I may have missed this, but can anyone tell me what was the pretext the GB concocted to justify their abandonment of a perfectly suitable, high-profile, high-visibility complex in what is arguably the world's greatest metropolis for the bucolic isolation of upstate New York. Any how does the move square with their purported belief in the imminence of Armageddon?
Why Did JWs Abandon Brooklyn for the Sticks?
by Room 215 45 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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pale.emperor
Think of how much that building in Brooklyn would make when they sell it.
It's all very well having a nice building in a great location but when one has child abuse victims to pay out for it makes sense to sell up and pretend Jehovah guided you to do it.
That plus most cults end up in some sort of secluded place away from prying eyes.
Peoples Temple had Jonestown Guyana.
The moonies have lots of secluded centres.
Scientology has Sea Org
And now the Jehovahs Witnesses have Warwick
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The Searcher
Every time J.W.'s receive "news" from the org, they should ask themselves this question -
"Is this direction/decision motivated by cash?"
If they're honest, they'll admit that the constant acquisition & requests for money have become like a needle stuck on the record.
For those J.W.'s who disagree, wait until your K.H. or a nearby one is sold off, then ask 'Why?'
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Half banana
If the JW claim of divine guidance were true their message would be true and they would not need to move.
But the whole deceiving organisation is based on the lie that Armageddon is forever just around the corner.
By selling up in NY city, it frees up money for them to further their interests in gaining even more influence and wealth from their snake oil doctrine which I call: The perpetual imminence of God's Day of Wrath. And what a money spinner it is!
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stuckinarut2
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Room 215
Sure, money is the underlying reason for the move. I suppose my question really is: how did they sell it to the rank and file?
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sir82
My gut feeling is that they were scared poopless from 9/11, and began to plan their exodus shortly thereafter.
As Splane noted in a broadcast a few months back, nothing happens quickly in WT-world. It will end up having taken them about 15 years to actually get out.
And for the "true believers" up there, my gut feeling tells me that they expect Jehovah to miraculously preserve their buildings thru Armageddon. I suspect they think it is "Jehovah's will" that all their compounds are in rural areas, so Jehovah won't have be quite so precise when he hurls flaming hailstones to destroy Brooklyn (and the rest of the world).
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OnTheWayOut
Selling it to the rank and file was mostly telling them that being in NYC is bad when things like 9/11 happen.
I imagine hardly anyone considered how a cult compound needs to be isolated.
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OrphanCrow
I think their hot-line to Jah was working over-time.
It was a prophetic move. Jah told them that Trump was taking over New York - traffic snarls and all that...and THEN, when Jared came to them, they knew it. It was a sign from above. Time to move Jah's earthly throne.
And, Jah didn't let them down. They now have a lovely wilderness getaway for Jah to relax and avoid that horrible traffic and security issue hitting New York now
Whew...just in time
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LV101
So many great answers -- I always forget about the 9-11 horror but Sir82 makes strong point. I know of couple of people slaving for them who had planned to stay indefinitely but got out.
The witnesses will just boast as always about the cult being so smart buying/moving to isolated areas for investment purposes. Some used to act like it was their own personal investment portfolio - crazy/boasting how many cranes owned this and that. I couldn't believe it when I was braindead about the panda bears. They used to rave constantly about it's frugalness so the good news could be preached -- idiots! They've blown thru the members' monies living high on the hog and now the lawsuits. I hope the victims are hunting down the best lawyers in the country.