My Experience Being Raised as One of Jehovah's Witnesses

[@AZrakoon]

Holy moly! Same here. It was only me and my mom in the organization. I was treated the exact same way. Then in school, the kids bully you. As a grown man you're still seen as a 2nd class JW. I recently left, I couldn't take it anymore. The last nail in the coffin was learning about the thousands of CSA cases, they're being locked up and sued for. It's tough, but we are here for you, man!

[@koolmexi]

Hey 👋🏽 thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad you're out. Don't give up. There's life after the JW life. You're still young and have your whole life ahead of you! 👍🏽

[@AndyBCCA]

I can relate to much of your story, thanks for sharing

[@chroniclesoflucifer]

Thank you for sharing your story. Welcome to freedom! I also experienced isolation as a born in, 3rd gen jw child. Grateful to see you are thriving even tho we know that it was not an easy journey. ♡

[@toriwolf5978]

Please don’t listen to the keyboard warriors and their negative comments sitting on their couch !!! Stay strong never look back or ever return to that cult that destroys family’s life . I was in 30 years been out 3 years best decision I’ve ever made ❤❤❤lots of support here from the XJW community on KZbin your not alone…….i love your Christmas tree so pretty Merry Christms and a very Happy New Year🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@obzenmeshuggah5912]

Ex JW born-in here. Left when I was 21, now I'm 38. Unfortunately some of these things follow you your entire life. Thanks for the video. Regards from Australia.

[@pennybeeflower1951]

Thank you so much for being so courageous, brave and strong. Wow, you've really several things to be proud of your self about. Good going and keep looking forward. You have many out here who want to see you do well. So sorry about your young life. Many of us know exactly what you are talking about and lived it too. We are survivors of the same depopulation club. All of the wt prohibitions and doctrines were a perfect death cocktail. So happy we made it out! Hope to hear your thoughts on how you got to help your self lose weight. You'll be a great inspiration to others that want encouragement and advise. Sending you my best energy, thoughts and wishes. Awesome first video! Will be subbing and looking for your jext one as soon as you can ❤🎉

[@Jesus_Christ_Conquers]

The Corporations, also known as the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, created and crafted their very own customized translation of the “Bible” in 1950, which included the New Testament. The King James Version (KJV) they were using before caused them many problems, after they changed their doctrines so they had to stop using the KJV and create their own customized made bible, which includes significant alterations to support their core theologies. Over the years, they created many New Revised Editions, one of which was the first complete New World Translation (NWT) publication that included both the Old and New Testaments in 1961. Since then, newer revised editions have been released. Here are the remaining revised editions in order: 1970, 1971, 1981, 1984, and 2013, all of which included more and more and more drastic alterations, such as verses removed, words altered, new words added, punctuation moved, verses restructured, and parts of chapters removed in order to support their own doctrines as much as Removing and Hiding the DIVINITY of Jesus Christ and distancing Him from his Father in their NWT scriptures.

[@MelanatedMetanoia]

So glad you had the courage to share! Don’t stop! Keep going for everything you want in this life ❤

[@christinesotelo7655]

The BEST of your life is here and ahead of you! I thank God you’re out of the cult. I’m an “apostate”, as I was marked, shunned, and thought of as “one dead” by them. If they can kill a person “innocently (?)” by shunning, they’ll do it. But I learned to thrive. You are too! Thank you for speaking out. I just finished my manuscript exposing them. We all have our ways to heal. Congratulations and much love! ❤

[@EL-IZ-At-BETH-sarim]

Thank you for sharing! 'Apostate' greetings from the Netherlands ❤🇳🇱😊

[@dianelowe972]

Wow, what a handsome, smart, logical young man you are. I have always thought that a lot of men look better in long hair. You are definitely one of them. I can relate with everything you spoke about. So happy you decided to share the truth of your lifeling experiences. I find that it not only helps to get the very wrong & hurtful experiences you have endured off of one's chest, but I hope you know it helps so many of us to be reassured that we ourselves are not the crazy ones. Thank you for your courage not to allow your past to take you down so far as to take drastic measures. And it is so wonderful to hear that your mom & bro are all on the same page as you. Close family support helps to heal us because we know what true love should feel like. 40:18 The JW elders think we are stupid because they think we can't see & feel their fake love. We are not so blind that we can't see that they fail so miserably at it. Ha ! Right ? There are so many ex JW's with a KZbin Channel. And we are so happy there are because it is very encouraging for our mental health at this time. Yet, they are so puffed up with pride, thinking they are the only ones giving it. There are none so blind as those who can't get over themselves enough to see their own hypocrisy. I'm sure I am not the only one who watched this precious video that you so humbly shared, that hopes you continue to do so at your own pace. We truly appreciate your help. 🥰 ❤

[@heatherwillson4862]

You articulated your story & the social damage caused very well. Those of us who went thru it really understand & relate. Good on you for recognizing it & waking up. That mental ability & courage will take you far. You are young enough to purge most of it from your mind while you build a good life for yourself. You will go thru stages of recovery. Anger, grief, depression & acceptance. Once I got thru the beginning stages where I couldnt bear to even hear gods name, I started to build my own ideas on what to believe. I decided that Im more of an agnostic aethist progressive humanist, lol. You will get to a place where you are comfortable. Good luck! Lol, I love to say things that are rebellious! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! And thank you very much for putting your story out here. It will help you to heal.

[@erniescabin4256]

what you went through is a good start to your life, sounds like you learnt a lot now once you find peace and get rid of the guilt you will see how great life realy is, I'm 70 and still trying to figure out what i should call God lol i found peace so i thank God every day i even put out tobacco offerings to mother earth for all her blessings I live in the forest and love nature I'm to the point in my life where i never ask God for anything i just thank him/her/it for all the blessings, If there is life after death i'm looking forward to it cause me and god are friends I hope you make more videos i would enjoy seeing you find peace Have a great Christmas and a peaceful life full of love and happiness lol I wrote a letter to Santa on you behalf asking him to bring you those things for Christmas 🎅💕✌

[@pennybeeflower1951]

I'm a nature person too! Nice to meet you! ❤

[@erniescabin4256]

@@pennybeeflower1951 Hi Penny Thank you it is nice to meet you too, Nature is a great healer a good place to unwind and rejuvenate ❤

[@christinesotelo7655]

Merry Christmas to you! I love that you can celebrate! ❤

[@k3coddington]

You are a very strong, resilient, resourceful person. You do not need to change yourself, you need to find yourself, the self that was pushed down by the lies told by the JWs. I hope you can find some solace in your family who left with you, and the many helpful people online who have been the same place you are and have been. You are not alone. If you can find a therapist who deals with childhood trauma I think you would be able to find more answers and hopefully some peace. Take care of yourself.

[@katb945]

Thank you for sharing your experience of growing up as a JW helps ones like myself who were converted at the door in their twenties a long time ago to understand other JW that were raised in the religion/cult and what they had to endure in their young lives. I think you are doing well overcoming the isolation being in but not being accepted the loneliness of not having friends and being self conscious about your weight issues would have added to your unhappiness. You are an attractive young man with lots to offer just making this video shows how far you have come your communication skills and natural honesty is a huge plus in this world keep your smarts as others can use those beautiful qualities for wrong intentions but I guess with the experience of being a JW that would help you see through BS, take any good from it and utilise the experience in your life I think you would be an excellent help for others as you grow in understanding of the world around you.

[@steveandsherilyn7543]

Hi there, my name is Steve and I’m from the UK. I grew up as a JW too from 6YO, and really struggled in school, I hated it. In retrospect though it did give me the ability to deal with non JW’s in a social setting. I became excellent at blending in to my surroundings. If I was among “worldly” people I could hold my own whilst at the same time making all the right noises among the congregation. Being able to adapt to circumstances helped me to become an excellent salesman. I’m sorry you had to go through what you did, you weren’t given a chance, it was cruel and in my opinion tantamount to abuse. You grew up in an alien world and now you’re having to deal with living in the real world without the training, it’s awful. If you went to prison for 25-30 years the government have programmes to help you settle back into ordinary life, giving you support, but you don’t have that. However, I’m sure people from the ex JW community will reach out to you now you have a channel on KZbin. I wish you all the best my friend. Take care of yourself. 👍🇬🇧

[@christinesotelo7655]

“Excellent salesman”! Right? I hear you! 😂❤

[@robertaluba7368]

I can relate. Our congregation was full of WWII generation and I feel like everyone I relate to is dead. At least we had some German veterans in there too. It made for some entertaining drama.

[@gail6844]

I know exactly how you're feeling about this.

[@tarabooartarmy3654]

I remember being on the school bus in 7th grade with a new girl I’d recently made friends with. I was telling her about my dad getting mad at Jehovah’s Witnesses knocking on the door over and over after he put up a No Soliciting sign right by it and she said, “I’m a Jehovah’s Witness.” I thought for a moment and said, “I don’t have anything against you for that, but my dad’s really fed up.” We didn’t see anymore JW at our house for a long time. It was probably coincidence but I like to think she secretly put us on some kind of so not call list at her church. 😂

[@chroniclesoflucifer]

That is a nice story, and im grateful for your kind words to that little girl. However, what probably happened when she got home she would have told her dad that a kid on the school bus said: "xyz". Her dad called the elders because any negative talk about jws is cause for concern. They figured out which house you lived at based on your father's words to the past door knockers. Your address was listed as a Do Not Call on their territory card. And jws would secretly daydream about living in your home after Armageddon. 😮❤😅

[@jeffpeff]

As a JW kid going door to door, I would point out the “No Solicitors” signs that were posted on some houses. The “brother” that I was working with would just say “we’re not solicitors.”

[@brianbinggeli4826]

Thank you for sharing your experience🙂

[@janicehussock7735]

Me, too. In Newark. My mom hurt from her youth. They wanted me to do normal things, short of express disfellowshipping acts. I would have gone berserk if I did not flee. My high school friends kept me sane. I ran all over Manhattan as a teeny bopper. We did not fit in. I was so so lonely in the Witnesses. But hated the ignorance and intolerance. Fled to study at Columbia in NY. But I still lacked basic social skills thanks to Watchtower I felt I barely was admitted. Did not want people to think I was a clueless Witness. Now in my old age, I can integrate my life. I saw so many bright Witness kids so crushed and destroyed. It was rough to leave. But stay in with grit. Humans are adaptable. I adapted. Even tho my catastrophic thoughts said I would not. Lovely tree.

[@cultytalk]

Thanks for sharing! Did you get baptized? Asking bcz even those who don't get baptized still have all the same exact experiences growing up as a JW!! Glad you got out YOUNG!! 👏 👏 👏

[@Jesus_Christ_Conquers]

Another Major Alternation from 1970 to next year 1971 where the word “worship” was removed and replace with “do obeisance,” thereby Removing and Hiding the DIVINITY of Christ Jesus in the scriptures, from the Corporations of Jehovah Witnesses Organization custom made New World Translation publication, “bible.” Hebrews 1:6 ”But when he again brings his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says: "And let all God's angels worship him."" New World Translation, 1953, 1960, 1961, and 1970 Revised New Editions. Hebrews 1:6 ”But when he again bring his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says: "And let all God's angels do obeisance to him."" New World Translation, 1971, 1981, 1984, 2013 New Revised Edition

[@ThomasJender]

Obeisance means to obey, not worship. The word has NOTHING to do with Worshipping and has everything to do with obeying. Jesus did not tell his Apostles to obey him, he left that for them to figure out. Another word changed out by the W.S is Blessed in exchange for " Happy" Blessed indicates a more permanent state of being with no emotional connotations where as " Happy" ( sermon on the mount in the N.W.T) indicates a temporary state of mind. This helped the W.S to psychologically manipulate the brotherhood into the state of mind that nothing they have ever done good has any lasting positive impact on their relationship with God. This isn't often spoken about by ex JW as I am but I did a mid week talk on the Sermon of the mount and did not feel the word Happy was appropriately used and felt it changed things, making Brothers think that they have to pursue what Happy means to the W.S therefore never being able to make application of the Sermon because they didn't get the correct word Blessed to consider.

[@achys6301]

They are an evil brotherhood standing up against Jesus Christ, our Savior.

[@kristinorr4434]

Awww, love you

[@nicolegardner5593]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@Cryptidsmethodology]

Good thing you got out young! 🎉

[@julieevanb]

Great video, I grew up in the religion too, so I relate to a lot of this!

[@kingofthedots3835]

Sorry I missed this epic reveal .....I home schooled my stepson ......he became more miserable .......we let him move to a relative ......he is 47 and just now recovering ......stay safe 😮

[@Wolex2075]

In Africa, we were not allowed to participate in competitive sports or wear Jeans trousers ,… it is worldly…. Crazy!!!

[@user-jt2vv1zj6z]

Usually, it's not allowed in th US either. Some parent allow it but the other parents might look down on them.

[@nicosyiallouris1103]

Just subscribed

[@peteacher52]

I was in a controlling cult for 40-odd years; it doesn't matter which one because all cults depend on the control of their members to enable their hierarchy to "live the life". One important point I've learned in the 27 or so years since leaving is this: other folk don't give a monkey's what we look like or sound like. When we think, They're all looking at me!, they're not indeed, other than showing a passing interest. So, discard all of those toxic publications and JW memorabilia and let your natural abilities and interests flourish. Employment will be entirely up to you, but under no circumstances allow any feeling of guilt depress you when you keep ALL of your wages for yourself. NO organisation has a "heavenly mandate" to require monetary offerings and the assembly of members on pre-determined days, nor forbid their association with "outsiders". Be very wary of all organised religion. Of considerable assistance to me have been the videos of Paul Anthony Wallis. Col (77).

[@chrisyoung5901]

Im so glad your an exjw now , im sure you had your doubts about leaving for a while now, i im putting together a blog for ex j.w.s & i know how shady the whole thing is & im sooooo glad your learning that the real world is not all the evil the g.b. told us it was... well its a better life on this side of the witnesses. Yeah I'm more concerned about the younger people in their that after they leave unfortunately a lot of them commit suicide I can't say a lot of them but there is more than what most people hear about and that's what I'm aiming on doing is supporting those people before they get to that point I've been out for a little while. yeah so don't give up I always find it interesting to hear people's story I know it's so damn hard cuz they control every single aspect of your life. Thanks for sharing your story I wish you the best

[@shamrox12]

You are so right about the JWs not tending to the widows and orphans. My husband wanted nothing to do with the religion when I started studying. Me and my 3 girls were encouraged to associate with other sisters with worldly spouses. We never got invited to dinner at elders homes. They are hypocrites!

[@peachykeen692165]

We are free! 🎉

[@judyarellano6196]

Thank you for sharing your experience!! 🩵

[@ramrod576]

The more that speak out the sooner we get our family and friends back

[@erwin6877]

im currently writing a book about it good job coming out buddy.

[@Baronvanhausen88]

Thanks for making this video, it’s relatable to me I’m 24 up in Canada, I was able to leave after the zoom era around summer 22

[@richardfoley-g4s]

the london watch tower bending them like a rainbow

[@christinesotelo7655]

Right! “Hero” worship! “Idol worship”! “Creature worship”! HA! Right? The kids now sometimes get away with violent video games by telling a parent: “it’s an Armageddon game about Jehovah and the Governing Body destroying all the bad guys!”... 😂

[@bettydavis459]

I let my kids watch the children movies so did i I bought them every he man characters and castle grey schull, school trips skying, they were not getting invited out, picked on, but when we had partily they came and loved iit. Kids left as teenagers .

[@Villi886]

I can understand mate, very similar to me .

[@richardfoley-g4s]

the london watch tower the big ben over like a rainbow

[@jeffpeff]

It sucks when you realize that you were raised in a doomsday cult, and were indoctrinated with a distorted view of God, and the world. Take care of yourself for now, the rest has already been taken care of.

[@Lisa-je6hv]

Is this a man or a woman? Maybe this is the real reason it's no longer with the organization. People need to use critical thinking skills and not just buy everything some of these people say.

[@jeffnoble9757]

Doesn't the bible say that "long hair on a man is a DISGRACE".. 1st Corinthians 11:14, what ear tickling religion are you in now?.. 2 Timothy 4:3

[@wanderotter4667]

didnt jesus have long hair lol

[@toriwolf5978]

Don’t be such a negative person give the young man a break it’s not a disgrace at all , as the comments before said didn’t Jesus have long hair? Who are you to judge any one look at your own life first before pointing a finger at someone else !!!! Wish him the best success as he embarks on his journey through this life!!!

[@heatherwillson4862]

Styles over the centuries change wildly. I have always loved long hair on men. If it looks good, go for it. Be yourself.

[@wanderotter4667]

@@heatherwillson4862 Well, I think he rocks the whole 80's metal hairstyle.

[@incognitofade9574]

So you've used this opportunity to heap ridicule on someone sharing their experience and their reality? How very Christian of you! You have no right to invalidate, negate and berate a person who has experienced trauma! What happened to your fellow feeling? Jesus NEVER berated those in pain. He said come to me because my load is light! You really need to read your Bible without the watchtower colored glasses on. Jesus was loving towards all. Instead of thanking this young man for sharing his experience, you want to preach at him. You should be pouring oil on him to soothe his hurt! Check your heart and your motives.