My wife and I have only been out for 6 months, but right now we don't know what to believe. I don't think we'll ever get involved with an organized relgion ever again...as for our belief in God...not so sure about that either. We just don't know anymore. We can't believe we ever bought into the lies of the witnesses.

(((DeeDee)))

I know just what you mean.  I have been gone for six years physically, but I was heading that way for years before that.  As far as the peace.  I feel no peace when I am on a frantic search for answers, but feel the peace when I am able to let go and just let happen what the Source of All reveals to me.  (this is the closest I can come to a description of God/dess).  The peace or lack there of does come and go, but it is getting better every day.  Each day I strive to connect with the Source and find that if I can keep it simple, it goes much better.

In my mind, there is a difference between spirituality and religion.  Spirituality has more to do with who you are and religion is more how you choose to make expression.

My view on religion or any other way of expression is a lot like the parable of the blind men and the elephant.  Each one described the elephant based on the part they were touching, while none of them were able to get a complete picture. 

I mentioned in another thread that I think we are spiritual beings having a human experience.  We have to determine what we are here to learn, remember, experience, ect, and that is very different for every one. 

I hope this makes sense.  If not just question and I will clarify.

Blessings and success on your journey

Cheryl

ive been out for about 4 yrs now. i was raised a witness and cant believe how stupid i was. i cant believe i was actually stressing on stupid things. still just now realising how much of my 25 yrs on this earth was wasted. i WILL NOT ever get involved with religon again. and as far as my parents go, they dont like me anymore. they spent my whole childhood rasing me to be a witness. dont do this ,dont do that,making money is bad.u cant go out on the weekends becasue ull only get in trouble.u cant have fun with any friends but those in the org.dont drink.dont smoke.dont join the military.dont do anything natural unless the wts. says its ok.and for what?. for nothing. as soon as i realised whats up all that training they did only led me to do the exact oppisite when i was free. and now that i am free i do alot of the oppisite,i party, i drink, i smoke, i have a job that was "bad" in the eyes of the elders that actually pays  the bills, my mon,thurs nights are free again.i dont have 2 stress about getting off in time for the meetings. i dont have 2 wake up on sat morn. and go out and embaress myself by annoying the hell outta people.im free dammit,free i tell ya!!!!!!!!!!! man it feels so good.just like i got realesed from prison..so on that note im gonna go get me an ice cold budweiser....later on peeps.

I've been out for just over 25 years, and my best advice is to "enquire within." If you can get confirmation for what you're thinking from that "small quiet voice" then you're likely on the right track. Each and every time I've ignored that small still voice, I've regretted it big time.

The words and opinions of other people mean nothing to me, zip, nada. "The kingdom of heaven is within you," and when it quietly has it's say, that's the direction I head myself in. It's a variant of "Be still and know that I am God."

I have followed and/or put faith in my last man, men, or organization of any kind. And should I happen to be wrong 1) it will be MY responsibility, and 2) the God I believe in is very likely to forgive, seeing that perfection is my goal, not mine my right of attainment just now at this point in my evolution.

This approach and attitude has given me great peace over the years. I hope you find yours.

Sincerely,

Frank Tyrrell
Atlanta, GA

22 YEARS OUT OF THE ORG HERE.

Since leaving Ive examined most of the other options. About the only thing i havent given a try is Islam.

Ive been in the Mormons, the Adventists, the pentecostals and Catholic church, the right wing militia movement and the Ascended Masters spiritualist movement. Ive been involved in more New Age trance channeling groups than I can begin to recount.  After all of that I have not seen an organized belief that does not have cultic manifestations and controls the flock.  Its a worry I tell you. I cannot find any systematic faith that I can hold onto in good conscience.

Edited by - refiners fire on 2 September 2002 19:59:30

Dear Lyin Eyes,

 

If there is no right and wrong, what right do we have to judge the WTBS for their lying, hypocritical abuses? The truth is that there is right and wrong and it is our destiny to discover what it is.

To suggest otherwise is to deny our position as top animal on this planet. The borg is evil because it is self serving. Being unselfish is one key to truth and is a trustworthy benchmark to judge our friends, ourselves and our associations that we support.

You will find peace in time....when you find acceptance.

when one leaves there are only 2 issues that one must come to grips with

 

1.  Do I join another "Belief system" as one poster REFINER STATED:

"Since leaving Ive examined most of the other options. About the only thing i havent given a try is Islam.

Ive been in the Mormons, the Adventists, the pentecostals and Catholic church, the right wing militia movement and the Ascended Masters spiritualist movement. Ive been involved in more New Age trance channeling groups than I can begin to recount.  After all of that I have not seen an organized belief that does not have cultic manifestations and controls the flock.  Its a worry I tell you. I cannot find any systematic faith that I can hold onto in good conscience."

For many we have realized that for the most part all major belief system share the same common thread

 

"We got the Hookup with god over here and if you don't join us our god will Kill you"

while there are different variations of this thread they are basically the same- when was the last time a "Christian believer told a Muslium he was on the road to salvation, but then again when was the last time a Muslium told a christian that"

 

once one come to realize that for the most part you are just changing one control group for another( some are High control , while others are Low control) you still got the same basic thing.

 

then one moves on to step #2,  after questioning belief systems the only thing left is to examine and question the one who represented by so many "belief systems"  AKA:  god/divine one/ man upstairs/allah, etc. for one is left to ask the question

 

2.  And where was "god" when I along with millions of others were wasting our lives for an Amercian corp call WT.  If it had not been for Techonology and the Net many of us would still be in wt selling books, WE know it was not by the hand of "god" that we got out for if that is true then he is pretty sad to leave 6million folks behind

 

while many of us realize that the avg jw is involved in a HIgh Control group and therefore does many things based on a wrong foundation, is it not interesting that while we know that the avg jw has no idea why he does what he does beyond because  "THE SOCIETY SAYS SO" -

 

the god of most belief systems watches and sees all these honest hearted ones just wasting thier lives,

looking back i sincerely believed that the choices in life i made - NO COLLEGE, no retirement, no blood if it came to it was solidly based on the word of god and yet the god of most belief systems watched you and i struggle and suffer for no reason--- esp as "Kids" in school, all the pain that JW kids will face on September 11th  in a few days is going to be unreal.

 

i think back to when i was in the 3rd or 4th grade and the issue of nationalism came up O HOW IT HURT TO BE laughed at and poked fun at, and the only comfort that mom could give you was  that you were being like the 3 hebrew boys,-

now with the help of the net i and so many others realize we got Hoodwinked and Bamboozled and just think  the "god" of most belief system watched and DID NOTHING

 

i will not even mention all those who died, at least we all didn't have to give up our life, , but for many depending upon thier age when they get out of wt they often feel like they did give up thier life

 

what quality of life can a JW who is 70 upon leaving wt enjoy - all his most productive years are gone in behalf of a belief system that was a joke

 

so for some who leave wt they first examine the concept of "Belief Systems" and then they reexamine what they have been taught about the "Divine one"

 

yes it is indeed a transition when leaving wt

 

james

I really appreciate all of the responses you all have given. It really makes me see that we all really do have some of the same questions, and the same unanswered ones at that...LOL.

I do think that life is something that evolves everyday and things change from moment to moment. I enjoyed hearing what you all think, because there is a sense of belonging in that I feel I belong in to a wonderful group of people. A group of ever growing ex jw's who are trying to find a place in this world for them. I guess we are doing just that, and it is good to be able to be free to express that we are part of this world and that regardless of what the WT says,,,,,,,, we are darn happy to be part of it.

I guess the peace I am looking for , is already inside me........ I just need to let it be free, and it is happening , alot faster than I thought it would leaving the borg. I just can't wait to see how I feel at 50 , then at 70 and then when I am at this life's end. It does seem like an incredible journey.

By all of your comments, it has helped me to think of not being afraid of what the future holds. I will remember the things you have all said and each day , live for the day and be grateful for friends like you all. You all are so very honest and non judgemental, thanks for that. Loveya , Dede

Hi dede

Interesting thread. I have no interest in God, religion, spirituality, bible, religion etc, I only feel an empty nothing. I don't have a hunger for knowledge or truth, I don't have any unanswered questions (apart from life after death) and I don't want to investigate or explore anyone else's beliefs or teachings.

That is MY transition from jw believer and practicer to what I am today, spiritually speaking.

The great mystery of life after death will be answered in its own time I guess...until then...come what may....but I'm not looking for it.

Love to you and yours this month Dede

Beck