Am I right about the WT being wrong? (page 4)

TheListener

FF, Like so many others have already said you're not alone in these feelings. The "what if I'm making a huge mistake" question comes up into my mind every so often. When that happens I try to focus on the issues that I know they are messed up on. For example how much control they have or the blood doctrine. Coming here and getting advice has been the best thing ever for me.

Keep posting and thinking about things. It's important to use your thinking and reasoning abilities (oh my- that sounded rather dublike).

Mary

Now after saying all that, I still go through some time of doubting myself. Sometimes I still get that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I just left the only "right" religion. Especially when I read something that the DO have correct. Have any of you experience this? And does it ease up over time? I still feel like I'm in the "deprogramming" process. Will I be totally "deprogrammed"?

While everyone reacts differently when they realize that this isn't the one true religion, the lasting effects that it can have on us is incredible. It's ingrained into our brains so deeply either from birth or when you first start a study with JWs, that this is the ONLY acceptable worship and that if you don't follow the Organization, Jehovah hates you and will murder you at Armageddon. That's pretty devastating stuff but our brains get used to it and it can take alot of time before you feel differently. You may want to consider talking to a councellor or therapist that deals specifically with people who have been in cults. They can really help you put things into perspective.

Plus, I have found that sites like this one, can be very therepudic, because at times I thought there was something really wrong with me, as I was questioning alot of the doctrines. Coming on here made me realize that it wasn't me---it was the religion.

Welcome Aboard!

Gretchen956

All that nagging doubt does ease up over time as others have said. When I had a doubt based on something I believed (them) about, I would remember that I KNEW other things were true based on my upbringing with JWs and found out THOSE things were false. So after that I never started with the assumption that they were correct about anything, I just did my own studying or research and soon I have my own set of beliefs that are unique to myself. You'll find your path to your higher power too, doesn't have to look like your hubby's, just has to be yours.

Blessings,

Sherry

diamondblue1974

This is the worst part of being an ExJW in that you are constantly taught 'not rely upon your own counsel'; this then supports the belief that you cannot simply form your own opinions and must in turn seek the WT guidance on issues of doctrine. I personally suffer from this and I am sure everyone else does so too, but the key is to keep your assumptions in check.

Keep searching and keep asking, we were created with an enquiring spirit we must put it to good use instead of letting others rule our thoughts, feelings and belief's.

DB

franklin J

Hi freedom frog

to your topic, yes, you are correct in your assessment of the Watchtower. They are wrong.

I have been out for over 20 years; I sent myself into therapy to deal with the culture shock and I was "deprogrammed". It took time to get away from it all. I surrounded myself with non JW activities and new non JW friends. Build a new support network of friends on the outside. This is so important.

good luck, Frank

seattleniceguy

Hello FF,

How many of you believe in a god? I feel bad that I waiver on this. I WANT so badly to believe (if it's true), but I don't want to be fooled again.

Think of it this way. You are obviously trying as hard as possible to do and believe the right thing. So let's say in the end that you settle on something that seems for all the world to be right, and then you are called to stand before a hypothetical God.

Can he ask you to do any more than you have done? He knows that you have lived and believed in what seemed to be the most reasonable way possible. Would he not rather hold you accountable for living out of accord with your conscience in order to stay in some organization? Would he not be pleased - even proud - that you had the courage and strength to exercise your (presumably) God-given intellect and conscience to make honest decisions in your life?

If there is a God, he knows that I am living in the best way I know how. And that includes exercising my rational mind and concluding that there is no evidence that he exists. I rather hope to be surprised one day. I think we'd both have a good chuckle. And I honestly think a loving creator would be happy with me for doing the right thing based on what I knew at the time.

SNG

new boy

FF

Yes you are deprograming yourself That means YOU have to think for yourself!

Since they did 95% of our thinking this can be tough. HAY we didn't need a brain when we were J.W.s they told us what to think. Its like exercising a part of our bodies we didn't use before.

And it makes it really confusing when they were right about somethings. I.E passivism, honesty, lying ect. ect.

You need new information to help you.

READ READ READ

Find out who YOU really are and what you really believe!

jaffacake

I've never been a JW but nearly fainted with shock at my 1st memorial & 1st visit to a KH last week. In the talk the guy pretty much said that unlike all Christians from Pentecost until 1935, we are not under the new covenant (which is the main purpose of the whole Bible) Until Rutherford changed the rules in 1935 all Christians were under the new covenant & went to heaven when they died.

So we are born too late to be saved by Christ's death, we have to rely on the FDS instead. Hey, if they get this wrong, what does it matter if they get anything else right?

FreedomFrog

And I honestly think a loving creator would be happy with me for doing the right thing based on what I knew at the time.

I have to admit that's what I'm thinking too. I feel that (if there is a god) he will be more understanding than what us humans could ever be. I feel that if he sees us trying to think for ourselves and not allowing others think for us then he would be VERY happy with us for at least trying.

I look at my kids and think that if they were trying to do what's "right" but still getting it wrong, I wouldn't punish them for doing it wrong. I would (maybe in time) show them how I REALLY wanted it. I would even praise them for trying. I don't think that God would do any different. If we are "in likeness" to him, then wouldn't he be more so to forgive and show us the "way" rather than just send us to hell, or whatever the current church teaches?

I can't serve God under false pretenses. I did that as a dub and didn't feel good about myself. If I find God, then I want to serve him because I love HIM...not under any obligations. If I were God I wouldn't want anyone to love me because that's what they were told to do...I'd want them to love me because they WANTED to love me. And if they couldn't "find" me but was trying or would have loved me if they had found me, I wouldn't be upset at them.

And I can't see a loving God EVER sending anyone to hell just because they couldn't find him. I can't even see it even with truly wicked people being tortured forever...if he does "destroy" them, I don't think it will be in the form of torturing...maybe just wiping them off complete...but not torturing.

Just my opinion. (I'm gonna get bashed here...I feel it coming)

FF

jaffacake

I believed in God but drifted away for 30 years. The closest thing I got to understanding if there was a God, or why we exist was through the very latest science, which blows my mind at times. Especially as the most up to date theories seem to say there probably is a God of creation after all.

Ironically, it is just since my lovely, & too trusting friends became JWs, that I started reading the Bible again after 30 years. Just to help them escape. This time I read it properly, not hop-skotch (as taught in my teens in a similar sect to JWs). I still have some doubts, but the truth of the Bible is starting to mean a lot to me. The Bible & history of Watchtower prove beyond any doubt that WTS are not what they claim to be. If there is a God, it is not compatible with WTS doctrine.

For me, it is only things like WTS that make me doubt my belief in the Bible. I would be willing to send you files I tried to send my friends, but they rejected them.

Am I right about the WT being wrong?

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