Posts by Scully

17

two Jehovahs Witnesses were paid millions to restrict WA blood transfusions

by Watchtower-Free in

source: supplied.

Scully

"It is not clear why the contract was awarded to German-born Mr Hofmann’s Austrian business entity, since he does not appear to have had any previous experience in establishing and operating a PBM program. He does not have a degree in medicine but he has a Master’s in economics and a PhD in health science.

...

Mr Farmer, who has no tertiary qualifications, and a California-based associate, who also is not a medical doctor but has degrees in economics and health science, have been involved in implementing such hospital programs, even though on a much smaller scale than the statewide program in WA. Mr Farmer was the co-founder of a “bloodless” surgery program in 1990 at Fremantle’s Kaleeya private hospital."

So, of the two known JWs who are part of this Patient Blood Management program initiative, one has higher education, including a Master's degree in economics and a PhD in health science.

I wonder how many JWs get these kinds of sweet opportunities to get a good education and make a crap load of money doing "consulting" work, where you get to impose your own religious beliefs on people who do not subscribe to your beliefs, and who - if they knew better - would be consenting to blood transfusions to help them get better when they are sick?

84

One thing about this site that bothers me

by keyser soze in

jw
friends

the constant references to 'window washers' as something derogatory.. i understand the context of it-that most jws are uneducated, and unqualified to do much more.

but sometimes the references seem snobbish, almost mean-spirited.

one poster, on another thread, essentially referred to window washers as 'losers'.

Scully

Window cleaning isn't easy work, it's physically demanding, and most people who do it independently need to have other skills too - it requires some business acumen if you want to be successful at it in the long term.

That said, I do not go around telling a window cleaner how to do their job. I know what my skill set is and I try to stick to my area of expertise. The JW Elder™ who happens to be a an expert window cleaner or office custodian doesn't do that. His position as an Elder™ bestows on him a level of hubris whereby he thinks he can (and should) advise Congregation™ members in matters beyond his scope of expertise, such as medical advice, marital advice and even child-rearing advice. The WTS doesn't equip these men with appropriate training beyond parroting what the WTS has written in its Publications™, regardless of how out-of-touch-with-reality that information is, for instance, the Watchtower article "A Time To Speak" about reporting people to the Elders™ based on confidential medical information learned during the course of one's employment - a practice clearly prohibited under HIPPA and other regulations that protect medical confidentiality of patients. Despite it being over 2 decades old, that article has NEVER been re-visited, and some JWs feel it still represents appropriate behaviour.

I don't think anyone here disrespects individuals who perform this kind of honest labour at all. The disrespect deservedly goes to Elders™ who enjoy the power play over others' lives, who feel they have the authority to spout WTS-approved nonsense in the guise of "counselling" Congregation™ members, in matters in which they have no real understanding.

19

Edmonton Convention 200 kms Away

by jgnat in

this has come up before but we ran in to an old guy from the hall over the weekend and he confirmed a few things about the change of edmonton venue this year.

i'd mentioned this old fellow, too.

a rare friend from the kingdom hall, a real character, and i genuinely miss him.

Scully

Bigger venues are wising up to the WTS's tactics - they are finding out that JWs are being instructed to bring lunches from home and not utilize restaurants outside the venue, in an attempt to weasel out of having the added expense of concessions. They are also learning that JWs are being asked to pay for a parking voucher at the KH and the venue is being asked to provide free parking.

It's weaselly practices like these that get business people in a snit, and frankly, I think they're justified to be offended at these practices. The venues have agreed to their facilities being used for "charitable" purposes - and then the "charity" takes that generosity and tries to make a profit off of it.

Just because The Brothers™ go in and clean an arena before and after a convention, it doesn't excuse the underhanded practices of weaselling money out of people - both Worldly People™ and the JWs who attend the conventions. It would be a rare JW who would stand up against these practices if they were aware of them, but Worldly People™ won't put up with that kind of $h!t - they will refuse to deal with the WTS for future events, and who can blame them? Would you have repeat business with someone who intentionally ripped you off in the past?

74

They are going to charge members monthly fees now! Society Tyranny

by MysticMage in

well there you have it folks.

they have passed around pieces of paper for each publisher to write.

down how much they are willing to give the society every month for their entire lives!.

Scully

I'd love to get a letter like that.

I'd write on it in the prettiest penmanship I could possibly muster:

Dear Brothers,

I have been "waiting on Jehovah" for many things in this lifetime, not the least of which is the "promise" that Armageddon is coming soon. Had I listened to that admonition almost 20 years ago, I would have missed out on a wonderful education and an extremely satisfying career. Had I listened to that admonition almost 20 years ago, my family would still be stuck in a financial rut, struggling to make ends meet, my children would have been denied opportunities to have important life experiences during their youth, the very same opportunities that I was denied in my youth because it was deemed by people like yourselves that it would be better to "wait on Jehovah".

Now you've asked me to commit to a monthly "voluntary contribution". The thing is, committing to something no longer makes it "voluntary" should my circumstances change and force me to re-evaluate my finances. I much prefer to make my contributions anonymously - I do not wish for others to be privy to something so personal, so private. It is considered highly improper in polite company to discuss what one's financial situation is, and a place of worship certainly seems to be an inappropriate venue for such topics. Didn't Jesus take offence to the presence of moneychangers in the temple? Why would he not be similarly offended by this obvious attempt at fleecing the very people whom the Society has admonished to "wait on Jehovah" for a better life for themselves? Why would people who have felt compelled to forego an education that would allow them more financial comforts want to give more to the very organization that told them that it is better to 'keep your eye simple' - and not to 'store up treasures on earth where moth and rust consume' - yet with the contributions that these humble sincere followers offer, you've turned around and built state of the art luxury palaces for yourselves at the various headquarters in the US, Canada, the UK and elsewhere in the world. Why is it all right for the Society to "store up treasures on earth" while it is not all right for the people who financially support the Society to do so?

In light of this, I'm afraid that I will have to insist on continuing my practice of anonymous donations when I choose to do so, in an amount that is also of my choosing. If you wish to have a more solid 'commitment' than this, I'm afraid my answer is merely an echo of the promises that Society has uttered over the years: "Wait on Jehovah".

Sincerely,

Sister Scully

26

Can we be deleted as an appointed man, or disfellowshipped without meeting in a committee?

by stuckinarut2 in

so, i am genuinely wondering if the above is possible nowdays?.

with the changes in the power structure of co's, the changes in gb directives re never questioning "jehovah's appointed channel etc", i wonder if "disciplne can be given out in absence?.

i know that several elders in our cong have little "discussions" about my apparant slackening off, and would love to take action against me... they have tried to chat with me but that has been shot down.. so i wonder if they could just make a decision without me being present for it?

Scully

Apparently, it's been happening for a while.

Several years ago a couple of Elders™ visited the house and spoke with Mr Scully outdoors. When he was telling me about the visit afterward, Mr Scully remarked that they had asked him if he 'considered himself to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses'. He told them that he did not. I told him that it was a trick question - they'd likely announce that he Disassociated™ himself. About a year later, my suspicion was confirmed by a JW lady who dropped by to say hello. Though she claimed that he "wrote a letter and Disassociated™ himself" - she explained that it was announced from the platform not long after that initial visit. I told her that it was a lie and that there was never a letter written. She is convinced that there must have been a letter, otherwise The Brothers™ wouldn't have made that announcement. I said that I'd like to see that letter for myself and that she could ask her husband, an Elder™, to bring the letter over and she could see it for herself. She's never come back.

24

Recent WatchTower article about Witch Hunting

by EverApostate in

jw
friends

this is about an article in may 2014 awake that was published about witch hunting.

it is a 2 page article on how evil the catholic and protestant inquision was, how wickedly they killed the witches and so on.. .

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102014166.

Scully

The wtbts version of witches are called "apostates". If the wtbts had their way, the would surely deal with 'apostates' the same way the catholic church dealt with witches. Every religion has their way of interpreting the bible and the wtbts is a religion, even though they at one time preached proudly and loudly that "Religion is a snare and Racket!" 'O the times they are a changin'. -bob dylan circa 1965 ~ eyeuse2badub

The Watchtower actually published comments exactly to that effect. Check it out:

*** Nov 15, 1952 Watchtower ***

We are not living today among theocratic nations where such members of our fleshly family relationship could be exterminated for apostasy from God and his theocratic organization, as was possible and was ordered in the nation of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai and in the land of Palestine. "Thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God, . . . And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee."-Deut. 13:6-11, AS.

Being limited by the laws of the worldly nation in which we live and also by the laws of God through Jesus Christ, we can take action against apostates only to a certain extent, that is, consistent with both sets of laws. The law of the land and God's law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates, even though they be members of our own flesh-and-blood family relationship.

Edit: Sorry - just noticed that the same was also posted by AndDontCallMeShirley. My bad.

51

BOE - PDF - CONFIDENTIAL 2014-04-22 Adjustment in process for appointing elders and ministerial servants

by WatchTower87 in

boe - confidential.

instruction: press the 'skip ad' button top right, you should then see the download screen more easily.

no virus ;-).

Scully

I'm thinking that if this change is legitimate, it is serving the WTS more than anyone else. As always, the rule to FOLLOW THE MONEY offers some insight in this Adjustment™.

For example, suppose Elder X is found out to be a child molester. His appointment by the Circuit Overseer™ will provide a buffer against any liability that the WTS has.

The Circuit Overseer™ having taken a Vow of Poverty™, will not be able to pay any damages to victims of Elder X. And because the WTS did not Appoint™ Elder X, they have no financial liability if damages are payable to the victim.

A word of caution to anyone who is named as a trustee of any Kingdom Hall™: Protect your assets. If any member of your Congregation™ is found criminally responsible for a crime and that crime has to do with defrauding other members of the Congregation™ or using their position within the Congregation™ in order to defraud or victimize members of the Congregation™ (or even a JW with access to protected medical information who uses such to inform on another member of the Congregation™), as a Trustee you can be held financially liable if damages are payable by the Congregation™.

The way I see things going, the WTS counts all Kingdom Halls™ among its financial assets (it charges RENT in perpetuity, after all), while the Trustees are named, more or less, as legal custodians for the day-to-day affairs - maintenance, utility bills, etc. It always seemed to me that the people named as Trustees have some measure of financial security - they own their own homes, they have businesses or a good income. It seems to me that people in the position of Trustee may not realize the financial peril they put themselves in should a lawsuit ever arise against the Congregation™.

48

New talk outline! UNITE WITH JEHOVAH'S HAPPY PEOPLE!!!!

by DATA-DOG in

yay!!!

seriously one of the most watchtarded talks ever.

maybe one of our elders can post the outline??

Scully

I will have to look in my archives - someone was kind enough to send me their pile of Public Talk Outlines several years ago, and I scanned them and shared them at the time. However, this was when the Public Talk™ was 45 minutes long, instead of the current 30 minutes.

If I can find them, I'd be happy to send them out again to anyone interested.

48

New talk outline! UNITE WITH JEHOVAH'S HAPPY PEOPLE!!!!

by DATA-DOG in

yay!!!

seriously one of the most watchtarded talks ever.

maybe one of our elders can post the outline??

Scully

An old essay that I wrote reveals the real reason Why JWs are The Happiest People on Earth™

55

THE GRAND APOSTATE "WALKOUT" - January 1, 2015

by RagingBull in

jw
friends

after knowing ttatt for many years now...i had made up my mind long ago that after 2014, i would no-longer subject myself to the boredom, pain, and frustration of following this cult...the wt...the borg.. so...i made up my mind that since the wtbts/gb makes such a big deal as to the "significance" of the year 1914 and this year 2014, there can be no greater time for me to leave it all behind.

i daydreamed of how awesome and telling it would be if everyone that could ( because i do know that some have personal circumstances of their own, as i did too) would just .... walkout...never to attend/step foot in a kingdom hall from that moment on.. independence day of sorts?

there is too much evidence, too many videos, blogs, books, news reports and lawsuits for me to keep lying to myself.

Scully

If setting a date (a goal, basically) works for you, then more power to you.

Mr Scully and I set a date of January 1, 1995 as our official "walk out" date. Apart from a relative's wedding later that year, I haven't set foot inside a KH since then.

It felt positively *delicious* shopping for Christmas decorations during Boxing Week in 1994. A few months later, I was online connecting with former JWs. It's hard to believe we're coming up on 20 years with that anniversary.