I am married to a JW. We have been together for 28 years. He grew up in a JW family and then left the organization when he was in his 30's. For 22 years I knew nothing of this, then 6 years ago he decided to become involved again. What a blow to me! I have found your channel because I want to understand, but all I am is scared for my husband. Everything I hear makes me think this sounds so much like Scientology. I have no idea what to do, but I keep watching your videos in the hope that it will spark a moment of brilliance.
The Watchtower fully understands the importance of making its followers *JUMP THROUGH HOOPS* , to keep them from realizing how they are being taken advantage of. Its a classic cult technique.
Matt 11:30, For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.... not for Jehovah's witnesses! We were made to feel that our stress came from everything else in our life. My wife and I feel a huge burden lifted once we decided to leave
Absolutely love your channel .I was living in fear for months when I left . listening to you both has been a real eye opener and now I'm free of fear . Thank you soooooo much . Much love xxxx
When you see an ExJW Critical Thinker new posting on your Subscriber Bell ...Man you get excited and you save it to watch when you can absorb it all. One of the very best well informed and no drama sources of Truth out there. Thank you, JT and Lady Cee and of course Paul for this outstanding insight and information.
I left POMI in 2010. I couldn't understand how something I loved so much I couldn't stomach. My last memorial 2017, I prayed asking Jehovah to guide me. Why didn't I want to go anymore. I really felt like there was no holy spirit. I just didn't feel comfortable. Then ex jw fifth video came on my timeline. Then watching your channel and others. Leah Remini ex jw documentary had me in tears and hit the nail into the coffin. Now I am POMO. Thankful to Jehovah for leading me to the truth about the truth.
Jesus has many scriptures that this would happen, even his chosen will fail and mislead , lose all natural love. And the g b tells the congregation not to look, they don’t want to get caught, but they are anyways, Jehovah will not protect the false prophets
Back in 1979 I went to "Pioneer School", one of the most difficult situations that I have put me in. My husband and I were special pioneers. I was newly married and have to attend alone because my husband was seek. The sisters hated me because I married a very wanted brother. They were very suspicious and the circuit overseer wanted to go the entire week in field service in order to check my spirituality. After two weeks I was emotionally exhausted. It took me many years to recover from this unpleasant experience! When I saw the taxi pic me up to go back home, It was a great sigh of relief!
Yes arrogant GB. At a local assembly we had one of them give a talk. After the assembly HE announced that people could form a line to meet him. And he stood there in the front of the assembly hall with a line of people a mile long waiting to greet him- just like a celebrity! He was so full of himself!
The pressure leads to pure exhaustion and depression, break downs and suicide in more cases than realized. I know two people personally that succumbed to suicide. It’s a shame the burden this organization puts on members. Thank God I woke up 7 years ago - I just keep saying that!! This is another great video. I enjoy the experiences of Paul and you are all spot on. It’s definitely a corporation and they need employees to push the policies and keep them afloat!! I am shocked at how, since I’ve left, the “governing body” are everywhere and like celebrities. It’s all a shame and nothing Godly or Christlike or scriptural about any of it. Keep these positive, truthful videos coming! They are helping so many!!
@@leetrippii1830 really? GB , They are wrong. So many new light. So they change the Bible. They say "trust us" So they are putting themselves ABOVE GOD !
I woke up ten years ago to a shocking reality. They Are hidden so much and they have a big bloodguilt. Why Are they slandering every church on the outside to be unclean when they Are " killing" children and hide sexual molesters inside ?
Suicides and attempts in the last congregation I attended. How is this mentally/spiritually healthy? At some point, you have to make a decision and not look back.
I really identified with this segment today because when I was a young woman I always questioned the actions of some of the elders in my congregation. I endured constant sexual advances and when I said something nobody believe me and I was labeled a liar and non-compliant with the JW teachings. I was disfellowshipped and shunned. My own family was the worst. But I decided to live past that pain and became a nurse practitioner. It was funny how after I became a practitioner different family members and some witnesses started speaking again because they needed my services. The JW organization is comprised of fake people with low self esteem. The time has come and gone for their revelation of truth. Yet, ppl continue to trust in this cult. What a shame.......
Not a JW, but I keep hearing how "nice" these people are. From all the ex-JW channels I've seen, I have to conclude that these are not nice people. If you mean nice in the sense that they will accept you if you abide by their rules and not think for yourself, then I guess they're nice, but conditional love and acceptance of others is always a bad idea. Shallow, superficial acceptance, self-righteousness and a pharisaical mindset really show the condition of the heart and soul.. This is simply a toxic group of people. The ability to think critically is more precious than gold. More power to the ones who wake up and get to hell out of that cesspool. I have questions for the ones who leave and return.
It's all about the investment. They want you fully vested and want you to prove it. If they push you to your limits mentally, they've got you after that. Once you endure that type of pressure and reach for the top position, you've given so much that there's no going back.
I heard a statement by Tony Morris, it was against higher education, then he said, in the Kingdom, there will be a need for plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers. He mentioned just about every trade which the Watchtower needs to build their real estate projects and are not connected to higher education... "I think Tony almost came close to include the liqueur stores".
During the discussions about the couple's school, what kept going through my mind, is that fact that one of the first rules of brainwashing is SLEEP DEPRIVATION!!!
I remember hearing about the bible signings and was shocked. At the time, I thought just what you said about an author (!) signing a book. They are not even inspired bible writers. And they have the nerve to say Satan wanted worship...
I remember trying to get a signed poster of someone when I was a teenager and my mom said I couldn't because that was worshiping that person so imagine my shock when hearing that the governing body members were signing Bibles because that Viewpoint we had in the 70s and early 80s would have been that that was worshipping the governing body members to have their autograph! the double standards in hypocrisy run rampant in this religion!
I don’t see the point of pursuing a Circuit Servant position. IMO, I’d much prefer to go directly to becoming a Governing Body member! There you can get an elegant room in Wallkill NY overlooking the lake, you can casually make presentations in their fancy TV studio wearing a $3,000 suit and Rolex watch and make Scotch runs on Sunday; while all of your minions are moving product from door to door! OMG, why does anyone stay in this cult? 😱
m smith if you are ambitious and seek fame and fortune....you do whatever it takes...look at all those Stars ✨...it’s obvious they had to sell their souls to get where they are
Annette Haas - In reality, the Governing Body really has nothing. Those guys live a life totally supported by donations. Without real jobs and the pride that comes with actual careers, their self esteem has got to be very low. Oh sure, they talk a good game in the JW studio, but it’s just that - empty words of ever changing “new light”. OMG, why would anyone listen to these guys? 😱
When the local congregation had the child abuse watchtower study, the study conductor first made the announcement that the publishers should only comment what was written in the Watchtower and not to quote “outside sources”. Of course every commentator obeyed. No one even thinks to question why.
A form of CONTROL🤐. They always try to regulate critical thinking; cherry picking what the rank and file can and cannot think or say. If that's not an opportunity to "TEST EVERY SPIRIT TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE FROM GOD because many FALSE PROPHETS have gone out into the world"), that is definitely the time to RUN and GET OUT of that disorganization (1 John 4: 1; NIV).
sofia morgan omg, they did the pretty much the same at our meeting. But I commented that “just reading scriptures and talking about it as a sin and not a crime doesn’t cut it”. The conductor then said we want to look at the mind of Christ...
I have personally went through this as a teenager. When my parents found out i slept with someone I had to sit in front of an elder and he asked me how many times i had sex like it was his business. And I'm a female speaking with a male elder. Unexceptable!
Medical school works the same way as the couples school. The Doctors in training are beten down to the breaking point in order to determine if they can safely practice medicine under pressure. The Watchtower has a long history of borrowing systems that are used by other organizations and then claim authorship to themselves.
Back in the 1970s and 80s, the Watchtower were very clear about the UN. They were considered evil, stay far away from it, yet recently they joined the UN. WTF? Wake up, JWs, you are being lied to, and expected to like it.
I met Paul here in the Dominican Republic, such a great brother, I didn't know he left this stupid cult but I'm glad he did, just like I did recently :D
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!! When my husband (now ex) and I were in the International Construction Work in Argentina and then Greece (1987 to 1990), I had a nervous breakdown. There was so much pressure there and my ex was not good at handling it. So he took his frustration out on me and the brothers that worked under him, because he was the overseer of the concrete crew. We were working under over a 100 degree weather. Plus we never took a day off. When we weren’t working at the site we were in Athens out in the street work.
So sorry to hear that Donna and I certainly hope you're doing better now. It's mind boggling the amount of nervous breakdowns this organization produces per capita. The governing body and their policy men have great guilt for the heavy yoke they've put on others. The scriptures assure us that if we cast off their yoke and accept Christ's yoke, we will find relief. God bless.
Oh boy that's Athens heat is something else! Grimy city heat with no relief. So sorry you had to go through that. Imagine if we put in that effort for trully good works like hospitals or homeless shelters. Such a great pity Watchtower. You could have been a force for real good :((
Anna Twink, yes, it’s true if the Watchtower Society put half the effort into truly helping people as they had put into helping themselves. Could you imagine what a difference it would make. But, don’t hold your breath. All these videos have helped me to see what had been happening behind the curtain, so to speak. At least now I have a better understanding of what my ex was dealing with. It’s a pity really, if he had confided in me instead of beating me and putting so much pressure on me it could of been a much different out come.
Sir, it happens in Canada ~ even to reserved people, because where there are Elders, there are nosey entitled Elders who ask those uncomfortable questions, and they do so because they can.
Your marriage will be in the same shape as the org ...It will look good on the surface but behind closed doors it WILL BE A MESS IF you listen to and involve them !! Talk to your mate be honest with them and work from there a lot of people at the hall should have NEVER married each other!
Yeah I noticed that when I came in an saw men that had beautiful wives but they looked like toads? I said wow, these women must really love them! Yes this is God's organization! Most of them were elders yup. The one day I saw one that could not have married this guy for no other reason than him being circuit overseer. Ultra beautiful and he was a good speaker ..... Nothing against people's looks but they view titles as if God okayed this person
@@blahblah2blahblah260 well the org. Will make you think marrying someone in the hall is what you should do for almost that reason Alone ! The woman who i should have married was "worldy" and i left her to marry my ex wife who was an absolute lunatic and who had no problem having sex before marriage more so than the worldly woman who i was actually happy with and crazy about ! I should have followed my first mind and stayed with her....
Derek Anderson there's a lot of people in the kingdom hall hate that they got married to one another they claim to be happy but they are unhappy & sad especially the women... FEEL SORRY FOR THEM REAL TALK...
@@eugeneanderson3534 hey here me when i tell you there are many men who married the wrong one too! But on average more women probably get played as well as there are many happy couples and people who stay together for appearances sake .What people should do is study the Bible for themselves and they'll see that divorce is talked about Quite a bit !
@@derekanderson6635 That's my story as well; someone I had a great connection to, decided to marry a pioneer just because that's what was recommended to him, and they both ended up unhappy...like two roommates tolerating each other instead of a well-connected and loving couple.
So true every since I woke up because I found out my husband was already woke but I woke up going on about a month, our marriage has been wonderful and we have been enjoying ourselves and I haven't bee judging my husband's spirituality. I say nobody married in has a happy marriage.
They got rid of the book study to centralize power even more. It's been a slow decline ever since Russels day where they had the biblical model of individual autonomous congregations.
I laugh and clap every time JT says “the sah-sigh-uh-tee” 🤣😭 that’s a classic way many older JW’s say it. When they’re talking about the Governing Body or “Jehovah’s organization.” They say the Society. Most young JW’s don’t know about that one 😂 “the sah-sigh-uh-tee specifically says blah blah blah 😂😂😂
Facts! My grandmother used that word often in the 80s and by the 2000s it was gone away with the word organization. I too enjoy hearing him saying bcus it brings back memories and the truth that it was really a secret society club that lived by their own rules n not the what was in the bi-baal (my gmas pronounciation of Bible, 😂) & didn't allow other ppl in unless their conformed to their practices, cult. 😂😂😂
@@freespirit3891 well, its perhaps well intentioned but power always corrupts. An organisation which gives people power over others will always do harm. The secret is that it's all a house of cards.
Fortunately I was never exposed to this aspect of the organization (attending any schools), but I remember all too well being told repeatedly "the answer is in the paragraph." When I asked, "Aren't I supposed to make the truth my own?" they would always reply affirmatively (and then tell me that my answer was too personal). So when I told the person I was talking to that making the truth your own means applying what you read to yourself and your life and making it personal, which would also make your relationship with Jehovah personal, then you can't just keep vomiting out words from the paragraph. Otherwise what exactly is the point? Although part of me realized something was wrong with what they were telling me to do at the time, I don't think I realized until after I left what was really happening. They want to produce robots who don't think, they just act and respond in the manner in which they have been trained, regardless of the situation. That's quite scary when you think about how far some people are willing to go to exact that level of compliance and things they are asking (demanding) of their followers. I guess I wasn't that good of a Witness, because I was never able to get my habit of asking questions (until I understood something in a way that made sense) under control. I did try, because I thought I was too willful or stubborn, and some of the brothers made me feel like I talked back to them when all I was really trying to do was reconcile things that could not be reconciled.
A circuit overseer called a young elder aside to commend him on his achievements on his lifespan. How he started pioneering early and was appointed a MS shortly afterwards and a little later an elder. After accepting the commendation he turned to the circuit overseer and said, "thanks dad!".
This information is so pertinent. How could any jw argue this? But truly they wouldn't. They'll watch it in private. But if you were to attempt to discuss it with them...the shutting down begins
4 real? First and last sentence? I used to spend 2-3 hours on 1 watchtower. 1-2 hours for the congregation Bible study. 1 hour for the inbetweens for the midweek meetings. 2 hours on the congregation Bible study. 1 hour family worship with 3 hours prep. 1 hour personal study. 1 hour prep for ministry 5 hours a week on ministry. Give or take 3-4 on congregation assignments. Man I had a full time job and had to spend 23 hours at max weekly for these guys. No wonder I broke. I cracked when a bunch of us MS went to the pub and the discussion was mostly about position and most dudes didn't even know why they where appointment MS in the first place. Two had elders as parents, forced to go ministry and as soon as they turned 19 where appointed. Most of them where half assed too. It's funny how their half assed stayed. The ones who dropped the hours after appointment.
When I went to pioneer school 1979, I was near a nervous break down, the pressure that the CO and the DO put on me was unbearable. I wanted to cry and it took me some months to recover. I was even facing harassment from my husbands best friends, another special pioneer and his wife. They doubt the reason why I married him. They told me the reason was "to take him away from the truth." I was called to the backroom and interrogated by the CO, the DO and my husbands "best" friend (an elder) and asked what was my intentions for marrying him. I was 22 at that time and inexperienced.
That concept reminds me of my days in paramilitary training. You got no time for yourself while on campus until you got home. Your sleep, your study time no time is yours. How parallel is watchtower with the military organization? Like Anthony Morris who was in the military easy for him to fit in the organization. Give orders to subordinates. Obey and don't question, comply before complaining
I have an issue that "The Society" equals God Almighty. When I left 20 years ago it took me the longest time to figure out how to separate God from "the society".
It really is "amazing" to me how Jehovah's Witnesses live/function. Almost everything they say/do goes against the grain of what so called "worldly people do! On my home today(11/2) I saw 4 JWS in the Subway. Two at each cart. There was a man playing music in the subway with a recorded version of song plus blowing a horn. While everyone was busy trying to get there train, or trying to exit the Subway, JWS were just standing at the their carts. Just standing at the carts! Oblivious to the loud music! Trust me! It was LOUD! Just just stood there like he didn't even exist. So, I had to say some thing to them. I told them I give them credit for being their even though the music was extremely loud. The lady answered me by saying: "I just tune it out." How could she do that, giving how loud the music was? One cart was about fifteen feet away from the noise, and the other about twenty feet away. Unbelievable! Her answer made me think of the "shunning policy." If they can sit/stand there with all that noise coming from that music, and just simply "tune it out." Then I can somewhat understand why "shunning" Ex- Members seems so easy for them to do. Just saying! Thanks for Sharing! PEACE!
We’ve got one like that at a local train station. The guys , a band, a violinist, a horn player, are actually good . The JWs ignore them . I think they’re stupid for ignoring them as they’re getting a free concert by some really talented people
Reminds me of military training trying to become a member of the Navy seals, stress you beyond belief and to make it go away was as simple as ringing a bell. But even those who quit was not soft shunned by they're friends. Great stuff at!
My aunt an uncle are running one of these couples school and I've often wondered what it's all about. Thanks for such an insightful discussion. Really enjoyed this video critical thinkers... keep up the good work. ;)
This is a true story, I spoke to a g/b member when he was here in Australia, around the time of the royal commission, I knew him and his secretary any way after a few mins of chatting he asked me if I had any message to send to his secretary..............I said yes “ tell (name ) to get a real job”! I said this because I know neither one of them the g/b member or his secretary ( an elder) had EVER HAD A FULL TIME JOB! That was just before I walked away . He had a lot to deal with at the time because he’d just been ordered to appear before the commission, so he didn’t really react very much, just half smiled and looked at me, I was fed up at this time, I’m so pleased I’m out
9:00 that's sleep deprived psychosis, gibberish is because the verbal centres go haywire. I've done it as part of an experiment, not recommended. Everything falls apart slowly, you don't see it happening, then all it needs is a trigger. Discernment disappears, your limbs do what they're told but they also seen to do what they want. What this video describes is the process of breaking people down, it's deliberate and purposeful with the intention of creating depersonalised slaves. It's consciously practiced mind control, and it's evil.
I don't know about the teacher who questioned the couples about their sex life, but I do know the types of questions the elders will ask if you have a judicial hearing for immorality. My teenage son committed fornication with his girlfriend. They asked questions like "were you naked" and "did you ejaculate". Really? To me, that was sick. He told them he committed fornication -- isn't that enough? They were just reproved because they were "good" kids in the congregation, they really were. But it was eye-opening for me because I never would have believed that JEHOVAH'S ORGANIZATION would allow perverted questions like that. It was also the icing on the cake because after a lifetime of discouragement I have simply quit. And the more I learn from videos like these the more I realize that what I have experienced throughout my life was not in my imagination as my elder father likes to imply.
Anna Bates I know what you are saying they did the same to me asking me questions about my pregnancy out of wedlock wanted to know about my sexual position that was none of their business I was pregnant that all they needed to know. I walked out and never went back.
Imagine as a young child growing up in the ORG...1 Hr Tuesday Book Study than 2 Hrs Friday Nite Meeting than Saturday Field Service 3 Hrs than Sunday Meeting 2 Hrs = 8 Hrs !!!... Even as a Child I was having a Nervous Break Down !!! ...3 Days to Decompress wasn't enough !!!...let alone going to Public School n Home Chores... Were's the Play Time to just being a Kid !?!....😲😰☹️😵
the organization needs the power of woman to keep it going and now is the right time to give the "held down' sisters" a chance to shine....just like any other worldly business they will do what ever it takes to keep the money coming in. "
Burnout to exhaustion is the name of the cult's game. Yet they'd have us going door-to-door pushing a magazine to "householders" entitled "Do You Suffer From Burnout?"😉🤣😂
I'm not sure if you're referring to the fake positive attitude the Witnesses put on in order to keep up appearances. Was that your point? If you're referring to MY generally positive attitude, you can ask my wife and she'll confirm that is the way I am all the time...not a facade.
I mean many of the brothers ans sisters (so called) in the congregation. Once you wake up you really begin to see how fake it is. Maybe it’s not intended
@@beautyRest1 Yeah. It is a sign of hypocrisy and dishonesty when you put on an appearance or talk about something as being awesome when it was mediocre at best. I'm soooooo glad you weren't talking about me. 😂😂😂
Yeah you would always get the used car salesman smiles I would pause to see how long it would last. Guess what? You could tell it was fake. I always told my kids not to smile if you just don't feel like it.
I've no doubt the *amount* of homework is crazy, but that's probably because they're hardly going put you under pressure due to the high *academic* standard of the material!!! Watchtower is quantity over quality!
They didn't have this when I had left. I'm so glad I didn't have to go thru this as having to study with an elder before marriage was bad enough for me & my partner at the time because they were preaching to us everything they thought we should know about marriage & the marriage bed which is basically wife training. But you have lent another viewpoint on the extra training they liked to add to everybody's life. So glad you made it out. Thank you J T & Lady Cee for the critical thinking you've given us. ♡
When I was having my Bible study at the Kingdom Hall which is where they decided it was going to be they started doing a financial profile on me by Taking Liberties they asking questions that were none of their business like where my family got their money from I'm thinking you are out of your freaking mind they did it to me several times and asked about my parents pensions. That was a huge red flag that something is wrong here!!! I heard that two sisters gossiping there was a lady and living in Section 8 Housing and they stated what her rent was and we're putting her personal business out in the street. Gossiping about people so if they're gossiping about them behind their back they will gossip about you too!!! Show me the money!!!
I love listening to you two guys!!!!! When I was serving where the need was great in Quebec in the 1980s, the French brothers were extremely open and direct with no shame. The District Overseer gave an illustration during his talk, about not being able to hide sin because it will show up later EGS: a woman, dressed to the hilt, great hair, makeup, shoes, etc. but she wore dirty underwear! yeah. Cringe worthy. Then in the late 80s up north in Abitibi, an elder gave a talk about not using curse words. It was local needs. He warned everyone about one specific word never, ever to say. I had my pen and paper, ready to write down the French word that I should never say. I was totally SHOCKED when he said the word: FUCK. He actually said it out loud. I was so embarrassed that I put away my pad and pen. In the circuit there, an elder's wife told me that the elders got all the married couples together to talk about the sex they were having at home, what was appropriate and what was not. I wished that I had been in that congregation! lolol
@@ExJWCriticalThinker I love the French! lolol. Wait till you read my book when I've finished it. My son had tried to hang himself, got into demonism, my daughter was taken away to foster care, etc. etc.
@@ExJWCriticalThinker What's more, in Quebec there was two guys married to each other that were baptized!!!! One had become a woman as a teenager.Figure that one out.
I remember that expression growing up, " where the need was great". I remember one elder used the expression, where the greed was great, or another one was, where the "great" are needed. Those seem so long ago now.
i was a 15 year old girl in a meeting with 3 elders and my mom by my side and a elder in his 30s.... Asked me if i ever had oral sex....i was so stunned and felt disrespected but didnt have a voice...the other two elders looked at each other in their eyes stunned and no one said anything....no one stopped the question from being answered or that's inappropriate...worst experience ever. i knew at that moment jehovahs spirirt was not in thtmat meeting
These people have training in nothing. They don't know anything about planning curricula. How many of them are trained as teachers? None I believe. JT, your videos always leave me with a hanging jaw.
You know when I consider how much material we had to study just for the Pioneer School I just refused to do it all its just common sense one needs ones sleep and that was more important to me than study. When we see just how much material has to be covered as homework it shows just how very little thought they put into what is best for those in the class. Different ones having breakdowns is kept secret of course, this was one of the things that got to me I also had an emotional breakdown after i chose to speak out about something the elders were doing only difference is no one gets it or understands it so where is the love, compassion, and empathy that all my so called brothers and sisters are supposed to have.
Can l please say something 😔 when l had my first look at the internet, l saw you guys and a cpl of other videos. I remember some really bad feelings n l came out fighting.l have calmed down n lm a huge fan of Lloyd Evans.Iv had time to adjust n l jus love you guys to bits.This video allows me to see even more. Thank you for being part of my awakening.l like how you still consider the scriptures.l think.🙃 love from Australia x
Mentally diseased applies to any instructor who asks couples how often they’re intimate. There are so many adulterous minded elders in the organization that people have to be on guard against them.
42:18 - OK, J.T. This is the second time I have to pick up my jaw from the floor while watching one of your videos. You're gonna have to start giving warnings in advance or I'll have to start sending you my medical bills. Damn! Every time I think nothing in Dubtown will surprise me, something like this pops up!
Didn’t even know there was a couples school. So glad I got out of that evil religion in my twenties. I couldn’t take the way they try and control your life. My mother’s still in it and I haven’t seen her for twenty years. I remember when the Circuit Overseer was making a visit and she used to get so excited and you’d think the Queen was coming to visit or some major film star. I didn’t think much of it myself so she must have always been a lot more brainwashed than I was.
Good video. I agree, there were too many meetings back in the day. My feeling is that there should be no Kingdom Halls, just simple meetings in private homes in small groups like the early Christians. Maybe every 6 months rent an Elks Hall or whatever and get all the witnesses in town together for a meeting, and have everyone bring food and have a party after! Maybe we wouldn't have needed all these huge Bethels and saved our money to actually do charity work. What an insane religion.
I went to the 2nd pioneer school in great Britain in the 1970's and it was as easy as falling out of bed. However moving into the noughties I went to the school for ministerial servants and fell asleep about five times. The workload was unbelievable and the pressure to keep up and not lose face among your peers gave way to huge feelings of guilt and inadequacy. I eventually gave up caring and was removed. The relief was unbelievable. My slide then accelerated and I became more and more critical and objective and began to adopt a pimo disposition which led to a double life. I would studiously avoid staying out in the ministry and slope off unnoticed. I'm certain there were lots of others who were and still are the same. Walking away did not seem an option without your world coming crashing down around you. The whole thing is a blue print for for hard nosed loyalists or those who are awake but with no options other than faking it. I'm absolutely certain there is a huge amount of people who would leave in a heartbeat if they relaxed the shunning policy and that is the glue that keeps the org intact.
Well said JJ. Fear of being rejected and/or losing all your long-time relationships is what keeps sooo many people there. Shouldn't it be love that keeps people together?
Have never ever heard of the Couples School. When I was in, I thought that it would be amazing to be part of the Circuit work, I thought that it would be a work of helping, engaging with sisters, brothers and children, a helping hand to anyone in every congregation that my energetic, devoted husband and I would travel to. That's in our traveler's heart of hearts. But me, I wished so much to extend a helping hand, as best I can, in this confusing world. I also think that many *brothers and sisters* feel the same as my husband and I. But the politics and the fact that you cannot ask any *questions* is a problem, anyone should be able to give heartfelt comments about the Watchtower study, their own experiences, and feelings. This is what drew my husband as a teenager, to this religion. People were able to express their own feelings, even if *off or weird*. At that time, in 1975, nobody cared, and everyone shared experiences. What happened? Or did we buy into something that we didn't see? It's hard to look back and think that we were duped.
I believe most had good intentions going in. I felt the same as you. I gave my life, health and youthful energy to serve the brothers and sisters without any desire for prominence or reward. The apostle Paul was also zealously giving his all with the best of intentions, but great intentions don't make something right. I feel that when it comes to your relationship with God and Christ...and worship...submitting yourself to the authority of men will always result in pain. They aren't supposed to be in the equation. What you'll see is kind, patient, flexible and forgiving Christians getting run over in an organization that rewards those that stick to what's written in the policies of the society and refuses to reveal who of their members and clergy are guilty of child rape. Just think, they have hidden criminals in their ranks and have excused themselves by saying they weren't required by law to report the rapes. It's sickening! Time and time again I've seen Pharisaical elders get rewarded for sticking to what many know are rigid and unloving policies. This disheartens the more loving and flexible elders and they resign or get pushed onto the sidelines where they will have no say. Then in whose hands are the brothers and sisters left? A bunch of wolves in 'shepherds' clothing. I agree that there are great people with wonderful qualities and intentions out there in the congregations, but they are blind to the extent of the unrighteousness of the governing body, their teachings and their organization. The fact that the organization rewards 'policy people' and those that want prominence should tell you something about the 'spirit' behind this organization. The fact that they teach you cannot be saved without being a member of their organization flies in the face of all the dozens of verses that say being saved comes through faith in Christ...period. What about in the 1800s before their 'organization' existed? How did people get saved then? What was the requirement? What about the 1700's, the 1600's, etc...? That in itself should be a wakeup call for anyone that truly appreciates the scriptures. They have sat themselves in the seat of Moses, claiming that they too are a mediator we need to be approved by God. Based on their actions and teachings, I'll give it to them that they are indeed "mediators SUBSTITUTING for Christ." Just too bad that Christ never said someone could take his place!!!
@@paultheoutdoorsman Many good points. I should say that my husband I walked away quietly when an elder and another elder came to our house after our oldest, our smart and dynamic15 year old son temporary pioneered in August but he also skateboarded because he was amazingly athletic and did this instead of sports in school. The elder said that skateboarding would lead him to trouble and showed us an article in the local newspaper where a kid from our congregation had misbehaved as a skateboarder. The elder strongly suggested weights and a gym and condemned skateboarding. We thought the elder was there to commend our son for pioneering alone that August with elderly brothers and sisters when two others his age had promised to pioneer with him and then backed out. We had an epiphany. We knew that we alone should be intimately close to our son with his concerns and his future, and never yield control to anyone else. We saw his quiet angst and how he wondered why we didn't speak up on his behalf, how he turned his hands upward in quiet protest under the dining room table while the elder ran him down - we were stunned, deer in headlights, we went to bed that night and talked deep into the night. We knew that we had Jehovah's blessing about our absolute authority over our children, that we alone should be the ones that they trust, and we have four precious kids. So we walked away.
I remember I was 17 years old and I figured it out on my own that the annointed don't get married in New system because they are like angels. Hmm 🤔 how did I figure out this "New light before the governing body did?
@truths of knowledge - old TV show "The Paper Chase" was about Law Students - one episode req'd more research than any 1 student could do - they split into teams with limited tasks and signed contracts to share their research - brilliant solution by students - the Subject they had to research was "Contract Law" - brilliant "task" by prof
At least David Koresh gave a good screaming pitch to keep people awake when reading Revelation while our Friday night "Grand Climax" study accelerated our sleepiness with the exception of "goody night"!😉🤣😂
Ha ha I used that trick Paul spoke about all through regular school, or look for words in the question to find the answer, lol. But it clearly is a do as we say, not as we do institution. Good video JT & Paul! So glad I was not ambitious as some clearly are, and they strive after prestige with the title.
An older Bethelite elder without a wife came to my mom's apartment. My mom was in the NEXT room. Also he brought a young Bethelite that could have been a future romantic interest. A co worker drove me home.I was asked about who I was with and what went on. I told him that unless a woman was raped she controlled the situation. That is all i would say
Isn’t that what Jesus did? Loaded up his disciples with an insane amount of work so they couldn’t even function? Quite the contrary, He was a loving and considerate friend and teacher. Jesus said, “My load is light.” He led by example, not by orders from the Governing Body, if there is such a thing today. JT, you have the absolute best videos and guests with real life examples. Thank you!
I remember I was under private reproof. This is sooooo uncomfortable and embarrassing. Members wondering why you're not being used. But, you can go out in field service in bad weather, dogs barking, people cussing you out, seeing snakes in people yards etc. This organization is a cult yall. I wasn't happy at all in this organization. If you gave good comments they will praise you. A sister was giving good comments and suddenly her name was announced from the platform sister so so is no longer one of Jehovah witness. I didn't know about couple school. Most of them couple are not happy. I noticed a much much older husband with a much much younger wife. I'm thinking to myself ain't no way that sister would be with that old man if she wasn't a jw sister. I forget, he was active in the congregation so I'm sure he was a good husband.
The foolishness! 🤨 I'm with you on that. Even Jesus ran into the mountains when people tried to make him king👑👈🏾🤨 (John 6:15). If perfect Jesus refused to be the center of their attention, why didn't those 8 glory-seeking men decline SIGNING the Bible? Oh but Wait.....that's right🧐👉🏽. It's THEIR unauthorized corrupt Bible; so of course these uninspired men will sign it. 🤨 Nope; nothing FAITHFUL or DISCREET about them.
@Eternity With Christ There's millions of blind sheep in the organization...and in so many other religions. Just was flicking the channels on TV and saw Joel Osteen. There's another 20,000 blind sheep following someone, forgetting the true shepherd to be followed is Christ. The extent of the deception is a real tragedy and oh so sad.
@@paultheoutdoorsmanThe televangelists are even worse, using tax exempt charity donated money for the latest private jets and claiming they need it for gods work, Benny hin when questioned said if he was using even first class he would wear out with his schedule, a man who claims to be given the power to perform literal miracles! Mean while Jesus was washing the feet of his disciples to teach them about humility
Nursing School is the same. It was 4 years of hell. I have friends that went then to be Dr. and said, it was a walk in the park after nursing school. As you talk about this, all I can think of was nursing school. We started with 300 in our class, and graduated 70. It was just so hard.
Not only do you have all these layers of rules, you also have knit-picky JW’s. It’s a narcissistic religion with narcissistic people. It’s a very bad combination.
Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version (NIV) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I'm a "worldly" person but remember this from Handel's Messiah