JW ruled extremist group by Russian court

[glen smith]

The Russian Supreme Court recently sanctioned Jehovah’s Witnesses as an extremist group. This ruling criminalizes Jehovah’s Witnesses who express their beliefs and allows the Russian government to liquidate any property held by the organization.

There are over eight million Jehovah’s Witnesses in 240 countries worldwide. Russia , with a population of more than 150 million, has a total of 117,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses – one Jehovah’s Witness per 850 people.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/religion-around-world-timeline-history-020002415.html

[Lou Newton]

Thanks for posting this Glen. I read about this some time ago but failed to post about it; but I should have done so.

Spiritually the JW are a very dangerous group, for they teach people to reject the only way to eternal life. But for a government to make a law like this is against the free choice of one's belief; and therefore very dangerous. For if they can rule against the JW, they can also rule against true Christianity.

But I think it is certainly OK for any government to make a law like this against Islam. For Islam itself is against the freedom of free choice of one's beliefs. Islam supports Sharia law and Sharia law states that anyone who leaves the Muslim faith should be killed.

[glen smith]

Thanks for posting this Glen. I read about this some time ago but failed to post about it; but I should have done so.

Spiritually the JW are a very dangerous group, for they teach people to reject the only way to eternal life. But for a government to make a law like this is against the free choice of one's belief; and therefore very dangerous. For if they can rule against the JW, they can also rule against true Christianity.

But I think it is certainly OK for any government to make a law like this against Islam. For Islam itself is against the freedom of free choice of one's beliefs. Islam supports Sharia law and Sharia law states that anyone who leaves the Muslim faith should be killed.

Lou, you got me thinking about religious freedom. I have posted in the category of General Discussions under the topic Religious Freedom.

[Baruch]

Russia has embraced sacralism. It has established state-approved religions. JW is not one of them.

Note the use of the commercial term "liquidate". JW are incorporated. Many church organizations in America are incorporated.

[Lou Newton]

Russia has embraced sacralism. It has established state-approved religions. JW is not one of them.

Note the use of the commercial term "liquidate". JW are incorporated. Many church organizations in America are incorporated.

Good point Barry. I did not notice the importance of that word. Do they incorporate so no one can sue the leaders and can only sue the corporation ?

[Baruch]

Good point Barry. I did not notice the importance of that word. Do they incorporate so no one can sue the leaders and can only sue the corporation ?

Right, Lou, limited liability is one reason for incorporating. Men don't want to be fully accountable, so it also fosters a climate of risk taking and dishonest dealings. Not all people abuse it, they just don't want giants taking their homes and wrecking their lives.

Another reason is benefits. Like tax exemption, eligibility for federal and state grants and programs, licenses.

Most congregations in America may do it simply because a tax advisor told them it's the law, when it's not.

The other edge of that sword is that the corporation is placed under the government of the legal system that creates it. So the agents of that government can take all the corporation's stuff on a mere pretext, which is not so hard to abuse if the system has many codes (such as the US with its 100,000 codes - not even the government who made them can obey them all).

The 501(c)3 tax exemption is incorporation. It carries all the protections and liabilities of the above. The dirty secret is that it's not necessary for American churches, they are already tax exempt. I'm not bashing incorporated churches; but incorporation is a deal (contract) with the devil's beast. Evidence: JW got liquidated.

Russian churches and missions... I dunno how similar they are to the US in these regards, but similar enough to liquidate 'em.