YoYoMama, you said:
Similarly, the Faithful and Discreet Slave represents Jehovah here on earth. Their publications are based on the Bible, so it's as if Jehovah were saying it.
Tell me, YoYoMama, how many claiming to be of the FDS (Faithful and Discreet Slave class) actually contribute to the writing of Watchtower publications? Do you know? Or how about this: Do you know of anyone that claims to be of the FDS, outside of Bethel, who supplies "spiritual food" to the writing department "at the proper time?" Do you know of anyone claiming to be of the FDS, outside of Bethel, that has ever been called on the phone, let's say, to give the latest direction the organization should take, or to shed the latest "light" on some Bible passage or important topic? Of course, sisters would of necessity have to be consulted to give spiritual direction and supply "spiritual food at the proper time," since the majority of partakers I've ever seen have been sisters; the Society's interpretation of the parable in Mathew 24:45 makes no gender distinction. So how many sisters claiming to be of the FDS, either inside or outside of Bethel, contribute to the "spiritual food at the proper time?"
Now here's a very basic question: If the "faithful slave" was really the centerpiece of true Christianity in the first century, outside of the parable itself, why didn't Christian writers ever use that expression? Certainly, if the "faithful slave" was "giving food at the proper time" since the beginning of Christian Congregation (or Church), surely we would expect to see that expression throughout Christian Greek Scriptures, or at least even once! Surely that expression would be just as ubiquitous in the Bible as it is in the Society's publications today, if it were a Bible teaching!
Back in '78, Gene Smalley (spelling?), who headed-up Bethel's Research Department (part of Writing Department), raised an interesting question in my Entrance School Class in Brooklyn Bethel. "Do anointed ones have any more of God's spirit to understand the Bible than those not making that claim?" he asked. After allowing different ones in the class to give their answers, he briefly replied "no."
Surprisingly, his chief argument was that NONE of the 20-22 people then working in research, claimed to be of the FDS! Maxwell Friend, who claimed to be "anointed," however had been assigned as someone to bounce ideas off from, but since he was in poor health, wasn't really that supportive, according to Gene. He also said that some others, like Fred Franz, might be consulted, but only infrequently, and weren't really assigned to his department (Fred was actually in a "department" all his own and could do, write, or say anything he wanted!).
Gene also reviewed several scriptures supporting the notion that anyone can ask for God's spirit to understand his word. (Now don't let me give anyone the wrong idea here! Gene's was and still is a "company man," and wouldn't hesitate to climb in bed with the Devil if it became necessary to maintain the status quo.) I doubt that very little has changed regarding this situation in the Research Department!
That Entrance-School lesson was a turning point in my life, because for the first time I came to suspect something really fishy was going on at Bethel and with the Organization. I really started to have serious doubts about the FDS doctrine, whether it was correct or a bunch-of-crap!
Since then, I've concluded that the FDS doctrine is a terrible deception, more fictitious than "Santa Claus," misleading and enslaving people into believing lies and half-truths!
