For me, leaving the Watchtower was the conclusion to the slow death of my faith in man and God. It didn't kill my reading of the bible altogether though, as I still do on occasion. But it is definitely with new eyes, as my perceptions have been altered dramatically. I read it now as a skeptic and cynic.
To me, religion in general just seems to always be human beings inventing things in a pitiful attempt to explain things larger than themselves that they cannot understand. Or as a way to assuage their fear of death, they create fantasies in an irrational and desperate attempt to perpetuate their existance, refusing to even consider the concept that their lives are finite.
There is wisdom in the bible though (as in many religious or philosophical works) and that wisdom can be useful. But is it God's wisdom or man's own common sense showing through beneath the veil of the myths he creates? I am not arguing for one case or the other. I'm still undecided.
So while leaving religion did not "kill" my studies of spiritual things in general and the bible specifically, neither did it enhance my appreciation for them.
Good question! I enjoyed reading many of the responses, especially Terry's story about the angels and Gladiator's analysis.
For what it's worth, even though I'm coming from the opposite point of view on religion and christianity, I agree with tec about the fig tree story. I believe it was always intended as an illustrative instrument and was not simply a petulant Jesus throwing a tantrum at a poor, defenseless tree. Still sucked to be the tree though. Not its fault it was barren.
