My JW parents spied on me despite me being out for 4 years
Hi all , i’ve kept this story to myself for the most part, sharing only the details with those close to me but it’s about time people heard this story to show the levels JW parents are going too.
I left the Jehovah’s witnesses about four years ago, i wasn’t baptised just an unbaptised publisher coerced by parents as i’m sure many others are. I was indoctrinated properly during lockdown once out of lockdown i came to my senses and left.
Since leaving the religion my parents as you’d expect continued to try and get me to come to meetings and study this all stopped when i got a girlfriend. My parents behaviour changed massively towards me once i was in a relationship, they treated her as she was some evil temptress coming to take their innocent son away. They were always cold with her not friendly , criticising her family as worldly and such and such. Standard stuff from such a loving religion.
Last year everything was blown out of proportion. My family all went on holiday ( which since getting into a relationship i was never welcome ) and they told me i’m NOT to have my girlfriend round, nothing unusual. At the time i was 18 and paying rent i feel is important to add. Of course i didnt adhere to this rule as we weren’t causing any harm just sitting in the living room watching films.
A couple days after my family had gone on holiday I was making breakfast when i noticed a little blue light coming out of an old filing cabinet. Inside i was shocked to find a small black spy camera hid in a small hole. Not obvious, not in a location that would be ideal for security. There for the pure reason to keep an eye on me. I have attached photos of the camera and the hiding place below.
My parents had set up a spy camera to watch their 18 year old son who was no longer even in the religion, even if i was it wouldn’t be okay regardless. Obviously they never told me about it and its location had nothing to do with security, it watched my bedroom door and the kitchen.
When confronted about this they claimed it was for security purposes ( which as stated it obviously was not ) after a lengthy argument with my dad he revealed it was to watch me because i cannot be trusted ? He claimed he didn’t want me having my girlfriend over and he didn’t want me to have a party. Bearing in mind i’d never even gone to a party in my life this didn’t seem likely as well as the fact im fairly introverted and don’t like large gatherings of people. Not wanting me to have my girlfriend round doesn’t justify setting up a camera to watch me either. If this was the case he could have told me he was setting a security camera up and it would’ve deterred me from having her round. But no. He opted to hide one in the kitchen somewhere where he thought i’d never notice.
The mistrust my parents had over me was due to me not telling them i’d got back with my girlfriend after a breakup, in the argument which followed after i confronted them about the camera this was there main justification. Now i understand the organisation wouldn’t condone this and it’s the act of two very brainwashed people but it just goes to show the level witnesses are going too.
After this incident it led to me being kicked out and homeless, a very loving thing to do. I struggled for weeks but eventually found somewhere to live. I haven’t spoken to my parents since and haven’t heard anything but half arsed apologies. I could tell you much more about what i know that’s gone on in my house hold. Things which beg the question how my dad hasn’t been disfellowshipped. That’s a story for another time.