What Has Changed Since I Was a Jehovah's Witness?

[@greg27zz]

Remember when a speaker using a slide projector in his talk was something special.

[@KatherineRogers]

I remember those times. We had member go "where the need was greater" ex to south America and they would come back and talk and give a slide show.

[@sibulelesbuda6302]

How does one stop being a jw without sounding rude or saying bad things about the organization? Just need some advice.

[@Keithbarber]

@@sibulelesbuda6302 just say it bluntly and how it is, and if its rude, say it with an apology

[@sibulelesbuda6302]

@@Keithbarber thanks Keith, I'll definitely do so before I get into deep.

[@thomasdgillespie477]

@@kevinwarren1576 Yes...fantasyland it is. Congregations full of brain washed people. Including My Father, an elder in Cottonwood, Aridzona. He’s dying of Lukemia, and when I called him to see how he was doing...He told me not to call him again, then hung up on me. That’s true Fatherly Love. Doesn’t His God, Jehovah, teach to love one another? His God, Jehovah, allegedly created an organization that plots “Believing” Family Members against “Non-Believing” Family Members? ie. Father/Son relationship. And this they call the “Truth”...Think again. Even a “false religion” doesn’t enforce this teaching. CULT!

[@trashpandia]

I also visited a Kingdom Hall recently. For myself, sufficient enough time has passed that being at a meeting wasn't triggering. It also allowed me a chance to see it with "fresh eyes" and more objectively. I went as I am, in my everyday attire and beard and was treated as a outsider might when attending for the first time. This was perfect as I really do feel like an outsider. As has been said, there is no going back. Even if I wanted to, the religion of my youth no longer exists. It is all so alien. The technology is the first thing that hits you. There are few books and most of the congregation is staring at a mobile phone, tablet computer, or television screen. The kind Witnesses that greeted me didn't have paper copies to share and because I didn't have an electronic device, I was out of luck. The meeting moved at such a brisk, scripted pace that it was impossible as an outsider to follow along. What struck me were the personalities of the Witnesses. I don't know if this is just the passage of time, but they seem far less natural -- if not robotic. The brothers giving the talks had that same weird speaking cadence and quirks that the GB uses. It just felt overall more "culty".

[@Marimarr59]

Anthony Mathenia I felt outta place the last time I went because of the electronic devices they use during the meeting. The songs have changed..alot of the songs I loved like Ressurection Joy..they got rid of, which made me sad...the Memorial Song..has completely changed..I don't like it! IDK..your so right..so different then when I was growing up in the 70s...I know change is good but..really nothing is changing! Do you get me?

[@sjdrifter72]

Anthony Mathenia. JWs are real life Pod People, emotionless alien doppelganger clones that have duplicated and replaced their human counterparts. That is how I interpret the term Putting On The New Personality.

[@trashpandia]

The bad has always been there. Just seems like over the years, what was good and honest about it has faded away. It's a hollow shell.

[@michaelandrew3397]

Interesting observation ,I left a year ago after 59 years, I guess the videos are homogenising jws, so less likely to have a lively speaker with some charisma and original material

[@1955annemarie]

Anthony Mathenia, you didn't "imagine" a thing; the witnesses ARE "robotic." It's a scary thing to see, and even more so because THEY think they're "normal" and "enlightened."

[@katemiller3018]

You are doing a great service to those of us who have been out a while and didn't realize so much had changed. My ex husband who faded saw the Leah Remini episode and started watching your videos. He actually hugged me and apologized to me, saying he didn't realize how marginalized women are in the JW. Never stop, you are doing a great thing!

[@guillermovilla9517]

Being barred from field service for inappropriate dress, but a green light if you’re a child molester- makes perfect sense. 🙄

[@1968dogg]

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely----should be a scripture.

[@eastbaysf]

Its Sharia Law...thats all.

[@jaymcmurdo5584]

It was a Catholic Lord writing to an Anglican Archbishop.

[@lynnentler5725]

Lorraine you know I got to thinking about that too and I thought they do act a lot like the Muslims don't they tell you what to eat what to wear you women are not as equals men their second class citizens they do act a lot like Muslims I have noticed that

[@japnikki]

GuillermoVilla wow that is sad!

[@vanoramoon674]

I do hope the news media does continue to delve into JW's. The LIGHT needs to shine on them and uncover their coverups.

[@almakwami1825]

THEY NEED TO UNCOVER THE COVER UPS OF MOST RELIGIOUS ORGANISATION ESPECIALLY THE MAIN ORGANISATIONS.

[@absternajroman2620]

I'm currently a JW and was born into the "truth" but had various doubts from a young age. I admit I'm not the most knowledgeable about the "profound" teachings like the prophecies yet I found myself disagreeing more and more. I finally had the courage to investigate for myself through other sources besides what watchtower offered because i knew clearly they would be biased. So I just want to thank you for your remarkable videos and disproving that just because you question or disagree with Watchtower it doesn't automatically equate having a mental illness ,being bitter or hateful.

[@Nica-Ra-Wata]

Check out Santos Bonacci Jordan Maxwell Read the Kybalian Study etymonlogy It is all a huge lie. Free maso ns constructed all religions since there is no god. All is astrology. The secret is the human body in this dimension but we are a spirit from other higher realm...

[@jamesashley9687]

All of their prophecies have proven false.

[@bekind8484]

Do not listen to these people - they will turn you away from Jehovah

[@carlisroy6666]

@@bekind8484 Surely if JW was the truth no evidence to the contrary would be compelling at all. But thanks for your self defeating statement!

[@marvalice3455]

Something I recommend do too, is reading all the verses they use in context. I was born in and believed all my life. I only left because I was trans, and couldn't handle staying in the closet anymore. But when I started studying the bible more regularly, I realized a lot of the verses they used were actually saying something entirely different from what they implied. Even in the NWT.

[@Former2freeExjw]

Don’t forget how much easier it is to cover their tracks and rewrite their literature because of it mostly being in digital media form.

[@tomz4332]

The brighter the light, the darker the shadow - Carl Jung

[@lauralove6978]

I was raised into “the truth”. We tried to do everything right, there was always the pressure of being perfect or being judged.My mother would be shamed when we would show up to meetings late. I really didn’t like that.... it made me feel like we were less then. I would wonder why we were so different. Holidays weren’t celebrated. I didn’t want the gifts but I resented other families who celebrated holidays more for traditional purposes. I saw how close those families were and I really wanted it. I would hear elders gossiping about personal affairs that were not their own. I also was taught to believe this was the only way to live. Bible studies were mandatory on week ends, meetings during the week days. My mom was told not to complete her college degree because the world was coming to an end and she needed to spread awareness....she completed it in her later years. When I started grade school I would always look around and wonder “why should I be putting any effort, the end of the world is near and nothing will matter” I gave up before I started to live. I fell into a Great Depression and became obsessed with questioning life after death........ i experimented with suicidle thoughts ..... tried to kill my self over five times...... some how made it out alive and got tired of being sad. When we got a computer, I did alitle research and found out JW is a man made religion........it’s not fair. I could have accomplished so much more if I had not felt like everything was coming to an end. It’s been years since I have chosen not to accept JW as my religion..... but I can’t help but feel lost some times...... feel like I would like to go back for the structure,or wonder if I have been making the right choice.....I feel a little guilty some times.

[@brandy6625]

The guilt is what kills you. You question everything and it's hard to find peace

[@MsTeal69]

Please please don't go back to the JW's, they are not the answer

[@annapostate8246]

The light keeps getting brighter...no wonder they’re blind.

[@wizner91]

Hahaha awesome

[@Royal-Jaywick]

I think they have arc eye from welding !

[@jadamartin8926]

What’s wrong with being blind! Your making fun of a disability to bash an organization. Tell those people who voted for Trump their blind because obviously he is not fit to run a country. I rather be blind than ignorant and hypocritical.

[@fadedglory1045]

JJstar Mart huh

[@annapostate8246]

JJstar Mart it was a joke...sheeesh

[@suras8984]

My mom told me the meetings are shorter now.... I remember being so bored and praying the meeting would end as a kid and teenager.

[@thegulfcoastexperience]

Sura S ha ha well it is answered prayer then ☺️😃

[@vs9400]

Me too! I hated it and it felt sooooo long. Luckily I never got baptised. To be honest I never even spoke at the meetings during the years I was there. 😅 Basically I just went there because my mother forced me. I'm glad I could be strong enough to resist the pressure as a teen.

[@itwasratedarrgh]

I resent my parents for making me waste my time for forcing me to participate in these meetings 3 times a week... sitting for 2 hours!! My mom made active listening like a "game" to do a tally mark on my notepad every time i heard the "Jehovah", "Jesus", or "pray". Just pure brainwash..

[@leonardyoung189]

Katherine Guerrero they didn't know better

[@SamVagyok]

Yeah if you consider an hour and 45 minutes of nonsense short

[@ronnie1049]

I left the JWs 4 years ago Lloyd, every former JW I talk to wishes they could have left earlier and I wish I could have also. This religion still drives me crazy because my family are still JWs.

[@ronnie1049]

I'm sorry to hear about that dude, I get frustrated and angry at times because my mom be praying that I come back to the kingdom hall.

[@1955annemarie]

RebelMinxyRozu, barf bag... So sorry you have to see your mom so deep in the Watchtower programming, mindlessly regurgitating her Watchtower indoctrination. God bless you...

[@beingsharper853]

Raised as fifth generation JW, both maternally and paternally. One of the Studies in the Scriptures classes advertised in Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence in the late 1800's was held in my great-grandfather's house in Fitzgerald, GA. I left in 2005. The "religion" is unrecognizable now, in 2018. Its current caricature of its former self seems like a bad joke on everyone whose family is still stuck inside it. It has changed utterly in every respect except in the top-down oppressive authority structure that acts as Lord and Master over the faith of individual adherents. It seems they now create new Shibboleths on a monthly basis. Those remaining are so conditioned to the constantly morphing doctrines, policies, and cultural norms that they easily adjust to every change, regardless how ridiculous, regardless how sharply the new doctrines conflict with other current doctrine or with former cherished teachings, regardless how obviously antithetical to first century Christianity, regardless how contrary to the teachings of Jesus are the changes. Commands of men taught as doctrine is an accurate description of almost all of their doctrines, now. Confirmation bias driven by propaganda reigns supreme throughout the cul- ... ... "religion."

[@pamelaswan2774]

Ronald Parks It never stops- the judging and condescending by family still in it...break all ties and find new family or cling to those who aren't JW. I know how you honestly...its very hurtful and I am sorry...its to bad PTSD disability isn't applied to being in a cult, or is it?

[@1955annemarie]

Pamela Swan, I was shocked to be told by my therapist that I had PTSD. Since then, I have heard that most ex JWs...Watchtower Refugees...who have sought counseling have also been diagnosed with PTSD. Just goes to show you just how much damage and injury and trauma they have caused us.

[@69skewy]

Thank you for the information. I left over 10 years ago and am amazed at all these new changes. I was a regular pioneer and ministerial servant and like so many others was completely ostracized by all my family when I left. I am so glad to be free from their indoctrination but it is frustrating when I think of all my family still living in that darkness

[@austin4330]

Interesting. I've been out for ten years, now 27 years old. So much has changed! And to think... I would have been excited about every change as if it was all a part of the plan... UGH

[@rogersmith9086]

A good heads up on the changes. The dumping of the ministry school, and moving to tablets left all the oldies struggling to recognize their religion they grew up with

[@joshbobst1629]

"Oldsters," according to that one Watchtower article from...was it 1997 or thereabouts?

[@FluWorldOrder]

Roger Smith-That is what I was wondering about the old timers. It was difficult enough to get them to use a cell/mobile phone as they preferred to use a land line. How are they managing?

[@KatherineRogers]

Way back in the day....the ministry school used to have written tests that were graded by the book study servant. You turned your test paper in to him when done. People were expected to read through their bible and the study materials to do well on the examinations. Understand I was a little kid doing these tests. Members were supposed to read books heavy into prophesy at the book study. Anyone not keeping up was counseled. We were expected to rehearse different bible topics to use in door to door field service where even the smallest JW was expected to be able to know how to refute common errors asked during door to door work. Baptism meant answering a long list of questions and ....give scriptural reasons for those answers. Everyone was expected to give talks in ministry school. Its as though the group is dropping the academic requirements thinking people are leaving because it was all too difficult. There are some that literally could not keep up with that work load, but thats usually not why people are leaving. Most of the people I talk to that leave...have left because the org....was just WRONG about what they taught. Its not the same org. We thought our lives and those of others around us in door to door work...depended on us knowing our bible and being able to teach its contents. We prided ourselves in knowing the bible better than those folks at the door so that we were actually prepared to teach the bible if asked. Now the central messages seem to be...give us money, dont associate with outsiders, did we mention that we need money, Armageddon is still just around the corner as it has been for over 100 years, we need your money.

[@rogersmith9086]

Katherine Rogers yes I remember how it was. I gave my first talk on the ministry school in 1948. I have seen it all. Thanks for your comments

[@rosastephens8966]

Wow Roger Smith would LOVE to read or hear your story of all the changes YOU have 'witnessed' since 1948!

[@RiaCottingham]

I left in 1997, so have seen massive changes too. I seriously don’t recognise the organisation at all now! The whole video side of things has definitely been one of the biggest changes, and indeed most shocking changes I’ve noticed! Thanks for sharing, it was good to have a walk down memory lane

[@elizabethroblyn1392]

Maria Cottingham that's the year I was disfellowship

[@intelligenceisattractive8458]

I left in 1998. What a difference!

[@RiaCottingham]

@@intelligenceisattractive8458 huge difference

[@michaelpatrata5092]

@@elizabethroblyn1392 watch grand baptism Phil.arena Inc in africa

[@lauramichael3676]

I'm just seeing this. I left around 97as well. Very different place and people now. Unrecognizable for sure

[@MichaelPaddock69]

Another thing I would add to your list is the way they organization has become much more insular. Warnings about associating with friends and family that are not actively associating with the congregation has increased quite a bit. It has led many to proactively choose to remove people from their lives that have chosen to "fade away", even if they aren't disassociated or disfellowshipped. Instead of the old approach of keeping that person in your life with the hope they might return, the stance has changed to cutting that person off because they are a spiritual danger. The Us vs. Them mentality has increased dramatically in the past couple of years.

[@janebennett4512]

So interesting you should say that Michael, I faded 17 years ago, and a witness family member has just cut me off after all that time, I'm not disfellowshiped.

[@zedolvero4515]

Totally agree on the US vs THEM. This is something I have run into with other 'apostates' as well. We are ALL brothers and sisters ✌️there are mistakes being made and they are affecting us daily but we fail if we let our anger blind us

[@ingridkristinvanrooijen3814]

Michael Paddock A

[@nuyabetter7699]

Michael Paddock tightening the noose bc with technology they are losing a lot of livestock bc they are waking up we were just chattle to them

[@maryshaffer8474]

It's a relief because they listen for words of attitude they then decide are apostate to report.

[@ooklathemok7322]

John, Wonderfully done! You covered it well. Thanks for your tireless work. Helping so many.

[@MikeWilliams-yp9kl]

You can have blood fractions but not blood it's like saying you cant eat pork but you may eat bacon.

[@ashleyc8303]

Mike Williams but the beacon taste different than the pork everyone knows that. Why do you think Fraction Vampires exist.

[@honeyholly001]

Mike Williams sounds like a good trade-off 😋

[@slymm619]

Mike Williams haahhahaa

[@slymm619]

I use to dreaaaaaaad when there's a reader reading each paragraph in the sundays watchtower. So slow... I used to see people doze off 🤣🤣😀💀

[@pamelaswan2774]

Mike Williams My Sister a heavy duty JW does dialysis tech- hypocrisy- blood in blood out. Sounds not "scriptural" when they say blood is only meant to be pored out on the ground. Not to speak of the boob job she got and wears a breast minimumizer to hide those knocker unless they go to Cancun 4x a year. Unbelievable!

[@ambersmith4787]

Yeah i have been out for like a year and so much has already changed

[@celticfiddle7605]

I was forced through peer pressure to buy a computer tablet for field service and the meetings. It was expensive and I did not want to buy it because I am very old fashion. But there was a lot of pressure out in service and at the meetings to get one. Everything was going fine until a geeky brother convinced me to put a special Watchtower app on it to send in my field service time directly to the Society and to receive special messages.. Right after that I started to watch Cedars on it. Then all of a sudden one day it went dark and died. It was only a month old!!! Is it possible the Watchtower app destroyed my tablet? I'm serious.

[@tooannoying]

Celtic Fiddle def sounds weird. Maybe they put a bug in the app. You should have your computer checked - it can be done remotely so you wouldn’t even have to leave home.

[@ashleyc8303]

It was Demons that where upset that you left their religion.

[@ssdsd5394]

Celtic Fiddle probably backdoor drained the battery...new one runs around $30 USD...good shop will tell you up front cost and can whip it so it starts like new out of the box.....it is possible to put spy or malware and that could wear out the battery....but it's a bit in conspiracy theory territory...but who knows...scientology is nuts with computer stuff and not that much different than JWS. ..hope that helps

[@cyclone5943]

That's because your hot.. But really, I get it, it is a big change.

[@triggawoods6888]

Shout out to all the publications, bound volumes, etc in the background. Keep that paper trail, bc who knows what will change next...

[@kerryetabaczka54]

I noticed that too!!! Quite a collection!

[@kirstenornelas881]

I have literature clear back when their song book had songs that did include the cross. My family goes way way back in this crap and thank goodness a few of us got out. Just wish the rest would wake the hell up.

[@doreenfernandes2431]

They should change themselves and follow Jesus, the true God !

[@drmephistoscane]

I love showing my friends those old publications. The Revelation book, especially. That book is fucked up, but the art is pretty cool.

[@jamieangel3766]

I left in 2004, this is a completely different beast to what I remember. I don't know to think of it! Its fascinating to see the the timeline of what and how much has changed. WT was bad when I was a kid but its worse now in a different more insidious, manipulative, money-grabbing way.

[@gezanagy3633]

I would mention the increasing public and media awareness, like the ARC hearings, with GB Jackson testifying, related to the WT's pdophile issue and related numerous lawsuits and large dollar court cases and settlements

[@Fhall0ween]

Jamie Angel My dad is a Jehovah Witness. He’s a real Witness, baptized and everything. He’s a nice person, there’s nothing wrong with him. Jehovah witnesses are the kindest people you could ever meet, they welcome you at the door and everything. The Bible studies are great, the Kingdom Hall is great place. A true Jehovah Witness do not leave the religion. If ur a Jehovah Witness then you’re a Jehovah Witness. True Witnesses are baptized. If you can’t handle a religion then you shouldn’t be in one bc every religion have rules and requirements.

[@GrimaldoH]

@@Fhall0ween Yep, and those who born in JW who want to leave because they realize they aren't fit in the religion... Guess what happens to them? They want to leave peacefully without hurting their love ones, but they get shunned/disfellowship and get kicked out of the house. When all their lives was knowing JW, they know nothing of how to deal with the world. JW never teach them how, and they know ex JW will come back because ex JW are children who can't find peace in the world. Elder wants my family back to JW, and I have Dad who knows the world well. He shows it to me, and now I know how to survive out there like a normal being. JW thinks nonbelievers smoke pot, party all night, rebel their parents, and become suicidal. My congregation is kind as long as they focus on reputation and earning points. Sorry, it's true. Tho, I agree partly how some JW has good intention than others :)

[@Fhall0ween]

@@GrimaldoH I mean that’s how you feel...don’t say it’s facts bc it’s not

[@GrimaldoH]

@@Fhall0ween 'K, apologist.

[@DJ-bp5yz]

I'm out 20 years, left at 16. Got a hankering to see what the so called "present truth" is these days. Thank you for your efforts, amazingly logical analyses that you provide on you channel.

[@SpeedyKQ]

Wait, the only practical thing I got out of being raised as a witness was legitimate training in public speaking from the theocratic ministry school, and now they've taken that away?

[@marvalice3455]

Oof. That really helped me get control of my speach impediment. Legitimately the most valuable part of the organization.

[@Canalbiruta]

They did to me aswell. Never got why. My first public speak turned out to be great, and even in school presentations i was doing well, but they just put me to read the chapters again, and i never got the reason why. Like, i wasn't even striving to be better than someone or begging about it...

[@tellusorbit]

Thanks for the video, John. I was disfellowshipped thirteen years ago and spent five vain years attempting to get reinstated.. I came to my senses in 2010 and have never set foot in a Witness gathering again and am all the better for it. The changes you have detailed that have taken place since then are staggering. Abolishing the Ministry School, the emphasis on video presentations, the elimination of printed materials, "cart" witnessing and other things indicate this is certainly not the religion I was baptized into back in 1976! One can only wonder where the Witness handbasket is headed. I get the impression from this video that not even the Governing Body has a clear idea. Shrinking attendance and baptism figures, diminution of donations, consolidation of congregations, reduction of Bethel home staffs--not to mention eliminating district overseer positions--indicate that what is now stagnation may become a slow and inexorable death for the cult. Sadly, however, none of this convinces the Governing Body that the game is up.

[@julespetyt6930]

the overlapping generations teaching is no small change- unsprising for a doomsday cult to move the goalposts when their prophecies fail

[@IAM-kg5pq]

I could barely believe it when they changed the FDS teaching to be just the GB and not all others with the heavenly calling. It left me bewildered to see how this change was lapped up by the r&f. Great video.

[@IAM-kg5pq]

DRUMMING DRUMS I would hope so! Alas, when I was a jw it seemed to be an accepted unwritten truth. I lost count of the amount of times I spoke to appointed men because they had spoken from the platform about the GB as if they alone were the FDS. Seemed to me the "new light" in 2012/13 was what everybody all ready believed anyway. There was two anointed sisters I spoke to about 1998 - 2004 and they left me baffled when they blatantly said they (the GB) are the FDS and we are the domestics.

[@qbasicmichael]

@@IAM-kg5pq they had a watchtower, back in the 2000s, that said the anointed remnant collectively was the slave, using isaiah 43:10, jehovah telling israel they were "my witnesses (plural) ... even my servant (singular) whom i have chosen".

[@danieltenke2180]

Great video Lloyd. I missed all these changes since I'm an "old" one having left in 81. Keep it up, I'm sure you are helping witnesses wake up.

[@proTheologist]

Wow! Fabulous picture of you as a young fellow. Very insightful presentation thank you.

[@ConnorwithanO]

I'm pretty sure that "Listen, Obey, and be Blessed" was the biggest driving force in my departure. That song annoyed the hell out of me even when I was still in!

[@hikingviking859]

Liberalist Sperg Be Joyful did it for me. There’s only so much a person can take.

[@guillermovilla9517]

I hated it when I first heard and I was in- but, but already questioning.

[@guillermovilla9517]

Ginette Hardwick Ha- thank goodness I don’t remember that one, but good for you!👍🏼

[@Cholovstam]

I left in 2014 and I'm so shocked! I naturally remember some of these but I'm a bit floored.

[@truthbeknown8411]

One thing I remember when I was a JW was how clicky the congregation could be

[@rodywithers3536]

Revealing list of changes - all in one video! Priceless! Thank you Lloyd. The change from announcing new light at the annual convention to the Annual General Meeting of the Watchtoser Society is likely due to the rank and file showing greater receptivity to "new light" when on their home turf. Hearing new stuff when you're away from home can be disorienting. I heard rumors that many brothers and sisters had been stumbled by new light released at district assemblies and had subsequently never gone back to their local kingdom halls. Hmmmmm. I wouldn't at all be surprisec. Apparently, hearing new stuff goes down better when you're safe and secure at home. Who knew? Also, with the disappearance of the Yearbook in 2017, the detail in the annual service report has been cut right back to the basics. If I want to know, for example, the peak number of fulltime pioneers and memorial attendance in New Zealand for 2017, here's where I'll now find it: NOWHERE! Very conveniently lost to view so that those of us interested in tracing declining numbers in specified countries no longer have access to the relevant data. A religious organization that thrives does not reduce the level of detail on its reports.

[@stevemann6851]

Rody, watchtoser society,thats so good i had a laughtng fit!!!

[@qbasicmichael]

The annual meeting is a single date. The conventions are spread out over the summer. Maybe they want everyone getting it all at once. (I was dfed in 2012, right around the time annual meetings were becoming a big deal.) As far as being receptive to new light, what you say feels counterintuitive to me. I held conventions in such high reverence, i think i was pretty receptive at them. I was still pretty young when the sheep/goats judgment change happened. I basically bought the overlapping generations change, though i was aware they had changed generations several times. Likewise, the leaven and birds in tree changes seemed ok. The gb/fds change felt odd. I was pomi at the time. (I don't think we had all seen that annual meeting, so the general revelation of it was in the watchtower magazine.)

[@timbothegreat7767]

I HATED the ministry school. I used to get so stressed at giving talks and yet as a brother it was expected of you and every time i tried to come off it, i wasn't allowed and told i was a failure in God's eyes.

[@dinara_safina]

What really woke me up was them ending the small weekly book study. Honestly? It broke my heart. It was my favorite meeting of the week. When they took it away, I asked why and was told it was so families could study together. It left me scratching my head. Couldn't they any ways? What about those who of us who didn't have family members in the organization? I was then told that a bunch of older, single ladies had formed a book study on their own and that I could join that. That infuriated me. They shouldn't HAVE had to do that. The organization should have had something for them. What I thought was loving really wasn't. Thank you for your videos, Lloyd. I just found your channel and it's helped me so much.

[@RitaMalikfour]

The waste of money on s new bethel (so close to the end) is bothering g me, they didn’t need it if we are really on the doorstep if arrmagedon

[@lilz3242]

That made me mad too

[@ashleyc8303]

Yeah, I was wondering if it has a Bunker some people rumored that it was because the old Bethel didnt have one.

[@khallo151]

What if they know it’s not the end? They’ve got power and money, got to keep it going.

[@ashleyc8303]

For all we know there was some Tax cut for building no Church office HQs and so they wanted to take advantage of it.

[@JMazterV112]

The end is always near for those fuckers

[@glaubersouza6442]

I´ve been out of the organisation for like 4 years and I am simply astounded by all the changes that I had no idea already happened. The most shocking to me is the video showing the group of guys dancing at the kingdom Hall, cause it would be unthinkable to see something like that. By the way, your channel is great and you are doing a very importante work in helping people live this cult.

[@tashathayer4069]

Never happen in the day you'd get smacked..

[@marciomaia4020]

Do you think maybe the WT is going through the beginning stages of an exit strategy?

[@kerryetabaczka54]

Lets hope so!!!

[@doreenfernandes2431]

That would be great ...its high time

[@theenigmaone0076]

As they scale Down on literature they increase the pressure for older ones ( like my Dad ) to catch up with Jehovah's chariot and get a smart device to share the JW videos. They print less as a printing company and increase the pressure on the members and causing them to feel bad if they can't afford a smart device with internet. The organization feels no shame. Keep up the great work.

[@ArtfullyMusingLaura]

Is it possible that the reduction in publishing new information "spiritual food" has something to do with exerting more control? The less information in the hands of the members means less to question fewer problems with contradictory information and a much more focused message.

[@amandaharig1978]

I left after a massive upheaval back in 2001-2002. I believe that was my last memorial was that year. My drift wasn't terribly traumatic, it simply wasn't important anymore and the world's philosophies were calling my name. I now work with a very old school JW and after your highlights, I wonder how she would feel regarding the last decade of changes. I have yet to tell her my deepest held suspicions (I fear it would kill her), but every time she tries preaching to my 'deaf ears', she's interrupted, almost serendipitously. Maybe I'll make a sojourn to a local hall and see for myself. As always, I feel vindicated alongside your expositions. Cheers. Keep it up.

[@qbasicmichael]

Upheaval within jws? Offhand, i can't recall any big changes around 2001/2002... Blood fractions, maybe? CSA coverage? I think the bookstudy merger was later.

[@amandaharig1978]

@@qbasicmichael A personal upheaval. Thanks for clarifying.

[@ddk2797]

I enjoy your videos and perspective. Love your calm style of delivery on the videos. That means a lot as far as I’m concerned. Thought I’d share a bit of my perspective with you. It’s funny, but when I got out of high school, I remember saying, “That’s it? That’s all you got? I’m supposed to be a reasonably educated young man now?” I looked around at the great big world and thought of how many questions I still had. So the first thing I did was go to the library and bring an armful of hardbacks home about everything that I thought was important to learn that high school had not covered. It was the best thing that I ever could have done! I’ve been studying, researching and learning ever since. Now, if you attend meetings at your local Kingdom Hall long enough, you are going to have the same experience. You will start to notice that you are hearing the same talks for the third or forth time, with no new information in between. That was my experience for 7 years in back the 90’s. As I took a good look at the situation, it occurred to me that this was all the same dried out information that they have been recycling since at least before the 1960’s. There was nothing that had any real insight or guidance for what was happening at the time, the info wasn’t pertinent to the day at hand. Nothing was new! There was no new insight. It was all just a bunch of limited information on a loop. They did not understand the complete Bible picture, they did not have, consider or even want all the info necessary to fully understand it. I walked out of there one day and said, “Is that all you got? That’s it? Am I now supposed to have spiritual insight?” At that point, I knew that I was out of there. I had already noticed that there were large parts of the Bible that they stay away from as well as several Bible topics. I started asking some questions and before you know it I was told that I was overthinking things and was accused of reading apostate literature. Which was not true at all. That is when it occurred to me that the JW’s are on this limited information loop. No matter what you ask, or what the problem was, the answer had to be included on that small loop of information that they keep being taught year in and year out. They are all on this finite loop of info. They know nothing outside of that loop! Another way to look at it is that the witnesses have been put in a box, and all the info they are permitted to have is inside that box. They are not permitted access to the vast volumes of info outside of the box. How then, do they reason that we are told to search for God as we would for hidden treasure. If you are searching for hidden treasure, you are going to look everywhere, not in just one very small area inside a box. That is irrational. Now the thing is, years ago, before the internet, that limited small amount of info that they did have, sufficed very well for them. Because as limited as it was, it was a lot more info than anyone else had at the tip of their tongue in those days. The homeowner, always taken by surprise and at a loss, could be manhandled with ease by these unmatchable Bible verse spitting warriors. To the homeowner they must have seemed like walking Bible encyclopedias. However, there is so much of the Bible that you will not hear them address at all. I don’t care if you stay there for a 100 years, you are going to hear only so much, you were going to hear just enough to get you to a point where you could get a magazine into someone’s hands. Thats it! That’s all you need! Anything else is not necessary or required. As a matter of fact, study outside of that loop is strongly frowned upon. If you start asking questions about a subject not included on that loop, your gonna have a bunch of elders running around getting pretty agitated and frantic real fast. I had 5 legitimate questions that I wanted answered, that were outside of that loop. I felt that they were my spiritual advisors and that they should be able to tell me the answers to my 5 questions, as such. If all hell broke loose, well then, so be it. What I was asking was not unreasonable. So, I asked the top people at the Kingdom Hall; the elders and respected older people at the hall that were long time staples there, and not one of them could answer any of my questions. I wanted to know if they considered themselves to be prophets or not. No one could tell me. I even cornered a district overseer one day. I told him that I had 5 questions and asked him if they considered themselves prophets. His answer after squirming in his chair for an abnormally long time was: “Spiritually”. Something unBiblical and I don’t think that the Watchtower even backs that up anywhere either. Then he immediately turned to the presiding overseer and said, “Well Ken, I imagine that the sisters must have lunch ready by now, so we better get going!” That was that, and it was duly noted. I wanted to know what the abomination was and the disgusting thing that causes desolation. No one could tell me. I wanted to ask about this inspection and approval that the Messiah was supposed to have given back in 1918. No one could answer any of my questions. I wanted to know why I never heard them say one single word about the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel. I loved this, I received a copied one page article from Wikipedia. Why are they completely uninformed on the subject? Because they practice replacement theology. They have taken the Israelites out of the Bible and injected themselves in their place as God’s Chosen people. A perfect example of this is, Isaiah 43:10, I’m sure that any witness will remember seeing the banner at the front of the hall saying, “You are my witnesses, says the LORD.” Now that banner implied they were God’s witnesses, but if you look at 43:1 and see who it is actually talking to, it’s talking to the Israelites. That is why they will never bring the subject of the lost tribes of Israel up, they stay away from it like it is the plaque. Just ask a witness anything about the lost tribes. They know nothing more than a mere mention of them. They always like to make absurd claims, but with a way out. The Watchtower claims that they are prophets, but you can’t nail them down on it. They claim Devine guidance, but claim they are not infallible. Well why not? If I had Devine guidance, I would expect nothing short of perfection associated with that guidance, especially if it were my responsibility to take that Devine guidance and disperse spiritual food at the proper time with it! These people are not any faithful and discreet slave, but are as slippery as snakes and are nothing short of wicked taskmasters. They have a heavy burden to bear, when the Messiah does show up and they know it. It’s funny, just as things are winding up to a crescendo, and preaching the word is needed more than ever, that’s when Jehovah slows down the presses and the preaching work almost to a stand still. The fact is, they have beat this dead horse for all that it is worth. The only thing left to do is sell it all off. The only thing that would save them is the very thing that they cannot do! That is the one thing that has always got people into the halls and money in the collection box time and time again: a new date for Armageddon! But that is just not going to fly this time and even they realize this. One more observation: That limited loop of info was OK back then, but I always imagined the hell it must be for a witness to knock on a door today. It’s a new world out there today and informed people must be eating the witnesses alive! Instead of having the upper hand of info, now they are at a loss to people that can run rings around them with insight and info. When before, they felt confident, now they must feel totally outgunned. It must be absolutely terrifying for them to go out in service. They can’t even look for any new insight anywhere to bring them up to speed with the homeowners now and they are not going to get it from the box that they live in. This was proven out last week as I drove down a busy road in our central Oregon town. I looked over to see 2 witnesses standing next to their cart. The odd thing was that they were standing in the one place that would assure no one would approach them. They were beside the very busy entrance to a mall, where no one could possibly stop their car without causing an immediate pile up. If they set up their cart on the other side of the parking lot, they would of had an abundance of foot traffic as people got out of their cars and approached the stores. But no one would ever be found where they had the cart set up, (it was actually in tall grass), and it was obvious to everyone that they wanted no visitors. As always, the proof is in the pudding! Keep up the good work.

[@avakroman2079]

I agree.I never remember it being the way it is now.A lot of weird changes,so far fetched! I could never keep up,or agree with all of this.They seem more fanatic,too.

[@groovy9125]

Lloyd, great job on this video! I left this cult in 1975, after being in for 15 years and pioneering for about 8 of those years. And when I left, there was no internet and the capability to do all of this research online. I just faded, as I had just gotten married and had a gut feeling that this was a cult and I'd been lied to for 15 years. It looks like my gut was spot on! But even though there was no cart witnessing back then, there still were lots of witnesses that would stand on street corners handing out literature. They especially liked to stand by the subway entrances/exits in Queens NY. I grew up there, about a 30 minute drive to the Brooklyn Headquarters. I never made it to Elder, as I was just a Ministerial Servant. But, I was assigned Sunday hour talks all of the time. I don't know if that's changed today, whereby you now have to be an Elder to give a public talk. One thing I wonder about is why the Society doesn't better prepare their members for Armageddon. I know what their answer would be, "just trust in Jehovah, and everything will be provided". But in reality, the average witness (unless they live on a farm) is ill prepared if this doomsday they predict comes tomorrow. Where will they get their food, how will they communicate, how will they travel, etc.? Since all of the grocery stores will be gone and all of the channels to supply them will be gone, how will they eat? I think these are things they put out of their mind as it's just too incomprehensible to fathom. So, I have a great idea whereby we (the unwashed/unloved apostates) can help them. What if all of us apostates worldwide set a date and donated something to the WTB&TS in NY to distribute to their members when the 'End of this System' comes? Of course it'll be up to them to figure out how to get it to everyone, but they're all wise and knowing and can figure this out. Since I really believe this is a bunch of crap, we should all send one roll of toilet paper to the Society on a predetermined date for their members! We'll all be gone and destroyed and won't need it anymore, but they'll certainly need it as the stores will all be gone!

[@honeyholly001]

Roger spam them like they made us spam the Russian government?

[@Royal-Jaywick]

Armageddon already came in 1914 1925 1975 they don't need to prepare .

[@jude-a-licious8313]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@nuyabetter7699]

They don’t worry about all that bc it’s a Ponzi scheme.

[@nuyabetter7699]

Omg Devon diaries I almost peed on myself lmfao😂😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😄😁

[@jacobotero6907]

I remember telling people that one of the songs sounded like Jurassic Parks main theme and my friends agreed but then I guess an older brother heard and didn't take it too well 🙃

[@erichramone7812]

Jacob Otero hahahaha. Same thing happened too me. One of the songs sounded just like the music to the Superman movies of the 1980s. I remember getting some awkward looks for saying that....

[@ssdsd5394]

they actually use music from the company Audiomachine. ....Tree of Life album ironic enough....if you don't know their work....Harry Potter ,Halo, LOTR, ect. really good cinematic music but really hypocritical compared to their claims

[@ashleyc8303]

Lmao my co worker that is in wont watch Harry Potter since she was told it has magic and is bad by the organization

[@tonygraves49]

Only 13 Minutes in but found this very interesting John. I was raised a witness and was an Elder until 4 years ago. The ‘new light’ regarding the FDS as well as other ‘truths’ became a major trigger in my desire to leave all I’d ever known. Thank you for your reasonably eloquent way of describing the changes. I’ll comment more as I listen to more.

[@Rick_Alden]

Thanks for taking us down through memory lane, Lloyd :)

[@angedav]

Great video as usual. Thank you. I think Watchtower has always been obsessed with dress modesty but it mainly applied to sisters. When I was a witness they were always obsessed with how a sister should dress for not to "excite" brothers. I noticed though that lately the focus is more on brothers which wasn't a massive issue when I was in.

[@koivunen2489]

To be honest I was a bit glad that they are finally talking about men's clothes as well. :D I know it's petty, but I can't help it. As a child and then teen girl, I found it really tiresome to be lectured only about how women should dress modestly and all the very specific things about skirt length, etc, but the only rule for male appearance was to be cleanshaven.

[@qbasicmichael]

Right. It's a particular obsession of anthony morris.

[@Tkokat]

I'm quite early, hello Lloyd! I was never a Jehova witness but I found this fascinating. I started following telltale atheist until I stumbled upon your colab vid and since then I'm a huge fan of yours. Much love man, cheers! PD: You look so different without beard lol

[@PennyAlaVodka]

10 years ago today, i sat with my father, 4 younger siblings and the couple who studied with all of us at the 3 day convention in Reading Pennsylvania. My father who was disfellowshipped at the time had been having some weird bleeding the night before which i brought to the couples attention who studied with us. During the convention they brought my father to a nearby hospital where we discovered he sad AML, acute myeloid leukemia. He, even though being disfellowshipped had followed through with not taking any blood transfusions & a month after being diagnosed with AML, we buried him. I have since woken up from this cult. Unfortunately my siblings and family are still very much involved. They often talk about wanting to see my dad in the “paradise” but follow quickly up with “well since he died when he was disfellowshipped.... we don’t really know if we will get to see him.” My brother told me last week that if the elders were to find out i no longer practice & i get disfellowshipped then he would obey theocratic order and we would not have any communication again. This is where I’m at. I love your videos and you’ve helped me find peace again. Thank you so much!

[@KatherineRogers]

Im sorry about your Dad Penny, and about your family. Please do feel free to find the XJW community on face book, twitter or reddit. I am often on twitter. KDRogersMD on twitter My father is also deceased. My mother is still very much a JW I stopped believing because humanity is older than 6000 years re Adam and there was no Noahs global flood.

[@720reddog]

I left about 10 years ago and i never saw a video at any convention i went to. Seeing them now it's very sad that videos with bad acting and weird stories that make no sense are shown at conventions. I used to actually appreciate talks given by brothers at conventions but videos that just feel like a psa of how to be a good JW is really pathetic. But honestly the sad thing is what hasn't changed with my family members who still shun me regardless of what happens in this cult.

[@nuyabetter7699]

720reddog I know right I have literally no relatives bc of this cult

[@nuyabetter7699]

These leaders will reap what they sow. All those horrible things they talk about happening to all of us bc we are not jws hmm we not the ones out here making billions destroying lives with suicides, pedophilia, shunning, disfellowshipping, brainwashing, manipulating, changing the Bible to say what they want and all supposedly in the name of the lord so u tell me who Armageddon coming to destroy, law abiding everyday people trying to live a good life or wolves in sheeps clothing misleading masses with false doctrines to deny Jesus and worship Satan hmmm let me think

[@FluWorldOrder]

The presentations at the conventions were just brothers and sisters miming and exaggerating their body language so that the audio would be understood. LITERALLY A PUPPET SHOW WITH REAL LIFE PINOCHIO'S!

[@elizabethroblyn1392]

720reddog I miss the dramas the real ones not this fake shit. Been disfellowshipped 21years now.

[@FluWorldOrder]

@@elzevierjaviergarcia890 I know who you really are and have made arrangements for you to receive an Elders visit.

[@johnPhilipKing]

This was a really informative video, thank you. I've been out of the organization for almost 20 years now and you talked about a lot of changes that I wasn't aware of.

[@1955annemarie]

I have been out for over thirty years, and during those, I am simply amazed at how many times THE TRUTH has changed... If this organization is truly "God's" organization, and if they truly represent Him, why can't they ever seem to get THE TRUTH right??

[@kerryetabaczka54]

yes yes yes. agree!

[@milham76]

My feelings exactly. If this was God's organization, he would never let them believe things that were wrong. I am so sickened by this evil cult.

[@xvdvn2216]

Damn, this is the earliest I’ve ever been in a video.

[@dantoinettetaylor1663]

xvdvn2 Me too Lol

[@DudeinDallas]

I don't know, I just DA'd this past Sunday in a very public way, updating it live on Reddit lol! I'll get back to you in a few months.....😅

[@charlesrussell5829]

A change I’ve personally now been victim to is the preemptive shunning. Not DF’d or disassociated, have even kept my views to myself, and all friends (of almost 40 years) have shunned me completely, like I don’t exist.

[@sexyscentangel]

Information control. They have to tighten up. The internet is like a virus for this cult!

[@giaruso]

Hi Lloyd/John! Great video. I was once a Jehovah’s Witness (J or JW) too. It started in August of 1952, yes '52. Believe it or not, the J's were using technology back then. My dad was given a hand-cranked record player by a door-to-door JW to listen to religious rants by none other than our dear Judge Rutherford or Pastor C. Taze Russell. It worked. My dad became a J within a year. Dad was a very passionate lover of the "invisible, mysterious divine." (Born into Catholicism, did years with Pentecostal, etc.) I, on the other hand, was genetically predisposed to being an atheist. Dad insisted that I get baptized into "the Truth" (Jehovah's Witnesses). Dad, who was a religious dictator, was putting bread on the table now and then, so I figured I'd better comply just to keep the peace. My life through my high school years, therefore, was a disaster because of being a J. I ended up getting married at 17 to get away from the nonsense. In about 1968, my wife decided to abandon "the Truth" herself and she put up a Christmas tree whilst keeping the window coverings open. That did it, the JW spies couldn't wait to snitch on us so I got "disfellowshipped" for not controlling the family or something like that. When asked to come before the committee to explain, I asked them if they knew where my ass was so they could easily kiss it without getting lost. I have been a devout atheist ever since and couldn't be happier. Another thing, I attended those ginormous conventions at the Yankee Stadium in New York City back in 1953 and 1958--boooooooring! We were being told back then that "many now living will never die." Remember that? Also, Armageddon was right around the corner. What a crock. It has amazed me since, when I checking, how people are still falling for that crap. Oh well, as P. T. Barnum said, "A sucker is born every minute." By the way, I subscribed to your channel. Keep 'em coming, John. In case you are wondering, I live in California and I'll be 81 in less than two weeks; I've never felt better. Best of luck, and may you enjoy the rest of your life too.

[@doggodell]

John, so happy to hear you gained your sanity. I was raised in the doctrine, left in 1972, acquired an education and have been an atheist for decades. One cannot be scientifically literate and a believer. If a person has an IQ of 90+, is not emotionally crippled and reads the bible non-stop from the beginning, there is no surer method to become an atheist.

[@dianacryder7523]

Barred from the preaching work? Is that a bad thing? It seems more like an incentive to wear tight pants, lol!

[@MelenaSoleil]

Diana Cryder I think it's interesting they believe they're scripturally allowed to even do that! In their bible doesn't it tell you to preach no matter what and that doing God's work comes before the fear of man? 🤔

[@geraldinemcardle2418]

HES LYING HE JUST CAN LIVE BY TRUTH

[@dianacryder7523]

Geraldine McArdle On what basis do you say he's lying?

[@maddumass]

A fools errand.

[@johntavares6271]

Lol when I was a teen it was loose suits... it was popular to wear like a zoot suit like from the 20s back then and I remember the stir that caused. One brother told me that the pin stripes on my suit looked like bars in prison and weren’t for Christians. I just liked swing dancing 🤷‍♂️

[@danocapilano8487]

Hi Lloyd. Just started reading “The Reluctant Apostate”. Great read so far. On chapter the Judge (slightly dry but thorough history gained). Look forward to the rest of the book. Cheers!

[@LloydEvans]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the book! :)

[@danocapilano8487]

John Cedars, the closing letter to your mother was perfect. Brilliant idea from Patrick and such a heartfelt finish to an amazing book. Thank you for sharing your journey and look forward to meeting you some day: to have a single malt and a signature. ❤️🇨🇦🇬🇧

[@Lord_Procrastinator]

Woooow, some of these I hadn't heard of! 😱 The change that really disturbed me was the introduction of pop music! 15:10 is SHOCKING!!! 😳

[@andromedaiscoming185]

Lloyd, I think they also got rid of the AWAKE! magazines didn't they? I think my sister or my mom told me that

[@Rhamsody]

Thanks, Lloyd. You saved me a lot of time. Not that I was ever going back, mind you, but it's nice to be kept apprised of what's going on.

[@franchescaceleste2154]

Hi Lloyd😊 I love your videos You dont spew hate, you reason and make reasonable people think. You remind me that I am not crazy for leaving the organization but actually woke up and willing to reason. It took my son growing up and doing research and waking me up. I have apologized to all my children but I still feel SOOO extremely guilty. I have a question.. I believe it was stated that contributions are being used for the sexual abuse cases and or fines. Is this true and how can I find this "legal" information vs the "apostasy" articles. I want too see it and show my JW part of the family.

[@jonminnella2966]

Franchesca Celeste I recommend you try to search deep in regards to feeling guilty I myself used to feel guilty but I failed to realize that I can't control what happened in the past I can only control what happens in the future as I'm sure you realize that. one thing to remember the decisions you made at the time were right decisions to make under the circumstances remember that we are all influenced by the things around us and our decisions are made by our influences the guilt will only consume you and you will always be in Your Own Prison you must work this out so you can truly be free thank you for taking the time to read what I had to say

[@LloydEvans]

Hi Franchesca! We recently did an article on JWsurvey showing how Watchtower was fined $19,000 dollars in one state for its failings over child abuse. There are many other cases, once you start doing research, where Watchtower has been fined over abuse mishandling or has chosen to settle out of court. This money can only come out of "dedicated funds."

[@dawnross2514]

Franchesca Celeste ex jw reddit can be an excellent resource for info ☺️

[@KatherineRogers]

The only thing you CAN do is act based on the current information you have. If the info you had then indicated the JW org was the truth....what else could you have decided. That you have gotten out now is important. No your not crazy for getting out now, nor are you wrong. You cant change what did happen. Realize that the organization had a research / writing department. There was plenty of info available for decades for the governing body to know it was no longer the truth. That they did not pass that information on to the flock..is on them. If your curious about what information I am talking about....feel free to go to twitter and read my prior twitter feed. I was a JW and also got out. Of note...on twitter there are plenty of us who are XJWs and who have gotten out. Look for XJW in profile tags on twitter. KDRogersMD on twitter

[@franchescaceleste2154]

Thank you so very much. I will definitely check it out

[@loriswitala942]

From 1998 to 2001 they kept asking us all the time, ‘Who IS the faithful and descrete slave?’ I thought it was suppose to be something I was supposed to KNOW! I always felt trapped!

[@johnwwirtanen1283]

I liked the part about the GB. I left in March 1994. In December 1993 I had with trepidation bought Raymond Franz' book "Crisis of Conscience" then "In Search of Christian Freedom." He revealed the remnant throughout the world DID NOT provide headquarters with "new light," that they found out the same time Brooklyn released "new light." The way they treated Raymond and the exposure of their Theocratic phoniness in the faithful and discreet slave and so many other areas is what did it. I at first had decided I'd need to Disassociate because I finally accepted I was gay [I told the elders I was going to but they couldn't disfellowship me since I hadn't - truthfully - acted on it.] It was after I'd read the books I realized I would have left the JWs even if I were straight.

[@scottwright6647]

4 years old in 1960 when my grandparents brought "the truth " to mom and dad. From that time forward I had very few friends not JW, and even less within the organization. Shunned mostly at school.I was the kid that didn't celebrate Christmas. 22 years old when I left, that's when my real life started and I was not prepared for it ( life outside the organization ), but I'm outgoing and make friends quickly, life long friend I might add. Lost my family because of my being disfellowshipped. What you've talked about in you video is totally alien to me. It was never like that when I was going, but I don't find it hard to believe because even then they were very controlling, and quick to point out your faults while overlooking theirs. Glad I got out when I did. By the way I love my family and always will.

[@estherashmore1085]

John, will you be reviewing the Apostasy movie by Daniel Kokotajlo? You mentioned media picking up on JW’s and I think a film for mainstream media is reflecting this. Thoughts?

[@LloydEvans]

Yes, expect a video on the Apostasy movie in the coming days! :)

[@janebennett4512]

I'll be so interested to hear that Lloyd, thank you.

[@piperatthegates914]

I left for good in 1997 when I trudged my young kids, once more to the Hall - and nobody ever spoke to us. I did not know about all of these other changes. Like no Tuesday night book study at someone's home? True story ---- when I was a kid, our book study was at the big presiding elder's house. When we got there, Hogan's Heroes was always on tv and we had to wait to start the meeting till it was over.

[@Danielle-nz9tn]

Omg, hilarious!!!

[@MrEricirene]

Oh they still say every now and then that the organization is growing and growing and we need more Kingdom Halls and that chariot is moving so fast. They can get away with saying stuff like that because everyone just nods along mindlessly to it. “The organization is growing because brother so-and-so said so!”

[@paulakelly4498]

The light keeps getting brighter and brighter .

[@1951kvk]

Lloyd, I've watched a number of your videos with an intention of trying to understand how JW's think. My brother and only sibling married a disfellowship JW who threw herself on the mercy of the elders and returned. Of course my brother went with her. Every time the three of us get together she starts attacking my beliefs (I'm a traditional Catholic) although I've never spoken ill about their beliefs. My brother has changed so much over the years it's sometimes hard to remember how happy and loving he was. He has been completely brainwashed. I really wish that people would stop referring to the Kingdom Hall or to JW's s a religion. It isn't. It certainly isn't Christian by any means and it has all the hallmarks of a cult. Calling it a religion gives it a status it doesn't deserve.

[@Piedra_Blanca]

Unfortunately, JWs are Christian, and it is a religious group. Fortunately, we are lucky to see it for what it also is, a high control cult

[@jewell92]

It is sure different from when I was in! I got out between '79 and 1980.

[@okamsrazor1]

ha, i was there in the heyday 80-90's "Dont go to college then end is so close. Live in poverty and knock on doors." I always thought if this is really the solid truth the evil critical thinking skills received at "university" would just reinforce its truthiness. The changes are unbelievable.

[@tooannoying]

Lloyd, I think it’s great that you decided to do a video about the current status of the religion. As an outspoken critic, it is important to have current info. I’ve been wondering how Scientology critics will be able to stay relevant since they no longer have access to how that cult currently operates. They can’t speak with public Scientologists, nor can they speak with active staff or Sea Org members. I live in NY and am surprised to hear that the Brooklyn HQ bldg was sold. Wow. So that means less Members will be seen in downtown Brooklyn I guess.

[@LloydEvans]

Yes, it's important to keep track of the changes, otherwise current members will be harder to persuade, since they will see you as out of touch with their faith.

[@starestela5443]

Yeah, wow. So much has changed. I’ve recently seen an episode on ID Discovery called Exreme Cults regarding the witnesses. Very interesting. Thanks Lloyd!

[@Scott_From_Maine]

The most striking thing you didn't mention is the org discarding the practice of saying that current witness activities are greater fulfilments of things that happened in bible times, and referring to certain groups as the "greater so-and -so" class.

[@stephaniegreene8307]

Does anyone remember waaay back yrs ago when lunches were provided at the conventions? At some point, this was discontinued. Now I know this is not as shocking as any doctrinal changes, but as a small child growing up in an oppressive organization, the loss of roast beef subs and pudding cups hit like a ton of bricks. Now as an adult looking back, it was just a sign of the tightening financial noose that was to come. Encouraging members to give, give, give while constantly cutting costs on the organization end in every way possible.

[@RealDukeOfEarl]

I remember the food at conventions thing too. An elder in my congregation ran a catering company with the contract for the convention. The change hit him and his family hard. I was gutted by it, because British summers can be chilly, and I've never really liked packed lunches.

[@sleuthycompass6027]

Wow...I haven't thought that in years. I remember the food tickets. lol. That's the 80's for ya

[@katiebrent3332]

@@sleuthycompass6027 yes, the food tickets! What a rort. My non JW father used to blow his top when he saw all the unused tickets after the convention - the money they made. Unbelievable.

[@ChefMoyerdee]

There’s so much content focused on children now. When I was growing up, kids had the My Book of Bible Stories and Young People Ask books, but otherwise kids were expected to learn from adult material. Their Caleb and Sophia videos in particular convey some scary/sickening ideas.

[@joshbobst1629]

My brother and I were talking about this a couple weeks ago. We've been out for about fifteen years. I was relating to him some of the things I've learned from this channel and from talking to my mom that have changed since we've been gone. We concluded that we wouldn't really recognize the religion we left back then anymore. It's like Thomas Wolfe said: you can't go home again.

[@LloydEvans]

Yes, you couldn't go back even if you wanted to. That's how much it has changed! :)

[@lancemarthaller363]

Josh Bobst and daughter

[@lancemarthaller363]

Josh Bobst and

[@lancemarthaller363]

Josh Bobst and

[@qbasicmichael]

Also, gollum's song by Emilíana Torrini.

[@RandomPerson-js3rc]

When my ex-HUSBAND LEFT YEARS BEFORE YOU. he said he wouldn't be surprised if the men at the top one day closed the doors on New York headquarters and eventually Kingdom Halls. It would be a blessing that might wake people up. If that happens your job will get bigger helping people get over the crushing blow John. 😁 don't worry I'm sure you'll have plenty of help.

[@searcheroftruth7308]

Totally agree with all your thoughts Lloyd! It's barely recognisable to the organisation I grew up with and attended in younger year's, dare I say if anything it felt a little more authentic at least compared to present day Watchtower! Was always lies of course but they had bit more credibility as an organisation back then, that's just my personal opinion of course! I also loved the books being a geek lol.

[@ashleyc8303]

Lmao yeah when I was in we didnt know who the Governing body was or at least I didnt know. Now im amazed that everyone knows and seems fine with them giving the food at the proper time.

[@ashleyc8303]

Yeah, the problem is they dont watch the Australia Royal Commission. I have a co worker im trying to wake up, but the closer I get to her the more I feel like she is in the organization since she has nothing good when she quits it. Her mom beats her and her husband seems too aswell but he doesnt work and she is the only one working. Always is hungry since she doesnt have food for her self not sure whats going on there. So, she always talks about how she has a Spiritual Mother now and how good the Jehovah witnesses are so If i wake her well all that is gone and she is back to her life of abuse.

[@ashleyc8303]

Well she is 22 and yes has a 4 and a new baby. There is one family that woke up and they tried getting her a good job but because they are disfellowshipped she turn them down said she didnt want anything to do with apostates and traitors. So, i been telling them the actual situation and they never knew it was that bad. Its like if i wake her up she will probably go crazy since that was her support to feel good about her self in away. She does want to go to college though eventually but is waiting for her husband to get a Job and hmmm not sure if he ever will. I didnt know I knew her mom, she was always twitching and going crazy and jolting her head every 10 seconds. She was on something for sure. Basically how the watchtower views wordly people thats how her family is. Drug addicts her dad never home and so on. Of course your going to follow the religion that fits how you seen your small world.

[@ashleyc8303]

So, its like most are waking up, but there is a few that well the organization is all that makes them feel happy and should I take that away from them ? Obviously the organization is sinking but I think for those its better if the organization does it for them since then they might hate the person waking them up

[@Officialkingz1]

Yea I couldn't believe it neither tbh. I would say about 90% of witnesses have the ostrich mentality where they stick their head in the sand. Short of the governing body releasing a sex tape, the masses will follow them no matter the inconsistencies. The brainwashing is strong with this cult...

[@jaellandrie6877]

Line dancing in the Kingdom Hall was unheard of when I attended. Crazy!

[@katiebrent3332]

I know! I wasn't even allowed to have a beautiful classical piece of music to go down the aisle in my Kingdom Hall wedding in the 1990's. Now they are line dancing. What?!

[@ivyyoung521]

When I went to memorial a few years ago, I didn't know any of the songs!

[@qbasicmichael]

Yeah. I went to one around 2016 or 2017, and i didn't know until i got there that they had a new songbook (the gray one). (I had brought the yellow/green 2009 songbook.)

[@kathleenhall6517]

WHEN i was a little girl they sang Salvation Army hymns, Methodist hymns, it was the 1950's that they got a song book.

[@namechangerfre7296]

How interesting. I wonder what they would say if this, seemingly unimportant, bit of information was made know amongst the faithful.

[@kiefersunderland2297]

Hi Lloyd... I think it's important to add the cranking up of Child indoctrination. The Caleb and Sophia videos being the main source along with all the related merchandise. I believe I have seen your good self pictured with Caleb at Warwick. This has to happen as these "Yang Wans" provide the only statistical increase. On the subject of increase... There has been a recent upsurge in the number of memorial partakers and this figure keeps growing year on year. A great video Lloyd... I enjoyed the trip down memory lane

[@ashleyc8303]

Kiefer Sunderland well lets not forget that its the only healthy education for kids

[@srdahl]

Sometimes it's hard to evaluate changes at first hand, but your list is significant. One must only think "in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God" etc. Literature versus comic books. Are they using images in worship? Has Solomon has turned to the idols?

[@kbar4381]

Amazing recap, Lloyd! The cancelling of the Tuesday book study is news to me. Not sure why the Watchtower chose to do this.

[@201stars]

Jess Baria I remember the announcement like it was yesterday. They distinctly said the extra evening should be used for family worship. Lol. Many people were using it to catch up on Tv.

[@Marimarr59]

Jess Baria they stopped the book study a few yrs back before I stopped going to the meetings!

[@sun_burstsclouds_break6346]

Caleb n Sophia was introduced in 2012 and that was a big alarm for me as a parent, seeing how they are tightening the grip on children and pressuring parents to give up more and more authority over how to raise their own children and just let WT dictate the rules for them. Using a cartoon series as a vehicle for their propaganda is so insidious!!

[@LloydEvans]

Great observation!

[@KatherineRogers]

I really hope more parents wake up. There are the Caleb and Sophia videos. Then there is the sex abuse cover up. How about the coercion of younger and younger kids to get baptized? Your not wrong to be bothered by any of that.

[@surisuri8993]

It has always surprised me how they haven't, up until now, shown Sophia getting boned by an elder and then being told she shouldn't report it to the police because Jehovah wouldn't like it. No doubt it's coming. "Sophia, just imagine how Jehovah would feel when his name is reproached!".

[@ilanarhian]

You look so much better now than in that photo. The longer hair suits you and you look so much happier and relaxed now

[@ToutCQJM]

tablaqueen i disagree. The messy hair doesn’t look good on him. Clean cut for the win.

[@tashathayer4069]

I was let into a meeting online & there wasn't very many ppl in it for a KH but I watched few mins & was done.

[@nickyg372]

also my parents are still in the religion and my mom complains about how little they actually teach now. Only the basics because there is so little literature being published.

[@ashleyc8303]

nicky gomez lol Like Jesus went preaching Jehovah's Kingdom so you should tooo

[@coloneldesmet]

Great video as usual!

[@bryanbond3886]

yea we had to go door to door. overlapping b-s. at least the 1914 made sense. . but i was disfellowshipped 1996 because i started drinking because my then wife a elders daughter committed adultery. she was never disfellowshipped that was 22yrs ago and to this day has a relationship with her family even though she has not been a jw in yrs her parents and mine are still in it. difference being i have not been able to speak to my mother and sisters in 22 yrs while she has all these yrs. im almost 50 my mother is 78 i would like to know what goes on in her mind. she always talked about millions now living will never die. she is old as well as im getting older.but my ex wife i believe was never disfellowshipped because of her father who was a presiding overseer elder. not only did i lose my family i lost my livelelyhood my family owned a very successful business and i made a good living well you guessed it i lost that as well. along with my home cars i was homeless. its been so very hard and i struggle daily now for yrs.

[@johnw5584]

Bryan Bond Damn.. I mean " gosh darn" I went through much thesame thing. Mine cheated too, but was the PO' s niece, so nothing happened. We got divorced, I kept the kids, the house. I am now starting a business with my kids, and I have a girlfriend who is 35, I'm 58. My Banker is mentoring me, introducing me to a lot of people. It's like a "rich man's club", and he invited me in. My life has opened up since the divorce. Take a risk, don't live with regrets.

[@jimbobaggans1564]

Bryan Bond Holy Cow! You took a beating! That would have made me very bitter. I know that people would say that I shouldn't feel like that, but I know me pretty well and I would be extremely bitter.

[@johnw5584]

Bitterness is a waste of time. Our lives are short enough. Be happy, give one person a day a sincere compliment. It makes you feel good to make others feel good. Everything has a reason. You may not understand it at the moment. But looking back you will.

[@milham76]

Hang in there, Brian. Things will improve but you mustn' t stay bitter. One day you will look back on it all and realize what a narrow escape you had and how much you have learned from this. Things WILL improve and you will meet someone new.

[@drewcool8441]

i remember as a kid, i would get so happy to empty my piggybank out in the donation box... one time i brought an entire Pringles chips tube filled with change and dollars and gave it all.... i donated every week, my entire childhood.... so uhhh, how do i get that back?

[@gennaropannelli7138]

Mi sa che sono andati chiedilo a Morris gli dici quei 850 dollari che hai spesi di wischiy erano tutti i miei risparmi ,probabilmente non si ricorda più dopo la sbornia che ha preso .ciao da L'ITALIA.

[@dianaandersen6735]

I was raised as a JW . I rebelled as as a teenager and refused to go one night. My dad told my mom he didnt want me home alone. So my mom and brother left. I dont think my dad liked going either. I never understood the 144.000 .

[@egatgens]

Thank you John aka Lloyd :) I really appreciate your videos. As I read through the comments I see so many hurt people and it reminds me of my own hurt and trauma when I left. I just want to remind folks that there is God and then there is religion and they are 2 very different things. The one thing my parents taught me (mom was raised in the Truth and is DF, dad is Catholic) They always taught me to love Jehovah, not the organization. The organization is run by flawed men. Over and over my mom would repeat the command to me “you must love Jehovah your God with your whole mind, your whole soul and your whole heart”. My parents always urged me to have my own personal relationship with God…separate from the Organization. Looking back, I’m so grateful they did this. I was a regular pioneer. I left in 2001 and I woke up in 2007. My mom is DF but she still believes in the organization. She stills makes comments to me that I need to “go back” and she will try and guilt me with the comment “You left Jehovah!”. My reply to her is always the same. “I never left Jehovah. I left a man-made religious cult” God dwells in our hearts and minds, he isn’t confined to a brick and mortar building. Christ said this to the woman at the well. It saddens me so much to see how this cult has damaged people to the point where they give up on God. We were so brainwashed into believing that there can only be one true church, one true religion; so that when we leave, we have nowhere to go. When are we going to learn that we don’t have to belong to a church. We don’t have to label ourselves. God still loves us and we can still believe in him. Our relationship with God is between us and him. Its private. It’s our own. No man or organization can separate us. “For I am convinced, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God”

[@sparkalicious001]

I have been curious about this myself as I was df'd in late 2010 and I have had thoughts of going to a random meeting just once to see how much has changed but I just don't think I could stomach sitting through an entire meeting knowing what I know about the organization...

[@Onwaxwings]

Its nothing like it use to be. Meetings are really short now and everyone has a tablet, technology that you would get in trouble for using in the meetings 10 years ago they are now pushing ppl to use...

[@erikallder8199]

Wow, it sounds like the organization that I grew up in no longer exists at all! I left in 2007 when I was ~20 years old, and it was hands down the best decision I ever made in life! Since then I've heard scattered rumors of the changes that have been made, but this is the first time that I've heard so many of them consolidated into one list. I remember being amused when I heard of ATMs being found at assemblies and/or conventions, especially since the Witnesses always liked to talk ill of the Catholics and their collection plates. The videos of the GB begging for money are just too much. Do they still have the drama at the District Conventions, or has that been replaced by video too? What about International Conventions? You are right Lloyd when you say that the Theocratic Ministry School was a "saving grace". Credit where credit is due: I greatly appreciate and continue to benefit from the public speaking training I received in the TMS. I remember when I first started as a kid with the Bible reading. It wasn't just a straight reading back then...you used to have to come up with an introduction AND a conclusion. I also remember growing up around OLD TIME Witnesses who were actually at the "Religion is a Snare and a Racket" convention and some of whom went to jail for political neutrality during WWII. It would seem that as those ones are dying off, the Governing Body has realized that they have a freer hand to cover up the contradictions and embarrassing past of the organization by rewriting history. I remember hearing about how they changed the definition of the word "apostate" to essentially mean anyone who goes against the GB and that the GB is now the entirety of the "Faithful Slave Class". My immediate thought when I heard this was that this was a power grab, and it appears that I'm not the only one who has discerned this. In one of your other videos you showed a clip that the Watchtower put out to "head off" dissension in the ranks when they started merging congregations. The comment of the older sister in the video that was basically to the effect of, "Well, my name is on the list for the South Congregation, so that's where I'm going," is a complete reversal from the position that was adopted when I was growing up - namely that publishers could (and should) attend a congregation where they feel most comfortable, even if they don't live in the territory. Also, the "King of the North" is Russia now? And here I thought it was Jon Snow. 😝 All-in-all Lloyd, this was a great video (as usual)...keep up the good work!

[@natnatluv]

Now all I can think about is poor Dijana and Jessica trying to be quiet in the background 😆❤️

[@madatnumbers88]

This video was very relevant to me as I've been gone for 10 years, thanks for making it!