I have expressed my opinion by giving well founded information about the JW construct to small church groups who meet regularly....... usually monthly...... and who invite individuals who have had experience with a religion ....in my case I was asked to discuss the JW's beliefs and organization.
Here is a brief run down of the information I shared and how it was received.
The group was approx. about 20 people many who I knew in my community through my volunteer work. So there was recognition but what they didn't know was that I had been a witness who left the religion in the mid 1960's.
I opened by saying that my very presence appearing before this church group, was that if learned by any JW , it could cause me to be disfellowshiped. Banned from friends and family who identified as being a JW. A lot of these folks looked at one another and frowned at the idea of what could happen by my just meeting with them..
I skipped through the JW history and moved to the problems that the Society was facing today. I started with the JW pedophile issue , the two witness rule that made it difficult to take action against the sexual abuse of minors.
From there I moved on to their belief that a life saving blood transfusion was discouraged. That thousands died needlessly.... that it was Jonestown each and every year.
That higher education was discouraged. It wasn't necessary because they had a firm belief that only a JW was going to be saved and Billions would die at the Battle of Armageddon.
I then made it personal and mentioned that it was a common response of JW's who went door to door to comment on how nice a particular home looked and said that they would consider occupying the home after Armageddon.
I wanted it to be personable so people had an understanding of how smug the JW's felt about their own families and if you didn't worship as they did you were not important nor significant at all.
The half hour that was allotted for this meeting stretched to over an hour.
I don't think a lot of doors will be opened to the JW's in my community. Since my wife and I live and volunteer in this community...... I have noticed a trend that they are not growing or make up a significant presence any longer.
Though to be honest they never did have a presence. Never lifted a hand to help any non JW out. Never voted.