The Dark Secret at the Heart of the Jehovah’s Witnesses | Informer

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are an end of days Christian organisation who are known for knocking on doors and rejecting blood transfusions. However, they have also been subject to increasing scrutiny over their handling of child sex abuse cases within their congregations, and their treatment of victims. In this episode of Informer, we speak to a former Jehovah’s Witness elder who was abused as a child but didn’t report what had happened. As an adult, he felt a painful déjà vu when his own daughter told him she had also been abused.

Watch more from this series here:

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[wheressteve]

Any organization that demands the shunning of loved ones cannot be any good.

[vriley]

I really wish this organization could be stopped, they destroyed my life and tore apart my family

[JCMills]

I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. At about 15 I said ENOUGH! and that was it. My own mother was supposed to shun me but she didn't. I'm 68 years old now and have absolutely zero trust or faith in ANY church or religion.

[DiseasedPopeno]

Was raised as a JW and came to the realization that something was funky at about 12 or 13. Told my dad at 16 that i wasn't going to be one anymore. Was disfellowshipped, and my dad kicked me out that week.

[samirec]

I was a Jehovah Witness.... And I can confirm. I've gotten out of my deep depression when I got out. AMA

[tiabeaniesemotionalsupportdmon]

That trauma reaction was him dissociating, and yeah… you get a lot of trauma from this cult. I grew up in it. Left when I was 17. A few years later, as my younger brothers got old enough, they left too. After a few years of us all trying to talk some sense into our mom, we finally got her out, too. My stepdad stayed in as an active member. She divorced him. He is still in the religion, even though he abused me for years, and all of the elders know it too. I repeatedly begged them for help, but they refused and said I’d better not say anything to my teachers, doctors, police, etc… because if he went to jail, I would be responsible for the reproach on Jehovah. It’s such a load of horseshit.

[alsomika]

I luckily got out of it early. It is an incredibly judgemental, hypocritical, restrictive, and abusive organization

[ChayComas]

I grew up as a JW my entire childhood up until I was 25 years old, before I realized it was causing me too much stress to justify as a lifestyle. Still to this day, I have moments of fear that I made a mistake and need to repent.

I wish I had left sooner. Something people never talk about though is that the draw to this one organization is how well groomed and organized it's members are. They are very hospitable and welcoming to new members for many years. It's not until your life, friends, family, are tied into the organization that you have trouble leaving.

My mother is still involved, and I encourage her to be. She has severe mental instability, and it's a full blown existential crisis to leave. So, I encourage her -- and do whatever I can to reduce the stress it causes her that I have left.

[smadadys]

This is NOT EVEN A FRACTION of how psychotic those “nice people” are. The abuse and manipulation is so unreal. The craziest part is that all of the members are literally brainwashed so it’s pretty spectacular to ever wake up AND escape. Congrats to your family sir!!

[Christian-utsp]

The beautiful thing about the social media era is seeing lies and degeneracy exposed on a large scale. As a (more conventional) Christian myself, seeing all the cover ups of abuse has been heartbreaking, but necessary. So many people in positions of power are preying on their congregants.

[ericarmada]

As a former Witness, I agree 💯 % with this guy. Although there are nice people within the different Kingdom Halls, I believe the organization to be largely flawed and misguided in their practices! I also find it odd that the founder Charles T Russell was a 33rd degree Mason and is buried under a Masonic Pyramid. The founder of the Mormon religion was also a 33rd degree mason! Two cults founded by members of a very secretive organization! 🤔

[judevictor]

I was raised as one and when I turned 18 I ran away from home and found refuge under older ex Jehoavahs Witnesses. I personally can't say I know of or have experienced any sexual abuse - however the mental abuse, the emotional manipluation and indoctrination leaves one truly feeling traumatized. Its something I feel I have healed from, my mom is still a Jehoavahs Witness and I respect it - the congregation takes great care of single moms and I always felt supported and that we always had help when we needed it. Theres a lot I am grateful for but it is very sad how - disconnected from reality they are.

[moseslopez]

I’m disfellowshipped for about a decade I’m practically alone I lost my family and have suffered but I’ve found people along the way that became my family

[KidCity]

If someone sexually abused my daughter they would never be able to do that again.

[wikicamjam]

As someone raised in Mormonism who bought into it and took it super seriously until I saw how abusive it was and left... this is not surprising. It's not about everyone being taken care of. It's about people in control maintaining control.

[daredevildanny]

My grandmother was a JW and when my grandfather died, 2 elders came over and tried to get her to sign papers. They were trying to get her to sign all finances over to them. My uncle removed them from the house. When she died a month later, not a one person she went to church with for 20 years showed up.

[NellaaNutellaa]

To shun your own flesh & blood is unbelievable. The fact that a person would even ask that of you is evil in itself

[felipeviana]

As a former JW, I can tell that there are many good people still trapped in this cult. Thank God I have never suffered or heard about any case of sexual abuse, but I can't say the same about psychological manipulation and emotional abuse. If you stay in for too long, the sure consequence is pain and regret. I'm a member of a broken, resentful family and when I got out, I ended up hating God and myself. But His plans are perfect and He reached me. Now I understand His true principles, which has allowed me to build for myself a happy and loving family.

[LeandroAlvesVEVO]

I had been a Jehovah's Witness for 28 years in Brazil and I can surely tell this is all true. Being a Jehovah's Witness was the worst thing that ever happened to me but I moved on. My brothers are still manipulated by that cult.

I remember a friend of mine telling me he was abused by an elder and I was so mad at him because I used to say he was lying and couldn't accept the fact that he was saying bad things about an elder. I regret it so bad. Today he is still my friend, he is still a Jehovah's Witness because he doesn't have a place to go so he doesn't want to be shunned by his family. He is into a very bad depression for years.

[CashanovaXTREME]

If any group or religion pushes you to be divided from your friends or family, it’s a trap. They do that so you don’t have a support system, you can only depend on them for your survival.