by cabasilas 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I was playing around on Internet Archive's database of reexamine.org and came across this file:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060222223514/www.reexamine.org/images/VowofPovertyforBethelites2002.pdf
What exactly was this? Was it done for tax purposes? It just seems like such a strange thing to have Bethelites sign. Anyone know the history behind this?
Wow... I was looking for this the other day - thanks.
I would image that it forms some sort of employment contract - I'm off to take a look.
From FreeMinds :
Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses (Incorporated 2000)President Patrick J. LaFranca
Vice Presidents Peter D. Molchan, Ralph E. Walls
Secretary/Treasurer Joseph D. Mercante
Directors Marvin G. Smalley, Kenneth J. Pulcifer, Eugene D. Rosam, Jr.
For those who have time to play on the wayback machine...
go to:
http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
Then type in an address at reexamine. You MUST type something more than just www.reexamine.org. Try these:
and
You will then get an error message. That's good! Notice where it offers:
Click here to search for all pages on reexamine.org/
Click here to search for all pages on reexamine.info/
Click on these and you can find several of the old files available from Internet Archive. Many links don't work...but many do!
That's how I came across the old file for the Vow of Poverty.
I believe those vows of poverty are intended to prevent the Beth Hellites from seeking gainful employment outside the organization while they are in Beth Hell. It does not stipulate that the signer cannot have assets or other forms of money. Usually, however, it guarantees that, when the Beth Hellite is dumped in the streets, they will be dead broke and have no recourse.
Fascinating. The document is worded so strangely..it almost looks like a joke. But, for the Bethelites involved, I guess it wasn't.
Another interesting site to surf on Internet Archive is www.observer.org:
Click here to search for all pages on observer.org/
It basically means free labour for food and board.
It also means that none of the people there pay social security so for those that were ousted not all that long ago after spending 20 or so years in service, there will be no social security for them to rely on once they hit 65. Nothing. Nada.
Isn't this how the huge Scientology complexes are run as well? A great tax write off for the society but of no value to the servants once they are cast off.
sammieswife.
I found some more info from the Branch Organization Manual which is still online:
Go to section 43 on page 8 where it explains about the "Worldwide Order."
It is essentially a legal requirement for the USA, although other branches do this too.
In the USA, all money received as a stipend from the borg is tax free. Ditto the food and shelter that is provided. To receive this tax free status, a religion must qualify those who work full time for a religion as belonging to a "religious order" such as priests in the Catholic Church.
There are a few religious orders used in the USA by the borg; one for Traveling Overseers, one for Bethelites, one for Assembly Hall personnel, another for American missionaries. Even though they all have to file a tax return each year, they don't have to pay any tax because of this system. And they have to sign a document like this.
I signed one of these back in 1991. It was explained to me at the time that it was to prevent ex-Bethelites suing the Watchtower Society for wages. The Bethel allowance is significantly below the minimum wage, and in the 1980's some exbethelite "apostates" had apparently sued the WTS and won wages, based on having been engaged in a work contract below minimum wages.
