Earnest,
The only conviction the WT has is to brainwash people to believe they are the only channel Jehovah uses. I could go on and on with material that they have twisted to sound like one thing when in fact the "facts" their own old literature tells it very differently that is being presented in an article. Such as the bible students in the early 19th century understood and preached Christ invisible return in 1914. When I called Brooklyn on this again being printed and why it upset me. When I was studying in the late 70's I had read a similar statement and took it hook line and sinker, Gosh they really must be the true religion to know in advance during the late 1800's that Christ return will be in 1914, WWII, signs etc. So in the early 21st century I read this again and realize the double speak that the early bible students believed Armageddon was to happen 1914 and Christ's invisible return was believe to have happened in 1874; but that is not what this simple paragraph was saying, you would only apply it to present understanding in 1979 or 2000 that invisble return was 1914 was the start of the signs, WWII, etc. and hear they were telling me it was known and preached in late 1800's. This is manipulation, intellectual dishonest to the max.
When I started checking the references to quotes about published articles and saw how they just changed the dates to their own dates, yet making it appear that the article quoted the same date, now since when do you quote an article about artifact found in desert and that the age was about time of the fall of Jerusalem but change the article date of 586/587 to 607, but no mention of changing the date, so of course any innocent JW would just assume this is what the article they quoted stated. Would it not be more honest to make a note to this change.
I could go on and on but I will say that I will go to a WT Study when I can read an Awake or Watchtower that does not have a manipulation of fact printed in it. In fact one more point when I came to realize that 1914 was arrived at by changing historical date to their own agenda, I talked to my book study conductor, he referred me to an elderly JW who had many books. I was told to get a book on bible chronology and right now I can't remember the name of the book, it was one that WT referred to often, but the only date that matched correctly was 539 and it went on to support 586/587 for the fall of Jerusalem. So I copied it and returned it advising both that it did not support 607. But like many JW's they didnt want to hear the real truth, would rather drink the koolaid and not make waves. Saying where will I go? I said that is not what Peter asked and I am not going anywhere, I have not left God only an organization. They never tried to sit down with me and go over my questions and answer my questions, I was quietly ignored and now just shunned. No running after that one lost sheep as so often said from the platform. I said I would not try to pull others from the Kingdom Hall but if I was asked why I no longer attended, I would certainly tell them why.
I will continue to speak up when I can to those who inquire of me or others that may want to learn and grow, but most importantly I will continue to honor God above men and uphold God's Integrity to worship him with Spirit and Truth. I earnestly ask you to at least check the references and quotes for yourself and actually read them; you just may find that the scales may fall from your eyes.
Peace & Love,
Sherilynn