You're so right. Jesus would never have criticized the religious leaders of his day. Barring, of course, the following couple of verses: Matthew 12:1-8, Matthew 12:9-14, Matthew 15:1-9, Matthew 16:1-4, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32, Matthew 21:33-46, Matthew 22:15-22, Matthew 22:23-33, Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 22:41-46, Matthew 23, Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Mark 7:1-13, Mark 8:11-13, Mark 10:2-12, Mark 11:27-33, Mark 12:1-12, Mark 12:13-17, Mark 12:18-27, Mark 12:28-34, Mark 12:35-37, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 5:17-26, Luke 6:1-5, Luke 6:6-11, Luke 11:37-54, Luke 12:1-3, Luke 13:10-17, Luke 14:1-6, Luke 16:14-15, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 19:45-48, Luke 20:1-8, Luke 20:9-19, Luke 20:20-26, Luke 20:27-40, Luke 20:41-44, Luke 20:45-47, John 2:13-22, John 5:1-18, John 5:31-47, John 7:14-24, John 8:12-20, John 8:31-59, John 9:1-41, John 10:1-21, John 10:22-39, John 11:45-57, John 18:19-24.
Well considering Watchtower will encourage destitute Africans who can barely eat to give what they cannot even spare to the organization instead of actually helping these people, I am pretty sure Jesus (the figure from the bible, not any actual historical Jesus) would go and overturn the tables of these "money changers". They encourage children as young as 6-7 to get baptized (note if they get baptized and do something to get kicked out of the religion liiiiike be gay or divorce a physically and emotional abusive spouse except on the grounds of infidelity, read apostate literature or up until a few years ago get a blood transfusion to save your life then nobody in the religion is supposed to talk to you, even your own family).
Hey, nice video. Im a fencing instructor, and a couple years back we got a new student name Logan. He was super athletic, very friendly guy, and was very invested and passionate about training. He stayed with us for about a year, and by the end of that time we were discussing how we can help him get even better, and how he'd soon be a leader in his own right. Everything seemed to be going well, we were going to tournaments, improving ourselves and having a good time. Everyone loved him. But one day he stopped coming to class. We tried reaching out but he said he was busy, that he may have to suddenly move and that he could no longer fence with us. About a month after he left, another buddy who was closer to him than I was told me what happened. He was a JW, and he was excommunicated from his family, his community, and his church. And about a month after that, it was around Thanksgiving, we got an announcement from our Head Coach that Logan had been found dead inside his home, from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. It was ruled an accident, and everyone at the funeral maintained this. I have never been more angry at a group of people in my life. I miss him every day. I wish I had been able to do more.
I'm so sorry for that loss. Stays with you. Sadly an all too common occurrence! An epidemic really. And the JWs will act offended at the notion that their shunning practice leads to people ending it all. It's incredibly offense how they deny that they do what they do.
That’s really sad. I know others who have ended their life too. They do not care about this issue either as they consider this was your fault and shouldn’t sinned.
So very sorry for your loss. There was an arrogant, dismissive active witness arguing with people in the comments on this guy's first video. I wrote a response and mentioned how a governing body member lost his nephew to suicide, and his response was that he was not gonna read my long comment. It's not an uncommon occurrence at all, and I just wish this cult would crumble away sooner rather than later. But there are still too many arrogant people who will not face their doubts and cognitive dissonance because it is their whole identity and they don't want to admit they were wrong. They won't even listen long enough to learn about the suicides, let alone acknowledge the shunning causes them.
The number of exjws that commit suicide is astounding!! I am one of those suicide attempt survivors... 4x I tried and I'm lucky to still be here today. My entire family is still in the church and has completely disowned me and it's painful! But I'd rather be free and alone then back in that cult
@@Paypaylove729 glad you're still here 🫂. Sadly it's also not just those that leave. It's not uncommon to hear of active JWs attempting or succeeding. Hard to know for sure, but I imagine many of those are for feeling trapped and alone, knowing they're in a cult.
I can tell you, from experience, they are not as nice as they want people to think. They do love bomb like no other when you are new. But once you are in they show their true colors.
An "iron fist in a velvet glove". I believe that's how former Governing Body member Ray Franz described it. There is an iron fist underneath all that display of niceness and it hits hard.
Have you read the Bible? Scripture is pretty clear that Jehova does indeed have an iron fist and will literally destroy people without remorse.@@chrisowenssff4876
Mark my words.....the dude in the Video will become a Jehovah's Witness. For it is written: Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand. (Daniel 12:10)
@@chariethe So you never removed someone from your life that was negative or a bad influence. Hypocrite you are! Everyone in the world lives by these standards not just Jehovah's Witnesses. Heck even Planet fitness removes you or cancels your membership if you don't follow their rules.
The thing about "emotions being suspect" here is accurate. Being human isn't really welcome in the organization. Honestly, any emotion that isn't joy, calm, or neutral isn't really welcome, even if you're a child. I'm also super happy that you made a part 2!!!
The JWs ruined the word "joy" for me. It was so overused . Every pioneer interviewed on the Assembly platform would say how their service gives them joy. Yeah right! It was so fake. "Joy" is a triggering word for me, one that almost initiates a gag.
@@Rupunzelsawake oof sorry about that, want me to change it to happiness? The original word was the only thing I could think of at the time as it felt more akin to the cult.
Yeah i woke up at 22 and realized I had as far back as I could remember been repressing basically all emotions other than happy and was just numb mostly. Cause feeling down is not allowed and I have gotten heavy people pleasing tendencies from the cult. So don't feel cause that's what will make you seem to be spiritually strong.
I love these videos. As an ex jw, I can say this is a very accurate depiction of the kingdom hall and extremely valid criticism 👏🏾. I can't wait for part 3!
@Andrew-pv8oz I'm a woman, so I was not looking for tail lol. But you can't date until you are ready to be married, and you can only date with a chaperone. Oh, and premarital sex is a disfellowshipping offense. So definitely not a good place to pick up women.
@@lovehatetragedy823 when I was a jw years ago me and a friend who was jw too made arrangemnts to go together to service, the elder assigned 2 sisters to go with us. During service one of the sisters started losening up and everyone followed her lead then after service she blew me in the back of my truck while my friend was driving. I grew up as a jw and I can tell you jw sisters are even more naughty than women from outside
They call collections…it “we have a deficit for $___”. Bethel demands a certain amount money paid, per person. So example. Let’s say it’s $10 per person , at the convention and 3000 ppl show up, and let’s say with utilities, it costs $3000, That add up that amount, together and say, we have a deficit of 30,3000, and everyone will donate.
Don't forget by the end of the year, every year, they publish an article telling you how to donate properties, bonds, stocks, CDs, and even include the church in your will.
I value this perspective so much... I'm currently stuck in the religion under threat of being disfellowshipped and shunned by all my friends and family. (Although starting in August, they won't call it disfellowshipping anymore) The positivity you saw is how they are told to be. They are warm and inviting with the soul motivation that it might help you convert more easily. My whole life I've been surrounded by it, and it is very much a toxic positivity. It's caused me a lot of harm being raised in it all, as well as guilt for my depression when I didn't express that much joy/brotherhood. I always wondered what was wrong with me. Turns out it wasn't me. I'm still trying to grow away from it all. But they make it so incredibly difficult to leave. They don't just encourage you to remain loyal to them through song and study. They indirectly threaten you with being shunned if you do choose to leave. It's a big ball of nope for me.
Hey man! Hang in there, I used to be a JW before Covid. The change gave me space to wake up. But leaving is the best decision I ever made. I’m much happier out here, and I believe you would be too. My advice is that you start developing a life outside the organization on the down low. Start hanging out with good people in the world, there are a lot of good people out here. Just be smart about it and keep it a secret until you’ve created a life outside, where you can leave and not have it destroy your life. If you want to talk, reply and we can connect. I wish you well!
I agree with everything you said. I was disfellowshipped at 15 over 20 years ago. Stay strong it gets better. The world can be wonderful when you work at deconditioning yourself. Going back would be like a dog going back to its vomit.
It is now called removed from the congregation. My JW mother shunned me to her last breath. My crime I testified at the Australian royal commission. How dare I testify about God's earthly organization. Apostate warning. I understand your pain. All I can do is send you a hug. Peace
Completely understand you, and why, and how; but rather than throw a fit along with you; i ask you; question, so you feel that instead of teling Jacob to dress up like Esau and bring dad Esau's soup, that Rebecca should walk on into Isaac's tent herself and say WTF you think youre doing, Youre not gonna bless Esau in my household. You owe that blessing to Jacob not Esau. If you dont shape up; i'm going to the elders and i'll divorce you; and stay celibate; painting you as a fornicator; until i can marry someone else. (My mother never learned to be humble with dad nor men, but she stepped-down humbly tucked-tail and manipulated many an Elder who wanted to dominate her, shame her for going to circuit overseers on them, etc. What was sad is that mom never realized that the terrorizing fear in her eyes people saw in her anger could easily save a church standing up to a wolf or lion or bear. Only woman or person i ever saw who could grab shut the mouth of a growling dog and make him whimper and lick her, damn dog still never stopped pissing in the kitchen; learned to hide it on the cloth furntiure.)
@@djparsons7363 I've literally been reprimanded before for not facing my householder enough because facing/addressing the congregation is not a woman's place according to them
I’m an ex JW. In case no one else in the comments has mentioned it, they have tweaked their blood doctrine so that you can take fractions of the blood but not the whole blood. RUclipsr “Surviving Paradise” said it best, “You can have the ham or the lettuce or cheese or the bread, but you can’t have the ham sandwich”. I love your observations of the JW’s. Don’t be fooled though. Their love is paper thin. If you express any disagreement with their doctrines they will turn their backs on you and call you apostate. To them an apostate is on par with being a child of Satan.
This! Im a 4th generation JW, now ex-JW. My father is an "elder" in his congregation, and has nothing to do with me or my siblings or his grandkids, because he knows we all refuse to be JWs (I am the eldest and was the only sucker to get baptized, as a minor of course). Being an apostate, or someone who willfully leaves and renounces the cult, is the worst thing you can do in their eyes. Like a Scientologist becoming a "suppressive person". Cults gonna cult.
@@lewnight19 I was the first of five children in my family to get baptized. I was pushed into it by trying to please my parents. Luckily my sister, although a JW is strongly against shunning. But of course, she will never be able to voice that publicly. She has always had my back and been there for me,
Ex JW here, and I've been out for 27 years, but my whole nuclear family is in and my dad and brother are elders and HLC (hospital liaison committee). I honestly can't say whether what you said about the tweaked blood doctrine is current and true, but I can tell you they don't live by that tweaked or updated policy. I work in the OR as a circulating nurse and when I have JW patients come in for something as simple as a colonoscopy they show up with an immediate family member or HLC to ensure that no blood OR BLOOD PRODUCTS of any kind are administered period. They are still very steadfast on that stupidity. I have also seen a JW mom explode on her elder husband in a hallway to force his hand into giving their bleeding and dying child blood too though, so good on her. I'm sure it's a family secret because JWs don't confess and they exist on an empire of secrets! I don't miss that corporate cult in any way.
Raised JW, left at 41 roughly 2 years ago, now atheist. I was so pumped to see this video get posted. It cracks me up how much Heliocentric has gotten the whole vibe after just 2 or 3 meetings. Everybody is super nice, but it's all surface level and they will cut you out instantly if you leave. The primary goal is to make sure people don't leave or think for themselves. Do you have questions? No problem as long as you arrive at the pre-approved answer. And don't worry about wasting your life. This life is basically a waiting room for when we get to live forever in paradise. Also, I can speak with that exact JW cadence as all believing JWs and exJWs can.
@@misterdoctor9693 I use it at Halloween to pretend to be a demon preacher at a haunted house. I could literally quote JW literature in that voice and scare little kids. Actually, when I was still proselytizing I did, I made a kid cry with a picture of Armageddon in the kids Bible Story book. I had to tell him that was actually going to happen. Which in hindsight was basically a threat
The Othering and fear of people outside the JW faith would shock people. They present as massively friendly, but if you aren't interested in their message you're seen as a condemned enemy.
Exaggerate much? No one is seen as an enemy and no one is judged as one, that's why people are revisited regularly unless they plainly state they do not want us to come back.
@@djparsons7363 What you are doing here is called "theocratic warfare" inside the organization. Lying in order to protect the public image of the organization. Of course those who don't want to listen to your preaching are seen as enemies. According to Stephen Lett, even babies are "little enemies of God". You are discouraged again and again from getting any information from sources outside of your organization, because those are all misinformation, spread by the enemy. You are literally told that everyone outside of your organization is controlled by Satan. And even more seen as enemies are those who were members of your religion and decide to leave, or even worse: Criticize or disagree with the 9 old men in Warwick who rule your organization. These people are shunned and lose contact to all their friends and family overnight. Because they dared disagree. You need to understand why you are sent door to door to preach: It's not to spread the good message of Jesus and convince new people to join your religion. If that was the goal, there are other way more efficient ways to generate new members. No. The reason why you are ordered to annoy people at their homes is because your leadership wants these annoyed people to rudely tell you to piss off. This way you feel rejected, hated, ostracized by the world outside your organization. Only the other members of your religion understand you. Only there are you safe and accepted while the rest of the world hates you. By being as annoying to people outside of your organization as possible, you ensure a negative reaction from them which in turn makes you even more emotionally dependend on the organization. It's one of THE most common tactics employed by cults to keep their members dependent and thus loyal.
Out of curiosity, aside from the obvious sheltering in home making it easier to stay away from congregation (I'm guessing), what's the correlation between the pandemic and exjw's leaving since then? I am a stupid ass uneducated atheist and would love to know!! :D
@@kropotkinnie cult indoctrination, you have to be constantly busy, it suppresses your critical thinking. Jws constantly have crap to do:meetings, field service, family study, preparing, they micromanage every aspect of your life. and you just get in a routine and do it without thinking the pandemic interrupted everyone's routine and we had time to think and we all started collectively waking up and doing research and being done with the religion. it's almost like being in a trance, no lie. me and some of my friends woke up learning the same things about the religion, without even communicating it to each other. We kinda just knew something wasnt right during covid. Most are self aware now
@@kropotkinnie 1) when two or more people spend a lot more time together, it’s a lot more likely they’ll talk to eachother about feelings and doubts 2) most JWs don’t have WFH jobs, so a fair amount had to have been laid off or otherwise been financially compromised by the pandemic. When you’re struggling to make ends meet and the congregation is useless, you may end up bending JW rules to feed your family. And when the elders criticize you for preventing a family crisis, it’s easier to see them for what they are. 3) being laid off, you’re going to get bored, and JWs don’t often find themselves with a lot of options for leisure time. I know some who threw themselves into studying, and when they ran out of new literature, they moved on to older literature from their own generational libraries and found things that didn’t make sense (like how JWs used to decry disfellowshipping up until 1950). 4) in general, a major JW control method is keeping people busy. But without being physically surrounded by all these believers all the time that power starts to wane. A lot of the control is peer pressure, and some folks begin to deconstruct when they aren’t always being watched.
@@kropotkinniemore free time, less cult activities, less direct contact and scrutiny from others, elders (local pastors) only visiting you to get your time sheets AND donations.
Im sure you think they are absolutely nice and lovely people but when my husand was disfellowshipped his own mother refused to attend his wedding because she was shunning him. What loving parent skips the marriage of her child ?
When they used to disassociate UNBAPTIZED people, I was a teenager and they did that to me. Three years noone would even LOOK at me at the Kingdumb Hall! My own sister didn't have me in her wedding and she limited contact with me. I was no longer allowed to hang out with her or anyone else from the KH. SO STUPID. And then when they changed the rules again, they never apologized and expected ME to just accept THEM all back as if the didn't treat me like I was DEAD for 3 years!!
And that tells me everything I need to know. If you think that breaking your promises made in name of God "doesn't matter", you're in for a rude awakening.@@benjaminlammertz64
Man I am in awe of your ability to cut through the JW surface level niceness and right to the heart of some of the major issues! This is why JWs warn of the dangers of critical thinking. You were so close on your explanation of the No Blood doctrine too. It was the 1940s under the 3rd Watchtower president Nathan Knorr. I really hope they change this policy as they have others. But they praised so many families for basically sacrificing their children to this doctrine. How do you survive changing that when so many people have died refusing blood transfusions on your word that that is what God wants?
Thank you so much for this series👏🏻. Please cover shunning/disfellowshipping in depth. I got baptized at 12, was a normal teen who dabbled in teen stuff and got disfellowshipped and kicked out on my own at 18. My dad was an elder and my uncle was a member of the governing body (Daniel Sydlik) so my family was in deeeeep. I have been shunned by my family since I was 18 and I am now 46. My mother has literally cut me out of her life (I could call once a year for medical questions but nothing else). It’s been horrible. I have 3 brothers, two of them haven’t talked to me since I was 18 (one of them was a Bethelite and leads the hospital blood liaison group) and one of them randomly will call every few years but resists talking to me normally. That a cult can dictate familial love is not only absurd but a huge human rights violation.
@@Ballykeithyeah my history is pretty wild considering I did get to see behind the scenes a bit as a kid at Bethel due to my uncle’s status I have kept my history close to me until recently. Not being silent anymore.
Hi Vivian. Do you remember when they shunned & "Disasociated" UNbaptized ones? I was one of them. They treated me like I was dead. I was also a teen when this happened. For 3 years they kept this rule. Then, they suddenly changed it & everyone expected that I be HAPPY about it and just act as if nothing had happened!! No apologies or anything from anyone. I never got baptized. I stayed away for quite a while, but then got sicked back in again. Studied 3 different times and then I'd just attend meetings. Finally quit everything and haven't looked back after I found out about the CSA & Australia Royal Commission. Watching Geoffrey Jackson up on the stand LYING and NOT "being BOLD" was IT for me! It pissed me off & ever since I've been going down the rabbithole of dark secrets this org has hidden away...or tried to! I had 3 bloodless surgeries which delayed my recoveries and put me in great danger for 2 of them because they were major. I could've died & knowing that my mother was willing to just let me die at 15...that really kills me now. Big hugs 🫂 & love ❤️ to you & ALL the rejected ones who were / are mistreated in this cult!! I am so sorry for how those people treat you! That is NOT "FAMILY". P.S. Were you in NY? I was in Patterson area. Attended Dover, Pawling, Patterson & Somers over the years as they shuffled congregations around & back n forth (just like Jehovah's schizophrenic charriot! Lol ) 😅
@@cultytalk wow, I don’t remember that but it doesn’t shock me! As I have gotten older I have realized that even if JWs got rid of shunning, it would be bittersweet because no one would apologize or care or understand the gravity of the toll it takes on those of us cut off from our families for decades. It is kind of like when I realized that if I were to pass away, my family would probably just state that it was expected because I was a part of the “world” because we both know they don’t allow themselves to grieve properly or have human empathy or a capacity to understand life outside of their bubble. As for your experience with bloodless surgery, you are a survivor! I can’t imagine how terrifying that was having had my first major surgery this year. And to put you through that is so beyond horrible. My mother let her mother literally die in the 1980s when she could have been saved with a blood transfusion. I cannot get over that. That my oldest brother is head of their hospital blood committee is so gross to me. I grew up in NYC in Queens. We had a lot of Bethelites in our congregation. Visited Bethel a LOT as a kid because of my brother who was there and my uncle (the governing body is a complete scam!). Also visited “the farm” in Walkill and also Patterson. Sorry you went through what you did. This is a part of our healing though in a way.
Religion is relinquishing control of your mind to God. Why WOULD God's followers approve if you claim to have given control to God then speak against him? What exactly are you even saying? What is this thought you speak of? Is it sinful?
@@hyperteleXii 😂😂😂 thought is a dangerous thing that the devil can use to trick you into leaving the organiz.. Jehovah. Aethists tend to be free thinkers who struggle to find God in religion. Many people find community in religion and will do anything for their tribe. Including giving up control of their thoughts. That's an easy trade for some. For others, not so much.
@@hyperteleXii That's a strange definition of religion. Aren't you guys normally putting a LOT of emphasis on the whole "free will" thing? Because you think this somehow solves the problem of evil? (Spoiler: It doesn't) Also, speaking against a group of men who lead a cult CLAIMING they work on God's orders is something very different from speaking against God. Even IF you believe God or gods exist.
Yeah, that's the whole point. God gave us free will, our most powerful ability, and to sacrifice that for the glory of God is the ultimate sacrifice. Giving up what you value the most. Spoiler: It does indeed solve the problem of evil. Stop being a rebellious individual who reserves the right to do evil, and join God's peaceful collective that promises not to do evil - that's literally the pitch. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that people who swear to do no evil do less evil than people who think everything is allowed unless someone complains loud enough. God himself led me to Jehova's Witnesses. I experienced divine revelations during convention. This is real, it's not a cult. Also, these men who lead us literally quote the bible to justify their every claim, instruction, and order. My belief in God is exactly where my belief in JW comes from. It's not just a funny old book I'm reading, or a community I wanna be part of, or indeed a misogynist cult as some people seem to think. A holy F-ing spirit came into me years before I studied any of this shit. @@benjaminlammertz64
So not true. Full of love and joy they have. I have compared the churches. No one comes close. At least they wouldn’t kill you in war like the rest of the churches would.
They pride themselves on not passing a collection plate, but they had donation boxes in the back and every month they would tell the members how much money they still need to raise to pay the monthly expenses and how much they need to raise to pay back the organization for their building. The literature was free, but they let members know how much they should donate for the literature to pay back the Watchtower Society. Mind you, everything was built and made by their own members who volunteered their time and effort.
So...? You think the place of reunion is gonna maintain itself? And yes in life not everything must be quantified with money. Do your friends pay you for hanging out with them even if you're tired or must work that day later on ? No you do it because you care about them
@@thomash.schwed3662 Other denoms do this as well. The title held by a central body while the upkeep is done by local members. The Presbyterians do this with their church buildings. I'm not saying it's right just an interesting point. I'd thought JWs were congregationalist but not really when it comes to property. Most congregationalist churches do both: hold their own title and do the local upkeep. The UCC is really local like that.
The organization doesn't realize that they are blood guilty For every life lost due to not being able to have a blood transfusion. Blood is on their hands.
Not to mention they decide for children and family members who are unable to decide for themselves. There are also white blood cells in milk which JWs say are unacceptable but they don’t preach against dairy products or breast feeding. It’s funny how they accept some parts of blood but not red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets iirc. If they’re not sure the JW patient is supposed to rely on an uneducated JW who is part of the hospital liaison committee that turns up to hospital to pressurise the patient and their family into not accepting any medical treatment the watchtower has deemed unacceptable. Even using your own blood isn’t allowed afaik. How strange is that? It comes from your body but if it spends a time outside your body in storage you’re not allowed to put it back in. Would they say the same about skin grafting or sewing a body part back on? Will they disfellowship someone who nips their finger and instinctively puts it in their mouth for even a second?
They, in essence, are the Armageddon. The Destroyers. Their own Great Tribulation. Their own Persecutors. They have their “to-go bags” ready and will heed the clarion call of that soulless Governing Body, uninspired and making mistakes, those rusty mouthpieces of God.
I woke up like 15 months ago. I was disfellowshipped almost 2 years ago. I desperately tried to get back in and the elders kept quoting I had to wait a year at least. It broke me. They said, we can see you're repentant and you've completely changed your life around, but you still gotta wait. On top of all that, I found out about my cult's past. What really broke me, is the cult never said sorry. I had held guilt from my baptism at 11, til i was 30. Always apologizing for everything, and these guys have gotten followers killed, and not a single sorry. You jumped in this cult at the perfect time, they're rebranding hard. In October they have their annual meeting where they get 'new light' and they're getting rid of the term disfellowshipping. Just the term, they're still isolating ppl, just calling them "removed." Active witnesses might not even know this change unless they keep up to date with every single watchtower
When I left I found and read the elders manual, there’s no rule for a year, you can be reinstated after three months if you suck up hard enough (it’s in their stupid book)
Ask Ria Williams from Utah about her judicial committee for having s3x before marriage. She didn't. She was r@ped. Her r@pist also took an audio recording of the r@pe without her knowledge. The elders decided to make her listen to the recording over and over again and explain to them how what they were hearing was r@pe while she cried, shook, and begged them to stop. They settled their lawsuit with her. You can easily find video on this very website of a pretrial zoom hearing where the lawyer Watchtower hires admits that this is how it all went down, but argues religions have the right to do this. The fact you think it's normal for 3 men to take you into a meeting and grill you about who you had s3x with is just more indication that you need to wake up from your cult conditioning, whether they went easy on you and gave you a slap on the wrist or they ruined your life over it like they did to so many other people.
@@Mr.Market777if the elders don't like you they will make you beg and plead at their feet for years. Then when you give up they say they knew you were weak. Meanwhile someone who isn't repentant but says they are is back in 3 months just because the elders like them and they call it " holy spirit directed" .
A former 90’s and early 2000’s JW here (the golden years) before all the new light and now allowing beards!! 🤯 this was very entertaining to watch. I grew up going door to door, going to 3 meetings a week, giving talks at the Theocratic Ministry School (the training, public speaking portion of the week) and it’s so interesting to see someone like you attend and then talk about it. They do truly have some good kind salt of the earth people, they also have the people who are only nice to new people and even so it is still a high control cult that my mother is still in. New subscriber here, I look forward to hearing more about your experience.
Look up "The new personality". That's literally their way of speaking boiled down to a concept. They say "throw away your old way of life and put on the new personality". Their happy, cheery demeanor and the way they talk. It's literally " ditch the unique and interesting person who you used to be and adopt this uniform personality".
Big time. And if any unquestioning JWs have discovered you, they are reporting you to elders/hq, so that you can be tracked down and blocked from attending. (Thankfully, questioning JWs have no trouble finding videos like this!)
They need to be stopped, they are a vile and unhealthy cult. There is no redeeming qualities that come from that organization. The best thing that could happen is everyone leaving and realizing they were indoctrinated and lied to.
Keep in mind who is warning people that Christendom's churches will be destroyed at the tribulation, something we have preached for years. When it happens, remember who tried to warn you. You're welcome.
@@hyperteleXiievery single JW family is broken in one way or another by the organization. They ALL have family they aren’t allowed to talk to, whether it’s someone who left the organization because they saw through the bullshit, or it’s a never JW family member who can only make time to see the family during holidays and birthdays, which is completely normal
@@hyperteleXii 1- "ILLEGAL!!??" THAT sounds nutty. The STATE sets the laws, not JW. 2- Just because a man & woman are forced to stay together, does NOT mean their family is in tact, healthy and functional! I knew many families that were torn apart inside this CULT & I also knew many who actually did get divorced too.
Nice video. I love watching these as a christian. You give lots of practical advice on how churches can improve their service and devotion to God and community.
That’s good then because as an exJW who was disfellowshipped and shunned and lost everyone and everything, I have tried Christian churches and they get gossipy and mean and elite too. I never felt welcomed nor were cults understood so there could be ministry. I do believe in Jesus as God and Savior and Father and Friend. But churches, with how they make you turn and hug your “neighbor”-stranger is icky if you’ve ever been molested by a JW ped. And the screaming in those accents about hell and sin. Where’s the Good News? And it doesn’t seem like anyone really tries to emulate Jesus. I love praising Him and your songs are better, but the messages are so guilt-ridden and the codes of dress...naugh, you guys frown on others and gossip and do all that too. I stay away now. There’s no loving people. It’s BS. Like having to be in an HOA or part of a Tenants Council. Trouble. You’re not there for the broken-hearted. You think opening up a Bible for a old lady’s Bible Study once a week is holy. Naugh. You’ve gotta do it the Pastor’s Wife’s way. You can’t debate, consider, hear critical thought, ask questions. Nope. No different except people can just get up and walk away. Now THAT is good! ❤
@@christinesotelo7655 I feel you on that. Growing up in a somewhat strict pentecostal churxh I can relate to a lot of that. And my only knowledge of street preaching was the yelling and fear mongering rather than actual conversations that will be impactful. But yea many churches lack tact. i am not sure what kind of churxhes you visited, but it sounds to me like the mainstream evangelical churches. I found the same issues with them and plan on converting to catholicism soon. And i know that it comes with its own problems, but i find far less gossip and none of the “turn to your neighbour and….” Type of stuff. It is much more solemn to me and intentional than many of the things that go on in “evangelical” churches. But I think there is some good in most denoms, but there needs to be a way to collect it all and put it into one
@@christinesotelo7655 I’m sorry about this experience but thankfully it’s not generalisable to all churches, especially those outside the US. Yes there are selfish status seekers in the clergy, probably especially among the Monsignori and the Bishops, and sociopaths rise in the church just as in commerce and government. There are also terrible parishes which are cliquey and gossipy especially in the richer areas That said I’ve found many real communities and managed to work through a lot of my trauma in catholic parish contexts. Some of the priests/people who helped are just incredible. Like sit with me ugly crying for an hour at a time or on walks, and most amazingly saved me from homelessness by offering a free place to live in the monastery for a few months when I needed it. Everything it seems you sadly didn’t get but which you deserve and which definitely does exist wherever good sincere people are. The same catholic monastic community that helped me also hosted refugees most of whom were Muslim so it’s not a faith selective kindness. They also ran a food bank which again accepted anyone Christian or atheist. I’ve now moved house and parishes but my new one is also active in helping the poor in a food/clothing bank and has an incredibly down to earth caring lay community so it’s not just that one off priory in london On the touch question, anywhere more formal like a catholic, episcopal, lutheran, or orthodox church simply doesn’t come with that risk attached. I’ve also literally never heard anyone scream in any catholic, orthodox or anglican church in all these decades apart from the odd crying 2 year old, certainly not the parish priest or the preacher. I personally can’t remember the last time I heard anything other than a peripheral mention of sin in a sermon and the only threats of hell I’ve ever heard were issued to racists and rich people who don’t donate to the poor, both of which seem pretty fair and which stick out because they were so unusual. I recognise this may be different in the US, I know religion is more extreme and sin obsessed there, but surely not all churches? Anyone coming out of a really intensive group should perhaps avoid religion based communities of all shades for a while to process stuff. But if the time comes when you do want a community again try shopping around. The Quakers or the Lutherans or the Episcopalians on the Protestant end of the spectrum tend to be really beautiful safe vulnerable and humane communities from what I know of them. Or try some really down to earth working class catholic or orthodox parishes, especially one served by monks, nuns, or friars. I’d be amazed if you didn’t find something in your city where some really sincere and safe community exists
Spoken like someone who has never felt the touch of the holy spirit. Your mind cannot conceive of an animating spirit of joy because... you're dead inside. So you think everyone else must be too.
The JWs are actually cosplaying as well. Not that all of them aren’t nice, but they also shun at the drop of a hat, let loved ones die without life saving medical treatment and indoctrinate children with fear so… yea the nice is just a front.
About the offerings, during the week reunion (was on tuesdays for me), they would hold a financial report and let the congregation know if the rent money amount wasn't met, strongly appealing to the brothers and sisters generosity. Also I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your coverage, you went in with true objectivity and were able draw your own conclusions on what's right and what's not with the JW/WT.
@@ucanliv4everthey do? But yeah they don't post people that aren't allowed to enter on them. I would read that comment as a joke though. But there have definitely been times they send an email out to all the elders warning of a person being apostate. Though I think the one I remember was about not letting them into a convention.
@@randomuser6110 The meetings, assemblies and conventions are supposed to be open to all members of the public. Can't go denying people access to Jehovah now.
Oh man, how did it take me so long to find this channel? As an ex witnesses I apologize for my former religion and find it fascinating how you're reacting to the meeting content without the context. It reinforces how nonsensical everything was and makes me feel less crazy. If you ever want to get the context for an ExWitness then I volunteer as tribute
You think they’re nice? 1) Ask them about gays. 2) Tell them you’re not interested but let’s hang out. 3) Ask them about Armageddon. 4) Ask them about any holiday except for Easter.
JWs just keep Easter? If Easter then surely Pentecost given the Bible itself describes it as happening 50 days post Easter. The two festivals kinda imply each other
Also ask about blood transfusions and pedos. Its all smoke and mirrors. Dont get me wrong some are really great ppl but as a former jw we all grew up trained to be very judgmental. 😂
@@Jaxoflife Agreed. ✅ Know people who have converted to the JWs and they became oh so righteous and judgmental. And arrogant. 🤮 Not to be glib, but It’s truly a cult.
The blood transfusion “teaching” at the Kingdom Hall is all academic until an individual JW faces an actual life and death situation. At that point, it is demanded that parents steadfastly refuse to allow a blood transfusion for their child. The end result in effect is that a believer sacrifices themselves or their children to their god.
@@hyperteleXii First of all: No, that is very much not what the bible says about blood. Jesus pretty clearly told the pharisees that religious laws may and should be broken if it means preserving life. "I want justice, not sacrifices." Second: Even IF your god actually demanded people let their children die to prove their loyalty to him... that would only mean that your god is evil and should not be worshipped or followed.
If you cannot conceive of any scenario where a child's life must end in the name of everything that is good and holy, then you've clearly seen nothing and don't even understand religion. You think it's just a bag of ideas you can adopt the ones you like from. It seems to me like you worship Jesus, not Jehova. You would do well to remember that Jesus is not the supreme authority, Jehova is. Like seriously read some scripture. Jehova destroys children. It's not evil if they had it coming. @@benjaminlammertz64
As a PIMO (physically in mentally out, unable to leave currently) in this religion, i can't tell you how validating it is to hear your experiences. Seriously, thank you for making this, and i hope you dive deeper.
I used to work as a hospice chaplain. In my first job in chaplaincy, I had a patient who was the spouse of a JW. The JW spouse prevented me, in my capacity as a secular minister sent to provide nonconfessional spiritual,support to terminal patients, from ever having a conversation with the (non-JW) patient. She would inveigle on me for usually 90 minutes in fruitless conversations, blocking me from my work to hear the patient and provide whatever support he might need. Instead I had to listen to her, and she would never give me a chance to bow out. It was clear her job was to prevent me from doing mine. Also, her husband was a Navy Veteran and she was extremely ashamed of his service because JWs abhor military service, believing that national service is unredeemed idolatry that JWs are forbid to engage. Their obsession with the jealousy of their Jehovah knows no bounds.
You should ask them how do they feel about their governing body saying that they're not "inspired nor infallible". It's important because the organization has acted as if they are directly inspired for 100 years and continues to act that way. That's the culture. It was a big moment in their 2023 annual meeting. They would always say "Jehovah will protect you" they taught this literally not figuratively. But after the mass shooting in a kingdom hall in Germany and the bombing of a Jehovah's witness assembly in India they've started to change their tone quite a bit. If your expected to believe everything they say such as "Jehovah will literally protect you" and then you die while preaching in a bad neighborhood that you'd ordinarily avoid but you thought you were wearing a invisible bullet proof vest. At what point does the organization hold responsibility? They have big problems they're dealing with right now
That's super interesting. I'll have to investigate that more. Could you explain a little further though? You've got me super curious. How did the admission of the GB not being modern day prophets lead to terrorist attacks?
@@HeliocentricOfficialwell they say things like they are not inspired or infallible (this is in print) as a disclaimer to fall back on when they are invariably wrong about something. But at the same time, they tell their members that questioning the organization is questioning God, and not agreeing with the governing body on doctrinal issues is apostate thinking, which means to them, purposeful, direct action taken against God and his holy spirit, under the influence of satan the devil. They also say (again in print) that obedience to Jehovah’s organization is everything, and that it’s a test of faith if we do or do not comply with instructions and directions, even if they don’t make sense from “an earthly standpoint.” They tell their members they are God’s true organization and their lives depend on their obedience, and then under oath (look up Australian Royal commission) the GB said on the stand “it would be presumptuous to say we are God’s mouthpeace here on earth.” And THEN, thereafter, they publish talks about not believing everything you see on the internet to their members (the ARC was streamed on RUclips.) I could go on and on. The gaslight is STRONG.
@@HeliocentricOfficial this is incorrect, they've never claimed infallibility as far as I remember. I was raised in the religion, was a Ministerial Servant (Deacon) and a pioneer which means I had to spend 70 hours per month preaching. They don't claim infallibility and never have to my memory; it's actually worse. They straight up say, "we're not inspired, so we can be wrong, but God guides us so you're not allowed to question us." Then they change doctrine and you're expected to ignore the fact they used to teach somethimg totally different and never mention it or you risk being kicked (disgellowshiped) out for apostasy. There have been a few attacks by disgruntled former members which is not surprising given the level of control they exert, then just kick people out into a world they are not prepared for. They've happened in the US, Germany, and India. They don't pass a plate but they do beg a lot on their JW Broadcasting thing
@@f4rnsworth138 "God guides us but you're not allowed to question us", I agree with that. But being inspired by God typically refers to feeling motivated, uplifted, or creatively stimulated by a sense of divine presence or influence. This inspiration can manifest in various forms, such as ideas, art, or actions that reflect a sense of divine connection. Being guided by God, on the other hand, implies a more direct and conscious sense of receiving direction or instruction from God. This guidance often involves making decisions or taking actions based on perceived divine will or commands, usually through prayer, meditation, or other spiritual practices that seek to discern God's will. It seems to be a gray area that may be I'm right and you're wrong or I'm wrong and you're right. As well as you know as well as that the governing body a different points in times likes to push different agendas as the years pass.
To everybody watching this, look at how the JWs in the comments react to even the smallest amount of criticism. Everything they are is a facade. Be warned
Exactly!! They can't help it but to show how immature, self-centered, unempathetic & Narcissistic they truly are! Lmao 😂 such clowns!! 🤡 So much for "NICE!" 🤣 🤣 🤣
Hey, at a convention they literally did a roleplay where they said not to invest in compairing in new technologies and rather spent the money on the JW and work the time for the JW! This is so so cruel! I can not take it! I hate it!
I found your videos a few days ago and just have been addicted to them. They are super insightful! So to speak, you are doing a ministry that I wish I could have done by visiting all these places that I've always been curious about. Thank you Jared!
The Bible clearly states that everything freely given is given back manyfold by God. It's called self-sacrifice. You know, the thing Jesus was famous for?
Many of your observations are spot on! I think their emphasis on not leaving is a sign the ship id sinking because that is what lots of people are doing. There is such an easy accessible wealth of information on the internet nowadays that maintaining a bubble is very hard.
Of course they’re nice and kind to you. They’re love bombing you to snag you into their cause with their stepford wife vibes. They’re trained to welcome you and smile and ask about you and make you feel so welcomed that you’ll want to come back. They know most people seeking religion are usually coming off or going through an emotional event in their lives. I was one of these drones. So I can speak from experience. Once you’re in the cult, and the novelty wears off, the love bombing ceases for the most part and the judging and marking begins.
You guys don’t understand, I was born a witness and was in till 2 years ago. You are taught from childhood to NEVER show your true emotions to outsiders. If you make a “non-believer” feel uncomfortable and they don’t attend a meeting again due to your rudeness you are potentially BLOOD GUILTY. Those are the words that are used to 8 year olds and younger. Literally, blood guilty. I remember being terrified to tell my teachers at school my dad was beating me because we were JW’s and it would reflect badly on God’s name and in turn make them uninterested in being a witness and it would turn them away from “the truth” effectively killing then at Armageddon. These actions of “Love bombing” are so much more intense than you will ever know because of how truly isolated this group is.
Olivia B, what ones the Bible say? It doesn't say there is a Santa. Just how much reality is a parent to shield his 8 year old from. When I was 4 I was told I would burn in hell if I missed church on Sunday.
You have absolutely summed up all of the things about the congregation that I always struggled with growing up as a JW. Honestly, I feel like I’ve spent my whole life in some state of cognitive dissonance, that’s how much they screw you up!
I was a Jehovah’s Witness for 13 years. Do not be fooled by the fake friendly facade. They are no more “nice” than any other group of people. I believe the overwhelming niceness is termed “love bombing”. Once you are in you see beyond the curtain. There is a social order, a caste system, cliques that are jockeying for dominance within the congregation. I’m often asked about my time as a JW. I reply, “I met some of the nicest people. Also, some of the nastiest. Often, they were the same person”. Also, the whole virtue signaling about not soliciting donations. That’s not how they make their money. It’s real estate. The Watchtower owns billions in property worldwide. Stay away.
People who are confident in the truth of their message and have nothing scandalous to hide do not spend this much time and energy scaring people away from listening to their critics or examining other points of view.
What's hilarious is that Frederick William Franz, the primary translator of the New World Translation, only took two years of Greek at the University of Cincinati. He literally has as much formal Greek training as I do.
I have been able to jump into the JW accent (usually to show my kids) and go back to normal, but I made an effort to drop it. Mostly I only use JW words/accent jokingly, but it does occasionally slip through… *long suffering/undeserved kindness/The Friends* still make my blood run cold
They really are great people and I hate that it's so hard to even broach the subject of changing any of that without them completely shutting down. A family of Jehovah's Witnesses found me at the absolute worst point in my life and gave me a job and a place to live and helped me so much. And it's helped them a lot but now I don't think it's doing that I think it's hurting them more but there's no telling them that. So I just love them from afar.
You sound wonderful. They want to be nice and good people. Their FAITH is not the issue, it is their Organization of nine old men called the Governing Body who reside in NY, USA. And then it is the Business Pyramid scheme, Corporate and used for its multitude of businesses, mainly Real Estate holdings and Trusts, that hurt the people at the bottom of their structure. Elders are pumped up to be market-men, salesmen leaders, yet are not educated or credentialed or experienced to counsel the many things that could go wrong with people AND CHILDREN! Look at the way CSA is handled. And now, with all the recent changes, Elders are given so much responsibility because the GB needs to be able to hold an Elder accountable so it does not reflect back on the GB who is already up to their collective neck in litigation. They helped YOU because that is what they DO in the love-bombing hooking-in-a-recruit period. Then, once you’re baptized and in, the widows are on their own for begging help. The homeless are put out. The hungry in the community are not given food or shelter. You met their criteria: a possible Bible Study. A recruit. A member maybe sometime soon. And if you got in, and have property, beware. If you have nothing, you’ll simply blend in and be ignored til you disagree then will be easily “removed”. HLC visits the dying and hospitalized to wrangle anything that might be given to WT, and also to remind patients not to take blood. Ok, they were good and nice to you while you were gullible, vulnerable, needed help in a dark time. Yes. They are that way. 😢
Everyone has different personas. The kingdom hall persona is not the same as their driving persona, family persona, work persona. They have short tempers, anger management issues, gossip and disrepectful speech in everyday life. I generally found them to be like Jekyll and Hyde. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. But you're still at the stage where they'll lovebomb you and treat you with kid gloves. If you deal with difficult or unethical people, you may think they're not like that. They are very good at camouflage
16:30 Nope. Don't question the interpretation of their Bible and/or the doctrine or you'll be marked. If you continue to question you'll be removed (previously known as disfellowshipped as of August 2024) as an apostate. You may get away with challenging questions when you are a Bible study student, but 6 months in you better mind those independent thoughts.
Wow Jared, significant bump in views, congrats🙂 I keep watching your older vids, and I'm like why only 2-3k views? How long have you been doing the church reviews? I think they are amazing, production quality is excellent, and addictive to watch lol I'm pretty sure your channel is going blow up soon!
Looking forward to your next video. The shunning practice that comes with disfellowshipping and or just deciding to leave the religion is very dangerous. My wife and I’s entire family completely shun us. Our own fathers and mothers refuse to even say a word to us because we choose to leave the religion. Theoretically the next time we will hear from one of them is either 1. If The governing body changes the rules and allows them to speak to us 2. When They are on their death bed.
They don’t take collections but they’ll constantly talk about how you should donate to the “worldwide work”. I’m still physically in because I’m trying to wake up my family, but when I saw a video of a middle aged couple saying they were leaving all their money to the organization I almost screamed
You hit the nail on the head with this cult in your videos analyzing them. I would love to address a few things. As an ex member with some family members still stuck on the inside, you need to know how many ex JW activists there are on YT, exposing the organization's bullsh*t and speaking out on behalf of victims of s*xual abuse and shunning. My favourite channels are Self Aware NPC, Kevin McFree, JW Researcher Rose, Ex JW Panda Tower, David and Vivian Aspinall, Goatlike Personality, EX JW Analyzer... etc. - How 'nice' everyone is: The niceness is completely put on. You saw how they teach people manners, how to talk and have polite conversations. But all of this absolutely comes at the expense of true, human, emotional connection. Emotions ARE contraband. So it is almost impossible to make real, genuine friends. Everything is so surface level, even after knowing the same people for 25 years. - My mom converted to this cult because she LIKED the surface level interactions. It fits her personality -- she likes to keep things 'safe' because her parents were very unemotional. - I stayed for way too long because I didn't want to lose my mom, my dad's family were HORRIBLE, I was teased a lot at school because I had undiagnosed ADHD/autism, and the Kingdom Hall was the only place I felt safe, protected, and showered with approval.. at least from a few people. For a while. At least they didn't mock me openly, like my cousins or the kids at school... and that was good enough. - It was not until many years later that I realized I was stuck in a prison, and that EVERYTHING they teach about how to recruit is 100% predatory. People only join this group if they are hiding from real life or their real self in some way or another. Hurting, vulnerable people at a crossroads in their life. Jws favourite way to gain converts is to prey on grieving people, and needy single mothers (e.g. my mom). - Statistics show that most people who get baptized eventually leave (60% or something), which is probably why you see this 'Please don't leave me!' messaging ALL THE TIME.
-Every congregation has 'different' people, (and most rank and file generally avoid them) that are more interested in genuine Bible scholarship, or people who actually express their emotions. People who like discussing theology, but they know better than to share that stuff in comments or talks at the meeting. So unless you spend a lot of time together, you won't know they exist. You have to keep your theories about doctrine or the organization very quiet, or you risk being targeted and 'reproved' or outright shunned as an 'apostate' if you let it slip to someone you don't trust. - 'Apostasy' is the absolute worst thing in the eyes of the Watchtower. They say people who ask questions, have doubts about the doctrine, or who stand up for those who are abused are basically the same as Satan. They value outward appearance and 'reputation' above all else. Which means that if an elder or an elder's child r*pes someone, they will actually try to cover it up. They tell victims NOT to call the police. If they do, they are immediately shunned. The organization is FULL of cases like this, people who were r*ped by someone in their congregation, and they just have to pretend like it didn't happen. There are even reports from victims that some 'Governing Body' members in the past were p*dophiles, who covered up their child abuse crimes. Naturally, the rank and file members have no idea about any of this because they are told anything on the internet or TV about JW's that is uncomplimentary is an apostate lie from agents of Satan. - Any baptized member will be shunned for talking to an apostate. They will lose their entire social life (you're not supposed to have friends or date anyone 'in the world'), they lose any family in the cult, they may even lose their job if they work for another JW. Minor children are thrown out of their parents home to fend for themselves, and this is all called 'loving discipline.' It makes me sick to my stomach. - Recent legal developments in Norway have forced Watchtower to stop kicking kids out of home if they get 'removed from the congregation', their new expression for disfellowshipping (shunning). And now if a disfellowshipped person comes to a meeting, rank and file members are permitted to greet them, but not have a conversation. Nothing has really changed. But they hope this will get the government of Norway from holding back money they believe they are entitled to as a church organization. - Those skits you see at the meeting do not reflect reality whatsoever. Most people who participate in those skits (I probably wrote and presented a hundred of them or more..) do not have those experiences. We never get a chance to 'have a Bible study' with people because many are smart enough to do a quick Google search about the group if they accept some of the literature. And then they never answer the door again if they have any sense at all. The blood transfusion thing: It is completely insane. The worst part is Watchtower has flip flopped on their doctrine about this over the years. It was only since the 1950s that they were super strict about it. Watchtower has changed their doctrine a lot over the years in many different things, but it usually happens so slowly, so as not to shock the old people or create resentment. - The most remarkable thing about the Watchtower is their leadership says they are anointed by God and represent him on Earth, making decisions that affect the lives of millions of people. But they ALSO claim to be 'neither inspired nor infallible.' Like, BRO, you CAN'T have it both ways!! It takes the highest level of doublethink and creates the worst sense of cognitive dissonance. It is how they claim to be allowed to change doctrine and say God was behind it.
I enjoy these videos because I was raised a witness (atheist now), and he talks about the goings on within the halls on an experiential level. I get to kinda vet his videos in my mind to see if they actually correspond to what I grew up with, and that's really cool. One thing I wanna say about witnesses being really nice though, is that you don't know what each individual is like OUTSIDE of the religious context. I put it like this: Assuming genuine belief, there are two kinds of witnesses. Ones who have the "new personality" on at all times, and those who take that personality off in times of rest. The latter group may not behave in a "worldly manner" or commit any sins that go against their religion, but the overly smiley, hyper polite, totally unbothered facade comes off when they're alone, or with close friends, or in otherwise low pressure situations. Even within cults, there are ideal standards, and not everyone lives up to them all the time. Plus, there's a reason why they stress good behavior. It's suppose to be a form of advertisement.
Good behavior couldn't in any way be stressed because it leads to good outcomes. Noo, it MUST be a form of cult advertisement. So says "cthulhu's cat" while brandishing a rainbow pentagram. You can't make this shit up 😂
@@hyperteleXii Again, I was raised in it, you ninny, I know what I'm talking about. You're argumentation is also horrible, as my choice in name or the png I use for my profile has no impact on whether or not what I'm saying is actually true. Clearly this was the route you chose because you had no better leg to stand on. I know far, FAR more about this cult than you do. Actually read their literature, study their history, and ask real witnesses genuine questions. This isn't stuff I'm just pulling out of my ass. "When we put on the new personality, it not only benefits us, but it signals to others the peace and joy that comes with living as true Christians." I used to hear stuff like this all the time. Sure, they might not immediately think of it as advertisement, but that's literally what they're saying, and that's exactly how cults operate. Do better.
Hey man loved the video. Very informative, interesting and funny, yet respectful as well. Subbed. I'm a Christian who has talked to Jehovah's Witnesses for many years.
I can’t stress how accurate he is in his telling of his experience at a Kingdom Hall. I also can’t stress how made up and phony all the “love” he received was. As Jehovahs witnesses, even the worst of us out in this fake personality in the presence of potential converts. We’re taught to smile, show interest, greet people warmly. And once some of those same people leave, the mask comes off. Even behind doors in the back room, the masks are off and these people are rude and evil. Even the “we don’t do offerings” is a lie. They ask for donations in their jw broadcast
Oh well thank God your secular government is sterilizing kids and chopping off their organs in the name of nameless goodness. Now is your moment of truth to spill the details of this child abuse you speak of, that JW's allegedly are guilty of. Go on.@@upongame3398
I so love your analysis, as coming from someone without a dog in the fight, so to speak. People from another faith, would have many different takes or opinions on why the Jdubs are in error in many places, but your atheist view is based on a humanistic perspective, critical thinking, and just good ol common sense. I am a non denominational Christian, it's just awesome to listen to your observations.
Btw your videos are amazing, so insightful and as an ex Jdub i really appreciate someone so intellectual reviewing this. Thank you from an excommunicated member.
Another amazing video, I really like the fact that you've gone in with out any preconceived ideas about the jdubs. Just like the last video, you had me in tears....
You made a great point about not just reading the Bible, but having the correct interpretation of what is written. JWs should read early figures like St. Justin Martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Iraneus of Lyons, or even the Cappadocian fathers to see if what the watchtower teaches lines up with early Christian teachings. Really enjoyed the video, great stuff!
Ahh, as a former JW drone it’s good to see how someone going in with a fresh set of eyes comes away from the experience of the event/events that are JW meetings. The further you dig into that high control group the more you’ll be blown away by the fact that the way they live their lives is at the stern direction of 9 dudes in upstate New York who by the way, aren’t the leaders but take the…lead 🤔 I’m really looking forward to part 3
If anyone is curious about what '9 dudes in upstate New York' means, then Franz's book "Crisis of Conscience" is an excellent read. Franz was one of the 9 (or was it 8?) His book is aging but still highly rated. He's the only ex-JW whistleblower who was at the highest levels of the Church, AFAIK.
LOLOLOL "You didn't get booted off the island!" The best line ever! As an exjw, that is about the truth. If you can, year after year, come here and not do anything or think one thought of your own and not get disfellowshipped...that's all they care about! Remember: DO NOT THINK.
The "skits" are designed to teach them how to sidetrack objections and coerce the "householder" with promises of paradise and everlasting life, then the details of giving up your current personality and becoming a complete slave to their community is slid in towards the end of the pre-baptism studies. By then, you're already invested and just roll with it.
I’m seeing this video a few days before finally leaving. I was born into it and I am Bi. I felt such a grossness to that side of me that now it just turns into anger. For 20 years I had to repress who I was and hide that from my family (who are all witnesses minus two that did some sinful things and got expelled). I’m writing this now with many self inflicted cuts on my hands because of how angry I still feel. The choice I had to make was either stay and possible end up killing myself later on, or leave. I chose to leave. I’m writing this to tell you that it really isn’t that simple. The people can be nice and they really are, but the indoctrination is real. I’m reminded of the “Caleb and Sofia” shorts (please look them up, they deserve a video on their own), there was one where they talked about gay relationships and I now realized just how much I gaslit myself into thinking this was the correct way to live and that I need to live the way god wanted. I told myself that “since it’s wrong to commit the act and not be Bi” that that would be fine, but I now see that I am just repressing a big part of myself. Not to mention how they rephrase gay as “a choice” when it’s not. On the one hand I am happy that I am finally leaving (I also am leaving because I have differing beliefs) but on the other, my parents will take it as “he’s going to the world” or “the devil has taken hold of him or possessed him or tricked him” and I don’t know what is about to happen next in this chapter of my life.
I’ve got a biology degree. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that being non binary etc is unnatural. It’s genetic and is dependent on how a lot of genes ( not just X or Y) get regulated after fertilization.
When did sin stop being sin. I'm exJW but still realize certain things the world embraces aren't right. There is a hell - they don't believe that - and Judgement Day will come to all of us one day. 90% of what they teach is correct but the 10% poison is what's causing so much harm! The 9 wizards in Warwick are property tycoons. I was a JW in the 70s and 80s and things were different. And yes it's a cult. Yahuah is His name and wrath is coming one day on the sons of disobedience. We are the righteousness of God in Christ. People should throw their wicked NWT out and read another translation like NKJV or NASB and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to teach them. Blessings and Maranatha.
THis is too spot on bro bahaha was raised and son of an elder and stopped going regularly to meetings when I was 18. Crazy bit u pointed out w the song lyrics analyasis. So fun watching your reactions and retroactivly reflecting on my upbringing. Keep it real, Subbed keen for your other content :D
GET A CHRISTIAN LIFE AND LEAVE YOUR NEIGHBORS ALONE,,,,,LET GO AND RESTART YOUR OWN JOURNEY. STOP THE BULLYING OF THESE PEOPLE...
WOULD JESUS DO THIS?
You're so right. Jesus would never have criticized the religious leaders of his day. Barring, of course, the following couple of verses:
Matthew 12:1-8, Matthew 12:9-14, Matthew 15:1-9, Matthew 16:1-4, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32, Matthew 21:33-46, Matthew 22:15-22, Matthew 22:23-33, Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 22:41-46, Matthew 23, Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Mark 7:1-13, Mark 8:11-13, Mark 10:2-12, Mark 11:27-33, Mark 12:1-12, Mark 12:13-17, Mark 12:18-27, Mark 12:28-34, Mark 12:35-37, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 5:17-26, Luke 6:1-5, Luke 6:6-11, Luke 11:37-54, Luke 12:1-3, Luke 13:10-17, Luke 14:1-6, Luke 16:14-15, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 19:45-48, Luke 20:1-8, Luke 20:9-19, Luke 20:20-26, Luke 20:27-40, Luke 20:41-44, Luke 20:45-47, John 2:13-22, John 5:1-18, John 5:31-47, John 7:14-24, John 8:12-20, John 8:31-59, John 9:1-41, John 10:1-21, John 10:22-39, John 11:45-57, John 18:19-24.
@@HeliocentricOfficial🤣 Some apologetics...thanks!
@@HeliocentricOfficial Oooooo snap!😂
Well considering Watchtower will encourage destitute Africans who can barely eat to give what they cannot even spare to the organization instead of actually helping these people, I am pretty sure Jesus (the figure from the bible, not any actual historical Jesus) would go and overturn the tables of these "money changers".
They encourage children as young as 6-7 to get baptized (note if they get baptized and do something to get kicked out of the religion liiiiike be gay or divorce a physically and emotional abusive spouse except on the grounds of infidelity, read apostate literature or up until a few years ago get a blood transfusion to save your life then nobody in the religion is supposed to talk to you, even your own family).
@@HeliocentricOfficial 🤣🤣🤣 Bro came with receipts!
Hey, nice video. Im a fencing instructor, and a couple years back we got a new student name Logan. He was super athletic, very friendly guy, and was very invested and passionate about training. He stayed with us for about a year, and by the end of that time we were discussing how we can help him get even better, and how he'd soon be a leader in his own right. Everything seemed to be going well, we were going to tournaments, improving ourselves and having a good time. Everyone loved him. But one day he stopped coming to class. We tried reaching out but he said he was busy, that he may have to suddenly move and that he could no longer fence with us.
About a month after he left, another buddy who was closer to him than I was told me what happened. He was a JW, and he was excommunicated from his family, his community, and his church. And about a month after that, it was around Thanksgiving, we got an announcement from our Head Coach that Logan had been found dead inside his home, from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. It was ruled an accident, and everyone at the funeral maintained this. I have never been more angry at a group of people in my life.
I miss him every day. I wish I had been able to do more.
I'm so sorry for that loss. Stays with you.
Sadly an all too common occurrence! An epidemic really. And the JWs will act offended at the notion that their shunning practice leads to people ending it all. It's incredibly offense how they deny that they do what they do.
That’s really sad. I know others who have ended their life too. They do not care about this issue either as they consider this was your fault and shouldn’t sinned.
So very sorry for your loss. There was an arrogant, dismissive active witness arguing with people in the comments on this guy's first video. I wrote a response and mentioned how a governing body member lost his nephew to suicide, and his response was that he was not gonna read my long comment. It's not an uncommon occurrence at all, and I just wish this cult would crumble away sooner rather than later. But there are still too many arrogant people who will not face their doubts and cognitive dissonance because it is their whole identity and they don't want to admit they were wrong. They won't even listen long enough to learn about the suicides, let alone acknowledge the shunning causes them.
The number of exjws that commit suicide is astounding!! I am one of those suicide attempt survivors... 4x I tried and I'm lucky to still be here today. My entire family is still in the church and has completely disowned me and it's painful! But I'd rather be free and alone then back in that cult
@@Paypaylove729 glad you're still here 🫂. Sadly it's also not just those that leave. It's not uncommon to hear of active JWs attempting or succeeding. Hard to know for sure, but I imagine many of those are for feeling trapped and alone, knowing they're in a cult.
I can tell you, from experience, they are not as nice as they want people to think. They do love bomb like no other when you are new. But once you are in they show their true colors.
AMEN!!! He clearly doesn’t know what that ‘niceness’ is all about or how quickly that table turns.
An "iron fist in a velvet glove". I believe that's how former Governing Body member Ray Franz described it. There is an iron fist underneath all that display of niceness and it hits hard.
Have you read the Bible? Scripture is pretty clear that Jehova does indeed have an iron fist and will literally destroy people without remorse.@@chrisowenssff4876
All cults do that
Most definitely. It's a warning sign.
Ha ha ha get baptized and then decide to leave. See how wonderful and friendly they are.😂😂😂
Exactly.😂
Mark my words.....the dude in the Video will become a Jehovah's Witness. For it is written: Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand.
(Daniel 12:10)
Hahaha, remember, per the update, they "remove" people now; not "disfellowship" them when they do the big bad sins!
@@chariethe So you never removed someone from your life that was negative or a bad influence. Hypocrite you are! Everyone in the world lives by these standards not just Jehovah's Witnesses. Heck even Planet fitness removes you or cancels your membership if you don't follow their rules.
@@RyzenZegendI take it you are a jw
The thing about "emotions being suspect" here is accurate. Being human isn't really welcome in the organization. Honestly, any emotion that isn't joy, calm, or neutral isn't really welcome, even if you're a child.
I'm also super happy that you made a part 2!!!
The JWs ruined the word "joy" for me. It was so overused . Every pioneer interviewed on the Assembly platform would say how their service gives them joy. Yeah right! It was so fake. "Joy" is a triggering word for me, one that almost initiates a gag.
@@Rupunzelsawake oof sorry about that, want me to change it to happiness? The original word was the only thing I could think of at the time as it felt more akin to the cult.
Yeah i woke up at 22 and realized I had as far back as I could remember been repressing basically all emotions other than happy and was just numb mostly. Cause feeling down is not allowed and I have gotten heavy people pleasing tendencies from the cult. So don't feel cause that's what will make you seem to be spiritually strong.
@@Rupunzelsawake My top ruined word is "encouragement"
@randomuser6110 it's so weird to look back and realize that the problem wasn't you as you were initially led to believe.
I love these videos. As an ex jw, I can say this is a very accurate depiction of the kingdom hall and extremely valid criticism 👏🏾. I can't wait for part 3!
If you say "jewish it" fast it sounds like youre saying "you a shit"
Out of curiosity.. was it easy to score chicks at services? how would you rate the tail there?
@Andrew-pv8oz I'm a woman, so I was not looking for tail lol. But you can't date until you are ready to be married, and you can only date with a chaperone. Oh, and premarital sex is a disfellowshipping offense. So definitely not a good place to pick up women.
@@lovehatetragedy823 sounds like a challenge! Thank you
@@lovehatetragedy823 when I was a jw years ago me and a friend who was jw too made arrangemnts to go together to service, the elder assigned 2 sisters to go with us. During service one of the sisters started losening up and everyone followed her lead then after service she blew me in the back of my truck while my friend was driving. I grew up as a jw and I can tell you jw sisters are even more naughty than women from outside
A collection plate is not passed but they constantly ask for donations 😂
I love the video of Steven Lett saying, 'We've never solicited for funds, and we're not about to start now...' then tells you how you can donate!😂
And don’t forget how willing they are to set up direct recurring payments from your bank account 😂
They call collections…it “we have a deficit for $___”. Bethel demands a certain amount money paid, per person. So example. Let’s say it’s $10 per person , at the convention and 3000 ppl show up, and let’s say with utilities, it costs $3000, That add up that amount, together and say, we have a deficit of 30,3000, and everyone will donate.
Don't forget by the end of the year, every year, they publish an article telling you how to donate properties, bonds, stocks, CDs, and even include the church in your will.
@@auditordoscientosveintitre5545 And jewelry, vehicles, iirc furs, anything of potential monetary value.
I value this perspective so much... I'm currently stuck in the religion under threat of being disfellowshipped and shunned by all my friends and family. (Although starting in August, they won't call it disfellowshipping anymore)
The positivity you saw is how they are told to be. They are warm and inviting with the soul motivation that it might help you convert more easily. My whole life I've been surrounded by it, and it is very much a toxic positivity. It's caused me a lot of harm being raised in it all, as well as guilt for my depression when I didn't express that much joy/brotherhood. I always wondered what was wrong with me. Turns out it wasn't me. I'm still trying to grow away from it all. But they make it so incredibly difficult to leave. They don't just encourage you to remain loyal to them through song and study. They indirectly threaten you with being shunned if you do choose to leave. It's a big ball of nope for me.
Hey man! Hang in there, I used to be a JW before Covid. The change gave me space to wake up. But leaving is the best decision I ever made. I’m much happier out here, and I believe you would be too. My advice is that you start developing a life outside the organization on the down low. Start hanging out with good people in the world, there are a lot of good people out here. Just be smart about it and keep it a secret until you’ve created a life outside, where you can leave and not have it destroy your life. If you want to talk, reply and we can connect. I wish you well!
I agree with everything you said. I was disfellowshipped at 15 over 20 years ago. Stay strong it gets better. The world can be wonderful when you work at deconditioning yourself. Going back would be like a dog going back to its vomit.
It is now called removed from the congregation. My JW mother shunned me to her last breath. My crime I testified at the Australian royal commission. How dare I testify about God's earthly organization. Apostate warning. I understand your pain. All I can do is send you a hug. Peace
@@aiden777able Thank you. I watched the whole Australian Royal Commission. Keep fighting
There's a whole community of us out here, you won't be alone.
The reason those creepy skits exist is because women aren't allowed to address the congregation, so they make them do a cringey play instead.
This. They're off to the side and facing each other and not the congregation.
Completely understand you, and why, and how; but rather than throw a fit along with you; i ask you; question, so you feel that instead of teling Jacob to dress up like Esau and bring dad Esau's soup, that Rebecca should walk on into Isaac's tent herself and say WTF you think youre doing, Youre not gonna bless Esau in my household. You owe that blessing to Jacob not Esau. If you dont shape up; i'm going to the elders and i'll divorce you; and stay celibate; painting you as a fornicator; until i can marry someone else. (My mother never learned to be humble with dad nor men, but she stepped-down humbly tucked-tail and manipulated many an Elder who wanted to dominate her, shame her for going to circuit overseers on them, etc. What was sad is that mom never realized that the terrorizing fear in her eyes people saw in her anger could easily save a church standing up to a wolf or lion or bear. Only woman or person i ever saw who could grab shut the mouth of a growling dog and make him whimper and lick her, damn dog still never stopped pissing in the kitchen; learned to hide it on the cloth furntiure.)
@@A_prostate So what?
@@djparsons7363 I've literally been reprimanded before for not facing my householder enough because facing/addressing the congregation is not a woman's place according to them
Yes they are VERY SEXIST
I’m an ex JW. In case no one else in the comments has mentioned it, they have tweaked their blood doctrine so that you can take fractions of the blood but not the whole blood. RUclipsr “Surviving Paradise” said it best, “You can have the ham or the lettuce or cheese or the bread, but you can’t have the ham sandwich”. I love your observations of the JW’s. Don’t be fooled though. Their love is paper thin. If you express any disagreement with their doctrines they will turn their backs on you and call you apostate. To them an apostate is on par with being a child of Satan.
This! Im a 4th generation JW, now ex-JW. My father is an "elder" in his congregation, and has nothing to do with me or my siblings or his grandkids, because he knows we all refuse to be JWs (I am the eldest and was the only sucker to get baptized, as a minor of course). Being an apostate, or someone who willfully leaves and renounces the cult, is the worst thing you can do in their eyes. Like a Scientologist becoming a "suppressive person". Cults gonna cult.
This right here. I love Surviving Paradise. Stacey is the man.
@@lewnight19 I was the first of five children in my family to get baptized. I was pushed into it by trying to please my parents. Luckily my sister, although a JW is strongly against shunning. But of course, she will never be able to voice that publicly. She has always had my back and been there for me,
Ex jw here too!
Ex JW here, and I've been out for 27 years, but my whole nuclear family is in and my dad and brother are elders and HLC (hospital liaison committee). I honestly can't say whether what you said about the tweaked blood doctrine is current and true, but I can tell you they don't live by that tweaked or updated policy. I work in the OR as a circulating nurse and when I have JW patients come in for something as simple as a colonoscopy they show up with an immediate family member or HLC to ensure that no blood OR BLOOD PRODUCTS of any kind are administered period. They are still very steadfast on that stupidity. I have also seen a JW mom explode on her elder husband in a hallway to force his hand into giving their bleeding and dying child blood too though, so good on her. I'm sure it's a family secret because JWs don't confess and they exist on an empire of secrets! I don't miss that corporate cult in any way.
Raised JW, left at 41 roughly 2 years ago, now atheist. I was so pumped to see this video get posted.
It cracks me up how much Heliocentric has gotten the whole vibe after just 2 or 3 meetings. Everybody is super nice, but it's all surface level and they will cut you out instantly if you leave. The primary goal is to make sure people don't leave or think for themselves. Do you have questions? No problem as long as you arrive at the pre-approved answer. And don't worry about wasting your life. This life is basically a waiting room for when we get to live forever in paradise.
Also, I can speak with that exact JW cadence as all believing JWs and exJWs can.
Very true. Very good analysis
@@misterdoctor9693 I use it at Halloween to pretend to be a demon preacher at a haunted house. I could literally quote JW literature in that voice and scare little kids.
Actually, when I was still proselytizing I did, I made a kid cry with a picture of Armageddon in the kids Bible Story book. I had to tell him that was actually going to happen. Which in hindsight was basically a threat
Aren't you clever, atheists have such a bright future.
I'm sorry that a false doctrine made you lose your faith all together. I pray one day you'll come back to Christ. The TRUTH of Christ! Much love! ❤️
@@djparsons7363better to have questions I can’t answer than to have answers I can’t question
The Othering and fear of people outside the JW faith would shock people. They present as massively friendly, but if you aren't interested in their message you're seen as a condemned enemy.
Exaggerate much? No one is seen as an enemy and no one is judged as one, that's why people are revisited regularly unless they plainly state they do not want us to come back.
@@djparsons7363Oh, so “worldly” people who actively reject your message are not seen as corrupted by Satan?
As already dead even!
@@djparsons7363 What you are doing here is called "theocratic warfare" inside the organization.
Lying in order to protect the public image of the organization.
Of course those who don't want to listen to your preaching are seen as enemies.
According to Stephen Lett, even babies are "little enemies of God".
You are discouraged again and again from getting any information from sources outside of your organization, because those are all misinformation, spread by the enemy.
You are literally told that everyone outside of your organization is controlled by Satan.
And even more seen as enemies are those who were members of your religion and decide to leave, or even worse: Criticize or disagree with the 9 old men in Warwick who rule your organization.
These people are shunned and lose contact to all their friends and family overnight. Because they dared disagree.
You need to understand why you are sent door to door to preach:
It's not to spread the good message of Jesus and convince new people to join your religion.
If that was the goal, there are other way more efficient ways to generate new members.
No. The reason why you are ordered to annoy people at their homes is because your leadership wants these annoyed people to rudely tell you to piss off.
This way you feel rejected, hated, ostracized by the world outside your organization.
Only the other members of your religion understand you.
Only there are you safe and accepted while the rest of the world hates you.
By being as annoying to people outside of your organization as possible, you ensure a negative reaction from them which in turn makes you even more emotionally dependend on the organization.
It's one of THE most common tactics employed by cults to keep their members dependent and thus loyal.
as an exjw, this is so good lmao. and we've all been leaving since the pandemic so that's why they talk about it so much
@@mightbephil the pandemic was great for PIMOs. A nice way to get out! Happy for everyone that was able to leave.
Out of curiosity, aside from the obvious sheltering in home making it easier to stay away from congregation (I'm guessing), what's the correlation between the pandemic and exjw's leaving since then? I am a stupid ass uneducated atheist and would love to know!! :D
@@kropotkinnie cult indoctrination, you have to be constantly busy, it suppresses your critical thinking. Jws constantly have crap to do:meetings, field service, family study, preparing, they micromanage every aspect of your life. and you just get in a routine and do it without thinking
the pandemic interrupted everyone's routine and we had time to think and we all started collectively waking up and doing research and being done with the religion. it's almost like being in a trance, no lie. me and some of my friends woke up learning the same things about the religion, without even communicating it to each other. We kinda just knew something wasnt right during covid. Most are self aware now
@@kropotkinnie
1) when two or more people spend a lot more time together, it’s a lot more likely they’ll talk to eachother about feelings and doubts
2) most JWs don’t have WFH jobs, so a fair amount had to have been laid off or otherwise been financially compromised by the pandemic. When you’re struggling to make ends meet and the congregation is useless, you may end up bending JW rules to feed your family. And when the elders criticize you for preventing a family crisis, it’s easier to see them for what they are.
3) being laid off, you’re going to get bored, and JWs don’t often find themselves with a lot of options for leisure time. I know some who threw themselves into studying, and when they ran out of new literature, they moved on to older literature from their own generational libraries and found things that didn’t make sense (like how JWs used to decry disfellowshipping up until 1950).
4) in general, a major JW control method is keeping people busy. But without being physically surrounded by all these believers all the time that power starts to wane. A lot of the control is peer pressure, and some folks begin to deconstruct when they aren’t always being watched.
@@kropotkinniemore free time, less cult activities, less direct contact and scrutiny from others, elders (local pastors) only visiting you to get your time sheets AND donations.
Im sure you think they are absolutely nice and lovely people but when my husand was disfellowshipped his own mother refused to attend his wedding because she was shunning him. What loving parent skips the marriage of her child ?
100% there are thousands of people who are being treated like they are dead by these “nice people.” It’s all for show.
So why was your husband disfellowshipped?
When they used to disassociate UNBAPTIZED people, I was a teenager and they did that to me. Three years noone would even LOOK at me at the Kingdumb Hall! My own sister didn't have me in her wedding and she limited contact with me. I was no longer allowed to hang out with her or anyone else from the KH. SO STUPID. And then when they changed the rules again, they never apologized and expected ME to just accept THEM all back as if the didn't treat me like I was DEAD for 3 years!!
@@hyperteleXii Doesn't matter.
And that tells me everything I need to know. If you think that breaking your promises made in name of God "doesn't matter", you're in for a rude awakening.@@benjaminlammertz64
Man I am in awe of your ability to cut through the JW surface level niceness and right to the heart of some of the major issues!
This is why JWs warn of the dangers of critical thinking.
You were so close on your explanation of the No Blood doctrine too. It was the 1940s under the 3rd Watchtower president Nathan Knorr.
I really hope they change this policy as they have others. But they praised so many families for basically sacrificing their children to this doctrine. How do you survive changing that when so many people have died refusing blood transfusions on your word that that is what God wants?
I always appreciate your work Ron.
@@misterdoctor9693 thank you 👋
👋
Thank you so much for this series👏🏻. Please cover shunning/disfellowshipping in depth.
I got baptized at 12, was a normal teen who dabbled in teen stuff and got disfellowshipped and kicked out on my own at 18. My dad was an elder and my uncle was a member of the governing body (Daniel Sydlik) so my family was in deeeeep. I have been shunned by my family since I was 18 and I am now 46. My mother has literally cut me out of her life (I could call once a year for medical questions but nothing else). It’s been horrible. I have 3 brothers, two of them haven’t talked to me since I was 18 (one of them was a Bethelite and leads the hospital blood liaison group) and one of them randomly will call every few years but resists talking to me normally. That a cult can dictate familial love is not only absurd but a huge human rights violation.
That's some pedigree you have. Would love to see you tell your story on one of the ex-JW channels.
@@Ballykeithyeah my history is pretty wild considering I did get to see behind the scenes a bit as a kid at Bethel due to my uncle’s status
I have kept my history close to me until recently. Not being silent anymore.
Hi Vivian. Do you remember when they shunned & "Disasociated" UNbaptized ones? I was one of them. They treated me like I was dead. I was also a teen when this happened. For 3 years they kept this rule. Then, they suddenly changed it & everyone expected that I be HAPPY about it and just act as if nothing had happened!! No apologies or anything from anyone. I never got baptized. I stayed away for quite a while, but then got sicked back in again. Studied 3 different times and then I'd just attend meetings. Finally quit everything and haven't looked back after I found out about the CSA & Australia Royal Commission. Watching Geoffrey Jackson up on the stand LYING and NOT "being BOLD" was IT for me! It pissed me off & ever since I've been going down the rabbithole of dark secrets this org has hidden away...or tried to!
I had 3 bloodless surgeries which delayed my recoveries and put me in great danger for 2 of them because they were major. I could've died & knowing that my mother was willing to just let me die at 15...that really kills me now. Big hugs 🫂 & love ❤️ to you & ALL the rejected ones who were / are mistreated in this cult!! I am so sorry for how those people treat you! That is NOT "FAMILY".
P.S. Were you in NY? I was in Patterson area. Attended Dover, Pawling, Patterson & Somers over the years as they shuffled congregations around & back n forth (just like Jehovah's schizophrenic charriot! Lol ) 😅
@@cultytalk wow, I don’t remember that but it doesn’t shock me! As I have gotten older I have realized that even if JWs got rid of shunning, it would be bittersweet because no one would apologize or care or understand the gravity of the toll it takes on those of us cut off from our families for decades. It is kind of like when I realized that if I were to pass away, my family would probably just state that it was expected because I was a part of the “world” because we both know they don’t allow themselves to grieve properly or have human empathy or a capacity to understand life outside of their bubble.
As for your experience with bloodless surgery, you are a survivor! I can’t imagine how terrifying that was having had my first major surgery this year. And to put you through that is so beyond horrible. My mother let her mother literally die in the 1980s when she could have been saved with a blood transfusion. I cannot get over that. That my oldest brother is head of their hospital blood committee is so gross to me.
I grew up in NYC in Queens. We had a lot of Bethelites in our congregation. Visited Bethel a LOT as a kid because of my brother who was there and my uncle (the governing body is a complete scam!). Also visited “the farm” in Walkill and also Patterson.
Sorry you went through what you did. This is a part of our healing though in a way.
@@VivienneGucwaI’m so sorry that you’ve had to deal with that. ❤
The niceness is a facade. Wait till they control your life and you have a thought they disapprove.
Religion is relinquishing control of your mind to God. Why WOULD God's followers approve if you claim to have given control to God then speak against him? What exactly are you even saying? What is this thought you speak of? Is it sinful?
@@hyperteleXii 😂😂😂 thought is a dangerous thing that the devil can use to trick you into leaving the organiz.. Jehovah.
Aethists tend to be free thinkers who struggle to find God in religion. Many people find community in religion and will do anything for their tribe. Including giving up control of their thoughts. That's an easy trade for some. For others, not so much.
You didn't answer any of my questions.@@velly88
@@hyperteleXii That's a strange definition of religion. Aren't you guys normally putting a LOT of emphasis on the whole "free will" thing? Because you think this somehow solves the problem of evil? (Spoiler: It doesn't)
Also, speaking against a group of men who lead a cult CLAIMING they work on God's orders is something very different from speaking against God.
Even IF you believe God or gods exist.
Yeah, that's the whole point. God gave us free will, our most powerful ability, and to sacrifice that for the glory of God is the ultimate sacrifice. Giving up what you value the most.
Spoiler: It does indeed solve the problem of evil. Stop being a rebellious individual who reserves the right to do evil, and join God's peaceful collective that promises not to do evil - that's literally the pitch. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that people who swear to do no evil do less evil than people who think everything is allowed unless someone complains loud enough.
God himself led me to Jehova's Witnesses. I experienced divine revelations during convention. This is real, it's not a cult. Also, these men who lead us literally quote the bible to justify their every claim, instruction, and order.
My belief in God is exactly where my belief in JW comes from. It's not just a funny old book I'm reading, or a community I wanna be part of, or indeed a misogynist cult as some people seem to think. A holy F-ing spirit came into me years before I studied any of this shit.
@@benjaminlammertz64
The difference between a cult and a religion is what happens when you leave.
Also when you criticize the leadership or disagree with the doctrine.
Read the Bible. They have scriptural reasons and support.
@@NickHawaii They don't.
@@NickHawaiiwhich bible? JWs have their own version.
@@NickHawaii tell ones? Because I wanna know how misunderstood is put on them ...
Emotions is contraband! Bro you're killing it with your analysis!
So not true. Full of love and joy they have. I have compared the churches. No one comes close. At least they wouldn’t kill you in war like the rest of the churches would.
They pride themselves on not passing a collection plate, but they had donation boxes in the back and every month they would tell the members how much money they still need to raise to pay the monthly expenses and how much they need to raise to pay back the organization for their building. The literature was free, but they let members know how much they should donate for the literature to pay back the Watchtower Society. Mind you, everything was built and made by their own members who volunteered their time and effort.
And now the Society holds the title on all of the Kingdom Halls. The attitude from headquarters is essentially: “You do the work. We get the money.”
They even encouraged the children to donate their icecream money in one video 🤦
So...? You think the place of reunion is gonna maintain itself? And yes in life not everything must be quantified with money. Do your friends pay you for hanging out with them even if you're tired or must work that day later on ? No you do it because you care about them
You poor tortured soul, cry me a river.
@@thomash.schwed3662 Other denoms do this as well. The title held by a central body while the upkeep is done by local members. The Presbyterians do this with their church buildings. I'm not saying it's right just an interesting point. I'd thought JWs were congregationalist but not really when it comes to property. Most congregationalist churches do both: hold their own title and do the local upkeep. The UCC is really local like that.
Thanks! ExJW here. You nailed it.
Hey! Thank you so much, dude. That's insanely appreciated!
Oh you don't know the half of the blood transfusion issue. They actually used to be against organ transplants calling it a type of cannibalism
The organization doesn't realize that they are blood guilty For every life lost due to not being able to have a blood transfusion. Blood is on their hands.
@@a.ihistory5879 Joel 3:21.
Not to mention they decide for children and family members who are unable to decide for themselves. There are also white blood cells in milk which JWs say are unacceptable but they don’t preach against dairy products or breast feeding. It’s funny how they accept some parts of blood but not red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets iirc.
If they’re not sure the JW patient is supposed to rely on an uneducated JW who is part of the hospital liaison committee that turns up to hospital to pressurise the patient and their family into not accepting any medical treatment the watchtower has deemed unacceptable.
Even using your own blood isn’t allowed afaik. How strange is that? It comes from your body but if it spends a time outside your body in storage you’re not allowed to put it back in.
Would they say the same about skin grafting or sewing a body part back on?
Will they disfellowship someone who nips their finger and instinctively puts it in their mouth for even a second?
They were against vaccines too.
They, in essence, are the Armageddon. The Destroyers. Their own Great Tribulation. Their own Persecutors. They have their “to-go bags” ready and will heed the clarion call of that soulless Governing Body, uninspired and making mistakes, those rusty mouthpieces of God.
I absolutely LOVE your video. For years I had to pretend to be someone I wasn't. It was rough.
I woke up like 15 months ago. I was disfellowshipped almost 2 years ago. I desperately tried to get back in and the elders kept quoting I had to wait a year at least. It broke me. They said, we can see you're repentant and you've completely changed your life around, but you still gotta wait. On top of all that, I found out about my cult's past. What really broke me, is the cult never said sorry. I had held guilt from my baptism at 11, til i was 30. Always apologizing for everything, and these guys have gotten followers killed, and not a single sorry. You jumped in this cult at the perfect time, they're rebranding hard. In October they have their annual meeting where they get 'new light' and they're getting rid of the term disfellowshipping. Just the term, they're still isolating ppl, just calling them "removed." Active witnesses might not even know this change unless they keep up to date with every single watchtower
When I left I found and read the elders manual, there’s no rule for a year, you can be reinstated after three months if you suck up hard enough (it’s in their stupid book)
@@MrEvilemma yeh honestly, my elders have just been absolute dicks every step of the way. They do be power trippin
@@MrEvilemmait really depends upon the culture of the individual elder body
Ask Ria Williams from Utah about her judicial committee for having s3x before marriage. She didn't. She was r@ped. Her r@pist also took an audio recording of the r@pe without her knowledge. The elders decided to make her listen to the recording over and over again and explain to them how what they were hearing was r@pe while she cried, shook, and begged them to stop. They settled their lawsuit with her. You can easily find video on this very website of a pretrial zoom hearing where the lawyer Watchtower hires admits that this is how it all went down, but argues religions have the right to do this. The fact you think it's normal for 3 men to take you into a meeting and grill you about who you had s3x with is just more indication that you need to wake up from your cult conditioning, whether they went easy on you and gave you a slap on the wrist or they ruined your life over it like they did to so many other people.
@@Mr.Market777if the elders don't like you they will make you beg and plead at their feet for years. Then when you give up they say they knew you were weak. Meanwhile someone who isn't repentant but says they are is back in 3 months just because the elders like them and they call it " holy spirit directed" .
A former 90’s and early 2000’s JW here (the golden years) before all the new light and now allowing beards!! 🤯 this was very entertaining to watch. I grew up going door to door, going to 3 meetings a week, giving talks at the Theocratic Ministry School (the training, public speaking portion of the week) and it’s so interesting to see someone like you attend and then talk about it. They do truly have some good kind salt of the earth people, they also have the people who are only nice to new people and even so it is still a high control cult that my mother is still in. New subscriber here, I look forward to hearing more about your experience.
Look up "The new personality". That's literally their way of speaking boiled down to a concept. They say "throw away your old way of life and put on the new personality". Their happy, cheery demeanor and the way they talk. It's literally " ditch the unique and interesting person who you used to be and adopt this uniform personality".
Yeah, and they're all better for it. Demons are "unique". God is unified.
You're just afraid of letting go of your sinful nature.
@@PastaMaster115 stepford wives and the Truman show vibes 🤦♀️
I love the JW comments on this thread because they all come off exactly the same - Narcissistic, selfish & most importantly, CULTY!! 🤡
@@hyperteleXii Demons and God are also both made up and not real.
Cults and emotional control mechanism however are very much real.
It feels like an abusive relationship trying to keep you in. After being a witness for 30ish years it’s not a healthy relationship
Great comparison. So true.
@@Brebellez Facts 💯
Your videos have been pop'n off in the exjw community. Awsome video.
Big time. And if any unquestioning JWs have discovered you, they are reporting you to elders/hq, so that you can be tracked down and blocked from attending. (Thankfully, questioning JWs have no trouble finding videos like this!)
@@Sheol_Society lol yeah we fuckin love you man ♥️
They break families apart. I don't care how nice they are I just not a fan.
They need to be stopped, they are a vile and unhealthy cult. There is no redeeming qualities that come from that organization. The best thing that could happen is everyone leaving and realizing they were indoctrinated and lied to.
Keep in mind who is warning people that Christendom's churches will be destroyed at the tribulation, something we have preached for years. When it happens, remember who tried to warn you. You're welcome.
There are zero broken families at my local kingdom hall. What are you talking about? Divorce is illegal, families stay together.
@@hyperteleXiievery single JW family is broken in one way or another by the organization. They ALL have family they aren’t allowed to talk to, whether it’s someone who left the organization because they saw through the bullshit, or it’s a never JW family member who can only make time to see the family during holidays and birthdays, which is completely normal
@@hyperteleXii 1- "ILLEGAL!!??" THAT sounds nutty. The STATE sets the laws, not JW. 2- Just because a man & woman are forced to stay together, does NOT mean their family is in tact, healthy and functional! I knew many families that were torn apart inside this CULT & I also knew many who actually did get divorced too.
Nice video. I love watching these as a christian. You give lots of practical advice on how churches can improve their service and devotion to God and community.
That’s good then because as an exJW who was disfellowshipped and shunned and lost everyone and everything, I have tried Christian churches and they get gossipy and mean and elite too. I never felt welcomed nor were cults understood so there could be ministry. I do believe in Jesus as God and Savior and Father and Friend. But churches, with how they make you turn and hug your “neighbor”-stranger is icky if you’ve ever been molested by a JW ped. And the screaming in those accents about hell and sin. Where’s the Good News? And it doesn’t seem like anyone really tries to emulate Jesus. I love praising Him and your songs are better, but the messages are so guilt-ridden and the codes of dress...naugh, you guys frown on others and gossip and do all that too. I stay away now. There’s no loving people. It’s BS. Like having to be in an HOA or part of a Tenants Council. Trouble. You’re not there for the broken-hearted. You think opening up a Bible for a old lady’s Bible Study once a week is holy. Naugh. You’ve gotta do it the Pastor’s Wife’s way. You can’t debate, consider, hear critical thought, ask questions. Nope. No different except people can just get up and walk away. Now THAT is good! ❤
@@christinesotelo7655 I feel you on that. Growing up in a somewhat strict pentecostal churxh I can relate to a lot of that. And my only knowledge of street preaching was the yelling and fear mongering rather than actual conversations that will be impactful. But yea many churches lack tact. i am not sure what kind of churxhes you visited, but it sounds to me like the mainstream evangelical churches. I found the same issues with them and plan on converting to catholicism soon. And i know that it comes with its own problems, but i find far less gossip and none of the “turn to your neighbour and….” Type of stuff. It is much more solemn to me and intentional than many of the things that go on in “evangelical” churches. But I think there is some good in most denoms, but there needs to be a way to collect it all and put it into one
@@christinesotelo7655 I’m sorry about this experience but thankfully it’s not generalisable to all churches, especially those outside the US. Yes there are selfish status seekers in the clergy, probably especially among the Monsignori and the Bishops, and sociopaths rise in the church just as in commerce and government. There are also terrible parishes which are cliquey and gossipy especially in the richer areas
That said I’ve found many real communities and managed to work through a lot of my trauma in catholic parish contexts. Some of the priests/people who helped are just incredible. Like sit with me ugly crying for an hour at a time or on walks, and most amazingly saved me from homelessness by offering a free place to live in the monastery for a few months when I needed it. Everything it seems you sadly didn’t get but which you deserve and which definitely does exist wherever good sincere people are. The same catholic monastic community that helped me also hosted refugees most of whom were Muslim so it’s not a faith selective kindness. They also ran a food bank which again accepted anyone Christian or atheist. I’ve now moved house and parishes but my new one is also active in helping the poor in a food/clothing bank and has an incredibly down to earth caring lay community so it’s not just that one off priory in london
On the touch question, anywhere more formal like a catholic, episcopal, lutheran, or orthodox church simply doesn’t come with that risk attached. I’ve also literally never heard anyone scream in any catholic, orthodox or anglican church in all these decades apart from the odd crying 2 year old, certainly not the parish priest or the preacher. I personally can’t remember the last time I heard anything other than a peripheral mention of sin in a sermon and the only threats of hell I’ve ever heard were issued to racists and rich people who don’t donate to the poor, both of which seem pretty fair and which stick out because they were so unusual. I recognise this may be different in the US, I know religion is more extreme and sin obsessed there, but surely not all churches?
Anyone coming out of a really intensive group should perhaps avoid religion based communities of all shades for a while to process stuff. But if the time comes when you do want a community again try shopping around. The Quakers or the Lutherans or the Episcopalians on the Protestant end of the spectrum tend to be really beautiful safe vulnerable and humane communities from what I know of them. Or try some really down to earth working class catholic or orthodox parishes, especially one served by monks, nuns, or friars. I’d be amazed if you didn’t find something in your city where some really sincere and safe community exists
Anyone could do a hatchet job on your church and try to make themselves look cool and smart. Think about it.
Everybody smiles because everyone sees all the others are smiling, but everyone is dead inside. Masterfully engineered peer pressure.
Spoken like someone who has never felt the touch of the holy spirit. Your mind cannot conceive of an animating spirit of joy because... you're dead inside. So you think everyone else must be too.
“I know people who could benefit cosplaying as a nice person” lol yeah I work with some of those. Love the stuff man keep the videos coming!
The JWs are actually cosplaying as well. Not that all of them aren’t nice, but they also shun at the drop of a hat, let loved ones die without life saving medical treatment and indoctrinate children with fear so… yea the nice is just a front.
About the offerings, during the week reunion (was on tuesdays for me), they would hold a financial report and let the congregation know if the rent money amount wasn't met, strongly appealing to the brothers and sisters generosity.
Also I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your coverage, you went in with true objectivity and were able draw your own conclusions on what's right and what's not with the JW/WT.
might be the last time you are able to go to a kingdom hall
They'll have his face in their KH's bulletin board. 😂😂😂
You don't know what you're talking about. Kingdom Halls don't have bulletin boards
@@ucanliv4everthey do? But yeah they don't post people that aren't allowed to enter on them. I would read that comment as a joke though. But there have definitely been times they send an email out to all the elders warning of a person being apostate. Though I think the one I remember was about not letting them into a convention.
@@randomuser6110 The meetings, assemblies and conventions are supposed to be open to all members of the public. Can't go denying people access to Jehovah now.
@@ucanliv4everinformation boards. JWs and their vocabulary 🙄
As a person who attended christian private school, I heavily, deeply, viscerally identified with that intro.
Oh man, how did it take me so long to find this channel? As an ex witnesses I apologize for my former religion and find it fascinating how you're reacting to the meeting content without the context. It reinforces how nonsensical everything was and makes me feel less crazy. If you ever want to get the context for an ExWitness then I volunteer as tribute
I officially endorse Darth Magog's channel or event. That's the XJW Furious guarantee. 😜
You think they’re nice?
1) Ask them about gays.
2) Tell them you’re not interested but let’s hang out.
3) Ask them about Armageddon.
4) Ask them about any holiday except for Easter.
Easter? Oh that’s easy: ask if they’d like to share a chocolate bunny from your Easter Basket! 😂
Ask them if you can have a JW girlfriend without being baptized. (technically yes but...)
JWs just keep Easter? If Easter then surely Pentecost given the Bible itself describes it as happening 50 days post Easter. The two festivals kinda imply each other
Also ask about blood transfusions and pedos. Its all smoke and mirrors. Dont get me wrong some are really great ppl but as a former jw we all grew up trained to be very judgmental. 😂
@@Jaxoflife Agreed. ✅
Know people who have converted to the JWs and they became oh so righteous and judgmental. And arrogant. 🤮
Not to be glib, but It’s truly a cult.
Who let bro cook 🔥🔥🔥.
Anything that exposes the governing body has my support 👍🏾.
The blood transfusion “teaching” at the Kingdom Hall is all academic until an individual JW faces an actual life and death situation. At that point, it is demanded that parents steadfastly refuse to allow a blood transfusion for their child. The end result in effect is that a believer sacrifices themselves or their children to their god.
No shit, that's literally what God has been asking for all of recorded history.
Was there something about the Bible you didn't grasp?
@@hyperteleXii First of all: No, that is very much not what the bible says about blood. Jesus pretty clearly told the pharisees that religious laws may and should be broken if it means preserving life. "I want justice, not sacrifices."
Second: Even IF your god actually demanded people let their children die to prove their loyalty to him... that would only mean that your god is evil and should not be worshipped or followed.
If you cannot conceive of any scenario where a child's life must end in the name of everything that is good and holy, then you've clearly seen nothing and don't even understand religion. You think it's just a bag of ideas you can adopt the ones you like from.
It seems to me like you worship Jesus, not Jehova. You would do well to remember that Jesus is not the supreme authority, Jehova is. Like seriously read some scripture. Jehova destroys children. It's not evil if they had it coming.
@@benjaminlammertz64
As a PIMO (physically in mentally out, unable to leave currently) in this religion, i can't tell you how validating it is to hear your experiences. Seriously, thank you for making this, and i hope you dive deeper.
I used to work as a hospice chaplain. In my first job in chaplaincy, I had a patient who was the spouse of a JW. The JW spouse prevented me, in my capacity as a secular minister sent to provide nonconfessional spiritual,support to terminal patients, from ever having a conversation with the (non-JW) patient. She would inveigle on me for usually 90 minutes in fruitless conversations, blocking me from my work to hear the patient and provide whatever support he might need. Instead I had to listen to her, and she would never give me a chance to bow out. It was clear her job was to prevent me from doing mine. Also, her husband was a Navy Veteran and she was extremely ashamed of his service because JWs abhor military service, believing that national service is unredeemed idolatry that JWs are forbid to engage. Their obsession with the jealousy of their Jehovah knows no bounds.
The Watchtower Society is a real-estate company posing as a religion with all the benefits such as tax Exempt status.
This series is getting so interesting that if you do not make a part 3 I would be very disappointed. Like if you agree👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
#3 please!
Please do a Part 3!!! This is so much fun. You are amazingly entertaining and hilarious. I laughed so much.
You should ask them how do they feel about their governing body saying that they're not "inspired nor infallible". It's important because the organization has acted as if they are directly inspired for 100 years and continues to act that way. That's the culture. It was a big moment in their 2023 annual meeting. They would always say "Jehovah will protect you" they taught this literally not figuratively. But after the mass shooting in a kingdom hall in Germany and the bombing of a Jehovah's witness assembly in India they've started to change their tone quite a bit. If your expected to believe everything they say such as "Jehovah will literally protect you" and then you die while preaching in a bad neighborhood that you'd ordinarily avoid but you thought you were wearing a invisible bullet proof vest. At what point does the organization hold responsibility? They have big problems they're dealing with right now
That's super interesting. I'll have to investigate that more.
Could you explain a little further though? You've got me super curious. How did the admission of the GB not being modern day prophets lead to terrorist attacks?
@@HeliocentricOfficialwell they say things like they are not inspired or infallible (this is in print) as a disclaimer to fall back on when they are invariably wrong about something. But at the same time, they tell their members that questioning the organization is questioning God, and not agreeing with the governing body on doctrinal issues is apostate thinking, which means to them, purposeful, direct action taken against God and his holy spirit, under the influence of satan the devil. They also say (again in print) that obedience to Jehovah’s organization is everything, and that it’s a test of faith if we do or do not comply with instructions and directions, even if they don’t make sense from “an earthly standpoint.” They tell their members they are God’s true organization and their lives depend on their obedience, and then under oath (look up Australian Royal commission) the GB said on the stand “it would be presumptuous to say we are God’s mouthpeace here on earth.”
And THEN, thereafter, they publish talks about not believing everything you see on the internet to their members (the ARC was streamed on RUclips.)
I could go on and on. The gaslight is STRONG.
@@HeliocentricOfficial this is incorrect, they've never claimed infallibility as far as I remember. I was raised in the religion, was a Ministerial Servant (Deacon) and a pioneer which means I had to spend 70 hours per month preaching. They don't claim infallibility and never have to my memory; it's actually worse. They straight up say, "we're not inspired, so we can be wrong, but God guides us so you're not allowed to question us." Then they change doctrine and you're expected to ignore the fact they used to teach somethimg totally different and never mention it or you risk being kicked (disgellowshiped) out for apostasy. There have been a few attacks by disgruntled former members which is not surprising given the level of control they exert, then just kick people out into a world they are not prepared for. They've happened in the US, Germany, and India. They don't pass a plate but they do beg a lot on their JW Broadcasting thing
Check out @altworldy
@@f4rnsworth138 "God guides us but you're not allowed to question us", I agree with that. But being inspired by God typically refers to feeling motivated, uplifted, or creatively stimulated by a sense of divine presence or influence. This inspiration can manifest in various forms, such as ideas, art, or actions that reflect a sense of divine connection.
Being guided by God, on the other hand, implies a more direct and conscious sense of receiving direction or instruction from God. This guidance often involves making decisions or taking actions based on perceived divine will or commands, usually through prayer, meditation, or other spiritual practices that seek to discern God's will.
It seems to be a gray area that may be I'm right and you're wrong or I'm wrong and you're right. As well as you know as well as that the governing body a different points in times likes to push different agendas as the years pass.
To everybody watching this, look at how the JWs in the comments react to even the smallest amount of criticism. Everything they are is a facade. Be warned
Exactly!! They can't help it but to show how immature, self-centered, unempathetic & Narcissistic they truly are! Lmao 😂 such clowns!! 🤡 So much for "NICE!" 🤣 🤣 🤣
@@cultytalk Yep, yep, yep.
Yes evil
Your editing is awesome 👍😎
Hey, at a convention they literally did a roleplay where they said not to invest in compairing in new technologies and rather spent the money on the JW and work the time for the JW! This is so so cruel! I can not take it! I hate it!
I found your videos a few days ago and just have been addicted to them. They are super insightful! So to speak, you are doing a ministry that I wish I could have done by visiting all these places that I've always been curious about. Thank you Jared!
It's free because you're the product! You eventually become the free unpaid marketing team.
The Bible clearly states that everything freely given is given back manyfold by God.
It's called self-sacrifice. You know, the thing Jesus was famous for?
Thanks!
Hey! Thank you so much for being here!
Dude, I love your videos so so much! Keep up the awesome work! YOU'RE RAD!!!
I'm glad that I found your channel, good stuff friend!
It's been 27 years since i went to the kingdom hall and i feel like you still got it
Happy anniversary, or exJW birthday! Me too, 27 years! 1997 was awful and great at the same time.
@@cavan1979 nearly the same anniversary! 1999 for me ... I think. I didn't mark my calendar, LOL! 30 year anniversary party coming ...
Many of your observations are spot on! I think their emphasis on not leaving is a sign the ship id sinking because that is what lots of people are doing. There is such an easy accessible wealth of information on the internet nowadays that maintaining a bubble is very hard.
Of course they’re nice and kind to you. They’re love bombing you to snag you into their cause with their stepford wife vibes. They’re trained to welcome you and smile and ask about you and make you feel so welcomed that you’ll want to come back. They know most people seeking religion are usually coming off or going through an emotional event in their lives. I was one of these drones. So I can speak from experience. Once you’re in the cult, and the novelty wears off, the love bombing ceases for the most part and the judging and marking begins.
I'm not a Jehovah's Witness but isn't that really any Church?
@@cameronreed1411 I think that's a lot of organizations even non religious ones
@@TheHudsonValleyWanderer 100% so I'm not sure what the criticism here is for lol
You guys don’t understand, I was born a witness and was in till 2 years ago. You are taught from childhood to NEVER show your true emotions to outsiders. If you make a “non-believer” feel uncomfortable and they don’t attend a meeting again due to your rudeness you are potentially BLOOD GUILTY. Those are the words that are used to 8 year olds and younger. Literally, blood guilty. I remember being terrified to tell my teachers at school my dad was beating me because we were JW’s and it would reflect badly on God’s name and in turn make them uninterested in being a witness and it would turn them away from “the truth” effectively killing then at Armageddon. These actions of “Love bombing” are so much more intense than you will ever know because of how truly isolated this group is.
Olivia B, what ones the Bible say? It doesn't say there is a Santa.
Just how much reality is a parent to shield his 8 year old from.
When I was 4 I was told I would burn in hell if I missed church on Sunday.
You have absolutely summed up all of the things about the congregation that I always struggled with growing up as a JW. Honestly, I feel like I’ve spent my whole life in some state of cognitive dissonance, that’s how much they screw you up!
I'm not an atheist or a JW, but i cant wait until you go back to the kindom hall to give your commentary. I'm learning so much!
I was a Jehovah’s Witness for 13 years. Do not be fooled by the fake friendly facade. They are no more “nice” than any other group of people. I believe the overwhelming niceness is termed “love bombing”. Once you are in you see beyond the curtain. There is a social order, a caste system, cliques that are jockeying for dominance within the congregation. I’m often asked about my time as a JW. I reply, “I met some of the nicest people. Also, some of the nastiest. Often, they were the same person”. Also, the whole virtue signaling about not soliciting donations. That’s not how they make their money. It’s real estate. The Watchtower owns billions in property worldwide. Stay away.
Hi! I was one of JWs for 22 ys. your vids about this group are excellent! Thank you so much!
People who are confident in the truth of their message and have nothing scandalous to hide do not spend this much time and energy scaring people away from listening to their critics or examining other points of view.
Not to mention they study their OWN translation of the Bible.
What's hilarious is that Frederick William Franz, the primary translator of the New World Translation, only took two years of Greek at the University of Cincinati. He literally has as much formal Greek training as I do.
@@HeliocentricOfficial I'm surprised he had any. It was just so they could edit John 1:1 and Luke 23:43 to fit their dogma.
You know what’s funny is even apostates still have that exact same cadence
I can't escape it. It was ingrained in me.
bro i was being indoctrinated in my mother's womb! I can't escape the jw cadence 😭
I have been able to jump into the JW accent (usually to show my kids) and go back to normal, but I made an effort to drop it. Mostly I only use JW words/accent jokingly, but it does occasionally slip through… *long suffering/undeserved kindness/The Friends* still make my blood run cold
@@jrojala i hate the slip! I feel like at this point, i need to read the dictionary front to back to rewire my inner workings haha
@@chariethe that’s not a bad idea or just more books in general besides the Bible lol
Yes! Another video on jw's! I'm so excited to watch it. Thank you for making this, from an exjw.
They really are great people and I hate that it's so hard to even broach the subject of changing any of that without them completely shutting down. A family of Jehovah's Witnesses found me at the absolute worst point in my life and gave me a job and a place to live and helped me so much. And it's helped them a lot but now I don't think it's doing that I think it's hurting them more but there's no telling them that. So I just love them from afar.
You sound wonderful. They want to be nice and good people. Their FAITH is not the issue, it is their Organization of nine old men called the Governing Body who reside in NY, USA. And then it is the Business Pyramid scheme, Corporate and used for its multitude of businesses, mainly Real Estate holdings and Trusts, that hurt the people at the bottom of their structure. Elders are pumped up to be market-men, salesmen leaders, yet are not educated or credentialed or experienced to counsel the many things that could go wrong with people AND CHILDREN! Look at the way CSA is handled. And now, with all the recent changes, Elders are given so much responsibility because the GB needs to be able to hold an Elder accountable so it does not reflect back on the GB who is already up to their collective neck in litigation. They helped YOU because that is what they DO in the love-bombing hooking-in-a-recruit period. Then, once you’re baptized and in, the widows are on their own for begging help. The homeless are put out. The hungry in the community are not given food or shelter. You met their criteria: a possible Bible Study. A recruit. A member maybe sometime soon. And if you got in, and have property, beware. If you have nothing, you’ll simply blend in and be ignored til you disagree then will be easily “removed”. HLC visits the dying and hospitalized to wrangle anything that might be given to WT, and also to remind patients not to take blood. Ok, they were good and nice to you while you were gullible, vulnerable, needed help in a dark time. Yes. They are that way. 😢
Everyone has different personas. The kingdom hall persona is not the same as their driving persona, family persona, work persona. They have short tempers, anger management issues, gossip and disrepectful speech in everyday life. I generally found them to be like Jekyll and Hyde. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. But you're still at the stage where they'll lovebomb you and treat you with kid gloves. If you deal with difficult or unethical people, you may think they're not like that. They are very good at camouflage
16:30 Nope. Don't question the interpretation of their Bible and/or the doctrine or you'll be marked. If you continue to question you'll be removed (previously known as disfellowshipped as of August 2024) as an apostate. You may get away with challenging questions when you are a Bible study student, but 6 months in you better mind those independent thoughts.
Wow Jared, significant bump in views, congrats🙂 I keep watching your older vids, and I'm like why only 2-3k views? How long have you been doing the church reviews? I think they are amazing, production quality is excellent, and addictive to watch lol I'm pretty sure your channel is going blow up soon!
Looking forward to your next video. The shunning practice that comes with disfellowshipping and or just deciding to leave the religion is very dangerous. My wife and I’s entire family completely shun us. Our own fathers and mothers refuse to even say a word to us because we choose to leave the religion. Theoretically the next time we will hear from one of them is either 1. If The governing body changes the rules and allows them to speak to us 2. When They are on their death bed.
They don’t take collections but they’ll constantly talk about how you should donate to the “worldwide work”. I’m still physically in because I’m trying to wake up my family, but when I saw a video of a middle aged couple saying they were leaving all their money to the organization I almost screamed
You hit the nail on the head with this cult in your videos analyzing them. I would love to address a few things. As an ex member with some family members still stuck on the inside, you need to know how many ex JW activists there are on YT, exposing the organization's bullsh*t and speaking out on behalf of victims of s*xual abuse and shunning. My favourite channels are Self Aware NPC, Kevin McFree, JW Researcher Rose, Ex JW Panda Tower, David and Vivian Aspinall, Goatlike Personality, EX JW Analyzer... etc.
- How 'nice' everyone is: The niceness is completely put on. You saw how they teach people manners, how to talk and have polite conversations. But all of this absolutely comes at the expense of true, human, emotional connection. Emotions ARE contraband. So it is almost impossible to make real, genuine friends. Everything is so surface level, even after knowing the same people for 25 years.
- My mom converted to this cult because she LIKED the surface level interactions. It fits her personality -- she likes to keep things 'safe' because her parents were very unemotional.
- I stayed for way too long because I didn't want to lose my mom, my dad's family were HORRIBLE, I was teased a lot at school because I had undiagnosed ADHD/autism, and the Kingdom Hall was the only place I felt safe, protected, and showered with approval.. at least from a few people. For a while. At least they didn't mock me openly, like my cousins or the kids at school... and that was good enough.
- It was not until many years later that I realized I was stuck in a prison, and that EVERYTHING they teach about how to recruit is 100% predatory. People only join this group if they are hiding from real life or their real self in some way or another. Hurting, vulnerable people at a crossroads in their life. Jws favourite way to gain converts is to prey on grieving people, and needy single mothers (e.g. my mom).
- Statistics show that most people who get baptized eventually leave (60% or something), which is probably why you see this 'Please don't leave me!' messaging ALL THE TIME.
-Every congregation has 'different' people, (and most rank and file generally avoid them) that are more interested in genuine Bible scholarship, or people who actually express their emotions. People who like discussing theology, but they know better than to share that stuff in comments or talks at the meeting. So unless you spend a lot of time together, you won't know they exist. You have to keep your theories about doctrine or the organization very quiet, or you risk being targeted and 'reproved' or outright shunned as an 'apostate' if you let it slip to someone you don't trust.
- 'Apostasy' is the absolute worst thing in the eyes of the Watchtower. They say people who ask questions, have doubts about the doctrine, or who stand up for those who are abused are basically the same as Satan. They value outward appearance and 'reputation' above all else. Which means that if an elder or an elder's child r*pes someone, they will actually try to cover it up. They tell victims NOT to call the police. If they do, they are immediately shunned. The organization is FULL of cases like this, people who were r*ped by someone in their congregation, and they just have to pretend like it didn't happen. There are even reports from victims that some 'Governing Body' members in the past were p*dophiles, who covered up their child abuse crimes. Naturally, the rank and file members have no idea about any of this because they are told anything on the internet or TV about JW's that is uncomplimentary is an apostate lie from agents of Satan.
- Any baptized member will be shunned for talking to an apostate. They will lose their entire social life (you're not supposed to have friends or date anyone 'in the world'), they lose any family in the cult, they may even lose their job if they work for another JW. Minor children are thrown out of their parents home to fend for themselves, and this is all called 'loving discipline.' It makes me sick to my stomach.
- Recent legal developments in Norway have forced Watchtower to stop kicking kids out of home if they get 'removed from the congregation', their new expression for disfellowshipping (shunning). And now if a disfellowshipped person comes to a meeting, rank and file members are permitted to greet them, but not have a conversation. Nothing has really changed. But they hope this will get the government of Norway from holding back money they believe they are entitled to as a church organization.
- Those skits you see at the meeting do not reflect reality whatsoever. Most people who participate in those skits (I probably wrote and presented a hundred of them or more..) do not have those experiences. We never get a chance to 'have a Bible study' with people because many are smart enough to do a quick Google search about the group if they accept some of the literature. And then they never answer the door again if they have any sense at all.
The blood transfusion thing: It is completely insane. The worst part is Watchtower has flip flopped on their doctrine about this over the years. It was only since the 1950s that they were super strict about it. Watchtower has changed their doctrine a lot over the years in many different things, but it usually happens so slowly, so as not to shock the old people or create resentment.
- The most remarkable thing about the Watchtower is their leadership says they are anointed by God and represent him on Earth, making decisions that affect the lives of millions of people. But they ALSO claim to be 'neither inspired nor infallible.' Like, BRO, you CAN'T have it both ways!! It takes the highest level of doublethink and creates the worst sense of cognitive dissonance. It is how they claim to be allowed to change doctrine and say God was behind it.
Love those channels too! Would love to see this channel collab with some of the ones you mentioned.
Surprisingly good faith analysis. Well researched with logical conclusions. Useful for learning about them
I enjoy these videos because I was raised a witness (atheist now), and he talks about the goings on within the halls on an experiential level. I get to kinda vet his videos in my mind to see if they actually correspond to what I grew up with, and that's really cool.
One thing I wanna say about witnesses being really nice though, is that you don't know what each individual is like OUTSIDE of the religious context. I put it like this: Assuming genuine belief, there are two kinds of witnesses. Ones who have the "new personality" on at all times, and those who take that personality off in times of rest. The latter group may not behave in a "worldly manner" or commit any sins that go against their religion, but the overly smiley, hyper polite, totally unbothered facade comes off when they're alone, or with close friends, or in otherwise low pressure situations.
Even within cults, there are ideal standards, and not everyone lives up to them all the time.
Plus, there's a reason why they stress good behavior. It's suppose to be a form of advertisement.
Good behavior couldn't in any way be stressed because it leads to good outcomes.
Noo, it MUST be a form of cult advertisement. So says "cthulhu's cat" while brandishing a rainbow pentagram. You can't make this shit up 😂
@@hyperteleXii Again, I was raised in it, you ninny, I know what I'm talking about. You're argumentation is also horrible, as my choice in name or the png I use for my profile has no impact on whether or not what I'm saying is actually true. Clearly this was the route you chose because you had no better leg to stand on.
I know far, FAR more about this cult than you do. Actually read their literature, study their history, and ask real witnesses genuine questions. This isn't stuff I'm just pulling out of my ass.
"When we put on the new personality, it not only benefits us, but it signals to others the peace and joy that comes with living as true Christians."
I used to hear stuff like this all the time. Sure, they might not immediately think of it as advertisement, but that's literally what they're saying, and that's exactly how cults operate.
Do better.
thank you for doing this work. i was always curious, but they scare tf outta me 😵💫
You need to look into the child sex abuse allegations and their ridiculous 2 witness rule.
@12:33 That's called "The New Personality". It is always being "worked on" and constantly monitored by those around you. It really isn't optional.
I asked my mother what the word truth meant, and she couldn't answer me
Nice!
Hey man loved the video. Very informative, interesting and funny, yet respectful as well. Subbed. I'm a Christian who has talked to Jehovah's Witnesses for many years.
I can’t stress how accurate he is in his telling of his experience at a Kingdom Hall. I also can’t stress how made up and phony all the “love” he received was. As Jehovahs witnesses, even the worst of us out in this fake personality in the presence of potential converts. We’re taught to smile, show interest, greet people warmly. And once some of those same people leave, the mask comes off. Even behind doors in the back room, the masks are off and these people are rude and evil. Even the “we don’t do offerings” is a lie. They ask for donations in their jw broadcast
And they always guilt trip you at their conventions and assemblies with their "deficits".
My God you are so lost.
@@auditordoscientosveintitre5545 right! A deficit on a building they own and use unpaid free labor to upkeep
@@hyperteleXii I faded from the cult, the only lost ones are people defending this evil cult and their abuse of children
Oh well thank God your secular government is sterilizing kids and chopping off their organs in the name of nameless goodness. Now is your moment of truth to spill the details of this child abuse you speak of, that JW's allegedly are guilty of. Go on.@@upongame3398
I so love your analysis, as coming from someone without a dog in the fight, so to speak. People from another faith, would have many different takes or opinions on why the Jdubs are in error in many places, but your atheist view is based on a humanistic perspective, critical thinking, and just good ol common sense. I am a non denominational Christian, it's just awesome to listen to your observations.
The niceness is a front. It’s a tactic called “love bombing.” Besides that, I’d rather deal with someone that is direct, than someone that’s fake.
Yay a new upload! I love your videos✨🦄
It’s called *LOVE BOMBING*
Standard cult behaviour towards new attendees.
Btw your videos are amazing, so insightful and as an ex Jdub i really appreciate someone so intellectual reviewing this. Thank you from an excommunicated member.
As an Exjw myself, i find an outside viewpoint on this fascinating. Enjoying this series a lot.
Another amazing video, I really like the fact that you've gone in with out any preconceived ideas about the jdubs. Just like the last video, you had me in tears....
You made a great point about not just reading the Bible, but having the correct interpretation of what is written. JWs should read early figures like St. Justin Martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Iraneus of Lyons, or even the Cappadocian fathers to see if what the watchtower teaches lines up with early Christian teachings. Really enjoyed the video, great stuff!
Ahh, as a former JW drone it’s good to see how someone going in with a fresh set of eyes comes away from the experience of the event/events that are JW meetings. The further you dig into that high control group the more you’ll be blown away by the fact that the way they live their lives is at the stern direction of 9 dudes in upstate New York who by the way, aren’t the leaders but take the…lead 🤔
I’m really looking forward to part 3
If anyone is curious about what '9 dudes in upstate New York' means, then Franz's book "Crisis of Conscience" is an excellent read. Franz was one of the 9 (or was it 8?) His book is aging but still highly rated. He's the only ex-JW whistleblower who was at the highest levels of the Church, AFAIK.
LOLOLOL
"You didn't get booted off the island!" The best line ever! As an exjw, that is about the truth. If you can, year after year, come here and not do anything or think one thought of your own and not get disfellowshipped...that's all they care about! Remember:
DO NOT THINK.
20:00 Yep, as soon as they lose the blood doctrine, they will be sued to high heaven.
on point. if only my family could see this
I hope somehow they'll see it.
Thanks you so much!!
What about all the times they claimed the world would come to an end, then it didn't. How did they square that?
😂❤ it's still in the prooooooceeeeesssss of ending. That's how.
@@dirkjensen969 Well, if they believe that, they're not just being fooled, they are fools.
The last part of the last part of the final days. Aaaaaaany minute now...
I am a Gnostic and i Love your videos, you do a great job and i appreciate your honesty . Thanks
i love your analysis on the JWs, please talk more about this religion!
The "skits" are designed to teach them how to sidetrack objections and coerce the "householder" with promises of paradise and everlasting life, then the details of giving up your current personality and becoming a complete slave to their community is slid in towards the end of the pre-baptism studies. By then, you're already invested and just roll with it.
14:52 hey, we don’t take your money, we only take your labor your time your work and them we take your money
Also, your inheritance and your soul.
@@Infinvita lol 😆 exactly
While the 9 guys in upstate N.Y. live in luxury.
Lol I was waiting for this one 😂😭
I’m seeing this video a few days before finally leaving. I was born into it and I am Bi. I felt such a grossness to that side of me that now it just turns into anger. For 20 years I had to repress who I was and hide that from my family (who are all witnesses minus two that did some sinful things and got expelled). I’m writing this now with many self inflicted cuts on my hands because of how angry I still feel. The choice I had to make was either stay and possible end up killing myself later on, or leave. I chose to leave.
I’m writing this to tell you that it really isn’t that simple. The people can be nice and they really are, but the indoctrination is real. I’m reminded of the “Caleb and Sofia” shorts (please look them up, they deserve a video on their own), there was one where they talked about gay relationships and I now realized just how much I gaslit myself into thinking this was the correct way to live and that I need to live the way god wanted. I told myself that “since it’s wrong to commit the act and not be Bi” that that would be fine, but I now see that I am just repressing a big part of myself. Not to mention how they rephrase gay as “a choice” when it’s not.
On the one hand I am happy that I am finally leaving (I also am leaving because I have differing beliefs) but on the other, my parents will take it as “he’s going to the world” or “the devil has taken hold of him or possessed him or tricked him” and I don’t know what is about to happen next in this chapter of my life.
I’ve got a biology degree. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that being non binary etc is unnatural. It’s genetic and is dependent on how a lot of genes ( not just X or Y) get regulated after fertilization.
When did sin stop being sin. I'm exJW but still realize certain things the world embraces aren't right. There is a hell - they don't believe that - and Judgement Day will come to all of us one day.
90% of what they teach is correct but the 10% poison is what's causing so much harm! The 9 wizards in Warwick are property tycoons.
I was a JW in the 70s and 80s and things were different. And yes it's a cult. Yahuah is His name and wrath is coming one day on the sons of disobedience. We are the righteousness of God in Christ. People should throw their wicked NWT out and read another translation like NKJV or NASB and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to teach them. Blessings and Maranatha.
THis is too spot on bro bahaha was raised and son of an elder and stopped going regularly to meetings when I was 18. Crazy bit u pointed out w the song lyrics analyasis. So fun watching your reactions and retroactivly reflecting on my upbringing. Keep it real, Subbed keen for your other content :D
@HeliocentricOfficial what is your take on JWs CSA cases?