Catching the Governing Body with their pants down around the ankles

by Terry 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Terry
    Terry

    The following information is significant and extremely useful.

    For what?

    For proving a point about Jehovah's channel of communication.

    What about Jehovah's channel of communication?

    It is a fool's paradise of misinformation, awkward and ridiculous assertions and hard-headed nonsense presented as superior Divine insider knowledge.

    ***

    Keep uppermost in your mind how you may already KNOW this to be true while just the opposite is believed by active Witnesses.

    The old men who run the Watch Tower Society are mostly ignorant, under-educated and sheltered people with an inflated sense of themselves.

    These men assume they are the most important people on earth. No, I'm serious. They do. They make sure we know it, too.

    In reality, they are simply powerfully misinformed because they can only change their mind about something idiotic when it becomes completely obvious they are dead wrong and have made fools of themselves.

    I'm about to present an obvious example of this. Anybody with even a grade school education will see it immediately.

    But, I want you to focus on something else as well. I want you to be aware of three things.

    1. Idiotic bogus ideas were presented as facts in the Watchtower. Those misrepresentations formed the basis for a wrong-headed medical policy.

    2. Readers with proper understanding made hundreds of phone calls and sent letters to Headquarters setting them straight.

    3. As usual, rather than admit to being assholes, they did a 180 turn and joined the human race by changing their divinely channeled teaching.

    Keep this information and present it to anybody you know who is studying with the JW's or who is still inside the Kingdom Hall who'll listen.

    ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Babylonian teachings are always strongly condemned by the Watchtower. There is nothing considered so evil and abominable as Babylonian. It is therefore a remarkable fact that the Watchtower Society itself was guilty of teaching Babylonian ideas.

    We will start at the END and work our way back to the beginning of the silly teaching.

    Let's start with the CHANGED understanding so that we can better understand how the

    Society for 15 years, from 1971 until 1986, heralded Babylonian ideas as the truth:

    NEW UNDERSTANDING

    "Determined to Serve Jehovah With a Complete Heart
    The ancient Egyptians believed that the physical heart was the seat of intelligence and the emotions. They also thought that it had a will of its own. The Babylonians said that the heart housed the intellect as well as love. The Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that it was the seat of the senses and the domain of the soul. But as time passed and knowledge increased, these views were discarded. Finally the heart became known for what it is, a pump to circulate the blood throughout the body." The Watchtower, June 1, 1986, page 15.

    The Watchtower said: " But as time passed and knowledge increased, these views were discarded." This is of course true when the general population and the medical society are concerned, but as usual they HAD PREVIOUSLY sneered at this as ridiculous "worldly wisdom."

    OLD UNDERSTANDING

    "How Is Your Heart?
    The Bible does not speak of a symbolic or spiritual heart in contradistinction to the fleshly or literal heart, just as it does not speak of a symbolic mind, and thus we do not want to make the mistake of viewing the literal heart as merely a fleshly pump as does orthodox physiology today."

    The Watchtower, Mar 1, 1971, page 134.

    "The sensations of the heart are recorded on the brain. It is here that the heart brings to bear on the mind its desires and its affections in arriving at conclusions having to do with motivations." The Watchtower, Mar 1, 1971, page 134.

    "There is a close interrelationship between the heart and the mind, but they are two different faculties, centering in different locations. The heart is a marvelously designed muscular pump, but, more significantly, our emotional and motivating capacities are built within it. Love, hate, desire (good and bad), preference for one thing over another, ambition, fear?in effect, all that serves to motivate us in relationship to our affections and desires springs from the heart." The Watchtower, Mar 1, 1971, page 134.

    As we can clearly see, the Watchtower teachings are IGNORANTLY in harmony with the ancient Egyptian and Babylonian teachings in this matter.

    The Watchtower didn't " want to make the mistake of viewing the literal heart as merely a fleshly pump as does orthodox physiology today." The Watchtower wanted their faithful followers to know what the heart really was and not to be as ignorant as the nitwits in "orthodox physiology."

    They explained how the heart was really functioning by describing what happens when you are buying a new suit or dress:

    "The Human Heart Is Treacherous
    As we have learned earlier, the heart does not always listen to the mind. There are times when the heart overwhelms the mind despite its force of logic. We must remember that the heart reasons, too, although this has to do not so much with logic as it does with what is taking place in the heart as our motives, affections and desires take shape and gather momentum in a certain direction, whether for good or for bad." The Watchtower, March 1, 1971, page 140.

    "To illustrate, suppose the time comes when you must make a decision on buying a new suit or dress. First, the mind is confronted with certain facts. Perhaps older clothes are getting past their usefulness or there is a need for a change for some good reason. The heart comes very much into the picture too, as there is a desire at heart to look presentable. Heart and mind are in agreement that a new dress or suit be obtained. The mind now collects information on prices, quality, styles, and so forth, so that when you go shopping you have a pretty good idea which suit or dress should be purchased. But when you arrive at the store, there in the window is quite an eye-catcher, just waiting for the impulse buyer. It is not really practical for you; it involves much more money; it is rather extreme in styling; but how it tantalizes the heart! ?It?s the heart?s delight!?? If you are not very careful, the heart will overwhelm the mind. You will be motivated to follow a course against your better judgment." The Watchtower, March 1, 1971, page 140.

    Heart transplants would also change your personality:

    "How Is Your Heart?
    At last year, a 45-year-old man received a new heart from a 20-year-old donor and soon announced to all his friends that he was celebrating his twentieth birthday. Another recipient resolved to live up to the sterling reputation of the prominent local citizen who was the donor. And a third man expressed great fear of feminization upon receiving a woman?s heart, though he was somewhat mollified when he learned that women live longer than men." The Watchtower, Mar 1, 1971, page 135.

    As these very facts prove, did the Watchtower in full harmony with the ancient Babylonians teach that the: " physical heart was the seat of intelligence and the emotions." All faithful and loyal Jehovah's Witnesses therefore HAD to believe this great example of "food in due time" from 1971 until 1986, when it suddenly became permissible for all Jehovah's Witnesses: "to make the mistake of viewing the literal heart as merely a fleshly pump as does orthodox physiology today."

    Let us sum up this amazing example of "progressive light" from the Watchtower literature. First the "truth from 1971:

    " we do not want to make the mistake of viewing the literal heart as merely a fleshly pump as does orthodox physiology today." The Watchtower, Mar 1, 1971, page 134.

    Let us then compare this quote with the statement made by the Watchtower from 1986:

    "But as time passed and knowledge increased, these views were discarded. Finally the heart became known for what it is, a pump to circulate the blood throughout the body."

    The Watchtower, June 1, 1986, page 15.

    So in spite of the fact that this realization of the heart being a muscle pump to circulate blood had been known to most people for several hundred years already, those who was unfortunate to get their information through "Jehovah's channel? on earth, which he use to distribute "food in due time" had to wait until 1986 before they was told what the physical heart really was, a pump!

    A simple fact that had been generally known for a long time outside the Watchtower Society, fantastic, eh?

    As the creator of the human body one have to conclude that Jehovah, really did keep his "faithful servants" in his "channel of communication" extremely ignorant about this matter.

    Either that or the more logic and natural conclusion, he doesn't have anything at all to do with this self-proclaimed "channel". How else should one understand this clinging to Babylonian ideas, long after everybody else had abandoned such pagan ideas?

    The Watchtower did of course not mention with a single word what had been said about the heart in 1971, as always relying on it's members well known amnesia. This amnesia which we see such excellent examples of on the internet pages every day.

    This incredible ignorance of the human body also manifests itself in the totally insane idea that having a blood transfusion is the same as eating blood.

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    The only way a JW could spin this is to say, "Jehovah corrected the anointed GB."

    Really? Is that what that was all about?

    Everybody BUT the GB already knew a scientific fact--but--the GB taught something ridiculous and got their asses handed to them.

    Is that how the channel of communication works?

    You see, the rank and file don't know about the phone calls and letters and the tsunami of push-back WTS headquarters has to deal with.

    The pressure builds up. The GB convenes and tries to figure out how to change without LOOKING LIKE THEY CHANGED BECAUSE THEY WERE STUPID.

    Now surely, any reasonably intelligent person reading the above can see what really happened. Right?

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    I came into the organization in 1987-88. I do remember mixed teachings as I was studying about the literal heart and the kidneys in the Bible and in the Watchtowers and in the words of the elder studying with me. In retrospect, his attitude was Watchtower-typical. "I believe whatever Watchtower told me and I continue to believe it even when it changes, so the error is my own if I am confused about what I am to currently believe."

    Somehow, he held that the 1971 teachings were correct and the more current 1986 teachings were correct also- so he literally believed the heart is more than a pump, but it is mainly just a pump.

  • Terry
    Terry

    Are you wondering why the Watch Tower would bring up such a feeble viewpoint in the first place?

    The answer is, because they are REACTIONARY.

    The GB was reacting to medical and scientific advancements.

    Viewing themselves as guardians of divine knowledge, the GB saw the bat-signal in the sky and rushed to

    set everybody straight with superior insider information from the throne of Jehovah.

    1967: Christiaan Barnard performs the first human heart transplant. The patient, 53-year-old dentist Louis Washkansky, dies 18 days after surgery in South Africa.

    1969: A total artificial heart is implanted into a patient by Denton Cooley of the Texas Heart Institute. The patient gets a heart transplant three days later but dies more than a day later.

    Notice how the first efforts at heart-transplant had failed rather quickly, right?

    The Watch Tower thought it was on safe ground criticizing science and the medical profession.

    It would be as easy as shooting ducks in a barrel, as the old saying goes.

    The Society could put a thumb in the eye of medical practioners by hitting them with infintely more lofty JW wisdom.

    The article was written and the GB stood back to gloat.

  • Terry
    Terry

    It is one thing to have crazy beliefs. We all have those.

    What is inexcusable is using your own crazy beliefs to pressure and coerce others into life or death decisions.

    The Watch Tower has a long record of saying crazy things as TRUE TEACHINGS from God.

    They speak emphatically. The language is cut and dried. No hesitancy and no qualms. Authority issues black and white statements.

    Look at this embarassing flip-flop.

    Pay particular attention to the strong language BEFORE and the sudden reasonable and wishy-washy language after their embarassment.

    Watchtower 1967 November 15 pp.702-4 Questions from Readers

    Questions from Readers

    • Is there any Scriptural objection to donating one's body for use in medical research or to accepting organs for transplant from such a source?—W. L., U.S.A.

    When there is a diseased or defective organ, the usual way health is restored is by taking in nutrients. The body uses the food eaten to repair or heal the organ, gradually replacing the cells. When men of science conclude that this normal process will no longer work and they suggest removing the organ and replacing it directly with an organ from another human, this is simply a shortcut. Those who submit to such operations are thus living off the flesh of another human. That is cannibalistic. However, in allowing man to eat animal flesh Jehovah God did not grant permission for humans to try to perpetuate their lives by cannibalistically taking into their bodies human flesh, whether chewed or in the form of whole organs or body parts taken from others....

    Modern science has developed many different types of operations that involve human body parts, some common and usually successful and others experimental and often unsuccessful. It is not our place to decide whether such operations are advisable or warranted from a scientific or medical standpoint. It would be well, though, for Christians faced With a decision in this regard to consider the indication as to God's viewpoint presented in the Scriptures.—Eph. 5:10. ...

    It should be evident from this discussion that Christians who have been enlightened by God's Word do not need to make these decisions simply on the basis of personal whim or emotion. They can consider the divine principles recorded in the Scriptures and use these in making personal decisions as they look to God for direction, trusting him and putting their confidence in the future that he has in store for those who love him.

    _________________________________________

    Contrast the above with what comes below.

    ________________________________________

    Watchtower 1980 March 15 p.31 Questions from Readers

    Questions from Readers

    • Should congregation action be taken if a baptized Christian accepts a human organ transplant, such as of a cornea or a kidney?

    Regarding the transplantation of human tissue or bone from one human to another, this is a matter for conscientious decision by each one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

    […]

    Clearly, personal views and conscientious feelings vary on this issue of transplantation. It is well known that the use of human materials for human consumption varies all the way from minor items, such as hormones and corneas, to major organs, such as kidneys and hearts. While the Bible specifically forbids consuming blood, there is no Biblical command pointedly forbidding the taking in of other human tissue. For this reason, each individual faced with making a decision on this matter should carefully and prayerfully weigh matters and then decide conscientiously what he or she could or could not do before God. It is a matter for personal decision. (Gal. 6:5) The congregation judicial committee would not take disciplinary action if someone accepted an organ transplant.

  • never a jw
    never a jw

    Excellent and very valid point. It took them 15 years for the light to get brighter, just about the average life for their teachings. Unfortunately, a new more compassionate understanding of the blood as a life saver may be loaded with too many civil law suits, therefore the old light will have to stay much longer than any other "revelation". Sad and sickenning!

  • compound complex
    compound complex

    Terry:

    I was in NY then and designed the stage and helped assemble the "talking" heart and brain . . .

    CC

  • Terry
    Terry

    Hey Coco,

    I wish you had some photos or sketches you could share.

    Could you describe the set up and how the demonstration functioned for the Newbies around here?

    I think it would be very instructive of how ham-handed this teaching was.

  • designs
    designs

    Coco- I remember the giant Heart and Brain at the Dodger Stadium Assembly and listening to the Wt. study that presented this crap. The ridiculousness of our Wt. study was that a brother who was a surgical assistant was the Reader that day. He got sucked in and had to go against his education.

    Good thread Terry.

    Never again!!!

  • compound complex
    compound complex

    Thanks, Terry!

    I wish I had those photos.

    The mural backdrop I painted was photographed, as I recall. I can see the representative heart and brain on stage, wired for sound and light and talking back and forth. The JW actor wanted to do something naughty (heart), but he knew he should do what's right (mind). Caving to wrong desire hurts both the individual and the congregation and brings reproach on Jehovah. It was heady stuff for the times -- visually and aurally persuasive for us young JWs who participated and were, as a consequence, moved emotionally (is that a good thing?) by the message our "state-of-the-art" body parts shouted out to the audience.

    Now we laugh -- ruefully.

    I wish I had those photos . . .

    CoCo

  • Terry
    Terry

    Before we all laugh it off again, I wish we could also take the time soberly to reflect on what all this amounts to.

    Millions of Jehovah's Witnesses (myself included) looked to the Society as the authority on what was/wasn't true.

    Instead of investigating what was told to us--we simply swallowed it and began teaching it.

    If we were so unfortunate as to have a medical problem--our decisions about life and death were confined to approved/disapproved opinions.

    What does all this mean?

    It means there is no place for an individual. What YOU think, how YOU feel, what YOUR life's value is has no importance when measured

    by the sole standard of compliance. Do as you are told trumps personal responsibility.

    The WTS is like a burglar who comes to your house and advises you to disconnect your home alarm system so that you are vulnerable.

    JW's have no alarm, no protection against idiotic sacred pronouncements.

    As if that weren't bad enough, when their anointed GB is caught red-handed, the disconnect between damage done and personal guilt is invisible.

    The GB accept no personal responsibility for moronic opinions falsely promoted as divine guidance!

    They will never change that refusal to be sorry and culpable in any meaningful way.

    This makes it incumbent upon us to keep the watchfires lighted and the smoke of evidence curling into the sky.

    All the evidence is there in the open. But, you can't force JW's to drink pure water instead of Kool-aid.

    You have to get their attention.

    Each person is different in what they notice and take issue with and are disturbed by.

    We just have to find the right combination.

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