My Two Favorite Paragraphs Ever Printed in the Watchtower

by LostGeneration 8 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  LostGeneration

  *** w80 3/15 pp. 17-18 pars. 5-6 Choosing the Best Way of Life ***

  5 In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated.

  6 In its issue of July 15, 1976, The Watchtower, commenting on the inadvisability of setting our sights on a certain date, stated: “If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.” In saying “anyone,” The Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah’s Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date.

  Conclusion - Why in the hell would anyone listen to anything published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, based on their own admission that they completely botched everything associated with 1975, whether they want to label it a "prophecy" or not.

  Side note- I bolded several items there, but the last sentence that is italicized shows up that way on my WT CD Rom...Can anyone confirm/scan that they italicized that sentence in the original article? While the "apology" is mealy mouthed drivel, I'm really surprised that they would actually put in italics "persons having to do with the publication of the information"
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  fresh prince of ohio

  We, God's spirit-directed FAITHFUL SLAVE of Christ's prophecy, got you all worked up, showed you how APPROPRIATE it would be for 1975 to be the year. AWW we're sorry! We're even sorry to ourselves! See how sorry we are! Now obey.
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  Atlantis

  1980 Watchtower, March 15, pp.17-18, par. 5-6 . . . . . . . . . Nevada
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  Bob_NC

  I read something else into the italics, including persons it reads. Fred Franz was being scolded by the new FDS, newly appointed anointed men since 1966 when the book was printed. They all knew that none of them had concocted this. But how to scold Fred Franz and get away with it? Note, it does not read including the publishers of this magazine. Nope, it mentions persons having to do with the publication of the information. What do you think?
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  blondie

  has led to attempts at setting dates

  With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God,

  There were statements made then

  Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility

  It is to be regretted

  The Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah’s Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date.

  In saying “anyone,” The Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah’s Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date.

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  The WTS organization has used this technique many times in the past, present, and in the future, to distance itself from responsibility, keeping those responsible nameless, not individuals, as somehow a group mind did this. The third person as well as blaming the "flock." Using the same technique the WTS has said was wrong of Adam, "the woman you gave me"...

  *** it-1 p. 45 Adam ***

  With full knowledge Adam willfully and deliberately chose to disobey and then as a criminal he tried to hide. When brought to trial, instead of showing sorrow or regret or asking for forgiveness, Adam attempted to justify himself and pass the responsibility off on others, even blaming Jehovah for his own willful sin. “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree and so I ate.” (Ge 3:7-12)
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  problemaddict

  "sometimes he permits us to be in error, so that we see our need to always look to him...."

  Really? This is why Jehovah allows you to be in error?

  Unbelieveable.
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  blondie

  That concept seems to violate this scripture:

  James 1:13 When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone .
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  LostGeneration

  Thanks Atlantis/Nevada for the scan!

  @Bob_NC - Interesting idea. I believe Ray Franz took credit for the "apology" in CoC, so I assume he wrote the whole article. I wonder if he was targeting Freddie there. If my memory serves, he wasn't very complimentary of Uncle Fred in his books.

  @blondie-Good observation, its all pass the buck, nobody is ever responsible. Also this quote struck me.

  "There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility"

  What statements?????? I mean of course after 1975, but I know of no such statements published prior that were cautionary about 1975.
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  AndDontCallMeShirley

  Apparently, it's less work to concoct statements composed exclusively of bovine residue than to simply say, "We're sorry, we messed up".

  In WT mentality, "the buck stops here" gets translated to. "What buck? The buck never got here."