I was raised JW, but broke away at 17 years old in 1975. I left my family home the same day I told them I wasn't going to meetings anymore. I was disfellowshipped and 'shunned' from everyone I'd ever known, and was totally unprepared to live in a world I'd been completely sheltered from. I made mistakes, but I never turned back from my conviction that the Bible is not truly the 'word of God', but only a multitude of ancient writings that an elite group of mortal men picked and chose as a representation of the 'word of God', and is subject to interpretation by men in a myriad of ways. I'm not trying to change anyone's way of thinking, just be of some aid and support to others who are still dealing with the pain of their experience, or are in the process of investigating a different way of life.