Jehovah's Witness turned atheist

[cosmichippo]

Hello:

I've checked out RichardDawkins.net from time to time, but had never noticed this forum.

I will try to give a brief history of why I am here. I certainly appreciate the time any members take to read my story.

I was one of Jehovah's Witness for my entire life. I knocked on doors, peddled copies of the Watchtower, and argued with anyone who disagreed with the Witness teachings. I had actually become quite skilled arguing against evolution in my high school biology class (back in the mid-80s).

I will not get into specific Witness beliefs except to point out that they believe their central leadership, in New York, was selected by Jesus to spiritually "feed" the sheep. This means that they Governing Body can pretty much say what they want and the flock follows without question. This has lead to some extreme teachings and actions on the part of this cult. If anyone has questions, I'll gladly go into more detail.

I was down after my wife left me (because I was not acitve enough in the church) and started to read the Bible. However, a lot of the ideas I read did not gel with Witness beliefs. I was unaware of it at the time, but I was starting to apply the concept of critical thinking. Still, I was limited in how I was using critical thinking. I still considered the Bible to be the perfect word of God, so I did not question it. There were ideas in the Bible, however, that bothered me. Witnesses do not believe in a Trinity. They believe that Jesus was the son of God and raised to heaven, but not part of God. I found the early gospels supported this idea quite a bit. As a matter of fact, I was hard pressed to find any proof that Jesus was any more than blessed by God in the book of Mark. The book of John, however, was clear that Jesus was indeed God (and used by Trinitarians almost exclusively). I was confused, but so was the Bible!

It was about this time that I started reading a book that helped me see that I was not expanding my search wide enough. I hope it doesn't insult anyone here that it was not a Dawkins book (that came later). It was a book by Carl Sagan called "The Demon Haunted World." It dealt with superstition, psychics, and UFOs. He only touched on the issue of God. However, as a child, I enjoyed Sagan's "Cosmos" series. The main thurst of the book, for me, was the concept of critical thinking. I started applying that to my belief in the Bible. It allowed me to step back and look at it as a book. I soon found much of what it taught to be opposite of my basic moral principles.

It was about that time that I started looking for books about evolution. I had decided that I was agnostic. I soon found "The God Delusion," which only dealt with evolution a little bit, but still made some good points. Also, Dawkins addressed the book "Life - How Did It Get Here?" which was the Jehovah's Witness criticim of evolution. As I reasearched evolution, I began to realize that creationists (Witnesses included) play loose with the facts and are more than willing to quote a scientists out of context to make their point.

So here I am, now an atheist. I have learned that it changed my outlook toward life. For one thing, since I don't expect God to make the earth a paradise, I take care of myself and my planet.

[mizvekov]

Welcome, and nice story!
By the way, reminds me we are in the process of debating someone who we think is a JW in this thread here, named dunsapy: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=92264
He won't admit it, but it seems quite obvious he is. I won't try to judge here, but it is quite obvious how the thread got to be 41 pages long and still it has led us nowhere.

[br0k3nglass]

Welcome to the forum! I was a baptized JW myself until a few years ago. There's a number of atheist ex-JW's on this site.

[Virphen]

If you're an ex-JW does that mean you have to go around knocking on people's doors apologising for the shit you tried to sell them on your last visit?

Oh, and welcome to the OP .

[wildsimian]

If you're an ex-JW does that mean you have to go around knocking on people's doors apologising for the shit you tried to sell them on your last visit?

Oh, and welcome to the OP .

No! Better yet ... gather the names of witnessess and knock on their doors with pamphlets about evolution!

[br0k3nglass]

If you're an ex-JW does that mean you have to go around knocking on people's doors apologising for the shit you tried to sell them on your last visit?

Oh, and welcome to the OP .

That might not be a bad idea in some cases. Personally, I'm forever haunted by memories of conversations/arguments I had with certain people I called on regularly. The arguments I often made were so horrifically bad that I feel a kind of chronic embarrassment to this day.

[redwhine]

I will try to give a brief history of why I am here. I certainly appreciate the time any members take to read my story.

Why not take a look at Converts' Corner (link below ) for other people's stories. Maybe add your own.

Welcome!


Some stuff to help you settle in:-

Intro Boiler Plate

Please read these at least once - the Forum User's Agreement and How the forum Works

Advice to new fellow theist members by one of our longest active resident theists, Jerome

Student? ...check out The Beekman

Parent or educator? ...Parenting & Education will be of interest.

Military? ...take a look in Atheists In Foxholes.

Why this site and others like it matter - a member's posts about TheTreatment of Women in Saudi Arabia and read about the lovely people known as The American Taliban.

A couple of examples of how bad the delusion can get by some of our fundie ex-members - "Proof" that God exists and even more "proof". And for those that have heard it all, here's one fundie member asserting that polar bears are white because they were scared white by humans after the Noachian flood.

A place on the front page that you may like to visit and hear stories from people who have successfully moved away from their religions - Converts Corner

Need a picture for your user profile ? Look here for Avatars

Look here to see what AFAIK, LOL and STFU mean as well as other forum acronyms.

How to add links and pictures, etc, to your posts using BBCode.

How do I insert quotes? The instructions are here

A big list of links about evolution that will help you make sense of this important topic.

...and welcome again !



redwhine

[Durro]

Hello from Brisbane, Australia and welcome to the RDF forums. I hope that you enjoy your stay and find your time here interesting. To help you find some relevant external resources and to bring a smile to your face, here are some links that may be useful.

Regards,

Durro


Handy Links

Some reasons why many posters here disagree with theists and wonder Why Won't God Heal Amputees ? and then realise that God is Imaginary

If you want to read the Bible, Koran or Book of Mormon with some helpful commentary which point out the many contradictions, fallacies and absurdities, try reading The Skeptics' Annotated Bible.

Know people who think that Evolution is "Only a Theory" ? Maybe show them this explanation of what a scientific theory actually is and why Evolution is as scientifically sound and factual as the Laws of Gravity.

For the days when you lose perspective, have a look at Pale Blue Dot or the Powers of 10.

If you are having trouble with Intelligent Design/Creationism, a comprehensive list of counter-creationism resources can be found here or have a look at Thunderf00t's series of videos entitled Why Do People Laugh at Creationists ?

To avoid being duped by woo and superstition, take a look at Michael Shermer's Baloney Detection Kit or maybe the James Randi Educational Foundation website.

Have a laugh or be offended, the choice is yours when you watch Achmed the dead terrorist!! (Silence, I kill you!) or everyone's favourite god, Mr Deity

Oldies but goodies...Youtube videos of catholic guilt presented by Dave Allen ... Nuns & Blessings, Adam & Eve and Self Abuse.


...and once again, welcome to RDF !



Durro

[flyingscot]

Hello cosmichippo and welcome to the forum. Glad you found us and decided to join.

Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself, pleased to meet you and hope you enjoy your time in the Oasis.

All the best
fs

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If you have not already done so, please take the time to read our User‘s Agreement

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Some books to consider reading if you have not already done so
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. The foundation of this site.
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. Detailed study of natural selection.
The End of Faith by Sam Harris. A slamming indictment of religion.
God is not great by Christopher Hitchens. Beats the crap out of religion.
Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett. Why we invented God.
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Escaping the clutches of Islam. Fantastic!
The Quantum World by Kenneth Ford. Mind numbing physics made approachable.
God: The Failed Hypothesis by Victor J Stenger. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist.
The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan. Science as a Candle in the Dark. Excellent!
River Out of Eden by Richard Dawkins. A Darwinian View of Life. Wonderful!
The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins. A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. Superb!
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. A little book with a BIG message. Brilliant!
The Portable Atheist by Christopher Hitchins. Essential readings for the non-believer.

[stijndeloose]

Hi, hippo, and welcome from a fellow ex-JW! Enjoy!!

[phoenix2009]

Hi! and I'm another one. Gosh, I should have read the other topics before I posted mine, I had no idea that other JW's felt the same as me, fabulous!

[phoenix2009]

Oops, ex JW's.

[godel77]

Why do JWs have inverted nipples. "Get off my porch' ,said with both fingers.
Welcome aboard

[Electric Sheep]

Hi and welcome to the oasis

I hope you find your time here enjoyable and educational.

Electric Sheep

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Some books I have enjoyed:

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Cosmos by Carl Sagan
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
The Spiders of Allah by James Hider

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Some YouTube channels I recommend:

Potholer 54 debunks
potholer 54
Thunderf00t
AronRa
Don Exodus 2
Discuss Islam
Rob The Monk 8
Non Stamp Collector

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Some people that I respect:

Tank Man
Carl Sagan
Alan Turing

[rachelsinatra]

Welcome! I'm new myself and have a similar past as yours except was evangelical. I too am haunted by some of the arguments I had with people on evolution and other things, but it also helps me realize when talking to people now that unless someone really wants to change, they are not going to no matter how good your arguments are. It's why I don't debate much anymore, but I do try and discuss and share my viewpoints as much as possible to make up for those old conversations!

[cosmichippo]

Thank everyone for the warm welcome.

College has been going great (something the JWs frown upon because many of those who go to college end up leaving the church).

I wrote a psychology essay about religious false prediction, which my professor thought was excellent. What surprised me was how little psychologists have been willing to study the psychology behind religious belief.

[vsop44]

Hello and welcome Cosmichippo , my wife had a brush with the JW's around 1976 when we were in the last days* ...
Because of the state of her mental health at the time , I backed her up , hell ,I would have gone to hell for her , but even in her condition , it took her only 9 month to see the light and get out for good . So technically we only had a glimpse of this evil monstruosity that is this sect , but that was plenty !

Again welcome aboard .

* some of the guys I talked to at the time were convinced ,that Armageddon was going to happen before the end of 1976 .

[aquablue]

I was a witness too. Not now.

[stijndeloose]

I was a witness too. Not now.

We should start our own subforum!

[nodayjob]

I was a witness too. Not now.

Hi, aquablue
Another ex-Borg(Brooklyn Organization ) safely free of the "Collective" hopefully.
Welcome to RD.net

[br0k3nglass]

As an ex-JW myself, I've often wondered how many JW's leave the organization and end up as atheists, compared to the number who leave for, say, Catholicism or Buddhism. I have a feeling that more of them end up atheists.

[aquablue]

I left ("the truth?") the witnesses nearly two weeks ago so I am new to all this Dawkins thing. I am venturing in slowly as I normally do. I just started reading The God Delision. So please easy on me. Thanks.

[Vagabond7]

An ex Jay-dub here as well. Been out for a couple of years now. There is a thread around here where I gave the gist of my story.
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=97036

There are more of us here than I thought (and I knew of a couple ex JWs here).


I agree with what somebody above said, I think witnesses are more prone to atheism after leaving than other religions. A key part of witness teaching is dismantling all other religious beliefs very thoroughly, leaving you with only one left to dismantle on your own. But once you realize that it isn't really "the truth" (a phrase that witnesses use to describe their beliefs, it's refered to simply as "the truth") then you don't have any other religions left to turn to.

Welcome and enjoy your stay.

[flyingscot]

I was a witness too. Not now.

Welcome aboard!

Regards
fs

[br0k3nglass]

But once you realize that it isn't really "the truth" (a phrase that witnesses use to describe their beliefs, it's refered to simply as "the truth") then you don't have any other religions left to turn to.

I broke from the organization over four years ago, and still occasionally find myself referring to it as "the truth". Some habits die hard.