by raymond frantz 19 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Except that if the GB actually DID start teaching the Trinity, then all good JWs would obediently fall into line and believe it.
Proof of this is all the doctrines that have changed over the years. JWs "believe" whatever is published as Present Truth no matter how much it contradicted Prior Truth.
Let's not forget that the term "Governing Body" does not appear anywhere in the Bible. And yet JWs everywhere accept it as "Truth".
You are right 00dad, but right now it works in the way the O.P uses it, the Trinity is so anathema to JW's, though less than 0.5% of them have a clue about the real doctrine of the trinity, that they suddenly have to think "Would I just accept it ?" .
The reality may be that if the WT did its usual job of making the "adjustment in understanding" sound almost plausible to JW ears 99.9% would swallow it, but the object of this exercise is to get them to think NOW.
Not an easy task.
I think I would be on very safe ground to say that the Roman Catholic Church has never made anywhere near the changes made by Jehovah`s Witnesses in their 2000 year existance.
Well, that may be pushing it a bit, Smiddy. The Catholics have changed so much of Christianity that they bear little resemblance to the ancient church. For example, we have...umm...the veneration and prayers to saints, the veneration, assumption and prayers to Mary, the Trinity, Transubstantiation, the robes, pointed hats and other outer vestments, the Sacraments, genuflecting, the repetition of prayer, changes to the priesthood...and the list goes on and on. Those are a lot of changes!
Let's not forget that the term "Governing Body" does not appear anywhere in the Bible.
Nope, no prophesy that there will be a Governing Body in the future, nor are there any prophecies regarding the church going in the direction that the JWs have gone. They're Protestants pure and simple. If they believe the ancient church survived, where's it been for the past 2,000 years? Anciently, God called prophets and when He lived on Earth, He chose 12 apostles, Bishops, Seventy, Elders, Priests, Deacons, Evangelists and so forth. Of that group, the JWs only have elders and no line of apostolic authority and no record of divine commissioning, where God acknowledges His church.
Just a bump for the O.P, we seem to be sliding off topic, even if it is into interesting territory.
But I think the method mentioned in the opening post is so good, this topic deserves a bump !
Someone is going to report you to the elders. Proceed with caution.
Asking questions is a red flag in the mind of the loyal JW.
Asking questions is a red flag in the mind of the loyal JW.
so true.
and ex post facto will be used in evidence of you being 'too clever for your own good' - another red flag incidentally :-)
You guys are right for those still in, and for some faders too, I was thinking of people in my own situation, a fader or inactive , who still gets to speak to JW's, I do think I could slip this one in without them running off to the Elders, I have done similar things and they have laughed and said "Get behind me satan!" or something similar.
With such ones I have a chance, but you have to be prepared for flack, and pick your "mark" well.
I am fortunate in that if I pushed it too much and got DF'd I really don't care.
Not overly interested in "waking up" anyone, myself; just occasionally justifying my inactive/faded status to my Mom (through logic and reason) so that she won't feel compelled to shun me.
So far, I've managed pretty well, actually.
Part of the newest doctrine accepted by the church is that the Governing Body is the God-ordained mouthpiece for the Almighty. If they determined that "new light" dictated a belief in the Trinity, I think they wouldn't call it the "Trinity," but would explain it in a way they could plausibly claim their interpretation was of God.
But what of other doctrinal shifts? What if the GB decided after much study and prayer that the church had erred on the doctrine of man not having a spirit? Would that be a test for most? A strong argument can be made that man sleeping until the resurrection is an untrue doctrine (mostly because it is untrue). The idea that some men are imbued with spirits while others are not is patently absurd on its face. And man having a spirit is biblical. That man had a spirit was believed by the ancient Christians because we have some of their non-canonical writings. There are even indications they believed in life before birth, where we dwelt as spirits before coming here.
So what would happen if they did away with the soul sleeping doctrine?
I think that is another one that may work as in the O.P, especially if it were to actually happen, but I think if we simply want to get them to think Critically and realistically now about who shapes their beliefs then something as anthema to them as the Trinity rattles their cage.
They may get so interested in the question of the soul and its possible sleep that they do not think about their adoption of doctrine, how it comes about for them.
They have to think to themselves, would I just swallow this ,or would I examine the bible for myself ? If the latter, what is wrong with Phizzy doing the same with some of the teachings now ?
It makes them question the whole extent of their loyalty to that small group of men,they have to ask themselves, will my loyalty trump what I see as Bible truth ? are the GB above the Bible ?
Those sort of questions most JW's never think about at all, we need to get them to do so, however we can.
But, as above, be careful if you are vulnerable, the Elders will want to shut you up, they simply cannot have the Sheeples thinking !
