The February 14, 2004, issue of The Age contains an interesting interview with broadcaster Kate Langbroek. This lady was one of Jehovah's Witnesses: "Acceptance by them is conditional upon you remaining a Jehovah's Witness. I don't have any friends who are Witnesses now because I left."
"If I knew what was in front of me - a couple of years of strained or no relations with my parents - I might not have done it."
"I questioned more than anything else that you are not supposed to be interested in the world now because God has a perfect paradise waiting for you in everlasting life. That sense of not being motivated to make the world better now, because you sort of don't need to, I couldn't come at that."
All comments we can thoroughly identify with. The article is short and is not solely about highlighting how unchristian the religion is (Ms. Langbroek speaks of other matters, such as her life now as a journalist) - but it does highlight to people the subjugating atmosphere of JW life.
Happily, Ms. Langbroek's parents and her brother are now also exJWs. Here's one story with a very happy ending.
Ian