Formerbrother
Anyway, what other options are there that follow ALL the bible, not just parts that suit them? Which other option apart fromJWs fullfill Jesus words that this is how you will know my true followers those who have love amung themselves?
Trying to find an alternative to JW's. After many years, I still can not find any other option that comes as close to ALL the Bible as JWs do.
If there is an option that I have missed please tell me here, I would like to look into it deeply.
Try the Seventh Day Adventists.
I happened to do this by accident one might say. I had a friend who was physically unable to take herself and I agreed to take her.
I viewed it as when Daniel took that high court official to worship his God. Remember that account in the Bible?
So I would accompany her and since i was a favor it wasnt a complete "waste" of my time or so I thought.
What I found once there was that it felt incredibly similar to being at a book study. If it is that feeling that you are seeking from an organized group - that can be found.
They have similar views about holidays with the BIG difference that they allow families to decide how much how little they will participate rather than tightly controlling herd behavior.
They have their own flawed date (like the JW 1914) but they are not floundering awkwardly with it. They have moved on (unlike JWs).
Here is another biggie! Have you heard of the Blue Zones? Places around the world where people inexplicably naturally live long and healthy?
The SDA are the only religious group that made it into that listing. The ones in Loma Linda Ca. have exceptional demographics.
It is believed to be their diet and strong religious community and outlook.
My experience helping my friend only lasted two months.
I have not attended since.
But I did get a lot to mull over during my brief time there.
The people are strong and full of purpose. They feel they create their religion - not the leadeship dictating it. They view the leadership as there to lead. Very simply.
The people are healthy. Never mind their dietary vicissitudes, they are not on anti depressants or meds of any kind that have to do with depression or anxiety.
The contrast with my local Kingdom Hall was tremendous. All our elders minus one are on medication for mood purposes (versus an illness medication like insulin as an example) ditto the congregation. People are overweight and live for the mid morning MeDonalds run in field service. Or the "Sunday feed the speaker ritual.
So same religious format, similar culture, extremely different measurable results in quality of life.
As a JW I remember we were told how the Jews laws protected them physically as well as spiritually. So why would "Gods People" today be among the most unhealthy emotionally and physically as a group?
If a person with no previous bias were to go to a JW meeting and then go to a SDA meeting and you asked them which group seems to be benefiting the most?
There would be an obvious answer.
That was my casual observation that I didnt go seeking.
What it tells me are that there are religions out there meeting as many needs as the JWs are.
Our problem is we were taught that is not possible and we believed it.
But my eyes dont lie to me and I saw what I saw.
Why dont you look around? See what your eyes tell you minus what you have been taught?
You might be glad you did?