Pterist, I was raised a Witness, and was baptized for 20 years until I realized that my baptism was not valid, and that the truth was not a religion.
Thanks to the fact that the Watchtower taught me that all denominations of Christianity (of course, except them) were Christendom, synonymous for Babylon the Great, I had no where to go.
But when my mom said, but "where will you go?"
I answered, mom, the quote is "who".
I went to him.
I don't belong to any organization, never been to meetings of any religion besides that which I was raised, as a Jehovah's Witness.
I'm baptized "in the name of Jehovah, his son Jesus Christ, and the spirit-directed organization." (Matt 28:19)
I imagine that the lawyers in the room can spot all kinds of issues with that contract, so I consider it null and void in a spiritual sense, and sometimes am amused that if given the opportunity I would take it to court.
About as soon as I learned that my baptism wasn't valid, I wondered what then? And as soon as that thought settled into my mind, in the form where you are prepared to take action, the answer came.
I wonder if you know what I mean?
After my baptism, I began to learn more than I've ever learned in my entire life. 20 years being Watched by the Tower, and I never managed to learn anything in a spiritual sense. I may be complimented on my intelligence, but it's still not a comparison to this experience.
Suddenly I was taught world history, evolution of worship and the rise of religion, etc.
They always say hindsight is 20/20. I was well prepped. My footsteps have fallen where I'd not have planned to be, later to learn the significance of all I'd seen.
(Uh oh, I get into rhyming. ChannelC wasn't very fond of it.)
In any case, I lived briefly in Rome, stood in the Mithraic church which became the congregations hiding place under the shadow of the Colosseum, Toledo, Espana, known for it's Jewish roots. Etruscan tombs whose graphic imagery tells the tale of the culture which explains what the scriptures warned about happening. I walked the paths along the hills of Greece, not realizing Paul's footsteps were buried beneath mine (although that one I know I felt it, I was still a JW 'kid' then, but still I didn't plan, I was at the 'mercy' of a companion and coincidence).
Anyway, all this is to say I have so many stories. I don't just believe what I have read, I have lived in it. And it's not by accident, I didn't plan it and just how many coincidences can one take before they finally give in and simply believe?