by stillin 1 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
to spontaniety in the organization? Maybe that's an oxymoron, or a contradiction of terms. I'm referring to public and other talks being filled with quips, good humor, tidbits of wisdom, etc. Also the helping of others in some distress is more of a "priveledge" to be dispensed by the elders, than a from-the-heart act of human kindness.
Even conversation seems to be a lost art. These people simply parrot words that identify them as a person who has read the last publication. It's nuts!
There was a time when independant research was allowed. I remember our libraries being full of literature like Strong's Concordance, we had a King James version and a NIV to compare verses, there was another one that had the greek and english both so that you could see the translated word. In studies we often times researched things at the library in order to prove a point. It was allowed to go outside the literature when commenting at the meetings. We had a sister at our hall very much like Blondie. Very intelligent and well prepared with outside resources.
But in my lifetime I saw that change, and I haven't been associated with JWs for 18 years. By the time I left it was very much frowned upon if you "went beyond" the things you were taught. I can only imagine how it must be today.
Very sad, really.
Ada
