Fear of End Times: Ex-Jehovah's Witness Confessions ft.
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- Опубликовано: 20 ноя 2022
- How to survive the Armageddon. Jake, @altworldly a 4th generation (ex) Jehovah's Witness talks about his childhood, growing up with the fear of annihilation, disfellowship, and what he's doing now to help and advise the community of those who have left the JW church.
Make sure to go to his channel to watch another video collaboration we did on how Jehovah's Witnesses are similar to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
• An ex-Mormon and ex-Je...
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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.*
Being a JW ruined my childhood.
We called our churches a Kimgdom Hall.
I lived in a bubble of fear.
Hope u r ok.
@user-tj1tw8hh8p
Thank you for ur kind comment.
Yes most days I am.
It's a hard life being a JW & being taught to not trust the world. My parents were so busy with their issues & problems as a child I fell thru the cracks left to my own devices ( most times not good).
Currently I'm in therapy again.
Six months ago my dysfunctional ex died suddenly we have 2 millennial adult children as their father he failed them 💔 & broke my heart.
I'm learning how to grieve & let go.
Ty for ur concern it's very much appreciated 😊. Have a good day.
I have never been a JW or a mormon, but my family grew up in a "one person cult" having been raised by a narcissistic sociopathic father, and it's surprising how many parallels I notice, regarding brainwashing and thought stopping techniques. 😖 I am glad you guys are out and talking about your experience. I find them very enlightening and helpful for my own self reflection. My heart goes out to all of you, escaping and healing. ♥️
ahhhh yes the narcissistic cults. I definitely want to do an episode focused on relationship cults within family and couples.Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!
@@CultstoConsciousness I would of course be very interested in that! Have lovely holidays 💛
@@CultstoConsciousnessI feel like that has been my life. Family cult... I am not able to tell my story freely, but I am sure that there are folks who can.
Same.... my mother is a bipolar narcissist and after watching stuff about cults I released my mother wanted to become a cult leader... she even wanted her child (me and my siblings) to help her buy the properties along the road and then block the road off like a commute
@atheris7707 me too. I’m still unpacking it
I was born and raised 2nd generation JW, escaped when I was 18. I’m 37 now and still dealing with mental recovery of the brain washing that has affected me my entire life. To this day I have a hard time with regular life because I was not raised to live in “this world”. I have not recovered yet. My entire family shunned me and labeled me the black sheep when I left at 18, and I didn’t even follow through with being baptized. In my congregation, they would somewhat overlook the egregious error of you leaving if you were not baptized. If you were baptized, you were fully fledged in and I was the only one in my family not baptized. I’ll never forget the day. I lost my entire family because I chose not to be brainwashed anymore. I’ve recovered my sister, our relationship has bloomed. But she has been disfellowshipped, I helped her leave her husband that beat her. The church took his side. My father died, my mother and I have a very strange strained relationship. My brother continues to be in the faith and we barely talk. It’s a mess. I’m a mess. But I’m free of it physically. I now live my own life and make my own decisions, and I’m no longer chained to answering to men who have no business in my personal life. Sadly, this experience has ruined whatever relationship or belief I had in a God and I don’t buy into it after being lied to for the first 18 years of my life. I did a lot of research on a lot of religions, and I now believe that we all have the same core morals and values, and everyone is right, we just tell the story a little differently. I do believe in a higher power, but I do not believe in labels, genders or names.
I'm so sorry that this happened to you, but you made the right decision when you left such an unloving and horrible organisation. It sounds like you might benefit from therapy? I don't know because I'm not you, but are there people you can talk to about your experiences and how you feel? Take care, and be kind to yourself, from Amanda Jones in Australia ❤
@@amandajones6481 Thank you for your kindness! I recently was finally able to get into therapy and it is already helping just a month in, I will be continuing to talk to someone for a while into the future and have started some recovery meetings for co-dependency and love addiction. I will be moving states soon and when I land in my new home I am considering looking into some ex JW meetings also.
@@amandajones6481 sending you love and kindness in return from California. ❤️ Hope this finds you and yours in good health and doing well!
Sorry u went through that in was a jw mental health illness its slow but u can get helping would ask questions all the time even if I wore a suit not skirt got told of 8m aa round hole 8n a square hole there were no young people all old people I mean old I life in a very small town where not many younger around essex clacton-on-sea its hard to more past it x
I grew up JW. It's taken many years to overcome all I was told. I still believe in God. I would like to attend a Catholic church. I hope you can find and make God a part of your life again.
My mother-in-law has told me, on two different occasions, that she didn't expect her kids to reach adulthood, because she and my father-in-law were in a Christian group in the 70s-80s that was teaching that the End Times were just around the corner.... So of course they didn't worry about saving for retirement....and of course, she didn't expect to have to raise her 6 kids to adulthood because they were all going be taken straight to Heaven while her kids were still children. This aspect of "teachings" from various Christian etc. groups is MONUMENTALLY harmful to people. I'm glad you guys talked about it!! Thank you 💖
Woah! That just blows my mind. Thanks for sharing!!
I was raised SDA (from the same roots as JH), I was always bummed that I probably wouldn't get a normal adulthood because God would probably come back first.
I was in the jws I was 11yrs old left at 30ish I'm 52 my mental health is terrible i cant do xmass and or birthdays and other holidays I first tryed taking my life i was 14yrs older I'm 52 now but now I'm doing ok I'm getting help 😢there's more but you know 😢
@@user-tj1tw8hh8p I just want to reach out and hug you. I have had a similar experience, not trying to take my life, but major self sabotage and/or not even trying at all. Just know you are love and are loved.
Raised in the Assemblies of God here and can relate 1000%. On top of believing that the End would come before I even made it to middle school, I was always afraid of being "left behind" and then persecuted in the "Tribulation."
“I don’t want to serve a god like that”
That is exactly what I’ve told myself anytime things got scary. Thanks for the video. ❤
The thing is, GOD isn't like that.
@@nobodysbaby5048 You don't know what GOD is like..... God is contradictory, ESPECIALLY in the Bible. Jesus's version of God is different then old testament God.
@@jessigirlrae1688this is what’s so confusing and part of why I can’t understand how many Christians can just go about their lives not wondering anything. I was raised Christian and while I don’t really consider myself one in a religious sense anymore I do still have faith that I can’t seem to shake or get rid of no matter how hard I try. I like believing in God and I like the God that Jesus represents/reveals because that God is love and what’s most important is that we accept that love and reflect it onto other people.
Im kind of ok being stuck believing that too because I feel like it’s not hurting anyone, for me to believe that im called to love others and myself as well and that love comes above all else.
But then the Old Testament is just terrifying and depending on how you look at it, it’s possible to see only a god of rage and judgement who supports racism and genocide. To be honest even the New Testament after Jesus even contradicts him. I don’t really like Paul, for instance. He’s very judgmental and I see him as misogynistic as well.
So it’s very hard not to acknowledge that men wrote the Bible, men translated the Bible, men chose to represent what we see is God in what way would suit their agenda, and then men told us God wrote it. Idk, honestly. It’s so confusing
A childhood friend of mine died at a young age because blood transfusion was not allowed. at that time we werent friends anymore (no specific reasons), but I still found it shocking and it made me dive into this subject more because I wanted to understand how that could happen... you know... parents letting their children die for a beflief system. And yeah, I kinda blame then.
JWs don't fully believe in being washed clean in the Blood sacrifice of the Messiah
I was raised a JW from the age of 4 when my mother was recruited by 2 witnesses at our door who ended up abusing my sister and I. My mother never believed us even when she was called to my kindergarten by the teacher who I had told I was being locked in a closet. My mother said I was making up stories. I started questioning things very early on and was given the "we believe these things bc Jehovah says we must" and "Jehovah can do anything". As I got older I even wrote to the GB eith my questions and received no answers. At age 14 I came home from school to all the elders sitting on our couch wanting to discuss my worldly behavior. I told them to f@ck off and all my clothes were thrown out of the house in trash bags and I was on my own. At 14 years old. Fast forward 35 years and I have never looked back. Both of my sisters and my stepbrother are also not baptised and my sisters consider themselves as traumatized as me. It really does ruin your childhood and making living nornal life very difficult. We had no joy and lived in fear of demons and Armageddon. I'll never forget being full on shunned at age 10 when my mother was disassociated. As kids we were punished along with her and it was traumatic. My mother died recently and it was a horrible process...she very nearly died 3 years ago when she hemorraged during a routine surgery and was in a coma bc she refused blood due to the JW blood policy. The elders and even the circuit overseer hovered at the hospital to make sure we did not get a court order to save her life with a blood transfusion. I had some not so nice words with them. She pulled through physically but was never the same...she had brain damage from the lack of oxygen to her brain and was dx with dementia. At her funeral, the elders wanted to take control and speak and we denied them that ability but of course they showed up and an elders wife got up and spoke along with another sister. My relationship with my mother was very strained and I carry a lot of anger and resentment about her decision to join what I consider a cult and shove it down my throat my entire childhood. My youngest sister had a friend who was molested by an elder and they stalked my sister bc she was threatening to talk and they wanted her to keep quiet. There has been formal charges made in that case but the elder is still active in the KH. My sister is agoraphobic largely from her trauma from this cult. I am so glad there is now support groups and channels like this to help those attempting to escape bc its not easy. There is a lot of guilt and shame and you lose all belief in God and religion as a whole. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with this trauma and I would not wish the experience of being a witness child on anyone.
I have made it clear to the local KH where I now live in a different state than I was raosed that if they set foot on my property again they will be reported to the police for tresoand harrassment and I've even filled out Google reviews on the local KH. Its a very powerful and corrupt organization that should be reocognized as the cult that it is. There are many well meaning good people brainwashed and indoctrinated into being controlled.
And they target vulnerable society members in an organized way...they will even train members to speak different languages and then go after those people in the community who are new immigrants bc they know they will geel lonely and how nice it is to find ppl who speak their languages. My Mom learned sign language through the KH for exactly that reason...to recruit a deaf woman! They go after lonely, greiving, elderly and disabled people as well. It's disgusting. And
some of the beliefs they have...would blow your mind. It's amazimg how similar our experiences as ex witnesses are.
Thank for sharing your experience.
What does the KH stand for. You have to remember many folks watching and reading comments are not of the cults they are discussing. Thank you.
The light dawned…..the Kingdom Hall!
I'm so sorry for you. You deserve better.
@@patbeutler354Sorry, I do forget not everyone is as programmed as we have been. KH is yes, Kindom Hall. GB is the Governing Body.
Thank you for sharing your perspective on receiving blood products. I have worked with Hospital Liaison Committees and it was nice to hear your perspective and experience. Unfortunately, I've also watched patients pass due to refusal of blood products.
In a weird irony, a lot of the best data in transfusion medicine is from studying Jehovah's Witnesses. Denying products to test safe thresholds would be unethical but because a population self restricts, we have studied to find thresholds that we use for all patients in the hospital. Transfusions always carry some risk and being better able to identify a safe target is beneficial for everyone.
A sad irony...
I didn't plan for my future because my grandmother convinced me the world would end before I grew up. Now I'm poor AF.
Ugh! So frustrating! Hope you can turn it around *hugs*
I was dragged into JW's as a 7 year old child by my best friend's mom. It's a bait and switch con. First they entice you with all of the images and stories of paradise on earth. Then they switch to terror of Armageddon and everything you have to do to try to make sure God will save you. My best friend was always told she would live in paradise, while her mom showed me scriptures about the blood and urine being up to the horse's bridles at Armageddon because of the blood from slaughter and people peeing out of fear. She never showed her own daughter those scriptures.
Finally I had an emotional break down at age 11 when I realized there was no way to survive Armageddon with the massive rules JW's wanted me to follow as an 11 year old whose parents weren't in the religion. I remember that I was at my best friend's house, and my friend's mom was telling my mom that only people with a "good heart condition" would survive Armageddon. In that moment, it was the same as if armed robbers had broken into the house and held a gun to my head. My arms and legs went numb and a dark depression hit me and didn't leave until after I finally started to get out in my late teens/early 20's. My friend's mom had told me she expected me to confront my parents and demand that I go to every meeting at the Kingdom Hall at age 10, just like Jesus went where he wanted at the Jubilee regardless of his parents' opinions when he was 12. Eventually my mom joined, but in order to make sure she wasn't "stumbled" I couldn't tell her anything about my terror and distress or she would die at Armageddon and not become a JW.
The religion terrorizes children in particular, with images of puppies and babies falling into chasms during Armageddon because "When you find a nest of poisonous snakes you kill the babies as well as the parents" according to JW's. It's sick, they destroyed my childhood and I wish I could sue that evil organization for what they did to me when I had no say in it.
As a heathen Pegan witch, when he was talking about praying to be open, and being pulled away…that to me is the higher self, the part of us that is connected to whatever is out there, doing just that. He asked to be opened and he was.
Merry Meet, fellow Pagan/Witch! I lean toward Celtic/Native American belief and my husband is a Norse Pagan. I was made to attend church as a child and never liked it. As I got older I explored many, many different Christian sects - the last being the Witnesses. I have had psychic/spiritual experiences since childhood. My ancestors were Pagan, and I believe the called to me to walk the Old Path. I cannot deal with the christian concept that EVERYTHING is "demonic". It's especially prevalent in the Witnesses. They expect you to see no movies, read no books, listen to no music that isn't a JW product. I could elaborate on what a paranoia-inducing, depressing experience being with the Witnesses was but I don't want to write a novel.
What I will say is that the day I handed my letter of disassociation to the elders was the greatest feeling of freedom I've ever had - even more than divorce from a bad marriage. I am now in my Cronehood, and walking the Old Path is the most comforting and joyful spirituality I've ever experienced. The combination of things I have experienced and seen with my own eyes leaves no doubt in my mind about what happens after corporeal death. And in life, we appreciate and enjoy all that the Goddess and God have given. I'm not specifically Wiccan but I do follow the Wiccan Rede - "An ye do no harm, do as thou wilt." Knowing that we are not separate from Nature but rather a part of it - and the Universe - I find allows me to maintain humility, and thus continue to improve spiritually. Of course there is no end to spiritual evolution, so long as my corporeal self exist I will continue to learn what I can in this stage of existence. When my energy leaves this form, I will know and learn so many new things! I do not fear crossing the veil However I'm in no hurry either lol. At 67 I still have some years to enjoy the beauty of this world.
Goddess Give Bright Blessings to you and yours! )O(
This was a fantastic conversation between 2 people who obviously have a lot of compassion both for people still in high-control religions as well as those (like themselves) who have left those worlds behind.
Thank you so much Deec! I really appreciate your kind words
Cult to Consciousness: 'The people that deconstruct are the ones that are the most faithful, because they're the ones that are following all the rules, they're the ones that are doing the most research, praying, reading the scriptures, everything that they can do and they're the ones that find the issues with the doctrine.'
Truer words have never been said!!
🙏 thank you John!
My childhood friends were JW's and they constantly lied and still do. I asked another former JW why this is and he told me because the elders and WatchTower writers are always changing the narrative of belief. This to me made so much sense! Of course they lie...because their religious leaders lie. It doesn't make it any easier to have a relationship with them but it finally made sense as to why they couldn't help but tell falsehoods~
Studying JWs (as a cult), helped me get out of mormonism! If you haven't already read them, I highly recommend two personal account books by women ex-Witnesses that I found to be super interesting: Leaving the Witness by Amber Scorah, and Shunned by Linda A. Curtis.
Both great books. Just finishing Amber's book now.
@Laycle
Where are these books available??
@@robertgrey6101 Everywhere books are sold! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this, Laycie! I'll have to add them to my list!
I want to encourage women to write, to lead, to speak. We were suppressed. Former elders often still seek control. No! We can speak. We can lead. Teach. Write. Patriarchal crap should be rebuffed. So tired of Witness men mansplaining. It frees both genders.
The only proper exposure I've had to JWs was a kid in my class in elementary school who had to be taken out of the room or school during any holiday activities. Every kiddo got a birthday party hosted by their teacher except him.
aww that's so sad :(
That's traumatizing...
I'm reminded of a pastor I had, whose favorite line was "Touch not God's Annointed ". Which was basically a warning of, don't question the Pastor's behavior/actions.
I am a 5th generation Seventh Day Adventist who left about a decade ago, and I am astonished at how that organization has basically flown under the radar. This is a cult that was developed in the U.S. at around the same time as the Mormons and the JWs and has their own prophet. The SDAs have their own schools and enclaves. Anyway, I think the SDA church is worth looking into. I know I was traumatized by my experience as were many of my friends.
I would definitely like to see some episodes about SDA. When I first found her channel recently I actually looked to see if she had any because I thought it would be interesting because I feel like it's still so secret compared to other cults or religions. I've done the basic research about it bit I'd love to hear from someone that was actually in it.
My only uncle has always been absentee from our family and I’ve always tried to figure out why. A few years ago my mom told me that he is a JW and now that I’m learning more about the religion it’s all starting to make sense. Thanks for these videos ❤
Shelise, you are an awesome interviewer! You engage with the guest, actively listen, validate their feelings and ask them to expand on their logic and emotions. Great job!
Aww you made my day! Thank you so much! 🥰
I second this. You were born to do this. I worked as a newspaper reporter for a year and learned just how much goes into conducting a good interview and she really has it down seamlessly.
I understand, I was told the same thing since I was born. When I turned 18, I just realized I would rather die than live like this, having to spend all your free time for the watchtower. So no, and that's what I said to my family. I am one of the lucky few that their family didn't shun them. But then I was never baptized. Anyhow, I totally get it !
My mom kept me from baptism at 10. She said Jesus waited until 30. Saved me!
That’s exactly what o told my parents. I’d rather just pass away here having done what I want to do than live forever in Lala land
I wasn't baptised as a jw and left when I was 16. My family doesn't shun me but the relationship is strained, because I've never felt good enough, As a jw and as a worldly person.
Extreme readings of religions and high-control cults are only going to become more common as the economy and environment get worse. This work is so important, thank you both.
46:10 This is how I came to my decision. Sister told me I'll get what I deserve and I knew she didn't know anything, only Jehovah.
Jake, Don't give up on college! I decided to go at 40 and it's one of the best things I've done!
Ex JW here. Just starting the process of getting my story out there. Mega trauma but I raised 14+ kids to question EVERYTHING. Building a toolbox of self designed tools to break generational trauma.
Just watched the other half at Jake’s channel. What an encouraging listen. Thank you for both of your experiences.
Thank you, Michael! I really appreciate your kind words and support
I used to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I would have so many questions but was too scared to ask them. I was taught to rely and trust the elders/ shepherds of the congregation, yet they were the ones that did diabolical things to me! It truly was built on fear 😔
Not only do you have to be in good standing for your own salvation, but you must be in good standing to save your unbaptised underage children or dependants. If you aren't in good standing and faithful then your children won't be saved or be in paradise.
Hi Leah! Yes! I totally forgot about this rule. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, there's a long history of god making the offspring pay for the sins of the parents. :)
@@Eric_01yeah, I’m not a fan. I’m not sure why humans believe that’s a thing the creator of all the universe would do?
What I remember was that after Armageddon and earthly paradise comes, Satan, who's been in a pit for 1000 years will be let loose and there'll be a second trial. The 144,000 will judge everyone along with God during that 1000 years. I've been out for 20 years so I'm probably misremembering it.
I was raised fundamentalist Baptist and their tactics about endtimes are very much the same. When I learned of this when I was a child, I worried all the time. Finally my dear Mother told me to quit thinking about it but I couldn't stop. When the sermons got to violent, she took me to the restroom and gave me a Bible to consinate on usually the beautiful Paslms. But it just didn't make sense! Why go to school. Why make friends or good grades. It scared me constantly. 😢
Right I was so scared I was not going to make it past 15
I'll never forget the time two JW showed up at my door while I was in college and their pitch was: "Politics are of Satan, you should withdraw from society, and this is the one true religion"... I replied, "I think you've come to the wrong place, I'm a political science major and middle eastern studies minor", and he just went "oh" 😅 In the end he asked if they could send someone else because I think he got frustrated discussing with me... I was like "sure, send them my way"... needless to say they never did 😅
I wasn’t raised a Jehovah’s Witness but my mom is a convert. We still talk but half the time we talk she brings up Armageddon or starts trying to proselytize to my sister and I. Its interesting to see what is going behind the curtain without stepping foot into it.
Yes! Very very interesting. Perspective is everything
Loved Jake's comparison of Jehovah to a toxic psycho. Even if he was real, why should we serve him?
Really enjoyed learning about your stories and perspectives. Much love from an ex megachurch evangelical
Thanks for tuning in!! Yes, such a good comparison
I don't blame YHWH for what selfish, flawed men do.
@@nobodysbaby5048 That's completely fair not to. However there are many things outside of the evil actions of humans which indicate that if a god exists, they are not a compassionate one.
This includes Jake's point at 1:03:21 referring to the system established by the Christian God for humans to reach heaven. You must be told about the gospel by other people and believe in the one correct variation of one correct religion out of all the variations of all religions that you're also told about by other people. If you don't you're sent to suffer eternally or perish.
Also things like painful, terminal cancer in children cannot be attributed to the actions of humans.
@@Penjolin There's a lot of opinion in what you say. I believe this thing, "GOD is love". And most of the pain & misery on this earth that I've seen has been caused by humans. But, it's America, you are certainly entitled to your opinion.
Thank you! You named so many issues that I went through in my church.
I just got done watching Jake’s video with you, glad to see there’s more! You did a great job, I really enjoyed your guys’ discussion over there and I’ll be listening to this one when I can (:
Hi John! Thank you so much! That means a lot. Hope you equally enjoy this one as well :)
Such a fantastic discussion and interview! ! Jake is so articulate and you both break things down so well. I wish more JWs, Mormons, etc, etc could get out of the F O G ! ! FeaR ObliGaTioN & GUILT
Ooooh! I LOVE that! FOG! I'm totally gonna try to remember that and bring it up on another episode. Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, Jake is awesome and this was our first collab but not the last!
I'd rather go to hell
I really like your FOG acronym. It’s so accurate; all those things loomed over and surrounded me until I left the church and honestly I feel “closer to God” and healthier in my faith (and mentally in general) now that I’ve learned that having belief can exist outside of the trappings and control of religion .
I've been subbed to Jake already for a while and found your other discussion on his channel interesting and subbed on your channel too. I have also JW background and I am out of it already for bit over 30 years, but I never had such thoughts as Jake had at the time of his hospitalization, once I notified the elders in my congregation I felt so relieved and peace with myself.
I love that you point out the you aren’t supposed to question aspect. My sister always tried to say questions were encouraged but when I asked questions it was the worst thing. It finally reached the point where we just never speak about anything important
I’m so glad you guys are having this conversation. For realz, I have had so many good Mormon friends as an x jw kid and even now. Cuz they are so similar
Watching these videos honestly gives me a lot of relief in that as a person who IS religious, that I'm in something that is healthy rather than damaging. I mean...it may seem small but just reflecting on how I was always encouraged to learn as much as I wanted about things like history and science is very heartening. My parents are religious too but that fact that they were always about informing themselves and letting me be informed within reason (there IS a such thing as age appropriateness!) was a huge positive influence on me. 🙂
It’s just wild because society at large still denies the parallels of these stories you’re sharing about religious extremism and cult mentality within JW & Mormonism to mainstream Christianity or other popular religions. There is truly no difference. Listening to your anecdotes, I can literally apply it directly to my experience growing up in the Christian church as a pastor’s kid, and the extremist beliefs my entire family still maintains to this day…
Yeah it's wild to me how people don't see this too. It may be different to people that live in other parts of the world or other parts of the United States but is especially present here in the south. Even the standard Baptist or non-denominational churches teach these same kinds of end of days scenarios.
Watching stuff like this on this channel is really eye opening and I'm glad to have such access to knowledge that will help me introduce my children to God and my beliefs in a healthy way, and not forget to make sure they know they don't have to feel the same as i do. God should be love not control. Too many forget that. Shalom.
I love that you’re willing to approach it in a loving and accepting way! Kudos to you!
I wasn't a Jehova's Witness or a Mormon, but I was raised in a Southern Baptist home. My wife is the Disfellowshipped one. But, I remember when I was questioning about how things worked, the Pastor's answer was "do you really need to know how everything works?"
Such a thought-stopping response from your pastor. Drives me crazy.
Only 10 minutes into the video but everything this man is saying I relate to so much..... like..... it's crazy. I've never had the words in my head be vocalized so well. Great video so far.
So happy to hear that!
Nice, I didn't know about this wonderful woman ❤️ ♥️ 😍 I am a subscriber now!!😊😉
Awww Natasha! You made my week!
I really enjoyed your commentary with Jake. I was DFed when I was 15 and kicked out at 16. It's scary to get untrapped
Thanks for listening Kierstyn! Yes it is
Its like years of therapy rolled into an hour and a half long video. Thank you. love and light. keep up the good work, your healing souls..
Aww thank you so much! That means a lot!
Fascinating learning!
Oh man this makes me want to go rewatch Jake’s judicial
Committee audio.
This channel is going to grow quickly! I love this collaboration with Altworldly!
Aww that made my day! Thank you so much!
Thank you both for this. Especially the last bit Jake where you said your mixed faith marriage can work. With a wife who is JW (physically out but mentally in; mostly due to shame) and myself never being one there have been many hard conversations. Doctrine is tough to discuss when she's been taught to disregard outside sources which equal logical reasonings of things most times. So thank you again for that reassurance.
Use the Bible when you speak w her.
This was awesome! I’m disfellowshipped. X jw. It took me a few years to realize it’s all bs and that I would never go back. My head is still fd up from 27 years in. I realized recently that most of my problems stem from being in that cult.
You guys should do a video where you compare themes across JW and Mormon theology using their pictures, imagery, videos etc. Would be interesting.
Reminds me of how for some, it's wished your loved ones die before Armageddon so God will resurrect them, since you know there's no chance they'll convert.
Hi! Yes we actually plan to do that. Swap propaganda videos and share the similarities between them.
Yes! When I lived in portland, there was a man who murdered his wife and kids because he thought he was doing them a favor and "saving their souls". he was JW. There are also stories similar in mormonism. Read the book or watch the tv show "under the banner of heaven". True Mormon murder story.
@@CultstoConsciousness I did read that book awhile back. It's nuts. I applaud your bravery!
This is a good idea.
really enjoyed both of your talks, i'm ex-catholic but i do have OCD, and moral scrupulosity is a big part of mine. it's wild to hear these more like culturally-imposed versions of the thoughts that are in my head; obsessing over social perception, never being good enough, imagining catastrophe and feeling like there are a set of things you need to do to prevent it for yourself/your family, doubts on doubts on doubts. i can't imagine how awful it is for ppl who have religious OCD AND are in one of these high-control/demand groups, probably hearing the opposite of what they need and being told to distrust those who can actually offer help.
Hi Larkin! Thanks for sharing!
Came across you on Mythvision a week or two ago as I was interested in learning the parallels between Mormons and JWs, and happy to see Jake as one of your guests. Great channel and great info! - former JW elder
Thank you David! Welcome to C2C! 😁 #apostatesunite
In the 60s the JWs predicted A-day would occur in 1975. The year came and no Armageddon. Yet many JWs still stuck around.
This is a great episode. I knew some stuff about Jehovah’s Witnesses before like I knew they didn’t accept blood transfusions and that they did door to door ministry their whole lives but I had no idea it was so much of a doomsday cult. Very disturbing, and sad that children within the group are being brought up to believe they have no future. That’s just awful.
I'm subscribing cuz I saw you on his channel yesterday and I was just so impressed with you and your honesty. It's good to see people that haven't given up on God, even though y'all have been through so much. Truth shall set us free.
Thanks for subbing! I appreciate it!
I relate to the brainwashing and fear around Armageddon. Religious trauma and the cptsd that goes along with it really sucks.
I was a mother in my 30's, still having nightmares about being unprepared at the Second Coming.
So sorry about that, Persephone! I can only imagine
I agree! In my episode with Logan, a certified trauma informed therapist, we go into cptsd and ways to help heal
exjw here too, thank you for sharing your journey. I left in my late teens after getting my first flat. I knew I no longer believed and disassociated myself. 2O years later im still deprogramming myself. Peoples stories really help.
Y’all’s talks are great. I married a post Mormon and studied with a JW couple for 3 years ( never had intentions of joining. But loved learning ). Can’t wait to have my wife listen. Great idea for Mormons to listen to post JW content and JW’s listen to post Mormon content.
Hi Clay! Thanks for listening! Yes, it is SO easy to recognize cult tactics in groups other than the one you were raised or indoctrinated in.
This is really interesting. My dad's an ex-Witness, and he literally doesn't talk about it. I don't think his family was as hard core as some of the examples, since I did see his parents after he was kicked out of the church, but not often, and there was some underlying stuff I didn't notice until I grew up.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for watching!
I'm so glad he mentioned his wife. I was curious during the whole video if his wife was still a believer. Your videos are very eye opening.
Thank you!
I’m still surprised Jake’s wife still not awake.
She could be PIMO and he's just not selling her out. Maybe. I can't imagine she'd still be honestly faithful while he's running an apostate YT channel in the next room.
Sadly, especially for those born into the Jehovah’s Witnesses-Defying the Watchtower Society is way too world shattering for many folks. When your entire religious consciousness (which is your life) is focused on surviving Armageddon-Facts often cannot conquer fear.
Loss of family, kinship bonds, friends, and lastly eternal life-Is too much to overcome. The emotional and survival circuitry is hardwired in the formative years. It becomes part of a child and finally an adult’s being.
It’s not like that for converts.
(If only the membership knew they’re slaved to a Publishing company
@@richlisola1 I guess the best cure for cultists of any cults, is to take back the ability to think, and to have enough time to process the world shattering information.
Hopefully Jake’s wife will wake up soon.
I think she is, but she just doesn’t wanna move on it just yet. She’s awake, she just doesn’t know it yet
Are you familiar with the cultish program on RUclips? They have a few episodes about LDS and the JW.
A note on how not to question things and to doubt your doubts
Not only is it dangerous for the person, but its very damaging for people close to them.
I'm not Jehovah's witness, but I grew up in my grandparents home, and my grandmother is Jehovah's witness.
She has said many many many life altering things to me on the basis that she is right, true and knows better
So it's a double edged sword
Totally know what he means about him looking up stuff about ex Mormons, and it helped because it didn't have the same triggering effect as the ex JW stuff he came from. This is what I did looking into the scientology cult. It was similar to my experience but way different terminology and such that gave it a distance from what was triggering me about my past trauma.
yes! and its so much easier to recognize the obvious red flags in other organizations
thanks, great interview
Thanks, Luke!
I live very close and in surrounding areas of where he is speaking of in NY my family is also part of this cult...i was lucky that my father was not involved as his mother and sisters are...i did Bible study as a child but he never pushed it on his kids...sad to see what I know is a cult capture my family and friends being that I know so many! Love this channel keep the good content coming!
Shelise thank you for this video. 👍 you are a beautiful person, calm, loving, without any judgment. I hope your channel will grow and reach many people. I have talked many times with Mormons in France as a JW, I even red the BOM at that time and I found it a little weird. It was like reading a new prequel of the Old Testament😅 ... but with some inconsistencies. Once we were two JWs preaching in the street and dressed exactly like Mormons (White shirt / tire / black pants), and two Mormons came to us and they said "Waow. you are .... like us !" then we all laughed. I asked them how their preaching was doing, and they said "oh it is good, people are fine", and we said to each others something like : "have a good preaching !" (sorry for my english). It was a really strange but pleasant situation. They seemed sympathetic. I was a pioneer, preaching all day long in the streets and one of them was always asking me a few Watchtower magazines in front of his friends. I found that very courageous. This is the time I began to ask myself why they were going door-to-door like us, because we were supposed to be the only religion to do it, and then I made my research about the LDS, and then about my own religion 😬
Ouaille, thank you SO much for your kind words! *blushing* Glad you were able to do your research and find out your truth
@@CultstoConsciousness 🤗thank you !
Thanks Jake for your story. I’m finally done with the crazy JWs. My husband is out now also. Such a long and hard thing to go thru. Hearing other peoples stories thru RUclips has been lifesaving.
Hi Pat! Thank you for being here and being open to hearing these stories in the first place. I know first hand that It's not always easy.
Agree! I’m out now too, as well as my husband. It’s hard, though! Welcome to the other side!
Just watched the other half on Jakes channel. I’m an ex-JW and it’s amazing the similarities with Mormonism, besides door knocking and both originated by men who grew up in the burned over district.
Very helpful insights from both cults. It did make me laugh imagining all the JWs seeing the Mormons flying through the sky at Armageddon.
This made me crack up 😂😂
I really resonate with the bit about God reading hearts. The way I look at it, if you are a good person trying your best to find the right way and God is good then He wouldn't do something that's permanently awful to you and if God is not good how do you know He's going to keep His promise that if you do all the rules etc you will be safe anyway, so you just have to go with what you believe to be right
That’s a great conclusion! Thanks for sharing. I agree with you.
It’s deeply sad that folks who open up to the world are shunned by their families in the same exact way that transgender and queer people sometimes are. I’m sorry that you two probably had to live through that, but remember how important found family is, too 💙
you are right!
"By their fruits you will recognize them." That's my guide now. You can't believe what people say, but you can sure believe what they do
@@nobodysbaby5048I love that you brought up this verse because so often people use it to oppress others and keep them in the ‘works based salvation’ cult. For them the “fruits” are acts of obedience and dedication to the cult. However I see it as meaning that what you believe is shown through your actions, so if you believe that God is love and you are to love others then those fruits will actually be acts of kindness, helpfulness, caring and uplifting your fellow humans.
when i was 5-7 years old, my mother was a part of JW as my secondary grandmother was an elder there. my mother got out very quick, but my childhood memories from the JW gatherings are the ones which are the most bright from these years
I really enjoyed listening to both videos. Looking forward to exploring your channel more. And I would definitely love to see exLDS reacts to JW propaganda and an exJW reacts to LDS propaganda videos with the two of you, I think that would be really interesting.
Hi Suzanne! Thanks for being here! Yes, we will for sure do that!
I'm coming to this video as a post evangelical, and I must say that a lot of this stuff resonates with me as well.
I love hearing it can reach people across multiple faiths and backgrounds
I've been sexually abused as a child by an older child. He lived with his elderly dad, while his mom divorced his dad and joined JW. After remembering these memories just a year ago, I went down a rabbit hole if his mother joining JW's had anything to do with this boy molesting me.
While this video is a safe space for ex-cult members, and has nothing to do with my personal story, it gives me the insight that we all have a certain trauma to unravel and deal with. I wish everyone lots of healing and thank you for this content.
As an ex JW I became aware that not only did I need to change or unwind at my entire world view. One really amazing resource is a book called “when God had a wife” it’s amazing comprehensive work and very academicly presented. And just might change any modern humans worldview.
Amazing how much fear there is in religion.
The JW's 'tribulation-swat-team-coming-in-to-getcha' reads like some victim/last-stand-fantasy fanfic, just amazing
totally
good informative interview well done
Thank you!
Oh my goodness, Jake!! Hearing you describe the great tribulation hahahaha. It’s crazy how we believed these things
To me its easier to believe than the other church's teaching well live forever burning in hell.think about it.Hell fire is a doctrine of demons.God said we die,not live eternal in he'll fire.
We all did our best with the information (and programming) we had, right? haha
@@babyblu76 I'm getting some mixed messages from that. Curious what you're actually subscribing to there.
@@babyblu76 All Christians don't believe you're burning Forever in Hell.
When it's symbolic of God's judgment and the Lake of fire is for Satan and his fallen angels NOT humans.
You can't have outer darkness with a raging Fire going on !
I grew up in the bible belt, stopped believing in Christianity at 16. What did it for me was the idea of hell, especially that I had to believe that good people go to hell and burn for eternity if they don't believe in Jesus. I couldn't swallow that, and I'm glad I couldn't. It's a really judgmental, psychologically harmful thing to go around believing.
absolutely!! couldn't agree more, Lincoln!
@@CultstoConsciousness Thanks for the reply! I've been watching a few of your videos and find them really thought-provoking. It takes me back to my teenage years where i grew up in a very religious area and gives me a lot more understanding of the psychology of the people that I grew up with. There's a definite similarity with evangelical christians. And I feel lucky that I never was able to buy in no matter how much i wanted to at times and even though it left me as kind of an outsider.
When your disfellowshipped, you can say no one knows why... But that's really not true because of family members that say why & then the gossip goes crazy. Everybody knows why! My family never cut me off, I've been disfellowshipped twice & they still talk to me.
I haven’t watched the whole video and I will, but before I continue, I wanted to say that I used to be a JW. And I truly believe that I have blocked a lot of it from my mind as I don’t hold fond memories of my childhood and I don’t have fond memories of JWs. To this day, I struggle with religion, even tho I believe in God, but I struggle finding my place in any church. I believe a lot of that has to do with me growing up in the JWs. Also, I’ve had a lot of mental health issues since I was younger and the more and more I think about it, the more I believe that the JWs really messed up my mental health. Definitely appreciate this being spoken about and brought to light. I feel like this needs to be more exposed!
Hi Jeisse! I’m sorry you had to go through that. Thanks for watching. Wishing you the best!
I watched this video in parts cuz my short attention span, but wanted to say that I really enjoyed it, you are a very good interviewer & you have great perception.
I appreciate that! thanks so much!
I was also 4th generation, my great grandfather was a presiding overseer over the bethel congregation in Germiston. I then woke up and now have a OF account, they stole my whole life and the resentment effects every decision I make being out of it even years later!
I feel you, Natasha! Keep doing you and if OF makes you happy and rich, more power to you! ;)
You're not the only one, ex-JW being on OF.
@@Eric_01 I can imagine it’s because they make it so difficult to survive without a proper education and no experience in competing , you have nothing behind you to get very far in terms of employment ect. It’s very upsetting. Especially when people leave bethel and cant take care of themselves and what does bethel do ? Pray to Jehovah, that’s their advice 🤬
@@natashakyraleblanc That makes perfect sense. Good point.
@@natashakyraleblanc what does OF mean?
I just love your soul and Aura. Keep being you, you should always be able to be who you are unless you want to hurt others or do things to kids that should never be done. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
When my husband was stationed in Fallon Nevada in 1988 the JWs descended like flies as soon as a new family moved in to town. They're so nice. They bring food and housewares and love. They know a lot of us were missing home. I was lonely for my mom. The women would come over in a group and bring stuff from their gardens. We'd sit and shell peas and talk about stuff. I didn't even know they were JWs at first. That's by design. Within a month they started talking about the meeting house, then they'd leave Watchtowers in the food baskets. I assumed one of them might be JW. I was a Methodist and I loved learning about the Bible so to me it was nice to have someone to talk to even if they had some different interpretations.
Then things started getting weird when I got pregnant. Their attentions really started becoming oppressive. One woman mentioned how the elders name the children. I was not interested in anyone else picking my child's name so that put me off a little. Then the whole thing about the blood transfusions. They gave me a Watchtower specifically about how godly and faithful this woman was for refusing a transfusion and ended up spending 10 months in a hospital after hemorraging during childbirth. They made her out to be some kind of hero but all I could think of if she'd just accepted that transfusion she'd have been out in a week and that baby would have had their mama all along.
The real hook was my husband though. The kind older men who gave him attention really impressed him. He had a deeply troubled childhood and no father figures. These guys made him feel loved. And that's how they got us. I don't know if they're all like this or we had a spicy variety, but in the end I had to leave my husband and go back home just to get away from them. It got scary. And as they noticed I had no interest in joining them, they started introducing my husband to other young women in their group. So he barely noticed his pregnant wife left him. And I never looked back.
I find the information from these rather interesting. I, myself, have been part of the LDS faith since birth, but have left for various reasons. The constant commitment to attend a long, droning meetings every week felt meaningless to me. And their rituals, or ordinances, felt soulless and hollow when I attempted to participate or listen intently as they asked us to do. This and so many other things that made me feel I needed to stop going. Once I stopped, I noticed I had more time for other things, I felt happier, I was able to accomplish more, met and married my wife (who isn't a member of any church), and be more of myself.
On that note, I wanted to mention something that came up within the video while watching it. For the comment in the video about Disfellowshipped and Excommunicated from the Mormon or LDS faith, there actually is a distinct difference between the two. I have been on a mission for the LDS faith and held positions close to the local bishopric where I was able to skim some of their handbooks for information. From the information I can recall, being disfellowshipped means that you are still a member of the church, but asked to refrain from the "sacred" ordinances until you have completed your repentance process, with which you would work with your local bishop or stake president. Being excommunicated means that your name and records are removed from the church and you would have to complete the repentance process as well as redo many of the things that converted/new members need to do to return and join again. This includes going through the missionary lessons with the local missionaries. It is awfully sad either way you look at it.
Thanks for letting me know!!
Geeze, I so hated those stupid meetings when I was a child. It never got any better as I got older, either. The only thing worse was the door knocking. That was definitely worse. I got baptized when I was eight to please my parents. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. A few months later I said to myself, what have I done?! When your a kid you never think that you will ever escape the cult. Time moves so slowly for you. It's like waiting for a pot to boil on the stove! But, eventually you escape. Not without the mental scars but you just have to deal with those and move forward.
wow inactive at 6 months used to be monthly. I was born when they had the number board up at the front of the Hall showing everything hours publishers baptized, looked like a corporate chart that eventually was only printed globally in a yearbook.
40:40 “FOMO-ggido” staying in because you’ve been trained you could lose everything “in the blink of an eye” otherwise... (or being Other-wise)... much love to you both from an ex-fundie Kindred spirit out here! Universe needs this healing work!
20bucks a blood cell
Thanks for tuning in! Great comment
I don’t know Jake of AltWordly personally, but I can confirm that he’s most like the coolest dude I’ve never met
As a former JW, and I still struggle with the guilt of leaving and the fear that I was wrong to leave, no matter how much you accomplished in bible reading and study and service it was never enough. Is there more that you could do was always the question they had. It has taken me many years to begin to even listen to others who have left the organization because it was so ingrained in us not to listen to malcontents.
I was a JW from age 2-24. My mother was brought in on the island of Oahu in 1972. She was 24 years old. Wow! I never noticed the correlation in age as to when she entered and when I left. Nice!
I'm exmormon, but I related a lot to this guest. In fact, I think I connect more with his deconstruction story than I have with perhaps any exmormon story I've ever heard.
I left at about the same age, in similar circumstances. I was also just recently married, and my wife also wasn't (still isn't) on the same page as me. I connected so much with what he had to say, thank you.
This reminds me of a mission experience. I actually had some JWs knock on our door as a missionary, and we promptly got into a big religious debate, where we were basically trying to convince each other that the other person was in a cult. 😂. It was completely ridiculous. I often think, man if we all had just stopped talking at each other and actually tried just listening to each other, how much we could genuinely have helped change each other's lives for the better! We should have went and grabbed a bite to eat and compared horror stories.
Great interview. I enjoyed listening.
Something I'm always curious about folks who leave such religions is
where they are now on the religious spectrum. Do they still have a religion?
If so, what does that look like. Or, are they now atheists, or something else?
I would love to know where he's at on this.