smiddy3

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Posts by smiddy3

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  13

  Ants and Jehovah's Witnesses: The Elite Death Spiral

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what creates an elite death spiral?claiming special privileges by virtue of having been selected among others french élite "selection, choice," "chosen person" define the term privilege.

  “rights and priorities over and above others” advantage granted, special right or favor granted to a person or group, a right, immunity, benefit, or advantage enjoyed by a person or body of persons beyond the common advantages of other individuals"question: how are the privileges of the elite conferred and by what right are they exercised over others?special knowledge (insight into useful secrets and abilities unknown and unavailable to others).oracle: "a message from a god expressed by divine inspiration through a priest or priestess," in answer to a human inquiry, usually respecting some future event.prophet: "person who speaks for god; one who foretells, inspired preacher," "the function of a prophet; inspired utterance; the prediction of future events," test of a claim of special knowledge: what is it?.

  conditions: 1. completeness: a. both parties must be honest b. both parties follow the rules2.

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  smiddy3

  Thank you for this Terry,an excellent post IMHO
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  20

  Let's all bask in the reflected glory of actor Sean Penn ...

  by LoveUniHateExams in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  "i'll smelt my oscars if the academy awards doesn't let zelensky speak!".

  wow, his virtue is so good i can't look at it directly, because it would blind me, lol.. yep, it's this year's oscar's ceremony.. prepare for next-level celebrity virtue signalling .... https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/27/sean-penn-oscars-zelenskiy-ukraine .

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  smiddy3

  They're actors , I believe the whole thing was staged , and it was nothing more than a publicity stunt.

  What better way to get people to engage with the Oscars than a little controversy .
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  34

  Memorial invite

  by JoenB75 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  now they start inviting to their "commemorate the death of jesus" event.

  it always makes me a bit sad.

  i don’t think i could endure to watch it myself today.

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  smiddy3

  The GB have mandated that in-person meetings resume April 1,

  April 1 ,April fools day .

  Quite appropriate .
  
  
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  18

  Billions to die at Armageddon?

  by BoogerMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  not according to this verse:.

  (mark 3:28, 29) truly i say to you that all things will be forgiven the sons of men, no matter what sins they commit and what blasphemies they speak.

  but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit has no forgiveness forever but is guilty of everlasting sin.”.

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  smiddy3

  Millions of Jehovah`s Witnesses love the thought that billions of people are going to die at Har-Mageddon just as they did in the flood of Noah`s day,

  They think they are going to walk into their mansions that they left behind ,not thinking about who is going to provide the necessary utilities to keep them functioning ,without a workforce to maintain them.
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  1

  Wow! Great ex-jw interview

  by Queequeg in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this was one of the best exjw interviews i've heard!.

  https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/naomi-mourra-leaving-jehovahs-witness-faith-sexuality-culture/13757856.

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  smiddy3

  marked for later
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  23

  Do you remember GRACE GOUGH?

  by LullingtonRd in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello, i am grace gough's granddaughter:.

  i have started a blog that begins at the beginning and this is with grace.

  follow along as i dive into her life - and please do reach out if you have any stories to share with me that i can add to my blog.. you can find the blog here:.

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  smiddy3

  Of course i remember grace and remember her gracefully and fondly
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  6

  Damned if you do, damned if you don't - Religious Shunning and the Free Exercise Clause

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  damned if you do, damned if you don't: religious shunning and the free exercise clause.

  https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=3827&context=penn_law_review.

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  smiddy3

  Marked for later reading ,thank you for this

  AndersonsInfo
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  10

  Alan F

  by scholar in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  have received news of the passing of alan fuerbacher today having just turned 70 years of age.

  alan was an earlier and frequent poster on this forum and was a strident critic of wt bible chronology.

  i enjoyed the continuous debate on matters relating to 607 bce and will miss his intellectual contributions and his scholarship even though i disagreed with much of his contributions on this subject.

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  smiddy3

  Your a bit late with this news scholar ,just as the JW religion is always late with their world news .
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  3

  Autocracies abound

  by ozziepost in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  with present troubles around the world highlighting the role of autocrats, can dubs truly believe they’re immune?.

  take the study article 6 in the february issue of the craptower.

  one paragraph that will be read and obeyed states:.

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  smiddy3

  These faithful men know that they are accountable to God for the way they handle their responsibilities.

  They fail to mention that they are also accountable to the law of the land for their human rights (religious ) violations ( their shunning practices even against minors ) and their abysmal handling of child sex abuse cases in many parts of the world.etc,etc.
  
  
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  35

  I have changed a bit

  by Lee Marsh in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for one thing i am older.

  this is what i look like now or at least on jan 1, 2022.. .

  yes, 69 years old.. i moved once.

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  smiddy3

  Your looking good L,L, and i`m sure your positive attitude has kept you from pushing up daisies .Your an inspiration for us old farts.

  I wish you well .

  Take care