I never saw the relevance of the fact that they used "Jehovah" in all the time I was in there. They say it is the meaning of the name which is important - "He causes to become," meaning that Jehovah becomes whatever he needs to fulfill his promises. This doctrine about God "becoming" something else is never used except at times when they are justifying the use of "Jehovah," and the name is used as a label, with no meaning other than what it refers to. Clearly people in other churches also believe that God has great power. The other justification is that using a personal name is more "personal." Frankly I don't believe it when people talk about a deep relationship with God.
stapler99
JoinedPosts by stapler99
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35
Why do we call Jehovah by his first name and not our parents?
by life is to short ini owe this question entirely to hadit but i cannot get this thought out of my head.
all i heard growing up was that we have to call god jehovah because they are many god's, this way jehovah knows we are trying to speak to him.
that is just one of many reasons the fds and wt say to why we much call him jehovah.
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A rhetorical analysis of the Sept. KM Question Box
by Leolaia insome have pursued an independent group study of biblical hebrew and greek so as to analyze the accuracy of the new world translation.
they have also held conferences and produced publications to present their findings and to supplement what is provided at our christian meetings and through our literature.. throughout the earth, jehovah's people are receiving ample spiritual instruction and encouragement at congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, as well as through the publications of jehovah's organization.
rather, the claim is implicit.
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stapler99
This passages demonstrates very well how full JW literature is of reinforcement of their beliefs and the authority of the Governing Body. I feel like I am under constant assault when reading it and find something objectionable in every other word or so.
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Peace and security..WHY in the heck does Jah intervene then?
by Botzwana inaccording to witness theology when the cry of peace and security rings out then jehovah will destroy all the infidels etc...yawn....but going by their teachings...why would he intervene then?
when man finally gets it right, does he have to come in and whomp ass?
makes no frickin sense to me.
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stapler99
I saw this problem with the universal sovereignty test as well. We could add the Flood to the list of God's interventions.
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When did the "other sheep" class begin to form?
by Vanderhoven7 inis there anything in wts literature as to which century the alleged non-anointed class of the wts began to form?.
i thought it was early on in the 20th century.. am i wrong?.
vander.
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stapler99
Interesting. I always thought that the majority of humanity after the death of Christ were thought to be part of the other sheep. If that is not the case, it is implied that the majority will not get a resurrection at all, as there are many more than 144,000 people who lived in the period up to 1935.
I expect that this is not their doctrine at all and there is some fine distinction like the other sheep existed, but were not being gathered. This would be the excuse for not having the two-class doctrine until 1935.
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A Concerned Elder Speaks
by Franklin Massey ina lot of talk has centered around information dispensed at the recent km schools.
many brothers feel there is a "tightening up" taking place.
i had a recent experience that you may find interesting.. after the meeting i was working with our cobe on some congregation tasks when out of nowhere he said, "have you looked up any extra information about higher education since the km school?
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stapler99
If elders became aware of issues like the constant generation changes, 586 BC, flip-flopping on subjects like the identity of the "superior authorities" and the resurrection of those who died at Sodom and Gomorrah, failed predictions like 1925, and the general lack of Biblical basis for central JW doctrines like that concerning the identity of the Gread Crowd, when they come to ask themselves whether they should encourage their children to gain higher education, they may have sufficient doubt in the legitimacy of the Watchtower organization that they decide that following their direction in this regard is not worth it.
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What is "the Kingdom"?
by Darth Eowyn ini have been lurking for a couple of months and decided to join because i wanted to get further information.. i am not a jw, ex jw, or even considering becoming a jw.
i am a fairly devout, practicing catholic.
two weeks ago, a couple of jw publishers stopped by to discuss their schtick.
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stapler99
Darth Eowyn
But getting back to the Kingdom...I am trying to understand if they believe that there is some "event" or grace from God (or whatever you want to refer to it as) which will compel and/or change mankind's nature into behaving for eternity on paradise Earth? Ok, all the bad people/non-JWs are destroyed by God at Armageddon, leaving the faithful masses to rebuild the Earth. Will man be of a different, non-sinful nature then? What is going to make that happen? I am hung up on this issue and I would like to know where to go in the discussion next week. :)
The JW version of history is as follows:
Adam and Eve are created and have the option of rebelling (because they have free will), and they do rebel.
From the expulsion from the Garden of Eden up to the death of Christ - All humans have inherited Adamic sin, and most of them will be resurrected during the Milllenium.
After the death of Christ, some people will be anointed, and be part of the 144,000. Most others will be resurrected on earth.
Armageddon - rebellious masses of humanity slaughtered
After Armageddon comes the Millennium, when those who died will be gradually resurrected (except the anointed).
At the end of the Millennium, Satan is released from the abyss. This event doesn't actually seem to be talked about that much in JW literature (outside of the Revelation Climax book). This is the final test. Most of humanity (including survivors of Armageddon and the resurrected) will rebel and be destroyed. Those who survive will then live in Paradise for eternity.
Now there are many questions one might ask about this. Many have criticised Christianity in general by arguing that God must have foreknown that Adam and Eve would sin and could have created them not to sin. We could ask how Christ's sacrifice is supposed to pay for man's sin - under what other circumstance would you ever justly punish someone for a sin when someone else committed it? And then there is your point which I have wondered about myself: what is the actual difference between perfect Adam and Eve, who had the choice to sin, and perfected humanity at the end of the Millennium, who having free will, have the choice to sin, but perpetually exercise the choice not sin? This is never satisfactorially answered. As others have said in this thread, Watchtower literature is vague on the specifics of the paradise and basically they say that we must trust in Jehovah.
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References for "Did Jesus Really Die on a Cross?", Watchtower 2010, Mar pp.18-20
by pirata ini thought i'd dig up some of the references made in the.
"did jesus really die on a cross?
", watchtower 2010, mar pp.18-20interestingly 2 references are honestly quoted, but the other 2 are misquoted.. what are your thoughts on the credibility of each reference source used and why?
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stapler99
Terry
These arguments of the Watchtower are detail heavy for a reason. The more dust they kick up with partial quotes and inferences the easier it
is to sound like they are saying something worthwhile.
I agree. When I was a Jehovah's Witness I never felt I had a good idea how their doctrines led from the Bible. The problem was that their publications are dirt boring and never get to the point. For example, the Insight volumes: Look up a subject like "Covenant" or "Ransom" and you will get page after page of discussing different meanings of the word, none of which are relevant to the main meaning. What you want is a straightforward explanation.
You find the same phenomenon with some conspiracy theorists.
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References for "Did Jesus Really Die on a Cross?", Watchtower 2010, Mar pp.18-20
by pirata ini thought i'd dig up some of the references made in the.
"did jesus really die on a cross?
", watchtower 2010, mar pp.18-20interestingly 2 references are honestly quoted, but the other 2 are misquoted.. what are your thoughts on the credibility of each reference source used and why?
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stapler99
Thank you Leolaia for making your research available! It is the best resource that I have seen on the Internet about this subject.
It's good to ask the question, what are the credentials of those who the Watchtower quotes? W.E. Vine may have believed that Jesus died on a straight plank, but who was W.E. Vine, and what was his evidence? Why must they quote 19th century authors in support of their views?
Regarding the picture in "De Cruce Libre", I agree that this is misleading. It gives the impression that this picture was a relic of an original tradition that understood Jesus (or other crucifixion victims) to have died in that way.
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References for "Did Jesus Really Die on a Cross?", Watchtower 2010, Mar pp.18-20
by pirata ini thought i'd dig up some of the references made in the.
"did jesus really die on a cross?
", watchtower 2010, mar pp.18-20interestingly 2 references are honestly quoted, but the other 2 are misquoted.. what are your thoughts on the credibility of each reference source used and why?
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stapler99
I looked at the article and they made it look as if the Imperial Bible Dictionary agreed with them. I would say this is a blatant misquote and it would not be inaccurate to call the writers LIARS.
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April WT is out. Blood, FDS, moses & crazy stuff...
by bohm inthe april wt is out, get it while you can.
what caught my attention was the first article.
some quotes:.
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stapler99
It would certainly be interesting to see whether there has been more emphasis upon the authority of the Governing Body in recent years, even if these beliefs are nothing new.
The absolute strongest possible language may be necessary to leave no space for any doubt as to whether what they are saying is correct. Imagine they said:
"Because of the preaching work of Watchtower organization and its role in spreading Bible truth, some have reasoned that it has received a special commision from Jehovah, and closely associate with those who call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses. Nevertheless, regardless of our organizational affiliations, all who place faith in the redeeming power of Christ's sacrifice are our Christian brothers and sisters. (Luke 9:49)"
They would shrink rapidly.