Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Do You Appreciate The Watchtower Magazine?

Don’t you know that there is no more important magazine on the earth today then the Watchtower magazine?
As we know it is in that very magazine Jehovah makes his “official notifications” to mankind. Since Jehovah apparently isn’t at all interested in reaching all of mankind he isn’t using TV or Radio. It is indeed a very puzzling thing about God, he holds all the secrets of life and he have information that is supposed to be vital to our “survival” but getting any of that “vital” information seems almost impossible.
“This Resolution was adopted by congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the earth. The announcement in the Watchtower magazine of October 15, 1932, at the end of 2,300 evenings and mornings was the official notification made by Jehovah through his visible channel of communication that his sanctuary of anointed “living stones” had been cleansed, vindicated and justified.” Watchtower, October 1. 1959, page 601-2.
It is here the Watchtower magazine comes in. As we all know it is impossible to make any sense of the total mess in the Bible so God created the Watchtower Society and started to print the Watchtower to help mankind:
*** w81 12/1 27 The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his “faithful and discreet slave,” made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.—Compare Acts 8:30-40.
Of course Jehovah had to “choose” an organization who use the least effective means possible to get his “vital” information out to mankind. As history show us this organization has made a complete pig’s breakfast of the whole thing. Modesty and humility seem to be in extremely short supply in Brooklyn when it comes to claims of authority:
*** w67 10/1 587 Finding Freedom with Jehovah's Visible Organization ***Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind.
Mankind is in a mess and only “Mother” can sort it all out:
*** w57 5/1 274 Show Respect for Jehovah's Organization ***The world is full of Bibles, which Book contains the commandments of God. Why, then, do the people not know which way to go? Because they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light. Jehovah God has provided his holy written Word for all mankind and it contains all the information that is needed for men in taking a course leading to life. But God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life-giving truths by itself. His Word says: “Light is sown for the righteous.” (Ps. 97:11) It is through his organization that God provides this light that the proverb says is the teaching or law of the mother. If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our mother.So all of you slackers out there who never read the Watchtower, now you know what you have been missing.
*** km 4/83 3 Subscriptions-'Wisdom Calling Out'! ***2 How important is The Watchtower to your spiritual life? Is it vital? If so, you will read it regularly because, as stated in its purpose on page 2 of each issue, The Watchtower “adheres to the Bible as its authority.” And you would want others—your family, friends and neighbors—to read it regularly too. With the exception of the Bible, do you know of any other literature that supplies as much divine wisdom as does a year’s subscription to The Watchtower?
If God exist he must be deeply embarrassed to be associated with a rag that has published so much complete tripe and drivel in it’s short existence, but a usual God seem to be powerless in doing anything with all the superstitious crackpots claiming to be his only chosen “ground crew”.
*** km 4/83 3 Subscriptions-'Wisdom Calling Out'! ***3 Having a positive attitude toward The Watchtower entails maintaining a proper appreciation for its contents. Then, once we are convinced of its unique value, we will eagerly look forward to each issue, read it and not hesitate to offer it to others in our field service. What the book of Proverbs says about wisdom can help us estimate the value of this journal in comparison with other magazines:
*** km 4/81 1 Congregation Meetings-Part VI: Appreciating the "Watchtower" Study *** 2 Knowing that the “slave” class is Christ’s instrument for dealing with the congregation today should make our heart very receptive to what The Watchtower says. Also, knowing that The Watchtower endeavor to hold closely to the Scriptures builds confidence and makes us eager to examine each issue as we receive it.—Acts 17:11; see also 1964 Watchtower, page 574.
If there is one thing they hate in Brooklyn it is skeptics. A Jehovah's Witnesses should of course be extremely skeptic towards anything that does not come from the Watchtower Society but when it comes from them, forget all skepticism:
*** w81 2/15 18 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***A NOBLE-MINDED VIEW
How shall we view the spiritual food provided by this “faithful and discreet slave”? Should it be viewed critically—‘Oh, well, it might be true but then again it might not be and so we have to scrutinize it very critically’? Some apparently have felt that way about it. To support their way of thinking they have quoted Acts 17:11, which says of newly interested persons at Beroea: “Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” But does this mean that those Beroeans were looking for flaws in the message they were hearing, or that their attitude was one of doubting? Does this set a precedent for regarding critically the publications brought forth by the “faithful and discreet slave,” with a view to finding fault? Not at all!
As you can see above Brooklyn are sick and tired of people who keep harping on the Beroan example. Of course the Beroans would never have doubted anything brought forth from Brooklyn! No one should be skeptical towards the Bible or the Watchtower literature. Without an ample supply of gullible superstitious people, where would organizations like the Watchtower Society and the Churches be?
*** w81 2/15 18-19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***So those noble-minded Jews in Beroea searched the Scriptures daily to make certain that the references that Paul gave were really part of God’s Word. And with what mental attitude did they pursue their studies? With a skeptical attitude, trying to prove Paul wrong? No, they were altogether unlike Paul’s critics on Mars Hill, for we read that they heard Paul’s testimony with “the greatest eagerness of mind.”—Acts 17:11, 32.These Beroeans listened with a readiness, yes, an eagerness, to believe. Thus not only were they open-minded, but they were wanting to have this “good news” proved true. In fact, for a person to acquire faith he must have “the will to believe.” If he is determined not to believe, then no amount of evidence will convince him; for if a person looks for them he can always find excuses, plausible reasons for not accepting the accountability that belief will bring upon him.
Of course, what can be more “noble minded” than being “no minded”? If you are determined to believe then no amount of evidence to the contrary will convince you; for if a person looks for them he can always find excuses, plausible reasons for accepting or believe anything. That’s the kind of people all the religions are catering for. They do not want skeptic people:
*** w81 2/15 19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***But nowhere do we read that those brothers first, in a skeptical frame of mind, checked the Scriptures to make certain that those letters had Scriptural backing, that the writers really knew what they were talking about.
We all understand that when someone talk about people raising from the dead, demons and spirits miracles and such, no one should be skeptic, such stories should of course be accepted as genuine truth on the spot, they are after all perfectly natural things to believe, right? The Watchtower Society has taken this one step further, they have made it real easy for you. If you accept that the Watchtower Society is God’s “Channel” and there is no need to be skeptical about that, you should just accept that, why? Because they say so of course, you dummy! The Bible is of course also true if anyone say so. After having accepted this as fact, you can lean back and just accept without any reservation whatsoever that is printed in the Watchtower magazine:
*** w81 2/15 19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***OUR VIEW OF THE “SLAVE” We can benefit from this consideration. If we have once established what instrument God is using as his “slave” to dispense spiritual food to his people, surely Jehovah is not pleased if we receive that food as though it might contain something harmful. We should have confidence in the channel God is using. At the Brooklyn headquarters from which the Bible publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses emanate there are more mature Christian elders, both of the “remnant” and of the “other sheep,” than anywhere else upon earth.
Wow! Imagine that, in Brooklyn there are more gullible people per square mile than anywhere else on earth! No wonder the Watchtower is full of such profound drivel. But relax, you are in good hands, don’t think, just accept everything and above all distribute the Watchtower all over.
*** w81 12/1 27 The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his “faithful and discreet slave,” made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.—Compare Acts 8:30-40.
You can have complete confidence in whatever is published in the Watchtower literature. They alone know it all. Isn’t it wonderful?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sigh..... what can I say...

There is so much about the above thesis that is true, I am embarrassed for the Watchtower Society, as their heads are most times so far up their butts the only thing they can see is their navel....

However, that being said, I have learned the TRUTH about Jehovah God, God's viewpoint on blood, a Christians duty to be Neutral as to the political affairs of mankind, how to live at peace with everyone, everywhere, regardless of race, religion or creed...from that great compilation of 7th grade drivel...the Watchtower.

Although I believe the TRUTH about Life, the Universe, and Everything (42) is somewhere between the pages of the "Watchtower", and "Soldier of Fortune" magazine, and every issue of the Watchtower is an embarrassment for anyone educated above the 7th grade, the fact of the matter is that like digging through tons of drivel, there is a truth there that is not available anywhere else...and although half it it is crap...half of EVERYTHING is crap. No news there.

Think about it ...the science textbooks we read today about quantum physics, string theory, Lisi E8 geometries concerning gravity and the unifield field theory...at least 80% of all this advanced knowledge will someday prove to be total drivel, and valueless.

Life and learning is an experiment.

If we knew the results of an experiment before it was undertaken...it would not be an experiment.

When I was young, I also believed all the drivel that surrounds the basic truths contained in the Watchtower, and did not realize how much of it is supposition, conjecture, opinion, and the "floating of ideas". Now that I am older, I look back and am embarrassed...at myself ... for being so naive.

A Witness is more often than not so appreciative of learning the basic truths of the Bible that come from the Watchtower, from those klutzes that could not find their way out of a room WITH a map,that he is blinded to the fact that it comes from big ugly bags of mostly water, that have the same foibles, including arrogance, that we ALL are.

Welcome to the world of carbon based life forms...and shudder.

But these arrogant, blind klutzes, that generally reason on a 7th grade level, obviously (at least in my opinion) have God's Holy Spirit, as I have earnestly looked for something better...and have not found it.

Basic truths...like not slaughtering other humans in warfare, what God is, and who he is, and what is his purpose for mankind, is frankly, not available anywhere else.

Don't get me started on the pagan traditions that the churches have adopted as their own....

So although I have to read the Watchtower for the one page that actually has some real and valuable information, and cringe that those with less developed analytical skills see it all as wonderful, even the drivel, I realize that that sense of wonder in them is leading them to know the True God at a level that they can follow, and that they can by faith and love of God, have an opportunity for understanding as they slog through that great experiment we call life.

I would prefer the Bible to be a one page technical specification, but my opinion was not asked.

Every day we should try to prove what we believed yesterday is wrong.

...But humans sometimes take generations to become competent.

All this discussion about Jehovah's witnesses is a good thing, it will eventually help us loose the high crap factor we currently carry.

Iron sharpens iron...soft soap sharpens nothing.

When everybody is speaking in agreement...it proves only one thing...nobody is thinking.

I do appreciate the Watchtower magazine, as it obviously reflects Jehovah's spirit, contaminated by our big old ugly carbon footprints.

I just wish it did not read like a 7th grade girls logic class.

But my opinion was not asked.

Tom.Rook@Technick-SA.US

Anonymous said...

Good example of incompetence with the best of intentions...I misspelled my own email address ..sigh

Tom.Rook@Technik-SA.US

Ok...seems good (looks up)

Anonymous said...

"However, that being said, I have learned the TRUTH about Jehovah God, God's viewpoint on blood, a Christians duty to be Neutral as to the political affairs of mankind, how to live at peace with everyone, everywhere, regardless of race, religion or creed...from that great compilation of 7th grade drivel...the Watchtower."

Actually, mr. rook, what you learned is the Watchtower's opinion on blood, neutrality as to political affairs and so on. You accept these teachings as true. That is not a bad thing, however, you must be able to distinguish between the two. The fact that you can accept men of all races is most probably due to your nature. Some people have an inate ability to do that.
While humans may take generation to become competent, we are not talking about humans. Jehovah is perfect and his credentials are not questioned. A perfect God would not lend his spirit to such an apostate organization that presumes to speak for him.

kimmy jo said...

tom you said,
"When everybody is speaking in agreement...it proves only one thing...nobody is thinking."

I agree with that statement and it makes a good point...the organization prides itself in being a world wide body of people who do just that...speak in agreement...under direction of the Watchtower...which you said yourself shows ...nobody is thinking.
They may teach basic truths but they teach you to only trust the Watchtower and the organization of men, which in turn do not leave judgement to God but rather to men and they wind up controlling your every thought and action rather than letting the heart prove itself before God.

Anonymous said...

Oh Tom, you made me sad. You actually see through this organisation, yet the examples you've given are not what I expected.

What exactly is the truth about 'Jehovah God'? Have you actively thought through the nature of YOUR belief in God BEFORE accepting a readymade packaged explanation?

What exactly is God's viewpoint on blood? That we are not to have blood transfusions? But JWs do, whether or not they care to admit it. By their adhering to the ridiculous policy of taking all blood components (just not together), they show a blatant disregard for human life. So many lives have been saved through blood transfusions, and I personally think the world could do with a lot more blood donors. When I made my first donation, I felt like I was finally doing my bit for humankind, because it's all about giving and taking.

Why does a christian have to be neutral as to the political affairs of mankind? Is it something you really believe, or do you believe it because the WTBS has made a pseudo-persuasive argument? Don't get me wrong - as an atheist, nothing would make me happier than for all religious individuals to butt out of politics, thereby making life easier for those of us who choose not to adopt their beliefs. But I'm curious as to the thought processes behind your acceptance of this.

It's great that you've learned to live at peace with everyone, but guess what? I do exactly that, but without a set of accompanying beliefs. A tremendous number of people who've progressed society, and who've promoted equal treatment of people and non-discriminatory behaviour have not been either Christian or religious. I guess what I'm trying to say is you don't exactly need any of the Watchtower's publications to have basic morals: they are innate within us as humans, and we need to have a lot more confidence in our ability to do good. After all, are you honestly saying that without the Watchtower, you'd be at war with everyone, being racist and discriminatory? I doubt it.

I'm afraid I find your comparison of the science and knowledge we keep gaining to the Watchtower and its drivel silly. I think that betrays a serious lack of understanding of the very nature of science, which does not even claim to be exact. No science has turned out to be 'old light'; on the contrary any errors that may have been made are usually exposed in the future. And by what? Yes, by science itself. The fact that the human element of error has come into it has made scientists aware of the need for strict rules surrounding testing of hypotheses and theories. And don't forget - science has not insisted that everyone must follow their rules, even at the expense of people's lives. Science itself has not made even a tiny proportion of the errors that all the world's religions (including the WTBS) have made. You don't have planes falling out of the sky because laws of aerodynamics failed to work. The Watchtower and its theories have consistently failed.

There's a significant difference between learning from your wrongs as a human, and being proved wrong as a religion. As a human, you admit that you're liable to making mistakes, and that life is a learning experience in its entirety. A religion claims to be the word of the divine. There should be no error. If there has been so much as a single error, then it follows that either the divine entity is an inept one in failing to ensure their will (or whatever) was accurately transmitted, OR that the whole thing was cooked up by humans. The whole concept of incompetencies is a human one. The fact that the WTBS (or any religion, for that matter) has some nuggets of wisdom doesn't make them any less charlatan. Because the nuggets of wisdom are from humans. And if humans came up with it, then you can figure it out on your own. You need no organisation claiming to be god's mouthpiece to make you see what you already know deep down.