Let me start by once again thanking you for starting this thread. I have not yet figured out how to do so, but then to be honest I have tried to yet either.
That said, I realize that 1975 has generated a lot of animosity and I'm sorry if it feels like I'm trying to stir up trouble.
I have read all the quotes provided here, repeatedly. However none of them have a single clear statement that says "1975 was going to it" the end was going to occur in 1975.
Would all here agree that if it is something Jehovah's Witnesses teach and believe, one would be able to find a multitude of articles supporting/explaining why ?
Whether you agree with the teaching or not, there are many articles that define/explain/support the teaching about the 144,000. The same can be said for Jesus/Michael and what hell is and isn't. If it's been taught, there has been support in the literature. Why is such an abundance missing about 1975 ? Even if it's not included on the latest CD-Rom, there are still plenty of bound volumes with matching indexes out there. I've seen one collection that went back to the early 50's. It's difficult to make such disappear.
So, if it was so clearly taught, not my words but those of one who convinced me to go looking, where is it taught ?
? Where can I find a single clear, concise sentence that states the end was going to happen in 1975 ?
On my search for such a statement I was given a list of questions by one who was trying to convince me that such a search would be fruitless. I have no answers to these questions and when I asked them to others the only answer I got was "C.Y.A.", cover your ass. Not a very satisfying answer. Maybe some one here can come up with a better answer .
1. If it were truly taught that 1975 was going to be the end, why announce district conventions for 1976 at the 1975 ones ?
2. Knowing that a lot of long term work and planning is involved in making arrangements for district conventions, including making arrangements for the use of stadiums and coliseums, etc., why make them if you truly taught and believe the end was going to occur before you could use them ?
3. While I'm not sure of the exact number of magazines printed then, but if 1975 was being taught as the end why produce what would have to have been an overabundance considering the number of Witnesses then ? Why produce magazines for October, November, and December of 1975 since the governments were going to be gone and there would be no way to deliver them ?
4. If it was really being taught that the end was coming in 1975, why were so many congregations building new Kingdom Halls ? I check on this locally and within a 200 mile radius six congregations were planning, starting, or just finishing new halls.
5. Why start the next class of Gilead school since they wouldn't be needed if it was being taught that the end was coming in 1975. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe these groups graduate in the spring and the fall of the year, so in reality even the group that would have graduated in the spring really wouldn't have been needed.
So there you have it. As I stated earlier, the only answer I have ever seen to these questions is
"Cover Your Ass". While that might satisfy those who do not agree with Jehovah's Witnesses, for those who are wavering it's not. At least I don't find it very compelling. Anyone have a better answer ?
Hence, as I said I find the claim that 1975 was taught to be the "END" to be a bust.
