Earning salvation by trying to live a good life seems like a reasonable idea. If it's granted for any other reason, doesn't that imply that trying to live a good life is meaningless?
TonusOH
JoinedPosts by TonusOH
-
75
WATCHTOWER JAN 2025: WHY IS THE WATCHTOWER OBSESSED WITH THE RANSOM?
by raymond frantz inhttps://youtu.be/ocufvpm3t04?si=75zmussxknhlsrs7.
the first watchtower for 2025 is out, and immediately, articles 4 and 5 drew my attention.
these will be studied near the memorial season, a time the witnesses prepare for their yearly commemoration of jesus’ death, i will be returning on this articles near at the time.
-
-
-
31
Where do you see the Organization in the next 10 years?
by ukpimo inrealistically, between now and 2034, what do you think watchtower will change or reform to appear more mainstream?
what business opportunities do you see watchtower getting involved in?.
my predictions are as follows: .
-
-
TonusOH
I think they will continue to make slow moves towards more mainstream Christianity, with many small changes and perhaps the occasional big change. This includes easing up on the invasive attitude and letting JWs enjoy a more normal social life.
Bigger changes will take longer. I wonder if they will eventually allow JWs to observe holidays as a "conscience matter." They will eventually drop the blood policy, if they can find a way to do it without triggering a mass of lawsuits. And, if things work out, they can finally drop the "end is closer than you think" attitude that tends to alienate more people than it attracts.
-
9
WATCHTOWER IS WATERING DOWN BEDROOM SURVEILLANCE?
by raymond frantz inhttps://youtu.be/hwzly3fnpdo?si=0p8zd0_9a-lwtb_9.
the study article 2 from the january 2025 watchtower study edition titled “husbands, honor your wife” represents a marked shift from the earlier, stricter watchtower stance on marital intimacy among jehovah’s witnesses.
this article’s language feels more relaxed, with paragraph 17 and its footnote stating, “the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.
-
-
TonusOH
The Bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.
They really should have stopped right there. If GOD isn't worried about what they do in the bedroom, neither should the WTS or the GB. And if there is no guidance, I don't see why a couple is expected not to discuss it with others, if they so please. Even when they agree to stay out of the bedroom, they can't stay out of the bedroom!
-
60
Biden calls Trump supporters garbage
by moomanchu ina comedian in a comedy sketch at a trunp rally joked that the island of puerto rico is a floating island of garbage.. what to do???
potus pappy joe to the rescue!!
he sounds the alarm, comes out swinging and calls trump supporters, actual people, garbage.. .
-
-
TonusOH
That's pretty clever.
-
19
Why didn't Watchtower go online with covid?
by Hellothere ini wasn't surprised they didn't go online, i was shocked.
the perfect opportunity handed in a silver plate.
more time goes, more proof coming they took wrong decision going back to hall's.
-
-
TonusOH
The larger problem is the insular approach they take, where you are expected to avoid friendships and keep 'worldly' people at arm's length. If your religious meetings are all done via Zoom, you lose the sense of community that churches provide for so many people. And since JWs prefer to limit their social interaction to other JWs as much as possible, they are effectively cut off from any community or social interaction.
Since they are easing up on reporting requirements for preaching and on how preaching is done (more carts, less D2D), I wonder if they even need the weekly service meeting anymore. A two-hour meeting on a weekend morning featuring a public talk and Watchtower study would make things a bit less stressful for the rank and file. Combine that with allowing them to have normal social lives, and you might find that KHs are full all the time.
-
8
Crystal Blue Persuasion(was it about the truth bk)
by Big Jim ini heard somewhere this song was about the truth book, does anyone have.
crystal blue persuasion, uh huh, it's a new vibration.
crystal blue persuasion, uh huh.
-
-
TonusOH
peacefulpete: Reading Revelation while on acid might be the secret to understanding it.
It sure does seem as if whoever wrote it was tripping hardcore at the time...
-
31
Loss of a Jehovah’s Witness who I considered a friend
by Fallen_Winter ini have known a jehovah’s witness for approximately 15 years and i have considered her a friend although i know that jehovah’s witnesses cannot have friends who are not jehovah’s witnesses.
approximately two years ago, i was going through a very difficult time and i asked my friend if we could have bible study.
she said yes and we have been studying the bible since.
-
-
TonusOH
Fallen_Winter: However, if I am not actively working towards becoming a Jehovah’s Witness, I doubt that she will maintain her relationship with me.
Unfortunately, this is probably the case. It is likely that she sincerely sees you as someone she wants to save by bringing you into the fold as a baptized Jehovah's Witness. But they expect people to progress from a Bible study to regular attendance at meetings to a baptized publisher, usually within a year.
When I was in, there was a bit of stigma attached to anyone who studied for a long time and made no progress. The JW giving the study would feel --or be made to feel-- as if they were being strung along by someone who was 'not serious about the truth.' For JWs, recruitment is extremely important, and someone who will not take the expected steps is considered to be wasting everyone's time.
It's not you. It's the JW mentality, which is unhealthy. Better to see it from the outside than to understand it after it is too late.
-
2913
It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars (continued)
by Simon inuh oh, looks like the mega thread gave up the ghost, so while i investigate / fix it just continue the discussion here .... it's been a long 9 years lloyd evans / john cedars.
-
-
TonusOH
Cuthbert: Peewee Herman comes to mind!
An apt comparison, if a bit unfair to Peewee.
-
8
North Korea Troops flying in to help Russia?
by liam inabout a month ago, some unknown poster who looked like one of those guys with a tin foil hat posted on a youtube video that north korea soldiers were landing on russia, during the night, armed to the teeth.
he was making these crazy comments that north korea had committed to help russia fight against nato and that they were getting ready to use nukes against nato countries if nato started using them first.
in less the an hour the video was taken down.
-
-
TonusOH
For Russia there is a lot of upside to having control of Ukraine. It's an important piece when it comes to combating NATO encroachment, it gives them access to plentiful natural resources (making them an even bigger exporter of grain and fertilizer), it gives them more control in the Black Sea, which gives them more reliable access to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean.
Compared to not having control of Ukraine, they gain a lot of influence and reach. NATO would love to have Ukraine join, for the exact opposite reason: it would significantly bottle up Russia and put it in a very disadvantageous position in the event of war, which would give NATO considerable advantages when negotiating with Russia.
It's no surprise that the West has invested so heavily in Ukraine; the effect of a Russian victory would be big and would be felt for a very long time. At the same time, if they can hurt Russia through a proxy war, it works out for them, at least for a decade or two.
-
14
Bethelites dressing up for Halloween
by neat blue dog inthink about it: they had to go out and buy halloween paraphernalia, then apply makeup & costumes to dress the 'brothers & sisters' up as vampires, witches, mummies etc.
and you know they were probably joking around the whole time.
what a bunch of hypocrites, the last gen gb would be turning in their graves to see such a photoshoot at the 'house of god' 😆.
-
-
TonusOH
Probably the most fun they had all year.