This is what disgusts me. I had a judicial once where I was forced to disclose intimate and gross details of oral sex and other sexual activity to three 'elders'; 3 old men whom I felt no connection to and did not feel comfortable whatsoever talking about such things to. I couldn't help but feel that they were storing my words in their wank bank, continually probing me for more details, far more than necessary to determine if I was repentant or not. They even asked me if I had an orgasm or if the guy I was with had one!!! How disgusting... so perverted... I am only now realising how humiliating and truly wrong it was and I'm infuriated.
@caileyrookids
Жыл бұрын
Are you safe now?
@SonicGamerGirl2006
Жыл бұрын
This is so disheartening. The elders clearly invaded your privacy and refused to respect your boundaries. You deserve much better than this. I hope you're doing okay now, my friend. 😞💙🫂
@rudra62
5 жыл бұрын
This thing about "keeping up our clean image" and "deceiving worldly people" is the definition of COVER UP.
@shark_vii
5 жыл бұрын
Headcynic ah yes, the Elder Sign. good to see a fellow with knowledge beyond what any man should have.
@smhaack63
4 жыл бұрын
i grew up in a strict protestant church. My parents were obsessed with hiding any scandals by fellow church goers. Its as if there was a continual sales pitch to convince themselves that people with their kind of faith are better than the rest of the world.
@werndogga
4 жыл бұрын
@@smhaack63 yeah exactly why do you think Jehovah's witnesses are always dressed up like real estate agents when they come door-knocking
@MFTQ
4 жыл бұрын
The Worldy Folk will deceive you, and now we must deceive the worldly!
@Keitaro2011
5 жыл бұрын
"Drag Jehova's name through the mud" A tacit admission that they don't believe IN God. They believe they ARE God.
@OmegaFire11
4 жыл бұрын
Whenever I criticized my own dad, he would do the same. He would quote times in the bible people questioned God or Jesus. He would say I was underminind God's word. He would say I was worldly and rotten. One means he used to cover it up was to accuse me of not "honoring thy father." He would also claim many bible verses of "fools not understanding." When I would point out mistranslations that had been corrected, or different interpretations, he would ask "Do you think you're smarter than me? Do you think you as [whatever age] year old boy know more than me?" One time I answered yes. A belt made sure I never said that again. My dad used a lot of the same tactics to justify his own abuse. His favorite techinque was when I told him what he did was illegal and I would report him, he said we'd be taken by the state, broken up ad a family, and all given to different foster care homes. I realize now it would've meant an investigation that would've ended his abuse and he didn't want that. I wish I could've seen these videos as a young boy. I'll be sure to show them to my son when he's in his teen years, questioning the world with the intelligence to comprehend these ideas. Even if I end uo being a bad parent because I don't know what I'm doing, I want him to know I care and I want him to think for himself. Something my dad never gave me
@Solbashio
3 жыл бұрын
@@OmegaFire11 I feel you. Sometimes I feel like the only way to actually get strong believers out of their psychological prisons is by knowing their bible just as well as them and pointing out clear flaws they couldn't possibly prove wrong without denial. Peace bruv.
@Onoesmahpie
3 жыл бұрын
One in the same. Any pastor/organization/etc... that claims to 'speak for god' is acting as god. That being said, I have never found a logical reason to believe in any 'god' figure and think that belief in such concepts is inherently dangerous.
@rainyfeathers9148
22 күн бұрын
For the people 👏🏾in 👏🏾the 👏🏾back.
@neverperching6955
5 жыл бұрын
I attended every day of these hearings in Sydney and I can tell you that what you don't see is the genuine compassion and empathy the survivors were shown from the "worldly people" during the entire process. They were shown no concern and absolutely no empathy from any of the JW's in attendance. This review is amazing and perfectly captures exactly what happened.
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Telling isn't it. As BCG said: ‘I have had more support, acknowledgement and acceptance from complete strangers than I have ever had from anyone in the congregation.’
@neverperching1554
5 жыл бұрын
Is part 2 coming soon?
@gregtate8368
4 жыл бұрын
I have the misfortune of working with a number of these JWs, I would rub every news paper/news report that came out of the Royal commission in their faces, but even I was shocked at the total absence of any sympathy for the victims. Even worse, was how they defended their cult, and their Elders, and instead blamed and discredited the victims. I really felt like pouring gasoline over them and burning them alive.
@susi1153
2 жыл бұрын
@@gregtate8368 Yes, so cruel and unfortunately this is how all cults work. It's mostly about holding and keeping power, and how is this done? Constent brainwashing, - rules and regulations and threats about what happens if these are not followed. Total control and claiming the "truth model" and that the members are superior others/outsiders. Severe punishments for those who question the believes and threats of throwing them out which means shunning and being labeled as an outcast with no value. It has nothing to do with real and simple love, it is about money and power and it's a clever construction behind it all.
@captain_outis
5 жыл бұрын
My favorite quote is at 22:35 “Judge McClellan and Assisting Council Stewart were two highly skilled communicators. They also wielded the power of the legal system. But even they had to repeatedly spend exhausting swathes of time walking the elders through their own procedures trying to get them to empathize with the experiences of those abused individuals. If-with their considerable skill and power-they had to work this hard to break through the elders dismissiveness, what chance did an unskilled, powerless member of a Jehovah’s Witness congregation have of making themselves heard?”
@ghostnoodle9721
5 жыл бұрын
@J B Didn't you hear? Eve fucked over Adam so all woman are under men. Retarded, or very disturbing.
@deedlessdeity218
5 жыл бұрын
It made me cry...
@mikespilligan1490
4 жыл бұрын
Curtis beautiful comment.
@fisonato
5 жыл бұрын
ExJW here. I can't thank you enough for your work. It has been instrumental not only in my waking-up, but has also given me tools to live a better life. I owe you, I really do.
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
Cheers! I'm glad you've found the work helpful
@ElloLoJo
5 жыл бұрын
Wish you all the best x
@fluffy7358
5 жыл бұрын
I would like to say sincerely that there are many people, me included, who support you. While I myself have never had to do nearly such a difficult thing, I've heard several Ex-JWs I know talk about how bad the shunning was for them, especially considering how the JW structure denies JWs any way to develop connections on the outside. You aren't alone and there are a lot of people who support you!
@Demilich23
4 жыл бұрын
profile picture checks out
@cameronvadnais4388
4 жыл бұрын
ExJW here. Right? Theramintrees helped me realize a lot about JW manipulation tactics.
@sarinat3101
5 жыл бұрын
It's unbelievably frustrating that the justice system has to walk fully-grown adults through such simple logic and compassion step by step. And the religious have the gall to accuse atheism as being dehumanizing. Religion poisons everything.
@Derpy-qg9hn
5 жыл бұрын
Being stuck in religions as JW, those adults are likely fully grown in physique only - the skewed morality fed by the religion itself results in rather childlike mindsets.
@thescrimble
5 жыл бұрын
Small amount of likes on this comment are a bit disappointing
@deedlessdeity218
5 жыл бұрын
It is not merely "religions poison everything", it is the functions of religion that poison everything. The functions that make religions work, they are at work in other places too. Little clubs, political ideologies, extremist groups, "polyamorous" circles. Once they get experienced controlling callous people in, it is over. Sometimes those very people start such groups for those very reasons to control them. To gather resources, leech them out of those naive, inexperienced enough with their too kind hearts to subject themselves.
@8698gil
5 жыл бұрын
Religion demands its followers to be childish. It requires obedience and dependence on a higher authority.
@mycoffeemyday
4 жыл бұрын
Money has a way of making people idiotic. That's why religion loves money, it purchases lawyers.
@thejesuschrist
5 жыл бұрын
Amen!
@JimmyTuxTv
5 жыл бұрын
scrolling the comments I find you... here and to think all the silent questions without faith went unanswered. Seek and I will find indeed. I know it's you since the YT check mark rest peacefully like Abraham's bosom next to your name. Your comment so profound yet so, so, so be it!
@prudencegrahame1519
5 жыл бұрын
Go away
@poopyfacehole1426
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Jesus 👋 big fan!!
@lucasmarsh9841
3 жыл бұрын
How the f*ck did you get verified
@LuiKang043
3 жыл бұрын
based
@Azz151515
5 жыл бұрын
Those brave, brave people. It's heartbreaking to know that even after the Royal Commission victims were still driven to take their own lives. The system is broken.
@deedlessdeity218
5 жыл бұрын
No... Pain like this can be unbearable, infinite, never ending and ever present. A victim must not be alone... Sadly it is only today that some progress in trauma-therapy is made.
@scootza1
4 жыл бұрын
JW be like "fuckin' finally now they can stop dragging jehova's name through the mud"
@Solbashio
3 жыл бұрын
The system: Broken Doubt: Verboten
@Omega0850
5 жыл бұрын
The more i learn about this organization, the more i think that sexual abuse of children is not an unwanted byproduct of its doctrin, but its primary purpose.
@stegep99
5 жыл бұрын
Sadly, that is exactly what this organisation set lut to be. Research the founding fathers like Fred Franz and Charles Taze Russlle. These were sick pedophiles who enabled it throughout this organisation
@justtied4293
5 жыл бұрын
along with the suicides because of shunning and deaths resulting from denying medical procedures... it all serves their purpose
@stegep99
5 жыл бұрын
Absolutrly, and of course all in the name of self imposed persecution percieved as if it comes from outside of their own doing. They just rack up brownie points through their own sick demented game, skewering each other over talking to discommunicatex family members all the while sheltering and defending pedophilia. Absolutely Just mind blowing.
@lynnentler5725
5 жыл бұрын
Well I was raised in this religion and I'm an ex and let me tell you I've done my research and they used to have a lot of worship involving pyramids and they have human sacrifices when they won't let them have blood even if your child they sound a lot like Illuminati to me what do you think
@lynnentler5725
5 жыл бұрын
You know they used to tell you all the time that Babylon the great was going to get destroyed before Armageddon well maybe they're Babylon the great and maybe Jehovah and Jesus are bringing them down cuz God has had enough of their stuff
@amandapark7786
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for shedding more light on this cult! When my husband and I left a year ago I had no idea the full extent of how common child sex abuse was in the organization until we starting talking to old friends who had left and discovered that many of them had been abused. The congregations are crawling with predators. I'm at least thankful that nothing ever happened to me but my heart breaks for every victim of this evil cult.
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
It's a 'perfect storm' of corrupt policies, isn't it - combining to create a heaven for molesters and a hell for the children they target.
@Tumbolisu
Жыл бұрын
The FACT that they PAID somebody to get them out of this mess but ended up having that person AGREE with how awful this is is just jaw-droppingly amazing.
@lucalinadreemur9448
4 жыл бұрын
You know what's ironic is that them trying not to "drag jehovah's name through the mud" they've essentially BURIED the name of their religion in the mud. If they showed the world that they're willing to cast out the abuser, they would've earned a lot more brownie points than seeming like they just don't have any; any thinking person should realize that any group would have abusers amongst them. Every group, race, ideology, etc does. It's when there are no abusers amongst that group visible that it becomes apparent: that group not only has abusers amongst them, they actively protect them
@caribbeanman3379
Жыл бұрын
JWs are one of the most egotistical, 'we-are-holier-than-everyone-else-God's-one-true-organization-and-the-only-true-Christians-on-Earth' religions out there. Their prime reason for attempting to cover up incidents of pedophilia by not reporting to the police, is to avoid tarnishing their carefully crafted public image born of the most grotesque form of sectarian exceptionalism. They are a case study in the harm that come from pride and egotism. The way their pride manipulates them to mishandle incidents of child abuse is very reminiscent of the way soviet pride manipulated the soviet authorities to mishandle the Chernobyl meltdown incident, early on.
@olivierangelot3764
Жыл бұрын
You're right. When you read the Bible, nothing is hidden, even the most disgusting things.
@georgebrown8312
11 ай бұрын
Even more ironic is that, by harboring child molesters in their midst, they are "dragging Jehovah's name through the mud". That makes the Watchtower Society a partner in crime. So much for their phony "clean" image.
@LloydEvans
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for doing this. Masterful work on a subject that cannot have enough exposure. Awesome job!
@monicasmyther8976
5 жыл бұрын
John Cedars Sexual abuse has no roots in JW beliefs, it is wrong and you are with your activism are also very blind, you would find more abuse if you choose to leave your narrow point of view and get a bigger picture... are you capable to stop blaming anyone for anything? You would live like a King, right now
@LloydEvans
5 жыл бұрын
@@monicasmyther8976 There is actual documented evidence of Watchtower covering up abuse in its instructions to elders. You just don't know about it because you aren't yet brave enough to do the objective research. In the meantime, don't shoot the messenger.
@53r93i
5 жыл бұрын
Monica Smyther Satan is working to discredit the one and only true God Jehovah! This blind amethysts can't see the bigger picture!
@ulodetero
5 жыл бұрын
@@53r93i Amethysts...??? Also, irony alert on "can't see the bigger picture!" :)
@monicasmyther8976
5 жыл бұрын
John Cedars I have no doubts that when some people have power over other people things like this are going to happen, the whole Bible is full of stories like this, why are you in shock, have not you read how Israelities done always something wrong? Do you want to change a stupidity of human nature? What do you really want? You want destroy Watchtower, there will be 7 other worse organisations coming out from your „fix”
@sherriedsouza2935
5 жыл бұрын
Brilliantly done!! Very well summarized. As an ex-JW who started to wake up from my indoctrination because of the work of the Royal Commission - thank you so very much for your incredibly articulate and logical presentation. I greatly look forward to Part Two!
@trudyb4841
4 жыл бұрын
This is the first video that woke me up from the JWs. It was easier to hear it from a non-Ex JW. As you might be aware great emphasis is made not to listen to "apostates". I remember I went to bed trying to rationalize the whole situation. The next morning I decided to go with the ugly facts. I think it suffices to say leaving the JWs is one of the most emotionally painful and traumatic experiences one can go through. I understand why some people choose to bury their heads in the sand. Keep making these videos you are making a difference!
@TheraminTrees
4 жыл бұрын
Credit to you for being able to watch this through. I know from many conversations with ex-JW people how difficult it can be just to listen and not walk away.
@CaptWesStarwind
4 жыл бұрын
Far too often in human history the words "I was just following orders" has been used by men trying to justify horrific behaviours. No one should ever just blindly follow orders without analyzing the situation.
@bdf2718
5 жыл бұрын
It is no surprise to me that they would value procedures over the victims. Because, in their mind, the procedures *cannot be wrong.* As far as they are concerned, if it is published by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses then it is holy writ even if it is wholly wrong.
@STOG01
5 жыл бұрын
How can the words of men be unquestinable doctrine? They are the words of men. Men are fallible, because if they were not - there'd be no need for those words in the first place. The utter stupidity of parents that cannot or will not see further than their nose when they raise children in a community that forces those in it to stay silent, whatever the reason - is reason enough to spit in their face. There is nothing holy. Everyone is fallible. Believing otherwise is the folly of children.
@Cubelarooso
5 жыл бұрын
@@STOG01 Procreation is child abuse.
@gbnomore3918
5 жыл бұрын
Nice!
@robelquis7393
4 жыл бұрын
Can’t believe they brought that disgusting man to her house and pressured her into silence! Those people are awful, manipulative and blind to human love!
@stegep99
5 жыл бұрын
I grew up as a JW, so glad they are doing this investigation but I can only hazard a guess that no matter how involved this commision is it will barely scratch the surface of this horrific subject. Thanks theramin, you are truly a master of reason.
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you. And I agree: it's only the surface being scratched, and the muscular resistance on display throughout the hearing shows the organisation has no intention of making any voluntary changes - just grudgingly complying with the legal obligations 'forced' upon it by external authorities. To hope for some positive internal 'culture' change, as some ex-JW's do, is I think going down a misguided route. I think the more effective path lies in rigorous scrutiny of the organisation's operations, the ongoing publicising of its abuses and painful legal penalties for any failure to report criminal acts.
@stegep99
5 жыл бұрын
Well, unfortunately the knee jerk brainwashed responses and this whole ordeal is fuel to their fire, they crave persecution, for them this treatment is only more proof their religion is the “truth” as they say. Sadly I cant see it changing anything either, and yes at least with real repercussions in place they cannot go on shielding these disgusting humans for their name sake. Honestly if you look at the founding fathers of this appalling organisation, from Charles Taze Russel to Fred Franz, it is on shaky foundations at best they base their ideals and world belief in something that was created not that long ago. I think the book “crisis of conscience” goes well into the founding fathers of the organisation and aptly points out it is a baseless religion that is a cash cow for those at the top, a tax evasion and a way to buy up property en masse.
@EmoBearRights
4 жыл бұрын
Joseph Rutherford was a drunken, misogynist, racist, adulteress Nazi supporter and batshit crazy to boot.
@mrosskne
3 жыл бұрын
just fucking abolish all organized religion already. you don't need anyone to tell you how to believe in gods properly.
@adamwilder2943
5 жыл бұрын
Just following orders, makes me think of members of the Nazis carrying out attrocities and simply state the same notion how absurd
@Liphted
5 жыл бұрын
I wish you had a version of this video in Spanish. A section of my large family are JW and all the girls got abused and the matriarch of that side of the family just let it be.
@lloydmeadors
5 жыл бұрын
You could add subtitles to the video and mirror it on your own account
@bdf2718
5 жыл бұрын
@@lloydmeadors Better would be to provide a translation to be added here.
@ezrapound6063
5 жыл бұрын
♥️
@sachinsurya007
5 жыл бұрын
Better than Catholicism
@marcosperseguino986
5 жыл бұрын
Hola, acabo de finalizar la traducción en español de este primer video, la envié y está en proceso de revisión para ser aprobada. Espero que te ayude tanto como a mí, buena suerte.
@buamp8186
5 жыл бұрын
It seems like the more I learn about organizations that protect child molesters, the less I like them.
@ghostnoodle9721
5 жыл бұрын
I should hope someone on this god forsaken earth has that shred of human empathy. Too bad our superior religious brethren dont need such thing, in its place, God. The big space cookie has never looked so rotten
@WWZenaDo
5 жыл бұрын
"It thrives in the silence of the abused who come to realise no one wants to listen." That's been bugging me ever since I saw it.
@rhondahoward8025
5 жыл бұрын
This is exactly why so much abuse goes on in the church. Because it's _sanctioned_ under "divine right" and religion. When all you have to do is "repent" without legal repercussions, then huge crimes can be swept under the rug. Religion also uses shame to silence the victim: "How dare you soil this church's good name?" Then they say that God would not judge so the victim is wrong for objecting to the abuse. "Let he who is without sin cast the first sin" and all other manners of excusing to minimalize and even justify the immoral behavior.
@KendraWest-xk6po
Жыл бұрын
When I was about sixteen I was sexually assaulted at school and I didn't want to tell anyone because I thought they would think I was "defiled". In the Bible, priests back in Israel didn't marry women who had been raped, and my assailant had gotten close. I wanted a ministerial servant, and they wanted to be like priests. The school administrator didn't help, first words out of his mouth were, "look at what you're wearing, you're at the back of the school, those are your friends!" When somehow it got out he jumped on me, the sisters proceeded to make me feel dirty. Guess who didn't marry a Ministerial Servant? I disassociated myself and I'm happily attending other churches. You see, you're not worldly for leaving. Jesus will never leave you. ❤😊
@uritibon17
5 жыл бұрын
I would greatly appreciate it if you presented cases of concealing sexual (and non sexual) abuse in Hareidi jewish communities. It's a touchy subject here in Israel. Many will outright refuse to discuss the issue or deny that it is a widespread problem. Making sense of the practices of such closed communities is always hard. I feel that a video of this quality could help people see these wrongdoings more clearly and naybe take action
@counselassisting6417
5 жыл бұрын
thanks for the highlighting this case. so many members of the Jehovah's Witnesses are unaware that this investigation took place.
@zzyzx4228
5 жыл бұрын
Great video! As a former Jehovah's Witness and one who has watched the entire ARC hearings I can attest to the accuracy of this video. Anyone who doubt its veracity can check the references sighted on the video and watch the entire hearings right here on KZitem.
@ElevatorEleven
5 жыл бұрын
You need not feel guilt for turning your back on people who care nothing for you.
@Solbashio
3 жыл бұрын
this
@grimtygranule5125
5 жыл бұрын
BCB was 17 years old and was beaten with a belt for "being too loud" in her room? I don't know the laws in parts Australia but something tells me that would be considered AGGRAVATED (and probably premediated with a good lawyer) ASSAULT where I live. And considering his power as an elder, it would just make it so much worse for him if this happened where I live.
@davebashford3753
5 жыл бұрын
If by "where I live" you mean the US, then you don't appreciate the extraordinarily dysfunctional view of religion we have here. There are many examples of "preachers" committing blatant fraud and other crimes without any, even cursory, investigation by authority. I'm also wondering why we need to go to Australia to hear about such in-depth and systematic investigations into any religious organization. As has been pointed out here and elsewhere, religion poisons everything.
@newperve
5 жыл бұрын
Aussie here, yes it's aggravated assault under Australia law. Didn't seem to make any difference for literally decades.
@michaelb4393
4 жыл бұрын
A year late to respond but no she yelled at the pervert when he picked the locked bathroom door to see her in the shower, he then beat the victim with a belt in her room because obviously in the bathroom would have been the proof he was creeping. So the pervert assaulted the victim in her room for almost outing his ungodly behavior....its disturbing how a view can be swayed simply by calling them by the court documents, meaning he isn't an elder, he is the pervert or attacker, she should only be called victim.
@victorhygge7418
5 жыл бұрын
If not mentioned, even if an abuser is "caught" and disfellowshipped, the congregation is not advised of the reason, neither the pubic informed, so all remain unprotected by jw's "sharia law". All smoke and mirrors! The crazy thing is that the rank and file are so wrapped up in the us vs them ideology that anything that hints of reputational damage is ignored. With elders themselves using procedure over compassion. I must say your ability to dissect theology is 2nd to none man. It's genuinely liberating. I also appreciate your occasional focus or mention on jws, which is extremely accurate and dissected. They are not just a group of good people in a bad situation. In fact the place is rife of some of the most abusive and manipulative people I've ever known, disguised with politeness and righteous works. The rare few "good" often leave if they have the courage, flounder as victims, or are supremely deluded. The organisation must be held accountable some day for their lies, it's the only way the abuse can be stopped.
@krissykatportal
5 жыл бұрын
Well said
@georgebrown8312
Жыл бұрын
Hats off to Judge McClellan and Special Council Angus Stewart for trying to hold the Watchtower Society's top leadership to the fire, so to speak, by making them admit failure to protect the children in their charge. The ambiguity, hypocrisy, and callous disregard for the safety of children and other vulnerable people by the Watchtower Society is incredible and sickening beyond imagination.
@georgebrown8312
Жыл бұрын
By the way, those Watchtower Society elders investigated by the Australian Royal Commission should be seriously punished for their ambiguous lying under oath and hard-hearted, callous, and abhorrent treatment of sexually abused victims in the Jehovah's Witnesses congregations.
@jamesgreen5298
2 жыл бұрын
Gotta love how all these elders are so ready and content with defaulting to the Nuremburg defense. "I only followed orders."
@thecatattheend2250
3 жыл бұрын
"Here in Nonsense we leave it up to the accused to decide if they're guilty, and undergo any punishment they feel they deserve."
@deedlessdeity218
5 жыл бұрын
I can't watch these all at once... I just can't. I wasn't a child. My group is not a religious one. But it works all the same. Those poor children...
@papasscooperiaworker3649
4 жыл бұрын
As much as this disgusts me, this deep dive into how religions (this case, JWs) protect abusers/molesters is very interesting, though also frustrating. I can't even believe adults have to be babied and taught basic morality and law. I've always been quite doubtful about JWs, even when I was a JW myself but this just proves my prior inhibitions. This video essay was extremely well done as always, kudos to you!
@danielquigley6300
4 жыл бұрын
That's the intent of their indoctrination. JWs are continuously taught "not to lean upon their own understanding." Should they think for themselves, this would be an act of pride and disloyalty. This concept is driven home even harder for elders who have to demonstrate complete complicity with the decisions of those above them. It is a common theme of restricting self-determination and autonomy. The result is an infantile ability to think for yourself.
@robynbass9636
5 жыл бұрын
Tremdous work, indeed brilliant. I did watch the whole 8 days of the inquiry when I stumbled across it by pure chance after seeing the movie 'Spotlight' back in Feb. 2016. I had been completely faded for 30 odd years & knew nothing of all the changes in the org. since I was a kid. I was so shocked to see the documented evidence that there were even child sex abusers in the organisation, but when I heard the policies I was sick. My family all live in Australia, on the other side of the world to me, my sister & bro.in law is a high up department head elder in the Sydney bethel for over 20 years. Because I was so sick with what I had listened to at the inquiry I asked my parents how they felt about having their religion's child sex abuse policies under the magnifying at the commission. I could never in a million years believe that they would go on to call me a liar & possessed by satan. I was immediately cut from all communications with them all & blocked on all their devices. My family who I had had a very good relationship with for the past 30 years. I could not believe what was happening & thought they did not understand how serious the inquiry was for their religion. I was being treated as dead. I was forced to research this religion that I was born into for the very first time in my life. That took me 12 months, at 10 months I allowled myself to use the word CULT. I then fearfully found & joined a ex jw group. Now I am a activist. I thank & praise everyone who continues to try & reach out to their loved ones & all JW's, if only they would listen to this Theraamin Trees OR watch just one video with all the well documented FACTS of the Australian Royal Commission their eyes would fly open in disbelief. There can never be too many u tube sites discussing this henious situation with in the jw organisation.
@krissykatportal
5 жыл бұрын
I want to show my family this video so they can understand what I went thru as a kid. But I'm afraid I'll get the same reaction as u did from your family:( It's so hard to cope
@matejalmasi6533
4 жыл бұрын
Oh boy, the Nazi officers were saying just that when trials: 'We just followed orders' 'We just sticked to the procedures'... Are people on high control groups perpetualy taught to dismiss their own responsibility?
@felicityc
4 жыл бұрын
It's been proven that it is very easy to shirk responsibility when you believe you are not wholly responsible for your actions. Nazis are not comparable here; they could easily shirk it onto anyone above them, and officers were rarely the high-command on trial. They all had died already. The reputation of the authority (the psychological trial was done in two places; the more prestigious university had a higher rate of inherent trust in the system) also plays into the matter. I do believe they were just following orders. Especially those who were not 'elders'. It's easy to see also how you can be trapped in the system and be unable to even see out, when it's your day, night, day, night, disillusioned into a stupor and unable to make decisions for yourself when others made them for you your whole life. What's gross is whoever got to the point where they could see out, and decided they preferred power. Only the decision makers at the top can be truly accused of that without some uncertainty, in my eyes. Escalate it slowly, over years: easier to justify. Escalate it over their lifetime? Complete control.
@caribbeanman3379
Жыл бұрын
Yes. They're taught to trust the organization and it leadership - 'The Faithful And Discreet Slave' - implicitly. They're taught to follow the direction of higher-ups even if/when it doesn't seem to make sense from a human or strategic standpoint. Following orders even if it doesn't seem to make sense, is regarded by them as a virtue! They're discouraged from doing "independent thinking" which is seen as a harmful, prideful, "worldly" trait. Group think is a virtue to them. They call it unity. They discourage and ultimately silence all criticism of their policies and teachings, by imposing strict shunning on any unrepentant deviant members who dare to openly criticize policies and/or teachings. Families are fractured by this evil practice.
@MxHavmir
3 жыл бұрын
You did a really good job at creating an easy to understand story of events.
@TheraminTrees
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks. These were such important events but I know the hours of repetitive slippery testimony would've been a huge barrier for many folks.
@seniorewe7846
3 жыл бұрын
TheraminTrees gg
@MetalCooking666
3 жыл бұрын
Another dimension I noticed from watching the original footage was that the elders seemed to be presenting the idea of individuals with grievances resolving their differences amongst themselves (as opposed to through the courts) in a positive light. It sounds like a nice, reasonable, peace-loving idea until you look at a case like this and see the many, many problems with employing that strategy in practice. It reminded me of other videos by Theramintrees in which he explained how therapeutic concepts are often misused by abusers, and how well-meaning but misguided individuals can make things worse.
@ghostnoodle9721
5 жыл бұрын
Everyday I become more convinced that there is no place in a civilized society for religion. Good people, armed with religion, keep being good people. Bad people, armed by religion, get horrendous. Murderers saying "god gave the oppurtunitys to me". Thieves saying "They weren't pure, God told me they dont deserve them" Rapists don't say anything, they don't have to.
@Stonehawk
5 жыл бұрын
this video is bringing out within me such a dizzying amount of rage that I can barely recognize myself. I want to punish them. The things I want to do to them are, frankly, deeply disturbing me. It's taking a lot to not lose myself to these impulses.
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
Watching the testimonies of the JW officials - particularly the flippant responses, the bizarre grins and the cowardly evasions - was a testing experience.
@Stonehawk
5 жыл бұрын
@@TheraminTrees ... I want to hug you. I feel like if I had to do that I'd need a hug and that you definitely deserve one. Thank you for presenting all of this so tastefully and clearly, as always. Even though what happened is horrible, we need to know it's going on to make society better
@georgebrown8312
11 ай бұрын
I feel exactly the same way about those lying, evasive, poor excuses for JW elders and their Watchtower Society's Governing Body. I am disgusted with their lies and hypocrisy, and am also infuriated by their callous treatment of victims of sexual abuse they endured as children.
@SusanGaskin
5 жыл бұрын
That was so well presented! Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I look forward to Part Two!
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Sadly part two, which deals with the case of BCG, is even more sickening.
@SuicideNeil
5 жыл бұрын
Jehovah would care about his name being dragged through the mud eh? I wonder if they actually asked him and got a reply; the sheer madness of religions and their followers still boggles the mind...
@CatacombD
5 жыл бұрын
He's talking about a god that he believed literally sacrificed itself to redeem humans, and he didn't think it would place the safety of a child over it's reputation? Man, that's a bigger insult to his god than anything I can come up with.
@anthonywhelan5419
5 жыл бұрын
It's not Jehovah which is a misreading by the King James' translators. It's YHWY - pronounced Yahway.
@anthonywhelan5419
5 жыл бұрын
Look up the Australian Catholic clerical abuse site, Broken Rites.
@SuicideNeil
5 жыл бұрын
@@anthonywhelan5419 Many names for the same thing essentially- all nutters regardless. Side note though- it occurred to me that this has nothing to do with dragging God's name through the mud, that's clearly just a handy ( yet very lame ) excuse for them to use in order to avoid having _their_ names dragged through the mud, because that's what they're afraid of; makes me sick that they sink so low to avoid the consequences of their actions.
@arthill2310
5 жыл бұрын
@@anthonywhelan5419 Like most JW things, it is due to relying on bad information. If I remember right, the "J" came from a German translation. In the JWs, it is known that the "J" is not likely, but they dont care. They also know that the YHWH is incomplete on purpose, and it *cannot* be know for sure what the true spelling or pronunciation was originally (a quick search will find so much conflicting information). So they shrug and call it unimportant. Well, maybe not the word 'unimportant', they would do a bunch of dancing around it. Funny... the name of God in the name of their org is wrong, and they know it, and they dont care. I guess their God is not able to spell his own name for some reason? Maybe he is like Voldemort, and you really dont want to say his name out loud?
@gaebren9021
5 жыл бұрын
That was really well researched.
@davidschmid5848
5 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video as always. Your content is expertly presented and perfectly accurate. The ARC has helped so many wake up including myself- an elder for 5 years. I'm so ashamed to have ever been a part of this organisation. So glad to see them being exposed the whole world over. Can't wait for part 2, and thank you so much!
@underover5515
5 жыл бұрын
These videos are so thorough and sophisticated. I couldn't be more satisfied.
@fillingthebookshelf7083
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this! Every light that’s shed on the practices of this cult increases the chances of waking up people. This was well researched and well reflected my understanding of the ARC‘s findings. Your videos were instrumental in my waking up. Please keep on making them. And my respect to your skills playing the violin! I well know how difficult that is 😉
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you. As you know, the hearing stretched over many days and not everyone would be inclined to sit through it all - particularly as so much of it consisted of Angus Stewart, Peter McClellan or the representatives for BCB and BCG exhaustively pursuing a straight answer to the simplest questions. My hope is that condensing it into a more digestible form will help to give people greater access to this important investigation by the ARC. Such deep admiration for Stewart's and McClellan's focus and tenacity - their humanity was a beautiful counter to the dehumanising attitudes of the organisation's representatives. By the way, the 'violin' is a violin sample library - I played the piece on a keyboard.
@Thormp1
5 жыл бұрын
If the god of the bible had been portrayed as a king instead of a God , he would be remembered as the most evil, mass murdering, tyrannical dictator of all time! Christians give the bible god a free pass because, they say, he is god the creator. I don't see the difference whether man or god. If his actions were evil or immoral, as the bible states, then he'd be just as guilty of being evil as any human committing the same deeds.
@iNsOmNiAcAnDrEw
4 жыл бұрын
There is a distinction between evil and wicked. Evil causes destruction, while wicked causes suffering. Denying life to those that are getting in the way of his purpose is something he's definitely done a lot of, but right now he's just chilling and letting wickedness prove the points he's trying to make. That man is lost without God.
@Solbashio
3 жыл бұрын
@@iNsOmNiAcAnDrEw Your entire argument falls apart when you open a dictionary and read evil being defined as immoral/wicked. Your god chilling, indirectly leads to destruction by your own definition as well.
@iNsOmNiAcAnDrEw
3 жыл бұрын
@@Solbashio He's not allowing a complete destruction of the human race or the planet like some would have others believe. Yes, humans are dying because of Adam's sin, that is calamitous/bad and therefore evil. But do not forget that he called that tree that they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad. So of course there would be consequences, considering he told them not to eat from it. We're dealing with those consequences. It's not immoral for him to tell them they would die if they did it and then hold to his word. And doing something evil doesn't automatically mean doing something wrong. You're looking at definition number 1 when there's a definition number 2. Generally, dictionaries have more than one definition, perhaps you should notice that people can use a word and not mean every single definition possible when they use it.
@mrosskne
3 жыл бұрын
@@iNsOmNiAcAnDrEw He isn't allowing or disallowing anything. He doesn't exist.
@joebomb1019
3 жыл бұрын
@@iNsOmNiAcAnDrEw I've noticed that religious people often like to use analogies and stories when making a point, so I'll make one myself. If a parent were to leave a poisonous fruit within reach of a completely innocent child, tell them to not touch it, and then leave, wouldn't that be seen as irresponsible? Wouldn't that parent be put on trial for murder if that child ate the fruit because it couldn't comprehend the consequences the parent told it about? It's the same with the Bible, except the fruit also damned all of Adam's children without even giving them a chance. And what's more, God knew this would happen, and chose to leave the fruit there, knowing exactly how many people would go to hell as a result. He CHOSE to put that tree there when he made it. Why didn't he put it on another planet or something, or not make it at all? What about people who never hear about the Bible? I've seen the verse that says that everyone can see that God exists if they look at the world without "denying" it. That raises the question of what the point of missionary work is supposed to accomplish. Either some people are simply doomed to hell with no chance of salvation, a lesser chance of salvation, or missionary work is useless. Take your pick.
@ploik21
5 жыл бұрын
Oh KZitem Algorythm, Hallowed be thy name. Liked, Fav'd, and Meta Commented to favor thee.
@naturligthinder
5 жыл бұрын
Great video, makes me concerned about all the things we do not know of that happens behind closed doors in groups like JW. :(
@porgguy4962
5 жыл бұрын
Can't thank TT enough for him spending his time and efforts on this group and this case.
@blackbuddha8167
5 жыл бұрын
Where has this channel been all my life I love this channel
@aikimark1955
5 жыл бұрын
Wow! Words fail me other than to say "thanks, TT". I'm looking forward to Part 2.
@stopscammingman
5 жыл бұрын
This issue needs great guys like you exposing it!
@Peachyfruit
5 жыл бұрын
This is invaluable. Please never stop
@eddiewalpole
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your hard work and happy New year!
@IAM-kg5pq
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your work on this - great video.
@gbnomore3918
4 жыл бұрын
Expertly done! Completely and concisely presented and explained. This had to be painstaking to analyze. When I listened to various portions of the testimonies I was speechless. These hearings were the last straw in my waking up. All I could say regarding those WT zombies was “What a bunch of bumbling idiots!” And Jackson was at the top of the heap.
@lindaomaolrunaidh3353
5 жыл бұрын
Brilliantly summarized highlighting the main points brought out at the commission. This will help those who are having doubts who cannot bring themselves to look at all the days of testimony at The Royal commission. Thank you for all your efforts in putting this information over in a factual and informative way.
@Boyer-sd1fm
5 жыл бұрын
The only thing more exciting than seeing a new video by TheraminTree is seeing that it has to have at least 2 parts. Thank you for your content.
@IrishJackie
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for highlighting this horrible abuse, TT.
@israelvasquez7801
5 жыл бұрын
as a recently Ex Jw, I’ve questioned why I believe what I believe. But this stuff behind the scenes with the Jw’s is messed up. Excited to binge your whole channel. Thank you for helping me critically think trees!
@jonquist9950
5 жыл бұрын
I guess a TheraminTrees video will be the first thing I watch this New Year. Lol
@inti665
5 жыл бұрын
Best present ever. Thank you very much. Happy new year my friend.
@RS-kk3ow
5 жыл бұрын
Great Job! I hope JWs wake up.
@bdf2718
5 жыл бұрын
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. I attempted to discuss with JWs the many flaws in their writings that attempt to discredit evolution. The evasions and distortions they employed in those discussions convinced me of one thing: if it's published by the Watchtower organization then it is holy writ, even if it is wholly wrong. They are brainwashed members of a cult. There will be no awakening to child abuse unless Witness Central tells them to wake up. Which isn't going to happen.
@softpiglet
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for doing this
@phillipschnapp1002
5 жыл бұрын
Always a pleasure to see a new TheraminTrees video
@benjammin8184
5 жыл бұрын
Keep it up, dude. I really enjoyed using some of the arguments/info on the door knockers. Well done.
@DeconvertedMan
5 жыл бұрын
Great to see you back at it! Keep up the excellent work!
@felipemorales6181
5 жыл бұрын
Excellent summary. No exJW that I know of could have done it better. You hit it out of the park!! Well done!!
@TinaMcCall.
Жыл бұрын
In EVERY encounter, the christian shames his invented devil.
@michaellee5730
5 жыл бұрын
Another outstanding piece. Your work is of an exemplary standard and hits home every time. Looking forward to part 2.
@DeconvertedMan
5 жыл бұрын
Short version of this well done video: evil cult does evil things.
@AzaleaJane
5 жыл бұрын
This brings up a very important point, around 22:34. It is possible to teach some people empathy by walking them slowly through their own reasoning and suggesting an alternate way of looking at the situation. However, the big catch you point out is that it takes enormous resources to do that with even just one person. It takes skilled people (the investigators), a lot of time, and, crucially, power. I think the key aspect that I hadn't quite articulated yet is that these "Elders" were *forced* to listen. They couldn't brush it off. They were confronted with the full force of state-sanctioned violence. They were not able to show empathy until their power was checked. I'm thinking through everything in terms of empathy these days. It's amazing the degree that power affects how we experience and extend empathy. Giving these elders the benefit of the doubt, I can imagine that realizing that you've failed to extend empathy to people (after you start feeling it) can be devastating. But it's absolutely necessary.
@TheraminTrees
5 жыл бұрын
Mm. I think empathy’s a transformative quality - and a very underestimated/misunderstood one. I think it’s often used as synonymous with sympathy. But for me sympathy is a more distanced experience. Sympathy feels like it’s looking from the outside. Empathy is really about stepping inside and feeling the person’s viewpoint. And I think that makes it a threatening quality to manipulative agents because it’s profoundly humanising. It fosters connection which works against the disconnecting/dehumanising slant of manipulative agents. Empathy would put abused children far above an organisation’s image. There’s actually tons to say on this subject. On your point about people who wake up and feel great remorse about their previous failure to extend empathy, I’ve certainly spoken with apostates including ex-JWs and ex-Scientologists who’ve expressed that very sentiment.
@ma.7583
5 жыл бұрын
Yet another excellent video. Can't wait to the second installment.
@chadatchison145
5 жыл бұрын
I wish I would've waited to watch this till tomorrow, I feel sick and it's not from News Celebrations.
@SierraKiloBravo
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for this excellent video. I have shared this far and wide. Very much looking forward to Part 2.
@ryanspercussion
4 жыл бұрын
an immensely frustrating part about this is that the victims always feel ashamed to speak up for themselves. ASHAMED. would help these people to stop fucking mysticizing mature concepts like expletives and sex. (we teach them about love all the damn time, but most of the time the people teaching are romanticizing fleeting memories of exaggerated reactions.) instead we could put a grounded or even banal light on the topics so that people growing up can learn to see them for how they are. instead, most parents seem insistent on not allowing their children to swear, then silently permitting it as they grow older without any instruction. this isn't inherently bad, but leads to things like grown adults fantasizing normal mature topics as if they're below it. expletives are just expressions of intense emotion, sex is just pleasure-seeking, love is just a close friendship, none necessarily bad. stop treating it like godly material and treat it like what it is for the sake of the people who are BORN into situations which encourage certain mindsets. this shit effects people for a very large portion of their lives.
@mueezadam8438
4 жыл бұрын
Your analyses on abuse and the situations and manners in which they manifest are always well presented.
@gaillarsen7863
5 жыл бұрын
Excellent video, can't wait to see part 2 .
@39yuffie
5 жыл бұрын
I wish I could get my early childhood memories back.
@michellefrantz3743
5 жыл бұрын
Wow!! Thank you SO much for doing this video! Amazing work.
@philiphorn-botha5502
5 жыл бұрын
These are simply....The FACTS of this matter !
@Ponera-Sama
5 жыл бұрын
Somebody call Telltale Atheist. He'll love to hear this.
@mohammedm.hesham8243
5 жыл бұрын
I was thinking about that lol
@mindaugasbukis702
5 жыл бұрын
Same
@kalebthetank9376
5 жыл бұрын
I don't think anyone would love to hear this.
@EmoBearRights
4 жыл бұрын
No they don't but both Telltale and John Cedars another ex JW have covered this. Cedars has uncovered documents that the Watchtower org will call the police to protect Kingdom Halls but not children.
@tdsdave
5 жыл бұрын
Really nice, I actually watched the commission videos, I think you are much to calm and collected about the attitude pervading the JW elder testimonies, man they were so blinkered and morally bankrupt. It seems so common that fear for organisational reputation damage is prioritized over and over again to be over the welfare of others. The good for the collective placed before the welfare of individuals suffering terrible abuse.
@JesseSelbert
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for taking the time to expose the JW’s bad ideas. Keep up the good work!
@southernbawselady7092
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your awesome research and for spreading the #FACTS!!
@_Churchy
5 жыл бұрын
I've watched the entirety of the ARC but this potted yet succint breakdown is invaluable. Thank you.
@kpk1958
5 жыл бұрын
19:58 "I don't have any comments....I just follow procedures"; so perfectly sums up the desired brain state of "faith" followers that all religions salivate over.
@MrMikeMiner1
5 жыл бұрын
I wonder if the elders that had to testify at the commission are still JWs. I wish they woke up and felt a serious regret at what they did to perpetuate the abuse. They could start correcting their past mistakes right away.
@adammichna5175
4 жыл бұрын
How do you imagine the immense and bottomless psychological and mental damage dealt to a scared and compliant individual in the fangs of a predatory power dynamic could be "corrected"? And what difference does it make that they are still JWs?
@ThePharphis
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks as always
@CyberiusT
5 жыл бұрын
Looking forward to Part 2! :) Hang 'em high, TT.
@crowsandravens8998
5 жыл бұрын
This is an awesome video. Well done.
@MalTramp
3 жыл бұрын
Excellent exposition on these terrible, disgusting crimes. Truly revolting how abuse is treated by JW.
@chrystianrodriquez
5 жыл бұрын
I await impatiently for the next part!
@SuperNorstShow
5 жыл бұрын
Much of my family is JW. I attended until I was 15 but my parents were secular so it was easier for me to drop out once I realized it was all complete bull. Cults are just evil no matter what way you put it. Young Earth creationism too? Seriously?
@lizardpieable
5 жыл бұрын
Excellent analysis. Thank you.
@probudtesezestrazneveze2868
5 жыл бұрын
Great job. Best summarized domuent about this issue I ever heard! If you have never ever been the Jehovah's witness, but you grasped it better than my fellow believers (cause they are blind and for example think the Geoffrey Jackson before Australian Kommision was just photoshoped and made up). I am very happy more and more people are coming to see this exposure and are joining as well.
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