They are control freaks no matter what they do and do not believe. It is a double standard all around. If anyone else makes any human errors they are considered wicked and if they are related to another religion they are considered false prophets. But it is OK for the GB to make mistakes because they are imperfect but privleged men who God is using to run his Org. You have to be strongly conditioned to believe that line of thinking--I know because I was and I did.
Honest mistakes? The Governing Body's excuses for their actions
by Terry 49 Replies latest jw friends
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AlanF
Hiya Terry,
Where to start?
The entire culture of Jehovah's Witnesses as a religion, and of Brooklyn Bethel in particular, is based on intellectual dishonesty. While they claim to have "the truth" about the Bible (and I do think that some of their biblically based teachings, but not all, are more correct than those of most other religions), and have great respect for truth in general, the fact is that when JW publications are subjected to careful analysis, they're found to contain a great many half-truths, misrepresentations and even outright lies. And when individual JWs are questioned about some of these problematic areas, you can literally see them shut down their brains, because they're taught from square one as a JW to do that. "Don't listen to anyone but the Governing Body" is the single most important idea given to new JWs. In fact, I'm convinced that the Fundamental Doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses is: "Thou shalt obey the Governing Body in everything and pretend that they speak for God."
When the Watchtower Society writes about anything related to science that's also related to JW beliefs, it's a good bet that you can find examples of scholastic dishonesty. My first real experience with this was when I was in college back in 1980 and had to write a paper for an anthropology class. Being still 99% convinced of JW beliefs, I decided to write about how the spread of languages around the world after Noah's Flood was strong evidence that the Flood was a real event. But when I looked up most of the Society's source references, I found that most of them were unusable in a college paper. Some didn't support the WTS author's claim in the way he used the reference, some actually refuted the claim, and some had nothing to with the claim. I had to drop that idea and write on another topic, which was on creation/evolution (it was a stretch to fulfill the course requirement, but I was out of options that close to the end of the semester). It turned out that the WTS's mishandling of source references was even greater, and I ended up using some references in an anti-evolution book written by a Christian lawyer. Needless to say, I never again trusted anything that the WTS wrote about science.
Beginning in 1991 I researched many of the source references given in the 1985 book Life - How Did It Get Here? By Evolution Or By Creation? I found more than 100 instances of misrepresentation, gross misapplication and misunderstanding, and outright lies (the results of this research can be found here: http://www.geocities.com/osarsif/ce01.htm ). I also researched much of the WTS's material written to convince people of the historicity of Noah's Flood. I found that a great deal of it was based on the writings of fringe and pseudo-scientists, and even outright crackpots. Of course, the usual scholastic dishonesty was there in spades (the results can be found here: http://www.geocities.com/osarsif/flood01.htm ). There is no way that honest people could have consistently produced such crap over a period of many decades.
In 1996 I found out who the author of the 1985 Creation book was. The book was actually a compendium of material from various JW researchers and writers, and was compiled into one book by this author. His name is Harry Peloyan, and he's been in Bethel since the early 1950s. He was the darling of Nathan Knorr for some time because he actually has a college degree. Peloyan is/was editor-in-chief of Awake! magazine for many years. He seems to have had a hand in producing various books: the old Truth book, Is the Bible Really the Word of God?, Did Man Get Here By Evolution or Creation?, and a number of others. In 1997 I was in New York on personal business and dropped in on Brooklyn Bethel to try to meet with Peloyan. It took two days, but he finally met me in the lobby of the main headquarters building at 25 Columbia Heights. When he figured out that I wasn't there to praise him (Peloyan is an incredibly arrogant man and thrives on fawning praise) but to criticize his book, he became arrogantly defensive, and refused to answer most specific questions that I raised. Nevertheless, we went back and forth for about 40 minutes, with him constantly threatening to walk away, but turning right back and giving me what-for. I raised the question of why he thought it was ok for WTS writers to quote an author so as to make him appear to say something he would strongly disagree with. He gave the standard WTS answer: "Are the words between the quotation marks correct? Then there's no problem!" I pointed out that this was no good, with the following example: Suppose that The Watchtower magazine quoted an evolutionist as saying, "Evolution is the way we got here." Suppose that I then extracted this quotation and claimed, "Look! The Society is now teaching evolution! It said that 'evolution is the way we got here'!" I asked Peloyan if that would be a fair use of the Society's statement. He looked me straight in the eye and just stared, refusing to give an answer. I said, "You obviously understand my point."
The Watchtower Society is filled with intellectually dishonest men just like Peloyan. When people point out their mistakes, usually in letters written to the Society, they refuse to answer honestly (often they simply trash the letters) and, most importantly, they refuse to be corrected.
An ex-JW author perfectly summed up the situation in his book on the history of Jehovah's Witnesses:
A long acquaintance with the literature of the Witnesses leads one to the conclusion that they live in the intellectual 'twilight zone.' That is, most of their members, even their leaders, are not well educated and not very intelligent. Whenever their literature strays onto the fields of philosophy, academic theology, science or any severe mental discipline their ideas at best mirror popular misconceptions, at worst they are completely nonsensical. [Alan Rogerson, Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 116, Constable, London, 1969.]
Another area where Watchtower authors tell outright lies is their history. There are plenty of warts on the WTS's historical ass, and they know it. For example, the 1959 book Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose contains dozens and dozens of falsifications of WTS history. Yet it was written by a prominent member of the Writing Staff, one John Wischuck, who largely based it on earlier writings by Fred Franz. And of course, when you read Franz's historical material in The Watchtower, you can see who was the instigator of dishonesty in WTS writings after Rutherford's death.
A few years ago I did a study of the number of times that WTS writers had written misleading statements about what the Society believed about 1914 before 1914. I found more than 25 instances of outright lying, and about 75 instances where the author subtly misled the reader. You can find the same sort of misrepresentation in just about any area you pick where the Society has had some egg on its face.
I'll take a shot at specific comments on your points:
: The Governing Body tells us they are not false prophets because they admit their mistakes.
Their claim is self-serving nonsense. The biblical definition of a prophet is someone who claims to speak in the name of some god. If the god is false, or if the person is not actually speaking in God's name, then he is a false prophet. Period. The leaders of Jehovah's Witnesses literally claim to speak in God's name, and while they specifically deny direct, plenary inspiration, they also claim to be directly guided by God (no one besides JWs fails to see a contradiction here). Because they have uttered many false words that they claimed were from God, they are false prophets.
Now, if JW leaders simply said that their writings are their own opinions of what the Bible says, there would be no problem. No one can be said to be a false prophet merely for expressing wrong opinions. But the fact that JW leaders disfellowship any JW who disputes their opinions, claiming that such a person is a wicked apostate merely because he disputes the claims of "Jehovah's channel of communication", proves that they themselves don't view their words as the opinions of fallible men. Indeed, they often directly claim in Watchtower publications that their words are God's words. If they made it clear that it was only their opinions being given, then it follows that they'd no longer be able to claim to speak in God's name, because everyone has opinions but not everyone claims to be directed by God.
For a comprehensive debunking of Watchtower claims about their not being a false prophet organization, look here: http://www.geocities.com/osarsif/end1.htm and here: http://www.geocities.com/osarsif/pro1.htm
: They only err because they are zealous to see the New Order commence.
That has certainly been one reason, but there are many other reasons that they err. And of course, when anyone points out that their zeal might be misplaced in a particular instance, they ostracize the person.
: They are on the watch and warning everybody just like they are supposed to.
Their historical performance proves that they're about on a par with Chicken Little.
: Their doctrines change (new light) because they see and admit their errors.
This is a typical stupid and self-serving excuse. Of course when they change a doctrine they're admitting an error -- otherwise they wouldn't have had to change it. I've actually seen JWs argue that this change is itself an admission of error. Well of course, that's only half the story. Often, when the WTS wants to change a doctrine, they just stop writing about it for some years. Then they quietly introduce the new doctrine, almost always without saying or otherwise acknowledging that a change had occurred. So newer JWs are never told about the change, and older JWs are not in the habit of clueing them in. A notable exception was the series of changes made in 1993 and 1995 with respect to the doctrine of "the generation of 1914". But this was always such a big deal for JWs that the Society knew it couldn't get away with saying nothing about this being a new idea.
: What more can we expect of them?
How about a serious devotion to honesty?
: Is the Governing Body honestly doing the best they can? They are only human; how can we expect them to be perfect?
Some are, some are not. When they're informed of dishonesty on the part of their underlings, and they fail to take corrective action, then they're just as responsible as the morons who work for them. For example, Harry Peloyan is high up in the WTS hierarchy (he was extremely upset in the early 1990s when he was passed over for the position of "Governing Body Helper" or "Nethinim"), and the Governing Body has been duly informed of his gross dishonesty. Their individual and collective failure to correct his mistakes shows that they don't care about honesty, and don't care that the Society is woefully misinforming the community of JWs on various topics. Why do they hesitate? Because they'd have to admit many, many mistakes that even their internal spin doctors wouldn't be able to cover over, and then JWs in general would see for themselves how badly they've been misled for decades.
: In view of the above; what might lead you to suspect the Watchtower leaders are dishonest, conniving and intellectually corrupt?
All of the above.
: What is the essential point to be made?
That which is crooked cannot be made straight. Don't throw good money after bad. Cut your losses.
AlanF
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SAHS
If someone kidnaps you a gunpoint, drags you into his car, and, while holding his gun to your head, tells you a stupid joke that he made up himself, and then asks you, ?that was pretty funny, eh?,? what are you going to do? Well, if you?re feeling rather terrified by the ordeal of being threatened by the power you perceive he has (the gun), then when he asks if you find his joke funny, even when you know it?s stupid, you?re probably going to say, ?yeah, it is,? and then make a forced nervous laugh.
However, as soon as you see that his gun has a bit of fluorescent red paint on the end of the barrel with a seam line along its length, and a ?Toys-?R?-Us? stamp on the side?the tell-tale signs of fakery?now your perception of his ?power,? which you thought was real due to his ?gun? (which you now know is only made of plastic)?that perception of ?power? gives way to reality, followed promptly by disdain, and anger. You now sense that the time has come for you to rip that toy gun away from him, administer the sweetest ?bitch slapping? of his life, and make your proud exit from his car. You won?t be giving up any of your money, dignity, virginity, or whatever the heck he wanted.
My point? As long as people fail to muster the courage to take a close look at the ?gun? (i.e., the ?big A,? and possible shunning by your family) that the WT is holding to their heads (as well as their families? heads) so as to realize that it?s not really what it?s ?cracked up to be,? then they will always, in effect, laugh at its stupid ?jokes? (dates, rules, and procedures), thereby continuing to dance to the crazed fiddler?s tune, who for now holds the strings (not to mention also holding a lot of bequeathed properties and estates).
In other words, the Governing Body doesn?t need to make excuses for its flounderings, as long as it holds the magic ?gun.? No peeking, now! The ?jokes? might not be as funny!
?SAHS
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ezekiel3
Let's hear from the GB on this one
Has the GB ever made a mistake? YES
*** w81 12/1 pp. 27-28 The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***
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This "faithful and discreet slave," which is associated with Jehovah?s Witnesses, has indeed been used by Jehovah God to guide, strengthen and direct his people. True, since the light shines forth progressively, and because there have been mistakes due to human imperfection and weakness, these Christians have had, on occasion, to reevaluate viewpoints and teachings. But has this not resulted in refinement, to their benefit? Consider some examples.*** w81 8/15 p. 28 Serving Jehovah "Shoulder to Shoulder" ***
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In serving Jehovah "shoulder to shoulder," we need, as Zephaniah so often emphasizes, to cultivate the quality of meekness. When we make mistakes, as all imperfect humans do, let us be ready to acknowledge them, even as the "faithful and discreet slave," made up of imperfect fleshly men, has had to make corrections. However, let us never be critical of the grand body of truth that Jehovah has built up among his united people over the past 100 years, and which, by correction and adjustment, has come to shine ever more brightly on "the path of the righteous ones."?Prov. 4:18.*** w69 7/15 p. 440 Have You Stumbled at What Others Have Done? ***And so it is today. Jehovah God and Jesus Christ make allowances for the imperfections of their human servants and representatives. God is using ?Christ?s brothers,? also termed collectively "the faithful and discreet slave," to do His work in the earth. The ones comprising this group are imperfect, make mistakes, and yet are being used and blessed by God. And Jesus said that whatever was done to them he counted as done to him, and that in spite of their imperfections.?Matt. 24:45-47; 25:31-46.
Has the GB ever apologized for the ramifications of changing its doctrine? NO
But what do they tell us to do?
*** w96 9/15 p. 24 Do You Really Need to Apologize? ***
So, then, do we really need to apologize? Yes, we do. We owe it to ourselves and others to do so. An apology can help to ease the pain caused by imperfection, and it can heal strained relationships. Each apology we make is a lesson in humility and trains us to become more sensitive to the feelings of others. As a result, fellow believers, marriage mates, and others will view us as those who deserve their affection and trust. We will have peace of mind, and Jehovah God will bless us.
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johnny cip
sng; i thing professor iko. the earthquake scientest, had a little bout with the wt. on they mis quoting him . at least in letters. . there is some info on this and other people going again the wt going back to the early 1900's russell lost a case @ 1910 from some pastor that wrote a booklet. calling the wt a false prophet. russell was sueing for $100,000. russell was made to look like a fool in court . when he sware he could read and write greek. the next day in court he couldn't even idenitify the greek alphabet. john
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garybuss
I don't have a problem with the Governing Body claiming to be fallible and errant. I have a problem with Witness people telling my sons to shun me because I happen to think the Governing Body is fallible and errant and fits the profile of a high control religious group because they are telling my sons to shun me because I happen to think the Governing Body is fallible and errant. -
stillajwexelder
One thing the GB is brilliant at is - CIRCULAR REASONING
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stillajwexelder
The RC (Roman Catholic ) Religion is right -why - because the pope said so- well why does it make it right -because the pope said so and he is infallible - why is the pope infallible - because to be a catholic you have to believe in papal infallibility - so the pope is infallible - and he said the RC faith is correct- who said the pope was infallible -- another pope a long time ago
Now start the same process with the WTBTS - The FDS is the Only Channel God is using
and thus (fill in the blanks)
and thus (fill in the blanks)
and thus (fill in the blanks)
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seattleniceguy
Wow! Extraordinary! AlanF, that was amazing! Thank you for your excellent research.
Also, SAHS, that's a great analogy. Thanks for sharing.
And johnny cip, thanks for that reference.
SNG
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jwsons
(((((((((( AlanF, ))))))))))))) You make it again. Thank You jwsons