I do not meet the first point of your criteria. I was not raised by devout witness parents. But I did become a devout witness parent with two kids still imprisoned in the fairy castle. But, I would like to share.
I was an idealistic kid, when at 16 or 17, I thought God led me to Jehovah's Witnesses as the answer to my quest for a better world. I did not need to choose between the truth/meetings/witnessing and higher education. Attending University, was in those days out of the question for most kids from a working class background. And, because of whatever defects in my intellect, I thought I had found the truth, and I studied this 'truth' fervently.
Curiously, while an elder, I did a number of short courses at higher educational institutions without any comment. Perhaps that is just the way the more tolerant Australian psyche worked out. If I recall correctly, at least one witness in good standing attended the University at Armidale NSW., and was appointed to positions in the local congregation. If my recall was correct, his name was Andrew Yeomans. Have never heard of him for years, so maybe he passed out years ago. (little joke). But then I've been passed out for years too.
At retirement, faced with a life of watching repeats of brain-dead American sit-coms all day, and having an interest in the transition the world is currently undergoing (from western dominance to Asian dominance), I decided to spend the remaining years of my life trying to find out what makes Asian cultures so enduring. I see both Judaism and Christianity as 'Asian cultures,' so I include them in my Asian Studies program. Truthfully, early Christianity was dominated by the Eastern and Egyptian churches. Judeao-Christianity is not the only long-life thought system. Both Buddhism and Zoroastrianism are also ancient, the latter still living in Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism. So I have an eclectic brew in my head at the moment. And beyond them are the intellectual/spiritual thought systems of Confucianism and Daoism.
I shall continue to study so long as the government supports my studies (hopefully that will include an MA by research) and beyond that, if mind and life permit, a Ph.d, likely within the area of East Asian thought (philosophy). Perhaps I may even be cremated with my own book in my hand.
Yeah, I agree - a waste of a good book, but please permit me a final vanity.
So, if in some way your attraction to the JW version of Christianity (which has also has ancient roots), was more intellectual than instinctive (i.e. I believe) then may I recommend higher education. You'll probably love it.
