A Jehovah's Witnesses Elder on Trial for Apostasy 

"The difference between a religion and a cult becomes apparent when you attempt to leave." --Mike Rinder, ex-Scientologist

For the past 30 years I believed that my disfellowshipping was somehow deserved --That I wasn't "good enough", something was lacking in me , and that Jehovah just didn't want me in his organization. Watching your story has changed my entire perspective! I now rejoice that I was "weeded" out of this wicked man-made cult! I send you all the love, respect and gratitude for sharing!!

It was a pleasure and honour being there to support you at both meetings

The public needs to see this. Thank you.

Omg... these people are like a religious mafia!! Eric your a brave man... I admire you!!

This is incredibly unbelievable and disturbing! So sad I still have family who are still believing all of this. I am so proud to call you my Ex JW brother.

You can do what you like Eric. Except park in the car park, bring in a witness or keep your bag bible etc with you. What on earth can you actually do. They are vile individuals. Anyone watching this that thinks this is an organisation that is led by God is completely under mind control.

Usually, I don't watch undercover videos because I don't respect deceiving innocent individuals. In this case, I watched with fascination and felt no sympathy for the ones being filmed. Instead, Eric's shrewd, informed, calm way of handling the men who thought they were going to handle him...is deeply satisfying.

Excellent job!! 😘 What a bunch of scumbags! I'm ashamed I ever belonged to the lousy Watchtower!!!

They’re acting like fools!!!! They are not shepherds, they’re butchers. Well done Eric !!! The whole incident should be shown in the main tv news.

They're so scared of you! 😂 You made them look like fools.

The elders really think they have authority over everyone. This is why I won't meet with the elders. Just not honest people.

Sir , I LOVE the way you handled yourself with those heathens! You take them off script and they just don't know WHAT to do! Beautifully executed!

They controlled the environment from the first day we all stepped into a Kingdom Hall!!

I had several thoughts viewing this. One was the brother's outright lie that this meeting was a "Shepherding Process" when in actuality it was a judicial hearing. The first brother who opened the door looked shifty-eyed and continued to look shifty as this meeting continued. When you drove up, the driveway was blocked, there are some brothers standing guard, a show of force?!? What the heck was going on? An obvious attempt at intimidation. They actually wanted this man to remove his jacket, (most KH are cold because they just love that darn air-conditioner) because they are afraid of being recorded. That type of fear means they have something to hide, something they don't want the general public or the rank and file witnesses to know about. It is interesting that the main talker, I believe his name was Brian, kept saying that this meeting was on, "OUR TERMS". All three of those brothers look guilty. Then they turn around at the so-called appeal meeting, they double down on the "OUR TERMS" and all of your witnesses are not allowed, never mind what is written in their OWN PUBLICATION! These people are insane! They just want to control, manipulate and exert authority. This is nothing more than a gang-up! You need to sue them for stalking, harassment, and emotional stress and damages. It would be fun watching them squirm! Why do they want you alone?!? They could mean you some sort of physical harm, I mean you don't know. They are just plain crazy!! On a lighter note, Bro. Eric, you look fantastic! I love the beard! Stay Strong!!

This is what a cult looks like

I wonder what verse of the Bible says that the process involves 4 guards guarding the door. Hahaha. These people disgust me

You did great! They look like such FOOLS! This was the exact intimidation demeanor I stumbled onto when I met with the brothers. I never knew this abuse existed until that day...at that point I had not looked into anything apostate, had never been in any trouble, and I was dumbfounded how I was treated just for having 2 doctrinal questions. They were determined to get rid of me immediately and forced my disassociation same night - thank GOD! They had nothing on me and no answers for my questions ...so they got a piece of blank paper and asked me write that "I no longer want to be called a Jehovah's witness" on a blank piece of printer paper. When they asked me that, it clicked - there was no way God was with them, near them, or knew them, and I wrote those exact words down. Once I wrote that, they said forcefully "sign it!"...and I did. I walked out in disbelief and never returned.

Wow Eric ! You got huge balls to this , plus filming the interrogation outside and inside the Kingdom Hall 👍🏻 Greatest respect for a x - elder defending & standing for your rights for the whole earth 🌍 to see where Watchtower hiding their wolves in sheep’s clothing in their JW society 😑

Thank you Eric! The org must be really fuming and cringing over watching you apply the scriptures appropriately.

These men in your video are as arrogant as the 8 men they worship! Stay strong Brother!!!

THE OUTSIDE WORLD NEED TO SEE THIS! THEY ARE FOOLED BY THIS CULT.Greetings from Germany to you Eric

Well done Eric, it was worth the wait to view this video. The .org is running scared with all the subpoenas they have been issuing lately to try and shut down good folk like you exposing them as a mind controlling cult. Keep up the good work 👏👏👏 I hope Angus Stewart from the Australian RC gets to view this video here in Australia .

They are operating a parallel legal system. They depend on secrecy because they know that the governments are looking into their practices. They have used the defense that they are like a club and can revoke someone's membership, but this shows they are actually a separate court system.

If anyone does not believe this is a cult, this should be absolute proof. Thank you for your courage, and for sharing this experience with the world. This should help many people see why they should never get involved with Jehovah's Witnesses. You can't leave quietly without being targeted and publicly humiliated even years after leaving. It's like they own you until they decide they don't want you anymore.

I am feeling pretty good about my decision to be voluntery disfellowshiped. I refused to go to the meeting and do any debating. I am Stephen Benoit from Houma Louisiana and I am disfellowshiped as of 02 20 2019.

Thanks Eric for the video. The powers-to-be know who you are . . .and the incredible effect your website is having on many around the world. The show of force is evident that they possibly expected you to be accompanied by a small army of ex-JW protestor's. They no doubt were instructed by the local branch, or HQ to handle the matter in this fashion. You represent a huge thorn in the side of the Governing Body in revealing the false doctrine's and revealing the truth associated with REAL biblical teaching, as well as the exposition of the lies and deceit that encompass the organ. They were taking every precaution. May you and your ministry be blessed. P.S. Good for you walking away. Wise.

Hi, Eric, I became inactive in 2013 after the society introduced their new Bible, I was surprised, what was wrong with the Bible we already had, I was told it was the best translation, better than any other translation. Even though I became inactive, I still went to their memorial, but I didn't go to the 2019 memorial, because of the opening song was all about the chosen ones, I didn't sing along with the congregation that night, I can't understand why they couldn't sing a song about Jesus, after all, that's why we go, because of what Jesus Christ's did for us. I said that night I would never go to the memorials ever again and I held to that promise. I wrote a letter of disassociation to my local congregation stating why I didn't want to be a Jehovah's Witness anymore, on the request of the COs last visit, now I regret writing that letter, I wish I was disfellowshiped I would have felt better, at least I could have been a voice at my appeal. This way they got out of it too easy. Because of the letter, I'm being shunned, something I knew would happen anyway. What hurts the most I was told by a JW friend of 14yrs, long before the disassociated letter not to come to their house anymore because I didn't believe in their teachings anymore. To think I wasted 30yrs of my life, but I'm a lot happy now because I've learned the truth about the truth.

Glad you are out of that wicked counterfeit of Christianity. Thanks for sharing. Don't even want you in the parking lot!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take them to court!!! I would LOVE to see this go down in another legal victory

I'm so proud of you. you set a Fine example

I'm at 17 minutes and I'm standing here like, WOW! Before we get into the ridiculousness of this so called meeting, am I the only one who has a problem with them calling you by your first name? If nothing else, Mr. Eric?

Fourteen against one! Reminds me of a quote from Winston Churchill; "Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

So stupid they talk about 2 witnessess and they don't let you bring 2 witnessess. Must use their witnessess

What kind of gestapo tactic is this?! If this is a JC, why are they so guarded?! Even in the secular courts, the accused has a right to fair representation and material defenses! Your witnesses were not allowed in?! That is so egregious beyond words!!! What is this fear tactic about? Jesus would've never treated you like that! Anybody who challenged Jesus or questioned him was not treated this way! A "Friendly" gathering? This is a hostile encounter. Just like the pharisees who bought Jesus to Pilate. Jesus had no one defending him and he was slapped, spat on, and condemned. Disfellowshipping is a weapon of the Antichrist! The ONLY excommunication offense is denying Jesus. PERIOD [1 John 4: 1-3].

That struck me as bizarre. The ks book clearly said that you can have witnesses, yet they did not allow that. I cannot go back to such an organization.

You have it all documented, SUE THEM! 💥💪

Wow! That is terrible what they tried to do. You handled that incredibly well! God bless you

Amazing video Eric. I was baptised in 1976 I has doubts for many years but pushed them down . I became regular Pioneer elders wife studied the bible with many people we brought our 3 daughters up in this cult but I woke up in 2008 and made the dicision to leave at that time I really didn't know the full extent of lies that we had been fed over the year's when I found out through my own research I was truly devastated. As yet as far as we know we haven't been df but I have a brother who is an elder who has nothing to do with us they refuse to listen to anything my brother told me that I belonged to Satan because I left this organisation at a time when I was carrying and looking after our precious mum who was also a witness but totally respected my decision and it really upset her the way he and his wife treated us especially me. I still feel very effected by being totally controlled by these people but try to enjoy my life with our beautiful daughter's and we have 2 gorgeous grandsons. Please keep up your amazing work from L from UK

Very well done indeed. You revealed so much about their kangaroo court.

You should have told them, "These are my TWO Lawyers".

I’m so glAd I got disfellowshiped .when I left the organization I found Jesus .

I don't think Jesus said "Come unto me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest, if you can get past the guards".

The Vancouver 2018 summer assembly, made me realize how far this organization has fallen. The "Shepherds" have become violent & hard hearted! Like Gangsters, smirking, mocking & shoving even women! To see this disrespectful behavior toward you is sickening! Your video is so important to prove how lawless, Watchtower has become! Thank you & your friends for going through this awful revealing ordeal.

Thank you for this video going through this trauma to expose them.

Private property??? So there should be no tax breaks allowed to public meeting places!

holy crap. These guys are up to date on the tricks of the video recording. no tablets, no computer, no briefcase, no notes, no witnesses, no jacket, nothing. i am speechless.

Looks like my appeal hearing for my son.Thank you for this very good evidence you have showed for everyone to see.Wolfs in sheep’s coating they are

oh so apostates are now invited gests? sure whatever. "on our terms"? what happened to Bible terms?

If I knew what I know now, I would Never have given those jw men any authority over me. That's why I suggest ignoring all contact with them. The writing is already on the wall. Disfellowshipting!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds horrifying. I’ve studied with the witnesses and really enjoyed all that I have learned thru them, though there are a few things I disagree with one being 1914. There are many really good people at the hall I attended however I do not agree with disfellowship. This is a humiliating experience for many families and leaves a trail of embarrassment and hurt and also when you need your Christian friends the most they turn their backs on you. This makes no sense and I really don’t believe it to be Jehovahs will since Jesus and Jehovah forgive us for our sins. So listening to this it sounds like you are not allowed to make your case. This does not feel like a good environment to subject yourself to. I would not have gone.The guard thing feels like prison and I’ve never seen anything like this in any church environment. No wonder when I tell people I’m involved with this organization they tell me to be careful it’s a cult. I always defend them but this takes it to another level.

A cult is always presenting an image to the front and being deceptive at the back! It is impossible to reason with cult members. I think you have presented a good exposure of Jehovahs Witnesses, as other cults. Thank you!

The body of Elders had already made the decision to disfellowship him

Just look at that body language...these people are shady as bleep. In fact, it's just come into my mind to coin a new phrase: JW Mafia.

Thank you for sharing your experiences! I'm sure you know this will help many people, to the Glory of God!! This video is going everywhere! Many of my friends started sharing it all over!! The more people that see how this Organization is run, the more will have the knowledge to stay away from it! Jesus is The Truth. A religion is not! Thank you !!

WOLVES. Thank you for sharing this Eric 💛

This discloses a very serious problem amongst the Elders, the very least of them being that they won't honestly answer a normal question.

Thank you bro. Eric. They're so many of us in hiding because of dire situations as this. Possibly your courage in standing up to them would deter these agents of evil from coming after the rest of us.

WOW. They have you blocked off at the end of the driveway and at the door. WOW. Are they paranoid??? LOL

this is why they are falling apart as gods visible organization and must be exposed as a sham and untrue I feel sad for members that don't" understand" what these elders are doing to themselves and there flocks!!

I am floored! I have never seen ANYTHING like this! What the hell are they doing in Canada??!!

I’m an ex JW. Raised in that cult for over 40 years. That cult is being exposed for years and the world is a better place.

Well done Eric, so needed. Glad you still love the Lord.

Where is the love they should display.You came across as you just want to sort out what exactly they got against you.They were like a lot of rats that wanted you in a corner then go for the kill.Keep strong Eric we all know there is no truth in this cult something we all loved untill the internet exposed them.

How very sad. These meetings should be recorded, the elders could review them to see if they could have done more. I didn’t like their attitude. They were not welcoming or loving. They say the meeting is on their terms, that shows you it is their way or the highway. What ever happened to all the love and forgiveness they preach about? It is obvious they do not have the fruitage of the Spirt, all they have are Plastic Words.

Such bullies! Kudos to you for standing up and exposing them! Please continue your great work in exposing falsehood - love your videos. I can’t believe I used to be part of that group.

.thanks again, appreciate all the distress you endured for the truth of the so called TRUTH. So disenchanted by them on so many levels.

Just be glad you are out. Weep for those that are still in this cult. You are free! Free!

Nauseating indeed....... so satanic, wow. Great job...... welcome to your freedom Mr.Eric. Love your Channel also, you explain everything so clearly ..... God bless you! Thank you for opening our eyes. Agape.

Wow! That was awesome. I loved the way you stood your ground and repeated your questions so many times that it was obvious that they were determined not to answer you. They make it quite clear that fairness is not something they are interested in. There is no transparency what so ever. I feel so stupid for believing there propaganda about the process. They always said, ''Only the elders know what goes on in the meeting with the people, and whether people are truly repentant or not.'' But it is nothing but a Kangaroo court. They strip people or rights and freedom of speech. They will, eventually, be their own undoing

I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself.

Well done Sir. You handled the matter with great Integrity and truth. Never forget Jesus Christ is your witnesses and there is no better. This video shows just how bent and corrupt this organisation is. Thanks be to our Great Lord who saved you from this mire. Live life in love and Grace.

Oh these are men of God ? Reasonable? No , they are haughty and fearful , trying to look big and bad .

The whole group of the “ governing body “ should be brought to a criminal court for their racketeering business. Thanks Eric for such a enlightening video

What really annoys me is them keep saying this is private property. When we all donated money to our kingdom hall we considered it to be ours not that it was going to be given away

Thank you, Eric, for exposing the hypocrisy and cowardice of the so-called judicial committee of the Watchtower Society.

Thank you very much Eric for making this video. It’s been a little hard for me to take some things from exJWs seriously, but from someone who was an elder for so long it really made me think. I’ve been out for almost 10 years (besides a few months lapse of judgement) and am only now starting to see truth. I’ve spent too long fearing armageddon by the JW definition of who will survive and I’m sick of being afraid. I hope to see more stuff like this so I can really cement my belief in something else. All the best to you, I wish to consider you as a friend and I would love the chance to talk sometime.

Here in the UK a lady was interrogated and DFd for apostasy. Audio recording is on my channel.

these men are bullies!

Bravo. I’m going to work on a video tomorrow. It is my belief that someone, maybe you, start a class action suit against the Watchtower and Tract Society for violation of your civil and human rights. You have the right of due process, the right of notice, the right to representation and if they refuse to give those rights every member should be aware that their baptism is a contract with the organization where your human and civil rights can be removed for any reason. It may not stop the organization or excommunication, but it will force this organization to change their process. Stay tuned.

Nice video Eric...it took 8 weeks for our branch appeal to be finalized. The brothers in the original JC meeting called us to a meeting, so we drove 70 miles, one way, so they could literally say the branch upheld the disfellowshipping...That's it!

When we think of their latest convention, all about loveing people. They talk about love, but they practise hate. They may think they are in the truth, but the truth is not in them.

One thing I abhor is how witnesses will make up their own oral rules when they feel like it! It’s so disturbing the brute forced they used to try and humiliate you. Jehovah and Jesus are shaking their heards vigorously at this I’m sure!

This is some fooltime FOOLISHNESS! I mean, just WHO do they think they ARE?! I can't STAND these charlatans!

These brother's and Elders are acting like Mobsters. They are acting as Judge, jury, and executioner. This is kangaroo court and I truly feel they violated your civil rights. They are far from being a godly, loving organization like the claim to be. Thank you so much for uploading this video.

The elders here are going against the direction of the governing body. Doesn't that make them apostates themselves. Because they are not following the governing body's instructions as laid out in their own publication. They are setting themselves up against the gbs direction.

These people who call themselves “Christians” are appalling. Their behavior towards you is sick and gross. In their eyes you were guilty even before that “meeting.” I’m so glad I never drank the kool aid. My family tried to raise me in this religion and from a young age I saw how manipulative and hypocritical the followers were. I wanted no part of a group where words and truth are twisted for the organizations agenda. The witnesses do not want anyone to have a mind of their own. I hope your message reaches out to those who are struggling to escape. This organization leaves people isolated and dependent on others value and opinion of them. That is not love or Christian kindness.

Disgraceful. But you gave a wonderful defence even though limited by these rascals. Heaven is watching. Liars have a warm lake awaiting them. I am glad to be disassociated and ashamed I ever was a jw. Thank you for uploading this

Treated this man like a criminal. They already judged as being guilty. Hate false religion.

That was an awful display of prejudice, arrogance, bigotry and down right lies. I’m so sorry you had to endure such a horrible confrontation. Your honourable rebuttal when confronting such deluded lies and conspirators is inspiring. I hope your are well and living a full and loving life. Peace love and respect to you! 👍

Wow over and over, you have my support!

All the best Eric with your legal action. Blindingly obvious lesson for ALL JW's to learn from this: If you're ever "invited" to a judicial committee meeting, just say "Thanks, but NO thanks." You can't reason on the Bible or org laws with company men - or their bouncers at the "private property." Scientology Mk2.

So glad to see you’re back!

Eric, why even bother going there in the first place! It's a trap, sheep in the slaughter house with these clowns, always in auto defence. Your point of view is not even considered, thx 4 the heads up I'm sure I might have mine comming my way as well. It's clearly fanatism, yes they are bleeding bad!!

Whoa, this whole situation is bizarre! What are they afraid of if they claim to live in "the truth?"

You are a great man. Good work. (Ex 3rd gen JW 30yrs in 26yrs out - and still feeling the effects)

Wow! How unacceptable was that whole situation. Your stance was perfection.

That is so scary they would treat an elder of 40 years like they did. It was very much like the Pharisees, it scares me to the point that I don't want to go back. I was disfellowshipped 20 years ago for smoking. However recently I was visited bye two elders, loving elders that I really cared about asking them to help me come back. The horrible thing happened before my hearing was able to even occur, the brother who came to my house had known me since I was a young child of 5 years old he loved me dearly, I know he did and I loved him he actually performed my wedding ceremony when I was younger. However, two weeks after visiting me he ended up in the hospital with an arterial aneurysm and on his dying bed his words to my father was he wanted to make sure as soon as he got out of the hospital that he was going to make sure I got reinstated. That was the most loving unbelievable feeling I had that some brother that I haven't been able to even see for over 20 years still loved me like his own daughter. I felt like he love me more than my own father who is also an elder and has been for over 30 years. ( But has never done anything himself to try to get me back to being reinstated) and the brother that was helping me was my dad's best friend. The bad thing is when he died everything stopped no one has contacted me again my mother I believe has tried to get the congregation that disfellowshipped me allow the reinstatement. I do believe in all my heart that if that brother was still alive I would be back in the Jehovah's witness organization. However, after seeing your video it frightens me so much that if I did one little thing out of order that I would lose my family all over again. I've learned to live somewhat, without them over these years. Not to say I haven't been very suicidal very depressed, bedridden and unable to function as a useful member of society at this point. I think the mental drain of what I have gone through in my life as being associated as one of Jehovah's witnesses since I was a five-year-old child and my family are very high up standing in the organization. Me being the black sheep I feel inevitably something would happen and I would lose my family all over again and have to suffer losing them again. my heart would not be able to withstand that again and I do believe I would end my life. So after seeing this video I do not think I will be taking the risk of going back and trying to become one of Jehovah's witnesses again to me I feel they have changed so much in their treatment of each other I don't see how they can even call each other brother and sister. Actually I do see because Cain and Abel were brothers and what happened there. I hope all of you others out there that are disfellowshipped and longing for your families, we're going to be okay I know it's hard I know you think about it almost every minute without realizing it. But this Brother did say we are being refined as well and hopefully, as I do I still believe in Jehovah I still love him I don't love the organization. But I love my God and I love Jesus Christ for what he did for us so that we could atone for our sins. Because we all do sin. Just so you know you're not alone obviously, there are so many videos out there now of disfellowshipped ones that are being shunned by their families. Reach out for support from others. Unlike me I have closed myself off to the world completely I don't go out I don't go anywhere I don't like people I just sit at home basically watching TV most of the time and of course RU-vid. My caution here is don't be like me go out there and live your life the way you want to live your life. Try to be a good person try to keep your head up and try to read your Bible for yourself and try to develop your own relationship with Jehovah. To all my brothers and sisters out there I love you all and I wish you all the best. With sisterly love, your ex JW sister.

Eric I am sorry you had to go through this. Thank you for your work on this topic and being willing to expose this ORG for what it really is.

It’s all about power and control. You’re not given due process. They have no authority over you, over anyone. Great Work!!