Hello Wings! I guess I was a "closet" atheist for all the years that I stayed in before I finally made the break. There were many things both about the JW doctrine in general and other religions that just never sat right with me. I wish to offend no one with my opinions so I apologize if I do. To answer your questions:
How do you deal with "no faith"?
I think is relative depending on what you are talking about. I have faith and belief that if the sky is dark and I thunder, that it will rain. However, when it comes to an entity controlling my life and telling me how I need to live or else I will die, I don't have any faith or belief in that at all. I never really found it to be an issue as I lost "faith" in a godhead long ago.
What do you put faith in?
Humanity. We have a lot a problems, but a study of history shows that all that is going on is just the growing pains of a young civilization (this country) and a world coping with rapid change. Countries, religion, peoples; they all go through it and so far, have come out the other end okay. It starts one person at a time. People don't need religion to be moral, we know when we do something against nature, even the scriptures acknowledge that. I treat my fellow humans with respect because they are people like me. I respect the planet we live on and do my part to help keep it clean and healthy for the future generations and fellow man. Scientific discoveries are making religious belief look more and more archaic, the leftover myth of a species that couldn't explain rain, growing cycles, lunar/solar eclipses, and had to make up something that could. I put my faith in each person to, in their own time, realize this and make this world a better place.
How was you transition from belief to non belief?
It took years and years and years of in depth research for me. I holed myself up in libraries and used online libraries and searches to read papers and books about anthropology, physics, chemistry, biology, religions of the world, the list could go on for awhile. After reading all this material, it was plain to me that religion, in its entirety, just wasn't necessary. There was nothing in any religion I studied or service I attended that made me feel that there was a godhead or some kind of spirit to move me. I many people who have been moved, it just never happened to me. What helped me the most was by immersing myself in projects that helped people. I volunteer a lot. I work in the non-profit education industry by choice so that I can help students of all background learn more about the marvelous universe we live in, even though I make squat money at it. I work with charities and help organize events for "lower income" families whenever I can. I find this work more rewarding than any amount of hours I spent knocking on doors.
Does it bother you that others have faith in God, and why?
It only bothers me when they push it in my face. No matter how calmly I talk and no matter how many facts I present, people who want to talk to you about their God aren't willing to listen to any other line of thought (not just JWs). Recently a co-worker of mine died and I sat next to my boss who streamed tears and declared that she was mad at God for taking such a wonderful person. She didn't care if he needed an angel. She was young and bright and didn't deserve to be taken by God. This line of thinking made me sick to my stomach. I was a wreck from the loss of my friend, but it made me more angry that everyone had an idea about where she went depending on what religion they were. She is apparently in heaven, but also coming back soon in some other form to help guide us, and maybe in limbo if she hadn't made it to church that weekend. If only they listened to themselves.
