What's Your Version of The Truth About "The Truth"

by Scott77 13 Replies latest jw friends

  • Scott77
    Scott77

    Undoubtedly, many on JWN joined the Watchtower Corporation after learning the "'Truth". Others were born into the "Truth". Regardless of reasons for acceptance, the "Truth" did became a rallying central theme of our lives over many years. In a most dramatic reversal of turn of life events, we discovered the Truth about the "Truth". Please, share with us your individual version of the newly discovered Truth about the "Truth" and, how it has changed your life. Please, make your presentation brief and simple.

    Scott77

  • PrimateDave
    PrimateDave

    I basically read Timothy Campbell's "Beyond Jehovah's Witnesses" website back in 2006. From there I followed his advise to "destroy my faith" by reading Crisis of Conscience and Who Wrote the Bible? I also spent some time reading the Talk Origins website. Thus, I freed myself from the Truth TM by getting to know the real truth about the Governing Body, the origins of what we call the Bible, and the science behind the Theory of Evolution. The rest, as they say, is history.

    Dave

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    I am not sure what you are asking. Anyway, I finally got up enough nerve to check out "apostate" websites after a series of things convinced me that "the truth" was a lie. I had no idea about Ray Franz's books, but I wanted them. Before reading CRISIS, I read Steve Hassan's COMBATTING CULT MIND CONTROL. It showed me exactly what WTS was.

    I have since read things that helped me see how the Bible is a book by men, starting with a mythology that was very similar to other beliefs, but it was morphed into a belief system to rally some people from Israel together as they were captives of Babylon. The Bible reveals a god who approves genocide and rape and belittles women and believers in other gods.

    David was king over a tiny village kingdom. Even the ten tribes kingdom was never part of his dominion. The first temple was not as grand as the Bible describes. People were still worshipping many gods and Yahweh had not won out yet. Nobody ever ever ever lived under the Mosaic Law.

    Jesus probably existed, but was a prophet among many prophets. He may or may not have been married to Mary Magdeline, but his sexual exploits were simply left out of the story. Much of what he probably said was recorded and made into the Gospels long after his death, and long after 70 CE. A lot of his words are in there, but the stories are pretty much fictional. I do believe he actually was trying to fulfill some kind of old testament prophecy by riding an ass into Jerusalem and declare himself king, but it was all very staged.

    There is ample proof that the earth and life upon it is millions of years old, that life evolved, that man came out of Africa from the apes. To deny such ample proof without looking into it is to remain in ignorance.

    Most serious religion hurts people. It teaches sexual repression and denial of normal actions and desires. A bit of denial is a good thing, but religion goes so far and then we get pedophiles, unhappy marriages, homophobics.

    If that's "the truth" that you wanted to know about, you are welcome.

  • Heaven
    Heaven

    The truth about "The Truth" is that it is a 130+ year old, man-made religious cult, loosely based on the Christian Holy Bible.

    It seeks to grow its membership so they can increasingly distribute their publications and bring more people into their fold using the guise of being God's one true religion. Their goal is to preach the 'Good News' to every living person on the Earth. In over 130 years, they have yet to accomplish this goal.

    Their God is named 'Jehovah' and they use the Bible to frighten, manipulate, and control people, forcing them into becoming door-to-door salespeople and recruiters, handing out Watchtower and Awake! magazines, asking people if they would like to study the Bible, and asking for donations as their definition of God's 'works'. Jesus Christ is a background figure. They have created a belief structure and a set of doctrines that under scrutiny, do not hold up to what is documented in the Bible. Their doctrines are pure fantasy which evolve and change over time. They use portions of the Bible as well as current world events to justify these beliefs.

    In my opinion, Jehovah's Witnesses should really call themselves 'Jehovans' and NOT 'Christians'. I once considered becoming a JW but in doing my research, I have chosen not to.

  • poppers
    poppers

    In my opinion, Jehovah's Witnesses should really call themselves 'Jehovans' and NOT 'Christians'.

    Yeah, I wonder why they even bother calling themselves "Christians". What's the point of being Christian if Christ is so marginalized?

  • mindmelda
    mindmelda

    I started going to the library and reading books about history, religious history, philosophy, religious thought, myth, anything I could get my hands on.

    Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth" had a really profound effect on me. I began to see that all religions had similar themes and philosophies behind them that seem to come from a common human need or gestalt of thinking.

    I could no longer believe there was "one true religion", only a religion that feels true for you.

    Since that is quite contradictory to the Witness idea of one true religion with certain very definite characteristics, I realized a lot of other things they teach could be wrong too, and then I deconstructed the 1914 thing. It all falls to pieces without that.

    I call myself a Christian now, but I'm a very Universalist Christian, rather spiritually eclectic....or "spiritually incorrect" as one writer puts it.

    I'm exceedingly enamoured of Christ, though...his reflection or incarnation of God speaks to me the most. I haven't joined any sort of church yet, may never join anything. I'm still struggling to get WTS issues out of my mind. Its' still pretty hard at times, and triggers my PTSD.

    I do find that banishing my fears and panic, flashbacks by invoking Christ's name does work. Whatever works. Perhaps the need for faith in a higher power is my crutch, but hey...better than drugs or booze. Or Koolaid.

  • leavingwt
    leavingwt

    One can make this topic as simple or as complex as I would like.

    1. An honest reading of the Book of Galatians, with no JW thoughts in mind, should lead one to conclude that Watchtower wouldn't know God or Christ if he were standing in the same room. Also called "Luther's Book", Galatians reads as an anti-Watchtower screed, in my opinion. Paul waxes on about how legalism is OUT and Christians do not live by LAW. So, if you're in a works-based cult, you'll need to cull Galatians from your Bible.

    2. Crisis of Conscience - If you can make it 100 pages into this and still think Watchtower is "special", I take my hat off to you. Having served at Brooklyn Bethel, and having known some of the players being described, this book absolutely had the "ring of truth" to me. Moreover, the claims within have never been refuted by Watchtower.

    3. Combatting Cult Mind Control - Invaluable tool in understanding Thought Reform. Even if you've never heard of JWs, this is a good read. There are hundreds of religious, political and business groups that subtly control the minds of their followers, robbing them of their freedom.

    4. Apocalypse Delayed - A (mostly) commentary-free history book about JWs. It is my contention, that a study of the history of JWs is sufficient to prevent a bystander from joining. I had no historical perspective when I was active. The Proclaimers book does not give the JW history in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. Why? Because if you examine the history in chronilogical order, you must honestly conclude that the organization was smoking crack for more than 100 years. It's a no-brainer, when placed into historical perspective. Their claims simply do NOT match the history/reality/evidence.

    5. Thus Saith Jehovah's Witnesses - Randy Watters does not parse words. He provides photocopies and scans of actual WT literature and calls their bluff. This details the outright lies and hypocrisy printed within their publications. Highly recommended.

  • Narkissos
    Narkissos

    In my case (but I notice basically the same thing in most of the previous replies) I think I could only allow myself to face (hence "see") the (negative) "truth about 'the Truth'" when I accepted a (positive) "truth" about something else -- relative or subjective as it can be. To me it was a completely different understanding of God, Jesus, the Gospel, Christianity. To others it may be scientific facts and the sense of objective reality which dispels religious illusion. Or the very different, intersubjective kind of reality involved in a genuine personal relationship (real love, or friendship for instance). I don't think it is really possible to question the paradigm you live in without setting foot on what you sense as "firm ground" (even though it may also be belief) outside.

  • Scott77
    Scott77

    For me, Freeminds.org was the link, thanks google. From there to JWN and finally, ordering CoC and other stuff. But before then, it was already happening in my life little by little, and until the internet search opened the way. They I read many many other stories and news media and it helped alot to widen the holizon. Very simple as that.

    Scott77

  • OUTLAW
    OUTLAW

    The WBT$ Truth is an ever changeing load of Sh*t!................10 words..Short and sweet......................LOL!!...OUTLAW

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