Hi Gumby,
here is what I now believe since leaving the Tower,
I am still a believer in the Christian faith, meaning God, Jesus and the Bilble. But I no longer believe in established religious institutions and their own interpretations of God, Jesus and the Bible.
I believe God has called us to be free in him and his son only. And gave us the bible to guide us but not to dictate every move we make in every situation in our lives. Many of the principles in the bible are good but the main message is God's grace which is the message that has been trampled on now for centuries. The established religions have replaced this with their views and have made God's word invalid with all their false teachings, twisting of text out of contexts, traditions, dogmas, man made doctrines and teachings of works for your salvation, in addition to using scare tactics to keep everyone in line. i.e. hellfire or second death. I cannot blame them after all, if they teach you the real truth that you do not need them to interpret every lettter of the Bible and teach you about God's message of Grace and salvation for all - they would no longer be in business.
Therefore, although I can feel free to fellowship with Christians in all denominations, absolutely none of these denominations will own me ever again. And I do not recognize any of them as having any authority over me or any other ones of Christ's people, the Church. Church simply meaning the body of believers or people only and not religious affiliation.
Here is my favorite quote which I have hung in my home and I stand by it as being true to this day, I have quoted it on this forum many times but here it is again:
"Beware of Organizations, they are wholly unnescessary" - Charles T. Russell, taken from a WT 1879
Charles said this in reference to religious organizations. Amen Charles. But isn't it kind of ironic today seeing what a Monster the WT turned into?
Hope this answers your question is some small way. Lilly