vienne

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Posts by vienne

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  11

  A Press Conference of Hate: False Accusations of Sexual Abuse Against the Jehovah’s Witnesses 7~24~23

  by Tahoe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  https://bitterwinter.org/a-press-conference-of-hate-false-accusations-of-sexual-abuse-against-the-jehovahs-witnesses/.

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  vienne

  EasyP,

  I'm extremely sympathetic. As you recount it, your experience is distressing.

  I do not see in the video links you provided any proof that M. Introvigne is paid in any fashion, except he likes to be in front of the camera.
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  11

  A Press Conference of Hate: False Accusations of Sexual Abuse Against the Jehovah’s Witnesses 7~24~23

  by Tahoe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  https://bitterwinter.org/a-press-conference-of-hate-false-accusations-of-sexual-abuse-against-the-jehovahs-witnesses/.

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  vienne

  Also ... Massimo Introvigne is a Catholic in disfavor with his religion because of a divorce. I've exchanged emails with him a few times. I found no evidence that he is paid by the Watchtower. If evidence exists, I would very much like to see it.
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  11

  A Press Conference of Hate: False Accusations of Sexual Abuse Against the Jehovah’s Witnesses 7~24~23

  by Tahoe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  https://bitterwinter.org/a-press-conference-of-hate-false-accusations-of-sexual-abuse-against-the-jehovahs-witnesses/.

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  vienne

  The Australian numbers are of all sexual abuse reported in the time frame. The numbers would be quite different if only abuse by an appointed man was reported.

  Catholic numbers are abuse only by ordained clergy. They're not really comparable statistically. We would need a more refined data base.

  However, any abuse is disgusting and should be reported. The issue with the Watchtower is that they do not have a fixed policy covering every entity (State, Province, county, etc.) Reluctance to report has caused their problems. For decades the Witness Governing Body lived in an idealized "spiritual paradise" and were reluctant to report any wrong doing, no matter how egregious, because doing so would destroy the spiritual paradise myth. They brought the negative reporting and court cases on themselves.

  Another issue is press reporting. If a Baptist rapes his daughter, the press never says, "a Baptist man raped his daughter" unless he is clergy. The media identifies the perpetrator as a Witness regardless of official standing. This corrupts numbers too.
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  11530

  It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  original reddit post (removed).

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  vienne

  Patron count is still up here: https://graphtreon.com/creator/cedars
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  11530

  It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  original reddit post (removed).

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  vienne

  Occasionally, I think our focus on Lloyd-boy is growing stale. But, if it turns anyone new to his channel into better, safer more rational routs, so much the better.

  Personally, I think most anti-witness youtube channels are poorly done, a waste of breath, a useless rant. Many magnify the irrelevant into a major concern. It's preaching to the choir with little actual meaning. A well written, thoroughly researched short article is more effective.
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  39

  Only baptised JWs will make it?

  by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i think it was a john cedars video or someone else’s where the point was brought up that only baptised jws will be saved?

  then one talk about kids of baptised jws hope they will make it but even them don’t know.

  most jws probably think that some good people who are not baptised may make it through, but this is not official teaching?.

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  vienne

  I asked this question of an elderly Witness. His answer was Christ saves who he saves, and then he referred to Jonah and the Assyrians, implying that no matter what humans taught, salvation and forgiveness rested in God's hands. Probably not official doctrine, but a scriptural answer nevertheless.
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  2

  La préhistoire des témoins de Jéhovah

  by vienne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2023/07/la-prehistoire-des-temoins-de-jehovah.html.

  a short review of professor blandre's new book about russell's antecedents.

  it is in french.

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  vienne

  nope. not the same.
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  11530

  It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  original reddit post (removed).

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  vienne

  Lloyd has little to say, and none of that is original. He is repetitious. He is a follower who tries to present his work as original. I do not know what lower grades report cards are like in the UK, but I'd bet that "gets along well with others" was not checked on his. He's a bully and a fake. And worst of all, he is boring.

  I detest his behavior. His sexual adventures are revolting. But if he had something meaningful to say, I'd listen. He doesn't. He never has.

  In a general way, personality matters. If you yell and rant; if you present yourself as a scholar when you are not; if you're smarmy; if you're a sycophant; if you put on the 'gay boy voice'; if you dress like a pirate, you will turn away audience. [Yes, you probably know which youtube presenters I mean.] Fake personalities do not cover inadequate content. Lloyd's work falls in the category "inadequate." The work of some others does also.
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  2

  La préhistoire des témoins de Jéhovah

  by vienne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2023/07/la-prehistoire-des-temoins-de-jehovah.html.

  a short review of professor blandre's new book about russell's antecedents.

  it is in french.

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  vienne

  https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2023/07/la-prehistoire-des-temoins-de-jehovah.html

  A short review of professor Blandre's new book about Russell's antecedents. It is in French. I haven't finished it yet. I'm about two thirds through. I can recommend it based on what I've read. Probably no book is totally accurate, and this isn't either. But it's really good.
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  36

  Treatment of Those Trying For Reinstatement

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what happens when a jehovah’s witness who has been disfellowshipped returns to attending the meetings again?.

  mark jones writes:.

  if it's the same congregation that they previously attended then, yes, the congregation will remember who they are and so continue to treat them as dead or invisible.. one of the identifying marks a cult is that it uses shame and humiliation to control members, to keep them from leaving and manipulating those who escaped into coming back.. a disfellowshipped person is never allowed to quietly leave with dignity.

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  vienne

  I am an outsider. So I write this from that perspective. The Watchtower only trains its elders in procedures. Where is the in-depth scripture training? They appear to believe that weekly meetings provide enough. Yet, when I talk to them, I find them largely ignorant of the Bible's content. This is inexcusable.

  How clergy treat the flock identifies them either as true disciples of Christ or wolves. I wasn't there to see it, but I believe Lee's story. There is no compassion in the hearts of men such as that. Compassion is possible even when a religion has strict standards.

  I have met some Witness elders who are both kind and true students of the Bible. They are few. I disagree with Witness theology in several key areas. But it is how their authority figures act that really repels me.

  Anastasia (Annie)