Actually, I just confused a social need with a spiritual one - for which I bear the responsibility. One day, two guys called at my door. One was my chiropractor, the other was his friend who was a lot like me. Nice guys! We had some common experiences and chatted about everything under the sun. As I recall, he left me with some JW/Bible literature and promised to call back. Heck...I thought he was a nice guy.
I could agree with the first 25 things he showed me from the Bible. I had doubts about one. He said, "hang on...it'll become clear." Fair enough. I agreed with the next 25 things he showed me from the Bible...and the next...and the next. Wow! If he's right about 100 things, he could very well be right about that one thing where I had doubts. If he was right about 1000 things; whose to say that he wasn't right about the 10 little things that I had doubts about? It could be me, after all. In the meantime, I was asked to dinner, to congregational social functions, I even played basketball with the brothers! We all became fast friends. Within a few months, I was asked to attend a meeting where I was welcomed with open arms. Everything was going swimmingly and this social thing slowly became the center of my universe. Soon, I had no problem dismissing my concerned old friends and family who didn't want to play.
I forgot about all the little doubts I had because they didn't effect me directly. Besides, my sins were forgiven and I started with a clean slate. Good enough for me! I was baptized within a year-and-a-half. I was encouraged to "reach out" - which I did with gusto and was rewarded greatly. Over the years, many honorable positions were bestowed upon me. I became the man who taught me and then became the man who taught him and then the man who taught the teachers. I assumed the mantle of the teaching Society. The ever-accumulating little doubts were compartmentalized deep in the recesses of my company-man psyche. Some of the questionable actions I saw over the years were likewise compartmentalized "for the greater good." As I was not free to discuss them, I accepted them, "for the greater good."
Until I had a personal crisis. When that happened, my newfound (10 year) social world came crashing down. I realized after a few more years of tolerating "distance" from my friends that this thing wasn't what it was cracked up to be. It is a great social experiment masquerading as a spiritual need.
Jesus ministry is based upon mercy. Mercy relies upon unconditional love (forgiving enemies, etc). The watchtower draws lines, constantly creates and condemns new enemies, and never forgives old ones. It is antithetical to Jesus and the work he did.
Carlos
