Welcome, Mr. T. Good posts. I agree with your observations. My husband is an elder, with a big family that's all in and strong(ish) and while I know he has doubts, he's all about the idea of loyalty and not rocking the boat. He's seen the emotional turmoil I went through, learning TTAT and that scares him too. It's easier to simply maintain the status quo and not look or think about it too much.
I have to agree about your statement that the ones who really invested in the "insurance policy" are the ones who are hurt the most and who leave. That was me! I was a zealous pioneer, Bethel commuter, learned a foreign language, the whole schmear. So when the blinders fell off, it was pretty devastating. Compare that to my sister, who basically lived a "normal" life with meetings and occasional service. Now that her husband has made them fairly well-off, and she no longer has to work, she is free to pioneer in her middle age. A great example of making money in your 20s through 40's and doing the whole spiritual thing later, once you have the big house and toys. Of course, he is an elder and they are incredibly socially prominent and admired through their circuit. Funny how that is.
