Everyone that has posted a comment on here has made a valid point....including Rick Fearon.
It is very difficult to grow up in a organization such as the Jehovah Witnesses and come out to live and think 100% normal !
Michael Jackson had to attend the kingdom hall ...it wasnt a choice matter....just like he had to attend the kingdom hall, he had to perform as well...whether it was at packed arenas or strip clubs...he had to do his job...and he wasnt baptized...while on the other hand, the superstar R&B singer PRINCE performs and goes to strip clubs and he is baptized...BUT THE WATCHTOWER TRACT SOCIETY DONT SAY NOTHING TO HIM and so he gets a pass !
All ex JW's know...including myself know that we had no choice in attending the kingdom hall and our parents would have paid Jehovah God himself for us to get us baptized...some were forced and pressured by our families and parents into becoming Jehovah Witnesses...my own mother made me sign a contract that in order to receive my guardianship money at 18 years old...that I had to be in good standing with her and Jehovah !
yes...I made it and moved on ( I'm disfellowshipped and I dont care ) but it took damn near 16 loooooooooong years to finally get it together and move on and it also took for me to get far away from my mother as well.
I'm not even close to the success level as Michael Jackson, but I can personally understand on how his upbringing played a role on the adult life of Michael Jackson....a very tragic and sad man that was gifted and blessed.
Just like myself, he wanted to be the best in his craft ....a talent and a gift that God himself gave him ...and he was shot down by the organization and looked down upon just as I was when I was pursuing music...this is same organization that claims that "they are no parts of this world" but becomes a non-governmental member of the United Nations some years later after "disassociating" Michael Jackson for doing the video "THRILLER"...in which was made for entertainment only and did not go against any bible scriptures.
We are all like Michael Jackson in one way or another but at the end of the day...its all about having a personal relationship with God that matters ...not one with the Watchtower and Tract Society ...
Daniel Chamberlayne
Author- The Kingdom Hall No More
...without a choice in the matter for so many years and think that one day when you wake up