James Thomas Rook Jr.

I'm sorry Mr. Russell but you are making blanket statements based on...What?  You don't know but that the family requested that it not be included or even Phelicity herself.  Of what benefit would it be to them to run this story?  They do not make a financial gain on it!  Encouraging people to maintain faith during difficult circumstances is very important in todays world and this little girl has shown more faith and endurance in her short life than many people much older have done.  She is a fine example, not only to us older ones but also to the young ones who are still in the process of making decisions for themselves.  She did that on her own.  She made a decision to serve Jehovah in the fullest capacity that she could at a very early age because she LOVES Jehovah.  You are not giving her credit for any of that.  She is like a bright light in a very dark world and yet you would take that light and tarnish it by your comments.  Shame on you! 

Another sad example of Jehovah's Witness parents choosing obedience to gravely flawed doctrine over the life of their child.
In this case the girl's heart condition may very well have caused her to succumb regardless of medical decisions made. But that isn't the point this time.
She is from Australia and her JW parents flew her all the way to the US because there is a specific hospital in Ohio that is internally famous (amongst JWs) for its efforts to avoid giving blood transfusions to JW patients even when they need one. 
Her condition took a turn for the worse and she is terminal. She could not get home because the cost for a flight that can accommodate her medical needs is $150,000. 
Here is the worst part. The JW organization's televangelism arm, know as JW Broadcasting, actually featured this young girl in their February episode. But not for the reasons you might wish. It wasn't to help her. It was to help their own interests. 
She was cast in their episode as a brave young girl who was baptized in the faith and is someone to look up to because she has endured so much due to her heart condition. 
At no point do they mention that she is dying.
At no point do they mention that she has been stranded in the US due to vastly expensive flight it would take to get her back home
At no point do they mention that leadership's gravely flawed doctrine that prohibits blood transfusions as well as the acceptance of white cells, red cells, platelets and plasma is the reason her parents flew he to the US to begin with (so she could be in a hospital that wouldn't challenge her religious convictions)
At no point do they mention that a gofundme page has been started to help raise money to send her home 
At no point do they mention that of all the contributions received, not one penny was donated by the JW organization itself. 
And the reason? Leadership simply does not care. It has one concern and one concern only. Brand expansion. 
It will gladly feature a young lady like Phelicity for the purpose of producing video propaganda. But when it has the opportunity to provide charitable assistance during the final days of the very person they exploited, they are nowhere to be found. 
They recklessly take lives with their doctrine, and they disrespect those same lives as they take them.
 

Well.... at our Kingdom Hall, we used to have attached to the walls in both the restrooms fold-down "Baby Changing Tables".
I went in, and one of the tables had been opened, and was  down, and was ready for a baby to change.
I stuck a yellow Post-It-Note (which I sometimes carry) on the table surface and closed it back up.
The note read, in large print:
"Baby changing table --- take a baby ... leave a baby".
Soon afterwards, they removed both changing tables.

Well.... at our Kingdom Hall, we used to have attached to the walls in both the restrooms fold-down "Baby Changing Tables".
I went in, and one of the tables had been opened, and was  down, and was ready for a baby to change.
I stuck a yellow Post-It-Note (which I sometimes carry) on the table surface and closed it back up.
The note read, in large print:
"Baby changing table --- take a baby ... leave a baby".
Soon afterwards, they removed both changing tables.

How and where was this information from @Witness debunked? I thought that some of the claims had been exaggerated, but this was just my opinion. I also saw an attempt to debunk these claims that was little more than a collection of opinions.
I assume then that you have the research?

@Nicole, I couldn't help but "accidentally" read this as:
"What? Should I gift a newborn of Jehovah's Witnesses?"
I think we should not be giving away newborn JW's as gifts. It's just not Scriptural:
(Micah 6:7) . . .Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, With tens of thousands of torrents of oil? Will I give my firstborn son. . .?

You are so right, SM, I am “ignorant” of UN’s worldly dealings, since I try earnestly to be “no part of the world”.  If it has been debunked, perhaps YOU can share this with @Equivocation as ‘food for thought’.
In the meantime, some things are just so blatant, they can’t be “debunked”.   This is for Equivocation to explore Watchtower’s worldly ties in Europe, even after it was revealed the organization had been a member of the NGO in the US for nine years. 
 It begins around 8:48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChGGzgeP9d0
https://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session7/EG/EAJCW_UPR_EGY_S07_2010_TheEuropeanAssociationofJehovahsChristianWitnesses.pdf
Here’s just one example of their involvement, reaching out to the UN instead of God for support.  There are many more.   In fact, Watchtower’s historic court battles are always fought on the worldly front.  If a case is won, they say God is responsible for their victory.  However, Russia steps in and wipes out their material holdings, and JWs begin fleeing the country.  The case presented by JW’s lawyers just didn’t save them, much to their surprise.  Where was God’s helping hand during that time?  To mitigate the conundrum, Russia is now prophetically proclaimed  by the GB as the “King of the north”.  Ah, that remedies their problem of dealing with mass hysteria.  Apparently, God will step in soon and save the Watchtower idol.
No.
"This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:
I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you for your benefit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to my commands.
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand,
and the offspring of your body like its grains;
their name would not be cut off
or eliminated from my presence."  Isa 48:17-19
Membership is dropping, simply because the Watchtower is bolstering a lie and people don't want to hear it.
 
Another example.
https://www.osce.org/odihr/340991   
Statement by the European Association of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses – Tajikistan    13 September 2017
                            Only registered representatives of participating States, Partners for Co-operation, OSCE Institutions, NGOs, think tanks or others can submit documents to the ODIHR Documents Distribution System for distribution during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. ODIHR bears no responsibility for the content of such documents received for distribution, and circulates them without altering their content. The distribution by the ODIHR Documents Distribution System of documents received does not imply any endorsement by ODIHR and is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States.
 
There is one thing that I know that you don’t know, SM.  I can recognize Watchtower’s deception.  You are ignorant of its power.
 
 

Actually, the Professor's name is Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, and his  "helper" with the orange hair is Beaker, whose speech is unintelligible, but who sings with Operatic quality.
 
This is GREAT STUFF, by the way .. I intend to steal the picture, file off the serial number, and repaint it.
.
If you can find one for Poppin' Fresh, or TPT, that would be GREAT!

Speaking of dissonant, screeching notes amongst some pure ones ...about 45 years ago I was listening to my car radio and  without any musical background was a large group of men singing in German what I thought was a German Beer Drinking song at an Oktoberfest, or something.  It was INCREDIBLE ... the energy, the power, the determination.  It got me excited!  I wanted to be a part of that group!  I wanted a big mug of BEER, and to wave it around, singing, too.
I only heard it one time, but I still remember it to this day, 45 years or so later. It was really SOMEthing!
At the end the radio host said that what you have just heard was a Nazi Gestapo marching song.
I was taken aback, surprised, and a little bit ashamed of my visceral reaction.
Since then ... I have tried to be a discordant and screeching note, whenever I can.
I also dodge and weave.
Just in case.
.... better to be safe ... than sorry.
 
 

Blasphemy - the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.
Hersey - belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine; opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted.

If you have a fetish for Hippopotami, Hippos are the prettiest animal.
 
.... even the UGLY ones!
 
 

Perhaps we should include a certain measure of the concept of "dualism" (we are bad and good) in the activities of a particular person, and hence a group and people in larger number. 
In some period of time and history of human, events that was came to existence are "responsible" for the emergence, the formation of individuals and people who made such influence on people's life. For some people they looked as positive or semi-positive actors, but for other (victims) they are very evil.
When i mentioned Bible reports, in my previous short comment, and as title of this subject give/it opens the picture of David and Saul and their involving in killing people of, not just so called enemy, but own people. And no matter is it question of one or few or 100 or 10 000 or 1 million and more, we can see how some of them are "peacefully" get old and died without been "punished" for crimes.
David, man who is mentioned so many times in various context, is the one (not only he) who is responsible for dead at least of one man, Uriah, and in some indirect way, of baby he had with Bathsheba. (No prison), no dead sentence, no abdication.
 
What is Bible message? Maybe this one:
If God like you so much, He will spare Your life because of some "higher reasons". Because He need You (like He "need" David) to accomplish some "prophecies". But if God "kill" you (because You are guilty, at the end of a day) then His plan will, may be "suffer" .... ?? and whole Future of Mankind, Kingdom, etc. will be in "jeopardy" :))))  
Perhaps, in that period of time, Great Britain had need for Churchill, Yugoslavia need for Tito, USSR for Stalin .... to safe them from some other "dictator" (Hitler for example). What choice we have?  Run away from the lion and meet the bear? JW rune from Pope and meet GB. Dualism in both choices. Final Ending is predicted. All other, in meantime, is matter of "luck".

You know "it's over", when you wake up in a boat, several miles from shore, and your love is gazing compassionately at you, and your feet are encased in a large bucket of concrete.
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.mp4

Georgia USA, or Georgia, Russia?
Yeah, I know full well what can happen when you "half learn " Swedish.
Here is a short documentary about that ........ best when viewed full screen with speakers turned up.
 

Half Learning Swedish .mp4

James - I am living in Sweden at present.  Next year we are moving to Georgia.... I have already started to learn the language. Stopped learning Swedish.  It is sufficient to get by for now. 
I am in Arabic congregation at present.  There are individual adherents to the "religion of peace" which are attending meetings but they often change their name... and friends... 

There is no evidence of this. There is always evidence of wicked, evil governments, of course, and there is always evidence of abuse of power. But the idea that there was anything close to 20 million deaths through deliberate state-sponsored killing with no accountability has no evidence to back it up.
Before looking at the more probable numbers again, the background of the policies that promoted these damning numbers should be looked at. The primary goal of course is to make Western-leaning countries condemn communist and socialist governments. We "Westerners" (French, German, British, Italian, American, Australian, etc.) can always extol the theoretical virtues of communism, socialism, and social democracy, but we have been trained to deny that such programs, in practice, can ever truly result in anything but chaos and death.
In fact, the Western foreign policy leaders in the United States become positively scared and weak-kneed when they hear anything positive about a socialist country improving the overall state of their economy. If more people are being treated fairly and being pulled out of famine and poverty, the US runs scared. The US and other imperialist nations had probably contributed the most in creating the bad and exploitative economic situation in those countries in the first place. Why do you think the US is quick to try to crush small to medium-sized countries that have no economic power and no real effect on the US? Why crush Grenada, Faulkland Islands, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Laos? Why sabotage Venezuala, Chile, Cuba?
Sometimes the reason is clearly admitted by officials. Sometimes it comes through loud and clear in leaked documents. But following WW2, internal state department documents, included the following reasons for some of these interventions and US led terrorism. For example here is the documentation for why we had to crush Guatemala according to a U.S. State Department official in 1954:
"Guatemala has become an increasing threat to the stability of Honduras and El Salvador. Its agrarian reform is a powerful propaganda weapon: its broad social program of aiding the workers and peasants in a victorious struggle against the upper classes and large foreign enterprises has a strong appeal to the populations of Central American neighbors where similar conditions prevail." Notice that the threat is that workers and peasants were successful and victorious in agrarian reform and the threat is that they were able to set a good example. Their democratic experiment had to be met with military invasion because, as the US admitted:
"social and economic programs of the elected government met the aspirations" [of labor and peasantry and] "inspired the loyalty and conformed to the self-interest of most politically conscience Guatemalans." There are many more such examples of trying to crush and sabotage any state that succeeds at any kind of democracy that doesn't conform to US or Western interests. If even a small threat of a good example that is working to lift more people out of poverty, increase employment, increase health care, increase education, it must be crushed and sabotaged. If the country is too large, the alternative is repeated propaganda.
This could even lead to a better understanding of why mainstream US and UK news outlets were running anti-Russia stories every two weeks or so since Trump's and Theresa May's election. But there is now more news of the strength and stability of China's economy and this "threat of good example" has required that mainstream media be fed anti-China stories about every two weeks for several months now. Since they are coming out better in the trade/tariff "war" for now, I wouldn't be surprised to see new anti-China stories every week for a while.
And many of these stories have been shown to be without real evidence. The so-called total surveillance in China is nowhere near the level of total surveillance in the United States for example. The ratio of political prisoners is nowhere near the number in the United States. When Apple is caught stealing technology from Chinese smartphones, the US counters with a huge story about an unprovable Chinese data breach, or some other diversion. China steals technology from the US too, of course, but the problem is that it's becoming harder to make these cases against them when China reaches specific levels of technology well before the US: e.g., artificial intelligence levels, robotics, quantum computing and quantum communication, etc.
The idea that Chinese can't travel abroad without specific "political" permission, the idea that millions of Muslims are in "concentration camps," or that they are invading Africa as a colonial imperialist military power, and many other such rumors have been foisted in a highly exaggerated manner upon the US and UK and other Western audiences, often discovered with fake evidence and fake witnesses. (Some have been caught.) -- In fact, on the China/Africa situation, even John Bolton admitted that the real problem was that China was treating these countries in such a way that the countries were beginning to side with China against the practices of the United States in those countries.
Russia and China have made huge mistakes to be sure. But if we want to be honest and truthful we also have to be careful not to repeat things that are most likely untruths, even if we want to believe them, and they make perfect sense to our world view.

The Russian government were covering up their atrocities - this is why it is so hard to determine how many really died.  Even if people are wicked - they still try to cover up what they are doing because somehow they know it is wrong....
Do not be misled......  this kind of power in the hands of few together with the philosophy that the death of few is for the greater good - is satanic.  This new world order speech looks similar.... this is why it is much more insidious than we expect.  The far left youth in America is talking this way. Because I am vigilant I notice it immediately.  Have you seen what Ms Cortez has been saying? This is an indication of the thought of the new generation.
Use it  but do not trust Wiki - the pedia.  It is edited by scholars who come from these universities which are pushing the gender engineering agenda.  I have seen history rewritten when the agenda changes.   A good example is UNESCO - see how they are rewriting history to suit their agenda.  In South Africa, the history has also been rewritten.  I lived it - I know what is true and false. 
Similarly, the scholars at all major universities are saying there is a wonderful religion of "peace". Hence, all the killers who are committing a real genocide in North Africa and middle east against Christians (large percentages of Christians are not getting refugee status and are being killed - but nothing in the news about a genocide) are called isolated cases by people who are mentally ill.  I know the religion and the history (I did my homework) .....I 'know' the university scholars are rewriting the 1400 years of war history.  ( Note: I hate the religious ideology of this religion - not the people......  I love the people but feel extremely sad to see them exploited by a bad mental state and the lies they are indoctrinated with). Fortunately there are the odd few who become JW but they all have a terrible time from family and a lot of suffering. 
I live in a socialist Europe and I see how and when socialism works..... Communism is much different - it is extreme socialism - you do not want to live under it. There is a trend now to whitewash the history of communism. Why?  It is underestimated by the West and it is getting a better reputation...... Why?
So despite the death tolls - this philosophy is back in another, more acceptable form.......And it was carefully engineered back! 
Perestroika was a short aberration.  The Frankfort school left Germany (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_School) and came to USA during the second world war. Its ideas were taken up by the French and changed to the new post modern way of thinking. This new way of thinking is "rebranded" communism but much more dangerous......the French revolution and the Russian revolution comes to mind.  The second phase of both revolutions killed many people.
Why is this new philosophy so appealing to all students, colors of people and genders?  It promises total equality, dignity and acceptance.  Why are they so militant about it?  It teaches that social revolution is good for the greater good of all.  Communalism (the new philosophy of Agenda 21) fits in with this like a glove. This philosophy has  been undermining the west since the sexual revolution of the sixties.
I know this is not going to work.  They will call 'peace' when they get the major part of the agenda done.... and then bring in the morals that all will have to adhere to - ONE human religion which accepts all creeds and all religions (and morals) and one may not protest it.  If you do not cooperate and preach your own religion - big problems for you!!
With surveillance capabilities now available and already in operation - there is nothing they cannot do.
This is how I see this unfolding...... Bible prophecy being fulfilled - exactly to the letter.    When one watches TV and sees the indoctrinated youth then one gets an idea what is lying ahead.  
These riots in France started with the elderly and spread to others as they are sick of the social injustices of the governments who are only telling the news they are filtering.  Rapes, no-go zones, attacks, daily mentally sick people are killing others with knives... People are already afraid of the future and the new citizens have all the rights. 
No matter how much they protest - behind the scenes the plan is going ahead as governments have committed to the agenda (Agenda 2030 is on internet too!) and the new migration compact which guarantees the rights of immigrants at financial expense and the rights of its citizens. (godly justice? - I call it human justice.....) 
This is my take on the events happening.  I could be wrong.... but I am not taken in by this new diabolical philosophy.   
I believe that all people will be equal under Jehovah - but it is a loving and willing process...... not forced on people.  It is a willingness to share at expense of self and yes - it will be a form of communalism - but loyalty to Jehovah and is principals will make people cooperate unselfishly to get the earth back to its previous condition.  No-one will tell others what to do.  The elders will be facilitators, inform and ask us to cooperate. explain the reasons. Unselfish love is no part of any human philosophy - only in the teachings of Christ.
(So this Agenda 21 sounds wonderful!  it will not meet Jehovah's standards and will bring the great tribulation.)
The 144000 will oversee from heaven but society here will be like loving sheep - no nasty qualities. Cooperation will be there in loving way.  This is the way of Jehovah.  (by the way - this is why I do not buy the story that the real anointed are outside the congregation now)..... The real anointed are going to heaven and elders are now being trained to take their place.  The 144000 do not need important places in the congregations right now.  They share in a precious heritage - but their focus should now be on preaching not ruling/teaching the congregation as individuals.
 We do not need human rulers...... this is the message throughout the bible.  Jehovah and Christ are our rulers - with the understanding of the previously imperfect 144,000 in heaven.  Each person will have self-control and correct themselves according to Jehovah's laws.   Their happiness at receiving "life" during the 1000 years will be their most cherished gift. 
 
 

It is always worrisome to be kidnapped by naked neighbors. I hate it when that happens.

Perhaps the Russians are compiling a database of all the Jehovah's Witnesses internationally who wrote them 11 train boxcars LOADED with what is essentially firewood flakes ... and who got $56 MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH FROM THE BROTHERHOOD  to deliver all that mail from the Universal Postal Union as Terminal Duty of 70% of the face value of the postage affixed ....  to return all that free money.
Ya think?
They are probably still using all that paper in their stoves and furnaces for a second winter now, having been supplied by the Governing Body with abundant "fuel at the proper time".
... and that 56 Million Dollars would supply the Russkies with free Vodka for at least a decade.
Now THAT'S being "spiritually prepared"!

This was the only thing you wrote which was not conjecture, and that I recognize instantly as the basis of ALL organized religion ... from a six person tribe in some wilderness, with a Shaman, to the Pope of Rome with billions of adherents, and a whole hierarchy of control managers.
Including the JW Governing Body.
NO ONE is exempt.
That is why the necessary and scriptural policy of disfellowshipping as we practice it today, includes TOTAL control of speech, through the shunning process, and the ripples of chilling morbid fear it generates.
Your above quote "nailed it".
It is worth repeating, and emphasizing !
" Satan loves to control - anyone who loves to control - has qualities of satan in their personality. It will show very soon!"
... but I did like and appreciate, and was very impressed with your analysis and reasoning in your above post, Arauna, and your ability to articulate it so well.
I just do not agree with it.
It is all complete theoretical conjecture .... and besides .... if ever implemented ... we will both be quite dead.
 

I scratched that, and it made my left foot jump up and down!

While I was a little boy, I wanted to be a cop ... on a motorcycle. Later, in the age of teenage years, I liked films with martial arts. At the same time, my parents became JW and learned me differently. Then I became JW. And I did not become a cop who would hunt these bastards !!!
Today ... I'm not all that I could possibly become, but I'm not even a JW any more. I'm glad that I left.

The problem, with JW and similar groups, is that "they do not want to learn to fight", according to Isaiah verses.  But, they do not want to learn to defend themselves or others who need help in trouble, too. Adult JW or JW children should not go to self-defense courses because such an idea opposes JW's beliefs, religion. JW instruction, according to some biblical advice, is to scream loud, or run away. Sometimes that helps, but ..... to oppose the evil bastards you need much, much more. And I do not see, if God want to intervene (???) in your personal life (and not only in your life but in life of all other people who are victims), why He would not give you (and them) His approval in fighting against criminals. 

A " helicopter parent" is a parent who hovers over his or her children, ever watchful, ever close-by ... ready to guide and direct the children wherever and whenever needed, but at a manageable distance, and close enough to provide real, not imagined protection and security.
Like admin says... it may take ten minutes for police to respond, whereas I have the capability to make bad guys behave themselves (probably) faster than the speed of sound ....about 1100 feet per second.
I have been armed every day of my life, for the past  half-century or so, and have avoided at least three "incidents" just by being obviously armed ( I had to pull my gun, which is otherwise always concealed.
That gun I posted the picture of on another thread is small and light, and has a one-watt green laser on the top, ( my own modification so it works in bright sunlight ...) and still fits in my front right pocket.
I do not expect to get into gun battles ... merely restrain or stop the stupid and undisciplined.  I am never without it, except in courthouses, where it is not allowed ... and airports, and in the bath ... where it is on the adjacent toilet seat, under a towel.
If I expect a sustained fight, I "dress heavier", and differently.
Carrying an unloaded gun around is a good way to get killed .... like trying to outrun an avalanche in a snowmobile with no gas.
OF COURSE IT'S LOADED!
There are people that are sheep, and there are people that are Sheepdogs, like myself ... who have fangs and consider it my genetic duty to protect the innocent (myself included).
An incompetent defense is no defense at all .... and that's why they get eaten by wolves, and  eventually .... the sheep get sheared,  eaten by their Shepherds.
Think of me as a "helicopter gunship" Sheepdog parent.
Once you get that image in your mind ... you may need several beers.
 

... and stop from time to time to look at the sky, the birds, and the flowers ... an pick the broken glass out of the bottoms of your bleeding feet .... and massage and scratch the bee stings between your toes that are driving you so absolutely crazy that you want to cut your swollen toes off with a knife.

People needs to go slowly through life. That means .... walk barefoot, and watch/look/see aka learning around yourself. :))