Srecko Sostar

In April 2008, the Elders summoned Ria for questioning in connection with their investigation. (R. 83–84.) The Elders first questioned Ria (who was accompanied by her mother and stepfather) for 45 minutes about her interactions with Mr. Williams, including whether Ria had voluntarily engaged in sexual activity with him. (R. 84.) Having failed to obtain the information they wanted, the Elders then played an audio recording that Mr. Williams had provided that captured the sound of one of the times he had raped Ria. - https://www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2019/11/Williams-Brief-for-Petitioner.pdf Whether this is voluntary or forced sex, the question arises: why would a JW man record sex in his car? And then, why would he give the tape to JW elders? And to top it all off, why would a legal body in the church accept such a recording unless it is a buy/sell situation? Is that Mr. Williams sells the record for a milder sentence and puts all the blame on Ria?

Absolutely! What JWs call “spiritual food” can be divided into two categories. The first is: Simple and generally accepted moral values that are embedded in the consciousness and conscience of people. The second is: Theological-administrative doctrinal nomenclature, of Previous and Present Teachings. The Previous Teachings actually, in simple, clear and normal wording means wrong, err, false teachings, apostasy. ....and The Present Teachings means ostensibly correct, something that will be swallowed by some new interpretation in the future. One of the very obvious and very clear examples of theological misconceptions, is the teaching of the "Generation of 1914." To keep parts of that concept alive, they invented the “Overlapping Generation”. Similar to 1975 calculations and interpretations that came from WT Administration, JW people do and will react to "Overlapping Generation" in similar way as they did and they do now to 1975. As @Emma Rose in "deep wisdom" say: We'd wait and see. Of course, we don't need to wait long. Apologists for WTJWorg already continuously and zealously defend every past and present failure.

There are two results associated with JW and the year 1975. The WT administration made great efforts in a spiritual and literal sense to “save” as many people as possible from Armageddon who were expecting at the time. The increase in the number of members (until 1975) was great because the effort invested in preaching was enormous. But the “inflated spiritual food” offered on the GB spiritual table caused a second result after 1975. A major departure from the organization. Yes, members leaving “Noah’s Ark” was a debacle for the New York Administration, for sure. In fact, I think that the spiritual condition of the JW members at that time was exactly the same as today's JW and vice versa. JW people are willing to believe in the hope and interpretations of their religious leaders. There was no change, people still want and have to believe in some sort/version of "the truth". As a consequence of such a general state of mind and spirit of the collective and of the majority of individuals in that collective, disappointment is inevitable. The WT administration is in a closed circle of constant doctrinal debacles. Bigger and smaller debacles, which in each new generation / version are called "knowledge that multiplies" and "light that shines more and more", "clarifications", "adjustments" etc, etc. Like all other people, JW members want to believe in God and Justice and a better Future. And it’s a lure/bait that attracts. It is a soil on which many hopes can grow. And that is why it is a powerful means of attracting and keeping people in spiritual captivity, with a few phrases of truth and many misconceptions.

Perhaps you will find this interesting and educative.

Government restrictions on religion increasing worldwide By DAVID CRARY July 15, 2019 - https://apnews.com/article/3f554ea6fe6a42c08c0618745eee8c2b NEW YORK (AP) — Government restrictions on religion have increased markedly in many places around the world, not only in authoritarian countries, but also in many of Europe’s democracies, according to a report surveying 198 countries that was released Monday. The report released by the Pew Research Center, covering developments through 2017, also seeks to document the scope of religion-based harassment and violence. Regarding the world’s two largest religions, it said Christians were harassed in 143 countries and Muslims in 140. ............ In Spain, according to the report, some municipal governors have introduced bans on burqas and face-covering veils, and have also restricted public preaching and proselytizing by such groups as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Circumcision of boys also has been an issue in Europe. Muslim and Jewish groups in Germany and Slovenia have complained of government officials interfering in their religious traditions by trying to criminalize circumcision for nonmedical reasons. ............ Another category in the report was religious harassment by individuals and social groups. The United States ranked among the worst-scoring countries in this category in 2017, in part because of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white supremacist protesters displayed swastika flags and chanted anti-Semitic slogans. Pew said the biggest increase in religious hostility by individuals occurred in Europe. Victims of violence, in incidents cited in the report, include Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ukraine and a rabbi and a Muslim woman in Belgium. In Germany, Pew said, there were reports that thousands of refugees were pressured to convert to Christianity after being warned they might otherwise be deported................. “Almost every faith that’s a majority somewhere is a minority somewhere else and often gets persecuted where they’re a minority,” Brownback said at a State Department briefing. “So that’s why a big part of our effort is to get the faiths to come together and to stand for each other.” “We’re not talking common theology here — nobody agrees on theology,” he added. “We’re talking about a common human right.” After this article and highlighted/bold ending quotes i will continue to remind readers with recent example how religious leaders and their lawyers unitedly acting in their searching for "human aka religious rights/freedom". WT Lawyer David Gnam, under WTJWorg GB approval and blessings, he sought, received, and accepted the support of his religious dissenters (in this Court case they are Intervenors. There were 12 intervenors in the case — eight were religious organizations, including the World Sikh Organization of Canada. - https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/general/scc-says-courts-cant-decide-procedural-fairness-of-religious-organizations/275200). In different circumstances they are all “spiritual enemies” of JW elder David Gnam. Moreover, JW elder David Gnam in his preaching activity and from the assembly podium explains how the religious leaders of all other religions that do not belong to JW will be destroyed because they are Christ’s opponents who advocate the devil’s false teaching. It is of great importance to see the WT JWorg hypocrisy in this example. Official doctrine forbids JW members from associating with “unbelievers” except when they are in the "field service of preaching the gospel". David Gnam does not preach the gospel in the courtroom nor refute the false teachings of these other religious and secular “false teachers”. What does David Gnam, JW elder and lawyer, do? He teams up with leaders of “false religions” to gain their support and win in secular court. With what result? Respondent’s Lawyer said this: "The decision seems to say the courts will not intervene in unfair practices by religious groups, even if their decisions have severely detrimental effects, as religion and its community membership can be so central to a person’s life. “One need only think about what religious organizations are all about to understand the huge potential for expulsion or shunning to detrimentally affect a member's life. . . The potential for harm at the hands of a religious organization is, therefore, great,” he says. Other Parties Canadian Council of Christian Charities Intervener Active Association for Reformed Political Action Canada Intervener Active Canadian Constitution Foundation Intervener Active Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Intervener Active Catholic Civil Rights League Intervener Active Christian Legal Fellowship Intervener Active World Sikh Organization of Canada Intervener Active Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Canada Intervener Active Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms Intervener Active Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Canada Intervener Active British Columbia Civil Liberties Association Intervener Active Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association Intervener Active https://www.scc-csc.ca/case-dossier/info/parties-eng.aspx?cas=37273

:)) I can be in the wrong but not completely wrong. You are entitled to make whatever explanations and excuses for your participating on this or any other public site. Not sure should i believe in your reasons or motives but that is of minor importance for subject we discuss. Who is in confusion here or outside of this forum? Who need your help? JW public preaching in line with WT instructions is tool for JW members ... but instead you choose spend time on debates. :)) That is sort of distraction from main goal - preaching about Jesus and Gospel. We have 8 followers and 506 views of this topic ... so, how many of them are confused?

To help finding context, some more quotes from another WT publications: What Does Religious Freedom Mean to You? Surely, we would expect any nation that genuinely cares for its subjects to grant such freedom. Sadly, this does not always happen.......Consider, for example, the situation that prevailed for many years in Mexico. Although the Constitution guaranteed religious freedom, it stipulated: “Churches used for public worship are the property of the Nation, represented by the Federal Government, who shall determine which ones can continue to be used as such.” In 1991 the Constitution was amended to end this restriction. Nevertheless, this example illustrates that religious freedom may be interpreted differently in various lands.....Interestingly, however, there is a kind of religious freedom that does not depend at all upon locale. While in Jerusalem in the year 32 C.E., Jesus said to his followers: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:31, 32. - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1997080 Protecting Freedoms—How? We naturally tend to reject or suspect that which is different or unusual, especially views that differ from our own. Does this mean that tolerance is impossible?...What should be the aim of this education? The magazine UNESCO Courier suggests that instead of fostering rejection of religious movements, “education for tolerance should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people to develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning.”.... The Best Way to Fight Intolerance Tolerance does not mean that everyone should have the same ideas. People might disagree with one another. Some may feel strongly that the beliefs of another person are very wrong. They may even speak publicly of their disagreements. However, as long as they do not spread lies to try to incite prejudice, this is not intolerance. Intolerance is seen when a group is persecuted, targeted by special laws, marginalized, banned, or in some other way hindered from following their beliefs. In the most extreme form of intolerance, some kill and others have to die for their beliefs. How can intolerance be fought? It can be exposed publicly, as the apostle Paul exposed the intolerance of religious leaders of his day. (Acts 24:10-13) When possible, though, the best way to fight intolerance is to work proactively—to promote tolerance, that is, to educate people to understand others better. The UN report on the elimination of intolerance referred to earlier says: “As all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief have their birth in the human mind, so it is at human minds that action should initially be directed.” Such education may even lead individuals to examine their own beliefs. - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101999003 It is notable, now, how WT publications in those periods of time, made praises to UN and try to show how UN goals are of benefit for all people, including JW. Does WTJWorg stand today on same UN ideas about "religious tolerance" or you think how WTJWorg changed "context" for different sort of understanding? :)) WTJWorg public claims are how JW members have to "tolerate" and "respect" other religious ideologies. What does this mean in "your context" of understanding? To "shun" people who think differently? And to not even say "simple hello" to ex-JW? :)) Obviously, you are not part of such JW majority, because you doing even more than simple hello, you discuss spiritual things with ex-JW, which is forbidden activity according to JW Leaders. It seems you show more religious tolerance and less discrimination than GB mandatory instructions. And that is good. Up-vote for you!

We allow people to choose their religion - but we cannot condone those who are traitors to Jehovah. This statement and such attitude shows "religious discrimination". It seems how everyone who choose different religion belongs to "traitors" of JHVH. Islam claim how Abraham, Moses and Jesus + Mohamed are God's representatives of true religion aka Islam. In time of Moses, practicing another religion or different beliefs was also punishable by death. Well, after having past and present facts, we face the question: Do we want religious freedom for all or only for selected?

Dear members of JW. I would like to draw your attention to an article in your journal Awake, Under the headline, the author of the article, who is no doubt a JW, put the ideological idea of UN organization from 1948. You call that same organization "the scarlet colored beast that came out of the abyss" and how this Beast is "full of blasphemous names." How is it possible that the author of the article, with the approval of GB, invokes such an organization and accepts the “blasphemous” ideology of Article 18 and at the same time “prophesies” against the UN? Let's see what Article 18 says. Religious Intolerance Today “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” Article 18, Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, 1948. - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101999001?q=minorities&p=par Article continues: DO YOU enjoy religious freedom in your country? Most countries in the world ostensibly subscribe to this noble principle, ....It is estimated, however, that in numerous countries where intolerance and discrimination are hard realities, countless millions of people today do not enjoy religious freedom. .... “Discrimination based upon religion or conviction exists in almost all economic, social, and ideological systems and in all parts of the world,” noted Angelo d’Almeida Ribeiro, former Special Rapporteur appointed by the UN Commission on Human Rights. In their book Freedom of Religion and Belief—A World Report, published in 1997, editors Kevin Boyle and Juliet Sheen state: “Religious persecution of minority faiths [and] the proscribing of beliefs and pervasive discrimination . . . are daily occurrences at the end of the twentieth century.”.... Religious discrimination can take many forms.....The book Freedom of Religion and Belief cites other examples of intolerance: “Heresy and heretics are not only an image from the past. . . . Rejection, persecution and discrimination towards those who have taken a different path remain a major cause of intolerance. ...." Clearly, religious freedom is under threat in many parts of the world.... ..., the director of the Human Rights Centre of the University of Essex, United Kingdom, observed: “All evidence points to the conclusion that religious intolerance . . . is increasing rather than decreasing in the modern world.” Such increasing intolerance threatens religious freedom, perhaps your religious freedom. Why, though, is religious freedom so important?..... Freedom of religion is like part of the foundation of a building. Other freedoms—civil, political, cultural, and economic—are built upon it. If the foundation is undermined, the whole edifice suffers.... If other freedoms are to be protected, religious freedom needs to be safeguarded first. In order to discern how best to protect something, it is essential to understand it. What are the roots of religious freedom? How was it established, and at what price? The parts of the text that I put in bold are the messages of the author of the article. It is very hypocritical for the author of an article to invoke something that forbids to their own members. And if some member change or is in process of changing their religious beliefs, then the Organization, together with its members, subjects them to religious intolerance and spiritual and literal persecution. JW members in their public preaching announce that there will come a New World in which only those who accept the WTJWorg doctrine will live and be able to exist. Please, then, what kind of religious tolerance and religious freedom do you want to exist today and tomorrow for the religious majority and for religious minority?

:))) yes. Money is "neutral" devil's invention. Money don't have religious affiliation and exist for all, to be able to buy nice things and joy ... as Solomon would say. It belongs to all people, no matter are they Catholic, Muslim or JW.

Here is another KH sold to Islamic centre. :)) https://acorn.agencypilot.com/store/documents/other/253504_49hn3294r6063mrc.pdf?agtype=7&agkey=444+26748 https://www.hyderi.org.uk/news/development-of-new-hyderi-islamic-centre-into-multipurpose-comple/?fbclid=IwAR3AKpazFX-0lkXSr4zwQTyqgVhUD3pJ8tgliM9kV8e_TYJWPManPjiot2w

According to law here, and in many European countries if not all: The owner may pluck the veins and roots of other people's trees and other vegetation from his land, as well as cut off the branches of other people's trees and part of the trunk in the air above his property and keep them for himself, or use these parts of other people's trees..... If he decides to suffer branches in his airspace, he is entitled to the fruits that the branches bear, as well as to the fruits that fall on his land. Tree roots are a strong force and can damage installations or other things that are underground. If another neighbor was setting up installations, and the tree had already been in the neighboring yard before, he might or should have predicted that roots might be a problem in the future. Whether the plumbing could have been installed elsewhere or not is hard to say now. It depends on the regulations and other conditions at that location.

It often happens that plants, larger or smaller, are planted too close to the border. Many people who plant plants while they are still young do not leave enough room to grow. After a few years the plant spreads in its natural growth and becomes a maintenance problem. Ignorance of how big the plant will be when it reaches its full size contributes to the problem for both parties. There are also those who plant trees along the border and do not really care about the consequences of such planting. There are also wild trees that are left to grow. Trees and plants are a very valuable thing, but they must be controlled in urban areas, especially between two neighbors.

Thanks for link. My very first reaction when i saw question and answer was this: Bible didn't foretell that blood transfusion is the thing that will cause problem for JW members. Bible didn't foretell that blood transfusion is part of Last Days Signs or fulfillment of some past prediction/prophecy for the future. :))

In connection with "authority" is Revelation 6, too. It is notable that Lamb made decision to open "seven seals". Each of this "seals" brings devastation to Earth and people. I would understand that Lamb action is connected with his free will and determination to "conquer all his enemies". For example, "war in heaven between devil and Michael" is not caused by merely for the reason of some prophecy needs to be fulfilled, or because God has seen the future. No, war is because this two camps can't stand each other, they decided to win or loose the battle. They are rivals and only one can rule the World. Each of them poses a problem to the other. If you want to explain almost all of this and some other things in question of faith and hope, in question of good and evil, than you need to consider another fact/possibility: Bible not made any quotations (as i know) about God's ability to see future before Adam, Eve and satan came to existence and before they made problem. We have WTJWorg interpretations about this dilemma. They explained: Sometimes God decides to see the future, and sometimes He does not want to see the future. :))) In next perception about God we have idea how God always know what action will cause good outcome and what action will end badly. But, His knowledge is not only about other persons or things, but also and firstly about Him. This is one of thing that make Him above all, exalted in power and wisdom. Well, the existence of the idea that God knew, even before He created angels and human, that there would be a rebellion (and all about that), is neither impossible nor blasphemous. This would mean, that things don’t have to be explained just with the idea of prophecy, as if it’s some definite or indeterminate event that will happen because we could see into the future, like we’re watching TV. In the case of God, He is not just a neutral and/or helpless observer of the future. He is the initiator of the event and knows very well what will happen. He has all the algorithms and combinations. For example, the Bible says nothing about the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" in the heavenly realms, which would be a test of obedience and faith for the angels. But Adam and Eve were subjected to a test. Is there a real difference between the free will of an angels and a human ?? And for both we believe they were perfectly created. All in all we know little. So, to tell, to teach; God saw future and uttered the prophecy, is not enough.

This sort of questions are in group of answers similar to this. According to WTJWorg teaching/interpretation is this: What Causes Variety in Races? When the sperm cell from a man unites with the egg cell of a woman, a new human life is conceived even though the parents are of different races. Yet within that very small cell are thousands of genes, the transmitters of hereditary traits. These traits reflect characteristics seen in the parents or other ancestors. The genetic makeup of the first man, Adam, was such that extensive variety could develop among his offspring—in such things as skin color, hair color and texture, body size and facial characteristics. This variety was increased by language and geographical differences. Concerning geographical isolation the Encyclopedia Americana explains: “When lands inhabited by two or more populations are separated by seas, mountain ranges, deserts, or other obstacles to travel, the members of these populations are perforce confined to their respective territories. . . . races will be separated by gene frequency gaps corresponding to the geographical boundaries. . . . this condition is approached in Africa, where the Sahara Desert forms a boundary between the European (white) and the African (Negro) races. The Sahara is very sparsely inhabited and difficult for man to traverse; it constitutes an isolating agent of long standing.” Thus genetics, language and geographical barriers help to explain why distinctive racial groups appear in all parts of the earth. - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101982086 Here, article explains how God made basis, predisposition for (everything) future races variety. In other words, He planed races. Well, if Adam and Eve were made as "perfect" human and if climate of Earth was made to be "perfect" forever, why God made so many possibilities in variations, not only in animals and human, but about Earth too. For reason that processes can be initiated that will completely change climatic conditions and that all this can develop, evolve and arise in diversity. This could arouse in us the idea that God had in mind not only plan A, but also plan B, C .... If you, as believer, want to find cause for everything that exist, you will always get to God-Creator. And if something make you confused, you can always find consolation in this interpretation: God is source of good, and bad things exist because he allowed it. :))

Deaths 225K +871 https://www.google.com/search?q=covid+death+in+USA&rlz=1C1EXJR_enHR875HR875&oq=covid+death+in+USA&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i10i19j0i19j0i10i19j0i19j0i10i19l2j0i19.8129j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 According to this information on google this would mean how mortality is less than 0,1 % (0,07% = 229 600) in cca 8 months Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. In 2018, there were 599,274 cancer deaths; - https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/research/update-on-cancer-deaths/index.htm (cca 0.18%) Covid is interesting phenomena.

Every interpretation may go in two directions. :)) We saw that already in WTJWorg. My interpretations or understanding are not obligated to accept and not obligated to obey. You are free to "question" me and my thoughts. :)) ..... because you are "created in the image of God". The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God - 1 Cor 2 Asking questions, with or without faith, doubts, caution, or to provoke it is not something unknown to God or to human. Why you see problem in that? The problem is not in the question but in the answer.

Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Psalm 10 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” - Romans 9 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Habakkuk 1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Job 38 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. Mat 21 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin? Luke 1 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them

Bible give example that anyone is entitled to ask all sort of questions even those kind that question motive of person. God allowed satan to ask this: "Does Job fear God for nothing?" In this question God didn't see any reason to punish devil for asking not only about Job motives but motives of God Himself. Further events show that God participated fully in conversation with devil and they both gave ideas or way how such questions could be, should be answered. If you or anyone have doubt, interest, are curious about someone or something, a question may be asked.

Before or after Christ, is that matter? People lived even before the coming of Christ. Israel lived before, too, and were under Law of God. And that Law regulate war actions of Israel. What is meaning of your question? About second question. People don't need "to get the authority" for direct questions towards anyone, even god. It is obtained by birth. :))

Tax in Bible vocabulary have few meanings: 1- Mandatory, compulsory labor for king/kingdom. 2- Payment given to the kingdom as recognition that the subjects recognize their domination by the kingdom is called, "offering." 3- King Solomon levied the Tenth-Tax on the residents which was a regular tax to pay for his expenses.' 4- The people of Israel recognized silver and gold products only as war-booty (not products that should be used for trading) 5- To pay for the great building expenditures, Solomon imposed an additional tax on the residents aside from the Tenth-Tax, which was used to pay for Temple and Palace expenses. 6- Solomon began to charge a tax from the traders who entered his country, Trade Tax. 7- Later kings of Judea abolished the three additional methods of creating revenues; the special additions to existing taxes, sale of state property, and compulsory labor. 8- At first, the tax was only collected from agricultural property. Beginning in Solomon's time, taxes were collected from the trade. 9- Revenues for support of the Priests and Levies, also a need to conduct Temple repairs from time to time. ....and many other David's and Solomon' fiscal policies are interesting. One is king of War and other was king of Peace. For instance, when Solomon formed his 12 districts for the purposes of taxation and supplying the needs of his court, he did not include Judah (1 Kings 4). Judah apparently had tax-free status. https://repository.jmls.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1180&context=facpubs

I like this perspective about people's relations. It is true how our character can bring difficulties or easy time with different individuals. In general, and same is in JW congregations. Oh! I understand what your rebuke is. With or without a meaning. Funny how ex-JWs can get away with it, We, ex JWs worked very hard to get this status :)))

In old Bible times of Israel's kings, taxes are used for wars. In the name of God. Was that ok or not, i don't know, but this is just comment on your interesting question. :))