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Where Else Would I Go?

http://www.jwfacts.com/index_files/where.htm

“In the long run it is far more dangerous to adhere to illusion Than to face what the actual fact is”

Physicist David Bohm

The first question a Jehovah’s Witness will ask when confronted with the truthfulness of the Watchtower Society is;

"Where else would I go?"

This question is a ‘thought stopping’ technique. It may appear valid but at the time of questioning it is a mental diversion from an issue being discussed. The validity of an issue is deflected by inducing fear of what will come next. “Where else to go” is of no relevance until there is a thorough understanding of the more important question;

“Does the Watchtower Society promote truth?”

Fear should not prevent an honest evaluation of the facts about the group. It is only once convinced that the Watchtower Society does not teach truth that a person can legitimately address and understand “where to now”.

This question is not unique to Jehovah's Witnesses but common to members of high control groups. Mormons, Seven Day Adventists and Worldwide Church of God echo this identical sentiment. (See sites such as ex-sda.com and exmormon.org) Steven Hassan refers to this as Phobia Indoctrination, saying “members are systematically made to be phobic about ever leaving the group” (Combating Cult Mind Control p.45 Steven Hassan Park Street Press 1990). This fear is reason for the success high control groups have in keeping people from facing the truth about their religion.

This article is not intended to promote a particular religion or belief structure. Rather it discusses the errant concept of a single true organization and the different directions former Jehovah’s Witnesses take upon leaving the Watchtower Society.

Where or Whom?

The Watchtower encourages the question “where to go” by misapplication of scripture. Ask a Jehovah’s Witness what Peter said when Jesus asked if he would leave him. The answer will invariably be that Peter said “where would I go?’ as quoted by the Watchtower.

Watchtower 1975 September 1 p.531

“Where could we turn if we would leave God’s organization today? There is nowhere else! (John 6:66-69)”)

Watchtower 1988 March 15 pp.18-19

“Furthermore, suppose a person was to separate himself from Jehovah’s people. Where could he go? Is he not faced with the same issue that confronted Jesus’ apostles when he asked them if they also wanted to leave him? The apostle Peter rightly replied: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.” (John 6:68) There is nowhere else to go but to “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion, or into the clutches of Satan’s political “wild beast.” (Revelation 13:1; 18:1-5) Largely, disloyal ones who have left Jehovah’s visible organization have made common cause with those in God-dishonoring “Babylon the Great.””

At John 6:68 Peter actually said to Jesus “Lord, whom shall we go away to?” This is the essence of Christianity; it is not about an organization but about being a follower of Jesus. Likewise, Galatians 3:29 says;

“Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.”

John 8:32, 36 states;

"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. … the Son sets YOU free"

Freedom comes from belonging to Jesus; otherwise a person is no freer than the Israelites that were enslaved to the legislation of the Pharisees. Salvation is only through Jesus;

John 10:9

“I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved, and he will go in and out and find pasturage.”

Acts 4:12

“Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”

Acts 16:31

““Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will get saved, you and your household””

2 Timothy 2:10

“… that they too may obtain the salvation that is in union with Christ Jesus along with everlasting glory.”

Salvation does not arise from handing conscience and thinking ability over to the leaders of an Organization or Church of men. Leaders that promote themselves as the means of salvation usurp the role of Christ.

What is Truth?

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that there is absolute truth and that the Watchtower Society represents it more accurately than anyone else.

Watchtower 1987 December 1 p.22

“Brother Schroeder highlighted the confidence Jehovah’s people have because their faith is based on absolutes. They know, for example, that Jehovah is the Universal Sovereign and that his Word, the Holy Bible, is absolute truth.”

The Watchtower version of this absolute truth is thought to be essential if a person does not wish to be destroyed at Armageddon.

Watchtower 2000 October 1 p.23

“”This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) That is one of the scriptures most widely used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to help others appreciate the importance of studying God’s Word. It is certainly no less important for each one of us to do so personally. Our very hope of living forever is contingent on our growing in knowledge of Jehovah and his Son, Jesus Christ.”

The idea that there is absolute truth is sound, what the Watchtower fails to acknowledge is that it is impossible for us to know absolute truth. If following absolute truth is the criteria for being acceptable to God the Watchtower precludes itself, due to the ongoing doctrinal errors and changes. To say that any one particular Christian group has a special key to 'truth' has no scriptural backing, and to search tens of thousands of religions is not only impossible but pointless, as no other religion teaches absolute truth either. Such a search is fraught with disappointment.

What is the answer? It is not doctrine; in fact Jesus rarely discussed doctrine. It is not an organisation; Jesus never mentioned an organisation. The answer is Jesus. The bible message is to follow and recognise him as the means for salvation. Christ is 'truth'.

Organization

The fundamental premise of being a Jehovah's Witnesses is that worship of God requires an intermediary organization. This is so consistently enforced into the minds of a Jehovah's Witnesses that even when they learn that the Watchtower Society does not teach truth it is common to feel the need to fill the void with a similar organization. This feeling is simply due to the amount of emphasis the Watchtower Society places on being part of an organization. Even though the bible never uses the word organization, between 1950 and 2003 the word organization occurs 10,466 times in the Watchtower magazine alone, an average of over 7 times per issue. Even when the heart knows it is not The Truth, remnants of Watchtower thinking can deceive a person into believing that an organization is needed and there is nothing better than the Watchtower Society.

The word organization does not appear in the bible. For the first 2,500 years of human history there was no single organization and worship was not contingent on membership of a church. Yet we have records of the most God fearing men of all time; people such as Enoch, Joseph, Noah and Abraham. The Oriental Job served God after the formation of the nation of Israel. Though he had no ties to this group God said that there was “no one like him in the earth” (Job 1:8)

In Christian times Jesus promised to be with his followers at all times providing individual sustenance and guidance through the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:20

“Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

1 Corinthians 6:19

What! Do YOU not know that the body of YOU people is [the] temple of the holy spirit within YOU, which YOU have from God?”

(See also Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38; Acts 16:6; Romans 8:26-27)

When the Samaritan woman asked where to worship, Jesus showed a physical place is not important, answering;

John 4:23

“Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him."

A person can rightfully worship alone or in small groups. Jesus promised that he would direct his followers no matter how many were gathered together.

Matthew 18:20

“Where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst!”

Meeting together to discuss things of a spiritual nature with friends over a meal or coffee can be enjoyable; the input from others affords a balanced view and can be more encouraging than being lectured from a pulpit.

The social nature of humans fills people with the need to belong to a community. This is not God’s need, but man’s. A church is not essential for worship, but this is not to indicate that they are of no benefit, or that large gatherings are wrong. Jews had large festivals and would meet at the temple. Jesus spoke to 3,000 non believers on a mountain. Peter spoke to a large gathering after which 3,000 were baptized. Groups were formed by early Christians, “that the congregation may receive upbuilding”. (1 Cor 14:5) Christian congregations met in houses with like minded people worshipping Christ. As traditionally common in society, mature members guided the newer ones. (Acts 20:28)

The formation of congregations indicates order, but it does not imply an organization that demands unquestioning obedience. There was freedom to discuss different points of view without fear of retribution, such as when congregations disagreed over circumcision. When such serious disagreement arose a large group of older men came to consensus, the consensus was not to “further burden” the congregation. (Acts 15:28)

What now?

Worship is about faith in God, so what is the reason for belonging to a religion? It may be for teaching and ritual but in large part it is for fellowship. In seeking a group to worship with one of the most important things to remember is that you have freedom of choice. Find the group most suitable for assisting you in that worship.

Joining a new religion can help a Jehovah’s Witness move on from the experiences of the past and the continual rerun of Watchtower doctrine in ones mind. This is better than staying alone trying to create the correct version of Watchtower truth, or creating an anti-religious philosophy based solely on a negative Jehovah’s Witness experience. In the process of meeting with others the Witness experience can also be helpful to regular churchgoers.

People select their lifestyle and religion according to tastes; it has little to do with whether something is or is not true. The reason people become Witnesses is often the attraction to the message of living forever on a paradise earth. If they wish it to be true they see it as true. It is unfortunate that this is often just bait. Once hooked high control religions manipulate such people by convincing them they are worthless sinners if they do not follow their particular flavour of Christianity. To think for yourself as an individual requires courage, a rational mind and the desire to become everything you actually are by nature.

With over 10,000 religious groups and 30,000 Christian sects globally it is impossible to examine a fraction of these and illogical to think there is a single correct religion. No group knows or teaches absolute truth so it is advisable to steer clear of any group whose leaders attempt to take intimate control of your life and opinions, taking away your basic human rights and freedom. Finding the right one for you is personal choice. The overall mentality of the Church matters more than individual doctrines. Are the people friendly, accepting, reasonable and helpful? One of the glories of Christianity is the variety, revel in it. The New Testament does not give long lists of regulations, it gives principles. You can now apply these uniquely based on your individual circumstances and culture around you.

The original purpose of the Watchtower Society was sadly departed from. Russell had stated Bible Students were not to be identified by a sectarian name but simply as Christians.

Zion’s Watch Tower 1883 March p.6

“We always refuse to be called by any other name than that of our Head --Christians--continually claiming that their can be no division among those continually led by his Spirit and example as made known through his Word.”

Together they would meet to discuss the bible. Love was to be the identifying factor rather than intricate doctrinal unity. Russell recognized that forced doctrinal unity was the source of apostasy and bondage.

Zion’s Watch Tower 1893 September p.264

“The endeavor to compel all men to think alike on all subjects, culminated in the great apostasy … The union of the early church, based upon the simple gospel and bound only by love, gave place to the bondage of the Church of Rome a slavery of God's children, from the degradation of which multitudes are still weak and suffering.”

This type of mentality is far healthier than the concept of strict reliance on an organization demanding unquestioning allegiance. After the end failed to arrive as predicted in 1925 Rutherford restructured the concepts of doctrine and organization. The command of Matthew 28:19 to “make disciples” no longer meant to make Disciples of Christ, but rather followers of Rutherford’s organization. William J Schell writes about the transition from Christ to organization in 30 Years a Watchtower Slave Abridged Edition 2001. In 1926 “No longer, as in the old Bible Student days were we following the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 to disciple the nations for Christ, to become Christians. … They had better get in with us as God’s Organization or suffer the consequences which would automatically accrue to Satan’s organization in Armageddon!” (p.69) “Home Bible study was discontinued for Book studies, with the Societies books and textbooks in place of the Bible, and the Bible relegated to a position where it was restricted almost exclusively to reference use.” (p.101)

In The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian & the Risk of Commitment Professor Daniel Taylor warns that this transition is common:

“The primary goal of all institutions and subcultures is self-preservation. Preserving the faith is central to God’s plan for human history; preserving particular religious institutions is not. Do not expect those who run the institutions to be sensitive to the difference. God needs no particular person, church, denomination, creed or organization to accomplish his purpose…

Nonetheless, questioning the institutions is synonymous, for many, with attacking God—something not long to be tolerated. Supposedly they are protecting God . . . Actually, they are protecting themselves, their view of the world, and their sense of security. … This threat is often met, or suppressed even before it arises, with power. . . Institutions express their power most clearly by enunciating, interpreting and enforcing the rules of the subculture.”

Professor Taylor’s comments help explain why religions can become oppressive to the point of excommunication, war or crusade. If choosing a new church, speak to members and former members and research both sides of the story, such as on the internet. Compare what you find with the eight attributes Lifton specified identify indicate mind control. Many religious groups display high control and this is normally a good indication that they are worth avoiding. If a religion does not feel right to you it probably isn’t right for you.

If a religion is strictly regimented and intolerant of others it is going beyond the scriptures. Jesus warned against those that “teach commands of men as doctrines.” (Matthew 15:9) When the leaders of a religious group are not to be questioned an unhealthy form of worship results. There are estimated to be more than 3,000 cults in America alone that fit this description. Larger organizations that promote this type of unhealthy worship are usually not referred to as cults but as high control groups. Generally in these groups shunning is the result of failing to comply with the leaders demands. This includes Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and some evangelical Born Again. Catholics have a similar structure but in modern times have become less rigid in enforcing these rules.

Which denomination?
There is no single destination for former Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses are so poisoned by their religious experience with the Watchtower Society that they are very wary of being deceived by another group. Some do not return to religion at all, becoming atheists or agnostics, often cynical that it is possible for anything to be proven true. Others find comfort in non judgmental faiths that promote peace, such as Buddhism. There is the risk of being attracted to another high control group for the comfortable similarity they offer. Generally though former Witnesses are more likely to gravitate to a less dogmatic religion or even stop believing it is necessary to attend any organized group at all. Most keep their love of God but their Watchtower experience makes them wary of joining any specific group.

There are several destinations for those that choose to associate as part of a Christian denomination. Some are drawn to the Baptists because of their active participation in preaching and missionary works. Some find churches with an Alpha program worth trying (http://www.alpha.org). Others are comfortable with the way Anglicans operate in a decentralized manner similar to early Christians. Catholics are the only Church that can claim to span back to the time of Jesus, and are filled with enjoyable ritual and ceremony.

There are many Christian fellowships that are based around love of Jesus and healthy lifestyles without judgment and guilt trips. These may be set up by a major religion or be interdenominational. Groups such as Christian Crusade for Christ, Campus Crusade for Christ, Youth for Christ and Couples for Christ have healthy fellowship. Whereas the Watchtower has little to offer children many healthy Christian churches organize Sunday school, social occasions, camps and activities for youths.


Some former Witnesses remain firmly opposed to the Trinity and find it difficult joining Christian Churches with Trinitarian beliefs. Groups that reject the Trinity include Christadelphians, Bible Students and Christian Scientists. However it is possible to attend most denominations without having to imagine God in terms of a Trinity. Many Church goers do not understand the doctrinal intricacies of the Trinity and think and talk of the Father and the Son as two separate entities.

Traditionally Catholics and Protestants taught Eternal Hellfire, another doctrine former Witnesses may find unpalatable. This teaching has been revised amongst modern Christian Churches, including Seven Day Adventists and other Advent Churches, Mormons, Christian Science, Bible Students, Christadelphians, Church of God, Nazarenes, Episcopal Church and Unitarians. There are also individual congregations within traditional Protestant groups such as Baptist and Lutheran that no longer teach hellfire, and in 1996 the Anglican Church changed its doctrine from a place of torment to “total non-being." The two main lines of reasoning are either;

- Universal reconciliation; that eventually all will find salvation and reconciliation with God

- Annihilationism; that the unrighteous are punished with eternal destruction (such as taught by Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses)

As of July 15th 2006 there was a personality quiz about religious and spiritual beliefs at http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html The results for many former Witnesses show they relate most closely to Universal Unitarianism, a group that are not concerned with absolute truth and are non judgmental of a persons individual beliefs (http://www.uua.org/). Though started from Christianity they are accepting of all faiths. Closely related is the Perennial Philosophy; an understanding that the ideal of all religion is the same. In general all religion shares a similar core mythology, share ritual, spiritual experience and point to worship of the creator. The core of most religion is a supreme creative God Almighty. This concept is very different than the Watchtower concept of a single organization promoting an absolute truth, but realistic once it is understood that a persons religion is determined by culture more than absolute truth.

Difficult times

On leaving do not feel rushed to join a new church. As a rule of thumb allow at least a year to pass before making commitments to other groups. Time is necessary to heal and also for personal evaluation to take place to know what direction your life should take. The trauma of leaving the Watchtower Society is considerable, but also leads to rapid learning of who you really are. Before deciding where to go, personal introspection is necessary. Answer the question "Now that all I knew is gone what do I truly believe?" Only then can a person be ready join another community. Find a group or belief structure that satisfies your need for worship, but not at the expense of a successful and happy life that is firmly based on reality.

The emotional damage from having placed trust in an organization that manipulated the course of your life results in emotional problems similar to coming from an abusive family or relationship. To find that your family and friends reject you in favour of an organization leads many to self destruct. Many find it necessary to use medication or seek professional counselling from a Cognitive Behavioural Psychologist during this difficult time. Most important at the time of leaving is finding true friends to support you. This can be difficult, particularly for a person raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, as time is needed to relate to society in general and build new relationships. Finding other former Jehovah’s Witnesses can often assist in bridging that gap.

As a Witness you were told in intricate detail what is right or wrong. These rules were dictated by old men whose values were largely influenced by 19th century American culture. A huge learning curve is in front of you as many aspects of your life will need re-evaluation. Allow time to develop these without the manipulation of others. Attend chat forums such as jehovahs-witness.com where you can talk with people who have gone through similar experiences. You will find that whatever your experience has been, you are not unique or alone in what you are going through. You will find people of similar disposition to yourself and can find out how they were able to move on successfully.

Conclusion

It is inescapable that a void will be created when loosing ones beliefs, and it is fear of this void that makes a person ask “where else would I go”. This should not be used as reason to avoid confronting the reality of the Watchtower Society. Once that reality is known a person can make an educated decision on how to proceed.

You may enjoy being a Jehovah’s Witness and choose to continue as one, but at least you can be realistic of how much control you allow this Organization to have over your life. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses know that the Watchtower teaches falsehood, but continue meeting attendance for the sake of family and friends others. Others find that the only way to build a real life is to sever all ties with the Watchtower Society. Some are disfellowshipped or choose to disassociate, others fade gradually over time. Leaving will be difficult, and there is no easy way around that fact. Like entering a cold pool, some people creep in, others dive in. Creeping only prolongs the agony.

You have probably spent much of your life following the rules of men to catch a dream. Fantasy stifles learning to deal with the real world. As a Jehovah's Witnesses you were forced to suppress your own happiness, contentment and goals and replace them with Watchtower goals, while waiting for the promise of better things to come. These can now be replaced with goals based on your choices.

Rest assured, the pain of broken trust will pass. Meaning will not vanish from your life, you still will be you and life will continue with all its glorious highs and crushing lows. Despite the ongoing pain of being rejected by family and friends, most former Witnesses report being happier and healthier once freed. You may choose to join a less intrusive religion or prefer to separate worship from institutions. Whatever path you take, you do not need to allow humans to take your spiritual freedom from you.

Warm Christian Love
Bangalore

From Bangalore's post of the article.

http://www.paradisecafediscussions.net/s...hp?tid=929

Face it: "not to go" is to "stay." To "stay" is, for the most part, to accept only what one is comfortable with....even if it is extremely uncomfortable. It is to choose not to know. It is to be convinced, essentially, that God does not exist outside an artificially-created, man-made realm. It is God-in-a-box.

I don't have to tell you about all the abusive relationships that absolutely depend on that line of reasoning.

It's all in the mind.

gus

I have come to the conclusion that "staying" is much easier for a woman to do than a man.

Because a woman basically is given no responsibilities ("priveleges") in the congregation and can easily "lay low" just putting in minimum hours and showing up at meetings.

A male, on the other hand, is sending up a red flag if he is not "reaching out" for greater responsibilities within the structure. And if he already has them, he cannot back down gracefully (although he may want to after he realizes that he is teaching error.)

Just some thoughts.

True enough, John. You know the drill. A man is usually cajoled into greater responsibility via the tower's carrot-n-stick approach. "It's the right thing to do," ya know? The tower expects that level of committment. If a man were to not buy into the system, appropriate social pressures would be brought to bear. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt.

gus

Perhaps sisters aren't expected to be elders or overseers, but that doesn't mean they have less responsibility. It is an unspoken "rule" that since the sisters have more time on their hands (because they don't have to shepherd, keep congregational records, and whatever), they are expected to pioneer. If a sister isn't reaching out to pioneer when she can, they look at her as not living up to her godly responsibilities. And if a sister previously had a decent number of service hours and then starts declining (because of her newfound knowledge), she is looked at as "falling away".

So staying isn't so easy for the sisters either. Especially if they are wives of elders and overseers.

The only ones who have it good are those who haven't been baptized.

Wow - that was almost a book!:read: Do we know the author of this essay, bro. Bangalore? I forget who runs the jwfacts site, but I think he also posts other authors. Whoever it is - he's definitely been there, done that too. He's been alert and sympathetic to other's experiences as well, for he writes not only from his own life's experience, but from multiple background experiences. I give it a one thumb up.:thumbup:

I guess if I must be catagorized, these statements fit me - Generally though former Witnesses are more likely to gravitate to a less dogmatic religion or even stop believing it is necessary to attend any organized group at all. Most keep their love of God but their Watchtower experience makes them wary of joining any specific group....
"You may choose to join a less intrusive religion or prefer to separate worship from institutions."

However, the author also makes this statement, that to me sound like it's a bad thing to be 'anti-religious' and not graduate towards choosing another religion to join, a new religious 'destination', so I disagree: "Joining a new religion can help a Jehovah’s Witness move on from the experiences of the past and the continual rerun of Watchtower doctrine in ones mind. This is better than staying alone trying to create the correct version of Watchtower truth, or creating an anti-religious philosophy based solely on a negative Jehovah’s Witness experience. In the process of meeting with others the Witness experience can also be helpful to regular churchgoers."

Believe me, being alone with God is NOT a bad place to be! :friends: I'm not a 'joiner', but more of a 'loner'. So this statement struck a resonant chord with me:yes: ... "The social nature of humans fills people with the need to belong to a community. This is not God’s need, but man’s."

I was not drawn to wtbts because of the 'carrot' of the promise of everlasting life on a paradise earth - it was ALL about ONLY them teaching "The Truth". I'd already checked-out the religions in my rural area - Church of God, Catholic, Lutheran, Pentacostal, Methodist. I absolutely do not base my rejection of institutional religion on my negative JW experience, as it was the most positive in some ways. But it was still all about truthfulness, so when I was convinced of WT theology, it was already an 'all or nothin' at all' proposition. And I felt like my search for God had led me to the WT as my last and only hope for real Bible truth. Never having felt(outside of my JW tutoring, which was a mandate rather than a specific need fulfilled in me) the need to socialize myself into a religious society, the following well-put statement is the reason why I chose the course of 'aloneness with God' after departing the JW religion: "The idea that there is absolute truth is sound, what the Watchtower fails to acknowledge is that it is impossible for us to know absolute truth. If following absolute truth is the criteria for being acceptable to God, the Watchtower precludes itself, due to the ongoing doctrinal errors and changes. To say that any one particular Christian group has a special key to 'truth' has no scriptural backing, and to search tens of thousands of religions is not only impossible but pointless, as no other religion teaches absolute truth either. Such a search is fraught with disappointment."
Lol - yes, we do all search until we prove to ourselves that such a search is pointless. :readthis: And it is very disappointing to say the least, to we realize we've been mislead by an institution whose claim is "The Truth".

It seems to me that in following Jesus' footsteps, we are 'single file' behind him - each of us, in turn, fitting our feet into his footprints. Someone is in front of me, and someone is behind me on the path. We're all together in our following, yet somewhat alone 'in line' and watching ourselves and how we balance our steps as we attempt to follow him oh-so carefully. If someone deviates from the Way ahead of me and makes a 'fork in the road' - then I pray I will always be lead back to the right path, behind Jesus with the rest of his 'footstep followers'. He's leading us all to his Kingdom - the only 'destination' I desire with all my heart...:happyheart:

Sorry this is going to be so long - it makes me rather 'emotionally wordy' to discuss the now obvious psychology at work in wtbts theology.
:( It's an emotional day overall here - the pregnant girl missing in our neighboring state of Ohio was finally found - murdered by her ex-boyfriend and father of her 2 yr old son, who witnessed his mommy's murder. :crybaby: In the back of my mind I knew he was the one...:cry: Another heart-wrenching day in the real world. I'm so sad about this. It reminds me of my oldest sister's murder by her estranged husband in 1973. He then committed suicide. The eldest son(12yrs. old) of their 6 children found them. The good news is that in spite of SO much and SO many - those 6 kids have turned out to be such loving and responsible adults. I was so blessed to have them here from all over the US last summer - I had to get to know them all over again 'cause they're not little kids anymore!(We're close as family, but not geographically and I'd not seen some of them for 20 yrs!) They're more like siblings, the eldest being only 4 yrs. younger than me. They have widely varied theologies... the oldest son can't reconcile a loving God with what happened to his mother, but he does see the outward manifestation of the 'higher-power' of God. They'll all be all right - God Himself will reveal what they need when they need it - in that I'm certain - truth and love SHALL reign! :love:
Love to you all, Willa
:peace:
ps to Tami - "The only ones who have it good are those who haven't been baptized." AND the ones who don't have any family members in the WT, like me. I realize the problems of having family 'in', and empathize with those who are forced to live and deal with those problems. :hug: Regardless, it sure isn't easy or good for anyone, till after the fact when you see that the true light of the world(The Messiah, Christ Jesus) really IS shining brighter and brighter! :cool: