Good point Finally Free, maybe that is a good issue to work on. I have a potential outlet in the future to have some of these things addressed.
Do Jehovah's Witnesses Have The "Right" To Practice Their Religion???
by minimus 71 Replies latest jw friends
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OnTheWayOut
The "Right" to Practice Their Religion- This indicates legislation and government action.
In countries like the United States, there are great freedoms in the legislation. Freedom
of religion is certainly one of them. Freedom of expression is another one. Groups like
the KKK and neo-Nazis have used their rights. Agree or disagree with them, they have
their rights.Many countries give these rights, but they also include limitations on those rights. While
it hasn't happened yet in the United States, some legislative powers have determined that
Jehovah's Witnesses are a dangerous group. Similar to freedom of speech not allowing
you to shout "Fire" in a crowded theater without repercussions, JW's have had their
recruiting limited in some places. Other places tax their work.We need to let the dangers of the WTS be known. Psychiatrists are allowed to hypnotize
willing patients, but they are not allowed to abuse their power over patients by implanting
fears and false memories. WTS implants fears and warps their history. Many social
programs are not allowed to discriminate as to who they will help. WTS says it offers
the best help to mankind that is available- permanent solutions. Yet, they withold any aid
to former members, even insisting that they are to be shunned. Doctors must give the best
care they know how to give to patients. They are responsible for giving accurate information
to the patient, and not taking advantage of the patient's lack of knowledge. Procedures and
medicines must be fully explained to the patient. WTS tells the patients that they have every
right to proper care, but they mislead the patient with inaccurate statements about what God
expects of them as far as the blood issue goes. They don't allow their members to seek
outside information to help them make informed decisions on blood. Victims of abuse have
an expectancy that government and medical professionals will respect their situation and give
them the counseling and care that they need. WTS teaches it's elders to protect the
organization before helping victims. Often, they have been instructed to tell the victim that
nothing can be done to help them, and involving outsiders will bring reproach on Jehovah's
name.I guess the WTS and it's members have their rights, but they have to answer for their actions
with accountability. -
Lumptard
Of course they have the right. Their policies are f*#ked, but what religion's aren't? Just because they practice things that most people find hard to swallow, doesn't mean that their right to practice them should come into question. It is an american religion, afterall....
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undercover
but they shouldnt be guaranteed the right to tax exempt status, nor non profit status.
In my opinion, no religion should be tax exempt. Nor should they be exempt from zoning laws and other ordinances that affect any other business or organization.
If a religion has a charitable arm of it's organization, then it should be listed seperately as non-profit and charitable and it can be tax exempt but the religion as a whole, its properties, its holdings, its profits from merchandise (including literature), etc should all be taxed. Religion has become big business and should be treated as such.
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ex-nj-jw
Scully said:
In the case of JWs, I don't have a problem with them holding to or teaching their children a certain set of values and morals (although I disagree with the rationales for doing so), but I do have a problem with them claiming that their freedom of worship includes: teaching their children to hate homosexuality or premaritial sex, or abortion or having children without the benefit of marriage, or withholding blood transfusions from their children in the case of life threatening situations.
They can't expect to be treated with tolerance if they are preaching and practicing intolerance themselves
I couldn't have said it better!!!
nj
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Junction-Guy
And an "Amrican Religion" that refuses its own members the right to partiipate in the legislative process, under the threat of shunning, should'nt be given tax exemptions.
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minimus
I would like to see that shunning be considered a "hate crime" because the WATCHTOWER states a Witness should "hate" not just the disfellowshipping act of sin but the SINNER too!
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OnTheWayOut
I think a short answer is this:
Jehovah's Witnesses have the "Right" to practice Ttheir religion, but much of
what they do should be considered criminal. Nobody has the right to continue
criminal activity except the government. -
minimus
The gov't, huh? Too funny! What criminal things do JWs do??
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Junction-Guy
Sure, why not? I mean the gays and other groups have their hate crimes laws.
As a side note, Im traditionally against hate crime laws, because they address the motive and not the actual crime. They penalize the reason for doing the crime, and that smacks of group think.