My sole criteria came from a quote actually attributed to J F Rutherford in the WT. I sat up and took note of it constantly:
***
w9710/1p.6KnowJehovah—ThePersonalGod***It took Rutherford several years of careful research to rebuild his faith in a personal God. He worked, he said, from the premise that "that which cannot satisfy the mind has no right to satisfy the heart." Christians "must be sure that the Scriptures in which they believe are true," Rutherford explained, adding: "They must know the foundation on which they stand."—See 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
I thought that this was supposed to be what its all about. Obviously I learned through bitter experience that it isn't. But I tricked myself into believing that JW dogma can satisfy the mind.
When I left, I was in no hurry to join another group, and I am still not. But I try to be pragmatic about it. I consider myself agnostic not because of anger or bitterness toward thiests, but because it is the most intellectually honest position to be. No person of faith can prove anything about what they believe. (whether that belief is that the bible is gods word, Jesus was born of a virgin and died for our sins and then resurrected, to even the most personal things such as "god spoke to me". You can say it, but you can't prove it) Hence the need for "faith". As several have noted on this board, if you can see and prove it, you don't need faith that it exists. For this reason, I do believe that unreasoning zealous faith that is promoted and/or enforced by other people and groups is dangerous. (Read Sam Harris "The End of Faith")
I think that athiests have nothing to prove about their stated disbelief in the existence of god. The reason for their stated disbelief is a lack of evidence of god, so what else do they need to prove? Thiests often say "You can't disprove god". This kind of circular reasoning is designed for one thing, so thiests can continue to believe as they wish and to blunt the real problems and logical inconsistencies in their own belief system. It is as if instead of acknowledging the imperfection of their own beliefs, many still are determined to yell it out because they don't want to admit the possibility (probability) that their faith isn't correct. (or at least not the only one that out there) I think the burden of proof and evidence is definitely on those who say an invisible deity is in the heavens and demands certain conduct of us. Better be prepared to prove it!
Having said that, from my point of view, there is a level of "spirituality" (for lack of a better word, please work with me on it) that all of us have. (i.e. the need for a meaning and purpose to our life, that we matter, etc) I do see from time to time angry ex JW's. Whether they are thiests, athiests, or not, the anger isn't healthy over the long term. (short term is is absolutely necesarry) That isn't a criticism, just an observation. It's not my place to judge as I don't know what goes on in anyones head, but my guess is that anger comes in large part due to their own identity being robbed, that purpose in life and hope for the future being found false. That leaves a BIG void. I found that it true with me still. Do I consider the possibility that having my own thoughts about god could help me? Sure! And I do honor the value that personal faith has for some people. But that doens't mean that it works for everyone. And it doesn't mean that it should be promoted as the end all, that life SHOULD include god. That is just wrong.
In the end, we all need to be free from anger that can consume and come to a point where we feel our life has a purpose. That is what I try to do. I don't feel the need to believe anything that doesn't work for me. I see me being a spiritually minded agnostic for a very long time.