I agree with Sir Nose above... I am in the process of leaving after 17 years....raising my daughters in Catholic Ireland, amid great persecution from schoolmates, teachers, principals, friends, family etc. People tend to 'leave' over doctrinal issues. The service here is hard as you fight against hundreds of years of Catholic teachings. So many here are from divided homes and get persecution from mates.. what made it really hurtful for me is that I put up with all of this opposition as did my girls, and then i find out it's not really the truth at all. So, after embarrasing myself for all those years at the doors and standing up for the Witnesses all the time, what do I have left?? What do my kids have? My 12 year old was devestated when I told her I was leaving. She wanted to be baptized this year. She wants to know if the paradise is really coming and I don't knnow what the heck to tell her.. They both want to know why we forwent celebrating xmas and b/days etc., in a country where these things are REALLY celebrated, unnecessarily. I can't answer them. I no longer have any answers for them. I wonder how much I did think was true is still true.. and I have, at the tender age of 41, to start again. I know I can't follow a religion if so many prophecies, rules etc., are not bible based and I stand with that, but after you learn the truth isn't that.. do we have anything else? I know there are many here that are either angry, diffident, apathetic etc, but I'm still at angry, and sad too. It is a great tragedy to lose something you hold so precious, to find that nothing can replace it, at least not yet. I do believe in Jehovah and Jesus.. but that's all I have, and the shirt on my back.. don't even mention my fear at possibly losing those I hold dear in congs all over the world. A local priest happened to call round last night and he actually listened to me. He was sensitive and a genuine christian and had some good words of wisdom. He's right.. there are good people in all religions and that's what really matters.. so I choose not to totally lose my faith in humanity and plod along and hope i find a new cramped narrow road for my family not ruled by paralyzing doctrine and false hearts.. :)