CLASS WARFARE IN MARXISM AND JEHOVAH’S WITNESS THEOLOGY

In the late 19th Century, two strange men with whiskers became preoccupied with a critical analysis of society in terms of an ultimate End State. What would that state be and how would it come about?

Marx obsessed on the natural imbalance between rich and poor, while Russell focused on the penetration of the divine into human affairs as a prophetic scenario and reckoned a path through that struggle (Satan vs Christ) through dissemination of an escape. Marx and Russell jiggered their data and made predictions. Both were wrong, but too proud to give up and move on to something more tangible.

A large following gathered around each man’s theorizing. The weak-minded intellectuals took these theories to be gospel in each instance. As early predictions went awry, enough true believers continued to reinterpret and “adjust” the spin so as to cause newcomers to appraise the theories as acceptable and even preferable to normal social interaction.

The two schools of thought (Marxist and Russellite) became evangelical and zealous beyond personal development and self-aggrandized into a world movement to change and divide mankind itself. In each instance, people were absorbed, radicalized, sent forth to destroy belief in the status quo and celebrate the fall of civilization and the dawning of an idealized Utopia.

(Both) Jehovah’s Witnesses and Marxist Communists concern themselves with something called ‘The End of History.’[1] This concept means the end of a struggle between groups (‘classes’)[2] with conflicts of interest, the end result being the elimination of cultural dissonances and inequalities that are typically divisive.

In Marxist theory, a Capitalist Society pits an elite against have-nots. Those with power, wealth and privilege exploit poor, disenfranchised underclasses that are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Among Jehovah’s Witnesses, the ‘elite’ consists of 144,000 kings and priests (Revelations 5:9, 10; 14:1-4) who have been specially selected (‘spiritually anointed’) to rule in heaven with Christ (as transformed spirit beings) over the second group (the ‘great crowd’) (Revelation 7:9) who remain human on a Paradise earth (Psalms 37:11, 29).

In Marxist Theory, the elite use wealth to obtain political power and control ideology consisting of shaping the world-view of the underclass, that is, their role in society.[3]

Among Jehovah’s Witnesses, the elite are a religio-political (‘theocratic’) Governing Body (the ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’) who claim to channel (as a conduit of Jehovah) the rules of day-to-day life and ultimate survival for the others (this group of ‘others’ is both a subdivision of the ‘anointed’ and the ‘great crowd’).

‘This channel [of communication] is also needed so as to warn all men of good will toward God so that they might take a life-preserving course […] In his great prophecy about the end of this wicked old world, [Jesus] indicated that God would have a channel of communication at this time, which he would use to sound this warning: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.”

[…] Is the Watch Tower Society this “faithful and discreet slave”? No, it is merely a corporate body, a legal instrument used by this “slave.” Who, then, is this “slave”? Not just one individual, but the composite body of dedicated, anointed footstep followers of Jesus Christ.’ [4]

IDEOLOGY

What is Ideology? It is the ‘science’ of ideas which controls how people see themselves and others inside a world view.

Prior to the End of History, before the ultimate goal of Paradise is realized, the most important concern of all men and women is the outcome of their struggle day-to-day. Ideology provides a context for seeing the future as an obtainable Paradise if certain steps are taken to insure that end. The shaping of this world-view is achieved by means of carefully crafted and controlled propaganda for both Marxist Theory and Jehovah’s Witness theology.

‘Propaganda is the more or less systematic effort to manipulate other people’s beliefs, attitudes, or actions by means of symbols […] The propagandist has a specified goal or set of goals. To achieve these he deliberately selects facts, arguments, and displays of symbols and presents them in ways he thinks will [achieve his objective].’[5] [Italics mine]

Propaganda, therefore, produces and promotes the ideal ideology.[6]

In order to control the message (propaganda), the elite must control the media. If the media cannot be completely controlled, it becomes necessary to undermine any competing outlets of information flow. Censorship, defamation, sabotage, ad hominem, and injunction are typical strategies.

‘Satan tries to break our integrity through the sowing of doubts about what we have been taught. Today, as in the first century, apostates and others seek to destroy the faith of guileless ones. (Galatians 2:4; 5:7, 8) Sometimes they use the media to spread distorted information or even outright lies about the methods and motives of Jehovah’s people. Paul warned that some would be turned away from the truth. “There will be a period of time,” he wrote, “when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. […] Instead of holding to the pattern of healthful words, some were intrigued by “false stories.” ’[7] [Italics mine]

Marxists prefer the use of hegemony (leadership with the consent of the governed) in one of two ways: 1) repression (application of threats and undue influence), and 2) subversion (controlling what teachers teach, how social workers communicate, mass media).[8]

Jehovah’s Witnesses similarly seek ‘informed’ consent of their members by: 1) repression (threats of disfellowship, shunning, death at Armageddon), 2) subversion (confining members to seek information internally and avoid ex-members who are said to be ‘mentally diseased’ and agents of Satan).

‘Apostates are “mentally diseased,” and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. (1 Timothy 6:3, 4), Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid contact with them.’[9] [Italics mine]

The Marxist seeks to convince prospective converts of their victimhood, that they are exploited, excluded, and marginalized by the elite.  By dividing the Capitalist Society into factions who turn against each other with grievances, a ‘divide-and-conquer’ strategy unfolds.[10]

Jehovah’s Witnesses, on the other hand, seek to convince prospective converts through Bible studies (which are bait-and-switch propaganda sessions). They divide family members using calls for purity, separation, obedience to God rather than men, undermining higher education, and seeing all non-Witnesses as ‘worldly’ persons who are under the influence of the devil.

Both groups – Marxist and JW – employ fear of the ‘other,’ suspicion, as well as encouraging the practice of snitching-out fellow members, reporting infractions, currying favor by selling others out in a purge of purification.

‘In order to keep the congregation clean, it may be necessary for individuals to report serious wrongdoing.’[11] [Italics mine]

‘The matter of misplaced loyalties may hit closer to home, though. When a dear friend or even a family member chooses a course that violates Bible principles, we may feel that we are torn between loyalties. Naturally, we feel loyal to family members. But never should we put our allegiance to them ahead of our loyalty to Jehovah! (Compare 1 Samuel 23:16-18.) We would neither help wrongdoers to conceal a serious sin nor side with them against elders who are trying to ‘readjust them in a spirit of mildness.’ (Galatians 6:1) Doing so would be disloyalty to Jehovah, his organization, and a loved one. After all, to stand between a sinner and the discipline he needs is, in effect, to block an expression of Jehovah’s love from reaching him. (Hebrews 12:5-7) Remember, too, that “the wounds inflicted by a lover are faithful.” (Proverbs 27:6) Frank, loving counsel that is based on God’s Word might wound the pride of an erring loved one, but it might prove lifesaving in the long run!’[12] [Italics mine]

Both Marxist and JW propaganda employs a critique of society to enable converts to see everybody and everything as the enemy; all political, social, religious, and educational systems as corrupt and doomed. Isolating members one step at a time renders them unable to escape because there is no other place to go or group to trust but the core cell or congregation.

Both Marxists and JW theology has no place for individuals, but rather sees only a society of classes. The individual is absorbed into hive mentality as a functionary sharing the load and rooting for the group rather than themselves. Loyalty to the cause supersedes concern for one’s daily needs.

Both Marxists and JW theology employ a sense of false consciousness and alienation, seeing themselves as victims exploited by oppressors on the outside, heroes of a liberation movement which will bring peace and security to all mankind. The situation becomes us (the good guys) against them (the bad guys); under those circumstances, it then becomes perfectly reasonable to lie, defame, attack, undermine and destroy them.

Any wrongdoing on the part of the ‘party elite’ can be justified because of the ‘oppression’ of the outside slave masters who must be defeated. JW’s can employ ‘theocratic war strategy,’[13] which, effectively, is a free-pass to lie (though it may be hotly contested) and withhold truth from those ‘people who are not entitled to it.’[14]

Weakening social bonds which normally create harmony within everyday society is a chief goal of Marxists and JW’s. If you can’t see who your enemies are, it is because your mind isn’t functioning clearly. The task of a Marxist is to create enemies and lie about them, encourage fear of them and ultimately destroy their reputation.

Likewise, the task of a Jehovah’s Witness is to identify enemies, label them, ruin their reputation, and forecast their destruction at Armageddon.

Marxists seek to create a bond of uniformity in thinking and behavior, both predictable and controllable by the leadership. No dissent is permissible or possible without immediate punishment. Special language, innumerable restrictive policies, and statistical norms abound.

Marxist and Jehovah’s Witness conformity lead to totalitarian, authoritarian, cult structures. Meanwhile, false consciousness creates a sense of being cradled, protected and valued – as long as complete loyalty is maintained and verified by those who surveille their activity.

DISSONANCE BREEDS TACTICAL EVASIONS

On the Jehovah’s Witness side of things, the failure of Watchtower theology to produce the End of History through tidal waves of witnessing about failed dates (set by the “mouthpiece”of God)[15]  created cumulative dissonances which had to be resolved!

Could Jehovah’s Witness theology be wrong? O heavens no!

Instead, the disaffection with failed dates and false prophetic interpretations was said to be the fault of the members who believed what they were told! How dare they blame the elite Governing Body for their own errors in judgement!!!

‘It may be that some who have been serving God have planned their lives according to a mistaken view of just what was to happen on a certain date or in a certain year [i.e. 1975]. They may have, for this reason, put off or neglected things that they otherwise would have cared for. But they have missed the point of the Bible’s warnings concerning the end of this system of things, thinking that Bible chronology reveals the specific date

It is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date, neglecting everyday things we would ordinarily care for as Christians […] If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.’[16] [Italics mine]

A purification (purge) commenced after the failure of 1975 and the Brooklyn Politburo was purged of individual thinkers, questioners, and disloyal partisans. The wave of oppressive inquisition articles arose dividing the rank and file into factions who must now police themselves from enemies on the inside as well as outside. A new language developed around former members. Ex-members had become the new enemy. Without enemies where is fear, alienation and a need for loyalty? A global witch-hunt for apostate whistle-blowers and dissidents expanded the Governing Body’s counter-offensive against those questioning the failed Watchtower version of reality.

By 2013, foundational beliefs underpinning Jehovah’s Witness theology shifted seismically.[17] There had been a quiet shake-up and reorganization on every level practically invisible to members. The corruption, pedophile legal shakedown, selloff of property and internal transformation was cunningly hidden. Apostates would be unable to penetrate the wall of exclusion. Jehovah’s Witnesses were busy looking for boogeymen, enemies within, as well as looking over their shoulders, thus creating a bunker mentality of fear and unduly influenced loyalty.

In Marxist theory, a similar crisis of credibility arose. Capitalist society, so the theory said, was so unfair, it should create a revolution among the oppressed and disaffected populace. After all, 2% have all the important wealth, privilege and control!

However, the revolution never happened although predicted for America. Why? Could Marxist theory be wrong? That was unthinkable! Instead, a tactical evasion of the failure of Marxism theory became necessary! Cognitive dissonance led to a rethink of core strategies.

Marxists (the ‘Frankfurt School’) blamed the ‘ruling class elites’ for bribing off the workers by giving them ‘rights,’ and had blinded them with a ‘false consciousness’ that led them to support national governments and democracy. According to the new propaganda, American Exceptionalism was a lie about helping the downtrodden to ‘succeed’ by becoming wealthy property owners, business leaders, and movers-and-shakers; this was seen as a cunning trap!

The so-called ‘successful’ poor-born, upwardly mobile, underclass were now to be re-labelled as sell-outs, dupes, Uncle Tom’s, useful idiots exploited as decoys by the oppressive elite as before. Propaganda asserted false consciousness of success had been forced on the underclass; they still needed to wake up and start hating oppressors; they must see themselves as alienated by racial prejudice, unequal pay, sexism, class distinctions, and, of course, white privilege.

Since individuals are unimportant in Marxist theory, only classes were important. Consequently, identity politics was invented for a myriad of classes in Western society.

Political correctness[18] was taught in schools and colleges. Its purpose was to sensitize the young and raise a pervasive victim consciousness through identity politics. Identity politics means a person is not just an individual person, no, they are a member of an oppressed, alienated class such as black, Mexican, gay, female, transgender, etc.

Enemies are everywhere among the white ruling elite – the corporate Jews, etc.[19] This new strategy was called ‘Critical Theory’ and its target was essentially destructive criticism of the main elements of western culture, including Christianity, capitalism, authority, the family, patriarchy, hierarchy, morality, tradition, sexual restraint, loyalty, patriotism, nationalism, heredity, ethnocentrism, convention and conservatism. Thus, divide-and-conquer strategy was alive and well! This began during the Vietnam War during the 1960’s in the U.S.[20]

Both Jehovah’s Witnesses and Marxist theorists succeed in dividing people into fearful oppressed classes who beheld enemies everywhere, they were operating with no individual identity (only as a class), and were directed to destroy all existing structures of the ‘old system of things’ which is doomed anyway. Both groups work through negative thought control, victimology, and pressure to conform, subvert, and undermine reality. Each group maintains a form of political correctness which seeks to force all members of their respective society to speak exactly the ‘right’ way as prescribed by the ruling body.

This thought control serves the purpose of labelling dissidents for ostracism, attack, straw man ad hominem exclusion. The road that takes us there is totalitarian paved in a driverless vehicle.

Finally, then, the bottom-line is this: Jehovah’s Witness theology and Marxist theory are authoritarian and propaganda driven by a core of elite ‘mind control’ ruling cabal manipulating consciousness toward a revolution purportedly leading to a Utopian End of History for the alleged ‘benefit of mankind.’

By destroying personal identity and reshaping consciousness into loyalty to a class or organization, the members populating these groups are weaponized, malleable and compliant.

Under Joseph Stalin in the former USSR, under Mao in China, under Fidel Castro in Cuba, under Kim Il-Sung in North Korea, Marxist theory has destroyed millions of lives.

Likewise, under the administrations of Rutherford, Knorr, Franz, and under the current dispensation of today’s Governing Body, Witnesses have been seduced by propaganda disguised as Bible Truth and a jury-rigged prophetic scheme, to give up their time, their families, their lives and their loyalty for nothing more than an intangible idealistic reverie of Paradise.

History condemns Marxism for its crimes against humanity, as it must the Watchtower organization which now has a population numbering over 8 million worldwide. Both Marxists and Witnesses are evangelical in their design and execution of conscripting eager, true believers are subsequently sent forth to create radical fresh converts who themselves (unwittingly) heap abuses on society through their incessant propagandizing and utter disregard for progress, charity, and effective education.

CONCLUSION

Marxism and ‘Jehovahistic’ theocracy are spillover imaginaria, both viral, messianic, and malevolent on the outside, while seemingly curative and prescriptive on the inside.

We can do our part by bringing to light the insidious self-serving tactics and policies of such groups, and by remaining alert ourselves to their subterfuge. Truly, there is no time like the present to begin the process; the leaders of such groups have enjoyed a magnificent head start. Time to close the gap!

#ThinkingWitnesses

[1] Witnesses frame this concept as the ‘conclusion of the system of things’ (Matthew 29:19, 20). The notion of the ‘end of history’ is not an original one. Its best known propagator was Karl Marx, who believed that the direction of historical development was a purposeful one determined by the interplay of material forces, and would come to an end only with the achievement of a communist utopia that would finally resolve all prior contradictions. See: http://www.wesjones.com/eoh.htm.

[2] Marx and Engels clearly declare the importance of classes in history with the first sentence of the Communist Manifesto: “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” See: http://business.uni.edu/economics/themes/shimp.pdf.

[3] ‘Those who own and control the means of production (the economic infrastructure) are powerful in that society because they are able to use wealth to enhance and expand their power. However, this economically powerful class has to translate this power into political power (control over the State, machinery of government and so forth) and ideological power (control over how people think about the nature of the social world, capitalist society and so forth).’ See: http://www.sociology.org.uk/as4i4c1.pdf (paragraph 6).

[4] ‘The Watch Tower Society in God’s Purpose’ The Watchtower August 15, 1958 p.486. As of July 2013, the nature of this Faithful Slave is such that it consists of, not the global community of ‘anointed’ Christians, but, now, exclusively, the appointed (male) members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses serving at world headquarters. – The Watchtower July 15, 2013 p.? para.?

[5] Bruce Lannes Smith, ‘Propaganda’ last accessed at: https://global.britannica.com/topic/propaganda on July 31, 2016.

[6] See: https://carolinacowboy.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/propaganda-thought-control/

[7] ‘Keep Practicing the Things You Have Learned’ The Watchtower p.17 paras 8-9.

[8] Supra note 3 http://www.sociology.org.uk/as4i4c1.pdf.

[9] ‘Will You Heed Jehovah’s Clear Warning?’ The Watchtower July 15, 2011 p.16 para.6.

[10] John E. Roemer ‘Divide and Conquer: Microfoundations of a Marxian Theory of Wage Discrimination’ The Bell Journal of Economics, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Autumn, 1979), pp. 695-705.

[11] ‘Whose Authority Should You Recognize?’ Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life (1995) p.138 para.22. The issue with this statement – and statements like these – is not so much the idea of keeping the congregation clean, but the issue of what constitutes ‘(serious) wrongdoing,’ because, it is upon this constitution that Witnesses will be summoned to police each other.

[12] ‘Serving Loyally with Jehovah’s Organization’ The Watchtower August 1, 1997 p.13 para.17.

[13] ‘Use Theocratic War Strategy’ The Watchtower May 1, 1957 p.285.

[14] ‘Lie’ Insight into the Scriptures vol. 2 p.245.

[15] ‘An official mouthpiece for this “slave” class is the Watchtower magazine […]. This magazine makes no claim of inspiration but is guided by the inspired principles and prophecies recorded in the sacred Bible due for progressive fulfillment today. By means of this singular channel of reliable spiritual guidance all sincere, honest persons who love righteousness are being directed toward the “perfect day” in the post-Armageddon new world.’ – ‘Christian Channel of Communication’ The Watchtower May 15, 1955 p.316 para.34.

[16] ‘A Solid Basis for Confidence’ The Watchtower July 15, 1976 p.441 paras.11, 15; and ‘Choosing the Best Way of Life’ The Watchtower March 15, 1980 p17 para.5, 6.

[17] The Watchtower July 15, 2013.

[18] Political correctness: ‘Critical Theorists recognized that traditional beliefs and the existing social structure would have to be destroyed and then replaced with a “new thinking” that would become as much a part of elementary consciousness as the old one had been. Their theories took hold in the tumultuous 1960s, when the Vietnam War opened a Pandora’s Box of re-evaluation and revolution. The student radicals of the era were strongly influenced by revolutionary ideas, among them those of Herbert Marcuse, a member of the Frankfurt School who preach the “Great Refusal,” a rejection of all basic Western concepts and an embrace of sexual liberation, and the merits of feminist and black revolutions. His primary thesis was that university students, ghetto blacks, the alienated, the asocial, and the Third World could take the place of the proletariat in the coming Communist revolution.’

Marcuse may be the most important member of the Frankfurt School in terms of the origins of Political Correctness, because he was the critical link to the counterculture of the 1960s. His objective was clear: “One can rightfully speak of a cultural revolution, since the protest is directed toward the whole cultural establishment, including morality of existing society.” See: http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=552 and “Political Correctness”: A Short History of an Ideology,” edited by William Lind (November 2004).

[19] See: http://www.academia.org/the-origins-of-political-correctness.

[20] See: https://www.marxists.org/subject/frankfurt-school.