Posts by Fernando

9

Did the Watchtower organization originate as a result of a tax cut?

by slimboyfat in

in 1879 the the postal service act in the united states granted the right for magazines to be sent at second class rate.

as a public service, lowering the price on this kind of commercial mail can be viewed as a tax cut or a state subsidy encouraging this form of commercial enterprise.

if that was the intention it produced results, because it prompted a boom in mail order magazine subscriptions in the late nineteenth century.

Fernando

A pivotal point in the early 1950s was Hayden C Covington's coup in suddenly converting the Watchtower Society to a religion and appropriating relevant religious organisation privileges via the use of the then publication: "Defending and Legally Establishing the Good News" (sic - actually "Defending and Legally Establishing the Watchtower religion").

Now Watchtower followers have the dubious distinction of being totally ignorant of the "good news" whilst spending a billion hours a year door knocking supposedly as "publishers of the good news". Just ask the next door knocker to explain the "good news according to Paul" from the heart! Their ignorance is not an accident - more than half the Bible's 152-odd references to the "good news" message are by Paul, who had left religion to follow Jesus instead!

*** w51 8/15 p. 511 Questions From Readers ***
Why has the Watchtower Society suddenly approved the use of the word “religion” relative to the worship of Jehovah’s witnesses?—P. L., New York.

*** w50 10/15 p. 393 par. 13 Further Enrichment of Understanding ***
At the 1950 international assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses at Yankee Stadium, New York city, there was released to us the invaluable legal document, the 96-page booklet entitled “Defending and Legally Establishing the Good News”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niemotko_v._Maryland

33

Which came first for you? Watchtower illegitimacy, or a compelling alternative?

by Fernando in

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Fernando

Many seem to have been able to break free from the Watchtower’s hold on them without a compelling alternative. I was not so fortunate or awake.

A compelling alternative found me first (faith, spirituality and the unabridged gospel). It was only in the light of this compelling alternative that the Watchtower’s seductive hold on me finally fell apart completely.

What came first for you?

71

Letter to the Writing Department from Barbara Anderson

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

i thought i knew you.

an open letter from barbara anderson to watch towers writing department.

in 1517, martin luther wrote in a letter to archbishop albert of mainz: you must graciously forgive that i, that scum of the earth, am so bold as to dare to address a letter to you.. yes, i know, you think of me as scum, just like mainz believed of luther, wondering how i dare write you a letter, someone jehovahs witnesses disfellowshipped back in 2002. i was accused of being an unrepentant sinner and condemned for causing divisions, then labeled apostate because i spoke out publicly on nbcs dateline tv program aboutthe child sexual abuse policies that protected pedophiles policies that you helped formulate.

Fernando

I agree the Watchtower is beyond repentance, since this involves a level of awareness of their dysfunction that would lead them to admit their apostasy, irrelevance and illegitimacy. Their wilful ignorance of dysfunction has long been shown to be militant. Their self-righteousness (resisting IMPUTED righteousness) has also long been shown to be malignant.

However letters such as these cause them to react in more spiritually insane ways which exposes them as wolves in sheep's clothing to more R&F who are ready to see.

The escalation of their siege mentality, threats, bleating, rationalisation, justification, self-aggrandising, and surreptitious calls to be worshipped as VISIBLE golden calf or pseudo-mediator between God and man, all point to a mounting fear of mounting dissent finally exposing them as spiritually naked, blind, confused, inebriated and insane for all the world to see.

71

Letter to the Writing Department from Barbara Anderson

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

i thought i knew you.

an open letter from barbara anderson to watch towers writing department.

in 1517, martin luther wrote in a letter to archbishop albert of mainz: you must graciously forgive that i, that scum of the earth, am so bold as to dare to address a letter to you.. yes, i know, you think of me as scum, just like mainz believed of luther, wondering how i dare write you a letter, someone jehovahs witnesses disfellowshipped back in 2002. i was accused of being an unrepentant sinner and condemned for causing divisions, then labeled apostate because i spoke out publicly on nbcs dateline tv program aboutthe child sexual abuse policies that protected pedophiles policies that you helped formulate.

Fernando

Hey Celestial!

Religionists define apostasy as abandoning their particular religion - how convenient!

The correct definition for apostasy is very different and unsurprisingly renders all religionists as apostates due to their spiritually immoral relationship with the "god of religion" and rejection of the "God of Abraham" and his message the gospel.

Religionists practice and pursue self-righteousness (works-righteousness). Believers or simple Jesus followers yield to and embrace IMPUTED righteousness (gifts-righteousness) and IMPUTED holiness.

It is no accident that religionists are unable to identify, explain, embrace and obey the one key ingredient of the gospel referred to in Acts 20:24 (2009 year text).

Definition: apostasy or heresy is spiritual unfaithfulness, fornication, adultery, prostitution.

Watchtower library searches:

- apostasy unfaithful*

- legalism

- prostit* (select "most occurrences tab at the bottom, then display results from Bible only, notice 37 hits in Ezekiel)

PS - Did you know that around 1950 the Watchtower suddenly became a "religion"? Did you know that before then ALL religion was deemed "a snare and a racket"? Did you know that the concepts of "false religion" versus "true religion" were invented by Hayden C Covington for expedience and were unknown to Judge Rutherford?

20

God v religionists v atheists/agnostics v believers

by Fernando in

an effort at a summary... still learning about atheists/agnostics and what they believe at this point on the journey.... .

religionistsatheists/agnosticsbelieversthe "god of religion"embracerejectrejectsupremacist, sectarianembracerejectrejectself-righteousness via:.

embracerejectreject- legalism (rules).

Fernando

An effort at a summary... Still learning about Atheists/Agnostics and what they believe at this point on the journey...

	Religionists	Atheists/Agnostics	Believers
The "god of religion"	Embrace	Reject	Reject
Supremacist, Sectarian	Embrace	Reject	Reject
Self-righteousness via:	Embrace	Reject	Reject
- Legalism (rules)	Embrace	Reject	Reject
- Moralism (moral code)	Embrace	Reject	Reject
- Ethnocentrism (doctrine)	Embrace	Reject	Reject
- Gnosticism (knowledge)	Embrace	Reject	Reject
The "God of Abraham"	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace
Egalitarian, Inclusive	Reject/Unfamiliar	Improved	Yield, Embrace
The gospel of grace:	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace
- IMPUTED righteousness	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace
- IMPUTED holiness	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace
- IMPUTED sinlessness	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace
- IMPUTED perfection	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace
- IMPUTED eternal life	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace
- Faith & Spirituality	Reject/Unfamiliar	Unfamiliar	Yield, Embrace

Would love to compare various perspectives whether similar or not...

100

Latest Watchtower page 30... They have some nerve to put this!

by TimothyT in

one thing that i have always noticed even when i was a jw is that the jw org has lots and lots and lots of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make no difference.

when you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law.

am i missing something here!?!?

Fernando

Hey Eggy!

Would you like to explain to us, from your heart, exactly what is "legalism" and its exact opposite?

6

From Our Archives 5-15-2012

by breakfast of champions in

the article talks about the obstacles in getting the "millenial dawn" series of books into the hands of "seekers of truth," and how "coleporters" spread the word.. so, why is this important book which evidently carried a message of truth not available on the wt cd rom?

.

the whitewashing and misdirects in this series are propaganda genius.

Fernando

Good point therevealer!

I have never met a Watchtower religionist who is willing to even examine this heritage they supposedly are holding true to.

As we know if you want to learn "the truth" about William Henry Conley, Russell, Rutherford, and Hayden C Covington you need to speak to an ex Watchtower religionist.

Few if any Watchtower religionists have any idea that the Watchtower suddenly became a religion at some point - let alone when, why and how.

The average Watchtower religionist would be scared witless if asked to do a Watchtower library search on computer for:

- watchtower suddenly religion

19

Oh those naughty Pharisees - thankfully we're nothing like those buggers...

by poopsiecakes in

...or so the latest wt claims.

(may 15th pages 28-30).

it truly blows my mind that they can be this clueless about thier own pharisaical bent.. my favorite bit:.

Fernando

Great post and list poopsiecakes!

I look forward to asking a sincere, honest hearted, but deceived JW to explain "legalism" and its exact opposite to me, from the heart:

"I have heard that the Watchtower has an excellent article on legalism..."

(g79 6/8 pp. 27-28)

32

Does your heart still race when suddenly coming accross a JW?

by Fernando in

it did for me even though i eventually walked out on my terms and fully convinced of the apostasy of the watchtower pharisees and sanhedrin (governing body).. initially it was very confusing and bewildering since i was a 3rd generation born-in and the watchtower was the only "reality" i'd known for more than 40 years.. a psychologist diagnosed ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) and recommended attending a cult conference and workshop for victims of psychological manipulation.

i learnt about "triggers" that cause turmoil and upset whilst one is suffering from ptsd.. for nearly 2 years i could not answer a phone without a minor panic attack.

i could only respond to voicemails.

Fernando

Hey cbew!

Your posts are blank on my end. I wonder if it is the Internet Explorer bug. Can't recall the fix mentioned on JWN. Firefox or Google Chrome browsers do work OK.

42

Give Some Logical Points To Prove That JWs Do Not Have The Truth

by minimus in

jw
friends

the one thing that got to me was that this religion is illogical.

their "logic" is ridiculous, especially when it comes to their blood doctrine.

downright weird!.

Fernando

The truth is a person (John 14:6).

The Watchtower is very much afraid of this person and the message about him (the gospel).

This person has the habit of leading people away from the Sanhedrin (Governing Body) and the Pharisees (ruling religious hierarchy and clergy class).

Watchtower religionists are unable to say:

I am in Christ.
Christ is in me.
I am in union with the truth.
The truth is in union with me.

The Watchtower readily deprecates Christ's spiritual indwelling of the believer by mistranslating and adding the word "union". They tellingly choose not to deprecate their supremacist and apostate version of "the truth" in the same way.