Institutional Idolatry’

[Peter]

Institutional idolatry'

The nation of Israel fell into the trap of idolatry time and again. But what about the present day? As the 'Golden calf' sits close to the Brooklyn Bridge thousands make their pilgrimage each year for a guided tour. They leave in awe of the organizational structure and the vast printing presses. Today the society is one of the biggest publishing houses in the world and those who visit are left with the impression stamped firmly on their minds that Bethel is the 'House of God' with Jehovah's unconditional blessing and can do nothing wrong.

On a local level little changes 'the society this, the society that', 'Jehovah's organization' 'the society, the society, the society' and so on. The society has become 'a god' and now stand in the rightful place of worship that belongs to Jehovah.

It's interesting the way that x-Bethelites are viewed in the congregations; it's as if some kind of special glow emanates from them. Individuals such as DO's, CO's and elders are also venerated, yet seldom are JW's warned of the danger associated with theses attitudes.

Each week the brothers underline publications that are scripted as if the writers already know how the brothers will respond. Nearly sever million people being told to jump at the same time, all they say is "how high".

Frankly, it's like being in the 'twilight zone'.


What are your observations of Institutional Idolatry?'

[Berean]

Each week the brothers underline publications that are scripted as if the writers already know how the brothers will respond.[/b]
This is something that's especially clear when those articles talk about elders. 'Elders are nice', 'elders are good', 'elders are always doing this or that', instead of 'elders should...'

Another thing that I have noticed lately, is how the Society is more and more forcing dependence on their publications for almost everything. There's of course the separate editions of the Watchtower that are troubling me, but I have seen it in other little things as well. For instance, in the Theocratic Ministry School, elders and servants these days can just read from the TMS book when they have to give the instruction talk. And with the new Scriptural highlight articles in the Watchtower, brothers who have to do the 'Bible highlights' part can just read some highlights from the magazine - and surprise surprise, they do just that. What this also creates is brothers and sisters in the hall reading out these highlights, so that the whole 'have you found an interesting highlight in this week's Bible reading' becomes a bit of a farce.

And something else... we often hear that giving money to the poor or to other good causes will turn out to be useless in the end, and yet the Society happily spends money on printing insane amounts of magazines, most of which end up collecting dust in publishers' homes, or being thrown in the garbage by people who aren't really interested but politely accept anyway.

Gah... that all sounds so negative, but then, so does Matthew 23. The sad thing is it's all true.

[Reader]

I was talking to a friend yesterday who was talking to me about the internet. (He was the last one that I talked to about this place, and was very upset about it. Fortunately, Jehovah must be looking out for me, because the elders ignored his statements about me. And they ignored his follow-up.)

Nevertheless, he was talking so negatively about places such as facebook, myspace and DB's such as this. It was the standard load of BS that the society gives. Yet in his mind it is gospel truth, yet he has no idea about the reality of it.

My mother's the same way. "Why would I want the internet? It's just full of mis-information, lies and other very bad things." So I told her to stop her subscription for the newspaper, because some things in there are untrue. And to cancel cable. More filth and lies.

The idolatry is what gets to me the most. It really is.

Regards

Reader

[Nash]

Hi folks.

In answer to your question, Peter, I have noticed the institutional idolatry for quite some time too.

One of the first brushes I had with this was when I had mentioned to a pioneer sister (who was married to the Service Overseer/pioneer when they were in our congregation) that the GB could be wrong on a certain issue (alternatively, I might have said something to the effect that perhaps the GB is not always right). Lo and behold, the very next meeting I lost most of my privileges. I could not even represent the congregation in prayer. Of course, shortly, prior, I had lost my special privileges as well (but that another story).

When I had returned to the meetings after a time of inactivity, a brother and I had a conversation - while he was certainly glad I was back at the meetings, he was quite adamant about me reading the Watchtower and Awake! because they were, as he called it, spiritual food. As I recall, I had mentioned that I still read the bible. I guess the bible was not good enough for him.

The aforementioned is in line with what Berean said.

What I find is not only is the organization idolized, it is run exactly like a business. There is no feeling anymore. Everything has rules; I also find that it is too goal-oriented. While goals are good in a sense, they are not everything. For example, run a search using the Watchtower Library simply using the word 'goal' or 'goals' - most of the time they relate to spiritual goals, and most of these goals are really driven by the Society wanting more pioneers, more field service hours, etc. But the goals themselves are idolized as well. It's as if those who do not have spiritual goals (or, rather, the goals that are set out) are spiritually weak.

My friend had gotten married a while back. The chairman, an elder in our congregation, had mentioned that my friend and his bride-to-be "set some good goals." (They were both pioneers.) I had mentioned something like: "Not everything is about goals. Circumstances can change, and the goals can change." This elder drew a complete blank. I did not get a response. (This is another reason why many marriages have failed, are failing, and will continue to fail in the organization, but that's another story.)

Corporations are goal-oriented. This just proves how worldly the organization has really become.

The fact that the Watchtower tries to control the flow of information from the world is evident to those who are looking for evidence of such. All the postive information confirms that Jehovah's blessing is supposedly on the organization, and all the negative information confirms that Satan controls the media. In other words, there is always an excuse to make the Society look good.

The elders use theocratic war strategy on its own followers. This too is sad. The elders pervert justice. I know this from personal experience. From all of the experiences on many different boards, it's clear to see that the elders are more concerned with legalism rather than true justice.

Many of the organization's prophetic interpretations make no sense. Of course, one can't question that either. Well, they can be questioned, but the results may be unpleasant. One's actual mileage will vary from congregation to congregation. Hmmm...what does that mean? That fact opens up more questions.

Well, I could go on and on. I'll stop here.

Nash B)

[Jinnvisible]

I was told by a sister pioneer that when she met a member of the governing body after he gave a talk that he was `just like a normal human being`. She expressed this in a fit of surprised giggles.

She is of course correct. Her statement generously provided what should be the theme for a coming edition of Watchtower magazine.

`The governing body are just like normal humans beings` Jan 1st 2008 edition

[Viking]

I was told by a sister pioneer that when she met a member of the governing body after he gave a talk that he was `just like a normal human being`. She expressed this in a fit of surprised giggles.

She is of course correct. Her statement generously provided what should be the theme for a coming edition of Watchtower magazine.

`The governing body are just like normal humans beings` Jan 1st 2008 edition[/b]

as normal beings they are dependent from their own desires and do fail. So they like to have the best places in the synagogues mhm in the congress or kingdom hall. They like to be seen in their position. but they dont realize that their responsibility is more than show, it is leadership and that I miss.

[NEW HEART]

Hi Nash,

You said,

("Many of the organization's prophetic interpretations make no sense. Of course, one can't question that either. Well, they can be questioned, but the results may be unpleasant. One's actual mileage will vary from congregation to congregation. Hmmm...what does that mean? That fact opens up more questions.")

This is how I feel too. How can I tell others what they believe, if I cannot understand what they teach and make any sense of it , when I know that much of it is falsehoods. How can I follow along in teaching falsehoods to those who just left other false religions? I refuse to be held blood guilty for teaching falsehoods to others.

New Heart

[Jeshurun]

This is how I feel too. How can I tell others what they believe, if I cannot understand what they teach and make any sense of it , when I know that much of it is falsehoods. How can I follow along in teaching falsehoods to those who just left other false religions? I refuse to be held blood guilty for teaching falsehoods to others.[/b]

I still cringe when I think of all the people who suffered through my 1914 rant for 30 years, and I pray for forgiveness. But at least I told them the truth as I learned it from the Watchtower about Hitler and the Concordat with the Vatican. Then again, I need forgiveness for applying it to the wrong verses in Daniel ch. 11......

Jesh

[Nash]

Hi New Heart,

"This is how I feel too. How can I tell others what they believe, if I cannot understand what they teach and make any sense of it, when I know that much of it is falsehoods. How can I follow along in teaching falsehoods to those who just left other false religions? I refuse to be held bloodguilty for teaching falsehoods to others."

I'm sure many of us feel awkward because we know that some of what the Watchtower teaches seems to be wrong. But I don't think that bloodguilt is the correct word. Usually that refers to someone not taking the appropriate precautions to prevent a life from being lost. Just because many have taught incorrect doctrines doesn't mean they are bloodguilty (at least not how I understand the meaning of the term). For instance, we as Jehovah's Witnesses do not say that murder is right, do we? Or adultery? Or fornication? Teaching those practices as correct would probably incur a measure of bloodguilt.

As for your questions, they certainly illustrate the dilemma with which many of our brothers and sisters are confronted. This is probably an issue that many would resolve in different ways.

Nash

[Orchid]

I just thought since this thread is about organizational idolatry, I wanted to mention something that was kinda stupid/funny/weird.

My special-pioneer bible teacher lady, she gave me a packet of postcards picturing Brooklyn headquarters, about 10 of them. :huh: Right. I'm sure the look on my face was just uncanny. Who will I mail these too? Hmm Will I really post these on my refrigerator? :blink:

Oh and someone mentioned goals in their reply, she gave me a list of goals I should be making for myself, and really almost forcefully saying I need to be at the meetings, I have missed a lot of meetings because they have been really discouraging me lately. I'm starting to feel pushed up against a wall. :192:

[Sketch]

she gave me a list of goals I should be making for myself, and really almost forcefully saying I need to be at the meetings, I have missed a lot of meetings because they have been really discouraging me lately. I'm starting to feel pushed up against a wall.[/b]

well... are they YOUR goals or HER goals? as for going to the meetings... we all know that GOOD, Proper christians ALWAYS go to the meetings, no matter what. Heck, even Job never missed a meeti.... was there even a temple where job lived?? did job EVER go to temple? hmmmm...

<div align="center">Goals
Sometimes achieving your goal requires you to block someone else&#39;s.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Hockey_goal_cmd_2004.jpg/300px-Hockey_goal_cmd_2004.jpg
</div>

[SlaveForJah]

<div class='quotemain'>she gave me a list of goals I should be making for myself, and really almost forcefully saying I need to be at the meetings, I have missed a lot of meetings because they have been really discouraging me lately. I&#39;m starting to feel pushed up against a wall.[/b]

well... are they YOUR goals or HER goals? as for going to the meetings... we all know that GOOD, Proper christians ALWAYS go to the meetings, no matter what. Heck, even Job never missed a meeti.... was there even a temple where job lived?? did job EVER go to temple? hmmmm...

<div align="center">Goals
Sometimes achieving your goal requires you to block someone else&#39;s.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Hockey_goal_cmd_2004.jpg/300px-Hockey_goal_cmd_2004.jpg
</div>
[/b][/quote]

Hey there Sketch,

I wonder if Giguere would get paid if he didn&#39;t have "joining the 400 club" as a "goal"?

Your illustration really hit home. Thank you for that.

Agape

SlaveForJah

[Orchid]

well... are they YOUR goals or HER goals? as for going to the meetings... we all know that GOOD, Proper christians ALWAYS go to the meetings, no matter what. Heck, even Job never missed a meeti.... was there even a temple where job lived?? did job EVER go to temple? hmmmm...[/b]

Wow thank you for the kind and encouraging responses. Also the goals were not hers but the society&#39;s goal, fresh from the Watchtower July 15, 2004. Heh. ;)

I think I&#39;m in real comfortable place right now, I like discussing bible topics with her every week. Someone face to face even when the truth is tainted. But I know what her expections are of me and what&#39;s to come, and that&#39;s to go forward, make all the meetings and get baptized, and start preaching right away. Just the thought of that makes me feel guilty for some reason. Makes me think, "Will I be serving a society? or Jehovah?" It&#39;s so gray area. Nothing is just black and white anymore.

I&#39;ve thought of the idea of telling her how I really feel, I wish I could, but I am sure that would not help things. Boy, how I wish I could.

[Gabriel]

I&#39;ve thought of the idea of telling her how I really feel, I wish I could, but I am sure that would not help things. Boy, how I wish I could.[/b]


Patience Orchid (Love that name!) Everything in due time eh? Just keep focusing on the things that matter....and what is that? Your love for Jehovah. Seems pretty clear to me.