Posts by OrphanCrow

28

How Cultish are the JW's?

by xjwsrock in

first off, i certainly agree the jw's are a cult.

but i'm sensitive to black-and-white thinking now.. so, where do they rank on the scale?

think of a cultish religion scale from 0-10.. consider the likes of unitarian universalism vs baptist vs amish vs charles manson.. where do you think jw's fall on the scale?.

OrphanCrow

Onthewayout: JW's have 8 million or so members, but they haven't (yet) told the members to drink the Kool-Aid like they did at Jonestown.

The WTS has their members sign no blood cards instead.

The number of JWs who have quietly, and some not so quietly, committed suicide for the blood cult far outweighs the numbers who gave up their lives dramatically in cults like Heaven's Gate and Jonestown.

The WTS is more subtle than "those other cults". And far more effective. They have been getting their members to commit suicide for 70 years now.

19

And China's version of the Nobel prize goes to ... Robert Mugabe! WTF?!

by LoveUniHateExams in

according to the guardian, the confucius peace prize has been awarded this year to one robert gabriel mugabe.

yes, you read that right.

i suppose i could've put this thread in either the entertainment section or joke section instead.

OrphanCrow

SecretSlaveClass, thanks for the perspective on an incredible political figure. It is interesting that Mandela's first wife was a Jehovah's Witness and, I believe, his children as well. I have read accounts that claim that he chose his political life over the religious life and other accounts that his wife joined after they split. Regardless, I think the world is a better place for the path that he did chose.

About Mugabe - that erstwhile dictator whose tourism minister rubs shoulders with the Brooklyn boys - he gives due to not just himself for his astounding success, but he also gives credit to the great one above - Jehovah Gawd himself.

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-20248-Oil+discoveries+in+Africa+Gods+work,+Mugabe/news.aspx

INCOMING African Union (AU) Chairman, President Robert Mugabe, has hailed the discovery of vast oil resources in the continent, which he said colonialists missed.

In his acceptance speech, Mugabe sang the praises of Equatorial Guinea which is among countries that have discovered oil in recent years.

“….and as fortune would have it, Equatorial Guinea has discovered oil. They are not the only ones who have had this recent fortune, oil as others have been discovering oil, oil, oil and oil, which the blind eyes of colonialists missed.

“It was the handiwork of God (Jehovah God), we thank Him,” Mugabe said to the applause of delegates in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

I wonder if Mugabe will give Jehovah God the credit when he accepts the Confucius Peace Prize. It seems appropriate. Jehovah is the perfect god for a man like Mugabe.

16

the problem with you, apostates, is that your doubts were not genuine

by never a jw in

in page 10 of the correspondence guidelines, in the section of apostasy" i found the following:.

one who has sincere doubts orquestions should be kindly aided inthe spirit of galatians.... i am forced to conclude that many of you didn't get any aid because your doubts were fake.

so according to the wt manual, your main sin may have not been doubting, but faking having doubts.

OrphanCrow

neverajw: One who has sincere doubts or
questions
questions should be kindly aided in
the spirit of Galatians...

I think the "WT translation" of this is:

def: "sincere" doubt or question: a doubt or question that can be explained using WT literature.

def: "kindly aided": the doubter accepts the WT explanation

...which leads to:

def: "apostasy: a question or doubt that cannot be explained using WT approved literature and methods.

def: "apostate": a person who resists "kind aid"

9

Enjoying autumn

by kaik in

for some reason, i love autumn .

i always did as kid.

warm days, and cool nights, changing leaves, sunny days of the indian summer or eastern european equivalent called "grandma summer".

OrphanCrow

Kaik, I love autumn, too.

But, some people don't:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Ro__YyTi4

1

International Cultic Association "Free books"

by OrphanCrow in

a post recently made on the exjw reddit forum made reference to the international cultic association.. if you go to their webpage, http://www.icsahome.com/, and click on the "email signup", it will take you to a page where you fill out a short survey.. after you submit the survey, you are able to access free e-book downloads.. these books and resources are excellent for anyone interested in researching the psychological aspects of the tactics of high control groups and the resulting trauma that people experience from exposure to these groups.. i downloaded the following and have started reading the margaret singer collection.

bardin, livia - coping with cult involvement- a handbook for families and friends.

ford, wendy - recovery from abusive groups - healing from the trauma of authoritarian leaders.

OrphanCrow

A post recently made on the exjw reddit forum made reference to the International Cultic Association.

If you go to their webpage, http://www.icsahome.com/, and click on the "email signup", it will take you to a page where you fill out a short survey.

After you submit the survey, you are able to access free e-book downloads.

These books and resources are excellent for anyone interested in researching the psychological aspects of the tactics of high control groups and the resulting trauma that people experience from exposure to these groups.

I downloaded the following and have started reading the Margaret Singer collection.

Bardin, Livia - Coping with Cult Involvement- A Handbook for Families and Friends

Ford, Wendy - Recovery From Abusive Groups - Healing From the Trauma of Authoritarian Leaders

Giambalvo, Carol - Family Interventions for Cult-Affected Loved Ones

Rosedale, Herbert - Memorial Collection

Singer, Margaret - Memorial Collection

Rudin, Marcia R. - Cults on Campus

38

Hilarious Whatsapp message received - FIRST day after Big D

by cognitivedizzy in

jw
friends

a hilarious stupid wa message is being circulated amongst jws in my area / country.. i had a hearty laugh at the ignorance and stupidity and brainwashed mentality, different people may express different emotions so you have been warned.

day one after armageddon it seems ages since we last heard the gunshots and screams, today has been really quiet.

the last few weeks have been sheer terror.

OrphanCrow

So revealing. This must be written by an exJW or at the least, someone who is awake.

Others were somewhat disappointed some of their love ones did not make it, but soon were swept up in the euphoria of this great day, and were smiling with everyone else.

Only "somehat disappointed". Just that one, tiny little micro second of grief for dead loved ones...and then off to self-centered, happy, "me-me" thinking.

Every now and again people came running towards the hall jumping for joy, shouting "We made it! We made it! We really are in the new system!" and went running around shaking everyone hands and hugging all comers.

No grief or thought of others or even horror at the dead bodies laying around.
And...yippee! A life of registration, work and voices on loudspeakers telling them what to do.

Oh. Joy.

35

Jehovah's Witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves

by OrphanCrow in

british columbia, canada.

jehovah's witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves.

a pair of devout jehovah's witnesses have been ordered by a b.c.

OrphanCrow

DoubtingBro: I guess when I read visitation rights, I see that as something legally enforceable. I didn't realize that grandparents had the ability to legally to see a grandchild with the same enforcement as a parent. I was always under the assumption that parents had complete control over who their kids spent time with.

A Family Court in Canada is going to take a look at what precedents have been set. What is important to the court is what is "usual" for the child. So, in this case, whether the grandparents had a "legal" right to see the child because of their biological connection would be secondary to what was already a common practice in that child's life.

The history of the case is such that a pattern of visitation had already been established. At that point, the legalities of the grandparents' biological right to visitation is secondary. They were already a part of the child's life, with the consent and cooperation of the mother. What is at issue in this case is the circumstances and reasons for the breakdown in an established relationship.

I believe that anybody can apply for visitation rights to a minor child, if it is proven to the courts that they are an integral part of that child's life and will have a positive influence on the child's future. You don't have to be a grandparent or even biologically related to a child to have legal visitation rights established in a court of law. But you also have to prove that not being able to continue in established contact with the child will have a detrimental effect on the child's future or well being.

35

Jehovah's Witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves

by OrphanCrow in

british columbia, canada.

jehovah's witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves.

a pair of devout jehovah's witnesses have been ordered by a b.c.

OrphanCrow

undertheradar: Why is the biological father of this child not being held responsible to support her?

There may be circumstances that stop him from doing so. Remember, this is a young man who was disfellowshipped and has no contact with his parents. For all we know, he could be suffering from mental health issues and unable to work.

undertheradar: Why should the public support this child when the father should be doing so?

Who says "the public" is supporting the child? I may have missed it, but I don't remember reading anything about the child being supported by the public. Is this an assumption based upon a stereoptypical view of single motherhood?

People should not be allowed to get away with fathering or having children they cannot support.

If that were the case, probably many of us wouldn't have been born.

35

Jehovah's Witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves

by OrphanCrow in

british columbia, canada.

jehovah's witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves.

a pair of devout jehovah's witnesses have been ordered by a b.c.

OrphanCrow

Doubting Bro: How do the grandparents have any rights at all in this case?

By acknowledging that the rights of the child and the child's guardian have precedent over the grandparents' perceived rights.

The grandparents in this case still have visitation rights. However, because of their past performances that disregarded the right of the parent to control the child's religious training and upbringing, those visitation rights have been curtailed. Now, those visitations will be limited to one hour per week in a supervised environment.

The grandparents' rights are superceded by their responsibilities. And, their primary responsibilty is to respect the rights of the parent and child. And to provide a conflict free, safe environment for the child. The grandparents gave up their rights when they put their own rights ahead of the rights of the child.

35

Jehovah's Witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves

by OrphanCrow in

british columbia, canada.

jehovah's witness grandparents ordered to keep faith to themselves.

a pair of devout jehovah's witnesses have been ordered by a b.c.

OrphanCrow

prologos: ...talking of the biological father. wow, no wonder the child should be shielded from influences prevailing in it's family.

Not only that, but the very same grandparents who told the court that "they know what is best for their grandchild", are also shunning their own son for not following the religion that they want to shove down that small child's throat.