Cult Survivors: Was Membership Your Choice?

[tannerwaterbury]

When I was a kid, I was placed into a foster home, and the foster parents were Jehova's Witnesses. They were some of the cruelest people I have known, and I still have a dislike of JH's after living with them. Also, when I was a kid, I would always celebrate holidays and my birthday...EXCEPT WHEN I WAS LIVING WITH THEM! I swear I thought I was being punished by the State and my punishment was living with these people. Their adoptive son felt the same way.

[scepticreader]

Love your video, Brenda. I actually read your book earlier this year. Someone had left a copy at my favorite coffee shop in San Franciso. Btw, you are a cutie! (wink)

[graceexplosion]

Good interview. Insightful.

[SororThothma]

My nephew is a member of a local Baptist mega church, of which has very cult qualities about it (as do all churches, really). Any attempt to speak with him about religion in general or his beliefs specifically causes him to start shouting, to accuse me of being Satan's agent and of being damned to Hell and then he just retreats and refuses to have any interaction with anyone at all. He is almost 16yrs and he completely creeps me out - and his mega Baptist parents are completely OK with it.

[krystalbelle01]

my mother did this to me at 6. I understand you completely. How did you get over it so well. My mask was becoming Mr.Spock, just totally no emotions. When I got out, my world collapsed, and I've been trying to find out what being normal were.

[InFromTheVoid]

What if the cult you left WAS Christianity??? :( Talk about feeling there's no where to go.

[OutoftheCocoon]

You deal with JWs who try to punish you for being disfellowshipped by smiling at them when you encounter them and telling them that you will love them no matter how badly they treat you because that is what Jesus would want you to do. Then watch their holier-than-thou reaction and thank God you are no longer one of them. Then walk away and hold your head high..

[bababybwoo]

they don't really know what a cult is! how do you deal with the witnesses trying to silently punish you all over again for being disfellowshipped?

[DanielMcDirty]

Jehovah's Witnesses will say they're not a cult. But any cult will say they're not a cult.

[BELTED007]

Thanks Brenda I needed to hear that... I am in the same boat!

[DanielleJoyHunter]

Brenda, I made the same choice at 18. My family still talks to me, but I wonder when they will receive "New Light" about someone "like me" and begin shunning me. I feel that it's coming.

[akashafuhr]

For years Danielle My mother pushed me away and pulled me back. I did not lie to her I kept saying I wont go back But im her first her lil girl so she kept trying.. Then I thought about it..  When things were fine she shunned me when it was bvious I was ok She shunned me When things were bad she was there with open arms "come back to jehovah" kinda way..

[dasnasdi]

With all of the people I have heard use the term, cult, I can only find one common denominator: they were all trying to demonize a religion they disliked.

That term carries with it a lot of fear, and I think thats the point. People who talk of cults are not trying to help people to come to an accurate understanding about the group or groups in question, they are simply trying to make people afraid of them.

[OutoftheCocoon]

It's not good to generalize about anything unless you've done research. So research what "cult" means. Keep in mind that using the word "cult" doesn't necessarily induce fear; being involved with one does. I can hear the term "Jonestown cult" and not be afraid, but I think if I had lived through the mass suicide, it would be a different story. Also, don't get hung up on a label. Recognize the contents. That's what's important.

[dao3rd]

Brenda............ou are the best. Factual and informative. I divorced my 2nd wife because she got active in this cult. She drove my family and friends away, not to mention her own too. Thank God I realized in time. I was about to put some money and property I had in both our names. I am grateful that she got indoctrinated at about this time. So, I saved a lot of money and and grief over her cult membership. Thanks again, Brenda.

[FreeAtLast1914]

I'm with UneFemme. Even the Bible instructs us to test what we hear to make sure it comes from God. What would a religion called "the truth" have to fear from a test, anyway?

Do those who believe the earth is round fear a test that intends to disprove this? Nope, we say test away. Testing an actual truth will do nothing but confirm it.

[Punkrockidiot2]

Its not the ones at the bottoms fualt. Must forgive the "Leaders of this."

Peace.

[unefemme2010]

Praying for the salvation of all, especially cult leaders, heals my soul, always!

[hazel43717]

Well done brenda! Love your videos they are always very infromative in a fun and easy way to understand! Wish you would bring back the memorial vid though *wink* Keep it up.. blessings to you! Hazel x

[unefemme2010]

Even the bible says to test every spirit to see if it is truly from God. A true religion questions everything especially false religions.

[BringtheLight1980]

Kindred spirits. I figured it out when I was about 9 (raised 0-18)

Thanks for doing this.

[floydiousdcco]

Man, you and I have been down the same road at about the same ages.

[unit023]

i used to think it was my choice...but i was so young and impressionable i realize now it wasn't. If you can join my group on facebook - Cult Survivors

[WWIIGGAANN]

At 18 I made the decision to leave this cult. I left many members of my family behind. I like many ex members of this cult cannot forgive the perpetual mental abuse and blatant lies portrayed as christianity.

At 50 it still angers me to see this organisation continuing with its lies. As many ex members will understand this organisation controls you by fear. 1974 etc.

[LOJANOS]

Wow! I was baptised but never raised but i left years ago! My wife is still semi active but my daughter who is 3 will never be a Witness! Ever! The PO Told me i could not question the society! I thru him out of my house and never looked back! It is a cult she is right! Thx for your heart breaking story and i can see you are very strong person for it! Thx

[bjnboy]

The Watchtower will tell you: "Oh sure, you can leave it you want." But that will not be the message... the message will be: "You are betraying me, you are betraying God and you will be punished severely for it!"

There are very distinctive parallels between Peoples Temple(Jonestown) and the Watchtower; particularly in their treatment of members and their methods of indoctrination.

For more detailed info, read Deborah Layton's "Seductive Poison".

[eaglephoenix]

Then when we decided too not be a part of such a religion we were shunned and told we were dead.

Then a new light would come from the inner ranks of the organization saying that we were indeed allowed to be associated with.

Then a few years later once again we were shunned on orders from the inner headquarters.

My mother died in this faith as she continuously continued her shunning up until as she called it "Life Without End at Last"

[eaglephoenix]

How well I remember the day JW's came to our home.

We had a fairly normal one until that fateful day.

I was going on 12.

The following year I was baptized and remember vividly thinking about what I was wearing to school the next day and how many cute boys were in MY Kingdom Hall that liked me.

I did this too appease my mother.

All my sisters and one brother continued the facade for years.

[missnrat2]

Brenda, once again you nailed the cult that stole my childhood and young adult life also.

It is very sad about uncovering truth thinking you already have it. That is so correct. They are so wacked. My mother recently moved and she can't joing the Ministry School yet because the old congregation hasn't sent the new congregation her "CARD" yet. So until her "CARD" arrives they obviously are leery about her. I tried to get her to open her eyes and realize how sad that is. Thanks for the video.

[freakitall]

Good to go bravo Brenda

[Dogaradodia]

"So what's the big deal? You were able to leave, right?" I was asked, more or less, the same question by a classmate of mine in post-graduate education, "What's the big deal with your former religion?" when I told him about my problem with my family who are all JWs.

The PI is different from the US. The damage done by the WT to born-in JWs in poorer countries is double. When you are middle class, you can't anymore rise up the next rung of the economic laddder.

[dougrockin]

Brenda, I realize some people will look at this and tear you apart for it. But when I see you, with gentleness and with respect, continually reaching out to the very ones that shun you and would say things against you, I applaud you. I wish my JW friends would take some time to listen, really listen to what survivors are saying. At least to give you all a chance to be heard and then to think about what was said. Am I a fool for wishing that?

JW's, please don't be angry. Listen. Ponder. Pray.

[nejatarn]

Yes, exactly. Especially concerning the "wait on Jehovah" rationale, just like the Catholics' "its a divine mystery...", according to the late George Carlin.

Actually he would probably insist that he is NOT late, but in fact dead, therefore neither early, nor late. He's not able to make it, so please have the courtesy NOT to call him late, he is excused from such trivium as puncutality, since he is DEAD. He would say that probably with his typical tenacious insistence on brute logic...:p

[Dogaradodia]

Congratulations, Brenda! You're now a "graduate."

I was a born-in JW, had no choice. The cult ruins life. It ruined mine. Luckily, I survived.

[essy111]

Hi Brenda me again yes this interview really brings it out. They use fear mind control manipulation thought contol to make membership hard to leave. I recommend anyone here watching this to get a copy of these other two great books to get one is Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franze and Captives of a concept by Don Cameron. They use to be in the society and now have left and realised the cult is not gods organisation.

[queenvelvet]

you are very inspiring! btw, did you hit up the memorial again this year? lol

[nejatarn]

Good idea. I think I'll be hitting up a convention or something like that also. It could be therapeautic. I did it once a year or so after leaving back when I was 19 but it has been over a decade. Might need to "remind myself" just how free I am NOW!! :)

[georgiahuff]

You're watching the end of this "religion"... the internet will educate those that are potential converts, they will know it's all bull before they ever join. Bye Bye you liars, your crap sold for a time, but now your time is over!

[yalbmert99]

Very good Branda. Well explained. All true. :)

[exjw44288]

Hey, Brenda, nice to see you on YouTube again!

[bjnboy]

You go Brenda! You amaze me every time I watch your videos. If Jehovah's Witnesses were mad at the previous video... they will be pissed with this one!

Be careful though, desperate cults are more dangerous than when they are not.

[drmel46]

Great Video, Brenda! Very enlightening. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more like this in the future!