What bothered me in the past few years prior to departure was the lack of caring for widows and orphans.
Two days ago, I discovered that James 1:27 uses the word religion - even though the Reference Bible has it as a footnote, as does the gray Bible.
There was a study article in 1991 which boasts that the NWT is consistent in translating thre·skeiʹa all 4 times as "form of worship," whereas other translations also use "worship" at Col. 2:18. (Check the context and Greek - NWT is quite off.)
The article does not refer one to Vine's, which is usually the go-to reference book.
Vine's has a good explanation of the translated word "religion."
1 question and 1 point:
- Is the refusal to translate James 1:27 as "religion" a carry-over from Rutherford's days when religion was a snare and a racket? (EVERY translation on BibleHub uses "religion.")
- Usually, the WTS emphasizes the order of entry in a verse as consequential. Eg., Jesus prayed about God's name FIRST, etc.
So, James mentions orphans and widows first, and, as an add-on, keep without spot.
Search WT Library for articles using James 1:27 and orphans.
Scant. Token drivel about "remember our single moms."
Now search for James 1:27 and "spot"
Endless FOG.
(If they were smarter marketers in their attempt to mimic McDonald's Happy Meal, they would actually institute some form of orphan program. Much greater retention rate.)