as we fade we still do studies with people but only from the scriptures.. one study asked about the blood, so we should the revelant scriptures and asked how she felt about transfusions.. she said that "nothing loses it's life when you receive blood so it is fine in her conscience".
love it!
the scriptures clearly show that the blood being poured out was to show respect that something lost it's life.. maybe you can ask a witness, why it is ok to receive an organ from someone who has passed away but not ok to receive blood from a live person?.
She said that "nothing loses it's life when you receive blood so it is fine in her conscience"
Excellent point. If anyone wants to read a more in depth coverage of this reasoning, see here:
www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/204070001/watchtower-right-about-blood
i am currently having a study with a pioneer couple to try to reactivate me and get me back into the congregation.
they have asked me to really think about the provision of the ransom sacrifice.
in doing so i have gone back to basics and have already hit a few questions i am thinking of raising.
Here's an entire thread on the question of animal suffering:
www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/222352/theists-why-does-god-allow-suffering
A good question to ask your 'teachers' is this.. Why did God allow animal suffering before Adam and Eve sinned?
Please read the thread for more informatio, and let us know what your teachers said in response ;)
they have made changes/updates, such as to the 'genereation' teaching, as mentioned on another thread.. and yet this mistranslated verse still remains, allowing the offensive and hateful application of it to continue.
take a look at these quotes from the online insight book..(watchtower quotes are included as well, handy if you don't already know how they apply this term).. bible words indexed (4 occurrences).
mentally diseased, 1ti 6:4.. .
They have made changes/updates, such as to the 'Genereation' teaching, as mentioned on another thread.. and yet this mistranslated verse still remains, allowing the offensive and hateful application of it to continue.
Take a look at these quotes from the online Insight book..
(Watchtower quotes are included as well, handy if you don't already know how they apply this term).
MENTALLY DISEASED, 1Ti 6:4.
(2Pe 2:11) But such talk can be expected from those who indulge in loose conduct, those who are proud and mentally diseased over questionings and debates, and those who disregard or disrespect God’s appointments.
We still use the word ‘lunatic’ to signify a person mentally diseased, although we have long since ceased to believe in the moon’s influence in such cases.” [This is a quote from a book, but it illustrates the general understanding of the term mentally diseased.]
If anyone who professes to serve God relies on his own ideas instead of adhering to the Bible and if his teaching does not ‘accord with godly devotion,’ thus failing to reflect the teacher’s devotion to God, he becomes “mentally diseased.”
He is not like those in the apostle Paul’s day who assumed to be teachers of others but were “puffed up with pride, not understanding anything,” unwisely letting themselves become “mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words,” things that produce disunity and a host of bad results.
Well, apostates are “mentally diseased,” and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings.
The Bible says that apostates are mentally diseased and that they use their teachings to make others think like them.
Paul described such individuals as being “puffed up with pride, not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words.”
(Philippians 3:17; Hebrews 5:14) Instead of being “mentally diseasedover questionings and debates about words,” they continued moving ahead in their positive course of godly devotion.
(1 Timothy 6:5; Galatians 5:15) Of those who caused these arguments, Paul wrote: “If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up with pride, not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words.
m.wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=mentallydiseased&p=par
And for anyone who claims they are 'just quoting the Bible', see this list of translations of the same verse. Do they say 'mentally diseased'? :
www.biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-4.htm
Newspaper coverage here:
m.huffpost.com/us/entry/985479
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/war-of-words-breaks-out-among-jehovahs-witnesses-2361448.html
Interesting video here:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=ni1U_5nw3kI&fulldescription=1&hl=en&client=mv-google&gl=US
fishkill the jehovah's witnesses have obtained a partial tax exemption for the rivercrest luxury apartments that the religious group bought last year, and have now purchased an adjacent waterfront property, both in the town of fishkill.. the effect on taxpayers is a shift of the burden for the lost taxes to all other taxpaying shoulders, plus a probable increase in that shift next year.
the loss so far to the town is about $55,000, with other sums snipped from the tax bases of the beacon city school district, the chelsea fire district and dutchess county.. and, it likely means that jehovah's witnesses will come forward with plans for how they'd like to develop the land that they acquired march 13.. the poughkeepsie journal.
jehovah's witnesses eye buying fishkill site for church complexthe two properties sit next to each other in the brockway section of the town, overlooking the hudson river and west of route 9d.. rivercrest apartments is a 250-unit luxury rental complex that the town's assessor values at $31 million.
Any thoughts on potential issues the IRS would be interested in hearing about?
Anyway, here are 2 articles of interest:
www.thefederalist.com/2015/05/07/religious-nonprofits-plan-now-for-tax-exemption-battles/
hi guys & gals,.
we're currently preparing for the season finale of the show (to be recorded on sunday, may 24th at 2pm eastern time nyc / 6pm uk time / 4am sydney time.. as we're going to (finally) be covering 607 bce in detail, we're looking for a specialist (or two) that can come on the show and tell everyone about this almighty doctrine.
if you know your 587 from your 607 and why the 1914 and 1919 dates are important to jws (although most have no idea why), please send us an email to [email protected], using "i'm a 607er" in the subject line and let us know why we should pick you as a guest on the season finale.. can't wait to hear from you!.
This is our resident expert..
fishkill the jehovah's witnesses have obtained a partial tax exemption for the rivercrest luxury apartments that the religious group bought last year, and have now purchased an adjacent waterfront property, both in the town of fishkill.. the effect on taxpayers is a shift of the burden for the lost taxes to all other taxpaying shoulders, plus a probable increase in that shift next year.
the loss so far to the town is about $55,000, with other sums snipped from the tax bases of the beacon city school district, the chelsea fire district and dutchess county.. and, it likely means that jehovah's witnesses will come forward with plans for how they'd like to develop the land that they acquired march 13.. the poughkeepsie journal.
jehovah's witnesses eye buying fishkill site for church complexthe two properties sit next to each other in the brockway section of the town, overlooking the hudson river and west of route 9d.. rivercrest apartments is a 250-unit luxury rental complex that the town's assessor values at $31 million.
" To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual."www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exemption-Requirements-Section-501%28c%29%283%29-Organizations
"The term charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and includes:www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exempt-Purposes-Internal-Revenue-Code-Section-501(c)(3)
relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency."
" Giving people free literature/studies of a religion's beliefs, should not, and does not merit charitable status!
A close scrutiny by the IRS/HMRC into such money-making entities will quickly establish whose lives are being improved more substantially from the donations/business practices - the ones running the 'charity', or people who are genuinely in need of day-day necessities and care. "
" NATURE OF VIOLATION: Directors/ officers/persons are using income/assets or personal gain "... I wonder if there may be evidence of this somewhere?
fishkill the jehovah's witnesses have obtained a partial tax exemption for the rivercrest luxury apartments that the religious group bought last year, and have now purchased an adjacent waterfront property, both in the town of fishkill.. the effect on taxpayers is a shift of the burden for the lost taxes to all other taxpaying shoulders, plus a probable increase in that shift next year.
the loss so far to the town is about $55,000, with other sums snipped from the tax bases of the beacon city school district, the chelsea fire district and dutchess county.. and, it likely means that jehovah's witnesses will come forward with plans for how they'd like to develop the land that they acquired march 13.. the poughkeepsie journal.
jehovah's witnesses eye buying fishkill site for church complexthe two properties sit next to each other in the brockway section of the town, overlooking the hudson river and west of route 9d.. rivercrest apartments is a 250-unit luxury rental complex that the town's assessor values at $31 million.
"The term integrated auxiliary of a church refers to a class of organizations that are related to a church or convention or association of churches, but are not such organizations themselves. "www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Churches-&-Religious-Organizations/Integrated-Auxiliary-of-a-Church--Defined
this report provides information on watch tower bible and tract society of britain including:*.what their money is spent on*.amount raised for every 1 spent on fundraising*.5 year financial information*.how your donation helps.
here you can request the free report:www.charitychoice.co.uk/charity-report/watch-tower-bible-and-tract-society-of-britain-68372.
and this is a link to purchase a full in-depth report:http://choice.charityfinancials.com/store/buyreport.aspx?cn=1077961.
this report provides information on watch tower bible and tract society of britain including:*.what their money is spent on*.amount raised for every 1 spent on fundraising*.5 year financial information*.how your donation helps.
here you can request the free report:www.charitychoice.co.uk/charity-report/watch-tower-bible-and-tract-society-of-britain-68372.
and this is a link to purchase a full in-depth report:http://choice.charityfinancials.com/store/buyreport.aspx?cn=1077961.
This report provides information on Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain including:
*.What their money is spent on
*.Amount raised for every £1 spent on fundraising
*.5 year financial information
*.How your donation helps
And this is a link to purchase a full in-depth report:
http://choice.charityfinancials.com/store/buyreport.aspx?cn=1077961
The report is provided in an easily digestible format and includes*:
*. Five year financial history covering various income and expenditure streams as well as the charity’s assets and liabilities
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fishkill the jehovah's witnesses have obtained a partial tax exemption for the rivercrest luxury apartments that the religious group bought last year, and have now purchased an adjacent waterfront property, both in the town of fishkill.. the effect on taxpayers is a shift of the burden for the lost taxes to all other taxpaying shoulders, plus a probable increase in that shift next year.
the loss so far to the town is about $55,000, with other sums snipped from the tax bases of the beacon city school district, the chelsea fire district and dutchess county.. and, it likely means that jehovah's witnesses will come forward with plans for how they'd like to develop the land that they acquired march 13.. the poughkeepsie journal.
jehovah's witnesses eye buying fishkill site for church complexthe two properties sit next to each other in the brockway section of the town, overlooking the hudson river and west of route 9d.. rivercrest apartments is a 250-unit luxury rental complex that the town's assessor values at $31 million.
If anyone wants to try to take action regarding Watchtower's tax exempt status (why not just give it a go?), this thread has a possible way to go about it..
According to the blog, anyone can file a complaint with the IRS. American citizenship is not required!
If you are afraid of retaliation from the WTBTS or being shunned by JWs make sure to check the box marked "I am concerned that I might face retaliation or retribution if my identity is disclosed". I wonder if the other box could be checked to complain about how the Watchtower uses "undue influence" on members and promotes it being used on members and ex-members.
Now, how many JWN members would take the time to fill out form 13909 without disclosing their identify? A hand full?
www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/235110001/how-complain-irs-about-non-profits
If you think that there is no point in even trying to do something, and the IRS will never act, here's an interesting quote:
It isn’t so far-fetched an idea, either. The Nonprofit Risk Management Center reports that more than 100 501(c)(3) organizations are stripped of their tax-exempt status each year. The reasons can vary, covering the violation of laws that govern private benefits, lobbying, political campaign activity, unrelated business income, the obligation to report annually and maintaining operation in accord with stated exempt purpose.
www.thewrap.com/hbos-going-clear-reignites-scrutiny-of-scientologys-tax-exempt-status/
At the very least filing a few complaints couldn't do any harm, could it?
I'll leave it with you good people. Thanks for reading ;)
