Beth Sarim

by HereIgo 29 Replies latest jw experiences

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  darkspilver

  Hi StephaneLaliberte
  

  This house was build at the start of the great depression that was between 1929 and 1939. So, while the unemployment rate was way up, at 25% in the states in 1933, Rutherford had this house for himself and his friends. And don't forget that they already had the big buildings in NY.
  

  Why was that bad? I understand that it was built by a builder? Who were paid?

  Don't forget the principle of the New Deal at that time - by providing temporary employment that people would be paid for it helped keep millions of Americans off the streets and getting some money - even kinda like the Bible example of gleaning.

  This was done both by the American Government and by private individuals, perhaps most famously by Rockefeller - as in New York's Rockefeller Center - the project was a 'job creator' for thousands - but everything helped, even very small projects and jobs.

  https://dp.la/exhibitions/exhibits/show/new-deal

  It does depend where you stand politically, but the principle is - if you've got the money in times of depression, it is better to spend it to pay people to do things so that the money gets circulated in the economic system.
  

  Then some people may be able to pay income tax, which the Government can then use to gainfully employ more people (doing things like 'public services') - it's pure economics
  
  
  
• 

  OrphanCrow

  The land for Beth Sarim was a gift from a JW doctor. (Dr. Eckols?)

  The money to build it (and Beth Shan) was Coca-Cola money. The wife and daughter of William Heath were JWs.
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  St George of England

  As interesting as it is to read about Beth Sarim, of much greater interest is "BETH SHAN" just across the valley. In the articles you posted above it is mentioned in the Consolation magazine of May 27, 1942 on Page 9 under "Prejudice in its ugliest form". As far as I am aware this is the only reference to BETH SHAN anywhere in WT publications.

  It was built as a retreat for Rutherford and a few "friends" to live through Armageddon; the Bethel family would go to Gilead. There was its own water supply, underground diesel tanks and generators and a secret underground hideaway. This hideaway is currently used as a basement store under a modern(ish) house.

  Well worth "Googling" if you have not heard of it.

  George
• 

  stuckinarut2

  The most disturbing part about the whole thing is the lack of honesty and transparency by the society to the general flock!

  If one looks at the Proclaimers book, Beth-Sarim is given just a brief mention only!

  If they were and said "we messed up. We were wrong" it would be a gesture of humility!
  
• 

  blondie

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/search/?q=beth+sarim
  
• 

  StephaneLaliberte

  darkspilver, this guy was claiming to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the lord and savior who didn't have a home to rest his own head. Yet, for Mr. Rutherford, not only a place in New York was not enough, he had to have a rich place down in the south, on the other side of the country.

  Yeah, but it’s all good, he created jobs right?

  Sure, money was spent for both material and labor. So, yeah, jobs have been created - for a few months!

  Then, nothing.

  How about some community work. I’m sure there are plenty of things he could have done with that money. For instance, he could have created free reading and writing classes, invested in a soup kitchen, or even invested in small local businesses and create jobs for years.

  But no. he chose to have ANOTHER big place to live and brag about his Roll Royce. This man was completely out of touch. He acted as a successful business man and you thereby compared him to a business man. The problem however is that he claimed to be a man of God.

  This to me, is as reprehensible as the GB members flying around in first class. Completely forgetting that for their own comfort of a few hours, a majority of their followers will need to work 6 months and more just to feed and clothe their family with that kind of money. They have no respect.
• 

  ToesUp

  Rutherford was a drunk/crazy bully. If someone today did this (buy a home so faith men of old could come back and live there), they would send them to the nearest mental institution.

  What a bunch of nuts!
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  HereIgo

  Toesup, I thought the same thing! Rutherford truly was a nut
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  darkspilver

  Yeah, but it’s all good, he created jobs right?

  I specifically didn't say 'good' - I said 'not bad' - it's all relative

  How about some community work. I’m sure there are plenty of things he could have done with that money. For instance, he could have created free reading and writing classes, invested in a soup kitchen, or even invested in small local businesses and create jobs for years.
  

  Why? And stop the WT's house of cards falling down? If that had been done back then, would the WT be on the brink of disappearing now? Or would it have bolstered the WT over the years? Is that what you want??
  
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  StephaneLaliberte

  Darkspilver: You got a point, if they had indeed worked with their community and act like a real charity, there’d probably be a whole lot more of them today. And if they had that kind of love in their hearts, they wouldn’t uphold the practice of shunning either. If that was indeed the case, then, honestly, I don’t think it would be such a bad thing. A lot of their teachings would be challenged and they’d become a mainstream religion where people gather, trying to be the best of themselves.

  My online X-JW activity is mainly driven by their shunning policy and their judgemental attitude towards everyone else. Yet, if Rutherford had been a real Christian rather than the business man he was, I bet the organization would not have moved in that path. At least, I would’ve had a much better start at life, that’s for sure!