{"id":4223,"date":"2022-01-31T21:15:04","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T21:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/?p=4223"},"modified":"2022-01-31T21:15:04","modified_gmt":"2022-01-31T21:15:04","slug":"anthony-morris-apostate-liar-or-both","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/anthony-morris-apostate-liar-or-both\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Morris: Apostate, Liar, or Both?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Please watch Anthony Morris&#8217; final talk at the 2021 Annual Meeting: &#8220;Keep on the Watch,&#8221; as presented on Lloyd Evan&#8217;s channel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tony Morris awkwardly jokes about 1975 armageddon hysteria\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hcvrXzNOiko?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p> Please watch at least through 8:15 (though Lloyd\u2019s additional comments are definitely worth a listen as well &#8212; as are the comments on YouTube. My comments below are an addendum to the excellent points brought out there.)<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"transcript\">Transcript:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Just want to have you think about this here personal experience. Many years ago my sons Jesse and Paul were in the early years of school &#8212; elementary school. And back at the time &#8212; I haven\u2019t heard it a lot lately &#8212; but from time to time this would come up at a social gathering. Now mind you, they\u2019re second-grade, first-grade, but these boys were thinkers. So they\u2019d listen and they appreciated all these older ones, and we had a number of them in Rhode Island. Long-time servants of Jehovah God. However, from time to time this statement &#8212; they\u2019d be looking at my sons and, \u201cOh, you\u2019ll never graduate in this system! Not gonna happen!\u201d<\/p><p>So, you know, I\u2019m at their house. They just fed us&#8211; [laughter] \u201cLord help me, what am I going to do here?\u201d [more laughter] But this would come up from time to time, at least during those years, and maybe it was post-1975, I don\u2019t know. But they\u2019d make these statements.<\/p><p>And I\u2019m going to give you a big confession, because you know, this one comes clear to mind. Driving back from the gathering Jesse and Paul, you know, are thinking, and they\u2019re troubled. They\u2019re puzzled: \u2018What is this about?\u2019 Because, you know, they had goals and \u2018what are we going to do?\u2019 and they\u2019re thinking of things in the future for them, and growing in their love for Jehovah. And, \u201cIs that true, Dad?\u201d<\/p><p>And so, I said, \u201cLook,\u201d &#8212; and let me tell you these people saying these things were long-time servants: experienced people. If any of you are guilty, God loves you, he forgives you. [Laughter] If you did that back then you didn\u2019t help anybody. [More laughter]<\/p><p>But I\u2019m going to give you a big confession. So that one particular night, we were driving back, it was a little distance from where we were, and they brought that up. They\u2019re sitting in the back-seats, they were having this conversation. And I told them, I said, \u201cLook, you boys remember: you\u2019ve got to keep on the watch. This thing could go on, and be ready for it to go to 2020.\u201d Honest. I mean, we\u2019re talking almost 40 years! Almost 40 years. I felt pretty safe with that. [Big laugh] Well, you know what year this is [2021]. [laughter] What are you gonna do?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dating-the-incident\">Dating the Incident<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If it was \u201calmost 40 years,\u201d then the incident had to have occurred in 1981 or later: definitely \u201cpost-1975.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His oldest son (Jesse) was born in 1975 (<a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/2006207#h=4\">w06 3\/15 p. 26<\/a> ). That should&#8217;ve been a memorable year for him. So, unless he\u2019s gotten so senile that he can\u2019t remember his son\u2019s birth year, there\u2019s no way that Morris &#8220;didn\u2019t know\u201d that the incident (with Jesse already in second-grade) had to have been post-1975. Children are usually at least 7-8 years old in second-grade, so this would place the incident around 1982-1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"children\">Children?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As an aside: why was Morris fathering children at a time when the Watchtower was officially discouraging this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p> Today there is a great crowd of people who are confident that a destruction of even greater magnitude is now imminent. The evidence is that Jesus\u2019 prophecy will shortly have a major fulfillment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time. They have chosen to remain childless so that they would be less encumbered to carry out the instructions of Jesus Christ to preach the good news of God\u2019s kingdom earth wide before the end of this system comes.\u2014Matt. 24:14.<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/101974801#h=24\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/101974801#h=24\">g74 11\/8 p. 11 Is This the Time to Have Children?<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of foregoing children in order to devote more time to preaching, as the Watchtower was encouraging, Mr. &amp; Mrs. Morris did the exact opposite: they gave up &#8220;pioneering&#8221; to have children. This, at a time when the end was &#8220;imminent&#8221;!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1975\">1975<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"but-why-does-morris-say-post-1975-if-he-s-trying-to-imply-that-the-friends-were-guilty-of-reading-too-much-into-the-watchtower-s-promoting-the-1975-date-then-he-should-ve-said-pre-1975\">But why does Morris say &#8220;<em>Post<\/em>-1975&#8243;? If he&#8217;s trying to imply that the friends were guilty  of &#8220;reading too much into&#8221; the Watchtower&#8217;s promoting the 1975 date, then he should&#8217;ve said &#8220;<em>Pre<\/em>-1975.&#8221;  To my mind, the only reason for mentioning 1975 is to deviously try to limit Watchtower culpability in date-setting and life-ruining to this one time period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you missed it, prior to 1975 the Watchtower had been declaring that year as the &#8220;end of 6,000 years of mankind&#8217;s existence,&#8221; and a most likely start of the 1,000 year millennium (to fill out the 7,000 years of the 7th day of creation). (See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jwfacts.com\/watchtower\/1975.php\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.jwfacts.com\/watchtower\/1975.php\">1975 Quotes<\/a>. )<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They had also been discouraging the pursuing of education, careers, etc., in favor of field-service in the &#8220;short time left&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world\u2019s end.<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/201974163#h=11\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/201974163#h=11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">km 5\/74 p. 3 How Are You Using Your Life?<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In any case, graduating was irrelevant since education was depicted as a waste of time, with the end so near at hand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Many schools now have student counselors who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them \u201cbrainwash\u201d you with the Devil\u2019s propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. This world has very little time left! Any \u201cfuture\u201d this world offers is no future! Wisely, then, let God\u2019s Word influence you in selecting a course that will result in your protection and blessing. Make pioneer service, the full-time ministry, with the possibility of Bethel or missionary service your goal.<br><\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1969202#h=15\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1969202#h=15\">What Influences Decisions in Your Life? w69 3\/15 p. 171 par. 12<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"post-1975\">Post-1975<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 1975 hoopla had been proven wrong for years prior to the incident Morris relates. So why were the friends saying that his sons wouldn&#8217;t graduate before the end? Well, the Watchtower was pushing another date in the early 80&#8217;s: anytime <em>before <\/em>the year 2001:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>It has been thrilling to see the fulfillment of Jesus\u2019 sign showing that the Kingdom was established in the heavens in that momentous year 1914. And Jesus has told us to rejoice at seeing the dark storm clouds of Armageddon gathering since that time. He has told us that the \u201cgeneration\u201d of 1914\u2014the year that the sign began to be fulfilled\u2014\u201cwill by no means pass away until all these things occur.\u201d (Matthew 24:34) Some of that \u201cgeneration\u201d could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that \u201cthe end\u201d is much closer than that!<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1984165#h=19\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1984165#h=19\">w84 3\/1 pp. 18-19 par. 12 Kingdom Unity a Reality Today<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>So, it wasn&#8217;t just &#8220;during those years&#8221; [around 1975] that the Watchtower has been guilty of setting false expectations. This is what the friends were probably reacting to: the Watchtower&#8217;s <em>culture <\/em>of doom-saying. With the understanding at the time, his sons <em>might&#8217;ve <\/em>had time to graduate, but graduating would&#8217;ve been considered pointless with Armageddon at the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"parenthood-vs-witnesshood\">Parenthood vs. &#8220;Witnesshood&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Morris here reveals what it is like to be a JW parent: caught between his duty to parrot the WT doctrines, and doing right by his kids. The friends were being loyal Witnesses, applying what the WT had told them about the end being &#8220;imminent&#8221; and &#8220;within a few years at most.&#8221; (<a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1968324#h=13\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1968324#h=13\">w68 5\/1 p. 272 par. 7 Making Wise Use of the Remaining Time<\/a>) Morris, on the other hand, was being a practical parent: putting his kids&#8217; interests first. So, good on him! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But now Morris has a role in the GB, and he is doing to other parents the same thing the WT did to him back in the 80\u2019s. (See the recent video of Morris telling parents not to waste the little time remaining on higher education for their kids: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jw.org\/en\/library\/videos\/#en\/mediaitems\/StudioTalks\/pub-jwban_201501_1_VIDEO\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.jw.org\/en\/library\/videos\/#en\/mediaitems\/StudioTalks\/pub-jwban_201501_1_VIDEO\">Anthony Morris&nbsp;III: What Is the Best Education?<\/a>) You\u2019d think he\u2019d have a little empathy for them, remembering his own struggles with real-life vs. Watchtower nonsense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2020\">2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s interesting that Morris choose 2020, and felt that this was a \u201csafe\u201d date. In other words, he felt that Armageddon couldn\u2019t possibly come any later than that year. How did he arrive at that? He was probably going by the Watchtower\u2019s \u201cage of understanding\u201d being 15 years old (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.watchtowerhelp.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Awake1968Oct8p13_14-538x1024.png\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.watchtowerhelp.club\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Awake1968Oct8p13_14-538x1024.png\"><em>Awake!<\/em> Oct. 8, 1968, p.13-14<\/a>), which would mean the youngest member of the \u201c1914 generation\u201d would&#8217;ve been born in 1899. Then, using the Bible\u2019s greatest estimate of a \u201cgeneration\u201d as 120 years (e.g., Moses <a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/b\/r1\/lp-e\/nwtsty\/5\/34#study=discover&amp;v=5:34:7\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/b\/r1\/lp-e\/nwtsty\/5\/34#study=discover&amp;v=5:34:7\">Deuteronomy 34:7<\/a>), would lead to 2020 being the year in which those youngest members would expire. So, it seems he may have put some thought into the matter, rather than just having pulled it out of thin air. This would tend to indicate that he&#8217;s not just making this whole story up, but you never know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this means that Tony was guilty of harboring his own \u201cindependent thought\u201d and \u201cpersonal opinion\u201d in opposition to what the Watchtower was peddling at the time. This is a no-no, according to the Watchtower, and always has been:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>Avoid Independent Thinking<\/strong><br>How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God\u2019s visible organization.<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1983046#h=25\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/1983046#h=25\">w83 1\/15 p. 22 Exposing the Devil\u2019s Subtle Designs<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>First, since \u201coneness\u201d is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and \u201cthe faithful and discreet slave.\u201d By regularly taking in the spiritual food provided \u201cat the proper time\u201d\u2014through Christian publications, meetings, assemblies, and conventions\u2014we can be sure that we maintain \u201coneness\u201d with fellow Christians in faith and knowledge.\u2014Matthew 24:45.<br><\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/2001563#h=11\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wol.jw.org\/en\/wol\/d\/r1\/lp-e\/2001563#h=11\">w01 8\/1 p. 14 par. 8 Make Your Advancement Manifest<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only that, but he <em>shared<\/em> this opinion with his sons! That is the very definition of <em>apostasy<\/em>, according to chapter 12, section 39.3-4 of the <em>Shepherding<\/em> book: &#8220;deliberately spreading contrary teachings or undermining the confidence of the brothers in Jehovah\u2019s arrangement.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, this <em>really is<\/em> a \u201cbig confession,\u201d on his part. Tony Morris just admitted to a disfellowshipping offense: apostasy! Most Witnesses would be hauled in front of a judicial committee after such a confession. Tony? He gets laughter. Double standard? Hypocrisy? Sham? Yes, yes, yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"experience\">Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Morris emphasizes several times that the friends were &#8220;experienced, long-time&#8221; Witnesses. What is his point? That, given their long-time experience with the Watchtower&#8217;s false statements, <em>they should&#8217;ve known better<\/em> than to take seriously Watchtower teachings regarding the nearness of the end. Thanks for pointing that out, Tony. Hopefully long-time Witnesses will keep this in mind from now on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, speaking of not taking things seriously:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"laughter\">Laughter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The GB laughs at its loyal followers who are forced to live their doctrines! Is this how the GB plans to get out of their false prophecies and asinine statements henceforth? Just laugh them off? That&#8217;s rather crass when you consider how their words negatively impact millions of Jehovah&#8217;s Witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the biggest laugh is on the poor Witnesses, faithfully following the Watchtower&#8217;s every pronouncement, and applying it to their lives, but now knowing that &#8212; according to a member of the GB &#8212;  such actions &#8220;<strong>don\u2019t help anybody<\/strong>&#8220;!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jehovah&#8217;s Witnesses, remember this going forward: when a GB member was in your shoes he did not blindly follow what the WT was spewing: he thought for himself, and even told others his thought. Today he laughs at those who <em>did <\/em>follow what the WT proclaimed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, don&#8217;t end up being the GB&#8217;s laughing-stock: <strong><em>think for yourself!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Please watch Anthony Morris&#8217; final talk at the 2021 Annual Meeting: &#8220;Keep on the Watch,&#8221; as presented on Lloyd Evan&#8217;s channel: Please watch at least through 8:15 (though Lloyd\u2019s additional comments are definitely worth a listen as well &#8212; as are the comments on YouTube. My comments below are an addendum to the excellent points &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/anthony-morris-apostate-liar-or-both\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Anthony Morris: Apostate, Liar, or Both?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[14,5],"class_list":["post-4223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-anthony-morris","tag-watchtower"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3vZ6t-167","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4223"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4224,"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4223\/revisions\/4224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smmcroberts.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}