JOHN BUTLER

The 'Watchtower' is just a magazine. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is :-
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization[4] headquartered in Warwick, New York. It is the main legal entity used worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses to direct, administer and disseminate doctrines for the group and is often referred to by members of the denomination simply as "the Society". It is the parent organization of a number of Watch Tower subsidiaries, including the Watchtower Society of New York and International Bible Students Association.[5][6] The number of voting shareholders of the corporation is limited to between 300 and 500 "mature, active and faithful" male Jehovah's Witnesses.[7] About 5800 Jehovah's Witnesses provide voluntary unpaid labour, as members of a religious order, in three large Watch Tower Society facilities in New York;[8] nearly 15,000 other members of the order work at the Watch Tower Society's other facilities worldwide.[8][9][10
The Governing Body of the CCJW are the ones that GOVERN, GIVE ORDERS, MAKE RULES, CONTROL PEOPLE.  
I suppose that is why you always use the 'Watchtower' not the GB or JW Organisation. Using the word 'Watchtower' is a cop out, as the Watchtower is just a magazine, not a human. 
And your point about my local government has no meaning, because my local government will not 'disfellowship me' nor will it stop hundreds, well thousands, of people talking to me. 
You know why i left, it was because of the large amount of CHILD ABUSE Earthwide within the JW organisation, caused by the GB and Elders in the JW Org. No confusion there. 

Quote : " It appears by this statement that a corporation like “Walmart” runs the lives of its employees".   Yes Walmart does run the lives of it's employers whilst they are being paid to work at Walmart. That is quite obvious. It would be do the work or get out. And there would be rules as to manner of clothing, lunch breaks, smoke breaks, language used, and much more. 
Quote : "It appears the United Kingdom runs every aspect of its citizens' personal life."  The government of the UK does run people's lives, via the local councils, the police force, the Laws passed in parliament,  etc... Once again that is obvious. They even have spy cameras everywhere. Speed cameras on every main road. They even know when a vehicle enters London if it should not be there.  They know what everyone is earning, they know how much pension everyone is getting that has retired. They have full rights, it seems, to come into your home and check on your computer, check your bank accounts,  check your Paypal account, etc ... And yes i do know as it's happened to me. They even go around, what we call, car boot sales, and check registration numbers, to see which people are making a living by selling things at car boot sales. Yep, the government have control and they let us know it..... 
So it is with the Governing Body of JW Org. The GB make the rules. The GB rule over the congregants, via management, down to the policemen, oh sorry Elders. The Elders lord it over the congregations, because they know that the congregants, well most of them, are frightened of being disfellowshipped. The Elders do not show love to the congregation, they rule over them. 
Quote : "That has “nothing” what’s so ever to do with what the sheep do in its personal life" . Now that is funny.  So why all the fuss about a man and a woman spending time together in a house ?  And then accusing them of fornication without any witnesses. 
Why are congregants frightened to talk to ones that have left the Org ?  Fear of getting caught. 
The elders seem to have spies out watching people. Unless you think the angels are reporting congregants to the Elders. 
You, Kid, are in denial. Or you are blind. And there are none so blind as those that do not want to see.  

The 'Watchtower' is just a magazine. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is :-
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization[4] headquartered in Warwick, New York. It is the main legal entity used worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses to direct, administer and disseminate doctrines for the group and is often referred to by members of the denomination simply as "the Society". It is the parent organization of a number of Watch Tower subsidiaries, including the Watchtower Society of New York and International Bible Students Association.[5][6] The number of voting shareholders of the corporation is limited to between 300 and 500 "mature, active and faithful" male Jehovah's Witnesses.[7] About 5800 Jehovah's Witnesses provide voluntary unpaid labour, as members of a religious order, in three large Watch Tower Society facilities in New York;[8] nearly 15,000 other members of the order work at the Watch Tower Society's other facilities worldwide.[8][9][10
The Governing Body of the CCJW are the ones that GOVERN, GIVE ORDERS, MAKE RULES, CONTROL PEOPLE.  
I suppose that is why you always use the 'Watchtower' not the GB or JW Organisation. Using the word 'Watchtower' is a cop out, as the Watchtower is just a magazine, not a human. 
And your point about my local government has no meaning, because my local government will not 'disfellowship me' nor will it stop hundreds, well thousands, of people talking to me. 
You know why i left, it was because of the large amount of CHILD ABUSE Earthwide within the JW organisation, caused by the GB and Elders in the JW Org. No confusion there. 

Quote : " It appears by this statement that a corporation like “Walmart” runs the lives of its employees".   Yes Walmart does run the lives of it's employers whilst they are being paid to work at Walmart. That is quite obvious. It would be do the work or get out. And there would be rules as to manner of clothing, lunch breaks, smoke breaks, language used, and much more. 
Quote : "It appears the United Kingdom runs every aspect of its citizens' personal life."  The government of the UK does run people's lives, via the local councils, the police force, the Laws passed in parliament,  etc... Once again that is obvious. They even have spy cameras everywhere. Speed cameras on every main road. They even know when a vehicle enters London if it should not be there.  They know what everyone is earning, they know how much pension everyone is getting that has retired. They have full rights, it seems, to come into your home and check on your computer, check your bank accounts,  check your Paypal account, etc ... And yes i do know as it's happened to me. They even go around, what we call, car boot sales, and check registration numbers, to see which people are making a living by selling things at car boot sales. Yep, the government have control and they let us know it..... 
So it is with the Governing Body of JW Org. The GB make the rules. The GB rule over the congregants, via management, down to the policemen, oh sorry Elders. The Elders lord it over the congregations, because they know that the congregants, well most of them, are frightened of being disfellowshipped. The Elders do not show love to the congregation, they rule over them. 
Quote : "That has “nothing” what’s so ever to do with what the sheep do in its personal life" . Now that is funny.  So why all the fuss about a man and a woman spending time together in a house ?  And then accusing them of fornication without any witnesses. 
Why are congregants frightened to talk to ones that have left the Org ?  Fear of getting caught. 
The elders seem to have spies out watching people. Unless you think the angels are reporting congregants to the Elders. 
You, Kid, are in denial. Or you are blind. And there are none so blind as those that do not want to see.  

The 'Watchtower' is just a magazine. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is :-
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization[4] headquartered in Warwick, New York. It is the main legal entity used worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses to direct, administer and disseminate doctrines for the group and is often referred to by members of the denomination simply as "the Society". It is the parent organization of a number of Watch Tower subsidiaries, including the Watchtower Society of New York and International Bible Students Association.[5][6] The number of voting shareholders of the corporation is limited to between 300 and 500 "mature, active and faithful" male Jehovah's Witnesses.[7] About 5800 Jehovah's Witnesses provide voluntary unpaid labour, as members of a religious order, in three large Watch Tower Society facilities in New York;[8] nearly 15,000 other members of the order work at the Watch Tower Society's other facilities worldwide.[8][9][10
The Governing Body of the CCJW are the ones that GOVERN, GIVE ORDERS, MAKE RULES, CONTROL PEOPLE.  
I suppose that is why you always use the 'Watchtower' not the GB or JW Organisation. Using the word 'Watchtower' is a cop out, as the Watchtower is just a magazine, not a human. 
And your point about my local government has no meaning, because my local government will not 'disfellowship me' nor will it stop hundreds, well thousands, of people talking to me. 
You know why i left, it was because of the large amount of CHILD ABUSE Earthwide within the JW organisation, caused by the GB and Elders in the JW Org. No confusion there. 

Your conclusion Billy is not correct :))
14 GOVERNING BODY
The Governing Body is the group of men with the heavenly hope who are used by God to direct the work of his people. In the first century, Jehovah used a governing body to guide the early Christian congregation in their worship and their preaching work. (Acts 15:2) Today, the group of brothers who serve as the Governing Body take the lead in directing, guiding, and protecting God’s people. When these brothers make decisions, they rely on guidance from God’s Word and his holy spirit. Jesus spoke of this group of anointed men as “the faithful and discreet slave.”—Matthew 24:45-47. - source https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102017578#h=74:0-76:25
 
GOVERNING meaning - source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/governing
-having the power to govern a country or an organization
-having a controlling influence on something
-the management or control of the activities of a particular country,region, or organization:
 

@Srecko Sostar   Srecko, your words are true. Of course we can express our feelings in words and it is not blasphemy. 
And in my opinion the scriptures were written for the Anointed, we are just the other sheep, not of that fold.  So again in my opinion only the Anointed can blaspheme against the Holy Spirit as they have a special relationship with God. 
Much more is therefore expected of the Anointed.  Matthew 5 v 45 
" so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, .... "
The sons are the ones with that special inheritance, the Anointed 
Matthew 5 v 48  You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
As for me I an neither anointed or perfect, so I'm sure God understands my shortcomings. Is this the same with you ? 

There are some things I've noticed in myself, or in others, as well as many things I've come to realize when having conversations with other ExJWs, that many of us seem to struggle with. I thought I would make a brainstorm some of the things I can think of off the top of my head, and see how many of you can relate.
Ghosting - We're f***ing pros at this.
Cutting people off and never or rarely ever thinking about them again. Sometimes cutting people off for small reasons, other times because of a disagreement that in an otherwise healthy relationship would have been talked out and moved on from.
Bonding - I've noticed a lot of us have issues making and maintaining strong connections with others. At first I thought this was just a product of my dysfunctional family, but I think it has more to do with the fact that we had to be ready to end relationships at the drop of a dime, so that there was always a figurative perforated line in whatever bond we had made with other JWs.
Coldheartedness - Again, the ghosting and cutting off and lack of bonding issues. But also the fact that we believed worldly people would be killed in Armageddon and many JWs couldn't wait for that day to arrive. Also, having to be willing to cut off your own children, siblings, parents, etc. makes for a fairly stone cold heart.
Circular reasoning and conversation - I had to learn to stop doing this, and I still see it in some ExJWs
Twisting people's words - That's one I still see at times as well.
Foot in mouth syndrome - Lacking tact and making offensive comments because that kind of behavior was normal around JWs, and you didn't realize how weird certain things were until you left.
Catastrophic Thinking - Always imagining the worst that could happen. Even when you fantasize it ends negatively because everything was always going to come to an end, and that idea seeped into every other aspect of your life.
Having trouble dating out in "the world" because you've always been made to view "worldly" people as inferior and in a subtle way, as dirty.
Sexual repression - Feeling like having multiple partners will taint you. Or just have any negative feelings towards sex at all, that are not related to experiences with sexual abuse.
Misogyny and believing in male superiority - Sad to say that I think this may be one of the hardest ones to shed, not just for male ExJWs, but for women as well. This is one that wouldn't necessarily feel bad to men, in fact I think many may hold on to this because it is the foundation of their confidence, and without it they may not know how to feel confident, so I can see why some haven't shed this. As for women, being raised to be meek, quiet, agreeable, and to have a poor sense of self and low self esteem, keeps a lot of women from speaking up and standing up to men as well, and it often leads to them dismissing these behaviors and enabling them.
Ignoring, and dismissing social issues that do not personally affect them - This one reminds me of how JWs will mail letters to Russia in their own defense, and how the Watchtower only helps their own during natural disasters. I think it is also affected by the fact that so many JWs were taught to ignore the intricacies of social issues. Yes, treat women well, but we won't go into detail as to what that really means. Don't be racist, but we won't dissect all of the little ways that people can be racist. Treat children well, but let's not discuss the fact that we expose children to emotional manipulation, physical abuse and constantly instill fear in them from the time they are born.
Redirecting their reverence for and blind loyalty for the GB to ExJW activists, and therefore excusing their abusive behavior as well, because they're doing so much for the cause. Sound familiar?
via Redo_Undo

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
I personally have never and will never do a black Friday shopping spree. But I don't think it's become a day of worship. Satan wants the world to think that and many of them do. But if a Christian shops on black Friday for the glory of themselves or someone else instead of God, or goes crazy and gets mean and nasty, then that Christian will be accountable to God for their actions and heart condition. But shopping at a store on black Friday doesn't disqualify someone from the love of God or means their impending destruction at Armageddon. If that would be the case I would be in deep doodoo because I shopped on Friday. And I celebrated the 327th day thanking God for all I have with my beautiful girlfriend and her beautiful girls.

Is it inappropriate for a Christian to participate in Black Friday?
Only if the Christian is white. Or Asian.

@Srecko Sostar   Srecko, your words are true. Of course we can express our feelings in words and it is not blasphemy. 
And in my opinion the scriptures were written for the Anointed, we are just the other sheep, not of that fold.  So again in my opinion only the Anointed can blaspheme against the Holy Spirit as they have a special relationship with God. 
Much more is therefore expected of the Anointed.  Matthew 5 v 45 
" so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, .... "
The sons are the ones with that special inheritance, the Anointed 
Matthew 5 v 48  You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
As for me I an neither anointed or perfect, so I'm sure God understands my shortcomings. Is this the same with you ? 

????
Please, where is boarder line when one thing stops and another coming?? Is such line existing or is that area including (not only black/white protocols, rules, paragraphs, list of blaspheme emotions, list of blaspheme thoughts, list of blaspheme words and list of blaspheme deeds) more than we think we know about it? 
I think how our decision to not say a word about such crucial things in our life, about Us and Him and what we feel and think about some thing or about all things, that make us feel this way or another, is suppressing the core problem of/in our life, and about our relation to God and people too .   

I see no blasphemy, only disappointment and confusion. You are the second one using this idea of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. 
Trying to frighten people is not God's way of doing things. Showing love and compassion is God's way.  Of course JW's would not know, they only know strict rules from the GB and the fear of being disfellowshipped. 

Oh I'm so glad I'm an Englishman in England. Not proud to be English, just happy to have been born here and live here.  And living in the countryside Black Friday means nothing to me. My wife and i went to view an 'in house' auction yesterday, which we would do any day. It's so nice to have a simple life. 

Spot on! Bingo! Good point. I've always felt the same way about treating one day as all others vs treating one day as more important than others.
(Romans 14:5) . . .One man judges one day as above another; another judges one day the same as all others;. . . But not so much worse than the way Black Friday has already intruded on Thanksgiving dinners by starting it at 5:00pm on Thursday and going until 1AM, so that our local "Best Buy" didn't open up again until 8AM on Friday. (Which also reminds me that "Best Buy" was playing Christmas music for persons on hold as early as October 30th this year.)

Looks to me like JW's have anti -holidays, so it's just as bad.  I've known JW's that will not eat a roast dinner on 25th December because they are frightened it will look like a Christmas dinner.   
As for pushing for a special effort on a stupid day, well it seems like a way of actually celebrating that day to me. It's like saying they know that day is special to people. 
And the Christmas day door to door witnessing is not a good thing. It's intrusive and rude. It's not wanted by people outside the JW org.  I did it once just to prove that i wasn't scared to do it, but it does not show love to people, it's just being 'pushy' to the extreme. 
 

Oh dear. Do Americans actually tell lies then ?  Oh yes of course, the Governing Body of JW Org do. 
As for Christmas, take a look in the 'God's Kingdom Rules' book. Pages 101 & 102
In 1883 the W/t knew Christmas was wrong, but they all, including the Brooklyn Bethel, kept celebrating Christmas until 1926.
Over 40 years of deliberate sin........... Yet how quick they are to disfellowship folks now.  Hypocrisy at its best. . 

JW.ORG SPECIAL OFFERT FOR BLACK FRIDAY:
IF YOU GET BAPTISED BEFORE MIDNIGHT, 50% OF ETERNAL LIFE MORE
DO NOT MISS IT

In one old manner of behavior (Job and God question answer, sort of "polemical" conversation) we can ask Almighty God also this;
Dear God you have all Love, Wisdom and Power and you also teaching people to do good and to love other people. In fact your inspirational words are: "Therefore, whoever knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin."
I do not understand and i am very disappointed and confused, when looking at You and see your passive attitude toward all pain, injustice, suffering of every creature on Earth. Your servant James told something about it, but I do not get why he told something like this? You announced person as guilty of sin if not doing right thing if he knows. Even knowledge is enough to be guilty. But many times people have no power and wisdom and they can not do it. Maybe because of fear too. But You, as God, You are not as earthly man.....????? 

Interesting and weird in same time. JW not celebrate "holidays", in fact all kind of holidays. JW have not any holidays, not participate in religious or worldly colored celebrations.  
 They "celebrate" only one thing. Death of Christ. How can people celebrate death? With One Hour (or less) of sitting and listening in KH.
On other side this same God likes celebrating very much. He made a special instruction how to celebrate. WT publications explaining, for example, this: 
  The distinguishing mark of the Festival of Booths, the primary nature of it, was joyful thanksgiving. Jehovah’s desire was that his people should rejoice in him. “You must rejoice before Jehovah your God.”
During this festival the number of sacrifices offered was greater than at any other festival of the year. The national sacrifice, starting with 13 bulls on the first day and diminishing one each day, totaled 70 bulls sacrificed, besides 119 lambs, rams, and goats, in addition to the grain and wine offerings. During the week, thousands of individual offerings would also be made by the attenders. (Nu 29:12-34, 39) On the eighth day, on which no laborious work could be done, a bull, a ram, and seven male lambs a year old were presented as a burnt offering, along with grain and drink offerings, as well as a goat as a sin offering.—Nu 29:35-38. - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001505#h=6
Past Holidays of "the only true religion" aka Old Israel Nation,  was including enormous amount of material things, slaughtering, blood, food to eat etc. And in all this things, every person "must rejoice" before God. I do not know how about you, but for me it will be very strange, uncomfortable to participate in all this commanded rejoicing, meat and maybe food overeating.
Today, "the only true religion" aka WT-JW, going to another extreme. They rejecting ALL holidays as official religious standard. JW religion even consider how Sunday's ice-cream after KH gathering is unnecessary joy, the questionable celebration for JW children. Why? Perhaps because it is kind of selfishness? Body weakness? Worldly custom?
Or, it is all about money!! If you spend your money for celebration in your home (or out side home) with your family and friends, then WT will receive less money, because you have spent your money on yourself not on them.  :))
 

Best not to judge one against another.  I have no favourite singers at all, only sounds that i like. 
I like the sounds of people's voices and/or groups/bands. But i have no interest in the person/people.
To me it's a bit like a bus driver or shopkeeper. Musicians do a job like anyone else. If you like the sound, if it makes you dance or makes you feel happy then it's that sound, either the voice or the music, not the person... Unless you are a screaming teenager of course, but that is just some sort of crazy hero worship. 

I was determined to carefully consider all the things posted above, but I fell asleep, and woke up with reverse keyboard imprints on my forehead, and drool on the table top, and a series of "y"s in a file, about a half million characters long... I guess.
It all boils down to "How credible are the opinions of those who know, or PRETEND to know the answers about ANY subject."
Fairy tales from a theologian can be almost always dismissed without even thinking ... but fairy tales from a genuine Fairy ... wings and all ... you probably want to pay more close attention.
1.)  How many times has whatever counselor you have been RIGHT in the past?
2.)  How many times has whatever counselor you have been WRONG in the past?
Would you put on a parachute this person has packed ... and jump out of an airplane, after he has asked you to leave your wallet with him?
I remember a prayer "Please God, save me from those people with the very best of intentions who try to rule my life, as right or wrong ... they intend to be rulers of my life!"
People with the very best of intentions have ruined more lives than invading armies, as they believe they have the blessings of God, and after they totally screw up your life, still have a free and clear conscience, knowing absolutely that the fault was yours.

The more you read up on Dylan, the more intriguing he becomes. Though THE counter-culture icon of the 60s, he writes that he was never into it. He wrote those type of songs because they sold. He knew he had to break into the business somehow, and here was a sure point of entry:
https://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/2011/05/bob-dylan-triggers-journalistic-wrath-in-beijing.html
(Wow, was I wordy. The relevant part doesn’t begin until halfway through)
 

They are fully content waiting to enter paradise.
No, they are fully content believing the lies of the GB and Elders. It means they don't have to think for themselves.

My apologies JTR 
Quote : "I hope Jehovah God, and the people whose lives we ruin because of our adamant cultural fantasies, will forgive us, for screwing up their lives, and condemning them to a lifetime of isolation,  of loneliness, and of unnecessary fear and paranoia."
Your words sir.