#ExJW is an active hashtag on Bluesky. In the last 30 days, 11 people shared 150 posts with it — around 5 a day. Activity is up 40% versus the previous week, peaking on Aug 30 with 11 posts.
Tags most often used together with #ExJW.
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Blood On Their Hands: How the Governing Body has killed thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses
The Governing Body has overturned their teaching on blood, allowing Jehovah's Witnesses to receive the main "components" for medical use, apparently believing nobody will notice that in so doing they've admitted culpability for thousands of needless deaths. If you are able to, you can support my work in the following ways: ▶ Support via Patreon: https://patreon.com/cedars ▶ Join the channel for member-only perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz1w0ll081JJiYcjb298pOw/join ▶ One-off support via PayPal: https://paypal.me/jwsurvey You can find my written work, resources, and updates here: https://lloydonline.org Follow me on social media (updates only): Facebook (profile): https://www.facebook.com/john.cedars.5/ Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/lloydevanscedars/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lloydevanscedars/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/lloydevansXJW Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lloydevans.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lloydevanscedars Books and brochures by Lloyd Evans: The Reluctant Apostate: http://a.co/5qFN4JU How to Escape From Jehovah’s Witnesses: http://a.co/e9OQRi1 "You Should Not Fear Him": https://lloydonline.org/fear If you have a question, collaboration enquiry, or would like to be considered for an interview, please use one of the following: Email: [email protected] Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/cedars Please note that I’m unable to respond to direct messages on social media. My time is divided between research, writing, and private life, and I appreciate your understanding. If the issues discussed in this video have personally affected you and you are in need of support, the following organisations may be helpful: Recovering from Religion: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/contact Faith to Faithless (UK): https://www.faithtofaithless.com/
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226 – How Starting A Fire Trapped A Family In A Cult And The Questions That Set Andrew Free
Episode Summary In this episode, 37-year-old Andrew shares his unique journey growing up within a strict Jehovah's Witness family in Western Colorado after his grandmother discovered Watchtower literature while using it as fire kindling. Raised in an environment characterized by an intense fear of demons and strict performance expectations, Andrew's innate curiosity and persistent "why" questions repeatedly brought him into conflict with his family and church leaders. Unable to accept self-referential doctrines without external evidence, his refusal to conform led to constant friction, corporal punishment, and eventually moving out on his own at just 15 years old. The conversation delves into Andrew's path through teenage rebellion, a frightening experience with sleep paralysis following a Burning Man event, and his mid-20s attempt to re-examine the religion through deep esoteric questions and historical research. Rather than engaging with his inquiry into topics like the Book of Enoch and ancient symbolism, local elders quickly shut down the dialogue, exposing the rigid boundaries of the organization. Today, Andrew reflects on deconstruction, personal autonomy, and how he channels lessons from his past into creative artwork and innovative communication systems in his kitchen career. Key Takeaways Curiosity vs. Conformity: Andrew's refusal to accept self-referential logic without external references prevented him from ever committing to baptism, highlighting how critical thinking naturally resists high-control conditioning. Exploitation of Vulnerability: The family's initial entry into the group occurred during a time of personal grief and hardship, illustrating how high-control movements leverage emotional vulnerability to recruit new members. Rejection of Deep Inquiry: When Andrew attempted to re-engage in his mid-20s with questions about deep esoteric subjects, ancient texts, and Old Testament symbolism, church leaders shut down the discussion and discouraged his presence. The Household "Mini Governing Body": Andrew details how strict Witness families can act as high-control groups within the larger organization, imposing intense discipline, demonizing pop culture, and restricting outside friendships. Reprogramming Habits for Personal Growth: Rather than remaining bound by his upbringing, Andrew extracts useful communication dynamics from high-control structures and adapts them into innovative, healthy workflows for his current kitchen career and artwork. Direct Quotes "In education, they tell you, hey, like you can't just like use yourself as a reference. You have to have a separate reference. There has to be something else that is proving your case, proving that this is the truth…" "I don't want to have anything to do with extracurricular stuff on a repeating basis with the same group all the time because it's a form of brainwashing. This is a form of control…" "You have to let go of one thing in order to pick something else up." Resources Mentioned The Study and Practice of Astral Projection (Book mentioned during Andrew's exploration). The Book of Enoch (Ancient text brought up during discussions with elders). shunnedpodcast.com (Podcast website for story submissions and information). This JW Life (The host's original podcast detailing his personal story). thisjwlife.com (Website for This JW Life). Becoming Jehovah (Free online book written by the host). becomingjehovah.com (Website to read Becoming Jehovah). Guest Bio Andrew is a 37-year-old artist and kitchen innovator from Colorado who was raised in a strict Jehovah's Witness household after his grandmother discovered Watchtower literature used for fire kindling. After leaving the group as a teenager and exploring a wide range of spiritual and philosophical ideas, he now lives a life centered on personal autonomy, creative expression, and developing intuitive workplace systems. Support the show and get bonuses as well by donating to the cause on our Patreon page, Patreon.com/shunned Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? Need an accountability partner or some encouragement? Need to talk to someone that understands cult life? Reach out and let's talk. I have affordable programs to help as a certified life coach with a focus on cult recovery. Click HERE for more information. Want more resources? Go to my other website exjwHelp.com Leave us a review on iTunes Find shunned podcast on Youtube, including new VIDcasts here. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can listen to the Shunned Podcast Spotify playlist here for all of the songs chosen by guests of the show. This podcast was made possible by my original podcast This JW Life. You can find it on any podcast app. It is a 9 part series about life as Jehovah's Witnesses designed to help you understand how it worked in one comprehensive story and to help you process your own if you came from that environment. Read my FREE online book, based on This JW Life, called Becoming Jehovah, in both English and Spanish by clicking here An ExJW podcast and ExJW YouTube Channel
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The Jehovah’s Witness Leaders Knew #jehovahswitnesses #cult #blood #bloodtransfusion
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Jehovah's Witnesses Admit the Old Blood Rule Was Wrong
Jehovah's Witnesses just updated their blood policy again. Their reasoning is shocking.New Book, The Cult of Ignorance, available here: https://a.co/d/gIetrpz If you would like to support the work I do and see this channel grow, please consider supporting me on Patreon. It would be highly appreciated. / robinjackson Buy my book Losing The Faith: Lulu http://tinyurl.com/wp5hk2tb Buy my book Cults: How They Work Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/3bw82jk4 Check out the merch store: https://my-store-cbf346.creator-sprin... Check out my website: https://robinjackson.org/
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Jehovah's Witnesses: Where Arrogance & Ignorance Collide!
One of the strangest cultural dynamics among Jehovah's Witnesses is how their arrogance relates to their chosen ignorance. Where does this come from? Is it possible for good people to break free?
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Jehovah’s Witnesses CHANGE Blood Policy Again — 2026 Update #6
The Jehovah’s Witnesses have changed their blood policy again. In the September 18, 2026 Governing Body Update #6, Jehovah’s Witnesses announced a major adjustment concerning blood components. Members are now told that accepting or donating red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets is a matter of personal conscience. But there is an important distinction: The organization says its prohibition on whole-blood transfusions remains unchanged. So what actually changed? In this video, we're going to slow this down and look at 20 things you need to know about the JW blood doctrine, including: 🔴 What the 2026 change actually says 🩸 The difference between whole blood and blood components 🔬 What red blood cells actually do 💧 What plasma is and why it matters 🩹 What platelets do 🦠 What white blood cells do 🧪 What blood fractions are 📖 What Genesis 9 actually says 📖 What Leviticus 17 says 📖 What Acts 15 actually says 📖 Whether the Bible ever discusses medical transfusions ❓ Where the four-component distinction came from 🧠 What "personal conscience" means 📊 Why the Governing Body has provided a blood-products chart ⚖️ How organizational teaching can shape conscience 👤 What this change means for individual Jehovah's Witnesses 💔 What about people who lived under the previous policy? 🔄 How the blood teaching has changed over the decades ➡️ And where this latest change may fit into that history The current JW explanation itself says that the Scriptures do not comment on the various products that may be derived from blood and that the Governing Body is not authorized to "go beyond the things that are written." And that brings us to the question at the heart of this entire video: SHOW ME THE VERSE. Where does the Bible establish the medical distinction between whole blood, red cells, white cells, plasma, platelets, and fractions? Where does Scripture establish which of those categories are forbidden and which are matters of conscience? And if these boundaries came from an interpretation of Scripture, what happens when those boundaries change? This isn't about saying that change itself is wrong. Understanding medical science changes. Religious organizations change. People change. The question is much simpler: If a rule was presented as a requirement from God, what was the biblical basis for that rule in the first place? Let's look at the history, the medical science, the Scriptures, and the Governing Body's own words—and let the evidence speak for itself. 📌 OFFICIAL JW SOURCE: 2026 Governing Body Update #6 — JW.org 📌 JW explanation of the new blood position: Products Derived From Whole Blood — JW.org Fixing My Faith Examining Jehovah's Witness teachings, Watchtower history, biblical interpretation, and what happens when the answers change. If you were a Jehovah's Witness—or are still one—and this subject affected your life, I'd love to hear your perspective in the comments. Keep it respectful. Different experiences are welcome here. SHOW ME THE VERSE. #JehovahsWitnesses #JW #JWBlood #BloodTransfusion #Watchtower #ExJW #FixingMyFaith #JWUpdate #GoverningBody #JW2026
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Blood On Their Hands: How the Governing Body has killed thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses
The Governing Body has overturned their teaching on blood, allowing Jehovah's Witnesses to receive the main "components" for medical use, apparently believing nobody will notice that in so doing they've admitted culpability for thousands of needless deaths. If you are able to, you can support my work in the following ways: ▶ Support via Patreon: https://patreon.com/cedars ▶ Join the channel for member-only perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz1w0ll081JJiYcjb298pOw/join ▶ One-off support via PayPal: https://paypal.me/jwsurvey You can find my written work, resources, and updates here: https://lloydonline.org Follow me on social media (updates only): Facebook (profile): https://www.facebook.com/john.cedars.5/ Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/lloydevanscedars/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lloydevanscedars/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/lloydevansXJW Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lloydevans.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lloydevanscedars Books and brochures by Lloyd Evans: The Reluctant Apostate: http://a.co/5qFN4JU How to Escape From Jehovah’s Witnesses: http://a.co/e9OQRi1 "You Should Not Fear Him": https://lloydonline.org/fear If you have a question, collaboration enquiry, or would like to be considered for an interview, please use one of the following: Email: [email protected] Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/cedars Please note that I’m unable to respond to direct messages on social media. My time is divided between research, writing, and private life, and I appreciate your understanding. If the issues discussed in this video have personally affected you and you are in need of support, the following organisations may be helpful: Recovering from Religion: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/contact Faith to Faithless (UK): https://www.faithtofaithless.com/
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MOVIE NITE! - The Witness at Your Door (1989)
Join us for a Movie Nite! As we take a look at the 1989 Jeremiah Films propaganda piece: The Witness at Your Door, in which Christian audiences are shown just how TERRIFYING it can be when an organization (in this case the Jehovah’s Witnesses) exists for the sole purpose proselytizing to you and bringing you into their fold…wait…why does that sound familiar…Joining us to look at this 5-Star 80s classic, are our friends Zak and Donavon from the Jesus Stole Our Movies podcast, for the first time on OUR home turf!PLUS, find out how this relic of the panic connects directly to what we’ll be looking at next on Fire By Nite! ——— This Fire is (USUALLY) taking an in depth look at Fire By Nite - a Christian teen variety show produced at the height of the 1980s Satanic Panic. Subscribe NOW wherever you find your podcasts, or at AcquireThisFire.com . . .
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I Left the Jehovah’s Witnesses at 17, 25 Years Later I’m Finally Healing | ExJW | Jessie’s Story
Click the link below to: https://linktr.ee/alissasawake • Share your story on camera • Share your story in an anonymous letter • Ask a question about the Jehovah’s Witnesses • Find ways you can support the channel More ExJW Stories: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxwILgqmHP5q-wpHsE3m3lKDL6bNPtvNf _________________________________________ Jessie's Website: www.jessieakostherapy.com In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, I sit down with Jessie to hear her story of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, leaving the organization at just 17 years old, and discovering that walking away physically was only the beginning of her journey. Jessie shares what it was like growing up with intense fear surrounding Satan, demons, Armageddon, sin, and feeling inherently unworthy. She also opens up about the pressure placed on girls and women within the Jehovah’s Witness organization, learning to distrust her own intuition, and the impact that religious conditioning had on her identity. One of the biggest turning points in Jessie’s awakening came through a friendship she formed in high school with someone who was coming out as gay. Seeing the kindness and humanity of someone she had been taught could not fit into her understanding of God forced her to question everything she had been taught about love, God, and salvation. After leaving, Jessie threw herself into academia and built a completely new life. But years later, she began recognizing how much religious trauma from her childhood was still affecting her. She shares openly about perfectionism, unhealthy coping mechanisms, spirituality, and what it has looked like to finally begin healing decades after leaving. We also talk about reclaiming spirituality after Jehovah’s Witnesses, learning to trust yourself again, healing from religious trauma, and why leaving a high control religion doesn't necessarily mean the journey is over. If you are an Ex-Jehovah’s Witness, currently questioning, or simply interested in understanding what it is like to grow up in a high control religion, I hope this conversation makes you feel a little less alone. Subscribe for more Ex-Jehovah’s Witness stories, interviews, discussions about leaving high-control religion, shunning, disfellowshipping, religious trauma, and rebuilding your life after the Jehovah’s Witnesses. 💗 My goal has been and will continue to be to build a safe, supportive community for people leaving or questioning Jehovah’s Witnesses and other high control religions. With Love - Alissa #ExJehovahsWitness #JehovahsWitnesses #ExJW #JehovahsWitness #religioustrauma #LeavingJehovahsWitnesses #Shunning #HighControlReligion #JW #ExJWWomen
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The blood doctrine is over.
#jehovahswitness #exjw #JW #jehovahswitnesses #cult
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Why Would Anyone Want To Be A Jehovah's Witness Now? (seriously)
The Update https://youtu.be/d-I9njHvREo The Beta Test Update: https://youtu.be/cXpHOhZ_x0U How Long Did They Know?: https://youtu.be/7tDRroreqrw Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JWThoughts PayPal: https://paypal.me/JWThoughts?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US Facebook Group For Monthly Group Chats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1927330787467957 Email: [email protected] exjw ex jehovah's Witness Former Pioneer Former Ministerial Servant Former Elder Watchtower Cult governing body update
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BREAKING: Jehovah’s Witness Governing Body REMOVE Blood Doctrine? (ft. @alissasawake)
Jehovah’s Witnesses have changed their blood doctrine again. In Governing Body Update #6, a major shift was announced regarding red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma—components that Jehovah’s Witnesses were previously instructed not to accept, but which are now being left to individual conscience. Alissa Watson of @alissasawake joins us LIVE to break down what changed, what Jehovah’s Witnesses were taught before, and the difficult questions this raises about “new light,” organizational authority, and the real-world consequences of a doctrine involving life-or-death medical decisions. Watch Alissa's video which further goes into this: https://youtu.be/T-Xd7OdMJ1U?si=8sOtqmTd3YuQHkj_ Find Alissa on Social: YouTube: @athomewithalissa https://www.youtube.com/@alissasawake IG: @alissasawake https://www.instagram.com/alissasawake TikTok: @alissasawake https://www.tiktok.com/@alissasawake #JehovahsWitnesses #ExJW #BloodDoctrine Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/cultstocon **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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