Since exiting the Witnesses have you Become More " Spiritual " ? - Not ........

by flipper 54 Replies latest jw friends

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  flipper

  ..... necessarily more religious, but more spiritual in a non-religious way ? Although being religious IS one of the definitions os " spiritual " it encompasses MUCH more in the Webster's New World Dictionary , under the word Spiritual it's definition is : " 1. of the spirit or the soul as distinguished from the body or material matters 2. of, from, or CONCERNED WITH THE INTELLECT ; INTELLECTUAL 3. of or consisting of spirit ; not corporeal 4. characterized by the ascendancy of the spirit ; showing much REFINEMENT OF THOUGHT AND FEELING 5. of religion or the church ; sacred, devotional, or ecclesiastical ; not lay or temporal 6. spiritualistic or SUPERNATURAL . "

  Quite a variety of definitions ! So a person CAN be spiritual without being religious , or connected to an organized group of individuals claiming to worship God or who observe the Bible. If you've refined your thought and feeling and are concerned about improving your intellect you may very well be a " spiritual " person ! Or if you deal with the supernatural and deal with psychics or the great beyond or ghosts, or whatever you may be spiritual as well ! And if you go to church and are devoted to that thought process - you may be spiritual as well. I think it's good to clarify what's considered " spiritual " - because as Jehovah's Witnesses you were considered " spiritual " if you answered at meetings, turned in 10 hours a month , gave talks in front of people , or pioneered knocking on doors. It didn't really have anything to do with how NICE you were or how kIND you were showing the " fruitages of the spirit " - a person inside the JW's was and is considered " spiritual " if they are properly doing the outward functions I mentioned that the WT society wants them to do. Pretty messed up.

  So how about it ? Have you become more " spiritual " - since exiting the Jehovah's Witnesses ? As always I look forward to your takes and comments ! Have a great weekend ! From your beloved $hit stirring dolphin
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  ziddina

  Just replying to the thread title, before reading the OP, I'd say that I have become more "true to" myself, after exiting the JWs....

  Now I'm going to go back and read the OP.....
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  Londo111

  I believe being outside the straightjacket of Witness theology has allowed me to love God for the first time and build a more mature understanding of the Bible.
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  iCeltic

  no
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  ziddina

  Hmm....

  Well, I haven't really developed any great interest in the supernatural... Or in church matters... But I have found a much greater intellectual freedom outside of the cult.

  So, in that sense, I've probably become more "spiritual"...
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  flipper

  ZIDDINA- That's great that you've become more true to yourself and become more spiritual with gaining your intellectual freedom also ! Isn't it amazing to have the freedom to THINK on our own after exiting the Witnesses ? I think THAT is the thing I valued the most after exiting the JW's.

  LONDO 111- I'm glad for you that you feel closer to a higher power now and enjoy the Bible more after escaping the JW theology . Good for you.

  ICELTIC- Well, no is good as well. It's all part of the journey we call life, whether we become spiritual or not spiritual really isn't good or bad, it's just a choice people make in life to pursue or not. I hope you are having a good life whatever your choices are
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  talesin

  I just read an awesome quote that kinda describes how I feel about it:

  Religion is for people who are afraid of hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there.

  ~ Running Hawk, Lakota Nation

  I feel connected to the earth. Yes, I really DO hug trees,,, I click my tongue and talk to the crows, and 'catch and release' spiders and moths in my home. I love to lay on the grass for hours and look up through the leaves of the huge trees in my backyard at the blue sky peeking through, and read, draw or just have a draw :D ...

  tal
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  iCeltic

  Flipper - my mind is wide open, not to all the shite of the day, to learning and understanding. Sadly, life is not good since the disgusting beliefs of JW's has taken the one beautiful thing away from me. If there's a god i'm at a loss to understand why my morals are better than his. You don't send in Chuck Norris because you're kids pee'd on the carpet.
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  flipper

  TALESIN- I agree with you. Your view of spirituality is much like mine. I have a huge earth connection myself and consider the rocks, rivers, lakes, trees, sky, and animals my brothers & sisters & family just like my son & wife. My son feels similarly, we are part Native American so we are bound to the earth .

  ICELTIC- I agree with you. My mind is wide open as well to learn new information. Also I know how you feel about being screwed over by the Witnesses. I feel pain & loss as well. I have 2 adult dear JW daughters who won't talk to me. Not a day goes by that I don't think of them. Both your morals AND my morals are better than aLL the WT leaders morals because they are sticking it to 7 million Witnesses every day. Hang in there, I'm with you
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  finally awake

  I feel more connected to other people, the community, and the earth. When I was a true believer tm I didn't feel connected to anything but the borg. I don't know where all this will lead me, but I feel like I'm becoming a better version of myself.