Hierarchy in a bubble

by irondork 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  irondork

  WT doctrine can only GO OUT to the public from the governing body. There is no way to for the public to get information BACK TO the governing body - at least not in a public venue.

  Their web site dispenses information only. They give talks at assemblies only. They write letters to congregations only. There can be no two-way conversation with the governing body - at least not in a way that the same audience can hear both parties speak.

  Letters to Brooklyn are easily ignored and trashed. There is no way to respond at jw.org. They cannot be debated on stage at assemblies. There is no public forum in which they participate.

  Why do you suppose that is?
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  slimboyfat

  They certainly gather information from and about ordinary Witnesses through COs. They used to conduct extensive surveys of opinions from branches according to Ray Franz and they probably still do. But in terms of feedback there is not much room for that, especially since they told people to stop writing to them.

  Why? They reckon they know it all anyway; they are fed up hearing from yet another brother who has discovered that 607 BC is wrong; they are bored with deciding exactly what sex practices are allowed; they think they've got enough work to do without answering more questions about how to understand obscure Bible verses; they just want to relax and enjoy themselves?
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  Sauerkraut

  What it tells me is that they don't have an interest in shepherding the flock, only in maintaining things the way they are. If you really care about what people think, what's on their minds and what they worry about, then you'll do whatever you can to give them a chance to let you know and exchange information and encouragement. But if you're not willing, you'll put up all these barriers and hide behind them. At the same time you'll give an impression of aloofness and control so one one suspects. Problem is in this age of free and ever present information that can only work so long. I see the same tendencies in Politics, you have all these people who don't understand how life has changed and is changing, how people's way of lives differ from the past, they can't keep up with things so they want to block this out mentally. I'm hoping a critical mass will be reached and these tendencies in the Society will have to be addressed and can no longer be swept under the rug.
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  Pistoff

  The WT does not care what the rank and file think; an idea only has merit if it comes from them, in their view.

  Yet they will not put their name to anything, or step up to show credentials. They will only ever quote Jesus and a 'faithful slave' and claim to be that slave.

  Hierarchy is the right word; ivory tower also fits them.
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  zeb

  No upward answers are permissable I said that too then 35 years ago. and never got an answer.
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  bats in the belfry

  . . . YOU FOOLS . . .

  to think you ever had any say in any matter !

  So, to say that we do not need organization or that God directs each individual independently is to deny the interdependent order of the universe and the common provision that Jehovah has made for the sustenance of our physical needs. In fact, our very possession of free will should emphasize to us the need for organization, theocratic organization, that is, ruled by God from the top down.

  w67 10/1 p. 586 par. 6
  
  
  This called for appointment theocratically, from the top down, for all officiating servants in all congregations.

  w71 12/1 p. 719 par. 8
  
  
  No legal corporation of earth shapes the evangelizing organization or governs it. Rather, it governs such corporations as mere temporary instruments useful in the work of the great Theocrat. Hence it is patterned according to His design for it. It is a theocratic organization, ruled from the divine Top down, and not from the rank and file up.

  w71 12/15 p. 754 par. 29
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  irondork

  I think they would be afraid to publicly go toe to toe with someone like Don Cameron, for example. They know they would be smeared all over the floor and made a public disgrace so they have protected themselves inside an impenetrable bubble.

  Cowards!