Stuart’s Story: The Shunned of Oz
Me and Jehovah’s Witnesses
The highest position I reached in the organization is Auxiliary Pioneer.
Auxiliary Pioneer
I was an Auxiliary Pioneer for a short or intermittent period.
Baptized Publisher
I was baptized in 1987 when I was 15 to 17 years of age. Looking back, I think I was too young to be baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness. If I could do it all over again, I would not get baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness.
Disassociation
I am disassociated from Jehovah’s Witnesses for 6 years.
To Be Shunned
I think long-term shunning has a bad effect on a person’s emotional, mental and/or physical well-being.
I am being shunned by Parent(s), Sibling(s), Child(ren), Other relative(s), Best Friend/Close Friend(s), Congregation Friend(s), Others.
I disagree with Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practice of shunning.
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practice of shunning has adversely affected me somewhat.
I would like Jehovah’s Witnesses to end shunning.
Its not a loving arrangement at all. It is horrible to be treated as though you don’t exist, or are a murderer, or criminal that should not even be able to meet nieces and nephews, and not have any contact with 5 of my 7 biological brothers and 1 sister.
Contact with my daughter is very limited, even to have any idea of what’s going on in her life, if she’s ok or being treated badly etc. I don’t think that is “honouring your father” at all. I don’t blame her though, but I do regret bringing her up in that organization
It is very arrogant that they think they are “better” human beings because they have “the truth” which I no longer believe.
I did try to get reinstated (for more than 6 months) before my daughter was getting married so that I could walk her down the aisle, which is a special moment for any father but it was ripped away as they decided it was more important to “punish” me because my principles did not align with theirs. I subsequently agreed, feeling that my principles are better than what they displayed (unloving and harsh) so will never go back.
It is particularly hard as my mum is getting old (she’s one of the anointed) and has recently had a stroke.
Final Comments
I’m not a believer in any religion, but the Jehovah’s Witnesses are like the “birdcatcher” Jesus warned about; once you are in, you really are trapped. You cannot leave without losing your family. They do not accurately represent anything like the attitude and love of humanity that Jesus did. They are like the whitewashed gravestones full of dead men’s bones. “Get out of her, my people” applies equally to them as Babylon the Great.
Thanks for reading,
Stuart
