Growing up in this organization made my life so difficult. I wanted to become a vet. I was not allowed to attend university. Pregnant with my first child, found out I was Rh negative. I was not allowed to take a shot because it had blood fractions in it. I suffered many miscarriages after that. I could go on. I hope and pray more people leave this cult.
@susansage2796 This makes me sad. Life would have been so different if you could have fulfilled that dream. I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had been given the chance to dream. I thought for sure the end would come before I was an adult. I'm 46 now.
I realize this is complete religious nonsense now but many years ago my wife and I contracted Hep A from some contaminated food. The treatment included Immunoglobulin which we were told by the doctor, is derived from human blood plasma. I felt that JW guilt when pondering whether to take it or not. That Watchtower induced fear that if I partook of blood in any shape or form, for any reason whatsoever, that I’d risk God’s extreme displeasure and ultimate destruction. But I didn’t want to suffer needlessly and possibly die prematurely from some stupid little virus and sh*tty food either. We decided to accept the treatment but I had this guilt and FEAR that the elders would somehow find out and we’d be punished by them. But now with the wave of a GB pinky ring finger blood fractions are ok ! How many people lost their lives or were needlessly punished because of not accepting any type of medication containing blood components? ? But “no apology is needed” ! ! It’s frickin’ INSANE, the gaslighting & hypocrisy! !
So sorry! 😞 🫂 I "disobeyed" & paid a high price. Either way, a person can't win with them. Your life is ruined regardless the path u take. I was kicked out of my house at 17, treated like a black sheep when I returned, my parents refused to help me with college (I went to a business school in my 20's because I was stuck in dead-end retail.) I payed WAY too much for this school because I had noone to help me and I knew nothing... today I get treated even worse by my "family" because I started speaking out! I was never baptized. I wanted to go to a real 4yr college after high-school but they refused. I could've done so much more than I did. I had a good job for a while, but then had to go out on disability due to surgeries I had to have (all bloodless, which prolonged my recovery each time). I'm ready for this cult to DIE.
As an xJW (10 years) I have see/heard many opinions on RU-vid etc. The vast majority are run by people who are bitter and vengeful, for whatever reason. Every piece of information you have presented here is 100% spot on, and I agree completely. I spent almost 40years as a member, so I can concur with your statements. I hold no resentment or bitterness (well maybe just a little)but I’ve moved on with my life, and I now see ALL religion as ‘A SNARE AND A TRAP’. The many hundreds of JWs that I knew were basically good peaceful imperfect human beings. I still believe in an almighty creator, just not ‘organised’ religion. My advice, for what it’s worth, is this. Stay away from all religions, Live a good life, Have respect and love for all nations. IF, God is righteous and just, then the righteous person in every nation is acceptable to Him, regardless of their beliefs. Throw away the fear that was instilled in you by corrupt men. Be Happy!
Please reconsider. Not all religions. Christianity is real. Watchtower is like terrible man that meets a lady and tells her all other men are bad. He then takes all other men one by one and shows here their individual imperfections. As soon as she is sold on his lies , she discovers that he(Jw) is a big liar. so to her the impression in her head is that all men must be bad. Please shake off all the lies JWS tell you start afresh. Restart and reboot. Watchtower is the enemies way of either getting you to live a live and if not , then you believe theres no truth out there . Either way he wins?
Vengeful or bitter ex witnesses I don't know about that you are being judgemental just as JW are I know I used to do that but slowly I am being more tolerant of others many are hurt through lies and being decived. But a lot of your other points I can agree with. Especially having faith but not being part of organised religion sadly they all have their own agendas .
I don't believe they are all vengeful they have just finally taken the blinders off and the truth that the organization is a cult is just being exposed. Don't hate the jws just continue to pray and feel what true spirituality not men can do for your life bc men are imperfect. God isn't
Imagine ! being an adult, having some education and yet, you need permission from GB to grow a beard or what to wear etc. Total control, simple as that.😏
This to me reeks of “let’s adapt to the newer generation, they won’t stand for the things the previous generations allowed”. They don’t care that the older people feel betrayed, they just wanna keep the younger ones by making it “easier” to stay.
Since COVID, they have lost a lot of people. So they are giving in on things they have always had a hard on about, such as reported service time, which has always been an issue with people my age (58) and younger. And now it's beards, so that the younger generation, who love beards and will not give them up, will not stay away due to that restriction. GOOD LUCK TO THE CULT.
@@exjwdiaries Watch them in the coming years talking about the how things were pre-pandemic, they’re gonna gaslight everyone into thinking it was “their choice” the whole time, that the gb never had a say…it’s already happening and they’re gonna double down on it. This is gonna be the modern version of the whole circumcision debacle, some are going to view those with a beard as less than 🥴😂😭 I find it funny being on the outside but tbh I feel for my friends who are still in and think this is a “good thing”. It’s not.
I feel sorry for the elderly, they have lost money, homes, family members, Estates, it’s abusive. They are still being targeted for their Estates most likely. The most vulnerable of course, are the children.
FACTS! They are pharisaical liars! They'll do and say anything to keep the rank and file subdued under their crooked spell! They think they can flip-flop at the drop of the hat, but we who were born in know they are full of crap!
Yes I think they are changing slowly to retain the members they have. I also think that Anthony Morris being removed probably has something to do with it, he was probably a hardliner they had to get rid of.
Woke up earlier in the year! We’ve been sleeping with the enemy for decades! Anyone that stays will be dragged down with them, they steal your very identity as a person. Loved this you are absolutely spot on. Thank you helping us see things more clearly.
So well said Carol - they DO steal ones identity as a person. The legal system works by 'putting a person or agency on notice'. The whole association has been put on notice. Those who stay will be dragged down with them - so spot on. People often don't see the cult until after they leave it. However if the cult goes down, they are left to pick up the pieces.
Welcome to the real best life ever! They definitely do steal your identity. It was one of the hardest things for me to recover from and a big inspiration for creating the EXJW Recovery book. This organization does so much harm
Lett made the announcement in such a gaslighting way. Making no acknowledgement of all the lives affected by the decades long rule. He simply said they don't have a problem with beards as it was local congregations that implemented that rule on themselves. Another example of a poor leader is the inability to take ownership for decisions made and passing blame onto the subordinates. It's just such a bad look.
Not only that. It really shows to the outside world just how controlling and micromanaged things religion is. As the JWs would say, "It was not a good Witness."
@@alans.wendelschafer6588 It shows how much reach these men have into people's lives bit ot should also help the practicing witnesses to ask themselves what else are we doing that is unscriptural and that we don't need to be doing. I wish they would open their minds but they suffer from Stockholm syndrome, they're inlove with their @busers.
WT and JW's were down right cruel to a family member. He left "the truth" and grew a beard. You would have thought that he was Satan himself. WT and JW's don't realize what people have endured because WT said "NO." You are right Justin, they have zero empathy and gaslight. I hope that I live long enough to see this cult, melt like the witch in the Wizard of OZ.
@soniastarmorales8013 Precisely. I noticed that too. They say quit being fashioned after the world then they say you should groom yourself like businessmen and politicians. And the cognitive dissonance of Jehovah's witnesses will not let them see through it.
Lett didn't mention the prior policy because he knows, and counts on, the fact that most JWs will question their own memory, then conclude they were mistaken about WT having a no-beard policy. I still hear JWs say, with regard to the 1975 debacle, "Oh, that was just an idea promoted by some individual JWs in the Organization. WT never said anything about 1975."
They (the governing body) are putting the beard thing on the elders too. He is basically saying, “the governing body has no issue with it, so elders, stop having an issue with it”, as if the elders have created the confusion and aren’t just following orders. So disgusting!!!!
"The governing body doesn't have a problem with brothers wearing beards" so who made up the strict podium rules, including no facial hair, for the circuit assemblies and convention speakers?
It's no different than WT creating, then whipping up hysteria, with the 1975/Armageddon false prophecy, then pretending they had nothing to do with it.
I admire you for being clear and straightforward! I was in Brooklyn Bethel in 1979, having a few chances to have dinner with Fred Franz, and walked down the promenade with Albert Schroder and his wife for almost one hour. GB has lost its glory as in the past, and they are like a headless chicken!
Funny, I served in Brooklyn Bethel in 1979 too!! You're absolutely right. I had many great conversations with Fred Franz, Ray Franz, Albert Schroeder; (a Michigander like me), Dan Sydlik, Ted Jaracz, and some others. There was not the creature worship back then, the organization nor Bethelites didn't become awestruck with these men. They were not "authoritarian", haughty, and proud like they are today in front of a camera. They were behind the scenes, and didn't parade around like they were more special than anyone else. In retrospect, after reading Ray Franz's book, "Crisis of Conscience", I could discern the cold and calculating personalities of Al Schroeder and Ted Jaracz in the way they hounded Ray Franz over a technical issue that had no scriptural support.
I was disfellowshipped & got an education before running back into that burning building following 9/11. Since now I wasn't 'stupid', I was ostracized even more as a 'know it all'. Why did I stay for another 10 yrs? I had questions but convinced myself that we just didn't have the right 'light' yet. 2020 REALLY woke me up & I RAN, not looking back.
I'm just now two years into my bachelor's at 41. Imagine the life I could have had up until now. I world have built a good 401k and pension if not for false predictions
I get the feeling the removal of Tony Morris was because he did not agree with the latest changes. These changes are to retain members and make it less oppressive to potential converts. The changes in the future will be based on legal findings and decisions of courts on human rights. This may be changes to disfellowshipping procedures and allowing decisions on certain issues to be a matter of conscience rather than abiding to the dictates of Watchtower because otherwise it exposes them to legal challenges or their charity status is questioned and reviewed by governments.. However it will not change the Governing Body's quest to enforce their authority on doctrinal teachings.
My thoughts exactly! Tony wanted to keep things going the old way. The rest of the GB wants to take the organization in a new direction… then again there’s another part of me that thinks there’s another layer and the GB aren’t really the ones pulling the strings.
Uncle Tony was a hard nosed, hard baller for sure, with his crazy rants and illustrations of burnt human hotdogs and guttural grunts of pleasure at the thought of people getting smoked. His deletion has to be a factor in all this somehow.
Hell yes! The statement about higher education being a "danger" was a JW broadcast by none other then former Governing Body member Tony Morris A few years later he is removed and two new members are appointed! Now they cover their ass with thr statement that the Faithful Slave said for Elders to stay out! Covering up more lies and more "new light" Watchtower. I think that might be the final nail in the coffin for Grandpa Tony... And now watchtower is saying "No what he said isn't right"😂
When he said, “The GB does not have an issue with brothers wearing beards”, I could just imagine all of us, in unison, said, “WTF? That’s a lie!” Back in the day, a guy couldn’t even have stubble. It’s completely Stockholm Syndrome, MK Ultra. Im surprised they don’t use the Monarch Butterfly as their logo. They know EXACTLY what they’re doing. It’s all calculated narcissism. When the plandemic hit my adult child said, “This must be a dream come true for you”. I remember the excitement & awe of thinking, this was it. Now, I’d been out since around 1999/2000, but was still brainwashed to a point. Held on to the paradise bull💩 til the biter end when I stumbled, no pun intended 😂, upon all the exjw pages. I woke up completely, but didn’t believe the paradise was not real. Binge watched everyone & everything until it hit me. That’s when I truly, truly woke up. About a month ago I had a great in-depth convo with my child & he said he was proud that I finally see the truth about them. I unleashed all I’ve learned in the last couple of years. It was so liberating. Even when some leave, it might take a while to wash off the WT stench from our minds. All of these videos help heal. They help us to see we are definitely not alone. Jw’s are controlled like all other organized religions. I’m sure the GB has handlers like everyone else in high positions, in or not in the org. That movie was good, but I can’t stand the producers as much as I can’t stand the GB. All cut from the same cloth & branches off the same tree. It’s all controlled. “Con-Troll”.
You are such a great person for standing up against this nonsense! Remember there are no coincidences in life! You had to go down this path to be in a position to do the work of “setting the captives free”. You are an inspired & anointed warrior for this fight! Thank you for accepting your assignment!
I got out over 30 years ago, and I am so glad I did. I had the opportunity to truly experience my own life, as I created it to be. I am very happy for making that decision.
Thought your comparison of the qualities of good leaders (empathy, integrity, and leading by example) to the way that the GB leads (complete lack of empathy and integrity and by intimidation/fear) was spot on. Keep it up and thanks for all you are doing!
Great point! I teach leadership skills to managers, and the GB exhibit many of the traits of poor leadership. If you worked in business and were treated to the disingenuous and patronising drivel served up by these men, then you would leave pretty quickly. Shame that the rank and file don't see beyond the curtain, and recognise these men for the charlatans they really are.
They’re afraid. People are informed now. Tony Morris is being carefully watched and that is why they have him in a townhouse where he can be carefully observed. A long time ago, when I tried to get reinstated because I missed my JW brother, the elders who grilled me told me I’d be carefully watched for how I dressed, acted, participated (though I had to continue their shunning), so I ran. I ran away. Wasn’t worth it. My brother and the “beloved” people turned their backs on ME. Not I on them. Tony Morris is caught in THAT hellish game right now. He’s not free.
@@lorenmartinez7613 Yup. I'm sure TonyMo thought the policies he helped create and enforce were totally fine, but now he gets to experience the pain for himself.
The gaslightning for this beard subject, sounds very similar to what they did in 1976 after Armageddon didn’t come in ‘75 😤 “We never said that, but some brothers assumed…” blah..blah..blah…BS! I was there! I remember!
My friend inside the organization ask me 2 days ago "What do you think about the OrG allowing for Beards?" i told my opinioon. he said " I think there doing it to permit beards so the organization can retain there members" I told him I no longer believe in the The Governing Body or the religion.. but interesting my friend would ask me this?? bcs I'm not practising... and i'm on side of waking people up sutily...... well I was at the protest with you guys LOL hahah Justin! Good work brooo. lets keep exposing this Garbage.... Hey I was overlooked too.... bro !!!! but we doing even better work now,,, helping people heal.... they hold back the best ,,, bcs many things,,, Thanks brooo. your Good Human! see you in future maybe again
Great content and totally true. I was baptized in Germany and grew up there. Brothers with Beards were not handled as strict as in the US, but of course you could not go on the Plattform . To the Australian Royal Commission I have to say that witnesses cannot say that Jackson was tricked somehow by the courts, because he was asked before they questioned him, if he accepts that the intention of the court was genuine and well intended and he did say yes. If he felt he was being tricked somehow, he had the golden opportunity to say so. I found this very important!
“It would be quite presumptuous” -Jeffrey Jackson, ARC. I’ll never forget seeing/hearing that. I remember that was something that really shook me. Part of the waking up process, seeing the clear lies in front of my face, the minimization, the no ownership, the non apologetic stance, and yes even extreme gaslighting which is so incredibly damaging.
It’s like modern Star Wars. They don’t care about their loyal and aging an audience. They’re pursuing a new audience they can control for the next 50 years.
I remember in the 70s there were leisure suits. We were told not to wear them because our worship and service wasn't a leisurely thing. I remember one guy that wore a leisure suit with a Hee Haw print. It was funny
This cult is such a joke, lol. If a “brother” tried to visit Bethel before the announcement was made sporting a beard, he wouldn’t even be allowed on the premises. Now, he would be welcome with open arms huh lol. Great video as always
They do nothing unless it's to benefit the Borganization. My bet is that this has to do with all of their recent legal losses. They're now trying to pretend not to be a high-control group. Their ultimate control makes them liable for the CSA that happens, so they're trying to distance themselves a bit
I'm brazilian and I really like your videos, they're well thought and resume everything is wrong about this organization. My parents were special pioneers for 20 years and later in life I realize that my indoctrination was profound. I accept that I have to deal with this through my whole life. I'm getting better and better with time, and content like yours helped me a lot. Thanks for your effort.
Agreed. My friend is currently PIMO and what woke him up was the LACK OF EMPATHY when the GB would announce changes. His exact words were “These policies has a direct impact on people’s lives, so to just change it with no apology or admittance of error, is condescending”….. Btw, he still loves the JWs he just doesn’t like the GB
When was the letter about college released? Cause wasn't there another video leak a couple months ago showing elders how to handle removing an elder from the body whose daughters were attending college?
My dad was removed as an elder because my mom was in college. She was required by her job to get the degree. If not, she would lose her job. She had 3 months left when the circuit overseer removed him. He had been looking for a reason each time he came through. Then he came after me. I was married to a worldly man for 15 years at this point. In my meeting, he kept telling me that I had to move back to English, and out of the sign language congregation I went to with my parents for my kids. The elder sitting in was mortified! When we first started the shepherd call, I told him I had no kids. All politicians are controlling and jealous of others. My dad has been in trouble 3 times at his new hall. Once for having dinner with my disfellowshipped aunt. It was a family dinner to discuss family matters. Once for wearing a Jewish head covering at his brother's funeral. That circuit overseer said he shouldn't be punished, but it is up to the brothers. The elder who pushed for his punishment doesn't want to hear about my father's Jewish background or clarifications on Jewish teachings. Third, my mom is being accused of not being spiritual. She stopped going to meetings. The sister living in their basement turned the women in the congregation against her. But it is all my moms fault. My father keeps taking the punishment. He blindly follows. I hope he will wake up, but after 50 years, I doubt it. He gave up a career in music for them. I don't think he can handle the reality of how they controlled and kept him from his dreams. 😢
Just additional information that came from Raymond Franz. He said it in an interview way back in the 1990s. I don’t recall which interview, but I recall it vividly. The reason JWs didn’t wear beards, women had to wear dresses, smoking was not allowed, in general they were very dogmatic about appearances, was because they wanted their salesmen and recruiters to look presentable when out and about. I am not surprised they are relaxing appearances rules immediately after they have stopped door to door preaching. Don’t be surprised if they relax rules in women wearing pants as well. The GB doesn’t do anything for the benefit for the people they lead, believe me.
Thank you so much for your video. It is exactly as you described. I was 18 years old in 1975 and young people were assured that they wouldn't grow old in the old system. It was all a lie. Sorry for my bad English, German is my first language.
Nice overview. Thanks for that. What I miss is a reference to the letter to elders regarding higher education. Which letter is that? I couldn't find it on avoidjw. A date would be enough.
They have to make it easier for people to stay or join ... The numbers are dropping... this is a business call ... without the people they have NO organisation...
Personally I believe that these changes relate to two issues, 1 legal scrutiny 2 members leaving The problem with changing their beliefs, as a JW, would be this. . . If they were wrong about this (whatever that may be) what else are they wrong about? Changing beliefs losses members.
Pre 1975 I was told I could not have side burns down to my ear.(It was the style). I shaved them off and finally left the cult. A Pioneer I put 100 hours a month is service. Glad I woke Up !
Several countries have also decided because the governing body is violating basic human rights by their shunning policies.The governments of Norway Sweden have stopped paying them. So they need to reinvent themselves as a kinder gentler religion so they can start receiving the dollars they’re missing out on now. They started promoting if young ones don’t want to be one of us we will not force them. In the past young ones have even been kick out of their own homes for not following the rules.
The beard issue had to be changed because it was the perfect proof for exJWs to point to and prove there are "written rules" and "unwritten rules". Once you establish that proof, it can be easier applied to all types of things.. Secondarily, it will help with gaining/maintaining a few new members.
I've been witnessing to a jw couple that have been in it for 40+ years. The information you provided is helpful understanding the "mind" of the "hive" directors. Liked and subbed. Know that God is using you to bring sight to the blind. God bless He is Risen!!!
The fact that they held Tony up to be a GB member, the highest 'office' in the organization for so long and they didn't even consider the rank-and-file worthy of an explanation of what happened, leaving them in the dark. Even when some famous actors in television are no longer around, the media will give an explanation of what happened to them. But again, they have a subtle, and not so subtle way of showing how little significance the members are to them that they deemed them unworthy of an explanation, because they had to know there would be all sorts of speculations. These are some devious, cold-hearted demon-backed slaves of Jehovah.
Pink shirts! I remember when they were disqualified 🤣 Got rid of the time cards? Can’t erase the judgement from them as they called you spiritually weak.
🙋♂I too had my education truncated due to Watchtower policy. They kicked me out of school for refusing alternative military service (compulsory in my birth country), which they now say is a matter of conscience. It was such a waste because I loved school and was pretty smart. Later on I moved to another country and enrolled in university, but failed to finish primarily due to family opposition (I was financially dependent of family).
A thought on God having a chariot. Nowhere in the book of Ezekiel does it even say God has a chariot. Yet this organization keeps pumping that on to control the members.
I get the feeling the GB want divisions over these changes to separate those fully compliant to the Org and those not, their donations must be dwindling I can see more leaving biggest problem is the hold they have on families the shunning this is a very cruel controlling organization but they may implode within.
Why we don’t want to be dogmatic, as the GB (David Splane especially) say! They will stab you in the back, don’t get to comfortable JW’s. Your a good man Justin. Your videos are from your heart, and with critical thought & meaning. I pray that any JW who watch your videos will begin to work/use their Own brain. God gave it to you, not for someone else to control!
Justin, this video is really great. I'll however love to share a rhetorical question from a CO that led him to delete many elders that are now ExJws because they sponsored their children for Higher Education: "Does he respect what has been published by the faithful slave on the dangers of higher education?" (Chapter.8 of Shepherd book). His answer was if the Elder had respected the FDS publications on Higher education, he couldn't have sent or sponsored any children! This conditional question from the FDS to me is equivocation. They were speaking from both sides of the mouth, especially when other questions on that chapter 8 paragraph are considered. I quite know that none speaks from both sides of the mouth better than WT, and none shamelessly lies better than my former religion. Is WT not equivocating from the contents of their letter on higher education?
You are right! I’m thinking they will update the shepherd book. A big advantage to the JWs making everything digital is they can update their information at will.
I was shocked as to how fast the cult turns on someone who dares to question or accuse someone with the social status of being an elder or of a elders family member . Right and wrong are thrown out the window . It's you against them . And they will even lie and ignore the truth, rather than turn on one of their own cult members.
When it comes to the Watchtowers leadership it seems like judging by what happened recently that the leadership is thought of as being replaceable,expendable and disposable.
So it's taken them a hundred years to notice that God's Word is not against beards? Wow! What next I wonder? Hopefully they will recognise that Revelation 7 and 14 tell us clearly who the 144,000 are, and repent before it's too late. 🙏
As an ex JW I am disgusted by the GBs lack of thought for the generations of brothers who may have wanted to grow a beard. The brothers and sisters who may have wanted higher education. How very sad and upsetting. 😢
I think someone has to be questioning something to wake up or have a bad experience. I think this business is shifting to a less cult like approach. They are raising red flags in many countries and want to keep their business going .
This beard thing was a really interesting shift because it truly was by word of mouth that we all KNEW the guidelines but never having it in black and white. There were a few of these stipulations, such as saying “bless you” after a sneeze was forbidden but never specifically quantified as such. The language like “we wouldn’t want to, would we” or “a humble Christian would…” or “a true follower of the one true God would…” to suggest (coerce), but it was always ever only actually the individual’s fault. It’s so sleazy because it is a bureaucratic legality that they can squeeze right under, “we never said that” and all the followers willingly defend and agree! As if THEY had misunderstood all along! I had an elderly regular pioneer sister justifying and “clarifying” the new light from way back in the 70s! I didn’t understand at the time because I was taught that we believed the organization to be improving and so that meant mistakes were inevitable. Like how they used to celebrate Christmas and smoke, until they knew better. But what I never realized was the duplicity possible when promising you are protecting your people from the monster when you know the monster is really you. She was actually describing 1975 and justifying their False PROPHECY.
These changes put big rifts in families and generation gaps which again the sole purpose is to weaken the fibre of the family and by extention the churches and nations.
