Posts by TonusOH

28

Watchtower Jul 22 - Jesus directed the GB on how to deal with Covid

by Listener in

14 jesus provides wise direction in times of crisis.

the benefits of that direction were evident when the covid-19 pandemic broke out.

while many in the world were uncertain about what course to take, jesus made sure that we received clear guidance to keep us safe.

TonusOH

If they're not inspired how does Jesus communicate with the these guys?

They want to have it both ways. Similar to what I said before- if they get something right, it demonstrates that God is working through them. If they get something wrong, they're fallible men who don't always get it right. What they don't add to the latter is: they don't get it right, even though God works through them(????).

As for not being infallible, they tell their followers to obey even if it seems unreasonable.

And that, of course, is the real danger in the way they act. They have even made it clear that if someone teaches something that contradicts current GB teaching, that is apostasy... even if they make that teaching canon at a future time. Being right or wrong is not the most important factor, in their minds- being obedient is. Do they accept that explanation for any other religion or organization on Earth?

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

The term "consequence culture" sounds like nonsense. Being canceled is the consequence in our current social environment. Neither term really deals with whether the action of the person or those who cancel him is moral or just, they simply speak to an outcome.

It's also a poor way of trying to deflect and obfuscate from the more pressing matter of the actions that are at the center of any discussion of consequences or cancellations. He's too boxed in to a corner to have an effective defense, so he is flailing a bit now. Which just draws more attention to his situation and makes more people aware of what he did, and the way that he's trying to minimize how awful it is. The 'consenting adults' line sounds bizarre from someone who admits to lacking self control. Does anyone really believe that he went through the trouble to make sure that his "girlfriend" wasn't being trafficked? Or any of the 'sex workers' that he's been seeing over the past 3-4 years?

146

Science News article: ‘Case closed’: 99.9% of scientists agree climate emergency caused by humans

by Disillusioned JW in

a news article has the headline of " ‘case closed’: 99.9% of scientists agree climate emergency caused by humans"; see https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/19/case-closed-999-of-scientists-agree-climate-emergency-caused-by-humans .

the article says in part the following.. 'the scientific consensus that humans are altering the climate has passed 99.9%, according to research that strengthens the case for global action at the cop26 summit in glasgow.. the degree of scientific certainty about the impact of greenhouse gases is now similar to the level of agreement on evolution and plate tectonics, the authors say, based on a survey of nearly 90,000 climate-related studies.

this means there is practically no doubt among experts that burning fossil fuels, such as oil, gas, coal, peat and trees, is heating the planet and causing more extreme weather.. a previous survey in 2013 showed 97% of studies published between 1991 and 2012 supported the idea that human activities are altering earth’s climate.. this has been updated and expanded by the study by cornell university that shows the tiny minority of sceptical voices has diminished to almost nothing as evidence mounts of the link between fossil-fuel burning and climate disruption.. the latest survey of peer-reviewed literature published from 2012 to november 2020 was conducted in two stages.

TonusOH

Here is what I believe:

1. The climate does change, and human activity is driving at least some part of the current change. This appears to be pretty solid scientific consensus.

2. Almost every other prediction or claim --especially the ones about 'climate emergencies'-- are not included in that consensus, and no serious scientist without an agenda is making such claims. Those that are, are trying to fool people into thinking that "the scientific consensus" is some kind of blanket that can be stretched across every claim and every idea, no matter how far-fetched.

The notion that we only have X number of years before we enter an irreversible catastrophic warming loop that will turn us into Venus is nonsense. Earth has had far more extreme climate in the past, with significantly different balances of atmospheric content. There have been at least six or seven periods in the past were conditions were so bad that nearly all life was wiped out. Yet here we are, in a comparably ideal climate that has lasted for centuries.

The notion that we are more than one small factor in the current warming trend is not, as far as I am aware, a part of the scientific consensus. I am all for finding ways to pollute less, whether or not it will stop the current warming trend. But I can't help but feel that it's a sort of con game- force political and social changes that they know won't make enough of a difference, thus giving them the opportunity to impose greater restrictions and grant themselves more power and control. Once they have enough of both, they stop caring about the "climate emergency."

28

Watchtower Jul 22 - Jesus directed the GB on how to deal with Covid

by Listener in

14 jesus provides wise direction in times of crisis.

the benefits of that direction were evident when the covid-19 pandemic broke out.

while many in the world were uncertain about what course to take, jesus made sure that we received clear guidance to keep us safe.

TonusOH

Bad things are chalked up to "unforeseen circumstances befall us all (Eccl. 9:11)".

Good things are chalked up to "see? We really do have direct guidance from God!"

Anything in between is interpreted in whichever way suits their narrative. And if you want to believe badly enough, all of the explanations make perfect, obvious sense.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

Interesting. For him to make another video taking Evans down a peg (and how provocative is that thumbnail!), I can only imagine what his private conversations with him have been. I keep getting the impression that Evans's method of damage control is very similar to trying to douse a fire by dumping buckets of gasoline on it.

14

Encouraged to do something = forced/intimidated

by neat blue dog in

in a recent article there was this experience from el salvador:.

"during the meeting, brother baltasar perla, sr., who later became a member of the branch committee, asked all the elders present to give him their government-issued identity cards.

he then informed the elders that their names and addresses would be included in a written request to the government for legal recognition... then explained to us that since our names and addresses would be in that document, if the authorities ever wanted to ban our work, we would be the first ones they would come after and the first ones to be thrown in jail.

TonusOH

Some people deliberately want to be martyrs.

While others --like the GB-- prefer that someone else sticks his neck out, so that they can use their potential martyrdom as a selling point for their religious grift. Don't worry guys, you (and your families) will pay the price, but we'll get an awesome article and assembly speech out of it!

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

The "live from the clunker" line made me laugh out loud.

42

Were JWs Right That There Would Be A Time When Governments Would Go After All Religion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

they have predicted this for years.

religions of the world would become attacked by the governments.

the only difference is when they go after jehovah’s witnesses, then jehovah god will step in and destroy the governments..

TonusOH

If I am remembering correctly, the prophecy about the nations attacking religion is based on a vision in the book of Revelations. Like so many such visions, it is open to interpretation and does not deliver a clear message as to what will specifically happen. How do the nations mount an attack on religion? What does it mean that they utterly destroy it? Is it just legal restrictions? Removal of any beneficial status? A spoken/written condemnation? A direct attack on its followers? How would that work, considering that even now, something like 2/3s or 3/4s of the world's population identifies as religious?

The vagueness of the meaning makes it easy to point at any event and say that it is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Like so many prophecies and predictions from the past, it gets reinterpreted every time it is convenient to do so.

85

My Letter to Brooklyn about the Parousia that got me disfellowshipped

by cofty in

this is the letter i wrote back in '96 about the parousia.

following the '95 watchtower that disconnected the "generation" from 1914 i began to look carefully at end-time prophecy and soon discovered what i knew were basic errors in what i had been taught.. i was a loyal jw at the time and was still serving as an elder.

i used only watchtower publications in my research.

TonusOH

As far as the WTS is concerned, "asking questions" is the problem. It means you're not satisfied with their explanation, and they don't like it when people don't accept their explanations. Next thing you know, people are thinking for themselves and the whole thing comes apart.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

The "flawed individual" bit also doesn't work very well for someone who has made a healthy living off of pointing out the flaws of an entire organization and its leadership. Anthony Morris didn't kill or rape anyone, did he? So why make an issue of his purchase of some booze? Couldn't Morris make his next speech about how he is a flawed individual, but it's not like he cheated on his wife with hookers or made embarrassing YT videos about how he can't control his dick?

Maybe that's the way to make the point? For anyone he criticizes or attacks to point out that whatever issue he has is not nearly as serious as being an atrociously bad husband and father?