Though visually appealing, the Society’s new DVD for children has hidden dangers that parents must carefully consider
The 2012 “Safeguard Your Heart” District Convention has already generated controversy among thinking Jehovah’s Witnesses with the release of a new animated children’s DVD entitled “Become Jehovah’s Friend: Listen, Obey, and Be Blessed”. The wave of criticism aimed at the film has already received media attention in Norway and Denmark.
The DVD, which is introduced by Governing Body member Anthony Morris III, features two short animated films centering around the exploits of a fictional young boy named Caleb. Though short, the films are made to a very high standard of animation, not unlike those standards found in the well-known “Toy Story” movies. However, it is sad to note that, though visually impressive, this new DVD seems determined to undermine and weaken a young child’s critical thinking and reasoning skills. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than a story depicting young Caleb being coerced with false reasoning by his mother into throwing away a toy wizard that has been given to him as a gift by a friend. The explanation? Because, apparently, “Jehovah hates it”.
Anthony Morris III acknowledged that animated films can have a profound impact on impressionable young minds
The film is introduced by Anthony Morris III, who was apparently chosen to represent the Governing Body in introducing this film because he is one of the few members who actually has parental experience. Morris hails the medium of animated movies as “a powerful teaching tool” in capturing the imagination of little ones. Indeed, there is very little attempt made to conceal the fact that this film is intended, first and foremost, to sculpt the minds of young Witness children into those of compliant followers of the future. As Morris remarks, “Children can learn so much during their formative years. Lessons they learn at a very young age can make an impression that lasts a lifetime.” It would be nice to think that the “lessons” conveyed in this film would be solely wholesome and beneficial ones. However, in the second film in particular, entitled “Lesson 2 – Obey Jehovah”, the underlying lesson is far from positive.
I understand that many reading this article would be appreciative of the opportunity to see the movies for themselves before forming any opinions, and I would urge you to do this. When this article was first published on jwsurvey.org, both animated lessons were freely available on YouTube. A few days after being posted, all video clips associated with the DVD were removed from the Google-owned website at the request of the Watch Tower Society on the grounds of copyright infringement. This development surprised many, since the back cover of the DVD features the following declaration:
This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations.
If the DVD (and the material contained therein) is truly free and intended for educational purposes, then it is difficult to comprehend why the Society would wish to remove their videos from YouTube, particularly since their appearance on that website fell under the remit of “fair use”, and was therefore not strictly in breach of copyright rules. Furthermore, if the videos are truly educational, surely the Society would wish them to reach as broad an audience as possible? Is that not the entire purpose of our preaching work, to reach people with our message via publications produced by the Slave Class?
However, remove them they did. Since this development, the videos have re-emerged with wary “YouTubers” expressly drawing attention to the above-quoted statement on the back cover. One such video containing Lesson 2 (which forms the focus of this article) is embedded below. Provided it has not yet been removed by the Society, I would encourage you to watch the video if you haven’t done so already.
(If this video has been removed, please notify us and we will try to embed another link of the same movie, perhaps from an alternative website)
Obviously, whether the above embedded video works or not, if you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you should be receiving your own copy of this DVD at your next convention. If for any reason you are unable to view the DVD and would appreciate a brief overview of the contents, a transcript of “Lesson 2 – Obey Jehovah” (from the moment when Caleb’s mother discovers him with the toy) is below:
- Mom: Caleb, what toy is that?
- Caleb: It’s Sparlock, the warrior wizard!
- Mom: Woah! A warrior wizard?!
- Caleb: Yeh, my friend gave it to me. All the kids are going to see the movie. Can I see it too?
-
“Oh your friend gave this to you… hmmm…”
Mom: Oh, your friend gave this to you… hm. You look pretty excited about this. Why don’t you come over here and get your snack, okay? (sighs)
- (Caleb sits down to have his snack.)
- Mom: Is this toy magical?
- Caleb: Uh-huh.
- Mom: Caleb, who likes Magic? Jehovah? Or Satan?!
- Caleb: Satan.
- Mom: Right. Magic is bad. That’s why Jehovah hates it. Do you REALLY wanna play with something that Jehovah hates?
- (Caleb looks at his toy sorrowfully.)
- Mom: Do you remember who we learned about at family worship? Who is this? (shows Caleb a picture from page 50 of the Great Teacher book)
- Caleb: Adam and Eve.
- Mom: Right! Did they obey Jehovah?
- Caleb: No. They disobeyed Jehovah, and he got very sad.
- Mom: So what if YOU disobey Jehovah, and play with toys he doesn’t like?
- (Caleb scratches his head)
- Mom: Do you think Jehovah will be happy? Or sad?
- (Caleb imagines a snake hanging down from a tree next to him, clutching his toy suggestively)
- Caleb: Sad.
- Mom: Yeh. Do you want Jehovah to be sad?
- Caleb: No! (slaps the imaginary snake away with his hand) I don’t want Jehovah to be sad with me!
-
“So what do YOU think you should do with this toy?”
Mom: No, I don’t want Jehovah to be sad with you either! So what do YOU think you should do with this toy?
- (Caleb looks at his toy again. The next scene shows him throwing it in the trash can outside while his Mom holds the lid open for him.)
- Mom: Caleb, I am so proud of you! You made mommy very happy! And you know who else is happy?
- Caleb: Jehovah!
- Mom: Yes! Jehovah loves you very much for obeying him Caleb. Hey, you know what I wanna do?
- Caleb: What?
- Mom: I wanna go ride bikes!
- Caleb: Yay!
- Mom: Let’s go!
Of course, I appreciate that many will dismiss these films as nothing more than fictional children’s animations. However, despite being fictional, Anthony Morris has himself admitted in his opening remarks to the DVD that the films are intended to have an impact on impressionable young minds. I believe this impact will be extremely negative, and I will explain why.
Owning a wizard = being a wizard?
As previously mentioned, in the second of the two videos, or “lessons”, young Caleb returns home from school with a plastic toy wizard that one of this friends has given to him. His mother finds him playing with the toy, and though expressing initial excitement, she wastes little time in sitting Caleb down and explaining that the toy wizard is “something that Jehovah hates”. Without reading a single scripture in support of her arguments, she manages to convince Caleb that the toy wizard makes Jehovah “sad”. She impresses upon him that, if he were to choose to keep it, this would be an act of disobedience to Jehovah akin to Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Caleb even imagines a snake tempting him with the toy, as though it is somehow satanic in origin.
A plastic toy wizard – the object of Jehovah’s anger towards a child
Of course, in reality there is absolutely nothing harmful or satanic about children playing with plastic toy wizards. These can hardly be described as “something that Jehovah hates” since they are lifeless figurines. They are not objects of worship – merely the focal point of a child’s imagination.
True, under the Mosaic Law covenant, Israelites were strongly dissuaded from becoming “practicers of magic” or “sorcerers”. (Deuteronomy 18:10-13) Such practices were described in the bible as “detestable to Jehovah”, as was eating pig meat. (Deu. 14:3-8) As Christians, we are no longer under the Mosaic Law covenant, nor are we bound by its idiosyncracies such as circumcision and abstaining from pork. Obviously, the practice of witchcraft and sorcery still runs in direct violation of Christianity, but this is not what was depicted in the film. The film merely showed a child playing with a toy in the shape of a wizard, which is not something that the bible condemns, indirectly or otherwise, in any of its many pages.
Jesus denounced the pharisees for their excessive rule-making
I am certainly not suggesting that there is nothing harmful or dangerous as regards practicing sorcery, or that we should all go out and become witches and wizards. However, the scribes and pharisees were criticized by Jesus for overstepping boundaries of reason when it came to their rigid application of the Mosaic Law. (Matt 23:2-4,23,24; Luke 11:46) Such ones were so harsh with Jehovah’s people that they effectively built a “fence around the law” through their oral traditions, banning anything that might bring people even close to a situation in which they might sin. It is disturbing to note the parallels between the way the Scribes would have approached these matters, and the way the Governing Body is now clamping down on anything that is even indirectly associated with something that was “detestable to Jehovah” under the Mosaic Law.
Anyone can see that there is a huge gulf between playing with a toy wizard and actually becoming one. Even so, the Governing Body now evidently feels that owning such an item is tantamount to actually BEING a wizard, even if the owner is a mere child with no knowledge of magic, wizardry or witchcraft. It is alarming to think that a small group of men with such power could arrive at such a conclusion. As I write, the Governing Body are making extremely sensitive, profound and far-reaching decisions on matters of doctrine and scriptural justice that influence the lives of millions of adherents around the world. If they can get it so badly wrong with toy wizards, what does this say about their judgment on far more serious and weighty matters? – Matthew 23:23,24
I personally find the apparent shift in policy deeply disturbing. It is true that the organization has long voiced concern in its publications over the prevalence of the occult in movies and literature. However, traditionally the Society has always kept its distance in allowing parents to decide for themselves how far these principles and views should be applied or enforced in their own homes. As an example, note the following quote from a 1994 Awake! article:
“What about toys based on popular fairy-tale or science-fiction characters? Such stories generally deal with the triumph of good over evil. Some parents thus view the ‘magical elements’ in these tales as simple flights of a childish imagination and see no harm in letting their children enjoy them. Others may fear that the stories could stimulate an interest in the occult. (Deuteronomy 18:10-13) Without judging others, parents must make their own decisions in this regard, considering the effects such stories—and any toys based on them—have on their children.” – September 8th, 1994 Awake!, page 9.
The above quote sets out a far more balanced approach to this issue that allows parents the flexibility to choose for themselves what toys are appropriate for their children – without being judgmental of those who view things differently. However, the release of this DVD marks an end to those times of patience and latitude on the part of the Governing Body. They evidently feel it is now time to intervene, and lay down some ground rules.
Yes, the Governing Body now seeks to step into the shoes of parents around the world, and decide for them what toys their children may or may not play with. I never thought I would see the day when parents began to receive instructions from the Governing Body on how to police their children’s toy chests. However, this harsh and invasive new strategy of the Society is a mere footnote when it comes to the real reason for my dismay as regards this DVD. Unquestionably, the worst thing about it is the fact that the Society is now unashamedly producing films that seem specifically designed to rob a new generation of its reasoning ability.
Caleb is confronted with this picture of elderley Adam and Eve as sole basis for his Mom’s argument against his toy
In the film, no logical or scripturally-based argument is offered to Caleb as to precisely why Jehovah “hates” toy wizards, or why they make him “sad”, or why owning one would be an act of disobedience against God. Caleb is shown a picture from the Learn From The Great Teacher book (page 50) depicting Adam and Eve as a withered and miserable old man and woman following their sin. This somewhat scary and morose picture is shown as the consequences of disobeying Jehovah, but no explanation is given as to WHY owning a toy wizard constitutes an act of disobedience that would leave Caleb in a similar predicament to the first human pair. Caleb is merely informed that Jehovah doesn’t like the toy when his mother says: “So what if YOU disobey Jehovah, and play with toys he doesn’t like?” The key question of WHY Jehovah “doesn’t like” Caleb’s toy is by-passed as almost irrelevant.
Caleb’s Mom even neglects to read the scripture from Deuteronomy 18 that I mentioned above. Some would argue that Caleb might be too young to be confronted with scriptural arguments from the bible, but this doesn’t stop his Dad from pulling out a bible in Lesson 1 when Caleb treads dirt on his Mom’s clean floor. Surely if Caleb’s toy is so offensive to God, this warrants a similar appeal to the scriptures for guidance? But this doesn’t happen. Evidently what the scriptures have to say on the matter is of no consequence. Instead, Caleb is merely pummeled with baseless implications about his toy to which, faced with no alternative, he eventually yields.
The over-riding tone of this particular short story is “don’t ask, just obey”. This is precisely what the Society has always asked us to do in their publications, especially by means of spurious teachings such as “increasing light” and “waiting on Jehovah”. However, it is one thing to suppress the critical thinking skills of adults, but it strikes me as wrong and profoundly damaging to inflict such backwards ideology on young and impressionable minds from early childhood. Such thinking sets children up for the worst possible start in life, and robs them of valuable cognitive tools.
The following video, posted on YouTube recently, makes a similar point…
Hidden Messages
It genuinely distresses me to think of the many thousands (potentially millions) of young children who will be played this video and taught that, when it comes to making decisions, reason and logic come a poor second when others are asking you to conform to their own weak consciences. Both films strike me as a not-so thinly veiled attempt on the part of the Governing Body to mold a new generation of mindless automatons who will follow all of their commands no matter how unreasonable these may be, or how little scriptural explanation is offered on their part.
In the trash: Caleb must return empty-handed to school the next day to appease his mother’s conscience
Ignorance and unquestioned loyalty aren’t the only messages to young minds in this movie. There are other more subtle messages regarding showing lack of appreciation, and fearing everything from the outside world. After all, Caleb is given his toy wizard by a friend at school. The toy’s character, “Sparlock”, is evidently the lead character of a forthcoming movie, and we all know that toys connected with children’s movies are hardly ever cheap. This was therefore a generous gift from a virtual stranger, yet nowhere is gratitude expressed to this person for their kind gesture, neither is any thought given as to what will be said to this friend when Caleb turns up at school the next day empty-handed. Put simply, whoever this friend is, his feelings are of no consequence whatever to Caleb’s mother, because this person is a “worldling”, and therefore a destructive influence on her young boy and a threat to his ongoing indoctrination.
Although there are many such hidden messages, certainly the overriding theme of Lesson 2 of this DVD is that of showing mindless loyalty to an organization, even if no reasons or explanatory scriptures are presented. Obedience comes first, and any questions are irrelevant. This is precisely the lesson that the Governing Body wants young children to learn and absorb.
I have nothing in particular against the overall message of Lesson 1, in which Caleb is taught the value of respecting his parents and being obedient to them. Yes, I found certain facets of this first film slightly disturbing and backward. For example, it is Caleb’s mother who is initially portrayed (rather stereotypically) as cleaning the home rather than his Dad, and she is down on her hands and knees with a sponge rather than using a simple floor mop to clean the floor. It seems a little draconian to pull a bible on a young child for what was essentially an accident rather than a deliberate “act of disobedience”. It’s also curious that Caleb’s Mom feels compelled to change from trousers into a skirt for the “family worship” evening. This seems fairly “over the top”, but evidently this is what the Governing Body now wants mothers to do. Finally, towards the end of the film when Caleb has tidied up his mess and is ready to join his family, his mother tells him: “Thank you! I’m so proud of you for obeying!” This seems like quite loaded language for a mother to use, especially to a young boy.
A Stifled Generation
Lesson Two and Caleb’s courting of divine wrath over a simple toy wizard is certainly the most disturbing and intellectually stifling of the two videos. I personally think the Governing Body knew exactly what they were doing in commissioning this film to be made. Regardless of their reasoning, I still find it frankly inexcusable that they can push their agenda on impressionable young minds in such an overt manner.
Paranoia: Caleb imagines being tempted by the serpent with his toy
I readily admit to anyone that I am not a parent at this stage in my life, nor is it my business to tell parents what they should or should not show to their children. However, I feel deeply moved to draw the attention of discerning Jehovah’s Witness parents around the world to what I consider to be a very damaging film.
Irrespective of their own beliefs and upbringing, conscientious mothers and fathers need to have the opportunity to think long and hard about what they want for their children, and how they want their children to develop intellectually in the long-term. If you are a parent, and you still feel comfortable sharing “Lesson 2 – Obey Jehovah” from this DVD with your little ones, then I cannot stand in your way. However, it would be remiss of me not to warn you against potentially compromising your child’s development if I have the means to do so. I hope you can respect my motive for this article, if nothing else.
If the Governing Body would like to have followers two decades from now who are mindless, spineless, easily offended and paranoid of displeasing others, then this is their business. What they CANNOT do is inflict these wishes on a whole new generation of little ones, and in so doing recklessly compromise their intellectual and emotional development. To embark down such a selfish and damaging path with young minds is, in my opinion, unforgiveable.
Chillingly, it seems that this is merely the first in a long line of similar animated films targeting youngsters, as Morris explains in his introductory remarks: “This is just a preview of what we have in store for you in the future.”
For more information, please read the article “What is wrong with Sparlock?” on jwfacts.com
My heart lurched twice while watching the first video. What is the deal with the spotlight of the mother sobbing because the little boy innocently forgot to take off his shoes and tracked in a bit of dirt? Sure, that might be a little annoying but get real! If you sob like that over a minor infraction you’ve got a bed waiting in the Psych ward, sister! Talk about catastrophizing an every day incident. I am very angry on a personal level because I was raised JW since the age of 3 months old and I have struggled with that very issue – catastrophizing – for years. The elders also told my mother to spank me if I made and fuss at the Kingdom Hall… I was 6 months old! I am fuming!
There doesn’t seem to be such a shift in doctrine, as we were not alowed to watch anything that had to do with magic or play with it growing up. The shift is in indoctrination using all senses instead of just a book for the kids. The Dad corrected behavior in a way that I do -as opposed to beating the child using spare the rod spoil the child scripture to back up bad behavior….
Thank you for the comments so far.
The following comment was received by email:
“What is really disturbing to me about these videos is the juxtapositioning of common sense rules about consideration and safety in the first one with unreasonable and unsubstantiated claims in the second one.
This Watch Tower mind warping is nothing new. A few years ago there was a magazine article aimed at older kids that compared immorality and substance abuse with a teacher encouraging a jw student to pursue higher education.
Any kid being indoctrinated by watching these videos will spend years freeing themselves from baseless fear and guilt. It truly is a shame! Hopefully most of them will leave the cult and learn to deal with the mind control like the rest of us have done or are now doing.”
As a witness this film made me feel very sad and depressed. I can only imagine how many innocent children will now be terrified, mortified and possibly even phobic of “making Jehovah upset” and the horrors he could do to them for not thinking for themselves and disobeying the rules of the governing body.
I showed this video to my mother and stood at an angle where I could see her face and she looked shocked at first and then with a puzzled look on her face said, “to people who are not witnesses, this could seem a bit extreme don’t you think?”. I agreed and said that it seemed very strange of them to do this.
Now my mother is a die hard JW and if she can see the cult like effects of this video then I am pretty sure that many more will open their eyes to the truth about this destructive, controlling, and manipulating Religous cult.
Cedars thank you so much for this article!
What a lovely new DVD that JW children will enjoy!
Thank you to the Faithful and Discreet Slave class who has considered our young children with this powerful animated film that by their being wise & obedient, young ones will make Jehovah’s heart glad. -Proverbs 27:11
Really? That is your response to this? No reasoning from the scriptures as to why this is wrong, just a blanket response that ‘Jehovah hates it’. How mindless……….
I agree with you even if seven peole making all the decisions at watchtower headquarters so ?!? No one asked why the apostles are apostles and the others do not. No one asked why only 12 and no one dared to question the choice Jesus has made who will be the apostols chosen apostle Paul etc. This is the faith in Jehovah the right choice.
Tell me Simone, how having a lump of plastic can affect Jehovahs emotions?
This vid is operating on all levels. It packaged up and presented to ‘the kids’, but there is a powerful nudge for the parents in there, in taking control of their kids minds and consciences at the earliest opportunity. They are pressured to make their kids listen and obey without questioning the same as is required of them as adults by the GB. Even how the mum is portrayed…. on her knees cleaning the floor???? Family worship given yet another plug… and the obvious switch of clothes by the mother from trousers to skirt. Everyothing is over the top, exaggerated, extreme….right down to the mums facial expressions and long sighs. The only thing that is in place is Caleb, a young kid wanting to run about and play and have fun with his imagination. Its just so wrong!
Simone, there are around 12,000 members of the Faithful and Discreet Slave class around the world, yet only seven of them are making all the decisions at watchtower headquarters. Where in the bible does it indicate seven of them would represent all the rest?
Agreed, this video is appalling. Surely though, it- and the position of the governing body on warlocks etc.- is merely the result of taking the Bible’s worldview to its logical extreme. Yes, the bible does condemn witchcraft- and so should you, if you want to be a Christian. Don’t be namby-pamby about it. Your ‘god’ is quite happy with not only condemning witches (except when it suits him to use them, eg. the King Saul story), but is quite happy with executing those who listen to them, consult them, etc. So go to it, throw out your kid’s Lord Of The Rings toys- you’re only forestalling the inevitable enslavement of your children to Satan if you don’t. Better still, make THEM do it.
HOWEVER, for this website to condemn the video on the basis that their brand of JW-free christianity is somehow kinder, cuddlier & more forgivingy than the Witnesses is missing the point, to put it mildly, and utterly hypocritical, to be blunt- and truthful. According to Revelation, Jesus and his henchmen are going to destroy, among others, ‘those practising spiritism’- so get used to it, if you think any of that is really ever going to happen.
The real problem here is not the Governing Body, or plastic toys, or any particular interpretation of ‘holy scripture’. The real problem is taking anything in the bible- or the koran, for that matter- as REAL. Because it isn’t. Not any of it. Not its fairytale of how mankind came to be, not its ludicrous stories of a global inundation, the origin of languages, suns that stand still. It is merely fables, invented by the ignorant to explain a mysterious world, and, it can be argued, gain power over the impressionable. If you claim to be christian, deep down you know this. You know it makes no sense, yet it is the best answer you have had presented to you so far as to how we got here, where we are going & what it’s all about- so you stick with it, in spite of your misgivings.
So what IS real? Well, the origins of man, and our kinship with every living thing on the planet, are well understood. Proven science, only argued against by the ignorant or misled. Which are you? I invite you to read the excellent book, “Why Evolution Is True”, by Jerry Coyne, and see the evidence for yourself. Any one of the many other excellent books on the subject will do just as well. However you do it, get yourself a basic understanding of the principles of evolution. Learn about the existence of the fossils of your hominid ancestors stretching back through unimaginable aeons of time. They exist, they are real, you can go look at them any time you like in museums around the world.
I’ll reiterate that for emphasis. THEY ARE REAL. No ‘faith’ required. They are your ancestors. Find out how science knows they were. If not your ancestors, what were they? If you believe in a god, why did he make everything look so convincingly like life evolved? (Even if he WERE real, surely he would forgive you for assuming that we evolved, given the mountains of evidence?)
After that, you will have to decide for yourself where YOU want to go, & what YOUR OWN life is for, rather than some preacher somewhere telling you. It’s scary, deciding what your own moral standards should be- but ultimately liberating. You can have the joy- yes, the joy- of being free to do things that benefit your fellow man purely because you can, and want to- no strings attached, no promised heavenly reward to screw up your motivations. It takes work to free yourself from superstition, but oh, the freedom from guilt, the freedom to make the absolute best of the life you have before you, knowing that it’s the only one you’ve got. It’s challenging, to say the least, but oh, it tastes sweet.
But producing a people who put their lives on hold because paradise is coming? Producing people who denigrate the wonders of science, but are happy to enjoy its benefits? Producing a nasty video to terrify children into blind obedience to a vengeful god? That takes more than seven men in Brooklyn. That takes religion.
P.S. I’d be surprised, and mightily impressed, if this post was allowed to get through. But before you can it, mr. or ms. moderator, think- what would jesus do?
Thanks for your comment debunkum. I appreciate hearing your thoughts as regards the video, but I think you’re reading too much into the purpose of this website, and inventing our mission statement for us.
We do not set out to advocate our own “JW free” version of christianity as you put it – we merely seek to show that JW beliefs are damaging, and run contrary to the bible (the very book that JWs point to as the origin of their beliefs). There are other JW-related websites that advocate various beliefs with subtle variations on the JW faith. This is not one of them.
The mission of this website is not to advocate any set of beliefs in particular, but merely to give JWs a voice on their own beliefs and, where possible, draw attention to damaging beliefs that cause sorrow to many within the Witness faith.
Obviously, we cannot speak to our fellow JWs and reason with them without drawing attention to the scriptures as a reasonable basis. I’m sorry if this offends you, or if you find it “hypocritical”, but really it isn’t. Rather, it would be hypocritical for us to call ourselves a website for Jehovah’s Witnesses and dismiss the bible as irrelevant, as you would seem to recommend.
Cedars
Yes, Dubunkum, you can’t argue with a fossel. But, just like it took a lot of people a long time to understand that the earth was round, not flat,so it shall be with evolution. In a hundred years or so evolution will be as obvious to most people as the earth being round. In the mean time some of us have to attend to small skirmises on the front, as wars are often won.
Oh who is a clever boy then?
Really. You are rude, condescending and ignorant of the facts. Just because you’ve read the ‘God Delusion’ (as I am in the process of reading) and listened to an ignorant know it all atheist, this does not give you the right to come in and trample over everybody’s opinion. If the thread was about evolution vs creation then your comments might be okay, but instead you attempt to hijack the thread with a totally unrelated matter and insult everybody in the process.
Recently I attended a Christian apologetic conference, where every speaker was a scientist from all disciplines. Have you ever heard of John Lennox? No? Well he was just one professor who spoke at the conference. He is mathematics professor at Oxford University and he would dismiss your views as naive and ill informed. Don’t believe Dawkins, there are many, many scientist who come from all different disciplines who do not accept Dawkins atheistic material world view. You might do yourself a favour and look at the other side of the coin, by reading some of the published material by these people. Just a thought.
My last comment was for Debunkum
You mean the ‘circle’ / ’round’ earth that the Bible talked about three thousand years ago? Wow!! For a bunch of dirt scratching herdsmen they sure GUESSED that one right.
This video production not only brought back a flood of memories from my childhood, but also I saw how I raised my kids – manipulating them with fear and guilt rather than teaching them how to think critically.
I also noticed to hypocrisy of the WTS, they teach small children that wizards with long white beards, staffs and magic power are evil. Then teach the young ones about Moses a man with a long white beard a magic staff and very powerful magic “miracles and plagues” .
For lonelysheep:
Isaiah 40:22 describes Jehovah as “dwelling above the circle of the earth”. The Society would have you believe that this refers to the spherical shape of the earth. But consider: if Jehovah dwells ABOVE the earth, where exactly would that be? Outer space, obviously. Now, does Jehovah really dwell in outer space, somewhere just outside the earth’s atmosphere? If you think so, then what country does he choose to dwell above?
Obviously there is something very wrong with the picture painted by the Society here. It is senseless.
The Hebrew word “chuwg” translated as “circle” NEVER means anything other than a literal circle in any Hebrew literature. It NEVER refers to a ball-shaped thing. So if you insist on interpreting Isaiah 40:22 literally, then it must mean that the Bible writer was referring to a pizza-pie shaped earth, with Jehovah literally sitting above its center. This picture accords perfectly with the picture painted in Daniel 4 of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream tree that stood in the center of the earth and was visible from every part of the earth. This could not be if the earth were spherical. Good arguments can be made that if this is really the writer’s view, then it proves that the Bible is not inspired. If on the other hand you interpret the passage figuratively, then the word picture painted must be poetical, not literal. Then the Society’s argument evaporates.
Of course, Watchtower writers know this very well, because the flaw in their claim has been pointed out to them for many years. So when they continue repeating their bogus claim, they’re lying to you.
What does Jehovah think about people who lie to others, especially when the liars literally claim to speak in his name?
I like to point out to people who put faith in religious liars this passage from Job 13:7-12 (New Living Translation)”
7 Are you defending God with lies?
Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?
8 Will you slant your testimony in his favor?
Will you argue God’s case for him?
9 What will happen when he finds out what you are doing?
Can you fool him as easily as you fool people?
10 No, you will be in trouble with him
if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor.
11 Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?
Doesn’t your fear of him overwhelm you?
12 Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes.
Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot.
All you need to do in this reguard is to read, pray for Holy Spirit for understanding from Jehovah, which he will abiliage and apply. It is a lot of things we don’t see or hear that we believe wholehearted without questions and the same can and must of Jehovah and his son Jesus Christ. So in essence God has made himself sound and known; the rest is up to that individual. As for me and me alone I trust and believe the Bible and it’s message better than any man-made authority, and you I should hope are just speaking for self and not a mulitude of people? Sincerely Nell5594@gmail.com.
I see a lot of boys on school with a earings, hair cut like gansters,pants hanging,etc the better education its a gansters or rappers than a lawyer or Doctor and nobody said anything about it, even the goverments care more for the food kids eat than what’s going to be the future of our kids. The future of this country. But if JW try to teach the kids what is in the Bible thats so bad. Come on read the bible before publish something like this.
Anonymous – your comment is slightly confusing, and doesn’t make it clear as to why owning a toy wizard would lead a child to a career as a gangster or rapper. Also, I can assure you I have read the bible, and nowhere does it stipulate the type of toy a child should or shouldn’t play with. If you can find a scripture I have missed, then please forward it to me. The point of this article is to show that the Governing Body is going above and beyond what is written in the Bible to make the lives of children overly restrictive and, worst of all, impair critical thinking skills.
and yes Jehovah hates every thing what is bad.
Proverbs 8:13
`The fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad.Self -exaltation and pride and the bad way and the perverse mouth I have hated`
Proverbs 6 :16
`there are six thinghs that Jehovah does hate; yes seven are thinghs detestable to his soul`
so yes He hates but only bad things
and on the end
leviticus 19:31
` do not turn yourselves to the spirit mediums and do not consult professinal foretellers of events so as to become UNCLEAN BY THEM. I am Jehovah Your God
anonim – Since you seem intent on quoting scripture and making sweeping applications, here’s another verse for you: “They bind up heavy loads and put them upon the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger.” (Matthew 23:4)
This perfectly describes the Governing Body, who liken themselves to the Apostles without any scriptural justification. They constantly create laws governing the minutae of everyday life, from the bedroom of married couples to the hospital wards of severely ill patients. Put together, these rules form a “heavy load” on the “shoulders of men”.
To insist that a child should not own a piece of plastic in the shape of a wizard is rule-making to an absurd degree, and contravenes a parent’s basic right to decide for themselves what their child should or shouldn’t play with.
Well then are we to conclude that children shouldn’t watch or read fairy tales and classics such as Alladin, Little Mermaid ,Lion King etc? after all, they are full of fantasy, spirits and magic. ..does it mean that children who enjoy them are not Jehovahs friends?
If you watch the first video you will quite clearly see that Caleb is flying the plane, therefore imagining, (as children do, as I did as a child) that he is a pilot. We all have our own personal desires and we start dreaming at a very young age. Hence, Caleb playing with a Wizard toy sparks the imagination and sorcery becomes a fun, harmless game. Why not try a wigi board next?
Wisdom is a rare quality these days, a man can absorb knowledge his entire life, yet without wisdom he is no better protected from the choices he makes than a man with little knowledge.
With your reasoning, why not let our children play with prostitute action figures? Or maybe Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold action figures?
I love this DVD, and there will be more and more of them for you enjoy watching
The reason they were removed from YouTube is because they will be available for download for anyone who wishes, on the official jw website, which I think the combined site will be completed by September.
What starts off as ‘just fun’, ‘just a peek’ often leads to pain and hurt. The married man who ‘only flirts’ with his secretary, the curious teen who only wants to ‘try’ crack once, the young boy who ‘only imagines’ he is a sorcerer.
When I was at school, we collected top trump cards, and went on bike rides. Now in schools the children, at ages young as 7 are competing with each other, who has had sex! Violence is a part of everyday normal life, whether on the tv, on the Xbox or in the playground, etc etc. Morality in our society is dying out fast, we need to do everything in our god given parental right to protect our most dearly loved children! And that includes, just fun sorcery.
Psalms 83:18 – your reasoning and logic is very skewed and difficult to untangle. Why does the scene with the aeroplane at the beginning of the DVD make it excusable for Caleb’s parents to manipulate their child into throwing away a harmless toy? There is a world of difference between a ouija board and a plasic toy wizard, surely even you can see that.
It’s hard to take your “prostitute action figures” comment seriously. Are you saying that a plastic toy wizard is just as bad as a sexually provocative figurine? Please think your comments through more carefully before making them.
You are truly naive if you believe the Society had the videos removed from YouTube for no other reason than because they would be available on their website in the future. Rather, they removed the videos from YouTube to avoid embarrassment by those who (unlike heavily-indoctrinated JWs such as yourself) can see straight through the mind-control and manipulation techniques, and see instantly how ridiculous and potentially damaging the films are. In any case, if the videos are intended for non-profit educational purposes, then what difference does it make whether the videos are both on the Society’s website AND YouTube? It’s just another effort to exercise control.
I’m sorry, but the rest of your comment is just drivel, and you fail to logically answer any of the arguments put forth in my article. I hope you can one day wake up and see how deeply you have been indoctrinated to agree with everything the organization says, regardless of how little it makes sense.
This whole article was not only untruthful but totally uncalled for. First anf foremost, this video was made for children to understand to obey their parents and Jehovah. How much more clearer can that get? The wizard toy would make Jehovah sad because wizard powers are acts of Satan the devil. The reason Caleb shouldn’t have given the toy back to his friend was because evil toys like that shouldn’t be passed on but rather disposed of. Satan is ever trying hard to pull young ones down in this old system of things with him.Jehovah is only looking out for his young ones by giving this wonderful DVD to us.
Anonymous – please can you highlight exactly which statements were untruthful? I endeavour to speak only the truth in all of my articles, so I would appreciate you clarifying that comment. Apart from that, if you are the type of person who believes in “wizard powers”, then I sense it is pointless trying to reason with you.
Hey, I can’t wait to view the DVD ! the preview looks awesome!!
I agree!
I am genuinely curious – why you think that Jesus personally chose those seven the way he chose his apostles? Is there any possible evidence other than because they say so?
Last comment was for anonim.
Anything given to us from Jehovah is a blessing. You need to make sure what your priorities are. Either Parents raise their children to love and serve Jehovah or Satan will teach them and you will loose them forever. After reading your comments it is now very obvious whos side you are on, here is a hint – its not Jehovahs.
Yes kids are impressionable and yes for kids everything is dramatic – thats part of being a kid. But I would want my child to know whats right and wrong from the bible. I would thought you guys would to. This is a present from Jehovah to help parents look after their young impressionable children. Given the choice I would have thought anything Jehovah gives is better than what satan give anyday.
There is nothing wrong with kids being taught to be tidy either. I would say it was nice knowing you but i wont this will be the last post i have on here as i can see this is obviously an apostate website.. I am looking forward to being in paradise without the likes of you lot.
Shion – your absolutist reasoning, i.e. “you’re either for us or against us” is very familiar to me. Even before George Bush famously used this line following 9/11, similar reasoning has been used for decades by the Watchtower organization.
At this moment in my life, I question many of my earlier beliefs. In the absense of any pressing urgency, I find it healthy to do so. I can tell you this, however: if Satan existed I would have absolutely no interest in serving him. Furthermore, I believe that by exposing the REAL truth I am working directly against his supposed interests.
The Watchtower describes Satan as the “original liar”, and describes Jehovah as the “God of Truth”. By that token, you could assume that everything false printed by the Society comes from Satan, and everything true comes from God. Precisely how many false things have been written in Society publications over the years, and (even worse) attributed to guidance from God’s spirit?
As an example, if you have a Reasoning Book on your bookshelf and turn to page 200, you will see the statement: “They [Jehovah's Witnesses] believe that… some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete destruction of the present wicked world…” Would you consider that statement (or belief) to be true, or false? From the original liar, or the God of Truth?
Aside from that, I have no interest in refuting any of your statements since you clearly haven’t had the decency to read or contemplate on my article. For this reason I was tempted to delete your comment, but I will keep it as a means of demonstrating the closed-mindedness and absolutist “us and them” reasoning that flourishes in the minds of cult victims.
As to your final statement – paradise will be a very empty place if there are only going to be 7 million survivors and an eye-watering 6.9 billion fatalities at Armageddon (most of these in Asian and Arab countries where JWs are virtually non-existant).
Jehovah says: “Hate what is bad”. Jehovah hates spiritism, magics and other spiritual practices that is sinful. The toy wizard is just a toy as other people say, it isnt harmful. But, the toy represent as a wizard that suppose to be magical for kids to play with. It is not a restriction for kids, it is our protection from our heavenly father Jehovah. Let me ask you this, if Jesus, the son of God was on earth right now, how would he feel about it when he sees a kid playing a magical wizard toy or watching movies? Im pretty sure Jesus would be sad and hurt. He wouldn’t even watch movies that contains spiritual practices as entertainment. We have to see it in God’s view, not our own view. The truth is from the bible which is God’s Word. If you are being persecuted, you have the truth. It says it clearly from the bible. You can even look up in your bible. I have compared it with other bibles and it says it clearly right there in fine print.
The righteous and the unrighteous people will be resurrected. They will have the chance to learn about the true God Jehovah. Matt.24:9, Matt.5:10,11
Whether we are now being persecuted or not, we should be concerned about fellow Christians.
Preach, firstly – thank you for your comment. You said “Jehovah hates spiritism, magics and other spiritual practices that is sinful.” Jehovah also hates those who prophesy falsely in his name (Deu 18:19-22), but this doesn’t stop the Watch Tower Society repeatedly making predictions in Jehovah’s name that do not come true.
Nowhere in the bible does it stipulate what sort of toy a child should or shouldn’t play with, and yet there is plenty of archeological evidence to suggest that toys existed in bible times. In the absence of any divinely inspired warnings about various types of toy, we are left with the Apostle Paul’s admonition not to “go beyond the things that are written”. (1 Cor 4:6) This is just one of many examples of how the Society “bind(s) up heavy loads and put(s) them upon the shoulders of men”. (Matt 23:4) If Jesus were on the Earth right now, he would be more concerned about the unmerciful and damaging teachings of the Governing Body and their hypocritical alliance with the UN (which was terminated only when it became public knowledge) than whether or not a child is playing with a toy wizard.
Finally, if you believe that being persecuted means that you have the truth, then you have a very low threshold for what does or doesn’t constitute God’s organization. There are many religions around the world that are persecuted, and you could easily join one of those instead.
I truly believe most comments here tend to be at the extreme on both sides. I can’t speak for anyone but myself and my experiences as a JW. I have seen many things in my lifetime within the organization. At the end of the day one has to realize that people are imperfect and make mistakes, and ALL Religious organizations, have made mistakes. Not a single one is perfect as long as they are run by imperfect people! That being said, I personally choose to be a JW because I feel it is the truth, and I believe in the bible and it’s teachings above all else.
There will always be those in every religion that go to the extreme and make everyone else look bad. There are always going to be bad parents around that unfortunately use religion to opress their own children. Personally I don’t believe the society by means of its publications, digital or print, is telling anyone what they have to do, but to use their own conscience with a biblical base to make decisions.
I was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, in fact my father and most men in my family are elders. My parents always taught me to use my own reasoning when it came to our religious beliefs. My own father expressed to me that I had to find the truth and love for Jehovah on my own. I was encouraged to research things for myself, even outside of the Watchtower publications. I was never told to not pursue higher education, (both my parents hold high degrees) but to be wise in what environment I chose to receive that higher education. I even took theology classes at the university I attended. I was never taught that money was evil, but that the pursuit of only money was displeasing to God. And I was never taught that I had to go preaching to people to convert them! As long as I gave out Jesus’ message I was fulfilling what he asked of me.
I was taught why I believed the way I did, and how to back that up scripturally; but I was never taught to go about with the goal of disproving other peoples beliefs or to argue with them about it. That kind of behavior is displeasing to God no matter your religion.
I guess my point is this, everyone is going to have an opinion either way; and simply put, if you don’t like it then don’t watch it. People have to decide for themselves. And parents have to decide what they feel is best for their children.
And all people must remember, regardless of whatever christian denomination you are, only Jehovah God sees what is in our hearts. No one group will make it to paradise! And not a single person on this earth has the right to judge who and who should not make it there.
God is Love.
Thank you Just Me for sharing your comments and story. I try to get across in all of my articles the importance of people deciding for themselves what to do, and certainly this article is no different. Parents must decide for themselves whether to show this DVD to their children. However, the DVD itself does NOT promote freeness of thought, but rather the deliberate suppression of thought. No scriptures are used in bringing Caleb to the conclusion that toy wizards make Jehovah “sad” – only a scary picture of an old and decrepit Adam and Eve. It is such harmful and deliberately manipulative techniques that I find disturbing and inappropriate more than anything else.
I notice that you, like many others, excuse the Society with the frequently-used line that no religious organization is perfect. However, we are not talking about just ANY old religious organization, but an organization that claims to be God’s chosen channel of communication. If you are going to make such a bold claim, then you had better get it right 100% of the time. The Governing Body certainly doesn’t ask for your sympathy or excuses. It insists that all of its suggestions and teachings should be adhered to even if they are changed at a later date. Otherwise, you are (at best) failing to keep step with Jehovah’s organization, or (at worst) a “mentally diseased” apostate.
I have to say here, that I do not simply excuse the mistakes of the society or brush it off lightly! I just understand mistakes are made. And it is my choice to stay or leave based on that. And I do not speak for the masses. In the bible many of Gods followers made grave mistakes, and were still shown God’s mercy and forgiveness and favor. I excercise my belief in forgiveness. At the same time I don’t base my salvation on the society.
However, please keep in mind, JW’s are not the only ones that say they are the channel of communication of God. I have several friends of other denominations such as Catholic, Baptist and Pentacostal, who are taught the exact same thing by their relgious leaders. Let’s not single one group out or hold one group to a different standard. You may not agree with the DVD but as an example, do you agree that other religions should teach children that if they are any other faith they will go to Hell; or do you respect their choice in that teaching?
My comment is not to start a debate, (there is no point) but let’s please keep things in perspective here.
We will continue to have different opinions and there is nothing wrong with that. I don’t beleive the point is to prove or disprove anything here.
But like all other publications this is not meant to be an exclusive show of beliefs. It is merely an aide. It is the responsibility of the parent to sit down and discuss in further detail this DVD with their children. Parents still need to parent, and not rely solely on a publication to teach their children biblical lessons! (However many people in all religions don’t understand that)
I have responded to your post because I am an individual with my own way of thinking and reasoning; I don’t like being thrown into the masses of what others have said or responded.
God is Love.
It’s interesting you should say “In the bible many of Gods followers made grave mistakes, and were still shown God’s mercy and forgiveness and favor.” If you are referring to righteous men such as Moses, Daniel, Elijah etc, these first established their credentials as spokesmen of God. Neither the Governing Body nor the organization in general has ever done this. I would urge you to read Part 4 of my “Under the microscope” series about the supposed selection by Christ in 1919, and what material was being published by the Society at that time. You will be astonished.
You make the point: “I have several friends of other denominations such as Catholic, Baptist and Pentacostal, who are taught the exact same thing by their relgious leaders. Let’s not single one group out or hold one group to a different standard.” I’m not holding JWs to any different standard than would apply to any organization that claims to act as representatives of God. The difference is that I know alot about JWs, but very little about the faiths you mention. I will say this though, I am not aware of any of those denominations (in general) enforcing the strict shunning policies that are enforced by Jehovah’s Witnesses, where parents are urged to have nothing further to do with errant baptized teenagers. This is an extremely unloving and unmerciful misapplication of scripture. (Matt 9:13; 1 Tim 5:8) Furthermore, Jesus urged us to scrutinize religions in the same way that he scrutinized the religious leaders of his day. He said, “Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those [men].” (Matt 7:19)
You say: “You may not agree with the DVD but as an example, do you agree that other religions should teach children that if they are any other faith they will go to Hell; or do you respect their choice in that teaching?” My answer: I am against teaching children ANYTHING that is false as though it is fact. However, as I’ve already mentioned, I know more about Jehovah’s Witnesses than, for example, about Catholics – and I feel obliged to warn people about damaging teachings or practices where necessary. In doing so I am not promoting an alternative faith or belief system. I am merely highlighting falsehood.
You say: “But like all other publications this is not meant to be an exclusive show of beliefs. It is merely an aide.” The fact that it is intended as an “aide” does not dismiss the fact that the Governing Body has used this “aide” to send a clear message to parents about what toys are or are not acceptable, and that providing sound scriptural explanations when reasoning with children is unnecessary. I happen to disagree with this pharisaical approach.
You say: “I don’t like being thrown into the masses of what others have said or responded.” In my previous comment, I was merely highlighting that the excuse of the Governing Body being imperfect is often used as an excuse to justify their errors, but this is irrelevant when you consider the position they have awarded themselves. I did not mean to group you into any category, although I do think it’s a shame that you feel the need to defend what is obviously a very inappropriate children’s DVD.
Although I greatly disagree with your reasoning against the DVD (and I think you and I could actually go on for days, in a good way, over a variety of topics)I do respect it. Be blessed.
God is Love.
No problem Just Me, no hard feelings!
You say “God is Love”, but also remember that Jehovah is a God of truth. (Psalm 31:5) Please keep that in mind.
JustMe, you state, ” I was never taught to go about with the goal of disproving other peoples beliefs or to argue with them about it. That kind of behavior is displeasing to God no matter your religion.”
You sound like you were raised in a balanced manner. However, if you really believe what you wrote in that quote, than you are in the wrong religion. The entire purpose of the Watchtower is to prove all other religions wrong, and that God will destroy all its adherents shortly at Armageddon.
You have been able to live a reasonable life by ignoring much of the the GB say, such as by gaining a higher education, but not every follower has the critical thinking skills and strength of personality to do what is right above following mindless Watchtower rules.
The Sparlock DVD is a great example of how the GB suppress critical thinking. The Bible is full of magic, such as the actions of Moses, who could easily be described as a Magician for Jehovah. Yet if a JW child tried to have a reasoned discussion around such a point, they would be shut down as insubordinate, or when older as an apostate.
OMG! I was raised a JW, and that was the saddest argument I have ever seen by one who still is JW…
Care to be more specific?!
My grandson, who is 3, was telling me “magic is bad” several times a day. I did not know what he was talking about, but I knew his mother was being drawn into a Jehovah’s Witness church and so I googled and found your site and the video.
I am concerned. I have no rights as a grandmother. I am a non practicing Catholic, and I consider myself a good but imperfect person. I graduated cum laude from Georgetown University. As a JW, what do you suggest I should respond when he tells me magic is bad?
Mary
I’m going to go out on a limb and say the vid isn’t that bad. Every strict version of religion seeks to indoctrinate the young and this is no worse than the Baptist or Muslim position on these toys. Anyone remember the He-Man/She-Ra wars of the 80s? All manner of ‘demonic’ toys railed against? It had an effect. Even today those nostalgic ‘toons are aired after midnight and aimed at adults. For muslims years back it was Barbie. Heck in the 70′s it was the Parents Resource Council against cartoon violence that changed the shape of Saturday morning TV. And today it continues w/ toy guns being politically incorrect. Maybe there isn’t a cartoon advising parents to toss them, but even Power Rangers don’t use kitschy space guns to fight their battles. More insidious because its less obvious and in your face but still clear about what ‘proper’ parents are supposed to do (even down to banning deaf kids’ sign names.
It was the boys depiction of the moms upset… Don’t over-achieve on this simple video.
Hmmmm lucky he didnt bring home a Black cat …. Witches love them…… oooo that must be for a future video……Im clad i have not infilcted that JW BS on my own kids……had enough of it as a kid
there was no need for this video, the GB again has show just how much regard they have for parents, I think they treat the parents in the same context as Caleb, surely JW parents know already that this is a no, no without having to have a video to send out signals to little minds, and little minds would be very curious even more so now, and would probably rebel.
they must think there are plenty of slack JW parents out there.
They needed to make this video…well, about as much as they need to make a video telling deaf people not to masturbate! Yeah… Now there’s a winning Idea…It will really go over great!
I loved all those magical fairy tales, Bewitched, Smurfs and many more when I was a child. As an adult I love Harry Potter movies, movies about vampires, werewolves etc…but guess what I don’t think they are real and I don’t believe in magic.
Skimming thru this thread, I couldn’t believe John Lennox’s name came up. I don’t think there is a more dishonest man.
Here’s a rather funny debunking of Lennox’s blatant quote-mining by the victim himself; Richard Dawkins. Enjoy the dishonesty.
I was raised a JW, when I was 7 my parents got it into their heads somehow (I wonder who put this thought into their heads mm) But tv was a bad influence, so they threw the tv out. Pretty much from then onwards throughout my childhood and mid teens we had no tv. No more wizard of oz for me then. That angered me as a child. I often paused for thought, why me, why did I have to have the MS dad and the Elder Uncle who were so strict to the line, never faltering from the rule book. As I got older the pain intensified. The more I tried to make my parents proud of me, I just could not. I left and almost immediately I joined a Wiccan coven. I can tell anyone here who may wish to know, Wiccans do not worship Satan, that is a Christian concept one which was made up by them. Wiccans do practice Magick (proper way it is spelled) but it’s no where near as glitzy, fabby, fiery or icey and sparkly the way tv produces. It’s more about positive thinking and using nature to her fullest for health and healing. My point being I thought I was going the different route from the constant rules of no magic, no wizards nothing to do with the stuff whatsoever, the controlling environment that the GB imposes on each and everyone of it’s members. It’s up to the members to do what they will with that information as I found out that many JW children were still allowed to go to certain events which I was not allowed. I wondered yeah why were they allowed and I was not. It is full of hypocrisy. This whole video from what I seen of it, made my stomach lurch. I could not believe that they were still going on about something so trivial, that could essentially remove children from the organisation. Do you see Calebs little face ? When he makes the decision that he should bin this toy ? Yes it was one which made my heart bleed, reminded me of myself as a JW kid and not allowed to do such things, even although I knew at the time that wizards like that were not real, Santa was not real, Unicorns were not real, they were all fake. This put me steadily on a path of leaving the organisation, it made me rebel.
Someone go dig out your My Book of Bible Stories and tell me why a story about RAPE and pictures of horror, people dying and little babies (the flood) being innocently killed by flood waters which it says Jehovah God created because there was so much badness in the world, that he decided to wipe it all clean. Ask yourselves “Innocent Babies” Why would a LOVING God want to destroy something so innocent, not tainted in anyway ? It is something I quarrelled with in my own mind for years after leaving, and have come to my own conclusion that if he/she really was so loving, he/she would not destroy something so innocent. Maybe instead of listening to everything that the GB spoon feeds you, go look at your bible with no other literature at all and come to your own conclusions on the matter. I feel that every single religion out there, big and small are all out for one single purpose and have always done so because of that one single purpose. GREED which is one of the 7 deadly sins. Each and every one of them takes money from your donation boxes, and yes they do have nice houses high up in the Organisation for their own personal gain. SELFISH is what I see them as, using the little sheep as puppets to gain more members, brainwash the parents, control the children, take their imaginations away whilst raking in the cash. I don’t believe in any religion anymore, I come to my own conclusions with my own free will. This is one dvd that should be thrown in the trash, not some stupid toy which is a figment of someone’s imagination NOT REAL.
As a former witness i would like to say one thing to those who are still blinded and mentally ill enough to be in this horrible cult; Go out get yourself some weed and smoke it ( may help pry open your extremely closed minds) and go listen to or read anything on the subject of “god” by Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens.
this dvd disturbed me.i will not be showing it to my grandchildren.i would like my grandkids to obey jehovahs commandments out of love for him,not because they are scared to death of him.this is not the way jesus taught…
Sorry for this messy, English isn’t my mother tongue:
My whole family is JW. I was born in it. When I was 6 the Power Rangers were very famous, they were on the top. I had all the Rangers’ action figures (took a time to get the six). One day a “sister” saw me playing with them. She conviced my parents to take my toys away. My mom so called me and told me what the “sister” said. “These toys are from Satan and he is with them. Jehovah is very sad with you”. You don’t know how horrified I was when I heard this (THE DEMON IS HERE WITH ME). The “sister” took my toys and placed them in a bag. Then, while I was watching, she picked a hammer and smashed my only friends. I cried a lot. They were my only friends because I wasn’t allowed to play with the children of neighborhood (“wordly children”) and I had no many toys.
This “religion” hit me hard so many times in so may ways in my childhood and adolescence that I’m not confortable to talk about here. When I was 17 I quit without regret. It was hell cause all my family… You know the story. It was like living in a fictional series, in a bubble. When you go out you are alone and have to learn fast. You have no prepare cause they took everything of you. It’s shocking. You can figure out my age now. Today I’m seeing a therapist, trying to defeat the f*cking depression, my social fobia and other problems. I barely can work, get out of my home, talk with people, etc. It’s harsh and frustating, but I’m fighting. Rediscovering the life. The bright side of the life.
(About Sparlock, the same talk occurred with Harry Potter, Lord fo the Rings, etc. They try to extinguish criativity, imagination, education, because it’s easier to handle with brainless sheeps. It’s easier manipulate them.)
Well the new DVD didn’t seem to have had much of an impact on the entire row of Jehovah’s Witnesses, seated directly in front of me, who were all being throughly entertained by the magic practising wizards, demons and ghouls in the movie – The Hobbit.
What I find most intriguing is, the Sparlock DVD allows no room for a Witness to make a “conscience decision” about the matter. It clearly lays down the laws, stating that being entertained by anything that is “magical”, even a toy, is tantamount to disobedience to Jehovah…
However, the reality is, while most JWs will publicly defend this DVD, privately they will still choose to disobey Jehovah and continue to watch the “magical” movies and buy the “magical” toys.
This was a very disturbing video on manipulation it brought back memories for me too on the so called rumors of the smurfs running down the isles of the Kingdom Halls. It is interesting to see some of the comments from JW parents here who say they are teaching their kids to obey Jehovah, they should then stop using the U.S. money as they have the all seeing eye and pyramid. Use common sense when it comes to parenting kids. It’s good to teach kids values but it is also good to let children have their imaginations.
As i am not a JW but my wife is, i did watch the dvd with my wife and my 3 year old daughter…i dont think that it was a bad movie but i can see how being the one looking outside in it could be a lil harsh…I know that as parents we are to shield and protect our children from things that are against God. Having a toy that is a wizard doesnt mean that the child will get involved in withcraft later on, but remember this, if as parents we dont watch what our children see and hear we are not protecting them…it is our responsibility to protect them from Satan who is constantly trying to get to them…I do believe that saying Jehovah hates this and hates that to children is a little harsh, but showing children that playing with certain toys that depict sorcery or magic is wrong not because God “hates” it but letting them know that the spirit behind the toy is wrong and we should surround our selves with things that push us away from evil…I think the dvd was harmless and to say that is was protraying a bad message to children is reaching too much.
The Governing Body’s main message in the DVD is simply this…
Owning a plastic toy wizard incapable of performing “magic”, is a wilful act of disobedience against God. According to Caleb’s mother, if the boy keeps the toy, then like Adam and Event he cannot be Jehovah’s friend.
I think any self respecting parent capable of thinking for themselves would see this DVD as complete garbage.
@ Biblecheck;
well any self respecting parent capable of thinking for them selves is most likely not a JW or a Christian….Using Adam and Eve was wrong for the example that was trying to be portrayed…The spirit behind the wizard is really what can be harmful. Maybe what should have happened is Caleb should have given the toy back since in his home playing with those kind of toys is not allowed because of the spirit behind it…Yes we know that the toy is incapabal of performing magic…but it does lead to other things down the line if he was to continue to have those kind of toys…the movie that was coming out that the toy was promoting most likely would be promoting some type of magic and allowing Caleb to have the toy would only cause him to want to see the movie, therefore letting him see magic and of course the movie is going to make it seem harmless…that would be harmful to Caleb because he would think that magic is ok
hmmm more jw childhood memories: also reminds me of when i burned a “magic” board game with wizards on it from my grandmother. i “had to make the choice”. my mother was so proud of me when i told her what i’d done. looking back, its like i was being ripped away from my grandmother in a certain way, by denying that frequent intimacy that a child should haave with grandparents.. also had “magic” wands (the glass thingies where the little moons and sparkles move up and down) intercepted from same grandmother. right in the trash as if they were an after school special doobie. life’s tough as a little dude when you think all of your classmates are gonna be eaten by a giant multiheaded beast of satan the next time theres a war on the news!! guess thats why i could never keep friends as a kid, huh? operation desert storm was a tough year for me. (5th grade)
*any shrinks out there that read this please comment/ give free diagnosis/cure besides copious mj smokking. genesis chapter one something: and god gave man all the herbs bearing seed. bam. 420 420 baba bouie baba bouie eatmyrect elders
overthinking it. the toys like he man, smurfs, eben gi joe (because hes military and military forces will be no more in the new system) have been outlawed in witness households for a long time. or have they? i remember a lot of kids that i grew up with who were witnesses totally had toys i wasnt allowed to have. and they were allowed to be there and call themselves witnesses. but it seems to me that the “whiter” a family is the more important these issues become. indcating that minority based households hold a looser view of what acceptable is in the sense of whats allowed for the kids to have. and they do go off their rockers. seen it, been there. unless being from african based or latina merican based ancestry is just wrong because they arent as anal about the cartoons their kids watch. which in the end is whats gonna erip us all aprt!!! what cartoons our kids watch bc its what we are indoctrinating them with!! also makes a strong point for those working families that cant monitor what the kids watch all the time. maybe thats how satan gets in so much! LOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOL seriously should do a term paper on that if it were allowed
@ Bill Melater,
The race concerns are serious ones and run very deep in that organization…far deeper than meet the eye. I have found through my experiences that very little is left to chance and that people are more controlled than they even realize and there is agenda behind most things. Also, that there is a co occurring dichotomy of incompetence and lack of control over anything that takes place (???) Some of those concerns being that we all have seen black and Hispanic brother who are permitted to wear the outlandish pimp purple and multi colored suits and 3 toned shoes on a regular basis but for a middle aged white man it would mean an immediate counsel or committee! I mentioned before about the overwhelming number of older black men who seek out young white sisters with no opposition and who come into the organization on the tacit invitation to “Come get your snow bunnies” because the getting is easy and good! It meets the agenda of The Society to look “culturally diverse”.
I can attest that if a young sister shows a perfectly healthy and normal interest in an older white brother it can be a devastating event for all parties! It is quashed and squashed quickly! Crimes and Rights violations can and do ensue which I will also attest to! The Society has been through this event and is criminally liable for much including coercion, undue influence and moving young sisters around the country to avoid relationships with full documented knowledge…These are matters that are yet to be dealt with…
Oooh what could happen down the line I wonder. The child could become a follower of Sparlock? He could become a wizard, or a Satanist?
LOL where does it end?
I think parents are too often the source of paranoia in children through instilling fears based on unprovable theories and unfounded beliefs – such as “magical” hocus pocus. Most of these beliefs are based on the “testimonies” and miraculous reports of magic from other believers (e.g. satanic books that won’t burn, talking smurfs, floating furniture).
This conditioning increases the chances of producing young adults who are capable of dramatic self-deception to ease cognitive discomfort. No wonder so many going through the process of unlearning this crap require professional counselling to deal with the emotional pain as they break free from erroneous beliefs.
My god I am so glad I left all this behind.
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
“It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.”
“He who breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the course of wisdom.”
“Courage will now be your best defense against the storm that is at hand-—that and such hope as I bring.”
“I will not say, ‘do not weep,’ for not all tears are an evil.”
-All these quotes are from the character Gandalf the Wizard in the book The Lord of the Rings. He is a wise, gentle, sometimes playful/sometimes serious leader who devotes his life to the cause of ridding the world of evil. How can anyone say that God would hate someone like that? What better role model could a child have?
PS If I had a dollar for every time I heard the story about the smurf walking down the aisle, I’d be a rich man. It’s as if everyone has an uncle whose friend was in the congregation that that happened to. Haha.
I also want to say I’m glad I had a normal, wholesome JW upbringing where I was shown pictures of people burning alive at Armageddon, made to think it’s natural to live forever without getting old, and told stories about harlots riding around on seven-headed beasts while drinking goblets of blood.
If I had been allowed to play with Sparlock, I could have gotten really messed up….
I am a Baptist married to a JW. My husband recently put on that DVD for my kids, aged 3 and 4, to watch. I hung around and watched it along with them. I must say the DVD looked spooky, and gloomy! Infact, the next day I threw it away. Didn’t want them to have to watch that movie another day and reinforce whatever negativity that they had been exposed to in the first place. The Christian faith and walk is supposed to be one of joy, I didn’t get to see that in the movie.