Reading the old testament over a dozen times over the years is what first started changing my mind about Jehovah being a loving God. It's one horror story after another. And so very, very bloody!! That story of Abraham and Isaac is horrible, and goes right along with the human sacrifice beliefs and practices of the time. I can't believe I used to believe those stories in the Bible portrayed a loving God. After really considering it, and looking more objectively at what I was actually reading, I came to feel that it really is showing the complete opposite. The Bible itself made me believe that Jehovah is just one of many tribal, pagan gods from the ancient world, with similar, horrible stories that all those religions had.
RHodge6685
JoinedPosts by RHodge6685
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63
Idle question about Abraham and Human Sacrifice
by corpusdei ini don't have my usual resources in front of me, so i can't fact check this, but there's been something bothering me.
one of the things mentioned quite often as evidence of the wickedness and evil practices of the false religion that surrounded ancient israel is the practice of child sacrifice (baal and molech being the frontrunners as i recall).
but ...... didn't god tell abraham to kill his own son isaac as a human sacrifice?
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Why does the Society accept Christendom's "original" Bible canon?
by compound complex ingreetings to those who may know.. i'm reading about the various councils convened in the fourth century a.d. to determine the bible canon.
if my understanding is correct, constantine was initially in charge, some 24 councils finally got it figured out (hardly) and there were fights over what was in and what was out.
over 200 so-called gospels were considered and four accepted.
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RHodge6685
That's one thing I've always wondered! I remember talking about it years ago with my study conductors, and they said that even though Christianity had left the true path, the choosing of the canon of the New Testament (Greek Scriptures) was so very important, that God made absolutely sure that the books were chosen correctly. And that God always found ways to preserve true Christian beliefs throughout the centuries, even if it was among a very select few, and never completely untainted by false beliefs (up until the WT). That answer satisfied me at the time. Now....not so much! I've been out of the WT for 7 years now, and currently consider myself agnostic. I don't believe the Bible is the infallible word of God any longer.
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Do you atheists resent the believers on here and do you believers resent the atheists?
by Lozhasleft ini'm wondering how people feel about us exjws either becoming atheists or continuing on with a faith in god?.
do you get angry or frustrated at the opposing view?.
i'm new but i've seen different reactions to both on here...as for me i am happy to live and let live nowadays...its ok with me whatever people want to choose for themselves..... personally i still have enormous faith and love for god....if the jws couldnt destroy it i dont think much else could...?.
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RHodge6685
As a JW I always had to be the one who was "right", so I am very relieved that now I don't have to insist on being right anymore! I now believe what feels comfortable for me, which I would describe as agnostic. I feel there is something more out there, but that organized religion is not the answer. I believe there is no way to absolutely know the answers to what happens after death, until we die.
But I think everyone has a right to believe or not believe in a god, and what they choose to believe doesn't cause me to react in anger. I certainly don't think I have all the answers. But I have learned after my 16-year JW experience that people should always question things, and always be willing to study the opposite viewpoint (as expressed by the people who believe that opposite view). And I believe that people should not force their own beliefs on others.
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The Story of Mr. & Mrs. Flipper
by flipper init was requested of someone on the board via pm to tell our story.
i'll try to keep it brief, for me that's hard.
mrs. flipper was raised catholic and got out when she was 12 because the nuns and cathlolic school teachers didn't like her independent thinking mind.
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RHodge6685
I enjoyed reading your story. You sound like a wonderful person, and I hope your daughters will realize the truth sometime about the WT.
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Longtime JWD posters/professional lurkers with low post counts
by Black Man inhey all,.
just checkin' in.
been here since '01, but don't even have 500 posts.
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RHodge6685
Hi,
I've been a member for 2 years and only have 22 posts! I'm just quiet by nature, and don't get on the site as frequently as I used to, but enjoy reading posts when I have the time.
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field service time???
by cr1234 indoes anyone know how much time a person has to put in now to still be a regular pub in this day and age???.
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RHodge6685
At least 1 hour per month, to be considered regular when I left 3 years ago. They allowed 15 minute increments for some in the congregation who are disabled or sick, or whatever, also.
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Did anyone here ever really like field service?
by exwitless inas i have stated in previous posts, i absolutely hated field service.
hated it.
i dreaded it with a passion and couldn't wait to be done.
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RHodge6685
I absolutely hated it, and went as little as possible. I mainly counted the time I did our family bible study, and a couple hours of informal witnessing (I had a boss that was constantly asking me questions about the JW's...but only out of an educational type of interest.) If I got forced into it by friends at the hall, I hoped no one would answer the door. And if they did, I just basically offered the magazine and left as soon as possible.
I got dragged into parking lot witnessing once, and that was the worst. It was so embarrassing, and I hoped no one I knew outside the hall would see me. And I got turned down every time I got the nerve to approach someone. I did hotel and funeral home witnessing once, but the guy I was with was very talkative and handled it all, thank God.
The highlight was stopping for coffee!
It was so out of my nature to go to strange doors to talk to people. I am so glad I don't have to anymore! So glad! : )
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RHodge6685
--not having to be right about everything
--being friends with people just because I like them, not because of their religion
--not having to go to meetings after work, and drag my resistant children to them!
--celebrating all the holidays
-not having to explain why I missed meetings or didn't go out in service
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LONG discussion with my parents. (long post of course)
by LtCmd.Lore inhere's an update on me... i'm 18. i'm an atheist.
i'm not making much money.
i did something i promised myself i wouldn't do: i work for witnesses.
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RHodge6685
Oh wow...you were brilliant! I was riveted reading through your conversation, and impressed with how logical your comments to them were. I wish I had been that smart at 18. Instead, that is when I began studying and got sucked in for 18 more years. I hope that they will start to think for themselves after talking to you.
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IT IS EASIER TO LEAVE JWS IF NONE OF YOUR FAMILY ARE JWS
by steve2 inone of the biggest - if not the biggest barriers - to leaving the organization is family ties - particularly immediate family (i.e., those living in your household: sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, mother-in-laws, father-in-laws).
i know of no bigger barrier.
therefore, it's relatively easy to predict who will face the most adversity in trying to leave.
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RHodge6685
I didn't have any family in the organization, which I am so glad about. It made leaving much easier for me. I can only imagine the horrible trauma people have to deal with that do have family in. I can understand why some people try to fake it, or fade, so they can still talk to children, parents, etc. The WT has done unspeakable cruelty to so many families. It's so terrible.