Does anyone who Left Jehovahs Organization, still......

by defd 100 Replies latest jw friends

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  Now What?

  read the bible daily? Honestly do you? Or is it collecting dust on a table or shelf somewhere?

  
  

  Ironically, I read the Bible FAR more than I ever did as a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organization. And I was an above average reader while in: looking things up for the various meetings, doing my '15 minutes a day' and the TMS reading schedule.

  However, since leaving I decided to return to university and study about religion. I now read more in the Bible and about the Bible than I ever thought possible as a JW. It really is amazing what studying from real theologians helps a person realize about belief, faith and how silly the bibliology of amatuer theologians like the Watchtower is.

  If every JW could take either an Old Testament or New Testament survey course, there would be no JW's. I feel sorry for all those fundies that still treat the cultural myths as though they are factual history.

  Also, with more reading/studying into the Word, I find that the burdensome homework of the WT has been replaced with something very refreshing: knowledge and love of Christ.

  *edited to add: When I mention "the Bible" that is not including the NWT. It did not take long by language comparison to discern it as garbage when there are so many good translations out there, many of which have been mentioned. I personally like the RSV, NAB and JP Greens translations.
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  ColdRedRain

  Damn, where were women like you when I left?
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  Darth Yhwh

  I haven’t read the bible for years until recently. I’ve been doing a little research here and there and in discussing this with a co-worker he went out and bought me a NLT (life application study bible). It’s a beautiful book with all kinds of extras. I decided that I would read it through from cover to cover. Currently I’m just starting Leviticus but I don’t have a rigid schedule or any thing that I’m holding myself to. Just a chapter here or there in the evening before bed when in the mood. I use it more for reference and to compare with the on line version of the NWT. Although I should be careful there because they’ve probably made changes to it as well since I’ve been away.
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  ozziepost

  Defd, Honestly, do you read the publications more than the bible? Do you read more watchtowers and awakes than the bible? I know you do because i know thats ALL I read when I was an active witness. The only bible reading most witnesses do is whatever scriptures are quoted in the publications they are currently studying.
  
  The society uses about 20 scriptures or less over and over and over again to prove there points and most are taken out of context. Please DEFD just set down and read Galations without the Watchtowers help and see what it says to you.

  Well said, PA ! Oh, and defd: Yes, I do. It's so much more interesting now. Try reading a different version for a while - you may enjoy it too. It won't be the chore it is with the NWT.
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  ozziepost

  defd:

  A question for you:

  Why is it that you and the Watch Tower claim there is no Trinity because it's not even mentioned in the Bible, and then claim that Jehovah has an "organisation" when that word isn't in the Bible either!

  Ozzie
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  bennyk

  I did read - and still do - read the Bible daily. It was this practice that caused me to leave the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
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  mrsjones5

  Why do you all think that jws love to believe that those who left and "worldly" people dont read the bible? Do you think it's to make themselves (jws) feel better, feel superior, more special than all those evil worldly people who they think dont read the bible?

  And if someone doesnt read the bible who cares. I dont take a lack of bible reading to be a barometer on the morality of people I meet.

  Josie
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  damselfly

  I do not know what happened to my bible when I left the JW's. (Maybe they demanded it back like their blood card! lol)

  Nor do I care to read it again.

  Nice to see you Def 'D

  Dams
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  tijkmo

  i dont read anything daily
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  ESTEE

  I threw out all my dubdom books, one - - - - - - - box - - - - - - - - at - - - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - time into a dumpster at my apartment complex.

  JW books are just so much fear-mongering. My bibles are in storage. I kept them because I figure they could be classified as "literature". I suspect that I won't be picking up a bible in this lifetime again ... So nope, I don't read my bible daily -- or by any other calendar time. It has no value for me. My experience with the bible in the past was very destructive and hurtful.

  I am Spiritual -- not religious. I don't see where the bible has aided my spirituality. Many people I know are very spiritual and know very little about the bible or the jws -- or even religion in general.

  Any fear-based religion has completely missed the message the Bible may or may not have for humankind. From what I see, most religions are fear-based.

  Love and light,

  ESTEE