by Blueblades 24 Replies latest watchtower bible
What would the Watchtower say to that? Notice that no public talks are shown on their official site. Ever wonder why public talks are not really public. One has to actually go to the nearest Kingdom Hall to hear a public talk. If public talks are the lead in discussion every sunday before the main article Watchtower study, why not make the talks available to the elderly and shut ins, those who are infirmed etc?
Blueblades
That's true, and how can a person (pure stranger) go to a public talk freely without being bothered with a bible study afterwards and elders going over to their house to pest them further in doing more.
Can you imagine 20 born again Christians showing up for a WT 'Public Talk'?
The cult doesn't want to attract too many people all at once because some of them may be firmly grounded in their faith in Jesus and can refute almost every word uttered by the "Faithful Slave" at a 'Public Talk.'
It's an old worn out ploy that they haven't bothered to stop. "Public" in the jw world doesn't really mean public.
Josie
What would the Watchtower say to that? Notice that no public talks are shown on their official site. Ever wonder why public talks are not really public. One has to actually go to the nearest Kingdom Hall to hear a public talk. If public talks are the lead in discussion every sunday before the main article Watchtower study, why not make the talks available to the elderly and shut ins, those who are infirmed etc? Blueblades
Watchtower literature generally has two modes. Some of it, particularly watchtower study material, is aimed at reinforcing loyalty to the society. Other books and articles are targeted at potential JW converts. Public talks™ are generally in this later category
It's sometimes interesting to contrast Watchtower study articles with the same magazine's recruitment articles. For example, the recruitment article might encourage the reader to ask hard questions about his own religion and to find out about the JWs. The "study" article in the same magazine might demand that a JW throw out apostate literature™ without reading it, that he not visit other churches .. after all one alread has the truth™.
unclebruce
ps: aren't the elderly and infirm suffering enough?
I've always thought that was a misnomer; there isn't much about the Sunday talks that is truly aimed at the public.
When the talk schedule is being arranged, elders are directed to review the titles and schedule talks that meet the needs of the local congregation. When phoning other congos to secure visiting speakers to fill out the talk schedule, it is not uncommon for the guy on the other end of the phone line to ask, "Are there any local needs or issues you want me to touch on in the talk?"
And the talks are always prepared with the congo in mind. Local "problems" are often addressed in a general way during the discourse, and sometimes it's not even that subtle. The talk is often viewed by the elder doing the talking as a opportunity to straighten out certain matters. Finally, "public" talks are laced with "in-house" language that only dubs can relate to.
So, no, there's no such thing as a public talk. And dubs don't generally invite members of the public to hear these talks like they used to 30 years ago.
I think the reason they call it the "Public Talk" is that you are expected to clap at the end.
Do that at the end of other meetings and you will get counciled in the back room.
Rub a Dub
If the public was really welcome at the talks, the local Kinkdumb Hells would advertise the upcoming topics and times, like our local churches do in the Saturday newspaper's religion page.
One can look over each denomination and their features for Sunday and make plans to attend. With the Dubs, the "public" talk is really for the private ears of their own congregation members.
""Ever wonder why public talks are not really public. One has to actually go to the nearest Kingdom Hall to hear a public talk..""
Not public how? As far as I know there is no special knock needed to open the door, nor does one need a magnetic card to open it either.
As far as having to go to the kingdom hall for it so what. A local college had a public lecture advertised. However the catch is YOU had to GO there.
Sorry the door is open to everyone the last time I was there.
If they where REALLY public talks, why not a sign in front of the hall telling the public what the talk will be each week?
The reason is of course that they prefer the "trickel in" method, where individual new members are coached into attending the Kingdom Hall. There is nothing EVER done to let the anyone know that the Hall is a public place on sunday morning.
Our hall invited the pubilc down after it was built to come and see the new building, but that was one day. How many thousands of days have passed since then? It's just NOT an inviting place, it's not designed to be.
