Posts by Doubting Bro

19

Is Jackson embarrassed to be a JW?

by Doubting Bro in

jw
friends

i listened to the majority of jackson's part one testimony and it seems apparent to me that he either:1) is embarrassed to be a jw or 2) doesn't really believe.

i've heard countless times from the platform and in print that we should be proud to be jws and take every opportunity to defend our beliefs.

yet, it seems jackson didn't even want to admit that he believed he was being directly used by jehovah to lead the congregation as his spokesman.

Doubting Bro

Certainly theocratic warfare on some of the points but the exchange on corporal punishment just puzzled me. He said he personally didn't believe in it although at his age I would say the majority of the world DID think that was the way to go so that was sort of surprising. He could have said that the WTS doesn't comment on whether its appropriate or not leaving it to parents to decide and I think that would have been a legitimate answer. And for the record, I'm not a fan of it and don't use it on my kids. But I know some with opinions contrary that have compelling points and may decide in certain circumstances to utilize it.

Point is that the WTS doesn't officially condone or condemn corporal punishment in the sense that no discipline will happen from the org either way. Yet he didn't seem to know that. It was really strange to me.

millie210 - He did come across pompous and I love how when he was referring to a scripture, Mr. Stewart beat him to it. A few times during that exchange he gave the page number in the NWT and Stewart was already there. LOL - "worldly" educated people are also familiar with the Bible.

LUHE - you'd expect someone in his position to be a #3. The fact that he's either 1 or 2 just seems odd to me.

Sir82 - Agree, this likely won't make a difference to most but to someone already having doubts, his testimony was not faith strengthening.

19

Is Jackson embarrassed to be a JW?

by Doubting Bro in

jw
friends

i listened to the majority of jackson's part one testimony and it seems apparent to me that he either:1) is embarrassed to be a jw or 2) doesn't really believe.

i've heard countless times from the platform and in print that we should be proud to be jws and take every opportunity to defend our beliefs.

yet, it seems jackson didn't even want to admit that he believed he was being directly used by jehovah to lead the congregation as his spokesman.

Doubting Bro

I listened to the majority of Jackson's part one testimony and it seems apparent to me that he either:1) is embarrassed to be a JW or 2) doesn't really believe.

I've heard countless times from the platform and in print that we should be proud to be JWs and take every opportunity to defend our beliefs. Yet, it seems Jackson didn't even want to admit that he believed he was being directly used by Jehovah to lead the congregation as his spokesman. Clearly the RC knows that printed material shows the official belief of JWs is that the FDS is the spokesman for Jehovah on earth today and that the WTS is the "earthly part of Gods organization".

I realize that he's trying to distance the organization from financial responsibility but Jesus nor Paul or the other apostles hid who they were in the Bible accounts. Why didn't he answer the question Mr. Stewart put to him with "you yourself have said it" when asked if he was Gods spokesman?

He would have been better off telling the truth. I wonder how a rank and file JW would react to his cowardliness? So, I have to tell my workmates or school mates at every opportunity my beliefs but Mr. Jackson can't tell a lawyer what his beliefs are?

I always thought the GB was deluded but true believers. Now I wonder if they know it's all a scam?

5

RC news

by Larrikin in

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/nsw/senior-jehovahs-witness-geoffrey-jackson-says-church-might-offer-compensation-to-alleged-abuse-victims-20150814-giyxuu.html

Doubting Bro

Glad US papers are finally picking this up. Now the network news outlets need to do the same.

26

Depressing chat to my still-in brother about the RC

by Lemonp in

here is a quick breakdown of our conversation (by text message).

me: "have you read about the royal commission?

the org has been covering up child abuse.

Doubting Bro

Yet the problem is that according to the teachings, the org went through a "cleansing" period and entered a spiritual paradise. Either they are the restored true Christian congregation or not. Of course, there are so many holes in their end times teaching that this is simply one more. And most JWs don't even know their own teachings so it's super easy to spin it anyway you want.

77

GEOFFREY JACKSON TO APPEAR BEFORE ROYAL COMMISSION ON FRIDAY 14TH August!!!

by defender of truth in

the royal commissions public hearing into the jehovahs witnesses will recommence in sydney on friday 14 august 2015 at 11:00am.. it is anticipated that the hearing will hear from one witness, mr geoffrey jackson, a member of the governing body of jehovahs witnesses.. .

.

www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2015-08/public-hearing-into-the-jehovah%e2%80%99s-witnesses-to-rec.

Doubting Bro

Wow, this should be pretty interesting. Not sure if the RC will really be able to force them to make positive change but given the fact they have been able to cut through the theocratic warfare leads me to believe there could be some damming testimony that could be used against them in other jurisdictions.

They will probably spin this as Gog of Magog attacking. LOL - idiots.

21

Geoffrey Jackson's powerful role in the WT

by Splash in

if anyone knows which committees gj sits on or what some of his responsibilities are, can you please post here with supporting quotes.

Doubting Bro

Wouldn't this fall under the Service Committee? Who is chairing that now? I thought I saw not too long ago the names of the folks on all the main committees. It could be that that committee (in conjunction with legal) made the actual policies and procedures. I'm sure the full GB would be briefed. Of course, there's a GB member that chairs each committee and ultimately it's the GB who directs all activities world wide.

It's beyond belief that they are attempting to throw the Australia branch committee under the bus when they were following the same rules promulgated by the GB as the rest of the world.

This is getting very interesting.

104

Do you feel vindicated by the exposure of the WT Society in Australia? It seems like a feeding frenzy on here! I love it. You?

by Wasanelder Once in

are you pleased with the exposure of the society in australia?

do you feel personally vindicated by it?

do you think it gives you credibility with others now that all the things you said were going on, actually are documented?

Doubting Bro

I'm happy this is being exposed but sad that the victims had to endure so much. Honestly I'm also a bit overwhelmed at the extent of the problem. It's a feeling similar to the feeling I had when I first started discovering TTATT. Strange right? You would think I'd be numb but my head is spinning reading some of these details.

35

Article: Reveal News Organization: JWs Cover-Up of Child Sex Abuse and Oust a Victim

by AndersonsInfo in

https://www.revealnews.org/article/jehovahs-witnesses-cover-up-child-sex-abuse-and-oust-a-victim/.

jehovahs witnesses cover up child sex abuse and oust a victim.

topics: criminal justice / religion .

Doubting Bro

wow - a very well written article. Debbie, your story is a moving one and a sobering one. I don't know how any active JW could read this and not be moved. I'm so glad you're finding happiness and that you had the courage to take the actions you did. And that your daughter is living with you and will grow up free from the WTS.

27

Australia Evidence List is public and contains Elders Book

by Skidmarks in

there is so much information on the website of the hearing.

you can find the full transcripts of each day there as pdf.. but also the evidence list is very interresting.

it contains many confidential letters from congregations but also from the hq to branch offices.. the full list can be seen here: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/636f01a5-50db-4b59-a35e-a24ae07fb0ad/case-study-29,-july-2015,-sydney.

Doubting Bro

Great work guys! Also LOL at the WTS having to turn over the BOE letters and Shepherd book.

Good on ya Aussie government!

Note to the GB: I guess you now realize that the protection and hands off attitude you've been given by the US government due to our reluctance to chastise religion in any way since the courts liberally read the constitution isn't the norm in the world. It's fine when you have the majority of the religion in the US but since the majority is NOT in the US, you sort of need to think about this sort of thing.

I hope the pedo database gets into either the RCs hands or better yet, the US court system via a civil case. Then it will really hit the fan.

50

Will Child Abuse Issue Keep Growing Like A Forest Fire?

by OnTheWayOut in

i don't know if a commercial will come up and i can't find this on youtube as it is probably copyright material or i am just not in a good search pattern today.

anyway, try to view this if you haven't seen it:.

https://rutube.ru/video/0ba7a3ee7e89dbbc730c4af32032e33b/?ref=logo .

Doubting Bro

I agree this is going to get even bigger. When I was an elder, I remember all those abuse letters and wondered with other folks if there was an issue or they were just being cautious. I also distinctly remember after the 20/20 report I was a bit shaken. I personally never had to deal with the issue either myself or within my family from another JW. So I assumed these things were isolated issues.

But, I do remember the subject coming up in a car group in service. I also remember saying to the entire group that it was rape and a crime and crimes should be reported to the police. I used the murder example and said if you witnessed a murder, your first call should be to the police and then you could talk to an elder or whatever about it. Same with child rape. Everyone in the group agreed. To me, it wasn't being a rebel it was using common sense. They all agreed.

Here in the US, freedom of religion is more important than anything else it seems. There will be no governmental inquiry into how they handled these cases. I don't think there was one with the Catholic Church which is obviously much larger in size. The only way you can get the attention of religious institutions is to sue them. Which has happened already (Conti and others). I really believe the Aussies have helped lawyers in the US because the more things get exposed, the more ammunition US attorneys will have in attacking the process since that doesn't change from country to country.

If nothing else, this is going to hurt recruiting. Hopefully, there will be some common sense policy changes coming out of this but I really doubt it.