Posts by umbertoecho

54

The Watchtower is not invincible

by Coded Logic in

despite claims to the contrary, there's no guarantee the watchtower will be around in a few decades time.

and it seems to me there's ever mounting evidence that the opposite may well be true.

but it's not just that recruitment is down and their defectors are up.

umbertoecho

nvisible God that only communicate with all knowing 8 or 9 cunning GB

Did you make a mistake with the spelling or am I having a wonderfully evil thought.......?

54

The Watchtower is not invincible

by Coded Logic in

despite claims to the contrary, there's no guarantee the watchtower will be around in a few decades time.

and it seems to me there's ever mounting evidence that the opposite may well be true.

but it's not just that recruitment is down and their defectors are up.

1903 the vote is given to all women in backwards little Australia, 1972 women allowed to leave an abusive situation and receive assistance and help on every level. 1900, the laws on concealment of a crime in any state were established and never taken down or changed.

This is the one" little" over- looked law of 1900 that may unravel the whole thing. And I love these little laws that are sometimes deemed so small as to have no legal status. O'Toole recommended for investigation due to his real or deliberate ignorance of such a law is going to happen. (It was his legal duty to know about all aspects of law, especially criminal law) I like little wins....they lead to bigger ones.

This religion has been banned before and it will happen again. Not a prophecy, just an observation of the disgust I have seen. Small beginnings can turn into really really big conclusions.

My hope is in this little place where many oddities exist and many good things do happen. Just stay tuned. Have a lovely Christmas people I am having my first ever....yay

221

The new Ice Age Cometh!

by Gill in

jw
friends

http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/aol/redir?src=websearch&requestid=6b69327903d3d481&clickeditemrank=1&userquery=sunspot+activity+for+2008+iceage&clickeditemurn=http%3a%2f%2fglobalwarminghoax.wordpress.com%2f2008%2f04%2f23%2fsunspots-and-a-possible-new-ice-age-updated%2f&title=%3cb%3esunspots%3c%2fb%3e+and+a+possible+new+%3cb%3eice+age%3c%2fb%3e+%28updated%29+%c2%ab+the+global+warming+%3cb%3e...%3c%2fb%3e&moduleid=matchingsites.jsp.m&clickeditempageranking=1&clickeditempage=1&clickeditemdescription=webresults.

i hope this link works but there has been virtually no sunspot activity since the beginning of this year and the suns magnetic field is down 60%.. if this link does not work, you might like to try googling: sunspot activity 2008 iceage.. the last time this happened we moved into a little ice age which lasted from 1100 to 1800.. global warming lies may well have met their match with reality.. so how will they tax us for the 'ice age?

do we get our tax back that we paid because of 'global warming'.. is this why they have made fuel so expensive....because they know what is coming and they want to make a killing?.

umbertoecho

Gill. You might like the works of Ayn Rand. Atlas Shrugged. An excellent book to read as a form of fiction that spurned a philosophy of Objectivism in America. I hope you read it. You don't have to agree with all of it but parts (many I hope) will appeal to your rational, logical thinking. I have read most of her essays as well. I have not turned this into my "new religion" but it has certainly helped me gain a better perspective in life and as a productive individual. You would love the "hypothetical" debate that has been written as the now dead Ayn Rand takes on Barack Obama.

I agree with your comment below.

Despite what Primate Dave thinks, I believe taxes are important and everyone contributing to their community is doing a good job. But I don't agree with stealing, mugging, lying etc.......that's just not polite, ever if it is your govenment doing it to you.

17

Transfer of Bank Balances and Kingdom Halls.

by kramer in

jw
friends

two things related to ongoing comments regarding forgiving of loans / transfer of balances to the wtbs and the ownership of kingdom halls.

firstly, i would argue that congregations don't care that bank balances have been transferred to the society.

i would contend that people contribute to the preaching work, and that's it , so long as there is enough in the bank to maintain the hall with a reasonable reserve, then i doubt many would argue against it.

umbertoecho

In Australia, congregants are being asked pre pay "before" the assemblies. They have been reminded that the initial forgiveness of loans and subsequent forms handed out to families in order to budget their donations, was only for their immediate halls. Not for assemblies.

The average witness looks a bit .....shocked or worried (not all but the ones I have seen) My sister shook her head with sorrow and said..."their's just not enough money..(she is seventy) Her devotion has always been there and most of the time she is obnoxious toward the rest of "worldly" people behind her plastic smile. So, no. Things are not feeling that great here. Plus the ARC is making it's uncomfortable presence felt in such a diplomatic but unyielding manner. It's a joy to behold for those involved.

9

For Australian victims regardless of gender.

by umbertoecho in

i wasn't going to post until after my hearing.

but i have changed my mind due to a pm.

yesterday was a terrible day.

umbertoecho

I wasn't going to post until after my hearing. But I have changed my mind due to a PM. Yesterday was a terrible day. I don't like to feel the past too much and confess that I am emotionally inept in many ways. For this I am truly sorry. I have a friend here who is kind and took the time to understand and explain how badly I present at times. Thankyou Mighty V8 You visited me and you were flexible in your' approach.

You are not afraid of the ugliness that is the reality of child abuse. You have not pried into the details and made me feel dreadful.

I had a PM from a woman in my state who has registered and I say this........Good on you. That is the first and most important move. I say to all in Australia who have been abused.........You will not be treated badly. You will have support, validation and a chance to explain how things really are. You must not minimise your experience and try to tell yourselves that your experience is less than another's. All experiences are important to the RC. Indeed! If you care to re-view the video's of the RC in Australia, you will see the woman who is next to justice McClellan. She is an integral part of this process and a most humane advocate of abuse victims. They don't have to be "all" female. Don't be afraid of coming forward. If you become afraid as I have many times.......phone them. They will never let you down or make you feel crazy.

I felt so afraid yesterday that I could hardly breath right. I was somewhere in the past and the now. I felt dreadful and so lonely. I called them and they called straight back. No judicial committee required. They cared and they cried with or for me....Don't stop now when the real "guts" of the matter are coming to light. Don't think you had a "one off experience" and it doesn't matter.

I know I will give testimony, but don't know what to do after it is done. They won't let you feel alone and we have good rational minds to do so much that is respectful, kind and supportive for the next wave of victims.

If you are sincere; in the name of reason and your basic respect of children, teenagers or vulnerable people: come forward and put this right. If you need me to encourage you. Call me. PM me and I will tell you that these people are very kind and serious about sorting this matter out.

They are educated, smart, emotionally kind.................

19

new religious wave of young? 90 baptized at assembly

by prologos in

isis has it's young warriors, jw?

last weekend in a "developing country", at a ~ 3500 attendee assembly, 90, mostly young were baptized, ratio 46/44 female - male ratio.

internet savvy population.

umbertoecho

prologos, The WT has only descended into the world of televangelism as has been done for decades by other religions. Don't be too disheartened about this. There are always a few gems who will head off to the library and thumb through books of substance

19

new religious wave of young? 90 baptized at assembly

by prologos in

isis has it's young warriors, jw?

last weekend in a "developing country", at a ~ 3500 attendee assembly, 90, mostly young were baptized, ratio 46/44 female - male ratio.

internet savvy population.

umbertoecho

prologos. Are you saying that the art of reasoning and effective research has now left this religion? Was it ever there, really?

60

Watchtower's response to Royal Commission shows they have learned nothing and will do nothing

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i've quickly read through watchtower's submission to the royal commission.

seems like they aren't planning to change policy anytime soon.

they are critical of how the royal commission handled the situation.. the tone is of the submission is shear arrogance.

umbertoecho

Oh how I love the saying...."Pride before the fall". No one can keep up such an arrogant pretence and feel they will escape justice. I feel it in my bones

72

My RC hearing brought forward. Will be in two weeks

by umbertoecho in

through this forum of wonderful freaks, i have met someone who is coming with me to my hearing.

initially i was slated for next year, but will be attending in two weeks time.

all is in place from travel vouchers, support, where to go ............very efficient and well done.

umbertoecho

Good points all of them. I recognize that I need to stay on track with this particular issue of Child Abuse and how the ARC wishes to find a way to deal with it in relation to the unusual two witness rule that JWs live by. I think legislation is what every one is recommending. No internal judicial committees, just straight reporting to the relevant authorities.

Strict back ground checks on all who are dealing with children and perhaps penalties for those who do not comply. It is a crime not some religiously defined sin.

Thanks to all

72

My RC hearing brought forward. Will be in two weeks

by umbertoecho in

through this forum of wonderful freaks, i have met someone who is coming with me to my hearing.

initially i was slated for next year, but will be attending in two weeks time.

all is in place from travel vouchers, support, where to go ............very efficient and well done.

umbertoecho

All comments here are valid. I understand that this whole issue of child abuse must be the focus. To take a general list of "complaints" that are not relevant to this RC could sound petty or smack of religious bias. The RC are interested in the means by which such abuses have been allowed to happen in the past and prevent future abuses. This means they are taking a close look.........A very close look at this religion and it's relationship to normal society.

The Clergy/Penitent issue is well worth investigating as one commentator mentioned, for I have not seen it as a part of the standard within the "known" practise of this religion. There is room for change in this area. I feel that taking children out on the preaching work is another thing that is wrong. Children need free time and happy times to enjoy on the weekends. Mandatory reporting is bound to occur here. I think every comment if valuable and am aware of the need to stay on track with this.

The tax exempt status they have enjoyed is a misplaced one. They do nothing charitable toward their fellow man. I believe they attached themselves to a case in America when a religious leader was battling to keep in money from sales of book and such. WTBTS showed a friendly interest and when the case was lost, all magazines were supposedly free from that point onward. It will be easy to find this case again. I have taken all comments and kept them to see what the main wishes are for those concerned with abuse. There is a general harmony of thought from what I have read.

Thank you for your time people.