Governing Body Explains Watchtower Demons

Information from Walter N.

All the demons and sexual allusions in the writings of the Watchtower Society come from the reduction of the images and the imagination of the viewer.

Three ancient Romans depicted in the watchtower wonder about a modern Bible, which could probably only have been made about 1800 years after antiquity. This funny demonstration of what the Watchtower Society can tell Jehovah's Witnesses lies without having to fear criticism came about after the explanations of the Governing Body by reducing the size of the image.

Awake! April 2007, page 26

Family N. is asking!

The N. family from Austria entrusted themselves to Mr. Gerrit Loesch in order to obtain an explanation for the demons and sexual allusions in the Watchtower publications. It was not asked why the Watchtower Society gave Jehovah's Witnesses three ancient Romans looking at a modern Bible and downright dismayed to prove that they swallowed all lies. In fact, these ancient Romans did not know any Bible that was produced in this form over a thousand years later. Is this popular deception also the result of the reduction in the size of pictures?

Jehovah "God" is thus a being that publicly presents its secret collaborators through the reduction of image templates! And the great test of lies with the three Romans also came about by chance. And if not, the reader of the Watchtower must be ill to discover the lie. What is the name of this disease? More about this in the reply of the Governing Body.

The reply of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses to Family N.:

Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
2821 Route 22, Patterson, NY 12563-2237 Phone: (845) 306-1100
ECA:ECX February 2,2017

XXXX NXXX.
AX FXXXXXXXXX XX
A-XXXX LXXXXXXXXXX
AUSTRIA

Dear Sister Nxxx:

In September 2016, Brother Gerrit Loesch forwarded to us the copies of artwork from our publications that you and your husband gave him and in which you felt our artists incorporated hidden faces and objects. We were asked to provide some comments. We apologize for the delay in replying.

It is true that some secular artwork contain hidden faces, images, and symbols. But we can assure you that none of our dedicated artists deliberately incorporate hidden images in our published material. And neither is there any intention on our part as an organization to have hidden features in the artwork in our publications that are designed to honor Jehovah.

Another reason why some see faces and objects in art and nature is the phenomenon called pareidolia wherein the mind perceives a familiar pattern of something where none actually exists. The on-line edition of Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary defines "pareidolia" as "the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful, image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern." Regarding pareidolia, the New Scientist magazine of December 24, 2011, stated: "The human brain is optimized to recognize faces, which could also explain why we are so good at picking out meaningful shapes in random patterns. This phenomenon, pareidolia, could be responsible for a host of otherwise unexplained sightings."

The concept of pareidolia is not new. In his notebooks, Leonardo da Vinci wrote of this phenomenon, even though it was not called by that name yet, describing it as a useful device for painters: "I cannot forbear to mention among these precepts a new device for study which, although it may seem but trivial and almost ludicrous, is nevertheless extremely useful in arousing the mind to various inventions. And this is, when you look at a wall spotted with stains, or with a mixture of stones, if you have to devise some scene, you may discover a resemblance to various landscapes, beautified with mountains, rivers, rocks, trees, plains, wide valleys and hills in varied arrangement; or again you may see battles and figures in action; or strange faces and costumes, and an endless variety of objects, which you could reduce to complete and well drawn forms." – The Literary Works of Leonardo Da Vinci, compiled by J. P. Richter, 1883, Volume 1, page 254.

Hence, like any other ability, pareidolia can serve a useful purpose if it is exercised in a balanced way. But it can be harmful if it is not controlled. It can hinder readers from benefiting from the vital spiritual message that is being presented in the text accompanying the artwork in our publications. It can also weaken their faith if they do not trust that such faces and objects were never intentionally included in the artwork.

You and your husband felt that you saw faces and strange objects in some of the illustrations in our publications. You may be interested to know that secular computer programmers have designed software that falsely detects and exaggerates features such as eyes and faces in any image or photograph!

When one looks at the original artwork, patterns and shading that could be perceived as hidden images may not always be apparent. But when a picture is reduced to the size suitable for printing in one of our publications, strange-looking configurations can result because of the lines, shading, brushwork, and press characteristics involved in the printing process. Certain combinations can thus convey an impression other than what was drawn or intended. Since we are aware of this possibility, all our artwork is carefully reviewed by members of the Governing Body and a panel of experienced artists before it is published. In spite of this, when our artists paint or draw clouds, rock faces in caves, piles of stones, trees, beards, or garments on people, some observers, because of acute pareidolia, may still see things in the artwork that were not intended.

For example, to some the left hand of the elder on Jesus' right in the picture on page 52 of the book Revelation-Its Grand Climax At Hand! looks like a sinister claw. A close examination will show that the elder's left arm does not come up but straight out from the sleeve of bis white garment, with a shadow being cast down into the lower part of the inner sleeve. While the fingers of the hand on which the rod rests are open and relaxed, the hand holding the scepter is ready for action when the King, Jesus Christ, gives the command for resurrected anointed ones to share with him in shattering all opposers on earth. The picture portrays Jesus as having just swung his iron rod from his right to his left with streak marks to indicate this. When these streak marks are superimposed on the elder's left hand, they cause it to appear somewhat dark and blurry in comparison to his right hand. But when one knows the details, one understands why that hand looks darker and blurry. The coloring is the result of the artist's effort to portray the movement of Jesus' rod.

Having some knowledge of the printing processes is also helpful (See, for example, the article "A Closer Look at Four-Color Printing" in Awake! of January 8, 1987.) For instance, when a reproduction of a painting is reduced by mechanical means to the desired size and is transferred to a plate for printing, unexpected configurations may result as described above. Certain combinations can convey an impression other than what was originally created or intended by the artist, such as the lines on Jesus' hand on page 159 in the Revelation Climax book as well as the folds of the woman's dress on page 17 of the February 1,1983, issue of The Watchtower that may look like faces to some. When reviewing artwork at the size it will print, we try to discern if the reduction will produce undesirable patterns. Sometimes we can discern this and then we make the necessary adjustments before the files are released. However, knowing that there are no subliminal messages or images, we may not see the various figures and forms that some see in the artwork.

The examples of artwork you gave Brother Loesch are not the paintings of just one artist. They included the work of a number of our artists and were produced over many years. We have absolutely no reason to doubt the sincerity and loyalty of the artists involved. We hope that the above information assures you that Jehovah's organization has not, does not, and will never intentionally and secretly include demonic or macabre elements in our publications or allow artists to do so. (1 Corinthians 10:21) We know that Jehovah is "the God of truth" and that we will lose his approval if we try to mix good and evil. – Psalm 31:5; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Brother F. mentioned that you also inquired about the soundtrack of the last video on the program of the "Remain Loyal to Jehovah!" Regional Convention. From time to time stock music, stock video footage, or stock photographs are purchased for our programs. The term "stock" refers to content that is commercially produced and available for sale. In certain circumstances, using stock media rather than producing original content can save significant time and resources. We recognize that we are not the sole owners of a piece of purchased stock music and that it may be purchased by other entities and used for secular programs. We, of course, have no control over that. The same applies to photographs we purchase from stock image vendors for use in our publications. (Such purchased photographs are usually identified by credit lines.) Other publishing houses may purchase the same photographs and use them in secular publications. In balanced and proper ways, Christians may selective1y purchase necessary goods and services made available by the world as an aid in spreading the Bible's message. Such use of secular sources is in harmony with the principle outlined at 1 Corinthians 7:31.

Please accept our warm Christian love and best wishes.

Your brothers,
Christians Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses

Comments

All Pictures

Write a comment:
Name:   E-Mail:

I read the New World Privacy Statement very carefully. I am extremely excited about the New World Privacy Statement. I am allowed to stop the processing and storage of my data immediately with an email to antichristwachtturm[at]gmail.com if I feel like it.

Important note: The fields for name and e-mail address are not mandatory.

Your comment will appear on this page after 24 hours at the latest.
Why aren't all comments published?
Creation date: February 18, 2017 ♦ Printable versionLinks to other websitesPrivacy statementSitemapContactImprint
🔎 de