If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, you will have to be satisfied with remembering October 4th 2015 as the day congregations worldwide were informed of the scrapping of the Theocratic Ministry School – over a week after the news was leaked in advance by a Bethel source.
But if you are a former Jehovah’s Witness, or an “apostate,” you can take pride in thinking of October 4th 2015 as the day when more ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses than have ever before appeared in a single video with a message of love and concern for those still trapped inside the Watchtower organization.
Organized to commemorate the anniversary of this website’s launch on October 4th 2011, the short montage film represents the joint efforts of 62 “apostates” from far-flung corners of the globe. Rather than trying to condemn Jehovah’s Witnesses, the video sets out to debunk the damning stereotypes of apostates as disseminated in Watchtower publications.
Instead of appearing as foaming-at-the-mouth mentally diseased vagrants, the apostates in the video are calm, rational people who have walked away from a religion that causes far more harm than good, and is ultimately untrue.
It is hoped that the video, with its intriguing title, will reach out to as many Jehovah’s Witnesses on YouTube as possible, and get them to rethink their position regarding doing objective research into their cherished beliefs.
[Please note: Due to a music rights issue, the video does not play on all handheld devices.]
JWsurvey Day was first announced at the end of August, and the collaborative video was given the working title of “What you DON’T know about apostates.” A Facebook group was set up, and the script was made available online for people to choose which lines they wanted to speak.
However, as more and more people signed up for an ever-diminishing number of parts in the video, it became clear that something special was happening. The sheer number of people who wanted to share in delivering the video’s message was an event in itself.
Last night, as the deadline for the video drew close, I stayed up until 4 am making last-minute edits. Over 4 gigabytes of video submissions had to be sorted and whittled down to a final 15-minute short film. As the video took on its own personality I noticed a change was needed. The original title would be scrapped in favor of “62 Apostates Who Love Jehovah’s Witnesses.” (There are actually more than 62 apostates appearing in the film, but because I would rather downplay the figure than exaggerate, I have counted only those who speak in the final edit.)
I sincerely hope that we can do the video justice by making sure it is shared as widely as possible. It’s wonderful to see the enthusiastic response already on Facebook and Twitter from ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses who are enjoying seeing their own thoughts about Watchtower verbalized by such a wide array of people.
Special mention must also be made of all those who have worked in translating the subtitles for the video. Presently there are 8 languages available, but a further 9 are in the pipeline. Michel Mix (pictured below), a member of the JWsurvey Day group, has done a fantastic job of coordinating the translation project from his base in Colombia.
Oftentimes when I do activism work on my own (for example, a large JW Broadcasting rebuttal), I can find the process genuinely tiring – and even mildly frustrating. But when I am working with so many sincere people, I feel the burden lifted. Activism becomes the unbridled joy it should be. I am working with like-minded individuals who share my passion towards an important goal, which is one of the best feelings you can have in life.
A tribute to JWsurvey
When I first set up JWsurvey, it did feel like “my website” – and I still catch myself speaking in those terms occasionally. But as I look back on the work that has been done and the huge potential for making a difference moving forward, I find those ideas are shifting. JWsurvey is becoming more of a legacy.
In the most recent 2015 survey, one of the questions asks which resources have been most instrumental in the person’s awakening from Watchtower indoctrination. The answers as of October 4, 2015 are as follows…
In total, 1,218 have so far credited this website as either very or extremely influential in their awakening. This figure, and the figures for other similar websites, are simply astonishing. It is a sobering reminder of just how much work the internet is doing in chipping away at Watchtower’s stranglehold on people’s minds.
It also means the role of this website is more important than any one single person, which is why I have been gradually expanding our team of writers and illustrators over the past year or so. My eventual aim is to leave JWsurvey in the capable hands of the next generation of activists, to hopefully continue on long after the bulk of my work is finished.
In the meantime, there is still much work to do – work that is made far more enjoyable when I allow myself pause to reflect on what has been accomplished. In that spirit, I hope you will join me in celebrating today, October 4th, as “JWsurvey Day.” And I leave you with some short messages that have been sent in by our readers…
Please note, I haven’t been able to publish all the comments as some are too long, but I will try to find a way of somehow adding some to this article either as links to Word documents or as comments.
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[Anonymous]
Put simply, JWsurvey enabled me to fully wake up. As an elders daughter who had pioneered – I faded from the organisation aged 21. I wanted to think for myself; I started to have an awareness that my thoughts were being controlled. This was not easy; I left behind my whole community to embark on a journey to educate myself and build a new support network.
Now aged 30, it has only been in the last 18 months that I have been fully awoken and free from JW indoctrination, thank you to JWsurvey and the John Cedars YouTube channel. This intelligent, insightful, educational, humorous and honest website, truly helped me to understand the facts as to why I had left. For this I will be eternally grateful. In the past two years I have been able to live a normal happy life, without any guilt, fear or regret – this is priceless. In addition to this, my child had been born free. One of the greatest gifts I could give him.
Please keep up the good work! You do an amazing job.
Thank you once again.
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Yvette Rucker
I became a witness in my early 20s. The promise of a paradise earth where there is peace and unity among all mankind especially between a husband and wife appealed to me. I wanted this kind of world for my children. I studied and became a witness hoping and praying my husband would too and he did, but it did not make my marriage better it only made it worse. My husband believing that I now was scripturally bound to obey gave him total control and he was even more abusive. There came a day when I realize that if I stayed with him he would kill me and our children so I made the decision to leave and I did.
Of course, I was no longer good association because I separated from my husband and eventually divorced him to protect myself and the children. Being a single mother was hard I had to work 2 jobs to support us but at least we did not have to live in constant fear. The congregation had little to do with me so I received no help from them I was completely on my own I missed so many meetings trying to work and take care of my children.
My older daughter introduced me to your website because she no longer believed it was the truth, because of the way we were treated. She pointed out scriptures that showed that her dad was not the loving Christian husband he should have been and that the elders were told and sympathized with him cutting me off from a faith I believed in wholeheartedly all those years.
I did read JWsurvey and all the links as well. JWsurvey helped me loose the fear and guilt that comes with leaving what you come to believe is Gods organization. I have been able to heal and i am still healing. Thank you so much for the real truth about the Watchtower organization
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Julia Douglas
I remember when JWSurvey was just an idea and Lloyd was only known by his pseudonym and had yet to officially break ties with the Watchtower. I had already been disfellowshipped and was using my true identity on Facebook, but that’s not to say I was truly free of the brainwashing and programming. I struggled for a long time… and reading the articles on JWSurvey proved to be a regular source of fact-based, reliable information that I have come to rely on.
It’s always exciting when there is a leak, but more importantly, JWSurvey has been a comfort to the demons plaguing my mind. Lloyd has a remarkable ability to quickly read, digest, comprehend and effectively refute Watchtower propaganda, time and time again. Sensationalism would only detract from the well-reasoned information that JWSurvey presents, and Lloyd does not take short cuts. For all of these reasons, I would say JWSurvey is one of the go to websites that I regularly refer people to, and I hope that Lloyd and his team will continue to maintain the high standards of quality in the days ahead.
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Patricia Burford
Susannah
Uwe Schoning
I da/df myself in 2003 … but defended the JWs and their policies a long time. Somehow in 2011 this stopped. A year later I knew I had to work up my past and I was searching for people with the same thoughts… that something in the organization was not right!
I found a German forum of escapists but felt like I would never fit in… and then I found JWSurvey.org and the kind words on this page showed me, that the author was indeed empathic and would exactly know what I was thinking. His objective arguments and the information he provided confirmed me… I had not left the truth… I left a dangerous cult. And his non-agressive activism showed me, that it is not a bad thing to be an apostate…
JWSurvey helped me to understand, that the truth about the “truth“ is a story about deluded old men, who think their claim to lead is based on a story Jesus told.
JWSurvey showed me, that apostates do indeed care for the people still caught in the organization… and are indeed good people.
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Mika
Visiting JWSurvey helped me get an idea of what to expect beforehand from the shunning that was sure to and did follow my exit from the religion, I also found needed encouragement and support from the articles and community of posters. I have always favored the honest, logical, balanced approach and visitor feedback your website & YouTube channel affords which made it enjoyable to view/visit.
One thing it helped I’m sure many visitors realize, is the choice we had all along to free, happy lives without instilled fear through cult doctrine. JWSurvey isn’t extremist nor does it promote fairy tales, it simply states the facts and sets an example in speaking up against the harmful effects of cults in an empathetic way that many could relate to.
JWSurvey gave me much courage and support while helping me realize freedom and peace of mind were already mine, I only need reclaim it from the undue influence of the cult that influenced me to believe otherwise. JWSurvey educated me on effective ways I could help others. I know it would have been more challenging for me had I not came across your activism efforts, but I am beyond grateful that I did.I don’t want to sound overly dramatic here, but it is true when I sum it up in one sentence, JWSurvey helped me reclaim long-overdue emotional freedom and joy in my life.
THANK YOU!
(Editors note: This article was updated on 1 August 2017)
Further reading…
Video trailers…
These are beautiful people. This article brightens my day. The people in this article say things I want to say. You guys explain it all. This is the best article I’ve read so far because it is so moving, meaningful and helpful. I feel very comfortable asking people to read this article. It’s honest and explains the reality of what we go through. That’s awesome.
With no hatin’ Article explains it all. Its really helpful.
Very proud to have been a part of this wonderful project. The video was beautifully edited, and the message came through perfectly. It was delivered with strength, warmth, and genuine concern. Thanks again to Lloyd for all the hard work, and for caring enough to do what you do for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Everyone involved is awesome for reaching out, and coming together as one voice. Activism *is* teamwork, as Lloyd says. Here’s hoping more continue to wake up, and break free!
-AAB-
I also want to add Susannah said some things that I’m now going through. She said, “I did not even realise I needed to heal. It has helped me recognise the folly of the beliefs. It let me get in contact with my anger, my sadness, it let me cry and then forgive. This is a cult that has held my family in fear and still does.” I relate to her. John Cedars did good.
Happy, my comments resonated. I hope we all heal. I feel it is possible now. I even think my family could come out. Why not? We did!
Thank you Amanda-Allan-Blair and everyone else apart of this project.
Annnnd now I’m sitting here crying. Well, that was absolutely beautiful. Thank you very much Lloyd, and all others who shared in the making of that video, and the making and sustaining of this site and other “apostate” sites that bring real truth to those who are starving for it. May you ALL be around MUCH longer than the Org itself.
I agree with JohnBoy, Thank you, you guys. It’s an awesome video.
I think it would be a nice idea to organise groups or meet ups in different countries. One of the worst things that an ex JW face when leaving the cult is the loss of the social network and it is truly devastating. But if you meet regularly with people that are in the same situation it can be encouraging. It is beneficial for the ex and for the people thinking to leave the cult in the future.
I agree David. I am so alone but I am still so afraid. ‘It’s irrational’, as people who do not understand the fear and control, would say. Being a witness trying to escape is like coming of a drug. It’s like going ‘cold turkey’ without a support network.
I would love to find others who could support me as I would like to support them. But how? Giving names out could be opening the door to the WT police. How do we find each other? Even the fb pages under an assumed name is dangerous…. It’s a form of paranoia.
The fear is real. The looking over your shoulder when you talk to your df’d kids is real…. irrational, but real.
It’s what the “Witlesses” call “leading a double life”. You don’t HAVE to interact with ex-JWs if that’s not a viable option. There are 8 Billion individuals on this Big Blue Ball. Make NEW friends! Anywhere and everywhere!! Starbucks? McDonalds? The local pub? The mall? Clubs? The Gym? Night classes in…basket-weaving? Take up a new hobby or sport. Get out there, on the sly. Lie if you have to. LIE, LIE, LIE. PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY!!! Cover your tracks. Remember, your business is YOUR business. To coin an old phrase, “Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.” And that’s how you build a NEW support network!!! Get out there. Don’t be shy. Use your imagination and you can work wonders. If you’re a friend, people will want to be your friend. I’m sure you have a lot to offer. Believe in yourself. Be CONFIDENT!!!
Remember, you have been conditioned to feel insecure! It reminds me of something I once read, perhaps on this site, about how circus elephants are conditioned. As babies, their leg is tied to a stake by a metal chain. When they get used to the idea that they “cannot” break free, the chain is replaced by an ordinary rope. Even as an adult, the elephant never bothers trying to break free, even though it could easily do so.
But you’re a lot smarter than an elephant.
So many EXCELLENT COMMENTS!
@Awake! – In my position, I call it being a “double agent.” I am a secret agent on a mission. This mission involves the lives and sanity of 8 million people!
I used to have a hobby which required much time and money but shortly after I woke up about 2 years ago, I decided my bothers and sister need ME! So I gave up my hobby. This is far more important.
My advice to any who are thinking of breaking free, do it slowly. Like Awake! said, drift. Make new friends. Go ahead and yes, “lead a double life” if you have to. One of the first things I did when I broke free from the Borg was make a bucket list of thing I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. And let me tell you ***** IT WAS THE MOST EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE *****
A few of the things I just had to do:
-I called up my disfellowshipped family and friends that I actively, naively, stupidly, ignorantly SHUNNED for YEARS and I begged for their forgiveness. My own sister. God damn….. I’m starting to tear up thinking about this. I called her up and poured my heart out to her. It was earth moving, to see her and my nephew and nieces after all those years. I need to stop here about this but…. just do IT. Everyone I contacted openly embraced me and forgave me. I was humbled. Truly, THAT WAS LOVE. Shunning was something I could no longer live with. At the time when I contacted them all, I was planning to make my resignation from this cult public so I didn’t care about the consequences of my actions. But amazingly, nobody ratted me out and I’ve been 2 years an active apostate while remaining an “active” JW.
-I registered to vote. After seeing the biggest traitor in the history of the United States get elected TWICE, I decided to do something I have always wanted to do! I contemplated becoming a Super Delegate but that would put me in the public light. Anyways, I can’t wait for next year’s elections!
-I bought an American flag. Yeah, I’ve always been super patriotic (secretly of course :) ) but I’ve never been able to do anything about it. Now Old Glory hangs in my office with pride. When I went with my colleagues to a *baseball* game, I sang the national anthem like nobody’s business. And it felt great!
-I bought lottery tickets. I didn’t win anything but the sheer act of doing it was great. I know it sounds stupid but if I won the megaball, I’d tell everyone to go to hell.
-I smoked an Arturo Fuente cigar which according to my colleagues is one of the best you can buy. Along the way, I’ve smoked everything imaginable, just once.
-I celebrated my birthday. I never told my colleagues at my new job that I was a witness, despite being under control of the Borg at the time, since my last experience of telling everyone I was a JW led to the loss of most of my office friends and subsequent dislike for my job. So they threw me a birthday bash. It was awesome! I’m not looking forward to showing them the same level of reciprocity! LOL :)
-The other biggies you’ll have to use your imagination for. Just know, I completed my bucket list in less than a month and repeated the process many, many times. The level of euphoria I experienced was what I could only describe as going to heaven.
And all of this, while still remaining “active” and keeping all of my friends and family. I’ve managed to also keep my MS status by using the “health issue” excuse so I don’t have to do much at all. I have a feeling though they will be asking me to reconsider since I am relatively young and indeed a very healthy and fit specimen. One of the elders has been giving me the stink eye recently because I’ve recently turned down most assignments. And he always hated me. He can kiss my apostate ass.
But I have been through the whole process of breaking free. It is amazing. That is all I can say.
I agree, fellow ex-JW’s can only do so much to help. You have to become self-actualized in order to grow. Check out human theorist Robert Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and see where you are at personally. (It’s not as hokey as it sounds, I promise). I agree with Awake, some day there may be no JW’s, which would mean calling yourself an ex-JW pointless. Didn’t John Lennon say something about just joining the human race, we all shine on…..yada yada.
Breaking from the cult is the first step. But we also need to get rid of the cult mentality as well.
Years of indoctrination has created a distorted view of reality.
We are just people that not feel confortable investing our lives in spreading lies invented by 7 deluded/crazy guys.
I am personaly a Christian and live a normal life.
We are not apostate or evil. After all if the same rule apply all JWs are apostates, because the majority has left the previous religion.
But wordly people can show tollerance, can give them space to build their properties.
But the JWs who should be an example of Christ love can show the highest example of cruelty by using families and friends as a weapon.
Their behaviour reminds me the mafia families which try to obtain what they want by treathing the well being of family members.
It am truly shocked how heartless and brutal the JWs can be.
Therefore if we organise gatherings to encourage each other is perfectly normal. You do not need to hide or feel guilty.
We love truth and honesty and we have decided to leave a lie spreading cult paying a huge price.
This is something to be proud of not ashemed of.
The JWs should feel ashamed, they read the Bible everyday but like the Pharisees are cabable ot cruel acts and fail to understand that they part of a commercialised cult.
They want people to be like a Big Mac, all the same. You can think differently and still love God and be a honest person.
For the JWs they key to be a good person is to worship 7 men that have cleverly created a ficticious position to controll and dominate people through brain washing.
I think as formet cult members we have a moral duty of spreading the message. We are not against religion or the Bible, we want that people have the right to make a personal decision without being punished and treated with intollerance.
JW’s can be the most judgmental, capricious, sanctimonious frauds of ALL religions on earth today. And that says a lot!
I know, sadly, because I was one of those myself- always judging this one and that one for the least infinitesimal “offenses” like coming to the meeting late, handing in your service time late, not reporting AT LEAST the average amount of hours (9.whatever hours), failing to shave before a meeting, chewing gum at the meeting, sending a text message at the meeting, wearing a tie that is too colorful, wearing socks that are too colorful, not giving a comment at the meeting, skipping a meeting, the list is endless….
And look at all of these “infractions” of MEN! Did not Jesus warn about this?!?!?!?!
Yet, while a Borg, you don’t even notice that you are a self-righteous prick. Until you finally break free!
Hi Tara,
Find us over at Ex-JW Recovery Group 3: https://www.facebook.com/groups/xjwrg3/.
You are so far from being alone, as this group shows everyday. You might want to follow or join under an alias since the group is open. I wish you peace. ~Jill
thanks Jill. I will have to make up an alias. Been meaning to do it but still worried as a witness looks after my computer needs when I crash it…. I do that a lot. not very computer savvy lol.
I’ve loved coming to this site to see what the latest news is regarding JW’s. Lots of great information, and ideas to think about. Breaking away from being a Jehovah’s Witness is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you were raised as one. You don’t even realize how you reason things out at times. When I left, I left because I never believed it anymore. I was disfellowshipped because I was living in sin, but never thought of it in that manner. Being yourself and making a choice is not a sin. Nor is believing in lies! I still know people who are inactive, but still believe, and I’m hoping that sites like this can make them make sense of what Jehovah Witnesses organization really is. A scam and cult at it’s worst! Many thanks to Lloyd and everyone who works at JW Survey! Plus all the apostates from around the world. Your voices do make a difference.
Well said! You are not “living in sin;” you are simply living!
I too was raised a JW. That caused so much harm to my childhood. That’s all I can say for now about that.
For me, you can say I’ve been “living in sin” for 2 years. My friend at Bethel, 7+ years. I’d say his “sins” are far worse than mine and he is in good standing to this day. His friends also for several years. Others I know have been “living in sin” for many years although not apostate like myself. I now consider myself a Super Apostate. I’m so determined to see the collapse of this cult, you have no idea.
Thoroughly enjoyed this informative and well balanced vid.
Congratulations on a job well done, thanks and hugs to all involved.
I loved the video and the article and jwsurvey has been the most helpful for me in dealing with the loneliness that I am feeling in my situation after a marking talk was given to me a few months ago. Thank you so much to all of those who contributed to making it. It warms my heart so much.
The Watchtower has the ability to bewitch and control the minds and emotions and consciences of eight million people. They are deceptive and give the impression of holiness but we were able to see through the deception but when we are the only one out of a whole congregation or circuit who sees the wickedness of the Organization, we are made to stand alone and are supposed to “get over it” while everyone else at the Hall or circuit is led to believe that the Society is saintly, while we are “crazy”. The depth of our despair and loneliness can be almost unbearable but this site is the one place that we can go to that we feel not alone anymore. It has literally saved our lives.
The skill of the Watchtower leaders at controlling eight million people is amazingly good. We were taken in by them but we finally woke up to the lies and we need to be thankful to all those who go through the work to expose the lies and cover-ups like Lloyd has done with this web site and his videos.
We need to be happy that our eyes were finally opened up to the kind of people we are dealing with when so many other people are still being duped into wasting their one and only precious life away working for an organization that cares absolutely nothing about them.
The Watchtower promised a paradise earth and that was the lure that they used and it worked good on us. We put off our lives in the here and now for the “future” life in the paradise earth but now that our eyes have been opened to the lies, we can start to live our lives now and enjoy our life finally without all the guilt.
At the end of the day, we are the winners. We are making a stand against our abusers. We are the ones who are strong and who finally have our own identity. We are the ones who are free.
This right here.
I take my hat off to anyone who is able to stand up to the Watchtower. This is a very sweet video which hopefully should dispel any ridiculous ideas JW’s have about ‘apostates’.
Ones like John Cedars have the guts to tell it like it is and at the same time, allowing us to do the same thing by means of this website. Congrats for your anniversary. JWSurvey has been a real success.
You all really hit the nail on the head with this one. I was 4 th gen witness and a pioneer. I was luck enough to find a husband who was a grandson of a former witness who escaped his sisters husbands persecution when his parents died. God bless you all for your support. You have given us both a second lease on life. Hugs and kisses Cedars to you and your family!
I think when the ‘sister’ said ‘you don’t have to be afraid’. That’s when I broke down and cried. Thank you Lloyd and everyone in this video, Thank you everyone who comments… thank you for giving me a ‘home’.
When it will be available at the JW Broadcasting? = )
I am so touched by this video, what an amazing message! I am a born and raised baptised JW and am struggling right now with leaving. I came onto this site right after the “tight pants” talk. Which made me question where has the love gone, what an ignorant and irresponsible comment from a Governing Body member. I did something I never had the guts to do before. Google JW’ s… this lead me here. I am one that participated in the survey this year and checks this site pretty much every day for updates and Cedars utube channel. Guess you could call me an apostate stalker :) . I am in the position if I fully walk away I will have NO family and NO friends. That has been made very clear to me from an early age. I will be completely alone and that is unbearably painful and terrifying. I have had many losses and love those in my congregation dearly, I just wish their love was unconditional, as mine is for them. I am making this first ever post to tell you all “Thank you!”. Especially Llyod who has dedicated so much time, money, and effort to helping others like myself. I don’t know what the future holds for me or what my beliefs are anymore. It’s just nice to know that others have made or making the difficult journey to freedom and maybe I can too!
What a nice comment. Believe me when I say I have been there. I used to do the exact thing, checking here every night to see any new articles. My husband and I left 2 years ago. He had some family that will still keep a minimal relationship with him. But me, not one person. No one, and i come from a big family. I truly feel like all of my family and friends died. They won’t answer my texts, or say a word to me, even when my daughter, their grandchild/niece was born. No one came, or even called. I am and think I always will be heartbroken over this. What you face is really so huge and you are so brave to be able to even think of facing it. But you know there is an incredible freedom that comes, doing what is right, being free from that judgement and able to just be yourself. I also think for every person that leaves because they find out it isn’t true, they open the door for more to come through. I really wish you the best. I am the girl who reads the last line in this video, and I think it is so true..be honest, and true to yourself, and learn what real freedom is all about.
You have us now Sarah. I have you :) x
YES!
Sarah, enjoy life to the fullest with your husband and children. Do not let the past cloud you so that you miss out on your own children’s upbringing. May God bless your home and remember Psalm 27:11 “Even if my own father and mother abandon me, God himself will take me in. “
You are not alone Texas :) you have us for what it is worth. It took courage for you to comment :) I took that step a few months back. Lloyd said he would try and get a forum going for us all to chat freely. I think we have a new family. One born from adversity, from an organisation that preached love but didn’t fully disclose how conditional it was. I come on here more often than I go on fb. I’ll look out for you :)
@Texas
Check out my response to Tara’s comment up above. She was expressing similar concerns about having no one on the “outside”. I offered some tried and tested advice. Good Luck t’ y’all!!!
Moved to tears by all the courage and love shown in the video and article. With everything that has been happening lately I feel that God is finally listening to the prayers of those victimized by this cult. I see a whole new meaning to the often quoted words of Psalm 37:10,11 10 “Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there. But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” This video gives me a real hope for that peace, as a still active member of a JW congregation I thank every person who participated for your message of love.
Can you see, with your minds eye
People dwelling together?
Sorry has passed, peace at last,
Life without tears or pain….
Yes it’s a Kingdom song but perhaps we are the mirror image for who it is really intended.
Some of the scriptures I now look at and really wonder if we, the ones who have escaped or escaping, physically or mentally are not the ones being mentioned and not the ones who presume it speaks of them.
I’ve been reading the Greek scriptures again with that new perspective. They truly are part of the Babylon the Great they love to criticize, an ursurping false religion, masking as the one true faith, while really hunting down those that truly want a relationship with their creator. With the purpose of completely draining them of that love and hope in him they once possesed. There is no way the God of the Bible lets them walk off into the sunset without their judgement day.
same here r 67 exactly the same ruthlee. its almost synchronicty
Careful, reading the bible without the oversight of the all powerful and all wise slave class. (That’s Masters of your faith to you, little camper.) Will lead to strange and unusual conclusions. Next thing you know, you’ll belive you possess a conscience.
good stuff John, glad to see you had some Aussies in the film. Down under we Have Paul Grundy J W Facts doing similar good work to rid the planet of this family destroying crowd. Jeff C
This video is a valuable tool for those waking up. The illusion that apostates are devilish can be quashed.
We have told a few still in Jw’s that we consider ourselves apostates to jw.org & that it’s not a word to be scared of.
All it means is that we’re people living in a free world exercising our right to freedom of thought & speech. It’s sad when you see “satan’s governments” being democratic & the “truth” that supposed to set you free is nothing more than mental slavery.
JWsurvey’s four years of service came at the perfect time. Prior to 2011, typical Jehovah’s witnesses would suppress their doubts about the Governing Body’s claim that the Watchtower is God’s visible earthly organization. But after 2011, bizarre changes instituted by the Governing Body became difficult to ignore. During the same time frame, the Watchtower’s child sex abuse cases have become impossible for even the most hard-core witness to shrug off.
JWsurvey has addressed many of these Watchtower problems over the last 4 years: Watchtower founding father Charles Russell was demoted from the faithful slave class. The asinine overlapping generation teaching became the latest lie used to support the false 1914 doctrine. The seven “anointed” members of the Governing Body claimed that they alone comprise the faithful slave and that surviving the great tribulation requires complete obedience to them. The Watchtower is currently instituting desperate austerity measures and is now begging for money.
Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t need to look beyond than their own JW dot ORG website to find reasons to doubt the validity of Watchtower doctrines and teachings. Just watching the video presentations made by the Governing Body members are enough to sound alarm bells. At a time when many witnesses are realizing that they belong to a destructive religious cult, JWsurvey is here to help them make a transition into a normal life.
@ScotWm .. You ENCAPSULATE PERFECTLY ALL the Reasons since 2011 why the Governing Body is SUCH A FRAUD!! I commented in a Watchtower Study about 6 Months Ago that there are NO GREEK or HEBREW Words for …. ‘ GOVERNING BODY’ in the Bible!!! …. There was an AUDIBLE DEATHLY GASP from Many in the Congregation & the Watchtower conductor found it hard to get comments after that as Brothers & Sister were Mentally trying to GRASP the Meaning to what I said !! I KNEW by certain brothers & Sisters turning their backs on me after the meeting & some were trying to avoid conversation with me & ALL BECAUSE I SPOKE the TRUTH…. This is HOW WICKED, MANIPULATIVE & EVIL these 7 MEN ARE that they INSTILL THIS FEAR in PEOPLE to SPEAK THE ‘REAL TRUTH’!!!
To ALL of YOU that have Related How You Feel & Your Experiences Really Shows CEDARS(Lloyd) How Much he is Appreciated !! .. So Let’s All of Divert our WASTED CONTRIBUTIONS to these 7 CHARLATANS who are No Better than Bygone SNAKE OIL SALESMEN & Lets DONATE to Cedars Website which can Help COMFORT & Give a SUPPORT NETWORK to Those who are STRUGGLING EMOTIONALLY with the Mental Cruelty that these 7 SILLY LITTLE PYGMIES Impose on People …. NO WAY do they REPRESENT CHRISTLIKE BEHAVIOUR !!
EXCELLENT COMMENT! Something fitting I read on a completely unrelated YouTube video which I wish to share here:
“Don’t lie to the internet. We don’t need a polygraph to know truth.”
Now ain’t that the truth, Jack?
Finally, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE “TRUTH” is coming to light. Yes indeed, “the light is GETTING BRIGHTER” and is shining on the cockroaches in Brooklyn!
We all know that there will ALWAYS be those few self-righteous, arrogant, never-made-a-mistake brothers and sister that will go down with this ship who will NEVER admit they were wrong. How could they? This is all THEY KNOW and they GAVE UP SO MUCH TO STAY IN THIS CULT SO TO LEAVE NOW WOULD BE THE BIGGEST SLAP IN THEIR FACE! But I say good! Let their own pride and arrogance destroy them. It will. Believe me. The more arrogant and prideful you are to admit wrong, the deeper those roots go into your soul.
Investing in psychiatric hospitals and medicines should prove to be very lucrative when 8 million JW’s are left without their mental crutch!
So very encouraging this video for all of us struggling and some even after many years, but hopefully active JW will also view this as I am so convinced that many feel the way TEXAS said.
TEXAS, my heart goes out to you, I understand as I am in a similar position, you have support here and just keep in contact, talk and make friends outside the org, it really helps.
Thanks to all involved and cedars for your outstanding work and care!
@LOL … Ahhh …the RETURN of the INTELLECTUAL !!! …. A Bit Like the RETURN of the JEDI !!!
Didn’t Jesus have some tough love for Laodiceans? I believe he emphasised their ‘lukewarm’, apathetic nature three times.
Oh wait no, Is Laodicean messenger saying we are lukewarm…. hard to imagine when we have been heated up to boiling point within the fiery condemning waters of the WT.
I still find it amusing that some will come to ‘apostate’ websites when they are told not to. It’s a bit like a MOD going into a Biker bar….. sure the door is open but it begs the question ‘why?’
@Tara .. MODS & ROCKERS.., Those were the Good Old Days!!!
Want to remind everyone here about the importance of sharing this video everywhere. Facebook, Twitter, snapchat, Instagram, etc… We really need this video to go viral in order to save lives. Lets get it out there.
will go look. :)
Once a biker chick always a biker chick….
Positively inspiring. I was on the other side for years,
Painfully shunning members of my own family, thinking
I was rightly doing so. Then, after time, I realized that
Was as wrong as two left shoes, I woke up primarily after
The Bethelite who sold my mom a book, called me and
Said he was counting on some money from my Gram’s
Estate after her death, because he mistakenly took their
Kindness as a token inheritance. We had a business so
He assumed we didn’t need the money. It appalled me.
the book was Let God be True back in The very early 50’s.
It was never my fault to compensate for the choices these
Guys make. Now, after years of shunning, I am pretty
Much a loner. This sight gives me a smile.
SSnakessssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Pickled Brain? How about Snow White and the “7 Dwarfs”? JUST SAYIN! lol
Good one! — Another one to add to the New Theocratic Terminology!!! :)
Omg Lord Flash heart and BlackADDER….. they had tight pants you know…WOOF
That’s disgusting but not surprising. How amazing of the title of the old book. “Let God Be True”. Ha ha.
Why do you visit this website? Are you searching for the truth? Most of us are so fed up with the lies and manipulation, so we look to it sources to understand it all… What’s your reason for visiting?
It may seem off topic but was this the Watchtower plan all along to say that we need more money to construct new Kingdom Hall and then say they dont have enough . Was there any new construction done in the first place. I mean in countries other than US and UK. I am from India and i remember seeing the worldwide donation box when i visited my cousin’s Kingdom Hall.
what a wonderful, short , joyful video!
Thank you Cedar and all the others! after over 30 years I have been set free for the last two years ! Although laying low as not to be DF, for my children and family are still ignorant as to the real organization. I hope one day I also can be apart of a video like this! No longer a slave to watchtower lies that have bothered me for the past 15 years.
You’re in the same position as most of us. However, I’ve chosen to “use this short time wisely” (LOL I love using WT quotes against them! :) ) before my family and friends wake up on their own, to help others I know.
Send anonymous emails to everyone in your address book and ask them questions about 587/1914. Send them the link from here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t1T-MFZiHs
to use the WT’s very OWN literature to prove that Jerusalem wasn’t destroyed in 607! Or from the thousands of resources on the internet!
Print out flyers questioning this or other false teachings and distribute them in the Kingdom Hall parking lots 30 minutes before the meeting starts or the night before (Saturday night). I mean if a wind happens to catch your stack of papers and it flies everywhere, then it must be another sign from Jehovah! If the stack stays in place while you distribute it then, it is still a sign from Jehovah because of the “overlapping generations of the four winds” of hot air. Either way, it is a sign and we must look at it that way.
You really need to think about the effect this site has on people. You see the testimonies, no more needed. Why do I open my comment like these? You really need to consider having a Spanish version of this site. There is so much ignorance and so very few resources available for the Spanish speaking crowd. It is no wonder that Latin America is the place where the WT is getting his bigger growth. Last week during the WT study people were still commenting that the FD&S was all of the anointed. Even the elder conducting the study agreed. Another elder had to jump in and correct everyone.
http://www.extj.com for Spanish and links from there will take you further down the rabbit hole of jw secrets.
[off-topic comment removed – please read our posting guidelines before posting again, thank you]
Are you the ghost of c.t. Russell? Speaking to us from the grave? The pyramid has spoken. …
Hi Cedars, I want to thank you so much for helping me wake up last year. Your website and all the other websites contributed to my waking up. After waking up, I have realised that it is a cult . I have many family in and I am trapped inside this cult. :(
It is sad and angering to see how many of them are ignorant and mindless zombies . The biggest fact is , they don’t know they are brainwashed and that’s they are the way they are.
Each topic runs a little longer .I wonder if we could all who visit this site just say thanks if nothing else. Some of us have become quite vocal as we awaken , because it is necessay to voice our thoughts .It’s not just to get an airing, it is because we want to help any who are crying and grieving over all this loss we suffer collectively. Each of us have a unique story, all have found common ground here. For me i think i was staring in the jaws of death for the third time. and it may have been third time lucky but as one of the comments above said they stumbled upon this site (me too) and i was wowed. All these like minded people and fair minded too. I started to read daily and things get better and stronger.How can you thank an anonymous person out there? words seem a bit too little but i do thank you Lloyd so very very much. We may never meet or agree about religion but I do know whatever the driving force that motivated you has made something bigger than your original intention.It’s a GREAT work that you do . I dont want to degenerate into wtower speech, ive had enough saccharin to last a life time.But to the team, the lovely faces out there who spoke for us in the dark,Lloyd and your probably most patient wife and darling daughter with love and true gratitude and tears too, thanks.ruthlee
Oh how I wish I could make my own public video and “come out of the coffin” and join these people! But I have a work to do, along with my Bethel contacts and others. The “harvest work is great, but the workers are few” so you know what we need to do!
The unfortunate fact is all of those people are now “burned” – in other words, their cover is blown. It seems to me that most of those people are mentally stable and sufficiently cunning enough to remain undercover and help expose this cult for what it is! So please consider working from the inside as many more good loving people need your help to wake up! If you are planning on publicly resigning yourself, consider helping to spread the word while your JW “friends” still listen to you. Ask them questions about 587/1914. *****Use the Watchtower’s OWN publications to prove that 1914 is WRONG.***** Once you do that, the entire premise of the JW cult is no longer valid. I don’t think you need to even mention the other dozens of false teachings once the 1914 doctrine is blown. Do you know why the GB is always reminding us to NEVER EVEN LISTEN TO APOSTATE MATERIAL? Because they know that once that “seed of truth” is planted, the whole cult is exposed!
Break free! Free yourself from the control of MEN, the very thing JESUS warned you about! Free your mind! Free your soul! :)
Very well stated, Ur. We will definitely keep working from the inside knowing that when the grass is cut the snakes will show. They are truly trying to round up desenters.
Thank you Lloyd. That video made my day. And to the ones out there struggling, please remember as many have stated already, YOU ARE NO ALONE.
And, most importantly, whatever life you make for yourself when you leave, you will sometimes have a hard time and make mistakes. This is natural as most of us did not learn how to navigate in the real world. Further, many of your JW relatives and friends may point to your failings as a reason you should have stayed. Please be gentle with yourself and know that you are better than their God, better than their religion, and better than most of them.
This is what many in that video have come to realize about the organization
http://youtu.be/u5JnngqQYvc
This is what many in that video have come to realize about the org. John 8:32
http://youtu.be/u5JnngqQYvc
Just want to say a massive thank you to Lloyd and everyone involved in JW Survey, and the EX-JW online community in general. When my doubts first started to seriously fracture my faith, and I took those first terrifying steps online to research my own religion, JW Survey, JW Facts and JW Recovery were there to welcome me, hold my hand, coach me in breaking my indoctrination and give me the independently verifiable information I needed to prove that the WT cult was a sham. Most of all, I learned that these evil “Apostates” were actually some of the kindest, most reasonable and morally upright people I’d ever met, and that these very qualities were often the reason driving them to leave a cold, unreasonable and legalistic cult.
You guys saved my life, and now I can finally LIVE it, as the real and authentic me and not some inauthentic cult zombie drowning in cognitive dissonance and wasted opportunities.
Thank you.
Seeing that this is a rather historical event for JWSurvey, I just wanted to clarify something I wrote down on my survey the other day, that I should have elaborated on. Over the years, you forget things that were important at the time, but certain things come back that were significant in your life. I elaborated in one of the questions about what websites had been instrumental in my leaving. I put down silentlambs.org and watchtowernews.org but I forgot that the watchtowernews was from Randall Watters Freeminds.org website which is still running, I just found out.
He is very brave and has been doing this for a long time like John Cedars ( not quite as long of course, but having a big impact all the same), Bill Bowen and Barbara Anderson who have given so much to make a stand against the very powerful Watchtower Society or the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Powerful in the fact, that they call everyone who leaves and disagrees with them an apostate and also in that they have had an arsenal of lawyer/slaves to do their dirty work for them creating a witchhunt for all these people. This video is like icing on the cake and giving the finger to their cult and cruel dictatorship. I hope it gets viewed far and wide.
Sorry, I should have said Lloyd Evans instead of John Cedars. My apologies to Lloyd.
OT – the new format “No. 1” WT for 2016 is now live… http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp201601/
Reply
I just went to look at it and was about to download when I though…. nope, they can give me a paper copy that I’m not donating for… hey we all have to do our bit for the downfall eh. every little helps. Then I had a thunk to myself… I may not even be at the hall by then so why worry about tomorrow when today has enough wine to see me through.
Cheers and clink clink
Well, in the comic book world, a #1 edition can end up being very valuable down the road. Especially with the WT starting to look like it might be a “limited series”. I think I might have to get one. (This is the first time I’ve wanted a WT in over 6 years, lol.)
Do you think the GB would sign it for us?
Of course! If we throw them a few bucks…
24 years baptized , 5 years at bethel , 10 years as an elder , 4 as school overseer and 6 as congregation secretary ! My awakening was slow and gradual . I still marvel at how misguided I was and how sadly I played a part in misguiding others . Had their been sites like jw survey many years ago … I would have enjoyed the ” real life ” that I am enjoying now . Keep up the fine work !
If your still in you can correct some of those past wrongs by pushing the friends to place scripture over anything the WT prints. Sites like this one will take care of the rest. Revelation 22:18-21, Proverbs 30:5,6 Deutoronomy 18:18-22 that goes for anyone else still in, especially if you give public talks. Direct them back to God and away from false prophets before they lose all faith in scripture.
FRIENDS IT IS A PLEASURE TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE LLOYD TO HANDLE JWSURVEY AND MAN IS HE DOING A GREAT JOB. I FEEL SINCE I BEEN COMING TO THIS SITE THAT I HAVE SLOWED DOWN A LOT ON BOMBARDING THE WATCHTOWER. I NO LONGER SPEW OUT HATE FOR THAT CULT.i HAVELEARNED TO MAKE THOSE 7 OLD BENT OVER MEN MY MAIN TARGET TO DECLARE WAR ON. I ACTUALLY HATE THEM BECAUSE THEY THINK NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING BUT THEM AND TO HANG US IF WE DISAGREE WITH THEM. I believe they have taken so many of them md pills that there is no hope for them. they are hateful. especially that clown in Australia Jackson. I loved it when mr stewart swore him in. mr stewart drug it slowly, to make this creep to let him know that he was now under someone elses power. I know that killed him. I bet he was so dam mad but he had to hide it. how about the times when asked a question he would reply “now t6hats a good question” he did not mean a word he said. Jackson is mr potato head.i cannot stand him. I cant wait to see some of those 7 old sex starved old men get their payback. something has to happen to those 7 creeps. that’s all friends- all you have a nice day or night. love all you. I do feel for those slaves that is 8 million of them- brainwashed and no where to turn to;. they have taken so many of those md pills that there seems no hope for them. in closing you may wonder what a md pill is. it is a mentally diseased pill. lol
I cannot believe that we are the only ones who have seen the light. What does it take to convince the majority to leave before they have to turn the lights off? May God bless all those who have seen the light and may the rest wake up soon. The ship is going down quick.