Research Guide for Jehovah's Witnesses - 2014 edition

by Magnum 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Magnum

  Did I miss something? Admittedly, I haven't been keeping up the way I used to. I just saw on jw.org a publication entitled "Research Guide for Jehovah's Witnesses". I was wondering what it was, so I downloaded the pdf version.

  from page 3:

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION

  Jehovah God urges his people to “keep searching” for understanding and discernment as though they were looking for “hidden treasures.” (Prov. 2:1-5) This means that we need to exert ourselves in searching for answers to our Bible questions and in finding help for our personal concerns in life. This Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses is designed to assist you in your search.

  This is not a comprehensive index that lists every subject that has been discussed in each of our publications. However, for each topic that is listed, there are references to current and relevant information in publications that have been produced in English, primarily from the year 2000 onward.

  Is this taking the place of the old comprehensive indexes?

  I see this as more dumbing down and more effort to hide and sanitize the org's past. Note especially "this is not a comprehensive index" and "current and relevant information" and "primarily from the year 2000 forward". Since it will refer to material primarily from 2000 forward, it's not only hiding the crazy Russell, Rutherford, Franz era stuff, but also more modern stuff. Also, I'm sure "current and relevant" translates to "filtered by us to provide only what we want you to know". More and more like N Korea... more information control.

  When I first saw the title of the publication, I thought it must be for Watchtower writers and I was wondering why it would be available online. "Research Guide" sounds so scholarly. But now it realize it's anti-scholar. Good God!!! Is one who is really going to 'keep searching for understanding and discernment as though he were looking for hidden treasures' going to use that publication? Is one who is going to 'exert himself in searching for Bible answers' going to satisfy his grand quest using that marvelous tool???

  Forgive me if I'm behind on this and it's already been discussed.
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  blondie

  Do they do the bound volumes any more? Do they do the annual indexes? Not every jw has access to the publications online and still depend on hard copies. If you have the WT-CD, then the index is built into it and you can search by terms. The WTS could put the whole CD now only www.jw.org but have chosen only to put on the last 10 years and no access to the KMs.

  The WTS would like to bury their written past...but they are using the technique of hiding it as much as possible.
• 

  BluesBrother

  references to current and relevant information in publications

  So if it is not current or relevant in their minds, like "old light" eg refs to a previous teaching on the 'generation' , I guess it won't be listed and lost to the searcher. 1984 is more appicable every day !
• 

  TheOldHippie

  Annual indexes, bound volumes and the CD are available, so there is no reason for worrying too much, is it? This new tool was advertised at last year's DC as a simplified research tool dealing with specific topics, that would not be a substitute for the CD, but be helpful for those not having a CD in their language, those in field service thru new devices connecting to the WOL etc.
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  problemaddict

  Here is my thought. The reasoning book has long been out of date. THIS "research guide" is its replacement. After all, they have already done the research on these subjects for the WT articles, why not just have a fastrack link to them?

  Just my personal thought on it.
• 

  pixel

  The point is that in general terms, the R&F are lazy. They want the GB/FDS/WT tell them what to do and believe. They don't research themselves, so, even if a witness have the bound volumes, he/she will reach to the internet for this pdf because is more short-and-to-the-point.

  The GB/FDS/WT knows that the average R&F do not research and does not like to read. Go to the TMS one day and hear how bad the students read. If you cant read out load, chances are you dont understand what you read.

  Also, the research guide only comes in pdf and online flavors.