Do Jehovah's Witnesses Create Poor Culture? Ex Members Explained! 

What I found when I was a JW is the inconsistency when it comes to who is allowed to have high paid jobs etc. There were brothers in my hall who were very wealthy and built large businesses. But whenever I mentioned wanting to do the same it was frowned upon. It’s ok for them but not for me

Also, the org be like “don’t be striving for riches!” But in the same breath “give us your money” hahahah

Money might not bring happiness, but I can tell you poverty sure don't. So, I'm ready to try the money route

I don’t know about poor culture but the enforced ignorance made me end the Bible study when my kids were small . One with an IQ of 150 and the other with an IQ of 170 . That sister who actually boasted about having no high school diploma and being uneducated made me go “WTF? OH HELL NO!!!!!“

Looking forward to this Premiere! I know too many people who gave up career advancements because it will prevent them from attending the weekday meetings, people who quit their jobs because it doesn’t allow them to go out in service and people who did better than me in high school and was proud of it but didn’t go to college because they won’t need the worldly education in paradise.

You guys are 100% right. Someone could get a full scholarship to Harvard and the congregation members will downplay that option and suggest they go to bethel instead 😂. So many smart and articulate witnesses out here broke putting in double digit hours into the meetings and field service. This is another aspect where disfellowship could be devastating to a member. They will have no friends and no skill set outside of the organization

They absolutely create and promote a poor culture - no doubt about it! And, they wear it like a badge of honor, like they are more spiritual than most.

22:20 as a pimo, I've gotten a few side eyes from people in our hall when they find out my sister and I are taking college courses. One sister even told us a story about how this one kid she knew who went to college got disfellowshipped, and then my mom cut her off and said ppl will do what they want, so that person would've left regardless of whether or not they went to college. Although I'm sad to be disappointing my mom, im glad she was still able to stick up for us when it came to this matter.

"Their jealousy fuels them to try to use bible standards/scriptures to belittle thoes who are more financially better off" Boom!💥 So true!

Katt Williams is not best example of a Christ follower, and none of us are perfect at all, but if he had stayed in, he would not be the person that brings us laughter and philanthropy all over the country. We would have missed all his insights, intellect, and talent❤

No money cant buy happiness but it sure is a great down payment on it😅. Good shows peeps 2 thumbs up

But it’s hard to be happy if you’re stressed about money and making ends meet and getting the necessities you need. Money does buy a level of happiness in my opinion, a certain kind of happiness more like a peace of mind and that’s probably the security part. Almost like security and happiness kind of go hand-in-hand. Kind of like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

I saw this in my congregation. The sister I studied with always pioneered and had a small cleaning job. After her pension she couldn't afford her house and now lives in a very small appartement...no help from the congregation 😢 Great video as always! Apostate greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱 😊 I went to university myself (in Amsterdam!) and I can assure you: the junkies you see in Amsterdam aren't dropped out students...😏

I was 17 when I began to seriously study. I had been accepted to Spellman (all female) college to desperately get away from my abusive family. An elders wife who attended one of my study sessions told me flat out, “you need to stay home until you get married. Moving out to go to college would bring reproach on Jehovah…” all the while, the other young witnesses wanted to hang out with me because I was “worldly” and thought I would go along with questionable activities… smh!

When I saw Kat Williams on Shay Shay and he started alluding to when he left home at 13 because he was about to be disfellowshipped for BS(not verbatim) I knew that he was part of JWs… he didn’t want to speak bad about his family or the religion but us ExJWs queued into what he was saying…. I started understanding who he is at that point…

Your talents, ambitions, passions and potential are definitely squashed being raised as a JW kid ! ! It’s always made me cringe and disgusted when they trot out a young person on stage as a shining example, who passed up a free ride to university or something.

🌴🌺 When I wanted educate myself in the medical field my Mom was so against it. I guess she wanted me to stay on government assistance the rest of my life. She couldn’t even say “I’m so proud of you for wanting a better life” … so sad. I treat my children that they can be and do more. You’re so right about things happen everywhere!!!! Scare tactics!!!!

When I was associated with the JW's back in high school, there was a brother that I was out in field service with (If my memory is correct, I believe this brother was also a ministerial servant.) who was in his 20's or possibly early 30's who told me that he went to college after high school to become an engineer, but the elders in his old congregation sat him down and convinced him not to pursue it because the end of this world was so close. He even commented to me that if he had stuck with college, then things in his life at the time might have been different; because this brother was married and had two young kids at the time and it was a struggle financially making ends meet. I could tell by this brother's voice inflection that he had second thoughts about the decision he made. Well this was over 35 years ago. This was one of the pivotal experiences as a teenager growing up in the early 1990's with parents who were strict JW's as to why I chose not to become one.

I forgot which content creator showed it, but there was a graph showing the average salary of individuals in various religions. You can guess who came in last.

That's so sad man ,here in South Africa when there was changes at local Bethel brothers and sisters had to start life from scratch in real world one i know is working for grocery store , imagine the depression he's going through bro

What I found is that the organisation created huge disparities. You could either be a builder or a cleaner in the organisation, and builders earnt a lot more than cleaners. Going to university to improve your standard of living was materialistic, but you could make bank if you were a builder because oh, you’ll be valuable for any quick builds.

I'm definitely one that's rollin right along with y'all as you bounce around talkin about things in your videos. It's like your brains think like me! I love it! Awesome video! About the carreers, my oldest could have been an engineer, and the youngest could have been on someone's NFL team! But...... they were raised by us JW parents who didn't want them to have anything to do with "the world". Im PIMO, husband is a born-in full steam JW elder! 😵 I hate the choices I made and I hate being STUCK in!😢😢😢😢 (for now!)

Thank goodness you have woken up to this in your younger years x

I remember I got disciplined by a group of elders during my first sheperding call in 2020, which I was initially excited about to finally have that spiritually encouraging experience with the elders I looked up to, only for my takeaway about it feeling extremely disrespected and disappointed by them. They disciplined me simply for being born in a wealthy hardworking non-JW parents in a third world country. One of those elders also did not like seeing me chillaxing during quarantine making money as a freelancer artist online instead of being an exemplary brother by persevering on my hours as a baptized auxiliary pioneer, warning me about the temptations of materialism and isolating myself with the world and stuff. Three years later, I left the JW religion motivated by those same exact feelings amplified to 11. Turns out, it was applying the advice they told me during my first sheperding visit that caused me to hard fade, not because of some materialism temptation. Rather, it was witnessing the results of the patterns of their bad behavior that ultimately proved me they were not divinely inspired. It's quite ironic really.

I have so many JW relatives that are so proud to be poor. I never understood this growing up. Poverty is not noble and doesn’t guarantee you a place in “paradise”. 🙄

You two are covering the HOTTEST TOPICS" right now!! Appreciate u MUCH!! Some fade away; please don't do that! Keep it up and stay relevant!!

You two are awesome. KEEP SPEAKING!!!!

Anybody that says money can't bring happiness never paid for a divorce😂.. with that being said, I missed out on a lot of greater financial gain, believing in those doctrines. I'm so glad I woke up. As a black man in the U.S. you need either higher education or a trade. Create some kind of skill set that people will pay you to do. They definitely encourage poverty, which keep you thinking you need saving from their god.

Most people are poor and they just dress well and in settings of visiting people always put there best foot forward…I am African and the poverty within the congregation is crazy

This is so true! I never ever listened to anybody in the halls about education and jobs. How are you telling me anything about my life, job, and future when you’re 37 and still living with your parents???😂😂😂😂

Embracing the poor "humble" life was championed A LOT in Hispanic Congregations. To be exact, I'm talking about migrants who settled in the US inner cities from South, Central America and the Caribbean. I was raised in a Spanish congregation in Brooklyn, NY from the early 90's to 2016 & these sisters from Puerto Rico, Mexico and Dominican Republic loved bragging about how poor they were, it was a competition on who can be the poorest Lmfao. My mother was and still is one of them & her peers were no different. If you visit any Spanish congregation in Brooklyn, NY you will see a bunch of older Hispanic men and women still holding on to the organization living in poverty. It's sad man.

Both of your smiles does help the woke ones from cults, they can feel it’s definitely okay to leave from doomsday fear!

Higher education is frowned upon because it's a dedication to a career in secular society but watchtower requires its members to dedicate their souls to governing body. University does not educate a person free of spirituality otherwise everyone with a degree would be atheist by that is not true. Higher education is about training in specialized skills.

Yo,True. I liked at around 6:00 mins, Lexi made a point about taking advice from people that ain't even there in life. I agree. I say, Never take Criticism from anyone who you wouldn't take Advice from. That was a constant trigger in my awaking too actually. Witnesses be up in your personal business with backhanded comments and loads of unsolicited advice. Yall cookin' as usual Peace✌🏾

Quinta Brunson who made Abbott Elementary was born a JW too. So many black JWs have talents being stifled by this religion. Smdh

You guys be nailing it on every video! 🙌

There are two Social Media families that are good standing JWs. I wonder if they receive pressure from their Elders to leave the business. I know I had a few Elders back in the days who preferred the young ones stay home and toe the line. Never go out and have fun at concerts or anything that mixes with worldly people. STIFFLING and MISERABLE

My dad loved to play basketball and was very good at it. I’m talking could have played in college and been drafted good. My grandma vetoed that immediately bc of this religion. I feel bad that my dad didn’t get to do what he loved.

Taking a theology class and learning about religions from a historical context and learning the origin story of JW ,7th day , and Mormons 🤯🤯

After I had graduated high school I was offered schooling for free to go to medical schooling. I turned it down tho to move where the need was greater. I did have an amazing time experience living in Mexico. Buuut being close to 30 having to start a whole career & having no financial stability sucked! I was also broke as a jw 😅 & now that I do have more money. I’m like no ma’am I can’t live like struggling like that ever again lol

100% facts, guys! I love having you guys in my ear while I’m doing stuff around the house. It’s like having a conversation with friends! I SOOOO wanted to be a nurse when I was out of high school. There was a nursing school in my town but I knew my parents wouldn’t let me go. My high school had scholarships and grants for me for whatever I wanted to do. I loved writing and creative stuff, arts, etc. But I didn’t even bother because I knew I wouldn’t be able to. I’d have no support. I moved out as quickly as I could but still stayed a witness til I completely lost it in my early 30s and couldn’t do it anymore. I did end up going to school after that but not for nursing. I grew up with that mentality that you shouldn’t strive after money and I struggled financially. It was a religious curse. My dad is an amazing singer, song writer, guitar player, and performer but aside from going to a few coffeehouses in and around Boston, he only did it for congregation gatherings. He could have made amazing money doing what he loved but wouldn’t pursue it. And…going along with the titles and positions in the congregation-my dad married my mom while she was still underage and he was ten years older! I never thought anything about it but if i had a 17 year old daughter and a guy ten years older than her, I’d be like, get the hell out of here! Anyway…yeah. 😅

I liked this before I even watched it!

This was really good. I suffered from that article warning against secular education. My parents did not allow me to go to college to pursue an art degree. But they allowed me to go to work as a fast food manager instead. 🙄 I still ended up doing everything they were afraid I’d do in college. And all within four years too. 🤦🏾‍♀️🫤

Now I'm watching you're RU-vid video on JW org destroying families. Love you two.

“You don’t need to study every type of counterfeit money” 🤣🤣🤣

You forgot Prince and Larry Graham...and Teresa Graves who I had a dialogue with.

love you guys....you forgot serena williams!!!

Money brings me happiness. Money brings me security. Money is good it gives you freedom to do anything anytime you like. Lack of money is the root of all evil not the love of it tho. Money is neutral, everything in life is neutral you give it the meaning

Religion is rather the cause of sufferings for mankind 😢

We love your bird while y’all are talking…it’s like it is ready to participate on y’all’s show. We love you guys! Y’all are awesome.

🌴🌺 I was always left to feel like I was missing something. I experimented on my own and had to learn. Now if someone would’ve explained in a normal fashion or let me be a young adult I may not have done things a certain way. I’m a responsible adult now but man!!!

I could talk about this all day because there’s so much to unpack! I was df’d and reinstated. When reinstated I was applying to law school. I told a close group of friends I was applying to law school, but I had to stress to them to keep it lowkey because I was slightly embarrassed to be the typical “spiritually weak sister” seeking higher education. Eventually I just didn’t care, and announced it (boy did the side-eyes roll in) Did I become the typical witness who left after seeking higher education? Yes. I got df’d again. After feeling some guilt for that, I realized that 1) correlation does not mean causation, arguing that people have left because they sought higher education is insane. That argument ignores so many other factors! If educating myself made me “turn my back on Jehovah” there were clearly more issues there than just education! “education” is more of an excuse to leave than the cause of someone leaving. Because be real when you really want to do something, you do it regardless of the circumstances. 2) reality is shaped to your beliefs, so if my core belief is that “I will leave Jehovah if I go to grad school.” Guess what? My brain doesn’t want me to be a liar so my brain will find a way for my reality to reflect that thought! So just be aware that most of what JWs teach seems true only because our brains will show us a reality where our beliefs are true (confirmation bias).

Hi Awaken Truths. I'm loving yall guys & dolls videos so much! I finished High School & Career school Tec College. I remeber back in the day I was told I didn't make a good jw wife because I was too haughty & worldly. Even after I left, they called me an apostate when I joined my original religion church. So glad to be an ex jw=freedom from hypocrisy. Their only scriptual reason for divorce is fornication. My ex did that & they still side with the liar. Looking forward to the next video, ✌️, love yall guys & dolls, 🪆 ❤️, Janine Smiley🆒️ ♏️🧸😎

Growing up in the 70s and my grandparents and mother were JWs all I ever heard was not going to college was taught in the black Kingdom Halls!! Not pursuing higher education!! Just get a cleaning job or janitorial position!! But after moving to a white Kingdom Hall their children was going to college, many had their own business, they was doctors, lawyers !! So I didn’t listen and attended college, got a great job , married a non-witness, had kids brought a home paid it off,retired now with a good pension woke up and left the JW in August of 2019 still waiting for the end! Which should have happened in 1975😂😂

I love how the parrot is just🎉 listening closely to the first paragraph explanation. He is going to be ready for when they try to talk him tLiving in the new system!!😅😂

Yall speaking nothing but facts im from Miami born in raised JW i remember when they told us we couldn't get a Fade have a beeper bcuz all the drug dealers had them no beards playing sports going to college all that BS that has nothing to do with serving Jehovah mind you i grow up in the 80-90 im 44 now I know of what yall speaking about it was unfair it breaks up families causes hatred and resentment towards your parents because all of a sudden now you can do some of these things when it wasn't nothing wrong with it in the first place they always changing some shit 😂😂😂😂.

You guys have fast become a favorite for me. I love your spirit and the way your videos flow, educational and entertaining at the same time. I have JWs in my extended family and have observed a lot of what you say to be accurate. Keep doing what you do. I’m here for it!

Thank God YALL are using your talents!

You folks seem to have a healthy and realistic approach to money issues that is good to see.

3:21 There is absolutely an overall culture of keeping "kingdom interests first" and "keeping your eye simple." Like everything else, JW culture in certain areas/regions was more strict or more laid back. In the URBAN communities - those that were more melanated - higher education was NOT at all encouraged and if you did it, you were spiritually weak. In less melanated neighborhoods they did what they wanted in terms of education & careers and it was kind of under the radar. They went to more local universities and didn't say anything to many people. But they definitely did it. There are always exceptions - the sad Keego Harbor, MI murder/suicides (they shunned this family because in part, they pursued "secular school & careers"). And that first "Jehovahs Withesses & School Brochure" published in the 80s - 1983 I think (it was blue color) was flat out ANTI higher education. Anything beyond high school WASNT necessary. And if a career did not allow one to pioneer FULL TIME it was a bad decision.

You guys are awesome. I feel so seen. The way you lay it out is perfect!!

Sounds like another good one!

Marquis Houston still produces movies that are questionable for JW standards. Look no further than Tubi.

Money isn’t everything but it sure calms your nerves…🙅🏼‍♀️

I look forward of seeing you to together talking.u just let it all out😅❤

Great video, as always! ❤

We are all here as an act of service to mankind. I can’t believe how obtaining a higher education is frowned upon. We need Doctors, lawyers, nurses etc. How small minded one must be to think that Jehovah limits our intelligence and thinking abilities to only serve the organization .

It is always interesting listening to you.

I think you guys are Amazing. Thank you. ❤

Ja Rule was a witness too

Ohhhh, regarding creepy relationships and how it’s “ok” in the borganization. I’ll message you on the gram tomorrow to tell you what I remember not long after I was baptized in.

Charming as always--and full of good sense.

I have always said ny family is my first responsibility meaning thank you but I will raise my children if watchtower will not protect my child from SA i have my child higher education

A lot of good things come out of going to college. Aside from the education, you can gain friends and connections that can give you a leg up for a job, learn about different culture.

Hey!!! Great to see you guys!! If y'all saw my story, I had a full ride to Morgan State University and couldn't take it. Fortunately for me I always had well paying jobs - but I really wanted to be a lawyer. Charlemagne the God was raised as a Witness. Marquez Houston!!!!!! When you said Omarion I thought of him. He is a whole 'nother video. Speaking of ZESTY!!!!!! Look up the story of Leo Greenlees. He was one step from the GB. I mentioned him in my video. If you go back & research - Charles Taze Russell was against high school!!! I love y'all's videos because they are unscripted - just talking about the crazy we lived/survived. 😂

Lots of songs uplifting & move you...The Stand by John Key oldie but goodie. Overcomer by Mandista , Roar by Katy Perry and Brave by Sara Bareilla and Say What You need to Say by John Mayer. Keep up the good work for helping others!! Thank you

In the mid 80s I was going to college, the elders, quickly came to tell me that I shouldn't go to college, the "Society" is not encouraging us to do so, they said. I refused, to listen to them. I was DF for questioning their 1914 teachings, in 1990, I didn't care, though. I continue to go to college, graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, and now I'm retired with 5 pensions, living the life I wouldn't be able to if I would have listened to this cult.

I wanted to say I love your RU-vid channel. I've subscribed. Great going proud of you both. You are a loving couple. I'm glad I woke up it took me too many years however I saw a lot of things that didn't stack up when I was young. I have a brother a year younger than me and he's an elder and a complete total power crazy narcissist user abuser. Figures he'd become an elder.

This video is great. I'm sure they are talking about the one and only one thing they have when they say they learn about other religions and that was the book, "Mankind's Search for God," which they gave me early on when I told them I had kind of wanted to study different religions until I found one that makes sense 🙄It did present some basic concepts of different religions but it was from their perspective, which obviously isn't then an objective study, so ultimately, what you are saying is still true, but I just thought I'd mention it. Also, the "proud to be poor" is spot-on.

Sadly, Prince got brainwashed..also boxer Maromero paez and El General famous old Latin reg singer all became brainwashed😒💀

I believe that it depends on which Kingdom Hall you go to because in the last one that I used to go almost everybody had a professional career my study is a lawyer almost all the sister are nurses and 2 of the elders are firefighters, but I will also said that my husband’s study need it to hide that his son who already was a nurse was going to school to be a lawyer. I want to say to you both Thank you we love your videos Don’t Change a thing please me and my family love to watch you both!

Except Sarina Williams, she's all over the internet showing her rich house, and wearing skant clothing. She's flaunting her money all over the place. It's sickening

Off topic but love the red hoodie. Need to know where to get it pls! you guys could do merch

You 2 are some of the beautiful people that escaped. Good videos you present too. Next time get or present info on new agency Religious Freedom Foundation based in the US...Ex JW like this too. Hey any songs remind you of freedom from JW? Mine This is Me by Kia Settle and song The Climb by Miley Cyrus.Oh yes check out art by David hayward or Naked Pastor..it helps those free from a cult

I used to think that money wasn't everything in life, until i was stranded on the side of the road on an empty tank trying to provide for my family as a window washer. Being the only income and having to ask my boss ( jw ) to come and spot me a few bucks. After he said that he was out of town on vacation i knew then that I had to look out for number 1 ME! Make a long story short I went from window washer to making six figures a year not listening to this nonsense they are peddling. If i had to give any advice to my younger self it would be..... Always have a full tank and never turn down overtime.

I live in Australia I am a non believer in Gods.I was talking to JW at a cart about many things I brought up Serina Williams.They said she is not a real JW

Dont forget Prince, Marquis Houston and Quinta Brunson...

I'm waiting on the next gem y'all don't keep me waiting too long lol I'm going thru withdrawals

They train the children to be people pleasers. Then they get scared they are going to please someone other than the governing body.

I wanted you to know that we did have a book about all religions back in I think around 1990. It was a summary of other religions in a small burgandy book. But it wasn't so that we can learn more academically, it was so we'd know how to reason with them to change them.

It wasn't until I began to develop somewhat of an investigative curiosity, not only about the things that I was being taught in the Watchtower but all religions... When I concluded is that religion is a cancer to humanity in any form. I identify as an atheist now and it's the best decision I've made in my life,I'm not some unthinking animal such how the Watchtower labels atheists...I'm completely free from religious indoctrination no longer do I walk around daily with the looming presence of some spooky incompetent sky wizard watching my every move ..overall life for me is not perfect but it's definitely better.

Love y’all

i remember we had a meeting about this encouragement of not going to college, some lady raised her hand to talk about her daughter was not coming with her to the hall cause she was trying to be a doctor and she even cried., (I think all that was staged though, nobody would cries for that), and she wanted her to stop her studies, and the elder was like "see sooner she is going to become an atheist..." and everybody in the congregation bowing their heads. OMG!! i really disliked when everbody was bowing their head over stuff that they have doubts on, they inmediately agreed to anything the elder would say, To be honest, I think the elder he just needed some attention in every meeting -really.

This what i came for !

Love it

The Brother from these words must be on your heart left the organization

Does any know how the jw who were doing special pioneer until they were old age and nowadays how they are living? Did this org prepared their social security or am supporting their living now? If not,is there a experiences said of them now having hard times?

That organization ripped my life

When Raymond France let after all them years he didn’t have shit from them but a trailer house . But he had worldly people to help him. It’s so sad .

We all have choices