Posts by johnnyc

37

I Finally Understand the Kingdom Hall Scam

by jamiebowers in

http://www.codyenterprise.com/articles/2009/02/19/news/doc4987722b2d8b5588859832.txt.

.

johnnyc

It would be a fine theory to say that the WT is seeking to keep all the ownership to the kingdom halls to reap the financial rewards.....except....who benefits? Unless you can prove that specific individuals in the WT are benefiting financially in some way from this, the reality is that the stronger financial strength of the WT only means that organization becomes worth more. Since we all happen to know from Mr. Franz's experience that even governing body members have virtually no money - nor leave with any substaintual money, the WT cannot be compared to a typical corporation that distributes profits to individuals or members. Since they are also required to hold an annual meeting and report their finances yearly, there are obviously no improper actions by the WT when it comes to finances. They use and leverage funds and properties to put back into the construction of other Kingdom Halls and buildings around the world. It is a well known fact there are no bloated salaries going to anyone particular, and even persons who dedicate their entire life in service to the WT end up leaving with very little in compensation campared to other religions or corporations.

As I have stated many times before, keep the criticism real – the way the WT handles their finances should be a model for all other religions – and most who know the details of this cannot state otherwise. If people take the time to investigate, the WT happens to be an open book on all this - even on the congregation level.

62

Six Screens comments on controversial conference call

by kool aid man06 in

without question, the ravyn guiliani interview on the six screens conference call created lots of controversy.

ravyn's experience with sra (satanic ritual abuse) was instantly rejected by so many.

it was as though people pre-judicated her story before she had a chance to tell it.

johnnyc

This is just the sort of thing I was referring to in my other posts - going way over the edge leads to discredit of a cause. As some have pointed out, there are way too many holes in this girls statements - not to mention the contradictory elements. For instance, why would a demon want to help keep clean the congregation by exposing a man who smoked leading to him being disfellowshipped???

What probably happened is that this girl had a mental problem as a child where she claimed to get inspiration from demons, and the elders and others at bethel were trying to help her - and in the process asked what sort of things she thought the demon was saying. She then has twisted it in her mind that they were asking her what the demon was saying so they could learn. Really they were there asking so they could see how crazy she was and if something could be done. They may have even thought that she perhaps was possessed, and they tried performing some sort of exorcism (which is a process not talked a lot about at the WT) using Holy Spirit - which just flamed her fantasies about rituals occurring even further.

Johnny

18

let's hope Jehovah's Witnesses will see this movie and get them thinking

by kool aid man06 in

anew movie coming out on dec. 12. this movie subject deals with child molestation in the catholic church and how they tried to cover it up.

let's hope the witnesses will go to see it and get them thinking.

it's rated p.g.

johnnyc

Is the 23,000 you mention verified somehow or is that an estimate..? Just curious.

18

let's hope Jehovah's Witnesses will see this movie and get them thinking

by kool aid man06 in

anew movie coming out on dec. 12. this movie subject deals with child molestation in the catholic church and how they tried to cover it up.

let's hope the witnesses will go to see it and get them thinking.

it's rated p.g.

johnnyc

cameo-d: To answer you question, morality and conscience issues obviously need to be governed by someone other than religious leaders who act in this manner - whether they are guilty of child abuse (molestation) or are the ones who help conceal these things. I am not sure what point you are making, since we would not have a problem if morality and conscience ruled in the religious world. I am saying that the government needs more oversight, and should have known this was a problem - after all, do you think it has only been in the last 30 years Priests and religious leaders have been doing this to Children??? This problem dates back over a thousand years or more. The environment of absolute silence and non-accountability to the state has created a cesspool for this sort of activity - as is coming out now. Johnny

18

let's hope Jehovah's Witnesses will see this movie and get them thinking

by kool aid man06 in

anew movie coming out on dec. 12. this movie subject deals with child molestation in the catholic church and how they tried to cover it up.

let's hope the witnesses will go to see it and get them thinking.

it's rated p.g.

johnnyc

Everyone is so quick to point the finger at religions (Catholic or otherwise) for their role in not reporting such abuse, but the reality is the government should have had a law requiring proper reporting to begin with. For the past 2000 years, religious leaders have had a certain "code of silence" pertaining to every sort of confession or issue by its members. The governments knew this, and they should have made it illegal for them not to disclose anything relating to that sort of abuse. I highly condemn any action of concealment by Catholic, JW, or any organization - I am just saying I think everyone lets the governments off the hook a bit too much for their role in not requiring more oversight. Johnny

71

Russell Not a Mason!

by johnnyc in

this is some research i did showing that russell, was not, in fact a freemason (aka mason).

it is from the website: .

http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry03.html .

johnnyc

cognizant dissident: I don't disagree with some of what you say, although, there are also many who change their lives for the better when they join the WT - a great many. Concerning the blood issue - whereas there are many who have died in their refusal of blood, a great deal of those people would have perhaps died of their ailment anyways, and very infrequently does anything like that occur to young ones who dont make their own decision on the matter (yes, there is anyways the exception to the rule) Before you go try to save one JW child from this problem, start first with the millions who die each year from starvation. Bottom line is that this world sucks, and is unloving and uncaring. So many problems abound, children and people die all the time from this, that, and the other. Most who die from not taking blood decide that on their own - regardless of the pressure - it comes down to a personal decision. If people would prefer to die than to be DF'd, then that tells you something about their dedication to the WT. Again, not saying it is right, but they are really not "hurting" people, and it could be said they do good in their ministry (dont need a million quasi-examples of relational harm upon humanity). Also, since we all know that the WT teaches its members to be good citizens, they make great neighbors too.

71

Russell Not a Mason!

by johnnyc in

this is some research i did showing that russell, was not, in fact a freemason (aka mason).

it is from the website: .

http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry03.html .

johnnyc

Mary - the more I consider my heart, perhaps I may see that my disfellowshiping wasn't without fault. The simple fact that I ran here to talk about things could be an indication as to my true disposition towards the WT. Maybe I deserved to be disfellowshiped...? I guess I am now saying that I did.

In a weird way, Crisis of Conscience, this web site, and others, showed me that most "apostates" (with certain exception) carry a radical viewpoint with the need to pass that information along. They do this by stating the WT has a radical viewpoint on theology and are focused on spreading that information along to the masses. My mother would rather live her life a JW (clean and moral) than be agnostic or an atheist. Since I have found only a very small number of ex-jw's end up going to another church (by percentage), why would I want to take away from her joy in life that comes from her belief that she knows God and follows him correctly. JW's, for the most part, are best were they are in life. If you claim they are ignorant - well, then perhaps that is bliss. No one can convince me that the WT does more harm that good - and no one can convince me the WT is anything but sincere in their efforts. Not to say they are perfect, or that they have 100% truth. I just do not believe they have any malice....

71

Russell Not a Mason!

by johnnyc in

this is some research i did showing that russell, was not, in fact a freemason (aka mason).

it is from the website: .

http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry03.html .

johnnyc

You know, it is amazing how many things that can be passed as "truth", or "anti-truth", which become essentially slander. There are so many who have passed on the "FACT" Russell was a mason, and that ALL those symbols are directly related to his cultism. The fact is the very "winged disc" used by Russell on so many of his books was Hebrew in nature. You can do a simple search in google to find this very "fact" out.

I can see that many who make comments holding to the fact Russell was a mason really show their true colors. The reality is that though you have "switched sides", you have not actually changed your way of thought. As impossible for someone within the WT to see error in their teachings is as difficult for you to see any other truth than what you now want it to be. I guess the pendulum can swing too far.

Johnny

71

Russell Not a Mason!

by johnnyc in

this is some research i did showing that russell, was not, in fact a freemason (aka mason).

it is from the website: .

http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry03.html .

johnnyc

This is some research I did showing that Russell, was not, in fact a Freemason (aka Mason). It is from the website:
http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry03.html

stating...
Charles Taze Russell
Claims have been made that "Pastor" Russell (1852/02/16-1916/10/31), founder of the International Bible Students Association — forerunner of the Jehovah’s Witnesses — was a freemason; that the banner on the front of early issues of the Watchtower contained masonic symbols; and that Russell’s gravestone bears a masonic cross and crown symbol.Russell was not a freemason. Neither the symbols found in the Watchtower nor the cross and crown symbol are exclusively masonic. And the cross and crown symbol does not appear on his gravestone in the Rosemont United Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — it appears on a memorial erected some years later.

___

The information does go on to quote him at a later time speaking positively about Freemasons, but the quote is not provable and could easily be made up - so take it for what it is worth.

Johnny

21

Freewill or Ultimatum?

by cameo-d in

what is the difference?.

was adam given freewill or ultimatum?.

johnnyc

Your example of the gift of $100 could use some refinement in this way: If the person giving the gift was capable of reading your heart and mind - and knew the possibility that you may go spend it on drugs or something very bad, it would not be unreasonable for the giver to make a stipulation of you not use the gift for that purpose - otherwise, the gifter would not give you the gift...? Right?