Jack Ryan

EXPERTS DIFFER IN OPINION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OF PREACHERS
RIA Novosti, 17 February 2016
 
A draft law defining in federal legislation the concept of missionary activity has evoked a mixed reaction among representatives of religious organizations and experts questioned by RIA Novosti. Some see in it a long-needed measure; to the contrary, others declare it to be in contradiction with the constitution of the Russian federation.
 
The authors of the draft law introduced this week into the State Duma—the Arkhangelsk provincial assembly of deputies—want to supplement the existing law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations" with an article entitled "Missionary activity." The initiators explain that in its current form the legislation does not adequately regulate the legal relations connected with the procedure for conducting missionary activity and it lacks in particular control of the activity of "missionaries, including those who have come from abroad and are preaching on Russian territory."
 
"I remind you that Russia is a secular state, where all religious organizations have equal status. Their activity is regulated by the law 'On freedom of conscience,' into which it is proposed to introduce changes. I suppose that there already now is a negative conclusion by the government," Yaroslav Nilov, a deputy of the LDPR fraction and head of the duma's Committee on Affairs of Public Associations and Religious Organizations, told RIA Novosti. He said that this may be because when it has successfully gone through state registration a religious organization has the right "to implement the goals of its charter, which are guaranteed by the constitution." He said that such goals include the dissemination of the faith, conduct of educational events, implementation of canons, conduct of ceremonies, and "engagement in such activity as may be called missionary activity."
 
Therefore, the deputy suggests, the government has considered that to prescribe in addition the concept of "missionary activity" in the law is "excessive."
 
The news agency's interlocutor assured that the standing committee "has an obligation to discuss and to determine future prospects" of the legislative initiative. He also noted that a number of legislative assemblies have adopted similar regional laws.
 
Position of Religious Organizations
 
The Russian Orthodox Church has declared that it does not support the initiative of the Arkhangelsk deputies. The director of the Legal Service of the Moscow patriarchate, Hegumena Kseniia Chernega, reported that a similar draft law was prepared by the cabinet of ministers several years ago. The initiative for regulating missionary activity—which is first of all illegal—belonged, she said, not to the church but to the Ministry of Justice.
 
"We rejected this idea since there were many subjective concepts," Chernega stated, explaining that at the time there was talk, for example, about problems in determining the affiliation of a person with one or another confession or who is a representative of a religious organization. "We are talking, in such a case, about the persons who act with authorization or who are leaders of religious organizations, clergy," the director of the Legal Service of MP explains.
 
Chernega thinks that the constituent elements of the country [subjects] cannot be given the right to regulate missionary activity. This violates the constitution and "may seriously infringe the rights of citizens."
 
The first vice-chairman of the Ecclesiastical Board of Muslims of Russia, Damir Mukhetdinov, told RIA Novosti the performance of missionary activity is nothing other than "the obligation of the true Muslim." He emphasized that this is "a very difficult topic," since, on one hand, one is talking about an attempt to combat preaching activity of "destructive sects and movements," and, on the other hand, this deals with questions of doctrine that require a definite point of view of theologians and religious leaders.
 
"In such a case, we will have to change the religious imperatives themselves since after all the charters of the ecclesiastical boards of Muslims say that their purpose is to spread their religion, that is, to engage in missionary activity," Mukhetdinov thinks. In his view, legislative limits on missionary activity "will not be accepted by believing people," since they will take away from them one of the primary dogmatic functions: "to bear the word of God."
 
Opinion of Experts
 
In his turn, the senior scientific associate of the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leonid Siukiyainen, suggests that legislative regulating of the activity of missionaries "is possible in principle." "In the past 20 years there have been many situations which evoked the desire and necessity of adopting such legislative acts. They have been adopted in a number of constituent elements of the Russian federation. We know the situation that troubles the Russian Orthodox Church and we know many sensitive issues that are connected with Muslim religious organizations. Therefore I think that it may make sense to regulate this," the legal expert said. At the same time, he emphasized that the regulation should be accomplished without violation of provisions of the chief law of the country and not contradict relevant European documents on this topic that Russia also has signed.
 
The necessity of adopting a law on the federal level was previously stated by the president of the Russian Association of Centers for the Study of Religions and Sects, Alexander Dvorkin. The religious studies expert explained that such a measure would be aimed, in the first place, not at sectarians but at organizations in whose name they are conducting their mission. He said that imprisonment of individual members of sects is "an extremely undesirable development of things," since sects "dream that their members would receive real prison terms," so that then they can "talk about persecution of religion in Russia." (tr. by PDS, posted 17 February 2016)

TEXT OF AMENDMENT OF RELIGION LAW

Introduced by Arkhangelsk provincial Assembly of Deputies
 
Draft
 
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
FEDERAL LAW
 
On introducing changes into federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations"
 
Article 1
 
To introduce into chapter II of the federal law of 26 September 1997 "On freedom of conscience and religious associations" a change, adding to it article 5.1 of the following contents:
 
Article 5.1 Missionary activity
 
1. Missionary activity means informational and organizational activity of representatives of religious associations, and also of persons distributing religious literature and other items of religious significance, produced by religious associations, directly or indirectly intended for the dissemination of their teaching and religious practice on the territory of the Russian federation among persons of a different faith and/or nonbelievers.
2. A missionary is a person who conducts missionary activity on the territory of the Russian federation.
3. Informational missionary activity is activity of missionaries aimed at announcing, popularizing, and disseminating any religious views, notions, and religious practice by oral, printed, electronic, and other means.
4. Organizational missionary activity is activity of missionaries aimed at the creation of organized religious structures (associations), training of specialists, organizing and conducting religious events, and creation of other conditions for accomplishment of missionary activity.
5. Religious associations have the right to conduct missionary activity.
The procedure for conducting missionary activity by a religious association on the territory of a subject [constituent element] of the Russian federation is established by legislation of a subject of the Russian federation.
 
Article 2
 
The present federal law becomes effective from the day of its official publication.
 
V.V. Putin,
President of the Russian federation
Moscow, Kremlin
 
(tr. by PDS, posted 17 February 2016)
Russian original posted on official site of State Duma, 15 February 2016

http://ria.ru/religion/20160217/1376279891.html

A couple of my friends currently do and I don't think it is correct. Or am I mistaken?

I recently saw a JW pioneer couple post this ad on GoFundme

This is from part of the ad -

We are moving to another state to assist a small Spanish-speaking congregation. For anyone who's ever moved you know how stressful and expensive this can be. But we feel confident that our Heavenly Father is behind us and that He can touch the heart of others to assist us in practical ways!
We are the Brandons, Will and Theresa. We have been engaged in an International Bible educational work for the past 30 years now.
Presently we are full-time preachers known as pioneers in the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A pioneer spends a minimum of 70 hours a month declaring the good news of God’s kingdom.

In addition we have the privilege of being part of the LDC - Local Design Construction so we can work as volunteers supporting disaster recovery efforts and building Kingdom Halls all over the world.

The work is done in over 230 lands and in over 700 languages.
Our desire is not only to continue serving in the United States but if possible, in foreign lands where the needs are greater. We are also trying to eliminate our remaining debt so that we can be free to accept whatever assignment we are qualified for in Jehovah's earthly organiztion. For this and other reasons we are seeking financial sponsors to help us in this once in a lifetime work based on Matthew 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.”
Your contributions will allow us to accomplish these goals and will be greatly appreciated not only by us but by the others whose lives we can influence for good.
Thank you for considering this request and your support in advance.

Sometimes, we're just waiting for a miracle. A nurse who is a Jehovah's Witness, grows fond of the miracle survivor of a plane crash. Two sexagenarians, a bartender and a parking lot attendant want to explore their forbidden passions. A conservative, well-off couple drown their disappointments in booze and gambling. And a man does his utmost to make amends for an irredeemable action, bringing us to a plane bound for Cuba. An ensemble film where every character affects the lives of others.
- Written by Gabriel Sabourin

http://amzn.to/1RdpPXr

Jehovah's Witnesses do not think twice before looking for new members, and are now targeting refugees, according to the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

Jehovah's Witnesses are well-known for their attempts at evangelism, and have taken to the task of finding new members among the migrants in Denmark, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten reported.
The newspaper referred to the small Danish town of Flauenskjold, where about 22 refugees currently reside; some of them are reportedly already contacting members from a local branch of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Jyllands-Posten quoted locals as saying that they had the impression that Jehovah's Witnesses are making special tours of the refugee centers in order to recruit future followers there.
In a move that reflected their ever-increasing clout in Denmark, the Jehovah's Witnesses launched an Arabic language speaking group in the country two years ago, in February 2013.

The past few years have seen more migrants in Denmark become Jehovah's Witnesses, with the group's press secretary Dag-Erik Kristoffersen repeatedly claiming that refugees are not being forced to join.  This allegation, however, was rejected by refugee center head Nina Svendsen, according to the newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
Jehovah's Witnesses are evangelical millenarians who believe that the destruction of the current world as we know it in the Biblical Battle of Armageddon is imminent, and that the establishment of God's kingdom over the Earth is the only solution for all problems faced by humanity.

The group, which claims a worldwide membership of more than 8.2 million adherents, has more than once been harshly criticized over issues surrounding their translation of the Bible, doctrines, their handling of sexual abuse cases, and the alleged coercion of members.
Several cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses have been heard by Supreme Courts all across the world.
The cases are, as a rule, related to their right to practice their religion, displays of patriotism and military service, as well as blood transfusions, which nearly all Jehovah's Witnesses refuse. They may find an unwelcome reception among dedicated Muslims, who see apostasy, the act of converting to another religion, as an abhorrent sin which many who advocate Sharia Law believe should be punishable by death.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160219/1035045422/denmark-migrants-jehovah-witnesses.html#ixzz40g4xWTvY

Are male witnesses now allowed to wear eye liner?

I wonder if the elders want to discuss it with him?

If not, can we assume that there are two levels of standards within the YHWH organisation?

When using isilo,( in Android) if i am searching a reference for a scripture, the full article opens. Whereas in the cd library on Windows, the particular paragraph, which has the scripture and the explanation, it gets highlighted and opened.
Do i have to make any changes in the settings...?

.

El anciano solo habla de la literatura y no el hermano que anduvo manejando? porque? 

Que es mas importante?

Jehovah's Witnesses > WTBTS of Pennsylvania  > Archive of Publications > 2016 C.E.

Jehovah's Witnesses > WTBTS of Pennsylvania  > Archive of Publications > 2016 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------

Quote

 

The people at Singularity University believe that technology will solve mankinds problems. Its head sees prosperous long-term prospects of mankind. Until then, the outlook is, however, bleak.

[...]

Today, the focus is no longer directed at the stars, but towards science-fiction scenarios here on earth: automated driving, artificial intelligence, medical progress and the digital revolution that will cause a sustained change within the economy and every individual aspect of society.

An event that will dramatically change mankind

The organization is named based on the so-called technological singularity. This usually refers to the point in time when artificial intelligence transcends human intelligence. From that point on, this intelligence, detached from a physical body, can not only conquer space, but independently create an even smarter artificial intelligence - the technological progress would accelerate to a degree mankind has never witnessed before.

[...]

He believes in a better world thanks to technology: "In ten years, we will have free educational tools that will provide better education than human teachers, said Nail. Human teachers would only be required to motivate students and explain the use of the tools.

 

http://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/webwelt/article152198869/In-29-Jahren-sind-die-Probleme-der-Menschheit-geloest.html

(only available in German)

The article goes on to list possibilities for medical scanners that can diagnose patients much faster and efficient than human doctors, that there will be no need for menial workes (and that therefore, there should be a minimum income guaranteed for everyone), there will be parking spaces for everyone due to super-efficient management of traffic (??) and that DNA tests will cost as little as a cent.

3 hours ago, chrissyleaz said:

Why do the administrators of this forum allow such disturbing comments? I do not understand why there is a preoccupation with the promotion of those "bad apples".  Being informed is one thing but promoting something as this should be removed. 

I prefer to be informed of the reality of the situation. There will always be some bad apples in our congregations... we just need to be aware.

A Jehovah’s Witness elder who sexually assaulted two vulnerable teenagers he met through the church was sentenced to three years jail yesterday over the “destructive” abuse.

David Frank Pople, 68, met the boys through the Safety Bay congregation of the church and assaulted them between 1989 and 1996.

One of the teens reported the sexual assaults to elders in 1997 but police were not made aware of the abuse until he filed a police report in 2014.

Pople was forcibly ejected from the church for being “insufficiently repentant” in 1997 and readmitted the following year at his request.

District Court judge Troy Sweeney accepted Pople was genuinely remorseful but said he had interfered with his victims’ natural maturing process in a “very destructive way”.

“A message must be sent that child abuse is abhorrent and will not be tolerated by any civilised society,” she said.

“They were vulnerable because they were young and because you were a church elder and their boss.”

When Pople admitted assaulting one of the boys during a conversation with an elder in the 1990s, he was told a judicial committee would be formed to deal with the issue.

The elders spoke to Pople in an apparent attempt to determine his level of remorse and later sent a letter to certain members of the congregation explaining in great detail why he had been ejected.

Pople was in his 40s when he assaulted the boys at work, on his yacht and in his Shoalwater home.

He was close friends with the parents of his first victim and had helped the second victim with his Bible studies.

Defence lawyer Nick Scerri told the court Pople was candid with the leadership of the church and made “very frank admissions” about some aspects of the offending in 1997.

He said his client has been living three lives and was “deeply unhappy” when he assaulted the boys.

“He had the life of the family man, the father, the husband,” Mr Scerri said. “ At the same time, he was balancing the religious obligations that he had as a leader in that church.

“And thirdly, he had this secret homosexual sort of latency, I suppose.”

Pople pleaded guilty to six sex-related charges as well as breaching his protective bail conditions in 2014.

He will be eligible for parole after spending 18 months behind bars.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/30810834/church-elder-is-jailed-over-sex-abuse/

TWO men are beginning lengthy jail sentences for their part in an estimated £8million investment fraud likened to a religion and its brainwashed victims “believers”.

Lawrence Wheeler, who was jailed for nine years, was pictured with gems and precious metals he had bought from the fraud proceeds and was said to have gallivanted around the world living the high life in hotels.

His son and right-hand man James Wheeler - who received an eight year prison term - was accused by Judge Sean Morris of a “nauseating and slippery performance” when he took the witness stand during his three week trial, having denied fraud and money laundering.

He told investors that his status as a Jehovah’s Witness meant he was unable to break the law, in an effort to win their trust.

Teesside Crown Court heard how many of the 350 victims were elderly and had been deliberately targeted.

Some had since died with the stress of the County Durham-based fraud having contributed to their ill health, and others had lost homes and life savings.

A third man the Crown said was involved, Anthony Kemp, is currently serving a prison sentence in New Zealand for a separate but similar fraud, but is expected to be extradited back to the UK to stand trial when he is released.

The con began in 2001 when Wheeler Snr and Kemp were introduced to a network of people interested in so-called “get rich quick” schemes.

Victims were then recruited to what was effectively a pyramid or ‘Ponzi’ scheme and told they could get access to high yielding investments abroad.

When that ended pressure tactics and deception were used to get victims to make payments in anticipation of what prosecutor Mark Giuliani said were “ludicrous returns”. In 2006 it was claimed an interest fund from the investments amounted to £3.3bn.

Mr Giuliani said various excuses were also made to explain why no money was being paid with Lawrence Wheeler at one stage claiming couriers were bringing sixty million dollars from abroad in a suitcase which had been lost.

When people complained Wheeler Snr, who used fake banking documents and guarantees, sent threatening e-mails, saying he would “send in the heavies”.

They were also blackmailed into silence and repeatedly told that if they went to the authorities they would not get a penny.

Mr Giuliani said even after his arrest in 2013 Lawrence Wheeler carried on his fraudulent dealings, claiming to be looking at oil deals abroad and asking people to send money via PayPal.

Asked by Judge Morris where the cash had gone, Mr Giuliani said it was believed it had been siphoned off to West Africa.

Unlike his 71-year-old father, who admitted conspiracy to defraud on the eve of his trial, James Wheeler denied fraud and money laundering, but was found guilty by a jury on both counts.

He allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder the cash received. A picture framing shop, in Spennymoor managed by James Wheeler and his wife Gillian – who was cleared of the same charges – was used to co-ordinate the con.

Mr Giuliani read out several victim impact statements describing the “devastating” effects the fraud had.

He said: “Some of the victims had responsible jobs, company managing directors, solicitors, accountants, people who should have known better.”

Stephen Constantine, for Wheeler Snr, of Ramsay Street, Tursdale, County Durham, said he was a man of advancing years and hitherto good character.

Tom Mitchell, for 46-year-old James Wheeler, of Church Lane, Ferryhill, said: “It was as much a religion as a fraud. The believers – those were elderly and sophisticated investors.”

Mr Mitchell said his client’s culpability only went to back to 2007, adding: “This was not James Wheeler’s fraud. But for his father’s actions son would not be where he is now.”

Sentencing the defendants, Judge Morris said Wheeler Snr was the “villain of the piece” and a devious fraudster.

He said his procrastination in the face of overwhelming evidence led to other members of his family being arrested and also facing trial, before the cases against them were discontinued.

The judge said James Wheeler had been a willing and able partner in the fraud, funnelling funds abroad, and had also “chanced his arm with the jury and lost”.

He said: “You duped people you knew personally into schemes you must have known were nonsense.”

Judge Morris added: “Every single aggravating feature about fraud is apparent here. If there is a lesson to the public about get rich quick schemes, it is there is no way of getting rich quick other than winning the lottery.”

http://m.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14276665.Victims__brainwashed__in___8m_investment_scam/

BBC Radio 4. 14th February 2016. ''Sunday'' program

The Sunday programme investigates allegations that the Jehovah's Witness ordered the destruction of documents that could be used during the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Was this in contravention of Section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 which is punishable by imprisonment?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0709v34

Justice Goddard added "No institution – whether they have received a letter or not – can be in any doubt of the extent of their duty to preserve records for the Inquiry, or of the consequences of failing to do so." We [solicitors writing this] would advise institutions to take immediate steps to prevent the destruction of any files or data relating to children in their care or the staff who looked after them, and for the time being to suspend any routine destruction of such files under data protection legislation

http://www.farrer.co.uk/Global/Briefings/Independent%20Inquiry%20into%20Child%20Sexual%20Abuse.pdf

Letters are here. But no names given for who received.

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/news/chair-of-the-inquiry-issues-guidance-on-destruction-of-documents

What is our official definition of "parousia" found in Matthew 24:3?

.