I understand stuckinarut it was just my thoughts, we all must believe what seems true to us.
In Peace and Love
The Seeker
The_Seeker
JoinedPosts by The_Seeker
-
40
Faced with the reality of mortality
by stuckinarut2 inhow have you all coped with facing the reality of our mortality?.
most of us were raised to firmly believe we would never get old or die... so here we are now having to face the reality that are getting older... we are going to die.. sometimes it really pisses me off that we were never helped to comprehend this most basic of facts.
we were given a utopian dream as a "fact", and hence never taught how to face our inevitable futures.... thoughts?.
-
-
-
5
Brazil: Judge authorizes blood transfusion in adult JW
by darkspilver infyijustice authorizes blood transfusion in jehovah's witness patient in es.
painel politico, friday, september 15, 2017 (via google translate).
religion does not allow the faithful to undergo the procedure, even in cases of emergency; the judge argues that the right to life overrides this.
-
-
The_Seeker
The no blood transfusion doctrine of the JW's is one of the most idiotic of the doctrines these confused and misguided people have come up with to once again separate themselves from the rest of us. These people want to be persecuted they want to prove their devotion to the religion, even to the point of death. But, if you have the capability to save a life and you refuse based simply on a rule of the " Society " and not a law from the bible. In their minds to die in the service of their religion is the ultimate victory. Unfortunately too many innocent children die without a choice because of their parents beliefs. I believe that if a law was passed in this country and others that automatically overrode the wishes of parents in these types of situations more children would be saved and most JW's would be grateful, secretly, that their child was allowed to live. I watched my grandmother die when she was injured in a car accident simply because she would not take blood. The doctors told me with a blood transfusion she would live, but the family would not allow it. A sad end to a beautiful lady.
-
40
Faced with the reality of mortality
by stuckinarut2 inhow have you all coped with facing the reality of our mortality?.
most of us were raised to firmly believe we would never get old or die... so here we are now having to face the reality that are getting older... we are going to die.. sometimes it really pisses me off that we were never helped to comprehend this most basic of facts.
we were given a utopian dream as a "fact", and hence never taught how to face our inevitable futures.... thoughts?.
-
-
The_Seeker
You know I faced my mortality early on, like when I was in my 20's, but I do believe in the immortality of the soul. Scientists do not even know why we are conscious, the brain is merely a biological computer, consciousness is something that baffles even the most intelligent of scientists. That being said, I believe that at the moment of conception a soul enters the body and it is the soul that is conscious and that is why it can not be measured or defined in any terms that we as humans can understand. Let's take for example children who are born with memories of past lives, the memories are so vivid that they can describe towns and other places they have never seen. I believe it is because sometimes it takes a while for the soul to realize that it has entered a new body so the previous memories are still fresh and get carried over. Later in life these children lose those memories it seems they fade with the passing of time. Quantum Physics teaches us that energy can not be destroyed merely changed from one form to the other, so the energy that animates the body and gives us consciousness must go somewhere when the body ceases to function. I don't pretend to be an expert or even understand, but this explanation has always felt right to me on some level. Who knows for sure, only God.
In Love and Peace
The Seeker
Link +1 / -0 -
12
The Extremes of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Scoiety
by The_Seeker ini have been reading through the posts over the last few days and something occurred to me, an epiphany, if you will.
people don't leave the jw's, especially those raised in the religion, simply because it is easier for them to continue to believe a lie even when faced with the truth.
the ability to think critically is something that most jws lack, we all know this to be true, but i truly believe many of them are simply too lazy to try anything different.
-
-
The_Seeker
I was praised because I made good grades in school, as i made the local congregation look good to, " The World ",however,when I used the intellect that was given me to question their beliefs and doctrines I became an apostate. There is no easy way out of the Witnesses, no proven course of action that will lessen the pain of never speaking to friends and relatives again. It hurts. But Jesus said something that I have always remembered. " You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free ", but free of what ? In my case the dependence on an organized religion to go between me and my creator. As I have stated before I feel closer to God in the wilderness surrounded by creation and communing with nature. Yes, mind control is a very real part of being a witness, and fear is the catalyst that allows the mind control to take hold and forever change the way some people in the witnesses see the world. But, there are those of us who can break free from that control and look beyond the fear to see the world as it truly is when not demonized. I watch some of the broadcasts from JW.org and people much of it is almost infantile. The information is presented in a format that is not much different from the style my wife uses when she teaches her kindergarten class of 5 year olds. Do I still have any effects of the indoctrination I received as a child, yes I do, I don't trust any organized religion or the people who preach dogma as the way to commune with God. I have tried to be a member of organized religion on many occasions, but it just will not take in any shape form or fashion. So, I sometimes go to church, I sometimes go do ritual with the Wiccans, and sometimes I just go sit in the woods and marvel at how wonderful creation truly is and revel in being a part of it all. I worship by trying to help my fellow man when I can, maybe not with money, but with something much more precious, time. I look for the good in everyone, because when you look into the eyes of your fellow human, you are looking into the eyes of God. We were made in the image of God.
In Love and Peace
The Seeker
-
12
The Extremes of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Scoiety
by The_Seeker ini have been reading through the posts over the last few days and something occurred to me, an epiphany, if you will.
people don't leave the jw's, especially those raised in the religion, simply because it is easier for them to continue to believe a lie even when faced with the truth.
the ability to think critically is something that most jws lack, we all know this to be true, but i truly believe many of them are simply too lazy to try anything different.
-
-
The_Seeker
I have been reading through the posts over the last few days and something occurred to me, an epiphany, if you will. People don't leave the JW's, especially those raised in the religion, simply because it is easier for them to continue to believe a lie even when faced with the truth. The ability to think critically is something that most JWs lack, we all know this to be true, but I truly believe many of them are simply too lazy to try anything different. That's why they always ask the question, " Where will you go ? ", when someone decides to leave the organization. They are so accustomed to having someone tell them what to do in every situation that they do not want to have to make decisions for themselves. I'm not talking about a physical laziness, but a laziness of intellect. Since I grew as a JW I know that many times the younger people just go along with the older ones and really don't believe what the JWs believe they just maintain the status quo. I know I did, I knew the religion wasn't the truth from the time I was about 14 years old, but I had to go along with it because my mom was a devout believer and my dad didn't go to church period, he was Catholic, but non-practicing. So, I went through the motions until I graduated High School and then I quit shortly afterward. The Elders came and spoke with me several times finally telling me they were going to take action, I said that was fine. They disfellowshipped me and I never looked back and never wanted to, I am living a full life and hope to do so for many years to come.
In Love and Peace
The Seeker
Link +11 / -0 -
12
Learning To Believe Again
by The_Seeker ini was raised a jw and left the organization when i was 18 years old.
many thought i left because i wanted to live a life full of drugs, sex, and rock and roll, which was not true at all.
i left because i realized that these people had no idea what they were talking about and were simply parroting what the, " society " , told them to believe.
-
-
The_Seeker
I have read many texts that are held as scripture by the religions of the world and what I have found is that whether you are reading The Bible, The Talmud, or any text that is considered scripture there is always the interpretation factor. I have spoken with people of the same religion who hold different interpretations of the same scripture and can not agree which is correct. The truth is, both and neither. We must all find God in our own way see him or her through our own eyes and feel their presence with our own heart. I am closest to the Divine when I am in the wilderness surrounded by the majestic beauty of creation, it is there that I can sense the Divine and truly commune with God. I do not hold to any one set of beliefs any more than any other, spirituality is a path with twists and turns, it is a journey, not a destination. When I can walk through the woods and feel the breathe of God in the breeze, then I can listen to what is whispered in my ear and move a little further down the path of spirituality.
In Love and Peace
The Seeker
Link +1 / -0 -
12
Learning To Believe Again
by The_Seeker ini was raised a jw and left the organization when i was 18 years old.
many thought i left because i wanted to live a life full of drugs, sex, and rock and roll, which was not true at all.
i left because i realized that these people had no idea what they were talking about and were simply parroting what the, " society " , told them to believe.
-
-
-
29
Why "fancy dress" and "theme weddings" were BANNED by our Congregation!
by Witness 007 inour kingdom hall was in a boring town of 30,000 people so to spice things up me and some special pioneers living with us decided to have a fancy dress up party!
what could go wrong?
nice clean fun, and no booze (oh crap!).
-
-
The_Seeker
The issue here is when you have to earn your salvation, not a free gift from God, you have to be always vigilant that you do nothing that would displease God. Understand that these people are living by the social norms of a religion that was established in the 1870's. They are taught to fear for their eternal lives everyday because if they make a misstep and Armageddon comes then all their faithfulness from before will not save them, they have to be on point everyday to insure they survive. It is a sad way to live and one that causes mental problems and health issues, because no one can live under that much stress everyday and it not affect them detrimentally. When I left the Witnesses it was like a giant burden had been lifted from my shoulders, I could breath and live without the constant threat of screwing up and losing my eternal life. These people are desperate now, none of their prophecies have come true, people are leaving by the droves and they are closing down facilities left and right. The end is near. Its not the end of the world but the end of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract society and the Witnesses as an organized religion. I truly look for them to announce to the congregations that the " Work " is complete and to go home and wait for Armageddon then simply shut down the Kingdom Halls and the headquarters and quietly slip into oblivion.
Link +2 / -0 -
12
Learning To Believe Again
by The_Seeker ini was raised a jw and left the organization when i was 18 years old.
many thought i left because i wanted to live a life full of drugs, sex, and rock and roll, which was not true at all.
i left because i realized that these people had no idea what they were talking about and were simply parroting what the, " society " , told them to believe.
-
-
The_Seeker
Yes, it has a lot to do with my screen name, as I seek the Truth, not from man, but from the Divine.
-
12
Learning To Believe Again
by The_Seeker ini was raised a jw and left the organization when i was 18 years old.
many thought i left because i wanted to live a life full of drugs, sex, and rock and roll, which was not true at all.
i left because i realized that these people had no idea what they were talking about and were simply parroting what the, " society " , told them to believe.
-
-
The_Seeker
I was raised a JW and left the organization when I was 18 years old. Many thought I left because I wanted to live a life full of drugs, sex, and rock and roll, which was not true at all. I left because I realized that these people had no idea what they were talking about and were simply parroting what the, " Society " , told them to believe. Yes, I left because of doctrinal differences and questions they could not answer. It was simply wait on Jehovah and he will eventually make it all clear through. " New Light ". Yeah right. My problem was if this is God's chosen organization why would there have to be doctrinal changes, I believe God could have gotten it correct the first time and new light would not be necessary. I am disfellowshipped and it was by my own choosing, I never went to a judicial hearing because these men had no jurisdiction over me so why would I attend their hearing. They came to where I worked and told me they were about to take action against me and I told them to do whatever was required because neither them nor their organization held any power over me and the action they took was for their benefit not mine. That was 30 some odd years ago and I haven't been a member since and will never be in the future. I am shunned by half of my family and it has never bothered me in the least as this is their issue and not mine. I am now in my 50's and have never regretted my decision to leave the organization. I am not bitter in fact I truly feel sorry for those who are Witnesses as they are allowing an organization to control every aspect of their lives and they live in bondage to that organization everyday. Oh, they will say they are not in bondage, but I was there and I remember it quite well. I have tried to find a religious organization where I fit in, but alas when any Church tells me I have to live any other way than what I have read in the Bible, simply because it is part of their dogma I simply walk away. I am now a a spiritual person not a religious person and I see good in many religions, but I also see the influence of man. So I simply look to my heart and the beautiful creation around me and commune with God in my own way.
May the light always guide you and darkness never bar your path. In Love and Peace.
The Seeker
Link +11 / -0