The cover of the March 1, 1998 Watchtower asks the question, "Why are religions asking forgiveness?" Contained within the magazine are two articles that supposedly answer this question.
The first article, entitled "The Churches Confess," states that today’s churches—especially the Catholic Church—are accepting blame and apologizing for what they have done over the centuries. The second article, entitled "Why Are They Asking Forgiveness?," lists some of the reasons they are seeking forgiveness. The article also states that the real reason Christendom is apologizing is because "it seems more concerned with making peace with the world than with God." After providing this church "laundry list," the reader is finally told that "the Bible warns against an appearance of repentance that is motivated by no more than the embarrassment of being caught in a wrong." (In other words, though Christendom may admit its wrongs and asks for forgiveness, it is done only for selfish reasons.)
Finally, the question is posed, "Is it possible to find a form of worship untainted by the blood guilt, the murderous intolerance, and the other crimes that Christendom’s churches are apologizing for?" Concluding statements lead the reader to believe that the only "loving" organization is that of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Both of these articles, as well as the questions they pose, are incredibly brazen, especially in light of the atrocities the Watchtower Society has committed during the past century. What atrocities? Let’s take a look at history and see:
• The Watchtower Society would not allow Jehovah’s Witnesses to receive vaccinations (Polio, Small Pox, etc.) from 1931 to 1963. Many people became ill, and even died as a result of this doctrine.
• From 1967 to 1980, the Watchtower Society would not allow Jehovah’s Witnesses to receive organ transplants. How many deaths were caused by this doctrine? How many people had to go blind because they couldn’t receive a good cornea? How many had to live with horrible scars because they couldn’t receive skin grafts?
• Up until 1978, hemophiliac Witnesses were only allowed to receive one
blood transfusion. After that year, they were
allowed to receive multiple uses of blood fractions. How many hemophiliac
Witnesses died before 1978 because of this doctrine?
• Since 1950, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been forbidden from receiving whole blood transfusions. The Society has even boasted in pages of its publications about Witnesses who have died because they have denied blood transfusions. And why are Witnesses allowed to receive parts of blood, but not all of the parts together? How many more will die before the Society changes this inconsistent and deadly doctrine?
These are just a few of the many dangerous doctrines the Watchtower Society has imposed on its followers—and this doesn’t even include the effects of disfellowshipping. Has the Society ever confessed that its doctrines have needlessly caused the deaths of thousands of individuals. Never. Has the Society ever apologized for the pain it has inflicted? Never.
When condemning Christendom’s churches, the Society would do well to follow the instructions of Jesus, who asked, "Why, then, do you look at the straw that is in your brother’s eye, but do not observe the rafter that is in your own eye?" (Luke 6:41). Christendom has confessed its sins, it’s time for the Society to do the same.