I was a born-in JW and left that religion when I was 18. I refuse to call it the truth. Out of seven kids in my family, only the youngest is still in and he is a major fence rider. I suspect he only stays in to not disappoint my parents. The main reason I left is because of the oppresive nature of the teachings. Not allowed to do any of the normal teenage activities like dances, sports, dating, etc. I just couldn't take it anymore. It is bad enough to feel you lost your childhood to that cult, so i really feel bad for the people who have stayed in it much longer. It really says something when here I am, along with many others, this many years later (I'm almost 40!) still talking about the effects this religion has had on me. I have always felt ten years behind everone else socially, career, etc.