Moshe wrote:
" Unfortunately, many JWs no longer want to receive the blessings that come from membership as a JW- they want to leave- it's just that the WTshunning rules hold their families hostage. Change that and we will see just how many true believers in WT dogma there really are. Now , if these unbelieving JWs had a backbone, they could probably change theWT rules almost overnight, but they have to act a group"
Thumbs up for that comment. That is largely the difference between the average christian churches and the JW's (besides theology).
Except, community, network and status still plays a large part. Buisness may also be affected by leaving. There can be many reasons for staying, and faith is often not really one of them.
Now, in Denmark, the JW's have a bad reputation. But when leaving, who should one blame? Leaving the sinking boat, AND explain it all to the "normal" world why they participated. I think people are getting tired of the show...
Leaving is the only option in my book. The close network of JW were build on promises of a promise of Harmageddon. Such a common goal creates a great sense of being united with a common goal, an immensely important project. But Harmageddon did not come, so what then? Now people were addicted to the community and the sense of being closely united and the leaders had an internally status, that would not matter anywhere outside the network. So they just kept going, finding new dates for Harmageddon, new calculations, interpretations aso. That produced the Jehovahs Witnesses. Skisms in JW have been seen before. The dependant people will remain, and new promises will be made. And it will go on once again.
Leave while you mentally and socially can. Staying will mean being addicted to live on a lie, no matter if you are a "Morpheus", a believer or a follower. The Org. may change color like a chameleon, but will remain a reptile.