JW's BANNED IN RUSSIA - 04-01-04 (page 2)

patio34

This is interesting and Gary Buss's questions were relevant as to whether this is in the interests of people.

For one thing, it doesn't seem to me to be advantageous to have a government banning a religious or any other beliefs. That's totalitarianism it seems and no one really wants that, do they?

It also seems to me that a better way to combat cult control is by information such as is on this and many other websites. Plus books, etc. Not government bans.

That would be a very scary proposition if it happened in our country. So I don't applaud it happening in any other country.

Pat

AMAC - maybe a poor choice of thoughts. If you read the post on this topic at www.watchtowernews.org you will see that it discusses the damage that the Russian government feels the religion of JW's can inflict upon a person's health and life.

"Under Russian legislation, any religious activities should not damage people's health and security"

I would say if this "religion" is causing this damage, that is what their laws prohibit. I would go there in support of those issues.

Garybuss: you have a PM

No Apologies

Gotta go with CG on this one, anytime a government starts restricting religious freedom, its starting down a slippery slope.

And the cult/religion angle doesn't work. Who decides what is a religion and what is a cult? What happens when its your religion?

I have no sympathy for the WTB&TS, but I see nothing to applaud here.

garybuss

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9140483%255E1702,00.html

Church hails Jehovahs Witness ban From correspondents in Moscow
31mar04

THE Russian Orthodox Church today hailed a Moscow court ruling that banned the Jehovah's Witnesses from practising in the Russian capital and prompted strong US criticism.

"We think that the Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine and the organisation's activities provide a legal reason for banning it," Moscow Patriarchate spokesman Mikhail Dudko was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

"Under Russian legislation, any religious activities should not damage people's health and security," he said.

Moscow's Golovinsky Court upheld Russian prosecutors' demand on Saturday for the religious organisation to be shut down in Moscow on the grounds the group harms its members' life and health.

The ruling comes after a year long case that has been pursued by Russian prosecutors since late 1998. The Jehovah's Witnesses said they would appeal the Moscow court decision.

The Moscow branch has been accused of "breaking up families, inciting its members to suicide and harming their life and health" by not allowing its members to have blood transfusions.

The group says its members number 133,000 in Russia, including 11,000 in Moscow.

The United States condemned the ruling as a threat to religious freedom.

"We urge local authorities and the Russian government to honour their commitments to respect the right of all faiths to religious freedom," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

privacy © The Australian

AlanF

I see no particular problem with a country banning or limiting the activities of a group -- religious or otherwise -- that destroys families and individuals.

Hardly anyone has a problem with banning a religion that advocates ritual murder or ritual sex with children. While some may object that those are just beliefs, not actions, we all know perfectly well that beliefs, held strongly, inevitably result in actions. A wise government will nip such nasty beliefs in the bud before they have time to flower. Isn't destroying families and individuals' lives only a little less odious than molesting children?

The U.S. has a tradition of religious tolerance, but in some cases that's just plain stupid. I think that in some cases, people who claim that it's horrible for the Russians to ban JWs simply have no idea how nasty the JWs can be and how many lives they've destroyed. That's partly due to laziness on their part, partly due to Watchtower propaganda and lies, and partly due to the fact that a lot of American politicians and social scientists can't believe that any group can be that bad. Well I've got news: the JWs and a few other groups are that bad, and they need to be curtailed from hurting people.

Kudos to the Russians!

AlanF

sf

Hey Alan,

Yes, kudos!!

I think that in some cases, people who claim that it's horrible for the Russians to ban JWs simply have no idea how nasty the JWs can be and how many lives they've destroyed. That's partly due to laziness on their part, partly due to Watchtower propaganda and lies, and partly due to the fact that a lot of American politicians and social scientists can't believe that any group can be that bad.

And if some did the exhaustive and extensive re-search and homework that many of us do, each day, they would see what we see when it comes to this DEADLY and DESTRUCTIVE organization hailed as a religion.

Hey, look at the photo again...guy on the left is bowing his head. Can't imagine why! And if I did'nt know better (don't say it) I'd say we were viewing the 9/11 commission panel on Watchtower Terrorism. A girl can dream can't she?

Love ya babe, sKally

4JWY

AlanF and sf:

Thank you - I was about to surrender........ unfortunately, since my JW father killed himself in the throes of the "cult" one year ago, some of these issues about one's health and life being compromised are near and dear to my heart.

AlanF

No way you should surrender, 4JWY! People who think JWs are harmless are simply ignorant of the truth. They're about as harmless as an anaconda.

AlanF

sf

If you haven't yet done so, I suggest you start your journey with the reading of Ray Franz' book 'Crisis of Conscience'. Try to do so piecemeal and take a hot oil bath after each read.

It's you that we should be thanking...for being here.

And keep firmly in your mind that Watchtower compromises daily, it's members spirituality with poison they ingest daily through WT PUBLICATIONS.

Take good care, sKally

little witch

I am with Alan.

Come on now....Remember the neo-nazi skin heads that used hate filled propaganda literature to intice murder of a man?

The victims family filed a civil suit and won! And rightly so!

Yes there is freedom to say as you will (in the US), but you are responsible FOR WHAT YOU SAY also!!!

You cannot "cry FIRE IN A THEATRE".

If you insist on your right to vocalize and propogate your opinions, then it is only right that you stand behind your words and take the consequences of what damage your words cause.

Does defamation, slander, and liable ring a bell?

JW's BANNED IN RUSSIA - 04-01-04

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