I’m 15 and my family is in a cult AMA

r/

The cult is Jehovah’s Witnesses. And I recently woke up to it being a cult, I’m what you would call PIMO, physically in, but mentally out, faking it in front of my family and shit, anyways I’m making an ama bc I have the need to talk about it with
People you couldn’t use that info to ruin my life

Comments

  1. namenotprovided Avatar

    I can empathise with you. Was raised in a cult myself. What control do they exert over you and your families life?

  2. Hour_Worldliness_824 Avatar

    I hope you can slowly work on leaving it. There’s subreddits that can help you.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/

    This one might be able to help you. Good luck.

  3. ggf130 Avatar

    What made you go “hmm something ain’t right”?

  4. jigglyjellly Avatar

    I am with you. Grew up the same way. Read a book that made me see how far I was in. Never looked back.

  5. Chilango615 Avatar

    Why are there no windows in halls? Also, what stuff is done behind closed doors?

  6. No_Damage_4226 Avatar

    What is your exit strategy?

  7. IcYFly-91 Avatar

    I worked for a Jehovah’s Witness family for 14 years. It was crazy

  8. goldent3abag Avatar

    Do JWs have “secret police” like Mormons and scientologists do to keep you in the cult?

  9. Kentuckywindage01 Avatar

    I have family in the church. Went once for a college religion course. Their talk that Sunday was about not sending your children to college

  10. Wonderful-Honey1430 Avatar

    Do they have any idea you’re not a believer? Do you have any religious/spiritual beliefs of your own?

  11. Aware_Ask9623 Avatar
  12. Many-Locksmith1110 Avatar

    My wife was in the same situation. It’s only her mom and sister who are still in it. She made a huge focus on leaving (getting into college) that got her out of it and then she eventually moved from NC to CA. She’s never been happier. You can do it. She still has a relationship with them even though they have different beliefs. We are gay and they didn’t come to our wedding. They seem to pick and choose things from the religion that suit them. Anyway you’re 15 you have time. Are you planning on going to college? Or have ideas of moving to another area? I would recommend that✌🏽

    Edit: we now have fun celebrating holidays, birthdays and any events we want. Look forward to eventually meeting someone that will show you and share some experiences and joy you haven’t been able to have. They’re out there somewhere!

  13. TheWackoMagician Avatar

    For those that have left, is it similar to what we’ve heard about Scientology? Ex communicated members get harassed etc or can you just decide you’re not going back?

  14. slowly_examine Avatar

    I’m sorry to hear that. A friend of mine grew up as a JW and it left her with some deep scars. Don’t really have a question, just want to offer my support.

  15. hermarc Avatar

    How did you manage to realise the toxicity of it? People your age often get so deeply engaged and conditioned into believing the conditions of their upbringing are “good” to never even get to question them.

  16. Emotional-Sir-9341 Avatar

    I remember jws want to change their lives and live according to what is in the Bible. Christianity lives whatever they’ve been TOLD to believe and celebrate most holidays which have pagan origins or glorify the government which has destroyed native Americans, people living in the south during the civil wars, etc. I know JWs don’t FORCE you to become a JW but if you are a minor (under the age of 18 years old) they have a obligation to still teach you. After that, YOU choose. I know they try to live a clean life and when I compared them and looked at other people who COULD CARE LESS about being a better human I would trust a JW a whole lot faster to not harm me or help me out in a time of need. Sometimes, young people have to EXPERIENCE the world to uncover the lies and misleading authorities, which is okay. Do that, and after some time on your own, you will know more….I don’t think believing in a Creator (Jehovah or Yahway) and his son Jesus labels someone a “cult”.

  17. WoodlouseFairy Avatar

    Favourite game? Any kind

  18. ConkerBlaze Avatar

    What do you guys do? What goes on day to day? I’ve heard you get cut out if you leave that’s tough.

  19. Amoeba_3729 Avatar

    What made you realise you’re in a cult?

  20. Shaeos Avatar

    -hugs so tight- you making a plan, hon? You need a plan to get out. Any aunts or uncles that could help?

  21. Emotional-Sir-9341 Avatar

    Look up the definition of a cult. I don’t know families would allow someone to bring a boyfriend or girlfriend in their home who smokes, curses, steal, and have sexual intercourse without marriage under their same household. My dad was Catholic and if you tried any of that, he would absolutely kick you out. Is he from a “cult” too? Really, they’re only looking for people interested in what the Bible teaches BUT, if your not interested, say: “I’m not interested”. They will leave. They have a whole bunch of territory to get completed and not alot of time. Your just one small fish out of an entire ocean of people that covers the entire earth being done by 8 million JW’s and the possibility of a little more than 20 million who are interested or publishers worldwide…..

  22. catscausetornadoes Avatar

    One of my brothers had a friend in high school who was raised JW. Bro invited him to our house on Christmas Eve. When my mom realized he’d never had a Christmas or birthday gift in his life, she wrapped an unopened box of Oreo cookies and gave it to him. He cried. I’ll never forget that and I was so proud of my mom.

    What’s the rule you are supposed to follow that is the hardest to manage when you are with non members?

  23. Emotional-Sir-9341 Avatar

    Perfect, like without disease, without disability, with former things that caused anxiety and mental stress removed. Where everyone helps everyone and there’s no “borders”, where everyone cultivates their allotted land and grow their own food and you don’t have to work for someone for their profit…where money isn’t necessary and you get to learn in detail how things were created from beginning to end. Hands down that sounds better than the warehouse I worked for 13 years and the lousy politics I live under today….

  24. VON_jigsaw00761 Avatar

    All organized religions.

  25. Emotional-Sir-9341 Avatar

    He wouldn’t like it and ask me to leave AT AGE 18, which he did for ALL my 5 brothers and sisters but hes still my dad and loves me. I didnt visit him afterwards, but he did call me once or twice a year.

  26. one_eyed_idiot__ Avatar

    My latest comment was calling a Jevovah’s witness a cult member and bro denied it, this post proves my point. I got out of Christianity, I wish you luck for getting out of this