Hopefully, I will explain my thoughts without pissing half of you off.
First tho, I also had a massive tumor on my thyroid and I am ok... since 1898. I didnt have a transfusion, altho I would have ok'd it.
Now, as for the theme of this thread... I personally divide the JW active people into 2 groups or divisions.... those born into it (forced) and those that join as adults(volentary). My ramblings here and now do NOT refer to those born in, since they had no choice.
The JWs have this uncanny ability to attract those with weeknesses, addictions, plainly issues. Those of you that joined as adults, how many of you drank lots, did drugs, had low esteen, were codependent, had no goals in life? You may not have known then, but looking back now, was there something wrong before that first knock at the door?
Once in, the JWs feed those same needs and issues. They offer the iron handed disipline that you may have lacked in your life, or your inability to make a clear decision on things, or maybe it was just the fact that while a JW you couldnt, and thus didnt, drink a lot or indulge in whatever you were doing before. Maybe you had mental issues that made you "different" than most others around you, so being in an org where everyone is looked at differently was an attraction.
That is how they manage to suck people in, and keep them in. The same needs, or weaknesses, that got you in will keep you in. Until you work thru your personal issues or problems, you will just keep falling into the same holes and traps that works for the JWs.
My mother was like that... when not in, she was banging anyone with a pole and drinking.... while in, she was a judgemental dogmatic bitch. I watched her bounce back and forth all my young life. Her friends were the same, pretty much.
We discussed this somewhat yesterday when PEC was here, I decided to try and put it to written word at that time..
Make any sense to you?
Animal