by cedars 211 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
It seems like a way to solidify power and thwart challenges from other outside anointed members. Top down power, very Catholic. Knorr had all the power during his reign of terror, he held positions over the corporations and the inner circle. David Splane probably bolted straight up in bed one night with this brilliant idea
Nice work cedars.
Thanks for the work Cedars. This raises lots of doctrinal questions and really is, as you say, a maze.
In some ways, however, it's just a shuffling of papers. There is lots of bluster but no substance to this "new light". It serves to consolidate the position of the GB as masters who must be obeyed but where does it leave the "truth" about God's purposes? Does it make any difference to the timing of Armageddon? Does it shed any new light on the "last days" or the "generations"? Does it provide new information on current world events in the context of Biblical prophesy? It doesn't even seem to explain why it would take well over 100 years for God's organisation to form and come up with ever changing explainations of the Bible yet still be considered faithful enough for less than 10 people to be considered as providing the right food at the right time.
The whole thing to me is yet further justification that the whole thing is a bunch of utter mumbo jumbo yet I can see this being lapped up by the masses and something they view as making perfect sense.
Understanding Watchtower New Light.............
lots of hard work there Cedars ( applause )
so--have i got this right--the "great tribulation" starts when the UN turns on " false religion"----a future event---may be soon---or may be very much later.
is this a way of handing over the game plan to the UN---and lets the watchtower off the hook over this prophecy?
also--the UN member nations are made up of lots of "false religion"------so--does this mean the UN turns on itself?
i cant help thinking the watchtower has written itself a nice cop out clause here------"the end" begins when a future event never happens.
big mac - Yes, the Great Tribulation supposedly starts when the UN attacks Christendom along with the rest of religion.
I actually think this teaching is problematic for the Society, for two reasons:
Cedars
Thank you Cedars & the 'mole'.
What hit me most between the eyes is the GB's arrogant assumption that Christ WILL find them doing his will. No humility there then.
Yet another WT prediction that will not come true. The only thing the Wt has a 100% record on is failed predictions.
Well done again Cedars, and convey our thanks to your source.
Adding to Cedars 2 points above.
The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Article 18:
" Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. "
Article 20:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association."
This declaration was first adopted on Dec 10th 1948 as a consequence of WWII.
The 60th anniversary was in 2008 and the UN had a year long schedule of events around the world to reaffirm their commitment to the values of the UDHR and to disseminate information about the Declaration.
The UN has been very supportive of WT when it comes to upholding their right to worship, preach and other things. For example, this was written by the UN in specific reference to JW's who were being prosecuted by Greece:
"resolution 1989/59 of 8 March 1989 of the Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations, reaffirmed inter alia in 1991 (resolution 1991/65 of 6 March 1991) and in 1993 (resolution 1993/84 of 10 March 1993), which recognizes "the right of everyone to have conscientious objections to military service as a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as laid down in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" (para. 1) and which recommends to Member States "with a system of compulsory military service, where such provision has not already been made, that they introduce for conscientious objectors various forms of alternative service" (para. 3) which "should be in principle of a non-combatant or civilian character, in the public interest and not of a punitive nature" (para. 4)."
WT is very fortunate to have such a committed organisation willing to defend WT around the world, to enable WT to practise its' religion in freedom.
Splash.
Thank you Cedars, great work.
It's the dismissing of Russell that I find to be the most stunning part of the "new light."
Thanks cofty
It's the dismissing of Russell that I find to be the most stunning part of the "new light."
Agreed. The fact that they have made Christ's selection for him in advance is also quite a biggie!
Cedars
