耶和華見證人是大忽悠
〈一〉
耶和華見證人聲稱政治中立，不參戰（參見守望台線上書庫 推理 386-392頁：政治中立 - 守望台線上書庫）這是讓眾成員引以為傲的一個純潔組織。可是事實並非如此。正如聖經所說：【路12:2】掩蓋的事，沒有不露出來的；隱藏的事，沒有不被人知道的。
守望台社持有50% 股權在Rand Cam
中文大意：在過去的好幾十年，守望台社總是使它與提供戰爭科技的公司或者團體保持距離。可是，這情形現在不同了！大家請看美國華盛頓（Washington DC）證券交易會的報告（參附件）：有家公司的產品業務，包括用來啟動 『智能炸彈』的引擎的。
附件 守望台 參與 軍事武器設備公司的投資 百度網盤：
https://pan.baidu.com/s/1RuDasNGR1xqtZNhVnZqRkg密碼: 6ktb
我們公司命名 『天空科技有限公司』 Sky Technologies, Inc是按照俄勒崗州的法律， 於1992年7月27日成立的。1994年8月1日，我們的名字正式更改為REGI U.S.，是透過股東會議投票通過的。公司由Rand Energy Group Inc.,集團所控制。這家公司由一個英屬哥倫比亞機構 "RAND" 私營的，它又隸屬於一個上市公司，名為Reg Technologies Inc （簡稱"Reg Tech"），持有51%股權。
Rand Cam Engine Corp. 是私營機構（非上市公司），報稱守望台社這個宗教團體，持有50%股權。另外34%股權由James McCann及幾個股東持有。James McCann 指明他已經把守望台社持有的股權捐獻給這機構（Rand Cam Engine Corp），只是保留相關股權的投票權。以Rand Energy Group Inc.名義持有的 5,073,200股，原是守望台社與James McCann擁有的。
轉載：
Watchtower Owns Warfare TechnologyWatchtower Owns 50% stock in Rand Cam
In years past the Watchtower would have distanced itself from any company or entity engaged in supplying warfare technology. Not so today! Note the following excerpts from the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION in Washington,D.C. involving a company that, among its products, is an engine used in "smart bombs":
We were organized under the laws of the State of Oregon on July 27, 1992 as Sky Technologies, Inc. On August 1, 1994, our name was officially changed by a vote of a majority of our shareholders to REGI U.S., Inc. We are controlled by Rand Energy Group Inc., a privately held British Columbia corporation ("RAND"), which, in turn, is controlled 51% by Reg Technologies Inc., a publicly held British Columbiacorporation ("Reg Tech").
….
Rand Cam Engine Corp. is a privately held company whose stock is reportedly owned 50% by The Watchtower Society, a religious organization, 34% by James McCann and the balance by several other shareholders. Mr. McCann has indicated that he donated the shares held by The Watchtower Society to that organization but has retained a voting proxy for those shares. Accordingly, in Notes (3) and (4) above, beneficial ownership of the 5,073,200 shares registered in the name of Rand Energy Group Inc. has been attributed to The Watchtower Society and Mr. McCann. We believe it would be misleading and not provide clear disclosure to list as beneficial owners in the table the other entities and persons discussed in this paragraph, although a strict reading of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 might require each such entity and person to be listed in the beneficial ownership table.
….
Ceramic Rand Cam TM Engine On December 6, 2001 we announced that a U.S. Navy contract (SBIR No1-144) has been awarded to Advanced Ceramics Research (prime contractor) and REGI U.S., Inc. to build and test a Naval 0.5 horsepower ceramic engine. The proposed engine is a four stroke Rand Cam engine utilizing continuous injection and combustion in a single combustion chamber. The engine will be of all ceramic construction to permit high temperature operation, without cooling, to effectively burn heavy oil. This new motor will be developed for powering the U.S. Navys new Smart War-fighter Array of Re-configurable Modules (SWARM) low cost unmanned aerial vehicle. On April 4, 2002 we announced that we signed an agreement to grant a license to Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc. ("ACR") for the Rand Cam based motors for 10 H.P. or less for the SBIR No 1-144 Navy Contract for the remote piloted applications. We agreed that a 5 year contract will also be granted to ACR for the Rand Cam concept motors for the commercial and military rights for the applications developed under the Navy contract for 10 H.P or less.
See :
Watchtower investments in armament companies. PDF.Sources :
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/922330/000106299302000371/form10k.txt〈二〉
看看守望台的刊物是怎麼說的？
股票投資是否明智？警醒！2000年 10月8日 25-26頁
英文版：「One guide to the stock market illustrates it this way: 「Stocks are pieces of the corporate pie. When you buy stocks, or shares, you own a slice of the company.... Such an investment differs from gambling because the stockholder has purchased part of a company.... By considering the background of a company, an investor can also ensure that his money will not be used to support an unethical enterprise.」 ——See Awake!, February 8, 1962, pages 21-23. (Awake! Oct 8 2000; Is it wise to invest in the stock market?)
中文版：投資顧問呼籲有意投資的人，先要考慮公司過去的業績和未來的前景，市場對其產品的需求，同業之間的競爭狀況和若干其他因素，然後才選擇買哪一家公司的股票。這些資料一般可以從經紀人和其他金融機構得知。許多投資者諮詢過財經顧問的意見以後才買股票。投資者考慮到公司的背景，也就能確保自己的錢不會用來作不道德的買賣。——參閱《儆醒！》（英語版）1962年2月8日刊，21-23頁。
守望台社有查究清楚自己的投資，跟不道德的買賣扯上了關係嗎？
H M Riley Trust 是美國的基金，唯一的受益團體是守望台社。基本上，它是個工具，運用Henrietta Riley 遺留的資產營運來產生收入，再以 『捐款』的名義轉給守望台社。2002年4月30日結算的（財政）年度，基金營運的收入有$1,740,127 ；向守望台社的捐款是$1,945,645。 比較一下：2001年度，基金營運收入是$2,939,731，向守望台社捐款是$3,285,050。 收入及開支的相差，主要是來自資產增值。
基金的收入來源有2個：大多數是來自「石油天然氣的產權」，另外的200萬美元收入是來自投資在股票及各種工具上。
https://www.watchtowerlies.com/the_watchtower_is_earning_money_from_the_tobacco_industry.html圖1：表格990 HM Riley Trust 前頁，年度結算日2002年4月30日
圖2：表格990第2頁，HM Riley 基金， 年度結算日2002年4月30日表明首要目的是 "支持守望台聖經書社"
圖3：節錄投資表列中的資料：HM Riley Trust，2002年4月30日
名單中出現一家公司：Philip Morris Companies Inc,世界最大的煙草，香煙產品製造者。（這家公司的網站Philipmorris.com 指出：他們是世界知名的，尤其是高檔次的煙草，香煙品牌。他們的產品分銷到世界160個國家。）
按照當地的法規：守望台社作為基金的合法受益人（受益團體），他們會定期收到書面的文件，通知他們每年的基金收入，捐款來自那些投資，有著詳細的明細表。文件上披露了Philip Morris Companies Inc 這家香煙，煙草公司。 可能有耶和華見證人會反駁說：Philip Morris Companies Inc 這家公司有著各種品牌的業務，耶和華見證人也不一定把投資放在煙草方面。其中一個品牌跟煙草無關的是 Kraft. 可是，Kraft 這個品牌也是一家上市公司。 如果守望台社要避免與煙草貿易扯上任何關係，他們可以選擇投資在Kraft 的股票。但是，守望台社顯然沒有這麼做。
The H M Riley Trust is a U.S. trust that has the Watchtower Society as the sole beneficiary. Basically, it is a vehicle to make income for the Watchtower, using assets left by Henrietta Riley. The income generated by the trust is transferred to the Watchtower by means of a "donation". For the year ended April 30, 2002, the trust generated income of $1,740,127 and donated $1,945,645 to the Watchtower. In comparison, for the 2001 year the trust generated $2,939,731 in income, and donated $3,285,050 to the Watchtower. The difference between income and expenditure is made up by realizing gains on the assets held.
The income of the trust is from two main sources. The majority is from "oil and gas royalties." The trust also has almost $2 million of investments in various stocks and other vehicles.
Figure 1: Front page of HM Riley Trust form 990, year ended April 30, 2002
Figure 2: Second page of form 990, HM Riley Trust year ended April 30, 2002, showing primary purpose as "support Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society"
As part of the annual return of the trust, schedules are attached giving details of the trusts investment income, and investment assets held at the year end. There are a variety of corporate stocks that have been traded and held, in such companies as Exxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Barclays, JDS Uniphase and (ironically) Proctor and Gamble. It is a long list. However, here is an extract of the 2002 listing of stocks held:
Figure 3: Extract of investment listing of HM Riley Trust, April 30, 2002
One name that jumps out from the list above: Philip Morris Companies Inc, one of the worlds largest manufacturers of cigarettes and tobacco products. http://Philipmorris.com states:
The Philip Morris name has long been associated with high quality tobacco products and globally recognized cigarette brands. Today the name is proudly carried by the leading cigarette manufacturer in the United States, Philip Morris USA, and by Philip Morris International, the world』s leading international cigarette business with products sold in 160 countries worldwide.
Thus, the trust has made an investment in a cigarette company, with the object of generating income which will be transferred to the Watchtower Society.
A trust fund is a special type of legal entity that holds property for the benefit of another person, group, or organization. There are many different types of trust funds, and many different trust fund provisions that change how they work. Generally speaking, all trust funds have three important parties:
The Grantor: This is the person who establishes the trust fund, donates the property (such as cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, mutual funds, art, a private business, or anything else of value) to the fund, and who decides the terms upon which it must be managed.
The Beneficiary: This is the person for whom the trust fund was established. It is intended that the assets in the trust, though not belonging to the beneficiary, will be managed in a way that will benefit him or her, as per the specifics laid out by the grantor when the trust fund was created.
The Trustee: The trustee, which can be a single individual, an institution (such as a bank trust department that appoints one of its staff to the responsibility), or multiple trusted advisors, is responsible for overseeing that the trust fund maintains its duties as laid out in the trust documents and applicable law. The trustee is often paid a small management fee. Some trusts give responsibility for managing the trust assets to the trustee, while others require the trustee to select qualified investment advisors to handle the money.
http://beginnersinvest.about.com/od/Trust-Funds/a/What-Is-A-Trust-Fund.htmThe Rights of Trustees （受託人的權利）
Trust Beneficiaries Are Entitled to Yearly Trust Reports Whether it is good or bad news, the trust beneficiaries have the right to know. Trust reports contain information for the beneficiaries such as how much income was produced by the trust and expenses and commissions paid out. Traditionally, trust reports should be mailed out annually to the beneficiaries. If the trustee fails to send out at least one annual report and refuses to do so, the beneficiaries have the right to request a reporting of the trust from the court.
Trust Beneficiaries Have the Right to an Accounting Trustees have the important job of deciding how the principle of the trust will be used. Typically, trusts contain both real property (real estate) and money, giving the trustee great discretion in how each asset is invested. As a result of this, the law requires that trustees act prudently with investments, diversifying so that all the assets of the trust are not in one place, which would put them at risk and could limit returns. If a beneficiary has questions or concerns about the trustee』s decisions for investments, they have the right to request an accounting of investments. This accounting report will detail every investment and its gains and losses.
Trust Beneficiaries Can Request a New Trustee If the trustee is being difficult, uncooperative, or refusing to do their job, you can request a new trustee. This requires a legal filing and a ruling by the court. If the reason for the request is because of large losses of principle, the trustee will also be required to repay the trust. Before filing this request, keep in mind that courts always do their best to maintain the intentions of the creator of the trust (the settler), so only extremely egregious actions will justify a change.
The Rights of Trust Beneficiaries
Conceivably, a JW could offer a defense that they are not investing in a cigarette company because the Philip Morris Group has other brands i.e.. Kraft. This doesnt hold water though, because Kraft is traded on Wall Street under its own symbol (KFT). If they wanted to avoid the taint of cigarettes, they could have just bought shares in Kraft. Instead, they have shares in a company overwhelmingly known for its tobacco products, which make up the vast majority of the overall groups brands and product. So, no slithering out on that one, methinks!
On a side note, a poster correctly mentioned that Philip Morris underwent a reorganization in 2002. In April they decided on a group name change to Altria. The 990 return above is from April 2002, before the name change went into effect. Just a point to remember.
Conceivably, a JW could offer a defence that they are not investing in a cigarette comapny because the Philip Morris Group has other brands i.e.. Kraft. This doesnt hold water though, because Kraft is traded on Wall Street under its own symbol (KFT). If they wanted to avoid the taint of cigarettes, they could have just bought shares in Kraft. Instead, they have shares in a company overwhelmingly known for its tobacco products, which make up the vast majority of the overall groups brands and product. So, no slithering out on that one, methinks!
「One guide to the stock market illustrates it this way: 「Stocks are pieces of the corporate pie. When you buy stocks, or shares, you own a slice of the company.... Such an investment differs from gambling because the stockholder has purchased part of a company.... By considering the background of a company, an investor can also ensure that his money will not be used to support an unethical enterprise.」 —See Awake!, February 8, 1962, pages 21-3. (Awake! Oct 8 2000; Is it wise to invest in the stock market?)
Considering the rights of beneficiaries, and responsible record keeping for organizations/non-profits—if they receive copies of their 990 Forms, or have meetings with their Trustees—they should know where almost a million dollars a year—and millions upon millions of dollars in all have been coming from since about 1970. Ignorance is bliss.
I』m a natural lurk, so I』m sure there will be more to come. Going to try to track down Henrietta』s husband or parents. I want to know why she was so rich in the first place.
Yet, a trust which exists for the primary reason of generating income for the Watchtower, invests in a cigarette company. While the amount of the investment is small, it is not the amount that is the issue, but the principle: the Watchtower Society will benefit from an investment made in the tobacco industry.
They will do this knowingly, because if I can get hold of this information, do you really think that the Watchtower Society doesnt have a copy of these very same documents? And while the objection could be made that it is not actually the Watchtower Society itself making the investment, but just receiving the cash, is this a valid defence? If they know that the money is from a source they have condemned as unchristian, are they not hypocritical in receiving it? Remember that the sole purpose of this trust is to generate income for the Watchtower.
In fact, here is another example of the Watchtowers hypocrisy in matters of principle. That which they condemn other religions for, and restrict their individual followers from, becomes acceptable when it results in $$$ for the Watchtower Society itself.
From their own lips:
*** g70 2/8 23 Churches in Business *** After listing some of the many companies in which the Vatican has substantial interest Mr. Lo Bello observes: 「The foregoing details provide an uncomfortably sharp realization that the Vatican and its men have indeed carved a niche for their firm in the world of big business.」
The vast business holdings of the and of other religious organizations bind them inseparably with the business world. How unlike the true Christians concerning whom Jesus Christ said: 「They are no part of the world」!—John .
The religious organization that truly is serving God, in harmony with the example set by Jesus Christ, concentrates on preaching and teaching the liberating truths of his Word and does not become involved in commercial businesses. Following the Bible』s instructions, it does not involve itself in 「the commercial businesses of life.」—2 Tim. 2:4.
1: The position of the Watchtower as regards smoking
***** jv 181 13 Recognized by Our Conduct *****As a further forward step in consistent application of that Bible counsel, none who were still smoking were accepted for baptism from 1973 onward. During the following months, those who were actively involved in tobacco production or in promoting the sale of tobacco were helped to realize that they could not continue to do that and be accepted as Jehovah』s Witnesses.
2: Watchtower criticism of the Catholic Churchs involvement in the tobacco business
g95 10/8 28 Watching the World 「Holiness, why does the Vatican still sell cigarettes?" a priest asked John Paul II during the popes yearly audience with the clergy of Rome. He continued: "Besides damaging health, this commerce contradicts your continual appeals in favor of the protection of health and our pastoral activity." For Ugo Mesini, the 76-year-old priest, the fact that the Vatican sells tobacco and cigarettes containing the statement "smoking is damaging to your health" is a "counter-testimony" and a "contradiction" to the popes message. As reported in the Rome newspaper Il Messaggero, the pope replied that on the matter of tobacco, his "conscience is clear." He promised, though, to speak about the Vaticans cigarette sales with the overseeing cardinal.
3: Watchtower quote on whether a Jehovahs Witness can be involved in selling cigarettes
w99 4/15 29 Questions From Readers 3. To what degree is the person involved? Let us return to the example of a store. Probably an employee assigned to run the cash register or to fill the shelves only occasionally handles cigarettes or religious items; that is a small part of his overall work. What a contrast, though, with an employee in the same store who works at the tobacco counter!
4: Quote regarding not investing in "unethical" enterprises
g00 10/8 pp. 25-27 Is It Wise to Invest in the Stock Market?
By considering the background of a company, an investor can also ensure that his money will not be used to support an unethical enterprise.—See Awake!, February 8, 1962, pages 21-3.
The initial quotes showed clearly that the Watchtower regards smoking as an unchristian activity. Indeed, smoking is a disfellowshipping offence for a Jehovahs Witness. A Jehovahs Witness is also not permitted to be employed in the tobacco industry, even to the extent of working at the cigarette serving counter of a store. There can be no doubt that if an individual Jehovahs Witness invested in the cigarette industry, the Watchtower would consider this an unchristian type of investment.
特別鳴謝來自香港的弟兄小約提供資料！
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