Posts by JeffT

When I was writing "Armageddon's Disciples" I wanted to set it within an apocalyptic religion struggling with failed prophecy. As the books evolved I kept updating the dates for that failed prophecy.

One early version went this way:

The trampling of the nations began in 617 BCE when Jehoiachin was taken captive to Babylon. That started the 1260 days (or years) which ended in 643 CE, this year being marked by construction of the Dome of the Rock. That started the 1290 day (or years) which ended in 1933 which was supposed to be the end of the world but turned out to be the year the Disciple religion started.

Over the years I tinkered with the numbers and eventually decided you could make anything sound prophetic.

Then I ran up against this quote from Mark Twain: “The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction needs to be credible.” A member of my writers group told me in dead seriousness, that readers simply would not believe people were dumb enough to follow a religion that predicted the end of the world thirty years ago. As published, I left out the calculation and just noted that the failed prophecy took place "a few years ago."

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

That's what I mean though - it's not really self-sustaining. It relies on both donations and donated effort from others. No one will do these things unless he keeps acting like a performing monkey.

Lloyd's little empire is also dependent on a constant stream of "new light" from the Watchtower. If they don't come out with something new, he can't come out with something new; and the GB can go months, maybe years, without publishing a new thought.

So the WTBS recycles some old crap and Lloyd recycles his commentary on the recycled crap. Clearly,he did not consider this when he put together his business plan (such as it is.)

P S Simon Cowell had an established name in the music industry when he broke into the big time. I don't think of Croatia as the kind of place where that happens.

22

Official WT 800-page Shunning Manual ??

by Chevelle in

does anyone have a pdf copy of the 800-page book (or reference manual?

) "jehovah's witnesses and disfellowshipping"?.

https://youtu.be/fxpdodqlut8.

JeffT

Just did some fast number crunching. The New Testament in the 1984 hardcover version of the New World Translation is only 318 pages. Comparing book lengths is difficult if you can't do word counts, but I did an analysis of characters per page. This publication has a total of about four million characters, the new testament has a little over a million.

Says something about where the GB has its priorities.

Late note: one source I looked at said the whole Bible is a little over three million characters.

77

Biden running in 2024 🤣

by LoveUniHateExams in

i've filed this under news and world events, although i could've posted it under entertainment, lol.

apparently, joe biden will be seeking re-election for another term in the white house.. this, despite a recent poll showing that 70% of people don't want him to run again.. biden just has to be the worst president i've seen.

his gaffes, over-relience on a prompter, and, more than any other president, his refusal to answer journalists' questions, all go to make him top of the list in terms of bad presidents.. it will certainly provide entertainment, if nothing else..

JeffT

I think we're coming up on something unique in American history: the battle of the vice-presidential candidates. Biden and Trump are both too old to be President, and we need new ideas, and we need candidates who will cool the fires, not van therm. I'm concerned (and I really hope I'm wrong about this) that the state of the union is starting to look like the run up to a second civil war combined with the political climate in the Weimar Republic.

My 2 penneth........Politicians are all extreme filth and frauds. We are led by donkeys.

That's grossly unfair to donkeys. I've known one or two and they are wonderful animals. All they really want is piece of carrot, and somebody to pet them.

PS (Shameless self-promotion.) I have an alternate history trilogy about a second civil war for sale on Amazon.

26

UK Hospital using Kingdom Melodies - complaint

by AEnEm in

i found out that a uk hospital (nnuh) uses kingdom melodies as hold music, apparently for some years!

i called and heard it myself.

i wrote an email to the complaints team and await a response.

JeffT

Good work!

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

I watch everything I do now because I don't want to be the person I was.
It's harsh to say, but it has to be said. Lloyd needs to lose EVERYTHING, and I mean everything to hopefully make him realize the destructive behavior he has. One person can destroy many many lives.

I have been down this road myself, and helped others when they asked for help. Everybody in AA will talk about having to hit your bottom before you seek out the help you need. For me it was some serious legal trouble, for others its money, or lost jobs, lost relationships. Sadly, for some people "bottom" is six feet down.

But whatever your problems are, solutions exist. They are not easy, or comfortable, or fun but the rewards can be remarkable. The last 17 years have been the best of my life. Lloyd, I hope you turn your ship around. I know it isn't what you want to do, and the path looks dark and scary; but trust me, your life will be better.

31

A year since I have been back

by Lee Marsh in

jw
friends

a year ago i came back to jwd.

the 2 years before that.

when covid stated, i was diagnosed with colon cancer.

JeffT

You dodged more than one bullet with all that. Glad you are still with us.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

Kim (and everybody). Sorry if this comes off as schmaltzy, I'm in a mood to try to heal wounds after a senseless argument broke out between two family members during my birthday party today. I think it was in part driven by the current "Woke" cult in the USA, which drives me crazy.

When I first saw this video on twitter, I immediately thought of JFK's words in what is frequently called the moonshot speech:

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we’re willing to accept. One we are unwilling to postpone. And therefore, as we set sail, we ask God’s blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure that man has ever gone."

Everyone on this board has accepted a difficult challenge because we believe it is the right thing, and important; because people who have been misled need people like us to help them find their way into the light. Not all of those we try to help will accept our help, want it, or even think they need it. Nevertheless, we keep trying to shine lights into the dark corners of JWism, and similar belief systems.

I am a firm believer that what goes around, comes around. In 2005-2006 I paid a high price for previous bad behavior. Since then, I've made being a better person a life goal. Part of that process is serving other people. I'd like to think that I do that here and through my writing. I'm an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is a great place to improve myself while helping others.

Life is too short to spend it worrying about the Lloyd Evanses of the world. Sometime, somewhere his karma will touch him, although I can't say I care much about that either way. I care a lot about those he's hurt and for them I'll keeping going forward.