@jehovaxx:
In my OP I said that I'm fascinated by people like yourself who rejected JW teachings and then decided not only was the religion false, but the Bible and the stories of Jesus and God are too. (Or might be).
That is a bridge too far for me, like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
From an early age I have wanted to know as much as possible about God and how to serve him in the best way.
When I was 6-7 years old and my family was newly JW the book that was studied at the weekly Book Study (back then those meetings were held in private homes) was "Babylon the Great Has Fallen! God's Kingdom Rules!".
For those of you who remember it, that book seemed to be an encyclopedia of all answers to Bible Prophecy. It was very thorough, yet very wrong.
Looking back, this book was a very boring slog, especially for a child. The whole thing seems like an LSD trip by old Freddy Franz. And notably, just a few years later they of course phased it out for whatever "New Light" that came into FF's fevered brain.
But when I was little, I lapped up that book. I was from the beginning absolutely consumed with learning about world history. (Still am). So learning about past world powers and Daniel's prophecies and the meaning of the Book of Revelation were fascinating to me.
I believe only a few things were right in JW teachings, and where they really start going off the rails is especially their interpretations of Daniel and the Book of Revelation.
One thing that caught my attention early on was their teaching that the Harlot of Babylon is likened to the churches of Christendom, whoring themselves out to the world government leaders. JW's teach that in the end times God will destroy this "Whore of Babylon". If it is an accurate interpretation, I can't wait to see it.
Old Joey Rutherford loved to send his JW converts around the city streets wearing sandwich boards stating "Religion IS A SNARE AND RACKET". I believe he was absolutely right about this teaching. Only he should have included his own little Religion/Racket/Company.
Religions are oppressive to people and direct them away from actually serving God. In ways great and small.
JWs are the same. I believe they are completely mislead, in things great and small, and worse, that they actually lead people AWAY from simple true worship.
Jesus did not put the type of burdens on people that the Watchtower does. This rankled me even when I was young. Why all these rules and regulations just like the Mosaic law code? I thought Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic law?
Then why were their rules and regs in the JWs about such things as tattoos and beards?
And why do we always have to dress to the nines when attending meetings or field service? Almost no other modern day churches do this, seems odd.
Watchtower told us we had dress codes for these things because that is how TRUE CHRISTIANS lived. Really? So in the First Century all of those poor people living hand to mouth had several changes of clothes? Including "High End" garments only used when they met together or went preaching?
All these types of teachings (and more) nibble at a young child and teenager's minds, even if they are trapped in physically and mentally. I think every JW has doubts. They mostly just push them back down.
Sorry. I took a long way around the horn to answer your question.
Yes I still believe in the Bible and God and I do believe in the promise of God's kingdom.
And I believe the Bible has a VERY simple message. For me, it breaks down to: Follow in the footsteps of Jesus. He will lead you to God.
I can go into more detail about what that means to me personally if you are interested to know.
But I will NEVER join an organized religion again.
Lastly @Jehovaxx I want to say something that you may have pondered. I fully recognize that 3/4 of the Earth's population doesn't know the Bible or Jesus.
That was another of my inner disagreements with JW teachings. I DO NOT BELIEVE that a loving God will wipe out 99.999% of all humans to save some tiny little cult.
I do not know or understand all of God's plans for his Kingdom. But I do know that the Bible and Jesus spoke of people being judged by their heart condition.
I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot. I have met people from all over the world.
One of the lucky things about living in the USA is that there are people here from everywhere. All languages, cultures, and ethnicities.
And I cannot help to see that the overwhelming majority of people are good, or try to be.
Also, proven science and developing science blow JW theory of Creation out the window, no question. I am not concerned about that, someday we may all have common knowledge about the origins of the universe and the origins of us, but that may not come in my lifetime or ever. It will be revealed when it is revealed.
So yes, I have thrown out my religion but not my faith.
I think many who want out of JW's but find it hard to do so are stuck on the old Watchtower canard:
"Where else would you go?".
A BLATENT misrepresentation of scripture.
That's all I got for now.
Cheers