Hello Change name. My comments are in BLUE.
Hi there problemaddict - I am always open to a different opinion on a subject.
Wonderful. So am I.
It has to be accurate and with evidence used in an honest way.
Evidence by its nature cannot be honest or dishonest. Evidence is simply evidence. I think I understand what you are trying to say here however. I do not believe the society has been very honest or forthcoming, and I do not believe evidence has been manipulated on this subject by those who used to be JW's. Do you have "evidence" of dishonest manipulation of information, or is it the interpretation of this information that is at the heart of your concern?
When a group of Christians tells the world that the UN is the political expression of God's government on the earth, then people should reconsider what the source is saying. When a group of Christians tells the world that the UN is the only hope for mankind, then it would be time to reconsider that source. The Jehovah's Witnesses did neither. Mainstream Christianity has.
Well since mainstream Christianity has no chief spokeperson, the onus is on you to provide evidence that this is what Christians believe. In fact, I can all but guarantee that any apologetics Christian forum you go to will in no way say that they believe the UN is a political expression of God on earth. Is it possible you ahve taken quotes from a couple people quoted in WT publications, and painted over all of "mainstream Christianity" with a broad stroke? Is that fair. Their are Christian leaders that belive hurricane Katrina was punishment for the USA's tolerance of homosexuality, but certainly that does not mean you think all, most or even more than a surprising few would believe this.
I do not find it hypocritical to tell people that the UN is not the political expression of God or that the UN is not the only hope for mankind.
Who said you did? If you are attempting to redux the societies view, you are soft peddling it. It is the "disgusting thing" standing in a holy place (?). The Whore of Babylon rides this beast with many heads in Revelation. To avail yourself of the opportunities even minimal association can bring from the "beast" while also holding Christians to high standards of morality and devise under threat of shunning, is the very definition of hypocricy. At least on some level. Perhaps you are not familiar with the details by which the society likes to have control in your life because you are not a member? If there was nothing wrong with it, why did they terminate this NGO status?
The UN has nothing to do with God. It is mankinds creation.
Right.
The Jehovah's Witnesses used this "government" as a source for information gathering about the different countries of the world.
The UN is not a government. It isn't even a quote unquote government. You and I don't know what they used their association for. By their admission the used the library, and there is honest evidence they have also taken part in community exercises no doubt for the furtherence of their cause. Once again I have no issue with this, if they didn't teach that this instrument by which they are doing it is actually an instrument of SATAN.
They did not put it on a pedestal as the government all should bow to because it is the only hope for mankind.
I don't think anyone actually believes this, althoguh I am sure there was much rhetoric when it was initially set up. The UN does many good things, but I do not believe anyone believes it is the solution to mankinds problems. A little cooperation between countries for mutual benefit only makes sense don't you think?
I do not know anything about one being disfellowshiped for joining the YMCA.
The article has been sited here. You can do a search in your in your CD rom. I believe the article is in 76'. Do your research. Herin lies the hypocricy.
I know that people are disfellowshiped for their attitude and lifestyle.
Interesting you acknowledge one can be disfellowshipped for an "attitude". Who determines what that attitude is? Who interprets someones actions as the kind of attitude that is apparently worthy of excommunication?
If their attitude is not Christian, or if their lifestyle is in direct opposition to how a Christian should live, and they are vocal in their decisions, they will be disfellowshiped. This is what I have read about and what I have observed.
You have observed this while not being a JW? I thin there are situations that are extremely called for in disfellowshipping. Child molestation for example. However, you can be disfellowshipped for simply not believing what the GB teaches currently, and vocallizing it to others....even WITHOUT doing so with an attitude. You see....attitude is open to interpretation. Our kind of shunning is practiced by the Amish, Scientologists, and to a lesser extent the Mormons. Do you think they all have it right?
Here are your answers to your OP questions.
Do you find yourself ignoring anything that Jehovah's Witnesses bring out in regards to their former status as an NGO?
No.
Do you find yourself automatically discounting this interesting information?
No.
Do you find yourself searching for a counter argument to this information in order to keep your belief that the "Watchtower" is an evil publishing corperation?
No.
If you answer yes to either of those questions, what does not mean about you personally?
I don't know I didn't answer yes.