JW_Researcher

Joined

• started 49 topics
• posted 398 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by JW_Researcher

• 
  29

  When do you think WTBS became a cult?

  by lighthouse1956 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  most believe it was rutherford took over, any ideas?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  And Rutherford made one of the brothers shave his beard.

  Do you have a reference for that, please? I'd like to read about it. Thank you.
• 
  29

  When do you think WTBS became a cult?

  by lighthouse1956 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  most believe it was rutherford took over, any ideas?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  Without getting into the denotative , co nnotative , and nuance d dance around the word "cult" it seems like most agree Rutherford made a huge change. The Pre-Rutherford democracy (elected elders, etc.) and "interdenominational flavor" of Russell's message were completely extinguished by Rutherford say ...from 1919 (The Golden Age) on. Many criticisms of Russell are valid but ....there is no way he was as destructive as those after him. I have interacted with some current Bible Students (some are here) and it seems to me that when the emphasis was shifted from "building the Christian personality" to preaching .... folks lost the love. It is a grievous thing, this organization.
• 
  10

  Judge Rutherford, A Machiavellian Genius?

  by VM44 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  was judge rutherford truly a machiavellian genius?

  did he carefully plan out and devise how to take control of the the watchtower and set himself up as an authoritarian ruler with absolute authority?.

  or has too much credit been given to rutherford?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  Did he carefully plan out and devise how to take control of the The Watchtower and set himself up as an authoritarian ruler with absolute authority?

  He improvised as his "plan" was required to change. For example, he had no idea Johnson would write what and when he did....but Rutherford was ready for all comers.

  The manner in which he built the WTBTS from what Russell wanted into a "Theocratic organization" is fairly impressive. Of course, he lost many members...but he retained power.

  The whole "judge" thing is a stroke of marketing genius.
• 
  51

  Trinity pamphlet, - a response & research

  by Kristofer in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm not sure how much of this is old news to y'all but after being handed this literature, i was trying to find evidence on the ante-nicene fathers it quotes in this pamphlet.

  i figured, if early christians didn't believe in it, then, to me anyway, the doctrine held some water.

  i stumbled upon this essay by eric francke which is a direct response to the pamphlet and very well written in my opinion.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  Thank you for the link.
• 
  3

  "The Golden Age" Magazine on CD

  by JW_Researcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i am having a devil of a time getting "the golden age" on cd.

  i purchased 1919 to 1924 on a cd from e-bay (burgerbern) but that's all i've found.. any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.

  even how to get a single copy of an article.. please and thank you.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  I am having a devil of a time getting "The Golden Age" on CD. I purchased 1919 to 1924 on a CD from E-Bay (burgerbern) but that's all I've found.

  Any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated. Even how to get a single copy of an article.

  Please and thank you.
• 
  6

  JWs' use of Technology and Penton's "Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada"

  by JW_Researcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  i've put in an interlibrary loan request for m. james penton's "jehovah's witnesses in canada: champions of freedom of speech and worship" which i can't seem to be able to purchase for less than around $200.. i guess it's a strict "supply and demand" reason for the cost.. i'm looking at jws use of technology, especially the radio.

  i have the proclaimers and divine purpose books and a scholarly article or two but does anyone know of any studies conducted in this area?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  Thank you very much for the responses.
• 
  6

  JWs' use of Technology and Penton's "Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada"

  by JW_Researcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  i've put in an interlibrary loan request for m. james penton's "jehovah's witnesses in canada: champions of freedom of speech and worship" which i can't seem to be able to purchase for less than around $200.. i guess it's a strict "supply and demand" reason for the cost.. i'm looking at jws use of technology, especially the radio.

  i have the proclaimers and divine purpose books and a scholarly article or two but does anyone know of any studies conducted in this area?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  I've put in an interlibrary loan request for M. James Penton's "Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada: Champions of freedom of speech and worship" which I can't seem to be able to purchase for less than around $200.

  I guess it's a strict "supply and demand" reason for the cost.

  I'm looking at JWs use of technology, especially the radio. I have the Proclaimers and Divine Purpose books and a scholarly article or two but does anyone know of any studies conducted in this area?

  Please and thank you.
• 
  7

  JW Membership Stats in 1920s and 1930s

  by JW_Researcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  greetings and happy new year!

  i have been looking on the net, through old year books, etc.

  but have not been able to locate the membership statistics for the jws in the 1920s and 1930s.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  Thank you very much for the tips regarding Google's "search this book" feature as well as the title " Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich: Sectarian Politics Under Persecution "

  My interest is in general membership numbers,etc. for each year and your clues enabled me to back into a series of charts (via one of Penton's footnotes) in the "Divine Purpose" book (beginning on page 312) which I have.

  I have Penton's "Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses" and just ordered " Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich: Sectarian Politics Under Persecution " on Amazon.

  Thanks again for all of the response.
• 
  7

  JW Membership Stats in 1920s and 1930s

  by JW_Researcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  greetings and happy new year!

  i have been looking on the net, through old year books, etc.

  but have not been able to locate the membership statistics for the jws in the 1920s and 1930s.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  Greetings and Happy New Year!

  I have been looking on the net, through old year books, etc. but have not been able to locate the membership statistics for the JWs in the 1920s and 1930s.

  Are these buried in old Watchtower articles or something similar?

  Any assistance greatly appreciated.

  Thank you.
• 
  27

  How Many Came in via Door-toDoor Witnessing?

  by JW_Researcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  what percentage would you say came into your old or current congregation(s) via the door-to-door witnessing?

  it is understood that your response is a guestimate.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JW_Researcher

  Greetings,

  What percentage would you say came into your old or current congregation(s) via the door-to-door witnessing?

  It is understood that your response is a guestimate.

  Thank you.