Posts by Anders Andersen

20

Help: project to gather statistics on JW congregation finances.

by Anders Andersen in

jw
friends

many countries demand that charities publish a yearly summary of their finances.. where i live (netherlands), charities must publish these statements themselves, and jw do this at jw-anbi.nl.

(i'm quite certain almost no jw knows about that site btw.).

anyway i've been working on automatically harvesting data from all the congregation finance statements to gain more insight in how the borg is doing over time.. now it occured to me that i could do this analysis for more countries and get an even bigger picture.

Anders Andersen

Slim, thanks a lot for that information! Really helpful!

20

Help: project to gather statistics on JW congregation finances.

by Anders Andersen in

jw
friends

many countries demand that charities publish a yearly summary of their finances.. where i live (netherlands), charities must publish these statements themselves, and jw do this at jw-anbi.nl.

(i'm quite certain almost no jw knows about that site btw.).

anyway i've been working on automatically harvesting data from all the congregation finance statements to gain more insight in how the borg is doing over time.. now it occured to me that i could do this analysis for more countries and get an even bigger picture.

Anders Andersen

Australia is added to the list now.

https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity?name_abn%5B0%5D=Jehovah

20

Help: project to gather statistics on JW congregation finances.

by Anders Andersen in

jw
friends

many countries demand that charities publish a yearly summary of their finances.. where i live (netherlands), charities must publish these statements themselves, and jw do this at jw-anbi.nl.

(i'm quite certain almost no jw knows about that site btw.).

anyway i've been working on automatically harvesting data from all the congregation finance statements to gain more insight in how the borg is doing over time.. now it occured to me that i could do this analysis for more countries and get an even bigger picture.

Anders Andersen

Hi there,

Many countries demand that charities publish a yearly summary of their finances.

Where I live (Netherlands), charities must publish these statements themselves, and JW do this at JW-anbi.nl. (I'm quite certain almost no JW knows about that site btw.)

Anyway I've been working on automatically harvesting data from all the congregation finance statements to gain more insight in how the Borg is doing over time.

Now it occured to me that I could do this analysis for more countries and get an even bigger picture. A big issue though is that it's not easy to find where these statements are published.

So please help me out by answering these questions:

Does your country require charities to publish yearly financial statements
If so, do you know where these are published for JW?

Please don't forget to include what country you're answering for :-)

What I got so far (I'll update once more information comes in):

The Netherlands: http://JW-anbi.nl
United Kingdom: http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/registerhomepage.aspx

23

How Do They Chose Someone To Be A Member Of The Illustrious Governing Body?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

i'm mean were talking making someone a policy maker for the corporation that can have serious financial consequences.

i'm sure intelligence is not high on the priority list for this noble office being they hate higher education and consider it a waste of time.. i'm sure they would thoroughly know the party line as any self respecting mind control would never choose an original thinker.

i'm also sure a lot of ass kissing happens before one gets chosen as a ass wiping helper which seem to be a sort of initiation into governing body corporate politics and a sort of proving ground to show your determination protect the organization from the enemy be they what ever source.

Anders Andersen

In the first century, Christian cast lots to choose Judas' replacement, Matthias. Like tossing dice and praying to god to control what came up to choose Barsabbas or Matthias.

This sprang into my mind too. JW always claim everything they do is Bible based. Yet they never cast the lot for anything. Especially not for deciding who's gonna be new boss.

18

I’m so sad . . .

by HappyBlessedFree in

so my husband asked me if i’m going to the memorial.

i said “no”.. he asked would it be okay if i take the kids.

“i would prefer that you didn’t”.. why can’t he see the lies!

Anders Andersen

You must feel quite frustrated and anxious, trying to keep you child from being dragged into the cult while your husband wants to drag them in.

I'm in a similar situation, although I'm lucky enough to be the husband, and so far I managed to have my wife (reluctantly) agree to stop bringing our young child you meetings.

It may be tempting to try and make your husband see the light...but that may or may not happen. More important is to make him stop dragging your children into the cult.

Here's the 'script' that I followed:

First come to an agreement that children (in general) should make up their own mind on religion, and not be forced to worship as their parents do.
Then make it more specific: this applies to your children and JWism too, right? Or are JW children forced to become JW?
Once the stage is set for that, come back to your husband's request to bring the children to the memorial. There is only one important question: why should your children have to be there or in any other JW meeting?
Your husband has limited options to reply: because the Bible says so, or to save their lives, or because they need to learn about the memorial, pay respect to Jehovah and Jesus etc.
Again: why would children (especially young children) need to do any of that? Would they understand what's going on there? If not, they needn't be there. If so, he might just as well explain the proceedings to them at home.
If they are brought to JW meetings, would he agree to let you bring them to Easter mass in some other church too? After all, you agreed your children should be able to choose for themselves, so if they attend one church (JW) they should know about the others too.

I managed to stay out of any doctrinal discussions. While discussing this topic, I didn't make any claims about JW being not true. I simply stuck to

what they tell at JW meetings isn't suitable for young children (murder, immorality, war, execution, incest) to hear
if the child is too young to understand there is no use in bringing them
if the child is older, it's basically unfair to them to bring them to the KH without showing them other church meetings at least just as often.

Perhaps you can use any of this l. It depends a bit on how out you are, and how old your children are. But I suspect this route is faster than trying to get your husband out. You can still do that afterwards....

11

Dutch (ex) JWs: Online survey sexual abuse within JW Netherlands by Utrecht University

by jochie in

since today dutch (ex)jws are asked to fill out an online survey by utrecht university with regard to (child) sexual abuse.as chairman of reclaimed voices i call on all dutch speaking (ex) jws to fill out this survey in case you were a victim of abuse or in case you know of someone else that was abused within the jehovah's witnesseswith your participation you contribute to an important investigation that is carried out.link to the survey: https://usbo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/sv_4hkmbqjhlm0uhmh

Anders Andersen

After the special talk this weekend. An announcement was made to the congregetion that victims of sexual abuse or those who know them can participate in this survey.

Wow George One Time I take back my words about April Fools. You were right. They really did read a letter! Can't believe they actually did that.

https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/artikel/4678986/jehovahs-getuigen-oproep-leden-meewerken-misbruik-onderzoek

11

Dutch (ex) JWs: Online survey sexual abuse within JW Netherlands by Utrecht University

by jochie in

since today dutch (ex)jws are asked to fill out an online survey by utrecht university with regard to (child) sexual abuse.as chairman of reclaimed voices i call on all dutch speaking (ex) jws to fill out this survey in case you were a victim of abuse or in case you know of someone else that was abused within the jehovah's witnesseswith your participation you contribute to an important investigation that is carried out.link to the survey: https://usbo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/sv_4hkmbqjhlm0uhmh

Anders Andersen

I'd love to send the video footage of Geoff Jackson's ARC testimony to this fucktard, particularly the bit where Jackson - for all intents and purposes - admits that there's a problem.

I think the Dutch JW leaders are feeling the heat of the fire...this appears to be the first time they flat out mentioned to JW members the attention the media have for JW abuse issues.

The guy who gave the talk is high up enough that he probably knows he's talking shit. No doubt the GB already sent letters to all branches regarding the abuse issues, and he's probably aware of those letters.
No doubt this bro noticed the dozens policemen raiding his Bethel office looking for evidence re. child abuse.
No doubt this bro knows one of the GB came to The Netherlands to discuss child abuse issues with the Minister of Justice.
So he probably already knows about the ARC, perhaps even saw Jackass' testimony....still didn't help him much.

Otherwise I know the guy and he's nice enough. He just lives and works in a cult compound...

11

Dutch (ex) JWs: Online survey sexual abuse within JW Netherlands by Utrecht University

by jochie in

since today dutch (ex)jws are asked to fill out an online survey by utrecht university with regard to (child) sexual abuse.as chairman of reclaimed voices i call on all dutch speaking (ex) jws to fill out this survey in case you were a victim of abuse or in case you know of someone else that was abused within the jehovah's witnesseswith your participation you contribute to an important investigation that is carried out.link to the survey: https://usbo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/sv_4hkmbqjhlm0uhmh

Anders Andersen

During the recent circuit convention the Bethel representative said in one of his talks that everything the media say about JW and child abuse are lies, and staying faithful means rejecting these lies. He claimed children of JW are in the safest possible environment to grow up.

11

Dutch (ex) JWs: Online survey sexual abuse within JW Netherlands by Utrecht University

by jochie in

since today dutch (ex)jws are asked to fill out an online survey by utrecht university with regard to (child) sexual abuse.as chairman of reclaimed voices i call on all dutch speaking (ex) jws to fill out this survey in case you were a victim of abuse or in case you know of someone else that was abused within the jehovah's witnesseswith your participation you contribute to an important investigation that is carried out.link to the survey: https://usbo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/sv_4hkmbqjhlm0uhmh

Anders Andersen

After the special talk this weekend. An announcement was made to the congregetion that victims of sexual abuse or those who know them can participate in this survey.

You're much too late for April Fools...

38

A Must Read Update on WBTS and Darkspilver from reddit

by ZindagiNaMilegiDobaara in

jw
friends

many of us know that watch tower (yes, two words in this case) has issued a subpoena to reddit to try to gain darkspilver's identity due to accusations of copyright infringement:.

tl;dr: on april 9, watch tower filed a response to the eff's motion to quash (filed march 26) regarding the subpoena submitted to reddit in an attempt to find /u/darkspilver's identity.. the wt response is publicly available here as a pdf, from the site court listener.. a number of other documents relating to the case are available on the same site, here.. and the eff's motion to quash is available on the eff's website here.. details: as i'm sure many of us know, watch tower (yes, two words in this case) has issued a subpoena to reddit to try to gain /u/darkspilver's identity due to accusations of copyright infringement.

specifically, watch tower is claiming copyright infringement for two things: first, darkspilver posted the back page of the november 2018 watchtower which was an article entitled "what gift can we give to jehovah?” which explained how to donate.

Anders Andersen

Whats super weird is that on Facebook they have subpoenaed one José dude who has a PRO JW site

Nope, that's not weird, that's what Watchtower must do or all their court cases against critics will be lost. If WT ignores some copyright infringements they know about, their arguments against others would be much weaker.

"We want people to visit JW.org"

"So why don't you cease and desist pro-JW.net?"

Watchtower even admitted as much in a not too old WT:

Questions From Readers
Why is it not permissible to post publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses on a personal website or on social media?
Because we offer our Bible-based material without charge, some feel that copying and posting it on other websites or on social media is acceptable. However, doing so violates the Terms of Use* for our websites and has caused serious problems. As is clearly stated in those Terms, no one is permitted to “post artwork, electronic publications, trademarks, music, photos, videos, or articles from this website on the Internet (any website, file-sharing site, video-sharing site, or social network).” Why is such a restriction needed?
All the material on our websites is copyrighted.

Apostates and other opposers try to use our publications on their websites to lure in Jehovah’s Witnesses and others. Planted in those sites is material designed to sow doubts in readers’ minds. (Ps. 26:4; Prov. 22:5) Others have used material from our publications or our jw.org logo in advertisements, on products offered for sale, and in mobile device apps. By securing copyright and trademark protection, we have a legal basis to prevent such misuse. (Prov. 27:12) But if we knowingly allow people, even our brothers, to post our digital content on other sites or to use the jw.org trademark to sell merchandise, the courts may not support our efforts to deter opposers and commercial enterprises.
Downloading our publications from anywhere but jw.org is potentially dangerous.

Jehovah has entrusted the responsibility of providing spiritual food to “the faithful and discreet slave” alone. (Matt. 24:45) That “slave” uses only its official websites to publish spiritual food—www.jw.org, tv.jw.org, and wol.jw.org. And we have only three official apps for mobile devices—JW Language®, JW Library®, and JW Library Sign Language®. We can trust these products to be free of advertisements or contamination by Satan’s world. If the spiritual food passes through other channels, there is no guarantee that it has not been altered or contaminated.—Ps. 18:26; 19:8.Furthermore, posting our publications on websites that allow comments provides a place for apostates and other critics to sow distrust of Jehovah’s organization. Some brothers have been drawn into online debates and thus have brought added reproach on Jehovah’s name. An online forum is not an appropriate setting for “instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed.” (2 Tim. 2:23-25; 1 Tim. 6:3-5) It has also been observed that fraudulent social media accounts and websites have been created in the name of the organization, the Governing Body, and its individual members. However, no member of the Governing Body maintains a personal Web page or a presence on any social media site.

Directing people to jw.org helps to spread the “good news.” (Matt. 24:14) The digital tools we receive for use in our personal ministry are continually being improved. We would like everyone to benefit from them. Therefore, as the Terms of Use indicates, you may e-mail someone an electronic copy of a publication or share a link to material found on jw.org. By directing interested people to our official websites, we are connecting them with the one true source of spiritual food, “the faithful and discreet slave.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2018364?q=copyright&p=par