Posts by TonusOH

9

Trust Our (Neither Inspired Nor Infallible) Life Saving Direction?

by Ron.W. in

wt 2013 11/15 p. 20. at that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint.

all of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.. wt feb 2017.

"the governing body is neither inspired nor infallible.

TonusOH

I think it is what they want the rank-and-file to think, now more than ever. Any who are having doubts over the recent changes are expected to suppress those doubts and carry on. These recent changes are a start, but the WTS is still a cult and still relies on blind obedience from the members. I'm sure the GB will be paying very close attention to any reports from around the world regarding how the changes are being viewed. I also expect that there will be 'experiences' and talks explaining how JWs around the world are welcoming these changes as a blessing from Jehovah.

If they don't get buy-in from the rank-and-file, they are finished. Expect a very hard push to make it seem as if there is 100% unity and 100% joy being expressed due to the new changes.

23

When will the Watchtower Society be desolated?

by Hiddenservant in

did you know that the answer is provided in the scriptures through the 70 weeks prophecy?.

daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy explained.. the 70 weeks were split into three parts.

here is the reason why.. the prophecy is not only about the messiah, it is also about god’s people and the holy city, as verse 24 makes clear.

TonusOH

Phizzy: The Book of Daniel contains NO prophecies for a later time

On the other hand, I approve of people making use of Daniel to predict pretty much anything and everything they think will happen. Perhaps it will become enough of a parody that people will finally realize how silly all of this 'Bible chronology' stuff really is.

86

New light on shunning?

by Mikejw in

one theory why tony was booted out was because he was a stickler for not changing the shunning doctrine.

he actually said the words we will never ever change it.. they are slowly deleting all of tony’s videos and now losing court cases and losing government hand outs in places like norway.. it’s looking very likely they will release new light on shunning policy after losing this latest one in norway.. .

what are the odds they coincidentally get new light from jehovah and lighten up their shunning policy ?.

TonusOH

I think that, before 1980 or 1981, a person who disassociated themself was generally left alone. Assuming there was no sin or other issue to adjudicate, there wasn't much else to do. JWs could treat them like a normal JW with regards to socializing, though I suppose the expectation was that this person did not want to associate with them. So I guess it was out of sight, out of mind.

When they wanted to close the book on Ray Franz, they found that he was employed by a DA person, and would go out to lunch with his boss, as it were. So they changed the policy and said JWs were to treated DA people as if they had been disfellowshipped. Sitting down to a meal with such a person would, therefore, lead to a JC and possible (or, in Franz's case, guaranteed) DF. How this change affected anyone else meant nothing to them. They wanted to be done with Franz and they did whatever it took.

That's who they are. Whatever changes are taking place now don't really mean anything until they face up to all of the crap they pulled over the past hundred+ years, starting with how they railroaded Franz. And if doing so were to cause the whole house to crumble, well... something about ends and means. Mind you, I know they won't do that. But as they ease up and make these changes, let's not forget all of the mistakes on the ledger.

29

Beards vs. Shunning announcements

by slimboyfat in

during lett’s announcement that beards are now allowed he elaborated at some length how brothers ought to feel and react to the change in policy.

he warned brothers not to resent not being able to grow beards earlier if they had wished to do so.

he also warned brothers who supported the old policy not to allow themselves to wonder what the point of doing so was now that it has changed.

TonusOH

It might be that the restrictions on beards always seemed unnecessary and arbitrary. It sounds perfectly reasonable to me that a brother would wonder why they had to wait this long to be given permission to grow a beard.

I remember an elder who had a small tuft of hair right under his lower lip. Just a square-shaped bit of hair. I know that he was admonished a couple of times about it, but it apparently was a line in the sand for him. I can't help but think that it was a rebellious act on his part. He must have wanted to have a beard so badly! I would imagine that he probably started to grow his out the moment they said it was allowed. And I wonder if he feels the same way- that there was no reason to order him not to grow one all this time. To him, Lett's words must feel a bit personal.

10

A Positive Approach to discussing the changes - Gov Body Update Aftermath

by Jehalapeno in

so, just got off a very emotional, but positive call with my father.. this past weekend, he wanted to give me a call, but i was out of town at a wedding, so he said he'd call me later in the week.. he texted me the governing body update video with the recent changes and said, "i thought you might be interested in some of the changes that were just announced.".

i'm tired of self-censorship, so i decided to reply as truthfully and respectfully as i could.. my reply to him:.

it's interesting.

TonusOH

That sounds good, congrats Jehalapeno. I hope it leads to more open communication with your parents.

I do feel a bit of sadness, because it shows how tightly so many are controlled. How many JWs are now jumping at the chance to take back a bit more control of their lives? How many will forget the old justifications and thank the GB for the gift of new light? I wonder how I would have reacted if I was still PIMI? I bet I would have felt gratitude.

194

GB Update #2, March 2024: Women allowed to wear pants, no ties/coats required if not giving a talk, & now able to greet DF ones in the KH!

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

you heard me correct, this is not a joke, and it is not april fools day!

the asl portion of the governing body updated #2 (march 2024) has been released a bit early and someone caught it.

summary: .

TonusOH

That is so wild. How bad a problem did it become that they keep referring to it and lumping it in with child abuse and apostasy?!?! Damn!

194

GB Update #2, March 2024: Women allowed to wear pants, no ties/coats required if not giving a talk, & now able to greet DF ones in the KH!

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

you heard me correct, this is not a joke, and it is not april fools day!

the asl portion of the governing body updated #2 (march 2024) has been released a bit early and someone caught it.

summary: .

TonusOH

By the way, I was reading the stuff they sent to congregations, and I don't think I'd ever seen the phrase "scheming to end a marriage." Apparently, it is a crime on part with child abuse and apostasy in the eyes of the WTS. What do they mean by that phrase?

30

Will New Rules Bring JWs Together or Pull Them Apart?

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

there's been a lot of discussion about the changes in the org.

you might think all this would shake things up, especially for the older or super dedicated jws.

but remember when gb decided all the khs and the bank accounts needed to be transferred/managed from the top?

TonusOH

I think there will be issues in some congregations, because some of the changes will affect people as individuals and not the congregations as a whole. Old-timers and hardliners might not be willing to accept the changes to dress and grooming, or to the treatment of those who are disfellowshipped. Most of them may grudgingly accept the changes after enough time has passed, but it could be quite a bumpy road.

86

New light on shunning?

by Mikejw in

one theory why tony was booted out was because he was a stickler for not changing the shunning doctrine.

he actually said the words we will never ever change it.. they are slowly deleting all of tony’s videos and now losing court cases and losing government hand outs in places like norway.. it’s looking very likely they will release new light on shunning policy after losing this latest one in norway.. .

what are the odds they coincidentally get new light from jehovah and lighten up their shunning policy ?.

TonusOH

Mikejw: this will backfire on the GB

If there is one thing that would probably work out in their favor, it's if families stop shunning one another and resume actual family relations. Even if it crosses whatever lines they have (re)drawn, the end result would likely be a positive one. Mostly for the families in question, but also potentially for the organization.

108

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave? The recent changes and the Governing Body's 10 year plan

by redsetter2 in

i am sure we were all shocked at the governing body update #2 with the unusual and impulsive changes set forth.. i am an insider at whq, and when i was on reddit and in communication with avoidjw i explained to the best of my ability that the approach on disfellowshipping was going to change based on the new light at the 2023 agm, that the jubilee rumor was false, and there were going to be changes on how jws approached disfellowshipping in response to the norway situation if it didn't turn out in watchtower's favor.

the decision came because of a legal blow to watchtower, not because "holy spirit" wad directing a faithful slave, who is going to become the "evil slave", more explanation on this soon.. everything i stated came true.

i left reddit exjw community due to the immature and mentally unstable nature there, and yet as has been the case my words came true.

TonusOH

If they change their stance towards smoking pot even slightly, that woud indicate that they're not only trying to go mainstream, but that they are showing the hardcore JWs the door. I wonder how my mother is viewing these changes, she has always been ultra-loyal and unquestioning, but also ultra-conservative in her views. I would not be surprised if she is put off by stuff as simple as dress codes and facial hair. I don't know if she could accept any kind of softening on smoking or drugs.

You can only ask the hardcore types to lighten up so many times before they realize that you are really asking them to leave.