Posts by MarkofCane

47

Suicide or Real Freedom? - My Story As One Of Jehovah's Witnesses

by dubstepped in

"sometimes i think the only thing i could do that wouldn't upset someone would be to kill myself.".

those were the frustrated words of my friend as we stood out in his large yard in the country, just about to enjoy a nice bonfire on a beautiful night.

what was it that could have been a lesser evil than killing himself?

MarkofCane

I do believe in some sort of "god" or energy or something bigger than us, but I can't tell you if it is benevolent or not. It just is whatever it is, and I'm not worried about it anymore.
My desire is to live a good life, to help others, and to do no harm. On my deathbed, rather than looking forward to a particular hope or in fear of some punishment to come, my goal is to look back on my life and to know that I gave it my best and left people better off for knowing me. I would rather find satisfaction in what I actually could have some impact on than have my waning moments wasted on something that is out of my control.

This is a profound statement! I enjoyed this post read the entire thread. I can relate with you in so many ways, everyday I ask myself did I make a mistake?, Could I have gotten it wrong? I always answer the same.....No. This a abusive cult that has ruined my life, 45 years of servitude and it stops....no more. I'm still working through the mind control hooks that linger in the deep crevices of my mind. I at time find myself looking at things with the JW mind set. I anxiously wait for the day that I'm normal and no longer have any connection to anything or anyone JW.

It is great that you and your wife have found the way out together it makes it easier to leave with your partner on your side.

63

Video: Dear Believer, Why Do You Believe?

by Believer in

i was asked to view the video “dear believer, why do you believe?” i said i would and i would publish my comments about it.

so here are my comments.

after my post, i hope other believers will post theirs comments about it.

MarkofCane

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kZRAOXEFPI

"The God Debate"...another great video.

24

If An Organization Really Believed It Had the Truth...

by xjwsrock in

....it would not be scared of critics.

actually they would naturally take an offensive stance, wouldn't they?

they would welcome debate... even encourage it.

MarkofCane

If you had the truth of all the universe.?...and God on your side

....you wouldn’t be scared of critics, you would welcome them for all to see that we hold the truth and God is truly with us. I have used this line of reasoning with my wife and loud enough so my kids can hear….. She agreed.

I once asked her “how is it that the truth is such a delicate flame…… flickering to stay a lit where as a mere whisper of doubt can extinguish it?”

Why isn't there a series of talks in the mid-week meeting addressing an apostate subject each week? each month? every other month? nothing?

They will never do this it will expose them for what they are. Their is massive damaging information on JWfacts that cannot easily be overcome they know this, they have read it and know not to open Pandora box, they would in effect create mass awakenings. Imagine a brother assigned with the task of defending the organization against flip flops, misquoting in their literature, spiritistic pyramid fascination on which their principle doctrine is base from 1914.

So their approach is to vilify anyone questioning the GB as mentally diseased, demon inspired. I remember being at the convention when they passed the resolutions pledging loyalty to the organization. It was in the late 90’s I thought it was cultish just felt weird.

In my opinion, Geoffrey Jackson had the perfect opportunity when he testified on ARC, to set things straight for all to see. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. But instead he resorted to half-truths and outright lies ironically they call it the “Truth”.

63

Video: Dear Believer, Why Do You Believe?

by Believer in

i was asked to view the video “dear believer, why do you believe?” i said i would and i would publish my comments about it.

so here are my comments.

after my post, i hope other believers will post theirs comments about it.

MarkofCane

Sanchy

Excellent post.

63

Video: Dear Believer, Why Do You Believe?

by Believer in

i was asked to view the video “dear believer, why do you believe?” i said i would and i would publish my comments about it.

so here are my comments.

after my post, i hope other believers will post theirs comments about it.

MarkofCane

Good points.......

* Faith is an accident of geography.

* Better to wager on "no" God, than the wrong God.

* Evidence makes belief unnecessary.

240

Introduction - Any Believers?

by Believer in

i’ve been reading it for a few of years off and on, but have been a little too ... maybe ... timid to join.

i left the watchtower organization almost 20 years ago but never abandoned my faith and belief in god.

i knew the gb/organization didn’t represent god, so when i lost my faith in them, i managed to keep my faith in an all wise benevolent creator.

MarkofCane

"There will always be a gap I won't be able to bridge".

I believe this is crux of the issue. There are too many gaps, too many contradictions. They're a lot of people reading this debate and not saying anything you simply can't win the bible condemns God the history of ancient Israel is either true and this God exist and he's not a nice deity or its all man orchestrated to scare people into submission.

Cofty has made this argument with others that try and defend there version of god and it pretty much ends the same, its a hard argument to over come when this is claimed. " All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 2 Tim 3:16

Interesting enough not even a century ago if anybody rejected any part of the bible or contradicted it, they would be executed for blasphemy or heresy. The bible was held as the indisputable word of God. Now it seams once presented with facts about their creator and or belief they back peddle into pick and chose what I believe, "Christians". Unfortunately those who disagreed with the Bible weren't given the same consideration.

20

UPDATE: My existential crisis comes to a close

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

in case you read my other thread regarding my existential crisis and how it was making my life miserable and left me feeling hopeless, purposeless and joyless i though i'd share what's recently happened to me and my way of thinking and have i've for the time being resolved my existential crisis.

i write every day in a journal.

i've been doing this for years.

MarkofCane

That is awesome, my motto is "live and let live". Everything else will take care if itself.

Sometimes is better not to over analyze things, just put the burden of proof on God. The least he can do is provide evidence considering the sober reality of his absence.

18

What to say? I Don't want to go to meetings anymore?

by Drifting Away in

jw
friends

so it has been a couple of months since me and my family have attended a meeting.

we have received a few calls and visits.

but what do you say when people ask "where have you been"?

MarkofCane

Say you have been working more to save for your retirement, since it appears their's no end in sight.

Tell them you've come down with Tourette syndrome, "sometimes I blurt out words I don't intend to say". "Dick head" then smile and walk away.

Tell them your following the WT lead and saving to build yourself a larger home.

7

Australian Royal Commission

by Coded Logic in

just realized next month it'll be one year since the whole thing began.

anybody heard anything new or know what happens next?.

.

MarkofCane

The outcomes will be issued shortly.
The ARC is still investigating other institutions at this time.

At this rate the Watchtower will be bankrupt, they need to strike while they are fat.

133

Why Are You Here?

by Believer in

i'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.

as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.

as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.

MarkofCane

Hello Believer welcome to the community, good to have diversity in beliefs.

So am I a believer? Well I spent 45 years in the bOrg, dedicated my life to a belief system imposed by men. I indoctrinated my children forcing them to believe a fantastic tale of a talking snake, magical fruit and a pissed God, set out to vindicate his sovereignty on the blood of his subjects. I’ve given so much to theism the belief in God to the belief in something greater than us.

I can’t imagine that after 45 years of reading, studying and praying to a god and yet, still no definite conclusion. Then what does it take? It took less than 6 month to deconstruct 45 yrs of belief. I simply used the method set out by the Watchtower to expose false religion and turn it on them. Then I took the same methodology and the bible came up short as well.

I come off as a atheist by my comments but I consider myself agnostic with a sense of humor slowly the tide will change and I’m afraid I will subscribe to the logical conclusion of atheism. I normally don’t debate about the existence of god, I just don’t see the point, I really don’t know.

I come here to help others in this very difficult transition of exiting their way out of this cult and into society. Also in the hopes that I might find proof of an intelligent design. Perhaps someone might come here with evidence, solid proof of the existence of God. But so far the front is quiet and the attempts of some to start the conversation is usually based on faith, belief with evidence contrived from a emotional experience not based on something you can weighed, measured or test. I can only imagine if God wanted me to find him, come to him or in some way take notice of his presence he can overcome any obstacle presented by apologist as to why he simply can’t. Until then I will voice my dissent for the life destroying propaganda the GB regurgitates and nobody is allowed to question.