Channels Turn Foul as they Ebb

by Marie B. Paraison 18 Replies latest social current

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  Marie B. Paraison

  The Watchtower channel is ebbing. One sister told me that the change in the number of meeting days from three days to two days is because of a shortage of funds needed to pay for utilities. In this economy and the waning of finances the Kingdom Hall attendees can look forward to meeting once a week in the future.

  Although is it the practice of the Watchtower organization not to ask their supporters for tithing, they surely collected a huge amount of funds because of the number of VITAL meeting days per week. The more meetings that they had, the more funds would go into the Watchtower. The adjustment is easily made from three days to two days when the funding is no longer flowing in. This is one more evidence that they can meet once a week now or even less frequently without any spiritual harm. The same goes for the number of hours required of pioneers, if it’s fewer now it could have been fewer all along.

  Consistently, the Watchtower headquarters works hard not to loose it’s support. Each time that the number of required hours for pioneers is dropped they buck up the publishers to take on the pioneer work. This way these new pioneers made up for the hours that were dropped.

  At Hebrews 10:24,25 the Bible does not say how frequent a congregation must meet to love, encourage and fine work. Men make their own rule. In ancient Israel only seven festivals per year were on the schedule that God gave to the Israelites. In regard to the Sabbath God said: " keep sitting each one in this own place. Let nobody go out from his locality on the seventh day" ( Exodus 16:29).

  My email address is [email protected]
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  baltar447

  I disagree. I thing there's been tremendous fallout from getting rid of the book study. Gone are the close comfortable meetings in private homes, and left are the cliques. I know many are disallusioned, myself included.
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  miseryloveselders

  I disagree with that as well. Utilities being a factor does make some sense as some book study groups did in fact meet at the Kingdom Hall. However, the far marjority, at least that I'm aware of, met in individual homes of publishers. As far as why the book study was eliminated, we can speculate on that until the next generation teaching is introduced, and they still won't tell us what the real reason is for eliminating the book study. Tell you something, I don't even think the COs, and DOs understand why it was eliminated. I've heard one CO state one reason such as economic concerns in light of travel costs with high gas prices weighing in as a factor. That CO moved on to his next assignment, and the next CO whom we currently have, told us that the book study was eliminated to make room for the Family Worship Night because thats the area the WT feels needs the most attention at this time. The family structure is supposedly the most vulnerable to spiritual attack and shipwreck. So we're getting conflicting information from two men who are supposed to be on the same page. Maybe one of them didn't get the memo from the Branch? Who knows.

  On top of that, the year that the book study was brought to a close, David Splane of the GB did a talk at the District Convention. He played a role into my waking up as he made the statement that, "the friends appreciated our mercy in eliminating the book study." My ears perked up because he called it a merciful decision on the part of the GB. Then he went on to talk about difficult traveling for JWs in foreign lands, and the gas prices here in the States. Who's telling the truth, or to be fair, who's correct in why the book study was eliminated, God only knows. I wouldn't be surprised if Barr thought one reason why they voted to eliminated it, and Jaracz believed something else entirely. Who cares, they've both gone the way of the Dodo.

  As far as to the reason the WT's channel is ebbing, well, me personally is because this system of the things is still here and kicking, and not showing any sign of ending anytime soon. Babylon the Great is still going strong with absolutely no sign whatsoever of the goverments turning on it. The generation teaching has changed multiple times, and didn't even do a 180 as much as it jumped through hoops, and polar opposites before they printed that nonsense. Their channel may also be ebbing because they keep reminding us who's in charge at least two times per magazine. The faithful and discreet slave went from a parabel to a prophecy with life or death implications for the flock. When some of the flock woke up and smelled the bull shit in that doctrine, the also realized that they're trapped if they have significant ties to their family and congregation. So they're getting bitter, developing resentment bordering on animosity while concieving hatred ready to give birth organized apostacy. The longer the powers that be in this organization hold onto the tiger's tail, the more ferocious he's going to be if he ever gets loose.

  Eventualy this religion's channel is going to get switched, and someone might even pull the plug entirely.
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  miseryloveselders

  Another thing you mentioned about pioneers and dropping the hours. My personal opinion is that the reasoning behind this was simply to distract the average publisher. You should see some of the lemmings in my congregation, all googly eyed like, "its only 30 hours now!! For one month only!!" Reminds me of the infomercials that come on late at night that border on soft core porn, like the Shake Weight. "Call now, for a limited time only, well give you the Shake Weight for $19.95 along with Butt Strut for half off! Only in the month of April!!" The men are too busy looking at the hot woman on the screen with a phallic excercise device bouncing back and forth just underneath her chin. Just like that he's hooked, and he may even convince his slightly chunky wife that this device is just what she needs to lose post kid #2 fat around her hips. Did they fall for the Okey-Doke? Of course!! Its the same with this "special month of activity." Simply a distraction, enough to give the Writing Department something to write about, enough to keep JWs busy during the Memorial Season, and it increases the possibility that the JWs will come across some despondent, emotionally vulnerable, social misfit who would be prime material for a new convert. Thats my take anyway.
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  TotallyADD

  Believe me miseryloveselders the CO and the DO know exactly why we do not have book study groups anymore. I was told by a close friend over a year ago who was a sub. CO and maybe a CO now that the real reason was the GB did not like the fact that many groups were getting off the subject material and bringing out other research. The GB was very concerned over this. The smoke screen is gas expense, family worship night and utilities. I have no reason not to believe this person. Totally ADD
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  Glander

  misery - You said a mouthful. Great analysis!
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  Alfred

  Misery wrote the following (about the "Shake Weight"):

  "The men are too busy looking at the hot woman on the screen with a phallic excercise device bouncing back and forth just underneath her chin. Just like that he's hooked, and he may even convince his slightly chunky wife that this device is just what she needs to lose post kid #2 fat around her hips."

  Misery, I think you're on to something here... I really do... it's basically a subliminal marketing technique...
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  pontoon

  TotallyADD.....is really on to something. We had a bk st group that started to prepare the Watchtower together. Started as a family study that invited others to join them and it grew into a group of 15-25 people. It included at least 2, sometimes 3 or four elders. Brothers dressed nice for it, but not suits or ties. Our sisters dressed nice, some dressy pants, the sisters always look good. Socialized afterwood, about that whole group would show up for it, as well as some from other bk st groups. Well, it got officially shut down because it wasn't a official Wat. authorized meeting. Elders involved were counseled. Main objection was that was how 'splinter' groups that deviate from Wat. teaching started. Another reason was that some would feel that they didn't have to go to the KH for the Wat. study. Other lame reasons as well. So that was it, study with your family, maybe invite a single bro or sis to join, but no more. So it's wrong to study in a large group unless Wat OK's it.
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  MrFreeze

  Is it maybe that because the Book Study is a more private affair that people were bringing dissenting opinions as to what the GB says? That's one theory I have...
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  DesirousOfChange

  The utility reasoning doesn't make sense to me, as MLE states, most bookstudy groups were in private homes. The ones at the KH were often in a side room as another cong was using the main auditorium for their TMS/SM. No extra utility costs involved.

  I believe it's more likely an effort to utilize the halls more effectively with multiple congregations. Nearly every KH in a metropolitan area has at least 2 congs meeting there. Many have 3, and I know of at least one that has FOUR congs meeting (and not a double-hall). That's 3 meetings on Sunday, 1 on Saturday, and each cong gets a different weeknight for their TMS/SM. The neighbors know the new songs better than the flock.

  Also, mid-week meeting attendance was dropping off dramatically, esp the Bookstudy. Cut the obligation to just one meeting in hopes that more will make the effort to show up for it.