Oops, AuldSoul, my error! As you correctly point out, the WTBTS didn't exist yet. What I should have written was that C.T. Russell predicted Armageddon in 1874 (according to Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse). When nothing happened, he claimed that Jesus had returned INVISIBLY, and only those with "eyes of faith" could see him. Shortly thereafter, the predicted date was updated to 1914. Of course, Russell went on to form the WTBTS just a few years later, and many of those who had been his followers for years were among the membership. Thanks for pointing out my error.
gaiagirl
JoinedPosts by gaiagirl
-
10
apocolypse delayed.....................................
by telltruth incan anyone tell me how many times the wts has changed or indicated a date for the end since 1975?.
actually if anyone feels like it just give me the whole bag o crap... from the beginning of the wts to what ever the date is now.
if there are direct quotes from the wt the better.
-
-
-
10
apocolypse delayed.....................................
by telltruth incan anyone tell me how many times the wts has changed or indicated a date for the end since 1975?.
actually if anyone feels like it just give me the whole bag o crap... from the beginning of the wts to what ever the date is now.
if there are direct quotes from the wt the better.
-
-
gaiagirl
According to "The Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse" by Jason Boyett, the Watchtower Society has predicted Armageddgon for the years 1874, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1920, 1925, and 1975 (although the list may not be exhaustive). This book is really entertaining, and highly recommended reading. Also recommended is "Apocalypse Wow", by James Finn Garner (not the actor).
-
2
Great Book Review-Witch Child by Celia Rees
by gaiagirl ini just finished witch child, by celia rees.
this is an absorbing novel about a 14 year old named mary newbury living in 1659 england.
her grandmother is accused, tried, and convicted of being a witch, and arrangements are made for mary to be taken to the new world.
-
-
gaiagirl
I just finished Witch Child, by Celia Rees. This is an absorbing novel about a 14 year old named Mary Newbury living in 1659 England. Her grandmother is accused, tried, and convicted of being a witch, and arrangements are made for Mary to be taken to the New World. Unfortunately, she ends up living in a Puritan settlement, and has to try hard to fit in and conceal her own identity. Because Mary is a witch herself. Not in the sense of riding a broom and casting spells, but in the sense of gathering herbs and using them to make medicine, and of being attuned to the changing seasons. However, her Puritan neighbors don't see much of a difference. And things begin to go bad when "evidence" of witchcraft is found in the forest just outside of town. Tongues wag and fingers point, eventually to Mary. The book paints a chilling image of the society which forms the foundation of many American religions, indeed, former Jehovahs Witnesses may see uncomfortable similarities in the manner in which Puritan society was governed. Want to know what living in a theocracy would REALLY be like? Look no further. I found this book very difficult to put down, and will likely read it again.
-
22
A couple of thoughts on the whole global flood thing...
by Hecklerboy ini was watching the history channel this weekend and they had a show on the global flood story.
it was pretty interesting, mostly the same old stuff and some commentators from different religions.
while i was watching this, two thoughts kept coming to mind:.
-
-
gaiagirl
"The flood of Noahs day" is supposed to have taken place WHEN? Oh, yes, during the time that China, India, Sumeria and Egypt ALL had advanced civilizations with writing, monuments, etc. How strange that NONE of them mention a flood occurring at that time. I suppose they just didn't notice, in the same way that most of the world didn't notice the war in heaven, Jesus becoming king in 1914? The bible account is not the original version, but borrowed from Sumerian and Babylonian sources. For example, the rainbow was originally said to be a necklace worn by Astarte, who cast it into the heavens. The historical event upon which the legend was based was sizeable, but not global in scope, and it took place much earlier than the Bible account.
-
30
Did you hear about the congregation where.........
by enlightenedcynic ini am new to the board and am looking forward to many insightful discussions here.. a good friend of mine attends a congregation where sisters are working behind both the literature and magazine counters.
the brothers who were handling those responsibilities were removed because in the elder body's opinion, none of them were "exemplerary".police officer explained that save for the elders and a few of the ministerial servants, none of the men in the congregation were meeting the national average in field service time, so for the foreseeable future, "exemplerary".
the irony here though is that the same men who are unfit to handle the literature and magazine counters are qualified to offer opening and closing prayer for meetings and do reading for the watchtower study.
-
-
gaiagirl
I have seen this in one of the congregations in Texas I once visited. I don't think they did it for very long. Also, I don't remember the sister wearing a head covering of any kind.
-
9
Search for historical Hercules
by startingover innote how herculean myth resembles jesus in many areas.
hercules was born from a god (zeus) and a mortal virgin mother (alcmene).
similar to herod who wanted to kill jesus, hera wanted to kill hercules.
-
-
gaiagirl
Was there a historical Paul Bunyan? The answer to both questions is the same.
-
21
Christianity BEFORE Christ?
by freedomlover inokay, was there really nothing resembling christianity before christ established christianity and the ideas behind that?
i mean, a lot of what the principles of christianity contain seem to be very common sense, such as loving neighbor, not stealing, don't covet neighbor's wife, etc.
do you really think the concept of christianity was so ground breaking when it did occur?
-
-
gaiagirl
If one does a google search for "sacrificial king", they will have many hits which illustrate how earlier religions embodied themes similar to those incorporated in christianity. Some of the "kings" who could be said to prefigure Jesus include Osiris, Dionysius, Balder, and others. This was commented on in the first couple of centuries of the common era, and the "christian explanation" was that Satan, knowing what was going to happen, arranged for these other people to do these things first, to discredit Jesus.
-
13
Mankind doesn't have the ability to govern himself, true or false?
by JH injeremiah 10:23.
23 i well know, o jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong.
it does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.
-
-
gaiagirl
Some nations are models which the rest of the world would do well to emulate. I'm thinking in particular of Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Canada. The U.S. is better than many, but at least since 2000, kind of embarrassing. I think that over time, the good tends to outweigh the bad in more and more places, although some places do experience setbacks.
-
37
Music anyone?
by searching4? inyou can tell alot about someone by the music they listen to.
my favorite singers are jack johnson and billy holiday, but i also love kanye west and green day.
what kind of music do you listen to?
-
-
gaiagirl
Quarterflash, Bangles, Jane Wiedlin, Suzanne Cianni, Mars Laser, Gandalf, David Arkenstone, Jonn Serrie, Robert Rich, Steve Roach, 2002, Secret Garden, Weird Al Yankovic, Zero One, TUU, Sounds From The Ground, and some others
-
137
Franz' statement is outrageously unreasonable!
by Schizm ineternal life on earth?
god told the first human couple their destiny if they disobeyed.
he did not discuss their eternal future if they obeyed.
-
-
gaiagirl
Schizm, I suppose I'll be the first to point this out, but surely not the last: Your post actually confirms Ray Franz' statement. If you want to refute an argument, you don't do it simply by tossing around adjectives such as "outrageous" and "unreasonable" (in any case, there are MANY more "outrageous" statements both in the Bible, and in the writings of WTBTS). Instead, you are supposed to support your position by providing evidence. If you are going to cite a scripture, one which actually says something different from what Ray Franz said would have helped. The cited passage from Gen 2:16-17 speaks about DIS-obedience and its consequences, EXACTLY what Ray Franz said. Not exactly a compelling argument.