by Five Gospels 5 Replies latest watchtower scandals
Here is a good article revealing the UN's perspective on the matter. (My apologies if this has already been posted)
The Global Policy Forum is based in New York City and has consultative status at the UN.
The title of the article is:
Jehovah's Witnesses Quit UN Affiliation after 10 year Relationship with UN Made Public (October 30, 2001)It appears as a link about two thirds of the way down the following page:
http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/ngo-un/index.htm
Five Gospels
Thanks! This will be very helpful in my continued attempts to reason with my family! : )
Thanks for posting this.
Great article
Who is this Global Policy Forum?
Great article!!!!
Lisa
Jehovah's Witnesses Quit UN Affiliation
after 10 year Relationship with UN Made Public
October 30, 2001
Responding to criticism from current and former members the Watch Tower Society (parent organization for Jehovah's Witnesses) this month withdrew its formal association with the United Nations as a NGO (non-government affiliate organization). The Watch Tower Society had quietly affiliated with the UN in 1991 in an agreement to "support the Charter" of the United Nations--also agreeing to promote the UN among its members.
Watch Tower publications have long labeled the UN as one of the "beasts" of the biblical book of Revelation--the archenemy of the kingdom of God. Some critics of the 6 million member denomination, well known for its aggressive door to door missionary work, believe this is the greatest scandal to hit Watch Tower leadership. "It's comparable to a Catholic finding out that the Vatican had privately agreed to support Planned Parenthood and abortion rights, "stated ex-member David Brown of Central Point, Oregon.
The refusal of Witnesses to salute a flag, perform military service, vote or hold public office has often brought them official persecution. Apparently, the Watch Tower Society's affiliation with the United Nations was to get help in their religious freedom struggles. "Their affiliation with the UN as a NGO was much more than just registering with the UN to get help for their members," says Brown.
In a letter explaining the sect's withdrawal as a UN affiliate, UN official Paul Hoeffel states that NGO membership involves "support and respect of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes with its constituents and to a broader audience about UN activities." The Watch Tower Society's affiliation with the UN gave them political clout, status and connections they could not have had otherwise. The connection was not announced in Witness publications and was only recently discovered when it was noticed that the Watch Tower Society was listed on a UN webpage as a NGO member.
The public criticism of this connection led to the Watch Tower's disassociation as a UN affiliate. "In October 2001, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York requested termination of its association with DPI[Department of Public Information of the UN]. Following this request, the DPI has made decisions to disassociate the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York as of 9 October 2001," explains UN official Hoeffel.
Membership as a NGO of the UN required annual re-certification. "There have been several seemingly positive articles in the Witnesses' news magazine Awake! discussing the UN in the past few years. It seemed out of character to read such things in Watch Tower publications but it didn't make sense why they were there until now," says Brown. "The Society's Writing Department evidently used UN press releases for Awake! articles and then they could submit these to show they were informing their members of UN activities and keep their NGO membership."
Ex-members and many current members feel this was hypocrisy of the highest caliber. Witness theology has understood the United Nations as "the disgusting thing that causes desolation" (from Matthew's gospel) and as "the image of the wild beast" from Revelation chapter 13. Witnesses believe that all other religions have prostituted themselves to the UN (their interpretation of "Babylon the Great" riding the "scarlet colored wild beast" in Revelation chapter 17) and that soon the UN will turn on "false religion" (all other religions) and destroy them. Improbable as that scenario is the Witnesses believe that because of their "strict neutrality in political affairs" they will not be affected when the UN acts to destroy "false religion" (this being the immediate predecessor of Armageddon).
"Most Witnesses have no idea that for the past 10 years the Watch Tower Society was certified as an affiliate organization of the UN along with Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants and other religious bodies promoting its agenda just as the other religions promote theirs," says Brown. "Actually, I think this was a positive development in the history of Jehovah's Witnesses. Unfortunately, it was hypocritical to do so while demonizing the UN in their doctrinal publications. Sadder still, the Watch Tower organization continues to maintain a policy that effectively excommunicates members who get involved in any political activity."
The first official reply from a Watch Tower official was made by Paul Gillies of the Witnesses' branch office in Britian on October 22nd: membership as a NGO was simply a result of "getting a library card" at the UN facilities in New York. Gillies did not explain the annual re-certification process for NGO members which the Watch Tower Society participated in. Nor did he comment on the numerous articles in Awake! which promoted the UN.
"This was not a one-time application the Watch Tower Society made where they didn't realize what they were doing," says Brown. "This was a relationship renewed yearly resulting in their news magazine doing PR for the UN. This relationship resulted in favorable UN support for the Witnesses' human rights struggles."
http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/ngo-un/rest-un/2001/1030j.htm
Yes, this is old news but thanks for the re-post.
Simply a classic that is out in the open for all to read - snicker snicker snicker.
hawk
