Posts by maksutov

49

I sent this to Angus Stewart this morning (Easter Standard Time)

by Viviane in

i just sent this email to angus stewart:.

i hope this email finds you well.

i would like to say thank you for your work on the royal commission, particularly in your handling of the jehovah's witnesses elders and experts during questioning.

maksutov

I also sent Mr Stewart an e-mail yesterday, and received a reply this morning. As we're sharing, here's what I said:

Mr Stewart.

I would just like to thank you and your team for the tireless and relentless work you have put in to exposing the tragically destructive flaws in JW attitudes to child protection.

For many years now, ex JWs have been trying to call attention to the problem, but this is the most robust and competent investigation I have ever come across. I am very hopeful that your efforts will have a positive impact on the lives of hundreds, possibly thousands of children. By cutting deftly through the Watchtower spin and deflections, you are giving victims of abuse an eloquent voice and standing up to those who would silence vulnerable children in a misguided attempt to protect the reputation of an organisation.

I'm sure there are times during this hearing that you want to scream, but your skill and professionalism is a pleasure to behold, and adds further weight to the solid arguments you make.

Thank you!

39

Rodney Spinks' Performance

by maksutov in

it seems like there has not been as much discussion here about the rc testimony on day 6 (4th august) as there has been about previous days.

i was quite surprised by rodney spinks' testimony, which was a marked contrast to the bungling and inarticulate testimony of the elders that appeared before him.

spinks seemed reasonably co-operative, and a lot more willing to concede points than anyone else has been.

maksutov

I agree there were definitely plenty of faults to find, and he was dishonest at times, but I suppose I took it as read that that would be the case. Still, he seemed to perform much better than the others. I would think a moderate JW watching days 1-5 would feel very uncomfortable, but day 6 would make them feel soooo much better. If my wife were to watch any of the proceedings, I would hate for it to be just today's, as I think it would give the impression that everything is fine.

39

Rodney Spinks' Performance

by maksutov in

it seems like there has not been as much discussion here about the rc testimony on day 6 (4th august) as there has been about previous days.

i was quite surprised by rodney spinks' testimony, which was a marked contrast to the bungling and inarticulate testimony of the elders that appeared before him.

spinks seemed reasonably co-operative, and a lot more willing to concede points than anyone else has been.

maksutov

It seems like there has not been as much discussion here about the RC testimony on day 6 (4th August) as there has been about previous days. I was quite surprised by Rodney Spinks' testimony, which was a marked contrast to the bungling and inarticulate testimony of the elders that appeared before him. Spinks seemed reasonably co-operative, and a lot more willing to concede points than anyone else has been. He still often missed the point, or tried to deflect, and made some laughably ridiculous comments (like putting the Bible ahead of scientific discoveries) but his testimony actually gave me a little bit of hope that there is a willingness to co-operate and make improvements.

28

[Day 5 - 3/8]The Royal Commissions investigation of child sexual abuse within Jehovah’s Witnesses. + VIDEO

by C0ntr013r in

so, i am back at it.

i give you day 5 of the royal commissions proceedings:.

part 1 has been uploaded and part 2,3 and 4 will soon be available.. part 1:.

maksutov

Mr Baker doesn't seem like much of an apostate - still a Bible-thumping misogynist, and mentally 'in', defending the JWs, albeit somewhat more compassionate than the elders.

41

Contacted by Royal Commission today

by umbertoecho in

firstly, thank you to anyone who is in support of this rc.

no one has shown anything but great interest and empathy for those who were abused.. i don't know who this simonsays character is though and i find him to be very rude and ignorant.

it takes all kinds to make the world go round i suppose.. today i was contacted by a staff member of the royal commission.

maksutov

Kudos, and good luck, umbertoecho.

17

Kudos: for those of you who awakened with you significant others. You are so LUCKY!!!

by goingthruthemotions in

like the title says....those of you who made it out with you husbands or wives.

you people are so lucky!!!.

lucky because your wife or husband isn't brain dead and can think and reason for themselves.

maksutov

I'm happy for those whose spouse left with them. Also very envious. But I would rather be awake myself and have a poorer marriage than live in ignorance - ignorance is not bliss. I also count myself lucky - my wife is still a WT drone, but not a complete looney, and we have something we can still salvage, at least for now.

I hope you can find a way to cope with your frustration - we all know the cult has limitless capacity to destroy families, and it is heartbreaking to see it happen before your eyes. My family will never be the same again - my dad has disowned me, and my in-laws avoid me. It sucks, but I still feel lucky to have escaped.

I don't mean to minimise what you are going through - there was a time when grief, frustration, and anger was threatening to consume me, but in my case I have found some relief by forcing myself to look at things more philosophically and focus on the good that can come from my new-found freedom of thought.

39

JW Reaction to Royal Commission Reports

by maksutov in

has anybody confronted any jws with the royal commission reports on the news yet?

i showed my 8-year old daughter a newspaper headline about it, and when she told my jw wife that the jws in australia were in trouble for not reporting over 1,000 child abusers to police, her response was "oh, really?

well, i don't know what the rules are over there.

maksutov

All good comments. In fairness to my wife, the subject was thrust on her without warning and she had absolutely no frame of reference for it, and was completely unaware of any of the details, only that there was an accusatory newspaper headline. She will likely have made the assumption that the org could not possibly have done anything wrong and that they are just being persecuted over some technicality of reporting rules. I hope she will be curious enough to investigate further, but I'm not holding my breath.

Nice to see in other threads that some JWs are apparently being shaken though.

45

Governing Body, painted in a corner, now what?

by Wasanelder Once in

the governing body have painted themselves in a corner, so to speak.

if they acknowledge their response to abuse claims was insensitive, unloving and inadequate they are denying the belief that "god's way" is best and risk losing abuse cases.

if they stick with it and say it is "god's way according to the bible" they will be seen as cult leaders and risk losing abuse cases.

maksutov

I think that they will be forced to change their policies, but will claim that they decided to change things themselves to protect themselves against the unjust accusations of Satan's world. As long as they do make improvements, I don't really care how they spin it.

39

JW Reaction to Royal Commission Reports

by maksutov in

has anybody confronted any jws with the royal commission reports on the news yet?

i showed my 8-year old daughter a newspaper headline about it, and when she told my jw wife that the jws in australia were in trouble for not reporting over 1,000 child abusers to police, her response was "oh, really?

well, i don't know what the rules are over there.

maksutov

Has anybody confronted any JWs with the Royal Commission reports on the news yet?

I showed my 8-year old daughter a newspaper headline about it, and when she told my JW wife that the JWs in Australia were in trouble for not reporting over 1,000 child abusers to police, her response was "Oh, really? Well, I don't know what the rules are over there."

58

Governing body deceiving members on purpose?

by wwjdnwt in

i was born into this religion.

i was a jw for well over 30 years.

i did much research before i had internet, i compared bibles and prayed deeply to help me to know if this was the truth.

maksutov

I think they both believe it (consciously) and also know it is not true (suppressed) - just like I did when I was a member. I suspect they can bear a lot more cognitive dissonance than average because they have more to lose from admitting to being wrong.