Ucantnome, I think I get it. My opinion (just my opinion, mind you) is that JWs begin developing a real faith in God. They join the WT because they believed it would help them do that. But in time, they are required to turn that into blind faith, i.e., “following their directions whether they are sound from a human standpoint or not.” For many, by the time JWs decide to leave, their faith has been gutted of any spiritual reality and the remaining shell is easy to crack.
Believer
JoinedPosts by Believer
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
Ucantnome, i dont understand your question. can you articulate it more?
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
OK Phizzy. Fair enough. I'll keep that in mind.
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
I could not care any less what the GB thinks of me. It is a non issue. And I respect your view. People in power are always concerned about losing that power. But on some level, at least the local level, the footstep followers and JW apologists do think they are serving as protectors. So maybe i'll compare the faith haters here with them.
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
Xanthippe, so do the GB, or at the very least, the elders who carry their water.
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
Millie 210 said:
They created a need and couldn’t fill it, so I went looking and ended up here.
I can relate to that. I felt the same way when I left, but I hadn’t articulated it in that way. The WT does create a need – a need to know God, to know truth, to study, to search – and yet they couldn’t fill that need. So that’s a good point for me! In association with them, I developed a love for God, but when they attempted to usurp that position in my heart and in my faith, I had to leave.
I also like your philosophy and appreciate your wisdom. Thx for staying here.
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
Xanthippe said:
A very small number have set themselves up as guardians of the forum as if they think we can't listen to believers and decide for ourselves.
Wow! I never considered that. It’s kinda like the GB who stamp down other religions and scare JWs into not reading opposing information. But as the nonbelievers are wont to say, if your view is true, then it should be able to stand up to fair criticism. So if nonbelievers try to shut down the free speech of believers, then what does that say? Hmmmm.
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
Thank you KateWild, but you misunderstand me. I don’t feel mistreated. You can’t feel mistreated unless you expect a certain level of treatment that you don’t get. I joined this forum with no expectations, so whatever treatment I get is just the treatment I get. Besides, it says more about the ones giving the treatment, than about those who are subjected to it.
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133
Why Are You Here?
by Believer ini'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.
as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.
as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.
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Believer
I'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers. As one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey. As former JWs we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are. So why? What is the attraction?
I'll answer first for me. Though I've only been a member for a few days I've been lurking for 2-3 years. One reason I kept coming back was to find out what's new in JW land. The other reason is to observe the long term effect WT theology has on people.
Jesus condemned the Pharisees because 'they traverse land and sea to make one proselyte and then made him a subject of Gehenna more so than themselves.’ At first I wondered what that meant but watching the progression of many exJWs evolve or devolve from blind faith to no faith seems to be the answer. Of course there are many who evolved from blind faith to true faith but those believers are relatively quiet here. So I guess the other reason I keep checking in, I must confess, is like the fascination of watching a train wreck. You really hope no one is seriously injured, but you just can't help looking!
So, fellow believers, that’s my reason. But why are you here? What do you get out of this forum that makes it worth putting up with the attacks from self proclaimed animals?
Oh! And Happy Fathers Day, all you beautiful children of God!!
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240
Introduction - Any Believers?
by Believer ini’ve been reading it for a few of years off and on, but have been a little too ... maybe ... timid to join.
i left the watchtower organization almost 20 years ago but never abandoned my faith and belief in god.
i knew the gb/organization didn’t represent god, so when i lost my faith in them, i managed to keep my faith in an all wise benevolent creator.
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Believer
Now the ridicule starts. So typical. For your information, The Urantia Book is the only quasi-religious book that effectively answers all questions and issues of atheists. So it is understandable why atheists might not want to read it and choose to ridicule it instead.
And, fyi, it was written by contemporaries and eyewitnesses, but not type a non-believer would accept. But certainly the type that would be required to know the things it covers.
Anyway, have a good day my new friends. I’m going to spend time with my grandson!