For those who go to church

by serenitynow! 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  serenitynow!

  Hi all. I am a born in, now ex JW. I now don't really believe in God which is kind of going from one extreme to another. I do miss the sense of community that I had as part of a congregation. I attended a small methodist church a couple of months ago, but could not bring myself to sing or partake of the communion, (I did however place a couple dollars in the collection plate kinda as an F.U. to the org). This of course once again made me an outsider, as I have been all of my life d/t the many rules and regs of the bible and org. I also attended a unitarian universalist church since they embrace many different beliefs. Once again I could not bring myself to sing, or get involved with the service in any way.

  For those of you who go to church, esp ones who never knew anything other than the JW experience, how did you let yourself go, and feel free to participate? Am I doomed to forever be the outsider who cannot let go and participate fully in life?

  jada
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  PSacramento

  Why do you feel you must go to chruch?
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  serenitynow!

  I don't feel I must, but I guess because the KH was where my social life was, I am used to that environment. It has to do with a sense of belonging and community.
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  BackRoomBilly

  You are not going to die a terrible death if you sing a song in a church. That's just what we were programed to believe. God wants us to live life and love each other, so do that. If in the end it turns out there is no God, you lived and you loved. I don't think we can ask for more than that.
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  yknot

  I attend with my UBM hubby at his......

  I am personally influx on this issue.... (Feeling the whole I hate organized religion---- well actually it is more that I am very wary of 'allegiances')

  It is really hard, I mean in the WTS you are brainwashed into the impossible 'accurate knowledge' crap that makes you fret over things you aren't in total agreement with.....(Trinity, hellfire, immortality of soul etc).

  To add to this is the fact that 'churches' really don't hold their congregants 'responsible' as we all were raised, being a Xian, following Christ is truely a personal experience in which you are accountable to Jesus and Jehovah only.

  It is weird, being from such a high control group.......but in the end it is far more about 'socialization' than anything else, socializing with those of 'like mind' if you will...... so it hasn't been so bad, they want their kids to be moral, responsible and balanced.....so do I.

  The other thing is that they are in no way as 'conditional', they care more genuinely about their older-ones......

  They have 'enrichment' programs for everyone, and every situation.......
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  PSacramento

  I don't feel I must, but I guess because the KH was where my social life was, I am used to that environment. It has to do with a sense of belonging and community.

  Since you view it more like socialising and a sense of belonging, dont worry about the other stuff and just enjoy the experience.

  You don't need to partake of communion unless you want to, it would be wrong to do otherwise.

  As for singing, sing if you like or don't sing, maybe hum along.

  Whatever feels right and comfortable.
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  PaulJ

  That sense of community can be got elsewhere. For example I attend monthly humanist meetings, which are kind of cool. We discuss things like Sunday trading, faith-schools etc. We also find out about charitable organisations like the Samaritans and recently Quakerism- which was interesting.

  Its a community about living life without the burden of believing in an invisible friend and embracing the life you have.