Posts by Consfearacy

52

Great refutation of Watchtower's "Origin of Life" and "Was Life Created?" brochures

by Third Eye Open in

link: http://www.mediafire.com/?fzjmfambyro0fof.

the essay linked above was written specifically to address the new creationist brochures that were put out by the watchtower at this year's district convention.

the goals of the essay are the following:.

Consfearacy

Weighed and Found Wanting

A critical analysis of The Origin of Life - Five Questions Worth Asking and Was Life Created?

Vivid and pragmatic examples of evolution innovating and creating “well designed" biological structures can be found in the constantly changing worlds of viruses and bacteria. Viruses are relatively simple, they are just pieces of DNA or RNA with a protein coat. Viruses latch onto cells, inject their genetic code, and utilize the machinery of the cell to replicate themselves. Viruses are constantly mutating and thereby stumbling upon new ways to infect other cells. This is the reason that a new flu vaccine is required every season; the virus has changed so significantly that the old antibodies cannot recognize it. Similarly, the rapid evolution of HIV has biological systems are very well “designed" by evolution to evade immune systems and multiply themselves.

2.8 Different Perspectives

Some object that these examples are merely 'microevolution' and are hardly comparable to the 'macroevolution' that leads to new species. However, this is a false distinction. Mutation and natural selection only work at one scale, the scale of the genome. To a strand of DNA, the only difference between gaining resistance to a drug and developing some other novel trait is a pattern of nucleotides. Humans are able to view the resulting changes on difference scales, micro and macro, but the distinction is arbitrary. Just as someone is able to walk across a room, using the same method they could walk down the street or even across town. The scale of the observation is different, but the salient action, putting one foot in front of the other, is identical. There is no magical point where walking ceases to become effective for movement. There is similarly no mysterious barrier that mutation and natural selection cannot pass. Whether evolution is shaping a novel virus or a new species, the process is exactly the same.

Though not obvious, it can be understood how a slow, undirected process can create complex and well adapted biological structures. “Creativity" comes from the random mutations. These changes are selected based upon their ability to confer a reproductive advantage to the genome of which they are a part. Over long periods of time, this natural process “feels" out the figurative 'landscape' of survival, snaking around and discovering new genetic patterns that lead to increased survival rates. Complex biology does not just pop into existence by chance, but slowly builds through generations of natural selection. The various parts of a cell work well together because they have developed side by side over billions of years. No scientist claims that these systems appeared out of nowhere by "accident." There is a demonstrable natural process creating these biological synergies. Pages 13, 14 and 15.

Something very different takes in the real world. We have degree regarding complexity. Viruses are wildly mutational. However, that is not true of more complex species. The more complex the species, the more static the genome. Things we learn, about the genetic variability of viruses in reality aren't valid for more complex species. The empirical evidence speaks for itself.

Popular evidence for evolution in a complex species:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/05/2/l_052_05.html

Ring Species: Salamanders:

Some critics of the theory of evolution argue that it doesn't convincingly explain the origin of new species. They say that members of one species couldn't become so different from other individuals through natural variation that they would become two separate non-interbreeding species.

One of the most powerful counters to that argument is the rare but fascinating phenomenon known as "ring species." This occurs when a single species becomes geographically distributed in a circular pattern over a large area. Immediately adjacent or neighboring populations of the species vary slightly but can interbreed. But at the extremes of the distribution -- the opposite ends of the pattern that link to form a circle -- natural variation has produced so much difference between the populations that they function as though they were two separate, non-interbreeding species.

A well-studied example of a ring species is the salamander Ensatina escholtzii of the Pacific Coast region of the United States. In Southern California, naturalists have found what look like two distinct species scrabbling across the ground. One is marked with strong, dark blotches in a cryptic pattern that camouflages it well. The other is more uniform and brighter, with bright yellow eyes, apparently in mimicry of the deadly poisonous western newt. These two populations coexist in some areas but do not interbreed -- and evidently cannot do so.

By the time the salamanders reached the southernmost part of California, the separation had caused the two groups to evolve enough differences that they had become reproductively isolated. In some areas the two populations coexist, closing the "ring," but do not interbreed. They are as distinct as though they were two separate species. Yet the entire complex of populations belongs to a single taxonomic species, Ensatina escholtzii.

http://godlessliberal.xanga.com/693669753/the-fallacy-of-the-discontinuous-mindset-and-ring-species/

The Fallacy of the Discontinuous Mindset and Ring Species

These ring species are easy to explain through evolution, but difficult to explain via ID (unless we're assuming the designer wanted to design evidence of evolution).

The ring species is excellent evidence for evolution. It's the kind of thing we expect to find if we think species are evolving. However, assuming a static history of life (as we'd see if life was designed to not evolve), this is completely illogical and antithetical to the concept (unless we counter for some sort of whimsy and mischief on the part of the designer). Of course, if someone has an explanation for this, I'd be more than willing to hear it.

Ring species are easy to explain explain via ID using a substitution model. DNA replication, for biological inheritance, is a process occurring in all living organisms to copy their DNA. This process is "replication" in that each strand of the original double-stranded DNA molecule serves as a template for the reproduction of the complementary strand. Hence, following DNA replication, two identical DNA molecules have been produced from a single double-stranded DNA molecule. Cellular proofreading and error toe-checking mechanisms ensure near perfect fidelity for DNA replication. In phylogenetics, sequences are often obtained by firstly obtaining a nucleotide or protein sequence alignment, and then taking the bases or amino acids at corresponding positions in the alignment as the characters. Sequences achieved by this might look like AGCGGAGCTTA and GCCGTAGACGC.

Assuming AGCGGAGCTTA is a DNA code necessary for reproduction (the complete substitution model would be much longer). If environmental adaptation has impacted the species at the DNA level and the DNA sequence AGCGGAGCTTA has mutated to ATCGGAACTTA, making the Ensatina escholtzii incapable of interbreeding with its common ancestor at the other end of the ring (genetically unidentical), the mutation for all practical purposes was destructive as macroevolution never progresses beyond this point. It would evidently take an intelligent designer to complete the process.

Basically, we are still looking for an adequate demonstration of evolution in terms of being able to produce some sort of novel complex phenotype structure with function based on changes at the cellular level (genetic or epigenetic) from simpler lifeforms. Any test would have to show that the genetic structure wasn't the result of a minor genetic mutation. There are several challenges of degree regarding complexity.

We have degree regarding adaptation. Creationists expect species to adapt to their environments just as evolutionists do. Are there limits to the degree of adaptation? Is the salamander going to develop new structures based on complex cellular changes so that we will no longer recognize it as a salamander (showing progressive complexity)? Or is this example of a ring species the limit of adaptation and genetic drift? If you answer the questions you will have no empirical evidence.

The theory of common ancestry has to show a mechanism to derive complexity from simpler organisms. The superficial explanation in the pdf document is in no way sufficient. Vertebrates are extraordinarily complex at all levels of organization. How did they achieve this? What are the cellular mechanisms?

A whole sequence of mutations would have to be identified and determined along these lines. You can apply any and all scientific methods to this salamander outside its natural habitat and it will still remain a salamander. Species are static and they stay that way.

128

"High-Control Groups"

by Consfearacy in

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/similar-religions-to-jehovahs-witnesses.php .

"it is important to understand that in most bible-based cults, although the member is aggressively taught doctrine, it is not the doctrine that holds him in the group.

it is the sense that the group is god's true people, a feeling cultivated by techniques of mind control.

Consfearacy

A person would be disfellowshipped for trying to proselytize inside the Kingdom Hall or using connections with witnesses that are not elders, relationships they formed after Baptism to proselytize or press counter doctrines for destructive purposes.

However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. 2 Peter 2:1

I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves. Acts 20:29-30

128

"High-Control Groups"

by Consfearacy in

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/similar-religions-to-jehovahs-witnesses.php .

"it is important to understand that in most bible-based cults, although the member is aggressively taught doctrine, it is not the doctrine that holds him in the group.

it is the sense that the group is god's true people, a feeling cultivated by techniques of mind control.

Consfearacy

When it comes to witnesses that frequent nightclubs, these are generally ones that were brought up in the Truth but are somewhat undecided. It also depends on the nightclub, whether it's a hedonistic designer-drug rave or a place where people sit down and watch live music. They are in agreement with everything when it comes to what the Bible teaches. If there are any disagreements with what they're being taught, they'll probably just leave. Christendom is good at maintaining church membership even though they disagree on major issues like homosexuality and abortion because of rich religious traditions and visual arts in worship.

http://www.calvin.edu/worship/stories/visual_worship.php

What defines you? Is it what you know and do...or what you see and love? Must you choose? Your answer likely affects how you see the role of visual arts in worship.

Light and dark. Apple, fig leaf, ark, rainbow. Star, cross, 153 fish.

Taste and see that God is good. Abram, Jacob, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, and John—all vision struck. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.

Linen garments, branched candlesticks, curtains embroidered with cherubim. Stone, cedar, cypress, gold.

Soaring arches, stained glass, mosaic floors. Icons, robes, vestments, candles. Stencils on rice paper, catechetical posters, Holy Week processionals, images flickering across big screens.

Christians around the world have different ways of using visual arts in worship. Yet we worship the same Potter, who through the indwelling Spirit shapes us to become more like Christ Incarnate.

And as lush or austere as your own visual tradition may be, you can worship more deeply by considering why and how other Christians receive God’s revelation through what they see.

85

Im finally leaving my jw husband.

by littlebird in

jw
friends

some of you know i have struggled with this for awhile.

i really do believe in marriage and the committment, however, sometimes enough is enough.. his endless preaching at me and calling me and my (adult) children satan has me realizing that this situation is not going to get better.

the other day he kicked my son out of the house for wearing a cap, in his car, with a skull on it.

Consfearacy

He doesn't sound like anyone that attends my congregation. He sounds like a fanatical nutjob that dances around an alter waving a holy grail around. If the dude's a freak, tell me what congregation he goes to so I can ask what his deal is.

116

Definition of Atheist

by ZeusRocks in

jw
friends

i've noticed on so many threads people misrepresenting what and atheist is.

so hopefully anyone who is so inclined can view this clip to get it a bit of clarity on the definition, so others don't have to constantly repeat themselves and correct uneducated assertions on what atheism is.. enjoy.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt1wdnrkllq.

Consfearacy

Atheist's arguments make more sense than Christendom's creationists.

Without God, there's no way to figure out which religions, if any, are true and false.
Without God, the beliefs of people within the same religion frequently come into disagreement.
Without God, believers find ways to explain why God appears invisible and why God doesn't do anything.
Without God, believers come to rely on an idea called "faith" instead of relying on their innate ability to separate non-fiction and fiction.

No one can prove there is no God, just as no one can prove there are no purple elephants on Neptune. On the other hand, no one can prove God exists either. But that doesn't make it a coin-toss, because if God existed, things would be very different around here. If a God existed, he wouldn't have been so bad at directing scriptures. He probably wouldn't have created so many different religions. He would not have made his believers so morally confused. He would not have directed his flocks to wage war on one another.

Everything makes sense if you don't assume God. If you assume God, virtually nothing about our modern understanding of the universe makes any good sense.

128

"High-Control Groups"

by Consfearacy in

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/similar-religions-to-jehovahs-witnesses.php .

"it is important to understand that in most bible-based cults, although the member is aggressively taught doctrine, it is not the doctrine that holds him in the group.

it is the sense that the group is god's true people, a feeling cultivated by techniques of mind control.

Consfearacy

Hebrews 10:24-25 had relative application during the foretold apostasy because of state-sponsored religions.

One frequently asked question about medieval history is, "When did the Dark Ages start and end?" The answer to this simple question is more complicated than one might think.

There is currently no true consensus among historians, authors, and educators for the precise dates -- or even the general dates -- that mark the beginning and end of the medieval era. The most common time frame is approximately 500-1500 C.E., but you will often see different dates of significance marking the era's parameters.

The Protestantism reformation began in 1517. During the Dark Ages no one could teach anything outside what was official church doctrine without being burned at the stake or tortured by the Inquisition.

Biblical truth couldn't be revived until sometime after the Church was stripped of its power. For example:

sh chap. 13 pp. 310-313 The Reformation—The Search Took a New Turn

Often referred to as “the morning star of the Reformation,” John Wycliffe (1324 - December 1384) was a Catholic priest and a professor of theology at Oxford, England. Well aware of the abuses in the church, he wrote and preached against such matters as corruption in the monastic orders, papal taxation, the doctrine of transubstantiation (the claim that the bread and wine used in the Mass literally change into the body and blood of Jesus Christ), the confession, and church involvement in temporal affairs.

Wycliffe was particularly outspoken when it came to the church’s neglect in teaching the Bible. Once he declared:“Would to God that every parish church in this land had a good Bible and good expositions on the gospel, and that the priests studied them well, and taught truly the gospel and God’s commands to the people!” To this end, Wycliffe, in the last years of his life, undertook the task of translating the Latin Vulgate Bible into English. With the help of his associates, particularly Nicholas of Hereford, he produced the first complete Bible in the English language.

All of this, of course, did not go unnoticed by the church. The Council of Constance declared Wycliffe (on 4 May 1415) a stiff-necked heretic and under the ban of the Church. Because of his prominence among the ruling and scholarly classes, Wycliffe was allowed to die in peace on the last day of 1384. It was decreed that his books be burned and his remains be exhumed. His followers were less fortunate. During the reign of Henry IV of England, they were branded as heretics, and many of them were imprisoned, tortured, or burned to death.

Most of the early colonies in the United States, which were in part founded as a result of religious persecution, were generally not tolerant of dissident forms of worship with Maryland being the only exception. The modern legal concept of religious freedom as the union of freedom of belief and freedom of worship with the absence of any state-sponsored religion, originated in the US on September 17, 1787. The United States Constitution addresses the issue of religion in two places: in the First Amendment, and the Article VI prohibition on religious tests as a condition for holding public office.

After freedom of religion was established, apostasy is a conscious choice. Jehovah's Witnesses have maintained integrity and met in undisclosed groups even in places where there was no religious freedom, the Soviet Union for example.

“Sigh, if you stopped thinking in such a fleshly way your confusion might dissipate. God's people do exist. They are the wheat AMONG the weeds. They exist as a spiritual 'body', not a visible, organizational one, they are true Christians within many denominations who are willing to associate with upbuild and encourage each other, even across denominational lines.”

Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Or rendered:

http://nlt.scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/1.htm

Divisions in the Church

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

So the “true Christians” that all speak in agreement, and are not divided, fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought are within many denominations even though they disagree with their apostate brothers and sisters. The fact of the matter is the first century Christians didn't think along these lines and wouldn't pursue this coarse of action unless they didn't have any choice.

Until these unidentified “true Christians” reform the "weeds," reform these apostate religions from within they are ineffective and nothing they say really means anything. Specific denominations of Christendom are divided on numerous issues. Jehovah's Witnesses as a worldwide organization are fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought. There's no logical reason to hang out in these different religions make-believing you're accomplishing any good. Whenever you do start trying to proselytize inside these churches or use church connections to proselytize, you'll likely be barred from the premises.

26

A Fond Farewell

by 5thGeneration in

jw
friends

i want to take this opportunity to say goodbye to all of the members on jwn and thank you for your support over the years.. circumstances have arisen that make it impossible for me to continue posting here.. i have truly appreciated your love and support during some hard times when i had no one else to talk to.. you showed compassion and a non-judgmental, christlike attitude for thoughts and feelings that could not be openly expressed to any of the brothers in the congregation for fear of reprisal.

for that, i am so grateful!.

thanks to the many of you that could relate to the pain and worthlessness that i have felt about myself for so many years because of my experiences and upbringing in the truth.

Consfearacy

This traumatic exit is a sobering reminder of the dead end street: Apostate Blvd. I wouldn't be surprised if 5thGeneration ends up back at the meetings. He obviously didn't receive any adequate help here.

128

"High-Control Groups"

by Consfearacy in

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/similar-religions-to-jehovahs-witnesses.php .

"it is important to understand that in most bible-based cults, although the member is aggressively taught doctrine, it is not the doctrine that holds him in the group.

it is the sense that the group is god's true people, a feeling cultivated by techniques of mind control.

Consfearacy

Essan said, “Erm, no. That's absolutely not what I'm saying. Very little of what they teach is Scripturally sound. But that is another discussion.”

This here says it all and it is not for another discussion.

You said in this forum:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/197276/1/WHO-ARE-THE-FALSE-PROPHETS-TODAY

"Sorry to break it to you, but you are still part of 'Christendom'. The Apostasy set in during the 1st century and it is still going. No religion has 'come out'."

By saying we're still under the umbrella of global apostasy (no one has it right) and by labeling all religions false prophets, you can ignore Hebrews 10:24-25, read the Bible and think whatever you want about it.

And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

You don't have to associate with God's people because there are none. This isn't Christian freedom, this is utter disbelief in one way or another. If you can't attest to the existence of God outside what you observe in the natural world alone, this is deism. Unless all humans are corrupt, a book truly inspired of God will lead to the formation of a visible organization in a country where we enjoy religious freedom, a group that does not operate with ulterior motives or are victims of groupthink. Jehovah's Witnesses are neither.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink

Groupthink is a type of thought within a deeply cohesive in-group whose members try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas. It is a second potential negative consequence of group cohesion.

270

WHO ARE THE FALSE PROPHETS TODAY?

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

who are the false prophets today.

by barbara anderson.

in 1991, one of the watch tower societys senior writers, colin quackenbush, told me in the privacy of his office about letters which the society had received from prominent and credible elders, not apostates (thats exactly what he said), who were concerned about the increase in accusations saying that jehovahs witnesses were false prophets.

Consfearacy

“You ever wonder what makes a person like Rachel (otherwise known as Alice in Wonderland, most recently Consfearacy) tick? Who goes to the trouble of making a good bye thread only to rejoin the forum under a different surname? Its a message board for crying out loud! The same can be said for Debator, otherwise known as Renaia. She did the same thing. What makes these people tick? They take themselves so seriously, why? It just really seems off balanced to me. It says alot that the only real JWs that post on here are undercover apostates. The rest of the real JWs are lurking. But for some reason this thread attracts the mentally handicapped such as Consfearacy and Debator. Strange, yet somewhat fascinating.”

Let the record show who initiated a personal attack.

You don't know who's who on this discussion board. If you think there are active JWs that are undercover apostates, you may try confirming this ludicrous non-sense.

Name:

Congregation:

Why would a person go to the meetings for no good reason? The second they start injecting deliberate lies into the congregation, whether subtly or all at once, they'll be disfellowshipped (for good reason) sooner or later.

I don't have to give my name, because I haven't announced I'm two faced and double-dealing. If people in my congregation knew I defended the Truth by occasionally setting the record straight in a place like this, they may discourage it, but it isn't deliberate deception.

I tell the truth by defending the Truth and “apostates” cunningly lie about everything else. You're a complete idiot for believing the “stories” they tell. I don't wonder what makes you tick, I know.

128

"High-Control Groups"

by Consfearacy in

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/similar-religions-to-jehovahs-witnesses.php .

"it is important to understand that in most bible-based cults, although the member is aggressively taught doctrine, it is not the doctrine that holds him in the group.

it is the sense that the group is god's true people, a feeling cultivated by techniques of mind control.

Consfearacy

Essan said, “Why, because God couldn't function in his purpose otherwise? Because His 'sheep' have to be scammed with bombastic and bold claims and predictions that can't be delivered upon? I think you underestimate Him. You are using human reasoning. Speaking with certainty that is not warranted in God's name is "False Prophesy". In any case, speaking with certainty about predictions which then fail - repeatedly - proves that no one should take them seriously.”

I've noted that you and others tend to exaggerate predictions you claim have "failed." There were two predictions about Jesus' invisible presence and the conclusion of this system of things: 1914 and 1925. Just because other dates outside of these two have no meaning to you doesn't mean they failed.

While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” And in answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. you are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet. “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. Matthew 24:3-8

How would they mislead? By adulterating the word of God and teaching uninspired messages.

Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world. 1 John 4:1

So what you're saying is everything they teach harmonizes with the Bible and thus originates with God, but because of a prior viewpoint, what the Bible says should be rejected or the organization should be rejected. Had I done that I would have never known what I know now. Others may claim they would, even though no one else teaches Bible truth.

Essan said, “And of course they "distinguished themselves" from TRUE Prophets in the Bible, because they are "False Prophets".

The original Bible cannon was sealed in the first century C.E. They distinguished themselves from inspired Bible writers, some of who were prophets. The term "prophet" when used in the Bible clearly has more than one meaning. Opponents of Jehovah's Witnesses are narrow mindedly preoccupied with only one while ignoring key points in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 because it furthers their erroneous agenda.

‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’

How should this prophet receive capital punishment and upheld by what court? Extrajudicial execution? The principle of this scripture has some application, but we're not under the Mosaic law covenant nor are we living in the Dark Ages. Advocates for the separation of church and state aren't particularly thrilled when Bible literalists use scriptures in the Old Testament as self-serving weapons. When Deuteronomy was written, all the surrounding regions were ritualistic pagan (occult) civilizations, physical threats, that's why there were harsh indictments issued for this sort of thing. The situation wasn't much different in the first century (Constantine I overshadowed polytheistic religions in the third century C.E.), but Christians were not to react violently to others for religious differences.

Essan said, “In fact, your criteria is not Scriptural but is invented to try to get the Society off the hook. I challenged Debator to find verses where false prophets were condemned in the Bible where they specifically claimed "Direct communication from God through supernatural means" or "Inspiration" etc. because she, like you, falsely claimed that this was the crucial identifying mark of a "False Prophet" and had to be explicitly stated by the False Prophet. She couldn't provide a single verse where these false prophets made such specific claims.”

All examples of false prophets in the Bible were not associated with simply the fortelling of future events and were often associated with paganism, the occult.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False Prophet In Christianity

Throughout the New Testament, there are warnings of both false prophets and false Messiahs, and believers are adjured to be vigilant. The following verses (Matthew 7:15–23) are from the Sermon on the Mount:

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus brought out an ethical application for his disciples using the analogy of false prophets in the Old Testament:
"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets" (Luke 6:26 NIV ).
In the Acts of the Apostles , Paul and Barnabas encountered a false prophet named Elymas Bar-Jesus on the island of Cyprus. In Acts 13:6–12, we read:
"They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 'You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.'
"Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord" ( Acts of the Apostles 13:6–12, NIV ).
This particular story likewise best matches the model found in Deuteronomy 13:1–5. The claim here is that Elymas is trying to turn Sergius Paulus from the "true faith", just like the false prophet described in the preceding verses (although Jews may legitimately argue that to worship Jesus is a form of idolatry in and of itself and likewise departing from the "true faith" -- in this article, the concern is not so much with differences between beliefs as it is with the similarities between the models). This demonstrates further evolution of this model between early Judaism and Christianity. [In these verses, we do not see Elymas prophesying as the term is popularly understood, so the Deuteronomy 13:1–5 model seems to fit this scenario best.]
Would you feel comfortable stating the early Bible students were not false prophets because they were not sorcerers? The New Testament that has direct application to Christians is quite clear about the identifying marks of a false prophet because of the foretold apostasy, the rise of Christendom that followed the death of the last apostle.
Under Constantine's rule, Bar-Jesus would be subject to capital punishment even though he had no scriptural right to do so. After his rule, wicked men continued to advance from bad to worse.
But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled. 2 Timothy 3:13
That's what made these men false prophets as I pointed earlier.
Fruit in brief means actions and motives, not just a mistaken viewpoint. Even wikipedia acknowledges this but it is conveniently ignored by opponents of Jehovah's Witnesses. Your superficial use of prophecy to suppress what the Bible teaches is not based in scripture.
it-2 pp. 690-691 Prophecy
An inspired message; a revelation of divine will and purpose or the proclamation thereof. Prophecy may be an inspired moral teaching, an expression of a divine command or judgment, or a declaration of something to come. As shown under PROPHET, prediction, or foretelling, is not the basic thought conveyed by the root verbs in the original languages (Heb., na·va'′; Gr., pro·phe·teu′o); yet it forms an outstanding feature of Bible prophecy.