I'm not trolling here or trying to upset, I'm not attacking anyone personally or trying to force my opinion on others but having read a lot of people experiences on leaving the org I really can not understand the point of fading. I understand that people risk losing contact with family members and friends but really what type of friend and how good a family member are they if they are willing to shun you for not holding the same beliefs?
A bit of background might be in order here. At the age of 16 my mother started talking about baptism and though I new that JWism and Christianity had some gaping holes, my main motivation was becoming a normal teenager. The only “friend” I had, another JW, that I would lose contact with was a friend of convenience, us both being in the same age and at the same school. I was aware of disfollowshipping, I took very little interest in religion at that time and as my mother had three young children and a older daughter who was in danger of being disfellowshipped and subsequently was, I was never subjected to intense bible study thank goodness. When I made my break I made it cleanly, I was a Jehovah's Wittiness and then I wasn't, simple as that. I never entered a KH again except for weddings and funerals. At the age of 16 not only did I have to deal with teenage angsts but around 6 months later left home at the age of 17 and found that I had to change a lot of my personality to be able to fit into normal society. My family was distant, the rows with my father, who had stopped attending meeting some years before but never renounced his faith, meant that contact was also brief. I was lacking many social skills and on numerous occasions was taken for a ride by people I mistook for friends. In the end the shunning finally came when my sister was disfellowshipped that resulted in two years of no contact with my family that was finally ended by my own actions. Anyway enough wallowing in my past, I just want to point out that I know breaking away isn't easy and there's a price to pay.
To me fading show continuing submission to the org. Prior to my break it was instilled in me that you stand up for what you believe. All the years of not taking part in school activities, missing religions festivals and being made to stand out and be the target for bullying and ridicule was the same strength I used to break away. I realise that people have different circumstances and fading may be the best option but I also hear reasons given like “If I stay in I can spread doubt”, I'm sorry but that's Dub logic if ever I heard it, the same as “If I go to that website I can post arguments for the WT.” In the end what does fading bring you? The only benefit I can see is for the org that you make a no fuss exit, surely looking you former “brothers” and “sisters” in the face and telling them that you're not going to take it any more is a more truthful action and how can the lies of the org be combated with deceit, which is what I see fading as.
I'm sure that many will say I don't know what I'm talking about and they may be right but if I've gained anything beneficial from my association with the WT it's that you make a stand for what's right and accept the consequences.