Watchtower Not a religious organization? (page 2)

Hyghlandyr

Some do pay some dont. You can get tax exempt status without being a religion.

RR

SS

What a concept! I wonder at what point in time the considered themselves becoming a religion?

It was in 1925, that Rutherford gave biorth to the idea that the Society was God's visible organization, with his "us againt them" attitude.

I wonder if the bible student groups are still only businesses, not religions, in accordance w their founder russel's official pronouncement?

I think you're confusing the issues SS. In Russell's day, the Society was a publishing house, the Bible Students were independent groups, not affiliated with the Society, they just used the Society as a publishing house.

Things run the same way today with them. Today there are over a dozen Bible Student publishers in the world, but that's all they are, publishers,, and the independent geroups use whatever literatutre they want in their ministry.

It's hard to believe that the bible student groups don't consider themselves religion/s now. Does that mean that their publishing house/s, conventions etc pay taxes as regular corportions do?

Actually, many Bible Students groups are not even registered as non-profit groups or churches. They meet in private homes and rented halls. They don't own their own buildings, except for the Dawn Publishers who own a printing facility and they are registered as a non-for-propfit organization.

The class I meet with has been around since the 1880s, yet on paper, they've only been registered as a church since the 1980s.

Bible Students are very low key and simple.

____________________________________
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

DevonMcBride

Somebody should inform the Internal Revenue Service they are not a religion too.

Devon

OUTLAW

Hey RR,I enjoy reading your posts.You are one of the best WBTS historians here...OUTLAW

Satanus

I noticed that the bible students own the copyrights to some of the early wt publications. I was wondering if the change over is based on a date, or on individual publications. Is a list available?

Also, if you know, what were the circumstances around this change?

Thanks.

SS

RR

SS

I noticed that the bible students own the copyrights to some of the early wt publications. I was wondering if the change over is based on a date, or on individual publications. Is a list available?
Also, if you know, what were the circumstances around this change?

I think you brought this up before SS and I answered you.
Copyrights can only be renewed for so long before they become Public Domain, which is the case with Russell's writings and even Rutherford's writings. The reason why such Bible Student groups such as the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement and the Dawn Bible Students Association have copyrights on the writings is because of the packaging.

Groups such as the Chicago Bible Student have compiled some of Russell's writings in book form, this is also copyrighted, although it is public domain articles, they packaged it in a way that it can be copyrighted.

____________________________________
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

Satanus

I may have. Maybe the explanation wasn't clear to me, so i forgot. Thanks for your patience.

In 'how they packaged' it, is that the same as republishing or reissuing the books? So, the wt could republish them as well, if it wanted to? Gotta get it clear this time:)

SS

RR

Yep, that's right. Kind of like the King James Bible, just about everyone and their mothers have published that translation. Too bad there were no copyrightes in those days, old King James would have more money then Bill Gates.

If the Society wanted to, they could republish the Studies in the Scriptures, as long as it's packaged a little different, a new foreword, a publisher's introduction, etc. they could copyright THAT particular edition.

There are some items that the Society publishes that they do not have copyrights too.The Diaglott is one. The Society NEVER held copyrights to the Diaglott. It was own by others before the Society started issuing them. What they did was purchase the original plates in 1926 and printed them. Their printings of the Diaglott only have "edition" dates, not copyright dates.

____________________________________
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

rmayer32

That is very interesting... Great post

-Rick
"Keeping an eye on the Watchtower deviants"

Watchtower Not a religious organization?

Share this