Posts by skeeter1

328

Journal of Church and State: WT NO-BLOOD EXPOSE'

by AndersonsInfo in

(baylor university, waco, tx) an essay entitled, "jehovah's witnesses, blood transfusions, and the tort of misrepresentation," found in the autumn issue of baylor universitys prestigious journal of church and state, published december 13, 2005, exposes the vulnerability of jehovahs witnesses religious organization to massive claims for compensation because of the religions misrepresentation of the medical risks of blood transfusions.

this milestone essay critically examines one of the religions main publications for teaching their children and new recruits about their blood beliefs, how can blood save your life?

the peer-reviewed essay details many misrepresentations of medical facts, which the religion partly relies on to support its blood prohibition, thus denying its members from making fully informed medical decisions.

skeeter1

My aunt used to work for Univ. of Miami's law school. We checked up on this journal. It IS one of a few handful of journals that dedicates itself to religious law. In addition to getting past the JCS's editors, it takes two (2) additional peer reviewers to be considered for publication. These two peer reviewers are experts in their field of religion. An article like this, being from a student, may have had to go through an additional third peer review. As this paper is partly about medical facts, it was probably also reviewed by a medical professor. If Kerry published this paper this December...it had to have been submitted this past Summer for final review...which means that the peer reviews had to have happened while Kerry was still in law school (she graduated in 2005). This meant that she could have worked underneath some professors who would have also reviewed her work. The JCS usually only takes articles from esteemed professors or lawyers who are well respected in their field. So, for Kerry to have gotten her paper published while a student is a FEAT! Also, the JCS does not pay its authors anything for their submissions.

I have a feeling there is legal merit to Kerry's article. The JCS would have put her through the ringer to get this published.

As for potential of lawsuits...well courts change. One hundred years ago, my aunt said, you could not sue a land owner when a kid died in one's pool. Now, high fences are everywhere. Kerry may be "young" and "fresh out of law school," but she appears to have won some of the heavy legal minds out there.

Have you ever published anything?

2

Giving blood

by sass_my_frass in

i've brought this up before; i've been wondering whether to give blood.

i've realised that if it came down to it i wouldn't want to take blood but i'd rather do so than die.

in that case i really ought to give blood too.

skeeter1

You need to get the facts on blood, and I mean the facts. The chances of catching AID and hepatitus C is one in two million units. Hepatitus A is one in two hundred thousand units. The chances of dying from low blood count increases dramatically as you go below 10 or lose alot of blood quickly. It is even higher if you're very old, very young, or very ill. Talk with your doctor about your condition and your ability to go without blood.

Go to http://www.bloodsafety.org/safesupply.asp to get the facts on the risks of accepting a blood donation.

Skeeter

40

Scandal of December 2005 km

by IT Support in

the december canadian kingdom ministry has an article "could your child make a mature decision.

" it instructs parents to indoctrinate their kids to refuse blood and make themselves a martyr.

this, to me, was one of the most chilling sentences in the article (paragraph 3):

skeeter1

I am just appalled that the KM quotes a 1944 case!

Do you know which case that is? It's Prince v. Massachusetts. It's a seminal case against the Society. The facts are that it deals with a woman who wanted her nephew/neice to sell magazines on a street corner in Boston after school & into the evening. Massachusetts had strict child labor laws (this was 1944), and did not want young children out on the streets working. While this case has nothing to do with blood, it has been quoted hundreds, if not thousands, of times against JW parents who refuse blood. If you take the Bar Exam, you have to know this case inside & out. If you go to law school, any "family law" class deals with it & its prodegy for a day or two.

This KM is soooooo misleading to the flock. Theocratic lying, perhaps. But, it's a downright LIE for the Society to try to turn Prince's holding into their cause.

The US Supreme Court Justices who decided that case would turn over in their graves.

Disgusted with the lies,

Skeeter1

41

What Religion DOESN'T Use Fear Tactics and Threats?

by Nate Merit in

fear of the unknown (and certainly death is the great unknown) is the primal motivator in religion.

those who clue into this learn to manipulate others through fear of punishment and promise of reward.

yes, it is in fact that childishly simple.

skeeter1

(For some reason, my "cut & paste" does not work on this web-site.)

It's Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology, 212 Cal. App. 3d 872 (2d Dist. Div 7 1989)

available at

www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/legal/wollersheim/212cal.app.3d.872.html

Happy Reading!

41

What Religion DOESN'T Use Fear Tactics and Threats?

by Nate Merit in

fear of the unknown (and certainly death is the great unknown) is the primal motivator in religion.

those who clue into this learn to manipulate others through fear of punishment and promise of reward.

yes, it is in fact that childishly simple.

skeeter1

I invite everyone to read the following law case:

Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology, 212

In short, a "hell-fire" religious speech about the after-life is protected religious excercise. It's when the religion goes further, such as ruining a person financially, subjecting them to slave-like conditions, and takes away thier immediate family that will not be tolerated. Here, Mr. Wollersheim successfully sued the Church of Scientology....albeit it took him several years and many appeals to collect. I invite you to read the case. It will give you some BIG insights into Mr. Tom Cruise's latest rantings (and Nicole's silence).

I think that the Society has some unresolved legal issues with its shunning practices. Read the case, and post your thoughts.

Skeeter1

33

what would u ask????

by theinfamousone in

if you were to come face to face with god tomorrow, what would you ask him/her/it????.

i know its probably been done before, but ive really been thinking about this lately.... i would ask him why he allows so many bad things to happen???

why are there kids starving to death in africa, whilest i can eat and eat and eat till im sick???

skeeter1

Which religion or people got it the most right?

13

Letter to Irish newspaper

by IT Support in

last week there were reports of the sad death of a young irish jw, sarah o'leary.

i haven't noticed if anyone else wrote to the irish newspapers, but this is the letter i wrote:

gorey echo, friday 2 dec: "father tells of sorrow on losing sarah" .

skeeter1

I just had to give you the exact quotes from the US Supreme Court....

Prince v. Massachusetts (1944)

"The right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community or the child to communicable disease or the latter to ill health or death."

"Parents may be free to become martyrs themselves. But it does not follow that they are free, in identical circumstances, to make martyrs of their children before they have reached the age of full and legal discretion when they can make that choice for themselves."

And so, you see, JW children are taken away from their parents when they need blood.

13

Letter to Irish newspaper

by IT Support in

last week there were reports of the sad death of a young irish jw, sarah o'leary.

i haven't noticed if anyone else wrote to the irish newspapers, but this is the letter i wrote:

gorey echo, friday 2 dec: "father tells of sorrow on losing sarah" .

skeeter1

#1) I remember talking with a hospital liasion about whether the Society would reimburse a sick follower who needed blood fractions and was willing to accept them. He said that the Society did not "give" or have any loan program where the follower could get help. He did say that sometimes when followers were in need, the local congregation pitches in to help - but had no recollection of ever helping out someone who needed a costly blood fraction. Instead, his job was to talk with the insurance companies and hospital and convince them that it was, in fact, a cheaper alternative.

Does the money ever go from the Society to the local congregations? Not in my limited experience. The cost of building a Kingdom Hall is lent, not given, and the congregation I knew made it a priority to pay back the loans ASAP. Plus, the congregation paid for the land. The followers "donate" (aka pay) for the literature. The followers pay for everything!. What financial help do they or the community receive in return? Nothing. Doesn't this violate charitable exempt status under US tax laws? The Society "banks" the money. How much do they have in investments anyway?

The least the Society could do is to start a program to lend/give $$$ to followers who need blood fractions.

#2) There is a very famous US Supreme Court Case here in the US - it's called Prince v. Massachusetts. It's famous quote goes something like "Parents do not have the right to make martyrs of their children." This case deals with a guardian who wanted a child to sell Society magazines on a street corner in violation of Massachusett's child labor laws. It has been quoted time & time again by US courts when deciding to give blood to minors and advanced minors (i.e. 16 & 17 year olds who are articulate). It is my understanding that every State except Illinios, West Virginia, and Tennessee, will make an advanced minor a ward of the court and mandate blood transfusions Every State will do so for a younger child. Why? The State has a very important interest in making sure this child reaches maturity. Parents do not have the right to kill their children because their beliefs differ from the childs.

2

Shunning - how quick?

by skeeter1 in

jw
friends

i am about to "come out" of the jw closet, and dissapoint my jw family.

i was wondering how fast the society reacts?

if i'm out on december 15th, when will the elders tell my family to shun me?

skeeter1

I am about to "come out" of the JW closet, and dissapoint my JW family. I was wondering how fast the Society reacts? If I'm out on December 15th, when will the elders tell my family to shun me? Anyone have any experience on what time-frame I should expect? The closest guess without going over the time frame gets a prize magazine from my collection!

Skeeter1

5

Mad Apostate Letter Revision?

by Confession in

just came across this "mad apostate" form letter in the best of area.... to whom it may concern: .

your harassing inquiries into our personal affairs are not welcomed, and any further attempts at such will result in legal action against the individual harassers, the --city--, --state-- congregation of jehovah's witnesses, the watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc., the christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses, inc., and all associated watchower legal entities.

to the best of our recollection, we have not participated in field service in approximately __ months, have attended no meetings in approximately __ months, nor have we participated in any other activities which would specifically identify us as jehovah's witnesses during the same time period.

skeeter1

I am serious....go to www.martindalehubbard.com Find a lawyer who specializes in "First Amendment" or "Tort Law" or "Defamation" or "Invasion of Privacy" in your State.

Your court pleading should have...

1) "Defamation" = $$$ for you if you win.

2) "Invasion of Privacy" = $$$ for you if you win.

3) perhaps (Intentional interference with contracts/business/familial relationships) = $$$ for you if you win.

4) Tresspass/Breaking and Entering/etc = jail time for the offending elder

At least, your lawyer could write the Society a nasty gram.....that should put the Society on alert to stop it...and you'll have peace & a Happy New Year.

Also, if the Society "tells" others what offense you did (if you did one), try claiming that the elder/Society breached his/their duty of confidentiality between a priest/follower.