The power of belief systems

by donkey 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  donkey

  Most of us here have been JW's. Most of us believed it was the truth. Inherent in that is the belief that we would be persecuted and this would be one of the signs that we were the true religion.

  Thus ask yourself: "As a JW, would I have been willing to die for my beliefs if confronted with a life and death situation such as the blood issue or neutrality?" You can say what you like now but almost without exception the answer to that question is "YES". I answer the same way myself (http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=44230&page=2&site=3)

  What I think about now and I wonder if others have similar reflections is: how do you feel about the fact that you would have been willing to die for a belief system, which you now consider false? If you believe in something else or a variation of the original belief - then is your belief strong or wavering? Would you be willing to die for your current religous/spiritual beliefs? If so, how do you honestly reconcile the fact that perhaps your new beliefs might be false too (you have to admit you can be wrong - you believed falsehood before - none of us is infallible especially with something as innocuous as beliefs).

  Jack

  Edited by - donkey on 11 January 2003 12:47:13
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  Been there

  I would not have been a good adult JW (I left at 18). I always felt lacking and knew if I was ever tortured in anyway I would squeel like a pig. I guess my heart was never in it. I was always scared that something would happen to me and I would need blood and my Grandmother would let me die. There are few things I can think of that I would die for.
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  JNS2

  Donkey (Jack), I think I would have died over the blood issue when I was "in". Even worse, I would have let my friends & loved ones sacrifice their lives too. I threw away my blood card about a week ago. I guess I can just be thankful it never was a life or death issue because I wouldn't be here writing this post now.
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  ChrisVance

  I am happy to say I did compromise when I was a MS and my daughter was having surgery. The doctor had my x and I sign a paper that said he'd to everything reason to avoid blood, but if it came down to it he could give her blood. We signed it. It turned out she didn't need blood, but I felt guilty after the surgery and confessed to an elder. He said not to worry about it as we don't always handle things like we should.
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  Blueblades

  Donkey,I did refuse blood twice when I was under the knife.That's how powerful that belief system was! But now,I wouldn't put my head on a platter for no belief system.To add to that," I WILL NEVER AGAIN FALL VICTIM TO ANY BELIEF SYSTEM".Why can I say that,if you want to believe it,Jesus did it for me ,so, its not necessary anymore. And if He didn't do it ,then its moot. Blueblades
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  donkey

  Blades,

  Yeah - you know what it feels like then. It is really humbling to realize I was such an idiot. But then you know the saying: Fool me once shame on youl fool me twice shame on me!!

  It's tough being a donkey in a human world.

  Jack
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  Debz

  There is an old saying of the Lord Buddha which illustrates the point about 'belief' quite well.
  
  

  One day one of his disciples came to Buddha and said "Lord, whom shall I believe? One man telleth me this and another that, and both seem sure they are right."
  
  The Lord Buddha replied: "My son, believe not that which any man saith, not even I, unless it appeals to your common sense. And even then do not believe it, but treat it as a reasonable hypothesis until such time as you can prove it for yourself." (Source: 'A Soul's Journey' by Peter Richelieu; page 1)

  
  
  GOOD Advise methinks!!
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  onacruse

  For 4 decades I thought I had beliefs. Then it dawned that my beliefs had me.

  Now, my beliefs have power in my life, but not over my life.

  Craig
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  joelbear

  There is a new set of theories centrally called memetics that put forth the concept that "memes" (ideas, beliefs, etc.) are replicators similar in nature to genes. In other words they try to duplicate themselves as many times as possible. If these theories are true, that would explain why some belief systems are stronger than others (ie. they are more successful at replicating).

  Joel
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  Liberty

  Great topic Donkey!,

  As victims of a cult who now know better we have been given a unique perspective on the dangers of black and white thinking. Many of us will be very cautious about our beliefs from now on being careful not to fall into the trap of arrogant and mindless certainty. Being an ex-JW has taught me that belief and reality are two very different things. I no longer believe that thinking about something hard enough will somehow make it real. This extremist religious faith is just another variation of "magical thinking" which has misled humanity for thousands of years. Every expert, authority figure, and tradition should be questioned dailey and checked for validity.

  Our instinct for self preservation and instinct for common sense should be listened to when making any decision. Blind religious fanatism or blind patriotism are huge dangers because we are also a cooperative species by nature so, as ex-JWs, we have some idea of where this misplaced devotion can lead. A mature (wise?) person learns from experience to disregard patterns of deception and apply what they have learned to other aspects of belief and action. Dying or killing for an idea or belief should always be considered nobley heroic and insane to the extreme both at the same time. This paradox should always keep us off balance so that we do not run steady and headlong into disaster.

  Most of what I believed as a young person has proven itself to be wrong. This should tell me something the next time I make a harsh judgement or state an opinion. The true nature of the Universe is chaos and as such it is far too complex for black and white thinking or simple conclusions made without good evidence. The heart of wisdom is truely being aware of just how much we do NOT know. Killing or dying for something in this context takes on a healthy measure of uncertainty.