Rip Van Winkle is apparently bitter about spending twenty years as part of the Watchtower crowd, and I don’t blame him. Everyone has their story and some people leave angry and others just kind of wonder how they could have bought into it for much of their lives. Still others are active members and are convinced that it’s “The Truth.” If the religion fills a need for some, I can’t fault them. But those who believe its God’s true organization tend to feel a bit superior to those in other religions.
Others, though, like evangelicals, feel a need to rescue those in the JW religion because 1) they feel like they’re deceived and 2) they believe that if they’re not rescued, they will spend an eternity in HELL. BTW, they also feel duty bound to rescue Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists for the same reason.
Partaking is considered wacky behavior, especially by women.
Don’t know why women would be singled out. I’d think men would aspire to the leadership position that the anointed-class represent. Anyway, the anointed class is smaller and, to me, more desirable due to their spiritual natures and potentials.
Heaven is never described as recreational as you interpreted it.
Hmmm…how is it interpreted? I merely projected the likely potentials of such beings. To think that these spirits would reach a certain point and then remain stagnant doesn’t make much sense. Technically, having two classes of resurrections really doesn’t make much sense from a practical view and certainly makes no sense from a scriptural view. But all religions delve into the Bible, make their best guesses as to what the scriptures mean and then publish their exegeses. And if you really need the credibility, you convince the sheep that the interpretations are somehow inspired, but not revealed. Inspiration can be altered later as “new light.” Revelation can’t. So the fact that JWs are the ONLY Christian sect that so interprets these scriptures doesn’t mean a thing. They have, after all, The Truth.
No one aspires to be a spirit in heaven. Paradise earth is the default as there are no more spots (only 144,000) in heaven.
Really? You mean no one ever talks about it? No one ever expresses a preference?
Paradise Earth may be the default; however, I don’t know that there are no more spots left in the heavenly class. Most biblical scholars say that the numbers are more symbolic than literal. JWs apply “spiritual” interpretations to most of the New Testament prophecies, which is why their views of Armageddon and soul sleeping are so stilted.
Those who consider themselves of the anointed class—and are considered legit by others—are likely in some serious positions of authority.
Now that’s something I didn’t know. I always wondered (and still do) how legitimacy is established. Still, I don’t think the church would stop anyone from partaking of the sacramental emblems whatever they think of a person’s legitimacy.
I’ve always been fascinated by this strange doctrine of the two classes of resurrection. And of course I have my own interpretations on which would be better if I did believe it (and I don’t). But what members and former members say is important in what they think, or thought, about the two classes. I find it hard to believe that no one ever thinks of which class might be better. Doesn’t anyone there have a sense of humor or intellect? Yeeesh!
Anyway, thanks for the answers!
