Recent WatchTower article about Witch Hunting (page 2)

Spectre

Wasn't there a WT some years back where these assholes were lamenting that they couldn't kill apostates?

I agree with the OP....the motivation to kill innocent women was not based on rationale or evidence, or justice. It was based on Exodus. Watchtower would never admit that. Funny but, I imagine the avergae witness, though likely would not be changed in the slightest, would pick up on the disjointed message between the article and the bible. They were just following their holy texts.

Some feel they are holy texts, some feel they are man made, superstition alongside very dangerous instructions.

speargrass55

@wearewatchingyou. Would you please clarify us as to where the old covenant stops and the new one begins? As most of my time as a witness was spend studying old covenant stuff like David , Moses, etc.

scotoma

There is so much in that article that should make JW's have second thoughts.

It refers to witch hunts as a kind of paranoia. What about buying second hand objects from people who may also be selling Tarot cards and Ouija boards in the miscellaneous game box you see at rummage sales.

What about the paranoia about watching shows involving magic - Harry Potter

"Meanwhile, physicians began to recognize that such things as seizures could be linked to health and not demon possession."

So what happened to all the demons that threw people into convulsions in Jesus' day?

The nonsense of religion is the belief in any kind of spirit entity "good or evil".

AndDontCallMeShirley

@ Spectre: Wasn't there a WT some years back where these assholes were lamenting that they couldn't kill apostates?

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"We are not living today among theocratic nations where such members of our fleshly family relationship could be exterminated for apostasy from God and his theocratic organization, as was possible and was ordered in the nation of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai and in the land of Palestine. "Thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God, . . . And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee." — Deut. 13:6-11, AS.

Being limited by the laws of the worldly nation in which we live and also by the laws of God through Jesus Christ, we can take action against apostates only to a certain extent, that is, consistent with both sets of laws. The law of the land and God’s law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates, even though they be members of our own flesh-and-blood family relationship." w52 11/15 p. 703, Questions From Readers

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"...Jehu announced that he intended to hold "a great sacrifice" for Baal. (2　Ki. 10:18,　19) "This is a clever play on words on the part of Jehu," says one scholar. While the term employed here "generally means ‘sacrifice,’ it is also used of the ‘slaughter’ of apostates." W 11-15-11, p.5

Vidiot

@Shirley;

Reminds me of Covington's statements when he was under oath at the Walsh Trial (god, what a douche).

I could just picture the rest of the WT reps mentally facepalming in horror as they heard his testimony.

rocketman

Some of the torture inflicted on those suspected of witchcraft was truly horrible.

For instance, water torture was not like the modern water-boarding. Back then, water was funneled down the throat until the victim's stomach was distended to the extreme. One can only imagine how painful that would be.

The strappado was a hanging by the arms, with the arms extended behind the back, designed to disclocate the shoulders. The torture rack, probably the best-known form of torture, was also designed to stretch the victim to the point of disclocation.

Others were placed on The Wheel, lying prone while tied to a large spinning wheel while their limbs were beaten with clubs, again resulting in dislocation and disfigurement.

The list goes on and on. All in the name of religion.

Scully

The wtbts version of witches are called "apostates". If the wtbts had their way, the would surely deal with 'apostates' the same way the catholic church dealt with witches. Every religion has their way of interpreting the bible and the wtbts is a religion, even though they at one time preached proudly and loudly that "Religion is a snare and Racket!" 'O the times they are a changin'. -bob dylan circa 1965 ~ eyeuse2badub

The Watchtower actually published comments exactly to that effect. Check it out:

*** Nov 15, 1952 Watchtower ***

We are not living today among theocratic nations where such members of our fleshly family relationship could be exterminated for apostasy from God and his theocratic organization, as was possible and was ordered in the nation of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai and in the land of Palestine. "Thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God, . . . And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee."-Deut. 13:6-11, AS.

Being limited by the laws of the worldly nation in which we live and also by the laws of God through Jesus Christ, we can take action against apostates only to a certain extent, that is, consistent with both sets of laws. The law of the land and God's law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates, even though they be members of our own flesh-and-blood family relationship.

Edit: Sorry - just noticed that the same was also posted by AndDontCallMeShirley. My bad.

Band on the Run

Thomas More tortured suspected witches and watched as they were burned alive. I had no idea. A Man for All Seasons focuses on his relationship to Henry VIII, He doesn't appear so saintly now.

EverApostate

The last known Witch hunt and greusome hangings, were of the Salem witch hunts in the americas.

Recent WatchTower article about Witch Hunting