RfR Stories Australia | Ep.1: Ex-JW Jonathan from Perth

[@ShoNuffSoulBro1]

Greetings from SoCaL 👋😀 This was one of the best ex-JW interviews ever. Jonathan is very contemplative, interesting and intelligent. It’s so true what he brought out about JWs believing in different versions of God. Even the bible portrays God having different personalities. It’s all so disconcerting isn’t it.

[@kassidyroseGnR]

Ex JW here…This was such a fantastic interview! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@harperses]

This was enthralling! Thanks so much Jonathan - loved how you took us through your story! Shawn and Sally Ann your way of interacting was so lovely too! Thank you all! Fantastic job! 💯 ❤❤❤

[@ThatWomanJezebel]

This was fantastic! Thanks for doing this interview. I’ve been out almost 10 years. I’ve only started to listen to exJW stuff 2 years and I LOVE it! It’s therapeutic. It’s validating. I can’t get too much of this stuff. Thank you so much you guys!!!! Enjoyed this, every minute of it.

[@jjdiambrini-palazzi]

Isn’t that the Truth! Escaped 30 odd years ago and wish I had this online ‘community’. What a fantastic interview Jonathan

[@367brown]

Wow, thank you Jonathan for sharing your story! As an exJW myself I found this very reminiscent of my own history in many ways, but also very different. Congratulations Shawn, Sallyanne and Jonathan on the first RfR story! Looking forward to hearing more stories and learning your journeys.

[@stanley1771]

Great exJW interview. Looking forward to the next!

[@sachadsouza5569]

Really wonderful, heartfelt and warm conversation! Thank you Jonathan, and thanks to SallyAnn and Shawn for facilitating this chat!

[@kerrydwyer1879]

Hi from Sydney. Thank you for being candid.Look forward to more.All take care.

[@lynettemuir295]

Thankyou so much.....great interview....freedom from the WT so life changing....very thankful I am out of it all....but miss my family so much....very cruel.... I love them all always.😂❤

[@peter_higgs]

It's hard to distinguish between this from the behaviours of that other American based cult, the Mormons. The shame, guilt, fear and emotional tactics are virtually identical. Well done on this inaugural podcast!

[@SunguchMan20]

At least the Mormons don't make their members live in abject poverty while at the same time siphoning every freaking cent they make. Especially in "underdeveloped" countries - we were taught fundamentaly -it was wrong to seek a better life. Don't go to college, don't start a business it will take you away from meetings and you'll stop getting spiritual food and you will be weak and Satan will have you, you will lose the hope of everlasting life! Growing up, it was hard to watch some of the poorer families struggle to keep up with the congregation needs. Worse when we will be conducting meetings in somebody's living room. I was so happy when we built our first Kingdom Hall. And when I said we I mean us, under the guidance of some brothers who were masons we were shown what to do and built that hall in days! This used to be our source of pride. I was sat in that very hall and got humiliated for hours by a judicial committee. I came to them because I wanted to clean my act as I had been living a double-life (something almost all JW youth do to survive the world outside the Borg)instead these three brothers grilled me for hours and after they had basically bared my soul they promptly disfellowshiped me. Wished I had died then. Now, I'm so glad it happened, I never went back. For many years though I still thought they had "the truth". I was well in my 30s before I stopped believing. Now I ache for my parents and sister. I'm just glad they haven't shunned me completely. Although I've also wondered if they didn't need my help if they still wouldn't. It is a very hard religion on the ordinary rank and file JWs.

[@JillJelfs]

Wonderful interview! I so identify with everything you said Jonathan Weĺ done! Best wishes for your future.

[@fadetoexadam182]

Thanks Jonathan, loved the way you expressed so much in this interview. Best wishes with moving ahead. Adam

[@darrelray4673]

This is awesome. Thanks so much for starting this channel. Many people need to hear these stories. I am sure there are elements of Jonathan's story that will resonate with people from many different high control groups.

[@thisguy2917]

Excellent interview

[@bigd213d]

My favorite exjw interview! Thank you Jonathan for so perfectly explaining my childhood JW experience in the USA. My experiences, thoughts, and analysing of the ORG as a child are almost identical to yours.

[@davidevans9992]

It's interesting, he's kind of the opposite of me. I'm from Perth and then moved to the UK. I'm back in WA now, though. There are lots of similarities between his experience and mine, but it happened sort of in the opposite direction. And he turned out much better than I did too. I wish I turned out more like him, but I turned out bad. Great show!

[@marmieRH]

Just discovered you from Québec ❤ merci beaucoup 😊

[@FredGinger-d6e]

OMG! There it is at 21:57........the religion teaches you to lie! I have been saying that since I walked away at 16, over 45 years ago. You have no say when you are born into a religious cult. I just remember seeing the hypocrisy at a young age of what was "preached" in the sermons and what I observed with my own eyes. I used to get in trouble for asking why or how come. I learned to stop asking and to just parrot back what they wanted to hear. I turned 16, got a job at Denny's, bought a $150 Ford Pinto that ran, and got the hell out! Unfortunately, being steeped in the cult during the formative years had an affect on the wiring in my brain. Something I am aware of when I fight the inner policing-voice that questions my right to have this great life I worked for and created. Thanks for a great video!

[@carldurnford5100]

Well done Jonathan like everyone below have a similar story. I'm your dads step brother Carl.

[@carldurnford5100]

so that makes you my step nephew

[@VEE-rd7cu]

How do you cleanse yourself from this religious trauma.

[@vestland3877]

Time

[@elainebraindrain3174]

Research, critical thinking

[@doctorderpage2848]

Ughhh, the notes. The highlighting. The prestudy of the study.

[@NewSkiwi]

😂😂😂haha You remind me of my son. When i almost choked at a kings of leon's lyric with oh no mom, they are singing your sox are on fire! Yeah right. I let it slide. Little ratbag! But i could have been your mom. So so sorry. But hey, we were also under mind control, just bear that in mind. 😂

[@marmieRH]

Life is still beautiful without religions 😊 im happy for you Jonathan 😊

[@marmieRH]

Go watch Dr. Irving Finkel talking about the first ghost 😊 very good video 😊

[@devinmedeiros9466]

I am a ex jw jw hi 👋🏻

[@tzoppgaming4074]

❤❤❤

[@kerrydwyer1879]

The Bible says humans will beome rarer than the gold of Ophir.. .

[@marie-clairedelongchamp1330]

Thank you Jonathan for discussing your story! 💖. I could identify with a lot of what you experienced. Very long story short…I was baptized at 20 recruited in the door to door, married at 23, husband became an elder shortly after, we were pioneers, I for 12 years at the time requirement hours were 90/month. After 33 years in, I left (2018) one year later, left my mariage (2019), he remains in the ranks to this day, went back to school during Covid (2021) at the age of 57, I now work as a Personal Support Worker caring for Veterans, where I feel I am serving the best way I now know how. I am now living my TRUTH, it’s been a journey, however isn’t life all about the journey? I’m a work in progress, slowly learning to get to know who I really am, would not change my decision….slowly rebuilding friendships as I too am shunned. No hard feelings except for pity, understanding that it’s all because of the indoctrination hoping they too shall come to know the true meaning of “unconditional love” 💔❤️‍🩹…..💖. 🇨🇦