How the WTBTS creates atheists (page 7)

Nickolas

Heh. I stand corrected, zid. Still, I don't know anyone from those areas. It only goes to how primitive we still are on average.

ziddina

Whoops!! I forgot - South America. Many people in South America still belive in magic, too...

And maybe parts of New Zealand, too...??

In many of those areas, though, I think - I HOPE - that the beliefs in magic/witches/demons/juju, rests primarily in the older generations...

Zid

pseudoxristos

I'm surprised that the majority of people leaving the JWs don't become atheists. After all, considerable effort is spent discrediting the doctrines of mainstream Christianity.

No Immortality of the Soul
No Hell
No Trinity

Once these beliefs are abandoned one simply has to start to question that validity of the Bible. From there the house of cards falls eventually leading the conclusion that God likely does not exist. It’s as if, Witnesses exist in a state of limbo. They've rid themselves of some superstitions, but stop short of taking the final step and throwing it all out.

The WatchTower did not make me an Atheist, but it definitely made me look outside of the box and come to the conclusion that God does not exist.

Pseudo

tec

Nick, I hear you on the theories of others concerning where the idea of God came from, and some are compelling. To me, however, none more than the idea of God coming from God, Himself ;)

We believe in Him because He exists to believe in.

I have walked down the road of theories that many have put forth. Being on this site compels this. The further I go, the more I understand that these are all just theories - some sound better than others, but all of them are extremely limited by our knowledge and lack of knowledge as to the origins of belief in God.

Yet they all share one thing in common - and that is searching for proof (or the best evidence, at least), of God.

But the spiritual (Christ/God) is felt; discerned; sensed... in spirit. We keep looking 'outward' for proof, and perhaps we should be looking 'inward'.

Peace,

Tammy

still thinking

well said tec...you do have a knack for that

sabastious

But the spiritual (Christ/God) is felt; discerned; sensed... in spirit. We keep looking 'outward' for proof, and perhaps we should be looking 'inward'.

I agree, tec, but how do we reconcile the "it is not for man even to direct his own step" scripture? Looking inward seems to be discouraged by the Bible in more places than one. Christ's words were mostly to look upward than inward, no?

-Sab

tec

We are to look to Christ - but don't we hear him - in Spirit - within us? The Kingdom of God is within us. (if we have it) The Spirit is within us (if we have it). It is the inside that must be clean. We are filled with light - or darkness? Everything seems to point inward... but more to the Spirit guiding us from within, than to our own desires, etc.

How to tell which one is which... well, I suppose that's the question, right?

Love, truth, compassion, forgiveness, mercy... the things Christ taught... we can probably trust those. The things that go against what He taught - against the Spirit of Christ... those probably come from something else within us. (our own darkness warring with the light) So I guess we test the spirit of what we're hearing or want to do against the Spirit of Christ.

I get that this is hard to grasp for some. For me as well. I test the spirit of what I want or do, as above. But sometimes I justfeel - (that fire burning within me) - and I know the truth. I just don't always trust myself to get that knowing/feeling right. I'm praying for help in it though.

Does that make sense?

Peace,

Tammy

tec

Thanks, Still Thinking.

still thinking

I'll let tec answer that one sabastious....but here are my thoughts for what they are worth.

When we look inward and sense his spirit working in our lives...we allow him to direct our step and to guide us. We put our lives in his hands. And trust that he will look after us. When we are constantly looking for proof. We are looking outward. And we may not find him because it depends on what you are looking at, and what questions you are asking.

When I look outward, I see Gods creation all around us. I see Gods creation in people and their personalities. Their ability to love, hate, think, reason, create, invent, communicate, feel joy, sorrow, pain. These are all gifts. Gifts that make us human. Gifts from God.

Many don't see this. That is when you really need to look within. What is your purpose? Are we just meaningless chemicals accidentally put together? For what purpose? Are we just an accident? Look at the abilities we have, accidents just don't happen like that.

tec

I guess to put my whole reply into simpler terms:

I measure everything I feel and do against Christ and His teachings/example. I am learning to trust the Spirit (within), to understand the Truth of Him and his teachings, rather than just what some people think is true. Sometimes I hear something about Him and know its false. Sometimes I hear something about Him and know its true. I just don't always trust myself with that knowing.

Still Thinking has made a good point as well. When we look outward, we are putting parameters on what we expect to find (and so may miss what we haven't considered in our parameters). When we surrender and just ask to be guided, I think we are more open and attuned to the spiritual.

Peace,

Tammy

How the WTBTS creates atheists

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