How the Watchtower Got Gelded!

by metatron 14 Replies latest jw friends

  • metatron
    metatron

    Once upon a time, there was an uncompromising, radical religious
    magazine called the Watchtower. It railed against governments,
    popular customs, vaccinations, voting, the UN, and countless
    other topics.

    Then the lawyers got hold of it.

    Little by little, they gelded this raging beast of a journal.
    Indirectly, they caused it to be filled with platitudes and
    lifestories of sad old people who spent their youth preaching
    an imminent end that never came.

    How did they geld the Watchtower? Well, consider:

    They can't say much of anything about homosexuality - especially
    at assemblies. In New England and California, there are many
    liberal cities where anything unfavorable about gays could be
    interpreted as 'hate speech' - and local groups do sometimes
    check what's said!

    They can't talk about governments being led by the Devil -
    as JT points out, that can lead to disaster in court cases.
    Wanna try and get justice from a judge holding a pile of Watchtower
    quotes about how Satan is really his boss?

    Neutrality? The Watchtower doesn't wanna say (plainly and
    explicitly) "YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO VOTE". They also won't
    say "YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO JOIN THE MILITARY OR WE WILL EXCOMMUNICATE
    YOU". yep, a definite no-no!

    Christendom and Catholics? Forget the old 'whore of Babylon'
    stuff, if they blast churches the way they used to, they'll
    get into trouble with human rights groups for being intolerant!

    Holidays? Read the latest Question From Readers (Dec.15)
    Why can't they just say "CHRISTMAS"???!! Nope, that would be
    a little too honest - they can't say "ALMIGHTY GOD SAYS YOU
    CAN'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS". Too touchy!

    The role of women?? Are they inferior? Are they as smart as
    men? Why do they have to be subservient? They can't say plainly-
    that's a real dangerous topic for them to discuss too openly.

    How 'bout explaining their authority from God and Jesus?
    How 'bout a coherent explanation of why they are the 'faithful
    slave' and nobody else is? Cat got your tongue, guys? Pay no
    attention to the little man behind the curtain!

    Shall I go on? Blood? 'Gentile Times'? Failure of their prophecies?

    Do you find yourself eagerly reading each new Watchtower just
    to see what subjects are left that they can POSSIBLY TALK ABOUT?

    The poor old timers must privately weep. This ain't the organization
    they fought for. Heck, we could generate electricity from Rutherford
    spinning in his grave ....

    Well, if we could be certain where he's really buried!

    metatron ( Welcome to the Mainstream Express!)

  • Farkel
    Farkel

    metatron,

    Good observations. Actually, I liked the good-old-days where they hated everyone and plainly said so. These days they still hate everyone, but they keep that hate to themselves.

    Wimps!

    Farkel

    "I didn't mean what I meant."

  • betweenworlds
    betweenworlds

    Could someone post the Dec. 15th question from readers? Haven't seen that one yet.

    Thanks!

    between

    "Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education." - Chuang-tzu, Chinese writer (c.369 B.C.-c.286 B.C.).

  • refiners fire
    refiners fire

    So theyve got their market share of believers(bit more than the Adventists, bit less than the Mormons)and they are content.
    Very astute observations.
    They should learn from the Mormons and invent some ritual in the organization. Nothing works like involving the membership in bowing three times while pointing the sword to the east and rotating three times. Yeah. Some ritual in the church would liven things up a bit.
    Wake everybody up.
    I might even write them and point out the benefits, even make some suggestions.

  • Rex B13
    Rex B13

    >The poor old timers must privately weep. This ain't the organization
    >they fought for. Heck, we could generate electricity from Rutherford
    spinning in his grave ....
    Well, if we could be certain where he's really buried!

    metatron ( Welcome to the Mainstream Express!)

    Joe's probably a little warm to the touch and wanting a cool glass of water.
    Rex

  • Nathan Natas
    Nathan Natas

    Hi R Fire, I like that... I think maybe they could benefit by adopting some kind of funny hat, or maybe wearing their underwear on the outside of their clothes to make it clear that they are NO PART of the world.

  • Ranchette
    Ranchette

    Betweenworlds,

    You will find the article here* http://wt1201.homestead.com/index.html
    Scroll past the first article and the one your looking for will be the next one.

    Ranchette

  • refiners fire
    refiners fire

    Nathan Satan
    A little emotion wouldnt go astray, the Jehovahs are too grey and subdued,Id try a bit of hysterical preaching and try to get some people falling about, screaming, it works for the pentecostals.
    Any rituals developed would have to revolve around the Jehovahs beliefs that are unique to them, in other words, blood sanctity and preaching the gospel. The details Id have to think about.
    Its pretty hard, theyve really painted themselves into a corner.
    Theyve used the predictive expectation thing for so long, its been their big card, I cant see them using it again.
    Nah... I think theyre in decline like adventism.

  • patio34
    patio34

    Thanks Metatron for those observations! So now, in essence, it's a religion run by lawyers. And everyone knows what a sterling reputation lawyers have! And that's just where you want to get your spirituality from.

    Personally, I have nothing against lawyers and admire their skills. But to run a religion? Nah.

    Cheers!
    Pat

  • betweenworlds
    betweenworlds

    Thanks Ranchette!!!!

    Gonna go take a look at it now. I appreciate that.

    Between

    "Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education." - Chuang-tzu, Chinese writer (c.369 B.C.-c.286 B.C.).

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