avaddohn94

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Posts by avaddohn94

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  50

  Look at this fear mongering graphic from latest WT

  by cappytan in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

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  avaddohn94

  I'm not sure if which I image I fear the most. The one posted by cappytan or this one:

  
  
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  12

  They're GONE

  by OneFingerSalute in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  so any scuttle-butt on the wherefores and why's of the disappearance of song 139 and the april km from jdubya dot org?.

  seems strange even for them to release something and just a few days later nuke it.

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  avaddohn94

  Below you will find the link that still works to download the KM.

  
  http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/km201504

  Now, I did download a copy on February 10 and I've just compared it vs. the one above and they seem pretty much the same.

  http://www.diffnow.com/?report=a5k3r

  We'll have to wait and see if they actually post a different one.

  I actually did notice a difference with the version in Spanish which is the number of the "new song". In English they just say "New Song" whereas in Spanish they do include No. 139. I don't think that "fact" should be the cause for dropping the file but, who knows?

  
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  20

  Looking for details about the Org , property ownership and not a religion in Mexico

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was unable to find any details on this on jwfacts, anyone have details on the wt not being a religion so they could instead own property?.

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  avaddohn94

  Not really Apognophos. Here's what I identify as the problem. Neither the preaching work nor owning places of worship was banned or semibanned in Mx. Mormons and evangelicals did their preaching work during those 50 years without any restrain or limitation and the Catholic Church held massive gatherings out of their temples as well. They only surrendered their places of worship to Mexico's government pursuant to the law in effect back then and because of that, they were able to sing inside their temples, use the bible when preaching and pray. The Watchtower chose to retain ownership of their properties and assets and preferred to become a cultural association. Their Kingdom Halls became "Halls of Cultural Studies" (which were mainly built in backyards of "spiritual families" in some sort of clandestine way), they ceased to pray, they were not allowed to use the Bible when preaching and of course, they did not sing. I'm sorry, but I do see a double standard coming from a religion which actually preferred to give up to three main elements of spiritual gatherings before turning their assets to Caesar (as all the other churches did in order to provide their spiritual aid).
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  20

  Looking for details about the Org , property ownership and not a religion in Mexico

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was unable to find any details on this on jwfacts, anyone have details on the wt not being a religion so they could instead own property?.

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  avaddohn94

  Now, the original wording of section II of article 27 (which dates back to 1917) was:

  http://www.juridicas.unam.mx/infjur/leg/conshist/pdf/1917.pdf

  II.- Las asociaciones religiosas denominadas iglesias, cualquiera que sea su credo, no podrán en ningún caso tener capacidad para adquirir, poseer o administrar bienes raíces, ni capitales impuestos sobre ellos; los que tuvieren actualmente, por sí o por interpósita persona entrarán al dominio de la Nación, concediéndose acción popular para denunciar los bienes que se hallaren en tal caso. La prueba de presunciones será bastante para declarar fundada la denuncia. Los templos destinados al culto público son de la propiedad de la Nación, representada por el Gobierno Federal, quien determinará los que deben continuar destinados a su objeto. Los obispados, casas curales, seminarios, asilos o colegios de asociaciones religiosas, conventos o cualquier otro edificio que hubiere sido construido o destinado a la administración, propaganda o enseñanza de un culto religioso, pasarán desde luego, de pleno derecho, al dominio directo de la Nación, para destinarse exclusivamente a los servicios públicos de la Federación o de los Estados en sus respectivas jurisdicciones. Los templos que en lo sucesivo se erigieren para el culto público, serán propiedad de la Nación.

  Translation:

  Religious institutions known as churches, regardless of creed, may in no case acquire, hold, or manage real property or hold mortgages thereon; such property held at present either directly or through an intermediary shall revert to the Nation, any person whosoever being authorized to denounce any property so held. Presumptive evidence shall be sufficient to declare the denunciation well founded. Places of public worship are the property of the Nation, as represented by the Federal Government, which shall determine which of them may continue to be devoted to their present purposes. Bishoprics, rectories, seminaries, asylums, and schools belonging to religious orders, convents, or any other buildings built or intended for the administration, propagation, or teaching of a religious creed shall at once become the property of the Nation by inherent right, to be used exclusively for the public services of the Federal or State Governments, within their respective jurisdictions. All places of public worship hereafter erected shall be the property of the Nation.

  So, as you can see 1917's Constitution clearly states that churches in Mx could not own property. This law was in force when the organization obtained it's first registration back in 1932. Nine years later in 1943, they somehow "noticed" this tiny little detail and decided to restructure itself as a "civil association" which aim was SUPPOSEDLY no longer religious but "cultural" (as they have already told you, this part of the story can be barely found in pages 211-212 of 1995's yearbook).

  An interesting fact you won't find anywhere else regarding this period (1943 - 1993) is that the only publication that was actually prepared and "adapted" for Mexico was Our Kingdom Ministry which kept its old title and at first, did not use the names of Jehovah or Jesus. They were known as the "Maestro Principal" and "Gran Maestro" respectively. Great emphasis was put on the adult literacy campaign and to quote the Bible a code using numbers was followed (for instance Matthew 23:10 appeared in the Bulletin as 40, 23:10).

  Though they do admit that their decision had to do with the ownership of property, they try to include preaching and holding public assemblies as two other reasons which have no real basis to be credited.

  The fact that this "cultural status" had more to do with "property ownership" is highlighted if you consider that after the reform of article 27 in 1992, on April 13, 1993 they immediately embraced back their "religious status".

  Do they still report and announce with a great fanfare their literacy campaign achievements? Rhetorical question...
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  20

  Looking for details about the Org , property ownership and not a religion in Mexico

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was unable to find any details on this on jwfacts, anyone have details on the wt not being a religion so they could instead own property?.

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  avaddohn94

  In 1992's reform, section II of article 27 was modified and to this day reads as follows:

  http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/htm/1.htm

  II. Las asociaciones religiosas que se constituyan en los términos del artículo 130 y su ley reglamentaria tendrán capacidad para adquirir, poseer o administrar, exclusivamente, los bienes que sean indispensables para su objeto, con los requisitos y limitaciones que establezca la ley reglamentaria;

  Fracción reformada DOF 28-01-1992

  Translation:

  II. Religious organizations set up pursuant to article 130 and its regulations shall be entitled to acquire, possess or manage, exclusively, the property required to accomplish its purposes, provided they comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in the abovementioned regulations;
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  41

  Gerrit Losch talks to poor South Americans about Materialism while wearing THREE (3) gold rings and 2 gold cuff links...

  by Calebs Airplane in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  he also talks trash about higher education .... (for those who know some spanish, view this youtube video...).

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suxhx1ho_nq.

  what an idiot.. .

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  avaddohn94

  They're all the same!

  http://i.imgur.com/oZdHPa9.png

  

  :(

  Best regards!

  Avaddohn94
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  18

  WT required to submit financials in Mexico starting in 2015

  by MaybeSo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "las obligaciones que este nuevo regimen fiscal nos pide: llevar de manera electronica un registro de todas sus operaciones de ingresos y egresos; tener documentacion comprobatoria de cada operacion, acto o actividad; enviar informe contable mensual a traves de la pagina del sat; expedir comprobante fiscal digital por internet (cfdi).".

  http://www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx/noticia/535395.con-el-nuevo-regimen-fiscal-la-iglesia-catolica-pagara-impuestos-.html.

  roughly traslated: the requirements of the new fiscal system require: to record electronically a ledge of all income and expenses; to record and document all operations, acts or activities, to send a registed monthly report through sat's (kind of like the irs in the us) website, submit comprobante fiscal digidtal por internet (cfdi) (sort of tax form) .

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  avaddohn94

  We know the organization JW.ORG loves top ‘pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar’ (Matt. 22:21)!

  France’s case comes to mind and also a legal claim the Watchtower recently made in Mexico to recover VAT appealing to their “religious status”. I presume they are already planning the respective modifications to prevent incurring income taxes on their literature, assets or personnel.

  The official communication by the Mexican authorities (http://www.asociacionesreligiosas.gob.mx/work/models/AsociacionesReligiosas/pdf/Varios/Resolucion_Fiscal.pdf) states that “all religious organizations are subject to IT payment under applicable regulations for revenue obtained from the sale for profit purposes of assets other than their fixed assets such as religious books or objects as well as revenue obtained from interest and premiums”.

  I’m no expert on these topics (neither a native speaker so I apologize in advance if I’m not conveying the right ideas but I’m doing my best here) but who knows if these laws are behind the recent changes in their donations arrangements in several countries (including Mexico).

  The letter dated March 26, 2014 (BOE) (you can view a copy in Spanish in Hildebrando's blog: http://hildeydesa.blogspot.mx/2014/04/carta-260314-uso-de-la-propiedad-de-la.html) regarding the use of the property owned by the congregation clearly states that “if a kingdom hall is used for housing or commercial purposes, the tax exemption granted to a congregation could be in jeopardy”.

  So, there you have it. The Watchtower in Central America will surely fight back any attempt made by the authorities to regulate their finances (I’m sure the Catholic Church and other mainstream religions in that country will do the same. In the end, it’s their business and they won’t easily surrender their tax-exempt status). Let’s just hope Mexican authorities are firm enough to take these religious organizations in hand. In Mexico, they already did it when they forced the “Torre del Vigía A.C.” to turn into the “Torre del Vigía A.R.” (i.e. to abandon their “cultural veil” and accept all the obligations and duties expected from a religion).

  Time will tell,

  Regards,

  Avaddohn94
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  47

  BOE 2014-07-13 Appointment and deletion of elders and ministerial servants

  by WatchTower87 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  2014-07-13 appointment and deletion of elders and ministerial servantsto all bodies of elders.

  the link removed by request is also available at the forms link.

  the congregation secretary should arrange for this letter to be retained in the congregation permanent file of policy letters.

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  avaddohn94

  After reading all the elaborate and recherché instructions sent by the Watchtower/ jw.org on this matter and comparing it to what the Bible says on the matter (Titus 1:5-9), one can clearly see how this organization is becoming more and more legalistic, judgmental and pharisaical.

  So sad...
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  77

  What is this new Announcement to take place in August?

  by Quarterback in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just heard from an elder.

  he told me that there is another change to be announced in august.

  he didn't know more about it.. any other info?.

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  avaddohn94

  I have no idea what this "announcement" will be, but in all honesty, it scares me to think most of my loved ones will buy it (whatever it is). My fear grows when I remember this crazy statement that was recently made by the Watchtower: "At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not" (The Watchtower - Study Edition, November 15, 2013).
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  49

  Misappropriation of funds (Project for an Assembly Hall in Guadalajara)

  by avaddohn94 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  at the extj.com forum, a very serious scandal is being discussed regarding a potential misappropriation of funds by mexico's branch.. http://www.extj.com/showthread.php?24740-denuncia--quot-proyecto-fantasma-quot-salon-de-asambleas-de-guadalajara-o-robo-de-fondos.

  though the situation may not be quite uncommon, below you will find an overview:.

  a member of mexico's branch committee went to guadalajara to inform the brothers that a plot of land had been donated for the construction of an assembly hall.

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  avaddohn94

  Regarding the "fondo guardado", I'm not sure how it works at a circuit level but at least at a congregation level, whenever you hear "fondo guardado" it means excess money the congregations send to the branch so that it keeps it for them. In other words, it is placed in deposit with the branch office and you can withdraw from that fund if you ever need cash (don't ever expect any interest). Now, if that expression in Spanish means it will be send back to the Circuit Fund, I still think it is a misappropriation of funds because those brothers who sent their donations with the express purpose of building an assembly hall will never see their money being used accordingly. Besides, if it is returned to the circuit fund, I think most of us know who are the ones who will actually benefit from that money (repairs at the CO's apartment, new laptop or new IPad for the CO, expensive restaurants to take the Bethel speaker or some other big shots from the branch that pay a visit etc). Either way, the poor friends lose and "mother" wins...