The thing to remember is that the Watch Tower organization is really just a business. (Run by a cult masquerading as a religion.) And like any cold-hearted business, marketing strategies are always going to be used in everything, even in a funeral for one of their own.
Posts by SAHS
-
10Memorial Services
by penny2 inall jw memorial services i've been to have been similar.
a couple of sentences about the deceased and then it's all about the religion.
very impersonal and scripted.
-
-
-
16
JWs and Field Service Attire
by laverite inthis morning the jws are working my neighborhood.
i have a birds eye view from my upstairs office.
on my side of the street is three men with a baby in a stroller.
-
-
SAHS
Well, at least the men were, in fact, wearing ties. After all, men’s ties are the “keys of the kingdom.” They’ll get into the new system paradise, for sure. I mean, they wear ties, right? (If they’re pedophiles, that’s okay. That might get fixed up sometime in the Christ’s 1000-year reign. Maybe.)
-
44
Canadian Appeal Court decision made the news: Judges can overturn unfair church edicts
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://news.nationalpost.com/news/religion/alberta-appeal-court-rules-judges-can-overturn-unfair-church-edicts.
the other day, this court decision was posted on jwn along with a link to the court document, but few expected the media to pick up the story.
so to all involved, i understand it was a surprise to see the story in print.
-
-
SAHS
“OrphanCrow”: “The 15 year old child that was shunned and the parents being pressured by the elders to kick her out of the home - depriving a child of shelter and home is a violation of the International Rights of the Child. That could become an issue as well in this case.”
Good point – especially considering the gravity with which the law deals with other matters relating to minor children, such as sexual dealings with anyone under the legal “age of consent,” or even parents being arrested for just letting their child walk unattended to play on the swings at the nearby park! But parents actually kicking their own 15-year-old child out on their own just to comply with a dark-ages-style religious outfit like the WT seems even more dangerous, and damaging, on so many levels.
-
44
Canadian Appeal Court decision made the news: Judges can overturn unfair church edicts
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://news.nationalpost.com/news/religion/alberta-appeal-court-rules-judges-can-overturn-unfair-church-edicts.
the other day, this court decision was posted on jwn along with a link to the court document, but few expected the media to pick up the story.
so to all involved, i understand it was a surprise to see the story in print.
-
-
SAHS
“William Penwell”: “I can see the WT, if they haven't already done this, getting elders to sign some sort of release saying that any decisions made by a local JC be held solely libel and the WT is off the hook. In other words if anyone is ever sued would be the local JC, leaving the WT off the hook.”
According to the WT, whenever it comes to their authority structure in the consideration of any policy or teaching, the governing body is always held up as the final word, no matter what. (I.e., “Do whatever we say, or else! We’re Almighty God’s one-and-only mouthpiece on earth!”) However, whenever it comes to any kind of specific liability or accountability issues, then the WT will always say, “Oh, well, that must be a decision made by one of our lowly congregations, which all operate independently from us here at WT headquarters, so therefore it’s their own fault and responsibility. But not us here at WT. Oh, no, we have nothing to do with what any of our lowly, independent congregations do!” (But, of course, the WT still wants to keep financial ownership and control of all those lowly little Kingdom Halls and their properties!)
-
39
Is changing the "truth" / presenting "new light" really so bad?
by Zana inplaying devil's advocate here.... what's the difference between the gb changing bible interpretations compared to parliaments all over the world changing laws?
although the us constitution (=bible) remains untouched, congress passes i don't know how many new laws every year.
and of course people are expected to follow them.
-
-
SAHS
“Village Idiot”: “Sorry, but politicians do act like gods and believe that they have a monopoly on the "Truth".”
True. That, unfortunately, can happen. . . . . Just ask North Korean president Kim Jong-un.
-
29
Jehovah`s Witnesses Boasted They have No Clergy Laity Class ?
by smiddy inwell that`s what was impressed on me to differentiate between the true religion and false religion , when i was converted in 1960 , do they still claim that ?
believing that they still do , i will say this.. what about ,:the governing body who definitely are set apart from the rank and file for their attitude towards the r&f , but also from the attitude of the r&f towards the governing body members.many do seem to idolise gb members by their actions , and the gb members dont seem to discourage that.. and not only for their attitude , how about their life-style , being housed in bethel with all the mod -cons of modern civilization as opposed to a r&f member living in a third world country .does the wt society do anything to make their lifestyle improve ?
{ did jesus have a place to rest his head ?
-
-
SAHS
“DwainBowman”: “. . . just because they are not paid, dose not make them any less of a Clergy class.”
Actually, I’m glad you mentioned that!
Now, aside from the fact that the legal entities of the Watch Tower organization receive an annual total of 951 million dollars (US) – at least as per the year 2001 – they have always got “paid” in something far more significant than that. So, in what do they get “paid”?
I’ll tell you. The governing body get “paid” in that which they have always desired and sought: POWER! That’s right. They actually don’t care so much about monetary funds nearly as much as they do about the artificial praise and adoration they receive from their followers.
Think about it. The first four presidents (Charles Russell, Franklin Rutherford, Natan Knorr, and Frederick Franz) were during the monarchy times of the Watch Tower. Those men enjoyed the “honour” of the famous glory days. Thereafter, there were men serving on a “governing body” of the organization, but ALL of those men enjoyed the one thing they espoused as the most desirable thing of all: POWER.
Yes, between the humongous, super-luxury mansion the “judge” called home at Beth Sarim to the ultra-refined palatial accommodations which the so-called “governing body” reside in the top prime real estate in the heart of Brooklyn, New York (which, I would think, competitively rival even Donald Trump’s most opulent digs), the leaders of the Watch Tower organization have always enjoyed the very best this “world” has to offer in materialistic amenities – as well as, of course, their perceived ecclesiastical throne of godly prestige and custodians of the faith of all their adherents.
So, yes, indeed, they do get “paid” – and they have been ensuring that they keep getting “paid” within the façade of the false panacea and theocratic “utopia” they have been promulgating – or at least trying to sell – all along from the get-go.
-
39
Is changing the "truth" / presenting "new light" really so bad?
by Zana inplaying devil's advocate here.... what's the difference between the gb changing bible interpretations compared to parliaments all over the world changing laws?
although the us constitution (=bible) remains untouched, congress passes i don't know how many new laws every year.
and of course people are expected to follow them.
-
-
SAHS
“Is changing the "truth" / presenting "new light" really so bad?”
Not in itself, in general – at least not necessarily – however, the problem, as in the case of the Watch Tower organization, is that they claim to be the one-and-only mouthpiece for the Almighty God of the entire universe.
But, don’t forget this famous quote which was mentioned by the Late Raymond Franz: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
As the famous cosmologist Carl Sagan said: “Extraordinarily claims require extraordinary evidence.”
The famous republican comedian Bill Maher once said something when being interviewed by Larry King which I will always remember and which I think is quite apropos here: “I have no problem with God. I just have a problem with those who claim to speak for him.”
Well, I believe these great men above have most succinctly and poignantly summed up the precarious position of which those folks at the Watch Tower organization find themselves.
Finally, remember this well-renowned axiom: “So let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12, RNWT)
-
54
where have the demons gone?
by aboveusonlysky indoes anybody remember some of the sensational demon stories jw's would tell back in the day?
i was a kid in the early 80's and i remember a few times hearing of people having real life encounters with demons.
for example, one sister claimed that before she became a jdub she would regularly talk to demons and they would even fix stuff like her washing machine!
-
-
SAHS
“Heaven”: “Once I discovered the complete sham this religion is, my nightmares and the demons all disappeared.”
That’s really about it! I’m sure my superheroes, Carl Sagan and Steven Hawking, couldn’t agree more.
-
29
Jehovah`s Witnesses Boasted They have No Clergy Laity Class ?
by smiddy inwell that`s what was impressed on me to differentiate between the true religion and false religion , when i was converted in 1960 , do they still claim that ?
believing that they still do , i will say this.. what about ,:the governing body who definitely are set apart from the rank and file for their attitude towards the r&f , but also from the attitude of the r&f towards the governing body members.many do seem to idolise gb members by their actions , and the gb members dont seem to discourage that.. and not only for their attitude , how about their life-style , being housed in bethel with all the mod -cons of modern civilization as opposed to a r&f member living in a third world country .does the wt society do anything to make their lifestyle improve ?
{ did jesus have a place to rest his head ?
-
-
SAHS
“johnamos”: “Another point on this, do you agree that the terms ‘the faithful and discreet slave class/the faithful and discreet slave /the faithful slave class/the faithful slave/the slave class‘ or ‘Governing Body‘ – w/capitals G&B) are titles,…i.e. [lower case (g) (b) for first century> vs. ]”
Excellent point! The current governing body entitles themselves with capitalization to drive home the point to everyone their self-perceived status of being elevated above any and all other earthly humans – now even above the rest of their anointed bretheren, in that the “faithful and discreet slave,” according to themselves (big surprise!), comprise soley the governing body! (I forgot to capitalize this last reference to the governing body – on purpose!)
-
137
Mouthy has Passed Away
by Simon inupdate on mouthy (grace gough)this is graces granddaughter.
i wanted to send an update that today my beautiful grandmother passed away - surrounded by friends and family.
- may 22 1927 - sept 2nd 2016. mouthys_granddaughter.
-
-
SAHS
That sucks! When I just heard that our dear Mouthy has passed away, it gave me a twinge of shock and nausea. I really hate it big-time when I hear of someone so dear and principled as our Monthly has died. I certainly did NOT like hearing about the loss of Mouthy, As I said above, it really sucks. But, know that Mouthy has touched many lives – including my own, for sure.
I absolutely HATE hearing about the passing of anyone such as our dear Mouthy. It is most certainly the very last thing I wanted to hear today!
As I said above, it most certainly sucks hearing about Mouth’s passing. But, apparently, everyone is going to realize the same fate; but, still, it’s rather crappy news that someone so dear as Mouthy has died.