# What I've learned on H2O.

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Posted by angler [angler] on November 04, 1999 at 19:59:41 {yxewwqp4aAJwrLA196zEXXuUsiPcoA}:

What I've learned from reading H2O…

While I entered the world of H2O as one who was no longer a believer in the idea that the Witnesses were the holders of "The Truth" ™, I was still far more kindly inclined toward many of their teachings than I am now. In fact, I was still actively attending meetings on a regular basis. Worried about the consequences of my choices and thinking in regard to this religion I joined so long ago. Years of learning how to explain what I believed and why, have been left behind. I have been shown how truly shallow some of my deeper study was. Not allowing myself to be critical of what I read or allowing myself to examine my doubts or pursue my disagreements with what was written. I would instead focus on what was the correct "Theocratic" way of doing something, or the correct way of explaining something to someone. It wasn't until I allowed myself to take stands and make application of principle without regard so to speak to the whims of others that matters would start to come to a head. That all my attempts to make sure that I could explain what we believe and how it was part of this grand tapestry of True Worship has been shown to be a chasing after the wind. That it was built on a foundation of sand. While here at H2O, I've had reinforced the understanding that the reason I had trouble understanding or explaining certain teachings of the Witnesses, was not that I was lacking faith or thinking ability, but that they truly do not make sense to a reasonably intelligent person. This forum has only served to strengthen my sense of self-worth. Deepen my appreciation for the thinking abilities I have, and the opportunity to make use of them for more important and useful things than trying to justify the unjustifiable, to prove the unproveable.

I am happy to say that I entered H2O already having read the works of men like Carl Sagan, James Randi, Martin Gardener, Bernard Russell, Will Durant, Michael Shermer, David Hume, Voltaire and Thomas Paine. Freethinkers one and all. I'm happy to have been introduced to such thinkers and writers as Dan Barker, Barbara Tuchman and Steve Hassan. Some like Jim Penton and Ray Franz, Carl Olaf Jonson I read before arriving to H2O. Others like Ed Gruss, Barbara G. Harrison, I learned about while here, critics of the WT and Jehovah's Witnesses for sure, but respectful ones as well. I also have learned of Greg Stafford and Rolf Furoli, H2O has also allowed me to meet and or correspond to some of these individuals as well, something I'm also grateful for.

I've learned that the most affective way to help those who are still Witnesses is by sharing how the literature that we all have read has and continues to contradict itself. By focusing on the literature and the bible, by asking questions that requires thinking about and examining the why of apparent contradictions and discrepancies in any of these in relation to current and past teachings. I am learning to see new ways to help others leave a life of bondage. To help show that a printing company does not bring about the ties between a God and an individual, even one that is only out published by the US government. I have been reminded that whether or not there is even a God has little to do with the quality and character of an individual and the life they lead. Rather serving a God of any sort may take away the ability of reaching ones full potential. Knowing and then sharing the reasons behind what is said by the writers of the WT has also been the greatest gift given to me by my time at Bethel. Being given the opportunity to learn how the behind the scenes world of the WT works is something that as a Witness I'm glad I didn't miss.

Sharing the discrepancies and double standards of the Organization up to the light by the use of questions is another method I've been reminded to use by those here at H2O and other places on the Web. Yes, the world of do as we say, but not as we do method of guidance a exemplified by the wonderful world of Theocratic Warfare™.

What can I say but that I plan to stay, to continue to learn, to continue to heal, and maybe play my own small part in helping someone else as they leave this religion behind and make their way towards a more fulfilling life in the real world.

Warm Regards,

felix a

Follow Ups:

- *What I've learned on H2O. metatron 08:40:52 11/05/99 (0)
- *What I've learned on H2O. Friend 08:15:07 11/05/99 (29)
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  - **What I've learned on H2O. felix a 06:53:55 11/05/99 (1)
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- *What I've learned on H2O. Rick 23:42:06 11/04/99 (3)
  - **What I've learned on H2O. felix a 06:59:15 11/05/99 (0)
  - **What I've learned on H2O. FaithFulJW 06:22:10 11/05/99 (1)
    - ***What I've learned on H2O. AF 07:42:11 11/05/99 (0)
- *What I've learned on H2O. Tantalus 20:51:38 11/04/99 (3)
  - **What I've learned on H2O. felix a 05:11:46 11/05/99 (2)
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      - ****What I've learned on H2O. felix a 06:29:44 11/05/99 (0)
- *What I've learned on H2O. Randy Watters 20:38:58 11/04/99 (1)
  - **What I've learned on H2O. felix a 05:39:18 11/05/99 (0)

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