Posts by CatholicGuy

11

Reseach help needed re: Thailand and JWs

by CatholicGuy in

well, yesterday i unearthed the correspondence a friend and i had with the thailand bible society re: the wts doing a press run of bibles for the thailand bible society with no wt imprint on them.

(the society printed some with the wt imprint on them and then did a run of bibles for the thailand bible society with only the thailand bible society imprint on them and no mention made they were printed by the wts.

) i'm making arrangements to make this info public.

CatholicGuy

Here is what happened:

The WT Society approached the Thailand Bible Society and sought permission to re-print an older Thai version. This is a version the JWs preferred because it used the name "Jehovah" in the OT. The Thailand Bible Society gave its permission for the reprint because there are many elderly Thais who prefer the older version anyway. No scandal here at all. This is similar to the WTS reprinting the American Standard Version.

The largest run of this reprinting clearly shows that they are reprinted by the Watch Tower Society with the permission of the Thailand Bible Society. However, there were also 2,000 copies run simply with "Thailand Bible Society" on the title page. Absolutely no reference to the Watch Tower Society at all! I was mistaken in earlier posts when I said this was a trade off between the WTS and the Thailand Bible Society. The correspondence states the Thailand Bible Society purchased this special run from the WTS. The brothers at Bethel printed and bound Bibles for the Thailand Bible Society itself.

Let me emphasize that the Thailand Bible Society did nothing wrong. They no doubt got a good product and hopefully got a good price for this. I hope the profits they made on the sales of these volumes helped them in their ministry. But, this is strictly against the policies of the Watch Tower Society.

Say, for example, there was sufficient interest for re-printing the American Standard Version of 1901 (the WT did at least 2 different binding styles of that version on its own presses). Would it not be inconsistent for the Watch Tower Society to print and bind an edition of the the ASV for the American Bible Society with the ABS imprint? It might make good financial sense to do so. But, I was under the impression that the Watch Tower Society did not do publishing for the Bible Societies of Christendom. Sure, they might re-print with permission a version and even sell a bunch of those to others. But, to actually publish for another religious organization?

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

11

Reseach help needed re: Thailand and JWs

by CatholicGuy in

well, yesterday i unearthed the correspondence a friend and i had with the thailand bible society re: the wts doing a press run of bibles for the thailand bible society with no wt imprint on them.

(the society printed some with the wt imprint on them and then did a run of bibles for the thailand bible society with only the thailand bible society imprint on them and no mention made they were printed by the wts.

) i'm making arrangements to make this info public.

CatholicGuy

Thanks for the background! The print runs were done in 1992. The text the WT Society published was an older version in the Thai language which used the name "Jehovah" in the Old Testament.

I'm just wondering if this is the only time the WT Society has done "job printing" for others?

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

11

Reseach help needed re: Thailand and JWs

by CatholicGuy in

well, yesterday i unearthed the correspondence a friend and i had with the thailand bible society re: the wts doing a press run of bibles for the thailand bible society with no wt imprint on them.

(the society printed some with the wt imprint on them and then did a run of bibles for the thailand bible society with only the thailand bible society imprint on them and no mention made they were printed by the wts.

) i'm making arrangements to make this info public.

CatholicGuy

One more request:

What are some *recent* WT statements about having financial/business dealings with the Churches?

Thanks again!

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

11

Reseach help needed re: Thailand and JWs

by CatholicGuy in

well, yesterday i unearthed the correspondence a friend and i had with the thailand bible society re: the wts doing a press run of bibles for the thailand bible society with no wt imprint on them.

(the society printed some with the wt imprint on them and then did a run of bibles for the thailand bible society with only the thailand bible society imprint on them and no mention made they were printed by the wts.

) i'm making arrangements to make this info public.

CatholicGuy

Well, yesterday I unearthed the correspondence a friend and I had with the Thailand Bible Society re: the WTS doing a press run of Bibles for the Thailand Bible Society with no WT imprint on them. (The Society printed some with the WT imprint on them and then did a run of Bibles for the Thailand Bible Society with only the Thailand Bible Society imprint on them and no mention made they were printed by the WTS.) I'm making arrangements to make this info public. First, however, I'm looking for some research help. I don't have very many WT publications from the last few years. Has the WT Society written about their work in Thailand since 1990? (Perhaps one of the yearbooks or some magazine article?) Perhaps there's a reference to their publishing Bibles for JWs in Thailand somewhere?

Many thanks,

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

17

Harry Potter and JWs?

by CatholicGuy in

jw
friends

what's the jw line on harry potter?

i took my kiddies last night to see it.

i knew if i didn't take them on the first day of its release i'd be turned in as a deliquent parent!

CatholicGuy

What's the JW line on Harry Potter? Or, is there one?

I took my kiddies last night to see it. I knew if I didn't take them on the first day of its release I'd be turned in as a deliquent parent! It was a great movie! Seriously, I think all the anti-Potter hysteria is a bunch of bunk. There's enought magic and mysticism in other great classics, like the Wizard of Oz, Snow White, and Star Wars. A very balanced Christian view of the Harry Potter books, IMO:

http://www.geocities.com/amywelborn/harrypotter/article.html

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

34

Russell's Will

by radar in

jw
friends

having at various times during past years donated to the watch tower bible and tract society all of my personal possessions except a small personal bank account of approximately two hundred dollars, in the exchange national bank of pittsburgh, which will properly be paid over to my wife if she survives me, i have merely love and christian good wishes to leave to all of the dear members of the bible house familyand all other dear colaborers in the harvest workyea, for all of the household of faith in every place who call upon the name of the lord jesus as their redeemer.

however, in view of the fact that in donating the journal zions watch tower, the old theology quarterly and the copyrights of the millennial dawn scripture studies books and various other booklets, hymn-books, etc., to the watch tower bible and tract society, i did so with the explicit understanding that i should have full control of all the interests of these publications during my life time, and that after my decease they should be conducted according to my wishes.

i now herewith set forth the said wishesmy will respecting the sameas follows: .

CatholicGuy

What is really ironic is there's a WT Study article from the mid-80's (I believe 87 or 88) that speaks favorably about Russell's will and the editorial committee set up to review articles for publication. Of course, that's the current GB arrangement so it looks like that's the way things have always been. JFR fought the editorial committee and published the landmark "Birth of a Nation" article in 1925 against the wishes of the editorial committee--even though the statement that the committee was reviewing all articles for publication stayed in the WT until 1931.

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

16

Reference to 2 Maccabees in Hebrews 11?

by CatholicGuy in

hebrews chapter 11 is well-known for its description of the "heroes of faith.

" after speaking of the most notable figures from the old testament it says:.

"women received their dead by resurrection; but other men were tortured because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection.

CatholicGuy

For Willy,

The Roman Rite has the most varied Lectionary of Scripture readings of all the Rites. You are right that in 3 years time one would hear the bulk of the Bible read at Mass. The Byzantine Rite follows a different Lectionary and is not as varied. The Rite which has the most Scripture read during Liturgy is the Coptic. I used to visit a Coptic Orthodox parish in Arizona. Seems like they had 5 readings at every Liturgy!

CatholicGuy

9

Book: A People for His Name by Timothy White

by CatholicGuy in

jw
friends

one of the best histories of jehovah's witnesses is the book _a people for his name_ by timothy white, published by vantage press in 1967. the book had a very small printing and as far as i know was never republished.

at the time of its writing the author was a jw in good standing.

m. james penton gives white high marks in _apocalypse delayed_.

CatholicGuy

The copy I had I sold long ago...way before ebay. My understanding is that only a couple hundred copies were ever printed. I have a real clear photocopy that I had bound. I once corresponded with Commentary Press about re-publishing it and sent them a photocopy of the book. They seemed interested initially in re-publishing it but I haven't heard anything from them in many years about the idea.

TW was listed in Bend, Oregon for many years. I never did follow through on trying to contact him until last year and then I found he is no longer listed by directory assistance (not even as non-published). Could he have moved? Is he still alive? Anyone know?

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

19

Some thoughts on the "library card" d...

by Trevor Scott in

with its "library card" defense, the wts tries very hard to minimize the significance of their relationship with the un.

according to the wts, this was actually a very trivial association, analogous to obtaining a library card - something very non-political, and something most of their members will relate to (as library card holders) and view as quite innocuous.

most jws will have no difficulty dismissing this completely out of hand.. also, without actually lying about it, the wts implies that the "criteria for association" changed.

CatholicGuy

A look at the Table of Contents of that Nov. 22, 1998 Awake! is interesting! There's the PR for the UN. There's an article about the problems the JWs have in France and the nice outcome in Russia. What to you want to bet this Awake! issue got a special distribution? Nothing wrong with that except the cost of doing PR for the UN.

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM

9

Book: A People for His Name by Timothy White

by CatholicGuy in

jw
friends

one of the best histories of jehovah's witnesses is the book _a people for his name_ by timothy white, published by vantage press in 1967. the book had a very small printing and as far as i know was never republished.

at the time of its writing the author was a jw in good standing.

m. james penton gives white high marks in _apocalypse delayed_.

CatholicGuy

That was my understanding as well. When he wrote _A People for His Name_ he seemed favorable to the Bible Students. The book has some of the best historical info on the JWs...it's too bad it has only had a sparse circulation.

I was told the name Timothy White was chosen because TW matched his first initials (using a less formal first name). At any rate, TW is not listed in the Bend, Oregon directories any longer (he was a professor at Central Oregon College.) Anyone know his present whereabouts? Perhaps we could get his permission to put the book up on the web?

CatholicGuy

not my webpage but a favorite:
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZHOME.HTM