Generation - Prep for bigger change?????

by The Scotsman 54 Replies latest jw friends

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  OnTheWayOut

  AK-Jeff said:

  2. Newer Jw's were never as enamored with 1914 as those of us who were born before 1960 or so. So these, who are now increasingly making up the mass of the organization, couldn't really care less anyway.

  That may be true. As I looked around the hall, so few people cared about abandoning the 1914 Generation.

  But as for me, the generation was important. If I were still an active believing witness, changing the meaning of 1914
  would be a deal-breaker. Like many, I joined because the end was so close in the 1980's. It made sense that my life
  was a mess. Sure, it was a mess, since Satan was about to face Armageddon. He was mad. When they removed
  part of my understanding that it was so close, I started to question things.

  There will be a large exit when they monkey with doctrine, but I suppose they don't have a choice and want to get the
  damage-control out of the way.
• 

  oompa

  OTWO:

  There will be a large exit when they monkey with doctrine, but I suppose they don't have a choice and want to get the
  damage-control out of the way.

  You would think so, but no mass exit from 1995 when we waved bye-bye to the gen of 1914 being a real gen. I so wish I had walked then as I know this made sense to many JW's.

  what will it take....oompa
• 

  llbh

  Hi coco, can i refer to you as that? Fred Franz is a wtbs hero, for them to refute his statement about this generation would mean that he, or they did not have the full understanding, or worse apostate! Checkmate I think - for what it is worth.

  llbh
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  AK - Jeff

  That may be true. As I looked around the hall, so few people cared about abandoning the 1914 Generation.

  My point precisely. I was in a car group of pioneers during the week that Watchtower came out. I opened mine and read parts that seemed unbelievable to me at the time - while the entire group yawned indifference. During the public study of the material, I was robustly interested in seeing what others thought - all I saw was robotic nods and comments. No real interest at all. It just didn't mean anything to most of these young people at all.

  It did to me -and I believe it did to many of my age group. We had spent our lives telling others how important this 'prophecy' was, now only to have our words erased as lies in 12 paragraphs. I solidly believe that the overriding pattern of belief by Jw's today is not that the WTS has anything right - but that they are God's organization. Period. Of course there is the tie in to 1919. It is foundational. But how many Jw's under the age of let's say 40 today could actually tell you about that lynchpin doctrine? Not many I would think.

  Even if the doctrine of 'Selection' is entirely refuted - which is has been of course in very scholarly fashion in the past - this does not move Jw's. They simply believe they have the truth no matter what. The 1914 date has become, IMHO, nothing less than a full embarrassment to them. Even the most deluded see that it makes little sense today. It's time is past for effective recruiting.

  Jeff
• 

  journey-on

  AK - JEFF

  They do not have "ears to hear" nor "eyes to see". They turn a deaf ear and a blind eye and follow man's doctrine no matter what.
• 

  NewYork44M

  We are looking at the "generation" thing from the perspective that it once was a core doctrine. That was pre 1995. Now it is a nothing doctrine. A change is a nothing doctrine is essentially meaningless. I dont see the big change in what has been presented.
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  oompa

  when is the last time there was even an article about it??? kids are getting dunked that dont have a CLUE!....oompa.....like a one hit wonder
• 

  NewYork44M

  Oompa, that is the strategy. Keep silent about something for long enough and everyone will forget. or will be new enough to not know. This will be the strategy for 1914. Soon, it will be removed from any articles and will be a forgotten remenant of the history of the org.
• 

  Quandry

  just wonder though, is their a tipping point, when so much has changed in the belief system that significant doubt starts to filter throughout the org!!

  As others stated, when the "new light" about 1914 was "explained away" I also sat in amazement watching those around me in the KHall. No one seemed to notice what was a huge about face!!!! All just happily parroted the information as if there had never been anything previously said otherwise. I remember talking about it with my elder husband (for over twenty years) and at the time feeling somewhat afraid that I might be "speaking against" the WTS because of feeling the dismay.

  For so many years the inside cover of the Awake magazine had endevoured to "instill confidence" in me that the generation that was alive in 1914 and saw the beginning of the pangs of distress would by no means pass away, etc......so that out in service we told people that the end would positively come before these older people passed off the scene. And of course these were the ones who "were alive and at an age of understanding in 1914...."

  Then with one statement about generation they yanked it all away.

  Surely some will start to vocalize these doubts!!!! For some it will just get to a point of too much!!!

  Good post, The Scotsman, and glad to have you with us.
• 

  compound complex

  Thank you, and welcome to the forum, llbh!

  I appreciate your reply; it makes sense. The light - even for the Brooklyn Oracle - continued to get brighter over time. And despite our personal misgivings, we remain faithful, loyal and silent ...

  You may call me CoCo!

  Gratefully,

  CoCo