The Reluctant Apostate Quotes

“The fundamental difference between an ordinary person and a Jehovah’s Witness is that the life of a Witness is effectively micromanaged by a religious hierarchy based in America.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“assume—”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“Throw into the equation the fact that Russell was a habitual megaphone for false predictions, a subscriber to crackpot pyramid theories, a casual racist, and a man who resorted to deception in an attempt to conceal his marital indiscretions, and we are left with an individual who is unrecognizable from the wise, unassuming, grandfatherly figure Watchtower would have us imagine.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“Another embarrassing and altogether more alarming feature of Russell’s writings concerned his controversial views on race. Not only did Russell harbor strange fantasies about the “Ethiopian’s skin,” both believing and propounding the idea that, on reaching perfection, the skin of black people would be turned to its “original” white color—he also stooped to segregation and discrimination on grounds of ethnicity.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“The outbreak of World War I in 1914 is pointed to as evidence that Satan was orchestrating earth’s affairs from that time onward, having been confined to earth’s stratosphere.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“It would kill me to do it Lloyd, but I would do it all the same,” he said. Though I was devastated to learn that Dad was willing to put his loyalty to the Governing Body ahead of his relationship with his own son, I knew I could not be mad at him. He was reacting as any loyal Witness is expected to. If Watchtower tells you to do something, you do it—no matter how painful or inexplicable.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“In a series of disciplinary meetings before a “judicial committee” comprised of three elders I was asked to go into extremely intimate detail regarding the nature of my online encounters, what precisely these involved, with whom and how often.[96] These hearings were extremely emotional. I recall breaking down in tears on at least one occasion. At the time I did not feel the nature of questioning was overly invasive or inappropriate. I believed I was receiving needed discipline from God’s organization, and I simply had to man up and see it through for the benefit of my marriage. Of course, I now cringe at the thought of sharing such personal matters with men who had no more right to this information than my local postman or storekeeper, but at the time I was convinced it was necessary.[97]”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“A second letter from Watchtower on the matter followed, dated May 12, 2014. This time, because it was addressed only to elders, no part of it could be read out to ordinary Witnesses. The letter elaborated on the stipulation regarding surplus funds, ordering congregations to keep just $5,000 in their bank accounts, plus enough money to cover three months’ worth of utility, supplies and servicing expenses, and hand over everything else to Watchtower. This demand marked the final death-knell for any notion of congregational autonomy.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“Only exemplary male publishers who “reach out” for privileges might find themselves elevated to this rank, which is based on Paul’s writings at 1 Timothy 3:8-13. If you are not equipped with a penis, you need not apply.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

“For example, an illustration published in a 2013 Watchtower depicts a clear hierarchy, with the Governing Body occupying the highest position in a line that has ordinary Witnesses on the bottom rung of the ladder. Picture on page 29 of the April 15, 2013, “Watchtower” Curiously absent from the picture opposite (or at least not clearly distinguishable) is Jesus Christ, who is claimed to be “the Head of the congregation.”
― Lloyd Evans, The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price