Has/did TBTS abandoned Russell AND Rutherford?

by Aussie Oz 13 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  Aussie Oz

  Playing with myspace today and came across this, saying that the WT has abandoned both of them. Is it not more a case of they pick and choose the bits of their now archaic writings that support current thinking? I dont know that one could say they have been rejected though...

  what thinks you?

  Since the Jehovah's Witness organization currently rejects most of the teachings of its founder Charles Taze Russell (who was president of the organization from 1879-1916), and since they also reject "Judge" Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who succeeded Russell as president from 1916 - 1942, how can we be sure that in 25 more years, Jehovah's Witnesses won't also reject the current president, Milton G. Henschel (1992 - present), as they did Russell and Rutherford?
  
  What kind of confidence can anyone have in an organization that rejected its founder and first two presidents for the first 63 years of its existence? This represents about 53% of the time they have existed!

  oz
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  blondie

  The WTS still selectively quotes from Russell and Rutherford and has not in writing rejected them.

  *** w07 11/1 p. 24 par. 11 The Word of Jehovah Never Fails ***What of our time? On Friday morning, October 2, 1914, Charles Taze Russell, who took the lead at that time among the Bible Students, strode into the dining room at Bethel in Brooklyn, New York. "Good morning, all," he said cheerily. Then, before taking his seat, he joyfully announced: "The Gentile times have ended; their kings have had their day." Once again, the time had come for Jehovah, the Sovereign of the universe, to act in behalf of his people. And act he did!

  (The WTS fails to mention that Russell taught that Armageddon would begin in 1914)
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  african GB Member

  Is MG Henschel still president?

  I thought he died long a couple of years ago, but then again I could be wrong. Anyone with info on this????
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  alanv

  The society will always say that since the Russell and Rutherford days they have received new light. They say that it would have been impossible to have everything explained and understood immediately. Therefor things have been revealed gradually.

  They then quote the scripture that says Jesus had more things to tell his followers but they were not ready at that time. (something like that)

  There is no excuse though for teaching one thing then getting rid of it and then reinstating it again, which they have done with many things.
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  TD

  Depends on what you are talking about. If Russell were to magically come back today, he would not recognize the religion his movement eventually morphed into. The various Bible Student groups today are arguably the true heirs of Russell's legacy, not the JW's.

  Rutherford, on the other hand would be right at home even though many of the details have changed. The structure of authority in the JW organization today is Rutherford's invention.
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  sir82

  the current president, Milton G. Henschel (1992 - present),

  Henschel died in 2003. He was pretty much vegetative for several years prior to that, and had virtually no influence on doctrine at all.

  But in any case, yeah, there are certain teachings from Russell and Rutherford which are pretty much "untouchable" and will almost certainly never change. However, a lot of doctrine is quite fluid, and circumstances force changes pretty frequently (definition of "generation", blood fractions, child abuse, etc.).
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  VoidEater

  The do not, will not, and cannot reject the past presidents - to do so would be to revoke their claim to having been God's selected organization.

  They do "modify" past teachings based on Noo Lite. They think there's a difference between rejecting them and, uh, enhancing their doctrine.
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  Farkel

  Russell - nothing he wrote is still in print.

  Rutherford - nothing he wrote is still in print.

  Franz - nothing he wrote is still in print.

  All wrote and created significant doctrine. None of it is considered important enough to keep in print.

  Farkel
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  thetrueone

  The only thing that they somewhat hold on to is the 1914 doctrine and " The Generation "

  Being that there is so much exposure of this falsely devised doctrine on the inter-net, they

  might very well have to completely drop this eventually as well.

  So the next time someones says the JWS do not recognize those individuals or their teachings bring up 1914.

  New bullshit is coming to cover over the old bullshit
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  Satanus

  What's tbts?

  S