Alex is right. I wouldn't say they tend to hang out with like minded people though. I would say that 95% of them have no friends that aren't JW's. It's very strongly discouraged. They are friendly to unbelievers though.
I have a shred of hope that my sister will change her mind. I really do sympathize with my family. It isn't as black and white as judging and not being as good of friends as I thought we were. It's a whole nother world.
Celebrating Halloween to them is akin to Satan worship. I may as well have told them that I've decided to have a baby sandwich for lunch every day. They can't possibly comprehend that this is a decision I've come to using logic. To them my mind has been corrupted by Satan. Rejecting what they consider to be God's truth voluntarily is like telling them that I have a highly treatable form of cancer but have decided just to die. It isn't an easy time for them. I'm the last person they expected to do this to them, which makes it much worse.
If they were allowed to read anything about the bible or their religion besides what their religion publishes, then it would be much easier to understand. But then there also wouldn't be a ton of JW's left either. But as it is, they are indoctrinated three times a week, read loads of material published by their organization, and only associate with other JW's. It's a very insular world. To maintain close contact with me is to reach out of their comfort zone. Thankfully, most of them will do that. Hopefully in the end all of them will do that. Only because we are family though. There is no possible way any of our friends will.
So while I certainly am angry at my sister, I understand where she's coming from.
You guys' support has meant a great deal to me. I'm lucky to have the LoT and a supportive network of real life friends so that I can at least have a bit of normalcy right now.
