Arauna

Just a point of interest.  Islam countries have made inroads into UN. Woman's rights and human rights council are now run by Islamic countries who vote each other in..... things have changed.
The jew-hate in the UN and EU countries is a direct result of Islamic influence. Quran and Hadith stipulates that all Jews will be killed.  Hence the incomprehensible radical left and Islam's love affair - pushed by UN.

Excellent point as always. The answer is the same as that given Srecko. Make volunteer work illegal. Those volunteer fire departments? Tell them to let the houses burn. Those volunteers at the hospitals? Tell those lazy patients to get themselves out of traction and take care of their own needs. Those volunteers during every election? Free them! Tell Trump and Sanders to knock on doors and present their own case.
The purpose of life is to accumulate money. How can people do that if they are giving away their work? Free them from being manipulated. Let no  one do anything without a paycheck.
I made a normal one, too. What we need is a Department of Volunteer Monitoring so that any volunteering can be run by you for your approval or not. I suggest they will all be quickly approved except that concerning JWs

Moreover, the hundreds of volunteer workers, most of them young people, were exposed to what they had never been exposed to be—antique restoration work. Many made use of it in their later secular employment—thus saving state vocational and worker displacement & retraining services—trust me, there are a ton of them in the states—oodles of money. Such agencies gave Witnesses high praise for doing their work for them. It is all in the secret files that you can’t see.
 

Implication False!  The apostles are in heaven already - received immortality. The GB are mortal men who act as a slave - do their masters bidding to preach the word and give food at proper time in the last days. This is their commission. 

That is positive side of that, for that young people. To learn some skills and get experience and knowledge. No one has nothing against that. 
Second part of my response you know .... :)))

Are you for real?  I am starting to doubt if it is really worth wasting time to reason with you on this. You have made up your mind what GBs motives were and decided there are thousands upon thousands of "victims" strewn all over. .... the exaggeration and accusation has no limits.... 

Same here.  And that will also get criticism because some set themselves up as jury and judge in high supreme court.

Same here.  And that will also get criticism because some set themselves up as jury and judge in high supreme court.

According to God's Word, they have adulterated the teachings of Christ and the apostles.  To apply "sacred" to a  building is idolatry, let alone to a corporation by calling it "spirit-directed".   No doubt JWs would admit that Catholics are idolaters:
"Whether you've been in a church many times or are new to its sights, sounds, smells and bells, knowing the rich meaning and history behind our sacred spaces and symbols can help us appreciate and deepen our faith. Churches reflect the communities who built them and the times and circumstances in which they are used. No two churches are alike, but each sacred space is used to celebrate the same Mass with our fellow Catholics.   https://www.catholicextension.org/camp-catholic/sacred-spaces-symbols
Somehow the point is missed when it comes to the organization.   Since Christ, can you tell me of any incident in the scriptures that describes a building OR earthly organization as "sacred" and approved by God?  Acts 7:24,25,29-31
 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Does the GB need to repent for creating idols?  Do the Catholics?
 
 

Lol. He said Jesus had no place of his own so JWs are not doing it right by buying or renting places. .... that was his implication.... 
He must not judge if he is living in a rented space. Lol 
Some will always find something to critisize......sigh....

Isn’t there some verse somewhere about crazed animals who hurtled over the precipice?

Come on now John, I am beginning to think you are losing your understanding of the definition of worship....

Stop paying the rent then 😀

You are really a control freak. They bought it for one purpose and years later sold it because it was no longer needed. You ascribe motives to them which you cannot prove.  You expect them to really sit on it when they can sell it?   Even if they sold it at a profit - they can build umpteen kingdom halls in africa for the money they got. That is called wise and discreet - not greediness or avarice.
When you feel like hammering something - everything looks like a nail.

I think you should sell give your home away, and go and live in a cardboard box under a bridge. 

You are really a control freak. They bought it for one purpose and years later sold it because it was no longer needed. You ascribe motives to them which you cannot prove.  You expect them to really sit on it when they can sell it?   Even if they sold it at a profit - they can build umpteen kingdom halls in africa for the money they got. That is called wise and discreet - not greediness or avarice.
When you feel like hammering something - everything looks like a nail.

They don't speak of themselves as much as you do. The Witnesses out in the door to door ministry or the public display of literature ministry this day have seen the scriptures pertaining to morality and the proper understanding of those verses written in the magazines, books and public talks given at Kingdom Halls and convention halls and at jw.org. They have taken this information to billions of people who have witnessed the teachings and wisdom in obeying God. The articles promote the family and sanctity of marriage. Child abuse and adultery occur when a selfish individual seeks to satisfy ungodly desires. What is the solution? Separate the unrepentant selfish from your midst while showing support in helping the victims keep their spiritual relationship with God. This is the primary goal, while we await God's intervention.
Without question Jehovah's Witnesses are doing the Expressed Will of God as written at Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10. Jesus taught those who would OBEY him to go door to door, street after street,city by city,country by country preaching and declaring "the Good News of God's Kingdom".
That Kingdom rule will have One Standard toward everyone on the Earth below: Is the person acting in a loving way toward God and neighbor. Then there will be no complainers, where did they go? Jehovah sent the Christ with the entire 144,000 and many angels to tear them from the Earth. See Proverbs 2:22 and Matthew 13:36-43. What will make the time after Armageddon so great? Jehovah will have read the heart of everyone, those not knowing Him or those ignoring Him and His desire for mankind will be separated from their families forever!
The ultimate in disfellowshipping will be accomplished by God, millions will object for a second or two, but is God doing the right thing? Is it right to separate everyone not obeying God's Standards from the Earth so that Unity and Peace and Security can be enjoyed by those remaining? 
Moses sister Miriam, complained about Moses' wife, what did Jehovah do? He separated her from the congregation for a week,why? Because He disliked her attitude toward the one He chose to lead His Nation. That time gave Miriam time to meditate on what she had done and that faith in God's direction was lacking in her.
After that, the Law Given by God separated wrong doers from their families, it was an arrangement of God.
We live during a time of rebellion, Jehovah gave this time to show that neither Satan or Man can produce happiness for everyone as He had done for eons before a liar arose. The angels in Heaven needed to see the dreadful conditions that result when life that has consciousness of God and His principles, ignore those. In their wisdom, they permanently disfellowshipped the angels complaining about the Christ and his rule in heaven and earth. Next, the same will occur on Earth."Let Your Kingdom Come"
 
 

Isn’t anything sold for that reason?
Yes. Make it illegal to volunteer for anything. Those volunteer ambulance departments? Make them illegal. Tell no one to budge unless someone puts a check in their hand.
Oh, very well, you idiot. Go buy your house for full price—even over price. Write letters to the editor to voice your outrage at those who buy fixer-uppers.

Yes. And always always always the point of attack for rebels will be the divine/human interface. It was true with Miriam as you pointed out. It was true with the early Christian congregation. It was even true regarding Judas. He and God were tight—they were no problems there! But that fellow who claimed to be the messiah was not at all what Judas had been expecting. Judas has scoped it out for 3 years and concluded that he did not fit the bill at all.

Totally off topic here, but I guess everyone has got bored with the Montana case.....
Reading the comments to the Stanley theater article, there was a reply to one poster who had similar sentiments to "Witness" and "4jah2me".
I couldn't have said it better myself so I am taking the liberty to just copy and paste it here:
"When something is sacred that means that it is viewed as being holy, clean or pure, and should be. So what things are considered holy, or sacred, clean and pure? Well, anything that Jehovah views as such. This includes his name – Jehovah, Jesus and the ransom, God’s laws, our kingdom hope, the Bible, the marriage union and the family, Christian meetings/gatherings, the anointed still on earth are likened to a “holy temple”, physical and moral cleanliness, baptism, worship, responsibilities within the Congregation, God’s people including the anointed, prayer, our relationship with Jehovah, his holy spirit, our ministry, and yes, even our places of worship (not an exhaustive list, mind you).
Indeed, in Biblical times a place (and even days, objects, animals, produce, festivals, etc…) were made holy by the presence of Jehovah; for instance the account of the burning bush or the tabernacle courtyard, or even the camp of Israel was to be kept clean because “Jehovah your God is walking about within your camp” and “your camp must prove to be holy”. Now, was Jehovah actually there? No, of course not, but his holy spirit was. In the same way, places of worship, such as the Assembly hall can be considered sacred because of God’s spirit being upon the people and what it’s being used for.
As for idol worship, Witnesses do not worship any building. Witnesses do not pray to or through a building. Witnesses do not love buildings of worship above Jehovah. Do Witnesses love to have a place of worship? Of course but not in the sense of veneration! Loving a location in itself is not wrong (remember to be balanced) and we love having any place where pure worship is. Do Witnesses want to make sure that they give the best to Jehovah? Of course! We want to magnify and glorify our God with the very best we can, not for show, but for his name. So having a building that gives glory to God at all times is a precious thing. In fact, the temple Solomon built was dedicated to Jehovah, as are all Witness buildings used for worship or in connection with the outworking of God’s purpose. Israelite’s/Hebrews also built temples which brought glory to God and were places of pure worship. Though, places of worship don’t have to be as beautifully restored and detailed as Stanley is. They should, however, maintain a dignified and clean appearance no matter where they are.
The following are sober reminders for all in this time of the end,  – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 2 Timothy 2:16-19,23-25; 4:1-5,7; 6:20; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Matthew 24:5,11,24; 1 John 2:18,19"
Proof?
 

You’re just upset because you practice “Buy high, sell low” and they don’t.
There was a certain amount of protest from the malcontents of the time about building ornate palaces. The brothers weren’t having any of it. They weren’t building anything, they pointed out—they were restoring what was already there. In so doing, they brought an architectural jewel brought to life and received considerable praise from the local community. It had fallen into neglect and disrepair. A few more years and the wrecking ball would have claimed it. 
‘Don’t witness to any visitors,’ the tour guides were told. ‘Let the building be the witness.’ They acquired a fine meeting place for a song and a bit of elbow grease. The brothers were happy. The community was happy. Everyone was happy except you and Witness.

@TrueTomHarley proves his lack of love and respect for God and Christ by each and every comment he makes. Tom you are so well trained / brainwashed by the GB and it's Org. 
Quote Mr Harley " It so happens that the “thing of the world” under discussion is the building that they meet in "
BUT IT WASN'T. It was a wreck that needed millions spent on it, and should have been pulled down. 
It is only the worship of such buildings that make people waste time and money on them. So because your GB & Co worshipped that building, hundreds of naive congregants worked hard on it to restore it, for no pay. But when your GB sell it, who gets the money ? None of those congregants will get a dime.  
Were those congregants told it would bring praise to God ? Could those congregants not see that it was just a showy display of GB / JW Org wealth through donations.  It does not bring praise to God by any sincere worshipper of God. It is just a showy building. It was originally built as a showy building by people 'of the world'. The building has not changed.  It is just real estate for the GB to play with and make money from. 
 

You sound like a total control freak..... since when did Jesus say one cannot sell a place for whatever reason. The only thing one burns and do not give away or sell is an object for idolatry or spiritism..... such as spiritistic books or something that will be venerated.

I'm so glad you mention this. I'm feeling guilty for having abandoned the 1914 topic for the child molestation topic, and now here, the Babylon topic. I'm being tossed about like waves, and totally distracted. By the time I get around to coming to the forum, 20 new comments have piled up on top of the one comment I really wanted to respond to, and mentally saved till later, and now, lo and behold, more stuff! Not only more comments in one topic but more new posts. Don't get me wrong, I would hate for things to get stagnant, but there is only so much time one has to peel back the layers of comments to get to the one you really wanted to reply to. I am still trying to get back to JWI on the 1914 topic! Pity we don't get paid for this....
@The Librarian I wonder, is there away where each individual member could flag comments of choice? And that way it would be easier to find and reply to at a later time?

Jesus gave them signs to recognize when the Roman's would be there in the holy place.......they had to be aware of the first Roman invasion to know they must flee before the second invasion would come..... but both if you believe we must not look at signs...... it is all spiritual...
Just take the first one : Babylon the great -  I researched it years ago.  
Read book if Hosea - I quote just  a verses from Hosea 1 & 2:
" Jehovah said to Ho·seʹa: “Go, marry a woman of prostitution and have children of prostitution, because by prostitution the land has turned completely away from following Jehovah."  (Then jehovah speaks of Israel as his wife who was not faithful to him).
Hosea 2: "Accuse your mother; accuse her,For she is not my wife and I am not her husband. She should remove her prostitution from herselfAnd her adultery from between her breasts," 
And to her sons I will not show mercy,For they are the sons of prostitution.  5 For their mother has committed prostitution.She who was pregnant with them has acted shamefully, for she said,‘I will go after my passionate lovers,
 
Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my first husband,For I was better off at that time than I am now.’  8 She did not recognize that it was I who had given her the grain, the new wine, and the oil,And I who had given her silver in abundanceAnd gold, which they used for Baʹal
I will put an end to all her joy,Her festivals, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her festive seasons.
will hold an accounting against her for the days when she offered sacrifices to the Baʹal images,When she would adorn herself with her rings and ornaments and would chase after her passionate lovers,And I was the one she forgot,’ declares Jehovah
 
From the above scriptures it is clear that Israel committed religious prostitution. She was supposed to represent the true God (be faithful to jehovah like a wife to a husband) but went after lovers.
In Revelation 17 we see a great prostitute who says she represents God but also has lovers, amongst others - the kings of the earth.  This, marriage between religion and politics started in ancient Babylon. 
There are many places in the bible that a  prostitute symbolises those who profess to represent God but are like a prostitute. 
So what about this can you not accept?