Are we all actually "bad / evil / immoral" after leaving the faith?

by stuckinarut2 25 Replies latest jw friends

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  stuckinarut2

  So recently there have been several posts with references to talks and articles that imply the following:

  Most of those who learn TTATT or fade from the "truth", are actually practicers of bad things, eg immorality, hence that is why 'we' now find fault with the ORG?

  I find this so offensive that they imply such. It means that no one can have doctrinal doubts, or disgreements with practices of the ORG and not have their character or personality questioned by everyone else!

  This in turn can contriute to the guilt felt or the distrust dished out...

  So, my question is, How many of us were / are in fact "carrying on in sin" of some sort as they imply??

  (this is a rhetorical question...dont feel you have to actually tell us specifics)
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  dazed but not confused

  I grew a goatee. - one or 2 I knew while in did this but we considered “spiritually weak”. I got a tattoo and reserved to get another one in June- some I knew while “in” had tattoos but were considered “spiritually weak” and lost their “privileges”. I smoke a cigar once or twice a month during the summer. I have heard stories of elders doing the same privately with other elders. So if any of this makes me a “sinner” than so be it. I haven’t changed much since leaving. I cuss the same amount too, just don’t feel guilty about it anymore. Oh… I smoked pot a few times since leaving. Don’t care for it. Just wanted to try it.

  I have been out of the cult for a little more than 2 years. Sober from alcohol for 3 and a half years. I sobered up in two ways, one from alcohol and the other from religion. Not sure which is better.
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  sparrowdown

  It was only after learning the TTATT that I sat down and assessed my actual "sins" as opposed to their definition of sin

  that I realised that I 'm not such a bad person after all.

  They have to deem doubting a sin otherwise there would be people waking up all over the place, then no more WT.

  How they classify people amounts to bigotry and hate mongering.
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  stuckinarut2

  I agree sparrowdown...
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  NewYork44M

  We may be preceived as good or bad based upon our leaving. However, the reality is that we are what we want to be. I think most people want to live a successful life and do what they can to be on that track. Some may say that is bad, but that that is there problem, not mine.

  I got my own stinkin problems and can worry about what others think.
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  flipper

  " Are we all actually bad/evil/immoral after leaving the faith ? " No, we are not. If anything we have a much more " in tune " conscience and sympathetic conscience than any Jehovah's Witness on the planet
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  stuckinarut2

  True point flipper!

  we get to view people as real people, not through the corrupted judgemental lens of the WT viewpoint....
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  Spectre

  When you aren't constantly bashed with being told what a sinner you are, you really don't think about it. I really don't consider myself a sinner at all.
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  Finkelstein

  Some might be considered so from a behavioral perspective, adultery, violence against a spouse or children etc.

  but what about leaving the WTS. upon pointing out the many false doctrines presently and from the past

  which there are many ?

  .

  The WTS is just too full of idiocy, corruption and immorality to hold it as something respectable.
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  NVR2L8

  A few weeks ago I smoked a cigar at a business convention...first for me as I was pretty much raised a JW...I didn't feel I was doing anything wrong nor do I want to start smoking...This is as bad as it gets since I left the JW 4 years ago.