The writer Amber Scorah discusses her memoir Leaving the Witness: Exiting a Religion and Finding a Life (Viking, 2019), with Joseph Planta.

Leaving the Witness: Exiting a Religion and Finding a Life by Amber Scorah (Viking, 2019). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Leaving the Witness

Introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

One of the more gripping books out in recent weeks has been the memoir by the writer Amber Scorah. It’s called Leaving the Witness: Exiting a Religion and Finding a Life. It’s a timely book in many aspects. The book chronicles growing up as a third-generation Jehovah’s Witness, in this part of the world. The book talks about a religion that we know about, but don’t know that much about. The book talks about traveling to Asia, first in Taiwan and then China. She goes to proselytise and gain coverts, but as she explains the religion to possible marks she begins to question her own faith. She talks about an incident in her past where she was shunned by the religion, and then culminating in eventually separating from her faith, she talks about her falling out with not just the Jehovah’s Witness faith itself, but organised religion. The book gives us a terrific view as to Chinese society and what that is like to navigate for a foreigner, let alone an American who could get expelled or worse if found out she was preaching. It is also a detailed view onto the faith and its difference from other Christian sects. It also deals with loss, not just of faith, but loved ones, a marriage, friendships, and the loss of a child. Amber Scorah is a writer based in Brooklyn, New York. She is an editorial consultant for Scholastic, and she’s been published in the New York Times, and The Believer. While in Shanghai she was the creator and host of the podcast Dear Amber—The Insider’s Guide to Everything China. This new book is published by Viking. She joined me from here in Vancouver, her hometown last month. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Amber Scorah; Ms. Scorah, good morning.

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