shunned
how I lost my religion
and Found Myself
Linda was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and was an unquestioning true believer who knocked on doors since she was nine years old—until, one day, she had a jarring doorstep encounter that changes everything.
Shunned follows Linda as she steps into a world she was taught to fear—a choice for which she is shunned by the entire Witness community, including all members of her immediate family—and discovers what is possible when we stay true to our hearts, even when it means disappointing those we love.
“This is a moving portrait of one woman’s life as a Jehovah’s Witness and her painful but liberating realization that she must give up her faith.”
“Linda’s brilliant writing lights up the page. She speaks with great authenticity, insight, and candor. This book is a wonderful inspiration for anyone who has been trapped in religious dogma or constricted by social and family pressures.”
“I found your book ‘Shunned’ at my local bookstore, and it was exactly what I was looking for. I needed something to help with my decision to leave the Witnesses.
Your point of view was so positive and refreshing. I’ve always worried about life after the exit, and you showed that it’s possible to create a positive life after.
It was nice to feel like I wasn’t alone.”
“Shunned addresses universal themes of belonging, connection, meaning, and family togetherness; it will resonate across faith lines.”