Compound Complex has a thread that starts with the words PERSECUTION WANES. In it he states:
"After the Judge's death, as World War II was ending and persecution against the Witnesses began declining, along
with the attendant drop in news-media publicity, Hayden C. Covington told the author [of THE FOUR PRESIDENTS] that
Fred Franz saw the prohibition against blood transfusions as a way to accomplish two things: to continue to publicize
the religion, and to create an uproar in the community. This reaction would convince the membership they were being
"persecuted" and "suffering for righteousness sake," a sure sign they were "in the truth."
My jaw dropped when I read that. I decry the WTS cult. I post alot. Maybe I try to appear to have it all worked
out- as far as disbelief in the WTS goes. Truth-be-told, I have only opened up to reading material from
anti-JW internet sites and books from former members since this past Summer. I might still, in my mind, try to
think that there is much sincerity and some sound judgment in decisions from the Governing Body.
I may have thought that they were wrong about applying their blood doctrine to JW's based on the dietary restrictions
listed in the Levitical Law, and a temporary injuction on blood by the apostles to avoid stumbling the Christians who
were Jews. I may have thought that their "new light" on fractions was a way to correct their predecessors hardline
stand on blood. NOW I KNOW BETTER, but I am still surprised.
The WTS only started a ban on blood transfusions to keep the "persecution for the sake of righteousness" alive and
well. They only moderate their stance as they see necessary to combat lawsuits. Being an oddball religion, bans
like theirs on blood are just free advertising. Same with Christmas, the cross, flag saluting, voting, etc.
Also, as I read IN SEARCH OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM (faders can't just read it in one sitting, so I haven't finished)
I get to a point about the reasons why the WTS studies the same books again and again. They have stockpiles of
those books in the warehouse. It has nothing to do with "proper food at the proper time." Just accounting. They need
newer ones to obtain those older books, so they can declare a profit on them. Why am I still surprised when I read that?
I am getting more bitter as I become more AWOKE. WTS is just a book publishing company that wants as much free
advertising and free labor and free salesmen as possible. It's all about selling books. Now that they are rich off expansion
in previous decades, and tax laws have caught up with them and their efforts to skirt them with "donations only," (which
eventually failed in many countries) they sell off expensive property and try to slow the sale of books to outsiders because
profit is down.
Thanks for a place to vent this.