Rocky_Girl

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Posts by Rocky_Girl

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  52

  Honest questions for believers.....

  by Paulapollos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  over the last couple of years, i have done a lot of reading, and rather than answering my questions, it has made me think even more - particularly about god and the bible.. when i was kicked out of the wtbts, it was because of my personal belief in jesus.

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  Rocky_Girl

  you do not have the Bible as a basis for your beliefs. I presume you don't have any other book either?

  That is true, I view all holy books as written by humans in an attempt to portray God in a certain way. They all have value, because they give us a glimpse of other viewpoints and perceptions.

  If so, can I ask you, why do you believe in God?

  I honestly don't know why, when given the same information, I believe in God when others do not.

  What has prompted you to?

  I feel a need to believe in something bigger than myself. I would not have that need if there was not something bigger to believe in. For me, that is God.

  Do you feel that there is no need to have any "objective" proof for belief in God?

  No. My belief in God does not change my perception of what will happen to me after my time on Earth is done. I do not believe that God cares whether we believe in Him or not; our fate is not dependant on our belief system. What would happen if I am right? What would happen if I were wrong? The same thing... Believing fills a place in my heart, so I believe.

  I am genuinely interested, because you seem to have a fairly post-modern approach to the question of God, values, and the way we live our lives

  Some would say that I am wishy washy; I like your description better. I actively study religious thought and philosophy and keep company with intellectually curious people. It seems that every culture and society agrees on what is "moral" or "correct" behavior. It is generally wrong to kill others without cause, take other's possessions, or to be dishonest or abusive to others in your community. It is all about respect and generosity. I put more stock in that than any "holy book."As for God, I consider Him as part of me, and so praying is a sort of meditation where I find my own answers.
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  52

  Honest questions for believers.....

  by Paulapollos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  over the last couple of years, i have done a lot of reading, and rather than answering my questions, it has made me think even more - particularly about god and the bible.. when i was kicked out of the wtbts, it was because of my personal belief in jesus.

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  Rocky_Girl

  I am a believer in God, but not a Christian.

  I have come to believe that the bible is, indeed, a collection of literature - poetry, myth, tradition. It has a lot of insight on the human capacity for love, hate, violence, peace, tolerance, and intolerance. If you read the bible as if you were reading a novel or book of poetry, you can gain some of this insight. I look at each story and ask myself why - why would someone write this? why are the characters acting this way? why does the author portray God this way? I can usually find a nugget of wisdom in each one.

  You will probably receive answers to the questions that you pose that will wind you through scripture and tradition - forcing your mind into a theological pretzel - but once you begin to question how scripture is applied, it is hard to accept apologetic answers.

  You can believe in God without believing that the bible was specially written by His direction, or without proof that He exists. Or, you can choose not to believe in Him and you may be right! In any case, remember that your opinion on these matters are as valid as anyone else's. Go with what makes sense to you. Trust your own intuition.
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  10

  Seeking Advice Please

  by Eiben Scrood in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some background: i am an only child, a born-in, my parents were considered superstars of the watchtower having been missionaries and "exemplary" for their entire lives.

  shortly after they died in 2002, i started a very slow fade and finally stopped all meeting attendance in 2005.. both sides of the family are, with a very few exceptions, also hardcore watchtowerites as in 'if the watchtower says my green bible is purple, then it must be purple.

  ' i have lost touch with one side of the family almost completely but the other side has always been close to me and in particular, i miss two cousins who were like brothers to me.

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  Rocky_Girl

  Every family is different and, though they claim unity, every congregation is different. Some areas are more or less lenient than others when it comes to the treatment of those who left. I can tell you what worked for my family, but there is no guarantee when working with human beings.

  At first, I sent out a newsletter to everyone in my family talking about what was going on with me and the kids, along with current photos. Some of the family sent them back, so I took them off the "send" list. The others got regular updates. I never spoke of religious matters, did not send birthday/holiday photos, and did not push them to visit or talk. After some time, those who remained in contact started calling again and even asked me to visit. (I am not DF'd ro DA'd) Now, some of the others have asked for pictures of the kids, so I put them back on the list.

  I gave them a window into the part of my life that would be the same in or out of their religion - going to the park, school days, vacations - so they would remember that there are a million subjects to discuss besides religion. In essence, I plastered the big elephant in the room with family photos. It took the pressure off of them to comment on my inactive status and showed them that I was not a rabid apostate, hell bent on turning them away from the big J.

  Like I said, it may work, it may not. Having children helps - who can resist a sweet little newborn baby? Congratulations, by the way! Good luck!
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  8

  drama

  by outsmartthesystem in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since i am not yet fully out.....i was at the dc.

  the drama was just awful.

  for anyone else that saw it....i need your opinion.

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  Rocky_Girl

  The rumor would spread that he was homosexual. Why else would he care if someone thought he slept with a hot girl? I do NOT miss the dramas!
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  10

  Do You Want to be Valid?

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know how you feel...... you come to this forum for reasons of your own.

  we all have as our default settings in our head that everyone else should think and see as we do.. sadly, or happily, the more you expose yourself to others, the more you experience the delicious irony that no one is the same, that god is so different to billions, or non existent to millions...... what we want though when we come here as former jw's isn't agreement, it's validation.. not that everyone else is wrong, but rather, just so that we matter.

  that our life wasn't in vain.

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  Rocky_Girl

  The discovery of us is the most important thing we can do. Regardless of what it turns into, that respect for ourselves is essential. The lessons we learn on that journey should also teach us to respect the journies of all others too.

  This was a lesson I learned late in the game. I was trying so hard to fit into a Christian faith because I just "knew" that it was the right way. I stumbled from one denomination to the next, always feeling like an outsider, until the chaplain at my college told me to stop trying so hard. She encouraged me to do some soul searching and find out what I needed from a faith. That is when I realized that I wasn't Christian. It was hard for me to admit that for a long time.

  If I hadn't stopped to actually think about who I "was" instead of who I "should be," I would still be church hopping and feeling guilty for not believing. This is why I get so frustrated with faiths that push people to make the decision to convert quickly. One could argue that those faiths have nothing to offer, so they don't want a potential convert to think too much about it; but I like to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are so caught up in their own spiritual experience that they push out of excitement. Either way, the result is the same - people trapped by guilt.

  I have close friends who are devout Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Buddists, and Jewish - several are religious leaders - and I find value in each of their belief systems. I am fascinated by the choices they made along their paths to arrive where they are today. As for me, I have had many stops on my own journey and I may have many more. But now it is on my terms and not led by guilt.
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  8

  Christian Mingle. FAIL!!!

  by whereami in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

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  Rocky_Girl

  nice...
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  23

  I decided not to go to the IFB church I been attending

  by andys in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been going to an ifb baptist type church for about past 3 months, i started going in march and have decided to quit going, need advice on how to send them a letter i don't want to go anymore, its a soulwinning, king james onlyism type church, wow are they ever putting pressure on me to be in church every time the doors are open, i explain to them that i work alot of overtime, have my own home to take care of, also i have my ham radio hobby that i am involved in and also like to do volunteer type work, since i been missing alot of church every sunday i get a phone call from the pastor on why i wasn't in church, now i am to the point where i don't even answer my phone anymore when they call, but wow the pressure, its very irritating how legalistic church attendance for certain churches has gotten.. .

  on the other hand i have decided that i still want to go to some sort of church, for a very short time in februiary i was going to a communicty type church where everyone is wearing something different, i noticed that alot of people wear blue jeans, even the pastor wears blue jeans, also its a non denominational type church that has alot of volunteer opportunities which i love doing, i have decided to go back to the non denomminational type church since i don't feel no pressure there.. .

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  Rocky_Girl

  I sent you an email!
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  22

  What is Your Experience with Non-Christian Religions and Philosophy ONLY?

  by MrDarkKnight in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i 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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  Rocky_Girl

  I loved Mitch Albrom's "Have a Little Faith" because it explores cooperation between different faiths from a Jewish viewpoint. I also enjoyed More Than Matter?" by Keith Ward, which was my first experience with philosophy.
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  22

  What is Your Experience with Non-Christian Religions and Philosophy ONLY?

  by MrDarkKnight in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i 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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  Rocky_Girl

  I attended services with the Quakers for a while. They were extremely accepting and open. I was so lost when I started with them, but I was able to explore many religious ideas and philosophical tangents with them. I'm sure that the experience would vary depending on the group, but mine was great.

  I am currently attending at a Reform Jewish synagogue. They are also very accepting and open to different ideas, but focus on religious topics than philosophy.

  Is there a certain group that you are interested in trying?
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  14

  If JW's had not claimed to have the truth

  by FlyingHighNow in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  have you ever thought about your perceptions of the wtbts, how they would have differed had they not been spouting, "we have the truth!

  " every other sentence?

  if they had never said, "are you 'in the truth?'.

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  Rocky_Girl

  It was the controlling nature of the JWs that drove me away. The arrogance and smugness are the result of having a group that is so tightly controlled.

  Re: Nancy Garrido comments

  It is very convenient to claim that a criminal is not a JW, because a JW would never commit a crime. And if a JW committed a crime, s/he would not be a true JW. I have heard Christians say the same thing: "A 'true Christian' would not have done that!" Words can twist truth and make it appear to be different, but words can never actually change truth.

  Besides, a true JW glows, we are pleasant, kind, loving and we are the happiest people on the earth.

  I just threw up in my mouth a little bit...