MacHislopp

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Posts by MacHislopp

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  20

  Latest WT has some Awesome Points for Struggling JWs to Consider

  by Funchback in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this is long but i hope it is well worth the read.

  for those of you who are still active as jws (be it due to your own will or because you are trapped), please consider the october 15, 2003 wt entitled, 'how can i make wise decisions?

  consider these points that come straight from the 'faithful & discrete' mouth:

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  MacHislopp

  Hello Funchback,

  thanks for the topic. A nice piece of information, with your logical comments.

  Waiting: allow me please...just brilliant comments and truthful indeed.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  4

  First-century ' governing body ' Part One

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  after a quite long spell...due to business and also holydays i'm back here.

  after some research, including the web ive decided to prepare the following.

  the scripture here found at acts 11:27 makes no reference/mention of a

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  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  after a quite long spell...due to business and also holydays I'm back here.

  After some research, including the web I’ve decided to prepare the following.

  The occasion was given from one article published in one of the most recent

  ‘ Watchtower’ magazine and by examining the statement found on page 4, the last paragraph ,

  particularly the claim, made by the WTBS Inc. that in the first -century all congregations : "...recognized the autority of a governing body in Jerusalem ".

  Here we start:

  “The Watchtower” September 1 st , 2003 page 4 , last paragraph:

  “ No one can rightly disagree with the fact that the early Christian congregation bore

  no resemblance to the institutionalized church systems we see today. But it was organizeed.

  Individual congregations did not operate independently of one another.

  They all recognized the authority of a governing body in Jerusalem. That body

  consisting of the apostles and older men of the Jerusalem congregation –

  helped to preserve the unity of the congregation as the “one body” of Christ.- Ephesians 4:4,

  11-16; Acts 15:22-31; 16:4,5.

  Here below, in full all the quoted Scriptures :

  (Rbi8) Ephesians 4:4, 11- 16

  4 One body there is, and one spirit, even as YOU were called in the one

  hope to which YOU were called;

  11 And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers

  , some as shepherds and teachers, 12 with a view to the readjustment of the

  holy ones, for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ,

  13 until we all attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge

  of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs

  to the fullness of the Christ; 14 in order that we should no longer be babes,

  tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching

  by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error.

  15 But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the

  head, Christ. 16 From him all the body, by being harmoniously joined together and

  being made to cooperate through every joint that gives what is needed, according

  to the functioning of each respective member in due measure, makes for the

  growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

  (Rbi8) Acts 15:22-31 *** 22 Then the apostles and the older men together with the whole congregation favored

  sending chosen men from among them to Antioch along with Paul and Bar'na·bas, namely,

  Judas who was called Bar'sab·bas and Silas, leading men among the brothers; 23 and by

  their hand they wrote:

  “The apostles and the older men, brothers, to those brothers in Antioch and Syria and Ci·li'cia

  who are from the nations: Greetings! 24 Since we have heard that some from among us have

  caused YOU trouble with speeches, trying to subvert YOUR souls, although we did not give

  them any instructions, 25 we have come to a unanimous accord and have favored choosing

  men to send to YOU together with our loved ones, Bar'na·bas and Paul, 26 men that have

  delivered up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are therefore dispatching

  Judas and Silas, that they also may report the same things by word. 28 For the holy spirit and

  we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things,

  29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled

  and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper.

  Good health to YOU!”

  30 Accordingly, when these men were let go, they went down to Antioch, and they gathered

  the multitude together and handed them the letter. 31 After reading it, they rejoiced over the encouragement."

  ( Rbi8) Acts 16:4-5 4 Now as they traveled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for

  observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men

  who were in Jerusalem. 5 Therefore, indeed, the congregations continued to be made

  firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day."

  What about such claim, does the Bible backs up such statement?

  Whenever we are going to examine doctrines, beliefs, scriptural views ,

  we should keep in mind and apply to the research the following

  WTBS Inc.'s exhortations:

  *** w54 10/15 638 Questions from Readers ***

  Full dependence is placed upon Jehovah’s Word in the formulation of truth and it

  is from his Word that proof should be forthcoming.

  *** w54 10/15 639 Questions from Readers ***

  With Jehovah’s organization the beliefs can be established from the Bible, and when

  some erroneous view does creep in it is soon ferreted out and discarded.

  *** w54 10/15 639 Questions from Readers *** This organization is always probing and studying to find solid foundations in the

  Scriptures for its beliefs and as the light increases the foundations of our beliefs

  become stronger and stronger.

  *** w54 6/1 327 Pride Destroys, Meekness Saves ***

  The proud are cocksure, convinced they are right, unwilling to consider contrary views.

  Refusing to think they might be wrong, they direct all their thinking toward justifying

  themselves rather than examining themselves.

  What supports their side they gullibly grab, what opposes their position they arbitrarily

  reject. Disgrace comes when they are proved wrong, though even then pride may

  harden them till they refuse to face the disgrace and change.

  And when this pride is exercised relative to choosing the right religion, and erring

  proud ones refuse to reason, destruction follows. Their pride brings blindness, blindness to reason.

  *** w54 6/1 328 Pride Destroys, Meekness Saves ***

  If by reasoning on Jehovah’s Word you learn your beliefs are false, they were proved

  so, not by the thoughts of other men, but by the recorded, inspired thoughts of Jehovah God.

  *** w55 5/1 259 Will You Reason on Religion? ***

  Is it showing hatred to disagree with someone’s religious doctrines? Far from it!

  An intelligent discussion can be greatly beneficial.

  Sometimes even a degree of controversy may be a good thing, stirring us to investigation.

  *** w58 5/1 261 Is Your Religion the Right One? ***

  Your religion should have solid basis, not on religious leaders, not on religious systems, but on

  God’s Word, the Bible.

  You should make sure your religion speaks according to God’s Word before you hold fast to it.

  If you learn that your religion is teaching what is not right, you should let go of that religion, even

  as Paul found it necessary to do when he was in Judaism. You must be willing to see and accept the truth.

  *** w58 5/1 261 Is Your Religion the Right One? *** How can you tell whether your religion is the right one or not? A simple way of telling is to

  expose it to a test of God’s Word.

  If your religion is not in accord with what the Bible teaches, then it is not in harmony with truth.

  It is not right.

  *** w58 5/1 261 Is Your Religion the Right One? ***

  It is important, then, that you “keep testing whether you are in the faith,” as Paul declared.

  Keep checking to see whether the things you believe are in keeping with God’s Word.

  But the question is, Are you willing to put your religion through such a test? There is nothing

  to fear, because if you have the right religion you can only be reassured by the examination.

  And if what you believe is not in keeping with the Bible, then you should welcome the truth,

  because it leads to light and life.—Isa. 8:20, Dy; 2 Cor. 13:5.

  *** w57 5/15 313 Appreciating Basic Christian Publications ***

  Their zeal for knowledge may even prompt them to dig back into things that were published

  long before they came into the truth, expanding and deepening their understanding, and

  ever growing in Christian maturity.

  *** w57 5/15 313 Appreciating Basic Christian Publications ***

  8 Do you dig out older publications to expand and deepen your knowledge on

  subjects about which questions arise? Have you really studied these earlier publications?

  ** w57 5/15 314-5 Appreciating Basic Christian Publications ***

  There is much in the way of spiritual riches and aids toward mature knowledge

  in these earlier publications, and their study is most certainly worth your time.

  Not to forget this …nice one:

  *** w95 8/1 17 Taught by Jehovah Down Till This Day

  13 Jehovah particularly teaches his people by

  means of a weekly study of the Bible, using

  The Watchtower as a teaching aid. Do you view

  this meeting as a place where you can be taught by Jehovah? "

  So we can start by asking :

  Do the above quoted Scriptures, really support the

  argument and prove it to be 'a biblical truth '?

  What about previous “ biblical light/truth “ from the WTBS Inc. on the same subject?

  Now, did the 1st Century congregations really submit/accepted the authority of a central

  ' a governing body', or it is only an assuption which become 'biblical truth' ?

  The evidence is that in all the quoted Scriptures, nowhere there is an indication or a statement/ declaration that clearly demonstrate the existence of a 'governing body ' in Jerusalem or elsewhere . However it does say that the holy spirit was the factor involved and this refers only to the apostles and older men .

  Then, let's examine some earlier teaching on the same subject i.e. the existence of a

  ' governing body' in the first-century.

  ' The Watchtower ' April 15th, 1951, page 235

  "Let Marriage Be Honorable Among All"

  The apostle Paul belonged to the governing body in the first century. Writing to his assistant Timothy regarding the qualifications of men to be appointed to official service in the congregations, he said: "If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a right kind of work

  "The apostle Paul belonged to the governing body in the first century".

  Quite a declaration ! Unfortunately for the WTBS Inc., nowhere in the scriptures does it say that Paul was part of any 'governing body'. A a matter of fact, he was in Jerusalem only twice during his entire preaching activity.

  Interesting to note also, that when Jesus Christ appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, Paul was directed to to Antioch, not to Jerusalem.

  (NWT)Acts 11:25-2625 says: So he went off to Tarsus to make a thorough search for Saul 26 and, after he found him, he brought him to Antioch. It thus came about that for a whole year they gathered together with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.

  Also, since Paul was appointed by Jesus Christ himself, one would think that if Jesus had a ' governing body ' in Jerusalem he would have sent Paul there to partake of that arrangement, but...no! Instead Paul was directed to to Antioch and

  remained there for a whole year.

  Furthermore there is only one occasion where the apostles asked Paul to go to another city, and it was because of the circumcision issue, an issue that Paul himself was questioned about, otherwise Paul received his instructions directly from Jesus, as to where he was to serve.

  So, where in the Scriptures it is written say that Paul was part of a' governing body ' ?

  To add more proofs, even Paul's own letter to the Galatians 2:2 says "...but I went up as a result of a revelation"; Acts 16:9- "...and during the night a vision appeared to Paul" .

  This was in regards to Paul being sent to Macedonia by Jesus;

  Finally Acts 18:9 "...by night the Lord said to Paul through a vision.."

  This vision was to tell Paul to remain in Corinth. The Scriptures are

  very clear: Paul received instruction directly from Jesus Christ and not from a

  ' governing body'.

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower ' March 1st, 1952 pages 151-152

  No Division in the Mosaic Law

  "And what did the governing body of the early Christian church there assembled instruct the new Christian converts to do? Keep the Ten Commandments? Observe the sabbath day? No, but rather: "Since we have heard that some from among us have disturbed you with speeches trying to subvert your souls, although we did not give them any instructions, we have come to a unanimous accord . . . For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep yourselves free from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things killed without draining their blood and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper." (Acts 15:24-29, NW)

  Plainly stated, in the quoted Scriptures there is noreference/mention at all of any ' governing body '!

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower ' April 15th, 1952 page 243

  The Field of Bible Prophecy

  "It appears these Christian prophets were traveling speakers for the governing body of the congregation in Jerusalem going from city to city to visit the companies of Christians. Not only did they give lectures, and talks on the fulfillments of the prophecies recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, but they also uttered prophecies of future events such as did the prophet Agabus. (Acts 11:27, 28; 21:10, 11; 1 Cor. 14:3) "

  (NWT)Acts 11:27-30 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Ag'a·bus rose and proceeded to indicate through the spirit that a great famine was about to come upon the entire inhabited earth; which, for that matter, did take place in the time of Claudius. 29 So those of the disciples determined, each of them according as anyone could afford it, to send a relief ministration to the brothers dwelling in Ju·de'a; 30 and this they did, dispatching it to the older men by the hand of Bar'na·bas and Saul. "

  The scripture here found at Acts 11:27 makes no reference/mention of a

  'governing body ' or that these prophets were sent by a ' governing body' .

  Without a clear Scriptural evidence, the Watchtower statement is another clear

  example of interpretation/assumption/opinion/idea/viewpoint on the part of the WTBS Inc..

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower' May 1st, 1952, pages 281-2 God's Way of Financing His Work

  The apostles followed the same pattern. Having received free, they gave free. Their unselfish course influenced others to show love, so that many early Christians sold all their possessions and turned over the proceeds to the governing body for them to use as they saw best for the advancement of the true worship and the benefit of the Christian community in general. All such was entirely voluntary, we are assured.—Acts 4:32-37; Acts 5 :1-4.

  (NWT)Acts 4:32-37 NW 32 Moreover, the multitude of those who had believed had one heart and soul, and not even one would say that any of the things he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common. 33 Also, with great power the apostles continued giving forth the witness concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and undeserved kindness in large measure was upon them all. 34 In fact, there was not one in need among them; for all those who were possessors of fields or houses would sell them and bring the values of the things sold 35 and they would deposit them at the feet of the apostles. In turn distribution would be made to each one, just as he would have the need. 36 So Joseph, who was surnamed Bar'na·bas by the apostles, which means, when translated, Son of Comfort, a Levite, a native of Cy'prus, 37 possessing a piece of land, sold it and brought the money and deposited it at the feet of the apostles.

  The apostle Luke here clearly states that, the proceeds were turned over to the apostles.

  He makes no mention of any 'governing body' . Again without a clear Scriptural evidence, the Watchtower statement is another clear example of interpretation/ assumption/opinion/idea/viewpoint on the part of the WTBS Inc. , and the way it is

  worded tends to equate the apostles to a ' governing body '.

  Acts 5:1-4, However, a certain man, An·a·ni'as by name, together with Sap·phi'ra his wife, sold a possession 2 and secretly held back some of the price, his wife also knowing about it, and he brought just a part and deposited it at the feet of the apostles. 3 But Peter said: "An·a·ni'as, why has Satan emboldened you to play false to the holy spirit and to hold back secretly some of the price of the field? 4 As long as it remained with you did it not remain yours, and after it was sold did it not continue in your control? Why was it that you purposed such a deed as this in your heart? You have played false, not to men, but to God."

  Again , like all the other other Scriptures before, there no reference/ mention at all, of a

  ' governing body '.

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower ' July 15th, 1952 page 446 Questions from Readers

  The governing body at Jerusalem weighed the problem and decided on this course to counteract the Jewish prejudices roused against Paul. The rites of shaving the head, along with the prescribed sacrifices, indicated that the vow had been completed faithfully, and for Paul to associate with the four in this, even bearing the expenses of the sacrifices, would prove he had no animosity toward the Mosaic Law. (Num. 6:13-21)

  Here, once again , the WTBS Inc., offers no scriptural reference/mention at all.

  'The Watchtower September 1st, 1952 pages 521-2

  Paul, Apostle to the Nations

  "Between his first and second missionary tours Paul together with some other brothers from Antioch went to Jerusalem to a meeting of the Christian governing body, there to ascertain if parts of the law of Moses still applied to Christians. Among the things that that body ruled against were fornication and the eating of blood.—Acts 15:1-35. "

  Yes, again this artricle too provides no Scriptural reference/mention to the claim of :

  " a governing body in Jerusalem " . The Watchtower statement is another clear example of interpretation/ assumption/opinion/idea/viewpoint on the part of the

  WTBS Inc.

  Same magazine, but a few pages further :

  'The Watchtower ' September 1st, 1952 page 527

  "Be Transformed by Making Your Mind Over"

  Additionally, we need the help of God's visible organization even as the Israelites needed the temple arrangement with its priesthood and even as the early Christian congregation looked to the governing body at Jerusalem for help.Mal. 2:7; Acts 15:1-31.

  As it has been done many times before, the WTBS Inc. uses the 15th chapter of

  Acts, as the foundation/basis for the belief, which has and still is taught worldwide,

  i.e. the 1st century Christian congregations had a 'governing body' .

  The WTBS Inc. always comes back to this one chapter. The reason is that Acts

  15 is the the only reference concerning an apostles' meeting in Jerusalem,.

  There is no other place in the bible that the WTBS Inc. can refer to ,and use

  to back up scripturally , the interpretation/assumption/opinion/idea of the existence

  of a centralized ' governing body ' in the fist-century.

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower' November 15th, 1952 page 681 Timothy, the Youthful Minister

  Among the many good examples of the validity of that Scriptural rule is Timothy, the very young minister who lived in apostolic times. Termed by the apostle Paul as his child in the faith, his fellow worker and God's minister, Timothy also served as a traveling representative and agent of the governing body of the early Christian congregation.—Rom. 16:21; 1 Thess. 3:2; 1 Tim. 1:2, NW

  (NWT)Romans 16:21 Timothy my fellow worker greets YOU, and so do Lucius and Ja'son and So·sip'a·ter my relatives.

  Here the WTBS Inc., goes rather heavy, because the young Timothy is called in the Bible a fellow worker ' and he was not acting as " a traveling representative and agent "for any centralized first-century ' governing body'.

  (NWT)31 Thessalonians 3:1-2 Hence, when we could bear it no longer, we saw good to be left alone in Athens; 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the good news about the Christ, in order to make YOU firm and comfort YOU in behalf of YOUR faith.

  In this specific case, the WTBS Inc. claims that Timothy was send by the ' governing body ' and use 1 Thess 3:2 to prove that. A closer examination of the scripture notes that Paul was writing to the Thessalonians while he was in Corinth not in Jerusalem and

  you'll notice from:

  1Thess 1:1 "1 Paul and Sil·va'nus and Timothy to the congregation of the Thes·sa·lo'ni·ans in union with God the Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ:",

  that the apostle Paul was writing on behalf of Timothy and Silvanus. Therefore when Paul writes "we sent Timothy " its more likely that he was referring to himself and Silvanus, there is no indication within this scripture that Paul represented any 'governing body' or that Timothy was sent as an agent of any 'governing body' .

  (NWT)1 Timothy 1:1-2 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus under command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus, our hope, 2 to Timothy, a genuine child in the faith, "

  As the third Scripture used to back up the claim , one cannot fail to see that all the

  Scripture says is that Timothy is : " a genuine child in the faith " Nothing to support the

  claim that Timothy was sent as an agent of a 'governing body' .

  Another article:

  ' The Watchtower' January 15th, 1953 page 42 James, the Brother of Jesus

  "Undoubtedly James the brother of Jesus played a most prominent role in the governing body of the early Christian congregation situated at Jerusalem."

  Odd enough, this statement from the WTBS Inc has no scriptural reference/mention .

  Does the account of Acts 15: 15-35 provides the necessary backing?

  (NWT)Acts 15: 15-35 15, And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 'After

  these things I shall return and rebuild the booth of David that is fallen down; and I shall rebuild its ruins

  and erect it again, 17 in order that those who remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with

  people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah, who is doing these things, 18

  known from of old.' 19 Hence my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God,

  20 but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled

  and from blood. 21 For from ancient times Moses has had in city after city those who preach him, because he

  is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath." 22 Then the apostles and the older men together with the

  whole congregation favored sending chosen men from among them to Antioch along with Paul and Bar'na·bas,

  namely, Judas who was called Bar'sab·bas and Silas, leading men among the brothers; 23 and by their hand they

  wrote: "The apostles and the older men, brothers, to those brothers in Antioch and Syria and Ci·li'cia who are

  from the nations: Greetings! 24 Since we have heard that some from among us have caused YOU trouble with s

  peeches, trying to subvert YOUR souls, although we did not give them any instructions, 25 we have come to a

  unanimous accord and have favored choosing men to send to YOU together with our loved ones, Bar'na·bas and

  Paul, 26 men that have delivered up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are therefore dispatching

  Judas and Silas, that they also may report the same things by word. 28 For the holy spirit and we ourselves have f

  avored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed

  to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these

  things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!" 30 Accordingly, when these men were let go, they went down to

  Antioch, and they gathered the multitude together and handed them the letter. 31 After reading it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, since they themselves were also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many

  a discourse and strengthened them. 33 So, when they had passed some time, they were let go in peace by the brothers

  to those who had sent them out. 34 —— 35 However, Paul and Bar'na·bas continued spending time in Antioch teaching

  and declaring, with many others also, the good news of the word of Jehovah. "

  One comment is that verse 22 says: " ...the apostles and the older men together with the whole congregation favored sending chosen men from among them to Antioch along with Paul and Bar'na·bas, namely, Judas who was called Bar'sab·bas and Silas, leading men among the brothers;"

  Again it makes no reference/mention makes no mention of a centralized governing body of decision makers, it simply says that the apostles and older men and the whole congregation favored sending someone. Now you should notice who took the decision,

  yes it was taken by :

  " ...the apostles and

  the older men

  together with the whole congregation ....."

  So even with the assumption of the existence of a centralized ' governing body '

  who participated in the whole process of decision making???

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower ' September 15th, 1953 pages 557-8

  Flight to Safety with the New World Society

  God's new covenant was made and the Christian congregation began to be built on Jesus Christ the Rock at Pentecost of 33 (A.D.) the city of Jerusalem served as the headquarters city of the Christian congregation. The governing body of the congregation was located there and was made up of the twelve apostles and other older disciples, such as James the brother of Jesus. They used the temple courts as a convenient place to meet crowds of people and preach to them. It was in this temple that Paul the apostle was mobbed about the year 56, and it was in Jerusalem that the disciple James and other faithful Christians with him were killed by fanatical Jewish stoners in 62. But when the year 67 came, the Christian governing body and all other disciples of Jesus fled from Jerusalem and from all the province of Judea.

  Once more in the same year 1953, the WTBS Inc. claims that Jerusalem served as

  a a headquarters to the early christian congregation. This is another time where no

  scriptures are used to back up this claim.

  A few pages further:

  'The Watchtower' September 15th, 1953 page 565 Posthaste "to the Mountains!"

  For the Christians who saw the armies of Governor Gallus and promptly fled from Judea before Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 (A.D.), the mountains of Gilead around Pella were a place to continue in theocratic organization under their governing body and to keep on preaching the good news of God's Word, turning people's hopes and dependence away from doomed Jerusalem and to the promised kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem. For Christians and for people outside of Christianity who want to flee and be hidden at Armageddon's very outbreak, the mountains outside of condemned Judea pictured today the protected New World theocratic system of things that Jehovah God has created in this time of the end

  Once more there are no scriptures anywhere in the bible to verify that this actually took place. No mention/reference to any ' governing body' ...running the 'theocratic organization from the mountain of Gilead around Pella.

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower' September 1954, pages 530-1 Recognizing the Theocratic Organization for life

  By closely following these inspired Christian writings and refusing the religious traditions of uninspired men we today devote ourselves to the written teaching of the inspired apostles. This written teaching instructs us on how the true Christian congregation today should be organized and conducted with qualified overseers and ministerial servants, these being appointed by the governing body of the entire Christian congregation throughout the earth

  Although the claim is made that : " we today devote ourselves to the written teaching of the inspired apostles" there is nothing in this written teaching of the inspired apostles to indicate the existence of a centralized ' governing body' , located in Jerusalem.

  Another article:

  "The Watchtower' August 1st, 1980 page 13

  Confident in a World Beset by Doubts

  With the help of the holy spirit the first-century governing body, made up of the apostles and elders of the Jerusalem congregation, made decisions, issued instructions and sent out faithful men to build up the brothers. In the Bible book of Acts we read: "Now as they [Paul, Silas and their traveling companions] traveled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem. Therefore, indeed, the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day."Acts 16:4, 5; 15:23-29.

  (NWT)Acts 16: 3-4 3 Paul expressed the desire for this man to go out with him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for one and all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Now as they traveled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem.

  As Acts 16:2-4 points out Paul did travel to the cities with regards to the decisions that were made by the apostles, this primarily was about the issue of circumcision.

  However the word used in acts "deliver" is taken from the direct translation of the greek "to be guarding", this term denotes an upholding of the apostles decisions, rather than making a delivery, as if it meant, sent out . Furthermore this was the one and only time the scriptures says anything about Paul or anyone making such "deliveries"

  Another two articles :

  'The Watchtower ' January 1st, 1985 page 11

  Unified in Publishing the Word of Jehovah

  The governing body in Jerusalem comes to a unanimous decision. It dispatches messengers to the Antioch congregation with a letter that concludes with the encouragement: "If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!"Acts 15:22-29.

  'The Watchtower ' April 15th, 1985

  Be Faithful to God "Who Looks on in Secret"

  At what some might call the first Christian council, the apostles and older men (who comprised the governing body) concluded that Christians must 'abstain from idolatry, from fornication, from what is strangled [having blood left in] and from blood.' Misuse of blood was as serious a moral wrong as illicit sex relations.—Acts 15:20, 21, 28, 29.

  Two more example of teaching something i.e. the existence in the first-century of a centralized 'governing body' although there is nothing in the "written teaching of the inspired apostles ..' to back up such claim.

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower ' March 15th, 1990 page 11

  'The Faithful Slave' and Its Governing Body

  )7 While all anointed Christians collectively form God's household, there is abundant evidence that Christ chose a small number of men out of the slave class to serve as a visible governing body. The early history of the congregation shows that the 12 apostles, including Matthias, were the foundation of the first-century governing body. Acts 1:20-26 provides us with an indication of this. In connection with a replacement for Judas Iscariot, reference is there made to "his office of oversight" and to "this ministry and apostleship."

  (NWT)Acts 1:20-26 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his lodging place become desolate, and let there be no dweller in it,' and, 'His office of oversight let someone else take.' 21 It is therefore necessary that of the men that assembled with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 starting with his baptism by John and until the day he was received up from us, one of these men should become a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 So they put up two, Joseph called Bar'sab·bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Mat·thi'as. 24 And they prayed and said: "You, O Jehovah, who know the hearts of all, designate which one of these two men you have chosen, 25 to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas deviated to go to his own place." 26 So they cast lots over them, and the lot fell upon Mat·thi'as; and he was reckoned along with the eleven apostles .

  The WTBS Inc. here says that Acts 1: 20-26 indicates that there was a 'governing body '

  on the 1st century, yet a close examination of this scripture does not indicate anything other than the fact that Mathias was the one to replace Judas.

  Besides one has to note that ' The Watchtower ' magazine March 15th 1990 edition,

  uses the word ' governing body ' more than 50 times!

  Another article :

  'The Watchtower May 15th, 1995 page 12 Flashes of Light in Apostolic Times

  It is easy to see why certain early Jewish Christians wanted to retain this symbol. Some of them had quite a discussion with Paul and Barnabas about this matter. To settle it, Paul and others went to Jerusalem to consult the Christian governing body.Acts 15:1, 2.

  (NWT)Acts 15:1-2 15 And certain men came down from Ju·de'a and began to teach the brothers: "Unless YOU get circumcised according to the custom of Moses, YOU cannot be saved." 2 But when there had occurred no little dissension and disputing by Paul and Bar'na·bas with them, they arranged for Paul and Bar'na·bas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute.

  To have a better view of this event one should consider also the text in Galatians 2:1-2

  (NWT)"2 Then after fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Bar'na·bas, taking also Titus along with me. 2 But I went up as a result of a revelation."

  With the help of the letter to the Galatians we can easily see that the apostle Paul

  had not been to Jerusalem in 14 years and that he went there ONLY because he had a revelation, not because he was summoned by a centralized ' governing body ' but because

  there was a particular dispute that had originated in Jerusalem - the circumcision -.

  Comment from Mizpah - July 2003 - :

  The issue of circumcision emanated from the Judaizers in Jerusalem. So, Paul and Banabus were selected by the congregation in Antioch to be sent to Jerusalem, the origin of the problem, to consider this important issue in front of "whole assembly." The respected opinions of the apostles and elders were circulated to those areas where the issue was most pressing. Beyond this particular account, no mention is ever made about another meeting of this sort. It certainly did not indicate that a "governing body" existed in the 1st century.

  But it is worthy to note that the apostle Paul and others did not feel the need, before or after this meeting to be appointed an assignment or to get the approval of a "governing body" to perform their ministry work. It was the holy spirit acting upon these faithful men that directed their work. Paul makes this very clear in his letter to the Galatians.

  Another article:

  'The Watchtower ' May 15th, 1995 page 22 Flashes of Light-Great and Small (Part 2)

  This was in line with what took place in apostolic times. Men such as Timothy and Titus were appointed as overseers by the first-century governing body. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:22; Titus 1:5-9)

  (NWT)Titus 1:5 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders;

  The scripture found at 1 Timothy 3:1-7 says nothing about Timothy or Titus being appointed by any centralized ' governing body ' all it refers to is the qualifications of elders and servants. As for the text of Titus 1:5 , a closer examination reveals that

  since Paul was writing to Titus ,it was on his instructions to make appointments.

  These instructions as clearly shown by Scriptures, do not come from a centralized

  ' governing body ' residing in Jerusalem. Paul clearly gave instructions to Titus that :

  he might "... make appointments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders "

  The scriptures clearly and plainly indicate that Titus was to act on his own and as Paul

  wrrote : " ...as I gave you orders "

  Nowhere in the Bible the apostles Paul, Peter, John, Luke, Jude or James indicate that there was a governing body or any centralized supervisory body existing in Jerusalem, a body that exercised control of the early Christians. On the basis of the Scriptures

  there is nothing to indicate that the activities of Paul, Barnabas or Peter or any other person were carried out under the direction and supervision of a centralized 'governing

  body', whose headquarters where located in Jerusalem.

  In conclusion we are left with the question :

  "Where did this ' governing body' idea/viewpoint/teaching/dogma

  originated from???

  Well I’ll try to provide a logical and factual answer in - part two -.

  Greetings, J.C. MacHislopp

  "Quicumque turpi fraude semel innotuit, Ignavis etiam iocus est in casu gravi" (Fedro, I, 21 )
• 
  28

  "AMICUS CURIAE", the USA’ Supreme Court and the WTBS Inc.

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  swaggart ministries v. cal.

  amicus curiae ".

  amicus curiae '

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  thanks for your appreciation and your interesting comments.

  First of all allow me to give some more comments on the new additional posts.

  From Jourles:

  « Notice how the Society says that they want to "distinguish" themselves from Babylon the Great?

  The previous paragraphs leading up to that statement make you believe that "simplification" is key and that Jehovah is behind these "richly blessed...efforts to simplify."

  Of course, only a thinly-veiled effort is made to explain the reason for this new simplification.

  Here again, the Society uses code-language by saying, "many have noted that secular authorities..."

  And

  « Why not just come out and explain the true reason for the change?

  They must be afraid of the R&F researching which "Supreme Court decisions" required this change and then finding out they became a "friend of the court" for Swaggart."

  That’s it, Jourles ! Thanks for putting things straight….and showing the real interests

  of the WTBS Inc. Btw, many thanks for posting the WTBS’ letter – straight to the file -

  From Crownboy:

  « But as Jourles' letters point out, the real wrong came when the Society misrepresented their position to the congregations.

  They figured saying that they wanted to "simplify" their arrangement was nicer than saying that they wanted to practice tax avoidance, so they mislead people to keep the prestine image of the Society intact. «

  Very well worded. Thanks

  From Mizpah:

  But it is the Watchtower's religious aspect that is in question. Over the years, it stressed to all of us that we should not do things that even "give appearance of sin."

  Thus, many brothers were thrown into a quandry for having the slightest association with "Babylon the Great."

  So, many of us were shocked when it supported this effort of the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries in its legal battle.

  Maybe it is making "a mountain out of a mole hill." But for us who had to digest all of the Watchtower's rules and regulations over the years while it pontificated about the dangers of being part of "Babylon the Great" the mole hill is a mountain!

  And :

  All the new arrangement of the Watchtower Society has done is to put the burden of expense upon its members. The Watchtower Society itself does not take a loss. It never did.

  Thanks for the nicely written reminders. Useful for those with short memory, concerning

  the WTBS Inc. past dealings. Here it is another…very clear reminder :

  *** km 3/91 p. 3 Our Simplified Literature Distribution Arrangement ***

  1 The simplified arrangement of distributing literature without charge has now been in effect for one year. Has this arrangement proved successful? Field service reports reveal increased placements in all categories. Literally millions of persons are being given the opportunity to “come . . . take life’s water free.”—Rev. 22:17.

  2 However, we are not obligated, nor is it our desire, to hand out literature indiscriminately to just any person who will accept it. Just as we wisely use our own material goods, each publisher has the responsibility to make wise use of the literature he or she receives without charge from the Society through the local congregation. That the Society makes its literature available to publishers without charge certainly does not mean that no cost is incurred in its production and distribution. All should especially appreciate the value of our literature in helping honesthearted persons in their quest for accurate knowledge concerning Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ.—John 17:3.

  3 How is the Society able to provide its literature to all without charge?

  The unavoidable costs incurred in its production and distribution are cared for by donations.

  Jehovah’s dedicated servants are the primary source of this support.

  Jehovah’s Witnesses have not looked to the public to support this most urgent Kingdom proclamation work. We have never before nor are we now engaged in public fund-raising. However, small donations from sincerely interested and appreciative persons that we meet in the field are appreciated.

  And this one too :

  *** km 3/91 pp. 3-4 Our Simplified Literature Distribution Arrangement ***

  7 The simplified literature distribution arrangement helps everyone see that our Bible educational work is not commercial in any way. It also helps us to keep to the fore our objective of preaching the Kingdom good news and making disciples of Jesus Christ. In sharp contrast to organizations that engage in “charitable solicitation,” Jehovah’s Witnesses are pleased to see to it that literature can be made available to all without charge. Donations toward the worldwide work are never solicited from those not genuinely interested in our message. (See The Watchtower, December 1, 1990, pages 22 and 23.) One hundred percent of all donations is used to support this worldwide Bible educational work, since all the workers are volunteers and no salaries or commissions are paid to anyone in the organization . The matter of donations to assist with the worldwide work is only considered with those who inquire or who otherwise indicate an interest in our work.

  From Bluesapphire :

  « They demand their rights while keeping the same rights from their members. I as an individual would love to deliver my message about the Watchtower Society to my sister without being suppressed by an intolerant society as well.

  ….But you know and I know that the Watchtower would love to shut the Mormons down.

  And another true case scenario is my own husband who was required to turn down an excellent opportunity to make a great profit in his painting business. But he turned it down because the elders wouldn't let him due to it was painting a Catholic Church. «

  Thanks for your comment and true life testimony…to confirm the intolerant attitude of the WTBS Inc.

  Furthermore as I did announce in my post, here below there are some more informations about the organizations/associations that filed with the Supreme Court a "Brief Amicus Curiae " in the « Stratton – Ohio » case :

  ***Real Campaignreform. Org, Inc;

  "RealCampaignReform.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational and citizens' lobbying organization promoting free and open elections, and a robust participatory democracy for all Americans. We are supported by thousands of individual donors who are outraged by the tactics employed by the ruling parties to perpetuate their monopoly of political and governmental power.

  If you share our outrage, please support our educational and lobbying efforts by making a contribution .

  One of our objectives is to publicize and promote public interest lawsuits that challenge existing campaign regulations. We are currently promoting a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of both the newly passed Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 and the Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1971 on the grounds that they violate the Freedom of the Press. There are five other cases filed (and they are likely to be consolidated), challenging the law based on freedom of speech, association, and other claims. But this lawsuit is the first since Buckley v. Valeo to challenge federal campaign finance laws, arguing that they amount to a government license on press activity. If this case is ultimately successful, the ability of the Federal Election Commission to enforce many campaign finance laws involving individuals and political campaigns -- including contribution limits and reporting requirements -- would no longer be coercive, but voluntary. ( Click here to learn more.)

  If you want to support the plaintiffs in their crusade to make free speech legal again, please make a contribution to the U.S. Justice Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax exempt charitable foundation. Contributions made to the U.S. Justice Foundation are tax deductible."

  The web page is :

  http://www.realcampaignreform.org/about_us.htm

  
  

  
  

  ***Free Speech Defense and Education Fund, Inc.;

  "The Free Speech Coalition, Inc. is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization which educates, lobbies, and litigates to defend the rights of advocacy organizations and their members. FSC needs your support to continue its fight to protect the rights of citizens to associate together and exercise their First Amendment right to petition their government for redress of their grievances. Contributions to the Free Speech Coalition, Inc. are not tax-deductible. However, contributions to the Free Speech Defense & Education Fund, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity, are tax-deductible."

  The web pages is :

  http://www.freespeechcoalition.org/nwsv4n4.htm

  ***Lincoln Institute for Research and Education;

  "... In terms of institutional structures for disseminating Black conservative

  ideas, the Lincoln Institute for Research and Education in Washington,

  DC, is the ... "

  (The information comes from an article at this web page:

  http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v07n3/Blackcon-02.htm )

  Part of it ,

  Quote:

  " The Lincoln Institute & Clarence Thomas

  In terms of institutional structures for disseminating Black conservative ideas, the Lincoln Institute for Research and Education in Washington, DC, is the bastion of Black conservatism. Founded by Jay A. Parker in 1978, the Institute illustrates the typically overlooked importance of Black conservatives to conservative US foreign policy agendas.

  Since its founding, the Lincoln Institute has had close ties to the extreme rightist World Anti-Communist League (WACL). WACL aggressively supported right-wing governments and military movements in Central America and Southern Africa, such as the Contras in Nicaragua, the ARENA Party in El Salvador, UNITA in Angola, RENAMO in Mozambique, and the Inkatha Freedom Party in South Africa, among others. Parker served on the Board of the US WACL affiliate and Lee Edwards, another Lincoln Institute founder, was a principal WACL organizer in the United States and WACL's registered agent in 1982 "

  End of Quote.

  ***Capitol Hill Prayer Alert Foundation;

  web pages at:

  http://www.prayeralert.org/

  "Revival work that seeks to revive the church of Jesus

  Christ to a holy walk through Bible study and prayer "

  ***Gun Owners of America, Inc.

  you have to see their web pages at:

  http://www.gunowners.org/index.html

  Then some of the WBTS Inc. quotes concerning

  Jimmy SWAGGART :

  *** g87 7/22 p. 29 Watching the World ***

  Electronic Church Scandal

  Former television evangelist Jim Bakker and his wife Tammy received $4.8 million in salary, bonuses and other payments from their TV ministry between January 1984 and March 1987, reported The Charlotte Observer, a North Carolina newspaper in the United States. Bakker resigned as head of the PTL (Praise the Lord) television ministry in March after admitting to “a sexual encounter” in 1980 with a young church secretary. Just before his confession, his wife revealed that she had become addicted to prescription drugs . Another TV evangelist, Jimmy Swaggart, commenting on the scandal surrounding the Bakkers said: “The Gospel of Jesus Christ has never sunk to such a low level as it has today.” What really though has sunk—the gospel or the TV gospelers?

  *** g88 3/22 p. 7 Do Today’s Religions Feed or Fleece the Flock? ***

  Pentecostal preacher Jimmy Swaggart is said to be TV’s most popular evangelist, reaching eight million viewers each Sunday. A leading gospel-music singer, he has earned $100 million from his recordings. About the Bakker upheaval, Swaggart said: “I felt that entire debacle was a cancer that needed to be excised from the body of Christ.” On a later occasion Swaggart added: “People are going to say, ‘Hey, they’ve been ripping off the public.’ And to be honest with you, that’s exactly what was being done.”

  But from news reports it seems Swaggart himself was not far behind. Newsweek reported that George Jernigan, a former executive of Swaggart’s, claimed that Swaggart “raised $20 million for a children’s fund but spent less than 10 percent of it on the program. Says Jernigan: ‘the rest was spent in Baton Rouge’ where, WBRZ-TV reports, the Swaggart compound includes Jimmy’s $1 million home, his son’s $776,000 spread and his grandchild’s air-conditioned tree house.”

  *** g88 7/8 p. 31 Sex Scandals Pull Plug on TV Evangelists ***

  A later scandal, though, swirled around Jimmy Swaggart, the evangelist who criticized the sexual escapades of rival TV preachers Jim Bakker and Marvin Gorman. According to reports, Gorman, in turn, secured pictures of Swaggart with a prostitute . Examining the sordid mess, New York Post columnist Carl T. Rowan observed:

  “The worst thing Swaggart has done, in my mind, was not his taking a prostitute into a motel. It was his hypocritical effort to destroy utterly the Rev. Jim Bakker after it became known that the head of the PTL Ministry had had a sordid sexual relationship with church secretary Jessica Hahn.

  “Swaggart’s hypocritical attack on Bakker and the PTL was a clear attempt to bring to his empire the dollars the gullible were pouring into Bakker’s domain.

  “The thing most comparable is of one drug-trade kingpin striking to wipe out another and take over his turf.

  “The analogy is not farfetched,” says Rowan . “The Swaggarts, Bakkers, Gormans and others dispense a narcotic called religion, and in the process they give genuine religion a bad name.”

  *** g89 7/8 p. 28 Watching the World ***

  A BAD YEAR FOR RELIGION

  According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, people in the United States are losing their respect for organized religion. Gallup surveys in 1988 showed that, compared to 1986, more Americans had lost confidence in the ethics of the clergy and felt that religion was losing its influence on society. The report noted that the disillusionment was most marked among minorities and Evangelical, or “born-again,” Christians, citing as apparent causes the scandals involving such television preachers as Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker.

  Now in the year 2003, after all the continous scandals that are coming to public

  knowledge, would « …people in the United States … » begin to « …lose their respect «

  for the ‘religious ‘ organization called « The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

  of New York, Inc better known as the ‘ Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘ ???

  What about headlines such as this :

  « Jehovah’s Witnesses hit with rash of sex-abuse suits »

  from the « San Francisco Chronicle « Thursday , July 31, 2003

  (web page : http://www.sfgate.com/chi-bin/article.cgi?file=chronicle/archive/2003/07/31 )

  Finally I’m giving here some more interesting details concerning

  the partecipants to the " CESNUR 's 12th International Conference"

  from : http://www.cesnur.org/conferences/ces98_prog.htm

  CESNUR's 12th International Conference

  12° convegno internazionale del CESNUR

  Thursday September 10, 1998
  Giovedì 10 settembre 1998

  9-11 Plenary 1 / Sessione 1 (plenaria) President: Luigi BERZANO

  RELIGIOUS MINORITIES: TOWARDS THE 21st CENTURY

  MINORANZE RELIGIOSE ALLE SOGLIE DEL DUEMILA

  (simultaneous translation / traduzione simultanea)

  Indirizzo di benvenuto / Welcome Remarks - Giampiero LEO (Assessore alla Cultura, Regione Piemonte / Secretary of State for Culture, Piedmont )

  Chi ha paura delle minoranze religiose? / Who is Afraid of Religious Minorities? - Massimo INTROVIGNE (CESNUR, Torino)

  The Future of Religious Pluralism / Il futuro del pluralismo religioso - J. Gordon MELTON (Institute for the Study of American Religion, Santa Barbara, California)

  Western Esoteric Currents at this Turn of the Century: Continuity and New Perspectives / Le correnti esoteriche occidentali in questa fine di secolo: continuità e nuove prospettive - Antoine FAIVRE (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Religieuses, Sorbonne, Paris)

  11,15 - 13 Plenary 2 / Sessione 2 (plenaria) President: Liliane VOYE'

  GROWING RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

  MINORANZE RELIGIOSE IN CRESCITA

  (simultaneous translation / traduzione simultanea)

  Baha'i Methods of Mission: A Resource Mobilization Perspective / I metodi di missione Baha'i: una prospettiva di mobilitazione delle risorse - Margit WARBURG (University of Copenhagen)

  Pillarization in New Religious Movements Compared wit Traditional Pillarization in Europe / Il sistema dei "pilastri" nei nuovi movimenti religiosi paragonato al sistema tradizionale dei "pilastri" in Europa - Karel DOBBELAERE (Catholic University of Leuven)

  Making a Japanese Buddhist Sect an International Religious Movement: The Case of Soka Gakkai / La trasformazione di una denominazione buddhista giapponese in un movimento religioso internazionale: il caso della Soka Gakkai - Howard Eugene HUNTER (Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts)

  La Soka Gakkai in Italia / Soka Gakkai in Italy - Maria Immacolata MACIOTI (Università "La Sapienza", Roma)

  14,30 - 16,30 Session 3 / Sessione 3 Presidente: PierLuigi ZOCCATELLI

  ESOTERISMO E NUOVE SPIRITUALITA' IN ITALIA

  La "proposta etica" della Massoneria di fine Novecento: ritorno al Grande Architetto o travestimento dell'esistenzialismo materialistico? - Aldo Alessandro MOLA (Università di Milano)

  L'Istituto per l'Evoluzione Armonica dell'Uomo di Om Oskraham e Halladhah Hanahit - Marco PASI (dottorando, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Religieuses, Sorbona, Parigi)

  La Chiesa dell'Anima Universale - Veronica ROLDAN (dottoranda, Università Cattolica di Milano)

  Le tecniche psico-corporee: mezzo di supporto per l'emergere dell'armonia dell'uomo o auto-idolatria? - Maria Raffaella DALLA VALLE (Verona)

  Vita Universale: una ricerca - Gianni TRAPLETTI (Brescia)

  14,30 - 16,30 Session 4 / Sessione 4 President: Margit WARBURG

  RELIGIOUS MINORITIES AROUND THE BALTIC

  Religious Minorities and Religious Rights: The Case of Immigrant Religious Groups and New Religious Movements - Jonas ALWALL (Church of Sweden Research Department)

  Mainline Churches and New Religious Movements in Sweden: A Report on Membership - Margareta SKOG (Church of Sweden Research Department)

  The New Religions in Latvia in 1997-1998 - Solveiga KRUMINA KONKOVA (University of Latvia)

  The Societal Reactions Towards New Religious Movements in Poland - Tadeusz DOKTOR (Warszaw University)

  Contemporary Beliefs in the Paranormal in France, Latvia and Sweden - Ulf SJÖDIN (Umeå University)

  14,30 - 16,45 Session 5 / Sessione 5 President: Michael W. HOMER

  CULT CONTROVERSIES AND THE DEFINITION OF RELIGION

  Defining Religion in American Law - Bruce CASINO (Attorney, Washington DC)

  The State of Religious Freedom and Anti-Cult Movements in Austria - Christian BRÜNNER (University of Graz)

  The Term "Sect", a Political Weapon -- or Why Are Secular Associations being Stigmatised with This Term? - Robert PRANTNER (Philosophisch-Theologisch Hochschule Heiligenkreutz, Austria)

  New Religious Movements and Anti-Cult Movements in Poland - Szymon BEZNIC (Jagellonian University, Krakow)

  Evangelism, Boundary Maintenance and Demonization: Some Strategies of a Christian Fundamentalist Anti-Cult Organization - Stephen HUNT (University of Reading)

  An Issue of Control: Conflict between the Church in Island Pond and State Government - Jean SWANTKO (Attorney, Vermont)

  14,30 - 15,50 Session 6 / Sessione 6 President: Constance JONES

  A CONVERSATION ON GURDJIEFF

  Gurdjieff, Blavatsky, and the Masters of Wisdom - Sy GINSBURG (Delray Beach, Florida)

  Addressing the Question of Higher Mind - H. J. SHARP (Littlehampton, England)

  The Messengers from Above and Mr. Gurdjieff's Teachings - Nicolas TERESHCHENKO (Paris)

  Unsolicited Borrowing of Gurdjieff's ideas by Some Spiritual Groups - Dimitri PERETZI (Athens)

  16 - 17,25 Session 7 / Sessione 7 Président: Olivier-Louis SÉGUY

  GNOSES MODERNES ET ANCIENNES

  Spiritualité: approche d'une définition et d'une typologie - François FAVRE (Rueil Malmaison, France)

  Approche scientifique et gnostique du processus d'éveil de l'âme -- Pierre GOHAR (Nouaillé Maupertuis, France)

  Une vision inhabituelle de la nature: l'homme dans une autre dimension - Jean-Claude PASCAL (Mareil-sur-Mauldre, France)

  L'ésotérisme aux temps modernes: mythe, religion ou science? - Orestis TERZIDIS (Athènes)

  De l'éveil à l'illumination: un processus. Lecture croisée de Jacob Boheme et Jan van Rijckenborgh - Sébastien GRÉGOV (Fontainebleau, France)

  17,30 - 19 Session 8 / Sessione 8 President: JAMES RICHARDSON

  MORMONISM AS A RELIGIOUS MINORITY

  Waldensians, Mormons, and Missionaries in 19th Century Piedmont - Michael W. HOMER (CESNUR U.S.A., Salt Lake City, Utah)

  "The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism": Five Years Later - Grant UNDERWOOD (Brigham Young University Hawaii)

  Southern Baptists and Latter-day Saints: America's Largest Protestant Church Respond to Mormonism - Kent P. JACKSON (Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah)

  16.45 - 19 Session 9 / Sessione 9 Président: Antoine FAIVRE

  LES MOUVEMENTS ÉSOTÉRIQUES: DES MINORITÉS RELIGIEUSES?

  L'éxègese de l'oeuvre de Guénon au seuil de l'an 2000 - Jean-Pierre LAURANT (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Religieuses, Sorbonne, Paris)

  Un périodique des années 50: "L'Atelier de la Rose" - Xavier ACCART (Paris)

  L'Odinic Rite: Création, Re-création, Continuation ou Adaptation? - Arnaud d'APRÉMONT (candidat doctorant, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Religieuses, Sorbonne, Paris)

  Une conférence intitulée "Sectes: attention danger!" et la Religion Aumiste - Maurice DUVAL (Institut d'Ethnologie Méditerranéenne et Comparative, Aix-en-Provence)

  Le Pendule de Dyonisos: Une approche cyclique dans l'étude du développement para-religieux et déplacements du sacré actuels - Benjamin LEBLANC (candidat doctoral, Université de Montréal)

  16.45 - 19 Session 10 / Sessione 10 Presidente: Aldo Alessandro MOLA

  MINORANZE ITALIANE E STUDI ITALIANI SULLE MINORANZE

  La Chiesa Apostolica Italiana e il dialogo ecumenico tra le minoranze evangeliche - Mario AFFUSO (Prato)

  Paura in bianco e nero: la stampa e la Nation of Islam - Daniela FANTONI (laureanda, Università di Genova)

  Suggestione ritmica, aspetti terapeutici, psicologici ed etnoculturali del culto Zar - Mauro VILLONE e Elisabetta D'ANGIERI (Gente della Città Nuova, Torino)

  Comunità virtuali: la spiritualità in Internet - Paolo FEZZI (Milano)

  Il Gitananda Ashram: Una comunità induista in Italia - Cristina VALLE (Unione Induista Italiana, Carcare) - con un commento di S. Yoganda GIRI (Unione Induista Italiana, Carcare)

  17 - 19 Session 11 / Sessione 11 President: Reender KRANENBORG

  PERSPECTIVES FROM AFRICA AND BRAZIL

  The Political Significance of Religious Healing in Zambia: Suppression, Negation, Interference, Incorporation - Cor JONKER (John Moores University, Liverpool)

  Singing the Lord's Song in a Foreign Land: The Celestial Church of Christ in Europe - Afe ADOGAME (Universität Bayreuth)

  New Religious Movements in the Muslim World - Mark J. SEDGWICK (American University, Cairo)

  Female Images: The Reengineering of the Female Pentecostal on Television - Eliane Hojaij GOUVEIA (Catholic University of Sao Paulo)

  The Kardecist Spiritual Minority in Brazil - Céres de Carvalho MEDINA (Catholic University of Sao Paulo)

  19.15

  COCKTAIL "RELIGIONS AND MOVEMENTS"

  COCKTAIL "RELIGIONI E MOVIMENTI"

  The book collection "Religions and Movements" will be introduced by series general editor Massimo Introvigne and assistant editor PierLuigi Zoccatelli. New and forthcoming titles will be introduced by authors J. Gordon Melton ("The Children of God/The Family"; "The Church of Scientology") and Karel Dobbelaere ("Soka Gakkai"). Cocktails will be served.

  La collana di libri "Religioni e movimenti" sarà presentata dal direttore della collana Massimo Introvigne e dal redattore PierLuigi Zoccatelli. Nuovi e futuri titoli saranno presentati dagli autori J. Gordon Melton ("Dai Bambini di Dio a The Family"; "La Chiesa di Scientology") e Karel Dobbelaere ("La Soka Gakkai"). Seguirà un rinfresco.

  Saturday September 12, 1998
  Sabato 12 settembre 1998

  8,45-11 Plenary 24 / Sessione 24 (plenaria) President: Antoine FAIVRE

  EMMANUEL SWEDENBORG: RELIGIOUS INNOVATOR

  EMMANUEL SWEDENBORG COME INNOVATORE RELIGIOSO

  (simultaneous translation - traduzione simultanea)

  Is Swedenborg a Herald of the New Age? / Swedenborg: un araldo del New Age? - Jean-François MAYER (Fribourg, Switzerland)

  Contemporary Swedenborgian Organizations: A Sociological Comparison / Organizzazioni swedenborgiane contemporanee: una comparazione sociologica - Jane WILLIAMS-HOGAN (Academy of the New Church College, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania)

  Swedenborg and Scandinavia: Past, Present, Future / Swedenborg e la Scandinavia: passato, presente e futuro - Tore AHLBÄCK (Donner Institute, Aabo, Finland) and Ulf SJÖDIN (Umeå University)

  Video: Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, USA: A Swedenborgian Community (preview of CESNUR 1999 location) / Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, USA: una comunità swedenborgiana (uno sguardo alla sede del convegno CESNUR 1999)

  11,15-13 Plenary 25 / Sessione 25 (plenaria) President: Massimo INTROVIGNE

  THE FUTURE AND CHALLENGES OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

  IL FUTURO E LE SFIDE DEL PLURALISMO RELIGIOSO

  (simultaneous translation - traduzione simultanea)

  Minoranze islamiche nell'Europa Occidentale / Islamic Minorities in Western Europe - Andrea PACINI (Fondazione Agnelli, Torino)

  The Belgian Parliamentary Commission Investigates Cults / I lavori della commissione parlamentare belga d'inchiesta sulle sette - Liliane VOYE' (Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve)

  Whatever Next? Social Variables that Might Affect the Future of Religious and Spiritual Minorities in the 21st Century / Che cosa ci riserva il futuro? Variabili sociali che possono condizionare il futuro delle minoranze religiose e spirituali nel ventunesimo secolo - Eileen BARKER (London School of Economics)

  14,30 - 22

  FIELD TRIP TO DAMANHUR AND THE UNDERGROUND TEMPLE

  VISITA A DAMANHUR E AL TEMPIO SOTTERRANEO

  Established in 1977 Damanhur, with its 400 members, is one of the largest Aquarian/esoteric communities in the world. It became internationally famous in 1992 when its large Underground Temple, succesfully kept secret for fifteen years, was discovered. The Underground Temple is not normally open to the general public but will welcome participants to CESNUR 98. Registered participants to the field trip will be divided in groups for visiting the underground temple. They will also visit the above ground Open Temple and the community, and may attend either Session 25 or 26. Dinner will be served in Damanhur's well-known gourmet restaurant.

  Fondata nel 1977, con circa quattrocento membri, Damanhur è una delle più grandi comunità "acquariane" o esoteriche del mondo. E' diventata famosa su scala internazionale nel 1992 quando il suo grande Tempio Sotterraneo, la cui esistenza era stata tenuta segreta per quindici anni, è stato "scoperto". Il Tempio Sotterraneo non è generalmente aperto al grande pubblico, ma darà il suo benvenuto ai partecipanti al convegno CESNUR 98. I partecipanti iscritti a questa visita saranno divisi in gruppi per la visita al Tempio Sotterraneo. Visiteranno pure il Tempio Aperto e la comunità, e potranno assistere alla Sessione 25 o 26. La cena sarà servita nel noto ristorante gastronomico di Damanhur.

  and these informations also:

  CESNUR's 12th International Conference

  12° convegno internazionale del CESNUR

  Who can participate?

  Chi può iscriversi al congresso?

  Anyone with an interest for minority religions.

  Tutte le persone interessate al tema delle minoranze religiose.

  Important: for security reason please bring this programme when entering the premises of the Unione Industriale.

  Importante: per ragioni di sicurezza è necessario esibire questo invito-programma onde avere accesso all'Unione Industriale.

  How to Register

  Come iscriversi

  * On-line registration

  *Iscrizione on line

  *By mail or fax before August 31, 1998. Send registration form and payment to CESNUR, Via Juvarra 20, 10122 Torino, Italy.

  *Per posta o telefax entro il 31 agosto 1998, inviando il modulo di iscrizione e il pagamento a CESNUR, Via Juvarra 20, 10122 Torino, Italia

  *At the conference in Turin at CESNUR (Via Juvarra 20) Wednesday September 9 between 10-13 and 16-18 or at the Unione Industriale Thursday September 10 between 8,30-9.

  *Sul posto al CESNUR (Via Juvarra 20) mercoledì 9 settembre dalle 10 alle 13 o dalle 16 alle 18 o all'Unione Industriale giovedì 10 settembre dalle 8,30 alle 9.

  Registration Fee

  Tassa di iscrizione

  $60 or Lire 100.000 ($30 or Lire 50.000 for full-time students under 25)

  $ 60 o Lire 100.000 ($30 o Lire 50.000 per studenti sotto i 25 anni)

  (For one day only: $ 30 or Lire 50.000 for each day)

  (Per un giorno solo: $ 30 o Lire 50.000 per ciascun giorno)

  Those presenting a paper shall pay the normal registration fee.

  I relatori sono tenuti al pagamento della normale tassa di iscrizione.

  What is Included in the Registration Fee

  Che cosa è compreso nella tassa di iscrizione

  -Conference attendance from Thursday morning to Saturday morning included

  -Use of the simultaneous translation apparatus for the plenary sessions

  -Morning coffee breaks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday

  -Cocktail "Religions and Movements" on Thursday

  -Partecipazione al convegno da giovedì mattina a sabato mattina compreso

  -Uso delle cuffie per la traduzione simultanea nelle sessioni plenarie

  -Coffee breaks del mattino di giovedì, venerdì e sabato

  -Cocktail "Religioni e Movimenti" di giovedì

  What is NOT included in the Registration Fee

  Che cosa NON è compreso nella tassa di iscrizione

  -Business lunch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (each $ 22 or Lire 38.000)

  -Banquet "The Politics of Religious Liberty" on Friday ($ 40 or Lire 70.000)

  -Field Trip to Damanhur on Saturday ($ 50 or Lire 90.000, including transportation and dinner)

  Tickets for these events may be pre-purchased with the registration (see registration form) or purchased at the conference until available and at any rate at least 3 hours before the event.

  -Pranzo business di giovedì, venerdì e sabato (ciascuno $ 22 o Lire 38.000)

  -Banchetto "La politica della libertà religiosa" di venerdì ($ 40 o Lire 70.000)

  -Escursione a Damanhur del sabato ($ 50 o Lire 90.000, compreso trasporto e cena).

  I biglietti per questi eventi possono essere pre-acquistati con il modulo di iscrizione o acquistati al convegno nei limiti dei posti disponibili e comunque almeno tre ore prima dell'evento.

  How to Pay

  Come pagare

  By credit card (VISA - MasterCard - Eurocard - Cartasì only), through the on-line or off-line form . Birth date required.

  By cheque or international money order made out in the name of CESNUR and sent to CESNUR, Via Juvarra 20, 10122 Torino, Italy, before August 15, 1998.

  By bank draft to account 809 in the name of CESNUR, San Paolo Bank, Branch 35, Via Passalacqua 6, Torino, bank codes 1025.01174.

  When registering in Torino with an additional fee of $ 10 or Lira 18.000.

  Con carta di credito (solo VISA - MasterCard - Eurocard - Cartasì) tramite il modulo on-line o quello off-line . E' indispensabile indicare la data di nascita.

  Con assegno o vaglia postale intestato al CESNUR e inviato al CESNUR, Via Juvarra 20, 10122 Torino.

  Con versamento sul conto corrente bancario 809 intestato al CESNUR, presso San Paolo, Filiale 35, Via Passalacqua 6, Torino, codici ABI e CAB 1025.00174.

  O al momento dell'iscrizione presso il convegno, in questo caso con una sovrattassa di $ 10 o Lire 18.000.

  Accomodations

  Alberghi

  Unione Industriale is situated in downtown Turin. There are a number of fine hotels in all ranges of expense in Turin and you may want to reserve directly or through your usual travel agent.

  L'Unione Industriale è situata nel centro di Torino. La città dispone di un'ampia gamma di alberghi in ogni categoria di costo, e i partecipanti sono invitati a provvedere direttamente alle prenotazioni.

  Selling Books

  Vendita di libri

  The sale of books will be limited to books by participants presenting a paper at the conference (as authors, co-authors or editors). A location will be identified for that purpose and a member of the staff will be there all day long. There will be a handling fee of ten percent on all sales of books left by authors with the conference staff.

  La vendita sarà limitata ai libri di cui gli oratori del convegno sono autori, co-autori o curatori. Una libreria custodita sarà in funzione per tutta la durata del convegno. Gli autori potranno depositarvi i loro libri per la vendita, che sarà curata dallo staff del convegno trattenendo un contributo spese del dieci per cento.

  Informazioni

  Information

  CESNUR - Via Juvarra 20 -10122 Torino, Italy.

  Phone : (39) - 11 - 541950

  Fax (39) - 11- 541905

  E-mail [email protected] URL: www.cesnur.org

  CESNUR is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be closed from July 30 to August 23 for summer holidays. It will be open on Wednesday September 9 from 10 a.m. t o 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the purpose of registering for the conference (no visits to the library). It will be closed during the conference and will reopen on September 14.

  Il CESNUR è aperto dal lunedì al venerdì dalle 10 alle 13. Rimarrà chiuso per le vacanze estive dal 30 luglio al 23 agosto. Sarà aperto mercoledì 9 settembre dale 10 alle 13 e dalle 16 alle 18 per le iscrizioni al convegno (non sarà possibile visitare la biblioteca). Rimarrà chiuso durante il convegno e riaprirà con ilconsueto orario lunedì 14 settembre.

  CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions, headquartered in Torino, Italy, is an independent, international, non-governmental, educational, informational network of organizations whose purpose is to serve as an international forum for scholars; to sponsor, support and conduct conferences, seminars, research and educational programs; and to promote publications of new works in the field of new religions and religious or spiritual minorities. CESNUR is independent from any church, denomination or religious organization or movement. Individual religious affiliations of directors vary, and are unrelated to CESNUR as an association. CESNUR gratefully acknowledges support by the Region of Piedmont for its library and activities.

  The library located in Torino, Via Juvarra 20, hosts more than 11,000 books on religious minorities, the new religious consciousness, and some related fields. The library catalogue is fully accessible on CESNUR's Web site where information on CESNUR activities and a variety of other topics are also offered.

  Yearly conferences are organized since 1988 alternatively in Europe and the Americas. With more than 100 papers in a variety of scholarly fields the 10th anniversary conference in Turin will offer a large overview of the situation of religious minorities and new religious movements throughout the world at this turn of the century.

  Il CESNUR, il Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni, che ha il suo centro di coordinamento a Torino, è una rete internazionale di associazioni indipendenti, non governative, di educazione e di informazione il cui scopo - nel campo dei nuovi movimenti religiosi, delle minoranze religiose o spirituali e della nuova religiosità - è fungere da centro internazionale di discussione e di confronto per gli specialisti; promuovere, sostenere e organizzare convegni, seminari, progetti di formazione e di ricerca; e favorire la pubblicazione di nuovi lavori. Il CESNUR è indipendente da qualunque Chiesa, denominazione, organizzazione o movimento religioso. Le affiliazioni religiose individuali degli amministratori del CESNUR sono diverse fra loro e non coinvolgono il CESNUR in quanto associazione. Il CESNUR ringrazia la Regione Piemonte per il sostegno alla sua biblioteca e alle sue attività.

  La biblioteca del CESNUR ha sede a Torino, in Via Juvarra 20, e ospita oltre undicimila volumi sulle minoranze religiose, la nuova religiosità e alcuni altri argomenti collegati. Il catalogo della libreria è completamente accessibile sul sito Internet del CESNUR (dove si troveranno pure informazioni sulle attività del CESNUR e su una varietà di altri argomenti)

  Convegni annuali sono organizzati dal 1988, ad anni alternati in Europa e nelle Americhe. Con più di cento relazioni su un'ampia varietà di argomenti e settori di ricerca, il convegno del decimo anniversario che si tiene a Torino intende offrire una comprensiva panoramica sulla situazione delle minoranze religiose e dei nuovi movimenti religiosi nel mondo alle soglie del Duemila.

  End of Quote

  Greetings, James Charles MacHislopp

  "Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas " (Ammonio, Vita d ' Aristotele)
• 
  28

  "AMICUS CURIAE", the USA’ Supreme Court and the WTBS Inc.

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  swaggart ministries v. cal.

  amicus curiae ".

  amicus curiae '

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Everyone,

  thanks for your appreciation and your interesting comments.

  From MIZPAH

  "...the Watchtower Society changed their whole program for distributing literature. It will never admit that it was primarily this case..."

  Yes, many of us on this Board found out but the greater number of the

  'R&F' has always been kept in the dark.

  Ashitaka and Reborn 2002 : I do agree with you. We should keep informed as many as we can, with a particular attention to the newcomers of this Board.

  From Zev :

  "....The main problem is that the Society misrepresented the reason why they changed the donation policy, or at least they were less than forthright. "

  Very true, nevertheless the real reason ist still unknown today by most JW's.

  From Just2laws:

  "...Legally and financially it was a wise course. Morally it was hypocritical. "

  True, but as you and Mizpah have already written ... any similar action by a JW's ...and the JC

  would have promptly dsf the " guilty" brother/sister for association and /or active support of the great harlot...Babylon.

  I do also find Mizpah true life experience, a confirmation of the WTBS Inc. attitude, and her

  directives/counsels applied by the local BOE. His final comment is really a gem:

  "... to show how exacting the Watchtower requires its own members to obey the rules but feels free to pursue any course that protects its own business interests. "!!!

  From waiting :

  "..I remember being appalled at the WTBTS & Jimmy Swaggart when I found it (thanks to an apostate site )."

  I did feel disgust for such a high level...should I say pharisiacal level of hypocrisy, on the part

  of the WTBS Inc. which claims things like:

  "The Watchtower is written to upbuild and bless... It does not provide some man's opinion, because what it is said is based on a Greater One's thought. "

  (w. 58 7/1 p. 406 )

  From Euphemism:

  "It simply signifies that the filer is aware that -their own interests will be affected -

  by the precedent of this decision. "

  True, it is correct from the legal viewpoint, but is it morally correct, is it really a way

  to act, following Jesus' example or is there infact a real demonstration of another legal

  expedient to avoid ...loss of revenue, to avoid paying taxes ...???

  To use a similar analogy - from the WTBS Inc. - : "...could your motives and actions be approved by Jesus Christ? " Finally if all these action were , from a Christian moral viewpoint, insignificant, why the WTBS Inc. has never informed, published something about?

  And when they do publish something ...the most significant, revealing parts are left out.

  So, it is with the aim of showing the real true attitude of the WTBS Inc,

  that I have prepared more material , just as a reminder, to prove what

  kind of association/support /counsel has been seeking - and still is - the

  WTBS Inc. , which claims to be :

  " Jehovah's visible channel of communication "

  (w.59 10/1 pages 601-602 )

  or if you prefer

  " ...the channel of communication from heaven to earth ..."

  (w. 60 7/15 page 439 'Staying Awake with the "Faithful and Discreet Slave ").

  As a matter of fact, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Ney York, Inc. and in general the JW's have always claimed and taught publicly and in writing, to be against interfaith 'contamination' considering all other forms of religion other than themselves, "false" and collectively making up "Babylon The Great"

  However, seeking to join a Forum/Conference/International Conference/Gathering/

  Reunion/Meeting of sociologists, scholars and other religious organizations in a united effort for silencing secular and government critics through " CESNUR ", the WTBS Inc. has officially broken with their past history of shunning other religions and have opted to participate with the Church of Scientology, the Unification Church, the Transylvanian Society of Dracula , and other groups. It was only public awareness by anti-cult organizations and groups that

  caused/forced their cancellation from this CESNUR 's 12th International Conference,

  claiming "previous engagements."

  This was the famous conference, from : http://www.cesnur.org/conferences/ces98_prog.htm

  Here are the details of the 'Plenary Session' for Friday, September 11 1998

  (from: http://www.cesnur.org/conferences/ces98_prog.htm )

  Quote:

  CESNUR's 12th International Conference

  12° convegno internazionale del CESNUR

  Friday September 11, 1998

  Venerdì 11 settembre 1998

  8.45 - 11 Plenary Session 12 / Sessione 12 (plenaria) President: Karel DOBBELAERE

  BELIEF, BEHAVIOR, AND THE NEW AGE

  CREDENZE, COMPORTAMENTI E NEW AGE

  (simultaneous translation / traduzione simultanea)

  Il New Age tra crisi e rinnovamento / New Age: Between Crisis and Renewal - Enzo PACE (Università di Padova)

  The UFO-Contactees as a Category in the History of Religions / I contattisti dei dischi volanti come categoria nella storia delle religioni - Mikael ROTHSTEIN (University of Copenhagen)

  The Raelians, UFO Religions and the Postmodern Condition / I raeliani, le religioni ufologiche e la condizione postmoderna - Susan PALMER e Bryan SENTES (Dawson College, Montreal)

  Credenze, comportamenti e New Age tra i giovani in Italia / Belief, Behavior, and the New Age among Italian Teenagers - Franco GARELLI (Università di Torino)

  The Aryan Christ of the New Age / Il Cristo "ariano" del New Age - Reender KRANENBORG (Free University of Amsterdam)

  11,15 - 13 Plenary Session 13 / Sessione 13 (plenaria) President: Eileen BARKER

  RELIGIOUS MINORITIES AND CULT CONTROVERSIES IN RUSSIA

  MINORANZE RELIGIOSE E CONTROVERSIE SULLE "SETTE" IN RUSSIA

  (simultaneous translation / traduzione simultanea)

  New Religious Movements in Today's Russia - Boris FALIKOV (University of Moscow)

  Court Cases Involving New Religious Movements in Russia - James RICHARDSON (University of Nevada, Reno)

  Westen Anti-Cult Movement and the Russian Debate on New Religious Movements - Marat SHTERIN (Doctoral Candidate, London School of Economics)

  The Anti-Cult Movement and Legal Practice in Russia - Galina KRYLOVA (Attorney, Moscow)

  14,30 - 16,30 Session 14 / Sessione 14 Presidente: Pier Marco FERRARESI

  SCUOLE ESOTERICHE

  Origini della scuola kremmerziana - Ariella CASIMIRI (Torino)

  Kremmerz e la Fratellanza di Myriam - Daniela BOVOLENTA (Torino)

  Gli Arcana Arcanorum e la magia trasmutatoria: un'indagine - PierLuigi ZOCCATELLI (CESNUR, Verona)

  Fidus (Hugo Höppener 1868-1948), un artista fra esoterismo e politica - Ermanno PAVESI (psichiatra, Siggenthal, Svizzera)

  14,30 - 16,30 Session 15 / Session 15 President: Constance JONES

  MSIA: THE MOVEMENT OF SPIRITUAL INNER AWARENESS IN SCHOLARLY PERSPECTIVE

  The Origins and History of MSIA - Massimo INTROVIGNE (CESNUR, Torino)

  MSIA's Religious Doctrine and Worldview - J. Gordon MELTON (Institute for the Study of American Religion, Santa Barbara, California)

  MSIA and "Spiritual Plagiarism" - James R. LEWIS (Santa Barbara, California)

  A Demographic Survey of the Membership of MSIA - Michela ZONTA (Ph. D. Candidate, University of California, Santa Barbara)

  14,30 - 16,30 Session 16 / Sessione 16 Président: Jean-François MAYER

  RELIGIONS DE GUÉRISON

  Médecine, guérison et droit pénal - Olivier-Louis SÉGUY (Avocat, Paris)

  Questions pour une sociologie des religions de guérison - Régis DERICQUEBOURG (Université de Lille)

  Rapport entre salut et guérison dans quelques nouvelles religions japonaises - Louis HOURMANT (CNRS, Paris)

  Occultisme et science médicale de la Renaissance à nos jours - Jean-Pierre LAURANT (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Religieuses, Sorbonne, Paris)

  Aux frontières du corps parlant, le sujet en question? - Guy-Robert ST.-ARNAUD (Université de Montréal)

  14,30 - 16 Session 17 / Sessione 17 Presidente: Luigi BERZANO

  IL CANDOMBLÉ DAL BRASILE ALL'EUROPA

  Axé: Exú - Iemanjá - Teresinha BERNARDO (Università Cattolica di Sao Paulo)

  Migrazioni religiose e processi di adattamento: il candomblé dal nuovo al vecchio mondo - Luisa FALDINI PIZZORNO (Università di Genova)

  Le strade del candomblé e le entità della strada - Tiziana TONON (laureanda, Università di Genova)

  16.15 - 17.45 Session 18 / Sessione 18 President: Régis DERICQUEBOURG

  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: SOCIOLOGICAL AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES

  Jehovah's Witnesses in Latvia in the 20th Century - Nikandr GILLS (University of Latvia)

  The Bulgarian Jehovah's Witnesses and the European Court of Human Rights - Alain GARAY (Attorney, Paris)

  Jehovah's Witnesses: Patterns and Trends in Relationships with Public Authorities - Carolyn R. WAH (Attorney, Patterson, New Jersey)

  Respondents: James N. PELLECHIA (Watch Tower Society, Brooklyn, New York) and Gajus GLOCKENTIN (Wachtturm Bibel und Traktat-Gesellschaft, Selters, Germany)

  18-19 Session 19 / Sessione 19 President: James R. LEWIS

  RAMTHA'S SCHOOL OF ANCIENT WISDOM

  Finding Enlightenment: Ramtha's School of Ancient Wisdom - J. Gordon MELTON (Institute for the Study of American Religion, Santa Barbara, California) introduces his book

  Ramtha, Androginy and Empowerment: Feminism, Romanticism, and the American Dream - Susan PALMER (Dawson College, Montreal)

  16, 45 - 19 Session 20 / Sessione 20 President: Marat SHTERIN

  ART, ESOTERICISM, AND THE NEW AGE

  Arnold Schönberg: The Minority of the "Inconceivable God" - J. Edgar BAUER (University of Heidelberg)

  The Relationship between Science Fiction and New Religious Movements - David V. BARRETT (Doctoral Student, London School of Economics)

  The London Festival of Mind-Body-Spirit - Malcolm HAMILTON (University of Reading)

  On Writing a Book on Damanhur - Jeff MERRIFIELD (Great Totham, Essex) with presentation of a video on Damanhur and introduction to the visit planned for September 12

  16.45 - 18.10 Session 21 / Sessione 21 President: Jean-Pierre LAURANT

  PERSPECTIVES ON ESOTERICISM

  The "Asiatic Researches" (1788-1939) as an Early Source for Esoteric Interpretation of Tantrism in the West - Albertina NUGTEREN (Tilburg University)

  Rudolf Steiner: Not a Member of Reuss' OTO - Peter R. KOENIG (Zurich)

  Creating a New Religion in an Age of Unrest: Aleister Crowley and Politics - Marco PASI (Doctoral Candidate, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Religieuses, Sorbonne, Paris)

  Science and Esoterism in the Contemporary World - Francisca Veronica CAVALCANTE (Post-Graduate Student, University of Sao Paulo)

  16.45 - 19 Session 22 / Sessione 22 Presidente: Massimo INTROVIGNE

  MINORANZE RELIGIOSE DI ORIGINE GIAPPONESE

  Stato e minoranze religiose in Giappone: un approccio storico-costituzionale - Pasquale POLICASTRO (Università di Lublino)

  Dottrina ed etica della "Perfect Liberty" nella riconquista del ruolo femminile tradizionale - Beatriz MUNIZ DE SOUZA (Università Cattolica di Sao Paulo)

  Il Reiscio: l'azione perturbatrice degli spiriti secondo l'insegnamento di Sukyo Mahikari - Paolo MAGGI (Brescia) - con una risposta di Mario AMBROSETTI (Federazione Nazionale Sukyo Mahikari, Varese)

  18.20 - 19 Sessione 23 / Session 23 Presidente: Tadeusz DOKTOR

  ABOUT TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION

  Mikael ROTHSTEIN (University of Copenhagen) discusses his book Belief Transformations. Some Aspects of the Relation Between Science and Religion in Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) (Aarhus University Press). With a response by Roberto BAITELLI (Director of the MERU Center of Milan).

  20

  BANQUET "THE POLITICS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY"

  BANCHETTO "LA POLITICA DELLA LIBERTA' RELIGIOSA"

  Raimonda CASARI, State Legislator, Presiding and Introducing

  Raimonda CASARI, consigliere regionale, presidenza e introduzione

  The Hon. Domenico MASELLI, MP, La nuova legge italiana sulla libertà religiosa / The New Italian Law on Religious Liberty

  (The Hon. Domenico Maselli introduced the Italian Government's draft law on religious liberty - L'on.le Domenico Maselli è stato relatore del progetto di legge del governo italiano sulla libertà religiosa )

  The Hon. Ernesto CACCAVALE, MEP, The European Parliament and the Question of Cults / Il Parlamento Europeo e il problema delle "sette"

  End of Quote ...

  Remember that I've only showed the Friday's agenda. For the other

  days you'll be surprised to see the ...organizations.

  and from : http://www.hrwf.net/newhrwf/html/europe1999.html

  France, Belgium Severely Criticized Again at U.S. Congressional Hearing

  Cesnur Website http://www.cesnur.org (10.06.1999) - On June 8, 1999 the U.S. Joint Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe held a new hearing on "Religious Freedom in Western Europe: Religious Minorities and Growing Government Intolerance", hearing as witnesses Willy Fautré of Human Rights Without Frontiers, attorney Alain Garay of Paris, and Pastor Louis Charles DeMeo, leader of an independent Baptist group blacklisted as a cult in France.

  This was part of an ongoing investigation of continuing religious intolerance in Western Europe, and CESNUR's Executive Director Massimo Introvigne had testified before the same Commission at a previous 1998 briefing. A number of international scholars who had just participated in CESNUR 99 conference in Pennsylvania also attended the June 8 hearing. In turn Karen Lord, Counsel for Freedom of Religion of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Jeremy Gunn, of the newly instituted Office of International Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State, were guest speakers at the CESNUR 99 conference, and told participants how important CESNUR's role was in first alerting U.S. agencies about religious intolerance prevailing in some Western European countries.

  Of particular interest at the June 8 hearing was a discussion of discrimination in the workplace of members of both the Jehovah's Witnesses and of the Baptist group pastored by Rev. DeMeo. The discussion then focused on the causes of the peculiar situation prevailing in France and Belgium (while Italy, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands were offered as examples of religious tolerance). In a lively discussion with the witnesses and on the basis of data offered by them, Chairman Smith concluded that two influences explain why intolerance of minority religions is particularly widespread in France and French-speaking Belgium. Firstly, the anti-cult and often simply anti-religious lobbying efforts of continental Freemasonry (a secular humanist brand of Freemasonry which is not in communion with mainline U.S. and British Freemasonry). Secondly, the strong residual presence in French-speaking culture of socialist and communist elements, both anti-American and anti-religious. Efforts by an Eastern Europe anti-cultists may thus use developments in France as evidence that democratic countries in the West have an anti-cult policy similar to Russia and other post-Communist countries.

  Chairman Smith was particularly severe with the French Mission to Fight Cults and ridiculed efforts by its president to attack one of the members of the U.S. delegation that visited France as "part of a dangerous international totalitarian cults", while she is a member of a small U.S. Christian congregation. The French attitude is "intolerable", Smith said, and it would be a serious mistake for France (and Belgium) to think that this is a minor matter for the U.S., while it stands "at the top" of U.S. human rights concerns.

  also from : http://www3.uj.edu.pl/confer/columbia98/program.html

  "the PROTECTION of RELIGIOUS MINORITIES " :

  religious freedom & human rights in post-communist europe

  MARCH 16 - 18, 1998

  LOCATION:
  conference center

  wawel castel 5

  krakow, POLAND

  (48-12) 422-5155 / 422-1950

  .......................

  tuesday, march 17 1998,

  SESSION III: RELIGIOUS MINORITIES AND TRANSNATIONAL ACTORS

  10:45-12:00 Workshop One: The Role of Inter-Governmental Organizations

  JOHAN VAN DER VYVER, Chair

  Emory University Law School

  ALAIN GARAY, Presenter

  Court of Appeals of Paris

  The Judicial Precedents of the European Court of Human Rights and Religious Freedom

  CAROLYN WAH, Presenter

  Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York

  European Parliamentary Enquete Commissions - Justification of a Two-Tiered System of Religious Freedoms

  JEREMY GUNN, Presenter

  JFK Review Board

  Protection of Religious Minorities and the OSCE

  end of quote

  and finally :

  about the sponsers :

  The CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF HUMAN RIGHTS at Columbia University was established in 1978 to promote the teaching and research of human rights in their national and international contexts. The Center's activities cover all disciplines and address both theoretical and policy questions.

  The PROGRAM ON RELIGION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM was initiated at the Center for the Study of Human Rights in the Fall of 1995 to respond to new challenges and opportunities to promote collaboration between the world’s religions and the contemporary human rights movement. A major goal of this training and research program for religious leaders, human rights activists, and scholars is to promote interaction between religious communities and the international human rights movement, as well as to enhance concern for religious freedom and religious tolerance. The aim is to help develop self-perpetuating institutions promoting such interaction in countries around the world. The Program is funded by Pew Charitable Trusts.

  The HARRIMAN INSTITUTE at Columbia University is the oldest academic center in the United States devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the Russian empire, the Soviet Union and the post-communist states. Part of the Harriman Institute, THE EAST CENTRAL EUROPEAN CENTER at Columbia University was established in 1954 to promote the study of the countries lying between Germany and the Soviet Union and between the Baltic and the Aegean Seas.

  The JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER (JUHRC) , founded in 1993, is a volunteer-run organization working under the auspices of the Jagiellonian Faculty of Law and Administration. The work of JUHRC is primarily focused on the areas of human rights education and cost-free legal assistance provided by a group of approximately 20 Jagiellonian law students.

  The JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER ON JEWISH HISTORY AND CULTURE IN POLAND was established in 1986 as an initiative of Professor Józef A. Gierowski. The goal of the Center is to conduct interdisciplinary research, train academic specialists and provided educational programs related to Jewish history and culture in Poland.

  The language of the conference is English. Opinions expressed at the conference do not necessarily represent those of the sponsors or The Pew Charitable Trusts.

  END of Quotes

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  I do hope that this material will we a useful reminder.

  More and updated to come.

  Greetings, James Charles MacHislopp

  "Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas " (Ammonio, Vita d ' Aristotele)
• 
  10

  Help Keep IT Going, write your newspaper

  by jst2laws in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  the suits claim some congregation ... .

  sacramento, california-a -- the jehovah's witnesses organization is facing.

  sacramento, california-a -- the jehovah's witnesses organization is facing.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Jst2laws,

  these few lines to thank you for the infomation and the valuable

  links. You can be sure I'll forward it to many friends in Europe.

  The more people finds out...the true colours of the WTBS Inc.

  the better it is going to be for everyone, starting from those

  innocent victims and their families.

  Thanks again,

  J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  28

  "AMICUS CURIAE", the USA’ Supreme Court and the WTBS Inc.

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  swaggart ministries v. cal.

  amicus curiae ".

  amicus curiae '

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  To get into the subject , just a reminder of an important Supreme Court Case which concerned the ...famous "JIMMY WAGGART "!

  Please keep in mind that the final Court decision was given on January 17,

  1990 i.e. more than 13 years ago!

  The link for the complete file is :

  http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&court=US&case=/us/493/378.html

  Here below just some parts of it:

  U.S. Supreme Court

  SWAGGART MINISTRIES v. CAL. BD. OF EQUALIZATION, 493 U.S. 378 (1990)

  493 U.S. 378

  JIMMY SWAGGART MINISTRIES v. BOARD OF EQUALIZATION OF CALIFORNIA
  APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
  
  No. 88-1374.
  
  Argued October 31, 1989
  Decided January 17, 1990

  California law requires retailers to pay a 6% sales tax on in-state sales of tangible personal property and to collect from state residents a 6% use tax on such property purchased outside the State. During the tax period in question, appellant religious organization, which is incorporated in Louisiana, sold a variety of religious materials at "evangelistic crusades" within California and made mail-order sales of other such materials to California residents. Appellee State Board of Equalization (Board) audited appellant and advised it that it should register as a seller as required by state law and report and pay sales and use taxes on the aforementioned sales. Appellant paid the taxes and the Board ruled against it on its petitions for redetermination and refund, rejecting its contention that the tax on religious materials violated the First Amendment. The state trial court entered judgment for the Board in appellant's refund suit, the State Court of Appeal affirmed, and the State Supreme Court denied discretionary review.

  Held:

  1. California's imposition of sales and use tax liability on appellant's sales of religious materials does not contravene the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment. Pp. 384-397.

  (a) The collection and payment of the tax imposes no constitutionally significant burden on appellant's religious practices or beliefs under the Free Exercise Clause, which accordingly does not require the State to grant appellant a tax exemption. Appellant misreads Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105 , and Follett v. McCormick, 321 U.S. 573 , which, although holding flat license taxes on commercial sales unconstitutional with regard to the evangelical distribution of religious materials, nevertheless specifically stated that religious activity may constitutionally be subjected to a generally applicable income or property tax akin to the California tax at issue. Those cases apply only where a flat license tax operates as a prior restraint on the free exercise of religious belief. As such, they do not invalidate California's generally applicable sales and use tax, which is not a flat tax, represents only a small fraction of any sale, and applies neutrally to all relevant sales regardless of the nature of the seller or purchaser, so that there is no danger that [493 U.S. 378, 379] appellant's religious activity is being singled out for special and burdensome treatment. Moreover, the concern in Murdock and Follett that flat license taxes operate as a precondition to the exercise of evangelistic activity is not present here, because the statutory registration requirement and the tax itself do not act as prior restraints - no fee is charged for registering, the tax is due regardless of preregistration, and the tax is not imposed as a precondition of disseminating the message.

  End of quote

  Quote : (b) Application of the California tax to appellant's sale of religious materials does not violate the Establishment Clause by fostering an excessive governmental entanglement with religion. The evidence of administrative entanglement is thin, since the Court of Appeal expressly found that, in light of appellant's sophisticated accounting staff and computerized accounting methods, the record did not support its assertion that the collection and payment of the tax impose severe accounting burdens on it. Moreover, although collection and payment will require some contact between appellant and the State, generally applicable administrative and recordkeeping burdens may be imposed on religious organizations without running afoul of the Clause. See, e. g., Hernandez, supra, at 696-697. The fact that appellant must bear the cost of collecting and remitting the tax - even if the financial burden may vary from religion to religion - does not enmesh the government in religious affairs, since the statutory scheme requires neither the involvement of state employees in, nor on-site continuing inspection of, appellant's day-to-day operations. Most significantly, the imposition of the tax without an exemption for appellant does not require the State to inquire into the religious content of the items sold or the religious motivation for selling or purchasing them, since they are subject to the tax regardless of content or motive. Pp. 392-397. [493 U.S. 378, 380]

  2. The merits of appellant's Commerce Clause and Due Process Clause claim are not properly before, and will not be reached by, this Court, since both the trial court and the Court of Appeal ruled that the claim was procedurally barred because it was not presented to the Board as required by state law. See, e. g., Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032, 1041 -1042. Appellant has failed to substantiate any claim that the California courts in general apply the procedural bar rule and a pertinent exception in an irregular, arbitrary, or inconsistent manner. Pp. 397-399.

  204 Cal. App. 3d 1269, 250 Cal. Rptr. 891, affirmed.

  O'CONNOR, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.

  Michael W. McConnell argued the cause for appellant. With him on the brief were Charles R. Ajalat, Edward McGlynn Gaffney, Jr., and Jesse H. Choper.

  Richard E. Nielsen, Deputy Attorney General of California, argued the cause for appellee. With him on the brief were John K. Van de Kamp, Attorney General, and Neal J. Gobar, Deputy Attorney General. *

  end of quote .-

  Now please take note of the various ' Briefs of amici curiae' :

  Quote:

  [ Footnote * ] Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were filed for the Association for Public Justice by Bradley P. Jacob;

  for the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability et al. by Samuel E. Ericsson, Michael J. Woodruff, and Forest D. Montgomery;

  for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of California, Inc., by David M. Liberman, Robert C. Moest, and Barry A. Fisher;

  for the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S. A. by Douglas Laycock;

  and for the National Taxpayers Union by Gale A. Norton.

  Steven R. Shapiro filed a brief for the American Civil Liberties Union as amicus curiae urging affirmance.

  Briefs of amici curiae were filed for the National Conference of State Legislatures et al. by Benna Ruth Solomon and Charles Rothfeld; and for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., by James M. McCabe and Donald T. Ridley.

  JUSTICE O'CONNOR delivered the opinion of the Court.

  This case presents the question whether the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment prohibit a State from imposing a generally applicable sales and use tax on the distribution of religious materials by a religious organization. [493 U.S. 378, 381]

  I

  California's Sales and Use Tax Law requires retailers to pay a sales tax "[f]or the privilege of selling tangible personal property at retail." Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Ann. 6051 (West 1987). A "sale" includes any transfer of title or possession of tangible personal property for consideration. Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Ann. 6006(a) (West Supp. 1989).

  End of Quote

  Quote :

  This outreach is to be performed "by all available means, both at home and in foreign lands," and

  "shall specifically include evangelistic crusades; missionary endeavors; radio broadcasting (as owner, broadcaster, and placement agency); television broadcasting (both as owner and broadcaster); and audio production and reproduction of music; audio production and reproduction [493 U.S. 378, 382] of preaching; audio production and reproduction of teaching; writing, printing and publishing; and, any and all other individual or mass media methods that presently exist or may be devised in the future to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ." Id., at 107-108.

  end of quote .........

  Quote:

  In 1980, appellee Board of Equalization of the State of California (Board) informed appellant that religious materials were not exempt from the sales tax and requested appellant to register as a seller to facilitate reporting and payment of the tax. See Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Ann. 6066-6074 (West 1987 and Supp. 1989) (tax registration requirements). Appellant responded that it was exempt from such taxes under the First Amendment. In 1981, the Board audited appellant and advised appellant that it should register as a seller and report and pay sales tax on all sales made at its [493 U.S. 378, 383] California crusades. The Board also opined that appellant had a sufficient nexus with the State of California to require appellant to collect and report use tax on its mail-order sales to California purchasers.

  Based on the Board's review of appellant's records, the parties stipulated "that [appellant] sold for use in California tangible personal property for the period April 1, 1974, through December 31, 1981, measured by payment to [appellant] of $1,702,942.00 for mail order sales from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and $240,560.00 for crusade merchandise sales in California."

  App. 58. These figures represented the sales and use in California of merchandise with specific

  religious content - Bibles, Bible study manuals, printed sermons and collections of sermons, audiocassette tapes of sermons, religious books and pamphlets, and religious music in the form of songbooks, tapes, and records.

  See App. to Juris. Statement B-1 to B-3. Based on the sales figures for appellant's religious materials, the Board notified appellant that it owed sales and use taxes of $118,294.54, plus interest of $36,021.11, and a penalty of $11,829.45, for a total amount due of $166,145.10. App. 8. Appellant did not contest the Board's assessment of tax liability for the sale and use of certain nonreligious merchandise, including such items as "T-shirts with JSM logo, mugs, bowls, plates, replicas of crown of thorns, ark of the covenant, Roman coin, candlesticks, Bible stand, pen and pencil sets, prints of religious scenes, bud vase, and communion cups." Id., at 59-60.

  Appellant filed a petition for redetermination with the Board, reiterating its view that the tax on religious materials violated the First Amendment. Following a hearing and an appeal to the Board, the Board deleted the penalty but otherwise redetermined the matter without adjustment in the amount of $118,294.54 in taxes owing, plus $65,043.55 in interest. Pursuant to state procedural law, appellant paid the amount and filed a petition for redetermination and refund with the Board. See Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Ann. 6902 [493 U.S. 378, 384] (West 1987). The Board denied appellant's petition, and appellant brought suit in state court, seeking a refund of the tax paid.

  end of quote.-

  Quote:

  The Court of Appeal, however, specifically rejected appellant's claim that the nexus issue raised "important questions of public policy," noting that the issue instead "raise[d] factual questions, the determination of which is not a matter of `public policy' but a matter of evidence." Id., at 1292, 250 Cal. Rptr, at 907. Even if the Court of Appeal erred as a matter of state law in declining to rule on appellant's nexus claim, appellant has failed to substantiate any claim that the California courts in general apply this exception in an irregular, arbitrary, or inconsistent manner. Accordingly, we conclude that appellant's Commerce Clause and Due Process Clause argument is not properly before us. We thus express no opinion on the merits of the claim.

  The judgment of the California Court of Appeal is affirmed.

  It is so ordered. [493 U.S. 378, 400] °°°

  End of Quote

  To clarify the matter and for a clear understanding of the case, we have to grasp the

  implications concerning the meaning of the term : " Amicus Curiae ".

  Here below, there is the definition of ' Amicus Curiae ' (singular form ) or ' Amici Curiae '( plural form) taken from the " TECH LAW JOURNAL " with link :

  http://www.techlawjournal.com/glossary/legal/amicus.htm

  *** Amicus Curiae

  Definition: Latin term meaning "friend of the court". The name for a brief filed with the court by someone who is not a party to the case.

  "... a phrase that literally means "friend of the court" -- someone who is not a party to the litigation, but who believes that the court's decision may affect its interest." William H. Rehnquist, The Supreme Court, page 89.

  Amicus Curiae briefs are filed in many Supreme Court matters, both at the Petition for Writ of Certiorari stage, and when the Court is deciding a case on its merits. Some studies have shown a positive correlation between number of amicus briefs filed in support of granting certiorari, and the Court's decision to grant certiorari. Some friend of the court briefs provide valuable information about legal arguments, or how a case might affect people other than the parties to the case. Some organizations file friend of the court briefs in an attempt to "lobby" the Supreme Court, obtain media attention, or impress members.

  "An amicus curiae brief that brings to the attention of the Court relevant matter not already brought to its attention by the parties may be of considerable help to the Court. An amicus curiae brief that does not serve this purpose burdens the Court, and its filing is not favored." Rule 37(1), Rules of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

  "FRAP 29. BRIEF OF AN AMICUS CURIAE

  A brief of an amicus curiae may be filed only if accompanied by written consent of all parties, or by leave of court granted on motion or at the request of the court, except that consent or leave shall not be required when the brief is presented by the United States or an officer or agency thereof, or by a State, Territory or Commonwealth. The brief may be conditionally filed with the motion for leave.

  A motion for leave shall identify the interest of the applicant and shall state the reasons why a brief of an amicus curiae is desirable. Save as all parties otherwise consent, any amicus curiae shall file its brief within the time allowed the party whose position as to affirmance or reversal the amicus brief will support unless the court for cause shown shall grant leave for a later filing, in which event it shall specify within what period an opposing party may answer.

  A motion of an amicus curiae to participate in the oral argument will be granted only for extraordinary reasons." Rule 29. Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

  Many of us know the reason behind the many " Briefs of amici curiae"

  As a matter of fact, that specific case dealt with:

  "... the question whether the Religion Clauses of the First

  Amendment prohibit a State from imposing a generally

  applicable sales and use tax on the distribution of religious

  materials by a religious organization" .-

  Of course, the " Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., by James M. McCabe and Donald T. Ridley. was very, very interested in the outcome.

  Infact due to the judgement in that case, the " Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc." the offering of literature changed from this way :

  *** km 1/90 p. 1 Be Alert to Offer Bible Literature ***

  FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE

  3 During January and February we will be offering a variety of 192-page books on a contribution of 50¢ each. The books to be offered include any 192-page book published prior to 1980 except Family Life, Great Teacher, This Life, Truth, and Youth. Congregations that do not have these books in stock may offer the Worldwide Security book for a contribution of $1.00.

  to this ‘new’ way :

  :

  *** km 5/90 p. 7 Use Our Literature Wisely ***

  THE COMPLETE-DONATION ARRANGEMENT

  2 At the end of February 1990, it was explained that magazines and literature will be provided to publishers and to the interested public on a complete donation basis, that is, without asking or suggesting that a specific contribution be made as a precondition to receiving an item. When literature is offered, voluntary donations will be accepted to support the worldwide work of publishing the good news. We have faith that Jehovah will bless this arrangement.—Compare Matthew 6:33.

  known also as : ‘« Simplified Literature Distribution Arrangement “

  Starting within the U.S.A. and gradually extending , in the same year - 1990 - to most of the European countries.

  How surprising then to find out that in the year 2002, in the case dealt finally by the Supreme Court of the United States , Watchtower Bible etc. v. Statton, Ohio et Al.

  (cfr . http://www.freedomforum.org/fac/2001-02/watchtower_sum.htm )

  Case Name: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. v. Village of Stratton, 00-1737 Argument Date: Feb. 26, 2002 Decided: June 17, 2002

  Also ( http://www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/00-1737.htm).

  A motion for leave to file " Brief Amicus Curiae " and " Brief of Amicus Curiae" was presented by the following organizations:

  ***Electronic Privacy Information Center, ( Mikal J. Condon))

  ***American Civil Liberties Union, Foundation , (Steven Shapiro )

  ***American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio (Raymond Vasvari)

  and 14 Legal Scholars

  "in support of the Watchtower Bible Etc. , Petitioners;

  But it is not finished, because now the situation is reversed, and a : "Brief of Amicus Curiae" is is presented by the " Independent Baptist Churches of America in support of

  Petitioners" !

  Btw, Exhibit (A) @ , presented to the Supreme Court , lists 28 Baptist Temple/Church/Mission starting with the "Baptist Temple of Franklin (Pennsylvania) and

  ending with the "West Coast Baptist Church, Vista California.

  Sorry if it is getting long , but the fireworks...are literally coming, in the form of more

  organizations filing for "Brief Amicus Curiae "…they are the following:

  ***Real Campaignreform. Org, Inc;

  ***Free Speech Defense and Education Fund, Inc.;

  ***Lincoln Institute for Research and Education;

  ***Capitol Hill Prayer Alert Foundation;

  ***Gun Owners of America, Inc.

  ***Education Fund in Support of Petitioners.-

  Please notice also that under a footnote (2), of the Subheading " Interest of Amici Curiae"

  it is stated that:

  (2) "Amici requested and received the written consent of the parties to the

  filing of this brief amicus curiae. "

  Be patient a little longer, because another organization stepped in.

  Infact a " Motion of the Church Of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints for Leave

  to File Brief Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioners and Brief Amicus Curiae."

  What is also interesting is that ' The Church Of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints,

  is filing the motion " because Respondents ..." i.e. the Village of Statton, Ohio

  " ...withheld their consent. *

  The Footnote (*) reads : " ...Petitioners' letter of consent is on file with the Clerk

  of the Cout."

  Yes you have guessed by now ...the "Petitioners " are the Watchtower Bible and Tract

  Society of New York, Inc. and Wellsville , Ohio, Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses,Inc.

  Naturally all these very, very interesting details are hidden to the vast majority of the

  JW's.

  For all those interested to see all the informations, here is the list:

  1) Syllabus of the Case http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1737.ZS.html

  2) Opinion (Stevens) http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1737.ZO.html

  3) Concurrence (Breyer) http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1737.ZC.html

  4) Concurrence (Scalia) http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1737.ZC1.html

  5) Dissent (Rehnquist) http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1737.ZD.html

  For all the " Briefs Amicus Curiae " filed in this case with the Supreme Court, in support

  of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. here is the list:

  1) Independent Baptist Churches of America

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  2) Electronic Privacy Information Center

  http://www.jehovah.to/legal/briefs/Epicbrief.pdf

  3) Center for Individual Freedom

  http://www.jehovah.to/legal/briefs/CIFbrief.pdf

  4) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  5) Real CampaignReform.Org. Inc., et Al

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  6)Free Speech Defense and Education Fund, Inc.;

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  7) Lincoln Institute for Research and Education;

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  8)Capitol Hill Prayer Alert Foundation;

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  9)Gun Owners of America, Inc.

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  10) Education Fund in Support of Petitioners.-

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  For the complete list of " Briefs " see also :

  http://www.epic.org/free_speech/watchtower.html

  From the above link - a very interesting one - you'll also find a great quote:

  "Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority ...

  It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights, and of the First

  Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation--and

  their ideas from suppression--at the hand of an intolerant society."

  A very powerful reminder for all of us ...not forgetting the " Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc."!

  In conclusion the WTBS Inc. did :

  ***support/share the ideals of the Nazis (1930’s) ;

  ***support the case of Jimmy Swaggart (1990) ;

  ***support the ideals of the United Nations (from 1991) ;

  ***now (2002 –2003 ) Babylon the Great and Co. are

  supporting the WTBS Inc. !!!

  That's the end for now. I do hope that the reading wasn't too heavy.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp

  "Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas " (Ammonio, Vita d ' Aristotele)
• 
  12

  'Information Package' for JW Child Abuse Court Cases

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  the watchtower, may 1, 1957 issue, page 285:.

  the watchtower, may 1, 1957 issue, page 274:.

  the watchtower, may 15, 1968 issue, page 319:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello UnDisfellowshiped,

  these few words to thanks you for the excellent piece of research and

  collection on this vital and so important subject. I'm sure that many on

  this board will appreciate it and use for reference.

  I do believe that saving the data on PC, floppy, CD and print out in a small and

  convenient booklet it will speed up its consultation.

  Thanks again for all your time and effort,

  greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  7

  I just received this e-mail. Thought I would share.

  by avengers in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  disfellowshipping of anders .

  http://www.silentlambs.org/education/wtinfo.cfm .

  recently the swedish television program "mission investigate" did a rebroadcast of the original program that aired in april of this year.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello avengers,

  thanks for sharing the information. Very useful to know,

  what's going on in Europe. The WTBS inc. loves to

  give as informations only what it is convenient for their

  public image and ...for their bank accounts.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp

  PS Thanks for providing the links.
• 
  8

  "Resurrection of the faithful " anointed ones" or " holy ones"

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just another of those questions for which

  answers are ever changing, as the time goes by.

  so, "when would faithful anointed christians the resurrection?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  just another of those questions for which

  answers are ever changing, as the time goes by.

  So, "When would faithful anointed Christians the resurrection?

  The Bible, through the apostle Paul, explains that they would be

  raised 'during Christ's presence.

  So when these « holy ones » finish their earthly course, they do not have to

  wait in death for the return of their Lord.

  Yet , over the years the WTBS Inc. has privileged

  the "flock of God" by teaching .... several different dates for the event i.e.

  - the Resurrection of the faithful " anointed ones" or " holy ones"

  Let's start:

  ***first it happened in 1878 see "Thy Kingdom Come" 1891 through

  1927 editions, page 305

  (°)STUDY IX

  THY GOD REIGNETH!

  A Resume of the Prophetic Evidences Which Show the Presence of Immanuel, and that His Kingdom is in Process of Establishment.

  Now call to mind the steps, well founded in the "sure word of prophecy," by which we have come to this heart-cheering and soul-stirring knowledge. Behind us are all the prophetic landmarks which point to this time as the most [C305] wonderful period in all the history of the world. They have shown us that since 1873 we have been living in the seventh millennium; that the lease of Gentile dominion, "The Times of the Gentiles," will expire with the year 1914; and that the advent of him whose right it is to take the dominion was due in 1874. They have shown us that in the days of these Gentile kings, before their lease of power expires, the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom, and that the setting up of that Kingdom has actually been in progress since the year 1878; that there the resurrection of all the dead in Christ was due; and that therefore, since that date, not only is our Lord and Head invisibly present in the world, but all these holy messengers are also with him. And observe, further, that this date of the resurrection of the dead in Christ parallels the date of the resurrection of the Head of the body. Our Lord's resurrection occurred three and a half years after his advent as the Messiah, in A.D. 29; and the resurrection of his body, the Church, we have seen, was due in the year 1878, three and a half years after his second advent, in October 1874. "

  ***second it would be be completed sometime before 1914 see

  "Thy Kingdom Come" 1891 through 1912 editions, page 228

  ***later changed to after 1914 see " Thy Kingdom Come"

  1913 through 1927 editions, page 228

  (°) STUDY VII

  THE DELIVERANCE AND EXALTATION
  OF THE CHURCH

  The Deliverance of the Church Near--It will be the Harbinger of Deliverance to all Mankind--Its Date Approximated--How the Saints will Escape Those Things Coming on the World--How and When God will Help Her--The Manner and Circumstances of Her Final Deliverance --The Deliverance First of Those Who Sleep in Jesus--The Change of the Living Members of the Church--Will They Die?-- Blessed are the Dead Who Die in the Lord from Henceforth.

  Nor is this rejoicing selfish in its character; for the deliverance and exaltation of the Church of Christ will be the harbinger of a speedy deliverance to the whole race, from the tyranny and oppression of the great enslaver, Sin, from the shadow and pains of sickness, and from the prison-house of death: "For we know that the [C228] whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain,...waiting for the...deliverance of OUR BODY"--the "body of Christ" (Rom. 8:22,23); because, according to Jehovah's arrangement, the new order of things cannot be established until the great ruler, the Christ complete, Head and body, has come fully into power.

  That the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long after 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished. With these two thoughts in mind, we can approximate the time of the deliverance.

  ***then in 1921 see "The Finished Mystery," 1917, page 64

  Series VII

  THE FINISHED MYSTERY

  "The Winepress of God's Wrath" and the Fall of Babylon

  75,000 Edition

  INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

  BROOKLYN, LONDON, MELBOURNE, BARMEN, ELBERFELD, OREBRO, CHRISTIANIA

  1917.

  REVELATION 3

  WYCLIFFE, LUTHER AND RUSSELL

  FM64

  falleth from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig-tree." (2 Pet. 3:12, 10; Isa. 34:4.) Evidently the circulation of the penny will have something to do with the burning of the tares!- Matt. 13:40-43; Isa. 21:9.

  Forty days after Christ's resurrection His ascension occurred. This confirms the hope of the Church's glorification forty years (a year for a day) after the awakening of the sleeping saints in the Spring of 1878. The seven days before the Deluge may represent seven years, from 1914 to 1921, in the midst of which "week of years" the last members of the Messiah pass beyond the veil. The Great Company class shall be cut off at its end- the fact that we see the first half of this week so distinctly marked would lead us to expect three and one-half years more of witnessing by the Great Company class; for it seems to be the Heavenly Father's way to accomplish His work by weeks and half weeks, from the very beginning of creation until now."

  "The awakening of the sleeping saints, A. D. 1878, was just half way (three and one-half years each way) between the beginning of the Times of Restitution in 1874 and the close of the High Calling in 1881. Our proposition is that the glorification of the Little Flock in the Spring of 1918 A. D. will be half way (three and one-half years each way) between the close of the Gentile Times and the close of the Heavenly Way, A. D. 1921. The three days (three years- 1918-1921) fruitless search for Elijah (2 Kings 2:17-18) is a confirmation of this view. We shall wait to see; but we shall not be indifferent while we wait, lest peradventure another, more zealous, take the

  FM65

  crown we have. The time is not long: but if we have to go on for fifty years, why should we care? We are the Lord's. Let Him do as He will with His own."

  *** in 1918 see "The Watchtower" October 1, 1917, Reprints, page 6149

  ***in 1925 see "Millions Now Living Will Never Die "1920, page 110

  MILLIONS NOW LIVING

  WILL NEVER DIE !

  Published by International

  Bible Students Association

  Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

  J. F. RUTHERFORD

  Copyrighted 1920 by
  International Bible Students Association

  MN 110

  completely obliterates by its greater power previous explanations.
  7:20. This sign shows how the millions of tracts setting forth the blessed harvest tidings would seem to churchianity. This sign, fulfilled, shows that the time for earths deliverance is near.

  25:10. This represents the coming deliverance of all, living and dead.

  26:18,24,28. The seven Gentile times ended in the fall of 1914.

  26:34. 35, 40-45. A reference to the seventy jubilees which must pass over Israel before they really enter the promised land. These 3500 years began with the entrance into Canaan in the spring of 1575 B.C., 1574¾ years before the A.D. era end will come to their full end in 1924¼, o about April 1, 1925, at which time we may expect the resurrection of the Ancient Worthies and the beginning of the blessing of all the families of the earth, living as well as dead. The last year of the 3,500 years will be itself a jubilee year witnessing the antitype, the great jubilee, of restitution.
  27:24. Another reference to the coming deliverance of all men. "

  ***then shortly after 1925 see "The Way to Paradise" 1925, page 224

  *** then in 1941 see " The Watchtower" September 1, 1941 page 265

  ***then in 1942 see "Consolation "May 27, 1942, page 13

  Although the quotes are accurate, I’m sorry but I couldn’t scan the rest.

  I do hope that it wasn’t too hard.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  1

  Only …41 years ago!

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this quote as a reminder that the wtbs inc., does

  have a very short memory indeed.

  w62 11/15 pp.

  1. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello again,

  I'm sorry the line should have been:

  "...the law of Jesus Christ...LOVE!"

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp