I was raised as a
Jehovah Witness from the age of 10. They knock on the door one day and dad answered. He told them there was no point in studying the bible because he couldn’t read. The brother at the door told my father that he would teach him. And it changed our lives on the fateful day. Dad discovered god and learnt how to read. My mum already knew about Jehovah Witnesses from her youth and so she quickly became a part of it. I still remember my last birthday, Easter and Christmas when I was 10years old.
I decided in my early teens that it just wasn’t for me and it cause huge conflict with my parents. I used to lock myself in the toilet at home so I didn’t have to go to meetings and it made my parents furious. I was told I couldn’t live under their roof if I didn’t go to meetings. I got out as soon as I could. My mum was going through my underwear draw one day and found a scribed for the pill and told me I had to stop having sex or get out. I climb out the window that very night, and moved in with my boyfriend (who is now my husband) I was 18!
I can’t help it but I still hold resentment feelings for organized religion. One of dads closed friends tried to kiss and touch me for
four years and my father never believe me. I was told that he was just friendly and I was being silly. He would give me little gifts too, and dad still didn’t see what was happening. I was trapped with this old man on weekly bases. He was always over for dinner and at meetings whispering inappropriate things that no 14 year old should have to hear for a dirty old man.
It all came to a head when I was 17 years old, and my younger sister was home on her own. Merv the perv (as I used to call him in private) stopped by our house and my sister invited him in. He kissed her and held her tight while rubbing himself on her and she freak-out and told me about it a few days later. I marched into my dad’s room while he was studying the
watchtower and told him what sister had said. He finally believed me, I was so relieved. The elders (heads of the congregation) were informed and meetings were held. Other girls and their family came forward, told similar stories. Some much worst then ours. It was all done so badly too. Jehovah Witness friends turn against us. We were called liars, and trouble makers. One particularly bad meeting, my sister and I had to confront Merv while his wife sat next to him crying, shaking her head asking us why we were doing this to her.
And nothing serious was done…Merv walk free to rape a girl years later, so I’ve been told. I believe he is now dead, died of a heart attack. Is it wrong to be happy about that?
