That pesky free will thing Punky. I do not think jw's and some ex jw's can necessarily understand the whole 'free will' concept.
"What amazes me is how each 'theist/believer' is totally convinced that their way/cult is the correct one"-- Depends on the 'believer' you know I guess. I know many Christians who suggest reading the Bible and may ask you to their church but are not dogmatic about going to 'their' church for salvation or even that their church is the 'right' one. Christians do not fuss about what they call 'non salvation' doctrines. Some issues will never be settled or agreed upon. What does tie Christians together is the birth of Christ, His life, His death upon the cross and His resurrection all the rest is often debatable, obviously.
We are individuals and what works for one person may not work for the next (re:churches, styles, spirituality, etc..) Just like your kids need different teachers and often different parenting techniques, we as individuals will take/need different and very individual spiritual paths. Different need not mean better or worse (though it often can as in the case of cults) you make your choices unless you were born in to something (jw's). Then you, as an adult must make the very painful choice of leaving a spiritually abusive cult for your own sanity but losing your loved ones. Doesn't seem fair does it? Why does God allow it? free will? (pretending for the moment you believed in a Creator)
Humans prefer free will, wouldn't God also prefer free will over obligation? I know I do, I much prefer to spend time with people who by their own free will choose to spend time with me rather than out of any sense of obligation. Just my random thoughts on the matter.
