Posts by TonusOH

34

1985 and baptism...I wish I had read this before today

by enoughisenough in

i am posting a link as to being legally bound to jw rules at time of baptism.

i only did a quick skim, but what i gathered is interesting, and what it says about 1985 may be of use to some hoping to just fade and not be bothered.

in 1985, the questions were changed at baptism for legal purposes so they could have causation to defend themselves should you decide to sue for whatever reason.

TonusOH

DJW: though no one had asked me if I wanted to be a ministerial servant.

When I was named an MS in 1995, they took me to a small room before they made the announcement, and asked if there was anything that would prevent me from serving in that capacity. I wonder if I could have refused the role at that moment? I guess I could have, although I was very happy to be granted the 'privilege' at the time. But that meeting, just a few minutes before the announcement, was all the notice that they gave me.

I guess they want it to be secretive; they didn't want anyone telling people that they were going to be named. Why that would be an issue, I don't understand. Wasn't everyone excited about having more 'capable men' in the congregation?

34

1985 and baptism...I wish I had read this before today

by enoughisenough in

i am posting a link as to being legally bound to jw rules at time of baptism.

i only did a quick skim, but what i gathered is interesting, and what it says about 1985 may be of use to some hoping to just fade and not be bothered.

in 1985, the questions were changed at baptism for legal purposes so they could have causation to defend themselves should you decide to sue for whatever reason.

TonusOH

I was baptized in 1986, so I took the new "oath."

As for the legality of it, please notice that your oath involves you 'understanding' that the JWs are "God's spirit-directed organization." Tell me... which court would recognize that? Or how would you convince the court that the WTS is in fact God's spirit-directed organization?

That's not going to happen. This is not a legally-enforceable contract. The wording was changed because the GB wanted to insert itself between the individual and God, which is what they have been trying to do for decades. They're not claiming a contractual authority, they are claiming a divine one. No court would accept that claim as part of any litigation.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

BettyHumpter: Still why would you even include that?

I'm thinking that there are a couple of reasons:

1. He can't help himself. As you noted, He seems incapable of leaving well enough alone and giving concise answers. I think he wants so desperately to 'win' every interaction he has, that it frustrates him if he only gives a short answer. The fact that giving more information just gets him into more trouble doesn't occur to him, because he seems convinced that he's the smartest guy in the room.

2. Some of the damning evidence against him is the pictures on his own phone, which his wife apparently sent to someone else, who then posted them publicly. Who knows how many other photos (or possibly video) might be just a button click away from showing up online? I think he's trying to stay ahead of the issue just in case any more embarrassing content becomes public.

He won't listen to good advice because the only person he trusts is himself, and he is turning out to be so UNtrusthworthy that even that is turning out to be a mistake.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

So his latest approach is to blame the Croatian court system for failing to move quickly enough and, what... provide the evidence he refuses to provide? I mean, his reply is in response to being asked for examples of defamation, does he think it's the court's job to do that?

You might get the impression that his bluster is an attempt to hide the fact that neither he nor the court seems to have anything to reveal. Evans is not shy about going after people when he thinks he's got the goods, and he is adamant that he'll fight like hell to protect himself and his reputation, but when challenged directly to provide examples... he's suddenly a paragon of self-restraint? Right...

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

He will always try to re-frame the debate, so that it is not about how he treated his family and his financial supporters, but about how "haters" are treating him. The feisty underdog plays much better than the entitled narcissist, after all.

How much must he regret making that confession video!

6

1 Kings 8:21 a woman's perspective.

by waton in

this week's bible stories, temple dedication, key text .

prayer to the father; "-- [even] the heavens of the heavens cannot contain you.--" comment from a sister i missed, would have given if permitted: .

given that jehovah was alone, with absolutely nothing else around him, when he made the heavens,(including his firstborn), fashioned the universe, it could have only be inside him, with no outside existing.

TonusOH

Does the Bible really specify that God existed in abject nothingness until he decided to begin creating? Genesis says that God created "the heavens and the earth." He brought forth new creation, but he could have placed it within whatever environment he exists in. We're talking about a being for whom nothing is impossible. Living in a universe of his own doesn't strike me as far-fetched, when we consider everything else we know about him.

56

Senior JW member in Australia charged with sex crimes and torture

by Nathan Natas in

see: https://7news.com.au/news/crime/senior-jehovahs-witnesses-member-charged-with-rape-torture-and-assault-of-teenage-boys-c-8044666.

"senior jehovah’s witnesses member charged with rape, torture and assault of teenage boys...".

the 61 year-old man "faces 21 counts of rape, 17 counts of sexual assault, 13 counts of procuring sexual acts by false pretence and one count each of incest, torture and common assault.".

TonusOH

The ABC news report says that "police allege two of the victims tried to report to religious elders and 'were chastised, not believed and ostracised' and accused of being homosexual, before they went to police."

That is clear grounds for a civil suit. This is what happens when you put people in charge who are not fit to handle these cases and convince them that God is acting through them. There needs to be a lawsuit for every single one of these cases where children were being put through the horror of sexual abuse and the people who were supposed to protect them just made it worse, instead.

12

Why do JWs love bomb?

by Smiles in

💣.

we know what mentally-in jws believe they are doing when they "love one another"... and many of us here formerly participated in that culty love bombing behavior.. why?.

TonusOH

First impressions/best foot forward. No one in the congregation wants to give a visitor the impression that they are anything but united and loving and a dignified representation of Jehovah's people. Otherwise, God might feel that you let him down.

Once they're in, you can relax a bit, but you still tell yourself that you have not changed your behavior. That would be dishonest, and God wouldn't want that! And once they're in, the new members subconsciously follow everyone else's lead, so they are ready when the next visitor arrives.

11530

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

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

TonusOH

It would almost be worth it to get Geoffrey's side of the story. Evans' telling of it kind of gives things away- after extensive discussions with the elders, it was Evans who lost the most while Geoffrey only got a "slap on the wrist." It always puts a person's story in perspective when the outcome is completely different from what their version would lead you to believe was going to happen. Makes you think that they might not be giving you the whole truth...

9

11/2022 WT, not-so-encouraging experiences

by neat blue dog in

here's some 'spiritual gems' from the latest wt, 11/22.

first up, a bethelite who was kicked out, er, "reassigned":.

"she was reassigned to the field after serving at bethel for more than 23 years.

TonusOH

truth_b_known, there is an additional step. After facing a difficult decision, the JW wonders why they are being made to suffer so much. Then they reaffirm their unquestioned loyalty to the organization. It is classic victim-speak, where they express sadness at how they are being mistreated by their abuser, but they quickly correct themselves and admit that the abuser really does love them and only wants them to be happy.

The WTS wants the membership to have that attitude, and so they express it as an example to all. No matter how bad the organization's actions or words seem, they are to be trusted and obeyed above all other consideration. When they take that approach, the rank-and-file easily fall in line and are even grateful for the abuse.