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

by cantleave 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Cold Steel

  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.

  Being LDS myself, and a convert, and having graduated Brigham Young University, I was amazed at how competent Mormon professors of ancient scripture, church historians, archeologists, anthropologists and other theological professors were, and how much better they've become since the 70s and 80s. They've developed a very decent apologetics arm and, of course, those that do leave the church tend to be bitter (as are many who leave various religions), but I note that the overwhelming number of critics resort mostly to name calling and not cogent reviews, particularly as it pertains to scripture.

  Currently, two of the hot topics being addressed (among many) are Book of Mormon geography and DNA and the Book of Mormon. And rather than being shills for the various professors who believe the events in the Book of Mormon took place in what is now the mid-United States, the Gulf states or in South America or Mesoamerica, they've pretty much led the scholarly push towards Mesoamerica because the preponderance of evidence points away from the other and towards middle America. There's a lot on YouTube about it; just do a search for fairlds. And they cover many other topics. In fact, Catholicism and Mormonism have worked side by side on both ancient Christian manuscripts and we've worked with the Islamic community to preserve much of their holy writings and historical documents.

  Conversely, the JW scholarship is woefully at odds with that of most other religions. One thing that impressed me was that LDS scholars have earned the respect of many scholars of other faiths. In fact, one of the first high level theological addresses I attended there was by Father George McRae, head of the Harvard Divinity School. Such ecumenical endeavors would never happen at a JW facility, mostly because JW scholarship is atrocious, though I'd love to hear a lively debate on the integrity (or lack thereof) of the New World Translation of the Holy Bible.

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  Phizzy

  Thanks for the info Cold Steel, I have no first hand knowledge as I said of LDS further education, but having met many of their young people here on missionary work, I rather suspected it might be good, the standard of education of these young people seems way above that of JW's who have simply left school and "pioneered".

  I will check out your link and maybe start a topic ?? We'll see.
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  designs

  The study of ancient Jewish/Christian history, languages, and culture has some value. As well as their religions and their beliefs and contributions to the advance of civilization.

  All Christian beliefs have limited real value other than the Golden Rule, which was not original to Jesus. The Christian believes on a level like the ancient Norse who believed their Gods lived in a place called 'Asgard' and a second realm called the 'garden of paradise'.

  The Wt. Leaders were trying to be equal parts original and ancient. Some part of the human psyche needs fantasy.
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  Sulla

  Quick question: Threads like this seem to have an obligatory, off-topic observation with the general idea being that, of course, the entire idea of God is false. Designs has helpfully played that role here. Don't we think these sorts of posts are essentially in violation of forum rules?

  Yes, I understand the irony of posting off-topic about posing off-topic. But that horse done left the barn already.
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  designs

  A little back-story on 'dumbed down' Wt. theology seems to offend.... Theology has little value.
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  2+2=5

  What about the 'pioneer school' or the 'theocratic ministry school'. This type of divine education is vastly superior to a worldly education.

  JWs have this view about the 'education' they receive. They like to brag when they have some illiterate bible study who comes into the truth and learns to read at a 5th grade level and starts giving talks on the school. "Isn't it marvelous the way Jehovah educates his people!". Jws honestly think The GB is just amazing with it's depth of research and use of language, some call them celebrated scholars.
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  Satanus

  2+2

  'What about the 'pioneer school' or the 'theocratic ministry school'. This type of divine education is vastly superior to a worldly education.'

  From what i hear, pioneer school is merely downloading wt propaganda to the students. There is no room for lively discussion which could generate new links in thought, such as is theology.

  S
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  Mum

  I grew up in Appalachia (Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky). There are a lot of churches there full of uneducated people who insist that the King James version of the Bible is the only one that has authority. Some are semi-literate, some completely illiterate. Both of my grandfathers were country preachers. My mom's dad finished third grade and went no further in school. He read the Bible aloud constantly. He thought "without natural affection" meant wearing make-up, and pronounced "lucre" as "looser."

  However, the people I knew back then, though they were in the backwoods and didn't have formal education, had a purity of heart and certainly had their priorities straight. It was a struggle to survive, so they knew how to grow crops without modern machinery, how to preserve food, how to stop pain without a doctor, and how to endure hardship.

  Some of their wisdom is preserved in books and on film: The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnow, Coal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn, and others I cannot call to mind right now.

  Regards,

  SandraC