Posts by MarkofCane

24

The "apostacy stigmatisation" of doing research!

by stuckinarut2 in

a thought occurred that the way the society has stigmatised the doing of external research by witnesses, and labelling any such questioning as "apostate", is tragic.. no doubt, in every other aspect of life, we research things before making decisions.

eg, if making a purchase, we go online and check reviews etc to check the product out.

we don't just trust the words of the marketing department.

MarkofCane

My kids google everything. When we are watching a movie and they want to know a actors name they google, if they hear of a place they are not familiar with they google. I make it a habit to always say google it........ research it.

The society could easily control the older generation who viewed the internet as evil but the new generation is a different story. The internet is knowledge, no one owns a encyclopedia set any more, dictionary's are obsolete. The most powerful tool known to mankind in the 21 century fits in the palm of your hand. If I had the internet when I was growing up, I'm certain I would of left in my early twenties.

The admonition in the last Watchtower makes that clear: At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. (4) Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith.” (w13 11/15 p.20)

The internet is exposing all there lies at a click of a button, looks like the tables are turning...and there scared.

36

Understanding The Bible ... The "Linchpin" Effect

by Littleleslie in

understanding the holy bible.. .

after many years of study of scripture, our bible study group has discovered something very important that needs to be realized or absorbed, before one can come to a correct understanding of the bible.

we call it, the "linchpin" effect... .

MarkofCane

Charles Taze Russel was to many the linchpin. I spent 40 plus years of my life believing there was a special purpose associating with gods chosen people. That this chosen few the anointed was gods channel of communication to mankind. That we were unique because we had special knowledge of the future. Light bearers....... lighting the way through darkness, truth seekers over turning lies. Sounds like a snake oil pitch to me....or should I say Miracle wheat pitch.

9

"Make America hate again"

by MarkofCane in

“trump is predicting he’ll be able to do all these things, but his workload will be pretty enormous and his power would be so limited by precedent, by the bureaucracy, by the constitution,” said robert dallek, a presidential historian.

“even in trade and immigration, where trump says he will make revolutionary changes, congress has a say on those things.

a lot of people have a say.

MarkofCane

“Trump is predicting he’ll be able to do all these things, but his workload will be pretty enormous and his power would be so limited by precedent, by the bureaucracy, by the Constitution,” said Robert Dallek, a presidential historian. “Even in trade and immigration, where Trump says he will make revolutionary changes, Congress has a say on those things. A lot of people have a say. The president is not king.”

He can make all the promises he wants but realistically the president just doesn't have that type of power. Trump won the republican nomination, but now can he win in the general election?

18

Quotes JWs Don't Like...

by JW_Rogue in

"you miss 100% of the shots you don't take".

"you always regret the things you didn't do more than the things you did".

"think for yourself, question authority".

MarkofCane

"Extraordinary claims, demand extraordinary evidence" My favorite

31

No historical evidence for bronze age men living to 500yrs old?

by purrpurr in

the bible tells us that noah etc lived to 500yrs old as did many other characters who lived apparently to incredible years.. yet archaeological research tells us from looking at skeletons that have been dug up that the average lifespan was very short.

if a man got to the age of 50 they would have considered that quite an achievement.

when i was in i always wondered about this?

MarkofCane

Methuselah "Man of the dart/spear", is the man reported to have lived the longest at the age of 969 in the Hebrew Bible.[2] Extra-biblical tradition maintains that he died on the 11th of Cheshvan, Methuselah was the son of Enoch, the father of Lamech, and the grandfather of Noah.

I could never believe this no matter how hard I tried. Their made up stories never any proof just more of the same....need to have faith!

11

The New World , Utopian or Dystopian?

by BluesBrother in

like many others on here i was raised and spent many years of my life looking forward to , and basing my life around the anticipated "new world" .this utopian paradise would "satisfy the desire of every living thing".

we would enjoy eternal youth in perfect health,have abundant good food ,comfortable homes ,even welcome our parents and forebears back from the dead - what's not to like?i found this description of a dystopian world on the net :"characteristics of a dystopian society• propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.• information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.• a figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.• citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.• citizens have a fear of the outside world.• citizens live in a dehumanized state.• the natural world is banished and distrusted.• citizens conform to uniform expectations.

individuality and dissent are bad.• the society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world."hmm.

MarkofCane

Crazy how similar cults operate. Show them the utopian fantasy and sell them the illusion.

"Captives to a concept"

7

Moment of awakening?

by Freeandclear in

i just recalled something from my past that i've not thought about in a very long time, but it did have a significant impact on me whether i knew it or not at the time....... i have a sister who was born when i was 15. my family are not jw's thank the universe!

but me as an uberdub at the time convinced my young sister to have a study.

she was about 14 or 15 at the time i'd guess.

MarkofCane

Ya, Their logo should be "JW.org- 8 million captive"

14

what era do you feel like your starting out from?

by sowhatnow in

jw
friends

anyone else feel like they were just woke up from a long coma?

or emerged from a time capsule?.

i mean seriously, its rather creepy and disturbing , some of us are at sea without a compass .. like an orphan, like someone said, , heres a birth certificate go find yourself.

MarkofCane

A returning Bethelite that served at HQ in Brooklyn New York , dropped a hint onto me as well that its just a publishing house, he was an elder too ..........whaaaa ???

Finkelstein

Did he leave the Borg?

50

Today's Study - Shun Disfellowshipped Family, Don't Marry Outsiders, Tell On Others!

by Divergent in

jw
friends

urghhh... what a disgusting study!7 a conflict of loyalties may arise when a close relative is disfellowshipped.

for example, a sister named anne received a telephone call from her disfellowshipped mother.

the mother wanted to visit anne because she felt pained by her isolation from the family.

MarkofCane

That's why they keep drilling this into there heads.

At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith.” (w13 11/15 p.20)

They are grooming the rank and file for stricter shunning policies. The internet is exposing so much of their lies and deception, they need to do damage control and information control. Keep the ignorant, ignorant.

50

Today's Study - Shun Disfellowshipped Family, Don't Marry Outsiders, Tell On Others!

by Divergent in

jw
friends

urghhh... what a disgusting study!7 a conflict of loyalties may arise when a close relative is disfellowshipped.

for example, a sister named anne received a telephone call from her disfellowshipped mother.

the mother wanted to visit anne because she felt pained by her isolation from the family.

MarkofCane

The Governing Body, Geoffrey Jackson assertively said at the ARC that they, do not ask their members to shun, that is not something we do.

7 A conflict of loyalties may arise when a close relative is disfellowshipped. For example, a sister named Anne received a telephone call from her disfellowshipped mother. The mother wanted to visit Anne because she felt pained by her isolation from the family. Anne was deeply distressed by the plea and promised to reply by letter. Before writing, she reviewed Bible principles. (1 Cor. 5:11; 2 John 9-11) Anne wrote and kindly reminded her mother that she had cut herself off from the family by her wrongdoing and unrepentant attitude. “The only way you can relieve your pain is by returning to Jehovah,” Anne wrote. —Jas. 4:8.

Ironic that the not covering up of wrongdoing is usually applied to those who have engaged in conduct that can hardly be considered as wrongdoing while those who have committed ACTUAL SERIOUS wrongdoing (eg: child abusers) have their wrongdoing covered up!

Excellent point Divergent, Tell on your friends for having a little fun but STFU about the children getting abused! That's why we continue to expose them for what they are accomplices to a pedophile epidemic in Watchtower land!