As many comments have already noted, we present a dichotomy for the org and for the local congregations. Many of us did not leave over ‘weakness’ or because we were unhappy, wronged or stumbled. We left because we saw contradictions in doctrine, we saw abuse of others, we asked questions that had no answers.
we were never weak, many here were what the org would consider exemplary. Pioneers, MS, Elders, Bethelites etc etc. many of us are now very happy in our non witness lives. We continue to thrive in our personal and professional lives, we have made many new friends, have more time for hobbies or secondary careers, some have written books, some have worked on behalf of non profits or charities in the communities and on on... we have given truth the old adage that living well is the best revenge. We just dont care about the org anymore or their policies or rules or beliefs...
How can they address THAT? The truth is they cant. It always makes me smile when they disappointedly say to me ‘wow you seem to be doing well’.... they expect those that leave to be miserable, to be depressed and suicidal or lost and beyond hope... instead they find well grounded adults, people who have grown beyond their control and they no idea how to process that. It baffles them. Ive even had them rationalize it and tell me that I never left. I seem ‘just as happy as ever’ and the only way they can process it is to convince themselves that im still a witness at heart despite my telling them i would never set in hall again, never join a zoom meeting, never again say the name of their petty god of deserts. They simply cannot reconcile it.
That article was written for the same reason as all recruiting articles. It was to focus on the weak or newly awakened ones who have not yet reestablished themselves after the religion. Its designed to train active witness to identify those are susceptible to revictimization.
As always, its not what they said thats interesting but what they didnt.
