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A review by dinsdale
Shunned: How I Lost My Religion and Found Myself by Linda A. Curtis
4.0
Shunned was the sadly predictable and often times infuriating story of Linda Curtis' leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses and the personal repercussions she faced living amongst who they called the rest of us: "worldly people". I really enjoy these "leaving the faith" books as I admire the strength of the person rejecting supernaturalism and it's always fun to compare experiences.
Indoctrinated from birth and forced to knock on doors to convert the rest of us before becoming a teenager, Linda Curtis was told that the end of the world was looming and the non-Witnesses would be taken straight to hell when the four horsemen showed up. Witness women like Linda were discouraged from having a career amongst the worldly and higher education was definitely not welcome as it could lead you away from Jehovah. Isn't it funny how some believers become educated in how the world really works and come to the conclusion that their isn't any need for supernatural beliefs (raises hand). Indoctrination can be a hard obstacle to overcome.
As Linda eventually became educated and made friends with worldly people she realized that she just could no longer believe in the rabid fundamental beliefs of the Witnesses or that her friends were going to hell because they didn't believe in Jehovah. Eventually she followed her head and left the Witnesses, with the result being shunned by one and all, including close friends and family, as is the standard protocol. Linda landed a good job amongst the worldly in Chicago and started a new life there which helped he put her past life in Portland, Oregon behind her.
Linda's family consisted of her mom, dad, a brother, and sister; all Witnesses. While her parents and sister did not completely break off contact with her, Linda was determined to maintain a relationship with her family. Contact was very limited and her mother wouldn't give Linda information about family or friends back home unless Linda came back to Jehovah. The whole family dynamic, including the relationship with her Witness ex-husband, was interesting to watch evolve over the course of Linda's life. The behavior of the Witness was absolutely maddening, and I think any non-Witness would agree that is was hateful and pathetic. Choosing dogma over family is hard to fathom.
Funny, since the pandemic the Witnesses no longer ring our doorbell (I kind of wish they would!) but instead a couple times a year I get a hand-written letter and The Watchtower in the mail. It's all very interesting. I just can't believe in this day and age this organization can have such naïve views of how the world works and what happens after we die if we follow Jehovah. Comforting lies > reality.
I listened to this on Audible and didn't realize until after it was over that it was not narrated by Linda herself, but by Emily Ellet who did a great job reading her story and emoting in the right spots. Linda has a few videos on YouTube, including one in which she reads from this book. Good stuff.
4.5 stars.
Indoctrinated from birth and forced to knock on doors to convert the rest of us before becoming a teenager, Linda Curtis was told that the end of the world was looming and the non-Witnesses would be taken straight to hell when the four horsemen showed up. Witness women like Linda were discouraged from having a career amongst the worldly and higher education was definitely not welcome as it could lead you away from Jehovah. Isn't it funny how some believers become educated in how the world really works and come to the conclusion that their isn't any need for supernatural beliefs (raises hand). Indoctrination can be a hard obstacle to overcome.
As Linda eventually became educated and made friends with worldly people she realized that she just could no longer believe in the rabid fundamental beliefs of the Witnesses or that her friends were going to hell because they didn't believe in Jehovah. Eventually she followed her head and left the Witnesses, with the result being shunned by one and all, including close friends and family, as is the standard protocol. Linda landed a good job amongst the worldly in Chicago and started a new life there which helped he put her past life in Portland, Oregon behind her.
Linda's family consisted of her mom, dad, a brother, and sister; all Witnesses. While her parents and sister did not completely break off contact with her, Linda was determined to maintain a relationship with her family. Contact was very limited and her mother wouldn't give Linda information about family or friends back home unless Linda came back to Jehovah. The whole family dynamic, including the relationship with her Witness ex-husband, was interesting to watch evolve over the course of Linda's life. The behavior of the Witness was absolutely maddening, and I think any non-Witness would agree that is was hateful and pathetic. Choosing dogma over family is hard to fathom.
Funny, since the pandemic the Witnesses no longer ring our doorbell (I kind of wish they would!) but instead a couple times a year I get a hand-written letter and The Watchtower in the mail. It's all very interesting. I just can't believe in this day and age this organization can have such naïve views of how the world works and what happens after we die if we follow Jehovah. Comforting lies > reality.
I listened to this on Audible and didn't realize until after it was over that it was not narrated by Linda herself, but by Emily Ellet who did a great job reading her story and emoting in the right spots. Linda has a few videos on YouTube, including one in which she reads from this book. Good stuff.
4.5 stars.