What is the difference? Aren't they both idols?

by brandnew 11 Replies latest jw friends

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  cappytan

  sparrowdown said: The old WT logo thingy was never worn as a pin or jewelry, clothing, coffee mugs, pens etc. 

  Yeah it was, at least in my area. People started putting the Watchtower on all kinds of stuff like custom printed book marks, embossed leather covers for their bible. I even knew one guy who made a bunch of bumper stickers with the logo.

  That's why they had to come out with this direction in the Question Box from the April 2009 KM: (Ignore the bottom half)

  [Transcribed from Below in case photo isn't good quality.]

  Question Box
  * Is it appropriate for congregations or individuals to use the logos of legal corporations used by Jehovah's Witnesses?
  A logo is a name, symbol or trademark designed for easy and definite recognition. The Watch Tower logo is representative of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and other corporations used by the organization. The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses uses an open Bible in its letterhead. Other corporations used by Jehovah's Witnesses have different logos.
  Congregations or individuals should not use logos or names of the organization's legal entities, or variations thereof, on their Kingdom Halls, signs, letterhead, personal objects, and so forth. Such use of the organization's logos may cause confusion for public officials, publishers, and others about the legal affiliation of the congregation with the organization's legal entities. Similarly, written correspondence could be misinterpreted as being approved or sent from the world headquarters or the branch office.
  The Watch Tower logo, or a variation of it, should not be used in future Kingdom Hall projects even if the Kingdom Hall is owned by a Watch Tower entity. Congregations with existing Kingdom Halls that bear a logo are not required to make immediate changes to signs or designs, since such changes may involve major alterations and much time, effort, and expense. However, consideration should be given to making a change if it would be minor and would not require extensive work. Otherwise, it can be made when the building or sign is scheduled for renovation. 

  

  
  
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  clarity

   Not a new thing to JW's, from the start they "wore a cross and crown as a badge of identification,"

  ^ 

  Vinci Code - Watchtower, Adventists & Freemasonry

  If you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and are interested in the development of modern religion you will be intrigued by this section. A number of the symbols and teachings discussed by Brown as having origins with the Knights Templar, Freemasons and Illuminati, and tracing back to the Egyptians, have been used by Mormons, Christian Science and Russell's Watch Tower Bible Students.

  

  The terms Watch Tower, Golden Age, Jehovah, New World Order, all-seeing-eye, winged sun disk, two columns, pyramids and Russell's strong Zionist stance are part of Freemasonry. A great deal of discussion has centred on whether Russell, the founder of the Watch Tower Society, had connections with Freemasons, due to the many Masonic symbols introduced under his leadership. The evidence is not conclusive that Russell adopted these beliefs from Freemasons and it is probable that he took these beliefs and symbols from Second Adventists.

  The purpose for what follows is to show that many of the beliefs and symbols Russell included in the Watchtower publications are what the religion now claim to be of pagan and even occult background. Russell's Adventist and Masonic related beliefs help explain the source of some of his teachings and the development of his religion. It raises the question that if this is truly the only religion directed by Jehovah, why God allowed, or even directed, for symbols of this kind to identify his people, even well after the claimed cleansing of his spiritual temple in 1919.

  

  Watch Tower

  The term Watchtower and Watch Tower Society, which identify the organisation behind Jehovah's Witnesses and their magazine, are a namesake from the Adventist Movement.

  "The expression ‘Watch Tower’ is not unique to Russell’s writings or to Jehovah’s Witnesses. George Storrs published a book in the 1850’s called The Watch Tower: Or, Man in Death; and the Hope for a Future Life. The name was also incorporated in the title of various religious periodicals." Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p.48

  Knights Templar

  "For years, Bible Students wore a cross and crown as a badge of identification, and this symbol was on the front cover of the "Watch Tower" from 1891 to 1931. But in 1928 it was emphasized that not a decorative symbol but one's activity as a witness showed he was a Christian. In 1936 it was pointed out that the evidence indicates that Christ died on a stake, not a two-beamed cross." Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p.200