Watchtower Scandals

by snare&racket 12 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  snare&racket

  For the new members and guests viewing posts, can we summarise the basics of disclosed Watchtower scandals that have happened and come to light.For the sake of the reader, can we have a brief summary and a secular source for the information, or a direct quote from the literature please.

  OWNING A MILITARY COMPANY.

  The Watchtower accepted, owned and managed the largest shares in a military NAVY company. Funded by naval investment, the company was building diesel engines for navy pilotless drones and other vehicles. Here is the US governments security exchange comission document that confirms the shares they owned and the military involvment.

  The US Government SEC files:

  http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/922330/000106299302000371/form10k.txt

  http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/922330/000106299302000371/0001062993-02-000371-index.htm

  WATCHTOWER ANTI SEMITISM AND SUPPORT FOR NAZI GERMANY

  Rutherford sent a letter called 'The Decleration of Facts' where he made anti-semetic comments for which the Watchtower apologised for 50 years later. Rutherford as president for Watchtower also made clear the watchtower support for the Nazi Germany Hitler had established. The letter (A decleration of facts) is easily researched in secular historical sources and was also printed in the form of a pamphlet and it was written in the German yearbook Of that year.

  Here is what the letter said:

  " Instead of being against the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely for such principles, and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus will bring about the full realization of these principles and will give to the people peace and prosperity and the greatest desire of every honest heart ... A careful examination of our books and literature will disclose the fact that the very high ideals held and promulgated by the present national government are set forth in and endorsed and strongly emphasized in our publications, and show that Jehovah God will see to it that these high ideals in due time will be attained by all persons who love righteousness and who obey the Most High. Instead, therefore, of our literature and our work's being a menace to the principles of the present government we are the strongest supporters of such high ideals."

  " The greatest and most oppressive empire on earth is the Anglo-American empire. By that is meant the British Empire, of which the United States of America forms a part. It has been the commercial Jews of the British-American empire that have built up and carried on Big Business as a means of exploiting and oppressing the peoples of many nations. This fact particularly applies to the cities of London and New York, the stronghold of Big Business. This fact is so manifest in America that there is a proverb concerning the city of New York which says: 'The Jews own it, the Irish Catholics rule it, and the Americans pay the bills.' We have no fight with any of these persons mentioned, but, as the witnesses for Jehovah and in obedience to his commandment set forth in the Scriptures, we are compelled to call attention to the truth concerning the same in order that the people may be enlightened concerning God and his purpose."

  Sources for information:

  Watchtower apology - July 8th Awake, 1998

  Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich

  James, Penton (2004). Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich: Sectarian Politics Under Persecution.

  Gabriele Yonan, Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi-Regime

  THE WATCHTOWER SUPPORTED THE UN

  People in authority in Watchtower used to enjoy privelages at the UN, they used to take guests to the UN building for meals and it even became part of a NY tour for visiting JW higher-ups. How did they achieve this? Watchtower registered itself as a 'United Nations NGO'. This is a non-governmental organisation that supports and works with the UN. For the length of time that they were aligned with the UN, Watchtower annually signed an agreement to support and promote UN activities, all the while telling it's followers it was the wild beast in union with Satan's world that would one day seek to destroy Watchtower.

  This conflicting relationship lasted until a reporter in the UK investigated the issue and wrote a lengthy informed article about the hypocritical stance in the UK newspaer 'The Guardian'.

  sources:

  http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/oct/15/religion.unitednations

  http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/oct/08/religion.world
• 

  villagegirl

  Here is: the Watchtower owns, 50% of this company that makes
  engines for miltary strike drones, weaponized. 
  These are qoutes directly
  from the official government report.
  
  "The engine will be of all ceramic construction to permit
   high temperature operation,without cooling, to effectively
   burn heavy oil. This new motor will be developed for 
  powering the U.S. Navy's new Smart War-fighter Array 
  of Re-configurable Modules (SWARM)
   low cost unmanned aerial vehicle."And how many men here, as youths,
   went to JAIL for "taking a stand for WT doctine"
   and refusing military service 
  ,even refusing to be medics or non-combatants ?
   Raise of hands ? 
  
   "Rand Cam Engine Corp. is a privately held company 
  whose stock is reportedly owned 50% by
  The Watchtower Society, a religious organization"
• 

  Phizzy

  I think caution is called for if you wish to present this stuff to a loyal J.W

  The W.T have covered their Corporate Ass** with the Rand Cam thing, as much as they can. They received the shares as a Bequest as part of a Portfolio that was held in a Trust. The Trust was run by an Investment Fund management firm. They ultimately were responsible , probably for buying the shares in the first place, (before the WT owned the Trust), certainly for any decision as to when to dispose of them.

  Such a Firm is duty bound to get the best price. The W.T will maintain they had no input or control over this. I think last time I checked the shares had been disposed of ? If so,a JW will, strangely, dismiss this in their mind as old news, as they do the U.N scandal.

  I think that with very few JW's who are not already at least partially "awake", this info. is best reserved for the time when they do wake up, and they wish to see the extent of the WT's true greed and downright hypocrisy.

  It is certainly good for Newbies and Lurkers to read on here though. Hi Guys !
• 

  snare&racket

  Phizzy, I clearly said this was for new visitors, people unaware. This is the stuff that got me out. Your reply reads like apologetics and gives a get out of free excuse for anyone looking for one.....a shame. Why not make up for it by offering some summaries of scandals.

  Watchtower can claim to be blind and deaf all they want but they are not dumb and neither are we. I spoke to someone in a hedge fund about Rand Cam and they said Watchtower in taking on the shares have to accept them and appoint oversight, they did so for several years. Owning 50% of a military company does not happen without you knowing it, it is simplly ridiculous to promote that view and even more outrageous to believe it.
• 

  Phizzy

  Sorry Snare, I didn't wish to undermine your thread, as I said , I think it is great that people reading on here get the information.

  I did not say the WT knew nothing about this, I just gave what I think their weasel words excuse would be, it doesn't stand up to real scrutiny, like all of their excuses.

  I still say that anyone wishing to present such things to a loyal, believing JW who seems not yet to have massive doubts, needs to do so with caution.

  For example, if I was presenting the U.N thing, I would include the excuse the WT uses, the Library Card lie, otherwise your JW goes off to his or her Elders, gets that rubbish, and is told never to speak to you again.

  Keep up the good work Snare !
• 

  Jon Preston

  Marked
• 

  snare&racket

  Sorry phizzy, it reads differently to how I intended it to read, I know you didn't mean it like that or believe their excuse. X
• 

  Phizzy

  Another, much earlier eaxample of their hypocrisy, it is Scandalous, and very interesting in view of the fact that Jesus was inspecting them at this time ! :

  The Watch Tower Gave its Blessing to the US Army Fighting in WWI:

  "MAY 30 FOR PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION

  In accordance with the resolution of Congress of April 2nd, and with the proclamation of the president of the United States of May 11, it is suggested that the Lord's people everywhere make May 30th a day of prayer and supplication.God was graciously pleased to cause the nation to be formed and to grow under the most favorable conditions in the world for the preservation of liberty, civil and religious.

  This is a land divinely ?shadowed with wings?--over-shadowed by the providential watchcare of God?s word--where God has lifted up an ensign on the mountain (kingdom), and where he has blown the trumpet message of the truth. Here the love of truth has for three thousand years attracted from all quarters of the world people who love God, love the Bible and love religious liberty. Here, practically alone of all the nations, exists in the fundamental laws of the land the safeguard that so long as the Constitution stands no law may be made nor any governmental action taken prohibiting the free exercise of religion, or abridging the freedom of speech or the press.

  Countless blessings have flowed to devout people through the wise provisions of the laws of the United States, blessing whose influences have been felt to the remotest corners of the earth, whenever even a spark of love for God-given freedom might be fanned into a glow. Here, more perhaps than elsewhere, exists that ?present? which shall be brought unto Jehovah (Isaiah 18:7), earth?s oblation (Ezekiel 45:1) to God of that class who, when in the age to come the restitution hosts shall be numbered, shall be found to have been ?born in Zion? (Psalm 87:5, 6), taken out of the world and given, in a figure, as humanity's present to their God, to be forever sons and servants of the Most High.

  This class love to ?assemble themselves together, and so much the more as they see the day approaching? (Hebrews 10:25), and they will be of all people the most ready to embrace an opportunity of gathering in an additional service of prayer and supplication. As says the spirit through the Apostle Paul: ?I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.? (I Timothy 2:1-3) Let there be praise and thanks-giving to God for the promised glorious outcome of the war, the breaking of the shackles of autocracy, the freeing of the captives (Isaiah 61:1) and the making of the world safe for the common people--blessings all assured by the Word of God to the people of this country and of the whole world of mankind. (1 June 1918 Watch Tower, p. 174)

  A Christian to whom may have been presented the perverted viewpoint that the Red Cross is only aiding of that killing which is against his conscience cannot help the Red Cross; then he gains the broader viewpoint that the Red Cross is the embodiment of helping the helpless, and he finds himself able and willing to help the Red Cross according to his ability and opportunity. A Christian, unwilling to kill, may have been conscientiously unable to buy government bonds; later he considers what great blessings he has received under his government, and realizes that the nation is in trouble and facing dangers to its liberty, and he feels himself conscientiously able to lend some money to the country, just as he would lend to a friend in distress.

  The Christian with the broadest mind is the one who is best informed Scripturally. Narrowmindedness invites troubles and persecutions for causes not even indirectly connected with true Christianity. (1 June 1918, Watch Tower, p. 168)"

  Here is another bit :

  "The International Bible Student's Association is not against the Liberty Loan. Many of its members have bought and hold Liberty Bonds. . . .Every Christian obeys the law. The United States has always stood for religious liberty and freedom of speech. Every Christian appreciates the privilege of living in such a country and gladly meets his obligations in the payment of taxes. When the Government asks to borrow his money and gives its promises to pay in the nature of a bond, if he can do so he should buy the bond. (15 May 1918 Watch Tower, p. 152)"

  Very revealing huh ?
• 

  Honesty

  You will not convince JW's with any of that.

  If they swallowed the BS at the 2012 Annual Meeting that when the GB meets they are the faithful and discreet slave nothing will convince them that the Watchtower Society is a sham.
• 

  KateWild

  You will not convince JW's with any of that.- honesty

  Maybe as an initial conversation I would agree. Having said this, JWs are leaving left, right and centre. This information was for me a helping hand. Things like this make an active JW want to read CoC and check out jwfacts.com.

  I would say we are all unique so therefore some approaches work with some, other approaches with others, but never will all approaches work with all JWs. But it's worth helping as many as we can.

  Kate xx