An educated persons perception of the watchtower magazine

by Aussie Oz 18 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  Band on the Run

  Talking down to the reader is a hallmark of Witness writing. Some jerk at Bethel thinks they are better, smarter, holier, No way. Why is college repeatedly the opening eyes impetus? High school should teach critical skills. The talking down part bothers me more than the doctrine part.

  I can't recall if it was in the Awake or a convention. Preparing meals was involved. They went through an elementary school drill about protein and vegetables. If you serve all white items,(fish, cauliflower, potatoes), put some parsley on the side and sprinkle paprika on the fish. Essential spiritual skills. It insulted every sister at the time. Of course, a brother talked about it. A brother who was not a chef.
• 

  WTWizard

  How many weasel terms do they use? Apparently? Evidently? Likely? These are terms that indicate that they are not 100% certain about their doctrine. And the references? "One source", "Experts", and "According to one scientist" is not enough. You never get links so you can do the research for the original source so you can read it in its entirety.

  Which might not be so bad, except you are required to stake your life on the accuracy of the material. You are not allowed to do your own research, such as typing the subject in question into a search engine and looking at whatever sources you see fit. And, if they flub up, you are still supposed to abide by AND TEACH the bad doctrine until they themselves fix it--or make an even worse one. If I say "One study", you are perfectly free to type the search term into your favorite search engine and see if you can find it--or another viewpoint on the subject. If the Washtowel says "One study", you are expected to believe whatever they say and stake your life and that of anyone you meet on the accuracy of it.
• 

  designs

  The more progressive and liberal Christian denominations and journals keep up with science and openly acknowledge what is being confirmed by scientists. The old hardline religions keep falling further behind the longer they dig their heels in.
• 

  steve2

  To be fair to the writers (from the fancily over-titled Writing Department) of the public edition of the Watchtower, its style of communication is reminiscent of the ever-so-blandly boring Signs of the Times published by the Seventh-Day Adventists or The Grapevine by ecumenical Christian groups.

  The Watchtower lacks the 'creativity' to even spear-head condescension and poor scholarship; it merely mimics to an absurd degree the ickily soothing, patronizing drivel found in other religious literature.
• 

  ziddina

  "The old hardline religions keep falling further behind the longer they dig their heels in. ..." Designs

  Hah!! Unless they can elect like-minded public officials who will create an intellectually-impoverished scholastic climate that heavily favors their pet Middle-Eastern mythology, at the expense of intellectual freedom and scientific advancement...
• 

  LongHairGal

  All the above posts are excellent. I had not read their literature in years because it made me ill with the condescending tone. Well, a couple of months ago I saw the magazines in a public place and out of sheer curiosity (out of wanting to see HOW I felt about it after all this time) I picked them up. After reading one page I felt the same revulsion I felt years earlier! Now, I know there is no point in being remotely curious about any of it.
• 

  C6H12O6

  Reminds of me of the time I tried to place those scientific themed rags with my high school biology teacher.

  He pointed out some of the flaws in the articles.

  Another teacher told me to stop using the WT and AW for my works cited list, because they're not reputable sources.
• 

  Aussie Oz

  The public magazines and other literature serve a couple purposes, one of which is to provide the JWs with something to occupy their time with by peddling it to the public.

  very true i thinks...

  take away the two rags and the service meeting and what have the JWs to actually do?

  Oz
• 

  exwhyzee

  The public magazines and other literature serve a couple purposes, one of which is to provide the JWs with something to occupy their time with

  by peddling it to the public.

  Very true...in fact I've heard it stated from the platform that the Ministry was as much for OUR good as it is for the good of the public.

  When you think of how many decades they have been printing Bible based literature you'd think they'd have covered every conceivable topic by now and could have a dozen or so Bethelites churn out copies of what they already have written. They wouldn't need millions of dollars worth of properties to house factory workers and a farm to raise food to feed all of them. The Bible hasn't changed....why do they need to keep updating the way it is explained ?