[youtube width=”550″ height=”344″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiiZN2NumB8[/youtube] The powerful Finnish documentary (with English subtitles) “Luopuneet,” produced by the Director Iita Pirttikoski, tells the stories of four former Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their stories share family loss, sadness, confusion, depression, resolution and recovery. This is contrasted with a bland presentation of words from the JW press officer, Veikko Leinonen, from the Finnish head quarters who tries and fails to justify why people are treated so unlovingly by their former friends and family.

What makes this documentary extraordinary is the juxtaposition of former Jehovah’s Witnesses telling their stories of harassment by elders, while at the same time the JW press officer Veikko Leinonen, says people are just free to leave with no repercussions. The full title of the documentary is “Disfellowshipped – Stories from the shadows of the Watchtower.”

In one scene a former elder explains what takes place during a Judicial Committee meeting. He shares the nature of the questions and the details that are sort to investigate private sexual activities in order to determine whether to disfellowship a person.

In another scene Veikko Leinonen, admits that many Jehovah’s Witnesses have mental health problems. He explains that elders are told to deal with such issues by applying Bible principles. (Of course, this is out of tune and against good mental health practice – people with mental health problems should be advised to seek help from mental health professionals). He reads a passage from the Bible and tries to suggest that the people leaving are somehow “sinners.” He makes no attempt to explain why people are shunned (and thus lose family and friends) when they simply decide to no longer be a Jehovah’s Witness.

The former elder moves onto creating a support group for those who have been damaged by the ostracising actions of such groups as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

After years of shunning from his family, one of those followed while filming not only found the support group but has started psychotherapy to aid recovery from the damaging effects of abandonment.

The former elder says “to bring these matters, even the dark sides, into the public discourse, is one of the best ways, one of the only ways to try and impact them.”

All three survivors of this unkind treatment agree that life is better for no longer being a Jehovah’s Witness. One says, “you cannot live in fairy tales” and “there is enough here to live a happy life now” “we don’t need paradise.” Another shares the joy of his new son and says “At least for now I think, that no matter what my child does, when he grows up, I could never abandon him.”

Thanks to Atte, Tiia, Milko and Antero for sharing your stories.

More information

JWfacts Shunning Link

Finnish Ministers tell Jehovah’s Witnesses to obey the law Link

Finnish Branch Office spokesman misrepresents shunning to journalist Link