dealing with a lack of spirituality

by man in black 17 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  man in black

  How do you deal with the thought of God after leaving the wts ?

  I left two years ago, and I have always had a certain amount or "need" for a spiritual side of my life.

  Growing up Catholic was good, when my parents became jw's suddenly everything/religion that was not bound together with the

  wt society and their teachings was completley wrong.

  So now that I have left, I have a hard time trying to understand different religions. I may read about them, or attend a service but that

  jw teaching is still crawling around in my sub conscience snuffing out any positive thoughts.

  I'm not the type of person who can just ignore the spiritual,, yet thirty years of wt indoctination still affects me.

  I was watching STNG last week and the episode's regarding the borg were on, great stuff,,, but this is very much the way wt teaching hangs on

  and prevents forward momentum.

  "resistance is futile" doesn't work for me in the spiritual or religious terminology.

  Any suggestions on how you deal with this part of life would be most appreciated.

  
• 

  Podobear

  Why do you have to "deal with it" man-in-black? Because you are "Spiritual", does not mean that you have to be relgious.

  I have just had two days away staying with friends by the side of the River Thames, just down river from the Reading Festival. I guess all the alterntive music and the partying took us back a few years, when we were young, idealistic and wanted to solve the worlds problem.

  The twelve year old son became the focus of attention and the conversation soon slipped into animated but frank discussion about Relgion and Spirituality. The couple had only been together for 3 months, and a lot emerged from the Conversation. The Latin lover was raised Catholic, converted to Full Gospel Protestantism and for the last 7 years had become a Messianic Jew and latterly joined a liberal Synagogue. The Father of the child had been raised by Hell raising preachers of the The Church of Ireland, was sickened by religious hypocricy and is now a confirmed "Atheist", not wanting his son to be indoctrinated with religion.

  The conversation cooled when I said I no longer believed in a God .. but I did believe in a Creator. I am an eternal romantic, and believe it takes greater faith to be an Atheist than to believe in Design and a Designer and Purpose.

  Why does faith in an Almighty Creator, need to be attached to a religious label?

  I am closer to my maker now than I have ever been.. because I am true to my inner self.

  Hope that is thought for meditation. All the best.

  Podo
• 

  Broken Promises

  My advice is to keep searching for what suits your spiritual side.

  I don’t believe in the Christian God anymore, but I do believe there’s Something, some higher power that controls everything. It could be pure physics or there might actually be something with a personality that we label a God, who knows?

  Many ex-JWs look into Eastern philosophies. I like some of the Buddhist philosophies, and I just pick and choose what works for me.

  Other times I feel close to “God” (whatever that is) is when I’m around nature. A lovely day on the beach, or a walk in a nature park, helps fulfill my spiritual side.
• 

  tenyearsafter

  MIB...

  I completely understand how you feel...I had about 40 years of WTS indoctrination under my belt when I left in the mid-90's. I was having a very hard time breaking free of the things that had been drilled into me over the years, so for nearly 10 years I just ignored the spiritual side of my personality. The key for me was to start exercising my "critical thinking" brain and wipe the slate clean of what my current thinking was. I didn't reject or accept anything as acceptable, including the WTS line of thought. What I tried to do was examine several different belief systems, religious and secular, from a fresh point of view. This can be a bit difficult, but it really does open your mind and help it break free from the chains of WTS indoctrination. What I found fascinating was that as I looked at WTS teachings from a fresh point of view, they really did not make sense. Atheism, though based on good science, was not very satisfying for me. Looking at various other religious systems was enlightening (and liberating). I am not advocating any specific route or destination, but I do think you need to look at many different options so as to properly exercise your critical thinking capabilities. As JW's, we were always told how to think...unless you think for yourself, you will never be able to break free from the chains that bind you to JW's.

  Good luck in your quest...

  TYA
• 

  man in black

  podobear : maybe I should have been more clear regarding my statement. When I started to leave the jw religion my wife started to study with the mormons. She got baptized one week after sending her letter of da to the cong.

  So, the "needing religion" carrot is still being dangled in front of me night and day. The mormon way of dealing with this is much more of an erosion process than the witnesses.Their actions coupled with well placed comments are to me much more efficient than the witness way of witnessing.

  So I understand your thoughts, and I am probably very close to your way of dealing with God by being true to myself, but to me it is a steep-short

  learning curve. Thank you for your thoughts, I really do appreciate them

  BrokenPromises: yes, I do quite a bit of things regarding nature, and I agree when I am around animals and the natural world in general I do feel

  much closer to the creator than I ever did going to the kh, or church. I actually wrote a story that was published in a book regarding one of my experiences when I was young If you ever get a chance look up the book "Horses with a Mission" by Allen and Linda Anderson. My story is titled

  Birthing Frostbite". read it and you will have a good idea of where I am coming from.

  Thanks for your comment, ones like this help me to understand that other people feel the same way about dealing in nature !

  ten years after : Yes you are correct, the wt teachings never really leave, we need to wipe the slate clean, and from what you say it takes time.

  Looking around is like excersize, you need to keep it up if you want to see results !

  Thank you for your thoughts
• 

  tenyearsafter

  MIB

  As my trainer tells me, "no pain, no gain!"...keep at it and you will be happy with the results!
• 

  flipper

  MAN IN BLACK- I was in the organization for 44 years until age 44. Got out 7 years ago. I feel I have become a much more " spiritual " person since exiting the witnesses. I agree with Podobear- you don't HAVE to be religious to be a deeply believing spiritual person. I didn't bother checking out other religions because from my reading and observations religion suits just a couple goals- to keep people controlled through guilt and fear. So I found the REAL truth and spirituality in life on my own ! I'm a big nature person. Love the serenity of mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests. When I need solitude to think - I get a very spiritual feeling about life going up to the hills. I live in the mountains- so that helps.

  Also fter exiting Jehovah's Witnesses books by Steve Hassan REALLY helped me to accept myself for what I am - not what religions or other people EXPECTED me to be. " Combatting Cult Mind Control " & " Releasing the Bonds - Empowering other People to Think for Themselves " REALLY helped me to see the mind control behind many different religious groups. And Ray Franz's two books were a great help also. I highly recommend the reading of these books. I think it will help you. Certainly did me. Good luck, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
• 

  man in black

  Hi Mr. Flipper, I like your comment "I found the real truth on my own" ! As a witness I heard this from ones who left the religion soon after.

  Thinking like this is basically the kiss of death as a JW, unless you are completely in line with their doctrines.

  It probably takes quite some time to come to terms with having God and spiritual things not being defined by others. THis

  is the main point I got out of this thread, thank you for your comments.

  By the way, you posted some time ago information regarding Bigfoot in your area, right ? I found that thread very interesting, your pictures

  were very neat. Have you had any new sightings, or evidence ?
• 

  Podobear

  Hey MIB... if your lady has tripped into Mormonism.. you have a SERIOUS problem.. somehow you and she have confused RITUALISM with SPIRITUALITY. What has your (both) relationship with a Creator, and the appreciation for all that he/she/it has done, to do with Organised Religion?

  Man, you will be forever Religion hopin' ! Get a life, you and your Creator have a ONE TO ONE... draw close to that relationship and the rest will fall in to place.... All the best, buddy. Hugs, to you and your Missus' Please take my comment in good part, Sir.

  Podo
• 

  man in black

  Podobear :yup, mormonism is quite a trip, and I thought that the witnesses were rightously arrogant.

  These people have NO competition at all.

  I'm working on my own spiritual life right now. Since my Mom died things seem to have fallen in place a little more.

  I feel more one on one with the creator, but there is that "what if" thought process inherited from the witnesses that keeps popping up.

  Thanks for your positive thoughts, I really do appreciate them !