Posts by lastmanstanding

13

Ray Franz

by pbrow in

i know ray and his wife have passed but i wanted to take a few minutes and put my thanks in writing.

it is pretty incredible to me that someone who i never met, played such a major role in my outlook on life and more importantly in my (at the time) young daughters lives.

from the very first pages of "crisis of conscience" it seemed as though ray was writing to me.

lastmanstanding

Pbrow

You felt like you had the elders looking over your shoulder. Everyone felt that.

In my case, I and another bro went to the library to find it. We found it.

And an elder found us.

Yep, he was right there in the library in the same section. We walked around the corner, book in hand, and there he was. YIPE...!

We freaked.

Long story.

If you liked reading his book, then you would have really liked reading his letters, had you the opportunity to write to him.

And speaking with him on the phone at length was one of my best life’s experiences.

My only regret, I had a short window in which to fly down to see him and Cynthia. I didn’t seize it.

He was a terrific guy.

Anyway, good luck.

28

"Are natural disasters a sign of the times?" -- Yes, says WT

by FatFreek 2005 in

yes, bible prophecies suggest that there would be disasters during “the conclusion of the system of things,” or “the last days.” (matthew 24:3; 2 timothy 3:1) for example, concerning our time, jesus said: “there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.” (matthew 24:7).

that from their website this morning.. i see how they've morphed (by interpretation) food shortages and earthquakes into virtually all bad happenings today.. i'll bet if the "blue bonnet" (one elder's fractured pronunciation of bubonic during a public talk, using it not once but three times) plague, one of which happened nearly 700 years ago -- was going on today, it would be a sign of the times.

after all, it "caused the death of 60% of the population of europe".. no natural devastation like that seen since..

lastmanstanding

What Jesus said at Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 was not a sign, but rather an anti-sign. He was warning about being misled by charlatans.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. Tell us, they said, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

Jesus answered: Watch out that no one deceives you.

For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Messiah, and will deceive many.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Note: this phrase “the beginning of birth pains” indicates a non-event, as the awaited child was not yet born. This is in harmony with the full context of Jesus’ warning to “not be alarmed” as “wars and rumors of wars”, “nation rising against nation” and the ensuing conditions of famine, as well as common earthquakes are not indicative of the return of Christ. It is the worst kind of anti-Christian aberration to teach people that God would inflict mass pain and suffering on mankind to distinguish his Son’s supposed invisibly fly-by.

40

Watchtower appeals in Montana.

by lastmanstanding in

i won’t steal barb’s thunder, but has anyone had a chance to peruse the appeal that watchtower launched yesterday?.

watchtower’s main argument is that stuff was said in confidence with confidentiality surrounding that confidence and they are confident that clergy confidentiality which is in confidence is confidential.. in short, it ‘was a secret and should stay a secret.’.

omg.. and watchtower claims that this verdict “violates the constitution of the usa”.. i wish the jury could tack on another $50m and include watchtower lawyers are to be hanged.. i just had to say something.

lastmanstanding

What if the person who was molested, and went to the eldahs, would tell them that they want to maintain confidentiality, that they were in no way to tell anyone else what had happened.

Perhaps then, the Watchtower could not claim “confidential” as the request for confidentiality was broken.

What if, a person who was molested, told the court that they understood that their communication with the eldahs was “confidential” which meant ... CONFIDENTIAL ...and that the eldahs broke that when they contacted the tower.

40

Watchtower appeals in Montana.

by lastmanstanding in

i won’t steal barb’s thunder, but has anyone had a chance to peruse the appeal that watchtower launched yesterday?.

watchtower’s main argument is that stuff was said in confidence with confidentiality surrounding that confidence and they are confident that clergy confidentiality which is in confidence is confidential.. in short, it ‘was a secret and should stay a secret.’.

omg.. and watchtower claims that this verdict “violates the constitution of the usa”.. i wish the jury could tack on another $50m and include watchtower lawyers are to be hanged.. i just had to say something.

lastmanstanding

Good comments all. I’m sure Barb is prepping to post soon.

40

Watchtower appeals in Montana.

by lastmanstanding in

i won’t steal barb’s thunder, but has anyone had a chance to peruse the appeal that watchtower launched yesterday?.

watchtower’s main argument is that stuff was said in confidence with confidentiality surrounding that confidence and they are confident that clergy confidentiality which is in confidence is confidential.. in short, it ‘was a secret and should stay a secret.’.

omg.. and watchtower claims that this verdict “violates the constitution of the usa”.. i wish the jury could tack on another $50m and include watchtower lawyers are to be hanged.. i just had to say something.

lastmanstanding

I won’t steal Barb’s thunder, but has anyone had a chance to peruse the appeal that Watchtower launched yesterday?

Watchtower’s main argument is that stuff was said in confidence with confidentiality surrounding that confidence and they are confident that clergy confidentiality which is in confidence is confidential.

In short, it ‘was a secret and should stay a secret.’

OMG.

And Watchtower claims that this verdict “violates the constitution of the USA”.

I wish the jury could tack on another $50m and include Watchtower lawyers are to be hanged.

I just had to say something. I am aghast.

60

Fifty years ago today: One quote to demolish the Watchtower

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i did not have any connection to jw's when they published this, about two weeks before i graduated from high school.

i'm now on medicare and collecting social security.

so much for their ability to see into the future.

lastmanstanding

Hi nic

nicolaou8 hours ago

lastmanstanding: To get a trade takes 9000 hours. Usually 5 years...

” The difference is that you aren't in the University environment. You aren't being taught critical thinking skills, or how logical fallacies work. And you aren't spending five years away from your home and congregation! Five years spent at University will often destroy faith, five years on an apprenticeship - not so much. The cult knows this. Not downplaying your experience lastmanstanding, it's exactly the same as mine.

Nice to hear from another tradesman.(person)

I agree with your sentiments all true, just that I was taking the article at face value. The reason the governing bobbles gave for dissing university was “time”. And so my responses. Time, in relation to the nearness of 1975.

60

Fifty years ago today: One quote to demolish the Watchtower

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i did not have any connection to jw's when they published this, about two weeks before i graduated from high school.

i'm now on medicare and collecting social security.

so much for their ability to see into the future.

lastmanstanding

I remember the BS. I was not quite 10 when this article was published. It screwed up my life.

Education was condemned. The article suggests that a “trade” would be the way to go. The article suggests that ‘since 4-6 years is too long a time’ to spend in learning, as the end was only a few years off, that young dubs should get a trade instead.

Sure, to get a trade, you just fire a dime into the bubblegum machine and you might get a trade come out. It takes 5 minutes.

These stupid morons at Watchtower had no idea.

I finally did get a trade. I will retire in a few more years.

To get a trade takes 9000 hours. Usually 5 years. You have to work full time, usually overtime too, and alongside “worldly people” ...achhhH!

How is that any different than going to University? It’s not shorter! You still spend all your time at it!

Oh... the governing bimbos meant become a window cleaner or a painter.

Thats not a freaking trade.

110

Jehovah’s Witness who posted criticisms on Reddit can remain anonymous, judge rules

by Tameria2001 in

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/jehovah-s-witness-who-posted-criticisms-on-13855357.php.

i had this article pop up about the darksilver case.

it says a federal magistrate in san francisco has now ruled that darksilver can remain anonymous but then it says except for identification to lawyers for the religion’s watchtower publication.

lastmanstanding

If even 1 of the lawyers acting in behalf of WT is a non-JW, then it gets interesting.

That lawyer would likely also be disbarred and fined along with WT lawyers

if WT lawyers revealed to WT the identification DS.

That lawyer would have to take action against WT lawyers and WT.

.... and that would be interesting.

41

My apeal of disfellowshiping letter

by D wiltshire in

jw
friends

the first question is:.

i ask you would paul even think of doing such as thing as the wt has done here?????

i asked them not to keep double-talking me but to just come out and say what the charges are.

lastmanstanding

The only way an appeal would work is if you tied the elders to their chairs and sat down in front of them to read.

And, oh yeah, beside their chair was a large box marked “ANGRY BEES” and you were wearing a bee keeper suit.

They would be able to better reason on it this way.

16

'Organisation is our mother'

by EdenOne in

i need your help please, for an article i'm writing.. i believe that quite recently in the 2010's, possibly at one of the annual meetings of the watchtower, there was one speech (or was it in a publication?

in a broadcast?

) where it was stated that the "organisation is our mother".

lastmanstanding

Watchtower always speaks out of both sides of its mouth. You have to figure out which side when you listen.

.... it’s an art.