I had a student was JW and her friends celebrated her birthday a few days later and called it friendship day. She would buy them gifts and her friends would buy her gifts. That is how they got around it.
Becky your mother is incorrect you only lost favor with a cult under mind control not Jesus or God scripture says no man can prevent us from the separation of God christmas is about God giving Jesus as a gift of love for our salvation there are many good books that deal with the subject that will put any one at ease even in Luke's gospel says the angels rejoiced at the birth of Jesus that is a birthday celebration I left in 1993 the jws and don't regret it
They called on me yet again last week, I mentioned my Boyfriend having a blood transfusion just around christmas, so hopefully that should do the trick, and stop them bloody visiting again !
I am so sorry for this happening to you. I've seen this in my in-law family. They taught their kids to fear a Christmas tree...they were terrified as kids. This religion goes too far and destroys families. They should teach love not fear.
Who are you to tell religious people what they should do or believe? You think that calling a god “love” or “loving” solves the problem of worshiping an evil, hate filled “god” that condemns people to eternal torment?
@UCoM4el1IOTM4hiO03d7mKnw LOL. You think I’m programmed? Hmmm, your god Jesus is also YHWH (Jehovah). Your god is evil and vile. Any god who created eternal torment is eternally evil. Think about it, you are so programmed that you “worship” an evil god and defend that god as “love”. How quaint…
I have a JW coworker. We've had discussions, arguments... and biblical debates aside... Any religion that would have you cut off your own flesh and blood over a disagreement this petty, is more of an "illness" than a healthy belief system. Believe how you like but Good Grief!!!
You have such a beautiful spirit and your reverence for your mother, who rejected you, is pure grace and a model for those who have a dysfunctional family of origin.
That’s the problem with religion in general, it’s interpretive dance. Some people follow the letter of the law that they were taught. (By sometimes, what I would consider horribly misguided individuals.) My daughter-in-law bailed out of it as soon as she was old enough to think for her self. Her grandmother didn’t give her any trouble like this at all.
We sent Christmas presents to our cousins, when we were little, who were Jehovah Witness. Their Mom and Dad sent them back. I felt sorry for my cousins.
I understand. I was raised a JW, but I left when I was 18 ( 40+ yrs ago). I moved in with my fiancé and was disfellowshipped. I still had limited communication with my mother, until about 10 yrs ago. She started dodging my calls so I cut all communications with her. While it hurt, that was better than knowing that every time I called, I was failing in her eyes. I refused to jump through the hoops that they kept holding out. it was "if you do this I'll talk to you", "if you would just do this..." No more. The worse thing was when my husband died 2 yrs ago, she sent a booklet to my son that said he'd never see his father again, unless he joined the JW. My son is in his 20's so he treated it like the garbage that it was.
Wow!!! That is so sad, I’m so sorry, and I know exactly how you feel. When I called my mom before she passed, she barely spoke to me… I told her I loved her. I was later told, she felt like speaking to me was offensive to Jehovah.
Hi JC your mother is wrong for telling your son he won't see his father again of course he will Jesus promises us heaven that's where your husband is now only God can read our hearts the jws are a mind controlling cult I too was a jw left in 1993 I am so happy that Satan kicked me out of his organization God bless you
My heart goes out to you and your family… exjw of 25 years but please stay strong and thank you for sharing your story for me and others that has gone through this ❤❤❤
My mum died almost 12 months ago after many, many years of little to no contact due to me being disfellowshipped. I'm sorry you have been going through it too, thank you for sharing.
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I’m a believer in Jesus Christ. My heart goes out to your family, and I’m sorry for your loss. Peace be unto you!
@@joshuagaines3990 uh... Jesus condemns people who are doing wrong, is what iam conveying, Jesus loves people but did not accept people who were continually doing wrong and not repentant John 8:44.Not my personal opinion but clearly shown in Gods word that ones must disassociate themselves from the unrepentant, 1Corinthian 5:6,11; 2John9-11
I understand stand that we are to be set apart from sin. I don’t know if you are referring to the mom by disassociating herself from her daughter. Or the daughter having a tree in her house.
@@joshuagaines3990 even the catholic religion has a word for it 'excommunicate' were they remove someone from there religion, I dont think they do that anymore, anyway it's in Gods word, i dont know what you believe,.
I was raised the same way. My mother was disfellowshipped and my grandmother didn’t speak to her for 15 years. When my grandmother got of age and her dementia got too bad of the six children who do you think went and got her to live with them-yes, my mom. Then two of the sisters who were “supposed JW” plotted a scheme to get my grandmother away from my mom and she mysteriously died the next month because she required a blood transfusion which they will refuse. It was sad. This religion tears families apart. My mom had a terrible stroke 3 months later and hasn’t been able to speak ever since. It’s terrible. I still pray for everyone. I’m a forgiving person. I wish we were all better people who could see the reality of reality.
My sister is partially handicapped from a stroke. She left the JW when she married a woman. Her son who is a hardcore JW, tried to go to court and get her declared incompetent. He wanted to take her, put a DNR in place and let her die. Said that was for her own good, so she would see her family again after the resurrection. Fortunately, the courts didn't go along.
@@jc1400 So along that line of thinking ONLY J.W. will see family? Show me where in The Bible it says that... goodness. Sorry for all of that for your family. 😢❤
It's funny that Geoffrey Jackson said in the Australian royal commission,said you wouldn't get in trouble for celebrating Xmas.and he's a governing body member
God says your family is not always the one your born in, your real family is the friends that god brings into your life that become more then family gods gift to you is a better family!
My condolences for your Mom. It's really sad the Jehovah's Witnesses teach people to disown your family when they celebrate Christmas. I'm an exjw now because their doctrines are false and hurt people.
I was raised in a JW house and I can say with certainty that you, Walt, and you, Franklin, are so much better off for not having the 'experience' of trying to shed the JW cult stain from your life's. I'm 70+ years old and I'm just now believing I've come into my own. It's taken me 50+ years through ups and downs to get to this point in my life to where I can look in the mirror and smile with a gleem in my eyes. Be well - many blessings.
Huge respect for posting this. I hope you can forgive your mother. Brainwashing is a terrible thing that even the most intelligent people can fall for.
@Tsunami Thank you for that enlightenment, I must have missed those particular passages at bible camp. I can see now how offensive a chirstmas tree is. I can see now why she should have been outcast for such a despicable act. It is incomprehensible to me that a few words in some dusty old book can have such a profound effect on someone. Mothers are expected to have an unbreakable bond with there family, this is virtually hard wired into them, for those bonds to be cast aside without emotion, just reiterates what I said. Brainwashing is very powerful, and very very sad. You said the entire world has been brainwashed into believing god approves of pagan, satanic traditions of men. I put it to you, that you’re the one being brainwashed into believing god. But you probably don't care & I am wasting my time. You can't teach a new Christian old truths.
@@jerrychacon8814 I have read the passages you suggested, what now? They did nothing for me, didn't move me in any way. Didn't convince me of anything. What exactly where they supposed to do?
@@utube1818 Your comment shows you dont believe in God or his word or faith in them, iam not judging you i only stating the belief of dissociation is not made up but come from Gods word. The oldest known or found scripture text found is the "Dead Sea scrolls" dated before the birth of Jesus Christ, this text shows God word or message to his people has not changed. This text the DEAD Sea Scrolls also shows that Gods name appears over 7000+ times, and has been replaced in modern-day Bibles by titles'Lord' and 'God' also no words as: Hell, Cross, crucified,church, godhead, are not found in this original Hebrew text.
My mom is still a witness and when I was growing up my dad used to put up trees and have us help decorate and put presents under the tree and called it family day. My mom wasn't by the book kind of witness and never got shunned by the congregation but my sister was dating a non witness went on a date with him alone and they disfellowshipped her when she was 17. She got married to him and now he's an elder in their kingdom hall. I'm not a witness and my brother isn't we never got baptized and that's why my mom still comes around and still talks to me. If she ever told me that she can't associate with me anymore I would tell her she has to explain that one to her 6 grandchildren fave to face.
You Witnesses need to be exposed for the evil you preach and debated by a proper Christian theologian. I know that they have alrered words in the Bible for their own benefit.
@@aliceinamazon6057 Alicein thor out. The lady I saw was bought up JW. Dont understand your comment, doesnt make sense. Re Bible, yes its a known fact the JW have altered words in the Bible. Relax.
I'm not a Witness and I've never been. Met my wife while she was a Non-practicing but she did tell me of her faith. We married and she did return to Witnessing. My wife recently passed and I understand the hardship that families do have within this religious dynamic.
Sorry for your loss. Glad I got out of that insanity decades ago. I've got a a blue, purple, yellow color changing tree that I do enjoy looking at. Go figure.
I feel your pain and frustration. I went through this when I left JW when I was 18. I had this rebellious idea to go to college. My Dad kicked me out of the house and there was no communication for 5 years. During time my mother had breast cancer and I didn’t know. I’m happy you got out so you can finally live a full life without the control of this religion. It really tears apart families.
I stopped being a JW when I left home after graduating high school. My mom is still very much involved with this religion, but has continued to be a part of my life. All of my siblings have followed the same path as me. She has spent thanksgiving with us several times and has attended a few Christmas dinners. I’m so sorry your mother has done this to you. Family should never be separated.
@@Andy-fn6js I will be sure to show her your comment. By the way, my siblings and I were never baptized. She says it okay to attend the holiday events because she isn’t really celebrating them. She sees it as having dinner with all the family. It the only time we all make an effort to be together since we live in different states.
I find this behaviour utterly disgusting. The bond between mother and daughter is supposed to be unbreakable, not to be decided upon by some stuffy old man in an opulent office. This is the ultimate in narcissistic control by the elders and it's utterly abhorrent.
Paul Blizard, who was a former JW, had some articles on the internet about the JWs. One showed a photo of Charles Taze Russel celebrating Christmas & saying how wonderful Christmas was. I heard the Jackson 5 singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" today on the radio & they were JWs - nobody ever seemed to get on their case about recording that song & "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".
What’s also interesting is the old copies of the watchtower had a cross and crown intertwined until 1929 I believe, it wasn’t til the 30s (60s years after the organization started) that they took issue with the cross and also changed their bible to deny the diety of Christ
I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through, I know of lots of jehovas witness who celebrate birthdays and Christmas the next day after and say we are not celebrating any birthday or holiday, so sad how they do that but kick out their own family for birthday celebration. It's sad, be strong and read the bible it will give you strength and lift you up.
Kindness is free, but with this cult there is a price to pay. There are conditions. You must remain a member in good standing and put money in the contribution box! I can't believe I wrote checks to them!
How messed up, disturbed and twisted. And I say this as a Christian myself. Don't get me wrong, I try and abide by Biblical principles, whether at work, at home, out and about, in the company of others, by myself etc. But no denomination will tell me in the privacy of my own home what to do, what decorations or ornaments I can display, what to wear, eat, drink, watch on TV, what music to listen to, what books to read, what I can celebrate, what I can view on the internet, what company I can invite over etc. I will decide that for myself in good conscience. Any denomination telling me what to do in my own home and generally in my private life outside of the church walls can go and jump.
So tragic. I'm sorry. My sister & I have been alienated for 50 years now (because of a similar incident). She purposely did not attend births,graduations, weddings and funerals (our own Mom). Our children and grandchildren are strangers too. Generations of a family poisoned and destroyed.
Back in the late seventies I worked with a guy who was jehova. He did not believe in Christmas but he was first in line for the Christmas bonus each year.
They have caused so much heartache over the last 50 years. You are lucky you were told your Mum was passing away..Many find out when it is too late. This has to be the cruellest Cult on earth. I know how they treated my dear friend. Hopefully you were able to build bridges with your Mum before she passed. Good luck and best wishes from Leeds Yorkshire England. 🇬🇧🏴
I had a similar experience. I grew up in a family rife with abuse of every kind. The whole clan. In my early twenties I confronted my mother about her complicity by protecting abusers instead of children. She would not receive it do I told her I loved her and was leaving the family. Many years later she had me contacted as she was dying. I spent her last three weeks taking care of her final business. I never had any regrets but it was good to hear her say I did the right thing. It was good to know that she had that much clarity. Regardless how she was taught your mother bears the full responsibility. And she has no say in you contacting your siblings. If they do not want to hear from you they will say do. Go live your best life and get yourself a big beautiful tree next year if you want. God does not disfellowdhip you
So sorry that you were disowned by your family. It hurts! However, you are very lucky now to have a supportive family & career. Having a positive attitude will take you far in life.😎🌲
I recall some years back the watchtower criticing the pharisses of being over the top in there insisting that their followers wash up to the elbows when washing there hands and Jesus condeming them as hypocrites Isn't this example of the tree the watchtower promoting the same over the top behaviour as the pharisses !
Religious organizations that act like cults are absolutely disgusting. As a teenager, I was in the WWCG in the late 60s and 70s.... my family was and still is destroyed. The heartache and years of lost relationships over rules made by men through their interpretation.... so sad. My heart breaks! What's really heartbreaking is that it's all in the name of God and religion.... God is LOVE.
I'm sorry what you have gone through we all have gone through. Your response to your mom was very point on. It's really sad that it came only to be able to talk with your mom was when she was passing. It shows what this cult does destroys families. There are no words on what you went through no words to ease your pain. Enjoy your freedom your life. God bless you and Merry Christmas 🎄🎄
Until covid came along, my house was visited regularly by door to door jw. I'm a Catholic and one time they told me that I believe in more than one God because I believe in the Holy Trinity. I explained why they were wrong. They were persistent and the following visit they sent someone with more authority. It was wonderful to be challenged and to be able to proclaim the Word to all nations right at my doorstep. Peace and blessings to all in the new year!
My entire family is Catholic and my dad loves the challenge when JW's come knocking at my house. My dad loves to debate with them and they never come back. 😂
I am so sorry my dear .Please stay strong and go with what your heart tells you .If you ever need a friend to talk with I am happy to be a friend ear . You are a strong young lady .I wish the very best each and everyday ... SergeantC (Retired US Army Southern California)
So sorry. And to know that theirs is truly a diabolical society which has no right to judge or criticize anyone, let alone, ones who had no choice and had to suffer essentially in a hostage taking environment since babyhood. So much time was stolen and lives/families damaged. Psychological violence must be added to the criminal code!
@@BeckyOverbeck I was thinking that you should go ahead and send a text of love to your mother, father and all of your siblings. Don't play by their rules. Take the higher road dear.
Asthma killed my 30 year old Mother in 1962 when I was just 1 year old . What's so much sadder is a religious cult killing a mother,s love for her own precious daughter . My heart goes out to you dear ,sweet ,precious sister .Justin Porter ex jw ❤️
The Jehovah's Witnesses remind me of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, always running around screaming "Off with their heads!" Did you put up a tiny Christmas tree? Off with your head! Did you send someone a Happy Father's Day greeting card? Off with your head! Every offense deserves capital punishment. After I left the JW's I spent three years in therapy recovering from the idea that God is an angry killer.
I'm reminded of that quote by Christopher Hitchens: “With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil - that takes religion.”
The same happened to my partner (alienation). His only son stopped talking to him for 3 years because of it which gutted my partner. He sent his son text messages and left voicemails telling him how much he loved and missed him over those 3 years. Thank God his son decided to call him one day and now they are back to their close relationship (found out later that the only reason it happened was because an elder “allowed” it 🙄). Unfortunately, his mother wasn’t the same and she recently passed away. Luckily, my partner was able to be by her bedside the day before she passed away, but she was unfortunately in a catatonic state. So freaking sad that a religion that’s supposedly following the will of God/Jehovah can twist things so much.
Raised Apostolic, became Catholic and now Lutheran, the last 50 years has taught me this very important lesson and that is, God is not in religion but resides in faith. My faith in Jesus Christ is not boxed by someone's idea or religion but is held by my faith in his Word. Religion isn't going to save you nor does your works make you worthy. It is faith in Jesus Christ. The greatest work we can do is what your doing, love others as yourself. Thank you for sharing, I too had to come into my own faith
This is so very sad... It is obvious you loved your mother very very much...I am saddened to hear what happened.. And to think a Canadian barrister in court and under oath to tell the truth, stated that Jehovah's Witnesses do not shun... This makes me so angry...
@@BeckyOverbeck my own daughter is shunned by her own mother and others in her family, so I know first hand the shunning that takes place and it makes me so very angry... There were endless occasions when my daughter needed her mother ( her divorce, her second marriage,the birth of her only child ) but her mother not available to her... Her mother has never met her only grandson...It is dreadful for all concerned... Stay strong young lady .. I will keep watching your videos from afar...
I remember at 5 years old going to Sunday school and thinking to myself, something doesn't feel right here. They say this when they're at church for an hour a week, but don't actually do what they say outside of church. So have believed and prayed to God without the need for ministers and a church ever since. And not for just an hour a week but when ever God needs to hear my voice.
I’m sorry to hear this! Only God truly knows the pain and heartache you’ve been through. We as humans don’t know why things happen they way they do.. but God does and he loves you and is with you. God bless you and your family! Call on Jesus and give him your worries! Trust and believe in him and he will always be there for you! 🙏❤️🕊
You have a great time creating your new tribe from awesome ppl of *your* choosing. Losing family is hard but that was *their* choice! Enjoy your new life, friends and tribe! I'm struggling with this now, I nanny for a JW family and holidays are interesting : | I'm keeping all of it in because little man will eventually grow up and need someone outside and I'm hoping I'll be able to keep in touch and be a safe place for him later in life! Keep rocking it lady, you got this! Cheers
I’m just turning 18 now and my whole life I grew up thinking I can’t do this I can’t do that or god will hate me he will never love me again he will abandon me like I abandoned him I’ve been reading through the Bible to try to make sense of everything lately and this video made me actually cry because I just realized I actually have a choice if I want to be this or not I’m not forced to be this just because I grew up as it of course I love god but the Jehovah witnesses they put so much pressure on us they make us feel like if we do this we will get disowned by god and we will never go to paradise and we will die in Armageddon that’s such a scary thing to teach little kids growing up that if they do this thing they r gonna die when the world ends and the thing is sumthing like setting up a Christmas tree 🙁. Thank you so much for posting this thank you so much u have no idea 💙💙
Sorry for your loss. Nothing my kids could do would cause me to disown them even if God Himself personally told me to do it. You did the right thing and God is proud of you. Glad you got the chance to say goodbye.
I was made to go to Jehovah's witnesses church when I was a teenager with a friend of mine and her next-door neighbour as we were getting into a bit of trouble so they thought church would be good for us... My mother found out and took me straight out of that church and I'm glad she did.
Just saw your other posts .So glad that you of that organization. Thank the Lord you are not guilty of being disrespectful to your parents and that you did right thing to contact her and tell her you love her. God will comfort you !
I was also raised in a cult, the 7th day Adventists are as much of a cult as the Jehovah's witnesses are. My mom told our kids that their mother and I were going to Hell because we didn't go to their church. (they were 5 & 8 at the time). I definitely empathize with you. It is extremely painful and difficult to have your own mother not only be that out of touch with reality, but to try to shove her FALSE beliefs down the rest of the family's throats. I will pray for you and your whole family. May God Bless ALL of you with HIS Light and Truth!
Becky, you are a brave and beautiful person. You can live your life in freedom and happiness now that you are out of that high control organisation. Take care. x
So sorry, I endured the pain of being raised a JW. So much blessing to you. I hope it hasn't ruin your chance to have a good relationship with God. It took me years upon years to find God in a good light. To find trust in life. Blessing to you.
One of my grown sons “married into” the JW faith. Because I am not a member of his church, I am dead to him. Sitting alone on Christmas Day my heart is broken. I know I’m not alone.
It's a shame they don't let Love be their guide, instead of the 7 Dwarves. Been disfellowshipped for decades, it's just a second chance to see what real love is all about, not stupid rules! I wish you well! 😊
I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this - I was born in as well… faded a long time ago. Flip the script on Christmas and holidays… imagine how pissed the pagans are that their holidays were hijacked and now celebrating Jesus….
That made my heart break for you.. I am so sorry. When our God is so full of love, it is terrible for the Jehovah's Witnesses try to take His place and dictate to the congregations rules and regulations that split families. They have deprived you from having a loving relationship with your family. That is despicable.
Im sorry this has happened to you, its a huge shock to those this happens to. However, as someone that assisted many to leave the JWs over the last 2 decades, life becomes better and you discover a wonderful world of caring new friends free of judgement, who dont use guilt and fear to control you. I wish you and your family strength and great times to come.
I know how you feel. My best friend and her husband disowned me and shunned me after I decided not to follow their path. Instead, I became a Born Again Christian. That was 40 years ago, and yes, it still hurts. "The difference between a religion and a cult is what happens after you leave." Mike Rinder, Scientology and the Aftermath.
That is too sad!! It should be ilegal for any group or religious organization to have that much control over people's lives period.... live your life with your children and teach them to respect and love others like tru real loving Christians!
I tried being one for 20 years. But all the little pieces came together and I left. As hard as it was for you, you held your dignity and moral compass.
So sad.... I hope someday the rest of you can reconcile. Years ago, one of my brother's friends mom joined JW. Hard core Italian family, husband said "No way!" to not having Christmas. He and his son decorated the basement and left the rest of the house holiday free.
