Opinions of MEN?

Sunspot

The FDS said;

"The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or any set of men, nor is it published according to the whims of men. No man's opinion is expressed in the Watchtower." WT 11/1,1931 p.327

When questioned about the validity of a WTS doctrine, we are told that it is "bible-based" (tm), and insist that it is God's opinion because it is based on God's word, the Bible.

This term "bible-based" (tm) can and DOES leave a lot of wiggle room for MISinterpretation. How many times have you watched a movie on TV, and they put up the announcement on the screen that "this story is BASED ON a real-life event"?

We all take that to mean that the movie wasn't portrayed on the screen exactly as it happened originally, or was written, but the "second-party" writer has put his own spin on the material.

This is how I now see the "information" dispensed from the WTS. They take an "idea" from the bible and expound, elaborate, enhance and embellish it to suit their own teachings. We find this time after time!

When it becomes impossible to follow one of these so-called "bible-based" WTS principles any longer---they conveniently come up with the "old light-new light" twist to placate the JWs and try to appear semi-credible in the process. It's an ongoing game enjoyed by the GB/FDS towards the R & F JWs!

So can we take "bible-based" doctrines or information (ala WTS) seriously, or can we ignore it as "enhanced and embellished"---opinions of MEN?

How do YOU view reading something that bible "based" as opposed to "from" the bible?

TD

"Bible-based" is human opinion based on the Bible.

Claiming to know God's "opinion" is a claim to know what God was consciously thinking at the time the Bible was written even though that opinion is nowhere expressed in the words that were written.

It's a claim to know the mind of God and is consequently a claim to inspiration for all intents and purposes.

Obviously Secret

Heh that's what gets me most also. Not just the watchtower but with everybody pretty much. Hell, trinity, so many other things plus the stuff the WTS puts out is all man's interpretation of different things.

How can we elaborate birthdays from a few crap scriptures, and not celebrating birthdays cause the view of the bible maybe that death is greater than birth and that we get presents anyways. I have never had a day just for me, ever.

So I dunno that's where all secular religion gets me. It's man's interpretation of it. I'd just live it to what it says, not the extra add-ons that change every year.

kls

I agree they sure know how to twist words and meanings to suit their own needs. They also get some of their ideas from other religion based beliefs , such as Adventist which Russell used.

zen nudist

books are mirrors of the soul... no monkey looking into a bible will find God staring back....

what experience you bring with you into the story is what you find while you read it...not what the author experienced, not necessarily anything like what he intended....

then there is the ASSumption that the bible is a coherent work from start to finish...that God is behind it all, so that Author A and Author B cannot be contradicting themselves as your common reading might suppose.

cyber-sista

The WT magazine is the lawbbook of the JWs. I was made well aware of this when the elders gave me council using the magazines to tell me how I should live my life and feel about this or that. In the end I wrote the society and was sent another list of old WT articles in answer to my questions about the problems the elders were creating in my life. I began to wonder how I could apply these "old light" inconsistant articles to my life. The WT is the ever changing law-book of the JW religion--if (supposedly) God's word never changes then why would the WT? (For a person who is assuming the WT is from God.)

Opinions of men--YES!

Sunspot

It's also "revealing" when a JW has a question about something, and an elder will direct him to go to a WT publication----to "get Jehovah's mind on the matter".

Relying on the literature rather than on the bible itself tells a LOT in how the WTS/FDS/GB opinions are held in heigher esteem than the bible!

The changing doctrines that one would be disfellowshipped for violating years ago---that same "violation" doesn't apply today---but JWs will swear that it's still "food from God" anyway.

The WTS doesn't ever address this situation---all those folks that were DFed and never given an apology.

All those who didn't get organ transplants because the WTS's "food from God" told them that it was cannibalism.

All those couples that never had children because the "end was just around the corner" and they should be putting all the time they could in service peddling literature.

All those that never went beyond a high school education because the WTS said it was a waste of time in this dying old system.

All the older folks that never put away insurance or any kind of funds to see them through their golden years, because the WTS told them 30 years ago that they wouldn't NEED it.

All this "food from God" WAS merely MEN'S opinions, and this is only the tip of the iceberg!

And the JWs listen intently and follow along like the blind sheep they are......thanking the Watchtowergod for their "blessings" of being the ONLY religion on the earth that God approves of and speaks to.....

blobby

Been visiting this site for a few weeks now and I must say it's really interesting and an eye opener to learn about the "truth" but the same old issues are mentioned time after time eg..........

The WTS doesn't ever address this situation---all those folks that were DFed and never given an apology.
All those who didn't get organ transplants because the WTS's "food from God" told them that it was cannibalism.
All those couples that never had children because the "end was just around the corner" and they should be putting all the time they could in service peddling literature.
All those that never went beyond a high school education because the WTS said it was a waste of time in this dying old system.
All the older folks that never put away insurance or any kind of funds to see them through their golden years, because the WTS told them 30 years ago that they wouldn't NEED it.

If it isn't the above being mention, its the "silent lambs" or "big business" or "the 1975" issue .......not wanting to play the SL one down but if as Sunspot says, the repetitive is ..........

" ........only the tip of the iceberg!"

Where is the rest of it.....................?

Sorry Sunspot, not picking on you !! Just like to have something more substantial.

Opinions of MEN?

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