Posts by ABibleStudent

16

Last chance to make an impact! Help me please....

by Anon_SA1 in

jw
friends

so tomorrow is going to be my last encounter with a jw friend of mine for various reasons on her side.

(long story).

i have spent a lot of time discussing various concerns about the jw teachings, but havent been able to make any progress in helping her to question or doubt the teachings.

ABibleStudent

Hi Anon_SA1, It is probably a lost cause asking your friend simple questions for the last time, unless your friend already feels resentful about how the Watchtower/elders/other JWs treat her.

How about asking her, " Why are you a JW? Is it for social reasons or Watchtower doctrine? (wait for a response) What would cause you doubts about being a JW? (wait for a response)"

If she is a social JW, then ask her "Why are you afraid to have more fun as a non-JW? (wait for a response) {List things that she enjoys that JWs frown on JWs doing] Aren't you tired of being asked to do more or wait on Jehovah when you see that something should be changed now? (wait for a response) What miracles has the Watchtower done to prove it is Jehovah's Earthly organization instead of another religion, like the Catholic Church?"

If she is a a JW because the Watchtower has the "Truth", then ask her, "What miracles has the Watchtower done to prove it is Jehovah's Earthly organization instead of another religion, like the Catholic Church? (wait for a response) What "Truths" has the Watchtower instructed you about that you couldn't have discovered by reading the Bible and discussing with your friends and family?"

Best of wishes.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

68

What I Saw & Heard in the Oral Argument Hearing on January 14, 2015

by ABibleStudent in

im not an attorney and i could not record the hearing, so please forgive me if i make mistakes in relating what i remember of the oral argument hearing for jane doe (i.e., candace conti) versus the watchtower bible & tract society on january 14, 2015 and the length of this post.. i arrived at the civic center/union plaza in san francisco, ca about 7:30. the area is very nice with a few homeless people sleeping in the park across from the courthouse.

it took me about 10 minutes to find the clerks office for the court on the first floor, which opened at 8:00.. once the clerks office opened, the two clerks who i talked with were very polite and helpful.

the arguments for jane doe (i.e., candace conti) versus the watchtower bible & tract society were scheduled 5th out of (i think) 8. while i was in the office a cameraman and another person for nbc arrived asking about the hearing for candace contis case.. the courtroom for the 1st appellate court is on the 4th floor and takes up most of that floor.

ABibleStudent

@ Gayle, Only 5 more days to wait for the 90-day period to expire. After 90-days it could be anyone's guess when a ruling will be handed down.

@ PokerPlayerPhil, Since the WTBTS was only appealing the puniative damages judgement, Candace Conti has already shown that the WTBTS was culpable for her being raped by Kendricks.

Instead of praying to (or waiting for) God, I would recommend contacting politicians to pass laws that eliminate SOL for child sexual abuse and third-parties used undue influence on a victim for civil lawsuits where you live and to pass laws to revise the Tax Code (or Charitable laws) to protect children from sexual abuse. Nothing will change if the laws stay the same.

Have you read any of the following threads?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

29

How to raise awareness about child abuse.

by DATA-DOG in

here's an idea.

we know the wtbts fears exposure more than anything.

so what if we made an organized, concerted effort to contact every celebrity jw that we can think of?

ABibleStudent

No responses to tweets that i sent through an account that I set-up for nodangerousorgs. I guess, celebrity exJWs are enjoying life and celebrity JWs are too busy to care about children who are sexually abused.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

39

Petition to Revoke Scientology's Tax Exempt Status

by ABibleStudent in

fyi, if you feel that scientology's tax-exempt status should be revoked, you can sign a white house petition to revoke its tax-exempt status at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/revoke-scientologys-tax-exempt-status.. i signed the petition even though i have mixed feelings about this petition.

i would prefer that dangerous cults like scientology be reformed by suspending its tax-exempt status until it makes needed changes and i do not like targeting a specific organization when the whole system should be changed.

on the other hand this type of action may help to promote debate about revising the tax codes in the us.. i do prefer revising the tax code like i wrote about in revise tax code to protect children from sexual abuse .. peace be with you and everyone, who you love,.

ABibleStudent

@ Village Idiot, Just because religions would oppose the bill doesn't mean I should give up.

I feel that most religions, not just fundamentalist would oppose the bill that I wrote because it would amend 26 U.S. Code § 6033 to require that all tax-exempt organizations, including religious organizations that are currently exempt, file annual reports and amend 26 U.S. Code § 6104 to require the Treasury to provide free access to applications for tax-exemption and annual reports through the internet

An organization would be required to describe its child protection policies in the annual report. I also plan to revise the current version to require that organizations shall be required to report legal expenses including child abuse lawsuit settlements as soon as members of Congress start asking for a copy of the bill. If an organization perjures itself in its annual reports then the IRS could penalize it for perjury in addition to suspending its tax exempt status for not providing adequate child protection.

@ William Penwell, What country are you a citizen of? Brits can petition Parliament. Brits can always create a more reasonable and balanced petition for Parliament to investigate and revise British charitable laws to encourage the Charities Commission to actively investigate charities with adequate funding and changes to the laws.

@ PokerPlayerPhil, How would you define "value for World governments or humanity"? Scientologists believe that Scientology has helped them just like a JW would defend the Watchtower.

The bill that I wrote does not judge whether an organization benefits society or not. It just requires tax-exempt organization to meet minimum requirements to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent an organization from using or promoting undue influence on/to its members.

This petition now has greater than 19,000 signatures.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

39

Petition to Revoke Scientology's Tax Exempt Status

by ABibleStudent in

fyi, if you feel that scientology's tax-exempt status should be revoked, you can sign a white house petition to revoke its tax-exempt status at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/revoke-scientologys-tax-exempt-status.. i signed the petition even though i have mixed feelings about this petition.

i would prefer that dangerous cults like scientology be reformed by suspending its tax-exempt status until it makes needed changes and i do not like targeting a specific organization when the whole system should be changed.

on the other hand this type of action may help to promote debate about revising the tax codes in the us.. i do prefer revising the tax code like i wrote about in revise tax code to protect children from sexual abuse .. peace be with you and everyone, who you love,.

ABibleStudent

This petition has obtained 18,500 signatures towards 100,000 total needed with 16 days to go.

If you sign this petition, please post your comments to this thread to keep it in the top of the active topics.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

15

still in .. wishing for a ttatt brother in the hall

by user100 in

the entire hall was invited to a party at a brothers house after the memorial.. actually had conversations with a few people.. two guys that were recently disfellowshipped and since re-instated... would love to see what they really think about the religion.. but have no idea how to bring it up.. .

my beliefs are quite in the open (i think), i am inactive and do not comment or give talks.. i dont sing, i dont close my eyes during prayers and i dont say amen... funny though.. we were having a conversation, one of the recently re-instated asked me which service group i belong to.. my reply after some thought was... "i have no idea" .. coz seriously.. i had no idea.

wonder how that went... they all laughed it off including the pioneer drone standing next to me... i am tempted to ask them if they value freedom of speech and if so do they think we have freedom of speech in the jw religion.....

ABibleStudent

Welcome user100, Since your wife still believes, how would your wife respond to you inviting JWs to get together and do some fun, time-consuming, and non-JW activities? Go surfing, go to the beach, go bike riding, learn to dance socially, go to a batting cage, go golfing, play tennis, go out to nice restaurants, etc. If you can invite/meet non-JWs, who your wife might like, at every opportunity.

When you are with JWs just ask simple questions about how JWs feel and maybe make comments that they look down, frustrated, etc. Don't every reveal your feelings except to say you believe in freedom of speech and that you are there for them to listen. Wait a long time to plant any seeds of doubt or attempting to overcome WTBTS thought-stopping platitudes.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

39

Petition to Revoke Scientology's Tax Exempt Status

by ABibleStudent in

fyi, if you feel that scientology's tax-exempt status should be revoked, you can sign a white house petition to revoke its tax-exempt status at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/revoke-scientologys-tax-exempt-status.. i signed the petition even though i have mixed feelings about this petition.

i would prefer that dangerous cults like scientology be reformed by suspending its tax-exempt status until it makes needed changes and i do not like targeting a specific organization when the whole system should be changed.

on the other hand this type of action may help to promote debate about revising the tax codes in the us.. i do prefer revising the tax code like i wrote about in revise tax code to protect children from sexual abuse .. peace be with you and everyone, who you love,.

ABibleStudent

@ Gayle, Thank you for signing the petition. I hope that other people will sign it.

To answer your question, you can either read the Supreme Court decision REYNOLDS v. U.S., 98 U.S. 145 (1878) or take my word that Mr. Chief Justice Waite, delivering the opinion of the court, wrote, " . . . it may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the amendment thus secured. Congress was deprived of all legislative power over mere opinion, but was left free to reach actions which were in violation of social duties or subversive of good order."

In other words, Congress cannot pass laws about what an individual thinks but can pass laws about an individual's (and organization's) actions. Polygamy was against the laws in the territory of Utah in 1878, therefore Reynold's was guilty of polygamy.

@ rebel8, If you read the bill that I wrote, no organization's tax-exempt status would be revoked unless it committed perjury, making false statements to government agencies, or other crimes and the Secretary of the Treasury would be responsible for defining what was sufficient cause, For not protecting children from sexual abuse the worse that an organization would suffer would be suspension of their tax-exempt status until corrective actions were implemented that complied with IRS regulations.

The attorney, who reviewed the bill I wrote, thought that an organizations status should be automatically revoked, but also realized that it would be difficult to establish a standard of when to revoke its tax-exempt status.

@ Barbara, Thank you for signing the petition and adding your thoughts to this discussion. I agree with you that Scientology's tax-exempt status will not be revoked based on this petition, but it may cause politicians to realize that there is a problem with the Tax Code.

I hope that more than 100, 000 people will sign this petition before April 22, 2015 and that JWN members will add comments that they signed the petition to keep this thread in the top of active threads.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

39

Petition to Revoke Scientology's Tax Exempt Status

by ABibleStudent in

fyi, if you feel that scientology's tax-exempt status should be revoked, you can sign a white house petition to revoke its tax-exempt status at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/revoke-scientologys-tax-exempt-status.. i signed the petition even though i have mixed feelings about this petition.

i would prefer that dangerous cults like scientology be reformed by suspending its tax-exempt status until it makes needed changes and i do not like targeting a specific organization when the whole system should be changed.

on the other hand this type of action may help to promote debate about revising the tax codes in the us.. i do prefer revising the tax code like i wrote about in revise tax code to protect children from sexual abuse .. peace be with you and everyone, who you love,.

ABibleStudent

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Hi SonoftheTrinity, If this petition to revoke Scientology's tax-exempt status does obtain 100,000 signatures, I'm sure that the White House's response will have some statement of protecting 1st Amendment rights as an excuse to do nothing.

Have you read the 1st Amendment? I feel that when Congress created tax-exempt status for religions without prohibiting religions from infringing on the free exercise of members to leave a religion (i.e., using undue influence and shunning) that Congress inadvertently infringed on individuals rights under the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses of the 1st Amendment.

There are very few requirements for organizations to qualify for religious tax-exempt status, such as self-declare that an organization is a religion, that donations do not enure to the benefit of a few people, and that an organization is not declared a terrorist organization or helping to fund terrorism by Executive Order.

I feel that adding a few more more requirements to the Tax Code for all tax-exempt organizations that help protect children from sexual abuse and stop organizations from promoting and using undue influence on its members would not infringe on any 1st Amendment rights for individuals. Individuals can think and organizations cannot!

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

47

I'm at a loss at how to get thru to my parents. I fear they will die before they will stop shunning me.

by cognisonance in

all i want is this: for us to be a family, to spend time together enjoying life.

i don't wish to debate about their beliefs when together.

they can remain jws for all i care.

ABibleStudent

cognisonance -
"We can't keep doing this. We just can't"
"We love you so much, but you know we shouldn't be talking with you."
"We must trust that doing things Jehovah's way, no matter how much we don't want too or how much it hurts, will be the best course of action in the long run"

Hi cognisonance, Have you asked your parents questions about thier good-bye statements? Something like , "How can you love me so much, but don't want to talk with me? If you love me so much you would want to spend as much time with me as I want with you. Not talking with me and loving me unconditionally only convinces me that I made the right choice to critically think for myself instead of blindly following instructions from imperfect men."

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

39

Petition to Revoke Scientology's Tax Exempt Status

by ABibleStudent in

fyi, if you feel that scientology's tax-exempt status should be revoked, you can sign a white house petition to revoke its tax-exempt status at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/revoke-scientologys-tax-exempt-status.. i signed the petition even though i have mixed feelings about this petition.

i would prefer that dangerous cults like scientology be reformed by suspending its tax-exempt status until it makes needed changes and i do not like targeting a specific organization when the whole system should be changed.

on the other hand this type of action may help to promote debate about revising the tax codes in the us.. i do prefer revising the tax code like i wrote about in revise tax code to protect children from sexual abuse .. peace be with you and everyone, who you love,.

ABibleStudent

I checked the status of the revoke Scientology's tax-exemption petition. It has 15,000+ which is 5,000 more than a few days ago. 100,000 signatures are needed by April 22, 2015 to qualify for a White House response.

I hope that more people will sign this petition to force the White House to write a response on this issue. People can easily find the petition by googling "revoke Scientology's tax status".

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert