The Watchtower's Deceptive Quotations

by metatron 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  metatron

  Frequently, the Watchtower will quote Church Fathers to try to justify its cult-like version of Christianity. A typical

  example is a recent Watchtower that cites Tertullian as evidence that Christians did not eat blood ( June 15, pg 29).

  The trouble with these citations is that they are so deceptively selective. Virtually no Witness will ever look up these ancient

  writings and see that ancient Christians were simply not Jehovah's Witnesses!

  Tertullian was very enthusiastic about hell-fire torment - and discusses the matter in a way that suggests such belief to be

  ordinary, widespread and average ( The Early Church Fathers/Bettenson pg 220 see also De Spectaculis, 30).

  While he spoke against Christians and war, he also spoke of Christians being in the army and receiving evident Divine favor.

  (Apologeticus, 42)

  Of particular interest is his remarks about ADULT baptism. He counsels DELAY of baptism in the case of those unmarried

  or otherwise less than fully adult. (De Baptismo, 18) Contrast this with the Watchtower's heartless 'dunk 'em and df 'em"

  in the case of countless teenagers. More than that, consider the following HYPOCRITICAL quote from the same 6/15 Watchtower

  about Anabaptists and their insistence on adult baptism:

  "Adult baptism was not simply a question of religious dogma; it was an issue of power. If baptism was delayed until adulthood-

  thus allowing a person to make a decision based on faith- some might not get baptised at all. And individuals not baptized would, at

  least to a degree, remain outside the control of the church. For some churches, adult baptism meant a loss of power". (pg 12)

  And that's exactly what it means to the Watchtower too, and why they persist in baptizing teenagers.

  metatron
• 

  Scully

  Excellent info, metatron. Thank you!!

  I'm saving this info to my favorites!

  Love, Scully
• 

  mineralogist

  Thanks metatron,
  that should clear the view about WT "authorities". If Tertullian is right at the one thing i should guess the other ideas also seems to be ok ... what a crap those WT writers do. The bad citations was a major point for leaving WTS for me.

  Could you maybe provide the details of the current one about blood you mentioned?
• 

  ColdRedRain

  Wasn't Tertullian the same guy that also had a part in creating Bible cannon with other religious whackjobs?
• 

  RR

  Oh, c'mon. What do you expect? If they misquote their own literature, why should you be surprised that they misquote others?

  RR
• 

  willyloman

  And individuals not baptized would, at least to a degree, remain outside the control of the church. For some churches, adult baptism meant a loss of power". (pg 12) And that's exactly what it means to the Watchtower too, and why they persist in baptizing teenagers.

  To read the WT's remarks, you'd think JWs were strongly opposed to baptizing minors. Not so. Go to any convention, take a good look at the group of folks getting baptized. Kids! If there was an age requirement (30 would be biblical, but even if it's 21), the number of baptisms would drop like a stone. This is the turd in the punchbowl they never talk about.
• 

  Poztate

  Contrast this with the Watchtower's heartless 'dunk 'em and df 'em"

  This is the turd in the punchbowl they never talk about.

  Ah...I love you guys...You have such a way with words...And so true.
• 

  codeblue

  Very interesting info.......thanks for sharing!
• 

  Flash

  "Adult baptism was not simply a question of religious dogma; it was an issue of power. If baptism was delayed until adulthood - thus allowing a person to make a decision based on faith - some might not get baptised at all.

  And that's exactly what it means to the Watchtower too, and why they persist in baptizing teenagers.

  Wouldn't surprise me a bit!