Gilead Class Appreciates “What Has Religion Done for Mankind”

October 10, 1951

Mr. N. H. Knorr, President,

Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society,

124 Columbia Hts.,

Brooklyn 2, N. Y.

Dear Brother Knorr:

Having just completed a thorough and comprehensive study of the Society’s latest publication, What Has Religion Done for Mankind? we the students of the 18th class of Gilead desire to express to you our gratitude to Jehovah God and to His “faithful and discreet slave” for this excellent provision.

We have found that What Has Religion Done for Mankind? strikes a universal appeal. It has been written for sincere persons, not only of Christendom but also for those of heathendom. From the sound foundation laid in the introductory chapters it traced for us the history of religion for the nearly sixty centuries of mankind’s existence. We learned how the mimic god, Satan, stealthily infiltrated apostate religion to corrupt true worship before the Flood, again in Nimrod’s day, then among the children of Israel, and finally after the death of the apostles in this era since Christ. With joy we watched the triumph time and time again of the true religion over the false kind and its demon gods. Its ring of confidence and the assurance it holds out that pure religion will survive the battle of Armageddon, along with those who practice it, convince us that this is from the hand of Jehovah to guide His people in these crucial days.

The excellent Scriptural argumentation and sound reasoning identify for us undeniably the one pure worship, made known to Jehovah’s servants in a series of divine revelations. We rejoice that these revelations have been faithfully recorded and preserved for us in the Bible. How comforting and assuring to know that the complete victory of true worship is near at hand, when once again throughout all the universe there will be just one true religion, pure and undefiled.

By a study of What Has Religion Done for Mankind? along with the Bible, any honest person will be able to identify all false religion, for here are presented concisely and fairly the fundamental doctrines of the major religions of the world, enabling the seeker for truth to eliminate all false religions and hold fast “the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones”. With this instrument Jehovah’s servants will be equipped for service in any part of the world, among all peoples. Surely Jesus’ promise has been fulfilled: “I will give you forceful speech and wisdom which all your opposers together will not be able to resist or dispute.”—Luke 21:15, NW.

Our appreciation of the truth and of the privileges that are set before us has been enhanced immeasurably. Truly in the words of the final chapter: “[Jehovah is] a God worthy of the gratitude, affection and worship of all creatures with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. We can love a God like this. Drawn to Jehovah by his matchless loving-kindness, we want to worship and adore such a God as He is.”

We are glad to be the first class at Gilead to have had this publication as one of our textbooks. Being free from bondage of this old world, which is due to end shortly, we have been stirred to desire men of all kinds to obtain this knowledge and to get free. To aid in our obtaining many future home Bible studies in this publication we are particularly pleased with the new feature at the end of the book, entitled “How to Follow Up Your Reading of This Book”. This certainly should move many honesthearted ones to welcome studies. We are resolved to go forward to a more abundant life, helping others to learn the clean, undefiled worship of their Creator through the Anointed Seed, Christ Jesus.

Yours for clean worship,

THE 18TH CLASS AT GILEAD

Questions From Readers

● According to the article “Hated for His Name” in the September 1, 1951, Watchtower, hundreds of thousands of Christians died in the “ten persecutions” starting in Nero’s time, 144,000 dying in Egypt alone during one of the persecutions. How can this be harmonized with the Scriptural limitation of 144,000 placed on the number being in Christ’s body, and which position was the only one open to Christians during those centuries?—J.A., Dominican Republic.

The article did not class with any finality the individuals that died during these persecutions, but spoke of the results in a general way. Note that a key qualification was made in the case referred to in the question: “In the province of Egypt alone, 144,000 such professed Christians died by violence in the course of this persecution, in addition to another 700,000 who died as a result of fatigues encountered in banishment or under enforced public works.” The victims are identified as “professed Christians”, not Christians in fact. Many of those persons might have been caught in the wave of persecution, but may never have actually preached the truth or followed in Jesus’ footsteps, being only professed Christians. They knew the world they lived in was rotten and they were listening to the message of the Christians and willing to die for it even though not in line for the high calling in Christ Jesus. Many professed Christians today might be willing to die for their faith, but still not be Jesus’ footstep followers and meeting the Scriptural requirements for such.

● Since John the Baptist had seen the spirit coming down as a dove out of heaven and remaining upon Christ Jesus, in accord with the sign Jehovah had told him to look for in identifying the Messiah (John 1:32-34), why did he later send his disciples to inquire of Jesus whether He was the Coming One?—E. P., Bolivia.

Matthew 11:2-6 (NW) states: “John, having heard in jail about the works of the Christ, sent by means of his own disciples and said to him: ‘Are you the Coming One or are we to expect a different one?’ In reply Jesus said to them: ‘Go your way and report to John what you are hearing and seeing: The blind are seeing again, and the lame are walking about, the lepers are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing, and the dead are being raised up, and the poor are having the good news declared to them; and happy is he that finds no cause for stumbling in me.’”

John sent for this report, not because he doubted that Jesus was the Messiah, but because he wanted verification. He knew that the prophecies had foretold certain works that the Messiah would perform, and for him to get such a report of these things taking place, and a firsthand report at that, would be very strengthening for him as he languished in prison. Jesus did not consider John’s inquiry an evidence of lack of belief and send John a rebuke, but he sent an encouraging report of what was happening, showing that such prophecies