Choosing another religion?

by asleif_dufansdottir 22 Replies latest jw friends

amac

Mine was a crude, truncated description of my view on religion. But nevertheless, LittleToe, I'm curious of what your view on the purpose and good of a religion is? What do they offer you personally?
Narkissos

1. Became a JW (with part of my family) at age 13.
2. Became a pioneer at 18 and then a Bethel member.
3. Was DF'd for Christ-centered apostasy at age 27.
4. Associated a few weeks later with an Evangelical church, then studied theology, quickly realized I couldn't be an Evangelical, shared in Biblical critical research and edition.
5. When my daughter was born (7 years ago), realized I didn't want to transmit her any religious education -- so personally I was through with it. Almost never went back to church since, only sharing from time to time with a Liberal Protestant theological fellowship which accepts my current atheistic views.
Euphemism

I was raised a JW. My father had a sizable library of of multiple translations, interlinears, lexica, etc and taught me to use them. I never used them to closely scrutinize JW beliefs until a little over a year ago, however. After several months of study, I finally decided to leave the Witnesses. This was a prayerful decision, and I continued to study the Bible, and intended to remain a Christian.
Once I felt free to analyze the Bible objectively, however, it became more and more clear to me that it is a human book. Still, for a time, I believed that the Bible was "the imperfect recording of a perfect message", and that the fundamentals of Christianity were still true
The more I thought about it, however, the more it seemed to me that there was nothing to distinguish Christianity as better or worse--or truer or falser--than any other religious tradition. I gradually moved towards deism, and eventually towards agnosticism, which is where I am right now.
I still believe that the human spiritual impulse is real and important, however. Spiritual experiences are inherently transcendent, and can only be described through metaphors. So I think that when Little Toe says that he has a personal relationship with Christ, for example, that is the metaphor he chooses to describe his spiritual experience. I respect any spiritual practice, as long as it honors the rights of individuals.
LittleToe
Amac:
Well, given that I believe in "God", I believe that religion is one way of connecting with the Divine (but wasn't involved in mine).
Sermon's can stimulate thoughts, moral, ethical and inevitably theological.
Other aspects of the service are more directly involved in the issue of communal worship, which in some ways is easier than always worshipping alone alone.
Further there's a whole social scene involved, which helps contribute to the usual human need for likeminded company.
I do understand that some people go to church merely for the latter reason, but in this I believe they are missing the point entirely. I also see some folks devote their life to "church", and get distracted from true spirituality and charity. I find that sad, too, but that's their perogative.
This is also a truncated response
Incidentally, my earlier comment was an observation on more than just your post, albeit yours sparked the opportunity for the comment.
Hope you're enjoying the religiously inspired Holiday period
Cheers,
Ross.
LittleToe
Euph:
So I think that when Little Toe says that he has a personal relationship with Christ, for example, that is the metaphor he chooses to describe his spiritual experience. I respect any spiritual practice, as long as it honors the rights of individuals.

Works for me
I was discussing something like this with someone, only this morning. The following isn't exactly using theologically sound terminology, but maybe the framework will strike a chord:
In Christianity I see an impossibly high standard set by a role model with whom you can have a personal relationship (as an aspect of the Divine)
It's acknowledged that you can't attain that "ultimate" human standard, but that's ok - you are you
You can become reconciled to yourself, your inherant guilt, and a higher power, hence sublimating any parental/authority fear
It makes sense of some of the chaos because "something" is in control of everything, even if the reasons for happenings make little sense
IMHO any church that never preaches "grace" has likely missed the point.
Besides, most of my experiences have been surrounding and continue to lead me to the bible and Christian churches, in the main.
If there is a God and Christianity is wrong, then I suspect I still have a lot to learn from it, from the way my life is panning out.
Open-minded enough for ya
CruithneLaLuna

Although the question related only to Christianity and agnosticism/atheism, it's important to realize that those are not the only options that may make sense for and to an ex-JW. I know of an ex-JW Buddhist and an ex-JW Hindu (both Westerners who were attracted to those faiths after leaving the Witnesses), and plenty of ex-JW Pagans - mostly Wiccans, but some who follow other indigenous spiritualities and Neo-Pagan revivalist paths. I have been initiated recently into the Druid path. There are several other Pagans who also post here.
After leaving the Witnesses, I spent the better part of a year being areligious, which is not quite the same thing as becoming agnostic or atheist. It was just my period of trying to shed prior conditioning and taking a much-needed break from pursuit of the spiritual. I did try to pray, and I did think about spiritual things a lot, during this period. I just did not seek outside input.
Later, I began to read books concerning science and the paranormal (a favorite subject for debunking in some quarters, yawn). While this is not necessarily directly related to spirituality, paranormal stuff certainly CAN be realted to spirituality, and often the connection is overt, in that religious "miracles" may be calssifed as paranormal phenomena. Anyway, this interest led me into an interest in shamanism and magick on the one hand, and into what quantum physics implies and suggests about spirituality on the other. I want to make it clear at this point that my interests were never narrow. I did not "zero in on" Paganism at this stage. I studied a variety of topics, on their own terms, that are verboten for Witnesses, including hypnotherapy (with an emphasis on the spiritual side, including past-life and inter-life regression, and healing using suggestion and the power of the mind), meditation and brainwave entrainment using audio signals to induce meditative states (a shortcut that may be particulatly valuable for Westerners), Silva Mind Control, Huna (the traditional Hawaiian system shamanism, philosophy, ethics, and magick), psychological energy therapies based on the orientation meridian system, the human aura, chakras, and the energy bodies, intuitive and shamanic healing, holotropic breathwork, and many other similar and related topics. I began to peruse, and in some cases investigate, systematic techniques for healing and transformation that had a spritiual basis. I am almost certainly alive and hopeful for the future today as a direct result of pursuing these interests. I also think that a study of human spirituality that fails to take such into account is woefully incomplete.
When I was ready, I accepted a friend's invitation to accompany her to religious services, at an interfaith church. I was amazed at the apparently authentic spirit of love and cooperation that existed there between people of varied spiritual backgrounds and paths, and at how much in terms of genuine spirituality such people could share. Granted, the services and rituals of that church would not be for everyone, but to me they were like food for the starving, or water for one who had been stricken by drought for decades (including the time I spent as a Jehovah's Witness). In fact, although I had attended mainline denominational Christina churches previously, I would say that this was my first encounter with genuine spirituality in a group setting.
I also went with the same friend to Spiritualist Church services, and participated in the meetings of a group that discussed books in a private home, exemplifying what a "book study" could be if it were based on the interests and genuine humanity (thoughts, feelings, and spiritual perspectives) of the participants, rather than being yet another venue for dogmatic indoctrination.
Eventually, after all of the exploration summarized above, I learned that my personal beliefs had evolved in a way that brought me into alignment with Neo-Paganism in general, and Druidry specifically. I then contacted a Druid who had founded an interfaith Grove embracing Druids, Wiccans, magickal and Pagan-friendly Christians, and "anyone who walks in the door" with a friendly spirit and openness of mind and heart. I've been happily associated with this group ever since, for about a year and a half. I have completed a course in Bardic concepts and practices, and have been initiated at that level. (The ancient Druids were subdivided into three groups, Bards, Ovates, and Druids, with concentrations of "theory and practice" peculiar to each group. At least some modern self-designated "Druids" recognize and follow this system of specialization today. Druidic studies build upon Ovate studies, which in turn require Barid knowledge and experience.)
It is very important that Christians, Jew, Muslims, and others in this culture become educated about Paganism, at least to the point that certain common misconceptions are vanquished and banished.
Paganism is not a "fluffy" pursuit most appropriate for teenagers who are beginning a personal exploration of their spiritual natures.
Pagans do not worship the Devil. We do not "worship creation rather than the Creator;" rather, we worship the Creator/Creatrix as embodied in Creation.
We do not embrace and promote practices that are morally and ethically abhorrent to the majority, or anti-social in nature. Love, wisdom, justice, power (-with rather than -over, and personal empowerment), honesty, integrity, and other ethical principles are of highest importance to most Pagans.
In general: We are less judgmental than other faiths. We view one's sexual orientation, and sexual activities engaged in by consenting adults, as purely personal matters. We tend to embrace diversity, rather than fear it.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to say this, in response to the original query.
Warm regards and blessings,
Cruithne
Satans little helper

This is really interesting and perhaps get's more to the point of what I was trying to ask when I posed the question why.
To clarify my personal viewpoint and perhaps explain where I am coming from -
1) Was raised a 3rd generation JW with an elder as a father
2) Was very enthusiastic and committed as a teenager until the age of 14 when I discovered girls
3) Really started to become disillusioned when I saw how people treated each other even within the organisation and how they ignored the plight of others outside of the religion. When band aid happened I was sickened to hear some elders councilling others about donating to charity, they said the money would be better used to spread the world than feeding the starving.
4) Was baptised at 16 through family pressure. By this point I was smoking and not at all interested
5) Really began examining the JW teachings in response to my realisation that the beard issue was not only rediculous but merely the teaching of men with no scriptural basis
6) Was DF'd at 18 for immorality
7) Completely rejected the JW faith and also the bible based on the innacuracy of the creation account and scientific proof of the existance of man many thousands of years ago.
8) Considered reinstatement at 24 following a particularly bad experience but couldn't live with the hypocracy
9) Briefly investigated paganism, budhism and Islam and found that paganism sits quite well with my world view and feelings of oneness with the world
10) Questioned the existance of a christian/judaic god as it doesn't make any sense for 'god' to be so mean, vindictive, petty and egotistical. If god exists in a 'worship me or die' form then I'm not interested. This is why I don't get why people jump from the JW's and still hang on to Christianity. Being good to others and accepting people of all faiths, creeds and backgrounds as Christ did is exactly what I believe in, but to follow Christ you need to accept his divinity, which I don't, and also accept all the bad stuff in the NT
I'm now coming to a point where I am settled, married and trying to start a family so I am again thinking of the spiritual and wish to look back into paganism and druidic teachings. I'm also interested in learning more about shamanism, anyone got any pointers to good sources of information on paganism or shamanism?
Steve
LittleToe

Steve:
but to follow Christ you need to accept...x,y,z...

You do? Ooops, I'm buggered then!!!
I investigated paganism, druidism, etc., and came full circle. It left it's mark, though
Btw, I'm having a "good" day, today. Sorry about my outburst, yesterday.
Satans little helper

s'ok, we all get a bit cranky at times
LT how do you define a Christian? I am fine with his teachings of acceptance but then there are the flip side teachings which are less accepting and put me off.
LittleToe

I simply define a Christian as someone who has a personal relationship with Christ.
The two laws start being applied spontaneously (as one is led by the Holy Spirit) but a continuous internal battle ensues, as reported by Paul.
Definitions of how to achieve spirituality may change, depending on belief system, but the bottom line appears to be connecting to the Divine by submitting the ego. This often creates a radical change in an individual, requiring them to re-find themselves, leading to "knowing thyself".
I have found this out by investigation and experientially.
Christianity doesn't appear to be unique in this regard (hence my use of neutral terms, rather than theological ones).
Regardless of whether the bible is true or not, I can validate much of what is reported there from my own experiences. I reserve the right to state that I may be interpreting my "spiritual" experiences incorrectly, but if I am then I'm with millenia of good company.
The difference with a Christ-centered spiritual belief system is that it is IMHO more personal, human-faced, and all the reasons I earlier mentioned in this thread.

Choosing another religion?

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