How Jehovah’s Witnesses Rewrite Their Own History in the Digital Era – Updates to Digital Publications in JW Library
When it comes to managing their narrative, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (WT), the corporation behind Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), has a long history of revising and reshaping its teachings. In the past, these changes often required new print editions of books, magazines, or tracts, leaving behind a paper trail of contradictions and doctrinal reversals. From failed prophecies about the end of the world in 1914, 1925, and 1975, to the softening of stances on medical treatments like organ transplants and vaccinations, revisions to JW literature have frequently erased past errors, sometimes with little acknowledgment.
In the digital age, WT has taken this practice to a new level, using technology to quietly update and edit publications available on their JW Library app. These updates are issued under the vague notification: “An update to this item is available,” followed by a simple “Download” button. However, no changelog, version history, or explanation is provided to users about what has been altered.
This lack of transparency raises significant concerns. Without a clear record of changes, WT can modify teachings, erase past doctrinal missteps, or even adjust scriptural interpretations without accountability. For instance, controversial statements or failed predictions could be quietly removed or reworded, making it harder for members—or critics—to identify discrepancies. In effect, WT has gained a tool to rewrite their history in real time, without any trace of accountability or admission of past errors.
This series will explore how these digital updates work from a rank-and-file Jehovah's Witness point of view, their implications for JWs and ex-JWs alike, and highlight specific examples of altered content. We will also consider how this undermines accountability and contributes to an information vaccum chamber where followers are kept in the dark, and in some cases are even misled about real reasons for changes in doctrine.
The Watch Tower’s ability to revise its past has always been concerning, but in an age where digital tools leave fewer physical traces, their control over the narrative is more seamless—and insidious—than ever before. Therefore, it is important to brinh this phenomenon to the attention of the outside world, as well as raise awareness among current and former Jehovah's Witnesses, who would expect nothing but complete honesty and transparency from 'the organisation' they dedicate their whole life to.
When it comes to managing their narrative, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (WT), the corporation behind Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), has a long history of revising and reshaping its teachings. In the past, these changes often required new print editions of books, magazines, or tracts, leaving behind a paper trail of contradictions and doctrinal reversals. From failed prophecies about the end of the world in 1914, 1925, and 1975, to the softening of stances on medical treatments like organ transplants and vaccinations, revisions to JW literature have frequently erased past errors, sometimes with little acknowledgment.
In the digital age, WT has taken this practice to a new level, using technology to quietly update and edit publications available on their JW Library app. These updates are issued under the vague notification: “An update to this item is available,” followed by a simple “Download” button. However, no changelog, version history, or explanation is provided to users about what has been altered.
This lack of transparency raises significant concerns. Without a clear record of changes, WT can modify teachings, erase past doctrinal missteps, or even adjust scriptural interpretations without accountability. For instance, controversial statements or failed predictions could be quietly removed or reworded, making it harder for members—or critics—to identify discrepancies. In effect, WT has gained a tool to rewrite their history in real time, without any trace of accountability or admission of past errors.
This series will explore how these digital updates work from a rank-and-file Jehovah's Witness point of view, their implications for JWs and ex-JWs alike, and highlight specific examples of altered content. We will also consider how this undermines accountability and contributes to an information vaccum chamber where followers are kept in the dark, and in some cases are even misled about real reasons for changes in doctrine.
The Watch Tower’s ability to revise its past has always been concerning, but in an age where digital tools leave fewer physical traces, their control over the narrative is more seamless—and insidious—than ever before. Therefore, it is important to brinh this phenomenon to the attention of the outside world, as well as raise awareness among current and former Jehovah's Witnesses, who would expect nothing but complete honesty and transparency from 'the organisation' they dedicate their whole life to.