@4JahandChrist
you are spot on.
The year WT changed its policy to “voluntary donations” was a direct result of Goods and Services Tax law in Canada which was enacted that same year- the huge volume of literature sales would have cost WT millions in taxes- and so they called the switch over to contributions “new light”. That’s why the brothers gave that talk- you were over the target- you know exactly what was going on but WT needed JWs to believe the change was guidance from God in the form of new light.
Apparantly Jimmy Swaggart got the same “new light” down in California hahah.
Ugh it makes me want to scream!!
I felt the same back in 2000. After the Local Needs part I said to some of the Brothers "But so what if it's to do with Tax. Why is it such an issue?" You are quite correct. They wanted it to sound like it was "Theocratic " direction rather than a work around to avoid Tax.
The same Elder that did the Local Needs was going to be on my Judicial Committee for immorality. Just days before the case the sister I was involved with confessed to me that she was having an Affair with one of the Elders. He was the PO so they quickly had to find someone else to replace him on my Judicial.
Without me having in any knowledge the Sister did a deal with the PO and they denied that anything had taken place. This made me look like a Slanderer as I had informed the Brothers of the Adultery.
The Elders that disfellowshipped me were best mates with the PO. I was D'd before I even walked into the committee.
Even worse. The whole reason the PO lied was that the Elder that was sent into investigate had himself committed Adultery. The same sister that got it on with the PO had a fling with the other Elder as well. She had told the PO about the other Elder and PO had to cover her sin as he was also hiding his.
The reason I brought this up is you said you "feel like screaming". Can you imagine how hard it is to get kicked out of the Congregation by men who are committing Adultery? I wanted to barge through the door in a live meeting , grab the microphone and expose them. Not that I would do that but that is how I felt.
My indiscretion with the Sister was relatively minor. 3 times we stepped over the line of acceptable conduct but it wasn't all the way. They said I committed Spiritual Suicide. I've seen Brothers shown mercy for far worse sin but I got the opposite treatment.
Can't have people in the ORG talking about the Jimmy Swaggart Case/Tax Laws and exposing the Elders corruption can we?
The PO's demolition campaign against me lasts till this day. The Brothers think the PO stood down for health reasons and that I misled the sister into fornication. The reverse was the case. The sister had offended many times before I met her but she had a free pass as the PO was protecting her. So so corrupt!!!!!