Bleeeeaaaahhhh... [after reading that stinker of a gem from the Watchtower study article in the OP]
How in the heck do they keep their tongues from rotting out of their mouths???
Latest WT: Reduction in branch offices is "visible proof" that Christ is "breaking down human barriers"
by cedars 42 Replies latest watchtower bible
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cedars
Scott77
Many thanks for clarifications. Please, what do you think about Watchtower branches in developing countries? Are they sustainable? With looming lawsuites in the wake of Corti Cadance's victory and the fact that the society is actively attacking higher education that would have aided its members to become economically wealthy, is aggressively collecting donations from its poor members and at the sametime, is constructing a new large headquarter in New York in the midst of dwedling donations, is there is sensibilities or wisdom still left behind with this cult? What does this implies about its leaders's thinking?
Branches in most developing countries can certainly be justified, because there is more growth in these countries and therefore more demand for the "services" that a branch commonly provides. Whether they are sustainable or not is another matter entirely, and I suspect this is considered on a branch-by-branch basis. I don't believe any preference will be given to recently-built branches. For example, the branch in Guyana was only dedicated in 2003, but it has already been closed down after less than a decade!
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if a number of the branches in Sub-Saharan Africa get closed down, or "merged" (as the Society likes to call it) soon, but then these are also the sorts of countries that are enjoying the most growth - so the Society is faced with a tough decision. A major factor will be whether they can afford to run the branches despite the justifiable growth - and only they know how much money is left in the pot. Like I said, the threat of more lawsuits (and I have reason to believe this is slightly more than a threat) may force their hand.
The construction of the new World Headquarters has its own justification. The Society knows it has been sitting on a goldmine of Brooklyn waterfront property assets for many decades, paying no tax on them, and watching these slowly appreciate in value. Furthermore, I am given to understand that laws have been passed to allow these properties to be sold for residential purposes rather than commercial, which raises their value considerably. Put simply, the Society can probably afford to build two or three new World Headquarters' in upstate New York and STILL make a profit on the transaction once all the Brooklyn properties are sold. Don't forget that land in the middle of nowhere is much cheaper, and they're not exactly paying full whack in construction labor. The move to Warwick is first-and-foremost a money-making enterprise, period. There is no other real justification for it. The only thing that surprises me about it all is that Guy Pierce actually admitted that the Governing Body was "uncertain of Jehovah's will" in the matter. That comment was very telling.
As to what's going on in the heads of the Governing Body members, I personally believe many of them are deluded enough to believe that they are doing all of this to further Kingdom interests. They see themselves as privileged custodians of God's organization, and they're doing all they can to keep it afloat. However, it's a very different world from the days of Rutherford and Knorr, and I believe the internet has changed everything. Whatever they do, they face enormous challenges. I think they realize that downsizing is their only viable option, even if they need to come up with crazy excuses to justify it to their followers (such as the excuse offered in this article).
Cedars
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Bangalore
They can almost any negative news about their organization into something positive.
Bangalore
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TheOldHippie
"St Petersburg on the Baltic coast far to the East"
East?
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cedars
TheOldHippie - lol, sorry about that - I meant West. Well spotted!!
Duh, stoopid me.
Cedars
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TheOldHippie
Please, don't take it too hard - there are worse things out there ......................
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sir82
"The very concept of “foreigner” has already lost much of its meaning among Jehovah’s Witnesses, who pay little attention to the nationality of those in their midst.
That's hysterical!
Clearly the writer has never spent time in a US Spanish-language congregation.
Everybody knows where everybody is from. Mexicans stick with Mexicans, Colombians with Colombians, Salvadorenos with Salvadorenos, etc.
It is a BIG BIG deal in US Spanish-language congregations.
I imagine it is also very significant wherever there are mixes of different ethnicities in large cities.
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VM44
That is yet another visible proof that Jesus Christ as Jehovah’s rightfully enthroned Ruler is breaking down human barriers, and he is the one who will soon “complete his conquest”
Jehovah has done nothing!
Humans, both JWs and those in the secular governments have taken action to make international business operations easier!
I am tired of The Watchotwer attributing to an imaginary Jehovah those things that have been done by humans.
It is the Watchtower's attempt to make Jehovah "real."
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cedars
sir82 - very well spotted. It's also difficult to comprehend how Jehovah's Witnesses "pay little attention to the nationality of those in their midst" when they make such a big deal of naming the various countries represented at international conventions, encouraging national dress etc.
Cedars
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dozy
I'm convinced that the primary reason for the WTBTS closing regional branches is to reduce their legal "footprint" in as many lands as possible.
There is a cost saving in consolidating & selling off larger branches such as Spain & Italy ( albeit limited - the Irish branch is still on the market after 3 years at less than half the price the WTBTS could have got for it a few years ago http://www.mol.ie/Property.aspx?id=193 ) but surely the closure of tiny regional offices , often with missionary accommodation attached which have to be relocated elsewhere just has a marginal cost saving , if any.
The WTBTS always has been an extremely USA centric religion ( note that the latest GB member is another white American man ) and it would seem increasingly their plan is to retreat back into their heartland & build & develop there.