Posts by Balaamsass2

12

Blood Card Check

by NotFormer in

i remember many years ago that apparently there was an annual event where witnesses' blood cards (or whatever they're called) were checked by some visiting wt dignitary.

that the blood cards were current, and that the r&f were carrying them.. given the situation in some countries that kingdom halls can't legally keep data about people who have been visited, is the practice of checking and enforcing the carrying of blood cards similarly illegal in some places?.

are there any places where it is illegal for the hlc to set up camp near the hospital bed of a sick jw?.

Balaamsass2

I have been POMO for ten + years now. MANY years ago "Blood cards" were shown to obtain a couple of internal publications at conventions. In the 90s we received some letters from Watchtower for elders to physically check publishers' blood cards to make sure they were "up to date".

Looking back, this was a way to essentially "out" anyone who wasn't a "true believer".

What better way to prove your loyalty to a cult than a suicide pact card in your wallet 24/7?

Due to HIPA regulations in the USA now, patients can simply request any hospital to not release their name or hospital room. This does not prevent JWs who work in the hospital (billing, records, nursing, etc.) from telling local elders about any patients taking blood, having STDs, having drug addictions, or getting abortions. (Not uncommon).

15

Can the org's finances be viewed?

by BoogerMan in

does anyone know where to view the wtbts of new york and pennsylvania's financial records?.

i mean, they are registered charities aren't they, so surely their income/expenditures must be open to scrutiny?.

Balaamsass2

There are some old threads on the site about this. I spent a couple of days down this rabbit hole years ago. I found some tax returns that were obviously fraudulent because they were exact duplicates of earlier returns (statistically impossible). The bar to investigate a church is very high in the USA, therefore Churches are the best vehicle to scam cash from the public. See IRS link below.

I noticed that Watchtower made a number of changes in response to the Candice Conti case. Her Attorney placed a Lis Pendens on some Society real estate and it caught them by surprise. Soon after they made many changes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis_pendens

Personally, I believe they never planned well for CIVIL litigation before the Candice Conti case, and it forced a different approach to asset protection. I believe they are transporting some money physically to Swiss banks in the Bahamas to avoid a paper trail and to always have liquid assets available. The unusual Florida airstrip purchase (and strange caretaker death) may be tied to this.

https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/churches-religious-organizations/church-audits-reasonable-belief-requirement#:~:text=The%20IRS%20may%20begin%20a,business%20or%20other%20taxable%20activity.

2

Why Middle-Aged Americans Are NOT Going Back To Church- WSJ

by Balaamsass2 in

an interesting read in today's wall street journal.

just another brick in the wall to keep people away from watchtower.

everyday life can be hard, and it is very hard to be enthusiastic about any group that constantly begs for money, brags, and covers up child rape.

Balaamsass2

An interesting read in today's Wall Street Journal. Just another brick in the wall to keep people away from Watchtower. Everyday life can be hard, and it is very hard to be enthusiastic about any group that constantly begs for money, brags, and covers up child rape. What do you think? Gift link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/church-attendance-religion-generation-x-6ee5f11d?st=s7rox5mrmutte3i&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

34

If You Can Remember When This Was Displayed in the KH - You Ain't No Spring Chicken!

by mikronboy in

jw
friends

.

Balaamsass2

I remember this well...as a kid. Backcalls. Vacation pioneers. lol.

24

KGB infiltrated the Borg

by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

we from the old year books that some kgb undercover agents became elders in high up positions.. i wonder if this is going on today?

not just in russia but other congregations around the world?.

when you think how long it takes to become an elder and all the talks and maybe judicial committees they were involved with.. anyway i’m just throwing it out there if someone wanted to pay me i am a current elder who is pima about intelligence or chance involved with the origin of the universe.. .

Balaamsass2

Thanks for the research link, Earnest! Fascinating read.

In the Mid-70s at Brooklyn Bethel, Ray, and Cynthia Franz shared with me how a few JW "clerk Typists" at the IRS and FBI had given the Society information whenever Watchtower was the subject of investigations.

93

Regional Convention Attendance

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

elder friend of mine texted me asking what my rc attendance was 2 weeks ago (family and i streamed it since wife is not well).

he told me that his rc in the jersey city assembly hall last weekend was low.

co told them that around 2600 were the total from 16+ congs that were assigned.

Balaamsass2

For the last 20 years or so, most of the growth has been CHILDREN of JWS getting baptized. What keeps teenagers IN the Borg, is meeting other teenagers and eventually getting married and having children who get baptized in the Borg. With fewer and smaller conventions and opportunities to meet JWs of the opposite sex, I see more use of "unofficial" "JW" dating sites and dating non-JW workmates...thereby breaking the chain of generational JWs.

An "ex" JW friend regularly dates "JW" gals off JW dating sites. The gals don't care he is an ex-JW. He has the all books and can "talk the talk" to their families.

This is how the Shakers and Christian Scientists disappeared as religions.

20

Pa. authorities charge 5 more in probe of child sex abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses

by AndersonsInfo in

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/charges-probe-child-sexual-abuse-among-jehovahs-witnesses-pennsylvania/3600171/#:~:text=a%20pennsylvania%20grand%20jury%20investigating,that%20has%20identified%2014%20suspects.

what to know.

a pennsylvania grand jury investigating child sexual abuse among jehovah’s witnesses has charged another five people with raping or molesting children as young as 4 years old.. the indictments friday are the latest charges in an ongoing probe that has identified 14 suspects.. state attorney general michelle henry says that while the misconduct dates back years or even decades, “the trauma endures for these victims.”.

Balaamsass2

Thanks for keeping up on this Andersons Info!

36

Treatment of Those Trying For Reinstatement

by Vanderhoven7 in

what happens when a jehovah’s witness who has been disfellowshipped returns to attending the meetings again?.

mark jones writes:.

if it's the same congregation that they previously attended then, yes, the congregation will remember who they are and so continue to treat them as dead or invisible.. one of the identifying marks a cult is that it uses shame and humiliation to control members, to keep them from leaving and manipulating those who escaped into coming back.. a disfellowshipped person is never allowed to quietly leave with dignity.

Balaamsass2

One disfellowshiped JW did the "start over as bible study" in the 70s. (moved, reversed first and middle name, got baptized and married). While on a tour of Bethel, met a Bethelite from an old congregation, and was "outed". Got double disfellowshipped, and lost the new family for "lying". poor smuck. lol.

It's easier to simply enjoy life for at least a year, then VISIBLY attend meetings, write some great dated letters spelling out how you have changed, and "fixed" any issues/mistakes every month, ASKING for a meeting. My question IS who would want to go back? yikes. IMO.

23

Link between relationships and health/happiness

by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

even though i’m agnostic so will not commit to either intelligent design or chance, i love being part of the congregation for the close personal relationships.. there is such a great atmosphere inside the congregation it really is like a family and you don’t get this anywhere else.. a real friend is someone you can rely on when you are in need.

if things go wrong for you and you are going through a hard time you know real friends will be there for you.

as long as you didn’t bring it on yourself by going against gods law then you have to prove you are repentant first of course.. there is a lot of research now saying that good friends is essential for healthy and happiness.

Balaamsass2

I guess you have set the bar really low to feel good about current choices. If you are happy with "frenemies". If lying, theft, and child rape don't make you indignant...then you have found a home...and are where you should be.

14

For those following the JW headquarters reaction to the UK documentary - Rebekah Vardy: Jehovah's Witnesses and Me

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

in addition to the jws false and misleading denial that rebekah vardy was ever a jehovah's witness, a few other interesting developments occurred that are worth noting:.

1. an article in the last days newsletter reporting on how the jw[.

]org website scrubbed clean its jw 'news' page and produced an entire new glossary of jw terminally meaning for the media:.

Balaamsass2

The JW PR angle "she was never a JW" baffled me. That seems to say: "Only visitor's children get raped".