Each person (such as myself) approached by a salesperson, evangelist, or propagandist is confronted by information which doesn't sound "quite right".
Depending on temperament, an open-minded person might listen first before
rejecting the presentation.
What makes religious presentations more likely to succeed? :
1. Like a virus the teachings have mutated over and over adapting to strong arguments and growing stronger and more appealing in order to survive. In other words: Evolutionary adaptation. (Christianity = 1000's of years of honing arguments.)
WatchTower cult teachings = constant changes / adaptations in presentation.
2. No potential convert has the same level of skill as a well-practiced veteran JW.
3. A fair-minded person tries and fails again and again to refute what is present using every means at their disposal. BUT - almost everybody has false beliefs easily disproved - and seeing one's false beliefs EXPOSED is highly disruptive of confidence.
4. JW's don't simply present tricky arguments - they introduce a SOCIAL FAMILY STRUCTURE of welcoming, smiling, helpful human beings eager to accept and adopt the victim. (Yes, love-bombing).
5. Once personal bonds are established - its all over.
I'm describing myself here, of course.
I couldn't win an argument with my best friend (JW) but he pulled me in on a social level when I met his family and attended his Kingdom Hall.
I NEEDED SOCIAL STRUCTURE and I got it.
The "belief" in dogma was a s-l-o-w process.
Largely, the resistance and interference of MY FAMILY is the single most determining impulse causing me to dig deeper (just to answer their questions and meet their challenges) in order to maintain my friendship with my JW friend.
I began to be indoctrinated when I was 12 years old and I thought it all sounded like BULLSHIT - but- (and importantly) - I KNEW NOTHING about the Bible.
I only had a practical argument to offer. It failed. Again and again and again.
You can't successfully win an argument with an EXPERT.
My JW friend was a highly intelligent, intellectually aware human being. He was
a True Believer who'd done his homework.
IT WAS THE CHALLENGE of a lifetime for me. I fought him every step of the way.
Fast forward 6 years...
I was about to be baptized!
WHAT HAD PUSHED ME SO FAR into that cult's trap?
Friendship and society - but mostly acceptance.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
The Great Pyramid teaching was as quacky as anything else I was shown.
Once you swallow the bait - the hook is in.
The more you struggle; the deeper it goes.
It's all about the PEOPLE; your Brothers and Sisters: the "Friends."