Was the Watchtower taken off guard by the internet and XJW forums

by JH 48 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  journey-on

  THAT'S why the WTS is scared of XJW forums - they can't begin to hold their own in the free and open debate of ideas.

  I've noticed this, too. Even face to face, the average JW can't intelligently discuss real biblical doctrine. They quote the same scriptures that have been used excessively over and over and if you go to any subject or offer any objection outside the few they have been taught to "overcome", they are at a loss and will end the discussion pronto. If you stick to the doctrines of hellfire, the trinity, the immortality of the soul, preaching the good news worldwide, and the appointing of the FDS, they are fine, but carry it any deeper and they are "outta here".
• 

  snowbird

  fedorE, you asked,

  do u recall the site ur refering to?

  No, my braindead self can't recall the site. Just google in New World Translation and you will find a plethora of sites. If you keep reading, you will surely find the one I'm talking about.

  I will try to locate it, also.

  Snowbird
• 

  stillajwexelder

  When history is written it will prove to be as bad as the invention of the printing press was for the RC Church in The Middle Ages
• 

  WTWizard

  I can only hope that the Internet leads to the Tower coming down. In any event, it has made it very easy for anyone to do apostasy.

  Before the Internet, one would have to print tracts or books, or picket a$$emblies, in order to do apostasy. Those who only did their apostasy within the congregation only had limited audiences, and were quickly put out. Most of the tracts ended up in the garbage. Most of the books ended up getting soaked, burned, or tossed in the trash instead of being read. And they still had limited range. It costs good money to print a book or a tract in the numbers needed to do the job. Picketing a$$emblies was a huge time commitment. In fact, I have heard that apostates spend as much, if not more, time on apostasy than they did in service.

  Now that the Internet is here, it is easy. Doing apostasy is now as easy as joining a forum as a member and posting away. To start a forum, it costs less than $100 for hosting per year and about $50 for a server, if that. (Some are actually free.) To start a Web site is less work than printing a book and picketing a$$emblies, and it is more effective. Anyone who searches for the topic can find the site. All one needs is a computer that is hooked up to internet (any bandwidth will do, but high-speed is better). You pick a username and password (which is often chosen for you), sign a short form, and wait for the activation email. Click on that, and you are ready to do apostasy right from the comfort of your home.
• 

  justhuman

  Sure it does. But more and more jw's are breaking free so WT is loosing power. Indeed internet is "DEVILS TOOL"
• 

  nvrgnbk

  The WTS is a reactionary religion today, exisiting solely to keep itself existing, to keep the publishing empire going, even if in diminished form.

  The Internet completely blindsided the WTS, and scares them to death. The main reason is that, in a totally open exchange of ideas, the WTS just gets the shit beaten out of it everytime. Thus their way of dealing with the Net is to vilify and demonize it, warning the rank and file to avoid it. Scare tactics! This works with the sheep, but the thinking members see through it eventually, check things out online, and leave the WTS and end up here on JWD!

  Perfect explanation Seeker4!
• 

  Paralipomenon

  *cough* Supreme One *cough*
• 

  Terry

  I have a different view.

  The Watchtower Society is monolithic like Rome was and Rome grew stronger from its encounters in battle by studying the tactics of its enemies.

  In fact, you could say that Rome would not have been the supreme military power it came to be without the near-success of Hannibal of Carthage.

  Rome simply was not prepared for what Hannibal brought to the field of battle! He repeatedly humiliated them. The only way Rome could cope was a two-fold approach.

  1.Rome refused to engage in battle at all! The Romans cowered, as it were, inside their own walls as Hannibal marched outside hurling insults and calls to battle at them.

  2.The Romans got smart. Hannibal's only "weakness" was his homeland. Rome massed armies to attack Carthage itself. Carthage summoned their hero and Hannibal was defeated.

  3.Carthage was utterly destroyed as an example and Hannibal was hunted down and killed.

  What is our modern parallel?

  The unexpected victories of the Internet sites have laid bare the Watchtower past, their lies, their distortions, their flip-flops and their cowardice. The Society has withdrawn away from the Internet and slammed its doors on technology. The battleground seemingly is abandoned. For now.

  Further, JW's are instructed in fearful tones to avoid anything critical of their religion. You can be disfellowshipped for curiousity! A clampdown is now in effect as the Governing Body licks its wounds.

  But, the strategy is changing.

  The Society attacked homeland when the QUOTES site was hit with lawsuit. That was a shot across the bow, surely!

  It is only the beginning.

  An enemies list is certainly being compiled. Old records are being studied. Investigations made. The Watchtower will take the fight back to the Internet full force, you can be sure of that.

  Why?

  Because, that is their nature! Ever since Rutherford took a passive bible study sect of Adventists and turned them into paper tigers who would die for their leaders this has been a militant group intellectually. No, they don't fight in fleshly wars. But, they do bare their teeth at doctrine!

  Mind your P's and Q's. The sleeping giant will awake soon. Watch out. Be prepared.

  Disinformation is a mighty weapon.
• 

  wednesday

  Thus their way of dealing with the Net is to vilify and demonize it, warning the rank and file to avoid it. Scare tactics!

  I can recall when TV was done much the same way. They said the TV was a tool of the devil, and music also. They did not stop TV, most jws have a TV in their home and a radio, and a lot of them are connected to the net. I got on line in 96 and was at first terrified to look at "apostate" sites. At the KH they were scared "witless". It was felt the net was just something for the tecky bunch, probably would not reach the average person. Wrong.. They even had a list of known apostate screen names (AOL) circulating around. I recall having that in my possession once. I wished i had saved it. In 96 I could not have imaged the net as it is today. And in 10 more years, who knows what the net will be. I do know it is a major part of my life now.
• 

  Gregor

  Terry, I think you give them credit for more smarts than they have. As always, their defense is to pull up the drawbridge and continue to forbid the R&F to look at anything anti-WTS. Remember the staged photo in the Watchtower? The postman has just left an envelope and the 'sister' is dropping it in the wastebasket without opening it. This is the only strategy they have.