Posts by TonusOH

25

Does anyone have a photo copy they can share of a TMS topic?

by jojorabbit in

i am looking for a tms that was published in the early 70s that said many have sold homes to go where the need was great, this is a fine way to spend ones time in the last days.

i am trying to remember how it was said to the best of my knowledge but this is close.

.

TonusOH

One of my relatives vehemently denies that the watchtower society said anything about 1975.

My mother insists that she understood this to be the case from very early on, and once told me that she corrected the woman giving her the Bible study when she was just starting. I am sure she believes that this is what happened now, but I don't believe it for a moment. I think she joined because she thought it was going to happen and figured that Armageddon would be a quick ticket out of a dreary life she had trapped herself in.

When 1975 came and went and nothing happened, she accepted the company line and kept waiting for the end, since it was "very close." Almost 50 years later, she's still convinced that it will come any day now. She's a very smart and capable person, who squandered her talent and ability because she was waiting for something better to come along.

12

Verifying The Claim The IBSA ,not JW ,were approved by Jehovah God / Christ Jesus as God`s Chosen People in 1919 ??

by smiddy3 in

how do they verify this claim,if they can and how easy do we debunk this claim if we can ?.

what is needed to verify a claim made by anyone or an organization ?.

i`m interested in what you have to say about this ..

TonusOH

I don't see how it is possible to verify the claim that God made a choice/decision at any time. That's why it's so common for religious groups to point at some event, link it to a handful of scattered verses in a book/poem, and claim that it means something.

It's more possible to check claims and see how accurate they are (or aren't).

The JWs claim that God blessed their organization in 1919, with the implication being that after a period where they were tested, they were suddenly and inexplicably released from prison, with their long sentences commuted as if by a miracle. But it seems that their release in 1919 was engineered when Rutherford agreed to remove certain pages/passages from one of his books, which were highly critical of the Catholic Church.

If the latter is the case (I don't remember where I read about it), then there is nothing miraculous or divine about their release from prison in 1919. They simply cut a deal and then pretended that it didn't happen the way it did. That doesn't strike me as the kind of thing a group actually blessed by God would have done.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

Re: recognizing morals, the human mind is capable of amazing feats of compartmentalization (a flaw that cults like the JWs take ready advantage of). Remember that, in his video confession, Evans defended himself by stating that he had not committed murder or rape. Which is to say, he redefined what a "MORAL PERSON" is, to ensure that he was still a MORAL PERSON even after admitting to behavior that most people agree is clearly immoral.

And then he, MORAL PERSON that he is, can persist in expressing disgust and judgment towards others for actions that are far less egregious than his own. The grifter's first target is always himself.

25

Does anyone have a photo copy they can share of a TMS topic?

by jojorabbit in

i am looking for a tms that was published in the early 70s that said many have sold homes to go where the need was great, this is a fine way to spend ones time in the last days.

i am trying to remember how it was said to the best of my knowledge but this is close.

.

TonusOH

Didn't it originally say "months remaining" and was later revised?

I do love how they still have to deal with the fact that "short time remaining" doesn't quite cover a period of 48 years...

35

Hello Everyone

by JohnPaul in

jw
friends

hi everyone i would like to say hello to everyone,.

i just started attending kingdom hall about a month ago now and am doing bible study with a brother..

TonusOH

Hi JohnPaul,

As others have said, it won't hurt to gather some background information on the JWs before you make a commitment. And perhaps ask some questions to gauge the reaction of the individuals; you might be surprised to find out how little they know about the history of their group, and how little they want to know.

This does not mean that they are bad people, and I have no doubt they sincerely wish to help you know God and be saved. But they are conditioned to reject any information that would allow them to analyze their organization and belief system. I consider that to be unhealthy, and the darker aspects of the group are not made clear until you are quite far in.

Good luck, either way.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

don't you think he loves to read everything being written.

I think he likes feeling that he is important enough to warrant a long topic, as it feeds his ego. But, as I have mentioned before, he seems to be very thin-skinned and really hates being criticized. Having a topic where his critics and detractors can point out his flaws and talk about him --and where he cannot post in response-- is probably not something he is enjoying at all.

But that is besides the point, anyway. What he does or does not enjoy about this topic makes no difference to me, in regards to whether I comment or what I say.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

So nothing like Lloyds situation, whereby people donated to his Indigogo of £25,000 but still had to buy the book.

Just to be clear, I'm defending crowdfunding as a viable concept, not Evans' particular use of it.

The nice thing about crowdfunding is that you can structure it however you want. As long as prospective supporters know what they're getting into, it's fine. The idea that your support doesn't also get you a copy of the book... isn't something I would do, but as long as your supporters know the score, it's on them. To me, the dark side of crowdfunding is that it's another way to scam people, by asking for support and either lying about what they are paying for, or taking the money and not delivering. As far as I can tell, he didn't do that.

Taking the money and publishing an unflattering book that ultimately helps to cement your reputation as a creep and a jerk... is also something I would not advise a prospective author to do. But this is page 268 of a topic dedicated to his lack of sound judgment, so it's also not surprising.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

In his post where he announced he started writing his book, it was clear that he was thinking a publisher would pick it up and give him an advance.

Was he not aware that there were already quite a few books from exJWs, talking about the organization and their own experiences? By the time I'd even heard of Lloyd Evans, I had probably read a half-dozen of them. And did he somehow think there was a large market for exJW material? Crisis of Conscience is easily the best known book about the org, and it's never been a best seller. He certainly knew about that book...

It would fit with the personality of a narcissist, if he thought that his book would be the one to break through and become a big seller. He has made a comment or two about moving on due to the supposed toxicity of the exJW community. Maybe he is thinking that his book on the exJW community will be fast-tracked for a Hollywood script if he only offers to write one.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

His book was self published and there was no barrier to entry.

Correct, that is the point I am making about crowdfunding a creative work. If he said he needed the funds to print the book, he was either misinformed or a liar. But the idea of paying an advance is to provide the author with funds while he is working on the book. Crowdfunding replaces that when there is no outside publisher. Sure, you can create the work and publish it without crowdfunding, which is also a great option (and keeps you free from any obligations, so you can manage it yourself). But it's a nice option to have, if you want/need some up-front money to get your project off the ground.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

It's like an advance, if you were working with a publisher. The difference being that the investors don't recoup this advance; they are doing it specifically to support the author. I like the concept, it helps creators get around the gates put up by publishers and industries to maintain control of a product they don't actually create.

It's not well regulated, so people need to be smart and cautious when deciding where to spend money. Evans actually published the books, so I assume his backers are satisfied. Whether they're comfortable with backing him after finding out what he's really like... I don't know. I assume a few of them wish they could take it back. As Nancy Pelosi would've said, they needed to read the book to know what was in it.