But don't you think that each person takes out of life different experiences.
I don't think my life was bad. Being raised in the religion helped me in a lot of ways. I am dyslexic (all of them dyscalcula; dysgraphia, etc.) and having to read all the time, give talks, speak in public, read aloud, helped me in so many ways. If I was not forced to do it, would I have. Probably not. I floundered thru the school system until my mother put up a stink and I got tested (twice because the first test failed to show anything and my mom forced the school to take a second test). I am fully compensated now and have gone on to further education and to work in a field that can be some what challenging.
I made and continue to have a ton of friends that were/are JWs. I traveled the world and met tons of people, most of which I am still friends with today and do still travel with.
Because of having an LD and being a different religion, I learned courage at an early age. I learned to speak up for myself. I learned loyalty and honesty. Yes, my mother had/has a lot to do with this as well. But I think the fact that she was raised in the religion and went through what she went thru, helped clear a path for me.
Not everyone's experience in the religion was bad. I am not trying to minimize what anyone went thru. But I think sometimes people here minimize the good experiences that people share. Just the same as it would be shameful for anyone to downplay a person's painful history, people here should respect someone who did not have to walk thru hell to reach where they are at. Not everyone has to shake the hand of the devil to know evilness.
Stilla, I think you should be commened to finding your own path and sticking to it. Good on ya'.
