Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 76
himself as ―a wholesale dealer in guts‖ (Watchtower Feb. 1, 1965 p. 94). He then used
theocratic warfare again in order to smuggle contraband Watchtower literature into Norway
by sending food packages, especially eggs, with ―each individual egg wrapped with several
sheets of The Watchtower [magazine].‖ He adds, ―when this was finally discovered by the
Germans, we found another way‖ (The Watchtower Feb. 1, 1965 p. 94). This other way
involved packing Watchtower magazines in food stuffs that were then taken to the military
airport at Aalborg, Denmark to be ―carried by Hitler's own aircraft into Norway!‖
(Watchtower Feb. 1, 1965 p. 95). The author then relates several other similar methods he
used to smuggle contraband literature into other countries.
Another case that occurred in the Netherlands was related by Robert A.Winkler. When he
was threatened with interrogation, he ―... knew this meant the use of theocratic war
strategy for the sake of the Kingdom work and the protection of my Christian brothers‖
(Watchtower March 15, 1967, pp. 188-189). This statement shows how intimately the
theocratic warfare doctrine is connected to Watchtower theology.
The importance of theocratic warfare was again repeated in another Watchtower article,
(May 15, 1988, p. 20) that relates that Winkler used theocratic warfare strategy to protect
his fellow Witnesses and that Witnesses must at times use this technique to defend the
Watchtower organization. The expression using theocratic war ―for the sake of the
Kingdom work and for the protection of Christian brothers‖ here refers to withholding the
truth to protect the Watchtower organization and its activities. The doctrine covers not only
lying, but also deception. The Watchtower put it this way:
In warding off the immediate threat, Hezekiah agreed to pay tribute to
Sennacherib, and he even cut off the overlaid doors and doorposts from
Jehovah‘s temple, in order to make this payment (2 Ki. 18: 13-16). No doubt
this was part of Hezekiah‘s theocratic war strategy, a move to gain time, and
to put him in a better position to grapple with the enemy. Likewise, today,
there are occasions when Jehovah‘s Witnesses have to move cautiously in
preserving their God-given right to true worship (March 15, 1968, p. 170).
The article teaches that Witnesses can violate the government‘s laws either by finding
loopholes in the law or by skirting the law. The Watchtower tends to prefer this focus
instead of working lawfully to change what they consider unjust laws, as do most churches.
Applications of Theocratic Warfare by the Watchtower Administration
A good example of lying at the highest administrative Watchtower levels reportedly occurred
in Europe as a result of a July 23, 1993, burglary at the Watchtower branch office in
Holbaek, Denmark. The case relates to a Danish ruling called the Registertilsyn that
declared on September 14, 1992, that the Watchtower practice of keeping certain
confidential information about its members is in violation of Danish law. As a result of this
ruling, the Watchtower agreed to destroy all personal and confidential information related to
disciplinary cases by November of 1992. A short time before this deadline, the Watchtower
branch office stated that ―they had carried out the order of the registertilsyn‖ (Henricksen,
1993, p. 2).
Whether the Danish law, which is similar to the American Privacy Act, is a just law is
another question. The concern here is the honesty of the Watchtower‘s statement that the
relevant files were destroyed. The branch office is required to specifically follow the policy
book called The Branch Office Procedure, which outlines the official Watchtower policy. This
volume teaches theocratic war strategy, noting that the branch leaders are to use their
judgment to determine if it is in the best interest of the Watchtower Society to be honest,
noting that ―sometimes it is best not to say certain things, even though they are true‖
(Henricksen, 1993, p. 3). The burglary uncovered documents that revealed that the
himself as ―a wholesale dealer in guts‖ (Watchtower Feb. 1, 1965 p. 94). He then used
theocratic warfare again in order to smuggle contraband Watchtower literature into Norway
by sending food packages, especially eggs, with ―each individual egg wrapped with several
sheets of The Watchtower [magazine].‖ He adds, ―when this was finally discovered by the
Germans, we found another way‖ (The Watchtower Feb. 1, 1965 p. 94). This other way
involved packing Watchtower magazines in food stuffs that were then taken to the military
airport at Aalborg, Denmark to be ―carried by Hitler's own aircraft into Norway!‖
(Watchtower Feb. 1, 1965 p. 95). The author then relates several other similar methods he
used to smuggle contraband literature into other countries.
Another case that occurred in the Netherlands was related by Robert A.Winkler. When he
was threatened with interrogation, he ―... knew this meant the use of theocratic war
strategy for the sake of the Kingdom work and the protection of my Christian brothers‖
(Watchtower March 15, 1967, pp. 188-189). This statement shows how intimately the
theocratic warfare doctrine is connected to Watchtower theology.
The importance of theocratic warfare was again repeated in another Watchtower article,
(May 15, 1988, p. 20) that relates that Winkler used theocratic warfare strategy to protect
his fellow Witnesses and that Witnesses must at times use this technique to defend the
Watchtower organization. The expression using theocratic war ―for the sake of the
Kingdom work and for the protection of Christian brothers‖ here refers to withholding the
truth to protect the Watchtower organization and its activities. The doctrine covers not only
lying, but also deception. The Watchtower put it this way:
In warding off the immediate threat, Hezekiah agreed to pay tribute to
Sennacherib, and he even cut off the overlaid doors and doorposts from
Jehovah‘s temple, in order to make this payment (2 Ki. 18: 13-16). No doubt
this was part of Hezekiah‘s theocratic war strategy, a move to gain time, and
to put him in a better position to grapple with the enemy. Likewise, today,
there are occasions when Jehovah‘s Witnesses have to move cautiously in
preserving their God-given right to true worship (March 15, 1968, p. 170).
The article teaches that Witnesses can violate the government‘s laws either by finding
loopholes in the law or by skirting the law. The Watchtower tends to prefer this focus
instead of working lawfully to change what they consider unjust laws, as do most churches.
Applications of Theocratic Warfare by the Watchtower Administration
A good example of lying at the highest administrative Watchtower levels reportedly occurred
in Europe as a result of a July 23, 1993, burglary at the Watchtower branch office in
Holbaek, Denmark. The case relates to a Danish ruling called the Registertilsyn that
declared on September 14, 1992, that the Watchtower practice of keeping certain
confidential information about its members is in violation of Danish law. As a result of this
ruling, the Watchtower agreed to destroy all personal and confidential information related to
disciplinary cases by November of 1992. A short time before this deadline, the Watchtower
branch office stated that ―they had carried out the order of the registertilsyn‖ (Henricksen,
1993, p. 2).
Whether the Danish law, which is similar to the American Privacy Act, is a just law is
another question. The concern here is the honesty of the Watchtower‘s statement that the
relevant files were destroyed. The branch office is required to specifically follow the policy
book called The Branch Office Procedure, which outlines the official Watchtower policy. This
volume teaches theocratic war strategy, noting that the branch leaders are to use their
judgment to determine if it is in the best interest of the Watchtower Society to be honest,
noting that ―sometimes it is best not to say certain things, even though they are true‖
(Henricksen, 1993, p. 3). The burglary uncovered documents that revealed that the
