I'm new to this web site. I was 3rd generation witness, a member for over 40 yrs.I helped write information for the Awake mag. (for a brief while), I'm a certified grief counselor, counselor for addictions, co-taught workshops on addictions, communication, marriage & parenting, 12 step work. You can imagine the problems dealing with a religion in denial . I left the org. about 7yrs ago. I was on a treadmill working out and I said to God: "I can't do this anymore, if this is your religion and you approve of it, then I cannot approve of you as my God any longer. I guess I will just have to die!" Rather than being hit by lighting; he approved! (He doesn't like whooses). It was at this time he opened up communication with me. I still believed in a higher power. Because I was throwing the religion out do I throw out the baby out with the bath water? I had alot of questions thru the years and I started to get answers to them. The "Truth" could not be revealed to them because the truth was not in them. After I left I put on a new pair of glasses. I found there were to be some astounding revelations!
I had come to believe the Bible must be invalid. But after I left I was shown to re-read it. I've gotten a whole different view of the whole picture. I've come to believe the witnesses and other religions were set-up by God. Set-up to fail!! And it was in the Bible the whole time, "So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrightousness." 2Thess.2:11,12. Religions cannot possibly know the "sacred secret". They have been duped! How ingenious on God's part! Only those enlightened can discount the religious parts of the Bible (God used to set them up with) to "see" the spiritual truths. It has been one massive cover-up or mystery.
Instead of being angry w/God as I have been in the past and have disowned him, I now want to publically, symbolically shake his hand! And here I thought he was a profound under achiever!
More tid-bits (I have alot where that came from) in the future. Take what you want and leave the rest!
Michele