IT Support

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Posts by IT Support

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  12

  JW's campaign of intimidation

  by IT Support in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  (http://www.thestar.com/nasapp/cs/contentserver?pagename=thestar/layout/article_type1&c=article&cid=1109027411614&call_pageid=.

  http://www.thestar.com/nasapp/cs/contentserver?pagename=thestar/layout/article_type1&c=article&cid=1109027411614&call_pageid=.

  http://quotes.watchtower.ca

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  IT Support

  Thank you for your comments.

  If you think it's worthwhile, would anyone else like to also write to the editor?
• 
  21

  The GB: evil manipulators or misguided fools

  by New Worldly Translation in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been pondering this question for a while now and i haven't come to a conclusion yet.

  on the one hand there is evidence of psychological manipulation in their publications.

  they discourage questioning of their authority or even their fallability and try to whitewash past mistakes.

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  IT Support

  I think some are genuine but misguided, perhaps frightened of rocking the boat ("You're not another Ray, are you?"): others definitely are evil manipulators.

  For proof, consider the publications: lying about their own history, deception over chronology, allowing children to die for the sake of a blood transfusion...
• 
  144

  Tough day -- my mom died today

  by cruzanheart in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  poor thing, she's had alzheimer's for about 10 years and the last year she's been on hospice care because she's been so close to death.

  the past few months she's been slowly filling up with water -- they gave her lasix (not sure of the spelling) to relieve the edema and it worked, sort of.

  last weekend she actually looked a little better.

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  IT Support

  Nina and Chris,

  So sorry for your sad loss.
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  42

  All about Farts ,,,,,,yes i said Farts

  by kls in

  1. social
  2. humour

  a fart can be quiet, a fart can be loud, some leave a powerful ,poisonous cloud,,,,.

  a fart can be short, or a fart can be long, some farts have been known to sound just like a song,,,,.

  a fart can create a most curious medley, a fart can be harmless, or silent, but deadly,,,,.

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  IT Support

  Oh well, I guess I'll just have to post this self-portrait...
• 
  12

  JW's campaign of intimidation

  by IT Support in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  (http://www.thestar.com/nasapp/cs/contentserver?pagename=thestar/layout/article_type1&c=article&cid=1109027411614&call_pageid=.

  http://www.thestar.com/nasapp/cs/contentserver?pagename=thestar/layout/article_type1&c=article&cid=1109027411614&call_pageid=.

  http://quotes.watchtower.ca

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  IT Support

  Two days ago the Toronto Star carried a story titled "Rights essential to our heritage."

  (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1109027411614&call_pageid=
  968256290204&col=968350116795)

  (Based on what has been said about eBay links, I guess you'll have to copy the link and paste it into your browser...)

  In part, the article stated:

  In 1916, Wilfrid Laurier campaigned for a "regime of tolerance" for francophones in Ontario and John Diefenbaker later did the same for the religious rights of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  In view of Quotes' recent problems with WT Canada, I felt it couldn't go without comment, and sent the following letter to the editor (after first checking, of course, with Quotes that he didn't mind any publicity, if it was printed):

  Jehovah's Witnesses' campaign of intimidation

  Sir,

  Re: 'Rights essential to our heritage' by Thomas S. Axworthy Feb. 22, 2005 01:00 AM

  http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1109027411614&call_pageid=
  968256290204&col=968350116795

  I refer to the above article which mentions John Diefenbaker's campaign for religious tolerance and the rights of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  So it is a pity that Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada (Jehovah's Witnesses legal corporation) does not extend the same tolerance to those who disagree with their unorthodox beliefs, and engages in intimidatory tactics in an effort to gag opposing opinions.

  For some time now Watch Tower solicitors around the world have been involved in a campaign to shut down web sites that present valuable information about the history, doctrines and practices of the Watchtower religion, information that is not known by the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  One of the most valuable of these sites is Watchtower Society Quotes ( http://quotes.watchtower.ca ). It presents well-researched, thematic quotes--directly from Watch Tower publications--detailing many now-embarrassing, hypocritical and downright dangerous doctrines of this destructive cult.

  Thus last month the Watch Tower's Georgetown solicitors served a 'cease and desist' notice on the site owner and his web hosting company, alleging copyright infringement ( http://quotes.watchtower.ca/admin-news.htm#2005.01.27 ).

  As the Quotes' solicitor's reply shows ( http://quotes.watchtower.ca/admin-news.htm#2005.02.11 ), Watch Tower's claims are overreaching and misinterpret copyright and intellectual property law.

  Since the Watch Tower's solicitors clearly must realise their claims are unfounded, it is reasonable to conclude that their misrepresentation is deliberate and their purpose is to intimidate the Quotes' web site owner, his web hosting company and domain name registrar into pulling down the site under threat of potentially expensive legal action.

  Simply put, it is the old story of the big, bad multi-national corporation attempting to bully the little guy into submission.

  Furthermore, and perhaps most important, the position taken by Watch Tower Canada is ironic at best, and hypocritical at worst.

  Watch Tower likes to boast of itself as a defender of freedom and speech and expression. Yet the very same Georgetown solicitors who have in the past won legal battles to establish Jehovah's Witnesses' freedom of expression in both Canada and the USA are now trying to stifle that same freedom of expression for others.

  Watch Tower further claims that their "kingdom message" is "urgent" and "life saving." Yet with this 'cease and desist' notice, they are attempting to quash both free expression and free examination of that very same "life saving" message.

  Why does Watch Tower not tolerate free examination of their message?

  Why will Watch Tower not extend the same tolerance to others as was shown to them by John Diefenbaker?

  Regards,

  Ken Smith

  P.S. Apart from supporting the aims of and work done by this web site, I have no connection whatsoever with it or its proprietor.

  Does anyone read the Toronto Star daily who can let us know if it is printed?

  Does anyone else want to write to the editor?
• 
  10

  Have you ever wondered....

  by Hecklerboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with all the attention on terrorism in the world today and with the goverment cracking down on some anti-goverment groups.

  will the witnesses be next on the list of groups to be watched by the goverment?

  maybe even taking action against them.

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  IT Support

  Hecklerboy

  When are you not considered a JW. I haven't attend a meeting in over 8 years, but I'm not DF'd or DA'd. Do you have to disassociate yourself to be removed from their files or is there a time limit?

  Sorry, WT is a bit like getting cold sores--once they get into you, you never get rid of them.

  Bethel even keeps--or, at least, used to keep--disfellowshipping records years after the person has died!
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  30

  Is Baptism a contract?? If so, are minors able to give legal consent??

  by coult9056 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear friends,

  i believe the judicial committee wheels are starting to turn.

  let me explain why.

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  IT Support

  Hi coult9056 ,

  Good letter, congratulations for moving on and getting into law school.

  I'm no lawyer, but as others have pointed out, contract law may present some difficulties.

  Have you thought about using human rights instead?

  *** g98 11/22 pp. 9-10 Human Rights and Wrongs Today ***

  Everyone

  has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion. ?Article 18. [of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights]

  WT stamps their collective feet and yells about the right to change your religion when they perceive other churches unfairly hindering their members from joining the WT. They singularly fail to consider it, far less apply it, to JWs who wish to leave their religion. (After all, they arrogantly assume, why should anyone wish to leave 'the truth'?)

  But surely by failing to allow you to freely leave and criticise their religion, by disfellowshipping or disassociating you (with all the trauma to family life that this results in), they are denying you your human right to change your religion?

  Anyway, I hope everything works out ok for you. Keep us posted!
• 
  28

  "We only believe what the Bible says" or Help Refute a Common JW Claim

  by Check_Your_Premises in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am presently trying to get my wife to not drink the kool-aid (get baptized).

  i have been pointing out to her that her and all jw beliefs come from the interpretation of scripture provided by the gb, and the inherent problems/contradictions therof.

  they say something like, "we don't put the gb on a pedestal or anything, we believe what we believe because it is in the bible, not because the gb is telling us to believe it.".

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  IT Support

  Hi C_Y_P,

  How about suggesting to your wife that she postpones her baptism? This would give you some 'breathing space' to discuss things together.

  You might suggest to her that this is a very serious step she's contemplating, and as a married couple, you've always tried to do things together. You wouldn't like her to get baptised alone, wouldn't it be better if you could both get baptised together? So could she consider postponing her baptism and instead spend the next six months (until the next circuit assembly) convincing you that she has the truth? If you are convinced, you will get baptised with her.

  Of couse, you can arm yourself with all the proofs of WT errors which will easily refute her arguments...

  Just a suggestion--it may buy you some time.
• 
  11

  Welcome, look for with Jehovahs Witness contact in Ireland

  by mgrcobra in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i look for with jehovahs witness contact in ireland.. i am from poland, i live in ireland, city limerick.

  i look for limerick church.

  i ask help me.. my email: [email protected].

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  IT Support

  Yes, is that strange? Actually, Grocery, Car-wash and Sex-shop are among the most frequent Polish names. ;)

  No, it's not at all strange. It's just like Brooklyn Beckham: being named after where they were conceived.

  (Though it is strange that TJ never noticed Posh and Backs making out in the Service Department...)

  PS: Welcome, mgrcorba.
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  45

  What would have to change for you to come back?

  by _Atlas in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  to those who have conscientiously walked away:.

  what changes will at least make you consider coming back in?.

  of course some will say nothing they do will lure them back?

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  IT Support

  What Watchtower Society needs to do:-

  • Cease all printing and publishing operations. All Bethels should be abolished. All properties should be sold and small, modest branch offices purchased in their place. (Every branch office *must* have its own Christmas tree.)
  • Branch officies in each country should only provide advice and support for local elders or JWs.
  • In countries with larger number of JWs, the number of branch office staff should not need to exceed 0.0001% of the number of JWs. Thus if a country has 100,000 JWs, the branch office should not exceed 10 persons.
  • Retrain all COs and DOs to be missionaries. Any who don't want to can retire.
  • Pay full redundancy pay to all departing 'full-time ministers.'
  • Branch office staff and missionaries should be paid a proper salary, have proper pension provisions, and live in their own homes with their wives and children.
  • Make proper pension provisions for all ex-'full-time servants,' i.e. travelling overseers and their wives, missionaries, Bethelites, regular and special pioneers.
  • Pay full and proper compensation to victims of child abuse.
  • Pay full and proper compensation to families of victims of blood policy.
  • Pay full and proper compensation to families of organ transplantation policy.
  • What money is left, carry out genuine charity work: show proper Christian love--not just for their own--but for everyone.
  • Abolish the charade that selling books and magazines door-to-door is doing 'charity work.'
  • Abolish disfellowshipping, disassociation, 'marking' and shunning. Abolish judicial committees and all associated paperwork and records.
  • Make it mandatory to report child abusers to the police.
  • Publicly repent for their hypocrisy over their UN association: rejoin the UN (if they'll have them).
  • Publicly repent for their false prophecies and teachings.
  • Publicly repent for all the false expectations they created.
  • Publicly repent for defrauding people of their lives.
  • Publicly repent for misrepresenting that they're appointed by god as a 'faithful and discreet slave.' Don't be dogmatic. Humbly accept that there are some things we may never know for sure.
  • Publicly accept that there are mistakes in the Bible, that it is men writing of their spiritual experiences rather than the innerant 'word of god.'
  • Welcome disagreements and diversity of opinion. Recognise that uniformity is not unity.
  • Encourage all JWs to join a political party--any political party--and work to improve their communities.
  • Butt out of trying to control people's lives.
  • Cease and desist using guilt and mind control techniques to manipulate the 'rank and file.'
  • Each congregation should be autonomous and free to annually elect their own elders. Casual dress will be mandatory.
  • Elders ought to be sufficiently 'spiritual' to organise their own Bible reading and discussion sessions.

  That's just for starters...