In my case, it is a mixed bag
1) i studied history to a fairly advanced level, and I am able to contextualise events into a time frame very easily purely because it was what I was trained to do. My "this is BS-o-metre" used to go "ding ding" in the prophecy books, but not the ones such as 607 etc, you don't need a particular skill to see through that one - the ones that ticked me off were the assemblies or talks that were "trumpet blasts". Whenever i think of assemblies, i know for a fact that they are only reported on in the papers cos they bring in money to the local economy, rather the content of the talks, which most witnesses zone out of at the best of times.I r
But this is all part of the "self-important" rhetoric of the organisation, they have "ultimate truth", they "know" the best way for us to walk though life and perhaps worst of all - they HAVE ultimate authority over our interpersonal relationships.
2) I grew up in a great hall, no doubt about it - my father was PO for all my young life, and was famous around our circuit for instituting "no jacket days" for the brothers doing the mic's or reading the watchtower, or taking the watchtower for that matter during the summer if it was particularly hot. There wasn't a hierarchy in our hall, my best friend was the son of a single mother who in a past existance had been a drug addict. I remember i was in a bar one night with a friend, and another friend called up and said that she was showing an american friend around the city, did we want to meet up, of course I said yeah, and this guy shows up with her- lovely guy from seattle. Anyway, we got on to talking about the congregation, when he asked in a real serious way "what do you call you PO", my own response was "well I call him dad" - he nearly fell out of his chair, cos he wouldn't have been considered worthy to hang out with a PO's kids in the states - it was my first "huh" moment that there was distinctions out there.
Fast forward to a 2 years ago, I move to my present hall - and it is totally different. The PO doesn't know I exist, the pioneers are lauded as special even though i know for a fact that none of them got their hours in last year and aside from 1 elder who was just appointed, i have not seen any others out socially, even though there is an active social life in congregation.
I feel part of another church, not the warm hall i grew up in - it makes me miserable, but it contributes to my feelings about the "stream of time".
Basically i think a good equation for someone leaving the truth =
(Personal Experiences) ± (examining believe system) = freedom