Balaamsass2

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Posts by Balaamsass2

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  33

  Do JWs see the org falling apart?

  by ThomasDam21 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been away from the jw cult for many years.

  i don't have any family i talk to that are in it.

  so i don't know if the jws as a whole are seeing the cult fall apart or if they or the majority of them are head in the sand la la la the end is neigh.

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  Balaamsass2

  My old Silicon Valley Congregations have lost 2/3 of attenders (Halls have been combined). It is an affluent area and most people use the internet every day. It seems most of the most "active" JWs in my extended family and old congregations had/have cognitive issues.

  I have an old JW pimo acquaintance I speak with weekly. He has been open about his doubts and criticisms of the governing body and false prophecies with over a dozen elders privately over the last 3 years. Privately they AGREED with him and never turned him in!!!! He has also dated a dozen single sisters he confided his doubts with...and they agreed with him!! Go figure...no one has reported him! That would be different 20 years ago.

  Perhaps it is like the Catholic Church, despite corruption, abuse, and bad press, most members identify still as "Catholic"...they simply spend less time and energy on the church.
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  23

  In the past 24 hours, the world has been breaking into fragments. What will be the Outcome??

  by liam in

  1. social
  2. current

  new german chancellor merz has won the election.

  trump congratulated his victory but the response was not what trump expected.

  merz condemned america, saying that america seemed to be aligning with russia.. he also expressed doubts about nato’s future.. he is now advocating that germany must gain independence from usa.

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  Balaamsass2

  The world will end......any day now.
  
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  135

  Just because Jehovah had to prove His Right To Rule? I don't think so!

  by liam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  we get old because jehovah had to prove to all the angels that his way of ruling was the best?

  that's the sorriest argument the watchtower has come up with.

  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/11hz_jqjkjo.

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  Balaamsass2

  
  
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  9

  1 Thessalonians 5:3....Prophecy ?

  by HereIam60 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've always had difficulty understanding how watch tower interprets 1 thessalonians 5:3 as prophetic of a future event - that the nations will unite in a (false) cry that they have achieved 'peace and security' which will signal the start of the great tribulation.

  whenever i've read that passage i got the sense that it is simply stating a general principle... that when people are complacent and off-guard, thinking everything is o.k., peaceful and secure then sudden unexpected events hit them harder and they don't know what to do.

  when i was first coming in (1980s) i well recall the "true peace and security" book that made a big deal about the un having declared 1986 'the international year of peace'.

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  Balaamsass2

  
  
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  10

  King of the North / South predictions

  by Gorb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  during my jw.org lifetime since 1970 (2008 we faded out of it all) i read and heared a lot of the king of the north and the south.. but about an aliance between the two kings, that was not a jw.org scenario, wasn't it?.

  g..

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  Balaamsass2

  I am still waiting for a single Watchtower prediction to come true. Even our broken mantle clock is correct twice a day. :)
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  4

  Jehovah's Witnesses in the news: "Czech Culture Ministry Considers Deregistration of Jehovah’s Witnesses"

  by Balaamsass2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  2/2025 czech news agency czech culture ministry considers deregistration of jehovah’s witnesses.

  the czech ministry of culture is considering the possible cancellation of the religious registration of the jehovah’s witnesses religious society, and has sent the organisation an appeal to desist from its illegal activities, ministry spokeswoman jana zechmeisterova told ctk today.. the ministry has received thousands of complaints from the jehovah’s witnesses about the proposal, which must be dealt with first.

  administrative proceedings have not yet been initiated, zechmeisterova said.. she said the ministry had begun to deal with the proposals it had received about the cancellation of the registration of the religious society of jehovah’s witnesses (nssj).

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  Balaamsass2

  2/2025 Czech news agency Czech Culture Ministry Considers Deregistration of Jehovah’s Witnesses

  The Czech Ministry of Culture is considering the possible cancellation of the religious registration of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Religious Society, and has sent the organisation an appeal to desist from its illegal activities, ministry spokeswoman Jana Zechmeisterova told CTK today.

  The ministry has received thousands of complaints from the Jehovah’s Witnesses about the proposal, which must be dealt with first. Administrative proceedings have not yet been initiated, Zechmeisterova said.

  She said the ministry had begun to deal with the proposals it had received about the cancellation of the registration of the Religious Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses (NSSJ). They were mainly about damaging the social ties of society members and their families and preventing minors from receiving medical care appropriate to their health needs, according to reports from novinky.cz and iROZHLAS.cz.

  The Culture Ministry, led by Martin Baxa (ODS), accuses the NSSJ of five offences, which they were supposed to address within three months. Both parties involved confirmed to iROZHLAS.cz that they had not been corrected.

  “The ministry is looking into the issue, but no administrative proceedings are currently underway,” Zechmeisterova told CTK. “The ministry will decide on whether to initiate administrative proceedings after it studies the content of several thousand complaints from NSSJ members that we have received in recent weeks.”

  The complaints against Jehovah’s Witnesses relate to alleged damage to people’s social ties and families. When members leave the religious society, other Witnesses have to severely limit, and often completely cease, social contact with them. The Ministry also stated that it respects the right to religious freedom and values the contribution of fellow believers to society.

  “There is no legal or doctrinal reason for the cancellation of the registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” iROZHLAS.cz quoted David Kula, director of the NSSJ’s public relations department, as saying. “Such a move would be discriminatory, illegal and for thousands of peaceful citizens of the Czech Republic would mean a gross interference in their religious life.”

  See also

  

  Czech Republic / WorldPolitics

  5 days ago

  PM Fiala Addresses Changes In International Order In Prague Speech

  There are 13,298 NSSJ members in the Czech Republic, according to the latest census data, but the society itself claims 30,000 witnesses and sympathisers.

  Jehovah’s Witnesses began operating in the territory of the present-day Czech Republic in 1912, and were registered in 1934. Two associations, the International Association of Bible Scholars and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, were active in Czechoslovakia at the time. They were persecuted during World War Two before resuming their activities after the war, but were forced underground again after the 1948 Communist coup.

  They reapplied for registration after the collapse of the regime in January 1990, and registered as the 20th official church in the country in September 1993."

  https://brnodaily.com/2025/02/05/news/czech-culture-ministry-considers-deregistration-of-jehovahs-witnesses/

  Will other EU members follow ?
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  4

  JWs in the news: "Must the Norwegian state protect the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses?" CNE news.

  by Balaamsass2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  must the norwegian state protect the children of jehovah’s witnesses?.

  21-02-2025. northern europe.

  evert van vlastuin, cne.news.

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  Balaamsass2

  Boom! ; "First of all, children’s rights are becoming more critical. Sooner or later, this will hinder religious groups."

  Hopefully it is just a matter of time until more courts enforce this on Watchtower.
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  4

  Jehovah's Witnesses in the news: "I was exiled from my strict Jehovah's Witness community"

  by Balaamsass2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was exiled from my strict jehovah's witness community after i broke a major convention - they'll never speak to me again.

  daily mail.

  "a former jehovah's witness has shared her extraordinary journey of leaving behind everything she knew after falling in love with a colleague at tk maxx.

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  Balaamsass2

  What is this week's new, new, new, light...and how it will be randomly translated by three 21-90 yr old JW elder/janitors...is a mystery. :) 15 years ago I knew a nice middle aged single sister who was disfellowshipped for being seen "riding her bicycle with a worldly man" on a local park path. She got angry for being questioned about it by meddlesome elders.....and was disfellowshipped for having a "jezebel" attitude! Another middle aged single sister was spending nights alone with a worldly boyfriend tearfully denied any wrongdoing and received a simple warning. Same year, same congregation. Go figure.
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  4

  JWs in the news: "Must the Norwegian state protect the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses?" CNE news.

  by Balaamsass2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  must the norwegian state protect the children of jehovah’s witnesses?.

  21-02-2025. northern europe.

  evert van vlastuin, cne.news.

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  Balaamsass2

  "

  Must the Norwegian state protect the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

  21-02-2025

  Northern Europe

  Evert van Vlastuin, CNE.news

  
  "The 12,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway will be waiting nervously for another three weeks. The court in Norway will come with a decision about the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) mid-March. But experts already know that this verdict on religious freedom in Norway will be historic and crucial."

  
  

  "wo years ago, the state stopped funding JWs. Reason: Jehovah’s Witnesses commit psychological violence against minors, the state says. In February, the court spent no less than two weeks dealing with the case.

  Teenagers are often baptised around the age of fourteen and can be subject to discipline from that moment on. If they are excluded, other witnesses are not even allowed to greet them, let alone have any contact with them. The words used for this are disfellowshipping and shunning.

  

  Jehovah’s Witnesses ease shunning rules after blow in Oslo court

  24-04-2024

  Religious communities in Norway are allowed to have their own views on exclusion, says the state. But the JWs make free withdrawal too difficult. There are too many obstacles. Moreover, they frighten children into thinking they will never see their mum and dad again if they do not abide by the rules. And that permanent fear is psychological violence. The state sees it as its job to protect minors from this.

  Money

  In the Norwegian system, all registered faith groups receive the same amount of money from the government, calculated according to the number of members. Marriages may be solemnised in all these churches and Kingdom Halls. In this way, the country guarantees religious equality. The king must still be a member of the Lutheran Church, but that is the only reminder of the time of the state church.

  

  Jehovah's Witnesses Norway will lose state support

  14-10-2022

  But in 2022, the government withdrew the recognition of Jehovah’s Witnesses. That is not just about 1.3 million euros a year. It also means that young couples must get married in a different church or at the town hall. It even leads to the absurd situation that Norwegian JWs not only pay their own expenses but also contribute to all kinds of other churches through their taxes.

  Of course, it is about more than money and a few wedding services. A court conviction is also a stigma. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses will have already heard it at the doors: You are a danger to the safety of our children.

  

  Jehovah's Witnesses Norway lose registration religious community

  26-12-2022

  The state attorney called witnesses to the hearing. They came from many countries—from Finland to France, from Iceland to the United States—to tell how terrible their childhoods were.

  These testimonies from former JWs are, of course, authentic and impressive stories. But what do they actually prove? Many adults can talk about sadness in their youth. How about people who grew up in a family of a judge, a journalist, or a pastor? They can also open up about their experiences. Moreover, none of the testimonies were examined for factual accuracy. So, it all remains anecdotal.

  In this court case, many Christians in Norway support Jehovah’s Witnesses and their communities. This was expressed most sharply by Vebjørn Selbekk, editor-in-chief of the Christian daily newspaper Dagen. He calls it “cowardly” to punish the Jehovah’s Witnesses. After all, this is an isolated group to which no party or movement is committed. For him, it is a matter of honour to protect the Jehovah’s Witnesses from the state’s abuse of power.

  Guard rails

  Now, freedom of religion is never absolute. Believers are free within the boundaries of the law. Having faith is like driving on the motorway; there are lines and guard rails along the road to keep you on track. The Norwegian Act on Religious Communities rightly contains conditions, among others, that children’s rights must be respected.

  

  Criticism of secular watchdog on religious schools in France

  15-03-2022

  This was precisely what the court discussion was about. Children’s rights are enshrined in law. Are those rights violated when adults tell shocking facts from their childhood? Or are those rights violated when Jehovah’s Witnesses, in their teaching, call families for breaking the law?

  JWs are often baptised around the age of 14. Photo EPA, Tracey Nearmy

  In a constitutional state, of course, the latter is essential. The democratic state does not have the authority to control religions, but it does have the authority to ensure citizens obey the law. According to the Witnesses’ lawyer, however, such a violation of the law has not been established at all.

  What is interesting, too, is the fact that the state wants to protect minors against fear and psychological violence. Is that the duty of the state? During my youth in the Cold War, the world was full of fear of the atomic bomb (which never came). And nowadays, the state is spreading fear of a climate crisis. I find it strange if the state says in the courtroom that it must protect minors against fear.

  

  Religious freedom in Europe is at risk, but the struggle is not hopeless

  12-12-2024

  While awaiting the verdict, we can reflect on a few things. First of all, children’s rights are becoming more critical. Sooner or later, this will hinder religious groups. In various European countries, for example, there is a call to ban (male) circumcision. Today, a plea for such a ban already sounds plausible.

  Further, the question arises as to whether it would not be better for churches to simply work with their own money. In all countries where churches receive subsidies from the state, there is tension over government interference. That tension increases as soon as the gap between the church’s values and the political ideals widens. It is better to be free then.

  We wish the judges in Oslo wisdom."

  https://cne.news/article/4628-must-the-norwegian-state-protect-the-children-of-jehovahs-witnesses
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  4

  Jehovah's Witnesses in the news: "I was exiled from my strict Jehovah's Witness community"

  by Balaamsass2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was exiled from my strict jehovah's witness community after i broke a major convention - they'll never speak to me again.

  daily mail.

  "a former jehovah's witness has shared her extraordinary journey of leaving behind everything she knew after falling in love with a colleague at tk maxx.

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  Balaamsass2

  2/2025 "

  I was exiled from my strict Jehovah's Witness community after I broke a major convention - they'll never speak to me again. Daily Mail

  "A former Jehovah's Witness has shared her extraordinary journey of leaving behind everything she knew after falling in love with a colleague at TK Maxx.

  Madison Wilford, now 22, was born into the religious community, but a life-changing relationship at the age of 18 led her to break free from the strict rules and expectations she had grown up with.

  The turning point came when Madison, from Broughton, North Wales, developed feelings for Josh, 21, who she met while working together at the retail store.

  The pair secretly dated for a year, keeping their relationship hidden from Madison's family.

  However, their secret was soon uncovered when Madison's family found text messages on her phone - which led to her being exiled from the Jehovah's Witness community.

  Madison explained: 'I wasn't allowed to be with anyone from outside of the religion. If I wanted to be with Josh, I had to walk away from everything.'

  She chose to leave her family and her home behind and 'start life again,' a decision that would come with many unprecedented struggles.

  Madison recalled how difficult it was to adjust to life outside of the religious community, adding: 'It was very hard at first.

  'After growing up in the community, I didn't know anything about the world or how to make friends or even speak to people normally outside of it.'

  After the couple's relationship became public knowledge, Madison moved in with Josh's grandparents in North Wales until they could save enough money to rent a place of their own.

  At first, Josh's family struggled to accept Madison, having heard negative things about Jehovah's Witnesses but, over time, his grandparents and mother welcomed her into their lives.

  Madison, who now lives with Josh in Chester, reflected on the toll her upbringing in the Jehovah's Witness community had on her mental health.

  Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their door-to-door evangelising, and their belief that humanity is living in the final days before Armageddon.

  As a child, she was expected to spend up to 50 hours a month knocking on doors and distributing religious leaflets, often facing hostility from the people she encountered - including being chased away with a hosepipe.

  She recalled: 'I went preaching at least twice a week. As soon as I could walk and speak, I had to be the one to knock on the door and leave leaflets.

  'It was very scary, especially as nine times out of ten people would obviously not like you knocking.

  'We had lots of crazy experiences like people trying to squirt us with a hosepipe to get us off their driveway.

  'I hated doing it as I was always very shy and speaking to random strangers about something you know they won’t be interested in is daunting.'

  As a young girl, Madison was taught to believe that the world was doomed and that she had to be perfect to survive.

  She said: 'From an early age, I felt like I had to be perfect, and that was really hard. I realised that this belief felt normal when I was inside the religion, but now I see that it's not.'

  Everything changed for Madison when she met Josh, with the pair hitting it off straight away before starting to sneak off on dates during their lunch breaks.

  Despite being forbidden from having a romantic relationship outside the faith, Madison claims Josh was 'really understanding' and, at one point, even considered joining the community for her.

  She added: 'I knew he was a good person and he was worth leaving everything behind. I also couldn't cope in the religion anymore. It was so strict.'

  When Madison made the difficult decision to leave her family and her faith, she hoped they might eventually accept her choice.

  

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  After months of therapy and adapting to life outside the Jehovah's Witness community, Madison feels 'free' (pictured recently)

  She said: 'I tried to tell my family that I was the same person but I had to leave because of love. They said it was my decision but I would be cut off from their world.

  'We were close, so I still have hope that they'll speak to me again some day but I don't think it will happen.'

  Now, after months of therapy and adapting to life outside the Jehovah's Witness community, Madison feels 'free.'

  She and Josh are building a life together in Chester, working at Waitrose and settling into a normal routine.

  Madison added: 'I know that I made the right decision. Everything is going really well between us.

  'The religion can be dangerous and I’m having therapy to help me deal with what I've been through.

  'Thankfully, I'm getting a lot better at making friends and learning a lot about the world outside of the community. I feel free now.'

  There are more than eight million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide and 130,000 in the UK, using their glossy magazine The Watchtower and online videos to promote their message. The religion was founded in the 1870s by American preacher Charles Taze Russell on Christian principles, although it diverges from mainstream Christian churches.

  Jehovah's Witnesses believe that at the End of Days those who strive for goodness will inhabit a paradise on Earth.

  In pursuit of goodness, they operate a strict moral code which rules out adultery, smoking, drinking, homosexuality, gluttony, and swearing. Most famously, they are banned from having blood transfusions.

  In recent years the global organization has faced questions about how it handles allegations of child sex abuse and its child protection practices."

  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14358737/Jehovahs-Witness-exiled-falling-love-TKMaxx-colleague.html