Religious Freedom

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Never Grow Up

Well traci and Alex....I was recently disfellowshipped! lol

I was an elder, pioneer, bethelite etc! But funny how things change when you "come out"

I had an attraction to the same sex since I was 4 and after spending 32 years trying to make everyone else happy, I dicided it was time to make me happy!

It's funny though, I got "kicked out" for being gay, but the man, my father, that molested me for many years is still an elder in the "church"

So, I say, "Welcome Aboard!"

Welcome to the free world. While I was still considering making an attempt at remaining JW, the gay thing was a big hang up for me. With all the evidence that the homosexuality scriptures are misinterpreted and the evidence that most gay people are born gay, it was hard to reconcile the church's beliefs with my own. I had a discussion with my sister about this once and she compared it to alcoholism. With God's help it can be overcome. She didn't get it when I compared it to Down's Syndrome (not in the retarded aspect, just the genetic one). So I would have had to lie about my stance about that as well as a few other things anyways. (Wifely submission anyone? Hurl.)

Originally Posted by Alex

Ok. I assumed you weren't considering Jesus an ass, but if he is fair game for the label as well, then I rescind.

While I get what you are saying, didn't Jesus eat with sinners? I can't really recall Jesus doing anything assish. I haven't combed through or anything though. Considering that a great deal of the epistles were written over several centuries by many different authors, I'd say that most of the stuff in them doesn't have a great deal to do with Jesus.

Not that I place any stock in such things anymore, but if there actually were a god watching everything we do, and Jesus actually was his son, and following him meant anything, if people actually followed only what Jesus said and not what a bajillion other self inflated leaders wrote down after he came, religion would look different. I actually like Jesus. He seems cool. I think he's mostly legend, much like Buddha, but cool nonetheless.

I agree Wendy. It's amazing how much people let others have control of their lives. I think that's the appeal of religion for most though. It takes away the uncertainty and the obligation to think for yourself. And to some extent, the weight of your decisions. Not for all religious people, of course. JW's are indoctrinated three times a week, plus whatever ministry they do. All their publications are written very persuasively. If you only read JW stuff, it's easy to believe that everything that authorities say has the weight of God behind it.

On a brighter note, my sister talked to one of her elders about the whole situation, and he told her that as long as I hadn't written in a letter saying I wasn't JW then I was A-OK to talk to. One time religious authorities worked in my favor I guess. She's become pretty depressed about the whole thing with me and my other sister though and has stopped talking to most people. If this has any benefit to her at all then I hope it makes her a bit more relaxed.

And my other sister told my dad, which I wasn't planning on doing, but I guess he said he figured that a long time ago. He's cooler than I gave him credit for.