Posts by OrphanCrow

5

Facebook Post (Ad) Calgary, CANADA

by tepidpoultry in

.

OrphanCrow

dsp: I thought Higgerty Law got beaten?

"Got beaten"? What does that even mean?

Please explain what you mean by that and why you think that

thank you

27

''This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth FULL STOP''- Matthew 24:14. JW ORG

by ThomasCovenant in

hi.

only just noticed on the jw borg home page that matt 24:14 is quoted with a full stop instead of a comma after the word earth then the closing quotation marks.. isn't that incorrect?.

OrphanCrow

steve: the Watchtower...was first incorporated: 1881.

Okay, if you don't mind me being pedantic, Steve, I shall continue.

Not 1881. Incorporation didn't happen until 1884 (according to wiki). Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was formed in 1881 but didn't incorporate until 1884.

Incidentally, it was in 1874 that the American church tax exemptions, for corporations of a religious nature, first came into force. Namely, property tax exemption. Tax exemptions for religious corporations would wind their way through the system until, in 1894, tax exemptions became written into statute.*

The WTS, regardless of its many names and configurations, is an organization that arose out of the American tax system and, throughout the years, it has continued to morph, evolve, and change into whatever is necessary in order to hold onto that precious tax exemption.

*https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/tehistory.pdf

14

South Ossetia declares Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘extremists

by pleaseresearch in

the supreme court in the breakaway south ossetia has ruled that jehovah’s witnesses is an extremist organization and banned its activities.. when the ruling comes into force in a few days, jehovah’s witnesses members will face up to 10 years in jail for any religious activities such as assembly and distributing literature.. http://dfwatch.net/south-ossetia-jehovahs-witnesses-49295.

OrphanCrow

An updated article from Oct 17 Caucasian Knot:

Entered into Force on the decision to ban Jehovah's Witnesses in South Ossetia

The activity of the republican organization of Jehovah's Witnesses *, recognized by the Supreme Court of South Ossetia as extremist, will be monitored by law enforcement agencies, the head of the South Ossetian Justice Ministry said today.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ", on October 11 the head of the Ministry of Justice of South Ossetia stated that the Supreme Court recognized the republican organization of Jehovah's Witnesses as * extremist and banned its activities .

"The decision of the court today came into force, the activities of this organization will be monitored by the competent authorities and suppressed by law," Zalina Laliyev, the Minister of Justice of South Ossetia, quotes Interfax-Religion.

She also noted that the court decision was not appealed, "Sputnik-Ossetia" reports.

The minister did not specify how many people are in the organization banned by the court, noting that "there are a lot of them." "They are uniquely more than a thousand and their ranks are replenished day by day," Lalieva explained.

She stressed that in the republic there is only one religious organization registered in the Ministry of Justice - the Alan Diocese.

Comments from the South Ossetian Jehovah's Witnesses * regarding the decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic to ban the organization and its recognition as extremist has not yet been received.

Источник: http://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/311201/
© Кавказский Узел

14

South Ossetia declares Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘extremists

by pleaseresearch in

the supreme court in the breakaway south ossetia has ruled that jehovah’s witnesses is an extremist organization and banned its activities.. when the ruling comes into force in a few days, jehovah’s witnesses members will face up to 10 years in jail for any religious activities such as assembly and distributing literature.. http://dfwatch.net/south-ossetia-jehovahs-witnesses-49295.

OrphanCrow

shepherdless: South Ossetia has a population of 53,000. Surely there can’t be many JWs there.

"In South Ossetia, there are more than 1,000 Jehovah's Witnesses *, said earlier the commissioner for religious affairs under the President of the Republic, Sonya Khubaeva. Commenting on the suit filed by the Prosecutor General's Office, Khubaeva stated that Jehovah's Witnesses * in South Ossetia had never had an official status, although they tried to register as a religious organization."

Источник: http://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/310919/
© Кавказский Узел

2

Naming Infinity: A True Story of Religious Mysticism and Mathematical Creativity

by OrphanCrow in

during the time that the silver sword, the jw bible, was being examined in the russian courts as to whether or not it was going to be recognized as a "real bible" or be declared extremist (which it was), i did some research for historical context, trying to get a better understanding of the social environment that would be evaluating the jw bible.. the most crucial piece of information that i was interested in expanding and tracking down was how the jws' use of 'the divine name' in the bible would be perceived in russian culture.. i started from the premise that the act of naming denoted ownership.

and i was interested in how that act would be interpreted against the backdrop of orthodoxy in russia, given that russian orthodoxy has had its own historical and controversial schisms over the rituals and interpretations of "the divine".

even though we live in the 21st century and this drama is played out in front of us, how it is scripted is based on centuries of belief and ritual that are not present in the birthplace of the jworg.. i also thought that the org's habit of claiming divine favor based on "knowing" god's name would not play out well against the history and inherent religious biases that run deep within russian culture and so i wanted to know how the act of naming god might be viewed in today's culture.. anyways.

OrphanCrow

During the time that the Silver Sword, the JW Bible, was being examined in the Russian courts as to whether or not it was going to be recognized as a "real bible" or be declared extremist (which it was), I did some research for historical context, trying to get a better understanding of the social environment that would be evaluating the JW bible.

The most crucial piece of information that I was interested in expanding and tracking down was how the JWs' use of 'the divine name' in the bible would be perceived in Russian culture.

I started from the premise that the act of naming denoted ownership. And I was interested in how that act would be interpreted against the backdrop of Orthodoxy in Russia, given that Russian Orthodoxy has had its own historical and controversial schisms over the rituals and interpretations of "the divine". Even though we live in the 21st century and this drama is played out in front of us, how it is scripted is based on centuries of belief and ritual that are not present in the birthplace of the JWorg.

I also thought that the Org's habit of claiming divine favor based on "knowing" god's name would not play out well against the history and inherent religious biases that run deep within Russian culture and so I wanted to know how the act of naming god might be viewed in today's culture.

Anyways. I stumbled across a book - it is available for free download - that is really interesting. I wasn't looking for it in particular, but it is a fascinating read. Very engaging.

Naming Infinity: A True Story of Religious Mysticism and Mathematical Creativity Loren Graham and Jean-Michel Kantor

A review of the book:

Reviewed by Alexey Glutsyuk

And another review by Paul J. Zwier

There are several places online that one can download a digital copy of the book - Naming Infinity - and it is also available in hardcopy (which will have the photographic images not included in the digital copy...damn)

https://www.amazon.com/Naming-Infinity-Religious-Mathematical-Creativity/dp/0674032934

In 1913, Russian imperial marines stormed an Orthodox monastery at Mt. Athos, Greece, to haul off monks engaged in a dangerously heretical practice known as Name Worshipping. Exiled to remote Russian outposts, the monks and their mystical movement went underground. Ultimately, they came across Russian intellectuals who embraced Name Worshipping—and who would achieve one of the biggest mathematical breakthroughs of the twentieth century, going beyond recent French achievements.

Loren Graham and Jean-Michel Kantor take us on an exciting mathematical mystery tour as they unravel a bizarre tale of political struggles, psychological crises, sexual complexities, and ethical dilemmas. At the core of this book is the contest between French and Russian mathematicians who sought new answers to one of the oldest puzzles in math: the nature of infinity. The French school chased rationalist solutions. The Russian mathematicians, notably Dmitri Egorov and Nikolai Luzin—who founded the famous Moscow School of Mathematics—were inspired by mystical insights attained during Name Worshipping. Their religious practice appears to have opened to them visions into the infinite—and led to the founding of descriptive set theory.

The men and women of the leading French and Russian mathematical schools are central characters in this absorbing tale that could not be told until now. Naming Infinity is a poignant human interest story that raises provocative questions about science and religion, intuition and creativity.

14

South Ossetia declares Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘extremists

by pleaseresearch in

the supreme court in the breakaway south ossetia has ruled that jehovah’s witnesses is an extremist organization and banned its activities.. when the ruling comes into force in a few days, jehovah’s witnesses members will face up to 10 years in jail for any religious activities such as assembly and distributing literature.. http://dfwatch.net/south-ossetia-jehovahs-witnesses-49295.

OrphanCrow

Here is a map that shows North Ossetia's location and situates South Ossetia in close proximity to Chechnya and other conflict zones. It is not at all surprising that the Jehovah's Witnesses have had their activities curtailed in this area.

14

South Ossetia declares Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘extremists

by pleaseresearch in

the supreme court in the breakaway south ossetia has ruled that jehovah’s witnesses is an extremist organization and banned its activities.. when the ruling comes into force in a few days, jehovah’s witnesses members will face up to 10 years in jail for any religious activities such as assembly and distributing literature.. http://dfwatch.net/south-ossetia-jehovahs-witnesses-49295.

OrphanCrow

The same story covered in "The Caucasian Knot":

http://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/310919/

South Ossetia's history and current legal/political standing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia

Geographical location:

South Ossetia borders North Ossetia, which is a republic in the Russian Federation.

September 2004 - the Beslan School Tragedy occurred in Beslan, North Ossetia.

20

How do they get away with "New Light"?

by moreconfusedthanever in

one thing that bothers me greatly is the fact that they can change their policies and beliefs and just say its "new light" and no one bats an eyelid.. there are many scriptures such as isaiah 40:8 "the word of god will last to time indefinite.

" or hebrews 6:18 "it is impossible for god to lie".

if he is "spirit directing" the borg then there should be no need for new light..

OrphanCrow

moreconfused: One thing that bothers me greatly is the fact that they can change their policies and beliefs and just say its "new light" and no one bats an eyelid.

Change/newlight is part of the 'hook'. It serves a critical function. It solidifies "truth" by redefining it. Remember Russell's "present truth" doctrine?

Heh. I have memories of being a child and the build up to summer assemblies - "oooooh...what new light will be revealed?" and my mother's intense searching of new literature, examining and discussing...looking for that "new light" as though it was something precious and special....a special gift that came right from...God himself!!!!

A person only has a problem with "new light" if their concept of an unchanging, stable "god" transcends human interpretation. If a person has accepted an outside source (the org) as the authority on all things divine, then "new light" becomes the confirmation and the cement that holds them inside the cult. New light is confirmation of authority from god and a sign of progress. The "truth" gets brighter. Or so they say.

Here is a quote (translated) that is taken from an unnamed JW who gave an interview in an unnamed country (and sorry...it comes from an unnamed source...yeah, I know, bad form and all that), that explains how an educated JW who works occasionally in the academic world (he teaches at an American university), views "new light"/revision:

I have also gone in ******* until my 27th birthday and then in america again through the academic mill. And I can assure you that the study discipline of JW is readily comparable to a high-quality academic education in the US, that means, every statement that JW make is based on a certain research, which, like any other research, also occasionally requires some revision. What I consider rather to be a strength than a weakness. This means, JW are well-educated people...

27

''This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth FULL STOP''- Matthew 24:14. JW ORG

by ThomasCovenant in

hi.

only just noticed on the jw borg home page that matt 24:14 is quoted with a full stop instead of a comma after the word earth then the closing quotation marks.. isn't that incorrect?.

OrphanCrow

steve2: because in 1876 the Watchtower Society became an incorporated body...

On February 16, 1881, Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

On December 15, 1884, the society was incorporated as Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society

On September 19, 1896, the name of the corporation was changed to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

(my apologies for being pedantic, Steve)

39

"Deficit" at JW Assembly

by cookiemaster in

i've recently been at an assembly here in romania and there was an announced they were running a 10,000 euro deficit and urging all attendees to donate more money besides the already 5k has was donated during that day.

i really don't understand these things.

it's their own assembly hall.

OrphanCrow

curiousconfused: and returning to my earlier analogy, most of us dont try and fully research the financial structures of whatever charities we might support.. we just support them - if we want to. Just offering a counterpoint...

Yeah. Exactly. People donate when it benefits them and to whom/what benefits them the most. Those benefits come in the way of tax-exempt donations (the wealthier you are, the more that charitable donations will benefit you) and in the form of emotional return/confirmation/support/etc that the particular charity will afford you.

Religious organizations are where the largest slice of charitable donations go in our culture.

The WTS/JWorg is notorious for its lack of transparency in how and where the donated money is spent.

You had said this: "most of us don't try and fully research the financial structures of whatever charities we might support". I am not sure who you mean by "most of us"...but, in the 'real' world, the world outside the JWLand, lots and lots of people either do their own research on charities or they rely on charity watchdogs to issue reports on the health of the charitable organizations.

Charity Intelligence Canada gives the WTS a Grade "D". For its lack of transparency and its unrealistic and unreasonable charitable program spending of 97 cents for every dollar donated.