"I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales from a Jehovah's Witness Upbringing" by Kyria Abrahams


I'm Perfect, You're Doomed is a funny look at Kyria Abraham's childhood as a Jehovah's Witness and her adult life as a disfellowshipped Witness. It is an honest tale of how life can be controlled by an organization, using religion and the fear of the end as a means to keep people in line.

Abrahams childhood was comprised of meetings, doorbell-ringing, and abstaining from pretty much everything else her schoolmates were involved in. But in her mind was always the thought that when the apocalypse came she and her family would be saved, while everyone in the world would not.

Then at the age of 18, she found herself disfellowshipped from the Witnesses and for the first time, partaking in the world she was always warned away from. Though it was a struggle at first she came to find that what she had learned growing up wasn't quite the truth.

This book is an honest look at growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, and what it means to question everything you grew up believing. Abrahams recounts her childhood with humour and while she is not harsh towards the Witnesses, she sheds light on how a controlling religious organization can affect children, families and relationships.


Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 8, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    I have not read the book, but it seems one thing is clear from the above ... her "sleeping around" in clear violation of Biblical principles resulted in her incredible hardship for her, her mother, and her baby.

    Some people see the value of "God Rule", some people choose another path. Both have freedoms, and both have freedoms that when mis-used, result in consequences that are as certain as gravity.

    Most people have the freedom to decide what is best for their particular personality ... but in so choosing ... no one has freedom from the consequences.

    Tom.Rook@Technik-SA.US

    ReplyDelete
  2. ShanMarch 8, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    One thing that is good about the book is that it's not an attempt to blame the Jehovah's Witnesses for what she did. She acknowledges that it was her decision to leave her situation in the manner she did. And she was honest in the struggle it was for her, as well as for many others who did the same. And out of the people who did the same thing she did, there were many different resolutions.

    There is more to the book however than the decision she made at 18. It is not an attack on the Jehovah's Witnesses, and it is definitely not representative of the Witnesses as a whole, and not once does she make it seem that way. And because of that, whether you agree with her decisions or not, it is still a respectable book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jeanne C.March 8, 2010 at 3:58 PM

    I will be interested to read this. My son's best friend from the time he was 3 years old is a Jehovah's Witness, so I know a (very) little about it. This is a great find! Thanks for the review and for pointing it out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ShanMarch 8, 2010 at 7:40 PM

    I hope you enjoy it Jeanne!

    There are a few things that may not be typical of all Jehovah's Witnesses, but just this (or a few) Kingdom Hall's. My husband used to date a girl who was Jehovah's Witness and when I asked him about a few things in the book, he hadn't heard of them. But it is interesting to learn about them from someone who was a member and who can see things from both sides.

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  5. NicoleMarch 9, 2010 at 2:21 PM

    Sounds interesting. I love listening to people who are honest about their upbringing and how it helped/hurt the way they live and go about their days now.

    ReplyDelete
  6. KaraMarch 18, 2010 at 9:43 PM

    A gentleman who married into my husband's family is a disfellowshipped JW, as he chose Christianity instead. His family wouldn't so much as send a card when he married dh's cousin. It is very sad that when you are shunned, you are shunned by everyone ...

    Methinks I have to read this book!

    ReplyDelete

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