Posts by SAHS

20

Fraud

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

if someone commits financial fraud, they commit a crime, and can be punished (jailed).. but if someone commits a religious fraud, western society does not see that as a crime.. on another thread, a poster pointed out that the jws, "literally steals peoples lives and causes horrendous damage.

of course, the jws are not the only religion to practise religious fraud.

all sorts of large and small religions make unverifiable promises and ask for financial support on the basis of their promises, which is precisely what financial defrauder does.

SAHS

“fulltimestudent”: “Everyone here would have been richer if religions were banned.”

Well, I’m not so sure that outright banning of religions would be the best option because that might put a monkey wrench in our Western freedoms and separation of church and state, which ensures free belief for everyone; HOWEVER, the one thing which we should hold every religion to, which all commercial businesses have been held to all along, is: full disclosure up front.

If religions want to go around telling people their bizarre and fanciful ideas and stories, that’s one thing; BUT, they should be honest and up front about what is really involved down the line (i.e., shunning, blood transfusion ban, no holidays, etc., etc.).

Just like on the TV commercials advertising psychic hotlines when they display in the somewhat fine print something like: “For entertainment purposes only,” or “Individual results may vary.” Full disclosure.

So, if various religions want to exist and peddle their wares, as they will, then I suppose that could be tolerable under a truly free and democratic society – as long as they’re just honest and upfront about it from the beginning! And then, if some folks still want to go ahead and indulge themselves in the fantasies being preached and peddled, well, then I guess all the power to them. At the very least, they’ll know what they’re really getting themselves into – because they would have been properly forewarned, as they really should be.

3

Steven Hassan's interview on a new fictional cult film, "The Path" Fact-Checked: The Ugly Truth Behind Real-Life Cults

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/the-path-cults.

the path fact-checked: the ugly truth behind real-life cults .

part of hassan's interview: "a lot of the older cults that have been around for a really long time, like the jehovah’s witnesses, for example, and even the mormons, are having a really hard time with young people growing up in the age of the internet, because they’ve been basically telling lies to their followers about their history, and now people can easily find out what’s true and not true, and look at their own literature and copies of their own literature.

SAHS

Steve Hassan: “Money is not always number two but power is always number one.”

That is a very important point which Mr. Hassan brought out! Charismatic cult leaders have a way of pursuing and obtaining money, property, fame, and sex; however, the most significant underlying motivation for them consistently is power.

When you take a look at the leaders of the Watchtower organization, especially the well-known charismatic leaders of their monarchical era (i.e., Franklin Rutherford), they are infamous for their quest for total control of their adherents, getting them to spend countless hours and money in support of the organization. As many of us are already aware, Rutherford managed to amass an extremely luxurious mansion and sizeable property (i.e., Beth Sarim), including two of the most expensive, high-end Cadillac cars around. Now, you may think that this was a monetary accomplishment – and it was – however, all that would not have been possible without first securing (apparently by legal strong-arm tactics) the one main thing which made him what he was and carried him along on the seas of unquestioning loyal support: POWER!

And where do all the current governing body members live? Bethel headquarters. Those desirable accommodations, all nice and neat and clean, with all the amenities – and, of course, all tax-free and served well by basically slave labor – are where those leaders live – that’s their “home,” and so the better their institutional facilities become, then all the more so their “home” becomes. It is all a reflection of themselves – and, subsequently, their power.

Remember, first comes the power, and then the fruits of people’s loyalty (i.e., various donations, wills, trusts, estates, insurance policies, etc.) will follow.

Mr. Hassan spoke well in identifying “what drives people who are leading cults.” He’s obviously been there himself and knows what he’s talking about.

3

Steven Hassan's interview on a new fictional cult film, "The Path" Fact-Checked: The Ugly Truth Behind Real-Life Cults

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

the path.

march 30, 2016 .

the path fact-checked: the ugly truth behind real-life cults .

SAHS

Steve Hassan: “Money is not always number two but power is always number one.”

That is a very important point which Mr. Hassan brought out! Charismatic cult leaders have a way of pursuing and obtaining money, property, fame, and sex; however, the most significant underlying motivation for them consistently is power.

When you take a look at the leaders of the Watchtower organization, especially the well-known charismatic leaders of their monarchical era (i.e., Franklin Rutherford), they are infamous for their quest for total control of their adherents, getting them to spend countless hours and money in support of the organization. As many of us are already aware, Rutherford managed to amass an extremely luxurious mansion and sizeable property (i.e., Beth Sarim), including two of the most expensive, high-end Cadillac cars around. Now, you may think that this was a monetary accomplishment – and it was – however, all that would not have been possible without first securing (apparently by legal strong-arm tactics) the one main thing which made him what he was and carried him along on the seas of unquestioning loyal support: POWER!

And where do all the current governing body members live? Bethel headquarters. Those desirable accommodations, all nice and neat and clean, with all the amenities – and, of course, all tax-free and served well by basically slave labor – are where those leaders live – that’s their “home,” and so the better their institutional facilities become, then all the more so their “home” becomes. It is all a reflection of themselves – and, subsequently, their power.

Remember, first comes the power, and then the fruits of people’s loyalty (i.e., various donations, wills, trusts, estates, insurance policies, etc.) will follow.

Mr. Hassan spoke well in identifying “what drives people who are leading cults.” He’s obviously been there himself and knows what he’s talking about.

20

Time to Change my Avatar (after nearly 15 years)

by Perry in

jw
friends

i'm sorry scooter.

SAHS

Well, we know that there’s certainly no way that your avatar could possibly be approved by the Watchtower! That’s because they would never publish anything showing the eye level of a female higher than that of the male. The WT will always show the eye level of the man to be at least a bit higher up. I mean, that’s their “guerilla marketing” campaign for their “headship principle.”

I’m glad to see that you’re breaking out of the mold of the WT, if even at the totally subliminal level.

4

GOODBYE my oldest and dearest (JW) FRIEND

by Terry in

jw
friends

in my book, i wept by the rivers of babylon, i described the process of having a friend, johnny santa cruz, use our friendship as a platform for converting me to a jehovah's witness.. that friendship cost me decades of my life in bondage to a cult.. the friendship was real and johnny and i bonded for life.

but, the religion eventually turned him into a stone silence toward me--his oldest friend.

now he is dead and the imaginary reunion and meeting of the minds is no longer a possibility.. this makes his passing a double tragedy.. his memories were my memories.

SAHS

Hi Terry. So sorry to hear about the loss of your longstanding and dear friend. True friendship and unconditional love transcend anything else, whether it be politics, religion, or any other kind of social institution. At least there is solace in knowing that such friendship will always be true to what it is, that is, completely unique and endearing on the most personal level. It is true love, the kind more profound than any promulgated by society’s mundane conformity, which defines a friendship and the parties thereof.

Take care, Terry, and let’s celebrate life and all it entails one day at a time.

92

Only a few days ago I was entirely lost and without hope the rug was pulled out from under me

by elderess in

jw
friends

only a few days ago i was walking around the house in a mindless wander thinking if i needed to seek professional help.

then i got the courage to seek the comfort of complete strangers on the internet and found a world of support here on this website.

thank you simon and whoever else has made this website possible.

SAHS

You’re gradually getting the pieces to the puzzle. You will begin to see more and more how the Watchtower organization is based on a house of cards supported by nothing. (In a hurricane.) As you continue your research, you will never cease to be amazed at just how much the pieces of the Watchtower’s own little puzzle just simply do not fit together at all.

A significant thing which really opened my eyes was a rather exhaustive yet concise compilation of the various changes and flip-flops of the Watchtower’s teachings called “Spiritual Food at the Proper Time,” which is at a Website hosted by Randall Watters at Free Minds, Inc. Here is the specific link to that multipart document: “http://www.freeminds.org/history/key.htm.” If that doesn’t wake someone up, then nothing will. It’s a very powerful exposé of the incongruous and, well, just plain ridiculous teachings of the Watchtower organization over time. Trust me, it’s very much well worth checking out. And that’s not even including all the new stuff since 2000, such as, supposedly, the very identity of the “faithful and discreet slave” itself! Please, please show that link to your husband. It’s definitely worth printing out, trust me.

Take care, and all the best on your journey to spiritual freedom.

25

Inviting disfellowshipped to the memorial

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i read in a european ex jw forum that this year they are making a special effort to invite not only the inactive but also a special effort is made to invite all disfellowshipped.

.

i don't know if this as always been a common practice, or something started anew so they can boast about the numbers of attendees..

SAHS

In a way, that would be somewhat dumb to have a membership reclamation drive targeted at the disfellowshipped “ones” because there may be a few of them who have learned TTATT, at least in the meantime, and would want to be partaking of the emblems just to make a public statement – thus inflating this year’s number of partakers all the more, and, in the process, showing the whole WT Memorial thing to be the farce which it really is.

But, I mean, when you really think of it, . . . . just passing the emblems which supposedly represent the body and blood of the “Lord and Saviour” without partaking, unless you’re of a little supposed elite “class” of folks now only to be found within WT land and supposedly comprising a literal number which is representing symbolic numbers (i.e., 144,000 = literal, but the 12 tribes of Israel = symbolic), . . . . I mean, really now! The whole premise of their own take on things just smacks of contrived delusion pulled out of a black hat by its fanciful long ears. Ta-daaaa!

42

Today's Daily Text - Being Uneducated And Ordinary... WTF!!!

by Divergent in

jw
friends

thursday, march 3. they were uneducated and ordinary men.—acts 4:13.. in recent years, the spiritual instruction provided by jehovah’s organization has reflected an increased emphasis on simplicity and clarity.

consider three examples.

first, there is the simplified edition of the watchtower.

SAHS

“Divergent”: “Oh, here's a good one - what miracles have they performed.”

Well, there was the “miracle wheat” from Charles Taze Russell. So, there you go!

(Yes, folks, that is, indeed, sarcastic humour.)

42

Today's Daily Text - Being Uneducated And Ordinary... WTF!!!

by Divergent in

jw
friends

thursday, march 3. they were uneducated and ordinary men.—acts 4:13.. in recent years, the spiritual instruction provided by jehovah’s organization has reflected an increased emphasis on simplicity and clarity.

consider three examples.

first, there is the simplified edition of the watchtower.

SAHS

“Divergent”: “If it has to be "refined" over and over again, how can it be called truth?”

EXACTLY!

15

Car crash

by truthwillsetyoufree in

jw
friends

boy who was seriously injured in a collision at gamlingay in cambridgeshire last thursday has died.. nine-year-old archie stevens, of western way, sandy, bedfordshire, died in hospital early on saturday afternoon.. the collision at about 10am in drove road, which involved two cars, also resulted in the death of his grandfather, 68-year-old martin harker, of green acres, sandy, who died at the scene.http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2016-02-22/nine-year-old-boy-dies-after-cambridgeshire-crash/.

the boy and his grandfather were jehovahs witnesses and they were on field service when a car drove into them.

the lad, who is the son of an elder who moved to a cambridge congregation to serve where the need is greater, was on life support before the sad decision was made to turn it off.

SAHS

“truthwillsetyoufree”: “The boy and his grandfather were Jehovahs Witnesses and they were on field service when a car drove into them. The lad, who is the son of an elder . . .”

Do you have a link to any specific online media reference to this? I’m certainly not doubting you in any way. I’m just curious, that’s all.