Why is the Governing Body controling 7 million people in the way they do? What is the point? Money? Power? I have ruled out that they actually believe JW doctrine.
There has been much discussion on this on the board. Personally, I happen to think that the GB DOES BELIEVE their doctrine. Most of them came into The Truth at an early age and were indoctrinated from their youth. They gradually climbed the JW Corporate Ladder feeling that it was because of God blessing them and their efforts. For years, at all these levels of advancement, Bethelite, Circuit Overseer, District Overseer, Service Dept member, Writing Dept member, they have been surrounded (and worshipped) by "YES Men". Humble people of the R&F JWs would cling to their every word and every movement. They were revered. They were showered with everything need and every whim they desired. (Evidence of Jehovah's blessing.)
It's not unlike some politician who is surrounded by all his staff praising him/her for everything he says or does who only hears all the "right answers" and never is exposed to the dirt or the negative side of things. Then they lose by a landslide! Why didn't they know? They were too sheltered. They never saw the outside world.
So it is with the GB. They are never exposed to the negative element as you find right here. The negative correspondence, regardless of how sincere it is, never makes it to their personal mailbox, it is always handled by the "Yes Men" who keep them sheltered and only give them the letters of worship and reverence. Everyone bows (symbolically) to them. Everyone prays for them. NO ONE dares "tell them like it really is"!
The only bad news they get has to do when the sh!t really hits the fan, such as the $$$$MILLION abuse case just lost. Then it is the fault of the lowly R&F Elders who flubbed up. Or, it is persecution by Satan's tools, the Kings of the Earth, the governments. All this just re-inforces that they are indeed right in their actions. More evidence of God's blessing.
As a member of the GB, Ray Franz was a rare exception when he questioned things. Even he did by the proper channels that were there. He brought it up in meetings with the GB. According to his account in his book, he was always out voted. Again, read COC and you will see that same kind of political machine at work. GB members campaigning for this side or that side. Certain members just voting with their buddy or mentor, without ever humbly examining that an issue might actually be wrong. Pride is an evil thing. This proud and arrogant attitude is what actually makes them think that they are God's sole channel of communication to mankind. They are BIG fish in their small pond. They are amazed at their accomplishment of gathering 7 MILLION souls for salvation. They are blind to the fact that it means they have lost 7 BILLION souls. (If their doctrines are to be assumed as true.) Get out of the little pond, and stand back for a bigger perspective and you see that they have failed God miserably, as He wants NO ONE to be destroyed. They are the worst PR Dept that God could have ever chosen to represent him. They are the slave that buried the Talent and earned the Master almost no interest. But they will never see it.
You've got a lot of work ahead of you, and you need to read up NOW to see how to approach it in the right way that can yield the results you desire. Approach it in the wrong way, and you'll only end up reinforcing their convictions by them feeling persecuted by the evil step-mother.
Doc
