Why I am an atheist

by Awakened at Gilead 129 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  digderidoo

  LWT:Are you saying that they would be better off trapped in a cult than have an Atheist use the Bible to extract them?

  Lance:Are you criticizing my motives? I don't get it.

  It's just that i don't get it.

  I can understand someone who has an alternative belief system that they are trying to persuade or coerce others into believing. Take Shazoolo for example, he's a born again christian, his motive is to 'save' JW's and Mormons. So he critiques the WTS from his own beliefs and the way he interprates the bible. That i understand.

  On the same token i have had many debates on bible forums with active JW's, debates using the bible, yet my own beliefs do not necessarily align with the bible. But for me, it was part of the healing process. Once i realised that i could prove the JW's wrong it felt empowering to do so, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

  But in all honesty what stopped me from debating the bible with others was Newagegamer's videos. In that we saw as it happened, his doubts coming to the surface, he has gone through a hard time at such a young age of losing his family. The reaon for this was his doubts had begun as regards Colossians 1. Now in my opinion all he has done is change one belief system for another and in doing so he has lost his family. In my opinion, and i feel i am going to be slated for this, he would have been better off staying a JW, rather than becoming evangelical and losing his family in the process.

  So speaking for myself i do not now get involved in biblical debate, because ultimately i feel the bible can be interpretated in many ways. If i do not believe in a certain interpretation of a scripture i will not present an alternative, because i do not feel i have a right to critique one belief from another, when i believe in neither.

  If as an atheist you are presenting one alternative biblical standpoint against another, and you don't believe in either, as a way to cast doubt on WTS beliefs, then i guess i am being critical of you. If you are doing it purely for your own healing or telling your own story then i am not.

  Paul
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  Awakened at Gilead

  Reposting for Paul.. you just don't seem to get it...

  From post #100 of this thread:

  What helped my mom out of the cult?

  She used a non-NWT translation with commentary. The commentary for many passages stated several differing possible interpretations for a particular text. This struck her as radically different from what she was used to in the WTS.

  The point is that there are many ways to interpret Bible texts. This leads some people out of the WTS. Some people become Xians. Others become agnostics or atheists. People have the right to choose their beliefs without fear of repercussions, which does not occur in the WTS. There you MUST believe the interpretation given by the fictional FDS whether its right or wrong or may be changed in a few years.

  My videos, then, serve to empower people to amke an informed choice. The choice is up to them.
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  leavingwt

  In my opinion, and i feel i am going to be slated for this, he would have been better off staying a JW, rather than becoming evangelical and losing his family in the process.

  OK, I think I now understand where you are coming from, Paul. You view losing JW friends/family as a bigger negative than being blissfully ignorant while being in a destructive cult. You definitely should follow your inner voice/conscience on this one. I can respect that view, even if I may disagree with it, in a majority of cases.

  In the case of NewAgeGamer, I think a strong argument could be made that he is MORE happy now, even with the loss of his family, than he was in the cult. Heck, he believes it's Biblical that he may lose his family for the sake of Christ. When people suffer through tribulations (for what they believe to be) for GOD, it gives them great satisfaction.

  Now, I will definitely agree with you that each case is different and there ARE cases in which I would not attempt to extract someone from the cult. Especially, if they were very old or if their financial survival depended upon being a JW.

  In general, however, I would never criticize another person for trying to reveal to JWs that they are involved in one big lie.

  -LWT
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  Awakened at Gilead

  I agree... I don't think it's negative at all that Newagegamer has left the JWs. In fact, he is the person that inspired this post, when he wanted to know why I became an atheist. He is thinking for himself, and for this I congratulate him. Whether he stays a BA, an independent Xian, or an agnostic or atheist, he is thinking for himself.

  Unfortunately, cults like JWs force people to lose friends and family in the process. This is not Newagegamers fault, rather it shows one more positive reason he has left the JWs mind control.
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  hooberus

  2. Scientific reason: I went to a natural history musem and learned about the earth's history. This confirmed my lack of belief in a god. Think about how long the earth has existed (4.5 billion years). Life's emergence (3 billion years ago), the pattern of life developing matches evolutionary theory; 5 mass destructions have caused the death and extinction of most of the species that have ever existed (i.e. ice ages; asteroids; massive volcanic activity, etc); so...

  "If you are concerned about the propaganda presented in natural history museums, this beautifully illustrated and full color book is for you. The book provides the true history behind more than 100 common museum exhibits. Excellent for school field trips to your favorite museum."

  available from

  http://www.creationresearch.org
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  lrkr

  I like reason 2G the best. (from page 1 of this post)

  2 kids are talking about what the earth sits on. One says confidently- "It sits on the backs of 2 elephants" "So, what are those elephants standing on?" asks the other kid. The first kid thinks and says "2 more elephants" "So what are they standing on?" Frustrated, the kid with the elephant theory says, "Its just elephants, all the way down."

  Thats the problem with God, doesn't really solve anything- just sets up the next question- where'd he come from.....

  But my real problem with religion is, their logic goes something like this: life is complex, therefore it was designed by a creator....Life was created, therefore the judeo-christian version is true...the judeo-christian version is true, therefore JWs have the truth.

  The first statement requires a leap of faith. The other two require dishonesty.
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  Awakened at Gilead

  Hooberus:

  I clicked on your link. Note the aims of creation research (is that an oxymoron?):

  1. The Bible is the written Word of God, and because it is inspired throughout, all its assertions are historically and scientifically true in the original autographs. To the student of nature this means that the account of origins in Genesis is a factual presentation of simple historical truths.

  2. All basic types of living things, including man, were made by direct creative acts of God during the Creation Week described in Genesis. Whatever biological changes have occurred since Creation Week have accomplished only changes within the original created kinds.

  3. The great flood described in Genesis, commonly referred to as the Noachian Flood, was an historic event worldwide in its extent and effect.

  4. We are an organization of Christian men and women of science who accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The account of the special creation of Adam and Eve as one man and one woman and their subsequent fall into sin is the basis for our belief in the necessity of a Savior for all mankind. Therefore, salvation can come only through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior.

  Hmmmm... they lost me with #1 (that's not scientific). #2-4 don't sound too scientific either. Thanks Hoobie!
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  drwtsn32

  Hooberus: I clicked on your link

  We've all made that mistake once. But only once.
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  Awakened at Gilead

  It only took 30 seconds to find the religious aims of the so called scientific group.

  Never again...
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  2050

  Those look like some really sharp teeth on that dinosaur. Had God turned the animals onto each other at that time?