Brought up as a J.W. 10 years on and i feel i am lacking 'something' or 'someone' in my life. I am not sure what it is, maybe it is the time of year.
Last night, i found myself singing (excuse the spelling) Kum-by-ahh for my son, not sure what this means, but i remember the children at school singing it in assembly while the 4 J.W's sat with a sister from the congregation and read 'my book of bible stories', this did not stop me learning the hymns!
I am a very spiritual person. I do believe in god. Now i want a little religion back, but no way will i EVER return as a J.W.
Sorry, religious Q's are usually legnthy aren't they?
Any idea's?
2007-12-20 13:22:29 · 27 answers · asked by AnneShirley03-03-07 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sorry, i was A JW, and Jesus is, was and always will be the son of god, never was i made to believe nay different to this!
2007-12-21 06:16:45 · update #1
I have read all the thoughts you have put across to me and i think, i will start by reading the bible- without being FORCED todo so, i will then base my decision from here!
2007-12-21 06:26:32 · update #2
Don't worry about religion. You said it yourself, you are spiritual, and that's good enough. Those who think they are earning extra points by diligently following laws and structured religion created by man are mistaken. If you believe in the Bible, it says that God does not play favorites, He judges one by the goodness in their heart. Refer to Romans...
There is nothing wrong with singing. Kumbaya is a very simple and beautiful song and there is nothing bad or evil to be found in it, unless the one who is hearing it is a moron lol.
For more info on the song and it's history, follow this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbaya
2007-12-20 13:33:28 · answer #1 · answered by GhostHunterB 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I like to sing that song too, it is a lullaby and a song to God. I just would like to share that I was brought up Lutheran and I found myself wanting more in my life. I wanted to know God completely. And when I came to Krishna Consciousness I found Him in every way. No other religion that I studied showed me directly who God was. They where vague or they didn't know themselves. They could show me the son of God, which is Great no doubt. But Jesus said "there is more I have to tell you." And that "more" I found in Bhaktivedantas teachings. Kindly look into this if you are really seeking happiness and peace and joy that over floods your whole being Krishna can fulfill that. He did for me. Jesus led me to Krishna. Read my answer to the question I stard from avatar Roy. On "What did the Bhagavad Gita do for you?" That is my personal story. Hope this brings you light and love. Here is a wonderful site http://www.stephen-knapp.com/chanting_hare_krishna.htm he has two wonderful e-books for free can be read there if you scroll down to the bottom of that page and go to main menu. Then go to The Key To Real Happiness. and another called Towards World Peace, Seeing the Unity Between Us All. Krishna Consciousness is Universal love of God. Realizing we are all come form the same Father and He has many names. These books are very enlivening and not very long to read. Hope this helps. Sweet soul
2007-12-21 05:19:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think everyone (at some point in their lives) feels that they are lacking something. Who said you had to go back to be a J.W.? You CAN be religious, without actually 'picking' a religion you know. By the way, you're not asking the person you should be asking this question to...yourself. What do YOU want?
2007-12-20 13:29:10 · answer #3 · answered by ღ♥Jess♥ღ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried Jesus?
I don't mean to be facetious, but life in Christ can be an enlightening experience.
The 'something lacking' you feel could be the absence of a relaitonship...with Jesus and with God.
You can try church shopping, as suggested, or you can go straight to Jesus by accepting him as Lord and Savior, and ask him for help.
You can also read through some Christian literature and try to figure things out that way.
I would like to recommend some booklets that I have found very helpful through my years as a Christian.
The booklets can be found in electronic form and read on the site, Radio Bible Class,
http://www.rbc.org/basehome.aspx?id=33
which has numerous items there to read and help you find your way through the religious/religion maze. You can also order the booklets of your choice (although I think there is a per-order limit, which could be because the materials are free), and they will be shipped to you.
The Discovery Series booklets cover myriad topics that can help answer the many questions you may have, and to help you find your way to a fulfilling relationship with God in Christ.
http://www.rbc.org/bible_study/discovery_series/home.aspx
There are many other books that you might find useful as well, but this is a very good place to begin, because you can gahter information here and may be able to determine how to proceed afterwards.
Please feel free to email me if you have any other questions.
Hope I helped. God bless you. †
2007-12-20 14:03:45 · answer #4 · answered by 1985 & going strong 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Shirley: Start praying and start reading the Bible. i started out in a church that was mostly about Grace, Because of being in a "Works based religion" I need to catch up on the grace end of theology....After about 3 years I went looking for better theology and ended up with a little Baptist Church, that I love.
I also started listening to "the bible answer man" Hank Hennagraff on the radio..http://equip.org He is pretty good at apologetics...You will be fine..God is on your side....there are some wonderful worship services out this weekend...go to one and here about the wonderful Christmas story.....
2007-12-21 01:49:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
What you’re feeling is the longing to belong, to be part of society, and deeper still, to be with Jesus.
What you saw at the school with the children singing while 4 JW children sat with a sister off to the side is a classic example of JW isolation. You’re always the odd man out, the one who is different, who is not like everyone else. So, on occasion, you break the rules, because you want to fit in, to be part of something. Like when I was a JW kid, I decided that this Christmas I was going to have fun too and make paper plate snowmen, or construction paper jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, because I was sick of the other kids looking at me like I was some kind of weirdo because I couldn’t do the same things that they did. Sadly, though I was proud of my completed project, I knew that if I went home with it, I’d be scolded because what I did was “wrong”, so in the trashcan it went right before I boarded the school bus. Heartbreaking.
You’re singing of that song is the same kind of reaction. It’s simply the natural desire in all of us to want to be together. People are social beings. We’re made for each other. We’re supposed to celebrate and participate with each other. The JW’s, however, forbid this. They’re as anti-social as it gets and when this is put on young children, it creates all kinds of mental complexes that they aren’t even aware of, but it’s there.
What you need is the truth. God’s REAL truth. That is the desire tugging at you. My personal story is that after leaving the JW’s with my family as a teen, we skipped around to other “churches”, trying to “find the right one”. We landed, finally, on my mother’s Catholic roots. We weren’t very good Catholics, so for years we participated in name only. I never went to one religion class or learned anything about the Catholic faith. I just went to church here and there and ate the holy cookie (communion). It wasn’t until I was 30 that I decided to embark on my own search and find out once and for all what the Church taught. So, I enrolled in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). 6 months later I came out smiling and filled with joy. I’d finally found the Faith, as God wants us to know it, and I’d finally found home.
I offer this to you not as a means to push Catholicism, but simply to show where my journey went, so that you can see that the truth is out there. I’d be thrilled if you did explore the Church, but I also understand how hard it is for an ex-JW to do that as JW’s are vehemently anti-Catholic. In any case, I just hope that I’m able to help you see things a bit clearer, maybe provide some direction.
God’s truth is out there. He’s waiting to show it to you. And, above all, He loves you.
Pray about this. Ask Him to show you the way.
God bless you, and welcome home.
2007-12-21 02:57:25 · answer #6 · answered by Danny H 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Religion is man's teachings; whereas the gospel is God's plan of salvation.
"And he [Jesus] said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." ―Luke 16:15
God is not impressed by superficial manifestations of religious piety. God looks upon the heart, as we read in Luke 16:15 above. So many religious leaders today are on their way to Hellfire, having never been born again through faith in Christ Jesus.They have churchianity without Christianity. They have religion without truth. The average person today honors ministers and priests as if they are good people; but the Bible says in Mark 10:18, "...there is none good but one, that is, God." No matter how much we may admire a man or woman of God, we must never forget that they are still vile, dirty, rotten sinners at best, just like you and me (Romans 3:10,19-23).
2007-12-20 13:33:15 · answer #7 · answered by Evolution - of - the - gaps 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
All religions suck.
Why do you feel the need to belong to a religion? You'll have the same Witness experience.
Believe in God if it suits you but spare yourself the "church shopping" experience.
Find your own inner peace. Question why you feel the need to belong to a group.
But, make your own choice. I hope you find peace.
Good for you, escaping the Witness mind prison!!
2007-12-21 05:31:55 · answer #8 · answered by isnrblogdotcalm 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the Bible. Pray. Sincerely ask God to show you the truth and honestly search for it. Find a church that teaches the Bible and the Bible only. NOT somebody else's ideas about the Bible. Good Luck. If you want to email me with the area you live in I might be able to recommend a few churches close by for you.
2007-12-20 13:30:23 · answer #9 · answered by mr_e_cowboy 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋
The best thing that I believe you can do is just read your Bible, perhaps starting with the New Testament and just see (if you have a Bible with good marginal references) all the references to the Old Testament.
Jesus believed the Old Testament and quoted it. He said that if people had believed their Scriptures (OT) they would have believed him.
It really is an exciting book the more you read and understand it. Always read verses in their context and compare scripture with scripture if you don't understand something.
2007-12-20 13:41:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋