if you remember, i've been inquiring about how to discuss jw issues with my boyfriend's sister.
it appears she is accepting the watchtower driven interpretations of the bible, but we are still not giving up.
if you are willing, would you respond, in a nutshell, to the question, "what is the doctrine or belief that the jw's hold that was most instrumental in leading you to abandon this religion?
I really think that spiritual abuse
gets to the core of the problem.
Which is more about behavior than doctrine.
Spiritual abuse covers a wider scope than
just the jw religion. It helped me to
identify environments that are unhealthy
and also it helped me identify and work
on my own issues.
I wanted to understand what happened to me
so that it would not happen again and so
that I don't just repeat the cycle of abuse
elsewhere.
Quester
3) "god loves you!".
27) "without god, life is meaningless.".
36) "find god before it is too late!".
hippikon: "Are we going to be tested on this?"
LOL
my observation is that persons who 1) heal/adjust the most rapidly from their jw experience and 2) seem to have the most joy in life are those who read, read, read, in pursuit of what i call nourishment for the spirit.
i've really enjoy the pithy aphorisms you use here, which suggests you've distilled some wisdom from somewhere.
i'm going to ask your help in this thread.
Also, I wanted to say that was a very moving story you
shared, Maximus.
larc wrote:
"I don't think we should destroy a person's belief system
unless we can help them recover from that loss. I think for
some Witnesses, that ignorance is bliss and they should be
left alone."
I add a hearty AMEN to that!
I think that if a jw is happy in that religion,
they should be left alone.
It's been a tough, often lonely, road--exiting, recovering,
tearing down beliefs, and trying to find new building materials
to strengthen myself spiritually.
For those who are unhappy and feel trapped and want out,
I would offer support and help if I could, though.
Quester
my observation is that persons who 1) heal/adjust the most rapidly from their jw experience and 2) seem to have the most joy in life are those who read, read, read, in pursuit of what i call nourishment for the spirit.
i've really enjoy the pithy aphorisms you use here, which suggests you've distilled some wisdom from somewhere.
i'm going to ask your help in this thread.
Thanks again for another great thread, Maximus.
I have Brown's Intro to NT, which is very good.
Brown also has a little easy to read paperback called:
"Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible"
A great starter book for modern day Bible scholarship
questions/issues.
BOOKS:
I have read a lot of really good books, but if I had to narrow
it down to only 2 or 3, the ones that changed me the most are:
======================
1. "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse", by
David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen
======================
I found that book when I was still in the jw religion and
very unhappy and very confused about what was wrong.
I did not leave the jw religion for doctrinal issues,
I left because of behavioral reasons.
That was a "safe" book for me to read as a jw because
I would not read anything written by an xjw.
For the first time someone put a name to what
was happening to me--spiritual abuse.
===============================
2. Books written by Marcus Borg, most significant:
"Meeting Jesus For The First Time"
"The God We Never Knew"
=================================
I discovered Borg's books about 10 months ago
and haven't been the same since.
This was the first time that I was introduced to
modern day Bible scholarship and alternative
views of Christianity and the Bible. This just
opened up a whole new world for me.
It introduced me to several new things.
A. The Historical Jesus Quest
B. A nonliteral understanding of the Bible
C. Other Christians who do not accept the
traditional understanding of the trinity.
D. Alternative ways to conceptualize God.
Supernatural theism as just one way to image God.
Borg is a nontraditional Christian and his books
are positive, easy reads.
Quester
i like this article because it shows the various.
reasons why people believe in god and why.
plus lots of references for research.. http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm/aasi/aasi0057.htm.
I like this article because it shows the various
reasons why people believe in God and why
they don't. Plus lots of references for research.
http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm/aasi/aasi0057.htm
Quester
maybe i should introduce myself.
my name is susan and i have 4 kids.
i have invited some young ladies into my home on saturday's to discuss the bible.
Hello SusanH,
Lets see, so far I've seen you ask about:
1. Trinity
2. God's Name
3. Graven Images
4. Crucifix
I'm thinking when I was a jw, you'd be my
ideal favorite return visit!
I think it's a mistake to approach jw's with
doctrinal issues such as the ones above,
because they are very well trained to refute
them.
I never left for doctrinal reasons.
I left for behavioral reasons.
I'd recommend doing some research on
spiritual abuse at your library.
I also think the majority here did not leave
because of the above doctrines.
Maybe a better question to ask here is why
did you leave the jw religion?
That might give you some better feedback.
Quester
most exjws are familiar with the claims that the gospel accounts about jesus "fulfills" around 300 prophecies in the old testament.
this claim is taken verbatim from christian fundamentalists.
checking out these so-called prophecies will reveal that they do not stand up to scrutiny.
Uncle_Onion,
For another perspective, I'd check out books
written on the Historical Jesus. How about
JP Meiers, "Marginal Jew", which is probably
at the library.
Quester
the site changed but the atheist proseletyzing continues.
isn't it odd how our two norwigs compliment each other in their attacks on god and the bible?
well, simon, you now have the honor of hosting a platform for the true apostates to spew their anti-god venom.. this kind of thing is sadly typical of those who leave the wts.
Sunchild,
Not all of Christianity is the same.
There are Christian gay people and Christian
religions that accept them.
I don't know that much about Wicca.
But I think a person should be who they are.
I am sorry that you feel unaccepted by your mom.
That must hurt. But people do change over time,
so she might come around.
I am still a Christian, but nondoctrinal, pluralistic,
and I think the Bible is mostly nonliteral and very
misunderstood. I'm leaning toward panentheism instead
of supernatural theism.
Pretty much an oddball, huh.
Spong calls us "believers in exile",
cuz we don't fit in with mainstream Christianity.
But I think things are changing.
Quester
here's your chance to complement a poster whose posts make you think, make you mad, make you laugh, make you cry.
i usually find something that i dig in everybody's post around these parts.
but i'll single out some peeps in particular.
I love this thread!
Warm fuzzies to all.
Group hug everyone.
I am a secret fan of:
1. Ginny's cuz of posts on the Jesus
Seminar and I'm very into that.
2. I like to read Sunchild's posts too,
cuz I am often interested in the same topics,
spirituality/science threads, etc.
Quester
i have been lurking for a while and thought it time to post.. i am aware of many of the names from the old h2o days and it is a. pleasure to see you again.. briefly, i come from south africa.
stepped aside as an elder 3 years.
ago and am still 'associated' for the sake of my family, but inactive.
Hi Sincere.
You know me from Ros' rooms.
I'll be back in July when JP returns.
I'm a newbie here too.
Probably will never post much, though.
I'm too positive. ha ha
I will look for your posts here.
I always enjoy reading what you have
to say.
Quester
