What can we stream from the net today?
Catholic Broadcasting - http://www.catholictv.com/
Baptist Broadcasting - http://sugarcreek.tv/
Christian Broadcasting - http://www.streamingfaith.com/
Trinity/Christian Broadcasting - http://www.tbn.org/
Mormon Broadcasting - http://www.mormon.org/videos
And now...
Jehovah’s Witnesses Broadcasting - http://tv.jw.org/
As the self-proclaimed 'celestial chariot of God' plays catch up with the other religions of the world, the re-branding and relatively new marketed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society's religion, distances itself even further from its embarrassing "Watchtower" associated history and pushes forward with its 'JW.ORG' moniker.
Those who have the experience of being a part of the organization in the 1990's and earlier will recall the outright bad-mouthing and demonizing of the internet and broadcast media evangelizing.
However, desperate times call for desperate measures. So, Jehovah's Witnesses, welcome to a modernization, in part, by immersing into the religious multimedia club; as the Society's business leaders try to make the religion appear less antiquated and more mainstream.
Will it work, or will it backfire to an extent? Time will tell. History has shown many will continue to toe the line, regardless of any change the leaders implement and the flip-flopping on many issues.
Additionally, to aid in the Orwellian world the Watchtower Society provides to its sheep regarding its past, they've only made available online, literature from the year 2000 and newer, while having discontinued CD-ROMs containing older Watchtower produced publications filled with hypocrisy and contradictions.
In an age of information though, the opportunity for ignorance to remain and the overlooking of facts occurs less, especially in First World nations, as do tolerance for those who continue to perpetrate a fraud. Nonetheless, the 'social club' aspect of a book publishing company turned real estate money making machine may retain its loyal followers.
Furthermore, the emotional and mental hold, the investment of one's life and resources, may have reached or will reach a tipping point yet.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
JW.ORG Children Activities
The Watchtower Society knows exactly what they're doing respecting the impression it tries to leave with young ones. Their Governing Body approves publishing children storybooks and/or activities that may deeply and profoundly affect the mind, including decision making abilities.
Who can forget "My Book of Bible Stories" with the picture of the flood, and the mother holding on to her baby about to die a drowning death due to not heeding the warning of going to and remaining inside theWatchtower organization controlled Jehovah's Witnesses ark?
Lot's wife was also a prominent story in that book with a well illustrated picture of her turned into a pillar of salt, situated in a backdrop of fire destruction, while Lot and his daughters who obeyedthe Watchtower Jehovah, and did everything exactly the way the Watchtower Jehovah stated, were saved.
It builds fear as earlier as possible regarding leaving the Watchtower organization. Children see the deaths of the mother and her baby and Lot's wife vividly illustrated which can place in their mind (sub) consciously, "If I leave Jehovah's Witnesses, this will happen to me (at Armageddon)", much stronger than just words on a page.
Some of the latest Watchtower Society's BITE model actions include the following coloring activity geared towards young children on JW.ORG :
It's argumentum ad metum or argumentum in terrorem - an appeal to fear, the fear mongering tactics employed that is par for the course when it comes to...
Behavior control
Information control
Thought control
Emotional control
All for and from the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Who can forget "My Book of Bible Stories" with the picture of the flood, and the mother holding on to her baby about to die a drowning death due to not heeding the warning of going to and remaining inside the
Lot's wife was also a prominent story in that book with a well illustrated picture of her turned into a pillar of salt, situated in a backdrop of fire destruction, while Lot and his daughters who obeyed
It builds fear as earlier as possible regarding leaving the Watchtower organization. Children see the deaths of the mother and her baby and Lot's wife vividly illustrated which can place in their mind (sub) consciously, "If I leave Jehovah's Witnesses, this will happen to me (at Armageddon)", much stronger than just words on a page.
Some of the latest Watchtower Society's BITE model actions include the following coloring activity geared towards young children on JW.ORG :
It's argumentum ad metum or argumentum in terrorem - an appeal to fear, the fear mongering tactics employed that is par for the course when it comes to...
Behavior control
Information control
Thought control
Emotional control
All for and from the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Dogs - Appropriate for Jehovah's Witnesses?
The Watchtower teaches that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays in part due to a couple of tragedies during two of them, which therefore places them under a negative light in God's eyes.
If such select reasoning from the Bible places birthdays in unfavorable light, how about pets? Specifically, let's consider dogs.
We will see how dogs are often viewed, whom they are associated with and are they appropriate then for Jehovah's Witnesses?
Straight from their 2013 revision of the Bible provided by the Watchtower Society:
Isaiah 56:10 - His watchmen are blind, none of them have taken note. All of them are speechless dogs, unable to bark. They are panting and lying down; they love to slumber.
Psalms 22:16-21 - For dogs surround me; They close in on me like a pack of evildoers, Like a lion they are at my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. They look on and stare at me. They divide my garments among themselves, And they cast lots for my clothing. But you, O Jehovah, do not remain far away. You are my strength; hurry to help me. Save me from the sword, My precious life from the paws of dogs; Save me from the mouth of the lion and the horns of wild bulls; Answer and save me.
Proverbs 26:11 - Like a dog that returns to its vomit, The stupid one repeats his foolishness.
Philippians 3:2 - Look out for the dogs; look out for those who cause injury; look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Revelation 22:15 - Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.
From their own Bible, dogs are often placed in a negative light with unfavorable connotations and associated with those who are liars, idolaters, murderers, sexually immoral and practice spiritism.
From the Watchtower's own version of the Bible using their reasoning, Jehovah's Witnesses should be more concerned with avoiding or having dogs as pets, if they are drawing any sort of conclusion to avoid birthdays from the Bible.
If such select reasoning from the Bible places birthdays in unfavorable light, how about pets? Specifically, let's consider dogs.
We will see how dogs are often viewed, whom they are associated with and are they appropriate then for Jehovah's Witnesses?
Straight from their 2013 revision of the Bible provided by the Watchtower Society:
Isaiah 56:10 - His watchmen are blind, none of them have taken note. All of them are speechless dogs, unable to bark. They are panting and lying down; they love to slumber.
Psalms 22:16-21 - For dogs surround me; They close in on me like a pack of evildoers, Like a lion they are at my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. They look on and stare at me. They divide my garments among themselves, And they cast lots for my clothing. But you, O Jehovah, do not remain far away. You are my strength; hurry to help me. Save me from the sword, My precious life from the paws of dogs; Save me from the mouth of the lion and the horns of wild bulls; Answer and save me.
Proverbs 26:11 - Like a dog that returns to its vomit, The stupid one repeats his foolishness.
Philippians 3:2 - Look out for the dogs; look out for those who cause injury; look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Revelation 22:15 - Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.
From their own Bible, dogs are often placed in a negative light with unfavorable connotations and associated with those who are liars, idolaters, murderers, sexually immoral and practice spiritism.
From the Watchtower's own version of the Bible using their reasoning, Jehovah's Witnesses should be more concerned with avoiding or having dogs as pets, if they are drawing any sort of conclusion to avoid birthdays from the Bible.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Real Estate And The New Donation Arrangement
The Watchtower Society's sold properties in recent years include:
360 Furman Street = $205 million
67 Livingston Street = $18.6 million
89 Hicks Street = $14 million
169 Columbia Heights = $50 million
50 Orange Street = $7.1 million
165 Columbia Heights = $4.1 million
161 Columbia Heights = $3 million
183 Columbia Heights = $6.6 million
105 Willow Street = $3.3 million
34 Orange Street = $2.825 million
Bossert Hotel = $81 million
67 Remsen Street = $3.25 million
173 Front Street, 177 Front Street, 200 Water Street = $30.6 million
117 Adams Street, 55 Prospect Street, 175 Pearl Street, 81 Prospect Street, 77 Sands Street, 90 Sands Street = $375 million
TOTAL = $804,375,000 in real estate property sales.
The Watchtower Society has also recently arranged for congregations to survey and collect a form indicating a pledge amount publishers commit to in writing that would be donated monthly, in cooperation with a new donation arrangement.
There have been a few letters sent to the elder bodies concerning this arrangement, including a four pages one, in which only the first page was read to the congregation. The three pages that followed laid the groundwork for the below "adjustments".
In the letter dated May 12, 2014, and shared among the Elder Body alone, it directs:
In part, it stipulates:
1. Each congregation is allowed to keep 2-3 months of operating expenses in the bank.
2. A maximum amount of $5000 per Kingdom Hall in additional reserve.
3. The only other items permitted to be consider and have money set aside is for other already agreed to resolutions such as: The Kingdom Hall Assistance Arrangement, The Traveling Overseer Assistance Arrangement, and now this new arrangement which is completely restructuring finances.
Surplus in the bank is to be sent to the Watchtower Society and not saved by the congregation. This was covered on page 3 from the letter dated March 29, 2014 (Again, only page 1 was read to the congregation):
The Governing Body has referred to the above restructuring of finances towards a so-called "Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction program". They are taking practically all of the congregations' saved and surplus money in addition to setting up (indirect) tithing with its members.
Please, Jehovah's Witnesses - WAKE UP!
360 Furman Street = $205 million
67 Livingston Street = $18.6 million
89 Hicks Street = $14 million
169 Columbia Heights = $50 million
50 Orange Street = $7.1 million
165 Columbia Heights = $4.1 million
161 Columbia Heights = $3 million
183 Columbia Heights = $6.6 million
105 Willow Street = $3.3 million
34 Orange Street = $2.825 million
Bossert Hotel = $81 million
67 Remsen Street = $3.25 million
173 Front Street, 177 Front Street, 200 Water Street = $30.6 million
117 Adams Street, 55 Prospect Street, 175 Pearl Street, 81 Prospect Street, 77 Sands Street, 90 Sands Street = $375 million
TOTAL = $804,375,000 in real estate property sales.
The Watchtower Society has also recently arranged for congregations to survey and collect a form indicating a pledge amount publishers commit to in writing that would be donated monthly, in cooperation with a new donation arrangement.
There have been a few letters sent to the elder bodies concerning this arrangement, including a four pages one, in which only the first page was read to the congregation. The three pages that followed laid the groundwork for the below "adjustments".
In the letter dated May 12, 2014, and shared among the Elder Body alone, it directs:
In part, it stipulates:
1. Each congregation is allowed to keep 2-3 months of operating expenses in the bank.
2. A maximum amount of $5000 per Kingdom Hall in additional reserve.
3. The only other items permitted to be consider and have money set aside is for other already agreed to resolutions such as: The Kingdom Hall Assistance Arrangement, The Traveling Overseer Assistance Arrangement, and now this new arrangement which is completely restructuring finances.
Surplus in the bank is to be sent to the Watchtower Society and not saved by the congregation. This was covered on page 3 from the letter dated March 29, 2014 (Again, only page 1 was read to the congregation):
The Governing Body has referred to the above restructuring of finances towards a so-called "Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction program". They are taking practically all of the congregations' saved and surplus money in addition to setting up (indirect) tithing with its members.
Please, Jehovah's Witnesses - WAKE UP!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Appointing Power And Responsibility
The following letter dated April 22, 2014 was recently read to all congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses from their Governing Body:
Oddly enough, it has taken decades for Jehovah’s Holy Spirit to reveal to the Governing Body this scriptural precedent of having traveling/circuit overseers perform appointments and deletions of Ministerial Servants and Elders directly for the congregations.
Or is the reason due to what was once viewed as power and control by the Governing Body has become a liability.
Indeed, by placing the responsibility of appointment and deletions into the hands of Circuit Overseers, issues like Elders and Ministerial Servants sexually molesting or even raping children cannot be traced directly back to the Governing Body as the ones responsible for appointing and retaining such individuals within the congregation.
Rather, the finger points and accountability reaches to the height of the Circuit Overseer only; whereas now the Governing Body can once again wash its hands clean of responsibility.
The Governing Body is not only retreating in their previous prominent physical location to a more secluded and isolated area, they are also trying to minimize and reduce their accountability towards congregational issues.
Truly these are spiritual leaders of integrity and self-sacrifice, are they not?
Oddly enough, it has taken decades for Jehovah’s Holy Spirit to reveal to the Governing Body this scriptural precedent of having traveling/circuit overseers perform appointments and deletions of Ministerial Servants and Elders directly for the congregations.
Or is the reason due to what was once viewed as power and control by the Governing Body has become a liability.
Indeed, by placing the responsibility of appointment and deletions into the hands of Circuit Overseers, issues like Elders and Ministerial Servants sexually molesting or even raping children cannot be traced directly back to the Governing Body as the ones responsible for appointing and retaining such individuals within the congregation.
Rather, the finger points and accountability reaches to the height of the Circuit Overseer only; whereas now the Governing Body can once again wash its hands clean of responsibility.
The Governing Body is not only retreating in their previous prominent physical location to a more secluded and isolated area, they are also trying to minimize and reduce their accountability towards congregational issues.
Truly these are spiritual leaders of integrity and self-sacrifice, are they not?
Friday, April 4, 2014
The Gilead Experience
From a friend as an open letter to all...
"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.
JW's 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 JW's use and understand the bible. You see, on a very fundamental, foundational level, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses (GB) don't use the bible the way JW's 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 GB. 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 JW's. 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 JW's really teach that practically ALL "faithful" OT 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, JW's teach that most all of these characters refer to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Governing Body. (GB)
"Mature" JW's 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 GB 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, esp 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 GB world view, it is scriptural to be nutty about anything the WT 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 JW's, 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."
"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.
JW's 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 JW's use and understand the bible. You see, on a very fundamental, foundational level, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses (GB) don't use the bible the way JW's 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 GB. 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 JW's. 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 JW's really teach that practically ALL "faithful" OT 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, JW's teach that most all of these characters refer to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Governing Body. (GB)
"Mature" JW's 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 GB 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, esp 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 GB world view, it is scriptural to be nutty about anything the WT 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 JW's, 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."
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