one thing that the witnesses promote is how they are different from the rest of the world.
in your personal experience , did you find that you could trust a witness more than you could a non-jw?
The point is: SOME (not all) JWs participate in these types of illegal behaviour. This denies their claim to be a "clean organization" and deines the claim that they are more honest than others. Rather, they appear to have the same level of honesty as anyone else in any other religion.
The fact that some (most?) of the illegal/dishonest activity I've mentinioned can be justified by JWs is the really troubling aspect in all this.
one thing that the witnesses promote is how they are different from the rest of the world.
in your personal experience , did you find that you could trust a witness more than you could a non-jw?
Amac, you are correct, I am generalizing. Or more correctly, I am using examples. If this were a scientific journal, these would be called "case studies".
vandalism/destruction of opposing view (a.k.a. Apostate) books at public libraries
Just because you have never heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It is a problem where I am from, and I have seen examples of this firsthand. Also, I suspect I am not alone in my experience. The fact that you have not noticed it doesn't nullify my (and others) example that it does happen
illegal entry into homes and apartment buildings clearly marked "No Tresspassing"
Oh please! We did this ALL THE TIME when I was in service! We ignored "No Tresspassing", "No Peddlars" and "No Solicitors" signs on a weekly basis! It was always justified, like "we are not peddlars" or "Criminals Tresspass, we are not criminals, we are delivering a message from God, so it doesn't apply to us."
From a young age I was trained on how to sneak into "secure" buildings, and how to avoid detection while in the building so as to remain there as long as possible. Again, your claim that you have not seen this does not change the fact that I, and many many others, have seen endless exampls of this.
failure to report suspected and alleged child molestation, contrary to mandatory reporting laws
There have been numerous recent examples of elder's not reporting, in clear violation of report laws (and without having any valid loopholes). A civil case is going to trial in Toronto that states this exact claim, and it is only one recent and local example.
failure to pay taxes ordered by the French government. They simply moved out of the contry to avoid payment. So much for "paying Caesar's things to Caesar".
Actually, JWs, along with several other groups, were labelled "cult" but only after years research into the problem by the government. Since they (and the other cults with them) were deem destructive cults and no truly a religion, their tax status changed and they owed back taxes. You said "I see no illegal actions there". You are correct up to the point that the legal case was completed and the case was decided in the favour of the government. At that point, they were legally required to pay (whether they liked it or not). And that is when they picked up and left. Deliberate refusal to pay tax that you have been assessed, and for which you have lost your appeals, is illegal.
- abducting children to prevent court ordered, life saving, blood transfusions
You haven't heard of it, so I can assume you were asleep at all those assemblies where we were rallied with stories about midnight abductions.
abducting children to prevent court ordered custody of a "non-believing" parent
"Done by an extreme minority of JWs" Even if I grant you this point, it doesn't change that fact that some JWs do this, just like some (but not all) wordly people do this -- and you are supposed to be so much better than worldly people!
bribing Mexican government officals to receive a "cartilla" which indicates that mandatory military service has already been served
You "only know hearsay about this". OK, contact the Bethel and see what they have to say. Better yet, contact a KH in Mexico and learn the facts yourself!
telling lies while under oath, claiming it is not a lie but rather "spiritual warfare"
There is a document used by JW elder's/Lawyers when preparing for Child Custody cases, which although not telling them to lie (in so many words) instructs them to say and emphasize things which they would normally never say. Also, consult the Watchtower definition of LIE which is tailor made for guilt-free non-truths: http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com/lie.htm
Edited by - Quotes on 5 September 2002 18:0:53
so, since jehovah can't be depended on to pay the watchtower's bills.
(he must be upset about that child molesting or false prophecy thing!),.
what can the society cut next in expenses?.
I wonder if they will reduce magazines to once-per-month. If they did this for only some languages, it would be seen as marginalization of that language, so they would have to do it for all languages (to be fair).
If it happened, this would be extremely significant, as they have been publishing twice per month "forever". Of course, they could spin doctor it as necessary.
not content with being appreciative of the r&f's attendance at the meetings, the borgmeisters want them there early!
just being there isn't nearly so good as being early.
oh no, true christians are evident by their being early for the meetings.
Well, we were always somewhere between "right on time" and "slightly late". One time my father was giving a talk in another hall, and due to traffic we were very late. They started the Watchtower study, and my dad gave the talk afterwards.
I guess we weren't True Christians. Oh well, I already knew that, but my dad will be devastated when I tell him!
<Sarcasm on>
Shame! SHAME! on those doctors, for doing their job and saving someone's life.
<Sarcasm off>
one thing that the witnesses promote is how they are different from the rest of the world.
in your personal experience , did you find that you could trust a witness more than you could a non-jw?
I would like to re-iterate my points made in the thread WOULD A JW KILL IN THE NAME OF GOD??? :
Remember, they already commit crimes in the name of The Truth(TM):
for a few weeks i've had this 'sister' on my mind, although she is deceased.. i've heard through the grapevine that her widowed husband isn't doing so hot, so i thought i'd share some memories...... one of my very first memories of attending kh in my old hometown was of hilda.
hilda was one of the older ones even when i was young.
i'm thinking she was in her late 60's when i first made her acquaintance.
IslandWoman:
"Got to make sure my skirt is pulled down, don't want to tempt any of them brothers!"
Wonderful sarcasm! <grining broadly>
LDH, excellent post, nicely told. Really makes you wonder what kind of relationship this old couple really had. He obviously loved her very much, and followed her wishes even post-mortem. I feel sorry for the old guy!
i've heard different "apostates" say that witnesses are so brainwashed that they would kill, if ordered by the faithful slave.
do you believe this?
It comes down to the level of cultic mind-control "The Society(TM)" has over the individual. Every individual is different. I recall (correct me if I am wrong) that in Jonestown, and in Waco Texas, there was a small minority who did not voluntarily follow the others on their path.
JWs are a cult, although arguably slightly less cultic than some others (on a scale of 1 to 10, they are, perhaps, 7 or 8). Some would follow orders to kill, for a few it would be a wake-up call and help them escape from the cult.
Remember, they already commit crimes in the name of The Truth(TM):
Murder would be just another (admitedly extreme) example of "breaking Man's Law(TM) to follow God's Law(TM)"
i was reading this on watchtower.observer.org and laughed so hard!
even printed it out cause i thought it was so funny!
http://watchtower.observer.org/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?avis=wo&dato=20020411&kategori=jwandsociety6&lopenr=10607009&ref=ar
Of course, the same letter could be addressed to the Governing Body.
My rhetorical question remains unchanged: I wonder if the Governing Body believes its own hype.
i was reading this on watchtower.observer.org and laughed so hard!
even printed it out cause i thought it was so funny!
http://watchtower.observer.org/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?avis=wo&dato=20020411&kategori=jwandsociety6&lopenr=10607009&ref=ar
I only wonder if Dr. Laura believes her own hype.
