Although Jehovah’s Witnesses did not participate in the conference, they too are interested in the environment. Hundreds of them were involved in a special campaign in Paris to share their Bible-based hope of living on a pollution-free planet....that Jehovah’s Witnesses twice received a rating of Four Green Globes from the Green Building Initiative for their commitment to environmentally sustainable building design and construction for two new buildings at the Witnesses’ United States branch facilities in Wallkill, New York. - https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/ministry/sharing-bible-based-hope-cop21/

In 2011, Daniel Asamoah, a Circuit Overseer of Jehovah's Witness, had this to say about the topic of global warming, as reported by Ghana Web: "The Earth is running a fever; man cuts trees indiscriminately, there is loss of fertile agricultural land, toxic waste introduced into the environment, global warming, deforestation, oil spillages. One day, very soon God's Kingdom will come and interrupt, solve these problems and give us lasting relief."  - https://www.newsmax.com/fastfeatures/christian-global-warming-religion-climate-change/2015/05/06/id/642823/

Jehovah’s Witnesses stand out as an outlier, advocating for environmental action... - https://ncse.com/blog/2015/05/evolution-environment-religion-0016359
 

In article: The Earth Has a “Fever”—Is There a Cure? - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2008647  NOTHING is said that JW people actively contributing in effort to less pollution  of Earth. Just prayer for Kingdom.

Here we see how JW people generally stay on PREACHING about climate in connection to Their Hope. Building two buildings in US with donated money not shows global JW efforts and commitment to contribute in active programs made by scientist about this issue. 

JW people often emphasize how old Israelite's were all educated and could read and write and nations around them are less educated. Question. What levels of education have existed at that time in the nation of Israel. Just to know read and write? Or, what was equivalent for education, in their time, we called today high school and university? 

Did elders of Israel congregation teaching young people /male and female/  not to educate self more in various knowledge's, that is not only spiritual aka religious? Did they talking to people; Israel Nation and State and Country is just temporary here on Earth, God will destroy all on Earth, so why to loosing your time in seeking for "worldly" knowledge, even inside Israel Land Boarders?  :)) 

For a contrary, they believed  how they will stay there Forever and have Kingdom Forever.

"The best sign of truth is simplicity and clarity, the lie is always intricate, tawdry and eloquent." - Tolstoy

"The lie does not kill with the mallet, but it runs through blood vessels like poison, slowly and cautiously, so it does not even notice how it works" - Ivan Cankar

9 hours ago, Indiana said:

Andrzej Oniszczuk

Is his nationality by birth as Polish above his Personal choice of belonging to Nationality of People of Jehovah's Witnesses? 

9 hours ago, Indiana said:

Prison authorities prohibit Oniszczuk from lying down for 15 hours during the day, withhold the Bible and allow showers only once a week, the spokesman said.

This is normal for prison and prisoners. I went through the same conditions and have no complain about it. My choice, my endure, my punishment. Prison authority just worked their job.

9 hours ago, Indiana said:

He said Polish diplomats were “finally” allowed to visit and assist the EU citizen despite Oniszczuk’s initial signature “under duress” to refuse visits from embassy staff.

??? and what is main problem here. "Under duress" he signed? or Embassy staff was disappointed for not have visited him in first place? Again, JW brother is in negate state for all "Worldly Governments", Russian and Polish as well. As member of Kingdom Nation, Andrzej is not depending on "worldly" people help.   

Stay brave and endure!

8 hours ago, Anna said:

Actually, the elder I mentioned previously has had a beard for many, many years, while an elder, well before 2015.

Ohh, than i can see this as an rare exception of the global, general rule on issue. :)) 

11 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

the Book of Creation

Yeah, and in this Book is a law too, that one creature must kill another creature to survive.

17 minutes ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

I felt closer to God being out in the woodlands today,

Nature is great. 

30 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

theocratic hallucinations

for the first time heard this expression, very good, thanks!

12 hours ago, JW Insider said:

But if other anointed persons decided to merely set a good example of "shining as illuminators" among the same brotherhood in which they were called, do you think it would be wrong for them to remain in the state they were called?

4 hours ago, Witness said:

My conscience would not allow me to re-enter a faulty operation of error.

4 hours ago, Witness said:

To remain in the “same state in which you were called “(1 Cor 7:20) doesn’t apply to remaining where false teachings exist because that is not something God, Jesus or the apostles taught us to do.  1 Cor 10:21,22; Ps 26:4 

Job 14:4 King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. .......perhaps only God can do this? Question is, would He using for such task; some of JW, some of Waking JW, some of ex-JW, some of Elders? .... and so on.

Dear JW Insider, to set good example and shining - with good, proper, kind, truthful and loving deeds and words are necessary  in all and every thing in our life. But would that be enough, would that be possible in Environment of JW Society and their Culture how to deal with Different even Opposite?  

Perhaps spirit of God can give such strength to some individual to Stay and to Survive in Such State, in such Organization. But...?!  Recall Elijah 1 Kings 19. Israel people want to kill him because of his shinning. Is it different in "Spiritual Israel" today? Some JW made suicide, some was cut off socially/spiritually from other JW by Elders Judicial Judgement and suffer. Not me, i not suffer, because i decided to left. I suffer in other ways :)) 

3 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Oscar Oxgoad

is not an idiot. Only used right tool to show to other Ox's how things are and looks if you standing on other side of fence.

Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

Perhaps Oscar, you spoke about, was/will save somebody life too. :))

10 hours ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

In one account, a group of Chilean youths stormed the KH, took down the JW.org flag and replaced it with a Chilean flag.

JW org flag replaced with Chilean flag ..............and all that was happened in Chile Land not in JW Land ? :))

It seems that these youths forgot how KH is in fact  Embassy of Foreign Country and have Their Own Flag on Their Own Territory inside Chilean State. 

11 hours ago, Anna said:

If this fact, then the WT really needs to revisit the definition of conscience!

In my opinion, many things about "conscience" are problematic and causing questions. If it was original idea from God, when created human, to give to them that "conscience" as reliable instrument for making correct thoughts and deeds in ones life, than this have to be Unique thing and Only way for people how to live the life. 

In the meantime, from first days of human until now, we built empire of laws and rules, commands and similar. Why? To regulate people life in some society. By this we silently agree with conclusion how human conscience is not proper Divine instrument which is adequate to resolve things in mutual dealings, interactions between people. Even JHVH contribute to list of Law about what is forbidden and what is obligated. By such events, "freedom of conscience" was came under power of Ideology (Doctrine) described in The Law. 

Similar situation is also in JWORG. It can't be different. Idea of conscience in Society is in that range too. You can/may have your conscience, but your conscience have to be Trained and Guided by Bible Principles. What are Bible Principles? We (GBFDS) are authorized to explain you how looks and what are Bible Principles. So, your conscience are not any more Divine Instrument given by God, but Learned Behavior in particular group, society. Even in theoretically, religiously given explanation given to "worldly people" how you reject blood, flag salute, military service etc. because of your "Bible trained conscience" that is not as it was said that way. Because, here we have Ideology Law, Doctrine as fundamental stone mark for your choice. Your conscience as private belonging is submitted to One Idea (religious, political, social...).  

In such circumstances (rough, hard, under pressure) it is not our Conscience that giving Resistance, but our Knowledge about issue and/or our Membership to particular ideology or group.

This Chile information's about Society and Conscience Matter are explainable in this frame of how society working and modeling or remodeling members conscience, builds and crashes ideology.

11 hours ago, JW Insider said:

I asked about why he thought an inconsistent policy would be encouraged. His answer to that question was what really seemed more disconcerting:

"Because if some congregations do and some don't, the government will see that this is a matter of conscience, and will realize that they [local JWs] aren't being ordered to handle the matter one way or another [based on a directive] from the [Watch Tower] Society."

I didn't have the heart to point out that this is a strange way to prove that something is really a matter of conscience.

If it is said in this way, it is not so surprising to be true. Some "clever" (read - spirit guided) individual/s from (??? HQ, Chile Betel, ...or somewhere else) found the new way how to run "theocratic warfare strategy". Inventive idea, for sure, but revealing to all of us, how deep some people are ready to go in manipulative behavior. 

Lies are untruths told for selfish reasons and which work injury to others. Satan told a lie to Eve that worked great harm to her and all the human race. Ananias and Sapphira told lies for selfish reasons. But hiding the truth, which he is not entitled to know, from an enemy does not harm him, especially when he would use such information to harm others who are innocent...The only way they can fulfill the command to preach the good news of God’s kingdom is by use of theocratic war strategy. By underground methods....Today God’s servants are engaged in a warfare, a spiritual, theocratic warfare, a warfare ordered by God against wicked spirit forces and against false teachings. God’s servants are sent forth as sheep among wolves and therefore need to exercise the extreme caution of serpents so as to protect properly the interests of God’s kingdom committed to them. At all times they must be very careful not to divulge any information to the enemy that he could use to hamper the preaching work. - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1957327

10 hours ago, Anna said:

I guess it's because of this Sept 2016 WT

Yes Anna, probably "wind of change" introduce new view on beard issue. So, "my truth" about it till the 2015, the year of my leaving JW,  was true also. :))

13 minutes ago, Anna said:

it's a difficult situation and you make some valid points. What I do know is that congregations are not "policed" from HQ but that each congregation has some relative autonomy, depending on local practices and customs of the country they are in. A typical example is that of beards. It is the elders as a body, who decide whether brothers with beards will be given privileges or not, not HQ. Also, one of the reasons the CO visits every 6 months is to make sure that the congregation is happy, and that the elders are not "lording it over the flock". There are congregations that are thriving and doing very well, and then others that are not. There are reasons behind that. And those reasons will be made known to the CO. (By either some elder, who does not agree with some decision, or publishers). Let's say for example that the elders decided it's ok to fly a flag, but most in the congregation are upset about it. So some publishers move away, or stop going, or stop answering, or stop field service etc....The CO will detect the spirit of the congregation and will see something is wrong.   The CO knows one important thing that all elders must do, and that is consider the congregation's spiritual interests first. As shepherds, they must treat the flock with care. So when the CO comes back in 6 months, and the congregation is the same or worse, then the CO knows things did not get resolved and some further action has to be taken.

It is known to me too how congregations (read elders) in the same town have different views about same things. Wearing suits or not in summer time, long or short shirt sleeve, organized excursions to the assembly or nothing similar, whether the party is organized in a private house or brothers and sister would like to rent some place, beard you mentioned is mostly forbidden in every cong., or if you (not you but some bro :))) want to have it such person is almost less then sister,because sister can have presentation on stage, beard man not. Wearing a beard, for example, was/is in fact doctrinal matter,not just  local, folkloric issue,  because that was mentioned in study editions of Wt magazine and similar internal publication for week meetings. I just have unproven assumption how this issue was from Russel - Rutherford period. And dragging it to this days. 

Flag issue was raised to highly doctrinal matter because of significance for  Neutrality Issue. And it is General Issue and not just Local Elders Dilemma. In this i have little different view than You. If elders by decision they made stumble congregant or more than one it is too long for waiting 6 or more months to solve matter. Bible say "before sun went down" aka sunset :))) 

42 minutes ago, Anna said:

That is one way of doing it. But the elders should know their flock well, and they should know how individuals feel. And I can tell you, if someone complains (about an important matter) then the elders WILL know about it. (Unless they are blind and deaf).

:)))))) too many of them are blind and deaf and mute, only humans but on powerful position. Haha, complains comes to their ears because of whistlers.

Thanks for correspondence. 

38 minutes ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

Let’s face it Srecko, just like in Russia, anything can happen in a country run by communism. This is why I don’t need to show evidence to make a point.

You gave strong evidence of your inside attitude and standpoint. Must be neutrality issue reasoning.

4 minutes ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

anything can happen in a country run by communism.

Fine explanation for sure. You are anti communist but not anti capitalist ? :))

3 hours ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

For one, some videos show someone recording insider the KH, private property. If someone is trespassing, what makes it impossible to think a trespasser can't prop up a flag and record it. Other videos show the flag inside the hall while there are no occupants. Once again, if someone gained access to the building, it wouldn’t be hard to prop up a flag on a window and then record it.

Ok Billy, if this scenario is working in your imagination i have nothing against. But, give evidence that Elders Body of particular KH report this "trespassing" and "unauthorized access to building" to Secular Authority or at least that they have documents that such vandalism was happened. Because that would exactly been the case if your Explanation is true. 

But take in consideration how Elders Body in LACK of TWO WITNESSES perhaps would DROP the CASE in JHVH hand to resolve issue with flag and not want to involve Police in  this the mysterious appearance of the flag.

hehe :))

6 hours ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

the Watchtower has a translating department, and when given the task, they submit a letter on their native tongue

As far as i know, all written materials (read dissemination of "spiritual food" and Instructions Letters as well) from HQ in USA  to all other Bethels around the world are in English language. Why? Because every Bethel in some country that cover one or several language territory, has own Translation Department or at least Volunteers who Translate from English to domestic language. Zagreb Bethel has Translation Department too and I Personally know many Bro and Sis from Past Time to This Time who served and serving in TRANSLATION FROM ENGLISH TOO CROATIAN language.

Billy, Billy :))))))))  

1 hour ago, Anna said:

They are the ones who put it up. As for the publishers, they just go inside the building. Although I wouldn't agree with it, it wouldn't bother my conscience. In any case, when deciding somethIng like this, the elders will take into account the conscience of others, usually. 

Thanks for respond and expressed thoughts.  

I am aware that about some issues, elder body bring that in front congregation (and suggesting expected outcome too) and about some other they alone making decision as in this question. So we can ask question: what kind of arrangement is in Congregation, Is it Hierarchy by Position and Duties, Is it Democracy with votes, Is it Theocracy and God's spirit is power who guide personal and collective decision on some higher level , or is it something else?

I ask this, because some issues in congregation are handled exactly by Votes of all baptized congregants. In the same time there is also questions that is matter of interest for all members but elders body not making matter public, to make Resolution, but they push own decision. This i see as discrepancy and intended changing of rules of those who have power when they see  it is in their "interest" or if they perhaps not have "faith" in members.    

In last sentence you mentioned how they will take in account conscience of others. This is possible to found or to get to know by; Voting system or by Referendum or by some sort of Survey. 

Letter from HQ say nothing about this, but put on elders body exclusivity to decide. Well again, what sort of system is Congregation? Religious/democracy shape where people sometimes have privilege to vote and sometimes they don't? Management established by WT HQ in Elders body structure? Theocratic structure where all persons making unite decision UNDER lead of holy spirit?  Or something else?  

Letter explained how Collective Conscience of Elders make Decision to Put or Not to Put Flag on KH in Chile. 

So, nobody asked Bro and Sis of particular congregation? Interesting. No Resolution regard Flag?

But Collective Conscience of Elders is Imperative?

This makes old-new aspect on JWORG. Who and what RUN your decisions? Your Natural/Artificial Conscience?  JW Collective Conscience? Elders Body Conscience? GB Conscience? WT Lawyers Conscience? ....and similar. 

Found this letter to elders. Is it fake?

11 hours ago, Equivocation said:

Did you not read what I said, Frida?

Please behave yourself !! My name is Srecko Sostar. If you not change your arrogance and stop calling me with name/s that is/are not mine i will report you to people who run this forum! OK?

Perhaps larger font and different color helps more ....)))) 

Please behave yourself !! My name is Srecko Sostar. If you not change your arrogance and stop calling me with name/s that is/are not mine i will report you to people who run this forum! OK?

You will be fined 240,000 pesos (about 352 US dollars) if you don't put the Chilean flag in a visible place. || Independence Day - https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/9h4zzx/you_will_be_fined_240000_pesos_about_352_us/

WT decided not to pay cca $ 352 but asking from members not to stand up while national anthem is playing. Double standards?

11 hours ago, BillyTheKid46 said:

the Catholic opposers breaking into a Chilean Kingdom Hall to display a Chilean flag

???? when that happened please

Or you confused, opposers breaking into, with law fines if they not put flag on building?