*** w85 12/15 p. 7 How You Can Show Gratitude for What Jesus Did ***
Christian meetings are a way by which we can maintain proper esteem. Since Jehovah and Jesus are present invisibly at these gatherings, grateful Christians will not snub them, as the apostates do, but rather do all they reasonably can to attend regularly.
However, according to Watchtower doctrine, God is not omnipresent:
ka chap. 6 p. 98 par. 39 Priests for Ten Centuries with No Scheming Priestcraft
The Most High God has always had a place of residence in heaven. He is not an all-pervasive spirit that is omnipresent, present everywhere at the same time. Being an intelligent Person, he has his location, his place of residence where he can be approached.
This begs the question that since doctrine holds that Jehovah is NOT omnipresent, and Jesus is of course just a lowly angel who doesn't even have "holy spirit" at his disposal let alone omnipresence, how can it be said they are "present invisibly" at all the meetings? This simply shows that they make up this stuff as they go along.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Ironies and Idiocies of Jehovah's Witnesses
Windowless Kingdom Halls filled by men who make their living washing windows.
Thousands of Kingdom Halls with security systems,but the systems are all set to 1914.
Jehovah's Witnesses arrive uninvited and unannounced at a stranger's door, would be visibly upset if a friend stopped by their house before calling first.
Jehovah's Witnesses in field service, going door to door, hoping no one is at home.
Saying they are a Bible-based religion and being anti-Catholic, failing to note that the Bible was canonized and codified by the Catholic Church. If God hadn't "used" the Catholic Church as His "approved channel" to formulate and disseminate the Bible, the Witnesses would have nothing to mistranslate and misinterpret.
Holding "Bible studies" with people but studying Watchtower books, not the Bible.
Refusing to associate with wordly relatives because they are "bad association", then going door to door looking for worldly people who will talk to them.
Witnesses claim that they dob't celebrate Thanksgiving but still having a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and invite some of the friends to dinner that day.
Witnesses tell everyone they don't celebrate Christmas but accept gifts and cash from their employer when Christmas comes around.
Witnesses are totally against celebrating the anniversary of a person's birth, but all for celebrating the anniversary of a marriage, even with a cake and gifts.
Witnesses claim that they do not participate in "pagan rituals and customs" and yet they wear a wedding ring (which is a pagan custom).
Witnesses don't accept blood transfusions. However, if you break the blood up into separate parts, then it's okay,
Jehovah's Witnesses profess not to have have a "clergy class" but when they are in court being sued because of their instructions not to go to the authorities about child abuse, then invoke "clergy/penitent priveledge."
Jehovah's Witnesses don't have a "clergy class" but the elders are worthy of "double honor" for their position.
Jehovah's Witnesses are told that love is the identifying mark of the true Christian congregation, yet "mark" those who don't attend meetings on a regular basis so as not to associate with them.
Jehovah's Witnesses claim that their literature is life saving. But then why is it copyrighted? Don't they want everybody to have it? Why do they hire lawyers to prosecute those who make their literature available without permission or if they don't like the context any quotes are made in?
Why do the Witnesses print only a half a million copies of a worldwide message about religion designed to reach six billion people?!
You need to read MY literature, but I won't read yours.
You must let me pray for you, but I will not let you pray for me.
There are no collection plates, but plenty of collection boxes.
Jehovah's Witnesses brag about "teaching" people God's name and yet the name they use is a mis-translation of the name of the Hebrew God.
Jehovah's Witnesses tell people to examine and question their own religions in every detail and research it fully. But don't even DARE to examine or question or research my religion, though, or Jehovah will execute you."
The Watchtower study and the Book Study are "Question" and "Answer" sessions, which doesn't actually mean you get to ask meaningful questions, it means that you get to repeat back, word for word, what the magazine or book just told you.
Thousands of Kingdom Halls with security systems,but the systems are all set to 1914.
Jehovah's Witnesses arrive uninvited and unannounced at a stranger's door, would be visibly upset if a friend stopped by their house before calling first.
Jehovah's Witnesses in field service, going door to door, hoping no one is at home.
Saying they are a Bible-based religion and being anti-Catholic, failing to note that the Bible was canonized and codified by the Catholic Church. If God hadn't "used" the Catholic Church as His "approved channel" to formulate and disseminate the Bible, the Witnesses would have nothing to mistranslate and misinterpret.
Holding "Bible studies" with people but studying Watchtower books, not the Bible.
Refusing to associate with wordly relatives because they are "bad association", then going door to door looking for worldly people who will talk to them.
Witnesses claim that they dob't celebrate Thanksgiving but still having a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and invite some of the friends to dinner that day.
Witnesses tell everyone they don't celebrate Christmas but accept gifts and cash from their employer when Christmas comes around.
Witnesses are totally against celebrating the anniversary of a person's birth, but all for celebrating the anniversary of a marriage, even with a cake and gifts.
Witnesses claim that they do not participate in "pagan rituals and customs" and yet they wear a wedding ring (which is a pagan custom).
Witnesses don't accept blood transfusions. However, if you break the blood up into separate parts, then it's okay,
Jehovah's Witnesses profess not to have have a "clergy class" but when they are in court being sued because of their instructions not to go to the authorities about child abuse, then invoke "clergy/penitent priveledge."
Jehovah's Witnesses don't have a "clergy class" but the elders are worthy of "double honor" for their position.
Jehovah's Witnesses are told that love is the identifying mark of the true Christian congregation, yet "mark" those who don't attend meetings on a regular basis so as not to associate with them.
Jehovah's Witnesses claim that their literature is life saving. But then why is it copyrighted? Don't they want everybody to have it? Why do they hire lawyers to prosecute those who make their literature available without permission or if they don't like the context any quotes are made in?
Why do the Witnesses print only a half a million copies of a worldwide message about religion designed to reach six billion people?!
You need to read MY literature, but I won't read yours.
You must let me pray for you, but I will not let you pray for me.
There are no collection plates, but plenty of collection boxes.
Jehovah's Witnesses brag about "teaching" people God's name and yet the name they use is a mis-translation of the name of the Hebrew God.
Jehovah's Witnesses tell people to examine and question their own religions in every detail and research it fully. But don't even DARE to examine or question or research my religion, though, or Jehovah will execute you."
The Watchtower study and the Book Study are "Question" and "Answer" sessions, which doesn't actually mean you get to ask meaningful questions, it means that you get to repeat back, word for word, what the magazine or book just told you.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Guide To Becoming A Jehovah's Witness
In reflecting on my time as a JW, one thing that elders and Circuit Overseers would frequently say is: "We aren't like other religions. You can walk into Catholic or Baptist Church and become a member pretty quickly. But for us (JW's) you have to study first and get the accurate knowledge of John 17:3"
This is another attempt to put on a great front to a dubious method of Jehovah's Witness recruitment. Indoctrination.
Since I resigned my membership as a JW, I find it funny how so not true it is that you can walk into any church and become a member. JW's would like for you to believe that most churches are the Dollar General store equivalent of religion, cheap and easy. That simply isn't true. I will allow that there are many religions that simply ask if one has accepted Christ and are born again, but there are just as many churches, if not more, that would like for you to know a little something about them before you join.
JW's have a more cynical goal though. Because they have such amazing beliefs regarding the prophetic value of the bible, (i.e. most prophetic characters from Noah to Abraham to David to Solomon and Hezekiah all point to the modern day structure and hierarchy of Jehovah's Witnesses), it is necessary to prep the prospective JW with the soft stuff first.
JW's have books designated for study with new prospects. Here is a list
1969: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life
1982: You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth
1995: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life
2005: What Does the Bible Really Teach?
These books contain nothing of the very controversial prophetic view of JW's. It skims over and gives the greatest, one sided impression of such controversial teachings as blood based medicine and disfellowshipping/excommunication. It starts almost immediately with the thought that friends and family will be against you for studying the bible. (even though you aren't studying the bible, you are studying JW theology with cherry picked scriptures to back up the theology.)
During this "study" (i.e. Indoctrination!) the prospect is encouraged to attend all the meetings of JW's, where they are trained to basically "love bomb" new ones. New ones are impressed with how much attention they get, and just as equally miffed when, after baptism, interest in them and their problems fade. But it feels good in the mean time.
Of course, the goal for this indoctrination is for you to be able to parrot the basics of JW theology, agree that you want to be a JW, and get baptized. This takes several months or more. It changes after that, because now that you are baptized, you have them as the authority. You can no longer research their bible exegesis, you can no longer even have the private thought that you disagree with JW's on any subject, under pain of disfellowshipping and shunning.
For many, the more you learn, the less you like, but if you get baptized, its a little late to call them out on it and avoid the heartache that frequently occurs for associating with and promoting this group.
So if you want to be a Jehovah's Witness, be sure to study thoroughly, and on your own terms. If they have the truth as they claim, then the truth will stand on its own merits, and not on the merits of propaganda designed to bait and switch you into a lifelong, mafia like commitment.
This is another attempt to put on a great front to a dubious method of Jehovah's Witness recruitment. Indoctrination.
Since I resigned my membership as a JW, I find it funny how so not true it is that you can walk into any church and become a member. JW's would like for you to believe that most churches are the Dollar General store equivalent of religion, cheap and easy. That simply isn't true. I will allow that there are many religions that simply ask if one has accepted Christ and are born again, but there are just as many churches, if not more, that would like for you to know a little something about them before you join.
JW's have a more cynical goal though. Because they have such amazing beliefs regarding the prophetic value of the bible, (i.e. most prophetic characters from Noah to Abraham to David to Solomon and Hezekiah all point to the modern day structure and hierarchy of Jehovah's Witnesses), it is necessary to prep the prospective JW with the soft stuff first.
JW's have books designated for study with new prospects. Here is a list
1969: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life
1982: You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth
1995: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life
2005: What Does the Bible Really Teach?
These books contain nothing of the very controversial prophetic view of JW's. It skims over and gives the greatest, one sided impression of such controversial teachings as blood based medicine and disfellowshipping/excommunication. It starts almost immediately with the thought that friends and family will be against you for studying the bible. (even though you aren't studying the bible, you are studying JW theology with cherry picked scriptures to back up the theology.)
During this "study" (i.e. Indoctrination!) the prospect is encouraged to attend all the meetings of JW's, where they are trained to basically "love bomb" new ones. New ones are impressed with how much attention they get, and just as equally miffed when, after baptism, interest in them and their problems fade. But it feels good in the mean time.
Of course, the goal for this indoctrination is for you to be able to parrot the basics of JW theology, agree that you want to be a JW, and get baptized. This takes several months or more. It changes after that, because now that you are baptized, you have them as the authority. You can no longer research their bible exegesis, you can no longer even have the private thought that you disagree with JW's on any subject, under pain of disfellowshipping and shunning.
For many, the more you learn, the less you like, but if you get baptized, its a little late to call them out on it and avoid the heartache that frequently occurs for associating with and promoting this group.
So if you want to be a Jehovah's Witness, be sure to study thoroughly, and on your own terms. If they have the truth as they claim, then the truth will stand on its own merits, and not on the merits of propaganda designed to bait and switch you into a lifelong, mafia like commitment.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Anyone Can Give A Public Talk
It's easy!
Every public talk ever given goes like this:
Pick a subject, whether it's "God's Government or Man's?" or whatever...
Open by talking about how bad world conditions are,
Go on about how bad morals today are,
Run down Christendom and the governments for a while,
Then be sure and brag on the organization so that the witnesses will feel special and that they know something no one else does,
Read some scriptures about how God's kingdom is the answer, and finally...
Talk about how important it is to study, get baptized and preach because the end is near.
Be sure to use key Watchtower phrases like
Use key phrases, like ...
"Does it not warm your heart ..." (Tell your audience how they should feel)
"It is only logical ..." (We don't really know. We are just guessing)
"It is only reasonable ..." (We don't know. We are just guessing)
"Time is running out ..." (Be afraid. Be very afraid.)
Every article/talk has them.
Bang!
That's every public talk you will ever hear.
Now you don't have to drag your butt out of bed on Sunday.
Every public talk ever given goes like this:
Pick a subject, whether it's "God's Government or Man's?" or whatever...
Open by talking about how bad world conditions are,
Go on about how bad morals today are,
Run down Christendom and the governments for a while,
Then be sure and brag on the organization so that the witnesses will feel special and that they know something no one else does,
Read some scriptures about how God's kingdom is the answer, and finally...
Talk about how important it is to study, get baptized and preach because the end is near.
Be sure to use key Watchtower phrases like
Use key phrases, like ...
"Does it not warm your heart ..." (Tell your audience how they should feel)
"It is only logical ..." (We don't really know. We are just guessing)
"It is only reasonable ..." (We don't know. We are just guessing)
"Time is running out ..." (Be afraid. Be very afraid.)
Every article/talk has them.
Bang!
That's every public talk you will ever hear.
Now you don't have to drag your butt out of bed on Sunday.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Jehovah's Witness Ham Sandwich Approach To Blood
The "ham sandwich" is an apt simile for the JW policy of allowing blood fractions but not whole blood. Click on image to enlarge it.
How ridiculous is this? Whole blood is not allowed but all the fractions that make up whole blood are.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Stained Glass Windows
The Watchtower started to back off it's condemnation of 'stain-glassed' after restoring the Stanley with it's piece of stained glass.
***w53 5/1 p. 260 Why Maturity Is Lacking***
To help fill in the spiritual vacuum imposing cathedrals are built, lavishly furnished with pipe organs, stained-glass windows and other works of art, and choirs are trained. Is it any wonder, then, that churchgoers are not mature when the goal of the worship they attend is entertainment and appeal to the senses instead of edification and appeal to the reason and conscience of man?
***w69 10/15 p. 632 When You First Go to a Kingdom Hall***
In this vein, you will also observe that there are no stained-glass windows, as in many churches, to help create a hushed aura of artificial sanctity. Instead, the spiritual atmosphere at the Kingdom Hall is genuine, springing from a real interest in true worship and Biblical instruction. And the light, natural surroundings in the hall encourage those present to be outgoing and friendly, not inhibited by a mysterious imposed solemnity.
***g82 3/8 p. 6 The Catholic Church’s Past Attitude Toward the Bible***
Instead of favoring education among the masses and translations of the Bible in the local languages, the Catholic Church encouraged the production of ‘books of the ignorant’: picture Bibles (such as the Bibliapauperum, or Bible of the poor), Bible histories, miracle plays, statues and carvings, church wall paintings and stained-glass windows on Bible themes. Such were the crumbs that the Catholic clergy let drop from the rich spiritual table of Bible knowledge, which they kept for themselves and for a few privileged kings and nobles.
***w89 4/15 p. 13 par. 8 The Infamous Harlot — HerDestruction***
Oh, how beautifully she decks herself out! She is famed for her stately cathedrals with their imposing architecture and stained-glass windows, her bejeweled pagodas and wats, her time-honored temples and shrines. True to the stylized fashions set by the great harlot, her priests and monks are arrayed in costly robes of scarlet, purple, and saffron.
BY 1991 the opinion had changed fullly.....with ***g 91 3/8 p. 22 Stained Glass — From Medieval to Modern***
In the midst of their myriad of rules and regulations they can't get even simple things right.
***w53 5/1 p. 260 Why Maturity Is Lacking***
To help fill in the spiritual vacuum imposing cathedrals are built, lavishly furnished with pipe organs, stained-glass windows and other works of art, and choirs are trained. Is it any wonder, then, that churchgoers are not mature when the goal of the worship they attend is entertainment and appeal to the senses instead of edification and appeal to the reason and conscience of man?
***w69 10/15 p. 632 When You First Go to a Kingdom Hall***
In this vein, you will also observe that there are no stained-glass windows, as in many churches, to help create a hushed aura of artificial sanctity. Instead, the spiritual atmosphere at the Kingdom Hall is genuine, springing from a real interest in true worship and Biblical instruction. And the light, natural surroundings in the hall encourage those present to be outgoing and friendly, not inhibited by a mysterious imposed solemnity.
***g82 3/8 p. 6 The Catholic Church’s Past Attitude Toward the Bible***
Instead of favoring education among the masses and translations of the Bible in the local languages, the Catholic Church encouraged the production of ‘books of the ignorant’: picture Bibles (such as the Bibliapauperum, or Bible of the poor), Bible histories, miracle plays, statues and carvings, church wall paintings and stained-glass windows on Bible themes. Such were the crumbs that the Catholic clergy let drop from the rich spiritual table of Bible knowledge, which they kept for themselves and for a few privileged kings and nobles.
***w89 4/15 p. 13 par. 8 The Infamous Harlot — HerDestruction***
Oh, how beautifully she decks herself out! She is famed for her stately cathedrals with their imposing architecture and stained-glass windows, her bejeweled pagodas and wats, her time-honored temples and shrines. True to the stylized fashions set by the great harlot, her priests and monks are arrayed in costly robes of scarlet, purple, and saffron.
BY 1991 the opinion had changed fullly.....with ***g 91 3/8 p. 22 Stained Glass — From Medieval to Modern***
In the midst of their myriad of rules and regulations they can't get even simple things right.
Jehovah's Answer To A Heartfelt Prayer, Watchtower Study, 12/21/08
Ah, today's Watchtower study. Nothing like an Old Testament war story! Boy can the Watchtower twist and twist and twist...
Para. 8 was ironic:
They coveted Israel's land and boasted: "Let us take possession of the abiding places of God for ourselves." (Ps. 83: 12) Has something similar been true in our day? Yes!
When you actually look at the Jehovah's Witness message and the individual attitudes, isn't it the Jehovah's Witnesses that covet and boast of taking possession of the abiding places of "the goats" when Jehovah destroys them all at Har-Mageddon? "Ooh, I want that big house on the hill when Jehovah slits all their throats at the Armageddon."
I mean really, what "spiritual paradise" is there that "worldly people" are coveting and boasting about taking away from Jehovah's Witnesses. The Witnesses don't have anything that anyone else wants. So they cite persecution by the Nazis and the communists? How does the fact that they were persecuted make them the truth? The communists were persecuted by the Nazis, and the Nazis were persecuted by the communists. Today there is persecution all around the world in the name of religion. So which group are God's people since they were all persecuted by somebody?
What persecution do Witnesses face today? I can only think of the self-inflicted persecution. Quiting your job if the boss won't let you have a certain meeting night off, that isn't Satanic persecution, that's a personal choice. Someone wishing you "Merry Christmas" isn't persecution, it's a loving gesture. I actually have these "worldly people" come back later and apologize when they remember that I don't celebrate. Sheesh, I've met so many "worldly people" that are so kind and considerate, that I'd rather die with them at Har-Mageddon than watch them be destroyed by "the God of Love" and then have to spend an eternity with the judgmental dubs.
Back on para. 5 is another oddity:
Whatever the case, it is evident that Jehovah God inspired the writing of this prayerful song at a time when his nation was in danger.
I guess this brings up one of those questions that I always fought to ignore when I was a believer. If God was the real author of the Bible, and the humans were merely acting as secretaries, why are so many parts written as plaintive cries from a human in an effort to get God to listen? Like the start of the Psalm supposedly under consideration in the Botchtower:
(Psalm 83:1-3) 83 O God, let there be no silence on your part; Do not keep speechless, and do not stay quiet, O Divine One. 2 For, look! your very enemies are in an uproar; And the very ones intensely hating you have raised [their] head. 3 Against your people they cunningly carry on their confidential talk; And they conspire against your concealed ones. So, God "inspired" the psalmist to write this? Well, I suppose if you read this message, you could equally conclude that Jehovah "wrote" the message and "inspired" me to record it...
"This is Henry, I need help. I'm miserable and poor, lonely and overworked. People who are supposedly my friends are using and abusing me. I think that the course that I've chosen thusfar was based on false hopes set forth by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Please Jehovah, hear my prayer. Please Jehovah, protect me, help me, and show me the truth."
Ironically, sort of, Jehovah showed me the way... out because it is all a load of crap.
Para. 8 was ironic:
They coveted Israel's land and boasted: "Let us take possession of the abiding places of God for ourselves." (Ps. 83: 12) Has something similar been true in our day? Yes!
When you actually look at the Jehovah's Witness message and the individual attitudes, isn't it the Jehovah's Witnesses that covet and boast of taking possession of the abiding places of "the goats" when Jehovah destroys them all at Har-Mageddon? "Ooh, I want that big house on the hill when Jehovah slits all their throats at the Armageddon."
I mean really, what "spiritual paradise" is there that "worldly people" are coveting and boasting about taking away from Jehovah's Witnesses. The Witnesses don't have anything that anyone else wants. So they cite persecution by the Nazis and the communists? How does the fact that they were persecuted make them the truth? The communists were persecuted by the Nazis, and the Nazis were persecuted by the communists. Today there is persecution all around the world in the name of religion. So which group are God's people since they were all persecuted by somebody?
What persecution do Witnesses face today? I can only think of the self-inflicted persecution. Quiting your job if the boss won't let you have a certain meeting night off, that isn't Satanic persecution, that's a personal choice. Someone wishing you "Merry Christmas" isn't persecution, it's a loving gesture. I actually have these "worldly people" come back later and apologize when they remember that I don't celebrate. Sheesh, I've met so many "worldly people" that are so kind and considerate, that I'd rather die with them at Har-Mageddon than watch them be destroyed by "the God of Love" and then have to spend an eternity with the judgmental dubs.
Back on para. 5 is another oddity:
Whatever the case, it is evident that Jehovah God inspired the writing of this prayerful song at a time when his nation was in danger.
I guess this brings up one of those questions that I always fought to ignore when I was a believer. If God was the real author of the Bible, and the humans were merely acting as secretaries, why are so many parts written as plaintive cries from a human in an effort to get God to listen? Like the start of the Psalm supposedly under consideration in the Botchtower:
(Psalm 83:1-3) 83 O God, let there be no silence on your part; Do not keep speechless, and do not stay quiet, O Divine One. 2 For, look! your very enemies are in an uproar; And the very ones intensely hating you have raised [their] head. 3 Against your people they cunningly carry on their confidential talk; And they conspire against your concealed ones. So, God "inspired" the psalmist to write this? Well, I suppose if you read this message, you could equally conclude that Jehovah "wrote" the message and "inspired" me to record it...
"This is Henry, I need help. I'm miserable and poor, lonely and overworked. People who are supposedly my friends are using and abusing me. I think that the course that I've chosen thusfar was based on false hopes set forth by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Please Jehovah, hear my prayer. Please Jehovah, protect me, help me, and show me the truth."
Ironically, sort of, Jehovah showed me the way... out because it is all a load of crap.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Last Book Study Group This Week
Many groups are preparing a party afterwards.
Many Witnesses fear this change and do not understand it, especially the elderly. I think it is the nostalgia factor.
Many of the elderly attend a morning book study because they fear driving at night. There is so much sadness. For decades the Watchtower taught that this meeting was necessary in order to save their lives. All of a sudden, it is not necessary at all.
I really love some of Jehovah's Witnesses. Those who truly believe all the drivel and who feel that they are really serving God.
I deeply loathe the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society who deceives people with its constant changing rules and obligations.
Those who say that they are just imperfect men and that Jehovah used imperfect men in the past are just not getting it. Jehovah is not using the Governing Body and there is no evidence to prove the contrary. Just because they say that Jehovah is using them, does not make it so.
In fact, the evidence points to the fact that he is not using them for anything at all and the Bible condemns their actions!
Many Witnesses fear this change and do not understand it, especially the elderly. I think it is the nostalgia factor.
Many of the elderly attend a morning book study because they fear driving at night. There is so much sadness. For decades the Watchtower taught that this meeting was necessary in order to save their lives. All of a sudden, it is not necessary at all.
I really love some of Jehovah's Witnesses. Those who truly believe all the drivel and who feel that they are really serving God.
I deeply loathe the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society who deceives people with its constant changing rules and obligations.
Those who say that they are just imperfect men and that Jehovah used imperfect men in the past are just not getting it. Jehovah is not using the Governing Body and there is no evidence to prove the contrary. Just because they say that Jehovah is using them, does not make it so.
In fact, the evidence points to the fact that he is not using them for anything at all and the Bible condemns their actions!
Friday, December 19, 2008
From A Former Gilead Graduate
I feel an obligation to tell what I can and be supportive. Of course, my Jehovah's Witness experience, especially the last 3 years of it leading up to Gilead, going to Africa, coming back and resigning from the group, has absolutely drained me to the point that I contribute when I can, but it isn't very much. It is very tiring for me, but also cathartic at the same time to come here and share what I can.
It is in that spirit that I write this now, a desire to demystify Jehovah's Witnesses, those who leave, and the current doctrine that this group teaches, especially for those who are newly investigating this group for their own reasons.
I was in the 119th class of Gilead in 2005. From the time I graduated, it was another year or so before I resigned. In that time, all the pieces came together.
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught and conditioned to respect their visible leaders, even though they pay lip service to Jesus as their leader. I got to see the 'pecking' order, and after I graduated, briefly joined it. My status shot up to an all time high. I was respected, even loved, because I went to Gilead and went to Africa. I thought that would be nice, although when I actually went through it, it really offended me.
Sorry for the above rambling/prelude. The whole point of this is how Jehovah's Witnesses use and understand the bible. You see, on a very fundamental, foundational level, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses don't use the bible the way Jehovah's Witnesses teach it at the door. I learned at Gilead that for the "mature" ones who "dine on solid spiritual food" (i.e. the highly indoctrinated zealots), the bible is all about "Christs brothers". Please note that when the Watchtower says "Christs brothers" they mean the Governing Body. They mean the leadership. They mean, be obediant to us, or you will be diobediant to Jehovah... and his son, whats his name?? Jesus!
It is little wonder that this is the last thing one learns as they start studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. It starts with paradise, living forever, Jehovah, Jesus, living a moral life, loving the congregation, replacing your family with the congregation, THEN, after you have developed some level of infatuation with this group and have undergone a sufficient amount of love bombing, you are introduced to the highly doubtable concepts of congregation authority, how Jehovah mysteriously rules through Jesus and this group of men Jesus inspected in 1918 and found them superior to every other Christian group on the planet.
If you buy it, you want in, you get baptized. But remember, you are still new, still a babe, still "immature". All of this is code for: One who is not ready to really study and accept how the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses use the bible to their own self serving means.
It means you are still a babe to the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses really teach that practically ALL "faithful" Old Testament charecters from Noah and Abraham through Elijah and Elishah and David to Hezekiah are prophetic of the Presidents of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. The one I refer to the most is as an answer to one of the questions on a Gilead test, Elijah prophetically pointed to Judge Rutherford, Elisha pointed to N H Knorr. That is my favorite, that is when I realized I was mislead. But to be fair, Jehovah's Witnesses teach that most all of these characters refer to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Governing Body. )
"Mature" Jehovah's Witnesses is a misnomer. It has nothing to do with maturity. That is code for "willingness to believe whatever you are taught, and to follow whatever the Governing Body says, even if they change back and forth on doctrine in a god-dishonering fasion." Mature ones are impatient with the immature for questioning what they are taught. "Mature" ones become elders, ministerial servants and pioneers more quickly because they blindly obey. To question, especially after any period of time elapsing after baptism, means you are "immature".
Of course, this is all so self serving within the group. Another layer of indoctrination and peer pressure to keep everyone in line. Gilead "taught" me this. I learned that within the Governing Body world view, it is scriptural to simply accept about anything the Watchtower says, but to leave your brother cold and miserable and naked if they disagree with a teaching or doctrine.
I know that there are some who don't and won't believe what I just said. That is their right. There will always be some people who are susceptible to high control groups and cults. But to those who were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses, to those who for some reason accepted and bought a bill of goods that they found wasn't real, they should know the truth about "the truth". They should know how cynically the Bible is used by the leadership of this group to their own ends.
They should know that to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Bible isn't about you. It isn't about Jehovah. It isn't about Jesus. Its all about them, the Governing Body, "Christs brothers", the Faithful and Discreet Slave. It's all about them, for them, and it is a sham. They are as prophetic as dead skin. THAT is what I learned at Gilead. THAT is what the Bible is all about to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses.
It is in that spirit that I write this now, a desire to demystify Jehovah's Witnesses, those who leave, and the current doctrine that this group teaches, especially for those who are newly investigating this group for their own reasons.
I was in the 119th class of Gilead in 2005. From the time I graduated, it was another year or so before I resigned. In that time, all the pieces came together.
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught and conditioned to respect their visible leaders, even though they pay lip service to Jesus as their leader. I got to see the 'pecking' order, and after I graduated, briefly joined it. My status shot up to an all time high. I was respected, even loved, because I went to Gilead and went to Africa. I thought that would be nice, although when I actually went through it, it really offended me.
Sorry for the above rambling/prelude. The whole point of this is how Jehovah's Witnesses use and understand the bible. You see, on a very fundamental, foundational level, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses don't use the bible the way Jehovah's Witnesses teach it at the door. I learned at Gilead that for the "mature" ones who "dine on solid spiritual food" (i.e. the highly indoctrinated zealots), the bible is all about "Christs brothers". Please note that when the Watchtower says "Christs brothers" they mean the Governing Body. They mean the leadership. They mean, be obediant to us, or you will be diobediant to Jehovah... and his son, whats his name?? Jesus!
It is little wonder that this is the last thing one learns as they start studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. It starts with paradise, living forever, Jehovah, Jesus, living a moral life, loving the congregation, replacing your family with the congregation, THEN, after you have developed some level of infatuation with this group and have undergone a sufficient amount of love bombing, you are introduced to the highly doubtable concepts of congregation authority, how Jehovah mysteriously rules through Jesus and this group of men Jesus inspected in 1918 and found them superior to every other Christian group on the planet.
If you buy it, you want in, you get baptized. But remember, you are still new, still a babe, still "immature". All of this is code for: One who is not ready to really study and accept how the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses use the bible to their own self serving means.
It means you are still a babe to the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses really teach that practically ALL "faithful" Old Testament charecters from Noah and Abraham through Elijah and Elishah and David to Hezekiah are prophetic of the Presidents of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. The one I refer to the most is as an answer to one of the questions on a Gilead test, Elijah prophetically pointed to Judge Rutherford, Elisha pointed to N H Knorr. That is my favorite, that is when I realized I was mislead. But to be fair, Jehovah's Witnesses teach that most all of these characters refer to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Governing Body. )
"Mature" Jehovah's Witnesses is a misnomer. It has nothing to do with maturity. That is code for "willingness to believe whatever you are taught, and to follow whatever the Governing Body says, even if they change back and forth on doctrine in a god-dishonering fasion." Mature ones are impatient with the immature for questioning what they are taught. "Mature" ones become elders, ministerial servants and pioneers more quickly because they blindly obey. To question, especially after any period of time elapsing after baptism, means you are "immature".
Of course, this is all so self serving within the group. Another layer of indoctrination and peer pressure to keep everyone in line. Gilead "taught" me this. I learned that within the Governing Body world view, it is scriptural to simply accept about anything the Watchtower says, but to leave your brother cold and miserable and naked if they disagree with a teaching or doctrine.
I know that there are some who don't and won't believe what I just said. That is their right. There will always be some people who are susceptible to high control groups and cults. But to those who were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses, to those who for some reason accepted and bought a bill of goods that they found wasn't real, they should know the truth about "the truth". They should know how cynically the Bible is used by the leadership of this group to their own ends.
They should know that to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Bible isn't about you. It isn't about Jehovah. It isn't about Jesus. Its all about them, the Governing Body, "Christs brothers", the Faithful and Discreet Slave. It's all about them, for them, and it is a sham. They are as prophetic as dead skin. THAT is what I learned at Gilead. THAT is what the Bible is all about to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Field Service Reports
Starting jan 2009, the field service report can be sent until the day 20th of the month, instead of the 6th of each month as it is now. But, like the letter says: "It is not necessary to announce this change to the congregation". Keep the rank and file thinking they are late. LOL.
The new Watchtower Library 2008 will have an additional version for PDAs. But just for Windows Mobile 2003 SE and Pocket PC. It won't work with Windows Mobile Smartphone. Yet, another reason to switch to Mac and iPhone!
PS: And of course I got another letter thanking for our money contributions and asking for more.
The new Watchtower Library 2008 will have an additional version for PDAs. But just for Windows Mobile 2003 SE and Pocket PC. It won't work with Windows Mobile Smartphone. Yet, another reason to switch to Mac and iPhone!
PS: And of course I got another letter thanking for our money contributions and asking for more.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Watchtower Ownership of Millions of Dollars In Property
Properties in brooklyn new york;
Facility near Walkill, NY;
Agricultural Farmland (3-6 Sections) near Walkill, NY;
Educational Center @ Patterson, NY
Branch office properties in Toronto Canada, England, Europe; some parts of Africa; Most of the countries of South America; New Zealand, Austrailia, Indonesia, the Philipines, Japan, and Tiawan.
The watchtower bible and tract society holds title to Notes secured by real estate on tens of thousands of properties as a result of "quick build" kingdom halls and renovations on other similar properties. (aggregate amount of notes estimated in 2004 to be in excess of $11,000,000,000 in the United States alone)
Current estimate of existing market prices would place the value of the notes held in the United States in the neighborhood of $30 to $40 Billion as of 5-13-08
World wide the estimate aggregate value of real estate and debentures held would be in the neighborhood of $300 to $600 Billion. This does not include Owned or subsidized commercial operations. Those would increase that value by 25% to 50% more.
The Watchtower ownership of these properties raises a very simple question. What purpose do these large properties around the world serve? The printing and distribution of literature. This is the main purpose and mission of the organization. It is the continuance of a tradition that started with C.T. Russell. Publishing literature was the sole reason as to why the WTBTS was founded in the first place.
I would have to say that after a century of publishing literature; a membership of six and a half million is paltry. How effective is this publishing and distribution model? Not very much. Think about what could be accomplished if that real estate wealth had been used to utilize television, radio, and internet witnessing. If this is the most important message in all of human history, why aren't more effective methods such as these being used? Because that does not fit into the organization's traditional model: door-to-door distribution of literature.
Ray Franz noted that this tradition of printing and distributing literature has become the benchmark by which the Governing Body measures success. The more printing; the better. The output of literature has been the standard which measures God's blessing on the organization. It is a badge of merit.
You see, most religionists are impressed and moved by what is appealing the eyes; whether it be large ornate temples, huge cathedrals, or the visual presence of the Vatican. Jehovah's Witnesses are no different. They are impressed and wooed by large printing operations and shipping depots. They are moved by large sprawling branch complexes which house the people who operate the printing equipment.
These real estate holdings serve more of a psychological need than a pragmatic one. Just ask yourself one question: if Jesus really did not appoint the Watchtower organization as his eartlhy agent in 1919; what does it mean for all of these billions of dollars worth of printeries and warehouses?
Facility near Walkill, NY;
Agricultural Farmland (3-6 Sections) near Walkill, NY;
Educational Center @ Patterson, NY
Branch office properties in Toronto Canada, England, Europe; some parts of Africa; Most of the countries of South America; New Zealand, Austrailia, Indonesia, the Philipines, Japan, and Tiawan.
The watchtower bible and tract society holds title to Notes secured by real estate on tens of thousands of properties as a result of "quick build" kingdom halls and renovations on other similar properties. (aggregate amount of notes estimated in 2004 to be in excess of $11,000,000,000 in the United States alone)
Current estimate of existing market prices would place the value of the notes held in the United States in the neighborhood of $30 to $40 Billion as of 5-13-08
World wide the estimate aggregate value of real estate and debentures held would be in the neighborhood of $300 to $600 Billion. This does not include Owned or subsidized commercial operations. Those would increase that value by 25% to 50% more.
The Watchtower ownership of these properties raises a very simple question. What purpose do these large properties around the world serve? The printing and distribution of literature. This is the main purpose and mission of the organization. It is the continuance of a tradition that started with C.T. Russell. Publishing literature was the sole reason as to why the WTBTS was founded in the first place.
I would have to say that after a century of publishing literature; a membership of six and a half million is paltry. How effective is this publishing and distribution model? Not very much. Think about what could be accomplished if that real estate wealth had been used to utilize television, radio, and internet witnessing. If this is the most important message in all of human history, why aren't more effective methods such as these being used? Because that does not fit into the organization's traditional model: door-to-door distribution of literature.
Ray Franz noted that this tradition of printing and distributing literature has become the benchmark by which the Governing Body measures success. The more printing; the better. The output of literature has been the standard which measures God's blessing on the organization. It is a badge of merit.
You see, most religionists are impressed and moved by what is appealing the eyes; whether it be large ornate temples, huge cathedrals, or the visual presence of the Vatican. Jehovah's Witnesses are no different. They are impressed and wooed by large printing operations and shipping depots. They are moved by large sprawling branch complexes which house the people who operate the printing equipment.
These real estate holdings serve more of a psychological need than a pragmatic one. Just ask yourself one question: if Jesus really did not appoint the Watchtower organization as his eartlhy agent in 1919; what does it mean for all of these billions of dollars worth of printeries and warehouses?
February 15, 2009 Watchtower
If you havee read the annual report of Jehovah's Witnesses, posted here below, you will see that the numbers of the annointed have been increasing and not decreasing. Then why does paragraph 14 of this article say that the numbers have been decreasing? This is clearly not the case.
Anyway, this entire article is why we should give praise and trust the Governing Body. One of their arguments is that since they have been in existence for over 130 years this means that Jehovah's blessings are with them. If that were true, the cockroach, who has been in existence for millions of years, should be worshipped.
The article is chock full of ridiculous claims that are supposed to make the reader believe that Jehovah God and Jesus trust the Governing Body and we should too. None of the reasons can be proved or even make sense. I can't believe I used to believe this crap, but I am certain that most witnesses will eat this up!
Anyway, this entire article is why we should give praise and trust the Governing Body. One of their arguments is that since they have been in existence for over 130 years this means that Jehovah's blessings are with them. If that were true, the cockroach, who has been in existence for millions of years, should be worshipped.
The article is chock full of ridiculous claims that are supposed to make the reader believe that Jehovah God and Jesus trust the Governing Body and we should too. None of the reasons can be proved or even make sense. I can't believe I used to believe this crap, but I am certain that most witnesses will eat this up!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Churches See Growth During Hard Times
In today's NY Times there is an article on this topic, and here are two quotes:
"Bad times are good for evangelical churches. 'It’s a wonderful time, a great evangelistic opportunity for us,' said the Rev. A. R. Bernard, founder and senior pastor of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York’s largest evangelical congregation, where regulars are arriving earlier to get a seat.
'When people are shaken to the core, it can open doors.'”
Some of these evangelical churches are seeing huge growth - 10 and 20 percent jumps in membership over the past year. Yet the Watchtower organization saw barely the same minimal rate of growth - 2% - that it has been suffering under for a decade or more, and no growth or negative numbers in the first world countries that are suffering the worst from this economic crisis.
I think that says a great deal about the waning appeal of the Witnesses. Even as we're facing the worst financial and business crisis in modern history, no one is seeking out answers or solace from the Watchtower organization, even though billions of hours are spent on recruitment.
"Bad times are good for evangelical churches. 'It’s a wonderful time, a great evangelistic opportunity for us,' said the Rev. A. R. Bernard, founder and senior pastor of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York’s largest evangelical congregation, where regulars are arriving earlier to get a seat.
'When people are shaken to the core, it can open doors.'”
Some of these evangelical churches are seeing huge growth - 10 and 20 percent jumps in membership over the past year. Yet the Watchtower organization saw barely the same minimal rate of growth - 2% - that it has been suffering under for a decade or more, and no growth or negative numbers in the first world countries that are suffering the worst from this economic crisis.
I think that says a great deal about the waning appeal of the Witnesses. Even as we're facing the worst financial and business crisis in modern history, no one is seeking out answers or solace from the Watchtower organization, even though billions of hours are spent on recruitment.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Jehovah's Witnesses Believe In Communicating With The Dead
This is from the Jan 1st 2008 Watchtower - "The First Resurrection Now Under Way ?"
10 Can we say more precisely when the first resurrection begins? An interesting clue is found at Revelation 7:9-15, where the apostle John describes his vision of "a great crowd, which no man was able to number." The identity of that great crowd is revealed to John by one of the 24 elders, and these elders represent the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ in their heavenly glory.* ( Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 4:4 ) John himself had a heavenly hope; but since he was still a man on earth when the elder spoke to him, in the vision John must represent anointed ones on earth who have not yet received their heavenly reward.11 What, then, can we deduce from the fact that one of the 24 elders identifies the great crowd to John? It seems that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today. Why is that important? Because the correct identity of the great crowd was revealed to God's anointed servants on earth in 1935. If one of the 24 elders was used to convey that important truth, he would have had to be resurrected to heaven by 1935 at the latest. That would indicate that the first resurrection began sometime between 1914 and 1935. Can we be more precise?* For information on how we know that the 24 elders represent anointed Christians in their heavenly position, see Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! page 77, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
The real reason why this is important, is nothing to do with 1935 - it has to do with the demotion of the anointed to a group with "no special insight" and the promotion (or reaffirmation) of the Governing Body to having inside info from the dead!
Communication with the dead has always been a part of the Watchtower religion:
Clayton Woodworth claimed that Pastor Russell was still directing the Watchtower Society from beyond the grave:
"Pastor Russell was a man of unusual modesty. Great men usually are modest. The examination of the contents of this book will disclose the fact ... that the earthly creature made prominent therein above all others is the messenger of the Laodicean Church -- 'that wise and faithful servant of the Lord' -- CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL. ...[T]hough Pastor Russell has passed beyond the veil, he is still managing every feature of the Harvest work. 'The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as His channel through which to make known the Glad Tidings' " (Finished Mystery, 1917, pp. 5, 144).
But after Rutherford died, Woodworth denied believing the same thing with respect to him:
"Q. Do you subscribe to the doctrine that Mr. Rutherford is still supervising this organization? A. That Mr. Rutherford is still supervising this organization? Q. Yes. May I just supplement that and ask you if you agree with this doctrine as put forth by the Society, and correct me if I misstate it, as to the resurrection. A. I believe that Mr. Rutherford has been resurrected, but as far as his having control over the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, that would be silly" (Moyle Trial Transcript, 5/21/1943, p. 963).
It's good to know that there were still a few things that Woodworth found too "silly" to believe, even if it happens to be something he had believed earlier.
10 Can we say more precisely when the first resurrection begins? An interesting clue is found at Revelation 7:9-15, where the apostle John describes his vision of "a great crowd, which no man was able to number." The identity of that great crowd is revealed to John by one of the 24 elders, and these elders represent the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ in their heavenly glory.* ( Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 4:4 ) John himself had a heavenly hope; but since he was still a man on earth when the elder spoke to him, in the vision John must represent anointed ones on earth who have not yet received their heavenly reward.11 What, then, can we deduce from the fact that one of the 24 elders identifies the great crowd to John? It seems that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today. Why is that important? Because the correct identity of the great crowd was revealed to God's anointed servants on earth in 1935. If one of the 24 elders was used to convey that important truth, he would have had to be resurrected to heaven by 1935 at the latest. That would indicate that the first resurrection began sometime between 1914 and 1935. Can we be more precise?* For information on how we know that the 24 elders represent anointed Christians in their heavenly position, see Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! page 77, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
The real reason why this is important, is nothing to do with 1935 - it has to do with the demotion of the anointed to a group with "no special insight" and the promotion (or reaffirmation) of the Governing Body to having inside info from the dead!
Communication with the dead has always been a part of the Watchtower religion:
Clayton Woodworth claimed that Pastor Russell was still directing the Watchtower Society from beyond the grave:
"Pastor Russell was a man of unusual modesty. Great men usually are modest. The examination of the contents of this book will disclose the fact ... that the earthly creature made prominent therein above all others is the messenger of the Laodicean Church -- 'that wise and faithful servant of the Lord' -- CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL. ...[T]hough Pastor Russell has passed beyond the veil, he is still managing every feature of the Harvest work. 'The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as His channel through which to make known the Glad Tidings' " (Finished Mystery, 1917, pp. 5, 144).
But after Rutherford died, Woodworth denied believing the same thing with respect to him:
"Q. Do you subscribe to the doctrine that Mr. Rutherford is still supervising this organization? A. That Mr. Rutherford is still supervising this organization? Q. Yes. May I just supplement that and ask you if you agree with this doctrine as put forth by the Society, and correct me if I misstate it, as to the resurrection. A. I believe that Mr. Rutherford has been resurrected, but as far as his having control over the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, that would be silly" (Moyle Trial Transcript, 5/21/1943, p. 963).
It's good to know that there were still a few things that Woodworth found too "silly" to believe, even if it happens to be something he had believed earlier.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
2008 Annual Report of Jehovah's Witnesses
For those who are interested, here is a link to the 2008 Annual Report.
http://www.4shared.com/file/75568905/6c852737/2008_Annual_Report.html
http://www.4shared.com/file/75568905/6c852737/2008_Annual_Report.html
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Letter From A Jehovah's Witness
A must read. http://newsblaze.com/story/20081209054218zzzz.nb/topstory.html
From a "non apostate" news board.
From a "non apostate" news board.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Announcement From Former Bethelites Regarding Abuse Cases
We're happy to announce that now all 5,000 pages of court records from the nine child sexual abuse lawsuits involving sixteen victims, settled by Watchtower in February 2007, are available for FREE download from our website, www.watchtowerdocuments.com.
There are a total of twelve files, besides a file containing a commentary explaining the lawsuits, and each file can be downloaded separately. Due to the fact that many people purchased the CD, "Secrets of Pedophilia in an American Religion," thus, reimbursing us for the expense to buy, compile and publish the court documents, there is now no reason to sell the material anymore. Thank you everybody who purchased the CD for you made it possible for these papers to be distributed throughout the world without any cost involved. We've left the CD for sale through Lulu for those who want to buy the professional-looking CD, but we expect the majority of people who are interested in this important information will probably download the files.
Never underestimate what some damning statement found in these court records will do to help some to think seriously about Watchtower's responsibility for making it possible that more children be molested by a JW pedophile because he was not reported to the police by Watchtower supervisors the first time he was accused.
For instance, in the TIM W. vs. Watchtower lawsuit, Watchtower records given to plaintiff's attorney during discovery show that between 1963 and 1993 (when elder/city overseer/pedophile, James Henderson's abuse of plaintiff Tim W. began), Watchtower had FIVE TIMES received reports from JW congregations that Henderson had committed sexual crimes. Merton Campbell, the Service Department's desk man in charge of California, who appointed elders and ministerial servants, appointed and reappointed Henderson again and again to positions of authority within Witness congregations after he would be removed for sexual abuse.
If any website owners want to advertise that these court records are available for free download, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, feel free to put all the lawsuit files and/or the commentary on your website.
Please pass the word that all court records from the "Secrets" CD can be downloaded for free from www.watchtowerdocuments.com
Barbara and Joe
Note: So now you can read for yourselves, to see what is true and what is not true.
There are a total of twelve files, besides a file containing a commentary explaining the lawsuits, and each file can be downloaded separately. Due to the fact that many people purchased the CD, "Secrets of Pedophilia in an American Religion," thus, reimbursing us for the expense to buy, compile and publish the court documents, there is now no reason to sell the material anymore. Thank you everybody who purchased the CD for you made it possible for these papers to be distributed throughout the world without any cost involved. We've left the CD for sale through Lulu for those who want to buy the professional-looking CD, but we expect the majority of people who are interested in this important information will probably download the files.
Never underestimate what some damning statement found in these court records will do to help some to think seriously about Watchtower's responsibility for making it possible that more children be molested by a JW pedophile because he was not reported to the police by Watchtower supervisors the first time he was accused.
For instance, in the TIM W. vs. Watchtower lawsuit, Watchtower records given to plaintiff's attorney during discovery show that between 1963 and 1993 (when elder/city overseer/pedophile, James Henderson's abuse of plaintiff Tim W. began), Watchtower had FIVE TIMES received reports from JW congregations that Henderson had committed sexual crimes. Merton Campbell, the Service Department's desk man in charge of California, who appointed elders and ministerial servants, appointed and reappointed Henderson again and again to positions of authority within Witness congregations after he would be removed for sexual abuse.
If any website owners want to advertise that these court records are available for free download, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, feel free to put all the lawsuit files and/or the commentary on your website.
Please pass the word that all court records from the "Secrets" CD can be downloaded for free from www.watchtowerdocuments.com
Barbara and Joe
Note: So now you can read for yourselves, to see what is true and what is not true.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Kingdom Ministry News
I just saw a copy of the January 2009 Kingdom Ministry. The whole look has been revamped and redesigned. It looks like an old Watchtower magazine.
Also, according to a report on the German XJW-board: http://forum.sektenausstieg.net/index.php?topic=13367.msg391400#msg391400 the German Kingdom Ministry for February 2009 does not contain a supplement with the publisher figures.
Furthermore, it does not contain the monthly report for the first month of the service year 2009 (Sep 08) as it used to for the past sixty years.
This may indicate that the Watchtower is not being transparent with their publishers numbers anymore. Maybe they just moved the figures to another month.
I don't know. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Also, according to a report on the German XJW-board: http://forum.sektenausstieg.net/index.php?topic=13367.msg391400#msg391400 the German Kingdom Ministry for February 2009 does not contain a supplement with the publisher figures.
Furthermore, it does not contain the monthly report for the first month of the service year 2009 (Sep 08) as it used to for the past sixty years.
This may indicate that the Watchtower is not being transparent with their publishers numbers anymore. Maybe they just moved the figures to another month.
I don't know. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Christmas Greetings From The Watchtower Buble and Tract Society
Here are scans of several pages from the Watch Tower and Golden Age magazines (1908-1926) for Christmas. These, of course, are from when the JWs celebrated Christmas and are very pro-Christmas. The file, about 4.5 MB, can be downloaded from:
http://www.filesend.net/download.php?f=8f7dae9a1077954b1728568a9dc71093
Christmas Greetings from the Watch Tower and the Golden Age!
I believe the last Bethel Christmas was 1926 and they stopped celebrating Christmas soon afterwards. How they passed the "spiritual inspection" in 1918 though they were still celebrating Christmas (and did so for many years afterwards) never made sense to me.
Two things in the file particularly stand out to me. The first is how the Bible Students (as JWs were called then) would personally deliver Christmas gifts back then. The ads from the Golden Age state that one could wire their Christmas order to Brooklyn and then headquarters would have the local congregation make the delivery of that order (one of their publications) as a Christmas present just in time. The second thing that stands out to me is the story of how the Christmas spirit overtook the Judge and the other Bible Students in the Atlanta penitentiary. The Feb 15, 1919 WT tells how the Bible Students showered JFR and the others Bible Students with many Christmas presents. There were several other inmates who did not have anything for Christmas, so the 8 Bible Students in prison distributed presents to those who had nothing for Christmas! A rather touching story, actually.
http://www.filesend.net/download.php?f=8f7dae9a1077954b1728568a9dc71093
Christmas Greetings from the Watch Tower and the Golden Age!
I believe the last Bethel Christmas was 1926 and they stopped celebrating Christmas soon afterwards. How they passed the "spiritual inspection" in 1918 though they were still celebrating Christmas (and did so for many years afterwards) never made sense to me.
Two things in the file particularly stand out to me. The first is how the Bible Students (as JWs were called then) would personally deliver Christmas gifts back then. The ads from the Golden Age state that one could wire their Christmas order to Brooklyn and then headquarters would have the local congregation make the delivery of that order (one of their publications) as a Christmas present just in time. The second thing that stands out to me is the story of how the Christmas spirit overtook the Judge and the other Bible Students in the Atlanta penitentiary. The Feb 15, 1919 WT tells how the Bible Students showered JFR and the others Bible Students with many Christmas presents. There were several other inmates who did not have anything for Christmas, so the 8 Bible Students in prison distributed presents to those who had nothing for Christmas! A rather touching story, actually.
The New York Times Reported That Charles Russell Had An Affair
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D07E6DA1031E733A25752C0A9649C946897D6CF
A CHURCH FOR ALL CREEDS.; Man Called a "Jelly Fish" in Wife's Suit Starts New Movement.
February 1, 1909, Monday
Page 8, 799 words
The new undenominational religious movement, which "Pastor" Charles T. Russell explained last week in an open letter to ministers and Bible students of the city, began in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon in the old Plymouth-Bethel Church at 17 Hicks Street. This is the building where Henry Ward Beecher conducted missions.
A CHURCH FOR ALL CREEDS.; Man Called a "Jelly Fish" in Wife's Suit Starts New Movement.
February 1, 1909, Monday
Page 8, 799 words
The new undenominational religious movement, which "Pastor" Charles T. Russell explained last week in an open letter to ministers and Bible students of the city, began in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon in the old Plymouth-Bethel Church at 17 Hicks Street. This is the building where Henry Ward Beecher conducted missions.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Watchtower And The Old Testament
Has anyone ever noticed how the Watchtower Society or individual Witnesses always use Old Testament / Old Covenant analogies in support of the modern day organizational authority structure? This is known as using a "false analogy".
It is not a coincidence that virtually every cult-like pseudo-Christian group uses them to enforce its man made authority structure.
First of all, the Old Covenant with its structure of authority and worship was done away with when Christ ushered in the New Covenant. The New Testament repeatedly refers to Jesus as the one and only high priest. It also states that there is only one head of the congregation - Christ Jesus; not a ruling body of ten men.
One thing that is absolutely clear and unambiguous in the New Testament, is that there is no longer any kind of temple / priesthood arrangement mediating between people and God. The Scriptures are crystal clear in referring to Jesus as the one and only mediator. There is only one mediator; not 144,000.
What was also done away with was the Talmud under which the Jews were subject. The system of Talmudic legalism (where the Pharisees tacked on countless additional "laws" and rulings to established Scripture) was rebuked by Jesus and the Apostles. This form of worship was referred to as "burdensome".
Legalism was a reoccurring problem in the newly formed Christian congregations in the first century. Men continuously attempted to go beyond the Scriptures and enforce their own human laws, standards, and rules under the guise of "pure worship". One only has to read the book of Galatians to see that Paul was quite blunt and forceful in his rebuking this kind of attitude.
We also see throughout the writings of Paul (most notably in the book of Galatians) that he invalidated the Watchtower’s modern day concept of a centralized Governing Body. Raymond Franz wrote an entire chapter in his book In Search of Christian Freedom explaining (Scripturally) the fallacy of centralized ruling bodies of men.
The Watchtower likes to continuously use Old Covenant analogies because on the surface, they seem logical and applicable, and Scriptural. But, Christians are no longer under that kind of arrangement. The Christian congregation is not under any kind of human mediatorship or priesthood.
When any group repeatedly uses Old Testament / Old Covenant analogies to promote or rationalize their authoritarian / legalistic power structure; they are guilty of using false analogies, logical fallacies, sophistry, and mind control. All of this rhetoric stems from intellectual dishonesty, delusions of grandeur, spiritual elitism, and arrogance.
It is not a coincidence that virtually every cult-like pseudo-Christian group uses them to enforce its man made authority structure.
First of all, the Old Covenant with its structure of authority and worship was done away with when Christ ushered in the New Covenant. The New Testament repeatedly refers to Jesus as the one and only high priest. It also states that there is only one head of the congregation - Christ Jesus; not a ruling body of ten men.
One thing that is absolutely clear and unambiguous in the New Testament, is that there is no longer any kind of temple / priesthood arrangement mediating between people and God. The Scriptures are crystal clear in referring to Jesus as the one and only mediator. There is only one mediator; not 144,000.
What was also done away with was the Talmud under which the Jews were subject. The system of Talmudic legalism (where the Pharisees tacked on countless additional "laws" and rulings to established Scripture) was rebuked by Jesus and the Apostles. This form of worship was referred to as "burdensome".
Legalism was a reoccurring problem in the newly formed Christian congregations in the first century. Men continuously attempted to go beyond the Scriptures and enforce their own human laws, standards, and rules under the guise of "pure worship". One only has to read the book of Galatians to see that Paul was quite blunt and forceful in his rebuking this kind of attitude.
We also see throughout the writings of Paul (most notably in the book of Galatians) that he invalidated the Watchtower’s modern day concept of a centralized Governing Body. Raymond Franz wrote an entire chapter in his book In Search of Christian Freedom explaining (Scripturally) the fallacy of centralized ruling bodies of men.
The Watchtower likes to continuously use Old Covenant analogies because on the surface, they seem logical and applicable, and Scriptural. But, Christians are no longer under that kind of arrangement. The Christian congregation is not under any kind of human mediatorship or priesthood.
When any group repeatedly uses Old Testament / Old Covenant analogies to promote or rationalize their authoritarian / legalistic power structure; they are guilty of using false analogies, logical fallacies, sophistry, and mind control. All of this rhetoric stems from intellectual dishonesty, delusions of grandeur, spiritual elitism, and arrogance.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
De Judge hated Christmas!
The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
It could be, perhaps, that his underwear was to tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
But, whatever the reason,
His heart or the booze,
He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating more than the Jews,
Staring down from his thone with a sour, drunken frown
At the warm lighted windows were aglow in the town.
For he knew every Dub down in Dub-ville beneath
Was busy now, hanging a mistleoe wreath.
"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer.
"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his fat fingers nervously drumming,
"I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"
The more de Judge thought, "I must stop this whole thing!
"Why for fifty-three years I've put up with it now!
I MUST stop Christmas from coming!
...But HOW?"
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE JUDGE GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
"I know just what to do!" de Judge croaked like a pigeon;
'I'll make the whole Christmas season, from pagan origin!'
he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great nifty trick!
"With the bible and booze, I'll just look like a prick!"
"All I need is a scripture..."
de Judge looked in The Book.
But he couldn't find nothing, the senile old crook.
Did that stop the old goat?
NO! The Judge simply said,
"If I can't find a reason, I'll make one instead!"
So he wrote in the Watchtower
"Christmas is bad!
If you keep celebrating
You'll make Jesus mad!"
THEN
He went with his spies
To observe all their deeds
Or if everyone out there
Would now listen and heed.
Then de Judge said, "Let's go!"
And the limo started down
Toward the homes where the Dubs
Lay a-snooze in their town.
When he came to the first little house on the square.
"This is stop number one," the old bastard declared;
And he took out his camera in his fat little fist;
And a pen and a paper to start up his list.
And what sight did greet him
The grumpy jack ass?
Not a wreath, or a candle, only silence en mass.
He got out of the car; rather hard for a pudge.
But, if Adolf could do it, then so could de Judge.
He got stuck only once, for a moment or two.
But his driver, with glee, kicked his ass with his shoe.
Then he drank and plotted, with an air that he'd won,
And decided to ban every day that was fun.
Mother's Day! Father's Day, and also Thanksgivin'
Were now on the books as of pagan origin.
But he went by some new converted Dub's place;
And saw in the window, a little girl's face;
Alone and so sad now he took all their fun
But de Judge didn't see anything wrong that he'd done.
He figured he'd probably save them a ton;
By banning everything in life that was fun;
‘No toys, no bikes' he grinned with a hiss;
‘Now they can spend all their time
Out in Field Ser-vice.
He stayed there the night;
To see what they'd do
They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming!
"BOO-HOO-HOO!
But the Dubs woke up early;
And sang Christmas carolls;
With all of their children;
Ted, Larry and Daryll.
And de Judge, with his heart made of snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
Then he drank from his bottle, then drank even more.
Then the Judge thought of something he hadn't before.
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
And what happened then...?
Well...in Dub-ville they say
That de Judge's small heart
Shrank three sizes that day!
He had them all axed
From the ones they loved most;
To their family and friends;
They were now just a ghost.
Yes, welcome, welcome
One and all;
To the nightmare that is
the Kingdom Hall.
Note: Dub = Witnesses
These Freaks Seem To Be Everywhere Nowadays
http://www.theage.com.au/national/jail-for-dj-caught-in-child-porn-sting-20081203-6qo7.html
A MELBOURNE disc jockey who downloaded 227,411 pornographic images of children, some as young as five, has been jailed after being caught up in an Interpol investigation.
The County Court heard that Andrew Van Rossum, 34, became "addicted to child pornography to escape reality'' and had formed a belief that real people were not involved.
Judge Caroline Douglas ordered that he serve 20 months in jail immediately and then be released on a good behaviour order for 16 months.
In passing sentence she said the massive collection of pornography "condoned the exploitation of children by adults, which is unacceptable in a civilised society''.
"I have no explanation why you were sexually aroused by the images of children, some as young as five,'' she said.
The court was told that Van Rossum, a father of two, had become depressed after the failure of business enterprises, had started drinking heavily and became addicted to child pornography. He came to the attention of the Australian Federal Police Online Child Exploitation Team in August 2007 when Interpol in Austria revealed that he was one of 78 Australians identified as downloading child pornography. More than 6000 were identified worldwide.
Australian investigations revealed that in October 2007, while in a chatroom and talking to "pedo11111'' he had sent 137 pornographic images of children and received 133 through a sharing program. He later sent 317 images to the same man and received 57.
Police discovered a list of exchanges with others, numbering in the thousands.
The Jehovah's Witness, who pleaded guilty to the child pornography charges sat stern-faced as Judge Douglas went through his crimes. Police investigators raided his Clayton South home in December 2007 discovering a stash of child pornography, which he had collected over three years.
Judge Douglas said he would have continued offending if not for the intervention of the federal police.
A MELBOURNE disc jockey who downloaded 227,411 pornographic images of children, some as young as five, has been jailed after being caught up in an Interpol investigation.
The County Court heard that Andrew Van Rossum, 34, became "addicted to child pornography to escape reality'' and had formed a belief that real people were not involved.
Judge Caroline Douglas ordered that he serve 20 months in jail immediately and then be released on a good behaviour order for 16 months.
In passing sentence she said the massive collection of pornography "condoned the exploitation of children by adults, which is unacceptable in a civilised society''.
"I have no explanation why you were sexually aroused by the images of children, some as young as five,'' she said.
The court was told that Van Rossum, a father of two, had become depressed after the failure of business enterprises, had started drinking heavily and became addicted to child pornography. He came to the attention of the Australian Federal Police Online Child Exploitation Team in August 2007 when Interpol in Austria revealed that he was one of 78 Australians identified as downloading child pornography. More than 6000 were identified worldwide.
Australian investigations revealed that in October 2007, while in a chatroom and talking to "pedo11111'' he had sent 137 pornographic images of children and received 133 through a sharing program. He later sent 317 images to the same man and received 57.
Police discovered a list of exchanges with others, numbering in the thousands.
The Jehovah's Witness, who pleaded guilty to the child pornography charges sat stern-faced as Judge Douglas went through his crimes. Police investigators raided his Clayton South home in December 2007 discovering a stash of child pornography, which he had collected over three years.
Judge Douglas said he would have continued offending if not for the intervention of the federal police.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Brother Prince, A Fine Moral Example
Now that Prince is starting a Bible study with the rest of the world, we will most likely not need all the other complicated explanations about the Bible and life. This is the truth!!
Prince at home in L.A.
By Kevin Roderick
Prince has lived in Los Angeles since last spring — that is, if you consider the rarefied gated nouveau complex of Beverly Park to be part of the real L.A. Writer Claire Hoffman visited the musician and Jehovah's Witness at home for The New Yorker and they got to talking about Hollywood, the Bible and gay marriage.
Inside, the place was done up in a generic Mediterranean style, although there were personal flourishes here and there—a Lucite grand piano with a gold-colored “Artist Formerly Known as Prince” symbol suspended over it, purple paisley pillows on a couch. Candles scented the air, and New Age music played in the living room, where a TV screen showed images of bearded men playing flutes. Prince padded into the kitchen, a small fifty-year-old man in yoga pants and a big sweater, wearing platform flip-flops over white socks, like a geisha....
Limping slightly, Prince set off on a walk around his new bachelor pad. Glass doors opened onto acres of back yard, and a hot tub bubbled in the sunlight. “I have a lot of parties,” he explained. In the living room, he’d installed purple thrones on either side of a fireplace, and, nearby, along a hallway, he had hung photographs of himself, in a Moroccan villa, in various states of undress. At the end of the hall, a gauzy curtain fluttered in a doorway. “My room,” he said. “It’s private.”
Seven years ago, he became a Jehovah’s Witness. He said that he had moved to L.A. so that he could understand the hearts and minds of the music moguls. “I wanted to be around people, connected to people, for work,” he said. “You know, it’s all about religion. That’s what unites people here. They all have the same religion, so I wanted to sit down with them, to understand the way they see things, how they read Scripture."
Recently, Prince hosted an executive who works for Philip Anschutz, the Christian businessman whose company owns the Staples Center. “We started talking red and blue,” Prince said. “People with money—money like that—are not affected by the stock market, and they’re not freaking out over anything. They’re just watching. So here’s how it is: you’ve got the Republicans, and basically they want to live according to this.” He pointed to a Bible. “But there’s the problem of interpretation, and you’ve got some churches, some people, basically doing things and saying it comes from here, but it doesn’t. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.”
When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”
http://www.laobserved.com:80/archive/2008/11/prince_at_home_in_la.php
Prince at home in L.A.
By Kevin Roderick
Prince has lived in Los Angeles since last spring — that is, if you consider the rarefied gated nouveau complex of Beverly Park to be part of the real L.A. Writer Claire Hoffman visited the musician and Jehovah's Witness at home for The New Yorker and they got to talking about Hollywood, the Bible and gay marriage.
Inside, the place was done up in a generic Mediterranean style, although there were personal flourishes here and there—a Lucite grand piano with a gold-colored “Artist Formerly Known as Prince” symbol suspended over it, purple paisley pillows on a couch. Candles scented the air, and New Age music played in the living room, where a TV screen showed images of bearded men playing flutes. Prince padded into the kitchen, a small fifty-year-old man in yoga pants and a big sweater, wearing platform flip-flops over white socks, like a geisha....
Limping slightly, Prince set off on a walk around his new bachelor pad. Glass doors opened onto acres of back yard, and a hot tub bubbled in the sunlight. “I have a lot of parties,” he explained. In the living room, he’d installed purple thrones on either side of a fireplace, and, nearby, along a hallway, he had hung photographs of himself, in a Moroccan villa, in various states of undress. At the end of the hall, a gauzy curtain fluttered in a doorway. “My room,” he said. “It’s private.”
Seven years ago, he became a Jehovah’s Witness. He said that he had moved to L.A. so that he could understand the hearts and minds of the music moguls. “I wanted to be around people, connected to people, for work,” he said. “You know, it’s all about religion. That’s what unites people here. They all have the same religion, so I wanted to sit down with them, to understand the way they see things, how they read Scripture."
Recently, Prince hosted an executive who works for Philip Anschutz, the Christian businessman whose company owns the Staples Center. “We started talking red and blue,” Prince said. “People with money—money like that—are not affected by the stock market, and they’re not freaking out over anything. They’re just watching. So here’s how it is: you’ve got the Republicans, and basically they want to live according to this.” He pointed to a Bible. “But there’s the problem of interpretation, and you’ve got some churches, some people, basically doing things and saying it comes from here, but it doesn’t. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.”
When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”
http://www.laobserved.com:80/archive/2008/11/prince_at_home_in_la.php
Monday, November 24, 2008
2008 Thanksgiving Menu At Bethel
New World Diner
Welcome to NEW WORLD FOOD and "SPIRITS"
(a NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION for the FAITHFUL & DISCREET DINER
ENTREES
Shrimp Creole
Trinitarian Roast with Great crowd gravy
Torture Steak with Awake! flavor enhancer
Governing Body Kabobs (with real meat, in due season, of course!
Jehovah Gyros
Filet of No Sole
Chicken ala Kingdom
Elder Burgers
Wild Beast Stew
Gilead Goulash
Book Study Surprise
Good News Bologna
Last Days Lasagna
Millennium Bean" Cassoulette
Baked and Basted Crow
APPETIZERS
Society Soup
Little "g" Salad (with 144,000 Island Dressing and Christendom Croutons
Big "G" Salad (with Headquarters Cheese and Anointed Salad Dressing
Evil Slave Salad with End of the World Salad Dressing
District hors'douvres
No Hell Hummus
Je-hoagies
SIDE DISHES
Russell Potato Chips
Rutherford Rolls (Royce)
No Cross Buns made with Miracle Wheat
Franz Fries
Retried Human Beans
Spicy Gehenna Chili
Passed Over Memorial Bread
Leo Greenpeas
Field Ministry Fondue
Ministerial serviettes
Territorial Toast with UN Jam
Rank & File Weenies
Lake of Fire chili
DESSERTS
Pioneer Upside-down Cake
Arch Angels Food Cake
Beth Sarim Ice Cream: 3 flavors: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Apostate Pops
Pagan Pudding
Date Bread Surprise
Prophet in a Sense Cakes
Everlasting Life Cookies
Humble Pie
Ministry melon wedges
Partaker's Pumpernickel
Holy Spirit Spumoni
Marshmallows (for toasting in the fires of destruction)
Antichrist cheesecake
BEVERAGES
1925 Shun Shine Punch
1914 Watchtower Rose'
New Light Beer
Life's Water Free
Babylon the Grape juice
"Elderberry" wine
Vengeance is Lime mojitos
All meals must be worked for and no grace is accepted. We will furnish each person with unlimited "truth" picks when brushing is not convenient.
Hope you can come!
Welcome to NEW WORLD FOOD and "SPIRITS"
(a NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION for the FAITHFUL & DISCREET DINER
ENTREES
Shrimp Creole
Trinitarian Roast with Great crowd gravy
Torture Steak with Awake! flavor enhancer
Governing Body Kabobs (with real meat, in due season, of course!
Jehovah Gyros
Filet of No Sole
Chicken ala Kingdom
Elder Burgers
Wild Beast Stew
Gilead Goulash
Book Study Surprise
Good News Bologna
Last Days Lasagna
Millennium Bean" Cassoulette
Baked and Basted Crow
APPETIZERS
Society Soup
Little "g" Salad (with 144,000 Island Dressing and Christendom Croutons
Big "G" Salad (with Headquarters Cheese and Anointed Salad Dressing
Evil Slave Salad with End of the World Salad Dressing
District hors'douvres
No Hell Hummus
Je-hoagies
SIDE DISHES
Russell Potato Chips
Rutherford Rolls (Royce)
No Cross Buns made with Miracle Wheat
Franz Fries
Retried Human Beans
Spicy Gehenna Chili
Passed Over Memorial Bread
Leo Greenpeas
Field Ministry Fondue
Ministerial serviettes
Territorial Toast with UN Jam
Rank & File Weenies
Lake of Fire chili
DESSERTS
Pioneer Upside-down Cake
Arch Angels Food Cake
Beth Sarim Ice Cream: 3 flavors: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Apostate Pops
Pagan Pudding
Date Bread Surprise
Prophet in a Sense Cakes
Everlasting Life Cookies
Humble Pie
Ministry melon wedges
Partaker's Pumpernickel
Holy Spirit Spumoni
Marshmallows (for toasting in the fires of destruction)
Antichrist cheesecake
BEVERAGES
1925 Shun Shine Punch
1914 Watchtower Rose'
New Light Beer
Life's Water Free
Babylon the Grape juice
"Elderberry" wine
Vengeance is Lime mojitos
All meals must be worked for and no grace is accepted. We will furnish each person with unlimited "truth" picks when brushing is not convenient.
Hope you can come!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Posting Of Personal Information
A small minded, apparently disgruntled Jehovah's Witnesses, insists on posting someone's personal information on this blog. That information includes name, address and telephone number, something that really does not need to be seen by anyone and does not belong on a public blog.
Perhaps this person feels that this information will embarrass someone or cause them to quit posting on this blog. I assure you this will not happen.
Perhaps you posted the information so that you and your immature friends can gloat over how you can use the internet to find names and addresses.
Perhaps you intend to forward the information to the Watchtower so that they can punish the person involved.
Or, perhaps, just perhaps, you feel that you did it for Jehovah. And that because of your efforts he will reward you with "Everlasting Life."
Well, good luck with that!
In any event, I am asking that you please try and refrain yourself from posting personal information about anyone.
Thank you.
Perhaps this person feels that this information will embarrass someone or cause them to quit posting on this blog. I assure you this will not happen.
Perhaps you posted the information so that you and your immature friends can gloat over how you can use the internet to find names and addresses.
Perhaps you intend to forward the information to the Watchtower so that they can punish the person involved.
Or, perhaps, just perhaps, you feel that you did it for Jehovah. And that because of your efforts he will reward you with "Everlasting Life."
Well, good luck with that!
In any event, I am asking that you please try and refrain yourself from posting personal information about anyone.
Thank you.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Disgusting Sexual Postings
Hello Everyone,
I just noticed a very disgusting post regarding something called "Fisting" that has been up for a few days. As soon as I saw it, I deleted it.
If the poster of this disgusting comment feels that this subject is so important to christians, I suggest that he send this to the Governing Body for their comments.
If anyone sees any other disgusting posts of a sexual nature, I ask that you please email me at once at whitepatentleather@gmail.com and I will remove it immediately.
I am not a prude and some sexual discussions are beneficial, but this posting just crossed the line.
Thank you.
I just noticed a very disgusting post regarding something called "Fisting" that has been up for a few days. As soon as I saw it, I deleted it.
If the poster of this disgusting comment feels that this subject is so important to christians, I suggest that he send this to the Governing Body for their comments.
If anyone sees any other disgusting posts of a sexual nature, I ask that you please email me at once at whitepatentleather@gmail.com and I will remove it immediately.
I am not a prude and some sexual discussions are beneficial, but this posting just crossed the line.
Thank you.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Roller Coaster Ride of Blood Fractions
"Certain blood fractions, particularly albumin, also come under the Scriptural ban." {AWAKE Sep 8 1956 20} [The ban dating from 1945, though albumin has many other sources.]
The prohibition against blood fractions was then reversed, allowing it in Watchtower Sep 15 1958, 575. Then banned again in Watchtower Sep 15 1961, 557. Then allowed again in Watchtower Nov 1 1961, 669-70. Then banned yet again with "Any fraction of blood considered as a nutrient not to be used in medical treatment" in Watchtower Feb 15 1963 123-4.
Then partially reversed in AWAKE Aug 22 1965 18. But AWAKE Feb 22 1975, 30 may have reimposed it. Then grudgingly allowed for haemophiliacs in Watchtower Jun 15 1978, 20 and expanded on in BSYL 27.
Finally, and many deaths later, came in 1982 "Witness religious understanding does not absolutely prohibit the use of components such as albumin, immune globulins, and hemophiliac preparations; each Witness must decide individually if he can accept these." {AWAKE Jun 22 1982, 25}? Also read Watchtower Jun 1 1990, 30, Watchtower Aug 15 1990, 29, WT Oct 1 1994 31, AWAKE Nov 8 1996, 30 for concessions and further rules]
The prohibition against blood fractions was then reversed, allowing it in Watchtower Sep 15 1958, 575. Then banned again in Watchtower Sep 15 1961, 557. Then allowed again in Watchtower Nov 1 1961, 669-70. Then banned yet again with "Any fraction of blood considered as a nutrient not to be used in medical treatment" in Watchtower Feb 15 1963 123-4.
Then partially reversed in AWAKE Aug 22 1965 18. But AWAKE Feb 22 1975, 30 may have reimposed it. Then grudgingly allowed for haemophiliacs in Watchtower Jun 15 1978, 20 and expanded on in BSYL 27.
Finally, and many deaths later, came in 1982 "Witness religious understanding does not absolutely prohibit the use of components such as albumin, immune globulins, and hemophiliac preparations; each Witness must decide individually if he can accept these." {AWAKE Jun 22 1982, 25}? Also read Watchtower Jun 1 1990, 30, Watchtower Aug 15 1990, 29, WT Oct 1 1994 31, AWAKE Nov 8 1996, 30 for concessions and further rules]
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Points For Jehovah's Witnesses To Ponder Regarding Blood Transfusions
1- Would you allow your own family members to die for not accepting a blood transfusion? Remember that this policy has been changed though the years and it was not always taught. In addition this policy comes from an organization with many similar messed-up policies? So would you trust them and let your loved one die or allow them to live?
2- If it was illegal to steal an entire automobile, would it then be legal to just steal parts of that same car? Why would this same analogy not apply to Watchtower and Blood Fractions?
3- Even though Jesus' sermon on the mount covered a vast array of subjects on what is not acceptable, why was blood not listed even one time? Why did not Jesus just say, "No blood at all, in any circumstances whether animal or human for any purpose anywhere for all time? If this was so important don't you think it would have been mentioned? But he never said anything like that, anywhere.
4- Paul also had numerous warnings for Christians. But blood is was not one of them and is mentioned nowhere. Why not? Jesus a;sp had numerous warnings, but no where was blood mentioned.
5-The stakes by forbidding blood transfusions are huge. People die. Remember when the Watchtower taught no vaccinations, no organ transplants? Again, people doed without needing to. The Watchtower reversed it because they realized it was wrong. What does that say about the Watchtower? (Sadly, they will never reverse their stance on blood. It has gone to far with too many deaths. That is why they introduced fractions as being Biblically legal.) It is up to the Witnesses to personally reject their stance and preserve the lives of loved ones.
6- If you were not a Jehovah's Witness, would you have decided that blood transfusions were wrong?
7- Where does albumin come from? Please tell us wher it comes from. How about Hemoglobins, interferons, interleukins, clotting factors, globulins, albumin etc? Are these Watchtower approved fractions made with something other than blood? Do some research and see for yourself.
8- If the old law command to pour blood to the ground was done away with when Jesus died, why are Jehovah's Witnessess not allowed store their own blood for their own operation?
9- Why can't Jehovah's Witnesses donate blood since they obviously are allowed to take fractions of blood from the world's blood supply? Why can they not put back blood to the same place where they are allowed take it from?
10- Why are larger fractions of blood allowed over some of the smaller ones?
11- Are all other religions, scholars and conservative Jews wrong then? Are only Jehovah's Witnesses right? What about that long list of other embarrassing mistakes by the Watchtower? Does it occur to you that since the Watchtowe was wrong about all those other teachings, they might be wrong about blood too?
12- For a long time the Watchtower said an Organ transplant was like eating and called it cannibalism. Remember that? Why did the Watchtower change and now allow organ transplants? The Jehovah's Witness blood transfusion "is the same as eating" argument just got flushed down the drain. The Society's position on Organ Transplants "not being the same as eating" destroyed the Jehovah's Witness credibility that blood cannot be used.
13- Who gets to decide what fractions get to make the major list (and are not allowed), and which fractions make the minor list (and are allowed)? The toss of a coin?
14- What criteria is used to determine what fractions get to make the major list (and are not allowed), and which fractions make the minor list (and are allowed)? Why no to platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells and plasma, but yes to interferons, interleukens, globulins, clotting factors, hemoglobin etc. This list has no rhyme or reason?
15- What does the Watchtower's long list of mistakes on other medical issues does for its credibility with regard to the blood issue?
16-The Watchtower Organization has a terrible record in times past and currently with regards to medical, doctrinal and historical mistakes. One of the worst anywhere. When an organization decides to make decisions for all of its members, with very significant penalties imposed on those that do not follow such decisions, should not such an organization have a reputation of excellence in general, or at least in regards to similar kinds of issues? In this case medical issues that can have a very significant impact on people's lives?
17- What does the fact that the Watchtower was wrong on previous medical prohibitions against (vaccinations as well as organ transplants), which literally cost lives to be lost unnecessarily say about the Watchtower and it's blood doctrine? Does it inspire confidence?
18- Does having the very same religious organization making end of the world predictions a dozen times, in writing, all of which proved false, give even greater reason for concern with such an organization today? The reputation and trustworthiness of the Watchtower itself is relevant in regards to these other issues.
19- What effect should these past problems have on the overall credibility of this organization that is currently standing alone amongst all of the other world faiths by prohibiting blood transfusions of its members?
20- If fractions are not blood as Watchtower likes to try telling us, then why not allow all fractions? Why not make all blood fractions a conscience matter.
2- If it was illegal to steal an entire automobile, would it then be legal to just steal parts of that same car? Why would this same analogy not apply to Watchtower and Blood Fractions?
3- Even though Jesus' sermon on the mount covered a vast array of subjects on what is not acceptable, why was blood not listed even one time? Why did not Jesus just say, "No blood at all, in any circumstances whether animal or human for any purpose anywhere for all time? If this was so important don't you think it would have been mentioned? But he never said anything like that, anywhere.
4- Paul also had numerous warnings for Christians. But blood is was not one of them and is mentioned nowhere. Why not? Jesus a;sp had numerous warnings, but no where was blood mentioned.
5-The stakes by forbidding blood transfusions are huge. People die. Remember when the Watchtower taught no vaccinations, no organ transplants? Again, people doed without needing to. The Watchtower reversed it because they realized it was wrong. What does that say about the Watchtower? (Sadly, they will never reverse their stance on blood. It has gone to far with too many deaths. That is why they introduced fractions as being Biblically legal.) It is up to the Witnesses to personally reject their stance and preserve the lives of loved ones.
6- If you were not a Jehovah's Witness, would you have decided that blood transfusions were wrong?
7- Where does albumin come from? Please tell us wher it comes from. How about Hemoglobins, interferons, interleukins, clotting factors, globulins, albumin etc? Are these Watchtower approved fractions made with something other than blood? Do some research and see for yourself.
8- If the old law command to pour blood to the ground was done away with when Jesus died, why are Jehovah's Witnessess not allowed store their own blood for their own operation?
9- Why can't Jehovah's Witnesses donate blood since they obviously are allowed to take fractions of blood from the world's blood supply? Why can they not put back blood to the same place where they are allowed take it from?
10- Why are larger fractions of blood allowed over some of the smaller ones?
11- Are all other religions, scholars and conservative Jews wrong then? Are only Jehovah's Witnesses right? What about that long list of other embarrassing mistakes by the Watchtower? Does it occur to you that since the Watchtowe was wrong about all those other teachings, they might be wrong about blood too?
12- For a long time the Watchtower said an Organ transplant was like eating and called it cannibalism. Remember that? Why did the Watchtower change and now allow organ transplants? The Jehovah's Witness blood transfusion "is the same as eating" argument just got flushed down the drain. The Society's position on Organ Transplants "not being the same as eating" destroyed the Jehovah's Witness credibility that blood cannot be used.
13- Who gets to decide what fractions get to make the major list (and are not allowed), and which fractions make the minor list (and are allowed)? The toss of a coin?
14- What criteria is used to determine what fractions get to make the major list (and are not allowed), and which fractions make the minor list (and are allowed)? Why no to platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells and plasma, but yes to interferons, interleukens, globulins, clotting factors, hemoglobin etc. This list has no rhyme or reason?
15- What does the Watchtower's long list of mistakes on other medical issues does for its credibility with regard to the blood issue?
16-The Watchtower Organization has a terrible record in times past and currently with regards to medical, doctrinal and historical mistakes. One of the worst anywhere. When an organization decides to make decisions for all of its members, with very significant penalties imposed on those that do not follow such decisions, should not such an organization have a reputation of excellence in general, or at least in regards to similar kinds of issues? In this case medical issues that can have a very significant impact on people's lives?
17- What does the fact that the Watchtower was wrong on previous medical prohibitions against (vaccinations as well as organ transplants), which literally cost lives to be lost unnecessarily say about the Watchtower and it's blood doctrine? Does it inspire confidence?
18- Does having the very same religious organization making end of the world predictions a dozen times, in writing, all of which proved false, give even greater reason for concern with such an organization today? The reputation and trustworthiness of the Watchtower itself is relevant in regards to these other issues.
19- What effect should these past problems have on the overall credibility of this organization that is currently standing alone amongst all of the other world faiths by prohibiting blood transfusions of its members?
20- If fractions are not blood as Watchtower likes to try telling us, then why not allow all fractions? Why not make all blood fractions a conscience matter.
Friday, November 14, 2008
How Ironic!
In this week's book study lesson, there is a paragraph on "greed". The following comment is made (chapter 8, paragraph 17):
A Christian who loves kindness will certainly not exploit his fellow worshippers. For example, he realizes that it would be neither proper nor kind to start a business or promote an investment scheme that targets fellow believers as the main customers. It would display greed, which Christians are warned against, to plan on making money hastily by exploiting fellow Christians.
Wait a minute....what exactly is the "Watchtower Bible and Tract Society", if not "a business...that targets fellow believers as the main customers"?
So it looks lile the WTS is "neither proper nor kind", and "displays greed". Oh, wait, we already knew that!
I am quite sure this went whooshing over the heads of all the nitwits in Bethel...not to mention all the brain-dead Jehovah's Witnesses nodding semi-comatose thru the study this week.
You just can't make this stuff up!
Just for the record, I do not believe that Christians should start a business just to exploit their fellow witnesses. But can we honestly say that all who start a business do so only to exploit other witnesses? Sometimes these businesses provide a real service, like the people who sell bags for the ministry and other things. What about the brother who starts a car repair business because he knows that a lot of brothers will use his service. Is he being exploitive? Is this displaying greed? The Watchtower lumped together all businesses started by witnesses who rely on the brothers as its customers and then pronounced it wrong.
A Christian who loves kindness will certainly not exploit his fellow worshippers. For example, he realizes that it would be neither proper nor kind to start a business or promote an investment scheme that targets fellow believers as the main customers. It would display greed, which Christians are warned against, to plan on making money hastily by exploiting fellow Christians.
Wait a minute....what exactly is the "Watchtower Bible and Tract Society", if not "a business...that targets fellow believers as the main customers"?
So it looks lile the WTS is "neither proper nor kind", and "displays greed". Oh, wait, we already knew that!
I am quite sure this went whooshing over the heads of all the nitwits in Bethel...not to mention all the brain-dead Jehovah's Witnesses nodding semi-comatose thru the study this week.
You just can't make this stuff up!
Just for the record, I do not believe that Christians should start a business just to exploit their fellow witnesses. But can we honestly say that all who start a business do so only to exploit other witnesses? Sometimes these businesses provide a real service, like the people who sell bags for the ministry and other things. What about the brother who starts a car repair business because he knows that a lot of brothers will use his service. Is he being exploitive? Is this displaying greed? The Watchtower lumped together all businesses started by witnesses who rely on the brothers as its customers and then pronounced it wrong.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Contributions To The Watchtower
August 1879 in the second issue of The Watchtower (then called Zion's Watch Tower), it said:
"'Zion's Watch Tower' has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: 'All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,' fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.
However:
Last night one of the elders had a part in the Service Meeting where he informed the congregation that we are not sending our fair share to the Watchtower. The congregation seems to be doing okay when it comes to contributing to the local congregation so that electric bills can be paid and so forth. But when it comes to literature (The Worldwide Work), the congregation is woefully negligent.
According to this brother, a circuit overseer has recently stated that if Witnesses still had to pay for their literature as they used to, individual Watchtower and Awake! magazines would now cost about $1 with inflation, as opposed to the $.25 they cost before the Society went to voluntary donations.
Based on that math, our congregation should be sending close to $1500 per month for the Worldwide Work. The congregation averages $600 per month. The elder speaking says that this is pitiful for two reasons.
First, the congregation isn't even covering for the literature that it is receiving every month, based upon that one Circuit Overseer's estimations. Secondly, as a congregation in a first world country (running water, internet, SUVs, etc.) congregations should also be covering for those Witnesses in places where they simply do not have the money to contribue for literature, and yet they do receive it. (Why doesn't the Watchtower just wait on Jehovah to provide?)
"'Zion's Watch Tower' has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: 'All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,' fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.
However:
Last night one of the elders had a part in the Service Meeting where he informed the congregation that we are not sending our fair share to the Watchtower. The congregation seems to be doing okay when it comes to contributing to the local congregation so that electric bills can be paid and so forth. But when it comes to literature (The Worldwide Work), the congregation is woefully negligent.
According to this brother, a circuit overseer has recently stated that if Witnesses still had to pay for their literature as they used to, individual Watchtower and Awake! magazines would now cost about $1 with inflation, as opposed to the $.25 they cost before the Society went to voluntary donations.
Based on that math, our congregation should be sending close to $1500 per month for the Worldwide Work. The congregation averages $600 per month. The elder speaking says that this is pitiful for two reasons.
First, the congregation isn't even covering for the literature that it is receiving every month, based upon that one Circuit Overseer's estimations. Secondly, as a congregation in a first world country (running water, internet, SUVs, etc.) congregations should also be covering for those Witnesses in places where they simply do not have the money to contribue for literature, and yet they do receive it. (Why doesn't the Watchtower just wait on Jehovah to provide?)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
December 15th and January 15th Watchtowers: New Light?
Just read through the December 15 and January 15 Watchtowers.
Shockingly, there isn’t a single mention about glorifying the Faithful And Discreet Slave. In fact , “Jehovah’s channel” "organization and "Jehovah's organization" or any other similar expression isn’t referenced at all (other than a single scriptural reference in the review of revelation in the December 15th issue.)
The magazines talk a lot (and I mean a lot) about the ministry , but unusually refers to the ministry as not being more important than Christian “good works” e.g., visiting the sick etc. They use the illustration of the ministry and good works being like two wings of a bird, both of which are required. There is even a picture of a sister doing the ministry and then commiserating with another sister over an empty cot (miscarriage?)
There are also quite a few articles about Jesus, who usually doesn‘t get much of a mention. Also keep in mind that most weeks, the Ministry School next year has a talk about Jesus every week , from the “Learn from the Great Teacher” book.
Could the WTS be changing to become more mainstream - more emphasis on Jesus & Christian works? Hmmm - maybe more changes afoot at Brooklyn…
Shockingly, there isn’t a single mention about glorifying the Faithful And Discreet Slave. In fact , “Jehovah’s channel” "organization and "Jehovah's organization" or any other similar expression isn’t referenced at all (other than a single scriptural reference in the review of revelation in the December 15th issue.)
The magazines talk a lot (and I mean a lot) about the ministry , but unusually refers to the ministry as not being more important than Christian “good works” e.g., visiting the sick etc. They use the illustration of the ministry and good works being like two wings of a bird, both of which are required. There is even a picture of a sister doing the ministry and then commiserating with another sister over an empty cot (miscarriage?)
There are also quite a few articles about Jesus, who usually doesn‘t get much of a mention. Also keep in mind that most weeks, the Ministry School next year has a talk about Jesus every week , from the “Learn from the Great Teacher” book.
Could the WTS be changing to become more mainstream - more emphasis on Jesus & Christian works? Hmmm - maybe more changes afoot at Brooklyn…
Friday, November 7, 2008
Latest News From Inside Bethel
• Pioneer hour change is legit. Letters are being mailed out soon to all congregations for announcement in early October right before the tract campaign starts.
Elimination of Circuit Overseers
• Implementation date 2011 service year
• Many District Overseer’s and some “Circuit Overseers” are getting along in years and slowing down. There is a need for several more suitable replacements.
• There is a need to prepare additional brothers to serve as “overseers” in case of persecution and isolation.
• Presiding Overseers will be trained for additional responsibilities at Patterson “Elders School”.
• After all Presiding Overseer’s have been trained and before this is implemented there will be a Kingdom Ministry school for all Elder’s.
• Various Presiding Overseers from around each circuit will visit the various congregations in the circuit.
• The visit of the “Overseer” will begin Thursday evening. Another meeting will be held Saturday evening and the public meeting will be on Sunday.
• The “Overseer” will share in service Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the congregation.
• Additionally the “Overseer” will have a meeting with the local elders and pioneers.
• Congregations will receive three visits per year instead of just two.
• Circuit Overseers can be reassigned as “District Overseers” to fill the need of replacements.
• Other Circuit Overseers may be reassigned as “Special Pioneers” to assist in the field.
• Since there will be ample “Circuit Overseers” to replace the needed “District Overseers” the size of the district will be lowered from about 13-15 circuits to around 10 per district. This will enable the “District Overseer” to spend more time with the circuits.
• There will be more brothers trained to shoulder the responsibility of oversight when persecution breaks out.
• Instead of having one “Circuit Overseer” assigned to 20 congregations various brothers will be familiar with the needs of different congregations, in order to care for these congregations during the above mentioned difficult times.
• If a select few congregations became isolated for one reason or another, brothers who are already familiar with overseeing the needs of entire congregations would already be available to assist.
• If one “Overseer” was persecuted, arrested, etc. there would already be other qualified brothers to take the lead.
Expansion at Patterson
• Will start some time after upcoming Wallkill project is finished.
• Substantial plans have already been filed with Putnam County and Patterson City to obtain needed permits, and the okay has been given to start the project.
• Several additional office and residence buildings are to be built. The plan is to build as high as the government will allow; likely 5 or 6 floor buildings.
• Plan is to have HIS, Treasurer’s Office, Convention Office, and other smaller departments move there first.
• One new office building will be exclusively used by Governing Body, United States Branch Committee, Service, Publishing (Legal), and Writing Departments.
• Teaching Department will be in new building with Audio Video services with largely expanded studio from what they have right now.
Expansion at Wallkill
• Likely will start in 2009.
• After completion plan to have the wood, machine, furniture, etc. shops and electrical, plumbing, and other mechanical training will move to Wallkill.
• Departments that coordinate RBC’s, KH building and other expansion projects will move to Wallkill.
• http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS/711290360
Brooklyn News
• Dumbo project in Brooklyn on Jay St has been scrapped.
• Buildings will continue to be sold. Residents will be moved to the larger buildings.
• Plan for eventually selling all buildings in Brooklyn between 2015 – 2020.
Elimination of Circuit Overseers
• Implementation date 2011 service year
• Many District Overseer’s and some “Circuit Overseers” are getting along in years and slowing down. There is a need for several more suitable replacements.
• There is a need to prepare additional brothers to serve as “overseers” in case of persecution and isolation.
• Presiding Overseers will be trained for additional responsibilities at Patterson “Elders School”.
• After all Presiding Overseer’s have been trained and before this is implemented there will be a Kingdom Ministry school for all Elder’s.
• Various Presiding Overseers from around each circuit will visit the various congregations in the circuit.
• The visit of the “Overseer” will begin Thursday evening. Another meeting will be held Saturday evening and the public meeting will be on Sunday.
• The “Overseer” will share in service Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the congregation.
• Additionally the “Overseer” will have a meeting with the local elders and pioneers.
• Congregations will receive three visits per year instead of just two.
• Circuit Overseers can be reassigned as “District Overseers” to fill the need of replacements.
• Other Circuit Overseers may be reassigned as “Special Pioneers” to assist in the field.
• Since there will be ample “Circuit Overseers” to replace the needed “District Overseers” the size of the district will be lowered from about 13-15 circuits to around 10 per district. This will enable the “District Overseer” to spend more time with the circuits.
• There will be more brothers trained to shoulder the responsibility of oversight when persecution breaks out.
• Instead of having one “Circuit Overseer” assigned to 20 congregations various brothers will be familiar with the needs of different congregations, in order to care for these congregations during the above mentioned difficult times.
• If a select few congregations became isolated for one reason or another, brothers who are already familiar with overseeing the needs of entire congregations would already be available to assist.
• If one “Overseer” was persecuted, arrested, etc. there would already be other qualified brothers to take the lead.
Expansion at Patterson
• Will start some time after upcoming Wallkill project is finished.
• Substantial plans have already been filed with Putnam County and Patterson City to obtain needed permits, and the okay has been given to start the project.
• Several additional office and residence buildings are to be built. The plan is to build as high as the government will allow; likely 5 or 6 floor buildings.
• Plan is to have HIS, Treasurer’s Office, Convention Office, and other smaller departments move there first.
• One new office building will be exclusively used by Governing Body, United States Branch Committee, Service, Publishing (Legal), and Writing Departments.
• Teaching Department will be in new building with Audio Video services with largely expanded studio from what they have right now.
Expansion at Wallkill
• Likely will start in 2009.
• After completion plan to have the wood, machine, furniture, etc. shops and electrical, plumbing, and other mechanical training will move to Wallkill.
• Departments that coordinate RBC’s, KH building and other expansion projects will move to Wallkill.
• http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS/711290360
Brooklyn News
• Dumbo project in Brooklyn on Jay St has been scrapped.
• Buildings will continue to be sold. Residents will be moved to the larger buildings.
• Plan for eventually selling all buildings in Brooklyn between 2015 – 2020.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Another Bible Prophesy Fulfilled!
*** Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15 ***
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone! This is why parents who base their lives on God's prophetic Word find it much more practical to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long periods of additional schooling… True, those who do not understand where we are in the stream of time from God's viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing yourself for a position in this world that soon will pass away? or working toward surviving this system's end and enjoying eternal life in God's righteous new order?
If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone! This is why parents who base their lives on God's prophetic Word find it much more practical to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long periods of additional schooling… True, those who do not understand where we are in the stream of time from God's viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing yourself for a position in this world that soon will pass away? or working toward surviving this system's end and enjoying eternal life in God's righteous new order?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
United States Branch Statistics Direct From The Service Desk
615 circuits
47 districts (35 English, 12 Spanish)
157 Spanish circuits
3,270 Spanish congregations
280,000 Spanish-speaking publishers (Only Mexico has more Spanish publishers)
As of September 1, 2008 there were 12,652 congregations; 4.6 new congregations formed per WEEK
41 Assembly Halls - West Palm Beach, Florida is the largest; Bessemer, Alabama the smallest (1,001 seats)
306 District Conventions in the U.S. This year with 1,500,000 attending; almost 13,000 baptized (too bad they don't print the numbers of those who left the organization).
115 Regional Building Committees; with 131,000 volunteers who worked on 938 Kingdom Halls
A side note here: Tennessee RBC #1 had 900 volunteers a year ago. A year after the 5 brothers on the RBC were killed in a plane crash we now have over 1,400 volunteers.
The Purchasing Department has moved from Brooklyn to Wallkill, NY.
The Convention Office is now at Patterson, NY
MEPS will be moving to Patterson shortly
1,300 Bethelites have been reassigned (these are the ones that were kicked out of Bethel) with 470 now serving as Special Pioneers (and many of these Special Pioneers are elderly and very unhappy. They thought they would be able to always live in the Bethel home. Sad.)
There are about 30 "Desk Men" in the Service Department who handle the needs of 25-30 cicuits each.
47 districts (35 English, 12 Spanish)
157 Spanish circuits
3,270 Spanish congregations
280,000 Spanish-speaking publishers (Only Mexico has more Spanish publishers)
As of September 1, 2008 there were 12,652 congregations; 4.6 new congregations formed per WEEK
41 Assembly Halls - West Palm Beach, Florida is the largest; Bessemer, Alabama the smallest (1,001 seats)
306 District Conventions in the U.S. This year with 1,500,000 attending; almost 13,000 baptized (too bad they don't print the numbers of those who left the organization).
115 Regional Building Committees; with 131,000 volunteers who worked on 938 Kingdom Halls
A side note here: Tennessee RBC #1 had 900 volunteers a year ago. A year after the 5 brothers on the RBC were killed in a plane crash we now have over 1,400 volunteers.
The Purchasing Department has moved from Brooklyn to Wallkill, NY.
The Convention Office is now at Patterson, NY
MEPS will be moving to Patterson shortly
1,300 Bethelites have been reassigned (these are the ones that were kicked out of Bethel) with 470 now serving as Special Pioneers (and many of these Special Pioneers are elderly and very unhappy. They thought they would be able to always live in the Bethel home. Sad.)
There are about 30 "Desk Men" in the Service Department who handle the needs of 25-30 cicuits each.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Watchtower Study for November 2, 2008
ARE YOU SPEAKING THE "PURE LANGUAGE" FLUENTLY? "I shall give to peoples the challenge to a pure language in order for them aIl to call upon the name of Jehovah."-ZEPH. 3:9.
Another Watchtower "Pure Language" article? Oy vey. I thought that these pure language articles would have died out with afros and bell-bottoms.
But just as past fads tend to re-emerge in later generations, this Fred Franz era propaganda is being pulled off of the shelf, dusted off, and put back into circulation for the newer generation of Jehovah's Witnesses.
I think that the Watchtower’s teaching of the "Pure Language" has probably been one of the most effective accessories in their mind control repertoire. The pure language is presented as being an all encompassing standard that governs all areas of Christianity (doctrines, conduct, sacred service, organizational standards, etc.) The Watchtower has taken it upon itself to define what the pure language is. Since the Watchtower is able to convince its followers that they alone are the only ones "speaking" the pure language, the "pure language" of the Watchtower now becomes a litmus test by which all other Christians must pass. And thus, it is no surprise that all other denominations fail the test.
This feeds into the "where else can we go" dilemma. The average Jehovah's Witness is convinced that since Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only ones "speaking the pure language", that there is no where else for them to go. It also allows them to dismiss the devotion and fine conduct of other Christians since those Christians are not speaking the "pure language".
The Watchtower leadership is like a first year law school student who drops out of college, and proceeds to begin writing books on what is "constitutional" and what is not.
Another Watchtower "Pure Language" article? Oy vey. I thought that these pure language articles would have died out with afros and bell-bottoms.
But just as past fads tend to re-emerge in later generations, this Fred Franz era propaganda is being pulled off of the shelf, dusted off, and put back into circulation for the newer generation of Jehovah's Witnesses.
I think that the Watchtower’s teaching of the "Pure Language" has probably been one of the most effective accessories in their mind control repertoire. The pure language is presented as being an all encompassing standard that governs all areas of Christianity (doctrines, conduct, sacred service, organizational standards, etc.) The Watchtower has taken it upon itself to define what the pure language is. Since the Watchtower is able to convince its followers that they alone are the only ones "speaking" the pure language, the "pure language" of the Watchtower now becomes a litmus test by which all other Christians must pass. And thus, it is no surprise that all other denominations fail the test.
This feeds into the "where else can we go" dilemma. The average Jehovah's Witness is convinced that since Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only ones "speaking the pure language", that there is no where else for them to go. It also allows them to dismiss the devotion and fine conduct of other Christians since those Christians are not speaking the "pure language".
The Watchtower leadership is like a first year law school student who drops out of college, and proceeds to begin writing books on what is "constitutional" and what is not.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Satan Is Using Game Shows To Turn People Away From The "Truth"
At the recent Circuit Assembly....
On Saturday afternoon, there was a symposium on behavior modification "conquering the evil with the good".
Along with the usual idiotic groundless assertions about the "dangers" of university education, new technology, internet porn, etc., there was this new and rather startling revelation of a subtle Satanic snare that all should watch out for....
Game shows!
Yes, directly in the Society's outline, there was a specific and clear-cut point on the "dangers" of watching game shows on TV! Watching them could (paraphrase) "get you to thinking about how much money or prizes the contestant was winning, and then you're thinking 'boy, I'd sure like to have that new car / boat / dinette set', and that leads to materialism."
So turn off "Jeopardy"! Just say no to "Deal or No Deal"! Your everlasting destiny depends on it!
Idiots. You just can't make this stuff up...
On Saturday afternoon, there was a symposium on behavior modification "conquering the evil with the good".
Along with the usual idiotic groundless assertions about the "dangers" of university education, new technology, internet porn, etc., there was this new and rather startling revelation of a subtle Satanic snare that all should watch out for....
Game shows!
Yes, directly in the Society's outline, there was a specific and clear-cut point on the "dangers" of watching game shows on TV! Watching them could (paraphrase) "get you to thinking about how much money or prizes the contestant was winning, and then you're thinking 'boy, I'd sure like to have that new car / boat / dinette set', and that leads to materialism."
So turn off "Jeopardy"! Just say no to "Deal or No Deal"! Your everlasting destiny depends on it!
Idiots. You just can't make this stuff up...
Jehovah's Witnesses Love To Think They Are Being Persecuted
Jehovah's Witnesses love to think they are being persecuted. In fact, they, more than any other religion, believe that any kind of persecution makes them more special.
In November's Kingdom Ministry the article PREPARE NEW ONES TO FACE OPPOSITION reinforces that need for the witnesses. Witnesses are to explain to their Bible studies that when people express concern about their studying with witnesses because of their blood transfusion policy, or mention that there are pedophiles in the congregations, they are to just chalk that up to persecution.
If your husband leaves because you spend to much time in meetings, that's persecution. Rejoice!
If your children complain because they are no longer permitted to celebrate holidays, that's persecution. Rejoice!
To Jehovah's Witnesses persecution means that you are becoming a true christian.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Watchtower Corporations
SOME OF THESE WILL SURPRISE YOU: I have captured nearly all Watchtower Society corporations in the United States. I have placed those of greatest interest at the top. I also have access to the financial reports of many of the more important ones. I will publish that list in a separate post soon. I have an additional list of about 40 to 50 other Watchtower corporations, and will compare these to weed out duplicates, then post a Revised Edition. Yes, there are more US based Watchtower corporations beside the over 100 named below.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All of these are separately “registered” Watchtower corporations and “not” local congregations, and have “slightly different name” designations. When a corporation registers with a state, their corporate name must be EXACT ... and any slight changes, SUCH AS ABBREVIATIONS, MISPELLINGS, CAPITALIZATIONS, PERIODS, AND COMMAS ARE IMPORTANT and are made part of that exact corporate name. There is a legal purpose for this. Many of these “at the end” show up as Kingdom Halls, but that is because they use a Kingdom Hall for a Branch or Special operation. When a Congregation or Kingdom Hall is named as “DBA” it is being used by the Watchtower Society for additional purposes, such as Conventions, distribution centers or other legal needs.
It has taken me a long time to compile this. It may be shared with any lawyer that is involved in lawsuit against the Watchtower Society so that they can more quickly get the court to make Citations of Discovery of Assets:
GENERAL NY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, SUBSIDARIES, SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Buffalo, NY Headquarters
Mountainbrook Ltd Partnership (dba "Watchtower Educ Ctr") Patterson, NY Headquarters
Watchtower (dba "Kingdom Farms") Lansing, NY (There are also other Kingdom Farms in Florida and Colorado, but I have not listed them at this time)
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Brooklyn, NY Headquarters
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watchtower Health Care Sup") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Construction Division") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watchtower Farm") Wallkill, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Bossert Hotel") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible And Clergy, The (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Fortuna, CA (I love this one)
Watchtower Associates Ltd Woodbury, NYWatchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania, PA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania Brooklyn, NY (Headquarters)
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Trafford, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Clinton, IL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Mattituck, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses," "Kingdom Hall Jehovah Witnesses," "Kingdom Hall Inc") Fort Payne, AL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Lakeview Congrg Of Jehovahs W") Stanton, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Lake Ariel, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Sun City, AZ Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania Brooklyn, NY Branch
ADDRESSES OF KEY OPERATIONS: I now have access to the "complete or partially complete" reports on the Society's businesses, suppliers, credit, and background of the following Watchtower related corporations. Some of these seem like duplicates, but they "may" represent various operations and subsidiaries, such as printing factories, or shipping operations. Some of them, I do not yet know what their specific purpose is. The Watchtower Society has so many corporations that it is hard to track it all ... and I just don't have the time to keep tracking all of this information:
WATCHTOWER, 317 Auburn Rd, Lansing, NY 14882 WATCHTOWER EDUC CTR, 100 WATCHTOWER DR., PATTERSON, NY 12563
MOUNTAINBROOK LTD PARTNERSHIP, 100 Watchtower Dr., Patterson, NY 12563 (Investment operation of Patterson site, including hotel)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC., 25 COLUMBIA HTS,. BROOKLYN, NY 11201
WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 25 COLUMBUS HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN, NY 11201
WATCHTOWER ASSOCIATES LTD, 147 HOLIDAY DR, WOODBURY, NY 11797
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY THE, 121 N WILLOW ST, ONEIDA, NY 13421
WATCH TOWER SOCIETY, 1971 STRAUSS ST., BROOKLYN, NY 11212 (1971 BUSINESS COMMITTEE OF JEHOVAH WITNESSES)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC, 800 RED MILLS RD., WALLKILL, NY 12589
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC., 86 MONTAGUE ST # 98, BROOKLYN, NY 11201
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC., 117 ADAMS ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11201 (Branch Location)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 5550 BERGEN AVE., MATTITUCK, NY 11952 (Branch Location)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE, 16100 RIV AVE, BRONX, NY 10451
{FORMERLY} WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY INC), W RIVER RD N ROUTE 85, FULTON, NY 13069
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, FOOTS CORNERS RD & ROUTE 96, INTERLAKEN, NY 14847(Headquarters location)
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, 4208 NATIONAL ST, FLUSHING, NY 11368GENERAL PA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, BRANCHES, & SUBSIDARIES:
STATE BRANCHES or SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN STATES:
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Brooklyn, NY Branch
Jehovah's Witnesses Crown Point (Inc) (dba "Watchtower Society") Crown Point, IN
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Emmett, ID Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Hernando, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Clearfield, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Brklyn") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Cleveland, OH
Watchtower And Bible Society (Inc) (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses W S Spanish") Ocala, FL
Watchtower Bb Tract Soc Of Ny Jasper, GA Branch
Watchtower Bb Tract Soc Of Ny (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Libby, MT Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Baker, MT
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witness Lake Mangoni") West Palm Beach, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Saint Paul, MN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses(Inc)") Ashland, WI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Charlotte, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc West Palm Beach, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") El Toro, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Bishop, CA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Soquel, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Fort Myers, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Toms River, NJ Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Pottstown, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Yakima, WA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Bemidji, MN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Clarkesville, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") West Des Moines, IA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses-Mont") Montgomery, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Knoxville, TN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Crystal Lake, IL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watchtower Bible And Track") Tijeras, NM Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Memphis, TN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses," "Jehovah S Witnesses") Honolulu, HI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Anchorage, AK Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Portland, OR Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Cleveland, OH Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Saraland, AL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs
Witnesses," "Jehovah S Witnesses") Reedley, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Austell, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Conyers, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Sandusky, OH Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovah Witnesses East") De Leon Springs, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Yerington, NV Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") San Antonio, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovah Witnesses") Denver, CO Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Sandusky") Sandusky, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") San Antonio, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Vancouver, WA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Dowagiac, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Brookville, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Boynton Beach, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible And Trackt Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Bandera Soc") Bandera, TX
Watchtower Bible And Tract Society Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Springfield, MA
Watchtower Bible Society Of Pa (Inc) (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Hillsboro") Hillsboro, TX
Watchtower Bible Trac Society (Inc) (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Kent, OH
Watchtower Bible Tract Of Pennsalvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Pottsville, PA
Watchtower Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") San Jose, CA
Watchtower Society (Inc), The (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Plano, TX
Wheaton Congrg Of Jehovah Inc (dba "Watchtower Bible And Track Soc") Wheaton, MN
SPECIAL OPERATIONS BRANCHES USING KINGDOM HALLS:
Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall (dba "Watchtower Bible & Tract Soc") Metuchen, NJ
Watchtower Society (dba "Kingdom Hall," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Phoenix, AZ
Kingdom Hall Of Jehovah's Witnesses (dba "Watchtower The," "Jehovah's Witnesses") BELFAIR, WA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Laurel, MD
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Lompoc, CA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Kingdom Hall") Yukon, OK Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovahs Witness") Mc Cormick, SC Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Cortez Cngrgtion Jhvah Wttness") Cortez, CO Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jehovahs") Woodward, OK
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Levelland, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses-Folsom") El Dorado Hills, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovahs Witness," "Kingdom Hall Jehovah S Witness") Wauchula, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witness Kingdom Hall") Durango, CO Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Elk Rapids Congrtn Jehova") Kewadin, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Columbus Cngrgtn Jehovahs") Lynn, NC Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Wtness S Congregation") Live Oak, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Congregation Of Jenovahs") Lake Wales, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Winterpock Congregation") Chesterfield, VA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jhvahs Wtness") Lindsay, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jhvahs Wtness") Minneapolis, MN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jehovahs," "Kingdom Hall Of Jehovah S") Gallup, NM Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Palestine, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Maquoketa, IA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovahs Witness") KYLE, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watch Tower Bible Track Soc Ny," "Kingdom Hall") NAPA, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Alhambra, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Norfolk, VA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovah Witness") Atoka, OK Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Orlando, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Saint Edward, NE Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Wahoo, NE Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Spring Hill, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Schoharie, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovah S Witness Kingdom Hall") North Wilkesboro, NC Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Northwest Cong Jehovahs," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Nashville, TN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdomhall Jehovahs Witnesses") Scottsville, VA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Ny Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Klamath Falls, OR
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jeovahs Witnesses Kingdom Hall") Buford, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible Tract Society (dba "Kingdom Hall," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Hart, MI Single
Watchtower Corp (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Macon, GA
IMPORTANT NOTE: All of these are separately “registered” Watchtower corporations and “not” local congregations, and have “slightly different name” designations. When a corporation registers with a state, their corporate name must be EXACT ... and any slight changes, SUCH AS ABBREVIATIONS, MISPELLINGS, CAPITALIZATIONS, PERIODS, AND COMMAS ARE IMPORTANT and are made part of that exact corporate name. There is a legal purpose for this. Many of these “at the end” show up as Kingdom Halls, but that is because they use a Kingdom Hall for a Branch or Special operation. When a Congregation or Kingdom Hall is named as “DBA” it is being used by the Watchtower Society for additional purposes, such as Conventions, distribution centers or other legal needs.
It has taken me a long time to compile this. It may be shared with any lawyer that is involved in lawsuit against the Watchtower Society so that they can more quickly get the court to make Citations of Discovery of Assets:
GENERAL NY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, SUBSIDARIES, SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Buffalo, NY Headquarters
Mountainbrook Ltd Partnership (dba "Watchtower Educ Ctr") Patterson, NY Headquarters
Watchtower (dba "Kingdom Farms") Lansing, NY (There are also other Kingdom Farms in Florida and Colorado, but I have not listed them at this time)
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Brooklyn, NY Headquarters
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watchtower Health Care Sup") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Construction Division") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watchtower Farm") Wallkill, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Bossert Hotel") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible And Clergy, The (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Fortuna, CA (I love this one)
Watchtower Associates Ltd Woodbury, NYWatchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania, PA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania Brooklyn, NY (Headquarters)
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Trafford, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Clinton, IL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Mattituck, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses," "Kingdom Hall Jehovah Witnesses," "Kingdom Hall Inc") Fort Payne, AL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Lakeview Congrg Of Jehovahs W") Stanton, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Lake Ariel, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Sun City, AZ Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania Brooklyn, NY Branch
ADDRESSES OF KEY OPERATIONS: I now have access to the "complete or partially complete" reports on the Society's businesses, suppliers, credit, and background of the following Watchtower related corporations. Some of these seem like duplicates, but they "may" represent various operations and subsidiaries, such as printing factories, or shipping operations. Some of them, I do not yet know what their specific purpose is. The Watchtower Society has so many corporations that it is hard to track it all ... and I just don't have the time to keep tracking all of this information:
WATCHTOWER, 317 Auburn Rd, Lansing, NY 14882 WATCHTOWER EDUC CTR, 100 WATCHTOWER DR., PATTERSON, NY 12563
MOUNTAINBROOK LTD PARTNERSHIP, 100 Watchtower Dr., Patterson, NY 12563 (Investment operation of Patterson site, including hotel)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC., 25 COLUMBIA HTS,. BROOKLYN, NY 11201
WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 25 COLUMBUS HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN, NY 11201
WATCHTOWER ASSOCIATES LTD, 147 HOLIDAY DR, WOODBURY, NY 11797
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY THE, 121 N WILLOW ST, ONEIDA, NY 13421
WATCH TOWER SOCIETY, 1971 STRAUSS ST., BROOKLYN, NY 11212 (1971 BUSINESS COMMITTEE OF JEHOVAH WITNESSES)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC, 800 RED MILLS RD., WALLKILL, NY 12589
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC., 86 MONTAGUE ST # 98, BROOKLYN, NY 11201
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC., 117 ADAMS ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11201 (Branch Location)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 5550 BERGEN AVE., MATTITUCK, NY 11952 (Branch Location)
WATCHTOWER BIBLE, 16100 RIV AVE, BRONX, NY 10451
{FORMERLY} WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY INC), W RIVER RD N ROUTE 85, FULTON, NY 13069
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, FOOTS CORNERS RD & ROUTE 96, INTERLAKEN, NY 14847(Headquarters location)
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, 4208 NATIONAL ST, FLUSHING, NY 11368GENERAL PA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, BRANCHES, & SUBSIDARIES:
STATE BRANCHES or SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN STATES:
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Brooklyn, NY Branch
Jehovah's Witnesses Crown Point (Inc) (dba "Watchtower Society") Crown Point, IN
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Emmett, ID Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Hernando, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Clearfield, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Brklyn") Brooklyn, NY Branch
Watchtower Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Cleveland, OH
Watchtower And Bible Society (Inc) (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses W S Spanish") Ocala, FL
Watchtower Bb Tract Soc Of Ny Jasper, GA Branch
Watchtower Bb Tract Soc Of Ny (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Libby, MT Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Baker, MT
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witness Lake Mangoni") West Palm Beach, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Saint Paul, MN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses(Inc)") Ashland, WI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Charlotte, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc West Palm Beach, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") El Toro, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Bishop, CA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Soquel, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Fort Myers, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Toms River, NJ Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Pottstown, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Yakima, WA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Bemidji, MN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Clarkesville, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") West Des Moines, IA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses-Mont") Montgomery, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Knoxville, TN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Crystal Lake, IL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watchtower Bible And Track") Tijeras, NM Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Memphis, TN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses," "Jehovah S Witnesses") Honolulu, HI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Anchorage, AK Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Portland, OR Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Cleveland, OH Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Saraland, AL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs
Witnesses," "Jehovah S Witnesses") Reedley, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Austell, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Conyers, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Sandusky, OH Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovah Witnesses East") De Leon Springs, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Yerington, NV Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") San Antonio, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovah Witnesses") Denver, CO Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Sandusky") Sandusky, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") San Antonio, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Vancouver, WA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Dowagiac, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Brookville, PA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc Boynton Beach, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible And Trackt Society (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Bandera Soc") Bandera, TX
Watchtower Bible And Tract Society Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Springfield, MA
Watchtower Bible Society Of Pa (Inc) (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Hillsboro") Hillsboro, TX
Watchtower Bible Trac Society (Inc) (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Kent, OH
Watchtower Bible Tract Of Pennsalvania (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Pottsville, PA
Watchtower Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") San Jose, CA
Watchtower Society (Inc), The (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Plano, TX
Wheaton Congrg Of Jehovah Inc (dba "Watchtower Bible And Track Soc") Wheaton, MN
SPECIAL OPERATIONS BRANCHES USING KINGDOM HALLS:
Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall (dba "Watchtower Bible & Tract Soc") Metuchen, NJ
Watchtower Society (dba "Kingdom Hall," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Phoenix, AZ
Kingdom Hall Of Jehovah's Witnesses (dba "Watchtower The," "Jehovah's Witnesses") BELFAIR, WA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Laurel, MD
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Lompoc, CA
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses Kingdom Hall") Yukon, OK Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovahs Witness") Mc Cormick, SC Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Cortez Cngrgtion Jhvah Wttness") Cortez, CO Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jehovahs") Woodward, OK
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Levelland, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses-Folsom") El Dorado Hills, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovahs Witness," "Kingdom Hall Jehovah S Witness") Wauchula, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witness Kingdom Hall") Durango, CO Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Elk Rapids Congrtn Jehova") Kewadin, MI Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Columbus Cngrgtn Jehovahs") Lynn, NC Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Wtness S Congregation") Live Oak, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Congregation Of Jenovahs") Lake Wales, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Winterpock Congregation") Chesterfield, VA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jhvahs Wtness") Lindsay, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jhvahs Wtness") Minneapolis, MN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Of Jehovahs," "Kingdom Hall Of Jehovah S") Gallup, NM Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Palestine, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Maquoketa, IA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovahs Witness") KYLE, TX Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Watch Tower Bible Track Soc Ny," "Kingdom Hall") NAPA, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Alhambra, CA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Norfolk, VA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jehovah Witness") Atoka, OK Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Orlando, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Saint Edward, NE Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Wahoo, NE Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Spring Hill, FL Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdom Hall Jhovahs Witnesses") Schoharie, NY Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Jehovah S Witness Kingdom Hall") North Wilkesboro, NC Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Northwest Cong Jehovahs," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Nashville, TN Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York Inc (dba "Kingdomhall Jehovahs Witnesses") Scottsville, VA Branch
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Ny Inc (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Klamath Falls, OR
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of Pennsylvania (dba "Jeovahs Witnesses Kingdom Hall") Buford, GA Branch
Watchtower Bible Tract Society (dba "Kingdom Hall," "Jehovah's Witnesses") Hart, MI Single
Watchtower Corp (dba "Jehovahs Wtnesses Kingdom Hall") Macon, GA
Watchtower Study For October 26, 2008
JEHOVAH TENDERLY CARES FOR HIS ELDERLY SERVANTS "God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name "-HEB. 6:10.
This Watchtower article is disgusting. Let me give you some examples:
13 Showing consideration for the feelings of older ones is essential. It is not unusual for the elderly to be deeply grieved by their inability to accomplish all that they were able to when they were younger and healthier. For instance, a sister who served Jehovah actively for some 50 years and who had been a regular pioneer developed a debilitating illness and could attend meetings only with great difficulty. When she compared her former ministry with her present limitations, she began to cry. Lowering her head, she said through her tears, "I'm not doing anything anymore."
While it's natural to get upset that you can't do nearly as much in your 70s or 80s as what you could in your 20s or 30s, I can't help but wonder how much of this "guilt" has been subconsciously festering in their minds over the years with all the articles that basically tell you that if you're not going to all the meetings and out in Service, you're not pleasing Jehovah and just might die at Armageddon. It's no wonder this woman cried.
18. Many modern-day examples prove that older ones can "keep on thriving." But the challenges of illness and old age can be daunting, even for those who have caring and committed family members to help them. Caregivers too may become worn-out. The congregation has the privilege and responsibility to put their love into action in behalf of older ones and those who care for them. (Gal. 6:10) Such help shows that we are not, in effect, telling such ones to go and "keep warm and well fed" without assisting them in practical ways.-Jas. 2:15-17.
These kinds of statements just make me want to puke. If the Watchtower is so concerned about caring for the elderly, why don't they lead by example? How many impoverished elderly Witnesses are there that maybe have no health insurance (in the USA) and who can't afford to go to the doctor? Does this multi-billion dollar corporation give any financial assistance at all?? What about Sister Widowed whose husband died without leaving her the means to live on? Do the goons who sit behind their desks at Columbia Heights or at Patterson authorize financial help at all? When was the last time that a member of the Governing Body members have a elderly sister or brother over for a meal? To my knowledge, the Organization itself offers no assistance at all to elderly ones. If anyone fits the description of telling these ones to "keep warm and well fed" and then doesn't lift a finger to help these ones, its the very people who write these hypocritical articles.
Some older fellow believers have carried heavy loads of responsibility and have endured persecution for the sake of the good news. Jehovah and "the faithful and discreet slave" deeply appreciate all their past and present contributions to the Kingdom work. -Matt. 24:45.
Look at the structure off this sentense. They are actually elevating their status to that of Jehovah's!
The Watchtower says and does are two different things. They like to dictate to the congregations what they should do to please God, but set no example themselves.
This Watchtower article is disgusting. Let me give you some examples:
13 Showing consideration for the feelings of older ones is essential. It is not unusual for the elderly to be deeply grieved by their inability to accomplish all that they were able to when they were younger and healthier. For instance, a sister who served Jehovah actively for some 50 years and who had been a regular pioneer developed a debilitating illness and could attend meetings only with great difficulty. When she compared her former ministry with her present limitations, she began to cry. Lowering her head, she said through her tears, "I'm not doing anything anymore."
While it's natural to get upset that you can't do nearly as much in your 70s or 80s as what you could in your 20s or 30s, I can't help but wonder how much of this "guilt" has been subconsciously festering in their minds over the years with all the articles that basically tell you that if you're not going to all the meetings and out in Service, you're not pleasing Jehovah and just might die at Armageddon. It's no wonder this woman cried.
18. Many modern-day examples prove that older ones can "keep on thriving." But the challenges of illness and old age can be daunting, even for those who have caring and committed family members to help them. Caregivers too may become worn-out. The congregation has the privilege and responsibility to put their love into action in behalf of older ones and those who care for them. (Gal. 6:10) Such help shows that we are not, in effect, telling such ones to go and "keep warm and well fed" without assisting them in practical ways.-Jas. 2:15-17.
These kinds of statements just make me want to puke. If the Watchtower is so concerned about caring for the elderly, why don't they lead by example? How many impoverished elderly Witnesses are there that maybe have no health insurance (in the USA) and who can't afford to go to the doctor? Does this multi-billion dollar corporation give any financial assistance at all?? What about Sister Widowed whose husband died without leaving her the means to live on? Do the goons who sit behind their desks at Columbia Heights or at Patterson authorize financial help at all? When was the last time that a member of the Governing Body members have a elderly sister or brother over for a meal? To my knowledge, the Organization itself offers no assistance at all to elderly ones. If anyone fits the description of telling these ones to "keep warm and well fed" and then doesn't lift a finger to help these ones, its the very people who write these hypocritical articles.
Some older fellow believers have carried heavy loads of responsibility and have endured persecution for the sake of the good news. Jehovah and "the faithful and discreet slave" deeply appreciate all their past and present contributions to the Kingdom work. -Matt. 24:45.
Look at the structure off this sentense. They are actually elevating their status to that of Jehovah's!
The Watchtower says and does are two different things. They like to dictate to the congregations what they should do to please God, but set no example themselves.
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