by AndersonsInfo 57 Replies latest jw friends
I believe WT is against freedom of religion. You can't become a JW and decide to go along to the catholic church at the same time, yet I could decide to become catholic and go the KH at the same time.
WT are lying hypocrites and deserve what's coming to them from Governments that see through their "freedom of religion" bullshit.
DOC,
I'm trying to come out of my shell and finally say what I really think. Thank you for noticing and the support!
Russia is going through reversal to the system that existed there in the 70's, but it has fundamentally much closer to the totalitarian regimes that existed in interwar Europe. One the main driver toward totalitarian regime is Orthodox church. In the history of humanity, there was never country which had Orthodox religion, prosperous economy, and democracy. Russia resembles a hybrid between Brezhnev socialism (which was international) by nature of dictatorship and national socialism due extreme nationalism.
JWs are not the only non-orthodox religious group that faces oppression. If Putin manages to put them underground and illegality, it will actually boost WT membership ranks. JWs there survived Lenin and Stalin, and they will survive this. The biggest threat to WT membership ranks in Eastern Europe was actually steady rise of the living standard there and consumer society, where population under communism was deprived of goods and services. This changed in last 25 years with opened borders and full stores and population embraced this capitalist model.
Thanks Barbara.
The new buzzword is "The Assyrian"
God's people will be attacked by "The Assyrian"
In an elders school last year, the instructors said when The Assyrian attacks, we can't expect to have the backing of the Branch or the Slave. - xjwsrock
Why are they now calling the attacker of religion the Assyrian? Which Bible prophecy is that? The main thing I remember the WTS saying about the Assyrians is that they were extremely cruel to their prisoners. Are they trying to frighten people? No wonder there's mental health problems.
Thanks for the info, Barbara.
I have to say, I think this crackdown on the WT is good news. Force the religion to make necessary changes, with the threat of a ban or huge fines looming over it.
Unfortunately, British politicians and courts are different to their Russian equivalents, so that won't be happening where I live.
Very interesting. Thanks for posting this Barbara. WT Society leaders are actually blood guilty if you look at the thousands of JW's who have died due to following criminal WT indoctrination refusing blood transfusions, thousands of child abuse victims who have committed suicide over 137 years of this organization existing, thousands more committing suicide after being dfed and shunned, and also there's Malawi ! Hundreds of JW's dying for what ? Because WT leaders told them NOT to buy a political party card.
We could go on and on. Russia is well within their rights to look at this group as a subversive, dangerous mind control organization. Every bit as dangerous as Scientology. Perhaps more dangerous due to the subtle nature of the deceptions as opposed to being outright aggressive in the news media like Scientology. Harder to detect. Go Russia. Now only if the U.S. and F.B.I. would bring the hammer down more on the WT Society . At least regarding criminal WT child abuse
Many Germany JWs during WWII found great disappointment how the Watchtower didn't help them in any way while in concentration camps. The Watchtower only degraded many of those that came out of the camps and how many left the 'truth' and became 'materialistic.' I don't expect Russian JWs to get that same treatment from their government now-a-days. However, they'll find themselves quite on their own. The GB sure aren't going to help them. The GB are of the least empathic people on earth.
I agree with others who think JWs should be banned or at least restricted. They are definitely counter to any state's interest.
This is not only for their shunning doctrine which causes untold harm and dependence on meds and can even cause suicide but their discouraging education produces individuals who cannot support themselves and are more likely to be dependent on handouts. Even though it may seem more "charitable" to allow all religions to exist (freedom and all that), what happens if a religion becomes a detriment to some society at large? I think JWs come under scrutiny, no matter how seemingly innocent and simple they may appear to the casual observer. In my opinion, I think their bad outweighs the good.
If the state determines that such teachings are hate speech and detrimental to the well being of the state it has a right to limit such teachings
Stop and think about this. Do you really want "the state" liquidating groups they consider speaking hate? In particular, a dictatorship like Russia? Seriously? This is chilling; Russia won't stop with JWs. Freedom of belief, of religion and of speech are fundamental human rights that should not be curtailed except under exceptional and extreme circumstances. JWs have not engaged in any activity that meets that standard. That they teach what some may perceive as hurtful or disagreeable ideas or that they practice shunning does NOT mean that it's okay to liquidate them. Who is next? Buddhists? Scientologists? Jews? Gays and lesbians?
I realize that I risk being branded a JW apologist by saying that--nothing could be further from the truth. I have nothing but bitterness for the religion. Instead, I do have a strong belief in inherent human rights that lie beyond the reach of any state.
It's a conundrum for sure. You have a totalitarian style government looking to ban a totalitarian style religion.
While the dubs will definitely play the persecution card should this happen, and get exposure in the West, it is an opportunity to point out the flaws of the WTS to JW family/friends.
When a JW carries on about being persecuted/banned in Russia, agree with them. Yes, it is a humans right violation. Every human should have the right to believe and serve the religion of their choice - without persecution or punishment. Any organization, be it governmental, or religious or private, that looks to punish, black list or shun someone who chooses to worship differently than their collective should be held accountable for their human rights violations. Emphasize the word 'shun', and leave that thought hanging.
