Witness and Agnostic - Not a perfect match...

Mike Ferguson

I'm agnostic. I was writing to this 21 year old kid who is having a hard time because he's gay and he believes the Witnesses are the truth. Before he broke it off with me, he wrote this:

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your sincere e-mail. I regret allowing myself to speak to you when in the end something hurtful was bound to come of it. But I
thank you for understanding why I don't want to write anymore...as well as having put up with my many inconsistencies.

All I can say is that this world is going down the toilet and that despite the many flaws in the witnesses' religion, it is the only solution for all of mankind's problems. I wish you could come back to my religion and again be accepted by your old friends and the new ones you haven't even met yet. I wish it could be easier, but only a fool would pretend like coming back to the truth could be easy. Still, if in your heart and through your research, you decide that you want to be a witness again, you will find the door open to you.

Take care Mike. I really hope things will work out for you.

It made me reflect on things. Even though I don't believe it's the truth, it gives people something to hope for. Is it so bad to have something to believe in? I think that this is why people are so willing to overlook "many inconsistencies" and still believe that it is the truth. I think there are 2 things that keep people in the organization: fear and love. They fear being disfellowshipped and losing their friends and family. They fear dying at Armaggedon. And they love their world, their spiritual family, the unity, etc.

The saying goes that there is a thin line between love and hate. I wonder if the people that loved it the most, coming out of it, now hate it the most? I'm sure it's not a hard and fast rule, but just a thought.

I was frustrated because I really liked this kid. Kind of fell in love with him. We corrisponded for over a month.

Mike

http://mferguson76.com

teenyuck

All I can say is that this world is going down the toilet and that despite the many flaws in the witnesses' religion, it is the only solution for all of mankind's problems.

Well the beginning of that sentence has been stated here by confirmed apostates many times.

They lament the *world* yet have no solutions and have no plans to run for office or volunteer for anything to help those truly in need.

The only difference is that they are out so they can't/won't go back. The apostate life is too real and good to let go of. But, they still lament the fact that all the wars won't end, hunger won't end, poverty won't end and people just won't all get along.

Tina

Elsewhere

Wow... he sounds so pessimistic. "The world is going down the toilet"

What has happened over the last century?

· Many diseases cured

· Antibiotics

· MUCH longer life span

· Quality of life drastically improved (horse and buggy to AC, Autos and the Internet)

· So much food that the problem is obesity instead of starvation

· Life is so easy that the problem is now having too much of a sedentary life instead of too much labor

Oh yeah... things are going to hell in a hand basket!

Mike Ferguson

Yeah, I read some of his emails to my roommate and she thinks he's a manic depressant. "Tell him to take St. Johns Wart" she suggested. Is that what you call it? He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He's also very political for being a Witness, wrote a whole commentary on how much he hates President Bush. lol. I just wish he could be happy. But after writing to him, seriously, I wondered whether he should be happy, or I should be miserable. I keep getting the feeling that I'm living in a bubble, completely oblivious to the political turmoil of the world while sipping on my iced frappuchino. How did the font get this big? I can't make it go down.

logansrun

I wonder if the people that loved it the most, coming out of it, now hate it the most?

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Personally, I left the "Truth (tm)" because I CARED about truth. I lost my faith because I wanted it to be real and wanted it to be solid. I hope the kid finds his own way.

Bradley

logansrun

Mike,

Oh, you also wrote this:

But after writing to him, seriously, I wondered whether he should be happy, or I should be miserable. I keep getting the feeling that I'm living in a bubble, completely oblivious to the political turmoil of the world while sipping on my iced frappuchino.

I've battled some of the same feelings, but if you think about that long enough you will see how incredibly pointless it is to think like that. We each do our own little part to help the world and our miniscule place in it. You have a sphere of influence that you can improve as does everyone. Making yourself miserable just because you can't solve ALL the problems will only reduce what you are able to do in the sphere you are part of. Very Witness-like thinking, the former. And it doesn't work.

Also, keep in mind that we all have been severly indoctrinated into being extreme pessimists when it comes to the world at large. Like was said before, many things in this day and age are VASTLY improved over previous centuries. I honestly cannot think of any other time I'd like to live in.

Just flow with life and tackle problems as they come up.

Cheers,

Bradley

jgnat

Iced Frappuchino is not so bad. The world is never made worse with laughter.

By the way, St. John's Wort won't cure Bipolar Disorder. If this young man is that disturbed, he deserves a proper diagnosis. That may be out of your realm of control, but I thought I should mention it.

logansrun

jgnat,

Agreed. St. John's Wart didn't do didly for me. I started taking Effexor when I got to be very depressed and have slowly reduced my dosage. It worked wonders for me.

Bradley

teenyuck

He's also very political for being a Witness, wrote a whole commentary on how much he hates President Bush. lol. I just wish he could be happy.

He needs to join the board....the Bush haters are *legendary*....(especially since *many* don't reside in the US, nor are they US citizens...but I am nitpicking.)

As Bradley noted the pessimistic nature of the JWs is startling....when you leave and realize it.

There are *some* here on the board who express those same views (the world is going down the toilet)...they are afraid of nuclear war, poverty, famine etc. What can you do? Nothing. Worry gives you lines. It is not worth it. Botox costs a fortune!

I am sure you are not completly oblivious to the political turmoil. You are relaxing, drinking an iced Frappuchino....that is good. Why worry about things you have zero control over. Live your life. Have fun. Stop worrying about *the political turmoil*. The political turmoil ain't going anywhere.

expatbrit

All I can say is that this world is going down the toilet and that despite the many flaws in the witnesses' religion, it is the only solution for all of mankind's problems.

Don't despair kid! There's always Socialism!

Expatbrit

Witness and Agnostic - Not a perfect match...

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