Yes to Millerites and Russell...but what about 1984?
The way the WT seems to be so much like 'Ocieana'
the possibility that the WT have used that book as a model for the new world society?
Oz
The WT, the Millerites and Orson Wells
by Aussie Oz 23 Replies latest watchtower bible
-
-
cofty
I must read 1984. Intersting thread.
It's simply amazing that virtually none of Jehovah's Witnesses know anything about William Miller - SST
So true, it was investigating the borgs history that convinced me it was all one big cock-up.
-
St George of England
Orson Welles didn't write 1984, George Orwell did - just sayin'.
Orson Welles was in the 1941 film '1984' which is probably the reason for the mistake.
George
-
InterestedOne
cofty wrote: "I must read 1984." Yes, I agree. I read it once in middle school for English class, but I will understand it much better as an adult.
-
slimboyfat
I must read 1984.
See this too:
-
JWdaughter
You have it all wrong, folks. Orwell got the IDEA for 1984 from his study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Something inspired him and the JWs were manipulating the sheep long before 1948 when Orwell wrote the book.
-
wobble
Good one JWd'ter ! Tim Minchen would approve of that connection ! Eric Blair(George Orwell) was a great writer, with an informed take on the affairs of his time, his articles on a number of subjects are free on-line.
-
BluesBrother
1984.....my favourite fictional book of modern times - fiction, but so true in many ways. My understanding, and I may be corrected was that Orwell was moved by the growth of totalitarian governments, Socialist USSR etc.
The comparisons between the "Party" and the WTS are so clear to the open mind, though.
Thoughtcrimes, the statement that "human beings are not fit to govern themselves" democratically..The ideas of Newspeak,Doublethink, an "imbecillic devotion to the Party"..The slogans of IngSoc, the revision of history, the idea of living in a "sealed world"
A couple of thoughts that Winson Smith expressed that have encouraged me, as a dissenter in a family of dubs :
"Being in a minority, even a minority of one, does not make you mad!"
"Nothing is your own, except the few cubic centimetres of grey matter inside your skull"
-
-
Terry
At least Miller apologized for being wrong. Yet, he died still believing the End was close.....very very....close.
The phenomenon of 2nd Coming thrills, chills, excitement and predictions which appealed to certain elements within mainstream churches
would not die out EVEN WHEN PUBLICLY HUMILIATED.
I don't know about you, but, predicting something that doesn't happen seems final. Yet--it isn't!
For one thing, the people that this appeals to marginalized themselves so badly they could not go back to their regular church and admit they had gone a little nuts.
Like a person who keeps pulling the handle on a Slot machine that DOESN'T PAY OFF.
The fallacy thinking kicks in: This machine HAS TO PAY OFF sooner or later! I'll hang in there or lose all my invested money so far!
This is the famous Sunk Cost Fallacy.
Russell had a peculiar view of all this. It really gives us a clear glimpse into how his brain worked!
Russell looked upon Miller and the Adventists as a SIGNAL TO HIM. Like clouds signal rain is coming.
This "meant" End Times were upon him!
What is clearly the ambition of a zealous conspiracy theorist Russell was THE ONE who would get "it" right.
All he needed was to lay out all the "information" gathered by Adventists so far........and he would RE-fit the parts into
a puzzle that plainly showed what the Whole Picture looked like.
Since Russell was rich he could indulge himself unlike no other person in the Adventist movement. He had a financial headstart and
a pre-established customer base eager to read about his nonsense.