HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF History Repeats Itself history repeats itself hist..

by Terry 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Terry

  1. Christian Puritan perfectionism is seen to fail to create heaven on earth in the mid 1800's.

  2.The Great Awakening in America is followed by Advent speculations that the end would be immiment.

  3.William Miller inspires a movement of Adventists who break with their own local churches in anticipation of Jesus' arrival.

  4.The work of the Adventists seems to be warning as many people as possible before 1843. The splits in local churches causes lasting enmity. A contrarian sense of "We'll show them we're right" is hardened into the character of the apostates.

  5.The Great Disappointment leaves perhaps 100,000 2nd Adventists stranded theologically between a no-show on Jesus' part and a "We told you so!" on the part of mainstream Christianity.

  6.Various theories and imaginative explanations pop up to support yet more anticipation of Jesus coming in 1844.

  7.Another "no-show"!

  8.2nd Adventists scramble to save their reputations, belief and integrity by inventing more reasons to stay away from mainstream churches while waiting for the "tarrying time" to end and Jesus to arrive.

  9.Diversionary beliefs of a contrarian nature send the argument off in other directions (away from the actual coming of Christ.) The Sabbath, immortality of the soul, hellfire, etc. become the new reason for staying away from the "Babylonish churches".

  10. C.T.Russell hears a 2nd Adventist message and buys up all the supporting materials he can lay his hand on and begins concocting yet another view!

  11.Russell fashions an amalgam of speculations, interpretations, ad hoc charts and pyramidology as "proof" that Jesus really did arrive "invisibly" and that the real Armageddon is coming in 1914.

  12.They cycle begins anew! Instead of rallying to warn people about 1843/44 the new date of special interest becomes 1914 as THE END.

  13.When 1914 creates a repeat of the Great Disappointment history repeats itself yet again.

  14.Russell starts revamping his explanations and rewording his old certainties. He dies.

  15.Judge Rutherford wrests the publishing corporation away from Russell's appointees.

  16.Rutherford continues the same game of depending on End Times speculations to hold the interest of the contrarians.

  17. Various diversions have been invented ever since to first focus on End Times and then divert from End Times toward policies, dogma and martyr behaviors.

  The more things change; the more they stay the same.
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  Gill

  Terry- Great List!

  I think History repeats itself because we don't actually live long enough for the average human being, who isn't really that clever and doesn't do much thinking, to realise what is happening and why?

  There's more than one mug born everyday. Infact there are thousands, all willing to be led by the nose and believe anything that is said to them.

  Thinking human beings are a rarity and don't always have as much control over society as they should. Some of those thinking human beings are totally selfish and use their thinking abilities to control the drones. Hence......history continues to repeat itself!
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  Quentin

  Great list...would make for a good public talk outline..
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  nvrgnbk

  Lovin' this stuff Terry.

  This is what really sealed the deal on my exit. Knowing that JWs are just one in a long line of relatively small, insignificant groups, yearning for Armageddon.

  Thanks!
• 

  Terry

  It all begins with disaffected people, really.

  People who don't fit in are the customers for schemes that make something exciting happen "soon".

  The majority of church goers are happy and grateful people. A small minority have problems, but; seek to solve them within the social milieu of the congregation. It is the fringe element who is the stray.

  A misfit needs a special identity that gives them the power to break away.

  The contrarian message reaches the heart and soul of the misfit.

  This was me. Once I was convinced I had a stronger message and could join a better power structure that welcomed odd people I jumped into the fire.

  Jehovah's Witnesses are already oddballs, outcasts, misfits, marginal citizens. They simply find a place where their sort is welcomed.

  The doctrine gives them confidence and, for the first time in their life; a SUPERIORITY over the mainstream.

  Being contrarian is the essential ingredient.

  The JW flip-flops recycle over and over in a never ending loop.

  This works by switching the focus from Date Certain to retrenching and consoldidating and disciplinary crackdowns.

  The leaders of this pack of Bozos are well aware that the misfit has NO PLACE TO GO where they are really going to fit in.

  The hardest transition for the EX_JW is from being an ACCEPTABLE misfit to just being a misfit again.
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  juni

  Hey Terry!

  I like your new avatar - you've come out of the shadows! hee heeeeee

  Yes, at the time of Russell there was the popular religious movement during that century of Armageddon-belief. The Russellites were no different than the other groups of the time. And then came along the "Judge" - god that guy was a tyrant. Bozos?? They all were..... And their "Bozoness" has lived on....unfortunately so many choose to follow.

  Here is a link to a Topic I made about that particular movement of the day. The Bible Students merely climbed on the bandwagon.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/133620/1.ashx

  Juni
• 

  zagor

  When 1914 creates a repeat of the Great Disappointment history repeats itself yet again.

  ...don't you just "love" wtbs ability to EXPLAIN AWAY any blunder in favorable terms. They all expected to be in heavens that year, when that didn't happen they had to look for what did happen. Just like this happen to be mine 1914 post. Hmmm, there's gotta be some significance in it....
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  Terry

  After awhile it isn't even about the explanation per se. It becomes about trust and being tested and not moving ahead of the organization and all that rot.

  Sad, really.
• 

  Dagney

  Terry,

  Great post...I think I'll keep the list with me at all times.

  Did you see the program on the Mormons on PBS? The beginning of THAT church is as crazy as anything EVER...yet people signed on. The program mentioned that as outlandish as Smith's story seemed, at that time, early 19th century, there were all sorts of prophets roaming the countryside with fantastic claims and ideas. So Smith didn't seem too wierd. (????)

  I think learning about that period in history, religiously speaking, will broaden one's viewpoint of Russell and the IBS...they were not that special. They picked the evangelizing work as their main focus, SDA and Mormons chose others...each resulted with significant growth.

  I very much identify with the following:

  People who don't fit in are the customers for schemes that make something exciting happen "soon".

  The majority of church goers are happy and grateful people. A small minority have problems, but; seek to solve them within the social milieu of the congregation. It is the fringe element who is the stray.

  A misfit needs a special identity that gives them the power to break away.

  The contrarian message reaches the heart and soul of the misfit.

  I have asked myself for years if I ever would have listened to the message given at my door by a JW...and I really don't think so. When I honestly look objectively at my parents, then and now, I see something was very wrong in their lives. Now I see the "JW religion" is like an addiction for my mother...and it could have easily been something else. Either way, she was/is trying to fill some hole in her soul. It is the "specialness" of it all that keeps them addicted.

  *sigh*
• 

  Terry

  I have asked myself for years if I ever would have listened to the message given at my door by a JW...and I really don't think so. When I honestly look objectively at my parents, then and now, I see something was very wrong in their lives. Now I see the "JW religion" is like an addiction for my mother...and it could have easily been something else. Either way, she was/is trying to fill some hole in her soul. It is the "specialness" of it all that keeps them addicted.

  Being shown attention is the key, I think.

  Somebody shows up and tells you that you are IMPORTANT enought to warrant their interest.

  You are INVITED somewhere.

  You are GREETED warmly and welcomed.

  You are allowed a breathtaking view of a social environment that is endless in its pleasant promises.

  You are given the best Father in the universe and plenty of "loving" brothers and sisters.

  The most important work is yours.

  Training is yours.

  If you've been an odd fit in other social settings this is astonishingly fertile soil in which to bloom

  At last "somebody appreciates me"!

  It is only later the insidious trap is sprung. The green pastures are quicksand; struggle too hard and you are in over your head!

  Who is there to pull you out? Nobody.