About this episode

Sara shares her experiences growing up as a Jehovah's Witness and the impact of the organization's policies on victims of abuse.

In this episode, we sit down with Sara , a 40-year-old third-generation former Jehovah's Witness who shares a raw and revealing look at the cost of high-control religious living. Sara describes an upbringing defined by the heavy influence of her grandfather, a prominent elder who provided a sense of "structure" and "safety" until his death when Sara was a young teenager. Following his passing, Sara witnessed her family's transition from "hero" status to "villains" in the eyes of the congregation after an uncle was jailed for child abuse , exposing the fickle nature of the "brotherhood" and the organization's priority of appearance over the well-being of its members. The conversation delves into the devastating trauma of institutional shunning and the systemic failures regarding child protection within the Watchtower. Sara recounts the harrowing experience of seeing a convicted predator reinstated while in jail to the applause of the congregation, while she was castigated for seeking her own identity. Now 17 years removed from the organization, Sara discusses her "miraculous" journey of reclaiming her life, earning a bachelor's degree at age 40 , and utilizing professional therapy…

People in this episode

Guest: Sara

Topics covered

• high-control religion
• child protection
• institutional shunning
• personal trauma
• reclaiming identity
• family dynamics

Keywords

• Jehovah's Witness
• child abuse
• institutional shunning
• PTSD
• high-control religion
• family trauma
• recovery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Jehovah's Witness, Watchtower

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