Jehovah's Witnesses Produce NEW Pro-Shunning Videos - They're Bad

[@horrido666]

They took the videos down because its bad PR. Shunning is JW most barbaric behavior. My son still doesnt know his only grandparents because his mother was shunned twenty years ago.

[@teijaflink2226]

Yeah I don't understand how anyone can do that just because your family member doesn't wants to be part of your vilt, sounds evil and specially your own child and even just for alcohol. His mother is absolute trash.

[@tealeaflist]

@Lucky 13. I am beyond sorry this is Still Actively OCCURRING, maintained by an underlying STRICTEST OBEDIENCE, to a Governing Body's Ill Informed POLICY. which happens to be an Act of DELIBERATE SABOTAGE, against HIS NATURAL ORDER... 🙂Bless You All. 🙂 (His Living Presence is Eminently Capable of GUIDING YOU. And YOUR SON. Won't you please Inquire? 🙂) 🙂 love respect peace unity healing 🙂

[@juliav.mcclelland2415]

I'd say it's tied with forbidding blood transfusions.

[@katarinatibai8396]

@@teijaflink2226 She must shine Jesus, Jesus was drinking wine 🍷 🙄🙄🙄

[@ingramwright5399]

They deleted the videos because they found themselves on the wrong end of a human rights lawsuit. They are trying to hide the fact they tell members to shun family. Even your own mother. Who came up with this brilliant idea? It's s all over the place in their literature. Barbara Streisand effect.

[@MrPoohman1981]

Crazy how a mom protects her child while in the belly, sing songs to the baby, think of names, and give birth after 9 months. When the baby arrives she’s instantly in a deep love no one can explain. She loves, protects, and take care of the baby until it reaches adulthood only for a religion to rip them apart

[@Godly-Beard]

Wow you nailed it, a sad reality from this cult.

[@MrPoohman1981]

@@Godly-Beard a very sad reality! I believe they took that out because other countries are no longer funding them because of the shunning practices.

[@jacklow9611]

This may only be one person's belief, but I believe they are fully under Satan's influence, but then from what I've heard from some JWs, He wasn't such a bad guy after all. Only misunderstood.

[@jdsthird]

@@jacklow9611 There is no Satan or God. Fairytales.

[@LittleRadicalThinker]

It’s a cult. Joining JW cult will literally destroy your IQ.

[@delhargis2219]

I was disowned after my Jr year in high school because I didn't believe any more. I didn't drink alcohol, didn't smoke, do drugs or have premarital sex. I just didn't believe any more and refused to go to the kingdom hall. JW's also separate you from everyone that isn't a JW so you have zero support the moment you're cast out. My first night out was spent in a park sleeping under a bench. Thank goodness it was springtime and not super cold. That was in 1983. I feel you Owen, the sadness of separation from family remains regardless of how much time passes.

[@sheilacollins9384]

I feel for you that you had to go through that. How very sad - and crazy.

[@greendragon4058]

Oh I so hope you're doing better now, there has got to be a support group out there. My sister was indoctrinated into a c u l t when she was 17 she's is it now 61 and lives in a home because her husband died and she cannot live on her own. I wish you all the luck in the world I am a shaman and I will put your name in my little box❤❤❤❤❤ please know that you are loved

[@delhargis2219]

​@@greendragon4058 Thank you, I appreciate that. What has negatively impacted me more was the pain experienced being raised in a very physically abusive home that the parent was protected from the law by the congregation and was always put back in the home after a month of repentance. The madness of it all is what compelled me to stop going even though I knew what the consequence would be.

[@greendragon4058]

@@delhargis2219 oh you're quite welcome your story just hurts my heart I know it'll make you stronger there are good people in this chat I never was a JW but I love Owen and the work he does

[@delhargis2219]

@@greendragon4058 I've been following Owen for two years now. He's doing valuable work exposing the nutter butters who use false religion as a means to manipulate and control others socially and politically.

[@bekmos]

I was raised Mormon until adulthood, and had a number of JW associates at school. To see people suffer or torture themselves needlessly in the hope of a better afterlife is really the greatest sadness.

[@EnigmaticLucas]

I find it interesting how JWs and Mormons have polar opposite ways of trying to get ex-members to rejoin the cult. JWs use shunning, whereas Mormons use lovebombing.

[@hanneivanovic2465]

Hi fellow exes. I was born in,in 1967,faded peacefully after being baptized in1987.i still can not explain the shunning rules,that are mandated for the practicing JW. What about the "soft shunning"they practice? It is never announced in KH that wrongdoer,who was not DF,has stopped his evil ways.some who should be shunned by the members,ar not always shunned. Where I grew up one of the elders and his wife continued to have a normal relationship with their DF daughter helped her raise her children,went on vacation together etc. Also sometimes they disfellowship,someone who was baptized,but has faded,sometimes they don't,I don't think there is a timeline?just the luck of the draw. Enjoying my ex cult life in southern California,which supposedly is the place with the most comitte disfellowshipping being executed,I was told when I live in one of the Scandinavian countries.

[@ShoNuffSoulBro1]

Also; Something they started back in the early 80s is disfellowshipping / excommunicating someone who even talks to an ex JW.

[@geraldframinghammer2626]

JWs don't even believe in afterlife. They believe that you preserve your body in a coffin, so you can be resurrected as a human on earth, because you're not one of the 144,000 that are lucky enough to know God's heaven. There are "moral" or "biblical" rationalizations they make against organ donation and blood transfusions based on their own "preservation." The ego...

[@hollxws]

@@ShoNuffSoulBro1 that’s literally heartbreaking

[@trinsit]

The harm in talking to apostates is that it harms the church's control over its members.

[@jacklow9611]

Although they don't see it, THEY are the apostates. Then the JWs who were trying to proselytize my family should have been shunned for talking to apostates because they'd hardly leave us alone until (what I call) the Mormon incident.

[@daisychain3007]

An apostate may lead the congregation astray.

[@heather7321]

What is so sad is that this organization is doing so much damage that people leave and still don’t find the truth… I’m sorry, but the info that you do have about the apostles, and church history is still not the truth…

[@jacklow9611]

@@heather7321: Then, if you know the truth, please share it with everyone. Also, please tell us how you discovered the truth, and nobody else seems to have discovered it.

[@skate5644]

"Apostates" who have chosen to leave the religion wouldn't have anything negative to say if they were like a normal religion, ie not making members shun family, not putting lives at risk with no blood policy, and not endangering children with their poor child abuse policies.

[@christines2787]

My mom died 20 years ago. I can't even imagine replacing her. Its disgusting. You can have a mentor, but not a mom

[@jacklow9611]

Eleven years for my mother, and I still miss her terribly. I still catch myself wishing I could tell herabout something I have seen, or something that has happened to me or one of my siblings.

[@purpleflowers92]

You all are over reacting lol😂😂😂😂

[@christines2787]

@@purpleflowers92 - Maybe you don't have a close relationship with your mom. Or, perhaps you haven't had to face this yet. It is not an over reaction to say that losing mother has been the most painful thing I have experienced so far. I still think of her daily. Good mother's are not replaceable.

[@littlethingsathome]

@@purpleflowers92there is no replacement for your parents. My parents are terrible, they’re still alive, but they are my parents. Nobody else has that role but those two evil people who gave birth to me and treated me as competition every day till I left. Parents are just people, rotten or good, there is no pedestal they hold.

[@purpleflowers92]

@@littlethingsathome WRONG YES THERE IS. What do you think adoption agencies are? I was adopted to good parets now my bio parents wated to be in my graduation I cancel them. I td my bio parets I they are a nobody to me . Yet your idiotic face is telling me my mom my adapted mom is a nobody . Your comment os offansive I was adoptedat 2 weeks old yet you afe heretellung me My adapted parents are a nobody??????

[@ConnerKent08]

I could never disown my own flesh and blood that’s very cultish. This beyond predatory behavior.

[@ericscaillet2232]

Depends on the families,,some are worse than enemies

[@Volundur9567]

Only if they're a pred, racist, bigot or animal torturer.

[@ChrisPyle]

Some use it as a badge of honor. It’s sad

[@CPsWalkThroughs]

I disowned the majority of my family for being bible thumping far right Christians.

[@bigflx2754]

Something Owen repeatedly gets wrong is the fact that a parent will be shunned for interacting with their disfellowshipped child. This is not true, they endorse shunning your child, but you won’t be disfellowshipped for talking keeping in contact with them so long as they aren’t a known apostate. If it’s family, you don’t HAVE to shun, like I said it is encouraged as you see in the videos Owen showed, it’s what JWs call a “conscience matter” you don’t have to follow it, but depending on how you feel and the culture of your hall you may do or not do it

[@paintedlady4589]

We have been shunned by our daughter for 25 years now. We have six grandchildren that we have never seen. It's sickening.

[@brenna6522]

Sorry for your pain. 😢 My sister has not spoken to my Dad & Mom in 20 years. It's heartbreaking 💔

[@asiyanasir2014]

This totally hurt my heart. 😢

[@pattymc4726]

I’m really sorry. I can’t even imagine how painful that must be. Unimaginable cruelty.

[@lilblondiebear]

I'm so, so sorry. I can't wrap my head around how terrible that must feel.

[@lisahance]

I think it's interesting that they never specified what the mother did - I think that is so that people don't get distracted by what it was that she did and just focus on the message that regardless of what the person did, you must behave the same way.

[@bauhnguefyische667]

Me thinks of the Prodigal Son, whom Paul was alluding to. The flock Jesus spoke of. I just know the Bible, not saying I have belief or faith in it, it’s relevant contemporary so I can see how easily people are baited, trapped and used.

[@katarinatibai8396]

💯💯💯

[@wrexvincent]

They dont care what it is- they will protect actual predators of children but if the heads of the Kingdom Hall say someone is now shunned they wont question it

[@LittleRadicalThinker]

It’s the result of trial and error. If they mention it, it’s probably very minor, like the drunken Owen, or smoke a cigarette, or watch a porn, or watch Star Wars, or Harry Potter, or discuss with another JW why a generation should be as long as 300 years not 25 years.

[@TechyBen]

She "woke up".

[@jonathanconnor7920]

_"Maybe I can help her find her way back to Jehovah."_ Yeah, or maybe your mom can help you to be free of him. Free of the cult, that is. She'll probably spend the rest of her life regretting having ever exposed you to this nonsense in the first place.

[@ingomarwenzel3508]

What do you want your mum to help you get rid of, do you know? What are you laberst about? Do you know that too?

[@loveislove-le5nj]

Any religion that makes you cut off communication with people with different beliefs..... hell no

[@sonjaleesloth]

The Amish do it. 🫤

[@david4096]

Maga do it.

[@rozzgrey801]

And any cult that keeps predicting the return of Jesus but has to keep changing the date are just a sad joke.

[@aporue5893]

totally agree. I just think of the mj song ''black or white''. It doesn't matter. Everyone is special.

[@aporue5893]

@@david4096 awful.

[@sparrowgael]

I knew a girl who was shunned by her family for the sin of falling in love outside of the faith. Such an unbelievably cruel method of control and manipulation.

[@SatansSimgma]

I was disfellowshipped twice by 19. Around 5 is the first time I remember my mother telling me she loves Jehovah more then me and the benefits she would receive from the congregation and Jehovah should she be forced to disown me.

[@KitKatSukiKat]

Wow 😮

[@sonjaleesloth]

So sorry.

[@jdsthird]

May I ask what you were disfellowshipped for? How long did it take to be reinstated after the first one? Was it the same offense or a different one? Sometimes I wish I had been disfellowshipped however I just went inactive. I felt guilty as long as my mom was alive. She would always tell me her dying wish was for me to come back to Jehovah. She died in 2010 and for the longest time I felt guilt I didn’t just go back for her peace of mind. Now I am at peace with how things are. The organization is such a disaster for millions.

[@aelfycarcini3992]

My mom told me: don't make me choose between you and my god... You will lose. 😢

[@sonjaleesloth]

@@aelfycarcini3992 Your mom's god is an asshole then. I'm so sorry. 🥺

[@marajacobs-proctor200]

Thanks Owen. I’m a 68 year old woman who left the cult 9 years ago after 40 years. My son was the one who helped me to see that it is not true. As a mother, I felt that I had to at least listen to what he had to say and if it was sensible and in line with the facts, I could not gaslight my son and make him feel crazy…I had to accept it because I believe it’s a parent’s job to assure their children that their perceptions, if reasonable, are not wrong. It is my job to help him feel grounded so he has a foundation to stand on after I’m gone. This was possible because the whole time I was in the cult, there was this tiny speck of light at the bottom of the deep chasm of indoctrination that made me doubt all the crazy talk. That speck made it possible for me to wake up. Apparently, your mom doesn’t even have the tiny speck. I’m so sorry because you don’t deserve that. Please keep up all of your intelligent, helpful observations…coming from this mom, you are spot on! Thanks for all of your work!

[@christinesotelo7655]

It made me so sick that my brother called me dead and that my husband could not look, speak, share a meal with, or sleep with me, that I ended up in the hospital with what doctors were testing for as cancer of the stomach but it was all just raw and hurt from the stress of the shunning. By the time I came home (by myself), my husband was having an affair. I never stood a chance. All because I made plans, a”B” Plan, with my little son’s pediatrician that if my son or the baby ever needed any thing requiring lifesaving blood, please take them out of my custody long enough to save their lives then return them to me. That is how frightened I was of the thought of simply watching a child die as many JWs were doing.

[@birdysdaughter494]

Very tragic situation for you to have to go through. I hope you've come out on the other side stronger and supported by people who truly love you.

[@christinesotelo7655]

@@birdysdaughter494 Thank you. Yes. I’m old now and independent and strong. ♥️🌹

[@Blake1720]

Good for you for being a true mother. Take your kids and run! Be free. ❤

[@daisychain3007]

Isn't having an affair against Jehovah's Witness' teachings? If that is the case, your husband has probably "sinned" just as much as you have. It is odd how those who spout religious teachings from every angle end up doing the very things that religion warns them against in the first place themselves. Take the Caleb and Sophia videos. Caleb and Sophia are not real children, but they represent real children. Their parents shove religion down their throats, yet, years later, the father becomes an alcoholic and their mother a manic depressive. Manic depression is a mental condition which she could not help, but alcoholism is definitely against Jehovah's Witness teachings. Also, look at the number of Jehovah's Witness Elders sexually abusing children. Child sexual abuse repels even atheists, but Jehovah's Witnesses are supposed to be upholders of a decent Christian faith, yet some behave like animals.

[@victorthenotsogreat1975]

My mother never stopped talking to me because I took care of her specially when she was sick 10000000 times better than Jehovah.

[@michaelbedsole970]

Obviously, the reason they don't want members talking to shunned people is because they higher ups are afraid the dis-felloshiped folks will talk some sense into those still in the cult.

[@rozzgrey801]

That's the only reason they use this tactic, but they're learning it is suicidal for a cult to force members to shun leavers, as Scientology are learning with their disconnection policy. It shows the cult to be too weak to withstand criticism from its followers, that the leadership itself is fatally weak, and when people get a sniff of this the cult is done for. This JW cult will be completely gone within 20 years.

[@candicefrost4561]

Watching/reading apostate materials (people who have left) is strictly forbidden. You may risk disfellowshipping yourself.

[@kaygibbs8639]

This shunning practice is a deterrent to SPIRITUAL (moral/ethical) LEPROSY a highly contagious parasite. After inquest(s) it's the last option used to turn apostate folks back to the "controlling authority". You "pay to play" and there are rules/regulations in all/any organization(s). Don't EVER "voluntarily" join the military if ya don't like regulations (personal opinion of a 20 yr retired Vet!)

[@trinsit]

I think the reason they removed it was because of Norway removing their religion status and Why they removed it. I think someone should push legislation here that any religion that uses psychological tactics against its members to control membership.

[@kanienkehakaka]

Bingo

[@sonjaleesloth]

And child abuse charges.

[@ShoNuffSoulBro1]

It’s apparent that they are definitely trying to save face. It boils down to the free money they won’t be receiving from the Norwegian government.

[@1D991]

That would shut down a good percentage of "churches" in the US lol

[@kanienkehakaka]

@@1D991 y'know, what America could do is switch to the metric system. That would bring about at least 15% more time in science class by removing mathematic redundancy. That time could be used to teach what consent is, and then maybe people will be more empowered to not depend on these controlling structures for identity, connection and support, and find healthier structures to build identity, connection and support.

[@missmadyreads]

This is nauseating as someone whose mom has been disfellowshipped. It was the lowest I've ever seen her. But she said that she could get through it as long as she has her kids. Fortunately I wasn't baptized at the time so I could get away with talking to her but I was discouraged by my JW family for associating with her which was so gross of them as I was only sixteen and needed my mom still. Doesn't surprise me how these videos were wiped off the site. They're just vile.

[@warsnack4455]

@missmadyreads I wish I could get my mom disfellowshipped 🥲

[@juteandolive]

My mom was also disfellowshipped when I was a teen. She fornicated with a brother who was already married. They had a plan to stick thru it, get him divorced and remarried to her. She leaned on us for support as the entire congregation treated the entire family as disfellowshipped. Fast forward, I faded away because it’s clearly a cult and she treats me like I’m dead..oh well her husband has since left her for another sister

[@hardyharhar9]

My mother thought that cutting off contact with family members was wrong. I have a cousin named Sharron and she like s girls more than boys and when Uncle Harold found out he never spoke to his daughter again for the rest of his life. My mother thought that was messed up and so do I.

[@marylynne9104]

I came within a hair’s breadth of being indoctrinated into the JW movement nearly forty years ago. Dodged a bullet there, because I wasn’t willing to either marry (and coerce him into JWs) or reject and repent of my partner. I’m still with that partner to this day, and still not married, and still happy.

[@sonjaleesloth]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@marylynne9104]

@@sonjaleesloth - thank you.

[@pattymc4726]

I went to college with a woman who joined the JW church out of the blue. She was dumbfounded that her husband left and her kids began acting out. She handed their discipline over to strangers. This was years ago. I still see her standing on the sidewalk with her Watchtower magazines. I would bet my last dollar that her kids don’t have a relationship with her.

[@marylynne9104]

@@pattymc4726 - that’s so sad for her kids. I hope they got out OK.

[@stuartoloughlin7956]

They are facing financial penalties in some countries because of the human rights abuse caused by shunning. While i doubt they are going to change the policy i think they are treading with caution when it comes to what messages they send publicly until they understand the legal and financial impacts.

[@GalicianGranddaughter666]

The girl in the video can certainly act in it without any qualms. I attended the same congregation with her as a child and she has always been a stuck up two-faced girl who only hung out with her clique. Kids like her were the reason I hated going to the meetings. It was a blessing in disguise.

[@seanspartan2023]

4:36 I noticed the Caleb and Sophia photo filter background 🙃 Anyways, maybe they took down the shunning videos because of the court cases like the one they lost in Norway.

[@stevecannon1774]

It’s been 42 year and my entire family still shun me, even my 86 11:18 year old mother My dad died without talking to me for many years. I was also disinherited in favor of his 2nd wife’s kid. Thank you Owen. I wish there was some support in 1979 when I left. I still have no support except for my wonderful husband of 40 years.

[@shonw666]

Your husband is all that you need, I’m sorry that you’re going through that.

[@tammyg8031]

I totally understand. I'm in a similar position.

[@drendabaerwolf7888]

I have 3 children. Been 36 years

[@emmafreeman7740]

Ex JW here, they say that if you do not contact them they will eventually go back to the religion. They also instill fear that they will corrupt them to become "apostate'

[@emmafreeman7740]

God I feel sick listening to those clips

[@joeebiden_]

so glad you're free of this organisation now. i was part of the salvation army and heard similar things

[@greendragon4058]

I'm glad you're out I hope you found a better future. I know everybody here is going to send you love and good wishes oh, it's sad how they break up families didn't know that you are loved❤❤❤❤❤

[@noneofyourbusiness1970]

Yes. Besides the fact that oftentimes when one leaves, they start to come out of the trance like thinking and start to discover many of the flaws, lies and manipulation that they've been fed for so long. So there's no way that the society wants any disfellowshipped ones to enlighten their members by telling them stuff that will make them critically think and possibly leave. I think that's the main reason that it's so harsh. Scare them so they won't even consider it. I've lost my parents and brothers to that cult and yet, I'll never return. Their policy doesn't make anybody want to come back unless they're desperate. And, I mean...after you leave and see the real "Truth", why would you? That part of my family is dead to me now. That's the choice THEY made.

[@jerrykorman7770]

From my perspective - an outsider looking in - I believe mormons, mennonites, hutterites, and amish engage in similar behaviour. Just different degrees of the shunning and shame. Especially those mennonite colonies in Mexico, Belize, and Paraguay. They abuse the rights of others, but are the first to shriek about “religious freedom.” Look out doing business with them. Have eyes on the back of your head

[@halethquirus5650]

Mennonite and Amish communities also practice shunning. As someone who is ex-Amish, it's devastating.

[@Leith_Crowther]

There is, in fact, a lot of harm in letting JW’s talk to apostates. Of course, given that the harm would he inflicted upon the church and the religion, we should celebrate and facilitate this harm.

[@wrexvincent]

My stepfather was an aspostate for many many years (he was when he met and married my mother) but he went back maybe 3-4 years ago. Not all Apostates will go back, but there is still a chance of it happening and disrupting what life that person had made before going back. I 100% agree with your statement, though.

[@susanwright9057]

Paul says not to eat with such a man But not even saying hello or chatting I don’t see any scriptural basis for that I don’t know of any it seems to be too carried away

[@susanwright9057]

To the point of being peeing or looking down your nose at the disfellowshipped person

[@ItsTrizzy262]

My dad is a baptized Jehovah's Witness but doesn't shun those disfellowshipped. His sister was disfellowshipped but he continued talking to her. It was recently he stopped talking to her about something unrelated even though she's back.

[@archeanna1425]

Where I live, in Canada, there is a collection of laws under the heading of "Elder Abuse" that make all the actions described by shunning illegal when used in relation to senior relatives. It's abuse of 'elders' to separate people from their grandchildren, to fail to assist seniors when they need assistance - including financial - or help with other needs they have and other actions. I don't know of anyone who has taken legal action based on these laws but it's remarkable that the government has seen it to be necessary to form laws to tell people they are being abusive because they don't have enough common sense to figure it out for themselves. So there's Spiritual Abuse - telling someone that they are unforgivable, their sins are so bad that Jesus' blood couldn't possibly cover their sins. JWs are guilty! And there's Elder Abuse - cutting seniors off from their family relationships. JWs are guilty!

[@We-will-defeat-them]

That’s really interesting that it legally required to financially assist elderly relatives in Canada.

[@EnigmaticLucas]

@@We-will-defeat-them I feel like that would result in people who grew up in abusive homes being forced to take care of their former abusers

[@Mehk]

That’s terrible, grandparents are not entitled to a relationship with their grandchildren. That law can be abused in so many ways.

[@jacklow9611]

Only two sins are unforgivable by God. The first is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and the second is suicide. That is unforgivable because for God to forgive someone, they must first ask for forgiveness from Him and be completely contrite (and God knows a liar when He sees one) but when you're dead, you can't ask for anything. That ends your "story" and there's no coming back from it without a miracle.

[@jdsthird]

@@jacklow9611 All sins are forgiven according to the work of fiction called the Bible. Just say t three Hail Marys and pinch 🤏 yourself.

[@afroatheist-isnowafroantit6154]

JW's are cruel, and ruthless. This is so depressing. You are such an inspirational person.

[@mikegalvin4843]

I couldn't imagine a worse afterlife than being surrounded by JWs for eternity!

[@Dinas_cozy_cottage]

Yeah that would be hell

[@WhichTheChickenOrTheEgg]

😂😂😂 hilarious. JWs are great,stop it 😆

[@JohnSmith-le5oe]

Always thought that. They are the most stuoid hateful people.

[@cassievining340]

I never was baptized because it always felt skeevy to me. So I dodged that bullet. My sister was disfellowshipped at 19, and got it in her head to get reinstated in her mid-40’s. My mom never stopped talking with her so I was super perplexed why she had this interest all of a sudden? It was the friends she used to have. She wanted to be able to talk to them again. It had been over 25 years! She’d moved away and then around so much that she didn’t have friends here, so I guess she felt nostalgic. But I told her, “If they’re your friends, they’ll fucking talk to you.”

[@kevinramsey417]

I like to imagine the girl in the first video checks up on her ex-JW friend and finds out that she's now living her best life free of the religion and is now a successful atheist KZbinr. I don't know of anybody like that, though 🙂

[@lokelaufeyson9931]

no need to put a tag on people, why tag everyone? they choose to leave JW or similar.. they are humans or people and they are free to do what they want. No need for a theist tag, its as bad as call someone "shunned" ...

[@weatherman1504]

Isn't that basically Owen's backstory to a degree?

[@lunacy5772]

@@weatherman1504 I believe that was the point... that was the joke that flew over both of your heads...

[@aelfycarcini3992]

​@@lokelaufeyson9931well, Owen calls himself an atheist. I was shunned for my family a long time ago, because I'm LGBT and agnostic. Being LGBT it comes natural, LGBT is just the way to publicly recognize it. I don't believe in any god, but i'm a spiritual person... That's called agnostic.

[@lokelaufeyson9931]

@@aelfycarcini3992 ok, sounds great. Wish you the best :)

[@khaliahingram1695]

"Its okay to mentally abuse others, as long as you get yours in the end!"

[@jacklow9611]

And they certainly WILL get it in the end, but not what they think they'll get!

[@josephgalleon9884]

Trust me, as a former elder and completely out and awake. It’s been my experience you can’t convince a Jehovah’s Witness to wake up. It’s impossible they only can do that themselves. So, I sit back and watch the show. I do like your show and keep it up.

[@BlitzKrieg-fc8up]

LOL. Awake.. Leaving Watchtower and Awake behind made you awake did it?

[@PrincessofKeys]

I mean isn't it sad to see someone get manipulated to think a certain way though and shun everyone even their own family? Bit really somemthing to be entertained about in my opinion...but yeah I guess thats all you can do...

[@warsnack4455]

I’m tired of this show 😭

[@mind_control_really_sucks_]

Some can see reason after you crack holes in the constant indoctrination. I've seen it happen but yes it's very hard to get through to them but for others it seems they'll never leave no matter what gets exposed. Maybe they've given up too much to be able to accept that they were wrong.

[@AliceSpratt-m7u]

They always tend to say “Come back to Jehovah “ but, tend to browbeat you when you have a concern or voice a opinion.

[@Youngson113]

Vengeance and punishment is their bread and butter

[@itslyss2233]

My old group (not JW) calls themselves The Truth and has no other name. The audacity these people have to think they’re the only way to heaven is what made me leave when I moved away from home. Been watching for a long time Owen I appreciate your candor and honesty with high control groups so we can recognize their tactics

[@zodwapzwane4913]

All those who left to be Jehovah's witness es,istheir own downfall.just like the Israelites of the past.,surely you have thrown away the most precious gift of Everlasting life. You alone know the truth.pls come back to the fold .Jehovah and Jesus love you

[@itslyss2233]

@@zodwapzwane4913 no thanks 😆

[@kchilz32]

@@zodwapzwane4913smh

[@kchilz32]

Where they oneness apostolic by any chance?

[@lukebeakum1316]

It's arrogant to think that their religion is the only one that's right

[@sadietaylorsversion13]

i live in a predominantly baptist town (i’m also baptist if that matters), and there was a girl that was a JW but left and was shunned and she found refuge with one of the families in my church. she was so glad to find people who didn’t shun her just because she did something wrong. bless all those people, that’s so awful.

[@sonjaleesloth]

Awesome. 😍

[@silverfire1248]

So they were actually following the Bible? That’s awesome!

[@sadietaylorsversion13]

@@silverfire1248 exactly my point!

[@sadietaylorsversion13]

@@zacluu5680 i’ll be honest i don’t have any idea of what you’re talking about, but i’ll go do my research.

[@wristdisabledwriter2893]

I bet the reason they removed it from the app is because they couldn’t control who saw it and non jw critiqued it

[@emmafreeman7740]

Or something to do with loosing funding in Europe.....

[@noneofyourbusiness1970]

Exactly. They're a very money hungry governing body.

[@nightmarerex2035]

@@noneofyourbusiness1970 which means they are SATANIST/LUFIFERIANEST! ""Every single one of us who has participated and continues to participate in the system of commerce is a prostitute in the eyes of the universal laws of nature. It is not an accident in the United States Corporation printed "IN GOD WE TRUST" on their legal fiat whore of Babylon currency. the "GOD" that they are speaking of IS THE MONEY! Everyone is passing those "units of FAITH" like devilish whores every single day and the system loves it! If money is the "god" that we put our "trust" and "faith" in, which is practically all of humanity, then humanity is also collectively calling God a prostitute. That's how serious this is!"" ""If there is not a real, discernible, and tremendous effort towards living with each other and our environment without the use of money we call all call ourselves satanist. luciferians (luci-ferrous/love of money/love of the 'circle') "No man can serve two masters: for he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" - matthew 6:24 ""

[@princessofarchetypes3870]

it also made the JWs look bad - and they couldn't handle it.

[@wcabb4277]

After my brothers, all 3 were shunned. I was very close to them, we talked every day and I was about5-6 months pregnant. The elders were ruthless, following them and never considering that one of my brothers wives had left, taking their child away. His identical twinbrother was also single, because his wife had left to. Both of their ex's became pregnant with from two world!y brothers, but they didn't stick around. The disappeared and both of my brothers took them back and supported them. So that is what was going on.They disfellowshipped the one twin because he gave the wrong answer,when he was asked if he was not ever gong back to the hall and he answered not at this time because he was over whelmed. He was depressed and hi s twin my other brother moved in with him to help him get through with it. His twin had moved in with to also share expenses as well. So the question he was asked was are you going to remain living with him knowing that he is shunned? He said he could'nt leave him alone in the shape he was in! So he was also shunned. I was told after the fact. I was in a high risk pregnancy so they didn't want to stress me out. Then my husband told me I could no lo get talk to them, or say their names in our house, and to treat them as if they had died! I gave birth about to a tiny little girl! I will tell what happened to me ahead later on, and what I was brought before the committee of elders for.

[@dorianxanyn]

Implying a cutting board is anything other than a cutting board... That's a paddlin'

[@heatherallingham7120]

it reminds me of abusive, narcissistic partners or parents who keep you away from friends and family to isolate you "for your own good" but really to control you

[@chrisgraham2904]

"There is no hate, quite like Christian love."

[@greatdayn4651]

Hello, is that your saying? I think that maybe it is not because you put quotation marks around it. I think that this is so profound and want to attribute it to its source, because I'm goin to use this in the future and perhaps even emborder it on a pillow. Please respond.

[@chrisgraham2904]

@@greatdayn4651 LOL No. I didn't originate that saying and have no idea who originally did. I think it's open source advise, like; "Don't take any wooden nickels". Eight little words can say so much. :)

[@greatdayn4651]

@@chrisgraham2904 Thank you for taking the time to let me know.

[@b.r2715]

Maybe because there are things God hates? And maybe because they're trying to love the hell out of people?

[@WillEhrendreich]

There's no relevance to Christianity with JW's. They aren't Christians.

[@rebeccacisco9420]

It has always struck me that they punish the family members as much as they do the "sinner." It's all about control. They don't realize that the harder you control anything, human or animal, the more that person or animal will resist and want to escape the contraints. The shunning is a self destructive construct. Those bloated with pride 8 men will never have the sense to see that you attract more with love than you ever will with hate. The practice of shunning is indeed hate.

[@jenniferfitzpatrick7939]

The irony of them being so shameful in their attempts to use shame for control. The horror that it works.

[@sonjaleesloth]

Especially the shame they pile onto kids. 😔

[@rozzgrey801]

It only works in the short term, but when such cult abuses go public, as this has, then it tends to destroy that cult when everyone sees what an evil bunch of corrupt and abusive predatory sickos actually run it, then the entire cult can be finally shut down for good.

[@truevictory6618]

The reason why you are not allowed to talk to anyone who has left the occult is, because they don’t want you to open other people’s eyes that we are of the devil.

[@Black-Swan-007]

"the occult" is different from a "cult". It may be a language barrier, as they do sound very similar. "The occult" has to do with supernatural stuff like ghosts, vampires and werewolves. A "cult" is an organization that controls its members (like JWs, Mormons, Heaven's Gate, and Waco).

[@Volundur9567]

​@@Black-Swan-007my mom's vernacular is like that. "They joined an occult" gets me every time. She's trying. When I said I'm a bit of an anarchist as a joke, she thought I said antichrist. I died.

[@blindovision]

Years after I left the religion, a couple of them came to my door and threatened to have a meeting about this fellowshiping me. I had just started talking my parents again and was able to kind of try to rebuild a relationship with them. I told him that they could have the meeting without me, but if I was disfellowshipped, as I was in both secondary education, I would write about it. And I would write it very well. I never again heard from them.

[@greendragon4058]

This is such a sad video, and reading some of these comments, it's insane I wouldn't do such a thing? Two kids no mess. I'm really glad you're sitting up an organization that helps these folks and I hope it spreads❤

[@Jasonmakesvideo]

The venom in your words is justified Owen.... Mad resspect for reopening old wounds for the betterment of society

[@hannibalishungry]

I feel your pain bro. That's terrible that happened to you and other other people in this religion. appreciate this content and telling us know what's going on

[@JasperSalem]

Having lost both my parents in the last few years, the idea of shunning is unfathomable. I think about them every day and wish I had called and spent more time with them, so to think of shunning them over the Bible seems like something a person would regret even more after their lived ones are gone. They had also faced some shunning when they left the Plymouth Brethren. What they told me about the Brethren reminds of JWs quite a bit.

[@angelad3347]

Having recently lost my mom the whole concept of shunning infuriates me. One day that parent will be gone. I'd give anything to have my mother back.

[@purpleflowers92]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Ti bad ur mommy is a ghost now hunting people.

[@angelad3347]

@@purpleflowers92 how is this funny?

[@tdwebste]

I was shunned. Never recovered. Never will. You help me see it wasn't my fault. I always believed it was. I didn't want to live. I took nearly dying to accept that life is pain.

[@Edenstar145]

I’m sorry that you had to go through that

[@irfanbey958]

Boy, this shunning video really puts the Caleb and Sophia video about always having to listen to your parents into perspective, lol. But yeah, go ahead and shun your mother. Have fun with the pain and the remorse when she is no longer and you can never say you love her ever again.

[@somersetcace1]

Shunning serves two purposes for the church. First, it isolates the remaining members from those who have left, so as not to risk losing them as well and it puts an extraordinary amount of pressure on the person who left to come back, simply to get their family back. It is indeed a cruel thing and it's for no more reason than to increase the power of the organization over their members.

[@candicefrost4561]

Saw that happen as a child to older kids who couldn’t make it. Their robotic voices when they came back because they weren’t prepared will always haunt me.

[@georgekrukowski4680]

I was a union steward, and we had JWs working in our shop. They didn't have to pay union dues, but they always expressed opinions, and enjoyed the benefits of our negotiated contract!

[@sonjaleesloth]

They don't vote but reap the benefits of government plans.

[@symone3113]

@georgekrukowski4680 oh yes that’s the JWs sneaky way…

[@shonw666]

It’s awful funny that JW’s tend to weasel out moral responsibilities of the so called world system but have the nerve’s to have their hands out for benefits, handouts ect: they should pickup a gun for this country and register for selective service like everyone else.

[@garyfrancis6193]

Disfellowshipped is the kryptonite to use to get JW’s to stop coming to your door. Tell them you were . Then they have to leave and never talk to you again.

[@blackfoot7925]

My friend Jack left the truth and then committed suicide, nobody cared, nobody in the hall went to his funeral except me, I was PIMO after that and finally left myself. It was the best decision, I could breathe again. Like the Pharisees, the JW's cling to the letter of the law but miss the essence of the message, love.

[@vestland3877]

This is the most understaded message "Like the Pharisees, the JW's cling to the letter of the law but miss the essence of the message, love." POWEFUL!

[@marybob23]

Welp. If it's everlasting life I want, I damn sure don't want to spend it with people like this. Absolutely barbaric.

[@sonjaleesloth]

There will never be a paradise with humans in it!

[@jacklow9611]

I seriously doubt any of them will ever have everlasting life.

[@jacklow9611]

@@sonjaleesloth So you may believe, but those who are saved will no longer be burdened with the human failings, and while they will still be human, they will be raised up to be beyond human.

[@mr.ottoman1371]

My grandpa is a JW I openly tell him how I felt about it and I’m surprised he still talks to me I just find it funny how they are so endowed into the belief that they’re right and everyone is wrong.

[@sonjaleesloth]

You have some contact though. 👍🏼 I hope he doesn't proselytize you still.

[@mr.ottoman1371]

@@sonjaleesloth hes always tried doing that he gave me a new translation when i was like 10 i still love him as he his a good person just i dont agree with the organization fo which hes apart of. Hes really old to like 85 so i know i dont have much time with him so i try to hang out with him a lot. only person hes really refused to talk to is my mom.

[@jdsthird]

What does he say about your critiques?

[@mr.ottoman1371]

@@jdsthird he ignores me lol

[@jdsthird]

@@mr.ottoman1371 Oh okay. I thought he might try to have a discussion about it. Glad he still communicates with you.

[@downy1202]

I was in JW until 11th grade because of my best friend. My friends dad wouldn’t confirm to the beliefs. He was shunned from the family. He lived with them, paid the bills, fed them, and they would NOT speak to them. It was as if he was invisible. That’s when I decided JW was horrible plus the process my friend had to go through for baptism. I was never baptized and when I stopped going my friend stopped talking to me. I wasn’t an official JW and still felt disfellowshipped. Thank goodness I didn’t drink whole cup of koolaid.

[@kingofthedots3835]

You will be happy to know Tell Tale ....after almost twenty years of being a fader ,I finally experienced being treated like I was Dfed .......My best fader friend is married to Ray Franze great niece .....they have fallen on hard times and for several weeks I've been bringing them hundreds of dollars of canned foods .......his wife wouldn't look at me or talk to me ....I was treated like I am invisible .....it was fantastic to see a fool act like a fool 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@paulberendsen8152]

"being a fader" ? As in "Dark Fader" ? I have no idea what you are talking about, i even cannot find anything relevant on the internets.

[@kingofthedots3835]

@@paulberendsen8152 🤣🤣🤣🤣. ..That's the best comedy routine since George Carlin died ......most excellent dude 💸👍😮👍👻

[@kingofthedots3835]

@@paulberendsen8152 Be Excellent to one Another ...Bill and Ted 🎶🎶🎶

[@CarAngel]

I was lucky, I left without being shunned, but this practice is brutally immoral, and there is no trace of Jesus ever supporting such insanity.

[@Biggaz1313]

It should be pointed out that the mother may simply have woken up one day and decided the Watchtower wasn't the truth after all. Its the same result. An excellent video. Thank-you for taking the time to make and present this information

[@annettezaleski]

The harm could be that JW KNOWS their lifestyle can be easily disproven and they're afraid that more of their JW's will get curious about the worldly ways

[@lennmacart]

I ,as a father find myself in this situation where both my adult children have decided to shun me. I have offered many olive branches and continue to do so but I am always met with the wall of silence. so far i have missed my son getting engaged and my daughter moving away ( only found out third hand about that) and no longer know where either my son or daughter live. It has been 8 years of heartache and time i can never regain. both of my children will be different people to the ones i once knew. The door is always open but recently i decided to stop trying as hard as it is affecting my mental well being is shunning a loving provision absolutely not

[@francesmartin2866]

I walked away after years of questioning teachings and becoming aware that loyalty to the organization and not God, was paramount. Because I questioned the organization, I was threatened with disfellowshipping and threatened legal action. Though I was not disfellowshipped, my adult child disowned me , said I was dead in Jehovahs eyes the most cruel, judgemental accusation ever made about me. The organization did this to his brain.

[@alisonbird5491]

And they claim they are not a cult! 🤨🙄🤬 Horrible people.

[@GoddessTier]

I escaped from these nutbars 15 years ago. Thank you for all you do!

[@katarinatibai8396]

That is pure psychopathic thinking, to claim that you can replace people like objects. Oh, you will find a new mother like you find a new paare of shoes.... 🥶🥶🥶🤢🤮 Persons are not replaceable, especially not mothers !!!

[@GemCity-p6y]

I was born into and raised in that religion and I was disassociated and disfellowshipped all because I was 18 and got pregnant with my son my mother still shuns me and refuses to have relationships with my children all because I never came back. They treated me like I was a leper 😢 it was so painful and humiliating thank you for sharing these videos and letting people know about this

[@cottoncandybunny7n7]

Do you maybe have an advice on how to get out of this cult? I’ve was also born into it and im not as old than you (im 13), so i thought you could help me?

[@rmayerCPA]

Thank you for being so open in your videos.

[@lori4971]

I am so sorry that you and many others have had to go through this kind of torture. Keep exposing this cult. Thanks for your work!

[@francissebastiansamson8561]

This must be a hard video to make considering how relevant it is to you. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@dogearflopper7011]

Little does the Watch Tower know I've already killed and eaten Jehovah. They can't prove me wrong.

[@lifesquandered]

Did it taste like chicken?

[@gravijiga]

To quote Simpsons Lawer Lionel Hutz: "There's the Truth 😠😠, and the Truth 🙂🙂"

[@barbarajohnson9050]

Sickening… We are shunned survivors, and yes the pain is great, Owen. My sister, who shuns me was arrested for drunk driving last year. (Shes been an alcoholic for 35+ years and many know about it.) she is still in good standing in the org., but I guess that’s ok. Smh Anyway thank you for another great video.

[@tayhawkins9235]

My heart goes out to you Owen. Disfellowshipped since 1998 but finally accepted that it’s a cult last year. 🤦🏽‍♀️ The shunning is absolutely heartbreaking. I vowed to never be apart of anything that could allow members to shun each other. My kids are so far removed from religion too because I won’t let them ever feel that level of abandonment. Thank you for these videos. (Those JW videos are disgusting.)

[@wrexvincent]

I say this in almost all your JW videos- but thank you for these. Its important to know what is going on and the beliefs Witnesses have and to understand the mentality of it. Im not anti-religion, but my stepfather went back to being a Witness some years ago and I fear for him and the safety of my family (he isnt dangerous but I still worry of the extremes of this religion coming into the home). I am mentally ill, physically disabled, asexual/aromantic and dont identify with any particular gender- pretty sure if I were brown I would be even less welcome in his religious mindset. He just got back from a three day 'convention' and I will be approaching him with the same level of hesitant care as I usually do.

[@pvtread5207]

Wait Wasn't "able" KILLED BY HIS BROTHER IN A FIT OF JEALOUSY?! I mean that's what I remember

[@amy_pieterse]

Maybe they were just using it to name a random character. 🤷

[@georgebrown8312]

"Able" is actually spelled "Abel" in the Holy Bible.

[@pvtread5207]

@georgebrown8312 and I care why? I mean that book isn't exactly the picture of honesty or anything

[@Nat-sj4nn]

Does the shunning happen because of "grave sins" like drinking alcohol, being gay etc. Or can it happen over something "stupid" like a person not going to enough meetings or someone taking a blood infusion in a life/death situation? I wanted to know if there is a heirarchy of sins if a person gets shunned. Thanks for exposing this horrible cult.

[@RowenaSnow-px3jg]

I think all of that ( I am not JW) and also if someone is SA d it is considered her fault .

[@edwardrichardson5567]

Getting drunk is a sin. Drinking alcohol in moderation is not a sin...

[@bluefishjoe]

Every situation is different. My parents never stopped talking to me when I was disfellowshipped. We’ve lived in the same place together for years when they were still going to meetings. They don’t go to meetings anymore, thankfully. Also, I got caught smoking weed in high school. I was publicly reproved. Unfortunately, there are a lot of families that shun.

[@bluefishjoe]

I did lose all of my friends and my complete identity. I’m still recovering. I feel bad that some also lose their family. That’s just not cool.

[@sonjaleesloth]

My half-brother is JW but still talks to me and other siblings. I had to go to meetings as a child and hated it so much. But I was allowed to play with neighborhood kids. I'd take all day texting everything I despise about the jws.

[@candicefrost4561]

It’s uncommon for them to still speak to you. I lived my life in fear that I would have to choose between lying and staying with a religion I didn’t agree with. My mom reassured me she would not do that to me, but I always wondered why she never said so for the years she took me to listen to them say that.

[@yikesyikes5974]

You’re lucky. My aunts friend is disfellowshipped and her mom died. At the funeral, her family and people at the hall acted like she didn’t exist. Literally, like she was the invisible man. She had to grieve alone.

[@bluefishjoe]

@@yikesyikes5974 So sad. I hate it.

[@jacklow9611]

My parents knew a JW family (I was raised in a different religion) who always seemed to be trying to proselytize us, but we were resistant, and they were some of the most hypocritical people we've ever met (after I reached adulthood, I met some who were even worse, and some I met even tried to cheat on taxes on goods). They were also trying to get my mother's eldest sister's family to "convert" but they didn't agree with their doctrine, either. The Mormons were also trying to get us to convert, so one day, my mother and my aunt got together and invited both the JW family and the Mormons to come visit, both at the same time. From what I understand, the argument was glorious, neither seeming to budge a millimeter (the children were sent out to play while they were arguing. While I do not agree with the doctrines of either denomination, my main problem with JWs is their insistence on using His name. I feel that is disrespectful to God. I've asked many that have tried to convert me if they call their parents (most specifically, their fathers) by their given name. That seems to shock them that I would ask them that question. If it is disrespectful to call your earthly father by his name, isn't it even more disrespectful to call our Heavenly Father by His name? I've yet to get a straight answer because they change the subject immediately. They've even stopped coming to my door because I ask them that question. Must be shunning me (even though I'm not a JW) and that doesn't hurt my feelings one iota. Edit: What the brother in Corinth was supposed to have done was to sleep with his father's wife. Whether it was his biological mother or not was not revealed in the verses I read in my Bible, which was the King James Version, but was still considered incest, evidently.

[@TheNewCoalition]

4:25 it's a charcuterie board...for cheese and meat

[@danettelewis8002]

😂I'm chuckling when you surmised that the mother may have gotten a girlfriend. How that thought crossed my mind after I left my abusive JW spouse. Love your perception, it's accurate and still entertaining.😊

[@pajamajordan2991]

Shunning is one of their worst practices. It’s overused, abused and often mishandled when it should be dropped altogether and little would change short of them retaining more of their congregation. Long story short, for all of their effort, they do a pretty shitty job of keeping the evil out.

[@mikeneidlinger8857]

I was taught for 10 years by an Elder who came to my apartment twice a week. He stopped coming because I wouldn't put on the suit and go door to door. They will teach you some fascinating things and it is easy for most people to get caught up in it.

[@polish-american8107]

It's a sad tale from a horrible organization.

[@whenwedecay]

How can these people pretend to worship a loving and merciful God when their actions are completely the opposite

[@ailleenvargas23]

They r hypocrites

[@willexMormon-vj6pm]

I understand I grew up Mormon Latter-Day saints so I understand it's frustrating

[@adequatemagic]

I was not a Jehovah's Witless but was shunned by my Mother at 35 due to an argument over my son (her grandson) and his education. Without going into nauseating detail, we raised him in a secular environment. He went to church once a month with her and my Dad but when my mother told him that his mom and I would burn in hell for not believing my wife and I agreed it was time to give him the choice. He chose not to go anymore. I tried to resolve the issue with my Mom but she told me that we were going to hell and she would never forgive me for poisoning my son to the same fate. We never spoke again. She never answered the phone, never acknowledged my messages and returned my letters "addressee unknown." WTF My Mom passed two years ago and it was painful realizing that I could never resolve that issue, but there is a happy ending... My son is an amazing man, a business owner, a very talented musician, compassionate, caring, empathetic and 100% atheist. I could not be more proud of him. ❤

[@lalaj5831]

I, personally, believe in God. I also believe that being a good human being is not limited to those that believe in God. I would rather associate with good human beings that have chosen to be good human beings rather than people that are hateful using religion as their excuse for cruelty and evil.

[@adequatemagic]

@@lalaj5831 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@lornawynne3544]

I’d rather get to know a kind, caring and empathetic atheist than a judgemental religious person of any faith

[@marywynne7931]

My mom died when I was a teenager. I don't understand why people shun their parents (aside from severe abuse or neglect). It is so awful for cults to push people into losing family members they still have.

[@msandrearobinson]

I so appreciate your honesty and candor! Thanks for sharing your information and experiences!

[@ArthurCantu-xr5cz]

My grandfather disowned my father for marrying a Catholic I was 18 years old I walked up to him when he was preaching the word of God having the watch tower and the awake magazine I stood right in front of them looking at my eye to eye he didn't even know me I looked at him and just laughed at him and this is a man of God so he thinks it don't matter what religion you're in we're All God's children

[@ResearchThis]

It hurts a lot 💔 thanks for continuing to expose this harmful cult Owen. 💪Free the Friends

[@noSpoonsOnlyKnives]

My family is LDS. I'm not, never have been, wasn't even baptised, and they shun too. It's insidious though bc they'll associate with you and act friendly * if * there's something they need from you (money, inheritance, signature) and the second they have it they walk away and stop talking to you. I've experienced this not just with family.

[@violetwaterford9381]

I left in around 1989 or so in my twenties. My mom shunned me until her death in her 80s. My dad shunned me until his death at 69 years. The horrible part is my grown kids who I left the Watchtower with were all toddlers. My mom hadn't seen them for decades, and before her death, she tried to recruit my daughter, who took her in as the JW had discarded her as an old woman. She showed my daughter a shunning video and encouraged her to become a witness and SHUN me!!! I regret even bringing my mom back into my family because she was in a homeless hotel on section 8! The elders took her there in her 70s. I set her up in her own place and spent thousands, all my tax return and I had kids! and she tells me once she was settled that she couldn't associate with me anymore as elders in her new congregation where i moved her told her so. Remember the JW dumped you mom? My mom encouraged my own kids now to SHUN me? My kids wanted nothing to do with the JW religion, so she started shunning them!!! unreal

[@Thepearlcat]

I am so sorry. I am glad your children stood by you. Family is more important than any so-called religion. Sounds like your mom was brainwashed. Sad situation.

[@treknut72]

Here is the loophole....don't get baptized, that way you are still practicing but you're not a member (per se). has worked for my mother for the last 20+ years. That's how she gets away with being a smoker. Oh, and having a gay daughter and 2 gay granddaughters. Yeah, I don't talk to her because.....hypocrisy much?

[@InZoid]

That is a real jim jones situation creeping in. Isolation is a step.

[@princessofarchetypes3870]

It would be a COLD DAY IN HELL before any church or religion tells me who I should or shouldn't talk to!!!! That is outright SICK!