https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/in-depth-special-projects/story/2018901718/something-evil
SOMETHING EVIL - What happens when people are shunned from the Jehovah's Witnesses
From In Depth Special Projects, 5:00 am on 10 August 2023
CONTENT WARNING: This story discusses severe mental distress, depression and suicide.
“I had the reputation of being a very studious, level headed, discerning sister in the congregation … and then literally overnight, I went to being something evil, something dirty, something to be afraid of.”
For Rachel Jackson, it’s all over in two weeks.
After 22 years in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, she feels her whole identity disintegrate within a fortnight of confessing to doubts about the religion.
Why, she had asked, is it only us who will survive the Armageddon? There are so many other good people. Why not them too?
She started questioning the religion’s governing body, who are deemed the mouthpiece of God.
“I got reported by someone in the congregation,” Jackson says.
“I said something to her and then she got very upset with me and reported me to the elders in the congregation.”
Two elders tried to change her mind, to no avail. They told her to resign or be kicked out - ‘disfellowshipped’ - she says.
But Jackson, who had converted from Catholicism, refused. A committee of elders was formed to decide what to do with her.
“I met with three elders and they accused me of apostasy because I didn't accept that the governing body was the men that Jehovah was using.”
She says she was told her disfellowshipping would be announced to the congregation in two weeks.
“So two weeks later, all my friendships of the previous 25 years just went up in smoke.”
No one was told why Jackson was disfellowshipped, but they all shunned her.
READ MORE: https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/in-depth-special-projects/story/2018901718/something-evilLISTEN: Hear Cassie and Brad share their full story in a special feature episode of The Detail podcast, out on Saturday August 12