SOPHIE JONES (23) FROM LEIPZIG

[Jack Ryan]

DROP-OUT REPORTS: "THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HAVE TAKEN MY FAMILY AWAY FROM ME"

SOPHIE JONES (23) FROM LEIPZIG ON HER DEPARTURE FROM THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

From Saskia Weck

Saxony - Sophie Jones' life was stolen from her by the Jehovah's Witnesses. All of her youth was spent by the 23-year-old Saxon in the sect. Through her courageous move to leave the religious community, she is now trying to build a new life step by step. At the same time, she wants to accompany other dropouts and those who want to be on their way.

Sophie Jones' (23) youth was anything but easy. Today the young woman can laugh again. (Photo)

In 2006, Jehovah's Witnesses were judicially recognized as a public corporation. Sophie Jones sees this critically, in her opinion distracts this public legitimacy of the religious community from the sect-like states behind the facades. Her self was not only taken away from the family, but also her freedom and a normal youth and school time.

Sophie grew up with her parents near Zwickau (Saxony). Both father and mother were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses and integrated the daughter into the religious community. There Sophie found friends with whom she played or barbecued together in her free time. Non-members were not welcome to these meetings. "Other young people were 'bad dealing'," says the 23-year-old in an interview with TAG24. How retracted the community was, but she noticed only with increasing age.

Sophie went to a normal state school. There she was not allowed to attend religious education, did not participate in martial arts in sports, did not sing Christmas carols. These were the rules of Jehovah's Witnesses. "The teachers often did not understand why I had refused the lesson." Sophie did not celebrate her birthday - contrary to her classmates. "I was often asked and asked, 'Why do not you celebrate your birthday?' I did not know it myself.

During her teenage years, she also found one or two boys in her class interesting, but she would never have dared to do anything with someone outside of Jehovah's Witnesses. Instead, she dutifully went to the ministry and played flute in the orchestra of the church. "One should not be alone with anyone of the opposite sex. I had some kind of relationship with a ministerial servant, but I could not really take that seriously. It felt like it was arranged, "says Sophie.

If a boy from school wanted to meet the gorgeous Saxon girl, she would always put forward reasons why that would not work because she felt guilty towards the church. Sex before marriage? Excluded from the Jehovah's Witnesses. "You stay together until one dies or goes alien. When you get to paradise, they both get up and are married again, "explains the Saxon.

When she was 10 years old, Sophie's parents split up. But divorce is not welcomed by Jehovah's Witnesses. "There was no biblical reason for divorce like prostitution or death," she says. So Sophie's father was asked to leave the church. This is a palliation for what really happened: Sophie's father was rejected by the faithful. Although he had done everything for the community for years and believed to be friends with the parishioners, he was denied contact. Also to his daughter.

"I lived with my mother, but always wanted to move to my father. But that was from then on 'bad handling', "recalls the 23-year-old. "I did not handle that well. If God is a God of love and He created the family, why not have contact with excluded family members? The Bible says one should honor one's parents. What is the honor of meeting my own father on the street and not even being allowed to say hello? "

But Sophie wanted to "love God," which is why she stayed with her mother. "But I could not handle her." Her mother taught Sophie the principle, "He who loves his child chastises him." Sophie's mother struck her to "drive her out of the demons." "I moved out at the age of 16." Two years later, Sophie left the religious community. "I waited until I came of age so I would not have to seek the consent of my mother. It's actually about 14. Legal issues like the apartment, so I'm no longer tied to my mother. "

Since she lived for over two years near Leipzig. There she completed a training and enjoyed the peace in her own apartment. She completely broke off contact with Jehovah's Witnesses. Also to her mother, who is now married again.

But although Sophie could have actually enjoyed her newfound freedom, the rules that had been heralded for years were still in her mind. "I always felt guilty. Everything that was forbidden, I found attractive. I used to smoke now and then, just in protest. But the first time I was always afraid that someone sees me, so I hid in the woods, if I have infected a cigarette. I was totally paranoid and suffered from paranoia. It took at least a year after leaving, until I could do anything I want without having a guilty conscience. "

Sophie Jones now celebrates her birthday every year with a friend under the palms. Forced driving the 23-year-old on her honorary day on vacation. "Who should I celebrate a party with? My family is missing. I'm not so happy on the day. Just as at Christmas. I have never had a tree at home and the customs are unclear to me. The Jehovah's Witnesses have taken away my family. "

But Sophie has a mission: "When I got out, I felt world-strange. I work my way through my articles and videos. I do not want anyone to build their life the way I did. Helping others helps me to complete what has happened. People should learn from my mistakes and understand that the people who ring the doorbell are not so harmless.

Society should not just tolerate Jehovah's Witnesses like that. The people in the communities have not received theological training. These are construction workers, dentists - nobody cares what they have learned. And these people are trying to judge the lives of others! "

Sophie Jones helps with the association JW Opfer Hilfe and talks about her experiences in YouTube videos. She does not want revenge for what has happened. "The Jehovah's Witnesses always say 'God fixes that'," she smiles.

End of Part III

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About TAG 24

TAG24 is a regional German news portal that operates its own editorial offices and local channels in eleven cities. The publisher is TAG24 NEWS Deutschland GmbH, which has its headquarters in Dresden .

https://www.tag24.de/nachrichten/interview-zeugen-jehovas-aussteigerin-sophie-jones-leipzig-sachsen-hilfeverein-874693

[Evacuated]

On 12/25/2018 at 11:08 PM, Jack Ryan said:

"There was no biblical reason for divorce like prostitution or death,"

Smeone has been on the sauce here!