WT Doctrine, Population rather than Generation

VM44

The Watchtower has forced a rather strange interpretation of the word "generation" in order to keep their doctrinal beliefs concerning the year 1914 consistent with the words of Jesus "This generation will not pass..."

However, the Watchtower's "overlapping" definition of the word generation is strange and unnatural to common use. According to the Watchtower, a grandfather, son, and grandson all living at the same time would make up a single generation. Ths does not make sense.

Here is a definition of the word generation.

"Generation, the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time."

Now consider a definition of the word "Population."

"Population, the total of individuals occupying an area or making up a whole."

It seesm that the Watchtower has taken the concept of a "population over a time interval" and gven that meaning to the word "generation"

I do not know what the Koine Greek word is for "population" or if there is even such a word in the language.

Regardless, it is easy to see that the Watchtower is playing games with Biblical prophecy and interpretation by giving a new meaning to a simple word used by everyone.

Julia Orwell

Good point. I wonder if subsequent Nwt translations would change the wording from generation to population.

LostGeneration

This is what happens when you lie, and instead of admitting you lied you stack another lie on top of it.

integ

It doesn't matter. The "truth" to the hardcore members of the flock, is whatever the GB says it is. All the GB has to do is sell people that THEY are the ones chosen by God to lead his people on earth.

The fact that so many would believe that concept and be "sold" on it is mind boggling.

stuckinarut2

Great observation VM44!

they have successfully confused the term "generation" with "population"

When does someone ever say "my grandfather and I are of the same generation"?

A.proclaimer

Their definition of generation is closer to the word "contemporaries"- a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another. But with a mix of "population". It's a really odd concept they had to come up with.

yadda yadda 2

Hmmm can't quite agree re 'population'. That has a geographic area meaning only, not a time-based, inter-generational meaning. Rather, they've replaced 'generation' with something more like 'era' or 'age.' Either way, it's 100% non-scriptural.

ERA ˈɪərə/ noun a long and distinct period of history.

"his death marked the end of an era"
synonyms: epoch, age, period, time, aeon, span; More
- a system of chronology dating from a particular event. "the dawn of the Christian era"
  synonyms: epoch, age, period, time, aeon, span; More

dogon

The fact is simple, Generation as Jesus used it or is writen to have used it, was as a time limit. The question was what will be the sign of the second coming, Jesus said this generation shall not pass away before all these things occur. If he meant that fucking stupid deffinition given by the cult it would be absolutly meaningless.

Apognophos

The issue is not so much the definition of "generation" which the Society follows; it's that the center point for the generation is probably around 1992 instead of 1914 ever since the concept of overlapping anointed groups was introduced.

sir82

They've doubled down on the "generation" teaching by including it in the first chapter of their shiny new "God's Kingdom Rules" book released at the latest regional convention. It even has a color chart to help explain it!

The "generation" definition they've come up with is very near to, if not at, the top of the list of "most convoluted" doctrines they've ever, in 135 years, come up with. But they somehow seem incapable of just leaving it alone. They mention on it in nearly every circuit or regional event. And now they've put it into print yet again.

They're like a child picking at a scab.

WT Doctrine, Population rather than Generation

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