Love is alive and well and it’s amazing to see. Rome seems to have a lot in common with others who’ve left organized religion - critical thinking is so strongly desired. It’s cool to hear he’s making his own rules when it comes to a relationship with his higher power. Lovely couple.
Man keep living your best life. You and your queen are winning
Ex jw here in the 757. I left in 2005. Best decision i ever made.
My husband is muslim, no one ever celebrated hos birthday... But, no one else in the city (in Africa) got it either... Then he married a woman from Denmark, no one celebrated his birthday... He was 35 when we met (he had been divorced for a while at that time) we had been together for 5 months when he got his first birthday and Christmas present... The day before, because then it didn't mean it so much...
We are married now... His birthday is holy for me... Im gonna celebrate the man i love, and he is going to enjoy it 🙈 (last year, I was So sick, so the fancy cake came later...
He respects my relationship with christmas, i try to respect his need to be alone, celebrating and enjoying myself...
I think is sad that people can’t celebrate their own Birthdays. I say this as most of family have passed away. I only have an Uncle. As a child though my Mother made my Birthdays so special. They are a reminder of how special you are in the world. Christmas is a nightmare now as many have their own families. It just reminds me of the people I have lost. Then my relationship ended and it felt like a death or another trauma. My point is imagine leaving a religion just too loose your family and community. I have learned though that there are many unkind people out there and it’s so sad. ❤❤❤ 😊
this video didn't pop up in my notifications for some reason. glad I still found it. =)
Hope you enjoyed it!
Haha I grew up a JW in the tidewater area! I’m sure we know some of the same people. I’m glad y’all made it out!
So regarding your field service, when I was in my late 20's on Saturday morning JV's would come at like 9am to proselytize. I worked late at night and asked them to stop coming so early, and that I wasn't interested anyway. They kept coming. Finally one Saturday morning I got tired of being woken up so I answered them from the balcony above the front door buck ass naked and they didn't come back after that. I laughed a lot and still enjoy the memory of their surprised faces!
I love you guys! Your interview was refreshing to hear and see. I understand all of your experiences as I was also raised in the JWs from birth. Your joy is contagious! Blessings to both of you 🙏
I really enjoyed this episode. Feeling so much love for this couple! I’ll look for his book!
Excellent interview! Thank you.
My sweet cousin is JW. His Mom converted when he was really young and it broke his family apart. His parents divorced. When he was 20 he was hit by a drunk driver and sustained a TBI which caused him to have to live with his Mom his whole adult life. When he had his accident he needed a blood transfusion and his Father gave the hospital permission which caused a permanent rift between him and his Father. He is now in his mid 60's and I wish I could talk to him about the cultishness of JW but I don't and never will, because my relationship with him is too important to me but it makes me sad.. he's happy, though (relatively)so that's what is important. This was a great episode😊♥️
Great Interview. Very inspirational 👍🏽
Ive been disfellowshipped since June 1999. My parents finally cut me off completely last July.
May you find a new family that brings you much love a joy. Peace and love from an internet stranger.
Why did they wait so long? It's horrible that a parent can just do that. I could never stop talking to my kids ..now I am out, it's something I can't wrap my head around the delusional organization
these 2 have so much love for each other. their story was wonderful to listen to. thank you!
This helps me understand the variations in each cult. How they can start so gradually and quickly get so deep. With a million levels between. Had my best friend whose wife joined this cult. And I saw her gradual indoctrination. While he wanted nothing to do with them and didn't try stopping her journey. But they had a young boy and girl that she always wanted to take. And he would let them choose, which made her mad, because they had a very fun father who would take them swimming or whatever they wanted instead. She never got this deep, I'm sure because of him. But she wanted to get deeper and take the kids with her. So I never got to see the depths they can get to until my SPTV indoctrination into their cult.
That man took the best action to keep her from going deeper into it. Trying to force her away from it very well could have pushed her further
@@someoddchick9296exactly. I have lost a friend to it, and she has basically forced all of her kids and grandkids in because if they want her, they have to do it. I fear for the kids because of some truly terrible things I have heard about it. I hope that eventually they will leave.
You should do a video on the Seventh-day Adventist organizatioh. There are people who have left like Miles Christian {Answering Adventism} Richard & Colleen Tinker from Life Assurance Ministries. They exercise a lot of control over their people for example sending kids az young az 12 to boarding academies away from their parents to get "Christian education"
The Seventh-day Adventist church grew out of the same movement that the Jehovah's Witness religion did. Also their "prophetess" Ellen White was cousin to a Mormon and was influenced by Mormon theology and the death of Joseph Smith
Really great interview. How great is India. Her support and understanding was so wonderful to watch.
Such a lovely and inspirational couple. Loved the interview! 😘
I really loved this video. I loved seeing how patience, persistence and understanding was really key to India and Rome developing this really wholesome relationship.
great episode!! so many thanks to Rome & India for sharing your stories with all of us 💚
Wow! What an emotionally evolved and loving couple. I wish all the best for them. This was a wonderful interview!
This was beautiful ! Her level of support toward her husband is completely beautiful and the epitome of love!
This was a great story and thank you for sharing ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great interview
Wow they are an amazing couple. I loved this ❤
I'm so glad for you, Rome, that you reconnected with your dad before he passed! I'm just sorry you lost him so soon. 😥 Hard loss...I lost my daddy too soon, too.
It sounds like he didn't realize that you were *grieving*. Instead he described what he saw as "losing your ambition", but you were probably feeling lost, and wondering how to redefine yourself: "Who am I, now?). I hope that question has been answered by now. For sure, it's a life-long discovery to know ourselves. 😊
India, I'll say it again: you are *_amazing!_* 💕❤💕
Great interview! I know it was Rome's experience, but I LOVE what India said! Not to take anything away from his story. She talked about being patient, and trying to learn more about Jw. Love it! I don't hear a lot about where people are seeking to understand things. I'm so glad they're doing well with all this!
As a former jehovers witness I'm 53 now been out for about my 30ths I still can't do xmass and birthdays I feel sick my mental health suffered terrible I was in a bad way I'm getting better now kinda of 9 meds helped me xx my love to everyone xxx
What an absolutely lovely couple. Im so happy they have eachother. He's so lucky he found her. I know it can be so difficult to deal with someones religous trauma and she seems to really be supportive and like shes really in his corner. They seem like a really special couple. This is definitely one of my favorite interviews so far.
finally hearing from someone who experienced this about the birthday parties...wow...i call such bs...wow that was it. AW~ watching him struggle to explain shows such CPDSD. I am glad he has a good human by his side. TY for all the info.
As a former JW I completely understand this! It is so hard being around relatives other christians who just do not understand my feelings and reactions toward birthdays and holidays… I still find I have no desire to celebrate these holidays and feel pressured to celebrate my birthday. I desire to but it’s still challenging. I believe the JWs stole my joy regarding holidays and birthdays hard to get back !
Great interview... Tancks.. in Spain there are one great problen on AEVTj..
What a wonderful couple! India is amazing for understanding her husband...we could all take a lesson from that alone. I'm glad she understood that church is "triggering" and I'm amazed that they had a meeting with the pastor to explain why they won't be attending anymore. The journey of life is long and to have understanding and patience played out like this couple has is phenomenal ~
I have watched a few of Cults to Consciousness videos and it has been interesting seeing the similarities between blatant cults and religious organizations that have a flavor of cult to them. It is a fine line a lot of mainstream religions walk, Jehovah’s Witnesses being one of them. I wasn’t raised a Witness, my mother decided to wait until I was old enough to make my own decisions about my faith. I thank her for that. She taught me that knowledge is always the best choice and to not blindly follow anyone, her included.
I just want to let everyone know that if you want to get the JW's to stop coming to your house you can notify the Kingdom Hall that you do not want them to come to your home. They have to add your house to the 'do not disturb' list that ALL Kingdom Hall's have. You can tell the person who came to your door, call the Kingdom Hall, or go to the hall itself. You can also specify that you do not want any pamphlets or mail from them. Hope this helps someone!
I’ve tried for years to get them to leave me alone but I get letters once a week. They finally stopped coming to my house when I got nasty & mean with them at the door. They would send people I was close with when I was in to try to get me to come back. I’m not sure if my parents have any part in it or not but I’ve been out 20+ years and even when I move they still find me
Awesome journey!
What a great couple! India is really special. I admire the lengths she went to to try to understand the world he came from.
Min 47:00 deprogramming from cult's.
I was in pretty religious family growing up. I went to church at least couple of times a week if I wanted to or not. The church was the center of our little community. And the reason my parents moved there, and built a home and family. Which was during the 70s in a very different time and way out in the country of mid East GA. And so many cultural bias I grew up with, I even find myself deprogramming from that time throughout my adult life. Couldn't imagine what you've going through, but thanks so much for sharing your story.
✌️❤️
Only a minute in and I love their names!! They sound perfect for each other
As a Christian I just can't wrap my mind around how one person could twist scripture, if a person really loves God they wouldn't take or add to the Bible and weaponize it to manipulate a whole congregation. I enjoyed hearing their story and that he's finally enjoying birthday celebrations and Christmas. I love Christmas! ❤🤌🏿
What an adorable couple! I'm so impressed India was open to bible lessons!!
i always was told why i couldn't celebrate my birthday was that should not put myself before god. That I am worshipping myself
What a strong, great wonderful woman by your side! How understanding!! As an exjdub relationship are hard. I got a good partner as well. Glad you're out of the org
Good morning all!
India, you are so kind and patient with your partner. We can all learn something from you about how to have a committed, successful relationship ❤
Rome and India? Even the names say these people were destined for each other ❤❤❤
I'm right there with you, Rome, about organized religion and "the rules." I had an experience with a fundamentalist-type church from the ages of 12-17, and when I suddenly woke up and left the church I felt like I had escaped a cult. I consider myself spiritual, and I still have my relationship with God. However, any time I go to any church and they get too friendly, and they try to get me involved, I feel the need to run the other way.
I love this couple! They are so cute together and obviously very much in love. ❤
I can’t imagine the sting of your own family refusing to acknowledge you. No loving god would ever do that to a family. Having your parents at odds over religion would’ve been awful especially the more severe JW winning.
It was interesting when talking about No birthdays and celebrations because bad things happen, and the story of John the Baptiste losing his head at a party was mentioned. Shelise, you knew the story as a Mormon and I learnt the story growing up Catholic.
King Herod ordered the beheading after promising Shalome he would give her anything if she danced for him. Shalome’s mother prompted her to ask for this. It had nothing to do with parties, just evil people. I found it interesting that 3 different religions all know the same bible story and the JW’s have made a rule because of them. Men skewing scripture for their own means it seems. As India pointed out, where does it say not to celebrate?
Thank you Shelise, Rome and India for an honest and open dialogue so you can teach us. ❤️
I had an employee who was a JW and I learned a fair bit, went to some meetings etc and I hated all the talk about Armageddon.
I pulled the pin when I saw how she behaved around a couple of my gay friends…..horrendous
That sounds like my grandfather. He was generally nice unless anything lgbtq was present
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20).
You don't have to go to a church building, temple, hall, etc to be with God.
Tbh if i was gonna choose a group of people to live the after math of an apocalypse with, it would be cult survivors... It takes a lot of strength and true self discovery to pull yourself out of these situations. I mean this literally😅 im goofy so this is my analogy because like they said about being able to have your own way of religion its fine if youre still accepting of others. Its all about living as one, comfortably while respecting self made boundaries. 💪
Side note: i feel like i explained that funny so ill be back to reiterate.
Beautiful couple!
I had several members of my family were and still are JW. My mom started reading magazines from the Worldwide Church of God aka WCG with Herbert W. Armstrong. So I grew up in the WCG. Another cult. Not sure if you have ever heard of it. Don’t see anyone talking very much about this cult. Not only that my oldest brother is a Seventh Day Adventist pastor. Many cults in my family. So much control! Thank you so much for what you do to bring awareness for people! 🦋🦋🦋
Hey you two my home town ❤️
What a lovely Couple Thankyou for sharing your story ❤️. As a ex JW when they mentioned Christmas the first time I was left alone to decorate my partners Christmas tree was hilarious I didn't put the lights on and it was like the leaning tower of Pisa I called my friend to help and she couldn't stop laughing and said what have you done to the tree she gladly decorated the tree for me this was before the internet search 🤣.My partner wasn't a JW and he didn't understand why I found birthdays and Christmas and Halloween so hard. My parents were strict JW which I no longer see. I don't know if it's I have no family and that's why I don't get or like Christmas or because I wasn't brought up with it that it doesn't mean anything I don't know.I wish this lovely couple all the best many happy memories together.❤️😊❤️😊❤️
Aww thanks for sharing!😊❤️
I love their names!
They gotta name their first kid ‘Paris’.
"I don't agree with the logistics" is now how i will say i don't want to spend the money 100% of the time
p.s. We are ALL part of the divinity. Some people are awakened and conscious. Others have not awakened yet. I find this concept makes it easier to forgive those who judge us. 💜
Joseph Rutherford aka Judge Rutherford was who succeeded Charles T Russel.
#relationshipgoals amazing couple!
Lovely couple ❤️
Pioneering was 90 hours when I was growing up and 60 hours as auxiliary pioneer.
They’re such a sweet couple! 🥰
This was such an eye opening one. All these groups are abusive, just in different ways.
The denomination known to man as the Church of Christ also uses the term disfellowshipped but I’ve only ever heard of one person who was. They did it because the person was a celebrity and started “speaking in tongues” spouting gibberish when CofC says speaking in tongues means one speaks their own language and everyone else hears it in their mother tongue.
I dj’d a wedding 20 years ago when I was a witness. His brother went. He is disfellowshipped. He had to leave. So mean. It sucked.
That is what we are called to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
27:37 Rome is talking about getting kicked out, or disfellowshipped. And mentions, "weirdly enough I kinda wanted to be disfellowshipped". I don't think it's weird at all. Would love to hear if you could find some professional help guide you through unraveling your first 30 years. So much was put on you that you accepted on faith. Saying how even when you were doing things with friends that was against their rules, you never doubted your beliefs. Beliefs your unraveling now with the wonderful full time help from your partner in life. But someone educated in PTSD could possibly help you through this decades faster. And it might take a while to find the person your comfortable with. But I think it would help speed your recovery. All the best man. Your a very lucky guy. So happy for you and your wife your out and can begin a family if you want. Without the fear of them being indoctrinated. It's the #1 reason couples leave.
✌️❤️
I’ve never been a JW but I feel like was. I’ve gotten the belief system and now the governing body know why that they don’t accept blood transfusions know all about how they handle CSA without the indoctrination or attending meetings.i’ve found the ex JW community very forthcoming and I’m grateful. I set out to learn about the religion and got quite an education.😊