At this very moment, there are millions of cult members worldwide. Do you think you could never become one of them? Think again.
Brenda Lee has written a heart-wrenching, yet inspiring tale about her battle to escape from a religious cult after enduring decades of dysfunction and abuse. Out of the Cocoon is a remarkable story about how a single visit from two seemingly “nice” strangers nearly cost her everything, including her life.
This story begins at the pinnacle of the author’s desperation, by relaying a chilling fantasy she created when she was twelve years old. After accomplishing her grisly, murderous task within the security of a dream, she poses a disturbing question that sets the stage for the rest of her story: What could make a child so angry that she would fantasize about taking away the lives of the two people who gave her life? To understand Brenda’s fragile emotional state, we have to go back to the beginning, when her childhood innocence reigned and unconditional love was abundant – when she didn’t feel all alone in the world.
In subsequent chapters, author Brenda Lee transports the reader back in time to relive the innocence of her childhood on a 100-year-old farm in rural Pennsylvania, where her carefree days were filled by swinging from vines, raising farm animals as pets, romping through the forests with her cousins, and plunging from the hayloft. Once “The Friends” knock on the door, however, her childhood and innocence dramatically disappear. But Brenda Lee refuses to become a victim and, like a butterfly, she learns to change the world within her when her external world becomes unbearable.
After surviving years of stifling oppression and isolation, Brenda emerges from her cocoon and struggles to take flight. As she tries to fit into society as a young adult, she learns some startling things about her family, this “wicked world,” and herself. In time, she learns to forgive not only those who tormented her, but also the mother who disowned her.
“Out of the Cocoon is a powerful and touching account of one young woman’s journey to freedom from repression and religious intolerance. I picked it up one evening and couldn’t stop reading until I was finished late that night. It will hold you like a compelling paperback novel and touch you on the deeper levels of spiritual freedom and growth.” — Steve Chandler, Author of Reinventing Yourself
“Out of the Cocoon is a story about the damage a cult can do to a loving family and shows the long-lasting ripple effect that can affect a child later in life. Courage to go against the current comes from deep inside a person when it would be much easier to go with the flow. Brenda Lee is one of those who has shown such courage. Like the young man David who picked up three stones and slung them at the giant, Goliath, Brenda Lee chose to pick up her pen to shatter the Watchtower's image, just as it tried to shatter hers. I applaud her courage, and her strength to discover the person she truly is - against all odds.” — Roy Milton, Author of Truth or Consequences
REVIEWS:
Do not be misled - the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses is evil and sinister, February 26, 2006
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY HOW NICE AND CARING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SEEM TO BE WHEN THEY KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR WITH A SMILE. I was raised as a JW and spent over two decades of my life in this hateful, negative cult that masquerades as "the only true religion". This religion/cult was forced upon me as a child with the usual JW parental tactics of guilt, fear, threats and coercion, under the guise of "we are Jehovah's happy people!" (What a joke). I had no choice in the matter, as it was made clear to me that my fellow JWs (the only social/emotional support circle I was permitted to have) would completely shun me and abandon me if I did not stay in the group. I finally found the courage and strength to walk away in disgust from this dangerous, high-control, mind-control cult, and started my life anew at the age of 26. I saw myself in Brenda Lee's book, and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to read it. There were many parallel experiences that we both had. I feel much sadness regarding the people I used to know as witnesses, who are now raising their children to be prisoners of this cult, and thus continuing the dysfunctional, hateful cycle of servitude to the men of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This organization is nothing more than a financially successful publishing company, who keep their membership tightly under their control by brainwashing them to believe that they have to remain in the religion, and loyal to the "faithful and discreet slave", in order to be approved by God. As Brenda Lee relates, and the rest of us who have escaped can attest to, JW parents have been brainwashed to choose loyalty to their warped, twisted religion, over loyalty to their own children and family members. This is not love, and this is not Christianity. The public at large needs to be made aware of how truly dangerous this cult is. They are not "just another religion". Do not allow them to destroy your family, as they have destroyed countless other lives and families. Read Brenda Lee's book and find out for yourself how sinister, evil and sick this religion really is.
A Memorable Account of Personal Courage, August 11, 2006
Brenda Lee begins her memoir by taking the reader on a nostalgic trip through eight years of her happy childhood. Born in March of 1962, Brenda's family home was a 150 year old farmhouse on eighty acres of land, in rural Pennsylvania. The safety and security of her early childhood ended abruptly.
At the age of nine Brenda's mother was baptized and joined a Jehovah's Witness Assembly. At this point in her story, Brenda introduces the reader to the basic tenets of the organization. This groundwork helps anyone unfamiliar with their beliefs to better understand the turmoil Brenda experienced.
Brenda shares heartbreaking stories of parental and emotional abuse, of physical and verbal assaults by classmates and teachers, and the loneliness of social isolation. She tells of her tumultuous teen years of survival, and the deprivation of normal friendships and peer relationships.
Successful in scholastic achievements and meticulous in her work ethic Brenda quickly became independent and self supporting. Vulnerable and unprepared for developing healthy adult male relationships, Brenda's plight plunges her into a disastrous marriage built on co-dependency.
Brenda's story is also one of triumph over the demons from the past as she turned a terrible negative into a wonderful positive. Her life is a testament to the power of self-love and acceptance.
The author uses the analogy of the cocoon to relate the story of her own stages of emergence out of the cocoon into life and freedom. She keeps a positive upbeat and optimistic tone to her writing. It is her desire to give the reader hope and encouragement through her story. She reaches out to those struggling with religious cultic experiences, dysfunctional family situations, personal addictions, disappointment, guilt, isolation, and a sense of abandonment...
J.W.s - A Destructive, Cruel, and Dangerous Cult., August 1, 2006
I honor Brenda Lee's brave and courageous flight from the Jehovah Witnesses organization. I have read samples of her book, "Out of the Cocoon," and the reviews written by many of the book's readers.
As, "Out of the Cocoon," points out, Ms. Lee had a happy and normal childhood - until the J.W.'s knocked on her family's front door. I totally empathize with this statement. As the daughter of a J.W., I also had a normal and happy childhood, until its member's entered my family's home and subverted my family's normal life.
Ms. Lee describes the many demoralizing experiences she suffered while she was in the J.W. organization. Such demeaning experiences, unfortunately, are all too true. I say this because, I, too, have a mother who is a Jehovah's Witness.
Because of the J.W.'s dogma, by both parents, (my father patterned his behavior after my mother), I experienced extreme psychological and, sometimes, even physical abuse. The tenets of the organization foster an intimidating and brutal household environment.
Ms. Lee, factually, exposes that J.W.'s, withdraw loving, critical, emotional family support. (Jehovah's Witnesses engage in this behavior, to insulate themselves from non-J.W.'s, to manipulate others, and to emotionally wound family members who refuse to join their organization.)
Ms. Lee describes how - a person's dreams and hopes, for a normal, healthy life -- are completely crushed! If a child, or an adult, attempts to break away from, or be free of, the destructive consequences of the J.W.'s twisted beliefs -- their efforts to obtain freedom and independence - are met with severe punishment and ostracizism. My personal attempts to gain any independence, from my Jehovah's Witness mother, would enrage her, and prompt her, to telephone the police . . . to have me either removed from my parents home, jailed or to be made homeless.
My mother, because I rejected the cult's belief system, would seek to harm me in any way that she could. My mother's hatred, for me, extended to the point of allowing my sister, who was bipolar, and at least 275 pounds (versus my being 125 pounds) - without any degree of accountability, to physically beat me up!
The withdrawal of emotional support, the punishments, and shunning are all designed to establish a ruthless and crippling control over its members - and any family persons unfortunate enough to be swept up in the cult's tangled web of deception and heartless austerity.
"Out of the Cocoon" demonstrates, that the message that the J.W.'s bring is one of "doom and gloom." The organization's message will depress the happiest person! To call this organization a hokey-pokey religion - would be to honor it.
The book honestly points out . . . this is a TRUE CULT!
Warn others. Stay away from the WTBTS and the J.W.'s - unless you want to be horrified, and have your mind and life ruined.
I too was a JW, and many of the same tactics were used on me that Brenda Lee experienced. I can utterly relate to this book. I've read every book written by ex-JWs and this is one of the most engrossing and deeply affecting whether you were once involved in the Witnesses or not. If you're currently "studying" with the Witnesses, you owe it to yourself BEFORE you make such a life-altering decision to read OUT OF THE COCOON! Don't tell the Witnesses that you're "studying" with that you're going to read this book. They will use every sort of tactic to prevent you from exercising your mind in a free and unfettered way so you will finally surrender your mind to the control of the Governing Body Of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Do yourself a BIG favor and obtain OUT OF THE COCOON and also I WAS A TEENAGE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS!
I absolutely loved this book. I have been trough my own hell with the JW cult and reading this memoir made me realize that I am not alone. I consider this a must read for anyone that has left the religion.
In a simple conversational style, Brenda Lee describes finding inner strength and determination, despite being surrounded by 'loving' forces that would reign her in.
She does not provide details of the Jehovah's Witness organization nor go into depth about the J.W. theology.
Brenda's story describes the painful walk made by children raised in cult mentality. With compassion and humor (self generating orgasms while sitting for hours in church), she shows how anyone could be susceptible to a totalitarian doctrine, with subsequently fractured intimate relationships.
Brenda deserves praise for coming forth with her story. Others raised in high demand organizations will appreciate validation for their isolating experience.
Educators, social workers and medical providers would benefit from this childhood story. Children such as Brenda are in our communities. They deserve to be recognized and assisted.
Congratulations, Brenda, for creating your life and sharing your lessons!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brenda Lee graduated with honors from Barnes Business College in Denver, Colorado, after successfully completing business and legal courses. Early on, she began her love of writing through journaling and as the editor of her high school’s creative writing project entitled, “Special Feelings.” She is an active member of the Foothills Writers’ group in Colorado. Brenda also produces and edits an internationally distributed monthly newsletter to help former cult members take flight. Today she joyfully embraces every moment with her son and two dogs, relishing her life Out of the Cocoon.
Do not be misled - the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses is evil and sinister, February 26, 2006
Cult is as Cult Does, July 2, 2006