Choosing another religion?

by asleif_dufansdottir 22 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  amac

  Thanks for the reply LT...
  
  You stated:
  

  Sermon's can stimulate thoughts, moral, ethical and inevitably theological.

  
  Can't reading a book do it more? I'd prefer to spend my time reading.
  
  

  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.

  
  This seems to leak over into the social aspect. The reason is you can no doubt worship alone, in fact, I'm sure you would agree that worshiping alone is a much more personal experience. So what about communal worship makes worshiping easier? No doubt it is the support and comraderie, which also carries the negative aspect of "fear of man" and external influences on your worship. So beyond the fact that its enjoyable to hang out with like minded people, I'm not sure how communal worship is any easier.
  
  Please knwo that I don't mean to belittle your thoughts on worship, I'm just looking to see if you have any reasoning that might make me think differently than I currently do.
• 

  mouthy

  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.( posted by little toe) That is my postion exactly.... I consider myself a Christian. ( a poor one but God isnt finished with me yet)I was ousted in 1987- was searching for truth ,went into Coonites,thought they "had it right" until they told me I had to work for others salvation...Been there done that. Found other exJW in 1989 wanted the peace they had....Started to pray for wisdom... about Jesus.... I think the HOLY SPIRIT taught me .... I may be wrong again. But at 76 it is the happiest ,most contented,peaceful I have EVER been in my life -yes I have lost most of my family either in death or to the Wt but I have the peace to know within myself that GOD has it in HIS control, I believe I will see them again.....Sorry for the long post
• 

  LittleToe

  Amac:
  I'm really not interested in changing your point of view, honestly.
  I'm happy presenting mine, and if it helps someone else, all well and good.
  Meanwhile I enjoy learning about other's viewpoints, and discussing both.

  People can do all of those things alone, but again maybe it's horses for courses. Some perhaps are more gregarious, some prefer solitude.

  Why do people go to the theater rather than just reading Shakespeare?

  My first experience of church was unusual. It was nothing like the KH. Afterwards everyone buggered off without talking. They were there to worship, and worship alone. Then they wanted to go home and have lunch with the family.
  Is that what you'd describe as a social experience?

  Now I could tell you all about my various experiences, and you'd maybe they would inspire you to experience such a thing, maybe they would drive you to further skepticism (one reason that I usually only share them in person, as a form of testimonial).

  Now to take that point one stage further. You are reading about it here, but to experience that personally is another dimension.

  I can perhaps use that an an illustration to state that a spiritual experience can sometimes be gained in such a setting, where one wouldn't be invoked alone. For this primary reason I'd state that religion has it's place.

  Mouthy:Thanks for sharing that. It was part of your testimony that I was unaware of