Thank you Lisa Rose, I asked that same question--more or less--on page 2 of this thread. Still waiting for a response from the OP on that one!
Posts by jp1692
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119Do I have to believe in Jesus to be saved?
by unsure indo i have to believe in jesus to be saved?.
i was raised as a jehovah's witness.
i was born in.
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119
Do I have to believe in Jesus to be saved?
by unsure indo i have to believe in jesus to be saved?.
i was raised as a jehovah's witness.
i was born in.
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jp1692
Unsure: this is a group of like minded individuals
Well that is most certainly NOT true.
Probably the only thing we all agree on is that JWs do not have "the Truth."
After that, we're all trying to figure it out for ourselves, and that's the beautiful thing. You can disagree here, question, debate, change your mind.
You can't do any of those things in the Kingdom Hall.
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119
Do I have to believe in Jesus to be saved?
by unsure indo i have to believe in jesus to be saved?.
i was raised as a jehovah's witness.
i was born in.
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jp1692
Unsure: ... and who once went through the same mental gymnastics I'm going through right now after experiencing the same thing
This is an important point. After losing our religion it is only natural to question our beliefs. I call it the "what the heck do I believe now" stage of the post-cult experience.
It's a process and it takes time and hard work. One of the things about religions is that they provide easy, ready-made answers. Now you have to figure these things out for yourself, including accepting that there are some things for which you may never know the answer.
But don't worry, you'll be fine.
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119
Do I have to believe in Jesus to be saved?
by unsure indo i have to believe in jesus to be saved?.
i was raised as a jehovah's witness.
i was born in.
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jp1692
Unsure: I'm not basing my life on that.
Well that's good!
Unsure: I can only reference my own experiences and being a JW was one of them.
Understood. It's the same for me as with most of us here on this forum.
Unsure: All I'm saying is that my view of a loving God is one who accepts those who may not even believe in them.
Then you're golden. You've nothing to worry about. Problem solved.
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23
Did a current or ex-JW help you to awaken?
by TweetieBird inwas there something that was said to you that got the wheel turning in your brain, that caused you to start waking up to ttatt, either by a jw or ex-jw that you didn't know was awake?
i'm trying to think of things i can say or ask of my current family members still in that may help them to start seeing the real truth about the organization.
they think we're still in..
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jp1692
Mentalclarity: I don't want to be that crazy exjw that they'll automatically dismiss because I'm always trying to prove them wrong.
Great point to keep in mind, which is particularly ironic since JWs are always trying to prove everyone else wrong!
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119
Do I have to believe in Jesus to be saved?
by unsure indo i have to believe in jesus to be saved?.
i was raised as a jehovah's witness.
i was born in.
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jp1692
@Unsure, is that really what you want to base your life on, some "new light" version of God [that] is more passable than some other versions?
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Imagine if Jw ran schools ?
by Chook inafter learning the alphabet no other education required.
history would be distorted, science rejected.
i'm surprised that gb didn't realise there is big money in education, big tony could be the professor of bullshit..
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jp1692
They do:
- Theocratic Ministry School
- Pioneer School
- Kingdom Ministry School for elders
In every case you have completely unqualified people attempting to train and "teach" others. All they really are is indoctrination sessions.
Children must be taught how to think, not what to think. - Margaret Mead
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119
Do I have to believe in Jesus to be saved?
by unsure indo i have to believe in jesus to be saved?.
i was raised as a jehovah's witness.
i was born in.
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jp1692
Unsure: One thing I think the JWs did right was their refinement of the sheep and the goats.
Why do you refer to the WTBTS having a wrong teaching and then changing it a "refinement"?
Do you understand how that term avoids accountability and a direct admission of error? Do you know what doublespeak is?
Did you notice that you referred to JWs which is the religion as a whole and I referred to the WTBTS meaning the leadership that makes and changes doctrine? Do you understand the difference and why it is an important distinction?
I understand these questions might make you uncomfortable which is exactly why it is important you consider the answers--and your emotions--carefully.
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119
Do I have to believe in Jesus to be saved?
by unsure indo i have to believe in jesus to be saved?.
i was raised as a jehovah's witness.
i was born in.
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jp1692
The belief that anyone needs to be "saved" is a false premise. It simply isn't true. No one needs "saving." This is a theological lie designed to manipulate and control people.
Imagine for a moment how different your life would be if you didn't believe that, if you never even heard that.
Being human is a challenging proposition, to be sure. We are all conscious (to a greater or lesser degree) of our flaws, fears and neuroses. Religions offer easy answers, but they are not based on reality and only add delusions and paranoia to our list of problems thereby compounding them.
To be a spiritual but not religious person is challenging. It requires us to find our own answers and our own meaning. But it does free us from the illusory burdens of guilt and shame which are based upon false beliefs such as the one that we need "saving," and that only a supernatural, invisible being can grant us that ... at some undefined point in the future but conveniently via this religion or that. In the meantime there is always the underlying fear that nothing you do is ever good enough and just one false step, one mistake or moment of weakness can cause you to lose out on everlasting life, maybe even suffering eternal torment.
But again, none of that is true. Those are more religious lies designed to manipulate and control you. Don't believe them and see how your life changes.
We are only alive now at this precise moment. We only have now. The past is gone and the future is guaranteed to no one. Do not let anyone take your present away from you by telling you lies and holding out false promises--promises which they have no power to deliver.
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Did a current or ex-JW help you to awaken?
by TweetieBird inwas there something that was said to you that got the wheel turning in your brain, that caused you to start waking up to ttatt, either by a jw or ex-jw that you didn't know was awake?
i'm trying to think of things i can say or ask of my current family members still in that may help them to start seeing the real truth about the organization.
they think we're still in..
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jp1692
Yes, all the then-current JWs that were controlling, manipulative hypocrites. Stephen Lett was a big factor in my awakening. His convention talks convinced me that there was no way in hell that God was using these idiots for anything.
I'm sure that's NOT the answer you were looking for, but it's the truth. The fact is that most people do not leave a cult because of any particular doctrinal reason, but because of mistreatment and hypocrisy on the part of their fellow cult members, especially those in positions of authority.