Max Divergent

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Posts by Max Divergent

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  9

  Watched Sunday, JW's at my door 30 mins later!!

  by Max Divergent in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i watched sunday this morning, then was on my way out 30 minutes later but guess who was at my doorstep?

  smooth jw elder and a little boy!

  i was very controlled, and had the choice of letting my identity as "an opposed person" or whatever be known, or to retain my cover as an ordinary member of the public!

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  Max Divergent

  Hi OP!! My word!! They'll be hearing all about it!

  Cheers, Max!
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  9

  Watched Sunday, JW's at my door 30 mins later!!

  by Max Divergent in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i watched sunday this morning, then was on my way out 30 minutes later but guess who was at my doorstep?

  smooth jw elder and a little boy!

  i was very controlled, and had the choice of letting my identity as "an opposed person" or whatever be known, or to retain my cover as an ordinary member of the public!

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  Max Divergent

  I watched Sunday this morning, then was on my way out 30 minutes later but guess who was at my doorstep? Smooth JW elder and a little boy!

  I was very controlled, and had the choice of letting my identity as "an opposed person" or whatever be known, or to retain my cover as an ordinary member of the public! J

  I decided to retain my anonymity for another day, but I said I'd just watched an interesting show about his organisation on TV, "What was it about" he asked? "Children" was my reply... "Ah..." was his response.

  It was a good show: bethal at Ingleburn looked appropriatly sinister, and the conventon crowds decicidly odd-ball.A lot of focus went on one elder who, at face value, was in an invidious postiton, 'meat in the sandwich' in a way. I noticed all but one of the ex-JW men had facial hair that they wouldn't have as JW's. Interesting. (some how half this para was lost in my cut & paste!)

  Flindersgirl came up really well! Congrats!
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  43

  Aussies Who Missed The Sunday Program...

  by Stephanus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  it will be repeated at 1:15pm today( about 3 hours from now) on the sky news channel, if you have or can get access to pay tv.. .

  great show, btw, makes the 'tower org look like a bunch of evil prats.

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  Max Divergent

  Great show. I think the WTS putting that elder out there to dry was poor form (doubtless he's accountable for his actions though). Where was Viv? Gward... hearing that bloody accent of his again was cringe making... and hearing them singing that song... can't remember which one, but we sang it all the time.

  But what's happened to dress standards in the JW's? :-) They looked badly turned out...
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  19

  Australian TV show child sexual abuse in JWs

  by gerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  the sunday tv program that is broadcast nationwide in australia on the nine network is featuring a story this coming sunday 29th may on "turning a blind eye on paedophilia".

  three years ago the sunday program exposed the child sexual abuse in the jehovah's witnesses.

  graham davis the reporter for that story won a new york festivals medal in 2004 for that investigation.

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  Max Divergent

  Sorry to hear you're unwell agin Mr Ozzie. I hope you recover well again.

  We were just reminicing on old CO/DO's who left, wondered if you knew any... won't put second names... Joe S, Alan W, Phil T (think he went back)? There was also Ray C. I think he got moved around a bit. I remember Joe S coming to our place for tea, he found The Oz and a glass of somthing intoxicating and just wandered off to read and drink ignoring the rest of us... cool guy!! :-)

  Regards, Max
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  34

  CRITICISING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS COULD BE MADE ILLEGAL

  by diamondblue1974 in

  1. social
  2. current

  copyright 2005 telegraph group limited .

  the daily telegraph(london).

  may 19, 2005, thursday.

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  Max Divergent

  Most Australian jurisdictions already have similar laws and no apostates have yet been sent to the gulag! It's Ok to critsise, but inciting hatred is a way differnt thing. .

  The US has a different outlook prefering to give more weight to individual rights than the consequences of conduct.
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  5

  Last Assembly

  by DaCheech in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i recently attended another assembly.. after getting home sunday i reflected and thought the following:.

  what did i really learn about christ?

  about the bible?.

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  Max Divergent

  I remember a few years ago a faithful older sister saying 'I remember years ago the emphisis in the mags was on Jehovah; then it went on to Jesus; and now it's more on the organisation...'. She's still faithful, but aware.

  Max
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  15

  is it ilegal to DF someone for voting?

  by Pleasuredome in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was wondering, does anyone here know if there are any countries or states that would make it ilegal for a religious group to ex-communicate someone for voting or voting for a particular party?

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  Max Divergent

  In my jurisdiction there's a law "Any person who uses of threatens any ... temporal or spiritual injury, or causes or threatens to cause any detriment of any kind, to an elector in order to induce him to vote or refrain from voting... is guilty of a misdomeanor, and is liable to imprisonment for 9 months, or to a fine of $200...'

  For a current JW, there's no chance of using such a law - it's privilaged behaviour. But if the elders were watching who was voting at a certain poling place, noting down numbers and then punishing those they saw there including long-since faded JW's, then there just may be a chance.

  The judge in Vicki Boyer's case said in common law countries the free exercise provision does not extend to inhibiting the freedoms of non-believers. So, the freedom of ex/non-JW's from criminal behaviour (stalking, assault, threats about voting...) by JW's is (probably) not impinged by the free exercise provision. I suspect that's the case in the US too.
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  37

  Do U Drive @ 55?

  by prophecor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  who among us here, when on the freeway does the standard speed of 55mph.

  i'd like to say that i'm a law abiding citizen, however......

  it's a wonderful thing that many folks wish to follow the rules of the road but you people who don't keep it rolling with the rest of the crowd at 65-70mph are risking a catastrophe.

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  Max Divergent

  I was cured of speeding in a place with no limit... I had a car to 198km/h (I think about 120mph) and it was starting to feel real bad, so I eased down to 190. The I saw a sign for a limit of 80, then 60 (I think 38mph), then a small town with people on the footpath... I was still doing over 160km/h (100mph) as I went out the other side of the little town. That scared me... and I no longer speed...
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  38

  New Light on Higher Education

  by seeitallclearlynow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my son made a point to tell me that they had what was to him a very interesting, different talk on the service meeting this week.

  the presiding overseer gave a talk on the society's changed view of getting a college education.. he used the scripture which admonishes the reader to "acquire a heart of wisdom" and applied it to getting a 4 year college education for the sake of being able to support oneself at double the rate of pay with one's degree upon graduation.

  this of course is only for the purpose of being able to then pioneer, only having to work a few days a week, thereby having the time for the field ministry.. such an annoying change - finally!

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  Max Divergent

  I wonder how many they'll loose in the dash for pioneering cash?

  Nearly 10 years ago when I was an MS I reasoned much the same way (half the work for the same money) and went to university. No one critisised me (well, not that got back to me), many were very supportive and all was sweet.

  But they were right that learning 'higher critism' and stuff was a tool to remove one from the beliefs of the JW's - I was out within 18 months having seen through the lack of evidence, faulty reasoning and just general awfulness of being a JW.
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  28

  Ruined marriages

  by greendawn in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just wish to know does the wts have a deliberate policy of splitting married couples if one of the spouses leaves the org even if adultery is not involved?

  do they at least indirectly encourage this to happen?

  and if yes is this a fairly recent policy?

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  Max Divergent

  Well, I think it's more a result of the general indoctrination that of any specific policy.

  They see a JW living with an XJW and think 'Cricky, they're living with a crocodile... mmmm.... maybe a bit of matchmaking or "encourgement" will help them improve their lot? They'll be much happier if I help thm get away from that beast...'

  So, they go about doing stuff to help the marriage fall over thinking that they're helping out....

  I don't beleive there's any specific policy or program, just interfering zealots