Sevan,
When I left the cult over 2 decades ago, I realized that my belief system, which was essentially what I inherited from my family and culture, were in need of serious re-consideration. Trying to establish my footing in a place such as this for my theism or x-tiantiy is something that never entered my mind and I would have never done. I avoided all religious and JW discussions for 2 decades, until I joined this site a couple of years ago.
I understand we are different, but we are not so different that you shouldn't understand showing up to demand respect for a failed belief system and criticize those who rationally have deconstructed that belief system is going to cause some problems.
Your testimonials are preaching; they are intended to influence others, so let's stop playing coy (I'm also talking to you Kate and Sanch). Calling atheists hostile is preaching. Hostile? Really? Do you still believe that your lovely Jesus and his murderous dad are going to slaughter billions of innocent people soon? Including me, all the other atheists, my GF, her family and the other 1.3 billion Indians who do not believe in Jesus, as well as the billion and a half Chinese and a few billion others who don't give a rat's ass about your beloved???
You say you are questioning your belief system. Excellent. Until you complete that journey I suggest you listen a while, humbly, and avoid making judgmental statements about us.
Or do you pine for the day, as the bible puts it:
Rev. 14: (At Armageddon)
"And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.
Rev 21: (after the 1000 year reign)
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Do you believe this?
