You think the search is over?

You're lucky you had the JWs even if their teaching on the Trinity is false.

At least they put you within reach of the bible.

Most people don't even know that's the place to look to find God.

God has no problem with you researching into Him but He does have a problem when people refuse to listen to Him personally.

I'm at work right now and don't have time for long posts, but basically, yes, the search is over. There is not a single religion out there that I have found that hasn't retarded human civilization in one way or another, there isn't one religion who doesn't have people ready to kill the non-believers around them, there isn't one religion that deals exclusively in logic and reason over myth and superstition.

As to the Bible itself, I'm a prisoner of what I know about it. I know for example that the reason why we have four gospels in the New Testament is because one scholar decided that just like the four elements and four directions of the wind, there should be four main books. I also know that early manuscripts suffered from an enormous amount of editing, so much so that we have no way of knowing what the originals looked like. I also know that the number of historical inaccuracies in the Bible is too long to list here. I know that one of the founding texts of Christianity has been lost for centuries, probably never to be found again (Q Document).

This doesn't sound like the work of an all powerful god to me, sounds more like the work of humans who want to control people by means of a book that no one, not even scholars inside any major sect can agree on what they mean.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll just continue to live my life as a good person and take my chances that I'm wrong. I have a feeling that's a +EV move in the long run.

You can harden yourself on God's way or you can harden yourself on the anti-god's way. Either way....your choice.

Let me rephrase my question, because you've half answered it -- your lively mind took you away.

But were there any influences besides your own curiosity and dissatisfaction? Teachers who encouraged an ethic of inquiry?

Great read so far in both threads. I believe you weren't old enough but what impact, if any, did the 1975 failed prediction of the end of the world have on your family, or was it never mentioned etc. I lived next to a JW church as a kid and remember that attendance soared as the date approached then fell to probably 1/10 of normal for a good while afterward.

Also concerning this: "Do not harden your hearts as they did when they provoked me during the time of testing in the wilderness." Hebrews 3:8

I offer this: "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and just as the LORD had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen." Exodus 9:12

Having JWs come to my door was one of the highlights of my time at university.

It was great when they finally decided to give up to be timidly offered one of their many pamphlets. Which, by the way are quite beautiful examples of strawman arguments.

I love how the one critiquing evolution basically cites random 'scientists' which say there is a flaw or unknown in the 'theory' and then invite the reader to infer that because a 'scientist' somewhere disagrees with a part of evolution, this proves that God did it.

Since you were already going door to door, did you ever sell Amway products at the same time?

What should someone say or do to get JW's to put them on a do not call list?

Isn't this inconsistent with the 144k who are gonna sit with Jesus?

On an unrelated note, how common is it for members to leave JW and how did you feel about leavers when you were still a member?

How often did new recruits join JW?

Yes, I went literally to thousands of doors and spoke to many different people.

The responses varied from polite non-interest, to "get the hell of my property", to "Sure, I'll read those magazines." You'd be surprised at how many people actually took the magazines. Of the people who answered the door, I'd say I usually had at least a 33% success rate. How many of those people just took them so I would leave, I don't know.

I could write a book on all the different experiences I had while going door to door, but one of my favorite moments had to have been when I was 17 or 18. It was myself and a close friend of mine who was about my age went to a door. I knocked, and a woman in her late 30's to early 40's answered. She looked like she did not want to talk, but I started into my prepared presentation anyway. When I asked her if she would be interested in taking the magazines, she looked annoyed and said angrily and sarcastically, "No! We worship Satan in this house!" and slammed the door in our faces.

The woman had to have heard my friend and I laughing loudly outside as we walked away, because she was obviously just trying to get rid of us and get back to what she was doing. Some other people in our group did not find this funny at all, but I couldn't help but laugh.

Was this before or after you lost your childhood cuteness?

I'm really curious why you think this. Pick any of the topics you mention though I'm especially interested in the one about the one scholar, name, resources, etc.

Come on people: this is a thread about CoachKirby's experience as a JW. Stop derailing.

CK, what were your experiences of other Christian denominations like? I know that when I was growing up as a Christian (evangelical) the JWs and the Mormons were seen as heretical in a way that Catholics and other denominations weren't..

FYI, I'm not trying to avoid anyone's questions, just been super busy between my two jobs right now. I'm gonna spend tonight hopefully relaxing with my laptop and catching up on everyone's questions.