Posts by TonusOH

i'm a little shocked that we haven't resumed yet but i guess that's what happens when the org is run by a bunch of old people (ie high risk for covid) and a bunch of other sheltered germaphobes.

TonusOH

What's the point in going door too door.

It's probably more effective than writing letters, would be my guess. And it keeps the membership active, helping the elders to spot anyone who is faltering, so that they can visit them and offer up "counsel."

The only edge they have now is that it's a good time to push the "things have never been this bad" narrative, and people are more likely to listen. Otherwise, COVID will probably be a big factor in the numbers declining more rapidly.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

I don't think he expected anything to come of the criminal complaint. He is able to use it as a talking point, to try to show how serious he is about fighting back against defamation, and possibly to intimidate the targets.

Remember that the statute of limitations on this step was three months. He had to file soon or time would have run out, and he didn't want to be seen as talking about taking action and then admitting that he did nothing. But now he has the civil suits he can file, and the statute of limitations on them is three years. So he can drag that out a long time, and if anyone asks about it, he can point out that there is plenty of time to do it and that his team of intrepid legal minds is feverishly at work finding evidence and laying out a case.

He may be hoping that the threat of civil litigation will be effective by itself, or at least provide him with a quick and easy reply if anyone asks about it in the future. It's being worked on, he will say, and remind his critics that he's just waiting for the right moment to strike. He'll get a pat on the back from his dwindling supporters and feel good about himself, until the next critical tweet sets him on edge again.

So the question becomes, will he file a civil suit before 2025? Or is he hoping everyone forgets about it by then? Maybe he feels that he can recover his lost empire in the meantime, if he can just get everyone to forget what happened and intimidate other exJWs into silence. So far, he's off to a rough start.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

Wouldn't legal proceedings expose everything he's been up to.

Potentially, yes. It would also expose him to cross examination (or a deposition, if he returns to Croatia). His 'woe-is-me' video could be subpoenaed as evidence and shown to a jury. He might be surprised to find how easy it can be to depose people in the age of Zoom calls. He'd better pray his phone records (including chat logs/photos) aren't subpoenaed, or that his team can fight off any attempt to get them.

It's hard to imagine that he would move so far from his children

Sadly, I don't find it that hard to imagine.

27

4 New GB Helpers

by Reservations in

jw
friends

apparently 4 new gb helpers as per reddit.

1) paul gillies.

2) johnathan smith.

TonusOH

Not too difficult to connect the dots. Guy gets promoted to helper, and suddenly feels the heavenly calling. By sheer coincidence, that would make him eligible to serve as a GB member, a group that he works hand-in-hand with now. There is a guy who knows an opportunity when he sees it!

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

or maybe he's looking for hookers that also provides legal services?

She wouldn't be the first lawyer accused of being a greedy whore.

But yeah, he overplayed his hand because his response to criticism is to go on the attack and be aggressive. Now, he can either drop the legal action and face humiliation, or go through with it and face humiliation. I still think the former action would be the less painful of the two options, but I also think it's the one he cannot fathom doing. So... grab your popcorn.

39

What Does Prayer Actually Do?

by punkofnice in

if you think it works, what is your evidence outside of possible coincidence?.

TonusOH

Anony Mous: Proper prayer is basically a form of meditation.

That's how I see it. I don't know how beneficial 'self-talk' is, but I find it useful at times in helping me focus on goals and/or get my thoughts in order. I think it served the same purpose when I believed in god, I just assumed that it worked in a different way.

I find that many people interpret prayer the same way they interpret scripture. Focus on the things that reinforce it, and redefine anything that might cast doubt. In other words- if you prayed for something and got it, it's proof that prayer works. If you prayed and nothing seems to be happening, it's proof that prayer works, because god is just telling you that you need to be patient. If you pray for something and get something different, it's proof that prayer works, because god knew what you needed and provided it. Even tragedies can be explained away as evidence that god listened to the prayer. No explanation seems too strange or outrageous, as long as you can maintain the belief that god is answering you.

32

Date of Adam's "Creation?

by Slidin Fast in

how do jws resolve these conflicting facts.. 1. no matter how you spin it, bible chronology calculates to circa 4000 bc for adam's creation.

i followed the trail many years ago and that's what it adds up to.. 2. the most cursory investigation of any branch of relevant science puts man's habitation on the earth as hugely earlier than that.

it's now so well-proved that anyone disputing it is guilty of wilful ignorance.

TonusOH

The only way they can get away from it is to claim the OT is just a story, and not real.

I wonder if the GB ever discuss that. They've gone with the "Biblical literalist" label for so long, that it would be a huge risk. But it would also open up an almost endless number of new interpretations that could allow them to reshape the organization from the bottom up, as long as they did it slowly and carefully enough.

Why, by 2040 or so, they might even vouch for evolution!

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

If you don't like him but you keep posting on why he is around instead of just moving on with your life

I would expect that people who do not like him would be more likely to comment on the issue. He's treated a lot of people quite poorly over the years and has been a remorseless self-promoter. In other words, the kind of person that people are going to enjoy watching flame out. I have not had any direct dealings with him, so my own involvement is just watching it with some interest. As I said before, if he wasn't so good at making his downfall so compelling, many of us would've grown bored and found something else to follow.

As for the second part, my life is not affected by this topic one way or another. I think you're overestimating the time anyone gives to Evans and the recent turbulence in his life. Aside from the occasional video, it doesn't take long to catch up on the issue and make a comment or two. I don't mind a person having a difference of opinion on the guy, but I'm not moved by requests on how I can better spend my time. I'm a grown-up, I've managed for myself quite well. I'm sure I can handle a single web topic. But... thanks, I guess?