Posted by Dublover [LovesDubs] on November 05, 1999 at 07:08:43 {6xiCHW3gJ20hi4VK0MIQSQBW4HHNMw}:
The following is forwarded from PromBeth: (and no, PB hubby isnt listening yet...but his MOTHER did! One step at a time :) The beginning of this is the Nov KM..continue reading.
The Future; Paranoia; GB-ite; Stocks
"Jehovah's Witnesses .. like to be informed about anything outstanding ..
such as a crisis or a natural disaster .. In communications a recent
phenomenon that is taking the world by storm is the Internet.. Although
the telephone is very useful, caution is needed in the way it is employed,
as it can be a tool for improper association or activities .. Television
and radio .. programming is morally corrupt, and attention to it is a
waste of time. Wisdom dictates that we be very selective in the use of
television and radio.. The indiscriminate use of the Internet, however,
can expose a person to great spiritual danger and moral dangers. How is
this so?.. Much has been stated in our publications about the obvious
spiritual dangers encountered on the Internet. Numerous Web Sites present
violent and pornographic material that is entirely unsuitable for
Christians. (Ps 119: 37) In addition to these dangers, there is a more
insidious danger that Jehovah's Witnesses in particular need to be on
guard against. What is this danger? Would you invite a stranger into your
home without first finding out who he is? What if there was no way to find
out? .. Electronic mail can be sent to and received from people you do not
know. The same is true when you converse electronically in a forum or in a
chat room. Participants may at times claim to be Jehovah's Witnesses, but
often they are not. Someone may claim to a youth when he or she is not. Or
a person may even falsely claim to be of a certain gender.. Information
passed on to you may come in the form of experiences or comments about our
beliefs. This information is passed on to others who, in turn pass it on
to still others. The information is generally not verifiable and may be
untrue. The comments may be a cover for spreading apostate reasoning. (2
Thess 2: 1-3). With this danger in mind, if you use the Internet, ask
yourself: 'What do I use it for? Is there a possibility that I could be
harmed spiritually by how I am using it? Could I be contributing to the
spiritual injury of others?.. Consider, for example, some Internet sites
set up by individuals who claim to be Jehovah's Witnesses. They invite you
to visit their web sites to read experiences posted by others who claim to
be Witnesses. You are encouraged to share you thoughts and views about the
Society's literature.. But can you tell for certain that these contacts
have not been planted by apostates? Having association via the Internet
may not be consistent with the recommendation found at Eph 5: 15-17. The
apostle Paul wrote: 'Keep strict watch that how YOU walk is not as unwise
but as wise [persons], buying out the opportune time for yourselves,
because the days are wicked. On this account cease becoming unreasonable,
but go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is.' The Christian
congregation is the theocratic means through which we are fed spiritually
by 'the faithful and discreet slave' (Matt 24: 45-47) Within God's
organization, we find direction and protection to keep us separate from
the world as well as motivation to keep busy in the work of the Lord..
Congregation members are protected by the Scriptural provision for
disfellowshipping those who sin unrepentantly or who promote apostate
thinking. (1 Cor 5: 9-13; Titus 3: 10,11) Can we expect to find these same
loving arrangements when associating with others via the Internet? It has
become apparent that the opposite is true. Some Web sites are clearly
vehicles for apostate propaganda.. Jehovah wants to to exercise
discernment. Why? Because he knows that it will safeguard you from various
dangers. Pr 2: 10-19 opens by saying: 'When wisdom enters into your heart
and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, thinking ability
itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you
from what? From such things as 'the bad way' those leaving upright paths,
and people who are immoral and devious in their general course.' When we
go to the Kingdom Hall, there is no question that we are with our
brothers. We know them.. Web sites that encourage on-line association
cannot be depended on to provide this.. Sadly, some who were once our
brothers and sisters have had to be disfellowshipped because of
association that started be meeting worldly individuals in chat rooms on
the Internet and eventually led to immorality.. individuals have disowned
the truth because of believing information provided by apostates. (1 Tim
4: 1,2;) Given these very serious dangers, does it not seem reasonable to
be cautious about becoming involved in chat sessions on the Internet?..
Noticeably, there have been a number of individuals who have created Web
sites ostensibly to preach the good news. Many of these sites are
sponsored by indiscreet brothers. Other sites may be sponsored by
apostates who wish to lure unsuspecting ones. (2 John 9-11). Commenting on
whether there is a need for our brothers to creates such Web sites, 'Our
Kingdom Ministry' November 1997, page 3, stated: 'There is no need for any
individual to prepare Internet pages about Jehovah's Witnesses, our
activities, or our beliefs. Our official site (www.watchtower.org)
presents accurate information for any who want it'.. Some have felt they
are rendering a service to the brothers by posting researched information
in connection with various theocratic activities.. Are such really
helpful? The publications provided by Jehovah's organization stimulate our
minds with up-building thoughts and train us 'to distinguish both right
and wrong' (Heb 5: 14) Can we say that this is achieved if others do our
research for us?.. Time spent in .. meeting attendance, and field ministry
far outweighs time spent browsing the Internet, expecting to gain
benefits.. How happy we are that the 'Yearbook' the Watchtower' and Awake!
are filled with verifiable experiences that encourage us and motivate us
to keep walking in 'the way'! (Isa 30: 20,21).. often-frivolous messages
are not the kind of healthful words that Paul had in mind when he wrote to
Timothy, saying: 'Keep holding 'the pattern of healthful words' that you
heard from me with the faith and love that are in connection with Christ
Jesus' (2 Tim 1: 13).. We should make every effort to devote all our
available time and energy to support this vindication of Jehovah's
Sovereignty. Since we are deep in the time of the end of this system of
things, this is not time to let our guard down. The Bible warns us 'Keep
YOUR senses, be watchful. YOUR adversary, the Devil, walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking to devour (someone)'. (1 Pet 5: 8) It further
states: 'Put on the complete suit of armor from God that YOU may be able
to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil' (Eph 6 11).. the
Internet can be a means by which Satan overreaches those who are seduced
by its power.. keep us and our families from becoming distracted by all
the world has to offer, including what is available on the Internet. It is
imperative that we stay close to our brothers in the congregation and use
the remaining time wisely, thus making ourselves available for the
advancing Kingdom interests. As this system nears its finish.." {Our
Kingdom Ministry Nov 1999}
COMMENTARY BY PROMINENT BETHELITE (FROM VERSION 8 OF "THE LIST", WHICH CAN
BE EXPECTED IN ABOUT ONE MONTH'S TIME - WILL BE OVER 1 MEGABYTE IN SIZE!)
Paranoia, and terror.. LOL!
"Control of information" is essential to a cult of disinformation and lies
such as the WTBTS.
And the excuse used that the Internet is undesirable as it contains
shortcuts to make less research necessary (which is bad) is hypocrisy of
the first water - the WTBTS had previously written "in Jehovah's
organization it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in
research, for there are brothers in the organization who are assigned to
do that very thing" {WT Jun 1 1967 338}!
Caught yet again in their own web of contradictions, deceit, confusion and
absurdities...
Which reminds me.. some person has suggested I should answer the question
re the piano put to the (alas, deceitful) "Governing Body Member" on the
H2O board. Well, (s)he will not be able to do this, which is why I did
answer it - re-read my (only) post to H2O (relayed by "Yo Tallyman") more
carefully. :-)
Also, my statement that the WTBTS does *NOT* invest in the stockmarket (it
uses Treasury bonds instead) has been questioned. I repeat, it does *NOT*
invest in the stockmarket (so GB Member is *WRONG* to claim otherwise).
It is true that I was never high enough to know "everything" (the Org is
too big anyway) but this is an area about which I do know a bit. (Just
consider the scandal if it could be shown that the WTBTS had done so!!).
When the WTBTS receives stocks (say by way of legacy) it divests itself of
these virtually immediately (unquoted, unsellable shares are excepted -
but we are talking about the STOCKMARKET i.e. QUOTED EQUITIES).
Since it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to prove a NEGATIVE, then, here is the
challenge for those who contend the WTBTS does invest in the stockmarket.
Name one - just ONE - corporation quoted on a recognized exchange or
bourse in which the WTBTS has, directly or via some investment vehicle or
trust (in which case that should be named too), EVER invested. Such
information (re ownership) for QUOTED EQUITIES is in the public domain
throughout the civilized world, and can be easily checked - in some cases,
on the net.
I suggest such information will *NOT* be forthcoming. I *KNOW* I am right.
Those arguing against me should also familiarize themselves with IRS
requirements for registered charities... ;-)
Again, "GB Member" is.. not what (s)he claims to be. Which is sad, as I
sense (s)he has good intentions. My own bona fides have been conclusively
established here in arj-w (via Ray Franz, among others), but are not an
issue.
From time to time I will warn or give notice of new things (I warned about
the Internet article in the November issue back in May).
In order to escape from the fiscal net being woven against the greedy
Jehovah's Witnesses by the tax authorities in a number of states (who
realize that "it" is just an evil publishing empire, and is about as
"religious" as a pus-filled boil), plans are now being discussed (at the
behest of the highest unanointed one in the WTBTS) as to how to use the
internet and web to avoid or evade tax globally. These talks are in their
early stages - but are beyond the exploratory. I will keep you posted.
The thought of **NOT** leaving a paper copy behind (unless people chose to
print everything) is doubtless one of the attractions that will not be
discussed (but is implicit) it makes revisionism so much easier. What is
holding things back now is that the Society wishes to minimize exposure to
the web, for obvious reasons. Talks began in August this year with several
software consultants (I will reveal names when I have them) to adapt
Internet Explorer/Outlook Express (a la Net Nanny) to a special JW version
(available to JWs) that used contextually-based word-matching to replace
any attempted access (usually via hyperlink) to a "worldly" (i.e.
opposer's) site with one to the relevant part of the proposed Watchtower
"mega-site". Email filtering too - any email containing
trigger-words/phrases that was *not* from an approved source would be
shredded. These features would not be switchable. Without this version
of IE/OE access to member's areas on the mega-site would not be possible -
which will compel many to use it. And even for the very technically
literate, running two separate browsers will be so full of problems - they
won't.
The WTBTS itself and the Cult of Jehovah's Witnesses are a disgraceful
sham and a fraud from start to finish.
Love
Prominent Bethelite.
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THE LIST OF AMAZING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES' CLAIMS, BELIEFS & PREDICTIONS
http://www.intrex.net/tallyman/the_list.html
http://members.xoom.com/Gator999
http://www.3dom.freeserve.co.uk/main.htm
http://www1.tip.nl/~t661020/wtcitaten/part1.htm