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blondieChristmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/122703dntexchurchfire.4e03.html

Worship hall fire was arson

08:23 PM CST on Friday, December 26, 2003

Associated Press

PHOENIX ? A Jehovah's Witness congregation hall was torched Christmas Day, resulting in a huge loss for members of the northwest Phoenix congregation.

Fire officials said the Kingdom Hall had an estimated $1.2 million in damages.

Without disclosing details, Bob Khan, an assistant fire chief for the Phoenix Fire Department, said investigators have determined that the structure was intentionally set afire, but no motive has been established.

Investigators for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will assist in the investigation, Mr. Khan said.

"You take it personal because it's your building; it's your house of worship," said Bob Reyna of Sun City. "It's something depressing, but at the same time, we look at it as a chance to grow and rebuild. It makes us stronger."

There have been a few problems in the past, some in the parking lot behind the Kingdom Hall where people gather to party out of sight from the road. Vandals also scribbled graffiti on the front door this year.

But there never was anything to prepare the more than 500 congregants for the gaping hole on top of their worship hall created by roaring flames.

Volunteers built the cream-color stucco building about two decades ago.

"A lot of the friends are hurt and upset, but we look at it as a sign of the times," Mr. Reyna said. "We'll rebuild. We'll go back to meeting there again. We're not going to let this get us down."

Online at: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/122703dntexchurchfire.4e03.html
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DanTheManRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
Oh man, who would do something like that?  What a shame.
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shamusRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

I certainly do not agree with anyone who does that.

One thing that I can say is why in the hell should we care, though.  Did they ever care when a church got burned?  No.  They would just call it "Babylon the Great" and be glad that it burnt.  I have actually witnessed people talking like this.

Now they know what it's like... not that they give a damm what us pagans think. 
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WolfgirlRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

I agree with Shamus. I remember what JWs were saying when a church in the area was burnt down. It was sort of a "Christendom getting its just reward" type scenario to them.

I'm glad no one was hurt, and I don't agree with arson. But...
we look at it as a sign of the times
Bring on the persecution complex!
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gumbyRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

A sign of what times? Churches have been burning since churches began. The early christians did more burning of buildings and literature of the "pagans" than modern day disgruntled ones.

How many pictures have we seen in the societys literature that show churches going down in armaggedon with witnesses having smiling faces in the same picture? Lots of them!  However....they think it is evil for anyone to clap at one of their own buildings going up in flames. What hypocrits!

Sun city eh? I have given talks in that hall before when I lived in Arizona.

Gumby
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mouthyRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
I do not agree with arson..But as some has said on here there was a Church ( a very old one) that was burning in Cambridge Canada & four Pioneers sat in the car laughing. saying " Isnt it wonderful that Jehovah allows us to see Babylon fall. "Is this what some of you call Karma???/
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stillajwexelderRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched



I do not agree with arson..But as some has said on here there was a Church ( a very old one) that was burning in Cambridge Canada & four Pioneers sat in the car laughing. saying " Isnt it wonderful that Jehovah allows us to see Babylon fall. "Is this what some of you call Karma???/
 
Arson is disgusting and so was this attack . I wish people would realize that JWs will be saying -- see we are being persecuted -- we are deep in the last days - -Armageddon is just around the corner -- the best way to let the WTBTS crumble for the people in Arizona is just to let them be -not burn their halls down.
 
But I do agree with the previous comment -- if it had been a church that had burnt down the witnesses would have been saying  "Isnt it wonderful that Jehovah allows us to see Babylon fall?"
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FunchbackRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

Kind of off subject but I dislike that expression "the friends" (the elder mentioned that phrase in the last paragraph of the article).

Me and badwillie were discussing that terminology just the other day and it's another catch-phrase that cunningly makes you believe that your only friends are other JWs. I didn't realize how non-JWs can be WONDERFUL, TRUE friends until I left the BORG myself.

To get back to the subject, there are lots of drawings in the JW literature that depict churches getting destroyed. No religion is exempt from vandalism. They'll get over it. I'm just glad no one was killed.
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LitebriterstillRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
KH torched !   I do not subscribe to Arson, someone was realy mad.  I'm glad none were injured. I was out in service years ago when some laughed because a minister took off with the money to finish his own Church. The JW's laughed at the Catholic Priests being found molesters. Laughing at deprivity! Today there are many JW molesting cases in the Newspaper and on this chatboard where disgusting behavior is being hidden or denied. I sat in KH where 2 couples were answering when they had admitted to Elders they had an affair with the other ones mate. "He who lies down with dogs gets up with flees."
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GerardRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

They sure seem happy this church is burning...

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heathenRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
  I can understand the reason why they might not have the compassion when other religions suffer and it's probly because other religions seem to take the lead in persecuting them . They've had to sit back and watch their people being tortured and property destroyed for a century .
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LewisRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

Gerard, loved the pictue. The woman in the background looks totally orgasmic. "Burn, baby, burn!" (I just hope nobody trips on that rubble.)

Heathen, are you saying that if two wrongs don't make a right -- try three?

Lewis

 

 
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GerardRe: Re: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
...other religions seem to take the lead in persecuting them.

I know some governments are against the JW, but other "religions" take a lead?  Can you please elaborate even if in a  PM?  Thanx.

Gerry
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avishaiRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

Wellllll, My family's house was burned on x-mas day, too, while we were at meeting. Almost certainly by my JW grandmother. What kind of help did we get from the cong.? A widow with 3 sons? Very little from those "in good standing", even though those were the ones always hassling my mom for $$$$$, property for the hall (which she "donated", though they were supposed to frame in a house for her, she'd pay for all the materials, during the build, but they reneged after they had her property) Teh ones "In good standing" were always busy w/ field service, etc. You know who helped? The poorest people in the cong., the most "spiritually weak", people who never asked my mom for a loan (Ironically, the ones who did were already wealthy building contractors in the area). They helped wash our smoke damaged clothes, brought us food, etc. So, when I see the WTS get a loss on their property value, I'm ecstatic, but sorry for the actually good people who used it.

 
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asleif_dufansdottirRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched

Wasn't me.

I suppose that's not really funny.

The truly cynical part of me wonders whether there was declining attendance at that hall, and the society torched it for the insurance. But then I'm evil.

Could have been some kids who were mad their folks were studying and they didn't get Christmas...

But, I have to say...I do feel sorry for the 'honest-hearted ones' (to use another society catchphrase) who may be truly heartbroken at the loss of their hall.
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dhRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
The truly cynical part of me wonders whether there was declining attendance at that hall, and the society torched it for the insurance.
Yeah, they probably wanted to turn it into a night club to attract more young people.
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willy_thinkRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
So now the Org collects the insurance money and makes interest bearing loan to the local Brothers to rebild........... what a tragedy
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Pork ChopRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
How stupid is this? They self insure.
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SheilaMRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
Arson is never a good thing, but if it had to happen to anyone who better than the dubs.They seem to enjoy gloating when others are hurt. I hate when there is a tragedy and the response is never 600 lost their lives it is always 1 was a JW oh my gosh how horrible
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blondieRe: Christmas Day/Arizona Another KH is torched
They self insure.

That is correct, porkchop, and they hate to pay out a penny of it to some poor JW that slipped and fell outside the KH because nobody was humble enough to shovel and salt.  I wonder if the WTS will ante up for this congregation(s).

Blondie
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