It's official (page 2)

breakfast of champions

HA! Just mentioned to a friend that they were doing this at the Jersey City Assy Hall. His response was:

"But isn't that what the churches do?"

To which I said,

"And what do you think we are?"

... and left it at that.

Thanks, Mad Sweeney, for finding the exact quote and magazine article. I got mixed up as to which magazine had the story and was relying on my all too faulty memory. It's funny how time has changed the WTS' position on this issue.

Quendi

Anony Mous

I hope they do it at ours. Just last week somebody was slamming the local churches for doing this - if they haven't gotten it through their skull yet that the WTBTS is the same, they hopefully will now.

Quarterback

Well the minute they start passing the plate, I'm becoming an Apostate.

iamwhoiam

Yes..but they will say that "we are not taking copies of the reciept, only the person who donates gets a copy". But since a POS has to be ran on a sever, possibly one of thiers, isn't there some type of electronic transaction record...or is the transaction completely ran thru a 3rd party so the WT doesn't have to know about it. When it comes to transactions between a reciever and a giver, their has to be a record of some kind on both ends unless dealing in cash. Even if you write a check, your bank sends you a copy of the transaction in the mail saying the WT cashed it. The WT also gets a record of transaction saying that the check was cleared. Maybe WT should use paypal.

cantleave

Paypal charge too much!

WontLeave

“‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.” - w8/1879 (cited in Proclaimers p.340)

So, how's that working out? On occasions where I do attend meetings and conventions, it seems like an inordinate amount of time is spent on the subject of donations. The Proclaimers book goes on to say:

Consistent with that, there is no begging for money in the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses... What is true of their literature is also true of their meetings. There are no emotional appeals for funds in their congregations or at their conventions.

I guess that attitude is a thing of the past. Either that, or - in typical JW fashion - they do it then immediately deny they do it and all JWs are instantly blinded to reality. Maybe the word "emotional" is the loophole, since it's stated very matter-of-factly; but isn't contempt an emotion?

It's official