Why do you still believe?

by flower 26 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Carmel

  That works for me Flower. When I use the word "truth" around Jw's or X's, I know it is likely to be misunderstood, but I think you are pretty much squared away with the term as you use "my truth". Perhaps "reality as I see it" would be synonmous. I personally abandoned all confidence in the bible and religion, like many here but continued to look for a cosmology or unifying paradigm that made sense. Atheism didn't quite make it for me as much as I tried. (seven years of science education steeped in the assumption that we and the universe around us is all the result of a phenomenal sequence of happy accidents) but at the same time religion as I understood it was neither intellectualy satisfying or productive of positive results. After many years of searching I gave up and settled for Agnosticism feeling exhausted from trying to sort out all the contending religions. It was not until my wife and I stumbled upon the Baha'i Faith that I found a religion that was inclusive and at the same time with clear standards, universal and tolerant but still with a sense of movement forward. I never thought the conclusion of all this goings on would be God swooping down on the literal clouds and solving all our problems. Finding out that our troubles will be resolved with a do-it-yourself-kit rang true with me and still does.

  So I do continue to "believe" but my beliefs are leagues apart from most religionists. I can now look at the Bible, Koran or Bhagavagita with a sympathic view realizing that they are reflective of the juvenile state of mankind and are not adequate for contemporary society. For some, many, they are all that is necessary, and for most of those folks they tend to be fundamentalists, exclusive and stuck in trying to figure out reality. Hence, how many posts here on "who Babylon the Great is" or who is the "King of the North". Pretty much a waste of time and not productive of getting on with improving our individual and collective lives.

  And I continue to believe....

  carmel
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  Thunder Rider

  This thread has struck a chord in me.

  I was raised a JW and believed it all.

  What do I believe now?

  I believe in a higher power. I see it in my grand daughters eyes and hear it in her laugh as she pulls my hair.

  I believe in Love. It welcomes me in my Sheila's eyes at the end of the day and at the new day's dawn.

  I believe in what I can see, hear, touch, taste and smell. Real is real.

  I believe in "The Golden Rule". Right is right.

  I believe people must define themselves and not let relegion force their attitudes. Right is right.

  I believe that even a relatively small amount of lie, invalidates doctrine. Wrong is wrong..

  I believe that an organization that would harbor perveted child molesters is Evil and must be exposed. Wrong is wrong.

  I believe that one should not embrace debauchery to protest hypocrisy. Wrong is wrong..

  I believe the "Creator" has lost intrest in a race that preys on its own kind. I understand.

  I believe I have found friends of like mind on this board. I am glad.

  I believe I may have offended some of them. I am sorry.

  I believe this is my longest post!

  Thunder
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  NeonMadman

  i dont understand how after being completely decieved by the watchtower org and all the crap we believed before with all our heart we can then continue believing in something based soley on faith.

  Isn't that like saying that because you had one boyfriend who cheated on you, you're never going to trust any man again? That sort of thinking doesn't exactly lead to a healthy way of life.

  The Watchtower is a distortion of Christianity. It has some of the elements, but it twists them into something they are not. It distorts the meaning of the Bible by taking texts out of context, reading in meanings that are not there, changing wording in the NWT, adding ideas in brackets when scriptures are quoted, etc. Watchtower teaching is not Bible teaching. Now, that in itself doesn't prove that the Bible is true; I'm just saying that the Bible deserves its own examination, without looking at it through Watchtower-colored glasses. If you look at the Bible and decide it isn't true, then you're entitled to that opinion. But at least you won't have fallen into the trap of (here comes the trite, overused cliche) throwing out the baby with the bath water.
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  startingover

  Flower, thanks for starting this thread. This subject has been floating around in my head for some time now.

  After reading the comments so far, it seems to me that some can handle the idea that there is no god, and some can't. For those that can't, faith is the answer. I personally don't feel the need for it. I am happy living my life and if that's all there is, so be it.
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  SheilaM

  Wow just found Thunder's post I believe in God as he said when I see my children and my Grandbaby and her her laugh and my Thunder and his love has helped me when I thought all was lost

  I see my garden and here my toads singing around my KOI pond

  But I see the war and the atrocities and people like Longo killing his children and I wonder if I find these so repulsive and I cry where is God when those babies need help?

  RIght now I see my son wanting to be honorable and fight the good fight but I tell you if something should happen to him GOD and I will have a MAJOR problem BIG TIME
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  flower

  Interesting...Thanks.

  I am in an agnostic state of mind right now but I dont find its a comfortable place for me to be. Maybe its all this war crap going on and the fact that I've been reading the news too much. I have been feeling lately that I need to know the purpose of such a f'd up world. I can understand now why so many people get sucked into the JW cult..they answer all the questions and give you hope that things will be better. Its depressing whats going on in the world today and even more so when you dont know the answers like you used to.

  flower
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  mouthy

  Flower((((hug))) Also who is DJ?????? Says you met at PA????? I must know you also .

  To answer your question you know how I feel. I look all around at creation. How can I not believe in a Creator.Especially when I look into a childs eyes..also when I hold a new born babe!!!

  ...The trees,breeze, waters, birds, etc etc etc:Oh I find Gods creations so breathtaking.

  The Bible??? Well I am reading it again -up to Kings! I find that a bit disturbing - cant understand it.. But the New Testament....? Proverbs ! Jesus words ! Romans & many more -I enjoy. But it is as others on here say . I too believe it is Faith!!!!When I lost my 3 kids I tried hard to dismiss God from my life.Thinking I would not ever believe in a God that allowed them to die.....But He really hasnt let me down- I see HIM in so much! So many who come in contact with CAAR( out group) are so happy they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is not really a good answer but I KNOW he helps me get through all the sorrows I have had & the pain I experience -But I have a Peace within I never had as a JW