Hi Peg,
I've been a member here for 6 months or so but I have been mostly lurking here. I have been watching your posts in other threads and had been left with the impression that you are were a JW.
Wow! Confirmation, I just knew it!
Was it really the evolution debate that made you leave?
It's a really long story how I fell away from the 'truth' but in short it's not the evolution vs. creation debate that did it completely, although it is was what kept me from coming back.
I was a rebellious teen that ran away from home at the age of 16. The reasons: Some had to do with the religious restrictions that were in place, some had to do with other family issues. Spiritually, I kind of floated around for awhile. Looking for the religion that worked for me.
Eventually, I ended up landing in a the field of biology at the age of 19, an outsider really at this point, seeing as I was a high school drop-out (at the time). Being bright and curious I was rewarded for my interest and given a chance to learn more. From the bottom I work my way up. The biotechs paying and paved the way to my education.
Knowing biology all to well, I can't go back to believing in scripture.
I do have this to say regarding Christianity; I do believe that the JW's have the best interpretation of the bible, compared to the other Christians.
"Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts." -Albert Einstein
"I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief."
~ Gerry Spence