Understanding Jehovah's Witnesses

De: Owen Morgan, Hemant Mehta

Narrado por: Owen Morgan

This book is part memoir, history, exploration, and critique of the Jehovah's Witness religion. I was born and raised as a Jehovah's Witness. Eventually, I found myself shunned due to actions considered unacceptable by the leaders of the religion at the time.

I lost everything except the shirt on my back and the shoes on my feet. I faced a series of personal setbacks as a result of being cut off from childhood friends and family.

After rebuilding my life about ten years later, I investigated the organization that caused me so much pain. I found that it wasn't just me but many others. I finally decided to examine the history of the religion, which would be a shunning offense if I hadn't already been shunned.

This book reflects my current understanding and beliefs about the religion and my critiques about its flaws, hypocrisies, and threats to peoples well-being. It also addresses the organization's history from 1844 to the modern day. Finally, the last chapter contains one hundred questions for Jehovah's Witnesses- questions that go unanswered.

©2024 Black Cat Publishing (P)2024 Black Cat Publishing

A tour de force on many levels

I listen to Owen's YouTube channels. This book is not only extremely informative about the religion but he shows Christians just how important it is to really obey Jesus's words and actions. I am a Christian...seeing the affects of doing the opposite of what Jesus taught is sobering and humbling. How often have I judged others? How many opportunities to show someone Jesus have I missed due to my own ego...stupidity...pride? Owen's ode to Sue had me in tears.

Owen, I know you're an atheist...but I definitely heard Jesus speaking thru you a message I really needed to hear. Thank you!

Your book helped make sense of the actions and personality of an ex JW I knew years ago. Unfortunately he went right while you went left. He used the skills he learned as a JW to brow beat, manipulate and intimidate others (myself included) to his political and far right views. I had no idea what he was doing to me...your book has she'd light on it.

I'm so glad you did the reading! Your passion for this comes thru so well and made this one of the most engaging books I've listened to. Sometimes I forgot I wasn't listening to one of your videos lol!

This is a book I will be listening to again (I also have the print version), there is so much to think more deeply about.

Outrageous, Intolerable and Sad

This book definitely sheds light on what JW is about. I most appreciate the history and development knowledge of the group. Many thanks for all the research this author has done to try to explain JW from its roots. I wanted to read this book because, well, I wanted to Understand about JWs, as the title suggests. What I would have liked, is the author to not be so emotional. I say that with a grain of salt because I can certainly understand why he is and I don’t blame him. But I would have liked the lay-out to stick to the “facts” of the religion. I believe an editor would have been a huge assist in reducing emotion and repetition. Which has its place, but sparingly.

That said, there is No Way I’d get involved with this group after reading this. I’m sad for all the children that have to endure this forced knowledge and practices without understanding their options. Such a brainwashed group.

I sincerely hope that this book gets the right people involved who know how to dismantle this criminal organization’s belief system or at the very least, correct it, but it seems a daunting task.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! In spite of the emotion and repetition, it is still an eye-opener to the JW foundation and gives the reader ‘An Option’ on whether or not they want to be involved.

Readers should note that the 100 questions at the end is a recap of all that is read in previous chapters.

Thank you Owen and Hemant, for sharing:)

a deeply personal story

A heartfelt and compelling telling of a life dominated by a fundamentalist upbringing. Highly recommend

Brilliant, poignant writing AND delivery. A true gift of the heart.

Brilliant, heartbreakingly honest and defiant in its hard fought (and won!) vulnerability. Five well-deserved stars, for content AND delivery. Very impressive work, Owen! You are a brave and brilliant soul. Thank you for sharing your trials AND your gifts with us all. I certainly needed this even more than I’d previously realized. 🙏🏾🩷💜💙

Owen Morgan delivers an honest, fair critique

I’ve been listening to Owen Morgan’s Youtube channel for a while now and I find his even, honest way of speaking and handling subjects to be both informative and easy to listen to. Here, he provides an introductory history of Jehovah’s witnesses and challenges their doctrine without resorting to exaggeration or insults. He provides his own experience as much as he can and his story can be pretty harrowing at times. I knew I would get this book when he announced it, but I wanted it in audio form, because I like hearing his voice and I like to do other tasks like cleaning while listening to audio books.

I hope to hear more from him in the future.

the impact of religious gaslighting

The writer was born the same year as my one and only son. when he was 9 yrs old I pushed him to seek out baptism. but after the elders met with him they suggested he should wait a couple of years...I am grateful now that he did not get baptised. my husband at the time was abusing me physically and he put me in the ER multiple times. The elders would come to visit me and explain Jehovah wanted me to go through the spiritual test of my faith. I can verify that Owen's mom was most likely gaslit by her elders into tolerating her husband's abuse.

watchtower teaches parents to hate their children. the only good memory I have from my childhood is the cheese danishes. If u know you know. ♡

Praise for vulnerability

This book was raw and wonderful. Anyone who has been through high demand religion separation, anyone who identifies as Christian, and those that struggle with addiction will get so much out of it. Owen's story is heartbreaking and hopeful.

Great Info, Pissed Off Storyteller

The information was great. The flow of the book worked and kept things interesting.
My only issue was the author would have been better off having someone else narrate the audiobook. His honest, yet distracting, emotional (angry) tone was not necessary to get the points across.

High Control Religion

I also came from a high control environment and it is interesting to see the places where my childhood and the authors childhood are almost the same.

I also learn d quite a bit about how the Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs were formed.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a better understanding of high control religions in general or Jehovah's Witnesses specifically.

amazing book

this book was absolutely amazing to read. I never was a Jehovah witness, but now I know a lot about the religion and what to say or not say to an ex hoewitness. the narration by Owen Morgan was amazing and I absolutely enjoyed listening to his voice. I definitely recommend reading this book to learn more about other religions!