pix of the wreath

@NAIRALAND,
What's wrong why are you guys not posting the picture of the templar's badge? Abi Seun don join illuminati?

the templers badge

The Wreath that appears around
the crown also appears in the
symbol of the United Nations and
the Star Trek logo, both heavily
influenced by Freemasons.

.

The term Watchtower and Watch
Tower Society, which identify the
organisation behind Jehovah's
Witnesses and their magazine,
are a namesake from the
Adventist Movement.
"The expression ‘Watch Tower’ is
not unique to Russell’s writings
or to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
George Storrs published a book
in the 1850’s called The Watch
Tower: Or, Man in Death; and the
Hope for a Future Life. The name
was also incorporated in the title
of various religious periodicals."
Thus, even the Watch Tower
name came from sources
connected with the Adventists."
Jehovah's Witnesses -
Proclaimers of God's Kingdom
p.48
Knights Templar
"For years, Bible Students wore a
cross and crown as a badge of
identification, and this symbol
was on the front cover of the
"Watch Tower" from 1891 to
1931. But in 1928 it was
emphasized that not a decorative
symbol but one's activity as a
witness showed he was a
Christian. In 1936 it was pointed
out that the evidence indicates
that Christ died on a stake, not a
two-beamed cross." Jehovah's
Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's
Kingdom p.200
It is interesting for Proclaimers to
mention that the Bible Students
wore a cross and crown. What it
fails to mention in this brief
reference is what this symbol
represented. Wearing a cross is
understandable, but why a 'Cross
and Crown', and what is the
meaning of it? The cross and
crown is actually referred to as
the Knights Templar, in honour
of the Knights that are said to
have devoted their lives to
guarding the Holy Grail. This is a
symbol that has been
synonymous with secret
societies, such as the Illuminati
and is also used by Freemasons
and Christian Scientists.

The term Watchtower and Watch
Tower Society, which identify the
organisation behind Jehovah's
Witnesses and their magazine,
are a namesake from the
Adventist Movement.
"The expression ‘Watch Tower’ is
not unique to Russell’s writings
or to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
George Storrs published a book
in the 1850’s called The Watch
Tower: Or, Man in Death; and the
Hope for a Future Life. The name
was also incorporated in the title
of various religious periodicals."
Thus, even the Watch Tower
name came from sources
connected with the Adventists."
Jehovah's Witnesses -
Proclaimers of God's Kingdom
p.48
Knights Templar
"For years, Bible Students wore a
cross and crown as a badge of
identification, and this symbol
was on the front cover of the
"Watch Tower" from 1891 to
1931. But in 1928 it was
emphasized that not a decorative
symbol but one's activity as a
witness showed he was a
Christian. In 1936 it was pointed
out that the evidence indicates
that Christ died on a stake, not a
two-beamed cross." Jehovah's
Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's
Kingdom p.200
It is interesting for Proclaimers to
mention that the Bible Students
wore a cross and crown. What it
fails to mention in this brief
reference is what this symbol
represented. Wearing a cross is
understandable, but why a 'Cross
and Crown', and what is the
meaning of it? The cross and
crown is actually referred to as
the Knights Templar, in honour
of the Knights that are said to
have devoted their lives to
guarding the Holy Grail. This is a
symbol that has been
synonymous with secret
societies, such as the Illuminati
and is also used by Freemasons
and Christian Scientists.

If you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code
by Dan Brown and are interested
in the development of modern
religion you will be intrigued by
this section. A number of the
symbols and teachings discussed
by Brown as having origins with
the Knights Templar, Freemasons
and Illuminati, and tracing back
to the Egyptians, have been used
by Mormons, Christian Science
and Russell's Watch Tower Bible
Students.
The terms Watch Tower, Golden
Age, Jehovah, New World Order,
all-seeing-eye, winged sun disk,
two columns, pyramids and
Russell's strong Zionist stance
are part of Freemasonry. A great
deal of discussion has centred on
whether Russell, the founder of
the Watch Tower Society, had
connections with Freemasons,
due to the many Masonic
symbols introduced under his
leadership. The evidence is not
conclusive that Russell adopted
these beliefs from Freemasons
and it is probable that he took
these beliefs and symbols from
Second Adventists.
The purpose for what follows is
to show that many of the beliefs
and symbols Russell included in
the Watchtower publications are
what the religion now claim to
be of pagan and even occult
background. Russell's Adventist
and Masonic related beliefs help
explain the source of some of his
teachings and the development
of his religion. It raises the
question that if this is truly the
only religion directed by Jehovah,
why God allowed, or even
directed, for symbols of this kind
to identify his people, even well
after the claimed cleansing of his
spiritual temple in 1919.

@EVERYBODY
i have bad news for all the haters in the house, am still alive and kicking. Unfortunately "Jehovah" was not smart enough to strike me dead.

To be honest with you, i don't really see anything wrong in it

.

In 2010, the new Elders manual
outlined that taking blood can
lead to being disassociated.
"Willingly and unrepentantIy
taking blood.
If someone willingly takes blood,
perhaps because of being under
extreme pressure, the committee
should obtain the facts and
determine the individual's
attitude. If he is repentant, the
committee would provide
spiritual assistance in the spirit
of Galatians 6:1 and Jude 22,23.
Since he is spiritually weak, he
would not qualify for special
privileges for a period of time,
and it may be necessary to
remove certain basic privileges.
Depending on the circumstances,
the committee may also need to
arrange for an announcement to
the congregation: "The elders
have handled a matter having to
do with [name of person]. You
will be glad to know that spiritual
shepherds are endeavoring to
render assistance." On the other
hand, if the eIders on the
committee determine that he is
unrepentant, they should
announce his disassociation."
Shepherd the Flock of God
pp.111,112
The difference between being
disfellowshipped and
disassociated means that
Witnesses have actually been
disadvantaged by this change.
Whereas a committee is formed
for disfellowshipping where the
subject can plead and then
appeal their case, with
disassociation the subject is
considered to have by their
actions chosen to be removed
from the congregation and
hence have no right of appeal to
the decision. Despite the subtle
difference in procedure, it is
important to recognise that both
result in shunning, as shown in
the following copy from the
Elders manual.

Monday 15 October 2001
01.28 BST
'Hypocrite' Jehovah's
Witnesses abandon secret link
with UN
Stephen Bates, religious
affairs correspondent
The Jehovah's Witnesses have
hurriedly disaffiliated from the
United Nations within days of
a Guardian story in which
members accused the sect of
hypocrisy for supporting an
organisation it has repeatedly
denounced privately.
After the article last Monday,
the organisation's New York
based hierarchy pre-empted a
UN inquiry by agreeing to
dissociate the Witnesses from
an organisation which it holds
to be the scarlet beast named
in the Book of Revelation.
The Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society of New York, as
the sect is formally known,
has 6m members worldwide
and 130,000 in Britain. It had
been secretly affiliated to the
UN as a non-governmental
organisation for 10 years.
Recognised organisations are
supposed to demonstrate that
they share the UN's objectives,
but Witnesses are instead told
by elders to regard it as "a
disgusting thing in the sight
of God and his people" for
allegedly aspiring to world
domination like Babylon the
Great, the beast in Revelation.
The sect does not believe in
participating in government
and initially strove to play
down or deny the evidence of
the UN's website, which lists it
as one of 1,500 affiliated
NGOs.
Those bringing the evidence
to light were accused of
apostacy. Disaffiliated
members become known
informally, like the rest of
humanity, as "bird seed" in
line with biblical prophesy of
the fate of non-believers,
whose corpses will be pecked
bare by crows.
Within hours of the article's
appearance on the Guardian
website on Monday and its
posting on a Jehovah's
Witnesses bulletin board,
more than 14,000 people
across the world had read it.
By yesterday there were 353
official posts and 325
message boards discussing
the article and its revelations,
with Witnesses in the US
demanding to see copies of
the paper.

THE LIGHT GETS BRIGHTER

Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be
the only group to have truth
revealed to them by Jehovah. In
this case, why do they require
ongoing changes in doctrine?
Does truth really change? A key
premise of this site is that
constant changes in doctrine and
failed predictions are a clear
indication that Jehovah does not
direct the Watchtower Society.
For the external observer this is
the logical conclusion, yet for one
of Jehovah's Witnesses it barely
raises a grimace. How can this
be? Because changes and
failures are immediately
dismissed in the mind of a
Jehovah's Witness by the thought
stopping concept:
"The Bible tells us the light would
get brighter".
Addressing the flawed logic of
this claim is required to render
the information contained within
this site effective.
The main justification from the
Watchtower for changed
doctrine is Proverbs 4:18.
““The path of the righteous ones
is like the bright light that is
getting lighter and lighter until
the day is firmly established,”
states Proverbs 4:18. Yes, Jesus’
leadership is progressive, not
stagnant. Another way to
cooperate with Christ’s
“brothers” is to have a positive
attitude toward any refinements
in our understanding of
Scriptural truths as published by
“the faithful and discreet slave.””
Watchtower 2011 May 15 p.27
“Regarding progressive spiritual
enlightenment, Proverbs 4:18
has proved true. It says: “The
path of the righteous ones is like
the bright light that is getting
lighter and lighter until the day is
firmly established.” How thankful
we are for the progressive
spiritual enlightenment we have
experienced!” Watchtower 2001
Jan 15 p.18
“IT IS proof of divine wisdom
that, in keeping with Proverbs
4:18, the revealing of spiritual
truths has taken place gradually
by means of flashes of light. In
the preceding article, we saw
how this text was fulfilled in
apostolic times. If the large body
of Scriptural truth had been
revealed all at once, it would have
been both blinding and
confusing—much like the effect
of coming out of a dark cave into
brilliant sunlight. Moreover,
gradually revealed truth
strengthens the faith of
Christians in a continuous way. It
makes ever brighter their hope
and ever clearer the pathway
they are to tread.” Watchtower
1995 May 15 p.15
The Watchtower interprets the
word "light" in Proverbs 4 as
referring to Watchtower
"doctrinal" understanding, yet
this is simply done as
justification for prior error.
Aspects to consider are:
What is the intended meaning of
Proverbs 4:18?
Is Watchtower doctrine getting
brighter or changing?
Would Jehovah direct a religion
to promote falsehood?
Proverbs 4:18
For thousands of years, people
have understood Proverbs
chapter 4 to be discussing
behaviour, as is easily identifiable
when reading the entire chapter
in context. The verses
surrounding 18 state:
"… the wicked do not sleep
unless they do badness. … The
way of the wicked ones is like
the gloom; they have not known
at what they keep stumbling …
listen to the discipline of a father
… keep my commandments …
safeguard your heart."
Christian writers explain:
"What is clear from Proverbs is
that the reader can choose to
either seek wisdom or live a life
of folly. (Prov
4:14-19)" (thisischurch.com/
christianinfo/proverbs.htm 25
Mar 2005)
Proverbs 4:18 was not intended
to be prophetic indication that
God gradually reveals truth to the
Watchtower Society. Rather than
extract a sentence, when taken
in entirety the context of
Proverbs chapter 4 is a
comparison of behaviour
between good and bad people,
not the dispensing of doctrinal
truth through an organization.
From the outset, it can be seen
that using this Scripture to
discuss doctrinal errors and
changes is without basis.
Brighter or Changed
Proverbs 4 identifies that
righteous people fare better than
the wicked, and not prophetic of
the Watchtower Society.
However, let us entertain the idea
that within this passage there is
the prophetic foreshadowing
that God progressively reveals
truth to his people during the
time of the end. This concept
cannot apply to Watchtower
history, as Watchtower doctrine
has not refined but changed.
Consider whether the following
change is really a matter of
doctrinal light getting lighter:
Imagine being the Witness
parent of a child that needed a
kidney transplant in 1970.
Although the Awake! 1949 Dec
22 had described transplants as
"wonders of modern surgery", in
1967 God revealed that
transplants were wrong in his
eyes. The Watchtower 1967 Nov
15 pp.702-704 stated that being
now "enlightened by God's
word" God's people understood
that transplants are against
divine principles and
cannibalistic. The parents must
sincerely have believed they were
putting Jehovah first when
watching their child die, refusing
them the opportunity of possible
survival through a transplant.
How would that parent feel on
reading the Watchtower 1980
Mar 15 p.31 - "There is no Biblical
command pointedly forbidding
the taking in of other human
tissue. It is a matter for personal
decision. " The enlightenment of
1967 had proved to be dark,
harmful and in need of later
correction, a regressive doctrine
that resulted in the unnecessary
death of members. When a
doctrine changes and then
reverts back to the original
position this is not evidence of
light getting brighter, it is
evidence of a lack of Holy Spirit
directing the Governing Body.

Watchtower 1976 Feb 15
pp.122-3
In recent years, homosexuality
has swept the world. These
homosexuals claim that they are
'bringing it out of the closet' and
they brag by saying, 'We are
proud to be such.' It was
apparent that this erosion of
moral standards could pose a
danger or threat for God's holy
people, so the congregations
were alerted and wrongdoers
were cleaned out. Likewise,
unclean practices, such as
masturbation, which can be a
steppingstone to homosexuality,
have been dealt with in a serious,
yet understanding, way, to help
individuals keep clean and pure
in Jehovah's eyes.
Watchtower 1973 Sep 15 p.565
[Masturbation] can, and
frequently does, lead into
homosexuality, in which the
person, not satisfied with his
lonely sexual activity, seeks a
partner for mutual sex play.
Your Youth - Getting the Best out
of It (1976) p.39
In fact, masturbation can lead
into homosexuality. In such
instances the person, not
satisfied with his lonely sexual
activity, seeks a partner for
mutual sex play. This happens
much more frequently than you
may realize. Contrary to what
many persons think,
homosexuals are not born that
way, but their homosexual
behavior is learned. And often a
person gets started when very
young by playing with another's
sexual parts, and then engaging
in homosexual acts.

Watchtower 1976 Feb 15
pp.122-3
In recent years, homosexuality
has swept the world. These
homosexuals claim that they are
'bringing it out of the closet' and
they brag by saying, 'We are
proud to be such.' It was
apparent that this erosion of
moral standards could pose a
danger or threat for God's holy
people, so the congregations
were alerted and wrongdoers
were cleaned out. Likewise,
unclean practices, such as
masturbation, which can be a
steppingstone to homosexuality,
have been dealt with in a serious,
yet understanding, way, to help
individuals keep clean and pure
in Jehovah's eyes.
Watchtower 1973 Sep 15 p.565
[Masturbation] can, and
frequently does, lead into
homosexuality, in which the
person, not satisfied with his
lonely sexual activity, seeks a
partner for mutual sex play.
Your Youth - Getting the Best out
of It (1976) p.39
In fact, masturbation can lead
into homosexuality. In such
instances the person, not
satisfied with his lonely sexual
activity, seeks a partner for
mutual sex play. This happens
much more frequently than you
may realize. Contrary to what
many persons think,
homosexuals are not born that
way, but their homosexual
behavior is learned. And often a
person gets started when very
young by playing with another's
sexual parts, and then engaging
in homosexual acts.

WATCHTOWER QUOTES ON HOMOSEXUALITY


The Watchtower labels
homosexuality as one of the
most vile of sins, and practicing
homosexuals will be destroyed at
Armageddon. It is said that a
person can become homosexual
due to masturbation, and
homosexuality is a desire that
can be overcome.
Watchtower 2012 Mar 15 p.31
"There is sordid, abhorrent
pornography involving
homosexuality (sex between
those of the same gender),
group sex, bestiality, child
pornography, gang rape, the
brutalizing of women, bondage,
or sadistic torture. … What
Christian would deny that the
above-mentioned abhorrent,
sexually degrading forms of
pornography are “ unnatural
lusts” and are sordid?"
Awake 1997 Dec 8 pp.14-15
Should Christians Hate
Homosexuals?
"The Bible admonishes: O you
lovers of Jehovah, hate what is
bad. (Psalm 97:10) Hence,
Christians are expected to hate
every practice that violates
Jehovahs laws. Some people may
even react with stronger feelings
of aversion or disgust toward
homosexuality than toward
other types of immorality,
viewing homosexuality as an
unnatural sexual perversion. ...
Those who practice what is bad,
including homosexuals, can
make radical changes in their
pattern of thinking and behavior,
and many have indeed been
successful in making this
transformation. Jesus himself
preached to such ones; and on
showing repentance, they
became acceptable to
him .Matthew 21:31, 32.
Christians welcome repentant
people from diverse walks of life.
After leaving behind immoral
practices, whatever they might
have been, all can enjoy the full
benefits of Gods forgiveness
because Jehovah is good to all,
and his mercies are over all his
works."
Awake 1989 July 8 p.27
"Since sexual immorality is based
largely on self-gratification, it
often leads to more debased
acts. And fallen human nature
being what it is, once an act
becomes commonplace, its
excitement tends to wane. Thus,
some homosexuals have gone on
to sadomasochism and other vile
practices . One Bible commentary
says that the effect of such base
and unnatural passions ... tended
to debase the mind; to sink man
below the level of the brute; to
destroy the sensibility. A Bible
scholar grouped homosexuality
with crimes, which were utterly
inconsistent with reason, nature,
and their own and each others
welfare.
Bible Standards Bring Peace
We can be grateful that God does
not change his standards just to
satisfy the passing fancies or
perverted desires of men. Even as
he does not approve of polluting
the earth or of lying simply
because more people want to do
it, so he does not condone
homosexuality though many
espouse it with zeal. No matter
what course men promote,
Jehovah wants us to honor him
and benefit ourselves."
Watchtower 1979 Mar 15
pp.10-11
"Some customs involve practices
so gross that they are detestable
to Jehovah, and, hence, to his
people. Among such practices
are sodomy, bestiality,
homosexuality, incest and other
forms of sexual immorality. These
were being indulged in by the
Canaanite inhabitants of the
Promised Land. After citing the
practices that were unclean and
detestable to him, Jehovah
warned the Israelites: You must
keep your obligation to me not
to carry on any of the detestable
customs that have been carried
on before you, that you may not
make yourselves unclean by
them. He then emphasized the
seriousness of the matter by
saying, I am Jehovah your
God.Lev. 18:1-30.
Thus we see Jehovahs viewpoint
of such vile practices. But what
about today? Are these practices
common in your country? What
is the situation in your own
neighborhood? Is it not true that
some nations are even changing
their laws so that homosexuality
no longer is punishable by law
and homosexuals are looked on
as respectable in the community?
Just as in the days of the ancient
Israelites and the early Christian
congregation, such practices are
repulsive to all those who want
to become holy in all their
conduct."

[/size][size=8pt]1975 watchtower quotes.[b]1975 watchtower quotes.[/b]1975 watchtower quotes.


From 1966 to 1975, the
Watchtower regularly implied
that Armageddon would arrive in
1975. However, ask one of
Jehovah's Witnesses about this
date and they will invariably deny
there ever being such
statements. The following
exhaustive list of quotes show
the Watchtower left little to the
imagination regarding 1975.
In 1980, the Watchtower made a
post-1975 admission that it had
encouraged the viewpoint that
Jesus earthly rulership would
begin 1975.
"With the appearance of the
book Life Everlasting-in Freedom
of the Sons of God, and its
comments as to how appropriate
it would be for the millennial
reign of Christ to parallel the
seventh millennium of man's
existence, considerable
expectation was aroused
regarding the year 1975 . ...
Unfortunately, however, along
with such cautionary
information, there were other
statements published that
implied that such realization of
hopes by that year was more of a
probability than a mere
possibility ." Watchtower 1980
Mar 15 p.17
The regular implications that
1975 would bring Armageddon
resulted in many Jehovah's
Witnesses firmly believing this
was going to be the end. The
growth rate of publishers
immediately before and after
1975 shows the significance of
this year in Witness minds and
the effect of its failure to
eventuate.

[/size][size=8pt]1975 watchtower quotes.[b]1975 watchtower quotes.[/b]1975 watchtower quotes.


From 1966 to 1975, the
Watchtower regularly implied
that Armageddon would arrive in
1975. However, ask one of
Jehovah's Witnesses about this
date and they will invariably deny
there ever being such
statements. The following
exhaustive list of quotes show
the Watchtower left little to the
imagination regarding 1975.
In 1980, the Watchtower made a
post-1975 admission that it had
encouraged the viewpoint that
Jesus earthly rulership would
begin 1975.
"With the appearance of the
book Life Everlasting-in Freedom
of the Sons of God, and its
comments as to how appropriate
it would be for the millennial
reign of Christ to parallel the
seventh millennium of man's
existence, considerable
expectation was aroused
regarding the year 1975 . ...
Unfortunately, however, along
with such cautionary
information, there were other
statements published that
implied that such realization of
hopes by that year was more of a
probability than a mere
possibility ." Watchtower 1980
Mar 15 p.17
The regular implications that
1975 would bring Armageddon
resulted in many Jehovah's
Witnesses firmly believing this
was going to be the end. The
growth rate of publishers
immediately before and after
1975 shows the significance of
this year in Witness minds and
the effect of its failure to
eventuate.

Watchtower publications
continue to advise against
pledging allegiance to any
government other than God’s
Kingdom.
“The Joliet, Illinois, “Herald-News”
quotes a local spokesman for
one group affected by the law as
saying: “Jehovah’s Witnesses, not
only in this country but
throughout the world, always
take a neutral stand towards the
government. It’s not that we
don’t have respect for this
country. It’s just that you won’t
find Jehovah’s Witnesses saying a
pledge of allegiance to any
country. ”” Watchtower 1980 Feb
15 p.30
“Yes, Jesus preached and gave
his allegiance to "the kingdom of
the heavens," "the kingdom of
God." Following Jesus’ footsteps
as sincerely dedicated Christians,
Jehovah’s witnesses have no
alternative but to keep separate,
"without spot from the world."
Since they can give their
allegiance only to Jehovah God
and his kingdom, they feel
obligated to refrain from
participating in any action that
gives such devotion to political
leaders.” Watchtower 1968 Feb 1
p.73
The oath has been described as
from the Devil and a religious
expression.
“Furthering his deceptive
schemes to over- reach the
people where democracies are
supposed to exist, the Devil
brings forth other idolatrous
schemes setting the state above
God, and brings into operation
compulsory flag-saluting, oaths
of allegiance to be taken by those
who are native citizens of the
state, bestowing honor upon
men, and particularly magnifying
politics and religion and religious
leaders.” Watchtower 1939 Jun
15 p.185
“The courage of some
schoolchildren is tested when
they are called upon to recite a
pledge of allegiance to the
country or to the flag. Since such
a pledge is virtually a religious
expression, Christian children
have boldly resolved to act in a
way that pleases God, and their
fine record has been
heartwarming.” Watchtower
2003 Mar 1 p.9
“… oaths of allegiance are all
religions”. Golden Age 1932 Aug
31 p.745
The following Watchtower
articles include quotes that liken
swearing allegiance to the flag to
a religious act.
““The Christians, however, strong
in their faith, would take no such
oath of loyalty. And because they
did not swear allegiance to what
we would to-day consider as
analogous to the Flag, they were
considered politically
dangerous.”…Yet national
emblems bear such likenesses,
and they are viewed as sacred,
which means that saluting them
takes on a religious significance.”
Watchtower 1962 Nov 15 p.700
“Christians refused to . . . sacrifice
to the emperor’s genius—
roughly equivalent today to
refusing to salute the flag or
repeat the oath of allegiance.”
Watchtower 1975 Aug 15 p. 497
Since Witnesses globally have
suffered following this
Watchtower interpretation of
neutrality, it is worth enquiring
what the Governing Body
decreed for situations that
affected themselves personally.
Regarding gaining citizenship or
applying for a passport they
decreed that pledging the oath
was considered to be acceptable.
“Because Christians can be loyal
both to God and to earthly
governments they can take oaths
of allegiance to defend the
Constitution, as is required of
citizens in some countries in
order to get a passport.”
Watchtower 1964 Sep 15 p.551
“We see no reason why one
desiring to assume citizenship in
this country should not take the
oath of allegiance.” Informant
1938 Special Jul p.4
Prior to the early 1970s,
American citizens seeking
passports were required to
pledge the oath of allegiance.[2]
In the matter of applying for a
passport, Governing Body
members created a separate
ruling regarding the pledge,
avoiding inconvenience.

@moderators,
please i posted two topics and they were removed for apparently no reasons.
Please i demand an explanation.

Monday 15 October 2001
01.28 BST
'Hypocrite' Jehovah's
Witnesses abandon secret link
with UN
Stephen Bates, religious
affairs correspondent
The Jehovah's Witnesses have
hurriedly disaffiliated from the
United Nations within days of
a Guardian story in which
members accused the sect of
hypocrisy for supporting an
organisation it has repeatedly
denounced privately.
After the article last Monday,
the organisation's New York
based hierarchy pre-empted a
UN inquiry by agreeing to
dissociate the Witnesses from
an organisation which it holds
to be the scarlet beast named
in the Book of Revelation.
The Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society of New York, as
the sect is formally known,
has 6m members worldwide
and 130,000 in Britain. It had
been secretly affiliated to the
UN as a non-governmental
organisation for 10 years.
Recognised organisations are
supposed to demonstrate that
they share the UN's objectives,
but Witnesses are instead told
by elders to regard it as "a
disgusting thing in the sight
of God and his people" for
allegedly aspiring to world
domination like Babylon the
Great, the beast in Revelation.
The sect does not believe in
participating in government
and initially strove to play
down or deny the evidence of
the UN's website, which lists it
as one of 1,500 affiliated
NGOs.
Those bringing the evidence
to light were accused of
apostacy. Disaffiliated
members become known
informally, like the rest of
humanity, as "bird seed" in
line with biblical prophesy of
the fate of non-believers,
whose corpses will be pecked
bare by crows.
Within hours of the article's
appearance on the Guardian
website on Monday and its
posting on a Jehovah's
Witnesses bulletin board,
more than 14,000 people
across the world had read it.
By yesterday there were 353
official posts and 325
message boards discussing
the article and its revelations,
with Witnesses in the US
demanding to see copies of
the paper.

www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/oct/15/religion.unitednations