Three Reasons Why Jehovah's Witnesses Don't Just Leave the "Organization" 

Leaving is not good enough banning this organization and shut them down is a thing of beauty

I was talking to my sister recently and she said, a lot is changing, I told her yea what was taught as truth for years is now reduced to we don’t know, she was like huh?? Well that’s interesting. I told her that all the stuff is leaked online before she even gets any of it. I asked her if she Tony Morris was kicked out of the GB, she said I know he was sick and moved away from the responsibilities, I said a GB appointment is to the death, no GB member has been removed for illness. She said they allow them to leave now because the ancient Israelites were able to step down from high positions. I just laughed and told her about his bottle king video and how he’s been removed from any mention on the website, she was just like “ What”???? I said yea check it out for yourself.

It just boiled my blood when Jeffery Winder said they don’t need to apologize for the doctrinal mistakes they’ve made. To think of everyone that lost their lives from not having organ transplants, no blood transfusions, The Malawian incident, etc… Such disgusting arrogance! Off topic…speaking of Jesus coming to the world through Mary’s birth canal. Have you ever wondered, because she gave birth to Jesus if Jehovah, as a blessing, lessened or even took away her birth pains?

My 70something year old dad feels he has nothing else after 52 years in. Stuck in my sister's basement. My sisters don't know anything else either, although my middle sister seems to be straddling the fence, having married outside the Borg. Her kids are in or have gone to... college. But she will not discuss anything negative about the Borg. I think she is still in the "just in case they are right" mindset. Been there. Took me a long time too. Still deal w PTSD of my own fears.

Absolutely right Stacey. As a Christian, it is difficult for me to comprehend how people can believe this drivel when so much of it is not biblical. How they can’t see the narcissism, gaslighting, deception and sheer absurdity of it. The way Stephen Lett presents himself. I had pretty intense second-hand embarrassment for my JW friend when I first heard Lett talking. If my pastor ever said “babies are little enemies of God,” I would walk out and never look back. The level of mind control they have over millions just blows my damn mind.

Whenever an honest Jehovah's Witness discovers that he is mistaken about Watchtower being "God's Organization", he will either cease to be mistaken, or he will cease to be honest. Stacy- excellent presentation! I really enjoyed your take on this subject. What JWs fail to realize is that _every_ item on the Watchtower buffet is "crawdads laced in yogurt". Some know it, but for the reasons you articulated so nicely, they refuse to be honest. Personally, I just can't justify continuing the game of pretend after being enlightened, all to retain people in your life that will jettison you in a nanosecond for calling a spade a spade. But, that's a decision each JW must make for themselves: do I be honest and true to my values and leave? Or, do I stay and put on an act, all to retain family and friends who only have conditional love to offer?

You forgot the Royal Commission,the Norway government had stopped paying millions to the religious community in their country because of shunning

If Solomon has 700 wives and had Js favor, why destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

I'm 28 and just left not too long ago after 15 years. My family is still practicing.

It's easier to break free from physical bondage then mental mental bondage. But when you do, the feeling of euphoria that washes over you like a warm ocean wave, is unlike anything felt before. Finding the strength to leave watchtower is not easy, but when you do, it will all be worth it. Spread your wings and fly!

It's hard to feel dead while alive for your friends and close family. Loneliness and abandonment are traumatic experiences that humans will do almost everything to avoid

I was lucky to have a support system on the outside when I left at 17. I've watched those that don't (entire family JW) flip flop back and forth being in and out. My heart goes out to them because they are in a perpetual state of pain. It's criminal what this Org does to kind hearted people. Mt mother is devoted JW but I am lucky again to have a great relationship with her despite being DF'd. She told me a few years ago that her and her friend (the one that brought her in to JW) decided to have the relationship they want with their children. She did shun me for years at the beginning but having children brought her back to me and I accepted. I don't flaunt our relationship by posting anything online and she doesn't nag me about coming back. Just an adult relationship with mutual respect. I wish all could have this. Great vid. Thank you

The deep thinkers & real truth-seekers are the ones that get out! The lazy ones who don't want to KNOW, stay in.

I was recruited and lovebombed as a vulnerable teen. Truth book rave, got babtized 1972. Woke 2017. Aged and disabled, living with regret, ptst, extreme anxiety😢.

Its crazy to me that all us ex's have been discussing the full changes that happened at the Annual meeting for a month now & yet the GB doesn't think regular JWs can handle all the changes in one sitting, so they break it up into 2 parts over MONTHS.

I am someone who was lucky enough to be close with relatives that had left the religion years ago. So when I decided to leave I didn't lose my whole support system like many people in the exjw Community sadly have.

Thank you, Stacey, for recognizing the PIMOs and for their reasons for staying. Shunning is not an option for a lot of them. I am blessed that I got out, along with a few family members, without being shunned by our family that's still in. We're the lucky ones. ❤

I'm only a few minutes in, but when you said, "Jehovah's Witnesses fear EVERYTHING," that reminded me of my one and only "Attagirl" from an org high-up. Long story short: in high school my friends at school had an assignment to do, and for that they asked to come with me to a Sunday meeting. They were GOOD friends and good people. They knew I was kooky and loved me anyway, so I had no particular fear about bringing them. I was, however, dismayed when we got there and I realized that it was the overseer week; I'd completely forgotten, and now, instead of a normal talk, it was going to be "God's deep things." I thought to myself, "Well, great. They're gonna think we're REALLY weird, when they can't even follow the talk at all." Still, it was just my best buddies doing a religion class assignment. They listened to the talk, but didn't stay for the WT study. Well, after the meeting, I was trying to slip out and go home, but here comes the CO. He was a small, loud man. He came down the hallway towards me, a veritable entourage of the movers and shakers of the congregation with him, and announces, "And HERE is ELECYAH, who FEARS NOTHING!!" Comes and shakes my hand. Well, I take the compliment as well as I can, but thought to myself, "Isn't that funny; he doesn't know a thing about me. In reality, I FEAR EVERYTHING." 😶 Which was absolutely true. I feared everything; including the CO. Including all the spiritual people in the congregation. Doing the wrong thing, accidentally. The list goes on. But incidentally, I did NOT fear my friends.

Excellent Stacey, brilliant. I think back and must admit I was too lazy to research my beliefs. I now see I was just moving around the JW world like a zombie and didn’t realize I had no real basis to believe what I believed then. The human psyche is so complex, isn’t it. It’s only in retrospective that I see how robotic I was.

That was great. U are sooo healing and real. I knew when I was 13 that the RF was under a spell. I was never baptized plus they started with the misogyny. My entire family is still in so I am tethered to the Borg in a way. This video really helped me feel better. I am studying the pre Roman matriarchy when God was a woman. Spirituality vs Religion. I will keep you posted.

Epic episode! You covered everything comprehensively. It's frustrating (understatement) to see JWs loyally serving an organisation which has lied to them every day (and continues to lie to them) for one or all of these reasons. Re. Laziness: I only wish I had bothered to do some research when I left. I spent a quarter of a century in darkness (ignorance). I was POMI. I still called it 'the truth' until 2021. Even after I woke up, it took me a few more months to admit I had been in a cult. The indoctrination runs deep.

Oh and how fear is a big motivator to stay. The consequences of loosing everyone impacted me big time! Luckily my husband was my support. Without someone on ’the other side’, I don’t know if I would’ve broken with the JWs like that, or how long it would’ve taken, since I didn’t leave because I found out it was BS. I just felt like I’d never be good enough for the organization. Waking up, took 14yrs. For the second reason... in my late teens I had thought to myself: ”I’m in this already my WHOLE life. Why leave (give up) now??”... Really because of what they said like what you reminded me of. Luckily eventually I did change the perspective of having SO much of my life still to live! I thought the 3rd reason would be with pointing to the brothers and them not wanting to leave due to the position of power they have... But on the lazy part, I’ve thought: ”With all these people, even doctors and other highly educated people who have become JW, it must be right. Right?”

An epic analysis. So true . You hit the nail on the head, thank you Stacey ! I must replay this episode again . I know I wanted almost 30 yrs of my life. Happy to be out now and free from all the crap !😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

Thank you so much for all the effort that you put into this important needed podcast. I just hope that it reaches new ears within this organization. I hope it helps to show that they are in slavery to a lie orchestrated by a group of imperfect men, hungry for money and controlling power over their fellow man. I faded away, that was my technique, I was asked by an elder, "Have you left? or do you consider yourself inactive? My reply was, " I am inactive" consequently everyone still talks to me. Be smart, be nice, play the game. Be a free agent, it is all to stupid for words.

I read Jude and i had this uneasiness that the GB was in trouble, well since COVID i learnt so much i now know whats been happening and still learning.

Stacy- this is one of your best. As I listened I had to think of my aging JW sister who I will never see or hear from again. She has invested 55 years of her life in that cult and I can't imagine how she would be able to live with herself if she should ever come to realize that she has sacrificed the bulk of her life for a publishing and real estate investment company. If she were to leave it where would she go? She has two disfellowshipped sons as well as me her brother who has been disfellowshipped since 1986. How would she be able to reunite with us?

Guilty as charged my family when I was a JW never, ever studied the bible . I was fuming when I saw the video asking to donate in there wills too the organisation. I was taught that the end was round the corner so why the need for donations!

So true! The losing Your loved ones and family is really the main thing I have seen why people stay. I too was also too lazy to look into all the history and believed what they said as true. I’m so glad I see it all clearly now.

Definitely fear! One is disappointing and losing JW family and friends; two is disappointing Jehovah and being damned to death. Then there’s that little voice programmed into the back of your head saying, “What if they are right?” No one “WANTS” to die. I have often thought about that; I’ve decided I’m not scared to die and I’m going to live now!

And come to think after all these years the Walmart greeter was a demon! 😂😂😂

Mid week meeting in Nigeria in West Africa Pidgin language. The Statement just before the book study, where they show videos from the Branch. After the video they ask questions! The comments you'll go to, we are short on time to save people. We need to adjust our time to save lives before the end comes, before the tribulation! Before the door closes on the Ark! I was surprised to hear thus teaching after the annual meeting. I also heard this term in Sundays talk. I'm not so sure these statements will slow because that's the fear causing truth that makes people to scare them to listen. So the fear mongering will not stop even though they now believe no field's of death when the tribulation begins. No more stinging message, more Kingdom Messages, more recruitment even though one can now chose to follow the King Jesus when they see him and his Kingdom. The majority of 8.7 million do not even know the JW Doctrine has been completely changed. No more fire balls to signify the beginning of the tribulation. How can we tell when the tribulation begins.😮😮😮😮😮😮

Hey surviving paradise I finally getting into a college and get a certificate or diploma, I want to do IT AND repair computers also doing cnc machining and possibly take a course in industrial electronics! The biggest issue is my mom and my younger brother and sister, my mom is old and I help her a lot. I feel like I should give it up! But I know if I don’t I won’t be able to ever live a real life!

You once again hit the nail (Org!) on the head on the power it holds over people! Sad part is that power is all make believe! I do hold out hope that just one person in my family of 17 (that’s including all my nieces and nephews, but no spouses) just one wake’s up! Thank you Stacy!

Stacy your work truly helps w deconstructing the cult jw mind. Thank you for doing this kindness for myself and all the hurting souls. I do hope many more exit soon.❤hugs.

Man, this one hit home. I too never studied ANYTHING unless I had a part to prepare for and I was one of the ones spoken of that happily signed the blood card and stuck it in my wallet without ever having considered WHY! The sheer laziness I exhibited towards how I lived my life still brings me regret to this day, and having only been 2 years awakened, I’m sure many more days of regret will follow. Thing is, I’m so thankful that those days of regret will be offset with gratitude and grace towards myself for actually pushing thru the dissonance and looking up things that bothered me and then allowing a conscience not yet fully consumed by watchtower garbage, to move me to action. The pain I see in some of the comments here and even among those on forums, is so palpable, but I truly hope they too can give themselves grace in knowing that the pages in our lives that contained our inauthentic selves, those pages have been turned. Yes, they’re still in our books, apart of us, but they won’t define how our story ends. Thank you so much Stacey for what you do man. Thanks for opening up this space to allow the light to be shone on the evils of watchtower and to give a chair for those of us who thought we were being authentic in being JW’s, yourself included, to sit and draw comfort in knowing that, nah that person wasn’t the authentic one…this one, the one who can think for themselves, who’s not afraid of objective research, who’s not afraid of facts and where those facts may lead them among many other attributes, that’s the authentic one and you all are amazing!!

After learning some things, i did transform myself back into ' Bible Student ". We're all imprrfect on a cursed earth and this sucks

Paul aptly describes how it feels to wake from this nightmare, "We are of all men most to be pitied."

Stacey as always I LOVE your videos including this one but I also don’t believe in being fake just to keep conditional family and “friends”, earlier this year I came out as full blown apostate and automatically got shunned by my family and JW “friends” that I’ve known for 20+ years and even tho it hurts being shunned I don’t regret it one bit cause now I got rid of all the fake people that never really loved me to begin with and now I’m making my own family and have real friends in my life that show me nothing but unconditional love but no way In hell I was going to be fake and stay in the organization just to keep fake people in my life!

Just another thought provoking video! I woke up around 2019 after being in it for 50 years. It was hard, very hard! I didn’t think my life was wasted, because I had a pretty good job,(missed meetings due to shift hours) , although years ago I cashed out a life insurance thinking Armageddon is coming anyway. I had a nice childhood. My parents were witnesses,now deceased. I met wonderful people that I would have not met “in the world”. Fortunately my sister woke up too. We are pimo, cause her son (elder) is still in it.

You outdid yourself on this one Stacey. Every word true. Especially the "getting your money's worth at the all you can eat buffet" 😂😋

Stacey you've just perfectly described my JW siblings. Thank you for another great podcast!

My husband is beyond lazy when it comes to being a witness. 🙄

Watchtower: “Disfellowshipping is Jehovah’s *loving* arrangement.” Also Watchtower: “We must hate disfellowshipped people in the truest sense.” ???

Exquisitely didactic, informative, entertaining and interesting this is! Great thanks.

I never got to elder. I was an MS. I used to kick myself for not studying enough. It wasn't until about 2 years before walking away that I realized I was studying way more than the elders in my congregation. I knew way more about the organization and its doctrines than they did, and yet the most uninformed apostate still knew 10 times what I did.

Awww yeah My Dude 😎 Stacey Let's go 🎉

In my opinion the Christadelphian religion also works on a lot of fears, fears of judgement day, Armageddon, missing out on securing a suitable mate to name a few. I’d say I see sunk cost fallacy there too, as promised time-lines stretch to breaking point. I’m just wondering about that story you related Stacey about your friend, it seemed to me to be something more than mere laziness, almost like another fear. Especially how he started shunning you soon after. Maybe a subconscious fear that Unbelief is contagious? Fear of the bubble bursting?

👍💪💯%.... them governing body god men are going to be feeding off the words "they're being persecuted"

Good point Stacey: if you can, stay in an fake love rather than lose your family. I totally agree. Don’t let wt win and make you lose your family. Stay pimo guys!!

I stayed in till I got my whole family out …… it’s been 4 years and my neices and nephew are in college now and my family is moving on….. the only one still in is my dad and my brother inlaw …. Which both don’t shun us they come to holidays events 🤣🤣

And all of this, just for a "maybe." Zephaniah 2:3 was constantly thrown in our faces when I was in... "*Probably* you *may* be concealed in the day of Jehovah's anger." Like, WT absolute F?! God is jealous *and* fickle and no one is *ever* allowed to firmly declare their salvation. Even those who claim to be anointed get some heavy side-eye (if not *the* heaviest). All for a solid "maybe"... and, at this point , almost every worldly person has just been given a solid "maybe," too.

I like the crazy show ...Keep going on Stacey !

Stacy, thank you. This one of the best episodes I've listened to. You are correct that realizing you will grow old is devastating. It was hard to leave because of the shunning and fear and guilt. But I'm so glad I'm out.

Hi Stacey, Did ya miss me? 😉 I’ve recently returned from 6 weeks in hospital, 2 of which I was in ICU. When I came to, much weakened, I promised my JW sister that I would re-examine JW teachings. Tbh despite all the changes, it is still more mind-numbing as before.

"...from a lawn mower, much less a large organization" 😂

JWs do not leave because they do not want to die, and this group of charlatans has convinced them they can live forever!

Another Gem. Well done.

Always entertaining. Always PROFOUND. Always right on target. One of the MANY reasons that I HAD to leave, was that I could not recommend or model being a JW, because of the way they treat people, & particularly, women & children. Im baffled at how others can want that treatment for others! I would rather die than wish that for others! I saw my best friend with 3 small boys try to tell the elders that her UNBELIEVING, drunkard, cheating husband comes home drunk at 2 am, gets her up & orders food, but worse gets the kids up to watch while he holds her up in a corner of the room with a knife at her throat & screams at her! Then, the elders tell her that she needs to be a better wife! She was new to the org & didnt know about how cheating was grounds for divorce. I told her about that. Then, when she nearly died from an STD & internal infection, I gave her the moral support she needed to divorce him. They also didnt tell her about non support being grounds. She had been with him since age 16 (orphaned) & lived on food stamps 10 yrs with him never holding a rare job for more than 3 months! So, Im going to canvas the neighbor hoods looking for someone who is willing to subject themselves & their kids to THAT? Your 3 reasons are all so poignant & accurate. One therapist called the laziness, "mental laziness" & that defined it well for me. They can be a hard worker & yet be mentally lazy. Its tragic. I know the internal soul searching & work you had to do, yourself, to be able to speak with such clarity every week. THANK YOU! Bless you for bringing awareness to everyone who is willing to look for it & I hope every week that a hurt person finds you.

Another great one, Stacy! I want to get your opinion do you think that the governing body truly believes that it’s the truth or do you think they know that they’re just going with the flow of what the organization stands for at this point?

Watchtower is a publishing company and an investment property company, as such I think they may be involved in modern slavery, they call it volunteers but they deceive their volunteers by telling them they are helping with spreading the good news by building kingdom halls and other meeting places. These buildings are used for a short period and sold, the volunteers might not offer free service if they understood the massive profits watchtower acquire after selling a short period later.

👋PIMO Since October 1995, when the beginnings of the Overlapping Generation teaching... I then understood the WTBTS was a group of CHARLATANS, no different than any other religion, and disconnected for good. However, my dear Husband, Parents, Siblings and excellent lifelong friends are in it hook-line-and-sinker. I'm considered "Spiritually weak" as I do as little as possible, and often experience soft-shunning by some irrelevant ones. I'm used to and okay with it...👍 Thanks for this most helpful topic❤❤❤

Yup. My mom & sister are ALL 3 of these! On the last point tho, they study ONLY Watchtower material & don't go deep at that! They don't compare other Bible versions or research the org history. I'm convinced they only skim the materials because they don't seem to SEE anything beyond the surface!

Yet another great podcast as I sit looking at my Christmas tree 😅Take that, Society 🎄So many truths in this. And humor that is much needed. Your channel is probably my favorite ex-JW one.

This one was superb in every way. Very powerful stuff. Although, ya got me with the all you can eat buffet. Guilty! (Ziplock bag .. cough, cough). 😂

This channel is amazing. 🎉

Things seem to be changing though thankfully. I'm guessing new numbers this year will show even more leaving. Any idea when or if the 2023 service year report will be out? I'm pretty sure in past years it has been published by now.

Trust the anointed ones of Warwick (a little stupid on the edges) to rule the world with Jesus and God from heaven, while Abraham, great biblical character and friend of God, will remain on earth! Who are we kidding for teaching such nonsense? ​

You made me laugh out loud a dozen times 😂😂😂😂

Stacy i would go back to the Kingdom hall Just to hear Your TALKS!!! it is soo sad that People can not see the Lies and Hypocrisy that they are Being Taught. But its REALLY THERE Lose Not the GB, not the WT i Blame ( And this is PERSONAL) I Blame The Grown Adults that are Doing What they are told, By Man, and Not there Own Mind, Indocrinated or Not, if someone Said you Can NOT talk to Ur Family Because They Do Not Follow The GB, ((( Because the GB Can Not say, if u dont believe us OH Just Ask GOD and he will answer You!! ))) I would say HELL NO, this is my Child and they have a mind of there own, Is it not enough that GB has Them?? No the Are EVIL AND want to Distroy ur whole Family 😖😓 I just caught a Flash Back!! Lol Thank You for All U do and the Understanding!!!

While listening just to the beginning, I bet "sunk cost fallacy" is going to be mentioned. edit: first laugh out loud where you spend a few minutes about how Jesus never changes, and then mention that the one consistent thing about Jesus' organization is...it's constantly changing. If ever there was a genre called "exJW stand-up comedy", you'd be top bill.

Something struck me recently, I was a pioneer in the 1970s, three years at 100 hours a month, I had numerous bible studies. The little blue truth book was the book used at that time. I believe that book is now considered apostate, so here's the point, my whole three years were spend preaching and teaching apostate teachings, I've been out a long time but now that three years is ...... I don't even have a word for it So much for a God that never changes, all teachings of JWs are wrong because they change them constantly and if there is a God and a Devil thay are from their father who lies the Devil 👿 because its a bunch of lies and that's straight from the mouth and actions of Watchtower. All old light if used today is apostacy, even old light of yesterday or last week.

Thanks for making this video. The trauma associated with this organization is downplayed. Like yourself I was born in the cult . Had all kinds of trauma for years

I'm just saying, if they really want to save everyone on earth, and so does God.... And now it can all be done at a drop of the hat once Armageddon comes.... Shouldn't they be spending all of their money to make sure that they get a super bowl commercial?

Thank you, Sir!😅😅😂😂😂

Hey Stacey., A quick question for you, Why in the world would anyone ever want to be a Jehovah Witness ? I’m listening !

What a finish!

Lord jehovah. Could I collect Sulphur and use it at a later date? Or will you bombard me with new Sulphur as needed? 😂 😢 😮 😂

I somewhat disagree with you regarding staying in for your family. If you have to be fake to keep their love then they don't really love you. Sometimes your family is very toxic and the best thing you can do is stay away from them. But those are just my 2 cents 🤷‍♀️

I am not with you on this video. It is best to be yourself. Be authentic. If you do not want to be part of Watchtower. Leave. If you family shuns you, make a new one. I am not a fan of being fake. But, that is just me. Other people have their preference and they do what they need to.

80s was filled with fearful stories

I can usually identify with most of what you're saying but I strongly disagree with around :30 where you say to fake it and be PIMO to keep your family. Maybe if you're already married and have kids and are really stuck in, sure. But I couldn't handle it. I was having panic attacks every time I went to the kingdom hall. I was looking at a lifetime with no romantic love because I wouldn't date a worldly guy or get stuck in a JW marriage. I couldn't express myself, ever, not even through my art. I always had to shut off parts of myself, be careful not to post anything in social media that would stumble anyone in the slightest. I couldn't pursue a career. I had to keep up with JW news and lie to my family about going to the meetings. My life was miserable, and it was just to keep my family happy? F that. If my happiness makes my family unhappy then they can be the miserable ones. I've got a life to live, and it won't last forever.

Ok, you're just making too much sense!

You can lead a JW to knowledge… but you can’t make him think

One of my favorite absurd scripture is the one that says “where else would we go, you have sayings of everlasting life”. What a bunch of lazy clowns, just looking for whoever can conjure the best fantasy world.

There is one reason. That given by Peter. John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life. 69  We have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” People have left their various religions to embrace True Worship which God has restored as promised at Micah 4:1-5. What possible reason would JWs have for returning to their former false religions?

Hi Stacy, hope you're doing well. OK you nailed it again. I was just thinking about Moses last week before your podcast. I have questions one. Moses did everything that God asked him to do. He was a pain in the butt but he still did it. But God knowing everything past present and future, he knew that Moses was going to mess up, so God used him. Basically he lied to him. here's my question. The Bible says God cannot lie. What's up with that I hope to hear from you with brotherly. Love, Keith.

Ha you got me when you said the ones who studied a lot …. left! Read the Bible 6 times seriously in diff translations. Not smart at all because I learned nothing but it was a waste of time! Switched to better books 😂

Stuffed Smurf😂

Something they invested in that is true, is that Jehovah is the true God, paradise is possible, and hell is real. That's what i believe. Totally disagree you have to be in the JW organization to attain paradise. Totally don't believe the bible is the "word" of God. I believe it's the "word" of man, with some truths throughout the books. Good luck everyone, the JW organization is not the way!

Do you have anything constructive to say?

a subgroup of pimo is zimo. zoom in mentally out. it is quite an effective coping strategy for someone who is married to a pimi. muted with camera off is a great alternative to running the love bombing/soft shunning gauntlet. p.s. beware, there could be a pop quiz!