Maria: Losing Family and Community for Wanting a Normal Life

I was born into Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), with both of my parents being members. My mum’s parents were lifelong Witnesses, and my dad was a convert [someone who joined the religion later in life]. I left at the age of 16 but avoided being "dunked", so my parents didn’t shun me. However, the beliefs still put a wedge between me and my mum.

Over the years, she has said very mean things to me and has rarely told me she loves me. I lost all my JW friends and the entire community I grew up with, as I was now seen as "bad association". I know of people in the congregation who have unalived themselves because of the devastating effects of shunning.
It’s a massive, heartbreaking problem.

We just want to have normal family relationships—the kind of basic human connection that should never be taken away.