Photos have been released online showing a curious arrangement of bible-shaped baptism pools at the recent 2014 international convention in South Korea.
It is unclear precisely who made the “bible pools,” or how much time and expense was invested in their construction. What is certain is that they were a prominent feature at the Watchtower-sponsored event.
The bizarre structures seem to have doubled-up as elaborate props for announcing the release of the revised New World Translation in Korean.
The video below shows volunteers removing a black cover from one of the giant bibles to reveal the latest silver design against a backdrop of applause.
This website has already noted the extraordinary lengths Watchtower is now going to in promoting their international conventions. The rulebook regarding kingdom hall decorum has been thrown out the window, with big-spending delegates entertained by ‘worldly’ music, and even line dancing, by some congregations. Souvenirs and trinkets are also becoming the latest craze, with the JW.org logo assuming a prominence on badges, bracelets and pendants that would have been considered idolatrous a few years ago.
As the organization continues to depart from its more austere traditions and encourage a frenzy surrounding its website and promoting the JW.org brand, those of my generation (and previous generations) will be left scratching their heads at the apparent hypocrisy of it all. If Armageddon is truly imminent, due to strike at any moment, and warning people of this mass slaughter is the primary occupation of Witnesses, why is it proper to spend so much time, energy and resources constructing giant bible-shaped stage props?
Further reading…
Most everything I’ve seen from the WT in the past year my immediate reaction is, “No. That’s got to be a creative apostate joke.” Then I find out it’s real. Or, surreal as the case may be. How could things get nuttier?
I know what you mean Brad. I had to check the video to make sure it wasn’t some photoshop prank. What’s next, giant inflatable Governing Body members?
I’m sure witnesses will wonder what the fuss is about here. Surely there can be no harm in building Bible-like structures that double up as baptism pools?
But the point is that it’s getting more and more puzzling why they would go to such lengths when the end is soooo close. It appears that many witnesses actually don’t want the GT to arrive because it would spoil the nice little earner they are making on the side from their ‘brothers’.
I see many witnesses now living as if the end is a long way off. Even those who used to ask me ‘will you survive till ’75?’ are still looking forward many years into the future.
It just gets more and more puzzling, as you rightly say, John.
Is that a picture of Christ in my toast. . .it must be the truth. . You’ll have to excuse me busy building an alter.
Oooooooh gary! It’s the altar where young people are being sacrificed to the GB! How’s that for a scary thought huh?!?
Hmm a coincidence but I was studying the wt13 july study edition, and on page 32 it says: “The beautiful pictures and photographs that are painstakingly produced are there for a purpose. They are teaching aids that make us think and feel.” (“Painstakingly”, really?)
Maybe it’s me, but I got a real awkward feeling about how intensely the watchtower despises worshiping images of gods/idols… Don’t people also create those images because they are an “aid” in worship to feel connected?
Hey cedars! You should do an article explaining how ridiculous the 144,000 doctrine is of “going to heaven” when ridiculously enough they think the whole doctrine of an immortal soul stemming from a human body is from the Devil and apostates. It never made sense to me.
Korean JW’s must be rich…
annonymous……your comment…..about the immortal soul….is perfect…something so simple to use…..thank you
Tatty, Pitiful, Squalid attempt at Brainwashing.
Please John!! Don’t give them any ideas!! xD
A petty, silly article about nothing materially important. This is just criticism for the sake of it and to keep the hits happening on your blog. Stick to the real issues please.
“Anon a mouse” – you are entitled to your opinion, but hopefully a quick scroll through the other comments will demonstrate that it is not representative of all. People like myself who were raised as Witnesses are seeing the organization changing, departing from its austere “time is of the essence” traditions. The increasingly evident Watchtower-sponsored approach of wasting time and resources in preparations for international conventions entirely contradicts the idea that billions will be slaughtered at any moment and must be warned before it is too late.
I am, however, curious. What do you perceive as the “real issues?”
geeze, kinda creepy, giant books eating you alive, will kids have nightmares? nothing like good old attention grabbing.
When I saw the video it reminded me in a eerie manner, the moonies cult. The more I see what’s going on here, the more I am beginning to see I no longer recognize the religion I used to attend too. The whole Jw.org promotion is so freaky at best, it is clear the train has gotten off the guard rails…lol, I can still remember when in the late 80’s no prominence was given to those taking the lead. Now they are every where, name and picture and all..lol, they are treated like rock stars..lol or the Beatles…lol serious? when the silver bible was released, oh my God you would think the messiah has arrived. people going nuts some crying…serious people? you almost think they never had a bible before in all there lives….lol wow it would not surprise me if the next thing I will see is balloons with the Jw.org logo and a signed picture of each of the GB…lol..Oh wait maybe underwear with there brand…lol. I have to stop anyway just my thoughts.
Bless me Gary, In the name of the father,and of the son,
and of the holy toast.
I just can’t believe how much they are changing. From a few years ago such things would of been totally inappropriate for Jehovahs Organization. Now it broadcast over the Internet. Although I am in 2 minds about it. I can sort of see them giving more leeway to the R&F setting up their own Web sites advertising jw.org.Keep this space open I say.
peter, you are right, I don’t recognize this as being anything close to what I learned as a child and grew up with.
Anon a mouse, I don’t know how you cannot see the real issue here. This is evidence of worship bordering on idolatry. I heard one woman in the video sobbing over the unveiling of the Silver mock-up of the RNWT Bible. Don’t you see the creative shock appeal to get the emotions of the Witnesses whipped up into a frenzy? I think it’s meant as a diversionary tactic because they are not serving up any real Spiritual food.
I don’t think criticism of Cedars is warranted, he is only keeping us up to date on the antics of the GB.
The GB is struggling desperately hard to keep their hold onto the blind sheep they have, when they are reduced to a stunt like this.
I believe the GB deserves 10 points for creativity and originality at least. We can safely give them ten points, seeing as how they are down well into the hundreds of thousands of points.
I don’t begrudge my blind brothers and sisters for this entertainment. Anything to bring them a smile in their otherwise dreary, oppressive, controlled sad little lives.
This is on such a magnitude as to serve to actually remove the scales from someone’s eyes.
LOl, only in S Korea! I think it’s funny.
I don’t normally comment, but when I saw this, my blood started to boil. This is just so hard for me to understand. I left only a few months ago, and even in that short time, I think, what on earth has happened here? I feel like there are going to maybe be some witnesses who will also scratch their heads and wonder “what were they thinking”, and this goes against so many principles we are supposed to hold dear as Jehovah’s witnesses. So many! I feel just sick at this pompous display. How ridiculous. It’s like a major league baseball game, and mascots, when this is supposed to be a spiritual feast. I don’t think anybody paid attention here, they just stared at those eye-sores. It’s just a spectacle. Next they will have the line dancing on the stage, maybe a half-time show. Why are people so oblivious?! The GB or whoever came up with this arrogant display are just getting away with whatever they want now. And how completely deluded do you have to be to not raise your eyebrow here at this display? I am anxious and also nervous to see what they’ll do next. Because you know, witnesses will eat it up with a spoon. It’s very disturbing.
All this is going on and they are asking for money. Just this past thursday meeting in the UK we were shown a video asking for donations and was given a form. All this asking for money when they are selling off mass chunks of real estate and downsizing. They must be in a pickle. Hopefully itll all collapse very soon for them.
Given a form? What was on it? Can you elaborate?
I will bet you anything that those people who spent their time constructing those “pools” counted their time just as people count time building the Kingdom halls.
Who paid for them? Did the contributions come from the brothers and sisters putting their money into the contribution boxes for the “worldwide work?” Or did it come from some rich brothers and sisters?
Is the Society that desperate for converts that they have to resort to such tactics as this? It seems silly to me. Why not just use the plastic lined pools like they always did? Not fancy enough for converts they are afraid to admit, so they have to resort to expensive tactics like the fancy Catholic churches think they have to be or the Glass Cathedral?
Thank you Cedars for posting this. It is very informative as to what is going on in the Org. and if people criticize you for putting it up because it’s silly, I think that’s the point. It’s silly and where does it belong in a serious study of the Bible? They were made just to stir emotions and that spells desperation to me.
and what about the scripture in 1 John 2:16 where it says “…everything in the world-the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the SHOWY DISPLAY of one’s means of life-does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world.”
let’s all praise the GB for allowing us to finally let our hair down a little, let’s thank them with more donations to show our appreciation because what else can we give them besides our devotion and money for gratitude.
What ‘s next, GB pyjamas’ with the JW. or logo and a scripture “obey those taking the lead”
Anon a mouse, perhaps the cedar challenge would be more up your alley some serious questions here, how about you participate.
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/the-cedars-challenge-how-to-bring-down-jwsurvey
country in the first place!
Absolutely bonkers!
Reminds me of an old episode of Doctor Who starring Pat Troughton called the Mind Robber!! There are giant books that swallow people up and make them fiction.
I wonder how many pioneers could have been funded for the cost of these giant bibles? I wonder how many could have been fed for that money who are starving?
It seems that every International Convention has offered ammunition to JW critics.
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
It all comes down to one thing in my opinion. The Watchtower is going more and more mainstream. They have no choice if they are to survive. While they were in their infancy they could afford to be elite and different.But now it has become harder and harder for the org to grow, so without admitting it, they lower their standards.
This is why most on here including me are amazed at the change they have made and how they now accept things that previously would never have been allowed or tolerated.
There is also less time spent on meetings now, less hours required of pioneers, less time at assemblies, plus all the things John as mentioned on this blog.
I get the feeling from witnesses that although they still think the end will come they don’t overly concern themselves with it now. In fact many view it as a lot of the mainstream churches do.
I agree that they are becoming mainstream in some respects. They are certainly giving more attention to brand awareness and ways of increasing revenue. But in the areas that really matter, e.g. treatment of ex-members, they are becoming less mainstream and more extremist if anything.
John, they’re already inflated with hot air…
Carlos. Perhaps. However I am thinking more a cultural gesture. My daughter spent much time when young in Korea and when they entertain , they go all out . Of course , all that fuss would have to have been preapproved by the gb
As Bob Dylan once sang: “The times they are achangin'”
:)
Basically the bethel in the uk is being moved from mill hill in london to chelmsford in essex. The congregations in Britain have been shown a dvd or video presentation at the meetings this week asking for donations and they handed out a piece of paper. you put on the amount your donating either monthly or a fixed amount. Because the costing of the new bethel is more than they predicted.
Just a thought….
They are beginning to look like some TV evangelist. Big props, fancy pools, etc etc etc.
After nearly 50 years, many of those years in the full time
work, I’m so happy now that I’ve left (it’s only been a few months) that I can hardly believe one could feel this way..
Besides having been saved of the infinitely boring meetings
and assemblies, where everything has to do with doing more hours and giving more money, I have come to realize
how beautiful society can be; wonderful people, that spend themselves in helping the needy: hospitals, soup kitchens, something completely foreign to the witnesses. They simply help IF they can count time and IF it has to do with recruiting (I never called it that way, but that’s what it is )
Yes, I’m happy. Oh, I lost everything, in order to buy a Pearl of great value, and the Pearl is FREEDOM to exercise my conscience, to live to my full potential, to do things for others, to love and be loved and have great friends that are not conditional.
I hear many changes are coming. Big ones.
No matter what they are, for me it’s too little too late .
Unless the they eliminate shunning. Then I could have my children and grandchildren back.
Is there a ghost of a chance of that happening?
Hi Gameisover. I was in 48 years before coming to my senses. I don’t see the Society going down in flames any time soon if they can pump out more kids than leave. Just my humble opinion.
They’ll clap anything, Just like trained seals, the training is much the
same too.
Reward and punishment , New system, or die at Armageddon.
The difference being, the animal gets it’s reward if it performs.
J,W’s, just get promises, but they still keep jumping through the
hoops.
Yes you are certainly not echoing my thoughts. I am shocked by this blatent no expense spared ” our assembly is better than your assembly” mentality. The money spent here is really disgusting. Is it a “showy display”??????
I would like to know about this form. What country.
I have to say that these pictures were shocking to me. I sold my car in order to attend an international convention in Hungary in 1991. Things were austere there to say the least–the bread and cheese meals that were provided to international delegates ran out on the second day and we ended up taking food from the hotel breakfast buffet to augment what the delegates from Eastern Europe shared with us. But at least it felt authentic. How could people attending a show like this think of it as different in any way from any other religion?
This is after the other shock I had last month of the big jw.org site rollout leaflet. I remember the Bible tracts that used to be handed out, they were packed with scriptures. The new tract has exactly one. And it isn’t even quoted in full!
I am so grateful to have been free of this shabby sideshow–13 years and counting. It would be humiliating to be part of it today.
If Armageddon is truly imminent, Jehovah’s Witnesses should have started to learn how to BURIAL TECHNIQUES that will allow them to spend fewer hours than those they spend recruiting “sheep” and “Other sheep”! I guess it will take them 1000 Years to clean the New World of the bodies of ARMAGEDDON VICTIMS!!
What will come next ? Will the wine on next Nisan 14 be served in glasses in the shape of a Bible ? One more subterfuge to drive the rank and file to forget they are dedicated to an American Religious Corporation ?
Well that’s just dumb!
I guess this is what happens when you run out of REAL ideas.
Let’s review: It’s a cult!
I tend to think the “Bible-shaped baptism pools” are to work on the minds of candidates for baptism… The same way is this: (From http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=g+12%2F13+p.+3)
Nigeria
Women taken from Nigeria to Europe by human traffickers are made to take ritual oaths of secrecy at juju witchcraft shrines. To dominate the women and ensure their obedience as sex slaves, traffickers exploit deep-seated fear of punishment from the spirit world.
:-( hate bullies. Said to my solicitor one day. . .if you can smell bullshit usually there’s a pile not far away;-)
On a happier note :-) this bald cat gets on a bus and the driver asks where’s your fare? Hey I’ve been baptized in the bible.