I became a witness at 17 years old. My mother had been "re-instated" after being disfellowshpped when she left my father and remarried. I was a "defender of the faith" for 26 years. At 40 years old I started college; I could not support myself and my son on cleaning jobs anymore! At 42 years old I began to question the teachings I'd held dear. I found "Associated Jehovah's Witness for Reform" and in 3 months went from defending the religion to acknowledging that it is a cult (see Robert Lifton's 8 criteria). I spent many nights at the computer reading the "spiritual pornography" written by many ex-witnesses. I found that many persons who were now "out" were stuck in anger and hate and seemed to be spending as much time trying to get other witnesses out of the religion as they had formerly spend trying to get people in. I found Randy's site and saw a real difference in his approach. He is not 'preachy' or hateful; he does tell the truth about his experience at Bethel. He gives people a real platform for telling their own experience, too. Over the years I have sent many persons to his site for information and encouragement. He strives for quality and thoughtfulness versus random ranting in what he shares on the site. I really respect him for that!