Why are there still so many of humanity that are immersed onto the lies, ignorance and delusions of religion ?

by Finkelstein 37 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Crazyguy

  Herd mentality
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  Freeandclear

  Religion in a nutshell:

  1. We are born.

  2. What the hell is this sh!t?

  3. We die.

  We as humans know we will die. That really sucks and bums people out, always has. So we created the idea of God (and thus religion sprang up with all it's wonderful consequences) to alleviate our fear of death and to give us hope for something else, a "non-end" to life, because the concept of true death ie. non-existence is abhorrent to humans.

  Plain and simple.
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  Finkelstein

  Valid explanation Freeandclear
  

  The ancients had purpose, meaning and intent in creating their gods, a god that would save mankind from death, sickness and all the other problems mankind's experiences, was an attractive god to create.
  

  If only these gods would enact upon those expressed directives
  
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  nicolaou

  Slim', who were you quoting in your last post?
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  slimboyfat

  I meant to simply summarise the first post.

  But before Viv tells me, I've completely misrepresented the post, because I'm a total liar and I don't know the definition of twenty different words, including the word "the", can I just say, at this point, from him, it's taken as read. So he needn't bother.
• 

  sir82

  All religions under critical examination has been recognized inherently as formative lies devised to appeal to human emotions and as a means to cultivate power and control for a select propagating few

  You've answered your own question. The vast majority of humanity never learn the skill of critical examination.
  
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  nicolaou

  Oh ok. I think you'll be on tricky ground summarising another members posts in your own words like that. Maybe make it clear that's what you're doing?
• 

  Hernandez

  It is not uncommon for people who have left cults to believe that all religions must be bad, especially if they were born into the oppressive situation and experienced great trauma in connection with their membership. When some of these people encounter anything similar, it reminds them of their horrible experience with their cult. Some can unconsciously infer that any other religion has traits similar to what they’ve previously experienced or known. This can also be clouded by the fact that ex-cult members may be unknowingly defining what other religions do by standards and definitions learned while in the cult. After all, for some of them this all they know.

  While common involving childhood trauma in cases of transference, a similar pattern can be seen in the similar response of some ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses towards religion in general. It can be seen in how some ex-Witnesses treat other religious groups with sweeping judgments, even how they react toward another ex-JWs who may have adopted a different religion upon leaving the Watchtower. Instead of being happy for these, the negative feelings they have for the Witness-religion gets transferred and projected upon another’s religion. Some can too often become abusive to another person who themselves is in the same boat of rebuilding their lives as has done little but suggested they had a belief in God.

  Feelings of hatred, mistrust, and rage can be projected by ex-Witnesses toward fellow ex-Witnesses in these situations. Hatred for practices Witnesses and language they wish to express towards them like insults then get hurled towards fellow non-Witness survivors. Because many of us are not allowed to express our feelings fully towards elders and the leadership and fellow JW members upon exiting, we transfer the negativity towards others, sometimes forgetting we are injuring another person in a form of bullying. An ex-Witness who has chosen to adopt theism is just as wounded and has been just as victimized as someone who chooses to become atheist, but this can be forgotten in the face of emotional transference once these feelings have been triggered.

  The opposite can happen too. Upon finding a religion and discovering it was nothing at all like the Jehovah’s Witnesses taught it was may make some just as anxious to explain to the Witnesses about how wrong they were about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc. However since the Witnesses never give an open ear to those who exit or who are disfellowshipped, the need to have their discovery heard can also cause a form of transference. In these instances a non-theist may become the target of projected feelings, and without realizing it the religious ex-JW can find themselves bullying the atheist ex-JW due to unconsciously making them a replacement for the Witnesses who will not hear. The same type of sweeping judgments, the same way of claiming that the opposite choice is just as unwise or illogical can and will happen in this situation.

  Be careful, whoever you are, that you do not tear each other apart because of your newfound places and views in life. The other ex-Witness you are talking to is not your enemy. Neither religion or the lack of it is the real problem here. It is the Watchtower, the Governing Body, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses who are responsible for all the pain, anger, frustration, and anxiety you are experiencing regarding religious issues.

  Arguing and debating among ourselves as to whether or not religion is correct or not correct, good or bad, and then insulting fellow Watchtower survivors for the choices they make and the new convictions they adopt is exactly what the Jehovah’s Witnesses say that we will do upon leaving them. You do this and you fulfill their prophecy about us and prove them right.

  There are no easy answers. Neither a spiritual approach or one governed by critical thinking will make you "right" and others "wrong." No “one-size-fits-all” panaceas such as religion or non-religion that gives any of us “the truth” or makes us right exist. Believing there is and then thinking you are right because of your new set of convictions (whether they be secular or religious or whatever) and that others are wrong is acting no different that Jehovah’s Witnesses. We have learned nothing and changed nothing about ourselves if we still do this.

  Some debate can be helpful, some healing can include getting very angry, but most of the time nothing is settled. Don’t make this place the “outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Can we make this a place of light where there is tolerance and non-judgment? Or are we destined to keep judging others' views and convictions like we did when we were once JWs, blind to the fact that our doctrines and affiliations have changed but our hearts did not?
• 

  Finkelstein

  It is the Watchtower, the Governing Body, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses who are responsible for all the pain, anger, frustration, and anxiety you are experiencing regarding religious issues.

  That's true for most who come to this site but there many other religoius organizations that are also harmful and dangerous to humanity due to their created doctrines.
  
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  hyperpen

  Read Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not A Christian"