Posts by davidl7

52

Jehovah's Witnesses: Fastest Growing Christian Group in the US

by davidl7 in

the yearbook of american and canadian churches statistics listed the jehovah's witnesses as the fastest growing christian group in the us for 4 years in a row (the 2008-2011 yearbooks).

the 2011 yearbook reported a 4.37% growth rate (based on 2010 membership figures).

according to the 2012 yearbook, the growth of the jehovah's witnesses was 1.85%, falling into 4th place.

davidl7

The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches statistics listed the Jehovah's Witnesses as the fastest growing Christian group in the US for 4 years in a row (the 2008-2011 Yearbooks). The 2011 Yearbook reported a 4.37% growth rate (based on 2010 membership figures). According to the 2012 Yearbook, the growth of the Jehovah's Witnesses was 1.85%, falling into 4th place. The Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention reported a decline in membership. The group with the largest growth rate listed in the 2012 yearbook was the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, showing a 20% increase; however, according to a footnote in the yearbook, unlike the other churches, that growth reflects figures for that group going back a several years, to 2006, not a 1-year percentage change. If ranked by the one-year percentage, the Assemblies of God denomination would be in first place with a 3.99% gain, better than the average less than 1-percent gain in prior years. Jehovah's Witnesses would then be in 3rd place; and the National Baptist Convention on 2nd place with a 3.95% increase reported in the 2012 Yearbook (the National Baptist Convention reported decreases or no increases in the prior 4 years).

When adding all percentage figures in the last 4 years, the fastest growing Christian church is the Jehovah's Witnesses with a 10.37% growth rate increase, and the Assemblies of God falls in 2nd place with a 6.74% increase. Most of the other major churches, especially mainline Protestant churches, have consistiently reported decreases in the last 4 years.

14

Preaching in vain.

by LouBelle in

on my way to work (my temp job) i drove past my witness uncle.

there he was on the street preaching to a man.

i knew that stance so well, publication in hand, leaning in towards to hopefully interested person and telling your story.

davidl7

Most Christians have joy in preaching the good news of God's Kingdom in the hands of Jesus. Jesus clearly predicted that "this good news of the Kindgome WILL BE PREACHED". So it does not matter how many negative comments people say about those who preach the good news of the Kingdom, like Jesus and his apostles did. The apostle Paul wrote in Acts 28:23: " So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening." (AV) Yes, the good news of the Kindgom, which the apostle Paul preached, included the testimony of Moses and prophets, which talked about the Messiah coming and converting the earth into a paradise. (compare Isa. 65:17-29; Isa 11:6-11; Ps. 37:10, 11, 29). Jesus himself spoke of the new world or new age to come and said the "meek will inherit the earth", (Matt. 5:5). He said to pray for his Father's kingodm to come and for his will be done on "earth and heaven." That fact the Jesus was raised for the dead, proves that he is now Messiah who will reign as God's appointed King for 1,000 years (1 Cor. 15:24-29). That is part of the good news preached by Jehovah's Christian Witnesses. (1 Cor. 15:13-15). As a result of the good news being preached, thousands upon thousands of leaving the churches of Christendom (psuedo-Christian churches), and are joing the true Christian Congregation, and are praising the God and Father of Jesus Christ, something that is never done in the churches of Christendom (Ephe. 1:3, Ephe. 1:17, 1 Cor. 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3, etc.). Yes, true Christians worship the God and Father of Jesus Christ, the One Christ cried out to as "My God, my God", as he died upon the stake/tree (Matt. 27:46). Many of my former evangelical, adventist and catholic friends tell me of the joy they felt in finding that the Jesus they read about in the Bible is truly "God's Son", not "God the Son", and they readily agreed with the what they have read from their Bibles with what the Witnesses expressed as their faith. Only true Christians accept what John 3:16, 36 really says. Those who just follow and have faith in what their Trinitanian theologians teach and preach, do not know who the "only true God, the Father, and the One who He Sent Forth, Jesus Christ", are. (John 17:3). Interesting, I was speaking to 3 former Baptists who were their first memorial of Christ's death at a Kingdom Hall. All three said they are already preaching the good news to their friends and family. One then told me, "you know, my church was considered an 'evangelical group,' but no one ever hardly preaches, even though some call themselves 'evangelical christians.' Evangelical literally means to preach the gospel or good news. From a biblical meaning, I think the Witnesses are really the true "evangelical" since they all preach the good news of the kingdom. Since I have found out about the true God and his Son Jesus, I just can't stop preaching the good news." Yes, the preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom of God is NOT IN VAIN....and no one can't stop the true Christian believer from preaching the Bible truth they have learned.

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

JW Facts wrote " You still seem to be missing my point. You say " many that have come to those same conclusions, have decided to join our Christian congregation." Your definition of many is far different to mine. Out of 7 billion people, less than 100,000 join that were not indoctrinated as JWs from birth. That is not many, it is an insignificant amount. Most of these have just the shallowest Biblical knowledge as received from a Watchtower publication, and just join for the companionship and paradise hope. I doubt more than a handful join each year that have a scholarly knowledge of the Bible and feel JWs are the closest represention of the Bible. For that reason, saying "many" join is no more compelling an indication of it being true than the "many" that become Scientologists, Hare Krishnas or Pentecostals."

Well that is assuming your estimate of less than 100,000 who were not raised as Witnesses is correct. Either way, even if it just 90,000 that have come in a gotten bapitized, that is still relatively many people. It also does not count the thousands of others that are joining us in the worship of Jehovah through his Son and regarding attending the meeting, some of which are actually preaching, but do not yet report or are not yet counted as a non-baptized publisher. A new Bible student has been preaching to his former Baptist church friends and family, for the past 3 months, even though he is still not reporting his preaching activity...But many that I have met have read the Bible on their and came to the conclusion that Jesus is really the Son of God, and the soul dies and is not immortal, and one must be resurrected in order to live again. Some, like a few former Adventists in my congregation, did learn the truth about what happens when we died from their former church...but they still had questions about the trinity as the read their bible. My brother-in-law said he kept reading his NT, and really could not understand where the teaching of the Trinity came from, since the most obvious teaching from the NT was the Jesus was the Son of God, and not God himself. I know of several individuals who were former clergymen of others churches, most with master of divinity degrees, so they must have at least some Bible training and at least at one point believed and agreed with Trinitarian point of view, but eventually came to the conclusion that the Witnesses were teaching the truth.

JW facts "You did not address my question about worship. I know that " proskuneo " can be translated as obeisance instead of worship, as detailed in the article that I referred you to. My point is that even JW's felt the term should be worship, and worshipped Jesus, until 1954, more than half the Watchtower history. Why would Jehovah allow such a critical error?"

I believe I did address. As explained, the Witnesses back in 1954 already understood the different shades of meaning of the word "worship". Back then when they were referring to worshipping Jesus it was in the same sense as the Israelites gave honor and bowed down to the king of Israel. It was not the same as the worship or sacred service given to Jehovah, the God of Jesus Christ. Many lexicon do agree, and rightly so, with the different meanings of the word worship. However, since the word "worship" as changed in meaning in most peoples minds, as just applying to Jehovah, it is that form of worship that we believe that only Jehovah alone must receive. As I pointed out earlier, Jason Debuhn in chapter 4 of his book, Truth In Translation, as very good write-up on the Greek work prokyneou, and how the shades of the different meaning is not fully understood today. And even the book Reasoning With the Scriptures, which I quoted earlier, states "we must understand that it is pro·sky·ne′o [worhship] with a particular attitude of heart and mind that should be directed only toward God." (p. 215)

JW facts wrote " Regarding YHWH in the NT - if it was there, and is so important, why didn't Jehovah care to have a single shred of evidence in a single manuscript remain?"

But my point was that anyone can see the shreds of evidence even in the current extant NT manuscripts. In Rev. 19:1-3 the form Hallelujah appears several times and most scholars agree that it means "Praise Jah" or "Praise Jehovah (Yahowah)". In. Rev. 14:1-3 and Rev. 5:9, 10 Jesus clearly says that not only his name would be written in the foreheads of the 144,000, but also his Father's name would be written on their forehead...which remains us of the Jewish high priests who were a turban the bore the name YHWH. So true Christians would be praisers of Jehovah and his Son Jesus. Acts 15:14 says God's people were to be a people of his name. And in Matt. 6:9 Jesus said God's name is to be kept holy. In John 17:6, 26 his said he did not hide his name, but made God's name known. In Heb. 2:12 Jesus is said to praise the name of God among the Christian congregation. So I so those as shreds of evidence, if you will, that God's name was known and used in the Christian congregation. In addition, early Jewish writings talk about the Minim that included the YHWH in "their gospels". Minim is believed to be one of the terms 1st and 2nd century Jews used for those who became Christian. If that is correct, that adds to the evidences that the name was included in the original autographs of the NT, but then later removed, sometime after 1st or 2nd centuries. Much like the LXX, which include the divine name in copies dated prior or during the 1st century, but are is later removed. I think the evidence is clear that Name must have been included since Jesus openly rejected the tradition of the Hharisees and Saduccees which made the Word of God invalid, including their laws prohibiting the pronounciation of God's name.

JW Facts wrote -You claim reading the Bible leads a person to Watchtower teachings on their own. I call you out on that. Even on absolutely critical teachings like the Resurrection and Worship of God, the Watchtower leaders do not agree. Each successive generation of Governing Body have replaced the doctrine their predecessors were so confident of, and forced their followers to believe without question at the threat of excommunication.

Yes, but even some who never joined the Witnesses, have come to the conclusion or similar conclusion to the Witnesses. Evangelical writer Edward Fudge pretty much agrees with our teaching regarding the soul and conditiion of the dead. Clark Pinnock also agrees. As well as others. Many scholars and others of come to the conclusion that the trintiy is absolutely a non-biblical teaching. Some who have come to to those conclusion have joined the ranks of the Witnesses.

True there have been some changes. But even Russell knew that as time want on, the light of the truth would keep getting brighter, meaning our understanding of the Bibe. He himself said that he would reject something that is revealed to be incorrect. But the way I see, the basic Bible truths were always taught...Jesus is the Son of God, the soul dies. the wicked will not live forever in a buring fire in eternal agony, the wicked will be destroyed and put out of existance, God's name is Jehovah, the earth will become a paradise, etc. All the fundamental teachings were always taught. If something turned out to be wrong, then it is a good thing to reject. Such as the teaching that the Great Pyramid was the Word of God in Stone...it was a good thing to reject that teaching. (Prov. 4:18)

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

JWFacts - One of the points you did not address is the inclusion of the word Jehovah in the New Testament, which gets almost universal condemnation from anyone with a knowledge of the Bible. Most people reading the Bible will read a translation with the words Lord and worship in their rightful places. That makes coming to the Watchtower understanding of Jesus almost impossible to arrive at.

Yes, I have heard the arguments against the inclusion of the divine name in the NT. But I think the NWT does have a good basis and sound scholarship for using it in the NT. Evidence clearly show that copies of the LXX that were in existance prior and during the 1st Century, all contained a form of the divine name. Now, Jesus said in Matt. 6:9 that God's name should be sanctified. He said that he does not follow the Pharisees nor the Jewish leaders that make the word of God invalid. In John 17:6, 26, he said he made "God's name known", so he did not hide God's name. At Heb. 2:12 it says that Jesus praised God's name in the congregation. In Acts 15:14 its says the congregation will be a "people for God's name" and quotes for the OT which mentions YHWH several times. Rev. 14:1-3 says that the begotten Christians will have both God's name and Jesus new name on their foreheads. And Rev. 19:1-6 says Hallelujah several times, which many Bible scholars says means "praise Yahowah (Jehovah). So the Christian Congregation will be praisers of Jehovah, folllowing Jesus sample.

Now, I know the arguement used by some. Well the name does not appear in the extant copies of the NT. The earliest existing extant copy of the NT is dated at most in the very late 1st century (although some argue it may actually be a 2nd century document). No original autograph of the NT exist. We do know, however, that copies of the LXX that existed in 1st century or prior to that included a form of the divine name, unlike the later editions and copies of the LXX, dated around the 2nd century and later, which replaced YHWH with Kyrios (Lord). Now, in view of the NT internal evidence, with the emphasis given in the NT on the name of God by Jesus and the apostles. And in view of the fact that most of the original Christians were former Jews, and must have known that Jesus name means "salvation of Jehovah." Jesus, who opened and read from the book of Isaiah, and saw the name YHWH in a 1st century scroll would not have said LORD. He made God's name known. That is clearly from the evidence in the NT text. The Christian congregation was to be a people for "God's name." (Acts 15:14). Interesting, one Jewish historical texts, refers to the "Minim" who included the Tetragrams in their gospels. Many believe that the Minim were the Christians. If that is the case, then we have some other evidence that the name did appear in the NT. And there are a few scholars, such as George Howard, who believe that the divine name was in the original autographs of the NT, especially when it quoted from the OT. but was later replaced by surrogates by Gentile Christians. There are numerous Bible versions that include the name in the NT, including several German NTs. Interestingly, the NKJV capitalizes the name LORD in the NT whenever it quotes from the OT, and preface of some editions state that LORD is a substitute for the divine name YHWH. Several Hebrew NT also use it the NT. The Jewish NT uses in the footnotes. There is, I believe, ample evidence that clearly points to the fact that the original NT did include the divine name, but just like the later editions of the LXX, the name was removed by apostate Gentile Christians, some of which despised the Jews.

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

JWFacts...just wanted to respond on some of your posts...I haven't been on this discussion board for a few days...been very busy.

JWfacts said " When you are mentioning people that come to the same conclusion, or agree with Witnesses you are misrepresenting the facts. What you mean is some people agree with a few Watchtower teachings. No one has ever come up with anything remotely close to all the current teachings. (I would like you to find someone that came up with almost any of the Watchtower interpretation of Revelation on their own, or that concluded that Jesus was not their mediator). Just because a few people think a Watchtower Scripture or doctrine is correct does not mean it is correct, or that they agree with the whole body of teachings."

No I am not representing the facts. Many of my friends and people who I have met that are now full Witnesses came to understand certain teachings of the Bible, such as like Jesus is the Son of God or that the soul dies prior to becoming Witnesses. They came to to those beliefs based on their own personal reading and studying of the Bible. True, they may have not know everything we teach, but knew and agreed with enough fundamental teachings of the Bible and knew we wer teaching the truth when they began to discuss the Bible with us, and as result decided to join the Christian Congregation. If you are refering to the books I mentioned of individuals who I stated ARE NOT JWs, but have come to same conclusion as the Witnesses due to their Bible study - those was just mentioned as an aside. I believe I mentioned that the author of Christianity Without Fairy Tales is an Episcopalian. And yet he admits, based on his understanding of some passages in Isaiah, that it predicts a paradise earth, and then mentions that Witnesses teach that. And, although, he appears to be leaning towards the Trinitarian doctrine, he seems to admit that it is not clearly stated in the NT and even says in a footnote that John 1:1 should be translated "the Word was a God." I was just mentioned him and one other author, Don Cupitt, the author of The Debate About Christ, who clearly came to the conclusion that the Witnesses are the group "which is the closest to NT Christianity", as an aside, to point out that even those who haven't become Witnesses do agree that we teach doctrines based on what the Bible says. But, again, many that have come to those same conclusions, have decided to join our Christian congregation.

JWfacts wrote " It may be difficult to come to the concept of the Trinity reading the Bible, but it is very plain that Jesus is God from the New Testament. John 20:28-29 "In answer Thomas said to him: "My Lord and my God!" For over half of its history the Watchtower taught that Jesus was a god and should be worshipped, contradicting the current teachings that you are quoting. http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/worship-jesus.php

Likewise the Bible is full of references to the resurrection being in the twinkling of an eye, and to torture, such as the account of Abraham and Lazaurus and descriptions of the lake of fire. You do not need to be a theologian to get the impression of an immortal soul, or that Abraham is in heaven.

Matthew 8:11 " But I tell YOU that many from eastern parts and western parts will come and recline at the table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens"

Again, as I mentioned before, the word translated worship has different shades of meaning. I quoted 1 Chron. 29:20 where the nation of Israel is said to worship Jehovah and the king. Worship can mean simply to honor one or bow down to someone in respect, as Jason Beduhn, who I mentioned earlier, states in his book. Beduhn points out in his book that the word worship did not have the same meaning as today, referring to worship only to God. Russell clearly stated by applying the term "a god" to Jesus, that he was referring to him as a mighty being, as the OT applies that word to angels and even powerful judges. And even Jesus used that word and applied to powerful judges when he quoted Ps. 82: 1-6 in John 10:31-33.

John 20:28 - many scholars say that was an exclamation said to Jesus but really directed to God. Just like some gals may say to me "Oh my God"...but they are really directing to God. The OT records visits from God's messengers or angels. Those visted by the angels sometimes said that they have seen God (compare Gen 16:7-11, 13; Judges 13:20-22). The angels were not God, but represented Jehovah God, so those who spoke to angels said they have seen God or spoken to God. That sheds light on what John 20:28 met. Clearly Jesus is not Almighty God and is not part of a Trinity. Jesus has a God, and is called the Son of God too many times in the Bible. When he was dying on the stake he cried out to his God, "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. (Matt. 27:46, 47) Who is the God he cried out to? In Heb. 5:4-8 says that Jesus cried out the One who was able to save him...who was the greater One he cried out to that was able save him? In John 20:17 he says that he has to back to "my God and your God..." In Ephe. 1:3, 2 Cor. 1:3, Eph. 1:17, etc...all written after he was resurrected, says that the Christian congregation was to give praise and honor "to the God and Father of Jesus Christ". Who is the God and Father of Jesus Christ? Jesus mentioned in Rev. 3:12 his God several times. In John 17:3 he calls his Father, "the only true God". In 1 Cor. 8:6 it says that the "One God" is the Father, not Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The book of John clearly says in John 20:31, that we must believe that Jesus Christ is the "Son of God". The most widely quoted Bible text John 3:16, says the God sent his Son, not that God himself came down from heaven. 1 John 4:4-14 stresses that we must believe Jesus is the Son of God and that no man has ever seen God. The clear teaching of Bible is that Jesus is the Son of God. He believed in the Shema, that Jehovah our God is One Jehovah" a clearly unitarian biblical teaching. In Matt. 16:16-18 Jesus clearly said that a fundamental teaching of the Christian congregation is that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus’ words Abraham represents the Greater One in whom all families of the earth will be blessed, Jehovah God the Great Father. Therefore Isaac, Abraham’s only son by his wife Sarah, represents God’s only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, whom God anointed to be King of kings. The Bible clearly says that the soul dies in numerous places including Ezek. 18:4, 20; Acts 3:23; Matt. 10:28; Immortality is something that we are not. Satan the Devil was the one who said we will not die if we commits sins, but instead we will be like the gods. That what he told Eve, according to Gen. 3. If we do not really die, and always are existing in some form, are mind or being always being conscious, then we are immortal. But that is not what the Bible teaching. The twinkling of the eye is only found in book of Thess. and the contact clearly speaking of who are suddelnly awaken from death/sleep. Jesus clearly taught that the dead our asleep or unconscios (John 11:11-14) Eccle. 9:5,10 clearly says that the dead know nothing. What would be the point of the resurrection if the dead are really not dead and are living? The Bible says in John 3:16 that only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God will live forever, and the other will perish or die. Clearly the text talking the rich and lazarus must be parables. Jesus clearly taught in John 3:13 that no man has ascended to the heavens. The Bible clearly teaches that most will be resurrected in the future and are asleep in death until awaken in the resurrection (John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15) Not even King David is in heaven, according Matt. 11:11. Since Jesus clearly said in John 3:13, that no one has gone to heaven, then clearly, Matt. 8:11 in a spiritual sense, in view of what the aforementioned Bible texts says. Jesus’ words means the flwg. as I understand it : Abraham represents the Greater One in whom all families of the earth will be blessed, Jehovah God the Great Father. Isaac, Abraham’s only son by his wife Sarah, represents God’s only-begotten Son Jesus Christ. Since Jacob received life from Abraham through Isaac and so was Abraham’s grandson. Likewise, the Christian congregation receives life from God through Jesus Christ. “The Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it.” “The Christ also is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body.”

JWFacts worte:The Watchtower Society has split into many groups.

Any tiny group that has left is not part of the Christian congregation Even those groups, some of which have died out or will eventually cease to exist, do not consider themselves part of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. In addition, they leave to promote erroneous teachings that do not agree with what th eBible says. Therefore, those groups are not part of the one faith and united Christian Congregation.

JWFacts wrote: You say the changing doctrine over the resurrection is not important, yet the apostle Paul called Hymenaeus and Philetus Apostates for a misunderstanding of the Resurrection.

In their case it was not a minor misunderstanding, but some major misunderstanding. In any case, they had the apostles were living then, and they refused to listen to the correct teaching of the resurrection, and rejected the apostles' teachings. Therefore, they were apostates.

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

slimfatboy wrote:

"No response for me, although give him a break David is working hard on this thread.

But just to add that I looked up the Carolyn Wah article again to see how she cites Penton. In actual fact she does not cite any of his work at all. She simply quotes Beckford and other sociologists to the effect that the work of former JWs work is biased and unreliable. So it's a sort of reference to Penton but without even mentioning his actual work by name, which doesn't even suggest she has read Penton's work much less engaged with it.

I think it's also interesting to note the extreme lengths JW apologists will often go to avoid citing apostate literature, perhaps the best example being the almost farcical situation where Rolf Furuli wrote a two-volume work countering the arguments of Carl Olof Jonsson without explicity referring to his book The Gentile Times Reconsidered at all."

I thought Carolyn Wah stated in one of her State and Church articles, that she read James Penton book. I'll look up the article to confirm.

Actually alot of people at the WT read Carl Jonsson statements since he wrote about his viewpoint to the Society prior to leaving and prior to writing his book. I believe he was not initially expelled and the WTS may have sent him some responses, but apparently he did not agree with them.

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

Ceders wrote:

Just for the record, you didn't really answer my questions. You claim that the actual name of the site justifies you being here, even though you have been ordered not to contribute at such places. Does that mean you can walk into a strip club if it doesn't actually say "strip club" over the door? I commend your disobedience because you might actually learn something as a result of it, but that excuse was terrible.

On the issue of the Governing Body, you give no scriptural argument to support why a group of men that was formed 25 years after the Slave Class was chosen in 1919 has assumed full control over the administration of the organization on their behalf. You refer to the apostles as being the scriptural precendent, and yet surely you don't need me to point out the difference between the 12 apostles and the governing body? All bar one of the apostles was hand picked by Jesus himself, whereas the Governing Body picks itself. Nobody could deny that. Also, how can they call themselves "representatives" when they have absolutely no communication with the anointed, and don't even know who the anointed are?

Well you would be surprised how many Witnesses stumble upon a site that they considered to be a credentialed JW site, simply because it identifies itself as such, but then it turns out that it is an anti-Witness site. I think I would walkout immediately from a club that turned out to be a strip club...but then again, I don't think a strip club would advertise its business as something else other than a strip club. They are too honest to do that.

I personally see the GB as a counterpart to the 1st century apostles. True, they were not selected directly by Jesus, and their writings are certainly not inspired like the apostles. But Jesus did say in Matt. 25:45, 46 that a faithful and discreet slave would be appointed and it appears that part of the group would be in charge of feeding spiritual food to the domestics, including other anointed and the great crowd. You must know that the NT church founded by Jesus did included a range of different types of teachers, including apostles, prophets, evangelizers, teachers, elders, etc. It was just one church, or congregation, which is described directly in the Bible as an association of brothers. The apostles argued against sectrainism and false teachings. I see only 1 Christian group the Bible, which was not divided into different groups with different beliefs. How do you not know that they do not communicate with other members of the anointed or even the great crowd, which they are their helpers? Because Ray Franz said so?

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

JWfacts wrote: " You really are just repeating yourself. I don't agree that there are many people that read the Bible and believe even the core concepts that you listed prior to meeting JWs.

For a start, there are only a couple of hundred thousand baptised each year, probably half of which are children. Most I know knew nothing of Bible doctrine before converting, so they had no formed opinions at all. Research into high control religions show most join at times of emotional turmoil, it has very little to do with the doctrine, other than the promise of a community and nice hope for the future."

Well, I have met many individuals, who prior to becoming Witnesses, came to the same to accept 1 or more fundamentals Bible teachings prior to coming in contact with the Witnesses. Many for instance, based on their reading of the NT, came to the conclusion that Jesus is really the Son of God, and part of the Trinity. Some did come to the conclusion that the soul dies and one must be resurrected in order to be alive again. Of course, they are many others that did not know much about the Bible or were told what to think or believe by their pastors. As I mentioned before, in some cases, some had a published book with "talking points" on what to say to the Witnesses when they came to their door or to speak to them. However, after speaking to the Witnesses, perhaps after numerous times, and carefully considering what the Bible says, they have come to agree with what we teach.

JWfacts wrote " Secondly, it is very difficult to come to those conclusions about God and the Soul without being guided to them by the Watchtower. That is why most religions do not teach them. The NWT has corrupted the New Testament by falsely adding the word Jehovah. Read as written, and as in most Bibles, most people will come to the conclusion that Jesus is God. In fact, even the Watchtower was confused about the topic, since it taught the polytheistic view that Jesus was a god to be worshipped until the 1950's. Likewise the New Testament does not paint a picture of soul sleep, but of heavenly immortality. The WTS is very much an Old Testament religion, and bases itself on many Scriptures that are rightfully considered poetic and not doctrinal. It is very difficult to read the Bible (without Watchtower blinkers) and come to the Watchtower concept of the soul.

You keep saying about all these many people that already knew Watchtower doctrine before reading a Watchtower. I would like you to see if you can really find that many. I am yet to speak to anyone that read the Bible and thought the world would exist forever and be a paradise for man to live on eternally. Or many people that believed the concept that you are totally gone at death, and some distant time in the future God would bring back some photocopier version of you."

Actually, the only way to come to the conclusion that Jesus is God and that the soul never dies is if one is influenced and taught those doctrines by the Trinitarian theolgians. The NT clearly teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and the God the Father is the "one God" and that Jesus has a God. And it says that the souls are asleep until awaken by the resurrection in the age to come and that immortality is a gift from God, and like Adamwe are humans souls that can be destroyed. Bible doctrine from both the OT and NT contradict what is taught is most churches.

I find it surprising to see your comment on what you call our polytheism. The fact is, if one your really familiar with our literature, is the word translated "worship" is from the Greek proskyneuo which can mean to bow dow, adore, or show honor to king. 1 Chronicles 29:20 says that the God's people "worshipped" Jehovah and the king. (ASV, KJV, ERV, Websters) Others version says bowed down, bow low and did homage...etc. So worshipping Jesus, as understood as showing honor and report is not wrong. That is what the Greek word, which appears in the LXX, means. However, as Jason DeBuhn wrote in his book Truth In Translation (Bowing to Bias - Chapter 4), the meaning of the English word worship has changed at times, and it has come to mean the worship that can only be given to God. In order to avoid confusion, that we do not give worship Jesus as God, the Witnesses have decided to use other words the convey what the Greek word really convey, and now the literature mainly states the we honor or bow dow to Jesus in the same way that the Israelites bowed down to the king of Israel. The Reasoning book, after discussing the different shades of the Greek work prokyneuou, thus states: *** rs p. 215 par. 2 Jesus Christ ***

In harmony with that, we must understand that it is pro·sky·ne´o with a particular attitude of heart and mind that should be directed only toward God.

As I mentioned earlier, I do know many, who have read the Bible on their own, without the help of Trinitarian theologians, that have come to the same conclusion as the Witnesses and are now active Witnesses. And even some who have not joined the Witnesses (or have not yet joined), have come to agree with some of the teachings of the Witnesses. The book Christianity Without Fairy Tales by Jim Rigas mentions the Witnesses several times in regards to the Bible teaching regarding the earth converting to a paradise. Jim Rigas, an Episcopalian, correctly mentions that the Witnesses teach that. Interestingly, he includes a footnote on John 1:1 that says the text would be better translated as the "the Word was a god." The book, by Don Cuprti, The Debate About the Christ, which appears to agree with the doctrine that Jesus is really the Son of God and not part of a Trinity, also states that the Jehovah's Witnesses are the closest to teaching the NT truths. It says on page 69 "We may conclude that the Jehovah's Witnesses are the group which is today nearest to New Testament Christianity." So there are some, who have never become Witnesses, but have closesly studied the Bible, have come to agree that Witnesses uphold the Bible truths.

JWfacts wrote " Russell would not agree with you applying Prov 4:18 to the Watchtower Society. He wrote:

"If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now;… But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New Light" never extinguishes older "light" but adds to it…" Zion's Watch Tower 1881 February pp.3,188

Watchtower history has not been one of light getting brighter, but flip flops and contradictions, often multiple times on important topics such as the resurrection.

Well, yes, that which is light will never contradict light, but if something was in error, it has to be corrected. Russell also wrote, "We do not object to changing our opinions on any subject, or discarding former applications of prophecy, or any other scripture, when we see a good reason for the change,—in fact, it is important that we should be willing to unlearn errors and mere traditions, as to learn truth.... It is our duty to "prove all things."—by the unerring Word,—"and hold fast to that which is good." (Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence October 1879 (reprint) p.38 “The Ten Virgins). Light will also be light, but it is our understanding of the Bible that keeps getting brighter. We may have taught that Jesus died on a cross, but later on learned that the Greek word for cross really means an upright pole or stake. Does that change the truth of the light that Jesus died for humankind? Does that change the fact the Jesus died for our sins? No it does not. With regard, to resurrection, whether or not one holds that the gays that died at Sodom and Gomorrah may not really be that important. The important thing is the resurrection will happen, and Jehovah God in the end will be the one who will decide who will be resurrected through his Son, Jesus Christ.

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

punkofnice wrote" “Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals , regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind.”— The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 587

“They say that it is sufficient to read the bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago…”—The Watchtower, August 15, 1981, pp. 28-29

The Watchtower does strongly recommend to read the Bible on a daily basis. And many who have read on their have come to the conclusion that the WT teaches the truth of the Bible. The first quote states in the beginning that the Bible books were written to the CONGREGATION or to an INDIVIDUAL on behalf of the CONGREGATION. The book was written to the CONGREGATION as a whole. Tne 2nd quote is actually questioning those who claim they read the Bible exclusively and yet actually went back to the COMMENTARIES OF CHRISTENDOM...teaching falsehoods that are NOT in the Bible.

The same book written to the 1st century Christian Congregation clearly shows in Acts chapter 8 that God and Jesus may use an apostle or teacher to teach some who may not understand a passage of the Bible, like the Eunuch who could not understand the book of Isaiah. The book of Ephesians says that God has appointed some as TEACHERS in the congregation as well as APOSTLES to teach the first century congregation. Matt. chapte 25 says a faithful and discreet servant would be used to feed the congregation spiritual food. But one, like the Bereans, of the 1st century congregation, must study the Scriptures daily to make sure what is being taught is the Truth...and that is strongly encouraged by the WT (emphasis added):

" As the canon of books of God’s Word was expanded and the Christian Greek Scriptures were added to complete the Bible, each book was written directly to the Christian congregation or to a member of the Christian congregation in its behalf. Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind." (WT 10/1/1967 p. 587)

*** w56 3/1 p. 149 pars. 18-19 Keeping Up with the Truth ***

A few practical suggestions are now presented for such a personal Bible-reading program. Why not read each morning from the Bible the entire chapter surrounding the day’s text in the Yearbook or in the non-English issues of The Watchtower? This will supply you immediately with rich supporting material for a stimulating study of the morning’s text and comments. Reading a chapter each day would mean that one would get to read 365 chapters a year or about a third of the entire Bible. Try to epitomize each chapter as you finish reading it. See whether you can find the central theme of the chapter.

19 A second suggestion would be to set aside half an hour a day for straight Bible reading. Either a half hour before breakfast when one’s mind is fresh or in the evening before going to bed. In doing such consecutive Bible reading the primary object should be not just to cover a given budget of pages. Rather try to absorb something of lasting value from what is read. Seek to retain one or more basic principles or points of divine counsel each day. Memorize those points and repeat them the next day.

*** w57 2/1 p. 88 Getting God’s Law on Your Heart ***

TASTE AND SEE”

10 Psalm 34:8 (AS) invites: “Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good.” Do you have a Bible? Do you read it? Do you feed your mind on the spiritual food it contains? Do you taste Jehovah’s Word to see how good it is? Do not confuse this with listening to an orthodox sermon or following religious tradition or believing some set creed. Such things often conflict with the Bible, as Jesus said to religious leaders: “You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition.” (Matt. 15:6, NW) Read the Bible for yourself, without preconceived ideas or prejudices, and see how good it is. Many openly admit that they do not believe the Bible, not because they have read it, but because they believe evolution, or have been soured on the Bible by what some say it contains, or by the way some act who are supposed to be Christians. They have not tasted for themselves. They are like persons who say they do not like a certain food before they ever taste it, and who steadfastly refuse to try it. (emphasis added)

*** w59 5/1 p. 274 par. 26 Attain Completeness in the New World Society ***

With the habit of the noon-hour break combine the habit of some theocratic reading. With the habit of going to bed each night combine the habit of further meditation on God’s Word. Read the Bible daily. Good study habits will help in ‘making over the mind’ for a joyful, zealous share in New World activity as the complete minister of God. How wonderfully worth while, in attaining to Christian maturity!—Josh. 1:6-8.

*** w60 9/1 pp. 533-534 pars. 16-17 Choosing the Right Form of Worship ***

In addition to our private and congregation study of the Watch Tower Society’s publications, we should regularly take time to read the Bible itself.Every Christian minister should make it a point to read through the entire Bible,and to do so often, if possible. But, having read the Bible through, it would be unwise to continue simply to read over material that one does not fully understand without pausing to ponder its meaning. That requires interest on our part, a constant awareness of the fact that what we are reading is, in fact, the Word of God. (1 Thess. 2:13) God is no waster. He did not have recorded in the Bible material that is dispensable. What is there has been provided for our instruction, to guide us in the decisions with which we are confronted in life so that we pursue a course that is in harmony with the form of worship approved by God, and to equip us for effective work as his ministers. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) If it is thus to benefit us, we must seek more than a knowledge of what it says. We need an understanding of its meaning and an appreciation of how to use it. “Acquire wisdom,” says the inspired proverb, “and with all that you acquire, acquire understanding.”—Prov. 4:7.

17 Think actively when you read the Bible. If it is prophetic material, give careful attention to its fulfillment, both in a miniature and a final way. Take note of fundamental Bible truths that are touched on in the account and guiding principles that are embodied there. Whether the information is prophetic or otherwise, when you read it keep before your mind questions such as these: How does this affect my life? Does it call on me to make any adjustments to bring my attitude or my actions into harmony with this expression of the divine will? What relation does it have to the other Bible teachings I have learned? How do they support it, or how does this corroborate them? How can I use it in my ministry? If you do not understand a certain scripture, do not lightly pass over it. Put forth the effort to find out what it means.

*** w61 12/15 pp. 739-740 Why Read the Bible? ***

Why Read the Bible?

THE question, Why read the Bible? is well put. Many are the reasons why various persons read the Bible. Why, for example, do you read the Bible?

Do you, as do many, read it because of the delight you get from its literary excellence? Its beauty of language is well known to all. Then perhaps you have been pained by the way some of the modern versions read, for they appear to have sacrificed literary beauty for the sake of Biblical scholarship. That is the way a certain professor in an eastern United States university felt about it. He criticized the way Psalm 23 read in the Revised Standard Version because it had lost the stately rhythm it had in the King James Version.

In a similar vein a literary authority, writing in the New York Times, criticized the way the New English Bible read as compared with the King James Version. After noting various opinions on the subject he concluded his own objections by saying: “I have a suspicion that their labors, whatever scholarly correctness they may have established, will not dislodge the K.J.V. from its vantage point. If we read the Bible for delights of language, we will not forsake its noblest version.”

But, it may well be asked, did God inspire some forty men, over a period of sixteen centuries to write his Word so that we might have “delights of language”? Is that the reason why many of its writers suffered persecution and even martyrdom, and why many who copied, translated, published and distributed the Bible had similar treatment accorded to them—merely so that we may have the delight of perusing a literary masterpiece? Hardly!—Ezek. 33:32.

Or do you, like others, read the Bible solely as a religious duty, covering so many pages a day or devoting so many minutes daily to reading the Bible? In certain Catholic Bibles readers are encouraged by being told that they will receive so many days of indulgence for reading the Bible fifteen minutes daily. But what profit can there be in all this if little or no thought is given as to the real meaning of what is read?—Acts 8:30.

Or do you occasionally read in the Bible out of curiosity? It is well to know something of its contents, true, but after having satisfied your curiosity with a mere smattering of knowledge, then what? How much profit would you derive from such an approach to any scientific subject? The Bible contains the very highest science, the ultimate truth. It deserves your regular and careful consideration.—John 17:17.

Then there are those who read the Bible merely so that they can say that they have read it through. Or they may read it over again and again so as to be able to boast about the number of times they have read the Bible. Reading the Bible through is commendable, and everyone should read it through at least once; but if our motive in reading it is that of having a name for having done so, then we have read it in vain as far as any real lasting benefit is concerned. We are in the class of those who pray or give gifts in public to be seen of men.—Matt. 6:1-5.

Many others read the Bible to find proof for their religious beliefs instead of basing their beliefs on what they read. They call to mind the words of the poet:

“Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed,

Thus understand but little what they read;

And every passage in the Book they bend

To make it suit that all-important end.”

Typical are the trinitarians, who, finding no mention or explanation of their favorite teaching, cite texts that mention the Father, the Son and the holy spirit to prove that these three are coequal in power, glory, substance and eternity, when such texts prove no such thing. (See Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14.) This also is futile Bible reading, for how can one learn from the Bible when he has preconceived notions and merely uses it to prove his own ideas. Such people read “to teach the Book instead of to be taught.”

Among other Bible readers that might be mentioned are the foes of the Bible, those who approach it with a critical eye, as often do the agnostic, the skeptic, the infidel, the atheist and the deist, to mention a few. While purporting to have an objective attitude toward the Bible, more often than not they read for the purpose of finding fault with it, scanning its pages with eagle eye to find instances in which the Bible appears to contradict itself, science or secular history. Thus these hope to discredit the Bible in the eyes of others. The extremes to which these go prove that they are anything but what they make their boast to be—objective. However, Bible scholarship, science and archaeology more and more bring forth evidence refuting all such attacks. Obviously, all such Bible reading is futile.

Then why should we read the Bible? To become familiar with the one true God Jehovah, whose revelation it is. In it he makes known to us himself as well as his purposes and will for us. As noted by that peer of Christian Bible scholars, the apostle Paul: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”—2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

To thus benefit from the Bible we must approach it with the right heart attitude and right frame of mind. We want to be open-minded, without preconceived notions, yet with the will to believe, with a consciousness of our spiritual need. That also means we must approach it humbly, recognizing how little we know and how much we have to learn. And we must approach it honestly, willing to pay the price for the truth, for truth does exact its price.—Prov. 23:23; Matt. 5:3.

So take time to read the Bible, but do so from the right motives.

*** w64 4/15 p. 227 Why You Should Read the Bible ***

Is it not apparent, therefore, that to handle the Bible effectively you must read it regularly? Truths quickly slip from mind unless they are reviewed. Even regular attendance at religious services does not replace this need to read the Bible. The Christian apostle Paul showed this when writing concerning the Beroeans. “Now the [inhabitants of Beroea] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,” Paul wrote, “for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”—Acts 17:11.

Notice that the Beroeans ‘carefully examined the Scriptures daily,’ even in addition to attending religious services. This is the course recommended by the Bible.

*** w70 12/1 p. 729 Is It Hard for You to Find Scriptures? ***

READ THE BIBLE FOR OVERALL PICTURE

One of the first things you can do, if you have not done so, is to read the Bible from cover to cover to get an overall picture of its contents. This takes time, but if you work at it steadily you will gradually become familiar with what the Bible contains.

When you read the Bible for the first time, you will find that you do not understand all of it, but you are establishing the framework for remembering or finding scriptures.

As you read the Bible, you will come across certain scriptures that you will no doubt want to remember. Try to do so. Of course, memory powers vary greatly. Just as some persons have healthier bodies than others, so some have better memories. But this does not mean that a person cannot improve his memory. He can if he tries.

*** g01 8/22 p. 24 How Can I Make Bible Reading More Enjoyable? ***

Some Christian youths schedule 10 to 15 minutes daily to read the Bible. By doing so, they have been able to finish the entire Bible in a year or two! Even if that seems beyond your reach, make it your goal to read a portion of the Bible every day. By resolutely sticking to your appointed time for Bible reading, your love for God’s Word will grow.—Psalm 119:97; 1 Peter 2:2.

*** w63 9/1 p. 528 Improving Personal Study ***

BIBLE READING

6 There is no better way to study the Bible than by subject, but that does not mean there is no value in straight reading of the Bible. There is! It gives vital background information and an overall view of God’s Word. It helps you to locate in the stream of time notable events and the periods when people with whom God had dealings lived. It familiarizes you with those people and the things they did. This is all essential information for one who is to be an effective witness to Jehovah’s truth.

7 What part does Bible reading play in your personal study program? Do you urge other people to read the Bible regularly but fail to do it yourself? When you call on a person for the purpose of bearing witness to the truth, what do you say when he asks if you have read the Bible through? Are you able to give an emphatic Yes? Or do you squirm a bit and say that you have read almost all of it? Do you not think his confidence in you as a proclaimer of Scriptural truth is weakened when you are unable to give him an affirmative answer?

8 The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society has for many years urged Bible reading as well as Bible study by subjects. On its publishing plant in Brooklyn, New York, there is a large painted sign that says: “Read God’s Word the Holy Bible Daily.” To the thousands of people who drive past that sign every day on their way to and from work, it expresses the Society’s position on Bible reading. It shows that the Society believes that everyone should read God’s Word regularly. Certainly Jehovah’s witnesses should be the foremost Bible readers in the world. This is recognized in the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, where every student is required to read the Bible through before he completes his course of study. This emphasis on Bible reading is proper. Our whole life is centered around God’s Word. Its truths are what we preach; its promises are what we trust; its principles are what we live. Every day we, of all people, should read it.

Ok..ok...I could quote a hundred more articles...in addition to books written by the WTS...but I think this suffice...

220

2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

by jwfacts in

the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

davidl7

cedars wrote " wow, you've actually plummeted quite a bit in my estimations I'm afraid. You're the first person I've known to read BOTH Franz books and still reach the conclusion that the Watch Tower Society is God's spirit-directed organization. That's either incredible naivety or stupidity on your part, or perhaps both. I'm sorry to be so derisory, but you've honestly shocked me there. I think you would be perfect to serve on the Governing Body some day (assuming you feel you are of the anointed, and can convince others of this). I think it's only people like you who are able to stare facts in the face and come up with alternative conclusions based on emotion and veneration for a human organization that could 'serve' in that capacity."

Why must I be stupid and naive for disagreeing with what Raymond Franz and others wrote against the WT? I don't follow any human beings...I will listen to what the Bible says, and sadly, Franz appears to have rejected some of the fundamental teachings. And his 2nd book even convinced more that he was not interested in teaching the truth about the Witnesses, especially after advising Gary Botting that he must be honest about what we believe. His comments on what the WT has said or not about the divine name is especially revealing and proved to me the Ray Franz is not telling the truth. I don't serve any human organization. I will serve and worship Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ. As one elder, a former Rabbi, who studied NT Greek, told me once - "If the WT was not teaching what the Bible teaches, I would walked out of the congregation...but they really teach the truth of the Bible." I agree with him. Maybe you should have a cup of coffee or tea to calm your nerves....I am way too young to be a member of the GB, and have an earthly hope, not a heavenly one. I know at least 14 people that have read Franz's anti-Witness books, and about 20 that read James Penton's books (including an historian that read his 2nd book). And guess what...they are still associated as active Witnesses of Jehovah. Well, let me correct, about half of them read them prior to becoming Witnesses, but are now active Witnesses. So there are people that have read books by Ex-Witnesses but have still concluded that the Witnesses teach the truth of the Bible....sorry to shock again.

cedars wrote " YOU BEING ON THIS SITE - The July 15th 2011 Watchtower study article said (on page 16, paragraph 7) "What is involved in avoiding false teachers? We do not receive them into our homes or greet them. We also refuse to read their literature, watch TV programs that feature them, examine their Web sites, or add our comments to their blogs. " Since you are so zealous in venerating the Governing Body, why have you chosen to disobey this direct counsel? Are there any other elements of counsel found in the publications that you feel equally inclined to disobey? And if so, why?"

True the WT advises that we should avoid false teachers based the Bible texts found in 1 John and 2 John. I was attracted to this site based on the fact that it claims to be a JW Site...but it appears to be more of anti-JW site. And there appears to be some geniune JW's on the site. If the site would have been open and blunt and called itself "Anti-JW Site", I would have avoided it.

cedar wrote " THE GOVERNING BODY - According to Witness doctrine, Jesus selected the bible students in 1919 to be his "Faithful and Discreet Slave". It is the Slave Class who are therefore responsible for feeding the "domestics". The Governing Body did not exist in 1919, and can only trace their roots as far back as 1944. Also, they claim to be "representatives" of the Slave Class - even though they do not communicate with them, or even know how many anointed there are on the Earth. The term "representative" implies that the Governing Body were chosen to serve in their role, but if so, who chose them - and where is the evidence? From where does the Governing Body receive its scriptural mandate to administer affairs on behalf of the Slave Class? Where in the bible does it say that the Slave Class will require a Governing Body to represent it? Do you have ONE scripture that supports the authority of the Governing Body in the role that they have chosen for themselves? This may prove challenging for you, since the term "Governing Body" does not appear once in the bible, as I'm sure you're aware."

All Christians (or at least most of them) were part of the faithful and discreet servant in the first century. Since the time of Russell it was understood that the faithful and discreet servant composed all those who were anointed Christians. But did this mean that there was no group who administered the communication of the truth? Acts 15 clearly shows that there were a group of men, the apostles, who were involved in making important doctrinal teaching, under the guidance of the holy spirit, and informing the congregations of the decision made. It is clear from the book of Acts chatper 15, that when a dispute concerning whether or not circumsion should be a required practice in the congregation, that a small group of men were called upon to make a decision, based on biblical principles and the guidance of the holy spirit, and that then, the congregations abided by their decision. That group was a body of men, a governing body, if you will, that was used by God to help the anointed congregation in the 1st century. Not everyone in the first century wrote the books of the Bible, did they? And not everyone, anointed or not, made decisions. Today, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, follow the same pattern as the 1st Century Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (compare Acts 15; Acts 1:8, Acts 5:30; Acts 2:32; Acts 10:37-39; Acts 5:42; Acts 20:20, 21; Ephe 4:11-13; Acts 15:14; 1 Cor. 15:13-15).

Cedars wrote " INCREASING LIGHT - Please can you show me ONE scripture that shows how God's Holy Spirit has (or would) deliberately feed false information to his servants as a "makeweight" until truthful information is revealed at a later stage?"

You appear to misunderstand the notion of increasing light. God's holy spirit would NEVER feed false information to his servants. But as Russell wrote, today's Christians are NOT infallible and their writings are not without error. Christian in past may have had incorrect understanding of certain Bible doctrines. The apostles who studied the Hebrew Scriptures, did not at first understand that the Messiah had to die and then be resurrected. They even thought, according to Acts chapter 1:2-6, that Jesus was going to establish God's kingdom immediately (compare Luke 19:11). Even after receiving the holy spirit, some thought the end of the age would come immediately, so the apostle Paul had to write to 1st century Christians that it was not until the "man of lawlessness" was revealed that the end would end. So even the apostles had some wrong misunderstanding that were clarified through the guidance of the holy spirit. So it is not God's spirit that is in error, but Christians may have some misunderstanding of certain Bible teachings that may become clearer as we study the Bible more and the truth of the light gets brighter. (Prov. 4:18)