Partydelights- Thanks so much for your story. Very interesting :) And I'm so sorry you were in prison for three years! :( But I'm so impressed that you have read your bible cover to cover three times! I haven't even read mine cover to cover once. But I plan to. :)
You know, I was thinking about it and I think what I was drawn to with the JW's, is the structure. It's very structured and even though I do not like being told what to do and what to think, I like things being laid out for me, I've come to realize. Oh- That's no good! :) Another thing is, I find that when I study the bible on my own sometimes it confuses me more. I hope that doesn't make me sound like an idiot although it probably does. But I also liked being able to ask a question and having someone give me an answer. I think with the particular church I was raised in, that was a problem for me; asking specific questions and not getting an answer or not getting a very good one.
Cadellin- Thank you too for your insight. and I do see from reading people's personal experiences on here that there is a lot of hurt and very damaged lives from having been in the JWs. Even though, I really am not here to bash them, because like I've said before, it comes across as all good stuff and I do see them as having "the truth" most of the time. I was talking to a guy on here who is a JW still and he was saying, and I completely agree with him, that nowadays so many churches are all about what God can do for you and not about what you can do for God. I do see alot of selfishness and greed in the world and I like the way the JW's are at least trying to do the right thing. Although when it comes to disfellowshipping and shunning, I think they've got the wrong idea. And in the end, I don't want to come out ignored and damaged, having felt that I gave so much to just be walking on eggshells and scared to make a wrong move. So my plan is to just continue on reading my Bible, reading the Watchtower literature, and trying to figure it all out. :)