Dear MacHislopp,
In your post on In Pleasant Places, a few things stood out to me.
Chitty said:
"How can one get the right viewpoint on important questions and problems, so as to make right decisions? I have found that it is by heeding the published word of Jehovah’s organization, which directs one in harmony with the Scriptures."
This made me laugh out loud. You are limited to one group, inclusive. No research into anything else, no comparisons. It started long ago, didn't it? Is a “published word” more important? I wonder, because the Society still uses that phrase. If you are “published” does that make your words more believable and true? (“I read it in the Enquirer, so it must be true!” was something someone told me once.I couldn’t believe my ears!)
Another point was that Chitty needed comfort in his life because of the war. He had fear of the war. Ffear in general is a great motivator, even today. Most people that come in from the outside are coming in because of some angst in their lives. His mother was working on him, but not until WWI started did he become interested. (When I was only 8 my Mom’s life was in turmoil, and guess who came to our door?)
Chitty said:
"If you see the ‘door’ of opportunity for sacrifice and service open before you, enter it. But enter quickly.” That decided it for me. That was the moment. Without exaggeration, for me that meant the curtain was rising on a new life."
Notice "Door of Opportunity", "Enter quickly." This is something the Society uses all the time. The end is near, no time to dawdle, don't waste your time on worldly pursuits, the narrow road, the time is short". All things to make you feel you must decide right now. This is a sales tactic. "One time offer". "Offered only today." "We can't offer this price tomorrow." “Act now!” “Do not delay.”
Chitty said:
"I felt the outlook was dark and uncertain.(WWII) Would it end in Armageddon? Then, with the war still on, word came through that the Society was planning to establish on “Kingdom Farm” in New York State a school for training missionaries to serve in foreign fields. That spoke volumes to me. It was the voice of hope and promise of Jehovah’s organization indicating what was ahead. It was a sudden rising of the curtain."
The volumes it should have spoken to him was that the Society was moving on and didn't believe itself that this world was ever going to end. As so many time since this letter has been written, the Society speaks of the end being near, tells us not to plan for a future her on earth, but goes on planning the future of the WTBTS. We were not to get an education past HS. We were not supposed to invest in stocks and savings. We were not supposed to build houses of our own. We were not to seek advancement on our jobs. We were supposed to support the preaching work and the building work, but not plan for ourselves. That would show Jehovah that we didn't trust him. But the Society continued to build and expand and grow. I remember a time not that long ago that we were not even supposed to have any more children and many were encouraged not to even marry. (Mid 80's) I noticed that thought went away when the Society noticed that not that many were coming in from the outside anymore and the only hope of support might be future generations! But so many of the young are now leaving, it makes you wonder what they have in mind now for financial support for the future? Even though the end is "near", soon", you must keep supporting the never ending greed hungry WTBTS, so they can continue on to "save the many still out there, needing hope." Of course that requires new building, furnishings, updated equipment and the like....so contribute publishers!! Put your own needs aside for the WTBTS, Gods organization on Earth! (I have this image of a big greedy giant pig, with tiny people running around trying to gather enough food to feed it. Sort of like worshipping the golden calf, in days gone by.)
Lindy
