Ex JWs who use the catch phrase "Friends" (page 2)

ozziepost

You nailed it, Carla !

It quacks like a duck

WingCommander

A little history about the term "Friends", in context to religion.

The original Bible Students were founded by CT Russell, in Pennsylvania. In PA at that time, CT was around and exposed to:

Adventists

Quakers

Masons

Christadelphians

Many of these belonged to the Masonic groups/clubs, and hence would discuss more than just business over fine cigars and Brandy.

CT picked and choose what he liked from the surrounding groups, threw in some Numberology and Pyramidolgy (also in style at the time), and wha-laa! The Bible Students were born!!! Like "Judge" Rutherford, his title of "Pastor" Russell was complete Bullshit! He had ZERO pastoral education! In fact, he could not read or translate Hebrew OR Greek! He only went to school to age 14!

The term "Friends" was borrowed from the Quakers. To this day they can be found, and their "Meeting Houses" are historical landmarks in the Northeast USA. It is a term they used among themselves.

Originally, BIble Students met in groups called Ecclesia, which was a term for Congregations borrowed from the Christadelphians. Later, buildings were constructed which came to be known as Kingdom "Halls", similar to Masonic Halls.

Early Bible Student literature is covered with the Winged-Sun (solar) Disc, which was influenced directly by CT's interest in Egyptology and Pyramidology, as well as Masonry. It should be noted that CT was NOT a Mason, but shared similar interests and beliefs. The eary Harold of Christ's Presence as well as other WT literature up thru Rutherford featured the common Masonic "Crown and Cross" logo.

Biahi

Witnesses should use “comrade” instead of “friends”, seems more fitting.

punkofnice

biahi - Witnesses should use “comrade” instead of “friends”, seems more fitting.

Or 'fellow unworthy one'.

road to nowhere

Just ask them. Witness never borrow terms, ideas, or research. If we dig we can even probably find some other over lapping story.

Diogenesister

You're not alone.

It's sooooo annoying when exjws say "friends". If you're a Christian say Brothers and sisters. I have no issue with that, it's literally part of your faith.

But "friends"? The Watchtower seemed to change to friends some time back. The GB rarely use brothers and almost never sisters. Why? Because most of you are NOT their "brothers", of course. And even if a woman is part of the 144000 there's no such thing as "sisters" to them. So maybe Rutherford was right, women do change in to men in heaven!

Diogenesister

Early Bible Student literature is covered with the Winged-Sun (solar) Disc, which was influenced directly by CT's interest in Egyptology and Pyramidology,

It was all the rage back then.

I presumed 'friends' and even 'the meetings' came from local Pennsylvania faiths such as Quaker's.

neat blue dog

I hate "In these last days" with "these" typically emphasized. It could literally be tacked onto any thought and make it sound meaningful or foreboding.

punkofnice

NBD - The study of 'weasel words' in the Washtowel Publicatiobs(tm), is an interesting thing in itself.

Ex JWs who use the catch phrase "Friends"

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