I was sat in the front row of my dads funeral (not held in a KH as there was too many people) with my newborn son and husband that was also DF’d and had 98% of the people walking past hug my mom and completely ignore us. My brother was also DF’d and completely ignored aside from one Elder who took the opportunity to tell him the whole story of the prodigal son. 🙄 There is no natural love or affection in this group. Thank you for sharing your story!
I have to say the congregation I grew up in treated my df uncle with respect when my grandma passed. They treated him as if he was another person. They did not shun him that day. And that is how it should be at the least.
reading this just makes me sick. i just can’t process how a group of people can be so controlled to be so ugly and so completely anti-christian. i’m so sorry you and your little family were touched in such a horrible way by this awful cult. and i’m very sorry for the loss of your father.
@@sekanomore1350 Thank you so much. It was the final straw for my brother, and he vowed never to go back. We got reinstated for my moms sake, to make it easier for her conscience to associate with us. So glad we are out now and even though she is still active she doesn’t shun us, which is nice. My husbands family has completely cut us off 🤷🏻♀️ *edited for spelling
My Dad passed away and as I got out of the funeral car, which by the way my two in the truth fleshly sisters wouldn’t ride in with my mum that was left to me and my oldest sister who are both disassociated, and the rest of the family ignored us. How Christian is that NOT that finished it for me really why would you want to be around or part of a group that are like that
Thank you so much for having me on Lloyd and thank you for all your help and quality of content you produce to help ones like me wake up from this cult! ❤️
I was encouraged to support Lloyd's channel because it is becoming clear that Lloyd is able to get information across to a lot of people in a way that is balanced and calm and above all effective. I would encourage all who are out to offer their support as well. We can't all be activists in the same way, but this is my way of helping others to get out of this cult.
Jordan how did the boxing go? It's the best thing a man can do. I was delighted when I could watch it on TV when I had my own place and then the first fight night I went to was amazing the courage of the hard young men fighting. Boxing is just so good absolutely the very best thing. A hard young boy will learn more in a short fight than in years of indoctrination at Kingdom Prison. Did you have the fight?
@@jimbobaggans1564 I guessing because hurt the guy I was almost engaged too he was an elders son that’s the only thing I can think 🤔 of. I also guessing I was quite the talk of the congregation for awhile because of the circumstances of me disfellowshipped.
Great to see my little brother out there making a difference! Very good interview from you both and very professional interviewing from Mr Evans. Hope to see more collaborations 👍🏻
This is absolutely beautiful! Really great to see, unbreakable bond, this is true brotherhood! Just found this channel and I'm realizing that I'm still breaking free all these years later! Thank you so much for your honesty! Love this story!
Yeah, elders are sometimes very insisting on meeting with you for nefarious purposes especially if you've had a falling out with them. Two elders were super interested in meeting with me. i mentioned to not try and contact me or I would take legal means to deter them from harassing me. This has worked so far. My situation was that I was now seen as a bad influence due to completing a bachelor's degree. I tried to explain that I wasn't crazy to be rich or whatever but I slowly understood and got to know that this is an organizational policy to label people who successfully continue their education in order to perpetuate the organization's real policy against higher education. They state that this is not the case. However, they DO label people negatively if they partake of college education.
I was studying with some witnesses for a while, and then discovered my best friend from high school was a witness. I made it clear that I intend on going through trade school to become a welder, and they had no issue with it. However my best friend was honest and said that going to college is frowned upon. Trade school is one thing, but going to college is a whole 'nother issue.
@@knowthyself8233 I ultimately backed out from the whole idea of becoming a witness. Being a welder would only be a stepping stone, since I ultimately want to become a live audio engineer (aka the soundguy at concerts). I would use my income from welding to pay my way through music school. If I became a witness, they wouldve had several issues with me working 10 to 12 hour days, ontop of studying my future craft in music part time.
@@wcproductions2024 You did great. I did a similar path as you. When I was JW I chose to go to school to take something real quick to get more money to study what I really want after. I get discouraged to not pursue higher education. Working to much and school on top of it won't give me enough time for Jehovah. But guess what! I follow what I want and leave WT behind.
@@knowthyself8233 Dont get me wrong, they preach some good ideas. Like the need for unity, for example. But they use that as a facade for their MASSIVE Us vs Them mentality.
The Shunned Experience is another good channel. Also The Truth Hurts. I enjoyed his last video and has the part2 just out today. I go through my ex jw videos every day, like it’s my daily text. My “daily spiritual food”!!!😆
@@calonstanni yes it is or can be. Growing up in it can be fine, but it’s when you don’t want to be apart of it anymore that really hurts. My parents have some contact with me, but non of my aunts, uncles or other family still in.
@@kimmychong7029 I don't think growing up in the cult can "be fine" in any stretch of my imagination! Stealing your identity and forcing you to have a separate identity that's a JW leaves all of us with Dissociative identity disorder. Also, the worst case of attachment disorder where you develop Avoidant Attachment disorder. Growing up a JW leaves you with lots of disordered thinking.
I laud Lloyd Evans for his balanced presentations, his calm, compassion, and humility. He is also so unselfish and welcoming to new activists. He has a vision that he cannot lose sight of, to waken and open the eyes of those who have been misled and are being controlled by the WT organisation, I was never ever a JW and yet he has made me want to become an activist. I like how his efforts have brought out so many other activists and together they are shaking the foundations of the Tower and driving those at the top to desperation. That Tower should be crumbling very soon!
I’m not an atheist, but I don’t belong to any religion as they are all full of rules made by men and not god. I did study with the JW s for a year because I wanted to understand what made them so unpopular, I stopped my study as I was horrified at the amount of control they were trying to excerpt on me. My faith is very personal to me and reject the idea that one size fits all as each separate religion tries to impress on their followers. My life like a lot a people has been very hard and I own nothing as far as material things go but, I have an overwhelming sense of joy in my heart every day because I can love.
Do you consider the command to " Not forsake the gathering yourselves together as some have the custom " as a law from man or God. If the latter how do you fulfill this?
I’m Catholic because Jesus said to the apostles “He who hears you hears me.” Lk 10:16 Yes the Catholic Church is messy. But it is true. Unlike JWs it has lasted 2000yrs
When I was pimo the elders told me, come back to meetings and I would be conviced it was the truth. If I had a heart inclined toward righteousness. Lol
I was counseled for speaking to and hugging my disassociated dad at my mom's memorial service. This was despite the fact that he only got baptized to appease my mom and disassociated before that was considered grounds for shunning. His shunning began retroactively. I broke his heart completely when I told him at age 13 that I was getting baptized and would no longer speak to him. I reconnected with him about 15 years later, but there was a closeness that was lost, and there's no getting it back.
My son was bullied at school but also in the congregation. He learns languages quickly and the Chinese kids, who were learning Chinese themselves, were jealous and called my son a "white head." Then as a young brother, my son joined the Russian group. Jealous elders would speak condescendingly to him about how it's such a difficult language to learn, and not to get discouraged. But my son was way more advanced with the language than they were. Jealousy abounds in the organization. I always hated it. Pioneers think they're better than me, and say so.
There is definitely a pecking order in the organization. They would like to believe they are different from worldly persons. In their dreams. Jealousy, gossiping, sexual misconduct, paedophilia, hierarchy ranking . Normal worldly behaviour.
Jordan mentions necessary family business. There was an elder in our congregation who once said from the platform…”there’s no such thing as necessary family business when it comes to dealing with disfellowshipped family members”. How cold is that?
Cool studio , LLOYD! 12 years old… we all know that this is the age of total understanding of life and when life’s decisions are made. You’re not forced… BUT pressure is there to do that. Because we all know, once your baptized, you are a better association than a non baptized! There were so many kids who lived double lives.. so sad.
And yet Howie Tan was contacted when his grandmother died and was asked by the elders to help pay for her funeral. I'm sure he and his husband did it from the bottom of their hearts. That was 'necessary family business' 🙄
I wish JW's had more exposure to the outside world. Then maybe they'd see how rare it is for families & close friends to truly cut each other off, especially over religion. I have a couple friends whose parents tried to kick then out or cut them off either because of being lgbt, 'lifestyle choices'- like getting a dui or partying, or getting pregnant, denying the family religion ect. Most were just fundie xtians, jews or muslims, not JW's. But the difference is, they always eventually get over it & come back to each others lives. Especially after people get their lives more together or grandkids are born. Love usually wins out in the end, even if the family doesn't totally 'approve', they'll get over it enough to be in each others lives. Only JW's are so adament they'll shun grandbabies or their own kids FOREVER. It's obviously not about bringing back the lost ones w tough love, or they'd stop when it wasn't working. It's about the power the WT Society has because of shunning. I think they know it could all fall apart w/o that tool to threaten believers with.
Jordan is one of the best guests! Somehow I thought it would be different for young members in the UK, his story could be over here in the states too! So insightful and universal about school, teen years, the car, dating and his brothers shunning, etc. Thanks.
Same everywhere, it's 1yr later for me listening to his story n I'm in Australia. I was babtized a few days b4 i turned 13. I think if there's anything more that angers me about this religion it's this. Jrsus was 30 when he got babtized. The common age on these channels is about 12. It's criminal, your a child. I've heard in the africian countries they've babtizing kids at 7 n 8. Many will end up disfellowshipped in there teens or as a young adult. Then shunned by family n friends. It's so wrong, hurts me but gets me angry at the same time.
Great interview. Thanks for sharing your story Jordan. Definitely resonated with me and very happy you maintained your bond with your brother. This organization has got to go.
It’s so difficult to train yourself out of using the emotionally charged buzzwords and phrases like “worldly people” or “the truth”, even after you have escaped the cult. Those phrases are used on purpose, to establish an “us” and a “them,” to justify any questionable teachings, to inspire fear, to gaslight people into questioning their own reality… essentially everything a cult needs to do in order to maintain their power.
Elders waited until got home at 9:30 pm from school to confront me. They watched me go inside and then tried to ambush me in my home. I was a single woman at the time newly divorced. I was out and away from KH for about a year and half. Prior to their attempted ambush I was so angry I kicked them out my house not even giving them time to say what they wanted to say. Anyway when I called my best friend to tell her what happened she begged me to never tell anyone or rhey will lable me an apostate. She was terrified I was gonna be disfellowshipped and she would never be able to talk to me again. She is literally the only person I cared about but not enough to keep quiet. I confronted the elders and finallyy got kicked out. BEST THING EVER!!!
Jordan, I would have gave you a great big hug!! About 20 years ago, a member of the congregation I grew up in passed & they held his funeral there. He left behind a wife & 4 grown kids. His oldest son was DF’d (and had been for at least a decade at this time). I remember how everyone walked past him as he sat there so sad. After I viewed his dad, I walked directly up to him gave him a hug & kissed his cheek & whispered “I’m sorry Eric”. He looked at me & gave me a grin & mouthed “thank you Dani”. It angers me that even in the darkness moment, you cannot set aside this & just offer human compassion. I’ve since been DF’d & after seeing what they put him through, there’s no way I’m attending either of parents funerals when that time comes. Thank you Jordan for sharing your story. Love in light on your journey!
Anytime someone needs to continually remind you of something, especially something like having ‘the truth’ the more you need to question it. ‘The truth’ is self evident.
I've never been a J.W. but I've always been interested in different beliefs,and I started following your channel after seeing an interview you did with Chris Shelton. I really admire the way you support other TH-camrs. You are right,of course,when you say that we benefit from many different voices on this subject.
Same happened to me..came home and an elder was waiting for me and demanded I write a letter saying I no longer wanted to be a witness..I was more then happy to at that point as I caught said elder doing big no no a week before..
@@minabello8006I was at a party and he was there drunk and grinding on someone who was not his wife..I asked around and turns out he was still "dealing" in things from his so called worldly days..I remember him coming into the hall for the first time when I was little..but the look on his face when he saw me was hilarious..I just smiled and shook my head..
Enjoyed the interview.. I figured this one was going to happen soon. Thanks for telling your story Jordan, and your work on TH-cam. And thank you Lloyd for all of your work..
@Levi Khimesan stupid people deserve what they ask for?' Wow. You do know that some people are born into a cult so they don't technically have a choice right? Until they get older anyways but by that time, the cult is all they have ever known, and all of their family and friends are in it at that stage too. Cults use brainwash techniques to keep people in and they basically target people when they are vulnerable to give them some sort of hope and purpose to live for. Think twice before calling people stupid or idiots for their belief in God. Just because you might not believe it, doesn't mean you have the right to degrade those who do. Not everyone who believes in God is apart of a cult. Please try show more respect for people's beliefs.
I had a JW in my Elementary School. He didn’t stand for the pledge of Allegiance which attracted attention. I had to defend him from the kids and the teacher as well for not being patriotic!
They threw a hugeChristmas party with lots of food at a former job for the staff and the JW refused to even come in a fix a plate and leave which what they offered to do . They were even willing to let her go in before the party started to fix a plate ., nope . That’s when we all thought she was a damn fool. Even the Muslims on staff just avoided the pork .
Are all the meetings the number 1 worst part? I was never a witness but I know church is boring enlough I can’t imagine having to do that shit multiple times a week
My studies on Saturday that I ahd for years after 1-2 hours of preaching in the morning were what I hated. I didn't have a weekend because of this cult
@@vincemcmahonreadskoran3120 3 days per week at Kingdom Halls. Saturday or/and Sunday knock doors. During the week peperation for meeting.... So yess every min of our life was Watchtower.... And I was far from being an active member.... Its compulsory as a child
Jordan is a great guy. It doesn't matter if you still believe in God or not. Jordan still showed emence love towards his brother when he was disfellowshipped by going through obstacles to go and see him. He knows what love is which really matters.
I was so happy to see this first thing in my notifications; I'm a non-JW, and got a letter today in the mail from one, inviting me to watch the "Powerful by Faith" presentations online...such a dodgy letter too, from a JW, identifying herself instead at the beginning as "A Bible Student." Not going to write back, but if I did, it would be partially with, "I've actually already seen the rebuttals made to these talks, utilizing Watchtower's own texts."
Perhaps let her know that there are some really good discussions on line. Her curiosity may cause her to have a look and start to question what she is being taught
Great quality interview! Thank you for letting Jordan speak, and not interrupting him. I've been having a bible study for around 4yrs, and just felt I couldn't go on with it any more. As time went on, I was being pressured to get more involved, but the more I did, the more I could see and experience the brainwashing techniques, and the desire to isolate you from other people. Just like a dangerous, toxic relationship - they do the very same. Watching these videos is helping me through the transition of letting go, of the 'friends' I thought I'd made, and to start engaging with the normal world again. All the best to you both, for the future. 🙏
Yup, similar thing happened to me. I was boarding with a witness couple and they called elders over without my knowledge to sit me down to talk to me, so when I got home they were waiting for me. The audacity.
@@warmhandswarmheart sorry went off on a tangent lol, to answer your question, I didn't have a home for a few weeks because I refused to go back to the religion and all my connections were witnesses. But then I moved in with my disfellowshipped dad in another city. Never going back.
The Elders caught me once at work! Came up to my Job!!!! And the second time I got DF’d they caught me on my jog!!!😂😂 they actually caught me on my jog to DF me!!!
I'm glad they let him see his grandma. My grandmother passed away a few days ago and they told me I wasn't allowed to come see her during her last days. I was told, if I showed up, I would not be admitted. It was devasting.
Nothing would've stopped me from going to see either of my beloved grandmothers on their deathbed. I pity the pencil necked geek of an elder who would have tried to stop ME!
So wrong. I hope after a year now, some healing has taken place. My heart bleeds for the ill treatment shown to u. Time does heal n u can move forward. I went through a horrible experience at my sons wedding. He wasnt ever babtized. Some family were ok about attending. Others voiced their opinions n consciences. (But I was taking it all in........took me a long time to wake up, but all these horrible experiences hped n shaped me to be who I am today. My husband is still in, he overlooks n forgives a lot I just can't anymore. I've done the forgiving 7 times, 77, 177. There just comes a time when it clicks with u. It has to be your choice to leave. None else's.
Just listening to the interview and it demonstrates how strong the inductrination of the watchtower is. Even after leaving many still refer to it has"the truth" That proves if you tell someone a lie often enough they will believe it!
The fact that a boy of 17 had to lie to his parents in order to go and see his brother shows how evil WatchTower is. As is the fact that a father felt compelled to turf his son aged 21 out of his home. It's really evil and this sect should have no recognition from the state no tax advantages etc. It should also be a criminal offence for elders to discuss sexual behaviour with anyone under 18 in a private judicial situation. The lady who became my wife was appalled to hear a 'sister' describing matter of fact how she knew that her adult children would be destroyed at Har-Magedon and how she would live forever without them. My future wife was shocked at this and mainly at me because I didn't find it appalling. It is bizarre in the extreme.
Easy to tell someone who is a recent PIMO/POMO when their programming still has them refer to the org as 'The Truth' still. Good interview with Jordan!
I can definitely relate to Jordan's experiences growing up, in regards to wanting to just play football instead of going to meetings and field service. I couldn't play for the local Sunday team because of that. Plus I can really relate to the bullying at school and having teachers hold an agenda against you or single you out. Likewise, junior school was pretty bad with teachers always picking on me, giving me excessive punishments, or referring to me as a 'Jehova' or a 'Jehoba'. They would bring it up during an RE lesson, or during Christmas or Valentines day, explaining to the class how I am a 'Jehova' and different to the other kids. It felt so insensitive. For something as minor as writing in my workbook with a gel pen, I was made to sit in the hallway for 2 hours, when the teacher turned a blind eye to other kids using gel pens. Then when the class did the maypole dancing, I was made to sit in an empty classroom copying out lines from a dictionary for an entire afternoon. School finished, but nobody came back to that classroom for me and my mum had to ask the school where I was. When they came and got me, I was shouted at and blamed for inconveniencing the teachers and school. After that, each morning I was then made to tidy the library, clean the reception, do litter picking outdoors etc, since I was missing assemblies. I was basically put to work and wasn't allowed to just sit around. I remember being made to pick up litter right outside the windows of the assembly hall so the other kids could see me. Everyone would be watching me. Although everyone would be watching me anyway when I had to walk in through big metal side doors for the announcements at the end of each assembly. They actually had kids come and tell me when to come in. Everyone would be watching. So dehumanising. I'm not even going to get started on the regular classmate bullying that I experienced
i think about how in jw rhetoric they say things like "ask yourself, would you do this in front of jesus?" and i honestly doubt anyone would be relentlessly shunning jordan at his own grandmothers funeral if jesus was there. and jesus certainly wouldn't have been shunning him either
after 11 months you were married, just like my mom when I was 16, who married a bro after just as many months after meeting him. Today, after 26 years since then, my now faded away stepdad has just told me during my visit to see my mom that he hopes my visit won't be too permanent and that in actuality he doesn't much cares for guests. I've just realized I've no real family
8:09 Wow! Whatever we may think of the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, this is flat-out wrong! It's fine to ask questions and be critical of other people's beliefs, especially when they try to force it on you, but you were just a child... Imagine if they made a Muslim or Jewish child eat bacon as a punishment? That teacher should be sacked.
I remember at one Sunday talk the speaker said a dog only remembers things for 5 minutes. I literally looked around to see if anyone else was buying that bullshit and everyone looked like zombies. They could literally say anything and everyone would just take it and accept it :(
What is wrong with this people? They used to come to my door and politely insisting that I should study their fiction book, and every time I politely refused, but they kept on coming to my door. I don't know what they evaluated in my person to keep on insisting. Finally one day I lost my politeness and told them to go to fry flies to another place. But, you know? They started phoning me, I don't know how they got my phone number, and then I really got mad, and since then the phone only rings with the normal calls. Maybe I have to thank jehova or satan, for understanding my plight and doing something about it. By the way, I am an atheist.
I just mention evolution by asking if they have a dog or cat . “Wow, isn’t it funny that the cat(dog) understands that you are family and you don’t!” Works every time
If you want them too stop calling tell them too put it in writing that you have stated you do not want them too call and too give you a copy... They should then go too their service overseer and he should remove you from the CalL on list..
The funniest of my few encounters with JWs was when I was 17 years old. I was all into metal, my hair down to my waist. My parents were out for the evening and I was blasting Motorhead's Orgasmatron (covered by Sepultura) and headbanged in the living room lol. Suddenly the door bell ringed. Im opening the door while the music is still blasting expecting someone familiar, when I saw 3 strangers, 2 ladies and one man, quite overdressed smiling at me and immediately asking if I had time to talk abit about God or something in those lines. The funny thing is that they asked in a mechanical way but at the same split second they were appaled both by my appearence and the music blasting. My hair were all over, I was wearing a celtic knot pendant and bracelet, had earrings and wore black jeans, Marteens boots and a black tank top lol. I replied ''Do I look like I care to talk about your heresy?'' and that completely broke their resolve to recruit me lol. Heavy Metal saves!
17 minutes in: he starts to examine the religion when HE is personally negatively affected by it. Sad, but very common. Banal evil is tolerated because people can't be bothered to look at it.
No matter how many of these stories I hear, I can't get over how Jehovas Witness children are made to be social pariahs almost by design, and how that would surely play into the narrative of the cult given how cruel children can be with or without religion. I didn't exactly love school but I am so friggin' glad I wasn't a Witness or a Mormon or some other cult.
It wasn't easy especially in primary. In secondary it was easier as there was a greater mix of religion. My main regret is choosing to spurn the friendship of perfectly pleasant boys who could have become lifelong friends because Almighty God had them scheduled for destruction in 1975. Of course they are now coming up for retirement.
It sucked! I was never bullied but they isolate you. I sat in a practice room for months in band because they were practicing Christmas music. Parades, left out again. Have to come home directly after school . No friends. All the kids were going to motley Crue and van Halen and I couldn't go! I might get demons or pregnant. It sucked
JW: "We're being persecuted! We have the true religion!!" Also JW: "We've been delivered from persecution! we have the true religion!!" This logic kept chipping away at me among other things. Woke up last year.
All my life jw was because jw bullying at7years at school at 68 bully by jworg do not have anything with the cult you only. Freedom from them and being happy to see jworg inactive
Well I guess I was one of the lucky ones: the elders never came to visit me…it shows how much the care about me and I’m still fading. Thank you so much to both of you for this interview I really appreciated it. ❤️
How long would this interview go on till ‘the truth’ remark came up & stopped, I wondered, lol! It’s understandable, but, just made me laugh & cringe at the same time!😜 Great interview.Will def. check out Jordan’s channel!🙂
I respectfully disagree. I was also born & raised, and bullied because of it in school, as well. But the being stuck between a rock and a hard place made me see how equally bad people are, both on the outside of the religion, and in. It's sad to say, but luckily I got to see from early childhood how hypocrisy looks like in the congregation, and how the bible and groupthink was used to keep people down, kind of similarly to how bullies also used their strength to keep me down in school. I never got baptized, as I never truly believed to begin with. Again, that's maybe in part my parents failure as JWs, but my luck as a son and individual. I was pretty much out of it all by my early 20s. But believe it or not, I am still recovering now in my late thirties, financially, mentally and socially.
I worked full-time to support myself...the pioneer group would show up at my workplace, just happened to be in the territory and the bully pioneer would show up at my place on my only day off why I was not out in field service.
Don't answer the door. Tell friends to telephone you before visiting. Last resort tell her your busy, and close the door, you matter and it's important to have down time although I suspect you would be catching up
@sinrnside I hear you, it’s really tough when you know that there will always be this huge aspect of who you are that your family can never truly know, understand or accept. My family have started to hear a bit more about my life but still can’t deal with the reality of my queerness. I hope that you have better luck with your family in the future.
Just found you after checking out a couple of Atheist Experience episodes in which you were the "other" speaker. Love your voice and your even temperament. Never been a JW although I had a guy who worked for me on my farm who was. He and his family lived on my property for a number of years but he never tried to convert me given that my university background was geology, paleontology and evolution. He did try to convince me JW weren't a cult and weren't crazy, but I was blunt and told him they were. Once, long ago, I was a Catholic and went to liberal Catholic schools (in the 60s) and they started me on my path to science, but I drifted away from religion when I was out of high school.
Enjoyed watching you two Englishmen talking. And listening to the interviewee that he would never part form his brother despite him DF and shunned. Sweet! I spent a summer in Manchester, England when I was 14 years old ...my brother in law was an elder.
"imperfect men running a perfect organization." Remember an organization is only as good as the men running it. Imperfect men = imperfect organization.
14:32 - " You don't know this at 12 years old. And then, on a deeper level in terms of policies in the religion, you certainly don't understand the implications of shunning." - I will argue that you don't understand this at any age.
I’m studying again after 15 yrs of being away but yesterday was not good I got ambushed by one sister because I’m not attending the zoom meeting. I politely told her I have a personality disorder and I’m Uncomfortable socializing and just because I don’t carry on a text conversation with you doesn’t mean something is wrong it simply means I’m comfortable being alone an by myself. I have no interest in idle chit chat. And I don’t like being pressured to attend meetings. I said let me do things however they make me comfortable. I told her I enjoy the study but if you put me on the spot like that again I’ll disappear again because I don’t like that crap. So I don’t know if I want to continue anymore. I hate that approach. I like to listen and study but be left alone. I mean she was very passive aggressive snd phony all at the same time . I can read between the lines. It showed me what I hated about the congregation all those years ago.
May Jehova advice you to leave those fanatics and join the really free thinking group of atheists, atheists that individually or in groups will never force you to anything, you take your own life as you face it every day and live this life as you think is the way to live it in a society of free realistic people.
You dont need to be a Jehovahs Witness to have a relationship with God. They make it harder and actually drive people away from their spirituality. God says He doesnt dwell within a temple and therefore kingdom halls and meeting in them is unnecessary.
May I ask what is prompting you to go back? Don't let anyone pressure you, remember this is about YOUR relationship with God not your association with any one religion. You already know any longer be they show is conditional upon you accepting their beliefs. You are either with them or against them. Jesus' love was not conditional.
@@incognitofade9574 I lost my mom to covid last year . She was devout and this was her world . I guess I went back to feel the connection with her . To feel she is still living somehow through me being with them I felt her still here. It doesn’t feel so lonely and it feels like mom I guess.
The part about the JW's shunning this poor man at his own grandma's funeral pissed me off! I just know the same thing is going to happen to me when my dad passes, and I'm not going to have any reason to hold back at that point. I will grab a microphone and tell them all how disgraceful they are behaving.
Your life journeys with being disfellowshipped is so very similar to those of ex-Mormons. Leaving any cult is purposefully extremely difficult. All cults use very similar tactics to isolate their members from "outsiders" and from outside information. One of their most effective tools is the fear of being disfellowshipped. When other members see what happens to those who are shunned, their subconscious conclusion is that they need to protect themselves from ever having the same horrible experience.
I was baptized Catholic as a baby, went to Catholic school, etc. I never bought into it, but later I wondered why. Jordan mentioned the coldness and lack of love expressed to him at his grandmother's funeral, and how that tied it all up for him. I think that lack of love and caring is the reason I never felt there was anything useful about being in the church.
Teachers should never be cruel to Jehovah witness children they are innocent. My husband is a caretaker in a primary school and has had the opportunity to educate teachers and the schools head on Jehovahs Witnesses and that their children have no choice in the matter of being a jw and all what it involves. This has helped teachers at his school to deal with it much better.
The only people Jesus spoke badly of were the religious leaders of the day: Matthew 23:4 NLT They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
@@jimmchemings6140 In all reasonableness then you can have nothing to say about such a character then. You cannot say how such a person would have reacted in ANY situation. Your statement is much like well Harry potter wouldn't treat people like this
@@gowdsake7103 Obviously it is supposition based on what is commonly believed by millions that are alive and have lived . I should have said if he existed I believe he would not go along with much of what has been done or being done. Thank you I stand corrected
Cherry-picking of scientists is a common problem in many religions. I see it as a sign of desperation from people who don't actually believe what they say they do. If they did, and if their 'truth' is intrinsically true, then they wouldn't need to quote any other authority at all.
Old comment but it’s because they think that scientists worship Darwin or other originators of valid facts like they were minigods. The truth is modern scientists know a lot more about the subject than the originators and we don’t care that they get quoted on some minor mistake ( or most likely misquoted by editing what they said) . Tl;dr no modern scientist cares what some scientists from over 100 years ago knew or said. We’ve gone past them
I happened to attend a RC primary school where I was well loved by the staff but a government high school where I was well traumatized like having to attend two kingdom halls.
As a JW I hated you, as an agnostic atheist I greatly appreciate your information. My dude Lloyd has helped tons of people that he doesn't even know about. Also JW oddly do not believe in 6000 year old earth.
Exciting news! I'm officially an Ex-Jw!!! 🙌
congratulations man!! i wish nothing but the best for you in this exciting new chapter of your life ^0^
🥳 congrats!
@@saffronsketchesx2959 🌻
@@maryannlockwood7806 🌻
Get your story out to us .
I was sat in the front row of my dads funeral (not held in a KH as there was too many people) with my newborn son and husband that was also DF’d and had 98% of the people walking past hug my mom and completely ignore us. My brother was also DF’d and completely ignored aside from one Elder who took the opportunity to tell him the whole story of the prodigal son. 🙄 There is no natural love or affection in this group. Thank you for sharing your story!
I have to say the congregation I grew up in treated my df uncle with respect when my grandma passed. They treated him as if he was another person. They did not shun him that day. And that is how it should be at the least.
reading this just makes me sick. i just can’t process how a group of people can be so controlled to be so ugly and so completely anti-christian. i’m so sorry you and your little family were touched in such a horrible way by this awful cult. and i’m very sorry for the loss of your father.
@@kimmychong7029 I’m happy to hear that, that’s how it should be!
@@sekanomore1350 Thank you so much. It was the final straw for my brother, and he vowed never to go back. We got reinstated for my moms sake, to make it easier for her conscience to associate with us. So glad we are out now and even though she is still active she doesn’t shun us, which is nice. My husbands family has completely cut us off 🤷🏻♀️
*edited for spelling
My Dad passed away and as I got out of the funeral car, which by the way my two in the truth fleshly sisters wouldn’t ride in with my mum that was left to me and my oldest sister who are both disassociated, and the rest of the family ignored us. How Christian is that NOT that finished it for me really why would you want to be around or part of a group that are like that
Thank you so much for having me on Lloyd and thank you for all your help and quality of content you produce to help ones like me wake up from this cult! ❤️
So very glad for you Jordan. When you finally see
everything as it really is ... there is nothing better!
Quality of content. That’s what it is. Well said! Still listening to the video.
🤗🤗🤗🤗 and thank you so much for sharing. See you at your channel.
I was encouraged to support Lloyd's channel because it is becoming clear that Lloyd is able to get information across to a lot of people in a way that is balanced and calm and above all effective. I would encourage all who are out to offer their support as well. We can't all be activists in the same way, but this is my way of helping others to get out of this cult.
Jordan how did the boxing go? It's the best thing a man can do. I was delighted when I could watch it on TV when I had my own place and then the first fight night I went to was amazing the courage of the hard young men fighting. Boxing is just so good absolutely the very best thing. A hard young boy will learn more in a short fight than in years of indoctrination at Kingdom Prison. Did you have the fight?
I got disfellowshipped walked out the door that night and never stepped foot in the congregation again and never heard from an elder after that.
Wow, how did you manage that? I had to loose my temper to get them to stop.
@@jimbobaggans1564 I guessing because hurt the guy I was almost engaged too he was an elders son that’s the only thing I can think 🤔 of. I also guessing I was quite the talk of the congregation for awhile because of the circumstances of me disfellowshipped.
Count yourself lucky, glad you are free
@@annafarago2271Don’t get me wrong I’m glad I’m free, I just feel sorry for all the people still trapped in this horrible Cult.
@@jimbobaggans1564 Lose
Great to see my little brother out there making a difference!
Very good interview from you both and very professional interviewing from Mr Evans.
Hope to see more collaborations 👍🏻
Love you bro! Always will ❤️ so glad we both are free!
Congrats you two!
You boys are so lucky to have each other. All the best to you!
We're overrun with Robertsons (no relation)!
This is absolutely beautiful! Really great to see, unbreakable bond, this is true brotherhood! Just found this channel and I'm realizing that I'm still breaking free all these years later! Thank you so much for your honesty! Love this story!
Yeah, elders are sometimes very insisting on meeting with you for nefarious purposes especially if you've had a falling out with them. Two elders were super interested in meeting with me. i mentioned to not try and contact me or I would take legal means to deter them from harassing me. This has worked so far. My situation was that I was now seen as a bad influence due to completing a bachelor's degree. I tried to explain that I wasn't crazy to be rich or whatever but I slowly understood and got to know that this is an organizational policy to label people who successfully continue their education in order to perpetuate the organization's real policy against higher education. They state that this is not the case. However, they DO label people negatively if they partake of college education.
I was studying with some witnesses for a while, and then discovered my best friend from high school was a witness.
I made it clear that I intend on going through trade school to become a welder, and they had no issue with it. However my best friend was honest and said that going to college is frowned upon. Trade school is one thing, but going to college is a whole 'nother issue.
@@wcproductions2024 Very true. If you want higher education it's going to be problematic with them.
@@knowthyself8233 I ultimately backed out from the whole idea of becoming a witness.
Being a welder would only be a stepping stone, since I ultimately want to become a live audio engineer (aka the soundguy at concerts). I would use my income from welding to pay my way through music school.
If I became a witness, they wouldve had several issues with me working 10 to 12 hour days, ontop of studying my future craft in music part time.
@@wcproductions2024 You did great. I did a similar path as you. When I was JW I chose to go to school to take something real quick to get more money to study what I really want after. I get discouraged to not pursue higher education. Working to much and school on top of it won't give me enough time for Jehovah. But guess what! I follow what I want and leave WT behind.
@@knowthyself8233 Dont get me wrong, they preach some good ideas. Like the need for unity, for example. But they use that as a facade for their MASSIVE Us vs Them mentality.
The Shunned Experience is another good channel. Also The Truth Hurts. I enjoyed his last video and has the part2 just out today. I go through my ex jw videos every day, like it’s my daily text. My “daily spiritual food”!!!😆
Oh, that's the phrase I wanted to use but didn't dare to. Even inspired me to give a donation. 😅
I look g lo ocehij
I really love The Truth Hurts. I was raised Catholic and I thought THAT was bad but these JWs...holy MOLY this stuff is so awful.
@@calonstanni yes it is or can be. Growing up in it can be fine, but it’s when you don’t want to be apart of it anymore that really hurts. My parents have some contact with me, but non of my aunts, uncles or other family still in.
@@kimmychong7029 I don't think growing up in the cult can "be fine" in any stretch of my imagination! Stealing your identity and forcing you to have a separate identity that's a JW leaves all of us with Dissociative identity disorder. Also, the worst case of attachment disorder where you develop Avoidant Attachment disorder. Growing up a JW leaves you with lots of disordered thinking.
I laud Lloyd Evans for his balanced presentations, his calm, compassion, and humility. He is also so unselfish and welcoming to new activists. He has a vision that he cannot lose sight of, to waken and open the eyes of those who have been misled and are being controlled by the WT organisation, I was never ever a JW and yet he has made me want to become an activist. I like how his efforts have brought out so many other activists and together they are shaking the foundations of the Tower and driving those at the top to desperation. That Tower should be crumbling very soon!
I’m not an atheist, but I don’t belong to any religion as they are all full of rules made by men and not god. I did study with the JW s for a year because I wanted to understand what made them so unpopular, I stopped my study as I was horrified at the amount of control they were trying to excerpt on me. My faith is very personal to me and reject the idea that one size fits all as each separate religion tries to impress on their followers. My life like a lot a people has been very hard and I own nothing as far as material things go but, I have an overwhelming sense of joy in my heart every day because I can love.
why are u not an atheist? it seemz to me people dont identify as an atheist cuz other people will ridicule them. fuck that shit. be an atheist. lol
As a child and teenager my life was governed by WatchTower's rules.
Aww so you just make up your own shit to suit ! just like every single religion
Do you consider the command to " Not forsake the gathering yourselves together as some have the custom " as a law from man or God. If the latter how do you fulfill this?
I’m Catholic because Jesus said to the apostles
“He who hears you hears me.”
Lk 10:16
Yes the Catholic Church is messy.
But it is true. Unlike JWs it has lasted 2000yrs
When I was pimo the elders told me, come back to meetings and I would be conviced it was the truth. If I had a heart inclined toward righteousness. Lol
I was counseled for speaking to and hugging my disassociated dad at my mom's memorial service. This was despite the fact that he only got baptized to appease my mom and disassociated before that was considered grounds for shunning. His shunning began retroactively. I broke his heart completely when I told him at age 13 that I was getting baptized and would no longer speak to him. I reconnected with him about 15 years later, but there was a closeness that was lost, and there's no getting it back.
My son was bullied at school but also in the congregation. He learns languages quickly and the Chinese kids, who were learning Chinese themselves, were jealous and called my son a "white head." Then as a young brother, my son joined the Russian group. Jealous elders would speak condescendingly to him about how it's such a difficult language to learn, and not to get discouraged. But my son was way more advanced with the language than they were. Jealousy abounds in the organization. I always hated it. Pioneers think they're better than me, and say so.
so many of us for 6 decades have had "trouble at school" even if we were the A students, due to the KH rules. Jordan's "testimony" is so universal!
There is definitely a pecking order in the organization. They would like to believe they are different from worldly persons. In their dreams. Jealousy, gossiping, sexual misconduct, paedophilia, hierarchy ranking . Normal worldly behaviour.
Pioneers are the worst breed. They and elders have an overinflated ego on the same level as the "anointed"
Your son should learn Ukrainian, a knowledge of which will afford him the straight goods on Russia.
@@korolr Thanks!
Jordan mentions necessary family business. There was an elder in our congregation who once said from the platform…”there’s no such thing as necessary family business when it comes to dealing with disfellowshipped family members”. How cold is that?
Disgusting to know that they preach this garbage
Ice water in the veins cold.
Cool studio , LLOYD! 12 years old… we all know that this is the age of total understanding of life and when life’s decisions are made. You’re not forced… BUT pressure is there to do that. Because we all know, once your baptized, you are a better association than a non baptized! There were so many kids who lived double lives.. so sad.
And yet Howie Tan was contacted when his grandmother died and was asked by the elders to help pay for her funeral. I'm sure he and his husband did it from the bottom of their hearts. That was 'necessary family business' 🙄
I wish JW's had more exposure to the outside world. Then maybe they'd see how rare it is for families & close friends to truly cut each other off, especially over religion. I have a couple friends whose parents tried to kick then out or cut them off either because of being lgbt, 'lifestyle choices'- like getting a dui or partying, or getting pregnant, denying the family religion ect. Most were just fundie xtians, jews or muslims, not JW's. But the difference is, they always eventually get over it & come back to each others lives. Especially after people get their lives more together or grandkids are born. Love usually wins out in the end, even if the family doesn't totally 'approve', they'll get over it enough to be in each others lives. Only JW's are so adament they'll shun grandbabies or their own kids FOREVER. It's obviously not about bringing back the lost ones w tough love, or they'd stop when it wasn't working. It's about the power the WT Society has because of shunning. I think they know it could all fall apart w/o that tool to threaten believers with.
Jordan is one of the best guests! Somehow I thought it would be different for young members in the UK, his story could be over here in the states too! So insightful and universal about school, teen years, the car, dating and his brothers shunning, etc. Thanks.
Same everywhere, it's 1yr later for me listening to his story n I'm in Australia. I was babtized a few days b4 i turned 13. I think if there's anything more that angers me about this religion it's this. Jrsus was 30 when he got babtized. The common age on these channels is about 12. It's criminal, your a child. I've heard in the africian countries they've babtizing kids at 7 n 8.
Many will end up disfellowshipped in there teens or as a young adult.
Then shunned by family n friends.
It's so wrong, hurts me but gets me angry at the same time.
Great interview. Thanks for sharing your story Jordan. Definitely resonated with me and very happy you maintained your bond with your brother. This organization has got to go.
It makes me cringe we people still refer to this religion as the “Truth”.
It’s so difficult to train yourself out of using the emotionally charged buzzwords and phrases like “worldly people” or “the truth”, even after you have escaped the cult. Those phrases are used on purpose, to establish an “us” and a “them,” to justify any questionable teachings, to inspire fear, to gaslight people into questioning their own reality… essentially everything a cult needs to do in order to maintain their power.
@@littlestheretic8249 exactly!!! I guess that’s why it bothers me so much lol, because I know it’s intentional …..
We are not a cult !
well if they called it what it is, who would go along with it?
Come listen to the Lie, its great we life forever!
"When I was in the truth."
Elders waited until got home at 9:30 pm from school to confront me. They watched me go inside and then tried to ambush me in my home. I was a single woman at the time newly divorced. I was out and away from KH for about a year and half. Prior to their attempted ambush I was so angry I kicked them out my house not even giving them time to say what they wanted to say. Anyway when I called my best friend to tell her what happened she begged me to never tell anyone or rhey will lable me an apostate. She was terrified I was gonna be disfellowshipped and she would never be able to talk to me again. She is literally the only person I cared about but not enough to keep quiet. I confronted the elders and finallyy got kicked out. BEST THING EVER!!!
Jordan, I would have gave you a great big hug!!
About 20 years ago, a member of the congregation I grew up in passed & they held his funeral there. He left behind a wife & 4 grown kids. His oldest son was DF’d (and had been for at least a decade at this time).
I remember how everyone walked past him as he sat there so sad. After I viewed his dad, I walked directly up to him gave him a hug & kissed his cheek & whispered “I’m sorry Eric”. He looked at me & gave me a grin & mouthed “thank you Dani”.
It angers me that even in the darkness moment, you cannot set aside this & just offer human compassion.
I’ve since been DF’d & after seeing what they put him through, there’s no way I’m attending either of parents funerals when that time comes.
Thank you Jordan for sharing your story. Love in light on your journey!
Perhaps when the time comes you should tell the Watchtower slaves that they are NOT welcome.
Anytime someone needs to continually remind you of something, especially something like having ‘the truth’ the more you need to question it. ‘The truth’ is self evident.
I've never been a J.W. but I've always been interested in different beliefs,and I started following your channel after seeing an interview you did with Chris Shelton. I really admire the way you support other TH-camrs. You are right,of course,when you say that we benefit from many different voices on this subject.
Same happened to me..came home and an elder was waiting for me and demanded I write a letter saying I no longer wanted to be a witness..I was more then happy to at that point as I caught said elder doing big no no a week before..
Dare I ask...what do you mean by 'big no no'?🤔
@@minabello8006I was at a party and he was there drunk and grinding on someone who was not his wife..I asked around and turns out he was still "dealing" in things from his so called worldly days..I remember him coming into the hall for the first time when I was little..but the look on his face when he saw me was hilarious..I just smiled and shook my head..
Enjoyed the interview.. I figured this one was going to happen soon. Thanks for telling your story Jordan, and your work on TH-cam. And thank you Lloyd for all of your work..
Remember though, NOT a cult because “nobody is chained to the floor in the convention hall” -Tony T.P. Morris
Wait WHAT.. did Tony Morris really say that? 🤦🏼♀️
@@alyssaschluter8633 Yes
@@alyssaschluter8633 yep look up Lloyd's back videos
@Levi Khimesan stupid people deserve what they ask for?' Wow. You do know that some people are born into a cult so they don't technically have a choice right? Until they get older anyways but by that time, the cult is all they have ever known, and all of their family and friends are in it at that stage too. Cults use brainwash techniques to keep people in and they basically target people when they are vulnerable to give them some sort of hope and purpose to live for. Think twice before calling people stupid or idiots for their belief in God. Just because you might not believe it, doesn't mean you have the right to degrade those who do. Not everyone who believes in God is apart of a cult. Please try show more respect for people's beliefs.
@@alyssaschluter8633 I could not agree more.. Some people just don't think before they speak
20:22 - "The lengths I had to go to just to see my brother were quite extreme" - Leaving Dubtown is like trying to leave the Mafia.
Jordan, thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm going to go check out your channel the Shunned Experience!
Damn, really got me with your story about being bullied. So little and catching flack for a bunch of bullshit.
I had a JW in my Elementary School. He didn’t stand for the pledge of Allegiance which attracted attention. I had to defend him from the kids and the teacher as well for not being patriotic!
Really?
They threw a hugeChristmas party with lots of food at a former job for the staff and the JW refused to even come in a fix a plate and leave which what they offered to do . They were even willing to let her go in before the party started to fix a plate ., nope . That’s when we all thought she was a damn fool. Even the Muslims on staff just avoided the pork .
This was an excellent interview. Jordan seems to be a deeply thoughtful and loving person. I will watch his channel. Thank you all.
How he said he "hated the ministry" I felt that deep. That's the 2nd worst ting about jw
Are all the meetings the number 1 worst part? I was never a witness but I know church is boring enlough I can’t imagine having to do that shit multiple times a week
My studies on Saturday that I ahd for years after 1-2 hours of preaching in the morning were what I hated. I didn't have a weekend because of this cult
@@vincemcmahonreadskoran3120 3 days per week at Kingdom Halls. Saturday or/and Sunday knock doors. During the week peperation for meeting.... So yess every min of our life was Watchtower.... And I was far from being an active member.... Its compulsory as a child
Jordan is a great guy. It doesn't matter if you still believe in God or not. Jordan still showed emence love towards his brother when he was disfellowshipped by going through obstacles to go and see him. He knows what love is which really matters.
Tweeted that I was going to watch it the moment it dropped and I held true to that statement haha. Thanks for such great content, Lloyd!
I didn’t get bullied at school. I got bullied at the Kingdom Hall.
Lol, that yellow t-shirt though. I remember my gran reading me 'My Book Of Bible Stories'😂😂😂😂😂
Hahaha I remember 🤣yellow 💛my book of Bible stories 😄
Great interview! Lovely to see another activist out there I’ve already subscribed!!
Thank you so much!! 🙌🏻
Amazing interview Jordan. So many things resonated with me as you told your story. Thank you for the work you do and your channel.
That was a great interview. Thank you so much!
I love Mr Jordan's accent.
So do I. It reminds me of Michael Palin from Monty Python.☺️
Greetings from Scotland--J.
@@jamesmcginn8874 Thanks for the info. I felt a little uncomfortable to ask.
Sounds like someone who would narrate a FIFA game
@@midknightmiddleman5887 ha ha yes indeed!
I was so happy to see this first thing in my notifications; I'm a non-JW, and got a letter today in the mail from one, inviting me to watch the "Powerful by Faith" presentations online...such a dodgy letter too, from a JW, identifying herself instead at the beginning as "A Bible Student." Not going to write back, but if I did, it would be partially with, "I've actually already seen the rebuttals made to these talks, utilizing Watchtower's own texts."
Perhaps let her know that there are some really good discussions on line. Her curiosity may cause her to have a look and start to question what she is being taught
At least you got one written in English.
I got one with an email and I'm gonna send some info with questions anonymously to get my UnWitnessing time in.
Great quality interview!
Thank you for letting Jordan speak, and not interrupting him.
I've been having a bible study for around 4yrs, and just felt I couldn't go on with it any more.
As time went on, I was being pressured to get more involved, but the more I did, the more I could see and experience the brainwashing techniques, and the desire to isolate you from other people.
Just like a dangerous, toxic relationship - they do the very same.
Watching these videos is helping me through the transition of letting go, of the 'friends' I thought I'd made, and to start engaging with the normal world again.
All the best to you both, for the future.
🙏
Fabulous guest. All the best to Jordan!
LMFAOOOO “all he needed was a cat on his arm” 🤣
Yup, similar thing happened to me. I was boarding with a witness couple and they called elders over without my knowledge to sit me down to talk to me, so when I got home they were waiting for me. The audacity.
Talk about taking advantage of hospitality…
Did you find another place to live?
@@Izzrules huh? Me taking advantage or them?
@@warmhandswarmheart sorry went off on a tangent lol, to answer your question, I didn't have a home for a few weeks because I refused to go back to the religion and all my connections were witnesses. But then I moved in with my disfellowshipped dad in another city. Never going back.
@@Izzrules
wtf
The Elders caught me once at work! Came up to my Job!!!! And the second time I got DF’d they caught me on my jog!!!😂😂 they actually caught me on my jog to DF me!!!
I would've tripped them over.
Thank you for the great information you guys sharing to all of us.
I was raised mormon. I see some similarities in the 2 religions in their cult behaviors. Im glad to see anyone brake free from either one.
I'm glad they let him see his grandma. My grandmother passed away a few days ago and they told me I wasn't allowed to come see her during her last days. I was told, if I showed up, I would not be admitted. It was devasting.
Oh sweetie feel better , don’t let their sadistic behavior get you down.
Nothing would've stopped me from going to see either of my beloved grandmothers on their deathbed. I pity the pencil necked geek of an elder who would have tried to stop ME!
So wrong. I hope after a year now, some healing has taken place.
My heart bleeds for the ill treatment shown to u.
Time does heal n u can move forward.
I went through a horrible experience at my sons wedding. He wasnt ever babtized.
Some family were ok about attending. Others voiced their opinions n consciences. (But I was taking it all in........took me a long time to wake up, but all these horrible experiences hped n shaped me to be who I am today.
My husband is still in, he overlooks n forgives a lot I just can't anymore. I've done the forgiving 7 times, 77, 177. There just comes a time when it clicks with u. It has to be your choice to leave. None else's.
So sorry you had to suffer that.
Wishing you much love, healing and happiness ahead of you.
❤️💕❤️
Just listening to the interview and it demonstrates how strong the inductrination of the watchtower is.
Even after leaving many still refer to it has"the truth"
That proves if you tell someone a lie often enough they will believe it!
Exactly, somehow I thought life in the UK would be different than here in the States, his "testimony" is so universal. Best guest ever!
Another great interview Lloyd, throughly enjoyed it, all the best Jordan with your utube channel I’ll be waiting eagerly
Well done Jordan.
The fact that a boy of 17 had to lie to his parents in order to go and see his brother shows how evil WatchTower is. As is the fact that a father felt compelled to turf his son aged 21 out of his home. It's really evil and this sect should have no recognition from the state no tax advantages etc. It should also be a criminal offence for elders to discuss sexual behaviour with anyone under 18 in a private judicial situation. The lady who became my wife was appalled to hear a 'sister' describing matter of fact how she knew that her adult children would be destroyed at Har-Magedon and how she would live forever without them. My future wife was shocked at this and mainly at me because I didn't find it appalling. It is bizarre in the extreme.
Brilliant interview Jordan' s got a great channel..
Easy to tell someone who is a recent PIMO/POMO when their programming still has them refer to the org as 'The Truth' still. Good interview with Jordan!
thoughtful and kind. thank you.
Great interview! Love your channel
LOVE THAT SHIRT !!! Hilarious 😂 brings back childhood nightmares.
Being shunned shows their low level of the understanding of human love, well done for escaping the madness.
Dearest Jordan, all I can say is 🎆 🎆👍💜💪💗💓💖😄
Thank you Susan 😊
Three Cheers.
Awesome Thank You Both !!!♾♾♾
I can definitely relate to Jordan's experiences growing up, in regards to wanting to just play football instead of going to meetings and field service. I couldn't play for the local Sunday team because of that. Plus I can really relate to the bullying at school and having teachers hold an agenda against you or single you out. Likewise, junior school was pretty bad with teachers always picking on me, giving me excessive punishments, or referring to me as a 'Jehova' or a 'Jehoba'. They would bring it up during an RE lesson, or during Christmas or Valentines day, explaining to the class how I am a 'Jehova' and different to the other kids. It felt so insensitive.
For something as minor as writing in my workbook with a gel pen, I was made to sit in the hallway for 2 hours, when the teacher turned a blind eye to other kids using gel pens. Then when the class did the maypole dancing, I was made to sit in an empty classroom copying out lines from a dictionary for an entire afternoon. School finished, but nobody came back to that classroom for me and my mum had to ask the school where I was. When they came and got me, I was shouted at and blamed for inconveniencing the teachers and school.
After that, each morning I was then made to tidy the library, clean the reception, do litter picking outdoors etc, since I was missing assemblies. I was basically put to work and wasn't allowed to just sit around. I remember being made to pick up litter right outside the windows of the assembly hall so the other kids could see me. Everyone would be watching me. Although everyone would be watching me anyway when I had to walk in through big metal side doors for the announcements at the end of each assembly. They actually had kids come and tell me when to come in. Everyone would be watching. So dehumanising. I'm not even going to get started on the regular classmate bullying that I experienced
i think about how in jw rhetoric they say things like "ask yourself, would you do this in front of jesus?" and i honestly doubt anyone would be relentlessly shunning jordan at his own grandmothers funeral if jesus was there. and jesus certainly wouldn't have been shunning him either
While I agree with your analogy, it still would have required Jesus to actually exist in order for it to make sense.
after 11 months you were married, just like my mom when I was 16, who married a bro after just as many months after meeting him.
Today, after 26 years since then, my now faded away stepdad has just told me during my visit to see my mom that he hopes my visit won't be too permanent and that in actuality he doesn't much cares for guests.
I've just realized I've no real family
8:09 Wow! Whatever we may think of the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, this is flat-out wrong! It's fine to ask questions and be critical of other people's beliefs, especially when they try to force it on you, but you were just a child... Imagine if they made a Muslim or Jewish child eat bacon as a punishment? That teacher should be sacked.
My elder dad didn’t allow my sister (disfellowshipped) to come to my grandmas funeral. I’m still not over it and this was in 2012.
I remember at one Sunday talk the speaker said a dog only remembers things for 5 minutes. I literally looked around to see if anyone else was buying that bullshit and everyone looked like zombies. They could literally say anything and everyone would just take it and accept it :(
If only WT taught the real love as you have for your brother? Wonderful your now enjoying life free of the shackles of religion.
What is wrong with this people? They used to come to my door and politely insisting that I should study their fiction book, and every time I politely refused, but they kept on coming to my door. I don't know what they evaluated in my person to keep on insisting. Finally one day I lost my politeness and told them to go to fry flies to another place. But, you know? They started phoning me, I don't know how they got my phone number, and then I really got mad, and since then the phone only rings with the normal calls. Maybe I have to thank jehova or satan, for understanding my plight and doing something about it. By the way, I am an atheist.
I just mention evolution by asking if they have a dog or cat . “Wow, isn’t it funny that the cat(dog) understands that you are family and you don’t!” Works every time
If you want them too stop calling tell them too put it in writing that you have stated you do not want them too call and too give you a copy... They should then go too their service overseer and he should remove you from the CalL on list..
The funniest of my few encounters with JWs was when I was 17 years old. I was all into metal, my hair down to my waist. My parents were out for the evening and I was blasting Motorhead's Orgasmatron (covered by Sepultura) and headbanged in the living room lol. Suddenly the door bell ringed. Im opening the door while the music is still blasting expecting someone familiar, when I saw 3 strangers, 2 ladies and one man, quite overdressed smiling at me and immediately asking if I had time to talk abit about God or something in those lines. The funny thing is that they asked in a mechanical way but at the same split second they were appaled both by my appearence and the music blasting. My hair were all over, I was wearing a celtic knot pendant and bracelet, had earrings and wore black jeans, Marteens boots and a black tank top lol. I replied ''Do I look like I care to talk about your heresy?'' and that completely broke their resolve to recruit me lol.
Heavy Metal saves!
17 minutes in: he starts to examine the religion when HE is personally negatively affected by it. Sad, but very common. Banal evil is tolerated because people can't be bothered to look at it.
well thats most people. you can't "see" an issue until it affects you
That's human nature.
Please, stop calling it "the truth."
Indeed - even after acknowledging that he shouldn't be doing this anymore, he still continued doing it.
Hes just left. He has to train himself out of it. But I would suggest he learn before he starts a yt channel
You can call it 'The Truth' ironically.
@@My_Fair_Lady - I like that. 😂
No matter how many of these stories I hear, I can't get over how Jehovas Witness children are made to be social pariahs almost by design, and how that would surely play into the narrative of the cult given how cruel children can be with or without religion.
I didn't exactly love school but I am so friggin' glad I wasn't a Witness or a Mormon or some other cult.
It wasn't easy especially in primary. In secondary it was easier as there was a greater mix of religion. My main regret is choosing to spurn the friendship of perfectly pleasant boys who could have become lifelong friends because Almighty God had them scheduled for destruction in 1975. Of course they are now coming up for retirement.
It sucked! I was never bullied but they isolate you. I sat in a practice room for months in band because they were practicing Christmas music. Parades, left out again. Have to come home directly after school . No friends. All the kids were going to motley Crue and van Halen and I couldn't go! I might get demons or pregnant. It sucked
I would just walk right past without a word and ghost them
JW: "We're being persecuted! We have the true religion!!"
Also JW: "We've been delivered from persecution! we have the true religion!!"
This logic kept chipping away at me among other things. Woke up last year.
All my life jw was because jw bullying at7years at school at 68 bully by jworg do not have anything with the cult you only. Freedom from them and being happy to see jworg inactive
Well I guess I was one of the lucky ones: the elders never came to visit me…it shows how much the care about me and I’m still fading. Thank you so much to both of you for this interview I really appreciated it. ❤️
Thanks for sharing your experience
How long would this interview go on till ‘the truth’ remark came up & stopped, I wondered, lol! It’s understandable, but, just made me laugh & cringe at the same time!😜 Great interview.Will def. check out Jordan’s channel!🙂
I respectfully disagree. I was also born & raised, and bullied because of it in school, as well. But the being stuck between a rock and a hard place made me see how equally bad people are, both on the outside of the religion, and in. It's sad to say, but luckily I got to see from early childhood how hypocrisy looks like in the congregation, and how the bible and groupthink was used to keep people down, kind of similarly to how bullies also used their strength to keep me down in school. I never got baptized, as I never truly believed to begin with. Again, that's maybe in part my parents failure as JWs, but my luck as a son and individual. I was pretty much out of it all by my early 20s. But believe it or not, I am still recovering now in my late thirties, financially, mentally and socially.
If we have the truth what do we have to hide ? Good question
I worked full-time to support myself...the pioneer group would show up at my workplace, just happened to be in the territory and the bully pioneer would show up at my place on my only day off why I was not out in field service.
Don't answer the door. Tell friends to telephone you before visiting. Last resort tell her your busy, and close the door, you matter and it's important to have down time although I suspect you would be catching up
I'm glad I was never baptized, family still doesn't know me all that well since I'm gay and can't talk to them about it. On that note Jordan is 😍😍
@sinrnside I hear you, it’s really tough when you know that there will always be this huge aspect of who you are that your family can never truly know, understand or accept. My family have started to hear a bit more about my life but still can’t deal with the reality of my queerness. I hope that you have better luck with your family in the future.
Funny how exJWs can really relate to the Matrix movie. 😆 🤣
Hah.. love that movie makes you question all religion
@@jumpman8920 yes it does. 😆
and Mad Men, see that series and think of Brooklyn or Handmaid's Tale.
Just found you after checking out a couple of Atheist Experience episodes in which you were the "other" speaker. Love your voice and your even temperament. Never been a JW although I had a guy who worked for me on my farm who was. He and his family lived on my property for a number of years but he never tried to convert me given that my university background was geology, paleontology and evolution. He did try to convince me JW weren't a cult and weren't crazy, but I was blunt and told him they were. Once, long ago, I was a Catholic and went to liberal Catholic schools (in the 60s) and they started me on my path to science, but I drifted away from religion when I was out of high school.
Not long out of the Org and already he has a beard. Good lad!
I had my beard in the org too 😉😂
Lloyd's gangster voice 😂
Enjoyed watching you two Englishmen talking. And listening to the interviewee that he would never part form his brother despite him DF and shunned. Sweet! I spent a summer in Manchester, England when I was 14 years old ...my brother in law was an elder.
"imperfect men running a perfect organization." Remember an organization is only as good as the men running it. Imperfect men = imperfect organization.
Ummm or lunatic ideas backed up by people with agendas
14:32 - " You don't know this at 12 years old. And then, on a deeper level in terms of policies in the religion, you certainly don't understand the implications of shunning." - I will argue that you don't understand this at any age.
I never looked back , no need to
I’m studying again after 15 yrs of being away but yesterday was not good I got ambushed by one sister because I’m not attending the zoom meeting. I politely told her I have a personality disorder and I’m
Uncomfortable socializing and just because I don’t carry on a text conversation with you doesn’t mean something is wrong it simply means I’m comfortable being alone an by myself. I have no interest in idle chit chat. And I don’t like being pressured to attend meetings. I said let me do things however they make me comfortable. I told her I enjoy the study but if you put me on the spot like that again I’ll disappear again because I don’t like that crap. So I don’t know if I want to continue anymore. I hate that approach. I like to listen and study but be left alone. I mean she was very passive aggressive snd phony all at the same time . I can read between the lines. It showed me what I hated about the congregation all those years ago.
May Jehova advice you to leave those fanatics and join the really free thinking group of atheists, atheists that individually or in groups will never force you to anything, you take your own life as you face it every day and live this life as you think is the way to live it in a society of free realistic people.
You dont need to be a Jehovahs Witness to have a relationship with God. They make it harder and actually drive people away from their spirituality. God says He doesnt dwell within a temple and therefore kingdom halls and meeting in them is unnecessary.
May I ask what is prompting you to go back? Don't let anyone pressure you, remember this is about YOUR relationship with God not your association with any one religion. You already know any longer be they show is conditional upon you accepting their beliefs. You are either with them or against them. Jesus' love was not conditional.
The more you study the worse it’ll get. The witnesses are taught to put pressure on you to keep at it. It’ll never end. Best to end it now.
@@incognitofade9574 I lost my mom to covid last year . She was devout and this was her world . I guess I went back to feel the connection with her . To feel she is still living somehow through me being with them I felt her still here. It doesn’t feel so lonely and it feels like mom I guess.
The part about the JW's shunning this poor man at his own grandma's funeral pissed me off! I just know the same thing is going to happen to me when my dad passes, and I'm not going to have any reason to hold back at that point. I will grab a microphone and tell them all how disgraceful they are behaving.
Your life journeys with being disfellowshipped is so very similar to those of ex-Mormons. Leaving any cult is purposefully extremely difficult. All cults use very similar tactics to isolate their members from "outsiders" and from outside information. One of their most effective tools is the fear of being disfellowshipped. When other members see what happens to those who are shunned, their subconscious conclusion is that they need to protect themselves from ever having the same horrible experience.
2016 is by far the Worst Convention Ever.
He Was Good Testimony Excellent
Nice interview. This reminds me of covert fade. Missing your last days Livestream from last year.
I was baptized Catholic as a baby, went to Catholic school, etc. I never bought into it, but later I wondered why. Jordan mentioned the coldness and lack of love expressed to him at his grandmother's funeral, and how that tied it all up for him. I think that lack of love and caring is the reason I never felt there was anything useful about being in the church.
Teachers should never be cruel to Jehovah witness children they are innocent. My husband is a caretaker in a primary school and has had the opportunity to educate teachers and the schools head on Jehovahs Witnesses and that their children have no choice in the matter of being a jw and all what it involves. This has helped teachers at his school to deal with it much better.
Loyd has a better "theocratic library" than most JWs. 🤣🤣🤣
Beautiful.
Good point if Jesus were around he would not treat people like this
The only people Jesus spoke badly of were the religious leaders of the day:
Matthew 23:4 NLT
They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
Prove he even existed !
@@gowdsake7103 I have no proof
@@jimmchemings6140 In all reasonableness then you can have nothing to say about such a character then. You cannot say how such a person would have reacted in ANY situation. Your statement is much like well Harry potter wouldn't treat people like this
@@gowdsake7103 Obviously it is supposition based on what is commonly believed by millions that are alive and have lived . I should have said if he existed I believe he would not go along with much of what has been done or being done. Thank you I stand corrected
Cherry-picking of scientists is a common problem in many religions. I see it as a sign of desperation from people who don't actually believe what they say they do. If they did, and if their 'truth' is intrinsically true, then they wouldn't need to quote any other authority at all.
Old comment but it’s because they think that scientists worship Darwin or other originators of valid facts like they were minigods. The truth is modern scientists know a lot more about the subject than the originators and we don’t care that they get quoted on some minor mistake ( or most likely misquoted by editing what they said) . Tl;dr no modern scientist cares what some scientists from over 100 years ago knew or said. We’ve gone past them
In my school, we all felt sorry for the JW kids
I happened to attend a RC primary school where I was well loved by the staff but a government high school where I was well traumatized like having to attend two kingdom halls.
As a JW I hated you, as an agnostic atheist I greatly appreciate your information. My dude Lloyd has helped tons of people that he doesn't even know about. Also JW oddly do not believe in 6000 year old earth.