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Real-life case studies put a human face to the problem
We are collecting stories to make mandated shunning more relatable and tangible in front of lawmakers. Some authors have chosen not to include a photo due to safety or personal reasons. Their voice still matters.
Behind the Smiles: The Truth About Geelong Revival in the Philippines
I lived in the Philippines my whole life. We called the group “Bible Fellowship” (and lots of satellites assembly such as Dagupan Assembly, Naic Assembly, Lemery Assembly, Santa Rosa Assembly and other parts of the Philippines) our mai...
Thomas Boreham: The Impact of Religious Shunning—A Personal Account
My name is Thomas Boreham, and from 1996 to 2022, I was a member of the Milton Keynes Christian Revival Centre (MKCRC) (also registered as the Milton Keynes Bible Faith Fellowship) in the United Kingdom. The MKCRC is affiliated with the Geelong Re...
Amy A.: Born In, Not Bound—Breaking Free from the JW Mental Prison
Hello, my name is Amy, I am an Ex-Jehovah’s Witness, having “faded out” about 12 years ago. I do not typically identify myself in this manner, as I no longer abide by the rules or mental prison that held me captive for far too lo...
The Ache of Obedience—A Parent's Story of Mandated Shunning
As a parent, the pain of being told to turn away from your own child—someone you carried, raised, and love unconditionally—is an ache that words can scarcely contain. Some of us have seen announcements from the platform made casually, ...
Graham C: From Elder to Outcast—Why We Walked Away from the Watchtower
Became a member of JWs in about 1985, baptised in 1987. Became Elder in 1999, served as secretary to two congregations. Never quite agreed with most doctrines, and certainly the prophecies. Became a pimo, and I finally faded. The Reason I never l...
Bullied Into Disassociating
This is a very short breakdown of what I’ve lived. I was born and raised in the Jehovah's Witnesses. I walked away at 16 when I was supposed to shun my best friend because she chose to leave the organization. I stopped attending and moved aw...
Amy Grace: Three Generations in, One Heartbreaking Exit
I was born into the Jehovah's Witnesses / Watch Tower Society. I am a third generation and I raised my daughter in this also. I fully woke up from the convoluted ever changing doctrines and teachings at the age of 59, in 2019. I tried to get my da...
Denny Senner: Confession and Castigation: How My Sister Was Publicly Shamed and Shunned by Jehovah’s Witness Elders
I was born into the JW religion. My grandmother, grandparents, and parents were all in it. My grandfather and father were elders. I am one of four siblings. My younger sister, at age 28, slept with someone she had met (she was a virgin) and strai...
Tom Howell: From Missionary Zeal to Disfellowshipped
I was born in 1940, placed my first book in the door-to-door work in 1946, (I was working alone. Dad was working the other side of the street.) and I was baptized at 15 years of age. I knew exactly what I was doing and have done all I could to liv...
Jay: Starting Over at 34—Shunned for Leaving My Faith
I grew up in the Jehovahs Witnesses from the age of 8-34 years. I left the religion at first by stopping all activity. Then I officially resigned from the organization, giving a formal letter of disassociation. Automatically the members of the re...
Aether: Baptized at 13, Banished for Being Me
I was shunned by my family when I came out as a lesbian. I was baptised at 13-14, having being influenced into that direction for many years. Older members of the congregation had began to talk to me about baptism. I didn’t know what it mean...
Amy Loucks: Conditional Love—A JW Childhood Stolen by Faith and Fear
Mom joined when I was 11, the second to the oldest child of 6. The mom married the stepfather and moved far away from all family and we were not allowed to contact them. The family went deep into studying, meetings, field service, reading the bibl...
Dámaris: Still Waiting to Be Seen—Ten Years of Shunning
Most of my family, including my parents and my sister (who is sadly indoctrinated) are shunning me longer than a decade now.
Sue: I Gave Her a Kidney—She Gave Me a Note Saying Goodbye Forever
Raised as 3rd generation JW’s. In 1978 I married a JW and set out to raise the 4th generation together. I hated going out in service, but I still did go. If I went to a door alone, many times I pretended to knock. In the 1990’s, ...
Raymond D Haws: My Wife Chose the Cult Over Her Family
My wife, Cassandre Damara Champaign Haws started studying with a JW co worker in secret just before Covid. After the covid outbreak started I mentioned wanting to go to church. She mentioned trying the JW'S. I attended a few meetings and was conce...
