How Can You Survive the End Of The World?
As most of you know I was raised a Jehovah's Witness. I was never baptized and stopped attending the kingdom hall when I was in my teens. I still have many family members who are Jehova's Witnesses, Grandparents, Aunts Uncles, Cousins, second cousins, etc. Granny wants to save me so she has kept me in the loop, hoping one day I would return to the "truth" as they call it.
I was quite bitter for many years thinking of all the ways I felt this inclusive religion robbed me of living a normal life. When I was a kid, I just wanted to fit in, I blamed it on the religion. While that did not help, I had many other reasons why I did not fit in. In fact I did not fit in with many in my congregation, including family members. I am no longer bitter, I respect those who have deep religious views, I may not agree, but I respect their right to create that structure for their own life. It is just not needed in my own, and that is okay.
When asked about the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses I would answer blindly,giving the answers I was taught to give, even being quite protective of the beliefs. It was never strange to me when I was a kid, it was just how it was. God was going to destroy the Earth at some point and save all the Jehovah's witnesses. He will also resurrect all those who have died before Armageddon (everybody! From ancient times to whenever Armageddon happens, talk about overpopulation) and he was going to give these newly awakened people a choice, to live in God's new paradise as a Jehovah's witness where Lambs and children play in fields with lions (apparently they will also be vegetarians because there will be no more prey or hunters and hunted) or to return to the earth. This was what I recited as a child, and continued to recite as an adult, I don't think I ever really thought about it until recently. I mean the whole Paradise on Earth thing, really?, everybody will live forever all those who have died before us will be brought back to life, plus people will continue having babies. The earth will need to be re sized after Armageddon, the current size will just not work. Also Jehovah's witnesses are Ok with eating meat, if they really thought about the whole no predator thing then they will realize, WE humans are predators when we eat meat.
It has been a few years since my granny has "witnessed" to me. It makes visits much more enjoyable. I always felt a bit of guilt for betraying her beliefs by becoming Worldly. I just could not live in the JW world. That life was not what I was meant for.
Yesterday while fetching my mail, I noticed a tract slipped into my screen door. I recognized the End of the world illustrations quickly. It was from a Jehovah's Witness, they had not knocked, they read my sign on my door and listened. (It is always an awkward conversation. I usually know them, and I know what they are going to say. ) I read the large print on the front
"HOW CAN YOU SURVIVE THE END OF THE WORLD?
You are warmly invited to come and listen to the answer."
It is promoting the convention. A Three day weekend at the Tacoma Dome where there are talks (sermons) all day long... Oh my goodness. It is the most tedious thing as a kid with ADD to sit and listen. I mostly drew in the notebook I was supposed to be taking important life saving notes in. I would start at one end of the tacoma dome and count how many red shirts I could see in the crowd. I would sleep on the aluminum benches not meant for comfort, then switch to the concrete floor below the bench. I lived for Lunchtime. When my friends and I could walk around and flirt with boys from other halls. Well not actually flirt, but look and talk about who was cute and who was not. Each day a new crush to stalk around the upper levels of the dome. I never once talked to these cute boys, just followed them around a little. Then back to our seats for more talks. sigh...
When I really read the tract headline I saw it for what it was for the first time. It shocked me at just how obsurd this concept was. (sorry to anyone who is offended) I defended this concept for so many years without a second thought. I knew I did not believe in it I just did not know to what extent. It sounded crazy to me for the first time. I could not believe that so many people believed in this. The numbers are growing so fast too.
I have come to a point in my life where I don't know if I believe in a God, and I am totally okay with that. I don't need to know. I don't need a fear based religion to "keep me in line" so I do not anger the Gods. If God is pure love, then Anger is not an emotion that god can express, there is no anger in love. If there is a God that is made of Pure Love, then if I live a Love Based Life then I should be okay. If I love and respect those around me, I am Cool, if I love and respect myself, I am covered. If there is no God, then I will have lived a decent life. Leaving behind Love rather than anger or fear or hatered or judgment etc. You know all those negative things.
How can I survive the end of the world?
I won't, nobody will. Well maybe Cockroaches and a few lab rats who have chemicals racing through their veins. I am going to die some day, so will you.
We can only try to live a healthy life to prolong the life we have, Eat well, laugh well, love well, be kind to others, help those who need help, just respect others we share this planet with.
Oh! And Don't forget that apple a day! It is Good for you.
I was quite bitter for many years thinking of all the ways I felt this inclusive religion robbed me of living a normal life. When I was a kid, I just wanted to fit in, I blamed it on the religion. While that did not help, I had many other reasons why I did not fit in. In fact I did not fit in with many in my congregation, including family members. I am no longer bitter, I respect those who have deep religious views, I may not agree, but I respect their right to create that structure for their own life. It is just not needed in my own, and that is okay.
When asked about the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses I would answer blindly,giving the answers I was taught to give, even being quite protective of the beliefs. It was never strange to me when I was a kid, it was just how it was. God was going to destroy the Earth at some point and save all the Jehovah's witnesses. He will also resurrect all those who have died before Armageddon (everybody! From ancient times to whenever Armageddon happens, talk about overpopulation) and he was going to give these newly awakened people a choice, to live in God's new paradise as a Jehovah's witness where Lambs and children play in fields with lions (apparently they will also be vegetarians because there will be no more prey or hunters and hunted) or to return to the earth. This was what I recited as a child, and continued to recite as an adult, I don't think I ever really thought about it until recently. I mean the whole Paradise on Earth thing, really?, everybody will live forever all those who have died before us will be brought back to life, plus people will continue having babies. The earth will need to be re sized after Armageddon, the current size will just not work. Also Jehovah's witnesses are Ok with eating meat, if they really thought about the whole no predator thing then they will realize, WE humans are predators when we eat meat.
It has been a few years since my granny has "witnessed" to me. It makes visits much more enjoyable. I always felt a bit of guilt for betraying her beliefs by becoming Worldly. I just could not live in the JW world. That life was not what I was meant for.
Yesterday while fetching my mail, I noticed a tract slipped into my screen door. I recognized the End of the world illustrations quickly. It was from a Jehovah's Witness, they had not knocked, they read my sign on my door and listened. (It is always an awkward conversation. I usually know them, and I know what they are going to say. ) I read the large print on the front
"HOW CAN YOU SURVIVE THE END OF THE WORLD?
You are warmly invited to come and listen to the answer."
It is promoting the convention. A Three day weekend at the Tacoma Dome where there are talks (sermons) all day long... Oh my goodness. It is the most tedious thing as a kid with ADD to sit and listen. I mostly drew in the notebook I was supposed to be taking important life saving notes in. I would start at one end of the tacoma dome and count how many red shirts I could see in the crowd. I would sleep on the aluminum benches not meant for comfort, then switch to the concrete floor below the bench. I lived for Lunchtime. When my friends and I could walk around and flirt with boys from other halls. Well not actually flirt, but look and talk about who was cute and who was not. Each day a new crush to stalk around the upper levels of the dome. I never once talked to these cute boys, just followed them around a little. Then back to our seats for more talks. sigh...
When I really read the tract headline I saw it for what it was for the first time. It shocked me at just how obsurd this concept was. (sorry to anyone who is offended) I defended this concept for so many years without a second thought. I knew I did not believe in it I just did not know to what extent. It sounded crazy to me for the first time. I could not believe that so many people believed in this. The numbers are growing so fast too.
I have come to a point in my life where I don't know if I believe in a God, and I am totally okay with that. I don't need to know. I don't need a fear based religion to "keep me in line" so I do not anger the Gods. If God is pure love, then Anger is not an emotion that god can express, there is no anger in love. If there is a God that is made of Pure Love, then if I live a Love Based Life then I should be okay. If I love and respect those around me, I am Cool, if I love and respect myself, I am covered. If there is no God, then I will have lived a decent life. Leaving behind Love rather than anger or fear or hatered or judgment etc. You know all those negative things.
How can I survive the end of the world?
I won't, nobody will. Well maybe Cockroaches and a few lab rats who have chemicals racing through their veins. I am going to die some day, so will you.
We can only try to live a healthy life to prolong the life we have, Eat well, laugh well, love well, be kind to others, help those who need help, just respect others we share this planet with.
Oh! And Don't forget that apple a day! It is Good for you.
Comments
It is my faith that gets me through each day since having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But, that is me. I realize each person finds their comfort in whatever their beliefs are. That is fine - I just don't need conversion. I met a cousin I didn't know I had living on a different island here. Went to visit him, and found out that my soul is not saved since I am not a JW. Hmmmm... We get to where we're going regardless of what our beliefs and you are so right, we all will die someday.
That is Beautiful! I think this is the upside to religion, it gives a safe place to land, support when it is needed, helps you find strength within yourself to fight something as frightening as cancer. A JW does not want to save your Soul, they do not believe in souls. That seems really strange to me. I feel like there is someone in me that has lived before, an inner voice that is strong and powerful. I don't know if it is my soul, an angel, God, or just my own imagination. I just know I am grateful for whatever it is. ;-) I am okay with not knowing if there is or is not a God, I feel like there is something more than just here though. I can only speculate what that may be. I like to envision the Candyland world personally, hah! Rivers of Chocolate, candy can construction, I mean that would be Awesome! Ha!
Some days I struggle with Angry-God. However, I do believe God can be Pure Love and Angry-God at the same time; My understanding goes something like: Pure Love means Goodness so God can be Angry-God at Badness because God's about Pure Love.
I like how you refer to God as (potentially) Pure Love. It made me think in a way I hadn't in a while. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about grace, and of course that's all about love, but I don't always meditate on that aspect. So when I struggle with Angry-God, I remember that he's also Grace-God, too.
p.s. - Thanks for writing about religion/spiritual stuff occasionally. I appreciate how you do so.
Aside: Your references to the talks at the Tacoma Dome reminded me of the large gatherings that happen in my small city just about 6 hours north of you every summer - I think JW's from the whole province attend. The increase of well-dressed people in our downtown core (which is where the convention centre is) is almost always noticeable!
i was raised in a super baptist christian home... and i have come in my own life to think there is something better than god and the devil and heaven and hell and thats this life... why because i don't know where we go when we do there are so many stratigies out there... which one do you choose... so i choose mine... and thats to live for today... and have fun at it...
candy
Nicely expressed, Lavender.
I was raised without any real religious tradition (my parents were Unitarians), and as a child I was deeply envious of the rituals that the other kids had, in large part because I felt like I didn't fit in, and worried that by not being religious that maybe I was not a good person, since my peers were asserting that going to church and praying were an important of that. Then, when I was around 12, a visit to my paternal grandmother changed my mind. She was really worried about her grandchildren not being "saved" and tried to convert us whenever my mother wasn't in the room. She was also an unkind and manipulative and probably unhappy person, and I realized I didn't want to be like her. As an adult, I became grateful that my parents let me struggle through figuring out for myself what I needed to believe (or not).
On a lighter note, three whole days inside of the Tacoma Dome sounds sort of symbolic of the end of the world.
I have studied quite a few of them and come to the conclusion that not one of them really suites me. I am making my peace with that, I would not say I do not believe in the idea of the Divine, I do not feel a resonance with Atheism. I just prefer to experience this feeling that people identify as "God" instead of trying to pick it apart and define it.
HA! You do get a witness convention near you, they pride themselves on being polite and respectful of the towns they invade. Seriously, announcements are made through the weekend, "So and So at this business said he loves when the witnesses come in to his bakery, they are always polite and patient and they always clean up after themselves." Hahah! For that part of the religion I am quite grateful, being taught manners and to be proud of those manners.
HAHAHAHA!!!!! Oh you are funny! I am glad for certain things I learned while in the religion, the structure was nice as a kid, I have no idea what I would be like if I did not have that structure set up for me, it was the only structure I had!
Being saved by a granny is a scary thing, haha! Mine tries it all the time.
AMEN to that! That is kind of where I sit. It is a comfort to think there is something there for you to trust in, to help support you, to guide you along this rough path.
Polite and tidy, indeed! There's a large park next to the convention centre and so the attendees often spend their lunches there - nice weather, lots of room for kids to run around. I have a friend who worked for city parks and he's said that they always make a point of checking the park after you get an major influx like that and he always said there's hardly any indication hundreds of people just hung out there for an hour - just fuller garbage cans!
Great post!
(When asked how one will survive the end of the world, I believe one should respond with "Huh? The rapture already happened!" Then just stand there and see what kind of response that gets. :-)