Billy is wise. I could write what it was like when I left at 17. It might be better to have an academic discuss how the religion works. I find that those awful Amish shows are helping people understand how awful shunning is. The social worker assigned to my case was excellent. She became a life long friend. I never told anyone what was happening at home until I met her. James Penton who wrote a history of the Witnesses might be a good person to ask about the social aspects of the Witnesses. I forget the name of his book. Apocalypse Denied, I think.
Let us know what happens next. I found it hard at seventeen to advocate for myself.