“I’m a nuts and bolts kind of guy. I see how people are treated. Doctrine can be twisted and turned and however you want to interpret the Bible is however you want to interpret the Bible. For me what’s important is how you treat your people.” Follow Dino’s story and you’ll see that people are what matter to him most. From his time in the cult of Jehovah’s Witnesses to his time helping rebuild after the F5 tornado that rocked Joplin Missouri, to his time working at Habitat For Humanity, Dino cares about how people are treated. For that reason and others Dino could no longer be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The song that Dino chose to represent his story is What A Shame by Shinedown.
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This podcast was made possible by my original podcast This JW Life. You can find it on any podcast app or on YouTube. 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.
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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled “No Hell Yet”.
Dude! TOS; you rocked it. You witnessing to me? I was witnessing to you. Glad I was #1 and not the third/last one. Keep doing what you do best. Love ya brother!
Sir Dino, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your interview. So much of it resonated with me. The moments when you would get all chocked up were when you were talking about helping “ worldly” people. That was very telling. When I disassociated in 2018, a close girlfriend warned me that I would never find genuine, self- sacrificing people in the world! I would love to tell her, 3 yrs later she was WRONG! When you said that WT lost some good people, It is what I was thinking throughout your interview. I think I’m a good person too, like you. Sad to say, “ Their loss!” 💜. Thank you!
Thank you. I didn’t burst into flames standing in the church as your best man. Thankfully all those years giving bible based speeches made me more comfortable giving your toast. Please note that giving a toast was also frowned upon.
Love you too. Thanks for listening
Thank you for listening and for commenting.
Dividing us is what the cult does. The limits they put on us is so sad.
Having people I met throughout my volunteer life outside of the JWs reach out to me and my family during times of hardship, severe weather events or the loss of my parents showed me who truly cared was very telling.
I am glad you found your way out. I recently made the decision to send a letter of disassociation myself. Very liberating. My love and respect.
Keep doing what you love and what you feel is right. You are a good person, and we are both better people having left
Loved your mom and dad so much for the way they raised you to think for yourself. It was great listening to somebody who has poured all those gifts the JWs overlooked into making this world a better place. Thank you so much for telling your story. As someone with a similar background (minus the great parents), I feel better knowing there’s a way to come out of this experience as a whole person
Thank you so much for listening and leaving a comment.
My mom and dad were 2 amazing people. Which is why it was an honor to care for them in their elder years. We built an apartment in the home so they could with us and cared for.
I kinda glossed over it, but my wife you I was cautioned about marrying, is not only still the love of my life 32 years later, but she cared for my parents like they were her own. Clearly I made a great decision not to listen to the naysayers.
There is a way indeed to leave, but non of us leave unscathed. Scars are tattoos with better stories and much better then open wounds.
Coach Mike has been a big help along with my family.
Thanks again for listening
Much love
Dino! I was so excited to see you on the podcast, I cannot tell you how great it feels to see someone I personally have known my entire life speak up about this. (Same congregation)You know my Dad, he still shuns me 22 years later. Keep up the good fight, you are a fantastic human. Say hi to your wife for me.
Hello Jen
So much love for you. I am sorry about your dad shunning you.
That does make me sad.
We had some real a holes ruin our congregation. I am glad you got out.
Thank you for listening and anytime you want to chat or hang out.
Dino