Here is a rough translation from google translate:
Jonathan Lavoie denounces the religious movement which almost led to suicide
Saturday, January 24, 2015 8:43 p.m.UPDATE Saturday, January 24, 2015 8:49 p.m.
Forced to convert to Jehovism at the age of 8 years, Jonathan Lavoie claims to have suffered a "brainwashing" and significant social isolation, which almost led to suicide, before leaving this religious structure to age 17.
"I was not able. It was: I go or I kill myself, "recalls the 40 year old man. Small, Jonathan was the only practicing Catholic family. "At the age of 4, I wanted to become a priest. That was my goal in life, which put my mother mautadit "he connects.
While Jonathan had just turned 8 years old, his parents were discussing divorce. They are neighbors followers of the movement that convinced them to convert, saying that disunity did not exist in their religion. "I was away, I wanted to know anything," he says.
Quietly, a process of handling high-ranking moved and Jonathan remembers including children's books describing the move as heaven and as a religion of love. "It's always handling like that," insists the former follower.
Abused
Despite the conversion that would restore the family atmosphere, Jonathan, his brother and sister were beaten by their stepfather. "I realized that the world was aware of what was happening at home and no one did anything.We had mentioned as being exemplary. "
The "executioner" family was even voted "departmental server" in his congregation. Teenager, Jonathan began to doubt the credibility of the movement.
"This is a cult that is ultra fundamentalist. It's extremely hard to live and follow their rules. We are in contact with the outside world and it is clear that ... "he let it go. At 17, Jonathan decided to leave the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Drugs and shelter
"It was the crisis. It toughé two weeks and they [his parents] have Crissé me out, "says Mr. Lavoie. He then lived in foster care, in addition to sink into the hell of drugs. He had no contact with his family.
He has missed the wedding of his brother, an event which he sadly known existed long after. "I knew when he was in the hospital dying," grieves Mr. Lavoie. Reached Gardner's syndrome, he died as a result of refusing blood transfusion dictated by religion.
Jonathan is now focusing on his acting work, in addition to denounce the movement on his site, www.watchtowerlies.com .
The followers are becoming increasingly rare
The movement Jehovah loses ground in Quebec and reached a plateau as to its number of followers.
"Between 1991 and 2011, they had a loss of 18%," said Alain Bouchard, sociologist of religion at Laval University, according to data from Statistics Canada.
The good years of the movement in Quebec were between 1971 and 1991. "There had been a good increase."
With this enthusiasm, growth promised still flourishing in Quebec, but the opposite scenario occurred. "Between 1991 and 2001, he got out [followers] plus he returned," says Bouchard.
"These types of minority religions, often in tension with society, eventually reaching a plateau".
By "growth"
For its part, Léonce Crépeau, responsible for movement in Quebec, denies declining interest in the movement.
"Definitely, we are growing," he insists, without having to official figures showing. "We have over 25,000 followers," he argues.
It is estimated that in 1000, the number of new fans each year. "We build meeting places, while the churches today, you know what happens," he added.
Some of the principles criticized in the movement are justified, insists Mr. Crépeau, such as the refusal of blood transfusions. "If they refuse blood transfusions, that's biblical reasons."
About the non-existent relationship with former followers, he believes that it is their choice. "If someone decides to practice some things that the Bible does not, we will help. They made their choice. It helps, but if they do not want, we can not force them. "
A religion less and less popular
- 18% | Decrease in the number of followers between 1991 and 2011
- 1991 33 420 followers
- 2001 29 999 followers
- 2011: 27 495 followers
- 2008: slight increase
- Between 2012 and 2013: no significant increase