Expert: Andrew - 8/4/2008

Question
I read your back and forth with this witness and he mentioned the dates were speculation ,you said they were predictions from the watchtower that failed.Verification and validation share the same meaning and even in common usage among technical personnel; however, here we are concerned with attaching to them specific technical definitions that are associated with different aspects.
Prediction is a statement in advance of an event and speculation is a conclusion or an opinion reached by conjecture with inconclusive evidence. The witness posted several statements that the watchtower were not inspired like the prophets of old were which was a shock to me,so much so that I asked a witness about this and she said that was not true,I came to the realization that this was true by looking it up on her watchtower bound volumes from the date and page number,needless to say we both were speechless. My question is how you view the two in light of the watchtower making changes in doctrinal points not claiming to be inspired by God but yet his channel . I have been inactive for a number of years because of this very issue of constant updates and light supposedly getting brighter. In view of this latest revelation it would seem to at least explain the many changes in recent years and at best some like myself take a second look at the society.


I enjoyed the exchange between you two and the opposing views, you as usual made good points and he did also,I think in the final analysis we were the winners just reading this information and learning more in two days than several years of constant meetings. Are the two of you still in the process of this discussion I didn't see anything in the public forum I look forward with much anticipation.


Thank you for your time

Answer
Dear Laura,

> The witness posted several statements that the
> watchtower were not inspired like the prophets of
> old were which was a shock to me

Yes, the Witnesses, when pressed on this matter, have always maintained in straightforward "official" answers as far as I know that they do not represent themselves to be inspired as the prophets of old are held to be. So it was no surprise to me when my debating opponent repeated this assertion.

> so much so that I asked a witness about this and
> she said that was not true

Interesting how many Witnesses themselves believe that the Watchtower Society represents itself as inspired of God. I am having an extensive offline discussion with another person who had reached this same view as your Witness acquaintance. It is no coincidence, however. Those Witnesses who hold the Watchtower Society as infallible are believing exactly as the Society has taught them to believe through implication, innuendo, and other indirect means. However, even such indirect messages, when repeated hundreds and hundreds of times, produce a belief.

> I came to the realization that this was true by
> looking it up on her watchtower bound volumes from
> the date and page number, needless to say we both
> were speechless.

Yes, I can see why. How can an organization that admits it is not inspired claim to have such extensive authority over private lives? How can an organization which never received any direct appointment by God claim that it has been appointed by God? Perhaps most Witnesses assume that there is some sort of unseen communication, some sort of answer to prayers received by the top level Witness leaders as they make decisions thought to represent God's will. But there is no such unseen communication, there is no inspiration, there is no appointment. The Watchtower Society is just an interesting bible research association...

BUT OMINOUSLY, IT IS ONE THAT CLAIMS TO WIELD THE AUTHORITY OF GOD HIMSELF OVER PRIVATE LIVES.

> My question is how you view the two in light of the
> watchtower making changes in doctrinal points not
> claiming to be inspired by God but yet his channel.

The Watchtower Society is guilty of saying one thing out of one corner of it's mouth, and something entirely different out of another corner. They want the public to hear the message "we are merely fallible men" in order to boost their credibility with the public. They want rank-and-file Witnesses to hear the message "do what we say because God speaks only through us" because this gives the Society absolute power over them.

This is what I call perception management. The Watchtower Society is masterful at managing the perceptions of each group of people, and influencing them to believe exactly what the Society wants them to believe. The truth is unified, straightforward, and usually simple. What the Watchtower Society dispenses is convoluted, manipulative, and requires a forked tongue.

I do not exaggerate when I say the Witnesses are a mind control cult, and their leadership exercises an orchestrated system of deception.

> I have been inactive for a number of years because of
> this very issue of constant updates and light supposedly
> getting brighter. In view of this latest revelation it
> would seem to at least explain the many changes in recent
> years and at best some like myself take a second look at
> the society.

How can anyone claim to have a complete view of any issue without considering it from all sides? Witnesses who obey the Society's command not to read literature which would give them a different viewpoint are willingly uninformed (not protecting themselves from "dangerous" dissidents). There is no such thing as dangerous information, unless you're protecting an idealogical house of cards.

The Society prohibits rank and file Witnesses from reading unfavorable literature and prohibits them from speaking to former Witnesses, so that you will never find out the other side of the story. The Society seeks to manage perceptions and communications of rank and file Witnesses for the very same reason the totalitarian government in Orwell's book "1984" does so over it's citizens: ABSOLUTE CONTROL.

They have a vast array of mental devices to keep minds captive, including stereotypes and labels to make "independent thinking" appear vile and free/honest investigation appear disloyal. Is it so?

Cannot the "truth" withstand the light of day? It can. But Watchtower teachings cannot, because they are not true.

> I enjoyed the exchange between you two and the opposing
> views, you as usual made good points and he did also, I
> think in the final analysis we were the winners just reading
> this information and learning more in two days than several
> years of constant meetings. Are the two of you still in the
> process of this discussion I didn't see anything in the public
> forum I look forward with much anticipation.

I'm glad you found it meaningful, and I hope it helps you begin an active recovery from your Witness experience. Most former Witnesses never recover at all without sustained effort. Time is not enough.

No, the Witness proponent with which I engaged recently and I are no longer discussing the matter. I refused to do so, and he sent one final insult, as expected. I decided to let him have the last word in that respect.

He also said in his final message that he was from Brooklyn, New York. I wonder whether he holds a position at Watchtower headquarters.

Please learn for yourself how cult mind control works, so that you can compare your own past experience with the specific cult tactics you will learn about. This way you will know for yourself whether the Watchtower Society used deceptive tactics against you, and you will never have to take anyone's word for it, because you yourself have experienced it.

The book "Releasing the Bonds" by Steven Hassan, and later, the book "Crisis of Conscience" by Raymond Franz, are an excellent way to begin your recovery process. It takes time and effort, but YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Love & blessings,
AndrewXJW