cofty

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Posts by cofty

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  58

  Two witness rule: who cares?

  by _Morpheus in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i find people railing against the so called “two witness rule” puzzling.

  i think its a complete and total non issue.

  for those that protest, argue or advocate for change in that rule, why?

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  cofty

  The ‘two witness rule’ and the resistance to reporting credible allegations to the authorities go hand-in-hand.

  Currently the organisations starts from a position of protecting its reputation at all costs — don’t bring reproach on Jehovah’s name. When a victim reports abuse, the assumption is that without collaboration nothing can or should be done. There will be no further investigation by the elders and they definitely will not be taking it outside the organisation. The victim and/or victim’s parents will be left in no doubt that they are expected to ‘leave it in Jehovah’s hands’.

  What needs to change first is attitude. Correct procedure will follow from that.

  The reputation of the organisation needs to take second place to child welfare. If that was the case then there would be an eagerness to get to the truth of any report of abuse. That would involve reporting it to the authorities — or supporting the victim and/or parents to do so — and investigating the matter internally to the extent that can be done without prejudicing an official investigation.

  Two witness rule: who cares? - Morph

  I do and so should you.
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  37

  My sister passed away this evening

  by smiddy3 in

  1. social
  2. family

  it was only about two months ago she was diagnosed with lung cancer and she was a non smoker .. she was never a jw and she never held it against me that i was for 33 years.. we had a good relationship even though we lived in different states about 2000 miles apart,.. tears are rolling down my cheeks as i type this .

  r.i.p.

  sylvia .

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  cofty

  I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. My best wishes to you, Bill
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  21

  It would be nice if this forum went back to the basics

  by nowwhat? in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  not to offend or impose my opinion.

  but simply i would like to see just news and insights from the local congregation to the top organization level of: downsizing, closings, c.s.a.

  personal experiences,unscriptural doctrines of the org.and direct commentary of the above.

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  cofty

  Contrast and compare >>

  Not to ... impose my opinion. - nowwhat

  Dictating what others should or shouldn't reasonably be able to do here, sounds like a familiar trait - IM
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  14

  A Message For JWAnswers

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi jwa.

  i want to encourage you to engage in some genuine conversation.. i appreciate what you are trying to do.

  you clearly have a passion for your subject — you must have invested countless hours in your series of videos.

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  cofty

  Hi JWA. I want to encourage you to engage in some genuine conversation.

  I appreciate what you are trying to do. You clearly have a passion for your subject — you must have invested countless hours in your series of videos. You are convinced that JWs are spiritually deluded and that you want to explain why they are wrong and, if possible, show them how to be saved.

  It seems to have escaped your notice that the vast majority of forum members are ex-JWs who are already convinced that the cult teaches palpable nonsense. You are pushing on an open door. Many of us are also interested in helping JWs to see their errors and between us we have a vast amount of knowledge and experience.

  Perhaps if you were to engage in a dialogue we could help you become more effective.

  Many of us no longer believe in faith as a foundation for determining what is true. I think that makes you nervous. Please don't be put off. Respectful debate is a valuable thing that benefits both interlocutors and those who observe the conversation.

  Why not tell us a little bit about yourself and your ministry. What got you interested in the Watchtower? Remember this is a discussion forum not a blog. You have something to contribute. Best wishes from a fellow Scot.
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  12

  The Purity of God's word

  by JW Answers in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  god says otherwise.

  therefore who will you trust... the word of god or satan?

  satan uses many people today to corrupt the things of god, as well as god's word.

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  cofty

  Therefore who will you trust... The Word of God or Satan?

  The bible is not a coherent book. It is a library of books of varied quality. It contains numerous errors and reflects the superstitions and scientific ignorance of its many authors.

  It promotes an ethical position that would shame the most debased totalitarian regimes of recent decades. It endorses slavery, misogyny, kidnap, rape, genocide and infanticide.

  One the biggest issues with the bible is that the extant documents contain more differences than there are verses. Many of the resulting contradictions are significant and cannot be reconciled without indulging in dishonest mental gymnastics.

  It is impossible for an objective reader to conclude that it is of supernatural origin.

  By the way Satan does not appear in the bible until after the Babylonian exile. He originates with the Zoroastrian religion of Persia. Pre-exile Jews had no problem attributing good and evil to Yahweh.
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  40

  Overcoming our Evolutionary purpose in order to save mankind (A most interesting discussion)

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  recently bret weinstein and richard dawkins sat down for a debate.in the following video, weinstein talks about what can be done to address an error in dawkins'selfish gene theory in terms of the new atheism's error and regarding religion as a mind virus.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm8fksjljtm&t=1096s_____and a good follow up:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr5yn2g4h54&t=904s.

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  cofty

  The core family morality that was part of strength of the Judeo-Christian make up of the west, but it's renouncing there, has weakened distinct societies. Destroying them further by immigration will hasten that progress - Waton

  I agree. What is to be done?

  Pretending that the supernatural is real is not an option.
  
  
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  95

  Evolution is a Fact #31 - Ten Questions for Creationists

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i thought this would be a good time to pose some questions based on the series so far.. if creationism is true these should be easy.

  answers that don't involve copy-paste would be really interesting to read.. ... .

  1. since some proteins can be assembled in more ways than there are atoms in the universe why do the sequences of amino acids and bases vary between species in exactly the way evolution predicts?

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  cofty

  Where did all the water come from ? Scientists still haven't got a clue - Automaton

  No — you don't have a clue. That is the result of wilful ignorance of actual science.

  If you are genuinely interested in the answer (of course we both know you aren't) read Oxygen: The molecule that made the world by Nick Lane.

  The answer may surprise you - it did me.
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  40

  Overcoming our Evolutionary purpose in order to save mankind (A most interesting discussion)

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  recently bret weinstein and richard dawkins sat down for a debate.in the following video, weinstein talks about what can be done to address an error in dawkins'selfish gene theory in terms of the new atheism's error and regarding religion as a mind virus.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm8fksjljtm&t=1096s_____and a good follow up:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr5yn2g4h54&t=904s.

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  cofty

  It may be that all intelligent civilizations end up wiping themselves out once a certain level of tecnological advancement is achieved.

  But there is no evidence for any intelligent civilisations apart from our own. We may be unique in all of space and time.
  
  
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  95

  Evolution is a Fact #31 - Ten Questions for Creationists

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i thought this would be a good time to pose some questions based on the series so far.. if creationism is true these should be easy.

  answers that don't involve copy-paste would be really interesting to read.. ... .

  1. since some proteins can be assembled in more ways than there are atoms in the universe why do the sequences of amino acids and bases vary between species in exactly the way evolution predicts?

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  cofty

  I don't make dogmatic assertions. I explain the evidence and never fail to thoroughly answer all reasonable questions and objections.

  You on the other hand ....

  By your own admission you have never read a single science book in your entire life. Your never-ending posts on the subject betray a woeful depth of ignorance and a total lack of genuine curiosity.
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  43

  Did Ray Franz Help You To Get Out of “The Truth”?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i sneakily read his books at work.

  it was written in such a way that no one could accuse him of being another bitter old apostate.. once it registered in my brain, especially after reading the second book, i knew i had to get out!.

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  cofty

  No. I avoided ex-JWs until after I was out.

  I found his first book fascinating. The second one not so much.