Review of "Avoid the Pursuit of 'Valueless...

Thanks to dmouse for providing the scan of the September KM article:

Let's look at each paragraph.

Paragraph #1: Somehow the topic of e-mails is linked to "valueless things" and "unrestricted use" (whatever that is). Since the paragraph is speaking of private e-mails between "family and friends", it seems an invasion of privacy to take upon themselves authority to censor private mail.

Paragraph#2: Fancy that! Some are "overly eager" to send news of conventions! Don't they realise that they are supposed to be B O R I N G?

Paragraph#3: "Genuine godly devotion" hinges upon "accurate reports", eh? Hmmmm. I wonder how the "flip flops" in teachings fits in with this?

Paragraph #4: Surprisingly, there's not much "wrong" with this paragraph, perhaps because it's the only one to actually be based on scripture.

Paragraph #5: The article doesn't explain why or how there is "an appointed channel" of communication from God through the so-called "F&DS". But they then move smoothly into the claim that the only source of information for JWs is the WTS.

Paragraph #6: Perhaps the nub of the article is in this paragraph and the strongest commands are reserved for this one. "Don't do it"  comes across loud and clear.

Paragraph #7: This concluding paragraph is perhaps the most mysterious, for the claim is made that by obeying the commands in the article, the reader will have minds that are filled with "precious and pleasant things of value" (Proverbs 24:4) Bible students would compare this text with Proverbs 8:21 which says more about Wisdom (personified) promising to bestow wealth on those who love her. No doubt Bible students would want to know what on earth Proverbs 24:4 has in common with the 'linked' statement about E-mails. Weird.

Cheers, Ozzie

Are we "imputing bad motives to others", here? Wasn't there a Watchtower article once condemning that?

Thanks Ozzie,

Did you not quake at the question No. 3,4 on the attached article 'Display Christian Loyalty When A Relative Is Disfellowshipped' in a recent KS?

3,4)  What sort of fellowship with disfellowshipped and disassociated people is forbidden?

When bullies start using terms such as this, you know that they have lost the battle.

Best regards - HS

Edited by - hillary_step on 23 August 2002 10:49:0

Thanks for the commentary Ozzie. I've sucessfully avoided reading anything from the WTBS for some time now. So, in reading this it just blew me away the level of control and guilt the society hurls upon people. It is unbelievable that people actually allow this childlike manipulation.

Perry

"I know what you're thinking about but it isn't so, nowhow.  Contrariwise if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't.  That's logic."  -- Teedledum, "Through the Looking Glass (Alice in Wonderland).

check par. 4 when mentions "inaccurate information" and being responsible for it, what does the WTBS say about this and all the BS they flip flop on

Reproducing their words on your own website is in violation of COPYRIGHT LAWS?

Since when were they ever concerned about worldly laws?  ONLY WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT!!!

I let my therapist read that article as an illustration of the control problems going on, and she was properly gobsmacked.  Also speechless for a moment, which is not her usual state.  The article sounds like a knee jerk panic response to all the breaches of security flooding the Internet these days.  There is no way the Society can plug all the holes.  I love the irony of that article being posted on the Internet before it's distributed in the congregation!  Do they really think that people will ONLY listen to them and not stray onto CNN.com?  Wait a minute, sorry, yes, the majority of the people attending will blindly do just that and be content to receive their "news" two months after it happens.  Kind of like the woman my husband works with - she thinks all the news she needs to have can be found on "Oprah."  Now that's scary!

Nina