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I'm not sure what the point of this thread is. Is there a recommendation to do something? Believe something? This phrase "Why don't former members of Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the impact that other religions have on societies as a whole here?" is weirdly ambiguous. On the one hand it claims that "former members" have a certain belief in common, namely some ambiguous "[a failure to] "recognize the impact that other religions have on societies as a whole here"". I don't know how anyone could know anything consistently true about ex-JW's other than that they are ex-JW's. Their reason for being ex-JW's varies, and how any of the business of being an "ex-JW" could be queried such that one could speak of them as a bloc in holding any given attitude about anything is beyond me. Then it seems there's some squishy words which we're supposed to imagine flows naturally to "What are you doing about evil in the world?" Implying that some unclearly named others aren't, w/o making an explicit argument. Then we're having our attention directed to a case of some nuns who have issues with their hierarchy, and somehow this is supposed to exemplify something, but what that is isn't clear either. Then SS uses this as an opportunity to express himself, however how any of his expressions can in any way connect with the OP's ambiguous post is beyond me. Maybe if I passed this through some gematria calculator, it will make more sense. https://www.gematrix.org/?word=Why+don't+former+members+of+Jehovah's+Witnesses+recognize+the+impact+that+other+religions+have+on+societies+as+a+whole+here%3F Turns out that phrase has the value of 8957, which is also tellingly the same numeric value as the phrase: https://www.gematrix.org/?word=stalked by fallen ones then why they hiding in bunkers they must know something you useless eaters on the surface dont know hahahaha

Very nice,thanks so much!

Thank you very much

Here is the notebook that I did for the 2024 "Declare The Good News" RC. TB 2024 Declare The Good News Convention Notebook.pdf 2024 Declare The Good News Convention Notebook.doc

It is significant to note from the title itself, that JWs call for "evidence". I guess the most significant "evidence" for JWs, and their belief system and dogma, as they themselves point out, is the lifestyle of 1st century Christians and the biblical text. These two should be something that JWs will imitate and interpret in the modern circumstances of life. Consequently, JWs will claim that their current way of life and application of the Bible is exactly the way the First Christians lived, while on other hand they consciously or unconsciously ignore the "fact" that they themselves have set their standards with their "performances, interpretations and dogmas" of religious practice which then project onto the past and claim that this is exactly how the "First Christians" lived. So we have a reversal of roles and a thesis claiming that the way JWs worship in the 21st century is the same as the 1st century. This is how the reverse idea spreads, in which today's set of dogmas is presented as an original from the 1st century. That simply can not be true. Furthermore, GB has a powerful system of interpretations that change from year to year. This very "fact" is "evidence" that the previous idea, their basic idea to which they appeal to prove their originality and accuracy as primitive Christians, becomes their own defeat. The reported example of "greeting and fellowshipping" between current and former JWs provides "proof" of how the so-called "original" from the 1st century is being interpreted and modified into "True Christianity" of the 21st century. Without going into details about the foundation and correctness of any of the previous, present or future practices of communication between these two opposing groups of people, i.e. faithful and unfaithful followers over a long period of time (with Christians in the 1st century as well as today's Christians in WTJorg) I emphasize all this as a clear indication that the question in the title is wrongly addressed and "condemns" former JWS in advance as people who do not see the alleged "evidence". How can "evidence" for something, anything, be a WTJWorg interpretation that has been conducted and explained in one way for decades, and now takes on other properties and forms? Every dogmatic change of dogma is evidence that GB and JWs do not recognize "evidence" and what they are doing and what they believe.

Why don't former members of Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the impact that other religions have on societies as a whole here? This site appears more interested in maintaining the status quo within their misconceived hierarchy, rather than actually making a meaningful contribution to the discussion about finding temporary solutions to the pressing issue troubling even those outside the community: the evil afflicting humanity at the hands of Satan by not separating church and state in their arguments. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/nuns-defy-vatican-and-seek-a-restraining-order-against-bishop/ss-AA1nzW9o?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=3c9a19f4fa9b43d3a7bd8ceaa485848b&ei=20#image=4 This week, Texas nuns are defying a Vatican order to vacate their Monastery after the Vatican issued a decree concerning their order. The nuns are now seeking government intervention by requesting a restraining order. However, a District Judge dismissed a previous order on the grounds it lacked jurisdiction. In a striking turn of events, a French court went against the Vatican's sovereignty and issued a groundbreaking judgment in support of an excommunicated nun, thereby challenging the authority of a sovereign nation. It seems that the French Court overlooked a crucial fact when it ruled that the Vatican could not excommunicate a nun for violating the bylaws that govern any religious order. The notion of "chastity" and its significance in the Catholic faith extends far beyond any criminal accusation. The French nun's struggle with "obedience" and failure to communicate is also noteworthy in her role as a high-profile teacher. It mirrors the biblical teachings on sexual morality, and obedience to authority serves as a guiding principle for believers. There are, however, numerous theories surrounding these two issues, and I'm confident that people will contribute their own unique perspectives to them. The French government's actions concerning the Vatican City's "Holy See", which is equivalent to the Watchtower Governing Body for the Catholic Faith, are a sovereign nation recognized by all nations of the world. Not only is it concerning, but also reminiscent of the restrictions being imposed on other organizations, such as the Watchtower, by other governments. Such interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation sets a troubling precedent. What the French government is essentially saying is that they have the right to intervene and dictate to another nation. This verdict is essentially what it implies. https://apnews.com/article/vatican-france-nun-pope-marie-ferreol-ouellet-937da5e4b91b3b591b72b9edeb4a1f76 In this case, apostates of Jehovah's Witnesses and some witnesses not in good standing serve as referees and consider disfellowshipping to be a barbaric action, even though it is supported by scripture and implemented in the bylaws of other religious institutions according to bible canon. Even though scripture doesn't specifically mention the words "excommunicate" or "disfellowship," it implies consequences for those who have a heavy heart after committing serious transgressions against God, and have no desire to repent. In another thread, the topic of repentance and being unrepentant was brought up. Is it possible to guide an unrepentant soul towards receiving God's grace, or does the individual need to show a genuine desire to repent on their own? God demands that we demonstrate true repentance through our behavior. This new understanding, as highlighted by the Watchtower GB, shows that there is a pathway to fellowship for those who have strayed from God's teachings. Upon demonstrating genuine repentance, they can be accepted back into God's hands. Is it the spiritual leader's responsibility to coerce or convince a sinner to repent? No, that decision belongs between God and the individual. The church's obligation is to keep the congregation free from negative influences. In the time before the New Testament, God communicated his wishes through the prophets. This was God's will. 2 Chronicles 7:14 New International Version 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. A person who truly repents should be shown leniency, as stated in scriptures such as Matthew, Luke, Acts, 1 Peter, and 1 John, etc. However, this leniency does not apply to those who choose to remain unrepentant. The words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 still apply to those whose conduct willfully denies the Lord through their personal actions and behavior. Now, how do other institutions view those steps? https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/8-signs-true-repentance/ So, to whom should a devoted follower of Christ listen? They should prioritize attentiveness to scripture and adhere to the word of God. Moreover, they should comprehend those teachings that align with the principles of Christ, as conveyed by their spiritual leaders. One confusion has arisen due to Tom's interpretation of the Governing Body's update number #2. He mistakenly assumes that Jehovah's Witnesses are allowed to associate with disfellowshipped individuals and therefore are in harmony with the spirit of update # 2. However, reading his comments elsewhere, it is clear that Tom is spreading misinformation. It is important to clarify that we are not "free" to associate with disfellowshipped individuals, as some may wrongly infer from Tom's words. The truth is quite the opposite. The Brothers update suggests the following: 18. When a person has been removed from the congregation, we “stop keeping company”with that person, “not even eating with such a man.” (1 Cor. 5:11) However, as explained and demonstrated in the 2024 Governing Body Update #2, if the person attends congregation meetings, a publisher can use his Bible-trained conscience to decide if he will give a simple greeting and welcome the disfellowshipped person to the meeting or not. 19. A Christian may also choose to invite a disfellowshipped person—perhaps a relative, a former Bible student, or someone he was close to in the past—to attend a congregation meeting. This update does not in any way imply a casual association with a disfellowshipped individual, as some people may interpret through their own subjective understanding of the publications from the Watchtower. The contact with a disfellowshipped individual remains with the Elders of the congregation whether they progress in repentance or not. One of the signs of the end times is the increasing tendency of governments to perceive religion as merely another institution governed by rules, rather than as a sacred system of spiritual principles. This shift may enable more meaningful discussions about global political perspectives based on religious scriptures rather than individual opinions. Therefore, when faced with attempts to trick him, how did Jesus handle secular political issues in Matthew 22:17-21? These issues regarding the nuns should be addressed in the same way that Jesus did, by separating church and state, which those nuns failed to do.

Just for you to understand @TrueTomHarley Accepting someone's repentance at face value, especially after they were rearrested last year for the same crime of 8 felony counts that might have been reduced to 2 as of 2020, makes the idea of repentance meaningless, particularly in James's case. What does it say about a person if they cannot prove it in a secular court? Srecko holds the Watchtower, GB, and the Elders responsible for this type of condition within the Org, according to all his distorted posts about his truth. Are you in favor of Srecko's ideology considering your desire to defend everyone?

I strongly believe that we should not be false prophets. Instead, we should extend a sincere invitation to those who are willing to repent. Where do you and he stand on that? Perhaps the one that fails to understand the new light is yourself. What truly constitutes genuine repentance when one speaks against the Watchtower organization and biblical truths? Why are you putting in so much effort to portray him as a martyr when he clearly is not one. You're persistently trying to make a sale, even though there are no interested buyers and everyone can clearly see through your deceitful act. That's what he and the liars keep insisting. How much can honest people truly accept? You are currently tailoring your performance specifically for the exclusive audience within the closed club. That is why your final comment to James exposes you and JWI as hypocrites as the Admin and Librarian, just like the Pharisees. That's not a good thing. 🤣

Eureka! A breakthrough! One small step for Pudg. One gaint leap for Pudgkind. Mr Watson, come here. I need you.

i refused to attend a fourth meeting with the Elders, yet I have wasted years playing whack-a-mole here. Yikes!

I don’t excuse it. I am outraged by it. But . . . people are complicated. “You can’t always get what you want.” You don’t keep up with new light, do you? These days we can say hello to him. So, we here in the closed club acted almost like prophets, anticipating the change, saying hello in advance. We accepted his ‘repentance’ as genuine, which it is (especially if you are not too fussy). We accepted that unless we extended a hand of invitation, he would be stranded here in the open club, where men weep and gnash their teeth and froth at the mouth, unless he got offline altogether, and you know that is as unlikely as the Pope converting to Presbyterianism. We accepted his DFing as more or less a technicality, completely brought on at his own insistence, and had he not acted in such a ‘throw oneself on the pyre’ manner,, as most anyone else would not have, it wouldn’t have happened. We took his circumstances at face value: I mean, for crying out loud, what kind of a character does this—insists on being DFed three times, is refused three times, and then when he seeks a 4th, he is DFed, whereupon he blames it on his refusal to meet with them? Sheesh. Plainly, they gave up on telling him they weren’t going to and granted him his wish. Oh, well. Blessed be the honor-bound, even if unnecessarily honor bound. It works for us, we said. We invited him on board. @JW Insider wanted to throw him off the forum, of course, but every time you turn around he wants to throw someone off the forum—even Admin and the Librarian are not safe—and no one pays any attention to him these days. My Lord, you know how to chew up a guy’s time!

21 people tried to destroy you, but it only took you to achieve it. The calendar clearly exposes your deceit. As for you telling people in the closed club, that's just your word and theirs. If they accepted you as a disfellowshipped individual out of friendship, it only shows that they prefer the friendship of man over God. This situation reveals their hypocrisy more than initially apparent. Exposing them does not work in their favor. If you insist on going down with a sinking ship, why would you compel others to join you? However, I agree that even when you were a Jehovah's Witness, you were not in good standing. Some of your colleagues here are the same. Mostly the reason for such grave resistance. As for being crude, rude, and prone to rants and raves as excused by Tom, is hypocritical, especially after preaching the importance of abstaining from arguments. It's unbelievable that while hundreds have been banned by that mindset, you remain. Treating some people one way and excusing others for the same behavior makes you all unbelievable liars and narcissists. Your actions are foolish and unacceptable.

James, that's not the main focus. We will all pass away before the arrival of judgment day, unless we're around 100 years old. Your repentance is what truly matters. Appreciate your soul and learn to love it as much as God loves all of his creations. Don't let pride, anger, or hate deter you from the path of everlasting life. Make the right choice, despite the misleading guidance from your own mind.

If you truly believe that Morris's information is public like yours, Pudgy, then your friend should not have made any threats about posting public information here to ban those in his hit list. Not only would it be hypocritical, but also an utterly unconscionable deed.

Interesting answer. But it's your truth. That is indeed a crucial matter to consider. Shouldn't we aim for a world where dishonest individuals are not given a platform to spread falsehood unchecked? It seems contradictory to allow apostates and disgruntled fake witnesses on your site, only to defend them. Why do you blind yourself to their contribution to that strife that you only want to rebuke me, when I should in all honesty be rebuking you? Is that truly a superior approach? It begs the question: what happened to the core value of Colossians 3 that you often criticize as being excessively self-righteous? If being a witness bothers you to such an extent, perhaps it is time to reconsider your role and consider working for the opposing side. Why not remove the banner proclaiming it as being for Jehovah's Witnesses if you despise a witness who upholds the truth? It doesn't matter to me what might benefit you or your people here. My concern lies with the sincere witnesses who visit this unfortunate site, drawn by the welcoming Jehovah's Witness banner, only to realize that it is actually a haven of wickedness. I constantly apply 1 John 3:17 and Luke 17:3, as it serves as a reminder of the importance of generosity and compassion through God's eyes protecting your brothers soul. Unlike some, that have lost sight of the significance of Scripture. So, let apostates continue to post, and I will meet their arguments with the truth.

I assure you, we were all flabbergasted to discover it. It’s sort of like JFK saying to his advisors, ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about with my being Catholic. It is not as though I am a good one.’ Ah, well. Maybe more than you think.

EVERYTHING I posted about Tony Morris was ALREADY public information, available to real estate people, banks, law enforcement, And the General Public. That means ANYBODY!

No. I removed it because the local elders were uncomfortable with it, judging from its cover an invitation to brawl with apostates—whereas the Witness organization encourages just the opposite—you know, along the lines of ‘a slave of the Lord does not need to fight.’ It was only the local brothers, so far as I know, not anyone else. It was not even brought up specifically; removing it was just my response to a shepherding call. I could have stuck to my guns without consequence other than to continue to be viewed by them as not exemplary. But I have voluntarily signed on to a program that involves submission to Christian headship, and to consider the interests of others, not just my own. Removing the book put to rest any notion that I favor seeking out apostates and fighting with them, which I do not. So I took it down. I explained it a little more in the next book, ‘In the Last of the Last Days: Faith in the Age of Dysfunction.’ Parts of it that I really like I have incorporated elsewhere.

Whatever anyone can say about me, I have never tried to conceal anything from anyone. You think, BTK59, that you are “exposing” me, but you are wrong. My arrest on both charges is a matter of public record. My mug shot has been in the local paper, and on the internet. I went to the Elders and requested to be disfellowshipped in order that the accusations against me would not reflect badly on the Brotherhood, and after three meetings with three of them, they would not. After I refused a fourth meeting, I got a phone call telling me I was disfellowshipped, without any explanation. I assume it was for refusing to meet with them. About two years ago I was invited to join the “Closed Club”, and I explained here that I was disfellowshipped, and why, in full disclosure, as i despise those that fly under false flags, and the Brotherhood has enough malicious frauds as it is. i was quite frank and open about it and somebody in the “Closed Club”, had even posted my mug shot before that. I even pointed out from their bylaws I did not qualify to be there, and warned them (as they already well knew..) that I was crude, rude, and subject to rants and raves. What you are desperately trying to expose, BTK59, I fully disclosed publicly here in the “Open Club”, and there was quite a discussion about all of it, several years ago. You are only wasting your efforts, and exposing yourself as a hateful, jealous, malicious and obsessed slanderer and liar with exaggerated delusions of grandeur I have called you out on it now for at least a year, because your accusations have been without proof. Your guesses and hopes have always been WRONG. The simplest investigation would have shown I have never been to trial, never been convicted, was not on probation, my bail had no geographic restrictions, all lies you made up because you are hateful, and vicious, and you NEED something to be true, to deflect and obfuscate the things I have proved …. with your OWN WORDS … your constant lies. . I have never made the slightest inference about my innocence or guilt, as that is between me and Jehovah God in whom I trust, and the State that has charged me. You have accused, sentenced, and damned me to destruction as I would expect from The Vicar of Warwick, wallowing in total ignorance, fueled by your jealousy. As to my providing information on Tony Morris, for decades EVERYBODY knew exactly where to find him, if they wanted to, either in Brooklyn, or Warwick, and there was global interest in “WHAT HAPPENED to Tony Mortis?”. The difference between you and I, BTK59, is that I found out, examined the evidence and found it to the best of my ability to be credible, and posted it. This answered something EVERYBODY was interested in AND he was not accused of any wrongdoing … no assassins were sent to off him … AND he was a highly visible public figure by his own choice, so it, no more reprehensible than to say the President lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a big white house in Washington, DC. I always provide proof for facts I present, and you almost NEVER do, which I proved with your own words about 38 times. Even what you THINK is proof is garbage. The court calendar excerpt you yourself posted just now shows no judgement has been made either way. Over my lifetime I have had 21 people try to destroy me for various reasons, and they all except one self-destructed, and he did the best he knew how under impossible circumstances. That’s why I can afford to see the humor in your flailing attacks. Even when I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses locally, I never represented myself to anyone a “good one”. EVER. Soon I will be dead, and it won’t matter. We are all just big ugly bags of mostly water doing what we know, at a point in time. And the beat goes on. …. and the beat goes on.

If you're trying to justify James Thomas Rook Jr's unacceptable behavior, then his public record will need to be cleared. James, I was just wondering why your friend, the ex-Bethelite, never tried to ban you for revealing Brother Morris' house, including its location, street address, warranty deeds, and any other information you might have had in the past here. Also, your 8/16/2020 arrest that brought you 8 felony charges is not the same as your rebooking date of 02/02/2023. The prosecutor is prepared to bring these additional charges to court as an extension of the previous ones. Your criminal record is an open book, impossible to conceal by your friend Tom, regardless of his efforts. Did you remove your book about apostates because you began defending them, and your conscience as a former Elder couldn't tolerate that hypocrisy? Are you suggesting that you shouldn't be defending God's judgment against those who are incorrigible and liars, rather than passing judgment yourself? When God brings forth a mysterious event that confuses people, there is a profound biblical explanation as to why individuals are often blinded by their own actions and behavior.

We are not ‘aware’ of anything online, where truthful speech is punished, where liars proliferate, and where, unless you know someone personally, you haven’t a clue. You can get a feel for someone over time, but nothing more. Frankly, the biggest mystery here (by far) is you, who dials up the judgment 10-fold and dials back the fellow-feeling by as much. ‘All men online are liars’ says the apostle Paul, adjusted for the present digital age.

Oh, yeah! Is he obnoxious? Send him right over! We thrive on people like that! Just doing our bit so the open club can stay pristine. I hear next on the 10-year list is that blogging’s okay, provided you avoid those ne’er-do-wells in the closed club