Jehovah's Witness Archives

Watchtower and Higher Education

December 7, 2015 By Sean

I would like to examine education from the Watchtower perspective. The video will be featuring Anthony Morris III and I will be adding a commentary and some thoughts. The organization from the beginning has no valued much in the way of education because there’s an old adage, “knowledge is power.” Through prevention of the rank and file (common Watchtowerite) from getting a higher education, speaking strictly from the educational aspect, the organization has prevented the majority of you from a better life economically which generally comes from gaining a college education. I say generally because there is no guarantee in life except for death and taxes.

Prior to looking at the Watchtower and quick start contrast is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Seventh Day Adventists.

The LDS or Mormons as is commonly known operates Brigham Young University in Brigham, Utah. They are encouraged to get a college education. One direct connection is my wife works with a Mormon and their kids have scholarships lined up when they graduate high school for a full ride to BYU. The Pew website gives interesting information on Mormons.

One impressive statistic is that 73% range from some college to a post graduate degree. The Jehovah’s Witness range is approximately 37%. That can be found here.

Another similar group is the Seventh Day Adventist in America. Their range is approximately 66%. The Adventists operate the following institutions of higher education:

Burman University in Lacombe, Alberta Canada
Walla Walla University in Washington
Pacific Union College in California
Loma Linda University in California
Union College in Nebraska
Southwestern Adventist University in Texas
Andrews University in Michigan
Kettering College in Ohio
Southern Adventist University in Tennessee
Oakwood University in Alabama
Washington Adventist University in Maryland
Adventist University of Health Sciences in Florida

In contrast, the Watchtower is unofficially jumping in late to the “party.” There is one school system that isn’t officially sanctioned or associated with the organization and it is New System School. The webpage says it is in 35 states and expanding. With this in mind, I would like to keep up with “new light” today and examine a video featuring Tony Morris.

All words in bold are those of Tony Morris or Watchtower representative.

:15-:19 Has the Governing Body changed it’s view on the pursuit of higher secular education? No.

However, you will see that this is not the case.

:30-:40 Our goal now is to focus on the pursuit of intensify our promotion of the pursuit of divine education.

Does this mean that the material put out by the organization is now to be considered inspired since the primary method of teaching a Jehovah’s Witness is through the Watchtower magazine?

:58-1:07 The cost of obtaining university training is not our primary concern. It is the potential for spiritual harm (Potential emphasis is mine).

What is the definition of spiritual harm? Could it be when an individual is away from the continual teachings of the organization they have a better chance of going inactive since they are getting information from a variety of sources in which isn’t from the organization’s official website?

1:34-1:50 Ask yourself, “Why are you getting additional education? Because I’m pursuing a specific skill or trade to support my service to Jehovah?”

Why does Jehovah need more workers when the work which should be “speeding up” isn’t going anywhere? The organization is losing people and trying to mask this by giving reasons with information on their website “Branch Offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses Consolidated” and the accompanying reason why it’s happening.

Here’s a news article that says as much:

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article32136270.html

What we have again is the classic case of the organization stating one thing yet actions aren’t meeting the words.

Also, let’s just say for one minute that Armageddon happened today. The Society hasn’t looked at Revelation 21:5 (NWT): And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Let’s contrast this with information printed out by the organization:

It says, first of all, you have the work of cleaning up the earth and clearing away the ruins of this old system. And then they will have the privilege, under the direction of the Kingdom rule, of cultivating the earth and making it a beautiful place in which to live.

You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. 1982, 1989 edition. p. 159

So in short, the organization is preparing you to be unemployed in the new system if the words of the New World Translation are correct. However, if the quote from You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth is correct, as a Witness, the words in the New World Translation are in error.

1:50-2:00 Or will higher education make me a more respected person lead me to a better life.

This chart provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics should give enough evidence that economically, it is better to have a college education.

http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm

2:03-2:10 If we are in continued association with those who do not believe the same, it can erode our thinking and convictions.

The organization in short wants to rely on the door to door work to gain converts. I guess those who became Christians after working or being friends with someone isn’t a good method even though Jesus in Matthew 28:19 said, “Make disciples.” He doesn’t say how, He just says to do it. That leaves a lot of latitude in the methodology.

2:31-2:36 We are to be careful that this system does not share or mold our thinking.

To a point I would agree. However, isn’t this what the organization does? Is there as much churn and change in the world as there is with the organization regarding different types of changes such as doctrine?

2:37-2:42 Higher learning can easily influence thinking and attitude.

Couldn’t this easily be applied to the organization as well since it influences thinking and attitude? One example is how the organization uses John 14:28 to disprove the deity of Jesus, doesn’t the organization do the same thing?

3:14-3:23 Who dropped them off at the university? Where does the responsibility really lie?

What we have here is Tony Morris finding a way to not encourage parents to send their child to college.

5:23-5:36 Think of all the opportunity to enjoy divine education (accompanied by this image):

Does divine education need to be done in the sight of men? Galatians 1:10 comes to mind, and it says, (New World Translation), “Or am I trying to please men?” Or perhaps John 14:23 (New World Translation) “for they loved the glory of men ever more than the glory of God.”

Does “divine education” need to be done in the local kingdom hall or during an activity associated with other Witnesses?

5:52-6:07 We need construction skills around the world right now. We will not need doctors or lawyers after Armageddon.

If that is the case, why doesn’t the organization put an end to the lawyers in the legal department and have them pick up a hammer instead to help out with these construction projects? They are wasting their time on one case when they should devote that time for kingdom hall construction.

6:25-6:36 Speaking of lawyers, we have an interesting case of brother Philip Bromley. The organization made a decision to send you through law school.

It is foolish to want to be a doctor or a lawyer.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. August 1, 1975 p.451

Yet, when the organization deems it necessary, they can send someone violating the very words it printed.

6:50-6:55 A fierce spirit of competition in law school.

Isn’t the goal of the educational system in general promote competition to see who is number one? Are the traits he mentioned employed by the organization especially when it comes to the growing number of child abuse cases going to court?

8:24-9:00An inclination toward medicine, become a nurse instead of a doctor. Become a paralegal rather than an attorney… Consume four, six, eight, or 10 years of study. Focus on two years of study to become a pioneer.

Here we have again the organization promoting someone to not try to explore their academic possibility but to immediately get into a field that interests them yet limit automatically limit themselves.

This is again a case where you can go to college and do Biblical things. The person who goes to college simply has to learn time management skills. This is coming from someone who has a bachelor degree and a juris doctorate (most likely seven total years of education).

Why not give up being a lawyer? Paul the Apostle gave up a lot according to Philippians 3:8 (NWT): What is more, I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ.

9:00-9:25 Subtle mental conditioning that can transpire when exposed to higher education. If they need further attorneys, they won’t expose the Bethel family.

Doesn’t the organization do the exact same thing? Are they supposed to go outside of the channel of communication for help?

9:55-10:15 College was a factor in breaking up a family

Further blatant fear mongering by blaming college as a contributing factor to a family breakup.

10:15-10:33 Why not pioneer a year after high school? You’re young, strong, and healthy.

Is it possible that as the organization is getting older due to the young leaving that they want the youth to get involved immediately in hopes of convincing them to stay?

This organization wants to keep you like a child. Children are dependent typically on a mother. The organization calls itself this in May 1, 1957 on page 274 of the Watchtower magazine says, “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.”

Watchtower History Through Bible Translation

November 24, 2015 By Sean

I have been reading through the Golden Age 1926. I came across this statement on page 242 of the January 13 edition, “The Society issues Bibles or parts of Bibles in 572 languages” under the subheading, “Soviets Refuse Admission of Bible.”

This is telling in and of itself. The organization that we know today is known for publishing as it says, “Bible based publications.” Here it is the total opposite and only talked about the Bibles it has printed.

This site gives statistics on how many Bibles are in existence by language: Quora-How Many Languages is The Bible In?

From this page you will see that 2,900 languages of the 7,000 on the face of the planet have some portion of the Bible written in it’s language. That number is getting added to.

Let’s examine one group that is considered part of “Babylon the Great.” I heard a presentation from the Wycliffe Global Alliance and how they are working at getting more bibles into foreign lands. If memory serves me correctly, they first go for the gospel according to John, then move to the rest of the Greek Scriptures. From there, they cover the Hebrew Scriptures. The translation process for them requires years of training to gain mastery of the language.

The video below taken from the Annual Meeting of es in 2013 Part 4 of 7 has Geoffrey Jackson explaining information regarding translation techniques 2:25-3:35 mark.

Notice it’s English comprehension and computer skills needed as primary skills for translation.

This led me to searching the Society and seeing how many languages the New World Translation is printed in. Here’s one quote I found:

The Bible is the worlds most widely translated book-parts of it being available in over 2400 languages. Some languages have not just one translation but scores of them. If you have a choice in your language, you surly want to use the very best translation you can find.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. May 1, 2008 p. 18

This can be possibly misleading. The causal Watchtower reader may possibly believe that the organization is responsible for producing a number of the Bibles.

However, let’s see what the New World Translation edition of 2013 on page 4 says:

Available in whole or in part in over 120 languages.

New World Translation. 2013 Edition. p. 4

Let’s contrast that with other publications.

For instance, The Watchtower, available in over 210 languages, explains Bible prophecy, increases our comprehension of deep spiritual truths, and motivates us to live by Bible principles. Awake! magazine, published in some 100 languages, broadens our knowledge of Jehovah’s creative works and shows us how to apply the Bible’s practical counsel. (Prov. 3:21-23; Rom. 1:20) The faithful slave provides Bible-based material in more than 680 languages!

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. August 15, 2014. p. 4

So let’s do some analysis on the information above:

The Wycliffe Global Alliance that is part of “Babylon the Great,” puts forth a greater effort in bible translation since it produces 531 complete translations compared to the 120 of the Watchtower Society. The difference is approximately 411 languages.

Why doesn’t Jehovah give his blessing to his “one true organization” and have the Society with a greater output then this group (it’s just one that i’ve listed and there are most likely more)? The Wycliffe Group on their about page started in approximately 1942. The Watchtower Society was founded in 1879 and has a 63 year head start. The sole mission of this group is to produce a Bible in every language needing one by 2025. This is in great contrast to the organization that is supposed to be advancing the kingdom which had a definitive date of establishment in the days of Russell (1914) to now it is “soon” to be established.

In 1926, the organization primarily utilized the King James Version. It wasn’t until 1942 that the organization started to use the American Standard Version for in part because of the use of the word “Jehovah” used throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. As you may well know, the organization first released the complete New World Translation in 1961 after releasing it in part starting in 1950. Regardless, the primary bible used by the organization has seen a net decrease of 452 languages from the days of Rutherford until now.

The JW Library App has the King James and American Standard Version available in addition to the Kingdom Interlinear, Byington, and New World Translation available. Why not hand out one of those translations such as the King James Version? It has been translated into approximately 2,452 languages according to the site King James Bible Online.

I think it goes on to show without much explanation needed that the New World Translation of the Bible has been altered to fit their doctrines rather than conform their doctrines to that of the Bible. One easy example is Philippians 2:9 with the insertion of the word “other” that is no longer in brackets. Hence, the Society is at a disadvantage of getting Bibles into foreign lands.

Next, the Watchtower is written in over 210 languages. The New World Translation is written in 120. This means that the organization has 90 more languages available for reading the Watchtower Magazine compared to the New World Translation. If you as a Jehovah’s Witness are going to actually read the verses listed, how can you do so without a translation? Does this mean that there is an incomplete meal of “proper food at the proper time?” I merely ask the question, what does the organization place a priority on? The Awake! magazine has a slightly lesser importance given that it is printed in only 100 languages.

Perhaps with the organization printing less in regards to the Watchtower and Awake! magazines, they will reallocate some of the funds to Bible making (it’s a dream, yes I know).

With things like this in mind, what has caused the organization to go from speaking in reference to the languages the Bible has been printed in to focusing more on “bible related” material by the organization?

For all of the material that you place in door to door work, how often do you go and place a Bible as opposed to a Watchtower magazine?

By all means, place down that Watchtower and read the Bible. Learn who the Jesus of the Bible is and I will ask, would you consider walking away from this organization and accepting Jesus only? If this organization was truly worried about the eternal state of people, should it print more Bibles or more Watchtower related material?

What Kind Of Headlines Does The Organization Generate?

November 2, 2015 By Sean

A few days ago it was Halloween. Approximately 99 years ago, Pastor Charles Taze Russell died. A biography was printed in the December 1, 1916 issue of The Watchtower and Hearld of Christ’s Presence. Before getting into the topic the organization denied writing a biography:

“But, is it true you have never published a biography of Pastor Russell?

John: That’s right. Jehovah’s witnesses admire the qualities he possessed as a man, but were we to give the honor and credit to Pastor Russell, we would be saying that the works and success were his; but Jehovah’s witnesses believe it is God’s spirit that guides and directs his people.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. 1959. p. 63

After funeral services at The Temple in New York and at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh, Brother Russell was buried at Allegheny, in the Bethel family plot, according to his request. A brief biography of Russell along with his will and testament was published in The Watch Tower of December 1, 1916, as well as in subsequent editions of the first volume of Studies in the Scriptures.

Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom. 1993 p. 64

I want you to read a single verse, Ephesians 5:27 which says, New World Translation “In order that he (Christ) might present the congregation to himself in its splendor, without a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but holy and without blemish.”

In short looking at the last portion of the verse, Christ wanted the church to be without reproach and blameless in the world. So with that in mind, today I want to cover “What Kind Of Headlines Does The Organization Generate?”

This is an organization that has had many controversies from the first leader until today. Aside from the bible and it’s doctrinal stances that have changed or practices such as blood transfusions, it extends into the media whether it be print or video. If you are a Watchtowerite, when there is great press given to the organization, it is readily promoted on the official website. Something along the lines of “this is Jehovah will or doing” is mentioned. When there is press that is completely negative, the organization says it is “persecution.” By claiming persecution, your conditioned response is to completely ignore everything that is said and you may have something in your mind that “this is Satan trying to prevent our work.” With this in mind, here’s some Watchtower generated headlines over the years:

Pastor Russell 1879-1916

Pastor Russell Say’s He’s Not Frightened
Girl’s Midnight Visit to Pastor C. T. Russell: Girl got arrested
Skeptical Uncle Sam Seeks to Know More About “Miracle” Grain
Pastor Russell Sues Eagle for $100,000
Girl Kissed Pastor and Sat On His Knee
Reason’s Why Pastor Russell’s Wife Left Him
Giving Up Their Homes, Following Russellism
“Pastor” Russell’s Imaginary Sermons
“Pastor” Russell Loses Libel Suit
Russell Follower on “Fallen Angels”
Russell Finances Bared by Follower
Call “Pastor’s” Wife In Russell Trial
Miracle Wheat Low In Government Test
Russell In Court As Lawyer Sums Up
Pastor Must Pay Taxes
Asks Who Pays Bills of Bethel Inmates
“Miracle Wheat” Again: Being Exploited in an “Ad” Disguised as News
(T) Not Produced at Court Hearing
Eagle Upheld in Libel Suit Victory
Eagle’sVictory over “Pastor,” Complete
The Vindication of a Cartoon
Canada Deports “Pastor” Russell
Offers Cancer “Cure”: “Pastor” Russell Publication Which Boosted Miracle Wheat Offers Recipe
‘Pastor’ C.T. Russell Dies; Burial Here
Watch Tower Will Elect a New Head
Watch Tower Gets “Estate” of “Pastor”

Russell Newspaper Articles

Rutherford 1916-1942

Are We At the End of the World? Oakland Tribune. August 25, 1917
Million’s Campaign: The Boston Evening Globe. December 17, 1920
1. Million’s Campaign: Los Angeles Morning Tribune, February 25, 1918, as recorded in Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan, 1957, p. 86
Great Pyramid
1. 1926-10 Bizarre Theories About the Great Pyramid that DON’T Involve Aliens
Can the American Government Endure? No! Says Judge Rutherford. The Sunday Times Signal. October 16, 1933.
Rutherford Dead But Burial of Sect Leader Delayed
1. Wanted to bury him at Beth Sarim. January 12, 1942.
Shrine Planned for Rutherford. The Coshocton Tribune. January 12, 1942.
Judge Rutherford Lives Again, Sect’s Trial Witness Tells Jury. Brooklyn Eagle. May 21, 1943
Rutherford Thundered Rebukes, Witness Says. Brooklyn Eagle. May 24, 1943

Knorr 1942-1977: Shift from leadership to the people

1958: Jehovah’s Witnesses Yankee Stadium
1. Link 1
2. Link 2
1975: Sects: Witnessing the End (Times article)

Franz 1977-1992

1990: Watchtower Exec Jumps to Death: Brooklyn Heights Newspaper. August 3, 1990.

Hershel 1992-2000

Quiet Period with not much

Adams 2000-Present

As you can see, these headlines are things generally hidden and not what the organization would promote. After going through headlines like these from the beginning until now, this organization would not, as I see it, qualify as a spiritual paradise. Again, in a bought of hypocrisy, when something negative is said, the response is similar to, “there’s someone like that in every organization,” however, when amongst Jehovah’s people, there is no “badness” or “anything that would bring reproach upon Jehovah’s name” amongst the congregation.

The headlines started with the leadership and since the focus was on them, what was going on with the average “rank and file?” It is quite possible that some things were known amongst the members. If this is the case, did they model their activities after the leadership? This is an organization that has had problems from the beginnings with its foundation and they are always there and going through the organization. The question comes then, why do you elect to stay in this organization that continues to be shrouded in controversy and has been proven wrong over again and again. Put the publications down, come directly to Jesus since He would not have a part of this in the least bit.