Russia bans Jehovah's Witnesses

[Husar]

In other words, you believe the charges against JW?

I believe in typical Russian fashion it is a probably politically motivated reaction that is probably also too violent in terms of police action being taken, but I also believe they may not be entirely innocent of all the charges.

A good lie tends to be built on a truth after all.

[Sarmatian]

My opinion isn't gonna be much relevant here, as I wouldn't consider banning all religions worldwide a bad thing, but JH are particularly bad.

Not so much because they are annoying but because their interpretation of faith can lead to deaths of innocent people. If you're an adult who refuses blood transfusion and then dies, that's all right. You're an idiot, you won't be missed. But if you withhold proper medical care from a child who needs a blood transfusion or a dialysis, or put pressure on another adult to refuse, you deserve bad things to happen to you.

[Gilrandir]

Not so much because they are annoying but because their interpretation of faith can lead to deaths of innocent people.

Then there is no reason to dislike JW especially. It may also be true of other religions (e.g. Islam). In modern world interpretation is much more important that the original.

[Sarmatian]

Then there is no reason to dislike JW especially. It may also be true of other religions (e.g. Islam). In modern world interpretation is much more important that the original.

True, but with Islam and most other faiths, 99,99% of people following it don't take it literally. For the small part that does and gets innocents hurt, I have the same disdain. JH take it literally, that's the whole point. You can't be a JH if you don't take it literally.

I remember a story my mother told me (MD), when they had a JH woman who was going to do unless she gets dialysis. At first she refused, but as her condition got worse, she started wavering. The organization found out and they posted someone every day to sit next to her bed to make sure she doesn't get it. In the end, nurses managed to get her to agree and they did it at night.

She was an adult, so it might make sense to say, it's her decision, screw it. But what when some idiot parents do that to a child, and it's too late by the time legal actions can reverse their decision?

So, **** Jehova's Witnesses and all other religious nutjobs that hurt other people to preserve their own beliefs.

[Gilrandir]

JH take it literally, that's the whole point. You can't be a JH if you don't take it literally.

I'm sure by JH you meant JHI, i.e. Janissary Heavy Infantry?

So, **** Jehova's Witnesses and all other religious nutjobs that hurt other people to preserve their own beliefs.

Again, being nutjobs or letting innocent people die were not the charges levelled at them in Russia. All their shortcomings notwithstanding, I greatly doubt JW can be qualified as an extremist organization. The reason why it happened is (I believe) Russian orthodoxy got exasperated at them stealing their flock (and consequently, money).

[Sarmatian]

The reason why it happened is (I believe) Russian orthodoxy got exasperated at them stealing their flock (and consequently, money).

It probably had something to do with it, but I doubt that's the only reason. You won't find me defending Russian Church, though. I'm not overly fond of any religious organization and Russian Orthodox Church tends to be even more gung ho than the rest.

[Pannonian]

It probably had something to do with it, but I doubt that's the only reason. You won't find me defending Russian Church, though. I'm not overly fond of any religious organization and Russian Orthodox Church tends to be even more gung ho than the rest.

Join the Church of England! Probably the softest, most ineffectual denomination around. Believing in traditional English customs is an ideal. Believing in God is optional.

[Fragony]

My opinion isn't gonna be much relevant here, as I wouldn't consider banning all religions worldwide a bad thing, but JH are particularly bad.

Not so much because they are annoying but because their interpretation of faith can lead to deaths of innocent people. If you're an adult who refuses blood transfusion and then dies, that's all right. You're an idiot, you won't be missed. But if you withhold proper medical care from a child who needs a blood transfusion or a dialysis, or put pressure on another adult to refuse, you deserve bad things to happen to you.

That's totally fair I guess. There is a much bigger problem called the Vatican than though if you really care about that, picking out JW is off if you (imho rightfully) dislike religions. No offence intended to religious orgahs

[Gilrandir]

A good lie tends to be built on a truth after all.

Not relevant for Russian propaganda. They go by Goebbels' principle "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."