I don't believe that the Bible is inspired, anymore, but it contains the best statement of morality that has ever been penned in the history of mankind:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
You live by that, you are a de facto moral person. That's all you need. Think about any specific moral statements--"Don't shag your best friend's spouse," "Don't kill millions of helpless members of a subjugated racial minority," "Leave the toilet lid down after you go potty," "Donate blood to the American Red Cross," "Don't beat up your kids." All of them come back to that one statement.
Now, as to the question of whether I'm a more moral person now that I've thrown off the shackles of JW thought: Absolutely, no question.
Was I moral when I...
* looked around at everyone and thought I was better than them because I was in "the truth?"
* didn't donate blood to the Red Cross?
* didn't vote?
* bugged people relaxing on the morning of one of their one or two days off accept two pieces of literature, printed on dead trees, which I knew for a fact they would just throw in the garbage as soon as I left?
* prayed for the death of six billion people to come sooner?
* spoke from the platform authoritatively on subjects that I absolutely did not believe to be true?
I was worried about my morality when I left the Witnesses. How could I not be? I'd been indoctrinated that the only source of morality was participation in "five" meetings a week and a personal study and prayer and field ministry and "Christian" association and a relationship with Jehovah.
Nevertheless I didn't turn into a drug-dealing chain-smoking hooker-using child-killing jerk. I achieved a higher level of morality than I had before.
Morality is why I LEFT the Witnesses.
under_believer
JoinedPosts by under_believer
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84
Are Your Morals The Same As When You Were A Witness?
by minimus ini guess that i can say, from a biblical viewpoint, anyone that practices "fornication", having sex without being married, would be "immoral".
other than, i don't lie or cheat or steal or even kill anyone else!
do you view yourself a "moral" or "immoral" person and why?
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under_believer
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JW apologists struggle with KM article...
by drew sagan ini found this interesting.... .
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elihu books interactive chat
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under_believer
Jesus said that during his royal presence, he would identify a faithful body of followers, a "faithful and discreet slave," and would appoint it over all his belongings. (Matthew 24:45-47; Isaiah 43:10)
No he didn't.
In 1919 that slave was identified as the remnant of anointed Christians.
No it wasn't.
Since then, as represented by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it has been the center of theocracy on earth.
No it hasn't.
F***ing self-aggrandizing old bastards.
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wow...The Golden Age, September 11, 1935 p.781
by Mebaqqer2 in*** km 3/05 p. 1 par.
9 more emphasis on the bible!
since its first issue back in 1919, the magazine successively known as the golden age, consolation, and now awake!
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under_believer
Do you have a scan of that? I'd love to see it.
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I am stuck in a life I don't want and can't see the way out
by Orgull insome of you have encouraged me already in the week or so i've been here and i think you.. here's the situation.
i am single.
i am 34 years old.
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under_believer
I can't offer advice. I can only show you that others feel the same way you do. That's better than nothing: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/132047/1.ashx
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The Ways In Which a Witness Can Rebel
by metatron inin this organization, how can any witness express their disapproval of anything?
the society has.
even stooped so low as to disfellowship people who disagree with the fact of other people being .
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under_believer
> When they're not looking--vote or give blood.
I am still in and I can attest to the great satisfaction I derived from doing both of these things. -
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How many have wives who think it's the truth?
by drew sagan inthe idea for this thread was sparked by seeing that a lot of guys thought that the latest km article would be a great talking point.
there are a number of jwd poster who have lived through the hell of having a wife who thinks it is the truth.
i am happy to say that i have been through it and survived.
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under_believer
My situation is somewhat ambiguous. My wife is still a faithful JW, goes to the meetings and out in service, etc., but the other day when I was talking to her a funny thing happened.
I was telling her I hated the exclusionary language Witnesses use--"worldly," "the Truth," and so on. She told me, to my astonishment, that she doesn't like to call it "the Truth" and doesn't like it when other people do either, because while she thinks they probably have God's blessing they obviously have not always had the whole truth. It kind of boggled my mind, but I was skeptical it would stick.
A couple of weeks later she was talking about someone who was "coming into the Truth." What she actually said was "so and so might come into the Tr-- I mean become one of Jehovah's Witnesses."
This made me so happy. It means that some of the mental shackles are coming off, even if she's still a Witness. If she's not calling it "the Truth" anymore, what could be next? Maybe she'll stop saying "worldly." I have decided that gently adjusting the language they use might be one of the most effective methods of helping someone break free.
By all means, Drew, please share. I can offer nothing but my gratitude, of course, but like so many other posters here I am a fading man with an unbelieving wife and any advice has the potential to be helpful. -
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The Ways In Which a Witness Can Rebel
by metatron inin this organization, how can any witness express their disapproval of anything?
the society has.
even stooped so low as to disfellowship people who disagree with the fact of other people being .
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under_believer
Sneak out to your friendly neighborhood strip club any chance you get.
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New Family Crackdowns
by WTWizard init happens every summer.
the family will be in a nice routine, going out a reasonable amount in service and having normal life.
then there is an a$$embly, and then everything locks down.
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under_believer
I second MeneMene's request. Where did you learn that the assembly would be four days in 2008?
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OUTSTANDING PODCASTS...CAN YOU OFFER SUGGESTIONS?
by Terry inthere are so many wonderful podcasts for downloading and listening on the go!.
i try to sample new ones every chance i get.. think how much time we simply waste when sitting in traffic or waiting on line or sitting in the doctor's office.. i now carry my mp3 player with me everywhere and listen to things which can edify, enlighten, entertain and fill those empty moments with something special.. here are a few podcasts i really enjoy.
date: tue, 08 may 2007. size: 40.2 mb.
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under_believer
This American Life is my favorite hour of weekly "entertainment" (I quote because it does so much more for me than entertain), bar none. Better than any TV program (and I like TV), better than any video game (and I REALLY like video games).
I like them so much I actually became a WBEZ contributing member even though I live thousands of miles away from Chicago. -
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OUTSTANDING PODCASTS...CAN YOU OFFER SUGGESTIONS?
by Terry inthere are so many wonderful podcasts for downloading and listening on the go!.
i try to sample new ones every chance i get.. think how much time we simply waste when sitting in traffic or waiting on line or sitting in the doctor's office.. i now carry my mp3 player with me everywhere and listen to things which can edify, enlighten, entertain and fill those empty moments with something special.. here are a few podcasts i really enjoy.
date: tue, 08 may 2007. size: 40.2 mb.
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under_believer
This American Life, awesome public radio program from Chicago Public Radio WBEZ
Radiolab, awesome public radio program from New York Public Radio WNYC