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TRUTH BE TOLD

Documentary Unmasking the Jehovah’s Witnesses Culture of Undue Influence

The highly anticipated feature documentary TRUTH BE TOLD was released for digital download and streaming on 12/19/2014. The film is especially timely as the world community responds to the clear and present dangers posed by religiously-motivated fanaticism.

TRUTH BE TOLD is a feature-length documentary film about children growing up in the Jehovah's Witnesses religion. The title refers to the Jehovah's Witnesses’ perception that their beliefs, and only their beliefs, are 'the truth'.

In this film, former Jehovah's Witnesses candidly discuss their experiences, including the effects of proselytizing door-to-door, shunning non-believing family and friends, suspension of critical thinking, suffering the discouragement of being blocked from pursuing career dreams or participating in higher education, and the refusal of Witnesses to keep societal holidays and customs (including Christmas).

"We're exploring the oppressive hold the Watchtower Society has on its members," says director Gregorio Smith. "And while TRUTH BE TOLD is of natural interest to former and active Jehovah's Witnesses, we believe it will appeal to and educate the general public about the harmful side of this particular high-control group.”

The abuses explored in TRUTH BE TOLD are part of a wider examination into the Jehovah’s Witness culture of mental and emotional manipulation of members, referred to as undue influence by cult and mental health experts, which violates the fundamental human rights of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their families worldwide.

Celebrated cognitive Professor Daniel Dennett called the look behind the scenes of Jehovah’s Witness families “fascinating” and a “valuable contribution.”

Professor Jim Alcock of York University observes, “The film gives a vivid testimony to the power of dogmatic, fundamentalist belief systems.”

Former Jehovah’s Witness and University of Nebraska educator Joy Castro said the film is riveting, indispensible and an affirmation of her own departure from the group, at age fifteen.

The film is also endorsed by Freedom of Mind’s Steven Hassan, one of the world’s leading experts on cult-exit counseling, and attorney Irwin Zalkin, whose’ Law Firm has several child-sex abuse lawsuits pending against the Watchtower Society.

The official TRUTH BE TOLD website is at hereliesthetruth.com The trailer is at youtube.com/watch?v=B4nqYtzDaGE

If you’d like more information, or to schedule an interview with Truth Be Told director Gregorio Smith, please call (646) 530-8300 or e-mail info@smithkraft.com

creative commons copyright    Paul Grundy  2005 - 2024