Posts by OrphanCrow

40

Canada Branch Finances - What's Going On?

by berrygerry in

an update on the canada branch hasn't been made (i think).. year-over-year, canada's equity decreased by 11 million in 2012, 17 million in 2013.. however, the 2014 report shows a huge increase (20 million) in the cost of "purchased supplies.

" with the shrinkage of the mags, and the push to online, how the heck did this go from 39 million to 58 million?.

even with this number, the equity in 2014 went down by a staggering 56 million.. what the heck is going on?.

OrphanCrow

For a more detailed tax return:

2014 Registered Charity Information Return for Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada

In addition to what BerryGerry posted, there are some other interesting things to note in the Canadian tax return for the WTS.

Line C3 of the linked document says this:

C3

Did the charity make gifts or transfer funds to qualified donees or other organizations?
2000
Yes

If yes, you must complete Form T1236, Qualified Donees Worksheet/Amounts Provided to Other Organizations.

If a person checks out who those "Qualified Donees" are by following this link, you discover that 250 Canadian congregations are listed as qualified donees. The "gifts" that the Canadian Branch made to the congregations vary from a few hundred dollars to several hundred thousand for each congregation.

And now we know why the WTS "forgave" all those KH mortgages. It was a tax grab - those "gifts" would be considered an expenditure. The mortgages were "forgiven" for an advantage on WTS tax returns.

Here is another item:

C4
Did the charity carry on, fund, or provide any resources through employees, volunteers, agents, joint ventures, contractors, or any other individuals, intermediaries, entities, or means (other than qualified donees) for any activity/program/project outside Canada?
2100
Yes

If yes, you must complete Schedule 2, Activities Outside Canada.

As part of the $67 Million plus that is claimed as an expense for charitable work outside Canada, Activities Outside Canada gives this information:

7

Is the charity exporting goods as part of its charitable activities?

260

Yes

If yes, list the items being exported, their value (in Canadian dollars), their destination and the country code.

Lighting Fixtures	$ 3,758	New York	US
Dental Vaccum Pump	$ 6,715	Igieduma, Edo State	NG
Trade Show Display	$ 8,164	New York	US
Telephoto Camera Len	$ 23,391	New York	US

60

Does The Governing Body Have Enemies At Bethel?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

i would think that a lot of resentment is building up for these for these guys at bethel even though it may not be discussed openly for fear of being abused by the gb in some way.. any way looking at their personality and the extreme phoniness of rubber mouth/face lett, and am#3, and the chicken shit coward leosch who won't even show up in court when subpoena'd to defend his faith or policies, and i'm sure they have many more undesirable traits that repel people instead of attract and that has to work its toll on relationships they have at bethel.. and this shunning thing i'm sure must really erk some at god's house and while they may not be free to voice their discontent i feel it must be building because these guys are complete nincompoops when it come to reality and the only way they know how to give direction is with fear and guilt which i'm sure is rubbing a lot of people the wrong way.. and let not forget the issues that are raise when they stole all the congregations savings and the pledge drive for more cash, ban on higher education, lawsuit pay out and etc.... what is this doing to the relation ship they have with legal and accounting i see trouble brewing right thier in the spiritual pair of dice..

OrphanCrow

The WTS has developed a reputation for publicly shaming and censuring those in the upper echelons who don't toe the party line.

From the new convention release in the Jesus Christ book:

Jesus goes on to give his disciples reason for optimism. He assures them that when his prophecy is being fulfilled, there will be a “slave” who is alert and active. Jesus draws on a situation that the apostles can readily picture: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings.” If, though, the “slave” develops an evil attitude and mistreats others, the master will “punish him with the greatest severity.”—Matthew 24:45-51; compare Luke 12:45, 46.

The WTS writers did not have to include the last sentence of the above paragraph - it does not add to the context of the material. But...it does sound like a threat or warning to the "slave", or factions of it, to smarten up or get punished severely.

Methinks there is trouble brewing in the Tower.

63

2015 Regional Convention Anthony Morris Governing Body encourages coerced baptism of unwilling children ...again

by Watchtower-Free in

this is from the last talk of the convention ......... clip 1:30 minutes longhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrej8tlyiso&feature=youtu.be.

OrphanCrow

At the "Children of the KIng" St. Louis convention in 1941, over 1300 children were baptized. Some were as young as six years of age.

The book "Children" was released at that same convention.

(Sam Herd was born in 1935.)

The current child recruitment push is reminiscent of the 1941 child recruitment. Interestingly enough, the Tower was embroiled in lots of court cases then, too. The children in 1941 were being indoctrinated into making a pledge of allegiance to the Society in order to challenge the American pledge of allegiance.

The WTS recruited children back in 1941 to challenge the American courts. It worked back then and I suspect that the WTS is doing the same thing now. There will be an underlying purpose that has nothing at all to do with the child's salvation.

I think that the WTS push for child baptism is a calculated move and that the purpose will be revealed in court cases yet to come.

52

i committed the unforgiveable sin

by 060702015 in

everyday i wake up with knots in my stomach and trouble breathing.

my life continues to go into a downward spiral.

in the past, i had my dependence on god.

OrphanCrow

060702015: Even if the JW religion is not right, Jehovah God still exists. And I have committed the unforgivable sin by thinking he was his enemy not the true GOD in heaven. I don't want to say it outright who I thought Jehovah God was...

You might find this book useful:

Jehovah Unmasked by Nathaniel Merritt.

8

"No Elder has the Authority to Tell You what to do with Your Health--- Except for Blood!"

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

watchtower simplified edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide:".

a branch office or the local congregation elders do not have the authority to make medical decisions for a christian, even if he asks what to do.

(galatians 6:5) however, the elders can share what jehovah says in order to help a christian make a wise decision.

OrphanCrow

...at the time the WTS leaders set this no blood policy (1942),

July, 1945.

The end of WW2 and the beginning of the JW blood bath.

70 years of human sacrifice to the Tower's Blood God. 70 years of medical research in bloodle$$ medicine using the JWs as guinea pigs.

8

"No Elder has the Authority to Tell You what to do with Your Health--- Except for Blood!"

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

watchtower simplified edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide:".

a branch office or the local congregation elders do not have the authority to make medical decisions for a christian, even if he asks what to do.

(galatians 6:5) however, the elders can share what jehovah says in order to help a christian make a wise decision.

OrphanCrow

Oh. I see. The elders can't tell a person what to do concerning medical treatments involving blood.

But...GOD can.

And in Watchtower land, God=Watchtower. "What Jehovah says" = "What the WTS says"

And GOD not only tells the JWs what to do - God/WTS commands them.

12

Reasons there is no God

by Lemonp in

ok, lets assume that god created everything as is, with no evolution involved.

this is what jw's teach based on a singular vague verse in genesis.

made according to their types.

OrphanCrow

LAWHfol: There are several other historical and or scriptural texts that discuss the corruption of animals, by the Nephilim. It is possible that the dinosaurs came about, through cross breeding, and this was the reason that they were destroyed permanently.
2 Enoch 18:3-5 " These are the watchers, 200 leaders of whom fell away and went down to the land of Hermon. They took a vow on Mount Hermon, seeing how gorgeous human women were, and they took them as wives. The land was raped, the women acted like scoundrels, and the whole era was marked by criminal behavior and cross-breeding. Their children were giants and monsters."

I suppose that next you will tell us that those dinosaurs got wiped out by a flood.

"... It is possible that the dinosaurs came about, through cross breeding, and this was the reason that they were destroyed permanently."

That is quite the leap from the quote you used. You must have used the springboard of faith to jump that high over a mountain of ignorance.

21

New Light on HOLIDAYS and BIRTHDAYS? (September 2015 Watchtower)

by FusionTheism in

watchtower-- simplified study edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide?":.

in ancient rome, some christians had different opinions about certain foods and celebrations.

what advice did paul give them?

OrphanCrow

Wasanelderonce: I think this is the key: "When it comes to health care and other matters, each of us needs to make a personal decision and accept responsibility for it."

You are probably right. It is the key.

But I think the Tower probably means this: "Don't come after us in court. We wash our hands of you. You are responsible - the Tower isn't responsible for all your faulty health care choices."

Maybe they are facing some legal challenges from people who have been affected by the Tower's barbaric demands for human sacrifice.

98

Music buffs.Here we go again. List you're all-time favorite Guitarists

by flipper in

jw
friends

hello ya'll.

was just listening to great guitar music from some of my favorites.

who are your all time favorites?

OrphanCrow

Flipper, I am trying to figure out how you left Eric Clapton off that list!! (*edit....I see Eric already got mentioned! I am a bit slow on the uptake...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIBxn8arV3w

Here is a local fellow that is known as the king of guitar in my neck of the woods - Jack Semple on the electric guitar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbXfND2BH7E

And my favorite :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQFl9pI-wxo

30

How many times were you told, "You Just Don't Qualify Yet to be an Elder"

by John Aquila in

you think it's the holy spirit that appoints the elders, at least that's what new jw males are told.

the culture within the organization dictates to all young male jehovah's witnesses that unless you are an elder, you will not get the sultry, passionate- brunette, the voluptuous, curvaceous,- blond, or the seductive, erotic, red headed-vamp..

so unaware of the social forces that are shaping your mind, you succumb to the dictum issued by the governing body to conform to the structure already in place- if you want to be successful.

OrphanCrow

Witnessmyfury: I wasnt ever enough of a yes man I guess.

Nah. You probably just didn't give enough money.

I don't think that elder appointments are made on the basis of 'spiritual' merit. They are done on the basis of financial merit.

It has been many, many years since I stepped foot in a Kingdom Hall, but from what I remember, the men who were in the top positions in the congregations from the area I grew up in, were always the men who were the most financially successful. The ones with the most money had the most power. And those who were connected to that money (like being married to the elder's daughter) were the ones who advanced the fastest.