Anna

I did that too, just earlier, but got tired after I'd looked at about 8, lol. Needless to say, I saw no flags or flag poles. Some of the "Kingdom Halls" are in private homes I noticed on our website. I'd like to find the KH in question, but gave up too soon.... Nice to see you commenting again. Thought something had happened to you. I know, you can't even take a vacation right? P.S. I have a friend from Santiago, I will ask her if she knows anything.

I've seen the same one. It's funny, but certain anti JW websites will caption that as "Kingdom halls in Chile" and then post the same Kingdom hall from various angles.

You may have photos, but you don't know who put the flag there...do you? Makes me think the same group that took the pictures perhaps....?

You are all confused. Did God have a nation in the past? Yes, the house of Israel was God's nation. God's Kingdom on earth, with a fleshly king representing it. There was nothing idolatrous about that idea. But as you know, the nation of Israel was later rejected by God and as Jesus said to the Jews: "This is why I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits". This became the Christian congregation made up of not only anointed Jews (Israelites) but also anointed Gentiles. Hence, this new nation came to be known as "spiritual Israel", who with those not anointed (the other sheep) became one flock. 1 Pet. 2:9. JW.org is a website. The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses is the worldwide congregation of anointed and the other sheep. If you want to call it an organization there is nothing wrong with that, since it is organized to accomplish God's will on earth, which is the preaching of the Kingdom and making disciples: "Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” ( Matthew 28:18-20) This worldwide congregation is not lead or headed by a fleshly King like in Israelite times, nor any other human, but a heavenly king Jesus Christ. He is the head of the congregation. Matthew 23:10 There is nothing idolatrous about that arrangement, and giving support to it is not being idolatrous but it is supporting Jesus' arrangement. And again I repeat, jw.org is a website, it is not the Christian Congregation, but merely a modern aid to disseminating the Kingdom good news.

Most of them don't. Microblading is all the rage right now, and all the sister's eyebrows seem to look the same lately.

No, it doesn't symbolize anything. It advertises the website*. If you can see crosses and other "symbolism" in things that are not there, then that explains everything else you say. * which has been set up solely for the purpose of Bible education, with a small portion dedicated to JW news. Get with the times Witness. You are not still wearing 1st century fashion are you?

Yes they are.

Now you're getting ridiculous. Not every flag out there symbolizes a nation. Some flags advertise an organization, company, product or a cause. They are called advertising banners, and some are in the shape of a flag.

Ok, I agree there is more to it. As opposed to other organizations, this one also strives to be morally and spiritually clean. The apostle Paul said to remove, and have nothing to do with those who do things contrary to scripture. What even does shunning and disfellowshipping for rejecting the org. have to do with worshiping the org. ? You may need to revisit your understanding of what worship means. I do not see any relevance of your Rev. citation.

Come on James, it's just for the children. Nothing to do with marketing. When Caleb and Sophia came out I thought my kids were too old for it, so we never watched the cartoons or little videos. Now my kids are full grown. So what I am trying to say is our family has not really had much to do with that fictional family. Perhaps if my children had been younger, we may have been more involved. But regardless, kids grow up (real quick) so even if someone has had the pleasure of having Caleb and Sophia in their life, it's only temporary. After that, us adults like to get on with other things (hopefully). The only time I hear about Caleb and Sophia is when you bring it up on here. Honestly!

There you go again. No, the organization is there to get one from A to B and to preach the Kingdom. That's why it's an organization. or·gan·i·za·tion 1. an organized body of people with a particular purpose, especially a business, society, association, etc. 2. the action of organizing something.

You can post as many explanations as you like, but with your previous arguments about the supposed crosses I am of the impression that you are desperately looking for anything that signifies some dark intentions of the WT. And yet, if it wasn't for the org. you would most likely be holding the cross sacred today. From reading your extract from ancientpages.com I can still see that the inuksuk was not made for veneration but "is often venerated as symbolizing an ancestor". Two different things. I guess my point about humans finding anything to venerate was lost on you. Jehovah's Witnesses are not opposed to cultural heritage, and that is why the inuskuk is at the Canadian Bethel. I wouldn't read anymore into it than that.

Who knows, the CO might have felt the same....

Because the Buddha, gilded wooden cross, and statues of saints were made specifically for the purpose of veneration. It seems that the primary and original purpose of the inuksuk was navigational aids and not objects of veneration. But as with everything, humans who do not know the truth about Jehovah attach spiritual significance to just about anything they want. In India the cow becomes holy, for Christendom salt becomes holy (blessed salt), For Muslims a natural spring of water (the Zamzam well) becomes holy...etc. etc. The point is a cow is a cow, salt is salt, a spring is a spring. Just because people decide to turn something that originally had no such significance into something different, that’s their problem. The inuksuk has no such significance at the Canadian Bethel. It would be like saying we can’t use salt because some religion blesses it and makes it holy. Now it would be totally different if this item was made to have spiritual significance from its creation, like your aforementioned examples. But it is clear that the inuksuk originally had no such significance.

I see scriptures that support every idea mentioned.

That's OK. He's a bear.

They used to have the cross and the crown emblem as well, it's to the left of the same WT. The cross stood for Jesus's sacrifice and the crown symbolized the crown of life that the anointed would receive after death. As for the castle windows, as @James Thomas Rook Jr. says: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowslit

And if it's not, it gets lopped off. So leave it to Jehovah.

And you know why, because if you were into Caleb and Sophia that would be really weird, since you are an adult.

I don't think you have to suspect:

This is not a reply to you TTH, just general. What would someone do, anyone, if Moses came back, or Abraham? Of course I am not comparing members of the GB to those particular characters, what I am comparing is the aspect of fame due to the simple fact that they are known by a large number of people. To be known by many people means that as a rule you will be famous, whether you like it or not. That's all there is to it. What I do know is that members of the GB try their best to blend in where they can, and most Witnesses respect that. A few years back we had Br.Losch at out convention. Him and his wife sat just one row in front of us, with everyone else. After the session, he did not get inundated with friends trying to speak to him. In fact he was able to eat his lunch in peace, and even afterwards there was no commotion around him. On the other hand, as some have noticed, Br. Lett likes pictures with the br. and. sis. So what? Some people are more people persons than others...

Isn't an idol something you worship? Otherwise it's just sticks and stones in the shape of a man isn't it? Or firewood: "He plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow. Then it becomes fuel for a man to make fires. He takes part of it to warm himself; He builds a fire and bakes bread. But he also makes a god and worships it. He makes it into a carved image, and he bows down before it. Half of it he burns up in a fire With that half he roasts the meat that he eats, and he is satisfied. He also warms himself and says: “Ah! I am warm as I watch the fire. But the rest of it he makes into a god, into his carved image. He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says: “Save me, for you are my god.” They know nothing, they understand nothing,Because their eyes are sealed shut and they cannot see, And their heart has no insight. No one reflects in his heart Or has knowledge or understanding, saying: “Half of it I burned up in a fire, And on its coals I baked bread and roasted meat to eat. Should I, then, make the rest of it into a detestable thing? Should I worship a block of wood from a tree?”” Isaiah 44: 15-19

If they are based on the Bible then yes.

Actually, these things are not secret, any publisher can read about them in various publications. ("Organized to do Jehovah's Will" and WT articles.).

Exactly!