An "elite" group is one which has special privileges not granted to others.
And obscurantist elite, is a group which hides information by virtue of its own claim to be special and a sole source in dispensing necessary truths.
To wit:
The GB's elitism shines through in articles such as this:
“Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals , regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible . For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind .”— The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 587
“ We all need help to understand the Bible , and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave’ organization .”— The Watchtower,February 15, 1981, p. 19
________________________
Slowly, like an anaconda tightening around its victim, the Watchtower has made this ever more and more clear:
“ Does ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ [Watchtower organization] endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate? —Matt. 24:45, 47. No, it does not. And yet, in various parts of the world, a few associates of our organization have formed groups to do independent research on Bible-related subjects.Some have pursued an independent group study of Biblical Hebrew and Greek so as to analyze the accuracy of the New World Translation. …They have also held conferences and produced publications to present their findings and to supplement what is provided at our Christian meetings and through our literature. … Thus, ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight … For those who wish to do extra Bible study and research, we recommend that they explore Insight on the Scriptures, ‘All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,’ and our other publications ….”— Kingdom Ministry, September 2007, p. 3
__________________________
How about this crazy one?
“They say that it is sufficient to read the bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago…”— The Watchtower, August 15, 1981, pp. 28-29
________________________
Is it too much to expect from the Governing Body that they train their members in actual Universities where they must pass courses and defend theses, to interpret, to criticize and to discriminate what is sound from error and falsehood on a level educational playing field?
The GB needs to suspend judgement where they are prone to judge without factual reasons if they agree or disagree with historical Christianity. Instead, they simply MAKE STUFF UP out of thin air and point to it as having been delivered by heaven into their laps alone!
What outrageous poppycock!
_________________________
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
A sermon at a Kingdom Hall is well described as the process whereby the outline of the speaker becomes the notes of the listener without passing through the mind of either of them.
Is it too much to expect either to personally discern what is being said? Without discernment, the individual allows anything into the mind without making a personal examination or judgment.
_________________________
Is it too much to expect for JW's to get out of the habit of automatically AGREEING with what they are told by the GB or automatically
DISagreeing with information from every other source? “To agree without understanding is inane. To disagree without understanding is impudent.”
________________________
Is it too much to expect JW's to understand that there are genuine mysteries in the world which mark the limits of knowing and thinking--and--that the Watchtower is severely limited by its ignorance and self-deception in being able to reduce everything to a black and white simplicity?
“ Wisdom is fortified, not destroyed, by understanding its limitations. ”
__________________________
Is it too much to expect JW's to know it is much easier to please a stupid person by giving them easier answers?
"Do as you are told" is not the meaning of life.
Being told what to think by self-anointed elitists who obscure and forbid honest research
is a situation we must continue to illuminate in conversation, in posts on FACEBOOK, in our e-mails and casual encounters. From small seeds mighty forests grow.