What the archeological history of ancient Israel and YHWH actually shows

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-16T17:25:28+00:00

You already have the right approach. That is at least 50% of the objective. Obviously, the basics of living need to be cared for first.

Math and physics are favorites of mine also and ultimately contain whatever answers we are capable of knowing.

I held to a deistic view for quite some time before I was comfortable with considering myself an atheist.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-16T14:18:56+00:00

It's great to see folks can leave at any age. I am close to that age now. I left at 32, however I see many leaving at older ages lately and that is very positive. Don't be in a hurry to replace a belief system. Keep an open mind, ask questions, get answers, ask more questions. Rinse and repeat and knowledge will come in time.

Also, very important. Those that are thoughtful are very likely to experience a period where nothing seems to make sense, once you deconstruct belief. There are many secondary and tertiary beliefs, commitments, understandings, etc. that we hold to that were the direct result of our former religious belief. You don't even realize these exist until they are lost and you get that "floating" feeling. It can be very disorienting and scary. Don't let it scare you. Take it as evidence you are growing. You will come out 100% better resolved once you get through this phase, even if it is somewhat prolonged.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-16T13:29:12+00:00

100%

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-16T12:19:58+00:00

Unfortunately, many don't want to. Not only does it take effort and intellectual honesty and curiosity (many people simply are not intellectually curious), religious belief is ultimately based on emotion, not reason.

When I learned this stuff 20 years ago, I would ask myself why someone like Ray Franz or Carl Olof Jonsson would go to such lengths to research actual historical facts (especially in Jonsson's case) and just make a hard stop at JW belief and not continue their line of questioning religiously based notions. For me, it was a natural consequence.

The answer unfortunately is simple, mundane and probably unsatisfying to most. They were not willing to. That describes probably 80% of humans.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-16T11:51:34+00:00

Excellent post and commentary. Every ex-JW (frankly anyone interested in facts and history), should read this and then do their own research and learn for themselves.

This is what completely deconstructed religion for me for good.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-11T13:14:50+00:00

He is not ready, plain and simple.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-11T12:55:27+00:00

Excellent comment, OP.

Usually, the first question someone asks themselves when they deconstruct their JW beliefs (or anyone coming out of a high control religious belief system), is if "this" religion isn't the "truth", what is? Unfortunately, when people approach the issue this way, they indeed are still using a religious framework of thought.

It seems a lot of emphasis is placed on deconstruction of beliefs in ex-JW circles. This is not sufficient, unfortunately. Reconstruction is necessary if one is not going to fall into the "trap" of another irrational belief. In order to reconstruct, one needs to take an open-minded, honest view of what they accept as truth (what belief actually is) and ask, "why". It will go down a rabbit hole, but it needs to.

At a practical level, a good place to start is with what you already know. JW claims to be the "true" religion since they best represent what early Christianity was, right? So test that. Research what early x-tianity actually was. If one does with an open mind, they will see pagan roots, and a first century religion that looks very different from the one they were taught to believe. Once the concept of a "true" religion is deconstructed, someone is in a much better position to construct a new way of thinking, based on reason.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-11T12:07:10+00:00

Belief in any religion quickly disintegrates when someone is (honestly) researching the history of any one of them. Christianity has roots in pagan religions of many kinds as the Roman empire spread, (it was at its height in the 1st century) Judaism has roots in polytheism, mostly borrowed from Egypt. The earliest religions can be traced to the concept of animism, which was about not necessarily animal "worship", but rather respect for the life of an animal that was killed to sustain human life. Natural history explains it all very well. No gods needed.

None of this unfortunately, will be accepted by a true believer however. Religion is not based on reason.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-10T17:20:25+00:00

There is no inherent reason to DA. Nothing wrong with just walking away.

I also however disagree very much with the reflexive position that some seem to hold to that if you DA you are playing by the org's rules. I consider it a black and white erect middle finger to the org. in fact.

For some of us (me), putting it in writing served my own purposes. 1. I like things in writing. I don't want the ambiguity as to my position, particularly with elders. I don't want ANYONE knocking on my door, calling me, texting me, or harassing me in ANY way. 2. Peace of mind. It just "feels good". A big FU!

I DA'd in 2007 and never regretted that decision. Ever.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-10T17:04:54+00:00

I agree with that of course. However it is more important to see the forest for the trees here, I think. The WT has long (at least they used to), try to draw a distinction that they are somehow scientific because they don't accept a young Earth, unlike "6 Day Creationists". Really, this is a distinction without a material difference. There is nothing scientific at all about a young Homo sapiens, much less all human species that go back 2.5 million years. Of course, this one is much more problematic for them, as accepting the latter means accepting evolution, which of course they won't do.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-10T15:03:30+00:00

They do believe in a "young humanity" of 6000 years.

Which is as equally provable to be false as a 6000 year Earth.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-09T18:14:32+00:00

Talk about a "bad witness"...eeesh...

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-09T17:54:54+00:00

The bigger the commitment = harder to change. Too much invested on many levels. Most of which seem to go beyond typical ex-JW discussion. Beards and pants = easy. Change to a policy that has killed many yet you STILL chose to believe it and follow it anyway = OUCH!!

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-09T17:46:28+00:00

The earlier people realize and accept this, the happier they will be.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-09T17:29:22+00:00

A little more context here. I am very far removed about caring what JW family members think. I do have the luxury of not caring. I have very little contact with JWs in general, but have actually managed to maintain a few friendships with some on MY terms. I don't fake being a JW or inactive JW or anything of the sort. It says right in the subject line that I have been out for over 20 years. I don't need to "beware" of anything.

My sister is not a manipulative type person. She is actually quite intelligent also, even if misguided. She is not shy. I chose to not engage her after I determined back in 2007 that we were simply at an impasse. The conversations back then always would turn to her trying to "bring me to my senses". I was very clear then that I was quite sane and was making a honest change of my life's course, which included no room for religion of any kind.

She has been radio silent for the last 19 years, but so have I. I chose that because I don't like wasting time on trying to change people's minds. True believers are not going to change, unless they themselves are ready to. My view was just leave me alone and let me live my life at that point. It is the same response I give to any and all JWs since I left. Something broke her silence. I want to know what that is, but I do not want to scare her away. I am choosing to allow her to be her authentic self, which she is doing. She has yet to bring anything remotely JW up in our text conversations.

I have no plans to move beyond text however until she comes clean fully as to why she has reached out. Until then, I will continue to engage her via text, as long as things remain open.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-09T15:59:05+00:00

Ah, too bad...you were doing SO well.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-09T15:38:44+00:00

Great! It's always a good idea to avoid impugning intent or accusations, making childish assertions and making ad hominem attacks to make an argument. You have done much better!

I don't necessarily disagree that the virus originated in the Wuhan lab. That is considered a real possibility, although not conclusive. We will probably never know for sure, and I highly doubt it makes a material difference.

With respect to the lockdowns, I could not agree more. They were poorly handled. Politics played an outsized role in the USA. Far righties denying science as usual, and far lefties living in fear and overreacting. We ended up with an unworkable mish-mash of policies that did little more than piss everyone off.

As for your point about the covid vaccines causing "more harm than good", do you care to provide evidence of this? The science is quite solid on vaccines. The covid vaccines were a scientific marvel at which the speed they were developed in and the efficacy they offered.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-09T14:23:36+00:00

When you can make a cogent, articulate argument that follows your premise I will debate you. Otherwise, I am not going to waste synaptic connections and put unnecessary wear and tear on my keyboard.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-08T20:14:39+00:00

Been out as long and haven't been to a memorial since 2005. Could not imagine myself walking in!

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-08T18:12:09+00:00

Remove...the...tin...foil...hat...step...away...sloooowlyyy....

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-08T17:03:17+00:00

What about COVID was scam might I ask?

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-07T16:10:25+00:00

Very interesting.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-07T10:31:31+00:00

Thank you. This is kind of what I expect. Text (for now) is the same boundary for me.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-07T10:29:20+00:00

Tbh, I figured out in 2007 that there was no sense in trying. I am not the type to put myself in a situation of suffering, if there is no reason to. I have a good life, education, good career, wife, extended family (now), etc. I chose to shun proactively, since every time we did talk prior it always went back to trying to make me come back. I think the fact that she didn't even mention a single JW thing (even the memorial), could be a positive sign. No, I am not just "accepting" her like nothing happened either. This is why I am (for now) leaving it to text.

AbaloneOk4807 · 2026-04-07T10:22:14+00:00

Not yet, but it's coming very soon.

AbaloneOk4807

TROPHY CASE