The problem with a "cult run by committee," as jgnat calls it, is that it prevents the emergence of a dynamic leader who could rescue the WTS from the inertia which eventually is going to run it down. It seems they have arrived at crossroads. They can (1) wind the prophetic timeclock up again, drop the dates which were emphasized in the past, and start all over again with some other scenario or (2) loosen the reins and allow the membership to settle down without the constant prodding to perform - which would be the first step in going mainline. There is, however, no one to make the decision. At least a benevolent dictator who could decide would be better that what they've got now.
Justin
JoinedPosts by Justin
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18
Whats the aim of the people in charge?
by JoeSinclair ini was about to post another reply to my previous thread but i decided a new thread would be appropriate for this question.. i have learned a lot in the last few days about the jw organisation and the waverings towards cult-like behaviour.
i have read web sites listing cult like characteristics and then examples of what the watchtower chaps have done that looks similar.
it was tempting, at first, to think that i am hearing from a collective of disaffected people who have been hard done by and to assume the reality lies somewhere nearer the middle than you guys say it is.
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just curious about Hebrew verb tense in Isaiah...
by lost_sheep ini was comparing the nwt & the niv the other day & noticed there's a discrepancy at isaiah 48:18 & 19... the niv reads: .
18 if only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me.
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Justin
Here's more information on the interlinear translation already mentioned:
Full title: The Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament
Translator: John R. Kohlenberger III
Publisher: Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Too good?
by Justin inthe gb member said to the apostate: "you know what happens when you're too good to people?
you get a swift kick in the a .
s." the apostate replied, "you're not talking about me, are you?
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Justin
The GB member said to the apostate: "You know what happens when you're too good to people? You get a swift kick in the a . . s." The apostate replied, "You're not talking about me, are you?" "No," said the GB member, "I'm talking about someone else."
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Why do so many show such anger towards JW who post here? What might help?
by Lady Lee inwhy do so many of us show such antagonism towards jw who post here?
we know they won't listen.
we know how it feels to have religion forced upon us.
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Justin
The reason some lurk for years is that they know they will be attacked unless they renounce their faith or express doubts when they begin posting. For the most part, the active JWs we get are the ones who break their own rules in order to attack us. We don't see people making changes as a result of interaction with us. Any change that occurs is during the lurking period, and when they emerge from their lurking they become one of us!
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Justin
I believe it was in 1932 that the Society changed its position regarding the Jews. Rutherford was then in the process of writing a three-volume series, Vindication, on the book of Ezekiel, and when he came to the restoration prophesies he applied them spiritually to the anointed remnant rather than a return of the Jews to Palestine.
This is actually the classical belief known as replacement theology - that the new Christian Israel replaces the old natural Israel as God's chosen people. The only difference is that the Society limits the new Israel to its own anointed members instead teaching that it refers to the Christian church at large.
Russell had actually embraced a newer theology known as dispensationalism - the belief that God's purpose is being worked out in a series of dispensations or ages in which his dealings with mankind are somewhat different in each. So, according to this belief, the Jews have temporarily lost divine favor during the Christian or Gospel Age, but are expected to be restored during the Millennium.
Even newer is the thought which is becoming more widespread today, that the Jews and Christians each have their own covenant with God, and that these covenants are operating simultaneously.
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New Dance Craze
by Justin indoin' the watchtower wiggle
i'm doin' the watchtower wiggle, i don't worship ereshkigal.. old light, new light, what's the latest truth tonight?.
i play by the rules, 'cause i ain't no fool.
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Justin
Doin' the Watchtower Wiggle
I'm doin' the Watchtower wiggle, I don't worship Ereshkigal.
Old light, new light, what's the latest truth tonight?
I play by the rules, 'cause I ain't no fool. When they change them, I'll be cool.
I'm doin' the Watchtower wiggle.
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What if . . .
by Justin inthe wts had continued to keep older publications (russell, rutherford, etc.
) in print for those who wanted to do historical research?
it seems that people are now learning about "old light" and doctrinal changes when they begin to become disillusioned, but if they knew about these matters when they were still zealous jws, perhaps they wouldn't be so shocked later.
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Justin
the WTS had continued to keep older publications (Russell, Rutherford, etc.) in print for those who wanted to do historical research? It seems that people are now learning about "old light" and doctrinal changes when they begin to become disillusioned, but if they knew about these matters when they were still zealous JWs, perhaps they wouldn't be so shocked later. It would be like developing immunity to a disease. Of course, the WTS had no way of knowing that the internet would eventually reveal what had been allowed to go out of print.
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Antichrist
by knight40 inwhat is the jehovah witness point of view on the antichrist?.
is there only one antichrist?
or is he or it to come in the future?
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Justin
Only the verses quoted from the letters of John specifically use the term "antichrist," but the early Church Fathers saw this Antichrist as a fitting designation for figures which are identified by other terms - such as the "man of sin [lawlessness - NWT]," the "abomination of desolation," the "beast," etc. The JWs take these figures to refer to other entities - such as the clergy, the worldwide political system, etc. They are not considered to be predictions of a specific, personal Antichrist. But as Leo has stated, they could be considered in JW thinking to be a collective antichrist.
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Translation
by JesusDeity ini notice that their are differences in the jw version of the bible.
i am told that the bible was transcribed directly from the greek text.. my questions are:.
1) who translated the text?.
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Justin
With regard to Aramaic: This was the spoken language of Jesus and his disciples, a language closely related to Hebrew. The New Testament manuscripts, however, were written in Greek. There may have been an Aramaic original of Matthew (now lost), and a few Aramaic words were sprinkled here and there. Most scholars regard a later Aramaic version (known as the Peshitta) to be a translation from Greek rather than the "original" Aramaic of Jesus, and there are some (outside the mainstream) who try to make the case for an original Aramaic NT. But, in brief, there is no Aramaic translation work involved in modern translation - either JW or otherwise.
Sometimes, if a saying of Jesus doesn't make sense in Greek, a scholar may attempt to determine what it would have meant in Aramaic - but there is no Aramaic original from which to work.
Now I'm sure someone would like to contradict me.
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Passover and other Old Testament Feasts
by lysislove ina newbie introduction: i am a secular humanist/unitarian universalist , married to a non-active jw (iow, about as far apart on the spectrum as you can get).
my husband only attends meetings twice a year (memorial and convention) but still believes much of the theology.
now my question: is there a prohibition against celebrating the feasts and holidays mentioned in the old testament?
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Justin
With regard to the Old Testament holidays, Jehovah's Witnesses are in agreement with the historical concensus of Gentile Christianity, that they should no longer be celebrated. They are a feature of the old covenant which has been superceded by the new. They are not, however, intrinsically evil, and were God's will at one time. When viewed spiritually, they are considered to have aspects which pointed forward to Christ, and are therefore worthy of study but not of observance.