WOW! I've just realised I've reached 1000 posts on the board.
This is a personal milestone and so I think I should take a moment to reflect on the last 18 plus months.
In that time I have completely lost my faith in Bible, in JW doctrine and in any kind of hope for a New World as described by the GB and believed by me for 40+ years. I have stepped down as a ministerial servant after 20 years. I have pretty much stopped my ministry, miss a good proportion of meetings and am slowly working on my family to help them come out of this organisation.
I have read more and studied more about the religion I was brought up in over the past year and half than I ever did in all the years of my youth and upwards. I have changed my opinion on evolution and the import of science to human progression and mankinds' future.
Key to this has been this board. The ability to comment freely, ask questions and express whatever opinion I have has been invaluable and incredibly cathartic. I have to thank Simon for bringing this board about and many of the key posters that have been here years. I have been informed by sites like jwfacts, jwsurvey, freeminds, jwsurvey etc. but it is here that I have been able to engage with others, talk to ones and express my feelings when it is impossible to do so to anyone else.
Thank you Simon, cantleave, Terry, Datadog, besty, Kate, winstonsmith, cedars, jwfacts, ameliaashton, blondie, smiddy, LouBelle, raypublisher, WTWizard, outlaw, Billy the ex, punkofnice, wizzstick, truthseeker, annomaly, st george, leavingwt, 00DAD, atlantis, cofty, leolaia, tech49, confusedandalone, minimus, 88JM and many other posters who have informed, entertained, encouraged, supported, advised and helped me so far.
This is a fantastic and necessary resource that ranks as one of the top five places any one considering their position as a JW should make a regular point of contact.
Thank you all for being here.