9 hours ago, Anna said:

Jesus and Jehovah do not give them direct revelations of what they should do or say. If that were the case, there would never be any error on their part.

Oh, but i think how this reasoning can be problematic.

Because, many past Servants of God received "direct revelations" of every sort and in various shapes and forms, but was/were still living in own errors daily, and their errors has been reflected many times on other people life.

9 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

the Sierra Madre Mountains

policía federales  :))))

14 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Their wearing badges advertising  the convention

I said this too, with other wording :))

14 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Next thing you know, Srecko will be saying that JWs in the concentration camps wore purple triangles to “promote JW religion.”

Of course not. Imagination and associatively connecting this two sort of "badges" in your mind is not what i mean. :)))

Purple triangle is forced by "Enemies" who made segregation by their normative. 

Convention Badge is voluntary identification of belonging to some group (religious in this case).

23 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

you tried to steer into the direction of the WT and JWs i

We are on Forum that caries this name:

Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Open Club  ·  365 members

well, it is quite ok that we steer into direction of WT an JWs :))))

Open Club  ·  365 members

1 hour ago, TrueTomHarley said:

What in the world is wrong with it?

Ok, Ok .... just calm down, i wished to upset you ...but not so much :))))

1 Pet 2:5 -  As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men+ but chosen, precious to God,+ ⁵  you yourselves as living stones are being built up into a spiritual house+ to be a holy priesthood, in order to offer up spiritual sacrifices+ acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

this two sort of stones preaching too (offer up)  :))))

19 hours ago, Jack Ryan said:

Was the direction given as a suggestion? So delegates were free not to wear it?

What would happen if one of them chose NOT to wear it?

Of course, it depends on listeners at convention how seriously they will take what was said From Platform! All what was said from Platform should be, need to be taken very seriously, and as such it have some sound, some sort Of Obligation to JW Members. In this Context @Jack Ryan have good point. I don't now how "seriously" elders want and have to empowered this thing about badges after convention program. But every "good" JW will take that very seriously and wearing his badge all days in purpose of Witnessing. I think how that is main point about badges, to promote JW religion.

Of course, we have various perception on how that can look sometimes in some circumstances as @Anna mentioned. I remember International Convention in Nuremberg in 1998 i think. I saw a large group of delegates (think Germans, but not sure any more) who returned from restaurant. It is normal condition, after whole day of sitting, summer temperatures, big evening meal, beverages (wine or beer)  slowly walked through road, a little sloppy because of the tiredness of each and every type, the clothes were no longer so neat, somehow looked under power of drink or tired  or both :)) ,.... but they had badges.

17 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

In a debate, even those on the winning side can spit a few insults,

17 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

I even told you from the very beginning, even a seasoned debater can be unpredictable and can insult their challenger, but evidently not to the extreme, for me, I merely played on your Biblical Intelligence, for even the Bible speaks of stupid persons

17 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

For he is a Satanic hypocrite to the highest degree in this sense.

SM, I gave you Bible verses. What you will do with them is your free will and choice. But you will not command other people here what to accept and what to not accept about it. You will not mastering over people here to play "debate games" by your rules or by "debating rules".

If you feel yourself as "a winner" in "a debate" and as "a winner" over other people comments, and if such Idea in You gives you Permission to Insult....

........i will not spoil your personal happiness about that :)))  

17 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

On 7/20/2019 at 9:28 PM, Srecko Sostar said:

the hand of justice is slow but attainable ..... after cca 100 years. 

Not really.  It has been a issue only for the last 30 years,

30 years? ...this is funny i think. Issue was from Judge Rutherford era who was against Russell influence on Society. After Russell dead and after he prevailed in taking Presidency, he introducing changes (good or bad .. it is for Historians to describe) One of them is - NO beard! :))

17 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Inevitably, you surround yourselves with people who are pretty much like yourself. I don’t know it for sure, of course, with you as individuals, but it is the typical pattern that you have probably fallen into.

Thanks for such deep, contemplative inspection of other people spirit and soul :))))  In just two sentences you done amazing job. Investigative Journalism?    

Yes, they giving such advice, recommendation  for delegates.

22 hours ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

That means, under the direction of the Watchtower GB, run by Witnesses, they have made, minor adjustment

GB is run by Witnesses ? This is exclusive new information! Shall we wait Official Announcement from JWTV? or to believe You? :)) 

19 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

On 7/20/2019 at 3:03 PM, Srecko Sostar said:

lol, this time you are Absolutely right :))))

This time? I find it funny coming from a depraved fool

19 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

You purposely shown yourself to be quite the idiot, Srecko

19 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

I want to hear the claim coming from a depraved simpleton.

19 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

Apparently with little discernment, anyone who is on the receiving end of a debate is always angry, not to the point of becoming the hulk, no, but to the point of copying and pasting their stupidity elsewhere.

21 hours ago, Equivocation said:

Oh Frida, it is no surprise to anyone that you are mad.

Thanks a lot for this. You made strong arguments against my opinions :)))))

according to SM link:https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-common-signs-of-a-person-that-is-losing-an-argument

#6: Ad Hominem (Abusive) - resorting to abusing someone and calling them names because at this point you are running on fumes

#7: Poisoning the well - The deux ex machina of logical fallacies. When everything else fails, go on a tirade to tarnish the image of your opponent.

23 minutes ago, Jack Ryan said:

@The Librarian @JW Insider The whole idea of you guys following other men as to what is "permissible" is repugnant to people who have been taught critical thinking skills.

Science has left religion and customs of desert nomads from 5,000 years ago literally in the dust.

Time to find newer books to spend your days on.

Have you considered learning a new skill in coding? Maybe medicine / health?

Much more productive than spending your time as a people wondering if beards are ok or why you are all forced to wear suits and ties for walking down the street.

 

I also asking myself, more and more, why spending time here on arguing with people about JW Issues :)) 

3 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Though nowhere forbidden by scripture or Bible principles, no "rule" was applied with more vigor than the "no beard" rule, and I am glad to see it go.

.... the hand of justice is slow but attainable ..... after cca 100 years. 

or ... God is Almighty and He decide how His People is finally ready to accept this big change in theocratic instruction matter

or ....Finally Heavenly Chariot made 180 degrees move and surprised JW Brotherhood because this news will strengthen their Unity  

:)) 

1 hour ago, Equivocation said:

Restoration and Restorationist are 2 different things, 

ohhh yeah, you are right, where was my head ? It was something about  Restaurant :)) that confused me

It seems how @Space Merchant and @Equivocation  find common religious language on this and other topics. I wonder does this belong to "interfaith dialogue" because two members of different, even opposite religions support each other in doctrinal matters. :)) As i know JW Church forbidden to his members any kind of Ecumenism :)) 

It seems how @Space Merchant and @Equivocation  find common religious language on this and other topics. I wonder does this belong to "interfaith dialogue" because two members of different, even opposite religions support each other in doctrinal matters. :)) As i know JW Church forbidden to his members any kind of Ecumenism :)) 

31 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:

Because a debate does not end when the points and conclusions are made

Absolutely agree, and one main reason for that is: Our points and conclusion can be err.  Well, your conclusions that opposites mine can be wrong as well as mine :))))))

34 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:

You speak of vocabulary and yet you cannot even say "Restorationist". lol

lol, this time you are Absolutely right :))))

34 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:

The study of religion as defined in short: Religious studies, also known as the study of religion, is an academic field

Fine, but I am not academic and this site is not academic place. So, what you are doing here? Share your academic knowledge with people who have few years of school education? :)))))

37 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:

If you want to run from a debate you started, that is find with me.

"find with me" ..... what language is this ? :)))) I know, this is Academic freedom of expression and talk :))

6 hours ago, Witness said:

They are re-emphasizing they will soon be going to "heaven", leaving all of you behind with the elders. 

I guess that Legal Department with whole Team/s of Lawyers will stay on Earth to support elders :))))

9 hours ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

Where have you seen the GB go against God’s commands that you people can’t give a straight answer to, but use misinterpreted scripture to make use of garbage ideology?

The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural understanding since 1870. 

source: https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-study-february-2017/who-is-leading-gods-people-today/

This is general and public prove, that GB made such (not only minor mistake, but life important) mistakes in doctrines and instructions while leading people (members) with some "commands" that went/going against God and people.  

They can call that "adjustments", "brighter light", "path of righteous".... or somehow else. But GB Responsibility is complete on that. They have no excuse!

On 7/19/2019 at 2:31 AM, Space Merchant said:

My problem is with lairs, stupid persons, fools, willful ignorance, etc. And you fit all tabs.

Well, why you continue debate with me ? :))))

You belong to Restoration Group, and i see that you Restore some words into your vocabulary :)))

7 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Verse 4 fits an atheistic Man better than it does a clerical Man.

7 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

4 He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god.

he sits down in the temple of God

TTH, in what Temple of God, and where is this Temple of God, where your Atheistic Man siting? 

I would assume how Paul was talking about Christ Church as Temple?! Or you have another perspective?

6 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

But basically, these men of lawlessness have ALWAYS been atheists.

If we take this thought as new way of thinking, then we can say that one Class of man existing in WT Society (because JW people believe how this Organization is God's Temple on Earth) that acting as god , showing himself to be a god, and governing over God's people.

So, this fits well in your idea of Atheistic Man who negate any divinity to any other gods, but consider themselves as god. In final result they are atheistic, as you suggest, because atheism in their own eyes/mind, annuls the existence of any other god - in fact reverses the existence of any other god on them alone to be god.

But term Atheistic, in lexical meaning, refers to person who not believe in existence of god as supreme being. By this general, and acceptable meaning of word "atheist", this idea of yours Atheistic man who sits in Temple, will be of short living. Maybe, you will find another name or substitution name for Man of Lawlessness. :)) 

6 minutes ago, TrueTomHarley said:

So, it is now a crime for literature to reflect the morality of the Bible?

No crime TTH. :)) WT Society Literature reflecting, also, various sorts of morality through doctrinal teachings changes. 

Especially this is interesting with flip-flop instructions. In one period of time JW members moral is good under one sort of instruction, but when different, opposite instruction about same thing come to power, than JW members, who lived and made action according to First Instruction, has not been "moral" person in his/her past.  :))     

47 minutes ago, TrueTomHarley said:

This does not happen.

 I would not say that it never ever happens. It may.

Head in sand, again ? Why TTH?

43 minutes ago, TrueTomHarley said:

the video shown at a convention of a teenaged girl “kicked out” of her house for immorality.

Does parents of this girl get that idea from Bible only ...

... or from WT Society literature/video lessons  based on Bible only ?