Why do the watchtower studies have no doctrine anymore?

by truthseeker 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  truthseeker

  Over the last few years, it has become apparent that the teachings which were popular in the 80s, the ones that have not changed (unlike the generation of 1914), are no longer being mentioned in the study articles.

  Teachings like the 1200 days, the gentile times, even 1914 is not referenced with 607BCE anymore. It seems as if each article is nothing more than a lesson, how can we do more, give more, donate more etc.

  It seems that only their books contain the doctrine they expound, the watchtower has no doctrine.

  what happened to the articles on hellfire, immortality of the soul, condition of the dead? these are never mentioned in WT articles.

  the quality of the articles is so dumb it's laughable.

  if you have a copy of the December 1st 2003 article, note how at the end of one of the study articles, 'could we perhaps donate more on a weekly basis, as did the eraly Christians?'

  there are so many begging articles of late its funny.

  the WT is simply no longer considered serious study material.
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  simplesally

  I know what you mean. I remember when I'd get the magazines, I would eagerly look at the study articles and try to see if there was a good point, new light, etc. Now, its just about stuff people should already know, repetition and begging for money and hours.
• 

  rocketman

  I haven't gotten the mags for about a year, but yeah, even prior to that, I noticed less and less "meat" in the WT, and even in the publications generally. I actually wonder if they think that the average jw doesn't care much about doctrine or prophecy (they would probably be right - most jws I knew could give a hoot).

  As far as the money thing goes, they did have an end-of-year article each year about donations, so I'm not sure if there is some extra push in that direction or not.
• 

  acsot

  if you have a copy of the December 1st 2003 article, note how at the end of one of the study articles, 'could we perhaps donate more on a weekly basis, as did the eraly Christians?'

  Wow, I've never seen their begging done in such a blatant fashion.
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  Room 215

  Meanwhile more money gets squeezed out of the friends; new, unnecessary buildings get built and the books get thinner and cheesier.
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  metatron

  Good post

  I've been saying this for quite a while - if you're an elder, you may also notice how self-referenced

  and arbitrary the Society is. I got sick of hearing Circuit Overseers quote obscure letters and Watchtower

  articles as the equivalent of anything the Bible ever said.

  The lack of doctrinal discussion screams out the fact that the organization is an empty shell, devoid of inspiration

  or deep thought. Take away the theocratic braggadocio and I don't think they're sure of themselves anymore.

  Freddie's been dead a long time now.

  metatron
• 

  95stormfront

  the WT is simply no longer considered serious study material.

  I wasn't aware that it ever was considered serious study material.
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  jws

  They go door-to-door with the Watchtowers and leave them around at laundromats and waiting areas. So much of their "deep" stuff has to be explained and is not ready for public viewing or would just sound looney to the public. They always used to have a "fluff" article, then the weighty stuff as the study articles. I always wondered what the hell the people who took the mags were thinking when they read some of those.

  Or maybe, since the mags are more accessible to people like us (finding them laying around), maybe they want to hide the doctrinal changes as long as they can by burying them in books.
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  Analysis

  My Question is what doctrinal changes have they made in the last 5 years?

  They now have the minor clarifications in Questions from Readers.
• 

  Loris

  MacHislopp has been tracing the Society?s history of doctrinal revision from 1874 to 1914 as the presence of Jesus.

  The 1874 date was promoted, full steam ahead, during the early years. Then in the late 20's the mention of that all important fact was hard to find. In 1929 in the book ?Prophesy? the 1874 date was mentioned. Then the next year, 1930, a cleverly worded hint was published.

  * Quote from the year 1930:

  ? The Golden Age ? page 503

  "In Matthew 24 Jesus gives his disciples some proofs that he would be present...These tangible evidences will be the beginning of the work of destroying the present evil conditions and systems. This work of destruction began in 1914... If it is true that Jesus has been present since the year 1914, then it must be admitted that nobody has seen Him with his natural eyes." -

  Notice that they do not come right out and say that Jesus? Parousia began in 1914.

  Then our resident historian, MacHislopp, found the next mention of the all important date of the Presence of the King in 1943. In the book ? The Truth Shall Make You Free?.

  Why the gap of so many years?

  Why are they avoiding heavy doctrinal issues now?

  Is a major shift in long cherished doctrine on the horizon?

  Are they watching the WorldWide Church of God to see if they can survive a major doctrinal switch? Are they wanting to follow the same path?

  I sure don?t know, but this inquiring mind does wonder.

  Loris