Sugar Shane

Joined

• started 27 topics
• posted 177 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Sugar Shane

• 
  2

  Happy V-day to the Trey Bundy's of the world: this article showed up today!

  by Sugar Shane in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  enjoy:.

  https://www.revealnews.org/blog/spotlight-a-valentine-to-investigative-reporting/.

  1. 
  2. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  Enjoy:

  https://www.revealnews.org/blog/spotlight-a-valentine-to-investigative-reporting/
  
• 
  3

  The possible extinction of cults

  by Sugar Shane in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  here's a link to an interesting article on the apparent demise of cults.

  i can remember being accosted by various culty groups back in the '70s, while walking through the airport in lax.

  this article ties the dwindling number of cults in western culture, to a shift towards secularism.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  Here's a link to an interesting article on the apparent demise of cults. I can remember being accosted by various culty groups back in the '70s, while walking through the airport in LAX.

  This article ties the dwindling number of cults in western culture, to a shift towards secularism. I wonder if the JWs are a part of this trend, yet perhaps slower to die out due to sheer numbers.

  As mentioned extensively in other threads, the bad press against JWs, along with leaks, and everything else available on the internet would certainly accelerate their downfall. I believe that the smaller cults which have all come and gone are tantamount to the 'canary in the coal mine,' and are indicative of what's in store for the Watchtower.

  Here's the link:

  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2014/06/where-have-all-the-cultists-gone/
  
• 
  30

  Control - Whose worse, the JWs or the traditional churches?

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we once experienced, the "you'll die at armegeddon," fear instilled into us as jw's.. was that worse or better than the fear of eternal torment instilled by more conventional religions?.

  john spong gives his view.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkah3hemv3m.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  Correction: Joel LIVED in the modest house for a long time. But, I think he's since "moved on up." Wonder if Victoria was naggin' away at him. LoL
• 
  30

  Control - Whose worse, the JWs or the traditional churches?

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we once experienced, the "you'll die at armegeddon," fear instilled into us as jw's.. was that worse or better than the fear of eternal torment instilled by more conventional religions?.

  john spong gives his view.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkah3hemv3m.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  Trying to compare a soul sucking 24 7 cult to a Joel Osteen type 45 min pep talk once a week.
  And you can't figure out which one is worse?
  What a stupid thread.

  Agreed. I was exposed to the Methodist Church as a child, and later the Disciples of Christ. After marrying a JW (she converted after marrying) I can attest to the difference. At no time, during my youth, did either the Methodists or D.O.C. disfellowship, or mark someone for not agreeing with everything. We were never fed a steady diet of, " the end is near," or "the wicked system of things."

  On the contrary, it was more the positive side:"Jesus died for us & our sins." "Be like Jesus' disciples, help those in need."

  The Disciples (D.O.C.) in particular, are real big on open discussion during Sunday school. One isn't just mindlessly regurgitating answers from a Wathtower style study guide. But, using the brain God gave you to think, and make others think.

  Sure they "passed the plate" every Sunday for donations, but the church finances were handled locally, and it was fairly transparent, as I recall. The pastors at both churches were pretty non-blingy. I think one drove an old Buick & lived in a smallish house. Heck, even Joel Olsteen lives in the same modest house he bought way before getting famous. Anyway, there was never any of this "we have the TROOF, and only us" bullshit, in my experience.

  Sure, you can find the hardcore, evangelical, fire & brimstone ("ur goin' to hell in a handbasket!") type churches out there, but none that I'm aware of have such power over their members as the JWs. This includes the power to destroy families and hide pedophiles via the threat of DF and shunning. The only 'religion/denomination' I've heard of this is Scientology. The Worldwide Church of God might've done this, as well as several smallish sects. But, to compare JWs to mainstream Christian churches is apples & oranges. No, make that apples & potatoes.
• 
  4

  Any updates on the Lopez Case?

  by Sugar Shane in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  if i'm not mistaken, this week the court in san diego was going to render a decision on the wts wish to continue oral arguements, or something along those lines.

  someone may have brought this up already.

  if so, then my apologies.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  If I'm not mistaken, this week the court in San Diego was going to render a decision on the WTS wish to continue oral arguements, or something along those lines. Someone may have brought this up already. If so, then my apologies.
• 
  32

  Re: Quarterly Organizational Accomplishments Video Series

  by pixel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  dear brothers:.

  we are pleased to inform you that a new series of short videos will be produced to emphasize the acceleration of the worldwide work of jehovah’s witnesses.

  (isa.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  Good. Sooner the better.

  BTW, I doubt they're going to show, in any amount of detail, where the donations are going.

  I just happened across this from the Methodist website, and I'm sure other 'mainstream' denominations & secular non-profits have the same info readily available to the public: http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/About-Us/Financials

  I have yet to see anything REMOTELY like this from the Watchtower. I'd like to shove reports like the one above in the faces of some of the more arrogant elder types, and ask em,' "can you please show me the money?"
• 
  32

  Re: Quarterly Organizational Accomplishments Video Series

  by pixel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  dear brothers:.

  we are pleased to inform you that a new series of short videos will be produced to emphasize the acceleration of the worldwide work of jehovah’s witnesses.

  (isa.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  Will someone leak these videos soon?

  I'm curious to see if they offer any specifics, such as a table or graph with expenditures per country, along with $xxxx on construction, $xxxx on publications, ect. To be truthful, they would need to show $xxxx going to the lawsuit defense fund--perhaps that would be classified as "other expenses." LoL.

  I'm thinking it will be a glossed-over propaganda film, like the kinds we've seen throughout history, from nations on the losing end of a war. "The Reich shall be Victorious!"
• 
  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  That guarantee means immunity for the sinner when he confesses a crime to the church and immunity for the church for not reporting the crime.

  Yes Fisherman, as long as ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE is assured. Why are you not able to comprehend this?

  Supreme Court Justice Burger (former): “The clergy privilege is rooted in the imperative need for confidence and trust. The... privilege recognizes the human need to disclose to a spiritual counselor, in total and absolute confidence, what are believed to be flawed acts or thoughts and to receive consolations and guidance in return.”
  

  
  
• 
  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  But, Fisherman said that it's confidential if it's simply NOT reported to the secular authorities. I believe he researched this definition from the "pulled it out of my ass" law dictionary. Or, perhaps it's based on his extensive background in....umm...err. Nevermind. I guess I'm with Grundy (and just about everyone else) on this.
• 
  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sugar Shane

  No it doesn't. It only applies to Delaware law.

  For the time being, perhaps. But, thanks to legal precedent, this will likely apply to similar decisions in other states.

  One cannot also rule out the effects of the ARC, and the ongoing UK Charities Commission, on future legal interpretation in the US and Canada. It's all Common Law.