[SeekingWisdom]

It's good to be here, thanks for the welcome.

I am personally not critiquing the website, I am just merely stating my observations and providing a possible insight as to why the LC members may not want to post here. I could also be way off.

For me, I normally do not get involved with online discussion forums. I think there is some inertia to become involved in something like a forum. People tend to just lurk anonymously rather than contribute because it takes a bit of effort.

I don't look for "Amens" or confirming words. Nor do I avoid critiquing, I welcome it. So if anything I say is inaccurate, do point it out please.

Now to address some of the issues that @aron pointed out.

I believe that WL mishandled the financial matters and that is probably an understatement. I see it as something that is quite scandalous because WL is a figure of great influence. I do not think that anyone should involve the church for personal financial ventures. From what I have observed, it seemed like WL had become commercially minded with the excuse of being pragmatic/practical. And he downplayed the matter, or at the very least in his mind, it was a matter of little significance; just a minor hiccup.

If you have read the transcript (from the call concerning Daystar) and even the way the brothers speak to and how they refer to WL, shows they had a deep respect for WL. Along with their great appreciation for what WL has seemingly done for them, they were willing to probably overlook or remain ignorant to the situation. Probably easier for the brothers that were not directly involved with the matter. To give an analogy, I guess you can imagine someone that you hold to the highest regard, with much respect, ends up doing something questionable. Would you not be somewhat reluctant to address this problem. Would you not hope that it was simply a misunderstanding or something that could not be helped (unforeseeable risk). From the transcript, you can tell the brother was desperately hoping that WL would either admit the mistake or just be transparent. Now I am not justifying the actions of overlooking the issue. Just providing may be a new perspective.

Concerning the one publication work. Yes there is a conflict of interest. Members are free to read from other sources but it is repeated again and again that you will be wasting your time. That WL and WN has already done the work and have extracted the "cream of the crop" from the wide selection of Christian books so no need to look further. Not all members have this view, but this is the widely accept view concerning reading from other sources.

Now from my point of view, I consider LSM and the local churches to be separate entities. And I hope that one day, there would be a proper separation. We get statements like LSM is just a publication office but obviously it has been integrated deeply into the LC, especially in the bigger localities.

One of the bigger problems that I have faced recently is the fact that people, and unfortunately those that are in influential positions have a tendency of speaking with inaccuracies. What I mean is that they say things that they don't actually mean. So misunderstandings are common. I understand we can make a mistake in our speaking but saints that are teaching others or speaking in a position of influence should be careful with how they handle they truth and how they convey it. Sometimes some of the trainers sacrifice the accuracy of the truth they are trying to convey for the sake of making a point which may not even be that relevant. (P.s. this is a problem in the LC that I am facing).

I am not too sure what you were trying to get at with "humankind were perfected" comment. If you could elaborate/clarify it would be much appreciated.

And yes, there are inconsistencies in the ministry books. I acknowledge that. So as I said, I only take what I think is valuable.