PhD Research on Folks Who Left the Headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses

with Dr. Andre Jackson

Former cult members often reference the moment when they finally realized they were in a cult. For Andre Jackson, who grew up as a Jehovah's Witness, this moment of “waking up” became the focus of his Doctoral dissertation.

Andre grew up in Germany, where his mother became a Jehovah's Witness when he was 7 years old. By the age of 10, Andre accepted the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses: When he almost needed a blood transfusion (which the group teaches to be a transgression against God), he rejected it and was willing to die for his belief. Thankfully, he ended up not needing the transfusion, or he might not be with us today.

Andre wasn't as isolated as many other young Jehovah’s Witnesses because his stepfather did not become a member until many years later. He was allowed to have non-Jehovah’s Witnesses friends, play sports, and attend college. As a result, he was not viewed as very spiritual and was not baptized until he was 31 years old.