New "doom and gloom" brochure

The brochure "The New Millenium- What Does The Future Hold For You?" was just deliverd to my house this morning. My wife answered the door and took it from an elder JW that I saw walking away as my wife shut the door. I recognized him but don't remember his name. He just handed it to her wothout any discussion. I wonder if this is a new thing. Handing out tracts with no discussion. Or, maybe he was aware of my "apostacy", and didn't want to talk. Have any of you guys got this brochure?

More of the same, in my opinion. Pollution, Sickness, Poverty, and War are some of the paragraph headings. Then it goes on to describe paradise earth via "Bible Stories book" pictures and the same tried and true scriptures. Interestingly, they mention: "There the focus is on physical events that have taken place since 1914, such as global war, pestilences, and widespread food shortages." "Soon the last days will end." But nothing more is said about 1914.

"Knowledge That Leads to Life!" is the heading for the paragraph on the back of the brochure. Of course John 17:3, 1 Tim. 3:16 are cited.
Scare tactics are still the tricks of the trade, I guess.

Tom

Edited by - TR on 4 November 2000 20:13:6

Hey Tom,

My husband's mother brought us "our personal copies" a couple of days ago. Same old brochure infor. since brochures started in the '70s. And she made sure to tell me that she had 50 copies to distribute - just like the '70s. Things really haven't changed much in the last 30 years.

We're still here, the end is right around the corner, and got to get those brochures passed out.

At least she didn't hold out her hand for a contribution.

waiting

TR, the information I've picked up from touring around the active JW sites indicates that this brochure campaign is "no talking, or minimal talking, and hand them the brochure".

Supposedly, this wondrous new information is SO important that they can't take the chance of a refusal. Most of the JW's are planning to leave their bookbags at home during the tract distribution so they don't spook anyone.

No one has been around to our area yet. In fact, we very seldom have ANY witnesses call on us. I'm beginning to think we're living in unassigned territory....oh, please, God, let us be in unassigned territory!!

Red,

I don't ever remember a "hand out tract, no discussion" campaign before. Another "easing up" on the flock maneuver?(like there ever was such a thing) I bet it makes field service a little more bearable.
Yeah, the tract is a rehash of ancient WT dribble. They still cling to 1914, without the "generation" part.

Waiting,

I wonder if your mother in law paid twice for the tracts. It reminds me of when I was the "accounts servant". I was the one up there on the podium at the ministry school meeting giving the monthly report. For a while we were in the red, and the p.o. tried to get me to fudge the report to make it balance. Them were the days.

Tom

This campaigne is the same as the last 2 tract campaigne. Publishers get 50 tracts to distribute, pioneers get 200 (i think). There is a time frame, i think about a month to distribute to all in the territory.

First, a very basic presentation is given. If no one is home, the tract is just left in the door/mailbox. If the congregation territory is huge, or they get behind, the tract is just delivered, no knocking.

The message in this one was disappointingly one of the same old, like Waiting said, the same lines as have been given the last 30 years.

KN#34 was particularly difficult to deliver. Very anti-catholic, hard language used. Many complaints from Catholics in the territory. #35 was a nicer message. About neighbourly love or something, but at least the message was more that of Christianity and showing love. Not a bad effort.

I find it is likely an effort to get weak ones out in the ministry, as it is "easy service". Plus it generates alot of hype, and people do take the tract, which makes you feel good. I think these tactics are wearing thin though.

But then again, lots are still caught in the loop and enjoying the KN#36 campaigne.

Path

Hey y'all,

When the first tract came out in the mid 70's - we were supposed to just say hello, offer the tract, say thank you and leave. We also had a time frame to work our 50.

Some young dork brothers ambushed the area - got their 50 out and then struted around like peacocks (all fluff - no brain). Just begging we ones who didn't have our 50 "placed" yet to share with them as they now had nothing to do in service.

What a crock.

waiting

I just wanted to finish up and get to the beer store to pick up a case. Then just hang out with the elders and boys and kill it while we talked about all the problems and eat high fat BBQed foods

I think for half of us, assemblies and service drove us to drink.

Path

Hey, Path, you think that you had problems with assemblies?
I was the cleaning overseer!!!

-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-

I'll be an attendant at my circuit assembly this weekend. The KN#36 was a lot of fun for my friends and I. Some of them were shy, and keeping the presentations short helped them come out of their shell a bit.
One Saturday, we stayed out until 7:30 in the evening! That was great. Almost everyone we talked to at the door was very relaxed and receptive. Even if they were busy with yardwork or something outside, they took the time to listen to us and even scan the tract before returning to their work.

Hey DriveslikeJehu,

My friends went to one-day special assembly this weekend. I asked my friend what pertinent information was given that he could remember.

I used to hate it when people would put me on the spot like that - never could remember anything at first.

He recollected the following points being strongly hammered in by our CO:

1. No sister will be allowed to give a talk or presentation if her skirt is above her knees. The elders were to caution sisters, even in the audience, about the proper length of their dresses/skirts.

2. Stop asking elders for advice. Research it for yourself. Use the CD-rom "rightly contributed for" to do "in-depth" research.

3. Go back to the "old school" on disfellowshipping. Absolutely no talking to a disfellowshipped person - even if they're in your family.

According to this brother - these were the spiritual highlights of the CO's talk - which is usually the spiritual highlight of the assembly.

I wasn't impressed, but thanked him cordially for information that has been taught us for at least 30 years. Well, short skirts since the 60's.

waiting

You know Waiting,

posts like yours really make me fume. In all honesty I don't think the society will put those points into print, because i do not believe what that brother told you is the official "published" policy.

But I also believe that brother took away with him EXACTLY the point the society wanted him to take home.

1) The society will not put specific guidelines as far as dress into print any more. The skirt above the knee issue is well known, the same as a brother cannot wear a beard, but I don't believe it is so black and white anymore. Sisters i know just hate these remarks, and elders are often at a loss because their wives are wearing short skirts too. I would say this brother is just old school talking some liberties.

2) I understand the point of not pestering the elders for every minor detail. Many simply want to pick up the phone instead of reasoning on the matter. On the other hand, many elders seem to encourage this, also i think the society has contributed to it as well. The whole research thing is stupid anyway, because you are allowed to come to only one conclusion, the society's. Plus there are so many incompetent elders out there, and reducing the questions posed to these men, reduces the odds of embarassingly wrong answers and liability on their part for stupid advice.

3) Again, probably not the present stance of the society "in print" regarding DFed family members, but the stance they want you to take. Probably the brother strongly adviced the benefits of not talking to dfed family members in such a way that the audience would come to that conclusion.

anyways as always, I'm disgusted.

Path

Would these "highlights" be considered new light, or are they simply regurgitated irritations?

Oh, and the tract was FINALLY delivered to our door. I didn't even get a chance to get there before they scurried back to their car and backed out of the driveway. Then they DROVE into every driveway going down the street. Do people not walk anymore?

Not surprisingly, this wondrous "new" tract containing earth-shattering information was EXACTLY like every other tract of its ilk published since the 1950's.

Hey Path,

As for what the brother took away from the one-day, I believe he tried to give me the "meat" of the CO's comments. He wants me & my husband back in the org - we are long time decent friends.

As for the CO, he's been one for a couple of years now. He's the same one who told us that the Service Dept. told him not to talk to us - so he wouldn't - and hasn't. Has driven right by us in a car, knowing who we were (we were walking through parking lot), would not look at us.

As for the df'ing old approach - I believe him when he says that the WTBTS is "tightening down on disobedient ones." And I feel this will never be printed by the WTBTS anywhere. Word of mouth procedures. Completely opposite of the official WT website which says "we do not interfer with family ties." (paraphrased words referring to shunning.)

Btw, this brother was all for these procedures - even though we've had them for decades. He felt we needed these reminders - keep us straight and awake - tightened up & ready for Armageddon.

He's a nice guy - but he amazes me. He was one of the elders (before being dropped - didn't hardline enough) who df'd my daughter, refused to call the other cong. about the child rapist among them who had raped my daughter, and told my daughter "we hope you don't go off the deep end."

And he thinks it's a good thing never to talk to your family who leaves The Truth. He's not known for his intelligence, btw. But nice guy, nevertheless.

waiting

Hello, Jehu. Thank you for your post. I see that this is only your second post. I don't remember seeing your first. Anyway, welcome to the board.

-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-

Hi, Jehu. Welcome!

Appreciate your "inside" views. Keep them coming!

TR

Hi everyone, thanks for the warm welcome. It's nice to meet other brothers and sisters online. One thing about waiting's post that stood out in my mind, is that often if you apporach the elders with a question, they will ask you what research you have already done, and if you've prayed about it.
IMHO, that's very important, b/c if you do those things first, not only will you be able to improve your personal study skills, but you can also strenthen your relationship with Jehovah thru prayer. Most often you'll find your answer before having to come to the elders.

Just to say hello and welcome Jehu

There was an excellent point made in the w 10/1/00 pp. 11,12 p. 14 about just such a thing as has been brought up here.
What a beautiful thought!
However a thought that is not so beautiful is expressed in w65 7/1 p. 391 in an article entitled What is Required to Understand the Bible under the subheading: How Can You Obtain the Help of God’s Spirit in the third paragraph of that article a statement is made which, to me, is troubling. Two years later another such statement appears in the w67 10/1 587 in one of the study articles: So when we look at that study article first referenced here we find that although the thought of asking for God’s Spirit in understanding what we read is very well stated, the questions to this paragraph which is grouped with paragraph 15 do not address this issue directly but rather they circumvent it quite effectively. So much so that when the conductor asked the ‘supplemental’ question: “So if we read something that is difficult to understand, what do we do?” A young sister raised her hand and answered: “We can pray to Jehovah for help and go and do research in the Society’s publications.” The conductor’s reply: “Yes, thank you, very good.”
But that is not ‘very good’ because that is not what James said to do now, is it? James said to: “…let him keep on asking God, for he give generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him.” James never mentioned anything about ‘researching publications’. He never even suggested that they go to the ‘elders’ and ask. Nor did he advise going to himself, or Paul, or perhaps one of the ‘twelve’. He directed the Christians to go to God.
Let us not criticize the publishers for running to the elders with their questions. As those two excerpts from previous Watchtowers demonstrate, the publishers have for a long time been conditioned to rely on ‘the organization’ and the closest representative of that organization is the local elder. Why don’t they research the publications of the ‘faithful slave’ first? To be quite candid (this is from many years of experience of publishers coming to me with questions) it is because they are never quite sure of what is ‘current truth’. The ‘truth’ changes and they are not certain that got the last change. Remember that a large percentage of the flock is limited in education and that those asking the questions are usually those that are not examples in regularity at the meetings and so they are afraid of having missed some ‘new light’.
Suppose someone were to pray for God’s Spirit in understanding a Bible passage such as the paragraph APPEARS to advise and God leads that person to believe something contrary to what is taught by the Society what then? That person will be advised to ‘correct’ his thinking to bring it in line with ‘current truth’. So why pray at all? Why not go to the volumes and look it up, making sure it’s the latest ‘revealed truth’? What need do publishers have of prayer if it cannot be relied upon? So in this instance the ‘publications’ have effectively removed the need for prayer in connection with any understanding of Scripture. In so doing they have effectively blocked or hindered God’s Holy Spirit from operating on that individual inasmuch as the publications remain the final authority on the matter. So now prayer is only for those that author the articles. We now have priesthood in place.
A side point. I also found it interesting that the term ‘governing body’ when applied to the first century congregation is not capitalized but when applying it to ‘the organization’ it is. Significance?

-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-

Two JW's showed up at my door here in Perth today while I was in the process of locking up to take my daughter swimming. One of them handed me the tract. I took one look at it, said, "Jehovah's Witnesses?" He answered, "Why yes, how did you know?" I said, "Before I left the Organization, I was one of you. Here, you can have this back, I won't be needing it, thanks." They went on to the next door, and I left. It felt great to hand that tract back and declare my freedom!!!!!

RCat

Hey Frenchy,

Thank you for that explanation. Very to the point and accurate. The brother who I spoke with, was quite explicit about doing research for ourselves with the WT literature, particularily CD Library.

I've had questions before - remember the famous "oral sex or no oral sex" debate of mid 70's? Well, we young sisters whisper-debated it, anyway. At the beginning of the year - I believe QFR said "no oral sex." By the end of the same year "oral sex conscience matter, but still in grey area and controversial."

When I moved down here, I reread those articles and then asked an elder about it. He said "No." I asked was that his personal opinion or the current opinion of WTBTS? He said it was his. I again asked what the WT's opinion was currently. He spoke to other elders (he told me) they agreed it was a conscience matter (with stipulations and "as long as" conditions were met - even between husband & wife).

JW's are trained - here especially - to ask elders everything. Even if they do their own reading - they have been taught locally - and by the Society - to doublecheck that their thinking is correct and current with the Society.

And I don't think that's going to change in reality. Too much local power would be lost. A parent wants his child to be independent to a degree - if the parent is secure in their relationship to the child. A parent will want full authority and know-abouts of the child if he doesn't trust the child's judgment or actions.

I feel we, as christian people, are not trusted to make good judgement calls in alignment with the WT teachings. Our actions are watched closely by the local elders and curious ones to report to the elders "to help us". At least this is the way it is here and has been for over 70 years.

As many things change in printing, many things stay the same in reality. Just another form of politics.

waiting