YOMAMA:
I agree the religion is ‘fear based’ in many ways. Not just fear of people shunning a person but people fearful they aren’t ‘doing enough’ in so-called theocratic activity.
I never had any family in the religion (thank God) that anybody could use against me. But, I had non-JW friends for a long time after I became a JW.
One elder who was a book study conductor for a time made a nosey remark that “the reason I probably didn’t have friends in the religion was probably because I still had ‘worldly’ friends”. I took his advice to heart because I was ready to move on from these friends anyway.
But, even after I gave up these ‘worldly’ friends, I didn’t make many JW friends because I was shunned somewhat because I had a full time job.. Giving up cigarette smoking and certain friends was one thing..but I held onto a full time job until I Retired. I didn’t care what any of the Witnesses thought about that!