So What Tipped You Out, Then? (page 4)

Simon

paulvarjak, that reminded me of when I must have been 10 or 11 and asked someone (my mum I think) "How do we know we have the right religion?"
...off I was taken to an elder to answer my deep question:
"Well, if we weren't the right religion, it would mean that 3 million of us were wrong...do you think 3 million people could be wrong?"
I remember thinking that there must have been way more than 3 million who DID think we were wrong so it was hardly proof (logical little sod wasn't I?)...didn't say anything though (there was probably something good on TV like "the Amazing World of Creskin")

Prisca

I had been wondering about things, and having doubts as to whether the JWs really had the "truth", and was looking at those outside the organisation and seeing that they were just as nice, if not nicer, than my so-called bros & sisters.

Then one day I was discussing the 144,000 doctrine with a fellow work-mate, when it hit me. As I was trying to explain my belief to him, I realised how illogical it was. And the more I tried to convince him, the less convinced I was! It was that night that I realised something was wrong, seriously wrong, with the belief system of JWs.

However, as it had been drummed into me that doubting the organisation = doubting God, I tried to be a stronger Witness, applying myself more to the meetings and personal study, in the belief that if I studied more, I would understand my beliefs better and have more faith.

Well, that was the result, though not quite in the sense I imagined.

I understood the beliefs of my life-long religion all right, and discovered that they didn't really match up with what I read in the Bible.

As for my faith, it increased - in God, that is, and less and less in a man-made religion.

So I started doing research on the Net, studied the Bible a bit more, and gradually stopped going to the meetings altogether.

The result? I feel free in my mind and heart. It's like a huge weight has been lifted off my mind. I actually trust in God now, knowing I can rely on Him fully. I no longer live for just today, but am looking beyond the horizon for tomorrow. And I feel so alive!

AuSet

Like several of you who were raised with the "truth," I always had doubts as long as I could remember. Sometimes I would voice these to others. I remember one time when we were having bookstudy out of the family book, and there was one sentence in the paragraph that said "women enjoy being under a ceiling of authority." It was like a light went off in my head, and when the time came to answer the question, I raised my hand, and quoting that sentence, declared "That's not true! That's racist!" I had been taught no words to describe sexism or oppression, but that was one word that came to mind and I thought it would work to express my opinion. Needless to say, from then on I had been branded as "dangerous" by the elders and my family. The elders would have talks with my Dad to encourage him to really "keep a tight hold" on me, and that "it wouldn't take much to push me over the edge."
Thanks to INDEPENDENT THINKING I sailed over the edge and never stopped flying!!
(BTW I don't think they study out of that family book anymore, too many people were questioning it)

AuSet

One more thing: since I've been coming to this board I have the strangest urge to back to the KH again! I can't explain it! Maybe I feel the need to start causin more trouble and stirrin things up.
I have a vivid memory of one time at the KH during Watchtower study, a disfellowshipped man who had been inactive for some time stood up and yelled in response to a paragraph "IS THIS NEW LIGHT????" He was quickly ushered out by the elders! I still remember that and laugh about it to this day.
Any others of you who have felt similarly?

trevor

Yes AuSet,

In my final days in the Tower I was told off a number of times for heckling. The mildest form of this was for me put my hand up during the Watchtower study (up in the air) and whatever the subject I would state that I would like to remind the brothers and sister of the importace of 1919. It was amazing to see the way my comment would be woven in to the study.

When the speaker made a joke I would laugh too loudly and continue until he became uncomfortable. I reserved this for the reptile styled elders.

Absolutely no regrets.
Trevor ha ha ha ho he ha ha ah

AuSet

Trevor,
Thanks for the heckling tips! Hope i'll get the guts to try it someday. LOL!!

JAVA

I was a true believer for years, and never really thought about the religion except as "the Truth." During the last district assembly I attended the spell stopped. I'm not sure why, but the talks, demonstrations, everything seemed so canned. Speaker after speaker said things like, "Isn't this such rich spiritual food" or "Jehovah has blessed us with this food in due season" and I sat there thinking this is the same old stuff I've heard for years.

Not long afterward I attended a special program in our area when a member of the Governing Body and his son addressed a few thousand JWs. The same thing happened, and on the way home I wondered why I wasted the day. As I started missing meetings I spent time watching PBS TV programs. I found these programs more inspiring than the cold leftovers served up at the Kingdom Hall and assemblies.

It wasn't a doctrinal question or anything that noble that triggered my exit. After the magic stopped, I easily saw numerous doctrinal and other problems with the religion. However, that didn't happen until I was out the door.

---JAVA, counting time at the Coffee Shop

Edited by - JAVA on 7 March 2001 12:16:5

So What Tipped You Out, Then?

Simon

Prisca

AuSet

AuSet

trevor

AuSet

JAVA

thinkers wife

Prisca

larc

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