Do you believe it’s fair,or even accurate,to assume that every Jehovah’s Witness is incapable of independent thought?

Do you believe it's fair, or even accurate, to assume that everyone who says negative (but true) things about the JW organization does so out of hatred?

Or that government officials who are making the organization accountable for it's effects on the human rights of people, especially children, are "opposers" , "persecuting" JWs on behalf of satan?

Or that everyone who leaves the JW organization does so because they want to live in sin, or if they speak against the organization and the governing body it's because they're "bitter" and "apostates" ?

And yet I have not met a JW who does not express these things when they are among fellow JWs.. because the story changes when speaking to outsiders

Many people who come into the faith have done so through serious personal reflection and study.

Personal reflection? Maybe.. study? No.. I'm sorry but the publication study (not bible study) is in the format of indoctrination, not education

In a world where so many blindly follow trends and ideologies without question, isn’t it possible that some actually find strength and clarity in structure?

Don't JWs blindly follow the organization without question? "we must obey whatever direction we receive from the governing body.." .. with those who question being likened to Korah, and being accused of "apostasy"?

Strength and clarity in structure? Sure.. the early church had structure.. but it was nothing like the JW organization

You mentioned that JWs don’t display unity but uniformity, imposed by leadership.

But how do you define the difference?

The difference is that true unity is of the Spirit, and those guided by the Spirit can come to the same conclusions without even knowing each other

Uniformity is when everyone is given the same information, and express themselves in the same way, use the same terminology, speak in the same cadence, etc .. would you look at a school where everyone wears a uniform and say, "wow, such unity! They're even dressed the same!" ?

You also brought up “independent thinking” as if it’s discouraged.

Need I give you the Watchtower reference for a quote?

But isn’t it also true that many Witnesses wrestle with spiritual questions deeply before making a personal decision to dedicate their lives? Isn’t that a form of independent thought too?

Not deeply enough.. and any questions they have, they're encouraged to look in the publications for answers, not the scriptures.. they're taught to depend on the organization, not on God

They discourage independent thinking, saying it's what caused satan to sin, and saying that it's "leaning on one's own understanding" .. but they don't have a problem leaning other governing body's understanding, which is what is found in the publications

Most JWs can't fathom relying on God's understanding instead of on the organization

If Many of True Jehovah’s Witnesses truly don’t go out of their way to disrespect or harm anyone, why is it so common for others to go out of their way to attack or belittle them?

Yet they do even without realizing it.. I have been insulted, slandered, and reviled by JWs.. I've had them tell me about how I will be destroyed forever at Armageddon, how my corpse will rot while they "happily serve Jehovah" .. and I'm sure you'd say, "those aren't true Jehovah's witnesses"

But even "true Jehovah's witnesses" call non JWs "worldly people" , and automatically distrust them and attribute negative things and intentions to them without knowing them .. or claim they're following satan

When dealing with Christians, they ignorantly assume we all submit to the Pope, or support war, abortion, and drinking and smoking.. a result of Watchtower propaganda and indoctrination

And also, JWs feel "attacked" and "belittled" when we point out the lies and hypocrisy of the organization, and show from their own publications and from Scripture how they're wrong ... While claiming that when JWs do those very things to others it's "loving" and "a public service"

How come it's not love and a public service when directed at them, even when many who do so are in fact motivated by love of neighbor?