Firstly, I want you to know that I know you are NOT Friend. "Friend" is my friend and I'm quite aware of his personal circumstances right now.
: I have found in life that nothing is completely good nor completely bad.
That goes for Adolph Hitler, too. He liked dogs. But seriously, and in context can you honestly say that the "good" done by the WTS outweighs the "bad" done the WTS in a way that the "good" they've offered makes it worthwhile for folks to continue and put up with the "bad." In my heart-of-hearts I cannot see it so. If you disagree, please step forward and present your reasons why you think the JW faith has more good to offer than bad. Their religious leaders lie to them and they KNOW they lie. They doctor the bound-volumes to suit themselves. Every prediction they've ever made was wrong and generations of human families have been wrecked due to their carelessness. They claim to speak directly for God, but they are unwilling to assume any responsibility for their mistakes, yet they viciously enforce shunning and all its attendant tragegies for those who DARE question their words. They protect child-rapists in many jurisdictions. And I have a LOT more.
: Some of the most wonderful good hearted people I have met have been JW’s
Me, too. But that is DESPITE their religion and religious leaders, not BECAUSE of their religion and religious leaders. This is a very important distiction because the same is true in any and all relgions. And cults.
: and some of the most spiteful and deceitful that I have rubbed shoulders with have also graced this strange collective edifice.
Right. See my comment above.
: Is this experience any different from any other organization, religion, business, political party, neighborhood, indeed individual? I suspect not.
Right. That means that JWs are not the least big unique, doesn't it?
That's all I have to say for now, except welcome to this board, and please feel free to share! We are a varied group and many of us are unfettered with dogma anymore, so we tend to revel in that freedom of speech and possibly abuse it!
In other words, this ain't no Kingdom Hall!
Farkel