Posts by TonusOH

18

Do JWs Really Say This?

by NotFormer in

i stumbled, via a google search, upon a part of jw space that is usually heavily defended against outsiders like my good self.

in a discussion, someone started their post with "i (started doing x)... when the slave began to suggest doing so"*.

do pimis really talk that way?

TonusOH

I recall many people using a similar phrase, but no one would use the word "slave." They would call them "the society."

I can remember one time, when my mother disagreed with how an elder had interpreted a letter from the GB to the congregation. She said that she would "wait for the society to clarify the matter." When I asked her what she would do if they did not provide this clarification, she simply repeated that she would wait for the society to clarify it.

It was an interesting experience. She was (and is) a die-hard hardcore JW. To her, the society (ie, the GB) is the first and final word on any issue. So she was going to wait for them to provide a clear understanding of whatever the matter was. But by doing so, she was also ignoring the advice of the GB to follow the guidance of the elders. I didn't press the issue, as she seemed a bit distraught and she doesn't handle cognitive dissonance very well. But it was an example of the kind of mindset that is created by their policies and doctrines.

20

For all JW's: Stop calling others "apostates."

by BoogerMan in

if you don't want to be thrown into gehenna, read what your own faithful evil slave & christ say:.

cj chap.

3 p. 110 chapter 3 - "jesus christ said: “whoever says, ‘you despicable fool!’ (apostate) will be liable to the fiery gehenna.” (matt.

TonusOH

They define an apostate as someone who opposes the organization, which is why they describe them as "opposers." They also use the term loosely, to describe anyone who leaves without being DF, especially if they then join another religion (or reject religion entirely).

Basically, an apostate is someone who was a JW and left of their own accord (or was removed for 'opposing' the org). If you believe that they are wrong, being labeled doesn't mean anything.

3062

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

by Simon in

jw
friends

uh 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

I agree-- he is ignoring the lawsuit and hoping to string it along.

His problem is that he wears his emotions on his sleeve. I bet he is very bitter towards his wife now. He doesn't even pretend that he has any feelings for her, and he snipes at her through his song lyrics. I wonder if the clips of his comedy routine that he does not show are blistering attacks directed at her through the topic of marriage. If he hasn't done that yet, he eventually will.

The lawsuit is an albatross around his neck now. It's part of his fundraising pitch. He built up the stakes so high that he cannot afford to lose, but it's a lawsuit he cannot possibly win. What to do? Drag it out and hope for a miracle, I guess. Maybe the Croatian court will keep sending mail to his house for the next 38 years so that he can fulfill his pledge. I think that this is a lot like his livestream video-- he talked and talked and did not realize what he was doing until it was too late to take it back.

12

First Half of the Book of Hebrews (Study Edition) Now Available Online

by Wonderment in

april 11, 2024 (source: jw.org) .

first half of the book of hebrews (study edition) now available online.

the first half of the bible book of hebrews (chapters 1-7) is now available in the study edition of the new world translation of the holy scriptures on jw.org and in jw library.

TonusOH

Franz had a clear narrative to follow and was given a lot of leeway. I think he really believed that he was a modern-day prophet, guided by the holy spirit to lead Jehovah's people to the new world.

So, yeah... he was a nutcase. But he was able to promote his specific vision with little or no interference.

Today's GB is driven less by what they want to do and more by external forces and a feeling that they are trying to save the organization from financial decline. They're more worried about marketing. A consistent doctrinal vision is not high on the list.

543

Encouraging scriptures for the day

by Kosonen in

jw
friends

hello my friends,.

here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.

revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).

TonusOH

How... discouraging.

3062

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

by Simon in

jw
friends

uh 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

He uses the term 'self-care' as a reference to his claims of struggling with his mental health. He uses his mental health as a shield against criticism and a way to get easy sympathy from the people who still support him. Yet another reminder to those people: he's using your sympathy to collect money from you.

So, what precipitated this mental health crisis that he continues to use to further his grift? His wife wouldn't agree to an open marriage, which he considered "a mind fuck." This, from the guy who was paying prostitutes for sex for years. Who had been caught multiple times sexting girls. Who admitted to infidelity because he wanted sex because his wife couldn't satisfy him. All of that? Not a mind fuck. His wife objecting to more of the same under the heading of "open marriage"? Mind fuck.

In other words: "mental health struggle" and "self-care" are euphemisms for "selfish asshole and terrible human being."

12

First Half of the Book of Hebrews (Study Edition) Now Available Online

by Wonderment in

april 11, 2024 (source: jw.org) .

first half of the book of hebrews (study edition) now available online.

the first half of the bible book of hebrews (chapters 1-7) is now available in the study edition of the new world translation of the holy scriptures on jw.org and in jw library.

TonusOH

LeeMerk, you can click the "like" option and reverse the dislike that you accidentally left.

17

"Everyone Wants To Leave"

by NotFormer in

a thread about steve hassan re-emerged and got me looking him up.

his wikipedia entry had a point under "criticism" that there is an underlying assumption in his approach that all members of high control groups ultimately want to leave*.. while it is generally believed that there are a lot of pimos still attending, doing field service and giving lip service to the wt, i doubt that everyone within the congregations want to get out.

it's not always internally and logically consistent, but it's been around long enough for enough workarounds to make it tolerable to emerge.. what do you think?

TonusOH

On the one hand, there are people who prefer for every decision to be made for them. If it's a group of men claiming to be god's direct channel, and they do all of the heavy lifting (interpreting the Bible, behavioral rules, general guidance), that is good enough for these individuals.

On the other hand, there are so many people who chafe at not being able to develop relationships with "worldly" people. Especially when it is so onerous that you realize you are looking bad, such as not taking part in a charity drive or other helpful community activity. Or not observing holidays to such a degree that you respond to "Merry Christmas" by either offering a flat "thank you" or pretending you did not hear them. I think there is a part of us that feels left out socially, and that hurts because we are social creatures.

The WTS may be afraid that allowing the rank-and-file to develop normal friendships and observe common activities will weaken them, but I think they are wrong.

27

Quality of jw.org translation?

by Wonderment in

someone asked the following question to an artificial intelligence (ai) website:.

how does the most translated website ensure accuracy of translations?.

answer: .

TonusOH

Being surrounded by adoring yes-men probably didn't help.

86

Prediction: no more changes for a long while

by slimboyfat in

i’ve noticed a pattern where things don’t go the way i expect them to go and/or whenever i realise there is a trend and, i mentally adjust for the idea that the trend will continue, the trend stops in its tracks.

so on that basis, and given many people, including myself, and active jws, have been asking ‘what changes will the governing body make next?’ perhaps the (disappointing) answer is: ‘nothing much for a while to come’.

maybe they’ve made the changes they want for now, and will wait a while and see how it’s received.

TonusOH

If they are dependent on contributions, then the more people they retain and attract, the larger the pool of potential contributors. Times are changing and they are being forced to change along with them.

Of course, the other part (and perhaps the more important one right now) is that they're looking to change or remove anything that gives governments a reason to restrict them somehow. Especially if it involves not giving them money, as in Norway. Or changing policies that are costing them via court cases and lawsuits and bad press.

First, stop the bleeding. Then, build the base of paying customers. I mean loyal witnesses.