I think we've talked about this before, but I'd like to revisit it. I'm working on some marketing stuff for a novel I wrote, based a bit on my experience as a dub. I realized that the reason I ended up with a novel (my first attempt was non-ficiton) was because so much of what we did just doesn' make sense, and I wanted to immerse my readers in a fictional cult world to explain how these people think.
When I look back on it, I can't for the life of me, say why I thought the WTS was "God's Organization." There is no evidence for that. I don't care how charismatic a speaker is, he's not going to make me believe that the sky is green. Yet, as dubs, we swallowed some ideas that were just as outlandish. In looking back, I have to say I surrendered my brain to these people. I started my study during my senior year in college. I'd like to think I'm not a total idiot, and wasn't then either. Yet I did not subject this group to any sort of critical review. I had access to a library with two and a half million books. I never once went to the catalog and looked up "Jehovah's Witnesses" or "Watchtower."
The witnesses presented themselves as an association of people that undertook an independent study of the Bible, untainted by any preconcieved notions. Not knowing this statement is complete crap, I bought into it. I know find myself unable to explain my actions at the time, except to say that perhaps I was young and inexperienced, and in a vulnerable point in my life.
Like to hear your thoughts on this.