enigma1863 - Well it only received a little over 30,000 signatures. I cant believe Going Clear has been seen by more than 5.5 million people and not even 1 percent could sign the petition.
ABibleStudent
JoinedPosts by ABibleStudent
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Petition to Revoke Scientology's Tax Exempt Status
by ABibleStudent infyi, 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,.
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ABibleStudent
Most people probably believe that Scientology is a dangerous cult, it won't affect them, and only mindless, stupid people join dangerous cults. At least that is how my friends joke about JWs, Scientologists, moonies, etc.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
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What if we could bring down the WBTS?
by derangedjdub inwhat would be your plan or ideal reason the walls came crashing down?
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ABibleStudent
If Jesus Christ were to return tomorrow and expose the WTBTS as not spirit directed and as a dangerous cult, most JWs would behave like the Jews did in the Bible.
IMHO the best way to help JWs (and members of other dangerous organizations) in the USA is to revise the Tax Code for tax-exempt organizations to protect children from sexual abuse, prohibit using and promoting undue influence, and increase transparency and accountability. If you would like to help, read the threads
Revise Tax Code to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and How to Complain to the IRS about Non-Profits .
Lawsuits will not significantly impact the WTBTS. The WTBTS will just squeeze JWs for more donations. On April 13, 2015, the California 1st District Appellate Court established a policy that religious organizations do not have a duty to warn members about pedophiles, even though an organization's practices protect and enable predators, short-circuits the prosecution of predators, and prevents reporting the location of convicted predators.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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Seeking support during confusing and stressful 'cognitive dissonance'
by LHS123 insorry for the long post but i need help.
ive been a jw for 20 years - still active and attending meetings, baptised at 18, i have recently become very dissillusioned.
a few reasons: ill treatment of my kids by a prominent 'assembly speaker' elder, then my son left the truth at 15 (not baptised) and was 'dropped' instantly, despite this community having been his whole life for 15 years.
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ABibleStudent
Welcome LHS123, Have you watched this video by Steven Hassan: Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23)? It may provide answers to a lot of your questions.
If the "Truth" is the truth, why does it change. Shouldn't people be able to independently research and discussed the "Truth" without being afraid like the Bereans in Acts 17:11?
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Rober
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Thoughts: Convinced that my wife will never awake from the brainwashing
by goingthruthemotions inhello all, it's been a long time since i have posted.
well, things have not changed on my end.
i am still going thru the motions.
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ABibleStudent
Hi goingthruthemotions, What does your wife like to do that is non-JW, is time consuming, and she would meet more non-JWs with similar interests? Do more of those types of activities and slowly stop going to meetings because of schedule conflicts.
At some point you may feel the need to stop going to meetings for your own sanity. Have you learned to ask your wife questions about how she would feel if she was doing something that she disliked? What simple questions do you ask your wife and how do you help her to do her own research and critically think for herself? Or, do you present facts to your wife without letting her do her own research?
What types of thought-stopping platitudes does your wife use and how would you overcome them so that she stops using them?
Give your wife time. If she is a social JW or has lots of JW family, she may be a JW to prevent being shunned. You could always ask your wife, "If the Watchtower told JWs to start associating with everyone and stop shunning anyone, would she be a JW? And, why?"
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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Phone call from a brother last night
by label licker inthe brother and his wife thought the statement at the end of this month's broad cast show was a little off.
the org stated that jehovah's organisation can not be corrupted.
(needless to say only three had shown up for the broadcast meeting at the hall) he's never heard that before so we filled him in as to what the org has been up to and gave him jwnet, jw facts as well as jw survey to look at.
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ABibleStudent
label licker- Thank you ABibleStudent. I am putting that on my face book page as well as look into it.
@ label licker, If JWs visit your Facebook page, I would recommend slamming the Scientologist and then writing something like, "I wonder if Scientology guilts Scientologists to donating/tithing money, says loans to Scientology are donations and not loans, guilts Scientologist to donate money for meeting in a Scientology building, guilts Scientologist to attend meetings or donate their labor helping rich Scientologists like Tom Cruise, soliciting donations for the local congregation and then transfering it to the corporation, etc." Write everything that the WTBTS does to JWs but phrase it like you wonder if Scientology does it to Scientologist.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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Phone call from a brother last night
by label licker inthe brother and his wife thought the statement at the end of this month's broad cast show was a little off.
the org stated that jehovah's organisation can not be corrupted.
(needless to say only three had shown up for the broadcast meeting at the hall) he's never heard that before so we filled him in as to what the org has been up to and gave him jwnet, jw facts as well as jw survey to look at.
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ABibleStudent
label licker - hey were also turned off at what they owe for their one day assembly. The amount was over $16,000.00 for the one day. The coordinator told them when they asked him about it that that was the first time the assembly hall has ever asked for donations in eleven years, which was a lie. He also said that each hall only has to pay out $600.00 on top of their monthly tithe. They were pissed off. They asked me how is that a donation if they are expected to pay out a certain amount? Again, I gave them the info.
How can a donation be mandatory? It sounds like rent to me. If JWs would read the thread
How to Complain to the IRS about Non-Profits, they might file an IRS form 13909 asking the IRS if a non-profit organization must report mandatory donations for using a hall for sponsored meetings. It would be important to also write about what tactics elders would use to unduly influence (i.e., pressure) JWs to attend the assemblies and how a JW felt.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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child custody
by zebulon inthis is my first post.
i have been an everyday reader of this site for well over three years.
also jwfacts, jwstruggle, silentlambs, etc.
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ABibleStudent
Welcome zebulon, Have you read the thread I won, I won, I won! by Anony Mous? If you want to read more threads, you can search JWN by entering "won child custody" in the search box on the top right of the window.
Best of wishes getting full-custody. Also, don't be surprised if your wife lies about you to the court. It is called Theocratic Warfare Strategy. JWs will feel justified in lying to the courts to ensure that their children are saved from dying at Armageddon.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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JWs through the eyes of an eight year old
by maksutov inmy wife is a jw, and is teaching our eight year old daughter jw beliefs.
i am trying to teach her about evolution and critical thinking skills.
here is a conversation we had today (as best i can remember it):daughter: "why do bad things happen?
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ABibleStudent
maksutov - We then got onto talking about evolution, and I said that unlike these invisible people there is lots of evidence for evolution. She then put on a defensive playground voice, saying "yeah? Prove it! You have to prove that we're wrong and you're right."
Hi maksutov, You did great at explaining cancer, evolution, etc. How about teaching your daughter how to do her own research? If she asks about evolution, show her how to do research using the internet. Help her to evaluate information sources and analyze information. The only caveat is keep it simple and fun, so that she retains the information.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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How to Complain to the IRS about Non-Profits
by ABibleStudent inhas anyone read the if you want the irs to re-examine scientologys tax exempt status, its time to get real by tony ortega?
the blog made two interesting points that definitely applies to scientology and may apply to the wtbts.. 1st point -.
jeff found, for example, this happy language from the government about how it really, really wants to hear from you!
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ABibleStudent
@ Vidiot, Nice play on words! You can always complain by checking the other box and explaining why. Just don't expect the IRS to investigate.
It is unfortunate that current tax laws do not authorize the IRS to investigate acts of undue influence or that the WTBTS is very good at keeping its shady deals secret.
If the IRS did start receiving complaints about the WTBTS using undue influence on its members, who no longer want to be associated with the WTBTS, maybe the IRS would investigate other complaints about the WTBTS's shady deals. If the WTBTS gives hotel rooms in exchange for donations or building materials in exchange for donations, I don't see how donors can deduct those types of donations off their taxes.
On the other hand I don't understand why most exJWs complain about the WTBTS and aren't willing to become politically active to educate governments about what the WTBTS does and how to prevent it. I admire those few exJWs who have overcome their phobias and do become politically active by contacting government officials and politicians.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
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How to Complain to the IRS about Non-Profits
by ABibleStudent inhas anyone read the if you want the irs to re-examine scientologys tax exempt status, its time to get real by tony ortega?
the blog made two interesting points that definitely applies to scientology and may apply to the wtbts.. 1st point -.
jeff found, for example, this happy language from the government about how it really, really wants to hear from you!
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ABibleStudent
Has anyone read the If you want the IRS to re-examine Scientology’s tax exempt status, it’s time to get real by Tony Ortega? The blog made two interesting points that definitely applies to Scientology and may apply to the WTBTS.
1st Point -
Jeff found, for example, this happy language from the government about how it really, really wants to hear from you! “Go ahead and complain. The Internal Revenue Service is all ears — particularly about complaints alleging any abuse of the tax-exempt status granted to a non-profit organization,” says an agency information sheet.
He recommends that you grab a copy of the official form the IRS wants you to use to submit a referral (which is IRS lingo for a complaint).
2nd Point [bolded "and publications" for emphasis]
The Church of Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs pays tax exempt dollars to hire writers, videographers, and social media specialists to create false, defamatory, malicious, and deceptive propaganda in the form of hate websites and publications. This malicious content is directed against former members of the church, critics, journalists, filmmakers, and others who publicly expose Church of Scientology abuses.
According to the blog, anyone can file a complaint with the IRS. American citizenship is not required!
If you are afraid of retaliation from the WTBTS or being shunned by JWs make sure to check the box marked "I am concerned that I might face retaliation or retribution if my identity is disclosed". I wonder if the other box could be checked to complain about how the Watchtower uses "undue influence" on members and promotes it being used on members and ex-members.
Now, how many JWN members would take the time to fill out form 13909 without disclosing their identify? A hand full?
If enough people would write to their US politicians like I write about in the thread Revise Tax Code to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse, maybe another option would be added to form 13909, "Does not implement effective policies and practices or follow them to protect children from sexual abuse."
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert