Although a cult, Jehovah's Witnesses should not be underestimated as to their smarts. Sometimes, exiting JW's, due to indoctrination, feel a lot of guilt for leaving. Of course, the Governing Body wouldn't have it any other way.
Upon leaving, many for the first time feel a freedom to express themselves, which is as it should be. At last, unfiltered opinions showing off exactly what years of being a JW has taught you. You can argue politics, religion. You can even agree or disagree with Simon Cowell openly.
And the dis-agreements continue.
I wonder sometimes if it isn't a reaction to being forced to agree with the Governing Body all those years that we former JW's tend to express our disagreements over anything, just because we never got to before. Why look for people to agree with, when you can now fight for what you think for the first time?
Of course, it is then that the old indoctrination kicks in, the passive agressive methods of arguing, of making a point. Of demonizing entire sources of information because it doesn't come from a particular source. etc
The point is, ex JW's are well equipped to argue most anything. JW's have an entire meeting (The Service Meeting) dedicated to the craft of arguing from an incorrect position. Little wonder that being correct and factual is often secondary to being right, or winning an argument. Sometimes, we can do that without even realizing it.
So while ex JW's are usually good at arguing, getting their arguments correct and factual is an entirely different matter. Being emotionally invested in an opinion as a way to vent has value, but it is limited, and oftentimes can prevent growth.
I am fascinated by the concepts of cognitive dissonance and intellectual honesty. Even taking Jehovah's Witnesses out of the picture, we live in an age where the information isn't as important as the spin, and the agenda behind the spin. There is always a reason to disagree, to not do something, and to demonize those who disagree with you. So the passion, however legitimate and real it is, oftentimes is more important then getting it right. People who have all kinds of opinions, (some of whom I bet don't agree with it but are caught up in a groups agenda,) suddenly sacrifice their intellectual honesty for the agenda of the group they are with.
Welcome to 2010.
It's hard to look at the world pragmatically, and realize that today's world is all about the louder argument, not the one rooted in calm fact.
It's even more difficult to try and find one's way in this world and trying to figure out if the opinions you have and hold dear are really your thought out opinions, or a group's agenda that you have agreed to join.
Whatever you decide to argue, may your opinions truly be your own. Hopefully, we can all learn the lesson of the value of arguing, vs the value of compromise and working together, the value of honesty, and the value of facts. These aren't skills that are taught at your local Kingdom Hall.