"Defending the Good News" by J. J. Henderson

by Uncharted 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Uncharted

  This book was published in 2010:

  Defending the Good News: The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Plan to Expand the First Amendment

  It is partially based on an interview with an ex-JW, Jerry Bergman, and, besides other things, contains information on H. C. Covington and his Supreme Court cases. The author (J. J. Henderson) makes this conclusion:
  

  Looking back on the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ literature distribution and permit cases, one thing becomes clear. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society purposefully changed the laws of the land. The Jehovah’s Witnesses instituted a legal plan that was carefully designed, comprehensive in scope, and carried out by thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses across the nation. This plan expanded the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment, shaped contemporary mass media law, and dramatically influenced organizational litigation. The significance of their achievement can no longer be overlooked. Legal scholars will have to rewrite their books. Lawyers will have to rethink their arguments. Citizens and media professionals might write a letter of thanks to the headquarters in Brooklyn. Because Watchtower lawyers did more than protect the religious practices of its members, they established in law an important ideal for all citizens in a democratic nation — that the flow of information must always be unhindered. For this, we all owe a debt of gratitude to this often-annoying, sometimes-intolerant religious sect.
  

  So don't you think that JW's practices, being "irritating", are somehow beneficial for the society overall?
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  prologos

  that the flow of information must always be unhindered. For this, we all owe a debt of gratitude--.

  An Ideal that wt rigorously suppresses in the realm it governs. what is the name for that?.
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  Anders Andersen

  I am with prologos here.

  WTBS denies any JW the same freedom of speech, religion, association, thought and medical treatment it fought for in the highest courts.

  WTBS currently fights for the right to keep any conversation between a JW and an elder confidential as privileged, even they learn about reprehensibles crimes like child abuse.

  And yet WTBS expects JW medical professionals who learn of an other JW who accepted blood to break the law, break confidentiality and report that to the elders.

  
  

  F###ing hypocrites!
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  Uncharted

  Anders Andersen: WTBS denies any JW the same freedom of speech, religion, association, thought and medical treatment it fought for in the highest courts.
  

  WTBS, like any religion, may "deny" whatever it wants unless that denial steps into criminal grounds. Those who follow a religion limit their freedom by choice, because a made choice always limits freedom. It's like taking a train: a passenger initially has freedom to choose a destination, but upon a departure freedom becomes limited as nobody can travel in two trains simultaneously. If a passenger made a mistake, he or she has an option to quit the train on a next station, then the initial freedom becomes restored and a new choice can be made.
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  Nathan Natas

  The actions of the WTB&TS paved the way for the Islamic exploitation of the constitution that is ongoing today.

  The WTB&TS was never interested in protecting and defending the Constitution of the US, but were intent on moving to establish an environment for their THEOCRACY.

  THEOCRACIES are at their heart. all the same: a small group of fanatic maniacs who wish to impose their views on everyone else.

  Thanks for nothing, Watchtower!
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  cha ching

  Exactly, Nathan Natas! They "seek to establish their own theocracy" (on earth, with GB as the gods) and use whatever means necessary to do it.

  However it began, WT now cold heartedly, systematically, spews and uses "freedom of speech" & "first amendment rights" to prevent any investigation or questioning of anything they do not want revealed.

  And yes, as prologos said, "An Ideal that wt rigorously suppresses in the realm it governs", WT is very suppressive.