Hi,
I am new here, been lurking for a while but felt compeled to join as I would like to comment on more and more of the topics I come across. By way of an introduction here is some info about me.
I am an active JW, married with a family, living in the UK. I serve as a MS and have done for many years. I was raised as a witness as was my wife.
I have never been a trouble-maker, even as a teenager, but never been exemplary either. I've never regular pioneered, bethel etc. and only aux pioneered a couple of times. I've always tried to take things seriously but, thanks to my parents, have always had a more liberal approach to things which is just one reason why I have been happy being an MS for getting on for 20 years and don't feel the need to "reach out" to be an elder.
Over the years I've grown increasingly cynical about various things to the point where I cannot get my head around several aspects of the teachings anymore. For example...
- blood. The whole thing is an illogical mess. To me, if you think the Bible forbids transfusions then simply don't take it. Don't try an squeeze the gnat over what is blood and isn't blood. Don't avoid the whole bizarre ruling that makes it OK to benefit from blood that has been donated, stored then processed whilst quite happily forbidding the contrbution of the raw material on the basis it should be poured out. Don't make out there are no sanctions for having a transfusion of forbidden components yet secretly make it a DA by actions offence.
On the other hand, if you think that the real point is about respect for life and recognition of who we owe our life to then you could make the whole issue far more reasonable, sensible and in line with Jesus' approach.
- origin of life. I am really concerned that the society are simply burying their heads in the sand over this. It's all well and good to produce articles that point to marvellous aspects of nature but simply to say "ask yourself, did this occur by chance or was it designed" is simplistic. What about the wealth of evidence of human like fossils? What about places like Doggerland where it is clear people were active over 10,000 years ago? What about the vast improvements in carbon dating that place bones and artifiacts well before 6000 years ago. I know there are arguments about carbon levels in the atmosphere etc. but to completely disregard all the science that is out there and not address it at all smacks of there being no reasonable argument other than "just trust our interpretation of the Bible".
- Noah's flood. I can't square the circle on this for loads of reasons
- Birthdays. Seems completely arbitary. Of course it can be justified but does it make sense?
- Generations. As soon as the last change on this came out I said that the GB had given themselves decades more on the basis there is an overlap. So few of the people I discussed this with grasped this. The whole thing seems like a clutching at straws.
etc. etc.....
I'd not even come across the 607 issue until I looked here....
The fact is that I question so much now and lots of that completely undermines the whole basis of the "truth". That's pretty scary as I simply don't know what to do about it.
If I could sit back and live my life as I feel is right with no consequences then I probably would. The reality is that most of my family are friends are witnesses. We have great and close friends, our children have a great time with their cousins and friends in the truth. To follow a path that might lead to me being branded an apostate is too much right now. I could fade but that seems like you could end up in a no-mans land of not being a trusted witness anymore yet not being able to do anything you want for fear of being shunned - sounds like a recipe for mental torture if you ask me.
So there you have an insight into where I am now. It seems like I am not the only one. There are some really good aspects to life as a witness and I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater but there are so many doubts now that I feel like I am in limbo. How long can I "wait for Jehovah"?
