What's your ethical guide?

by expatbrit 11 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  expatbrit

  On what do you base your moral judgements now that you've left the WTS?

  As JW's we used to allow the WT to direct us in any ethical question. They would give us their opinion (claiming it to be Bible-based). We would obey, without question.

  Now, out in the "world" we no longer have this control exercised over us. We have the freedom to make our own judgements.

  So what guide do you use?

  A supplementary question for those who answer: "my conscience and own
  sense of right and wrong". Our consciences and opinions are formed by our experiences: how do you know that a decision you make is not just a rehash of WT experience and conditioning? How do you tell that it's really you making the judgement?

  The point of this? I would like to be able to convincingly answer witnesses who say "people who are not JW's have no moral base or guide. Those who reject the only true morality and leave often become worse than the world".

  I do not believe this to be the case. Certainly I have never seen any evidence to back this claim up, but that's what they say!

  I had difficulty putting my thoughts into type here. If my post is confusing, sorry!

  Expatbrit.
• 

  anglise

  Hi expatbrit,
  Ive thought about this one too and have come to the conclusion that Jesus 2 commands that he gave are the only way to sort that one out.
  If you show love and care for your fellow man and treat him as you would want to be treated it generally works.
  Also show respect for the planet we're on and the other creatures we share it with.
  If along with that you feel there is an ultimate being who is in control so be it.
  If not these two principles are enough imho

  Edited by - anglise on 27 February 2001 18:18:19
• 

  ianao

  anglise:

  I like you.
• 

  unanswered

  expatbrit- i get what your saying about the wt affecting how we think after we leave but my freedom of thought and my own study of the bible is what made me leave in the first place, so i'll have to keep on relying on that.
• 

  LDH

  I rely on my heart, which is WAY better than my conscience. TRUST me on this, LOL.
• 

  RedhorseWoman

  I definitely try to follow the principle of love for God and love for neighbor. I also like the pagan maxim (for which I don't know the exact words), "Do as thou wilt, an ye harm none".

  One major difference for me since leaving the JWs is that I try to make things better where I can, rather than taking the typical stance of the dedicated JW, which is to "let Jehovah take care of it".

  I try not to ignore the problems I see, or moan about how horrible the world is. Instead, I give what I can as far as time, effort, or money to try to improve the situation.
• 

  JAVA

  Expatbrit,
  

  I would like to be able to convincingly answer witnesses who say "people who are not JW's have no moral base or guide. Those who reject the only true morality and leave often become worse than the world".

  Witnesses saying the above have nothing to base this statement on except what they parrot from other JWs. The Watchtower Society does not conduct exit interviews with former members one, two, and three years later to see if morality or moral baselines change, and by how much. JW statements about folks going to hell in a basket after leaving the group are totally baseless. The Watchtower Society has lied, covered up, and misled millions for over 100 years. They do not have a patent on morality and virtue with their history.

  However, high-control groups do just that--control the lives of members. People who lack a moral baseline can benefit by being part of a high-control group. That does not make this group moral. It only infers their actions are controlled by others. On the other hand, controllers are not necessarily moral because they control, it just means they are in control.

  Most people develope a moral baseline to live by, with or without religion. The societal norms are usually followed with consequences for acting outside the standards. There are numerous tools used to develop this baseline depending on the dominate culture, but we typically pickup most of our values on the fly from the norms we see around us.

  However, some folks and groups need to prove their righteousness with various means of measuring it. For example, a JW putting in 6 hours a month compared to a JW putting in 100. These measurements are usually nothing more than righteousness tokens, like a metal saying, "I'm really good." Measurements like these do little to enhance morals, but "publisher" versus "pioneer" labels speak to the group.

  As a group, I don't believe the Witnesses have higher morals than other religious groups. There is little evidence I have to prove this, but that is not the burden here. The burden is on the JW who says, "people who are not JW's have no moral base or guide." Until they can prove it, it's nothing more than a statement of ignorance. Repeating it over and over again by members of a high-control group doesn't make it so.

  ---JAVA, counting time at the Coffee Shop
• 

  joelbear

  My thoughts are similar to anglise.

  Matthew 7:12 is the simplest most straight forward ethical lesson available. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

  I believe that the word "others" applies to every being that is not ourselves. I define this as the difference between the self and the unself. I believe in a phenomenon which I call natural guilt. This guilt is inborn in us in order to counteract the selfish struggle for individual survival.

  Anyone interested in reading more about my theories can go to my web page and click on Lifeism. Just a slight warning. I am a naturist, so there are nude pictures on my web site. These areas are clearly marked for those for who nudity might be offensive.

  hugs

  Joel
  www.joelbear.com
• 

  Grunt

  I believe in the Bible and in a Creator. I too try and follow the two great commandments. Still, I don't think I would behave any differently if I suddenly lost my faith. I have a good friend who is an athiest and he is at least as moral and ethical as I am. I think just common decency as seems to be found around the world would keep us squared away.
• 

  DannyBear

  Java,

  However, high-control groups do just that--control the lives of members. People who lack a moral baseline can benefit by being part of a high-control group. That does not make this group moral. It only infers their actions are controlled by others. On the other hand, controllers are not necessarily moral because they control, it just means they are in control.

  I will go one step further...Jw's easily excuse their individual immorality, predicated on these high control maxims. They can lie, cheat, revile and otherwise act like total jerks...as long as the actions do not violate any perceived or outright violation of corporate codes.....sanctions for violation are always the motivating factors...hardly whether they are acting in accord with good societal norms or human decency.

  I know this sounds like a broad generalization, but I have witnessed these characteristics while in and observing from outside...with almost overwhelming evidence...as long as they don't go over the doctrinal edge, stay out of the library(judicial process), they can go about their everyday affairs, in a 'saved' condition, no matter how despicable, uncaring, they choose to be....a few hours spent in field service, brings the needed spiritual cleansing...off they go... all is well with me....its you 'worldly' folk who are just simply the devil incarnate.

  DannyBear