Posts by Voyager

97

WATCHTOWER AND TOBACCO INDUSTRY???

by chuckyy in

.

i have heard recently that the society has some sort of financial connections with philip morris the tobacco giant.. is this true???

chukyy

Voyager

rebel8:

.they have an entire Legal Dept. for instance that could research each donation. They certainly have the resources to know.

Very well said! Agree with you 100%!

Thanks!

16

Tithing

by AshtonCA in

okay, i have looked all over this board and i can't find anything on tithing.

actually, i tried to search for it, but i can never get the search thing to work.. anyway.

jw's are against tithing, but when i look it up, other religions have scriptures that say we are supposed to.

Voyager

Tithing

Watchtower/2001/Dec/15t/page-19/

16

The Pharisees prided themselves on tithing the tiniest herbs, like mint, dill, and cumin. They advertised their piety by their dress and tried to direct the nation. Surely, if our actions are to be in harmony with Jesus? example, we must avoid the tendency of always looking for and highlighting the flaws in others.

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Watchtower/1955/Dec/15th/page-753/

. Spiritual tithing or tenthing includes our helping along the global movement of "all nations" and "all peoples" up the exalted mountain of Jehovah?s house to his temple courts, there to worship him together.?Isa. 2:2-4, AS.

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Awake/1976/April/8th/page-21/

Another vow taken by Pharisees involved tithing, or giving tenths of the produce of the land, and of its fruit trees, herds and flocks for the support of the Levitical priesthood and other necessary things connected with God?s worship. While there was nothing wrong with tithing in itself, Jesus sternly rebuked Pharisees who felt that performing such religious precepts would excuse a lack of other godly qualities.

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Watchtower/1980/May/1st/page-5/

.

While such extensive efforts to observe tithing and ceremonial cleanness did not violate the written law of God, they went beyond what that law demanded. Interestingly, a rabbinical legend represents the congregation of Israel as saying: "Lord of the universe, I have imposed upon myself more restrictions than Thou hast imposed upon me, and I have observed them."

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Watchtower/1957/April/15th/pages 241-242/

Is

it Scriptural for Christendom?s religions to raise money by tithing, the passing of collection plates and the use of gambling devices?

Tithing or the giving of one tenth of one?s income applied only to the Jews. It was one of the decrees in the Law of Moses. By his death Christ abolished that Law so that not even Jewish Christians are obliged to keep the decrees such as tithing. Says the Bible: "By means of his flesh he abolished the hatred, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees."?Eph. 2:15, NW.

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Watchtower/1960/April/15th/page-230/

Tithing is a widely accepted belief in Christendom, churches tithing parishioners ten percent of their income. Does the Bible teach this as a Christian doctrine? Tithing was part of the Law of Moses. But Christians are not under that Law, as Christ?s apostle writes: "You are not under law but under undeserved kindness." When sending his disciples out to preach, Jesus did not instruct them to tithe people.

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Watchtower/1961/May/1st/page-277/

Q. Do Jehovah?s witnesses practice tithing?

A. No. In Jehovah?s pre-Christian congregation tithing was God?s method of supporting his temple workers called Levites, who had no tribal land other than certain cities. Even then Jehovah?s worshipers were free to volunteer contributions for special projects such as the tabernacle furnishings and later the temple. (Ex. 35:29; 1 Chro. 29:17) Jehovah nailed the old Law covenant to Jesus? torture stake.

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Watchtower/2002/Dec/15th/page-30/

· Why is tithing not required of Christians?

Under the Law given to ancient Israel, tithing was a means of supporting the tribe of Levi and caring for needy ones. (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:28, 29) The sacrificial death of Jesus abolished the Law and its tithing requirement. (Ephesians 2:13-15) In the early congregation, the pattern was for each Christian to give according to his means and as he resolved in his heart. (2 Corinthians 9:5, 7)?12/1, pages 4-6.

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Watchtower/1990/Dec/1st/page-22/

Do Jehovah?s Witnesses practice tithing?

No. In ancient Israel, tithing was commanded under the Mosaic Law in order to support God?s temple workers, the Levites and the priests. (Numbers 18:21, 24-29) These had no tribal lands other than certain cities, so they needed this special support. In addition, faithful Israelites were free to give voluntary contributions for special projects, such as the construction of the tabernacle and, later, the temple.?Exodus 25:1-8; 1 Chronicles 29:3-7.

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Watchtower/1988/July/1st/page-9/

How to Show Thankfulness

6 In detail, Jehovah spelled out three specific ways in which the Israelites were to show genuine appreciation for his goodness. One was to observe the tithing requirement by giving Jehovah a tenth of all produce and livestock.

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Watchtower/2002/Dec/1st/page-3/

For many churches, the answer is the tithe. "Tithing is God?s way of financing His kingdom on the earth," claims evangelist Norman Robertson. "It is His system of economics which enables the Gospel to be preached." Not shy about reminding his followers of their responsibility to give, he emphatically states: ?Tithing isn?t something you do because you can afford it. It is an act of obedience. Not tithing is a clear violation of God?s commandments. It is embezzlement.??Tithing?God?s Financial Plan.

Most likely you agree that giving should be part of Christian worship. However, do you find insistent appeals for money disturbing, perhaps even offensive? Brazilian theologian In á cio Strieder accuses churches of resorting to tithing to "solve their institutional problems" and labels such practices "illegitimate, abusive, and a theological aberration."

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Awake/1974/Jan/8th/page-28/

The Law covenant, with its commands about tithing, was abolished on the basis of Jesus? death on the torture stake. Of this, the inspired apostle Paul wrote: "[God] blotted out the handwritten document . . . and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake." (Col. 2:14) Hence, the command on tithing given to the Israelites cannot be used to prove that God requires this of Christians.

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Watchtower/2003/Dec/1st/page-16/

8 Second, in addition to the tithing requirement, Jehovah arranged for the Israelites to make voluntary contributions.

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Watchtower/1953/Dec/1st/page-709/

A not uncommon practice in churches today is that of tithing. This is the taxing of church members one tenth of their earnings, and it is a practice used by the Mormons, Adventists and others. The preachers repeatedly harp on tithing and the parishioners are firmly led to believe that it would be Scripturally wrong for them to give less than a tenth of their income to the demanding church. But how is this a sign that the Word of God is being commercialized? Is not tithing approved by the Bible? Under the Law of Moses, yes! But we do not find Jesus recommending tithing to his followers. His disciples were sent out to preach the gospel free, not to demand tithes. (Matt. 10:8, 9) True, Christ upheld tithing while the Jewish Law was in effect, but tithing came to an end when the Law was abolished by God through Christ Jesus.

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Watchtower/1955/March/1st/page-149/

CONTRIBUTION

16 Today many religious organizations of Christendom require their members to pay tithes, or a tenth of their income. Is tithing required of Christians, according to the Scriptures? The answer is, No. True Christians will adhere to the Bible and follow its commandments .

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Watchtower/1960/July/15th/pages 445-446/

There is no question that tithing was for the Israelites, but is it for Christians? The fact that the Israelites paid tithes does not mean that the Christians are obligated to do so.

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Insight/Vol/2/page-1110/

No Tithing for Christians. At no time were first-century Christians commanded to pay tithes. The primary purpose of the tithing arrangement under the Law had been to support Israel?s temple and priesthood; consequently the obligation to pay tithes would cease when that Mosaic Law covenant came to an end as fulfilled, through Christ?s death on the torture stake. (Eph 2:15; Col 2:13, 14) It is true that Levitical priests continued serving at the temple in Jerusalem until it was destroyed in 70 C.E., but Christians from and after 33 C.E. became part of a new spiritual priesthood that was not supported by tithes.?Ro 6:14; Heb 7:12; 1Pe 2:9.

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Awake/1985/Dec/8th/page-25/

Interestingly, God?s law on tithing was not listed among the "necessary things" for Christians.

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Watchtower/1991/Dec/1st/page-30/

God himself put an end to the Mosaic Law, with its tithing arrangements, nailing it to Jesus? torture stake.

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Watchtower/1963/Nov/1st/page-647/

. . . As Christians we are free from the law of Moses. Circumcision, tithing and other commandments are no longer for us.

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Watchtower/1951/April/15th/pages 248-249/

LAW WITH TITHING ORDINANCE REMOVED

Search as you may you will not find Jesus recommending or commending tithing for his followers.

30

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 3-6-05 WT Study (Abbreviated)

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the march 6, 2005 wt study (february 1, 2005 issue date)

review comments

will be in black and parentheses ().

Voyager

Blondie:

Thanks again Blondie for all your hard work, I made my copy! We enjoy the (free-thought) behind your comments, because it helps to expose the (brain-washing) that the WTS is so famous for!

Thanks!

6

Jehovah's Witness Event--Booked On Graduation Day!

by Voyager in

jw
friends

http://www.star.niu.edu/articles/?id=6013 .

jehovah?s witnesses event booked for graduation day.

Voyager

Blondie:

Hi Blondie, and thank you for your reply. You certainly hit the nail on the head when you said that somebody (goofed)! Graduation is an event that students plan for well in advance, and anything that throws a wrench into the works is (not) going to set very well with the students or their parents.

If the JWs wanted to make a (good) name for themselves, they might consider (moving aside) for the students in these regards. But when $$$$ is the issue, then the WTS may not be so willing.

I am pretty sure that something can be worked out, but whoever it was that was (in-charge) of the planning schedule, needs a refresher course in schedule making. If the WTS is (not) willing to be flexable, it will only cause students to resent JWs even more than they may already!

Thanks Blondie, and keep up the good work!

6

Jehovah's Witness Event--Booked On Graduation Day!

by Voyager in

jw
friends

http://www.star.niu.edu/articles/?id=6013 .

jehovah?s witnesses event booked for graduation day.

Voyager

http://www.star.niu.edu/articles/?id=6013

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Jehovah?s Witnesses event booked for graduation day Contract signed eight days before NIU announced merge

JENI LODOLCE

Last year?s three-day District Convention of the Jehovah?s Witnesses "Walk With God" event took place at the Convocation Center. Randy Levering delivered "wholesome activities that refresh" to the crowd of about six thousand people.

Article by: Nick Swedberg - Senior Reporter
? [email protected]

NIU officials signed a contract on Feb. 7 for the use of the Convocation Center by Jehovah?s Witnesses on the original date of summer commencement.

The university released an announcement Feb. 15 saying they would combine summer and fall commencement into the Dec. 11 ceremony.

"We noticed a conflict with the date," said John Gordon, Convocation Center director. "We immediately contacted the Provosts and Jehovah?s Witnesses and started talking about moving the Jehovah?s date to the following weekend. The Provosts said to go ahead and see what our options would be. They told us it appeared commencement would be permanently merged."

Department deans received an e-mail from college deans proposing the idea and asking for opinions six days prior to the formal announcement but still two days after the contract was signed.

Vice Provost Earl Seaver, whose office made the decision to combine days, said many factors led to the change.

"The Jehovah?s Witnesses Association was no factor in the change of dates," he said. "We?re looking at the time and energy it takes, the faculty attendance, the staff, the student attendance ? Many schools don?t have a summer commencement; some only have one in May."

Most Illinois colleges already have a policy of combining commencements, Seaver said. He said this would put NIU "into alignment" with other state institutions.

Many students have signed a petition from senior public health major DeAnna McClintock opposing the ceremony change. Several letters to the editor also have been written to the Northern Star expressing outrage over the change.

At Sunday?s Student Association Senate meeting, legislation was introduced to provide a formal statement to the university urging a reconsideration of the decision to merge the summer and fall graduation ceremonies.

1

Religion: I am A Jehova's Witness, (news article)!

by Voyager in

jw
friends

http://voice.paly.net/view_feedback.php?id=893 .

date:march 5, 2005name:amyage:46subject:solo una preguntacomment:.

Voyager

http://voice.paly.net/view_feedback.php?id=893

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Date:	March 5, 2005
Name:	Amy
Age:	46
Subject:	solo una pregunta
Comment: I am not of the faith, but my daughter has been for around 13 years; she is very spiritual and is dedicated to teaching the bible. My worry is whether she will find anyone like her. I don't think so, since it seems like the boys of this faith don't have the same passion for their beliefs and are indifferent to the teachings of Jehova. I must reiterate that I am not of this faith, but my daughter is a great example of the young witnesses, and I am very proud of her.

This feedback came in response to the following story:

Religion: I am a Jehova's Witness
Posted Mon Feb 28 13:50:58 PST 2005
By Rotem Ben-Schachar of Verde Magazine
? My beliefs offer me a refuge when things go wrong.?

Walking through the streets of East Palo Alto, Paly senior Alberto Prado breaks off from the small group he is walking with and knocks on the pale blue door of a corner house. ?We are going door to door to distribute publications related to the Bible,? he says with a smile when the door opens. ?Do you read the Bible? This magazine helps extract lessons from the Bible and relate them to real life.?

If people do take interest in Prado?s message, he comes back for more visits. He begins a Bible study with the aid of publications by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the main organization of Jehovah?s Witnesses, to teach about the religion. Afterwards, people decide if they want to be part of the religion and, if they do, they are baptized.

Prado is one of the few Jehovah?s Witnesses at Paly. Though there are over 6 million Jehovah?s Witnesses around the world, the religion is not very well known. The religion began in the early 1870?s during a Bible study group led by Charles Taze Russell in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, according to http://Watchtower.org, the official Jehovah?s Witness web site. Jehovah is one of God?s names in ancient Hebrew scripure, according to the Watchtower organization. Though Jehovah?s Witnesses are Christians, they do not believe in the Trinity. They accept God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as separate entities.

Prado shares his religion?s teachings by preaching door to door two hours a week. ?The purpose of a Christian congregation is to get people to know what God?s purpose is, to spread the good news,? he says. He preaches mostly to Spanish-speaking families. ?Because most Spanish speaking people are pretty religious, most people are generally receptive,? he says. Some people see preaching as an invasion of privacy, but Prado says, ?I have thought about it, and it has been explained to me that preaching is akin to speaking to one?s neighbors; there?s no law against it, and it?s not a bad thing to do. We do try, however, to keep out of homes where we have been specifically told not to trespass, or where there is a sign.?

Prado says his religion?s teachings meld well with his personality. ?I like to stay neutral,? he says. His opinion coincides with Jehovah?s Witnesses? belief of refraining from taking part in government and voting. ?Government is here because of God,? Prado says. ?But it is best to stay neutral and not get involved.? Jehovah?s Witnesses are also pacificists, and do not believe in participating in war.

Another unique belief of Jehovah?s Witnesses is that they do not accept blood transfusions. They believe the Bible says to abstain from blood. ?We interpret part of the bible to say the blood is sacred,? Prado says. However, other alternative methods can be used, such as fractions and non-blood plasma expanders. In addition, Jehovah?s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays or holidays. ?We have decided that these celebrations, being of pagan and not Christian origin, shouldn?t be practiced by us,? Prado says. ?Although I hear all the time about presents and fun parties, I?ve pretty much gotten used to not doing this and it?s not that much of a big deal anyway. We just like to have get-togethers whenever.?

Recent Paly graduate Brittany Hampton, who is also a Jehovah?s Witness, adds, ?We don?t have to wait around until Christmas to get presents or remember Jesus because we receive presents throughout the year. We don?t have to wait around until Valentine?s Day to get an occasional love card because we are able to do that throughout the year. We don?t have to wait around for Thanksgiving in order to eat turkey and a big feast because we eat it throughout the year. Especially when I know what is behind these celebrations, it is something that I wouldn?t want to support, knowing that I am celebrating pagan gods.?

Even though he does not celebrate holidays, Prado has many opportunities to interacts with members of his congregation. The sense of community the religion brings greatly appeals to Prado. Occasionally, he attends circuit meetings with many congregations from all over California. ?My favorite part of the religion is being able to make a lot of new friends and knowing that if I begin talking to someone I know they will be nice to me,? he says.

However, Prado?s religious beliefs do not affect his decisions in choosing friends. ?Most of my friends are not Jehovah?s Witnesses,? he says. ?They acknowledge that I have moral standards, but I would probably have those even if I was not a Jehovah?s Witness. Religion is not a factor in my relationships.? Prado?s beliefs, though, do affect how he deals with everyday situations. He is most grateful that his faith gives him hope. ?I would not be where I am now without my religion because I would not have a reason to do anything,? he says. Prado says his faith also helps him deal with everyday stress. ?Since I know that all will be well some day, I just never let anything get to me too much,? he says. ?I like to believe it [the religious teachings]. It gives me hope that we can indeed live life on Earth in a good way. God can take an active part in everyone?s life.?

Prado feel proud when his religion sends him apart from is peers. ?I have always been seen differently because of the way I act, which I think is cool,? he says. ?People have actually noticed that I don?t let negative things keep me down for too long, and all the times that this happens I say to myself, ?yep, this is a result of where you come from. Good job.??

For Prado, practicing his religion entails attending five meetings a week. He belongs to the Spanish-speaking congregation located at 429 High Street. Prado attends two meetings every Wednesday and two meetings as well as a book study on weekends. At these meetings, an orator explains the week?s assigned Bible reading, and various people give presentations to practice preaching. During the second meeting, the congregation reads a newsletter published by the Watchtower ?which gives us a lowdown on what?s going on at a national level with all Jehovah?s Witnesses and comes with different kinds of advice; things like how to more tactfully present a specific magazine during preaching, or addressing an issue that comes up frequently,? Prado says. Usually, 200 to 350 people attend each meeting.

Jehovah?s Witnesses tend to be very closely knit; they take an extreme interest in what other Jehovah?s Witnesses are doing around the world. On weekends, Prado studies a religious magazine. The most popular magazines are The Watchtower and Awake. ?The Watchtower is more religiously based, and explains how to apply the religion to modern life,? Prado says. ?Awake is broader. Journalists go all over the world and relate their stories to the glory of God.?

Even though Prado is a devout Jehovah?s Witness, he believes that his views can relate to many different religions. ?Anything I would say [about the religion] would apply to any other religion,? Prado says. ?It is important to remember the importance of family, relationships, and humility. God is love.?

It bothers Prado when people make cult references about his religion. ?It?s just another religion, something to believe in,? he says. He feels fortunate he has something so important to him. ?My faith hasn?t been severely tried as of yet,? he says. ?And I thank God for that.?

10

How is Quotes and his site doing since the legal fuss?

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

.

last i heard his lawyer sent a letter replying to the wts's own legal letter.. is there any new news?.

Voyager

Elsewhere:

I think that things are going OK for Quotes, and that his Attorney pretty well shut the Watchtower's mouth on the subject of (cease and desist).

I e-mailed Quotes twice to give him a telephone transcript, but go no rely because I thought that during that particular week or two, that all of Quotes e-mails may have been transferred to his Attorney's office.

But I don't really know for sure what was going on during those couple of weeks or so. But I did notice that he had posted some older (Golden Age) articles, so I think that everthing is OK. If not, maybe someone else can give us an up-date. Maybe Quotes will reply and let us know what is going on, I hope!

Thanks Elsewhere!

14

Can J.W's Be Involved in Politics, Or Can't They?

by Kenneson in

i was always under the impression that jw's couldn't participate in politics because that would mean that they were a part of the world.

yet, i found an interesting article today suggesting that some are involved.

see "analysis: nepal one month on.

Voyager

Kenneson:

I thought that it was a good find Ken, thanks for posting it!

Thanks!

5

randy tv the WTs and the gov

by lurk in

this randy bloke (i mean his name randy not that hes randy ..as in ...well.. you know ;)) says the wts is taking money from bush .

but i can't here the audio thingy cause my puters messed up.

http://www.randytv.com/wtandpolitics.htm.

Voyager

Lurk:

I believe its the audio where a guy phoned the Watchtower to make a donation. He asked the Watchtower representative about making a donation to the Watchtower's political, military, and governments programs.

Then the Watchtower rep says, quote: "Oh, you mean you want to make a contribution to our holocaust fund."

The Watchtower rep, by making that statement, implicated the Watchtower as having a (front) for such programs as political, military, and govermental, and a comment on the tape indicated that the donation was also going for (Bush) agendas.

I think thats the audio that your talking about. I haven't heard it in a while though. The last time I heard it, it was a bit scratchy to me.

Thats why I thought you might contact Randy. [email protected] I think he has a link that will take you to MacGregor Ministries, Joan Cetnar, John Ankerberg, and others, who have audio testimonials and so forth.

5

randy tv the WTs and the gov

by lurk in

this randy bloke (i mean his name randy not that hes randy ..as in ...well.. you know ;)) says the wts is taking money from bush .

but i can't here the audio thingy cause my puters messed up.

http://www.randytv.com/wtandpolitics.htm.

Voyager

Lurk:

You could send Randy a (pm), and ask him about it. He can probably hear the audio a lot better than we can.