john123

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Posts by john123

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  4

  Article about religious harassment and malpractice

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the following is an article about a case of religious harassment and .

  malpractice.

  appraches to education at (520) 400-0650 or email: .

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  john123

  Harassing someone or pushing a religion on somebody also fits the legal description of discrimination according to federal and some state guidelines. Maybe the article was not explicit enough about how the employee was harassed
• 
  4

  Article about religious harassment and malpractice

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the following is an article about a case of religious harassment and .

  malpractice.

  appraches to education at (520) 400-0650 or email: .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  john123

  The following is an article about a case of religious harassment and
  malpractice. To ask question about this article you can contact
  Appraches To Education at (520) 400-0650 or email: [email protected] , or Christian Faith
  Center at (520)722-2217 or email: [email protected]
  
  A Response To A Local
  Church Leader
  
  
  John B. Brown, II, Rev., D.D.
  
  © 2003 Approaches To Education, Inc.
  Tucson, Arizona
  
  
  
  
  I worked with a local Christian leader (Wesley Beard) at a Target
  store. Now I am registering a religious discrimination complaint
  against my former employer. Why did I register this complaint?
  Because Wes is a religious bigot. Wes is a local church leader at a
  Tucson charismatic cult called Christian Faith Center. (Stark and
  Bainbridge). These types of groups typically preach that those who do
  not believe in Jesus Christ are doomed to experience eternal
  separation from God's love. This could mean eternal torment in a
  hellfire. It could also mean existence in some other place where
  God's love does not exist (www.religioustolerance.Org). That is what
  Wes believes. I was present as he told another former Target employee
  this. What about "Do not judge, lest you be judged?" I think God
  should do the judging, not Wes. Wes told me that I should go to
  church every week. Do we have to go into a church to meet God? No,
  but this view is prevalent in today's church. I believe this view to
  be incorrect.
  I made several formal complaints about Wes' religious
  intolerance. One thing that I found intriguing was Wes' apparent
  disposition to accept any claim that a healing or miracle was from
  God despite the fact that he was quite intelligent. I could not
  understand Wes' demeanor. He also appeared to have a behemothic
  arrogance. This arrogance was getting in the way of his critical
  thinking capacity.
  
  Rumors
  One day Wes disclosed to me a testimony on a Christian
  television station (TBN). Wes claimed a preacher traveled to Vietnam.
  This preacher went to the Presidential Palace. That Palace is the
  site where a tank had penetrated the doors signifying the end of the
  Vietnam War (www.vwam.com). That event was the Fall of Saigon. This
  preacher allegedly found two Vietnamese citizens who were on opposing
  factions during the Vietnam War. These two citizens were asked to
  forgive each other. After forgiving each other, one of the citizens
  was supposedly healed of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Wes
  claimed God healed this Vietnamese citizen. Many of those who fought
  in Vietnam did develop PTSD (www.vva.org and www.nami.org), but the
  question is, "did God perform a healing? I actually had several
  questions about Wes' divulging this "testimony of faith." Actually,
  this "testimony" is more of a rumor than a testimony. First, did a
  mental health professional give a PTSD diagnosis? A person or anyone
  else feeling or simply believing that he or she had PTSD is not good
  enough. If God healed that Vietnamese citizen from PTSD, did he go to
  a mental health professional and have the healing experience
  documented? In addition, that citizen would not know that the PTSD
  was gone immediately. Only after a period of days or weeks could he
  or any mental health professional see that the symptoms of PTSD were
  lessened or gone. There are too many questions I have concerning Wes'
  epic tale. Unfortunately, this raises Wes to the status on a simple
  newsmonger. Documentaries like Marjoe and television shows like Prime
  Time Live, 20/20 and a recent NBC Dateline have shown how some of
  these alleged works of God are "slight of hand" tactics. I am not
  stating that God cannot perform miracles, but God cannot be confined
  to a box, or our personal theologies. Even still Wes' tale
  bearing "testimony of faith" is not credible.
  
  "You will know them by their works."
  Every time I registered a complaint, a store executive would talk to
  him. Then Wes would bedevil me for my complaint. Some of these
  complaints were for religious harassment. Finally, my patience ran
  out. I confronted Wes. Human Resources told me I was harassing him,
  and did not consider what Wes was doing as harassment. Target Store
  Number 179 in Tucson needs to check the law. I resigned my employment
  at Target. All Wes' malodorous behavior toward me only created a
  malodorous reaction from me. "Evil begets evil", as a saying goes,
  but I could have conquered his "evil" acts with the good. Wes has no
  notion of the things he had done against other people. After I had
  complained about Wes the second time, security manager Pat Marshall
  harassed me. Target moved her to another store, but not because of
  the harassment. I found out later Mrs. Marshall harassed another
  employee who had registered a complaint against Wes (Klug interview).
  These people have started grave human rights issues.
  Approaches To Education, who has just applied for its 501c3 status,
  is dedicated in earnest to helping people who experience prejudice
  and harassment, especially based on religion. If you have any further
  questions please call Approaches To Education, Inc. at (520) 400-0650
  
  
  References
  
  Approaches To Education, Inc. "Regan Klug Interview. December 2002
  Marjoe. Dir. Sarah Kernochan & Howard Smith. Perf. Marjoe Gortner.
  Columbia & Tristar, 1972
  Television Broadcasts
  
  Prime Time Undercover. "Men of God." Aired November 21, 1991
  20/20. "The End Is Near." Aired March 6, 1992
  
  Web sites
  
  National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). "Post Traumatic Stress
  Disorder." National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 1996-2002.
  <www.nami.org/helpline/ptsd.html>
  Religious Tolerence.org. "How Christians View Other Christian
  Religions: Statements by Christians." Ontario Consultants On
  Religious Tolerance, 2002. http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_othe2.htm
  Religious Tolerence.org. "How Christians View Other Religions: Views
  of Protestant, Roman Catholic and eastern Orthodox Churches" Ontario
  Consultants On Religious Tolerance, 2002.
  < http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr _othe1.htm> http://www.religioustolerance.org/intol_bibl.htm
  Religious Tolerance.org. "The Relationship Between Membership and
  Prejudice." Ontario Consultants On Religious Tolerance, 2002. http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prej.htm
  Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) "VVA's Guide on PTSD" 2002 Vietnam
  Veterans of America
  <www.vva.org/Benefits/ptsd.htm>
  Vets With a Mission. "Revising The History of the Fall Of Saigon"
  <www.vwam.com/vets/revisedhistory
• 
  1

  Correction about Stark issue

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i made a post about sociologist rodney stark stating he said that ex member of a religious group arte the most reliable.

  correction!

  what stark said was that ex-members of a religious group are the most unreliable, with a few credible exceptions.

  1. 
• 

  john123

  I made a post about sociologist Rodney Stark stating he said that ex member of a religious group arte the most reliable. Correction! What Stark said was that ex-members of a religious group are the most unreliable, with a few credible exceptions. I apologize for the previous inacccurate quote
• 
  1

  Pro-JW video interview

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently sociologist rodney stark made some comments that angered .

  there is a policy.

  for all i know this policy was .

  1. 
• 

  john123

  Hi everyone,
  
  
  Recently sociologist Rodney Stark made some comments that angered
  many of those who have left the JW religion. He appeared on a segment
  of a video under the topic how of the reliability of dissidents.
  Srark said that the views of dissidents are the most reliable. This
  is true. The views of those who are upset at a religious organization
  and leave with emotion and biases that could taint informtion, but
  this does not mean everything that is said by a dissident in 100%
  wrong. I have run into countercult organizations who are so biased in
  what they do it is hard to separate fact from opinion, misinformation
  and disinformation.
  
  Stark did say there are a few reliable souces. He also said that
  these reliable sources are sometimes exploited. This is also
  possible. I do not think it is a matter of what Stark said, but
  rather a matter of how the Watchtower Society presented it.
  
  Also the attack that Stark is a Christian Scientist has been raised
  by several people. Be carful with this kind of attack. Attacking the
  person's character, rather than the argument presented could
  backfire. Besides in Religion, Deviance and Social Control by Stark
  and Bainbridge the Christian Scientist religion is called a "cult."
  
  I do have some questions about some other facts and figures presented
  in that video.
  
  1. The Watchtower Society keeps talking about a supposed policy
  regarding pedophile cases, but I have
  yet to see a written policy that outline what to do in such
  cases. I would like to see this policy in writting
  and the date is was put into effect. It is not enough to say
  there is a policy. For all I know this policy was
  started right after the pedophile issue erupted.
  
  2. My next concern is the untrained clergy in local JW congregations.
  Are JW elders willing to go through
  some sort of crises intervention training for child victims of
  sexual crimes? This might help them in there
  ability to be spiritual sepherds.
  
  3. One thing that Stark said that I will dispute is this: Its hard to
  get into trouble in a group like this.
  Stark does not realize that the JW religion is strict, and you do
  what you are told or you are disciplined
  
  I hope this is able to help everone.
• 
  3

  Rodney Stark issue

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently sociologist rodney stark made some comments that angered .

  there is a policy.

  for all i know this policy was .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  john123

  Hi everyone,
  
  
  Recently sociologist Rodney Stark made some comments that angered
  many of those who have left the JW religion. He appeared on a segment
  of a video under the topic how of the reliability of dissidents.
  Srark said that the views of dissidents are the most reliable. This
  is true. The views of those who are upset at a religious organization
  and leave with emotion and biases that could taint informtion, but
  this does not mean everything that is said by a dissident in 100%
  wrong. I have run into countercult organizations who are so biased in
  what they do it is hard to separate fact from opinion, misinformation
  and disinformation.
  
  Stark did say there are a few reliable souces. He also said that
  these reliable sources are sometimes exploited. This is also
  possible. I do not think it is a matter of what Stark said, but
  rather a matter of how the Watchtower Society presented it.
  
  Also the attack that Stark is a Christian Scientist has been raised
  by several people. Be carful with this kind of attack. Attacking the
  person's character, rather than the argument presented could
  backfire. Besides in Religion, Deviance and Social Control by Stark
  and Bainbridge the Christian Scientist religion is called a "cult."
  
  I do have some questions about some other facts and figures presented
  in that video.
  
  1. The Watchtower Society keeps talking about a supposed policy
  regarding pedophile cases, but I have
  yet to see a written policy that outline what to do in such
  cases. I would like to see this policy in writting
  and the date is was put into effect. It is not enough to say
  there is a policy. For all I know this policy was
  started right after the pedophile issue erupted.
  
  2. My next concern is the untrained clergy in local JW congregations.
  Are JW elders willing to go through
  some sort of crises intervention training for child victims of
  sexual crimes? This might help them in there
  ability to be spiritual sepherds.
  
  3. One thing that Stark said that I will dispute is this: Its hard to
  get into trouble in a group like this.
  Stark does not realize that the JW religion is strict, and you do
  what you are told or you are disciplined
  
  I hope this is able to help everone.
• 
  18

  Another JW murdered by the Watchtower

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey everyone,.

  i just wanted to let you know that we have a disassociated jw who is about to die from ovarian cancer.

  the cancer spread because she would not take a blood transfusion during an operation that attempted to contain the cancer while she was a jw.

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  john123

  H.S. Claiming that we cannot know for sure does not refute nor invalidate my statements. Note the word of CJ's Disassociation letter:

  "Regarding the so-called blood issue: I have a terminal cancer. My illness (ovarian cancer) was diagnosed approximately the same time last year as the information the WTB&TS published on accepting a variety of blood fractions. I did not examine the article at the time due to my being ill and refused a blood transfusion for my hysterectomy. My surgery was cut short because of my low blood count; a complete debulking could not be done in which more small cancer clusters are removed from tissue surrounding larger more obvious cancer masses, thus affecting my prognosis (I am a single parent with two young children). At the time, I was glad to take a stand on the blood issue. Now I have concluded that there is no such Biblical issue. Blood parts are blood. The command not to eat blood is just that, not an injunction against blood transfusions."

  We can argue all day that we cannot really know this or that. To me there is sufficient reason to conclude this.
• 
  18

  Another JW murdered by the Watchtower

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey everyone,.

  i just wanted to let you know that we have a disassociated jw who is about to die from ovarian cancer.

  the cancer spread because she would not take a blood transfusion during an operation that attempted to contain the cancer while she was a jw.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  john123

  Hi everyone,

  I will go into some more detail. During the surgery the doctors got the cancer, but were not able to continue on to remove the surrounding tissue because of the drop in her blood count. Apparently there were some cancer cells left over in the surrounding tissue. The cancer spread. CJ's story is found in the "Womens Issues" section at freeminds.org. I hope this has answered everyone's questions.-- john
• 
  18

  Another JW murdered by the Watchtower

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey everyone,.

  i just wanted to let you know that we have a disassociated jw who is about to die from ovarian cancer.

  the cancer spread because she would not take a blood transfusion during an operation that attempted to contain the cancer while she was a jw.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  john123

  Hi j2bf,

  I understand where you are coming from, but in mind control or undue influence groups it is being debated as to whether the person actually has free will or choice. This is a subject that was also discussed in my philosophy class in college last night. The debate between free will and determinism. For example, David Hume taught what is called "soft determinism." People have free choice apart from coercion and compulsion. On the other, hand Immanuel Kant taught that human behaviors are determined, but human choices are free.

  In my opinion my statement is not unfair. What she does with her life now is what counts. Take care
• 
  18

  Another JW murdered by the Watchtower

  by john123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey everyone,.

  i just wanted to let you know that we have a disassociated jw who is about to die from ovarian cancer.

  the cancer spread because she would not take a blood transfusion during an operation that attempted to contain the cancer while she was a jw.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  john123

  Hey everyone,

  I just wanted to let you know that we have a disassociated JW who is about to die from ovarian cancer. The cancer spread because she would not take a blood transfusion during an operation that attempted to contain the cancer while she was a JW. Her name is C.J. I talked to her today, and she says she has weeks to live. Our Support group may hold a service in memory of her. Whoever would like to send flowers or cards please send them to:

  C.J Mauer

  c/o Approaches To Education, Inc.

  6901 E. Broadway Blvd. # 138

  Tucson, AZ 85710
• 
  45

  Is the Bible Really the Word of God?

  by gumby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is the bible really the word of god?

  while sitting in my garage having a smoke, i reached up to an old publication (which i keep handy on my shelves).

  it was the book stated above.

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  john123

  There is a pre-biblical flood epic, but the hero's name is Gilgimesh. You may be able to find information about this epic on the web. I hope this helps

  Edited by - john123 on 19 October 2002 3:21:50

  Edited by - john123 on 19 October 2002 3:22:25