Posts by Incognito

17

Newly Free, Need Advice

by HappyBlessedFree in

i stopped attending meetings about three months ago.

after researching everything i could find on jehovahs witnesses (which is a lot) i can happily say i am awake and free.

i was a baptized witness for over 25 year.

Just because a JW doesn't attend meetings, does not mean they don't continue to believe. Some, may not attend for decades and may even live their life in complete opposition to JW requirements including smoking or fornication, but if anyone says anything against JWs or their beliefs, they will fight tooth and nail to defend the religion. Pointing out the person's deficiencies may then cause them to return to the religion, often more obsessively than they would be at anything else.

Instead of presenting information to try to convince your husband, which he will potentially make excuses, defend and discard, perhaps present an occasional question for him to ponder, which may cause him to do his own research.

While you mention you are impatient, that is because you have already been awakened, but to wake him, is not about you.

Regarding your son's B'day, maybe don't call it that. It could be 'Johnny's Special Day' or the observance of his birth anniversary. Better still if celebrated on another day than the actual. With JWs, many things are about technicalities so best if trigger words and dates are not used as that will sometimes lessen their defences.

126

7 Jehovah’s Witnesses Brutally Tortured in Russia

by Drearyweather in

https://jw-russia.org/en/news/19021923-622.html.

at least seven of jehovah’s witnesses were subjected to torture—electric shocks, suffocation, and cruel beatings—on the first floor of the russian investigative committee’s building at ul.

ostrovskogo, d. 47, in surgut.

Incognito

For all those here who support Russia's ban on JW's: Do you really feel that the individual rank and file deserve the above treatment? Do you honestly feel that this is the way to stop JW's?

This comment/question makes it sound as if torture and a ban are one-in-the-same. They are two separate actions and issues.

While noncompliance to any ban in most countries will usually result in legal penalties, the torturous treatment depicted on the 'JWs in Russia' website appears to be done outside of Russian law.

The article states: 'The Witnesses will pursue all available legal remedies for this crime ...'

Does this mean WT is pursuing legal remedies on behalf of those tortured and for all JWs in Russia, or are the Witness individuals that were tortured, acting only for themselves?

Has anyone found any information other than from the 'JWs in Russia' website and other JW and religion associated sites that confirm this story?

23

My Bible Study Conductor's Letter to Me

by ohnightdivine in

jw
friends

recently, i wrote a sister, my bible study conductor, an email just telling her that i thought of her, and i thanked her for being a part of some milestones in my life many many years ago.

(for those who are reading my post for the first time, i was a very impressionable teenager at that time and i had the chance to live in their country for a while, spent much time with her, got to know her way of living, and essentially she became my life's mentor.

closer to me than family.

Incognito

You haven't shared your email to her but it was likely more a warm and friendly communication to a close friend regarding your personal relationship with her and her family.

Her entire message back to you is about JW activities and behavior. Perhaps due to translation, it seems to be a cold reply. She also does not appear to continue to consider you a close friend as she said: "Let's become close friends encouraging each other!"

Once I stopped JW attendance, I found there is little in common to talk with JWs about including family, as they seem lost if not talking about anything other than JW meetings and service activities, people at their hall, their vacation plans and what they watch on TV.

40

Is Russia "right" about presecuting Jehovah's Witnesses?

by iliketreasure in

jw
friends

jehovah's witnesses are presecuted in russia.

on par with the is and other terroristic groups.

it happened when the anti-extremism laws were extended to non-violent groups.. i don't believe that russia actually cares for the well-being of their citizens with this move and probably merely a law to stop other political forces (and the jws are one in a way, since their gather authority over large groups of people and also have their own political and judicial institutiona), but are they right about it anyway?.

Incognito

... just take away their tax status and you have given a death strike. Let them keep their property just tax the crap out of it.

If that happened, I expect WT would then place further burden on R&F JWs to make-up for the increased expense.

85

''Special Letter'' to be Read In Canada Week of Feb 3,2019

by Beth Sarim in

i have just been informed that there is a 'special letter' to be read at the meetings week of feb 3,2019 in canada.

anybody heard of this!!

just a heads-up!

Incognito

Rubadub, the tread title idicates the letter is to be read 'The Week Of Feb 3' which does mean it is to be read on Feb 3 but sometime this week likely at the midweek meeting.

36

May 2019 child abuse WT

by neat blue dog in

the new study edition watchtower is up, and most of it is devoted to child abuse damage control.. https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-study-may-2019/.

Incognito

13 Do elders comply with secular laws about reporting an allegation of child abuse to the secular authorities? Yes. In places where such laws exist, elders endeavour to comply with secular laws about reporting allegations of abuse.

While WT makes the claim that reporting does occur where required by law, evidence does not support reporting always ocurs. Pennsylvania USA is a mandatory reporting state yet the Pen court case WT lost a few years ago proved that matter was not reported.

Australia does have mandatory reporting states yet out of the 1800+ cases revealed to the CARC, 0 cases were reported even as it could be assumed that at least one case occurred within a mandatory reporting area.

224

How to sue the WT over shunning policy. It CAN happen!

by Bad_Wolf in

this is a very good document from a law school exploring religious freedom vs an individuals right to religious freedom without blackmail, pressure, etc, and also explores why certain lawsuits did not win and what it would take to win them.

https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=3827&context=penn_law_review.

a person born in, and whose parents or family pressured to shun because they simply left the religion, who has evidence of damages, etc, would likely have a good case if they find a good lawyer.

Incognito

WT play matters both ways to its benefit. Just as WT often claims clergy privilege in court, the required actions of its representatives do not support those claims which the courts have now started to recognize.

While elders may need to be re-appointed as such when they change congregations, a person who is DF'd in one congregation remains such if they relocate or even visit any other congregation regardless of location.

Actually, WT will sometimes assign an elder(s) from other congregations to a congregation that is experiencing problems. As such, those assigned elders remain such and do not need to be re-appointed.

If the organization was truly organized congregationally, each would choose its own elders without further approval from WT, and each congregation's elder body would be free to make decisions without authorization or fear of penalty from WT.

Congregation elders are not free to make decisions but are mandated to follow the policies and procedures of the WT organization (or other corporate entity ie: CC), thereby acting as that organization's agent. If elders do not do so, they risk censure, removal from their position or being removed from the religion through DF'ing.

27

Cart witnessing

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

not sure if anyone has posted this before but it's just been put on youtube so i guess it's okay to show you??

if not, please delete it.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdusnlvjm-k.

Incognito

what in the hell has this religion come to?

Not the religion I was raised in, that's for sure.

So, are JW women are now permitted to wear pants while doing 'Theocratic' activities? (2nd video - Holley Abrams)

26

All Watchtower Brooklyn sales in 37 NYC doc pages + spreadsheet

by Corney in

i have compiled 32 real property transfer reports (“reports”) and 5 recording and endorsement cover pages (“cover pages”) that are ny city public records and available online on a836-acris.nyc.gov site.

37 pages, 38 properties, $2.2bn, one society... enjoy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ryaj_4ihgs1uoyeptkbzdbmw9rd12dmf/view?usp=sharing.

see also spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1acdsqfusm5mi2zatfn87ksxmvrdzh0wfxg9nlomdszw/edit?usp=sharing.

Incognito

the sources seem to be in conflict, with one (the Patch) saying that the 30 Front St. property just sold was their last holding, and another (YIMBY) reporting that "The Witnesses still own two small properties at 80 and 86 Willow Street."

JW's like to when possible, rely on technicalities when denying or confirming an accusation - IF a response is actually offered.

While those two Willow Street properties may be located closeby to the former WT Headquarters, perhaps they are not considered or identified as part of the 'headquarters' properties the Patch article is written about.

8

Two for One offer. You get one for the price of two!

by Slidin Fast in

did anyone else fall for this one?

i did pre-assembly work in my home town, this was obviously voluntary unpaid work.

i continued to do part-time work helping to support my mom who has been recently abandoned by my elder dad,.

Incognito

So, to continue to qualify as a pioneer you had to do 2 hours for every pioneer hour you missed.

Where is the Bible example for this requirement?

As we kept track of our own time, we could have reported anything we wanted and no one would have known the difference. Of course, WT has developed a method to ensure we acted in the manner they demand as they conditioned us to believe, Jehovah, similar to Santa Claus, sees all and knows when we've been good and bad, naughty and nice.

As believers who volunteer their time and are told they are a brotherhood with all 'brothers' as equals in the eyes of God, why does anyone need to 'qualify' for a title 'Pioneer'? The title only seems to elevate the person above the brotherhood while placing burdon and stress on the volunteer to ensure they report enough hours this month, so as to continue to qualify to keep the title next month.

SinceJehovah is supposedly satisfied with the efforts freely given by each individual, and since we are to believe preaching is a noble requirement which we are to perform, why then worry about holding a title?