StrongHaiku

Joined

• started 0 topics
• posted 314 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by StrongHaiku

• 
  9

  Direction the elders rarely follow.

  by notoneoftheboys in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  here is a quote from a w/t article a few years ago.

  in all the 8 kh i attended [work locations changed] not one body of elders followed this direction, so if they are not minding the sheep who is?

  it galls me that they will quickly act if you grow a beard, or voice an opinion, or ask a question, but when your family fall foul of abuse where are the elders then?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  What does it say about a group of people who need to be reminded to care for people and treat others with a modicum of humanity? This seems to me to be a natural impulse of most people - i.e. to be kind, to help, to look out for others, etc. One of the problems with the JWs is that they are so concerned about obeying the rules they rarely let their natural human impulses move them to what they know to be right.

  You can see evidence of this in the RC hearings. A number of elders showed obvious embarrassment by the gap between what they thought they should have done versus what they were told to do.
• 
  34

  Mr Jackson declines to appear in RC

  by StarTrekAngel in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://www.jw-archive.org/post/125844213823/geoffrey-jackson-declines-to-appear-before#at_pco=cfd-1.0&at_ab=per-15&at_pos=0&at_tot=14&at_si=55c27690475c6bb3

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  The good news is that there is no way G. Jackson could provide better responses and testimony than the elders/representatives that have already testified. When your position is indefensible it does not matter who presents it.

  If he is purely a con-man, his sense of self-preservation should kick in and he would flee the country. However, I can also imagine him being so delusional about his own special position that he thinks he could provide a good defense and "stand for Jehovah". I think his next move will say a lot about what he truly believes.
• 
  17

  Dude, JW's are getting crushed by the committie!

  by thedepressedsoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i've been catching up on the videos and news articles.

  the elders, lawyers, branch members, hired reports are all getting slammed!

  that dude has a response and point to bring up on everything!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  thedepressedsoul - "Did they not prepare for this event?"

  I favor the idea that, as part of preparation, they may have been told NOT to review a lot of the details in order to maintain some level of plausible deniability. "I can't remember", "I can't recall", "I'm not sure" sure sound more convincing when you haven't done your homework.

  On the other hand, I do not put it past some of these people to be deluded enough to think the "angels" would give the words to say and they needed no preparation.
• 
  8

  Official photo of Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses - without Geoffrey Jackson

  by jwleaks in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  governing body of jehovah's witnesses meet to consider replacement for recently retired member geoffrey jackson.. .

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  
  
• 
  39

  Rodney Spinks' Performance

  by maksutov in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  it seems like there has not been as much discussion here about the rc testimony on day 6 (4th august) as there has been about previous days.

  i was quite surprised by rodney spinks' testimony, which was a marked contrast to the bungling and inarticulate testimony of the elders that appeared before him.

  spinks seemed reasonably co-operative, and a lot more willing to concede points than anyone else has been.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  Considering that the majority of us got baptized without knowing the information in the elder's book and other confidential, but relevant information, as shown by this hearing, then our understanding of what we were getting ourselves into is suspect.

  I really wish this could be the basis to have our baptisms annulled. Not gonna happen, I know, but given the amount of information that is withheld from the R&F (as shown in these hearings), I do not see how we could be held to such a dedication with such a lack of full disclosure.
• 
  39

  Rodney Spinks' Performance

  by maksutov in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  it seems like there has not been as much discussion here about the rc testimony on day 6 (4th august) as there has been about previous days.

  i was quite surprised by rodney spinks' testimony, which was a marked contrast to the bungling and inarticulate testimony of the elders that appeared before him.

  spinks seemed reasonably co-operative, and a lot more willing to concede points than anyone else has been.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  One thing I would hope comes out of this hearing is that, as part of deliberation/recommendations, they require the Organization to collect ALL material (confidential or not) on their policies of abuse in detail, consolidate it into one book/document, and provide it to ALL of the R&F. There needs to be a full disclosure to all members and the RC should try to make that requirement. And, further, that documentation would reviewed by the RC (or some future secular/impartial board) to ensure compliance.

  One can dream...
• 
  13

  Why is the GB so concerned with the well-being of the accused in matters of sexual abuse?

  by paradisebeauty in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i'm reading some documents from the royal commission and i don't get it, why so much concern for the accused and his reputation???

  i'm starting to think maybe some gb members have things like this in their past, because a normal human being would not take the side of a sexual predator over a child....united states branche x e c u t i v e o f f i c e sto watch tower societyaustraliagsc/as january 21, 1999 no.

  176sit is understood that if the law requires elders to report cases of child abuse, they should complywith the law and do so.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  paradisebeauty - I do not agree. God is concerned with us all, that is why He sent Jesus, to save us!

  Not sure if you are being serious or not, but if you are, we have plenty of evidence that God is more concerned with this name than with human beings. If he exists, he may be concerned with people, but it is a lower priority compared to the vindication of his name. Otherwise, he would have probably developed a better loop-hole for salvation that did not necessitate the killing of a human being (e.g. Jesus).
• 
  49

  I sent this to Angus Stewart this morning (Easter Standard Time)

  by Viviane in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i just sent this email to angus stewart:.

  i hope this email finds you well.

  i would like to say thank you for your work on the royal commission, particularly in your handling of the jehovah's witnesses elders and experts during questioning.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  Viviane, your correspondence to Mr. Stewart both made me laugh and cry. Nicely done. Thanks. I really needed a bit of joy today.
• 
  13

  Why is the GB so concerned with the well-being of the accused in matters of sexual abuse?

  by paradisebeauty in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i'm reading some documents from the royal commission and i don't get it, why so much concern for the accused and his reputation???

  i'm starting to think maybe some gb members have things like this in their past, because a normal human being would not take the side of a sexual predator over a child....united states branche x e c u t i v e o f f i c e sto watch tower societyaustraliagsc/as january 21, 1999 no.

  176sit is understood that if the law requires elders to report cases of child abuse, they should complywith the law and do so.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  None of what they do should come as a complete surprise. The God of the Bible is very clear on the idea that it is "His Name/His Reputation" that is the most important thing over anything else (including human life). He states his pronouncements are "infallible". You then has an Organization that is absolutely convinced that they represent this God.

  By necessity, the GB is required to insure that they align with God's priorities (especially when it comes to reputation/name).

  From that premise you can make a number of hypothesis of what the GB may or may not do next and how they think - e.g. that whatever the GB does in response to these scandals, it will be to protect their/God's reputation/name over doing the correct moral, ethical, and legal decisions and actions.

  Therefore, there is no big leap to show how such an Organization consistently continues to put their/God's reputation/name, the need to seem infallible, and that they are the sole representative of God on earth over the needs of humanity.
• 
  24

  RC: an emotional trigger?

  by sparrowdown in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is this rc triggering any painful memories for anyone else?

  .

  for me, it's stirring up all the emotions of what it felt like dealing with assholes like this.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  StrongHaiku

  One of the things these hearings have done is remind me that these people (including my family) do not hold the moral high-ground. One of the biggest mistake I made over the years was thinking that they did. And, believing that they did really broke me.

  There is not a minute of an hour of day of the year that I do not feel the after-effects of having been in this religion. Not content with taking everyone I loved taken from me, they have left me damaged to the point that I often have difficulty navigating through life and relationships. I often find myself "trying to be happy" as opposed to "being happy". I am often filled with guilt, regret, depression, and, at times, have felt suicidal. I'm still trying to fix all of the things these people broke.

  I am an atheist, but this sentiment stands - "May they rot in Hell along with their attorneys..."