You know, Witnesses haven't cornered the market on being wrong.

by free2beme 22 Replies latest jw friends

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  free2beme

  I have been out of the Witness religion since the 1990's and I see from reading former Witness sites that it is common for people to do something I used to do. Which was that I made a big deal out of all the wrong things the Witnesses did and do. I thought it was some how my responsiblity to tell others when I had the chance, and even when I made the chance, about all the things I knew. Even at times, offering to place publication like COC, etc. with them (what can I saw, habits were hard to break). Yet in so doing I learned some lessons, and perhaps these will ring true with others.

  One day I was at work, and someone I worked with then, set down with me at lunch. I started of the conversation and I know now that I was just trying to get the topic to the fact that I was no longer a Witness. You know the feeling, "I'm free and normal and I want the world to know." Well I succeeded and next thing you know I am all going off with the, "you know they were wrong about this", "they changed their teachings", "they covered up this", etc. You know, like reading a topic tree in a place like this board. Well the guy set there agreeing, commenting breifly and basically being nice. Then he finished and said, "You know, Witnesses haven't cornered the market on being wrong." Which I just agreed with in a way that kind of resembled someone not listening, as they only heard their own thoughts and frustration.

  As time has gone on, I went to different churches and studied the outside world view of Christianity. I studied eastern religion. I got into politics. I joined clubs. You get the idea, I tried to see what was me and what was not me. Kind of that whole searching thing we all feel a desire to do, when we become free of the Witnesses. In doing so, I find more and more that when I am comfronted by people who hate the Witnesses or feel some passion to expose wrong they did. I don't care as much, if any, as there is so much wrong in so many things, that if you focused on just one location, you may get side swipped from another you put to much trust in or let your guard down too. The world is a wrong place, and yes the Witness fit in that "world" title, along with so many other religions. Trying to write comparisons between their beliefs and other thoughts on the Bible, trying to expose their wrong teachings and cover-ups, are all noble in their own effort. Yet writer beware, you jumped from one lilly pad to another and the pond remains the same.

  Odd as it may be, I became Solitary Practicer of Wicca (Along with other Pagan thoughts) in thinking. Another wrong religion, yet I don't hold to some strict code of conduct, don't try to teach others and honestly I know I seem as wrong to others as Wiccan would have seen to me as a Witness. I don't care, I just realized in a world that is so full of wrong, who am I to care what others think and to judge people for their beliefs. People now ask me sometimes about the Witnesses, and the person of today has ten times the knowledge of the person who left back then. Yet the person of today says less about it, and care less what really was so wrong. As the lesson life taught me was, "wrong is often just a level of understanding and tolerance." Because nothing is completely right and the only reason we see so much passion in exposing the Witnesses, is because we were one.
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  Reefton Jack

  True enough:

  The WTS, though, seems to think that it is the only religious group that is allowed to be "wrong" - and yet still somehow at the same time be "right"!

  After all, surely:

  1)The "worldwide preaching work"

  2) The "love that they have among themselves" - as evidenced by their not killing each other in wars.

  furnishes the evidence that God is using them, and nobody else!

  Further to the previous writer's comments, I came to the conclusion at the same time as I broke with the JWs - #$%& all religion!
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  Qcmbr

  Maybe some things are exactly right though.
  
  Its a dangerous path to take to move away from absolutes and start floating becasue you never know where you'll end up.
  
  Quick example - Thou shalt not lie. A simple absolute but we are more adept at finding perceived gray spots than actually living that rule. Life would be smoother, better , nicer if we were honest (and tactful!) all the time - no fraud, no putting on appearances, no false emotion - more open communication, appraisal of situations and far more practical efforts. Builders wouldn't charge more than the job was worth, companies would never be Enrons etc..
  
  If we put down anchor on an absolute we can explore its boundaries - if we don't like them we can move on, if we are always moving but never holding on to any moral 'truth' we lose our compass, yardstick and direction. Even a wrong decision is better than no decision at all.
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  Golf

  F2B, interesting read. How true when you said, "Yet writer beware, you jumped from one lilly pad to another and the pond remains the same."
  
  Another corner of the market that the JW's have not sole proprietorship and that is 'admitting' a wrong. "I may not always be right but I'm never wrong" has become an infectious attitude.
  
  
  Golf
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  Reefton Jack

  As qcmbr mentions, there are such things as basic, universal principles - such as the one quoted as an example.

  These principles are common to all the world's major, enduring religions. (Not that you need to be a religo in order to be principled - I am not that silly as to suggest that!)

  In other words, in the areas where the JWs are right - they don't have the monopoly these, either (like they evidently think they do!)
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  trevor

  Freetobeme

  Your journey seems to be very similar to mine. The longer that passes the more I realize that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are just a group of misguided people. In many cases they are doing the best they can and trying to hold on to something that they place huge value on. Everyone in the world does this to varying degrees. What most people build their lives around is in some way flawed or based on faulty logic and erroneous facts.

  Having been so sure and then discovered I was so wrong I tend to examine all mind sets, schools of thought and beliefs with great cynicism. I understand why certain posters here refuse to accept anything at all until it has been rigorously examined and passed the logic test.

  Once bitten twice shy. The trouble is that living involves being bitten. It is like accepting that a holiday abroad, in the sun, will involve insect bites, however careful we are. Most of the world is living an illusion.

  Illusion is a part of life and when all illusion is stripped away life can seem rather pointless until the underlying reality of life is understood. This journey has been called ‘the dark night of the soul.’
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  mrsjones5

  So they are wrong!
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  Caveat

  Free2beme;

  Interesting post. Just like you said we care about the Ws and their views because we felt betrayed by them. Most of us do not realize we betrayed ourselves by allowing others to think for us.

  People feel the need to turn things around and to warn others of what’s under the surface. But in the area of ‘Views’ this is a steep climb. Eventually you learn that no one can change your views but you.

  Don’t get me wrong, It is a noble effort to try to warn others about problems. And it can be a great relief to talk to others with similar experiences. But is it all the bad blood and the animosity towards the advocates of the opposing view necessary? Weren’t we just like them a just while ago?

  Some will justify all the hate by saying that they have family or friends in there and they are just trying to get them out. But most of them are voluntarily in, as a simple conversation with them will show.

  Others will say that JWs did a lot of damage to them. But no amount of exposing can give you back what they took.

  I heard someone say: "Katrina is innocent, blame Michael Brown"

  Someone needs to pay.

  We need to pin the blame to someone’s shoulder. We need to find a culprit. No one looks in the mirror. We are just like everyone else.

  One thing I have learned is that the universe makes sense in a perverse way. It is not kind but it is in fact logical.

  Humans NEED religion. Otherwise we might be even worst than we are right now.

  I, myself, realized that I did not need to rely on religion to be righteous. I now try to let my intellect (as limited as it might be) judge my actions and interpret how to deal with situations without submitting to a set of bottled rules to guide my responses. Unfortunately most humans do not have the emotional maturity to cope with life and it’s questions. So they surrender their consciences to a greater good that allows them to assert they are acting ‘right’.

  People rarely stop being who they are. If you are an extremist you probably are going to be an extremist for something else. People are most likely to switch sides and be an extremist for the other camp, instead of realizing they are in fact being radicals and zealots.

  JWISM is a radical, extremist religion. Atheism can be an extreme, radical religion. EXJWISM can be one too.

  The answer lies in the individual rather than the practice. It is a question of how do you approach what you believe instead of what you believe.

  When it comes to views (and not facts) humans need to file thoughts on the ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ drawer. Never realizing we usually see personal truths that are subjective.

  The beauty of it is that we get to keep searching. Bad things happen when you stop seeking for answers.

  As far as JWs goes, it is evident they are collapsing under their own weight. With a little help .

  Caveat
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  BluesBrother

  Even a wrong decision is better than no decision at all.

  I suspect, Qcmbr, that you are referring to those with a "dont know dont care " attitude to life . But to make a wrong decision in beliefs can have devastating consequences. Suppose I decided to join KKK or the Nazi party?

  Many years ago I decided to make dedication to what I thoght was god, in fact the WTS . Those disinterested one , have in fact fared batter
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  jwfacts

  freetobeme
  
  good post. I have this burning desire to convert Witnesses, but realise it is not always the best thing to do. JWs may be wrong but there seems to be no absolute right that i am in a position to point people to. Many people cope better as a Witnesss than to have it all taken away from them. A non witness that i unloaded on advised me to be careful taking a persons faith, as having nothing can be more damaging than the most damaging of religions.
  
  I too have an intrigue with Wiccan at the moment, though too early to say i have faith in anything at this time.