I left the Witnesses over 10 years ago, but finally went back (page 4)

MrFreeze

Do some research on Pascal's Wager. It's a flawed argument to base your life on.

mrsjones5

It's been over five hours. Will Jake come back here?

Morbidzbaby

Mrsjones~ My Magic 8 Ball says "All signs point to no".

Captain Obvious

Hmm I think he may have been mistaken about what kind of forum this is..... I hope he checked back at least once.

scotoma

Jake:

Talking to you on this forum feels like prayer. Conversation with an imaginary entity. Too many paradoxes in your scenario.

The one thing I believe is your statement that the world is messed up. That is true. And it has been true ever since the first organism formed a boundary and had to scoop up the materials for its life. In other words "original sin" is really "intrinsic selfishness." Humans will never be able to change its destiny without a sky hook of some sort.

The only rational possibility for improvement is that there are extraterrestials of some sort that care about our destiny. God is not a possibility.

Religion is a cheap orientation for people who can't think scientifically. There is no such thing as "false religion" because there is no such thing as "true religion". Consider it an interesting game or past time that you can engage in until something significant happens.

steve2

Jake has gone back and probably felt it was important that he tell us to try to exorcise his own doubts. This site could be part of his revised story (e.g., I almost listened to apostates, but returned to the fold instead...". That will earn him some warm fuzzies from the JWs - and perhaps he'll get to tell his experience in his local kingdom hall. Firm accepting handshakes and warm smiles can cover cracks in faith but I wouldn't be counting on them as permanent remedies.

It's worth keeping in mind that people who are bedeviled by "what if's?" on the outside tend to have 'em regardless of whether they're in or out. Now his could be a variant of "what if despite my better judgment it is a crock...?"

Jake deserves no better or worse luck than anyone else who's ever been on this board, or in a kingdom hall. It is what it is.

willyloman

Jake has just learned the value of the popular expression: WTF?

Rabbit

Jake,

I spent over 35 years as an active JW, 4 as Reg. Pioneer just before Armeggedon. All out of FEAR. I was always told "not to think" about certain scriptures in OT & NT that to me revealed another uglier side of Jah's personality. I.E. 'bashing babies heads against rocks and taking as wives 10 y/o girls.

I was told, "Brr. Rabbit, you're on thin ice! Don't you know the demons can hear you speak?? Only Jesus, the Angels & Jah can read your mind!

Me: Right here in the KH ??

Elder: Of course! And, they would love to report back to Satan that they found a doubting JW ?? (I'd get special attention )

Me: Well, can I write down the question ?

Elder: You'll have to 'wait on the New Order' for some answers. Then he walked away...

How do we, ANYBODY, know for sure what ANY god or spirit wants from us ? Just because somebody has a book that's been around for a long time -- proves nothing!

I am now pleasantly and 'comfortly numb' as an agnostic. I believe I am a good person. If a god cannot see that...with all the smarts a 'god' is supposed to have, then it will be god's loss if 'it' murders me, because I could not figure out which religion had its STAMP of APPROVAL.

Do you believe you are a good person ? (Retorical) If you need to have faith in a creator, fine. Just don't let them control you. I left about 12 years ago and once the "What ifs..." quieted down" I don't worry -- despite losing a marriage, children and 1/2 of my family that were JW's.

Never Surrender !

King Solomon

Scotoma said:

"The only rational possibility for improvement is that there are extraterrestials of some sort that care about our destiny. God is not a possibility."

Ive always thought it would be hilarious if extraterrestrials showed up in a space-craft more primitive than the Space Shuttle, and asked us to teach them a thing or two, being impressed by nuclear power, internal combustion engines, etc.

I left the Witnesses over 10 years ago, but finally went back

The Oracle