Posts by mtwtf

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4
ARE WT COSTS ABOUT TO SKYROCKET?
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
what will it cost jws in australia if the arc recommends that all au.

churches contribute to a compulsory victims compensation commission (for the want of a better name).

it looks as if every au.
mtwtf

What will it cost JWs in Australia if the ARC recommends that all Au. “churches” contribute to a compulsory Victims Compensation Commission (for the want of a better name).

It looks as if every Au. “church” could be forced to contribute to the cost and upkeep of a VCC. The VCC would thereafter take control of the compensation of victims in all cases of institutional sex abuse in Au.

The VCC could be expected to have the power to award sexual abuse victims suitable monetary compensation and the cost of on-going therapy, where applicable.

The contributions of Au. “churches” to the VCC would need to cover VCC’s running costs, overheads, engagement of outside experts and victim compensation awards. I don’t know, but I expect abusers would continue to be dealt with by the existing legal system.

With an average of one case of JW child sex abuse a week being notified to the service desk at Bethel (most of which did not proceed beyond that point), is it possible to estimate:

What annual contribution to the operation of a VCC, might be set for Au’s 66,000 JWs?

Could this annual VCC contribution be covered by extra weekly donations by JW families?

If not, where will the extra money come from?

If legislation for a VCC is passed in Au. and proves successful, will other nations adopt this method of protecting the rights of victims of institutional sex abuse?

What might the global cost then be for the WT?

mtwtf
11
Misleading The Australian Royal Commission
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. bible
has the australian rc been given misleading assurances that jws will fully comply with laws demanding that child sex offenses be reported to the police?

it appears that way when we look at the background to these assurances.

several jws testified to the rc, that they would have reported all child molestation cases to the police had they had been required to do so by law.
mtwtf

Has the Australian RC been given misleading assurances that JWs will fully comply with laws demanding that child sex offenses be reported to the police?

It appears that way when we look at the background to these assurances. Several JWs testified to the RC, that they would have reported all child molestation cases to the police had they had been required to do so by law. Yes, it was strongly asserted that JWs would have reported every single case! 100%.

The smarmy testimonies of most of JWs, clearly implied that JWs would never have allowed pedophiles to escape justice had there been laws in place requiring them to report child abuse to the authorities.

It follows then, that the major reason why JW pedophiles have escaped justice to now, is entirely the fault of Australian law makers. It is certainly not because of any dereliction of civil/moral duty by JWs.

A deeper examination of JW reasoning reveals that JW pedophiles have escaped justice because Satan’s system (the world) has failed to legislate to make JWs report pedophiles to the authorities! Yes! Satan is behind everything. Its amazing what the RC has dredged up.

To better understand this connection, look at things from a JWs standpoint. Ask yourself: How could a JW know what to do when Satan’s system did not give them clear guidance and leadership? Remember also, that JWs do not run ahead of their leader!

True, common law – not just legislative law – in many countries requires citizens to report crimes to the police but these laws are often vague. So how can JWs be expected to know if those laws applied to them as well as other citizens.

The RC also exposed the fact that until they are told what to do – through clear legislation – JWs will do nothing. Then again, even if there is legislation, JWs may still do nothing. It is clearly a situation of :“maybe - perhaps”.

Look at one example. Australia has Compulsory Voting laws for all Federal elections. Yet, JWs exploit every available loophole in the laws so that JWs never cast a vote. Indeed, any JW who breaks ranks and lodges a vote at any Australian compulsory parliamentary election is considered to have abandoned his faith and chosen to disassociate himself. The outcome for the JW voter is the same as being disfellowshipped.

It remains to be seen whether a JW who reports his JW brother to the police for child sex abuse, will himself be considered by the congregation to have abandoned his faith because he has breached the spirit of 1Cor. 6:1-6. “...do not take your brother to court…” . Has the reporting brother now disassociated himself, or can JWs reinterpret this text and allow brothers to take each other to court?

This possibility opens-up another can of worms for JWs. If scripture can be reinterpreted to meet current needs, why cannot JWs change the two witness rule?

How many years of court challenges can be expected from JWs as they take-up the legal fight against laws which which pit JW against JW? No one should hold their breath while awaiting JW compliance with compulsory crime reporting laws.
11
A Recovering JW
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
a recovering jw.

recovering.

previously i have vented here about anomalies that stood out in wts /jw.org literature and meetings.
mtwtf

A Recovering JW

recovering

Previously I have vented here about anomalies that stood out in WTS /JW.org literature and meetings. Today the anomalies keep coming, but they now leave me unruffled. I have changed. I now see myself as a recovering Jehovah’s Witness.

Yes, I still feel the pull of years of intoxicating indoctrination and am learning that spiritual sobriety is not an easy path to follow. Daily challenges present themselves. The voice inside the head of a recovering witness tells him to continue the indoctrination, since it’s the only way with a future. Go to meetings, contribute, engage in field-service and most of all, listen and obey. Only then, according to WTS teaching, can anyone be happy – the entire world, so we are told, is actually unhappy, though the people don’t know it. Strange isn’t it?

When a doubter tries to argue this with himself, the voice in his head floods his mind with guilt.

change

However, while individual change-of-heart and/or individual growth is anathema to the WTS / JW.Org, this religion nonetheless makes its own changes of metamorphic proportions. After laboring for years to change into something bigger, brighter, better, the WTS has finally been able to morph into JW.Org.

Leaving its old WTS caterpillar-like shell behind and donning its new JW.Org garb, the ugly old WTS caterpillar presents itself to all and sundry as a modern, technologically savvy, but otherwise innocuous religious butterfly.

The GB must hope and pray that all the natural predators that stalked the WTS caterpillar, will be thrown off scent by the new JW.Org regalia. The hope, as it flits from one doctrinal position to another – as butterflies flit between flowers – is to suck up financial nutriment at every point, unhindered by previous enemies.

The big question is:

Can the metamorphous from WTS to JW.Org assure the organization a safe and prosperous future?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

language

With all this going on, JW dubs must be puzzled as to which language to listen to. JW.Org’s verbal language, or JW.Org’s body language?

JW.Org’s verbal language hasn’t changed over the past 100 years.

The end is imminent – look at the state of the world.

Don’t be distracted by chasing an education for yourself or your children?

Don’t start a savings’ retirement plan, you will never need it.

Don’t worry about health cover. Nobody will be ill in the new system.

However, JW.Org’s body language says: ”implement your next 100 year plan today. Buy-up investment properties; build your most opulent mansions; employ the best available defense lawyers, tax avoidance accountants, strategic financial planners, property developers, political lobbyists, and so on”.

This language conflict should confuse the average JW dub? Yet it doesn’t seem to. JW dubs see with absolute certainty, only those things they have been taught to wish for in the coming new order.

Should we be optimistic that JW dubs will one day learn to read the body language?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

prayer

On the matter of hopes and prayers, millions of people now living and tens of millions of people no longer alive, have been misled by the WTS / JW.Org regarding what to hope and pray for. It is true, all churches mislead their parishioners on the matter of prayer, but not all boast they are God’s personal representative and that they alone have the truth.

JW.Org has consistently taught that while God hears all prayers, he acts only in response to JW dub prayers. To be blunt, God never acts on behalf of prayers from Catholics or Born Agains, or for that matter, from anyone else, according to JW dub beliefs.

However, what if you are a JW dub and you don’t get what you have prayed for? Dummy you! You have asked for the wrong thing. The problem is of your own making.

So what sort of prayer should one make? From an objective standpoint, prayer can be categorized as:

D.I.Y. Prayers

(D.I.Y. has the same connotation here as in D.I.Y. home renovations.)

This is a prayer where the successful execution of the prayer rests almost entirely in the hands of the one praying. As a result, Do-It-Yourself prayers have a higher success rate than Other Prayers. E.g.

You pray to lose weight – the prayer will work only if you alter your diet (friends may give encouragement);

You pray to stop smoking – the prayer will work only if you quit smoking (friends may give encouragement);

You pray to find a parking bay at the mall – the prayer will work only if you keep circling the parking lot until a parking bay becomes vacant.

Many examples come to mind.

Other prayers

This kind of prayer is one where the successful execution of the prayer does not rest in the hands of the one making the prayer. As a result this prayer invariably fails. E.g.

A winter prayer for a clear sunny day – since the weather is out of your control, you might receive a thunderstorm;

A prayer for a loved one not to die – since life and death are out of your control your loved ones will go the way of all flesh and eventually die;

A prayer for your bitter enemy in the congregation to die – this won’t happen quickly either, unless you make it a D.I.Y. prayer! In this case, many friends would most likely offer help. (Just making a point. Do not try this at home.)

reflection

So, after a long and thorough search of the veracity of WTS / JW.Org teachings and doctrines, I find myself – somewhat like a person lost in a desert – back where I started.

I’ve walked in circles. All I have found is that the millions of searchers before me have also wandered in the same circles, in the same sand, and none could find the “way” out. My paradox is summed up below:

“Myself when young did eagerly frequent doctor and saint, and heard great argument about it and about: but evermore came out by the same door as in I went.”

(Omar Khayyam)

mtwtf
1
Puzzling July 2013 WT
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
good figs.

bad figs.

then there are bad, dishonest figs.
mtwtf

mtwtf My venting #8
The July 2013 WT is puzzling.
It looks important.
The subjects are compelling.
It offers a panoramic view of biblical history.
It has an air of scholarship with its ENDNOTES. (aka. Spurious scholarship)
Yet, it contains many blatant half-truths presented as inviolable facts, none of which are agreed upon nor accepted outside WTS ranks.
The hype surrounding the WTS’ press release of 2012, ensured that the WTS’ radical new exposition of divinely backed interpretation of unseen events, would not go unnoticed.
_________________________________
Who Cares
Without understanding much of it, dubs have pored over the July 2013 WT, knowing that it will soon be called “new light,”.
Some are so convinced that this is the ABSOLUTE LAST word (final new light), that they are trying to memorize entire articles for use in deep and meaningful conversations and for quotation from the platform!
Cynics see the WT as only the LATEST, but sure-to-be-changed word. Cynics approach this WT the same as they would approach a basket of biblical figs: look for good, honest “figs’ to use; look for bad, dishonest figs to discard. (Do bad figs taint good figs?)
The average dub wants to understand the “new light,” but is willing to wait until it is explained at the WT study.
___________________________________
Good Figs
The WT basket contains some good, honest figs.
Perhaps unintentionally, the WT reveals that the new beliefs have been engineered solely by human spirit without any support of holy spirit.
The WTs makes no claim that its revised doctrines were transmitted to it by angels, or dictated to it by holy spirit. To this extent the WT is honest and can be used. (Even against the WTS!) How dubs will react to this uncharacteristic honesty is awaited with interest.
Sample extract of honest expressions from study Article #1 of the July 2013 Watchtower.
¶3 The great tribulation was thought…
¶4 Upon (our) further examination…
¶4 That insight led to …
¶5 We also discerned…
¶7 So what can weexpect…
¶ 10 Previously we thought…
¶10 Weconcluded…, etc.
___________________________________
Bad Figs
Then there are bad, dishonest figs.
The dishonest figs are meant to convince readers that the WTS has accurately traced a chain of unseen spiritual events back for over 3,500 years and that these events pinpoint the years 1914-1919 as cardinal years for understanding Bible prophecy.
Then, using 1914-1919 as pivotal years, the WT claims to have identified clear dates for the fulfillment of major Bible prophecies.
___________________________________
The “Gift”
How did the WTS learn so much about unseen events? Does it rely on its own research, or does it have a “gift of interpretation?” The WTS is silent on this question, but seems to favor the spread of the belief that it is has a “gift,” which “gift” has divine backing.
(It may be argued that ability to interpret unseen spiritual events is not peculiar to the WTS. Phantasms http://www.memidex.com/phantasm are a typical feature of most cult leaders. “Vision in the night” generally involve an interpretation of events.)
However, the WTS’ “gift of interpreting” unseen spiritual events is unique inasmuch as the WTS’ “gift” is spread across every member of the governing body! The WTS’ “gift” is not confined to just the leader, as with most cults.
However, the WTS’ “gift” is a two-edged sword. If the interpretation is correct, credit goes to the WTS. If the interpretation is incorrect, blame must fall on the WTS.
Clearly, the reason for the WTS’ catalogue of false prophecy is because the WTS’ “gift” does not have divine backing. It is entirely man made.
Nonetheless, the value the WTS places on this “gift” can be gauged by the way it guards it. The “gift” is strictly off-limits to anyone in the WTS outside the governing body. For a rank and file dub to claim possession of this “gift” would be tantamount to his or her admission of dementia.
Alternatively, he or she could be seen to have laid down a challenge to the authority of the governing body – which is a capital offense!
Benefits
The “gift of interpretation” adds immeasurably to the governing body’s mystique. It keeps members of the governing body safe from challenge in their positions.
The “gift” has played a leading role in the growth of the WTS to this point.
Look at the growth over the Russell years. Could the WTS have achieved such growth if Russell had not believed he had a God-given ability to interpret the Scriptures? Russell’s “gift of interpretation” revealed to him: the return of Christ in 1874, leading to the great tribulation, followed in 1914 by Armageddon and the start of the new system.
However, by 1919, when it looked like the WTS would have to settle on a “correct interpretation of unseen spiritual events score” of NIL, the new WTS President discerned another remarkable unseen spiritual event. Christ HAD actually returned in 1914, right on time! Naturally, since his return was INVISIBLE, only those with the “gift” saw it! (So they say.)
So the Russell era turned out to be a resounding success for the WTS and one which set the pattern for future growth.
___________________________________
Growth
The “gift of interpretation” is probably the single most important factor behind the propulsion of the WTS to the forefront of modern day Christian evangelism. The WTS’ publishing arm could never have flourished without the “gift” inspired sensational articles of the early 1900s’ – like the end of the world, millions now living…, etc – on which the WT built its reputation.
Considering this, other Christian religion’s gave up the struggle to explain Bible prophecy and no longer profess to be seers and interpreters of unseen evens.
Additionally, the “gift” has been the WTS greatest tool in keeping followers from straying. (The END is so close.)
___________________________________
Pressures
If the cynics are correct and the July 2013 WT is just the LATEST and not the LAST word, then it is only a matter of time before these “words” come under the same pressures for change as the “words” they replaced. The pressures for change facing WTS doctrines would include:
Pressure 1. Doctrinal errors being mercilessly exposed to ridicule by “apostates.” This embarrasses the WTS.
Pressure 2. Changes-of-the-guard at the governing-body are generally followed by major rewrites of doctrine. After the previous incumbents of the governing-body have died off or been shunted aside, doctrine can be changed without the outbreak of open hostilities. (This may not preclude any rounding off of sharp edges of the new doctrines.)
Pressure 3. Holy spirit may direct the governing-body to make specific changes to the doctrines. (Unlikely)
Pressure 4. Social and political pressures may arise from the findings of public and political enquiries and legal judgements against the WTS for harboring pedophiles, etc.
______________________________________
Preach on
The frank disclosure by the WTS, that its latest revisions were all humanly engineered, must undermine the WTS’ promotion of itself as mankind’s only reflector of true spiritual light; light that gets ever brighter because of the operation of God’s holy spirit on the governing-body.
By applying its policy of enforced unity, the WTS seem likely to continue to press-on and teach untruths to millions more around the globe.
mtwtf
4
Who Is The REAL Evil Slave?
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
who is the real evil slave of mt.

my venting #7 mtwtf.

while this post is unlikely to achieve anything, just dragging the evil slave out of the shadows and into full view helps vent my feelings.
mtwtf

Who is the REAL evil slave of Mt. 24: 48-51?
My venting #7 mtwtf
While this post is unlikely to achieve anything, just dragging the evil slave out of the shadows and into full view helps vent my feelings.
__________________________________________
The parable of the evil slave cries out to be explained just as the slave himself begs to be controlled. The wts should man-up to these tasks and not leave it to amateurs.
All the focus has been on the evil one’s alter ego, the faithful slave. True, details of the faithful and discreet slave had to be prised out of the wts in court room dramas and gleaned from wts press releases about the 2012 annual meeting. But he has been publicized.
Additionally, the overused term, “the faithful slave” is regularly invoked by the wts to legitimize its micromanagement of the lives of followers. This gives wts edicts the imprimatur of God. “The faithful slave has spoken….”
On the other hand, having no license to promote wts interests, the evil slave is never mentioned, not even in the Insight Volumes or Reasoning book.
Warnings
Wts dubs are regularly warned of the danger of the internet yet they are never warned of the danger of the evil slave. If we compare their competing power to wreck the faith of dubs the evil slave would be the clear winner.
Clearly the governing body is too frightened and ashamed to mention the evil slave because it will be traced back to it.
Silence will not make the evil slave go away. Since the evil one cannot be hidden in the attic, avoiding mention of him may seem the next best thing. It isn’t. Is the wts silence a subliminal “how to shun your family” lesson for all dubs with a bad family member?
Origin
Since all people are capable of good and bad – with a bias toward bad – a single slave could conceptually fill both roles. It makes no sense to believe that when the master appointed a faithful slave to care for his interests he also appointed an unfaithful slave to work against his interests!
Then,if the point of the parable is that all people can turn bad, even those in high places, the parable has no greater relevance to the governing body than to anyone.
However, if the slave parable applies only to the governing body, as the wts claims, the evil slave has to be the other side of the good slave. It cannot be a separate slave. The good slave and the bad slave are different faces of the same slave.
Appointment
As reported in the 2012 annual meeting notes, anointing with God’s holy spirit alone is no longer (backdated to 1942) recognized as an adequate qualification to gain entry to the slave class. Membership of the slave class is gained solely on the invitation of the governing body. Once appointed to the governing body, an anointed new member becomes part of the slave class.
This places membership of the slave class on equal footing with membership of the world’s richest and most exclusive private clubs! Strictly by personal, private invitation.
The governing body chooses its own members. The door of the FDS Club is heavily guarded by members that include evil ones, whose main interest may be to keep-out good ones!
What are the chances that an evil slave will vote to appoint a new slave who is sympathetic to his personal view? Whatever happened to the adage that a retiring executive should never chose his own replacement?
Doubt & Faith
The wts teaches that God grants dubs the privilege of belief in the truth and loyalty to that belief is essential if they want to live. Once dubs become afraid to doubt, the truth becomes a heavy burden weighing down on them. Hypocritically, the governing body itself is torn apart with doubt and disbelief.
The doubt experienced by the governing body is stronger than the doubt suffered by dubs. A slave’s doubt becomes an overriding negative conviction about what he is teaching. The master (who reads hearts) knows immediately a slave no longer believes what he teaches, for the doubt registers in his heart.
According to the parable, the switch from good slave to evil slave is triggered by onespecific doubt – about the timing of the master’s return. When might the governing body have fallen into depression because of doubt?
Think:the1970’s. Think : the absurd overlapping generations copout.
More Questions
Do members of the governing body suffer their loss of faith collectively or individually? Do any keep their faith for their whole tenure with the governing body?
Because faith and doubt are personal, each slave is probably held responsible for his own outcome. That is not to say that the overwhelming doubt of one slave could not spread among other slaves by say, contagion or infection, like a disease? Is there a “carrier” of the evil slave bug in the governing body?
Emergence
Is the emergence of an evil slave open and dramatic – compare Jesus overturning market stalls at the temple – enabling others on the governing body clearly to see the change?
Alternatively, is his loss of faith surreptitious – compare, rotten fruit being slipped into the temple stall to make the food distasteful to all but the most vapid customers. If so, does his change escapes the attention of others on the governing body?
At what point if any, do members of the governing body realize that one or more of their body is tampering with the fruit?
Behavior
The slave’s loss of faith leads to bad behavior. He governs harshly, he oppresses his colleagues, he serves the domestics less than wholesome food. For starters:
Think pedophiles.
Think shunning.
Think poor dubs conned to build a debt free worldwide property empire.
His lifestyle is questionable because he eats and drinks with confirmed drunkards – the great and the rich who have worldly ambitions. For starters:
Think NGO membership of the UN.
Think global hedge fund conferences and seminars.
Think world travel and fine dining.
Surely other members of the governing body would see this as bad behaviour and argue against it; yet it continues. The governing body has been unable to clean up this evil element in its ranks.
Could the master clean it up? (See facetious note: Spontaneous Lobotomy)
Apostate
Evil slaves are protected by the fact that they cannot be labelled apostates while members of the governing body. This would be tantamount to confessing that there are apostates on the governing body!
Reward / Punishment
The slave may be a composite slave stretching back over decades, centuries or even millennia, but there is no evidence of rewards or punishments being meted out to past slaves.
However it makes no sense to believe that a member of the slave class can evade judgement simply by dying before the master returns. So what happens? Nonbelievers may chorus that nothing happens; it is all a big lie. Believers would have little choice but to understand that all judgements and rewards will all be applied posthumously at the time of the masters return.
As the faithful slave will be appointed over all the master’s belongings upon his return, we can only surmise that the master will extend the same reward to all previous slaves who had served him well.
Those found by the master upon his return to have succumbed to doubt and engaged in bad behavior will lose everything. We can only surmise that master will extend the same punishment posthumously to all evil slaves.
Either way, the stakes are high.
Summary
The evil slave wrecks the faith of dubs in many ways.
The wts should man-up and deal with this super villain.
Shunning the evil slave will not make him go away.
The evil slave is nothing less than the other side of the faithful slave.
A slave’s slide into the evil side is triggered by doubt that the master will return on time, or maybe that he will never return.
Whether slaves simultaneously catch the evil bug and whether it is transmissible, are matters of conjecture.
The evil slave’s bad behaviour has the tacit approval of the full governing body.
No evil slave is likely to be labelled an apostate while still a member of the governing body.
The master promises that every member of the slave class will be suitably rewarded or punished to the right extent.
_______________________________
This exposure of the evil slave as the hidden face of the faithful slave has not tried to solve the governing body’s problems, it has tried only to ensure that the evil slave is outed.
mtwtf
………………………………………………………………
(Facetious Note) Spontaneous Lobotomy
Is the evil one’s condition due to dissociative identity disorder; once called ‘multiple personality disorder’? I dare say that the master could induce a spontaneous lobotomy of the slave’s frontal lobes, using spiritual neurosurgery to excise that part of the slave’s brain and effect a cure.
Using idle speculation we can imagine the slave’s eyes spinning in their sockets for that split second when the lobotomy impacts his personality. He would know that he has been done only when family and friends start calling him “dear” or “darling”!
………………………………………………………………
32
Who is the Real faithful and discreet slave?
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
who is the real faithful and discreet slave?

he ceases to exist once the meeting is over;.

he ceases to exist once the meeting is over;.
mtwtf

Who is the real faithful and discreet slave?
My venting #6mtwtf
Would the real faithful and discreet slave please stand.
Have your credentials ready.
The 2012 Annual Meeting Report of the wts appears to shift the privilege of membership of the Faithful and Discreet Slave away from the 144,000 and give it solely to the Governing Body – when dispensing spiritual food. As jw are taught to revere the FDS the way Roman Catholics revere the holy spirit, this new dogma might take some selling to rank and file members.
At the same time, this new light should make no practical difference to the life of any of the 99.99% of anointed, whose past, present and likely future contribution to the spiritual feeding program of the wts is zilch.
Nonetheless, when parts of the wts 2012 Annual Report are read in conjunction with excerpts of other published comments, it looks as if “new light” is about to be shone on the FDS. These excerpts are:
FDS as defined in OM book, 2005
So the “faithful steward, the discreet one”, must symbolize the complete body of Christ’s spirit-anointed footstep followers who live on earth at any given time.
OM. 2005. P16. “Identifying the faithful and Discreet Slave.
___________________________
FDS as defined in Steven Unthank court case 2011
During the court hearing legal counsel for the Watchtower Society, … made a statement on behalf of the Watchtower Society that: “The faithful and discreet slave is not a legal entity.”
Vincent Toole Solicitors presented arguments that the “faithful and discreet slave” do not exist as a “person”
Nor do they exist as a “body” of Christians.
The wts then (argued) that the "faithful and discreet slave" ... were nothing more than a "theological arrangement."
(Sizemik post 3.15.2012)
__________________________
FDS as defined in Annual Meeting Report, 2012
“The faithful and discreet slave”…is the small, composite group of anointed brothers serving at world headquarters ... who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food. When this group work together as the Governing Body, they act as “the faithful and discreet slave.”
___________________________
What was previously seen as a loose amalgam of the magically networked spiritual thoughts of the thousands of anointed alive on earth at any given time, has now been whittled down to the decisions of those few members of the GB alive at any time since 1919; but only when they are engaged in the feeding the Master’s household.
FDS First Summary
Piecing together these snippets of information produces this summary of the FDS.
The FDS is not a legal entity;
he is not a person;
he does not exist in the flesh;
he is not an unincorporated body;
he exists only during a meeting of the GB;
wts decisions, interpretations, understandings and actions cannot be promulgated without his consent!
Without doubt, the FDS is an important theological arrangement to the wts.
More light needed.
The note of the Annual Meeting Report says the GB “act as” the FDS, but it stops short of saying the GB IS the FDS, appointed by the master to feed his household. This is the same as saying: “This heap of stones will act as a barrier”? Does this mean that the stones are serving as a barrier, or do they only pretend to be a barrier, but will soon be swept away? When will a real barrier be constructed? Brighter light is required.
Since this acting FDS does not profess to be the real FDS, we have to ask what has happened to the real one? Perhaps the FDS has not yet been appointed by the Master?
Did the various GBs from 1919 to 2012 know that they were only acting as the FDS, or did they believe that they were the real FDS?
How does today’s acting FDS know how the real FDS would act under all circumstances? Is it possible that this latest incarnation of the FDS only professes to know how the real FDS would act, but doesn’t actually know?
Maybe modesty prevents the GB from laying claim to being the real FDS? At the same time will the GB encourage rank and file dubs to reason that since the GB acts as the FDS, the GB must be the FDS! (We use same this elementary line of reasoning when we identify a duck by its waddle, its quack etc.)
Finding a suitable model for the FDS.
Apart from those questions, there is the major question of how the GB should function as the FDS in today’s setting.
Let us face it, with 7.5 million “subjects”, the wts is a larger organization than many member nations of the UN. Hence, it would be quite appropriate for the wts to employ management practices drawn from UN affiliated nations.
The best model I could find as to how the FDS might function as a small nation, came not from religion or commerce, but from the government sector where the well known governmental arrangement, called Governor in Council, is employed.
(See Notes below for more detail.)
Summary of the governmental arrangement known as Governor in Council .
A Governor in Council is not a legal entity;
he does not deliberate over issues of Government policy;
he is not a person;
he does not exist in the flesh;
he is not an unincorporated body;
he exists only when the Governor is sitting in formal meeting with the advice of the Executive Council;
he ceases to exist once the meeting is over;
yet laws of the land cannot be passed without his consent!
Without doubt, the Governor in Council is an important legal fiction in British Commonwealth countries.
Interestingly, decisions of Governors in Council are reviewable by courts of law and the courts may require the production of evidence supporting decisions of a Governor in Council.
________________________
When what we know of the FDS is broken down into its basic components, we find the individual pieces fit very neatly into that governmental model.
Definitio n of FDS.
The FDS is the Coordinator of the Governing Body (CGB) in formal meeting with the Executive Coordinators – i.e. Coordinators of the wts standing committees (EXCs).
Purpose of the FDS
The FDS exists to give formal approval to the decisions, interpretations, understandings and actions of the wts as developed through wts standing committees.
It does not deliberate over issues; rather, it gives formal approval or otherwise to matters put before it.
Nature of the FDS
The FDS is a theological arrangement.
The FDS exists only when the Coordinator of the GB sits in formal meeting with the Executive Coordinators.
When a formal meeting concludes, the FDS ceases to exist.
Corrections
The FDS’ decisions may be reviewed by subsequent formal meetings of the GB. (And presumably by courts of law.)
Final Summary of the FDS
The FDS is not a legal entity;
he does not deliberate over decisions, interpretations, understandings and actions before him;
he is not a person;
he does not exist in the flesh;
he is not an unincorporated body;
he exists only when the Coordinator of the GB is sitting in formal meeting with the advice of the Coordination Executives;
he ceases to exist once the meeting is over;
yet wts decisions, interpretations, understandings and actions cannot be promulgated without his consent!
Without doubt, the FDS is an important theological arrangement to the wts.
_______________________
There is little doubt in my mind that a Governor in Council style FDS would function as well for the wts as it has done the last 100 years for so many governments. However, this would leave us with a governmental arrangement, not a theological arrangement as promised. Either way however, it would still not be a FDS as we have known it for many years.
So, does this analysis have any relevance?
At best, it may approximate to what is happening.
At worst, it may be no more than one person’s premature ruminations and way off track.
Moreover, I haven’t touched the question of whether the Master intended to place a person, or persons, or a theological arrangement in charge of his household?
And what about the domestics of his household? What form should we envisage them to take;
Then there is the question of the Evil Slave. Was he simply an autocratic, dictatorial, theological arrangement, or was he a wicked person, or persons?
In any event, what is written here won’t make the slightest difference to the GB which is sure to follow its own agenda, no matter what.
Yet, if nothing else, this post purges my feelings of what I see as theological connivance involving misuse the term Faithful and Discreet Slave.
mtwtf
_________________________________________________________
Notes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the UK, the Queen-in-Council (during the reign of a male monarch, King-in-Council) is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council (in the United Kingdom and Canada's federal jurisdiction) or executive council (in most other Commonwealth realms and in Canadian provinces). In Commonwealth realms other than the United Kingdom and some British Crown dependencies, the Queen's powers and functions are delegated to the governor-general, lieutenant governor, or governor. In these cases, the Queen-in-Council is replaced by a Governor-General-in-Council, Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council, or Governor-in-Council, respectively.
In Commonwealth countries the governor is not an elected official and does not deliberate over issues of Government policy. He gets no say in the framing of laws in that country. In the USA model, a governor is an elected official who is heavily involved in framing laws of that land.
_________________________
It is customary for Executive Councillors to be the same persons who comprise the Ministry and Cabinet; however, it requires a quorum of only the Governor and two Ministers for a meeting.
The Governor is not a member of the Executive Council but summons meetings on his/her authority and presides at all meetings of the Council unless otherwise prevented from
doing so.
The first part of the approval process involves the submission of Executive Council Minutes to Executive Councillors (IE. Ministers) for consideration.
The second part of the approval process is the submission of the Minutes to the Governor in Council for approval.
The Governor in Council, unlike Cabinet, does not deliberate over issues of Government policy; rather, it gives formal, legal effect to the decisions of Cabinet or individual Ministers.
Decisions of the Governor in Council are reviewable by the courts.
The first part of the approval process involves the submission of Executive Council Minutes to Executive Councillors (IE. Ministers) for consideration.
The second part of the approval process is the submission of the Minutes to the Governor in Council for approval. Meetings of the Executive Council are summoned by the Clerk of the Executive Council under the authority of the Governor and in the normal cycle are held on the Thursday following the Cabinet meeting.
Upon the return of the Minutes from Cabinet they are processed (numbered, dated and stamped) and delivered to the Governor on the Wednesday afternoon to allow the Governor time to peruse each Minute in detail.
The meeting is held each Thursday in the ordinary cycle. In compliance with quorum requirements, at least two Executive Councillors, exclusive of the Governor are present and assisting throughout the whole of the meeting. The Clerk of the Executive Council also attends. Each Minute is then signed by the Governor at the meeting. Special meetings are held from time to time to deal with urgent matters.
________________________________
FDS Approval Process
The first part of the FDS approval process involves the submission of the minutes of the Standing Committees to their respective Executive Coordinators for consideration and approval.
The second part of the approval process is the submission of approved minutes to the Coordinator of the Governing Body for consideration and approval by the FDS.
________________________________
13
Babylon the Great
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
mtwtf warning.

this post contains much speculation.. it does not mention the mayan calendar.

i dont know the hour, or the day nor for that matter, the week, or the month, or the year, or the decade, or the century, or even the millennia when the end will come, yet im still interested in it.
mtwtf

mtwtf WARNING. This post contains much speculation.
It does not mention the Mayan calendar.
I don’t know the hour, or the day – nor for that matter, the week, or the month, or the year, or the decade, or the century, or even the millennia – when the “END” will come, yet I’m still interested in it.
I would also like to know the: what, where, how, who and why of it all. Nonetheless, despite my ignorance I can still visualize answers to most of these questions, but I wouldn’t bet my life on them.
I’ve had these ideas niggle away in my mind for long enough to make me want to vent my thoughts and thereby dispel them, even if they might ultimately prove correct.
______________________________________
My Venting #5
Even when wars are raging in other countries, Israel /Palestine conflicts always seem to grab global headlines. Despite their best efforts, the UK/US duo have been unable to find any lasting solution in the Middle East. Also noticeably, they have been unable to improve Israel’s tarnished image as the one of the world’s most widely hated nations. Similarly, have they done nothing to enhance Palestine’s image as one of the world’s most pitiful nations.
However, one day “soon” (wts time) a new deal is going to be hammered out allowing the powerbroker nations (probably Anglo-American again) to gleefully proclaim “peace and security at last”. With the Middle East at peace the rest of the world can relax.
What could possibly then go wrong? Israel, being as it is, will quickly manufacture a situation that will allow it (compel it in its own eyes) to resume its task of repossessing the Promised Land. And why shouldn’t it? God gave it to them! (Of course, this claim acknowledges that they had no right to be in Europe in the 1940s’ and that Hitler had every right to expel them from Germany!)
By breaking this (soon-to-come) Peace and Security pact, Israel will so exasperate other nations – including Anglo American friends – that former allies will switch sides and help the Palestinians. This will move the battle-front from Gaza to Jerusalem. The prospect of Jerusalem being destroyed will excite so many other nations, that previous supporters will feel powerless to help Israel.
Worldwide, Jews will be aghast. Diplomatic, political, commercial and religious pressures will be brought to bear to save Israel. They will not succeed. Whatever country they live in, Jews will resort to street marches; “Christ will return to Jerusalem” Christians, and a raft of other do-gooders will march alongside them in shows of solidarity.
In turn, worldwide attacks will be unleashed on local synagogs, churches of Christendom and their supporters. Governments will make little effort to stop this global rampage. The only expressions of sympathy for Israel will be those of onlookers who are too afraid to help. “Too bad, too bad, you great city”, they will say as Jerusalem / Israel goes down.
Q. Would this scenario suffice to qualify for the label: Babylon the Great – destroyed by the Wild Beast?
The global conflict will then address the question of Israel’s intrinsic value to the world. Villages, towns and cities in every country where Jews or their supporters live, will be torn apart by sectarian violence. One by one, every religion will be drawn into the conflict and suffer violence. The term Great Tribulation will spring to mind for many. As the level of violence against all things religious continues to ramp-up many will pray for God to step in and end their tribulation. If this should then happen, it could have fatal consequences for all those judged to be part of the problem.
_______________________________________
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Governing Body of JWs will still be deadlocked on whether to drop all reference to 1914, 1919, and now 2012, and how best to express these changes in the Watchtower masthead. The Curia , Public Service, “Whatever” continues to pressure the GB. They have to be made part of the Slave class. The only question is:
From when?
And why?
And should all Other Sheep be included?
And should Bro. Russell be posthumously disfellowshipped?
The list would be endless.
______________________________________
In conclusion, some of these more speculative thoughts clearly ought not to be taken too seriously. Others, you might agree, provide a realistic Bible based scenario – if you believe the Bible – for:
The fall of Babylon the Great,
The Great Tribulation,
The final judgement, and
The end of the …... .
mtwtf
3
A Secular wts
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. scandals
a secular wts?my venting #4. .

perhaps im jumping at shadows, but from the reports of doctrinal changes coming out of the 2012 wts annual meeting, it looks very much to me like the gb is revisiting something it started much earlier.

), the gb took what i interpreted at the time, to be the first step to abdicating its role of oversight of the masters household.
mtwtf

A Secular WTS?My Venting #4
WHAT?
Perhaps I’m jumping at shadows, but from the reports of doctrinal changes coming out of the 2012 wts Annual Meeting, it looks very much to me like the GB is revisiting something it started much earlier.
In the 1970’s (or was it the 1980’s?), the GB took what I interpreted at the time, to be the first step to abdicating its role of oversight of the Masters household. That was when non-anointed Bethelites (Nethinim) were appointed to positions of responsibility immediately under the oversight of the GB. This paved the way for non-anointed JW to participate in work which, scripturally, was the province of anointed brothers. That move was abandoned after a few years.
From my present standpoint, the GB seems now to be following another route to pass the reins of control of God’s household to non-anointed JW. It as if this goal will be achieved by a simple, yet audacious redefinition of the term FDS. If I understand it correctly, the term FDS now includes certain non-anointed Bethelites. By this means, men have (are) being inducted into the FDS, although Jehovah has not chosen to anoint them. Does the GB seriously believe it has authority to expand membership of God’s household this way?
By setting this new direction, the GB has turned its back on the pool of faithful anointed brothers which God had already chosen to be part of his household as sons. Instead of maintaining any semblance of relationship with the worldwide body of anointed, the GB has consistently shunned them and repeatedly described them as mentally deficient, self-seeking individuals.
[OK. Let’s face it: all who claim to be anointed, whether now or in the past, have been regarded as “unusual”. The same things were said about the ancient prophets. According to one researcher the ancient prophets were honest and sane, but misguided. http://philosophynow.org/issues/91/Hallucinatory_Experience_and_Religion_Formation ]
I see the proposed changes, more as an acknowledgement of what has already occurred, rather than the announcement of something new. Now the secret is out, the changeover can move on quickly. How long it will take for the complete secularization of the wts remains to be seen. Then again a secular GB could hardly do a worse job than the anointed GB. My tip is that secularization will bring greater emphasis on legalities, finance, image promotion and of course, growth.
The GB as we knew it, is being painting out of the picture.
________________________________________
WHY?
Why would the GB want to abdicate its role as manager of God’s household?
There is a whole raft of possible reasons.
Is the FDS actually the Evil Slave? Some may think so.
Is it because the GB cannot handle the work load? None of the GB has been a career CEO, administrator, director, or manager. None of them are even remotely equipped for the task. What about Holy Spirit? Doesn’t HS guide the GB to reach decisions that honor Jehovah and Jesus and bring blessing to all dubs? Apparently not. Things are not going anywhere near as planned.
Is it because acceptable (genuine and sane) anointed replacements for the GB are no longer available? Hence, others have to be groomed to take over when they die. GB doubt that God could raise up suitable replacements demonstrates lack of faith.
Could it be necessary to stave off a revolt from senior Bethelites, who have worked all these years for little or no recognition / reward? Without a worthwhile career path ahead of them they might reasonably feel they should quit.
Could it simply be because Bethelites have proved themselves more capable (even if less spiritual) than the GB (educated vs uneducated) and have exercised de-facto command of the wts for the past 30 years? If so, 2012 might have been judged as the time for the GB to quit the pretense and move out of the way.
_____________________________
How far off track are these gripes?
mtwtf
7
Shunning
by mtwtf in
1. watchtower
2. scandals
wts shunning my venting #3. on my rough estimate there may be 50 wts victims of enforced shunning for every one wts child abuse victim.

(it is recognized that greater trauma is inflicted on abuse victims.

) with such a large pool of shunned dubs, a number must have suffered such bad experiences as to warrant conti-like cases against the wts.
mtwtf

WTS Shunning My Venting #3
On my rough estimate there may be 50 wts victims of enforced shunning for every one wts child abuse victim. (It is recognized that greater trauma is inflicted on abuse victims.) With such a large pool of shunned dubs, a number must have suffered such bad experiences as to warrant Conti-like cases against the wts. A Conti-level court victory by a shunned youth would be an emphatic way of ending the wts practice of enforced shunning.
Are any enforced shunning cases close to reaching court?
Alternatively, a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that enforced shunning is so evil (morally wrong or bad) , inhuman (without compunction or human feeling), and cruel (causing pain and suffering) that it constitutes a religious hate crime, would achieve the same purpose.
Can anyone see this happening?
________________________________
The wts’ enforced shunning has nothing to do with the Bible. The only conclusion to be drawn from study of the scriptures used by the wts to support enforced shunning, is that the wts is making an absurd and dishonest use of the Bible to exercise control over its rank and file members.
The Bible texts used by the wts to enforce shunning are:
? 1 Cor. 5:11-13. 11) But now I am writing you to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolator or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12) For what do I have to do with those outside? Do you not judge those inside, 13) while God judges those outside . Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
Once df/da, a person surrenders both his place in the wts and his title “brother” and spiritually returns to the world. Thereafter, he cannot scripturally be distinguished from any other person in the world. He is not to be judged by those “inside”. His judgement comes from God not man. Not the wts.
1 Cor. 5:11-13 fails the wts in two ways. It does not condone enforced shunning of df/da persons. It clearly prohibits it. Anyone who applies enforced shunning to a df/da person is putting himself in the position of God. That is not a good position for anyone to be in, let alone the wts.
? 2 Thes 3.6. Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.
Again, this is a direction to shun a misbehaving brother. It has no application to anyone not a brother, even if he had previously been one.
A third scripture used by the wts is:
? 2 Jo. 9-11. 9) Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teachings of the Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching , never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him . 11) For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.
Verses 5 & 6 identify the “teachings” that one must remain in. “… I am writing you … a commandment we had from the beginning, that we love one another . And this is what love means, that we go on walking according to his commandments .”
By twisting these texts to try to make them support its concept of enforced shunning, the wts’ is not “walking according to his commandments.” By its own standards, the wts should never be received into a Christian home or have any greeting made to it. This is the exact opposite of what the wts proposes.
Moreover, the wts interpretation of 2 Jo 9,11, brings this text into direct conflict with Paul’s two texts. This undermines the oneness and integrity of the Bible.
Since the wts presents the Bible as God’s Law, it should be subject to the same rules of interpretation as any written law. One authority on written law, (Maxwell ) says: “… it is an elementary rule that construction is to be made of all the parts together, and not of one part only by itself. … the true meaning of any passage is that which (being permissible) best harmonises with the subject and with every other passage ...”
As 1 Cor. and 2Thes., are expressed in plain, clear language and are in agreement, 2 Jo. must be seen as the odd one out. A construction must therefore be found that will bring 2 Jo. 9-11 into harmony with the other two verses, and not the other way around, which is what the wts has done.
Finally.
? Deu. 18: 10-11 10) There should not be found in you anyone who … 11) or one who … or anyone who inquires of the dead .
The wts has argued that the df/da are spiritually dead and since Christians do not talk to the dead, dubs don’t talk to the df/da. Once again, this is a misuse of scripture; Deu 18:10-11 is clearly about spiritism and the occult. Deu. 18.10-11 does not even remotely apply to shunning and should not be considered.
___________________________________
Conclusion
The wts’ doctrine of enforced shunning has nothing to do with the Bible.
The wts is violating its Christian obligation to obey the Word of God.
By adhering to its doctrine of enforced shunning the wts is making an absurd and dishonest use of the Bible to exercise control over its rank and file members.
The wts must already know all this, and more.
If it does know, it should tremble.
mtwtf
The BINGO FACTOR
by mtwtf in
1. jw
2. friends
second post.

wts meeting attendance figures used to be offered as evidence of global unity; a pillar-of-strength not found elsewhere?

by simply attending a meeting, dubs were assured they would gain gods blessing.
mtwtf

Second Post
Hi again,
Wts meeting attendance figures used to be offered as evidence of global unity; a “pillar-of-strength” not found elsewhere? By simply attending a meeting, dubs were assured they would gain God’s blessing. (Rather like sitting in Peter’s shadow. Acts 5:15) Today, many active dubs question that assumption. Reflective dubs worry, a la Oliver Twist, that the paucity of Mt. 24:45 (FDS) food at the right time, might indicate that Fagin has taken over the kitchen!
So why do dubs attend meetings? Is it because they are masochists and like the “donot ” tone of meetings? No! There is an overlooked BINGO Factor at work. As part of the wts feeding program, the BINGO Factor is the perfect instrument to spoon-feed dubs with wts fare.
My venting #2.
For what it is worth, the (w) Watchtower and (b) BINGO game formats are compared below to show the high level of (Intentional?) crossbreeding of the two.
(NB. 1. This applies to Wt study, Bible book study, QA sessions, TMS Oral Review.)
(NB. 2. Disclaimer. I’m not a BINGO player and will stand correction on all points.)
(w) Wt Format cf. - (b) BINGO Format
(w) Preferred meeting time is late afternoon or early evening.
- (b) Preferred meeting time is late afternoon or early evening.
Not all present are dedicated members and the greater number are geriatric.
Not all present are dedicated members and the greater number are geriatric.
Each participant has printed text-sheets, paid for by voluntary contribution.
Each participant has printed number-sheets, paid for at the door.
Text-sheet themes have little personal relevance to most.
Number-sheet themes have little personal relevance to most.
The specific wording of text-sheets is immaterial to most.
The specific value of the numbers on their number-sheets are immaterial to most.
Searching to find a text is not gambling.
Searching to find a number is not gambling.
The conductor does not teach, but serves as an emcee or games’ show host.
- The conductor does not teach, but serves as an emcee or games’ show host.
------------------------------------------
The meeting opens with a song and prayer for a future prize.
The meeting opens with a welcome and best wishes for winning a prize.
The conductor has a predefined part of the day’s text-sheets read aloud.
The conductor randomly selects a number and has it announced aloud.
The conductor asks for a certain portion of the just-read text to be found.
The conductor asks for the just-called number to be found.
Participants scan their text-sheets to find a match with the just-read text.
Participants scan their number-sheets to find a match with the just-called number.
Anyone finding a match raises a hand and when asked, reads aloud his find.
Anyone finding a match marks that number on his own number-sheet.
Multiple finds of the same text are allowed and read-back, as time permits.
Multiple finds of the same number are allowed and individually marked.
Ends when all text-sheets have been read aloud, found and then read-back.
Ends when a match is found to a multi-number pattern on a participant’s number sheet.
Lastly, 3-4 finds are reread to verify a full coverage of the day’s text sheets.
Lastly, one or more participants will cry BINGO; their numbers are then verified.
Some will mutter: “Wonderful wt, I gave 3 answers!”
Some will mutter: “Wonderful game, I marked 6 Numbers!”.
Ends with a song and prayer for each ones’ future prize.
- Ends with applause as the winners claim their prizes.
--------------------------------------
Positives are : an outing, association with like minds, mental exercise, a sense of accomplishment, renewed hope of a future prize.
Positives are: an outing, association with like minds, mental exercise, a sense of accomplishment, renewed hope of a future prize.
Negatives are : fast fading positives.
- Negatives are: fast fading positives.
___________________________
The simplicity of the BINGO format does not come without cost. Since every word of the wt is chased down by the emcee, then re-read aloud by a dub, the essence of the material either is bypassed or otherwise lost. So by the time dubs leave the hall most of them would be unable to recall the theme of the meeting let alone any fine-point change in doctrine.
In short, dubs don’t attend wt meetings to hear about themes and or to split hairs on the meaning of words. The appeal of the meeting lies in the find-and-match challenge – the thrill of the chase. Next comes the thrill of plucking up the courage to read back your find – into a microphone, mind you, where everyone can hear you. Being rewarded with the emcee’s “well done” is also OK. But best is seeing the stunned look of face of others who wanted that answer and now feel thwarted. (Ha-ha on them!) These are the memorable things of the wt study. Its like BINGO on every paragraph!
Wts Pillar Consequences
Samson is reputed to have brought down the Philistine kingdom (Ju 16:30) by pushing over the pillars supporting the roof of the temple of Dagon.
Q. Would the fall of the wts meeting attendance “pillar-of-strength” bring down the edifice of the much vaunted wts’ spiritual paradise?
Q. Does the BINGO Factor help explain how changes to wts doctrine come and go unnoticed, or at best are poorly understood by the r/f?
Q. Since the BINGO Factor as a feeding instrument, seems so perfectly in-tune with the calibre of the meals being served, must we conclude that the two are inseparable? If so, can they jointly be revitalized? If not, should the wts take the initiative and shut down the wt study, or wait for dub rejection effectively to push over this temple pillar?
mtwtf