1. Christian Puritan perfectionism in America (1620 to mid 1800's) failed to create heaven on earth or a shining city on a hill. Civil War dashed that delusion.
2. The Great Awakening in America took up the slack only to be followed by Advent speculations that the end would be immiment.
3. William Miller inspired a movement of Adventists to break with their own local churches in anticipation of Jesus' arrival.
4. The work of the Adventists seems to be warning as many people as possible before 1843. The splits in local churches caused lasting enmity. A contrarian sense of "We'll show them we're right" is hardened into the character of newly minted apostates.
5. The Great Disappointment leaves perhaps 100,000 2nd Adventists stranded theologically between a no-show on Jesus' part and a "We told you so!" on the part of mainstream Christianity.
6.Various theories and imaginative explanations popped up to support yet more anticipation of Jesus coming in 1844. (variations on Miller).
7. More Jesus "no-shows" followed. Only the hardcore hung in there and doubled down, tripled down, etc. Thy simply couldn't go back admitting error.
8. 2nd Adventists scrambled to save their reputations, belief and integrity by inventing more reasons to stay away from mainstream churches while waiting for the "tarrying time" to end and Jesus to arrive.
9. Diversionary beliefs of a contrarian nature deflected the argument off in other directions (away from the actual coming of Christ.) The Sabbath, immortality of the soul, hellfire, etc. become the new reason for staying away from the "Babylonish churches".
10. C.T.Russell hears a 2nd Adventist message and buys up all the supporting materials he can lay his hand on and begins ad-libbing his own brand.
11. Russell fashions an amalgam of speculations, interpretations, ad hoc charts and pyramidology as "proof" that Jesus really did arrive "invisibly" and that the real Armageddon is coming in 1914. (WHAT A RELIEF! We were "right" all along!) As separatists they formed their own solidarity.
12. They cycle begins anew! Instead of rallying to warn people about 1843/44 the new date of special interest becomes 1914 as THE END.
13. When 1914 creates a repeat of the Great Disappointment history repeats itself yet again. REBOOT! The end becomes a new beginning.
14. Russell starts revamping his explanations and rewording his old certainties until....He dies.
15. Judge Rutherford wrests the publishing corporation away from Russell's appointees.
16. Rutherford continues the same game of depending on End Times speculations to hold the interest of the contrarians. Eventually 1914 becomes the new date of Jesus invisible arrival. The early "truth" is conveniently forgotton!
17. Various diversions, interpretations, New Light are invented teasing a focus on End Times and then diverting from End Times toward policies, dogma and martyr behaviors.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
It all began with disaffected people. People who--first--convince themselves they are absolutely right!
People who don't fit in are the customers for schemes that make much ado about something exciting happening "soon".
The majority of church goers are happy and grateful people. A small minority have problems, but, seek to solve them within the social milieu of the congregation. It is the fringe element who is the stray.
A misfit needs a special empowered identity that gives them the power to break away.
The contrarian message reaches the heart and soul of the misfit. They are galvanized into action!
Jehovah's Witnesses are already oddballs, outcasts, misfits, marginal citizens. They simply find a place where their sort is welcomed.
Their doctrine gives them confidence and for the first time in their lives-- a SUPERIORITY over the mainstream.
Being contrarian is the essential ingredient. Nerds Unite! You are they only ones with the "Truth"!
Jehovah's Witness flip-flops recycle over and over in a never ending loop proving only an inability to break the bad habit of being "right."
The leaders of this pack of Bozos are well aware that the member-misfit has NO PLACE TO GO where they are really going to fit in.
The hardest transition for the EX_JW is from being an ACCEPTABLE misfit to simply being an ordinary oddball.
Once you are "different" and "superior" to everybody else in the world---you are STRANDED in a hellish limbo. You doubled down in the cult or
you divest your persona of "special" status and absolute truth to become among the ordinary who have no special link to divine secrets!