Posts by talesin

8

Please help with Rama Singh's letter

by I am a Bible Student in

hello could someone please help me with the actual letter that rama singh wrote asking wt to retract and apologise for misquoting him in the january 2015 awake?

i am giving it to the elders in my former congregation as part of my farewell letter.

talesin

article quoted on jwfacts found at this link:

http://www.inquisitr.com/1766536/biology-professor-creationist-magazine/

partial quote from article:

In a letter to the editor of the magazine, the biology professor said that, in the paper from which the quote was taken, he went on to explain the nonreligious reasons which lead people to doubt evolution. Professor Singh’s reasons can be summed up simply, though: people doubt evolution because they do not understand it. That’s a far cry from indicating that there are good, science-based reasons to doubt the current understanding of evolution of man. Condemning the magazine for the misuse of his words, Singh says that his quote was deliberately twisted to perpetuate lies, and he’s calling for an apology.
“I have received inquiries from many evolutionists, atheists and former members of your organization (ex-JW) who brought the above misquotation to my attention. I agree with them that your misquotation of my work is deliberate and meant to convince your followers in the truth of creationism by perpetuating false support from scientists.”
“So I am asking you first to remove the misquotation from your article immediately and second print an unconditional apology for what I consider is a deliberate damaging action on your part to my reputation.”

jwfacts link - scroll down to find the Awake! article in question

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/misquotes-deception-lies.php

quote from this page at jwfacts

Another 2015 Awake! used a famous scientist to garner misleading support for creation, quoting Rama Singh as saying "The opposition to evolution goes beyond religious fundamentalism and includes a great many people from educated sections of the population." (Awake! 2015 Jan p.3) This poorly referenced quote is from Darwin’s legacy: why biology is not physics, or why evolution has not become a common sense, (as of 2 Jan 2016). Whilst the quote is accurate, it misrepresents Singh's intention. Singh continues in the same paragraph, "There are several reasons why facts of evolution are not easily comprehensible by the general masses." He continues by explaining why educated people lack comprehension of evolution. Prompted by Singh officially complaining about Awake! using “intellectual dishonesty” when taking him out of context, see inquisitr.com, Watchtower retracted the statement, reloading an edited version of the Awake! issue to their site without the reference to Singh.

Awake! 2015 Jan p.3 before and after revision

44

Is there evidence for networks of abuse?

by slimboyfat in

i tend to avoid the subject because it's too depressing, so i've probably missed lots of discussion about this issue.

but i read a comment on youtube yesterday that shocked me and made me wonder.

the person claimed that many years ago abusers in society generally identified jws as a safe haven for abusers and joined en masse order to exploit the situation.

There is a network of pedophiles, and people within the JWS are part of it It is not an exclusively JW network, though there are JWS involved. The local PD has a 'unit' of 2 people that deals with it.

Proof is hard to come by, as victims are threatened with reprisals, of course. If one is born into this 'network', it's hard to break the fear. Most times though, speaking out doesn't make much difference, because few people *want* to believe such horrors exist.

61

David Bowie

by smiddy in

i just heard the news david bowie has died ,so sad .

rip d,b, .

smiddy .

talesin

Promise this is my last, for now hehe.... but from the movie, it's ZIGGY,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8sdsW93ThQ

61

David Bowie

by smiddy in

i just heard the news david bowie has died ,so sad .

rip d,b, .

smiddy .

talesin

I think this playlist on youtube is close to compleat. ShirleyW,. the song you\re looking for is listed on here - hope it plays in the USA. tal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa6bI_95G9I&list=PLAtmGvv5veX_3o5oN3ih8jmtjuU2kXHAT&index=16

.

EDIT: Click on "David Bowie" and a new window will open on the playlist, I was just listening to Rebel, Rebel ; P

Just listening to "Fame" ........ have the cassette still. it is worn, so worn.... *sigh*

Dagney: I will check them both out - I just started watching Power, it's great show! xo :)

56

Any former elders brains I could pick?

by BarelyThere in

jw
friends

i posted in another topic a few hours ago.

it is my first time on here or any website like this, ever.

i was dfed back in september for adultery.

talesin

I think those are two great topics, and lessons we all need to learn when exiting the cult.

56

Any former elders brains I could pick?

by BarelyThere in

jw
friends

i posted in another topic a few hours ago.

it is my first time on here or any website like this, ever.

i was dfed back in september for adultery.

talesin

smiddy, I do think of him, and yes, I hear you. I am taking the OP at her word, though. Her family (first) gave her no advice, help, and trust me, I know exactly how that feels at her age. It's hard to explain, if you were a good little JW gurl like me. "Don't come home to us for help - we will always take your husband's side. YOU are the difficult one". Oh, yes, even though he was worldly. You may have no idea how it can be, how cruel (or you may *smile*). She also says this,

Now, I didn't conspire to "put away my mate." I was unhappy and worked on my marriage and got nothing in return. I regret that I have to say that I had an affair but I turned my time and attention to someone else.

I think that it's a bad choice in RL (real life),but in the cult, sometimes cheating is the only way to get out of a very bad marriage (even when you are being beaten black and blue, let alone 'just being unhappy and dreading the rest of your life'. And if the OP did it before kids were involved, I say, 'you made the best choice you had at the time ... now, don't f*ck it up and compound the error of choosing to be a JW again".

To husband, I say, if you are reading, you can be part of the forum. We will support you as well. Perhaps you can learn TTATT and the two of you can heal whatever wounds have been created. I'm sorry for your pain - it's not your fault, that lies squarely on the Organization. xx tal

PS: Shadow - spot on to both comments. xx

56

Any former elders brains I could pick?

by BarelyThere in

jw
friends

i posted in another topic a few hours ago.

it is my first time on here or any website like this, ever.

i was dfed back in september for adultery.

talesin

Sorry, I was just reading threads, and realized after posting, you were looking for help from former/current elders. I'll leave the comment, and also. TheListener - you remind me of my one support on the JC (RIP Georgie, killed by the drink at a young age). He was kind and wise, but came from a powerful JW family, had zero say in any decisions, and could not escape his heritage of money and elderhood. He finally "Left Las Vegaa". That is good advice, and the young woman (girl) that I was back then, sends you a warm thank you! Wish I had that kind of support many years ago. xx tal PS. okay, my eyes are moistening, ahem ! enough of that. To the OP, things will work out, you've done well, just breathe! xx

56

Any former elders brains I could pick?

by BarelyThere in

jw
friends

i posted in another topic a few hours ago.

it is my first time on here or any website like this, ever.

i was dfed back in september for adultery.

talesin

You have not mentioned kids, so if there are none, well, you tried to work on it. I hear your frustration, and also a certain amount of naivete. Yes, you were rushed into a bad choice at 19. You made choices that had dire consequences.

What happened then? It's called 'arrested development'. You need some time on your own, to discover who you are. To learn how to use logic and reason, instead of ruling with your emotions. Take a deep breath, put the single brother on hold (SERIOUSLY? don't even go there - from the frying pan directly into the fire - smh, you have a lot to learn).

Do some reading here, elsewhere, listen to music, read a book, clear your head. Then, begin to think through the rest of your life.

32

Canada - Abuse allegations in Newfoundland casting a cloud over Jehovah's Witnesses

by OrphanCrow in

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/abuse-allegations-jehovahs-witness-1.3401468.

abuse allegations in newfoundland casting a cloud over jehovah's witnessesallegations of abuse involving two members of the jehovah's witness religious movement in newfoundland have emerged, though details of the charges are protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

cbc news has learned that a former volunteer church elder and his son are facing charges.the former elder is charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation relating to allegations dating from 2009 to 2012 in central newfoundland.according to court documents, a second man is charged with sexual assault, with the information referencing a period between may 2011 and december 2013 in a community on the avalon peninsula.cbc news has confirmed that the pair are father and son.a sexual exploitation charge involves anyone in a position of trust or authority who commits an offence against a young person.the matter involving the older accused was called at a provincial court on wednesday.it was set over until next month, when a date is expected to be set for trial.the younger accused is scheduled to make a court appearance later this month.. read full article at link.. *note the very last sentence in the article.

talesin

OC said,

Well, those WT lawyers might be getting a rude awakening soon...along with all the Canadian elders who listened to them for advice. And anyone else who was aware that there were child abuse allegations in the congregations and didn't report it. Legally, it is not up to the victim or family to report - it is anyone who has knowledge of it.

As a trained crisis interventionist, who worked on a rape crisis line, I can state FOR SURE that what OC quoted above, and earlier, is the truth across Canada. This does not vary from province-to-province. Although few people have ever been charged, ALL ADULTS who have knowledge of child neglect/abuse are require to report, and can be charged criminally for failure to do so. (If you doubt this, consult a lawyer or the RCMP; that's who trained us, along with therapists and such, and I have the paperwork somewhere.)

The courts and Crown may choose to hold those in positions of authority with children, such as church officials, scout leaders, teachers, hockey coaches (you catch my drift) to a standard of higher accountability, but we ALL have a duty to report. The end. tal

EDIT: As Rape Crisis line workers, we also had a duty to inform the child (as soon as we determined it was such) and immediately call 9-1-1 and have the police to the residence. FYI

32

Canada - Abuse allegations in Newfoundland casting a cloud over Jehovah's Witnesses

by OrphanCrow in

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/abuse-allegations-jehovahs-witness-1.3401468.

abuse allegations in newfoundland casting a cloud over jehovah's witnessesallegations of abuse involving two members of the jehovah's witness religious movement in newfoundland have emerged, though details of the charges are protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

cbc news has learned that a former volunteer church elder and his son are facing charges.the former elder is charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation relating to allegations dating from 2009 to 2012 in central newfoundland.according to court documents, a second man is charged with sexual assault, with the information referencing a period between may 2011 and december 2013 in a community on the avalon peninsula.cbc news has confirmed that the pair are father and son.a sexual exploitation charge involves anyone in a position of trust or authority who commits an offence against a young person.the matter involving the older accused was called at a provincial court on wednesday.it was set over until next month, when a date is expected to be set for trial.the younger accused is scheduled to make a court appearance later this month.. read full article at link.. *note the very last sentence in the article.

talesin

Thank you for posting this, OC. I don't read news often so, didn't know. Yes, Canada needs a Royal Commission - one that is not going after a politician - people would get behind this. The ARC is a good example to follow, and like I said, people are bored with political corruption. We need something to once again make the press WAKE UP, for the sake of the children.

I had a 'boyfriend' @ 16YO in Marystown, which is on the Peninsula, and good friends in St. John's. It is sad to think of any of those people being involved, but who knows?

CSA was rampant here during my youth - I know of two (blood) sisters who were raped by a Special Pioneer, the one he got pregnant (15) was DF, he was transferred out west. Another two cases in another local congo. And I learned about 5 years ago (ran into him in the store, we had beers together - once) that a guy I grew up with is a pedo.

Then our own Kwin, whose father's family I boarded with, and he still lives here, who was also molested (older threads tell his tale of exposing the WT on Global News, and we did a little 'signage campaign' during the DC (mwah haha) that got covered on the news as well.

So, i think there are lots of folks who would 'come out of the woodwork' if we had our own RC.

Thanks for posting, I'm off to look it up online! xx tal