Prophetic Failure: They Can't Escape!

by metatron 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  metatron

  I picked up a new book called "New Religions: A Guide". In the section on Jehovah's Witnesses, it says:

  "A major blow in Knorr's presidency was the failure of the prediction that the world would end in 1975, which had been predicted

  in the 8 October 1966 issue of Awake. The organization acknowledged their error in the Watchtower of 15 March 1980." (pg. 40, 41)

  I love it. Even when a secular work describes Jehovah's Witnesses - without any religious polemical motive - they still can't

  escape the legacy of 120 years of prophetic failure.

  metatron
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  from http://quotes.watchtower.ca/1975.htm

  *** Watchtower 1980 March 15 pp.17-18 Choosing the Best Way of Life ***

  5 In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man's existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated.

  6 In its issue of July 15, 1976, The Watchtower, commenting on the inadvisability of setting our sights on a certain date, stated: "If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises." In saying "anyone," The Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah's Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date.

  Practically borders on almost nearly taking responsibility. Kinda.

  You gotta respect an organization that can stand up five years after the fact and almost own up to a false, life-wrecking prophecy in an article entitled "We f*cked up Choosing the Best Way of Life". Yep, very admirable.

  Dave
• 

  lawrence

  Nah! Any minute now the head spirit honchos of the FDS will realize while sipping gin and apple juice that 1975 was a "Marked Year" when the current "Marking Work" began for 40 years. LISTEN!

  1975 + 40 - and we're to 2014, which is 1914 + 100, or 1874 + 140 = 2014

  Now, here is the 140 years of relevance; OKAY WATCH THIS ... Hezekiah prayed for added years to his life and got years added; RIGHT!

  So... at the disassociation with the U.N., the FDS prayed that God add time (and they not be found out), and AHA! Another 20 years was added, past the antitypical 120 years before the flood.

  It's all good BABY! 1975 still works! Okay? OKay! Let's go bang doors, bang a gong, or bang something or someone - I'm out of here! Let the good times roll! 1975 still works! Okay? Okay!
• 

  sir82

  How to apologize without really accepting responsibility:

  It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones

  Can't...quite...bring themselves to say "we regret", can they?

  Imagine a similar scenario:

  Wife: "I hired a private detective! He followed you going into that motel with your secretary! I have videotape of your affair!"

  Husband: "It is to be regretted that such a tape seems to have portrayed certain actions"
• 

  jaffacake

  Can you ever imagine the Watchtower humbly admitting they are wrong, for example about 1975, ot the 'this generation' teaching and apologising unreservedly to their followers? That is what the Worldwide Church of God did. They too were an offshoot of adventism, just like Jehovah's Witnesses. Just imagine the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses publishing something similar to this.

  Forgive us our trespasses

  The Worldwide Church of God, sponsor of the Plain Truth magazine, has changed its position on numerous long-held beliefs and practices during the past few years.

  …we are acutely aware of the heavy legacy of our past.

  Our flawed doctrinal understanding clouded the plain gospel of Jesus Christ and led to a variety of wrong conclusions and unscriptural practices. We have much to repent of and apologise for.

  We were judgemental and self righteous – condemning other Christians, calling them “so-called Christians” and labelling them “deceived” and “instruments of Satan”.

  We imposed on our members a works-oriented approach to Christian living. We required adherence to burdensome regulations of the Old Testament code. We exercised a strongly legalistic approach to church government.

  Our former Old Covenant approach fostered attitudes of exclusivism and superiority rather than the new covenant teaching of brotherhood and unity.

  We overemphasized predictive prophecy and prophetic speculation, minimising the true gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

  These teachings and practices are a source of supreme regret. We are painfully mindful of the heartache and suffering that has resulted from them.

  We’ve been wrong. There was never an intent to mislead anyone. We were so focused on what we thought we were doing for God that we didn’t recognize the spiritual path we were on. Intended or not, that path was not the Biblical one.

  As we look back, we ask ourselves how we could have been so wrong. Our hearts go out to all whom our teachings have misled in the Scriptures. We don’t minimise your spiritual disorientation and confusion. We earnestly desire your understanding and forgiveness.

  We make no attempt to cover up the doctrinal and scriptural errors of our past. It is not our intention to merely paper over the cracks. We are looking our history squarely in the face and confronting the faults and sins we find. They will always remain a part of our history, serving as a perpetual reminder of the dangers of legalism.

  Worldwide Church of God – late 1980s March/April Edition of Plain Truth