Dear Mother -- Is that a lie or a mistake?

by FatFreek 2005 9 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  FatFreek 2005

  I believe that Jehovah's Witnesses are mostly honest people. It's unfortunate for the honest ones -- especially embarrasing -- if they're ambushed by some person in their door to door work with evidence that their leadership throughout modern history has knowingly said things that are not true. The following essay attempts to document one such trail of Watchtower dishonesty.

  Dear Mother,

  I don’t think you’ll mind being addressed as Mother since many like to look at the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses as their mother. I’ll get right to the point, Mother, because I took a fresh look at your character and now believe that you crossed the line between telling the truth and stretching it. How’s that?

  Oh, I know you’d always told me that you were imperfect and made mistakes -- and I accepted that. But the more I studied your writings the more I found that you went beyond the honest mistakes. You see, my real mom taught me something that I never really applied in my relationship with you -- until recently. I trust you’ll agree that what she said makes sense:

  "There are honest mistakes -- but never honest lies."

  Oh, you can’t believe the times I defended you over the silly things you said -- I mean the absurd teachings you wanted us to believe. There were the miracle wheat; pyramidology; that evil aluminum cookware; those teaching flip-flops on subjects like the resurrection of ancient Sodomites, the Superior Authorities, medicinal vaccinations, along with others too numerous to mention here.

  (Continued -- for complete essay, click on this link.)

  Len Miller
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  irondork

  Nicely done, Len. I love your closing line/quote. It puts a perfect little red ribbon on the whole package, don't you think?
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  cantleave
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  DesirousOfChange

  Excellently prepared.

  Let's see an apologist argue with that.

  Deut 18:20-22

  Doc
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  Pickler

  Well done....this letter sums it all up perfectly.
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  NeverKnew

  Loved this essay
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  FatFreek 2005

  Thank you all.

  Len
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  chickpea

  don't you wish you could get this into the hands of everyone with a niggling awareness, fertilizing it toward full bloom?
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  BluesBrother

  The issue of accuracy is even more relevant since they claim to be scrupulous in the quest to only print absolute truth. They claim to verify the facts, even personal recollections.

  Yearbook 2011 p 12

  "Then, too, a brother may state in his experience that he was baptized in San Francisco on a specific date. Careful scrutiny, however, might reveal that there was no convention or assembly on that date in that city. How can such a discrepancy be reconciled? Individual memories can at times be fragile. While the brother would probably not get confused about the place of his baptism, he might not accurately recall the date of the event. It is usually possible to confirm the accuracy of details by cross-checking various sources of information.

  In summary, the Writing Department insists on using only material that is accurate and truthful, even regarding seemingly insignificant details. As a result, “the faithful and discreet slave” can consistently supply spiritual food that brings honor to “the God of truth,” Jehovah.—Ps. 31:5."

  Honouring the God of truth indeed?
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  FatFreek 2005

  Hi BluesBrother,

  Sometimes I need to get slapped on the side of my head to take notice. After all, it's been 22 hours since you posted. I've incorporated that last paragraph you quoted to the Dear Mother essay.

  Thanks for that.

  Len