What Escaping a Cult Taught Me About God | Interview with Ex-Jehovah's Witness Dr. Cary

He was raised as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness, with his entire family inside the organization. His stepfather was an elder. Leaving meant losing everything — and he knew it from age 12. Today, Dr. Cary is a theology professor at Walsh University, and a devoted Catholic. And in this episode, he pulls back the curtain on everything. What do Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe about Jesus, the Holy Spirit, heaven, and hell? Why is it a cult — and how can you tell? What happens when you leave? And what should you say if one comes to your door? This is one of the most eye-opening conversations we've ever had on this show. In this episode: What Jehovah's Witnesses believe about Jesus (it's not what you'd expect) The 144,000 — and what they believe happens to everyone else How the organization uses isolation and shunning to control members What "PIMO" means — and why thousands are secretly trapped inside Practical tips for talking to a Jehovah's Witness at your door The moment at age 12 that started Dr. Cary's journey out How a funeral homily reignited his wife's faith — and changed his life The first Mass that broke him open and brought him home HIGHLIGHTS 0:00 — Introduction 2:00 — What Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe about Jesus, the Trinity, and the Holy Spirit 10:54 — What it's like growing up inside the organization: fear, conditional love, and a judgmental God 18:12 — Why Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult: isolation, shunning, and what happened when Dr. Cary left his family 23:20 — Leadership structure, the Governing Body, and the Watchtower Society explained 30:30 — What to say when a Jehovah's Witness comes to your door 38:39 — Dr. Cary's "Cornelius moment": the 12-year-old boy named John whose death changed everything 49:50 — Eight years of weekly invitations — and the Sunday Dr. Cary finally said yes to Mass ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning and be entered for a chance to win a trip for two on our Pilgrimage to Beauty: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Converting From Jehovah's Witness to Catholic(00:02:35) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Explained From The Inside(00:07:51) - St. Michael and Jesus: Do They Really Be The Same Person(00:10:10) - Daily Inspiration(00:10:50) - Jehovah's Witnesses: What Was It Like Growing Up(00:18:05) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Is It a Cult?(00:23:19) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Leadership Structure(00:28:25) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Are You Active?(00:30:14) - Jehovah's Witnesses(00:35:41) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Are They Real?(00:37:17) - The Catholic Church's shunning(00:38:32) - Jehovah's Witness: My Cornelius Moment(00:43:29) - Jehovah's Witness who left the faith(00:49:16) - One Catholic man's emotional spiritual conversion(00:53:15) - The Faith of Academic Work(00:53:32) - Jehovah's Witness At Mass