The Power of Saying "I Choose to Believe" (page 2)

Sunnygal41

i totally agree, BY. i remember one time at a study with a very intelligent woman, a lawyer, after being presented with the study/brainwashing material from the wts, her saying that, and really, there was nothing that either i or the study conductor could respond with. i actually saw her side of things, although her study conductor didn't. guess that's why i'm out and she's still in...........yes, those are extremely empowering words and it is a good way to relate our own personal belief system. it makes no one right or wrong, and allows each person respect for their own belief system. GREAT topic!

terri

snowbird

Yes, this is a very good topic, Baba.

After all, isn't life all about choices?

I think saying, "I choose to believe" is empowering and at the same time humbling.

I know it is for me.

Sylvia

BabaYaga

Quietly said: I guess we can't be choosing to believe and believing at the same time therefore the power that we think we have doesn't exist

Oh, crap, this is what I was afraid of... there exists the very real possibility that I don't believe anything at all!!!

Sunny said: i actually saw her side of things, although her study conductor didn't. guess that's why i'm out and she's still in...

One of those "ah-ha!" moments! Thank heavens for that!

Snowbird said: I think saying, "I choose to believe" is empowering and at the same time humbling.

Great way to put it, Ms. Snowbird... yes it is very humbling, because it is admitting we don't actually know.

I was recently telling my Sweetie how the JWs are taught from infancy never to back down, never to apologize, and to ALWAYS have an answer to EVERYTHING, and to be unswerving! Always with the last word. A heck of a way to go through life, that lesson didn't do my first marriage much good.

And yes, I am humbled now realizing I believe nothing!

Elsewhere

I choose to believe you are lying, and do not believe any of those things, but rather are just trying to make a point. I choose to believe you can believe what you want to believe quite happily, as long as it does not endanger yourself or others. I also choose to believe I myself determine who I believe is sane and worthy company.

I choose to believe you are lying about your belief in a sky-god, talking snakes, unicorns and flying humans.

BabaYaga

Elsewhere said: I choose to believe you are lying about your belief in a sky-god, talking snakes, unicorns and flying humans.

I believe you are not paying attention. You seem to have my beliefs confused with those of someone else.

daniel-p

Another thread derailed...

Leolaia

Narkissos....I think you just put your finger on it. A person who truly believes may simply say "I know..."

"I know that Messiah who is called Christ is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us" (John 4:25)

BabaYaga

Leolaia said: Narkissos....I think you just put your finger on it. A person who truly believes may simply say "I know..."

Dang. I agree whole-heartedly, Dear Leo. Alas, I don't know anything!

Ironically enough, the sentence "I believe" would never be uttered by a true believer.

~~~

Note to self: consider thread entitled "The Power of Saying "I Have No Idea"!

quietlyleaving

Quietly said: I guess we can't be choosing to believe and believing at the same time therefore the power that we think we have doesn't exist

Oh, crap, this is what I was afraid of... there exists the very real possibility that I don't believe anything at all!!!

lol

Narkissos

"The Power of Saying "I Have No Idea"!

This was quite a realisation to me as I was leaving JWs. I can still remember the moment and place when/where that very simple thought first occurred to me after years of dogmatism. I was talking with a close JW friend who was quite aware of my "apostate" ramblings; she kept asking me a lot of questions from a threatened JW perspective and suddenly I found myself replying: but we're not supposed to have an answer to every question, are we? we're not supposed to have an opinion on everything, are we? To me that's definitely not what faith is about...

This thought -- a quite unremarkable one to most people -- was instantly and deeply liberating to me. And strangely in my mind it was connected with faith. It takes faith of some kind to walk without (the illusion of) knowledge, without even knowing what or whether you will be able to believe the next day, week or year.

The Power of Saying "I Choose to Believe"

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