by Smiles 58 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Smiles: This question rests on a premise that Watch Tower may have, at one time in the past, actually had the spirit.
But your premise is wrong. There is not only no evidence that the WTBTS ever “had the spirit,” there is no evidence said spirit exists, or ever existed, at all—at anytime or anyplace.
I'm not sure if I understand the question, but would say that from a purely pragmatic standpoint, the pinnacle for the JW's occurred during the age of the "New World Society" during the 50's and 60's.
Part of this, I think, was the general optimism of the time period; part of it that JW doctrines were still plausible inasmuch as time had not yet run out and part of it was that life back then was different in ways that favored and facilitated groups like the JW's
Believe it or not, before cable, satellite and the internet, when you were lucky if you had more than three black and white channels on television, JW meetings were the high-point of people's weeks.
Your question makes as much sense as asking "When did Santa Claus become evil?"
Wrong premise as already stated by others.
Every person will have a different answer to that question. Each person accepted it at one time in their lives, goes through a period of strong belief, then doubt, then disbelief. For me personally, the disbelief came when I realized I had gotten screwed by not attending college, which came around 1980. Before that I would have thought that the religion was true and vibrant, after that it really started to fade fast.
As the old expression goes:
"When you've got it...you got it!"
Sorry, WT never had it...never will!
Now if you want to start a thread about proof that there's a Devil...the sheer existence of the WTBTS would be my first argument! : ) : ) : )
Vanderhoven7
''1954
In 1954 with the demotion of Jesus Christ to angelic status. From that point onward the possibility of relationship with Jesus ended.''
Or as someone else said, you cannot lose something you've never had.
On a personal note however, IMHO, I would have said if not for the previous 2 observations would be the 1975 fiasco failure and fallout. They jumped the shark again totally in 1995. They tried to gaslight the rank and file in 1995, as they did in 1975. Blaming the followers by putting too much stock in dates in stuff. And not being too presumptuous.
1917
Problem with quickly claiming WT never had the spirit, or that the spirit is a myth:
Probably the only persons that can make such a claim with any real validity are persons that were never associated with Watch Tower, or those that instantly detected Watch Tower failures and then immediately rejected Watch Tower.
