Jehovah's Witnesses allegedly put child in company of known molester; defy court

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/14/jehovahs-witness-lopez-sex-abuse-appeal/

Muslim father loses circumcision court battle over sons

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-36074482

Father sues son's homeopath

Link

Woman disabled due to refusal of medical care

http://deadstate.org/permanantly-disabled-idaho-woman-wants-her-faith-healing-parents-prosecuted/

Alternative Medicine and Jehovah’s Witnesses

When I was a jw child, as I have written about before, essential medical care was withheld from me. 

At that time (and for the record, this was before the discovery of HIV in the blood supply), the jws I was associated with were heavily into folk "remedies".  They did not trust, and avoided, standard medical care. I happened to come across some older publications that rather thoroughly document this "race memory", if you will, that jws have about modern medicine. Back then of course they were no longer producing those bizarre, paranoia-fueled cartoons, conspiracy theories, and calling doctors "The Serum Trust" and things like that. But the paranoia and bizarre beliefs remained as strongly as it had been in earlier decades.

Many of the jws were distributors of a line of vitamins and herbs known as Shaklee. They were really taken in by the sales pitch, believing Shaklee had a remedy for everything, eliminating the need for Western medicine. They had all the answers and doctors were blinded by Satan, who was trying to trick jws into taking blood products.

Blood was the subject of many of their delusions. It became routine to hear a rumor of animal blood being hidden in a certain product, jws boycotted it and engaged in letter writing campaigns to the manufacturers (counting this as evangelizing on their required monthly time cards). I was not allowed to eat Milky Way candy bars, hot dogs, and lunch meats at various times because of alleged "hidden blood". (There were similar issues with witchcraft—there would be a rumor that a company donated to Satanism or witchcraft, so we’d throw out the products and boycott them too.)

Doctrine prohibited them from having any medical treatment involving blood, even a drop. If you research this, yes, you will find some literature quotes contradicting this, along with ones confirming it. That's one of their tactics--if they don't want you to do something but don't really want to commit to it in writing, they use veiled and contradictory statements in print, while verbally prohibiting it from the pulpit. Many times they would say anyone taking blood was weak of conscience and therefore should be socially scorned within the group (socialization outside the group was prohibited too).

That being said, you can begin to imagine what it was like having a life-threatening genetic disease that can only be treated with blood, while being a part of this religion. What a paradox for a parent! The elders helped mine resolve it by teaching us that I'd be resurrected and it was ok to die for faith. (This “sacrifice” was bragged about in Awake! Magazine, whose cover featured dead children.) That paradox was further glossed over by placing a lot of faith in Shaklee’s unproven cures to save me.

One thing jws are infamous for is reading enough medical information to be dangerous, and misapplying it. There have been several instances when they read about a treatment for one disease and think it's effective for other diseases.

One of those remedies, for me, was Shaklee alfalfa tablets.  Alfalfa naturally contains Vitamin K. This company's products were touted as completely safe, free from side effects, because they were "natural". This product, though, does have some serious side effects, which I experienced.  Alfalfa contains Vitamin E, which makes my disease worse.

My condition deteriorated and I was on the brink of death multiple times, which you can read about here or here.

Pathetically, the jws’ delusions about modern medicine flipped the truth on its head. Their use of herbs was fine because it was “in the Bible and Jehovah gave them to us to use”, while modern medicine was considered witchcraft.

Ironically, the jws only believed in certain alternative healing and completely scorned others. I was often told the story of Rasputin, who they said used false religion and demons to cure a blood disorder. They ruminated about this, and with each iteration, the belief took another turn. Eventually, I was personally demonic because Rasputin was.

Scientific illiteracy is dangerous and deadly!

Free letter template: Stop Jehovah's Witnesses from visiting your home

Why:

• Jehovah's Witnesses are a dangerous high control group with bizarre teachings.
• A major activity of theirs is recruitment in neighborhoods, to save you from a grisly death in the War of Armageddon, that will be happening any day now.
• The biggest recruitment activity occurs in Spring, when they invite people to attend an observation of Christ's death.
• If you notify them not to trespass on your property, they must stay away (according to most state laws).

Instructions:

1. Get the address of the closest Kingdom Hall (Congregation) of Jehovah's Witnesses.
2. Complete this letter.
3. Send it by US Mail with delivery confirmation.
4. Save the delivery confirmation, along with a copy of the letter. This is your only proof you've issued the proper warning.

Template:
[Current Date]

Jehovah's Witnesses
[Address of closest congregation]

Dear Sirs:

This letter is to serve as formal notice that effective today you may not enter the property of [your address]. This “No Trespass” notice will remain in effect until rescinded by me. Failure to comply with this notice may result in your arrest by police, citizen's arrest, and civil litigation, in which you will be named personally and as an organization. Furthermore, please do not contact me in any way.

Please refer to the following.
-[cite your state/local laws on trespassing here]
-[cite your state/local laws on citizen's arrest]
-Correspondence regarding trespassing from the Watchtower Society to you dated September 2004

Sincerely,

[signature]

[printed name]

Comedian Makes Up Story About Satanism, Becomes National Expert

5 Insane Scams That Should Have Failed (But Didn't) | Cracked.com

Any of you who were in a fundamentalist religion in the 1980s probably remember the Great Satanic Cult Scare.  This article gives some great insight into how it started--it was a complete scam from the beginning!  An interesting study into how lies can foster hysteria and orthodoxy.

One would like to believe, in this Modern Era, Salem-style hysteria would not occur.  And yet it does. 

As this article points out, human nature still contains within it the potential to continue to believe something that has been proven false.

The first thing I remember is the McMartin preschool case.  I remember absolutely nothing of the fundamentalists admitting the accuser had paranoid schizophrenia, or that the accusations were implausible.  I remember it being used as a tool to scare members into huddling closer to the cult.  One defendant spent years in jail prior to being acquitted.

The mess also had its dire consequences upon psychiatry.  “Recovered memory therapy” did damage to countless people.

Critical thinking is surely one of the most important things humanity can accomplish.

This quote says it all!

Watchtower Magazine 09/15/41 p. 287
In the Kingdom the 'great multitude' will look to the Lord to guide as to selecting each a mate for himself. Why, then, should a man who has the prospect before him of being of the great multitude now tie himself up to a stack of bones and a hank of hair?

Infant's death at hospital linked to circumcision followed by oral suction

Under the practice, the rabbi or mohel removes blood from the wound with his mouth — a practice city health officials have criticized, saying it carried “inherent risks” for babies.

In 2004, three infants circumcised by Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer were determined to have contracted herpes, city officials said.

Among them were twins circumcised in October 2004 after Fischer performed the religious ceremony known as a bris.

Read the rest of the article in the New York Daily News by clicking the title of this post.

It seems the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is concerned enough about this practice, known as "metzizah b’ peh", that they have posted a warning on their website.  Here is an excerpt:

How metzitzah b'peh spreads herpes

In metzitzah b'peh, the mohel places his mouth on the freshly circumcised penis to draw blood away from the cut. If the mohel is infected with oral herpes (as most adults are), metzitzah b'peh can expose the infant to the herpes virus...Even without symptoms, however, people can spread the infection.

Because the immune system of newborns is not developed enough to fight serious infection, herpes infections pose grave risks to infants.

There is no proven way to reduce the risk of metzitzah b'peh

Although a mohel may use oral rinses or sip wine before metzitzah b'peh, there is no evidence that these actions reduce the spread of herpes. A mohel who takes antiviral medication may reduce the risk of spreading herpes virus during metzitzah b'peh, but there is no evidence that taking medication eliminates this risk...

Here is what appears to be a modern, balanced view of this practice by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.

Hopefully, some will learn from this story that unquestioning faith in a pre-scientific book is dangerous and not respectful of life.

Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1925)

Holy disproportionate response, Batman! Emotional icebergs

The term "emotional icebergs" simply means that only a small portion of an emotion and reason for it are apparent.  The majority is "below the surface", not known to bystanders and sometimes not even known to the individual experiencing it.  If you notice a disproportionate emotional response to something, an iceberg may be the reason.

Destructive emergence of emotional icebergs ("shipwrecks") is a common pattern with ex-cultists.  One common trigger for the iceberg's emergence is belief--being presented with new information that cannot be easily confirmed by personally witnessing it--feeling pressured to believe.  Believe in something we're being told. Seeing others believe in what they're told.  Belief is a trigger.

There is camp #1 who instantly believes it without evidence or question.  Even after contrary proof has been provided, just like we were brainwashed to do--they keep believing.  Thinking for yourself is hard, painful and dangerous--it's bad, don't do it.

Camp #2 staunchly defends anyone who claims to be fighting the cult no matter how incredible the story becomes.  They want so badly for the vile cult to fall, they will ignore reason.  They are willing to send cash to alleged cult fighters (complete strangers) and are hostile when anyone questions the truth or asks for proof of anything, including identity.

Camp #3 who is overly skeptical but open minded.  These folks have done the needed personal work to get to this point.

Camp #4 who disbelieves and criticizes everything in a cynical, sometimes mean spirit.  Conspiracy theories abound. They operate on the same premise as Camp #1--thinking for yourself is hard, painful and dangerous--it's bad, don't do it.  They just err on the side of disbelief rather than belief--the second side of the same extremist coin.

Love it or hate it, that's us.  Injecting reason during these conflicts does help people reason, learn and grow.

Galactic Federation of Light--let the 2012 madness begin!! I mean continue

This group is reportedly preparing for alien invasion on January 23, 2012 and recommending stockpiling of food and supplies. I've heard this word-of-mouth but can't stomach sorting through the verbal overproductivity on the site to find if they've said this in writing.

On their Q&A page (linked above), they say a few key things. I'll paraphrase them here to save you some time.

1. We are sending you updates on the Internet and in our books that cause your DNA to vibrate in a certain way. This is not to be confused with other vibrators you get through the mail.

2. Angels, god(s)(ess)(es) are involved with aliens, but in a good way. Sorta.

3. Supernova, stars, blah blah space stuff, there's a hole in the universe that will enable contact with aliens soon.  In fact this has been known by many ancient religions.  There is even an old hymn based on this knowledge, "There's a hole in space, dear Liza, dear Liza..."  Oh, wait.  That's not it.

4. The Council of Nine is something important...blah, blah, word salad, blah blah blah.

5. Your belief in this nonsense is helping the planet somehow, and is also changing your own DNA to make you grow fast, like a toddler. The growth is why you're tired, not the strain of attempting to understand nonsensical drivel.

666. Are there opposers? Of course there are! We couldn't exist without them. Opposition brings cult members together. We call our opposers "dark forces".  Similar to the demons in the bible, it's convenient since Christians and other demon-believers won't have to learn and accept yet another brand new belief.

7. We will give you instructions about forming Welcome Wagon committees to welcome the aliens with love, brotherhood and useful coupons for local restaurants. Do not form these committees until we instruct you, or we won't get our Welcome Wagon commission.

8. Human race's measurement of time: You're doing it wrong. New members won't be able to comprehend it until they use their vibrators. See #1.

9. Remember, kids--you need us to survive!!1!  Oh snap.

The Duggars: The continuing wackadoodle saga

Here is the latest update in a long, sad story of people sorely misguided by religion. They also seem to be cashing in on their fertility.

The truth is, overpopulation is a major contributing factor to some of the major problems facing us today--economic, ecological, etc. Any sane god(s) would not expect us to blindly overfill the Earth.  He, she, it or they, if we were created, fitted us with a nifty thing known as a frontal lobe which has a feature known as logic.

The family's website says this is Michelle's favorite quote:

Come on, Michelle. If the world was overfilled with flowers, so much that other plants couldn't thrive, surely you can envision this causing problems. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

From Wikipedia:
The Duggars are conservative Christians, and due to their fundamentalist biblical beliefs, they practice the following: The only television the family watches are wholesome family programming on DVDs, and various historical events. Internet use is restricted. The male family members keep their hair cut short (by cutting their own hair to save money), while the females keep their hair long. The children are home-schooled using a mix of materials, including those of Switched On Schoolhouse, Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), and Accelerated Christian Education (ACE).[8] For college studies, several of the older kids use the CollegePlus! program.[9] The children are discouraged from dating, but rather practice chaperoned courtship, and the couple abstains from physical contact. In addition, the young man seeks permission from the young woman's father to become engaged.

The Duggars raise their children using a buddy system, wherein an older sibling is assigned to a younger sibling and assists in their primary care. 

Oh dear.

Purge, rinse, repeat! The cult cycle

I was musing on the sick cycle cults have whereby they have a Salem witch trial-style inquest, “find” the evil influence (even if it means making up stories), purge it, have a period of catharsis and renewed affinity to each other, then repeat the cycle. If you’ve ever been in a cult, you know exactly what I mean.

While searching for background material for this post, I came across this excellent list of cult behaviors which is, as the Brits say, “spot on”.

It is as though some of the adherents are not aware of the cycle, or prefer to blindly trust their leaders that there is an actual threat, agreeing with their decision to investigate and expunge it, and feeling a sense of relief and renewed bonds to their fellow cultists. They even appreciate the leaders for providing this opportunity to feel that satisfying “lull after the storm” along with the sense of superiority provided by the opportunity to shun the outcast.

Others—strategists—foresee an upcoming vacancy in the cult family tree which provides them an opportunity to move up a rung on the social ladder.

Others feel powerless to stop it—that was me. I tried to talk sense into a few people and that resulted in suspicion being cast upon me.

It’s a very sick social convention and one that can damage a person well after disaffiliation.

Salvation Army--is it a high control group?

Decide for yourself.

Sally officer threatened with job loss for marrying a woman who is not a Sally officer herself.

Salvation Army position statement on homosexuality.

News article alleges Salvation Army lobbies against gay marriage.

Advocacy action: Donate the $3 bills you can print for free here.

Jehovah's Witnesses may be in violation of religious hatred laws in the UK

Police inquiry over Jehovah's Witness magazine 'mentally diseased' article - Telegraph

The Jehovah's Witnesses have published a statement that former members are "mentally diseased", and in some countries this may constitute a violation of religious hatred laws.

To read the original magazine, click here. Download the study version of the 7/15/11 issue.

Here is a direct copy and paste from that issue:

"'Apostasy' is a standing away from true worship, a falling away, defection, rebellion, abandonment."

The definition of an 'apostate' is anyone who abandons a set of beliefs. And then:

"Well, apostates are 'mentally diseased,' and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. (1 Tim. 6:3, 4) Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid contact with them."

Calling God "The Great Physician" underscores the disease analogy.

This is not the first time this church has called former members diseased. In fact, not only have they been labeled with frightening diseases, they have been called demon possessed.

In fact, the church in 1909 clearly stated apostates were all former members, and all of them were stricken with rabies, mental illness and are Satanic. (Remember, this church teaches they have always been the source of truth and the truth does not change, so this old teaching is still valid.*)

The Watch Tower of October 1, 1909 states:

“All who cut loose from the Society and its work ... these manifest anger, malice, hatred, strife, ‘works of the flesh and of the devil’ such as we have never known worldly people to exhibit. They seem inoculated with madness, Satanic hydrophobia[rabies].”

Click the link at the top of this post to read the news story about the police inquiry into this suspected violation of religious hate laws.

What do you think? Please take our poll at the top left of this blog, and post a comment below.
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*"...this one supreme, almighty God. His religion is one of right belief and is harmonious in all its expressions...The true religion of the one God does not disagree with itself, deny itself or get divided with itself. If it had internal disagreement, contradiction and disunity, it could never stand; it could not be simple truth; it would disagree with the scientific laws of the universe; it could not triumph in the long-drawn-out conflict between true religion and false. But true religion must triumph, because truth cannot be destroyed. That is why, despite all the many false religions in the world, the true religion has lived through till this day..."--Watchtower 11/15/1963