theyoungone, Write down your choices in one column, your reasons in a second column, and your assumptions in a third column, and the facts in a fourth column. Only give weight and value to items in the fourth column.
Add up the assumptions and look at them. These are somebody else's opinions that they probably accepted without facts or proof.
Man, like you listed just about everything wrong with the Witnesses in one post in one huge paragraph. You're gonna have a lot of work to do whether you go back to being a behaving Witness or join me in a life of sin.
Where did you find out about the paradise? From Witnesses? Where did they find out about it? Oh, they found it in the Bible? Where did the Bible come from?
See? These are some of your assumptions.
It always helps to have a profile of a person like you before giving advise. It makes a difference if you're dependant on Witness members for daily needs and it helps to know age, and level of independence. Not all former Witnesses' dependance on active Witnesses is religious or social.
I need HELP and ADVICE. PLEASE HELP ME PLEASE READ
by theyoungone 40 Replies latest watchtower bible
-
garybuss
-
jgnat
I agree with Gary that some of your confusion comes from your disorganized thoughts. Organize your questions in a chart and the answer might come popping out at you. Here's a list of your assumptions that all need to be checked independently.
Assumptions:
do all that i can in the org so that i can make it to theparadise
what if the new system is coming soonlike the org keeps saying
i will have a purposeful and rewarding lifeif i go back
jw's were the only true religion
Independently means don't rely on WT materials, and don't rely on what we say here. Read the Encyclopedia Brittanica, read the Bible, go to your public library. For instance, check up all the references to paradise in your concordance, and look them up directly in the bible. Does the bible give the same strict conditions for paradise that the Watchtower does?
-
patient
MsMcDucket says it best - "if in doubt do now't!" - I have lived by this for a few years now and find myself not making desicions I later regret as applying this gives me time to decide what "I" want/need to do for me.
When I was 18 I faced the same decision as you and because I belived had no where to go (no life outside the org) I was reinstated. That decision bound me to the watchtower organization for the next 18 years! I now know I did have a life but I was at the time blinded by the mind control tactics of the WT - they "instill" in us from children that there is no profit in anyhting that is not sanctioned by them (on a side note after withdrawing from the for the last 3 years I am still deprograming my now 8 year old son! it is powerful!). It seems that once I was reinstated from then on I was constantly drawn deeper into the religion - it was not until I was DF again (for BS reasons I might add - but it did set me free) that I was forced to LIVE life and realized that there was better life outside the WT.
I was always told I was too serious and never smiled while associated with WT - now I am happier - I smile - I live life/love life! - I do not fear the future. My mother who is an old time JW got in a conversation with me recently and she acknowledged the elders jealous pursuit of me over trivial matters (I am a successful business person and they are not!) and I told her that their DF'ing me is the biggest blessing I have ever received - she about choked that I could say that and mean it! But I am honest and open with my family and they now give me more respect as a DF'd individual than as a JW - I am now human not a imperfect JW - it is truly amazing.
So unlike many posters (and I respect their opinions and reasons) - I WILL tell you what I think you should do (remember its only what I think and you have to make your own decisions) - get as far away as you can you have been given a chance to live - it is scary at first but use your head find good (by your standards) friends and activities - remembering things do not change overnight - they take time but you have a head start in the right direction - also there are support groups for EX-JWs (not raging appostates as the WT want you to think) (check out meetup.com) but real concerned, loving sometimes damaged people who can help you! Also I found help in a 12 step recovery program called Al-Anon which can help with the co-dependant tendancies we have from years of WT abuse.
But whatever you do - do not do anything till you have thought about it and remember put yourself first - thats rigth be selfish do things for your benefit - take care of you - it is not always easy to do but YOU are worth it!!!
Kind thoughts - Happy Holidays
Patient, Michigan
-
jgnat
Here's some more answers to your questions.
I start thinking " well if i stay out what will i do with my life?
For fun, I asked google. This is what google gave me: http://www.fastcompany.com/online/66/mylife.html The article has a slightly corporate angle, but I found a lot in there that resonates with me.
Alot of ppl told me that there was chapters on jesus childhood. What is this that they are talking about?
I suspect they are talking about the "Apocrypha", texts that are included in the Catholic bible but not in Protestant ones, or texts that did not make either. http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/index.htm
Are you guys acctually happy living your lives with no hope really knowing that your going to die in like 50 years or so.
I am a regular Christian, so I believe I will ascend to a spiritual life with Christ after I die. Unlike what the JW's say that I believe, I really don't care where (on earth or in heaven), as long as I am with Christ.
-
new boy
Where you happy as a JW?.....................................I mean really deep down inside
If yes..........go back
If no............then you know the answer!
-
A Paduan
do all that i can in the org so that i can make it to the paradise
- this is a falacy invented by the wtbts, a group with recent origins that began with dissatisfaction and 19th century millenialism
what if the new system is coming soon like the org keeps saying
- this is simply a falacy of interpretation invented by the wtbts and consistently touted throughout their whole (recent) history
dont care about the flaws that the organazation might seem to have
- does have - though you say lies rather than speak plainly of things of apposition to them
do what i want and just live a double life
- each to their own
so that i can speak with my family and witness friends and not be shunned
- now that's something to consider, keeping a family - friends is a debatable term; they're conditional (see buy and sell in the bible)
all the otha's have changed their bible to fit their beliefs
- in terms of supporting one's own doctrine the jw bible is the most changed that I have heard of - and blatantly
all the otha religions are filled with hypocrisy
- other religions have organised charity groups, social justice works and will often practice more than they preach
- jwism promotes it's own doctrines (which also change), and tries to warn the world of "angry god" (an image from their own thinking)
-
Quandry
Welcome to the forum. And next, SLOW DOWN!!!!
I started studying with JWs in 1973 when I was twenty years old. I was in a hurry, because the end was sooooooo close. My Bible study conductor told me this system only had about two more years. She was referring to 1975. I am sure you were not born then, but have probably heard about all the hubbub over 1975. The saying was, STAY ALIVE TILL 75!!!
Well, I didn't understand all that was going on, and why some people were upset because the end did not come. It didn't bother me, because of course it had to be soon, as the inside cover of the Awake magazine said they were trying to instill confidence in me that the generation of people who were at an age of understanding in 1914 would not die before the big A. Later, the Awake said that those who were alive in 1914, meaning possible babies, would not die before Armageddon. Later, of course, in 1995, they said, "Ooops-generation can mean something different." So, you see, I think you have time. Armageddon is always "near."
As to the fact that your family may shun you if you do not get back in, that is something to take into consideration. It is a most unloving and scarring thing for a young person to endure, and could last the rest of your life, because there is no time limit to their "punishment."
Since you became baptized because you love God and want to please him, and do have a conscience, you know what is right and wrong. The very fact that you came and confessed shows that. That you should have been shown loving concern and help from those who should have had your best interests at heart and were not is the shameful thing. This being said though, if you do love God and Jesus you will want to do what is morally upright, with or without elders looking at your every move.
I do not go to a Kingdom Hall, as I feel that the WTBTS is governed by unloving men who-yes-did associate themselves with the UN, and care more about their image than they do people. This does not mean I now go out practicing sin because I do know right from wrong as outlined in the Bible.
Hope this helps, and remember, use your time to good advantage whether in or out. GET AN EDUCATION. CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, AND CARE ABOUT YOUR FUTURE, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE ONE.
-
Kenneson
First of all, welcome to the forum.
There is life outside of Jehovah's Witnesses. I've been away since 1966 (40 years). It was the most liberating thing that ever happened to me. I have never set foot back in a Kingdom Hall since and I have no desire to. I'm happier now than when I was in and definitely have more peace of mind. It was like a load was lifted off of me. Whatever you choose to do, follow your heart.
-
LoverOfTruth
It's really difficult at first because the Watchtower Organization is your Entire World. You might wan't to do some reading. Crisis Of Conscience is a Good Book to start with.
-
theyoungone
hey thanks guys for all your advice. I just wanted to let u guys know that i am 19 and the org is not my whole life I have plenty of nonwitness friends and witness friends who still talk to me cuz they arent really witnesses but they go to please their parents. My main thing is not that i really care to go back but how do i know that i am truly pleasing god if i am not doing all that i can do. Is it just good enough to just be a good person? I am good person with high morals but i just wuld like to make my own decisions on certain things. is god going to look bad against me if i am not doing all that i can? what mean by that is that is he going to look down on me for not teaching others about him or going to some sort of religious lectures?