"I Don't Know is my Belief"

by zarco 14 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  zarco

  On another thread, AK-Jeff shared an interesting perspective.......

  "I don't know is my belief.

  I care. But typically, I get no answers when I ask. I am not an unbeliever. I just keep looking to find how I can support being one. Yet all the believers just clam up and cover their ears as if I am blaspheming God. It is God I seek if he is to be found. Who wouldn't? Why does he want to make it a game of hide and seek? He is hiding - I am tired of seeking when he seems to be both everywhere and nowhere at the same time."

  I shared his thought with a few current (safe) Witnesses. They said that is exactly how they feel. What about you?

  Zarco
  
• 

  leavingwt

  Zarco,

  I'm currently attending the Church of I Don't Know. I feel right at home.

  -LWT
• 

  AllTimeJeff

  One of the most profound experiences I had just before I left was a great discussion with an agnostic. I put away my WT literature and just listened as this man said something that really resonated with me.

  "I don't need to know or have all the answers. I am at peace with what I don't know, as well with what I do know."

  Wow! His intellectual honesty spurred me onward. To be at peace with what I don't know is something I strive for, and a real gift I might add.
• 

  Robert7

  Amen to that! "I don't know" is all anyone knows! I don't believe in the Bible, but I also don't necessarily believe all aspects of evolution. They are both theories.

  We just don't know, and that's ok. The difference is science is open enough to test and refine their theories, but religion is not.
• 

  inkling

  I'm currently attending the Church of I Don't Know.

  Ah, is that what the Unitarians are calling themselves now?

  [inkling]
• 

  leavingwt

  Ah, is that what the Unitarians are calling themselves now?

  Dunno.

  Admittedly, "attending" is a stretch.
• 

  Doubting Bro

  I just had a discussion with my wife and stated the same thing. Here's what I do know, there's no way the WTS is God's channel of communication on earth. And, I also know that there is not one single religion that can make that claim truthfully either. I've struggled trying to decide if I believe in God or not. But, I will say that if He exists and cares about humans, then I'll be judged by how I treat others. If He doesn't, I'll still be judged by how I treat others when I die or even now.

  My hope is that when my name is brought up, people (and whoever else) will say, "he was a good guy that loved his family, cared about others, and did the best he could to make the world a little bit better. I'm glad to know him."
• 

  leavingwt

  My hope is that when my name is brought up, people (and whoever else) will say, "he was a good guy that loved his family, cared about others, and did the best he could to make the world a little bit better. I'm glad to know him."

  I'll drink to that! Cheers!
• 

  zarco

  Doubting Bro,

  I just finished reading the Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels. A wonderful book describing competing beliefs among the orthodox and gnostics. She describes how many of the beliefs of the "orthodox" (the winner got to call themselves orthodox) religion is connected to their need for authority, to explain persecution and to develop one channel to god -all to the detriment of the individual.

  On the other hand, for the majority of a gnostics life was a personal journey for knowledge, enlightenment and a personal relationship with God. This personal path conflicted with the "orthodox" path. Obviously, the "orthodox" path won and it is just in the 20th century that some of the early christain debate is now being made available with the translation and examination of the Nag Hammadi Library.

  Like you, I do know that most, if not all, of organized religion is not God's channel of communication- certainly not the WTS. The gnostic quest was encouraging to me. Your goal to treat others in good ways to the best of your ability is admirable. I try my best to do the same. It seems though, that the individuals who willingly treat those Witnesses who are desperately in need of emotional and physical help are those who leave the WTS.

  Maybe I have too high of an opinion of what we try to do, but I feel that the ones who remain in positions of responsibility will not and do not really care enough to take real action to assist needy Witnesses. They are focused on giving their talks and pleasing men and not doing the work of the Christ. I don't know if the Christ was just a man or the son of God, but all writings (bible and otherwise) seems to suggest that he looked after those who needed to be looked after.

  Best.

  Zarco
• 

  Elsewhere

  So, do you put the god of the bible on the same level as the Invisible Pink Unicorn on Pluto?

  Who knows! You can't rule them out now can you!