Danger Witness Robinson! Danger!!!

by Marvin Shilmer 48 Replies latest jw friends

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  DATA-DOG

  The problem is the " special relationship " between the GB ang the R&F. The context of one particular article will spill over into the entire lives of the rank and file. I mean, when was the last time an Elder understood or cared about context. Statements like the above are used by the GB and their underlings to control others. I personally don't fear a mass suicide via kool-aid. Still, I won't let my kid go in serve-us if the general population hates JW's because of the GB's actions.

  Next up, OBEY THE ELDERS!!
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  OUTLAW

  "must be ready to obey any instructions they receive, whether these instructions appear sound from a human standpoint or not."

  Eat a Hand Grenade.. Jump off a Bridge.. Set yourself on fire..

  

  You could be in the Next Awake!.. Dead!!..

  

  ................... ...OUTLAW
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  AndDontCallMeShirley

  What if the instructions are combined? Would it still "appear sound"?

  "Grab an Awake!, then light yourself on fire, then quickly jump off a bridge while eating a hand grenade".

  That would seem a little weird.
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  Marvin Shilmer

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  “I don't see anything upsetting about this.

  “You have to put it into context.”

  scotoma,

  Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. Here’s mine: There is no context within which a rational person should obey instruction regardless of whether a human mind can find soundness in it or not. None.

  Watchtower’s Governing Body is treading on very dangerous ground teaching this sort of rubbish to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

  We have a mind. Either we use it to think and decide soundly or we do not. Watchtower is teaching people that it’s okay to act contrary to sound thinking.

  Marvin Shilmer
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  slimboyfat

  scotoma, up until the 1970s JWs taught that the Great Tribulation had already begun in 1914, so no stretch of the imagination to assume that they might declare it already underway again at some point.
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  AndDontCallMeShirley

  From WT's own archives, here is precisely why blind obedience is so dangerous:

  w89 5/1 p. 6 Religion and Nazism "Religion and Nazism"

  "Hitler . . . had a Catholic as Vice-Chancellor and from practically the first day of the régime Franz von Papen became the drummer to attract the Catholic factions to a support of the new Reich. In every part of the Reich von Papen was to be heard exhorting the faithful to blind obedience to Adolf Hitler."

  And, a truly ironic quote:

  w04 7/1 p. 9 par. 6 ‘Go and Make Disciples’

  Clearly, Jesus did not require blind obedience. He gave the men a convincing reason why they should obey him.
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  scotoma

  Marvin,

  Context does matter. If they predicted those two improbable events -1. Noteworthy peace accomplishment 2. Attack on false religion by the United Nations I would be totally disoriented and flabbergasted and would do what they advised short of suicide or murder because in that queen of hearts alice in wonderland world they WOULD know what to do. I certainly wouldn't know where to turn. My good sense would have been totally useless.

  This is something way beyond Hitler or blindly following a dictator. And that's the point. It isn't a likely situation.
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  Marvin Shilmer

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  “It isn't a likely situation.”

  scotoma,

  Likelihood has nothing to do with whether an instruction is or is not sound.

  Either an instruction is sound or not.

  You’re attempting to rationalize Watchtower’s readying Jehovah’s Witnesses to act on instruction from Watchtower even if it’s unsound.

  I’m glad you have an opinion, and I’m glad you shared it. Readers can make of it what they will, which is how it should be.

  Marvin Shilmer
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  Oubliette

  Great thread! Marking for later ...

  
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  DATA-DOG

  I don't know what Scotoma is smokin', but I'll have some!! The WTBTS has a 100% failure rate. Their "cover all the bases" prophecy style may somehow align closely enough with a real event for them to say, " We told you so." My Grandam alway said, " Even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while." Did you get freaked out a little by the 8 Dukes article? I felt myself getting sucked back in a little, that's why I quit reading them.