James Thomas Rook Jr.

That is what makes average people, average people.
In the July 7, 1879 "Zion's Watch Tower" Charles Taze Russell was making life miserable for the Clergy of his day, and was the subject of malice, slander, envy, hatred and contention, as a former member of Christendom who the Clergy  characterized  as Satan, himself..
In an article "What is Truth" of that issue he stated  " A truth presented by Satan himself is JUST AS TRUE as a truth stated by God.".
"WHAT IS TRUTH?"
This question is one which every sincere Christian should ask and seek to answer. We should learn to love and value truth for its own sake; to respect and honor it by owning and acknowledging it wherever we find it and by whomsoever presented. A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God. Perhaps no class of people are more apt to overlook this fact than the Christian. How often do they in controversy overlook and ignore truth presented by their opponents. This is particularly the case when arguing with an infidel. They feel at perfect liberty to dispute everything he says on religious subjects. This is not the correct principle. Many infidels are honest— as anxious to speak and believe the truth as are Christians— and if in converse with them we ignore truths which they may advance, we not only fail to convince them of our truths, but put an end to all hope of reaching them; for our failure to admit the evident truth which they advance begets in them contempt for the one who is not honest enough to admit one truth because he does not see how it can be reconciled to another. Accept truth wherever you find it, no matter what it contradicts, and rely for ability to afterwards harmonize it with others upon "The Spirit of truth, which shall guide you into all truth," as Jesus promised. Truth, like a modest little flower in the wilderness of life, is surrounded and almost choked by the luxuriant growth of the weeds of error. If you would find it you must be ever on the lookout. If you would see its beauty you must brush aside the weeds of error and the brambles of bigotry. If you would possess it you must stoop to get it. Be not content with one flower of truth. Had one been sufficient there would have been no more. Gather ever, seek for more. Weave them together as a garland —"Bind them on thee as a bride doeth." "Bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man." Prov. 3:3. C.T.R. =========================================================
Or as Gene Hackman playing Lex Luthor in the first Superman movie, circa 1979 said ....
" Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it’s a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe."

TTH:
I am not average.... I started out way below average and was considered mentally "challenged" until High School. I repeated the 12th grade, just barely graduating High School.
Before I retired I was well pleased with the skills I had accumulated in wide areas of human endeavor.
I have DAILY worked very hard to overcome the handicaps I was born with, and I have been around people that make the best I can do seem like a childrens' exercise with crayons. I know EXACTLY where I fit on the intelligence and human bell curve, and do not wallow in false humility. to be politically correct. 
 
... and AvP .......
MOOOOOO !
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The WTB&TS has more that that to account for with one incident alone ..... their 9-1/2 year contractural association as a NGO registered with the United Nations, which caused at least that many Jehovah's Witnesses in South America alone to abandon the publishing empire, after it was exposed like an atom bomb to the whole world circa 2001, in the UK newspaper "The Guardian".
I can think of perhaps a dozen other instances, not only of malfeasance, but subsequent attempts of cover-up that were never even mentioned to the rank and file Congregations.
.. rough estimate of perhaps 4 million Witness in a 25 year period, chased away.
My wife's mother and my wife were Roman Catholic, and she and my wife were chased away from the RCs and left due to the pedophile priest scandals. They had a conscience ... so do most of Jehovah's Witnesses.
People of integrity ACT on their consciences.
And if the Russian Judge does make an adverse ruling ... IT WILL ALL BE OPEN AND OUT IN THE PUBLIC FOR ALL TO SEE.
... NOT HIDDEN AWAY IN A Kingdom Hall Filing cabinet in sealed envelope, with a copy in a sealed blue envelope at Warwick.
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Yes, it is a bit extreme ... but when you find it necessary to discipline one person, and you destroy him, his family, and extended family relationships .. it is cruel, viscous, and callous.
It also creates an atmosphere of fear, internally, for fear that YOU MIGHT BE NEXT,.
A boy that was baptized at age 8 who grows up and chooses another path based on his conscience at age 20 gets his family ripped apart ... something that DID NOT happen between Ruth and Naomi, who lived in a family of mixed religions before the husband died, and they immigrated to Israel.
Jehovah's Witnesses are becoming known globally NOT as a people for His name ... but for their brazen, blatant cruelty and unreasonableness.   That is a FACT! 
That is why with BILLIONS of hours spent witnessing last year, Europe's JW growth last year was utterly pathetic, and in some countries there was actually a LOSS.
I personally was dragged into "Room 101" last year by three angry Elders who chewed me out for responding "Hello.." to someone who started a conversation with me. 
After the initial shock and stunned disbelief that this crap NEVER ENDS .... I have decided since then that I am going to be pleasant with ANYONE who is pleasant with me. I will not discuss Theology with them, but I will be openly courteous and friendly with all.
Remember, even Jesus sat down and ate with sinners and tax collectors who had rejected the old Jewish System, which was STILL supported by Jehovah God !
The head-shot cartoon is a bit extreme, but for those who have deep love for their families, it is LESS CRUEL than current JW standard practices.
.The head of the Australian Royal Commission was flabbergasted that the Australian Branch head, under specific questioning about that .... did not understand that elementary fact.

Is there  button I must press to see the pictures of the inside of the theater?

In Haiti, even today .. the population is 85% Catholic, and believe in the Trinity, as an institution (individual results may vary ...) AND 85% or so of THAT group also practice Voodoo and worship their ancestors, and practice "magic".   The Church allows this.
During the Nicene Council, where assembled Catholic Bishops from all over the Roman Empire were assembled, by Emperor Constantine ..worshipper of the Sun .. a member of the cult of "Sol Invictus" and Mithras, the god of Tradesmen and warriors, until his death ... the controversy  even inspired fist-fights on the floor of the meeting place ... but Constantine, who was a comsumate politician, who thought Jesus was a FINE way to consolidate his Empire with a pacifistic god... ORDERED the Council, for political reasons, to adopt the concept of the Trinity.
As you can imagine... Roman Emperors had for a long time promulgated the very politically helpful idea that THEY could be both god and man at the same time ... and by commanding the doctrine of the Trinity, this would show the rubes that this idea had theological backing.
Divine right of Kings ......
The Bishops STILL bore the scars of the terrible persecutions ... and NOW .. they were the favorite religion of the Roman Emperor himself... WOW!  Constantine gave them privilege, power, money, and land ... and military protection.
I could go on for a hundred pages about this ... but OF COURSE, the "early Christians" ( a mislabeling..), or at least those officially honored by the Roman Empire ... believed in the Trinity. It was treason against the expressed will of Constantine to believe otherwise, and political suicide.
.To have a "Universal" Church .. you have to adopt EVERYTHING pagan, and rename it to appear holy ... like whitewashing a grave .. filled with bones and corruption.
Trinities were around a LONG time ( Egypt, Babylon, India, etc.) before Christendom adopted them.
 
 
 

In Haiti, even today .. the population is 85% Catholic, and believe in the Trinity, as an institution (individual results may vary ...) AND 85% or so of THAT group also practice Voodoo and worship their ancestors, and practice "magic".   The Church allows this.
During the Nicene Council, where assembled Catholic Bishops from all over the Roman Empire were assembled, by Emperor Constantine ..worshipper of the Sun .. a member of the cult of "Sol Invictus" and Mithras, the god of Tradesmen and warriors, until his death ... the controversy  even inspired fist-fights on the floor of the meeting place ... but Constantine, who was a comsumate politician, who thought Jesus was a FINE way to consolidate his Empire with a pacifistic god... ORDERED the Council, for political reasons, to adopt the concept of the Trinity.
As you can imagine... Roman Emperors had for a long time promulgated the very politically helpful idea that THEY could be both god and man at the same time ... and by commanding the doctrine of the Trinity, this would show the rubes that this idea had theological backing.
Divine right of Kings ......
The Bishops STILL bore the scars of the terrible persecutions ... and NOW .. they were the favorite religion of the Roman Emperor himself... WOW!  Constantine gave them privilege, power, money, and land ... and military protection.
I could go on for a hundred pages about this ... but OF COURSE, the "early Christians" ( a mislabeling..), or at least those officially honored by the Roman Empire ... believed in the Trinity. It was treason against the expressed will of Constantine to believe otherwise, and political suicide.
.To have a "Universal" Church .. you have to adopt EVERYTHING pagan, and rename it to appear holy ... like whitewashing a grave .. filled with bones and corruption.
Trinities were around a LONG time ( Egypt, Babylon, India, etc.) before Christendom adopted them.
 
 
 

Actually the answer is VERY simple ....Jehovah God made Adam and Eve and thought it was perfectly OK to walk around naked..... It was Adam and Eve deciding FOR THEMSELVES THAT THEY WERE NAKED ... and took upon themselves opinions and doctrines that Jehovah God NEVER even suggested.  Had they not sinned by choosing THEIR standards over GOD'S standards, the logical extrapolation of that is that all their children would have walked around naked WITH them.
Being a taboo is NOT from God.... it is from self-made cultural taboos. 
The list of them would fill up a large city telephone book ... if they make those, anymore.
It's morally wrong to try and enslave someone else to error .... and pathetically morally wrong to ENSLAVE OURSELVES!
That having been said ... and it is VERY true ... the last time I was in the hospital for four days, I refused to wear that silly open back gown, and wore Levis and a long sleeve shirt the whole time. ... you know ... in case Mars Attacks!
Adam and Eve chose for THEMSELVES what was "the knowledge of good and evil" and "cultural taboos were born, abandoning Jehovah's knowledge of good and evil ... which in this case, he cared NOTHING about.
Sorta like the current non-biblical shunning policy, the way it is currently practiced.
I will be civil and polite, and generous with ANYONE who is civil, polite, and generous to me ... but I am keeping the Levis.
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...and now for something completely different ....
 

I like my fantasy story better than yours. 
Mine is OBVIOUSLY a fantasy story.
Yours has NO FACTS to take it out of the Fantasy category.
Any story has to be FACT CHECKED to be believable ... except for those with marshmallows for brains ... then you do NOT have to know "Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How Much".
THEN SpongeBob Squarepants or Casper the "Friendly" Ghost will ALSO be acceptable.
Remember ... MOST people in general, and most Witnesses in general do NOT have ANY training to determine the difference between fantasy and reality.   If WE do .. and the ability to even get to this site is a presumption of competence ... we have a MORAL OBLIGATION to teach the Brotherhood how to be good "Bereans" ... and INSIST on it!
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Eoin Joyce:
It is SO refreshing  every once in a great while to hear a well reasoned, coherent thought.
Thank You!
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Risking accusations of semantic quibbling, I have to say that disassociation is just not the same as non-association (or formerly associated).
The term disassociate, or more commonly, dissociate, when applied to one's former affiliation to a group, seems to imply a formal separating or severing of a relationship formerly held, rather like a divorce. This might include publicly severing one's former connection with that group, perhaps going as far as formally renouncing aims and objectives once held in common. Or, perhaps, engaging in a practice so diametrically opposed to those aims and objectives as to indicate what may not have been verbally stated.
To drift away from association with a group, for whatever reason, be it cooling of common interest, personal preference, time contraints, or a particular unresolved grievance involving other group members, carries a far less antagonistic stance toward the group as a whole.
In any event, the former action, that of disassociation, whilst possibly preceded by the latter action, drifting away, has far more consideration and deliberation involved, a rejection of fundemental tenets perhaps once held dear, perhaps a militant stand against activity once zealously engaged in, an awareness of the dramatic change in relationship to the group subject to this action, and a recognition of consequences effecting the relationship the disassociatee might have formely enjoyed with those who choose to remain group members.
The latter, drifting away, is more focussed on one's personal preferences or activity schedule, and whilst there may be personality issues involved, the group as a whole is not "tarred with the same brush" as it were. Also, a denial of the groups validity does not take place. In fact, there may sometimes be expressions like " It just wasn't for me, I couldn't keep up with such and such (requirement or activity)", or "I know it is a good organisation on the whole but I just couldn't accept this or that (practice or person or experience)"
Thus it can be seen that the deliberate action of "disassociation" carries far more weighty and considered commitment than the shifting of goals and interests accompanying the process of "drifting away". Although both result in state of separation from former associates, the relationship resulting from either is entirely dissimilar. 

The full statement from the transcript:
MR O'BRIEN: Because that is the policy. But again, as
I think I pointed out in my evidence, and I think
Mr Jackson did as well, here we're talking about somebody
who is of an age where they have qualified for baptism, so
they are somebody who is either approaching adulthood or an
adult, making that decision, understanding the implications
of choosing either to disassociate themselves, knowing the
consequences will be shunning, or simply ceasing activity
with the congregation but not taking the stand of
disassociation. So it is a choice on the part of the
person. - Transcript, Day 259, p. 26539
O'Brien lumps together the age for having been qualified for baptism with someone who is an adult or approaching adulthood and then making the decision to disassociate. It does give the impression that he is referring to an adult or near-adult who qualifies for baptism. If that isn't what he meant, he worded it poorly. However, to qualify for baptism a person studies the Organized book which would include the part about 'Disassociation.' But would a naive, true-believer 10-year old really absorb the implications of how the 'disassociation rules' would affect them personally once they were dunked? I wonder.
And the question asked at the ARC remains a good one: 
"Why is it necessary, when
someone feels that they can no longer abide the
organisation and has to disassociate - why is it necessary
to shun them? Why can't they keep having social contact
with those people who happen to remain in the organisation?"
 

Soon after I was born, this came out in the AWAKE! magazine .....
As Dorothy said (paraphrased)  "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto"
 

 

Money ALWAYS tells the truth!
If you want to know WHY things ... ANYTHINGS ... happen ...
FOLLOW THE MONEY!
It will lead you to the truth of WHY!

I like my fantasy story better than yours. 
Mine is OBVIOUSLY a fantasy story.
Yours has NO FACTS to take it out of the Fantasy category.
Any story has to be FACT CHECKED to be believable ... except for those with marshmallows for brains ... then you do NOT have to know "Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How Much".
THEN SpongeBob Squarepants or Casper the "Friendly" Ghost will ALSO be acceptable.
Remember ... MOST people in general, and most Witnesses in general do NOT have ANY training to determine the difference between fantasy and reality.   If WE do .. and the ability to even get to this site is a presumption of competence ... we have a MORAL OBLIGATION to teach the Brotherhood how to be good "Bereans" ... and INSIST on it!
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Nonsense!

@Eoin Joyce I believe this is their quote about themselves you are referring to:

Eoin Joyce:
It is SO refreshing  every once in a great while to hear a well reasoned, coherent thought.
Thank You!
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Justice you get from Jehovah God, and Jesus Christ .... any time men become involved, the MOST you can reasonably hope for in "due process".
Remember ... during the times when the Nazis ruled Germany and much of Europe ... they had a fully staffed and operational "Department of Justice" ... but there was no Justice ....
... but LOTS and LOTS of "due process".
Remember when called into the little back "Room 101" that the trial is called a "hearing" ... NOT a trial .... an example of "due process that may or may not have anything to do with Justice.
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IT'S COW'S BLOOD !!!
IT'S COW'S BLOOD !!!
WHAT PART OF IT BEING COW'S BLLLLL0000000OD IS NOT UNDERSTOOD! ?

If only ...  it was Caleb the Cartoon character that in order to chastize his sister ... banned her to "Coventry" and destroyed the entire family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and ripped her friends from her all by edict ... then perhaps that extreme activity, akin to chopping off a baby's head for pooping in it's diaper, would be cause for banning Caleb from Russia.
Fortunately, cartoon characters only obey the scripts that are written for them according to the agendas in force.
Unfortunately, cruel, clueless humans do the same.
You do realize of course, that the REAL reason Jehovah's Witnesses were banned from Russia is their EXAMPLE of extreme cruelty toward EACH OTHER.
If you can by edict destroy entire families and social groups to discipline ONE PERSON .. you can also be a real threat to the Russian Federation's cohesiveness. 
All rational people understand this.
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If only ...  it was Caleb the Cartoon character that in order to chastize his sister ... banned her to "Coventry" and destroyed the entire family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and ripped her friends from her all by edict ... then perhaps that extreme activity, akin to chopping off a baby's head for pooping in it's diaper, would be cause for banning Caleb from Russia.
Fortunately, cartoon characters only obey the scripts that are written for them according to the agendas in force.
Unfortunately, cruel, clueless humans do the same.
You do realize of course, that the REAL reason Jehovah's Witnesses were banned from Russia is their EXAMPLE of extreme cruelty toward EACH OTHER.
If you can by edict destroy entire families and social groups to discipline ONE PERSON .. you can also be a real threat to the Russian Federation's cohesiveness. 
All rational people understand this.
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Is this a "composite story", made up from fragments of real life experiences, or a "teaching story" made up completely from someone's imagination?
If it is real, it should have a date, a place, details of the person, a name, and other details to corroborate it's authenticity.
Where did this story come from?
Years ago (circa 1969) there was a notice on Kingdom Hall bulletin boards, and I saw them in both Richmond, Virginia, and a year later in Hollywood, California, that astronomers had via "calculations" determined that the Sun had actually stood still for a day during the times of ancient Israel ... and Brothers picked up on it, and gave talks citing this reference ... everyone (but me) that I met in the Truth KNEW this to be true.
It wasn't.
Fairie Tales told by the easily deluded or fanciful need to be disregarded ..
Fairie Tales told by genuine Fairies can be given more credence..
In the 7th Grade I learned that "stories" need to have "Who, What, When, Where, How Much, and sometimes Why?" to be credible, otherwise we make ourselves into complete fools .... where the credibility gap is equaled by the gullibility fill.
Choose !!!
I know Bro. Elumbaugh who used to be in our Circuit, and his homespun humor often includes stories like this, which I enjoyed, as homespun stories .... but the average person does not understand this .. and it is NECESSARY .. IF ... Is this a "composite story", made up from fragments of real life experiences, or a "teaching story" made up completely from someone's imagination .. IT IS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS TO BEING A PARABLE.
In practice, this is almost NEVER done.
That is why it is presented here as fact ... and without backup .. that is extremely embarrassing to have to see.
 
NOTE:  Eight days ago JW Insider responded to my posting on the Archive calendar board as follows:
" There will be Witnesses who think it's true, and that it's about a JW.
It's not, of course. It was once supposed to be about a soldier ("Robert the Bruce") in Scotland back in the 1300's. http://www.wrensworld.com/s... and that story ended: "Where God is, a spider's web is as a stone wall. Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider's web."
It was also attributed to a Midrash about King David a couple thousand years prior to that: http://www.azamra.org/Bible...
"One Midrash tells that David was actually saved by a . . . web-spinning spider. . . . He discovered the benefits of spiders' webs when once forced to hide in a cave, over the entrance to which a spider spun a web, making those searching for David assume he could not have entered the cave."
It's called a traditional Jewish tale here, too: http://www.beliefnet.com/lo...
In 18th and 19th century book collecting expeditions I've picked up old books called "Ideas for Sermons" and have learned that a lot of Circuit Overseers have likely seen such books before I did.
I remember the "Joshua" astronomy discovery, too. And it also made it onto our bulletin board. You weren't the only one to question it. But it stayed up long after it was questioned."

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Is this a "composite story", made up from fragments of real life experiences, or a "teaching story" made up completely from someone's imagination?
If it is real, it should have a date, a place, details of the person, a name, and other details to corroborate it's authenticity.
Where did this story come from?
Years ago (circa 1969) there was a notice on Kingdom Hall bulletin boards, and I saw them in both Richmond, Virginia, and a year later in Hollywood, California, that astronomers had via "calculations" determined that the Sun had actually stood still for a day during the times of ancient Israel ... and Brothers picked up on it, and gave talks citing this reference ... everyone (but me) that I met in the Truth KNEW this to be true.
It wasn't.
Fairie Tales told by the easily deluded or fanciful need to be disregarded ..
Fairie Tales told by genuine Fairies can be given more credence..
In the 7th Grade I learned that "stories" need to have "Who, What, When, Where, How Much, and sometimes Why?" to be credible, otherwise we make ourselves into complete fools .... where the credibility gap is equaled by the gullibility fill.
Choose !!!
I know Bro. Elumbaugh who used to be in our Circuit, and his homespun humor often includes stories like this, which I enjoyed, as homespun stories .... but the average person does not understand this .. and it is NECESSARY .. IF ... Is this a "composite story", made up from fragments of real life experiences, or a "teaching story" made up completely from someone's imagination .. IT IS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS TO BEING A PARABLE.
In practice, this is almost NEVER done.
That is why it is presented here as fact ... and without backup .. that is extremely embarrassing to have to see.
 
NOTE:  Eight days ago JW Insider responded to my posting on the Archive calendar board as follows:
" There will be Witnesses who think it's true, and that it's about a JW.
It's not, of course. It was once supposed to be about a soldier ("Robert the Bruce") in Scotland back in the 1300's. http://www.wrensworld.com/s... and that story ended: "Where God is, a spider's web is as a stone wall. Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider's web."
It was also attributed to a Midrash about King David a couple thousand years prior to that: http://www.azamra.org/Bible...
"One Midrash tells that David was actually saved by a . . . web-spinning spider. . . . He discovered the benefits of spiders' webs when once forced to hide in a cave, over the entrance to which a spider spun a web, making those searching for David assume he could not have entered the cave."
It's called a traditional Jewish tale here, too: http://www.beliefnet.com/lo...
In 18th and 19th century book collecting expeditions I've picked up old books called "Ideas for Sermons" and have learned that a lot of Circuit Overseers have likely seen such books before I did.
I remember the "Joshua" astronomy discovery, too. And it also made it onto our bulletin board. You weren't the only one to question it. But it stayed up long after it was questioned."

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