Flower, no one can or should think for you or manipulate you into deciding things one way or the other. We are all responsible for ourselves and have to make up our own minds as to matters.
At one point, I was convinced the JWs were the true relgion, faults and all. Failed prophecies mean little to me as most every religion has had them. Even some of the flip flops don't bother me much as well as the different theology from other religions. I even agree with a lot of the JW theology, still.
But, something had to convince me they are not the true religion and it absolutely did. Below I'll try to share what some of my reasons are;
1. John 13: 34 I am giving YOU a new commandment, that YOU love one another; just as I have loved YOU, that YOU also love one another. 35 By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves.”
(Luke 10:27) In answer he said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind,’ and, ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jesus spoke often of love as being the sign of the true disciple. Yet, is it loving to cast out people for simple disagreements and then cut them off from their families, livliehoods and friends? Is it loving to gleefully look forward to the destruction of more than 99% of the world population who are not following the Watchtower doctrine? Is it loving to coerce parents into letting their minor children die agonizing deaths when a simple transfusion would save their lives?
2. Proverbs 6:16 There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: 17 lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, 18 a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, 19 a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers.
Amongst the items mentioned above, is God hates a liar. Is the WT being honest with the followers? No, they are not. They try to squirm out of any scandal they are found in.
Another is "false witness." How many of us have been sought out by power hungry elders that have it in for us for some personal reason? For me, it was an elder that I kicked out of my house for a lousy attitude towards me. Becuase I kicked him out, he convened a JC accusing me of "being prone to wrath." It went nowhere as I refused to attend and threatened legal action if they proceeded as they were in violation of their own elders manual. A year later, I DA'd, anyway.
Since then, dubs will stop by the house to see my wife or her monsters, but will totally snub me, inside my own house. Of course, they have no problem utilizing my personal possessions or partaking of my hospitality or food and drink, while here. That is total hypocrisy, in my estimation.
3.1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,
Jesus is the sole and only mediator between man and God, not the Watchtower. They have set themselves up as some sort of mediator between mand and Jesus and God. As you know, they do teach that no one can attain salvation except by being in line with them, or as they say, aligned with God's true channel of communication. The Bible tells me to place my trust and faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Nowhere does it say to place my faith and my life in the hands of the Watchtower.
These are but a couple of the reasons I fled the Watchtower and will never return. But, you have to follow your own heart and live life as you think appropriate. If you are worried that the JWs are the only ones teaching the theology they do, they are not. The Bible Students are still quite active, as are other groups. And, they don't try to maintain such total control over your life.
I wish the very best in your life and your search. God loves you no matter what. If you email me, I can supply you with a couple links of groups that that teach similar as the JWs, but don't try to run your life for you or restrict you.
If God's Spirit is filling a Kingdom Hall, how is it that Satan can manuever the ones within that Kingdom Hall at the same time?
