I have a friend who's an ex JW, and I told her how at a library I went to, there were some JWs outside. she warned me not to make eye contact or get to close because "they're like pokemon trainers" and I've never heard better words
My headcannon is that Sophia leaves the religion and goes to university and pursues a degree in a STEM field. Her brother hadn't spoken to her in years but ends up getting shunned after coming out of the closet and goes to live with his sister for a bit as he had nowhere to go.
@@thatfuzzypotato1877though the idea of her pursuing STEM seems to match a lot of the existing storylines, especially this episode. So i really like OP's theory
Sophia is such a bright empathetic kid. I know she's fictional but it breaks my heart seeing her in this life....but the good thing about her not being real is that her future can be whatever we imagine!
And their Dad was convicted of abusing the teenage girls and the Mom went to nursing home after her stroke she had from quietly doing drugs all thease years.
For some reason Sophia saying " at least your my friend" to her turtle really got me. That's like what movies will do to show how absolutely lonely and isolated a person is. And the worst part is, is that there was never a reason she had to feel that way. She had kids her own age BEGGING her to join them and participate in activities that would lead to friendships. She didn't need someone who is clearly older than her to be her sole friend even CLOSE to her age, but she wasn't allowed to have any. How messed up is that?
This is just one of the many ways cults cause harm, usually towards children that grow up and pass along their trauma. Dangerous cults that have a known history of child abuse or sexual assault should be banned and the aggressors is should be jailed.
And the saddest thing is that in reality the older girl will never be her friend, and she’ll be painfully lonely till she’ll escaped the cult. Or at least, that was exactly me and my story, like many others I’ve heard between ex JWs borned and raised with that lifestyle.
The only friends they seem to let Sophia have in this series are -An old lady from the Hall (who dies later) -A teenage/close to adult age girl -Any child from her school she can preach to, until they show any sign of straying or doing something Sophia can't, then all of a sudden they're not her friends. (Like Zoe. They became friends after Sophia used Zoe' grandma's death to preach Jehovah to her, then she was seen reading the pamphlets with her and asking about him in other episodes)
Yes, let’s make jokes about the creator of heaven, earth, hell, and our bodies, spirit, and soul…because that’s gonna to work out well for us. The utter ignorance of these clowns. 😊
As a former JW- Mostly, yes. If you're any shade away from their perfect 1950s family image you're gonna have a bad time. ...But the worst part was that if you played along, it was pretty nice in some ways. A whole bunch of us all got together for pizza and volleyball on Sundays. Other JWs seriously were "nice" wherever you went. There was a real sense of community, which is always a great and insidious thing.
Sophia: "I'm not going to join the science club". Mom and dad: "we're so proud of you". How messed up is that? They're making it out to be like she decided not to hang out with 9 year old meth heads. But no, it's an enriching science club, a subject she is good at. Nooooo, dont do things you're good at! Or fun! Or academic!Thats terrible! You know, my husband excelled at running track and wrestling in his p.e. classes. The teachers wanted him to join the teams, but, being the faithful jw, he wasnt allowed. Its absolutely ridiculous and deprives children.
And its not like they showed the kids as doing something bad or being mean to her like their Bible story. It was just 'you're good at science. It'll be fun!'. Jehovah was never involved nor did they go 'no,skip the meetings! Come with us!' But they actively encourage her to be friends with someone much older because 'oh she loves Jehovah too!' (not like thats how grooming can start)
I agree. Also just because some kids are into science, it doesn't mean they're atheists. And even if they were, I disagree with the statement according to which she shouldn't be their friend
I think making your kids this isolated and not letting them participate in anything outside of the cult is child abuse. It's already hard enough to make friends but when given an opportunity, not being allowed to be friends with anyone from school is just heartbreaking.
And sadly, in most cases, it would be considered abuse. Just not when it's religious like this. If you kept a child locked in isolation in a house, never allowed to experience the outside world, you would rightly be charged with neglect. But when they're physically allowed out, we seem to ignore the emotional isolation coming from religious, even when we warn against it in domestic abuse. It's been scientifically proven that isolation negatively impacts children's development. But when it comes from religion, too many excuse it.
Yep. I was brainwashed Roman Catholic as a child, and while I was perfectly allowed to make friends outside the religion, it was really hard when we had nothing in common. I still remember being laughed at in elementary school when asked who my favorite SpongeBob character was. Because I replied "What's SpongeBob?". I couldn't join in during conversations at lunch because I had no idea what they were talking about. And I was just told that it ok, I'd always have friends at church. And it was made very very clear that while friends were perfectly fine, I should never date a man who wasn't Catholic. And I listen very well because I'm not in a relationship with a non Catholic man, I'm in a relationship with a non Catholic woman. 😂
It's wild that JWs and other staunch religious folk don't want to be 'of the world' but still use tax-funded schools, and make their kids constantly confront their social isolation. They use congregant's kids like fishing lures- they don't care if the lure has feelings and are being devastated all the time. That just gives them a chance to push confirmation bias on the kids.
I’m ex mormon. The thought of a child being disfellowshipped is appalling. That parents would willingly shun a child is appalling. I intensely abhor organized religion. It does the most disgusting things in the name of their deity.
i "shun" people for one reason, when they treat me with no respect and step over to abuse.. but that is a normal legit social reason to make that choice.
shunning happens in loads of places, and doesn't always involve religion. I've been shunned myself in the workplace, and have seen others be shunned as well, albeit to a much, MUCH less extreme degree than Jehovah's Witnesses do. Not trying to justify it, just wanted to say that it's not purely a religious concept
I am a Christian, I met my first JW the day she was shund and left over 100 miles from her home at 16. She was crying not knowing what to do, being British the first thing I did was get her a cup of tea. I to was 16 and we helped each other it was great. When she turned 24 the JW tried to blackmailed her to go back sadly she killed herself. That was 40 years ago a still miss her her name was Sarah
I am so sorry. Sarah (and you) deserved so much better. The hole that she has left in your heart shows just how special she was. Thank you for telling your story, and thank you for being there for Sarah.
@@daisychain3007 hi thanks for the message, the police and my grandad helped, we both went to college and she trained as a hairdresser me in catering, I called my daughter Sarah in her honor she was such a kind person.
Once knew a Jehovah's Witness who was soooooooooo damaged I really think he'd become unstable, if not border line with with a personality disorder. His parents forced him to go every meet whether sick or not. He had to go house to house on Saturday mornings, etc., etc. At the end he left. Got kicked out of the congregation then his home and lost everything. Cruel. unchristian, and really, really ODD.
There are many of these Witnesses who have mental health issues, are there are many who commit suicide . Parents who subject their children to this Cult should be ashamed and then charged with child Abuse.
Not just poor Sophia, but that lady they showed enjoying coffee with her coworkers reminded me so much of an abusive relationships the abuser isolates you and makes you depend on them. That really hurt my heart
And the horrible thing is that eventually Sophia will have to take part in shunning someone, and hating gay people she knows and stuff like that. But that will be different. When other people treat JWs like crap that's terrible. But when JWs treat gay people like crap, they're just being good little JWs. That bitch of a mother telling Sophia that people aren't always nice to people who are different made me sick. What right does she have when she tutored Sophia on how to lecture a schoolmate on how her two mothers were going to hell?
It seems nearly everyone even vaguely based on the xtian bible has the mantra "rules for thee, but not for me". Then they have the audacity to walk around with pompous airs and a pocket full of bigotry.
Dang... I'm not a JW, but I know the feeling of childhood loneliness and rejection intimately. I can't imagine being gaslit into the twisted, warped psychology of thinking that it was a good thing. This isolation is legitimate child abuse.
I had a friend in elementary school who was a Jahovah's Witness. I invited her to a sleepover I came up with on a whim. She asked me if it was to celebrate anything, it wasn't, but she still wasn't able to come over. Now, after watching these videos I'm starting to understand why.
Cause we aren’t allowed to be friends with non JWs. It was NOT you. It wasn’t even her. Her parents wouldn’t let her because of “bad association”. I was JW in elementary school and it was horrendous because I had nobody.
@@bethany45101Damn, at least in my Born Again family(almost called them New Borns for some reason😂) at least I could have non religious friends. It wasn't wholeheartedly encouraged but since mingling with non Christians you potentially had a window to preach them!
JFC, that is so insidious. Almost like undercover agents. "Go out and make some 'friends' so that you can convert them. Give them a false sense of security so they let their guard down."
I used to have a friend who had escaped from this cult. Unfortunately, she then fell victim to another cult (The anti-vax one). I think that without professional therapy, people who escape one cult can still be at risk of other cults. It's hard to shake off such deeply ingrained mental conditioning
As a former member of the JWs, I absolutely agree. Lots of current JWs are involved in MLMs and scams because of the cult brain. Definitely recommend professional help shedding that mindset and for help to learn to think critically.
Everyone is at risk of getting sucked into a cult, but yes, those who are cult survivors are absolutely more at risk. The biggest risk for getting tricked by a cult is assuming you're too ___ to be manipulated by them. People who say things like they're "too smart to fall for that" are more at risk to overlook the red flags.
most people who join cults have a "cult mentality" aka they follow and believe anything no matter how strange or dumb it is. Many do "cult jumping" and its very common in another cult, the flat earthers. The flat earthers isnt a cult in that way but the way they think and act is the same as a cult. Many flat earthers have jumped between many different "theories" in their life. Some people prefer to live as a sheep while other cant stand the sheep life and live as the wolf. I am the wolf and i think and use my brain, knowledge is king and if you have knowledge you will make the best choices in life. Your kids wont always go the way you want, some of your kids may even choose to join JW when they grow up but you cant force your kids to join against their will. You have to give your kids the right to make a choice of their own but you can educate them and tell them what they choose if they join JW or similar.. When they are 18 they can make any choice they want but they need to have the freedom when they are children or they will develop mental issues.
Actually, it's just as cult to think "anti vax" is not alright. A real medical treatment that is not a cult will not require social pressure and force to do. If someone does or does not choose to get any medical procedure including a vaccine is none of my business. If you get it and it works as advertised you're protected so why hate people outside your beliefs? (Please note I had most of my vaccines but someone who choses not to doesn't bother me)
Two teenage JW girls were forced to be my "friend" (they probably felt more like babysitters lol) when I was like, 9, and they secretly watched One Piece with me lmaoooo
they also have strange facial proportions and sometimes bags under their eyes, whereas the JW children are clean looking, proportionate, and happier looking. propaganda at its finest.
I spent 90% of my childhood embarrassed at every turn. I was truly unhappy, very quiet and never said anything questionable to my parents. While young, I focused on surviving Armagedson and hoping for "the end" to come. While very young, I remember thinking frequently how I just wanted to stay in bed to hide. Then, as I headed toward High School and teenage years, my inside voice I kept to myself was horrific, I just wanted to die. I couldnt think about college and simply was trying to find happiness. Not for me! Nope. I wanted to join the armed forces just to get away. But I was too afraid at the time and thought, "Armageddon will be here soon." Nope. Now I am free, after a long long story, and find help from videos like this
When I was in fifth grade, we had a gift exchange at school the last day before the break. I forgot to tell my parents about it and showed up empty handed that day as a result. The amount of scorn and ridicule I received that day was bad enough that I distinctly remember it 50 years later. And that was just 1 day out of my entire childhood. I can't imagine living through that ostracism on every holiday and birthday. Or even on a daily basis if kids think you're weird anyway. Cults are child abuse.
Sadly it refers to something I was saying earlier: take the worst thing a human can do, and it will bd frowned upon. Add a religious label on it, it's now tolerable, if not outright encouraged!
@@abosier This goes without saying, but they shouldn't have the right to persecute people, especially children. Aside from the all the unreasonnable accommodations they have, I wonder how many laws are broken in the name of WT. Daily.
Is it bad to say that I want an episode where Sophia, Caleb, or both talk to another of their school friend into their beliefs, that friend would go home, tell their parents about it saying it was interesting, only for the parents go to their house and tell them angrily how wrong it is that their making their kids try to corrupt other kids? As a Christian believer, I feel really heartbroken for hundreds of kids being corrupted into this cult and damaging their minds, not only that, but destroying them if they get kicked out for the smallest reason. They’re not helping at all, they’re damaging people emotionally, mentally, and socially.
Think carefully about your statement near the end and how you feel about others. Because the fact that your a Christian believer means that many think the same things about you. It always feels different when it’s your own belief structure that is considered. When I was a jw I felt sorry for the other so called Christian’s that didn’t know the truth. Heartbroken that they were wasting time with there prayers and there corrupt way of thinking
I wish someone had questioned the toxic christian beliefs I was raised in. I wanted out by the time I was nine, but I had to play pretend for the adults. Having an adult also call the bs I was feeling would have been life changing for the better as a kid.
@@Izzy-cp8yt I am an adult myself, but have no children, though I am sickened by the way some adults dismiss children's feelings as nonsense. Once upon a time, they were children themselves. How did they feel when an adult dismissed their feelings as nonsense?
@@masterhypnos6783 Cults of all denominations ruin people's lives. I do not know whether Jehovah's Witnesses do it, but I heard of cult leaders who even make you hand over your debit or credit cards to them.
When I was in, my daughter was 5 and got picked to do a part on the stage at the Kingdom Hall. The elder who chose her to do it hyped her all up and she was so excited. We had missed a couple meetings in a row due to illness (if you have a family you know when 1 person is sick it works it’s way through the whole family) and the evening of her part, the elder emailed me and said he didn’t feel like it was appropriate to use my daughter because the part is for exemplary congregation members. (I still have the email still if anyone wants proof) I know this isn’t the same vein as the video but it just goes to show you that they don’t actually care about kids. They want you to feel bad and feel guilty, even if you’re 5 🙃
@@brentsheltz6473 My guess is failure to attend meetings = "immoral". I was raised evangelical, and I learned young that complaining in any way about being dragged to church every Sunday at the crack of dawn to spend hours hating my life was basically equivalent to saying I wanted to pew pew the local school. Saying I didn't want to go to church, didn't like church, found it boring, didn't like my bible, etc was basically the worst thing I could have said as a 8yo, and it was a personal moral failing.
@@AnikMonetteYou can then sue others which are not that much better. Almost every religion can become a cult if it is goes too far. It is fine for those who are happy in that cult. It is also fine for adults who work alone and do not have to face a work environment which makes them stand out. It only becomes a problem if the cult's beliefs and practices clash with the secular environments to which its followers are exposed. The Caleb and Sophia videos highlight this. Caleb and Sophia are not bad kids and do not mean to stand out in school. They are caught between adhering to their religious faith and fitting in to a secular school environment. In an ideal world, Caleb and Sophia would attend a Jehovah's Witness school, but this video is meant to show their struggles. Upnto a point, we are all tribal, Jehovah's Witnesses or not. We choose the friends that we do and do the things that we are comfortable doing (this should be the case,) but we have problems only when background and environment clash.
It's obvious WT is aware of the mental anguish they subject children to, who struggle with indifferences concerning school friends/acquaintances, yet they still put this propaganda out there for JW children and expect them to follow through with their doctrine. This is cruel and outright abuse, cause what choice does a JW child have but to obey what's expected of them. If their parents found out they didn't conform to the rules, there'll be hell to pay when they get home. 😢
Why back in 1970 I was in the 5th grade we had a boy in my class and he always had to put his head down on the desk that year I tried to sneak him some Valentine’s Day and he looked at me so sad and said he couldn’t it broke my heart and I still think about it now and then point is this kind of child abuse is going on today I feel so bad for the kids because they don’t have a voice and by the time they do they need counseling 😢
Reminds me of a neighbor who was a JW and begged her mom for a kitty we had up for adoption. I felt horrible, her mom was just not having it. I invited this kid to my birthday party and it was of course met with a really sad look. I felt so bad too because this kid moved in and had no one to talk to. She was 5 and I was like 7 or 8. Her parents would buy eggs from us and usually would trade with crafts around the neighborhood.
I was married and my husband became a witness. One night I was in bed trying to go t sleep. He kept saying that he could feel evil and he knew the devil was there. And then he said that the devil was laying right next to him. It was all down hill from there. We divorced, he left the cult and was shunned as an apostat. Later on he told me he didn't believe in God because he took away the women he loved. I couldn't get far enough away from him.
As someone who missed out on so many holidays and school trips because of JWs, saying that it sucked is an understatement. It still has left an impression on me as an adult, knowing I missed out on so much as a child because of these people
I was baptized catholic as a baby, but never confirmed until I was old enough to decide if I wanted to be confirmed, which I believe happened in my junior or senior year of high school. My dad was raised Catholic and wanted me to decide if I wanted to be Catholic myself. Not sure how things worked out for my peers, but I always appreciated that I got a choice and that I can spend time with my other religious or nonreligious friends without being looked down on or "shunned" by my family.
@@AnikMonette yeah, I'm not saying it's the perfect religion or the right one. I'm aware of some Catholic practices that I'm heavily against, but my conclusion was to come to being Catholic over another religion or be Atheist (since I personally believe in a God, but don't believe others should or have to). Plus, Catholicism does have a bit of paganism in its roots and I'm very intrigued in that religion. Not thinking of converting, but still interesting to read up on.
Yuhhh I'm southern Baptist and I could not immagine this. Unfortunately some older ppl still think some of theese things but for the most part it's nowhere NEAR this terrible or strict (personally I enjoy church & all)
@@AnikMonette I'm an atheist/agnostic but I agree. I went to a fairly progressive catholic school, they had teachers of all beliefs, took students on trips to NASA and emphasized the importance of STEM fields. I was even told not to take everything in the bible literally, that it is from another time so it has some things in it we don't do anymore, and that the message or lessons is more important. I was struck by that and how tolerant catholics can sometimes be in comparison to other christian denominations and especially the jehovah's witnesses my family escaped.
@ kit76149 I went to a Catholic school just like this too! Despite it being religious, there was lots of emphasis on science and reason. We did also get to choose whether or not we would be confirmed, however I think there was definitely a bit of peer pressure (at least in my case) to do it instead of waiting or choosing not to.
They frame it as "talking about it as a family" but you know the kids won't be allowed to disagree with the parents. It's more the parents talking at the kids and expecting them obey rather than "talking about it as a family."
I’ve used to have jehovah’s witnesses knocking on my door until I answered it whilst in military uniform. (I was Canadian Forces land reserve) . They went silent and went to the next apartment.
I grew up in the 80s and if i mentioned a friend at school Dad would say "you have acquaintances at school, your friends are at the Kingdom Hall." We did the family study thing, dad used the old Truth book. But when i got older and never got in trouble i would go play baseball and hockey and football with the kids from school and once in a great while even go to their home. Mom and Dad hardly ever knew where i was, or asked,i guess they trusted me, while my brother was always getting in trouble by hanging out with school kids too much. I also totally believed in JW so i kind of took pride in being different. I spent my ten year reunion apologizing to everybody for being such a dick. Anyway it's good to see some things haven't changed and JW kids are still told to take pride in being a weirdo.
The worst thing growing up as a JW was telling your teacher and classmates you can't celebrate holidays because of your religion. I was told I needed to tell them but I hated the feeling.
I grew up with kids who were Jehovahs Witness. My mom would put together a baggy of non holiday candy the day before our celebrations at school. I would hand it to them at lunch.
In highschool I had a friend that Grandparents were JW and was living with them at the time, I was invited to spend the night and then go to church with them. Her grandparents didn't believe in watching TV or radio, so we had to entertain ourselves. I went to the church the next day with them and just say it was the weirdest experience for a Catholic!
I can only imagine. Church was boring as a young Catholic, but Catholic churches usually have opulent artwork that is at least interesting to look at. But I once went to another dominations church as a kid with a friend (I forget which one. This was 27 years ago) and I just remembered being bored out of my skull. The walls were just white.
@@nativekaiOld Catholic churches are so beautiful! Say what you want about the religion itself (there is a lot to criticize), but the architects that design these churches know how to evoke the Divine and the Almighty.
@@KaraOfTheSea Another thing that was beneficial to going to a Catholic school that I had to learn Latin, not only because the place was run by nuns at the time, but alot of songs, prayers, even Mass were all in Latin.
Looking at the 'evil' kid Zoe has the choice of following, the animators really tried to cram in as much doctrine as possible, huh? She has dyed hair, and is wearing not only makeup, but a CHRISTMAS JUMPER! 😱😱😱 The horror!
Growing in JW sounds like such a lonely and sheltered childhood. 😢 Thank goodness i didn’t grow up in such a group .I can’t imagine not being allowed to go to your classmate’s birthday party or practice in valentine’s day. To anyone who was in this group as a kid …i am so sorry you had to live like that . I hope you have a better life outside of JW.
Thank you. It means a lot that people like yourself are taking the time to learn about the damage that has been done to cult survivors. We, as children, had no choice. Many of us carry crazy levels of trauma and really need people outside of cults to understand what and where we came from. It's so hard to fit in to a world that we were taught we were not a part of. People like you make it easier for people like me. Thank you.
appreciate this comment. life is extremely lonely, being shunned by everyone i knew for 25 years. but hopefully can only get better from here :) hope you’re doing well too 💓
That should honestly qualify as murder, denying a child life-saving medical care for “religion”. God wanted to save that child, that was the whole damn point of medical care in the first place
@@NotUselessProductionsthey don't allow blood transfusions. A minor exception is that some congregations allow doctors to collect the blood that person lost in surgery, clean it, and put it back into the same person. Special machines and surgery setups for that and everything
I'm not of legal age and my mother is in the Jehovah's witness organization and I never really fully believed it but in order to not displease the people in my life and all the people at my congregation and not be shunned I've been putting up a facade. I want to have relationships I want to talk to people and socialize but I can't do that because I feel like if I do that I'm eventually going to be disconnected from the side of my family that's involved in the organization
If they truly love you, they will understand. If you do leave, and they respond with hate, so be it. That’s their shortcoming, not yours. The vast majority of normal people will welcome you with open arms - you seem really nice to me. Btw, I escaped. Luckily, I persuaded my parents to leave too and got out early (age 7). I’m sure it probably only gets harder the older you get, so good luck and don’t leave it a moment longer - get out now! Love.
My best friend in grade 5 was a JW. His parents pulled him out halfway through and I never saw or heard from him again. I think of him often, and hope he’s okay. This was nearly 15 years ago. Super sad life for the children, constantly thinking of Armageddon, destruction and a vengeful god. I can’t imagine the pain and despair that would inflict.
Yup...no holidays, no birthdays, no celebrations, never hanging out with friends outside of school hours. It was crazy how different and much more lively my life was after my gma passed. None of us ever stepped foot in a KH again.
Especially at that age, a 6-7 year difference isn't just a cultural gap, there's a power dynamic as well. The older kid that she's looking to as a friend is likely to have a lot of sway over her. Probably the big reason they got paired together.
A very good friend of mine was a victim of this cult. She was disfellowed as a young teen and it led to a life on the street😪she took her own and her remaining family buried her like a dirty secret. Typical cult behaviour. We celebrated christmas and birthdays in secret. Not in exchanging gifts. She loved helping me shop, pick cards and wrap gifts. She was amazing at it.
My whole teen years was robbed from me. i left at 18. Going witnesssing and meetings with social anxiety at thst time was a huge struggle although i had no choice but to go otherwise the family would think im an apostate.. it was like a prisoner in ones mind..
@@wendyboles5960 that's how it feels.. I was even called apostate for doing nothing related to it like putting scriptures first... Fucken bullshit family I lived
same! when i had panic attacks my dad would tell me its because i wasn’t going out witnessing and praying enough… which made me have more panic attacks. so much fun :)
First time I see their new animation style... The sad expressions freak me out. The eyes in overall. I do like expressive animation, I think it's because of everything I know now about this cult it has this extra icky feeling to it.
I notice that evangelical media (for example) will often gloss over negative and ambivalent emotions, while the Sophia and Caleb series will portray the mom's brazen manipulativeness and the kids' chronic loneliness, alienation, and disappointment as totally normal and laudable. I mean, points for emotional honesty, I guess, but it's pretty twisted to admit with pride and joy that your religion makes people feel chronically bored, lonely, and isolated, and that parents have to strategically manipulate their children into keeping the faith.
Owen, I’m a Christian. Just a regular run-of-the-mill Christian and not a Christian nationalist lol. I can completely understand why you are now an atheist and I think it sucks big-time that you were treated so badly by your family and the Jehovah witness congregation. Hang in there sweetheart. I will continue to watch your videos. They’re very enlightening.❤️
Yes. When people have horrible religious experiences. Their decision to be a atheist is understandable even from a Christian perspective. I had a horrible experience with the Catholic Church and was on the verge of becoming a atheist until I actually witnessed the supernatural.
I was born and raised a Jehovah's witness, I wasn't allowed to associate non believers outside of school, I wasnt allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, and was constantly persecuted by my own parents simply for wanting to play basketball. The organization is oppressive and manipulative, they encourage families to excommunicate each other, discourage curiosity, and higher education in an effort to control its youngest members, regardless the lifetime ramifications for it's victims. I left my family five years ago, they refuse to speak to me, and all for what? Do they genuinely believe their unethical behavior guised as compassion will convince me their, their lifestyle, their beliefs, and divinely inspired? It's ludicrous...
Man this brings back so many old feelings. It's also crazy that I can still feel such guilt for certain things over 20 years later, as an adult. I remember being 14 or 15 and slowly starting to try and break away from the cult, but without being rebellious. A new JW family moved to our congregation and one of their daughters was in some of my classes in high school. One day in social studies, the topic of voting came up and the teacher discussed different religious views and said that JW was an odd one and then asked if there were any JW members in the class. I still vividly remember this girl putting her hand up and I just left her high and dry, and did not put my arm up. I was sick of being bullied or ridiculed or just questioned over beliefs I never had a choice in. I still feel guilty about it, as a near 40 year old who has been out for over 20 years. It's ridiculous haha
30:36 this part just took me back to highschool, when a dear friend of mine who recently became a JW broke up our friendship. She said "we cannot be friends anymore because your religion is wrong", and it absolutely broke my heart because I used to tell her how happy I was that she didn't let our different beliefs get in the way of our friendship and all... We never talked later on, even if we had the same friend group for a while. She only got more and more isolated after that. I've seen her only once when I was in my second year in university and she always seemed to be alone. Now I know it wasn't because it was a problem with me (or us), she was pretty much forced to be like that. I hope she is doing better now.
Damn! The pain, the discomfort, the confusion, as if childhood were not bad enough, but if this were put on top of it, I don't know if I could cope. Props to you and your "heart."
Tbh I sit out on the pledge of allegiance anyways, it’s a form of silent protest against everything wrong with this country, such as the broken education system, that a lot of people like to ignore.
No birthday parties and no Holiday Season gifts, parties, and celebrations? I just cannot even begin to imagine the horror it is to be a Jehovah's Witness kid!, f it were not for separation of church and state, as required under the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, I would want to have these kinds of crazy religious fanatic parents sent to prison for child abuse. I would much rather have been born into a nudist family, then be born into a Jehovah's Witness family, a Christian fundamentalist family, or any other kind of strict religious family! You can choose your friends. Unfortunately, you absolutely cannot choose your family!
I find it interesting how the woman in the office job even clarified that when she became more reserved with her female coworkers, she started to treat them as she would her male coworkers. All I know about JWs I have learned here, so I was wondering if you could talk more about how men and women are allowed to interact. It seems like JW men and women are not allowed to be friends. I've noticed a few things in the Caleb and Sophia videos that suggest that too. Do they have actual rules about how men and women are supposed to interact or is it just implied? I'm always advocating for gender equality, so this topic is very interesting to me. Thank you, I always enjoy your videos.
As far as wives go; the woman ( her mother ) and my friend who was a girl I spent the night with was married to a wondering eyes kind of man from India. They basically have talks outside the kitchen; nowhere else inside the home. She is treated like a wife stuck in the 1940, or 1950. The man does most of the talking. Women talk only to the Women and the Men talk only to the Men. Expected to go the JWH and if you don’t; You aren’t allowed back. The girl I speak of is of College age and was My bestie. The mom forbid me to return.
Yep, you got that correct: men and women can't be friends. There are two books (at least it was two books until a few years ago when i left the cult) that are specifically aimed at jw teenagers. They are divided in sections named like "family", "identity", "leisure time", "school" etc, and there was a section for sex and relationships. Basically, you are only allowed to be friends with other jws, and amog the jws, and, as in my case, if you are a girl, you should only be close friends with other women and the man you intend to marry. They reason it as if you became too close friends with a man you don't intend to mary you are very close to having a romantic relationship with, you could be sending the wrong message etc. That entails you should never be alone having friendly interactions with a person of the opposite sex, only in friend groups, and all that. They even have a part that says that if you talk everyday with a man in person, via phone ou text, and when with groups of friends you are always next to that man and interacting with him, then the conclusion is: THE TWO OF YOU ARE DATING. SERIOUSLY. THATS A BOYFRIEND. I remember having those rules ingrained in my brain and overthinking that a lot
Chess _is_ a game that is/was used to teach military strategy and tactics. Caleb and Sophia are sweet kids being destroyed by their parents and religion.
I was raised in a baptist household but I clearly recall my mother regularly monitoring who I was friends with. She didn't try to hide this and often shot down friendships she felt went against the faith. It was a little more subtle than JW though, at least in my house. Weirdly enough I do not recall her setting up play dates with kids from my church, which was odd. She relented as I got older and stopped trying to control my choices in friends, thankfully.
The sad thing is, the animation is actually pretty cool! The modeling work is solid and the animations are well made. It looks great. It's only sad that the message behind it is so disturbing
The voice-acting is good, too! In terms of basic quality, it's head and shoulders above a lot of Protestant evangelical media for children, which I actually find interesting as I think about it.
The thing that rubs me the wrong way that i havent heard you mention yet in the video (im only 16:41 in) is how Sophia and Caleb's father makes a matter that Sophia is dealing with an event for the household. Something about that strikes me as a lack of privacy. Maybe it has to do with the fact that when i was a child, if i told my (now ex) JW grandmother anything, even if i told her it was embarrassing to me and id appreciate it if it was kept secret until i felt comfortable telling my parents, she would immediately tell my mom. I had no privacy when i was living with her then, even at a very young age, and i was expected to go to KH with her, and go proselytizing with her on the weekends, etc. But it seems to be a very prevalent, probably trained behavior that no matter what is confided in you, whether it will do actual harm to others or not, you *must* report it to others- no secrets, no privacy. It just leaves a pit in my stomach about it because privacy, especially a young child's privacy, is so important to their development. Thanks to my grandmother, my parents knew when exactly i had my very first period, something that embarrassed me to no end and that i could have told my mother about myself, and they knew that i was "fooling around" in the bathtub with myself. Which also embarrassed me to no end, plus i was constantly chastised and humiliated for it, in front of others, especially my friends. JW's are really picky about what they will and wont report, though- oh sure, Sister Marge passed by Brother Robbie's house earlier and saw Brother Robbie's wife, Sister Beverly, smoking a cigarette, and thats a sin worth taking to the elders, but lets all casually ignore the fact that Brother Robbie has had several CSA cases against him, yet we're letting him walk amongst our young ones and are actively protecting him from police authority.
I went all through Pre school, Kindergarten, Primary & Intermediate school with 2 JW Kids, a brother & Sister. I grew up in a small exclusive suburb & we were all local kids in my grade. We never bullied or ostrasised them, & they would participate ( as much as they were allowed too, obviously) in games activities etc & never seemed stand offish or superior or anything. We just thought it was odd about the Bday, easter, xmas, holiday thing, but I dont recall anyone teasing them. I even went to thier house to play a couple of times, & I remember asking them one time "How do you get so many toys when you dont celebrate Birthdays or Christmas?" & they just said they dont, but if they want something they just get it any time through the year. & we just accepted that thats just thier religion. & omg that well scene with the water pouch! I agree about the animation in this thing! The production quality is off the charts!
It'll never not be weird to me how the women are allowed traditional head coverings at least loosely based on historical fashion, but the men MUST have 21st century haircuts. Literally why? Is long hair or head coverings on men just TOO deviant to portray even if it's historically accurate?
So. A random comment I left on a totally unrelated video got one of your viewers to recognize that I am a former JW and they directed me to your channel and I have been hooked since. I haven't really had the opportunity to unpack a lot of the weird stuff they taught me and it's kind of nice to see it broken down by someone who knows what they're talking about. It's been making me feel a little better because holy gaslighting Batman I kept getting told stuff that happened didn't happen and I keep feeling these overwhelming waves of validation as I watch. Like I'm not crazy. They seriously believed and said those things to me. And it was actually super messed up.
I have a bad experience with door knocking . I was encouraged to knock and reach out on door as a kid I gave it one try and this old man came out and started cursing at me . I tried to hide my crying and stiffened up . At that moment I was traumatized and never wanted to be associated again
Thank you Owen for being so vulnerable brother when you share these videos. I enjoy hearing your experiences, I recently was shunned from my kingdom Hall.
It should definitely be illegal for minors to sign such contracts. If JWs ignore this law, they should lose their tax-exempt status, and CPS needs to get involved.
After growing up in this disgusting cult, i can 100% understand what is wrong with me and why. I am amazed that I turned out to be as kind , empathetic and i try not to judge anyone. I was brainwashed and exposed to this propoganda so consistently at a very young age for almost all of my brain developing years. I feel like it has influenced and formed my personality and my core values. It is so upsetting. I however was not baptized. My mom was and she was disfellowshipped. For some reason people would not really talk to me either. Im not sure why. When i was 9 or 10 they said i was possessed by demons and my step dad kicked me out while my mom was in the phyc ward. I am amazed i didn't turn out worse than I am. This is disgusting. I have to try to stand up for myself for all of this shit. I am going to sue them. I don't care if I win. Just as long as I stand up for myself. I think it will be the only way for me to heal myself from all ethis
5:07 why is the girl that the trailer is trying to portray as mean or bad actively inviting Zoey to hang out with them? I get that the entire thing is if Zoey goes with her then she'll be denying Jehovah or whatever but it'd so weird to illustrate someone who looks mean trying to include and hang out with a lonely psuedo-protagonist
@15:14 I always laugh at how they throw that dad nicely asking Sophia to hold the light for him.... Bc so many have been traumatized by that experience. 😂 You always say nothing is coincidence in these...
Love toye videos man. I am actually from WV, born and raised. I honestly didn't know there was a large JW community here, honestly not far from me but they just recently had to sell their "kingdom hall". Every time you mention you grew up here I get really curious as to where about in WV. They've honestly been relentless lately, even though I told them to pur me on the do not call they still show up. I've been showing friends and co-workers your videos specially those with children so they can't speak these cartoons onto other children..
I love that these all have happy, unrealistic depictions of what happens. She wants to join the science club? Her parents calmly react, and tell her a story that makes her realize whats "right"! She cant be friends with people at school? Oh its okay, she meets a girl who while not her age, is interested in all her favorite things AND Jehovah! She has other, more complex questions about Jehovah, or its doctrines? Maybe she does still want school friends and doesnt get why a loving god would put her in this position? No. Never happens with perfect Sophia and her perfect family!
I have a friend who's an ex JW, and I told her how at a library I went to, there were some JWs outside. she warned me not to make eye contact or get to close because "they're like pokemon trainers" and I've never heard better words
Damn 😂
😂😂😂😂
Pfffffft
What type of Pokémon do they use? Need to make sure I have type advantage
@@Galvatron759 Probably Arceus
My headcannon is that Sophia leaves the religion and goes to university and pursues a degree in a STEM field. Her brother hadn't spoken to her in years but ends up getting shunned after coming out of the closet and goes to live with his sister for a bit as he had nowhere to go.
There's a common theory I've seen in a lot of Owen's videos that's most of what you said only its Sophia who comes out of the closet while at uni
@@thatfuzzypotato1877though the idea of her pursuing STEM seems to match a lot of the existing storylines, especially this episode. So i really like OP's theory
if I had the time, I'd like to draw a storyboard of that
Sophia is such a bright empathetic kid. I know she's fictional but it breaks my heart seeing her in this life....but the good thing about her not being real is that her future can be whatever we imagine!
And their Dad was convicted of abusing the teenage girls and the Mom went to nursing home after her stroke she had from quietly doing drugs all thease years.
For some reason Sophia saying " at least your my friend" to her turtle really got me. That's like what movies will do to show how absolutely lonely and isolated a person is. And the worst part is, is that there was never a reason she had to feel that way. She had kids her own age BEGGING her to join them and participate in activities that would lead to friendships. She didn't need someone who is clearly older than her to be her sole friend even CLOSE to her age, but she wasn't allowed to have any. How messed up is that?
Maybe he becomes a mutant ninja.
This is just one of the many ways cults cause harm, usually towards children that grow up and pass along their trauma.
Dangerous cults that have a known history of child abuse or sexual assault should be banned and the aggressors is should be jailed.
And the saddest thing is that in reality the older girl will never be her friend, and she’ll be painfully lonely till she’ll escaped the cult. Or at least, that was exactly me and my story, like many others I’ve heard between ex JWs borned and raised with that lifestyle.
The only friends they seem to let Sophia have in this series are
-An old lady from the Hall (who dies later)
-A teenage/close to adult age girl
-Any child from her school she can preach to, until they show any sign of straying or doing something Sophia can't, then all of a sudden they're not her friends. (Like Zoe. They became friends after Sophia used Zoe' grandma's death to preach Jehovah to her, then she was seen reading the pamphlets with her and asking about him in other episodes)
@@ThePoliticrat Plot twist: the turtle is revealed to be an atheist and is rehomed.
A little joke I came up with while watching the video:
Roman: "You're the son of Jehovah?! No way!"
Jesus: "Yahweh"
Like the pun
Yes, let’s make jokes about the creator of heaven, earth, hell, and our bodies, spirit, and soul…because that’s gonna to work out well for us. The utter ignorance of these clowns. 😊
hehehehehe
B’dum tsss
Hehehe
Being JW sounds like such a joyless existence.
"Your suffering in this life is rewarded in the next" its how many Christian denominations justify the mental and emotional torture they require
It is, you're not to supposed to find joy in living.
Ya think?
It really, really is. 😢 especially for kids...
As a former JW-
Mostly, yes. If you're any shade away from their perfect 1950s family image you're gonna have a bad time.
...But the worst part was that if you played along, it was pretty nice in some ways. A whole bunch of us all got together for pizza and volleyball on Sundays. Other JWs seriously were "nice" wherever you went. There was a real sense of community, which is always a great and insidious thing.
Sophia: "I'm not going to join the science club".
Mom and dad: "we're so proud of you".
How messed up is that? They're making it out to be like she decided not to hang out with 9 year old meth heads. But no, it's an enriching science club, a subject she is good at. Nooooo, dont do things you're good at! Or fun! Or academic!Thats terrible!
You know, my husband excelled at running track and wrestling in his p.e. classes. The teachers wanted him to join the teams, but, being the faithful jw, he wasnt allowed. Its absolutely ridiculous and deprives children.
I know right? I thought the same thing! Like what parent doesnt want their child to use their mind?!
@@rachelanthony179JW’s
And its not like they showed the kids as doing something bad or being mean to her like their Bible story. It was just 'you're good at science. It'll be fun!'. Jehovah was never involved nor did they go 'no,skip the meetings! Come with us!' But they actively encourage her to be friends with someone much older because 'oh she loves Jehovah too!' (not like thats how grooming can start)
The last thing a cult wants from it's members is for them to start thinking for themselves.
I agree. Also just because some kids are into science, it doesn't mean they're atheists. And even if they were, I disagree with the statement according to which she shouldn't be their friend
I think making your kids this isolated and not letting them participate in anything outside of the cult is child abuse. It's already hard enough to make friends but when given an opportunity, not being allowed to be friends with anyone from school is just heartbreaking.
And sadly, in most cases, it would be considered abuse. Just not when it's religious like this.
If you kept a child locked in isolation in a house, never allowed to experience the outside world, you would rightly be charged with neglect.
But when they're physically allowed out, we seem to ignore the emotional isolation coming from religious, even when we warn against it in domestic abuse.
It's been scientifically proven that isolation negatively impacts children's development. But when it comes from religion, too many excuse it.
Yep. I was brainwashed Roman Catholic as a child, and while I was perfectly allowed to make friends outside the religion, it was really hard when we had nothing in common. I still remember being laughed at in elementary school when asked who my favorite SpongeBob character was. Because I replied "What's SpongeBob?". I couldn't join in during conversations at lunch because I had no idea what they were talking about. And I was just told that it ok, I'd always have friends at church. And it was made very very clear that while friends were perfectly fine, I should never date a man who wasn't Catholic. And I listen very well because I'm not in a relationship with a non Catholic man, I'm in a relationship with a non Catholic woman. 😂
Your correct
You're correct
It's wild that JWs and other staunch religious folk don't want to be 'of the world' but still use tax-funded schools, and make their kids constantly confront their social isolation. They use congregant's kids like fishing lures- they don't care if the lure has feelings and are being devastated all the time. That just gives them a chance to push confirmation bias on the kids.
I’m ex mormon. The thought of a child being disfellowshipped is appalling. That parents would willingly shun a child is appalling. I intensely abhor organized religion. It does the most disgusting things in the name of their deity.
Wow a ex Mormon
i "shun" people for one reason, when they treat me with no respect and step over to abuse.. but that is a normal legit social reason to make that choice.
It's even worse than that. Put the worst things mankind has done, put a religious label on it, then it's A OKAY!
@@AnikMonette yea, its strange.. we have greg locke and more that abuse that issue
shunning happens in loads of places, and doesn't always involve religion. I've been shunned myself in the workplace, and have seen others be shunned as well, albeit to a much, MUCH less extreme degree than Jehovah's Witnesses do. Not trying to justify it, just wanted to say that it's not purely a religious concept
I am a Christian, I met my first JW the day she was shund and left over 100 miles from her home at 16. She was crying not knowing what to do, being British the first thing I did was get her a cup of tea. I to was 16 and we helped each other it was great. When she turned 24 the JW tried to blackmailed her to go back sadly she killed herself. That was 40 years ago a still miss her her name was Sarah
Oh my. So sad 😞 You were a good friend ❤❤
I am so sorry. Sarah (and you) deserved so much better. The hole that she has left in your heart shows just how special she was. Thank you for telling your story, and thank you for being there for Sarah.
Where did she go, aged sixteen with no money for a roof over her head?
May the memories of love outweigh the grief of loss.
@@daisychain3007 hi thanks for the message, the police and my grandad helped, we both went to college and she trained as a hairdresser me in catering, I called my daughter Sarah in her honor she was such a kind person.
Once knew a Jehovah's Witness who was soooooooooo damaged I really think he'd become unstable, if not border line with with a personality disorder.
His parents forced him to go every meet whether sick or not. He had to go house to house on Saturday mornings, etc., etc. At the end he left. Got kicked out of the congregation then his home and lost everything.
Cruel. unchristian, and really, really ODD.
That is very sad. That is horrible.
There are many of these Witnesses who have mental health issues, are there are many who commit suicide .
Parents who subject their children to this Cult should be ashamed and then charged with child Abuse.
That’s very “Christian” too!
That is so heartbreaking.
A lot of witnesses develop or already have personality disorders. My mother was one.
Not just poor Sophia, but that lady they showed enjoying coffee with her coworkers reminded me so much of an abusive relationships the abuser isolates you and makes you depend on them. That really hurt my heart
I think the coffeelady and Sofia is the same person
That sums up the cult in a nutshell
And the horrible thing is that eventually Sophia will have to take part in shunning someone, and hating gay people she knows and stuff like that. But that will be different. When other people treat JWs like crap that's terrible. But when JWs treat gay people like crap, they're just being good little JWs.
That bitch of a mother telling Sophia that people aren't always nice to people who are different made me sick. What right does she have when she tutored Sophia on how to lecture a schoolmate on how her two mothers were going to hell?
It seems nearly everyone even vaguely based on the xtian bible has the mantra "rules for thee, but not for me". Then they have the audacity to walk around with pompous airs and a pocket full of bigotry.
Well actually, jehovah witnesses are annihilist, meaning that anyone who sins during their life goes to a void of pitch black and stays there.
I can't even watch these to the end. Much too disturbing.
They don't believe in hell, but same difference.
@@JuMiKuwhat do they believe happens to sinners?
Dang... I'm not a JW, but I know the feeling of childhood loneliness and rejection intimately. I can't imagine being gaslit into the twisted, warped psychology of thinking that it was a good thing. This isolation is legitimate child abuse.
You're so right,
I had a friend in elementary school who was a Jahovah's Witness. I invited her to a sleepover I came up with on a whim. She asked me if it was to celebrate anything, it wasn't, but she still wasn't able to come over. Now, after watching these videos I'm starting to understand why.
Cause we aren’t allowed to be friends with non JWs. It was NOT you. It wasn’t even her. Her parents wouldn’t let her because of “bad association”. I was JW in elementary school and it was horrendous because I had nobody.
Same I was never allowed to go to my friends house and I spent most of my childhood not having ANY friends my age
@@bethany45101Damn, at least in my Born Again family(almost called them New Borns for some reason😂) at least I could have non religious friends. It wasn't wholeheartedly encouraged but since mingling with non Christians you potentially had a window to preach them!
JFC, that is so insidious. Almost like undercover agents. "Go out and make some 'friends' so that you can convert them. Give them a false sense of security so they let their guard down."
They are the evil that they preach against.
The call is coming from inside the house
It is devastating.
Well said
That's the irony. They are the exact people they speak against. Watchtower hides is hiding in plain sight.
fork found in the kitchen
I used to have a friend who had escaped from this cult.
Unfortunately, she then fell victim to another cult (The anti-vax one). I think that without professional therapy, people who escape one cult can still be at risk of other cults. It's hard to shake off such deeply ingrained mental conditioning
It is the ones that take the kool aid that are part of a cult, not the ones that don't.
As a former member of the JWs, I absolutely agree. Lots of current JWs are involved in MLMs and scams because of the cult brain. Definitely recommend professional help shedding that mindset and for help to learn to think critically.
Everyone is at risk of getting sucked into a cult, but yes, those who are cult survivors are absolutely more at risk.
The biggest risk for getting tricked by a cult is assuming you're too ___ to be manipulated by them. People who say things like they're "too smart to fall for that" are more at risk to overlook the red flags.
most people who join cults have a "cult mentality" aka they follow and believe anything no matter how strange or dumb it is.
Many do "cult jumping" and its very common in another cult, the flat earthers. The flat earthers isnt a cult in that way but the way they think and act is the same as a cult. Many flat earthers have jumped between many different "theories" in their life.
Some people prefer to live as a sheep while other cant stand the sheep life and live as the wolf. I am the wolf and i think and use my brain, knowledge is king and if you have knowledge you will make the best choices in life.
Your kids wont always go the way you want, some of your kids may even choose to join JW when they grow up but you cant force your kids to join against their will. You have to give your kids the right to make a choice of their own but you can educate them and tell them what they choose if they join JW or similar.. When they are 18 they can make any choice they want but they need to have the freedom when they are children or they will develop mental issues.
Actually, it's just as cult to think "anti vax" is not alright. A real medical treatment that is not a cult will not require social pressure and force to do. If someone does or does not choose to get any medical procedure including a vaccine is none of my business. If you get it and it works as advertised you're protected so why hate people outside your beliefs? (Please note I had most of my vaccines but someone who choses not to doesn't bother me)
Two teenage JW girls were forced to be my "friend" (they probably felt more like babysitters lol) when I was like, 9, and they secretly watched One Piece with me lmaoooo
It sounds like sneaking Western media into Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War. It’s insane that so many people are forced to go through this.
LMAO
Hope you guys had a fun time
Notice how the "other" kids' are slanted kind of downward, making them look slightly sinister. It's very subtle manipulation.
Oh really I’ll check for that sometime good observation
they also have strange facial proportions and sometimes bags under their eyes, whereas the JW children are clean looking, proportionate, and happier looking. propaganda at its finest.
@@jaspzaza yep
That Turtle doesn't have the capacity to be a Jehovah's Witness, so you're not allowed to be friends with it. You must shun the turtle.
LMFAO
Must not associate with reptilians…. Got it.
I spent 90% of my childhood embarrassed at every turn. I was truly unhappy, very quiet and never said anything questionable to my parents. While young, I focused on surviving Armagedson and hoping for "the end" to come. While very young, I remember thinking frequently how I just wanted to stay in bed to hide. Then, as I headed toward High School and teenage years, my inside voice I kept to myself was horrific, I just wanted to die. I couldnt think about college and simply was trying to find happiness. Not for me! Nope. I wanted to join the armed forces just to get away. But I was too afraid at the time and thought, "Armageddon will be here soon." Nope. Now I am free, after a long long story, and find help from videos like this
…wow
Well congratulations on escaping the cult!
When I was in fifth grade, we had a gift exchange at school the last day before the break. I forgot to tell my parents about it and showed up empty handed that day as a result.
The amount of scorn and ridicule I received that day was bad enough that I distinctly remember it 50 years later. And that was just 1 day out of my entire childhood. I can't imagine living through that ostracism on every holiday and birthday. Or even on a daily basis if kids think you're weird anyway. Cults are child abuse.
My stomach turned when Sophia's parents praised her for not joining the science club.
Same
Why these religious orgs aren't treated as the extremist cults they are is mind boggling.
Sadly it refers to something I was saying earlier: take the worst thing a human can do, and it will bd frowned upon. Add a religious label on it, it's now tolerable, if not outright encouraged!
Soon, these cult groups will be seen as extremists.
Sadly they have rights under freedom of religion.
@@abosier This goes without saying, but they shouldn't have the right to persecute people, especially children.
Aside from the all the unreasonnable accommodations they have, I wonder how many laws are broken in the name of WT. Daily.
The end of this episode just said "you don't need friends your age only other jehovah's witnesses" but that was the point of the whole episode
How convenient for the pedos lurking in these circles...
Is it bad to say that I want an episode where Sophia, Caleb, or both talk to another of their school friend into their beliefs, that friend would go home, tell their parents about it saying it was interesting, only for the parents go to their house and tell them angrily how wrong it is that their making their kids try to corrupt other kids? As a Christian believer, I feel really heartbroken for hundreds of kids being corrupted into this cult and damaging their minds, not only that, but destroying them if they get kicked out for the smallest reason. They’re not helping at all, they’re damaging people emotionally, mentally, and socially.
Think carefully about your statement near the end and how you feel about others. Because the fact that your a Christian believer means that many think the same things about you. It always feels different when it’s your own belief structure that is considered. When I was a jw I felt sorry for the other so called Christian’s that didn’t know the truth. Heartbroken that they were wasting time with there prayers and there corrupt way of thinking
I wish someone had questioned the toxic christian beliefs I was raised in. I wanted out by the time I was nine, but I had to play pretend for the adults.
Having an adult also call the bs I was feeling would have been life changing for the better as a kid.
Welcome to the toxicity of the abrahamic cults.
@@Izzy-cp8yt I am an adult myself, but have no children, though I am sickened by the way some adults dismiss children's feelings as nonsense.
Once upon a time, they were children themselves. How did they feel when an adult dismissed their feelings as nonsense?
@@masterhypnos6783 Cults of all denominations ruin people's lives. I do not know whether Jehovah's Witnesses do it, but I heard of cult leaders who even make you hand over your debit or credit cards to them.
When I was in, my daughter was 5 and got picked to do a part on the stage at the Kingdom Hall. The elder who chose her to do it hyped her all up and she was so excited. We had missed a couple meetings in a row due to illness (if you have a family you know when 1 person is sick it works it’s way through the whole family) and the evening of her part, the elder emailed me and said he didn’t feel like it was appropriate to use my daughter because the part is for exemplary congregation members. (I still have the email still if anyone wants proof)
I know this isn’t the same vein as the video but it just goes to show you that they don’t actually care about kids. They want you to feel bad and feel guilty, even if you’re 5 🙃
Do they believe that illness is punishment from god? Because I’m failing to see a connection between illness and moral standing
That's grotesque!
@@brentsheltz6473 My guess is failure to attend meetings = "immoral". I was raised evangelical, and I learned young that complaining in any way about being dragged to church every Sunday at the crack of dawn to spend hours hating my life was basically equivalent to saying I wanted to pew pew the local school. Saying I didn't want to go to church, didn't like church, found it boring, didn't like my bible, etc was basically the worst thing I could have said as a 8yo, and it was a personal moral failing.
Brutal!
... "to feel bad and feel guilty" for getting sick?!? o.O
It maked me really sad to see that something so evil is protected so strongly
I hope this organisation is sued out of existence!
@@AnikMonetteYou can then sue others which are not that much better.
Almost every religion can become a cult if it is goes too far. It is fine for those who are happy in that cult. It is also fine for adults who work alone and do not have to face a work environment which makes them stand out. It only becomes a problem if the cult's beliefs and practices clash with the secular environments to which its followers are exposed. The Caleb and Sophia videos highlight this. Caleb and Sophia are not bad kids and do not mean to stand out in school. They are caught between adhering to their religious faith and fitting in to a secular school environment.
In an ideal world, Caleb and Sophia would attend a Jehovah's Witness school, but this video is meant to show their struggles. Upnto a point, we are all tribal, Jehovah's Witnesses or not. We choose the friends that we do and do the things that we are comfortable doing (this should be the case,) but we have problems only when background and environment clash.
Exactly how I feel about Mormonism.
It's obvious WT is aware of the mental anguish they subject children to, who struggle with indifferences concerning school friends/acquaintances, yet they still put this propaganda out there for JW children and expect them to follow through with their doctrine. This is cruel and outright abuse, cause what choice does a JW child have but to obey what's expected of them. If their parents found out they didn't conform to the rules, there'll be hell to pay when they get home. 😢
Why back in 1970 I was in the 5th grade we had a boy in my class and he always had to put his head down on the desk that year I tried to sneak him some Valentine’s Day and he looked at me so sad and said he couldn’t it broke my heart and I still think about it now and then point is this kind of child abuse is going on today I feel so bad for the kids because they don’t have a voice and by the time they do they need counseling 😢
Reminds me of a neighbor who was a JW and begged her mom for a kitty we had up for adoption. I felt horrible, her mom was just not having it. I invited this kid to my birthday party and it was of course met with a really sad look. I felt so bad too because this kid moved in and had no one to talk to. She was 5 and I was like 7 or 8. Her parents would buy eggs from us and usually would trade with crafts around the neighborhood.
Or life long therapy because being in this cult can be so traumatizing that many people who get out of this cult need life long therapy
I was married and my husband became a witness. One night I was in bed trying to go t sleep. He kept saying that he could feel evil and he knew the devil was there. And then he said that the devil was laying right next to him. It was all down hill from there. We divorced, he left the cult and was shunned as an apostat. Later on he told me he didn't believe in God because he took away the women he loved. I couldn't get far enough away from him.
Wow. Good for you. Hope you’re having better luck now.
As someone who missed out on so many holidays and school trips because of JWs, saying that it sucked is an understatement. It still has left an impression on me as an adult, knowing I missed out on so much as a child because of these people
I was baptized catholic as a baby, but never confirmed until I was old enough to decide if I wanted to be confirmed, which I believe happened in my junior or senior year of high school. My dad was raised Catholic and wanted me to decide if I wanted to be Catholic myself. Not sure how things worked out for my peers, but I always appreciated that I got a choice and that I can spend time with my other religious or nonreligious friends without being looked down on or "shunned" by my family.
I have a LOT of issues with Catholiscism but at the very least they're not as rigid as other denominations!
@@AnikMonette yeah, I'm not saying it's the perfect religion or the right one. I'm aware of some Catholic practices that I'm heavily against, but my conclusion was to come to being Catholic over another religion or be Atheist (since I personally believe in a God, but don't believe others should or have to). Plus, Catholicism does have a bit of paganism in its roots and I'm very intrigued in that religion. Not thinking of converting, but still interesting to read up on.
Yuhhh I'm southern Baptist and I could not immagine this. Unfortunately some older ppl still think some of theese things but for the most part it's nowhere NEAR this terrible or strict (personally I enjoy church & all)
@@AnikMonette I'm an atheist/agnostic but I agree. I went to a fairly progressive catholic school, they had teachers of all beliefs, took students on trips to NASA and emphasized the importance of STEM fields. I was even told not to take everything in the bible literally, that it is from another time so it has some things in it we don't do anymore, and that the message or lessons is more important. I was struck by that and how tolerant catholics can sometimes be in comparison to other christian denominations and especially the jehovah's witnesses my family escaped.
@ kit76149
I went to a Catholic school just like this too! Despite it being religious, there was lots of emphasis on science and reason. We did also get to choose whether or not we would be confirmed, however I think there was definitely a bit of peer pressure (at least in my case) to do it instead of waiting or choosing not to.
They frame it as "talking about it as a family" but you know the kids won't be allowed to disagree with the parents. It's more the parents talking at the kids and expecting them obey rather than "talking about it as a family."
I’ve used to have jehovah’s witnesses knocking on my door until I answered it whilst in military uniform. (I was Canadian Forces land reserve) . They went silent and went to the next apartment.
It's sad to be robbed of the best years of your life, making friends build you up as a person
I love when you cover Caleb n Sophia! It’s like Saturday Morning Cartoons
For what it's worth, Owen I would have hung out with you.
same
Tbh same . I was a bit of a loner and outsider too though.
I grew up in the 80s and if i mentioned a friend at school Dad would say "you have acquaintances at school, your friends are at the Kingdom Hall." We did the family study thing, dad used the old Truth book. But when i got older and never got in trouble i would go play baseball and hockey and football with the kids from school and once in a great while even go to their home. Mom and Dad hardly ever knew where i was, or asked,i guess they trusted me, while my brother was always getting in trouble by hanging out with school kids too much. I also totally believed in JW so i kind of took pride in being different. I spent my ten year reunion apologizing to everybody for being such a dick. Anyway it's good to see some things haven't changed and JW kids are still told to take pride in being a weirdo.
The worst thing growing up as a JW was telling your teacher and classmates you can't celebrate holidays because of your religion. I was told I needed to tell them but I hated the feeling.
I grew up with kids who were Jehovahs Witness. My mom would put together a baggy of non holiday candy the day before our celebrations at school. I would hand it to them at lunch.
That is so sweet and thoughtful! Thank you, and your mother.
In highschool I had a friend that Grandparents were JW and was living with them at the time, I was invited to spend the night and then go to church with them. Her grandparents didn't believe in watching TV or radio, so we had to entertain ourselves. I went to the church the next day with them and just say it was the weirdest experience for a Catholic!
I can only imagine. Church was boring as a young Catholic, but Catholic churches usually have opulent artwork that is at least interesting to look at. But I once went to another dominations church as a kid with a friend (I forget which one. This was 27 years ago) and I just remembered being bored out of my skull. The walls were just white.
@@KaraOfTheSea The church I went to was built in 1930's and has beautiful artwork and glass windows to stare at, surprisingly it still stands today.
@@nativekaiOld Catholic churches are so beautiful! Say what you want about the religion itself (there is a lot to criticize), but the architects that design these churches know how to evoke the Divine and the Almighty.
@@KaraOfTheSea Another thing that was beneficial to going to a Catholic school that I had to learn Latin, not only because the place was run by nuns at the time, but alot of songs, prayers, even Mass were all in Latin.
@@nativekaiThat is actually pretty cool.
Looking at the 'evil' kid Zoe has the choice of following, the animators really tried to cram in as much doctrine as possible, huh? She has dyed hair, and is wearing not only makeup, but a CHRISTMAS JUMPER! 😱😱😱 The horror!
Growing in JW sounds like such a lonely and sheltered childhood. 😢 Thank goodness i didn’t grow up in such a group .I can’t imagine not being allowed to go to your classmate’s birthday party or practice in valentine’s day. To anyone who was in this group as a kid …i am so sorry you had to live like that . I hope you have a better life outside of JW.
Thank you. It means a lot that people like yourself are taking the time to learn about the damage that has been done to cult survivors.
We, as children, had no choice. Many of us carry crazy levels of trauma and really need people outside of cults to understand what and where we came from. It's so hard to fit in to a world that we were taught we were not a part of.
People like you make it easier for people like me. Thank you.
appreciate this comment. life is extremely lonely, being shunned by everyone i knew for 25 years. but hopefully can only get better from here :) hope you’re doing well too 💓
The thing I have the biggest problem with them on is the blood tranfusion thing, They should at least make an exception for children.
That should honestly qualify as murder, denying a child life-saving medical care for “religion”. God wanted to save that child, that was the whole damn point of medical care in the first place
On the what?
@@NotUselessProductionsbasically jehovahs witnesses can’t have blood transfusions for any reason
@@NotUselessProductionsthey don't allow blood transfusions.
A minor exception is that some congregations allow doctors to collect the blood that person lost in surgery, clean it, and put it back into the same person. Special machines and surgery setups for that and everything
@@alexisflory6496 oh thanks for telling me I didn’t know that. But yeah that is messed up.
I know an ex Jehovah witness. He grew up in it and now he drinks so much 😭
Tell him someone thinks about him(not God) and that he shouldn't be ashamed of himself.
Cults LOVES shaming and guilttripping people!
@@AnikMonetteIt's so sad also that even not just cults have cultures of shunning and guiltripping. All religions have these bad cultures as well
It seems like Jehovah's Witnesses didn't even read the 10 commandments. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"
In all fairness, that’s a lot of Christians nowadays. JW’s seem to take being hateful to a whole other level though
I'm not of legal age and my mother is in the Jehovah's witness organization and I never really fully believed it but in order to not displease the people in my life and all the people at my congregation and not be shunned I've been putting up a facade. I want to have relationships I want to talk to people and socialize but I can't do that because I feel like if I do that I'm eventually going to be disconnected from the side of my family that's involved in the organization
What a horrible position to be in. Don't give up though because one day you WILL be free. The community is here and you will never be alone.
Yeah don’t give up on stuff, once you get out, non-cult society will be here to accept you
If they truly love you, they will understand. If you do leave, and they respond with hate, so be it. That’s their shortcoming, not yours. The vast majority of normal people will welcome you with open arms - you seem really nice to me.
Btw, I escaped. Luckily, I persuaded my parents to leave too and got out early (age 7). I’m sure it probably only gets harder the older you get, so good luck and don’t leave it a moment longer - get out now! Love.
Another hour well-spent with Owen Morgan! Thank you lots, OM!!
"I realized I was acting far too human, so I had to stop that."
My best friend in grade 5 was a JW. His parents pulled him out halfway through and I never saw or heard from him again. I think of him often, and hope he’s okay. This was nearly 15 years ago. Super sad life for the children, constantly thinking of Armageddon, destruction and a vengeful god. I can’t imagine the pain and despair that would inflict.
The fact that the prizes that the kids got use baby toys for their sound effects is absolutely intentional
7:38-Based on your phone calls, “take an interest in” has a WHOLE NEW meaning.
8:47-Lydia’s dad sounds a lot like C & S’s dad. I wonder…
30:27-Dead Mom Haircut.
Yup...no holidays, no birthdays, no celebrations, never hanging out with friends outside of school hours. It was crazy how different and much more lively my life was after my gma passed. None of us ever stepped foot in a KH again.
Especially at that age, a 6-7 year difference isn't just a cultural gap, there's a power dynamic as well. The older kid that she's looking to as a friend is likely to have a lot of sway over her. Probably the big reason they got paired together.
As a mom I just can't wrap my head around disowning my child for such little things. Also stunting a childs ability to make friends is just messed up.
A very good friend of mine was a victim of this cult. She was disfellowed as a young teen and it led to a life on the street😪she took her own and her remaining family buried her like a dirty secret. Typical cult behaviour.
We celebrated christmas and birthdays in secret. Not in exchanging gifts. She loved helping me shop, pick cards and wrap gifts. She was amazing at it.
My whole teen years was robbed from me.
i left at 18. Going witnesssing and meetings with social anxiety at thst time was a huge struggle although i had no choice but to go otherwise the family would think im an apostate.. it was like a prisoner in ones mind..
Same! They wanted me to not rebel and to be controlled by doctrine
@@wendyboles5960 that's how it feels.. I was even called apostate for doing nothing related to it like putting scriptures first... Fucken bullshit family I lived
same! when i had panic attacks my dad would tell me its because i wasn’t going out witnessing and praying enough… which made me have more panic attacks. so much fun :)
i think this is the first one that really hit me that they're showing this to young, impressionable, vulnerable and hurting kids.
This & the book of Bible stories (more like the book of horrors) & someone should look into these ppl really...
They made that one kid with the sucker look like a straight up ghoul.
First time I see their new animation style... The sad expressions freak me out. The eyes in overall. I do like expressive animation, I think it's because of everything I know now about this cult it has this extra icky feeling to it.
I notice that evangelical media (for example) will often gloss over negative and ambivalent emotions, while the Sophia and Caleb series will portray the mom's brazen manipulativeness and the kids' chronic loneliness, alienation, and disappointment as totally normal and laudable. I mean, points for emotional honesty, I guess, but it's pretty twisted to admit with pride and joy that your religion makes people feel chronically bored, lonely, and isolated, and that parents have to strategically manipulate their children into keeping the faith.
I remember hiding the Valentines candy I got at school, I'd leave it at school, but that usually ended up where the teacher would throw out my candy.
That's awful! I would have added some candy to your stash if I'd have been that teacher
Despite not being an ex JW or not knowing any, I still find all of this so interesting. Please continue giving us this content
As an atheist I can’t imagine what it would have been to go through this… we need to save people from the cult
Owen, I’m a Christian. Just a regular run-of-the-mill Christian and not a Christian nationalist lol. I can completely understand why you are now an atheist and I think it sucks big-time that you were treated so badly by your family and the Jehovah witness congregation. Hang in there sweetheart. I will continue to watch your videos. They’re very enlightening.❤️
Yes. When people have horrible religious experiences. Their decision to be a atheist is understandable even from a Christian perspective. I had a horrible experience with the Catholic Church and was on the verge of becoming a atheist until I actually witnessed the supernatural.
I was born and raised a Jehovah's witness, I wasn't allowed to associate non believers outside of school, I wasnt allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, and was constantly persecuted by my own parents simply for wanting to play basketball. The organization is oppressive and manipulative, they encourage families to excommunicate each other, discourage curiosity, and higher education in an effort to control its youngest members, regardless the lifetime ramifications for it's victims. I left my family five years ago, they refuse to speak to me, and all for what? Do they genuinely believe their unethical behavior guised as compassion will convince me their, their lifestyle, their beliefs, and divinely inspired? It's ludicrous...
Man this brings back so many old feelings. It's also crazy that I can still feel such guilt for certain things over 20 years later, as an adult. I remember being 14 or 15 and slowly starting to try and break away from the cult, but without being rebellious. A new JW family moved to our congregation and one of their daughters was in some of my classes in high school.
One day in social studies, the topic of voting came up and the teacher discussed different religious views and said that JW was an odd one and then asked if there were any JW members in the class.
I still vividly remember this girl putting her hand up and I just left her high and dry, and did not put my arm up.
I was sick of being bullied or ridiculed or just questioned over beliefs I never had a choice in. I still feel guilty about it, as a near 40 year old who has been out for over 20 years. It's ridiculous haha
30:36
this part just took me back to highschool, when a dear friend of mine who recently became a JW broke up our friendship. She said "we cannot be friends anymore because your religion is wrong", and it absolutely broke my heart because I used to tell her how happy I was that she didn't let our different beliefs get in the way of our friendship and all... We never talked later on, even if we had the same friend group for a while. She only got more and more isolated after that. I've seen her only once when I was in my second year in university and she always seemed to be alone.
Now I know it wasn't because it was a problem with me (or us), she was pretty much forced to be like that.
I hope she is doing better now.
Damn! The pain, the discomfort, the confusion, as if childhood were not bad enough, but if this were put on top of it, I don't know if I could cope. Props to you and your "heart."
I just noticed the little girl that supposed to be the bad influence is in a Christmas sweater.
Tbh I sit out on the pledge of allegiance anyways, it’s a form of silent protest against everything wrong with this country, such as the broken education system, that a lot of people like to ignore.
No birthday parties and no Holiday Season gifts, parties, and celebrations? I just cannot even begin to imagine the horror it is to be a Jehovah's Witness kid!, f it were not for separation of church and state, as required under the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, I would want to have these kinds of crazy religious fanatic parents sent to prison for child abuse. I would much rather have been born into a nudist family, then be born into a Jehovah's Witness family, a Christian fundamentalist family, or any other kind of strict religious family! You can choose your friends. Unfortunately, you absolutely cannot choose your family!
I find it interesting how the woman in the office job even clarified that when she became more reserved with her female coworkers, she started to treat them as she would her male coworkers. All I know about JWs I have learned here, so I was wondering if you could talk more about how men and women are allowed to interact. It seems like JW men and women are not allowed to be friends. I've noticed a few things in the Caleb and Sophia videos that suggest that too. Do they have actual rules about how men and women are supposed to interact or is it just implied? I'm always advocating for gender equality, so this topic is very interesting to me. Thank you, I always enjoy your videos.
As far as wives go; the woman ( her mother ) and my friend who was a girl I spent the night with was married to a wondering eyes kind of man from India. They basically have talks outside the kitchen; nowhere else inside the home.
She is treated like a wife stuck in the 1940, or 1950.
The man does most of the talking. Women talk only to the Women and the Men talk only to the Men. Expected to go the JWH and if you don’t; You aren’t allowed back. The girl I speak of is of College age and was My bestie. The mom forbid me to return.
Yep, you got that correct: men and women can't be friends. There are two books (at least it was two books until a few years ago when i left the cult) that are specifically aimed at jw teenagers. They are divided in sections named like "family", "identity", "leisure time", "school" etc, and there was a section for sex and relationships. Basically, you are only allowed to be friends with other jws, and amog the jws, and, as in my case, if you are a girl, you should only be close friends with other women and the man you intend to marry. They reason it as if you became too close friends with a man you don't intend to mary you are very close to having a romantic relationship with, you could be sending the wrong message etc. That entails you should never be alone having friendly interactions with a person of the opposite sex, only in friend groups, and all that.
They even have a part that says that if you talk everyday with a man in person, via phone ou text, and when with groups of friends you are always next to that man and interacting with him, then the conclusion is: THE TWO OF YOU ARE DATING. SERIOUSLY. THATS A BOYFRIEND. I remember having those rules ingrained in my brain and overthinking that a lot
Chess _is_ a game that is/was used to teach military strategy and tactics.
Caleb and Sophia are sweet kids being destroyed by their parents and religion.
I was raised in a baptist household but I clearly recall my mother regularly monitoring who I was friends with. She didn't try to hide this and often shot down friendships she felt went against the faith. It was a little more subtle than JW though, at least in my house. Weirdly enough I do not recall her setting up play dates with kids from my church, which was odd. She relented as I got older and stopped trying to control my choices in friends, thankfully.
Me being distracted by the inhumanely small enclosure Sophia has that tortoise in. I don't even see a heat lamp 😢
The sad thing is, the animation is actually pretty cool! The modeling work is solid and the animations are well made. It looks great. It's only sad that the message behind it is so disturbing
The voice-acting is good, too! In terms of basic quality, it's head and shoulders above a lot of Protestant evangelical media for children, which I actually find interesting as I think about it.
The thing that rubs me the wrong way that i havent heard you mention yet in the video (im only 16:41 in) is how Sophia and Caleb's father makes a matter that Sophia is dealing with an event for the household. Something about that strikes me as a lack of privacy. Maybe it has to do with the fact that when i was a child, if i told my (now ex) JW grandmother anything, even if i told her it was embarrassing to me and id appreciate it if it was kept secret until i felt comfortable telling my parents, she would immediately tell my mom. I had no privacy when i was living with her then, even at a very young age, and i was expected to go to KH with her, and go proselytizing with her on the weekends, etc.
But it seems to be a very prevalent, probably trained behavior that no matter what is confided in you, whether it will do actual harm to others or not, you *must* report it to others- no secrets, no privacy.
It just leaves a pit in my stomach about it because privacy, especially a young child's privacy, is so important to their development.
Thanks to my grandmother, my parents knew when exactly i had my very first period, something that embarrassed me to no end and that i could have told my mother about myself, and they knew that i was "fooling around" in the bathtub with myself. Which also embarrassed me to no end, plus i was constantly chastised and humiliated for it, in front of others, especially my friends.
JW's are really picky about what they will and wont report, though- oh sure, Sister Marge passed by Brother Robbie's house earlier and saw Brother Robbie's wife, Sister Beverly, smoking a cigarette, and thats a sin worth taking to the elders, but lets all casually ignore the fact that Brother Robbie has had several CSA cases against him, yet we're letting him walk amongst our young ones and are actively protecting him from police authority.
I went all through Pre school, Kindergarten, Primary & Intermediate school with 2 JW Kids, a brother & Sister. I grew up in a small exclusive suburb & we were all local kids in my grade. We never bullied or ostrasised them, & they would participate ( as much as they were allowed too, obviously) in games activities etc & never seemed stand offish or superior or anything. We just thought it was odd about the Bday, easter, xmas, holiday thing, but I dont recall anyone teasing them. I even went to thier house to play a couple of times, & I remember asking them one time "How do you get so many toys when you dont celebrate Birthdays or Christmas?" & they just said they dont, but if they want something they just get it any time through the year. & we just accepted that thats just thier religion. & omg that well scene with the water pouch! I agree about the animation in this thing! The production quality is off the charts!
42:02 that creepy pasta smile the mom gives Sophia is going to haunt me in my nightmares.
The fact that this religion is willing to throw ANYONE away for the smallest slight, shows it's a massively flawed religion.
It'll never not be weird to me how the women are allowed traditional head coverings at least loosely based on historical fashion, but the men MUST have 21st century haircuts. Literally why? Is long hair or head coverings on men just TOO deviant to portray even if it's historically accurate?
So. A random comment I left on a totally unrelated video got one of your viewers to recognize that I am a former JW and they directed me to your channel and I have been hooked since. I haven't really had the opportunity to unpack a lot of the weird stuff they taught me and it's kind of nice to see it broken down by someone who knows what they're talking about. It's been making me feel a little better because holy gaslighting Batman I kept getting told stuff that happened didn't happen and I keep feeling these overwhelming waves of validation as I watch. Like I'm not crazy. They seriously believed and said those things to me. And it was actually super messed up.
It's all so sad and very, very creepy ....aren't a lot of these cases considered "abuse" legally...? Thanks again, Owen. Well done in getting out.
I have a bad experience with door knocking . I was encouraged to knock and reach out on door as a kid I gave it one try and this old man came out and started cursing at me . I tried to hide my crying and stiffened up . At that moment I was traumatized and never wanted to be associated again
Can you imagine shunning your own child?? or shunning your parents????? WTF!!!!! I cant shun anyone. I dont want to be an asswipe
My mom was shunned for marrying my dad. He was a Catholic. Personal stuff for me.
The very thought of shunning or disfellowship makes me terribly sad and angry. That is disgusting!
You got excommunicated from your family/community for... smoking a cigarette..
Man oh man! What the?
Why did they make Jesus look like some suburban white guy while everyone else actually kind of fits the ethnicity they’re trying to portray
Thank you Owen for being so vulnerable brother when you share these videos. I enjoy hearing your experiences, I recently was shunned from my kingdom Hall.
I’m so glad my jw friend escaped. She absolutely deserves better than all this horrible abuse
It should definitely be illegal for minors to sign such contracts. If JWs ignore this law, they should lose their tax-exempt status, and CPS needs to get involved.
It...took one cigarette!?!
Fuck man! I'm sorry...
and...I'm thankful for your channel... as it is helpful for ppl who aren't even jehova witnesses...
After growing up in this disgusting cult, i can 100% understand what is wrong with me and why. I am amazed that I turned out to be as kind , empathetic and i try not to judge anyone. I was brainwashed and exposed to this propoganda so consistently at a very young age for almost all of my brain developing years. I feel like it has influenced and formed my personality and my core values. It is so upsetting. I however was not baptized. My mom was and she was disfellowshipped. For some reason people would not really talk to me either. Im not sure why. When i was 9 or 10 they said i was possessed by demons and my step dad kicked me out while my mom was in the phyc ward. I am amazed i didn't turn out worse than I am. This is disgusting. I have to try to stand up for myself for all of this shit. I am going to sue them. I don't care if I win. Just as long as I stand up for myself. I think it will be the only way for me to heal myself from all ethis
5:07 why is the girl that the trailer is trying to portray as mean or bad actively inviting Zoey to hang out with them? I get that the entire thing is if Zoey goes with her then she'll be denying Jehovah or whatever but it'd so weird to illustrate someone who looks mean trying to include and hang out with a lonely psuedo-protagonist
@15:14 I always laugh at how they throw that dad nicely asking Sophia to hold the light for him.... Bc so many have been traumatized by that experience. 😂 You always say nothing is coincidence in these...
There is NO DAD that says hold the light like that 😂😂😂
my grandparents are JW and they made me watch those “cartoons” every single day but even as a kid i knew there was something off
Love toye videos man. I am actually from WV, born and raised. I honestly didn't know there was a large JW community here, honestly not far from me but they just recently had to sell their "kingdom hall". Every time you mention you grew up here I get really curious as to where about in WV. They've honestly been relentless lately, even though I told them to pur me on the do not call they still show up. I've been showing friends and co-workers your videos specially those with children so they can't speak these cartoons onto other children..
I love that these all have happy, unrealistic depictions of what happens. She wants to join the science club? Her parents calmly react, and tell her a story that makes her realize whats "right"! She cant be friends with people at school? Oh its okay, she meets a girl who while not her age, is interested in all her favorite things AND Jehovah! She has other, more complex questions about Jehovah, or its doctrines? Maybe she does still want school friends and doesnt get why a loving god would put her in this position? No. Never happens with perfect Sophia and her perfect family!
I'm glad you get to share your experience on here.
The true message of Lazarus' story:
Real friends will do necromancy for you!
Incase it needs to be said, joking around.
I have a feeling I won't be able to finish this.
Why?
You ok
@@Queen_Sakura it's just upsetting to see religious abuse of children.
Incredibly triggering
@@churchofthelambofsat
Oh, yeah, I get it. I've gone through something similar, although not JW, so I get it.