by Gadget 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I remember being told that one of the reasons Jehovah rejected ancient Isreal was that they had put too much emphasis on the 'oral torah', that is, they placed more importance on the laws they came up with themselves rather than the mosaic law they had received from Jehovah. Isn't that the same situation we have today with the wbts, and so wouldn't they be rejected by Jehovah because of this? How does the society explain this one?
Gadget
Edited for spelling.... again!
Gadget:
That is a very good observation. Of course, eventually the oral tradition was written down. That is why the Jews today have volumes that make up their Talmud. It consists of commentary and commentary upon the commentary. To show how extreme the rules became consider this. The Torah forbid the cooking of a kid in its mother's milk. From this one simple law, the whole concept of keeping Kosher orginated. Rules about keeping separate dishes for meat and diary products are still observed by orthodox Jews.
What is even worse in the Watchtower Society is that they have added its own arbitrary rules under the guise of being a Christian organization. The Bible is explicit about not being under law but under grace or "undeserved kindness." The leaders in the Watchtower Society are more like the Pharisees who demanded obedience to their "traditions" rather than to the spirit of the law.
I have always felt the same Gadget. I never did understand how their arbitrary laws and rules are different, or smiled on by God, but how the dogma of other religions is so flawed...whatever. Just another case of they're bad...not us!
bttt
From this one simple law, the whole concept of keeping Kosher orginated.
A small correction... the regulations for kosher are based on the whole range of dietary restrictions in the law, not just the one you cited.
Still, it's definitely true that the rules of kosher have become far more ritualized and formalized than those in the Torah. And of course, kosher is also a source of income for rabbis, who are paid to inspect food processing plants and certify that the food produced is kosher.
P.S. this thread doesn't have anything to do with Winston's debacle, does it? Sorry, couldn't resist.
excellent point gadget
