Courtesy of the Independent:
A schoolgirl who left the Jehovah’s Witnesses after learning of its alleged failure to protect vulnerable women has blasted the organisation in a powerful speech to her classmates.
Holding back tears, she recalled her personal experiences as a member of the church and how she was taught everyone outside the religion, including her father, would be sent to Armageddon.
She also highlighted women’s lowly position in the hierarchy of the organisation and how they are viewed as inferior to men.
“They cannot teach men. They cannot even speak at a podium in front of men as I am doing now,” she said. “They are not to question any decision made by a men. That is slander.”
The girl goes on to share the stories of three women she knew who were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses, and each is more horrifying than the previous.
I know this video is hard to watch, several times the young lady becomes so choked up she can barely speak, but I urge you to watch until the end. Her message at the end is especially poignant.
Besides if she was brave enough to share her story, we should at least be courageous enough to listen.
Belief in superstitious nonsense is NOT harmless.
ReplyDeleteI watched because of your last comment about bravery, and then I shared it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWow. I wish this brave young woman much peace in her life.
ReplyDeleteThe way forward (in the UK at least)
ReplyDeleteA judge in Leicester placed a seven-year-old boy with foster carers because his mother, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, was causing him emotional harm by her beliefs.
Not just the J-Dubs. SAME thing happened to my family in the LDS (Mormon) church.
ReplyDeleteRemember, the second "m" is silent.
DeleteWish the audio were better.
ReplyDelete6:10am mine as well. One can still believe in God,but not be controlled by a group of people. Organized religion is a Racket. My ex neighbor was the bishop and and after an irrigation dispute(he was taking water of mine),he never left me alone.he would stalk me. he was a peeping tom. I had him thrown off my land. he sprayed my vegetable garden with roundup...the list goes on. I banned the missionaries from beating on my door. I worked graveyard back then. I banned anyone from beating on my door and received a nasty letter threatening to take my name off "the rolls". after 20 yrs of this,i moved . My sisters are into the lds church. I found out out just how crooked they were after my parents passed and I had to fight for my trust. I Won! they all claim to be the only true religion. they tweek the Good book to serve their purpose. I don't think thats what Jesus had in mind. His friends were a mixed variety.he catered to the poor. Organized religion is man made to control the masses. its about wealth and power. its about fraud and threats to keep you in line.
ReplyDeleteNot just JW or LDS...same thing happened to my family in Assemblies of God!
ReplyDeleteThe opiate of the masses.
ReplyDeleteWhat a courageous young woman (her mother as well, since she most likely conferred with her about this topic)! I hope she will be OK, w/o being harrassed too much in her future.
ReplyDeleteYes, her message is poignant. Such are the conditions and terms of some religions, cults and even families in this world. Strangling a person demanding their silence or to have them submit to anything is a terrifying experience. Any person or group that condones that and tries to convince you your life is not in danger by such a person, their actions are all your fault must be put out of our life.
DeleteI wish only the best for this brave, and strong, young woman and her mother - and her father. I hope they find some peace and love and serenity.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day,we are all Energy.
ReplyDeleteOr escapees from the loony bin.
DeleteI wouldn't have watched it had you not recommended it so much. I want to give this young lady a hug and a standing ovation for her bravery.
ReplyDeleteWe have some JW's in our family, They don't celebrate birthdays and take offense at giving gifts or even a card. Any kind of correspondence, especially with an excommunicated catholic, is frowned upon.
Once the kids became of age, they, too left the religion, but their mother is still brainwashed. When her husband (my cousin) passed away suddenly, we went to the viewing. The members rally around the widow and keep her busy, they don't allow her even to grieve fully, a basic human need. Anyway, this young lady was so right re: religion having nothing to do with morality. Why would a woman join if the highest she can achieve is to be fifth in the power structure? You can still see how deeply scarred emotionally this young lady is. I wish her unconditional love and healing.
As a former JW, thank you for reposting this video. I am so glad to see that this patriarchal religion is finally being shown for what it is - a cult. And finally, due to social media and the internet age, they are losing their kids....Last statistics I read was that only about 7% of JW's born in the religion remain in the religion. Kids are too smart today. They see the hypocrisy. They leave. I wish I would have left sooner. But, oh it feels good to be free.
ReplyDelete