Hi everyone
Ok, I think the Writing Department has well and truly lost the plot now!
On page 14 of the August 15th Watchtower, there is an extensive section on the perils of the internet, with the caption "Do you heed bible-based warnings about the Internet?" in large intimidating letters. I would love to know how the bible directly warns us about an information medium that wasn't in existence when it was written, but that's another matter.
The article begins by saying...
"God’s Kingdom issues timely warnings about specific moral and spiritual dangers. For instance, the Internet has become a useful way to provide communication, education, and entertainment. God’s organization makes use of the Internet and accomplishes much good with it. However, many sites on the Internet are morally and spiritually dangerous. Web sites that promote pornography pose an obvious threat to the spiritual health of Kingdom citizens. For decades, the faithful slave class has warned us about such sites. How grateful we are for these spiritual health alerts!"
For me, this paragraph pretty much sums up the Society's dilemma regarding the internet. They can't deny that they've come to rely on it operationally, but at the same time, they don't really want anyone else using it other than themselves. The negative JW-related material online is wreaking far too much havoc on their worldwide growth. They are therefore reduced to sweeping generalizations, such as "many sites on the Internet are morally and spiritually dangerous" - implying that the MAJORITY of information available on the internet is harmful. Do they have statistics to back up this assertion? Do they hell.
The article then turns on facebook, that's right, that evil demonic hotbed of Satanism!
"In recent years, another type of site has become very popular—one that can be useful if used with great caution. But these sites, known as social networking Web sites, also have the potential for being destructive. They can expose a person to bad associations. (1 Cor. 15:33) Little wonder, then, that God’s organization has issued balanced warnings about the use of such sites. Have you read all the recent material published by the faithful slave about the use of social networking sites? How unwise it would be to use such sites without reading that material! It would be like taking a powerful medicine without reading the warning label on the bottle."
Two things strike me about this paragraph, namely...
- The Society singles out facebook by describing a "very popular type of site" known as "social networking Web sites", but lacks the courage to put their money where their mouth is and criticize facebook by name. This smacks of cowardice in my opinion. They know that if they named facebook in such a damning context, they would likely get embroiled in a costly lawsuit - only this time be the underdogs financially (for once).
- The analogy used at the end of a "powerful medicine" is curious to say the least. Are they saying facebook has medicinal properties? I think they're losing it!
I'll leave you with this info and look forward to your comments!
By the way, please don't forget to take the 2012 JW survey if you haven't already done so!
Cedars.
