Maximus

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Posts by Maximus

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  31

  Pedophilia, slander, the process, culpability

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  1. jane doe reports her suspicion to elders that her jw husband is sexually molesting their two daughters.

  2. jw elders initiate an investigation.. 3. suspect husband denies the crime.. 4. children do not corroborate the accusation.

  5. medical examiners do not offer any corroboration of the accusation.

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  Maximus

  Time Zone bump!
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  31

  Pedophilia, slander, the process, culpability

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  1. jane doe reports her suspicion to elders that her jw husband is sexually molesting their two daughters.

  2. jw elders initiate an investigation.. 3. suspect husband denies the crime.. 4. children do not corroborate the accusation.

  5. medical examiners do not offer any corroboration of the accusation.

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  Maximus

  Remember, the organization might be able to afford financially
  a loss here and there.

  What it cannot afford to lose is its

  I N C O M E

  from the U.S. public who "donates"--the prime source

  I'm glad you see what is at stake. The battle is on.
  The Society must change its insane policy completely,
  whether willingly or kicking and screaming. The choice is theirs.

  Maximus
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  2

  Murder News Story

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what a day, the hits seem to keep on coming.

  i got this email connected to this story:.

  "fresh off the presses: my old hall: there was a jw who murdered another 16 year old jw.

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  Maximus

  Uh, what's that scripture about evil doing its work in the dark,

  and justice ultimately gets shouted from the roof tops?

  Max
• 
  17

  C.S.Lewis makes a "comeback"...

  by Tallyman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those who chowed down for years on the watchtower's "spiritual food" (who was that talking about schit on a schingle in an earlier post?

  ) and thought you were getting christianity, and have now left the table of jehovah-of-the-watchtower... .

  and purged what you consumed.... and still haven't given up on christianity - (hey, jesus did warn of counterfeits).

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  Maximus

  Just want to take the opportunity to say a warm hello, Tallyman.

  In deep depression I forced myself to read "Mere Christianity" on the recommendation of others. I had an awful time slogging through it. Had to put it aside. Later I coincidentally met Mary Ellen Curley and another Harper marketing type, who once again suggested Lewis, this time just looking for spirituality. They weren't just hyping the book. Jack Spong's autobio was still in MS form, BTW.

  Maybe it was just the timing, but many things he said suddenly started clicking: it was about what's inside us, not the ghost in the machine.

  Lewis was liberating. Thanks for bringing him up on this sometimes parched board.

  Max
  Edit PS: That led me to Madeleine L'Engle .....
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  63

  Watchtower PR Statement 8-7-01

  by silentlambs in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  public affairs office.

  for immediate release august7, 2001 .

  sexual abuse of children is a terrible crime that can leave lasting emotional scars on its victims.

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  Maximus

  Anchor has picked up on a huge change, from a negative "we do not" to a stance that says "no one should interfere" with an "absolute right."

  What is still missing? What is the next step?

  One simple **positive** act: WE ENCOURAGE REPORTING

  If this is a "terrible crime," why the difference between the way they treat this and the other serious or violent crimes? Hint: that's an area in which the media should and will be asking tough questions. Has to do with good old boy mentality.

  I am reliably advised that the newly revised Public Affairs Department (the old one was dismantled) really had to scramble to get this one together. Where it is on your web site, Watchtower? You took the other one off, but we saw it--and copied it. You are dead to rights on this one.

  These people are not shooting themselves in the foot, they just managed to shoot themselves in a yet more vulnerable part of their anatomy.

  Run, Watchtower, Run.

  Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

  Max
• 
  63

  Watchtower PR Statement 8-7-01

  by silentlambs in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  public affairs office.

  for immediate release august7, 2001 .

  sexual abuse of children is a terrible crime that can leave lasting emotional scars on its victims.

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  Maximus

  .
  .
  .
  .
  <smile>
  .
  .
  .

  Max
• 
  22

  Should you write to the society?

  by sleepy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when someone comes across something in the "truth" that disterbs them should they write to the society or is this pointless?.

  i think they should write for several reasons.. 1.you must give them at least a chance to present their side of the story.it is no good just relying for others for your information you can not be shure what the society really belive until you hear it from them yourself.. wasn't just relying on the judgement of others part of what got you in in the first place.. its good for us to try and advance in our way of thinking during life and part of this involves doing our own research which is not complete until we go to the source of our conflict.. also if you bring up the point with someone it gives more weight to your argument if mention you wrote to the society and this was their answer.. 2. the more poeple that write in with the same points the more difficult it will be for them to hold to an erroneous stand.. the more different people that write the more ways of expresing the point will be heared different ways will make sence to different people.. remember its not just the same person answering all letters but different people who will have to do research an answer your point, which could make them think.. (this assumes that the society is genuinely mistaken and not corupt, although it could be a bit of both).

  of cource if you do not want hassle off your elders dont tell the society you are a brother/sister or just give a different name ,prehaps you could give the address of your place of work or somewhere else if you don't want to be traced easily.. in my case i just made it sound like i was an intrested person.. or you could make out that you need some help in presenting the societies case to an intrested person who has quetions.

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  Maximus

  To add some specifics to what AlanF noted:

  First, let me tell "anon" I appreciated the publication reference. That's exactly how the writer of the article felt, that is the way it should be, and that is what "the Society" will point to as policy. The jarring reality comes when one writes in such a way that the faithful slave's teaching is called into question, and as is noted gets DF'd or declared as having disassociated himself. That can and does happen through the local body of elders.

  First ask yourself: What is "the Society"? Is it the corporation, its directors? I know what you mean, of course. Write "the Society" and see what happens.

  Here in the United States you may receive a letter back, may be very long in coming however. The reply will be on the stationery of The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, with a rubber stamp of new and different handwriting from the Watchtower Society of New York, standard for many, many decades. The address will be Route 22 Patterson, NY, no matter if you wrote it to 25 or 124 Columbia Heights.

  Your letter will have been scanned and processed by the relatively small Writing Correspondence department, and will bear a Desk Symbol like ECA, ECB or ECC. The E is a hangover from the time the Writing Department was known as Editorial. The Writing Department for publications is in Brooklyn and does not respond to letters. The chance of a GB member reading a letter is nil, zilch, zip, nada.

  The folks in Writing Correspondence have a database of all sorts of answers, but they do not do research and they can say nothing that is different from policy that can be easily obtained elsewhere. Template response is the order of the day.

  Quantity of letters on abuse or similar situations is certainly of interest, and so are sincere letters that speak of dilemma regarding the blood issue, but it is not the content but the magnitude that draws attention. I agree with Alan on that point.

  I've seen letter after letter that goes in couched in such cap-in-hand terms, just so as not to offend--and I've seen scorchers that go nowhere. The atmosphere should be just like the W article "anon" cites. But it isn't. And that's sad.

  It's the old circular reasoning thing yet one more time: Of course we humbly respond to questions, it says we do in the Watchtower!

  I am aware of at least one situation in which a "loyal" elder was locally asked whether the organization is directed by Jehovah, to which he answered Yes. When asked whether the faithful slave and GB is the channel in providing food from Jehovah, he answered truthfully that he was a little "fuzzy" on that point--did not even say he was entertaining doubts. A relative called him after the succeeding service meeting to inform him he had been DFd for apostasy. An appeals committee upheld the matter.

  They're very touchy these days.

  Max
• 
  3

  OK! The real scoop on Enrico's "New System...

  by Utopian Reformist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, here it is..... enrico and his associates believe that the great tribulation is very near, and will be manifested in economic terms.

  they assert that the symbolic markings spoken of in revelation about buying and selling are "real" and are currently already in place in the present day world wide economic banking system.. he and his associates are working on a project to develop a new commerical system designed to eliminate poverty (thus averting the effects of the bestial markings in revelation) and creating a global economy that is not based on conventional banking systems.. they are designing according to the "network marketing" model, which means, as europeans, they are unfortuantely unaware and naive of the perils associated with "pyramid schemes".

  i found that europeans, especially italians, who like the japanese, seek to embrace all american concepts.

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  Maximus

  Ben trovato, Giuliano!

  I have no idea what computer translator he used, but it sure did leave some interesting and many times funny expressions, especially when he didn't spell very well: "they will be able confermarti that to April of 1999 I have taken the emblemi ... I only can dirti that"

  Regimentation-oriented and self-righteous. Perfect qualities for JW organization, but deadly to one's humanity.

  Looks like we share the quality of eleos, koine Greek for compassion.

  Ciao!

  Max
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  16

  COs, SL, Mulan, AlanF, Max,Tina,UB,Zev,&New...

  by Seeker4 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is from seeker4, whom some of you may remember from h2o.

  have been quiet for several months, and not even reading the boards.

  too busy.

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  Maximus

  Seeker4, you unabashed scoundrel!

  Delivered on everything I promised, eh? Patience sucks, but it pays off. No amount of maneuvering will change the outcome of the chess game now. You can take that to the bank.

  A few more bombshells coming, do stick around. I'm never too busy to hear from and respond to good friends, old or new. Drop a note; address is in open envelope.

  I'm still struck by how the creative instinct can flourish so wonderfully in exJWs, once they come to an accommodation with reality--and discover talents they never dreamed existed. Can't tell you how many success stories I've heard from women in particular who go back to school or otherwise hone their already keen abilities. I relish that.

  Have you tried painting or sculpture yet?

  Warmest,
  Max
• 
  31

  Pedophilia, slander, the process, culpability

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  1. jane doe reports her suspicion to elders that her jw husband is sexually molesting their two daughters.

  2. jw elders initiate an investigation.. 3. suspect husband denies the crime.. 4. children do not corroborate the accusation.

  5. medical examiners do not offer any corroboration of the accusation.

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  2. 
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  Maximus

  Clearly it sometimes serves the interests of the Legal department to see that policy is quite fuzzy, such as that presently on blood. Church policy that is not perceived/understood by parishioners then becomes individualistic and not communal, and that makes for reduced liability, right?

  *** w99 6/1 15 Appreciating the "Gifts in Men" ***
  These “gifts in men” do not seek to control the lives or faith of their fellow worshipers. Paul, although having apostolic authority, humbly told the Corinthians: “Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by your faith that you are standing.” (2 Corinthians 1:24) Paul did not wish to control the faith and way of life of his brothers.

  If this is "food at the proper time," how can the faithful slave GB square this this teaching with their own behavior? Are they simply less humble than the apostle Paul? Have more authority collectively?

  Leave this as purely rhetorical or you may wish to respond.

  Max