...but don't know where to start looking for a good church to attend?
Or maybe feel too guilty with leftover JW emotions to even think about going to church at all?
Do you ever feel that you'd like to go to church...
by Trevanian 32 Replies latest jw friends
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Abandoned
At this point, I really don't have any interest in church. I don't think it's based on jw guilt, but it could be. I'm still finding remnants of dysfunctional beliefs from my time with the watchtower. I think mostly, it's that having spent so much time in a cult has taught me that if there is a God, he or she does not need a man-made organization at all.
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MissingLink
Just got FREE! Why would I look for another slave master?!
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golf2
Church strike me only as a tourist attraction. I like art, and when I visit a church, I look at the art work. Having three patented inventions, I'm always at awe with what man has accomplished.
Golf -
nomoreguilt
NYET...NO....NADA.....NUNCA.......LO SIENTO.........BEEN THERE , GOT THE T-SHIRT, GOT THE SCARS. Kind of like self abuse, it works for some, for most it's an excercise in futility.
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prophecor
Yes I do have an inordinate need and desire to go to Church or some place of worship. I don't hold the guilt of going to another denomination as I realise the churches are not absolute in thier teachings, still. Much of what I've carried from the Kingdom Hall still holds itself as truth for me today. The pagan religious traditions, the willingness of mainstream religion to allow what God hates to permeate within the space of a congregation. Jesus Christ discussed how we are not to follow the example of these individuals, but we are still encouraged to go to the Temple to hear the word.
Matthew 23
Religious Fashion Shows
1-3 Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. "The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God's Law. You won't go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish veneer.
4-7 "Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.'
8-10 "Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
11-12 "Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
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Trevanian
One of my core beliefs is that religion has served its purpose, and that society going forward has no need for its controlling and divisive presence.
Having said that, on a day like Christmas Day, I'm feeling that I wish I had at least some options. That I could maybe pop into some church somewhere for old-times sake. Sing a carol, what the hell.
I don't just think about this on Christmas Day, but today it's a bit more of a relevent question.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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KenseiShimonzu
Nope...my dad was a baptist preacher,so no,no thanks....Since I was a little kid,i've always hated everything about "churches"..the"gospel"music,the people,and first and foremost,the preacher..it wasn't until i got older,and realized stained glass could be used elsewhere,did i stop even despising that....in fact,i think the churches are the only place on earth i consider worse than the hall.-KenShi
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R.Crusoe
I listen to Dawkins atheism and realise what I already have felt is given some credence - that the old writings are as much a reflection of ancient mans beliefs as they are of ancient mans understanding of modern scientific awareness.. But my hurt and wasted years give me an emptiness of spirituality. Any belief I dip into will be done on my terms because I already cheated myself by trusting my belief to others views. Even if I take a pinch out of several faiths and make up my own view of things for myself it is OK. Whatever I do has to fill the place of humans being happy as humans and doing what humans were born to do with all the natural aspects of the world and us as people integral to it. Taking away conflicts inner and outer and promoting sharing and peace and compassion. High ideals but atheism is preferable to any alternative spirituality and may indeed find itself veering into such territory more than most people are aware of..
I'm looking at Wicca and feel its got lots of stuff I like but not sure it works at a people level. And I don't believe in demons and ghosts who are scary. I dont believe in fear of the unknown. So I'm looking at it from that perspective which is interesting. I see rituals as a habit to focus the mind on good and remedial things for a hurt soul. It is tricky because one could easily become obssessed with rituals to rid oneself of all doubts and depressions, but the people seem beautiful souls so I cannot discount it.
Wicca is like an Earthy, natural connected view evolved from natives of my homeland. It seems to have roots attached which have sought to feel the nature that has been all around for millennia. This is why I like it.
I hope you all find a place and a people though I've already been told I am a solitary which is something I didn't really want to hear. Que sera.
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Bumble Bee
I tried several different churches after leaving the JW's. Not for me. I'm totally done with religion.
If I want a spiritual experience, I turn to nature. A walk in the woods, on the beach at sunset, watching the sun rise or set, or just being in my garden and admiring the beauty there. If I want a religious experience, well.......
BB