WATCHTOWER'S BEGGING JWs TO NOT BE LEARNING
FROM THE INTERNET
The Governing Body men ruling over Jehovah's
Witnesses clearly fear the power of the internet to inform and accelerate their decline. Their official Watchtower
magazine of August 1, 1993, p17 says:
"connecting a computer to an electronic bulletin board
can open the way to serious spiritual dangers. Just as an unscrupulous individual can place on a bulletin board a virus-a
program designed to corrupt and destroy computer files-apostates, clergymen, and persons seeking to corrupt others morally
or otherwise can freely place their poisonous ideas on bulletin boards. Unless a bulletin board, even one labeled "JW
Only," is properly supervised, with its use being limited to those who are mature, faithful servants of Jehovah, it could
expose Christian users to "bad associations." (1 Cor. 15:33)
"The Society has received reports
that such so-called private networks have been used not only to speculate regarding spiritual matters but also to give bad
advice, spread gossip and false information, plant negative ideas, raise questions and doubts that subvert the faith of some,
and disseminate private interpretations of Scripture. On the surface, some information may appear to be Interesting and informative,
and yet it may be laced with poisonous elements. Christians look to "the faithful and discreet slave" for timely
spiritual food and for clarifications." (Watchtower, August 1, 1993, p17)
A long article in the November 1999 “Our Kingdom Ministry”
titled “Use Of The Internet – Be Alert To The Dangers” says that Watchtower is afraid of the internet because
former Jehovah’s Witnesses can use it to help more people quit the Watchtower Society, and it uses scriptures about
Satan to scare gullible Jehovah’s Witnesses from internet use.
The earlier "Our Kingdom Ministry" of November 1997, of page
3, says "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"
It would seem that Watchtower officials do not consider that telling people they must
not use the internet encourages them to do the opposite. And why shouldn’t and wouldn’t they
since Watchtower officials themselves use the internet! It’s no more “Satanic” than using
the telephone. Really, just who they think they are trying to fool...
In addition to the items above, District, Circuit and local Watchtower-appointed
Elders may voice warnings even stronger. Too, if they find that an active is going on the internet to dissident sites,
they may even disfellowship the person, saying s/he clearly evidences doubt in the "Faithful and Discreet Slave"
which they say is the Watchtower Society instead of Christ himself.
Some additional items of interest are at: http://www.bible.ca/Jw-internet.htm#km
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