Mad Sweeney

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Posts by Mad Sweeney

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  4

  This is too funny

  by cantleave in

  1. social
  2. humour

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln64dyflgt4&feature=player_embedded.

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  Mad Sweeney

  It's awesome.
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  59

  I Called the Headquarters About the "Slaughter of Apostates" Quote

  by DT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in case you haven't heard, the november 15, 2011 watchtower, page 5 made this comment.

  "today, no servant of jehovah uses physical force against opponents of pureworship.

  "vengeance is mine," god says.

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  Mad Sweeney

  marking
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  6

  transcripts of the WWC case...can we get? MAYBE

  by Aussie Oz in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  found this tonight...anyone here close to the action that thinks its worth a go?.

  http://www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/justlib/magistrates+court/home/practice+and+procedure/.

  q:how do i obtain a copy of the audio recording for a case that was heard?a:all proceedings of the magistrates court are recorded.

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  Mad Sweeney

  Is each defendant and charge considered a separate "case"? If so, you're talking $1925.00. If each defendent (with all its charges) is considered one "case" then you're talking $275.00. These are per day charges. So if you want the full set of recordings we've already had three days in court with at least one more to come and hopefully more.

  We're running into serious money here.

  Since people involved with the case can get the recordings for free, I think we would be better off hoping Mr. Unthank is one day willing to share them, or at least transcripts of them.
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  87

  Watchtower STUDY EDITION - Vehicle for Vitriol and REALLY crazy statements?

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  is it me or do i notice that all the weird and hateful cultish statements are now appearing in the 'study edition' washtowels?.

  anointed are nuts - august 15, 2011 watchtower (the study edition) pg 22 qfr: memorial partakers.

  this is the number.

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  Mad Sweeney

  Apostates of new religious movements are not any more "individually unique" than are the Witnesses. They are grouped together because of numerous common symptoms, behavioral traits, similar apostate narratives, the need to group together and feed off of each other's negative energy on sites such as this, ect.

  You seen one true apostate Witness and you have pretty much seen them all.

  Lets analyze the loaded Borg lingo in the troll's post, shall we?

  First it responds to a comment about EXJWs with the label: Apostates. Then it mentiones some similarities between them, including symptoms (you know what symptoms are, signs of disease - mentally diseased in this case). Then it labels - without any evidence - the energy we share with each other as negative. Finally it repeats the loaded word apostate, setting up a typical true/false dichotomy, in its final sentence. The true/false dichotomy is a setup for the "no true Scotsman" fallacy that it no doubt will wish to use later when defending its statement.

  We're alert to all the apologist troll tricks.
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  24

  Watchtower’s Move to Warwick? ‘Not Any Time Soon’

  by Gayle in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  meanwhile, additional property acquired in nearby tuxedo, n.y.by linda collins.

  so the move will likely be years away, according to devine.

  meanwhile, additional property acquired in nearby tuxedo, n.y.by linda collins.

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  Mad Sweeney

  They have NO IDEA what the word "soon" means. Armageddon has been "soon" for over 100 years. Now their move to Warwick is "not any time soon."

  They're both dumb AND liars.
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  6

  Onscreen Critique, October 1 Watchtower, "When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed?"

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  a few weeks ago, i provided a critique of the october 1, 2011 watchtower article when was ancient jerusalem destroyed: part 1.. http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/215458/1/critique-of-the-october-1-watchtower-articlewhen-was-ancient-jerusalem-destroyed.

  i have produced a different critique of that same article.

  while the earlier critique was designed to be printed, this version is designed to be viewed on a computer screen.

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  Mad Sweeney

  I've found pdf files using google. PDF has come a long way. For something like this research, I prefer something I can save to my drive and use for research later.
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  41

  Is this Watchtower comment about the Slave a lie?

  by jwfacts in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in the question from readers, watchtower 2011 8/15 p. 22 it made the following comment:.

  "we thus have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know.

  the governing body does not keep a list of all partakers, for it does not maintain a global network of anointed ones.".

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  Mad Sweeney

  The 2/15/2009 WT article "They Keep Following the Lamb" is a doozy on the subject as well:

  They “Keep Following the Lamb”

  “These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes.”—REV. 14:4.

  ABOUT two and a half years into his ministry, Jesus “was teaching in public assembly at Capernaum.” Finding his speech shocking, “many of his disciples went off to the things behind and would no longer walk with him.” When Jesus asked his 12 apostles if they also wanted to go, Simon Peter replied: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life; and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:48, 59, 60, 66-69) True disciples of Jesus refused to quit following him. After being anointed with holy spirit, they continued to submit to Jesus’ direction.—Acts 16:7-10.

  2 What can be said about the anointed Christians in modern times? In his prophecy about “the sign of [his] presence and of the conclusion of the system of things,” Jesus referred to the composite body of his spirit-anointed followers on earth as “the faithful and discreet slave,” or “the faithful steward.” (Matt. 24:3, 45; Luke 12:42) As a group, the slave class has established an excellent record of “following the Lamb no matter where he goes.” (Read Revelation 14:4, 5.) Its members remain virgins in a spiritual sense by not defiling themselves with the beliefs and practices of “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion. (Rev. 17:5) No doctrinal falsehood is “found in their mouths,” and they remain “without blemish” from Satan’s world. (John 15:19) In the future, the remaining anointed ones on earth “will follow” the Lamb right into heaven.—John 13:36.

  3 Jesus has appointed the faithful and discreet slave “over his domestics,” that is, the individual members of the slave class, “to give them their food at the proper time.” He has also appointed the slave “over all his belongings.” (Matt. 24:45-47) These “belongings” include the growing “great crowd” of “other sheep.” (Rev. 7:9; John 10:16) Should not individual members of the anointed and the “other sheep” trust the slave appointed over them? There are many reasons why the slave class deserves our trust. Two outstanding reasons are: (1) Jehovah trusts the slave class. (2) Jesus also trusts the slave. Let us examine the evidence that both Jehovah God and Jesus Christ have complete confidence in the faithful and discreet slave.

  Jehovah Trusts the Slave

  4 Consider what makes it possible for the faithful and discreet slave to provide timely, nutritious spiritual food. “I shall make you have insight and instruct you in the way you should go,” says Jehovah. He adds: “I will give advice with my eye upon you.” (Ps. 32:8) Yes, Jehovah provides direction to the slave. We can therefore have full confidence in the Scriptural insight, understanding, and guidance that we receive from the slave.

  5 Jehovah also blesses the slave class with his holy spirit. While Jehovah’s spirit is invisible, what it produces in those upon whom it operates is not. Think of what the faithful and discreet slave has been able to accomplish in giving a worldwide witness about Jehovah God, his Son, and the Kingdom. Jehovah’s worshippers are actively proclaiming the Kingdom message in over 230 lands and island groups. Does that not give undeniable evidence that God’s spirit is empowering the slave? (Read Acts 1:8.) In providing timely spiritual food for Jehovah’s people the world over, the slave class must make vital decisions. In making them and putting them into effect, the slave exhibits love, mildness, and other aspects of the spirit’s fruitage.—Gal. 5:22, 23.

  6 To appreciate the extent of Jehovah’s trust in the faithful slave, reflect on what he has promised its members. “The trumpet will sound,” wrote the apostle Paul, “and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:52, 53) The anointed followers of Christ, who serve God faithfully and die in corruptible human bodies, are resurrected as something more than spirit creatures having everlasting life. They are given immortality—endlessness and indestructibility. Moreover, they receive incorruption, being given bodies that are beyond decay and apparently are self-sustaining. Revelation 4:4 describes these resurrected ones as seated upon thrones with golden crowns upon their heads. The glory of royalty awaits anointed Christians. But there is more.

  7 “The marriage of the Lamb has arrived and his wife has prepared herself. Yes, it has been granted to her to be arrayed in bright, clean, fine linen, for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones,” states Revelation 19:7, 8. Jehovah has chosen the anointed Christians to be the future bride for his Son. Incorruption, immortality, royalty, “the marriage of the Lamb”—what awe-inspiring gifts these are! They are stirring evidence of God’s confidence in the anointed, who “keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes.”

  The Slave Is Trusted by Jesus

  8 What evidence is there that Jesus completely trusts his spirit-anointed followers? On the last night of his life on earth, Jesus made a promise to his 11 faithful apostles. “You are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials,” he told them, “and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28-30) The covenant that Jesus then made with the 11 will extend to all 144,000 anointed Christians. (Luke 12:32; Rev. 5:9, 10; 14:1) If he did not trust them, would Jesus make a covenant that meant sharing his Kingdom power with them?

  9 Moreover, Jesus Christ has appointed the faithful and discreet slave “over all his belongings”—all Kingdom interests on earth. (Matt. 24:47) Included among these belongings are the facilities at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, at branch offices in various lands, and at Assembly Halls and Kingdom Halls worldwide. Included too is the work of Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making. Would anyone assign someone he did not trust to keep and use his valuable things?

  10 Shortly before he ascended to heaven, the resurrected Jesus appeared to his faithful disciples and made a promise to them, saying: “Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matt. 28:20) Has this promise proved reliable? In the last 15 years, the number of congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide has grown from some 70,000 to over 100,000—an increase of over 40 percent. And what about the new disciples added? Nearly 4.5 million disciples were baptized in the last 15 years—an average of more than 800 a day. These spectacular increases are clear evidence that Christ is directing his anointed followers at their congregation meetings and is supporting them in their disciple-making work.

  The Slave Is Faithful and Discreet

  11 Since Jehovah God and Jesus Christ completely trust the faithful and discreet slave, should we not do the same? After all, the slave has shown itself to be faithful in doing its assigned work. For example, the Watchtower magazine has been published for some 130 years. Meetings, assemblies, and conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to build us up spiritually.

  12 The faithful slave is also discreet in that it neither acts immodestly, running ahead of Jehovah, nor lags behind when God’s direction on a matter is clear. For example, while false religious leaders tacitly approve or openly condone as normal the selfish, godless conduct of the people of the world, the slave provides warnings against the pitfalls of Satan’s wicked system. The slave is able to provide wise and timely warnings because Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are blessing it. The slave thus deserves our complete trust. How, though, can we demonstrate that we trust the faithful and discreet slave?

  “Go With” the Anointed as They Follow the Lamb

  13 The Bible book of Zechariah speaks of “ten men” who approach “a man who is a Jew” and say: “We will go with you people.” (Read Zechariah 8:23.) Since “a man who is a Jew” is spoken of as “you people,” he is a composite man. In our time, he represents the remnant of spirit-anointed Christians—part of “the Israel of God.” (Gal. 6:16) The “ten men out of all the languages of the nations” represent the great crowd of other sheep. Just as the anointed Christians follow Jesus no matter where he goes, the great crowd ‘goes with,’ or accompanies, the faithful and discreet slave. Those of the great crowd should never be ashamed to identify themselves as companions of the “partakers of the heavenly calling.” (Heb. 3:1) Jesus is not ashamed to call the anointed ones “brothers.”—Heb. 2:11.

  14 Jesus Christ considers the loyal support given to his brothers as being given to him. (Read Matthew 25:40.) In what way, then, can those who have the earthly hope support Christ’s spirit-anointed brothers? Principally by helping them with the Kingdom-preaching work. (Matt. 24:14; John 14:12) While the number of anointed ones on the earth has decreased over the decades, the number of the other sheep has increased. When those who have an earthly hope share in the witness work, serving if possible as full-time evangelizers, they support the spirit-anointed ones in fulfilling the disciple-making assignment. (Matt. 28:19, 20) Not to be overlooked are the opportunities to support this work by making financial contributions in various ways.

  15 As individual Christians, how do we view the timely spiritual food that the faithful slave dispenses by means of Bible-based publications and through Christian gatherings? Do we gratefully partake of it and readily apply what we learn? What is our response to organizational decisions made by the slave? Our willing obedience to the direction provided gives evidence of our faith in Jehovah’s arrangement.—Jas. 3:17.

  16 “My sheep listen to my voice,” said Jesus, “and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) That is true of the anointed Christians. What about those who “go with” them? Such ones must listen to Jesus. They must also listen to his brothers. After all, the chief responsibility for caring for the spiritual welfare of God’s people has been entrusted to them. What does listening to the voice of Christ’s brothers involve?

  17 The faithful and discreet slave today is represented by the Governing Body, who take the lead and coordinate the Kingdom-preaching work throughout the earth. The members of the Governing Body are experienced, spirit-anointed elders. They in particular can be described as “those who are taking the lead” among us. (Heb. 13:7) In caring for over 7,000,000 Kingdom proclaimers worldwide in over 100,000 congregations, these anointed overseers have “plenty to do in the work of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58) Listening to the slave class means giving our full cooperation to its Governing Body.

  Those Who Listen to the Slave Are Blessed

  18 Since its appointment, the faithful and discreet slave has been “bringing the many to righteousness.” (Dan. 12:3) These include those who have the hope of surviving the destruction of the present wicked system of things. What a blessing this righteous standing with God is!

  19 In the future, when ‘the holy city, New Jerusalem [consisting of 144,000] comes down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,’ what will those who have listened to the voice of the slave experience? “God himself will be with them,” says the Bible. “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:2-4) By all means, then, let us listen to the Christ and his trustworthy spirit-anointed brothers.
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  52

  JW at work hitting on me!! (for real)

  by Free!! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on another thread i mentioned i met some jws at work within the past 2 months.

  well, 2 of them became particularly interested and getting to know me (a lady and a guy) the lady is really nice, and the only reason i know she is a jw is because she mentioned something about no b-days or christmas and that was it... she has not tried to preach to me or anything.... .

  on the other hand... this young guy, well he is making sure he becomes my friend, asked me to be my fb friend and messages me everyday at work or on fb... now the funny thing is he told me he is a jw and about 3 times already he had suggested i read my bible (whenever i post status about being bored or unable to concentrate on homework), well yesterday he sent me a message that said "i would like to talk to you tonite, maybe we can hit it up" my reaction was .

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  Mad Sweeney

  Your most recent post in the thread spoiled my advice. I was going to advise you to help him get kicked out of the borg by having sex with him and sending the videotape to the body of elders. But if you're not attracted to him then that's probably out. Unless you're a SUPER-DEDICATED APOSTATE willing to take one for the team.
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  14

  I Don't Understand The November Watchtower About Apostates Being Insane And The Evils Of Blogging.

  by AvocadoJake in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello, i am new and sighed up last night!

  please, would anyone like to tell me, what this magazine is trying to say?

  what about the men and women in the halls that have mental illness?

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  Mad Sweeney

  Jake's question is whether the reverse is true. Are mentally diseased people considered apostate by the WT leaders? That doesn't follow logically, no.

  That would be like saying "all people have hair" means that "all beings with hair are people," which is neither true, nor does it follow from logic.

  The Watchtower is saying that apostates are mentally diseased and that disease is contagious. It really has nothing to do with the Kingdom Halls full of mentally ill people.
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  22

  Just got dumped by a "Best Friend"

  by dreamgolfer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  folks, i wanted to start out by saying how much support i feel when i have time to come online and tap in to all your knowledge.

  reading what you all go through, does make me feel i am not alone and i am glad for all the time and support you give us all.. i want to do likewise and tell you a story:.

  i was born into the jw religion via my mother, i am 50 something now, (on a good day i can look 49).

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  Mad Sweeney

  Someone has to ask this, and I'm sorry if it sounds harsh but the questions are sincere - I really want to know, and I think your answers will be a good example for others considering a walk down that same road: What were you thinking? Why did you "come out" to him? What did you expect to happen and why did you expect it?