there are so many ways to get into this topic; homeopathy, astrology, feng shui, alien abductions, seances and so on ad nauseum but let's pick a simple one - mathematics.
do you accept the undeniable logic that 1+1 must always equal 2?.
i cannot conceive of a situation where 1+1=3 but there was a time when i did!
Just a few random mumblings:
Plant an apple and you'll eventually have much more than three, therefore "1 = many", in the right context.
Start the ball rolling with an expression of generosity by sharing your meagre lunch, and before you know it maybe a park full of 5,000 people will share what little they have with them with one another. A few baskets of remaining scraps isn't unlikely in that situation.
How does logic deal with the concept of "infinity"? What is "infinity + infinity"?
there are so many ways to get into this topic; homeopathy, astrology, feng shui, alien abductions, seances and so on ad nauseum but let's pick a simple one - mathematics.
do you accept the undeniable logic that 1+1 must always equal 2?.
i cannot conceive of a situation where 1+1=3 but there was a time when i did!
Just a few random mumblings:
Plant an apple and you'll eventually have much more than three, therefore "1 = many", in the right context.
Start the ball rolling with an expression of generosity by sharing your meagre lunch, and before you know it maybe a park full of 5,000 people will share what little they have with them with one another. A few baskets of remaining scraps isn't unlikely in that situation.
How does logic deal with the concept of "infinity"? What is "infinity + infinity"?
wonder what paranormal believers will make of this.
british and swiss researchers have succeeded in deliberately inducing out-of-body sensations.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/rtgam.20070823.wbrain0824/bnstory/science/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsup.
I also find this stuff fascinating.
I'll be chuffed if they manage to work out how to conduct proper temporal lobe communication. I'll be even more chuffed when they work out what "frequency" it transmits on and are able to isolate / detect it. At that point I'll be quite intrigued to see if they detect any unaccounted for external transmission...
...maybe another hundred years, at the current rate of progress.
a michael porter is listed as a trustee at the mill hill congregation - which is where the bethel is and the bethelites go to.
listed below are the trustees.
extract from the central register of charities maintained by the charity commission for england and wales.
I'm just trying to get a clear idea of the timeline:
Assaults were between 1986 - 2000 near Bristol, where he would have been aged 17 - 31 and where he was at least a Ministerial Servant.
He moved to Mill Hill in 2000 at about the age of 31, now living in Finchley. I'm not sure yet if he was appointed an Elder before or after the move.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6960166.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=477301&in_page_id=1770
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007390280,00.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/08/24/24-vile-attacks-on-kids-no-jail-89520-19680587/
a michael porter is listed as a trustee at the mill hill congregation - which is where the bethel is and the bethelites go to.
listed below are the trustees.
extract from the central register of charities maintained by the charity commission for england and wales.
I take it back - I obviously need to read more, as today's Guardian shows:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2155269,00.html
He moved to MillHill in 2000, and at 38 would likely have been an Elder there. It is indeed possible that its the same guy, though I would advise caution and double-checking the facts.
a michael porter is listed as a trustee at the mill hill congregation - which is where the bethel is and the bethelites go to.
listed below are the trustees.
extract from the central register of charities maintained by the charity commission for england and wales.
Simple answer: No.
You've found another Michael Porter by the miraculous wonder of Google Research Techniches Incorporated
London Bethel has a Congregation in the same building, of which Ron Drage is an Elder and hence a trustee. However this is the other side of the country from where the other Michael Porter lives. Portishead and Clevedon is over a hundred miles away.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/8/140694/1.ashx
Edited to add my apology to Jim, though I leave my original foolish comments intact. In this context I elaborate below...
a michael porter is listed as a trustee at the mill hill congregation - which is where the betherl is and the bethelites go to.
listed below are the trustees.
extract from the central register of charities maintained by the charity commission for england and wales.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-zrpbc5jki.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuknbhy-ln4.
Gary:
Ditto.
"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." - Augustine.
i am puzzled about two key factors.
one is the fact that the victims agreed to settle out of court, and two, they agreed to a gag order.
those two key factors there, tells me something as i am sure it will tell you something as well.
Justice costs a fortune in money and emotional resource. In many cases the investment to pursue a case is huge compared to the return. It becomes a process of diminishing returns. When an out of court settlement is on the table it is often best to call it a day and a gagging order is a usual part of the settlement.
It sux, but its understandable.
Don't just think about it, pal! If you can afford it go for it!
I completed my BSc after leaving the WTS and am now working on a double Masters. I have plans to pick up another BSc and later on work towards a Phd. TIme will tell as to whether or not I run out of steam in the process...
Education is a great tool and bulwark against ignorance.
