A customer on my route with whom I have had some lively debates was his number 1 complaint is that "the Witnesses have so many rules". Last month I agreed with on this issue. He asked why the change, I told him that I have been doing some soul searching. I said : That the WT society and the local congregation should a talk lets say on "Our attitude with people of the World", share what the scriptures says and I feel those in the congregation should decide for themselves had to apply it. Lets face it, some things are "cut and dry", with no wiggle room. But my many things are to be left up to our conscience to decide.
For example our kids in school. We have to tell them:" Do not salute the flag, do not participate in any parties (most), do not join any sports teams, no student counsel, etc".
Then he asked the Big Question: Why are YOU still in? I paused and said: "Because I have a teenage child at home, I have to instill some core principles in his life so hopefully he does not go crazy in his adult years like child 1 did". (We are nowhere as hardcore with this one as we were with the first child). My customer agreed that to instill good principles in children, regardless of which religion, was the moral thing to do!