jst2laws is toast!.
after 29 years i am officially no longer serving as an elder.
those who knew i was still serving would only be surprised that i took so long.
::He was quoted in the Silent Lambs newspaper articles that are now in the hands of all the Circuit and District overseers.
"Ach, zo! Mulan. Hmmm. She knowsss about ze refresher school for the traveling junger. How does she know???"
Love to put that in a Polish accent, actually. But I don't mean to joke. What a powerful comment on what's happened. A LOT of folks are really off-balance and waiting for that other shoe to drop. Drop it will.
Maximus
several have made outright statements and others have suggested that the society's negative position on higher education has changed.
'the society does not discourage higher education where i live.
' worse, 'apostates have made it all up--the society has never discouraged education.
Several have made outright statements and others have suggested that the Society's negative position on higher education has changed. 'The Society does not discourage higher education where I live.' Worse, 'apostates have made it all up--the Society has never discouraged education.'
Would you like to know the straight stuff? From "Our Kingdom Ministry" for June 2001 (km-E US 6/01, Vo. 44, No. 6, p. 2)
Service Meeting Schedule for Week Starting July 2
After Song 5 and 13 minutes of local announcements about turning in field reports, and encouraging shelf-clearing of overstocked Yearbooks.
15 min: Youths--Be Wise in Choosing Your Career. This is the first of three Service Meeting parts that will review Scriptural principles related to supplemental education. **Some Christian youths are pursuing secular careers through higher education, which is having a negative impact on their spirituality.** This part is a discussion between two parents and their teenage son or daughter. The youth is at a point where a serious decision needs to be made about future goals. Although some may want to pursue financial advantages, prestige, or comforts of life, the family examine the Bible to see what it recommends. (See Young People Ask, pages 174-5; The Watchtower, August 15, 1997, page 21, and September 1, 1999, pages 19-21, paragraphs 1-3 and 5-6.) The youth agrees that it is wise to pursue a course in life that will serve him or her well in achieving theocratic goals to advance Kingdom interests."
Should be an exciting three weeks. (Don't think you will hear, "Well, Randy, your mother and I don't mind the nursing home in our old age.") Would you like to be in this demonstration?
What do you think? Has the Society changed its position? Or is this just the old wink-wink, nudge-nudge game? Or ...?
Maximus
PS Oh, yes. There is a four-pager in this km titled "Can You Make Yourself Available?" All about Bethel service. A "special call is going out to those can make themselves available. Are you ready to respond with a willing spirit, similar to that of Isaiah?"
i understand that "annointed ones" are no longer appointed to the governing body, because most are no longer alive.
so now, what criteria are used to appoint members to the governing body?.
what is the "chain of command" in the society from the governing body to the average jw living next door?
Right on the money. And the illustration was great, I wasn't correcting you as much as attempting to clarify; some things don't fit. Most important, one of their biggest problems is to come off as less hierarchical, because legally/ethically responsibility rests with the top in a hierarchical system. Don't have to draw you a road map ...
Unfortunately DOs don't get selected as cardinals to advise the GB or pope. I recall a meeting of COs and DOs with NHKnorr when the Branch manual was being overhauled and KMSchool revamped. Lots of agreement, many good suggestions, except for one guy who was completely out of sync. Complained about the brothers having too much time on their hands for vacation: 'they're buying BOATS.' He's on the GB today--Ted Jaracz! Go figure.
Eventually someone will develop a thread about the new corporate operations. That will be fun. I'll chime in then.
M
jst2laws is toast!.
after 29 years i am officially no longer serving as an elder.
those who knew i was still serving would only be surprised that i took so long.
My heart goes out to you! I know many, many just such as you who are just about to take the plunge, many with several decades' service.
The emotions will whirl for awhile, but the exhilarating joy of freedom will prevail. Take some deep breaths, and enjoy your new life.
Warmest,
Maximus
i understand that "annointed ones" are no longer appointed to the governing body, because most are no longer alive.
so now, what criteria are used to appoint members to the governing body?.
what is the "chain of command" in the society from the governing body to the average jw living next door?
::District Overseer (Boss over Circuits - like Cardinals)
Mmmmm. Try Archbishop. You've been away too long, old friend--from mother Church, that is. :D
::Zone Overseers (I have never understood this poition, but I believe it is now part of the Branch)
The zone is comprised of several branches, generally geographically, and is thus under Executive--what used to be the old Office of the President. Recently Dave Sinclair of that office made a "zone trip" of seven weeks' duration, to inspect branches, facilities in--escapes me, Polynesia? South Seas? and report back. In past years a branch overseer might also serve other branches, in zone oversight.
Side note on "the Society."
I'm waiting for someone else to publish information on the new U.S. Branch operations that went into effect April 1, which left the old Service defunct--the result of the changes last October. I did see a post that had a URL scanning a letter from the Christian Congregation, with cutesie handwritten-type signature, modernizing the old Watchtower Society of New York (which was in NHKnorr's personal handwriting). (See below) The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Pennsylvania rubber stamp was in the handwriting of Grant Suiter. The president of that Society is now Don Adams.
Musing: will future JWs refer to the Christian Congregation as we use the term "the Society"? That's a term that is decaying, for obvious reasons, although it's great shorthand for what we signify.
For most persons, "the Society" de facto is the Writing Correspondence Department, made up of some 10 brothers and 7 sisters. Cares for about 800 letters and 250 calls a month. You write in, they'll give you a database answer, whether Scriptural issue, Personal problem, Whatever.
For those who want to see the new "Society" at work, and the new kinder, friendlier and cutsie rubber stamp:
http://wis.i8.com/watchout.htm
Maximus
the second article of discussion in this issue is titled: "moving ahead to final victory!".
the article starts to talk about christs enthronement as king and in paragraph one, along with an illustration of crowned jesus riding on a white horse, it states: "we today, have clear evidence that this foretold enthronement took place in 1914.. since watchtower article discussions are always a one way dialogue, where the society speaks and the rank and file just listens, it is easy to make assertions.
in a normal two way dialogue, when one says "i have clear evidence" for something, the other party will not just nod his head in agreement, but would rather demand to know and see what this clear evidence is and would want to proceed and examine it thoroughly.
I know readers are used to "sound bites," and I'm told long posts like mine about Blood, the Watchtower and Deceit are just too long. (It was my intent to dot every i, cross every t, and provide irrefutable documentation.)
A post like Defenders' is so well thought out that it deserves careful reading. Let's leap past the bicker-posts and get this up to the top for those who are interested ....
M
the second article of discussion in this issue is titled: "moving ahead to final victory!".
the article starts to talk about christs enthronement as king and in paragraph one, along with an illustration of crowned jesus riding on a white horse, it states: "we today, have clear evidence that this foretold enthronement took place in 1914.. since watchtower article discussions are always a one way dialogue, where the society speaks and the rank and file just listens, it is easy to make assertions.
in a normal two way dialogue, when one says "i have clear evidence" for something, the other party will not just nod his head in agreement, but would rather demand to know and see what this clear evidence is and would want to proceed and examine it thoroughly.
About the Great Pyramid:
"Its harmony with the Bible teachings prove that God designed it."--The Way to Paradise, 1924
"The Devil himself superintended the building of the pyramid of Gizeh."--The Watch Tower, 1928
Maximus
reading through some of the posts re the mcveigh debate, it's obvious that there is a huge divide between the usa and europe over many issues, in particular with reference to the way that society should deal with deviants.. i think that there is a lot of other cultural differences between our societies, and i'm just wondering if this is why the wtbts has had a far higher "conversion factor" in the usa than in europe.. some of the phraseology contained in the watchtower magazines is incomprehensible to europeans.
i remember that words that are in common usage now, were, when first used in the wt, totally baffling.. the expression "no way" wasn't in common use until years after the wt featured it, like wise with "points up", also "right on" meant nothing to anyone.
indeed, many return visits to placed magazine householders resulted in them asking a bewildered dub for an explanation of these then strange terms.
Gov'na, 'ave Oye got news fuh yew.
Here's the definition in the American Heritage Dictionary.
ran'dy (ran'di) adj.
1. a. Lascivious; lecherous. b. Of or characterized by frank, uninhibited sexuality.
2. Scots. Ill-mannered.
[Possibly from obsolete rand, to rant, from obsolete Dutch randen, ranten.]
RCat really has it. Points up that it's the Watchtowerese that is so peculiar. Watchtower speak. Is it not?
Maximus
reading through some of the posts re the mcveigh debate, it's obvious that there is a huge divide between the usa and europe over many issues, in particular with reference to the way that society should deal with deviants.. i think that there is a lot of other cultural differences between our societies, and i'm just wondering if this is why the wtbts has had a far higher "conversion factor" in the usa than in europe.. some of the phraseology contained in the watchtower magazines is incomprehensible to europeans.
i remember that words that are in common usage now, were, when first used in the wt, totally baffling.. the expression "no way" wasn't in common use until years after the wt featured it, like wise with "points up", also "right on" meant nothing to anyone.
indeed, many return visits to placed magazine householders resulted in them asking a bewildered dub for an explanation of these then strange terms.
::"The Ruler, Than Which There Is No Greater"
COMF, that is something up with which I will not put! (The barbarism you refer to came strictly from Fred Franz, who would not split an infinitive, much less dangle a participle or permit a preposition at the end of a sentence.)
Couldn't resist. As a side note, in later years the Writing department has tried to simplify language, but it sometimes just does not work. Often they make the claim it is written a particular way because it must undergo translation and they do not trust the 1,900 (correct) translators to get it right, so they "anticipate," making things worse.
Example,
the phrase "these faithful men were railroaded to prison" became "were taken to prison by means of railway car."
COMF, you look and sound terrific! Receive my pix?
Maximus
many things have been written on this topic, and this does.
not want to be a simple copy.
with the intent of giving an accurate historical retracing of the beth- sarim subject and all the " teaching " that went .
Mac, here's one for you. About the Great Pyramid:
"Its harmony with the Bible teachings prove that God designed it."--The Way to Paradise, 1924
"The Devil himself superintended the building of the pyramid of Gizeh."--The Watch Tower, 1928
In just four years!
Those interested in meticulously documented research, with copies of deeds, aerial photographs and the like, should read
Jehovah's Witnesses--Their Monuments to False Prophecy
by Dr. Edmond C. Gruss
Published by Witness Inc., 1997
Clayton, California 94517
ISBN 1-883858-57-7
Specifically about Beth-Shan, Beth-Sarim, the Pyramid Bethel Family Plot.
