The state I live in has what they call a "use tax." Meaning if you go over the border to a state without sales tax and bring it back, you have to pay the going rate for sales tax in your state. For example, 5 percent. But then how does that state keep track of items you buy to catch you not paying that tax? I will check with the state department that handles that. "Most states do not actually enforce their use tax laws, with less than a fraction of individuals actually paying the tax. Businesses, however, receive much stricter oversight and must report the covered purchases on their tax returns." So I guess it is matter between them their god, not keeping the law because they can get away with. But then too many jws do things that they teach their god does not approve, serious things, and it only matters if they get caught by the WTS and its representatives. As if they don't teach that their god can read minds and the intentions of their hearts. They say: "Like the wicked immoral peoples of times past, they say, ‘God has left the land, he is not seeing,’ yes, he is dead." Ezekiel 9:9
Posts by blondie
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24Green Handshakes - Taxable income in Australia
by Listener ini was doing some research on the taxable status of money being gifted to co’s and travelling missionaries and was surprised with what i found.
i had assumed that it was not taxable income in australia.. it is taxable income in australia and it‘s likely that the same rules apply in some other countries.. a registered religious institution only receives tax free status on donations because they have been endorsed by the australian tax office.
travelling overseas and missionaries are not in this category.. there’s a tax ruling that goes into great detail.
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19
Live long and prosper: WT JULY 2025
by raymond frantz in"now more than ever, we need to focus on our hope.
because we are living in 'the last days' and we all have problems that are 'hard to deal with.
' (2 tim.
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blondie
Fedup JW, good application of that scripture.
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36
Sisters can now wear pants. Any more important changes
by Witness 007 inalot of my witness friends were excited sisters can now wear pants and you can say hi to disfellowshiped folks but what about important stuff child molesters in the congregation you need 2 witnesses blood fractions are fine but not whole blood????
607 bce is from the 1880s wrong....anything else?
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blondie
I doubt not many female jws dress that way. But the men seem to remember those. Makes a little uncomfortable being a woman myself.
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9
Memorial talk the SAME EVERY YEAR no anointed??
by Witness 007 inyeah so got invited this year and just thought what a waste of my time no one partakes in the wine or bread the talk has been the same for 20 years i would rather stay home.
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blondie
No anointed, despite the number of partakers increasing every year: https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/memorial-partakers.php
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BABYLON THE GREAT IS NOT FALLING ANYMORE? (NEW LIGHT FROM THE ANNUAL MEETING)
by raymond frantz inhttps://youtu.be/rsbfa_7lqv4?si=muuxmgtll1n1ifad.
the watchtower’s babylon the great: a shrinking reality?.
so this latest annual meeting introduced a new idea about babylon the great, and here is the part from geoffrey jackson's talk we real need to dig in and consider it's ramifications..... so you’ve got to hand it to them; they know how to keep things interesting with their ever-evolving interpretations and, of course, those classic "adjustments" in understanding.
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blondie
Thanks Jeffro
"The change introduced at the annual meeting was that the 'one thought' (Revelation 17:13) is now considered to refer to the 'nations' giving their authority to the UN rather than to destroy 'false religion'.
But the JW position that the UN, once it has been given authority in the imaginary scenario, will then 'turn against false religion' has not actually changed."
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blondie
An example of more current missing jws:
Before 1975 and after
Year Ave. Publishers Growth % Growth 5 Year Growth 1970 1,384,782 127,998 10% 1971 1,510,245 125,463 9% 1972 1,596,442 86,197 6% 1973 1,656,673 60,231 4% 1974 1,880,713 224.040 14% 1975 2,062,449 181,736 10% 37% 1976 2,138,537 76,088 4% . 1977 2,117,194 -21,343 -1% 1978 2,086,698 -30,496 -1% 1979 2,097,070 10,372 0% 1980 2,175,403 78,333 4% 2%
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JWs in the news: UK Telegraph:"‘Jehovah’s Witnesses told me I would die at 15 – so I didn’t save for a pension’"
by Balaamsass2 in‘jehovah’s witnesses told me i would die at 15 – so i didn’t save for a pension’.
fame & fortune: award-winning author on religion, divorce and her dream car.
70. gift this article free.
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blondie
I always viewed as a "suggestion" not a command; but many jws were really serving men, an organization, and did not look at the scriptures.
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40
Memorial attendance
by Balaamsass2 incurious.
what was your local memorial attendance like tonight?
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blondie
Duran, I know non-jws believe differently, and the WTS always has its own interpretation to fit its doctrines.
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WASHINGTON ST PASSES BILL MANDATING CLERGY REPORTING CHILD ABUSE
by blondie inhttps://www.thereflector.com/stories/washington-legislature-passes-bill-to-make-clergy-mandatory-reporters-of-child-abuse,378913 .
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blondie
As to the privileged communication, that is similar to the clergy-penitent practice of the Catholic church where there is a one-on-one with confessor and priest privately, no other one involved, no report to headquarters. The WTS has tried to say they qualify under this exception, except it is 3 elders that meet with the person, a file is kept by the body of elders in the congregation, and a report sent to headquarters. "Clergy-penitent privilege, also known as priest-penitent privilege, protects confidential communications between a member of the clergy and a penitent, preventing disclosure to third parties in legal proceedings. This privilege applies when the communication is made to a clergy member in their professional capacity as a spiritual advisor" On top of this the WTS has claimed they have no clergy class: 1951 "Christians maintain no Levitical priesthood. No “clergy class” exists among them" Switching to a legalistic approach in WT 1971 p. 507, the WTS starts using this distinction "Likewise among Jehovah’s witnesses today there is no paid clergy class
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God’s wisdom in allowing bearded JWs July 25 Watchtower
by Listener inthe july 2025 watchtower has a paragraph that claims that it was the superior power and wisdom of jehovah that guided the gb into allowing jws to grow beards.. the study article is ‘can you still learn from basic bible teachings?’ under the subheading ‘jehovah is the creator’ paragraph 7 states-.
“ 7. what did rahela do to accept a change in direction?.
your answer.
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blondie
Up until 1968 the WTS did not picture Jesus with a beard. WT 1968 p. 288 Questions from Readers "Nevertheless, as already shown, it is apparent that Jesus did wear a beard, and so artistic representations of him in future Watch Tower publications will harmonize with the Scriptural evidence to that effect." But added this "In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God’s ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth." and at the end "In paradise restored on earth it would not be out of order if men returned to wearing beards, in perfect fashion, like Adam in Eden." Picture of Adam without beard by WTS: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/73465037648316667/