Srecko Sostar

I have a reputation for diplomatic subtlety ....

quote: The take-home message? Don't make far-reaching claims about what principle can or cannot explain a phenomenon until you have considered all theoretical formulations of the principle. - https://www.sciencealert.com/new-research-says-the-uncertainty-principle-might-be-slightly-more-certain

It appears that they made the top choice, and one they were already familiar with, or had developed "ties" with, as we see from the jw org link.  
 
Wikipedia on Cesnur, the organization that Introvigne directs:
CESNUR has been described as "the highest profile lobbying and information group for controversial religions".
But, we know "the love of money is the root of all evil"
CESNUR describes itself as an independent scholarly organization, but the organization has met with criticism for alleged personal and financial ties to the groups it studies; anthropologist Richard Singelenberg questioned in 1997 whether CESNUR is "too friendly and does not make enough critical comments about new religious movements and sects".[12] Many scholars, however, see it in a favourable light and share its criticism of the "sect-monitors".[2]
 
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  1 Tim 6:10
 

Understandable given what they have caught with, but to use a known person who has advocated for the likes of Scientology? They really couldn't find anyone else? Or do you think they are doing this on purpose, actually wanting the guy who wrote for Scientology, so that maybe....just maybe, they won't look as bad as Scientology? 

I see that from your post. What I don't get is do they really think that an outside person is going to be able to explain the wt position better then they can? They have lawyers on speed dial, no? Or do you think they have to outsource because the wt's lawyers can only handle personal cases ( witness against another person or the like) and not really so when it comes to another organization?

They are desperate.  "Outsourcing" when Holy Spirit is not aiding them "in house", is the only way.  

Sadly, the majority won’t say, “well that was short-lived! These men lied to us when they said, “the GB is convinced that Jehovah is directing that the world headquarters be moved to Warwick”.  The majority won’t say, “God didn’t bless the purchase of that land or their endeavor to build His house like they told us.”
I doubt that the majority of JWs will call the tornado, "an act of God".  They WILL somehow rationalize Lett’s words by saying, “Satan is the ultimate cause”, even though Lett also said,
 WELL, BY ALIENATING HUMANS FROM JEHOVAH, SATAN DEPRIVES THEM OF THE CREATOR LOVINGLY CONTROLLING THE WEATHER FOR THEIR BENEFIT. 
https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/construction/video-world-headquarters-jehovahs-witnesses-history-warwick/
Confusion, confusion.   
A JW who was in a congregation that I attended, told another concerning my leaving, that I had "left the protective arms of Jehovah, found only through his organization".  I do believe many do expect divine protection.  
 
 
  http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/search?q=Fire+from+heaven

In Australia hearing they tried the same thing with a little help of Dr. Monica Applewhite. 
https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/file-list/Case Study 29 - Findings Report - Jehovahs Witnesses.pdf
8 Expert Evidence for the Jehovah’s Witness Organisation      page 73-75
 At the request of Watchtower Australia,637 the Royal Commission heard evidence from Dr Applewhite, who was engaged by Watchtower Australia to provide a report on the response of the Jehovah’s Witness organisation to allegations of child sexual abuse.
 
 

quote: The take-home message? Don't make far-reaching claims about what principle can or cannot explain a phenomenon until you have considered all theoretical formulations of the principle. - https://www.sciencealert.com/new-research-says-the-uncertainty-principle-might-be-slightly-more-certain

I see we have a new Cowboy in the room. @Leander H. McNelly   Must be a friend of @BillyTheKid47 

In replying to Srecko Sostar's and Anna's observations I would like to add my own direct observations, using everything I know from the modern history I have studied, and things I have carefully watched over my 73 years of travel around the Sun.
I could give hundreds of examples from REAL history and REAL life experiences, but I have done that over a period of time, and have never changed anyone's mind by hard verifiable facts, so I will call upon you to think deeply about your real life knowledge, and real life experiences, and see if you can come up with a different conclusion than the one I have.
1) Jehovah does not interfere in the affairs of mankind in any ways whatsoever, in modern times.  The whole point of our existence is to be an experiment for the entertainment of Jehovah God .... and if you interfere with an experiment ... the results are skewed.
Think of it as the theocratic equivalent of the Heisenberg Principle, that governs quantum mechanics.  As counter-intuitive as it sounds, in the quantum world, if you watch an experiment ... it changes the results.
Same thing.
I have seen Brothers, much better men than I in every way, killed, yet somehow I survive. I have seen 8 million and more Brothers and Sisters pray for the Russian Federation to release our Brothers and return our property in Russia, with ZERO results.
I have seen four Sisters in one car, out in Field Service killed , being t-boned in an intersection.
I thank Jehovah several times a day for my, and my wife's lives, and the circumstances, times, and place that I live.
But without excellent doctors, money, insurance, and a dozen other things, I would have died many years ago.  I see 20/20 now, but I have been blind, twice, and it is ONLY because of money and circumstances, and reasonably competent doctors that I can see.
The list of things I am thankful for is quite large, and I thank Jehovah God for my life, and the opportunity to know how to live a good and wholesome life, with my wife and dogs, and chickens, and an internet connection that I can sit in my computer room, and explore the Universe in detail.
Whether or not I can afford to get my roof fixed ....is entirely up to me.
The fact of the matter is that Jehovah does NOT interfere with the experiment, today.
Not in big things ... not in small things.
There is the old parable of the country Church, where the congregation prayed earnestly and long for God to heal little Johnny's crippled legs ... and God answered those prayers.
NO.
The last time he tweaked the Petri Dish was about 2,000 years ago.
Since the chances of winning the Lottery are about one in 295 million, should I win, I may change my opinions slightly .... but it is still my responsibility to buy a ticket.
 
 

I expect all the JWs on here will run and hide in the Closed / Private Group, all in shame of their leaders the GB and the Lawyers that lie on their behalf. I wish there were more JWs on here, to give their honest opinion of the mess the JW Org is in. Surely this is not how God wants to be served ? 

I think buying the high ground is just common sense not guidance from God. After all they would have guidance from people that work in that trade, surveyors, land management workers, drainage workers, etc. Expert advice is needed even for laying foundations as the builder needs to know the types of soil they are digging in etc. We live on high ground and i would never live in a low area liable to flooding, it's just common sense. 
If God was going to guide anything it would be spiritual guidance to have a clean organisation, but no guidance there as can be clearly seen. 

Unfortunately we have seen time after time the watchtower can twist, lied and change things as it suits them, so im sure they can make something up..
And remember the watchtower doesn't need to defend themselves if JWs doesn't know about it.... 😆😆😆

@Witness  the video is (for me anyway) over the top Americanism unfortunately. BUT what he is saying is true. 
We can see how the first sentence of this report starts off.  1. 
Expert Opinion, Holly Folk, Massimo Introvigne, J. Gordon Melton.
1. We have been requested by the law firm of Mr. Shane Brady, representing the “Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Netherlands”, 
Shane Brady, it seems, is/ was in 2007, an "in house Witnesses lawyer and respected 'Bethelite'. and a senior religious leader.... that defended the blood issue in 2007. 
I can't quite understand how this Mr Brady can be be a full time JW living in Bethel / HQ in USA, and at  the same time be part of this Law Firm below. 
https://wghow.ca/partners-associates.htm 

 
Shane H. Brady, J.D.
Partner

Shane received his law degree from Osgoode Law School (Toronto, Ontario) (later converted to J.D.) and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2001. He articled under the tutelage of our eminent founding lawyer, W. Glen How, O.C., Q.C., L.S.M. Few other mentors could have provided the breadth and depth of legal education. Shane has done trial and appellate work in civil, family, constitutional, and criminal law.
Shane has advocated for mature minors' rights to make their own medical treatment decisions. He was the primary lawyer in a case from the provincial trial court to the Supreme Court of Canada, resulting in the seminal decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in AC v Manitoba (Director of Child and Family Services), 2009 SCC 30, [2009] 2 SCR 181.
Currently Shane specializes in international human rights work in the European Court of Human Rights, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, representing clients in both European and post-Soviet countries. 
So is he only representing JWs ? 
 So it was this Mr Brady, JW leader, Lawyer, currently specialising in human rights, that hired the EXPERT OPINION report, using a man, Massimo Introvigne  that writes about satanism and From 2008 to 2016 he has served as vice-president of the Catholic movement Alleanza Cattolica
 Massimo Introvigne is also known to :-  
 he advocates doctrinaire positions that favour groups like Scientology.   Sorry the writing is a mess, it's grabbing quote that don't want to fit together.   But, oh dear, the GB and their lawyers seem to have a lot to answer for. I honestly wonder how God and Christ feel about it all. What is Jesus feeling right now, that he actually died for this mess ?             

In the video from the linked post, Paula White says:
"...we declare that any strange winds, any strange winds that have been sent to hurt the church, sent against this nation, sent against our president, sent against myself, sent against others, we break it by the superior blood of Jesus."
I hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

Maybe, you should ask a JW after they hear both Jackson and Travis Brooks give their weather-related accounts.  That will give you your most accurate answer.
 Jackson:  “We truly have seen Jehovah’s hand in helping the project”  How?
“Just one example”… that Jackson enhanced upon was, how the weather cooperated with the production of the Bible.
Who then, controlled the weather that summer?  “Jehovah”
Travis Brooks – “Jehovah’s blessing is the most important thing we can have on our projects”.  What was the greatest blessing to finish the work? Sand, delivered by a typhoon, at the hand of "Jehovah".  
What does the average JW think when hearing both of these examples?  God provides, through the actions of weather when the organization is facing an obstacle...relief or aid, through a weather-related event. 
 
 

Anna, this is a cop-out.  

Confusion, confusion! (meaning of “Babylon”....Rev 18:4-8)
LETT:  EVEN THE SO-CALLED NATURAL DISASTERS THAT CAUSE A LOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING, SATAN IS THE ULTIMATE CAUSE!  WHY DO WE SAY THAT?  WELL, BY ALIENATING HUMANS FROM JEHOVAH, SATAN DEPRIVES THEM OF THE CREATOR LOVINGLY CONTROLLING THE WEATHER FOR THEIR BENEFIT. 
He needs to watch this video:
 
 

"The scores of branch office buildings, hundreds of Assembly Halls, and tens of thousands of Kingdom Halls around the world provide tangible proof that God’s Kingdom is real and is now ruling." - https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/gods-kingdom/support/building-work-honors-jehovah/
This same words was told by GB Helper Alex Reinmueller on JW TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzgfCMcOhM4&feature=em-uploademail  in 32:31 of this video.
Where in Bible and in Jesus' words you can find confirmation how construction program and buildings will be tangible proof about God's Kingdom reality on Earth?
Does Watchtower's worldwide possession of  properties, real estate (buildings) is part of "sign" of the Last Days ?
 
 

Another day without your smile
Another day just passes by
But now i know how much it means
For you to stay right here with me
The time we spent apart will make our love grow stronger
But it hurts so bad i can't take it any longer
I want to grow old with you
I want to die lying in your arms
I want to grow old with you
I want to be looking in your eyes
I want to be there for you, sharing everything you do
I want to grow old with you
A thousand miles between us now
It causes me to wonder how
Our love tonight remains so strong
It makes our risk right all along
The time we spent apart will make our love grow stronger
But it hurt so bad i can't take it any longer
I want to grow old with you
I want to die lying in your arms
I want to grow old with you
I want to be looking in your eyes
I want to be there for you, sharing everything you do
I want to grow old with you
Things can come and go
I know but
Baby I believe
Something's burning strong between us
Makes it clear to me
I want to grow old with you
I want to die lying in your arms
I want to grow old with you
I want to be looking in your eyes
I want to be there for you, sharing everything you do
I want to grow old with you
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Brian Mcfadden / Kian John Francis Egan / Shane Filan
I Wanna Grow Old with You lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
 

Ohhhh this is Gold.... Massimo Introvigne is also the director of Transylvania society of Dracula...
Cant read about Dracula's book but happy to hire him to write something possitive for the society... 😆😆😆
Nice one

JWs will probably love to know he wrote this book. 😂
 
 
 
I wonder how much ice cream money went into this and who decided to spend it thus instead of saving someone from dying in agony...
A report like this is easy to purchase. The authors have no morals or credibility and the 'report' was built off a set of required talking points provided by the watchtower. The very fact that they spent an massive pile of ice cream money on something completely non-binding means they are mortified of the possibility that the Dutch report will cause a massive Exodus.
He was even interviewed by JW.ORG and you can download the video here:

https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/russia/dr-massimo-introvigne-interview/
Here is a PDF as another source
All they had to do was use one of their own college educated scholars to write on their behalf! Oh wait...