finding and losing God, answering escapethetower75 part 1/3

[happypranksgiving]

Your story is nearly identical to mine, except I went Pagan instead of Christian, and then atheist.

[PurpleHoneyBear]

Here we are staring at reality, clear as day, as a matter of fact. And yet my sister's presence was unwanted because she's no longer a JW. They were "going to say a prayer". It's really just snobbishness.

If it weren't for the religious aspect, my family wouldn't be like two rival gangs with so much infighting.

But this is the status quo, really. Life is pretty good.

[escapethetower75]

I realy like the video. Cant wait to see the rest.

Thanks for answering my question!

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

thanks for asking! YOu gave me an excuse to talk about my favorite subject, myself. =)

[jamminjago]

Is it true that jw's are discouraged to read the bible and encouraged to read the scripture studies instead.

[poconoporker]

The WTS doesn't 'discourage' reading the bible, per se, but ENCOURAGES, EMPHASIZES it's OWN literature AHEAD of the bible. They only use the bible when they want to back up some BS doctrine.

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

JWs use the bible in the same way that a kidnapper uses the newspaper to make a ranson note.

[TimKilgore]

This is really interesting, can't wait for the other two parts.

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

Thanks Tim! I was worried I rambled abit too much in this one. I think people know what to expect from me at this point. part 2 is up, should have 3 up tommorow.

[TimKilgore]

I really enjoy hearing how and why people left the JWs, I don't think you really ramble too much. My vid on how I left was originally 45 minutes because I was getting into minute details that I ended up having to cut thinking no one cared about them.

[YAHWEHtoHELL]

Crutches are for the disabled

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

imaginary crutches are for imaginary problems =P

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

When I became deeply interested and fascinated by world history, It really helped to question the "from bad to worse the end is nigh " along with the "good old days" nonsense , Things were far worse in the past then now. No modern medicine, No human rights, Dictatorships, Disease, Slavery, Wars were more the norm then they are now simply because everybody was ruled by autocratic Kings and war is the trade of kings.

Every generation for 2,000 years has believed that the end was nigh.

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

History was one of my (few) favorite topics in school for the same reason!

[PurpleHoneyBear]

We're finding that it's been really difficult to deal with family situations because their religion constantly gets in the way.

So letting go of our beliefs has been a different and unique experience for both of us, but I think that both me and my sister agree that the worst part is the way you are caricatured, the way you're put into a box. I'm not baptized, though, so my lukewarm or cold demeanor towards "the truth" has been a little less scrutinized. But when they find out for sure - uh oh.

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

wouldn't it be nice if people could just but out and mind their own business?

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

butt out*

[PurpleHoneyBear]

Definitely. I've always been vocal about my view that a person's relationship with God shouldn't be a communal experience. I could do without the peanut gallery while I'm working this stuff out in my own mind and heart.

My uncle passed away last night, and pretty much the whole thing is just going to start itself over. I told my mom that we should just put all of this religious political bullshit aside and deal with the here and now, which is that a family member is dying.

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

wow 2 deaths in a row, super sorry man. You would think that when people die it would make people rethink treating family as if they were dead.

[PurpleHoneyBear]

My grandpa's funeral was on Friday, and then my uncle went into the hospital today because he's about to die from his cancer. Of course this has meant that my disfellowshipped sister has been bearing the pain of ostracism and or emotional manipulation through the whole thing.

Today some of our brothers and sisters were telling her that she "needs to come back". My brother called me today WHILE DRIVING on the highway in the winter so he could tell me that the end is nigh and I need hope!

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

Sorry about your grandpa dying. I just love how the cult uses things like death to fit their own agenda. That is the last thing people need piled on top of them when they are grieving. Fucking assholes.

How are you doing dude>?

[RadarKat73080]

Smoney, how young were you? Did you yell "Jehovah" into the mike during the WT study?

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

yeah, I was that kid at one time. Everyone would laugh becasue it was so "cute" when I answered. It upset me because I was trying to be serious, so I eventually stopped. I'm not cute dammit!

[Shot4Truth]

He rocks!

And You to dude!

[SmokingNtheGraveyard]

yes we both do rock, thanks!