These are tough times for the Writing Staff - so much
to avoid writing about! Brother Platitude (name changed)
didn't know what to do! They couldn't write about
chronology, blood, Gentile Times, or any other speculative
disputable doctrine that might incite critical reasoning
by the average Witness.
He couldn't write anything precise about neutrality or the
flag salute because of the problems it might cause in
Europe.
He couldn't call Catholics "part of Babylon the Great".
He couldn't say that "worldly governments are led by Satan".
He couldn't criticize the UN because it was a sensitive
topic, with lots of possible repercussions (Legal Dept. sez No!).
Frankly, just about anything with any depth was off-limits,
given the limited comprehension of Joe Average Witness. Heck,
why stir up uncomfortable questions anyway?
"Damn it!", he said "there must be SOMETHING to fill the Watchtower's
pages with!" .............. "I know!!!!! How about an article
about What A Nice Guy Jesus Was! , why, I'll bet everyone has
forgotten those skull-numbing Book Studies on the Greatest Man
book!"
He thought a little more....
"I'll write all about mercy, and compassion and love and how
Jesus wasn't like the rule-obsessed Pharisees."........
"BUT JUST TO BE SAFE, I'LL AVOID ANY REAL APPLICATION OF JESUS'
LOVING EXAMPLE - that way, with no specific, worthwhile
illustrations of how Witnesses should change, there won't be
any trouble with the Legal or Service Dept."
And friends, that's just what old Brother Platitude did,
and you can read his article "Learn From Me" in the Dec.15, 2001
Watchtower.
And if you think I'm wrong - or exaggerating the extremes to
which the Watchtower writers will go to avoid making any real,
practical, plain, explicit, responsible application of Jesus'
love, then you'll just have to read paragraph 20 (pg.20, also)
for yourself.(hint: use something so limited - and hypothetical
as to be worthless)
metatron (for further information, see the "School Guidebook"
pg.175 under the heading "Conclusion shows hearers
what to do")