HOW & WHY THE WT USES BAIT & SWITCH

CLASSIC BAIT & SWITCH occurs when customers are “BAITED”  by merchants' advertising products or services at a low price, but then, when they visit the store, those customers discover that the advertised goods are not available and are pressured by salespeople to purchase similar but higher-priced products ("SWITCHING").

THE WATCH TOWER BAIT & SWITCH TAKES PLACE WHEN they place an offer for a “Free Home Bible Study” (THE BAIT) either On Line or in Publications.  This creates an appealing but deceptive offer of a service (Study the Bible), which the WT does not actually intend to fulfill. If the BAIT is taken, when the “Bible Study” starts, the student will find that the JW has brought a WT book, which will be studied from “cover to cover,” about the Bible, (THE SWITCH). The “student” will be able to use their Bible (whatever translation) for this study. However, the JW will constantly promote the WT’s “New World Translation,” as a superior translation, and push the “student” to switch to the NWT. The initial offer or appeal (Study the Bible) is made in order to gain the trust or attention of the audience, but the offer is later changed.

Synonyms: dishonest, hoax, fraud, scam, trickery, cheat. 

*The FTC has issued a Notice that it has determined that BAIT & SWITCH sales practices are unfair or deceptive trade practices, and violate the FTC Act.

Why the Switch?

How many people would jump at the chance to read a WT book, cover to cover? Probably, few if any! However, a number of people might accept a “Free Home Bible Study.” After all, the people making the offer are sincere, clean cut, polite and soft spoken. They would never knowingly lie to the home owner.

WT Leaders know that a person does not become a JW by studying the Bible (shown on the next slide). They become a JW by studying WT publications about the Bible. Thus the need to switch to studying a WT book about the Bible, instead of just the Bible. And not just any Bible. As previously mention, JWs push for the study to be done with the JW Bible, The New World Translation (where the WT has conveniently changed verses that contradict WT doctrine.)

It may interest you to know that a person does not become a Mormon by studying the Bible, a person becomes a Mormon by studying Mormon Literature.

Charles Taze Russell, 1^st  President & founder of                   today’s Jehovah’s Witnesses

The WT emphasizes that studying their material is superior to studying the Bible. The founder and first President, Charles Taze Russell wrote a series called “Studies in Scriptures.” About these “Studies” the Watchtower states, “Furthermore, not only do WE FIND THAT PEOPLE CANNOT SEE THE DIVINE PLAN IN STUDYING THE BIBLE BY ITSELF (that is because the WT’s divine plan can only be understood by studying WT material), but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had MERELY READ THE 'SCRIPTURE STUDIES' WITH THEIR REFERENCES, AND HAD NOT READ A PAGE OF THE BIBLE, AS SUCH, HE WOULD BE IN THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TWO YEARS, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (Zion’s Watchtower—later renamed The Watchtower, Sep. 15, 1910, p. 298.)

According to the WT, a JW would be better off spiritually, to lay the Bible aside and read only WT materials.

Why You Cannot Understand the Bible Without                      Watch Tower Publications

 “Jehovah God caused the Bible to be written in such a way that one needs to come in touch with His human channel before one can fully and accurately understand it.” The WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17

“God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life giving truths by itself. It is through his organization God provides this light.” The WT, May 1, 1957, p. 274 

“He wants his earthly servants united, and so he has made understanding the Bible today dependent upon associating with his organization.” The WT, Nov. 1, 1967, p. 668 

From a new JW, “What would I do with my recently obtained Bible if I did not use The WT to understand it?” 1983 Yearbook, p. 21

“It is through the columns of The Watchtower that Jehovah provides direction and constant Scriptural counsel to his people . . . “The WT, May 1, 1964, p. 277 

“With the Bible alone many parts can be seen, but with the aid of the WT publications a much more complete picture of Jehovah’s purposes comes into view.” The WT, March 15, 1954, p. 164

 "All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the ‘greatly diversified wisdom of God’ can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave." The WT, October 1, 1994, p. 8