Six
That was pissy. We were all like that once you know.
my-journey
So is this site just to bash Jehovah's Witnesses?
No. There are people who bash republicans, people who bash muslims, people who bash gays, people who bash liberals, people who bash people who bash gays. We're quite equal opportunities when it comes to bashing.
What do you believe in now?
'We' don't believe in any one thing. 'We' believe in different things.
Have you all gone back to the ailing Catholic/Protestant churches?
You haven't read many threads have you? Well, some have; let them answer for themselves.
Have you moved onto Islam, in spite of the negative press, etc?
We have a few Muslims drop by, but few people enter Islam after exiting the Dubs.
What do you all believe now?
Different things. I believe that a very long time ago a random fluctuation in the vaccuum energy field that what we call space-time exisits 'on top of' lead to a massive explosion called in popular parlance the big bang. Things happened as one would expect under the physical laws that arrose from the explosion.
These things included the formation of galaxies, stars and planets. On this planet at least some chemicals started duplicating themselves; add in a lot of time and Wallah! You have jumped-up primates with opposable thumbs, Bach, spaceflight, golf and genocide.
The previously mentioned jumped-up primates have constantly been trying to explain why things happen. Big bangs and lights in the sky were OBVIOUSLY caused by larger versions of themselves. Add in a lot of time and you get religions.
ALL religions claim they are right. None can prove it. On the other hand, modern science can prove quite a lot of what it says is right. So I believe in the world I observe around me.
Who do you think knows the truth?
No one knows the truth. The minute anyone starts claiming they know the truth, keep one eye on your wallet and another on the door, as they want something. If they use a big T they are even more untrustworthy.
Are you still searching, or do you think Jehovah is the truth, but because it didn't work out with you first time round, you've decided not to continue looking, cos you know you've found the truth, but it didn't work out convenient to you - I hope that's clear?
It is very clear as it is one of the stock answers JWs have for people ceasing to be JWs; that it was 'too hard'. Within the JWs dissent is impossible; if your conscience differs on any one of mumerous issues you can be deprived of status or thrown out; although the publications change the beliefs over time, if an individual has their own opinion, they are forbidden from disseminating this on pain of disfellowshiping. It is impossible in the eyes of a JW for someone to not believe for a valid reason, as JWs believe they have the definative truth. Therefore, any reason for leaving has to be due to the person not the belief, thus the popular 'it was too hard explanation'.
Many other beliefs, especially the smaller ones characterised as 'high control groups' where behaviours are strictly enforced and punishments (including exclusion) rigidly enforced, have exactly the same approach. They claim to be THE truth, and anyone who opposes them are bad. However, as many many more than one religion says this, either all are wrong or all but one are wrong.
Do you think about Armageddon?
No more than I think about Ragnarok, or any other mythic final battle.
Do you now believe that this earth wasn't desgned by [a] God, but was a random accident?
You will have gathered I do; and I assure you, I have studied the subject and welcome any discussion you may wish to have; once you start seeing the tapestry of ignorance and misconception that form the JWs scientiifc view of the world you may be shocked.
Do you hate Jehovah's Witnesses (I expect you wouldn't HATE them, just not believe in what they say, if you have moved to Protestant/Catholic religions)?
Oh, I'm a "nasty" "atheist", and I don't hate JWs. Doesn't it disturb you that half the questions you have asked show that your world-view is supplied by JW publications, as distinct from reality?
I really did think this site was aimed at Jehovahs Witnesses, but it's just a hate site, and you're all entitled to hate Jehovah's Witnesses - after all, most people do, even so called Christians
Again, you're a victim of propoganda. Most people don't KNOW of Witnesses (add the population of China and India together). To most of those that do, they are people who get them out of bed on the weekend; annoying, but not worthy of hate. However, as with other 'high control groups', JWs are taught the world hates them so as to seemingly fufil Biblical Prophecy and validate their own self-importnce ("they must dislike us as we are right").
- however, I do enjoy reading anything that challenges the faith, I want to know that I have come into the right religion.
Good. The Boreans were the same. Does it trouble you that you are acting against the council of the publications? Why do JWs seek to limit contact with opposing views of those who were JWs? Does 'The Truth' have to hide? Or do they not want you to know things? You are actually breaking with council given in the publications by being online at a non-official JW site frequented by xJWs. Gosh! ANyone would think they have SOMETHING to hide!
When I talk to my Baptist Church friends, I get more confident, as I point them to stuff they didn't know, or don't observe (e.g. it says a tree (for cross) in their bible 3 times, Christmas, Sun God etc). If Jehovah's Witnesses weren't the true religion, I don't think there would be one (or who is? Anyone think differently?),
When I first left I thought that if it wasn't right nothing was; as a JW you are trained to disprove all other religions to your own satisfaction. I studied science. Later I came to a better knowledge of the Bible and literature and realised that the JWs beliefs are not always as wonderful and Biblical as they make out, and no longer hold that opinion as I don't believe there IS a 'true religion', and that JW beliefs are as flawed as many.
as I don't see others that outwardly appear peaceful, truthful and ready to serve God down to the letter, for want of a better expression.
Yeah, my friend's mum says that about other Baptists. I know Buhddists who are convinced they are right nd that the average behaviour of Buhddists shows this. I suppose you believe what you have read in the publications about JWs having a different standard of behaviour to other people? Ha! There are as many JW's in jail as you'd expect, and I suppose you've not heard about the increasing number of cases around the world, where bodies of Elders failed to take appropriate action when the abuse of children by fellow Witneses was bought to their attention (all these ar facts that can be proved).
I am new to the faith though, and like to look at other religions, as they always seem to confirm that I have just joined the right one.
Yes, well, I can think of reasons for that. You are taught how to identify the true religion by those practising it, so obviously you associate JW with truth, just as a Baptist will associate truth with their beliefs, Doesn't mean a thing.
Isn't the URL a bit misleading? Shouldn't it be called "EX-JW's" or something, so that people are forewarned that you people are former JWs, anti-JWs even? Shouldn't there be some kind of notice on the homepage that whoever is looking to learn about the religion has come to the wrong site?
JWs say they are THE Truth. They disfellowship any JW who disagrees, yet adjust their own beliefs over the course of time. Their internal justice system is private; it is unseen, you merely hear announcements. This is a complete fabrication, no justice was handed out by Christians or Israelites in this fashion. Likewise, many unwritten rules, suits on platforms, no beards on men, are not Biblical but invented. Jesus loathed the Pharasees for making up rules that weren't in the Bible. JWs say that the UN is bad, yet they joined the UN as an NGO, supposedly to use the library. At the same point a brother could join the YMCA for the gym and be disfellowshipped.
In such a climate JWs need somewhere where they can safely, without fear of concequences, learn more about their religion and discuss ideas not supported by current JW beliefs. xJWs, deprived of most people they know by disfellowshipping or such-like, need to have a community to learn from and get help from as they reintegrate into mainstream society.
Also, what is that DONATE icon for? Who is it exactly that needs sponsoring, if you are all EX-Jehovahs Witnesses?
This board cost money to run. SImon, the guy who set it up, pays out of his own pocket. The donations and revenue from ad clicks offsets this to some extent but it's not a profit maker.
