Bible reading without the WT filter

by watch the tower 36 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • watch the tower
    watch the tower

    You know even though I think the WT doctrine is mostly all garbage now, I still do believe that the Bible is inspired from our creator. The flaw in my understanding of it in the past was because I was interpreting it through the filter of the WTS.

    Recently I have started clean slate and read the Bible without the WT filter (easier said than done, your mind has a way of reverting back to what was programmed in there). When I read the gospels, it has such a simple yet profound meaning now that I have overlooked in the past despite having read the same passages hundreds of times before. It has a lot more meaning for me than it ever has in the past. The simple conclusion that I have come to after approaching it this way is that being a true Christian involves recognizing Jesus sacrifice and loving your neighbor as yourself. That's all we can do. There are no rules, regulations, organizational structure, prescribed activities, hierarchy involved. Everlasting life is not earned by deeds and works but is a free gift when we recognize it.

    Has anyone else had the same experience? Has anyone found new meaning in the scriptures when you've removed the filter?

  • tall penguin
    tall penguin

    Yes, I've been re-reading the gospels and see the sheer simplicity of the message. The two basic commands of loving God and neighbour. All the other stuff is details.
    I must say though that it's difficult to read the Bible without the wt filter interfering. As a result, I've taken a break from all the reading. My brain needs time to heal itself before I can see anything objectively.
    tall penguin

  • Ingenuous
    Ingenuous

    It seems as if I'd never read them before. I missed so much that was right in front of me, it's as if I can suddenly see what used to be a blindspot and the Bible seems almost completely new to me. One thing I really enjoy is that I can now consider other translations and commentary from non-Witnesses without the stress and anxiety of constantly being on the defensive.

  • jt stumbler
    jt stumbler

    Similar to your experience when I first left. I struggle reading scripture and having the wt interpretation creeping in my mind. I remember when I was having doubts, I would try to read the publications to "receive the holy spirit". I would begin reading, and when I got to the point in the paragraph where the society started putting its spin on, I would quit. Needless to say I did'nt get much "holy spirit"

  • jgnat
    jgnat

    Yeah, once you take off the 144,000 filter, a whole bunch of promises apply. Nice feeling, huh?

  • Finally-Free
    Finally-Free

    I made it a point to avoid reading the bible at all when I first left the WT for the same reason - everything I read went through the watchtower filter. I've been out now for about 2 1/2 years, so I'm just starting to do a bit of bible reading using the NIV.

    W

  • TopHat
    TopHat

    In reading the NT scriptures with an open mind....I have come to the conclusion that the 144,000 must have been finished in the first century or during the Apostles time as I read in Acts that more and more people begin to become Christians. In my reasoning, more than 144,000 had to be Christian in the Apostles time.

  • watch the tower
    watch the tower
    I've been out now for about 2 1/2 years, so I'm just starting to do a bit of bible reading using the NIV.

    That's awesome! Using a different translation other than the New world translation helped me bypass the filter a lot too. I found that the terminology used in the NWT triggers stuff in your brain and associates it with WT doctrines.

  • mineralogist
    mineralogist

    I bought a study bible while i examined the WT teaching but didn't really start to read it after my DFing. I layed it away but surely miss the feeling of having a relationship with god. It is now one year after leaving the JW and i think it would be good to read without WT-sight. But how to start? I don't know.

  • Darth Yhwh
    Darth Yhwh

    The thing that I find most enjoyable about reading the bible is: Without The Watchtower magazine telling me what the scripture means, I can determine for myself what the context of the scripture is and therefore, am able to see through the smoke screen of lies and deceit that the WBTS uses to control the rank and file JW.

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