Posts by cedars

8

Import / Export (Watchtower)

by TJ Curioso in

and now, a finding that intrigued me.. .

i always thought that the bulk of the publications come out of new york to other parts of the globe, if not produced in these last.

true?.

cedars

...either that or the REAL Governing Body is based in Tokyo, and Brooklyn is just a front. Who would have thought?!!

That would explain why they're so obsessed with earthquakes...

47

UK newspaper interest in "mentally diseased", any Witnesses want to come forward?

by cedars in

following the recent activity surrounding the "mentally diseased" apostate article, a major uk newspaper has expressed an interest in covering the story.

the correspondent as been told about this forum, and he is particularly interested in hearing from those inside the organisation, as i think few people are aware of how much unrest there is actually within witness ranks at the teachings of the society.. would anybody like to be used as a source, either anonymously or otherwise?

if so, it might be worthwhile saying a few words on this thread.

cedars

dozy - yours is a shocking experience, showing that the concept of "shunning" makes such an impression on the rank and file that they project it onto their treatment of inactive ones.

26

"Mentally Diseased" comment - help needed

by sizemik in

a complaint regarding this comment was forwarded about a week ago to the nz human rights commission.. it was simply an email outlining the complaint and quoting the paragraph in question.. today i recieved a request for more information as follows .

my name is robert hallowell; i work at the human rights commission as its legal counsel.. .

thank you for your email of 14 september 2011. would you be able to send me a copy of the particular edition of watchtower or a copy of the article that you enquired about?.

cedars

sizemik - do you feel you have everything you need now, or are there any other angles we can help you explore?

16

Member of Parliament's reply to my email regarding "Mentally Diseased" Watchtower

by Amelia Ashton in

if i could offer my perspective.

issues around free speech are some of the most difficult.

balancing the right of someone being able to say what they want against the "harm" that might cause.

cedars

I think it's good that he gave such a comprehensive and thoughtful response, but I think he was basically talking himself out of doing anything by falling back to the line of "well so long as nobody's about to die, then it can't be all that bad" (paraphrasing).

Just because violence hasn't ensued in the immediate aftermath of this hateful Watchtower, doesn't mean our lives aren't considerably more difficult as a result of the blatant religious intolerance that is being fostered by the Society. Freedom of speech has been abused to a profound extent in this instance to ostracize and undermine those who think differently from the Governing Body. It's obviously not a subject Mr Hancock knows a great deal about, especially if he thinks that JWs "take more heed of Christ may be than other versions of Christianity" - he clearly hasn't done his homework. In my experience, politicians like him only tend to sit up and take notice if there is a significant media storm brewing, and then they start to take things seriously. That's why I'm slightly more optimistic about a possible article in a national newspaper to raise initial awareness, and then hopefully get some political cogs turning.

His name rang a bell with me, and I found out it was because of his penchant for attractive Russian assistants.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336173/Lib-Dem-MP-Mike-Hancock-obsessed-Russian-women.html

You may get further with him if you dye your hair blonde (if it isn't blonde already) and learn Russian!

Well done for trying though Amelia, I really admire your bravery and tenacity.

40

Question about 607/587

by drewcoul in

i am not an expert on this issue.

i have read and re-read information about it, but i guess i am somewhat dense when it comes to this topic.. my question is simple: the watchtower suggests that they believe the bible is the unerring word or god.

that it must be believed above anything else.

cedars

Doug - an excellent summary. I also enjoyed your critique, although I have yet to pour over it in detail. What is truly astonishing is that, in the recent series of articles, the Society has continued to "tie itself to the mast" over 607 / 1914 rather than distancing itself - surely the logical and indeed humble course of action. As has been pointed out on numerous occasions, the WTS has far too much vested interest in its claims concerning 607 BCE, and it will do anything it can to reinforce its highly questionable reasoning, even embellishing it with falsehood if necessary. It's a shame that the recent WT articles will have doubtless convinced many Witnesses to drop any doubts they may have once held about 607 BCE, such is the dogmatic, evasive, arrogant and assured way in which they are written.

26

"Mentally Diseased" comment - help needed

by sizemik in

a complaint regarding this comment was forwarded about a week ago to the nz human rights commission.. it was simply an email outlining the complaint and quoting the paragraph in question.. today i recieved a request for more information as follows .

my name is robert hallowell; i work at the human rights commission as its legal counsel.. .

thank you for your email of 14 september 2011. would you be able to send me a copy of the particular edition of watchtower or a copy of the article that you enquired about?.

cedars

Obviously this mental disease is truly contagious if even non-Witnesses are susceptible?!! Maybe the Society were right after all....

47

UK newspaper interest in "mentally diseased", any Witnesses want to come forward?

by cedars in

following the recent activity surrounding the "mentally diseased" apostate article, a major uk newspaper has expressed an interest in covering the story.

the correspondent as been told about this forum, and he is particularly interested in hearing from those inside the organisation, as i think few people are aware of how much unrest there is actually within witness ranks at the teachings of the society.. would anybody like to be used as a source, either anonymously or otherwise?

if so, it might be worthwhile saying a few words on this thread.

cedars

Souder, I can't see any of your posts. Could you try re-typing them using a different browser?

47

UK newspaper interest in "mentally diseased", any Witnesses want to come forward?

by cedars in

following the recent activity surrounding the "mentally diseased" apostate article, a major uk newspaper has expressed an interest in covering the story.

the correspondent as been told about this forum, and he is particularly interested in hearing from those inside the organisation, as i think few people are aware of how much unrest there is actually within witness ranks at the teachings of the society.. would anybody like to be used as a source, either anonymously or otherwise?

if so, it might be worthwhile saying a few words on this thread.

cedars

Cofty - I have told the journalist that we will keep him and the name of the paper under wraps for now. I think this is best so as not to jeopardize his investigation in any way. I have asked that I be informed as and when any article is to be printed, so you can be sure you will hear about it first on here. Why don't you add your story? I would be interested to know.

47

UK newspaper interest in "mentally diseased", any Witnesses want to come forward?

by cedars in

following the recent activity surrounding the "mentally diseased" apostate article, a major uk newspaper has expressed an interest in covering the story.

the correspondent as been told about this forum, and he is particularly interested in hearing from those inside the organisation, as i think few people are aware of how much unrest there is actually within witness ranks at the teachings of the society.. would anybody like to be used as a source, either anonymously or otherwise?

if so, it might be worthwhile saying a few words on this thread.

cedars

Thanks dozy, you raise an interesting point. However, if you think about it, how are you supposed to know how your fellow publishers truly feel about the organization, even in your own congregation? Everyone is in fear of speaking out lest they be labelled an apostate, so there is really no way of knowing for certain the exact percentage of publishers that disagree with the Society. There are enough Witnesses on this forum from various countries to suggest that there is a large number, as evidenced by this thread alone. Just because not all dissenters are "outspoken" doesn't mean that there isn't a significant amount of unrest in the organisation, as evidenced by the increasing number of reformist websites.

27

Census / online survey idea - thoughts please...

by cedars in

i've been thinking about the recent developments in the uk following the "apostates = mentally diseased" article in the july 15th edition of the watchtower.

to provide a bit more background, a forum member named amelia has recently had a meeting with uk police officers who subsequently took a copy of the article for their records.

they agreed that the content could potentially incite people to hatred against disaffected witnesses, and the copy is now on file with the uk police in case there are any future incidents of hateful acts against "apostates", including violence or even stalking.. i am working on a press release to make the public more aware of the idealogical oppression being meted out by the society on those who oppose them, both inside and outside the organization.

cedars

Cadellin - thanks for your support! I will be updating this thread once the survey is online.

headisspinning - no worries, I didn't view your post as being critical at all, you raised some valid issues! It's great to have people like yourself who care about these matters, and who are willing to contribute to these sorts of ideas. I will always value your input.