Being Deceived

Dawn

Hi all:

What an interesting group here!

I have a question to toss out to those of you who were once active JW's that are now born again.

I was a "zealous" JW - raised as one and was an aux pioneer, etc. My whole family is JW's (elders, etc.). I was absolutely convinced that I had the truth, and I felt a real relationship with Jehovah.

So now - jump ahead to today. I was DF'd a number of years ago, and started searching the bible for answers about 2 years ago. I found a great church where I started learning what I believe is the actual truth. I was baptized last November and am now born again.

So here's the question - I believe I was deceived before, but how can I be sure that I'm not being deceived now? Since I was so completely deceived at some point. Does anyone out there struggle with this uncertainty? It seems so obvious to me now that the JW's are a cult - but then again...I was sure it was so obvious they were the truth 15 years ago.

josephus

with all due respect, you are being fooled, IF you think they are especialy clost to the truth.

all religions have flaws good luck if yours admits to its own.

anythings better than jws except scientologists.

josephus

WildHorses

Dawn, Read 1st John 2:27 I don't believe we need a religion, period.

Welcome to the forum.

Lilacs

I don't want someone in my life I can live with. I want someone in my life I can't live without.

ISP

Yep...get ready for disappointment, Dawn. Because it is all make believe. Mind you if it makes you feel better...it is doing you some good. Just don't expect it to work out or be true!

ISP

Seeker4

I was a JW for 35 years. I took a good long look, not just at the Witnesses, but at the Bible and all religion in general. I'm afraid I'm not going to be very encouraging to you. All you've really done is just traded in one sad translation of the old mythology for another sad translation.

Maybe that's all you want out of life, just a good story to make this all seem easier. You know, that there's a big daddy or mommy up there watching over you, going to give you salvation and life in heaven (whatever) if you play by his or her rules, going to punish you if you don't.

You really ought to look a little deeper.

S4

Ranchette

I believe there is no true religion on this earth.

Any religion that claims to have a monopoly on truth is really a cult.

If you just have to have religion in your life look at it for what it can give you, a sense of belonging,companionship an organized way to perform community and volenteer work.

But religion can't buy you salvation or approval from God.

Personally, I'd rather live a good life and accompolish these things through groups outside of religion.
I feel safer and so much happier.

Just my opinions.

Edited to say hello and welcome to the board.

Ranchette

garybuss

Hi Dawn,

I like the mainstream religions much better than the Watch Tower Corporation version. With the Watch Tower religion the promised rewards and punishments are are promised within the life and consciousness of the followers. The reward of good behavior is living through the Apocalypse and the punishment for bad behavior is a trial by elders and shunning.

With mainstream religion, the reward is promised after death and so is the punishment for bad behavior. Nothing to expect or fail in the natural lifetime of a human. All relatively safe from criticism and dissent due to failed predictions and unmet expectations.

I think if I am having a good time, making friends, having a fulfilled life and nobody is getting hurt, an involvement in a religion can't be too harmful. It's just when I start to take the philosophy too seriously, or when someone is channeling messages from ghosts or gods or goblins, and I start doing unsmart things like declining medical treatment or beating my kids, because of my belief without proof in another person or group, I am back in trouble again.

Just my thoughts . . . .

gb

KD

Welcome aboard Dawn,

I have been out for about 20 years now and have either investigated or have been involved with many different organizations. I still have not found the right one nor do I beleive now that the true religion even exists. It seems that whenever a teaching is being shoved down my throat that I questioned, I was aways told to "Pray About It and God will show how it is true". After being told that by several different organizations, I realized that it was a type of mind conditioning by that church.

Other things to look at is the fact the Holy Bibles was once a pile of individual books and letters. After the time of Christ, someone took all these documents. At least the ones that survived time and assembled them into a group. Then it was decided (by man)which ones to keep and which to set a side. The ones kept were compile to what is now our bible. This was done long after Timothy said in 2Tim 3:16 about "all scriptures". I wonder if the letters and books tossed aside were once the ones considered benifitial by Timothy? This book is now considered to be God's word and reinforced this belief by quoting 2Timothy. But the scripture I like the most is 2Cor 11:12-15. Remember that one while at someone's door talking about a different religions!

To sum it up Dawn, if you are happy, then go for it. But be very carefull and don't get caught into some you will be sorry for.

Good luck in your search....

tdogg

Well, that is the million dollar question. I ask that same question to anyone who tries to preach to me. The problem with religion is that sooner or later there comes a point when you are asked to believe in a man. Yes, all of them. All religion requires that you have faith in some other human that knows how to explain or traslate the dogma to you. You do not even know that the revered words written down are from God, you musdt believe that some other human wrote down what God wanted to say. Some faiths dont even hide it, you will outright worship other people. Men are wonderful at deception, even if they dont mean to.

BluesBrother

Lets put a word in for Christianity.

it is the message that has moved mankind above all others. I believe that is truth,, Why? because it makes sense ,it is a beautiful concept that stikes chord with me . So yes, it is my choice and I have to stand by my own judgement. At the end of the day that is what we all do . The atheist sees nature as a triumph of evolution, I see it as a wonder of creation - a personal choice decision.

If Dawn is happy and fulfilled in her new church, then fine! I am sure Christ is satisfied with her worship. I could never trust any one organisation that said it had the exclusive hold on salvation.. not again!

Being Deceived

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