by deborahs_song 37 Replies latest jw friends
You can post about Christian beliefs, but it is hard to avoid a wide range of responses. If you only want christians to respond, then that might be a problem.
I really enjoyed some of your earlier posts, so I hope you choose to stay. Your viewpoints are valuable.
Hi Choosing Life,
Let me honest here also. This is a hard place to be, especially for someone like myself who believes in the Bible and loves Jehovah God. Yet, I know there are many here who love their fellow man. Is there a middle road? I hope so. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Deborah
deborahs_song:
There is such a diverse range of beliefs and practices here among us - from pagan, to atheist, to Christian, to Muslim, to Jewish, and points in between - most of us realize that this is an individual journey that can't be rushed and really shouldn't be judged.
Most of us have been JWs for many years, some of us several decades, and one of the skills we have to learn is to critique our beliefs rather than accepting them - the way we did as JWs. The only way to learn that skill is to ask questions and allow others to ask questions that give us the opportunity to examine the evidence for or against the beliefs we hold.
Being atheist was not something I just decided to do on a whim, by the way. I looked into other belief systems and forms of spiritual expression for several years after leaving the JWs. Eventually though, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to live authentically and valued reality over myth. It didn't occur to me until much later that I was atheist. For the longest time, I considered myself agnostic.
I guess what I'm saying is that this is YOUR journey, and you need to sort this out on your own. We have a section of the forum for Beliefs and Practices, so if you wanted to post your thoughts about God there, it should be just fine. But don't rule out the questionings of other people just because you disagree with their viewpoint today. Things can and do change. Maybe you can help someone by posting your thoughts, and maybe others can help you the same way. That's what this place is for. We aren't JWs anymore, so we don't all have to believe exactly the same things.
Freeedom of choice - if it's something I don't want to read, discuss or be involved in I don't click. It's very easy, we have a choice and don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks or feels. Just like TV, turn the channel.
Go for it, start a topic and I'm sure there is someone here that feels the same way. By the same token if someone posts on your thread and you don't necessarily like what they say, it's easy to ignore that too if it's what you choose.
I personally have no problem with religious people, I don't understand why or how anyone would want to be involved in organized religion after being involved with JW's, I don't believe in God or the bible, but that's just my opinion.
If it wasn't said before - Welcome to JWD!
nj
Deborahs Song -
Please stick around. I am Christian, and sometimes take a little flak for it, and sometimes give a little too. Mostly it is a friendly place to unburden oneself from the Jw shackles of mind control.
If you like a 'strickly Christian' corner in which to share, especially among former Jw's, here is a pretty good place. Cal is a terrific guy, and a fine Christian.
http://www.towerwatch.com/phpBB3/index.php
I once suggested the same as you, for a little Christian corner. I likely got similar responses to the ones you find here. I have found the variety of thinking beneficial in many ways. I haven't given up on God by being here, but my mind has expanded to allow a wider berth of thought than I ever expected I would have in this life. I have met some very fine folks here - some Christian, others religious outside of Christianity, many just spiritual people, atheists, agnostics, and many who are not sure at their stage of life post-Watchtower.
I hope you will stick around - but there are a few good forums like the one above if this is not your cup of tea. Still, you can check in and let us know how life is going.
Jeff
for years after I faded i found myself "thinking jw" or more correctly, slipping into the mind set of how i thought as a jw. Then I went through a period when I could 'become" jw in my thought process - most esp when someone asked me what a jw would think about a certian subject and I would answer as a jw, and then counter my own arguments. The voluntary vs involuntary ability to "slip" into jw thought mode slowly evolved into a really concious effort to remember how to think as a jw.
Seeing my own evolution into my own ability to think was and is very interesting.
Deborahs-song - I think that it is also a very scary process- ten years ago you would have barely, if at all, believed that you would post on a forum such as this. I imagine a part of you is frankly a bit scared that you might be going down a path into belief systems that are no where near where you need/want to go.
Are you trusting in God, or are you trying to guess where you need to end up and filter accordingly? Are you praying for his guidance and help while still trying to steer your journey according to the warped way jws are taught to rely on Jehovah.
It's scary to pray that you will do what God directs and mean it.
My position is that everyone has the right to believe what they wish. There are in fact many people that, after leaving the Watchtower Society, wish to remain Christian. Many of those will go back to church, and that's perfectly legitimate. I would rather see people go back to any church rather than going back to, or staying in, the Watchtower. It is best to thoroughly research any church you plan to join, from both sides, before committing so you avoid making the same mistake twice.
However, I have noticed many people that think church is a total waste. Some have been to church and seen similarities between that and the Watchtower Society. I personally see the Bible as a book that has been exploited to create mysticism all the way back to its origin. I have also seen people that view God as an almighty rotten, wicked selfish Tyrant (a view that I myself have of a Being that has done nothing good for me and created more problems than anything). And I feel that life for all would be better without unnecessary rules and regulations, like the ones that churches (and doubly so for the Watchtower Society) create. Thus, I would never personally join another church (unless I was doing it solely for non-theist purposes or to permanently get the Watchtower Society off my back). But I feel it's perfectly fine for anyone who wishes to continue believing in God or Christ as being benevolent to do so, and on their own terms.
I think everyone has the right to post, whatever their beliefs/non beliefs are. I know sometimes people get a bit fired up over some topics but then again it would be very dull and jw like if we all agreed with each other. I don't believe in a God and don't want to, but i respect those that do, it is as much their right to believe as it is mine not to. To be honest unless the title is really interesting i never bother reading the beliefs threads anyway, and even though i admit there are a couple of questions i'd like to ask the christian believers i haven't as yet. I really do hope you stick around i have read some of your posts and you would be missed. Plus you've got my name as your identity, good choice!
Okay, may I ask those who replied, would you be opposed to a forum here where those who still have belief could post among themselves with little or possibly no interference from those who no longer believed in the Bible?
Are you thinking about a forum that practices shunning individuals who no longer believe in the Bible?
hmm. I guess I'm the only one who thinks this folder is pretty much discussions among believers. I don't like talking about the Bible so I almost never visit threads in this folder:
Bible Research & Study Articles
Having said that, on any forum, you will see posts that you disagree with. Not a problem. No one can change your mind except for you.
Because only you have control over what you believe, posts you disagree with aren't really interference. They're just different ideas.
