UN membership - Didn't both me either until I learned about Malawi and Mexico. Then my hypocrisy bells went off. I'm just old enough to remember prayers at every meeting for the poor brothers being tortured and killed in Malawi.
Blood Issue - The WTS stand never made logical sense to me. Now with the changes in the last couple of decades it's just a bunch of convoluted legalese.
587 vs. 607 - I also had to prepare a TMS part on the prophecy leading to 1914, and dug out my parents copy of Babylon the Great has Fallen (I think it was) where the line of kings is listed. Their reigns didn't add up. I figured there was something I was missing and didn't revisit this question for another 6 years. Wish I had. Never found a satisfactory explanation. Now I know there isn't one.
Derogatory words - To each his own I guess. Until the day we can divide this forum into different levels of recovery, we're stuck with it. We could also use a forum for trolls.
Disfellowshipping - When I was in, I really thought disfellowshipping was one of the things that set us apart from false religion. Not withstanding the people I've seen disfellowshipped because of local hall politics, I now ask myself, is an insincere repentance still repentance? That's really what we were doing. It wasn't about love for Jehovah. It was about holding family and friends for ransom to see what the disfellowshipped person wanted more: their family, or a life outside of the organization. A person quitting drugs or promiscuity was a byproduct, not the true goal.
Changing teachings - I also thought the light was getting brighter. Then I found out it was bright, then got dim, then got bright again. Now I see that most changes are reactive and have nothing to do with a "better understanding". The fiery chariot changes to react to the present needs of the organization which has absolutely nothing to do with "truth", even if that means moving backwards.
Attacks on the GB - Give credit where credit is due. Everything comes down from them. The buck has to stop somewhere, and it's not with the rank and file.
Generation changes - I'll never forget going out to eat after the convention in '95. I went with a long time elder and his wife. He sat in stunned silence. I asked him what was wrong. His reply was "They just told me I am going to die in this system."
You realize there doesn't have to be one defining doctrine or event that causes you to leave. Remember the old adage "where there's smoke, there's fire." For every point you listed in your post, there is probably two or three more you didn't. Just the fact you noticed them says you've started up your critical thinking skills.
Oh, and if you only read one book outside of JW literature, as others have suggested, read Crisis of Conscience. For me, that book was Fat Man falling on Nagasaki. It brought everything together. All of my experiences in the organization, all of my questions, and how the organization came to be the way that it is.
