Posts by lrkr

34

LAWSUIT: The Strange Saga of Lorterdan Properties at Ramapo v. Watchtower of NY

by AndersonsInfo in

the strange saga of lorterdan properties at ramapo v. watchtower of new york.

information compiled by barbara anderson.

on february 27, 2009, the watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc. (watchtower) purchased 248 acres of land located in ramapo, new york, from a company named lorterdan properties at ramapo i, llc (lorterdan).

lrkr

The most interesting thing about this is that almost half of the purchase price of the parcel is labeled a "consulting fee." Now...let me think...why would an organization call half of the purchase price "consulting."

Seems to me that it would have the effect of lowering the accessed value. If there was ever a property tax issue WT could produce a sale agreement that showed a purchase price of 50% of actual value.

Ramapo has an ongoing problem with religious groups taking property off the tax rolls (usually they are orthodox Jews). My guess is- WT smelled that the property tax issue might be a problem- hedged their bets with this contract and eventually dumped the deal over fear of taxation.

15

I think we have it backwards

by lrkr in

jw
friends

you know how when people come out of being a jw they say things like- but the bible is a good book- its just the religion that is bad.

or when describing muslim extremists commit some atrocity, people say- the religion is bad- but the koran is a good book.

or when you observe orthodox jews abusing members of their family- it is said- its the religion that is confining and doent allow leaders to be held accoutable- but the torah is a good book.. i think we have it backwards!!

lrkr

Yes- but extreme conviction in what?

People who are extremely convinced that vitamins are good for you may write books, annoy friends, irritate relatives and blog alot- but I never heard of a vitamin fanatic killing, bombing, suppressing, isolating or shunning.

Only the sacred texts allow such behavior.

15

I think we have it backwards

by lrkr in

jw
friends

you know how when people come out of being a jw they say things like- but the bible is a good book- its just the religion that is bad.

or when describing muslim extremists commit some atrocity, people say- the religion is bad- but the koran is a good book.

or when you observe orthodox jews abusing members of their family- it is said- its the religion that is confining and doent allow leaders to be held accoutable- but the torah is a good book.. i think we have it backwards!!

lrkr

Calling the books sacred- gives them license to say whatever they want. If someone said what the "holy books" say today- they would be considered ignorant, ancient, and generally bad.

46

Lawyers: Can a Jehovah's Witness sue the Watchtower Society for Civil Rights violations?

by Balaamsass in

i have been on boards and run businesses, and been reminded by more than one cpa and attorney to cross ts and dot i s regarding corporate requirements or we would become liable to lawsuits.. therefore, my questions to any attorneys and cpas, and the keen minds on this board, are the following;.

i have been reading old threads on this site about watchtower society irregularities regarding tax filings with state and federal agencies.

evidently, a number of filings for different years were identical (unlikely if not impossible) or missing.

lrkr

Seems the question should be- can you PREVAIL in a lawsuit against WT for Civil Rights Violations. Anyone can sue anyone for anything. Winning is a different story altogether.

One major stumbling block I see is "damages." You need actual damages to get very far in a lawsuit. If you could prove employment discrimination based on religion- you might have a case. But the run of the mill disfellowshipping.... I dont thing there's much there. "Emotional duress" and "pain and suffering" wont go very far.

Just my 2 cents.

15

I think we have it backwards

by lrkr in

jw
friends

you know how when people come out of being a jw they say things like- but the bible is a good book- its just the religion that is bad.

or when describing muslim extremists commit some atrocity, people say- the religion is bad- but the koran is a good book.

or when you observe orthodox jews abusing members of their family- it is said- its the religion that is confining and doent allow leaders to be held accoutable- but the torah is a good book.. i think we have it backwards!!

lrkr

You know how when people come out of being a JW they say things like- but the Bible is a good book- its just the religion that is bad.

Or when describing Muslim extremists commit some atrocity, people say- the religion is bad- but the Koran is a good book.

Or when you observe Orthodox Jews abusing members of their family- it is said- its the religion that is confining and doent allow leaders to be held accoutable- but the Torah is a good book.

I think we have it backwards!! The Bible, Koran and Torah allow and even condone violence, miysogyny, racism, genocide, child abuse, slavery, abuse of authority, ignorance etc, etc, etc. Really- the "holy writings" are the problem.

To the extent that a religious group ignores certain passages or tenants in their holy writings- they can be modern, inclusive, accepting, non-confrontational, enlightened- in short- humane.

This was a major "ah-ha" realization for me. I had it backwards. The religious groups arent the problem- some are a problem- yes- but the "holy writings" are what allow for extremism. Extremists are just being more faithful, orthodox, loyal, and observant of the holy writings.

42

LeavingWT's DA letter

by irondork in

the blood issue has been an ongoing arguement between the roomie and me.

not heated, by any means, but she keeps qouting back established wts reasoning on the subject.

"it's feeding, jason.

lrkr

"Worst thing you can do to your body"

Well I suppose cutting into the body to adjust organs might be worse- or surgery as we call it.

Chemotherapy I hear is quite hard on the body.

Setting a bone hurts like hell.

Lots of the things medical doctors do to us are not pleasant at the time and can be "hard on the body" but that doesnt mean they shouldnt be done. Blood transfusions have proven to be life saving. So much so that there is a global industry built around the harvesting and preservation of blood. Hospitals keep stores of blood like they keep stores of scalpels, antibiotics and bandaids. Blood is a vital part of our modern, medical apparatus and it works. Will there be a better alternative in the future? Possibly. As former and current JW's its only our cult training that makes us think longer about blood than about x-rays or MRIs or beta-blockers or any other form of modern medical treatment.

61

Paradise Earth. What will it be like?

by punkofnice in

paradise earth!!

if the wtb$ gb were right (work with me here.

i don't believe they even know how to tie their own shoe laces let alone be correct about this), what would life in a paradise earth be like?.

lrkr

What will it be like- like a post apocalyptic video game- but worse. No trash collection, no operating sewage or electricity, no petroleum refinement (so no powered vehicles) no refrigeration, no fresh fruit or vegatables, no supplies except what is in the stores right now, factories are not operational... because- after all- 99% of the population just died.

Oh- and I forgot- disease and corpses and stench everywhere!! (wouldnt want to wait for the birds to eat them- it really takes a while!) During the Civil war, Gettysburg saw the death of 7000 people who were buried fairly quickly and the town stunk like death for 6 months- imagine 6 billion people dying!!

6