Thanks everyone for the welcoming words. I have looked at your story Danny and sadly cannot express feelings any more accurately than you - you seemed totally messed up by the 'coming of the end' or whatever it was called, and my experiences are far less distressing.
I was a shy, fairly bright kid, my elder brother joined the Navy and came back when I was just starting to get out to drink and socialise as young men do. He had converted to the JWs and set about converting me too. No doubt a bit of 'hero worship' of big bruv was involved, but I fell for it hook line and sinker. I loved the debates we had about 'truth', evolution evil and so on. Of course he knew the so-called answers and I was doomed from the very first word!
Not really doomed, it was in the end my decision, but his influence was very real. Anyway, I stopped the newly developing party life and joined the sect of meetings and gentle social gatherings. Made what I thought were new friends and was quickly accepted as a future Min Servant - could speak well and give talks, debate and so on.
Long story - cut it short. I left the JW in about 81, going to University to train as a teacher, Big bruv - still a (slipping) JW then, tried to talk me out of it because I had to study Theology! He faile to stop me and after a few years he left the JWs too - proclaiming he had never really believed it all!
Enough for a bit - tired fingers!
