by LyinEyes 19 Replies latest jw friends
I have been to the mormon church (very nice people)
I have been to a catholic service,salavation army (also nice people)
Went to a born again church and had the best time I ever had in church
Contrary to what the witnesses teach all the above seemed to be worshiping god with more love than I ever saw displayed at a kingdom hall
Hi LyinEyes:
I have been to church since leaving the JW's - in fact, I liked it so much that I now go almost every Sunday. Go check it out and see what you think - you could also talk with the Sunday school teacher in advance and ask her what activities they do in sunday school. My daugther is now 6 and loves church - she's been going since she was 3. I let her make her own decision each week if she wants to go with me or stay home with dad and watch cartoons - believe it or not, most weekends she wants to go to sunday school.
I would check out a couple of churches - find one that you might feel comfortable with. Different churches have different ways of worshiping, some are more sermon based, some more music - I'm sure you'll find one you feel comfortable about.
after leaving the dubdom, I have become an agnostic. it is the only true thing to believe in. no one can prove or disprove in the existance of god. I dont know and you dont eather
I go to a nearby Unitarian Church quite often. The minister is a really nice lady, very knowledgable and nonjudgemental. They have some very nice quilt artwork. I've never been to the main sessions on sunday (something about me being an xjw makes me refuse to get up on Sunday morning for anything related to spirituality), but my buddhist group often meets there on other days. I've been to several Vedanist monastaries and temples, go to a local Buddhist monastary sometimes (although the resident monk is kind of a recluse and tends to keep to himself. Most monks I've bet were quite the opposite). I haven't been to a local "Christian" church here in town, though. I don't care much for the charismatic stuff, personally, and that is mostly what is around here. I will try to get me an invite though, since this town has some of the best gospel music around (Memphis), and I would like to hear one.
What church did you go to?
My kids and I checked out about 7 or 8 churches in our area. They were all about the same. We settled on the local Methodist Church for a few reasons. One, they really welcomed us. Two, quite a few of our neighbors go there. Three, the Methodist Church (at least this one) does a LOT of community work without beating people over the head with the Bible. They do everything from providing day care for teenage mothers who are working to food pantries to helping ex-cons who need help fitting back into society.
What has surprised me is the fact that I'm not a "member" of the chuch (not going down that road again) but my kids and I are treated just like everyone else. And not once have we been pressured to become official members.
Only a couple of things I don't care for. The pastor comes from "the big city" and has a somewhat liberal spin on most things and two, I don't like home the collection plate is passed around. I don't mind throwing in my nickels but I know many in the church can't spare a buck and contribute because they feel that everyone is watching them.
I've not been to any churches. Its all make believe.
ISP
Hi, Lyin
I've been to numerous weddings & funerals, and one 'confirmation'.
To be honest, I just 'tuned out' the religious stuff, it's all pretty boring to me. BUT, overall, being in church just creeps me out. Someone at the front interpreting the Bible, people sitting there all dressed up, nodding, doing their little rituals, singing the songs. I didn't like the feeling.
Nice things in churches around here - at Xmas time, several of the churches have fund-raising concerts, mostly for shelters and food banks. I have gone twice to different churches. The churches are beautiful inside, and the singing of the carols feels very spiritual and it was a truly lovely experience.
One of the big Cathedrals does Handel's Messiah - everyone gets a copy of the lyrics, and you spend an hour rehearsing. Then all participate in the singing of the Messiah, accompanied by the huge organ (and I mean several stories high) that is in the Cathedral. It is amazing!!!
tal
I would go to weddings or funerals and other social things, but going there for a church service just isn't in the cards for me. I am very turned off by all religion, and can't imagine ever being different. You know what they say "Once Burned. Twice Shy."
We took my Dad to his cousin's funeral two years ago, at a Catholic Church. One of my Catholic cousins sat with us to explain things as they happened, and leaned over once, saying, "It's kind of a dog and pony show isn't it?" We both nodded at her. So much ritual and ceremony. I guess it was comforting to the Catholics, but to me it seemed a bit silly, much like the JW meetings must have seemed silly to visitors.
The first church I attended was the mormons around christmas 2002. I was so nervous my legs were shaking. I felt i was comming a gross sin I thought someone would notice, but everyone was nice and friendly. The reason i was checking out the mormon church was because a couple years prior, I was going through depression I had to take medication for, plus it was the first anniversary of my dad's passing....I was 'labled' unspiritual by my best friend's father (an elder) and I lost my friendship, which hurt really bad, but at work was a former missionary that was a member of the mormon church took interest and really showed what a true christian is. And I was taught that you will know the disciples by the love they have among each other, and at one of the lowest points in my life, i didn't receive that love from the organization that at the time was my life, but I did receive it from a total stranger. So I wanted to look into the mormon church, with my jw line of reasoning that there's one 'true organization' and studied up on the beleifs, as well as other religions. After reading the bible comparing several different versions and studying english/hebrew and english/greek bibles, it isnt religion thats going to judge us if we get eternal life or not. Jw's say that babylon the great sits on many waters (representing people) riding the back of the wild beast (kings of the earth). From my research and studies, from jw's intrepretation of this scripture, they might as well include themselves in on it because they have alot of members, in many lands, and they certain ride the back of the wild beast.
Anyawy, when I expressed to the missionaries that I wasnt interested in becoming a member, I was just checking out the church, they never bothered me since. Since then I have also attended the baptist church. These seem like ordinarly average people, most of them seem to do what is right by what they think in their hearts and minds. During services in both churches I couldn't help but look around and see the people, knowing some of them are as dogmatic about their religion being the only true religion as a typical jw, and with my jw raising (23 years total with almost 4 years out, so in a sence, I still have a foot in) thinking that these people are not 'bad' and 'evil' as I was led to beleive that members of 'babylon the great' (non jw) are. As far as being bothered by jw's to come back to the faith, I never had to worry. I moved away from my home town two years after I became inactive, the hometown I lived in all my life (total of 25 years) and not one single person has contacted me. Oh, they tell my mom, who is still active, how they miss me, blah blah blah. Even my mom made arrangements with the local kh where i live now to come by to visit, but they didn't keep their arrangement. I was wanting to keep up to date with the current magazines (esp the wt) to see what changes, however since they dont do subscriptions anymore, cannot trust a jw to bring every issue. guess ill have to wait for the bound volumes to come out.
Anyway! This is my first post. There's so much to read and I enjoy everyone's experiences and comments.
J.R. - Dallas, TX
Hey northtxjim,
Nothing wrong with checking things out; in fact it's the very best thing you can do.
Like you, most people find that the JW view on the world is, well, skewed would be putting it mildly. So do keep on finding things out for yourself!
AlanF
