raymond frantz

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Posts by raymond frantz

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  13

  Conscription FEARS to END? Jehovah's Witnesses in EUROPE?

  by raymond frantz in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/conscription-fears-across-europe-could-end-jehovah-s-witnesses.

  as the clouds of war are gathering fast over the european continent many countries including britain are contemplating a return to conscription and some form of mandatory military service.

  considering the fact that the watchtower fought long and hard especially in europe for the right of its believers to abstain from military service it is very interesting to see how this new development will affect the watchtower across europe.

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  raymond frantz

  • 

    jhine28 minutes ago

    I am in the UK and can't say that l am aware of all the news and papers talking about it .

    Jan from Tam

  Yes it was on many newspapers, GBN news, BBC etc
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  13

  Conscription FEARS to END? Jehovah's Witnesses in EUROPE?

  by raymond frantz in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/conscription-fears-across-europe-could-end-jehovah-s-witnesses.

  as the clouds of war are gathering fast over the european continent many countries including britain are contemplating a return to conscription and some form of mandatory military service.

  considering the fact that the watchtower fought long and hard especially in europe for the right of its believers to abstain from military service it is very interesting to see how this new development will affect the watchtower across europe.

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  raymond frantz

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/conscription-fears-across-europe-could-end-jehovah-s-witnesses

  
  

  As the clouds of war are gathering fast over the European continent many countries including Britain are contemplating a return to conscription and some form of mandatory military service. Considering the fact that the Watchtower fought long and hard especially in Europe for the right of its believers to abstain from military service it is very interesting to see how this new development will affect the Watchtower across Europe. To my understanding it depends in which European country you reside. In countries like France, Germany or Britain where large populations a form of secular service will be accepted as an alternative to serving in the army (such as working as a firefighter) whereas in other countries with small populations this will not be allowed as an alternative and prison sentences will return at a minimum to counteract public feeling and entanglement. With that in mind this issue will become another explosive situation fir the Watchtower and its membership since most your male Jehovah’s Witnesses will think twice before they decide to become the martyr for the Watchtower.

  Here are some recent quotes from across Europe in regards to this recent development.

  Canon fodder?

  “Europe’s armed forces, particularly those on the border with Russia, now realise they don't have enough manpower,” said Vincenzo Bove, professor of political science at Warwick University, who specialises in conscription. "They clearly see conscription as a solution to that."

  “Whether this is a good idea in terms of deterring a potential Russian invasion, we’re not really sure,” he continued, suggesting there was a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of conscript armies compared to regular forces.

  Owing to the complexity of modern warfare, Bove questioned if conscripts could be properly trained to use the advanced equipment or tactics employed today in the short time available.

  Besides economic concerns about the inefficiency of compulsory military service – with massive numbers of people prevented from doing something where they could be more productive – Bove raised ethical concerns about sending civilians into battle with little experience.

  Having served in the Italian Navy for 15 years, he said: “Three years isn't enough to teach the basics of warfare… even using basic weapons requires a lot of training.”

  “Some countries are talking about three-month programmes… that’s nothing. They won't even learn how to salute,” Bove added in jest.

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/conscription-fears-across-europe-could-end-jehovah-s-witnesses
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  48

  Is Jesus God?

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know that a lot of historical names have claimed to be a god.

  but, jesus arguably claimed to be god.

  scripture says he's the creator.

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  raymond frantz

  Jesus addressed the issue head on in John 10 where he pointed out to the Pharisees that if even those referred to in the Psalms (be they judges or angels) can be called “gods”, so much more can Jesus the messiah rightly be called “God’s Son”.
  

  I'm on the same boat, Trinity for me is another cult, if you don't believe it you are being called names and expected to go through mental gymnastics to be made to see what is not there. I'm a good old Arian and a pre-Nicean Christian where conversation on the subject was free albeit heated at times. I'm not going to accept a doctrine that was forced upon Christians from a pagan emperor Constantine that thought he can be a Christian theologian as well a murderer and a pagan
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  1

  AAWA back on track with Blood Activism?

  by raymond frantz in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/aawa-raising-the-blood-issue-again.

  the following appeared on the good man project website and it is an interview with lee elder, the current leader of aawa and his latest activism on the blood issue ,worth reading.... lee elder is the founder and acting director of ajwrb (advocates for jehovah’s witness reforms on blood).

  ajwrb is a non-profit educational association operating under the umbrella of aawa (advocates for awareness of watchtower abuses).. born and raised as a jehovah’s witness, lee is part of the fourth generation in his family to follow this faith.

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  raymond frantz

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/aawa-raising-the-blood-issue-again

  The following appeared on the Good Man Project website and it is an interview with Lee Elder, the current leader of AAWA and his latest activism on the blood issue ,worth reading...

  Lee Elder is the founder and acting director of AJWRB (Advocates for Jehovah’s Witness Reforms on Blood). AJWRB is a non-profit educational association operating under the umbrella of AAWA (Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses).

  Born and raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, Lee is part of the fourth generation in his family to follow this faith. He was baptized at the age of nine and started serving as a regular pioneer at fifteen. After completing college, he continued his service as a ministerial servant, and regular pioneer. He was later appointed as an elder where he held various responsibilities within the congregation, such as Book study conductor, Congregation Secretary, and Watchtower Study Conductor.....

  Lee’s interest in the Watchtower’s blood policies was heightened following a significant exchange with his primary care doctor in the early 1990’s. This, coupled with the distressing experiences he witnessed among Jehovah’s Witnesses, led to numerous unanswered questions.
  

  After an extensive period of study, Lee concluded the Watchtower’s blood policy was flawed from its inception. Sharing this conclusion with other Jehovah’s Witnesses risked charges of apostasy and expulsion, with even the closest family members being required to shun. This was the mechanism Watchtower had used to suppress dissent for many decades. The advent of the internet, however, enabled a remarkable change.

  In February of 1997, having been rebuffed by a member of the Governing Body, Lee opened a website titled “New Light on Blood” to expose the various irrational and unscriptural aspects of the policy. Soon, he was contacted by numerous Jehovah’s Witnesses who were struggling to deal with Watchtower’s policy. Many of these were other elders, as well as HLC (Hospital Liaison Committee) members, and various organization officials. Over the following year this group reformed as AJWRB and set out on a mission to reform the Watchtower’s blood policies.

  Although no longer active as a Jehovah’s Witness, Lee continues to advocate for Jehovah’s Witnesses, and educates both patients and the medical community about the irrational aspects of Watchtower’s blood policy. He envisions a future where all members will have the opportunity to make fully informed choices about their healthcare without the constraints of coercion and mandated shunning.

  “Lee Elder” is a pseudonym Lee adopted while still an active Jehovah’s Witness elder in the mid 1990’s. This alias enabled him to retain his standing within the Jehovah’s Witness community while spearheading an initiative from within the Watchtower Society to reform its blood policy. His dedication for seeking reform of the Watchtower’s blood policy is driven by his concern for fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses and their families. Lee contributions have been acknowledged through publications in the British Journal of Medical Ethics and interviews with the BBC. Frequently cited in medical journals, Lee currently serves as the Vice President at AAWA.

  Here, we talk about the issues AJWRB tackles.

  Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Now, to the main focus of Advocates for Jehovah’s Witness Reform on Blood (AJWRB), the issue of blood transfusions. Not for the life-and-death medical emergencies, but, rather, for the issues around the blood issues requiring ongoing care and medical treatment. What has been the position for decades of the Jehovah’s Witnesses on blood transfusions?

  Lee Elder: Elements of the Watchtower’s blood policy have been stable for many decades. Namely, that whole blood transfusion is prohibited, along with the primary components: red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma. However, their position on the use of the 200 plus plasma proteins has been in a near-constant state of flux beginning in the 1950’s. While there were numerous reversals in the 1950’s, the trend was unmistakable, and by the 1980’s they were permitting 100% of blood plasma fractions.

  Numerous members of AJWRB pressed the Watchtower for an explanation as to why these blood products were acceptable when some of them, like albumin, are much larger by volume than platelets – which are not allowed.

  In response to the rising criticism leveled by AJWRB, physicians, and medical ethicists, in 2000 the Watchtower responded by changing their policy to permit the use of all blood fractions from not only plasma, but the remaining blood components (red & white cells, and platelets).

  Additionally, unreleased Watchtower documents showed the Watchtower leadership was on the cusp of permitting Jehovah’s Witnesses to predonate their own blood, and had printed and shipped advance directives to this effect, but suddenly changed their minds and withdrew them in late 2001. The policy has been static since that time, so as it stands, Jehovah’s Witnesses may technically use 100% of blood as long as it is fractionated.

  This includes the largest of all blood proteins – hemoglobin which transports oxygen. If a stable and FDA approved hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) is developed, it would likely solve many of the problems their policies have created. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been using Hemopure (an HBOC developed from bovine hemoglobin) on a compassionate use basis for about 20 years, and it is approved for use in South Africa. However, the dream of artificial blood has proved elusive for Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as the military.

  https://www.ajwrb.org/watchtower-approves-hemopure

  Jacobsen: What was the position of the Jehovah’s Witnesses on this stuff before the change in the 1960s on the policy?

  Elder: Answered above. If you want more detail look here:

  https://www.ajwrb.org/the-historical-perspective

  Jacobsen: There’s more than one elephant in the room. Here’s one, if we did not have the scientific and secular revolutions, and medical technological and technique advancements, we would not know about this – nor would the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In that, this only became an issue in the light of the advancements of modern science, medical technology, and secular society, not Jehovah’s Witnesses culture. Obviously, the justifications for the Jehovah’s Witnesses come from the Bible. My bias aligns with the analysis of the brilliant and articulate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter, Francesca Stavrakopoulou (who I absolutely adore as an intellectual), i.e., the Bible is a collection of storybooks or a collection of opinions reified into some divine or transcendental truth status. It is an analysis of fellow traveler humanists, by and large. What is the mixed status of the Jehovah’s Witnesses towards science and medicine in general terms?

  READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE:

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/aawa-raising-the-blood-issue-again
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  7

  Derek Ohare was murdered. R.I.P dear friend

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://youtu.be/667n4uwbk4e?si=1dvek-qfw7ebf9up.

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  raymond frantz

  R.I.P. Derek you changed forever exjw activism. His demonstrations in front of many UK Kingdom Halls opened the eyes for many jws on CSA abuse victims. Although he was vilified at that time from Jaba the Hutt and his crew I did run a couple of articles on my website on his behalf and was extremely proud to have seen him in action
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  21

  2nd Isaiah 49:6

  by peacefulpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  6 and he said, it is too small a thing that thou shouldest be servant to me to raise up the sons of jacob, and to bring back the netzurei yisroel (preserved of israel,); i will also give thee for ohr goyim, that thou mayest be my yeshuah unto the ketzeh ha’aretz.. 2nd isaiah, actually an anonymous prophet at the time of cyrus, did his best to inspire and hearten his fellow countrymen.

  many judahites had lost hope and even lost faith.

  the explanations offered by previous prophets, namely that their own sins had resulted in their situation, were not adequate nor convincing.

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  raymond frantz

  The 70 weeks prophesy of Daniel started with the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and entered its last week in 29AD , all Jews at the time based on that prophesy alone anticipated the Messiah.If not Jesus who was then the Messiah.
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  3124

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

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  uh oh, looks like the mega thread gave up the ghost, so while i investigate / fix it just continue the discussion here .... it's been a long 9 years lloyd evans / john cedars.

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  raymond frantz

  ELENA,

  Please... there are so many atheist and agnostic exjw that go about their lives living morally and don't commit sexual crimes that he does. Do not blame religion and lack of moral compass for what he has done.How many fathers will leave their 2 young daughters during Christmas to go and have sex with underage trafficed girls in Thailand. I haven't met one yet!
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  3124

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

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  uh oh, looks like the mega thread gave up the ghost, so while i investigate / fix it just continue the discussion here .... it's been a long 9 years lloyd evans / john cedars.

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  raymond frantz

  Lloyds entire situation is a good example of what often happens when someone wakes up that JWs have got a lot wrong, perhaps almost everything wrong. Then what do you believe
  

  Elena, Lloyd never had that dilemma, that came later.He is degenerate that was texting minors and by all accounts had a sexual encounter with a minor in Wales while an elder. The crisis of conscience was a convenient way to fleece the exjw community. I blame the elders in Wilmslow who instead of dealing with him, disfellowshiping him and making him stay they told him to escape to Croatia.Had they dealt with him there and then he would be a witness married with kids knowing full well the shame and the stigma that will bring to his family if he took it any further. BUT in Croatia all bets were Off, like an unsupervised toddler he did his worse with no one looking or judging until our hero Kim Silvio did what a Wilmslow elder should have done in the first place
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  15

  Now the Baptist Church is waking up to the Watchtower's scandals

  by raymond frantz in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/jehovah-s-witnesses-sue-norway-after-registration-revoked.

  the following article appeared on baptist standard's online edition in january 18, 2024. other christian denominations are starting to pay attention to the legal cases against the watchtower and write about it.

  like the watchtower did in yester years with catholic csa cases.. oslo district court in norway is home to an ongoing trial after norway deregistered the jehovah’s witnesses last year.

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  raymond frantz

  Vidiot I agree
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  15

  Now the Baptist Church is waking up to the Watchtower's scandals

  by raymond frantz in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  https://www.jwupdates.com/post/jehovah-s-witnesses-sue-norway-after-registration-revoked.

  the following article appeared on baptist standard's online edition in january 18, 2024. other christian denominations are starting to pay attention to the legal cases against the watchtower and write about it.

  like the watchtower did in yester years with catholic csa cases.. oslo district court in norway is home to an ongoing trial after norway deregistered the jehovah’s witnesses last year.

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  raymond frantz

  They will do anything for these precious million cronas , Mamon is their real god