What if ... the Watchtower charged for books/magazines ???

by run dont walk 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  run dont walk

  I've been out of the borg for awhile, so help me out on this.

  Am I to assume that the Watchtower went from charging for magazines to a donation system, simply because of paying taxes ??? or is there more to it ???

  Didn't Jesus say "return Caesar's things to Caesar"

  So if the Watchtower would of continued charging for magazines, so they would have had to pay a little tax, they still would have made a ton of money, and alot more then the donation system pulls in. And the publishers would be the one paying the tax not them. Whoever thought of the donation system probaly has been df'd for it.

  I guess I shouldn't give them any ideas.

  What do you think ???????
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  fairy

  Over here in australia they dont charge but ask for dontations......i think it has to do with the GST tax that came in a little while ago.
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  blondie

  One, the WTS wouldn't like it if they were the only religion that had to pay tax. I haven't checked out the fallout from 1990 on other religions. If someone else knows if other religions are still charging but paying tax, could you post it here; did other religions "adjust" similarly to the WTS and how? I will be checking on my own.

  Also, I think by paying tax, the WTS would have to reveal more to the government about their finances. I don't think they want to do that.

  Blondie
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  Latin assassin from Manhattan

  The WT does charge for publications especially in Central America (El Salvador for example). I've noticed that in Western/European countries the literature is distributed per 'donation'. In Third World countries the literature is delivered from the U.S. or it is published locally. The baptized members are still required to purchase the literature regardless. I found out about this during a visit to El Salvador a few years ago.

  In reality, the Society receives the same amount for the publications if not more. How? The elders make up for the difference between the contributions and the cost of the literature distributed for their congregation. For example, if a congregation distributes $1000 worth of literature, there will be $1000 of 'donations' for it being mailed to headquarters in Brooklyn. If they only receive $500 for that month, the elders will contribute to make up for the shortage.

  The next time you're at a Kingdom Hall, try to request a bible or a magazine at their counter and walk away without dropping $20 in the box. Pay attention to the heating sensation in the back of your next as the brother working the counter gives you the third degree stare.

  There is nothing free about the literature and never will be. The word donation is merely a sales tax loophole used by the society. They're still one of the top 40 highest earning corporations in NYC and they're rivalled only by investment companies.
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  gcc2k

  I've been told that the contributions/donations don't even come close to covering the cost of the literature, which is why the Society is trying to raise money in other ways.

  Of course, it depends what "cost" is. If they are estimating the WT Library as being worth $75-100 as they did some years ago, they are grossly overinflating the cost.

  There is nothing free about the literature and never will be. The word donation is merely a sales tax loophole used by the society. They're still one of the top 40 highest earning corporations in NYC and they're rivalled only by investment companies.

  Can you substantiate that claim? I don't see how, since we have no insight into their real finances.
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  Latin assassin from Manhattan

  Here it is gcc2k.

  http://www.newsday.com/business/printedition/ny-cvtop52369349sep17.story
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  BluesBrother

  In reality, the Society receives the same amount for the publications if not more. How? The elders make up for the difference between the contributions and the cost of the literature distributed for their congregation

  Not around here they dont, although things may be different elswhere

  When I was secretary, up to 1997. We kept a comparrisom between the expected remittance and the actual donation to the WWWF. (Worldwide work fund) It was always way short. I would occasionally give a motivating talk "God loves a cheerful giver", but that was it. Any congo funds were to be put to the K Hall Fund
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  Country_Woman

  what's more, it seemes that voluntary donations are higher then the formerly asked amounts (in Europe)
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  minimus

  On TV, they ask for a certain "Gift donation" to get the book or article they're trying to "sell". But I don't think they can "charge" a certain fee.
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  run dont walk

  way to go Latin assassin from Manhattan , that is a great article, really puts alot into perspective. With a 951 million dollars, it's still not enough.