Choosing another religion?

by asleif_dufansdottir 22 Replies latest jw friends

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  asleif_dufansdottir

  A discussion on another thread made me wonder about what happens when we finally come to the conclusion that the society is full of sh*t.

  Did you take some time to 'get your religious bearings' before contemplating joining another religion?

  Or, was it a strong religious belief that brought you out of the JWs?

  Do you lack confidence in your ability to evaluate a religion or group now (this is me)?

  I got to wondering if there was a link between what religious direction you went after the JWs and whether you were raised in or joined.

  If you are a Christian now - were you 'raised in the truth?'

  If you are agnostic/atheist now - did you join as an adult?

  What makes me wonder, is that my husband and I joined as adults (with some initial resistance that it was 'the truth'), after having already looked into some other Christian denominations. When we finally accepted a few years later, that the society was full of it, that sort of brought the whole 'house of cards' tumbling down as far as religion goes. I wondered if those who were Christians now, had 'discovered' Christianity after being raised as JWs?

  Comments?
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  2escaped lifers

  I was raised a JW, from birth. Took me 30 years to come to the conclusion that the WTS was full of S***. After the last 2-3 years of soul-searching and research, which lead to my departure from the WTS, I am now a very strong agnostic, leaning towards athiest.

  Brandon
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  lisaBObeesa

  For me it was like this after I left the JWs:

  step 1: A couple of years of: "JWs can't be 'God's One Right Religion' because they don't have the 'fruitage of the Spirit', but they have the Bible down right!"

  step 2: A couple of years of: "Oh my gosh the JWs are wrong about a bunch of stuff in the Bible and the GB knows it and are misleading millions of people!!"

  step 3 A couple of years of: "Oh, so THAT is what the Bible really teaches...cool!" ....But still freaked out by all churches....

  Step 4 A couple of years of: "Wow! Not all Christians believe the same stuff and that is O.K. Cool!"...still freaked out by all churches...

  Step 5 A couple of years of: "Wow, I would really like to find a nice church that didn't make me want to throw up..."

  Step 6 Here I am now...looking for a church...like what I read about the United Church of Christ...thinking of checking it out next Sunday...

  There really were a few more steps in there, but I am not sure where they all fit in...

  -LisaBObeesa

  (Raised JW, as my avatar says)
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  KKLUV155

  I was raised in this clut and at age 20 started having doubts, at 21 realized JW is not for me, 22 got married to a "worldly" man. It took me 9 years to decide to step in a church b/c I thought the demons would attack me. That was three years ago. I have been going to church every since. I love the freedom I have at this church. The church I go to you can dress how you like. Guys can have long hair, tattoos, earrings and nobody judges them. My Pastor says that church is not for the perfect people. If you are perfect you don't need church. Jesus loves you just the way you are. I feel very comfortable at this church.
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  got my forty homey?

  I was raised in the org and as many of you may know after a horrible year at Bethel I pretty much knew something was wrong with this religon. However deep inside my mind I still felt guilty saying anything bad about JW's and maybe I thought in the back of my mind that it was the truth but had some problems. However, after the past 5 years, especially after 9/11 I really doubt anything concerning religon. How can any God allow people to domineer, kill, abuse, take advantage of people in his name.

  I use to joke that whatever the Muslims weren't killing, the Catholic priests were raping and the evagelists were stealing.
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  Mysterious

  After I reached the conclusion that the WT had no more hold on my religious beliefs I started looking at other belief systems. Mainstream christianity was first since I still had faith in the bible. I soon realized there were things there I couldn't reconcile and I started to look at the bible itself. After I concluded I no longer believed in the bible I started talking to other people and re-examining my beliefs from every angle I could imagine. I decided I didn't want to get involved in any religion that placed any sort of restrictions or stigma on gays. I was also leery of any religion that told me I had to believe as they did. I ended up looking at Unitarian Universalists and I still remain somewhat interested. I'll probably attend a worship there at least once. However I finally decided what felt right to me and that was to become a Pagan. I hid my interest from everyone until I had made my decision and it remains the spiritual path I'm exploring.
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  LittleToe

  1. Born in the JW's, 3rd Gen.
  2. Had a "spiritual experience", followed by many more that continue to this day
  3. Started to question doctrines of WTS, using bible and prayer
  4. Concluded they were wrong but didn't want any other religion (took two months)
  5. Started to make non-JW friends (after a futher two months)
  6. Left JW's (after yet another two months)
  7. Felt "drawn" to try one particular denomination which I made my main base (another "experience")
  8. Attended numerous denominations, and continue to do so
  9. Explorered and investigated numerous other belief systems, and continue to do so
  10. Investigated authenticity of "Holy Writings" and continue to do so (though my "faith" isn't based on this anyhow)
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  amac

  I was raised as a JW and was very active (pioneered, Bethel, MS, etc) and started realizing that I had a lot of questions when I was about 26. After a few years of Bible study, I realized that the WT wasn't as "right" as they claimed they were. I also came to the conclusion that the God of the Old Testament was nothing like the God of the NT or Jesus Christ, which casts a shadow of doubt on the whole darn thing. So I am now quite agnostic and have no desire or need for a religion to tell me how to act or to believe in a book that is faulty to begin with. I still pray with a hope that there is a God who listens, but don't count on it. I don't feel I need any group to help me try to communicate with God.
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  U.2.K. Tha Greate$t

  I DONT HAVE A RELIGION, BUT I BELEIEVE IN god and jESUS CHRIST! AND I FOLLOW THE COMMMANDMENTS AND LWAS THAT GOD GAVE TO THE WORLD TO FOOLOW.

  I Dont have a religion, but i believe in GOD & Jesus Christ and i follow GOD's commandments and laws. Not believing in GOD is a very bad choice, you aint blind you see his creation!
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  LittleToe

  It seems to be a common theme that people believe that religions propagate the idea that you need them to communicate with the Divine.

  This position is contrary to my experience of religions (other than controlling cults like the JW's), and by this I don't just mean Christian denominations.

  Just an observation...