Is the Watchtower the most "dumbed down" Christian theology?

by cantleave 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  cantleave

  When I was a witness I used to think that the WT's interpretation of Ezekiel Daniel and Revelation was quite didactic and intellectually robust.

  Then I left and started reading the works of real Christian theologians and scholars. I was amazed at how superficial and vacuous the Watchtower theology was in comparison.

  Since I have left it would seem the standard of scholarly insight has dropped to a new low. I am sure that this is because for generations the message has been, "don't go to college...." and a culture of mediocrity dominates, resulting in an uneducated leadership creating doctrine.

  My question is, is there any other cult or even mainstream religion that is so intellectually bereft?
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  Phizzy

  The mainstream religions all have their intellectual giants , past and present. The LDS (Mormons) have their own Universities so how good the intellectual development or breadth of knowledge their graduates have is hard to quantify for me. The fact that most remain LDS after college says a lot.

  Strange little cults like Scientology , the Exclusive Brethren etc I would doubt are over-endowed with bright people.

  I would say the WT has no scholar of note to call on in the field of Theology, nor in some related fields, Rolf Furulli is retired now and is learning how to read neo-babylonian Tablets and their astronomical references, but he is a long way behind our own Ann O.Malley and will still count as an armchair scholar in that field.

  So, a dearth of intellectual ability at the top, and the R&F are no better educated than some who have spent their life under the rule of the Taliban.
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  trujw

  I was born in so can't understand half the words you used? Is didactic about a penis? Oh we'll I will just pray more
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  cantleave

  Being uneducated is like a badge of honour for some JW's.
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  jgnat

  Surely there are others as shallow. America is the land of the free. Anyone can hang a shingle. How about the churches that spread their teachings through comic strips? Or some of the amateur creationists who decide to take on a skeptic? Or the red-letter Christians that limit their theology to Jesus' words?

  Moonies?

  Bahai?
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  Deputy Dog

  I wouldn't call the WT's theology "Christian at all.
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  Phizzy

  I agree jgnat.the JW's are not alone in their ignorance or in peddling nonsense, but when they claim to be the ultimate authority on Earth as to the meaning of scripture, you would have thought they would not leave themselves so open to derision.

  It is so obvious to someone just doing a cursory study of the Bible that they simply have no idea of how to read and understand it, let alone any real insight.
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  Satanus

  I have heard it said that their doctrines aren't developed enough to qualify as theology. Theology tends lock a religion in. The wt removes and replaces too much to be able to develop a theology.

  S
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  Sulla

  I think I agree with Satanus. Is there anything the JWs say that any serious theologian bothers to interact with?
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  transhuman68

  Theology? What theology? Just take the Bible as simply read, add some ravings by that old windbag Russell, a bit of hocus-pocus to find the magic formula by combining completely unrelated scriptures, and you're good to go. No time to waste developing doctrine- the End of The World is coming... etc. etc