Some Of Us Missing Out On Something?

by Englishman 20 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  MegaDude

  E-Dude,

  ROFL.
• 

  IronGland

  Yet, just now and again, I pick up something else in the occasional post. Just sometimes, someone indicates that they left the JW's because they experienced what I can only describe as a higher calling, maybe a religious experience that affected them profoundly.

  People with such ideas about themselves are the source of much mischief in this world.
• 

  czarofmischief

  People with such ideas about themselves are the source of much mischief in this world.

  Really? I had no idea. I should charge them royalties.

  While the hedonistic aspects of my life are well-known, the incredible way I was rejected while trying to honestly get reinstated was what made me stop and think about whether I actually believed this stuff I was trying so hard to live up to. My spiritual growth came as a result of this story, so bear with my longwindedness.

  I mean, I got disfellowshipped for immorality. BUT - I didn't leave or stop going to the Kingdom Hall for a year afterwards. I mean, I really, really tried to make every meeting, to study for all of them, to keep plugging away, tried to stay "clean". In the end, though, the sandy religious foundation wore away under the storms of my youth.

  I read Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary, and that made me think. His blistering attacks on the mindless Catholicism of the day (diguised as attacks on Islam's similar mental requirements) could just as well be applied to the JW's belief in things like "anointing" and "the faithful and discreet slave."

  In angry rebellion after the humiliating second meeting, where I was denied reinstatement, I looked up Jehovah's Witnesses on the card catalog at the library - and came across Ray Franz' book, CoC. I had heard rumors of the turmoil of the early 80's, and when I saw that this man was a member of the mysterious GB, I was sold! I borrowed it and read it in a night.

  So, having my "faith" completely destroyed, I really feel that God rebuilt me from the ground up. I can't say I had a mystical experience. But, in desperation, I prayed to God to show me the truth, even if it wasn't what I expected. I think that was the key - that mental attitude, ready to accept that God won't answer my prayers in the way I expect. What I found, was this forum, and Kent's website watchtower Observer. I know, on the surface, it seems like just a natural outcome. I was in this questioning state about my religion, and naturally I would use the Internet in my search. So, there is no indisputable act of God in my life.

  But the way I was able to shed so much of the emotional baggage of the cult means that God was blessing me (to me). Helping me to heal, put aside the silly superstitions and "Jewish fables," as Paul puts it. I feel so much better, having grown so much, become such a better person, not prone to violence anymore, able to have a good time without guilt... I really think God was and is helping me. I'm humbler about my monetary goals, I just think I have a friend up there.

  To be honest, I don't need to enforce my beliefs on anybody. But here they are: One God, who is your friend, and He will help you become a better person. Death and suffering are inevitable, but He can help you take the best possible way through it and use it to grow. Death is not the end. Be nice.

  That's my religion. No church services, although I do take donations (I accept checks, credit card, paypal, and booty calls! )

  I think, like a chrysalis, the concept of organized religion serves a purpose, nurturing the soul, until it's time to hatch. Then, for the chrysalis to fulfill its promises, it has to be discarded.

  CZAR
• 

  GentlyFeral

  Irongland,

  a higher calling, maybe a religious experience that affected them profoundly.

  People with such ideas about themselves are the source of much mischief in this world.

  Well, yeah. But I had a "higher calling" myself -- not to be some tinfoil messiah or anything that chintzy. I was simply called to be honest, something I had not been for many years; and the self-deception crept in so slowly that I had not noticed it. Finally I realized, as I put it to myself, that "the true religion" was "making ME a liar!"

  The hedonism came after -- a further response to the same call.

  GentlyFeral
• 

  Narkissos

  J2bf: You reminded me something I wanted to say but forgot; I'm pretty convinced that nobody "misses out on" anything. Everyone has his way, which may or may not include some "mystic" dimension sooner or later. On such a matter comparison doesn't mean a thing IMO.
• 

  Joyzabel

  Thank you Narkissos,

  I tend to agree with you. There are times in my life that I get overwhelming feelings and sometimes not so overwhelming feelings that lead me to make decisions that are profound. Call it intuitiveness or whatever, I know that I connect with something outside myself. I don't have that feeling all the time but it is amazing that it is there during times of "crisis".

  hmmmmmmmmm
• 

  Englishman

  Well, maybe we have mised out. The WT's pseudo-logic does tend to destroy faith, after all. Think of all those so-called "Scientic approaches" for one thing, the "faith without works" logic, the never-ending guilt trips we were forever being sent on, all are faith destroyers.

  What's wrong with our faith simply being based on our intuition anyway?

  Englishman.
• 

  RandomTask

  People with such ideas about themselves are the source of much mischief in this world.

  Some are, and yet many others are the source of much good in this world. I'm not religious myself, but religion can be a means to a good thing as well. NOt all religious people want to control you or tell you how to live your life. In fact, if you are ever in need you are more likely to recieve help from a religious person. A religious person is less likely to steal from you, a religious person is more likely to add something to society, do good works and raise a decent family. You don't hear about these people in the papers, but look around you, some of these people are your co-workers, neighbors and friends. Theres a lot more good in the world than people are ready to admit.

  As far as why I left the JW's. First of all it was a breakdown in my faith in the religion. I took a look at others in the congregation, how they were nothing like what God's people are supposed to be, at least according to the bible that they themselves profess to believe in. Everything seemed legalistic, much like the Pharisees we studied about again and again in the Greatest Man book. They were a stark contrast to Jesus. I just though the whole religion hypocrytical. I began to doubt their doctrines when they amateurishly "explained away" why 'this generation' was dying out by replacing it with the ultimate in CYA explanations. I just simply stopped going and found that my life dd not change for the worse. I didn't really start becoming a worse person and I kept living what they would consider a 'moral' life. And I was a lot happier. It wasn't for two years that I actually was curious enough to do research into their history and beliefs. That was the nail in the coffin for me.
• 

  stillajwexelder

  3. Realisation that it wasn't true. This is/was me -- plus the injustice of JCs/re-instaetement committees
• 

  IronGland

  A religious person is less likely to steal from you, a religious person is more likely to add something to society, do good works and raise a decent family.

  How do you figure that?