New Watchtower conductor guidelines

Frequent_Fader_Miles

Hinging on an earlier thread on this topic; here's a quotation from the text of the letter to all elders:

"The Kingdom Ministry School textbook emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation on the part of the study conductor. But this does not mean that he should introduce additional material from his own personal research and thus possible overshadow what has been published in the magazine. Extensive research has already been involved in producing the study article, and the points to be emphasized are those included in the paragraphs under consideration. When outside material is introduced, it often detracts from what "the faithful and discreet slave" has prepared for the congregation. (Matt 24:45-47) The impression may be given that the additional information from the conductor's research is of equal or greater value."

Now, check out this gem from the Quotes website:

*** Our Kingdom Ministry November 1999 pp.3-6 Use of the Internet-Be Alert to the Dangers! ***

20 The publications provided by Jehovah's organization stimulate our minds with upbuilding thoughts and train us "to distinguish both right and wrong." (Heb. 5:14) Can we say that this is achieved if others do our research for us?
21 The Beroeans were spoken of as "more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica." Why? Because "they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11) Although Paul and Silas preached to them, they could not make the truth their own without becoming personally involved.
22 Using another person's research for a talk or for other meeting preparation really defeats the purpose of personal study. Is it not your desire to build up your own personal faith in God's Word? Based on personal conviction, you can then make public expression of your faith-in your talks, in comments at the meetings, and in the field ministry. (Rom. 10:10) Using another person's research does not fit the description given at Proverbs 2:4, 5 to personally 'keep seeking and searching for the very knowledge of God as for hid treasures.'

Aren't these two bits of advice contradicting one another? First, you shouldn't highlight additional research .... then you shouldn't use others research, do your own. Isn't it simply amazing how the Society is able to twist the scriptures to suit their own changing agenda?

NeonMadman

Well, obviously the point is that you are supposed to do your own reasearch using only the WT pubs. It's research from other sources that are the big problem. If you research using WT pubs only, you can fool yoursef into thinking you are truly investigating the matter when in fact you are merely being spoon-fed propaganda.

flipper

Man that is really sick. Amazing that someone could read that and not see the blatant brainwashing behind it.

bob1999

They can't have someone studying from the Bible and that being taken as "equal or greater value" to what the FDS has lied about.

Remember "it's a closed book" only understood by the FDS. But then they say they are not prophets? What a bunch of BS.

UnConfused

These boobs in NY just want f***king robot conductors just spooning the shit from the platform raw.

But I'm glad to see that these boobs aren't afraid to keep kicking the teeth of the super faithful who are willing to spend hours of extra time to make the WT Study more interesting. That's right WT - take the super faithful and give them a slap for going too far.

Arthur

Watchtower studies are designed to condition people exactly what to think; yet lead them to believe that they reached such conclusions on their own.

By allowing the audience to actively participate by answering questions (even though the answers have already been decided upon by headquarters) the audience believes that they are really participating in an open dicsussion.

It reminds of the ride at Disney Land called Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. The children on the ride sit in car with a steering wheel. They get to playfully turn the wheel as it is guided along on an automated track. The child gets the pleasure of believing that they are steering the car, when in reality, the route and the movement of the car is being controlled by someone else. Funny, but sad.

WTWizard

Thoroughly prepare, my eye! All they have to do is go by what the article itself says, and that should take no more than 10 minutes above and beyond what normal preparation takes.

What it does ensure is that the Watchtower study articles are going to be as boring as crap. There is no chance that you will learn anything by being there that you wouldn't learn just reading it. Of course, the comments are censored (if you give a bad comment, you will hear about it after the meeting). So, you are only going to hear exactly what the Society wants you to hear.

I bet this is going to be even worse next year when the study articles go private. They will have absolute control. If they do implement ridiculous bans on things that will cause even worse harm (like sleep, work, medical care, insurance, school, and the like) and the conductors disagree with it, they are still going to have to go along with the exact material. Not just frown on something--BAN it! If they prepare a recapture program for faders or something to stop new faders, they will not be able to water it down so it will not be as bad: Whatever the Society says, no matter how bad it is for the people, is what they are going to have to teach and enforce. Just one more reason to not join: by not joining, you will not have to worry about what they will ban or require, and what they will do about it.