I personally think he used the WTS rules & JW obedience-obsession to maintain control over us.
Good point, gorgia2. WTS rules and punishments allow parents a bit of a pass on actually engaging their children and guiding them through the difficult transition to adulthood. I recall my parents giving a stern look and pointing to the society as the ultimate authority - no questions allowed, only blind obedience.
But blindly compliant, coerced children should not be the goal of parenthood - it should be about raising good people who can think for themselves and have access to the resources they need to make good decisions.
Perhaps James wants to be sure his kid avoids the pitfalls of the teen years - drugs, pregnancy, gangs, crime, etc. - but the fact is, without a reality-based upbringing, other pitfalls await: a bad marriage, lack of education and job opportunities, and bitterness. And regret and resentment - some of which can be seen in this thread's posts.