As with anyone trying to recruit members or bring someone else over to their way of thinking, they present all the good stuff up front. They are loving and friendly, welcoming and accepting. This is very alluring to someone who may be at a turning point in their life, or frustrated with religion in general. Not to mention the promise of the earth returning to it's paradise conditions and our being a part of that. The part about being selected to have this knowledge and be a part of god's organization here on earth--why now that is very special, and if we adhere to all the rules and regulations like a good little Jdub, then we will continue to have their umbrella of protection. Everyone comes up to new people at meetings and one feels all this genuiene humanity and it is overwhelming. There is a feeling of safety and security. Who wouldn't want to be a part of something so wonderfully unique?
The thing is, as they say, "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is". One always has the responsibility to dig deeper and get the facts before committing. Good research proves that JW's are cult-like and are very dogmatic, with their very strict disfellowshipping and shunning. With eyes wide open to see these "recruiting tactics" one can protect themselves. We see the dangling bait, but even though we might initially be curious and "nibble", we don't put the whole thing in our mouth and get hooked. If one researches and finds this out and still signs on the dotted line (gets baptized) then they must accept responsibility for their choice. And many are very happy being caught and put in the tank. They live in a restricted borg acquarium and they are fed only certain food. They have to stay inside with "like kind" to be safe. If they try to get out, they may not be able to breathe, or may be eaten up by something. They grow to like their little acquarium and are quite happy there. Even if the acquarium gets contaminated, where can they go? They have a hard time breathing and become sick, but they still stay in there.
We are only human and sometimes the fantasy sounds so exciting, that we buy into before we our feet come back down to reality. The bait has worked, and then the reality of our choice sets in. By then, according to their tactics, you are caught. If you try to get free, you can succeed, but there will be emotional damage and loss. One of the many lessons of life.
Bait and switch? Why not? It continues to work.
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