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Hoax: A Woman’s Journey to Reveal the Indoctrination of the Jehovah’s Witness Cult, Addiction, and Mental Health Diagnoses
Children that grow up in abusive spiritual systems and relationships can develop such acute mental trauma that they later have breakdowns. Many contemplate suicide or worse. Especially daunting is trying to understand and recover from deeply ingrained fears of failure to please a controlling religious system such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and the supernatural being that such a system represents.
Raising her, Pony Jean Parker’s parents used harsh parenting methods as they endeavored to follow the instructions of the devout to worship correctly in a self-proclaimed Bible-based religion. Consequently, she never felt approval. By believing hook, line and sinker, it was no wonder depression was her companion. Eventually understanding the abusive and authoritarian systems she was raised in, Pony Jean overcame emotional damage through strengthening her coping mechanisms, first by learning how to forgive, how to manage painful emotional situations, and how to heal, none of which was easy to do but she did it through a determination she didn’t know she possessed and associates that inspired love and happiness. Through her important story, Pony Jean promotes healthy principles and tools for personal growth without fear of a supernatural connection. – Barbara Anderson, Ex-JW Activist
Hoax is the story of a woman born and raised in the Jehovah’s Witness cult. Her journey from self-realization of the indoctrination she was born into to self-acceptance as she struggles to belong in a world where things are not as they seem. Finding the courage to leave, she loses her entire family and children in the process.
A story of battling Alcohol Addiction, Mental Health Diagnoses, and the journey to becoming her true self in the wake of the loss she struggles with. A powerful story of strength, vulnerability, and redemption leaves readers with hope and conviction to embrace their truth as well.
When you’re raised in a cult it is hard to escape indoctrination but even harder to find yourself. Follow Pony Jean’s journey of self-realization through loss, addiction, and mental health diagnoses as she allows herself to become vulnerable and worthy of becoming her true self.
Raising her, Pony Jean Parker’s parents used harsh parenting methods as they endeavored to follow the instructions of the devout to worship correctly in a self-proclaimed Bible-based religion. Consequently, she never felt approval. By believing hook, line and sinker, it was no wonder depression was her companion. Eventually understanding the abusive and authoritarian systems she was raised in, Pony Jean overcame emotional damage through strengthening her coping mechanisms, first by learning how to forgive, how to manage painful emotional situations, and how to heal, none of which was easy to do but she did it through a determination she didn’t know she possessed and associates that inspired love and happiness. Through her important story, Pony Jean promotes healthy principles and tools for personal growth without fear of a supernatural connection. – Barbara Anderson, Ex-JW Activist
Hoax is the story of a woman born and raised in the Jehovah’s Witness cult. Her journey from self-realization of the indoctrination she was born into to self-acceptance as she struggles to belong in a world where things are not as they seem. Finding the courage to leave, she loses her entire family and children in the process.
A story of battling Alcohol Addiction, Mental Health Diagnoses, and the journey to becoming her true self in the wake of the loss she struggles with. A powerful story of strength, vulnerability, and redemption leaves readers with hope and conviction to embrace their truth as well.
When you’re raised in a cult it is hard to escape indoctrination but even harder to find yourself. Follow Pony Jean’s journey of self-realization through loss, addiction, and mental health diagnoses as she allows herself to become vulnerable and worthy of becoming her true self.
- GenresNonfiction
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2023
11 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 28, 2023
I've read numerous memoirs that deal with mental health, abuse, dogma, and trauma. All of them combined almost reach the raw, authentic emotion and pain level of "Hoax" by Pony Jean Parker.
She is transparent as she recounts growing up in the Jehovah's Witness cult, being abused mentally and sexually at home, and searching for meaning in numerous relationships. Her battle with alcohol and mental health leaves a trail of trauma from California to Tennessee.
I'll admit at times I was tempted to jump to the end of the book just to see how things turned out because the current page I was reading held so much sorrow and pain. But I didn't. I owed it to Pony to read it sentence by sentence, page by page, and go through the journey with her step by step. She didn't get to just jump to the end.
I also appreciated her candor. She did not throw all the blame on one institution, even though JW is a major contributor, or one person. Parker is able to show where each would comes from and even some that are self-inflicted. She takes full responsibility for the actions she has power over.
In addition, Parker takes time between the narrative to insert clinical information about mental health and even websites, so anyone reading and going through something similar has resources at hand.
She is transparent as she recounts growing up in the Jehovah's Witness cult, being abused mentally and sexually at home, and searching for meaning in numerous relationships. Her battle with alcohol and mental health leaves a trail of trauma from California to Tennessee.
I'll admit at times I was tempted to jump to the end of the book just to see how things turned out because the current page I was reading held so much sorrow and pain. But I didn't. I owed it to Pony to read it sentence by sentence, page by page, and go through the journey with her step by step. She didn't get to just jump to the end.
I also appreciated her candor. She did not throw all the blame on one institution, even though JW is a major contributor, or one person. Parker is able to show where each would comes from and even some that are self-inflicted. She takes full responsibility for the actions she has power over.
In addition, Parker takes time between the narrative to insert clinical information about mental health and even websites, so anyone reading and going through something similar has resources at hand.
January 28, 2023
Spot On!
What an amazing story. So many of my life experiences as a born in cult survivor are reflected here.Thank you for sharing or heart wrenching story.
What an amazing story. So many of my life experiences as a born in cult survivor are reflected here.Thank you for sharing or heart wrenching story.
January 25, 2023
Well written, engaging, insightful.
Read it in two days not one only because I had to go to work. Interesting, honest, a page turner.
Read it in two days not one only because I had to go to work. Interesting, honest, a page turner.
May 6, 2023
I generally like books where people leave the Jehovah’s Witnesses or any other extreme faith. However, this one was just too depressing. I abandoned it after page 35. My favorite part was her list of everything Jehovah’s Witnesses can’t do. 141 items. Amazing. Such a cult. Her family was just awful. It wasn’t like leaving a nice family who happened to be Jehovah’s Witnesses. That was the least of their problems. To grow up in such coldness is inconceivable and just too much for this reader to handle. She did an awesome job describing what it is like to be the one who realizes none of it makes any sense. I’m glad she got out.
March 16, 2024
This book was recommended by the author on our Nashville Girls FB page and I am so happy I decided in that split second to get it. It’s an incredible story of loss, grief, overcoming deeply personal circumstances. I would highly recommend it to everyone. I cried for her challenges and triumphs.
February 7, 2024
Very heartwarming
Overall, was a very good book. You have given people hope to recover from life’s early torment. I wish you the very best in your future endeavors!
Overall, was a very good book. You have given people hope to recover from life’s early torment. I wish you the very best in your future endeavors!
February 18, 2023
Wow. So this poor woman certainly went through a lot in her life, but my goodness. The book had many grammatical errors and her story felt like just a lot of whining versus an in-depth understanding of the cult and how it lead to her demise, and ultimately, her escape. It would have been helpful if she had 'tightened up' her story. It became quite redundant understandably, but she was stuck in a cycle and I, as a reader, lost interest and had to skim through the final several chapters as it all seemed to be the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2023
This is an amazing story of a journey not many of us would be willing to take, let alone complete and come out the other side a better person. I grew up Roman Catholic and I thought I had it bad being chased around the rectory by handsy priests. No, no I didn't. Ms. Parker weaves a gripping tale that will not let go once you pick the book up and start reading. Now the chapters aren't very short, you'll have to search for places to put your bookmark in order to take a deep breath before continuing. So when you come home from work bitch moaning about Karen in accounting, relax. You haven't had it that bad. Kudos Pony Jean on a job very well done. It was a pleasure to read this piece of art.
August 19, 2025
The trauma is real
Pony gives real insight of the childhood trauma from religious indoctrination (cult). Any person in the field of mental health would be well served to read this book. Cult trauma is an insidious mental disease which is not often given the attention it deserves. along illustrates this well. I too am a survivor.
Pony gives real insight of the childhood trauma from religious indoctrination (cult). Any person in the field of mental health would be well served to read this book. Cult trauma is an insidious mental disease which is not often given the attention it deserves. along illustrates this well. I too am a survivor.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews