Jehovahs Witnesses Shame Kids For Being Sleepy | Caleb and Sophia

[@gspendlove]

*Caleb:* "Mom, can we eat breakfast?" *Mom:* [doesn't feel like making breakfast] "Now, Caleb, do you really think _Jehovah_ wants you to eat breakfast today? Or does Jehovah want you to _not_ eat breakfast?" *Caleb:* [hangs head] "I guess not." *Mom:* "That's right, Caleb. You would enjoy having breakfast, but _Jehovah_ doesn't want you to enjoy yourself. Eating breakfast is part of life, and _Jehovah_ wants you to _hate_ your life."

[@autobotyscorner6404]

That's... so in character it's genuinely scary.

[@knowthyself8233]

😂😂

[@runewolf77]

And to make it more like hell "wear a smile" 😁😭☠

[@robertnorth7609]

Caleb: "Mom, can we eat breakfast?" Mom: "I already had breakfast 🍳. If you want breakfast , you know your way around the kitchen. Just don't make a mess."

[@runewolf77]

@@robertnorth7609 that would be my mom 😆

[@newyorkangst]

Not JW but my grandma used to take me to church when I was little. The service was from 11am to 1pm, but she liked to get there at 9am to pray and talk to her friends. I was the only kid, there were no cellphones back then or anything. One time I told her I was bored; she and her friend gasped like I'd say something awful, and they instructed me to pray for forgiveness. I still remember the shame from that moment. I was 11.

[@letsomethingshine]

The sin of being bored by their socialite gossip activities. You should have been JOYOUSLY awaiting the religious service coming up in 1-2 hours with natural GLEA! (end of sarcasm).

[@leahsodyssey123]

I'm sorry that happened to you.

[@louistournas120]

Mindless people don't get bored by simple things for hundreds of hours and therefore, those adults are not bored or they are bored but are dishonest. Mindless people tend to not analyze their religion much, they don't think about what they are going to do in heaven, they try not to ask questions, they are not curious. A human being who is not curious, is dead on the inside. That is what my chemistry teacher said and I agree with him.

[@qwertydog9795]

I was 12 when I realized for the first time that going to church just felt like going thru the motions and that the experiences I had at camp were emotionally driven

[@BrieCheese]

Yeah that sounds SUPER boring. Imagine the other things that you could have done with that time.

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

Imagine spending 8000 years learning to yodel

[@lieutenantawol2368]

Imagine NOT spending 8000 years learning to yodel, you square

[@Akira625]

Imagine spending 8000 years _listening_ to yodeling!

[@corvus2327]

Imagine being stuck as a child for eternity.

[@MrSeedi76]

I guess I'd get pretty good at it. But I'm more looking forward to 8,000 years of learning throat singing 😊.

[@littleredpony6868]

If you have an eternity, might as well spend 8,000 years learning how to yodel, you will still have the same amount of time left as you started

[@pinkeysherbet7249]

During “Pay Attention At The Meetings” It’s hard not to talk about the disregard for children’s health. It’s nighttime and crickets are chirping, so it’s safe to say these meetings are happening after 7pm which is when elementary school kids need to wind down for the night. The kids have had a long day of either doorknocking or school and between homework and chores it’s safe to assume they don’t have time to rest before the meetings (and I doubt Caleb and Sophia’s parents are okay with them napping because sloth is a sin). No wonder Sophia is fighting to stay awake and Caleb is wired. These behaviors aren’t choices these kids are making, they’re responses to exhaustion. On top of that they’re being told to ignore their exhaustion and take notes! The sleep deprivation as a control method is so obvious here.

[@resourcedragon]

💯%

[@bigflx2754]

I would always sleep at the night meetings as a kid, my parents understood it was difficult for us

[@xletragedyx]

Also it's not developmentally appropriate. It's not tailored to fit a child's interest or attention span. I'm not saying it should all be Veggie Tales, but meetings are very dry

[@liminalhaunt]

To say nothing about kids that are wired differently. Not gonna find any neurodivergent people in paradise, I guess.

[@FoodNerds]

Yes

[@lisahance]

So glad you got out.

[@thepianoplayerkid4726]

I agree.

[@SpruceOaks]

So glad I wasn't raised JW.

[@SonicGamerGirl2006]

​@@SpruceOaks So am I, especially after learning about the real truth about Jehovah's Witnesses and what that life is REALLY like...

[@Volundur9567]

@@SpruceOaks Same. I have some relatives that are, but it seems like they're not full looney JW types. I think they got roped into it because they were immigrants. Religious nutters tend to prey on these demographics.

[@ambermchugh9381]

Especially for alpha force zero

[@aimliard2276]

Fun fact: the "tongue" of the butterflies are on their paws. So if you think they are cute coming for you and landing on your body...it's more sinister, they are tasting you 😂

[@Volundur9567]

Some people might be into that sort of thing.

[@aimliard2276]

@@Volundur9567 😂 indeed

[@Kurokami112]

I don't get what's so bad about that...

[@aimliard2276]

@@Kurokami112 kinky I see 😏

[@Kurokami112]

It's not about being kinky, it's a genuine question

[@Meggolor]

Not ex-JW but ex-Mormon. As someone that has ADHD, long church meetings are a massive pain to sit through, even as an adult. It was even worse for my little brother, he was a young kid with ADHD and had so much trouble sitting through those meetings. Fortunately, our mom let us bring stuff to keep us occupied, I had to bring fidget toys otherwise I would legit fall asleep sometimes lol. So glad I don't need to worry about that crap anymore.

[@steakknives]

You're lucky you weren't raised Catholic, church is 11 and a half hours long, starting at 4am. Easter service is 43 hours long starting the Thursday before.

[@LadyEvelynL]

Yeah, I hated going to sacrament meeting, I would get so bored and fidgety,. I preferred when video Conference was on, so I didn't have to go to church

[@imnotcrazy7108]

Dude, I had a similar problem. I was raised Catholic and had undiagnosed ADHD, so church would be two very different experiences depending on which parent was taking me that day. My dad was also ADHD, so we would stand in the lobby, he’d pace around while listening to the readings, we’d slip in for communion and then leave and kill time until it was expected that we’d be home. My mom, by contrast, would threaten me with the existence of my meal right after that if she saw me drifting off.

[@QuarioQuario54321]

@@steakknives🤯 (I’m Protestant)

[@cjpietropinto9293]

Conventions were a pain. (Days on end of "talks") painful!

[@zoro4661WasTaken]

How you just gonna hate on butterflies like that, what the hell

[@mjamin9124]

i thought it was a bit at first, saying "butterflies are awful! wait, no, they're not? people tend to look at them and feel warm and fuzzy? huh, wonder if, just maybe, that was an intentional propaganda choice here" but no he just hates butterflies

[@obamaxbox264]

yeah i yelled that the screen, how could you shit on butterflies soo hard?!

[@Chris47368]

Agreed - both Moths and Butterflies are awesome imo...Owen missed very badly on this 😂

[@novaava]

My sister hates them, too. :c Actually, now that I think of it, our childhood home was in the middle of a Monarch migration route, so I can imagine how a scene like this might have triggered a phobia: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHPPaqd5n6app7c

[@woadblue]

Vibrant, beautiful, peaceful and not pests in any way. What is there to dislike?

[@blindovision]

The part that I think is real child abuse is the fact that we are raised being told on a weekly basis that are family only loved us because we were part of the same church. That they would completely abandon us if we decided that church didn't work for us. I was 5 years old and I already knew it was bullshit. But I had to pretend for such a long time cuz I wanted to be fed and have a family. The fact that they teach you that there is no such thing as unconditional love is absolutely disgusting. And then they send you to school to see other kids who didn't have that same kind of fear. It was absolutely abuse. 😞

[@bwadarkon]

But for a JW, the only conditional love that exist is towards their imaginary friend. You are only their child, you either conform or become exiled by the community. JW do not know what love, family or caring about others actually means. I'm not american, i'm from belgium. What JW's witnesses are most known for here is protecting pedophiles through their religion. The only thing these JW know how to do is abuse others and protect abusers. Because their imaginary friend is so awesome.

[@jommisalami]

I was kept homeschooled because my Christian, ex-witness mom was afraid of "modern propaganda" ruining me (science, evolution etc). I had no friends and now I'm in desperate need of a place to stay because I got caught watching videos like this. There's no hate like Christian love. My parents never loved me, they just care about how they think god sees them.

[@dancingnature]

Domestic violence places might help you . Emotional abuse and threats against your safety are part of Domestic violence.

[@emofurryboyfriendasmr]

​@@dancingnature i wish more people knew this:( i never knew it with my last partner and it could have helped me

[@dedrikkzchnnl7703]

I think this video is a little bit of bs but your comment is dead on!! I grew up one and i think it's so wrong they do that. Family always comes first. I will never turn my back on my kids or any family over religion

[@YumeDream39]

You: Talking about how bad Jehovahs Witnesses are Me: Yes I agree! Also you: I hate butterflies Me: Now hold up!

[@Colin12475]

Those damn butterflies killed my cat last summer.

[@nevaehhamilton3493]

​@@Colin12475 some butterflies do contain a type of poison as a result of drinking the nectar of a poisonous flower.

[@nevaehhamilton3493]

I might be watching too much Miraculous Ladybug, but I kinda agree with hating butterflies.

[@User-tn2cm]

what I disagree with is him saying that they're worse than MOTHS. NOTHING is worse than moths

[@Triple_Y_turn]

My mom (not biological but that's another story) got out of JW when she was 25 and took her children with her and started her life as a single mom in a foreign country without even knowing a word of the language. I have so much respect for her for that alone but the more I learn about the organization the more respect I gain for her and anyone who left

[@Ssm19494]

What’s the story with your mom?

[@Triple_Y_turn]

@@Ssm19494 my bio mom can't provide emotional support to me or any of my siblings. We grew up with every material thing we needed but we didn't have any emotional needs met. I developed a mental illness, which she and my das don't believe exists and they were giving me a hard time for seeking help, taking medication and showing symptoms. When I met my mom she was there for me on an emotional level that my bio mom can't and she kinda accepted me into her family and after a few months I already felt closer to her than I ever did to my bio mom

[@SonicGamerGirl2006]

The second one bothers me to the core, and for good reason. To tell your child that they won't survive in Armageddon if they fall asleep or play during the meetings is actually a form of emotional and mental abuse. Also, children do not have the capacity to sit through long, boring meetings at this time yet! Expecting your child to sit through such meetings like an adult is VERY unrealistic, and unfortunately, children are exposed to physical abuse if they're unable to sit through the meetings! I've seen it for myself, and I don't like it... AT ALL! It shows me that Jehovah's Witnesses fail to realize that children are NOT mini adults! They're children whose brain is still in development! This is child abuse in more ways than one, and it is NOT okay! It NEEDS to stop! 😠😞😓💔

[@chilling_koala]

I've never seen truer words

[@joelle4226]

As an adult I’m unable to sit for meetings like that

[@SonicGamerGirl2006]

@@joelle4226 I hear you. Not all adults can handle sitting through long, boring meetings like the ones in the Kingdom Hall. 😬😬😬

[@anastasia_dronik]

Kids of that age are unable to sit still and pay attention for 2 hours straight. That's why, in school, they have breaks, and every lesson consists of different activities (like listening, reading, thinking, writing, discussing, or problem-solving).

[@melissacooper8724]

Isn't that the reason why there is recess?

[@ptheorist4670]

At the end, they even show Caleb draw about Noah's arc. That's what you'd do with a child his age, you'd tell them a story and then ask them to create something inspired by the story, like draw a scene from it or something. They know that children need enrichment and variety in activities and that they mostly learn through action. Like any professional cult leader, the ones who hold the power in this cult are very well educated on human psychology, especially child psychology, and use that knowledge _against_ their members in order to keep them trapped there.

[@1greninjawolfbossdeath648]

And even then in adults there is certain point where your brain stops absorbing knowledge and you need a 5 min break in the middle.

[@EviLxFifi]

It's baffling how they portray these kids feeling guilty and miserable for minor mistakes as if it were normal, desirable even. Way to shape a child's mind...I'm so glad I woke up but feel for all those little ones that have no choice but to get scarred for life.

[@cjpietropinto9293]

To them it is normal. They instill guilt and perfectionism very early. (Child of the JWs).

[@janetkizer5956]

The mother looks so sweet and loving in these videos. But I remember what she was like in the one where a school friend of Caleb gave him a toy wizard. "Oh. A friend gave it to you!" And then Caleb had to throw his present in the garbage. And then when she convinced Sophia to tell her school friend that her two mothers were sinners. Yeah. I think way too much about all this.😉

[@ReginoRamos-cs4qy]

Being gay is a sin though

[@MaddoxMelton]

Yep. That video pisses me off so much. She made him throw away that toy that wasn’t even his. Yet the org is able to inherit tobacco, weapons, military, and blood transfusion company stock. Yet they don’t have to throw it away

[@therealopaartist]

She could’ve just told him to give it back, but NOPE.

[@000FIRESTORM1989]

This explains so much, a few years ago while on holiday the hotel I was staying in was hosting a Jehovah's witness conference, I witnessed many families who were all dressed in the best suits and dresses, even the children were dressed in suits and dresses. It was during the evening that I witnessed something very strange, there was a group of Jehovah's witnesses sitting in the bar all still dresses in suits/dresses and they had young children with them, it was long past 10pm and the youngest child he was about 5, was no surprise dozing off and every time he did his farther would shake him awake and tell him to pay attention to the group conversation...it utterly baffled me at the time but after watching this video it makes a lot of sense...a lot of crazy sense.

[@ChrisPyle]

A young 4 year old child simply can’t comprehend the topics being discussed. Forcing them to remain still and silent when they don’t understand what’s going on, causes life long issues. In real life, if we don’t understand direction or instruction, it’s imperative that we speak up and gain the needed understanding. This is gaslighting.

[@AngelofVitality]

I have to know: How did a Butterfly Wrong you 😂

[@natchi886]

Spongebob. Enough said

[@kristenleesellers]

I remember as a kid I once suggested there should be a kid-friendly program downstairs and you would have thought I suggested they should do ritualistic sacrifice.

[@julybutterfly]

I had a jw friend who had been disfellowshipped. She was always studying scripture, preparing for yet another umpteen dozenth meeting with the elders to get back in. They kept denying her because they didn't approve of me , her non jw friend, who gasp! smoked cigarettes! 😅 This girl could smoke, eat, and drink anyone under the table. Celebrated her birthday too! I helped her so much with life skills, budgeting, cooking, living on her own. The girl didn't even know that you could wash black hair. Oh man, her head stunk so bad. It was un jehovahly! Anyways, in the end, she did me dirty, and betrayed my trust. She went off the rails when I told her we were no longer friends. She responds with, "well at least I will go to paradise after Armageddon, you have no hope." Omg! What a joke! The girl was disfellowshipped, so indoctrinated that the entire length of our friendship, she believed herself superior to me (a non jw). To me that means she manipulated, and used me. What a sick cult jw is. Now I stay away from any of them like the plague!!!

[@Aliceintherosegarden]

Sorry you had that experience. I had a similar one with someone who was following another religion, however, pretty sure she's still in the religion. She doubted things but after one summer the indoctrination hit her so hard she told me she'd go to hell by simply being friends with me, an agnostic girl. I don't want to be friends with someone who thinks like that. Nothing against her faith, I know people who follow it in a decent way. But such strictly religious people are doomed to either repeat the cycle of toxic indoctrination, or leave the faith and lose their family, in some cases even their safety, but gain the freedom to make your own future. Unfortunately my previous friend chose the first option. I'm pretty sure she is in a marriage with no job nor rights right now.

[@julybutterfly]

@@Aliceintherosegarden wow, seems like you also had to make a choice like I did. It's impossible to have a friendship with someone who is so utterly and completely brainwashed. What makes things worse in my case, is that the girl will soon become a social worker, influence and servicing the vulnerable of our society. Scary!

[@mr.perfectcell1887]

I'm sorry to hear that. I was hoping, as I read, for a better outcome than that. I still hope she and a lot of people stuck in that brainwashed mindset can find their way out.

[@tiredofliars]

I took a training class on child attentive levels, in a church organization no less, and we were taught that to have a youth program, we had to separate the children into groups, because the attention span of a three year old is about thirty seconds, a six year old about two minutes, a ten year old ten minutes, a teen, thirty minutes, and to build our program based on that understanding, so the youngest groups had a LOT of activities, but short indoctrination methods, then older children had fewer activities, and more indoctrination, etc. This was when I was 18, I quit churches completely when I was 19.

[@margaretjohnson6259]

lol! i quit catholicism at 19. such a relief.

[@LessThanLucid]

What's an attention spa- SQUIRREL! 🙃

[@resourcedragon]

I love your KZbin handle - seems so appropriate for someone who's quit churches completely.

[@tiredofliars]

@@resourcedragon The day I quit, I had been running the audio board for services for about six months at this HUGE 3 acres under roof mega-church in 1979. I worked in construction and made decent money, and I had been trained to give 10% +, which I did without fail. But one Sunday after services one of the deacons approached me as I was shutting down the audio system and started preaching at me about giving 10%. I stopped him and asked him what business of it was his how much I donated, and he told me he was the church treasurer and that they had not seen a SINGLE donation from me. Now, I was already beyond believing, as I had read the entire bible by the time I was 17, but I asked him what made him believe that I was so evil as to not give anything to the church, and he told me about the offering envelopes that people use so that when they give, they can write it off of their taxes, and they didn't have a single envelope from me. I WISH I had the courage to say "FUCK YOU" to him right there in the church! I then explained to him that 1. I was 19 years old and certainly was not itemizing my taxes and 2. If I was concerned about getting a tax break from my donation, was it really a donation? And I NEVER returned to a church again, except for my Mother's 80th birthday where it was the last time that all 12 of us children were together in one place. But it was the obvious scamming for money that completely broke my desire to even associate with CHRISTINSANITY.

[@tiredofliars]

@@LessThanLucid There is a statement "READ MORE" directly below what someone writes, if you want to learn to read the ENTIRE WORD, then you click on READ MORE and suddenly, like magic, the rest of the document will open for your purview. Amazing how modern technology allows you to concatenate a long statement, and then allows you to READ MORE if you want to! LOL!

[@West-rk7dz]

Yea..when i was maybe 9 or 10 y/o my mom punished me a couple times for sleeping during church. She would wake me up, take me into the church bathroom during the service and spank me. It wasn't even the kids program, it was the adult service and she told me to pay attention and would quiz me on the sermon when we got home. Sometimes she would whisper in my ear "what is he talking about?" While he was preaching.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

I spent my time from the age of six to thirteen in a church choir. Never did listen to the sermons, we were allowed to read books during them. They didn't want us getting, mmm, fractious. On another tack, what's wrong with butterflies Owen? They're beautiful, I've loved them since I was a kid.

[@Saturnia2014]

Your mom was displaying the common signs of a brainwashed person

[@ronhansen8471]

The kingdom halls are no place to discipline children. The discipline needs to start at home.

[@babiesandbuddies]

I'm so sorry you were punished for that - that shouldn't have happened to you. I remember my daughter falling asleep when she was 9 and I thought it was really sweet to be honest. I'd imagine that if we see God as our Father, we'd imagine it's a good thing to feel so safe and relaxed in His presence. I can understand why church culture causes so many people to walk away it's rife with abuse.

[@simona_sigmund1001]

​@@ronhansen8471 Mate you keep trying to justify abuse and JW's in this comment section. If you spank a child you've just abused them - it doesn't matter if you did it at home or at church

[@CaptFoster5]

In a rational nation, this would be considered child abuse

[@fgregerfeaxcwfeffece]

There is no child abuse when children are considered property. And you maintain that status with red threat screeching. "They are coming for your property!"

[@CaptFoster5]

@@fgregerfeaxcwfeffece in fairness, when ANY organized religion, regardless of it's national origins attempting to brainwash children into their given cults should be considered child abuse. However, I do concede your point that when a human being is seen as property rather than as a fellow human being, it becomes easy to defend slavery, exploitation, children working in mines, etc.

[@Mehk]

3:08 Owen going off about butterflies being “weird and gross” was the funniest thing I’ve seen in his videos. It just caught me so off guard lmao.🦋

[@Chrysalid.]

Yeah, he does have a bit of a point (as butterflies are known to sometimes eat off of dead animals and dung. ) I find it funny how they're such popular insects compared to some others

[@goldenalt3166]

They don't sting or bite and they aren't particularly attracted to humans. Plus they have pretty wings. I'd say that they are some of the most tolerable bugs.

[@skyesthelimitro]

​@@Chrysalid. butterflies are just gross bugs with pretty privilege XD

[@chromesthesia]

Theyre so cute tho

[@skyesthelimitro]

@@chromesthesia pretty privilege strikes again

[@austynkersey1982]

I couldn’t help but notice those kids didn’t eat their supper until after the meeting. Assuming they had lunch around noon that’s a long time for kids that age to go between meals.

[@chellastation]

It must be a depressing life to have to spend your every moment with JW related activities and studies, when you are not doing something else like paying attention in class or working at your job. I know this is just a cartoon, but I am hoping Caleb and Sophia would realize the b*llsh*t their told, and find a better life away from JW.

[@ronhansen8471]

JW parents and their children do not spend all their time in JW activities. They balance their activities between spiritual and play time.

[@autobotyscorner6404]

@@ronhansen8471 Ok JW apologist

[@trilithon108]

They want you to only be with other JW people😮

[@FrozenWillow1980]

@@ronhansen8471 As a child within the JW's I never got that playtime. The only playtime I got was recess at school. Has this now changed? Or are you refuting what is being shown within the pages of the Watchtower and Awake and denouncing your own organisations teachings that "Bad associations, spoil useful habits" or other messages within the Young People Ask book? Maybe you should have shunned my ministerial servant father who was a paedo in the first place instead of congratulating him and only disfellowshipping and shunning him when the media shone a light on the issue. In fact on that issue 1Corinthians 5 1-8 is not about apostates as Watchtower teaches you but about those who are sexually immoral "A man is sleeping with his fathers wife" incest which my father was. But if you dare to read scripture without the Watchtower input you will be shunned and called an apostate as well. So sad. You can believe in God and Jesus without Watchtower brainwashing. But then you won't read this as the Watchtower will not allow you to comprehend it. If any questioning JW does read my comment though, may I suggest reading former Governing Body member of Jehovah's Witnesses books In Search of Christian Freedom and Crisis of Conscience because those two books remove the spell that Watchtower has you under.

[@bwadarkon]

​@@ronhansen8471 But if your "play time" activities are solely made up of activities that JW approve, then it's not play time. it's just more spiritual time, as you are still completly restricted by what the JW say. Are you dumb or just pretending?

[@arigarcia2667]

I can’t even stay awake during church and I am grown up.

[@thelanktheist2626]

Leave those butterflies alone they’re trying their best 🥰

[@jaida8945]

I bet they think that disorders like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) makes your child a weak minded person cos I have ADHD and honestly I don't think I could last a minute having to listen to stuff that wouldn't interest me so I can't imagine what hours a week would feel like

[@sarah69420]

I bet they don’t even believe in mental disorders at all. It’s all “satan” taking over our youth

[@danicafugit2697]

I wasn’t JW but we were strictly religious and any mental illness is just in your head and the devil taking over.

[@mariah6608]

My friend I have high functioning autism and I also see the same thing with how the church sees me, I had a zoom call group were the host said a prayer over me to heal my autism but guess what? I had another meltdown/panic attack the next week dealing with my loneliness

[@jaida8945]

@@mariah6608 Me and my brother have low functioning autism as we need help with things on a daily basis (although he is a little more functional with people as i just completely shut down and look to my mummy for help and I learnt from a young age to lip read as I've never had the concentration needed to learn sign language😂) I suffer also with panic attacks when placed in certain situations not helped by a pre existing heart condition (don't get me started on the idea of someone throwing me a surprise party, that's a certified hospital trip😂) If people genuinely feel like religion helps then honestly more power to them but atheists usually have reasons why they don't believe in any higher power the fact that the church still believes that Prayer works is a little bit deluded If you pray for something and it happens that is a coincidence not devine intervention Prayer is the equivalent of chucking a coin into a fountain and closing your eyes

[@benxcell]

Owen I can’t thank you enough for waking me up before I sold my soul to this evil organization I am only 15 so I can’t physically leave but at least I am awake

[@birb5306]

Do you have a plan for how to become financially independent? If not, I hope you can talk to someone at school.

[@EdOnArrival]

Don’t lose hope! There’s an entire WORLD outside of the church. There’s an entire world of people who will love you for who you are, and not make you feel guilty for silly things

[@DawnGloves]

They finally got to my house this morning. As soon as I opened the door I thought “I should have ordered my Apostate Sign!” Next paycheck…

[@MxCartney_Lou]

I’m very happy that you created this channel to expose these abusive cults Owen….I didn’t grow up JW but I grew up in a Catholic family….and I watched Hermie The Common Caterpillar (a Catholic version of Caleb and Sophia) and I did catholic after school studies until I was 14. I was also born with Tricuspid Atresia (Congenital Heart Disease) and was constantly prayed over during my childhood….and I still am sometimes….now I am agnostic about religion where I support individuals being spiritually oriented or even religious people but I stand by the statement that religion guides YOU not everyone else…using religion to control everyone else is abuse

[@Volundur9567]

So much this! Religion should be a mechanism for self-improvement. Now I gotta check out Hermie. I'm too curious.

[@andromeda_va39]

Oh hey, I watched one of those Hermie videos as a kid! Just one, though. My grandparents had it at their house. It was about not telling lies. Pretty basic stuff for a kids' cartoon.

[@Volundur9567]

@@andromeda_va39 Just watched part of an episode. Why are their forelimbs humanoid hands?

[@MxCartney_Lou]

@@Volundur9567 I genuinely forgot about that detail

[@ConsciusVeritasVids]

Spending forever in heaven existing as basically an eternal baby caged inside an infinite crib doesn't sound like paradise to me.

[@agevenisse3252]

If a kid falls asleep at a meeting, they will die at armageddon. Makes sense. 🤦‍♂

[@cheneethompson5756]

What about newborns in the kingdom hall? They're often tired and cranky! And just want milk, or wanna sleep! So, let's say Armageddon comes? Will they be destroyed too?

[@Izzy-cp8yt]

I was raised evangelical, which is a different kind of hell, and I have so many memories of hating church from ages 8-11(ish). Sunday mornings we had to get up early and spend at least an hour getting ready. I had to wear clothes I didn't like, get my hair done in a way I hated, basically get dressed up like a Little House on the Prairie Barbie, bring the bible I didn't know how to read, and got sit through a 45min adult sermon before I could go to the children's Sunday school that I also didn't understand. I used to actively try to dawdle and make us late enough that we wouldn't/couldn't go. The real cherry on top was when they randomly decided that, a month after I turned 11, I was no longer allowed in the "big kids" room, I had to go to the teen room. The teen room was otherwise occupied by 14-17yos, so at least three years older than me. The topic of the day? Abstinence. I'm 100% convinced that the "random" decision to move me to the teen room was a calculated decision to push some further purity culture on me, and it was downright traumatizing. I never told my family what happened, but thankfully I think I acted weird enough after the lesson, because we never went back. (edited for spelling)

[@qwertydog9795]

I was given abstinence speeches well before I turned 10. except it was stupid bullshit analogies like the tape thing. didn't work too well cus I was unapologetically sadomasochistic by age 16.

[@darkenedangel777]

As a non-denominational Christian, I've been watching your stuff for a very long time. I believe God gave us free will and gave us a choice in everything we do. Kids are not mature enough to make such a decision as to join a religion. If I have kids, they won't be raised up in church or be allowed to read any religious texts until they are 15 or so personally. Then, if they want to learn about whatever religion when they're older, then by all means, im not gonna stop them , or and I'm not gonna push them into any religion because that's not fair to them.

[@darkenedangel777]

Main take away for the last part of that is, if they are happy I'm happy.

[@sarahpfeuffer1396]

Isn't it controlling to not allow them to read it?

[@darkenedangel777]

@sarahpfeuffer1396 are you making the claim that kids should have free rain over whatever they want to read/do? Kids need boundaries, telling them they can't read certain books like religious texts I don't think is that big of a deal.

[@jimbob3030]

This sounds way more rational and intelligent than I'm used to seeing coming from believers. Next you're going to tell me you don't even want to overthrow the government and you're not even a trump supporter.

[@sarahpfeuffer1396]

@@darkenedangel777 you identify as a Christian, does this mean you believe that it's true that Jesus Christ died for your sins and saved you from death you deserve? Is anything in life more important than this? Would you say it's our job as parents to guide our children to what is true? We tell them a cow says moo and the sky is blue but not willing to tell them who created them?

[@RockOnTheKitchenTable]

Honestly spending forever anywhere even paradise sounds like hell to me

[@RebelWvlf]

Considering how Heaven is described in Bible (specifically Revelation 21), it is basically prettier version of Hell. No Sun-Moon cycle, and angels repeatedly are shouting "holy, holy, holy", which I bet it would drive anyone insane. Ironically, it is described to be new version of Jerusalem and built on EARTHLY riches like gold and gemstones.

[@Akira625]

It might be fun for a while, but it will eventually get boring after you've done all that you wanted to do. I just don't see the appeal of eternal life, it would be a curse disguised as a blessing.

[@Saturnia2014]

​@@Akira625 I told a pair of Jehovah's witnesses this and they simply walked away. First off, they were rude because they saw that I was studying and they interrupted me to talk about eternal life in paradise All it takes is for a person to ask them basic questions and that's it, they can't influence you so they walk away

[@katarinatibai8396]

@@RebelWvlf 💯🎯 - agree. Holy, holy, holy.... Me : Shoot me, shoot me, shoot me ! Somebody pleace just kill me. - It would be the hell for every non brainwashed human - this "heven".

[@wasserruebenvergilbungsvirus]

There is this show called The Good Place which sort of deals with this topic at the end. It's hard to say more without massive spoilers, but I recommend it.

[@matthewpride2396]

I have a complex due to the same kind of abuse.... I was berated for being tired and it caused me to associate tiredness with weakness and sickness instead of a natural thing like it is.

[@Joker-zl9ng]

8000 years of being kids, sorry Caleb sorry Sophia that sucks 😂

[@kamaudk6770]

I wondered the same thing

[@Akira625]

Spared the hardships of puberty, but denied the opportunity to grow up.

[@cheneethompson5756]

​@Akira625 I was like, "what the hell?" So, they were the same age forever? Pardon my language, but that's bullshit!

[@ollllj]

Sleep deprivation is a very easy+abusive way to break a horse/human, and cults do it. The core concept is to repeat a command till it is obeyed, for the purpose of breaking free-will, and this inherently goes into exhaustion, and it goes faster after exhausting physical exercise, or any sleep-deprivation. sleep deprivation in cults too often also leads into sexual abuse. At least it is not as bad as gaslighting, where the core concept is to make the victim believe that the victim goes insane, usually by manipulating everything around the victim and by constantly lying about the past, because religions and their members are already insane, so there is nothing Any concept of an afterlife is just a variant of advance-fee-fraud, and not much else besides red-herring-fluff.

[@QueenBoadicea]

2:24 Soooo, these children are supposed to imagine themselves dying YOUNG and spending eternity with their parents? Ho boy.

[@daveSeeks01]

I heard that the different Christian groups are convinced that they are the only ones in heaven.

[@Zek3nator]

Eh. Allot of groups get lumped into the label of Christian, many with fundamentally different beliefs, it’s not terribly surprising a JH, a Mormon, and Gnostic believe in different heaven criteria when they have very different “mythologies” about the same characters.

[@Flappergothpunk]

Same case with different muslim sects like sunnis, shias, ahmadis, sufis, salafis, ismailis, wahabbis, etc.

[@cmckinney380]

When I was growing up, we went Sunday morning, field service afterwards. Tuesday we had the Theocratic Ministry part, which was 2hrs at night. Thursday we had Bible Study with the assigned group of people nearby at a person's house, usually a finished basement, for an hour. Then a full day of Field Service on Saturday. We had Family Worship/Bible Study on Wednesday. Ugh.

[@authenticallysuperficial9874]

theocratic ministry??

[@rafradeki]

@@authenticallysuperficial9874 how about ministry of magic

[@authenticallysuperficial9874]

@@rafradeki 😁

[@knowthyself8233]

Yes I had the same days to. Every year the switch attendance time on Sundays cause we were sharing the building with other congregation with different language. 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@plantlady42069]

omg yes, i remember that hell of boredom. And the 3 day 8 hour yearly conventions. me and my sister would get up to "go to the bathroom" at those conventions all the time just to move around. This was until i was like 14-15. so many years wasted being booooooooored.

[@imzadi83fanvids7]

Disagree about butterflies. They are beautiful and helpful pollinators.

[@aanimavilis1492]

They're little freaky colorful creatures ❤️

[@cheneethompson5756]

I agree! I love butterflies!

[@charlestownsend9280]

Read the title and instantly think, of course they do, they're always saying that completely natural things are wrong.

[@yikesyikes5974]

Man I love my JW grandma. She used to let us sleep in the hall. Would even lay down blankets in front of the seats. I think the elders were too scared to tell her to make us stay up.

[@ingramwright5399]

Trust me, the adults have a hard time keeping up with the nonsense coming from those lectures. The kids weren't the only ones I saw sleeping. BTW, I had toddlers, allowed them to sleep all they wanted. I reasoned, why not? What were they staying awake for?

[@cheneethompson5756]

Yeah!

[@Lu13s]

I remember going to church and since i was a member of the church (baptized) i had to attend meetings at like 8 or 9 pm and we didn't get home until like 10 or 11pm. We live about a 5 minute walk away 2 min drive. I was about 13 or 14 and i got baptized at 10 years old. I even remember sitting there doing homework and i had to get up at 6 in the morning for school. We were there until a quarter till 11pm. It was hell! I was tired as anything

[@PraiseTheFSMonster]

That's technically child abuse if they were withholding sleep.

[@mightyx5441]

@@PraiseTheFSMonster its not child abuser till they enforce it hard

[@grahvis]

@@mightyx5441 . Coercion is also abuse, it doesn't have to be physical.

[@Lu13s]

@@PraiseTheFSMonster I never knew this. And it went on for 2 years. At the time we didnt have a choice because it was either attend meetings or essentially be kicked off as a member.

[@PraiseTheFSMonster]

@@mightyx5441 Not true. That's like saying beating a child isn't abuse as long as they don't do it too often.

[@danithompson8743]

You made me LOL. I will think of you as "Owen Morgan--Butterfly Hater" from this day forward--even in "paradise" 😉

[@toryalyn]

Damn, Owen. I didn’t know you hated butterflies so passionately💀💀💀

[@gigabuster_87]

Yeah my parents were great. So great that one assembly weekend where I had a bad stomach flu and was throwing up every moment throughout the weekend, and my parents still took me to the assembly and anyone we could think of to look over me was at the same damned place. I never had so much vomit come out of me. I ended up not going to school the following Monday, but I couldn't even get out of the whole weekend of feeling so sick and having to go to a place so far away.

[@dancingnature]

Wow

[@verdantViridity]

it's pretty uncommon to hear disgust for butterflies, that's a bug that usually even little children can like. if you live anywhere that lets wildflowers grow, like the countryside, it's almost unheard of. even bees are harder to ease people around. butterflies are unusual because, having glamorous wings and no jaws or claws or stingers to protect themselves with, it's like people forget they're even insects unless they're reminded that they come from caterpillars.

[@simonwelch1552]

That comment about gross butterflies got me off guard, too. Like yes owen, it's just you.

[@Volundur9567]

I was dead af when he went off the rails about butterflies like they were some eldritch horror from the void.

[@Akira625]

Well, there are some people out there who are afraid of butterflies despite being some of the most harmless creatures on the planet.

[@legogoku7425]

I have NEVER heard anyone express disgust at butterflies. Maybe Owen has some type of insect phobia. Kind sad not being able to enjoy butterflies tbh.

[@pamelqtaylor8335]

I was scared of butterflies for a long time. As a kid I one time poured water on my bedsheets because the Sesame Street figures on it were chasing a butterfly and I refused to sleep on it. Hearing Owen hate on butterflies brought back this memory lol

[@JCoffey-hc9eu]

Your distain for butterflies cracked me up , never heard anyone go hard on a butterfly. They are kinda gross though.

[@J13-h6y]

You didn’t even mention the 3 day conventions. What a nightmare! I found myself slapping my face to try and stay awake. Let just say I spent a lot of time walking around just to stay awake and kill time.

[@yikesyikes5974]

The 3 day assemblies were fun to me. I had some of the best memories there. We were able to sit with our friends, walk around unsupervised, use tickets to get the best sandwiches pastries, and sodas. We would stay at in the dorms at the University of Nebraska. We went swimming, played basketball, etc. A lot of children got a pass to sleep durning the assembly because it was so darn long. Now if only all the meetings could be that fun.

[@J13-h6y]

@@yikesyikes5974 you must be a sado masochistic.

[@TheFlowerchild712]

​@@yikesyikes5974 They stopped giving sandwiches and pastries when I went. It was brutal for me. I used to day dream, cause we were usually in the seats all the way on the top (Nassau Collesium) and I'm acrophobic. I used to just stare at the crosswalks above and imagine a whole spy movie taking place.

[@chilling_koala]

​@@TheFlowerchild712 that's exactly what I did. My family is Christian, but not really the going to church type, so when I was forced to go once every month cause of my school, I didn't like it. So I imagined ninjas hanging on the ceiling and all that stuff😅

[@yikesyikes5974]

@@TheFlowerchild712 Man you missed out on the food. It was the best part of the assembly. I am laughing about the whole spy thing because I did the same thing - I would create a whole darn movie in my head to pass the time.

[@nexttytreporter2598]

As someone with ADHD, this would be torture. Telling me to stay quiet, look ahead, and pay attention is the best way to get my mind wandering. It was way worse when I was a kid.

[@tiredofliars]

How is it that every description of Heaven or Paradise is based on MATERIAL perfection and WEALTH when it is supposed to be a SPIRITUAL place? Pearly Gates, Streets of Gold, No Pain, No Needs, No PHYSICAL concerns, but everything is based on the BEST OF THE PHYSICAL!!!!

[@oldguy3378]

Now, heaven has fiber internet too!

[@FatMarioHeads]

Owen, I wanna say, I’m glad you opened my mind to how messed up the Jehovahs Witnesses are. I don’t know if I mentioned this on one of your videos before, but my family were Jehovahs Witnesses when I was very young. We left the organization when I was like 4 years old, but my parents were still badly brainwashed by them, especially my dad. Despite not having been to a Kingdom Hall in about 30 years and technically being an apostate, he still holds on to their beliefs. Yet he’s even more of a hypocrite in that regard, because he keeps in contact with family members who are not part of the organization (for the record, none of us are, even his own direct family) and celebrates holidays and birthdays. My mother, who divorced my dad in 2002, even held some messed up views that were instilled in her, like she used to be against me donating plasma and she used to think that the Smurfs were evil. That last one I didn’t get at all, but hearing that the JWs really believe in an obvious bs tale about a Smurf doll coming to life it all suddenly made sense. My mom also told me about how she told members of the Kingdom Hall that she felt like ending her life and one member responded “why don’t you just do it?” Jehovah’s love at it’s finest. Thank you for opening mine and other’s minds up to how they really are. Before watching your videos I thought the Witnesses were just a Christian denomination that went door to door and didn’t celebrate holidays, now I know they’re an evil, destructive cult

[@ybrynecho2368]

You hate butterflies - fie on you! LOL You remind me of an episode of Big Bang Theory where Sheldon called butterflies "flying worms". ROFL. I love them and I've been to a few butterfly houses and just loved it when butterflies would land on me. So delicate and beautiful.

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

Nooooo-butterflies are pretty!

[@mysticmallachi777]

"Butterflies are gross, aren't they?" What? No. They're a wonder of nature, a flying flower, a moving flash of color in an otherwise earthen-hued reality. If you zoom in on it enough, anything can be weird and gross-looking...

[@juliancisthebest]

“A flying flower” is so cute, I’m gonna start using that 😂

[@GetlemanNightmare]

My friend who is JW was dealing sleeping problems and sometimes she didn't go to those meetings as adult but when she went there, they shamed her...

[@mrsnowman42069]

I've never seen somebody hate butterfly's so much ☠☠☠☠☠☠

[@kratosbecrazy3437]

Why are they still kids after 8 thousand years LMFAOOO

[@p_e_r_s_o_n536]

as a daycare worker (part time in the (college) school year, full time in the summer) children CANNOT pay attention for 2 hours with no external stimuli, it just cruel

[@PhantomQueenOne]

Butterflies are beautiful and amazing. Yeah, it's just you.

[@greendragon4058]

Not a JW but these videos make my blood boil basically their whole lives are wrapped up in these teachings oh, there's so much more to life than this. I'm part native American and that is what I practice actually I'm learning to be a shaman people at work used to make fun of me I've learned do not say anything to anybody. I always gave my kids a choice of being whatever they wanted to be that whatever they wanted would be fine with me. My dad's been remarried after my mom passed away and she's trying to push me into the church because my sisters are in the church I told her no way I have picked my path you cannot change my path I don't care what you say I've been following my own path for 50 years do you have your path I have mine respect my path

[@laurieschmitz3897]

My biggest red flag should have been the Thursday night meeting where the ‘sister’ I studied with grabbed the hand of my 7 year old son and hauled him to the back room and lectured him on falling asleep during the meeting. My son had severe allergies to everything he was tested for including many foods and was so exhausted all the time that his teacher would sent another kid along with him to go to his speech therapist because he was so tired that it took forever for him to get down the hall when he was by himself. Looking back it’s really hard for me to forgive myself for not saying ‘Get your damn hands off of my kid. This is none of your business.’ I so wish that would have been our last meeting but we were already brainwashed by that time and spend another 28 years in that BS cult.

[@zierragacha5089]

I feel bad for you and your son for that stupid cult hurting your minds

[@trinsit]

They know everyone will hate them because they know how they treat people.

[@deeanthony7713]

1st off, Owen, I LOVE your videos! Brain-washing children, is not ok but it happens everywhere. You, really, do not like butterflies? Really?

[@ooppoop4522]

Telling a kid to just 'pay attention' for extended periods of time isn't going to work... Adults struggle with that! I have ADHD so I definitely struggle with that and children just aren't going to be able to manage it, for sure, regardless of neurodivergency or not. Neurotypical kids will still struggle to listen to something for that long, especially if it's something they don't understand because it isn't written for them - so how would they expect everyone to?

[@nahndeskript]

I'm well into adulthood and one of those meetings would undoubtedly bore me out of my mind, I can't imagine what kind of Hell it must be for kids.

[@nancymontanye4868]

Omg. Born and raised here. You are so dead on. Thank for what you do.

[@donnasherman8412]

I am so grateful and proud you have been sending the right message exposing the Jehovah's Witnesses' practices. I am glad you got out before any more damage could be done. I am sorry for having to have been involved in that cult. I can't imagine my son at age 8 or so, having to sit for two hours of religious brainwashing. He couldn't sit still for ten minutes and he turned out wonderfully. Just as you did! Thank you again and don't stop exposing these people!

[@elianopepito]

16 year old here, still stuck in a JW family, from when i was born until 14 i had to go to these meetings twice a week, it was always horrible, they made me do speechs when i learnt how to read, today i don’t go to these meetings anymore but still suffer, i never celebrated my birthday, never christmas, and all the things you heard about. Can’t wait to live on my own

[@twilightparanormalresearch186]

As a Christian I find singing for externally *shudders* sound like hell to me

[@TheDeadKingsRaven]

I’ll have none of that butterfly slander anymore Owen. They are majestic creatures just vibing.

[@Adagm]

THEY DRINK BLOOD AND SWEAT, I WILL NEVER TRUST THEM... NEVEEER!!!

[@checkthefacts.]

Like Ray Franz said, you could be a Jehovah's Witnesses just because of the desire for material rewards in paradise but not have an ounce of spirituality

[@JessicaFEREM]

Everything about Caleb and Sophia is a wolf in sheep's clothing of a tv show

[@waffleten9750]

The bug slander is never ending.

[@TRD-667]

I love how youtube so often puts religious adverts in atheist content. Not only are advertisers wasting their money, some of it is going to their philosophical opponents. This one had an ad for the Church of England's online service.

[@angelamaryquitecontrary4609]

I was privileged to be shown something about 'The Mormons in Germany', for some obscure reason. Don't get me wrong, I signed up on the spot, natürlich.

[@ErikZarins]

HEY....butterflies are awesome..

[@hunnybadger442]

My family did the exact same thing to me... Except they're not religious in any fashion and I did absolutely nothing wrong...

[@leighs.9463]

Butterflies are living, flying flowers :D

[@marvincool3744]

“Made sick and ordered to be well.” Hitchens nailed it when he described the general theology of many religions like this.

[@carenxatu5962]

Owen… I both hate and love what I am about to tell you. First off: I can see and understand the dislike of butterflies (I myself have mixed feelings toward them). But it’s even worse then them just “randomly sprouting wings”, because you see: while in the chrysalis their bodies actually *completely dissolve* and then rebuilds itself from scratch. I’m sorry/ you’re welcome. P.S. love your videos. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@woofawoof7616]

So for a while....they're butterfly juice?

[@carenxatu5962]

@@woofawoof7616 lolz! caterpillar juice/chrysalis juice/butterfly juice... i'm not sure which it would be considered tbh, but... yeah- for the most part. XD

[@woofawoof7616]

@@carenxatu5962 😭😭😭

[@conkerh.9992]

Butterflies are freakin metal, some can drink blood if found. (says the grown up wearing a butterfly shirt)

[@fluffyunicorn7187]

We had Tuesday night meetings. From 7pm to around 10pm. And I'd always fall asleep. Like what do you expect from children? And I cannot tell you how much I hated the conventions and assemblys. Sitting there in uncomfortable seats for 9+ hours. I'd purposely stay up as long as I could so I could sleep till lunch the next day. The only highlight were the drama plays or readings My dad was also a part of the helpers so it was fun helping him out

[@moonbatt]

Oh, god! The assemblies! Sitting in the blazing sun all day! Horrifying! 🥵

[@darkseraphim6793]

cute pfp

[@FoodNerds]

My best friend wants me to be a JW. I have more important things to do than this! I’m not knocking on doors, I’m not going to services 3 times a week. I’m not “witnessing”. I’m certainly not giving up celebrating holidays, my birthday, and everything thing I want. I’m voting! I’m glad that we have a military. I’m singing the national anthem. I’m receiving blood if I need it. It’s my life! I’m a good person. Their doctrine are BS and NO thanks!

[@nerdygamerguy8378]

I remember all of the art work as a kid growing up in this religion, pondering about the animals we won't eat and will get to play with. Now as a 30s grown man: Still waiting....,

[@MikutheSkunk]

I just realized... Sophia is left handed. Does that mean she's not going to paradise because left-handedness is a sign of witchcraft!

[@64bitmodels66]

this entire channel was just owens secret plan to drop his hot take about butterflies

[@foozle9285]

Butterflies will drink blood. And as a caterpillar, when in their cocoon, their little caterpillar body dissolves to goop to create their fluttery butterfly body. They're beautiful little horrors and I love them.

[@bjones8470]

I just finished Under The Banner Of Heaven, which I think I may have went because of this channel but I can’t be sure. It just demonstrates how quickly “true believers” from any religion really, can just go sideways looney tunes quickly when something goes wrong. These guys were just seemingly normal reasonably successful young men that when a recession hit they literally just lost their minds. All of them. That show gives you an idea of just how out there Mormons really are.

[@angelamaryquitecontrary4609]

I think it's one of the best series I've ever seen. Highly recommend it.

[@Saturnia2014]

Growing up in the cult, the worst experiences of boredom and anxiety was always at the church Luckily, my mom wouldn't force me to go (except for Jesus' memorial day) That rotten cult ate up a good chunk of my childhood and I can never look at Jehovah's witnesses the same way. To me a lot of them are just bad people (there are good people in the church, but they're essentially blackballed by the parasitic church elders if they step out of line) It can be an ugly world if you dig deep enough

[@plantlady42069]

I lost my childhood because of this cult. I feel you.

[@dietmountaindoo]

that where i am right now. my grandparents are jehovahs witnesses and i am living with them to go to school here. my grandfather is an elder and being with them eats up so much joy. while i’m living here, i can’t go out (my friends are “worldly”), i can’t date, can’t celebrate anything, can’t go to parties, etc. i knew this going in but god this sucks. ever since i was little they had me go to meetings. i hate it so much

[@bhanson4917]

Wait hold on ... Is the new doctrine that kids who survive Armageddon will be children forever??? If it's been 8000 years shouldn't they grow a bit???

[@robinhood7964]

I use too volunteer at the SPCA , and when they hose down the kennels the butterflies will come land on the pee and poop and eat it or drink it , makes u look at them very differently.

[@neonbat666]

(3:09) Some butterflies are even carnivorous, seen purposefully seeking out and drinking animal tears and blo0d. They're pretty, but bizarre creatures.

[@cfromnowhere]

Damnit, as someone who has suffered at least one sleep disorder as early as the age of six, this is disgusting! Imagine what life will be like for a child with narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia who is raised in a JW family. Being shamed by the people the child trust and rely on almost all the time, for a mistake that they never commit. It is ableist as hell.

[@ybrynecho2368]

We weren't JWs, but when I was a child in the 50's our Anglican services were about an hour long. We had to go to Sunday School for an hour prior to the main service, then we had to sit through this boring service after that. We were not allowed to draw or play or even whisper during the service. At least we weren't required to remember anything because it was all written down in our Book of Common Prayer - the order of service that was followed week after week after week after week after . . . zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

I used to like the way they marked the turning seasons. That was about it for me and religion. I was an atheist in a CofE church choir, I went because we got paid.

[@Catinthecosmos155]

This is honestly so scary, I’m all for believing what you wanna believe but this is a borderline cult (I see most organized religions as cults but this one takes the cake) telling a child that if they don’t do everything they are told they won’t go to paradise and will anger god, I wish I could go and just save all the kids from this. Im studying to be a teacher and it’s going to be so hard for me to witness a child in the situation of being alone and not being able to participate with the class, I’m going to try my best to be there and help them have a good time in school but i just wish that forcing your child into this situation would be counted as child abuse. Poor kids, Im so glad that you got out and I’m hopping that with every new generation more and more people will also escape.

[@robinkish-miller2990]

Its like blackmailing children into doing these things.

[@Catinthecosmos155]

@@Little-leaf-linden I’m happy you escaped and are doing well, I hope in the future you may be able to go to therapy and learn to cope with your traumas. I’m so happy you are breaking the cycle and if you ever have kids they won’t be growing up trapped ❤️

[@OnTheSofaUK]

Monkeys stealing my hats all the time would ruin paradise for me, ngl

[@SilentSong123]

You know I never really feared hell but I do still get rapture anxiety. Growing up SDA the rapture is all anyone would talk about even now my uncle won't shut up about it.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

They seem to relish the idea of it.

[@SilentSong123]

@@capt.bart.roberts4975 yeah they enjoy the fear mongering most definitely.

[@fbidumbbee]

in a way i don't blame them, but to push that idea on to children? nah. they need to let kids be kids, it's really not that hard