by Faithful Witness 36 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
How about; PASTOR Russell
How about; JUDGE Rutherford (he was never a judge, he just liked important sounding titles)
How about everytime a brother is introduced as a speaker at a DC, his 'unofficial' TITLE is specifically mentioned and how long he has been 'serving'?
How about everytme a GB member is introduced as a speaker it starts with. 'Governing Body member'?
eyeuse2badub
Ya'll know good and well there's no hierarchy that elevate the Governin' body over the sheep
that pic posted that showed the GB right under jehovah was made up
WTS didn't print that
OK, just watch any of the videos from the WTBTS and notice how every member of the Governing Body is prominently identified as such. The the latest video from the WTBTS is a prime example.
Why is that?
It's interesting to note SFPW's buying in to the concept of WT's use of the terms 'label' vs 'title'.
The word choice is a classic example of Orwellian Newspeak, where those who control the terminology used in the group are able to influence those who accept their definitions, without even stopping to think about WHY they would describe as 'label' what anyone else would clearly see as a 'title'.
Since SFPW didn't respond to my question, 'title' is actually a specific type of 'label', and implies the person who granted the title actually had the AUTHORITY to grant its use by another.
The author of a book clearly has the authority to give his work a title, since he wrote it (and note the word 'author' buried in the word 'authority').
In the UK, everyone is familiar with titles being bestowed by the Queen to others, eg Sir Elton John, etc. The Queen has the authority to do so, and to use a title without permission is a serious breech of protocol, punishable by the offender being sent off to a penal colony (eg Australia) which is a fate worse than death; if they're lucky, they might be imprisoned in the Tower of London, drawn and quartered, and hung for good measure.
(OK, I don't really know WHAT the punishment is, but you get the idea).
In contrast, a 'label' is applied to something or someone for identification purposes (eg a can is labelled to identify the contents).
The term 'label' presupposes that someone HAS the authority to apply it, so it bypasses the issue of whether the person is entitled to do so (and note the use of the verb 'title' buried in 'entitled'). So the issue of authority is assumed, and hence why we all know that it's not right to label others with pejorative and derogatary labels: we don't have the RIGHT to do so, since it's an attempt to rob them of their intrinsic human rights by turning them into objects, dehumanizing them.
So it's likely no accident that SFPW has been unconsciously conditioned to accept the use of the more impersonal 'label' over 'title': it fits right into the OTs and WT's agenda to deprecate mere mortals for their inability to determine their own footsteps, instead needing to rely on Jehovah and his Earthly organization to make decisions.
Whether they understand the semantics at work or not, those who DO understand the difference are subtly-reminded that they too are simply disposable easily-replaceable cogs in the machine, and it's use is designed to keep egos in check. Hence why those who possess and wield power need to avoid committing the only unforgivable sin: publicly admitting that they HAVE the power over others. In an authoritarian theocracy, it's the self-inflicted kiss of death to allow one's ego to show to others.
Oubliette said-
OK, just watch any of the videos from the WTBTS and notice how every member of the Governing Body is prominently identified as such. The the latest video from the WTBTS is a prime example. Why is that?
Interesting observation, as the graphic doesn't describe Lösch as a member of the governing body, but implies he IS the governing body; it's as if the members carry the respect and authority of the governing body as individual representatives.
Adam
SFTW,
I realize that what we like to say about ourselves as JW's, is one thing.......but what actually transpires in quite another. Yes there are "classes" in the congregation. This is not unique to JW's. Its a very human issue at large.
Here is what the GB, elders, CO's, etc... THINK they have but do not......authority. I see no transferance in scripture of authority from Jesus to a future group of people. Do you? At best they may have a job or a "responsability".
The difference between responsability, and authority is not amatter of semantics. It is a real difference, and the bible did not give men authority over one another.
"Such men were never called “Bishop Peter” or “Elder James.” That is why mature Christian men among Jehovah’s Witnesses who serve the congregation as elders never use the term “elder” as a title." !
>
Yeah right .... they just say "this is Peter...he is an Elder"
Where there is a hierarchy, there are titles!
The Watchtower Organization is just that...an Organization with a hierarchy just as vast as the Catholic Church.
As far as the difference between "labels" and "titles"? Well, a jar of peanut butter has a "label" the "title" on that label is "Skippy" or "JIF" or "Laura Scudders." It is the title that distinguishes the jar. Just as GB, DO, CO, Bethelite, Elder, MS, Pioneer distinguish the person. And for a JW, being "disintinguished" among people is of the utmost importance.
Just a thought, or a few,
SOP
I consider elder, CO, pioneer, etc. more or less labels, not necessarily titles......SFPW
..........In WatchTower World.....Nothing is,What It Is..
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Mover/Shaker/Leader of Men!/Glorified and to be Feared!..
................................JW Elder..
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............... .I Could Ruin Your Life!!..LOL!!..
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...OUTLAW
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Of Course I`ll take Your Magazines!
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