The End of False Religion is Near! (really?)
This message is being spread worldwide! And it made it to my door the other day.
A friendly, well dressed man carrying a young child came up to my door and dropped off a pamphlet. I immediately recognized the “look” of the tract as being from the WatchTower Bible & Tract Society, the publishing arm for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Evidently they are in the midst of a worldwide campaign to spread this particular message. I’m all too familiar with this work as I was actively involved with the Jehovah’s Witnesses for a number of years, until my heart led me in other directions.
Now this message is not a new one for them. It’s been published from door to door since the early part of the 20th century. And while I was tempted to refute the tract, point by point, instead I started to think about what truths the tract might contain. Instead of assuming that everything it stated was wrong and a lie, I started to think that, maybe, some aspect of the universal human consciousness was speaking. And if so, then there should be some truths there, if I looked at it the right way.
I was surprised at what I found.
The Surface Message
On the surface, the basic message of this particular tract is that religions that do not teach the truth are responsible for so much pain and suffering in the world. But God will soon put an end to that and destroy all “false” religions, and then bless mankind. Of course there is also the warning - do not be caught having anything to do with these religions or else you will suffer the same fate.
Under the Surface
In the Bhagavat Gita, the story of Lord Krishna’s discussion with Arjuna represents the progress we each make on the road to enlightenment. It is a story of our own struggle. I believe that all religious and spiritual writings reflect this core theme. It’s a theme that can be found even within this tract from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
A fundamental concept is that destructive and negative beliefs will eventually be purged from the hearts of people as if they were cut down and thrown into a fire to be destroyed. It doesn’t happen to everyone at the same time, but everyone is on that same path and will experience this cleansing in one way or another.
One way that this happens is when our higher Self directs the controlling ego to purge unhealthy and destructive concepts from our hearts. If we have distanced ourselves from these concepts and no longer identify with them, then we do not feel the destruction. But if we identify too strongly with them, then we suffer the loss as if we ourselves were being destroyed. On its own, the ego would not do this, but at some point our higher self “puts it into the heart of the beast” to carry out this act. Total enlightenment comes afterwards when the controlling ego itself is destroyed.
The question we need to ask ourselves is - how attached are we to our beliefs? If we are too attached, then we’ll experience grief when we realize that those beliefs no longer work.
How to prepare for the end of false religion
One way to “prepare” for this event is to determine as much as possible the ideas that are destructive and misguided. As Jesus stated, these can be identified “by their fruits”. Religious beliefs that dictate the killing of others. Spiritual traditions that foster oppression based on gender, race, or social class. These are a couple of obvious examples. Others are more subtle, and may not even apply to everyone equally. Perhaps a belief that was valuable at one time might no longer serve us in a later stage of life. How can we prepare in that case?
The phrase “non-attachment” usually conjures up thoughts of not being attached to material things. But the practice of non-attachment also applies to not being attached to ideas. To not identify strongly with an idea. Why would we not want to be attached to something we believe in? For one thing, no matter what view we have, there is always the possibility that it might be proved wrong at a later time. We might need to discard ideas that are actually harmful, or we might need to accept other viewpoints that foster our continued growth.
In yogic philosophy there is the concept that everything in the world is comprised of some combination of three basic qualities, called gunas. The person on a spiritual path is encouraged to cultivate the highest guna (sattvic) in their life. But, that is not the final goal! Even this highest spiritual guna is itself an attachment that must be discarded in order to truly transcend the world.
So it might be that beliefs that were invaluable at one time, now serve as a hindrance. The spiritual person must be prepared to evaluate how well certain beliefs continue to promote their spiritual growth, otherwise if a change is needed, the adjustment can be traumatic. For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses cultivate a mindset that makes it very difficult to change ideas, particularly with regard to JW beliefs. They are taught that they have “the truth”, which gives them the needed conviction to pursue other aspects of their worship, such as preaching to strangers on a regular basis. But when some found that that particular path lost its usefulness for them, they’ve had a hard time adjusting, even to the point of being bitter over the whole experience.
The irony of that situation, in light of this tract, is not lost on me.
An interesting post on beliefs. I was particularly happy to see that you were able to go beyond the usual “oh no, the witnesses again” syndrome, I usually have. It’s a great example of how to get the best of every situation. I enjoy your blog, keep it on!
Joanna, I try to avoid the bitterness that so many others who also used to be involved with the JWs have. I have to say that I learned alot from the WatchTower. It’s also hard to be resentful of their visits after I had spent many years waking people up on Saturday mornings myself. I appreciate your comment!
To all people of the world…. JWs are good people. They just visit their neighbors because of love for them and for GOD JEHOVAH. Please don’t treat them just like bad animals. They are human and have feelings just like us. No other religions in this world can do just as JWs do, visiting people even though they are busy. They give their time to show they are concerned for all people. So please know them personally before you judge them cruelly. Thanks.
I have long since accepted that to truly seek your spiritual being that it is imperative to turn inward. I believe that it is within ourselves that we find our true spiritual link to Jesus. I long since have shied away from mainstream churches and their teachings. I fail miserably everyday, however, I do try my best to follow what I hear in my heart and soul from the Lord. And, I try to follow in his footsteps and here also I fail, but, to try is the real journey. I also believe in spiritual connections between people. For instance, I do not find it a coincidence that you chose the particular time that you did to visit my site. You appeared after I posted a very personal and revealing insight into my psyche. Therefore, I know in my heart you were sent to me…I have not the answer as to why you were sent. But, there you were and here I am.
Hi Moondanzer,
It sounds like you have been on an intense journey. The concept of forgiveness plays a large role in Christianity, yet one type of forgiveness is often overlooked - that of forgiving ourselves. So much struggle can be avoided with that one concept alone.
Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you found something useful in this post, and I’ll be looking in on your blog with keen interest on how your path unfolds.
-Chris
I just want to say to all the people in the world to please give yourselves the chance to know Jehovah. If after knowing him you are not happy, then good but at least you gave yourself a chance. But for now, don’t judge him or his Witnesses without even knowing Him. I’m pretty sure that after doing that you will have nothing bad to say about them….PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GIVE YOUR SELF A CHANCE !!!!!
Maria, thanks for your comment. I’m glad that you are finding benefit with your association with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Never stop seeking, asking, and knocking.
chris, what is Krishna, self awareness without the responsibility of learning what God wants? I dont know.
john, thanks for the comment. Good question. Perhaps learning what God wants is what Krishna-consciousness and self-awareness is all about. It’s a matter of where you look for guidance, and whether you feel that God can communicate with you directly.
The spirit knows not to judge, but the ego must be taught. Each of us have thought systems that arise mostly out of fear. Refusing to change your mind doesn’t prove the fear and judgment don’t exist.
Rest assured though, the ego can learn. History wouldn’t exist if errors weren’t being repeated at present to reinforce it. Perception is tends to be based on misplaced assumptions. Believe and recognize another way exists.
Interesting Reading Chris,you write about a lot of points I see as truths, and if it is OK, I would like to say a few things.
I myself have been brought up as a Catholic, went to a Nuns school, church every Wed and Sun… etc.
I have felt a huge and real (To Me) connection to God, very strong when I was a kid, then as the vagrancies of this world were revealed to me as I grew up, and I lost the innocence of childhood, I also lost the impact of attending church - It felt like just a ritual of words and movement.
So I felt a need to find out why we are all here, “where we are going” etc, if I did not I could not face the idea of living in a world so spiritually dead, with no purpose or direction for a better existence.
Because of this, I tried Raj Yoga, a bit of Buddhist meditation, lots of reading, looking for that ” Connection ” to God again, along with trying to find real life ” Proof “.
I eventually formed a Jigsaw Puzzle in my head that I feel is right …
There is a Universal Law : Do what you want but WITH HARM TO NONE.
I think that all religions point to the same God, man has just translated their experiences at the time when they ” Saw ” or were part of an event that caused them to create a belief / religious structure that seemed to fit them at that time / age.
Religion has been twisted by man, to create a reason for war, power, greed, ego, all things that religion is NOT meant to stand for !!
I also believe that the Bible is coded with messages that mankind is only now being allowed to understand, through technology, due to God revealing knowledge to let this happen - Everything is predestined for a purpose.
This life and history on Earth is a classroom for all humans to try to learn that love and doing for others ( “Giving” not “Getting” )
Lastly, (I could go on for ever, but I realise this is not my site, and I apologise for rambling on so much !), I do believe that as of today (Nov 23rd 2007), we are in the final times, but not necessarily the end of life, but more an awakening of human souls to the next level of spiritual awareness.
A lot of religions / beliefs / calenders / are pointing towards this time as the next Golden Age (Age of Aquarius, symbolised as Heaven on Earth, coming out of the Age of Pisces (Symbolised with the 2 fish swimming in opposite directions, meaning war, famine, pestilence)
Raj Yoga holds the belief that we are approaching the Diamond Age (Also symbolised as heaven on earth) - The Mayan calender ends on Dec 21st, 2012, and the Bible is filled with prophecy, a lot of which has come true, and is filled with future prophecy, you just need to know how to get the real meaning out of it, or know people who can do so accurately !
Anyway, sorry again, looks like you guys got bombarded by me bashing away on my keyboard, this is the most I have ever written on this subject to the outside world !
Peace to all, and I hope we all can learn to become what we are meant to become ….. :O)
the new watchtower is cool for this upcoming year
Charitable Explanation of Jehovah’s Witnesses Beliefs
Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs and who are they?
The Watchtower is big money, being one of the top 40 New York City Corporations making nearly one billion dollars a year. That’s just from one of their many corporations.
Unlike in the case of Christians who are persecuted in other lands for talking about Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses are largely persecuted for following the teachings begun during the second presidency of the Watchtower, when Joseph F. Rutherford took over in a corporate flap and began changing doctrines quickly in the Watchtower belief system. He claimed that angels directly conveyed truth to some of those in leadership. He coined the name Jehovah’s Witnesses to make them stand out from being witnesses of Jesus, a typical evangelical expression (and a Biblical one).
Rutherford dumped holidays, birthdays and the 1874 date for the invisible return on Christ, and invented an earthly class of Witnesses, since only 144,000 can go to heaven in their teaching. The rest, meaning all 99.9% of Witnesses still alive, will live forever on a cleansed earth, under the rule of the Watchtower leaders in heaven, who will keep them in line by local elders known as ‘Princes’.
If you have been witnessed to by Jehovah’s Witnesses and you reject their message, you will likely die shortly at Armageddon with all the other non-Witnesses, since theirs is the only true religion, and (if they can live up to all the rules) they are the only ones to inhabit this new earth. If you believe Witnesses seem rigid now, any non-conformist during the future cleansed earth will be directly destroyed by Jehovah. Even now a Witness will be disfellowshipped for any one of many gaffs, such as smoking, taking a blood transfusion, or even voting.
To even vocally question the teachings of the Watchtower will result in complete cutting off, with family and friends usually being forbidden to talk to them. The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world, in a time when Orwellian societies are nearly obsolete.
By their own Yearbook accounts,Witnesses are shrinking in number in many Western countries as of the last few years, as the internet facilitates the spread of information (much of it critical of the Witnesses). Witnesses are cautioned against creating JW-related websites, largely to prevent their members from discovering the history and dirty laundry of this organization on other websites. (There are literally hundreds of former members pages in many languages.)
The Watchtower strives hard to control the flow of information to the individual Witness, and prefers that all instruction come through the magazines they carry door-to-door. Without this form of control, even as they themselves admit, they would believe just the same as other Bible believers.
My hope is that there will be a day in each of their lives when the Watchtower magazine is no longer needed, and they can go to college, vote for office, and contribute money and time to other, more vital causes in their community. More than likely they will then cease to be persecuted, except in a few societies more authoritarian than their own.
Sincerely,
Danny Haszard
Reference
http://www.freeminds.org
When you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near.—Luke 21:20.
In 70 C.E., the Roman armies returned, attacked the city of Jerusalem , and destroyed its temple. Divine judgment was executed upon that Jewish system of things. Something similar is about to take place in our day. Elements within the United Nations will be involved in the execution of divine judgment. Just as the Roman armies of the first century were designed to maintain the Pax Romana (Roman Peace), the United Nations of today is intended to be a peacekeeping instrument. Although the Roman armies tried to ensure relative safety throughout the then known world, they became the desolater of Jerusalem . Likewise today, Bible prophecy indicates that militarized powers within the United Nations will see religion as a disturbing element and will act to destroy modern-day Jerusalem—Christendom—as well as the rest of Babylon the Great.—Rev. 17:12-17. w 9/15/05 12, 13
(Note modern day Jerusalem is Christendom, they like Jerusalem at one time had the truth but have rejected the truth and have become an apostate nation)
I must confess, I have reached the point in life, where I refuse to answer the door if I spot the JWs. It’s hard for me to accept their booklets and listen to them without engaging in a healthly discussion about my own beliefs. I do admire their diligence, but as I do not agree with them, I do not want their magazine.
@stu: I’m glad my post inspired you to express your thoughts - thank you. And I agree with your view of the universal law.
@stuart: Time will tell.
@collegeblogger: If you do answer the door and have a pleasant conversation, that just encourages them to keep coming back. (They probably wrote your address down for reference.) And your own views most definitely fall on deaf ears - their only intention is to bring you into “The Truth”.