Someone once pointed out to me (while we were commiserating over the imperviousness of still-in JWs) that, "People who joined Jehovah's Witnesses for emotional reasons will not be influenced to leave for intellectual reasons."
For those of us saddened about the departure of our dear friend SBF, maybe we should reflect on the fact that, in his own story, he makes it clear that his decision to associate with and embrace the WTS was strictly an emotional reaction to other painful circumstances in his life, at age 13:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/137609/1/Let-me-introduce-myself-slimboyfat#.UmXbZHDEXOE
The kicker is that SBF has presented here for the past eight years as intellectually astute, though emotionally somewhat detached. He has expressed himself with substantive remarks up until he's asked why he thinks the JWs have the truth - then it is strictly a flat statement, devoid of supporting evidence.
I think this is an important insight for those of us wondering WHY the dichotomy of SBF. The answer is in the first sentence of this post. Emotional influence is often stronger than intellectual and vice versa. Maybe we just didn't expect this particular configuration from SBF.
P.S. Deep down, he is one of us - and there is no profile of "us" to fit, other than people who have learned TTATT, period. I hope he knows that he will be welcomed back here when he is ready, whether ten days, ten months, ten years.
