Hi folks! Sorry about the error with captions! Trust me, there ARE 5 "factors" on the list rather than 4. Unfortunately we had an error during edits that slipped the radar but we will be more vigilant in future. If you want to jump straight to various points on the list, @xptweak has very kindly put together timestamps! 😊 1. Child Sex Abuse 00:52 2. Shunning 6:38 3. JW Broadcasting 10:03 4. Increased Internet access 22:57 5. Downsizing 26:32
As a former JW I don’t really keep up with them. I had a few people who got shunned in my Kingdom Hall for premarital sex. I wanted to get married but there were no eligible bachelors that were my age. They were either much younger than me or very very old. I knew that if I wanted to get married I would have to find someone outside of the faith which is frowned upon. So I wrote my letter of dissociation after the elders visited me in my own home. I left and never looked back. I’ve been married to my non JW husband for 24 years. 🤷🏽♀️
Hell yeah good for you! My dad, who left way before I got out, would always tell me, "their literature doesn't tell you of all the bad experiences. Even jws go through divorces and adultery." That always stuck with me. So glad I'm out as well!
I think these videos are also making a significant impact. Less than three years ago I was suicidal and dealing with self harm due to crushing depression. By chance I clicked on a telltale anti mlm video referencing the bite model. As he went down the list something just clicked that the behaviour fitted jws completely, I googled whether jws were a cult and came across news footage of the candace conti news story, a couple videos later I stumbled onto this channel and I've never looked back. Honestly I can't thank people like you enough. I honestly would be dead by now if it weren't for people like you.
The mishandling of child sexual abuse is what finally woke me up. I'd been having doubts, but watching the Australian Royal Commission regarding their handling of this matter was the final straw. Watching Jeffrey Jackson sit there and blatantly lie made me physically sick.
Interesting you would mention that. He presumptuously refused to give a direct answer to the question. So he answered with a question. Evidence that they are fully aware of this Con they're running. And he always wears this little smirk like he gets so much perverted gratification from intentionally deceiving people.Real psychopaths think they're smarter than everybody else and they take pride in misleading people right in front of their eyes. To them this is proof of how genius they are. The bigger the deception the more people that go for it the better. They know what they're doing and they love it because it's the Work of their father the devil. They want to turn as many people away from the Most High as possible. People worshiping a mimic God and don't even know it.
I also watched the Australian royal commission which indeed woke me up when Jeffery Jackson didn't even take the time to listen to any of the victims who were once children in the organisation.
@@franksimmons9242 I agree. I think they know exactly what they are doing and take much delight in knowing they control the minds of literally millions of people. They are cruel dictator's who rob people of their humanity. Their arrogance has no limit. The sad truth I think, is that many Witnesses are so indoctrinated, they will never wake up. They are trapped in an invisible prison and would not know how to survive outside the invisible walls and bars. It's almost merciful that some do not wake up. But for the ones who can and will wake up I think the five factors in this video will be determining factors.
@@glennmouritz3924 also when he was questioned and DENIED that Watchtower has an exclusive relationship with God, it called it "presumptuous" to make that claim, liars, liars, liars 😠
As a person who grew up as a JW in the 1950's through the early 70's...I remember how adament were the organization's scathing criticism of TELEVANGELISTS...NOW THEY HAVE BECOME THAT WHICH THEY SCORNED!!!
Remember how they made fun of churches in the 80s. How they wrote in WT that churches were half empty cause they hadn't holy spirit. But JWs we're blessed by God, that's why KH were packed.
They were doing it up to the mid-90s when I was growing up! I remember my mom carrying on about televangelist and somebody had to be bedridden if they requested to hear the meeting over the phone.
When I was a kid, we viewed the governing body members as meek, loving, wise, holy old men. Then, I was at a convention and one of them happened to visit. He described in his talk how objectionable he and his wife had recently found the 101 Dalmatians cartoon, turning it off in the first 5 minutes. I secretly thought he was kind of nuts, not being able to watch some 1940's Disney cartoon.
When I first left the Borg, about twenty years ago, and got much needed psychiatric help for the first time, the counsellors didn't really 'get' the impact that the JW's had had. Now, visiting a new psychologist this week (for a tune up), there was nothing I could tell her that she didn't already know !! It's such a relief to be heard and understood.
When I first got help with depression, from being shunned, the mental health professional was nice and sympathetic, but she really couldn't wrap her head around the dynamic, that is the JW cult mentality.
@@petertocher6845 I've been out since the early 90s. Only went to seek help, in the last couple of years. Lived in Ontario, Canada till age 50. Currently living on the east coast, in New Brunswick.
@@markusbrauns4274 You left about the same time as me but I was about 38 and still mentally in. The elders were not happy about me seeing a psychologist but when I was hospitalised for two months (for my own safety) they backed off. I've been out for just over 20 years now and still struggle with having lost so many friends and work opportunities. It helped moving from the cold south of NZ to hot Melbourne, Australia !!
I knew a guy who had sold his home and business in 1974, kept just enough money from that to last him until then end of 1975 and gave the balance to the JWs. The world - the "system of things" - was definitely going to be brought to an end sometime in 1975, after which money would no longer be required as God would provide everything needed to His followers in an Earthly paradise. Well, after that didn't happen he was forced to find work which was when I met him. I was 16 and amazed that a guy in his mid-40s could continue to believe in an organization that had let him down so badly. He believed that 1982 (so-called 'Planetary Alignment' event) would be the date with absolute 100% certainty and when that failed to eventuate, he kept right on believing and contributing to the Jehovah's Witnesses. I believe he eventually realised in his 70's, after his family had all one-by-one woken up to what was going on and left, he too finally left the organization after being bled dry by them for most of his life. Sad.
When I was a JW single parent I always knew in my heart that if my little daughter were ever in a terrible accident and needed blood, and of course the Elders would descend upon her hospital room, I always l knew and planned ahead in my mind that I would slip a note to the doctor say “please give my daughter blood, do not let her die, and tell these people they have to go”
Same person answering from diff account. I’m guessing you’ve never been in//been raised in a mind control cult? Or if you are in one, you aren’t aware of it and are only giving your programmed responses. In any case, There’s not a more complicated, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, situation for a mind to find itself in than something like this scenario as a whole. Surely you are aware of the Jonestown cult, who made headlines after a mass suicide of more than 900 people, 300 of them children, given a poison drink by their indoctrinated parents. Some ignorant (not in an insulating way, most people are ignorant) people are not aware that JW is just another dangerous cult. While their followers aren’t dying by ONE mass suicide that garners headlines and visits by congressmen, their adherents and children are dying and in numbers far surpassing the Jonestown cult. “Why didnt I just leave?” is the million dollar question, above my pay grade and best answered by an expert or numerous experts with overlapping fields of knowledge and research in such things as mind control dynamics, trauma bonding, fear implantation, and control techniques. I experienced it and can tell my story. I didn’t get a PhD in it, but others have and can answer your question more objectively. Danger and fear of death is not the only negative outcome to be concerned about. One should also be concerned about health of extended family cohesion, freedom of thought and expression, and a whole host of privileges and rights that slowly and systematically erode when cult involvement begins. When cult members have been “in” over many decades, often their behavior and thought patterns towards other people can seem robotic, callous and inhumane, while the member has complete lack of self awareness at this point. I pray for you that if you are a cult member that something touches your life and you become self aware or have enough doubt to question your actions or thoughts. ❤
The mention of Downsizing is such a great point. The "speeding up of the work" and their rapid growth was such a point of pride for JWs for the longest time! They viewed it as evidence of Jah's backing: New branch office here! New Kingdom Halls there! Look at the increased number of baptisms! The massive numbers leaving and the mass liquidation of Kingdom Halls has got to be raising a lot of questions and red flags.
Can I get a refund for my many years of Voluntary Contribution? If I'm not mistaken, my Former Congregations (2) bought the Kingdom Halls we used to use, and we made Monthly Contributions!
Excommunicating 2/3 of first generation or born in people before they have their own kids. At my old hall and from the complete lack of young people at our conventions I think most people born in leave. Almost everyone at my hall were baby boomers and senior citizens who converted in adulthood when they already had their careers and started their family. They all tried and failed to raise their kids jw and now shun them. I honestly don't think my ex kingdom hall will make it in 10 years.
Growing up, I always thought it was strange that the people a decade older than me were gone or soon left as they became teenagers and young adults. Now that I know the truth about "the truth" I know why! 😂 They couldn't believe the BS.
This isn't just a JW thing. It's noticeable in many Christian churches - even the Evangelicals. More and more church attendance is getting older and older, especially in the more quiet sects like Anglican/C. of E/Episcopal churches. In fact the Anglican Church of Canada has been projected to disappear completely by 2040 due to the fact that young people are not going to church, whether through lack of interest in attendance even though they still purport to be Anglican, or have become agnostic or atheist. I am of the generation who, along with our parents generation, are seen to be mainly church attenders. I am not, being an atheist for over 40 years.
The JW's response to the downsizing situation is going to be. . . "More and more keep falling out the truth because satan is a lion that is seeking to devour especially NOW because we're soooo close to the end. . . the few remaining are the STRONGEST ONES 💪💪💪". . . 😂
I think they are going to use the "Bunker Videos" as a reference point to people leaving "the truth." In it there is a scene where it shows people leaving the Cong slowly and not coming back because they didn't agree with the changes in the Org.
When Stephen Lett showed up on JW Broadcasting wearing that fancy watch and pinky ring, he looked like any other scamming Sunday morning preacher. I could see with my own two eyes that he was not special or anointed, he is just a hustler out here making money.
Soo true. They give Kenneth Copeland a run for his money. I wonder how many private jets, the JWs own. Seems like every other televangelist, has at least one. Idiots, dumb enough to donate all their money to these shysters.
My guess (this is before the video started): 1.Access to the internet! (People are leaving : especially 40 and younger) 2. Financial problems 3. Very hard to get new members in developed countries 4. Apostates who are really active, more than ever before 5. Laziness of people especially for preaching work (There are officially 8 millions publishers who are making billions of hours but the reality is that the real number is much lower and also quality of the preaching work is low. I know many pioneers who are just walking on the street, killing time, there is 0 benefits for the organization. And extra 6: people are already exhausted from doing the best for Jehovah
Back in the old days JWs would go out on big street marches, rile up trouble, play loud phonographs of JFR’s sermons outside ppl’s. homes, actually discuss 1v.1 with people, even debate, etc. Nowadays all they do is walk up, knock, take out their iPad, show a vid from JW,org and ask you what you think and then leave after any real pushback. I’m calling it right now. 2021 is the beginning of a long decline for JWs. There will always been a diehard core that will never leave but the best we can do is get as many ppl. out before they waste their lives over an organization which never had their backs and views them as pawns.
I was thinking about all the suits and ties and shirts and shoes and socks and dry cleaning along with the gas and the maintenance on the car and the wear and tear and the donations and all the other ways these guys siphoned money out of us while you go do their recruiting for free. Then they capitalize on your time and all the resources they even too cheap to pay somebody to clean the kingdom Halls. Why couldn't they pay a pioneer sister to do that?keeping in mind all the while that the income level of the average JW is probably poverty level. But those snakes don't care about that. And I just recently learned that the unholy GB don't go door to door never did. Little taste to do as we say not as we do. If that's not pharisaic I don't know what is.
Brilliant. As an ex-elder in the U.K. that escaped some 28 years ago, it has always grieved me that my own brother has refused to see the light. He has too much to lose I guess....shunning is so wicked. I wrote a detailed rebuttal of it from the scriptures when I left and gave him Ray Franz’s book to read but even so he could not be budged. These 5 factors are powerful indeed, I think you’re right about their outcome. Again, a brilliant piece....keep them coming!
I believe activism, the internet and the fact that the GB are no longer mythical pictures in a yearbook, but are now front and Centre tv evangelists complete with asking for money is helping or has helped so many, like myself, to wake up. Can’t wait for this 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I would love to know how many people woke up after the "our outgoings will be greater than what is currently coming in" video courtesy of Rubber Face Lett!
I'm so glad that I woke up 2 months ago, I've got a channel to share my experience with WT, I'm more happier than ever before. I woke after I learned about the sexual child abuse, and then I learned the we had a child molester within the organization that I never knew that in the 5 years in the organization that made me sick 🤢🤮
I went thru so much with this religious cult. I was molested by a MS when I was thirteen, I told on him after he also molested his daughter. The elders drilled me in a meeting all the questions they asked me were sick. After several hours of me crying and having to relive what my forty year old molester had done to me, I was told, and my grandmother was told, that we were to never tell anyone about the abuse. No one contacted the authorities and this happened way back in 1973-1974...I'm 63 now and I'm still affected by the trauma of the molestation and being made to feel like it was all my fault and then not ever having closure to make my molester pay for what he did to me. I have an outlet by writing about it...Jehovah Witnessed All My Suffering...By Vickie Hurtt-Thayer.
The broadcasting is one ☝️ hypocritical act on the GB’s part that made me start to wake up. As I recall growing up in the cult, JW’s were always against tv evangelists.
They changed their minds on everything like saying we will never ask for money. They certainly do now on the broadcast. They said it wrong to lie Jeffrey Jackson lie's when he said JW who are disfellowshiped are allowed to mix with their family another lie . They talk about sharing in the sins of others yet they don't pass information on to the authorities so they are responsible if and when the child molester abuses other children . Yes they just are like every other religion. But in many ways they are worse thankfully I stopped attending four years ago a bunch of hypocrites .
When I saw Tony in the liquor store ,it felt like the scene from The Wizard of Oz when Toto pulled the curtain back and the Wizard was some lame old drunk dude with auto tune!
Lloyd, thank you for your program! I have been out of the organization for many years and now have all my children back in my life. The nightmare has ended and the heart is mending . ❤
How true Lloyd, my childhood fantasy of the GB in the 80s were these wise, humble, and well-spoken men. But JW Broadcasting reveals a great many of them as uninformed, egotistical, deceptive pompous windbags who have no idea of real world life.
Calling it now, number one is the Internet. Also, if not on the list, he should get an honorable mention, ol’ Tight Pants himself, Tony Morris. I swear every time that dude speaks people leave, and you see an influx of new members on exjw sites.
Those guys think they are rock stars. They do not come across well at all. These professional speakers actual sukk. Never saw one of their videos that made me wonder may be i was wrong after.
I would argue the org is already unrecognizable since I grew up in the 80's and 90's. Long gone the conventions with hoagies and lays potatoe chips and frozen orange juice and cheese danishes. That was the only fun we had as JW kids. We at LEAST had that. TATA and Farewell!
There was a time also when they had kitchens in the assembly halls and we were served fresh meals. Being a stingy as they are then they started asking everyone to bring their own food lunch. And they sold that as new light sort of simplifying great idea praise the governing body.we all went for the Hook line and sinker not realizing that the bottom line was governing body wanted to save money.
@@asielmilian38 Yup. I was Baptized February 1996. Last full meal I ever remember getting at an assembly or convention was Summer 1992 in Houston Texas.
Right, working together to feed everyone was an incredibly binding and impressive experience. They took away all the goodness and gave us Lett and 'brother tight pants'
Shunning (among several other identifiable activities) is one of the defining hallmarks of a cult. They seek to isolate their members from "outside" people (except to recruit new members) and information, so that they can define "reality" and "truth" for their members. Cults make the price of researching outside materials or (heaven forbid!) leaving the faith so high - losing contact with all family and friends - that none dare even mention doubts or issues they have with the organization.
@@cyanpepper473hello. Paul was referring to a woman who was sleeping with her son, and promoting sexual "anything goes" in the new church, and apparently had a following. Incest has always been one of the worst sins, and leading new Christians to adopt the sexually adventurous practices of the Romans and the Greeks was people trying to incorporate their pagan practices into the new faith. I believe having a sexual relationship between a parent and child is one of the most wicked things a person could do. However, when Jesus was called Good Master, Jesus replied, who is good - only God is good. There seems to be a self-righteous element to modern Christianity that reminds me of the splinter in the neighbors eye and the log we have in our own. As Christians, we are all flawed vessels coming to the Cross of Christ for healing. Our healing must start with our hearts, where we learn (and practice) loving others as much or more than we love ourselves. Jesus did that, and He taught us to, but it is hard to recognize our own faults and so easy to see those of others. Cults remove people, often, for not believing what the cult defines as truth for the cult; true Christianity allows believers to study (together and separately), pray, encourage each other in getting closer to Jesus and finally to come to their own conclusions (which can change over time). Peace be with you.
I was abused and he went to prison in Gibraltar yet he was never held accountable within the religion due to the 2 witness law. I let go as the legal system made him pay in my eyes a very small sentence. I have been the first to win this historical case on Gibraltar yet religion was never a part of this case.
For a time at least the shrinking of the congregation will only serve to strengthen the resolve of some members. Some might take it as a sign and say: “YES! The end is near, look at how the chaff is being separated from the wheat”.
@@deus_vult8111 I think Lloyd actually made a music version of that some time back. Based on two scriptures that effectively said in the last days nations will go up to the house of Jehovah and also that the love of the greater number will cool off; it’s a terrific each-way bet.
I look at this so called separating and I think their down turn been going on for a while and we are finally seeing it become so clear even strangers on the street will react "Jehovah witnesses? I'm not interested in that cult!"
I love your t-shirt! And your message of course. I am so glad I stumbled on your channel. I have been disfellowshiped for 18 years. I tried fading but that didn't work out so well. However, my parents haven't shunned me which I am extremely grateful for. You are doing great work.
At 10 I was molested by an anointed elder..at 14 I was publically reproved for being molested an had 2 give a detailed acct to 3 elders, my father an my molester..at 15 i became engaged to a pedophile who molested several young boys in the congregation which he was later dfd for many many yrs, yet several yrs ago he was reinstated an soon was finally arrested for attempting to molest a nonwitness neighbor boy an within days of finally facing justice he committed suicide in jail. Of note the elders knew when i became engaged to him that he was a pedophile yet chose not to share this info with me..my father is an elder an my parents shun me because im inactive. Im grateful for your channel an your getting the truth about 'the truth' out there.
@@tammydutton4163 Poor Tammy , shuned by your own parents . Could you make new social contacts ? In Belgium , JW was convicted for spreading hate . A dying ex-jehova woman wanted to see her daughter . Jehova refused . So cruel , low and intense mean . They got a fine 80.000 euro , peanuts . They should throw them out like the Russian government did .
every person who leaves is a broken thread in the cloth. The people who stay in have their beliefs challenged each time they think of the loved ones that they are urged to shun and they see more comfort on the outside as more friends and family go.
They have that you are nothing without us attitude subtly threaten rank and file if you leave you'll just fail or fall into all kinds of immorality etc... They literally have people thinking you'll fail miserably and in your crawl back begging to be reinstated. That's the subtle conditioning. No different from any other controlling abusive relationship. That's emotional violence and crazy making. Can be very confusing causes serious cognitive dissonance. And it's all intentional. Watchtower has mind control down to a science.
Don’t forget Lloyd, they are very good at turning ANY situation they find themselves in to “this is what we are expecting” ie the love of the greater number will cool off “ , we are expecting persecution “ etc etc etc . They will NEVER admit they are being found out for the deceivers that they really are 🤪😼🥴
I'm in the same boat. My dad passed away, still believing it was the truth. I had no luck with my brothers, or my mother. It's similar, in a way with diehard Catholics. They know that priests are still buggering young boys, and yet they keep on telling themselves, it's got to be the right thing.
@@markusbrauns4274 my mother died when I was 17 and I left when I was 14. The JW's all said, if I don't come back, I would never see my mother. I struggled with that for years. My father also died a believer, but only 5 years ago.
I was born into this cult in Australia and left the minute I was old enough to leave. Both my parents died needing blood transfusions. I tried to get a court order to override their wishes but was unsuccessful.
Sorry to hear that, I think our judges are pretty good as rule (our magistrates are better as a rule because they are at the coal face). Sorry my former industry let you down.
I was raised as a second generation JW. My mother and sister currently still attend meetings and follow the rules of this cult. However, my father was and IS a master manipulator. This cult was the perfect hunting grounds for sexual predators. My biological father began sexually abusing me when I was 7 years old, up until his divorce with my mother when I was around 13/14 years old. I clearly remember being maybe 7/8 years old when my family was living in a shared duplex with a couple who was very active in the church. The husband was an elder. There was an evening where my father was beating my mother so loudly that the couple MUST have been hearing... I remember my mother muttering to me as she lost her breath from being choked by my father as he had her pinned to the ground, “go get the elder”. I ran next door and told them, the elder entered my home quickly enough to witness the domestic abuse. He pried them apart and went on to have a conversation with them where my father of course lied and apologized and assured it wouldn’t happen again. The whole belief that everything must be resolved in the church was the reason that nobody contacted the police that day. Perhaps I wouldn’t have been continually raped had he been arrested that day. I will never return.
I’m so saddened by your story. Please know that I care and am sending happy, healing energy. I left the org. for this very reason. Think of how many of us left because of the child sex abuse mishandling. We all care about you!
It makes me sick and sad to hear the woman who gave birth to me say in the kingdom hall is a man with dementia and has started to shout out not knowing what he's saying, and they have put him in a room by himself at the meeting so not to be heard. I asked what if he gets worse as the dementia progresses? And was shocked when they said they would dis-fellowship him and he would he shunned. My answer was , that's not very Christian of you is it. She and her 3rd husband just looked at me and tried to process there next response.
Reminds me of some people my JW friend knew. These people had a disease that swells the limbs up. It used to be called elephantiasis. Their limbs would swell and leek fluid and smell. These poor people didn't want to go to the meetings, because of this, but they where shamed and guilt tripped into going!
I’m unsure about the organization, but as a child growing up in the truth, not now , I will never stop having a relationship with Jehovah God . With or without the organization..
@@barbaramullins4233 incredibly true. Amazingly almost miraculous, that so much more truth and intelligent reasoning, can come out of a so-called atheist, or apostate, or whatever else the self-righteous judges of this world, call him, than what ever came out of their boring meetings where everyone leaves, as craving spiritual meat as they ever were... and it gets worse. Exponentially!
You are right about the negative effect of JW Broadcasting. December 2014 and Tony Morris was the start of a slow burn for me. His points about higher education were so phoney I couldn't stand it. Then I started to take exception to the physical appearance of the GB. I thought that they were very unpleasant looking especially Lett. Of course the child sexual abuse scandal was the last straw so I have been out since their hypocritical article excusing their actions on this matter.
Being disfellowshipped and enduring a season of darkness afterwards because I believed them when they said I was dead, lead me to salvation through Jesus Christ and a real relationship with them. I’ve only just discovered this channel and I appreciate the information that casts light on areas I questioned. I’ve wondered for years about other disfellowshipped persons and how they have navigated life after having literally thousands of friends and a support network to having no one. Many of us cut ties with our families when we came into the watchtower cult so that door was also shut. I pray for these outcasts because I know our Lord is the God of grace and mercy and I am forever grateful to Him.
Grace and Mercy...thats not in the JW vocabulary...Ive got myself out nearly a year now..Loved praying and just saying FATHER like Jesus did..AMEN we pray that more will feel the Grace and Mercy & come out..😭🙏❤
i joined jws in 1963. i started to wake up around 2014, it was the broadcast and demands to connect to the internet to worship that shocked me .the content of the broadcast i found sickening and mostly fake and stupid .the constant demands to connect to it and show these ridiculous videos at the doors gave me panic attacks .i came across john cedars and commented to defend WT but was enlightened to what is really going on in WT land .im now fadded out and not been on zoom meetings since memorial 2020 .nothing would make me tolerate such rubbish now .unfortunatly my wife is still jw .
So 51 long years you have been working for free for them ? Standing in the rain , handing out pamflets , and be looked at skewed at door-to-door sales for Jehovah ?
This just came up in my feed, Lloyd. I quickly agreed with the first two, but (as one who’s been rather tuned out on JW stuff) I wasn’t prepared for #3. Great call! I also appreciated your comment that the religion simply wasn’t designed for the 21st century. Much appreciated!
5 Factor model that will help produce change. 1. Openness to change/ challenge indoctrination. (High desire needed). 2. Consciousness...about issues in the cult. (High desire needed). 3. Extraverison... being brave/having courage in the face of adversity. (Mid to high levels needed). 4. Agreeableness... No more blindly following establishments with agendas.(Low levels needed) 5. Narcissism... Building healthy personal boundaries which focus on support of family first and questioning religious writings.(Mid to high levels needed). Those are my thoughts on this topic I hope they help. Please leave any comments below as I'm sure this will generate feedback.
I want more than anything for the organization to be taken down but terrified of the terrible things I know my family will willingly go through because of it.
I was part of the witnesses for 5 years. I wasn't raised as JW but I joined them when I was 19 (actually mostly because I was dating a witness guy that time). Ugh I can remember how weird it was for me the kind of way how people were acting towards disfellowshipped and their relatives who were still in JW. Also overall the kind of way how people critized and talked about other people behind their back. I can just imagine what they talked about me. :D Also the birthdays, Christmas celebrations etc. The logic behind their arguments and reasoning wasn't just making any sense. Am happy about the short experience and that I'm out now.
Yeah like birthdays. I asked one time why wedding anniversaries could be celebrated. I was told that J had a hand in this union and that birthdays were something that people brought attention to themselves. So J didnt have a hand in anyone being born if J knows everything? Huh? I cant celebrate and be grateful to J for putting me on this earth? Huh?
I've heard that those who have been disfellowshipped but wish to get back into good standing have to sit alone in the back of the KH. One JW co worker told me they can nod at a disfellowshipped person but not audibly speak directly to them.
ABSOLUTELY. I came in at 19 in 1996. My Aunt has been in throughout my life. Left in 2012 and Night and day from the 80's and 90's. Especially when they introduced video after I left. I don't know what it is now.
I left twice the last time 10 years ago and of course it is definitely unrecognizable the cart witnessing also the dancing for Jehovah I never would have thought that I would ever see anything like that dancing for Jehovah and making a video to a song by Pharrell because I'm happy who in the hell would have thought I'm sure brother Franz or brother glass would have never imagined anything like such
Well done, Lloyd. You clearly have a good analytical mind - so glad that you have set it free. You are a force for good in the fight against ridiculous cults.
Your impersonation of Stephen Lett caught me totally off guard. I paused the video and watched your rendition of him three times. “We WARMLY welcome you, dear brothers!” You had the voice; NOBODY can do Lett’s facial expressions. (Did you know that if you Google Stephen Lett, even there they showcase the similarities of facial expressions between him and Heaven’s Gate founder Marshall Applewhite..)
I absolutely agree with everything you said regarding the Broadcasts, I have used the expression “clowns” to describe the governing body . They are so full of themselves,and pathetic . And also , without doubt the internet is THE place that we have learned the Truth about the “Truth” .
I completely agree about the JW broadcasting. I pictured wise men pouring over manuscripts and tablets for thousands of hours to be able to feed us spiritually so we didn't have to look at the worldly scientific community. We were told it was all divinely shown and revealed how everything fit. Well seeing each broadcast I would just cringe, especially when Lett would be on. I felt way more compelled to believe when the talks at conventions were all live and you probably knew them, or even me studying on my own gave it more clout. Great video Lloyd.
My younger brother and his wife joined the Witnesses early in their married life and raised their 3 children within that religion. All 3 married people they met within the Witnesses, a fairly narrow range of choices. All 3 marriages failed and they each re-married to non-Witnesses - achieving happy marriages. My brother died aged 58 but his wife doesn't have any contact with her children or grandchildren. Her loss!
I've just spent the last twenty minutes reading the comments section, and oh my goodness, it's such a heated topic for a few......been awhile since I've read troll comments......sad. Great video in any case Lloyd! Keep up the good work of keeping us informed dear!! Hi from the U.S.A.
cruel and unloving organization... you hit the nail. I left because of this. In my former congregation, they still have to ask the elders if they should help a brother in need. I was shocked of the conditional behavior. I was not a born i or raised JW so its easy for me to see it. I said to myself even the Catholics whom they greatly despise is more charitable and loving.
Yes, thank you. After one of the GB's talks last year in August, something in me snapped, psychologically, I suffered a nervous breakdown. While I have no intention of leaving, I am keeping a low profile. Including declining every single gathering, like this afternoon's. Even though I was keen to go initially, I told my wife I am staying home. What would we talk about? Same old hat, no doubt. Their stance on not raising families in "this system of things" has been patronizing to the point that even though I wanted a child, my wife has been brainwashed against the idea. It is a deep regret I have to live with.
@@RJNiemski may God continue to enlighten us , it is really destructive if mere mortals start to elevate themselves from the brethren, such as what the GB does.
@@davidsolomon5881 I wanted to mention that someone mentioned Awake May 22 1969 p.15, which I just found on an online JW library. They couldn't get that right, considering how many changes they have made since 1975 when the expected end didn't come. I am glad I didn't pay attention, I have caught up and now am running two businesses back to back.
@@RJNiemski research also on 607 bce its erroneous, its not 607 bce but 587 to 586 bce. This error will completely crumble the jw theology including 1914 return of Christ. Many errors , this is just one of them
I have been out of the JWs for quite some time. A while back, I found myself between a rock and a hard place, pre Covid. My family wouldn't help, but the United Church whom I was not associated with , came to my aid. Shame on the greedy JWs.
Agree, 100 percent, the GB is there own worst enemy. My initial reaction when JWB first started was: these are just ordinary foolish old men, where are the saints we all thought were there?
@@CS-np2oo WT is more like PTL. Especially after they've started building that huge Broadcasting site. I watched a documentary about Jim and Tammy Bakker; and all through it, I kept saying, "Just like Watchtower...Exactly like Watchtower...". Just replace Jim with any one of those 8 G.B. Shysters.
Very informative video. I have been involved with JW for a few years, I liked their basic idea at first but as time went on Ive seen a lot of holes in their organization. The points you bring up I also have seen. I live in Mexico and in this area JW has closed most of their Kingdom Halls and many members have left, at one time there were 40 or 50 members and now there are about 5 that I can see. I am not a member and am glad I never joined. They are on their way out and not many will miss them.
I haven't attended the church for many years but I make sure I stay informed and honestly they have greatly improved in areas that are imperative to the well being of others. We are all imperfect, therefore all religious organizations have imperfections. We are all 100% responsible for ourselves. So if you are a Christian then your dealings are between you and Jehovah God, and you accept His son Jesus Christ as our Savior, keeping the Bible reading and prayer a regular practice in your life. Plain and simple. If a church makes you feel uncomfortable, don't go. If they practice wrongdoing, God will deal with them in His timing.
Do you think that opening their people to the internet, formerly strongly discouraged, has opened a Pandora's box? Isn't it now so much easier for the members to "stumble" onto anti JW sites???
Yeah exactly right - even older members can use devices and phones to use the internet now. Now that I'm out, I realise that making everything online or on apps was probably one of the worst things they could have done for themselves
I hope you are right. The Witnesses always encouraged people not to pursue, higher education. Instead, pioneering was pushed. Now, JWs have a huge library at their fingertips. Go searching JWs the real truth is out there, on the web.
They wood hav been better off keeping every1 in the dark pretty much Amish style. All tech iz bad. Steer clear! Any1 with access 2 a flip phone or better can wake up by default...
It took me years to be able to quietly back away from the religion that I was raised in. My entire immediate family all baptized. I started to realize that I was only living life for myself when I left and lived on my own. When I expressed to my parents that the 3 things that traumatize me the most are the degradation and unequal placement of women in their society, the veiled homophobia, but mostly that they believe in the shunning/disassociation of their own child with difference of beliefs. It makes me resent all my friends who have parents who unconditional love for them. It makes me hate any single holiday about religion. It makes me feel guilty for being jealous of my best friend who talks about her Christian Faith (not JW) with sanctity as if it were an oasis. Trying to forgive your family for teaching you forgiveness but not practicing it with you really messes a person up.
Haven't watched anything like this for a few years as I find it too upsetting to keep up with my former life, but this is great to hear! There is so much damage done by the WT. Very glad I left - a traumatising experience as a JW kid, pioneer, ministerial servant, elder and finally a 6 year stint at Bethel. Well done Lloyd on your channel.
I guess with meetings now being only digital, some folks after this year realized that they no longer can stand the dull, preachy and patronizing meetings any more. before that it was maybe a meet ad greet for some, but this has disappeared.
Rutherford was a former Baptist, and lawyer before becoming the 2nd president of the JW corporation. I remember Nathan Knorr, and Franz, former Governing Bastards.
Big fan of this channel, fortunately not been a member for 32 years but still have family members who are. Anybody struggling with leavening this guy will help
Funny how when I first started studying, the illustration was made of building a house on a good foundation instead of on sand that can be washed out from below. The organization was built on sand and it is currently in the middle of a storm that is becoming a hurricane.
More people are getting more educated and more kids (at least I hope so) are to taught trust their own judgement more and not blindly follow authorities. Except for those who are born into authoritarian religious/cultish families. But I think conversion of new members will be more difficult if people are not raised in an authoritarian way.
Kinda like Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God which was similar to JWs (failed predictions, wacky beliefs). After Armstrong died, the leaders woke up and they reverted to being ‘Grace Communion International’ basically a standard evangelical Christian church. A lot of ppl. left and formed their own ‘Church of God’ sects but it wasn’t the same. Doubt this will happen to JWs as a GB isn’t as volatile as strongmen authoritarians like an Armstrong or Rutherford.
Three years later things are definitely moving in the right direction. Just look at Norway and Pennsylvania as two examples of positive change in the world
Lloyd, thank you very much for your great work. I'm not sure the numbers you presented about the slowed growth say anything about the role of the Broadcasting. For example, the growth of avg. publishers 2014-2017 was 4.8% and the growth from 2017-2020 was 2.1%. Which shows that there are clearly other factors in play and there is really no way to separate the contributions. I'm a POMO while my wife is PIMI. I can tell that she clearly concentrates on the parts of the broadcasts that she likes (like music videos) and overlooks all the weirdness as an example of "imperfectness of the world's best imperfect organization". Apparently, one can get used to the weirdness and learn to ignore it. Also, many witnesses do not see the manipulation in the broadcasts that you hope they do, because they don't believe there can be any manipulation. They have learned to see all this "food" through the JW lense. Even I, being now outside, haven't learned to recognize the manipulation as well as you do. Thanks again for the good analysis.
Thanks! Just for the record, I wasn't trying to argue that the slowing growth is solely due to JW Broadcasting, more that if JW Broadcasting is as fantastic as the GB claim you would expect growth to at least continue at the same levels rather than further reduce. I'm sorry if I communicated my ideas poorly.
All good. Sometimes things slip. Your very professional and have a great work ethic. This video is brilliant and you articulate well what is happening to JWs.
In the early days of the internet there was a site called 'Watching the Tower' it totally opened my eyes. Lloyd you're doing so much good and speak real truth. I had a reading with a spiritual medium, who brought forward a JW from my childhood, she considered herself one of the 144,000. Makes you wonder eh? Keep healing, keep asking questions
