Abstract: In 1953, the Watchtower Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) officially ended their endorsement of the “electronic reactions of Abrams” or the ERA They claimed that radionics, as it was now called, was medical quackery. In 1962 and 1963 they said the ERA methods were psychic and spiritistic in nature. No mention was made in these articles that they had been heavily involved with this “spiritism” since the early 1920s. by Ken Raines From JW Research Journal, vol. 3, #2, Spring, 1996. Revised August, 2021. . The Jehovah’s Witnesses endorsed the “Electronic Reactions of Abrams” or ERA methods of diagnosing and treating disease…
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The Watchtower Society in The Golden Age magazine promoted numerous highly questionable medical cures and remedies. Some of these were more related to the occult arts than medical science. One of these endorsements was of the electronic theory of disease of Dr. Albert Abrams. Several machines and techniques were developed by Dr. Abrams and by his supporters after his death in 1924. Some of these ERA machines were actually invented and used by International Bible Students (JWs) doctors, such as the Electronic Radio Biola and the Radio Disease Killer. Many Bible Students were treated for their diseases by these devices. This article looks…
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By Ken Raines From the JW Research Journal, fall, 1996, pp. 3-8. Revised July, 2021. . The Watchtower Society was heavily involved in occult, psychic and quack medical procedures throughout much of the of the 20th Century. Like their current ban on blood transfusions for its members, this quackery has put the lives of millions unnecessarily at risk. This article gives an overview of the Society’s strange history of medical quackery and occultism which will be examined in more detail in coming issues of the JW Research Journal. . One of the most recognizable aspects of Jehovah’s Witnesses to the…
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Jerry Bergman, Ph.D Originally published in the JW Research Journal, vol. 4, no. 2, Spring, 1997 pp. 3-13. Introduction Creationism is a critically important doctrine in Watchtower theology. The basis of their theology is the belief that God created humans and all life and can recreate a person again in the resurrection. If evolution is true God is at best a bystander who is impotent or does not exist. The Watchtower has consistently opposed human evolution from their very beginning, and evolution of animals from the 1930’s on. The first booklet on the subject was published in 1912 (Russell 1912)…
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. Jerry Bergman, Ph. D Abstract This paper researches the history of the racism found in the official teachings of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, whose followers are now known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their history reveals they are not free of racism as they now claim, but have manifested extreme racists views in their official, mandatory teachings. Even though 52% of the Witness’ membership are non-white, not a single minority person held a leadership position in 1994. . Background Jehovah’s Witnesses are one of the fastest growing denominations, now over 12 million members and sympathizers. They are the only…
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Abstract A historical analysis of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ during World War II concluded that they experienced extreme conflicts with Nazi Germany and probably withstood the attacks against them better than most groups. Their experience has been analyzed by a number of researchers including camp inmates and administrators who have concluded that their strong religious faith, community and social pressure to conform were all critical in helping Witnesses to withstand the Nazi assault against them. A major reason Witnesses endured was because to capitulate to the Nazis meant disfellowshipping and cutting off from what was often their only social support,…
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The Golden Age, Sept. 23, 1936, p. 803. . Jerry Bergman, Ph.D. Introduction The Watchtower history is replete with examples of not only erroneous theological positions such as wrongly predicting the time of the end, but also advocating numerous quack medical nostrums. Part of the reason for their involvement in quack scams was due to the tendency of certain high level Watchtower officials to reject anything that was orthodox–orthodox religion, orthodox science, and orthodox medicine. Unfortunately, the Watchtower is still today stuck in a quagmire of foolish beliefs which they have not yet been unable to transcend. Their almost half-century…
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