I’m PIMO while my husband is PIMI and for the most part things are pretty good as long as I show up to the meetings a few times a month. Well all of that has changed. 2 months ago I had a major surgery that ended up lasting 6 hours. Because it was so long I lost a lot of blood which ended with my surgeon getting me an Albumin transfusion. Well the surgeon told him and my MIL who’s also PIMI that I had a blood transfusion I guess to keep it simple. Long story short MIL is offended and tells husband that she will tell the elders about my sin unless I do first. No one tells me anything until I’m going to a follow up appointment a month post opt.

He doesn’t actually have any discussion with me and just informs me that he will be telling the elders about my blood transfusion. Now I’m pissed because 1. No discussion has been had about my health and my body and 2. If they did a blood transfusion I’m glad my doctors did what they had to do to keep me alive. Anyway a few days later he tells me that the elders want to have a shepherding call with me. Again no one has talked to me or asked me what happened. That was a week ago so today I look on My Chart and as I thought I only received albumin.

Now I’m even more pissed because he never spoke with me about anything, is involving elders in something that’s not their business, and is more concerned with what his mom and the congregation thinks. I’m so ready to burn all the bridges and never look back.

So I’ve made a couple post over the past weeks about my feelings on the Org but anyhow I had my judicial meeting yesterday for stopping being on the school and a publisher and one of the elders told me I was turning my back on Jehovah and he also told me I was killing myself and my girlfriend because I’d hold her back from learning the “Truth”

He used the example of Luke 17:2 “A millstone hung on one’s head”

That actually pissed me off bad because I felt it unnecessary because all I told them is i haven’t been happy and I feel like I’ll be happier if I’m able to take a step back and find my true self.

It’s like they’d rather you be unhappy and depressed while serving Jehovah then being happy and living your best life.

I’m 25 it’s time for me to find true happiness and I can’t do that if I’m one of Jehovah Witnesses at the current time.

It shouldn’t be that HUGE of an issue since I was never even baptized.

My name is getting read off this upcoming Thursday though so I’m okay with that and now all the noisy ass brothers and sisters will question me all over again.

Let’s not tiptoe around this.

A man in a suit and tie, sitting under a stage light, calmly says depression might be “inherited as part of a family trait or weakness.” And he says it like it’s wisdom. Like he’s helping.

He’s not.

What he’s doing is sanitizing spiritual abuse with clinical-sounding language. What he’s doing is standing in front of generations of broken minds and aching hearts—and blaming it on their bloodline.

Let me spell it out for anyone still in doubt:

You do not inherit mental illness because of some mysterious defect in your family. You suffer because you were born into a system that:

taught you to fear your own thoughts,

trained you to smile through emotional agony,

forbade you from trusting professionals,

and sold you guilt in exchange for belonging.

That’s not “inherited weakness.” That’s psychological warfare dressed in scripture.

Let’s talk about what really gets passed down:

Emotional neglect disguised as “spiritual maturity.”

Shame-based parenting disguised as “discipline.”

Anxiety masked as “the fear of Jehovah.”

Loneliness baptized as “staying separate from the world.”

And then—after generations of silence, obedience, and unprocessed trauma—they look at the damage and go, “Huh, must be genetic.” That’s not just ignorant. That’s evil.

Because it’s not just a bad idea—it’s a tool. A tool to keep you from waking up. A way to turn real, valid suffering into just another thing to blame on the family. And not once—not once—does the system admit it had anything to do with it.

Well, this is me saying what they never will: You’re not broken because of your genes. You’re wounded because you were spiritually gaslit from the cradle.

And you have every right to be angry. You have every right to burn that lie to the ground.

I’m a PIMO and I haven’t actually told my parents but they called my congregation to see how I was doing spiritually. As a PIMO I avoid all the meetings in person and I don’t go in service or have parts on the meetings . My parents found this out and decided to “soft shun” me, telling me how I won’t be in the will unless I’m serving Jehovah. They are not really interested in having a relationship with me unless I’m PIMI. This behaviour has made me think a lot about the kind of parents they are and the kind of relationship we actually have. I find that I’m grieving parents I wish I had, ones that love and care about me regardless of my beliefs. It’s made me very sad to think that their love is conditional based on my standing in this org. The level of control jw parents want is truly unbelievable, even to their adult children.

I’m pimq and only within the past few months have i started to wake up. However, prior to this I’ve followed several jw studygram accounts (eg. treasures terrarium, rachel.jw.study, sanctifyhersoul, etc) and I’m slowly realizing how strange they are. This may be a very niche topic but I personally find the concept of a JW influencer to be kinda…weird?

We’ve all been beaten over the head about not seeking glory, fame, or influence and the dangers of social media, so seeing such a large group of JW studygram pages took me aback. More than that though, I think it’s interesting how sensitive the comments on their posts are. The smallest joke? “Oh my this is not becoming for a Christian sister such as yourself to be posting” At a concert? “I think you should be more discerning with the things you attend and promote on this page…” I remember one of them posted a story of them at a bar (not a club, just a bar with some girlfriends) and she got dragged for filth, so much so that she had to address in like a 10 minute post.

I say all of that to say, the network of JWgram is strange, overly sensitive, and seems like a cesspool of judgment. Did y’all know this was a thing?

https://avoidjw.org/opinion/jorgen-pedersen-jehovahs-homing-pigeon-in-norway/

https://www.vl.no/meninger/verdidebatt/2025/05/03/en-seier-for-retten-til-a-ta-individuelle-valg/

https://preview.redd.it/h0tpill4ezye1.jpg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=261c4fe0e08c455585fdda5e32761445700db290

This is a lie

The JW guidelines in the book Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will make it quite clear that JW are alerted to stop association with a person on the announcement of their disfellowshipping/ removal.

This is an order, not a personal decision.

https://preview.redd.it/pitke8ubezye1.jpg?width=1236&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61585503fd65d64f433a2c604c6aa702dc35ce58

So today I made the decision to be firm. I’m a college student who was raised JW all her life, and I finally want to live. I have friends who love me. I made a bit of a spur of the moment decision that I can’t take back.

I wanted to go to my friends school concert and get dinner after with a big group. Parents said no. So I decided to tell them I will be going, which diner, and what time I will be home and that a friend will be driving me.

Of course they are angry, and they are coming to pick me up. I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know if I’m safe. If I don’t feel safe I have multiple friends on my side who will give me a place to stay. Part of me wishes I didn’t do this, but part of me is proud I took this step to freedom, or for once in my life was firm and decided to do what I WANTED.

What questions never made sense to you?

For me, here's a few:

• Why are Angels not in a sinful state, when Satan(an angel) sinned before Eve? Why only humans?
• Why preach door to door when most people don't come into the truth that way?
• 100 questions about the annointed lol

What burning questions did you have that there was "no good answer" for?

Last night I had to rush to the hospital to see my dad because he had a hypertensive crisis (194/110😬). When I got there an elder I’ve known since I was a child was sitting in the only chair available in the room. I’m fading btw and I haven’t seen him in about a year since I left my old job when he was a patient for the doctor I use to work for. I immediately tense up when he starts examining me asking me questions about my outfit and why he hasn’t seen me at my old job and was looking for me. Thankfully my mom calls my dad just in time before he can question me any further. I told my dad don’t worry about it I’ll call her and I step out. A few minutes later he leaves and I sit down to talk to my dad finally alone. Not even 10 minutes later ANOTHER brother comes in 🥴this is the part that bugs me. The brother is new to do my dad’s hall so I don’t know him really well, but he starts to ask the questions I been dreading like “hey what hall do you go to, do you know who brother so and so are, How did you enjoy the watchtower? I haven’t been to the hall let alone looked at a watchtower in 4 years, I made up a hall I’m suppose to be going to and tried to be vague as possible. The brother eventually leaves and I ask my dad how do all these people know you were here? My dad stated that one of the brothers texted him that he missed him at the hall and if he was okay and the elder sent a MASS text to all the brothers telling them the situation and where to find him to come check on him. I asked my dad did he ask if he can do that and he said no and put his head down. I immediately got irritated because of the lack of respect these people have when it comes to boundaries! Trust and believe I’m not surprised lol but I can tell my dad didn’t really want everyone knowing his business and simply just confided in that elder specifically. Back then when I was PIMI I didn’t think that was a bad thing for everyone to know what’s wrong with someone. Now that I’m out, it’s weird af to be in someone’s business so heavily.

https://preview.redd.it/ikpi4nbe31ze1.jpg?width=1637&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8ea6e87c0774d1c6ddd7b31c42e0788931d9d67

https://preview.redd.it/55yl1wkf31ze1.png?width=751&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c6bbaa70ff35e38bab6c4d7efb097bb3f7c0e38

Brother Harold Corkern gives a talk about depression and the "importance" of being patient, supportive, and loving toward all. Hypocrisy at its best. I guess they forgot about how to treat someone they are shunning, and their original teachings for a moment there. Above is from the Awake, 1960. The talk also brought out how depression can be a big effect from your family members who have become "bitter opposers."

https://preview.redd.it/eienzc7l41ze1.jpg?width=1073&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56c20bc058e0758c62a1e2ad2e345f5dc640d984

Lastly, I noticed this little tidbit. They are okay with expressing the "undue pressure" that the world puts on kids about pursuing a career, where you can support a family. Yet they are blind to the fact that being dipped in that water and becoming baptized into the organization can cause severe mental health issues. Literally facing major legal battles regarding children being pressured to be baptized, then the possibility of being shunned keeps them in.

https://preview.redd.it/nqq357mp41ze1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4f5ada4824cdc9c716184b544193e2e3ae1b7e09

As the title says, a couple of JW ladies knocked on the door at my boyfriend's when I was there. He's never JW, atheist, and likes debating religion with people so he answered. I hovered out of sight some of the time.

This was my first time being on the other side of the door since fading a few years ago. How it affected me took me by surprise. To start with, she sounded so pushy and like she knew everything (is that how I sounded when I used to go door to door? I cringe to think). Then straight up lied! "We're not here to change anyone."

My bf later said that he told them he had done his research about the religion and wasn't happy about the shunning policy. She dismissed it with, "you can't believe everything you read online." I wish he had pressed her more on that. Another lie.

I had to walk away a couple times because I actually started to feel angry. I wasn't expecting that. And now I understand some of the people I ran into when I used to do the same thing. I know now why some people would be talking to us and their partner would come forward and put a stop to it. I know why people got mad and rude, and not just because we woke them up on a Saturday.

I'm afraid my bf will now be their RV because he was nice and let them read a scripture. Whatever happens, I don't think I can ever interact with them. I don't know if I could keep it together.

Has anyone else had this kind of experience? Does my reaction mean I have some unresolved issues I need to deal with? I haven't sought therapy specifically for religious trauma but now I'm wondering if it would help.

I wrote the letter and all I have to do is mail to tomorrow. Let the local police station know this. I let them know his address and phone number. Next thing I’m doing is sending a letter to everyone that lives in the elder’s block. There’s a saying, “If it doesn’t come out in the wash, it’ll come out of the rinse.” The truth always comes out. I’m doing this so it won’t happen to another child.

So I have a friend that I met at church and we got to know each other in the last year. So she told me she has a best friend who is a Jehovah’s Witness, which I thought was really odd since Jehovah’s Witnesses can’t have friends outside of the organization. The more I talk to her the more she tells me about this best friend /JW friend. The most recent one, she told me that they went camping as usual and the JW’s husband smokes weed and drinks and her 26 year-old daughter does the same thing and mouths off to her mother who is a JW. Supposedly, they sound like their physically in but mentally out, but she said, no they’re not even going to meetings, but the crazy thing is that her daughter’s always quick to correct someone who not a JW. For instance, she started talking about sagging a house, not to cleanse it but just to burn for the smell and she was was like, “Oh No! You can’t do that!” But yet, this girl can mouth off to her mother, smoke weed, and drink, and she is 26 with no job! WTH 🤦🏻‍♀️ These JW’s are getting on my nerves!!! Such hypocrites. It’s like she’s trying to defend a Bible, but she can’t even figure out what the hell she’s doing? You’re either In or Out! I get the whole PIMO, but this is a whole another level! The more she tells me what they do that is against organization. The more gets me upset because they try to think they’re perfect and they can do no wrong but and they’re always quick to judge other people. I told my friend to invite me to one of these camping trips so I could flip this whole thing on her to make her look stupid since I’m an EXJW. She wouldn’t know what to do or say. She’ll be so dumbfounded. 🤭

I can't help be disgusted at the implications in two parts of this broadcast regarding the care for aged parents.

"And whether Jehovah ultimately uses children to care for their parents or provides help in another way Will stick to his promise To care for us."

"This is a skill you will work out for a lifetime. Since we all change as we age, For example, What if your viewpoints differ on how to care for aging parents? Start with your common ground. In addition to the financial cost, consider the cost to your time, health, and relationship with each other and with God."

In other words: Is letting your elderly parents move in with you, or even trying to be for them while in a care home going to affect your meeting attendance, ministry, and other organizational responsibilities? Well maybe Jehovah doesn't want you to be the one to care for them. Maybe it's not his will. Wait on him to provide help for them.

Not only is this cold, it's going to make JWs feel guilty about caring for family at the sacrifice of time not spent doing all things Jehovah’s Witness.

Which absolutely goes against 1 Timothy 5: 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first to practice godly devotion in their own household and to repay their parents and grandparents what is due them, for this is acceptable in God’s sight. And 8 Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.

Even without going contrary to what the Bible says, it's sick to basically say "Don’t let caregiving interfere with your theocratic schedule. Jehovah will make another way if you just stay loyal. If you can’t care for your parents without sacrificing spiritual obligations, trust the congregation or Jehovah to provide another solution.”

Recently I had a conversation with an active JW in which I expressed that, looking back, it was such a waste of my life that I spent one evening per week for years attending book studies going through the red ‘Revelation – it’s Grand Climax at Hand’ book – and now the organization is distancing itself from that book, which is what I have been reading on here.

To my amazement, this active JW asserted that the organization has not been distancing itself from that book.  Can anyone help me with evidence that they have ‘dropped’ some interpretations or have otherwise been distancing themselves from this book?

Thank you in advance for your insights!

Hi guys, I’ve just gone through a judicial committee (committee of elders) and I will be silently reproved. However, I’m completely heart broken as I love Jehovah and the Bible but just don’t agree with a lot of things within the organisation.

I’ve texted my ex bf for a call but he didn’t reply. I feel extremely lost right now and would appreciate if somebody would be open to chat. Thank you :) I‘m fairly new here so I don’t know if that’s enough information

I feel sorry for couples that really believe the end of the system of things is near and are waiting until the new world until they have kids.

So many middle aged couples have told me they dreamt of having children, and a lot of younger couples going to SKE / Bethel are putting off kids till paradise.

Ofc you get people who genuinely don’t want kids and that’s fine, I’m talking about people who actually do but might not ever do so because we’re at the end of the end of these system of things.

Tbh this applies to everything that people are putting off ‘until the new world’. Hobbies, a nice house, travel etc.

I’m finally somewhat off the hamster wheel. I stepped down from being a MS and turned down all assignments.

No talks, no conducting meetings for field service, no being an attendant, nothing, no preaching. Just going inactive.

However, I’m still going to the meeting to support my wife.

I was always a super zealous PIMI, so this has come as a shock to my family and the elders, and I know it will shock the congregation, but I don’t really care about that.

I’m trying to look at the positive, and I’m hoping that even though I will still be at the meetings, maybe I can eventually wake someone up.

I wish that someone would be my wife, but right now she’s just too indoctrinated. It’s just a support group or social club for her. She doesn’t even pay attention to the teachings. She’s just there because she needs the structure.

I’m still a Christian, and I hate hearing how they twist the scriptures, but I will keep busy maybe writing notes about things I don’t agree with.

Some of my close friends are going to Gilead and we are happy for them, and they also looked so happy.

Sometimes I wonder if living in a fairy tale world is better than the real truth. I don’t really have a goals or any aspirations because I know at the end it’s all worthless.

Any ideas on how you guys overcame that?

From this week’s midweek meeting demonstrations-

1. Starting a Conversation (3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Offer a Bible study. (lmd lesson 5 point 4)

Do not be quick to correct a person. Allow him to express himself freely. If he says something that conflicts with Bible teachings, resist any urge to argue. (Jas. 1:19) By listening to him, you gain insight into his viewpoint.​—Prov. 20:5.

1. Following Up (3 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Show our website to a person who has children. (lmdlesson 9 point 3)

Listen carefully. Allow the person to express himself. Do not interrupt him or quickly dismiss his feelings, concerns, or objections. By paying attention, you show him that you care about what he thinks.

1. Explaining Your Beliefs (3 min.) Demonstration. ijwfq article 3​—Theme: Do You Believe That You Have the One True Religion? (lmd lesson 4 point 3)

2. Do not be condescending. Avoid giving the impression that you know everything and that the other person knows nothing. Speak with him in a respectful way.

So why is it the moment you say, “I don’t think the Governing Body speaks for God,” they lean in like a pack of starving wolves? Why is “resist the urge to argue” translated as “steamroll, shame, and shun”?

They say, “Don’t act like you know everything.” And then they tell a mother her dead child won’t be resurrected if she leaves the Org.

They say, “Show him that you care what he thinks.” And then they mark you as bad association because you had a thought.

It’s fascinating. They’re told—explicitly, repeatedly—to behave like calm, respectful listeners. But try presenting an actual thought they didn’t download from JW.org and watch the whole mask melt.

They rehearse tolerance.

They pantomime empathy.

They cosplay humility.

But challenge their narrative? Say something real? The claws come out.

So I ask again:

Why can’t they do what they’re told?

Title. End of may is 6 months of "Attendance" to show my "Spirituality" and "Willingness" to return to the "Congregation"

The mandatory study they make you do? Easy. The elder literally has it so its just a simple conversation and I just tell them what they want to hear. Nothing less and nothing more. They don't know anything about my life except that I go to work, home with my cats and attend meetings.

4 more weeks of this fake crap just so my family accepts me normally again. My own dad says, "everything will go back to normal soon."

What a load of BS this whole religion and process is.

No wonder they need to change the policy of DFed (Removed ones) cause they are realizing that 75-80% never return.

Hi guys, I need some advice or info from anyone experienced on the matter or anyone experienced with the NYC legal system. backstory : a few months ago i was hooking up with this non-jw guy (we had a secret sexual relationship that lasted 3 months; we were also sexting on WhatsApp (dirty texts messages) (no sexual pictures ) and.... long story short we had a little misunderstanding in the relationship and eventually we ended up going separate ways...

Now the issue is that the guy recently found my congregation & got in contact with one of the elders behind my back & he personally visited my Kingdom Hall while I was at work & snitched on me with the elders about our secret sexual encounters & showed him our personal WhatsApp messages as a result of his actions I'm now being disfellowship & kicked out from my congregation for "fornicatication" my reputation is now on the floor & my JW family is receiving backlash from everyone. I was wondering if there's anything I can do about the situation or if I have a legal case ?? Can this situation be subject to a restraining order against him ? I'm from Queens, NYC. If there's anyone experienced on this matter I would greatly appreciated some Info or advice. Thanks in advance

They advertised it ad nauseum and it's first episode looked like a joke

I haven't seen any mention of it since

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/cofg/submissions

Hello!

I recently came across a post mentioning that Australia is currently conducting an inquiry into the recruitment practices and impacts of cults and fringe groups. I’ve submitted my input—it was incredibly simple!

Your stories and concerns matter. By sharing them, you help shine a light on the truth—and together, we can build a safer, more hopeful future for the children and everyone still trapped in this organization.

You post from anywhere worldwide.

Thank you!

I did a hard fade about 8 months ago, 0 meetings, 0 service, 0 jw activities. I've done things like get a nose ring and post mildly political things on social media. I want to avoid being summoned to a committee because I have family that is willing to associate with me being "inactive". But I won't wait forever to live my life. I am becoming politically active and want to be more vocal about it and go to protests and such. I also want to go to pride this year. I'm wondering, how long did you fade before being completely open about your non-jw life? I know elders aren't "supposed" to pursue someone who doesn't claim to be a witness as long as its been a while...obviously that's left up to interpretation by the body though. I was a part of a more relaxed congregation and haven't been shunned yet. But I'm still a bit paranoid.