Joy & Sorrow: The Story of an Exclusive Brethren SurvivorJoy Nason was born into an English working class family during World War Two and raised in the fundamentalist Christian cult of the Exclusive Brethren. Growing up in this strict and demanding world, her family migrated to Australia in the 1950s. In her early 20s, Joy made the courageous decision to flee her family, knowing that she would be cut off from that moment on. Slowly but surely Joy made her way in the world, with kind employers who encouraged her to gain skills, and friends who helped her with socialising, travel and a new-found enjoyment of life. Through many jobs and disappointing liaisons, to finally becoming a mother of a baby boy, Joy picks herself up after each failure and faces the world with determination and a positive attitude. Joy finally entered the world of education - denied her by her sect - and attained teaching degrees, through which she became Senior Head Teacher at New South Wales TAFE. With Joy and Sorrow, Joy made the decision to go public with her life and experiences, partly to give inspiration to others trapped in similar situations, but also to add to the body of evidence exposing the hypocrisy of the Exclusive Brethren. This secretive sect, now re-branded the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, will stop at nothing to maintain their Charitable status - and keep their tax-free millions. |
Contents
Travelling Back to Australia | |
Shellcove Road Days | |
Joy to the World | |
A New Life | |
My Fathers Excommunication | |
Married Life | |
A New Start | |
My Career with TAFE Begins | |
Lessons Learned | |
Breaking Away | |
Descent to Cultdom | |
Questions of Conscience | |
The Final Departure | |
Photos Part 2 | |
PART 31969 to 1991 | |
Watch Out World Here I Come | |
Kirribilli Days | |
Shadows from the Past | |
More Travels Abroad | |
Endings | |
All Things | |
Winning in Love | |
My Nemesis | |
Activism | |
Finishing Business | |
Epilogue | |
Annexure 2 | |
Acknowledgements | |
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Common terms and phrases
ABC TV Anthony Anthony’s arranged asked Auntie Winnie Australia became believe Bible Boyle Street Bristol brother charitable status Charity Commission child Christian church couldn’t Croydon Croydon Park cult Dad’s didn’t door Elders England Ermington Exclusive Brethren excommunicated family’s father felt Flock Four Corners friends funeral girls God’s Grace Bros Hales husband James Taylor James Taylor Jnr journey Joy Nason Kirribilli knew Land Company later letter life’s living look loved marriage married meeting memories Millie mother moved nephews Neutral Bay night nightmare Norman occasion organisations parents person Pete Phillip Plymouth Brethren Prime Minister religious remember sect sexual Shellcove Road story Street Sunday Sydney Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Town Hall TAFE tell thought told took walking wanted week weekend wife words