Posts by Band on the Run

35

Wow a great Calgary Herald article - "Looking for high drama..." About Hughes lawsuit

by AndersonsInfo in

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/blood+money+injustice/1576415/story.html.

by juliet guichon, dr. ian mitchell and michael duggan, for the calgary herald.

if you are looking for high drama that hollywood might one day package and sell, you need go no further than downtown calgary's transcanada pipelines tower at 10 o'clock this morning, when the court of appeal will convene.. .

Band on the Run

rThe links do not explain the litigation very well. The central legal issue is not mentioned. It was my understanding that the state will intervene when a child needs a blood transfusion. The First Amendment does not extend to the slaughter of children who cannot make adult decisions regarding religion. Is the Candian experience different? It sounds like there was a breakdown of family law.

Someone from England frequently mentions congregational vs. ecclesiastical structure. I've never researched this personally, never hearing any mention of it in numerous Supreme Court Free Exercise cases. Vicarious liability is mentioned. It sounds as though there may have been a case against the immediate actors but not against deep pockets and the org we all expect was guilty. The WTBTS has much experience insulating itself from the consequences of its actions.

Appearing pro se is not smart. Any lawyer, solicitor, barrister would be better than none. In a pinch, law librarians can be useful. Were you aware of other Candian suits against the Society so that you could read their assertions against the Witnesses. My gut is telling me that if you could afford a lawyer, the result may very well be different. Of course, the Watchtower has had generations of lawyers protect the Society. Most courts will leave some leeway for a pro se but the machine of justice must move on.

Lawyers not being affordable is not your fault. When I started law school, I believed in justice. I worked for a alslarge Wall St. firm and found out differently. Most of the business did not bother me, One Goliath against another Goliath and everyone is cordial. When it moves past that level, justice is very hard to find. Money makes an enormous difference. I also think that procedure and vicarious liability are harder to litigate and understand than other areas.

My heart goes out to you. This goes way beyond my boredom. I wish you the best --and pray your two surviving daughters are safe.

162

PROTESTS AT WATCHTOWER CONVENTIONS

by Lawrence Hughes in

jw
friends

dear friends,.

as you may know, the watchtower society takes great pride in its district conventions.

please contact me if you can attend any of these protests.. there is no reason why every district convention in the world could not have a protest and receive media coverage to expose the watchtower society.

Band on the Run

I believe most here feel your anger. Living well is the best revenge. Protesting makes the protestee feel special. How about writing letters to the editor about the destructive power of cults, and then, paritally, mention your story as an example.

Twelve Step groups teach that we cannot manage our lives b/c we have no control. They posit a Higher Power who can manage it. I don't like Higher Power as God (neither do federal justices who call Twelve Steps a religion) but look at this site. It can be critiqued but it is a miracle in itself. Look how vibrant it is. All the different opinion. If HIgher Power led us here, he will lead others.

184

most depressing song ever

by will_the_apostate in

jw
friends

whats the most depressing song you have ever heard?

i would go with either johnny cash - hurt or gary jules-mad world.

Band on the Run

Honey, a one hit wonder, was so sad and shmaltzy it became comical. One of the first few episodes of SNL parodied it. I still remember after all these years b/c SNL was utterly shocking then. Yet Honey this very bad song was number 1 for quite a while.

Hurt has susbtance. Alone again naturally has some substance. Honey had nothing.

98

The "WOW!!" moment...Theocratic Ministry School was a sham!

by Terry in

jw
friends

i just remembered something from long ago..... i moved to california in 1974 after i had been in "the truth" for 11 years, having full-time pioneered and also having served time in federal prison over the so-called christian neutrality issue.. i felt completely confident that my bible education was the best on planet earth.

i had honed my skills by door to door preaching, discussion, arguments and attendance at the theocratic ministry school.. i began working as an artist in a huge company that manufactured all kinds of art, sculpture and wall hanging.

the head of the artists was a wonderful young man, skilled artist and devout christian who took me under his wing.

Band on the Run

Terry,

I bought the Little Red Book. It was to have a souvenir of the times. When I attended John Lennon's memorial service, I grabbed a twig from the Sheep Meadow. I think it was the Sheep Meadow, may have been the Great Lawn. If we don't go back in history for centuries, far more people have read Mao's book than the Bible.

Our Eurocentricity sneaks up on me someday. I love my Royal Shakespearean Company Jesus, who is very thin,blond, blue eye-d and has sparkly eyes.

I wholeheartedly agree that if WTBTS wanted to teach the Bible, we'd have a different program. We were the equivalent of Fuller Brush salesmen.

When I encouter Witnesses today (which I very rarely do unless I go through a major train station. Even then they are so engrossed in conversation, no one would bother me), I explain clearly and politely that I was raised a Witness but I have since studied the Bible and believe the Witnesses are very ignorant. Maybe b/c I try to say it with no rancor, they still try to preach to me. I explained that I took college courses, tried to learn Greek, have read the scholarship. Also, I say even if their doctrine were Biblical, the lack of love and autonomy would be the deal breaker. I made the mistake of giving her my name. She sent me a letter on looseleaf paper trying to convince me.

I admired her tenacity, esp. in contrast to the Witnesses in the train stations. She wasn't arrogant.

B/c of the Witnesses, I am almost too Bible oriented. Revelations come in other forms. Jesus did not call academics and scribes.

2

History of Brooklyn Heights As Told by Russell Kurzen

by DNCall in

jw
friends

russ kurzen was the very unofficial historian/racanteur of bethel.. one of his memorable stories was the naming of columbia heights.

it dates back to the pre-revolutionary war period before the name "america" was settled upon.

another candidate was "columbia" (america from amerigo vespucci, columbia from that other explorer, columbus).

Band on the Run

The Watchtower and Brooklyn Heights are oil and vinegar. To say Brooklyn Heights is affluent and nice doesn't begin to tell the story. I'd say it is even nicer than the western back streets of Greenwich Village in Manhattan. I'm drunk with Manhattan glory. Working in the neighborhood for Social Security, I would wander over on lunch breaks. It is exquisitely beautiful with browntstones. There is an air of authenticity completing lacking in most of Manhattan. It attracts a crowd similar to the Village. Very affluent people who are progressives. The arts are worshipped. Community involvement is prob. highest in Greenwich Village and Brooklyn Heights.

They care passionately about gardens being maintained, streets not being littered. The homes are pristine. I call it a European ambience. An apt costs millions. One night I went with some school friends to a play in Brooklyn Heights. Coming back to the subway, we passed Bethel. No one knew I had been a member growing up. Someone remarked how the community implored Bethel not to use fake flowers in their windows. Fake flowers are worse than no flowers at all. I get fresh flowers today for $10/week. Bethel would not do it for the sake of community relations.

Hundreds of zombies, instantly recognizable as they walk in the neighborhood or take the subway, mingle with sophisticated world travelers with very urban views. It is comical and telling. If only I had creative writing skills, it would have made a great sit com.

66

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

by Quendi in

i know this has been discussed before, but i want to reopen the topic.

i am currently reading ray franz's memoir crisis of conscience and ran across this footnote with respect to the new world translation of the holy scriptures:.

"the new world translation bears no translator's name and is presented as the anonymous work of the "new world translation committee.

Band on the Run

I've tried several times to learn Koine Greek. It is challenging. I wanted to take courses at Union Theological Seminary but I needed Greek. Koine Greek precluded me from majoring in New Testament Studies. I've tried several times over the years but it is not a pressing concern.

Reference books are not great at providing connotations and subtle meanings. Two years study can give some graps but it is a joke to be adept at complex Bible translation, particularly for an inerrant Bible provided by Jehovah himself. Univ. of Cincinnati - give me a break. I'm not saying it is a bad school but it is not Harvard, Princeton, Unity, Oxford or Cambridge or a host of recognized seminaries with academic clout.

I have a law degree but have not practiced lately b/c of disability. Certainly, I know many things a person never trained knows but I would not pit my competency against theirs. I have enough problems with English, my mother tongue, so I understand nuance and subtle shadings of meaniing. Once I saw a literal translation of the Bible, word for word, without embellishment online. It was almost unintelligble.

I have an excellent knowledge of Restaurant French. When I see French subtitles or hear people speaking, I translate literally word for word. Rarely, do the subtitles or translator match my product. Another example is my brother was a Maoist following Albania. He had perfectly written English translations for propoaganda. The problem was that the English was so sterile and perfect, it was obvious the source was foreign.

I perfectly understand challenging yourself with translation. To hold such work as inerrant and from God is a joke. The more people do know, the more they realize their incompetence in many areas. Why could not the Witnesses have hired proficient Koine Greek scholars as translators? I believe the answer is that the NWT was not translated as the Bible and then doctrine accorded with it. Rather, the whims of a man who barely knew any Greek produced doctrine, then came the Bible to show that doctrine was valid. We all know how much the WTBTS actually loves the Bible or even Jesus, the very minor figure.

35

Anyone understand the Federal Reserve System?

by AK - Jeff in

but i want to educate myself.

like all jw's, i didn't give a shit about those sorts of things, unless there was an article in the magazine we were placing that month.

and even then, a very shallow understanding is all that i wanted or needed to 'place' the magazine.

Band on the Run

I saw Charlie Rose the other night. His guest was this man named Khan who set up a website teaching math and science skills for students. I just tried. He has a superb one on reserve or central banks. It is the easiest explanation I have ever heard. He uses simple diagrams. Believe it or not, it was fun. I think the video takes five to ten minutes.

He doesn't mention the merits of the reserve system. There is something in his manner that is not intimidating. He has a few financial and history programs but most is math and science. Hopefully, he will tackle the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in the future.

I'm going back for more programs. My high school has horrid math teachers. Maybe I can do math over. The web site is Khan Academy. Sorry, need to learn to do links.

7

Voting.

by s0rt3d in

i do feel kinda silly since this is something most people do anyway, you know, it's a regular, ordinary thing to do.... there's the av referendum and the local elections in england.

i went out this morning and voted.

it felt so good to have a say, to make my 'voice' heard!

Band on the Run

I work in campaigns and vote. In fact, I do voter integrity. Despite voting in almost every election for decades, I always want to celebrate my freedom. Most people take it for granted. The Americans who don't see any reason to vote blow my mind. Corporations certainly see a reason to influence political debate. Not voting is their right. I read that some countries make you vote. Western democracies.

35

Anyone understand the Federal Reserve System?

by AK - Jeff in

but i want to educate myself.

like all jw's, i didn't give a shit about those sorts of things, unless there was an article in the magazine we were placing that month.

and even then, a very shallow understanding is all that i wanted or needed to 'place' the magazine.

Band on the Run

Another idea came to me about Fed info. We can read the actual law in the U.S. Code. It is available online through Thomas, the Library of Congress search engine.

151

Introducing Myself

by StandFirm in

jw
friends

hello to jwn!

this is standfirm.

i mainly post on the topix jehovah's witness forum, but i decided to give it a try over here also.

Band on the Run

Il don't know you so I don't care. Frankly, Scarlet, I don't give a damn. My major point would be indirectly doctrinal. You are officially welcome here. I am not welcome at jw.org. It sums up a culture. JWs believe outlandish things that are not remotely in the Bible. Most JWs can only quote disparate scrpture the way parrots can speak. The doctrines aren't important to me. My denomination believes outlandish things,too.

JWs are the epitome of a cult. If you can read English, why can't you sit with an English translation of the Bible and read it verse by verse, consecutively. It is not difficult. No commentary is needed. When I first did this in college (naughty me), I was shocked by the lies Witnesses printed--objective lies where the text says one thing and the Bible says the opposite. Many items JWs believe I still believe. The crazy stuff is crazy.

The Holy Trinity created us with a mind to use. Jesus was exalted even in JW parlance. The WTBTS should not be allowed to call itself Christian for denying the Trinity, IMO. Anyway, Jesus was very capable of stating expressly, "This weird group in PA will incorporate, crosses and the occult will predominate, it will, in time, be known as WTBTS and Jehovah's Witnesses. In 18--, it will be..........In 1914, it will..............In 1932, it will......Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were fully capable of reporting this. If the JWs kept this info a secret, I can see Jesus choosing to not reveal it, the way the CIA does not release its activities. Since you knock on doors proclaiming this organization, it is not a secret. Why would Jesus forget to expressly mention your address, phone number and web address and email address.

In fact, why doesn't Jesus teach about cell phones and the United Federation of Planets? He seems limited in terms of technology he had to know about.

The most important thing to me is not the Bible Study, the arrogance and the ignorance. Love one another as I have loved you. JWs are so lacking in this category. It is the gut level test of Christianity to me. Does the WBTS feed the hungry, clothe the poor and provide housing? These are Jesus' express commandments. Nowhere in the Gosepls is there a doctrinal test of exclusion or 6 zillion rules on pressing matters such as beards, colored shirts, etc. Jesus left one crucial commandment. Cults have no love.

May we have your name so that we can submit letters of recommendation to your elders and to Bethel. The GB will be so pleased. We promise to behave.

So what are your logical conclusions, in your own words.

Curiosity killed the cat. This site is certainly curious. Can't you feel the vacuum action sucking you into our vile, filthy culture?