Is it all about the money?

by Laika 43 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Laika

  Often on this forum there are posts about how the GB are obsessed with money and some people here often suggest this impacts every decision the GB makes I.e. On my holiday thread it was suggested JWs aren't allowed to celebrate holidays as it means spending money on presents that they want for themselves.

  I however, do not think this is at all true. The Society rarely talks about money and as a percentage of income I think the vast majority of JWs contribute a very small amount simply because the Society rarely talk about it.

  Obviously money is important to the Society in the sense that they couldn't run a major organisation without it, so they have to ask for it at times and factor it in to some of their decision making, but actually the GB live quite frugally and seem to worry much more about clinging to their authority and power than getting rich.

  My controversial suggestion of the day is that saying the GB are obsessed with money must make us look silly to lurkers.

  What does the JWN intellegentsia think then?
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  emeth

  My controversial suggestion of the day is that saying the GB are obsessed with money must make us look silly

  you are right it makes you look silly
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  sir82

  It's not the money - it's the power & control.

  It is more addictive than heroin, and the GB are hooked. Money is just a means to that end.
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  Pyramid God

  It's pretty fun to play god.
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  Phizzy

  Sometimes we posters on here write "GB" when really we should write "WT".

  It seems to me that the GB, having been in the WT bubble for many years, and having come up through the ranks, were, at least when appointed, deluded believers in all the B.S about Holy Spirit guiding them etc etc. They probably hang on to a lot of that belief despite seeing the mechanics of how doctrine and policy are worked out.

  They are happy with what seems to some a simple modest life, and with the power and position. The seeming simple life has no worries attached financially, everything is paid for, tot up what all that would cost if they had to pay, and the life is not a bad one at all !

  Behind the GB, who, after all, are mere figureheads, is the group that really controls things, a collective Eminence Gris, made up of Financial experts, Legal advisors, and the Writing department to some degree.

  With this group, it is all about the money, their task is mainly not putting stuff in print that will get their Corporate asses sued, and not writing stuff that will expose the WT's doctrines as being total hogwash. They need to make sure that the $$$ keep flowing or they will have to go out and work in the real world.

  I doubt there are many true believers in their ranks.

  The GB are much like most Cardinals in the Catholic Church, pragmatic, but still with some faith. The WT Corporate boys are not so imbued with faith, if at all.
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  Heartofaboy

  'Eminence Grise'............you have increased my vocabulary Phizz
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  emeth

  @phizzy what you are saying makes you look silly too
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  Phizzy

  how ? (by the way, I can look silly without opening my mouth).
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  Laika

  I think sir82 is right.

  Phizzy, I think the GB are far more than figureheads. Although the lawyers no doubt have real influence the GB does have real control.
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  gingerbread

  WT's Governing Body is like the man behind the curtain operating the "Wizard" - the non-questioning JW members and the GB believe that the Org. is really Jehovah God. They believe their own fantasy and will maintain it's existence at all costs.

  The individual GB lives as a volunteer 'minister' - they don't live like the religious super-rich. Oh yeah, they wear a nice suit and a visit the Branches around the world, but they're not living the highlife. They live off of handouts and favors.

  The investments, real estate sales and building construction might be taken - by the average, working class citizen - as a sign that the WT is LOADED...

  The strength of the financial position of the Org. is tenuous - it can't afford to lose court cases or keep aging Brooklyn properties up to NYC codes forever. The corp. is downsizing or "streamlining"... to save itself.

  ginger