An elder once told me "if you want to be disillusioned just do a year at bethel". I hate institutional military type living so would never want that kind of life. When I was in there was this young black couple that got accepted to Bethel, they were all smiles. They came back for a visit 6 months later and besides her losing a lot of weight the one thing I noticed was that the smiles were fake. Something was wrong and now I realize they saw the org for what is really is "a business" run by fools.
@jeffrey wedekind After spending 10 years in Bethel I have to agree with you. You slowly lose all personality and become like a structured robot programmed to serve the cults interests at all costs.
@@matthewmauldin3583 Well the good news (no pun intended) is you got out. I was in as a child and rebelled and went to college, I came close to drinking the Kool-Aid and now at 60 I would be penniless if I did (praying doesn't pay the bills, it might get you a bookbag but that's it). The GB have ruined so many lives and condemned countless others to a retirement of poverty. I came back in the early 90's and married a pioneer sister and my marriage was a nightmare. Of course she was abused as a child by her step-father elder, anointed by holy spirit while he was abusing her. Religion is a fraud, there is no real truth out there just a confusing book that nobody can agree on. Like Voltaire said "more people are fooled by hope than by deceit"
@@rockpadstudios my brother in law wanted to prove Holy Spirit had nothing to do with being appointed so he shmuzzed the elders jumped Thru the hoops and was made a ministerial servant within months. His father was an elder. And he soon was made an elder. He then came out and said he had been attending the Catholic Church the whole time and that he proved his point and left! It was favoritism and charisma not Holy Spirit.
@@fadedglory1045 It's crazy to think that the drunk Rutherford was able to poke the authorities in the eye and get a predictable jail term and then turn around and say he fulfilled bible prophesy. Therefore we have the truth. They delivered this nonsense very well years ago but the enemy of a false profit is time and with 1914 come and gone its clear they are frauds. Maybe you could say they uncovered some basic truths like god and jesus are not the same being but anyone spending day in and day out studying can see these things. It's just the Catholics and Baptistes don't really care about the accuracy of the teachings just that it pulls people in with a consistent doctrine which they only change if they have to. My ex-wife's elder step father was appointed an elder while he was sexually abusing her. How's that for appointed by holy spirit. Her life as a life long JW was sad and filled with poverty and misery. She still defends it blindly since at this point in her life she might as well finish it to the end.
I grew up with bone crushing loneliness, the rejection, the feelings of despair. I went through that alone in a small town. I came close to not wanting to live anymore but never did reach a point of wanting to kill myself. For those out there that have been abused by religion please reach out and get help. The advances in mental health in the last 20 years is truly amazing. These video's also let you know you are not alone - I always felt I was alone and it was just me. Now looking back 1000's went through the same fear, obligation, and guilt (FOG). Light will dissipate the FOG with time.
I was a JW FOR OVER 50 years. I was also a born in. I want to first say that I am so glad that Matt is still with us. Secondly, this is one of the BEST INTERVIEW that I have ever heard. The absolute ACCURACY OF HOW THIS DOOMSDAY CULT TREATS PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CULT'S LEADERSHIP ARE VERY SINISTER AND WICKED. ESPECIALLY TEACHING AND TRAINING THE RANK AND FILE TO BE NARCISSISTIC, CONTROLLING, PREDATORY AND CRUEL. MATT, I TRULY AM SO GLAD THAT YOU SPOKE OUT AND YOU ARE IN A BETTER PLACE AND HAVE MADE REAL FRIENDS AND YOU HAVE YOUR MOTHER BACK. YOU ARE PHENOMENAL MAN...SERIOUSLY. PLEASE TELL YOUR STORY EVERY CHANCE YOU CAN. THE MORE YOU TELL YOUR STORY, THE MORE YOU CAN HELP OTHERS AND SAVE LIVES. WATCHTOWER WILL PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THIS DOOMSDAY CULT WILL BE SHUT DOWN.
Tammy G, it’s hard to find words to respond to such a nice comment. First, THANK YOU!! 😊 Your comment has articulated such an accurate description of the organization being narcissistic controlling predatory and cruel. Since leaving I have never been happier and it is excellent to have a community of people like yourself that understand the difficulty of leaving the cult. Best wishes to you!
@@craiglittle7367 It was th shouts that brought down the walls of Jericho...and we have been marching around the Watchtower, now we are SHOUTING, and the walls are coming down!
So very sad story. My own story of leaving the jws is loaded with hypocrisy, shunning and pain. I started my life over with my husband leaving at the same time. with 2 children. The thought that it was really a blessing to be free helped us to cope. No one, even my best friends would even check on us. We were not disfellowshipped but shunned anyway for not going to meetings. Nearly 30 years later I still have pain from the experience of being with the jws for 12 years. My children who were 7 and 14 when we left, still resent that they were ever exposed to it. My daughter still dispises me for it.
I am a Substance Abuse Counselor and I studied with an elder and his wife who were pioneers for a couple of years. When we talked about disfellowshipping I brought up how shunning someone with an addiction would be harmful and detrimental. Taking that individuals support system from them would only send them deeper into their addiction. With their support system still present,they have a better chance at recovery. He didn’t say anything and neither did his wife but I hope the elder considers it when he presides over his next judicial committee.
Waaaw I am so inspired by you Matt! You are so courageous! I was also a born in an left when I was 42…I made the decision to leave since I asked myself only 1 question: Will I be able to shun my children? The answer was absolutely NOT! Since then my real life started and my whole family couldn’t have been happier!
Matt, thoroughly enjoyed this interview! Very articulate, & could identify with much of the feelings & doubts you experienced. Thank you for your transparency & sharing. No doubt this will help many! 🥰
My mother also used that emotional blackmail (hopefully as a coping mechanism, not out of spite) of "you're just like you're father" when I was nothing like him in action/personality. I just was not taking her contradictory and inconsistent panic attacks.
There has been so much damage done by people trying to reach what is unreachable by design. Watchtower is just using the same old religion formula. They just put their own spin on it. You can never do enough or be enough. You could never reach the pinnacle or goal because in reality there is nothing to reach. You get assigned your own figurative treadmill and you're supposed to keep running on it until you die. Not knowing the real purpose is to turn the generator connected to that treadmill which is used to send power to watchtower. Like the movie The Matrix all you are is a disposable battery. The second your charge is gone. They will throw you out and replace you with another one.
I always thought of something a respected lawyer and friend once told me. Adversity builds character . I face every life challenge with that in mind. Glad you have succeeded in becoming a wonderful person in spite of the adversities from the Watchtower world . BTDT
Mild adversity with enough security builds character. Too much of nothing means youbwill hurt without realizing you're hurting others. It's a small but important caveat.
You guys are excellent Great interview skills I FELT everything you said I felt your excitement and your heartache as you were describing it! Great work!
Being born in I don't remember anything thing good about the watchtower society , just boredom and the feeling of being ostracized in school.Nothing holy in this cult imo just division in families friends and community
When I was in org. I would always hear how some elders were the pillar of the congregation but were very abusive to their own families , I guess the pressure that was placed upon them but hypocritical at the same time . Great video ❤
The eight governing body member's belong in jail for those who have died from not excepting blood and for the shunning policy. I'm so happy that you are awake. Live your happiest best life. That's the best revenge. Thank you Matt for sharing your story with us viewers.
I've noticed that some abuse victims, especially those abused by parents, turn to religion. I wonder if they are seeking that caring parental figure (God) that was absent in their lives.
That can certainly be part of it for some. Many people that turn to a cult like the JWs are searching for community, purpose, and certainty, things they didn't have in some sort of dysfunctional upbringing or situational trauma. There's also an escape component to something like the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. "Throw your burden on Jehovah" is a popular scriptural refrain. If you have something painful in your life, don't look at it, don't try to get help for it, just throw it on something bigger than you. Being involved in a cult takes up your every waking moment. JWs are compulsive in their service. Even on vacation they have to get a bump, so to speak, and attend meetings. It consumes their every thought and dominates their every desire. They have turned over their minds, hearts, and traumas to a cult instead of drugs or alcohol or sex or whatever other escape one might use. They lose all objectivity with it. So yes, when you feel small because you've been hurt, it can be easy to look for something that you feel is bigger than you that takes you out of the feelings you have. As a JW you don't have to fix your problems, just pray and let Jehovah do it. Got trauma? Just ignore it until Armageddon and let Jehovah wipe it all away. They love a verse in Revelation 21:3,4 (if my distanced memory has it correct) where god will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more. There's no reason to handle your own pain, let someone else do it for you and just stay busy busy busy in Jehovah's service so that you don't have to do any real work on yourself or on moving forward in a truly meaningful way.
For me the religion gave me an escape from home life and something to look forward to. I too longed for the day that my tears would be wiped by a god I was sacrificing everything for, until I realized I was only pleasing a group of men who were controlling my life.
I believe that was the case with why my mother joined the Org. Plus there was all of those pictures and articles about how to have a wholesome family life.
I can identify with Matt in so many ways. People pleasing to make up for the bad family rep...abuse from dysfunctional parent...turning down worldly opportunities...being perfect (or trying)...I hope he's doing ok now.
Bethelites do not have a heavier load of responsibilities and tasks than rank and file JWs. As a parent you are not only working full time and raising children , studying for all meetings, field service, studying with your children, five meetings a eeek, commuting to one’s job, laundry, cooking, dishes, house work, caring for lawn and yard, helping kids with home work, Bible reading, and more-we don’t have people who clean for us or do our laundry or cook for us, er,.
@@carolthornley1265 exactly ! No pay. All KH maintenance and circuit assembly and district convention upkeep , maintenance, etc. was entirely volunteer labor.
@@carolthornley1265 cheeky! haha! Yeah, I remember driving 1,5 hours each way to clean disgusting bathrooms of sports stadium and peel gum off of chairs, etc. in preparation for the privilege of attending the convention --for 4 freaking days. I miss nothing about being JW. Nothing.
The recruitment technique the Watchtower uses is a monological discursive presentation usually reserved for the math and sciences in Academia. They present conjecture and speculation as facts and truths, eg… “when Jesus was enthroned as king in 1914”. Thus it vanquishes any room for expressing one’s feelings and understanding, or expressing a different viewpoint. The results are Unity from revealed Truth! In recent years, this discourse is projected from their headquarters with elaborate stages, western style business suits and high tech video presentations and emotive background music. Speak with authority and tug on the emotions. Sounds like a winning combination.
That is totally fu-ed!! Wow! You are so awesome! Don’t let anyone tell you anything else. I struggle with an addictive personality too. I completely understand. It galls me that the elders have no understanding of mentally ill people. The elders have no training or education regarding mental health. Dad might need counseling. I know it’s frowned upon but he should do it anyway
'Window cleaners in suits' That was the description I think describes them best. I, for a long time believed that the elders' counsel and advice was guidance from Jehovah. I left the organisation back in the 90s and got married some years later. Then my wife died suddenly in 2007. That was like an amputation. The JW idea that you get them back in the reserection does not cut it. The pain is NOW and it's very real. Do you tell someone with a broken leg: "Don't worry, carry on, it will get better. Why are you complaining of the pain?" And the reserection? Even if it did happen, I am not the same person and, as each day passes, I change. We won't even be married. But, it left me with an autistic son and a schizophrenic stepdaughter. How well did the JW ideas help in dealing with them? None, zero, nada. I've spent a ton of time meeting people in psychatric hospitals. People who have trouble with who and what they are need serious professional help. The psychologists all suggested that I get some professional training in helping my children. That much would have been frowed upon by the JWs. Best thing I ever did. It's no ticket to a cure for them but, I do have working strategies when either of them get into difficulty.
G-Job is slang for government paid money. All outside income if it adds up would be taxed. The money that is “stipend” at Bethel doesn’t amount to enough to declare in taxes. But that’s how they catch people off guard when they leave - like he mentioned there is no SS money for anyone who leaves bethel usually if they’ve been there for a long time. ☹️
The number of people that hang in there because watchtower promised them they will be able to see their dead loved ones. Wonder where that would be in a seance? They have no shame. The perfect fairy tale for vulnerable distracted people.
The Truman Show (alternate reality), The Borg (assimilation and lack of identity), and the Stasi (report friends and family for wrongdoing)... Characteristics of "God's" organization?!
Your reactions are so odd. You react in wrong places and stop the speaker on the wrong note. The guy mentioned about the number of the died people - but you have no reaction to that. Then you start lecturing on and on not letting the speaker express himself. Maybe you should learn how to do a proper interview.
An elder once told me "if you want to be disillusioned just do a year at bethel". I hate institutional military type living so would never want that kind of life. When I was in there was this young black couple that got accepted to Bethel, they were all smiles. They came back for a visit 6 months later and besides her losing a lot of weight the one thing I noticed was that the smiles were fake. Something was wrong and now I realize they saw the org for what is really is "a business" run by fools.
@jeffrey wedekind After spending 10 years in Bethel I have to agree with you. You slowly lose all personality and become like a structured robot programmed to serve the cults interests at all costs.
@@matthewmauldin3583 Well the good news (no pun intended) is you got out. I was in as a child and rebelled and went to college, I came close to drinking the Kool-Aid and now at 60 I would be penniless if I did (praying doesn't pay the bills, it might get you a bookbag but that's it). The GB have ruined so many lives and condemned countless others to a retirement of poverty. I came back in the early 90's and married a pioneer sister and my marriage was a nightmare. Of course she was abused as a child by her step-father elder, anointed by holy spirit while he was abusing her. Religion is a fraud, there is no real truth out there just a confusing book that nobody can agree on. Like Voltaire said "more people are fooled by hope than by deceit"
@@rockpadstudios my brother in law wanted to prove Holy Spirit had nothing to do with being appointed so he shmuzzed the elders jumped Thru the hoops and was made a ministerial servant within months. His father was an elder. And he soon was made an elder. He then came out and said he had been attending the Catholic Church the whole time and that he proved his point and left! It was favoritism and charisma not Holy Spirit.
@@fadedglory1045 It's crazy to think that the drunk Rutherford was able to poke the authorities in the eye and get a predictable jail term and then turn around and say he fulfilled bible prophesy. Therefore we have the truth. They delivered this nonsense very well years ago but the enemy of a false profit is time and with 1914 come and gone its clear they are frauds. Maybe you could say they uncovered some basic truths like god and jesus are not the same being but anyone spending day in and day out studying can see these things. It's just the Catholics and Baptistes don't really care about the accuracy of the teachings just that it pulls people in with a consistent doctrine which they only change if they have to. My ex-wife's elder step father was appointed an elder while he was sexually abusing her. How's that for appointed by holy spirit. Her life as a life long JW was sad and filled with poverty and misery. She still defends it blindly since at this point in her life she might as well finish it to the end.
"a business" run by fools. AND CLOWNS
I grew up with bone crushing loneliness, the rejection, the feelings of despair. I went through that alone in a small town. I came close to not wanting to live anymore but never did reach a point of wanting to kill myself. For those out there that have been abused by religion please reach out and get help. The advances in mental health in the last 20 years is truly amazing. These video's also let you know you are not alone - I always felt I was alone and it was just me. Now looking back 1000's went through the same fear, obligation, and guilt (FOG). Light will dissipate the FOG with time.
I was a JW FOR OVER 50 years. I was also a born in. I want to first say that I am so glad that Matt is still with us. Secondly, this is one of the BEST INTERVIEW that I have ever heard. The absolute ACCURACY OF HOW THIS DOOMSDAY CULT TREATS PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CULT'S LEADERSHIP ARE VERY SINISTER AND WICKED. ESPECIALLY TEACHING AND TRAINING THE RANK AND FILE TO BE NARCISSISTIC, CONTROLLING, PREDATORY AND CRUEL. MATT, I TRULY AM SO GLAD THAT YOU SPOKE OUT AND YOU ARE IN A BETTER PLACE AND HAVE MADE REAL FRIENDS AND YOU HAVE YOUR MOTHER BACK. YOU ARE PHENOMENAL MAN...SERIOUSLY. PLEASE TELL YOUR STORY EVERY CHANCE YOU CAN. THE MORE YOU TELL YOUR STORY, THE MORE YOU CAN HELP OTHERS AND SAVE LIVES. WATCHTOWER WILL PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THIS DOOMSDAY CULT WILL BE SHUT DOWN.
Tammy G, it’s hard to find words to respond to such a nice comment. First, THANK YOU!! 😊 Your comment has articulated such an accurate description of the organization being narcissistic controlling predatory and cruel. Since leaving I have never been happier and it is excellent to have a community of people like yourself that understand the difficulty of leaving the cult. Best wishes to you!
Why are you yelling?
@@craiglittle7367
It was th shouts that brought down the walls of Jericho...and we have been marching around the Watchtower, now we are SHOUTING, and the walls are coming down!
@@mattmurdock2868
Shouting hate and lies!
@@craiglittle7367
Proclaiming victory over Watchtower, and freedom to the "slaves" of false god, "Jehovah."
So very sad story. My own story of leaving the jws is loaded with hypocrisy, shunning and pain. I started my life over with my husband leaving at the same time. with 2 children. The thought that it was really a blessing to be free helped us to cope. No one, even my best friends would even check on us. We were not disfellowshipped but shunned anyway for not going to meetings. Nearly 30 years later I still have pain from the experience of being with the jws for 12 years. My children who were 7 and 14 when we left, still resent that they were ever exposed to it. My daughter still dispises me for it.
First...can't wait to hear his entire story. Its so good that so many are leaving and waking up.
First. (If Tammy G deletes her comment for her brother in Jehovah's organization) 😁
Thank you for your story. I had a good cry for you. I’m so glad that you are now free and ALIVE!
@jessie Berle thank you so much! I’m living my best life now and I feel so free 😊
I am a Substance Abuse Counselor and I studied with an elder and his wife who were pioneers for a couple of years. When we talked about disfellowshipping I brought up how shunning someone with an addiction would be harmful and detrimental. Taking that individuals support system from them would only send them deeper into their addiction. With their support system still present,they have a better chance at recovery. He didn’t say anything and neither did his wife but I hope the elder considers it when he presides over his next judicial committee.
If no one can really be themselves, how can relationships have any depth - that's a powerful statement from around 2:06:00
Lovely man. They’re such scammers getting him to work like that for free
Waaaw I am so inspired by you Matt! You are so courageous! I was also a born in an left when I was 42…I made the decision to leave since I asked myself only 1 question: Will I be able to shun my children? The answer was absolutely NOT! Since then my real life started and my whole family couldn’t have been happier!
Sending love from Australia Matt!
What a story!!
Matt, thoroughly enjoyed this interview! Very articulate, & could identify with much of the feelings & doubts you experienced. Thank you for your transparency & sharing. No doubt this will help many! 🥰
My mother also used that emotional blackmail (hopefully as a coping mechanism, not out of spite) of "you're just like you're father" when I was nothing like him in action/personality. I just was not taking her contradictory and inconsistent panic attacks.
There has been so much damage done by people trying to reach what is unreachable by design. Watchtower is just using the same old religion formula. They just put their own spin on it. You can never do enough or be enough. You could never reach the pinnacle or goal because in reality there is nothing to reach. You get assigned your own figurative treadmill and you're supposed to keep running on it until you die. Not knowing the real purpose is to turn the generator connected to that treadmill which is used to send power to watchtower. Like the movie The Matrix all you are is a disposable battery. The second your charge is gone. They will throw you out and replace you with another one.
Ozie, such an accurate description!
@@matthewmauldin3583 Thanks!
I always thought of something a respected lawyer and friend once told me. Adversity builds character . I face every life challenge with that in mind. Glad you have succeeded in becoming a wonderful person in spite of the adversities from the Watchtower world . BTDT
Mild adversity with enough security builds character. Too much of nothing means youbwill hurt without realizing you're hurting others. It's a small but important caveat.
You guys are excellent
Great interview skills
I FELT everything you said
I felt your excitement and your heartache as you were describing it!
Great work!
Being born in I don't remember anything thing good about the watchtower society , just boredom and the feeling of being ostracized in school.Nothing holy in this cult imo just division in families friends and community
Shunned podcast, you did a great job interviewing Matt. Ty
Thank you! :)
What A Liberating Conversation!!!Thanks For This Interview...Feeling lighter, brighter and free:)
@Love, & SPARKLE! Thank you so much! I’m living my best life now 😊
@@matthewmauldin3583 :) I LOVE THAT For You!!!:) Freeedom From The LIE!!!
Congrats on leaving this cult, thank u for sharing your story.
wonderful talk 😊
When I was in org. I would always hear how some elders were the pillar of the congregation but were very abusive to their own families , I guess the pressure that was placed upon them but hypocritical at the same time . Great video ❤
Elders did a number on my brother. He didn’t like us as a family. So he convince my brother and I that Jehovah just doesn’t want you.
wow, that's 😫
sick I ment
I just subbed! I can’t wait to listen.
Thanks for another great interview. Appreciate the life story.
Thanks! I like your name on here! :)
The eight governing body member's belong in jail for those who have died from not excepting blood and for the shunning policy. I'm so happy that you are awake. Live your happiest best life. That's the best revenge. Thank you Matt for sharing your story with us viewers.
And the csa
Great job ,my the lord keep blessing you the way he is doing
I've noticed that some abuse victims, especially those abused by parents, turn to religion. I wonder if they are seeking that caring parental figure (God) that was absent in their lives.
That can certainly be part of it for some. Many people that turn to a cult like the JWs are searching for community, purpose, and certainty, things they didn't have in some sort of dysfunctional upbringing or situational trauma.
There's also an escape component to something like the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. "Throw your burden on Jehovah" is a popular scriptural refrain. If you have something painful in your life, don't look at it, don't try to get help for it, just throw it on something bigger than you. Being involved in a cult takes up your every waking moment. JWs are compulsive in their service. Even on vacation they have to get a bump, so to speak, and attend meetings. It consumes their every thought and dominates their every desire. They have turned over their minds, hearts, and traumas to a cult instead of drugs or alcohol or sex or whatever other escape one might use. They lose all objectivity with it.
So yes, when you feel small because you've been hurt, it can be easy to look for something that you feel is bigger than you that takes you out of the feelings you have. As a JW you don't have to fix your problems, just pray and let Jehovah do it. Got trauma? Just ignore it until Armageddon and let Jehovah wipe it all away. They love a verse in Revelation 21:3,4 (if my distanced memory has it correct) where god will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more. There's no reason to handle your own pain, let someone else do it for you and just stay busy busy busy in Jehovah's service so that you don't have to do any real work on yourself or on moving forward in a truly meaningful way.
For me the religion gave me an escape from home life and something to look forward to. I too longed for the day that my tears would be wiped by a god I was sacrificing everything for, until I realized I was only pleasing a group of men who were controlling my life.
@@shunnedpodcast - thanks for that explanation, it covers a lot of religious life.
I believe that was the case with why my mother joined the Org.
Plus there was all of those pictures and articles about how to have a wholesome family life.
I am shunned w/o a disfellowshipping. I have no family in this org and used to feel bad about that. Now I feel sorry for PIMOs with family in. Yikes.
I can identify with Matt in so many ways. People pleasing to make up for the bad family rep...abuse from dysfunctional parent...turning down worldly opportunities...being perfect (or trying)...I hope he's doing ok now.
I liken this to the devil chewing you up then spitting you out. This organization is pure evil.
Bethelites do not have a heavier load of responsibilities and tasks than rank and file JWs. As a parent you are not only working full time and raising children , studying for all meetings, field service, studying with your children, five meetings a eeek, commuting to one’s job, laundry, cooking, dishes, house work, caring for lawn and yard, helping kids with home work, Bible reading, and more-we don’t have people who clean for us or do our laundry or cook for us, er,.
@@carolthornley1265 exactly ! No pay. All KH maintenance and circuit assembly and district convention upkeep , maintenance, etc. was entirely volunteer labor.
@@carolthornley1265 cheeky! haha!
Yeah, I remember driving 1,5 hours each way to clean disgusting bathrooms of sports stadium and peel gum off of chairs, etc. in preparation for the privilege of attending the convention --for 4 freaking days. I miss nothing about being JW. Nothing.
The recruitment technique the Watchtower uses is a monological discursive presentation usually reserved for the math and sciences in Academia. They present conjecture and speculation as facts and truths, eg… “when Jesus was enthroned as king in 1914”. Thus it vanquishes any room for expressing one’s feelings and understanding, or expressing a different viewpoint. The results are Unity from revealed Truth! In recent years, this discourse is projected from their headquarters with elaborate stages, western style business suits and high tech video presentations and emotive background music. Speak with authority and tug on the emotions. Sounds like a winning combination.
What kinda friends did you have that had not seen you in 4 days & didn't come check on you?
Amazing, well done!!
That is totally fu-ed!! Wow! You are so awesome! Don’t let anyone tell you anything else. I struggle with an addictive personality too. I completely understand. It galls me that the elders have no understanding of mentally ill people. The elders have no training or education regarding mental health. Dad might need counseling. I know it’s frowned upon but he should do it anyway
'Window cleaners in suits' That was the description I think describes them best.
I, for a long time believed that the elders' counsel and advice was guidance from Jehovah. I left the organisation back in the 90s and got married some years later. Then my wife died suddenly in 2007.
That was like an amputation. The JW idea that you get them back in the reserection does not cut it. The pain is NOW and it's very real. Do you tell someone with a broken leg: "Don't worry, carry on, it will get better. Why are you complaining of the pain?"
And the reserection? Even if it did happen, I am not the same person and, as each day passes, I change. We won't even be married.
But, it left me with an autistic son and a schizophrenic stepdaughter. How well did the JW ideas help in dealing with them? None, zero, nada.
I've spent a ton of time meeting people in psychatric hospitals. People who have trouble with who and what they are need serious professional help. The psychologists all suggested that I get some professional training in helping my children. That much would have been frowed upon by the JWs. Best thing I ever did. It's no ticket to a cure for them but, I do have working strategies when either of them get into difficulty.
G-Job is slang for government paid money. All outside income if it adds up would be taxed. The money that is “stipend” at Bethel doesn’t amount to enough to declare in taxes. But that’s how they catch people off guard when they leave - like he mentioned there is no SS money for anyone who leaves bethel usually if they’ve been there for a long time. ☹️
Hope all is still going well for you.
I spent years working out of Bethel Alaska (after I was POMO) and I can say as crappy as Bethel Alaska was it was still better than Brooklyn Bethel.
The number of people that hang in there because watchtower promised them they will be able to see their dead loved ones. Wonder where that would be in a seance? They have no shame. The perfect fairy tale for vulnerable distracted people.
"I flew back to Cleveland"
And now I got Tupac stuck in my head.
The Truman Show (alternate reality), The Borg (assimilation and lack of identity), and the Stasi (report friends and family for wrongdoing)... Characteristics of "God's" organization?!
You go make new friends outside the JW org. Plus you go get therapy 🙂
Your reactions are so odd. You react in wrong places and stop the speaker on the wrong note. The guy mentioned about the number of the died people - but you have no reaction to that. Then you start lecturing on and on not letting the speaker express himself. Maybe you should learn how to do a proper interview.