Posts by StrongHaiku

63

Nine Seconds that says it all. Have these elders any shame?

by Wasanelder Once in

what can i add?

this says it all.. elder on stand is mute till prompted.. .

i guess i could encourage you to watch to the end and a guest commentary, lol..

StrongHaiku

Vidiot - Figured as much, but then, why bother with attorneys at all?

Good question. In the US, you can have a lawyer sit next to you when you are testifying in a "Grand Jury" or "Congressional Hearing". For example, they can lean over, and whisper in your ear to advice you (e.g. how to answer, and help you with your rights against self-incrimination) but they do not address the court/hearing directly. Also, by being in the room the lawyer can take better notes and collect information to develop/prepare next steps, strategies, etc.

64

Dr Monica Applewhite!

by username in

i'm just listening to this so called doctors testimony.

where did the watchtower dig her up from.

her answers have mostly been maybe's and i think!.

StrongHaiku

Thinking back when I was a witness ~30 years ago, I would have been disturbed by a secular, "worldly"-educated person trying to represent the Organization. I had fully bought into the idea that the "truth" and the Organization could stand for themselves in the face of contrary opinion, evidence, etc. I was taught that ANY JW worth their salt could represent the Organization and Jehovah with just a Bible. If you have the "truth" why would you need an "expert witness"? This is all too surreal...

64

Dr Monica Applewhite!

by username in

i'm just listening to this so called doctors testimony.

where did the watchtower dig her up from.

her answers have mostly been maybe's and i think!.

StrongHaiku

freemindfade - This just in: Bethel now accepting catholics too!

LOL! Scandals make for strange bedfellows.

25

November 2015 Watchtower - More Money 'Begging'

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

making donations to the worldwide work of jehovah's witnesses.

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20151115/donations-worldwide-work/.

.

StrongHaiku

Wills and Trusts: Property or money may be bequeathed to an entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses by means of a legally executed will or by specifying the entity as the beneficiary of a trust agreement. This arrangement may provide certain tax advantages.

I can imagine, at some point in the future, the GB offering to provide legal expertise to expedite the process. For example, I could imagine them providing a "boiler plate" template to help the R&F set up wills, trusts, etc. I can imagine this in a future publication or talk - e.g. "The Organization has provided a loving arrangement/provision to get you started on setting up wills and trusts (insert Bible text to back up their idea here).......You can download the template and instructions from JW.org or see your local elders..."

63

Nine Seconds that says it all. Have these elders any shame?

by Wasanelder Once in

what can i add?

this says it all.. elder on stand is mute till prompted.. .

i guess i could encourage you to watch to the end and a guest commentary, lol..

StrongHaiku

Vidiot

Something just occurred to me...why aren't the WT lawyers yelling "objection!" at every other question the Commission asks?

Just speculating here, but if this hearing is anything like a "Grand Jury" or "Congressional Hearing" in the US, you cannot object.

221

Day 4 Looks to Be Live at Any Moment - Link...and Upcoming Witness List!

by LostGeneration in

https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-study/636f01a5-50db-4b59-a35e-a24ae07fb0ad/case-study-29,-july-2015,-sydney.

anyone know who this monty baker is?

i'm sure this guy will be able to tell the rc how things work behind the scenes without all the evasiveness, being that he is an "apostate".

StrongHaiku

Arguments in law sometimes fall on a simple strategy (to paraphrase):

If the facts are against you, use the law. If law is against you, use the facts. If both the law and facts are against you, discredit the victim and/or witnesses.

And, if everything else is failing, buy yourself an "expert witness" to muddy the waters.

65

Richard Dawkins espouses Militant Atheism: "Mock them, Ridicule them." Attack Religious People with Insults!

by MagicMItchJensen in

richard dawkins has said frequently if we don't agree with religious or spiritual people we need to "insult them!

" tell their their out of their "fucking gourds!

" and make sure you really show them how stupid they are for believing in something they can't prove!".

StrongHaiku

I am an atheist. And, I can say that I am angry because we are spending a lot of our energy and time in this world on imaginary sky fairies rather than solving real world problems. I get it. Believing in God/Jesus/Allah, etc. makes you feel special and gives you hope and fills you with purpose. Fantastic. Keep your fantasy but stop visiting them on everyone else. We adults have work to do and we can longer afford to indulge you. Do you get it yet?

I am still stunned that theists don't get this. There are about 7 billion people in this world, with billions of them thinking just like you - i.e. "I have the true God/Religion/Book. I am special." Do you still don't understand the absurdity of it?

On a side note, I have never had to mock or ridicule a theist. All I have to do is ask "What do you believe and why do you believe it?". The material writes itself.

48

Dr Applewhite and Child Abuse

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

i am shocked that an expert would simply examine only the literature given to her by the organisation she was defending and simply accept it.

also the ease she has in making huge sweeping statements when comparing the jw's to all other international religious organisations simply undermines her professionalism.. i am also thoroughly shocked at her blatant, 'expert for hire', 'will defend anyone' apparent decision making, the organisation is responsible for covering up thousands of abuse victims by its own records, in australia alone!

never mind their judicial process being heartless and traumatic!.

StrongHaiku

"Expert witnesses" are a dime a dozen.

In the United States, it is possible to drag someone off the streets and certify him/her as an "expert witness" without any deep qualifications. I can get an "expert witness" to argue that the earth is flat. Hell, I can be an expert witness. In the US, the onus is on the Judge is to decide if they are qualified to be an "expert". Unfortunately, the judges typically do not do their homework to determine if the person is following the generally acceptable scientific consensus.

16

Back again!!

by Sweetp0985 in

jw
friends

back again since about 10yrs ago.

last year attended the international convention in new orleans and was feeling some type of way afterwards.

went to a couple of meetings and then the thrill was gone.

StrongHaiku

Sweetp0985, like other posters, I empathize for those familiar feelings. For what is worth, here is what I do:

I spend all of the time (I would have spent in the Organization) refining my work/craft, learning about the Universe, making friends, being with someone I love, enjoying life, etc.? The one cure to that feeling is to go make new memories

Lastly, a long time ago, I used to get that feeling of "what if they're right?" (basically Pascal's wager). Here is how I deal with it - I DON"T CARE IF THEY ARE RIGHT. The God of the Bible they represent and their Organization is immoral. I'm better than their God. And, if he is exists, I'm good with the idea of dying knowing I had the moral high-ground.

17

RC on CNN - Damn this is Damning!!!

by jw07 in

even cnn has picked up the ongoing royal commission hearings.

i'm sitting back and eating popcorn for this one, it's like a dream come through.. http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/07/28/australia-jehovah-witness-sex-abuse-hannigan-lklv.cnn.

StrongHaiku

DATA-DOG - What happens if the GB try to spin this as a sign of the GT?

Using the 1975 debacle as a model, I can imagine a scenario. However, it relies on more and more scandals coming to light and more and more JWs knowing about them:

I can imagine a number of witnesses beginning to believe that the GT has started. I can imagine the GB creating more material about the GT, how to prepare for it, etc. and some fuzzy/non-committed statements (in order to have plausible-deniability later on) that the GT has started. Something like "While we cannot say the GT has started, JWs today are facing unprecedented persecution as prophesied..." blah, blah, blah. I doubt that they can put a solid stake in ground about the start of the GT without taking some major long-term risks.

I can imagine that the effects of "implying" the GT has started, at least for the short term, could lead to renewed interest and effort on the part of the members. And, I have no doubt the GB would ride that wave as far as it can take them.