Hey friends! I sometimes get comments assuming I have a team helping with videos. That’s honestly a huge compliment, but it’s just me. No managers, no editors, and no producers. I work a 9-5, come home, and then edit like a madman to bring these vids to life. For this video in particular, it took over a hundred hours of coordination, editing, and composing. I even wrote all of the music featured in this video (like, legit, all of it). If you’d like to support this weird project of a channel, please head over to my Patreon. You’ll find behind-the-scenes content, unreleased upcoming music, and even a downloadable version of my book. Whatever brought you here, thanks so much for watching and being part of this journey. Patreon.com/Heliocentric
Dude! That's crazy, I saw your post about it where you were halfway through editing, but to also write all the music and still have a 9-5? It's madness, and I'm here for it with even more respect for your dedication than I thought I would be capable of. You rock!
I was and remain prayerful for you, brother. I was starting to wonder when I hadn't seen a release from you. It is obvious you are loved by this community, believers or not. I appreciate your hard work, wealth of knowledge, and desire to learn about religions lesser known to you. More importantly, your love for your fellow man is inspiring. I never would have expected to be encouraged in my faith by an atheist, but I believe God will use anything for His purpose.
@@dbach1025 Salvation is not the getting to heaven if you die (when you de as all are presumed to do). If someone grabs you off a sinnking boat, you been saved. If someone flies you out of a hurricane, you been saved. The WatchTower has one thing correct, that being given in the future a 2nd life 2nd chance in flesh is most definitely being saved. With that God is not seeking to destroy crime or criminals in the world, but rather fix the planet which crime & criminals laugh at, bringing their own death in billions. Jesus said take no notice that God is making a planet change. That doesnt mean change a school to teach heliocentric, it means KEEP Earth in actual heliocentric orbit. Forces are so mcuh greater beyond stupid people. And it doesnt mean God twitches his nose for magic.
I wasn’t even disfellowshipped but told my family I wasn’t going to keep going to the Kingdom Hall for conscience reasons and my family shunned me. My dad told me he loved me, but he loved Jehovah more! I didn’t commit any sins, still married to my husband (we left together) but haven’t seen our families in 4 years.
Oh. Gotta say AltWordly's word "Everything that's good about the religion is not unique and everything that's unique about the religion is not good" is GOLD!
Really incredible work, man. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it, and for elevating this issue to a broader audience. For any viewers who are wondering how they can help, it’s by raising awareness. If a Witness comes to your door, treat them with the level of empathy and compassion Jared does, and express your concern. You can’t change someone’s mind for them, but you can make them think, and compassion from The World will be more unexpected to a JW than confrontation. It’ll stick with them. If you see a post online about cults, mention JWs. They’re a disarmingly boring religion on the outside, and that allows them to slide under the radar. This organization only changes when the courts make them. Also it didn’t make the final cut but I do want to clarify that I can’t take credit for “everything good about it is not unique, and everything unique about it is not good.” I heard that on an episode of Mormon Stories when I was deconstructing. Wish I could remember the ep lol.
Reading a book by Craig Hoyle called Excommunicated… and watched him tell his alarmingly similar story to leaving JWs, and shows how the PBCC (Plymouth Brethren formerly Exclusive Brethren) are similar and have the exact same issues and multigenerational effects, and how the family inside as well as outside families are affected and how the outside family still accept us, when we reach out to them after leaving. On the channel called Get A Life Podcast, I enjoyed hearing Craig narrate part of his book. You might enjoy it. He was mistreated for being gay, and they said he shouldn’t “be himself.” It’s a really good book, and I think he’s a good writer and narrator. You might even enjoy interviewing him one day, if you can somehow connect? I’d sure watch your video if you did! Anyway, just found the channel and stuff. Because there’s no fast rule that JWs cannot watch shows about Cults (other cults, lol ) I let myself watch, as a JW and it started the waking process!!
I still think about how your experience went, hospitalized and your dad😢and well, your videos help others leave, and others maybe never entering thank goodness! No one should be shunned, ESPECIALLY when sick!
you need to accompany a 'removed' person to a meeting at their old Kingdom Hall and see how they get treated. Also the fact that it was a Circuit Overseers visit when you went, people act super friendly and pious when the CO visits
I can second this!! When the CO visits everyone acts like the greatest ever and even if they haven’t preached in weeks only because of the CO visit they go out to preach with the group. Going with someone’s old hall would show us just how really they would treat someone.
Yes, yes, yes! Absolutely yes! Anytime a circuit overseer visits the hall, the energy in the room is heightened and almost false. Everyone is on their p’s and q’s. The elders ramp it up a notch, everyone tries to attend the meeting, even slow attenders - people who normally don’t attend regularly - and everything is ship shape. Additionally, you were a visiting disfellowshipped person. A person who was disfellowshipped from that particular hall might have been given a different reception.
I'm an exjw. I was disfellowshipped 15 yrs ago. My mother and two sisters have not spoken to me since. Even when they changed the rules they still stick to the old shunning policies. I very nearly ended my life one night about 13 yrs ago because I had lost everything. Including my marriage and two sons. The only reason I am here is because I drank to much before I went through with my plan and passed out. The next morning I woke and decided I could not let the governing body control my life like that anymore.
Glad you’re still here. Keep going! I hope you’ve found a community and that your deconstruction journey is going well. Or even if you’re Christian, I hope your life is full and happy
You’re never alone, I’m 23 and my brother is 20 and our parents abandoned us both. I dont expect anything to change but I am living my best life and I’m happy and doing good. ❤ I’m wishing you the same happiness and peace
As JWs, we were trained to always say how happy we were. #bestlifeever. In reality, most JWs are miserable. Living in constant fear of doing or saying something that would get you disfellowshipped. Efrian Rivera Oasis Ex-Testigos de Jehová
My uncle was DF’d 45 years ago. 45! He was told to sit at the back of the KH for his mothers funeral He was never invited to any family gatherings. We grew up basically not knowing him. My sister was DF’d 20 years ago. When she was DF she worked at the Mall. There were JWs from our Hall and neighboring halls that knew her and would not go into the store if she was working that day Or they’d ask for another sales associate. My brother was DFd 15 years again. He tried to “come back” after 6 months but one elder on the committee didn’t feel he was ready. He never tried again. This new “adjustment” is a mind fyck. If you had gone to a KH 3 years ago it would have been the exact experience you were expecting. I don’t know HOW JWs can sleep knowing how they acted or treated people FOR YEARS! This is such a triggering topic for me because it’s SHEER passive aggressive hypocrisy and brainwashing.
I think one of the reasons you got the reaction you did was because nobody there knew you. People act differently toward strangers than people they know and have a history with. I think you're spot on about people in the congregation wanting to welcome people back, but in practice they worry about who they're seen with. When someone has a bad reputation, it tends to color how people act toward them. Bad association spoils useful habits, after all.
He even admits in another chat saying he got it from Mormon stories or something but the fact that he even tries to give credit others make him more likeable!
Idk Jared, it sounds to me more like -get disfellowshipped -rules change -go see your mom at church who you havent seen in 10+ years -want to hug her and tell her you missed her and pour it all out -she gives you the stepford wife stare and says "Its so good to see you here!"
Oh yeah, I feel this big time. As a stranger their pleasantries feel fine, if not a bit theatrical. But after all the trauma and tension and repression, to have them respond with muted emotions and the same company lines as always, it’s like there’s no light behind the eyes.
@derekmaverick5986 Now they are admitting that even during Armageddon perspns can change.No one changes during Armageddon. God knows a good person independent of foolish man made religions. There is no need to associate with unthinking, uncritical , programmed robots.
Your perception is exceptional. As an exJW, I’d add that the scars inflicted by this organization on children who have been disfellowshipped should be a criminal offence. My brother, disfellowshipped at 15, suffered trying to grow up without parents (they shunned him), financial support (he was kicked out of the home) or sadly his siblings. His crime - he said he didn’t want to be in the religion and started smoking. I was 13. It messed up all 3 of us kids. Aptly said, “victims of victims”.
I think a large part of the ”coldness” that a lot of us exjws will report, that you did not experience, is rooted in the way many witnesses will experience your disfellowshipping (but to a much larger degree disassociation) as a personal betrayal. There’s a lot of hurt involved, because in their view, you are choosing to leave the relationship, even if you try to clearly communicate that you are in no way distancing yourself from them. When a random disfellowshipped person shows up at a Kingdom Hall, that’s just a win, ’cause being there means they want to come back. As a witness, you just see that as a positive development that you don’t have a stake in. When you see someone who’s disfellowshipped, who you know personally, closely, the risk is far greater that you’ll become enormously emotionally distant, in no small part to protect yourself from the longing for them.
I also read from a couple of comments that the Circuit Overseer being there may have been a factor in the generally positive attitudes towards the new, if disfellowshipped, face at the hall.
i can’t remember if it was actually in some publications or if it was just the way my congregation spoke, but disfellowshipping was spoken about like treating the person like they’re dead. i remember not even being able to look at those who were disfellowshipped, if they came in to meetings. i remember the way they spoke about them, and i can’t even imagine what they said about me when i was disfellowshipped, or even after i left for the last time. it’s absolutely deplorable.
I am continuously baffled by how my dad left Lutheran for the JWs. We could have had a normal, healthy family. But he gave it up for a literature and real estate company that he refuses to do basic research on.
@@alans.wendelschafer6588 I'm very sorry to hear that. Completely guessing here, but maybe the strict and highly regimented life appealed to him in contrast to a church (as some Lutherans can be) that seemed wishy washy. Regardless, I'm sorry you had to pay for it. I pray for people in your dad's situation and yours.
While you were "mingling," the Elders were immediately informed that a "removed" person was among them. They were put into high alert, and all Elders ' and Ministerial Servants were watching you. Your bump-in with Alex was no accident. He was assigned to make sure you spoke with each other. He was gathering information. He was a spy.
I used to *always* greet disfellowshipped ones warmly. As a servant...I got dragged into a meeting with 2 elders and was warned if I do it again I could have my qualifications jeopardized...as an appointed brother I needed to set a better example for the congregation. Being loving like Jesus was the worst example apparently...and I said as much. They were gobsmacked and I never heard a single thing about it from them again, but apparently other friends paid close attention and would talk about how loving it was.
@@EfrainRiveraJunior Wow, it's a shame how unloving these men were and needed permission from the GB to behave in a Christlike manner. When my best friend got disfellowshipped, I teared up and an elder (one of the ones I was referring to in my previous post) put his hand on my arm and tightened his grip and shook his head at me in disapproval. I'm glad to see they are moving in a new direction but after so many years of harm its really wild
My therapist told me I was going through grief. She was right, being shunned whether you’re disfellowshipped or not is a death in your parents relationship. The people who are supposed to love you unconditionally and put you first never will and it’s devastating. You will always grieve them. Please seek help and create a support system for yourself, you matter even if your parents dont validate you 🤍
@@soofu oh for sure! I'm so glad you are doing that. I left in 2007. I went to therapy for a couple years but life happened and I had a lot going on to distract me. Covid brought up all sorts of crap. stressful situations bring it back. maybe I am a lesson that this is something you have to continue to deal with and stay on top of. I am doing a therapy program currently. best healing wishes to you.
When I was 17 and starting to fade away from the j-dubs, the elders pulled me aside and told me I wasn’t allowed to go witnessing (door knocking) anymore. I pretended I was so upset about this but I couldn’t believe just how great this news was! No more boring ass witnessing!! A month or two later I told an elder I didn’t want to be a j-dub anymore, he tried to talk me out of it for ages, ended up getting frustrated and called me foolish. He said that this world will only last, at most, another 6 months before Armageddon wipes all the baddies out. I told him that’s a risk I’m willing to take. That was in 2003. 21 years ago. I also asked that same elder to not tell my mother, that I wanted to tell her myself. He agreed. I left his house and went straight to my mums. She wasn’t home, but I still let myself in. While I was checking the place the phone rang. I answered it and it was the elder. He said “hello (little brother’s name), is your mum there?” I simply said, “this isn’t (little brother), it’s me.” “Oh……….. Is your mum there?” “No, she’s not. The place is empty. Why do you want her? I thought we agreed that I would be the one to tell her?” “Oh, er, um, ah, er…. I was just thinking about um, something else um” “So you lecture me about Armageddon coming and the very next thing you do is lie?” “No, um. It wasn’t that, er.” “Whatever…” and I hung up. The same man died from suicide about 10 years later. Yeah - dark twist at the end there.
Ex JW here. I am 66 yrs old, left the cult for good about 6 years ago. Waking up is a process that takes time for some of us. I did not lose my faith in God, or Jesus, but I did question my faith when first leaving. As it turns out, it was my faith in that disgusting religion that I lost, but not my faith in God or the Bible. As a born in, I was afraid of Armageddon, afraid of committing the unforgivable sin, afraid of death, afraid of worldly people....the fear is over the top, especially for children. The Armageddon pictures in the literature are the stuff of nightmares. Many things in the video were triggering for my ptsd, but everything you said was true and you obviously have a heart for people. I shunned my sister for 40 years, from the time she had a baby at 16 and was disfellowshipped until I woke up from the cult a few years ago. She accepted my apologies and we now have a good relationship.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
Great username, eyes wide open! I’m sorry you were driven to those experiences, but I’m happy to know you are forming a bond with your sister after all of it. You are not alone in your struggle. I hope you take more chances to tell your story.
My aunt get disfellowshiped a decades a go, now we don't even have her contact or at least know that she still alive or not. This cult is so destructive
Ex jw here, I really loved hearing what Dr. Lee said about jws being counter prepared for the world. I constantly deal even today with fear of people and have a hard time making friends. I hope to one day overcome the fear that has been instilled in me since birth.
Just when you think you’re over it, you have a bizarre visceral reaction to a perfectly normal human situation. Conflict especially is hard for no reason other than conditioning.
Exjw here. I needed to say how beautifully and respectfully this is being handled by you. For me, the hardest part was being kicked into this world i had been taught to be terrified of. I lived in fear of being disfellowshipped and losing my family...and having to live among wickedness and evil everywhere. I thought it would be violent and overwhelming. For years i thought i must be evil because this world feels so comfortable. Being one of jehovahs witnesses instilled a deep belief that i was disposable and love was conditional. Even as a jw i kept a distnce from other jws because i might need to shun them one day. They might be bad association. What if I do something infront of them that gets me in trouble? When you wrap that up with the purity culture, isolation and institutionalized thought and speech it gets so dark.
Wonderful comment! I felt all that too! Yes, this video was wonderful. I couldn’t get close to people either when I was “in” for those same fears. And they do spy and report, even in families. Problem is that it shatters your trust (well, mine) when you are booted out into that big bad world. And yes, I thought I was evil too, especially when “worldly” people loved me. I thought ahhh, Satan loves me, not God! So I pushed people away. Thanks for your comment. ❤😢
Even when I'm in a lovely community, I still act like a sociopath and keep miles of emotional distance. Maybe it's because of JW upbringing or my personality dunno
As a disfellowshipped (13 years and counting) exJW who is now also an apostate (spent almost 10 years in some weird limbo of still believing) - this video is so validating of what I’ve been through. Thank you!
You said it true: that apostate labeling is so hard to shake off. It’s a defamation of character and people actually can take the KH or WT to Court over it. Thank you. ❤😢
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
I’ve been disfellowshipped for just under 5 years. I’ve never heard anyone speak so truthfully and eloquently on the pain it causes. As a 40 year old woman, I lost everyone. You never really recover, but you do learn to move on. I’ve been fortunate enough to rebuild a new, UPBUILDING community around myself, but it was a long and painful road.
I’ve also noticed that people can hear me say I’m disfellowshipped, but they have no idea what it really means. I’m sharing this video with A LOT of people 😂😂
Exjw here, I would like to tell you that I really appreciate a never-been JW taking so much time and effort into understanding what it’s like to be a jw or exjw. It gives me hope that more people will take an interest in this organization because it is very complicated and nuanced (which I think is boring to most people) even though it’s a cult in plain sight,
I was disfellowshipped around 1990 when I was 21. I’m glad I got to experience the full disfellowshipping experience! I wrote letters and attended meetings sitting in the back row for six months until they reinstated me. My parents then told me they were proud of me and that I could take a small break from going to the Kingdom Hall. I never went back again!
I was in crisis when I left, I was homeless with my son, no access to the family money, no access to legal support, my father was aware I was leaving very challenging circumstances and knew my young son was with me. He didn’t even say goodbye and I was shunned before I was officially disfellowshipped. They are very cruel. Since the changes - I haven’t heard from anyone. Many witnesses believe that if they are more strict in adhering to being “loyal to the organization” then they are more righteous.
This should give you some comfort: . I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
@@user-jt2vv1zj6z thank you. I got us on our feet, found a temporary job, got us a home then restarted by business. We are both thriving now, exploring new experiences, making new friends together. I didn’t get my daughter back but I managed to keep my son with me.
I was disfellowshipped at 21 and I'm 29 now and still traumatized by it. I lost everyone I knew and loved. I was raised in the organization since 5. Thank you so much for your genuine concern and care you have for people in general and people like me who have been through this hellish organization ❤
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
The reason you were treated "not badly," is because they didn't know you. They immediately assumed that you are from another congregation, too embarrassed to start attending your assigned congregation, probably have personal issues with your local Elders, and are seeking to "come back to Jehovah" some other way.
Nothing tears family apart like religion. Im an ex jw. I was disfellowshipped and for the next 35 years had no relationship with my mother and sister. When my mother needed full time care, the jw's were no where in sight. And i certainly wasnt going to take care of her after the way she treated me for 35 years. She really missed out and never realized it
Yep! Happened to me. . Luke 6:22-23 HAPPY are YOU whenever men hate YOU, and whenever they exclude YOU and reproach YOU and cast out YOUR name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man. 23 Rejoice in that day . [NAME OF PERSON] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses ---->> "and cast out YOUR name" . I'm HAPPY. . . I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
I've been waiting for new videos, checking the channel for updates several times, and it was all worth it. As someone who was disfellowshipped over three years ago, I always appreciate it when people who don't have any history with JWs, raise these topics. Thank you, mate
I'm still in, I'm an atheist and I go to preach and to meetings, because I know that if I stop going I'm simply going to lose too much. But I'm working on having new friends and a support network while I get out of it.
I have been shunned by all my JW family and friends for the past six years. Since I openly speak against the Organization, I am no longer welcome to any of thier meetings, assemblies, or gatherings.
@@TheNinjapancake14- Not necessarily. I'm not Tom Cruise. But you can find many stories about "apostates" being recognized and asked to leave. So, yes, _if_ I'm recognized, I will be escorted out. But, isn't that true about anyone in a similar situation regardless of their "famous" status.
@@TheNinjapancake14their recruiting is way more passive now; they’re trying to stop their bleeding numbers and relaxing the rules on how to treat with those who have been shunned is one way to do so. You gotta remember they ALWAYS want disfellowshipped people back, but on THEIR terms. The whole process is essentially emotional blackmail; by ensuring your social circle and family are all also witnesses, ceasing contact with you isolates you fully. For some folks it’s too much, for others it’s the sad reality of essentially having everyone you know essentially be passed away.
Thank you for doing this for the ex-JW community. I hope this helps a lot of people understand the pain this organization causes. I said one sentence to my mother, which was “I don’t believe in Jehovah” when I was fifteen. The next day everything I owned, including my birth certificate and baby photos was on our front lawn. I lived in a hovel above a shop I had just gotten a job at months before after that, until the owners brother (knowing I would need to come down to use the toilet) was laying in the lounge room naked rubbing his dick looking at me. After that, I went to my older worldly friends, I had no money, so lived with them knowing that my cost of rent was sex because it was the only commodity I had. I was a raging alcoholic the whole time to get away from it mentally and emotionally. If it wasn’t for my high school art teachers and alcohol I would have killed myself. But standing on the lawn the day I got kicked out, I knew I wouldn’t be beaten black and blue after every meeting to have belief beaten into me, and so I was happy in some ways. Anyway, that was my middle school/high school experience. Now I’m a religious trauma therapist who works with ex-Christian fundamentalists - including ex-JW’s and it’s the most rewarding work I could ever imagine. Thank you for doing this video.
I’m amazed at your story and how you survived. I’d love to know more about your Specialty in your Profession! I was a JW in the 70’s, waiting for 1975 Armageddon. I’m writing my manuscript about the whole ordeal and the years of climbing up after the fall of “Self”. Being reported by JW husband for disagreement with doctrines, “removed”, lost everyone and everything. We had no podcasts or support back then or very little. I was very young with two babies. Husband left. Family destroyed. I’m very proud of you. Succeeding is a step up from surviving. I salute you. ❤
18:35 im disfellowshiped 5+ yrs. and my grandpa passed away last summer. He was an elder since the elder arrangement was a thing. I tried talking to a very elderly family member at his memorial service at the kingdom hall. One i hadn't seen in 5+ years and i knew that would probably be the last time I'd see her. So I walked up and gave her a hug and everyone around stopped and stared like I kicked a baby. Then she asked who I was again and she said I hope I turn around and come back to jehovah soon.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
Thanks for making this and your other JW focused videos. Very well done and I hope many people watch them. Great to have an outsider's perspective. Really appreciate your concern and honesty in your videos. Thanks for the acknowledgement of the pain exJWs experience.
You did something very important here. You are officially now the only not ex-JW that really understood this. This is big, because all of us always had the feeling that nobody outside, that has not lived in there, would ever understand us. You proved it can happen. This, in fact, is a step in the right direction. Thank you
Thank you for this. You are a gift. The end had me crying. I was shunned at 18 and I am now almost 47 and my entire family chose to shun me for all these years. It’s been unfathomable to me and I have rode the rollercoaster of emotions that have come with that. I have done therapy and asked the hard questions to the void of how my own mother could forego knowing me for my whole life. I have had so much success, so much heartache, lived the equivalent of 5 lifetimes at this point and all without them. I tried for years to hang on to a thread under the guise of medical issues and my mother is a shell of a person filled up with whatever the governing body decides. I was disfellowshipped for having a boyfriend at the age of 15. For that! And for that, I haven’t had a family. One of my older brothers who is deep in it has contacted me a few times in the last decade. We were close as kids so I know it’s hard for him. He bought one of my books from a store and commented on a sentence in it where I said I didn’t have a family. He remarked: “I found that odd!” and it was the only time in my adult life that I was able to describe to someone who shunned me what my life has been like. I haven’t had a family. What they do is not akin to love or mercy. So, thank you for shedding light on this. And for understanding.
I was disfellowshipped for telling people in the organization about the cases of child abuse and how the governing body is lying. My family and childhood friends will never speak to me again. I texted my brother four months ago that I had a tumor they were worried was a sarcoma. I told him I was getting it removed and biopsied, and he never messaged me to see how it turned out. They labeled me an apostate, which to them is worse than a child abuser or murderer.
Thank you SO MUCH for CARING!! It means everything to people who have felt unheard, unseen & yes, even unloved. Jehovah's Witnesses have flip-flopped on the Disfellowshipping thing at least once that I know of. They used to treat as Disfellowshipped even UNbaptized people. I was one of those people. In my teen years, I had to meet with 3 elders at my house for getting in trouble with a friend of mine and admitting to smoking & taking my friend's mother's car out (we crashed it). Anyway, we both got announced as "bad association" & were immediately shunned by the entire congregation and family. My friend & her family never came back and I never saw her again. I was just a kid, between 16 & 17. I don't remember how long I was treated that way (2yrs?), but I remember they changed the rule back to only baptized people could be Disfellowshipped and even though I was supposed to be treated as one of them again, they still were very cold to me after the rule changed back. Overall it was over a 3year period in the 80s that they changed the rule from only baptized people could be Disfellowshipped to unbaptized people could be treated the same as baptized Disfellowshipped people. So, for my own experience, it was not a long time to be treated that way, but I got a good taste of how it felt over the couple years before they changed the rule back again. I never did get baptized after & my experience definitely played a role as to why. I saw first hand how quickly one could be turned on & outcast. I consider myself one of the lucky ones because my experience was temporary & I didn't have to grovel & humiliate my way back (which I never would have done, btw!). It is ONLY because they changed the rule back that I was able to be allowed the "privilege " of being treated as "alive" again. Of course, even though there was this rule change, there was NO APOLOGY from ANYONE involved! The really crazy thing (to me) is that at 15yrs old, so just prior to this incident, I had to have a major back surgery & didn't take any blood transfusion. Some adults can't even make that kind of a "stand for Jehovah " - and they STILL treated me like garbage after that for getting into typical teenage behavior a year(ish) later. Insane! The last thing I'll say is that although I wasn't ever baptized, this religion messed me up pretty bad. I was back & forth with them, I was severely depressed & as a teen I was kutting myself & had attempts on my life through the years that followed. I think you'd be shocked to know how many have attempted s*!cide inside this religion & those who leave.
You have a great story to tell and to write that would help so many minors. I also remember being thought of “...as one dead” when I lost everyone too. I TRIED years later to grovel my way back so I could see my JW brother again, but couldn’t do it. Elders made me write at least ten pages of how awful the world was (it was kind, actually), and then I’d be “watched” for at least a year to be sure I attended every meeting, looked astute and sincere and highly engaged, shunning would continue of course. I ended up running far far away. The way that JWs defame a person’s good name could be a Legal matter. It ruins a person for awhile (or for a very long time). What the WT does to children is criminal. It should be (actually it is) against the Law. But no one reports to Law Enforcement or CPS. That has got to change. The suicide rate is sky high. And the self-harm. It all needs to be brought out as you’ve just done. Thank you for your story. Please keep exposing them. ❤😢
@@christinesotelo7655❤ Thank you, friend ☺️ And you too. Your story sounds just as painful. Crazily enough, there was a lot more to my story. I ended up also running away after the car crash. And then, after that when I was back home a while, my mother ended up kicking me out too! All because my (worldly) friend came to pick me up and had her family's Christmas tree on top of it! So much happened in those few years it gets all jumbled in my mind. Take good care. Hope to see you around ❤
I have had EXJWs tell me the stopped contemplating suicide after I explained this to them: . I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
Thank you for this. I haven’t talked to my family and friends for over 6 years. Apparently my grandfather died about a year ago and I just happened to find out on Instagram.
❤ 🫂 The stories that kill me most are ones where people lose a family member and didn't even know or have an opportunity to say goodbye! I'm so terribly sorry!! 😢 That is just heartless
Growing up my mom used to tell us "I love you, but you know I love my god more". That always felt a little weird when I was a kid, but as adult you can recognize that only someone who's been indoctrinated into a cult would ever say something like that.
Yeah, my mom quoted that to me too, "I love my kids, but I loved jehovah before I had them". That was in reference to my bro and sis who were DF-ed and looking to come back. I always knew there was a countdown to when she'd stop loving me enough. Brutal stuff.
I'm a Pastor of a small Non-denominational/Full Gospel church, & truly have enjoyed your videos and exposing the ugliness of "religion". Excellent editing as well and subject matter.
@@kinguincs I get that, trust me. The term "non-denominational" has given many the freedom to go into a "cultish'" type of way, but that's why we make sure to have the "full gospel" incorporated within who we are. That being said, we are united as a church as Christ is the center of the church & the Bible the clear doctrine.
Before got officially announced that I was going to be disfellowshipped, I told some friends and they all came to my house and we cried together like I was about do die. And in fact for them being removed from the congregation is the same thing as being dead. It’s been 6 years now that I got disfellowshipped and out of the organisation and not a single one of my friends, best friends and even some relatives that are still in , they don’t talk to me. They keep saying to my parents that I need to return to Jehovah but none of them send me messages. People that were never born into this can truly understand the scale of it.
They are not used to seeing a nice STRANGER come to the hall and disclose his disfellowshipped status. What they are used to seeing is someone they know who has committed "some sin" which could be as trivial as questioning some doctrine. They already have negative feelings about this person because there has usually been so much gossip going on even before this person is disfellowshipped. They would have no problem saying very little or nothing at all to such a person. Your situation is so very different. You have a pleasant demeanor, they don't know you, and therefore they are not emotionally invested and now they get to try out this new policy that is so very fresh in their minds. And again they are not emotionally invested as is usually the case. It's like a new toy they get to play with. If that makes any sense. In the common scenario, believe me, they would not be carrying on a conversation with a disfellowshipped person in the more common setting. If anyone did such a thing, believe me, they would be facing some counsel from the elders.
Jared Brillant!!! I was a 52 Jehovah's Witness. A "born In" a pioneer an a Bethelite. I was a one time a true Nazis Jehovah's Witness. You my friend have created the best video describing the condition of being Disfellowshipped I have ever seen. The fact you have never been a Jehovah's Witness makes this Video even that more powerful. You are literally saving people's lives by posting this important information. Thank you Keith Casarona
Nazi JW I agree with. And N Korean uniformity and a very isolated world. Uniformity not unity. No individuality or asking questions or disagreeing with a doctrine. “Removal” is a much stronger and more understood word than “disfellowshipping” which the average non-JW knows nothing about. “Removal” sounds sinister, ominous, Edgar Allen Poe-ish.
37:55 they're never just calling to say they love you. They're calling to manipulate you into going back to the Kingdom Hall. This is smoke and mirrors. Not a thing has changed.
You are right, its WAY deeper than you are understanding at this point. Keep digging. You are doing it...because its the right thing to do...and it will help others. Thanks!
I am currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. I am a disfellowshipped person and my former friends and family have continued to shun me. My brother works in Bethel and has not asked once how I am doing. A former friend sent a message to say that I would receive all the help I needed if I went back to the organisation. It's truly disgusting.
As a Christian, I love how much you care about people. The world of ideas needs more people like that. Praying that you find what you're looking for, and that you keep up the good work!
When people see me on the street, they cross to the other side. I grew up in my congregation, i was witness fom 28 years and very zealos one. Busted my back helping everyone daily for many years. From 100 people in my congregation, only 2 ever reached out and we have normal contact. Both of them are now reading Crisis of Concience by Ray Franz. The rest is like i vanished from their lives. Like dead. And i am not even disfelowshipped. Just stopped going to meeting... imidiately they labeled me as an apostate and that was pretty much it... Family is still talking but they ve build a wall, i can feel it...
You were treated decently due to love bombing mixed with witnesses stretching their new found permission to greet DF’d ones. If you did this a year ago you wouldn’t have been treated the same. The average witness has no idea these changes are a result of the Org being in hot water with governments.
I was born into the JW cult. I left and my mother hasn't spoken to me in over two decades. She refused to speak to me after my car accident, and doesn't even check on me after hurricanes. This new policy hasn't affected my mother at all.
I read a comment from a woman who heard her mother talk with a sister in the next room, the friend was laughing that at Armageddon the birds will be eating her drug dealing sons body. Both having a chuckle about it. Horrific
Your approach to our crazy-ass religion is so wonderful. You don't assume you know everything, even after your obvious extensive research. I'm so impressed. And yes, as someone who was df'd at a young age, it's absolutely devastating and soul-crushing. Many who find themselves in that position consider ending it all.
@@Alisha-zq6vh I would strongly recommend watching an interview on a RUclips channel called CatholicTruth with a man named Tom Cabeen. He was a JW for over 40 years and then left and became Catholic after studying church history deeply. Fantastic interview that helped me
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
I'm a Christian exjw. I really appreciate your channel and for shining a light on this cult. Great video. So glad to see your channel blowing up and getting subscribers. Keep up the good work. They announce the "removals" during their midweek meeting. I think this is because "interested worldly" ones are more likely to attend on Sunday. That would be a bad look now, wouldn't it?
Well done ! Really good video, I saw the video lenght and liked before I even watched it. Finished it now and it actually brought me to tears. It changed my views on JWs as people.
You did SUCH a good job on this video. I’ve been out for 7 years. The grief over losing everyone as if Thanos snapped is still overwhelming some days. In the beginning there were a lot of hopeless dark days, I had “woken up” my mother as well and when she got out of the religion her mental instability skyrocketed without any religious hindrance. So I ended up losing her too. I’m grateful every day my husband and I and our five children escaped together. I learned so much that helped me through the pain of the whole experience. But it will never stop hurting, the damage that religion did.
Similarly: my grandfather was disfellowshipped when I was a child, maybe 10 years old-I still spent time at my grandparents house, so whenever he came into the room I would turn away from him. A grown man who has to sneak around his own house. Really sick and sad.
Explain this to your grandfather: . I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
Heartbreaking and fascinating video. Thank you for educating people about this organization. Also, as a fellow musician, it warms my heart that you were able to produce such a quality mini-doc with your OWN music. Something I aspire to do someday!
Excellent video. Didn’t know anything about jw and I especially didn’t expect there to be as many parallels between being disfellowshipped and what it was like coming out as trans. Having to leave everything behind to be free, silently saying goodbye to your family before they realize that they’re going to cut you out, the shame… I have more in common with jw than I ever thought.
I'm a gay ex jw. I never thought about it before but you are right. So many trans people lose family, friends and church very similar to the shunning of jw's.
I don't know if you found this out doing your research, but Stephen Lett (one of the governing body), his nephew committed suicide after being disfellowshipped.
My wife and I were talking (her a df'ed jw). With the new adjustments to rules, your experience makes sense. The thing is that you showed up as an unknown commodity. We were discussing that it would be very interesting, and possibly telling, to keep going back to the same kingdom hall now that you have "outed" yourself as disfellowshipped. I imagine that you will see the behavior change.
Excellent job analyzing this hurtful practice. I am 70 and disassociated myself 32 years ago when I reasoned myself out of belief in the bible and god. I knew what would happen and have mostly been shunned by family and 100% of my old friends. I built a new life. But your video brought me to tears more than once. It still hurts to lose my oldest daughter and grandkids with no communication in about 20 years. Thankfully some family have not stayed JWs. I most worry about those JWs who continue to believe but are "removed". I lost one ex-JW friend to suicide and it is a terrible thing. Thank you so much.
I was one month away from getting baptized when I was "reproved" by the elders. Couldn't go out in service anymore or participate in the school. At first I was devasted, but in hindsight it was the best thing to ever happen to me. I never knocked on another door again even after my parents and the elders begged me to after my reproof was lifted, since I was one of the few young people in the congregation who was gung ho about serving God. And I never got baptized. I escaped to college one year later, fell in love with a guy from abroad, moved abroad to "live in sin" as my mother would say, and never looked back.
Thank you once again for your content. I commented on one of your earlier JW Videos about the love bombing associated with your visit to the Kingdom Hall. And like then it is so refreshing to see more light on this organization from an outsiders perspective. Whilst in it you believe the Whole World is out to get you and I mean that literally, but when you leave there's a stark realization that either people are just not aware or completely apathetic towards them. It can be jarring cause when you explain your experiences people unwittingly diminish your experience within it not out of malicious intent but rather just lack of knowledge. So Big thankies from mcspankies for your continued look and coverage of them.
Thank you so much for making this. You truly get it. I was disfellowshipped for over a year, woke up, got reinstated to get my friends and family back, maybe drop a few seeds to help them wake up, but that backfired. I have since faded, but in essence, faders are often treated the same way. And yeah--I wanted to die too. I lost my best friend and that was the toughest thing of all. Even though I wasn't technically disfellowshipped, my mother died, but nobody told me. I didn't learn of it until three years later. My father reached out every few years, but only with a proselytizing text, never anything personal. He reached out to invite me to go to convention, absolutely nothing like "how you've been?" or "I miss you". Just pure cookie cutter proselytizing that I decided to ignore. When he sent a text asking if he could come visit, I did respond saying yes--just don't bring up religious stuff. He responded by texting back "Better not." It was clear he simply wanted to visit to invite me back to the cult and nothing more.
This is just so well done in every way. Your channel is such a hidden gem and I hope it gains more traction! You deserve it. Thank you for this video :)
I also care n love u. I hope in time u heal n can move past the cruelty shown u. My bro went through hell with elders n it nearly cost him his life. He eventually saw a family therapist n by coincidence she understood jws from past clients n was able to help him. I love my younger bro deeply n we r always there for ea other. We both faded gradually bc of the lack of love we both witnessed but sadly we both were so indocrinated that it was the truth since childhood (n no internet) back then that it took us to be adults b4 we could both say goodbye. We r both the happiest we have ever been. I know u can get there also. Believe in yourself n your new life. Learn from your past mistakes n move forward making new friends n finding happiness in new adventures to keep your mind busy. Our mind can play tricks on us. Fight it n know its ok to have sad moments or off days. 2morr can be a happier day. I'm not a therapist n don't have all the answers. But I like reading people's comments n choosing someone like u who might just need a kind word from a ex jw who understands much of who u r bc being involved with jws or raised as one, we speak the same language. Sent with love
As an ex jw I'm grateful for this video. Every congregation can be a bit different. Mine was strict. My family didn't talk to me for months before they left and became disfellowshipped. My congregation was so cold about it. I had nothing and went to college with no knowledge of how to be a normal adult. It's tough. Im tearing up thinking about it
You did an amazing work with the video! It does not seem at all that this is a work of one person alone! Thank you for helping people heal that's the most sacred thing a person can do with their life! 🙏🏻
I found out 5th-hand that my mother died sometime earlier this year. She was still a JW and she hadn’t spoken to me for about 25 years. I have a brother, who is an elder, he spoke to me once in 25 years when our father died. He expected me to go to our father’s funeral at a Kingdom Hall, sit at the back without anyone acknowledging my existence and leave just before it finished. I refuse to put myself in the position of being treated like a leper so I never went. The new rule change is nothing more than a token gesture to satiate the Norwegian government. JWs are allowed now to extend a ‘simple greeting’ to df’d people who turn up to a Kingdom Hall. It seems to me, you experienced people’s genuine relief at how uncomfortable the situation is by them being so warm and welcoming to you but they not following the letter of the policy by being so chatty. I expect before too long the policy will be ‘clarified’ in a watchtower article and the rank and file will be told in no uncertain terms that a conversation more than 3 sentences long is a contravention. I think if you had conducted the same experiment one year ago, you would have had an entirely different experience. Great video x
I got reinstated and then left. I know of a sister that hadn’t spoken to her son in years and he passed away in a car accident maybe 2 months before the “greeting adjustment” was made. I can only imagine what the pain must be like for that sister
I often wonder about how a parent would feel who allowed their child to die when blood was necessary, if the Org changed that doctrine to begin allowing blood when necessary. I think the GB would feel some powerful vigilante justice. They’d better be careful of this shunning stuff which has caused great damage to minors and even suicides. Those men are a minute away from some Legal Justice. That is why they are bringing in younger GB members, so the old thugs can go into hiding and these new guys will make “all things new” so there’s no one left to blame and no apologies necessary. 😢
I've been disfellowshipped for over a decade now, and the affect it had on me for so many years, was soul crushing. Thank you so much for looking at this. As always, very well done.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
I was disfellowshipped at 16 in the late 90s. As a minor, I was cut off from my community entirely. My dad was df'd for smoking when I was 3, he had schizophrenia and was committed after that for the rest of his life. Both of my brothers were df'd when I was early teens. There's alot more to my story but Yes it destroys families. Thanks for caring enough to talk about this
I always love and appreciate your videos. Being an exjw it’s hard for me sometimes to see these people as victims but deep down I know they are. It’s so frustrating that I can’t wake them up.
Great video. Thank you. I left the organization a couple of years ago. It’s so difficult to explain to others the actual impact and process of disfellowshipping and shunning. The way you did it with the therapist and the editing was so powerful. You did an amazing job. I think the best synopsis of this practice I’ve ever seen.
I was very devout and thought disfellowshipping was a loving and good thing. The pain of shunning my younger sister nearly led me to end myself when I was 20. On the other hand when I finally woke up, even before I got my sister back, I have never been further from that level of sadness. I didn’t think I could be this happy. Of course, I still grieve certain friends but I don’t have to live with all that pain and guilt of participating in hurting people with unnecessary cruelty.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. .
@@isaiah30v8 My dude... you are in a comment section filled with people who were deeply hurt by a religion built on trying to convert other people to their beliefs. And your first impulse is to start preaching your religious beliefs to them? Religion is like a penis: -It's okay for you to have one. -It's okay that is makes you happy. -But don't whip it out in public. -Don't pressure others to interact with it (especially children). -Don't think that having one makes you better or more moral than those who don't have one.
@@benjaminlammertz64 --- I have had EX-Jehovah's Witnesses tell me that they stopped contemplating suicide after they understood what I posted above. . My simple comment above has saved lives! . It completely changed their expectations! . "He must appear with rejoicing on your part" . . Can you think of anyone who does not want to rejoice? .
@@isaiah30v8 Yes, of course... your comments have also healed cancer, stopped global warming and made George R.R. Martin finish his next book. Seriously dude, you're trying to put yourself in the spotlight as some kind of saviour, spamming the same copypasted text under half the comments here, whether or not it is appropriate or wanted. Stop it. We don't want to be preached to. Not by the JWs and not by you, who sounds a lot like the JW, when they speak about how many lifes they have changed and how many they have saved with their message...
Hey friends!
I sometimes get comments assuming I have a team helping with videos. That’s honestly a huge compliment, but it’s just me. No managers, no editors, and no producers. I work a 9-5, come home, and then edit like a madman to bring these vids to life. For this video in particular, it took over a hundred hours of coordination, editing, and composing. I even wrote all of the music featured in this video (like, legit, all of it).
If you’d like to support this weird project of a channel, please head over to my Patreon. You’ll find behind-the-scenes content, unreleased upcoming music, and even a downloadable version of my book.
Whatever brought you here, thanks so much for watching and being part of this journey.
Patreon.com/Heliocentric
Dude! That's crazy, I saw your post about it where you were halfway through editing, but to also write all the music and still have a 9-5? It's madness, and I'm here for it with even more respect for your dedication than I thought I would be capable of. You rock!
Thank you for your excellent work.
would you be my editor for half the donations?
I was and remain prayerful for you, brother. I was starting to wonder when I hadn't seen a release from you. It is obvious you are loved by this community, believers or not. I appreciate your hard work, wealth of knowledge, and desire to learn about religions lesser known to you. More importantly, your love for your fellow man is inspiring. I never would have expected to be encouraged in my faith by an atheist, but I believe God will use anything for His purpose.
@@dbach1025 Salvation is not the getting to heaven if you die (when you de as all are presumed to do). If someone grabs you off a sinnking boat, you been saved. If someone flies you out of a hurricane, you been saved. The WatchTower has one thing correct, that being given in the future a 2nd life 2nd chance in flesh is most definitely being saved. With that God is not seeking to destroy crime or criminals in the world, but rather fix the planet which crime & criminals laugh at, bringing their own death in billions. Jesus said take no notice that God is making a planet change. That doesnt mean change a school to teach heliocentric, it means KEEP Earth in actual heliocentric orbit. Forces are so mcuh greater beyond stupid people. And it doesnt mean God twitches his nose for magic.
I was disfellowshipped for smoking when I was 21 and my mother and sister have not spoke to me for 45 years. I'm now 66. It was so hard.
❤ 🫂
Wow …. My heart goes out to you. That’s honestly so cruel. 😢❤
@@jewelsbarbie I am so sorry, that's horrible :(
@@cherylhennessy57 so cruel. JW religion rips out a person's humanity and replaces it as a cruel and cold-blooded rebot.
My heart goes out to you ♥️
I wasn’t even disfellowshipped but told my family I wasn’t going to keep going to the Kingdom Hall for conscience reasons and my family shunned me. My dad told me he loved me, but he loved Jehovah more! I didn’t commit any sins, still married to my husband (we left together) but haven’t seen our families in 4 years.
💔
Same
Zoopers
That's really sad, but good on you for making the right choice.
🫶🏾
Oh. Gotta say AltWordly's word "Everything that's good about the religion is not unique and everything that's unique about the religion is not good" is GOLD!
He commented on this video that he didn't make it up. He got it from an ex-Mormon video. It didn't diminish how good of a line it is.
Amen
For real, i Always say that from years now since i stopped to attend, the problem Is that Who has a brain to understand that Is treated like a fool
Really incredible work, man. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it, and for elevating this issue to a broader audience. For any viewers who are wondering how they can help, it’s by raising awareness. If a Witness comes to your door, treat them with the level of empathy and compassion Jared does, and express your concern. You can’t change someone’s mind for them, but you can make them think, and compassion from The World will be more unexpected to a JW than confrontation. It’ll stick with them. If you see a post online about cults, mention JWs. They’re a disarmingly boring religion on the outside, and that allows them to slide under the radar. This organization only changes when the courts make them.
Also it didn’t make the final cut but I do want to clarify that I can’t take credit for “everything good about it is not unique, and everything unique about it is not good.” I heard that on an episode of Mormon Stories when I was deconstructing. Wish I could remember the ep lol.
Jake, you're a legend. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Hey Jake! Your input was priceless in this video. Thanks for being vulnerable and being you. ❤
Reading a book by Craig Hoyle called Excommunicated… and watched him tell his alarmingly similar story to leaving JWs, and shows how the PBCC (Plymouth Brethren formerly Exclusive Brethren) are similar and have the exact same issues and multigenerational effects, and how the family inside as well as outside families are affected and how the outside family still accept us, when we reach out to them after leaving. On the channel called Get A Life Podcast, I enjoyed hearing Craig narrate part of his book. You might enjoy it. He was mistreated for being gay, and they said he shouldn’t “be himself.” It’s a really good book, and I think he’s a good writer and narrator. You might even enjoy interviewing him one day, if you can somehow connect? I’d sure watch your video if you did! Anyway, just found the channel and stuff. Because there’s no fast rule that JWs cannot watch shows about Cults (other cults, lol ) I let myself watch, as a JW and it started the waking process!!
I still think about how your experience went, hospitalized and your dad😢and well, your videos help others leave, and others maybe never entering thank goodness! No one should be shunned, ESPECIALLY when sick!
Agreed. Thankyou.
I disassociated myself today. Thank you so much for sharing this and all the work it took to make it. Thank you.
Congratulations! ❤
We are proud of you! Congrats.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Congratulations!
Wow congrats 👌🏽 JW is a cult
A difficult road ahead but the best decision you could have made. You’ll slowly connect with others who have left or will leave
you need to accompany a 'removed' person to a meeting at their old Kingdom Hall and see how they get treated. Also the fact that it was a Circuit Overseers visit when you went, people act super friendly and pious when the CO visits
Good idea ❤
I can second this!! When the CO visits everyone acts like the greatest ever and even if they haven’t preached in weeks only because of the CO visit they go out to preach with the group. Going with someone’s old hall would show us just how really they would treat someone.
Oh yes they all come out of the woodwork when the Circus Overseer (pun intended) visits
Yes, yes, yes! Absolutely yes! Anytime a circuit overseer visits the hall, the energy in the room is heightened and almost false. Everyone is on their p’s and q’s. The elders ramp it up a notch, everyone tries to attend the meeting, even slow attenders - people who normally don’t attend regularly - and everything is ship shape. Additionally, you were a visiting disfellowshipped person. A person who was disfellowshipped from that particular hall might have been given a different reception.
@BrownPeace yes, also if this was from a couple of years ago, he would've been treated differently as a (gasp) disfellowshipped member with a beard.
Because of recent lawsuits, the Governing Body has decided to change the term from "disfellowshipped" to "removed."
Jokes on them😂😂
Jehovah's hand is strong and swift 'You are henceforth removed' 😮😅
I came to make this comment. Keep it up Jared!!!
Sounds like a mafia thug term
@@christinesotelo7655 - In my opinion, removed sounds worse.
I'm an exjw. I was disfellowshipped 15 yrs ago. My mother and two sisters have not spoken to me since. Even when they changed the rules they still stick to the old shunning policies. I very nearly ended my life one night about 13 yrs ago because I had lost everything. Including my marriage and two sons. The only reason I am here is because I drank to much before I went through with my plan and passed out. The next morning I woke and decided I could not let the governing body control my life like that anymore.
❤
What a reprehensible way to treat family. I'm glad you're still here with us, mate. Hope you're doing better these days!
Glad you’re still here. Keep going! I hope you’ve found a community and that your deconstruction journey is going well. Or even if you’re Christian, I hope your life is full and happy
You’re never alone, I’m 23 and my brother is 20 and our parents abandoned us both. I dont expect anything to change but I am living my best life and I’m happy and doing good. ❤ I’m wishing you the same happiness and peace
As JWs, we were trained to always say how happy we were. #bestlifeever.
In reality, most JWs are miserable. Living in constant fear of doing or saying something that would get you disfellowshipped.
Efrian Rivera
Oasis Ex-Testigos de Jehová
Its very cringe when they posted that hastag on their Facebook or Instagram page.
Best life everrrr...rrr? Right?
@@Greg76131I’ll help a bro out and refine his statement. Most JWs are either miserable or are conditioned psychopathic narcissists
@@Greg76131 lol we found a PIMI
@@b-radzyep
This is why a lot of disfellowshipped people move, the shunning is worse from the people you know, the people you grew up with, your family.
My uncle was DF’d 45 years ago. 45!
He was told to sit at the back of the KH for his mothers funeral
He was never invited to any family gatherings. We grew up basically not knowing him.
My sister was DF’d 20 years ago. When she was DF she worked at the Mall. There were JWs from our Hall and neighboring halls that knew her and would not go into the store if she was working that day
Or they’d ask for another sales associate.
My brother was DFd 15 years again. He tried to “come back” after 6 months but one elder on the committee didn’t feel he was ready. He never tried again.
This new “adjustment” is a mind fyck.
If you had gone to a KH 3 years ago it would have been the exact experience you were expecting.
I don’t know HOW JWs can sleep knowing how they acted or treated people FOR YEARS!
This is such a triggering topic for me because it’s SHEER passive aggressive hypocrisy and brainwashing.
I think one of the reasons you got the reaction you did was because nobody there knew you. People act differently toward strangers than people they know and have a history with. I think you're spot on about people in the congregation wanting to welcome people back, but in practice they worry about who they're seen with. When someone has a bad reputation, it tends to color how people act toward them. Bad association spoils useful habits, after all.
Exactly what I thought too! Isn't it insane that we know that if they KNEW him, they'd treat him WORSE than a room full of strangers?? So sad.
THIS!!!! If it was someone who was wildly known and was once beloved. It would be a look of disappointment and judgment.
Absolutely true!👍
“Everything good about the religion is not unique and everything unique about the religion is not good” - @altworldly 💯 BARS!!
He even admits in another chat saying he got it from Mormon stories or something but the fact that he even tries to give credit others make him more likeable!
Jake is awesome and a great resource for ex-JW’s (altworldly)
Idk Jared, it sounds to me more like
-get disfellowshipped
-rules change
-go see your mom at church who you havent seen in 10+ years
-want to hug her and tell her you missed her and pour it all out
-she gives you the stepford wife stare and says "Its so good to see you here!"
Oh yeah, I feel this big time. As a stranger their pleasantries feel fine, if not a bit theatrical. But after all the trauma and tension and repression, to have them respond with muted emotions and the same company lines as always, it’s like there’s no light behind the eyes.
@derekmaverick5986 Now they are admitting that even during Armageddon perspns can change.No one changes during Armageddon. God knows a good person independent of foolish man made religions. There is no need to associate with unthinking, uncritical , programmed robots.
Your perception is exceptional. As an exJW, I’d add that the scars inflicted by this organization on children who have been disfellowshipped should be a criminal offence. My brother, disfellowshipped at 15, suffered trying to grow up without parents (they shunned him), financial support (he was kicked out of the home) or sadly his siblings. His crime - he said he didn’t want to be in the religion and started smoking. I was 13. It messed up all 3 of us kids. Aptly said, “victims of victims”.
You have quite a story to write or to tell. Someday maybe you can go to Court and tell your story too.
❤❤❤
I think a large part of the ”coldness” that a lot of us exjws will report, that you did not experience, is rooted in the way many witnesses will experience your disfellowshipping (but to a much larger degree disassociation) as a personal betrayal. There’s a lot of hurt involved, because in their view, you are choosing to leave the relationship, even if you try to clearly communicate that you are in no way distancing yourself from them.
When a random disfellowshipped person shows up at a Kingdom Hall, that’s just a win, ’cause being there means they want to come back. As a witness, you just see that as a positive development that you don’t have a stake in.
When you see someone who’s disfellowshipped, who you know personally, closely, the risk is far greater that you’ll become enormously emotionally distant, in no small part to protect yourself from the longing for them.
This is absolutely true!
I also read from a couple of comments that the Circuit Overseer being there may have been a factor in the generally positive attitudes towards the new, if disfellowshipped, face at the hall.
Ex Jehovah's Witness here. It's a very lonely time when one day everyone you ever knew stops talking to you - it feels like you've died 🥺
i can’t remember if it was actually in some publications or if it was just the way my congregation spoke, but disfellowshipping was spoken about like treating the person like they’re dead. i remember not even being able to look at those who were disfellowshipped, if they came in to meetings. i remember the way they spoke about them, and i can’t even imagine what they said about me when i was disfellowshipped, or even after i left for the last time. it’s absolutely deplorable.
I hope you know you're not alone. You're not dead, you're actually living now.
❤ Prayers that you find friends and faith.
I’m a Lutheran pastor and this video had me weeping in my kitchen like a baby. Thank you for shedding light on what people are going through.
I am continuously baffled by how my dad left Lutheran for the JWs.
We could have had a normal, healthy family. But he gave it up for a literature and real estate company that he refuses to do basic research on.
@@alans.wendelschafer6588 I'm very sorry to hear that. Completely guessing here, but maybe the strict and highly regimented life appealed to him in contrast to a church (as some Lutherans can be) that seemed wishy washy.
Regardless, I'm sorry you had to pay for it. I pray for people in your dad's situation and yours.
While you were "mingling," the Elders were immediately informed that a "removed" person was among them. They were put into high alert, and all Elders ' and Ministerial Servants were watching you.
Your bump-in with Alex was no accident. He was assigned to make sure you spoke with each other. He was gathering information. He was a spy.
Spooky
I used to *always* greet disfellowshipped ones warmly. As a servant...I got dragged into a meeting with 2 elders and was warned if I do it again I could have my qualifications jeopardized...as an appointed brother I needed to set a better example for the congregation. Being loving like Jesus was the worst example apparently...and I said as much. They were gobsmacked and I never heard a single thing about it from them again, but apparently other friends paid close attention and would talk about how loving it was.
@@thehigherevolutionary - Yes! Something similar happened to me as well.
He was probably a MS, especially if he was playing greeter at the door. The randos don't typically do that.
@@EfrainRiveraJunior Wow, it's a shame how unloving these men were and needed permission from the GB to behave in a Christlike manner. When my best friend got disfellowshipped, I teared up and an elder (one of the ones I was referring to in my previous post) put his hand on my arm and tightened his grip and shook his head at me in disapproval.
I'm glad to see they are moving in a new direction but after so many years of harm its really wild
Missing my parents today. It leaves a hole no one and nothing else can fill.. Thanks for making these videos.
My therapist told me I was going through grief. She was right, being shunned whether you’re disfellowshipped or not is a death in your parents relationship. The people who are supposed to love you unconditionally and put you first never will and it’s devastating. You will always grieve them. Please seek help and create a support system for yourself, you matter even if your parents dont validate you 🤍
@@soofu oh for sure! I'm so glad you are doing that. I left in 2007. I went to therapy for a couple years but life happened and I had a lot going on to distract me. Covid brought up all sorts of crap. stressful situations bring it back. maybe I am a lesson that this is something you have to continue to deal with and stay on top of. I am doing a therapy program currently. best healing wishes to you.
❤ so sorry. I hope you continue to work on processing your grief.
When I was 17 and starting to fade away from the j-dubs, the elders pulled me aside and told me I wasn’t allowed to go witnessing (door knocking) anymore. I pretended I was so upset about this but I couldn’t believe just how great this news was! No more boring ass witnessing!!
A month or two later I told an elder I didn’t want to be a j-dub anymore, he tried to talk me out of it for ages, ended up getting frustrated and called me foolish. He said that this world will only last, at most, another 6 months before Armageddon wipes all the baddies out. I told him that’s a risk I’m willing to take. That was in 2003. 21 years ago.
I also asked that same elder to not tell my mother, that I wanted to tell her myself. He agreed.
I left his house and went straight to my mums. She wasn’t home, but I still let myself in. While I was checking the place the phone rang. I answered it and it was the elder. He said “hello (little brother’s name), is your mum there?”
I simply said, “this isn’t (little brother), it’s me.”
“Oh……….. Is your mum there?”
“No, she’s not. The place is empty. Why do you want her? I thought we agreed that I would be the one to tell her?”
“Oh, er, um, ah, er…. I was just thinking about um, something else um”
“So you lecture me about Armageddon coming and the very next thing you do is lie?”
“No, um. It wasn’t that, er.”
“Whatever…” and I hung up.
The same man died from suicide about 10 years later. Yeah - dark twist at the end there.
Sad really 😭 sorry this happened
Ex JW here. I am 66 yrs old, left the cult for good about 6 years ago. Waking up is a process that takes time for some of us. I did not lose my faith in God, or Jesus, but I did question my faith when first leaving. As it turns out, it was my faith in that disgusting religion that I lost, but not my faith in God or the Bible.
As a born in, I was afraid of Armageddon, afraid of committing the unforgivable sin, afraid of death, afraid of worldly people....the fear is over the top, especially for children. The Armageddon pictures in the literature are the stuff of nightmares. Many things in the video were triggering for my ptsd, but everything you said was true and you obviously have a heart for people.
I shunned my sister for 40 years, from the time she had a baby at 16 and was disfellowshipped until I woke up from the cult a few years ago. She accepted my apologies and we now have a good relationship.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
Great username, eyes wide open! I’m sorry you were driven to those experiences, but I’m happy to know you are forming a bond with your sister after all of it. You are not alone in your struggle. I hope you take more chances to tell your story.
@@AnneIglesias Thank you for your encouraging words!
My aunt get disfellowshiped a decades a go, now we don't even have her contact or at least know that she still alive or not. This cult is so destructive
This made me cry at the end 😢 thank you for giving us the love that we are not allowed to get from our family and friends.
From an ex-JW, now atheist, thanks for making this video!
From and ez-JW, now orthodox Christian I too thank him for making this video 🤣
I wasn't even disfellowshipped, and yet my family still shuns me
❤ 🫂
Same here :/
🫂 You are not alone
Same. That cut off was devastating.
@@Bonesinbloom It really is... But a life of freedom is much better :)
Ex jw here, I really loved hearing what Dr. Lee said about jws being counter prepared for the world. I constantly deal even today with fear of people and have a hard time making friends. I hope to one day overcome the fear that has been instilled in me since birth.
❤ 🫂
Just when you think you’re over it, you have a bizarre visceral reaction to a perfectly normal human situation. Conflict especially is hard for no reason other than conditioning.
@@derekmaverick5986 💯
❤
Exjw here. I needed to say how beautifully and respectfully this is being handled by you. For me, the hardest part was being kicked into this world i had been taught to be terrified of. I lived in fear of being disfellowshipped and losing my family...and having to live among wickedness and evil everywhere. I thought it would be violent and overwhelming. For years i thought i must be evil because this world feels so comfortable. Being one of jehovahs witnesses instilled a deep belief that i was disposable and love was conditional. Even as a jw i kept a distnce from other jws because i might need to shun them one day. They might be bad association. What if I do something infront of them that gets me in trouble? When you wrap that up with the purity culture, isolation and institutionalized thought and speech it gets so dark.
Wonderful comment! I felt all that too! Yes, this video was wonderful. I couldn’t get close to people either when I was “in” for those same fears. And they do spy and report, even in families. Problem is that it shatters your trust (well, mine) when you are booted out into that big bad world. And yes, I thought I was evil too, especially when “worldly” people loved me. I thought ahhh, Satan loves me, not God! So I pushed people away. Thanks for your comment. ❤😢
Even when I'm in a lovely community, I still act like a sociopath and keep miles of emotional distance. Maybe it's because of JW upbringing or my personality dunno
@@der1222 I hear that. Me too
It’s self-protection.
As a disfellowshipped (13 years and counting) exJW who is now also an apostate (spent almost 10 years in some weird limbo of still believing) - this video is so validating of what I’ve been through. Thank you!
You said it true: that apostate labeling is so hard to shake off. It’s a defamation of character and people actually can take the KH or WT to Court over it. Thank you. ❤😢
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
I’ve been disfellowshipped for just under 5 years. I’ve never heard anyone speak so truthfully and eloquently on the pain it causes. As a 40 year old woman, I lost everyone. You never really recover, but you do learn to move on. I’ve been fortunate enough to rebuild a new, UPBUILDING community around myself, but it was a long and painful road.
I’ve also noticed that people can hear me say I’m disfellowshipped, but they have no idea what it really means. I’m sharing this video with A LOT of people 😂😂
@@chrissyparkins1615 Yes! It's perfect, understandable context that I feel like I have a hard time expressing.
You still believe anything they teach?
Exjw here, I would like to tell you that I really appreciate a never-been JW taking so much time and effort into understanding what it’s like to be a jw or exjw. It gives me hope that more people will take an interest in this organization because it is very complicated and nuanced (which I think is boring to most people) even though it’s a cult in plain sight,
Thank you for acknowledging our pain.
I was disfellowshipped around 1990 when I was 21. I’m glad I got to experience the full disfellowshipping experience! I wrote letters and attended meetings sitting in the back row for six months until they reinstated me. My parents then told me they were proud of me and that I could take a small break from going to the Kingdom Hall. I never went back again!
I was in crisis when I left, I was homeless with my son, no access to the family money, no access to legal support, my father was aware I was leaving very challenging circumstances and knew my young son was with me. He didn’t even say goodbye and I was shunned before I was officially disfellowshipped. They are very cruel.
Since the changes - I haven’t heard from anyone. Many witnesses believe that if they are more strict in adhering to being “loyal to the organization” then they are more righteous.
I hope you're in a secure safe place now.❤ I was homeless when I left too. It's tough.
This should give you some comfort:
.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
@@isaiah30v8 that’s very good reasoning with the scriptures
@@user-jt2vv1zj6z thank you. I got us on our feet, found a temporary job, got us a home then restarted by business. We are both thriving now, exploring new experiences, making new friends together. I didn’t get my daughter back but I managed to keep my son with me.
I was disfellowshipped at 21 and I'm 29 now and still traumatized by it. I lost everyone I knew and loved. I was raised in the organization since 5.
Thank you so much for your genuine concern and care you have for people in general and people like me who have been through this hellish organization ❤
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
this was so well made. what an insight
48 minute video! No wonder we haven't seen you in a while!🎉
Sometimes when the disfellowshiping announcement is made people cry, like someone has died.
The reason you were treated "not badly," is because they didn't know you. They immediately assumed that you are from another congregation, too embarrassed to start attending your assigned congregation, probably have personal issues with your local Elders, and are seeking to "come back to Jehovah" some other way.
Nothing tears family apart like religion. Im an ex jw. I was disfellowshipped and for the next 35 years had no relationship with my mother and sister. When my mother needed full time care, the jw's were no where in sight. And i certainly wasnt going to take care of her after the way she treated me for 35 years. She really missed out and never realized it
It's not only about the shunning, it includes the terrible things that are said about you behind your back to further demonize you.
Yep! Happened to me.
.
Luke 6:22-23
HAPPY are YOU whenever men hate YOU, and whenever they exclude YOU and reproach YOU and cast out YOUR name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man. 23 Rejoice in that day
.
[NAME OF PERSON] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses ---->> "and cast out YOUR name"
.
I'm HAPPY.
.
.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
Thank you. I really needed this ugly cry.
I've been waiting for new videos, checking the channel for updates several times, and it was all worth it. As someone who was disfellowshipped over three years ago, I always appreciate it when people who don't have any history with JWs, raise these topics. Thank you, mate
“You want to cry on someone’s shoulder? … No, you can’t do that.” 😢
You’re amazing. This is such a fucking important video. Thank you for this. So happy to see my friend and Jake on there!
I'm still in, I'm an atheist and I go to preach and to meetings, because I know that if I stop going I'm simply going to lose too much. But I'm working on having new friends and a support network while I get out of it.
Excellent!👍🩷🙌
Wishing you well on your fade
I have been shunned by all my JW family and friends for the past six years.
Since I openly speak against the Organization, I am no longer welcome to any of thier meetings, assemblies, or gatherings.
So if your traveled to a new state and tried to walk in, they would recognize you and not let you in? You’re famous
@@TheNinjapancake14- Not necessarily. I'm not Tom Cruise. But you can find many stories about "apostates" being recognized and asked to leave.
So, yes, _if_ I'm recognized, I will be escorted out. But, isn't that true about anyone in a similar situation regardless of their "famous" status.
That’s really sad. I wonder why they try to recruit at all if they’re going to turn away disfellowed folks from potentially coming back.
@@TheNinjapancake14 - Because they are a cult.
@@TheNinjapancake14their recruiting is way more passive now; they’re trying to stop their bleeding numbers and relaxing the rules on how to treat with those who have been shunned is one way to do so.
You gotta remember they ALWAYS want disfellowshipped people back, but on THEIR terms. The whole process is essentially emotional blackmail; by ensuring your social circle and family are all also witnesses, ceasing contact with you isolates you fully. For some folks it’s too much, for others it’s the sad reality of essentially having everyone you know essentially be passed away.
Thank you for doing this for the ex-JW community. I hope this helps a lot of people understand the pain this organization causes. I said one sentence to my mother, which was “I don’t believe in Jehovah” when I was fifteen. The next day everything I owned, including my birth certificate and baby photos was on our front lawn. I lived in a hovel above a shop I had just gotten a job at months before after that, until the owners brother (knowing I would need to come down to use the toilet) was laying in the lounge room naked rubbing his dick looking at me. After that, I went to my older worldly friends, I had no money, so lived with them knowing that my cost of rent was sex because it was the only commodity I had. I was a raging alcoholic the whole time to get away from it mentally and emotionally. If it wasn’t for my high school art teachers and alcohol I would have killed myself. But standing on the lawn the day I got kicked out, I knew I wouldn’t be beaten black and blue after every meeting to have belief beaten into me, and so I was happy in some ways. Anyway, that was my middle school/high school experience. Now I’m a religious trauma therapist who works with ex-Christian fundamentalists - including ex-JW’s and it’s the most rewarding work I could ever imagine. Thank you for doing this video.
I’m amazed at your story and how you survived. I’d love to know more about your Specialty in your Profession! I was a JW in the 70’s, waiting for 1975 Armageddon. I’m writing my manuscript about the whole ordeal and the years of climbing up after the fall of “Self”. Being reported by JW husband for disagreement with doctrines, “removed”, lost everyone and everything. We had no podcasts or support back then or very little. I was very young with two babies. Husband left. Family destroyed. I’m very proud of you. Succeeding is a step up from surviving. I salute you. ❤
I worked in Social Services and Art Therapy but not with ex JWs. Art Therapy is an amazing Field.
❤
18:35 im disfellowshiped 5+ yrs. and my grandpa passed away last summer. He was an elder since the elder arrangement was a thing. I tried talking to a very elderly family member at his memorial service at the kingdom hall. One i hadn't seen in 5+ years and i knew that would probably be the last time I'd see her. So I walked up and gave her a hug and everyone around stopped and stared like I kicked a baby. Then she asked who I was again and she said I hope I turn around and come back to jehovah soon.
❤ 🫂
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
Thanks for making this and your other JW focused videos. Very well done and I hope many people watch them. Great to have an outsider's perspective.
Really appreciate your concern and honesty in your videos. Thanks for the acknowledgement of the pain exJWs experience.
You did something very important here. You are officially now the only not ex-JW that really understood this. This is big, because all of us always had the feeling that nobody outside, that has not lived in there, would ever understand us. You proved it can happen. This, in fact, is a step in the right direction. Thank you
Bc JWs/ex-JWs are trained Stepford Wives, no one sees our battles.
Thank you for this. You are a gift. The end had me crying. I was shunned at 18 and I am now almost 47 and my entire family chose to shun me for all these years. It’s been unfathomable to me and I have rode the rollercoaster of emotions that have come with that. I have done therapy and asked the hard questions to the void of how my own mother could forego knowing me for my whole life. I have had so much success, so much heartache, lived the equivalent of 5 lifetimes at this point and all without them. I tried for years to hang on to a thread under the guise of medical issues and my mother is a shell of a person filled up with whatever the governing body decides.
I was disfellowshipped for having a boyfriend at the age of 15. For that! And for that, I haven’t had a family.
One of my older brothers who is deep in it has contacted me a few times in the last decade. We were close as kids so I know it’s hard for him. He bought one of my books from a store and commented on a sentence in it where I said I didn’t have a family. He remarked: “I found that odd!” and it was the only time in my adult life that I was able to describe to someone who shunned me what my life has been like. I haven’t had a family.
What they do is not akin to love or mercy.
So, thank you for shedding light on this. And for understanding.
❤
❤
I was disfellowshipped for telling people in the organization about the cases of child abuse and how the governing body is lying. My family and childhood friends will never speak to me again. I texted my brother four months ago that I had a tumor they were worried was a sarcoma. I told him I was getting it removed and biopsied, and he never messaged me to see how it turned out. They labeled me an apostate, which to them is worse than a child abuser or murderer.
Thank you SO MUCH for CARING!! It means everything to people who have felt unheard, unseen & yes, even unloved. Jehovah's Witnesses have flip-flopped on the Disfellowshipping thing at least once that I know of. They used to treat as Disfellowshipped even UNbaptized people. I was one of those people. In my teen years, I had to meet with 3 elders at my house for getting in trouble with a friend of mine and admitting to smoking & taking my friend's mother's car out (we crashed it). Anyway, we both got announced as "bad association" & were immediately shunned by the entire congregation and family. My friend & her family never came back and I never saw her again.
I was just a kid, between 16 & 17. I don't remember how long I was treated that way (2yrs?), but I remember they changed the rule back to only baptized people could be Disfellowshipped and even though I was supposed to be treated as one of them again, they still were very cold to me after the rule changed back. Overall it was over a 3year period in the 80s that they changed the rule from only baptized people could be Disfellowshipped to unbaptized people could be treated the same as baptized Disfellowshipped people. So, for my own experience, it was not a long time to be treated that way, but I got a good taste of how it felt over the couple years before they changed the rule back again.
I never did get baptized after & my experience definitely played a role as to why. I saw first hand how quickly one could be turned on & outcast. I consider myself one of the lucky ones because my experience was temporary & I didn't have to grovel & humiliate my way back (which I never would have done, btw!). It is ONLY because they changed the rule back that I was able to be allowed the "privilege " of being treated as "alive" again. Of course, even though there was this rule change, there was NO APOLOGY from ANYONE involved!
The really crazy thing (to me) is that at 15yrs old, so just prior to this incident, I had to have a major back surgery & didn't take any blood transfusion. Some adults can't even make that kind of a "stand for Jehovah " - and they STILL treated me like garbage after that for getting into typical teenage behavior a year(ish) later. Insane!
The last thing I'll say is that although I wasn't ever baptized, this religion messed me up pretty bad. I was back & forth with them, I was severely depressed & as a teen I was kutting myself & had attempts on my life through the years that followed. I think you'd be shocked to know how many have attempted s*!cide inside this religion & those who leave.
You have a great story to tell and to write that would help so many minors. I also remember being thought of “...as one dead” when I lost everyone too. I TRIED years later to grovel my way back so I could see my JW brother again, but couldn’t do it. Elders made me write at least ten pages of how awful the world was (it was kind, actually), and then I’d be “watched” for at least a year to be sure I attended every meeting, looked astute and sincere and highly engaged, shunning would continue of course. I ended up running far far away. The way that JWs defame a person’s good name could be a Legal matter. It ruins a person for awhile (or for a very long time). What the WT does to children is criminal. It should be (actually it is) against the Law. But no one reports to Law Enforcement or CPS. That has got to change. The suicide rate is sky high. And the self-harm. It all needs to be brought out as you’ve just done. Thank you for your story. Please keep exposing them. ❤😢
@@christinesotelo7655❤ Thank you, friend ☺️ And you too. Your story sounds just as painful. Crazily enough, there was a lot more to my story. I ended up also running away after the car crash. And then, after that when I was back home a while, my mother ended up kicking me out too! All because my (worldly) friend came to pick me up and had her family's Christmas tree on top of it! So much happened in those few years it gets all jumbled in my mind. Take good care. Hope to see you around ❤
@@cultytalk omg! Yes!! They truly flip-out when they see a Christmas tree! I understand!
I have had EXJWs tell me the stopped contemplating suicide after I explained this to them:
.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
I was df , but I know what Jehovah teaches us....also why would you leave Jehovah he showed us truth
Thank you for this. I haven’t talked to my family and friends for over 6 years. Apparently my grandfather died about a year ago and I just happened to find out on Instagram.
❤ 🫂 The stories that kill me most are ones where people lose a family member and didn't even know or have an opportunity to say goodbye! I'm so terribly sorry!! 😢 That is just heartless
This is top-notch. Very well researched (even hands-on with your Kingdom Hall visits). It's thorough - and it's thoroughly absorbing.
Growing up my mom used to tell us "I love you, but you know I love my god more". That always felt a little weird when I was a kid, but as adult you can recognize that only someone who's been indoctrinated into a cult would ever say something like that.
Yeah, my mom quoted that to me too, "I love my kids, but I loved jehovah before I had them". That was in reference to my bro and sis who were DF-ed and looking to come back. I always knew there was a countdown to when she'd stop loving me enough. Brutal stuff.
As a Christian, THIS WAS SUCH AN AMAZING VIDEO! MAN!! I watched this through. You are such a great communicator and editor. Thank you very much!
I'm a Pastor of a small Non-denominational/Full Gospel church, & truly have enjoyed your videos and exposing the ugliness of "religion". Excellent editing as well and subject matter.
The pfp checks out 😂
non denominational is ironic as hell because it’s a denomination in of itself with no unity, centralisation or clear doctrine
I appreciate that you're here listening and that you care! Thank you.
@@kinguincs I get that, trust me. The term "non-denominational" has given many the freedom to go into a "cultish'" type of way, but that's why we make sure to have the "full gospel" incorporated within who we are. That being said, we are united as a church as Christ is the center of the church & the Bible the clear doctrine.
Absolutely zero self awareness
Before got officially announced that I was going to be disfellowshipped, I told some friends and they all came to my house and we cried together like I was about do die. And in fact for them being removed from the congregation is the same thing as being dead.
It’s been 6 years now that I got disfellowshipped and out of the organisation and not a single one of my friends, best friends and even some relatives that are still in , they don’t talk to me. They keep saying to my parents that I need to return to Jehovah but none of them send me messages.
People that were never born into this can truly understand the scale of it.
Jared. As an Ex jw who is active in the community, amazing. We'll research, well said. Respect
They are not used to seeing a nice STRANGER come to the hall and disclose his disfellowshipped status. What they are used to seeing is someone they know who has committed "some sin" which could be as trivial as questioning some doctrine. They already have negative feelings about this person because there has usually been so much gossip going on even before this person is disfellowshipped. They would have no problem saying very little or nothing at all to such a person. Your situation is so very different. You have a pleasant demeanor, they don't know you, and therefore they are not emotionally invested and now they get to try out this new policy that is so very fresh in their minds. And again they are not emotionally invested as is usually the case. It's like a new toy they get to play with. If that makes any sense. In the common scenario, believe me, they would not be carrying on a conversation with a disfellowshipped person in the more common setting. If anyone did such a thing, believe me, they would be facing some counsel from the elders.
💯!!❤
First thing I said when he was surprised at how well he was received was after saying he was df'd: "It's because they don't know you!!"
@@Crmsnvrgo150 Exactly, That about says it all but in much fewer words, Thank you.
Exactly right! My same thoughts!
Jared Brillant!!! I was a 52 Jehovah's Witness. A "born In" a pioneer an a Bethelite. I was a one time a true Nazis Jehovah's Witness. You my friend have created the best video describing the condition of being Disfellowshipped I have ever seen. The fact you have never been a Jehovah's Witness makes this Video even that more powerful. You are literally saving people's lives by posting this important information. Thank you Keith Casarona
Nazi JW I agree with. And N Korean uniformity and a very isolated world. Uniformity not unity. No individuality or asking questions or disagreeing with a doctrine. “Removal” is a much stronger and more understood word than “disfellowshipping” which the average non-JW knows nothing about. “Removal” sounds sinister, ominous, Edgar Allen Poe-ish.
37:55 they're never just calling to say they love you. They're calling to manipulate you into going back to the Kingdom Hall. This is smoke and mirrors. Not a thing has changed.
You are right, its WAY deeper than you are understanding at this point. Keep digging. You are doing it...because its the right thing to do...and it will help others. Thanks!
I am currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. I am a disfellowshipped person and my former friends and family have continued to shun me. My brother works in Bethel and has not asked once how I am doing. A former friend sent a message to say that I would receive all the help I needed if I went back to the organisation. It's truly disgusting.
They are literally trying to blackmail you by threatening your life.
There truly is no hate like christian love...
How could they help you? Financially the JW are piss broke.
As a Christian, I love how much you care about people. The world of ideas needs more people like that.
Praying that you find what you're looking for, and that you keep up the good work!
When people see me on the street, they cross to the other side. I grew up in my congregation, i was witness fom 28 years and very zealos one. Busted my back helping everyone daily for many years. From 100 people in my congregation, only 2 ever reached out and we have normal contact. Both of them are now reading Crisis of Concience by Ray Franz. The rest is like i vanished from their lives. Like dead. And i am not even disfelowshipped. Just stopped going to meeting... imidiately they labeled me as an apostate and that was pretty much it... Family is still talking but they ve build a wall, i can feel it...
Your videos just get better and better. Your vulnerability at the end was so powerful. Thank you for your work, you deserve many more subscribers.
You were treated decently due to love bombing mixed with witnesses stretching their new found permission to greet DF’d ones. If you did this a year ago you wouldn’t have been treated the same.
The average witness has no idea these changes are a result of the Org being in hot water with governments.
Exactly.
And, noone knew him. Plus, it was during a C.O. Visit. It would've been different if he was returning to a K H where they knew him. 🤧
I was born into the JW cult. I left and my mother hasn't spoken to me in over two decades. She refused to speak to me after my car accident, and doesn't even check on me after hurricanes. This new policy hasn't affected my mother at all.
I read a comment from a woman who heard her mother talk with a sister in the next room, the friend was laughing that at Armageddon the birds will be eating her drug dealing sons body. Both having a chuckle about it. Horrific
@@CelticGypsy-USA OMG, that's sadistic.
@@Vicki_Benji psychopathic
Your approach to our crazy-ass religion is so wonderful. You don't assume you know everything, even after your obvious extensive research. I'm so impressed. And yes, as someone who was df'd at a young age, it's absolutely devastating and soul-crushing. Many who find themselves in that position consider ending it all.
Are you still in the JW cult?
@a.ihistory5879 Nope! Woke up and faded last year. But not done processing and de-programming. Videos like this help a lot.
@@Alisha-zq6vh I would strongly recommend watching an interview on a RUclips channel called CatholicTruth with a man named Tom Cabeen. He was a JW for over 40 years and then left and became Catholic after studying church history deeply. Fantastic interview that helped me
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
@@Alisha-zq6vh Do you still believe in Jesus Christ?
I'm a Christian exjw. I really appreciate your channel and for shining a light on this cult. Great video. So glad to see your channel blowing up and getting subscribers. Keep up the good work.
They announce the "removals" during their midweek meeting. I think this is because "interested worldly" ones are more likely to attend on Sunday. That would be a bad look now, wouldn't it?
Haven't talked to my parents for 30 YEARS
Well done ! Really good video, I saw the video lenght and liked before I even watched it.
Finished it now and it actually brought me to tears. It changed my views on JWs as people.
You did SUCH a good job on this video. I’ve been out for 7 years. The grief over losing everyone as if Thanos snapped is still overwhelming some days. In the beginning there were a lot of hopeless dark days, I had “woken up” my mother as well and when she got out of the religion her mental instability skyrocketed without any religious hindrance. So I ended up losing her too. I’m grateful every day my husband and I and our five children escaped together. I learned so much that helped me through the pain of the whole experience. But it will never stop hurting, the damage that religion did.
❤ 🫂
I am greatfull that you and your husband and children escaped together as well.
Similarly: my grandfather was disfellowshipped when I was a child, maybe 10 years old-I still spent time at my grandparents house, so whenever he came into the room I would turn away from him. A grown man who has to sneak around his own house. Really sick and sad.
Explain this to your grandfather:
.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
You are a beautiful person.
Heartbreaking and fascinating video. Thank you for educating people about this organization.
Also, as a fellow musician, it warms my heart that you were able to produce such a quality mini-doc with your OWN music. Something I aspire to do someday!
Excellent video. Didn’t know anything about jw and I especially didn’t expect there to be as many parallels between being disfellowshipped and what it was like coming out as trans. Having to leave everything behind to be free, silently saying goodbye to your family before they realize that they’re going to cut you out, the shame… I have more in common with jw than I ever thought.
I'm a gay ex jw. I never thought about it before but you are right. So many trans people lose family, friends and church very similar to the shunning of jw's.
I don't know if you found this out doing your research, but Stephen Lett (one of the governing body), his nephew committed suicide after being disfellowshipped.
My wife and I were talking (her a df'ed jw). With the new adjustments to rules, your experience makes sense. The thing is that you showed up as an unknown commodity. We were discussing that it would be very interesting, and possibly telling, to keep going back to the same kingdom hall now that you have "outed" yourself as disfellowshipped. I imagine that you will see the behavior change.
Excellent job analyzing this hurtful practice. I am 70 and disassociated myself 32 years ago when I reasoned myself out of belief in the bible and god. I knew what would happen and have mostly been shunned by family and 100% of my old friends. I built a new life. But your video brought me to tears more than once. It still hurts to lose my oldest daughter and grandkids with no communication in about 20 years. Thankfully some family have not stayed JWs. I most worry about those JWs who continue to believe but are "removed". I lost one ex-JW friend to suicide and it is a terrible thing. Thank you so much.
I was one month away from getting baptized when I was "reproved" by the elders. Couldn't go out in service anymore or participate in the school. At first I was devasted, but in hindsight it was the best thing to ever happen to me.
I never knocked on another door again even after my parents and the elders begged me to after my reproof was lifted, since I was one of the few young people in the congregation who was gung ho about serving God. And I never got baptized. I escaped to college one year later, fell in love with a guy from abroad, moved abroad to "live in sin" as my mother would say, and never looked back.
That's the dream! Getting a reality check right at the perfect time. *chef's kiss*
Alexa, play “best thing I never had” by Beyoncé
I'm so happy you are doing these videos that dive so much into my upbringing
Thank you once again for your content. I commented on one of your earlier JW Videos about the love bombing associated with your visit to the Kingdom Hall. And like then it is so refreshing to see more light on this organization from an outsiders perspective. Whilst in it you believe the Whole World is out to get you and I mean that literally, but when you leave there's a stark realization that either people are just not aware or completely apathetic towards them. It can be jarring cause when you explain your experiences people unwittingly diminish your experience within it not out of malicious intent but rather just lack of knowledge. So Big thankies from mcspankies for your continued look and coverage of them.
Thank you so much for making this. You truly get it.
I was disfellowshipped for over a year, woke up, got reinstated to get my friends and family back, maybe drop a few seeds to help them wake up, but that backfired. I have since faded, but in essence, faders are often treated the same way.
And yeah--I wanted to die too. I lost my best friend and that was the toughest thing of all. Even though I wasn't technically disfellowshipped, my mother died, but nobody told me. I didn't learn of it until three years later. My father reached out every few years, but only with a proselytizing text, never anything personal.
He reached out to invite me to go to convention, absolutely nothing like "how you've been?" or "I miss you". Just pure cookie cutter proselytizing that I decided to ignore. When he sent a text asking if he could come visit, I did respond saying yes--just don't bring up religious stuff. He responded by texting back "Better not." It was clear he simply wanted to visit to invite me back to the cult and nothing more.
Omg heartbreaking 💔 😢 I'm so sorry! 🫂
This is just so well done in every way. Your channel is such a hidden gem and I hope it gains more traction! You deserve it. Thank you for this video :)
10 min into your video and just keep saying, yep, yep…all accurate 😢 Thank you for sharing this.
Your closing apology brought tears to my eyes 😢 thank you, I needed to hear that even if it wasn’t from the people who are shunning me
I also care n love u. I hope in time u heal n can move past the cruelty shown u. My bro went through hell with elders n it nearly cost him his life.
He eventually saw a family therapist n by coincidence she understood jws from past clients n was able to help him. I love my younger bro deeply n we r always there for ea other. We both faded gradually bc of the lack of love we both witnessed but sadly we both were so indocrinated that it was the truth since childhood (n no internet) back then that it took us to be adults b4 we could both say goodbye.
We r both the happiest we have ever been.
I know u can get there also.
Believe in yourself n your new life.
Learn from your past mistakes n move forward making new friends n finding happiness in new adventures to keep your mind busy.
Our mind can play tricks on us. Fight it n know its ok to have sad moments or off days.
2morr can be a happier day.
I'm not a therapist n don't have all the answers. But I like reading people's comments n choosing someone like u who might just need a kind word from a ex jw who understands much of who u r bc being involved with jws or raised as one, we speak the same language.
Sent with love
As an ex jw I'm grateful for this video. Every congregation can be a bit different. Mine was strict. My family didn't talk to me for months before they left and became disfellowshipped. My congregation was so cold about it. I had nothing and went to college with no knowledge of how to be a normal adult. It's tough. Im tearing up thinking about it
You did an amazing work with the video! It does not seem at all that this is a work of one person alone! Thank you for helping people heal that's the most sacred thing a person can do with their life! 🙏🏻
I found out 5th-hand that my mother died sometime earlier this year. She was still a JW and she hadn’t spoken to me for about 25 years. I have a brother, who is an elder, he spoke to me once in 25 years when our father died. He expected me to go to our father’s funeral at a Kingdom Hall, sit at the back without anyone acknowledging my existence and leave just before it finished. I refuse to put myself in the position of being treated like a leper so I never went.
The new rule change is nothing more than a token gesture to satiate the Norwegian government. JWs are allowed now to extend a ‘simple greeting’ to df’d people who turn up to a Kingdom Hall. It seems to me, you experienced people’s genuine relief at how uncomfortable the situation is by them being so warm and welcoming to you but they not following the letter of the policy by being so chatty. I expect before too long the policy will be ‘clarified’ in a watchtower article and the rank and file will be told in no uncertain terms that a conversation more than 3 sentences long is a contravention.
I think if you had conducted the same experiment one year ago, you would have had an entirely different experience.
Great video x
I got reinstated and then left. I know of a sister that hadn’t spoken to her son in years and he passed away in a car accident maybe 2 months before the “greeting adjustment” was made. I can only imagine what the pain must be like for that sister
I often wonder about how a parent would feel who allowed their child to die when blood was necessary, if the Org changed that doctrine to begin allowing blood when necessary. I think the GB would feel some powerful vigilante justice. They’d better be careful of this shunning stuff which has caused great damage to minors and even suicides. Those men are a minute away from some Legal Justice. That is why they are bringing in younger GB members, so the old thugs can go into hiding and these new guys will make “all things new” so there’s no one left to blame and no apologies necessary. 😢
I've been disfellowshipped for over a decade now, and the affect it had on me for so many years, was soul crushing. Thank you so much for looking at this. As always, very well done.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
.
I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
.
[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
.
I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
.
"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
.
I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
.
Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
.
Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
.
I then ask them if they want to live forever.
.
I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
.
Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
.
What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
.
That's Good News ................... right!
.
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
.
I was disfellowshipped at 16 in the late 90s. As a minor, I was cut off from my community entirely. My dad was df'd for smoking when I was 3, he had schizophrenia and was committed after that for the rest of his life. Both of my brothers were df'd when I was early teens. There's alot more to my story but Yes it destroys families. Thanks for caring enough to talk about this
I always love and appreciate your videos. Being an exjw it’s hard for me sometimes to see these people as victims but deep down I know they are. It’s so frustrating that I can’t wake them up.
Great video. Thank you. I left the organization a couple of years ago. It’s so difficult to explain to others the actual impact and process of disfellowshipping and shunning. The way you did it with the therapist and the editing was so powerful. You did an amazing job. I think the best synopsis of this practice I’ve ever seen.
I was very devout and thought disfellowshipping was a loving and good thing. The pain of shunning my younger sister nearly led me to end myself when I was 20. On the other hand when I finally woke up, even before I got my sister back, I have never been further from that level of sadness. I didn’t think I could be this happy.
Of course, I still grieve certain friends but I don’t have to live with all that pain and guilt of participating in hurting people with unnecessary cruelty.
I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life.
.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it.
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I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it:
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Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.”
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[Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME"
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I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses:
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"He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"!
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I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies.
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Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life:
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Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE **
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I then ask them if they want to live forever.
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I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible.
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Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do.
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What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening!
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That's Good News ................... right!
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Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.
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@@isaiah30v8 My dude... you are in a comment section filled with people who were deeply hurt by a religion built on trying to convert other people to their beliefs.
And your first impulse is to start preaching your religious beliefs to them?
Religion is like a penis:
-It's okay for you to have one.
-It's okay that is makes you happy.
-But don't whip it out in public.
-Don't pressure others to interact with it (especially children).
-Don't think that having one makes you better or more moral than those who don't have one.
@@benjaminlammertz64 --- I have had EX-Jehovah's Witnesses tell me that they stopped contemplating suicide after they understood what I posted above.
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My simple comment above has saved lives!
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It completely changed their expectations!
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"He must appear with rejoicing on your part"
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Can you think of anyone who does not want to rejoice?
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@@isaiah30v8 Yes, of course... your comments have also healed cancer, stopped global warming and made George R.R. Martin finish his next book.
Seriously dude, you're trying to put yourself in the spotlight as some kind of saviour, spamming the same copypasted text under half the comments here, whether or not it is appropriate or wanted.
Stop it. We don't want to be preached to. Not by the JWs and not by you, who sounds a lot like the JW, when they speak about how many lifes they have changed and how many they have saved with their message...