Amber Scorah: Leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses

[@ozzzzy939]

I grew up Jehovah's witness. discrimination, arrogance, hypocritical, mysogonistic, homophobic, corrupt, immoral, abusive, this is how this organization is best described.

[@rilla5058]

As a young person, I'm frankly terrified of leaving. I'm going to as soon as I turn 18, hopefully, but the implications of it are overwhelming. I've also been home-educated since I turned school age so I don't know a single person who isn't a witness. My best friend is also wary of getting baptised and I think (or rather hope) that she may decide to leave with me, but there's no guarantee. I've thought long and hard about the different consequences for staying or leaving and how I feel, whether I believe in it or not; and I've come to the conclusion that even if God is real and everything I've been taught is true, I don't want it. But it's hard to imagine what my life will be like with the entirety of my family shunning me, including my childhood friends. I've never been to school, I'm planning to go to college next year, maybe that will help with learning how to talk to people! It's scary and I know it's going to be awfully, awfully hard, but I've done my research and this is what I want to do. I appreciate hearing the experiences of people who have left, gives me some hope that I can do it, and I know that if I'm going to leave, it's best to do it early in life and give myself a better chance of doing _something_ . I don't want to waste my life in a cult.

[@TheKim369]

There are actually groups for clergy who have lost their faith, but their job, often housing, friends and family depend on their continued presentation as believers. It's been a year, I wonder how you are doing and if you made it out. I wish you the best.

[@kevaran1422]

Ive never set foot back again in the JW kindgom halls (church) since 2020. The transition was slow for me. From skipping meetings, getting more work shifts, making my life busier, making new friends outsidr the church, gaining few, close and real friends and finally not catering their text messages. I am now more at peace. No hypocrisy, no judging unbelievers, no church internal politics. I'm planning to make online contents that can help PIMOs, the least that I can do.

[@robzilla730]

what's a "PIMO"?

[@mikejerman4147]

@@robzilla730 Physically In, Mentally Out

[@marwatson7408]

@@robzilla730 Physical In Mentally Out people who go to meetings and starting to realize how messed up the Cult really is and want to get out.

[@Juiceboxdan72]

Getting out of any cult or religion is probably the most liberating thing you can ever do. I recommend it.

[@Tembo_Leonardo]

Very true

[@scofah]

Thank you for sharing your story. I too see that action/activism is a way to "be faithful." Working for justice for all - including new parents - thank you for that. So sorry for your loss. Thanks again.

[@5star64]

I raised my 2 sons as Jehovah's Witnesses before I woke up after 30 years. I was able to reason with my younger son and show him ample proof that the witnesses are a complete fraud. But my other son just stopped speaking to me. We had been very close I raised them as a single parent. So sad that your child would choose a religious cult over his own father. Without even asking me why did you leave.

[@rhdtv2002]

Been shunned 30 years from my own family

[@zepago4253]

Wait. You raised your son as a JW and then you realized that JW wasn’t for you and then your son is still JW and you get upset that he chose the cult over you? YOU RAISED HIM IN THAT WAY! Your thinking is flawed.

[@merricat3025]

@@zepago4253 he was probably raised in it too

[@intelligenceisattractive8458]

@@rhdtv2002 Me too.

[@tatalouis7004]

Jesus said one day children going to be agains father fater’s agains son that’s what it is happening on this day’s now

[@titochdry1150]

I'm ex muslim and a proud Apostate. After listening to you about your ex religion, sounds very similar to Islam.

[@klumaverik]

Very clear and eloquent. Thank you.

[@justinleemiller]

For JWs, 'worldly' is an insult. It implies you're a bad person into drinking, drugs, casual sex, and everything negative. It doesn't mean experienced, intelligent, sophisticated, etc.

[@-Zer0Dark-]

I'd contest the implication that those things are all mutually exclusive. I enjoy having drinks and casual sex with intelligent and sophisticated people.

[@bradlucy]

Thank you for sharing. I'm an ex-jw as well. I used to believe that Jehovah's witnesses were the true religion because of their strict adherence to the bible. However, I have learned that the closer you follow the bible the worse you become as a person. I wish I could've recognized that then. At age 50 I'm not sure what to do with my life now

[@colinriches1519]

The more you learn about reality, the more freedom you have.

[@mirando100]

Great, I am happy when people leaves this dangerous cult. I hope that everybody leaves this mind controlled organization.

[@MegaPeedee]

What an inspiration! A pleasure to listen to this lady speak.

[@humidg355]

I have a friend who is a JW. I was concerned because she cut off her non JW friends. I was advised by my fellowship to pray for the family that the Holy Spirit open their eyes. That I cannot help them change their mind, only God can Her husband has left JW with the children but she’s still stubborn. I know one day she’ll know the truth & she’ll be set free I thank God that his Word is true. Any fellowship that does not allow members the freedom to ask questions is a cult. I attend church and our pastor always says that we should always check everything he said with the bible We ask questions. I’m grateful for the freedom I have in my church. We are a faith group not a religion

[@robzilla730]

I'm intrigued. tell me more about Faith groups, please.

[@pravuiluriel840]

Ones you step on the way to freedom , there is no going back . Never .

[@cathybober8774]

Amber, you are "spot on". Bravo and keep it up! Thank you.

[@vic38290]

Is it possible that you're being called to a much more greater and nobler things in life?

[@Imissyoulou]

I know 2 sisters that were JW. When their mother died, they did not attend her services because it was in a church. However, after their mother's death, they were right their, with their hands out, looking for their parts of her assets. They talk about Satan's world, but if the fall in your home, they will sue, quickly.

[@blessingsaflow4854]

That's awful thing to do to a parent.

[@harmonicamanrandy]

Thank you for this.

[@colinmccarthy7921]

I found the talk very interesting to listen to.JW’s have there own Belief’s,Law’s,etc.I remember a couple of JW’s knocking on my front door.I opened the door and they introduced themselves as JW’s. I said to them I am a Satanist and I ask them into my house.Believe me,I don’t think I have ever seen two people leave my front porch in such a hurry..The funny thing was,I was going to ask them to convert me.I am a Roman Catholic.

[@robzilla730]

I have Faith but not religion. still, a little sad because my young son is asking me to take him to church. I love that he wants to know God but my problem is that every denomination says THEY'RE saved and everyone else is going to hell.

[@albertdenlar9101]

JW music in the hall was as eating dry cardboard growing up, left after the1975 lie

[@benglurtnik350]

Amber is currently the best spokesperson for us Ex-JWs. She's eloquent and her story is compelling. Her book is wonderful. Otherwise, what I dislike about many anti-JW videos and comments, is how many "Christians" have replaced this one foolish fairy tale belief system with another. I believe it's obvious that religion in general - all religion - is accountable for as much negativity as good for humankind.

[@redbullfromtoilet4259]

Telltale is pretty good too

[@Lunatic4Bizcas]

Excellent comment. I completely agree.

[@Lunatic4Bizcas]

@@redbullfromtoilet4259 : Telltale is fantastic as well as presenting a very no nonsense, logical and down to earth way of showing how ridiculous and detrimental a variety of religion and religious movements are to society at large.

[@GG-kv8vv]

Yaaaaay, Amber spoke TRUTH!!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Like many people, I've heard of Jehovah's Witnesses before. But I've never attended the church growing up.

[@Defeat_MAGA]

The Baha'i Faith does the same thing in China. It's odd. The teachings in the Baha'i Faith say to follow the laws of the nation you reside in. But when Baha'is relocated to China to proselytize, if they are asked about their purpose, they are told to lie. That is very telling.

[@INHELL4]

Hello guys thank you for all your work, but audio level is very low, please.

[@RockinAtheist]

"The mind gives meaning to anything, but the meaning it gives is meaningless." J. Krishnamurti

[@essy184]

For those how are interested FFRF stands for …The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is an American non-profit organization, which advocates for atheists, agnostics, and non-theists. Formed in 1976, FFRF promotes the separation of church and state, and challenges the legitimacy of many federal and state programs that are faith-based. Looked it up after watching 22 minutes…. I really wanted to know what are your beliefs having left JW.

[@electricbadgercollc8146]

What a powerful presentation...thank you.

[@gergelykiss]

Thank you for your powerful talk, Ms. Scorah. You are doing a great service. Both in terms of documenting the difficulties of leaving an insular religious group and also through your activism. It is hard to find a more worthy cause in America than paid parental leave. I don't think Europe is better in any meaningful way than the US (and in many ways it's worse), but paid parental leave is one of the few things on which America has a lot of catching up to do. Thank you again for all that you do, you are making a difference.

[@Javitomanzano]

When talking about Europe it depends on the country. Life can be different from one European country to another.

[@peacefulprevailer412]

Amber said she now sees "cultiness everywhere I look". I get that! So true for me, everyday! When I was waking up from a religious cult, I read Steve Hassan's books on cults. His BITE model (Behavior control, Information control, Thought control and Emotion control) is a measuring stick I've successfully used for identifying dangerous cults. Steve, having been a powerful cult Mooney leader, said that once you have been in a cult and leave, you are vulnerable to getting back into another cult(s). Sadly, even Steve, having his family help him exit a cult, with all his "shrink" education, has escalated his seemingly quiet need for power, to become another cult leader, this time politically. This time he's gone brazenly public with dangerous rhetoric to enslave a whole country to numerous forms of captivity, that will hurt each and every citizen, while he cloaks that with a "Freedom of Minds" website. Very clever. He has deeply impressed upon me, by his own cult prevention warnings of the past, the need for doing all the personal work to never fall prey to other's agendas and slide back into being mentally swayed, and captive again. Be free, but also be responsible and kind, and not tread upon the existing freedoms we hold in this part of the world. Good luck and best wishes to Amber and all those who stay vigilant.

[@jovialbivouacker99]

I grew up a JW, now an EX-JDub of over 25 years( 🥳), but I don’t recall the hot dog 🌭 prohibition. However, I’m happy for you for finally getting out! 🤗

[@lesliefranssen3045]

I was drug into the kingdom hall at the age of five years old it was like torture to me as a five-year-old. As I got older my dad was a congregation overseer at that time and he like using a piece a garden hose for a belt he always said this is going to hurt me a lot more than you. And then he said spare the rod spoil the child.

[@reece1929]

I remember hearing many spankings in that pink tiled bathroom as if it was the norm. Just because it was hard for us to sit still for two hours. It was torcherously boring! We were little kids! Damn!

[@-Zer0Dark-]

@@reece1929 One of my mom's friends used a large wooden spoon to spank her 2-year-old son. The whole house could hear it any time we'd do our Bible study over there. I'm not sure which was worse: Hearing the loud smacks, or the muffled sound of his cries while (it was obvious) she was covering his mouth. Not shockingly, this particular couple took it upon themselves to "correct" or discipline any kids at the Hall who were running around too much after the meetings, or getting restless because their parents were socializing instead of leaving. My mom still talks about how the husband brought me to her by my ear for being too rowdy.

[@R.Oates7902]

Obviously the spanking or threats didn't work or they would have stopped happening! I NEVER got spanked in a KH. Me and my siblings got it at home from my a**hole brute of a father or my bitch of a mother. He's dead, thank God! We don't miss him that much

[@rachietheravenclaw8224]

@@R.Oates7902 I don't know if my mum or her siblings were hit in the KH, but they were abused by her father and step mother (both physically and mentally). The elders turned a blind eye when they asked for help. Which eventually killed one of my uncles (their father beat him to a pulp) and he needed a blood transfusion, he was only 16. Once mum turned 16, she left her father and step mother and the religious cult. Mum suffers from the bad memories, I think she has PTSD. Her father commited suicide, she never went to the funeral.

[@alexcazzetta6105]

The JW on the front do not solicitate physicals punishment... but... they use a verse from the bible: "in order for the tree to grow straight you need to put a stick next to it" or something like that... which translated: beat the crap out of your kids... I have seen more physical punishment during those 13 years of nightmares than in the rest of my life. I reached a point (as a child and I remember it like it was yesterday) where I would either scream as loud as I could with the hope someone would come and help/save me from the beating to the point as teenager that (and I am not proud of it, but I couldn't take those beating 4/5 times a week for any stupid reason) the point where I started to respond with physical violence back. Not proud of it, but both my monsters I had as parents stopped trying to beat me. I knocked out my father and sent my mother flying across the kitchen. I was 16 and soon after I called the righteous elders (of my arse) and told them what had been happening... and, because they educated me well in the use of their rules... I had my letter of DISSOCIATION ready to be handled as soon as Id finish my speech. So, I gave them the worst 15 min of their life al 5 of them, they knew me personally and they knew how things were going in my household... they did nothing and just stood there. SO, I told them how they failed and ow they did not represent their believes at all and ended by saying: "here this is my letter of DISSOCIATION, do not come close to me or I will put a restraining order on you and call the cops on you". I stood up unlocked the door (they closed me in) and looked into my parents eyes and in front of the remaining 90+ members, I said: "land one more of your dirty hands on me, try to attack me one more time and I promise you, I will respond with such a brutal force that you will meet your beloved J"! Needless to say after that act they tried to contact me again and I confronted them in the street loud and clear, the whole neighborhood stood there and watched how I dismantled them (verbally), piece by piece. Several other teen left after me as they were all been violently abused. I know for a fact that their "hall" is now closed for good. 29 years later and I still have PTSD from those 13 years of monstrosities. I discovered Martial Arts that helped me controlling my anger and I discovered music where I deliver my frustration into. I have recently returned into Christ (obviously NOT a JW) and I am happy as I realized Christianity isn't bad.. CULTS are!

[@rankoplavec3197]

YOU ARE A BRAVE LADY

[@NilDreams]

Amazing!! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@shawnhartmann4581]

I'll be 50 in a few months. It kinda shocks me to realize she's right about the speeches. My mother was Jewish, and converted to J.W. when I was two (some may say it's almost a lateral move). I gave my first "talk" when I was four, to a crowd of about 14,000 (a convention), telling the story of Jonah and the Whale. I gave a talk about once every one or two weeks thereafter until I was disfellowshipped for refusing baptism at 13. I thought it was normal. However, I never once saw a female give a talk.

[@antoinettevorhees2997]

Where was this I've never heard or seen a child or women give a talk in any kingdom Hall do you mean a talk like an elder or a brother would give or the theocratic play act that women do when they sit an give Bible teaching . I'd like to know. This is new light lol . I'm no longer a student. All these videos would have help .me understand leaving alot sooner

[@guilhermesilveira5254]

FFRF is a good secular organization. And Amber is a critic of JW cult.

[@Jazzymanpants1989]

I totally love this talk Amber and agree what you say about cults

[@dereckamcknight3247]

No everything in jw were boring

[@dertbom]

Can I get a witness?

[@joshthomas7999]

Not in THIS video.

[@dancingnature]

Only is you’re Marvin Gaye. 😁

[@anab7177]

I used to be a witness

[@tonycutty598]

10:35 'Trying to act natural...' lol only religion could get someone to do that. Acting natural doesn't need you to try ;)

[@paulhubbard252]

Sounds like a great life you can have that especially when there's no evidence of a god and shunning people over really nothing is stupid and can be damaging

[@GG-kv8vv]

REFRESHING

[@GG-kv8vv]

Would love to talk . My ....has been to China 9x, 4 x lived ...

[@kiawoodford465]

It was impossible for Jesus to die on a cross. When you take a look at the x-ray of a hand , THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A MAN when the palm is pierced with a nail.

[@corriemcnab730]

That's because he would have been nailed through his wrists.....