Are you a better person now?

by bluecanary 12 Replies latest jw experiences

  • bluecanary
    bluecanary

    I'm curious about how people who have shifted religious beliefs feel about their own morals. Has the religion you've chosen made you a better person? Has becoming an atheist/agnostic made you a better person?

    It's been my experience that most people feel like whatever path they are on now has made them more morally mature. I wonder if it's not the path itself that's important, but the mental application that goes into choosing a path. Combine this with the maturity that tends to grow as we age.

    Thoughts?

  • The Berean
    The Berean

    In my case I am the same person with the same strengths and character flaws. Only my priorities have changed. I will still scare many at first and have my candid opinions but I have now learned to manage my presentation in a more considerate way. Some claim they care deeply for me others never give me a serious second thought. Perhaps that is how it is with all ...

    No, I can't say that I am any better ... only tempered by my experiences with religion and people in general.

    Berean

    PS: Oh yes, I still play roles according to the audience!

  • GoddessRachel
    GoddessRachel

    I am. I have finally learned to use my brain in positive ways that help both me and others in my life. Something 24 years as a Jehovah's Witness never taught me to do, not even once.

    Rachel

  • alanv
    alanv

    I believe I must have a better attitude to people in general now, after all as a witness I was taught that most people or organisations were from the devil, therefor they were no good.

    When I said to a witness recently about the gigantic amount of money that is given to charities these days, the reply was oh they just feel guilty.

    In other words it just makes you feel better, it is not being given because you really wants to give.

    Since leaving the witnesses I now have a much more optimistic point of view instead of the totally negative thoughts I had before.

  • GoddessRachel
    GoddessRachel

    Hi Alanv,

    Rational thoughts are nice, aren't they? The freedom to conclude logical things based on actual thought. WOW. Seriously though, the freedom to think for myself just might be my most favorite freedom yet! It's so exhilerating! And proof enough to me personally that the Jehovah's Witnesses don't have The Truth - why would God create in us this marvelous capacity and then condemn us for actually employing it? That just does not make sense to me.

    Rachel

  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    One thing being a witless did was make me intolerant of a lot of naturally appealing things. I had little tolerance for things like holidays, the flag, real music (especially heavy metal, rap, and bands that the witlesses bashed regularly), and normal things that the witlesses claimed were wrong. This was worse than before becoming a witless--even then, I did not like smoking but because it stinks and is bad for one's health.

    After quitting the witlesses, I became more tolerant of normal things. If someone wants to gamble a bit, so be it--I have respect for someone that wants to gamble something like $80 on an evening at the casino (which compares to other sources of recreation). I now enjoy Christmas, and accept people that want to enjoy holidays and birthdays. I also accept people who wish to remain Christian--everyone has different biases and experiences that shape their attitudes toward God. I still dislike smoking (because it stinks and damages one's health), but I am willing to accept the smoker if they are unable to quit at the time (or see more benefit than cost in continuing to smoke).

    Even now, if someone wishes to continue believing what the witlesses believe in, so be it. So long as they do not attempt to force me back into their belief system, I will not attempt to force them to worship something they do not want to. But, once they initiate the use of force (as in recapturing witlesses who are becoming ex-witlesses, or dragging children to the Kingdumb Hell), threats of force (threatening children with severe beatings if they do not go to boasting sessions, or threatening them with destruction), or fraud (lying to get people in that would not go in if told the truth), that all changes. I have little to no tolerance for anyone that is willing to stoop to those levels and force people to become, remain, or go back to being, witlesses or to lie to get them in.

  • Lillith26
    Lillith26

    I was just thinking that same question before getting online tonight, and I have to both yes and no. Yes in that I have gone back to the way I was before- a seeker with a dream, but no in the sense that I have not put my thoughts to action yet- right now I and my dreams are both a work in progress! but at least it's of my own accord and in my own way, in my own time- I never got the hang of walking to the beat of the WTBTS drum, to off tune for me spiritually.

  • Lieu
    Lieu

    Sure. I'm free to be me. I decide what I will and will not tolerate, me.

    Parents instill morals and charachter ... and then we all move on in life to stand on our own.

  • LucyA
    LucyA

    I dont think it's a matter of better i'm happy! and thats what counts for me

  • AlexHall
    AlexHall

    I think that the experience have helped me "grow" as a person, but i donĀ“t know if this new path is leading me to salvation or not. It took me some time to organize what I wanna do, and what i need to "relearn" There were so much I used to to without a thought about it. Stuff I now have the controll over myself.

    That makes it easy to make misstakes sometimes, since I no longer fear Gods anger when doing "bad" stuff. But I still have do consider the rules in the society.

    But yes, I believe that Im a better person today, atleast more of me, less of a religious slave

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