Snare,
Eloquently spoken: "Any claims beyond what we have evidence for are nothing more than that to me now, claims. Now I use evidence and critical appraisal to decide what is true for myself and it is the most freeing aspect of being a JW no more."
I've said this before on this site, but you said it much better. Thanks. The only thing I would add - and it is my only reason for being on here - is that there is a methodology for analyzing evidence and for constructing or dismantling thoughts, ideas, theories and beliefs. Lazy minded people, or those who have never learned how to use their mental faculties to explore, I mean really explore, data, events and words, remain trapped. If the passionate, caring atheists on this site could do one thing, I would imagine it would be that. Remove the mental fetters. You will be surprised what you find; you will like it. A lot.
Too many theists think we come on here to win arguments or show how smart we are. For me, nothing could be further from the truth.