Evacuated

I would like to add that inspired Bible writers revealed new things that had not before been mentioned. The spirit-directed Gov Body only explain or apply that which has already been wiritten. 

I don't think anyone can say who it came from originally. The seed of these ideas often comes from persons looking at a respected news source. They then think about what might attract attention. I listened to an actual interview on NPR with the person who created the news story that the Pope endorsed Trump. He at first denied that it was him, but then realized that he had truly been caught, and decided that it would be better to explain what he and his "company" does. It was simply for the purpose of making money. The more interesting the hook, the more people will share it, and more eyeballs mean more money. It turns out he has created hundreds of such stories. Not all of them pan out, and sometimes he uses test stories, and tries some out on platforms where no money is to be made, just as a test of how much interest they might pull in. 
This story strikes me as one of those like the Pope and Trump. It didn't have quite the potential for pulling interest from at least half the United States, but it had a chance to pull in quite a few. They are almost always built on partially true stories, ones in which someone could easily say, "Oh yeah, I heard something about that a week or so ago. And isn't it interesting that Trump did say that he wouldn't take in Muslims, but that he would be quick to accept Christian refugees. That fits. People should know this. I have to share it."
After I retired, about 4 years ago, I was talked into joining the new product marketing team for a major ISP, and I took it because I didn't have to go into the office more than once a month (and the office was out of state). But they paid for some seminars, and one of them was about how the most successful people sell product on the Internet. A set of "survivalist" sites were compared, and a very rich marketer gave a speech about how to sell to this group. He said, the first thing you have to remember is the motivation. Survivalists for example, are easy to scare. Just say, BOO! and they start running. But "BOO!" to them is a threat about the impending "end of the system." By this he meant the threat of a New World Order, Government Overreach, diminishing of "white rights" etc. He said that the biggest way to tap into all that right now (2013/2014) is to claim that "Obama is going to take away your guns." He showed the visiting stats and the sales stats for all the different marketing methods and slogans and key words, and he showed how much more successful this particular phrase worked with survivalists. It was really amazing. And he showed how fake news on the sites and Facebook pages that these persons are known to visit would enhance it. Fake news, he said, is always built on partially, or even almost totally true news, but with just enough "fear" factor in the spin to catch the interest, or to make your products more meaningful in the world you created with fake news. There did not have to be a direct link between the fake news and the product, but there was an indirect one. (Ironically, the man says that he and most of the people on his team were Obama supporters, despite the pro-NRA anti-Obama rhetoric in their fake news and advertisements.
But there is also the use of niche audiences that a lot of fake news is intended to capture attention from. There have been persons who have worked for organizations that spoke out against cults in the past (Scientology, Moonies, etc) who realized that they could change their tune and find a new audience of millions if they spoke out in support of these same groups. Speaking out in defense of cults turned them into legal consultants and authors with a new guaranteed group of buyers. This is not so different from those consultants who spoke out in favor of cigarettes, arctic drilling, fracking, etc. There was even a man who made himself famous for a while with videos about how paper garbage didn't break down in landfills, but showed how plastic containers crushed down to take up a lot less space. It's not directly related but I heard that even the author Christine King, changed a version of her book to remove the line referring to Rutherford early support of Hitler. This was after working with the Watch Tower Society during a time of peak publicity efforts by the Organization. I can only suppose this was because she now had a new audience of potential buyers. 
So sometimes, it's a matter of "follow the money." But sometimes it could just as easily be a JW who thinks it would bring attention to Witnesses by making up a story, or turning a story about someone else into a story about Witnesses. This happened in a recent circuit overseer's talk mentioned on this forum (about a spider and a cave). It probably happened when someone put a jw.org logo on J ackie C han, etc, etc. 
 
 
 
 
 
For what it's worth, I think you did absolutely the right thing. If you hadn't brought up the story, someone else would have. And it was great that it ended up getting exposed for what it was. 

Too true for the Russian Federation. BUT the WT Aug 2017 says:
Today, there are over 400,000 publishers in the countries that were once part of the Soviet Union! 
What Jehovah has accomplished already through Jesus in that window of freedom since 1991!

So what it boils down to is everyone is spirit-directed either by Jehovah or Satan. So by their fruits you can identify them. So the point would be who is the true religion. Its not rocket science. A Spirit-directed people by God would love each other in that they would not kill each other in war time {or any other time}. Whereas each of the religions mentioned above have all at one point killed when their respective country told them to do so even killing members of their own religion. That to me shows spirit direction from the first killer Satan their father. {Source : pretty much every book in the Bible}. Jn 13:35

They are indeed: 
"according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience" Eph.2:2

Yes that's it. It's not so much the quote, it's your question. I can't see a contradiction between being terming the Gov Body as spirit-directed, whilst they are not "inspired" (in the sense of 2Tim 3:16).
I mean if a traffic cop directs a vehicle, the driver may (or may not) follow those directions. He may not be aware of them, might misunderstand, or might even ignore them. Or he can follow them exactly. Whatever, the driver makes the choice and the outcome will confirm he made the right choice. 
I believe the Gov Body are spirit-directed in that they allow their deliberations to be guided by Jehovah's inspired word, look to Jehovah to guide their thinking where understanding needs clarification, and follow the spirit-inspired direction to preach the good news world-wide thus co working with Jehovahs angels. Their continuing good results in this indicates that they are indeed following the direction of Jehovah by means of his spirit. That seems to be the thinking behind the Feb 2017 WT quote above.
Now, if the traffic cop got into the vehicle and drove it himself, then that would be a different story. The vehicle would go the way he directs because he wiould be driving it. That illustrates being "inspired". The Gov Body are not like Bible writers who got it right even when they didn't understand what they were writing.
So for me, the wording of the baptism question remains valid.

Media confirmation:
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2017/apr/28/blog-posting/reports-trump-offered-asylum-russian-jehovahs-witn/

1946 Quebecs Burning Hate.pdf

1946 Quebecs Burning Hate.pdf

Interesting statement from Simon Shuster's 21/04/2017 report on Time.com is a clear update to this:
 "In an astounding victory for the Orthodox Church, Russia’s highest court ordered the “liquidation” of the local branch of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose missionary work the government had deemed “extremist,” in no small part because it posed a challenge to the teachings of the Orthodox clergy".
Source: http://time.com/4750396/vladimir-putin-orthodox-jehovah-witness-lenin-corpse/

Illuminating @bruceq
More illuminating @bruceq

Yes there is now a connection from the Pope to Kirill To Putin and Dvorkin and the anti-cultist apostates. WOW-- just to get rid of our tiny religion. Obviously our tiny "sect" is of no real threat to them but we are a very grave threat to the one who is behind the scenes like a puppet - master. Satan the Devil who is the "ruler of the World" and is out to get the True Religion. I do not see such an incredible culture of repression spanning decades against one peaceful religious group unless Satan was behind it all. Rev. 12:17 :" 17  "So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her offspring,  who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness concerning Jesus".

Illuminating @bruceq
More illuminating @bruceq

I have now traced all of this to 1992 when Kirill met with the Pope to eliminate Jehovah's Witnesses with Watchtower and another newspaper. as source:
The Archbishop Cannot Cope!
   LAST year, a consistory (solemn council of cardinals) was organized to discuss certain matters that are of great concern to the Catholic Church. One of these, according to the newspaper Il Sabato, is “the aggressiveness of the sects.” However, the newspaper said: “It should be no problem for the cardinals to reach agreement on this point. All are in accord that there is a need for a more in-depth study of the phenomenon of new religious movements and also a need to prevent, as far as possible, their expansion.”
Evidently, though, “the aggressiveness of the sects” is not just a problem in Italy. Il Sabato reports: “While visiting the Vatican recently, Archbishop Kirill of Smolensk [one of Russia’s oldest cities] . . . asked the pope for ecumenical aid in coping with the overwhelming growth of Jehovah’s Witnesses and similar groups in the Soviet Union.”

   In the first century, leaders of established religion had similar complaints when Christianity was spread aggressively by its adherents. On one occasion indignant Jews complained to the city rulers: “These men that have overturned the inhabited earth are present here also”! (Acts 17:6) Back then, religious leaders tried hard to stop the spread of Christianity, but they failed. Today also, any effort to stop the spread of true Christian doctrine is doomed to failure. God himself promises: “Any weapon whatever that will be formed against you will have no success, and any tongue at all that will rise up against you in the judgment you will condemn. This is the hereditary possession of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness is from me.”—Isaiah 54:17. SOURCE : 8/15/1992 WATCHTOWER
SEE UPDATED BEGINNING TO THIS THREAD

Eoin Joyce:
It is SO refreshing  every once in a great while to hear a well reasoned, coherent thought.
Thank You!
.
 

Risking accusations of semantic quibbling, I have to say that disassociation is just not the same as non-association (or formerly associated).
The term disassociate, or more commonly, dissociate, when applied to one's former affiliation to a group, seems to imply a formal separating or severing of a relationship formerly held, rather like a divorce. This might include publicly severing one's former connection with that group, perhaps going as far as formally renouncing aims and objectives once held in common. Or, perhaps, engaging in a practice so diametrically opposed to those aims and objectives as to indicate what may not have been verbally stated.
To drift away from association with a group, for whatever reason, be it cooling of common interest, personal preference, time contraints, or a particular unresolved grievance involving other group members, carries a far less antagonistic stance toward the group as a whole.
In any event, the former action, that of disassociation, whilst possibly preceded by the latter action, drifting away, has far more consideration and deliberation involved, a rejection of fundemental tenets perhaps once held dear, perhaps a militant stand against activity once zealously engaged in, an awareness of the dramatic change in relationship to the group subject to this action, and a recognition of consequences effecting the relationship the disassociatee might have formely enjoyed with those who choose to remain group members.
The latter, drifting away, is more focussed on one's personal preferences or activity schedule, and whilst there may be personality issues involved, the group as a whole is not "tarred with the same brush" as it were. Also, a denial of the groups validity does not take place. In fact, there may sometimes be expressions like " It just wasn't for me, I couldn't keep up with such and such (requirement or activity)", or "I know it is a good organisation on the whole but I just couldn't accept this or that (practice or person or experience)"
Thus it can be seen that the deliberate action of "disassociation" carries far more weighty and considered commitment than the shifting of goals and interests accompanying the process of "drifting away". Although both result in state of separation from former associates, the relationship resulting from either is entirely dissimilar. 

Trust no one, trust nothing
 

Yes it is a challenge. BUT..... if we're gonna use this medium.... then....we all need to up our game don't we? I mean, there's no lock that a man can make that a man can't pick......is there???  

You know, this is because they can't arrest our Leader can they? So they have to attack the organisation. I don't think they realise the significance of what they are doing at all. 
"So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her offspring, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness concerning Jesus" Rev 12:17
 
 

Interesting discussion, despite meandering off the original post. I suppose for me (in English), Jehovah doesn't need to plan. He has a purpose and it will be accomplished, regardless of any obstacle. That's what His name is all about.
He does provide frameworks to his intelligent servants on earth in order for them to work and share in acheiving His purpose. The population mandate, the plans for tabernacle and temple, the Law Covenant, the Christian mission, are just some examples, but He is not dependent on their success to acheive His own.
Men do need to plan in the sense of mapping a route to achieve an objective, which includes consideration and contingency. Even then, human purpose may still continue to be interrupted due to inadequacy, or unforseen circumstance, or even opposition. When these things occur, men can re-route, and/or even adjust their goal, but with no complete guarantee their (revised) plan will succeed in achieving that goal. Also, purpose unfulfilled could be not always because men plan to fail, but simply because they fail to plan.
Jehovah is not subject to any of these limitations. That is why He can say:
"So my word that goes out of my mouth will be. It will not return to me without results, But it will certainly accomplish whatever is my delight, And it will have sure success in what I send it to do." Isaiah 55:11

Even Miles Coverdale has the expression "eternall purpose" at Eph.3:11 along with many other English translations since, so perhaps longer?
This shouldn't really be a surprise. Didn't Jesus say of his disciples (as Miles puts it) "O ye fooles and slowe of hert to beleve all that the prophetes have spoke" Luke 24:25 (Principle of, of course).

@bruceq  "Has this been flagged as fake news?" Remember my comment soon after the original post was made? You acted very quickly to affirm this and well done to you.
I for one found all your press postings re background on the Russian trial of our brothers very useful and informative, especially those about Alexander Dvorkin's activity.
Such an emotive and contraversial a subject as that regarding the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia is bound to draw all sorts of attention from friend and foe alike. This will of course include that of the fake news mongers, who exploit the heightened interest in a sort of duping excercise that ranges in level from that of schoolboy prank to downright slanderous lies.
Here's an example of a photo used in fake news that duped many to believe it was a picture of our 2017 Russian mail campaign letters, when in fact it pictures a completely unrelated and much earlier mail out as the context reveals!
Don't let a few misunderstood remarks cause you to take offence and withdraw your contribution to the Forum!

Does the theme of these two paintings remind you of any thing????
They are from "The Augsburg Book of Miraculous Signs reveals a 16th Century society gripped by anxieties that we can relate to" in the book of Revelation. I just thought it interesting when I looked at the last post from Bible Speaks..........I happened to come across this when I was looking at the on-line digital BBC News, under Culture. 


PS. "Giant locusts swarm around a jagged aquamarine mountain. Great whales and strange beasts flounder amid stormy seas. Inky skies rain hailstones and blood. These bizarre and terrifying visions are found in the Augsburg Book of Miraculous Signs, also called the Book of Miracles. It is a beautifully illustrated manuscript created in the German city in the mid-16th Century but only recently discovered and now collected in a new edition, by Till-Holger Borchert and Joshua P Waterman."

@bruceq  "Has this been flagged as fake news?" Remember my comment soon after the original post was made? You acted very quickly to affirm this and well done to you.
I for one found all your press postings re background on the Russian trial of our brothers very useful and informative, especially those about Alexander Dvorkin's activity.
Such an emotive and contraversial a subject as that regarding the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia is bound to draw all sorts of attention from friend and foe alike. This will of course include that of the fake news mongers, who exploit the heightened interest in a sort of duping excercise that ranges in level from that of schoolboy prank to downright slanderous lies.
Here's an example of a photo used in fake news that duped many to believe it was a picture of our 2017 Russian mail campaign letters, when in fact it pictures a completely unrelated and much earlier mail out as the context reveals!
Don't let a few misunderstood remarks cause you to take offence and withdraw your contribution to the Forum!

@bruceq  "Has this been flagged as fake news?" Remember my comment soon after the original post was made? You acted very quickly to affirm this and well done to you.
I for one found all your press postings re background on the Russian trial of our brothers very useful and informative, especially those about Alexander Dvorkin's activity.
Such an emotive and contraversial a subject as that regarding the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia is bound to draw all sorts of attention from friend and foe alike. This will of course include that of the fake news mongers, who exploit the heightened interest in a sort of duping excercise that ranges in level from that of schoolboy prank to downright slanderous lies.
Here's an example of a photo used in fake news that duped many to believe it was a picture of our 2017 Russian mail campaign letters, when in fact it pictures a completely unrelated and much earlier mail out as the context reveals!
Don't let a few misunderstood remarks cause you to take offence and withdraw your contribution to the Forum!