No, I decided to leave based on reading the Bible itself and the old Watchtower publications, plus I was depressed from the constant pressure to "do more" from the congregation. After I came to that decsion, then reading on the internet just confirmed it!
RHodge6685
JoinedPosts by RHodge6685
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47
If you never have used the internet, would you have returned to the borg or stay in the organization?
by Iamallcool inif i have never used the internet, i would probably return to the borg by now.
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5
How long are they in there for?
by losthobbit ini walk past the earlsfield / wandsworth kingdom hall in london quite often on sundays.
there are always cars outside and i never see anyone go in or out... and so i wonder... how long are they in there for, and what takes them so long?.
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RHodge6685
There might be two congregations sharing the hall. That's how mine was for years. One congregation would have their meeting Sunday morning, and the other one in the afternoon.
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What is Your Experience with Non-Christian Religions and Philosophy ONLY?
by MrDarkKnight ini have been slow to start a thread because i wanted to see what topics were already being discussed.
having left wt i have a disdain for organized christian religion at the moment.
i am interested in your experience, research or observations about non-christian religions and philosophy only.
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RHodge6685
I really enjoyed reading James Redfield's books (the Celestine Prophecy series), and Dan Millman's Peaceful Warrior series. Also "Everything Happens for a Reason" by Suzanne Northrop. In general, they talk about how we choose what major events and people we will have in our lives, in order for our souls to evolve. I love to read and think about spirituality, but definitely don't believe Christianity's version.
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The bait has been hooked!
by educatingMyself inalreet geezaz!
;p. a sweet old lady from my old hall has baited to a nice email i sent, which is good and bad, as you can see in my posts here http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/211809/1/study-conductor-challenge-plus-hello i quite like the people at my old study hall, so i wanted to free a few minds from there.. but on the other hand i didn't want ruin a nice old ladys whole lifes beliefs.
i'm stuck in a conundrum.
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RHodge6685
When I was starting to have doubts, I asked one of the elder's wives (who was in her 70's) for her opinion about prayers. I told her I worked with mainstream Christians who often mentioned praying for things (which was true), and they had seemingly coincidental things happen in answer to their prayers (also true.) I asked the elder's wife how these prayers were seemingly answered, if Jehovah did not hear the prayers of non-JW's. She didn't have a good answer...she told me that many people's prayers were "answered", including the terrorist's prayers on 9/11. But that that was no indicator that God had heard them. That was all she said. And that answer didn't sit well with me, and caused me to research further. Hopefully, it made her think a little bit, too. I DA'ed soon after.
But that is a possible idea for something you could bring up with the JW lady, that doesn't scream "apostate!". :)
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Why I didnt left JW an dont plan to do so
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in another thread i wrote: i didn't left the jw's and don't plan to do so.
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RHodge6685
We're all in different circumstances and on different journies in life, so I wouldn't judge anyone for deciding it's best for them to stay in the WT or to leave. If someone feels it's better to leave, then I would try to support and encourage them in that. For me, it was better to leave, but I didn't have family to leave behind. That would make the decision a hundred times harder, I would imagine. I had friends to leave behind, but I found that I had truer, more supportive, and less judgmental friends on the outside. Only each individual can decide what is right for their own circumstances.
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5
Anyone tried the E-Cigarette Yet?
by prophecor inas a way of having your cake and eating it, too?
the marvel of modern technology and all...do they work for you?
not designed to get you off nicotine so much, but as a means of a less deadly delivery system.
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RHodge6685
Yes, I used it to stop smoking over a year ago, and it made it so much easier! I had tried using herbal cigs before that, and those were like smoking air, and messy. Not sure how to explain it very well, but the ecig feels like you're actually getting a "hit" in your throat. So it imitates smoking much more realistically. I eventually quit using mine and no longer smoke at all. My husband still "vapes" with his ecig twice a day, though. There is no yukky smell to them, and they are a safer alternative to actual cigarettes. Maybe not as safe as not using nicotine at all, but better. I would definitely recommend trying them vs. smoking.
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After leaving Jw's did you go into another religion or serv. god ur own way?
by average joe ini am just curious if you guys left jw's and now worship in some other relgion or worship in your own way?
have you sworn off organized religion ?
if you have not sworn off organized religion then i wonder what relgion seems to be the right one for you guys?
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RHodge6685
I was a JW from the ages 19-37. When I first left, I went to to a Church of the Nazarene where several of my friends at work are members. I was raised as a Baptist, so the beliefs there were similar. But after a couple years, I still could not accept their teachings about the Trinity and an eternal flaming hell. I left, and started doing my own research into the history and similarities of religions. At this point, I am agnostic. I don't accept Christianity's God. I do believe there is something more out there besides this life. I think it's wonderful being out of organized religion, and to be able to explore different things, and NOT know all the answers. I tend toward being pantheistic in my beliefs now...we and all creation are "God" and still evolving.
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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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RHodge6685
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.
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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.