I'm giving you 15 more mins to respond to why the WT changed from charging for publications to donations before I give the answer. I'd like to hear your take on it first.
FREE Home Bible Study?!?!?
by Christ Alone 41 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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atrapado
CA- Because they would have to pay taxes if they charged. I forgot the lawsuit in the 80s that cause that.
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Londo111
All Jimmy Swaggart’s fault. And the Society filed a “friend of the court” memo on his behalf.
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Christ Alone
It's another "UN" type thing also. The WT climbed into bed with Jimmy Swaggart just like they climbed into bed with the Wild Beast.
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Christ Alone
I was hoping that Ethos wouldn't run away from this. Oh well...
Here's a timeline:
EARLY 1980...
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is informed by the State of California that tax is due on all publications sold since 1974 in the state. The total of which is $183,000.00. Swaggart pays the tax but sues for a refund. This puts the wheels in motion for the case moving toward the U.S. Supreme Court.
FEBRUARY 1989... The U.S. Supreme Court rules sales taxes must be paid for religious publications sold. Although some states had been taxing religious publications from the start, Texas along with 14 other states were not doing so previously.
LATE SPRING/SUMMER 1989...
During the U.S District Conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Watchtower Society gives away books for free. Instruction is provided to Jehovah's Witnesses to place "donations" for covering costs in the Contribution boxes located throughout the faculty.
JUNE 22, 1989...
The Watchtower Society files a "friend of the court" brief (amicus curiae) with the U.S. Supreme Court in the Jimmy Swaggart taxation case. This places the Watchtower Society with other religious organizations performing similar acts such as Krishna Consciousness and the National Council of Churches. The WT and Christendom are officially bed fellows.
JANUARY 17, 1990... The U.S. Supreme Court upholds that sales tax must be paid on all religious publications ruling against Jimmy Swaggart,
FEBRUARY 9, 1990... The Watchtower Society prepares a letter to be sent and read to all congregations announcing that literature will no longer be sold but offered at a "donation" basis.
FEBRUARY 25, 1990... The Watchtower Society's letter is read to the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the U.S. The reason given in the letter? Ironically even after filing a friend of the court, it states... " By adopting a method of literature distribution based completely on donation, Jehovah's people are able to greatly simplify our Bible education work and separate ourselves from those who commercialize religion."
MARCH 1, 1990 New "donation arrangement" goes into effect, including distributing magazines and books door-to-door without stating a price.The March 15, 1990 Watchtower and the March 22nd Awake still carried a 25 cents a copy and 5 dollars a year listing in their respective magazine. If this was such a well thought out and planned move by a so-called Godly directed organization, why were the prices still there after such a planned adjustment? The reason is it was not planned, not thought out, and not Godly directed. It was a quick business decision to avoid taxation.
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Phizzy
Don't expect an honest reply form Ethos, honesty and JW do not belong in the same sentence.
I was invited to a simple house "church" not so long ago, run by a local professional guy who is a commited Christian, they simply used the Bible in their gatherings, nothing else, and he told me not to worry to bring a Bible, many translations were available there , and I could take one for free.
(I have about 15 or so Bibles in my collection so do not need to avail myself of his kind offer)
In his home there is no sign of a collection box.
At any time I would be free to cease attending, try that once you are a baptised JW and see just how "free" your "Bible" study is !
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Christ Alone
Rereading Ethos post: " How can you have a Bible study without a Bible?"
I don't know...you tell me. Why can I not study the Bible without the Bible teach book? If my conductor forgot his bible, could we still have our free home bible study? Yes! We could if he remembered his bible teach book. No bible needed. It's a BOOK study, not a Bible study.
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wolfman85
Hey Ethos, you can download for FREE e-sword that has more than 20 bible versions,lexicons, dictionaries, biblical exegesis, Josephus publications and a lot more.
In addition, on second thought, who gave a Bible study to the jailer of Acts 16:30-33?
Acts 16:30-33
New International Version (NIV)
30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
The jailer and his family not even studied the questions of baptism with Paul. They were baptized IMMEDIATELY.
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wha happened?
The only knowledge of outside religion to a JW is through the WT, and more importantly, Rumour and innuendo. I used to constantly roll my eyes when I used to hear the conversations, only jumping in when it completely went off the deep end. Worse yet, Even though I was raised a Catholic, went to church since birth, did all the education, they still gave rumour and innuendo much more weight than say, someone who actually lived it would offer.
It's just sad how the ignorance highway just runs in a circle and they have no intention of changing it. Just reassuring themselves with more baseless claims, such as the free bible studies.
Yea how's that food bank going? Or getting simple drugs to 3rd world countires, or perhaps, sponsering a medical clinic. Oh no, leave that for the heartless and immoral pagans
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Christ Alone
They may not charge for a book that cost 50 cents to make. Why beg for 50 cents when they can beg for millions?
(The Watchtower 1994 12/1 page 19)
• CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLDWIDE WORK: Many set aside or budget an amount that they place in the contribution boxes labeled: “Contributions for the Society’s Worldwide Work—Matthew 24:14.” Each month congregations forward these amounts either to the world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, or to the nearest branch office.
• GIFTS: Voluntary donations of money may be sent directly to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201-2483, or to the Society’s office that serves your country. Jewelry or other valuables may also be donated. A brief letter stating that such is an outright gift should accompany these contributions.
• CONDITIONAL-DONATION ARRANGEMENT: Money may be given to the Watch Tower Society to be held in trust until the donor’s death, with the provision that in the case of personal need, it will be returned to the donor.
• INSURANCE: The Watch Tower Society may be named as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or in a retirement/pension plan. The Society should be informed of any such arrangement.
• BANK ACCOUNTS: Bank accounts, certificates of deposit, or individual retirement accounts may be placed in trust for or made payable on death to the Watch Tower Society, in accord with local bank requirements. The Society should be informed of any such arrangements.
• STOCKS AND BONDS: Stocks and bonds may be donated to the Watch Tower Society either as an outright gift or under an arrangement whereby the income continues to be paid to the donor.
• REAL ESTATE: Salable real estate may be donated to the Watch Tower Society either by making an outright gift or by reserving a life estate to the donor, who can continue to live therein during his or her lifetime. One should contact the Society before deeding any real estate to the Society.
• WILLS AND TRUSTS: Property or money may be bequeathed to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania by means of a legally executed will, or the Society may be named as a beneficiary of a trust agreement. A trust benefiting a religious organization may provide certain tax advantages. A copy of the will or trust agreement should be sent to the Society.
• PLANNED GIVING: The Society has assembled information on “Planned Giving.” Those who are planning to make a special gift to the Society now or to leave a bequest at death may find this information helpful. That is especially true if they wish to accomplish some family goal or estate-planning objective while using tax benefits to minimize the cost of the gift or bequest. This information can be obtained by writing to the Society at the address shown below.