Examining the Consistency of Jehovah's Witnesses' Beliefs and Practices Across Different Countries 

I think the point was well made how people with no background or understanding of the Witnesses cannot comprehend the ideology and behaviour extremes that we as ex-witnesses come to live with. I know this from personal experience in a relationship after having left. " I would really rather jump off a cliff than go back" Amen to that Man!! Great job Jonathan JT and Lady Cee!

I am not and have never been a JW. I watch your videos regularly and they have helped me to have a deeper understanding of what my husband, a former JW who was disfellow-shipped and shunned, experienced as a result of growing up in this organization. My husband never talked much about it over our thirty six year marriage as I am sure the pain and the psychological trauma was great. I never truly understood how it had shaped and affected him. I really was able to relate to a lot of what Jonathan described about meeting and marrying his wife. Many of the people in the organization that my husband grew up with married early and are now divorced, their families destroyed by the intrusion of this organization into their family life. I believe that my husband and I were fortunate not to be subjected to that and as a result have been able to remain happily married all these years. They say that hindsight is 20/20 and many of the things that I did not understand about him over the years, now make sense when I listen to some of these interviews. They have helped me to have greater compassion and patience which has benefitted us both. Thank you so much for the great work you are doing through your channel. I am sure that more people than you know are being helped by it.

It takes years to digest the harm of conditional relationships have on a human. Humans would rather sacrifice individuality and individual responsibility in favor of group think and identity. Growth is stunted.

I am with you guys. I am a 4th gen born in now ex cult member. I was in for 45 years. I knew nothing else and before the internet it was near impossible to find out much about the history of the JW cult. I was given a book one time in service, it was called 30 years a Watchtower slave. It was confiscated as soon as I got back to the car by an elder in the group. I knew there was a lot wrong with the cult but since we were never taught critical thinking it was hard to do it. When the Internet came out and I saw people like Randy Waters who left Bethel after 30 years and talked, I could find that Ray Franz wrote a book then another book. I bought both and started a long journey to find out what was this cult I was involved in about? I am still surprised by how we could follow such a bunch of stupid idiots. I got my 3 brothers out of the cult, and my mother was a PIMO and was planning on leaving totally once her dad who was a CO, and elder died. Unfortunately she died before that time. All I did was show her the writings of the cult over the years and that it was wrong. She was a romance writer who had written several books for a company that published these kind of novels. She had to use a pseudonym, as the cult would have gotten very upset if she had been known to write romance books. I really had to bite my tongue when she passed as my grandfather put the funeral at the local hall. I had to listen as the elder who gave the talk asked her fav. Scripture song ect. I said nothing. She was a keep the peace person and I did that for her memory. But I swore that unless its another funeral I can not get out of I would never step into a KH again. So far I have not.

You’re absolutely correct about this being therapy for others and I’m not a JW of a former JW but I did have a repressive , overcontrolled emotionally and physically abusive childhood. I noticed the similarities very quickly.

I thought the point about the daughter-in-law having been cut off from the husband's parents as a consequence was very interesting... you don't often think of how even non-JWs are affected by the shunning policy! The shunning policy is SO TOXIC!

The more experiences like Jonathan's I hear, the stronger my determination to stay far, far away from the organization. Thank you, Jonathan, Lady Cee, and JT for bringing Jonathan's story to us! ❤️🌻

Never let family, friends or any others in the cult threaten you to do this or be cut off. If that is how they are leave them, they are not worth the air to blow them up.

Oh, gosh - sitting in the classroom while all the other kids were at Assembly! I still know all the words to the hymns because I could hear them, all the kids, Catholic, C of E, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, all singing together. On a different note, Jonathan must pick up accents really well, I'd never know he was English - I've been in the US for two decades and still sound as English as I was when I stepped off the plane!

I totally lived a double life. Only my close friends knew that my family was JW. My friends would totally help me blend in. My friend’s mom bought me Valentine’s cards and took them to school for me. My mom never told the teachers anything because she was picked on for being poor as a kid. So she would never let me be pointed out as different. For my older brothers, it was a different story. My mom was “newer” in the “truth” when the were in school so she went in with the brochure. By the time I was school age that it mattered, she gave me the brochure to give the teachers and that never happened 🤣🤣

I remember one year in high school I handed over the school brochure and she threw it right back at me and yelled at me saying get that garbage away from her. And she chased me out of class. She was a teacher who did not like JWs and black people.

I can only imagine how hard it is leaving the JWs. I know how hard it was learning the origins of the Pentecostal church and its influence on my family... deprogramming never ends... but we can have joy.

It was also a loss of a purpose that can create an empty space. Then adjusting to a new reality. Went to my cousin and wife’s funerals. It was mentioned how much they enjoyed Halloween. For Thanksgiving and Christmas, she fixed every dish she know how to- and everyone was welcome. I was never part of the joy.

Great interview. Yes they are still triggers that pop up from time to time. I also didnt wear a dress for about 3 years after I left like Lady Cee.

Strange enough, I had a different experience at school. What my parents told us to do was not to sing nor pray, but if someone noticed, especially the authority we were adviced to pretend that we were singing or praying. That helped us not to be a target of ridicule. Second advantage we had in South Africa then we did not have to sing a national anthem at our schools and there were no birthday party cakes brought to school nor the acknowledgement of anyone’s birthday at school. On this I will thank my parents for ignoring that part of the JW instruction. The only common experience was the mocking I would get from students whom I visited their home on a door to door or saw me in town on a street work, that was very embarrassing.

Funny how you never heard these kinds of “experiences” at assemblies & conventions. This is realistic.

My mother tried raising me Seventh day Adventist. I went to public school. In 1st grade I went into Brownies ( Girl Scouts ) I loved Brownies. But, out scout master would have outings on Saturdays and my mom made me quit Brownies. I cried and cried. For Pete's sake, I was 7 years old. My dad just stayed out of it so when I switched to a different school I was always real nice to the JW kids, we kind of stuck together and accepted each other as it was. I never was allowed to go to a ball game or dance because they were on Friday night's after sunset.

Sooo true....my mom did the same thing with all my teachers!! Now that I look back...many teachers could not staaaaaand JWs and many of my teachers took their anger out on us as children!!!

Wow, they will go to the end of the earth to find someone's past. Yet when I was just about 20 years old a sister brought home her boyfriend saying he had recently been baptized, they found each other at work and that he came from Portland Oregon. They admitted he had spent time in the joint and that's when he got in contact with JWs. They announced him as a new brother in the congregation and all that. Come to find out, after they got married that not one congregation in the Portland area ever heard of him. Our brothers never bothered to actually check it out. It took a brother in another congregation in our area to find out the truth about this guy. That shook my old congregation up bad and it was at that time that I stopped believing that elders were appointed by holy spirit.

JT and Lady Cee. Always happy to hear you all. You are rare like good gold.

Amen look forward and not back. Good luck to you just kept smiling 😊 and keep living. Be happy 😊

When ever I think about how this Organization effed with my life...angry don't even BEGIN... to cover how I feel.

My siblings and I (6 in all) being the Only JW'S in my school... when my 2 Older brothers started attending they were setting up the Ground Work on how We the next one's was going to be treated... Some teachers were OK with it some Don't... Bullying and Tease was almost a given from certain classmates...As we were told by my parents we was being persecuted just like Jesus Christ... Today I'm No longer a JW and wondered what it would have been like not growing up as a Born-in...I think Life would Have been easier for sure...🤨😕🤔

Shunning is a form of abuse would you sign a petition to stop disfellowshiping?

Supposedly we live in a culture that celebrates diversity. Yet, we really do not. Being different becomes a label and cause for bullying. Of course, the real issue are the policies and doctrines that are totally unnecessary. Realities that are created by cultures and subcultures.

I am so grateful the way you both put things in ways that are easily understood. I have grown to just love and appreciate you both so much❤️

Great interview, I understood everything he talked about and went through, my ears perked up when he talked about being born in Honduras as that is where I live. The great Watchowerian hypocrisy is the same wherever you go!

The jws have it all in their favor. If a person was never a jw, they say , how would they know? Then to a person who was a jw, and no longer is,...apostate, don't listen to them. They think they can have it both ways.

This channel brings great people with great experiences that can help Restore peace for every x jw

Very interesting and sp enjoyable. I love every one of these stories..Thank you, Lady Cee and JT.

Let's just be honest. JWs can be anemic or toxic. But work colleagues can also suck. Let's be honest that outside of JW is NOT the land of Canaan. So, what do you do next? Find your core. Once you find yourself, then find your community.

Great interview - thanks to all participants!

My deepest Sympathy to all Born Ins. In a prison with Invisible walls from birth

*another amazing piece here! for me personally, the interview always unofficially begins, when I get to hear all the ground that they've covered, since leaving. that's the story line, that's the happy ending. too often, our past experiences with watchtower are just compilations of lamentation filled escapades, 1 after the other*

Good to hear from you guys today. Blessings to all listening today.

Thank You Lady C & JT. This was a nice video. Best Wishes to Jonathan.

Thank you JT Ladycee and Johnathan

Awesome interview 👏 Bless u all!

His Wife, wow❗️She's showing the opposite of *"the truth"* with her unconditional love

6:08 Well, it would have been better to not put you on full display by removing you, only to go back on their action - noting this wasn't good for you psychologically - and decide you should instead stay in those assemblies; because going back on their action was too late, you were already put on full display and that negative attention was not going to go away. The back and forth with damaging decisions reminds me of the organisation over all: beards are in, beards are out, reject alternative service and go to prison, alternative service is acceptable - don't go to prison, and so on. Human decisions elevated to divine statue, as JT put it.

I feel this man's pain. Great interview.

Lady Cee you are on the ball. Fortunately, my high school principal told my mother and elder that she would not kick me out of the school because of their beliefs. She said it was unfair to a child to do such. Jehovah guided her. Lol

Hey Lady Cee and JT!! Another great video and interview! The more I see videos like this, my resolve is even greater never to return! Even though I never experienced any of the baffonery some of these ex jws went through, I can see that my thoughts of the organization from way in my youth were correct! As a young girl born in the jws, I would observe a lot of weird shyt but would dismiss because it was the "truth!" Lol...when JT talked about going out on Saturday as young children in 3piece suits, I WAS HOLLERING out loud in laughter!! How dumb did we look! As a young girl, I was wearing hot ass pantyhose and a dress and shoes that hurt my damn feet!!🤬 And I would hate going out in service in my neighborhood with all my school mates! Great memories!😂🤢 With all the leaks many if the yt content creators are receiving from PIMO individuals, I can see that we who are out had the courage to see the baffonery and hit the ground runnin'!🏃🏿‍♀🖕🏾 Another great video guys!!🥰

That feeling of being spied upon is triggering and definitely gave me pstd….disgusting🤢…great interview.👀

At least he was dating a girl - what if it was a guy? I met a neighbour recently who left the cult after his brother came out as gay and he realized that his brother was perfectly fine - it was the church that was wrong.

Beautiful story, know that you are not alone and we as ExJw still have love among ourselves and our loved by God❤️

Lady Cee, it was very funny what you said about changing your wardrobe, because I did the same, I haven wear a dress or skirt since I left the Organization, I gave away almost all my dresses and skirt, stayed with a pair in case of, but haven’t used!😂😂😂 I hate it!

Thank you camelia for your comment. Must be love!

As an ex-jw raised in the UK I can confirm that the hymn thing was hard😅 I wasn't escorted out though I had to stand up and walk out myself with all eyes on me. The being left out of the Christmas play was hard too. It meant I had to sit in the corner for weeks each year doing some kind of project or busy work that was never going to be looked at whilst the other kids were having fun rehearsing for their performance. I hated school, I have way too many stories. I also remember a time when I didn't do my homework and the teacher asked me in a snarky way in front of the class, "oh are you not allowed to do that because of your religion as well?" And all the kids laughed😅. Yeah... Way too many stories.

Watch Tower ruins lives

The org keeps you so busy that you do not have time to reflect that the doctrines don’t even make sense! Which was the whole idea of having tues/thurs/sun meetings and ministry on top! Jonathan totally ditched his U.K. accent quickly, wishing him everything good.

I appreciate interviews like this you can tell he did his own research by the way he talks sometimes you guys have people on who just want attention and weren’t really in the religion deep or did they own research you can tell by the way they constantly call it “The Truth” or you ask them questions and they never even heard of the teachings. It was a woman y’all interviewed a few weeks back like that I had to cut it off. I can tell she didn’t do any research on if she believes this is a cult or anything

Excellent show! Well done, Jon. You've left that awful organization behind. I sympathize with you over the tough childhood. I also went through a difficult childhood and teenage years, but it had nothing to do with any religion. Both my parents were atheists who also bore the marks of their upbringing. I've forgiven them through the grace of God - the God of the Bible, not the JW perversion of the truth.

So much for the spiritual paradise they brag about all the time.

At the end of the day, we live by our every day choices that we make every day. These choices will affect the rest of our lives. Make sure that they are good ones. Raised by so called JW, parents. As children, before puberty. my sister and I were sat side by side together at the Hall by our parents, all the time. The meetings were so long, so we would talk to each other, quietly. Our parents kept their reserve, but when we got home, All Hell Broke Loose, the electrical cable used for the kettle was our training to become a JW. I will never forget it. This happened all the time. As I got older I was so conditioned, that was all I knew. I went pioneering, etc. So brain washed!!! Our parents never got reprimanded, even after my sister had to go to school with welts on her forehead and bruises over her body , not to mention mine. We were just kids, not even teenager. These are the hidden things that go on in the organization. This organization seriously covers over the abuse of pedophiles, ( disgusting ) What else can you expect. I am in my 70's now, and I worry about the young children, that don't have a voice. Young people you are OK, be a good person, you do have a voice, a big one, from my heart, to yours.

Great interview although I wish we could have heard about his love of playing music and other talents of his. 🙂

Yeah! Watchtower turns every innocent beautiful relationship into something vulgar and immoral.

Honestly Lady Cee and JT….. You two deserve the Medal of Honor for saving so many lives from destruction with this cult.

I know it's only been a couple of weeks but I missed you guys so much. 💛✌

“Physically in, mentally out” (#PIMO) vs “Physically Out, mentally In” (#POMI).

Yes , 1961 . . . Walking down the street , holding on on to my Dad's "Captain's bag" 💼 . . while he was "Preaching the Good news of the Kingdom ! " with his 💁🏻 lil' boy (me) at His side !! 😉 Yes sir , those were the days! 😌 . . . . 👉 NOT !!! 🤨

what i want to know is where his British accent went? great interview!!!

Cheers folks, appreciated 👍 Positive experience 👍

Thanks! Truth!

LOVE your hair, Jonathan

Love y'all.💚🧡💛

Bad associations spoil useful habits Jonathan… haha! So glad to see you happy and out fella and glad we met back when you were funsized in the U.K.

I went to many different schools and several times I was taken out of an assembly or class - talk about emotional trauma.

God Bless this channel 🇮🇱 Truth! HalleluYah 🇮🇱

O Yeah Courage! Experience! Wisdom! Truth!

@37:04 In the Bible, King of the North and King of the South changes over years. The Watchtower was clear on that. I am surprised this guy was a born in and did not know that.

Well done for getting out Jonathan

Love live JT & Lady Cee, feeding proper mental food @ the proper time!

It was always a nightmare if kids in your school found out you were a Jehovah's Witness. Kids and adults love to attack anything thats different.

Being a member of Watch Tower is like a marriage.Leaving is as a tough divorce.

Thanks Jah

If your parents ask, just tell them you have made the truth your own. And if your parents or elders ask you to repent, tell them you cannot repent of the truth.

The ol elder hypocrisy. Where I grew up in Minnesota the elders worked at a paper mill, shift work, missed meetings, and that was ok. They would cover up for each other and for them there was comprehension, but if you worked shift oh boy you were in trouble. A sure talking to in the back room.

All witnesses are equal, some are more equal

Yes that's true Satan is section off but he is never divided against himself💜✅🎯🧤🙏🏿

I ABSOLUTELY FELT LIKE I WAS LIVING LIFE WITH A GUN TO MY HEAD. Its what drove me to my suicide attempt.

Wow, very triggering but great interview!

Jonathan even though you've left the religion please stick to the true god the maker of the heaven an earth stick to good moral don't follow the wrong crowd

The current teachings are significantly different to the original teachings. JW's are realizing the Governing Body are not gods channels nor inspired by god. This is what previous Watchtower leader, Raymond Franz warned about in his book 'Crisis of Conscious' Prior to 1914, the Watchtower believed: * The Last Days began 1799 * Jesus Parousia started 1874 * Jesus started ruling in heaven in 1878 * The Gentile Times would end in 1914, resulting in the: * end of Armageddon * fall of false religion * end of all earthly governments * heavenly and earthly resurrections * paradise on earth The 1914 doctrine has changed by necessity, and continued to change in the twenty first century, as it has been falsified by the progression of history. It has progressed from: 1. The last days started in 1799, ending in 1914. 2. The last days started in 1914, ending within a single lifetime/generation of those born prior to 1914. 3. The last days started in 1914, with an unspecified ending, after a period of an "overlapping generation." Nothing Russell said about 1914 came to pass. For Russell and early Watchtower followers, the 2nd of October 1914 was expected to be the the conclusion of this system of things.

I honestly think they're trying to dumb down their average follower. Over the past few decades with the invention of the internet I'm sure they're losing a lot of followers and having a much tougher time gaining new ones.

I left in 2017 didn't want to be a part of their blood sacrifices , our Lord and savior Christ Jesus opened my eyes to this cult I have been donating since helping my brothers and sisters sharing my precious blood

College??

Everyone who get into war is the king of the north. That is simple. Ethiopia is the king of the North or is it the Tigray religion, but one of them is.🤣🤣🤣🤣

First

Enjoying the video, but too many commercials...a few less would be appreciated

Waking up to where according to the Bible?????