Leaving the Witness: Exiting a Religion and Finding a Life

I think one of the challenges that Amber cannot be blamed for is that she still believes this story and this journey are somehow notable. Her story is rather simple, she drinks the kool aid, meets a guy who is sickly fascinated by her naïveté and enjoys feeling smarter and like a savior. He breaks down her ‘faith’ she figures it out and leaves the religion of her birth. There is a lot of introspective narrative and she is a good writer but there just isn’t much here. I too am an ex witness with a story I would argue is far more interesting and riddled with twists and turns yet I still did not imagine it rose to the occasion of picking up the microphone and selling it. Here Amber and I diverge. I think this is a fine story and written well but be prepared for hundreds of pages of very little happening and many long self serving copy and pastes of gchat message threads (yes it’s a boring and pedantic as it sounds). The one place where I withhold criticism is for the end where she suffers and unspeakable blow. Regarding this she has my deepest sympathies alway. May she find peace. For the rest you would be safe to skip this story.I also find her conclusions to be oddly dogmatic for someone who left such dogmatism. It’s a very common coin flip I see often in those who leave - there is no God, I don’t pray, it’s all meaningless etc when I find having left there is for me a God. But this God is vastly larger than one religion and big enough for all beings. I pray daily and find great comfort in it and find God working in my life but I belong to no religion and hold no creed. I imagine I am not alone. I wish Amber blessings on her journey and will say the book was ok.

I sat with a lump in my throat during a large portion of this book. As someone born and raised as a JW, who only recently left, I can say that this is the best, most honest depiction of the insular and private society that is Jehovah’s Witnesses. Amber’s book captured perfectly what is to be one of JWs and to slowly realize that it’s not “the truth”, and all of the ramifications that come with that. It is one of the hardest yet most beautiful transition and this book puts into words in a way that I didn’t know was possible. Everyone should read this book. Exjws, nonJWs and if they’d dare touch it, JWs. Everyone in my opinion can take something away from it, and those nonJW readers, I hope it gives you a little more to talk about next time a JW knocks on your door. If you ask the right questions perhaps you could even get them to think a bit. As Amber mentions in the book, for many it takes someone outside of the religion to open a believer’s eyes.

Amber's life story is so gripping, it reads like a novel. Right from the start you are transported to Shanghai, where you begin living this raw, emotional life of awakening along with the author. This book provides fascinating insight into the secret world of Jehovah's Witnesses and their practice of shunning. I highly recommend reading with a friend, because there will be times you will feel you NEED to say to someone, "How crazy is this??" A must-read for anyone who has walked a similar path in life, i.e. raised in a fundamentalist or restricted household, struggling with identity, and finding the freedom to start anew.

This was a FANTASTIC book. And I was surprised as I was just expecting a book about the difficulties of leaving the JW religion, but it ended up being a much richer and deeper story than that. And she is an excellent writer, which makes the story flow with ease.As an ex-Mormon it was also very interesting to see the parallels shared by those leaving any high-demand, fundamentalist religion. I think the book would be enjoyed by anyone, but especially by those who have had a similar experience of having a big change in the direction of one's life. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Leaving the Witness is not only a great read but an excellent description of life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. This book took me down memory lane like no other book ever has. Her descriptive, captivating story keeps you coming back for more. It is unique in that the author has an experience in China that most people never get to have as a missionary. But it follows a familiar theme that those of us who have lived the life of Jehovah's Witnesses know all too well. Considering the insular nature of this religious group, this book is an excellent way to learn about this enigmatic group of people that most of us probably encounter several times a week as we go about our daily business.This book is also deep, as the author explores what it means to think as a Chinese person which leads to her understanding that the world can exist in many forms, not simply the Western model... or the Jehovah's Witness model.

"Leaving the Witness" is a fascinating account of Amber Scorah's involvement with the organization known as Jehovah's Witnesses. Amber takes her readers on an emotional journey into the trials and tribulations of life in a high-control group. Her devotion and commitment to her religion eventually takes her on assignment to Shanghai, China, where she becomes immersed in the underground world of covertly recruiting others to her faith. Throughout her discussion, Amber begins to reveal some of the cracks in her faith and doubts she's beginning to experience, as seen through her family life, relationships, personal tragedies, her dealings with the people and culture of China and her changing viewpoint of the world. In time, Amber comes to grips with her doubts and eventually decides to leave the Watchtower Society to live her life in the real world. An emotional, powerful, well-written story and a must read!

Jehovah's witnesses are banned in China. I was fascinated about how they have established an underground of preaching there. I always wondered what would compel someone to volunteer for something so difficult and no doubt dangerous. So it was for Amber until as she describes she began to "educate myself about my religion outside the framework of what I was allowed to read — which was our own organization's publications." Once you start this adventure with the author you can not stop. I promise it is worth all the highs and lows. You will come away with a new perspective.

A tremendously moving account of someone undergoing a personal apocalypse. Amber describes so well the huge issues that face someone waking up to the reality that their entire life has been based on falsehood. It's a searingly honest examination of a half lived life, of a stunted life but one lived in extraordinary circumstances. Amber describes so well the feeling of such complete aloneness - how many humans actually get to experience that desolating reality?? A deeply touching book that will stay with me for a very long time. I'm so grateful to Amber for having the courage and determination (very much traits of her character!) to write this memoir.

I could really identify with the writers experience. I could visualise her story as it unfolded. It helped me to make sense of the similar feelings & emotions Amber experienced as she exited this extremely controlling organisation. I, too have exited it. Only when on the outside looking in can you see how false & destructive cults are. Thank you Amber for your encouragement Amber x

I originally seen this author on a Ted Talk and I came on amazon to find the book. It was a fascinating read. Although the author did self indulge and prolong some stories that didn't need to go on that long. I read it the same day and I would recommend.

Every page leads to the exit..This is the epitome of the cool.Loving the shoe.

Amber writes this book really well. She describes how it feels to be a Jehovahs witnesses when in it and when leaving. How alone and isolated it makes someone feel when they leave and the fears after they left.