Peter
10-11-2007, 01:46 PM
Hi all
Ness I read your post some weeks ago and I do appreciate that hard evidence is needed to support the fact that the society were NGOs, so if you're going to get it then get it from the horse's mouth. There is one place that hasn't been mentioned (at least I don't think so) and that's the congregation file.
After the Watchtowers NGO exposure in the Guardian in 2001 the society wrote a letter to all bodies of elders explaining their association with the DPI and why they choose to disassociate themselves. The letter maintained that wording in the UN's charter was challenging to the Watchtowers neutral stand. They made out that it had all been a misunderstanding and informed the elders their membership was solely to gain entry to the UN library.
So there is clear evidence in the congregation file dated about Nov 2001 that categorically proves that the Watchtower had NGO status. If you ask the PO he will have to admit that, (the secretary has the files though) if he asks how you knew about this letter, just say you headed it through the grapevine and your family will have to accept it as fact.
What really makes my teeth grind is the amount of brothers that have been stumbled over this affair as well as the apostates that have had a fielded day bring reproach on Jehovah's name. The whole episode has proved to be a bad witness at the UN, what they think of it all I don't know.
Lets be honest if you stumble your brother then your main concern is to win him back, yet the society has failed in this respect, in fact they haven't even attempted to defend themselves or counteract the letter (pdf) that the UN published on its web site in 2004. If the letter is misrepresenting the facts the UN would be liable and the society would be in their right to take legal action against them for slander. Yet the society remains silence on the issue.
What we need from the society is a clear cut and definitive answer readdressing questions that has been raised over their affiliation and how they met the criteria that enabled them to be a part of it for 10 years. That's the only way they are going to win brothers back, yet the brothers go to great lengths to make disciple - how many have gone out through the back door over this matter-probably thousands.
Every elder is fully aware of the issue, when they are appointed they have access to the congregation file, when asked though they tow the party line, when presented with questions they can't answer they have vacant expressions on their faces. Their expression say it all, they don't have the answers, and all too often end up in a state of denial.
Even when the evidence is place before the brothers (and I have mentioned it to some) they get defensive and believe that the society doesn't have to justify itself. Well lets hold on a jiffy I say, I thought that the Watchtower was transparent and a charity, and the reply comes-well the governing body know what they are doing and would never mislead us, after all this is Jehovah's organisation. No wonder the book of Joel talks of "confusion" when the end arrives and the Watchtower goes down before Christendom.
Anyhow good to be here!!!
Ness I read your post some weeks ago and I do appreciate that hard evidence is needed to support the fact that the society were NGOs, so if you're going to get it then get it from the horse's mouth. There is one place that hasn't been mentioned (at least I don't think so) and that's the congregation file.
After the Watchtowers NGO exposure in the Guardian in 2001 the society wrote a letter to all bodies of elders explaining their association with the DPI and why they choose to disassociate themselves. The letter maintained that wording in the UN's charter was challenging to the Watchtowers neutral stand. They made out that it had all been a misunderstanding and informed the elders their membership was solely to gain entry to the UN library.
So there is clear evidence in the congregation file dated about Nov 2001 that categorically proves that the Watchtower had NGO status. If you ask the PO he will have to admit that, (the secretary has the files though) if he asks how you knew about this letter, just say you headed it through the grapevine and your family will have to accept it as fact.
What really makes my teeth grind is the amount of brothers that have been stumbled over this affair as well as the apostates that have had a fielded day bring reproach on Jehovah's name. The whole episode has proved to be a bad witness at the UN, what they think of it all I don't know.
Lets be honest if you stumble your brother then your main concern is to win him back, yet the society has failed in this respect, in fact they haven't even attempted to defend themselves or counteract the letter (pdf) that the UN published on its web site in 2004. If the letter is misrepresenting the facts the UN would be liable and the society would be in their right to take legal action against them for slander. Yet the society remains silence on the issue.
What we need from the society is a clear cut and definitive answer readdressing questions that has been raised over their affiliation and how they met the criteria that enabled them to be a part of it for 10 years. That's the only way they are going to win brothers back, yet the brothers go to great lengths to make disciple - how many have gone out through the back door over this matter-probably thousands.
Every elder is fully aware of the issue, when they are appointed they have access to the congregation file, when asked though they tow the party line, when presented with questions they can't answer they have vacant expressions on their faces. Their expression say it all, they don't have the answers, and all too often end up in a state of denial.
Even when the evidence is place before the brothers (and I have mentioned it to some) they get defensive and believe that the society doesn't have to justify itself. Well lets hold on a jiffy I say, I thought that the Watchtower was transparent and a charity, and the reply comes-well the governing body know what they are doing and would never mislead us, after all this is Jehovah's organisation. No wonder the book of Joel talks of "confusion" when the end arrives and the Watchtower goes down before Christendom.
Anyhow good to be here!!!