" If i rememeber correctly, a Jewish Scholar was used for much of the intepretation re doctrine. Was it not Franz who mentions him?"
I remember this; someone who was in Bethel remembers seeing the man going to see Fred Franz.
WTS HQ: Look At The Map
by metatron 20 Replies latest jw friends
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metatron
Warwick (JW HQ) is located in Orange County, NY
So is Kiryas Joel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiryas_Joel,_New_York
Take note the sort of insular religious legal controversy that goes on there. Coincidence? Maybe not.
metatron
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AlphaMan
The JW Governing Body would no doubt take advantage of any location where they are allowed more freedom to do as they interpret. If they are in a location with different fanatical groups, I would think the Watchtower would try to make local government officials think they are "normal".
I may be wrong, but I think the driver in all this Warwick HQ move is probably some dead JW left them this property in their will, and they can generate tons of cash by cashing out of Brooklyn. Free land and free JW slave labor to build whatever they want....very smart move transitioning from religious publishing corporation to religious holding company involved in printing for profit, real estate fliping for profit and financial investing for profit. I also think that in the future the lake property there will be turned into a JW resort for profit.
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Doubting Bro
So you're saying that Orange County, NY was chosen because the village of KJ has been able to carve out a "theocratic" village that also has political power? Is your theory that the end game with the Warwick location is to essentially crave out a village that is close to 100% JWs and run it like a normal village? A little glimpse of the new system in this wicked world?
They would really need to make some theological changes to make that work. Not that making changes would be a big deal given the number they've made. But, I think it would cost them too much to do that. I'm sure they could get JWs to move there, especially pressuring those already in the NYC area to consider the move so they could keep their current jobs albeit with a much longer commute.
I don't see the advantage for them doing that. It won't save them money, won't make them money and while it would give them more control over the folks living there, would do little to improve their power over the 7 million JWs around the world.
If they were smart, which they are not, I would make Warwick Rutherford University or some such name. BYU has worked for the Mormons pretty well. Just slightly change the current restriction on "higher education" to say that this University would all JWs get the education necessary for todays world while not having the currupting influences of "the world". Get JW professors (may be a challenge but you could send some to various universities to get a teaching degree similar to what they do with the lawyers in their legal department). Charge a high tution (providing long term financing to "exemplary" publishers or kids of elders/ms). It would be another not for profit entity so another place to generate profits without paying taxes.
I used to think this was a company attempting to maximize profits under the guise of religion. I guess this project will really tell us if they are simply downsizing to ensure their future survival or if they indeed are looking to establish another revenue stream with either a universtiy, retirement community or some other sort of project at Warwick in addition to their world HQ.
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Apognophos
I do feel that metatron is onto something here. We used to have to enter a Hasidic neighborhood in order to attend circuit assemblies, until the Assembly Hall was sold to the Hasidim. There has always been a strange link between the Jews and the JWs.
The reason is probably what metatron suggests, that they feel they are more likely to escape persecution by hiding down there. Perhaps the eight men are trying to grab hold of the skirt of a Jew.
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metatron
Wow! I was not aware of that sale to the Hasidim!
Anyhow, I appreciate your comments in that you are beginning to think more deeply about this odd subject, rather than just dismiss it.
Doubting Bro, I absolutely agree that they would build their own "BYU" if they were smart. They could rake in all kinds of cash and benefits if they did.
They don't - in part - because they are lazy and dim - and don't want the 'messy' responsibility of managing a lot of hormone poisoned college age people.
As for Orange County, NY, Perhaps they have a 'you'll have to get through them to get to us' legal strategy - and both the Federal gov. and NY state authorities have shown a great reluctance to do that. It's similar with Mormon cults out west. I don't think they want a theocratic village (as in "The Village"?)
metatron
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Apognophos
Wow! I was not aware of that sale to the Hasidim!
You might want to look at this topic:
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metatron
So, to summarize:
In the whole country, there is one group that will beat the sh*t out of you for going door to door.
Response: make high level deals with them and build your world HQ square in their 'domain' !
WTF? Is the Governing Body stupid or is something else going on?
metatron
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Apognophos
We used to be glared at as we drove through their neighborhood to get to Monroe. We knew we were unwelcome there and would never have gotten out of the car to speak to them even if we broke down.
There's no way that the GB don't know that they hate our guts. That's what makes the apparent business connection so very interesting.