The Watchtower Society has never been part for the innovative crowd, on the contrary they seem pretty unable to change much as time goes bye. This should hardly be surprising as with most Christian fundamentalists they have gotten stuck in Biblical times, where they ricochet around between Noah and the time of Jesus. Mostly they seem to favor a society that is a mix of old and New Testament rules randomly picked by the Watchtower Society and elevated to great importance at will, according to their immediate needs.
Take for instance, the endless yammering and harping on how incredibly close the "Jehovah's Day" is. If you open a Watchtower magazine from 1916 or 2003 this has never changed. One such article was regurgitated here:
*** w03 12/15 p. 19 Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day ***
Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day
"Prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming."-MATTHEW 24:44.
IT WILL be a day of battle and fury, of anguish and distress, of darkness and desolation. Jehovah's "great and fear-inspiring day" is certain to come upon this wicked system of things, even as the Flood drowned the wicked world in Noah's day. There is no escaping it. Yet, "everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe." (Joel 2:30-32; Amos 5:18-20) God will destroy his enemies and save his people. With a sense of urgency, the prophet Zephaniah declares: "The great day of Jehovah is near. It is near, and there is a hurrying of it very much." (Zephaniah 1:14) When, though, will this divine judgment be executed?
When looking at the usual senseless litany of complete meaningless clichés and mind numbing drivel above, there are so many mental buttons that make a Witness mind go into drone mode, their eyes to gloss over and all conscious brain activity to cease. But the Watchtower isn't satisfied that they have killed all brain activities yet so they keep droning on:
*** w03 12/15 pp. 19-20 Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day ***
2 "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father," said Jesus. (Matthew 24:36) Since we do not know the precise time, it is vital that we take to heart the words of our yeartext for 2004: "Keep on the watch . . . Prove yourselves ready."-Matthew 24:42, 44.
3 Indicating how suddenly those who are ready will be gathered to safety while others will be forsaken, Jesus said: "Two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned." (Matthew 24:40, 41) At that critical stage, what will be our personal situation? Will we be ready, or will that day catch us off guard? Much depends on the measures we take now. To prove ourselves ready for Jehovah's day requires that we avoid a certain attitude prevalent today, that we resist falling into a particular spiritual state, and that we shun certain life-styles.
Yup folks, we have no idea when, only God knows, so all the idiots have to be on their toes all the time. And then of course it seems to be quite random WHO will be among the "lucky" ones that will be "approved" of. Here the keyword is "abandoned". Someone will be abandoned folks, all the more reason to shut down your brains and just become even more senseless drones conforming to some insane rules that apparently will reduce the chances of being, gasp, abandoned. So at all cost the "faithful" need to "avoid a certain "attitude" to stay on the "right side". This abominable attitude can really be summed up quite easily; it is "having a life". Anyone wanting to live a normal life will of course be abandoned. Having a life is the absolute worst thing a devoted Jehovah's Witness can do.
There are many derogatory terms for such outrageous ideas; one of them will be used here:
*** w03 12/15 p. 20 Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day ***
Avoid a Complacent Attitude
Neither Noah's building project nor his preaching moved the people of his day to act. Why? Because they were "eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage." Those to whom Noah preached were so engrossed in personal affairs and pleasures that "they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away."-Matthew 24:38, 39.
5 It was the same in the days of Lot. The Scriptures tell us: "They were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building. But on the day that Lot came out of Sodom it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all." (Luke 17:28, 29) After angels warned Lot of the impending destruction, he spoke to his sons-in-law about what was coming. In their eyes, though, "he seemed like a man who was joking."-Genesis 19:14.
Imagine that, having a "complacent attitude" folks. Well, Noah allegedly didn't dilly dally when Jehovah filled him in on the future. But those who wanted to have a life were of course in for a nasty surprise. If it wasn't water it was sulphur. Now you have gotten the idea, Jehovah don't want you to have a life. He wants you to live in endless anxiety and fear of being exterminated by him for having the wrong attitudes and not having a "sense of urgency", because "Jehovah's Day" is as always imminent. So folks, being normal is in fact not an option for you true believers:
*** w03 12/15 p. 21 Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day ***
8 What if we realize that we are already involved in the normal day-to-day things of life to such an extent that spiritual interests are being crowded out? Is there little difference between our manner of life and that of our neighbors who lack accurate knowledge of the Scriptures and are not Kingdom proclaimers? If that is the case, then we need to make this a matter of prayer. Jehovah can enable us to have the right mental attitude. (Romans 15:5; Philippians 3:15) He can help us to keep Kingdom interests first, to do what is right, and to fulfill our obligation to him.-Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 13:7.
As you can see above the Watchtower actually points out that you can't live a normal life. So what can you do? Well, your only choice as a "true believer" is to become a complete zombie shutting out all normal activities and devote yourself to a life in perpetual anxiety waiting for "a day of battle and fury, of anguish and distress, of darkness and desolation. Jehovah's "great and fear-inspiring day". Doesn't it sound lovely? I mean who wouldn't prefer such a fantastic existence compared to enjoying life while you actually live? Nope, that's not for Jehovah's Witnesses, that would amount to "spiritual drowsiness":
*** w03 12/15 p. 21 Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day ***
Resist Spiritual Drowsiness
9 The very prophecy that speaks of the oncoming "war of the great day of God the Almighty" at Armageddon warns that some may not keep awake. "Look! I am coming as a thief," says the Lord Jesus Christ. "Happy is the one that stays awake and keeps his outer garments, that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness." (Revelation 16:14-16) The outer garments mentioned here refer to what identifies us as Christian Witnesses of Jehovah. This includes our work as Kingdom proclaimers and our Christian conduct. If we slide into sleeplike inactivity, we may be stripped of our Christian identity. That is shameful and dangerous. We must resist falling into a state of spiritual drowsiness or lethargy. How can we resist such an inclination?
That's simple, ignore everything that's going on, go to all meetings and read only Watchtower literature, avoid absolutely all education and all thinking, stay as ignorant as possible about everything. That will surely do the trick.
As usual the Watchtower turns all this upside down. They claim that living a normal life getting an education and a decent job, is what will result in anxiety. Why should that bring any more anxiety then constantly worrying lest you piss off the bad tempered homicidal maniac Jehovah and be abandoned?
*** w03 12/15 p. 22 Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day ***
14 In his great prophecy about the sign of his presence, Jesus gave yet another warning. He said: "Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man." (Luke 21:34-36) Jesus accurately described the life-styles that people in general pursue: overindulgence in food, drunkenness, and a way of life that brings anxieties.
So Jehovah's Witnesses doesn't "overindulge" in food and drink? Of course they do, they drink like camels, they have to do something to dull their senses, anxiety and fear of being abandoned. Don't Jehovah's Witnesses have to take care of their families, have a house, car, food, clothes, and simply provide for their families? Don't Jehovah's Witnesses have "personal concerns" like that? Of course, but reading the next quote it seems like they don't:
*** w03 12/15 p. 23 Prove Yourself Ready for Jehovah's Day ***
16 What are the anxieties of life that Jesus warned about? They involve personal concerns, providing for the family, and the like. How unwise to allow these to weigh us down! "Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span?" asked Jesus. He admonished his listeners: "Never be anxious and say, 'What are we to eat?' or, 'What are we to drink?' or, 'What are we to put on?' For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things." Putting Kingdom interests first in our lives and having confidence that Jehovah will provide for us will keep anxieties at bay and help us stay awake.-Matthew 6:25-34.
What will happen if we don't care about what to eat, to drink and to put on? Is it good advise to ignore such basic things? We are not living in a society of nomad tribes, living in tents roaming vast areas. This is complete impractical nonsense. The average Jehovah's Witnesses is at least as "weighed down" with all this as anyone else, and in addition they have all the superstitious crap to deal with.
Did you notice the usual question at the end of the first quote. A question that the Watchtower Society love to ask, but NEVER answer, but always let drown in an endless torrent of meaningless drivel. It is this one: "When, though, will this divine judgment be executed?
Yes, indeed, when? They didn't say. I mean Soon isn't an answer. It is really sad that religious people are so desperately preoccupied with pursuing a life after death. All human beings should concentrate on having a life BEFORE death, because that's all they get.
Norm