I've been reading all the posts here and other websites, and I have been trying to figure out why the Society/elders want control of people's lives. They don't ask for contributions at the Kingdom Hall, and as a general rule, JW's aren't wealthy people, so what do you all think is the motivating factor behind the control issue?
Society's control over people's lives
by Mollie 8 Replies latest jw friends
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Scorpion
Hello Mollie,
I would not lump all elders in to the mold of wanting to control peoples lives. I knew a few elders that were caring individuals that IMO were doing what they thought was the right thing to serve God and control was not the issue with them.
With other elders I knew, control seemed very much to be an issue. I think with two of them in particular, insecurity within themselves lead to there wanting control over others. Also, lack of humility with elders wanting control over others seemed to be another case. They were not only overbearing with many in the congregation at times but wanted absolute control over their families. In several instances the children, not all, rebeled and turned to outside influences.
My younger brother put it this way back in 1989 when I exited the WT:
"What better way can someone who will never have a position of any type of control gain control over others. Being an elder in the WT gives one the control and a feeling of power that he probably will never have anywhere else."I do not know where you got the idea that as a general rule JWs are wealthy people. What is your idea of wealthy?
Scorpion
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cyberguy
The 3-P's have provided the impetus to control since the dawning of man: Power, Position and Prestige! It often works better than money!
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Ranchette
Mollie,
To put it simply,It's the fear of everlasting death that will befall all who do not obey the men in those positions that is the motivating issue behind this control.
JWs are taught that those men are appointed into those positions of power literaly by the spirit of God.
So fear of God and death is the source of control.
It's this belief that causes the members to subject themselves to the elders and the elders accept this position of power because they believe it has been given to then almost like a gift from God.
Ranchette
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Mollie
I made an error and I thought that I had gone back and revised the wealthy part. No, I agree that JW's are not wealthy people.
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DazedAndConfused
I agree with Ranchette. I distinctly remember hearing at the meetings many times when they were comparing themselves (God's Organization) with the Churches of Christendom. They repeatedly pur other religions down that taught about Hellfire. They would go into a bit of an explanation of how they feltjthat Hellfire was taught and say something like:
"How happy we are that we are part of Jehovah's loving Organization where we learn we will live forever on earth without sickness, or pain, or..." etc.
Being the loyal dub at the time I would get a puffed up self-rightous attitude about that. It wasn't until much later, after I smartened up a bit, that I realised that what they were doing was the same thing as those Churches they were bashing. Instead of the threat of Eternal Damnation set before unrightous ones, as in other religions....the WTBS would always say we would have Eternal Death before us. Not only would they say that you will face Eternal Death but they would go on and make sure you knew the implications of that by telling you how you would be cut off from your family, or friends...FOREVER!!!
To me this is the same thing. Just the wording is different.
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Mollie
Yes, I agree that is how they control people, but my questions is why? What are they getting in return for controlling people's lives? Are they becoming wealthy? Is the society that wealthy?
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William Penwell
Scorpion Stated;
"My younger brother put it this way back in 1989 when I exited the WT:
"What better way can someone who will never have a position of any type of control gain control over others. Being an elder in the WT gives one the control and a feeling of power that he probably will never have anywhere else."If you study physiology you will learn that people play different roles from the business, personal and religious lives. Like Shakespeare said “The world’s a stage, and every man plays his part.”
Sometimes people have such a low insignificant role at work but counter with a denominate role at the KH. have you ever notice sometimes how these men may be very dominate at the KH but. their wives are the bosses at home? It's as if they are their ultra ego.Will
"I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's."
Mark Twain -
DazedAndConfused
Sure they are wealthy. Go to:
* http://www.newsday.com/business/printedition/ny-cvtop52369349sep17.story
and about 80% down the page this is written about the WBTS for the year 2000:
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York
25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, 11201
718-560-5000
Revenue: $951 million
Industry: Publishing
President: Milton Henshel
Employees: 3,415
It takes a lot of printing to supply more than 6 million Jehovah's Witnesses with the materials for their ministry. One publication, Watchtower, now has an average print run of 23 million copies twice per month, an increase of 7.5 percent over last year.
"Our report for the year is different from a Wall Street company," said vice president George Couch. Indeed, the company's employees are volunteers who live and work in the Brooklyn complex.