Posts by DT

56

If Jehovah's Witnesses were a cereal, what would they be?

by Zoos in

cult flakes?.

.

(welcome to the height of intellectual thread topics.

in june 1987, the united states court of appeals for the 9th circuit upheld the witnesses' right to shun those who fail to live by the group's standards and doctrines, upholding the ruling of a lower court, finding that "shunning is a practice engaged in by jehovah's witnesses pursuant to their interpretation of canonical text, and we are not free to reinterpret that text ... the defendants are entitled to the free exercise of their religious beliefs ... the members of the church [she] decided to abandon have concluded that they no longer want to associate with her.

we hold that they are free to make that choice."[99][100].

DT

I haven't done much research on this case, but I think this quote is very interesting:

The members of the Church [she] decided to abandon have concluded that they no longer want to associate with her. We hold that they are free to make that choice."[99][100]

The Supreme Court has affirmed the right of individual Jehovah's Witnesses to choose whether they wish to associate with former members. That's just as it should be. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Of course, we know that the JW leaders don't want to extend that right to their members. It would be very interesting if a case was brought by someone who chose to exercise his right to speak to a former member and was disfellowshipped for this.

Would he be able to recover damages for them interfering with a right that has already been upheld by the Supreme Court? I'm sure it wouldn't be easy, but it would be fascinating if the Supreme Court ever had an opportunity to comment further on their decision.

312

Mass disassociation pact...

by freemindfade in

any takers?

we can pick a date and pull the plug?

lol .

DT

Also, what does 8/8 represent besides a catchy phrase?

That's a good question. There would be value in using a date with some special significance. However, it's best to not underestimate the value of a catchy phrase, especially if we want this to go viral.

The number eight could have some symbolic significance that is useful. The number eight is very similar to the fish symbol that used to be persecuted Christians to recognise each other. Awake Jehovah's Witnesses are in a similar position.

The number eight turned on its side is the symbol for infinity. It could well represent our unlimited potential. In terms of JW numerology, it is one more than their beloved seven, rather than one less, a number that they would prefer to assign to apostates.

I'm just brainstorming some ideas. I don't have any problems honoring other dates that are important to ex-jws.

312

Mass disassociation pact...

by freemindfade in

any takers?

we can pick a date and pull the plug?

lol .

DT

I have been following this thread with interest. I'm glad that people seem to like that 8/8 idea.

I have been too busy to do much commenting, but here are a few random thoughts:

1. I hope that 8/8 can be something like an apostate holiday every year. If nothing else, it could be a little less lonely date to disassociate.

2. We need to think about press releases.

3. Even those who were never baptized could send in letters expressing their nonsupport of the organization. They could also ask that any records about them be destroyed.

4. How about hashtags? I started to use #EightEight (It appears that #88 and #8/8 don't function properly as hashtags.) I will try to start following and retweeting people who use #EightEight or similar hashtags.

5. Some might want to post notices in their local paper that they no longer wish to be associated with the JW organization.

6. Some could phone in their disassociation on 8/8 and state that a letter will appear shortly.

7. I believe that the Ex-Mormons have done some group resignations. That could be worth researching further.

8. That's it, for now, but I thought there should be eight items on this list.

312

Mass disassociation pact...

by freemindfade in

any takers?

we can pick a date and pull the plug?

lol .

DT

I think the perfect day for a mass disassociation would be August 8th. A good slogan would be, "Disassociate on 8/8." It even works in countries that like to list the day before the month.

The Watchtower Society usually records its highest number of publishers in August. This would also undermine their yearly report.

I participated in an author interview and answered questions about Jehovah's Witnesses.

by DT in

jw
friends

at first, i thought this interview might just involve some basic questions about my book, the great apocalypse.

however, the interviewer was interested in my past and i ended up discussing jehovah's witnesses and the ex-jw experience.

here is the link if you would like to take a look:.

DT

At first, I thought this interview might just involve some basic questions about my book, The Great Apocalypse. However, the interviewer was interested in my past and I ended up discussing Jehovah's Witnesses and the ex-jw experience.

Here is the link if you would like to take a look:

http://proofpositive.com/interviews/daniel-thompson-author/

1

The Context for the JW Articles About Child Abuse

by DT in

i watched the "expert" testimony of dr. monica applewhite last night for the royal commission in australia.. it was painful to watch.

it appeared that she simply read some articles that were presented to her.

at one point, she suggested that the watchtower society produced about four of these issues a year.

DT

I watched the "expert" testimony of Dr. Monica Applewhite last night for the Royal Commission in Australia.

It was painful to watch. It appeared that she simply read some articles that were presented to her. At one point, she suggested that the Watchtower Society produced about four of these issues a year. I don't doubt that she has extensive experience in her field, but her comments indicate that she has a profound ignorance of the context in which those articles appeared.

At the time, Jehovah's Witnesses were producing a total of four Watchtower and Awake magazines a month. That is in addition to the books and brochures that are published every year. She didn't seem to realize that the Awake magazine, especially, is primarily a recruitment tool. Jehovah's Witnesses generally don't have the time or desire to read most of the articles.

Angus Stewart (assisting counsel for the Royal Commission) pointed out that the context is important for understanding these articles.

I suggest that the context indicates that these articles are part of a propaganda campaign that puts children at further risk. An organization that uses aggressive proselytism needs a brand to promote to the public and its own members.

Jehovah's witnesses advertize a future paradise earth. That distinguishes them for most major religions. In addition to the prospect of a literal paradise, they claim that their members enjoy a spiritual paradise now. They point to scriptures that talk about animals behaving peacefully and claim that those scriptures have an early spiritual fulfillment among their own members. The implication is that Jehovah's Witnesses are now peaceful lambs rather than aggressive lions; those who once displayed animalistic tendencies have put on a new personality.

That context causes Jehovah's Witnesses to interpret articles about child abuse as referring to those outside the organization. This propaganda encourages them to further retreat from the outside world and seek security within the organization, where their children might be in even greater danger.

There have been many articles gloating over the issues that Catholics and other religions have had with child abuse. Yet, they haven't acknowledged their own issues and have made strenuous efforts to cover them up. It would tarnish their image. Their branding campaign would be compromised. Growth would suffer.

The use of judicial committees to prosecute even minor offenses causes many Jehovah's Witnesses to conclude that they handle allegations of child abuse aggressively. The problem is that they greatest perceived threat to their branding comes not from the alleged abuser, but from the victim. An abuser is unlikely to talk about his transgressions, but the victim could reveal that their spiritual paradise is an illusion.

I'm sure that many elders are happy to disfellowship a child abuser when guilt can be established, but they generally have no interest in further protecting children by allowing the abuser's actions to become known to the police and the public. If they reinstate such a person under the assumption that the abuser is repentant and unlikely to offend, then children in their own congregation are once again put at risk.

I'm happy if those articles about child abuse have helped some. Ultimately, however, I think they are at the root of a problem that has put children in even greater danger and resulted in aggressive coverups and harsh treatment of victims.

9

The Great Apocalypse (Sparlock Book One) hit #1 on Amazon UK (Metaphysical Category)

by DT in

jw
friends

i realise that the metaphysical category for free ebooks isn't a huge category, but, as a new author, i'm still excited about it.

it also hit #7 in the free psychological thriller category (amazon uk) and it is appearing on other amazon bestselling lists in the united states and other english speaking countries.. .

this book is partially a satire of sparlock the warrior wizard.

DT

Thank you, nibbled, for catching those. It's amazing what slips through the editing and revision process. I will get those issues corrected soon in the ebook.

I'm nor sure I understand this point, "month that never was — skipping the month for the 360 year to equate to 365.25 literal days —> leads to Israel 1948/1967 from proper 2520 calc??"

9

The Great Apocalypse (Sparlock Book One) hit #1 on Amazon UK (Metaphysical Category)

by DT in

jw
friends

i realise that the metaphysical category for free ebooks isn't a huge category, but, as a new author, i'm still excited about it.

it also hit #7 in the free psychological thriller category (amazon uk) and it is appearing on other amazon bestselling lists in the united states and other english speaking countries.. .

this book is partially a satire of sparlock the warrior wizard.

DT

Thank you for your comments.

Nibbled, it's free even if you don't have Kindle Unlimited. First, I would check the right side of the page. If it doesn't give a price of $0.00 above the buy button, you could try clicking the link that says "$0.00 to buy" below the section that gives the Kindle unlimited price.

"I'm thinking of doing something of a similar vein and am thrilled to see you ahead of the game!"

I would love to hear your ideas, either here or through private message.

9

The Great Apocalypse (Sparlock Book One) hit #1 on Amazon UK (Metaphysical Category)

by DT in

jw
friends

i realise that the metaphysical category for free ebooks isn't a huge category, but, as a new author, i'm still excited about it.

it also hit #7 in the free psychological thriller category (amazon uk) and it is appearing on other amazon bestselling lists in the united states and other english speaking countries.. .

this book is partially a satire of sparlock the warrior wizard.

DT

I thought I would bump this thread to give people another chance to get the ebook for free. Amazon limits the number of free days I can have and this is the last day of the giveaway.