*** bump ***
MAJOR TV SHOW TO DISCUSS JW CHILD ABUSE
by Scully 170 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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UnDisfellowshipped
Just another little bump.
Plus a few Quotes (courtesy of http://Quotes.JehovahsWitnesses.com):
*** The Watchtower, November 15th 1963 Issue, Page 688 ***
3. Can there be false religion? It is not a form of religious persecution for anyone to say and to show that another religion is false. It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion.
*** "Is This Life All There Is?", 1974, Page 46 ***
...God, who is himself "the God of truth" and who hates lies, will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. (Psalm 31:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8) And, really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?
*** The Watchtower, March 1st 1966 Issue, Page 132, Should Falsehood and Corruption Be Exposed? ***
Therefore, how will you respond when pointed statements are made about false religious teachings and corrupt practices? Will you immediately condemn the person or organization making the expos? Do you feel it is all right to teach lies and misrepresent God's Word, but wrong to expose the error? Contrary to what some may think, it is not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and corruption.
*** "The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life" Book, 1968, Page 13, Why It Is Wise to Examine Your Religion ***
Since we do not want our worship to be in vain, it is important for each one of us to examine his religion.
5. We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God's Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.
*** The Watchtower, April 15th 1970 Issue, Page 246 ***
How many are aware that adhering to false religion can mean their eternal destruction?... Are true Christians going to stand by quietly and say nothing about such gross misrepresentations? Hardly!
*** Awake!, October 22nd 1973 Issue, Page 6, Examine the Evidence ***
Reasonable persons agree that the only fair method is to examine the evidence on both sides, both for and against a disputed theory. That is how one arrives at the truth.
*** The Watchtower, January 15th 1974 Issue, Page 35, Can You Be True to God, Yet Hide the Facts? ***
When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning?
If you are among those seeking to be faithful to God, the issues these questions raise are vital for you today.
*** Awake!, November 22nd 1984 Issue, Pages 8-10, An Open Mind Wins God's Approval ***
What makes a religion right is its total adherence to Gods Word. Whether our religion meets this criterion or not can only be determined by open-mindedly comparing it with the Bible.
Do you reject a message because of preconceived ideas? Or do you investigate?
*** Awake!, June 22nd 2000 Issue, as published at the Official Watchtower Website at http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2000/6/22/article_02.htm ***
Some people insult those who disagree with them by questioning character or motives instead of focusing on the facts. Name-calling slaps a negative, easy-to-remember label onto a person, a group, or an idea. The name-caller hopes that the label will stick. If people reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative label instead of weighing the evidence for themselves, the name-caller's strategy has worked.
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ESTEE
Looks like Undisfellowshipped sure did the homework!!!
It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion.
Do you feel it is all right to teach lies and misrepresent God's Word, but wrong to expose the error?
*bump*
ESTEE
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Gerard
Anotha' bttt with anotha' quote:
*** Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15 ***
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone! This is why parents who base their lives on God's prophetic Word find it much more practical to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long periods of additional schooling... True, those who do not understand where we are in the stream of time from God's viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing yourself for a position in this world that soon will pass away? or working toward surviving this system's end and enjoying eternal life in God's righteous new order?
One day to go for the TV Show!
Edited by - Gerard on 28 January 2003 14:54:35
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starfish422
Another *bump* in a long-running game of virtual volleyball! :)
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Simon
Go Canada !!
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starfish422
*bump*
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ESTEE
*bump*
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UnDisfellowshipped
Bump, plus more Quotes which completely contradict the Quotes I posted up above (These Quotes are taken from the Great Quotes Website at http://Quotes.JehovahsWitnesses.com):
*** "QUALIFIED" Book, 1955, Page 156 ***
If we have love for Jehovah and for the organization of his people we shall not be suspicious, but shall, as the Bible says, 'believe all things,' all the things that The Watchtower brings out...
*** The Watchtower May 1st 1957 Issue, Page 284 ***
We will realize that Jehovah knows what is going on in his organization, and if he is willing to permit it, who are we to insist it should be different? If we really have faith, we will know that if it is wrong he will straighten it out eventually, and we are far safer inside his organization even with these minor difficulties than we would be on the outside where only chaos and destruction await us.
*** The Watchtower, February 15th 1981 Issue, Page 19 ***
OUR VIEW OF THE "SLAVE"
...Jehovah is not pleased if we receive that food as though it might contain something harmful. We should have confidence in the channel God is using.
*** The Watchtower, January 15th 1983 Issue, Page 22, Exposing the Devil's Subtle Designs ***
Avoid Independent Thinking
20. From the very outset of his rebellion Satan called into question God's way of doing things. He promoted independent thinking. 'You can decide for yourself what is good and bad,' Satan told Eve. 'You don't have to listen to God. He is not really telling you the truth.' (Genesis 3:1-5) To this day, it has been Satan's subtle design to infect God's people with this type of thinking.-2 Timothy 3:1, 13.
21. How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization. For example, God's organization has from time to time given warnings about listening to certain types of immoral and suggestive music, and about frequenting discos and other types of worldly dance halls where such music is played and people are known to engage in immoral conduct. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Yet certain ones have professed to know better. They have rebelled against such counsel and have done what is right in their own eyes. With what result? Very often they have become involved in sexual immorality and have suffered severe spiritual harm. But even if they have not been so affected, are they not reprehensible if others follow their example and suffer bad consequences?-Matthew 18:6.
22. This fact cannot be overemphasized: We are in a war with superhuman foes, and we constantly need to be aware of this. Satan and his demons are real; they are not mere figments of the imagination. They are "the world rulers of this darkness," and we have a spiritual fight against them. (Ephesians 6:12) It is absolutely vital that we recognize their subtle designs and not allow ourselves to be overreached by them. Very appropriately, then, we will next consider how we can arm ourselves to fight against these wicked spirits.
*** The Watchtower, January 15th 1983 Issue, Page 27, Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits ***
Fight Against Independent Thinking
...Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: "This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe." This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous? Such thinking is an evidence of pride.
*** The Watchtower, March 15th 1986 Issue, Page 16, Allow No Place for the Devil! ***If you are counseled or even reproved for some wrong practice or attitude, this, too, may prove to be an ideal time for the Devil to prompt you to ask yourself if you are in the right organization. So keep humble.
*** The Watchtower, March 15th 1986 Issue, Page 19, Allow No Place for the Devil! ***14. Finally, we might consider what the Society has published in the past on chronology. Some opposers claim that Jehovah's Witnesses are false prophets. These opponents say that dates have been set, but nothing has happened. Again we ask, What is the motive of these critics?
Questions From Readers
*** The Watchtower, April 1st 1986 Issue, Page 31 ***Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. What do such beliefs include? That the great issue before humankind is the rightfulness of Jehovah's sovereignty, which is why he has allowed wickedness so long. (Ezekiel 25:17) That Jesus Christ had a prehuman existence and is subordinate to his heavenly Father. (John 14:28) That there is a "faithful and discreet slave" upon earth today 'entrusted with all of Jesus' earthly interests,' which slave is associated with the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. (Matthew 24:45-47) That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the heavens, as well as the time for Christ's foretold presence. (Luke 21:7-24; Revelation 11:15-12:10) That only 144,000 Christians will receive the heavenly reward. (Revelation 14:1, 3) That Armageddon, referring to the battle of the great day of God the Almighty, is near. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-21) That it will be followed by Christ's Millennial Reign, which will restore an earth-wide paradise. That the first to enjoy it will be the present "great crowd" of Jesus' "other sheep."-John 10:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 21:3, 4.
*** The Watchtower, August 1st, 2001 Issue, Page 14, Paragraph 8 ***First, since "oneness" is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave." By regularly taking in the spiritual food provided "at the proper time" -- through Christian publications, meetings, assemblies, and conventions -- we can be sure that we maintain "oneness" with fellow Christians in faith and knowledge. -- Matthew 24:45.
Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 28 January 2003 23:33:4
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Funchback
http://www.canada.com/halifax/dailynews/story.asp?id=814CBFD5-E790-446D-BD6D-B405614A4944 CBC uncovers surprising revelations
Wednesday, January 29, 2003By Lindsay Brown - Television The Daily News Tonights edition of the fifth estate (CBC at 9 p.m.) is sure to send shock waves rippling through communities across the country.
The documentarys title, Spiritual Shepherds, refers to the elders in the Jehovahs Witness Church. Their job is to protect members of their flock. And indeed they do, vigilantly, we learn. But, as becomes devastatingly clear, only certain ones.
The story starts with a young woman named Holly, formerly a member of the Jehovahs community. She was sexually abused by her stepfather from the age of two onwards, as was the daughter he later had with Hollys mother. He began beating Hollys mother on the night of their wedding day. Holly relates that, by age five, she knew how to please her stepfather sexually.
Hollys mother repeatedly went to the spiritual shepherds for help, but was told to go back home and be a better wife, while her husband was promoted ever higher in the church. Publicly, the churchs policy, straight from world HQ in Brooklyn, N.Y., is that members must adhere to the law and report abuse to the authorities. But that has never happened. The churchs own handbook on dealing with sexual abuse says that action can be taken only after the accuser confronts the abuser face-to-face and produces a witness to the alleged abuse.
Think about that scenario, for a second.
After some years, Hollys mother finally escaped with her daughters, but later Holly went further; she went to the police. Her stepfather was eventually sentenced to 56 years on 21 counts of abuse, even though during his trial, Witnesses showed up in droves to support him, and to shun Holly and her mother and sister.
Holly is only one victim and her stepfather is only one among many thousands of others like him; in the Canadian church alone, we learn, there are 24,000 names of alleged abusers on a secret, internal list. Bill Bowen, who left the church two years ago and now campaigns against it on this issue, calls it a pedophiles paradise.
But now theres a crack in the fortress walls, and the council of 11 men in New York who are considered vessels for the word of God may be facing not Armageddon the day when everyone except Witnesses dies a fiery death but public scrutiny. Lets hope its hot, and fiery, and never dies down.