Thanks for replying to a couple of my questions, Dozy! I appreciate that you are at least willing to go over this a little. I personally have never been a JW. It gives me a new perspective to hear from someone who actually believes it all and why.
The first question you addressed was Luke 17:21. I think you may have misunderstood my question. Do you have a KIT? I am looking at the original Greek word-for-word translation in the KIT. Are you telling me that this word-for-word translation of the original Greek by the WTS Greek scholars IS NOT ACCURATE? You are saying they messed up the original Greek, right? I don't understand why you would point me toward other translations to prove your point, because I thought these are not accepted by the WTS as accurate translations? What other translation do you personally use?
And, could you please show me which of these other translations refer to the Word as "a god" in John 1:1? Surely there has to be one. I've looked in about 40 different ones, but the only one I found was by a Johannes Greber, and he is a spiritist, who claimed spirits showed him what words to use in his translation. So that surely can't be the one the WTS is using.
Could you please look up the credentials of the translators? I would like to know how long they studied Greek, where they studied at, etc.... That is a reasonable request, don't you think? (I mean, I've taken a couple of classes in Russian language, and no way should I be translating a Bible! I would have to study for years. If I did translate a Bible, I would think my knowledge of the language, or lack of, would become an issue. And rightly so.)
I actually know a lady from Greece, who speaks the language fluently and who has a BIBLE in the original Greek language. I asked her to read that verse to me from her BIBLE. Guess what? ("WAS THE GOD" , not "a god".) Definitely a difference in the way they arrange their words, but says the same thing as my KJV, NIV, etc.... I actually showed her the NWT and asked what she thought. She gave me a pretty long explanation about the Greek language and why this NWT is not accurate in it's translation of this verse.
On to the next answer you gave. The explanation about the 1925, 1975 and the ones who gave up having children and are now elderly with no one to care for them. I think it is wonderful that your KH looks like a Kindergarten! (I assume by this, you mean happy, smiling children who are playing and participating in age appropriate activities.) I've never heard of that in any of the KH in my area.
But that really was not my question. I'm not even asking about the WTS's excuses or appologies on this subject. I AM asking this:
A lot of these people gave up their prime working years to go to Bethel. Since they are volunteers, they are not getting paid. Therefore, they have not paid into Social Security. Which means, they will not qualify for these benefits in their old age. What kind of pention plan or housing arrangements has the WTS prepared for those who have been so faithful to them? What kind of medical assistance? I am well aware of the prime real estate they have aquired, and just wondered if any of this is to be used for assisted living for the elderly who have no one or no place to go after spending their entire lives as hard-working servants to the WTS?
These are questions that I really feel need to be addressed. Along with the others I mentioned.
I'm not trying to pressure you. If you feel like you just don't know and you need time to look into it, that is okay. I can wait. But I would appreciate it if you would answer my actual question. Like I said earlier, I think it is great that your KH looks like a kindergarten, but that was not what I was asking.
Thanks for taking the time to get back to me.
Whyizit
