Do Superstitions Control your Life?
That's the cover article of the August 1st 2002 Watchtower. It is
a prime example of the mongrel dogma that results when a religions
basic beliefs, founded in the "old world" of heresay evidence
collides with the modern world of systematic scientific
investigation.
The question is asked on page 3
"Are you affected by a "belief, half-belief, or practice for which
there appears no rational substance."? Your answer could be
revealing, for that is how one reference work defines the word
"superstition".
"A person who lets superstition affect his decisions and daily
routine is allowing himself to be dominated by something he does
not really understand. Is this wise? Should we submit ourselves
to such a nebulous and possibly sinister influence? Is
superstition an inconsequential foible or an ominous threat?"
If you think this Watchtower article is going to help you on your
way to rational thinking and liberation from superstition you have
another thing coming.
Read more:
page 4 Subheading WHAT IS BEHIND SUPERSTITIONS?
"Many superstitions basically stem from a fear of spirits of the
dead or of SPIRITS OF ANY SORT"
page 5 Subheading THE SOURCE OF SUPERSTITIONS?
"Despite EVIDENCE(????) to the contrary, some people today tend to
deny the existence of Satan or evil spirits....
"Even though we cannot see them, evil spirit creatures do exist."
Do you see the bad logic? SINCE "many superstitions stem from a
fear of spirits THEREFORE...we ought to determine if there really
are spirits.
And SINCE "evil spirit creatures do exist then we ought to do
certain things to avoid the evil power of these evil spirits."
Rather than freeing the Watchtower reader from superstition the
stage is set for the introduction of the JW brand of superstition.
Some examples:
Going through all your belongings to see what might be "demonized".
Throwing out family heirlooms such as crosses - not even selling
valuable items for fear the money might then be tainted.
Checking into the background of the people who are having a rummage
sale. If there is a OUIJA board being sold or the person has a
collection of occult books you wouldn't want to buy that nice vase
they have for sale.
Don't forget the ritual burning of anything thought to be
demonized. You can't simply put a demonized item in the garbage
because it might find its way back into your house. You've got to
burnnnnnnnnn it. And don't be surprised if you have to pour a lot
of gasoline on the stuff to get it to burn. Also, keep repeating
the name "Jehovah" because the demons are going to be real mad and
you will need protection during this process.
Finally the ultimate advice:
"Accurate knowledge of the Bible is the BEST protection we can
have."
Does accurate knowledge of the Bible include the understanding that
the people who wrote the Bible were steeped in superstition? Are
we supposed to suspect epileptics of demonic possession? Should
schizophrenics be exorcised of the spirits that are talking to
them?
By the way. If you think your house is unclean this ritual from an
ancient book of magical cures might work:
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Two chickens
Some cedar branches
Scarlet colored cloth
Hyssop.
PROCEDURE:
Kill one of the chickens in a piece of pottery while someone pours
water over your hands. Set the bowl of bloody water aside.
Next take the scarlet material the live chicken and the hyssop and
cedar branches and dip them in the bloody water.
While still dripping shake the water off toward the house seven
times.
Finally go into the country and let the live chicken run free.
Source? Leviticus 14:48-53