2008 March 01 « The Religious Stuff..& all things are possible except skiing through a revolving door

March 1, 2008

Rand - Cam

Filed under: Christianity, Commercial Holdings, Governing Body, Investments, Jehovahs Witnesses — Admin Staff @ 1:35 pm

Watchtower’s Investments
in Warfare Technology

“The first casualty of war is The Truth.”

Purpose The purpose of this review article is to determine whether the Watchtower Society (WT) owns shares of common stocks of armament-related industry and if positive, determine if they perform business transactions with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Background The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Inc. (WT) portrays itself as a pacifist, neutral, non-profit religious organization and a “direct channel to God”. As a sign of respect to God, Watchtower’s members – the Jehovah’s Witnesses – must not accept blood transfusions, take part in any political, governmental or military organization and can not perform business transactions with such institutions. Under some prophetic speculation, the WT teaches its members that the United Nations is the embodiment of “The Beast” spoken of in the Bible’s book of Revelation and that Earth is “Satan’s kingdom”. The WT claims that the only safe group to be, grow and reach salvation is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. The WT demands from its members high moral, social and “Christian” standards while condemning immorality and materialism. Once the new recruits accept the idea that the Watchtower is a “direct channel” of communication to God, they are told to accept every word coming from the headquarters located in Brooklin, NY. Questioning the doctrine or breaking any of its rules is equated to doubting the word of God himself and it is often severely punished by disfellowshiping (expulsion), which means this person must be shunned and ostracized by his/her own relatives and friends. Preventing independent thinking trough fear and guilt is a very effective thought-stoping process which allows the indoctrination process to implant more phobias and further the individual’s need to belong and seek “shelter” under the mother organization, the Watchtower.

Main Information Sources (Accessible trough enclosed hyperlinks, some of which are repeated as a reference to the cited statements. Note: In some cases the referred documents are extensive so electronic word searches are recommended.).

Reg Tech/Regi News releases.

Advanced Ceramics Research

U.S. Navy

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The primary mission of the SEC is to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets. To achieve this, the SEC requires public companies to disclose meaningful financial and other information to the public. The SEC also oversees other key participants in the securities world, including stock exchanges, broker-dealers, investment advisors, mutual funds, and public utility holding companies. The SEC is concerned primarily with promoting disclosure of important information, enforcing the securities laws, and protecting investors who interact with these various organizations and individuals. Crucial to the SEC’s effectiveness is its enforcement authority. SEC filings by REGI US Inc. reveal partial ownership by the Watchtower Society of at least three related companies:

Partnership relations between these companies are so tight they have called themselves “Sister Companies”. Rand Cam Engine Corp. is a privately-held company and not much data was available. Reg Technologies Inc. is a Canadian investor’s group that since 1986 has financed most of the research done on the Rand Cam™ engine. Rand Energy Group Inc. was created in October 1986 and it is controlled by both Rand Cam Engine Corp.; Rand Energy Group Inc. controls Regi U.S. Inc., which is ultimately controlled by its main investor: Reg Technologies Inc. Both the private and common stocks held by the Watchtower Society on the “Sister Companies” were donated. The focal point of this group is to market a new engine technology called Rand Cam ™ (RC™). Finances REGI U.S., Inc. was incorporated in the State of Oregon, USA on July 27, 1992. The basic research and development work done on the RC™ engine and other products is being coordinated and funded by Reg Tech.REGI US Inc. was created in 1986 and it does not own properties. They currently utilize office space leased by Reg Tech in a commercial business park building located in British Columbia, Canada. REGI’s only assets are their intangible assets, being patents and intellectual property rights. They do not have employees other than a Marketing Corporate Director and a design engineer. The majority of prototype construction and testing costs continues to be borne by potential licensees and manufacturers. REGI owns 5,073,200 shares and plans to sell shares as needed to meet their ongoing funding requirements if traditional equity sources of financing prove to be insufficient. REGI US Inc. has not generated any revenues nor profitable operations since inception and has a severe working capital deficit as of April 30^th 2002, of $5,308,000. In September 21^st 1994, Reg Technologies Inc. announced that REGI US Inc. (its subsidiary) had started trading on the OTC Bulletin board (Symbol RGUS) but the actual SEC registration is dated 06/06/1996 (REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 33-96974). Insiders of REGI now currently hold 6,017,850 common shares, representing control of approximately 53.31% of the total voting power. Accordingly, the present insiders continue to elect all of their own directors and generally control their affairs.Patents, Rights & Agreements

Rand Energy Group, Inc. owns the RC™ technology worldwide rights exclusive U.S. since 1992, whereas REGI owns the U.S.A. rights to the RC™ technology and its variations.
In October 2000, Reg Technologies Inc. acquired a 50% interest in the rights to a H₂O hydrogen separator technology.

Some of REGI’s patented products derived from the RC™ Technology are: A compressor, a pump, the Cold Turbine Engine Generator and the Rotary Diesel Engine prototypes. Following are some agreements made public:

In 1995, REGI bought for $200,000 a limited sublicense to market and distribute in Canada the rights to Machine Vision Technology, but in October of the same year it sold it to Reg Technologies, its main investor. This technology has industrial and medical applications but is also being tested by Carnegy Mellon University for the military’s “Intelligent Transportation Systems” for missile delivery, or “Precision Landing.” It is also being tested by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA. with grants from The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization for “Real Time Intelligent Target Detection” and for Automatic Target Recognition

In May 1994, Reg Technologies, Inc. entered into a consortium agreement with Hercules Aerospace Company to further develop the diesel version of the RC™ Engine in concert with the West Virginia University team.

In 1995, Hercules Aerospace Company merged with Alliant TechSystems, Inc and Alliant completed the drawings on the Diesel Engine under a contract signed with REGI US Inc.

In 1996, several new aircraft engine prototypes were designed along with Global Aircraft Corporation for the General Aviation Propulsion (GAP) program by NASA. This $8.5 million program fell apart in November 1996 when REGI’s prototype engine leaked oil during the final tests (this is an inherent problem of most rotary engines). This contract was not awarded to REGI.

In December 6^th 2001, Watchtower’s “Sister Companies”, publicly announced that a $850,000 U.S. Navy contract, topic# N01-144 (contract # N00014-01-M-0208) had been awarded to Advanced Ceramics Research prime contractor , and REGI to build and test a Naval 0.5 horsepower ceramic engine which would allow for low radar signature and high temperature operation. This new motor is being developed for powering the U.S. Navy’s new Smart War-fighter Array of Re-configurable Modules “SWARM”, now renamed Silver Fox , a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Recently, two more programs have just been funded (NAVY CONTRACT #s N41756-02-M-2026 and N41756-02-M-2037) by the Naval Surface Weapons Center for the development of high efficiency ceramic diesel engines for Silver Fox (SWARM) applications. The designs under development in these programs are scalable to larger conventional drone sizes. The ceramics reduce the need for lubrication oil, increase the operational temperature in the combustion and eliminate metal from the engine to reduce weight and improve detection avoidance. In July 2002, the Office of Naval Research tested Advanced Ceramics Research’s drone in Simi Valley, Calif., said Allen Moshfegh, science officer working on robotic warfare developments for the Navy. The small craft successfully completed maneuvers before high-ranking Defense officials. The test was part of an ongoing series of demonstrations the company hopes will result in huge demand for the aircraft. In its current prototype phase the handcrafted fiberglass and foam Silver Fox units run about $20,000 each. With injection-molded components and ramped-up production, the price should drop to about $ 5,000 by 2003, and fall to below $ 2,000 by 2004. Starting in 2004, 10,000 Silver Fox planes will be produced annually, for sales totaling about $20 million dollars annually.

In April 4^th 2002 REGI announced that they signed an agreement to grant a 5-year contract to Advanced Ceramics Research for the RC™ based motors up to 10 H.P. for the Navy Contract SBIR No 1-144.

In May 29^th 2002, REGI signed a license agreement with Advanced Ceramics and Radian Military parts to further develop their Diesel Cam technology for the US Navy’s Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs).

In November 13th 2002, REGI US anounced a “42 Horsepower Diesel Engine — for unmanned vehicle applications for helicopters (The Dragon Warrior). The design phase of this project is complete and fabrication of the engine has commenced. Planning for the test facility and test plan is also underway.”

In February 24th 2003, Advanced Ceramics announced that SWARM orders booked in the first quarter are nearly $8 million. SEC filings reveal that REGI is receiving -from Advanced Ceramics- a royalty fee of 5% of the purchase price for any commercial and Navy applications.

In March 2003, USAFA Disovery Magazine (U.S. Air Force Academy) anounced that the USAFA is procuring five Navy Silver Fox UAVs. They will develop a proof of concept with wheeled robots this year with the goal of modifying the algorithms for UAV cooperation next year.

In April 8th 2003, the Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) had a press release stating that the Silver Fox (SWARM) was being deployed to aid marine corps in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Observers said the drones for the most part performed well on field duty.

RESULTS

The Watchtower Society, a religious organization, owns a large percentage of (at least) three “Sister Companies”: Rand Cam Engine Corp., Rand Energy Group Inc., and Regi U.S. Inc. These companies are dedicated to research, development and marketing of Rand Cam™ engine technology of which they own the rights and several patents.
None of the Watchtower’s “Sister Companies” fabricate neither bombs nor ammunition of any kind. However, REGI’s management systematically seeks out –and has obtained- U.S. Department of Defense’s awards, funding and subcontracts to supply the U.S. Department of Defense with RC™ technology. REGI’s management has signed numerous agreements with some powerful warfare-technology contractors. An experienced military contract negotiator was appointed as REGI’s Marketing Corporate Director. He is now providing engine technology for the U.S. Navy’s new Silver Fox (SWARM).
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., of Stratford, Conn., has developed another small UAV, an unmanned helicopter system for the Marine Corps, called Dragon Warrior , designed for use in both urban and dispersed battlefield situations. The system features REGI’s new 42 hp engine produced by Radian:
The Watchtower’s Governing Body have concealed the truth about these assets and their transactions with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense from its own members and the public in general.

A Brief Description of Silver Fox (SWARM)

The basic concept was developed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The SWARM are low cost, expendable, unmanned air vehicles, operating in a swarm as a cooperative group, replacing individual losses by re-configuration of the remaining units to complete the mission. Careful consideration went into the decision to make the the SWARM an expendable vehicle. The primary reason it will be expendable is that the major cost for any system is maintenance, not acquisition. This means the SWARM will incur no maintenance costs; Design incorporates self destruction of electronics upon engine stoppage. Now in its functional stage, and subsequent debut in Operation Iraqi Freedom, this UAV has been renamed The Silver Fox.

The SWARM project was actually launched by ACR in June 2000 with a $70,000 US Navy contract for a small UAV originally designed to locate and mitigate whales near Navy ships. Each “module” is a 4-foot-long, 20-pound plane with a 4-foot wingspan and a 4-pound payload-enough capacity for any type of camera, microphones for eavesdropping, mini chemical and biological detectors, or even, potentially, a small weapon; The Silver Fox is scalable for up to a 40 lb. payload. The small aircraft bearing the engine in question, will be primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles, but payloads, the sensors and the packages can be tailored to the mission.

The US Navy officials who evaluated the prototype’s performance did not only approved it, but SWARM concept was quickly expanded far beyond whale-watching and into developing UAVs that can be easily reconfigured to accommodate a multitude of payload and mission requirements over hostile territory, and recently it was renamed Silver Fox for its debut in the Gulf War II. One new concept on board the Silver Fox is the “Global Positioning System (GPS) Jamming Situational Awareness” for Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS); This information is then passed to the GPS-guided weapon prior to launch. The Silver Fox then provides data directly to the projectile in flight (NAVSYS CORP.) to support this back-up navigation mode. As an example, imagine that a swarm of Silver Fox planes is patrolling and one is shot down by a hidden missile launcher. A second plane, recognizing the absence, searches the area and finds a suspicious building. A third spots the hot afterglow of the missile launch with its infrared camera, confirming the sighting. Next, the two planes transmit their data to a fourth Silver Fox plane equipped with a transceiver, which broadcasts all images to central command for analysis. If officers agree that the planes have identified an enemy surface-to-air missile launcher, they can instruct a fifth Silver Fox plane to “paint” the target with laser light that will guide the smart bombs sent to attack it. These are just two of the numerous Defense awards available to develop the use of Silver Fox (SWARM) for surface to air missile (SAM) site continuous monitoring. An important feature of the “swarm” concept is that one operator will be able to operate 10 or more drones as compared to current technology, which requires 10 to 20 operators to operate one drone. The Silver Fox was deployed in April to aid marine corps in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Observers said the drones for the most part performed well on field duty. “We sent an ONR team into the theater to deploy the Silver Fox following its transition from the original design,” said Captain John Hobday, a naval reservist and director of Tech Solutions. Regarding its current mission, Rear Admiral Cohen said: “It’s now being tasked to help our Marines on the ground.” It isn’t the only tactical UAV slated for testing during the second Gulf War. But the Fox has capabilities the other drones in its class lack. That task may change yet again, as more Silver Foxes are built. “If you could design a little weapon that weighs half a pound,” the Office of Naval Research’s Mittleman mused, the drone could become more than a mere observer. “The Silver Fox could become a robotic fighter, dealing pain from 500 feet.” Discovery Channel reports that eight Silver Foxes currently are receiving heavy use on the battlefield, and none has been shot down yet. While Senator John McCain (Arizona)” stated that “ninety Silver Fox systems were deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom with great success.” [Click HERE for videos on the most recent Silver Fox (SWARM) flight tests in Arizona.] Discussion REGI’s first press release dated May 11, 1994 opens up with enthusiasm to have a product with which they can tap into an annual $20 Billion market and plans to align the U.S. Department of Defense as their first customer:

developed for military

The annual market potential for the diesel engine market in North America is $20 Billion U.S.. Reg Technologies, Inc. plans to license Hercules, Inc. for Department of Defense applications

confident

will produce significant revenue

Since their creation, the “Sister companies” have systematically sought out awards and subcontracts from NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. To this effect, a military expert was appointed as REGI’s Marketing Corporate Director. Mr. X (name withheld) offers to the “Sister Companies” 30 years experience in the aerospace and aircraft industry, as Corporate Marketing Director and Federal Government Affairs Director. He has been involved as a contractor and/or consultant for the Department of Defense, Naval Sea Systems Command; Naval Air Systems Command and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Mr. Mr. X also has created a company which been appointed as agent for REGI U.S., Inc. to raise up to $6 million (U.S.) on a non-exclusive basis. A 5% agents fee of the total funds received from contacts introduced by Mr. X’s company will be paid for funds raised, license fees, royalty payments and contract fees.
“We believe that Mr. X’s extensive expertise in government relations and advanced technologies marketing will be a valuable asset to marketing the Rand Cam™ projects and raising substantial funds for REGI U.S., Inc.” “We are currently making presentations to the U.S. military which could result in additional government funding if the diesel engine prototype meets with its approval.” Now lets consider some of the products REGI’s experienced military contract negotiator handle and their targeted markets:Machine Vision Technology (MVT). The “Sister Companies” own the Canadian rights to MVT. This system is currently under development by the Carnegie Mellon University (experts in artificial intelligence). The MVT device records images by their spectral “signature” and is used in various industrial and medical applications. Examples include: electronic component analysis, signature identification, optical character recognition, handwriting recognition, object recognition, pattern recognition, materials inspection, currency inspection and medical image analysis. But they have an ongoing project to adapt it for warfare purposes: When on board an airborne vehicle, it allows for highly selective discrimination among objects or targets of nearly identical spatial or even spectral signatures. Its inventors call it “Intelligent Transportation System”. The system is far more complex than GPS-guided missile technology and it reportedly holds great promise for military applications because it can discern between nearby friendly and enemy vehicles even when camouflaged. A simulated battlefield scene was set where they placed tanks of the same color, but their armor had different spectral signatures. A background consisting of other tanks, vegetation, sand and water was used in testing the device. The suppression algorithm was able to tell the difference between tanks and therefore, identify enemy tanks. It is beyond question that the WT’s “Sister Companies” own a limited sublicense to market and distribute Machine Vision Technology in Canada and, although this system is being tested for the military, it was NOT evident to this researcher whether this technology has been sold and/or used for “smart bombs” manufacture by any nation. Nevertheless, REGI’s original plan was well specified, as their first news release in May 1994 declared:

“U.S. Reg Technologies, Inc. plans to license Hercules, Inc. for Department of Defense applications in consideration for the development and commercialization of the Rand Cam™ Diesel Engine, and other benefits to Reg Technologies, Inc.” Note that this accord with Hercules was not a partnership but an agreement. Then in 1995, Hercules Aerospace Company merged with Alliant TechSystems Inc. Alliant completed the drawings on the Diesel Engine under a contract signed with REGI US Inc. The designs and drawings were paid and no royalties are to be to be paid to Alliant. It is remarkable that Watchtower’s “Sister Companies” have signed several agreements with various companies focused on warfare technology confirming once again REGI’s targeted market; Just consider some of REGI’s manufacturing clients:

Radian Military Parts is a key supplier of engineering, logistics systems integration services to the U.S. Department of Defense. It delivers “perfect quality parts for weapon systems.” The 42 H.P. diesel Rand Cam™ engine for remote piloted helicopter applications is currently being completed by Radian Milparts and testing is expected shortly.

Hercules Aerospace Company. Products: Missile propellants and warheads. Design and manufacture of solid propulsion rocket motors and composite structures. (Bought by Alliant TechSystems).

Alliant TechSystems, Inc now has $1.3 billion in annual sales of a repertoire of products including: Small-caliber military ammunition, rocket propellants, commercial and military smokeless powder, law enforcement and sporting ammunition, ammunition related products, strategic missiles, missile defense interceptors, gun-launched precision-guided munitions, electronic warfare systems, soldier systems, propulsion for missile defense systems, composite structures for aircraft and weapons systems, medium-caliber and tank ammunition, medium-caliber gun systems, high-performance batteries for military and aerospace applications, tactical barrier systems, tactical missile rocket motors and warheads.

Advanced Ceramics Research (ACR) has performed nearly $6 million in military work.

RADIAN The Engineering Division provides comprehensive support to the U.S. Department of Defense’s weapon systems managers. It operates from facilities adjacent to several key U.S. military installations.

Engineered Support Systems, Inc has recently acquired RADIAN for $41.7 million U.S. in cash and shares. EASI is a diversified supplier of high tech integrated military electronics support equipment and logistics services to all branches of the U.S. armed forces and certain foreign militaries.

The Silver Fox (SWARM) project has recently gained additional support from the US House of Representatives as in May 10th 2002, Arizona’s Congressman Jim Kolbe announced :

“…the programs that support our armed forces in the fight against global terrorism in the 2003 Defense Authorization Act passed the House early this morning.”…”These programs, critical to our national security, received the necessary authority in the defense bill for us to continue conducting the War Against Terrorism. This bipartisan bill recognizes that we are a nation at war, and provides the manpower, the equipment, and the technology that the United States military needs. Southeastern Arizona plays a pivotal role in our national security, and I am pleased that our requests were accepted”. Two of his accepted requests are:
SWARM UAV Program: $5 million above the president’s request for these lightweight, low cost and expendable UAVs for ship perimeter defense, marine mammal detection, submarine detection, and tactical support for ground troops and special operations forces developed at Advanced Ceramics Research in Tucson.
UAV Facility: Accelerates from 2005 to 2003 this valuable Ft. Huachuca project to construct buildings for instruction, flight operations, and maintenance of UAVs, valued at $10.4 million.
Other political suporters of the Silver Fox are Senator John McCain (Arizona) who during a press release on May 23, 2003 estated that “90 Silver Fox systems were deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom with great success.” and that “Additional resources should be afforded to the unmanned aerial vehicle programs.” Also in May 9th 2003, Senator John Warner (Virginia), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, declared that his subcomitee authorized a 25% increase in unmanned systems and added $135.0 million to rapidly accelerate the development and acquisition of unmanned systems including $8.0 million annually for the Silver Fox. Royalties This is the escense of the contract signed between REGI and Advanced Ceramics (ACR): “We agreed that a 5 year contract will also be granted to ACR for the Rand Cam concept motors for the commercial and military rights for the applications developed under the Navy contract for 10 H.P or less. [...] We will receive a royalty fee of 5% of the purchase price for the commercial and Navy applications”. How much money does this mean? Lets see: “The $500,000 SBIR grant funding the local UAV project will pay off for the Navy, as well as for Advanced Ceramics. “Orders booked in the first quarter are nearly $8 million,” Mulligan said. “In less than a year it has really grown to be quite a business.” “In its current prototype phase the handcrafted fiberglass and foam Silver Fox units run about $20,000 each. With injection-molded components and ramped-up production, the price should drop to about $ 5,000 by 2003, and fall to below $2,000 by 2004. Starting in 2004, 10,000 Silver Fox (SWARM) planes will be produced annually.” This means sales totaling about $20 million dollars annually for warfare royalty payments of $1,000,000 to REGI U.S. and to the Watchtower. And this is in addition to the royalty payments from military manufacturer RADIAN: “Radian will pay Reg a six (6) percent royalty on the sales of engines, parts and service utilizing Rand Cam Technology used in UAV’s, including 6% of all funding received from the Government and Military sources to develop and manufacture the Rand Cam technology.” The WT Society may not have asked for its donated shares, but has retained ownership nonetheless, and while the Donor retains voting privileges, the WT Society gets the direct financial benefit (and probably, tax exemptions as a religious organization). In the following scanned letter, the WT declines ownership of the Sister Companies and state that “The Watchtower Society was erroneously listed as a stockholder…” (The introductory paragraph was removed in order to protect the recipient’s identity). The letter above plainly contradicts their own SEC legal filings filed repeatedly for the last 16 years:

“Rand Energy Group is owned 51% by Reg Technologies Inc. and 49% by Rand Cam Engine Corp. Rand Cam Engine Corp. is a privately held company whose stock is owned 50% by The Watchtower Society, a religious organization, 34% by James McCann and the balance by several other shareholders. Mr. McCann has indicated that he donated the shares held by The Watchtower Society to that organization but has retained a voting proxy for those shares. Accordingly, in Notes (3) and (4) above, beneficial ownership of the 5,073,200 shares registered in the name of Rand Energy Group Inc. has been attributed to The Watchtower Society and Mr. McCann. We believe it would be misleading and not provide clear disclosure to list as beneficial owners in the table the other entities and persons discussed in this paragraph, although a strict reading of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 might require each such entity and person to be listed in the beneficial ownership table. “

If the WT was “erroneously listed as a stockholder,” why would the “Sister Companies” want to share their profits with the Watchtower Society? Because the WT took possession and kept those stocks for about 16 years. Conclusion Confirmation of the Watchtower’s possession of such investments and subsequent contributions to warfare technology are not inconsequential. In fact, it has a profound effect on Jehovah Witnesses’ confidence on their leaders. It is interesting that if a Jehovah’s Witness questions WT’s contributions to warfare technology, or any other activity or policy for that matter, this person would be severely punished with disfellowshipment (expulsion) and the victim’s friends and relatives would be forced to ostracize and shun him/her as “a test of loyalty to Jehovah.” Why is this problem being “fixed” just after it became public? This seems a pattern as the WT also “fixed” [withdrew from] their secret NGO membership with the UN only two days after it became public.

“How a Christian puts his money to work is for him to decide personally, just as how he works for a living is for him to decide. There is nothing contrary to Scriptural principles for him to let his money help him earn a livelihood. If he invests in stocks, no one should criticize him. He should, of course, be discreet about what stocks or bonds he buys. When he knows that a corporation is devoted entirely to manufacturing merchandise that is used for a morally wrong purpose, it would be improper for him to violate his conscience by investing money in the stock of that company. - Awake!, February 8, 1962, p. 23. Why are they declining responsibility for their deceptions? But let’s look at the Watchtower’s official definition of “lie”:

*** Insight, Volume 2 pp.244-5 Lie ***

LIE - The opposite of truth. Lying generally involves saying something false to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him or another person. A lie need not always be verbal. It can also be expressed in action, that is, a person may be living a lie. [...] While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge truthful information to people who are not entitled to it.

Measured by the same moral and doctrinal standards they impose on its members, there is simply no proper justification to holding on to the “Sister Companies’” shares and profit even for a short time. Ignorance of their possession can not be an excuse either because, as a chief share-holder, the WT Society has received no less than 52 SEC filing copies plus -at least- 60 official news releases by REGI updating them on their company’s progress. And this is in addition to the thousands of financial reports, memos and other internal correspondence required to operate such corporations for more than 16 years.
As Randall Watters once wrote:

“The Watchtower Society seems unique in that it denounces investments in the old system and its journal Awake! for many years claimed that it was ‘free’ to publish ‘truth’ because of being “unfettered” by commercial interests. In times past, the Society has even forced branches to divest interests in various profit-making investments. After which, they even held Conventions where they read a resolution apologizing to Jehovah for their ’sin’ and publicly repented of this ‘unclean’ act before all onlookers. Now let’s think about this for a minute: 5,371,000 shares valued at $0.437 per share equals $2,347,127 in stock ownership. This is just one company we know about. But, the interesting situation is that the Watchtower Society owns 50% in the US corporation as reported, even if not a ‘majority’ interest. Is this not a clear powerful position to influence company policy? Even if the British Columbia company holds the major role, would not a powerful voting block such as this, at least help ‘influence’ the actions of what the company builds and sells? And even though the voting is by proxy, it is done by the person who donated the stock to the Society. Therefore, would not his votes reflect sympathy and loyalty to the Watchtower Society teachings, policies, and beliefs unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses?” It is pathetic that the WT leaders reserve themselves the right to seek profit in this manner and at the same time they hold to being “conscientious objectors”. Clearly, the WT’s risk of being involved in warfare technology transactions has been superseded by the greed of tapping in the reportedly $20 billion in annual sales market. This previously secret WT’s economic venture exhibits a rawness of ambition, optimism, overconfidence and greed unlike anything imagined by its unsuspecting members. How could the Governing Body justify - even to themselves - profits from such stock dividends? Patriotism aside, during this times of war, the WT Society held stocks on the “Sister Companies” and, while they are still not a huge success within the Department of Defense, it is a clear double standard and fits in with being grossly hypocritical with its own doctrine and its honest members. That is the issue.

The first casualty of war is The Truth.

Comments (0)

Not keeping Members

Filed under: Christianity, Jehovahs Witnesses — Admin Staff @ 12:25 pm

- The U.S. religious marketplace is extremely volatile, with nearly half of American adults leaving the faith tradition of their upbringing to either switch allegiances or abandon religious affiliation altogether, a new survey finds.

The survey found the Roman Catholic Church has lost more members than any faith tradition.

The study released Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life is unusual for it sheer scope, relying on interviews with more than 35,000 adults to document a diverse and dynamic U.S. religious population.

While much of the study confirms earlier findings — mainline Protestant churches are in decline, non-denominational churches are gaining and the ranks of the unaffiliated are growing — it also provides a deeper look behind those trends, and of smaller religious groups.

“The American religious economy is like a marketplace — very dynamic, very competitive,” said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum. “Everyone is losing, everyone is gaining. There are net winners and losers, but no one can stand still. Those groups that are losing significant numbers have to recoup them to stay vibrant.”

The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey estimates the United States is 78 percent Christian and about to lose its status as a majority Protestant nation, at 51 percent and slipping.

More than one-quarter of American adults have left the faith of their childhood for another religion or no religion at all, the survey found. Factoring in moves from one stream or denomination of Protestantism to another, the number rises to 44 percent.

One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.

“In the past, certain religions had a real holding power, where people from one generation to the next would stay,” said Penn State University sociologist Roger Finke, who consulted in the survey planning. “Right now, there is a dropping confidence in organized religion, especially in the traditional religious forms.”

Lugo said the 44 percent figure is “a very conservative estimate,” and more research is planned to determine the causes.

“It does seem in keeping with the high tolerance among Americans for change,” Lugo said. “People move a lot, people change jobs a lot. It’s a very fluid society.”

The religious demographic benefiting the most from this religious churn is those who claim no religious affiliation. People moving into that category outnumber those moving out of it by a three-to-one margin.

The majority of the unaffiliated — 12 percent of the overall population — describe their religion as “nothing in particular,” and about half of those say faith is at least somewhat important to them. Atheists or agnostics account for 4 percent of the total population.

The Roman Catholic Church has lost more members than any faith tradition because of affiliation swapping, the survey found. While nearly one in three Americans were raised Catholic, fewer than one in four say they’re Catholic today. That means roughly 10 percent of all Americans are ex-Catholics.

The share of the population that identifies as Catholic, however, has remained fairly stable in recent decades thanks to an influx of immigrant Catholics, mostly from Latin America. Nearly half of all Catholics under 30 are Hispanic, the survey found.

On the Protestant side, changes in affiliation are swelling the ranks of nondenominational churches, while Baptist and Methodist traditions are showing net losses.

Many Americans have vague denominational ties at best. People who call themselves “just a Protestant,” in fact, account for nearly 10 percent of all Protestants.

Although evangelical churches strive to win new Christian believers from the “unchurched,” the survey found most converts to evangelical churches were raised Protestant.

Hindus claimed the highest retention of childhood members, at 84 percent. The group with the worst retention is one of the fastest growing — Jehovah’s Witnesses. Only 37 percent of those raised in the sect known for door-to-door proselytizing said they remain members.

Among other findings involving smaller religious groups, more than half of American Buddhists surveyed were white, and most Buddhists were converts.

More people in the survey pool identified themselves as Buddhist than Muslim, although both populations were small — less than 1 percent of the total population. By contrast, Jews accounted for 1.7 percent of the overall population.

The self-identified Buddhists — 0.7 percent of those surveyed — illustrate a core challenge to estimating religious affiliation: What does affiliation mean?

It’s unclear whether people who called themselves Buddhists did so because they practice yoga or meditation, for instance, or claim affiliation with a Buddhist institution.

The report does not project membership figures for religious groups, in part because the survey is not as authoritative as a census and didn’t count children, Lugo said. The U.S. Census does not ask questions on religion.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/25/religion.survey.ap/index.html

Comments (0)

Questions and reasons for leaving

Filed under: Christianity, Jehovahs Witnesses, Organization — Admin Staff @ 12:07 pm

INTRODUCTION

—————————————————————————

1) To let you know that you are not alone

2) To help you feel better about leaving

3) To help you get on with your life

“What bothered you most when you were leaving Jehovah’s

Witnesses?”

————-

Social Themes

————-

“At school, I had seen kids ’sent to Coventry’ — an english expression

that means that the child is ignored by the rest of the class. It’s

childish and hurtful. When a disfellowshipped Witness started attending

our congregation and the same happened to him, under the direction of

adults, then I could not accept that this was right.”

“I noticed a ubiquitous self-complacency that caused a lack of willingness

to help distressed people.”

“When I left, I lost my social life and friends.”

“I had nowhere else to go for spiritual association.”

“I was distressed by their habit of shaming those that are disfellowshipped

by not speaking to them.”

“Going to all of the required meetings, field service, elder’s meetings,

and preparation for all of this, created a great deal of stress in my life.

I was trying to plan my life around the Watchtower requirements — and it

was never enough. Providing for my family, personal growth, time with my

family and friends — these things always took second place to the demands

of ‘Jehovah’s Organization’.”

“I didn’t like their thinly veiled propagation of hatred towards others.”

“I had an ever growing spiritual void as a Witness. Usually I was too busy

to notice the spiritual emptiness, but it kept growing. I would try

denying it to myself, and could never talk about it with a trusted friend

in the Kingdom Hall (for indeed, one can never really trust the confidence

of one who is owned by the Watchtower). I was experiencing a spiritual

emergency with no one to offer first aid.”

“We switched congregations because of the very bad spiritual milieu. The

presiding overseer beat his wife and children, but he was a working machine

and did so many good things for the congregation, so no action was taken

against him.”

“I am not satisfied with the excuse that ‘Jehovah will take care of things

in His own time’. This is used to justify unethical, illegal and immoral

practices within the congregation, especially when pioneers, elders or

ministerial servants are involved.”

“I observed a total loss of love and care for each other inside the

Witnesses. For the first time, I can see what unconditional love means.

The loss of this kind of love makes a foundation for slandering, which is

very common in the Witness congregations.”

“I worried about losing my family, since they were all Witnesses. I had to

decide whether to disassociate myself or try to fade away. I worried about

what to do with my life.”

“My self-disassociation had a terrible effect on my family life. I was

disowned by my mom.”

“When I disassociated myself, I wrote directly to the Society, informing

them of my decision, asking never to be contacted again in regards to the

matter. For the next year, I received calls from elders I had never even

met, from various congregations that I had never been a part of — they

asked me if I was ’sure’ and they wanted to give me another chance. I was

harrassed for a year until they finally announced that I had been

disfellowshipped, not that I had disassociated myself.”

“I noticed the ease with which brothers and sisters can turn off their

‘love’ if you dare to question the Society or if you point out what appears

to be hypocrisy within the congregation.”

“The principle of ’submission’ requires Witness sisters to tolerate verbal,

emotional, physical and mental cruelty even from their Witness husbands in

good standing. They are not able to separate from them without being

viewed as the ‘problem’. I know of one couple (now divorced) where the

husband treated the wife like a doormat. He belittled her publicly,

wouldn’t allow her to use the phone, drive their car, or let her have money

unless she detailed what she would be spending it on. When she spoke with

some elders, they recommended that she ‘wait on Jehovah’, ‘persevere in

prayer’ and so on. She had a breakdown, was in hospital (I was her only

visitor) and when she went home, her husband treated her just the same.

She left him, and the elders disfellowshipped her. One told us that she

was ‘immature’ because she abandoned her husband — that she was wrong not

to stay and try to make things better. I disagreed, on the grounds that if

he loved her ‘as he loved himself’ he would treat her accordingly. I said

that nobody — male or female — is scripturally required to put up with

abuse of any sort. Some time after she was disfellowshipped, her husband

was appointed as a ministerial servant.”

“My parents’ continual arguments and the tension in the house did not

reflect what we had been taught about ‘god is love’. The gloom and despair

of the house was smothering. My parents spent more time, and valued

higher, their religion than their family — they rejected me when I showed

signs of ‘falling away’. This situation continued over 20 years later –

it’s only in the last eight years (at my wife’s insistance) that I have had

any contact with my family.”

—————–

Armageddon Themes

—————–

“Even after I left the Witnesses, I was afraid I’d die at Armageddon –

deep down, I was conditioned to believe it would come.”

“I was bothered by the pressure of living under the threat of Armageddon in

1975. I never thought that I would live to be 21 and that psychological

weight almost froze my brain. I realise now that I was severely depressed

and remember standing on my bedroom windowsill on occasion, ready to throw

myself off.”

“I thought I would be destroyed at Armageddon.”

“I couldn’t accept the idea that good people would be destroyed. I knew

a lot of nice people, and if I was given the decision, I never would have

wanted them dead.”

——————

Self-Esteem Themes

——————

“I felt evil and dirty before I left the Witnesses. I continued to feel

that way for years afterwards.”

“After I left, I had low self esteem. Leaving made me feel inferior to

Witnesses.”

“I was constantly distraught over not being able to keep all commandments.”

“It seems that only loyal Witnesses are valuable and worth helping. We are

always compelled to do more field service, more regular meeting attendance,

more personal ’study’ as remedies for every problem.”

“The total lack of love between the people ‘inside’. Spreading of rumours,

talking behind everybodys backs, the whole idea about the elite-thinking.”

“I thought I was sinning against Jehovah by leaving.”

“I never felt ’saved’. I never felt good enough. I never felt like I

had put in enough hours. I distrusted my thoughts and sexual urges.

Frankly, I had grave doubts that I would get through Armageddon. Now that

I’m out of the Witnesses, I see that there was nothing wrong with me. I

was a good person, but I never knew it.”

———————

Organizational Themes

———————

“I was turned off by the judgmentalism. I, and others, also describe this

as black-and-white thinking. The organization divides everything up –

Jehovah’s/Satan’s organization, godly/worldly, theocratic/untheocratic etc.

This allows for no middle ground at all — no balance. In the organzation

‘balance’ meant being fully ‘theocratic’ while moving ahead at the speed of

light (keeping up with that fast-moving chariot God rides in the book of

Ezekiel!). I now believe that this definition of balance is closer to

‘compulsion’. Anyway, the division of everything into these tightly

defined dualities allows Witnesses to find no common ground, no way to

really grasp the mystery of life on earth, no room for the ineffable. This

is a critical flaw of the organization, in my view.”

“Within the Witnesses, initiatives are seldom taken; waiting for

organizational directives is preferred.”

“The double standards. One rule for some — quite another for other members

of the congregation. What was allowed was a question of who you were.”

“I disliked the lies, the hypocrisy, and the changing ‘light’.”

“I didn’t like the hierarchical nature of the organization with its nasty

circuit overseers.”

“I couldn’t tolerate the fact that the organization was controlled by

unbelievably stupid individuals.”

“The meetings were so boring!”

“I got bored with the meetings, and the ’spiritual food’. I was exposed to

the Witnesses from the age of ten, and was baptized at 18. For 20 years

after baptism, I put my heart and soul into the Watchtower faith. I really

believed it, and questioned very little. I pioneered, was a ministerial

servant, bible study servant (thus committee member), elder (presiding

overseer). I don’t see how anyone could have believed it was the ‘truth’

any more than me. Slowly, though, boredom with the meetings started to set

in. Eventually, nearly all of the meetings became a bore. The ’spiritual

food’ became cold leftovers. I faked illness to stay home. I watched a

little TV while home from a meeting, and received more spiritual food from

some of the educational programs than I was getting from ‘Jehovah’s

table’.”

“I disliked the whole disfellowshipping system. The secret ways of the

tribunal. The total lack of religious freedom that forces believing

Witnesses to shun their friends and family. I guess that the fact that my

mother-in-law was disfellowshipped years ago and we should (but couldn’t)

shun her made me see that there was something wrong there.”

“There is a great abuse of power by elders, Circuit Overseers and the

Society in general. The real problem is that things that are done are

attributed to God. They assume that God would not ‘permit’ abuse of power,

so there are no control mechanisms as there are in other organizations.

Nobody checks if the elder tribunals follow the Society’s own laws. Almost

by definition, what is done by someone who has ’scriptual’ positions of

power (Governing Body, Circuit Overseer, elder, husband, father) must be

regarded as having God’s blessing. So they blame the victim. I’ve heard

and confirmed stories about horrible disfellowshippings, abusive husbands,

sexual harassment from elders, sexual assaults from fathers who were

upstanding members of the congregation. These things made me want to blow

up something. It’s not a few bad individuals inside a good organization.

It’s a few good individuals inside an organization gone bad!”

“I gradually came to the realization that the Society had told deliberate

lies. I saw that the Society had misled me because its writers were

intellectually dishonest, either deliberately or by Orwellian doublethink.

Most Witnesses virtually worship the Society, so they are not open to

discussion about these things.”

“When there was an announcement that I had been publicly reproved, there

was no description of my ‘crime’, leaving folks to ponder and gossip about

the nature of my indiscretion. The blanket ‘public reproval’ was used on

people of all sorts, from child molesters to drunks. I was none of those

things.”

Indoctrination Themes

———————

“After leaving, I had no idea how to live, or why I should behave in a

moral fashion. All of the reasons I’d been given (”Jehovah said so”) were

now inoperative, so I had to start from the beginning.”

“I couldn’t stand the ubiquitous double-think, double-speak and double

standards that affect every aspect of the Witness life. I also disliked

the Society’s consistent distortion of their own history to make it fit

present teachings and self-image.”

“I was raised as a Witness, and that taught me everything about how to

live. When I left, it was like having the universe pulled out from

underneath me. When I no longer believed in the Society doctrine, I had to

figure out all of life’s moral issues from scratch. I was a like a

new-born baby. It took me years before I started to get a handle on the

problem.”

“For years after I left the Witnesses, I felt ‘bad’ or ‘evil’. I felt that

I had left because I was weak — that I didn’t measure up. Intellectually,

I couldn’t explain the feeling, because I found plenty of holes in Witness

theology once I widened my research. But the years of conditioning had

affected me. I didn’t realize I had an emotional problem, not an

intellectual one.”

“I was bothered by their insistence on not thinking for yourself or reading

‘unapproved’ materials.”

“One thing in particular was what happened when I refused to place

Watchtowers telling that humans were not using their brains for thinking,

but their hearts.”

—————-

Doctrinal Themes

—————-

“Dates and prophetic failures were a sore point with me. I see the date

compulsion among Witnesses as an outworking of the dark side of

judgmentalism, as if they were saying, ‘Since these dates and time

dispensations have been revealed only to us, this proves how right we are

and how wrong you are.’ After coming to see the degree of absoluteness of

previous Watchtower predictions, such as the 1844/1874/1878/1914 series, I

got to the point where, when going to a meeting, I would become filled with

rage every time I heard a date. My inability to listen to dates — or to

teach anything about dates — was crucial to my stopping meeting

attendance.”

“Watchtower thinking is shallow at best. I now consider myself a

psychological polytheist, a concept psychologist James Hillman coined to

describe the movement toward ‘the many’ from ‘the one thought’. This also

describes a movement toward perspective (as in many perspectives) and

imagination. This psychological perspective is the home of all artists, who

understand the world poetically and musically, movements toward

deliteralization. The Watchtower worldview is literal: dot all the i’s and

cross all the t’s. It is a religion for psychological children who still

want mommy to tell them how to tie their shoes.”

“They lied to us. I had always been so proud that my religion admitted its

mistakes. Yes, we did make mistakes in the past but these have been

corrected, so that means it will get better and better. Right? Wrong. I

did my research and discovered all the misquotes, distortions, past errors,

false prophecies covered over, and direct lies. It simply blew away all

the respect I had for Brooklyn. I looked at them with new eyes, somewhat

cynical, and I lost the blind trust I had in those old men who held the

whole system together. When this trust disappeared, there was nothing left

for me in the Witnesses.”

“I was bothered by the whole blood issue. Yeah, I was one of those who

probably would have died rather than take a transfusion. But when I could

see how dishonest and stupid the whole argumentation was, it got me real

angry. I threw my ‘no blood’ card away, and suddenly I understood why

ex-Witnesses often get bitter. The other lies were bad, but this thing

could have killed me, and it has killed perhaps hundreds of Witnesses.”

——————————————————————————-

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LEAVE?

——————————————————————————-

It is not easy to leave Jehovah’s Witnesses. I asked two people (one an

ex-Witness, and one on the way out) for their observations on the process.

This is what they wrote (edited for clarity)…

——————————

Commentary by Alan Feuerbacher

——————————

Over a period of many years, I found more and more examples where the

Society had changed its position, replacing old understanding with “New

Light”. It bothered me, but what were the alternatives?

If a Witness decides that some doctrine is wrong, what does he do about it?

By far the easiest choice is to ignore the problem and go about his

business as if nothing happened.

I think that most new Witnesses learn very quickly that this is required of

them. Those who cannot conform quickly leave. Those who have been

Witnesses for a long time are experienced in the art of pulling the wool

over their own eyes, so the latest proposal of “new light” is often

welcomed as a fine opportunity to learn something new.

What if a Witness decides to protest? He won’t get very far because the

entire organization is tuned against dissent.

What if a Witness decides to quit? Usually, after many years in the

religion, a Witness is so tied up with social contacts that it’s almost

impossible to leave.

What happens to a Circuit Overseer who sacrificed his career for the

Society? If he happens to land in Bethel, he and his wife have a fairly

easy time; all their material needs are taken care of. If they leave, they

have to worry about earning a living, paying rent, buying food and all

sorts of things Bethelites take for granted. How many people would

willingly put such a comfortable position in jeopardy?

———————–

Commentary from “Robin”

———————–

NOTE: “Robin” did not wish to reveal his name because he is worried that

it would lead to being disfellowshipped. Since he wishes to

retain contact with his family, he is using a pseudonym.

Logic is not quite sufficient to break away. In basic rhetoric, there are

three forms of argumentation: logos, ethos, and pathos. Logos is obviously

logic, facts, and so on. Pathos is the emotional appeal, and ethos is your

“air of authority” — how much your listener trusts you.

Obviously, anyone branded an apostate would lack in ethos to a Witness, but

can be convincing with the other two (logos and pathos). I think what

helped me was that at the same time I learned certain important facts, I

also experienced the dark side of the Society, such as elders who took

advantage of their position. Though elders are bound by rules and some

good principles, there are few checks on their power. A “sheep” must

submit to the elders’ actions; anything else is considered resistance to

Jehovah’s arrangement.

When Witnesses feel that the doctrine is seriously flawed, they fall back

on the idea that this is a “spiritual paradise”, and there is no where else

to go. “I must stay at all costs,” they say, “it means my life”. They may

also say, “I can’t be disloyal” or “Satan is trying to break my integrity”.

These are emotional responses. So strong is their attachment to the

Society that facts alone aren’t likely to help. They are happy with their

friends. They feel righteous in their works. They are in awe of the

smooth operation of the organization. Most of all, because they believe

this is God’s organization, they are sure that all the problems will be

taken care of when God decides to act. They consider it haughty and

presumptuous to want the problems solved before then. They repress their

doubts and look forward to better days.

Even when we look at extremist cults, we see people armed with plenty of

facts, who are intelligent, yet still do crazy things if the emotion is

powerful enough. They use their mental facilities to justify the course

that has been chosen emotionally, to make it sound rational.

I think that is why endless conversations with the same person quickly

reach a point of diminishing returns. That person may have some emotional

attachment that is not stated explicitly, and if that is not dealt with,

inconvenient facts can be forgotten. The Society provides a world-view

that is simple and certain. Such security is difficult to abandon, so

Witnesses usually retreat mentally when it is threatened by facts. Unless

the person has a deep desire for truth, or a great respect for reason, the

emotional hook must be removed before a Witness can make the frightening

decision to break free from the dictates of men.

—————————————————————————

WHAT IS A HIGH CONTROL GROUP?

—————————————————————————

The word “cult” has often been used to describe Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Unfortunately, the word is overused. Many people use it to describe any

religion they don’t like, or which they find a little strange.

When I discuss groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I prefer to use the

term “high control group” (HCG), instead of “cult”. These groups are

characterized by the methods they use to instill ideology and maintain

obedience.

These techniques are well documented. They apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses

and countless other HCG’s. Here are some of the better known methods…

- Simplistic Thinking: Issues are expressed as polar opposites, with

no gray areas. Things are black or white, us or them, good or bad.

- Time Pressure: You are given so much to do that you never have time

to stand back and think objectively about what you are being taught.

- Peer Pressure: Your conformity is attained by exploiting your natural

need to belong.

- Isolation: You are separated from society, friends or family, either

physically or psychologically. You are led to believe that you made the

choice yourself, to avoid “bad influence”.

- Insulation: Facts at odds with what you are taught are explained away

by saying that they are lies created to mislead you. You are taught that

people outside the group conspire to ensnare you. If you continue to be

concerned, you are referred to the group’s reference material rather than

outside sources.

- Demonization: Groups or entities are identified (e.g. “Evil Slave

Class”, Satan, Christendom) as an object example of the evil outside the

group. Some of these groups or entities might not actually exist.

- Special Status: You are told that you belong to a group of chosen ones

with a special mission.

- Elevation of Persecution: Any negative actions taken against the group

are taken as proof that the outside world is trying to destroy it.

- Guilt: You are made to question your worthiness, and your past sins are

exaggerated. You are consistently led to believe that you are not “doing

enough”.

- Fear: Your loyalty and obedience are maintained through warnings of

serious physical or spiritual repercussions if you do not conform.

- Authority: You are discouraged from expressing doubt or questioning the

words of the “higher authority” (a charismatic leader, elders, or the

organization as a whole).

- Apocalyptics: You are taught that everything will work out well because

a magical solution is coming. The solution usually involves the

destruction or subjugation of those outside the group.

- Scrupulosity: You are taught explicit rules concerning conduct,

appearance, and behaviour. Spontaneity is discouraged.

- Uncompromising Discipline: Disagreement is dealt with harshly, which

discourages open discussion of alternative views.

- Conditioning: You are taught to react instantly to situations with

approved responses, rather than acting thoughtfully. For example, you are

taught to answer questions instantly by quoting from approved sources

rather than thinking about the question.

- Thought-Stopping: You are discouraged from thinking along lines that are

not in accord with what you are supposed to believe. Eventually, this

becomes a habit, and you lose your ability to think critically.

- Subjugation: You are taught that the group’s goals outweigh your needs,

and that your personal problems are mere weaknesses which can be ignored

if you are strong enough.

Your best defense against these techniques is knowledge. Once you are

aware what is being done, you can start to resist. Eventually, though, you

may find it necessary to distance yourself from the group, because your

doubts will become evident, and the group will react accordingly.

In the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, often the best approach is to

slowly withdraw. This may save your friends and family from the pain of

seeing you disfellowshipped — and being told they can not speak to you.

Different congregations have different levels of tolerance. Some

congregations will disfellowship you at the first sign of doubt. So before

you withdraw, take care to set up some outside contacts, so you don’t find

yourself alone if you are ejected from the group.

—————————————————————————

ENIGMAS

—————————————————————————

If you are thinking about leaving the Society, you are already questioning

the doctrines.

—————————————————————————

Video of Brooklyn HQ

Filed under: Christianity, Commercial Holdings, Jehovahs Witnesses — Admin Staff @ 10:04 am

HeadQuarters in New York Video

Comments (0)

Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine

Filed under: Christianity, Tithing — Admin Staff @ 9:57 am

March 4, 2007 Updated

An Essay by Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D.

www.shouldthechurchteachtithing.com

Introduction:

The following essay is a summary of my book, Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine. The book itself is a greatly expanded version of my Ph. D. thesis. I encourage Bible educators to be bold, to open up their seminary level research and to promote studies on this subject in the Masters, Doctorate and Ph. D. levels. This doctrine is simply too important to ignore.

In many churches today the doctrine of tithing has reached the level of a modern scandal. While on the one hand, most seminary-level textbooks on systematic theology and hermeneutics by highly educated theologians omit tithing, on the other hand, the practice is quickly becoming a requirement for church membership in the very denominations which insist on solid Bible-based doctrines. There is also increasing evidence that lay persons who question the legitimacy of New Covenant tithing are usually criticized and ignored as being troublemakers or weak Christians. Sincere Christian leaders should always be open and available to discuss God’s Word. Failure to do suggests doubt and insecurity. More “holy boldness” is needed.

Modern Tithing is Based on Many False Assumptions

One denomination’s statement on stewardship is typical of what many others teach about tithing. It says that “tithing is the minimum biblical standard and the beginning point which God has established that must not be replaced or compromised by any other standard.” It adds that the tithe is from gross income which is due to the church before taxes.

The following points of this essay contrast the false teachings used to support tithing with what God’s Word actually says.

Point #1: N. T. Giving Principles in Second Corinthians 8 and 9 are Superior to Tithing.

The false teaching is that tithing is a divine mandatory expectation which always must precede free-will giving.

Free-will giving existed before tithing. The following New Covenant free-will principles are found in Second Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9: (1) Giving is a “grace.” These chapters use the Greek word for “grace” eight times in reference to helping poor saints. (2) Give yourself to God first (8:5). (3) Give yourself to knowing God’s will (8:5). (4) Give in response to Christ’s gift (8:9; 9:15). (5) Give out of a sincere desire (8:8, 10, 12; 9:7). (6) Do not give because of any commandment (8:8, 10; 9:7). (7) Give beyond your ability (8:3, 11, 12). ( Give to produce equality. This means that those who have more should give more in order to make up for the inability of those who cannot afford to give as much (8:12-14). (9) Give joyfully (8:2). (10) Give because you are growing spiritually (8:3, 4, 7). (11) Give because you want to continue growing spiritually (9:8, 10, 11). (12) Give because you are hearing the gospel preached (9:13).

Point #2: In God’s Word the Tithe is Always Only Food!

The false teaching is that biblical tithes include ALL sources of income.

Use God’s Word to define “tithe.” Do not use a secular dictionary! Open a complete Bible concordance and you will discover that the definition used by tithe-advocates is wrong. In God’s Word “tithe” does not stand alone. Although money existed before tithing, the original source of God’s “tithe” was never money. It was the “tithe of food.” This is very important: True biblical tithes were always only food from the farms and herds of only Israelites who only lived inside God’s Holy Land, the national boundary of Israel. The increase was gathered from what God produced and not from man’s craft or ability.

There are 15 verses from 11 chapters and 8 books from Leviticus 27 to Luke 11 which describe the contents of the tithe. And the contents never (again), never included money, silver, gold or anything other than food from inside Israel! Yet the incorrect definition of “tithe” is the greatest error being preached about tithing today! (See Lev. 27:30, 32; Numb. 18:27, 28; Deut. 12:17; 14:22, 23; 26:12; 2 Chron. 31:5, 6; Neh. 10:37; 13:5; Mal. 3:10; Matt. 23:23; Luke 11: 42).

Point #3: Money Was an Essential Non-Tithed Item

The false assumption is that food barter usually replaced money.

One argument to support non-food tithing is that money was not universally available and barter from food must have been used for most transactions. This argument is not biblical. Genesis alone contains “money” in 32 texts and the word occurs 44 times before the tithe is first mentioned in Leviticus 27. The word shekel also appears often from Genesis to Deuteronomy.

In fact many centuries before Israel entered Canaan and began tithing food from God’s Holy Land money was an essential everyday item. For example money in the form of silver shekels paid for slaves (Gen 17:12+); land (Gen 23:9+); freedom (Ex 23:11); court fines (Ex 21 all; 22 all); sanctuary dues (Ex 30:12+); vows (Lev 27:3-7); poll taxes (Num 3:47+), alcoholic drinks (Deu 14:26) and marriage dowries (Deu 22:29).

According to Genesis 47:15-17 food was used for barter only after money had been spent. Banking and usury laws exist in God’s Word in Leviticus even before tithing. Therefore the argument that money was not prevalent enough for everyday use is false. Yet the tithe contents never include money from non-food products and trades.

Point #4: Abraham’s Tithe to Melchizedek Reflected Pagan Tradition.

The false teaching is that Abraham freely gave tithes because it was God’s will.

For the following reasons, Genesis 14:20 cannot be used as an example for Christians to tithe. (1) The Bible does not say that Abraham “freely” gave this tithe. (2) Abraham’s gift was NOT a holy tithe from God’s holy land gathered by God’s holy people under God’s holy Old Covenant. (3) Abraham’s tithe was only from pagan spoils of war and was required in many nations. (4) In Numbers 31, God only required 1% of spoils of war. (5) Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek was a one-time recorded event. (6) Abraham’s tithe was not from his own personal property. (7) Abraham kept nothing for himself; he gave everything back. ( Abraham’s tithe is not quoted anywhere in the Bible to endorse tithing to Israel or to the church. (9) Genesis 14, verse 21, is the key text. Since most commentaries explain verse 21 as an example of pagan Arab tradition, it is contradictory to explain the 90% of verse 21 as pagan, while insisting that the 10% of verse 20 was God’s will. (10) If Abraham is an example for Christians to give 10% to God, then he should also be an example for Christians to give the other 90% to Satan, or to the king of Sodom! (11) As priests themselves, neither Abraham nor Jacob had a Levitical priesthood to support; they probably left food for the poor at their altars.

Point #5: Tithing Was Not a Minimum Required from All Old Covenant Israelites

The false teaching is that everybody was to begin their giving level at ten per cent.

Only those Israelites who earned a livelihood from farming and herding inside Israel were required to tithe under the Mosaic Law. Their increase came from God’s hand. Those whose increase came from their own crafts and skills were not required to tithe products and money. The poor and needy who did not tithe and received from the tithe gave freewill offerings.