What do most ex-JWs "believe" after leaving?

Has anyone done a survey to determine what faith system, religion, or set of religious beliefs ex-JWs tend to settle into after leaving the organization?  If not, would you care to post what you presently consider to be your own personal religion (e.g. Protestant, Catholic, Baptist, JW but not in the organization, agnostic, atheist, ...) and especially what you presently believe about Jesus (was He a real historical human, is He God, is He an angel, ...).

Thank you!

I still accept the Bible, that Jesus was God's son, etc. but honestly, I don't have a set of beliefs that I would die over. I don't know about anything.

To paraphrase John Lennon...

I believe in me, and that's reality

If not, would you care to post what you presently consider to be your own personal religion

I don't belong to any religious denomination; I accept Jesus of Nazareth as The Savior.

(was He a real historical human, is He God, is He an angel, ...).

I believe He is God, was a real human.

Thank you!

You're welcome.

Sylvia

When i left, fundamentalist christianity seemed the natural way to go.  I lost that religion, and presently am not religious.  The posession of beliefs is much overrated, imo.  I sometimes don't even believe the thoughts my mind produces

S

 I believe whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you... 

...stranger.

I think I just believe what I did beforeI was a witness. I belive Jesus is Gods son, I do not belive in the trinity, never had before I was a witness, I Think animals that I loved I will see again(opposite to what witnesses believe). I dont think I completely believe in the bible, I think there are parts missing or parts that were put in and not explained very well. I am not part of any religion, Dont think I ever will be again. I think religions teach how they interpret the bible and I don't like beliveing what someone tells me anymore. I dont need to be a part of anyones 'club'.

How about this question, which is slightly different. . .

What percentage of spiritual abuse victims later abandon organized religion and/or "god"?

I suspect that the number is greater than 50%.

My own victimization prompted me to evaluate my own beliefs, because I had no interest in being fooled again. Having been a JW for 23 years, I knew that I was certainly capapble of being fooled. This was not in question.

So, I set aside any fear of Hell (however coneived and defined). My faith did not survive the "Outsider Test for Faith". I listen eagerly as people of faith explain themselves. I do not shy away from Christian apologetics. I recognize that faith really makes sense for many people. Their hopes are real. I've seen the many ways in which some of these beliefs have made these people better human beings.

By "ex-JWs" I assume you mean people who no longer believe the JW doctrine (there are lots of disfellowshiped "ex-JWs" who still believe).  With that caveat, I'd venture that most ex-JWs fall into 3 categories mentioned below.  It would not surprise me if a slight majority, or at least a plurality fall into #1.  The next-largest group is probably #2, followed by #3.  (Of course, this is all wild conjecture based on people I know in real life and on these boards.)

1. Non-religious.  They may be atheist, agnostic, deist, whatever, but they're not convinced that there's a God who wants to be worshiped.
2. The Ray Franz model.  These folks are still Christians, still believe the Bible, and still retain many WTS beliefs (no hell, no Trinity, no immortal soul).  But they reject the idea of "God's organization" and focus on a simple type of Christianity.
3. Evangelical.  Some portion of former Witnesses join up with another religious group--often evangelical protestants--and embrace traditional doctrines of Christendom such as the Trinity, etc.

                     I don`t Believe in Anything.

                                   Except..

                                         BEER!

                                                 .................... ...OUTLAW

I don't believe that that looks like real beer, outlaw buddy.

S

Satanus..

                  It`s the best I could do on the internet..

                                                            ..................... ...OUTLAW

No organized religion.

I feel there is "something" of a "divine" nature out there, but have few beliefs about it - except that it is not the "God" that most religious types talk about, it has no ego or personality, and might be termed a kind of "aware force of nature".

Jesus, like all of us, is a "son" of this "divine" nature, and we all have equal access to that "kingdom" he spoke of - Jesus the person probably did exist, though perhaps many sayings of a philosophical movement were combined and attributed to him (much like Lao Tzu or Confucious).

Since none of this can be objectively validated, beliefs are not particularly important to me.

I am a non-believer. With respect to the God of Jehovah's Witnesses I can call myself also an atheist. In my opinion, it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that such a God does not exist.

After I quit JWs, for many years I tried to avoid any contact with religion in any form. I recognize now that, because of my background, the question (even if solved) is still of interest to me and I just cannot be indifferent. How about a religious-minded atheist? Just kidding...

Nowadays I like to talk with priests and theologians and I frequently read literature on the subject, christian and non-christian. I also go to church (buildings) quite often, because I happen to like church music (in the wide meaning of the word). Sometimes during a concert in a church it flashes in my mind that long time ago I used to be afraid of becoming attacked by demons in those places... and I relax.

I am a Christian, I believe that Jesus is the son of God, in perfect union with God and the HS, I believe that Jesus is my Lord and saviour.

I do NOT believe in any organized religion, though I understand why people of the same beliefs like to, and even need to, get together in an organized manner.

I'm Wiccan and I also enjoy visiting the Catholic church. However, I'll never ever become a member of said church because I don't believe in religious rules of any kind. Wicca allows me to be as spiritual as I feel the desire and to express it in any way I please. It happens that the pagan path is the way I most desire to express my spirituality as I am very into visual and kenesthetic expressions, such as ceremonies, rituals, and tools. I explored different Christian paths and found they aren't for me. I'm very happy and satisfied with my current path. Whether I stay on it for my whole life remains to be seen, but it's exactly what appeals to me right now.

Hard Core Atheist

At the moment I consider myself an agnostic, but open to new ideas and views for consideration.  I can't see myself ever involved with organized religion again.

As for Jesus, I do believe without a doubt, that he existed, on the other hand...  I'm not totally convinced that he was God's son.

Always searching,

Cas

Thank you all for sharing.  These stories are deeply distressing and should serve as a warning to others.  Religious abuse is a terrible thing--Jesus died of it and He warned adamantly against it.  I have gone through much spiritual abuse as well, though not at the heands of the WTS.

Blessings.

I believe personally that we cannot know, or simply write off ancient faiths of others. that we all have a born spirituality and each chooses to worship in his own way. I believe that christianity is something that has in modern times largely another imposition on the rest of the world by the white man.