JW interpretation of bible

by osmosis 9 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  osmosis

  Say, for example, you ask a JW about the book of genesis, and about the seven days, we all know what they say, that it's in "god time" which means 1 day = 7000 years, by their reckoning. Does this particular argument have any validity? To me it seems like an "escape hatch", a tool to explain away what one could call certain "irregularities" in the bible.

  They seem to think they can cross-reference any one part of the bible with any other as serves their ideological agenda. I say, the bible has enough stuff in it to say just about anything you want to say with it.

  And what's with the new covenant? The stuff I've seen seems to say that JWs (along with many other similar cult groups) have had "grace" kept from them. In what doctrinal manner are JWs being denied the grace of the second covenant? They certainly show the symptoms of this, the paranoia, the legalism, the excessive quantites of rules to follow, the marginalization of jesus in favor of the borg, in fact many say they are not even really christian.. can someone explain this to me a little better?
• 

  Carmel

  How does one spell "s.n.a.k.e.o.i.l."?

  carmel
• 

  unclebruce

  April Kingdom Ministry snake oil: What to Say About the Magazines:

  "Isn’t there an endless amount of information available today? [Allow for response.] However, there is none more valuable than what is described in this text. [Read John 17:3.] This magazine explains what the term ‘everlasting life’ means and how we can obtain the knowledge that leads to it." The Watchtower Apr. 15

  Stand back while householder chucks

  Mary cleans up after a return visit:
• 

  osmosis

  LOL

  Ok, point made, maybe the JW doctrine isn't worth analyzing in and of itself, but keep in mind I'm trying to deprogram some loved ones, I need to know what's going on in their damaged minds.
• 

  Shazard

  When you are debating with them, you will notice, that on top of bible there is WT doctrine. And they mix and twist bible to fit this interpretation. Feature is that for basis of their "exegesis" they take such books as Proverbs 8, Revelation, Book of Daniel, Ezekiel etc. which are obviously not so clear and not very bright way to start interpretate Bible. But otherwise they can't. If they would take the base for Interpretation for example Gospel of John, they will never come to the conclusions they have. But this is exact rule of exegesis, you take very clear passages and apply them to not so clear with [b]SIMILAR[/b] context. JW does exactly oposite, they take some unclear passages (Proverbs 8) then they "make them clear" by applying some meanings of words from VERY different context, and wholala, you get your false base for false teaching. Typical example is interpretating John 1:1-18 using false analogies with Moses being "like god" to Pharaon. Contexts VERY different, Moses context is unclear compared to John 1:1-18. Actually John 1:1-18 is one of the cleares contexts which can be used to explain other regarding Christ's divinity. John itself says that his gospel is enough to get to know Jesus and come to faith and recieve everlasting life (John 20:30-31). 2 Cor 3 tells us about interperetation hierarchy. Old testament is UNDER New Testament interpretation. So real meaning you seek in New Testament and by this meaning you explain Old Testament. And that is wise, coz Old Testament speaks in riddles and unclear prophecies, but now when we know what exactly they were talking about we see them in new light - in light of Jesus Christ, so Jesus Christ is key for interpretation, not WT teaching
• 

  Kristofer

  like the explanation, Shazard!
• 

  osmosis

  thanks Shaz that makes a lot of sense. helps a lot.
• 

  Forscher

  The Watchtower interpretation has its roots in dispensationalism, a mainstay of the Advent movement and many Evangelical groups. The thought is that the Bible divides history into various ages, or dispensations, which are further subdivided into various era like the "patriarchal age", the Gospel age". etc.. I am not sure who first taught that idea, though it appears that Miller taught a form of it in the 1830s-40s. Most works I've read attribute it to the Evangelical movement and try to place its begining a little later with Moody and his associates.
  Forscher
• 

  Terry

  The Book of Mormon proves what can be done with an entirely invented myth.

  There is no limit.

  Whatever people WILL choose to regard as true will become for them TRUTH.

  Method is the excuse for believing.

  Interpretation consists of being surprised by your own presuppositions as they come out the other end.

  Jehovah's Witnesses eventually were driven to create their own bible: the New World Translation.

  It was presented as an improvement on existing reality of scripture.

  In reality it was the springboard for fresh myth.

  The mechanism of belief comes from the emotional and psychological needs of the believer.

  Myth is constantly recreated as the needs of society changes.

  Myth is how certain people view themselves.

  Only those who view themselves as outcasts in a world deserving of destruction would lend an ear to the folly which follows.

  T.
• 

  Abaddon

  One problem with their view of the Bible is, if you step outside their frame of reference, the god they worship was a bit of a bastard.

  Setting Adam and Eve up to lose by making them try to see if they can live without god (what their action supposedly meant, which they took when immortal) AND be mortal. Then, after the Flood, when mortal humans seem to be getting it together AGAIN god cheats. Ethnic cleansing, multiple genuscide (sic)?

  You want to worship that, even IF it IS god?

  Of course, the extrapolation of what sort of god their beliefs would require doesn't mean god IS like that, it's like someone banning a Suzzanne Vega record because of the lyric "I believe right now if I could I would swallow you whole" on the grounds it was about oral sex". A rather sick and extreme 'reading' of the text. Oh, the Suzzane Vega thing actually happened, QED.