Jehovah's Witness Social Classes 

Everything you said is absolutely TRUE !!! My husband was disfellowshipped for smoking ... I was a member of the organization who was always in good standing, full participation in service and meetings, and I was always conscious of keeping my 2 sons spiritual people .. it was next to impossible to get my 2 sons together with other kids in the congregation .. I always tried to keep a positive attitude around my kids .. but our ENTIRE FAMILY was treated horribly by everyone else in the congregation as though we were disfellowshipped too. My older son even had the courage to speak with one of the young ones in the congregation about how he was treated using scriptures from the Bible .. the young person he was talking to just walked away from him half way they the conversation. My children had and still have “good hearts”. I only wish I had left this evil organization DECADES ago. I was always happy that my kids never got baptized.

LMAO you have elders kids and wives in between MS and elders. It’s actually one of things that woke me up. How elders kids were treated different than regular kids and how the wives were responsible for some of the most vicious false rumors going around in the congregation.

I knew of a guy who was having an affair with the small town prostitute (his 5th time being unfaithful to his wife) and he was never reproved or disfellowshipped in any kind of way. And was given the privilege of reading the Watchtower. His wife filed for divorce and anything the judge ordered him to give her in the divorce he physically destroyed and she had to take the matter back to court to get justice and the elders counseled her on “Not taking your brother to court!” He did much more than this but I’m keeping it simple.

I was considered bad association for pursuing higher education, for using my own words when commenting at the meetings and for asking allowing my kids to do extra curricular activities.

Your thoughts are so well organized. I have a lot of heart for every ExJW with the courage to get on here and speak up, but there are only so many angry rambles you can listen to. Your calm, rational and methodical style is what the witnesses should fear most.

I never had any friends in the organization for 27 years and I was always regular at meetings, studying and field service.

You have this spot on!, even my 5 year old son took rubbish cus id “stepped down” as a ministerial servant,it sickened me the way people were just neglected,how they found the strength to go every week knowing the bulk of the congregation looked down on them, the parochial nature was freakishly exaggerated in the jdubs!

Wow! I REALLY enjoyed this video you presented… you broke down all of the social classes to a “T”!! I could relate in every level as I was an elder’s wife while I was in, and the way our family was treated was like royalty. Even when I was a JW I felt bad for the ones that others discarded and made sure to include them in our family activities. Thank you for this most excellent video! You say things so well.

I was a associated with jws for 8 and a half years including baptized for 2 years. Everything you say was spot on.

Wow, you just helped me remember the reasons I was so depressed as a Witness. You did not miss a point! Really admiring your courage. Can't wait for more.

Great content once again! My experience aligns somewhat with yours. Some of the KH's I attended were 'cliquey' and people self-segregated on the basis of social status. Others did not appear to have such obvious cliques (although I must confess that as a non-hard-core member, I might have missed some clues). Personally, I had "privileges" before being baptized, unabashedly attended college and receuved masters and graduate degrees in Science, Engineering and Management, whose family was from one of the lower economic levels in the KH, etc. What shocked me, however, is that twice while living overseas in developing countries on executive assignments for large American corporations, JW's self-segregation was much more pronounced and highly correlated to economic status. Being the KH member with highest paid job by far, I often tried to reach out to the poorer, least educated and many times elderly widows whenever possible by introducing myself and engaging them so they did not feel so left out. This problem of segregation may not be unique to the JW‘s but on the other hand if they were truly God's true religion on earth, they would certainly stand out by treating everyone with dignity and love irrespective of their race, age, social or economic status.

These unfortunate situations are what I went through. I was practically a mother of a fatherless witness slacker. My child was ( he died 1 1/2 years ago) autistic 28 yr old, I had lost my good job and according to their concept " good husband" who migrated and abandoned us . So basically I couldn't understand why I was now treated as the scum of the earth. It was after my sons death I disassociated . Instead of being loved and appreciated , my son and I were struggling financially , stigmatized and ignored . So I still had my non witness friends, which was a good thing coz they never left us out. It was the perfect storm for soft shunning since as they also blamed me for hubby's disappearance. When I left I saw a video about husbands and in general males of the" borg" were generally excused for their wrongdoing. I never saw that when I was in , I was expecting justice! Smh.

You hit all this on the nail and explained it with clarity. Thank you. So often we all want to put words to what we know emotionally. You did that.

Well said. The existence of social class hierarchy should not violate or contradict the basic tenets of the JW doctrines nor bible principles. To the extent that this incongruence exists, to that extent hypocrisy and falsehood permeates the group. Any claim to truth becomes suspect.

So true. I also noticed that they would take the bottom feeders and use them to do the grunt work like last minute they need you to take the group out, do a talk, pick up Literature. You are right how they are ranked. They had me doing literature I was just an active publisher. Some elder was the official literature servant. So when they went to the donation arrangement. The pioneers were all pissed because they the discount and to be seen in the pioneer line at the convention getting new releases.

My prayers go out to you and others struggling as you choose to leave the organization. God bless!

This is so interesting and great to learn about. Looking forward to the next vid!

Don't forget the unbaptized publisher. I think they are in their own class. After a while they are treated as a nobody if they don't get baptized. Also, to gain some merit I had to mention that my Grandmother (who was deceased) and aunt and uncle were JW. That's because I went to a Hall as a newbie to the area. Insane.

Sorry that you and your family had to go through that. My family suffered similarly. My experience nearly destroyed me as a person, but that is a long story and I am just glad you found your way out. Looking forward to your next entry. Take care.

What a great video. I was struck by your point of how I've been trained to seek external validation my whole life. That is practically the definition of low self-esteem.

We had un-baptized elder's kids running the sound system and mic's (they couldn't have been more than 14 or 15 at the time). It still infuriates me to this day the clear nepotism at that hall.

Everything you have stated is true. I witnessed and experienced this treatment as well.

You did a great job by breaking down how the hierarchy is set up.

This was great. The JW culture is so nuanced and you captured so much of it!! I’m a Gen X-er and this is all true in many instances from my era too. I faded in 2012 and just want to add that now, many who were in the bad association class or those who were typically looked over because they weren’t in one of the elite social classes are being used now simply because the JW population is declining. Leadership has no choice - the elites either woke up and left, are getting older (aged out) and sadly, some died in this “religion”. Saw your interview on Critical Thinkers with Lady Cee & JT. Excellent interview. Glad to find your page.

Excellent video! I saw the same growing up...cliques upon cliques. It made it very hard to make friends, much less date anyone.

Yes this is just how it is- thank you. Outsider amongst outsiders - great quote

I saw the elders commit the biggest crimes in this Disney Land fantasy world.

Thank you for helping people understand this organisation extremely 👏👏👏👏 informative 🙏

The treatment from WT and JW's is what is waking many up! Watching "Jehovah's loving organization" is showing it's true colors. Keep up the good work Watchtower and JW's, you are doing more harm then any of us could do.

Good info. I don't remember knowing why we were not in the popular groups back in those days. I mean me n my siblings when we were teenagers. That was way back 45 yrs ago.

Excellent Excellent Excellent video. WOW!!!! YOU ARE REALLY AWESOME. MORE THAN ANYTHING VERY TRUE AND ACCURATE.

Wow you posted the truth, it all goes by title in this organization... and if you're a single mother raising three kids without a man 🤷🏾‍♀️ forget it 🙄 my brother was considered bad association just because he was into music and a DJ, and although he Dj'd many of their weddings and gatherings, many kept their kids away from him😐he was not treated fairly

Good Morning Justin. The video is so true for so very many JW's. I did not recognize it as a teenager, as our family was slightly on the inside of the in clique. We were invited to most gatherings, and then when my older sister started pioneering, we were solidly inside. As an added bonus, my parents were very balanced about us having friends not from the congregation. It strictly depended on the behavior. But when we moved to another state, our social status went to exactly as you talk of in your video. Big eye opener to me. Anyway, I appreciate your efforts. Lanna

100% Accurate. I love how you explained different situations and the showing how what social class your in matters in what relationships you will have with the congregation and image you have as a JW.

That's great you got out from the JW org. I have spoken with many JW's over the years, could see that they are trained on how to understand the Bible according to Watchtower theology. One time there were some JW's with the magazine rack, I flipped through one of the magazines which was full of Bible verses. Only one problem, Jesus was no where to be found in the literature at hand. I pointed that out to them, first they didn't believe me until one of them had a look himself, then had to admit that there was no reference to Jesus except in the fine print.

You nailed it! Thanks

I was an anomaly. I was only a jehovah witness because I was born into it. I determined from a young age that I would get out as soon as I was able. I had to play the game for years. It was no fun let me tell you. I tried to be invisible. I didn't want to be thought about or noticed. The more invisible you are, the better. It is difficult to do because there are some in the congregation that will watch you to try and find something you are doing that they can report. Then as I got to my late teens, I didn't care. I mean I really didn't care. Getting disfellowshiped didn't matter to me. I had been quiet for so many years and now I would say anything that was on my mind. What could they do? Disfellowship me? I had been looking forward to it since I was nine or ten years old. What I did care about was what my parents thought of me. I am sure there were many that did what I did. I was two different people. I was one person at the Kingdom Hall and another person when I walked out of the Kingdom Hall. Some JW's found out that I had many worldly friends. I was told about that. Not put on reproof but close. It's so funny now. I was like a double agent. But that's what you had to be. All the time pulling away more and more from the cult. I thought that I was the only one but there had to be more at the Kingdom Hall besides me. I often wonder how many of the people, that were my age are still there in the cult? I have been away so long now that very few would even recognize me or I them. That's a good feeling. It took time though, to become really invisible.

another great video! Just curious what year you woke up? PO changed to Coordinator (COBE) several years ago but I know the old term is still thrown around.

Hello Justin , welcome to your freedom, I am so glad you’re out of that cult, to learn much more about JWS go to Jason Zeldas videos, watch them all, it is a real choker. There’s so much help out there, Sam Shamoun is another Christian to go to. You are such a nice young man, and I pray you will learn much about our awesome God and Jesus Christ. The Bible is an awesome Book. Good luck my friend, love from Canada Erik Tonnisen

100% agreed about the treatment of the "reproved" ones, or those from the "bad association" category. Even when I was still in, and I was viewed as "spiritual" I've always argued with others about that, because it made zero sense: how are they supposed to "get back on track" to be "more spiritual" again, if no one helps them to?

Well done Justin you remind me of my nephew, very intelligent and the way you communicate perfect.

Ist video I have seen that tackles this subject head on. Well done. I remember an elders daughter who had not been disfellowshiped but was living unmarried with another man. (which is fine from her standpoint) But the double standard arose when her believing sister had her wedding. She was invited to be a bridesmaid. It raised a few eyebrows but as her dad was a prominent elder in the "big clique" no one openly pointed this out for fear that they would be"covertly marked" as a "boat rocker". So the old cookie "wait on Jehovah" would be a case of take the double standards on the chin and just " suck it up". Exactly why I allowed myself to accept this gaslighting for 45 years is a mystery and a tragedy that I ought to have spotted. "Fool me once,... Shame on you, fool me twice shame on me "

Nice video, you are SpotOn.

I remember those days. I stopped going to meetings because of this. It completely sucks,

I feel like I am the only one who never fell for the love bombing. I saw it for what it was ASAP. But I continued to make excuses for why no one was my friend for 27 years.

Thank you so much for this video!! Everything you said was spot on.

Brother, your work is some of the best help out there !! Thanks

100% 100% true of JW ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT WAS THE SAME IN KENYA. MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH THE SAME. BRO WE LOVE YOUR HONEST,SINCERE , TRUTHFUL ,DESCRIPTION OF JW RELIGION. KEEP IT UP.YOU ARE HELPING MILLIONS I BELIEVE.

Thank you 🙏 This answers A LOT!! I feel alone and abounded!!

There is a thing in the congregation called marking. What it is for is an individual who feels someone is not a good witness. Could be they watch R movies or go to see the 4th of July fireworks. Could be they listen to music that is not seen as wholesome or a kid who gets involved with sports in school goes to college ect. An individual can mark them not tell others they have and so not associate with them outside meetings.

I am not and never have been ‘religious’ and have no intention of being. You’re story is really heartbreaking. What a horrible brainwashing system to be in, especially as kid. I hope you are ‘free’ and happy today🙂

I said this before on another video you made Justin but I want to say it again. I love your delivery.

Good content. I like your approach. Ex-JW Apostate army forward to! Fearlessly go! Lol

Can't believe I haven't already seen this post. I'm EXJW. Son of an elder who was an electrician and a trailblazer in the roving mic movement. I helped him wire our KH for sound input and music. It was a quirky system at first, but there was an element of pride when assigned mike duty as a teenager ( late '70's). At this point I have zero friends from that cult, and opened my eyes to the real world.

Bro we need to talk definitely I have many great stories I was a Jehovah witness for 24 years top rank big family long history generational history I got so many stories to tell

For my whole life my family oftentimes ended up in the bad association category. We would be invited to a whole bunch of stuff when we first moved in and then it would abruptly stop. I do realize why though, my stepfather was insane. I almost felt like many people in the congregation could just smell the dysfunction in my family.

experienced all you mentioned. Great job, brother.

You do such a great job at breaking down the nuances of this crazy cult

I told my parents who are still with the Borg that I didn't become a good person until I finally left. My heart still hurts on I treated fellow human beings. I was an elders son in a multi generation witness family and my shit never stunk in the congregation. Since I also wasn't a snitch I also got to see the double lives of many servants in the hall. Leaving that crap allowed me to truly care and enjoy people.

I was once part of the socially acceptable because my dad, grandpa and uncles being elders and then it changed. I was physically assaulted by a family member and they covered it over and called me a liar. If you lose the connections then you are abused and put down. It's actually funny now as my father was considered a war horse witness and nobody liked him so I was doubly screwed.

That's true about elders children and elders wives. Thanks for video

I remember someone’s mother in one cong. I was in not wanting their son to date me because I “wasn’t even an elder’s daughter”. He eventually dated said elder’s daughter who did all kinds of things to him, from lying to cheating to leaving him. Oh well 🤷🏻‍♀️

There is also The Annointed although that might have just been in my experience. It would probably be around the Elder tier.

Wow!!! You are on point!!! This apparently is a culture throughout the Organization because it was the exact same at the Congregation I attended. These folks did not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and definitely missed the point about LOVE. The same pattern in most places of worship… use these environments as a means to gain wealth & status. That’s why we must read the scriptures for ourselves & look at the examples Jesus gave us. There are bad examples of Christians but no bad examples of Jesus

So true, right on point!

I'm at the part about dating. I'm almost 70 and have been out since 1995. But back in the day when I would auxiliary pioneer and hang out with the unmarried pioneers they had a joke they loved to tell. As a pioneer sister looking for a husband at conventions. Asking are you a pioneer? Nope, no male pioneers. So next are you an auxillary pioneer, nope. Are you a regular publisher? Nope. Are you studying? Nope. Final question. Do you want to study? Yes! You'll do.

Everything you said is true. I also experienced alot of racism

Excellent video. Thank you.

"Bad Association" lets call them "Badasses" 😂👍

I think I was considered Bad Association!

11:39 Can anyone find this episode? This is gold. I want to have a record of this.

Justin, you are so correct!

It's honestly VERY sad to see how some Jehovah's Witnesses were treated, especially with how they're frequently love bombed to the point where when something bad happens, it would instantly cause others to treat them like they're good-for-nothing, and just to think. Jehovah's Witnesses is supposed to be a loving organization, but how they treat others in situations like that, is ANYTHING BUT LOVING! So devastating... 😞😓 (P.S. The poop emoji had me laughing 🤭🤭)

This is a thought-provoking video excellently presented by an intelligent and articulate young man. I have subscribed and look forward to more. When I was in my mid-teens an elder's son and his mate - both very young possibly 14 might even have been 13 - 'enjoyed' an afternoon with a 'worldly' girl a couple of years older than them. The mate apparently lost his virginity. Anyway that was excuse for him to be publicly reproved (neither baptised) whereas elderboy wasn't mentioned. The irony is that over 40 years later the mate is a prominent elder who will have sat on loads of judicial committees and the elder's son (who I bump into from time to time) is happily married ... to his husband. I don't know if he faded or was expelled but it does go to show. I also coming from a divided home wasn't particularly invited to get-togethers even when pioneering in school holidays. But what I most regret and I am bitter about this isn't that I missed out on an enjoyable afternoon of lust but I spurned the friendship of perfectly pleasant boys who have turned out to be men of quality and who could have been my friends for life, but who I shunned as Jehovah was going to destroy them all in 1975...

I was publicly marked during the WT. My crime as a bad ass, was I tried to save a natural wetland adjacent to our property. The elder banged on about attempting to legally save the environment is somehow un-theocratic… standing beside me. Should have left that morning. Not waiting on J. Wow 😯. The elder’s kids had very vile mouths, I had never seen before in the ‘World’. Directed at me… euuuh! Fits with the whole cult thing being all about the money 💰.

The official names for the class distinctions are: the exemplary, in good standing, not in good standing and, the spiritually weak.

I was an elder kid, and I was treated badly by the congregation, nothing special. Bunch of fake people always competing whose kid are better. As a kid ive never liked the kingdom hall felt that something wasnt right. Ive never seen my father really happy either... and never felt true love from my parents especially my mother.. she was a verry jeolous mother. My father is a good man but he is easy to be manipulated by my mother and the watchtower. Ive never wanted to get baptized and I never did. Ive never trusted the governing body either I did my own research on a early age.

I thought pioneers would be higher than minersteral servants ?

Wow truly demonic organization. I thank God, for giving me sense to leave before it was too late. I was baptised there in my teens. And as soon I went to college (after messing me up into choosing a lousy career-no higher aspiration bogus teaching) I saw the opportunity to flee. You guessed it, I was disfellowshiped, and estranged from my brother and his family. I miss him and pray for his awakening 🙏

This is so sad and fucked upset And tbh when I went to high school the kids there weren’t like this if they liked you they said so if they don’t they said so and JW kids where more stereotypical teenagers then my high school friends where my high school friends where where’s the teenagers in my hall at the time weren’t

great job son

I'm just feeding a comment to the algorithm

So true my kids were never invited to party’s or get togethers bc my kids weren’t spiritual enough…. It’s all so foolish looking back. I should have run way back then. How were my kids ever going to grown spiritually if they were excluded as kids as not being good enough? Funny the pioneer who consistently had the party’s my kids weren’t invited to her son came out of the closet years later!

Being a elder kids sound scary

In the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses they practice rejecting the blood and body of Christ in the Lord's Supper!

I thought the pioneers would be higher!!! I always strived to be at the pioneer class. I was the elder kids class and it isn’t that high. It’s sad actually:

Fr I had no friends in the congregation and no friends irl . So I was alone and didn’t help with my suicidal thoughts lol

👍< like button

Mostly beautiful girls i knew when i was in this org were dating and marry only with witnesses who have special privilage. I guess it is not about pursuing higher status or some name in the org. Since pioneer met with other people oftenly they have speaking skill far better than average publishers. And they more active in any activity in this organization, that's why they have bigger chance to met and got soul mate they want. I don't blame them, i almost never get chance to know girl i like because i was too shy, and my hours always below ten, even after i faked my report up. I've wrote a DA letter because i was just tired serving God by lying.

When we moved interstate the new congregation was soo different. My former congregation was the one I came into as an adult studying. It was so diverse with lots of different age groups, cultural backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic backgrounds. My new congregation was the complete opposite. White, old, wealthy and no cultural or ethnic diversity. We were not embraced as we weren’t part of any of the rich spiritual heritage families, they were basically all related to each other. Theirs a definite pyramid scheme going on and unless you an elite then your overlooked.

A whole hierarchy😭😭😭😭🔦

I was multi Gen 😭😭💔.

? PO went years ago

I never stood a chance. I wish I had never dealt with these people - a waste of 42 years.

Yes, i was viewed as a baf witness

ONLY CHRIST SAVES! 2 Timothy: 3: 15] and that from your childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can make you wise for SALVATION through FAITH which is in CHRIST JESUS. Acts 4:12, AND IN NO ONE ELSE IS THERE SALVATION; FOR THERE IS NO ANOTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN TO MEN IN WHICH WE CAN BE SAVED. Hosea 13:4, FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT; I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD THEREFORE, YOU WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ANOTHER God BUT ME, NOR ANOTHER SAVIOR BUT ME. CAN JEHOVAH SAVE? ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE? Isa. 46:9-11, BECAUSE I AM GOD AND THERE IS NO OTHER GOD ONLY CHRIST SAVES! Acts 4:12, AND IN NO ONE ELSE IS THERE SALVATION; FOR THERE IS NO ANOTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN TO MEN IN WHICH WE CAN BE SAVED. 0seas 13:4, FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT; I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD THEREFORE, YOU WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ANOTHER God BUT ME, NOR ANOTHER SAVIOR BUT ME. JEHOVAH CANNOT SAVE? Acts 4:12 ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE? Matthew: 28:19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the FATHER, of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT, Isa. 46:9-11, BECAUSE I AM GOD AND THERE IS NO OTHER GOD. ---------------- WORSHIP WHO? Matthew 4:10, THE LORD YOUR GOD SHALL WORSHIP, AND HIM ONLY SHALL YOU SERVE Luke 4:12, JESUS ​​ANSWERING, SAID TO HIM: THIS IS SAID: YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT "THE LORD YOUR GOD Hebrews: 1:6] Again, introducing the Firstborn into the world, he says: WORSHIP HIM, ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD. Matthew: 28:16-17, But the ELEVEN disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where JESUS ​​HAD SENT THEM. Matthew: 28:17] When they saw Him, THEY WORSHIPED HIM; but some doubted. Mat 14:33, Disciples worshiped Mat 28:9, Marias worshiped him Mat 28:16, THE 11, disciples worship John: 9:38, blind worshiped him. Heb. 1:6, All Ange.worshiped Rev. 5:14, Millo.Angeles worshiped Rev. 22:1-4, Servants Worship Him. John 4:23, True Worshiped. BUT "NEVER ANY APOSTLE WORSHIPED JEHOVAH 3

Not enough men to go around, but try getting a girlfriend without being a ministerial servant...

And who really gets everlasting life ??? its a carrot

You forgot the 'Anointed' they are above the GB8 (Pharisees) imo. I'm sorry you were treated that way. A caste system is NOT right.

Well, you are much better out off out of this judging cult. Find a new mainstream church and friends that will love you all. Just make sure the leaders of the church teach FROM THE BIBLE.