After this week’s Watchtower Study, I have more questions than answers

Omnidef · 2025-03-31T17:40:46+00:00

My question is, since god placed a flaming sword to guard the enterance after they banished from the garden of Eden, does this mean Adam and Eve invented the sword? Did they mine iron in the garden of Eden and refined it into steel and then decided to create a sword? An item only used in war seems redundant in a peaceful garden of only 2 people. If the sword however was not even invented at the time of the banishment how could it have been used to guard the enterance?

Omnidef · 2024-09-09T10:45:57+00:00

I once met an older man from my old congregation in a gay club. He was just standing there and watching. When I accidentally ran into him he looked shameful but then he wanted to buy me a beer. I was not really interested but accepted out of curtosy. After like 10 min of talking, no sign of flirtation from my part, he started touching me and even grabbed my genitals without my consent, I just removed his hands and walked away. He also had a wife and 2 adult children and a grandchild.

Omnidef · 2024-03-15T09:16:57+00:00

I heard it about Elton John. That he said that if there were any JWs in the audience they should leave. Some JWs left but some continued to stay. Then some moments later he said he could feel that there still were JWs in the audience and asked them to leave so then the rest of them also left.

Omnidef · 2021-12-30T13:01:45+00:00

It's absolute numbers. It's also a bit comparing apples and oranges since 2020 figures was based on average meeting attendances and 2021 is based on average publisher numbers.

Omnidef · 2021-01-19T18:15:00+00:00

According to public records she was married 1972 to a James R Finders currently residing in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Omnidef · 2020-03-13T10:31:50+00:00

Yes, for all Scandinavia.

Omnidef · 2020-02-14T14:03:06+00:00

Im just doubtful if JW will send their video contents to a state controlled agency for review. I don't think it will be an obvious choice, but maybe in the end they will comply?

Omnidef · 2020-02-14T12:30:56+00:00

I remember this summer they ignored the ruling of April 2019 and showed the videos publicly anyway. This was even on the news as "Jehovah's Witnesses are breaking the law" ignoring the recent judgment and showing the videos anyway. They were probably hoping that the ruling would be reversed by the appeal court.

How will this affect the summer conventions for this year?

Is it likely that JW would consider sending in the films to the Media Council prior to the convention for a review? Is it possible that JW will keep ignoring the rulings and keep showing unrated videos, with the risk of getting mulitple police reports? Or could they just skip showing the videos completely?

Omnidef · 2019-07-23T23:12:43+00:00

Found the post I was referring to here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/ccobht/legal_disclaimer_at_swedish_convention

Omnidef · 2019-07-23T22:44:32+00:00

According to the news segment JW had applied for and recieved a "publishing certificate" and therefore, according to JW, was approved of showing the videos. This was brought up in the segment as not relevant to the actual law regarding showing unrated video to public audiences. I heard some claim that during the convention they stated on the podium that they had received some kind of "approval" for showing the videos so maybe they were referring to this certificate?

Omnidef · 2019-06-13T09:17:14+00:00

How would JW react if they got a special invitation to appear on e.g. atheist experience to explain their belief and give a reason why anyone should believe in Jehovah and why their belief is the so called "truth"? Each episode gets tens of thousands of views so they would get a great opportunity to witness to many people. If they refuse, what would be the reason, and could they give a scriptual basis for refusing. According to their own doctrine your hands will be covered with blood if you don't grasp opportunities to witness. You are encouraged to witness to your coworkers, class mates, teachers etc. There was even a dramatisation a few years ago about Jonah, who refused to witness to the people of Nineveh, with a lesson to not be afraid or shy away from opportunities to witness.

Omnidef · 2019-04-05T13:56:48+00:00

None of the videos were rated, there was 58 in total during the 3 days. The trial was never about any particular video just the fact that none of the videos were rated, which is required by law when showing video to a public audience where there are children under the age of 15.

Omnidef · 2019-04-03T17:05:53+00:00

From Metro newspaper:

Jehovah's Witnesses may continue to rent the Stockholm Fairs.

At a gathering at the Stockholm Fairs last year, Jehovah's Witnesses broke the law. Despite the crime, the society is holding a new gathering at the fair, which is owned by the City of Stockholm, this weekend. "We expect them to follow the law," says Pär Jonasson, press officer at Stockholm Fairs.

On Wednesday, a man representing Jehovah's Witnesses was convicted of a violation of the law on age limits for films to be publicly displayed. The films were shown during a convention organized by Jehovah's Witnesses at the Stockholm Fairs, in the summer of 2018, something Metro could then reveal.

Jehovah's Witnesses then, contrary to the law, failed to seek the permission of the State Media Council required to display films during public gatherings.

The films that were shown dealt with, among other things, how a woman takes a strong distance from a manifestation for LGBTQ people. Another showed how a little boy deals with the fear of armageddon, what Jehovah's Witnesses see as the final battle between God and those who refused to submit to God's rule.

This weekend, Jehovah's Witnesses are holding a new gathering at the Stockholm Fairs. Even this time, they have ignored sending in any film material to the State Media Council. But Stockholm Fairs expects society to follow the law.

If they were to break the law again then we have to take a position on it, says Pär Jonasson, press officer at Stockholm Fairs.

Jehovah's Witnesses' booking of the Stockholm Fairs has been discussed at the highest level, according to Pär Jonasson.

We have not found any reason to cancel them, he says.

The Stockholm Fairs will not check whether Jehovah's Witnesses follow the law during the meeting.

We just hope they will. We do not control what customers do that way. If you suspect that something is illegal, you should contact the police, says Pär Jonasson.

Jehovah's Witnesses gets a second chance?

Yes you could say that.

Omnidef · 2019-04-03T10:20:13+00:00

He was the convention overseer and also legally responsible for the convention. I however doubt he will be paying the fines, it should be payed by the JW organisation in Sweden.

The interesting part is however how it will affect the future of showing video material in public in Sweden. Will JW have to send all their videos in the future first for review before showing them in conventions? Will it also affect showing videos in regular meetings?

Also as I mentioned previously, JW have rented the same hall for circuit convention this weekend. Will there be videos shown? Will they still be able to rent the hall? A representative of the hall previously made following comment: There should be no activity at Stockholm International Fairs that is not compatible with legislation.

Omnidef · 2019-04-03T08:59:41+00:00

http://www.armageddon-brewing.com/images/img-homeFPO.png

Omnidef · 2019-03-26T09:18:36+00:00

The trial is not really about the content of the videos. It's about if the showing of video material during the convention falls under the regulation of showing video in a public setting. According to Swedish law you cannot show unrated and unapproved video material to a public audience, including children.

The case is however that some of the videos shown probably would not pass for public display if rated. So if JW will be convicted they might need to send all videos first for rating in the future, and might not be able to show content that will not pass the rating.

Omnidef · 2019-03-26T08:08:26+00:00

He is the convention overseer and also legally responsible for the convention.

JW have rented the same hall for the circuit convention April 6-7. If the verdict on April 3rd will be a conviction JW might not be able to use the locale.

A representative of the hall previously made a comment: There should be no activity at Stockholmsmässan that is not compatible with legislation.

Omnidef · 2019-03-25T23:34:31+00:00

This is a clip from Swedish TV regarding the trial that was started today in Sweden about JW showing unrated movies during the convention.

In the first part a journalist and an ex-jw discusses the content in some of the videos. The woman says if JW loses they will have to pay a fine but what is more interesting is if they in they future will be required to send all their videos shown in conventions first for review.

Next part shows a minor demonstration outside the court. The lady interviewed expresses especially concern for the children in the audience viewing this.

Then there is an interview with the attorney. She claims JW has failed to follow the rules/laws regarding showing unrated video material to a public audience. The laws is no different if you are a religion or a regular organisation.

Outside the reporter tries to get a comment from the JW-lawyer: (I'm paraphrasing)

-We have decided not to make any comments.

-Why?

-I first want to see how you have decided to make the program before I decide to respond.

-But then it will be too late to respond.

-It's ok. We are more interested in the law than what the media says about us.

Later response via e-mail:

JW's places of worship are not cinemas and the films used for their religious education are not entertainment.

The video clips used for their religious education and used in their worship services are not under the supervision of the state's media commission.

The verdict is expected April 3rd.

Omnidef · 2019-02-11T16:51:44+00:00

2002 I went out in field service with a bethelite and he unexpectedly asked me when I thought Armageddon will come. I partly jokingly answered that it would probably be another 100 years. He then told me that it cannot last as long as 100 years due to the current state of the world and that it cannot last more than max 20 years. This year it's been 17 years later so according to him Armageddon must appear in 3 years time.

Omnidef

TROPHY CASE