JW.org has issued a press release warning that it is due to be banned in Russia if Watchtower is unsuccessful in appealing a Russian court’s decision against the website.
According to the report, the decision dates back to August 7, 2013 when the Tsentralniy District Court (100 miles north of Moscow) ruled that the website should be banned throughout the Russian Federation.
An appeal against this decision is scheduled for today, January 22, 2014. If Watchtower fails, promoting their website will become a criminal act in the country.
JW.org is already banned in mainland China.
***UPDATE – since this article was published, JWsurvey has learned that the ban was overturned on appeal. Click here for more details (Russian news article).***
The news comes only days after a Russian newspaper reported that a court in the country had declared several Watchtower brochures “extremist.”
According to the report, “the prosecutor’s office said that analyses by linguistic experts had concluded that the brochures contained propaganda that promoted the superiority of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and denigrated other faiths as false.”
Those like myself who believe Watchtower publications are strewn with propaganda will welcome such findings. However, the labelling of the organization as “extremist” would be far more credible coming from a country whose government is not itself considered extremist by many people due to its perceived corruption and lack of democratic transparency.
Sadly, it seems it takes an extremist to spot an extremist.
A dubious press release
The JW.org press release, apparently designed to draw attention to the website’s impending censorship and stir up opinion against it, enlists the support of a Russian academic in hailing JW.org as a “gift.”
“Commenting on the website, Yekaterina Elbakyan, Doctor of Philosophy and expert in religious studies who serves as a professor at the Academy of Labor and Social Relations in Moscow, says that jw.org is ‘a gift for anybody who is engaged in religious research. It provides comprehensive and understandable material. Significant spiritual and moral issues are presented in a simple way. When you use the website, you feel like you are being openly welcomed into the home of Jehovah’s Witnesses.'”
And so, it would seem, a neutral academic and expert on religion has given JW.org her glowing endorsement. But wait, who is Yekaterina Elbakyan? And what other organizations has she been willing to endorse in the recent past?
After a brief search on Google, we find the same “academic” lavishing similar praise on the Church of Scientology, as quoted in the book Ordinary Anti-Cultism by Sergey Ivanenko (Ivanenko being another Russian “scholar” with an inexplicable urge to support cults in Russia for motives best known to himself).
And so, in trying to position itself as a legitimate religion worthy of respect, it seems Watchtower is all too willing to run under the same protective umbrella as the Church of Scientology with its blatant quackery and charlatanry.
Whether Dr Elbakyan is motivated by truth or her bank balance in defending cults like Watchtower and Scientology seemingly on demand is a question best answered by her (or her accountant), but she is clearly not an authority to be trusted when appraising the merits of a religion if she is so unscrupulous in throwing around her endorsements.
A “trusted information source?”
As expected, the JW.org press release also features endorsements from Watchtower representatives, who can hardly be considered unbiased.
Speaking at the end of the article, Watchtower’s PR kingpin J.R. Brown has this to say…
“The jw.org website is valued both as a research tool and as a trusted information source for families all over the world. It is so valued that an average of 900,000 people visit the site every day to access positive information available in some 600 languages. Censoring this material is clearly unwarranted.”
Nobody would question whether families of Jehovah’s Witnesses trust the information on JW.org, but whether they are right to do so is another matter entirely.
This website has already exposed a number of misleading statements in the FAQs section of JW.org that paint a picture of the organization that is unrecognizable from reality. As just one example, JW.org’s answer to the question “Do You Feel That You Are The Only People Who Will Be Saved?” begins with the word “No!”
In making his statement, Brown continues his unenviable task of spinning Watchtower to the world’s media as a benign and even beneficial religion when it is anything but.
To see another demonstration of Brown’s impressive ability to spin the organization in a way that is media-friendly, you may find the following video enlightening.
Scrutiny, not censorship
I can’t deny having some sense of relief that a website that lies so blatantly about its practices and manipulates children might suddenly become unavailable to the good people of Russia. Heaven knows many Russians have enough on their plates without being hoodwinked into joining a harmful self-centered cult that ruins so many families, my own included.
But this relief is tinged with a sense of foreboding. I am a believer in the free internet, and any talk of censorship no matter how justified does not sit well with me.
It would be much better if governments could zero in on material that incites hatred and trespasses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights rather than introducing blanket bans on entire websites or the activities of religious organizations. To censor in this way only stirs the persecution complex among cults, and stokes belief among cult followers that Satan’s system is against them and the end of the world must be imminent.
If a certain article or FAQ page is found to contain false or misleading information, of which there are ample examples on JW.org, why not impose penalties or pursue legal avenues aimed at getting the specific material removed or corrected? Censoring an entire website on the assumption that ALL material is false seems draconian and heavy-handed, and threatens free speech for all.
That said, it would be nice if Western governments could pay such close attention to what Watchtower is saying and doing. The likes of Russia and China have their own not-so-noble motives for clamping down on the organization and snuffing out any perceived threat to locally entrenched religious or political authority.
The day when fair and proportionate action is taken against Watchtower by a democratic nation motivated by genuine concern for the welfare of its citizens and the upholding of human rights will be a day worth celebrating, but it is not upon us yet.
Further reading…
Balanced, clear, thoughtful and informative. Do not know how you do it Cedars, but, thanks!
You show the latest JW-news in time and in a great way Cedars!
I also believe, that total banning is wrong, because “censor in this way only stirs the persecution complex among cults, and stokes belief among cult followers that Satan’s system is against them and the end of the world must be imminent.”
Governments should study the growth of jws in banned countries before banning them this way. This way they may achieve the opposite effect.
The JW’s will be thrilled. This will be heralded as yet another persecution and perhaps even the beginning of The Great Tribulation.
Wow! Great article! I always enjoy reading your posts. Your wisdom in analyzing issues is unbelievable. Please continue to provide the help we desperately need to see beyond Watchtower lies. We deeply appreciate your hard work and sacrifice.
“It is so valued that an average of 900,000 people visit the site every day”!! Do they include “APOSTATEs”? I am an apostate and I visit the site every day, if “apostates” are not to be counted, they should remove me and report 899,999 people!
WHY? I am supposed to be counted elsewhere, at Satan’s table according to *** w94 7/1 p. 13 par. 16 At Which Table Are You Feeding? ***
Those who have continued to feed at Satan’s spiritual table, the table of demons, will be forced to attend a literal meal, no, not as partakers, but as the main course—to their destruction!—See Ezekiel 39:4; Revelation 19:17, 18.
I’m sure you are right. All those who chat on JW forums or on blogs such as this no doubt visit the website regularly. We know that the only way to make JWs listen to anyone is too quote the societies own material at them. That way they cannot shout liar at us. I often visit it several times a day
The news is spreading like wildfire here in germany. There is an info being mailed around, that this morning a letter was read at the german bethel, that the governing body® and the branch ask everybody to pray with the utmost urgency for this case – not only three times a day. And that the governing body® has never made a request of this kind.
Should this law be adopted, it would mean, that everyone who visits jw.org in russia, will not only receive a fine, but will be sent to prison for illegaly browsing the internet.
So the governing body® really thinks that this can be avoided by praying at least three times a day? This would mean Jehova has a counter. And only if a high enough “pray number” is being reached he will intervene?
I really ask myself, why the society can adapt the literature for certain lands and cultures, like taking special cover photos for african lands, but can´t ease it´s contents for the russian market. Or make a special russian website?
But i guess it´s like always with the jws: Only bad news is good news.
Hey Sonny, could you elaborate on the Bethel Story. I run the german ex-jw-website http://geistigkrank.wordpress.com and was planning on writing about the russian announcement as well. That said: Dear John, I like your balanced view and I absolutely agree.
Jehovah will surely make a better way and safe His people in one way of the other.
I did not find the information on this page very practical or informative. You guys don’t seem like professionals but more like hobbists interested more in trying to find dirt than being balanced! For example: “Whether Dr Elbakyan is motivated by truth or her bank balance in defending cults like Watchtower and Scientology seemingly on demand is a question best answered by her (or her accountant), but she is clearly not an authority to be trusted when appraising the merits of a religion if she is so unscrupulous in throwing around her endorsements.”
Now you admit that you don’t know this person. You had to do an internet search. You insinuate that this person may have been bribed and simply throws around her endorsements–all based ON NOTHING! Just because a person endorses some form of a religion that is not popular doesn’t mean they endorse everything. There are unpopular elements of mainstream religions. Just because she endorsed Scientology (which i know nothing about except they are frown upon and for pseudo-science) does not DISCREDIT HER or her opinion. You did not mention anything about her opinion in and of itself to show that it was NOT trustworthy. So if she said something good about Islam should she be discredited? WOW! Also from what I can tell, JW.org is not banned in China. According to a European governmental site, Russia will be the first to ban it.
With such sloppy work, it really amazes me the type of people you actually convince. They must be more stupid than the idiots that buy into the JWs and yet you think your readers are better?
Maurice, if you don’t believe me that JW.org is blocked in China, be my guest and see what happens when you type in the URL at the website below…
http://www.greatfirewallofchina.org
As to your comments about the Church of Scientology, which has also received the endorsement of Dr Elbakyan, I would suggest you brush up on what it’s all about before you defend those who defend it.
Sounds like hearsay to me. You put a lot of faith in everything you hear floating around the internet? interesting. I was taught otherwise as a kid.
What exactly in the above article is “hearsay?” And how old are you? Did they even HAVE the internet when you were a kid?
There is not much more to it, sorry. I received this “news” from different people via whatsapp. Could be that this letter is being read at this weeks meeting.
leave d witnesses alone,…..they are good people
Maurice not that its relevant really. I went to one of the best Universities in the UK after I came out of a faith that said I should not get an education. errr Jehovah’s Witnesses. I do not think anywhere on this blog that it says people contributing on here are experts. What many contributors are knowledgable about, is their experience of, or association with JW’s.
By your own admittance you said you know nothing about scientology, perhaps if you knew more about that and JW’s you would be able to give a reasoned response. My experience of academics, is that as an academic you must look at another’s influences, their arguments, their methodology as well as using your own critical thinking and not just accept outpourings per se.
This is a blog not an academic forum, therefore it is more likely you will get personal experience and opinion. Its a pity your opinion was not a reasoned academic contribution that was informative but was just an abusive throw away comment.
deinyefa liberty
They may be good people, but because they are shunning family members and at the same time protecting child abusers by their doctrine and many other not so “good” things, then do you expect people to sit back and just accept poor and bad behaviour without speaking up?
I certainly do not support the closing down of an entire website. It can only boost the persecuted feeling that JWs love to wallow in.
Compared with the Soviet era, however, the political, social and religious freedom in Russia is quite remarkable.
Some Brit. commentators have been sniffy about new Russian legislation to prevent the promotion, or even discussion of, homosexuality in the presence of minors.
It seems to be forgotten that it is only in the last year that gay relationships have been granted equal legal status with hetero ones in England and Wales. Even in the early 1990s being openly gay was sufficient to warrant a discharge from Her Majesty’s Forces, and in Tony Blair’s most liberal and progressive govt., there were ministers who sought to hide their gayness.
Cedars is right though. It would be far more effective for the press, govt. spokespeople, private individuals and everyone else, to point out the specific evils of JWdom rather than there to be this blanket ban.
Court found no grounds for banning web site.
They messed with the wrong person and they will reap what they have sown.
Hope Russians check out apostate web sites.
Cedars your an Idiot. I have not heard the word cult for a worldwide organization like the jehovah’s witness… your ridiculous…heres a little info since you seem to be lacking it..A “CULT” is a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous..and best believe jehovahs organizations is beyond a cult..its worldwide honey… why dont you go ahead and write an article about the caholic church and there many allegations of molestation and abuse complaints….??
Ah – so a cult is only a cult if it’s small, and not successful at indoctrinating more than a few hundred people? Gotcha.
And you idea of “worldwide” is not quite the same as mine, honey. My definition of worldwide encompasses countries like Somalia, Afghanistan and North Korea – all three of which have zero Witnesses and are apparently doomed when Armageddon strikes “imminently.”
JWs tick all the cult boxes. Members are warned to be fearful and suspicious of all info. not pumped out by its bosses, warned against association with all society beyond the control of the org’s. bosses. The JW bosses pretend to possess divine authority. Anybody with the remotest understanding of the definition of the word ‘cult’ would recognise JWs instantly as a cult. Yes Catholic priests are in the news for child abuse. The turn of the JWs is coming. Candace Conti is just the beginning. Are you a JW Deeque? You are ill advised to express any support for them as they look forward to the imminent day of Armageddon when God murders you. If you are not a JW, your capital crime is that of not being a JW. If you are a JW, then God will murder you for defying your divinely appointed bosses and interacting with apostates. You should be mightily relieved that the whole Armageddon nonsense is a shedload of cult issued ordure!
I guess there are all kinds of ways you can define a cult. Some say that its still up for debate. I think this has some elements of truth. Not meant to be offensive, but an opportunity for a wake up call.
Cult as defined by the Urban Dictionary
Jehovah’s Witness
The name of a religious cult who get brainwashed by mind control techniques into believing that their interpretation of the Bible is better than anyone else’s.
It was started by some idiot that got this vision of the world coming to an end in 1914. When 1914 came and went, he then managed to pursuade his flock that it would happen in 1942. When 1942 came and went, well let me put it this way… Anyone who would even think about joining this cult is mentally ill to begin with.
They publish some toilet trash called the Watch Tower and are also known as the Watch Tower Society and JWs. In 1933 their leaders conspired with Hitler against the Jews. Several of their top members were thrown in jail for committing fraud, larceny, sexual deviant acts, etc. But somehow the cult manages to go on. Go figure.
If a member deviates in any way from their way of life all other members are required to scorn them. This is just one of their many mind control techniques.
But the worse thing about JWs is that every year hundreds of children die because these geniuses think that “Thou shalt not eat blood” refers to life saving transfusions instead of becoming a vampire.
If you do not like that how about the Websters Dictionary
definition cult noun, often attributive \ˈkəlt\
: a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous
: a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone very much or too much
: a small group of very devoted supporters or fans
sonny
I would be glad as well if you could provide me with information about the request of the governing Body to pray at least three times a day, being in the chair of a cult exitnetwork in germany.
@John
you are definitely right. banning the JW website and calling the w literatzre extremist might spund attractive to some ExJW. However, Russia should know that forbidding religion in communist time has only increased the influence of the orthodox church.. I would not be surprised to see the orthpdpx church behinfd those attacks because they see their market dwindling. given the fact that here in germany a lot of new members came from Russians who emigrated here …
deeque
obviously you are a JW…
maybe you should not point to another religion for child molestation whilst your big religion deals with it the very samw way as the Catholic church!
Correction!. The Catholics have at least gone some way, albeit not far enough according to victims’ groups, in attempting to clean up their act.
JWs will not even admit that a problem exists.
Deeque, you’re the idiot! Educate yourself and read books on mind control. Start with Steve Hassan’s “Combatting Mind Control.” You’ll see what an ass you are by speaking out of ignorance!
Deeque, also google Candice Conti verdict. You’ll see what hypocrites the Watchtower Governing Body members are. They criticize the Catholic Church while they protect pedophiles in the congregations and silence the victims. I dare you, educate yourself before you speak.
@Michael
Sorry but that’s all i got. It was part of message that the governing body encourages everybody to not only pray three times a day for a good outcome. Seems like it worked since a russian website stated that jw.org won’t be banned.
maurice,
“more stupid than the idiots” but LESS STUPID than this one:
(2 Samuel 12:11, 12) . . .I will take your wives under your own eyes and give them to your fellowman, and he will certainly lie down with your wives under the eyes of this sun. 12 Whereas you yourself acted in secret, I, for my part, shall do this thing in front of all Israel and in front of the sun.’”
(2 Samuel 16:22) . . .Accordingly they pitched a tent for Ab′sa·lom upon the roof, and Ab′sa·lom began to have relations with the concubines of his father under the eyes of all Israel.
(Genesis 19:34-36) . . .Here I lay down with my father last night. Let us give him wine to drink tonight also. Then you go in, lie down with him, and let us preserve offspring from our father.” […] And both the daughters of Lot became pregnant from their father. . .
Dude where do you get your information from? No “idiot” had a vision that 1914 was the end of the world, its actually the start of the last days. Also Jehovahs witnesses were persecuted just like the Jews by Hitler. What leaders were thrown into jail for larceny, fraud our anything life that? Do you have names? And more people die from complications of blood transfusions than from not taking then. Not too mention that technology is so advance that there is not really a need to have a bloods transfusion if you have a doctor who knows what they’re doing.
Another definition of a cult: . A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
Witnesses don’t like in an unconventional manner. We live in houses, apartments, trailers, etc like everyone else. And we don’t have some charismatic leader unless you count Jesus. If that’s the case then all Christian religions are cults.
deeque, I hope you’re not a JW. Because if I was a non-JW who had an interest in JW beliefs, your ” you’re an idiot” would quickly discourage me listening further.
To me, worldwide is not a number of pictures with african and south american landscapes. Worldwide also covers “30 other countries” among which you wouldn’t talk about any liberties (and much less accessibility for people to the truth).
Do you know about meetings held undercover in small groups and people finishing their preaching service at the police station ? I know something …
If you live in a country like the majority of the JW’s, know that on the way to salvation you have a good head-start compared to your prospective Saudi brother or the average guy dwelling along the streets of Riyadh. How fair is this to you ? Please answer to this question. To my knowledge (and correct me if I’m wrong), in the United States for instance, the only issues the organization currently has with authorities are the lawsuits on pedophile cases … Nothing about religious freedom the falks in some 3rd world countries would have …
I also would like to set the record clear. I admire many diligent JW’s for their preaching work, because I know there are ones who do this with sincerity. I also know that if JW’s are in many countries, it’s thanks to such efforts.
However, for a person advertizing the “worldwide” reach, you seem to have a very narrow view of the world. Please know that I’m not questioning about the value of Matthew 24:14. I’m just saying that your logic about this verse leaves questions to answer.
Now that I’m on this thread, I’d like to find out if you could help me get better understanding on these questions I have in mind – of course, after you present your excuses to people for calling them idiots …
Thanks
The beginning of this religion as everyone knows or should know started in the latter half of the 1800’s with Charles Taze Russell as their Spiritual leader. Even John Cedars shows respect to such a man in using a picture of him on his website. Where most active and some non active witness’s go wrong is that they don’t research the beginnings of this society of professed God Channeled people. Lets face it God stopped showing his signs to mankind back in the first century. Deut.18 is pretty clear cut on those who claim to be a prophet of God but their proclamations prove false. So when C.T. Russell says in his “studies in the scriptures” that its more important to read his books then God’s own word the bible, because reading his alone would put you in spiritual lightness, then it is just clear blasphemy against God’s own word.
So my question would be to all those who are obviously in support of this manmade and run organization, Who are you really serving?
The printed pages from their own publications have indicted themselves many times over in their false predictions.
So when you active JW’S who are delving in “mentally diseased” websites make comments based on air and especially on this one, you better have your ducks in order as This man John Cedars has been on the inside and knows what is true or false. And lastly the first giveaway to your arrogance and unintelligence is your “Ad Hominem” tactics which are clearly displayed in your comments.
You see if Mother ship says you can only read what we say then guess what You are involved in a brainwashing cult. Peace to all!
@Maurice,
Way to go! You really showed Cedars, quoting him directly and then misapplying what he said. Brilliant! and you call his readers stupid. WOW! Coming from someone who does not pay attention to context nor the actual statements or history of writings contained in this website you are the ……. well you know what you are, because you throw it around, while hiding in cyberspace. We stood face to face with those we disagreed with and challenged them on facts. Read the other articles and statements and you will learn something. Truth is we both know you will not, because someone once told you that you were smart and you believed it. Instead of appreciating the value of others you go around doing hit and runs on websites without a valid position.
Do yourself a favor, the next time, if there is a next time, someone tells you are smart, drop them back off at daycare and try and find someone your own age to associate with, you might learn something.
P.S. I know you will want to respond to the statement you know what you are, I can’t wait to hear the glorious adjectives you will use to describe yourself, hopefully John will do us all a favor and delete your useless dribble.
indoctrinating thousands of innocents and breaking familes is what they do. blindly following the instructions by a group of fools who sits in watchtower and claims they are holy spirits and says they get orders directly from god.. i deeply appreciate russian Govt if they are successful in this and would really be happy if the samething is done in every country and banish this cult entirely ..
Can’t mess with God.
“In 2004, Russian authorities ordered the dissolution of the local branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses and banned its activities…
The European Court of Human Rights in 2010 ruled that the decision was unlawful and ordered Russia to pay 70,000 euros ($95,000) in damages.”
FAILED!!
Today, Russia tries to ban JW.ORG…
FAILED, again…
There’s soo much more worldwide events that JW went thru, even when the Holocaust occurred. God have their backs.
What does ‘God hev their backs’ mean? Do you mean that God supports the JWs? If so, how come you can’t build a Kingdom Hall in Saudi Arabia?
If God has anything to do with the JWs why does it keep feeding it conflicting information? Did God tell the JWs about all the 20th century Armageddon no shows, all the conflicting blood edicts, and the contradictory teachings about Christmas celebrations?
Please explain yourself.
And how do you account for the 27 Jehovah’s Witnesses who perished when the typhoon struck the Philippines? Are you suggesting that Jehovah is more interested in keeping a Watchtower branch and website operating in Russia than saving the lives of his worshippers in a natural disaster? I must say, it’s not a great advert for a wise God of love.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 “Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant* about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. 14 For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. 15 For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s* word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death;”
JW Never predicted when Armageddon. False prophets did. Revelations 16:15,16 “Look! I am* coming as a thief. Happy is the one that stays awake and keeps his outer garments, that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness.”
16 And they gathered them together to the place* that is called in Hebrew Har–Ma·ged′on.*
Do you know what day and time an intruder’ll show up in your home? No.
Also, 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now Jehovah* is the Spirit; and where the spirit of Jehovah* is, there is freedom.”
JWs Preaches, via phone calls, letter, door to door EVERYDAY to get to those who don’t know the Truth. MATTHEWS 24:14 “And this good news of the kingdom will be preached* in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” <— "end will come"=Armageddon. So, JWs are working VERY hard in reaching to those who don't know about this wonderful, life saving news.
Janice Weg. I fear you know little, if anything of the history of false prophecy associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
1975 is just one of its duff Armageddon prophecies. Listen to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf8vhEmlYFU
There is nothing ‘life saving’ about the JW message. They look forward obsessively to this fantasy Armageddon when most of the world’s population will be murdered for the crime of not obeying every diktat of a bunch of self appointed old men in New York State.
While waiting for this fantasy orgy of mega destruction, the JWs leave in their path a legacy of death and misery. Their ever changing diktats on blood transfusion have left a trail of corpses and their shunning edicts have led to a number of suicides.
Jenice Weg – you need, urgently, to educate yourself about the cult which you seem to want to promote. Most of us contributing to this blog have known the Jehovah’s Witnesses from the inside.
Do not imagine you can approach us as you would the lost, lonely and vulnerable who form your normal doorstep prey.
Best wishes, and here’s to your escape from the malign clutches of the Watchtower and all its works!
It is strange the way some people has stucked in a matter “JW organization”. They create blogs, webpages, trying to diacredit or to put an agressive position against JWs. I think it is a loy of time wasted to feed or satisfy the pain and angry some of You must have felt when were separated of this organization. Come on! Be over there! Forget it and continue your life. JWs are not bad people! There are many others groups really dangerous for the society. Focus on them if you are so much free time!!…. balanced? Mmmm please blance your life!! Go to other religion or define yoursel like an agnostic or something like this and continue your way in your life (if you really have one).
Manuel – Do you realise how ridiculous your post sounds? Pain? When separated from a destructive cult? My realisation that the cruel nonsense I had been fed as a child at the Kingdom Hall was pure obscene fantasy was wonderfully liberating.
You have no understanding whatever what motivates those of us who wish to see JWdom go the way of Thugee and the Atlantic Slave Trade – i.e. a blot on humanity’s history.
Manuel – Are you a JW? If so, why? Do you genuinely relish the thought that most of your fellow humans will soon be murdered for the failure to obey every diktat of a bunch of frauds in New York State?
Please explain your seemingly perverse attitude.
It sickens me that yet again they have got out of it..I guess the conti verdict will be overturned next and the gob get the Nobel prize!
JWdom is certainly only one of the malign outfits that humanity would well be rid of. Al Qaedr is another. WOuld you complain about a campaign to rid the world of Al Qaedr because it is not working to combat cancer? Would you object to fund raising to combat cancer research because it does nothing to alleviate the pain of dementia? With your attitude you would dismiss any campaign to improve the world simply because it has a particular focus. We who wish to warn the world about the exploitative and damaging cult of Jehovah’s Witnesses are attached to this cause in the same way that those, say bereaved by the scourge of cancer, or suffered as victims of Roman Catholic priestly abuse, focus respectively on cancer research and Catholic priestly abuse.
If you want to promote the cause of of universal apathy please do so. Do not be surprised, though, if you are universally ignored.
Here is a novel idea. Another revision of the book of Daniel based upon the ban. Now Russia will be listed as possible the King of the North (Daniel 11th chapter) and this will be listed as proof of the Kings of the earth posturing to battle the Almighty Bigfoot, I mean Almighty God who will show up as he did in 1914, 1975 and a bunch of other times to believers who could see him with their eyes of illusion, I mean faith.
What a great Watchtower that will be released first and then after the reviews come in, lets write ourselves another worthless book to whip up the fervor of the devout followers.
Hey who wants to write a few jokes about the sisters for the G.B. when they release the new book. Or maybe we can hire David Copperfield to magically make the book appear in one of our hands. Heck if they do that I probably will go, I like Copperfield and old cheesy men telling bigoted jokes, it will be the envy of even LasVegas. Move over Howard Stern and Andrew Dice Clay here come the G.B. and they will have you crying until you are unable to laugh.
Hal Lindsey, a non JW American apocalyptic wacko has already assigned Brezhnev of Soviet Russia the role of Daniel’s King of the North. Did he attack Nasser of Egypt, the King of the South? Surely there is room only for a limited number of false prophets.
So it was the European Court which upholds Human Rights that overturned matters in 2010 and not god? The courts also defend freedom of speech for all minority groups, including racists, fascists etc,
I think its really good news that the Russians did not ban as it would have allowed JW’s to feel they needed to rally under their god’s guidance. As it is, they will now have to find other ways to feel persecuted.
What is evident from the defences put on here is that they are quick, non reasoned out statements. That is also good news because if they come back they may begin a dialogue and once that dialogue begins people begin to see that the doctrine is holding them in a perpetual state of anxiety with some light relief when they get together with people who agree with them. I remember when I listened to the Christopher Hitchens VS. William Dembski debate, the last few minutes resonate in this context. It went something like this – The offer of certainty, the offer of security, the offer of a faith that can’t give way is something not worth having. I want to be always hungrily operating on the margins of a great harvest of future knowledge and wisdom. I want to live my life taking the risk, that I don’t know enough. Take the risk of thinking for yourself, much more happiness, truth, beauty and wisdom, will come to you that way.
This is not the only topic on this blog to attract JW members and apologists. Indeed believing and practising JWs crop up occasionally on a range of ex JW and JW exposure sites.
All the apologists and believers, whatever their background or nationality, have several traits in common.
None is able to supply any evidence to suggest there might be any truth in JW TRUTH.
The reason for that is simple. There is no evidence and there is no truth in JW TRUTH.
None is able to justify the malign practices of the cult, like its murderous blood nonsense, its terrorising of children and others with its Armageddon fantasy, its shunning of apostates and its frowning on education once the ability to read and parrot JW lit. has been acquired.
The reason for the above is also simple. There is no justification for the foul practices of this utterly destructive organisation.
All of the JW sympathisers disappear after firing their pathetic lame shots.
The reason for that is simple. Their Theocratic Ministry School and other ‘training’ has equipped them only to prey on the innocent and vulnerable, the lost and pathetic who may be susceptible to the phoney Watchtower wares on sale. Faced with those of us who know the ways of their cult they have no answers.
Hopefully, as they slink back to the imagined safety of their Kingdom Halls, they will reflect on why so many have rejected their miserable little outfit and are so keen to warn the rest of the world about its evils.
You’re doing a great job with this site Cedars.
Are JWs extremist?
“Any day now everybody who isn’t a JW will be destroyed, governments are all controlled by satan, 144.000 will rule in heaven as kings” hmmm…………………….
Think I’ll stick to scientology, it makes more sense, and thank you very much for your endorsement professor Elbakyan, your check is in the mail
Jenice, Manuel, it’s with sites like this that I am better informed of “dangers”. Though I love the Truth as much as you do. Despite the vulgar way I was disfelowshipped (if I told you my story back then and now, you’d feel ashamed), I would be more than happy to be back, I actually attend meetings, even if it requires quite some work on my ego, just for the sake of “see it all for myself” because I equally refuse being under the influence of sites like Cedars’ or similar.
What I see there only confirms what I read here. My most sincere hope is that things change, and so that, if I become a JW again, I can proudly preach my beliefs rather than calling people names and avoiding from conversations when it gets though with arguments. I am one of those who like listening to both sides, so I did talk to JW’s and went to pro-JW sites too. To give you an example, about the UN membership issue, what I read from JW-defence is a bigger shame than the membership itself. So how could someone like me go door to door and answer the same question to someone else ?
The behaviour of many in the organization prevent many sincere (but independently thinking) people accessing the Truth, and I really hope this changes.
So JB. You really want to be a JW again! Please tell us why. Have you discovered some evidence to suggest there might be some truth in JW TRUTH? If you have please share it. It will be a first.
Please explain the connection between the Faithful and Discreet Slave as referred to be Jesus in Matthew 24 and the 8 men in charge of the Watchtower Society in New York. Without any evidence to connect the two the entire authority of the mags, talks, conventions, elders, assemblies, books and Theocratic Ministry School collapses at a stroke.
Please explain also why you are apparently at ease with this revolting Armageddon myth that promises the imminent divine murder of most of your fellow humans.
Some answers would be welcome.
Rowland Nelken,
We must not loose balance. Can we stop combating Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) just because it changes and seems to defeat us? NO.
If it was possible to take HIV in court, we would be defeated reason being that it cannot survive outside human cells (Freedom to live)!
JWs will not quiet us!!