To start you off, then:
"One prominent American religion confidently predicted that the world would end in 1914. Well, 1914 has come and gone, and -- while the events of that year were certainly of some importance -- the world does not, at least so far as I can see, seem to have ended. There are at least three responses that an organized religion can make in the face of such a failed and fundamental prophecy. They could have said, "Oh, did we say '1914'? So sorry, we meant '2014.' A slight error in calculation. Hope you weren't inconvenienced in any way." But they did not. They could have said, "Well, the world would have ended, except we prayed very hard and interceded with God so He spared the Earth." But they did not. Instead, they did something much more ingenious.
They announced that the world had in fact ended in 1914, and if the rest of us hadn't noticed, that was our lookout. It is astonishing in the face of such transparent evasions that this religion has any adherents at all."
Broca's Brain, Carl Sagan (New York: Ballantine Books, 1979, pp. 332-33)
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"Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of the conclusion of the system of things."
Awake! 1973 Jan 22 p.8
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"But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble."
Zion's Watch Tower 1894 Jul 15 p.226
Writing campaign to Washington DC papers in view of International Convention
by Londo111 57 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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defender of truth
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defender of truth
Sorry, the above quotes are from
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/failed-1914-predictions.php -
Londo111
Bump. Less than a week to go before the DC International.
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Londo111
FOR BUMPING = TODAY to TODAY + 5
BUMP()
NEXT
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Band on the Run
Defiant,
Good Move!
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ABibleStudent
BTTT
I wish that Barbara Anderson would write a short letter to the editor of the Washington Post ([email protected]) to celebrate the Watchtower's international convention similar to the hypothetical letter below. Unfortunately, the hypothetical letter is < 325 words and not less than 200 words and does not reference a specific article in the Washington Post, so it would probably not be printed by the Post.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
hypothetical letter to the editor using information from Barbara Anderson's website www.watchtowerdocuments.com
I was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses from 1954 to 1998. I worked at the Watchtower's headquarters in Brooklyn, NY, from 1982 to 1992 where during my last three years there, I researched its official history as well as wrote a number of articles for the Awake! magazine. I have also done extensive research on issues related to child sexual abuse in the Watchtower organization leading to interviews on major TV and radio programs as an outspoken critic of Jehovah's Witnesses sexual abuse policies.
Before leaving the Watchtower’s Headquarters in 1992, I was authorized to collect information to alert and prove to the Governing Body of the Watchtower about a serious problem with child sexual abuse within the organization. Although I love individual Witnesses, I was in a dilemma. I could not keep my “compassion” in check and be silent about what I had learned about the hidden child sexual abuse scandal within the Organization. In 1997 my concerns for protecting innocent children within the Organization caused me to slowly fade from the Witnesses and opened my mind to other problems within the Organization.
Championing child protection within the Organization has come at great personal costs to me and my husband. After being disfellowed by the Organization in 2002, close friends and my son’s family strictly shun us in accordance with the Watchtower’s shunning doctrine.
As the Organization rebrands itself as JW.org and celebrates its 100 year anniversary of “Kingdom Rule” at its international convention in Landover (DC), I sadly remember Witness victims of sexual abuse and molestation, those who died refusing whole-blood transfusions, and those who have been victimized by the Organization’s shunning doctrine and hope for more merceful changes for the Organization.
Before accepting a bible study from Witnesses, please independently research and critically think for yourself about the Watchtower’s history and doctrines and about dangerous cults by visiting reputable websites like www.jwfacts.com, www.watchtowerdocuments.com, and www.freedomofmind.com.
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Londo111
If someone is in contact with Barbara Anderson, maybe they can bring the idea to her attention?
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ABibleStudent
Hi Londo111, Although I would prefer that Barbara Anderson (or Raymond Franz if he was living) write to the Washington Post because of her extensive knowledge of the inner workings of Bethel or Candace Conti, any JW who has changed their minds about believing that the WTBTS has any "Truth" and then lost relationships with close friends and family members could easily write a very poignant story to any News editor using the following template.
The most important things to remember are to write a respectiful and heart-wrenching story about one's personal experiences, to be compassionate towards JWs, and to remind readers to independently research the WTBTS and to critically think for oneself before accepting a bible study with a JW.
Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,
Robert
template for letters to the editor
[Insert brief paragraph how long you were a JW and what you are actively doing to educate people about the Watchtower/JW.org or to help JWs.]
[Insert brief paragraph telling how/why you awoke and what it cost you personally because of the Watchtower's/JW.org's doctrines.]
[Edit paragraph as needed] As the Organization rebrands itself as JW.org and celebrates its 100 year anniversary of “Kingdom Rule” at its international convention in Landover (DC), I sadly remember Witness victims of sexual abuse and molestation, those who died refusing whole-blood transfusions, and those who have been victimized by the Organization’s shunning doctrine and hope for more merciful changes for the Organization.
Before accepting a bible study from Witnesses, please independently research and critically think for yourself about the Watchtower’s history and doctrines and about dangerous cults by visiting reputable websites like www.jwfacts.com,www.watchtowerdocuments.com, and www.freedomofmind.com.
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Londo111
Good stuff! Well thought out.
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Band on the Run
The New York Times has letters to the editor and op-ed pieces. I researched the op-ed requirements about a year ago. Writing a piece for the Times would seem more productive than posting here. Most of their rules could be met. Their big selection requirement is that the piece bring out a concern that the New Yrk Times does not ordinarily cover. The Washington Post prob. has a similar rule. It would take weeks of dedicated time to write such a piece. Creativity is not my strength.
According to wikipedia, the correct term for these cults is New Religious Movements. If a unifying strand could be found, a newspaper is much more likely to ppublish something that they have in common or a test they are facing than one religion alone.