Appeals court scolds Jehovah's Witness organization over failure to turn over molestation records

[K@th]

No, I really don't think. It was certainly different than most other childhood activities, but it was never anything that I'd describe as "abusive". If anything, it gave me a lot of early insight into the world.

On what planet does a 5-year old have the agency to teach about the Lord's "TRUTH" to strangers who probably don't want to listen? She hated every minute of it and begged to not have to do it. Threats of being shunned at age 5 is pretty abusive to me.

[SuburbanFarmer]

No, I really don't think. It was certainly different than most other childhood activities, but it was never anything that I'd describe as "abusive". If anything, it gave me a lot of early insight into the world.

On what planet does a 5-year old have the agency to teach about the Lord's "TRUTH" to strangers who probably don't want to listen? She hated every minute of it and begged to not have to do it. Threats of being shunned at age 5 is pretty abusive to me.

The kids don't do any talking, really. They just watch, and are there to be a part of it. I never really "preached the word", I usually just smiled and handed them a pamphlet, while my dad talked.

[K@th]

I'm glad your experience was not as bad as hers. She hated her childhood and it still stings her mom won't talk to her.

[K@th]

http://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2017/0 ... witnesses/

A very simple web search "escape Jehovah's Witnesses" shows boatloads of pages devoted to discussing how to get out of the JW with your sanity and how to un-learn being afraid of absolutely everything.

And, yes, it is wrong to shun your children for not believing in crazy.

[SuburbanFarmer]

I'm glad your experience was not as bad as hers. She hated her childhood and it still stings her mom won't talk to her.

Well, like I mentioned, it broke my family apart. I resent that. But it's useless to be angry about it, or to assign a sinister motive. Those people genuinely believe that they're doing the right thing, and it's exactly what the Bible says to do.

"Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them. "But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. read more.
Leviticus 18:3

'You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.
Leviticus 20:23

and he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin."
Numbers 33:55

I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders.
Psalm 28:3

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 14:7

Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
Proverbs 16:29

A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.
Proverbs 17:12

Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;
Proverbs 28:7

Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them.
Isaiah 6:5

Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
Isaiah 8:11

Oh that I had in the desert A wayfarers' lodging place; That I might leave my people And go from them! For all of them are adulterers, An assembly of treacherous men.
Jeremiah 15:17

Flee from the midst of Babylon, And each of you save his life! Do not be destroyed in her punishment, For this is the LORD'S time of vengeance; He is going to render recompense to her.
Hosea 4:17

Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
2 Corinthians 6:14


Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Ephesians 5:6

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
1 Timothy 5:22

[K@th]

I'm glad your experience was not as bad as hers. She hated her childhood and it still stings her mom won't talk to her.

Well, like I mentioned, it broke my family apart. I resent that. But it's useless to be angry about it, or to assign a sinister motive. Those people genuinely believe that they're doing the right thing, and it's exactly what the Bible says to do.

Where did I say you should be angry? I'm just saying it messes people up and that's the very nature of a cult. The people in the cult do not know they are zombie followers of nonsense and they always have good intentions.

The very things you claim as reasons it is not a cult are dictionary definitions of cult.

[SuburbanFarmer]

I'm glad your experience was not as bad as hers. She hated her childhood and it still stings her mom won't talk to her.

Well, like I mentioned, it broke my family apart. I resent that. But it's useless to be angry about it, or to assign a sinister motive. Those people genuinely believe that they're doing the right thing, and it's exactly what the Bible says to do.

Where did I say you should be angry? I'm just saying it messes people up and that's the very nature of a cult. The people in the cult do not know they are zombie followers of nonsense and they always have good intentions.

The very things you claim as reasons it is not a cult are dictionary definitions of cult.

I'm saying that it is a cult, but no more so than any other organized religion. It's just a more 'fundamentalist' sect of Christianity, nothing more. When we use the word "cult", it implies the white robed, sex abuse, mass suicide, blood ritual shit that we were all scared of in the 90s. That's not the case here, any more than the Amish or Mormons.

I guess I'm disputing that they're as institutionally prone to abuse as the Vatican, or a Caliph, or an Emperor. There's no absolute leadership structure, and certainly no figurehead to give dictates to the rest. Just a council of elders, that issue guidelines from time to time, and print out magazines.

[Montegriffo]

Which faith doesn't shun those who do not follow the teachings of their creed. Even within the same branch of religion. Catholics don't get on with protestants, shia fight sunni. India was torn apart during partition with upto two million deaths.
Time to consign these ancient superstitions to the past and move on.

[K@th]

I'm saying that it is a cult, but no more so than any other organized religion. It's just a more 'fundamentalist' sect of Christianity, nothing more. When we use the word "cult", it implies the white robed, sex abuse, mass suicide, blood ritual shit that we were all scared of in the 90s. That's not the case here, any more than the Amish or Mormons.

My Catholic relatives still talk to me, even though I've rejected their faith. I learned some serious nonsense in the CC, but nobody ever threatened that I would lose my family. That's serious shit to lay down on children.

[K@th]

Which faith doesn't shun those who do not follow the teachings of their creed. .

Most of them do not. I have friends of all varieties of religion.