Posted by AF [AF] on October 24, 1999 at 21:00:17 {f8eW6hUOe21EwaxRomAMdaOt1gg/Zk}:
In Reply to: **"We won't be coming..." posted by Duncan on October 24, 1999 at 15:58:22:
: I guess the truth of it is, there was back then - probably still is now - a kind of two-tier doctrine structure: a "written-down truth" and a "word-of-mouth truth", which often went way beyond the official Watchtower teachings, were useful in motivational purposes for the rank-and-file, but of course were subsequently deniable by the Society.
You got that right! This theme reoccurs in several areas besides the "straight" doctrines. JWs are taught be word of mouth to burn "demonized" objects, but you won't find that in any recent literature. The COs and DOs and elders receive plenty of material that gets highly filtered before it gets to the R&F. The various Bethels run on a two-tier system much like what exists in China. There's one set of rules "on paper" and another set by which most everything actually runs. The funny thing is that on paper, the real system is often illegal because it involves bribes and other dishonest acts. So the Chinese must learn to cope with what is supposed to be real and what is actually real. This is much like the JW claim that WTS leaders are not inspired.
One of my favorite quotes that has this flavor is this:
[The War Office kept three sets of figures:] one to mislead the public, another to mislead the Cabinet, and the third to mislead itself. -- Alistair Horne, Price of Glory
: Even as I write, I am reminded of an occasion - late in 74, when I was a pioneer and we had a new, young dynamic C.O. assigned to us. This guy could obviously see which way the wind was blowing, ...
: I know that flies in the face of what Ray Franz says in his book about the brothers in Brooklyn Bethel believing it right up to the end, but still, it happened like that where I was. And it certainly had its effect in damping down expectation right at the end of 74, going into 75.
I have no doubt that local exceptions to the rule were made. In the area where I spent my time back then, the expectation gradually died away after about 1972 or so, and hardly anyone talked about 1975 when it finally rolled around. But I remember vividly Nathan Knorr's last big assembly talk at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City. He kept the expectation rolling along, and unless the man was a complete cynic it sure seemed that he was sincere in saying that, even though there were only a few months left to the year 1975 (the talk was given in August, I believe), all sorts of things could happen and we could well see 'the end'. From that and other information from folks who knew Knorr, Fred Franz and others back then, they certainly appeared to believe right up to the end of 1975 that major things could happen. Apparently they were hoping that things would turn out like they did in 1914, when supposedly no one was expecting a war, and then all of a sudden WWI broke out.
: This mind control stuff is tricky business...
It sure is. I still don't have it down pat.
AF