Posts by darkspilver

A 1962 British drama film produced by Michael Relph directed by Basil Dearden and starring Michael Craig, Patrick McGoohan and Janet Munro.
John Harris finds himself ostracized and placed on trial for allowing his daughter Ruth to die. His religious beliefs forbade him to give consent for a blood transfusion that would have saved her life. Doctor Brown is determined to seek justice for what he sees as the needless death of a young girl.
READ MORE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_for_Ruth

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lafu0dIqjg

22

The Children Act: The Movie - By Ian McEwan and directed by Richard Eyre

by darkspilver in

richard eyre's film adaptation of ian mcewan's book the childen act has it's world premiere at the toronto international film festival in september 2017. the children act.

emma thompson and stanley tucci star in this adaptation of the novel by ian mcewan, about a high-court judge who finds personal and professional crises colliding when she is asked to rule in the case of a brilliant 18-year-old boy who is refusing the blood transfusion that would save his life.. adapted by booker prize–winning author ian mcewan from his own novel, this riveting drama stars two-time academy award winner emma thompson as a british high court judge tasked with making a decision that will speak to our most fraught questions regarding religious tolerance — and could mean life or death for an innocent young man.. judge fiona maye (emma thompson) is married to her work, which has become a problem for her husband, jack (stanley tucci), who announces that he wants to have an affair.

treating the matter more as an annoyance than a life-altering crisis, fiona kicks jack out and focuses on her current case.

darkspilver

With just two hours to go before the SOLD-OUT WORLD PREMIERE of THE CHILDREN ACT takes place in Toronto, Canada as part of TIFF 2017 - the film's star, Emma Thompson, talks to Variety:

Emma Thompson on 'The Children Act,' Why She Loved 'Wonder Woman'

Variety, Saturday, September 9, 2017
“The Children Act” premieres at the Toronto Film Festival, where it is looking for distribution. Thompson spoke with Variety about the film’s message, Hollywood’s superhero obsession, and the virtues and demerits of Netflix.
Given how artistic and intelligent Adam is, it almost seems like child abuse to have raised him in a belief system like that? I mean he was indoctrinated. He didn’t get a say.
I do absolutely believe it is a form of abuse. Though, I don’t think you can bring a child up in any belief system without finding out along the way that there’s some level of brainwashing. Jehovah’s Witnesses are brought up in an extreme set of beliefs. I’m an atheist, but I’m spiritual, but I do believe we’ve lost our human connections at some level. There are high levels of suicidal inclinations, depression and mental illness.
In what ways are people brainwashed?
In a funny sort of way we’re absolutely all brainwashed. Growing up for me in a straight white heterosexual world, I was certainly taught not to question things.
READ MORE: http://variety.com/2017/film/markets-festivals/emma-thompson-wonder-woman-netflix-1202552228/

Interestingly - in contrast to Apostasy which had it's World Premiere in Toronto yesterday - it seems that The Children Act is still looking for a distributor.....

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6224640852623360/apostasy-movie-directed-daniel-kokotajlo

22

The Children Act: The Movie - By Ian McEwan and directed by Richard Eyre

by darkspilver in

richard eyre's film adaptation of ian mcewan's book the childen act has it's world premiere at the toronto international film festival in september 2017. the children act.

emma thompson and stanley tucci star in this adaptation of the novel by ian mcewan, about a high-court judge who finds personal and professional crises colliding when she is asked to rule in the case of a brilliant 18-year-old boy who is refusing the blood transfusion that would save his life.. adapted by booker prize–winning author ian mcewan from his own novel, this riveting drama stars two-time academy award winner emma thompson as a british high court judge tasked with making a decision that will speak to our most fraught questions regarding religious tolerance — and could mean life or death for an innocent young man.. judge fiona maye (emma thompson) is married to her work, which has become a problem for her husband, jack (stanley tucci), who announces that he wants to have an affair.

treating the matter more as an annoyance than a life-altering crisis, fiona kicks jack out and focuses on her current case.

darkspilver

Richard Eyre's film adaptation of Ian McEwan's book The Childen Act has it's World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017

The Children Act
Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci star in this adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan, about a high-court judge who finds personal and professional crises colliding when she is asked to rule in the case of a brilliant 18-year-old boy who is refusing the blood transfusion that would save his life.
Adapted by Booker Prize–winning author Ian McEwan from his own novel, this riveting drama stars two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson as a British High Court judge tasked with making a decision that will speak to our most fraught questions regarding religious tolerance — and could mean life or death for an innocent young man.
Judge Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson) is married to her work, which has become a problem for her husband, Jack (Stanley Tucci), who announces that he wants to have an affair. Treating the matter more as an annoyance than a life-altering crisis, Fiona kicks Jack out and focuses on her current case. The question: should a couple who are Jehovah's Witnesses be permitted to deny a life-saving blood transfusion to their leukemia-stricken 17-year-old son (Fionn Whitehead)? Fiona finds herself taking unusual measures to determine her verdict — measures that will have far-reaching consequences.
Directed by Richard Eyre, The Children Act brims with intelligence, sophistication, and intrigue. The elevated tension places unusual focus on its protagonist's every word and gesture — a challenge Thompson meets with virtuosity. Her Fiona is a cauldron of conflicted feelings bubbling beneath a veneer of composure. As she finds herself sliding deeper into a mire of professional compromise and personal desperation, we come to empathize with her singular burden… and wait for the outcome with keen anticipation.

FILM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Children_Act_(film)

NOVEL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Children_Act_(novel)

CAST: Emma Thompson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Thompson

CAST: Stanley Tucci - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Tucci

CAST: Fionn Whitehead - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fionn_Whitehead

WORLD PREMIERE of The Children Act

Toronto International Film Festival (7 to 17 September 2017)
Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 2.30pm at the Elgin Theatre
Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 8.45am at the Bell Lightbox
Monday, September 11, 2017 at 1.45pm (press and industry only)
Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 1.30pm (press and industry only)
http://www.tiff.net/tiff/the-children-act/

28

JW critically injured after being electrocuted in assembly hall

by Anders Andersen in

jw
friends

a newspaper reports that in bornem, belgium, a jw volunteer was critically injured after being electrocuted:.

bornem - a man was electrocuted while performing maintenance on a high voltage installation in the assembly hall of jw in bornem friday afternoon.

the man was critically injured.. possibly the man, who is a volunteer with the jw, tried to clean the installation with a vacuum cleaner.

darkspilver

FYI - the OP's news source appears to have updated this story today with some more information - though it is via Google translate

Handyman (80) receives 15,000 volts power: Antwerp is in danger of living after vacuuming a power cab

Gazet van Antwerpen, Saturday, September 9, 2017
An eighty-one from Antwerp was killed in a lifetime accident when he wanted to clean the drinking cabinet of the Jehovah's Witnesses conference hall in Bornem with a vacuum cleaner. In addition, he might hit the electrical system and gained a current of 15,000 volts.
Een tachtiger uit Antwerpen is gisteren levensgevaarlijk gewond geraakt toen hij de stroomcabine van de congreshal van Jehova’s Getuigen in Bornem met een stofzuiger wilde reinigen. Daarbij raakte hij wellicht de elektrische installatie en kreeg een stroomstoot van 15.000 volt.
http://m.gva.be/cnt/dmf20170908_03061431/klusjesman-80-krijgt-stroomstoot-van-15-000-volt

The following also has a short video

Elderly person in mortality after electrocution in Bornem

rtv, Friday September 8, 2017
In a bizarre accident in Bornem this afternoon, an elderly man was killed in life. The victim wanted to vacuum the inside of a high-voltage cabin, which was widely electrocuted. The accident happened in the areas of a congress center for Jehovah's Witnesses. The facts also cause a nearby electricity team. Hundreds of families and businesses spent almost an hour without power.
Bij een bizar ongeval in Bornem is vanmiddag een bejaarde man levensgevaarlijk gewond geraakt. Het slachtoffer wilde de binnenkant van een hoogspanningscabine stofzuigen, maard werd geëlektrocuteerd. Het ongeval gebeurde op de terreinen van een congrescentrum voor Jehova's Getuigen. De feiten zorgen ook voor een elektriciteitspanne in de buurt. Honderden gezinnen en bedrijven zaten bijna een uur lang zonder stroom.
http://www.rtv.be/artikels/bejaarde-levensgevaar-na-elektrocutie-bornem-a43794

75

Apostasy: The Movie - Directed by Daniel Kokotajlo

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

daniel kokotajlo's new film apostasy has it's world premiere at the toronto international film festival in september 2017. apostasy.

family and faith come into conflict for two jehovah’s witness sisters in manchester, when one is condemned for fornication and the other pressured to shun her sibling.. this fresh, unadorned first feature from director dan kokotajlo carries an unmistakable note of authenticity from its very first scenes.

set in a jehovah's witness community in england, the film's strength and power lies in its directness.. apostasy depicts the growing rift in a family — a mother and two daughters — who are rigorously devoted to their religion.

darkspilver

With less than seven hours to go before the SOLD-OUT WORLD PREMIERE of APOSTASY takes place in Toronto, Canada as part of TIFF 2017 - the film's director, Daniel Kokotajlo, talks to Screen Daily:

Toronto: Daniel Kokotajlo talks Jehovah’s Witness drama ‘Apostasy’

Screen Daily, Friday, September 8, 2017
While the storyline isn’t exactly autobiographical, it comes from a world Kokotajlo knows intimately, as he grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness family.
How will Witnesses react to Apostasy?
I suspect they will ignore the film. Even the idea of making this film is controversial. The word ‘apostasy’ will raise an eyebrow within the Witnesses. But I’m hoping that if people in the faith watch this film and give it time, they will see it’s not critical of the Witnesses – it’s a film about people who stand up for what they believe in. Some ex-Witnesses I’ve spoken to are very angry about that part of their lives but I see it a bit more objectively.
READ MORE: https://www.screendaily.com/features/toronto-daniel-kokotajlo-talks-jehovahs-witness-drama-apostasy/5122066.article

14

Sandra Melgar convicted of murder in husband's brutal stabbing

by darkspilver in

fyihouston woman convicted of murder in husband's brutal stabbing.

wednesday, august 23, 2017jurors discount her claim that intruder was responsiblemelgar maintained her innocence in the dec. 22, 2012 killing, which occurred the day before the couple's 32nd wedding anniversary.http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/houston-woman-convicted-of-murder-in-husband-s-11954131.php.

sandra melgar guilty of killing husband, faking home invasion on houston couple's anniversary night.

darkspilver

FYI

A Daughter’s Outrage After Mom Is Convicted of Murdering Dad in Staged Home Invasion: Why She Says the Verdict Is Wrong

People Crime, Thursday, September 7, 2017
When Sandra Melgar was convicted last month of murdering her husband in 2012 and then staging the scene to look like a home invasion, perhaps no one else was more dismayed than the couple’s daughter.
“A gasp went through the courtroom,” Elizabeth Rose, 32, tells PEOPLE of the August 23 guilty verdict. “It was a complete shock.”
Melgar, 57, was sentenced to 27 years in prison following her first-degree murder conviction — despite her insistence that she and husband Jaime Melgar, 52, were the victims of someone else’s crime.
Not so, prosecutors successfully argued, pointing to Jaime’s $250,000 life insurance policy and the couple’s religious beliefs as Jehovah’s Witness, which made a divorce difficult, as likely motive for murder.
Sandra’s defense team did not return a request for comment. But her daughter is standing by her and is vowing to appeal.
“I am pretty outraged and pretty upset,” Rose says. “This has been a huge miscarriage of justice. I never thought it would get this far, I didn’t think she would ever be convicted. I thought she had a fantastic shot of having this dismissed and here we are.”
While her parents had sporadic disagreements, Rose says, their relationship was never violent. “It was never yelling or screaming or being abusive,” she says. “They never called each other names. I never even heard them say ‘shut up’ to each other.”
Rose believes detectives had tunnel-vision from the start and failed to look at other potential suspects.
READ MORE: http://people.com/crime/sandra-melgar-murder-verdict-daughter-says-is-wrong/

23

Do you know anything about Live Kingdom Hall?

by Hecce in

i learned recently about this link that allows for a person to listen or watch the meetings at the kh that have contracted the service.

you have the option to watch the meeting live or just listen.

there will be a recording of the audio available until the next meeting.. i don't think that this is an official wt arrangement, it might be a private enterprise like the preaching materials .

darkspilver

Hecce - the congregation's own live recording / streaming either on physical media (previously on a 'cassette' tape (?) or usb stick) or via a telephone 'link' or via an internet 'stream' (such as an app) is a private arrangement between the congregation and who they deal with to provide the service - obviously there are 'brothers' who buy-in the set-up and then build a bespoke service which is then 're-sold' to individual congregations.

And, of course, the incentive for the above 'live' listening is that all those listening can be counted as meeting attendance.

You will have already seen the WT videos - either the convention or assembly videos - the congregation meeting videos are just an extension of those.

In addition, when a new language group is being set-up, the WT allows the group to use the foreign-language meeting videos as part of the group's actual meetings in a limited way.

BoE, October 23, 2015 - Re: Foreign-Language Field

Paragraph 14: Recordings and Audio and Video Tie-In: It is preferable for congregation meetings to be conducted locally. However, if such is not yet possible, a pregroup, group, or small congregation may request approval from their circuit overseer to view recorded meetings or portions of meetings in the target language, preferably using JW Stream. (In most cases, the meetings available on JW Stream will be recorded on Monday evening and Saturday morning. Thus, pregroups, groups, and small or isolated congregations desiring to make use of such recordings should hold their meetings at times that will allow them to view the current week’s recordings.) The circuit overseer will approve which pregroups, groups, or small or isolated congregations in his circuit will view such recordings and to what extent. Some congregations may request approval to use the provision occasionally for the public talk. If a small or isolated congregation is approved to view recorded meetings periodically, it should strive to conduct all of its own meetings as soon as possible. As a reminder, when making use of recordings, prayers should be said locally.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5O25TquiW0xakV3c19nbk1ZUEE/view

17

Co-Ordinator of BOE Secretly Putting His DF'd Daughter First

by pale.emperor in

long story short, a friend of mine around the same age as me is df'd.

she's from another city.

we met up a few months ago with other exjws.

darkspilver

The KM 2002 below is quoted in the Elder's book (with a 'paper-trail' through to 1978, as noted below) - so I presume is therefore still 'current'.

I believe it would be on the understanding that the child was living a generally 'moral' life at least when in the family home, and was not notoriously known by others to be living an 'immoral' life when outside the family life.

Also by saying "for a time" would indicate some kind of timeline for the child to get better and move out again from the family home. Of course, unfortunately, their are also situations when the mental/emotional and/or physical illness may also be a long-term or even life-long one, so it might need to be for an 'extended' time.

Kingdom Minstry, August 2002

Display Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped
The Watchtower addresses another situation that can arise: “What if a close relative, such as a son or a parent who does not live in the home, is disfellowshiped and subsequently wants to move back there? The family could decide what to do depending on the situation. For example, a disfellowshiped parent may be sick or no longer able to care for himself financially or physically. The Christian children have a Scriptural and moral obligation to assist. (1 Tim. 5:8) . . . What is done may depend on factors such as the parent’s true needs, his attitude and the regard the head of the household has for the spiritual welfare of the household.”—The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, pages 28-9.
As for a child, the same article continues: “Sometimes Christian parents have accepted back into the home for a time a disfellowshiped child who has become physically or emotionally ill. But in each case the parents can weigh the individual circumstances. Has a disfellowshiped son lived on his own, and is he now unable to do so? Or does he want to move back primarily because it would be an easier life? What about his morals and attitude? Will he bring ‘leaven’ into the home?—Gal. 5:9.”

Watchtower, September 15, 1981

If a Relative Is Disfellowshiped . . .
But what if a close relative, such as a son or a parent who does not live in the home, is disfellowshiped and subsequently wants to move back there? The family could decide what to do depending on the situation. [see footnote]
For example, a disfellowshiped parent may be sick or no longer able to care for himself financially or physically. The Christian children have a Scriptural and moral obligation to assist. (1 Tim. 5:8) Perhaps it seems necessary to bring the parent into the home, temporarily or permanently. Or it may appear advisable to arrange for care where there is medical personnel but where the parent would have to be visited. What is done may depend on factors such as the parent’s true needs, his attitude and the regard the head of the household has for the spiritual welfare of the household.
This could be true also with regard to a child who had left home but is now disfellowshiped or disassociated. Sometimes Christian parents have accepted back into the home for a time a disfellowshiped child who has become physically or emotionally ill. But in each case the parents can weigh the individual circumstances. Has a disfellowshiped son lived on his own, and is he now unable to do so? Or does he want to move back primarily because it would be an easier life? What about his morals and attitude? Will he bring “leaven” into the home?—Gal. 5:9.
In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, the father ran to meet and then accepted his returning son. The father, seeing the lad’s pitiful condition, responded with natural parental concern. We can note, though, that the son did not bring home harlots or come with a disposition to continue his sinful life in his father’s home. No, he expressed heartfelt repentance and evidently was determined to return to living a clean life.—Luke 15:11-32.
Footnote: Comments on the situation of elders and ministerial servants are presented in “Questions from Readers” in The Watchtower of February 1, 1978.

Watchtower, February 1, 1978

Questions From Readers: If children in the household of elders or ministerial servants come under a “charge of debauchery,” what determines whether the family head can continue to serve the congregation in an appointed capacity?
If gross wrongdoing by children in the household does raise serious questions in the congregation about a man’s presiding in a fine way over his family, he should not continue serving as an elder or as a ministerial servant. When the man serves as an elder and his fellow elders allow their judgment and decision to be swayed by friendship or sentimentality to the point of sidestepping Scriptural principles, then especially can his continuing to serve as an elder, though unqualified, be spiritually hurtful to the congregation. This is because it can undermine respect for the entire body of elders. It can provide an excuse for other children in the congregation to engage in wrongdoing. So, it is good to keep in mind that the man’s abilities as a speaker or an organizer or his likable personality are really not the point at issue. The determining factor is whether he is fulfilling his role as a father in a fine way. Only if he is may he continue to serve. Of course, when that is so, the body of elders should avoid being unduly critical and faultfinding in reviewing his family situation.

23

Do you know anything about Live Kingdom Hall?

by Hecce in

i learned recently about this link that allows for a person to listen or watch the meetings at the kh that have contracted the service.

you have the option to watch the meeting live or just listen.

there will be a recording of the audio available until the next meeting.. i don't think that this is an official wt arrangement, it might be a private enterprise like the preaching materials .

darkspilver

Hi Hecce

I understand all the live STREAMING - audio and video - is done privately, not through the WT.

Most 'first world' halls nowadays seem to have an audio stream set up - previously this was a landline telephone link-up, but now lots stream live over the internet using various 'private' apps especially designed for KH streaming - this way you get actual video of your OWN congeagtion.

Some KH's I believe use youtube to live stream to an invited audience - see below example.

Remember, those listening or watching the meeting live can be counted as meeting attendance (good incentive for elders to get it orking to improve attendance numbers!!)

This is in contrast to the video meeting RECORDINGS that are WT official.....

The BoE letter you should read is:

BoE October 22, 2015 - Re: Use of JW Stream

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5O25TquiW0xU0pmNVMzYkdtLTA/view
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5133648026140672/now-you-dont-even-have-go-kingdom-hall-all-meetings-recorded-available-on-jw-org-if-you-have-password

These video files, recorded live at various 'real-life' KHs are WT official and are made available by the WT through their website stream.jw.org (these congregation meeting videos are NOT streamed live, but are available to view online 'on-demand' or as mp4 files to download)

The files are available for up to a week, before they are deleted and replaced by the next meeting.

Every month or so the congregation location is changed. There are individual video recordings for each language (yes, hundreds of them, including sign-language).

The videos are sometimes (unintentionally) funny as they really are just a bog-standard congregation and it is all effectively unrehearsed - it is a very real standard meeting, mistakes and all

Below is an example 'private' video stream, not from WT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5B-IsyTZc