Has it been your experience or observation that in the past… say 10 years… the vast majority of people who “study” or even eventually get baptized are in some way “damaged”?
This could be people with mental issues
Mental illness
Physical disabilities
OR children/adults who came from or are currently in abusive homes
I've been out for almost 10 years so can't speak for that period.
As a general observation from my own WT experience and subsequent reading . . . I would consider the above conclusion a little simplistic. I think it's more accurate to say JW's recruit all types of people WHEN they are vulnerable . . . not "vulnerable people". The window of opportunity may be quite small with some who would otherwise not respond.
A lack of parenting factors has been singled out as making young adults vulnerable to conversion for a period . . . but this does not necessarily constitute abuse, nor is it inevitable.
Certainly, some who might be considered permanently "vulnerable" fall prey . . . but not disproportionately so IMO. Remember, 1 in 3 adults will suffer some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Also . . . those with an acknowleged mental illness are often carefully watched by others close to them, and so are not as vulnerable as they appear.
Finally . . . "normality" is a fallacy. Nobody is normal. We all just spend a lot of time and energy trying to prove that we are . . . instead of just embracing our individuality and enjoying being different. JW's exploit vulnerability . . . not vulnerable people . . . that's why they keep coming back. It's a subtle but distinct difference.
