darkspilver

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Posts by darkspilver

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  64

  My jaw dropping OMG moment at the end of the convention

  by UnshackleTheChains in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  yes folks.

  over the past few days i can honestly say the convention was relatively quite good.

  most of the talks, videos, symposiums were in line with scripture if you have faith in the bible.

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  darkspilver

  slimboyfat: I don't think so. I think the official JW position now is that gay people are probably born that way but that they should deny themselves.
  

  btlc: Recent articles about homosexuality.... Awake! October 8. 2003; Awake! December 2010
  

  Recent?

  There's this one from last year - it was part of a three-page article which was discussed here previously (link at bottom)
  
  
  Awake Issue 4, 2016
  

  What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?

  Is the Bible’s View Cruel?

  What about people who have homosexual inclinations? Were they born that way? If so, would it not be cruel to say that it is wrong for them to act on their desires?

  The Bible does not comment on the biology of homosexuality, although it acknowledges that some human traits are deeply ingrained. Still, the Bible says that certain conduct — including homosexual acts — must be shunned if we are to please God. — 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5.

  Some would say that the Bible’s position is cruel. But their claim is based on the premise that we must act on our impulses or that sexual impulses in particular are so important that they should not — even cannot — be controlled. However, the Bible dignifies humans by stating that they can resist their urges. Unlike animals, they can choose not to act on their impulses. — Colossians 3:5.

  Consider a comparison: Some experts say that certain behavioral traits, such as aggression, may have a biological cause. The Bible does not specifically comment on the biology of aggression, but it does acknowledge that some people are “prone to anger” and “disposed to rage.” (Proverbs 22:24; 29:22) Yet, the Bible also says: “Let go of anger and abandon rage.” — Psalm 37:8; Ephesians 4:31.

  Few people would disagree with that advice or say that it is cruel to those who have aggressive tendencies. In fact, even those experts who believe that anger is rooted in a person’s genetic makeup work hard to help people control such tendencies.

  Jehovah’s Witnesses take a similar position toward any conduct that conflicts with Bible standards, including sexual acts between two people of the opposite sex who are not married to each other. In all such cases, the Bible counsel applies: “Each one of you should know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with greedy, uncontrolled sexual passion.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:4, 5.

  More discussion regarding this Awake article is here:
  

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6263873405452288/awake-4-2016-homosexuality
  
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  11

  Speaking of the 144,000...................

  by The Fall Guy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ...........why would an all-powerful christ, whom the bible describes as having been given "all authority", need 144,000 other king/priests as "helpers" to run his universal organization?

  (matthew 28:18) .

  1 corinthians 15:25 - "for he [not 144,000] must rule as king until god has put all enemies under his feet.".

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  darkspilver

  Check out the 9th post:
  

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5138702978252800/why-need-144000-imperfect-humans-rule-christ-jesus-1000-years-he-incapable-ruling-himself
  
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  51

  I was impressed by part of today's symposium entitled ' Safeguard your children from what is evil'

  by UnshackleTheChains in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well i have to give credit where credit is due.

  it was the part of today's symposium - build a house that will endure.

  the part i was most impressed with was 'safeguard your children from "what is evil".

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  darkspilver

  The big play that the WT take with their meetings is that they are 'family' services - they do not hold any children/youth services, which most other churches probably do.

  Therefore another interesting section in the Baptist's Safe To Grow document is:
  

  Chapter 14: Safe practice and safe premises (page 73 to 76)
  

  14.9 Welcoming children into an all-age community

  Family or all-age services

  The particular challenge of family or all-age services is that no one may understand themselves to be responsible for the formal care of the children and young people who attend.

  It is imperative that the parents or carers of children and young people understand the basis on which their children are attending the service.

  Any parents/carers who are present should know that they are not entrusting their children into the care of others but remain responsible themselves for the welfare of their children.
  

  http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/499204/Safe_to_Grow.aspx
  

  Of course the WT is also very clear in terms of the above - don't they say it is always the parent's responsibility?
  

  Picking up on what UnshackleTheChains said above - the Baptist document (page 74) highlights the concept of the Safeguarding Policy being known about, being read, and being understood by ALL church members, as part of the actual safeguarding process.
  
  

  These situations highlight the importance of the Safeguarding Children Policy being adopted, owned and understood by the whole church membership. The annual review of the policy should address areas of church life where adults, children and young people come together but where no formal children’s or youth activities are being organised. The report of the review should also give an occasion for educating the church meeting and helping all church members and members of the congregation to understand their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding
  
• 
  51

  I was impressed by part of today's symposium entitled ' Safeguard your children from what is evil'

  by UnshackleTheChains in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well i have to give credit where credit is due.

  it was the part of today's symposium - build a house that will endure.

  the part i was most impressed with was 'safeguard your children from "what is evil".

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  darkspilver

  UnshackleTheChains - thanks for the Baptist links
  

  I thought the following section was interesting - seeing it set-out as they have:
  

  'Safe To Grow' document

  Page 79: When it is known that a person who has been convicted of sexually abusing children or young people is attending your church

  http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/499204/Safe_to_Grow.aspx
  

  
  
  BTW - weird, it looks like they actually shut down their Child Safeguarding website last year - http://www.safetogrow.org.uk/ - (see pages 65, 71, 77, 80, 81 and back (last) page of above document)
  
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  5

  BBC Radio News Report On Pedophile Elder Allowed To Cross Examine His Victim

  by pale.emperor in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://youtu.be/jmolpaclsca.

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  darkspilver

  thanks for the link

  FYI - the actual Charity Commission's Report itself is being discussed on the following thread since it was released on Wednesday 26 July 2017 (links are also conveniently provided on the thread to the FULL report so people can read it themselves)
  

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4906571056283648/uk-charity-commision-reports-on-moston-manchester-congregation

  also included in the above linked discussion is how it has been reported in both the local (to the area where this all took place) and national newspapers - both online and in the printed newspaper version.
  

  The BBC Radio 4 report was also flagged up here and is being discussed here:

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4906571056283648/_post/5181899129487360
  
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  45

  UK Charity Commision reports on Moston, Manchester Congregation.

  by snugglebunny in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/investigation-leads-to-improvements-in-safeguarding-at-jehovahs-witnesses-charity.

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  darkspilver

  BBC Radio 4 - Sunday 30 July 2017 - 7.10 to 7.55
  

  SUNDAY - "Jehovah's Witness, Trafficking, Arts & Craft Stained Glass"

  The Charity Commission have published a critical report into how the Jehovah's Witnesses managed allegations of child sex abuse at the Manchester New Moston congregation. Kathleen Hallisey a lawyer for survivors and Harvey Grenville, Head of Investigations and Enforcement at the Charity Commission discuss the issues with Edward.

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08z97zy

  (The radio programme is actually called 'Sunday')

  Version on youtube:
  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcjLW-hSsh8
  
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  45

  UK Charity Commision reports on Moston, Manchester Congregation.

  by snugglebunny in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/investigation-leads-to-improvements-in-safeguarding-at-jehovahs-witnesses-charity.

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  darkspilver

  yeah - that's why I said "how the JWs dealt with it" - it's not just the face-to-face meetings but also by the very serious 'conflict-of-interest' issues that where revealed too.
  
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  9

  Facebook shuts ex j-dub site for "hate speech"

  by GoneAwol in

  1. social
  2. current

  sorry if this has been posted, havnt had much time to look..

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  darkspilver

  It may have been temporarily unavailable, but the Facebook page is still accessible:

  I think that's a new 'page'?

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/6pvj6k/facebook_shuts_down_exjw_group_for_hate_speech/

  Also, compare with: https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/6o6fiz/the_truth_about_jwfacts_facebook_hate_page/
  
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  45

  UK Charity Commision reports on Moston, Manchester Congregation.

  by snugglebunny in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/investigation-leads-to-improvements-in-safeguarding-at-jehovahs-witnesses-charity.

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  darkspilver

  So they're still intending to investigate abuse accusations internally without reporting them to the authorities. What does it take to get through to these people?

  In this case that they're commenting on, the perpetrator was known and had been dealt with by the authorities. The main issue that appears to have picked up is how the JWs dealt with it after (the face-to-face JC meetings).
  

  Remember the - reverse - situation happens too:

  Courts find alleged perpetrator not guilty - BUT the JW's find guilty and DF.
  

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5656118292381696/uk-paul-shields-abused-girls-after-luring-them-video-games
  
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  3

  New Film on Murder of Ex-Jehovah's Witness

  by Kenneson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  based on a true crime book entitled "under the bridge," by rebecca godfrey, a film is in the making on the life of reena virk, an ex jehovah's witness, who was murdered in british columbia, canada, by several other females.

  should be interesting.

  see "witherspoon's type a develops high school murder story of reena virk" at.

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  darkspilver

  Article from Rebecca Godfrey, author of the above book 'Under The Bridge'.
  
  The Unforgettable Story of a Teen Murdered by Her Peers

  Vice July 27 2017

  Twenty years after Reena Virk’s horrific death, the reporter who knew the teenage girls involved goes deep on a crime that shocked the world.
  

  https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvpqa7/the-unforgettable-story-of-a-teen-murdered-by-her-peers
  
  Background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Reena_Virk