To borrow a scenario from The Godfather, if someone were to hand you a blank check and tell you, "In ten seconds either your signature will be on that check or your brains will be on the check" have they taken away your freedom of choice?
I would argue that freedom of choice in the absolute sense is an abstract that's virtually impossible to take away from anyone. What actually gets taken away is the ability to freely exercise it.
So when you say that JW's don't forbid anything; that they don't have the authority to forbid and that it ultimately comes down to freedom of choice, I don't disagree, but I don't think that's quite the issue.
I certainly want to acknowledge your good and reasonable point, and i always love a godfather reference.
I also dont disagree that absolute freedom of choice is never taken away but can be impinged upon. We generally refer to that as coercion, as was the case in the godfather reference above. Nobody would argue that the band leader REALLY had a choice beyond signing johnnys release or losing his life, which is only a choice in the absolute sense you and both agree on.
the wt, however, dosent have that sort of real power or control. The worst they can even claim is to df you. Having been a witness for many many years i understand the severe ramifications that implies and the implied consequences (dying at armageddon and so forth), but in the end its a mild form of coercion at most. Ive been pressured more by car salesman. Its part of being an adult that we have to own decisions and live (or die) with them.
The simple and unpleasant truth of jw’s blood refusal is that most of them believe god doesn't want them to have blood. They are on board with the belief. That we disagree and see it differently, that we dont agree with their scriptural interpretation isnt relevant to their choice.
I think its convenient for us, after the fact, to view their beliefs as coercion, to view it as having no choice, because it makes us not responsible in hindsight for our choices. That was then and is now false. We always had a choice. We made it. Thats why we are here today. They refuse blood and shun because they want to