Are We Missing the Bigger Picture??? (page 3)

daniel-p

I agree, Drew, that they are making this religion more generic and thus less appealing to everyone, as it addresses the issues of no one. They hardly ever get into the nitty-gritty prophetic interpretations anymore in the Watchtower. They have published the new prophetic books, Isaiah, Daniel, etc, but just in order to support some of their primary doctrines (1914, two witnesses, 1919, etc.) which if they changed would throw the entire canon of WT literature off.

Terry

Just wanted to say awsome post Terry, you hit the nail right on the head. That is what exactly what happened to me. They come to you with this amazing and unbelievable story that 'explains it all' and while you are in awe they suck you in and latch onto your ego. Know you know the secrets of the universre and are able to teach it to others.

Well said my good man, well said.

Yep, I was King of the World with the "bible knowledge" I had. In reality, I was just a young man who was wasting his best years of opportunity.

I could have been contender; I could have been sombody. Instead, I wasted my youth knocking doors with a one way ticket to Palookaville.

Terry

I agree that the rank and file have been exposed to books that purport to be about Isaiah, Daniel, the 12 minor prophets, and Revelation again but never in the style pre-1993. They are watered down, cut and paste, weak versions of the WT books of the past.

I think what you might be really saying is that they don't have a Fred Franz anymore!

SirNose586

Yes, I was noticing something like this too. There's an elder in the hall, a nice old man, who started congregations in Israel and in North Dakota. He loves to talk about WTS history (careful to be dismissive about 1975 and not mention any blunders, of course). One thing he made sure I understood...these folks nowadays "didn't study like we used to!"
"My dear brother, you should've seen the articles from the 50s and 60s. So chock full of rhetoric. It was very deep," he told me one time. "In fact, in the field ministry, you didn't have a good day until you had a knock-down, drag out fight with someone about the Trinity. We used to be so argumentative. Now if they won't listen, we just say 'Good day' and take our leave.
He told me about the anti-children stance in the 70s: "Back then, when our daughter was born, people looked at us with shock. 'My goodness,' they would say. 'Surely you can't be thinking of starting a family now?' And I would just say, 'Well brothers, this new elder arrangement is going to take some time to mature. I don't think we're going to have good elders until twenty years from now. So the end can't be in a few years.' "

Leolaia

jgnat....As I half-expected, the new Twelve Prophets book is actually a little lean on interpreting prophecy and is mostly geared to give didactic instruction on moral Christian living.

looking_glass

What's the deal w/ the spiral bound books. The JW headcase at work had one on her desk. I thought it was one of those 5 subject notebooks for school, but it was too small. I think the cover was "what the bible really teaches" or something to that effect. What caught me as funny was the book looked rather small to cover what the bible REALLY teaches. So it just might fit Drew's theory.

sass_my_frass

You're probably right, but I can't explain it and won't try to. Lately I've started thinking that the problems of anybody who remains in, are their own problems. I'm just glad I'm out. Everybody on the planet has to look after themselves; I'm just going to get on with living and put it behind me. That is, I do my bit for the community, but in my df'd status I'm not in a position to help any witnesses, so if I'm not good enough for them, they're on their own. I focus on the issues I have a hope of lending a hand to.

I'm sorry that you're not in a position to do that at this time, but I hope that you can start looking at other things to take your interest - you know, just quietly take up new activities. Trying to work out stuff like this is going to do your head in.

darth frosty

SIRNOSE those comments are exactly the same as what my mother used to say. especially towards the late 80's and 90's she would always talk about how the other sheep where incapable of running the organization the way the anointed did.

peacefulpete

I suspect its the result of two large factors. I suggest the gowing fad of Bible literalism in the USA actually makes the idea less atttractive to JWs who insist upon being unique. Secondly, as a once radical group they have evolved with time into the image of new converts, more skeptical of sensationism, more metropolitan, more culturally savy, shorter attention spans. Even with the WT makeover, the individuality is never completely supressed. Therefore as the world has changed they simply followed a few steps behind. New sects and cults that appeal to a small percentage will yet appear but if they survive long enough to have 4th and 5th generation members they will likewise become more like their larger communities.

Borgia

The revelation book has already been mentioned. To me the real last prophetic interpretation book was the security under the prince of peace book or however it is called in English.

I really studied every syllable of that book (late 80 book). Why? because it ha to do with the FDS being choosen in 1918 (without them knowing it themselves as I came to discover). I discussed snippets of it with others but to my dismay I found 2 responses:

1. Lack of understanding

2. Those who did understand did not care

Back then I could not get my head around the fact why they did not pay attention. It was the foundation, the corner stone of "our" organised religion.

Now the situation is not so different from back then. The same information but a few unbiased facts added. The same response....almost.

Now the suspision of being an apostate was added.

Drew, I see were you are coming from and I could not agree more. Reaping what has been sowed. When discussing prophesy or even whatever item with elders, and I mean not only those in my own cong, most of the time I only get watered down answers, wait on more revelation, be patient, we don´t have an answer or look it up in the literature attitude. Some, and I repeat, SOME, and search them with a flashlight, do have the ability, honesty and strength to think for themselves. As for the rest they seem to be a passive, "drowning in the GB indulgent" group of "zombies".

I know, I´m referring to my family in such words, but let´s face it. Scared to the bone to think outside the box. (OMG, you may be an apostate. ) Scripture here and a Scripture there and the light gets brighter. Brighter?

Well these items may be expected to be discussed again, again and again.....and again:

do more in the fieldservice

clean your house, your rather well stocked 4 doored car prevably a 9 seater van

appreciate the fieldservice more

obey those taking the lead

blood

fieldservice

porno

fieldservice

GB

porno

fieldservice

GB

fieldservice

blood

fieldservice

love your wife

obey those taking the lead

fulfill your ministry by doing more in the fieldservice

ehhhhhh, and now something completely different..........did I mention fieldservice, already? Cheers Borgia

Are We Missing the Bigger Picture???

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