Do I have this right? (page 3)

Wizard of Oz

You cannot serve both God & Man......so how is it possible to Even Think you can serve God through a body of mean spirited doctrine of men!!

woz

thetrueone

Still, though, JWs are to completely and unquestionably obey all teachings of the FDS, no matter if they personally believe such are wrong or if they carry severe consequences.

It has to be realized that this arrangement is instilled or constructed by many religions such as the Mennonite, Mormons and many more.

They self proclaim that they are being guided by god's holy spirit and that any questionable opposition to that is deemed apostasy to be delt

with in a personal way. Of course this varies from religion to religion in how strenuous the leaders will try and protect their power

and control but the usual annunciation of that person is being evil and opposing god's divine arrangement , gets placed upon that

individual.

Religion is a game of power and money offered toward men, its really a matter if you want to be a participant in that game, that has to be the

concerning question.

cantleave

If looks like a cult, walks like a cult and quacks like a cult..........

It's the Watch Tower Society!

The jdubs call that marking them as a trouble maker , if you ask too many questions about the beliefs and are spiritually challenged if you don't instantaneously accept the, " new light", even if turns out to be old light that was changed .

Disillusioned Lost-Lamb

Cult mentality never changes; it’s total control or nothing.

Something else compounding the issue is, when an "adjustment" is made, witlesses are supposed to wholeheartedly obey from the second the change is made; they are given no time to adapt. We can all relate that if you've held a belief for an extended period, you may need time to get used to a new idea.

The attuned generation (miss)teaching is a great example because you've been indoctrinated that YOUR generation will not "pass away" and you may not die either before the end. Now you are being told that what THEY previously taught you is not true and you must stop believing it, or YOU will be spreading a lie; even if you don't have any doubts that's going to take some getting use to. However, according to wash-towel you need to unquestioningly accept it today or else. Or else what? Or else you're wrong, inappreciative, hard-hearted, and are now an unworthy apostate for clinging to what THEY taught you.

Such a loving organization huh?

Juan Viejo2

I've studied the issue of "who is the 'faithful and discreet slave' " at length. Cedars and I even put a min-survey on JWSurvey.org asking this specific question (BTW - that survey is still open). http://jwsurvey.org/mini-surveys/mini-survey-who-is-the-faithful-and-discreet-slave

Steven Unthanks' legal case in Victoria, Au named the "faithful and discreet slave" as a possible defendant, but the Watchtower legal eagle came back and indicated that the FDS is not a real person, group, or legal entity, but only "a theological concept." That was a lie.

As I read through recent Watchtower literature, I can see that the FDS is presented as someone to obey and to listen to in all things. Just how do you "obey" or "listen to" a theological concept? Is this some new evolutionary development unknown to science, a walking, talking, and writing "concept"?

Looking at all of the evidence, to use the Watchtower's favorite phrase, it's "evident" that when the Watchtower uses the term "faithful and discreet slave" they are talking about "the organization" based in the state of New York, United States of America. The FDS does not reside in branch offices in the UK, Australia, Europe, or South America - only in New York, USA. The FDS may be spread around equally between Patterson, Wallkill, Brooklyn and other locations in New York, but other than maybe a small chunk that has taken up residence in Canada, the FDS exists no where else in the world.

The "FDS" has become synonomous with what Catholics call "the Church." To Catholics, "the Church" is not a specific building (not even in the Vatican), nor a specific person (not even the Pope), or a group of church leaders. While the term "the Church" can be applied to the membership as a whole, the common Catholic is not thinking of human beings, or buildings, or some level of the hierarchy. "The Church" is the Roman Catholic Church! Simple as that.

When you try to define who the FDS is that Jehovah's Witnesses are to follow, the concept becomes even more muddled. "No," the Watchtower says, the FDS is not individual living members of the Anointed (9,000 and growing!), nor the officers of the New York or Pennsylvania corporations, or the Writing Department (most of the writers are not anointed, but rather "other sheep" like the rest of us).

The Governing Body of 7 older men who claim to be of the anointed class state that they "only represent the FDS" by presenting its teachings and guidance to the flock (rank and file).

So exactly how does this work? How does the Governing Body know exactly what the FDS wants them to do? The most obvious answer is that they "talk to their hands" or simply pull it out of their collective asses. Maybe they have a little old man sitting in a closet yelling through a megaphone whenever he is "inspired." So just how can a "theological concept" give direction to a bunch of old men?

Let's face it: The FDS is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The FDS is the Watchtower's "the Church." Since a "corporation" is a legal entity and has certain powers and purposes as defined by its charter and the votes of its board of directors, in the USA a corporation is "a person" who can act in the best interests of "its stockholders." (Just ask Mitt Romney - "...corporations are people too!")

So the Watchtower legal department lied to the Australian courts when they stated that the FDS "was a theological concept." It's not. It is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Societies of New York and Pennsylvania who have taken it upon themselves and appointed and anointed themselves as the "faithful and discreet slave."

JV

wha happened?

That's very true, they are trying to seperate themselves from this "concept." Only problem is, well if not u, the who? There has to be a who. Otherwise, who's orders would they be following. I don't see a red hotline to heaven. Legal matters are about splitting hairs in conversations that would never take place outside of court. This defense seemed to work for them for now, but it's only a matter of time before they get called on yet another lie.

allyouneedislove

@ Juan Viejo2

You said

Steven Unthanks' legal case in Victoria, Au named the "faithful and discreet slave" as a possible defendant, but the Watchtower legal eagle came back and indicated that the FDS is not a real person, group, or legal entity, but only "a theological concept." That was a lie.

Are there court documents that confirm the WTBTS said this? I would love to see them as confirmation.

Thanks

Do I have this right?