If you wanted to share what country you live in perhaps a meetup could be arranged. But if you need a religious group, it may be that you don't quite know yourself and your own moral standards, or you may be unsure.
That being said, even atheists are supposedly welcome in the UU, so if you feel that you need social structure and a group with a moral code...
Let us know what you decide. As an active JW, I know that I'd rather throw myself under the nearest car than see anyone unwillingly trapped in this endless cycle of meetings and service. I'll never convert or return to any interested person.
If you do not HAVE to return because of family issues, PLEASE don't throw your life away on a controlling, pathetic little cult.
This is some info on the UU movement, if you are that desperate for some structure/purpose..
"The movement proclaims the importance of individual freedom of belief, and it includes members from a wide spectrum of beliefs....The movement does not have an official definition of God, but allows members to "develop individual concepts of God that are meaningful to them." Members are entirely free to "reject the term and concept altogether...Services in the movement's churches do not make much (if any) mention of God. They emphasise human, ethical and social issues, and do not assume a belief in God."
...
"Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion born of the Jewish and Christian traditions. We keep our minds open to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places.
We believe that personal experience, conscience, and reason should be the final authorities in religion. In the end religious authority lies not in a book, person, or institution, but in ourselves. We put religious insights to the test of our hearts and minds...We affirm the worth of all women and men. We believe people should be encouraged to think for themselves."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/types/unitarianuniversalism.shtml
defender of truth
JoinedPosts by defender of truth
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77
Give me a reason not to go back
by chukky 594 inbeen out now for 10 yrs but life is a mess.
starting to think its because i have no spiritual compass.
why shouldn't i consider going back?.
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defender of truth
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2596
The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday
by cofty inyesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.
we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.
they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.
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defender of truth
"It is not that a person DESERVES to suffer, it is that no person is more than any other, so if one is not above suffering, then no one else [is] either."
For that argument to be logically valid, the one making it would then have to show that anyone deserves to suffer, including babies. (we'll leave the animals for now if you like..)
Otherwise they are just starting off from an unsupported assumption. -
2596
The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday
by cofty inyesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.
we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.
they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.
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defender of truth
Psacramento said:
"It may seem to you to be morally repugnant to allow the death of 250K people and I agree 100%, even the death of ONE person is one too many if it can be avoided BUT that doesn't have any bearing on whether there IS a reason for it happening."
Yet, you cannot think of one and your God has not provided one, or perhaps does not exist?
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Psacramento said:
"Seems like we can't have one ( This type of life) without the other...Unless of course it has been proven...I don't follow that debate so I honestly don't know if it has."
So, you have no idea whether the life on this planet could exist without natural evil. Let's say that it could do. Why does God let people be tortured, beaten, or mentally abused and emotionally scarred to the point that they feel nothing, let alone positive qualities such as empathy and compassion for others? Good qualities can be gained by tending to a wounded child or animal and feeling the joy that it brings to help others.
There are so many circumstances that are in no way beneficial to people, not making them kinder or more empathetic, instead turning them hard and depressed, that I could not possibly list them.
You claim that 'to say all suffering serves no purpose is wrong'.
Let's turn that on its head..
To say that all suffering has a purpose is wrong. In fact, it's repulsive.
Psacramento also said: "I don't know why He didn't take away suffering..."
"All I know is that God does allow suffering and I do NOT know why."
Once again, even highly educated theists can't offer a defense. Not even one that convinces them. -
2596
The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday
by cofty inyesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.
we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.
they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.
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defender of truth
Psacramento said:
"As some hard-line fundamenatlist would say, 'No one is innocent, so no one is above suffering'.
We may not like the argument, but it is a valid one."
Babies are innocent. Animals are innocent. The argument is not valid from any logical standpoint.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/222352/23/Theists-why-does-God-allow-suffering#.U_-OhF2t-o8 -
77
Give me a reason not to go back
by chukky 594 inbeen out now for 10 yrs but life is a mess.
starting to think its because i have no spiritual compass.
why shouldn't i consider going back?.
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77
Give me a reason not to go back
by chukky 594 inbeen out now for 10 yrs but life is a mess.
starting to think its because i have no spiritual compass.
why shouldn't i consider going back?.
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defender of truth
Have you looked into Unitarian universalism? No control or guilt trips from what I gather.. if you need help.
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Spammer
by defender of truth inhttp://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/283101/1/did-you-celebrate-the-2nd-anniversary-of-jw-org#5082822.
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11
Did you celebrate the 2nd anniversary of JW.org?
by defender of truth in"the first 5 days of august, 1200 bible studies were requested.. another stat today; in 6 months, jan. thru june, jw.org got 3200 bible study requests.. but this month?
there have been 3606 to date as of; aug. 19, 2014.".
http://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/16712-jw-org-website-anniversary/#entry238063.
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defender of truth
Sorry, should have added this quote from the jw talk thread:
"Redesigned jw.org Web Site Went Live: Monday, Aug 27, 2012.
Since then …;
*Visits 840 million
*Downloaded 1 Billion Publication Files
*Watched or Downloaded 50 million Videos
*Available in 540 languages
*Publications can be downloaded in 700 languages
*Over 100,000 online Bible Study Requests" -
11
Did you celebrate the 2nd anniversary of JW.org?
by defender of truth in"the first 5 days of august, 1200 bible studies were requested.. another stat today; in 6 months, jan. thru june, jw.org got 3200 bible study requests.. but this month?
there have been 3606 to date as of; aug. 19, 2014.".
http://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/16712-jw-org-website-anniversary/#entry238063.
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11
Did you celebrate the 2nd anniversary of JW.org?
by defender of truth in"the first 5 days of august, 1200 bible studies were requested.. another stat today; in 6 months, jan. thru june, jw.org got 3200 bible study requests.. but this month?
there have been 3606 to date as of; aug. 19, 2014.".
http://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/16712-jw-org-website-anniversary/#entry238063.
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defender of truth
"The first 5 days of August, 1200 Bible studies were requested.
Another stat today; In 6 months, Jan. thru June, jw.org got 3200 Bible study requests.
But this month? there have been 3606 to date as of; Aug. 19, 2014."
http://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/16712-jw-org-website-anniversary/#entry238063