Why do the Governing body remain unknown?

sleepy

Why do the Governing body remain unknown to witnesses in general?

I used to think that the fact that the GB promote themselves (personnaly by name) in the magazines and don't name writers of watchtower articles, was a sign that the governing body was humble and meek.

But why did they take this policy?Russel and rutherford were certainly not unkown.When did the transition happen?

My theory is that this annomimity is use to make the magazines look like they are not aurthored by men.If an article appeared with the writers name , witnesses may choose to reject what is writen as they can see it was writen by a man.But not nameing the writers makes it hard for witnesses to identify the writers as just human like them, and gives the impression the magazines and books have a divine source.

Any other ideas?

Mimilly

Perhaps it's a defensive mechanism. They're hiding from angry apostates and don't want to be recognized.

My .002 worth

Mimilly

cellomould

Interesting point.

I know I was shocked when the GB's pictures came out in the 'Proclaimers' book...

cellmould

StinkyPantz

I also think their anonymity is due to the fact that the Watchtower has been wrong many times in the past and they don't want specific blame for errors. Back then we could say, Russell was wrong about this or Rutherford was wrong about that. Now we cannot blame a specific individual and they like it that way. They are merely covering their own asses.

expatbrit

If you don't know who wrote something, you can't check their qualifications.

Expatbrit

blondie

There are at least 2 articles in the WTS mags every year reporting who gave what talks at the Gilead graduation. Usually you can see who is still able to stand and say a few words. If they go from giving talks to saying a prayer and then disappear from the roster of names without dying, you know they are being hand fed somewhere. These articles usually start highlighting some of those nonanointed ones that are moving up in the WTS and what their positions are. That's about the only time their names come up. You have to be a Bethelite or have a Bethel connection to get the latest poop.

Lieu

Like jjrizo...

It may be they do not wish for members to know that they DO NOT write the WT&AW articles. This could cause a problem as members would conclude the "FDS" is not the one feeding them.

According to the writing desk any ole bro and sis can write / submit an article. (see Branch procedure manual)

From the recent corp changes, one could tell the "FDS" hasn't written anything. Why? Because they said they were leaving the corp spots so that they could tend to spiritual matters (or something to that sort)...from the latest articles, it appears that the "FDS" has once again assumed some sort of role in the writings....now the mags really don't make any sense and appear to be returning to the very old dogma!

Edited by - Lieu on 28 July 2002 17:55:46

Farkel

: Why do the Governing body remain unknown to witnesses in general?

Because they're all idiots and they don't want dubs to find that out, although they didn't mind giving out their autographs to groupie dubs in Cuba several years ago.

Disgusting.

Farkel

Dismembered

Humble nah. Hideing like a bunch of diaper laden old men.

abbagail

I think the comments made by sleepy and stinky are right on the money; i.e., with anonymity we could all get cloudy in our heads as to where the info was really coming from; and as stinky said, they got tired of getting caught red-handed and having to "eat their former words."

Btw, sounds like you two belong with the Seven Dwarfs, sleepy and stinky!) :-)

In the court transcripts for the Moyles (?) v. WTBTS trial, Fred Franz said this: "In 1931, October 15th, as I recall, the "Watch Tower" discontinued publishing the names of any editorial committee on the second page."

Here's the link for that info: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=18930&site=3

Good stuff!

Grits

Why do the Governing body remain unknown?

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