THE RELUCTANT APOSTATE Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses Comes at a Price by Lloyd Evans JLE Publishing 2017 © 2017 Lloyd Evans All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means— electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Published by JLE Services Ltd. t/a JLE Publishing www.reluctantapostate.co January 2018 printing Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, 2013 edition, published by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Certain references to Watchtower publications are provided in shortened form. For further information, see “Abbreviations of Publication Titles” in Watch Tower Publications Index. Photo Credits: ■ Pages 56, 99, 167, 348, 379, 391, 415, 420, 423, 427, 439, 449, 452, 455, 456, 460, 467, 469, 490, 493, 497, 553, 573: © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. ■ Pages 211, 214, 224, 235, 240, 276, 281, 297, 350, 377: Public domain (including expired copyright). ■ Pages 383, 400: © A. H. Macmillan. ■ Pages 398, 403: © R. V. Franz. ■ Pages 564, 576: © Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. ■ Page 263: © M. J. Penton. ■ Page 41: Mapio.net. ■ Page 731: Wikipedia.org All copyrighted material has been used per the “fair use” provisions of copyright law. Trademarks: All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Typeset in 10 pt/14 pt Merriweather Light DTP services provided by Toon Media Publishing Cover artwork: photography by Dijana Evans; design by Lloyd Evans, Kyle Racki and Arthur Weber The Reluctant Apostate ISBN: 978-0-9956691-0-9 (paperback); 978-0-9956691-1-6 (Kindle) To Dijana, Jessica and Mum Contents THE RELUCTANT APOSTATE Contents Acknowledgements Author’s Note Foreword Introduction Chapter One—How to Make a Jehovah’s Witness For Witnesses: Noah’s Flood For Witnesses: Christmas For Witnesses: Evolution Chapter Two—The Page-Folding Pioneer Chapter Three—God’s Promise of Paradise For Witnesses: Earthly Paradise For Witnesses: Status of Resurrected Spouses Chapter Four—Jehovah’s Witnesses and Sex For Witnesses: Masturbation For Witnesses: Homosexuality Chapter Five—Shepherd the Flock For Witnesses: Subjection of Women Chapter Six—The Pastor For Witnesses: 607 B.C.E. & 1914 Chapter Seven—The Judge Chapter Eight—Rise of the Slave Mexico and Malawi 1975 United Nations NGO Membership The Generation Teaching Become Jehovah’s Friend Cartoons Typhoon Haiyan Disaster JW Broadcasting Increased Begging for Funds For Witnesses: Governing Body Chapter Nine—Blood and Tears For Witnesses: Blood Transfusions Chapter Ten—Suffer the Little Children The Two-Witness Rule Culture of Confidentiality Perceived Separation From the World Misconceptions Surrounding Forgiveness Onus on Sinfulness of Child Abuse Chapter Eleven—8 Million Hostages For Witnesses: Disfellowshipping Chapter Twelve—A Prisoner No More Postscript Appendix A—Helpful Books, Online Resources and Contact Information Books (Cited or recommended) Online Resources Contact Information Appendix B—Internet Chart Data Appendix C—“Other Lands” Appendix D—Newspaper Articles on the Bonham Story Appendix E—The 1975 Discrepancy Appendix F—UN Letters Appendix G—Magazine Printing Decrease Calculations Appendix H—Extrapolation on the Number of Child Abuse Victims Appendix I—Gerrit Lösch’s Statement Appendix J— 1947 Awake! Article on Excommunication Appendix K—“War of Words” Article in The Independent —September 27, 2011 Notes Acknowledgements The Reluctant Apostate was written sporadically over four years, during which time some of the events described took place. I thus had to live the story as well as write it. Over this period, many people have passed through my life and spurred me on in different ways, either through words of encouragement, or helpful guidance, or practical assistance. It is impossible to call to mind, by name, each and every individual who has contributed to my efforts. I can only write down a few names that come immediately to mind, and apologize in advance to the many whose names will inevitably be missing. I am grateful to everyone who has helped me in whatever small way—including a number who cannot be named because this would cause trouble for them due to the threat of shunning. Among those I can gladly mention is Patrick Haeck, whose generosity was so incredible that it became part of the story! Dijana and I continue to be profoundly grateful both for his friendship, and that of his ever-growing “family,” which includes Belinda, Delina, Oriana & Matthias, Amélie, “Oma,” Bjorn & Priskilla, Tibni, Phebe, Jamin & Laurissa. The overwhelming love and kindness of the “crazy Belgians” came at a crucial time in our lives, and we look forward to many more years of joy and happiness with them. I must pay special tribute to John A. Hoyle, who is a wonderful man—my good friend and trusted mentor. John is, in my view, an overlooked hero of the ex-Witness movement, and his behind-the-scenes contribution over the years toward making online resources available has been immense. I will always be thankful that he took a chance on a boisterous, controversial newcomer named “Cedars” back in 2011, and built a website that has gone on to improve so many lives. Our mutual friends Richard E. Kelly and his dear wife Helen have also been a reliable source of love, kindness and encouragement over the years, and Dijana and I are very thankful for their friendship. Other fellow cult survivors and activists who have, at various times, supported and assisted me include Barbara Anderson, Steven Hassan, Paul Grundy, Randy Watters, David A. Reed, Eric Bottorff, Vincent Deporter, Julia Barrick, William J. Fitten, Ruben Looij, Chris Shelton, Amber Scorah, Sue Hall, Jeni Lundblom, Annette Getzschman, Frances Peters, Mike Rinder, Scott Terry, Brett Griffin-Young, Imtiaz Shams, Theramin Trees, Phil Dunne, Kathleen and Candace Conti, Robert Crompton, Javier Ortiz, Kyle Racki, Karenne Saylor, Elisa Kireeff, Ryan J. Morse, Claire Beecham, Joanna Foreman, Howie Rutledge Tran, Merice Ewart Marshall, Sean McGee, Ethan Hatcher, Pierre Burmester, Amelia Louise Ashton-Brooke, Ruben Ortiz, Gregorio Smith, Chip LaFleur, Debbie McDaniel, Robert and Marvina Benzekri, Johnny Kozák, Lisa L. Osborne, Esther Yvonne, Barbara Kohout, Victoria Summers, Cătălin Bontea, Masoud Banisadr, Mariuca Rofick, Alex Strait, Janiene Adamse, Terry E. Walstrom, Benny & Pym Bonte, Néstor & Toni Kuilan, Angus & Jane Robertson, Susan Barber, Carrie Bee, “WifiBandit,” Jerome Griff, Sheila Andersen, Don Brumfield, Jill Davis Long, Olli Schuster, Heather Bennett, Rowland Nelken, Misha Verollet, John and Mary Viney, Karen Morgan, “Toledo Squad,” James Payten, Stephanie Hammond, Patricia Russell, Daniel & Devon Genser, “Mr. Watchtower,” Daniel Wiebe and Deborah Frances-White. I also value the solidarity shown by non-Witnesses like Hemant Mehta, Regina Spiess and Trey Bundy, each of whom have summoned the compassion to highlight Watchtower abuse and injustice without requiring a Witness background in order to grasp the severity of the issues. One of the joys of waking up from cult indoctrination is that of reforging lost friendships and family bonds. I want to give special mention to those who knew me as a Jehovah’s Witness and have reached out with love and kindness since my awakening: my cousins Derek Phillips, Becky Phillips and Jenny Brooker, and my dear friends Mark Taylor, Carrie-Ann McClenahan and Jennifer Mason. There are others like these who have reconnected and have been supporting me from the sidelines, but I fear I would only make their lives more complicated by naming them. Someone who is worthy of special mention is Arthur Weber. If you are impressed with the layout and aesthetics of the book you are holding in your hands (or swiping with your fingers, if you are reading on a Kindle device) you should know that this is due to his involvement. Arthur has repeatedly exceeded my expectations with his passion for the project, his patience and dedication, and his almost fanatical attention to detail. Arthur’s extraordinary knowledge of Watchtower and its history, as well as his mastery of English grammar, punctuation and spelling (uncanny for a Romanian!) has also served to greatly smooth the process of getting this book over the finish line. The many weeks I have spent working closely with him have been an absolute pleasure. Any writers, including myself, looking to get future books published would be lucky to have his assistance. Of course, it doesn’t matter how good a book looks if it is not well written, and I will always be immensely grateful to my team of editors (each of whom I am also proud to call dear friends) for giving up so much of their time and energy toward (1) keeping my grammar and punctuation in check, (2) keeping my English American rather than British (for the benefit of the overwhelming majority of my readers), and (3) helping with mopping up any errors that slipped through: Rob & Blair Russell, Arthur Weber (again!), “Covert Fade,” Mark & Kimberly O’Donnell and Graeme Hammond. “Covert Fade,” Mark and Kimberly deserve extra credit for the dedication and tireless work they have poured into JWsurvey.org as fellow members of the website’s editorial team. I am also thankful to Abigail Parker, Isaac Harris, Lee Elder, Peter Jeuck, Robert Crompton and Jim Penton for making their expertise available to me on certain matters as the need arose. I further need to express my sincere appreciation to the following individuals, along with the many others who assisted with funding the publishing of this book via Indiegogo: Nel Welvaarts, Troy King, Louise Crack, Édith Châteauvert, Eddie Puric, Andrew and Myrna Vodopich, Patrice Gates, Nathan Hamlitsch, Tom Richardson, Ashley Latham, Janai Zecora Sparlock, Sarah Keirsey, Charles McCoy, Jarred Booth, Lisa Cook Osborne, Adam Heckathorn, Kirk Hemphill, Benny Bonte, Paul Watson, Jerome Griff, Mary Strauser, Dustin Condon, Andrew Kass, Greg Evans, Louczyshyn Roman, Pollie E. Hogue, Robert Andrésen, Neil Buckley, George Harris, Robert L. Chappel III, Daniel and Mie Månsson, Heidi L. Nordberg, the Zieman family, Martin Haugh, Sonia Mallet, Ryan & Story Johnson, Barbara Weed, Raffaela Hosbein, Mike Dennis, Mary Melinda Owens, Dumitru G., Janiel Baez, Malen Cross, Jonas Ropponen, Valerie O’Connor, Andrew Melton, Rob & Blair Russell, Rose Jorgensen, Gennadiy Kaliberda, Max Elfelt, Nathan Kincaid, Sue Hall, Michael Bryson, Sera-Marie Capaldi, the Şandor family (Raul, Cristina, Alex & Maya), Andrew Gregory Mercer, Louise Barbour, John Austin, Philip Hickey, Benjamin Schaich, Robert L. Rogers, Mark Ellis, Jason M. Wynne, Ronald Feller, David C. J. Priest, Carrie L. Chaney, John Reeder, David Ferreira, Tyler A. Berg, Ramil & Cristy Espera, Michelle Bonin, Simon & Birnette, Roberto Secco, Pamela Dawn Land, Stephen Bowyer, Jackie Shaw, Jorian Micom, Shane E. Stapley, Scott Clarkson, Emily Thoresen, John A. Hoyle, Vincent and Michele Tylor, Valorie Kappmeyer, Tiina Torenius-Marttinen, Nicole Buesen, Cindy Crispin, “Birdy,” James & Crystal Henson, Mike Beauman, Gabe & Angela Rellamas, Carmelo Rosado III, Kelly Perazzolo, Frank Jepsen, Craig A. Uherek, Brittany Gatchell, Travis G. Pryor, Philippe Malenfant, Rob Horan, Palo Roman, Przemek Ozgo, Mark Lacasse, Derek Edwards, the Nazaroff family, Kurtis Janda, Topher Spinnato, Nubia Adams, Jennifer Haugh, Natasha Freestone, Brett Griffin-Young, Christine Vail-Clarke, Donna L. Baynes, Jonathan Hosier, Karl Moloney, Christina Shirley Murrin, Michał Oborzyński, Peter Vagn Jensen, Alan Gunderson, Guillermo Iris Urena Jr., Geoff Dexter, Michael Tucker, Kate Harper, Linda S. Allen, Verushka Yearwood, Joan M. Miller, Jennifer Mason,