Comments on: Aftermath Aftermath

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 22:59:07 +0000

It’s so difficult for me as a none Jehovah’s witnesses to compute how stupid these people really are.The governing body are EVIL .

By: Mandi Hodges

Mandi Hodges — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:35:28 +0000

Mike and Leah, I don’t think you even realize the ministry you are doing for God I am so greatful for your show and episode on the Jehovah’s Witnesses. For 43 years I was blind. I would self harm and contemplate suicide on a daily basis. I was sick and decided to stay home from the Tuesday night meeting at the local Kingdom Hall. Your show aired that night here in Montana. That night I made the decision to start doing research. I’m 3 months out of this cult. Thank you both so much for taking the time to listen to your viewers about theses false religions and man made doctrines. I don’t know how many lives you assisted in saving on the night your show aired, but I want to thank you for helping save mine. ?

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:20:21 +0000

In reply to Shannon Rowland.

You’re certainly welcome. My first podcast was called This JW Life and was my story told in such a way as to help other ex-JWs process their own stories while explaining things in a way that never JWs could understand. It’s had over 25,000 individual downloads. Then people didn’t want me to end but I couldn’t talk about myself too much longer so I started helping other people to tell their stories on my spinoff podcast called Shunned. I primarily help ex-JWs to tell their stories but my goal is to help even us as ex-JWs to see that we aren’t alone either, so I help other groups like Amish, Mennonites, FLDS, and more to get their stories out too. As you and I know, especially from watching these shows on Scientology, cults use similar tactics. My Shunned podcast just went over 25,000 individual downloads as well.

I’m probably not as well known as I do my own thing. A lot of activists run together and play off of one another. I do my thing and was kind of always the guy in the KH that was talking to the lonely person in the back or the outcasts, never the popular people. I have plans to do more in 2019 and to expand my reach. I really appreciate those people like yourself or Lloyd or others on the program that put yourselves out there. It was so brave to be on camera and to speak your truth in such a setting.

Feel free to reach out. I have a website for each podcast and you can email me through either. I’d love to know what you think about my work and the guests that I have. I have so many people that want to tell their stories with me that I have a deep waiting list. People want to be heard, and people want to listen.

By: Shannon Rowland

Shannon Rowland — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 22:00:58 +0000

In reply to Mike. Thank you so much for all the work that you are doing as well. I do not believe I have seen your podcast. I would be interested in looking into it myself. As Mike said there was so much more that we wish we could have covered but I am so glad to see that many see the program as accurate and even feel a bit validated after watching. I believe the producers did a fine job of putting all of our stories as well as, documentation in a light that could in no way be refuted. I look forward to seeing the work that you and your wife are doing as well.

By: Peabody

Peabody — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 06:09:10 +0000

In reply to Mike Rinder. I was one of them there outliers. I never got totally sucked into anything. I took many breaks going up the bridge. Most were many months, one time it was 17 years. I never had friends nor family get on board so no worries about disconnection. Miscavige was not around for most of my time in and LRH was mostly in hiding. I did whatever I wanted to do. Some would follow and they would be the ones who got into ethics trouble. I guess I just didn't give a shit. When I finally left I didn't really see any change in my life, just different shit. I quit being a Catholic when I was 16 and announced that to my mother who acted as though she didn't give a shit either. LRH said that I would be a hard case, he was right. All that being said, I do empathize with those who have suffered in the hands of another.

By: Peabody

Peabody — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 05:41:31 +0000

In reply to jim. The Constitution restrains government. The First Amendment begins with “Congress shall make no law … “ If a church doctrine includes the stoning of an individual for stealing, a parishioner doing so can still be charged. The Constitution has nothing to do with it.

By: Angelic Amy

Angelic Amy — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 22:46:57 +0000

This was a wonderful educational experience! I was a former JW for nearly 10 years! I will be out nearly 20 years and it still effects me on different levels. I think there should be more shows exposing the Witchtower aka Watchtower for the unscrupulous acts!

By: Ann Davis

Ann Davis — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:32:35 +0000

In reply to Ty. TY, I can't even imagine. I'm just starting to understand how this can affect people. I'm so sorry that happened to you but thrilled you were able to think for yourself. Way to go! Thank you for sharing that.

By: Ty

Ty — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:14:17 +0000

After watching the special on the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I started remembering a time when I was a kid growing up on the reservation in NM. I remember going to “Sunday School” at a house about five miles from my house. I was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. I remember the teacher would tell us that the world would end soon and that we needed to be “saved” in order to survive the end. What is vivid to me are the illustrations I was shown but more than the others, I remember one depiction showing a church collapsing on people in the pews. During you and Leah’s special, I involuntarily shuddered when you started using the term, “worldly.” The place we went to taught us to renounce “worldly” things, even going so far as to urge us to burn our “worldly” possessions in a pyre. Now, at 38, I am beginning to realize that we, my Native brethren/sistren, were preyed upon by groups seeking to indoctrinate us into their ranks. I now believe this place we went to on Sundays was a Jehovah’s Witness place. I remember the fear of being left behind when Armageddon happened, how I could help my family survive when the time came; keep in mind, this was at 10 to 12 years old and I was afraid for myself and my family. I would imagine how it would all go down and my mother would say, “Be prepared, the world could end tomorrow and we need to be ready, be saved.” This went on for a few years before I started thinking for myself as a young adult. This all said, I want to thank you and Leah for all your work. It scares and angers me that there are entities/people in this world that prey on personal fears/beliefs for their own ends be they financial or otherwise. Keep up the great work on bringing to light these dark organizations.

By: Jennifer Conti

Jennifer Conti — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 08:56:56 +0000

Thanks to you, Leah and Lloyd for helping to shed light on the harmful policies within the Jehovah’s Witness organization. As a former Witness, I was worried the show would contain inaccuracies or exaggerations. That would have given current Witnesses an excuse to dismiss the entire content of the show, and would have supported the organization’s persecution/victimization mantra. However, I found the show to be completely accurate, honest and compelling. I can only hope that current Witnesses (including my parents and siblings) can muster up the courage to watch the show, and come to the realization that their spirituality and loyalty to the Watchtower organization are mutually exclusive.