If you grew up in a fundamentalist religious household or your parents converted to a charismatic or evangelical church, you’ll probably want to read this blog article. It probably applies to you and your children.
I’ve just heard it through my private little grapevine that Richard E. Kelly, a Michigan based writer, is about to release his first major book to the public in August (2007). The book is “Growing Up in Mama’s Club – A childhood perspective of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” The book is described in more detail at his new website www.RichardEKelly.com.
The August 2007 release is actually the 2nd Edition; the first printing of 200 copies was only distributed to friends, critics and agents for review purposes. The feedback Kelly got was overwhelmingly positive and many reader suggestions were used to rework the 2nd Edition that’s being released to the public. The book will be offered online and through several major retail channels.
Kelly tells the story of his mother’s conversion to Jehovah’s Witnesses when he was just 4 years old. At that age, he just assumed that his mother had “joined a club” – so to speak. Eager to please his mother, he joined with her in attending the regular meetings and activities of the Witness organization and grew up not really knowing any other way of life.
But through his teen years, he realized that although he loved his mother and continued to want to please her, the teachings and cult culture of the Witnesses was becoming more and more difficult for him to live with and to rationalize his continued involvement.
Kelly relates how he actively participated in field service and meetings, and even voluteered to go and work at the Watchtower printing factories in Brooklyn, New York. But even his involvement at that level – even in close daily contact with the leaders of the Watchtower organization – could not change his realization that he had to get out from under the control of the Witness religion.
Kelly makes it clear that he no longer holds any grudges or dislike anyone within the Witness religion, past or present. Part of writing this book was purging all of those feelings from his mind and heart. His real purpose is to describe what it is like to grow up in such a restrictive religion and its actual effects on young children and teens. This same situation existed within the extreme examples of Jonestown and Branch Davidian cults. It still exists today within the polygamist branches of the Mormon Church (Latter Day Saints).
Kelly reports that he has been overwhelmed at the acceptance and the feedback he has received from the readers of the pre-publication edition of the book. The buzz about his book is moving like wildfire throughout the blogs and online discussion forums that are frequented by ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses and JW wannabees. Current JWs are known to lurk and read online Witness discussion groups, so there is a clearly a ”hidden” market for his book and others like it.
I’m sure the exposure on the Internet about these types of religions has contributed to the slowdown in conversions and the loss of many current members of the JW organization. Books like Kelly’s from other former Witnesses must be giving the leaders of the Watchtower Society in Brooklyn nightmares.
Kelly wants to emphasize, however, that his book isn’t really a discussion of the teachings and practices of the Witnesses. Rather his is more of a psychological study of what it is like to grow up as a JW from the viewpoint of a child, not as an adult.
He points out that similar situations exist in most every religion, but especially among fundamentalist Christians, Moslems, and Jewish sects. For that reason his book should be read by everyone who is a member of that kind of religion. They need to know the real damage that they might be doing to their children.
Kelly says that he will be sharing comments from his readers and also providing updates to the book on his website at www.RichardEKelly.com.
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