by Judith 21 Replies latest jw friends
Dear Judith,
I was invited to attend the memorial by a JW friend who was doing bricklaying for my father and I asked the Adventist Minister to come with me I didnt think he would but he decided to in the end. Later I moved to Canberra and I studied with the witnesses and attended the meetings but I dont attend anymore.
Barry
To RR:
I bought a lot of literature from the Bible Students a few years ago, and the Dawn magazines as well, and my feelings - please don't get me wrong or think that I am trying to be judgmental on you - were/are that it is kind of "old-fashioned", that it still is so very much "Russellism". That it is stiff, hardened, whatever I should call it. How is your everyday-life as a Bible Student, and how are meetings/services, and how are differing opinions handled? I assure you I have no hidden agenda in asking, I just want to know.
Dear Judith, you wanted to know more about the Bible Students. Behind this link you can go to the different BS's web pages: http://www.heraldmag.org/literature/links.htm
There are a lot of info for you.
L.
Hi Barry. Thanks for answering. May I ask you another question? Are you happy with your chosen religion and how different is it from the JW's religion? I ask the questions because I am searching and feel a bit lost right now.
Judith
Hi Liquidizer
I am off to study the link that you provided in your last post.
Thank you
Judith
Judith
Please do tell me, who are the Bible Students?
The Bible Students [a publishing name, NOT a denominational name]were formed in the 1860s, they with the help of William Conley and Charles Taze Russell and others began publishing Zion's Watch Tower and eventually formed Zion's Watch Tower Society. In 1916 after the death of Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Rutherford took control and reorganized, there was a schism and between 1917 and 1932 some 75 percent of the original Bible Students abandoned the Society. Rutherford took the residue and tranformed them into the Jehovah's Witnesses. Since the Society in the days of Br. Russell was nothing more than a publishing house, the Bible Students also reorganized and formed their own publishing houses to distribute independent of teh Society.
The Society would have their follower believe that Bible Student chnaged their name to Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931, but in recent years have acknowledged that Bible Students still exist. They call us the "Evil Slave Class" since they view themselves as the "Faithful and Discreet Slave Class."
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I Still Believe ....
Hi RR.
I was under the impression that the Bible Students became the Witnesses too. Nice of the Society to admit at this time that it was not so. (just another little lie?) Or that's right, the "New Light"
I never met anyone from the Evil Slave Class before. Glad to make your acquaintence and will read more at the site that you provided.
JJ
Whoops! I made a mistake.
It was Liquidizer that provided the site. Sorry about that Liquidizer. I am off to read the site that you provided.
jj
OldHippie
I bought a lot of literature from the Bible Students a few years ago, and the Dawn magazines as well, and my feelings - please don't get me wrong or think that I am trying to be judgmental on you - were/are that it is kind of "old-fashioned", that it still is so very much "Russellism".
Let me ask can "The Truth" be "old-fashioned?" I mean, if we believe we are on the right track, spiritually, why change anything? Granted we know that Russell didn't have ALL the answers, he stated as much. There were some things he didn't know or wasn't sure of. But as far as the plan of salvation, we believe he was on the right track, perhaps not always so detailed, but nevertheless on the right track.
That it is stiff, hardened, whatever I should call it.Can you define "stiff, hardened?"
How is your everyday-life as a Bible Student, and how are meetings/services, and how are differing opinions handled? I assure you I have no hidden agenda in asking, I just want to know.No problem. You know, every class is different, I find that many of the classes out in the midwest are VERY conservative, meaning they adhere closely to what Russell taught and believed.
Still others are a bit more liberal, understanding the man was not perfect, although very humble and spiritual. I can't speak for others, I can only speak for myself. I began studying with the JW's in 1982, got baptized in 1983, I learned about the Bible Students in 1988, and began meeting with them in 1990 while still serving with the Witnesses. The Bible Students taught me quite a bit about consecration and what the goal of being a Christian was all about. I studied everything out, I asked a lot of questions. I read everything I could get my hands on, Watchtower. anti-Watchtower, apostate, you name it, I read it. Not too many people would go to that extent, spending thousands of dollars, travelling, researching, I did. In 1992 I stepped down and my wife and I began meeting with the Bible Students.
We meet in a rented hall on Sundays afternoons, which we share with another group who meet in the mornings [the Christadelphians]. Our class is the OLDEST Bible Student congregation in the world, formed in 1880s, and the first to divorce ourselves from the Society in 1917, simply because the elders in the class personally knew Rutherford and did not believe he was fit to be president.
Our Sunday meetings vary from Sunday to Sunday. We have two one hour meetings with a half hour intermission usually coffee and snacks.
The first Sunday we are served with a discourse and a testimony meetings. Second and fourth Sundays, we have two topical studies, the third Sunday we have ine topical study and a question meeting.
On Wednesday evening we have two studies, one topical and one Verse by verse study of the scriptures. Those are our two main meetings. However in our area there are quite a few Bible Students from other classes who get together for studies, so many meet on a daily basis for study.
Our class twice a year get together with three other classes, each class submits a questions, one elder from each class then give a 15 dissertation on the question. when it'a all over, questions are taken from the floor. We also sponsor a yearly convention in November, where we invite speakers from various parts of the country and abroad to serve. At conventions there are discourses, studies, symposiums, panel discussions, question meetings, vespers, testimony meetings, etc. There is always a 1/2 intermissiion between each session. There is plenty of freedom to ask questions and disagree if you like.
Anything specific you'd like to know?
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I Still Believe ....
Dear Judith,
Within Adventism there is two distinct groups one is Traditional Adventism the other Evangelical Adventism and my convictions are with Evangelical Adventism the main doctrine within this group is the acceptance of the reformation doctrine of 'Righteousness by faith'. Other differences between the groupes exist too. If you were to look at Adventism im sure they would make you welcome and I would recommend a gosple orented church. 'Good News Unlimited' could do this for you. Traditional Adventism is more cultic and i wouldnt recommend them. In Adventism you wont have the problems you would have in the JWs Shunning or problems with going to other churches or problems if you dought something and the type of horror stories you see on this board. But take your time meet with the Adventists an eg on Saturday lesson study you might feel comfortable with them and you are free to ask any questions in the lesson study. They have classes for all age groups at this time. Also before you decide on anything go to other denominations and chech them out, you said you were once a baptist when you were younger I know some good Baptist people and they have a bible study too.
Ill be praying for you Barry
