Ep 77. Amber Scorah

Amber Scorah, author of the memoir Leaving the Witness, appears on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in season 2019 episode 77. Scorah is a former Jehovah's Witness who left the organization after the death of her infant son. She speaks with Noah about her experiences growing up in the faith, as well as the challenges she faced after leaving the organization.

Scorah shares that she was raised as a Jehovah's Witness in a conservative community in Canada. She explains that the faith is very insular and that members are discouraged from interacting with the outside world. She describes her experience as being "not fully human," as she was not allowed to celebrate holidays or birthdays and was expected to devote all her time to preaching and studying the Bible.

Scorah also discusses the role that fear played in her life as a Jehovah's Witness. She explains that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Armageddon is coming and that only those who are faithful will survive. She says that this belief was constantly reinforced and that she lived in a state of constant anxiety about whether she was doing enough to be considered worthy of salvation.

Eventually, Scorah left the faith after her infant son died. She explains that one of the things that motivated her to leave was the realization that her son's death was not the result of some divine plan, but rather was due to a medical mistake that could have been prevented. She says that this realization was the beginning of a larger shift in her thinking that eventually led her to leave the faith.

Scorah also discusses the challenges she faced after leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses. She explains that she lost all her friends and was forced to rebuild her entire life from scratch. She says that leaving the faith was like "coming out of a coma" and that adjusting to life as a non-believer was a long and difficult process.

Throughout the interview, Scorah emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and questioning beliefs. She encourages people to examine their own beliefs and to be willing to question them, even if doing so is uncomfortable or difficult.

Overall, Amber Scorah's appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah provides a powerful look at the challenges faced by former members of the Jehovah's Witnesses and the importance of questioning beliefs and thinking critically. Scorah's story is a moving reminder that we all have the power to change our own lives and challenge the beliefs that hold us back.