New light what is it...cos I'm confused??

by Fractured~Mind 20 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Fractured~Mind

  Ok this is the biggest problem I have ...well one of...and that's the governing body's stance on "new light"

  To me Its like a dimmer light , whatever subject you have the light on, starting with the lowest setting you can make out the basics. When the dial is turned up slowly to the brightest setting, you then have the whole, complete,picture...but you don't have a whole new subject matter in front of you.

  So I can understand them starting with the basics then later on slowly revealing more and more as it is revealed to them...but I dont understand starting with one idea and completely changing that idea over and over again.

  And if the light is not that bright on a subject, isnt it common sense to keep your big trap shut until your sure or the light is brighter, so you don't stumble millions of people in the process??

  And even after all that light is shining on it ...if it will still only be supposition or something that is not for us to know...why the hell did you spend so many darn years researching it and discussing it.

  How about you get it right the first time then tell me about it, instead of taking me over the shop wasting time in the car parts section when I could of been in the shoe section.

  Seriously Jehovah I think you need to talk slower to them!!!
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  cyberjesus

  you got it right, this whole new light business is another fantasy
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  zeroday*

  It's just a way not to admit they are ever wrong with "New Light" they are never wrong...
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  Essan

  Yeah, the whole "new light" idea is bogus. The Society invokes it when they change their doctrines, sometimes back and forth, pretending it's God's doing.

  It's interesting what the Watchtower had to say on this is Russell's time:

  "If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now: But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from god must be like its author. a new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. new light never extinguishes older light, but adds to it. If you were lighting up a building containing seven gas jets you would not extinguish one every time you lighted another, but would add one light to another and they would be in harmony and thus give increase of light. So is it with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another." (Watchtower Feb. 1, 1881, Reprints p. 188)

  Well, the Society then went on to have a long history of constantly "contradicting former truth" and "extinguishing older light", which according to this Watchtower is evidence that JW's must be following men and that their changeable literature is full of "human ideas", so they are condemned out of their own mouth (as is usually the case).

  As you said, if they aren't 100% sure of their interpretations - which, after 100 years of getting things wrong, you'd think they'd learn some caution and humility - then they have no business claiming or implying that their present interpretation has been revealed by God nor of requiring that all JW's accept them as the truth without question.

  Further, if you read the context of the Scripture from which they lift the notion of 'light' getting 'brighter and brighter' it doesn't even have anything to do with doctrine or gradual understanding. The Scripture is completely misused to try to excuse their constant errors and ever changing doctrine and to pretend it's all part of God's plan.

  It's hogwash.
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  cantleave

  Don Cameron uses the dimmer switch / on off switch analogy in "Captives of a Concept". Indeed "New Light" Has never been a gradual revealing in WT land, but is turned on and off to confuse and mystify.
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  blondie

  Blinking light

  1879 to 1929 Superior authorities secular governments

  1929 to 1962 Superior authorities God and Jesus

  1962 to present Superior authorities secular governments
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  robson

  new light is just a man made explanation to the flock when they seem to have come to a different realization of biblical theology and as the truth becomes brighter our eyes will shine on and off many times because we are constantly given new light so to speak which in reality is not new light is just somebody a human being who addresses a biblical passage differently than all the others many are climbing up there in brooklyn that is how they interpret it as new light. If you believe that the holy spirit is directing this sort of thing then we have to believe it as new light but in my experience some is taken out of literal context and they give us prophetic understanding as symbolic and so forth so sometimes you just listen to their understanding and become somehow not happy, as for me I don't pay more attention to new light I will serve God with my heart and not with new light getting brighter in front of me flashing like a thunder. We'll see that light which is jesus who live as a man on earth bring our souls to the real light. Don't feel confused deep in our hearts we'll see when the new light originates with God because we know satan can use anybody including the GB to test our integrity to our God and knowing is a real deal focus only in him through him we will gain our salvation to become free of slavery to sin.
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  Nathan Natas

  It is swamp gas - nothing to get too excited about.
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  OnTheWayOut

  FM, you have it so right. Let me add one more important part of the equation. The "anointed" ones providing the "new light" call themselves the Faithful and Discreet Slave. "Discreet" generally means modest and prudent, slow to speak.
  So your understanding of light getting brighter and holding back until it gets light enough to be sure of what you say- that would be what a "discreet" spokesperson for the Almighty would be like.
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  Mad Sweeney

  Blinking light

  1879 to 1929 Superior authorities secular governments

  1929 to 1962 Superior authorities God and Jesus

  1962 to present Superior authorities secular governments

  I can envision the following next blink:

  2011 to the Armageddon: Superior authorities = God and Jesus and the Faithful and Discreet Slave as represented by the Governing Body