Previous to a major policy change in 1990, Watchtower literature was distributed at what was termed a "specified contribution" price for each item. Witness canvassers (called "publishers") bought their literature supplies from the congregation and then resold these from door-to-door. All monies were then remitted to the Society's headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.
The new policy announced in 1990 detailed a complete donation basis for literature. It was now to be supplied without charge to congregations, but contribution boxes are placed by the counter for donations from the publishers, supposedly to cover the cost of printing and distribution. In the field, donations for the items are solicited, but are supposedly not necessary in order to obtain books and magazines. Such donations received from the public are then to be brought back to the Kingdom Hall and sent to the Society.
What was the motivation for these changes?
The Society's answer was that less paperwork would be needed and the literature could be more easily distributed. "By adopting a method of literature distribution based completely on donation, Jehovah's people are able to greatly simplify our Bible education work and separate ourselves from those who commercialize religion." (Letter from the Watch Tower Society to all U.S. congregations dated February 21, 1990.)
This is a blatant lie! The real truth is:
In the SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, October Tenth, 1988, Case No. 88-1374, filed on June 22, 1988, Clerk Joseph F. Spanol, Jr.
On that date and file number, The Attoreny James M. McCabe,and Donald T. Ridley, 25 Colombia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11251 (718)606-4993, Attorneys for Amicus Curiae, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. filed a "Friends of the Court" brief on the behalf of the famous preacher, Jimmy Swaggart and his Ministries.
Why would the Watchtower Society, direct channel for Jehovah's holy spirt, which also godly hates Babylon the Great, which also Christiandom is the largest part, go into the Supreme Court of the United States and file a legal brief to help Jimmy Swaggart's ministries in his trial which was Case No. 88-1374: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, Appelant vs. BOARD OF EQUALIZATION OF CALIFORNIA, Appeller?
Early 1980 State of California informs Jimmy Swaggart Ministries that tax is due for religious books and tapes sold in the state since 1974. Swaggart eventually pays the tax--$183,000.00--but sues for a refund. The case begins moving toward the U.S. Supreme Court.
February, 1989 U.S. Supreme Court rules it is illegal for Texas (and 14 other states) to exempt religious books from sales tax. Some states had been taxing religious books all along.
Summer, 1989 WT Society gives away "free" books released at U.S. conventions. Witnesses are instructed to place donations in contribution boxes to cover the cost.
June 22, 1989 Watchtower Society, files amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Jimmy Swaggart case. Others filing similar briefs include National Council of Churches and Society for Krishna Consciousness.
January 17, 1990 U.S. Supreme Court rules against Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, declaring that the sales tax must be paid.
February 9, 1990 WT Society writes letter to congregations announcing that literature will no longer be sold at Kingdom Hall and no price will be set in door-to-door distribution.
February 25, 1990 February 9th letter from Society is read at Sunday meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses across the United States.
March 1, 1990 New policy of distributing literature without naming a price goes into effect.
The March 15, 1990, WATCHTOWER magazine and March 22nd AWAKE!--printed earlier--still say "25 cents (U.S.) a copy" and "$5.00 (U.S.) per year." The April 1, 1990, Watchtower no longer carries a price.
March 11, 1990 Announcement is made at Kingdom Halls in the U.S. that food will be available at no cost, on a freewill donation basis, at JW conventions.
The Watchtowr Bible and Tract Society simply did not want to pay the tax on goods sold.
"the Scriptures justify the 'war strategy' of hiding true facts from the enemy."--THE WATCHTOWER May 15, 1960, page 295
14 comments:
Good for the lawyers who work for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society! They averted what could have been another attempt to stop the preaching work. Not by telling lies but by seeing what the governments, controlled by Satan, would attempt to do to waylay the work of Jehovah's people.
What do you expect from Jehovah's organization. Even you people try to "sell" secret books of Jehovah's Witnesses....when we get all that information for free. We give our literature to people for free. If you are a reader on this blog, and have taken any literature from a Witness...ask yourself, How much did I donate for that book? 99% of the time it was ZERO!
We are such a progressive Organization. Why do you insist on dragging out Watchtowers from the 1960's????? We don't even have food at our conventions anymore. So there is no problem, right?
And if they did offer food for "free" what's it to you? And if the Brothers, who know food isn't really free unless it's manna from heaven, want to donate to cover the costs...what's the harm?
I don't need to know all the reasons behind what the brothers decide to do back at Bethel. I am sure it did save paperwork to go to a donation only catagory. Did it save having to pay taxes? Maybe, but why not since we are a tax free Organization. Think of all the people who cheat and lie not to pay taxes. Then think of all the smart people who use the legal provisions by the government to avoid taxes. I'd say the Brothers were smart, very smart!
But why don't they just tell us the truth? would not it be better if they said they don't want to pay tax? why lie about it? They do this all the time. They tell us they did something for one reason and it turns out to be another reason. it looks bad for them.
Perhaps it would be good if something did interrupt their preaching work. After all, they're teachings are based on the 1914 sham. Once they get people roped into the org., then the person is subjected to mind-conditioning, in order to convince them to give their trust and loyalty to the Governing Body.
If a person teaches something that is not true, and tells people that their everlasting life depends on believing these things that aren't true, who are they working for?
Jehovah is a revealer of secrets. He's exposing all the dirty laundry so that people who want to worship him in spirit and truth can get prepared for the upcoming judgment against the "house of God." JW's in general will not be expecting this because they have been taught that this judgment has already taken place (1918).
Wake up people!
The point being made was not how clever the JWs are, but how they put spin on everything, even lie, to make it look like divine guidance, Jehovah's hand was there.
No it wasnt and they lied, again.
To the best of my knowledge and belief, at this time, the apostate is right about this one...
But then again, I have been accumulating a file for five years of stuff about the United Nations NGO controversy that also made the WTB&TS look guilty as homemade sin, and I have commented on this forum to that effect...my shame by extension.
However, I have been up all night reading information that is far more reasonable that I NOW know, as of today, completely exonerates the Society of any culpability before God or man in this NGO issue.
Two days ago everything I had accumulated in my computer file folder over the last few years would have said otherwise ...did say otherwise.
So .... it appears that about the "free literature" issue their foray into the legal issue was a wrong, and their spin on it was a lie ... but then again, based on my recent "revelation by research", I should give them the benefit of the doubt.
I have been wrong for five years about the NGO issue, in good conscience believed the apostates' suppositions. They were very reasonable.......at the time.
I will start a new computer file folder on this one, and see what piles up.
Tom.Rook@Technik-SA.US
Excellent question...defenders, please answer...
"Why would the Watchtower Society, direct channel for Jehovah's holy spirit, which hates Babylon the Great, which Christendom is the largest part, GO INTO the Supreme Court of the United States and FILE A LEGAL BREIF TO HELP Jimmy Swaggart's MINISTRIES in his trial which was Case No. 88-1374: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, Appellant vs. BOARD OF EQUALIZATION OF CALIFORNIA, Applier?"
*sigh*
a friend of the court brief is not the same as submitting a document on behalf of the defendent. when legal precedent is possible/probably, anyone who might be affected by the outcome would rightly file a friend of the court brief to make sure the court isn't just addressing the single court case, but is also made aware of other situations. in this case, the supreme court held up the lower court's decision.
because the branch didn't announce the change as being a result of the court case doesn't make them out to be liars. as the court case was making its way thru the legal system, the branch may have already been considering making the change. whatever the impetus for the change, i'm happy with the explanation.
Well, Tom, if you believe that the Watchtower was telling the truth about the NGO and their affiliation with the UN, then it's back to the drawing board for you.
When the story broke, you should have seen the panic in the offices of the higher ups. They did everything they could to keep this information from getting out. They were guilty and they knew it. They became so confused about what to do that they sent out two letters to the branch offices with two different excuses for joining the UN. They could not seem to get their lies straight. I almost felt sorry for them. Calls were pouring in from all over the world and they had to delegate certain brothers to answer the many questions about their duplicity. THE UN was getting so many calls from the witnesses about the matter that they put the information on their website and begged people not to call in.
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But, lets say, just for the sake of argument, that they did not lie about their UN status. Aren't they always telling the witnesses to avoid even "the appearance of impropriety?"
All other things being equal, they failed to follow their own advice.
may I ask what kind of information that was tom (regarding the UN NGO story)? I would really be interested to hear it. thanks.
may I ask what kind of information that was tom (regarding the UN NGO story)? I would really be interested to hear it. thanks.
Perhaps it was
this research
Friend of Jehovah's, does not Jehovah's faithful and decreet slave say we shouldnt listen to Christendom poisonings? What would you be doing on this wesite in the first place. Learn to be robotically obedient.
Smart friend, what would I gain if saved on buying fertilizers if I planted weed among wheat with the hope of being smarter than if I did otherwise. If you are fighting an enemy, Christendom, would it be smart to avoid costs of fighting it by rather supporting it? Have insight.
You seem to be given to law. Well am given to Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. Am thus no good in laws but logic. The faithful and discreet slave has many a times told you off from visiting apostate or christendom websites. What did you for instance type on google to come to this website? Lies that Watchtower Teach? Your friend Jehovah is keeping a continous eye to see if you are robotically obetient. You need to repent, pal.
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