by Ethos 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Free Home Bible Studies, huh....
I went to my uncle's old folks HOME for a few hours two weeks ago. Everyone there is incapacitated in some way. There were two different church groups in two different meeting rooms who were taking time out of their lives to come to the home, sing and do services for those who were probably lonely and could use some cheering up. All of the participants had Bibles in their hands.
Why haven't I seen the JWs yet?
The title of your thread has nothing to do with the OP..
Tell us..
"What's so Special About FREE Home Bible Studies?"..
Besides the Bait and Switch?..
JW`s don`t have Bible Studys..
They Study WBT$ literature about the Bible..
..........................
... OUTLAW
but outlaw, they are not the only shisters to use "free" as a salespoint. at least our local radio stations give away free key chains.
Gideon's gave out free Bibles for many, many years. Ever been in a hotel room? :P
Oooo, a "free" babble study ... woo hoo, you've hit the jackpot!
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. . . the specialty is to get you to go to the Kingdom Hall, just like Paul asked the jailer to do.
Thousands begin to worship Jehovah each year. Yet, must Bible studies be conducted with interested people for a long time, or is it possible for honesthearted ones to come to the point of baptism more quickly? Well, consider what happened in the case of the jailer and his household mentioned at Acts 16:25-34. Paul and Silas had been imprisoned at Philippi, but in the middle of the night, a great earthquake opened the prison doors. Thinking that all the prisoners had escaped and that he would be severely punished, the jailer was about to commit suicide when Paul told him that they were all there. Paul and Silas “spoke the word of Jehovah to him together with all those in his house.” That jailer and his family were Gentiles who had no background in the Holy Scriptures. Yet, in that one night, they became believers. More than that, “one and all, he and his were baptized.” Those were unusual circumstances, but new ones were taught basic truths and then learned other things at congregation meetings. Something similar should be possible today.
1996 The Watchtower, January 15, page 13, par. 13
What's so Special About FREE Home Bible Studies?
The so called 'study', focuses on watchtower publications that has ever changing doctrine rather than concentrate on the Bible itself.
Bible quotes are often out of context and flimsily plucked from here and there, stitched together to prop up some weird cult doctrine.
They certainly are NOT free. They cost you your family, your sanity, your freedom, your reasoning ability and ultimately your life. Once you are trapped in the cult your life will belong to 8 paedophile protecting popes in Brooklyn and they will expect your time, money and property.
FREE and BIBLE in this instance is a feckin' lie!
Ethos:
Calculating how many Bibles are sold in the United States is a virtually impossible task, but a conservative estimate is that in 2005 Americans purchased some twenty-five million Bibles
The number of households in the United States in 2000 was 105.5 million.
It seems fairly clear that the supposedly 'conservative' 'estimate' is wildly inaccurate.
Unless we are to accept that one in every five* households in the US purchased a new Bible in 2005. That is, on average, every household in the US purchases a new Bible about every five years. And we're expected to believe this happens every year, such that after 5 years, all households have purchased a new Bible.
*I previously said "(about) four" but I've changed to 5 to account for population growth between 2000 and 2005.
Are we really expected to believe that so many Americans are reading their Bibles so much that every household needs a new one every five years. Rubbish.
Ethos, don't you remember why the WTS now gives away Bibles on donation, rather than sell them like they used to? To avoid tax; not out of any form of benevolance. Do you remember that they tried to prevent having to give them away on a donation basis, by siding with Jimmy Swagart? Do you remember the letter that showed the Watchtower tried to double-dip with the new arrangement, telling publishers that still should "donate" the old sales price, and then also donate what donations they received from the householder.
The irony of it all is that their tax avoidance is why they are suffering financially now. If they just paid the relatively minor amount of tax, which is restricted to profits only, they would be far better off financially now. Looks like they didn't consult Jehovah on that decision. If any corporate CEO made such a stragic blunder they would have lost their job. Shame the popelike GB hold to no such accountability.
Free home bible studies are commendable, especially when it's based on the original good news Galatians 1:6-10 and done in context, namely, Exegesis and NOT eisegesis.
Question: "What is the difference between exegesis and eisegesis?"
Answer: Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches in Bible study. Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.
The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.
Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words.
Second Timothy 2:15 commands us to use exegetical methods: “Present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” An honest student of the Bible will be an exegete, allowing the text to speak for itself. Eisegesis easily lends itself to error, as the would-be interpreter attempts to align the text with his own preconceived notions. Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.
@ Ethos - Hey bud, I understand your point here. I don't think it was anyones assertion that bible sales are not a serious money making endeavor. I mean your post illustrates that very well.
The point of the first post is that JW's are not the only ones that offer FREE bible studies. Most people in fact, already have some kind of bible in their home who may be interested in a study. We just usually switch them over to the NWT for ease of use and continuity with the publications right?
It is absolutely 100% true that JW's are not super unique in their offer of FREE bible studies. Many other faiths, groups, missions, ministries, for goodness sake even the Catholic church.....offer free materials if they are asked for. Many of those same groups offer bible studies. The format and content is the thing that is different, not what is being offered.
