WHAT IS IT WE ARE SEEING???
The following was posted by Axel Gasser on Facebook.
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The Jehovah’s Witnesses, through their central organization, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, are involved in activities far beyond their spiritual mission. In addition to managing several properties around the world, the organization has invested in large-scale commercial and residential real estate. A striking example of this involvement in real estate is their real estate agency, IB... moreWHAT IS IT WE ARE SEEING???
The following was posted by Axel Gasser on Facebook.
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The Jehovah’s Witnesses, through their central organization, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, are involved in activities far beyond their spiritual mission. In addition to managing several properties around the world, the organization has invested in large-scale commercial and residential real estate. A striking example of this involvement in real estate is their real estate agency, IBSA Properties, which specializes in the sale and management of luxury properties. Some buildings, once used for religious activities, have been converted into high-end apartments and buildings.
A notable case is the former complexes used by the Jehovah’s Witnesses in London. These buildings, once dedicated to preaching and spiritual activities, have gradually been rehabilitated into luxury residential properties, sold at high prices. In 2016, one of their iconic buildings was sold for $340 million to a real estate developer. This type of investment raises questions about the use of funds collected from members, particularly regarding the financial direction of the organization.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ involvement in large-scale real estate projects is largely managed by Watchtower Property Co., an entity that oversees residential and commercial properties worldwide. However, it is IBSA Properties, their luxury real estate agency, that specifically handles the sale and management of high-end properties. These real estate projects benefit from property appreciation, but they also raise ethical concerns about the use of donations made by members.
While the organization insists that donations are "voluntary," the reality is that these contributions are systematically encouraged. Members are invited to regularly give to support the organization, and the sums raised are substantial. In the United States, annual donations to the Jehovah’s Witnesses are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Although the exact amount of donations varies, it is clear that the money collected plays a central role in financing the organization’s activities, including its real estate projects.
In addition to real estate, the organization has recently invested in commercial projects such as the film studio in Ramapo. This project has sparked much questioning among former members, who feel it moves away from the spiritual goals of the organization. This studio, located in a former Jehovah's Witness property, raises questions about how the funds are allocated and whether this investment aligns with the organization's religious mission.
In Canada, another situation has attracted the attention of tax authorities. In 2018, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) re-evaluated the charitable status of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Canada. The CRA concluded that the organization did not fully meet the necessary criteria to maintain its charitable status, primarily because the funds collected were not always used for public purposes as required by Canadian tax rules. This situation forced the organization to justify the use of donations in order to retain its charitable status.
Finally, when Jehovah’s Witnesses, often dressed in suits with briefcases in hand, knock on your door, they are not simply inviting you into a spiritual relationship with God. Their primary aim is to "sell" you the organization. The approach is not about cultivating a relationship with God, but integrating new members into their structure. Their "productivity" is measured according to the time, resources, and donations each member contributes to the organization, thus turning their involvement into a quantifiable, almost commercial endeavor.
In this context, Jehovah's Witnesses appear to function as a religious business rather than as a spiritual organization dedicated to faith. The luxury real estate investments, commercial projects, and encouragement of donations highlight the organization's shift toward an economic model, where financial aspects play a central role.
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This is from the perspective of a non-witness who definitely appears to be quite informed.
AdminAnd this is a non JW’s perspective of the Watchtower? even though he’s correct in his observations I often wonder what is it that causes someone to do deep research into a religion they have not been acquainted with unless it’s because they themselves may have family who are involved, as there’s so many religions we could expose. But if this is an outsiders point of view, we can see why the “Two Witnesses” will be needed to clear Jehovah’s name of all the dodgy dealings it’s been associated with... moreAnd this is a non JW’s perspective of the Watchtower? even though he’s correct in his observations I often wonder what is it that causes someone to do deep research into a religion they have not been acquainted with unless it’s because they themselves may have family who are involved, as there’s so many religions we could expose. But if this is an outsiders point of view, we can see why the “Two Witnesses” will be needed to clear Jehovah’s name of all the dodgy dealings it’s been associated with.
