As JWs we suffered from that conditioning that tells us that nothing out there is better. We have been told so many times, many times accompanied by Peter's words to Jesus - "Teacher, who would we go away to? You have sayings of everlaasting life." The Witnesses "know" - because they are told - that there is nothing better out there. Noone else has sayings of everlasting life.

In many cases, this will lead to a Witness, upon hearing someone's objection to organizational teachings, reacting similarly. "Who will you go away to? Don't forget who taught you the simple truths of the bible. Show me something better and I will leave today." Of course they are referring to another religion, another leader, and they've already set up un-attainable qualifications before even giving you the opportunity to offer them something better.

In that sense, they become like a man on a set of train tracks, who observes a train bearing down on him. He knows that he should step off the tracks, but cannot. Why? Because he does not see another set of tracks to place his feet on. What he fails to realize is - another set of tracks is unnecessary. All that is necessary is to step off the tracks onto solid ground. From there, maybe he can find another set that he likes. But the first step must be getting off the tracks that will harm him. Witnesses don't see that, in most cases. They MUST be on a set of tracks. They MUST feel special, and they MUST have a leader.

If only there was some way to get them to see how nice the normal ground is. But they are convinced, through careful conditioning, that all of us out here on the normal ground are miserable. You can't have happiness outside the train tracks.

The weekly stress sickness is so common, as I've found from all these sites. So many people around the earth each week are MAKING themselves physically ill so that they don't have to attend meetings. How awful. Yet many times it takes us so long to see that this is bad for us. My wife did that so many times. Since she's decided to step out, the sickness has gone away completely.

Glad to have you here. Thanks for your thoughts.