Max Divergent

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Posts by Max Divergent

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  28

  One of the most important questions.

  by Lemonp in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  it is enthralling having everything being dragged kicking and screaming into the light of day.

  however one of the most important things to ask is this:.

  is the rc evidence admissable in other countries and other courts?.

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  Max Divergent

  
  
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  28

  One of the most important questions.

  by Lemonp in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  it is enthralling having everything being dragged kicking and screaming into the light of day.

  however one of the most important things to ask is this:.

  is the rc evidence admissable in other countries and other courts?.

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  Max Divergent

  I think most common law jurisdictions would accept the report of a Royal Commission as of persuasive value, but testimony at an RC is of limited value as evidence. A witnesses own statement cannot be used as evidence against them, for instance. This is covered by the Royal Commissions Act 1902.

  JC notes and records being child pornography is an interesting thought.

  According to the current law in Queensland where I think this JC was heard (Edit: BCB's case was actually in Western Australia. But the law in all jurisdictions is similar enough that the general points are still valid):

  child exploitation material means material that, in a way likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, describes or depicts someone who is, or apparently is, a child under 16 years— (a) in a sexual context, including for example, engaging in a sexual activity; or (b) in an offensive or demeaning context; or (c) being subjected to abuse, cruelty or torture.

  So, possibly needlessly explicit notes about abuse and cruelty might fit the definition. Although I doubt the proceedings of a church hearing was the sort of material the Parliament would had in mind when the legislation was considered.

  But is there a defence to a charge of making, distributing or possessing such material in the case of a JC?

  228E Defences for ss 228A–228D ‘(1) Subsections (2), (3) and (5) prescribe defences available to a person charged with an offence against section 228A, 228B, 228C or 228D. ‘(2) It is a defence for the person to prove that— (a) the person engaged in the conduct that is alleged to constitute the offence for a genuine artistic, educational, legal, medical, scientific or public benefit purpose; and (b) the person’s conduct was, in the circumstances, reasonable for that purpose. Example of something made for a ‘public benefit’— A current affairs television program showing children being tortured during a civil war.
  

  I think it would come down to whether a reasonable person would think the material was too detailed for a legitimate church disciplinary purpose and that a paedophile would get off reading it.
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  63

  Nine Seconds that says it all. Have these elders any shame?

  by Wasanelder Once in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  what can i add?

  this says it all.. elder on stand is mute till prompted.. .

  i guess i could encourage you to watch to the end and a guest commentary, lol..

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  Max Divergent

  The Commission of Inquiry has no jurisdiction over non-Australian citizens and cannot summons religious leaders from other countries. For their part, even if they wished to appear, the GB could not - although theIr organization's official literature can be included.

  I think citizenship is irrelevant.
  

  The RC could invite or summons whomever it wishes to appear before it, although the compulsive nature of a summons can only be enforced where Australian police have jurisdiction making it pointless (rather than impossible) to summons someone outside Australia. Whatever their citizenship.

  And it'd be shameful to refuse if invited.
  

  If the witness does not travel to Australia, video conference was proposed for Applewhite to give more evidence from overseas, and the Act even allows the RC to take evidence overseas with permission of the other country.
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  18

  The Assyrian started to attack from Australia

  by opusdei1972 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  the gb has been preparing the flock for the assyrian's attack, that now is starting from australia:.

  elders, you can learn some helpful lessons from what we have just discussed: (1) the best thing you can do to prepare for the future attack of the assyrian is to strengthen your faith in god and help your brothers to do the same.

  (2) when the assyrian attacks, you must be completely convinced that jehovah will save us.

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  Max Divergent

  Let me get this right, some JW's are getting the idea that since the government (ie: Satan) is conducting a process, politely and diligently,via the RC to ask how children could be better protected from abuse, that a perfect, loving God might be provoked into slaughtering 7 billion humans.

  Therefore, JW's must be ready to "obey any instructions we may receive, whether we agree with them or not"?

  I just wonder what kind of God this Jehovah is. Not one I'd like to live under.

  And, I must say, Satan is looking pretty decent on this issue.
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  62

  Basic Bible and Religious Vocabulary the Watchtower Never Teaches

  by CalebInFloroda in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  when i began formal study of religion and biblical analysis it was like peeling off layer after layer of dark matter, sticky and putrid that had stuck over my eyes and ears and mouth.

  i learned that under the watchtower one only builds a widening gap between yourself and the world of biblical academia and scholars.

  i used to think i knew a lot because i learned to quote a few scholars or lexicons as a witness.

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  Max Divergent

  I was a third-generation JW and was an MS giving public talks. I am now an atheist.

  I do now know or understand any of those phrases in a biblical / religious context.

  
  
  
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  116

  You Tube Video Ex-Betheliite Ex-Walkill Worker Layed Off!

  by cha ching in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i am not sure if this guy is really from bethel, or walkill, but if he is....this poor guy really tells it like it is from the heart.

  he was surprised.. at the 'oh so fast, pack your bags, get your stuff outta here' layoff !.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1xh1egjcu

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  Max Divergent

  This dude has clearly 'gone apostate'. Good for him. I suppose he was outed form bethel some time ago.

  I was an overnight guest at the Sydney bethel just as I was on the way out. I absolutely hated everything about the place. The brown carpets, brown walls, weird art on the walls (WT originals - even more creepy than in the magazines), lifeless faces on zombies wandering around the silent corridors, people I'd known as vibrant and vital now seeming scared and unhappy, the truly bizarre dinner table conversations.

  It just had a bad vibe. It made me wonder if spirits were real, and all the bad ones lived at bethel. Satan's House.

  When we got people we knew in a place they felt safe to talk, they told us awful and weird stories about the place and the people in it and what they did. We saw a dorm for about 20 married couples (on construction) that had beds 3 feet apart separated by curtains, that was indecent. At least they knew where to get good, cheap alcohol. They'd need it.

  There were contribution boxes EVERYWHERE and people kept telling is they were there. Despite sleeping in their bed and eating their food, I refused to put a cent in. That was my FU to the Society, a short, sharp one in the guts (even if they were too fat to notice).

  But I did buy a JW branded pen: still have it.
  
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  69

  The 1995 Generation Change

  by sloppyjoe2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was just a teenager and have a vivid memory of sitting in a chair doing a microphone for the sunday meeting.

  everyone was commenting that it didn't mean the end was far off, and it didn't change the condition of the dead, or the 144,000, or the trinity so we should still remain faithful.

  this is my first memory as a kid being just a teen that i ever had a single doubt.

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  Max Divergent

  At about that time I asked myself if I'd stay a JW even if it could be proved wrong. I thought I might.

  When the article came up, I was surprised the lack of response to it. The article made no sense, but it washed away a huge chunk of chronology. I brushed that off, but I probably also stopped bothering to care if the teachings were true or not too as a result. It didn't matter, since every teaching was evidently able to be made to go away with just one article that would just be accepted. What would be next?

  I'd thought before about what I'd do if the religion was proved false, and I suppose I hadn't been able to comprehend being the first in my family to leave the JWs at tbat time. It took 2 more years to sort myself out and realize that I would not, could not stay and it was ok to leave.

  So I left. The Watchtower is just a weekly science fiction series.
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  17

  Statement in today's WT

  by stillin in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  paragraph 14.

  "the majority if unmarried youths who lose their virginity say that they regret what they did.".

  where do they get this stuff?.

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  Max Divergent

  "The majority if unmarried youths who lose their virginity say that they regret what they did and promise to keep on practising over and over, every day that they can until they get it right"

  or
  

  "The majority if unmarried youths who lose their virginity say that they regret what they did and that they are looking for someone better looking and more experienced for next time'

  or

  "The majority if unmarried youths who lose their virginity say that they regret what they did and that they'll remember to pay a visit to the drug store first next time"
  

  or

  "The majority if unmarried youths who lose their virginity say that they regret what they did: they now realise they should never have turned up for those bible studies, meetings or their baptism that resulted in them taking so long to experience the joys of sex and to feel so worried and guilty about it"

  or

  "The majority if unmarried youths who lose their virginity say that they regret what they did that got them caught by the elders"
  
  
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  17

  Conversation with ultra dub relative. Pure quality this one

  by joe134cd in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  if any one has been taking note of my posts, it could be said that i often mention conversations i have had with dubbies.

  in some ways not been dfed has allowed me to gain some real in sight into how they think and their justification for things.

  the following is a conversation i just had with an ultra super dub relative, and to be honest i don't know weather i should be laughing or crying over it.. relative: the rc this year is going to be held in the assembly hall.

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  Max Divergent

  Well, he has a point since in the end 'the love of the greater number will cool off'.

  So if they're closer, they'll be warmer.
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  35

  Are JWs trying to make dysfunctional kids and destroy their ability to live normal lives?

  by C0ntr013r in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  are jws trying to make dysfunctional kids that wont "fit" in normal society so they will "return to jehovah"?

  because there have been many stories about young people who have been out in the world only to find how bad it was and how correct the org was.. a good jw kid with "good" jw parents will have many big issues, some examples:.

  fear of demons (fear, misfit).

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  Max Divergent

  Brilliant post.

  That is what they do. By design or not.

  Most JW / XJW are screwed up one way or another. And the irony is that 'the world' is much more helpful, accepting and safe than the 'Spiritual Paradise' for those who try to overcome the bad start the JWs get.

  Go to the brothers for judgment, but to your choice of therapist / whatever for recovery, growth and a fairer crack at life.