This is solid advice and I wish I hadn't made each of these mistakes, haha. Seriously, to anyone reading this who is waking up: Avoid talking to the elders! There will be no confidentiality honored to you. They will go on fact finding missions to prove you're doing something wrong even if you're not. Save yourself the nightmares and panic attacks that follow from their "shepherding". It's a scary time and that brings added stress you do not need.
@@SynFull6988 so sorry 😢. This person is right never trust the elders or you will have a target 🎯 on your back. Thank god my family is out and I was never baptized. My husband is not one either
@@stephaniegoggin7952 I’m so glad you got out when you did. I was born and raised in “the truth” so the teachings were always pounded in my head. It made my life and thinking difficult. And it still does. It’s amazing how long brainwashing damages you. It’s wonderful to see these comments filled with people who know the feeling and are fighting for freedom.
Thank you for this video, lots of great info here. I actually thought I was the only one doing the "rehersal" discussion. I cant tell you how important that was for me. I recently had a long talk with my elder dad and I was stunned at how poorly he was able to defend his beliefs when presented with solid evidence. First, he didnt admit to the fact that JW's believe that any and all non JW's will die at Armageddon. In fact he said, "I dont think we have ever been that dogmatic in our publications." I said "dad, I think with little effort I can pull up at least 10 publications saying so." Later he admitted that the organization did in fact falsely prophecy the end of the world several times saying that the organization is "led by imperfect men." I agreed, and said "what does the bible say we should do for those that falsely prophecy or speak for god?" I was going to read to him Duet 18:20-22. He wouldnt let me, he said "I dont want to see it." Imagine that, an elder not letting someone use their own translation of their own bible. Anyway, thanks for the video and look forward to the next.
In your dads defense, during the Australian pedo trials you had the Governing Body declaring that calling themselves the only group that would be saved by God would be presumptuos and that the call was only Jehovahs to make. A lot of the ignorant dumbasatry taking place at halls is the culture of ignorance and knowledge through a game of telephone.
Been in 50 years. Always thought me and my parents would never die and survive Armageddon together. What a disappointment, currently pimo. Your advise is so true. You have to be VERY CAREFUL as to WHAT you say and to Whom!
I certainly understand the sadness you feel. I experienced the same devastation. I feel it's psychologically damaging to a person to be told "You will never die" only to discover later that you probably will, it's a bitter pill to swallow. It's easier to be raised from day one knowing you will eventually get old and die, that way you have your entire life to accept it. My father used to tell us when we were young children "there's no way you will make it to your teens before Armageddon." Years later when he was in the hospital dying over a mistake a nurse had made (she gave him a fast drip of a med when the doctor ordered a slow drip and it sent him into Code Blue and cardiac arrest) I remember asking him after they had temporarily revived him to an element of stability how I should feel if time keeps going on and I end up growing old how should I feel regarding all I had been taught? (He was an elder) He told me I should keep believing in it. At that point in time, I had every intention of following his advice as he was a very wise man, but after the overlapping generation theory and a series of other disillusioning bits of information were revealed, I decided that my mother and father had been sucked in because it sounded believable and it offered hope for the future. I still believe we have hope for the future but I feel it lies with us as individuals, not as a collective part of an organization. The Bible says we will be judged as individuals. "God will search the hearts." There are a lot of questionable people who attach themselves to religious organizations thinking it will save them, and there are a lot of decent people who don't.
@@dissidentfairy4264 I am dealing with the "Im really goin to die " reality in my 40s and and thevhardest part is not that I know I will die, but my entire life I put any goals I would have had (stuff I kept only in the back of my mind, so no identity crisis thankfully) on indefinite hold. I ended up never raising my kids how I would have, I married someone I didnt want to marry. I was engaged when I changed my mind but too scared to break up with him because I would be homeless with no job and my biggest fear was having child services take away my (only at the time) child because of having no where to go. If I moved back in my parents house I would have killed myself or maybe led to abuse of my child over not having the help and being abused myself. Because when I was engaged I had finally moved out to live with my BF (both our parents against it bc we were un married) to escape abuse. My dad was so violently abusive and my mom was 100% neglectful and in her own little world always depressed angry and mean (she was the jw ,not my dad) . I ddint get my license until I was 21 and that was only bec the BF I had prior to getting married , helped me get a car. So that I cant blame myself as much for staying with my husband out of obligation. I never wanted to be married to him so my entire marriage (21 or 22 yrs I lost count) was just a struggle emotionally with me doing things to escape like hobbies, working FT etc.. I havent worked in many years now and again facing homelessnes and losing my kids , if I leave my husband NOW after over 2decades. He is not a jw but he is not a nice person and I feel stuck. I have no family or friends (they are toxic to me & moving near them/continuing to associate with them would make me go crazy) to help me. The only thing keeping me alive is I have a special needs child I have to tend to 24/6 (accept when hes sleeping&evenings when my husband is off) I cant get up at 4 or 5am to get needed things done if I have to work in the evening time (Assuming if I got a job) ..... All of that mentioned above is what makes it so hard I literally cry every single day and have to close my bedroom door put ear buds in my ears to not have to hear him whining or crying because he refuses to listen (because his special need is disobedience on a level I have never seen , It makes me have to be there WITH him all day to make sure he is doing normal daily tasks like even using the bathroom bc he will pee his pants out of laziness. ) HAD I not ever believed the JWs or studied with them I would have pursued a career or had my own business, and married a man who is supportive & RESPONSIBLE ,a TEAM player. Not just someone who works, comes home to drink beers until he passes out in bed (after doing some laundry,washing dishes&helping put our child to bed). I would be in my own home, working a job and have HELP from others (maybe??? Or maybe not?) With my youngest. Being a jw helped me to box up all my negative feelings and thoughts, helped me keep going each day living just for the hope of a new world and a nee start of a brand new (forever) life! Now I have to figure out how to be on my own, cant afford an attorney (bc no job = no $$) and even then I legally can't get alimony or child support if Im the one who moves out, AND can't start the process until we have lived a part for 1 full year. He refuses to help with a divorce. He doesn't want to pay child support or alimony. He says he does, but if he did he would be helping me make it happen. So hes lying. I cant work because my child would be in some nursing home or special needs home where he would be abused and injected with poison and medicines that would make him far far worse, not better. Actually he would be living eith his dad who would just let him play video games all day while he pees his pants everyday , and isnt learning any life skills or teaching him to take care of himself. Im trying to do that right now,which is why I done work during the day. Imagine not being able to sleep at night bc you cant stans the person who is in the same bed. And there is not another room to go to or bed to go to.
@@ms.anonymousinformer242 I'll try sending it in two segments. Part A: I'm so sorry about your plight. You sound very trapped. I think we all feel trapped in one way or another but it sounds like you have it worse than most. I have a lot of mixed feelings regarding the way I was raised. In many ways, I was very fortunate. My parents were one of the more affluent JW's at the time so we always lived in nice homes and we took a lot of family vacations. I want to say I had a perfect life and in some ways, I did but still, it wasn't easy. I actually enjoyed the meetings and enjoyed learning about God but I remember thinking as a child one evening 'Can't we stay home just for tonight, not have to dress up and watch TV for once in our lives?" lol It seemed we were on a constant treadmill of meetings and more meetings. It made it difficult to fit in homework which created more pressure. Then there was the peer pressure of being different and not celebrating holidays, etc. I didn't have it too bad though because I had a knack for blending in with other kids of various kinds while not compromising our beliefs, and I don't remember being treated badly for it. I do feel my parents took "spare the rod and spoil the child" a little too literally though. My sister and I were obedient and respectful. My parents even acknowledge it, and looking back on it they don't even know why they spanked us so much. I do. I think they felt it was their parental duty. Otherwise, in their minds, we were going to turn into unruly and rebellious teens and cause them a world of trouble, but that didn't happen. We did as we were told. As teens of course we couldn't date, couldn't go to school activities. I never gave my parents any problems over it because I understood the reasons why. I didn't even ask because it would have been pointless. lol The one safety valve we had, and I do consider it a safety valve, we were allowed to dress the way we wanted at school. My sister and I were always on the cutting edge of fashion and make-up. We were progressive in that regard, more so than even the "so-called worldly teens." We often made our own creations and we were artistically able to express ourselves. It was the only freedom we had and I do see it as a safety valve. It made the restrictive nature of the rest of our lives more tolerable because it was the one area in life where we had some freedom. In my HS yearbook, someone had captioned next to my photo "Change." So what does that tell you about my creative freedom back then? lol Then there was the flip side. The excruciating task of getting down on our knees so our father could measure the length of our dresses/skirts before we walked out the door to the meetings. He had a two-inch rule that our dresses couldn't be more than two inches above our knees. He was an elder and had a reputation to maintain:-) At least one elder had an issue when I was on the platform giving a presentation once. While I was sitting down my skirt crept up on the side just above my knee even though I made sure it was tucked underneath me. I must have only been 15 at the time. The elder that complained was my father's prior Bible study. The person he brought into "the truth." He told my father it was too "distracting." My mother said to me privately after we came home, "If he gets distracted by a knee how does he manage to function in the real world." lol I know what you mean regarding the choices older teens have regarding suitable marriage mates. In our congregation, there were a lot of beautiful girls and only one unattractive and not very spiritual-minded guy to choose from. I wouldn't have chosen him in a million years. One day a semi-nice-looking guy showed up to give a public talk at our KH. He was 23 and had the maturity of a 45-year-old. All the girls in the congregation were drooling over him. I wasn't attracted to him at all but guess who he zeroed in on after the meeting. He asked me out on a date and I was only 17 at the time, two months shy of my 18th birthday. I told him I wasn't allowed to date. I thought it was a good excuse:-) It actually came in handy at that one moment in time, but to my surprise, my parents said yes, that I could go out with him. So we went out on a couple of dates and before I knew it he took me to his parent's large estate. It was a large ranch home with acres and acres of avocado trees. They had to use a golf cart to get around. They were very well-to-do people, and before I knew it I was being asked a ton of questions by his elder father. He was a stern man shooting off questions at me like a machine gun. He asked me how I planned to support myself if something were to happen to my husband. I found myself stunned and at a loss for words. Did he think I wanted to marry his son? I had never thought about a question like that. All I ever heard from my mother was I would marry the prince on the pale white horse and live happily ever after. The possibility of a dead husband wasn't even in the scheme of things. lol I tried to be polite and answer him the best that I could even though I secretly felt a bit annoyed by the verbal assault. I felt as if I were being scrutinized and interrogated for a high-powered job, with him wanting to know if I was 'good enough for his son, checking to see if I passed the test.
@@ms.anonymousinformer242 Part B: The son then told me that his parents planned on giving us their beach home as a wedding gift if I agreed to marry him. The next thing I knew I was taken there. His mother planned a fancy candlelit dinner almost as if it was some kind of celebration. Gee, did I pass the test? lol The truth is I fell in love with the quaint beach home the moment I saw it. It was my dream home. It was so close to the sea that waves practically crashed on the porch. I know that every girl in the congregation wished it was them. I wished it was them too because I couldn't make myself fall in love with him, and the home wasn't enough of an incentive to make that leap. There were things I liked about him. His intelligence and maturity. He was almost too mature for his age. I actually felt a little intimidated by him. I was still a teenager at heart and he seemed all grown up. So I told my mother I didn't wish to date him anymore. His pretty mother, who I did like, but who seemed like a nervous wreck, sent HS graduation gifts to me and my sister hoping maybe to sway me. He stopped by too just prior to his mother's visit and handed my mother a gift for me while I hid in my room:-) Next thing I knew his mother called my mother saying he had no business giving me the pricey necklace because he knew at the time he gave it to me that he was going to be disfellowshipped. The shock of the century! So she wanted to stop by and retrieve it and I was just as glad to see it go. So when she arrived she told my mother the gory truth. It turns out he had been pioneering with a 45-year-old married sister who was married to a non-believer. The 23-year-old upstanding pioneer had been secretly having an affair with her and she was pregnant. Fortunately for her, her non-believing husband stood by her. His mother of course was distraught and very apologetic. I couldn't help but think about his father the way he scrutinized me, and I was a virgin, the irony of it. I know what you mean when you mention all of the things you passed up in life that you could have had. I was offered a modeling contract and a Hollywood agent wanted to sign me. In fact, he begged me to sign with him, but of course, that is not what JW's do, so I didn't. I even passed up a rock star once, and let's not forget all the other opportunities in life. We did it because we had the truth. It was the right thing to do. I have mixed feelings now. It's sad knowing we could live out this life and eventually die. It truly is a bitter pill to swallow as it was so ingrained in us that we would never die. It feels like a cheat. I look back on life and think what might have been but the thing we need to remember is life is always greener based on the unknown, and what if it had turned out even worse? I am thankful to have been given Biblical knowledge and as a believer what is a greater gift than that? My father was an Atheist before he became a JW. Would that have been a better life for me? Knowing nothing about God? Having no hope for the future? I don't think I would trade. I feel what I have now is far more valuable than what I could have attained being part of the world. I feel I more than likely avoided a lot of potential disasters in life. I still live my life as if I am a JW. Nothing has changed in that regard. I don't get involved in the political realm or celebrate holidays. I live a moral life and I'm happy living my life as an artist and doing Biblical research etc., and I do feel free. I wish they hadn't come up with the overlapping generation theory. I wish they would have said something to the effect that many events in the Bible have gone over the projected timeline such as 40 years or more. If they would have said something like that it would have made sense to me and I think it would have bought them some more time, but when I heard about the overlapping generations the first thing I thought was 'You've got to be kidding me." I think that was the beginning of the end for me. Then I discovered other things and everything started to fall like dominoes. I wish it hadn't because it has been devastating to me, even now there is a tiny part of me that wonders, could they still be right? Because it's so hard to fathom that they aren't. Then I ask myself, 'Would God allow his one true organization to look bad? Would he allow them to make predictions that don't come true? Would "new light" ever reverse itself? Could thousands of cuneiform tablets be wrong about 607 BCE? If 607 is incorrect then where does that leave 1914? It doesn't. It goes on and on. So I came to the painful realization that something is wrong. It brings me no joy to say it. So there you sort of have my story....I faded by the way..... As far as your situation goes, I feel for you. You need to reinvent yourself before you snap. Isn't there some way you can find some help with your son? At least 1-2 days a week? Just so you can take a class? Maybe do something creative that fulfills you as a person? It might help to keep your sanity and give you a respite and be something you can look forward to. I don't know the age of your son or what sort of attention he needs but you need some kind of safety valve in life because it sounds as if you are living in a pressure cooker, and I'm sorry your husband isn't good to you. Your life isn't easy, it's very sad. I can see that but hang in there. It can only go up from here. As my mother always says, "Something wonderful is waiting for you just around the corner."
My sister who is a pioneer no longer wants to discuss with me. She is afraid of being contaminated by doubt as if her faith had become extremely fragile since my official withdrawal in April 2019. I think that my clear position will gradually enlighten my family. My withdrawal today is no longer a shame but a chance for my whole family. I was just faster than them.
You are very fortunate. Glad to know that you have decided to leave. The best decision that you ever made. Your family will hopefully wake up. Especially by your example.
@@gamersTV5617 Once you have opened your eyes, it is impossible to close them again. This fundamentalist cult is living its last days. The end is coming but not the end hoped for by the Watchtower, lol.
Hello been raised a JW and leaving when I was young because of all the punishment and psychological abuse that I had to endure. I still pray to Jehovah day and night in gratitude but with a different perception of who he is even though I'm told my prayers are not heard! ( the gall to even say that to people)! I admire you for coming out with your experience, I've had to live without a family for over 30 years because of my decision to either live happily as God created me or commit suicide. Thank you for healing others, you are precious. Divina Luz de Manifestation. ❤⚘😊🙏
Jehovah is an invented name. It's not God's real name. The name Jehovah came from a 13th century Catholic monk named Raymond Martini who took the vowels from the word Adonai meaning Lord and combined it with the Latin version of the Tetragrammaton JHVH. It's pure invention. You'll also want to consider being validly baptized in either the Catholic, Orthodox or Anglican church as JWs don't have valid Christian baptism (Father,Son and Holy Spirit) and thos denominations I mentioned have valid baptism, apostolic succession, and valid sacraments needed for salvation such as the Eucharist.
I cried I cried and I’m so grateful for your bravery. I was raised by a single mom as a Jehovahs witnesses. I had a spiritual awakening as an adult but even as a child I never agreed with the church I never wanted to be part of it and I stopped going when I was 11 . Nothing has ever made sense about how they describe our creator they describe him as a jealous selfish God who at the same time expects us to only worship him and have no mind of her own yet he gave us free well everything’s a huge contradiction . What do you believe in now Christianity do you not believe in religion I believe in God and Jesus I just don’t believe God is the way they say he is I think he’s a source energy I appreciate your channel I’m going to continue to support you
I didn't unload info on anyone I just stated I have doubts and can't see myself staying. And literally all my family and friends dropped me. I only told one friend only because he asked himself. I wish I would've waited. Cuz I'm about to speak with my best friend whom I still love and cherish right now. I was never baptized and still the heat is so intense. I wish I could've seen this sooner before being so rash.
Great job of helping people get the overall perspective of what is involved in leaving JW's and in helping family or friends. Everyday, people on Reddit say, "I want to fade, how can I do this?" Or, "I want to leave Jehovah's Witnesses, should I send in a letter of disassociation?" "I want to wake up my mate, how do I do this?" It's good for people to know that this organization has become streamlined, and is very cautious of anyone who has doubts about the organization.
I’m very thankful you made this video. Incredibly Glad to see some more content from you. This was also a pretty convenient time for this video to come out because I am currently in one of those difficult situations.
"Doubt"...there is no doubt. This is a vocabulary of wt. What happens is that we have a strong of evidence against a lie. Cognitive dissonance is not a "doubt".
Thank heavens you said it. I don't like when I hear people use that word doubt. It's no longer a doubt if it's confirmed. I am not leaving the organization for a doubt. I am leaving because I can prove "the truth" is a Big LIE. And I can prove it using only Watchtowers own publications.
I left the organization years ago. I am now attending Iglesia Ni Cristo. I invite you to check out their website for spiritual uplifting, understanding, stability, and strength. I hope you succeed in your life journey.
I think this organization is gonna disappear soon, a few members of my family are there, but I'm scared of this, I cannot imagine the things that will happen to them when it is over.
Excellent points. When I first woke up, I tried telling my pimi jw parents about the CSA problem. They didn't want to hear it at all. They had excuses for the borg at every turn. I don't say much to them about jw stuff now as I don't want to ruin my fade and lose contact with family.
I started to tell my JW relative about the CSA problems in the KHs. She admitted that she knew of a case being handled in a local KH (this was pre-covid.) (So much for that CONFIDENTIALITY that the "clergy/ELDERS" are supposed to keep.) When I told her more about JW CSA & ARC, she said, "I don't even know if it is illegal!". DOESN'T KNOW if CSA is ILLEGAL?? What world does she live in? I guess in one where they only care if it is a sin, not a crime.
@Its Me I had to double check and make sure this wasn’t MY comment that I forgot writing. 😁 That is my situation to a “T”!! My mom has always felt strongly about CSA and even said the Bible supports not forgiving them if the abuser isn’t repentant. When I tried to tell her the thousands of cases of CSA being found out and the Thousands and thousands of dollars being spent in court to cover up their deception, she just acts like it’s just one bad apple here and there. I told her I didn’t think all JW were abusers but the way it’s handled is disgusting and unacceptable. Maybe I planted a seed in her mind but she sounds like your mom, just believing everything the GB tells them to believe. I will as to Fallling Tower’s list of words NOT to say: 1. Cult 2.Brainwashing (that one went over like a turd in a punch bowl) 🤣 Thank you for your videos and hope to see more soon!! ☮️💜☮️💜☮️
I no when I was in a car group a sister said the man on the door told them to go away he said they are disgusting and she said I don’t know why so I said that is probably all the child abuse and court cases that are all over the internet my last time on doors I then disassociated my self after and it was the best thing I have ever done 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
I admit talking with friends and family is hard because they're deeply indoctrinated and any detection of negative discussion makes them shutdown. But in the case of child abuse I do stand my ground about going against the two witnesses rule when they're for it. The conversation gets so heated that I exit out real fast. Awesome video!
Pretty sure they killed off the two witness rule and now have a call the cops and let them settle it policy. Pedo cant come back to hall where there are children once they are on a watch list. Sad it took them this long.
@@acedia4453 the two witness rule still stands today. My mom asked her elder in her hall about reporting child abuse. His answer was the same, you need two witnesses to be a valid case for disfellowshiping. I said to her that's crap because child molesters don't abuse kids in front of you. That's stupid. I asked an elder in my last congregation and repeated the same garbage about the two witness rule. There's absolutely no care for children in the Jehovah's witnesses religion.
@@caroldanvers265 No, you need to watch some of John Cedars videos to stay updated. Your mom obviously isn't keeping up with policy. Thanks to the relentless work of the Ex-JW community on the matter and world wide pressure, that two witness rule in cases of child abuse became a Call The Police and let us know policy.
FYI this is incorrect. The two witness rule is still in place. They only report if required by law and there are no loopholes they can take to avoid reporting and claim clergy privilege. Edit to add: the only change they have made is that they allow 2 witnesses to a “similar event” to count as two witnesses. Thereby guaranteeing that there will be multiple victims instead of just one.
So much great content in this video, and so aptly relayed and laid out. I was born into the Witness religion and ended up getting baptized when I as 15, still very much a child. I can't tell you how long I've been disfellowshipped as I was only told I was so by my ex-husband! Neither of us were given a sit down meeting, a letter, or even a phone call. The amount of mind, thought and behavior control is boggling. I had faded myself out and so it wasn't a devastating loss to me to find out I was shunned. When I see witnesses in the stores (I live in a very small town) I do not put my head down and avert my eyes. I look at them directly, smile, and say hello. I am a much happier, more fulfilled person now than I was ever allowed to be then and I do not want to portray anything less than that to onlookers. It does make me sad that I'm probably called an apostate (the Witness version of the boogey man) and much worse. I also have one parent, my father, still very much ensconced in the religion. He does not associate with me, my sisters (who were never baptized) or his 10 grandchildren. To know that life is so short and that is how they choose to spend it is astounding.
It is so true that we have to constantly practice both sides of the conversation to be on point whenever we are confronted by an indoctrinated family or friend. Any pause or stumbling of words send a message that you are not strong, happy or confident outside of the org version of Jeehoobah and that you need to return to him. It is absolutely unfair that the struggles you continue to go through in decoding their false teachings and being separated from family gets absolutely minimized in their trained ego that they have the one and only truth. In your conversations with them, you may have to be like Paul and speak of the name Jeh with them (along with Christ which they don't do) so to get them to hear your point and show that you can be spiritual w/o the org. You are fortunate if you live further away from your former JW community, and you don't have much family tied into it or at least brainwashed to shunning you. Otherwise, this is the constant training that you are going through when you just want to move on and progress in your own mental health. Thanks for the good content.
Was a JW for 40+ yrs. It’s a very dysfunctional ’family’, very controlling and emotionally abusive. My family had some incredibly painful experiences with some of the ‘friends’ then we were expected to ‘put ‘things aside’ and be a ‘loving family’. I consulted 3 mental health professionals over 1 incident and was told to NEVER interact with them again as they were dangerous. They were elders in my congregation, of course. Every meeting was gut wrenching as nothing happened to them except they were forced to apologize . Within a year they both moved, tails between their legs. They are still elders somewhere else 😔
The elder book has it all covered. And your right about depending on where you live..... I learned along time ago just walk off, cut your loss and try and pick up your life and heal from the trauma of it all. Trying to fight it is like taking sand to the beach!!!!
@@heassik3088 Both my parents were witnesses. I didn't say it was easy but it is what it is. You just have to find your own way. It will work out eventually.
@@gamersTV5617 that's great you were able to make changes by applying Bible principles and improved your life. I was raised a JW and still am. We teach clean conduct for the most part. But the last couple of years Jehovah through His Word and Spirit has showed me that we are not completely following Jesus or listening to some of the things he taught. For example, John 6:53, 54 & Luke 22:19,20. If Jesus tells us to do something, says that we can't gain life without doing it, and never says not to do it, shouldn't we listen to his voice? John 10:27 Jesus is our Master and we need to follow him and listen to what he told us to do. May Jehovah bless you as you grow in truth. 🌅
Dear Jake StarTV, Victory Outreach is an American based Christian ministry to drug addicts and alcoholics. I have seen miracles of deliverance, in this ministry, when addicts are introduced to Jesus. Sometimes deliverance is instantaneous although most take time. There is no charge to participate in rehabilitation homes and no one who wants help is turned away. Except for its corrupt theology, the Watchtower offers nothing.
Thank you so much for helping others with your knowledge. Please continue to share your biblical knowledge and the things you've learned in your research. May God richly bless and keep you safe and well, in Jesus name, Amen!
GOMER OZ and DANDAR is g.o.d in freemasonry and Zeus is jesus or iesus or Krishna or crystos and AMUNRA is amen. RA is the sun Israel is ISIS AMUNRA ELOHIM
Hope you are doing ok, I love your videos. Please don’t hesitate to get counseling, or to take time off for yourself. I’m not implying anything; counseling is like getting a massage - it can only help. I have been through a situation similar to yours, and it is immensely difficult to move on and live your life. Take care!
Thanks for your video. I have been in the process of waking up for the last couple years probably, but most notably in the last 6 months. I made pretty much every mistake you listed, lol. Like in your former congregation, our elder body here is awesome and very understanding. I’ve had a few chats with two elders in particular, and a 3.5 hour heart to heart with one of those two. It was an enlightening experience. At one point, this dear brother admitted to me his primary reason for remaining a JW was that it was, in his opinion, the best environment and structure for serving God along with his wife. I completely respect that position. However, it wasn’t the first time I had heard such sentiments. Years ago, I studied with a devout Catholic man (whom I met in the door to door work) for a couple of months. I took a well seasoned elder with me on our calls. We got into deep issues of the catholic church. We broke down the trinity doctrine verse by verse. When the man finally decided he had had enough, he shared his reasons for why he felt he should remain in the Catholic church, despite not agreeing on some serious issues: “it’s the best environment and structure I know of for serving God with my wife and raising our kids”. Wow. De ja vu. Now, I have faith that dear catholic man did his best to shield his kids from the more damaging doctrines of the church and the fear-based theology, and focused on the positive lessons of living an upright, moral life. And I see a lot of JW families making similar choices these days. Downplay the negatives, accentuate the positives. But Christ said we must worship in spirit and truth. JW’s love to pull that scripture out to try and convince other religionists that “good enough” really isn’t. My biggest doctrinal challenge to JW’s right now: forbidding partaking of the emblems to non-anointed. If you are still in, but on the fence, do a really deep search on the topic of who should partake. Read info on the beroeans site. Plumb the depths of JW library. Then meditate prayerfully on what Jesus actually said in John 6:48-58. And read the account recorded of the last supper in Luke 22. Pay particular attention to the distinction between the “New Covenant” (which is what the emblems signify), and the Covenant for a Kingdom. They are mentioned separately, and are not the same thing. Also interesting to note, there is no clear biblical support for the assertion that Judas was dismissed prior to the emblems being passed. But he was apparently dismissed before the covenant for a kingdom was made, by the wording, “you are the ones who have stuck with me...” My next big issue: teaching two separate hopes for faithful Christians. It’s just not substantiated in any way by scripture. Following that, the things that really convinced me were the origins of 1914/607; the way bible students had zero understanding of what was supposed to happen, combined with the fact they continued to teach that Christ’s presence began invisibly in 1874 up until at least 1927. Combine those points with Deuteronomy 18:22, and what Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:23-27 regarding his presence... and well, case closed on the GB I’d say. I now consider myself a free christian (though I am only in the beginning phases of my fade out of the org), with no intention of joining up with a particular denomination. I feel we are in the time described as “beginning of pangs of distress” shortly before the last days. If Jesus is to reveal one true Church on earth, it hasn’t happened yet, and it’s important to be ready to exit whatever denomination we may be affiliated with in order to avoid sharing in their sins. I am hopeful that I can use some of the points in this video to help my PIMI wife. Thanks again!
I was a J W for a long time but my J W husband abused me hitting me all the time. The Elders never do or said anything about it. So I left my ex husband and I’ve never been really so at peace. What a great decision I had 🎉🎉🎉
I was a evangelical Christian growing up along with a couple of aunts. However the majority of my mother’s (not my mom) side were either born or raised as JW including my grandparents (joined after migrating to ny in the 70’s). Sighs….We’ve never been mean to each other but since childhood I’ve always felt I’ve have to tread lightly on certain things. I’d really like have a better communication with them no matter how long it takes. I’ve been watching other videos lately on spirituality and religion and just found many videos like yours I find meaningful and just want to thank you for this specific topic.
Absolutely excellent 👏 I know it ,I have seen it and I have heard it. We need to remember that witnesses in general are very thouchy...very sensitive...you have to be careful when in the congregation let alone being out.being out you definitely have the time to look back and see things basically speaking I was experiencing some of you're points when in the congregation...but being able to see and know much more after being out.
@@missdaydreamss I’m getting contacted a lot more often now! My grand father is my service group overseer and I can hear the disappointment in him when I say I have 0 hours. Thank you for asking!
Good advice planting seeds. The seeds have to be planted so they’re thinking about subconsciously for when the right moment strikes and they take the next step, eg doing research. I think that moment often happens within the organization. For me it was as simple as an elder telling me I had to put in at least 10 hours of service to be MS, despite going through hardships and meeting every requirement and being highly respected (told to me by another elder) I knew there was no scriptural basis for the 10 hours and that got me so angry realizing there was politics involved it wasn’t all about the Bible. Moral of the story: plant those seeds and wait for the elders to screw up. 😉
Great Job! Looking forward to your future video. We are PIMO and totally relate to rehearsing and talking to ones self in the car. Todays handsfree phones make for a great cover. LOL We agree , that you have to find 1 or 2 subjects that are fundamental deal breakers. Stick to that, know the subject inside and out and not be drawn into peripheral issues. Keep up the good work
Interesting to see how in that book stuff like "apostasy or "spiritual weakness" is contextualized as concepts, not against _the truth_ in general, but "the truth taught by the Jehovah's Witnesses." To me, that's evidence that, as you climb the hierarchy, the priority shifts from doing God's work or whatever, to protect the organization itself. Very interesting.
I really regret there is no promised movie. Do it because you do it wonderfully. Lots of people need this. We are still waiting, hoping that you are all right.
Incredible that you mention the type of people they prey on and now I understand why some territories aren't even touched. I've sinced moved from the lower income side of town where my congregation was- to literally 3 miles away closer to the beach where you can find a variety of social classes including millionaires and in the two years I've lived here only ONCE have they knocked on my door. Also explains why while out in service they'd say that the target audience was "people that are going thru hard times and need Jehovah" and that middle class didn't want to be bothered as they already live with the idea that "they have it all" and would label certain groups of people as "not loving god or not in need of "the good news" because they likely had everything they needed and wouldnt be interested. I Always thought that was strange. Just little things like these progressively over time coupled with the betrayal when I was at rock bottom- that helped me lift the veil.
It makes so much sense why I always was pushed aside, canceled or ignore while growing up I always had doubts and everytime I went to the elders they said to me I shouldn't associate with my younger cousins cuz I'm a bad association, they never answered my questions or tried to help me, they just told me to keep studying.
oh gosh, just wonderful watching and listening to your videos, so appreciated What a loving man, what a generous hearted caring soul to give back to others in this way ...*sigh* why could I never find a JW type man like you in my sphere *sigh*, I always ended up dating “broken” men who needed fixing 😕 when I needed a guy there just for me and my own “healing”😔 Anyhow, niceties aside, snapping back to reality for me:- I’m so cautious to awake! my PIMI loved ones up. Previously I have shared blatantly obvious inconsistent doctrinal “concepts” and facts with them and it has essentially resulted in “dire” mental-processing negative character response development - like you say in your video re Morpheus from Matrix, they are so drip-fed attached-dependant on the only logic/ reasoning system they’ve instinctually adapted their entire life, they lose balance and become something of an irrational character. I’ve learnt not disturbing the only life-reasoning processing they understand, is better for their mental health and living livelihood. Keeping them alive is better than seeing them eg take poor actions/ company eg alcoholism to numb the confusion and grief of being lost It’s awful I know, but on numerous occasions over the years when they would back away from JW.borg, because they’ve had no normal social interaction or any stable non-JW inter-person processing skills, add limited education, they turn into like societal “trash”, no one has time or understands them or what’s really going on in their world in those periods of “enlightenment”/ distancing from JW.borg. They have been robbed of psychological congruency, coherency, comprehension I am always holding out hope, as a part of their healing need, that they will eg see a massive formal public apology from the “high control” organisation that essentially robbed them of their life, JW.borg Like the 2008 formal public apology the Australian government gave to Australian Aboriginal First Nations Peoples, televised live all over the country for all Australians to see, as a part of civil acknowledgement of accountability for past injustices, as a formal apology of wrongdoing being a demonstrative desire to effect genuine healing and to see tangible reconciliatory measures onwards “...We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country... etc etc” Likely that’s not going to happen with JW.borg. As an organisation headed by uneducated men it’s a wonder they’ve not imploded thus far; even ancient anointed Israelite heads/ kings had their apology and non-infallibility biblically recorded. So I’m keen to see more of your videos/ and whatever commenters have to constructively share/ positive experiences/ encouragement I have much un-learning to do. Agarpe hugs to you former-elder and beautiful natured man, for waking up and being true to you
The most peaceful and the happiest and the most loving in the most amazing people I’ve known have been people that believe in God but not religion they don’t believe in control and they believe that all we have to do is just be kind that’s all we really are here for to be kind we shouldn’t feel like we have to sacrifice our happiness in anyway I just save ourselves from a horrible death
JW’s see me and ask: “Are you still a JW?” Me: “I am no longer a publisher for the watchtower bible and tract society.” Them: (confused look) “ Are you still a JW?” Me: (trying to get them to think) “I am no longer a publisher for the watchtower bible and tract society A BOOK PUBLISHING COMPANY.” Them: (asking a third time) “Are you still a JW?” Me: “ No, I left the book publishing company known as Watchtower!”
Well done for 'leaving', and then 'educating'! J.W'' s are a very beautiful group of people; unfortunately misguided by the covetous controllers of the spirit of this world. But, I am grateful unto them for teaching me the Bible for many years: to not be 'totally sucked in', whilst learning the elementary background knowledge ....... To find for myself, that 'heart to heart', and 'face to face': That, the Lord is the 'Greatest Teacher'. Jehovah is true; but all men 'liars', when they 'lie' unto all innocent congregations to prevent the 'Witness' that ought to be witnessing unto them: that, no man may defraud each man his brother by laying upon God a false claim.
I would not tell the Elders of my doubts. The elders will act like they care, but then tell the rest of the elders to watch you ...who will have pillow talk with their wives.We all know once the Elders wives hear...its all over the circuit! Then the elders whoever you talk to..the elders will probably double back behind you and ask them what were you talking about.
People in the comments on this video. To all of you including myself who are currently going through this. Obviously we aren’t alone. But we may be alone in our community. Can er start a dialog in whatever app would be best to help each other out? I know I would love that.
I just found your channel, Thank you sooo much for the info and in a way you handle it! Very wise and professional! Being in a 30 year abusive relationship with my Narcissist/ sociopath witness husband which on top of that has Tourette síndrome/ severeocd and intrusive thoughts 🥵! Was exsausted from the abused and on top of that the lack of caring from my “Spiritual Family” All they had to say was “ hang in there” Jehovah hates divorcing “ we know he’s killing you emotionally, mentally, verbally, Physically, will withhold meds, financials take my car keys, my house keys, and on top of that they will tell me oh!! Just work with your marriage, Jehovah hates divorcing, CONTROL YOURSELF when you loose it because this “Baster” is provoking you… I’m sooo infuriated, disappointed, heartbroken, couldn’t believe what was experiencing.. that’s all I have to say from now.. 😔
Great video(s). I'm glad you got out, it takes a lot of strength. Since you mentioned S.E. at the end; are you familiar with Anthony Magnabosco ? He has a channel about it with lots of really good interviews. One of the people he interviewed now has YT channels as well, called Objectively Dan / Truth Wanted. I think he's ex-JW too.
Thanks for this info I have a friend trying to get me back in she wants to have lunch and wants me to come over to her house I agreed to meet at the restaurant, the loving sneaky tactics to get me to come back I see them, I want bring up negative conversations but if pushed I will slightly tell them. New to your channel.
I did that bro I told them why I was absent in meetings when they called me by phone 3weeks ago. . .Finally free here. 2days ago. I was announced after midweek meeting. I thought my letter of disassociation would be read after meeting. But it wasn't. I feel dis appointed..They just announced my name sister T. S is no longer a jw. Hearing that I thought that would be okay bcos that's my intention to make exit in this organization. But my ego. I was hurt. You can't easily leave in this organization without consequences..And shunning is real. They right away changed the password of zoom to prevent me from joining in meetings. #Cruel. I feel hurt until now. Even if I don't anymore like this organization. This religion is hurting people.
@@exjw.believer.philippines damn, I feel sorry for you. I'm underage and I've been intending to get out without fucking me up. But that's totally inevitable, just so u know, i wish you good luck with ur problems, and I'm passing through all of this shit too...
@@kaua2802.Thank you. For your advise. I'm more diligent now when it comes to bible reading and study That a big help. And I'm always listening audio bible reading that I've downloaded on my phone. From the book of Matthew to Revelation.
You mean you don't call them up after not seeing them since 2005 blubbering incoherently and telling them they're in a Truman show, oscillating between screaming and crying? 😂😭 I think I screwed up then!! 😭
@@ms.anonymousinformer242 I think once you see how manipulative this cult is and the truth unfolds, you then see it unfold everywhere and you realize the whole world is essentially a big cult.
I was a Jehovah’s Witness as a child to early adult of which I was disfellowshipped 2 times due to my confusion of life and having a condescending controlling mother, and the strict expectations required as a witness and never being listened to by anyone and believing any and all statements that a witness was and still is required to live and abide by. After listening to the gentleman here of which I would very much like to talk to about my experiences and how my whole life has still been controlled by the inner expectations that I had to live with and never feel like I have not been good enough as a person to feel like I’m really a good person. I know I am a loving caring and kind person of which I have been my whole life and the indoctrination I was subjected to. Is there anyway I could talk to you and find peace ? Your mindset is very peaceful and real
Thanks for your videos. I think it is a disgrace how they call Catholic church worshiping idols, and the cross as bad. That celebrating birthdays was pagan and not allowed in this organization. I couldn't and wouldn't give up my power or conscience to join them. I'm not that lonely or desperate for friends. That's what they do. They appease your loneliness saying how the congregation will love you. But it is a scam.
For the ARC videos: ruclips.net/p/PLPQ6KZ-AGhVQbadlzMQN26dvMPzddxlui For a summary of the ARC by a non-JW: ruclips.net/video/TsvJMlg_SaM/видео.html & ruclips.net/video/eWuMkO5UWlA/видео.html For the ARC transcripts: www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-studies/case-study-29-jehovahs-witnesses & www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-studies/case-study-54-institutional-review-jehovahs-witnesses There are many issues with how the JWs handle CSA. They should report every allegation to authorities. If they want to claim to JWs and the public that they are not clergy, then they should not claim clergy privilege in court. I can assure that elders do not maintain strict privacy on confessional matters. These matters are discussed among fellow elders, fellow bodies of elders, with the CO, and with the branch. That is not confidentiality. It is insane that if the elders hears of an allegation of abuse, their first step is to call the branch for guidance. Yet, if the KH has someone there to vandalize it, they are to call the police immediately. They literally care more about buildings than protecting children. JWs give leeway to their religion that the offer to no other religion on the planet. Consider the following scenarios as examples: 1: Ask a JW: "Do you think it is our responsibility to the children in the local area to help protect them against a possible abuser?" I always add to that: pretend that you found out your 10-year-old neighbor was being abused. What would you do? Would you just leave it up to the family? Absolutely not! You would do the right thing and call the authorities to ensure that that child was protected along with the other children in the neighborhood. 2: Ask: “What would you do if your child was abused by a neighbor and the local Catholic priest knew that this individual was an abuser but in order to protect the reputation of the church and to hide behind his clergy penitent privilege, he said nothing to anyone and now had more victims, including your child. Would you then use the same excuse that you were using for your organization and claim that it is valid for the Catholic Church to use it too?” 3: Ask: "Would you be willing to go to a door in your territory and tell the householder that if there is an abuser in your congregation, the leaders of your religion do not have any need to report it and that should be the parent's responsibility to do it if they choose to do so". The organization maintains a database of abusers and refuses to turn it over when demanded to do so by authorities. There are plenty of apologists who claim this is not true. I assure you it is. I had to call the branch to UPDATE their records on an abuser. (*edit to add that this individual did go to prison and is in the registry) At some point I will do a video covering this issue, but those are some points that immediately come to mind.
The problem is: if you wake this people up you’re going to take away from them all the hope they have. And as much as I don’t believe most of the things that I’ve learned all these years, it’s sad to know that I won’t see my mother or my father ever again, that one day I’ll die and there’s no hope. Some people are just sticking to the religion in the hope to see their family again or to have the chance to live forever. It’s complicated.
I generally don’t have conversations with JWs unless they bring it up or approach me. It’s a massive waste of time,incredibly frustrating, and people generally only wake up when they are ready. I nowadays will just hand someone my research document if they want to know why I left. Having said that, there are some that left or became PIMO after finding out I left and started questioning themselves, but of course I don’t ever speak publicly about it for their safety so they can fade as they wish.
@@TheFallingTower I so much appreciate your reply and I have had the same experience. I woke up 2 1/2 years ago and my adult children have completely shunned me. No amount of love can even reach them. It’s just heartbreaking what this organization does to families and people’s minds. I hope you are living a happy life.
@April Renee Bailey Thank you, April. I highly doubt my children or husband will ever wake up. The mind control Watchtower has is like an iron grip…it’s pure evil. I hope you and your daughter are healing from this religious trauma. ❤️
Greetings from Denmark! I'm a born again christian and JW's have been coming to my door for some 15 years now and I continue to welcome them for theological debates as these people are among the most peaceful and friendly, I can think of. They're this odd mixture of a whole range of good solid christian values and - on the other side - a variety of doctrines, including a bible translation, that are just plain wrong - unbiblical in essence. But - be kind to these people and show them - in their own bible - who Jesus is and what He teaches.
I have bombarded my ex boyfriend with apostasy cuz he asked me straight forward wether I read some apostate material… in my mind I thought - it is our last conversation so I wanted to give him all I know .. we talked for 3 hours and it wasn’t our last conversation … but with time he choose to stay.. he wasn’t ready.
This is awesome. Thank you for opening my eyes, this video should have been out much sooner. I'm over a decade regular pioneer and I'm now conscious of where I am. I confided in one elder and he took me to the body of elders.... the rest is a nasty history. This organization is something else, the least said the better. How can I reach you man? Do you have a social media handle I could reach you?
@14:40 JWs may find the word “cult” insulting but aren’t they really a cult? If you were to watch, for example, RUclips interviews and documentaries involving past Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple cult members, you will see definite similarities between the JWs and Jim Jones' Peoples Temple cult. These similarities include isolating members from non-members as a form of information control, outside threats to the cult’s existence, utopian promises that seem to offer relief etc. etc. etc. The similarities are striking.
I think I did exactly the wrong things compared with all of these suggestions in relation to my wife joining and then changing I was too busy working and supporting a family to see what was happening in her world. Then when I tried to address problems she shut down and turned against me
Amen. What he said happened in my own head. Having these conversations with myself. And then with other jw's. But then I realised that my reason for being inactive as JW was that Jesus said "I am the truth". And that the holy spirit will give you words when you need to defend your faith.
@@pije23 Thomas said to Jesus after he was resurrected ….”Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the WAY? Jesus said to him: “I am the WAY, and the TRUTH and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6. And please read John 15:18. Please do not leave the TRUTH! If you look at the news, this world is on the way out. Fires, not only in the US, but now in Greece and other countries….there are monstrous floods in China, Germany and other places. The ice glaciers are melting faster because of the Global warming. Politicians are going crazy….actually no one knows the way out! Stay with Jehovah and his people…the day of Jehovah is finally getting close! I watched the news tonight….and everything that is going on is right in your Bible, including pestilences! Stay close….it’s your life!
@@lp7744 Then it seems you’re not really sincere about any problem! I don’t really know! Don’t worry…Jehovah knows your heart and thoughts. I’m sure you tried though. Your first major problem is listening to these videos instead of the up building ones supplied on the website. Try it…you may be surprised! You can talk to me anytime! It’s getting late…don’t leave!
I was wondering if it would be helpful to say that all the well-known movements related to so-called Christianity are of American origin: Adventists, Mormons, Evangelicals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology and others. Some will say that the political conditions in the United States have favored freedom of conscience and religion and therefore these fouders have succeeded in creating these groups. But at the time of the apostles Roman and Jewish politics were not very free and yet true Christianity prospered despite subsequent persecution. Even the great mass of money, how much has it influenced the growth of these cults? Did the apostles need billions of dollars to spread their teaching, or was holy spirit enough?
I probably should have left the elder on the hook more. Now my mom is shunning me and my dad it torn and trying to ride the fence. I may have to call the elders again and demand some sort of two sided argument. They literally just railroaded me and I never got to confront the actual issues. It was, "do you think this now? Ok you're kicked out." It was such a joke. Now my relationship with my own parents is a mess. It's absolutely driving me nuts.
This is solid advice and I wish I hadn't made each of these mistakes, haha. Seriously, to anyone reading this who is waking up: Avoid talking to the elders! There will be no confidentiality honored to you. They will go on fact finding missions to prove you're doing something wrong even if you're not. Save yourself the nightmares and panic attacks that follow from their "shepherding". It's a scary time and that brings added stress you do not need.
I agree with you one hundred percent!!!!
Absolutely
I’m currently going through this.
@@SynFull6988 so sorry 😢. This person is right never trust the elders or you will have a target 🎯 on your back. Thank god my family is out and I was never baptized. My husband is not one either
@@stephaniegoggin7952 I’m so glad you got out when you did. I was born and raised in “the truth” so the teachings were always pounded in my head. It made my life and thinking difficult. And it still does. It’s amazing how long brainwashing damages you. It’s wonderful to see these comments filled with people who know the feeling and are fighting for freedom.
Thank you for this video, lots of great info here. I actually thought I was the only one doing the "rehersal" discussion. I cant tell you how important that was for me. I recently had a long talk with my elder dad and I was stunned at how poorly he was able to defend his beliefs when presented with solid evidence. First, he didnt admit to the fact that JW's believe that any and all non JW's will die at Armageddon. In fact he said, "I dont think we have ever been that dogmatic in our publications." I said "dad, I think with little effort I can pull up at least 10 publications saying so." Later he admitted that the organization did in fact falsely prophecy the end of the world several times saying that the organization is "led by imperfect men." I agreed, and said "what does the bible say we should do for those that falsely prophecy or speak for god?" I was going to read to him Duet 18:20-22. He wouldnt let me, he said "I dont want to see it." Imagine that, an elder not letting someone use their own translation of their own bible. Anyway, thanks for the video and look forward to the next.
Jimmy, it’s incredible! I had the SAME EXACT conversation with my elder grandpa. They are like all equal-printed.
In your dads defense, during the Australian pedo trials you had the Governing Body declaring that calling themselves the only group that would be saved by God would be presumptuos and that the call was only Jehovahs to make. A lot of the ignorant dumbasatry taking place at halls is the culture of ignorance and knowledge through a game of telephone.
Been in 50 years. Always thought me and my parents would never die and survive Armageddon together. What a disappointment, currently pimo. Your advise is so true. You have to be VERY CAREFUL as to WHAT you say and to Whom!
I certainly understand the sadness you feel. I experienced the same devastation. I feel it's psychologically damaging to a person to be told "You will never die" only to discover later that you probably will, it's a bitter pill to swallow. It's easier to be raised from day one knowing you will eventually get old and die, that way you have your entire life to accept it. My father used to tell us when we were young children "there's no way you will make it to your teens before Armageddon." Years later when he was in the hospital dying over a mistake a nurse had made (she gave him a fast drip of a med when the doctor ordered a slow drip and it sent him into Code Blue and cardiac arrest) I remember asking him after they had temporarily revived him to an element of stability how I should feel if time keeps going on and I end up growing old how should I feel regarding all I had been taught? (He was an elder) He told me I should keep believing in it. At that point in time, I had every intention of following his advice as he was a very wise man, but after the overlapping generation theory and a series of other disillusioning bits of information were revealed, I decided that my mother and father had been sucked in because it sounded believable and it offered hope for the future. I still believe we have hope for the future but I feel it lies with us as individuals, not as a collective part of an organization. The Bible says we will be judged as individuals. "God will search the hearts." There are a lot of questionable people who attach themselves to religious organizations thinking it will save them, and there are a lot of decent people who don't.
@@dissidentfairy4264 I am dealing with the "Im really goin to die " reality in my 40s and and thevhardest part is not that I know I will die, but my entire life I put any goals I would have had (stuff I kept only in the back of my mind, so no identity crisis thankfully) on indefinite hold. I ended up never raising my kids how I would have, I married someone I didnt want to marry. I was engaged when I changed my mind but too scared to break up with him because I would be homeless with no job and my biggest fear was having child services take away my (only at the time) child because of having no where to go. If I moved back in my parents house I would have killed myself or maybe led to abuse of my child over not having the help and being abused myself. Because when I was engaged I had finally moved out to live with my BF (both our parents against it bc we were un married) to escape abuse. My dad was so violently abusive and my mom was 100% neglectful and in her own little world always depressed angry and mean (she was the jw ,not my dad) . I ddint get my license until I was 21 and that was only bec the BF I had prior to getting married , helped me get a car.
So that I cant blame myself as much for staying with my husband out of obligation. I never wanted to be married to him so my entire marriage (21 or 22 yrs I lost count) was just a struggle emotionally with me doing things to escape like hobbies, working FT etc.. I havent worked in many years now and again facing homelessnes and losing my kids , if I leave my husband NOW after over 2decades. He is not a jw but he is not a nice person and I feel stuck. I have no family or friends (they are toxic to me & moving near them/continuing to associate with them would make me go crazy) to help me. The only thing keeping me alive is I have a special needs child I have to tend to 24/6 (accept when hes sleeping&evenings when my husband is off) I cant get up at 4 or 5am to get needed things done if I have to work in the evening time (Assuming if I got a job) ..... All of that mentioned above is what makes it so hard I literally cry every single day and have to close my bedroom door put ear buds in my ears to not have to hear him whining or crying because he refuses to listen (because his special need is disobedience on a level I have never seen , It makes me have to be there WITH him all day to make sure he is doing normal daily tasks like even using the bathroom bc he will pee his pants out of laziness. ) HAD I not ever believed the JWs or studied with them I would have pursued a career or had my own business, and married a man who is supportive & RESPONSIBLE ,a TEAM player. Not just someone who works, comes home to drink beers until he passes out in bed (after doing some laundry,washing dishes&helping put our child to bed). I would be in my own home, working a job and have HELP from others (maybe??? Or maybe not?) With my youngest. Being a jw helped me to box up all my negative feelings and thoughts, helped me keep going each day living just for the hope of a new world and a nee start of a brand new (forever) life! Now I have to figure out how to be on my own, cant afford an attorney (bc no job = no $$) and even then I legally can't get alimony or child support if Im the one who moves out, AND can't start the process until we have lived a part for 1 full year. He refuses to help with a divorce. He doesn't want to pay child support or alimony. He says he does, but if he did he would be helping me make it happen. So hes lying. I cant work because my child would be in some nursing home or special needs home where he would be abused and injected with poison and medicines that would make him far far worse, not better. Actually he would be living eith his dad who would just let him play video games all day while he pees his pants everyday , and isnt learning any life skills or teaching him to take care of himself. Im trying to do that right now,which is why I done work during the day. Imagine not being able to sleep at night bc you cant stans the person who is in the same bed. And there is not another room to go to or bed to go to.
@@ms.anonymousinformer242 Hi, I wrote you a lengthy reply but I wasn't allowed to send it. Could it have been too long?
@@ms.anonymousinformer242 I'll try sending it in two segments. Part A: I'm so sorry about your plight. You sound very trapped. I think we all feel trapped in one way or another but it sounds like you have it worse than most. I have a lot of mixed feelings regarding the way I was raised. In many ways, I was very fortunate. My parents were one of the more affluent JW's at the time so we always lived in nice homes and we took a lot of family vacations. I want to say I had a perfect life and in some ways, I did but still, it wasn't easy. I actually enjoyed the meetings and enjoyed learning about God but I remember thinking as a child one evening 'Can't we stay home just for tonight, not have to dress up and watch TV for once in our lives?" lol It seemed we were on a constant treadmill of meetings and more meetings. It made it difficult to fit in homework which created more pressure. Then there was the peer pressure of being different and not celebrating holidays, etc. I didn't have it too bad though because I had a knack for blending in with other kids of various kinds while not compromising our beliefs, and I don't remember being treated badly for it.
I do feel my parents took "spare the rod and spoil the child" a little too literally though. My sister and I were obedient and respectful. My parents even acknowledge it, and looking back on it they don't even know why they spanked us so much. I do. I think they felt it was their parental duty. Otherwise, in their minds, we were going to turn into unruly and rebellious teens and cause them a world of trouble, but that didn't happen. We did as we were told. As teens of course we couldn't date, couldn't go to school activities. I never gave my parents any problems over it because I understood the reasons why. I didn't even ask because it would have been pointless. lol The one safety valve we had, and I do consider it a safety valve, we were allowed to dress the way we wanted at school. My sister and I were always on the cutting edge of fashion and make-up. We were progressive in that regard, more so than even the "so-called worldly teens." We often made our own creations and we were artistically able to express ourselves. It was the only freedom we had and I do see it as a safety valve. It made the restrictive nature of the rest of our lives more tolerable because it was the one area in life where we had some freedom. In my HS yearbook, someone had captioned next to my photo "Change." So what does that tell you about my creative freedom back then? lol
Then there was the flip side. The excruciating task of getting down on our knees so our father could measure the length of our dresses/skirts before we walked out the door to the meetings. He had a two-inch rule that our dresses couldn't be more than two inches above our knees. He was an elder and had a reputation to maintain:-) At least one elder had an issue when I was on the platform giving a presentation once. While I was sitting down my skirt crept up on the side just above my knee even though I made sure it was tucked underneath me. I must have only been 15 at the time. The elder that complained was my father's prior Bible study. The person he brought into "the truth." He told my father it was too "distracting." My mother said to me privately after we came home, "If he gets distracted by a knee how does he manage to function in the real world." lol
I know what you mean regarding the choices older teens have regarding suitable marriage mates. In our congregation, there were a lot of beautiful girls and only one unattractive and not very spiritual-minded guy to choose from. I wouldn't have chosen him in a million years. One day a semi-nice-looking guy showed up to give a public talk at our KH. He was 23 and had the maturity of a 45-year-old. All the girls in the congregation were drooling over him. I wasn't attracted to him at all but guess who he zeroed in on after the meeting. He asked me out on a date and I was only 17 at the time, two months shy of my 18th birthday. I told him I wasn't allowed to date. I thought it was a good excuse:-) It actually came in handy at that one moment in time, but to my surprise, my parents said yes, that I could go out with him.
So we went out on a couple of dates and before I knew it he took me to his parent's large estate. It was a large ranch home with acres and acres of avocado trees. They had to use a golf cart to get around. They were very well-to-do people, and before I knew it I was being asked a ton of questions by his elder father. He was a stern man shooting off questions at me like a machine gun. He asked me how I planned to support myself if something were to happen to my husband. I found myself stunned and at a loss for words. Did he think I wanted to marry his son? I had never thought about a question like that. All I ever heard from my mother was I would marry the prince on the pale white horse and live happily ever after. The possibility of a dead husband wasn't even in the scheme of things. lol I tried to be polite and answer him the best that I could even though I secretly felt a bit annoyed by the verbal assault. I felt as if I were being scrutinized and interrogated for a high-powered job, with him wanting to know if I was 'good enough for his son, checking to see if I passed the test.
@@ms.anonymousinformer242 Part B:
The son then told me that his parents planned on giving us their beach home as a wedding gift if I agreed to marry him. The next thing I knew I was taken there. His mother planned a fancy candlelit dinner almost as if it was some kind of celebration. Gee, did I pass the test? lol The truth is I fell in love with the quaint beach home the moment I saw it. It was my dream home. It was so close to the sea that waves practically crashed on the porch. I know that every girl in the congregation wished it was them. I wished it was them too because I couldn't make myself fall in love with him, and the home wasn't enough of an incentive to make that leap. There were things I liked about him. His intelligence and maturity. He was almost too mature for his age. I actually felt a little intimidated by him. I was still a teenager at heart and he seemed all grown up. So I told my mother I didn't wish to date him anymore. His pretty mother, who I did like, but who seemed like a nervous wreck, sent HS graduation gifts to me and my sister hoping maybe to sway me. He stopped by too just prior to his mother's visit and handed my mother a gift for me while I hid in my room:-)
Next thing I knew his mother called my mother saying he had no business giving me the pricey necklace because he knew at the time he gave it to me that he was going to be disfellowshipped. The shock of the century! So she wanted to stop by and retrieve it and I was just as glad to see it go. So when she arrived she told my mother the gory truth. It turns out he had been pioneering with a 45-year-old married sister who was married to a non-believer. The 23-year-old upstanding pioneer had been secretly having an affair with her and she was pregnant. Fortunately for her, her non-believing husband stood by her. His mother of course was distraught and very apologetic. I couldn't help but think about his father the way he scrutinized me, and I was a virgin, the irony of it.
I know what you mean when you mention all of the things you passed up in life that you could have had. I was offered a modeling contract and a Hollywood agent wanted to sign me. In fact, he begged me to sign with him, but of course, that is not what JW's do, so I didn't. I even passed up a rock star once, and let's not forget all the other opportunities in life. We did it because we had the truth. It was the right thing to do. I have mixed feelings now. It's sad knowing we could live out this life and eventually die. It truly is a bitter pill to swallow as it was so ingrained in us that we would never die. It feels like a cheat. I look back on life and think what might have been but the thing we need to remember is life is always greener based on the unknown, and what if it had turned out even worse? I am thankful to have been given Biblical knowledge and as a believer what is a greater gift than that? My father was an Atheist before he became a JW. Would that have been a better life for me? Knowing nothing about God? Having no hope for the future? I don't think I would trade. I feel what I have now is far more valuable than what I could have attained being part of the world. I feel I more than likely avoided a lot of potential disasters in life. I still live my life as if I am a JW. Nothing has changed in that regard. I don't get involved in the political realm or celebrate holidays. I live a moral life and I'm happy living my life as an artist and doing Biblical research etc., and I do feel free.
I wish they hadn't come up with the overlapping generation theory. I wish they would have said something to the effect that many events in the Bible have gone over the projected timeline such as 40 years or more. If they would have said something like that it would have made sense to me and I think it would have bought them some more time, but when I heard about the overlapping generations the first thing I thought was 'You've got to be kidding me." I think that was the beginning of the end for me. Then I discovered other things and everything started to fall like dominoes. I wish it hadn't because it has been devastating to me, even now there is a tiny part of me that wonders, could they still be right? Because it's so hard to fathom that they aren't. Then I ask myself, 'Would God allow his one true organization to look bad? Would he allow them to make predictions that don't come true? Would "new light" ever reverse itself? Could thousands of cuneiform tablets be wrong about 607 BCE? If 607 is incorrect then where does that leave 1914? It doesn't. It goes on and on. So I came to the painful realization that something is wrong. It brings me no joy to say it.
So there you sort of have my story....I faded by the way.....
As far as your situation goes, I feel for you. You need to reinvent yourself before you snap. Isn't there some way you can find some help with your son? At least 1-2 days a week? Just so you can take a class? Maybe do something creative that fulfills you as a person? It might help to keep your sanity and give you a respite and be something you can look forward to. I don't know the age of your son or what sort of attention he needs but you need some kind of safety valve in life because it sounds as if you are living in a pressure cooker, and I'm sorry your husband isn't good to you. Your life isn't easy, it's very sad. I can see that but hang in there. It can only go up from here. As my mother always says, "Something wonderful is waiting for you just around the corner."
My sister who is a pioneer no longer wants to discuss with me. She is afraid of being contaminated by doubt as if her faith had become extremely fragile since my official withdrawal in April 2019. I think that my clear position will gradually enlighten my family. My withdrawal today is no longer a shame but a chance for my whole family. I was just faster than them.
You are very fortunate. Glad to know that you have decided to leave. The best decision that you ever made. Your family will hopefully wake up. Especially by your example.
Come back to the truth before you regret in the great tribulation come back while its not yet closed! Covid19 is a last warning to you all!
@@gamersTV5617 Once you have opened your eyes, it is impossible to close them again. This fundamentalist cult is living its last days. The end is coming but not the end hoped for by the Watchtower, lol.
@@laymanphil8513 I opened my eyes thats why I'm here now in JW and I am happy person now compare before
When I admit in the hospital Elders of JW care of me
Hello been raised a JW and leaving when I was young because of all the punishment and psychological abuse that I had to endure. I still pray to Jehovah day and night in gratitude but with a different perception of who he is even though I'm told my prayers are not heard! ( the gall to even say that to people)! I admire you for coming out with your experience, I've had to live without a family for over 30 years because of my decision to either live happily as God created me or commit suicide. Thank you for healing others, you are precious.
Divina Luz de Manifestation. ❤⚘😊🙏
Keep praying to God your Father because he cares for you! So much that Jesus died for you personally! God bless
Jehovah is an invented name. It's not God's real name. The name Jehovah came from a 13th century Catholic monk named Raymond Martini who took the vowels from the word Adonai meaning Lord and combined it with the Latin version of the Tetragrammaton JHVH. It's pure invention. You'll also want to consider being validly baptized in either the Catholic, Orthodox or Anglican church as JWs don't have valid Christian baptism (Father,Son and Holy Spirit) and thos denominations I mentioned have valid baptism, apostolic succession, and valid sacraments needed for salvation such as the Eucharist.
I cried I cried and I’m so grateful for your bravery. I was raised by a single mom as a Jehovahs witnesses. I had a spiritual awakening as an adult but even as a child I never agreed with the church I never wanted to be part of it and I stopped going when I was 11 . Nothing has ever made sense about how they describe our creator they describe him as a jealous selfish God who at the same time expects us to only worship him and have no mind of her own yet he gave us free well everything’s a huge contradiction . What do you believe in now Christianity do you not believe in religion I believe in God and Jesus I just don’t believe God is the way they say he is I think he’s a source energy I appreciate your channel I’m going to continue to support you
Thank you for this. I'm an ex J.W, too.
Not just a little bit helpful, but greatly helpful indeed! Love your videos!
I didn't unload info on anyone I just stated I have doubts and can't see myself staying. And literally all my family and friends dropped me. I only told one friend only because he asked himself. I wish I would've waited. Cuz I'm about to speak with my best friend whom I still love and cherish right now. I was never baptized and still the heat is so intense. I wish I could've seen this sooner before being so rash.
Great job of helping people get the overall perspective of what is involved in leaving JW's and in helping family or friends.
Everyday, people on Reddit say, "I want to fade, how can I do this?" Or, "I want to leave Jehovah's Witnesses, should I send in a letter of disassociation?" "I want to wake up my mate, how do I do this?"
It's good for people to know that this organization has become streamlined, and is very cautious of anyone who has doubts about the organization.
Check exjw Santos Bonacci and Jordan Maxwell
Read occult wisdom like Manly P Hall
They were always paranoid, nothing has changed.
I’m very thankful you made this video. Incredibly Glad to see some more content from you. This was also a pretty convenient time for this video to come out because I am currently in one of those difficult situations.
"Doubt"...there is no doubt. This is a vocabulary of wt. What happens is that we have a strong of evidence against a lie. Cognitive dissonance is not a "doubt".
Thank heavens you said it. I don't like when I hear people use that word doubt. It's no longer a doubt if it's confirmed.
I am not leaving the organization for a doubt. I am leaving because I can prove "the truth" is a Big LIE. And I can prove it using only Watchtowers own publications.
I left the organization years ago. I am now attending Iglesia Ni Cristo. I invite you to check out their website for spiritual uplifting, understanding, stability, and strength. I hope you succeed in your life journey.
I think now that any awakening is different for everyone; different levels and many never come out of the deep slumber.
I think this organization is gonna disappear soon, a few members of my family are there, but I'm scared of this, I cannot imagine the things that will happen to them when it is over.
The days of the cult are Numbered!!!!!
Excellent points. When I first woke up, I tried telling my pimi jw parents about the CSA problem. They didn't want to hear it at all. They had excuses for the borg at every turn. I don't say much to them about jw stuff now as I don't want to ruin my fade and lose contact with family.
I started to tell my JW relative about the CSA problems in the KHs. She admitted that she knew of a case being handled in a local KH (this was pre-covid.) (So much for that CONFIDENTIALITY that the "clergy/ELDERS" are supposed to keep.)
When I told her more about JW CSA & ARC, she said, "I don't even know if it is illegal!". DOESN'T KNOW if CSA is ILLEGAL?? What world does she live in? I guess in one where they only care if it is a sin, not a crime.
( ◜‿◝ )♡ thanks so much for speaking the Truth 💕✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ peace 🕊️ and love to you and your family.
@Its Me I had to double check and make sure this wasn’t MY comment that I forgot writing. 😁
That is my situation to a “T”!!
My mom has always felt strongly about CSA and even said the Bible supports not forgiving them if the abuser isn’t repentant. When I tried to tell her the thousands of cases of CSA being found out and the Thousands and thousands of dollars being spent in court to cover up their deception, she just acts like it’s just one bad apple here and there. I told her I didn’t think all JW were abusers but the way it’s handled is disgusting and unacceptable. Maybe I planted a seed in her mind but she sounds like your mom, just believing everything the GB tells them to believe.
I will as to Fallling Tower’s list of words NOT to say:
1. Cult
2.Brainwashing (that one went over like a turd in a punch bowl) 🤣
Thank you for your videos and hope to see more soon!!
☮️💜☮️💜☮️
Great 👍🏾 very informative and educative thanks
I no when I was in a car group a sister said the man on the door told them to go away he said they are disgusting and she said I don’t know why so I said that is probably all the child abuse and court cases that are all over the internet my last time on doors I then disassociated my self after and it was the best thing I have ever done 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
I admit talking with friends and family is hard because they're deeply indoctrinated and any detection of negative discussion makes them shutdown. But in the case of child abuse I do stand my ground about going against the two witnesses rule when they're for it. The conversation gets so heated that I exit out real fast. Awesome video!
Pretty sure they killed off the two witness rule and now have a call the cops and let them settle it policy. Pedo cant come back to hall where there are children once they are on a watch list. Sad it took them this long.
@@acedia4453 the two witness rule still stands today. My mom asked her elder in her hall about reporting child abuse. His answer was the same, you need two witnesses to be a valid case for disfellowshiping. I said to her that's crap because child molesters don't abuse kids in front of you. That's stupid. I asked an elder in my last congregation and repeated the same garbage about the two witness rule. There's absolutely no care for children in the Jehovah's witnesses religion.
@@caroldanvers265 No, you need to watch some of John Cedars videos to stay updated. Your mom obviously isn't keeping up with policy. Thanks to the relentless work of the Ex-JW community on the matter and world wide pressure, that two witness rule in cases of child abuse became a Call The Police and let us know policy.
@@acedia4453 okay thanks for your feedback
FYI this is incorrect. The two witness rule is still in place. They only report if required by law and there are no loopholes they can take to avoid reporting and claim clergy privilege.
Edit to add: the only change they have made is that they allow 2 witnesses to a “similar event” to count as two witnesses. Thereby guaranteeing that there will be multiple victims instead of just one.
I have lost all my family as they have shunned me,all I can do is pray to god to guide me and put his arm around me,I know he doesn’t hate me 🙏🏻😢
I’m going to write a book “My life as a JW and how I cooked the books at the Kingdom Hall.”
I've always wondered where it all went. And I've always suspected the elders taking a lil off the top. I'd love to read this one...
Let's here it.
@@loriw1234 Let’s just say I always had money for a ribeye at Outback Steakhouse every Sunday.
😂😂😂😂
Let me know when it hits the book stores. Id be glad to purchase
So much great content in this video, and so aptly relayed and laid out. I was born into the Witness religion and ended up getting baptized when I as 15, still very much a child. I can't tell you how long I've been disfellowshipped as I was only told I was so by my ex-husband! Neither of us were given a sit down meeting, a letter, or even a phone call. The amount of mind, thought and behavior control is boggling. I had faded myself out and so it wasn't a devastating loss to me to find out I was shunned. When I see witnesses in the stores (I live in a very small town) I do not put my head down and avert my eyes. I look at them directly, smile, and say hello. I am a much happier, more fulfilled person now than I was ever allowed to be then and I do not want to portray anything less than that to onlookers. It does make me sad that I'm probably called an apostate (the Witness version of the boogey man) and much worse. I also have one parent, my father, still very much ensconced in the religion. He does not associate with me, my sisters (who were never baptized) or his 10 grandchildren. To know that life is so short and that is how they choose to spend it is astounding.
It is so true that we have to constantly practice both sides of the conversation to be on point whenever we are confronted by an indoctrinated family or friend. Any pause or stumbling of words send a message that you are not strong, happy or confident outside of the org version of Jeehoobah and that you need to return to him. It is absolutely unfair that the struggles you continue to go through in decoding their false teachings and being separated from family gets absolutely minimized in their trained ego that they have the one and only truth. In your conversations with them, you may have to be like Paul and speak of the name Jeh with them (along with Christ which they don't do) so to get them to hear your point and show that you can be spiritual w/o the org. You are fortunate if you live further away from your former JW community, and you don't have much family tied into it or at least brainwashed to shunning you. Otherwise, this is the constant training that you are going through when you just want to move on and progress in your own mental health. Thanks for the good content.
It’s got a lot in common with leaving a domestic violence relationship.
What an amazingly apt comparison!
Yes. I ran a women's shelter for 25 years. It's just like that.
Was a JW for 40+ yrs. It’s a very dysfunctional ’family’, very controlling and emotionally abusive. My family had some incredibly painful experiences with some of the ‘friends’ then we were expected to ‘put ‘things aside’ and be a ‘loving family’. I consulted 3 mental health professionals over 1 incident and was told to NEVER interact with them again as they were dangerous. They were elders in my congregation, of course. Every meeting was gut wrenching as nothing happened to them except they were forced to apologize . Within a year they both moved, tails between their legs. They are still elders somewhere else 😔
The elder book has it all covered. And your right about depending on where you live..... I learned along time ago just walk off, cut your loss and try and pick up your life and heal from the trauma of it all. Trying to fight it is like taking sand to the beach!!!!
That's not easy when your parents are witnesses and elders
@@heassik3088 Both my parents were witnesses. I didn't say it was easy but it is what it is. You just have to find your own way. It will work out eventually.
I'm an ex fundamentalist Christian. Southern baptist convention specifically. I like your videos, even though I've never been a jw.
Do you still follow Jesus?
@@janiceharris9919 I'm an Atheist now.
Jehovah's Witnesses changed my life I was addict and violent sinced I studied with JW I changed my life. I love JW they are good and friendly!
@@gamersTV5617 that's great you were able to make changes by applying Bible principles and improved your life.
I was raised a JW and still am. We teach clean conduct for the most part.
But the last couple of years Jehovah through His Word and Spirit has showed me that we are not completely following Jesus or listening to some of the things he taught.
For example, John 6:53, 54 & Luke 22:19,20.
If Jesus tells us to do something, says that we can't gain life without doing it, and never says not to do it, shouldn't we listen to his voice? John 10:27
Jesus is our Master and we need to follow him and listen to what he told us to do.
May Jehovah bless you as you grow in truth. 🌅
Dear Jake StarTV,
Victory Outreach is an American based Christian ministry to drug addicts and alcoholics.
I have seen miracles of deliverance, in this ministry, when addicts are introduced to Jesus. Sometimes deliverance is instantaneous although most take time.
There is no charge to participate in rehabilitation homes and no one who wants help is turned away.
Except for its corrupt theology, the Watchtower offers nothing.
I don’t know what I would do without this channel.
Great Job pal!! Keep em coming!
Thank you so much for helping others with your knowledge. Please continue to share your biblical knowledge and the things you've learned in your research. May God richly bless and keep you safe and well, in Jesus name, Amen!
GOMER OZ and DANDAR is g.o.d in freemasonry and Zeus is jesus or iesus or Krishna or crystos and AMUNRA is amen.
RA is the sun
Israel is ISIS AMUNRA ELOHIM
Hope you are doing ok, I love your videos. Please don’t hesitate to get counseling, or to take time off for yourself. I’m not implying anything; counseling is like getting a massage - it can only help. I have been through a situation similar to yours, and it is immensely difficult to move on and live your life. Take care!
Thanks for your video. I have been in the process of waking up for the last couple years probably, but most notably in the last 6 months. I made pretty much every mistake you listed, lol.
Like in your former congregation, our elder body here is awesome and very understanding. I’ve had a few chats with two elders in particular, and a 3.5 hour heart to heart with one of those two. It was an enlightening experience.
At one point, this dear brother admitted to me his primary reason for remaining a JW was that it was, in his opinion, the best environment and structure for serving God along with his wife.
I completely respect that position. However, it wasn’t the first time I had heard such sentiments. Years ago, I studied with a devout Catholic man (whom I met in the door to door work) for a couple of months. I took a well seasoned elder with me on our calls. We got into deep issues of the catholic church. We broke down the trinity doctrine verse by verse.
When the man finally decided he had had enough, he shared his reasons for why he felt he should remain in the Catholic church, despite not agreeing on some serious issues: “it’s the best environment and structure I know of for serving God with my wife and raising our kids”.
Wow. De ja vu. Now, I have faith that dear catholic man did his best to shield his kids from the more damaging doctrines of the church and the fear-based theology, and focused on the positive lessons of living an upright, moral life.
And I see a lot of JW families making similar choices these days. Downplay the negatives, accentuate the positives.
But Christ said we must worship in spirit and truth. JW’s love to pull that scripture out to try and convince other religionists that “good enough” really isn’t.
My biggest doctrinal challenge to JW’s right now: forbidding partaking of the emblems to non-anointed. If you are still in, but on the fence, do a really deep search on the topic of who should partake. Read info on the beroeans site. Plumb the depths of JW library.
Then meditate prayerfully on what Jesus actually said in John 6:48-58. And read the account recorded of the last supper in Luke 22. Pay particular attention to the distinction between the “New Covenant” (which is what the emblems signify), and the Covenant for a Kingdom. They are mentioned separately, and are not the same thing.
Also interesting to note, there is no clear biblical support for the assertion that Judas was dismissed prior to the emblems being passed. But he was apparently dismissed before the covenant for a kingdom was made, by the wording, “you are the ones who have stuck with me...”
My next big issue: teaching two separate hopes for faithful Christians. It’s just not substantiated in any way by scripture.
Following that, the things that really convinced me were the origins of 1914/607; the way bible students had zero understanding of what was supposed to happen, combined with the fact they continued to teach that Christ’s presence began invisibly in 1874 up until at least 1927.
Combine those points with Deuteronomy 18:22, and what Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:23-27 regarding his presence... and well, case closed on the GB I’d say.
I now consider myself a free christian (though I am only in the beginning phases of my fade out of the org), with no intention of joining up with a particular denomination. I feel we are in the time described as “beginning of pangs of distress” shortly before the last days. If Jesus is to reveal one true Church on earth, it hasn’t happened yet, and it’s important to be ready to exit whatever denomination we may be affiliated with in order to avoid sharing in their sins.
I am hopeful that I can use some of the points in this video to help my PIMI wife. Thanks again!
Wonderful insight. I am not good putting into words my thoughts, but what you have shared completely resonates with mine
I was a J W for a long time but my J W husband abused me hitting me all the time. The Elders never do or said anything about it. So I left my ex husband and I’ve never been really so at peace. What a great decision I had 🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for all the great info! I'm PIMO and have tried to slowly ask my brother and bf questions. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
I was a evangelical Christian growing up along with a couple of aunts. However the majority of my mother’s (not my mom) side were either born or raised as JW including my grandparents (joined after migrating to ny in the 70’s). Sighs….We’ve never been mean to each other but since childhood I’ve always felt I’ve have to tread lightly on certain things. I’d really like have a better communication with them no matter how long it takes.
I’ve been watching other videos lately on spirituality and religion and just found many videos like yours I find meaningful and just want to thank you for this specific topic.
Absolutely excellent 👏 I know it ,I have seen it and I have heard it. We need to remember that witnesses in general are very thouchy...very sensitive...you have to be careful when in the congregation let alone being out.being out you definitely have the time to look back and see things basically speaking I was experiencing some of you're points when in the congregation...but being able to see and know much more after being out.
Great video. I hope to talk to my wife about all this as I woke up last year. Hopefully, I can retain my marriage.
After a year, did you talked to her and retain your marriage???
@@Nathaly0886 It is retained, but strained.
Finally another video. 😃
Born in and have been mentally out for a couple of years. I’m 24 and buried my doubts since I was 13. Things might start to get interesting
how ya doing?
Same… I’m 24 as well, I just distanced myself a year and a half ago. Guess I’m considered “inactive”
@@missdaydreamss
I’m getting contacted a lot more often now! My grand father is my service group overseer and I can hear the disappointment in him when I say I have 0 hours. Thank you for asking!
@@yasmindiaz888
I’m considered inactive as well! I can still be a good person without an organization. What a crazy way to grow up
Great advice! Could you do a video with a few topics /talking points you use that might plant seeds in our JW families minds. Thanks
Good advice planting seeds. The seeds have to be planted so they’re thinking about subconsciously for when the right moment strikes and they take the next step, eg doing research. I think that moment often happens within the organization. For me it was as simple as an elder telling me I had to put in at least 10 hours of service to be MS, despite going through hardships and meeting every requirement and being highly respected (told to me by another elder) I knew there was no scriptural basis for the 10 hours and that got me so angry realizing there was politics involved it wasn’t all about the Bible. Moral of the story: plant those seeds and wait for the elders to screw up. 😉
Nice job!!
Great Job! Looking forward to your future video. We are PIMO and totally relate to rehearsing and talking to ones self in the car. Todays handsfree phones make for a great cover. LOL
We agree , that you have to find 1 or 2 subjects that are fundamental deal breakers. Stick to that, know the subject inside and out and not be drawn into peripheral issues. Keep up the good work
Why not be POMO?
"And then you faded into the background, and suddeenly you were no more..."
This is an important video. I hope it helps who it’s intended for. ❤️
I wish I would have heard this before I spazzed out, ran around angry and hurt telling everyone what I've found out!
Interesting to see how in that book stuff like "apostasy or "spiritual weakness" is contextualized as concepts, not against _the truth_ in general, but "the truth taught by the Jehovah's Witnesses." To me, that's evidence that, as you climb the hierarchy, the priority shifts from doing God's work or whatever, to protect the organization itself. Very interesting.
Yes. Protecting the Organization jumps right in as you bring out issues. BT - DT.!
Great video thanks 🙏 it will help a lot of people
Awesome information. Thank you!
Can't wait for your next video
I really regret there is no promised movie. Do it because you do it wonderfully. Lots of people need this. We are still waiting, hoping that you are all right.
Incredible that you mention the type of people they prey on and now I understand why some territories aren't even touched. I've sinced moved from the lower income side of town where my congregation was- to literally 3 miles away closer to the beach where you can find a variety of social classes including millionaires and in the two years I've lived here only ONCE have they knocked on my door. Also explains why while out in service they'd say that the target audience was "people that are going thru hard times and need Jehovah" and that middle class didn't want to be bothered as they already live with the idea that "they have it all" and would label certain groups of people as "not loving god or not in need of "the good news" because they likely had everything they needed and wouldnt be interested. I Always thought that was strange. Just little things like these progressively over time coupled with the betrayal when I was at rock bottom- that helped me lift the veil.
It makes so much sense why I always was pushed aside, canceled or ignore while growing up I always had doubts and everytime I went to the elders they said to me I shouldn't associate with my younger cousins cuz I'm a bad association, they never answered my questions or tried to help me, they just told me to keep studying.
Thank u I’m struggling right now! It’s not me but my family yet so painful to watch.
Awful
How can I talk to you one on one?
oh gosh, just wonderful watching and listening to your videos, so appreciated
What a loving man, what a generous hearted caring soul to give back to others in this way
...*sigh* why could I never find a JW type man like you in my sphere *sigh*, I always ended up dating “broken” men who needed fixing 😕 when I needed a guy there just for me and my own “healing”😔
Anyhow, niceties aside, snapping back to reality for me:-
I’m so cautious to awake! my PIMI loved ones up. Previously I have shared blatantly obvious inconsistent doctrinal “concepts” and facts with them and it has essentially resulted in “dire” mental-processing negative character response development - like you say in your video re Morpheus from Matrix, they are so drip-fed attached-dependant on the only logic/ reasoning system they’ve instinctually adapted their entire life, they lose balance and become something of an irrational character. I’ve learnt not disturbing the only life-reasoning processing they understand, is better for their mental health and living livelihood. Keeping them alive is better than seeing them eg take poor actions/ company eg alcoholism to numb the confusion and grief of being lost
It’s awful I know, but on numerous occasions over the years when they would back away from JW.borg, because they’ve had no normal social interaction or any stable non-JW inter-person processing skills, add limited education, they turn into like societal “trash”, no one has time or understands them or what’s really going on in their world in those periods of “enlightenment”/ distancing from JW.borg. They have been robbed of psychological congruency, coherency, comprehension
I am always holding out hope, as a part of their healing need, that they will eg see a massive formal public apology from the “high control” organisation that essentially robbed them of their life, JW.borg
Like the 2008 formal public apology the Australian government gave to Australian Aboriginal First Nations Peoples, televised live all over the country for all Australians to see, as a part of civil acknowledgement of accountability for past injustices, as a formal apology of wrongdoing being a demonstrative desire to effect genuine healing and to see tangible reconciliatory measures onwards
“...We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country... etc etc”
Likely that’s not going to happen with JW.borg. As an organisation headed by uneducated men it’s a wonder they’ve not imploded thus far; even ancient anointed Israelite heads/ kings had their apology and non-infallibility biblically recorded. So I’m keen to see more of your videos/ and whatever commenters have to constructively share/ positive experiences/ encouragement
I have much un-learning to do. Agarpe hugs to you former-elder and beautiful natured man, for waking up and being true to you
Thank you! Your information and heart are appreciated!
It’s all about maintaining and expanding mind control. Everything else is ancillary.
The most peaceful and the happiest and the most loving in the most amazing people I’ve known have been people that believe in God but not religion they don’t believe in control and they believe that all we have to do is just be kind that’s all we really are here for to be kind we shouldn’t feel like we have to sacrifice our happiness in anyway I just save ourselves from a horrible death
JW’s see me and ask:
“Are you still a JW?”
Me: “I am no longer a publisher for the watchtower bible and tract society.”
Them: (confused look) “ Are you still a JW?”
Me: (trying to get them to think)
“I am no longer a publisher for the watchtower bible and tract society A BOOK PUBLISHING COMPANY.”
Them: (asking a third time)
“Are you still a JW?”
Me: “ No, I left the book publishing company known as Watchtower!”
Hello I hope you are well !
Well done for 'leaving', and then 'educating'! J.W'' s are a very beautiful group of people; unfortunately misguided by the covetous controllers of the spirit of this world. But, I am grateful unto them for teaching me the Bible for many years: to not be 'totally sucked in', whilst learning the elementary background knowledge .......
To find for myself, that 'heart to heart', and 'face to face': That, the Lord is the 'Greatest Teacher'. Jehovah is true; but all men 'liars', when they 'lie' unto all innocent congregations to prevent the 'Witness' that ought to be witnessing unto them: that, no man may defraud each man his brother by laying upon God a false claim.
I would not tell the Elders of my doubts. The elders will act like they care, but then tell the rest of the elders to watch you ...who will have pillow talk with their wives.We all know once the Elders wives hear...its all over the circuit! Then the elders whoever you talk to..the elders will probably double back behind you and ask them what were you talking about.
Yes! Most of these elders wives are ruthless !
I agree with you
Thank you Matt very helpful
Great Video!! Keep these coming buddy!
People in the comments on this video. To all of you including myself who are currently going through this. Obviously we aren’t alone. But we may be alone in our community. Can er start a dialog in whatever app would be best to help each other out? I know I would love that.
Awesome videos matt thanks andrew
I just found your channel, Thank you sooo much for the info and in a way you handle it! Very wise and professional! Being in a 30 year abusive relationship with my Narcissist/ sociopath witness husband which on top of that has Tourette síndrome/ severeocd and intrusive thoughts 🥵! Was exsausted from the abused and on top of that the lack of caring from my “Spiritual Family” All they had to say was “ hang in there” Jehovah hates divorcing “ we know he’s killing you emotionally, mentally, verbally, Physically, will withhold meds, financials take my car keys, my house keys, and on top of that they will tell me oh!! Just work with your marriage, Jehovah hates divorcing, CONTROL YOURSELF when you loose it because this “Baster” is provoking you… I’m sooo infuriated, disappointed, heartbroken, couldn’t believe what was experiencing.. that’s all I have to say from now.. 😔
Great video(s). I'm glad you got out, it takes a lot of strength. Since you mentioned S.E. at the end; are you familiar with Anthony Magnabosco ? He has a channel about it with lots of really good interviews. One of the people he interviewed now has YT channels as well, called Objectively Dan / Truth Wanted. I think he's ex-JW too.
Thanks for this info I have a friend trying to get me back in she wants to have lunch and wants me to come over to her house I agreed to meet at the restaurant, the loving sneaky tactics to get me to come back I see them, I want bring up negative conversations but if pushed I will slightly tell them. New to your channel.
This is known to be true
Excellent advice. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the great video. Btw, I'm a pimo
I did that bro I told them why I was absent in meetings when they called me by phone 3weeks ago. . .Finally free here. 2days ago. I was announced after midweek meeting. I thought my letter of disassociation would be read after meeting. But it wasn't. I feel dis appointed..They just announced my name sister T. S is no longer a jw. Hearing that I thought that would be okay bcos that's my intention to make exit in this organization. But my ego. I was hurt. You can't easily leave in this organization without consequences..And shunning is real. They right away changed the password of zoom to prevent me from joining in meetings. #Cruel. I feel hurt until now. Even if I don't anymore like this organization. This religion is hurting people.
@@exjw.believer.philippines damn, I feel sorry for you. I'm underage and I've been intending to get out without fucking me up. But that's totally inevitable, just so u know, i wish you good luck with ur problems, and I'm passing through all of this shit too...
@@exjw.believer.philippines Don't let this kind of thing take ur mental health and peace off.
@@kaua2802.Thank you. For your advise. I'm more diligent now when it comes to bible reading and study That a big help. And I'm always listening audio bible reading that I've downloaded on my phone. From the book of Matthew to Revelation.
I would not belong to ANY organization that would have me as a member !!
I THOUGHT OF MORPHEUS AND THE MATRIX RIGHT BEFORE YOU SAID IT, HA HA
You mean you don't call them up after not seeing them since 2005 blubbering incoherently and telling them they're in a Truman show, oscillating between screaming and crying? 😂😭 I think I screwed up then!! 😭
The whole world is also in a truman show , in the same way when it comes to the lies that secular "authorities" have fed the masses.
@@ms.anonymousinformer242 I think once you see how manipulative this cult is and the truth unfolds, you then see it unfold everywhere and you realize the whole world is essentially a big cult.
Letting a pit bull chase them usually works for me !👻
I was a Jehovah’s Witness as a child to early adult of which I was disfellowshipped 2 times due to my confusion of life and having a condescending controlling mother, and the strict expectations required as a witness and never being listened to by anyone and believing any and all statements that a witness was and still is required to live and abide by. After listening to the gentleman here of which I would very much like to talk to about my experiences and how my whole life has still been controlled by the inner expectations that I had to live with and never feel like I have not been good enough as a person to feel like I’m really a good person.
I know I am a loving caring and kind person of which I have been my whole life and the indoctrination I was subjected to. Is there anyway I could talk to you and find peace ?
Your mindset is very peaceful and real
Great advice 👍
Thank you ❤️👍
Thanks for your videos. I think it is a disgrace how they call Catholic church worshiping idols, and the cross as bad. That celebrating birthdays was pagan and not allowed in this organization. I couldn't and wouldn't give up my power or conscience to join them. I'm not that lonely or desperate for friends. That's what they do. They appease your loneliness saying how the congregation will love you. But it is a scam.
What is the diffrence, as a catholic, you have to except that the pope is Christ on earth ,
Bro, your cadence when reading is so JW style, lol
That alone is enough evidence that you're legit
Please provide more information on the ARC and issues with how the elders handle the issues with child abuse.
For the ARC videos: ruclips.net/p/PLPQ6KZ-AGhVQbadlzMQN26dvMPzddxlui
For a summary of the ARC by a non-JW: ruclips.net/video/TsvJMlg_SaM/видео.html & ruclips.net/video/eWuMkO5UWlA/видео.html
For the ARC transcripts: www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-studies/case-study-29-jehovahs-witnesses & www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-studies/case-study-54-institutional-review-jehovahs-witnesses
There are many issues with how the JWs handle CSA. They should report every allegation to authorities. If they want to claim to JWs and the public that they are not clergy, then they should not claim clergy privilege in court. I can assure that elders do not maintain strict privacy on confessional matters. These matters are discussed among fellow elders, fellow bodies of elders, with the CO, and with the branch. That is not confidentiality.
It is insane that if the elders hears of an allegation of abuse, their first step is to call the branch for guidance. Yet, if the KH has someone there to vandalize it, they are to call the police immediately. They literally care more about buildings than protecting children.
JWs give leeway to their religion that the offer to no other religion on the planet. Consider the following scenarios as examples:
1: Ask a JW: "Do you think it is our responsibility to the children in the local area to help protect them against a possible abuser?" I always add to that: pretend that you found out your 10-year-old neighbor was being abused. What would you do? Would you just leave it up to the family? Absolutely not! You would do the right thing and call the authorities to ensure that that child was protected along with the other children in the neighborhood.
2: Ask: “What would you do if your child was abused by a neighbor and the local Catholic priest knew that this individual was an abuser but in order to protect the reputation of the church and to hide behind his clergy penitent privilege, he said nothing to anyone and now had more victims, including your child. Would you then use the same excuse that you were using for your organization and claim that it is valid for the Catholic Church to use it too?”
3: Ask: "Would you be willing to go to a door in your territory and tell the householder that if there is an abuser in your congregation, the leaders of your religion do not have any need to report it and that should be the parent's responsibility to do it if they choose to do so".
The organization maintains a database of abusers and refuses to turn it over when demanded to do so by authorities. There are plenty of apologists who claim this is not true. I assure you it is. I had to call the branch to UPDATE their records on an abuser. (*edit to add that this individual did go to prison and is in the registry)
At some point I will do a video covering this issue, but those are some points that immediately come to mind.
The problem is: if you wake this people up you’re going to take away from them all the hope they have. And as much as I don’t believe most of the things that I’ve learned all these years, it’s sad to know that I won’t see my mother or my father ever again, that one day I’ll die and there’s no hope. Some people are just sticking to the religion in the hope to see their family again or to have the chance to live forever. It’s complicated.
I wish I had watched this a year ago.
Thank you! Have you had any success at all waking your friends or family since this video was published?
I generally don’t have conversations with JWs unless they bring it up or approach me. It’s a massive waste of time,incredibly frustrating, and people generally only wake up when they are ready. I nowadays will just hand someone my research document if they want to know why I left. Having said that, there are some that left or became PIMO after finding out I left and started questioning themselves, but of course I don’t ever speak publicly about it for their safety so they can fade as they wish.
@@TheFallingTower I so much appreciate your reply and I have had the same experience. I woke up 2 1/2 years ago and my adult children have completely shunned me. No amount of love can even reach them. It’s just heartbreaking what this organization does to families and people’s minds. I hope you are living a happy life.
@April Renee Bailey Thank you, April. I highly doubt my children or husband will ever wake up. The mind control Watchtower has is like an iron grip…it’s pure evil. I hope you and your daughter are healing from this religious trauma. ❤️
Hi M. Here is the Video i mentioned. Just incase you cant see it by email. Its all mind blowing stuff.
You seem like such a lovely guy. I'm sure you'll find many friends in our big world... :)
Greetings from Denmark! I'm a born again christian and JW's have been coming to my door for some 15 years now and I continue to welcome them for theological debates as these people are among the most peaceful and friendly, I can think of. They're this odd mixture of a whole range of good solid christian values and - on the other side - a variety of doctrines, including a bible translation, that are just plain wrong - unbiblical in essence. But - be kind to these people and show them - in their own bible - who Jesus is and what He teaches.
Good job!
They're so loving, aren't they?
👋🏼 It’s just a ‘Community’ thing for many. Going through the motions absolutely mindlessly. My relatives are among those…. 😰
Jesus is my Savior, I believe the Bible, God’s Word
well done, more videos please
I have bombarded my ex boyfriend with apostasy cuz he asked me straight forward wether I read some apostate material… in my mind I thought - it is our last conversation so I wanted to give him all I know .. we talked for 3 hours and it wasn’t our last conversation … but with time he choose to stay.. he wasn’t ready.
This is awesome. Thank you for opening my eyes, this video should have been out much sooner. I'm over a decade regular pioneer and I'm now conscious of where I am. I confided in one elder and he took me to the body of elders.... the rest is a nasty history. This organization is something else, the least said the better. How can I reach you man? Do you have a social media handle I could reach you?
You can email me at thefallingtower1914@gmail.com. My other social media handles are posted at the end of my latest vids.
@14:40
JWs may find the word “cult” insulting but aren’t they really a cult?
If you were to watch, for example, RUclips interviews and documentaries involving past Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple cult members, you will see definite similarities between the JWs and Jim Jones' Peoples Temple cult. These similarities include isolating members from non-members as a form of information control, outside threats to the cult’s existence, utopian promises that seem to offer relief etc. etc. etc. The similarities are striking.
I think I did exactly the wrong things compared with all of these suggestions in relation to my wife joining and then changing
I was too busy working and supporting a family to see what was happening in her world. Then when I tried to address problems she shut down and turned against me
You don’t need a trick! ! Everything you say…say it with Love! God is Love….do all things in Love! Love never fails!
Amen.
What he said happened in my own head. Having these conversations with myself. And then with other jw's. But then I realised that my reason for being inactive as JW was that Jesus said "I am the truth".
And that the holy spirit will give you words when you need to defend your faith.
@@pije23 Thomas said to Jesus after he was resurrected ….”Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the WAY? Jesus said to him: “I am the WAY, and the TRUTH and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6. And please read John 15:18. Please do not leave the TRUTH! If you look at the news, this world is on the way out. Fires, not only in the US, but now in Greece and other countries….there are monstrous floods in China, Germany and other places. The ice glaciers are melting faster because of the Global warming. Politicians are going crazy….actually no one knows the way out! Stay with Jehovah and his people…the day of Jehovah is finally getting close! I watched the news tonight….and everything that is going on is right in your Bible, including pestilences! Stay close….it’s your life!
@@joniroylance8729 Yes Jesus is the way. Exactly.
Yeah no wishful magical thinking doesn’t work.
@@lp7744 Then it seems you’re not really sincere about any problem! I don’t really know! Don’t worry…Jehovah knows your heart and thoughts. I’m sure you tried though. Your first major problem is listening to these videos instead of the up building ones supplied on the website. Try it…you may be surprised! You can talk to me anytime! It’s getting late…don’t leave!
I was wondering if it would be helpful to say that all the well-known movements related to so-called Christianity are of American origin: Adventists, Mormons, Evangelicals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology and others. Some will say that the political conditions in the United States have favored freedom of conscience and religion and therefore these fouders have succeeded in creating these groups.
But at the time of the apostles Roman and Jewish politics were not very free and yet true Christianity prospered despite subsequent persecution.
Even the great mass of money, how much has it influenced the growth of these cults? Did the apostles need billions of dollars to spread their teaching, or was holy spirit enough?
I hoped to see more videos of yours. Where did you go?
"Read my lips ... I wanna be in the Kingdom, Not stuck in the Hall." - Jr ☺
Please help us understand what the scriptures mean and what we can expect.
I put my faith in John 3: 16
John 14: 6.
I probably should have left the elder on the hook more. Now my mom is shunning me and my dad it torn and trying to ride the fence. I may have to call the elders again and demand some sort of two sided argument. They literally just railroaded me and I never got to confront the actual issues. It was, "do you think this now? Ok you're kicked out." It was such a joke. Now my relationship with my own parents is a mess. It's absolutely driving me nuts.
I hope you could check Thought Adventure Podcast channel, join their live stream discussing about your past JW worldview & your current agnostic view.
Literally took notes