Wrong.
Jehovah's Witnesses - A Hijacked Religion
by B_Deserter 24 Replies latest jw friends
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Gopher
Study your history, Catbert. There was no such religion as "JW's" until 1931.
Russell founded the Watchtower Society and the Bible Students.
Rutherford tore all that down and re-fashioned the publishing and real-estate corporation which masquerades as a religion under the name Jehovah's Witnesses.
Knorr expanded the worldwide "evangelism" and numeric growth of the organization.
F.W. Franz was the prophet, the wacky idea machine.
The guys leading JW's now are cult disciplinarians.
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real one
yeah that religion was doomed from the start
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StAnn
From a strict interpretation, the Bible Students were the followers of Russell and, when Rutherford hijacked the group, they left and continued following Russell's teachings. So, technically, the JW's are the splinter grouop of the Bible Students. Here's what the Bible Students have to say about that:
http://www.biblestudents.net/faq/questions.htm
"Isn't Charles Taze Russell the Founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses?
That is a misconception. Pastor Russell was the organizer of the International Bible Students Association. It was this loosely formed association that helped published the [Zion's] Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence journal, and the [Zion's] Watch Tower Society.
This Society was an organizer of Bible Student conventions and other activities, but it did not dictate any creeds or rules to the independent congregations.
After Pastor Russell's death, The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society began to rise as a hierarchy over the once independent congregations. Many refused to surrender their Christian liberty and here started the work of separation. As early as 1917 this exodus from the Society began, and those who appreciated the wonderful harmony of the Bible as taught by Pastor Russell are today known as Associated Bible Students.
By 1930, the Society no longer resembled that of its former self. Many Bible Students abandoned the Society, and by 1931, the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" was adopted by the new leadership to differentiate between the Society's Bible Students and those independent of the Society. "
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freydi
"One here and one there." We're not talking large numbers.
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Confession
Russell might have been a bit quirky, considering his preoccupation with pyramids, dates, etc., but at least he wanted people to be reasonably free. Take a look at these quotes...
"But says one: Must I not join some organization on earth, assent to some creed and have my name written on earth? No, remember that Jesus is your pattern and teacher, and neither in his words nor acts will you find any authority for binding yourselves with creeds and traditions of the elders, which all seem to make the word of God of none effect." (WT 1881 "The Ekklesia")
"We are in fellowship with all Christians in whom we can recognize the spirit of Christ, and especially those who recognize the Bible as the only standard." (WT 1882, Q&A)
"We do not require therefore that all shall see just as we do in order to be called Christians; realizing that growth in both grace and knowledge is a gradual process." (WT 1882, Q&A)
"We believe that a visible organization, and the adopting of some particular name, would tend to increase our numbers and make us more respectable to the world. But we always refused to be called by any other name than that of our head-Christians." (WT 3/1883, p. 458)
"We call ourselves simply Christians and we raise no fence to separate from us any who believe in the foundation stone of our building mentioned by Paul: "That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures"; and those for whom this is not broad enough have no right to the name Christian." (WT 2/1884)
"There is no organization today clothed with authority." (WT 9/1/1893 p. 1573)
"The endeavor to compel all men to think alike on all subjects, culminated in the great apostasy and the development of the great papal system…" (WT 9/1/1893, p.572)
"A visible organization is out of harmony with God’s divine plan." (WT 12/1/1894, p. 1743)
"Beware of "organization." It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God’s Word today, and so continue growing in grace and knowledge and love day by day." (WT 9/1895)
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Tyrone van leyen
Yes, I figured that out a few months ago. I even took it a step further in my essay.
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lovelylil
I agree that the JW's have gotten many of their modern day beliefs from Rutherford.
But they still hold MANY teachings in common. Some are these;
Jesus is a created being, Michael the Archangel. Only 144,000 can go to heaven and both groups claim that number is exclusively theirs. Both point to 1914 as being a significant date to them. They also both believe that Christ did not have a bodily resurrection but was raised an invisible spirit. Both claim faithful servant already appointed and that they have the only truth. Both also claim that the whole church went into a spiritual darkness for 1,900 years until their group was given the only light. And they both dispise the rest of Christendom, especially the Catholic Church.
While Russell was not as rigid as Rutherford and was a nicer person, he was just as dillusional. And the main thing I fault him for is that he even started his strange religion in the first place. Think about it, if Russell had not laid the foundation for the Watchtower, there would have been no Rutherford to take over from there and we would not have the Jehovah's Witnesses Monster that exists today.
All in all, since I have had personal experience with Both groups, I see more similarities that differences. So I would say that although Rutherford made a lot of changes, you can still find Russell's influence in the group. Especially on the core doctrines of the JW's. So I would not say it is a completely different religion but that is imo. Peace, Lilly
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steve2
- Russell oozed self-importance tempered with a seemingly kindly disposition. The genial smile and white beard helped.
- Rutherford oozed self-importance and made no pretence that his disposition was anything but kind. The unsmiling demeanour, and the purple, well pressed suit and tie helped.
- The wimps who succeeded Rutherford were each self-important in their own ego-driven ways but had varying success convincing the rank and file that, deep in this time of the end, kindness is a distracting and dangerous temptation: "There's work to do: Now get off your buuts and busy!"
- While much has changed, the off-putting self-importance has remained the same.
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Borgia
Catbert,
In 1918 Russel was dead meat.....
Cheers
Borgia