I think its a good thing nobody gets or even notices the generation change "new light" (page 2)

blondie

Remember that Rutherford said that the ancient worthies, Abraham, David, Abel, etc., would be resurrected in 1925 as perfect men and would rule in Jerusalem. They lost 70,000 members because of the failure but continued on as the base of the WTS today.

Seventy jubilees of fifty years each would be a total of 3500 years. That period of time beginning 1575 before A.D. 1 of necessity would end in the fall of the year 1925, at which time the type ends and the great antitype must begin. What, then, should we expect to take place? ? The chief thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favour, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth."

Millions Now Living Will Never Die p.88

Click "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" to download a 32Mb searchable pdf of this 1920 booklet.

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1925.php

designs

Knorr's view was the Publishers and Bethelites were replacable, thus the constant recruiting game.

The Bible Students were leaving in droves in the 20s and 30s, but Rutherford has his groupies and there are some 'Rutherford Witness' groups in Eastern Europe to this day.

As for the Generation change making any impact just consider a class room where questions are punished. Witnesses are rolling the numbers in their heads, they just can't speak of it in public.

-Watched an episode of the Tudors last night, 'heretics, being hunted and burned, fear is a terrible thing. Be glad every day you found the road to Freedom.

Black Sheep

JWs who wish to deal out psychological abuse for non-belief in this new doctrine need a damned good spanking.

I have made my position clear to the ones I have had contact with so far, there are still some to go, and have asked for scholarly support for whatever excuses they have for this rediculous doctrinal position.

Don't take any shit from your Dubbies on this. Know your topic, know your grammar, know your history. If they want to swallow this one, make them pay for it in Cog Dis Dollars.

Cheers

Chris

yknot

Not in my Hall

(Genesis 6:3) 3 After that Jehovah said: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.”

2034 C.E. ....But that won't matter either-- the ones who point to that date will be dead or in their late 80s early 90s

Someday I think I am in the most profoundly blindfaith congregation on the freakin' planet. As a whole they really are based on nothing but the concept of obedience to the slave.

Mad Sweeney

Here is the thing. The rank and file do not care to know whether "current light/present truth" is actually TRUE or not. It simply does not matter to them. They don't necessarily even believe that God talks to the GB or anyone in any Bethel anywhere.

They go along because they want to live in the new system and not be destroyed by God at Armageddon.

That's it. That is literally ALL there is to it.

Doctrine doesn't matter. Could be right; could be wrong. Meh. So what? These people promised me a pet lion by staying in their club and so I'm staying!

blondie

This is "T" part of the BITE model by Steve Hassan:

III. Thought Control

1. Need to internalize the group's doctrine as "Truth"
a. Map = Reality
b. Black and White thinking
c. Good vs. evil
d. Us vs. them (inside vs. outside)
2. Adopt "loaded" language (characterized by "thought-terminating clichés"). Words are the tools we use to think with. These "special" words constrict rather than expand understanding. They function to reduce complexities of experience into trite, platitudinous "buzz words".
3. Only "good" and "proper" thoughts are encouraged.
4. Thought-stopping techniques (to shut down "reality testing" by stopping "negative" thoughts and allowing only "good" thoughts); rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism.
a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking b. Chanting
c. Meditating
d. Praying
e. Speaking in "tongues"
f. Singing or humming

5. No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate
6. No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful

Black Sheep

Could be right; could be wrong. Meh. So what?

Bugger that.

Make them pay for their convictions.

Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask.

When they say something silly, make them prove it.

Make them feel silly.

Make them go to the library and show you a book that proves they are not idiots.

Go for it.

We have them by the balls. Squeeze them gently. Listen to their hearts palpitating when you ask your questions.

Watch their dead eyes flash with fear for an instant.

The knife is in .... it won't hurt unless you twist it

.

ambersun

Black Sheep thanks for the welcome and yes, it sounds like our families are probably very much alike. Lovely smiling people devoting their lives to obeying every passing whim of the GB with their minds full of thoughts of paradise.

Heartofaboy, regarding elderly people my own mother in law was totally thrown off balance when her husband died in the '80s and she realised how old they had got with no signs of armageddon. I remember her saying to me that if armageddon didn't come soon it would be the biggest con of the century. However, she somehow managed to overcome these feelings (cognitive dissonance?) and died of old age last year having attended her last meeting the previous Sunday.

Thanks for that info Blondie, it explains a lot!

cognac

idk, maybe it will go on... But, I can say this. I think there will be a very good amount of people that this will be the last straw for. And, even though years ago when they did the same types of things and they simply recruited and got there numbers back up, I don't believe it will be as easy today to do the same. For a few reasons:

1. This is the information age. With a click of a button people can see very quickly what JWs are all about.

2. They don't have the history and reputation they did years ago. Years ago, everything was exciting! They were new and had new ideas. Now, they have turned that into something very different. They are known very well for there unloving ways and false promises. There reputation proceeds them and the only way they really grow is two different ways: children born into it and third world countries where people simply are not as educated.

3. As I said before, one of the main reasons there numbers will go up is growth in 3rd world countries. These countries are very poor and will not be able to give to the society the money other countries can. Those countries that can give money the numbers will probably not grow very well at all... So, the society will end up having to support this work and get less and less money coming in.

I do really believe that there are a lot of people in it now that are simply stuck. Take my family for example. About 1/2 the people couldn't care less about it either way. They just kinda go to tag along but they don't really care all that much.

The JWs are very different then they were years ago. The newness and excitement has worn off. The old days of using the bible a ton have been replaced with ready made beliefs told to you in WT, Awakes, and so forth. A lot people simply don't even know or care 1/2 of what they believe in.

I do think things are very different then they were before and the BORG doesn't have it as easy as they did before.

b17boss

1995 change convinced me this religion is full of s*$#.

its all about controlling the masses,same as communism,socialism,etc,etc...individuals are not important

to them,jesus was all about the individual human being,jw's are definitly mordern day

pharisee's,they think,act,and judge others just as they did...jesus would definitly condem them also

when jesus healed the women with a flow of blood he did not condem her or send her to the watchtower

he said "go your way your faith has made you well. i personally will never belong to a religious

group ever again (allthough there are individuals in all religions who are good human beings)i will never again

"put my trust in men,women or goverments" i will just treat others as i want to be treated....

I think its a good thing nobody gets or even notices the generation change "new light"

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