Much in keeping with what several have said on this discussion, Meleti Vivlon has written a very interesting article over at Beroean Pickets - Going Beyond What Is Written - basically demonstrating that this recent malarcky throwing off types and antitypes has pretty much taken a sledgehammer to everything underpinning the Organisation's doctrine regarding the other sheep. Well worth a read.
rory-ks
JoinedPosts by rory-ks
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The Watchtower 3/15/2015 Parables! New Understanding! plus More!
by wifibandit inhttp://imgur.com/a/e6dos.
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Elders and priests what 's the difference?
by sparrowdown inis being a "good" elder the same as being a "good" catholic priest?.
is there any difference between representing the rcc and representing that other bastion of child abuse the wt?.
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rory-ks
I submit that the Society actually wants congregation members to afford the same respect to appointed men as other Christian religions (Catholics, CofE, whatever) give to their clergymen.
Have you noticed the determination that they have in addressing elders, circuit overseers, governing body members as "Brother so-and-so"? See it demonstrated in the December 2014 broadcast on JWTV. Mark Neumair addressing David Splane as "Brother Splane"; referring to Steven Lett as "Brother Lett" (and how privileged we were to hear him speak, etc.) The Society's video dramas are forever having the congregation members portrayed as referring to certain elders or circuit overseers as "Brother whoever". In those bloody judicial committee demonstration videos young Robbie Friend goes up and says, "Brother Sharp I have something serious to talk about." He says, "Sure, I'll just get Brother Anderson."
Catholics call their clergymen "Father so-and-so" (and, of course, their monastaries are full of "Brothers") and Jehovah's Witnesses are strongly encouraged to refer to their clergymen as "Brother so-and-so." No difference.
It is all unrealistic in real-world terms, but it demonstrates the way the GB would like to see things. It's cognitive dissonance 101, of course. "No we don't have a clergy class, but, could you address them as if we do?"
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rory-ks
"Why is the set in Brooklyn Heights and all that property is up for sale? That makes little sense."
Mr Lett addresses that question quite quickly, NY44M. They wanted everyone to enjoy the benefits of JW broadcasting as soon as possible, apparently. When Warwick is finished they will move the studio to the new site lock, stock, and barrell, "except the paint on the wall, and the paint on the floor."
Apparently.
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Current circuit visit
by Saltheart Foamfollower inas we are into the third week of the new circuit visit arrangement, i was wondering if any had experienced it yet and whether there are any changes.
what is done with the spare evening?
anyone tried to get an appointment through with the c/o doing the appointing?
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rory-ks
Oh, I also meant to add: The outline for Tuesday also pulls out the old "superior authorities" schtick as a a wonderful enlightened truth when in 1962 the organisation recognised that the "superior authorities" of Romans chapter 13 were the governments of the world, and not Jehovah and Jesus as they previously believed. This information completely ignores the fact that up to 1929 the bible students did teach that the superior authorities were the governments. It was that "ass" Rutherford who began teaching that the superior authorities were Jehovah and Jesus, and said teaching held from 1929 to 1962.
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Current circuit visit
by Saltheart Foamfollower inas we are into the third week of the new circuit visit arrangement, i was wondering if any had experienced it yet and whether there are any changes.
what is done with the spare evening?
anyone tried to get an appointment through with the c/o doing the appointing?
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rory-ks
The congregation in our town (UK) had their circuit visit the first week in September. I am intrigued by the direction the Society appears to be taking, so I went along for the last half hour on both Tuesday and Sunday to see what the Governing Body are getting their circuit overseer's to say. In short: nothing much.
At the risk of spoiling it for you, it was all old hat. Nothing new. I won't be doing it again, ever. Their can't be anything new at a circuit visit because they are stretched out over the course of six months and if the Society wants anything new released they always do it in one big hit. The AGM would appear to be the modus operandi these days.
Anyway, the Tuesday talk was themed around loving the truth, based on 1 Corinthians 13:6, "Love...rejoices with the truth." It was a rehash of Society history, and how we all rejoiced when new truths were revealed. Whether it was in the outline, or it was just a man's personal over-emphasis, the circuit overseer here talked about "the full light of truth" being revealed in 1935 about the great crowd. The outline regurgitates the story of Rutherford asking for all those who are looking forward to living forever in paradise on earth to "please stand up," and half the audience rises to their feet. This questionable event is held up as some kind of modern-day miracle. The point the CO seems to overlook is that since that time the full light of truth has turned out to be not full light at all. The Society have revised their position on the door to entry in to the 144,000 being closed in 1935. Much to their embarrassment the number of partakers has gradually been rising over the last few years, and 1935 has been quietly swept under the carpet.
Sunday's talk was all about the resurrection hope. Of course, there was reference to the recent Resurrection weepie. But it was all about the "very real" resurrection hope conveyed in the scriptures and how it can strengthen you and give you courage if you are faced with having to die for what you believe, etc, etc.
The extra evening would appear to be set aside for Family Worship. Whether that allows the CO and his wife to have an evening to themselves so that they can engage in family worship - or whether they swoop down on a local family - I don't know. That might be interesting to find out.
So: A reiteration of Society's history and its love of truth, followed by a re-emphasis on the resurrection hope. I suppose it is possible to read a deeper meaning in to those two things. But, all in all, same old same old.
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Why The Watchtower Must Abolish Judicial Committees
by metatron insome years ago, i upset some crypto-watchtower apologists by stating that the organization must eventually either abolish the co arrangement or radically change it because it creates a direct chain of liability by chain of command and makes them a hierarchy (without catholic level assets or influence to support such a structure).. i would make a similar argument with regard to judicial committees.
i do not contend that the watchtower would get rid of these repellent anachronisms simply because they are unethical in form and use but rather that they represent an increasing liability/obstacle to the organization's survival.. why?.
1) such committees tend to open up all sorts of legal challenges and dangers.
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rory-ks
Sheesh, what is it with the "window washers"? A bloody taxi driver won Mastermind. Window washers are not necessarily numpties, no more or less than any one else is. It could be argued that everyone has a stupid bullsh*t job whether they are high-powered lawyers, or a genius surgeon with a God complex. It's all just to earn a penny and stay afloat in this world. Who wants to bow to "The Man," anyway? Window washers are supremely wise: They are self-employed, and work to their own schedule; they are not dictated to by some corporate blowhard; they work out of doors in the sunshine and cool breezes; they work in the silence where they can meditate on life's intricacies; they keep people's windows shiny; they have hardly any overheads. They are so damn sensible it makes my head spin.
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The earth is flat...
by rory-ks in...and the ship is sailing over the edge.. .
such is the state of the watch tower society..
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rory-ks
It's their credibility that is sailing over the edge - some would argue that there needn't even be a ship in the picture because their credibility went over long ago...but I liked the picture.
I like the "flat earth" analogy because many of the Organisations beliefs are stuck in the ancient past - Creationism, fundamentalism, authorship of the Bible and time of writing. These are all aspects that have meant this huge clunking vessel can not steer itself away from the edge. It is a corporation, and that takes it over the edge; it is making itself indistinguishable from other Christian denominations, and that takes it over the edge.
I like the ship in the picture - a container ship, the hapless cargo, thousands of congregations with hundreds of thousands of members, blindly being driven over the edge by a blind leadership.
Coded Logic, I love that point about JWs: Five years ago vindicating Jehovah's name was the most important thing to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Now they are perfectly okay with calling themselves JWs. Excellent stuff!
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Are Jehovah's Witnesses the only religion to teach a paradise earth?
by rory-ks ini have tried researching, but this pesky organisation always packs out the list.
you seem to have to drill down several layers before reaching christadelphians.. is it a recognised idea among other peoples/religions?.
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rory-ks
I have tried researching, but this pesky Organisation always packs out the list. You seem to have to drill down several layers before reaching Christadelphians.
Is it a recognised idea among other peoples/religions?