House To House And Door To Door Proves To Be A Sham Diversion.
By Terry Walstrom.
English Standard Version(©2001)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
The "work" of preaching is a phony pursuit designed to give the impression to the world at large that the religion is about evangelism. It is not about evangelism.
The Watchtower Society doesn't use public airwaves, broadcasting media, podcasts, Television, DVDs or any contemporary technology proven to be effective.
Do you know why? THEY DON'T WANT THE MESSEGE UNDERSTOOD!!
That's what I said.
Ask 10 people you meet to tell you what they think Jehovah's Witnesses believe ...then, be ready for a big shock!!
They just don't know!! Hardly a soul alive can give a coherent recounting of JW's beliefs. They only know the quirky "don'ts"
That's right. The average John Q. Citizen can only tell you in vague terms what Jehovah's Witnesses DON'T DO or DON'T BELIEVE. They cannot begin to tell you what they DO believe!
Mind you, this is after a veritible blitz of propaganda for over 100 years taken to the very doors of community after community, public talks in local Kingdom Halls and International Assemblies with considerable media coverage.
Does this strike you as peculiar, strange and suspicious?
Well it is on purpose!
The preaching work is a sham and the religion is Pyramid scheme contrived to create "activity", obedience and enough revenue to move forward.
The magazine articles are a front.
Communism pretended to be about the welfare of the worker and the plight of the underprivileged. It wasn't. That was just window dressing to get the disaffected to become true believers and overturn the power structures for a takeover of the real power behind Communism: fascist dictators!
The Watchtower is little different.
Wake up, people. Shine a little light on what this religion is really about.
Look at the facts and follow the money.
Mainstream religion has to do something PUBLICLY with the money they raise like pay for air-time, pay for orphanages in Africa, pay for a new transmitter, pay for a new steeple or glass cathedral or theme park. Mainstream religion wears its charity on its sleeve. Mainstream religions build schools and colleges and hospitals with the money they receive and still have a fortune leftover to house the preacher in luxury and splendor!
But, Jehovah's Witnesses present a public face deceptively out of touch with the real power brokers in Brooklyn that serves to deflect these questions. There is no PUBLIC FACE of a leader with a smile and a glib messege. It is about anonymity and busy-busy non-productive statistics.
The JW who knocks on the local door is dressed in a Montgomery Ward suit and a scuffed pair of cheap shoes. They don't take collections at their Kingdom Halls. The have no starving children in far off lands to solict for because charity is on the down-low with them.
They make no social progress with women's shelters, rehab centers for drug dependant family members or even day care or work-related programs to boost employment among the poor.
They build no colleges, hospitals or orphanages. Yet, they publicly decry the christian denominations who do.
Jesus, for JW's, has ALREADY returned and is directing them! Jesus has been behind everything for the last 96 years!!
OH, REALLY?
Wouldn't the ministry of Jehovah's Witnesses far outstrip the charity and education accomplishments of competing religion in some noticable ways IF THIS WERE TRUE?
But, no! The Watchtower wheels are stuck in the same mud spinning impotently for the last hundred years with NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT except changes in how they make excuses for their backward inattention to Jesus' own commands:
Bible in Basic English
The religion which is holy and free from evil in the eyes of our God and Father is this: to take care of children who have no fathers and of widows who are in trouble, and to keep oneself untouched by the world.
1 Timothy 5:8: 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Think about it.
Constant admonition by the Watchtower to NOT pursue higher education or obtain a career to earn a better living flies in the face of true christian concern for one's family. How many JW families struggle on one paycheck?
Think hard.
How many hours devoted to door to door work and bible study is required to convert even ONE person to being an active JW?
The Pharisees are portrayed in scripture as travelling far and wide to make one convert and yet producing disastrous results. The modern Pharisee (know-it-all-JW) does the same!
According to the Organization with its Governing Body pronouncements of "Truth", the bible was written for and directed to the chosen elite with the heavenly hope and not to the rank and file "other sheep."
If this were truly so, would that not mean the admonitions to preach the Good News of the Kingdom would, logically, be directed soley to the chosen elite and not to the the rank and file as well?
If the Governing Body possesses that magically spirit-directed message of Truth--and they ONLY--it would be irresponsible for non-anointed to take upon themselves work given to the chosen few, would it not?
It seems to me the Door to Door ministry should only be handled by the anointed by the logic of the above premise.
After all, think about this. According to the Watchtower "wisdom", the reaction of the listener to the message received in the preaching work (door to door) is the determining factor of LIFE or DEATH for that householder. Would it not behoove the anointed to make certain the message isn't poorly handled, ineptly delivered, amateurishly presented and ultimately bungled?
Think of it like this. If there is a medical emergency you want to send it emergency medical help that is rigorously qualified to administer state-of-the-art life-saving intervention to prevent unnecessary death---right? You don't send in 1st year Med Students or hobbyists, right?
Why? Because, the patient would suffer as a result.
Analogously, the householder hearing the Jehovah's Witness "Truth" presentation should get it from the elite corp of specially selected persons whom Jehovah has appointed as Judges, Kings and Priests.
To leave Door to Door work in the hands of second-hand sheep who don't qualify to rule with Jesus and who don't deserve heavenly hope is tantamount to delivering inept emergency care to the sick and dying.
Isn't this malfeasance of the highest order?
The Watchtower Society should be ashamed to turn over its quintessential purpose and work to the dogs who yap at the table for crumbs: the earthly hope second-handers who don't merit heaven.
At least, the above is how it really stacks up if you look at it without the Watchtower spin attached.
Getting others to do your work for you is manipulative in the first place and sanctimoniously illicit if you are the chosen one whose "chosen" status depends on how you discharge that responsibility.
Remember, historically, the Catholic Church made up rules and the lay person had to follow them. The lay person could not read their own bible and decide what was True. It was the Catholic hierarchy who interpreted on matters of faith and morals and not the sole christian with an open heart in prayer to God.
Martin Luther came up with the new idea of Sola Scriptura: one christian, one bible, prayer to God and the Holy Spirit giving the Truth directly in the name of Jesus.
The Watctower has gone back to the Catholic way of doing things. Only the Governing Body can tell us what the bible really means and we must do as they determine. Reading your bible cannot reveal or open up anything that the GB hasn't first approved.
Russell, Rutherford and all those who followed merely went back to the Catholic method of doing things.
The doctrine of Faithful and Discreet Slave is nothing less than the Catholic doctrine of Majesterium. Hierarchy is in charge of the Kingdom Hall, preaching work and interpretations of faith and morals. What THEY say is what is viewed as Truth. No one else can go to Jehovah in prayer and see anything worth seeing.
This goes a long way toward explaining why Jehovah's Witnesses never see themselves as PROTESTANTS! They never left the Catholic way of doing things!
United In Worship-1983-p.111
"Special attention was being given to making up the government that would rule mankind for 1,000 years, and nearly all the inspired letters in the Christian Greek Scriptures are primarily directed to this group of Kingdom heirs--"the holy ones," "partakers of the heavenly calling."
Watchtower-1970-January-1-p.19
That is what all people who have come to know Jehovah and his beloved Son, Christ Jesus, are required to do now. Real Christians today, like the apostles,must help people to whom they preach so that such ones can understand God’s Word. They must be teachers and help each disciple or learner to get the sense of the “word of the kingdom.” Jesus said: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) This, Jehovah’s witnesses are really trying to do. When they do make disciples it is necessary for these to dedicate their lives and be baptized in water so as to make a full expression before Jehovah and Christ Jesus and their brothers that they are going to do the will of God henceforth as that will is set forth in his written Word.
Jehovah's WITNESSES are not able to testify in any courtroom-accepted sense of "having witnessed" an event.
In a legal sense, to witness something you must have first hand observation and experience. Relaying the testimony of someone else it is considered hearsay evidence and is not admisable in court.
Given the doctrine that only the annointed can understand most of scripture, and they pass their knowledge to the great crowd; a rank and file member of the great crowd could not possibly be considered a primary witness, as they would be mostly presenting hearsay testimony to a householder.
The premise and the result are both a sham.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not "witness" anything......not really.
To declare that they do is to tell a lie.
The door to door work is merely repeating hearsay.
They are Jehovah's Liars for certain.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Door To Door Message? A DIVERSION! Where Does The MONEY Go?
By Terry Walstrom.
The door to door work is a sham.
The central activity of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is not spreading their so-called "message" about the Kingdom of Jehovah established in the heavens in 1914.
That's a load of propaganda.
The door to door activity is feckless in producing converts. In fact, it is an immense failure of mammoth proportions!
But, it is a diversion. It is a dodge to keep the rank and file busy. The "work" of preaching is a phoney pursuit designed to give the impression to the world at large that the religion is about evangelism. It is not about evangelism.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is about real estate holdings, investments of monies and high octane movement of currencies laundered in the guise of religious activity.
It is like the Roach Motel. The money checks in, but, in never checks out!!
Where does money NORMALLY GO in a religion??
1.Workers
2.projects,
3.charities
4.retirement plans
5.administration costs.
Is this true of the Watchtower Religion?
They don't pay their workers enough to keep a hobo alive.
There is no retirement plan, no 401 K, no charities like hospitals or trauma centers or battered women's shelters for the money to be spent on.
JW's don't build schools or colleges and don't even plough back money into the local community with social activity centers or reading programs for the illiterate!
They are totally uncharitable and anti-social.
Therefore the money that comes in from their publishing exploits and free distribution networks of gullible grunts at the local Kingdom Halls, is money that cannot be accounted for.
Guess what? They are a religion; they DON'T HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR A PENNY OF IT!!
Don't most large ministries of an evangelical nature spend millions on the Public Airwaves?
The Watchtower Society doesn't use public airwaves, broadcasting media, podcasts, Television, DVDs or any contemporary technology proven to be effective.
Do you know why? THEY DON'T WANT THE MESSAGE UNDERSTOOD!!
That's right. The average John Q. Citizen can only tell you in vague terms what Jehovah's Witnesses DON'T DO or DON'T BELIEVE. They cannot begin to tell you what they DO believe!
Mind you, this is after a veritable blitz of propaganda for over 100 years taken to the very doors of community after community, public talks in local Kingdom Halls and International Assemblies with considerable media coverage.
Does this strike you as peculiar, strange and suspicious?
Well it is on purpose!
The preaching work is a sham and the religion is about money; hidden money; big money.
The magazine articles are a front.
Communism pretended to be about the welfare of the worker and the plight of the underprivileged. It wasn't. That was just window dressing to get the disaffected to become true believers and overturn the power structures for a takeover of the real power behind Communism: fascist dictators!
Look at the facts and follow the money.
Mainstream religion has to do something PUBLICLY with the money they raise like pay for air-time, pay for orphanages in Africa, pay for a new transmitter, pay for a new steeple or glass cathedral or theme park. Mainstream religion wears its charity on its sleeve. Mainstream religions build schools and colleges and hospitals with the money they receive and still have a fortune leftover to house the preacher in luxury and splendor!
But, Jehovah's Witnesses present a public face deceptively out of touch with the real power brokers formerly in Brooklyn that serves to deflect these questions about "where does the money go?" The JW who knocks on the local door is dressed in a Montgomery Ward suit and a scuffed pair of cheap shoes. They don't take collections at their Kingdom Halls. So, the public face is that of shabbiness and under achievement. Little do the folks know about the cash cow printing presses in New York, the investment portfolios and the stagnant accumulation of mountains of currency.
Think about it.
Think hard.
The message doesn't matter.
WHERE IS THE MONEY?
By Terry Walstrom.
The door to door work is a sham.
The central activity of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is not spreading their so-called "message" about the Kingdom of Jehovah established in the heavens in 1914.
That's a load of propaganda.
The door to door activity is feckless in producing converts. In fact, it is an immense failure of mammoth proportions!
But, it is a diversion. It is a dodge to keep the rank and file busy. The "work" of preaching is a phoney pursuit designed to give the impression to the world at large that the religion is about evangelism. It is not about evangelism.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is about real estate holdings, investments of monies and high octane movement of currencies laundered in the guise of religious activity.
It is like the Roach Motel. The money checks in, but, in never checks out!!
Where does money NORMALLY GO in a religion??
1.Workers
2.projects,
3.charities
4.retirement plans
5.administration costs.
Is this true of the Watchtower Religion?
They don't pay their workers enough to keep a hobo alive.
There is no retirement plan, no 401 K, no charities like hospitals or trauma centers or battered women's shelters for the money to be spent on.
JW's don't build schools or colleges and don't even plough back money into the local community with social activity centers or reading programs for the illiterate!
They are totally uncharitable and anti-social.
Therefore the money that comes in from their publishing exploits and free distribution networks of gullible grunts at the local Kingdom Halls, is money that cannot be accounted for.
Guess what? They are a religion; they DON'T HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR A PENNY OF IT!!
Don't most large ministries of an evangelical nature spend millions on the Public Airwaves?
The Watchtower Society doesn't use public airwaves, broadcasting media, podcasts, Television, DVDs or any contemporary technology proven to be effective.
Do you know why? THEY DON'T WANT THE MESSAGE UNDERSTOOD!!
That's right. The average John Q. Citizen can only tell you in vague terms what Jehovah's Witnesses DON'T DO or DON'T BELIEVE. They cannot begin to tell you what they DO believe!
Mind you, this is after a veritable blitz of propaganda for over 100 years taken to the very doors of community after community, public talks in local Kingdom Halls and International Assemblies with considerable media coverage.
Does this strike you as peculiar, strange and suspicious?
Well it is on purpose!
The preaching work is a sham and the religion is about money; hidden money; big money.
The magazine articles are a front.
Communism pretended to be about the welfare of the worker and the plight of the underprivileged. It wasn't. That was just window dressing to get the disaffected to become true believers and overturn the power structures for a takeover of the real power behind Communism: fascist dictators!
Look at the facts and follow the money.
Mainstream religion has to do something PUBLICLY with the money they raise like pay for air-time, pay for orphanages in Africa, pay for a new transmitter, pay for a new steeple or glass cathedral or theme park. Mainstream religion wears its charity on its sleeve. Mainstream religions build schools and colleges and hospitals with the money they receive and still have a fortune leftover to house the preacher in luxury and splendor!
But, Jehovah's Witnesses present a public face deceptively out of touch with the real power brokers formerly in Brooklyn that serves to deflect these questions about "where does the money go?" The JW who knocks on the local door is dressed in a Montgomery Ward suit and a scuffed pair of cheap shoes. They don't take collections at their Kingdom Halls. So, the public face is that of shabbiness and under achievement. Little do the folks know about the cash cow printing presses in New York, the investment portfolios and the stagnant accumulation of mountains of currency.
Think about it.
Think hard.
The message doesn't matter.
WHERE IS THE MONEY?
Saturday, May 14, 2011
How The Watchtower Corporation Really Works (Beginning To End)
By Terry Walstrom(JWN)
In 1925, Judge Rutherford penned an article of extreme controversy titled The Birth of The Nation.
The editorial committee (Russell had created) would not approve it.
Ruthford moved swiftly to remove them! He then hid his massacre cleverly:
The absent men's names, still appeared in the Watchtower magazine as though the were still functioning until 1931.
Rutherford controlled absolutely the "faithful and discreet slave" throne of dictatorial supremecy. Inside the corporation he could plot the takeover of local congregations (called ecclesias) to wield his will there as well.
On the local level all deacons and elders were elected by voting. Since Russell did not believe in religious organization as such there existed no lists of membership at all. Slyly, Rutherford moved to change all that. From 1919 onward the local congregations were asked to register as service organizations with the Watchtower Society. Nothing drastic, right?
Next, Rutherford appointed a Service Director (not subject to yearly election) as an arm of the Brooklyn oversight to function at the local level. Rutherford's man on the scene could usurp local control in this way by "helpfully" organizing the preaching work, assigning territory and encouraging participation in the field work in the congregation.
Thus, the actual purpose of the door to door work was a ruse to link up Judge Rutherford with complete autonomy over local congregations under the pretense of making the preaching work more organized.
This plan carried with it Rutherford's de-emphasis of local public discourses from scripture. These were replaced by studies of Rutherford's organ of propaganda in the form of Watchtower Studies. Instead of referencing the bible per se, it was the fantasy mindset of one man, Judge Rutherford, who would be indoctrinating the former Bible Students with his own peculiar brand of humbuggery. The purpose of all this, as we have seen, was consolidating personal power. But, to do what?
Interestingly, the system of local elective elders was completely eradicated and replaced by something now called a service committee. These men took their marching orders from the throne room in Brooklyn, NY.
The book CONSOLATION (penned by Rutherford) says this: (Consolation 1940 p.25)
"The Theocracy is at present administered by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, of which Judge Rutherford is the president and general manager."
History shows that Rutherford embarked upon a plan which included:
1.Replacing the theology of C.T. Russell (mainly concerned with Adventist demonstrations) with his own.
2.Turning the Watchtower into a personal blog filled with crackpot ideas, schemes, poison-pen fulminations, rants and speculations dressed up as prophecy.
3.Creating a method of churning publicity out of throwing people of conscience willy-nilly into dangerous situations. (Avoiding military service, refusing blood transfusions, ridiculing other religions, railing against political parties, refusals to salute the flag, decrying the cross, etc.)
4.Renaming his Frankenstein monster of a religion Jehovah's Witnesses revealing his penchant for awkward phraseology.
Rutherford used religion as a bludgeon. Rutherford used people within this religion as weapons and victims to demonstrate the extreme reach of his EGO.
With Rutherford's death a change occured. Nathan Knorr took over the helm of this Society; this Organization called The Watchtower.
A new invention took place at this time. A new terminology was introduced as if by magic: THE GOVERNING BODY.
Seven men became a Board of Directors of a Corporation disguised as a religion. This corporation/religion visibly existed for the purpose of making an urgent messege available as effectively as possible: Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom as having arrived in 1914 and warning of the impending event Armageddon.
However..........
This Corporation was made legal in its already existing powers for another purpose entirely. Corporations acquire legitimacy by earning a profit.
In the case of a religious corporation the "profit" must not appear as mere monetary gain.
There has to be a public service aspect to generating millions of dollars that will escape taxation! Ordinary coporations must demonstrate to the Board of Directors that cash flow is equitable to investors and a justifiable return on investment has been made. The Watchtower Corporation had to generate a kind of marvellous "machine" you could pour money into and make it disappear in the form of the preaching work.
CONSTANT EXPANSION was the key! This was a kind of maniacal pyramid scheme to grow and grow ahead of the curve of waves of $$$.
Watchtower rank and file members would be used as volunteer labor staying very busy appearing to be doing something important.
What they were really doing was generating publicity which served to hide the actual purpose of the Watchtower corporation.
To the rank and file there was no Bill of Rights. The could be worked to death grinding out book and magazine sales. In fact, they had no choice but to comply since their very identity as Jehovah's Witnesses depended on demonstrations of door to door sales and hours devoted.
Further, every once and awhile a GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE would have to be run.
This would be in the form of date setting.
Date setting (determining when Armageddon was to arrive) was an Investment.
The publicity was golden.
The threat level was heightened.
The cash flow was extraordinary.
The need for more investment property increased. The grip of absolute power was made real.
The downside was practically nil!!
Whatever number of members who balked and left in disgust; the upside was greater! How so?
1.Only the "weaker" members would leave and that is no loss at all.
2.The disfellowshipping would serve as a warning to other members and make threats appear very real.
3.An outside body of Apostates could be created as a target for vilification that served to drain off anger as a target away from the Governing Body itself. This Apostate group would feel the brunt of frustrations and not the actual perpetrator's of date-setting fraud.
4.A mindset of cognitive dissonance would be reinforced because anybody who stayed would have to justify being made a fool of for believing in the Faithful and Discreet Slave nonsense in the first place.
5.Any slowdown in the worldwide conversions would be a bonus since it would "signal the end" of the preaching work was drawing near and that would mean Armageddon really was imminent!
THE MESSEGE could not be made available all at once to everybody or the work would implode!!
1.The public at large must have only a vague idea of who Jehovah's Witnesses really are (or the public eye would see through the corporate treadmill and start asking where the money went.)
2.The rank and file must always bear the burden of selling the books and magazines to keep them busy.
3.The use of martyrs has a limited purpose. If the relatives of martyrs start suing in court: the game is up!
The legal situation got out of hand suddenly when people started questioning the backpedaling on delicate issues such as child molestation policy and medical emergency policy.
A buffer of protection was needed to separate the Governing Body from legal responsibility for their hurtful policy making edicts.
Thus, the re-organization came and went without much publicity reaching the lower ranks and all was well.
Which brings us back to the question: Why no TV ministry?
As we have seen the purpose of the Governing Body is to generate investment capital through real estate ventures. A TV ministry would dry up that money machine quickly by generating a high-profile examination on the part of the newly well-informed public. An actual full-frontal presentation of the weirdness behind JW thinking would kill the vague persona of citizen do-gooders who clean up after themselves at conventions. The scrutiny would become intensely focused on Brooklyn NY and the actual men who are power brokers on the throne of power.
Publicity has served the corporate purpose when they can frame that publicity as Kingdom Work. Publicity of a different nature could destroy them!
The lawsuits and exposure by internet sites dredging up failed prophecy and policy waffling are a sore point. Governing Body power can only deal with rank and file unrest by clamping down with threats and a tightening grip. It cannot control non-members curiousity. It cannot ignore penetrating questions of authority by threats if the press starts bombarding them with high-profile questions hanging in the air unanswered.
That is why there is no TV ministry for Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a kind of self-fashioned paradox that the Watchtower claims to be heralding an important and urgent message and yet demonstrates an absolute horror of making that message public effectively by using the best technology available.
Note: at one time the Watchtower promoted a subscription policy for the door to door
ministry. The interested householder filled out the subscription form and the WT and Awake! arrived in the mail. Pioneers were urged to obtain as many of these subscriptions as they could.
The end of subscriptions coincided with the change to "voluntary donations". The increasing expense of mail delivery hurt their bottom line at the same time that they needed to raise prices. Consequently, they ended subs to reduce expenses and publishers could now spend extra time, count more RVs, and place more individual copies of magazines. It was a win/win for them. Their expenses down, individual placement counts up.
The recent change to separate Public and Privte editions of Watchtower is designed to get the increasing cult control hidden away from the eyes of unbelievers. Increasingly, there are different messages in those different issues.
In the pre 1975 explosion of Newbies into the Kingdom Halls the indoctrination process was honed down to a maximum of 6 months from door-knock to baptismal dip. Hoardes crowded in to await the expected arrival of Armageddon and the 1000 year reign Suspiciously, at the very same time, the Society was buying and selling real estate and beginning new LONG TERM building projects AS THOUGH Armageddon were a long way off! This would be brought to a screeching halt--not by the arrival of predicted End Times events but by the nearby collapse of the World Trade Center at ground zero. Too close for comfort.
When 1975 proved to be a disastrous bust these NEW CUSTOMERS started spreading a word of mouth counter-advertising backspin which threatened to bring down the flag.
In effect: "Why did you tell me 1975 was a big deal? You got me inside this Kingdom Hall only to tell me 'go out and bring more people in'...but, for what? You got it wrong this time, why would next time be any different?"
This is when the whole strategy changed. Instead of SPEEDING UP NEW RECRUITS the Watchtower leaders slowed it down and concentrated on clamping down with strong authoritarian controls to KEEP the remaining believers in constant control and fear.
By Terry Walstrom(JWN)
In 1925, Judge Rutherford penned an article of extreme controversy titled The Birth of The Nation.
The editorial committee (Russell had created) would not approve it.
Ruthford moved swiftly to remove them! He then hid his massacre cleverly:
The absent men's names, still appeared in the Watchtower magazine as though the were still functioning until 1931.
Rutherford controlled absolutely the "faithful and discreet slave" throne of dictatorial supremecy. Inside the corporation he could plot the takeover of local congregations (called ecclesias) to wield his will there as well.
On the local level all deacons and elders were elected by voting. Since Russell did not believe in religious organization as such there existed no lists of membership at all. Slyly, Rutherford moved to change all that. From 1919 onward the local congregations were asked to register as service organizations with the Watchtower Society. Nothing drastic, right?
Next, Rutherford appointed a Service Director (not subject to yearly election) as an arm of the Brooklyn oversight to function at the local level. Rutherford's man on the scene could usurp local control in this way by "helpfully" organizing the preaching work, assigning territory and encouraging participation in the field work in the congregation.
Thus, the actual purpose of the door to door work was a ruse to link up Judge Rutherford with complete autonomy over local congregations under the pretense of making the preaching work more organized.
This plan carried with it Rutherford's de-emphasis of local public discourses from scripture. These were replaced by studies of Rutherford's organ of propaganda in the form of Watchtower Studies. Instead of referencing the bible per se, it was the fantasy mindset of one man, Judge Rutherford, who would be indoctrinating the former Bible Students with his own peculiar brand of humbuggery. The purpose of all this, as we have seen, was consolidating personal power. But, to do what?
Interestingly, the system of local elective elders was completely eradicated and replaced by something now called a service committee. These men took their marching orders from the throne room in Brooklyn, NY.
The book CONSOLATION (penned by Rutherford) says this: (Consolation 1940 p.25)
"The Theocracy is at present administered by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, of which Judge Rutherford is the president and general manager."
History shows that Rutherford embarked upon a plan which included:
1.Replacing the theology of C.T. Russell (mainly concerned with Adventist demonstrations) with his own.
2.Turning the Watchtower into a personal blog filled with crackpot ideas, schemes, poison-pen fulminations, rants and speculations dressed up as prophecy.
3.Creating a method of churning publicity out of throwing people of conscience willy-nilly into dangerous situations. (Avoiding military service, refusing blood transfusions, ridiculing other religions, railing against political parties, refusals to salute the flag, decrying the cross, etc.)
4.Renaming his Frankenstein monster of a religion Jehovah's Witnesses revealing his penchant for awkward phraseology.
Rutherford used religion as a bludgeon. Rutherford used people within this religion as weapons and victims to demonstrate the extreme reach of his EGO.
With Rutherford's death a change occured. Nathan Knorr took over the helm of this Society; this Organization called The Watchtower.
A new invention took place at this time. A new terminology was introduced as if by magic: THE GOVERNING BODY.
Seven men became a Board of Directors of a Corporation disguised as a religion. This corporation/religion visibly existed for the purpose of making an urgent messege available as effectively as possible: Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom as having arrived in 1914 and warning of the impending event Armageddon.
However..........
This Corporation was made legal in its already existing powers for another purpose entirely. Corporations acquire legitimacy by earning a profit.
In the case of a religious corporation the "profit" must not appear as mere monetary gain.
There has to be a public service aspect to generating millions of dollars that will escape taxation! Ordinary coporations must demonstrate to the Board of Directors that cash flow is equitable to investors and a justifiable return on investment has been made. The Watchtower Corporation had to generate a kind of marvellous "machine" you could pour money into and make it disappear in the form of the preaching work.
CONSTANT EXPANSION was the key! This was a kind of maniacal pyramid scheme to grow and grow ahead of the curve of waves of $$$.
Watchtower rank and file members would be used as volunteer labor staying very busy appearing to be doing something important.
What they were really doing was generating publicity which served to hide the actual purpose of the Watchtower corporation.
To the rank and file there was no Bill of Rights. The could be worked to death grinding out book and magazine sales. In fact, they had no choice but to comply since their very identity as Jehovah's Witnesses depended on demonstrations of door to door sales and hours devoted.
Further, every once and awhile a GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE would have to be run.
This would be in the form of date setting.
Date setting (determining when Armageddon was to arrive) was an Investment.
The publicity was golden.
The threat level was heightened.
The cash flow was extraordinary.
The need for more investment property increased. The grip of absolute power was made real.
The downside was practically nil!!
Whatever number of members who balked and left in disgust; the upside was greater! How so?
1.Only the "weaker" members would leave and that is no loss at all.
2.The disfellowshipping would serve as a warning to other members and make threats appear very real.
3.An outside body of Apostates could be created as a target for vilification that served to drain off anger as a target away from the Governing Body itself. This Apostate group would feel the brunt of frustrations and not the actual perpetrator's of date-setting fraud.
4.A mindset of cognitive dissonance would be reinforced because anybody who stayed would have to justify being made a fool of for believing in the Faithful and Discreet Slave nonsense in the first place.
5.Any slowdown in the worldwide conversions would be a bonus since it would "signal the end" of the preaching work was drawing near and that would mean Armageddon really was imminent!
THE MESSEGE could not be made available all at once to everybody or the work would implode!!
1.The public at large must have only a vague idea of who Jehovah's Witnesses really are (or the public eye would see through the corporate treadmill and start asking where the money went.)
2.The rank and file must always bear the burden of selling the books and magazines to keep them busy.
3.The use of martyrs has a limited purpose. If the relatives of martyrs start suing in court: the game is up!
The legal situation got out of hand suddenly when people started questioning the backpedaling on delicate issues such as child molestation policy and medical emergency policy.
A buffer of protection was needed to separate the Governing Body from legal responsibility for their hurtful policy making edicts.
Thus, the re-organization came and went without much publicity reaching the lower ranks and all was well.
Which brings us back to the question: Why no TV ministry?
As we have seen the purpose of the Governing Body is to generate investment capital through real estate ventures. A TV ministry would dry up that money machine quickly by generating a high-profile examination on the part of the newly well-informed public. An actual full-frontal presentation of the weirdness behind JW thinking would kill the vague persona of citizen do-gooders who clean up after themselves at conventions. The scrutiny would become intensely focused on Brooklyn NY and the actual men who are power brokers on the throne of power.
Publicity has served the corporate purpose when they can frame that publicity as Kingdom Work. Publicity of a different nature could destroy them!
The lawsuits and exposure by internet sites dredging up failed prophecy and policy waffling are a sore point. Governing Body power can only deal with rank and file unrest by clamping down with threats and a tightening grip. It cannot control non-members curiousity. It cannot ignore penetrating questions of authority by threats if the press starts bombarding them with high-profile questions hanging in the air unanswered.
That is why there is no TV ministry for Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a kind of self-fashioned paradox that the Watchtower claims to be heralding an important and urgent message and yet demonstrates an absolute horror of making that message public effectively by using the best technology available.
Note: at one time the Watchtower promoted a subscription policy for the door to door
ministry. The interested householder filled out the subscription form and the WT and Awake! arrived in the mail. Pioneers were urged to obtain as many of these subscriptions as they could.
The end of subscriptions coincided with the change to "voluntary donations". The increasing expense of mail delivery hurt their bottom line at the same time that they needed to raise prices. Consequently, they ended subs to reduce expenses and publishers could now spend extra time, count more RVs, and place more individual copies of magazines. It was a win/win for them. Their expenses down, individual placement counts up.
The recent change to separate Public and Privte editions of Watchtower is designed to get the increasing cult control hidden away from the eyes of unbelievers. Increasingly, there are different messages in those different issues.
In the pre 1975 explosion of Newbies into the Kingdom Halls the indoctrination process was honed down to a maximum of 6 months from door-knock to baptismal dip. Hoardes crowded in to await the expected arrival of Armageddon and the 1000 year reign Suspiciously, at the very same time, the Society was buying and selling real estate and beginning new LONG TERM building projects AS THOUGH Armageddon were a long way off! This would be brought to a screeching halt--not by the arrival of predicted End Times events but by the nearby collapse of the World Trade Center at ground zero. Too close for comfort.
When 1975 proved to be a disastrous bust these NEW CUSTOMERS started spreading a word of mouth counter-advertising backspin which threatened to bring down the flag.
In effect: "Why did you tell me 1975 was a big deal? You got me inside this Kingdom Hall only to tell me 'go out and bring more people in'...but, for what? You got it wrong this time, why would next time be any different?"
This is when the whole strategy changed. Instead of SPEEDING UP NEW RECRUITS the Watchtower leaders slowed it down and concentrated on clamping down with strong authoritarian controls to KEEP the remaining believers in constant control and fear.
More Details Of The bible Students Blending Into Rutherford's empire.
By Terry Walstrom(JWN)
Charlie Taze Russell had money, good looks, privately tutored education and a lot of personal charisma. From his devout mother he got a healthy dose of hellfire and come to Jesus instruction. The family was Presbyterian in a time when Central Authority was viewed with deep suspicion. There may have been a bit of an obsessive trait in the young man because it is reported he chalked up Hellfire warnings on sidewalks on the way to school!!
But, in a few short years, Charlie had argued one too many times and with the wrong person. An atheist ripped young Russell a new one with common sense arguments that left Charlie broken, depressed and disillusioned.
It was time to regroup, rethink, and reflect. It was almost like the cartoon about the 97 pound weakling who had sand kicked in his face at the beach. The skinny weakling decides to muscle up and go back to punch the bully in the face and win the hand of a pretty young lady. How could he do it? What muscles could he pump up to defeat bullies and know-it-alls?
The answer came soon enough. Young Russell stopped in to hear an Adventist lecture with charts, graphs, cherry-picked scriptures, quote-mining and END TIMES PROPHECY.
The lecture and demonstrations electrified C.T.Russell. He had what he was looking for at last. Being the son of a successful men's clothing chain, Russell used his fortune to assemble enough Adventist preachers privately to pick their brains and learn what they had to offer.
Leading Adventist thinkers like George Storrs and Barbour were enlisted to publish these chronologies and apologies. A journal, pamphlets, booklets--whatever was needed C.T.Russell would fork over the cash and see that it got done!
What Russell figured out was HOW IT WAS DONE; how do you get people excited by scaring them with warnings of impending Armageddon? How do you convince them YOU KNOW and others don't. How do you pull in the dazzling "proofs" and get a movement going the way
William Miller (self-taught Baptist lay preacher) had moved thousands of chruch goers to leave their churches and follow him to the brink of the GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. Many of those same people couldn't or wouldn't return. They needed a new leader. Many of these people refused to follow a woman such as Ellen White with her personal visions and revelations. They wanted a charismatic white male who could lead and teach them!
Russell used his private wealth to cut and paste ideas from all over the religious map into his own peculiar name-brand version of Adventism which included pyramidology.
Local congregations kept autonomy. Russell would have it no other way. He wrote books, articles, preached sermons, performed publicly with his charts and graphs and newspaper artilces. A large following gathered and approved. But, in the end, he could NOT deliver on his prophetic guesses. The end of world government did NOT COME in 1914 and false religion was NOT destroyed. Russell died in 1916.
Judge Rutherford crept in to wrest control of the Watchtower for himself and begin a new agenda which would transform local congregations of bible students into a cult of mind-controlled salesmen serving a religion of Business Organization.
This is what happened.
When the Bible Students group began to form around Russell and his teachings, Russell made clear his opposition to creating any Central Governing Body.
Each congregation of Bible Students, Millennial Dawn fellows or Russellites elected their elders and leaders locally by vote and not by appeal to Russell.
This continued until 1938!
Russell died in 1916 and J.F.Rutherford commenced a long range effort of consolidating power under himself alone as leader. Rutherford's scheme for control was in three parts.
1.Get himself elected to the Board of Directors and make other administrators mere puppets and rubber stamp committees.
2.Appoint travelling "service directors" as organizers, sales trainers and magazine promoters. (Much like later Circuit Servants.)
3.Replacing local election and control with a centrally appointed leadership and elder arrangement.
Russell's faithful followers were united in hatred for the Roman Catholic church and its central authority and organization. Previously, as Adventists, they had railed against the RC church as "the whore of Babylon".
For J.F.Rutherford to go against Russell's view of central authority and "organization" he had to overcome a huge built-in abhorrence in the local congregations.
This began in earnest in 1938 (the year before WWII commenced in Europe.)
Russell died and J.F.Rutherford squeezed himself in gradually to Russell's shoes under Russell's teachings...just long enough to secure himself and begin changing everything he could lay his hands on!
Even though Rutherford had weakened their positions by centrally appointing special ‘service directors’ responsible for magazine sale, in theory a congregation was still independent and chose its own pastors, or elders. The main articles in The Watch Tower for August 15 and September 1, 1932 should put an end to that.
In 1932, Rutherford finally did away with the local, elected elders. For a time, many elders had been opposed to the growing emphasis on the preaching and book-selling work that took up more and more of the movement’s focus.
The elders were for a time replaced by a special service committee still elected locally, but in 1938 this arrangement was also replaced by one in which the leadership were centrally appointed. While the JWs reestablished a form of elder arrangement again in the early 1970s, these were – and are – centrally appointed.
Rutherford’s control of the headquarters and publishing arm had been undisputed since the early 1920s at latest. Now he also had a direct control into the lives of every Jehovah’s Witness. Rutherford decided what they should learn at the meetings – less devotional and more commercial than ever – and what they should sell and say.
Rutherford also told JWs that ‘character building’; emphasis on personal Christian qualities, virtue and morality was quite unimportant and indeed a form of ‘creature worship.’ It is very illustrative to look up the word ‘adultery’ in the Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985.
(Here you will not find a single reference to sexual adultery anywhere in the WTS literature before 1947. Later, in the 1950s, and until this day, articles denouncing all sorts of sexual sins flourished. In Rutherford’s vernacular, the word ‘adultery’ was reserved for his opponents’ religious sins.)
Under Rutherford a crackdown on controlling the personal behavior of local congregations began after the embarrassment of 1925 failed to produce a resurrection of "ancient worthies" as Rutherford had predicted.
Rutherford's obsessive preoccupation with tightening the screws on every person involved in his empire ratcheted up from 1926 onward commencing with the eradication of birthday celebrations (denounced as pagan).
******* ****** ********
Birthdays and practically all religious celebrations were condemned as of ‘pagan origin.’ The Bible Students celebrated Christmas for the last time in 1926 (Proclaimers 200; Yearbook 1975, 147-9). The cross, until then an almost universal symbol for Christianity, was rejected as a pagan symbol. The Watchtower Society has since then insisted that Jesus was executed on an upright ‘torture stake’ without a crossbeam.
Rutherford could bend non-ambiguous scriptures into corkscrews in order to enforce his personal interpretation of how things should be done.
This trend towards a growing alienation & hostility towards the world culminated in Rutherford’s reinterpretation of Romans chapter 13, published in The Watchtower, June 1 and June 15, 1929. Here Rutherford insisted that the "higher authorities" to which Christians should subject could not be the earthly authorities. These "higher authorities," he argued, had to be God and Christ. This only increased the Bible Student’s hostility towards the secular state, which was now openly denounced as demonic (Penton 1985, 65).
Clearly and forcefully J.F.Rutherford had taken a small group of Adventist bible students enamoured of Pastor Russell's chronology and pyramidology and compacted them into a mind-control cult obsessed with proper behavior and adherence to rules, regulations and quirky interpretations from a central authority.
Under Rutherford, the almost "universal salvation" beliefs and teachings of Pastor Russell darkened into a vicious and vindictive ideology of blood and destruction.
Perhaps the most striking turnaround in JW doctrine in this period was Rutherford’s view of salvation compared to Russell’s. Russell was very close to teaching universal salvation and was not at all eager to condemn people to destruction (the existence of hell, we remember, he dismissed). Rutherford, perhaps partly due to the persecution he had experienced in the war years, should take a much stricter view of salvation. Gradually he came to argue that only Jehovah’s Witnesses had any real chance of surviving Armageddon, Jehovah’s war against Satan and – in effect – mankind. A part of this was Rutherford’s new doctrine about "The Vindication of Jehovah’s Name," still a central tenet of JW beliefs. Unlike Russell, who held that the redemption was the central doctrine, Rutherford preached that God’s vindication, by wiping out his enemies Old Testament-style in a large battle, was more important than individual salvation.
Between Rutherford and his crony C.J.Woodworth, the Watchtower and the Golden Age (Awake!) began publishing anti-medical anti-science articles fomenting radical faddist notions and downright crackpot denunciations.
(There was a limit, however. Woodworth, the eccentric editor of The Golden Age, found that limit when he, in 1935, tried to persuade Rutherford and the JW community to abandon pagan month and day names. Rutherford harshly censured and ridiculed Woodworth in front of the whole ‘Bethel family,’ a spectacle that shocked many who may nevertheless have agreed with the sanity of Rutherford’s decision to not force such a radical change (Penton 1985, 66-7).
Woodworth was second only to Rutherford as an important influence on the JWs in this period.
One oddity about him was his burning hatred for medical professionals. He considered the compulsory vaccination programs a Satanic and commercial conspiracy to weaken Christians by introducing animalistic tissue into their veins, and he even rejected the germ theory of disease, preferring strange ‘electronic’ and ‘radio’ based apparatus instead. Actually, the Watchtower Society at one time marketed and sold alternative ‘medicine’ through The Golden Age. The only part of these ideas that remain in the JW organization and culture is the blood prohibition – which still gives the movement tragic headlines in the press worldwide – and perhaps a tendency among JWs today to be preoccupied with homeopathy and other ‘alternative’ quasi-medical procedures.
The downward spiral of madness, cult control, anti-science and hatred of other religions mark the Jehovah's Witnesses of this period as followers of lunatics who, themselves, were anti-social misfits hellbent on putting their thumb in the eye of every OTHER authority on earth!
Further, the doctrinal changes Rutherford ordered were often based on whim, personal animus and pressure from reality threatening to disprove the Judge's theology.
For example:
Under Russell the 144,000 little flock were glorified resurrected christians who went to heaven along with non-glorified Great Crowd christians who also went to heaven.
Rutherford saw his membership figures climbing beyond 60,000 and threatening to exceed 144,000.
This would be embarrassing. Consequently, a doctrinal change or "new light" emerged making the Great Crowd an earthly group of Jehovah's Witnesses distinct in kind and nature from the heavenly anointed.
Now, in 1935, Rutherford changed this doctrine and started to teach that the members of the ‘Great Multitude class were all followers of the Watchtower movement, but they would be saved to live eternally on paradise Earth. It was the duty of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, then, to preach to all people and ‘harvest’ this ‘Great Multitude class.’ That there was any possible salvation outside the Watchtower movement was thus finally denied. Somewhat later, the term ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ should come to include this secondary class as well.
What does this signal? The CULT was fully formed as an "Only JW's will survive Armageddon" group of True Believers!
Pastor Russell took personal pride in self-financing his preoccupation of publishing due to his private fortunate. Rutherford, however, had no such money at hand.
Rutherford schemed to control local congregations and turn the membership into salesmen collecting funds from householders and passersby through peddling his books (of which there was an unending stream.)
Thus, the worldwide evangelizing work began in earnest as a way for Rutherford to establish cash flow and make his megalomanical empire financially sound.
Russell’s productivity of publications was no match for Rutherford’s. The first major bestseller, The Finished Mystery, was marketed as Russell’s posthumous book. Already in 1920 Rutherford managed to create his own first major international bestseller, the booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Already the next year came The Harp of God, a book that would eventually reach a circulation of 5,819,037 copies in 22 languages.
As a lawyer steeped in legalism and terminology, Rutherford chose the name witnesses to construe a testimony in a Universal court on behalf of Jehovah. But, his worldwide witnessing was for cash which began flowing into the coffers of his enterprise with himself in sole control.
Rutherford's key strategy succeeded in wresting a personality cult (Pastor Russell) away from "creature worship" and transforming it into a business concern or Organization which could claim and demand loyalty in terms of statistical productivity (preaching and book sales.)
If you produce you get more responsibility. If your productivity wanes, you get fired. (Disfellowshipped.)
ORGANIZATION to Jehovah's Witnesses is serving a faceless corporation headed by God himself who keeps them on permanent probation whereby they may be fired (destroyed at Armageddon) if they don't keep their productivity at maximum and loyalty as unquestionable.
The cult arises!
By Terry Walstrom(JWN)
Charlie Taze Russell had money, good looks, privately tutored education and a lot of personal charisma. From his devout mother he got a healthy dose of hellfire and come to Jesus instruction. The family was Presbyterian in a time when Central Authority was viewed with deep suspicion. There may have been a bit of an obsessive trait in the young man because it is reported he chalked up Hellfire warnings on sidewalks on the way to school!!
But, in a few short years, Charlie had argued one too many times and with the wrong person. An atheist ripped young Russell a new one with common sense arguments that left Charlie broken, depressed and disillusioned.
It was time to regroup, rethink, and reflect. It was almost like the cartoon about the 97 pound weakling who had sand kicked in his face at the beach. The skinny weakling decides to muscle up and go back to punch the bully in the face and win the hand of a pretty young lady. How could he do it? What muscles could he pump up to defeat bullies and know-it-alls?
The answer came soon enough. Young Russell stopped in to hear an Adventist lecture with charts, graphs, cherry-picked scriptures, quote-mining and END TIMES PROPHECY.
The lecture and demonstrations electrified C.T.Russell. He had what he was looking for at last. Being the son of a successful men's clothing chain, Russell used his fortune to assemble enough Adventist preachers privately to pick their brains and learn what they had to offer.
Leading Adventist thinkers like George Storrs and Barbour were enlisted to publish these chronologies and apologies. A journal, pamphlets, booklets--whatever was needed C.T.Russell would fork over the cash and see that it got done!
What Russell figured out was HOW IT WAS DONE; how do you get people excited by scaring them with warnings of impending Armageddon? How do you convince them YOU KNOW and others don't. How do you pull in the dazzling "proofs" and get a movement going the way
William Miller (self-taught Baptist lay preacher) had moved thousands of chruch goers to leave their churches and follow him to the brink of the GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. Many of those same people couldn't or wouldn't return. They needed a new leader. Many of these people refused to follow a woman such as Ellen White with her personal visions and revelations. They wanted a charismatic white male who could lead and teach them!
Russell used his private wealth to cut and paste ideas from all over the religious map into his own peculiar name-brand version of Adventism which included pyramidology.
Local congregations kept autonomy. Russell would have it no other way. He wrote books, articles, preached sermons, performed publicly with his charts and graphs and newspaper artilces. A large following gathered and approved. But, in the end, he could NOT deliver on his prophetic guesses. The end of world government did NOT COME in 1914 and false religion was NOT destroyed. Russell died in 1916.
Judge Rutherford crept in to wrest control of the Watchtower for himself and begin a new agenda which would transform local congregations of bible students into a cult of mind-controlled salesmen serving a religion of Business Organization.
This is what happened.
When the Bible Students group began to form around Russell and his teachings, Russell made clear his opposition to creating any Central Governing Body.
Each congregation of Bible Students, Millennial Dawn fellows or Russellites elected their elders and leaders locally by vote and not by appeal to Russell.
This continued until 1938!
Russell died in 1916 and J.F.Rutherford commenced a long range effort of consolidating power under himself alone as leader. Rutherford's scheme for control was in three parts.
1.Get himself elected to the Board of Directors and make other administrators mere puppets and rubber stamp committees.
2.Appoint travelling "service directors" as organizers, sales trainers and magazine promoters. (Much like later Circuit Servants.)
3.Replacing local election and control with a centrally appointed leadership and elder arrangement.
Russell's faithful followers were united in hatred for the Roman Catholic church and its central authority and organization. Previously, as Adventists, they had railed against the RC church as "the whore of Babylon".
For J.F.Rutherford to go against Russell's view of central authority and "organization" he had to overcome a huge built-in abhorrence in the local congregations.
This began in earnest in 1938 (the year before WWII commenced in Europe.)
Russell died and J.F.Rutherford squeezed himself in gradually to Russell's shoes under Russell's teachings...just long enough to secure himself and begin changing everything he could lay his hands on!
Even though Rutherford had weakened their positions by centrally appointing special ‘service directors’ responsible for magazine sale, in theory a congregation was still independent and chose its own pastors, or elders. The main articles in The Watch Tower for August 15 and September 1, 1932 should put an end to that.
In 1932, Rutherford finally did away with the local, elected elders. For a time, many elders had been opposed to the growing emphasis on the preaching and book-selling work that took up more and more of the movement’s focus.
The elders were for a time replaced by a special service committee still elected locally, but in 1938 this arrangement was also replaced by one in which the leadership were centrally appointed. While the JWs reestablished a form of elder arrangement again in the early 1970s, these were – and are – centrally appointed.
Rutherford’s control of the headquarters and publishing arm had been undisputed since the early 1920s at latest. Now he also had a direct control into the lives of every Jehovah’s Witness. Rutherford decided what they should learn at the meetings – less devotional and more commercial than ever – and what they should sell and say.
Rutherford also told JWs that ‘character building’; emphasis on personal Christian qualities, virtue and morality was quite unimportant and indeed a form of ‘creature worship.’ It is very illustrative to look up the word ‘adultery’ in the Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985.
(Here you will not find a single reference to sexual adultery anywhere in the WTS literature before 1947. Later, in the 1950s, and until this day, articles denouncing all sorts of sexual sins flourished. In Rutherford’s vernacular, the word ‘adultery’ was reserved for his opponents’ religious sins.)
Under Rutherford a crackdown on controlling the personal behavior of local congregations began after the embarrassment of 1925 failed to produce a resurrection of "ancient worthies" as Rutherford had predicted.
Rutherford's obsessive preoccupation with tightening the screws on every person involved in his empire ratcheted up from 1926 onward commencing with the eradication of birthday celebrations (denounced as pagan).
******* ****** ********
Birthdays and practically all religious celebrations were condemned as of ‘pagan origin.’ The Bible Students celebrated Christmas for the last time in 1926 (Proclaimers 200; Yearbook 1975, 147-9). The cross, until then an almost universal symbol for Christianity, was rejected as a pagan symbol. The Watchtower Society has since then insisted that Jesus was executed on an upright ‘torture stake’ without a crossbeam.
Rutherford could bend non-ambiguous scriptures into corkscrews in order to enforce his personal interpretation of how things should be done.
This trend towards a growing alienation & hostility towards the world culminated in Rutherford’s reinterpretation of Romans chapter 13, published in The Watchtower, June 1 and June 15, 1929. Here Rutherford insisted that the "higher authorities" to which Christians should subject could not be the earthly authorities. These "higher authorities," he argued, had to be God and Christ. This only increased the Bible Student’s hostility towards the secular state, which was now openly denounced as demonic (Penton 1985, 65).
Clearly and forcefully J.F.Rutherford had taken a small group of Adventist bible students enamoured of Pastor Russell's chronology and pyramidology and compacted them into a mind-control cult obsessed with proper behavior and adherence to rules, regulations and quirky interpretations from a central authority.
Under Rutherford, the almost "universal salvation" beliefs and teachings of Pastor Russell darkened into a vicious and vindictive ideology of blood and destruction.
Perhaps the most striking turnaround in JW doctrine in this period was Rutherford’s view of salvation compared to Russell’s. Russell was very close to teaching universal salvation and was not at all eager to condemn people to destruction (the existence of hell, we remember, he dismissed). Rutherford, perhaps partly due to the persecution he had experienced in the war years, should take a much stricter view of salvation. Gradually he came to argue that only Jehovah’s Witnesses had any real chance of surviving Armageddon, Jehovah’s war against Satan and – in effect – mankind. A part of this was Rutherford’s new doctrine about "The Vindication of Jehovah’s Name," still a central tenet of JW beliefs. Unlike Russell, who held that the redemption was the central doctrine, Rutherford preached that God’s vindication, by wiping out his enemies Old Testament-style in a large battle, was more important than individual salvation.
Between Rutherford and his crony C.J.Woodworth, the Watchtower and the Golden Age (Awake!) began publishing anti-medical anti-science articles fomenting radical faddist notions and downright crackpot denunciations.
(There was a limit, however. Woodworth, the eccentric editor of The Golden Age, found that limit when he, in 1935, tried to persuade Rutherford and the JW community to abandon pagan month and day names. Rutherford harshly censured and ridiculed Woodworth in front of the whole ‘Bethel family,’ a spectacle that shocked many who may nevertheless have agreed with the sanity of Rutherford’s decision to not force such a radical change (Penton 1985, 66-7).
Woodworth was second only to Rutherford as an important influence on the JWs in this period.
One oddity about him was his burning hatred for medical professionals. He considered the compulsory vaccination programs a Satanic and commercial conspiracy to weaken Christians by introducing animalistic tissue into their veins, and he even rejected the germ theory of disease, preferring strange ‘electronic’ and ‘radio’ based apparatus instead. Actually, the Watchtower Society at one time marketed and sold alternative ‘medicine’ through The Golden Age. The only part of these ideas that remain in the JW organization and culture is the blood prohibition – which still gives the movement tragic headlines in the press worldwide – and perhaps a tendency among JWs today to be preoccupied with homeopathy and other ‘alternative’ quasi-medical procedures.
The downward spiral of madness, cult control, anti-science and hatred of other religions mark the Jehovah's Witnesses of this period as followers of lunatics who, themselves, were anti-social misfits hellbent on putting their thumb in the eye of every OTHER authority on earth!
Further, the doctrinal changes Rutherford ordered were often based on whim, personal animus and pressure from reality threatening to disprove the Judge's theology.
For example:
Under Russell the 144,000 little flock were glorified resurrected christians who went to heaven along with non-glorified Great Crowd christians who also went to heaven.
Rutherford saw his membership figures climbing beyond 60,000 and threatening to exceed 144,000.
This would be embarrassing. Consequently, a doctrinal change or "new light" emerged making the Great Crowd an earthly group of Jehovah's Witnesses distinct in kind and nature from the heavenly anointed.
Now, in 1935, Rutherford changed this doctrine and started to teach that the members of the ‘Great Multitude class were all followers of the Watchtower movement, but they would be saved to live eternally on paradise Earth. It was the duty of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, then, to preach to all people and ‘harvest’ this ‘Great Multitude class.’ That there was any possible salvation outside the Watchtower movement was thus finally denied. Somewhat later, the term ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ should come to include this secondary class as well.
What does this signal? The CULT was fully formed as an "Only JW's will survive Armageddon" group of True Believers!
Pastor Russell took personal pride in self-financing his preoccupation of publishing due to his private fortunate. Rutherford, however, had no such money at hand.
Rutherford schemed to control local congregations and turn the membership into salesmen collecting funds from householders and passersby through peddling his books (of which there was an unending stream.)
Thus, the worldwide evangelizing work began in earnest as a way for Rutherford to establish cash flow and make his megalomanical empire financially sound.
Russell’s productivity of publications was no match for Rutherford’s. The first major bestseller, The Finished Mystery, was marketed as Russell’s posthumous book. Already in 1920 Rutherford managed to create his own first major international bestseller, the booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Already the next year came The Harp of God, a book that would eventually reach a circulation of 5,819,037 copies in 22 languages.
As a lawyer steeped in legalism and terminology, Rutherford chose the name witnesses to construe a testimony in a Universal court on behalf of Jehovah. But, his worldwide witnessing was for cash which began flowing into the coffers of his enterprise with himself in sole control.
Rutherford's key strategy succeeded in wresting a personality cult (Pastor Russell) away from "creature worship" and transforming it into a business concern or Organization which could claim and demand loyalty in terms of statistical productivity (preaching and book sales.)
If you produce you get more responsibility. If your productivity wanes, you get fired. (Disfellowshipped.)
ORGANIZATION to Jehovah's Witnesses is serving a faceless corporation headed by God himself who keeps them on permanent probation whereby they may be fired (destroyed at Armageddon) if they don't keep their productivity at maximum and loyalty as unquestionable.
The cult arises!
How Did That MYSTERIOUS Transition From Russell To Rutherford Happen?
By Terry Walstrom.
"Judge" Josephh Rutherford helped Pastor Russell draft his Last Will and Testament. As legal advisor this was fitting. Russell named five men who would adminstrate the Watch Tower Society on an editorial board. Russell stated he wanted no further or additional writings to ever be published--only his own.
In case replacements were needed for the 5 administrators, Russell named 5 (FIVE) men as suitable replacements.
BUT----
Here is where the mystery begins! On this will appears the name of a 6th (SIXTH) person: J.F.Rutherford!
"The will, along with a number of letters and other statements about the administration of the Watch Tower Society, was printed in the December 1, 1916 edition of The Watch Tower. To the positions in the editorial board, Russell’s will had named W. E. Page, W. E. Van Amburgh, H.C. Rockwell, E. W. Brenneisen and F. H. Robinson. Quite curiously, Russell’s will writes about “the five whom I suggest as possibly amongst the most suitable from which to fill vacancies” (emphasis added) and then lists six names: A. E. Burgess, R. Hirsh, I. Hoskins, G. H. Fisher, Dr. J. Edgar and J. F. Rutherford."
It is certainly possible, but this author has not found it possible to fully confirm or reject this theory, that one name was added to the list after Russell had written it: Rutherford’s. Whatever the case may be, Page and Brenneisen declined to be on the Board for personal reasons, and Hirsh and Rutherford replaced them . Jan S. Haugland September 26, 2000 Master's Thesis
The Watch Tower was left in the hands of a committee of five, an editorial committee (there was also a seven man board of directors). Rutherford wasn't on the list of five, he was on the list of "possible replacements". And even then as mentioned, Russell stated "five" and there are six names listed, ironically the Judges name is listed. Anyone who knows their history knows that Russell avoided the Judge like the plague.
Russell never stated that they were to only publish his writings. What he said was that the Society was to never publish another journal, meaning they could only publish The Watch Tower, which is why when the Judge began to publish The Golden Age, he did so against Russell's wishes, and he published it under a different name.
Also, Russell requested that all of his writings as well as all articles appearing in the Watch Tower be anonymous.
The Judge somehow made it on the Editorial committee, then weaseled his way onto an 3 man executive committee, being assured that he would be elected president. he wrote up by-laws which gave the president FULL control of the Society, it's assets, EVERYTHING. At the business meetings the by-laws were illegally approved and passed. I say illegally, because ONLY the board of directors could pass and appriove by-laws, NOT the membership. When the board attempted to rescind those by-laws, Rutherford dismissed and replaced them.
After a few years, the ousted directors gave up the fight, and incorporated the Pastoral Bible Institute in 1918, there was also the Stand Fast Bible Students Association and the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, as well as others.
Where does this lead us?
Note: Page 60 of the fourth edition of "Crisis of Conscience" states in a footnote at the bottom of the page that: "Russell did not list Rutherford among these five but placed him in a second group of five who might serve as replacements if occasion required." Is author Ray Franz deducing from the mere appearance of the additional name on the document itself?
A legal instrument has to be precise to be enforceable. Lawyers are charged with specificity and due dilligence in enumerating matters of this nature. I find it rather telling that a designated FIVE does not match an enumerated SIX.
What he said was that the Society was to never publish another journal, meaning they could only publish The Watch Tower, which is why when the Judge began to publish The Golden Age, he did so against Russell's wishes, and he published it under a different name.
Vitally important to realize this, too! Pastor Russell was clearly nipping in the bud the ambition of leadership and authorship problem. Rutherford clearly shows his colors in defying Russell in this way.
To state it matter-of-factly: The Golden Age and later Awake! publications (new journals) were in clear violation of Pastor Russell's stated objection in his Last Will and Testament.
The power play of Rutherford effectively purged Russell's loyalists from among the ranks and left Rutherford loyalists in their place.
There was nothing the Judge wouldn't do for his own manipulative machinations
"Where there's a will, there's a way..
Here is something you won't find in any Watch Tower publication:
Menta Sturgeon who was travelling with Russell when he died, wired his wife at Bethel regarding the Russell's death. However A. H. MacMillan intercepted the telegram and wired J. F. Rutherford with five words: “The old man is dead." The Judge was just a few states away attending a convention in Oakland, Maryland. He told MacMillan “do nothing until I get there”. It wouldn’t have taken him long to get to Bethel, considering that most likely most of the directors were with Russell. He went straight to Russell's office locked himself in and the rest is history.
Please read here:
http://www.heraldmag.org/2006_history/06history_8.htm
Further reading:
Jan S. Haugland September 26, 2000 Master's Thesis
By Terry Walstrom.
"Judge" Josephh Rutherford helped Pastor Russell draft his Last Will and Testament. As legal advisor this was fitting. Russell named five men who would adminstrate the Watch Tower Society on an editorial board. Russell stated he wanted no further or additional writings to ever be published--only his own.
In case replacements were needed for the 5 administrators, Russell named 5 (FIVE) men as suitable replacements.
BUT----
Here is where the mystery begins! On this will appears the name of a 6th (SIXTH) person: J.F.Rutherford!
"The will, along with a number of letters and other statements about the administration of the Watch Tower Society, was printed in the December 1, 1916 edition of The Watch Tower. To the positions in the editorial board, Russell’s will had named W. E. Page, W. E. Van Amburgh, H.C. Rockwell, E. W. Brenneisen and F. H. Robinson. Quite curiously, Russell’s will writes about “the five whom I suggest as possibly amongst the most suitable from which to fill vacancies” (emphasis added) and then lists six names: A. E. Burgess, R. Hirsh, I. Hoskins, G. H. Fisher, Dr. J. Edgar and J. F. Rutherford."
It is certainly possible, but this author has not found it possible to fully confirm or reject this theory, that one name was added to the list after Russell had written it: Rutherford’s. Whatever the case may be, Page and Brenneisen declined to be on the Board for personal reasons, and Hirsh and Rutherford replaced them . Jan S. Haugland September 26, 2000 Master's Thesis
The Watch Tower was left in the hands of a committee of five, an editorial committee (there was also a seven man board of directors). Rutherford wasn't on the list of five, he was on the list of "possible replacements". And even then as mentioned, Russell stated "five" and there are six names listed, ironically the Judges name is listed. Anyone who knows their history knows that Russell avoided the Judge like the plague.
Russell never stated that they were to only publish his writings. What he said was that the Society was to never publish another journal, meaning they could only publish The Watch Tower, which is why when the Judge began to publish The Golden Age, he did so against Russell's wishes, and he published it under a different name.
Also, Russell requested that all of his writings as well as all articles appearing in the Watch Tower be anonymous.
The Judge somehow made it on the Editorial committee, then weaseled his way onto an 3 man executive committee, being assured that he would be elected president. he wrote up by-laws which gave the president FULL control of the Society, it's assets, EVERYTHING. At the business meetings the by-laws were illegally approved and passed. I say illegally, because ONLY the board of directors could pass and appriove by-laws, NOT the membership. When the board attempted to rescind those by-laws, Rutherford dismissed and replaced them.
After a few years, the ousted directors gave up the fight, and incorporated the Pastoral Bible Institute in 1918, there was also the Stand Fast Bible Students Association and the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, as well as others.
Where does this lead us?
Note: Page 60 of the fourth edition of "Crisis of Conscience" states in a footnote at the bottom of the page that: "Russell did not list Rutherford among these five but placed him in a second group of five who might serve as replacements if occasion required." Is author Ray Franz deducing from the mere appearance of the additional name on the document itself?
A legal instrument has to be precise to be enforceable. Lawyers are charged with specificity and due dilligence in enumerating matters of this nature. I find it rather telling that a designated FIVE does not match an enumerated SIX.
What he said was that the Society was to never publish another journal, meaning they could only publish The Watch Tower, which is why when the Judge began to publish The Golden Age, he did so against Russell's wishes, and he published it under a different name.
Vitally important to realize this, too! Pastor Russell was clearly nipping in the bud the ambition of leadership and authorship problem. Rutherford clearly shows his colors in defying Russell in this way.
To state it matter-of-factly: The Golden Age and later Awake! publications (new journals) were in clear violation of Pastor Russell's stated objection in his Last Will and Testament.
The power play of Rutherford effectively purged Russell's loyalists from among the ranks and left Rutherford loyalists in their place.
There was nothing the Judge wouldn't do for his own manipulative machinations
"Where there's a will, there's a way..
Here is something you won't find in any Watch Tower publication:
Menta Sturgeon who was travelling with Russell when he died, wired his wife at Bethel regarding the Russell's death. However A. H. MacMillan intercepted the telegram and wired J. F. Rutherford with five words: “The old man is dead." The Judge was just a few states away attending a convention in Oakland, Maryland. He told MacMillan “do nothing until I get there”. It wouldn’t have taken him long to get to Bethel, considering that most likely most of the directors were with Russell. He went straight to Russell's office locked himself in and the rest is history.
Please read here:
http://www.heraldmag.org/2006_history/06history_8.htm
Further reading:
Jan S. Haugland September 26, 2000 Master's Thesis
The Dirty Little Secret Of Watchtower PREACHING WORK You May Not Know.
By Terry Walstrom.
Here is a dramatic statement:
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has no interest in an effective evangelical program of conversion.
If Jehovah's Witnesses believe they have the most important and urgent message in all of history; why do they deliberately choose to use the least effective means of delivering that message?
If Armageddon is quickly approaching there is no time to waste!
Statistically, (using the Watchtower's own figures) it takes 1000's of hours of door to door preaching to create one convert!
What is wrong with this picture?
How many preaching hours does it take to convert a person to a Jehovah's Witness?
Top and bottom 20 countries of the ratio of one baptism to hours. The higher the ratio, the longer hours are needed to convert to Jehovah's Witnesses. For example in Japan, it takes about 18,000 hours (!) of preaching to gain one baptism, whereas in Nepal it takes only 2000 hours.
WHAT IS THE ACTUAL PURPOSE BEHIND THE JW MINISTRY?
In 1884 Charles Taze Russell applied for incorporation for his association "Zion's Watch Tower Society". He wanted to make the transition necessary after his death a smooth one. He stressed the limitations of the corporation in the following manner: "Zion's Watch Tower Society is not a 'religious society' in the ordinary meaning of the term; for it has no creed or confession of Faith. It is purely a business association, whose mission is to serve in a business manner the wishes of its beneficiaries, who are represented in its officers"
Judge Rutherford, the man who snatched the religious followers of Charles Taze Russell away from the International Bible Students movement, has the answer.
Rutherford piggy-backed his own schemes on top of the work of Russell by a bait and switch method of reassurance and pretend revelation.
First, Rutherford used his own personal association with Russell and his knowledge of legal maneuvers to wrest control of the Watchtower Society away from the men Russell had personally named to succeed him. Rutherford stabilized panic in the ranks by the outrageous claim that Russell still managed affairs from heaven!
In 1917 in The Finished Mystery (presented as posthumous by Russell), the view was expressed that Russell was still ruling the headquarters in his resurrected body. How was Russell supervising the work? Woodworth (the actual author of the book) found the answer in passages of Revelation mentioning the eight angels. Generally seven angels predominate in the book's symbolism, which seven angels Woodworth understood to be St. Paul, St. John, Arius, Peter Waldo, Wycliffe, Luther and Russell. But twice "another angel" appears, which could reasonably be Russell's successor. Both these times (Revelation 8:3; 14:18) Woodworth interprets the eighth angel to be the corporation.
"The corporate body - the WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, which Pastor Russell formed to finish his work. This verse shows that, though Pastor Russell has passed beyond the veil, he is still managing every feature of the harvest work."l)
Rutherford's next maneuver was swift and sure; he got rid of four corporate board members at the annual meeting on January 4, 1919 and became autocratic president. This was not a legally authorized move. It took advantage of inside information about document processing. The purpose was that of consolidating his personal power to render his "editorial advisors" ineffective.
The plan worked.
The first test of total power would demonstrate two things:
1.Rutherford intended to create the idea that the corporate headquarters in Brooklyn, NY was identical with Russell's interpretation of a much quoted scripture about the "faithful and discreet slave". (Maria Russell convinced her husband that he himself was this mouthpiece of God.)
2.Rutherford would write whatever came into his mind and use the editorial committee as a rubber stamp for his peculiar crackpot ideas to pass them off as the very word of Jehovah himself!
The showdown with the committee came in 1925. Rutherford penned an article of extreme controversy titled The Birth of The Nation. The editorial committee would not approve it. Rutherford moved swiftly to remove them! The absent men's names, however, still appeared in the Watchtower magazine as though the were still functioning until 1931.
Now that Rutherford controlled absolutely the "faithful and discreet slave" throne of dictatorial supremecy with the corporation he could now plot the takeover of local congregations (called ecclesias) to wield his will there as well.
On the local level all deacons and elders were elected by voting. Since Russell did not believe in religious organization as such there existed no lists of membership at all. Slyly, Rutherford moved to change all that. From 1919 onward the local congregations were asked to register as service organizations with the Watchtower Society. Nothing drastic, right?
Next, Rutherford appointed a Service Director (not subject to yearly election) as an arm of the Brooklyn oversight to function at the local level. Rutherford's man on the scene could usurp local control in this way by "helpfully" organizing the preaching work, assigning territory and encouraging participation in the field work in the congregation.
Thus, the actual purpose of the door to door work was a ruse to link up Judge Rutherford with complete autonomy over local congregations under the pretense of making the preaching work more organized.
This plan carried with it Rutherford's de-emphasis of local public discourses from scripture. These were replaced by studies of Rutherford's organ of propaganda in the form of Watchtower Studies. Instead of referencing the bible per se, it was the fantasy mindset of one man, Judge Rutherford, who would be indoctrinating the former Bible Students with his own peculiar brand of humbuggery. The purpose of all this, as we have seen, was consolidating personal power. But, to do what?
Interestingly, the system of local elective elders was completely eradicated and replaced by something now called a service committee. These men took their marching orders from the throne room in Brooklyn, NY.
The book CONSOLATION (penned by Rutherford) says this: (Consolation 1940 p.25)
"The Theocracy is at present administered by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, of which Judge Rutherford is the president and general manager."
History shows that Rutherford embarked upon a plan which included:
1.Replacing the theology of C.T. Russell (mainly concerned with Adventist demonstrations) with his own.
2.Turning the Watchtower into a personal blog filled with crackpot ideas, schemes, poison-pen fulminations, rants and speculations dressed up as prophecy.
3.Creating a method of churning publicity out of throwing people of conscience willy-nilly into dangerous situations. (Avoiding military service, refusing blood transfusions, ridiculing other religions, railing against political parties, refusals to salute the flag, decrying the cross, etc.)
4.Renaming his Frankenstein monster of a religion Jehovah's Witnesses revealing his penchant for awkward phraseology.
Rutherford used religion as a bludgeon. Rutherford used people within this religion as weapons and victims to demonstrate the extreme reach of his ID.
How many honest and innocent believers were injured, killed, imprisoned, mocked, persecuted or otherwise maltreated because of Rutherford's mania for spectacle? It is difficult to know. The aim of the Watchtower Society was the purpose of Rutherford: become a famous religion with him at the helm.
Today it is easy for any Hollywood celebrity to capture headlines by engaging in some outrageous act of indecency or personal tragedy. But, in Rutherford's day, he discovered this process and used it for his own personal celebrity by capturing the attention of astonished churchgoers around the globe. He insulted ordinary believers, ridiculed them and flung pretzel-logic scriptures in their faces. He held up his own army of faithful slaves, Jehovah's (i.e. Rutherford's) Witnesses as willing to march into the jaws of hell if he told them to. It was the ultimate high for a megalomaniac drunk on power (and often alcohol)!
With Rutherford's death a change occured. Nathan Knorr took over the helm of this Society; this Organization called The Watchtower.
A new invention took place at this time. A new terminology was introduced as if by magic: THE GOVERNING BODY.
Seven men became a Board of Directors of a Corporation disguised as a religion. This corporation/religion visibly existed for the purpose of making an urgent messege available as effectively as possible: Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom as having arrived in 1914 and warning of the impending event Armageddon.
However..........
This Corporation was made legal in its already existing powers for another purpose entirely. Corporations acquire legitimacy by earning a profit. In the case of a religious corporation the "profit" must not appear as mere monetary gain. There has to be a public service aspect to generating millions of dollars that will escape taxation! Ordinary coporations must demonstrate to the Board of Directors that cash flow is equitable to investors and a justifiable return on investment has been made. The Watchtower Corporation had to generate a kind of marvellous "machine" you could pour money into and make it disappear in the form of the preaching work.
CONSTANT EXPANSION was the key! This was a kind of maniacal pyramid scheme to grow and grow ahead of the curve of waves of $$$.
Watchtower rank and file members would be used as volunteer labor staying very busy appearing to be doing something important.
What they were really doing was generating publicity which served to hide the actual purpose of the Watchtower corporation.
To the rank and file there was no Bill of Rights. The could be worked to death grinding out book and magazine sales. In fact, they had no choice but to comply since their very identity as Jehovah's Witnesses depended on demonstrations of door to door sales and hours devoted.
But, why should they?
Their was a gun placed to the head of every Jehovah's Witness in the form of Armageddon. This threat could only seem real enough if Armageddon was made a fresh threat and not a vague one in the distant future.
Any Jehovah's Witness who didn't fear being slaughtered at Armageddon just wasn't paying attention. Failure to comply with the busy-busy work commanded from Broolyn headquarters would lead to disfellowshipping.
Disfellowshipping would lead to having a big target placed on the ex JW's back at Armageddon.
It was the perfect "Protection Racket" organized crime had used to intimidate shopkeepers in the Al Capone era.
Further, every once and awhile a GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE would have to be run.
This would be in the form of date setting.
Date setting (determining when Armageddon was to arrive) was an Investment.
The publicity was golden.
The threat level was heightened.
The cash flow was extraordinary.
The need for more investment property increased. The grip of absolute power was made real.
The downside was practically nil!!
Whatever number of members who balked and left in disgust; the upside was greater! How so?
1.Only the "weaker" members would leave and that is no loss at all.
2.The disfellowshipping would serve as a warning to other members and make threats appear very real.
3.An outside body of Apostates could be created as a target for vilification that served to drain off anger as a target away from the Governing Body itself. This Apostate group would feel the brunt of frustrations and not the actual perpetrator's of date-setting fraud.
4.A mindset of cognitive dissonance would be reinforced because anybody who stayed would have to justify being made a fool of for believing in the Faithful and Discreet Slave nonsense in the first place.
5.Any slowdown in the worldwide conversions would be a bonus since it would "signal the end" of the preaching work was drawing near and that would mean Armageddon really was imminent!
Even outright fraud in the preaching purpose redounded as a benefit!
But, there was a fly in the ointment.
THE MESSAGE could not be made available all at once to everybody or the work would implode!!
The only way for Jehovah's Protection Racket to stay healthy would be this:
1.The public at large must have only a vague idea of who Jehovah's Witnesses really are (or the public eye would see through the corporate treadmill and start asking where the money went.)
2.The rank and file must always bear the burden of selling the books and magazines to keep them busy.
3.The use of martyrs has a limited purpose. If the relatives of martyrs start suing in court: the game is up!
The legal situation got out of hand suddenly when people started questioning the backpedaling on delicate issues such as child molestation policy and medical emergency policy.
A buffer of protection was needed to separate the Governing Body from legal responsibility for their hurtful policy making edicts.
Thus, the re-organization came and went without much publicity reaching the lower ranks and all was well.
Which brings us back to the question: Why no TV ministry?
As we have seen the purpose of the Governing Body is to generate investment capital through real estate ventures. A TV ministry would dry up that money machine quickly by generating a high-profile examination on the part of the newly well-informed public. An actual full-frontal presentation of the weirdness behind JW thinking would kill the vague persona of citizen do-gooders who clean up after themselves at conventions. The scrutiny would become intensely focused on Brooklyn NY and the actual men who are power brokers on the throne of power.
Publicity has served the corporate purpose when they can frame that publicity as Kingdom Work. Publicity of a different nature could destroy them!
The lawsuits and exposure by internet sites dredging up failed prophecy and policy waffling are a sore point. Governing Body power can only deal with rank and file unrest by clamping down with threats and a tightening grip. It cannot control non-members curiousity. It cannot ignore penetrating questions of authority by threats if the press starts bombarding them with high-profile questions hanging in the air unanswered.
That is why there is no TV ministry for Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a kind of self-fashioned paradox that the Watchtower claims to be heralding an important and urgent message and yet demonstrates an absolute horror of making that message public effectively by using the best technology available.
By Terry Walstrom.
Here is a dramatic statement:
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has no interest in an effective evangelical program of conversion.
If Jehovah's Witnesses believe they have the most important and urgent message in all of history; why do they deliberately choose to use the least effective means of delivering that message?
If Armageddon is quickly approaching there is no time to waste!
Statistically, (using the Watchtower's own figures) it takes 1000's of hours of door to door preaching to create one convert!
What is wrong with this picture?
How many preaching hours does it take to convert a person to a Jehovah's Witness?
Top and bottom 20 countries of the ratio of one baptism to hours. The higher the ratio, the longer hours are needed to convert to Jehovah's Witnesses. For example in Japan, it takes about 18,000 hours (!) of preaching to gain one baptism, whereas in Nepal it takes only 2000 hours.
WHAT IS THE ACTUAL PURPOSE BEHIND THE JW MINISTRY?
In 1884 Charles Taze Russell applied for incorporation for his association "Zion's Watch Tower Society". He wanted to make the transition necessary after his death a smooth one. He stressed the limitations of the corporation in the following manner: "Zion's Watch Tower Society is not a 'religious society' in the ordinary meaning of the term; for it has no creed or confession of Faith. It is purely a business association, whose mission is to serve in a business manner the wishes of its beneficiaries, who are represented in its officers"
Judge Rutherford, the man who snatched the religious followers of Charles Taze Russell away from the International Bible Students movement, has the answer.
Rutherford piggy-backed his own schemes on top of the work of Russell by a bait and switch method of reassurance and pretend revelation.
First, Rutherford used his own personal association with Russell and his knowledge of legal maneuvers to wrest control of the Watchtower Society away from the men Russell had personally named to succeed him. Rutherford stabilized panic in the ranks by the outrageous claim that Russell still managed affairs from heaven!
In 1917 in The Finished Mystery (presented as posthumous by Russell), the view was expressed that Russell was still ruling the headquarters in his resurrected body. How was Russell supervising the work? Woodworth (the actual author of the book) found the answer in passages of Revelation mentioning the eight angels. Generally seven angels predominate in the book's symbolism, which seven angels Woodworth understood to be St. Paul, St. John, Arius, Peter Waldo, Wycliffe, Luther and Russell. But twice "another angel" appears, which could reasonably be Russell's successor. Both these times (Revelation 8:3; 14:18) Woodworth interprets the eighth angel to be the corporation.
"The corporate body - the WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, which Pastor Russell formed to finish his work. This verse shows that, though Pastor Russell has passed beyond the veil, he is still managing every feature of the harvest work."l)
Rutherford's next maneuver was swift and sure; he got rid of four corporate board members at the annual meeting on January 4, 1919 and became autocratic president. This was not a legally authorized move. It took advantage of inside information about document processing. The purpose was that of consolidating his personal power to render his "editorial advisors" ineffective.
The plan worked.
The first test of total power would demonstrate two things:
1.Rutherford intended to create the idea that the corporate headquarters in Brooklyn, NY was identical with Russell's interpretation of a much quoted scripture about the "faithful and discreet slave". (Maria Russell convinced her husband that he himself was this mouthpiece of God.)
2.Rutherford would write whatever came into his mind and use the editorial committee as a rubber stamp for his peculiar crackpot ideas to pass them off as the very word of Jehovah himself!
The showdown with the committee came in 1925. Rutherford penned an article of extreme controversy titled The Birth of The Nation. The editorial committee would not approve it. Rutherford moved swiftly to remove them! The absent men's names, however, still appeared in the Watchtower magazine as though the were still functioning until 1931.
Now that Rutherford controlled absolutely the "faithful and discreet slave" throne of dictatorial supremecy with the corporation he could now plot the takeover of local congregations (called ecclesias) to wield his will there as well.
On the local level all deacons and elders were elected by voting. Since Russell did not believe in religious organization as such there existed no lists of membership at all. Slyly, Rutherford moved to change all that. From 1919 onward the local congregations were asked to register as service organizations with the Watchtower Society. Nothing drastic, right?
Next, Rutherford appointed a Service Director (not subject to yearly election) as an arm of the Brooklyn oversight to function at the local level. Rutherford's man on the scene could usurp local control in this way by "helpfully" organizing the preaching work, assigning territory and encouraging participation in the field work in the congregation.
Thus, the actual purpose of the door to door work was a ruse to link up Judge Rutherford with complete autonomy over local congregations under the pretense of making the preaching work more organized.
This plan carried with it Rutherford's de-emphasis of local public discourses from scripture. These were replaced by studies of Rutherford's organ of propaganda in the form of Watchtower Studies. Instead of referencing the bible per se, it was the fantasy mindset of one man, Judge Rutherford, who would be indoctrinating the former Bible Students with his own peculiar brand of humbuggery. The purpose of all this, as we have seen, was consolidating personal power. But, to do what?
Interestingly, the system of local elective elders was completely eradicated and replaced by something now called a service committee. These men took their marching orders from the throne room in Brooklyn, NY.
The book CONSOLATION (penned by Rutherford) says this: (Consolation 1940 p.25)
"The Theocracy is at present administered by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, of which Judge Rutherford is the president and general manager."
History shows that Rutherford embarked upon a plan which included:
1.Replacing the theology of C.T. Russell (mainly concerned with Adventist demonstrations) with his own.
2.Turning the Watchtower into a personal blog filled with crackpot ideas, schemes, poison-pen fulminations, rants and speculations dressed up as prophecy.
3.Creating a method of churning publicity out of throwing people of conscience willy-nilly into dangerous situations. (Avoiding military service, refusing blood transfusions, ridiculing other religions, railing against political parties, refusals to salute the flag, decrying the cross, etc.)
4.Renaming his Frankenstein monster of a religion Jehovah's Witnesses revealing his penchant for awkward phraseology.
Rutherford used religion as a bludgeon. Rutherford used people within this religion as weapons and victims to demonstrate the extreme reach of his ID.
How many honest and innocent believers were injured, killed, imprisoned, mocked, persecuted or otherwise maltreated because of Rutherford's mania for spectacle? It is difficult to know. The aim of the Watchtower Society was the purpose of Rutherford: become a famous religion with him at the helm.
Today it is easy for any Hollywood celebrity to capture headlines by engaging in some outrageous act of indecency or personal tragedy. But, in Rutherford's day, he discovered this process and used it for his own personal celebrity by capturing the attention of astonished churchgoers around the globe. He insulted ordinary believers, ridiculed them and flung pretzel-logic scriptures in their faces. He held up his own army of faithful slaves, Jehovah's (i.e. Rutherford's) Witnesses as willing to march into the jaws of hell if he told them to. It was the ultimate high for a megalomaniac drunk on power (and often alcohol)!
With Rutherford's death a change occured. Nathan Knorr took over the helm of this Society; this Organization called The Watchtower.
A new invention took place at this time. A new terminology was introduced as if by magic: THE GOVERNING BODY.
Seven men became a Board of Directors of a Corporation disguised as a religion. This corporation/religion visibly existed for the purpose of making an urgent messege available as effectively as possible: Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom as having arrived in 1914 and warning of the impending event Armageddon.
However..........
This Corporation was made legal in its already existing powers for another purpose entirely. Corporations acquire legitimacy by earning a profit. In the case of a religious corporation the "profit" must not appear as mere monetary gain. There has to be a public service aspect to generating millions of dollars that will escape taxation! Ordinary coporations must demonstrate to the Board of Directors that cash flow is equitable to investors and a justifiable return on investment has been made. The Watchtower Corporation had to generate a kind of marvellous "machine" you could pour money into and make it disappear in the form of the preaching work.
CONSTANT EXPANSION was the key! This was a kind of maniacal pyramid scheme to grow and grow ahead of the curve of waves of $$$.
Watchtower rank and file members would be used as volunteer labor staying very busy appearing to be doing something important.
What they were really doing was generating publicity which served to hide the actual purpose of the Watchtower corporation.
To the rank and file there was no Bill of Rights. The could be worked to death grinding out book and magazine sales. In fact, they had no choice but to comply since their very identity as Jehovah's Witnesses depended on demonstrations of door to door sales and hours devoted.
But, why should they?
Their was a gun placed to the head of every Jehovah's Witness in the form of Armageddon. This threat could only seem real enough if Armageddon was made a fresh threat and not a vague one in the distant future.
Any Jehovah's Witness who didn't fear being slaughtered at Armageddon just wasn't paying attention. Failure to comply with the busy-busy work commanded from Broolyn headquarters would lead to disfellowshipping.
Disfellowshipping would lead to having a big target placed on the ex JW's back at Armageddon.
It was the perfect "Protection Racket" organized crime had used to intimidate shopkeepers in the Al Capone era.
Further, every once and awhile a GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE would have to be run.
This would be in the form of date setting.
Date setting (determining when Armageddon was to arrive) was an Investment.
The publicity was golden.
The threat level was heightened.
The cash flow was extraordinary.
The need for more investment property increased. The grip of absolute power was made real.
The downside was practically nil!!
Whatever number of members who balked and left in disgust; the upside was greater! How so?
1.Only the "weaker" members would leave and that is no loss at all.
2.The disfellowshipping would serve as a warning to other members and make threats appear very real.
3.An outside body of Apostates could be created as a target for vilification that served to drain off anger as a target away from the Governing Body itself. This Apostate group would feel the brunt of frustrations and not the actual perpetrator's of date-setting fraud.
4.A mindset of cognitive dissonance would be reinforced because anybody who stayed would have to justify being made a fool of for believing in the Faithful and Discreet Slave nonsense in the first place.
5.Any slowdown in the worldwide conversions would be a bonus since it would "signal the end" of the preaching work was drawing near and that would mean Armageddon really was imminent!
Even outright fraud in the preaching purpose redounded as a benefit!
But, there was a fly in the ointment.
THE MESSAGE could not be made available all at once to everybody or the work would implode!!
The only way for Jehovah's Protection Racket to stay healthy would be this:
1.The public at large must have only a vague idea of who Jehovah's Witnesses really are (or the public eye would see through the corporate treadmill and start asking where the money went.)
2.The rank and file must always bear the burden of selling the books and magazines to keep them busy.
3.The use of martyrs has a limited purpose. If the relatives of martyrs start suing in court: the game is up!
The legal situation got out of hand suddenly when people started questioning the backpedaling on delicate issues such as child molestation policy and medical emergency policy.
A buffer of protection was needed to separate the Governing Body from legal responsibility for their hurtful policy making edicts.
Thus, the re-organization came and went without much publicity reaching the lower ranks and all was well.
Which brings us back to the question: Why no TV ministry?
As we have seen the purpose of the Governing Body is to generate investment capital through real estate ventures. A TV ministry would dry up that money machine quickly by generating a high-profile examination on the part of the newly well-informed public. An actual full-frontal presentation of the weirdness behind JW thinking would kill the vague persona of citizen do-gooders who clean up after themselves at conventions. The scrutiny would become intensely focused on Brooklyn NY and the actual men who are power brokers on the throne of power.
Publicity has served the corporate purpose when they can frame that publicity as Kingdom Work. Publicity of a different nature could destroy them!
The lawsuits and exposure by internet sites dredging up failed prophecy and policy waffling are a sore point. Governing Body power can only deal with rank and file unrest by clamping down with threats and a tightening grip. It cannot control non-members curiousity. It cannot ignore penetrating questions of authority by threats if the press starts bombarding them with high-profile questions hanging in the air unanswered.
That is why there is no TV ministry for Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a kind of self-fashioned paradox that the Watchtower claims to be heralding an important and urgent message and yet demonstrates an absolute horror of making that message public effectively by using the best technology available.
Is Armageddon A REAL EVENT To The GB Like 9/11 Is To The Rest Of Us?
By Terry Walstrom(JWN)
All of us are aware of the startling and terrifying events of 2001, or 9/11 as it is commonly termed.
Airplanes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center killing over a thousand innocent people.
This experience is vivid enough in our memory and consciousness so that it can serve as a significant illustration of what follows.
Now I want you to imagine that you and a group of your friends received ironclad evidence AHEAD OF THE 9/11 EVENT. The evidence is from an unimpeachable source. You are charged with the responsibility of preventing as many deaths as possible.
Can you possibly imagine what you would do and how you would go about it?
Here is why I ask the question.
The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses assumes such a responsibility for warning about an even more terrifying event which would result in a staggering number of deaths: ARMAGEDDON.
What I want to ask you to do is to consider THE DEMONSTRATED RESPONSE liability.
What does that mean?
Consider if the actions of the Governing Body in their use of all means at their disposal actually passes the test.
What test?
ARE THEY DOING EVERYTHING possible TO WARN PEOPLE with the same sense of real urgency and committment YOU would use?
Each of us would probably respond differently.
Here is what I would do:
I would call the F.B.I., congressmen, law enforcement officials and tell them what I had obtained by way of hard evidence.
Contact local tv and radio stations for interviews and Q&A sessions to present the evidence and alert people of the threat level.
Purchase radio spots and newspaper ads.
Create a Viral Video and post it on YouTube presenting facts and figures and evidence.
The important thing I want you to consider is the parallel between what an ordinary person would do and compare it to what a multi-million dollar
religious corporation HAS DONE in the past so that you may ask the question: Does this pass the sniff test?
I'll give you my opinion.
The Watchtower corporation uses words like "urgent" and "warning" in connection with Armageddon. They TALK A GREAT GAME.
But, the reality of what they spend money on doing to NOTIFY people doesn't match a SENSE OF REALITY of a real event.
Tell me: do you agree?
What is REAL, what is EFFECTIVE about the method of warning?
Such as?
Printing magazine articles and printing densely worded religious books and politely hawking them door to door FOR CONTRIBUTIONS.
YES, charging potential victims money for their advance warning is part of the method!
Would you call on families who were about to lose a loved one on a terrorist-hijacked-jet and ask them to contribute money for the privileged information?
Does that feel strange when you read that?
Maybe that bothers you and maybe it doesn't.
What has the Society demonstrated as to EFFECTIVENESS in spreading a coherent argument in persuading people of the reality of Armageddon?
From the 1880's up to 2011 the messege has been---AT BEST--garbled and disjointed and TAINTED as well.
Using the Great Pyramid and whizbang Chronology charts is equivalent to you or me using Astrology charts and tea leaves to persuade people of the 9/11 attack in advance! It pollutes the warning with nonsense gimmickry.
The biggest failure in persuasion has been the track record of matching evidence with subsequent event payoffs.
From 1879 until 1914 the bookselling and magazine distribution work promised the following events:
1.The Governments of the world would be destroyed.
2.The religions of the world would be destroyed.
3.Millions of wicked people worldwide would be struck dead by angels and birds would eat their flesh!
4.Jesus would set up government over the earth.
How many of the above events PROVED ACCURATE? Only 3 are testable and thus falsifiable, the first three.
None of them were proved true!
WHAT KIND OF CREDIBILITY was established by such a warning message?
This would be similar to our 9/11 scenario if a year before the events we publicly warned that spaceships from Mars would blow up Washington D.C and kidnap all the beautiful women for breeding purposes!
CREDIBILITY WOULD BE DESTROYED for any future warnings no matter how detailed or dire.
Consider this. Would the source of this reliable information CONTINUE to reveal important and sensitive information (like a wikileaks situation) with the ridiculous track record of failure and embarassment?
I'm trying to provide a sense of perspective here rather than simply mock.
We are expected to believe that the source of advance information (Almighty God) warning about 9/11 (Armageddon) would select buffoons to communicate dire warnings
and then, when the messege becomes a source of ridicule and embarassment--CONTINUE to use them for future publicity!
And then, on top of all that---we are expected to believe Almighty God would allow this bumbling failure of a warning crew to ASSUME his name as an IDENTITY so that future failures, screw ups and embarassments would be LINKED to and blamed on God (Jehovah).
Isn't that exactly what happens to these "witnesses" who have never seen any of their predictions come true? They have become non-witnesses of non-events all of which they blame on JEHOVAH?
Does any of this strike you as totally unblievable and irrational for any intelligent person to swallow as fact?
Would it not be more credible to conclude the following:
1.Any group predicting specific events and giving warnings is only credible IF THOSE EVENTS transpire
2.Continued warnings and continued failures removes all plausible confidence in either their messege or their source authority
3.Identification with Jehovah and claiming to "witness" events which never take place is a mockery of reality and of god.
Here is the cherry on top of the soda.
Jehovah's Witnesses not only continue to make the same warnings using the same proofs and reasoning but they have also demanded more authority and credibility for themselves based on nothing but the same string of utter failures!
Is Armageddon as real of an event to the Governing Body as a 9/11 event would be to you?
The facts speak for themselves.
Comment?
By Terry Walstrom(JWN)
All of us are aware of the startling and terrifying events of 2001, or 9/11 as it is commonly termed.
Airplanes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center killing over a thousand innocent people.
This experience is vivid enough in our memory and consciousness so that it can serve as a significant illustration of what follows.
Now I want you to imagine that you and a group of your friends received ironclad evidence AHEAD OF THE 9/11 EVENT. The evidence is from an unimpeachable source. You are charged with the responsibility of preventing as many deaths as possible.
Can you possibly imagine what you would do and how you would go about it?
Here is why I ask the question.
The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses assumes such a responsibility for warning about an even more terrifying event which would result in a staggering number of deaths: ARMAGEDDON.
What I want to ask you to do is to consider THE DEMONSTRATED RESPONSE liability.
What does that mean?
Consider if the actions of the Governing Body in their use of all means at their disposal actually passes the test.
What test?
ARE THEY DOING EVERYTHING possible TO WARN PEOPLE with the same sense of real urgency and committment YOU would use?
Each of us would probably respond differently.
Here is what I would do:
I would call the F.B.I., congressmen, law enforcement officials and tell them what I had obtained by way of hard evidence.
Contact local tv and radio stations for interviews and Q&A sessions to present the evidence and alert people of the threat level.
Purchase radio spots and newspaper ads.
Create a Viral Video and post it on YouTube presenting facts and figures and evidence.
The important thing I want you to consider is the parallel between what an ordinary person would do and compare it to what a multi-million dollar
religious corporation HAS DONE in the past so that you may ask the question: Does this pass the sniff test?
I'll give you my opinion.
The Watchtower corporation uses words like "urgent" and "warning" in connection with Armageddon. They TALK A GREAT GAME.
But, the reality of what they spend money on doing to NOTIFY people doesn't match a SENSE OF REALITY of a real event.
Tell me: do you agree?
What is REAL, what is EFFECTIVE about the method of warning?
Such as?
Printing magazine articles and printing densely worded religious books and politely hawking them door to door FOR CONTRIBUTIONS.
YES, charging potential victims money for their advance warning is part of the method!
Would you call on families who were about to lose a loved one on a terrorist-hijacked-jet and ask them to contribute money for the privileged information?
Does that feel strange when you read that?
Maybe that bothers you and maybe it doesn't.
What has the Society demonstrated as to EFFECTIVENESS in spreading a coherent argument in persuading people of the reality of Armageddon?
From the 1880's up to 2011 the messege has been---AT BEST--garbled and disjointed and TAINTED as well.
Using the Great Pyramid and whizbang Chronology charts is equivalent to you or me using Astrology charts and tea leaves to persuade people of the 9/11 attack in advance! It pollutes the warning with nonsense gimmickry.
The biggest failure in persuasion has been the track record of matching evidence with subsequent event payoffs.
From 1879 until 1914 the bookselling and magazine distribution work promised the following events:
1.The Governments of the world would be destroyed.
2.The religions of the world would be destroyed.
3.Millions of wicked people worldwide would be struck dead by angels and birds would eat their flesh!
4.Jesus would set up government over the earth.
How many of the above events PROVED ACCURATE? Only 3 are testable and thus falsifiable, the first three.
None of them were proved true!
WHAT KIND OF CREDIBILITY was established by such a warning message?
This would be similar to our 9/11 scenario if a year before the events we publicly warned that spaceships from Mars would blow up Washington D.C and kidnap all the beautiful women for breeding purposes!
CREDIBILITY WOULD BE DESTROYED for any future warnings no matter how detailed or dire.
Consider this. Would the source of this reliable information CONTINUE to reveal important and sensitive information (like a wikileaks situation) with the ridiculous track record of failure and embarassment?
I'm trying to provide a sense of perspective here rather than simply mock.
We are expected to believe that the source of advance information (Almighty God) warning about 9/11 (Armageddon) would select buffoons to communicate dire warnings
and then, when the messege becomes a source of ridicule and embarassment--CONTINUE to use them for future publicity!
And then, on top of all that---we are expected to believe Almighty God would allow this bumbling failure of a warning crew to ASSUME his name as an IDENTITY so that future failures, screw ups and embarassments would be LINKED to and blamed on God (Jehovah).
Isn't that exactly what happens to these "witnesses" who have never seen any of their predictions come true? They have become non-witnesses of non-events all of which they blame on JEHOVAH?
Does any of this strike you as totally unblievable and irrational for any intelligent person to swallow as fact?
Would it not be more credible to conclude the following:
1.Any group predicting specific events and giving warnings is only credible IF THOSE EVENTS transpire
2.Continued warnings and continued failures removes all plausible confidence in either their messege or their source authority
3.Identification with Jehovah and claiming to "witness" events which never take place is a mockery of reality and of god.
Here is the cherry on top of the soda.
Jehovah's Witnesses not only continue to make the same warnings using the same proofs and reasoning but they have also demanded more authority and credibility for themselves based on nothing but the same string of utter failures!
Is Armageddon as real of an event to the Governing Body as a 9/11 event would be to you?
The facts speak for themselves.
Comment?
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