Hello and some comments

Briand

I would like to commend all of you for your courage for what you have shared here. It is hard to open ones self up and seek healing through the pain. It seems often, that which we hold the most dear, our faith, can do the most harm. I have never been a member of the Jehovah Witness faith, but did study with them for sometime.

When I became a "born again" "Christian" I often "did battle" with other groups that were not of the faith tradition I was. This often included those of the JW faith. We sometimes had dueling book tables at college, where we would see who had the better "pitch" to the "heathen". There are similarities to the faith tradition I was in, one of them was shunning or excommunication. In our group it was almost always political and done out of convenience, often to cover up mistakes made by the leadership.

In fact our group chucked the whole singles group, a vibrant, group of some 25 or so folks. Many people were just plain devastated. The leadership often played the cover your fanny game by scaring people or intimidation. The group we hated the most were Catholics, most of the folks in the congregation were ex Catholics and had a great anger towards that faith tradition. I guess the thing that finally did me in was that aspect of what I call "true believerism". The idea that this group or that group is of the devil and all but us folks are going to hell. I mean we made decisions about peoples eternal destiny while having coffee. That is truly arrogant when one stops and things about it.

I must admit I admire the caliber of the people I have read here. It takes great strength to overcome spiritual abuse. Many of you have had great trauma and I respect your seeking healing. I hope to share more later.

Brian

jayhawk1

Welcome Briand. We are all first come here seeking closure regarding a religion that has held us in bondage. Now that we are convenced that we are not in any "truth", but rather just another man-made orginization. We get the sence of "what now?" and "where do we turn", so myself, I came here. The fact is, worship god however you want, and doing good to your fellow man is all there is in my opinion. That is what I like most about this forum. Sorry about the singles group collapse. Most religions, need to have this feature if they want to survive. Again, welcome and I look forward to your comments.
Jeremy

"Hand me that whiskey, I need to consult the spirit."-J.F. Rutherford

neyank

Hi Brian,
Welcome to the group.

"Making decisions on peoples eternal destiny while having coffee."
That about sums up how easily different religions judge each other.

No matter what religion it is, it's all a matter of whos interpatation of the Bible
you want to believe.
That's where the diferences come in.

neyank

SixofNine

I mean we made decisions about peoples eternal destiny while having coffee. That is truly arrogant when one stops and things about it.

So true. Sooo true! Boggles the mind doesn't it, that we could have ever been a part of it all?

Francois

Hello and welcome.

I think you hit the nail of the problem right squarely on the head with your tag line "...when you stop and think about it." That's the problem, IMO. Very few stop and think about what they're really saying and doing. And I guess this group is made up of people who did stop and think about it. Too bad more don't engage in actual thinking.

Your post was very well done and insightful. Hope it's the first of many.

Francois

Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.

safe4kids

Welcome Briand,

I guess the thing that finally did me in was that aspect of what I call "true believerism". The idea that this group or that group is of the devil and all but us folks are going to hell. I mean we made decisions about peoples eternal destiny while having coffee. That is truly arrogant when one stops and things about it.

I agree with you and applaud your insight and thinking ability. And isn't it interesting that so many of us made these types of judgements about other people when the Bible clearly tells us that it's not for us to judge?? Hypocritical of us, eh?? But I am very glad to be out of that mindset and glad to welcome you here. Look forward to reading more of your posts!

Dana

"Someday we'll find it...the rainbow connection...the lovers, the dreamers and me"

Kermit the Frog
"Rainbow Connection"

outnfree

Welcome, Briand!

I think I have read all of your posts -- thus far, anyway! I started reading the threads that had new posts for me from the bottom up!

You are definitely gonna be an asset to this board! It is constantly amazing to me to learn that there are so many very judgmental fundamentalist groups out there. And to think, I belonged to one of them!!! "True believerism," indeed!

I was interested in your remark about communal sharing in your group?
And excommunication? on another thread. What religion was this, anyway, please? I'm very curious.

outnfee
Par dessus toutes choses, soyez bons. La bonte est ce qui ressemble le plus a Dieu et ce qui desarme le plus les hommes

Briand

it was the Plymouth Brethren folks that I lived in a house with from 6 to 10 people. It was great at times and hard at times, sometimes we had homeless people live there which was a blessing but some were dangerous, which I do not mind but it makes it hard to relax. The excommunication's was a convenience for the elders, having people come back to the church was never the desire. Getting rid of the problems was. Jesus himself would have been tossed out the door if he got in the way of the program. I then lived in a ministry house for people with disabilities for some years until I got in the way of the program and was shown the door. People are funny about that, I never was "caught" in some horrible "sin" (tm) so I could not be 86ed out the door for good but one can be ignored to death also.

The rebukes for crying because one's father died, the anger at little things like your hair is to long or you don't wear nice clothes ( even if you don't have nice clothes because, like an idiot, you give all your money to the "church" (tm).

As stupid as it may sound I still deeply love Jesus, though I often do not have the foggiest idea who he is . But that's another post.

Take care.

outnfree

Wow, Briand!

On my way to leaving the Witness organization emotionally, I read a book about grief which I think was written by a member of the Plymouth Brethren. It didn't really give a ton of insight into the sect/cult/whatever, but I did get a sense of that "true believerism"
you mentioned. That the sect was really sincere but also really high control, much like what I was trying to leave.

I, too, still very much love most of what I was taught about Jesus and most of what Jesus taught. He was a very compassionate and compelling figure. I am trying to learn more about him and the time he lived in.

Did I understand you to say that your father died and you were very saddened? My father died when I was 19 and away from home and it was very difficult for me. I always hated about the Witnesses how they would trot out that Scripture "we do not grieve as others do..." instead of just allowing people to emote! My condolences if you were speaking about yourself.

I wish you the best in your search for peace and, again, welcome to the board!

outnfree

think41self

Greetings Briand,

Welcome to the board, I too have enjoyed the insightfulness of your comments. It's kind of funny that we experience a grieving process over leaving old beliefs, isn't it? but they are such a part of your life...of YOU.

Anyway, welcome and keep posting. It is part of the healing process.

think41self

"When agnostics die, do they go to the great perhaps"?

Hello and some comments

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