Posts by JeffT

36

New JW.Watch Website - Plans, Ideas & Submissions

by Simon in

i want to create a new site to help people leaving the wts.. the idea is that it will be curated content of articles and videos on specific subjects such as how to fade, how to handle family, personal experiences of leaving, mistakes to avoid, plus practical life matters impacted by the wts such as how to create or rebuild a career, planning for retirement, getting counselling, making friends etc.... the idea is that it should be lots of voices to share the love and promote lots of people's channels so it becomes a more effective resource (hopefully there will always be something informative and appealing to the people visiting).. if you have a youtube channel that you would like featured, or maybe have some specific video or series that would suit, i'd be happy to include them.. likewise, if you have a subject you'd like to write about and can share some practical knowledge and guidance on, or have a life-story you'd like to share because your experience could benefit others, please let me know.. i bought a domain and setup some placeholder content:.

https://jw.watch.

please message me or post here if you have any questions or ideas..

JeffT

I can think of a couple of things I'd like to bring to the table. With my background as an accountant, I have considerable knowledge of financial management. I'm not a lawyer, but I've handled lots of legal documents and have some (both fortunate and unfortunate) experience wit the law.

I've noticed that lots of people (not just XJW's) have some gaps in their knowledge of these two subjects. In the U S at least, I lay this problem at the feet of our educational system. On this board I'd be happy to answer questions about these subjects. I have from time to time attempted to read the tea leaves in regard to the Watchtower's money management.

And I'm always happy to blather about my books.

25

Does anyone have a photo copy they can share of a TMS topic?

by jojorabbit in

i am looking for a tms that was published in the early 70s that said many have sold homes to go where the need was great, this is a fine way to spend ones time in the last days.

i am trying to remember how it was said to the best of my knowledge but this is close.

.

JeffT

I became a witness in 1973, at what was probably the peak of the 1975 mania. There was a really nice family (husband, wife and two young children) in the congregation that made the decision to sell their farm and go "where the need was greater." They were able to live off the proceeds of the farm sale for a few years, then struggled to put food on the table. I heard he had a nervous breakdown, but we didn't seem them. Of course the WTBS didn't lift a finger to help them.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

Had a conversation last night with my daughter (Master's in psychology). Mostly we were talking about the Amber Heard/Johnny Depp train wreck. In the course of the conversation a few things came up. Not all sexual abuse victims are children. Sex is not the only kind of abuse. The scars last a lifetime. Sometimes it is really hard to tell who is the abuser and who is the victim. It isn't always obvious, largely because the abusers get really good at hiding their role.

Just sayin'.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

SBF is right, there is no barrier to publication. I have five novels on Amazon, none of which cost a penny to get there. My time is a different matter, but it was, and still is, essentially a hobby that I enjoy. Making a little money on it is a perk.

If Lloyd thought he was going to pull in enough to live a lavish lifestyle it is one more example of amateur status. That can happen if you're Stephen King or John Grisham, not so much for the rest of us. The truth is, books about JW's won't sell many copies for the simple reason that most people don't care.

Nobody in their right mind will shell out serious time and money to read an 800 page book by a guy they've never heard of, about a religion they don't care about.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

Lloyd and followers, here is some advice from a professional writer: asking people to pay you to include their stories in your book screams amateur. The way it works in the real world is the author pays other people to include their stories in a his work of non-fiction. It is payment for the copyright to include their story.

I don't think your scamming people, I do think you're taking advantage of people that don't know any better. You should take some classes on the profession of writing, you might learn how to do it right.

31

Does the WTS have a clergy class

by blondie in

jw
friends

this can be confusing because the wts has adjusted from not having a clergy class to not having a "paid" clergy class.. "a congregation of brothers precludes having a proud clergy class that honors itself with high-sounding titles and elevates itself above a laity" wt 6/1/2001 p. 12, pp 11. still same idea in 2021 wt october, p. 20, pp.

7, but 2022 in the wt publication, frequently asked questions about jehovah’s witnesses, page 13, the wts inserts "paid" in front of "clergy perhaps to shore up their current statement in secular courts they have clergy, just not paid) "following the model of first-century christianity, jehovah’s witnesses have no clergy-laity division.

all baptized witnesses are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work.

JeffT

I don't care what they call themselves. The elders perform the functions of clergy and exercise ecclesiastical authority over their congregations.

31

Does the WTS have a clergy class

by blondie in

jw
friends

this can be confusing because the wts has adjusted from not having a clergy class to not having a "paid" clergy class.. "a congregation of brothers precludes having a proud clergy class that honors itself with high-sounding titles and elevates itself above a laity" wt 6/1/2001 p. 12, pp 11. still same idea in 2021 wt october, p. 20, pp.

7, but 2022 in the wt publication, frequently asked questions about jehovah’s witnesses, page 13, the wts inserts "paid" in front of "clergy perhaps to shore up their current statement in secular courts they have clergy, just not paid) "following the model of first-century christianity, jehovah’s witnesses have no clergy-laity division.

all baptized witnesses are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work.

JeffT

And as said above all the freebies that they receive courtesy of "voluntary" donations by the gullible sheeple are in fact pay. Just ask any CPA or tax advisor if it is considered income/pay for tax purposes in the U.S. when it is given to a member of a business.

Actually, gifts are tax free. But somewhere between local elders and the higher ups, that money paid to CO's, the GB etc might be determined to be payments for services, or payments for contract labor; or just plain pay, all of which are taxable income.

The WTBS is playing with fire on this. On top of trying to split hairs with definitions of "paid clergy" vs "volunteers" they may run into a tax issue if somebody decides to call all those "donations" taxable income.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

In a bygone era "Crime of insult" was the sort of thing that led to pistols at dawn. If we still did things that way this thread would be about 250 pages shorter.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

He's pretty inactive for somebody that calls himself an activist.

1

JeffT's Mystery Novel

by dropoffyourkeylee in

jw
friends

jefft, a frequent poster here, asked me to review his recent book published in 2021:.

--- armageddon's disciples, when prophecy fails --- by jeff thomas.

i found it very interesting and well worth the time to read.

JeffT

Thank you for the wonderful review. As a writer, it is always nice to get a pat on the back. I created a religion for the books because I didn't want this to be about one religion. I had hoped to provide my readers with a glimpse of the emotional impact of cult life, something that is hard to convey in academic discussion.