The fact he can't read Norwegian may have something to do with the fact Jonas (Goatlike personality) and Jan Nilsen know a bit more than Cedars thinks he does about this🙄
Diogenesister
JoinedPosts by Diogenesister
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11530
It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars
by Newly Enlightened inoriginal reddit post (removed).
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11530
It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars
by Newly Enlightened inoriginal reddit post (removed).
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Diogenesister
Why on earth does Cedars think it's another topic??!
This article by Avoidjw.org is very comprehensive posted on October 22nd it took me two seconds to find. It clarifies that no religion has the right to financial assistance and so Watchtower's appeal falls outside the jurisdiction of the ECHR
https://avoidjw.org/news/norway-jehovahs-witnesses-denied-state-subsidy/
" The State Administrator makes it clear that state funding falls outside the scope of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Articles 9 and 11. Neither Article entitle religions to state subsidies. Quoting from the European Court of Human Rights, it says, “The freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs under this Article [9] does not confer on the applicant association or its members and entitlement to secure additional funding from the State budget".
The Norwegian government also made it clear their practice of shunning is both systematic and intentional and not just the individual choice of members, so is a violation of government rules on freedom of belief.
"Jehovah’s Witnesses claimed that no statistics are kept on the age of baptized young people in Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, they could not say with certainty that pre teens are not baptised!!
It must be noted that the State Administrator based its decision mainly on information relating to shunning from the Jehovahs witnesses own publications. The information indicates that shunning involves a form of strict, systematic and targeted social exclusion, which the State Administrator finds to be a form of negative social control and psychological violence."
The State Administrator believes it unreasonable to wait for several violations of the Religious Communities Act to have occurred before taking action when Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practice and documents clearly point to such violations of the Act. In its assessment, emphasis is placed on how serious the violation is and whether it appears to be intentional. If the violation appears to be systematic, persistent or intentional, the grant must be refused in full. The violation was found to be systematic, persistent and intentional."
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Three new lawsuits against Watchtower filed under NY Child Victims Act (CVA) this October, bringing number of CVA cases up to six
by Corney innew cases:.
diaz case, filed on 10/21/2020 by zalkin law firm - two plaintiffs abused (here and hereinafter - allegedly) by two ministerial servants in 1970s.. iglesias case, filed on 10/19/2020 by eisenberg & baum, llp against various nyc and wt entities - abused by an "elder john doe" and "[travelling] overseer john" in 1970s and 1980s.. aldridge case, filed 10/06/2020 by zalkin law firm - abused by a congregation elder in 1970s.. older cases:.
tarry case (no 1 and no 2), filed on 09/17/2019 and 07/23/2020 by parker waichman llp - abused by a publisher in 1984. very weak case.
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Diogenesister
Just as a FYI I got into a discussion with a Witness (who was counting time promoting Watchtower and the Russia ban) on Quora about Watchtowers child abuse problem. Having suggested two links to him, including the ARC, he came back with the following dreadful response
JW response to a post about the ARC, Watchtowers two witness rule and secret Database:"Confidential reports of any alleged incidents regarding a broad range of sexual misconduct and is not limited to sexual abuse of minors.
The records include the following:
- Individuals who have only been accused of child abuse whereas the charges have not been substantiated.
- Individuals where allegations were made on the basis of so-called “repressed memories,” the validity of which many authorities challenge.
- Individuals who have been accused of abusing children before becoming Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Individuals who have never been baptized Witnesses, but whose names we are obliged to keep because of their association with the Witnesses. (An example of this would be a non-Witness father or step-father who is accused by his Witness children or step-children of abusing them.)
- Individuals who may or may not be considered child abusers, depending upon the jurisdiction where they live (for example, a 16-year-old boy who had sexual relations with a consenting 15-year-old girl).
- An individual who was guilty of voyeurism.
- An individual who was involved with “sexting.”
- An individual who was involved with child pornography.
- And, to be sure, individuals actually guilty of child abuse.
Those allegations may include anyone who has walked into a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses; any individual who has studied the Bible with us in prison; and every person out of the community that associates with us where we've become aware that there is a child abuse allegation. In each case, we have followed it up and recorded it. That's the reason for those numbers. And, without details regarding these incidents, the claims about the number of alleged perpetrators as it relates to sexual abuse of minors is meaningless.
As director of the Office of Public Information, J. R. Brown, told BBC Panorama, "We do not apologize for keeping such records here in the United States. Apart from being legally needed, they have been very helpful to us in our efforts to protect the flock from harm.
As for the Washington thing it revolved around ONE named person who eventually went to prison. They SPECULATED that it may have been sooner.
And this will continue and we expect it"
Matthew 10:16–18 NASB
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. 17 But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
- * I've posted this on Vanderhoven's thread on another Quora post but had no response. This is probably more appropriate.
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My favorite Cooking Pot
by Wonderment inalthough cooking pots are not directly "religious" subject, perhaps not many will deny that a happy belly can lead to wholesome religious thoughts and peaceful spiritual discussions.. that said, through the years i have tried most major brands of cooking pots - all the way from all-clad to cast-iron skilets - including some with the most extraordinary claims in between.. however, the one we have used the most in our kitchen is one brand from denmark, specifically, the 5 quart pot called "scanpan.
" it is now approaching 40 years of daily use, and it has held-up surprisingly well.
the handles are as tight as day one when we bought it.
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Diogenesister
If anyone loves cookware uncle Scott's pancast is a great find. He reviews cookware which he purchased himself so they're unbiased. Tends to be high end stuff.
Spoiler alert: as a pro chef he loves his carbon steel pans
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My favorite Cooking Pot
by Wonderment inalthough cooking pots are not directly "religious" subject, perhaps not many will deny that a happy belly can lead to wholesome religious thoughts and peaceful spiritual discussions.. that said, through the years i have tried most major brands of cooking pots - all the way from all-clad to cast-iron skilets - including some with the most extraordinary claims in between.. however, the one we have used the most in our kitchen is one brand from denmark, specifically, the 5 quart pot called "scanpan.
" it is now approaching 40 years of daily use, and it has held-up surprisingly well.
the handles are as tight as day one when we bought it.
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Diogenesister
Aha I could talk about this subject all day and tomorrow 🤣🥰
Scanpan is a very good brand and I believe Gordon Ramsey uses them. Of course they have different price and quality ranges within the brand, but even their standard stuff is pretty good and not cheap! They sell aluminium, anodised and stainless steel with and without non stick coating. Non stick coatings don't really last more than 3 years max usually. I have a good Danish non stick frying pan by Gastrolux.
I prefer a good old cast iron for the best sear but you loose your non stick that you've built up over time, as mum mentioned, if you cook an acidic tomato sauce in it. So for that you can't beat stainless steel, preferably 3 or 5 ply and All Clad is king there.
My favourite cookware is my Le creuset cast iron Dutch pot/casserole pot. I love Staub cocotte's too and have a small 22 cm one.
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question for those who had been elders on judicial committee
by enoughisenough ini was wondering if some who may have been in the judgement seat ( so to speak ) had a wake-up call while judging someone who was defending leaving jw.
( or maybe it was from reading a letter of disassociation.
) .
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Diogenesister
Fulano Good grief! That whole situation was absolutely nuts!
Enough is enough Great question!
Ozzie post If you're ok with it, of course, Any elaboration as to what disturbed your conscience about that case.in particular?
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Tony & JW made it to Norweigian media - even a pic of "dat broadcast"
by Festus inwell well am3 made it to norweigian media with hsi rant about religouse persecution.. hereis the link.. share your thoughts.. ble nektet statstøtte: jehovas vitner vurderer juridiske skritt – vårt land (vl.no) .
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Diogenesister
Well Jan Frode Nilsen just posted that watchtower had submitted a document to the Norwegian government stating they will not change their shunning rule and that the government is interfering with religious practice! (They're not of course - the government has a right to determine the rules organizations must abide by to be entitled to grants!)
Anyway It's a change from what watchtower wrote earlier which was that it was all a misunderstanding and that they don't shun!
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Can the World Cup Really Unite People? - What Does the Bible Say?
by Festus inseriously....this is an article on jw.borg.. really?
football - or soccer - and bible?.
these guys have really lost the plot.. i can promise you that bible does not say a flying flaming about world cup.. however, as much as people want them to, these events cannot provide lasting unity.
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Diogenesister
That's absolutely bonkers!! To say supporting your team, local or national, "showcases divisive attitudes" that marks the time of the end is daft!!
What about when Witnesses play a game of footie, or rounders, baseball, softball, beach volleyball or even board or card games that have opposing teams?? What - do they want their opposing team to win?! Of course not! It's part of the fun!
Of all the problems the world has that they could talk about, football isn't one (unless you support England😭).
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11530
It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars
by Newly Enlightened inoriginal reddit post (removed).
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Diogenesister
"Lloyd Evans has put his whole life on the line to expose watchtower"??!!
😂😂🤣🤣
More like he's drummed himself up a six figure sum per year from vulnerable,naive ex witnesses! He's actually created a life - or at least a career - for himself where he had none, with his watchtower "Hacktivism"!
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The Gospel According to Jehovah's Witnesses
by Vanderhoven7 inmark jones explains the watchtower gospel much better than i can.. "the good news that christians in the first century preached was the birth, death and resurrection of jesus christ; that all those who believed in him were saved and reconciled to god through the death of his son.. unfortunately jehovah’s witnesses) have been led to believe it is something bizarrely different.
the good news according to the watchtower society is as follows:.
the the good news (according to jehovah’s witnesses).
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Diogenesister
This is something I posted after an obvious JW wrote something disingenuous about the Russia ban on quora. It's absolutely swamped with them lately writing all sorts of rubbish but that post by Marc is brilliant.
Anyway I countered a Quora post claiming JWs are law abiding with the following:
Jehovah's witnesses do not obey the laws of the land.
Which laws?
They violate the human rights of their members
The right to freedom of thought and freedom of religion.
The right to free association.
The right to family relationships.
All the above are prevented by their shunning policy. If a minor is baptised and decided they no longer believe as an adult they will loose their friends, family and whole support network. Because witnesses are forbidden to associate with non witnesses (outside of work etc) they loose everything.
The right of children to be safe from sexual predators and for adults to report to the authorities instances of child abuse even if there are NOT TWO WITNESSES which their governing body demands there be. (Interestingly if someone damages Watchtower property it is reported despite there being not two witnesses).
Reply To which he responded:Wow what a load of misinformation! Where does this stuff come from???
ReplyI have provided you with two official reports of Watchtowers abuse of its members. The Australian Royal Commission (there are transcripts and you can watch all the proceedings including Governing Body member Geoff Jackson testify). And the recent Norway Ruling on their shunning policy and the 'two witness rule' which is required in order for Jehovah's witness elders to report child abuse. Watchtower has refused to hand over a database of over 22,000 child abusers within their ranks. Please see the Candice Conti case, the first one that didn't slap a non disclosure order on the victim, which they'd quietly been doing for decades. Please just Google child abuse and Jehovah's witnesses. You will be overwhelmed
Then he replied:
confidential documents contain reports of any alleged incidents regarding a broad range of sexual misconduct and is not limited to sexual abuse of minors.
The records include the following:
- The secret Database:
- Individuals who have only been accused of child abuse whereas the charges have not been substantiated.
- Individuals where allegations were made on the basis of so-called “repressed memories,” the validity of which many authorities challenge.
- Individuals who have been accused of abusing children before becoming Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Individuals who have never been baptized Witnesses, but whose names we are obliged to keep because of their association with the Witnesses. (An example of this would be a non-Witness father or step-father who is accused by his Witness children or step-children of abusing them.)
- Individuals who may or may not be considered child abusers, depending upon the jurisdiction where they live (for example, a 16-year-old boy who had sexual relations with a consenting 15-year-old girl).
- An individual who was guilty of voyeurism.
- An individual who was involved with “sexting.”
- An individual who was involved with child pornography.
- And, to be sure, individuals actually guilty of child abuse.
Those allegations may include anyone who has walked into a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses; any individual who has studied the Bible with us in prison; and every person out of the community that associates with us where we've become aware that there is a child abuse allegation. In each case, we have followed it up and recorded it. That's the reason for those numbers. And, without details regarding these incidents, the claims about the number of alleged perpetrators as it relates to sexual abuse of minors is meaningless.
As director of the Office of Public Information, J. R. Brown, told BBC Panorama, "We do not apologize for keeping such records here in the United States. Apart from being legally needed, they have been very helpful to us in our efforts to protect the flock from harm.
As for the Washington thing it revolved around ONE named person who eventually went to prison. They SPECULATED that it may have been sooner.
And this will continue and we expect it:
Matthew 10:16–18 NASB
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. 17 But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
