Thanks for having me Lloyd, I'm so (freaking) excited about the fact that we're seeing more cross-apostate type work. We need it, we aren't strong in individual groups, but together we can kick butt. If y'all are reading this and have left faith, check out www.faithtofaithless.com (and check out our TH-cam videos). We need people to write guides for us, so if you've left a conservative religion and want to pitch in: community@faithtofaithless.com - Faith to Faithless team
+MrPeaceMeal Yes, cross faith apostasy support is not only a brilliant idea, but very important too. I see a lot of parallels in the way religions try to stop people leaving, knowing this can only help.
Interesting point: the reason the camera is out of focus on me is because I left Islam because I'm clearly possessed by a Jinn (spirit), and thus the Jinn didn't want to be seen on your camera so blurred me out....or something like that :P
Great interview, John Cedars. I'm familiar with the Muslims from reading a couple of Ayan Hirsi Ali's books. I understand Imtiaz' comments about emotional abuse because I know how harsh the JWs emotional abuse is, from experiencing being shunned since 2000, after leaving that religion. I understand that Ayan Hirsi Ali has security guards with her at all times. My family only WISHES I was dead, but they don't actively try to kill me. Nevertheless, the shunning is an emotional type of abuse which affects my self-esteem. It hurts because I love my family and would like to feel the love returned. I also have a grand-daughter who I have never met. Shunning is not an act of love, like the JWs teach. To me, shunning is extremely abusive behavior.
I love this! How many of us get to talk to a person from the Islamic faith who has left? This kind of dialogue is fantastic! More interviews please! I am binge watching these kinds of videos, fascinating!
What an informative and enlightening Interview. I will use Imtiaz Shams experience the next time I go to a "gathering". The best way to attack WT policy without having an actively blind JW shut you off is by using other religions practices to point out how destructive policies like shunning are. Thanks to you both.
+Chiafade now This is just one aspect of comparing religions, I live in an area that has a large Mennonite population they also practice shunning and separation from the "world". Comparing the Medieval practice of shunning is just part of an overall strategy, some will think and some will not. My immediate goal is to plant the seed. Thanks for your comment.
First time I've found Imtiaz. Amazing interview. I've also discovered that there are many similarities between the JWs and the Muslims when they decide to break away from those faiths, and because of this I've been able to help one muslim to stay alive. What needs to happen is that ANY controlling ideology has to be scrutinised and adherents who force others to conform to their ideas should be taken accountable for their cruel actions. I for one have not lost my faith in God, I go by the indisputable law of "love God, neighbour and yourself" against which all other laws hang. By loving ones fellowman one lets them think and believe what they chose. I can imagine that the only two questions God needs to ask us at our judgment day: do you love me and your fellowman?.....This is my view at this time of my life.
Fascinating point of view from Imtiaz... It also puts what ExJW's go through into perspective, in my opinion. I would honestly much rather be an ExJW than an Ex Muslim. Perhaps that's just my fear of the unknown, though.
Very good interview, and it's further reinforcing my belief that all high-control groups are just using the same methods but with different flavours. It makes me very hopeful that everyone could one day be taught to spot a handful or two of tell-tail red flags to keep everyone out of these groups, whether they be religious, corporate, political, or otherwise.
Imtiaz really helps put a human face on Muslims (now Ex-Muslim of course) which is wonderful because it's hard to see this sometimes watching too much of North American media. (I'm in Canada) John what you and Imtiaz are doing is amazing and is sort of packaged in a loving or humanistic sort of way. Certainly not militant Atheistic and that is entirely refreshing. I think this kind of attitude will go the furthest in helping make things better. Well done.
I feel so bad for people who go through such shit. I outgrew religion the way people outgrow tooth fairy, santa Claus etc. When I was 15, I told my mom that I did not believe in religion. She rolled her eyes at me and said some on the lines of 'kids these days.' But no one in my family ever opposed me, and the most I had to deal with were people giving weird stares or telling me it was just a phase I'd grow out of it. Though I come from a pretty conservative country, I had no idea it could be this bad.
Thanks for your work John, because of you and many others, the truth is being revealed and understood, by more "fence sitting" believers everyday.Religions, worldwide, are experiencing drastic numbers in "walk always" from their membership, this is a trend that benefits all humankind. Keep up the good work.
Great video. Enlightening ,sad,frustrating, to say the least. Thanks for introducing me to faithtofaith. His best point is that there is a commonality.
Dude.. FOCUS!! Otherwise, thank you very much. Interesting topic. I've noticed the same thing before, especially when watching videos with Ayaan Hirsi Ali here on TH-cam, that the similarities between fundamentalist Muslims and JWs are striking!
I just saw that this video was on the Friendly Atheist blog. I'm glad your work is getting out there. Your videos are always informative and intelligent and have helped tremendously in my own leaving of the organization and converting out of religion to a life of reason and wonder. Thank you for your hard work! Do you have a patreon account?
Social connection as vital as food and water newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/we-are-hard-wired-to-be-social-248746 "...when we are rejected or experience other social 'pain' our brains 'hurt' in the same way they do when we have physical pain."
GREAT idea to get together former members of these high control groups. I totally agree, REAL action needs to be taken against these immoral gangs like wt. Get public, make a scene, and change will happen.
Hello. Thank you for uploading this video. Very insightful and helps me see the inhumanness of this non-scriptural practice. Can you or someone please tell me what would be the underlying motive of the Governing Body to run the organisation. If they can see what we see, surely they must have an ulterior motive for their work?
guys i want to leave my country what should i do how should i do it i m an ex-muslim guys any one could help me change my life i be grateful forver i did leave my faith this year guys so any one any country where i can speak english and live and study i be happy.i can't ask for asylum i don't want ,to cause uproar for my family any one could reach me pleas
You can be a spiritual person w/o being part of a religion. The point is really to get away from the dogma and learn to trust one's own discernment....not giving your power away to some religious figurehead be that a guru, the pope or the governing body...
![What do Gay JW's go through? | Ste Richardsson [Ex Jehovah's Witness]](/img/n.gif)
Thanks for having me Lloyd, I'm so (freaking) excited about the fact that we're seeing more cross-apostate type work. We need it, we aren't strong in individual groups, but together we can kick butt.
If y'all are reading this and have left faith, check out www.faithtofaithless.com (and check out our TH-cam videos). We need people to write guides for us, so if you've left a conservative religion and want to pitch in: community@faithtofaithless.com
- Faith to Faithless team
+MrPeaceMeal It was a real pleasure working with you. I'm sure it won't be the last time! ;)
+MrPeaceMeal Yes, cross faith apostasy support is not only a brilliant idea, but very important too. I see a lot of parallels in the way religions try to stop people leaving, knowing this can only help.
Interesting point: the reason the camera is out of focus on me is because I left Islam because I'm clearly possessed by a Jinn (spirit), and thus the Jinn didn't want to be seen on your camera so blurred me out....or something like that :P
MrPeaceMeal It was to stop you bewitching poor unsuspecting Muslimahs with your good looks :)
Can we do it , the rationalising, the exiting from many faiths, imagine that .
i;m ex mormon, and there are so many things i could relate to in this video. thanks
Yes, Lloyd, you ARE an excellent interviewer! Thanks for introducing me to Imtiaz Shams! A very uplifting video!
You are really gaining traction and it shows in the quality of the videos you are releasing. Keep up the fantastic work!
Great conversation. Very important.
I like the two camera video as well.
Great interview, John Cedars. I'm familiar with the Muslims from reading a couple of Ayan Hirsi Ali's books. I understand Imtiaz' comments about emotional abuse because I know how harsh the JWs emotional abuse is, from experiencing being shunned since 2000, after leaving that religion. I understand that Ayan Hirsi Ali has security guards with her at all times. My family only WISHES I was dead, but they don't actively try to kill me. Nevertheless, the shunning is an emotional type of abuse which affects my self-esteem. It hurts because I love my family and would like to feel the love returned. I also have a grand-daughter who I have never met. Shunning is not an act of love, like the JWs teach. To me, shunning is extremely abusive behavior.
as always ..... great job to the both of you !!!!
I love this! How many of us get to talk to a person from the Islamic faith who has left? This kind of dialogue is fantastic! More interviews please! I am binge watching these kinds of videos, fascinating!
Thank you for this video Lloyd and Imtiaz. Really interesting
What an informative and enlightening Interview. I will use Imtiaz Shams experience the next time I go to a "gathering". The best way to attack WT policy without having an actively blind JW shut you off is by using other religions practices to point out how destructive policies like shunning are. Thanks to you both.
+Chiafade now
This is just one aspect of comparing religions, I live in an area that has a large Mennonite population they also practice shunning and separation from the "world". Comparing the Medieval practice of shunning is just part of an overall strategy, some will think and some will not. My immediate goal is to plant the seed.
Thanks for your comment.
First time I've found Imtiaz. Amazing interview.
I've also discovered that there are many similarities between the JWs and the Muslims when they decide to break away from those faiths, and because of this I've been able to help one muslim to stay alive.
What needs to happen is that ANY controlling ideology has to be scrutinised and adherents who force others to conform to their ideas should be taken accountable for their cruel actions. I for one have not lost my faith in God, I go by the indisputable law of "love God, neighbour and yourself" against which all other laws hang. By loving ones fellowman one lets them think and believe what they chose. I can imagine that the only two questions God needs to ask us at our judgment day: do you love me and your fellowman?.....This is my view at this time of my life.
Fascinating point of view from Imtiaz... It also puts what ExJW's go through into perspective, in my opinion. I would honestly much rather be an ExJW than an Ex Muslim. Perhaps that's just my fear of the unknown, though.
Excellent reality based conversation. Will share.
awesome work, Lloyd, as always.
Very good interview, and it's further reinforcing my belief that all high-control groups are just using the same methods but with different flavours. It makes me very hopeful that everyone could one day be taught to spot a handful or two of tell-tail red flags to keep everyone out of these groups, whether they be religious, corporate, political, or otherwise.
Very nice conversation Lloyd. Important and I appreciate it.
This guy is absolutely awesome. He was really humane and down-to-earth through the whole video.
excellent testimonies ...Awesome courageous men ....thanks
Beautiful place. Thanks for sharing the georgeous background at that river. Interesting video too.
The Friendly Atheist sent me here. Good video! New subscriber!
Imtiaz really helps put a human face on Muslims (now Ex-Muslim of course) which is wonderful because it's hard to see this sometimes watching too much of North American media. (I'm in Canada)
John what you and Imtiaz are doing is amazing and is sort of packaged in a loving or humanistic sort of way. Certainly not militant Atheistic and that is entirely refreshing.
I think this kind of attitude will go the furthest in helping make things better. Well done.
Very good video people of different Faith's come together & discover they're not so different after all.
I feel so bad for people who go through such shit.
I outgrew religion the way people outgrow tooth fairy, santa Claus etc. When I was 15, I told my mom that I did not believe in religion. She rolled her eyes at me and said some on the lines of 'kids these days.' But no one in my family ever opposed me, and the most I had to deal with were people giving weird stares or telling me it was just a phase I'd grow out of it. Though I come from a pretty conservative country, I had no idea it could be this bad.
This is absolutely fantastic! Thank you for posting this video.
Thanks for your work John, because of you and many others, the truth is being revealed and understood, by more "fence sitting" believers everyday.Religions, worldwide, are experiencing drastic numbers in "walk always" from their membership, this is a trend that benefits all humankind. Keep up the good work.
Great video. Enlightening ,sad,frustrating, to say the least. Thanks for introducing me to faithtofaith. His best point is that there is a commonality.
Dude.. FOCUS!! Otherwise, thank you very much. Interesting topic. I've noticed the same thing before, especially when watching videos with Ayaan Hirsi Ali here on TH-cam, that the similarities between fundamentalist Muslims and JWs are striking!
I just saw that this video was on the Friendly Atheist blog. I'm glad your work is getting out there. Your videos are always informative and intelligent and have helped tremendously in my own leaving of the organization and converting out of religion to a life of reason and wonder. Thank you for your hard work! Do you have a patreon account?
answered my own question. Duh. I see you have a patreon. Sorry, I am usually only listening to the videos as I rarely have time to sit and watch. :)
good stuff Lloyd - interview videos are your best work
Brilliant. More such public conversations needed.
Please link to other channels I should sub if possible.
Social connection as vital as food and water
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/we-are-hard-wired-to-be-social-248746
"...when we are rejected or experience other social 'pain' our brains 'hurt' in the same way they do when we have physical pain."
One word...... BRILLIANT
GREAT idea to get together former members of these high control groups. I totally agree, REAL action needs to be taken against these immoral gangs like wt. Get public, make a scene, and change will happen.
Fantastic interview!
very informative video, always good to get fresh perspective
Interesting interview. Thanks :)
The thing is, IMO, about the term Muslim is it's clear definition.
This was interesting! Thanks!
Hello. Thank you for uploading this video. Very insightful and helps me see the inhumanness of this non-scriptural practice. Can you or someone please tell me what would be the underlying motive of the Governing Body to run the organisation. If they can see what we see, surely they must have an ulterior motive for their work?
Interesting and amazing!!!
Are you in London at the moment?
Shannon Elliott Thats not a nice thing to say?! Cedars is a great guy, who really helps people.
I think Lloyd is an amazing guy! If you need a taxi while in London let me know I am a London cabbie!
guys i want to leave my country what should i do how should i do it i m an ex-muslim guys any one could help me change my life i be grateful forver i did leave my faith this year guys so any one any country where i can speak english and live and study i be happy.i can't ask for asylum i don't want ,to cause uproar for my family any one could reach me pleas
Don't let anyone try to kill you.belive me Jesus was only their to deliver a message and teach .
One is ex-Muslim, the other is ex-JW . . . but are they ex-religion too?
+LeesaDeAndrea I think Imtiaz is or was atheist and non-religious - I don't know know about John.
+LeesaDeAndrea There is a strong hint in the fact that we are both promoting a website called "FaithToFaithless.com" ;)
You can be a spiritual person w/o being part of a religion. The point is really to get away from the dogma and learn to trust one's own discernment....not giving your power away to some religious figurehead be that a guru, the pope or the governing body...
Thought that was maniu pacquio