i have officially stopped my bible study today.
i have been trying to for weeks (after 10 years of on/off studying).
it got to the stage where i was asking too many of those questions that made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Stillthinking, I read it on my own, rather than studying it. I cannot believe it to be inerrant; too many internal contradictions! Still the KJV is good reading.
I am a member of a small religious group with very liberal beliefs (rather like Unitarians) and we have discussion groups about every two months. A bit far from my home but I enjoy them when I make the effort.
Retro
i have officially stopped my bible study today.
i have been trying to for weeks (after 10 years of on/off studying).
it got to the stage where i was asking too many of those questions that made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Hi still thinking,
Like you, I'm a non-jw, but my bible study ladies stopped the sessions. I also asked too many questions! They are honest and pleasant people (even bought The Neck of the Giraffe to check my claims!) but I don't often see them now.
They always assert that nothing would make them doubt the wt, and I always pointed out that my questions came from facts and logic, and I had no wish to change them to anything.
It's a shame, but I don't think that anyone who puts someone's instructions ahead of their own conscience can ever be a good friend; certainly the friendship is always conditional on you being approved by the instructor!
I hope you find a like minded group or religion, and new friends.
i'm pretty upset.
my sister just asked me if my ex bothered to mention that both of my kids were announced as publishers last thursday night.. nobody said a word to me.. i just called my ex and told him that i was pretty furious - at least he apologized which i have to say, i have heard the words 'i'm sorry' from him about 5 times in the 14 years we we married.. anyway, i'm sad.
the kids didn't even bother to tell me... i would like to think that means it's not important to them... but with a sinking feeling i think that i'm what doesn't matter..
Sorry for what you're going through, Headisspinning! When my marriage ended and the ex had a GF, the kids would go for the weekend and come back full of talk about how nice they were, presents they'd got, places they'd been to. I felt like a cast-off mum, just the mid-week carer.
But I promise you it will get better. Your kids will have someone they can talk to when the wt loses its grip on them as seems to happen with so many young ones. Hang in there and be there when they need you.
i had a discussion one day with my son about "the truth" i stated the truth is fluid it is always in motion never as black and white as we would like to think because as humans we are always growing and learning new things (hopefully).. ridiculed-violently opposed-becomes self-evident are the 3 phases that are seen when any new discovery in science or breakthrough technology first appears.
the following is what i surmize are the 3 main phases jw's go through when faced with the real truth.
(from personal experience).
Yes, I can relate. Claiming to have "the Truth" cannot be sustained
In my "Bible Studies" I must have overdone the questions - or the tolerance for questions is limited even then.
I identified three stages which may align:
1. Denial - "read it again carefully" or " you didn't understand"
2. Poisoning the well - "where did you get that?" "who said this?" "They cannot be trusted" "that webpage is worldly/satanic"
3. Shoot the messenger "you don't really want to learn, do you?"
Sadly they never got beyond that - but seeing how others here have suffered as they exited, perhaps that's OK. My only aim was and is to plant a few doubts so that they'll be a bit hesitant with future converts.
my study conductor has informed me that he & his wife are switching to a foreign language congregation that is far away from the territory they live in (it will involve a lot of driving back & forth).
because he is switching congregations, he said he will not have the energy to devote to my study and recommended another brother who could take over, and i have met him.
however, this change happened simultaneously with a decision i have made.
What dgp and Lozhasleft said. I know that JWs are up for any kind of Bible study because my ex-SIL and I corresponded regularly for years and after a few months she'd say "that's the family news; now for the study. . . ". Didn't even know what is was in those days!
When I didn't "progress" she set the locals onto me. We lasted another 8 months, and then they abandoned me to Satan also.
The key is, do you validate their faith by "progressing in the Truth" (aka "growing spiritually" ), or make them uncomfortable by asking too many questions and failing to accept their "authority".
welcome to the forum!.
i noticed you have posted a consistent message on a number of threads, and wanted to give you a your own platform to tell us why you are here and anything else you'd like us to know.. fwiw, i'm a non-jw who has members and friends in the organisation.
i have limited contact with them because i've not "progressed" satisfactorily with my "studies".
Welcome to the forum!
I noticed you have posted a consistent message on a number of threads, and wanted to give you a your own platform to tell us why you are here and anything else you'd like us to know.
FWIW, I'm a non-jw who has members and friends in the Organisation. I have limited contact with them because I've not "progressed" satisfactorily with my "studies". That is, they limit the friendship, not I.
Look forward to hearing from you, Retro
may you all have peace!.
although i realize the responses may not be "quick", a response on another thread prompts me to ask:.
"what do you mean by "spiritual"?
Thanks for correcting my understanding, Shelby.
Last year I completed training as a palliative care volunteer. One of the areas covered was identifying the "spiritual" needs of the patient and carers, and where possible linking with those who could help. Here "spiritual" covered everything bar physical; the need for peer companionship, atmosphere (eg country or seaside), music or craft, discussion on particular topics; religion was only a small part of it. So that's how I thought of the word.
You have a point about the "governing body" - they seem more like dictators than governers! And "Armageddon" is constantly used and abused by the media in particular. The origins of words are interesting, but origins don't own words, any more than parents own children.
Is there not another word that would better describe the "experience"?
Well, I tried "insight".
Wishing you peace also, Retro
may you all have peace!.
although i realize the responses may not be "quick", a response on another thread prompts me to ask:.
"what do you mean by "spiritual"?
Shelby asks
Also, to anyone who's paying attention, is "spiritual" really an accurate word for those who don't believe IN the spirit [being]? I mean, the "man" other than the physical being?
Why wouldn't it be? All the definitions Mr Flipper gave are legitimate and in common use. Is it reasonable to redefine the language to showcase a particular belief?
Also, I responded to your OP question, which was much broader:
What do you mean by "spiritual"? What is "spiritual" to you?"
Beliefs change over time. Word definitions do too. I may be wrong, but get the impression you ask a question only to drive home a predetermined answer.
Best wishes in any case, Retro
may you all have peace!.
although i realize the responses may not be "quick", a response on another thread prompts me to ask:.
"what do you mean by "spiritual"?
Hi Shelby,
It's an interesting question and I don't have a complete answer, let alone a quick one.
Whether I believe in God is moot. I certainly don't believe in the Bible OT God. Perhaps the best way I could explain it is that there are much better people than I, and better ones then them, and the "goodness" must come from somewhere. . .
Yet I've had a "spiritual" experience; perhaps best to call it an insight. It greatly helped me at a low point in my life, and still gives me a perspective that helps me grow in tolerance and enjoyment of life.
My present way of explaining it is that we don't know everything; in fact I don't think we know much. We have opinions or belief systems about what we are (physical and/or spiritual) that may or may not be right. Often "spiritual" or "supernatural" are just words to flag that we don't know.
I'm OK with not knowing; that way new viewpoints and discoveries don't faze me.
Retro
i was terrible at prayers.
it was hard for me to talk to someone i can't see or hear.
everyone else put their heads down at the dinner table so i needed to do the same or i'll look suspicious.
When we did the "Bible Studies" I quickly realised that the opening and closing prayers were conducted by the study giver, or her husband when he came along (I didn't realise the rampant sexism then). There was a lot of "Jehovah" this and that, as if God needed to be reminded of his name, and I was allowed to say "amen" at the end.
I learned to keep quiet till she was done, and then not say "amen". When she asked about that I explained that prayer is personal, and I preferred to keep it that way. Probably another reason why I'm "bad association". But really, it is the height of rudeness to impose your conversation with a (real or imaginary) God on others to teach them what you think are the correct forms.
