TrueTomHarley
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Posts posted by TrueTomHarley
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“Why do people here go to such extreme lengths to falsify their theories by overriding a locked post?”
I have often wondered about this.
- Juan Rivera, Pudgy and Malakh
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9 hours ago, xero said:
dropping a deuce in a public stall, not flushing it, and crawling out from under the locked stall?
I must admit that’s a simile I’ve never heard before.
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There are quite a few Gospel accounts, and in general, the more removed they are from the dates of actual events, the more ‘far out’ they are. The four in the the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). though there is squabbling over details, even to the point of who wrote them, are universally considered as closest to the actual events they depict.
There appear to be some apocryphal passages that have been inserted into the original four—the ending of Mark, for example, about handling snakes and drinking poison. Though included in the King James Version, almost all modern transactions have either removed them or footnoted them as found in only much-later manuscripts.
Another such passage, believe it or not, is the in which Jesus says, ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone’ in the Gospel of John. It isn’t there in the oldest versions.
Not to be outdone with all these newly discovered gospels, I went down to the dessert and presently discovered my own, ‘The Gospel of Howard:’
https://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/2006/05/the_gospel_of_j.html
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9 hours ago, Fausto Hoover said:
The undeniable truth is that Jehovah's Witnesses are witnessing a steady decline in the conditions of our world with each passing day. I firmly believe that Christ made reference to that fact. Hence, it is not rocket science, but apostates have a tendency to distort this reality.
It is true that if you are using 2Timothy 3:1-5 in the ministry to show that people are worse than ever before and your audience doesn’t agree, there’s not much you can do about it. It is subjective.
That’s why one should compare bookends—the Titanic and the Costa Concordia. Doing so instantly makes the point:
https://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/2012/01/costa-concordia-titanic-and-the-last-days.html
FWIW: I was in service recently. My companion made a return visit on a young man, 20s I would say, who said he was atheist. She read 2 Timothy 3:1-5. He did not know of the verses and emphatically agreed they were especially applicable now (somewhat to my surprise—I figured he would pull a dismissive Pudgy).
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“Why do you Jehovah’s Witnesses always have to say that conditions are getting worse? What does that belief do for you?”
It helps me to explain why the Doomsday Clock is set at 90 seconds to midnight and not 10:30 AM.
- Pudgy and Srecko Sostar
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On 9/19/2023 at 8:49 PM, The Librarian said:
I actually wouldn't be surprised if Bethel is starting to allocate some holdings in Bitcoin
Lawyers would have a very hard time tracking assets they don't even know exist
I dunno. The trick would be to persuade them they really are assets and not just the next UN NGO bright idea.
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The commentator may also be attempting to obscure the fact that if you want the same proportional ‘catch’ among Jehovah’s Witnesses that exists among the leaders of some faiths, you must widen the net to include everybody in the faith. Imagine if NCR decided to report on the abuse reported among any Catholics.
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I suspect its days are numbered. They have a tech geek on that Hall upon whom it does not dawn that not everyone scheduled wants to be advertised before the whole wide world, all but encouraging doxxing.
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12 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:
None of us know if WTJWORG or any of its entities have signed anything with the OSCE.
None of us know if they have landed on Saturn, either.
12 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:Clear enough?
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On 8/24/2023 at 9:29 AM, JW Insider said:
Personally, I absolutely believe the WTS's explanation that it was all about access to the library. Any non-profit organization could already have standard access to the UN library, but the library was also a pre-Internet source of information about past, present and future UN backed seminars and reports, and therefore the advantages of becoming an NGO would have been seen as tempting
Of course. All other ‘explanations’ are just too stupid.
On 8/24/2023 at 9:29 AM, JW Insider said:For the most part, however, it's just mentioned as a show of hypocrisy and sloppiness (as opposed to faithfulness and "discreetness").
Everything is ‘hypocritical’ to those who don’t like you, just as your opponents are always ‘arrogant’—otherwise, they wouldn’t oppose you. As for ‘sloppiness’—well, hmm—it could be painted that way in retrospect.
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21 hours ago, JW Insider said:
Several on the forum know these brothers and know that Ciro, at least, was prone to lapses in judgment, but always with a good heart and for a good reason.
I know the breed.
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17 hours ago, JW Insider said:
The fact that there were tours of the UN doesn't mean anything. Just like going into St Patrick's church didn't mean we were turning Roman Catholic
Do these ones who allege a conspiracy re Watchtower and the UN ever posit a reason for such a NGO registration beyond a snafu?
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6 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:
This thread has 4.1k views.
That many? That’s worth addressing.
6 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:Please note that the Closed JW Club is half the size of the Open one. Let's ask ourselves why this is so?
1) Because the complainers against anything always outnumber and are more vocal than those satisfied. It is a basic law of human nature and is seen everywhere.
2) Because of the thought expressed at Psalm 130:3. “If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand?” Watching errors is the modus operendi of today’s culture, typified in its media. Nobody stands as their enemies magnify, enhance, and even concoct evil reports—see it play out on the internet with any public figure. Of course, in addition, to those of a different agenda, everything is an error.
3) Because of the sentiment expressed at John 15:18-19. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world … on this account the world hates you”. (John 15:18-19) Of course, just because you are hated does not mean you as a group are Christ’s followers. However, any group NOT universally hated (and the list is not that long) is automatically disqualified from consideration.
‘No part of the world’ will sink you every time in the eyes of those who embrace the world.
6 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:And how many members from the Closed Club are ready to violate the GB 1st Amendment, which is; don't talk to ex-JWs and don't engage in dialogue with them and don't watch the contents they gave?
Though I was once active in this open club, I have not been for some time, deferring to the GB’s wishes. (also because it does little good—I have never known any opponent to change) I can’t say I ‘watch’ the contents exJWs provide, for I am invariably put off by how pedantic and boring they are, but through reading I do try to keep up. This is along the lines of Anna, who had a teenaged son and didn’t want to find him one day stumbled by something he had come across and herself powerless to help him because she had no idea what he had come across.
Many observations of ex-Witnesses are valid, if not the conclusions they ultimately draw from them. I have incorporated into the latest book, ‘Things that drive you crazy about the faith and how to view them.’ Make no mistake. The book is loyal to Jehovah’s Witnesses and their earthly governing arrangement, but it does deal with some of the beefs the malcontents bring up:
The metadata at least, if not the entire book (digital or print), should be required reading:
https://mybook.to/IntheLastoftheLastDays
(The book is even dedicated to ‘the Old Hen, whoever he may be.’)
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I would think a telling question posed to anyone who expounds at great length about this would be do they know anything else about Australia?
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On 6/8/2023 at 12:44 PM, Space Merchant said:
Or possible the bombshell that is Facebook/Instagram (which was mentioned to Butler as a forwarning) that has recently taken place, and or some diabolical stuff regarding CSA that is associated with other media, even the schools; hence why I believe people such as Mel Gibson, will eventually be a media focus in the coming days or weeks.
Among other things, there is the Non-Institutional stuff that is taking place, which, compared to schools and churches, can often times be as complex to deal with like the social media stuff.
This pic was included in the June 7th WSJ article that broke the Instagram story:
Imagine. After a sober warning of the “extreme harm” such sexual imagery causes children, coupled with an appeal to visit the Help Center so as to “get resources,” still there is an option, if one wishes, to “See results anyway.”
Get caught with the stuff on your computer and you’re in serious hot water. In fact, that’s the first thing I-gram warns about, as though the ‘extreme harm to children’ is but an afterthought.
No wonder the next morning it was #Pedogram
- Pudgy and JW Insider
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13 hours ago, Fausto Hoover said:
From the commenter you cited: ‘Of those "902 did not involve a Jehovah's Witness Official. First, the position of the perpetrator within the organization doesn't prove anything.’
Of course it does. Would one hold Macy’s responsible for the conduct of its shoppers?
- Pudgy and JW Insider
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52 minutes ago, JW Insider said:
and there was also a kind of "public service announcement" that addressed a necessary attitudinal shift among Witnesses: There was to be no more thinking that covering up CSA crimes somehow protected the reputation of the organization. From now on the emphasis was on the fact that all the shame should be centered on the perpetrator. Also, there has been a heightened awareness and sensitivity to the legal issues and more legal personnel have been aiding the organization in this regard.
The reproach of the abuser falls on the abuser, not the congregation. It was indeed a timely attitudinal shift. It’s a chapter that was in TTvtA, and now will have to be included somewhere else.
https://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/2019/02/the-reproach-of-child-sexual-abuse-falls-on-the-abu.html
- Pudgy, JW Insider and Anna
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8 hours ago, AudreyAnnaNana said:
I enjoy your writing style…..Your writing style is fun,
Given that you feel the way you do about the subject matter, I’ll accept this as high praise.
In the upcoming ‘Last of the Last Days: Faith in the Age of Dysfunction,’ my perennial return visit, Bernard Strawman, (who continues to make find progress! though only I can see it) mutters that our guys are more like ‘janitor/plumbers’ than ‘philosopher/kings.’ He takes colossal pride in his education.
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1 hour ago, Srecko Sostar said:
At WTJWorg, all theological issues are tied into one single issue, problem
For the most part, they are. It is the theme of yet another book, which is the final proofing stage. (I’ve removed TTvtA for revision.)
Not sure we agree on which issue that is. For the most part it is an asset, though it does come with downsides:
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3 hours ago, AudreyAnnaNana said:
Who can respond to lunacy like this, being tagged 3 times in as many hours by a perfect stranger over a point of complete common sense? How can a guy who wants to keep his senses not resort to blocking in such instances?
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50 minutes ago, AudreyAnnaNana said:
Today's Watchtower is all about how loving "Jehovah's Witnesses" are, superior in love to those labeled non-"Jehovah's Witnesses". The Daily Text was all about how important it is to go to meetings because people there care about you and want to be your friends, unlike those labeled non-"Jehovah's Witnesses."
All I have done is decline to speak with someone who is determined to trash much of what I hold dear, someone I do not know personally, and someone whom I never have had significant interaction with. I think you have to stretch it to pronounce that course a ‘lack of love.’
Frankly, I could just as easily turn it around. I have addressed most of the points you bring up in far greater detail than in all the other commentators put together. This is in the several chapters I have called to your attention of ‘Don’t Know Why’ that deal with brainwashing, discipline, and Governing Body. All of it is original writing. None of it is boilerplate off the Watchtower. In the event you do not finish them all, it can only be through lack of love on your part. I even have a ‘Contact Me’ section at the end of the book, and no, the WNMF is not one of the places listed.
In my social media activities, I will frequently accept a ‘friend’ or new ‘follower,’ only to find they instantly want to set up an individual private conversation. What is it will people so presumptuous as to demand this? We are finite beings who already have full draws on our time. All of us must pick and choose the interaction they deem the most effective.
1 hour ago, AudreyAnnaNana said:If you saw "abusive behavior", @TrueTomHarley, enough to note it and to think it merited the administrator removing the abusive person, why did you not think to comfort the "victim"?
I did not say this. I said, based on previous history, that this is probably what happened. I gave no opinion as to whether it was ‘merited’ or not.
Explosions at JW Convention, India and WTJWorg PR
in Topics
Posted
“Those who claim that their own nation is superior to all others, even to the point of worshiping the State, have been manipulated by rulers and regimented in order to carry out their policies, whether good or bad. As a result, the Goliath class has arisen to test the loyalty of God’s people, who love the land of their birth but decline to worship the State and its symbols.” [italics mine]. (Wt 1/1/89, pg 22)