I've recently begun challenging my beliefs. All my beliefs, including those ingrained in me as one raised "in the truth".
A few years ago I sought therapy for chronic depression and my treatment was remarkably successful. As a side effect, things that used to "work" for me no longer fit with the new emotional pathways and strengths I was developing. Included in this was my need to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I liked being controlled, I liked believing what I was told because it was easy, because I was weak. I needed to feel abused and humiliated and my religion did those things for me quite well. Now that I'm getting mentally healthy, I find myself reacting to meeting parts or articles (or even that astonishing part on the friday of the convention about obeying the FDS) in ways I didn't expect.
Now these ideas I'm being taught make me stop and say, "WTF?"
So I decided to re-examine my beliefs and rebuild my faith from scratch. The more I read the bible and the more I studied, the more questions I had. 587 vs. 607 was one of them (I have read several waonderful threads on this subject here, thank you all!). Another problem I have is the clear distinction between what the bible actually says, what the FDS write and what actually happens in real life within the organization. It's supposed to be an organization of love, but the deeper I look, it seems to be based on fear.
My whole belief structure is falling apart, and strangely I feel fine.
Then I found this forum and was STUNNED to discover that I'm not alone. I can't believe how many people here feel the same way I do about so many things!
I am in shock, yet I feel really good. So many like-minded people? And the horrible thing is, I am daring to post. I wonder how many people out there "in the truth" feel the same way but would never dare to post or even visit a place like this.
I just wanted to say thank you and it's great knowing I'm not alone.