Posted by Chag [Chag] on November 16, 1999 at 18:53:36 {pRztWiaeuk/CPYT8orz2I2g0UxEvQY}:
In Reply to: *'We Need Jehovah's Org.' posted by Cygnus on November 16, 1999 at 12:39:04:
I don't think there's any question that many, many people do in fact "need" the organization for extremely basic reasons such as fellowship, commonality, reliability, easily accessible support, and aspirational goals and achievements. This is an elementary factor in what constitutes and maintains human social structures.
That's why I'm not so critical of guys like Stafford and Friend, and even Rick. I think they're wrong about much, and I think quite often they don't reflect the real identity of some JW communities. But they aren't evil, despotic cohorts in some wargame against all humanity who don't adhere to JWism. They do need the organization. We all need some organization or grouping.
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VERY well said. Belive it or not, this IS where I get fellowship period. I like it very much. The last time I stepped into a KH was exactly 20 years ago. I've not really made any close friends that understand me since. This board has helped me start to heal and it is all of you that help to do that. We do have a "need" here. At least I do anyway.
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Hopefully, someday the larger JW community will appreciate that some human beings, Christian or not, do not need the organization [any longer], and for benign and understandable reasons. Greg, Rick and Friend do appreciate that, which is why I appreciate them. If only Brooklyn would follow suit.
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I wish that would happen but I feel that if it does, it won't be in my time. I feel that the WBTS will really start to bear down on it's members regarding the internet to the extent where if one even has access to the internet, it will be a disfellowshipping offence. They will find a scripture to back it up and members will follow it out of guilt and fear...or lose their families and friends and be marked because of it. To have an ISP will probably be viewed the same as if you had Ray Franz book(s). That is what I see coming in the near future. The fear of losing the publishing company knows no boundries as far as I'm concerned. It all has to do with money...just like everything else. Money makes the world go round and if it slows or stops....no telling what some folks might do.
Chag