Posts by sizemik

36

Steven Unthanks case . . . this might help fill some gaps.

by sizemik in

i was alerted to steven unthanks latest feature article on jwnews.net .

.. it was posted just a few days ago (11th) and explains a number of things some have puzzled over with regard to australian law, and why things unfolded as they did.. it includes a report compiled by an ex-jw who attended the hearings.. for those that took an interest in the case .

it might fill in some gaps for you.. it's on the home page and entitled .

sizemik

You're right wha . . . mention of it had been made by Steven Unthank around the time. The above is an excerpt from an anonymous attendees report which has been published on the jwnews.net site. It is a little more comprehensive, being the personal observations of a non-participant attending the hearings.

62

New member

by Kool Jo in

jw
friends

i've been lurking here since late last year...was very hesitant to join the forum because of fear that satan would control my pc.... .

i'm born in, but always had my little doubts about "the truth" since i was young, but went ahead and got baptized ect.... .

i stumbled upon this site while looking for a km and initially thought it was a jw forum, but after seeing some of the titles of various threads, i thought to myself "i'm on an apostate website".

sizemik

A warm welcome to you.

6

Russian Prosecutor's office seeks to declare Jehovah's Witnesses leaflets extremist

by sizemik in

prosecutor's office seeks to declare jehovah's witnesses leaflets extremist.

kursk, march 14 - rapsi.

the kursk regional court has started considering the prosecutor's office petition to declare five jehovah's witnesses religious leaflets extremist, the court spokesman albert aseyev told ria novosti on wednesday.. "the leaflets speak about general and spiritual issues.

sizemik

They really don't like them do they . . .

Prosecutor's office seeks to declare Jehovah's Witnesses leaflets extremist

16:53 14/03/2012

KURSK, March 14 - RAPSI. The Kursk Regional Court has started considering the prosecutor's office petition to declare five Jehovah's Witnesses religious leaflets extremist, the court spokesman Albert Aseyev told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

"The leaflets speak about general and spiritual issues. For example, one is titled How to prepare for death," Aseyev said.

He added that the court will now hear the witnesses to find out if the people who distributed the leaflets are members of Jehovah's Witnesses. The court is also expected to authorize examinations to define their possible extremist nature.

Jehovah's Witnesses is an international religious organization. Many traditional religions consider it to be a pseudo-Christian sect. Its management center in Russia is in St. Petersburg. Its activities are forbidden in China, North Korea, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and a number of other countries.

According to the organization, it comprises about 7 million people as of August 2009.

In June 2010, the European Court of Human Rights declared illegal the Russian court's decision to dissolve the religious community of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow and ordered Russia to pay 70,000 euro in compensation.

http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20120314/262000854.html

Court finds regional head of Jehovah's Witnesses guilty of extremism

Married couple of Jehovah's Witnesses to stand trial for extremism

Regional head of Jehovah's Witnesses appeals extremism case sentence

Court finishes investigating Jehovah's Witnesses extremism case

5

Jupiter and Venus visible for awhile

by Quarterback in

i came upon this interesting article that called the "conjunction of venus and juniper" that appears every thirteen months.

this will also continue to be visible for tomorrow evening as well..

sizemik

We picked them both up a couple of nights ago coming home from work and looked it up on-line. Down here in NZ they were very bright and close to the horizon.

3

How to explain cognitive dissonance without offending cults and religion.

by Joey Jo-Jo in

(this might offend smokers lol).

scenario 1. let's say you are aware that smoking is bad for you and addictive (element 1) so you dont smoke (element 2) - this is congnitive consonance (rational harmony).

scenario 2. let's say you are aware that smoking is bad for you and addictive (element 1) but you smoke anyway (element 2) = the mind's natural reaction to this irrational decision is to create anxiety with the person smoking, but the person wanting to continue to smoke will substitute this anxiety with a positive mental idea "well him old so i will probably never get cancer" or "i will quit when i reach my 30's" this irrational excuse (element 3) will substitute element 1 - this is cognitive dissonance..

sizemik

There's a very good interview with Carol Tavris (Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me) here dealing with CD and self-justification.

Also some good suggestions on this previous thread.

The smoking analogy is valid and often used.

36

Steven Unthanks case . . . this might help fill some gaps.

by sizemik in

i was alerted to steven unthanks latest feature article on jwnews.net .

.. it was posted just a few days ago (11th) and explains a number of things some have puzzled over with regard to australian law, and why things unfolded as they did.. it includes a report compiled by an ex-jw who attended the hearings.. for those that took an interest in the case .

it might fill in some gaps for you.. it's on the home page and entitled .

sizemik

I was alerted to Steven Unthanks latest feature article on jwnews.net . . .

It was posted just a few days ago (11th) and explains a number of things some have puzzled over with regard to Australian law, and why things unfolded as they did.

It includes a report compiled by an ex-jw who attended the hearings.

For those that took an interest in the case . . . it might fill in some gaps for you.

It's on the home page and entitled . . . "Criminal Prosecution of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses"

Edit to add: . . . here's an uncomfortable little moment to ponder . . . from the report;

During the court hearing on October 11, legal counsel for the Watchtower Society, Rachel van Witsen, from Vincent Toole Solicitors (the Watchtower Society’s in-house law firm located inside Bethel, Australia) made a statement on behalf of the Watchtower Society that:-

“The faithful and discreet slave is not a legal entity.”

Vincent Toole Solicitors then went on to present arguments that the “faithful and discreet slave” do not exist as a “person” nor do they exist as an “unincorporated body” and nor do they exist as a “body” of Christians.

Literally Vincent Toole Solicitors were arguing that the “faithful and discreet slave” should be struck off the charge list because they simply do not exist. In one broad sweeping statement the Watchtower Society and their in-house legal team completely destroyed the entire fabric and structure of the faith of some 7 million Jehovah’s Witnesses. What next happened goes beyond the wildest imaginings that any Jehovah’s Witness could ever believe was possible.

Steven Unthank stood up, looked around the courtroom, and then actually defended the “faithful and discreet slave” and the beliefs and doctrinal teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. No one else came to the defense of the “faithful and discreet slave”. Steven Unthank, as the current acting prosecutor, was the only person who defended them. Unthank then presented argument that the “faithful and discreet slave” was real and was that body of Jehovah’s Witness Christians that had religious responsibility over the entire Christian congregation.

The Watchtower Society and Vincent Toole Solicitors then presented rebuttal argument that the “faithful and discreet slave” did not exist but were nothing more than a:-

“theological arrangement”

A massive gasp could be heard emanating from the gallery from amongst a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had attended to watch the hearing. It is worth noting that Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that to deny the “faithful and discreet slave” is to deny the Christ and that those who deny the Christ are the antichrist.

45

It CAN'T go on much longer

by jean-luc picard in

jw
friends

so thats what my mum told me today.

i've learned to hold my tongue but i was thinking,.

"why can't it?

sizemik

Hi jlp . . .

I read an article recently that identified a general problem. People constantly tapping into news channels for the latest disaster and reinforcing an apocalyptic outlook. It's been identified as motivating a rise in doomsday cults, conspiracy theorists, as well as mental health problems and suicides. Obviously, an aging JW has got a big head start, but one thing is sure . . . it's definitely not healthy. It's hard to do anything in your situation except to keep an eye on her and stick to uplifting subjects I guess.

I couldn't find the article in question . . . but this one makes some valid points . . .

http://www.thespoof.com/news/magazine/doomsday_preppers_cause_world_wide_panic_10808.htm

19

Possible new human species found in China

by botchtowersociety in

http://www.livescience.com/19039-human-species-china-cave.html.

mysterious chinese fossils may be new human species.

mysterious fossils of what may be a previously unknown type of human have been uncovered in caves in china, ones that possess a highly unusual mix of bygone and modern human features, scientists reveal.. surprisingly, the fossils are only between 11,500 and 14,500 years old.

sizemik

Thanks for the link.

The great majority of our past is still buried . . . it's always exciting when they dig some more up.

20

Hello!

by digderidoo in

just having a browse ... wow 11 years ago i joined this site.

in previous years i had a number of ex jw issues and this site really helped both for support and to vent my anger.. hello to anyone who remembers me, though there looks many new ones now..

sizemik

I used to be a regular drinker all my life . . . but gave it up 6 years ago because of liver disease.

I had 1 beer last Christmas with my sons . . . took me an hour and a half to drink it. Apart from that I've never touched the stuff . . . and can honestly say I don't miss it at all.

Hello digderidoo . . . nice to meet an old posta.

22

Watchtowers Dr. Dixon on Individual Consciences of Jehovahs Witnesses

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtowers dr. dixon on individual consciences of jehovahs witnesses.

today i added a new article to my blog addressing a statement of cherished belief held by the former head of watchtowers medical department.

dr. dixons view was published in the new york state journal of medicine in year 1988, and i agree with his cherished belief.

sizemik

It has been documented even by the WTS. themselves that people including children died as a result of being faithfully obedient to this doctrine.

Recent public comments made on the issue seem to be taking a common stance . . . that decisions made are the responsibility of the individual and a matter of conscience, not an enforced doctrine. Eventually the penalties will be further watered down and any stand on blood will become purely a conscience matter . . . and of course, the WTS will maintain it always was.

Once it becomes a conscience matter where penalties are few or eventually absent . . . then it will be allowed to recede into history along with all their other failures. They'll just stop drawing attention to it. That's just my opinion.