Going back five generations in the cult of Jehovah’s Witnesses, back to the origins of what we know today by that name, Heath’s family runs deep in it. His great grandfather was of the anointed with the heavenly hope back in the 1930s when the option of an earthly hope was brought to the fore, his great grandmother holding that earthly hope. So this cult has its fingerprints all over the family, and Heath grew up only knowing one way of life.
“There was no doubt. There was no room to doubt. There was no way to doubt.” The prescribed path of a JW was set out before him, but a moment in 2003 changed everything for Heath. That “spiritual paradise” that he lived in was shaken up through some experiences, and over time Heath would have to find another path, one divergent from the one that his entire family had invested so deeply in.
The song that Heath chose to represent his story is Heaven Go Easy On Me by The Head and the Heart.
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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.
Music provided by Jane and the Boy, entitled Save Myself.
Hey, way to go getting out!
I’m happy your family could ignore some of the rules/messaging about movies, associating with you while your Dad was in hospice, etc. I’ve taken on something from therapy to instead of calling that type of behavior hypocrisy to seeing it as people deciding for themselves (unless it is the GB or nasty higher up enforcers).
You may know some of my relatives, small world. They are in construction too. I don’t want to give too much away as I am still undercover although I’m almost “inactive”.
Thanks Grace! I may have worked right along side some of your relatives.
Hope your exit goes exactly how you wish it to.
Wow not the person I expected to see here 😂
Hi Heath! We were not friends, but I knew who your family was. Our parents were friendly with each other at meetings/assemblies/conventions. We were in the Mt Elden congregation in Flagstaff. I am a couple years younger than you. Our family was not a shining example so we as kids were not around a lot of the other kids in order to make friends.
I am sorry for all of the nonsense you have had to go through. I was familiar with your wife’s family as well, since I was in Tuba City quite often staying with another witness family and I can picture the dynamic you described.
It felt comforting to see a familiar face with stories that are similar to mine, although I am heartbroken about your relationship with your daughter.
We experience so much trauma, which is hard to explain to others that have not experienced the same, especially when it comes to validating feelings. I come to these spaces so I don’t gaslight myself 😂
I am sorry to hear about your dad. Your parents were always so kind.
Love and hugs from one shunned person to another. Keep being your authentic self!