Wonderful.
Mind you, the start was pretty rough, involving feelings of self loathing, guilt, divorce and nervous breakdown. I would change none of it.
what i have rebuilt out of the fire has been a JWs nightmare! Man leaves 'jehovah' and becomes well adjusted, happy and responsible. Builds good relationship with non custodial children, remarries, builds a good career and gains true friends!
The sense of relief at abandoning the religion was huge. I had been suffering some serious depression and deep unhappiness. After much soul searching i realized that my depression was what i call 'circumstancial depression', that meaning that if i changed circumstances the depression would change likewise. And it worked! Yes i had to deal with the whole separation/divorce/fight over kids shit but that was no different to any other persons experience with marriage disintergration. What changed was that i was no longer in a cycle of self loathing and internal conflict created by a religion trying to keep my authentic self in a very uncomfortable small minded box.
I knew that i would never never go back. I knew this the day i left even though for another 12 odd years i continued to think they were the true religion.
If i had to go back, i would die. If i went back i would have to take of my much loved personality and become so labotomised drone devoid of real personality, it would kill me.
screw you jehovah's witnesses and the WT, you are a soul sucking psychopath
oz