Posts by The Searcher

5

Awake of January 2014 - analysis

by Anony Mous in

it's been forever since i browsed over a wt publication.

this is my analysis of the 2014 awake:.

- there is a lot more white space and pictures, a lot less text, it seems a lot shorter than other, paragraphs are the size of tweets.

The Searcher

It's not rocket science to see that the Awake! and the Public Edition of the Watchtower have become so similar in content over the years (with more and more Scriptural references in the Awake!) that further financial savings will be made by terminating the unnecessary Awake! magazine.

It is now surplus to requirements, and serves no additional purpose to that of the Watchtower!

I predict that as the Org's financial problems continue to fester, the GB will make a global announcement at the Annual Meeting that production of the Awake! will cease.

The R & F will nod approvingly and say how prudent the 'slave' is looking after the master's possessions, and what a wonderful adjustment this is!

p.s. By refusing to accept my prediction, you risk being shunned!!!!!!!

4

Find the factual errors about Fredrick W. Franz from Ronald Enroth's JW comments.

by SanLuisObispoTruthSeeker in

can you find the errors on this blog?.

jehovahs witnesses understanding world religions.

history and back ground:.

The Searcher

Charles Russell 1872 -1916. Charles founded the JW in 1884 (known then as the Zion’s Watch Tower and Tract Society. He wrote 6 volumes of Studies in the Scriptures which laid the basic theology for his movement. He stated people would go into darkness without the aid of his studies.
Joseph F. Rutherford 1917-42. As the new leader he replaced some of Russell’s interpretations of theology. He increased the power and control over the group. In July of 1931 he changed the name to Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was a prolific writer.
Nathan H. Knorr 1942-77. He refined the organization. It grew from 115,000 to 2,000,000. He founded the “Watchtower Bible School” and “The Theocratic Ministry School”. Introduced “The New World Translation” the JW Bible. They changed verses to match their beliefs. They will add words to the Bible that are not in the Greek or Hebrew manuscripts.
Frederick W Franz (1977-92 dismissed). He continued to work on their theology. However, he wanted to change some of the prophesies because they were not going to come true. Eventually he wanted to change too much the official doctrines and was dismissed and ‘defellowshipped.’
Milton G Herschel 1992-2003. During his leadership JW cracked down on dissenters.
Don Adams 2003 to present. He is the only president that has not been part of “The Governing Body”. His role is largely administrative.

21

No Hand Holding During Prayers But Door to Door?

by blondie in

jw
friends

http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/life/the-next-three-days-1.284082.

.

The Searcher

When I was an attendant in a previous cong, I saw a young brother groping his wife's backside during the prayer. He was clearly unaware that our attendants were instructed to keep their eyes open for security reasons.

18

Historical evidence for Christmas and Christs birthday

by DS211 in

i just read this feom 4jehovah.org.

there is a historical basis for the december 25th date of christs birth.

justin martyr (100-165 a.d.) wrote marcus aurelius that jesus was born at bethlehem as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing.

The Searcher

The Scriptural details provided at Matthew chapter 2 vary somewhat from the traditionally held Christian explanation of Christ's birth.

1 After Jesus had been born in Beth′le·hem of Ju·de′a in the days of Herod the king, look! astrologers [magi] from the East came to Jerusalem, (Despite the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the astrologers - not kings, & not 3 of them - were directed straight to Jerusalem, not Bethlehem)

3 At hearing this, King Herod was agitated, and all Jerusalem with him. (On the basis of Deuteronomy 18:10,12 it is clear why the people would be agitated)

7 Then Herod secretly summoned the astrologers and carefully ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearing. (Herod likely summoned them secrectly for fear of the Jews reaction to him consulting with astrologers whom their God condemned in Scripture)

11 And when they went into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and falling down, they did obeisance to him. (Jesus was now a young child, not a baby, hence the reason Herod had all children under 2 years of age killed, and not just babies. Also, the magi found him in a house, not a manger as is generally portrayed.

63

If you want to show a JW some of the older publications from a non-apostate and 'safe' website..

by The Quiet One in

"it is appreciated that these documents do not reflect the current understanding of the bible enjoyed by jehovah's witnesses, and for up-to-date information the reader is encouraged to visit the official site of the watchtower bible and tract society.".

http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/.

The Searcher

Honesty said - "Most JW's DO NOT WANT THE TRUTH. They are happy right where they are."

Sadly, that is the truth!!!!! Many actually believe the fairy tale that they are in a 'spiritual paradise'.

9

Favoritism in the Organization

by William Penwell in

not sure if this topic has been covered before but i have a question to all of you, did you run across much favouritism while being a jdub?

i know as a working person favouritism is standard practice.

growing up as a jdub and being a naive teenager i always thought that they were above "worldly" people but i learned the hard way and from my own brother in law.

The Searcher

Overseers & shepherds??????? As one former elder told me, many elders he knew just loved 'treading the boards'! There are so many who stand out with the attitude, "I've climbed the ladder of prominence & authority".

And boy, do they try and milk it sometimes! Jesus gave the classic description - "by their fruits ". As I've said before to fellow Witnesses, compare how many hours are spent trying to get new converts, compared with the hours spent encouraging and helping existing Witnesses - it doesn't look good. However, that's simply down to the Org's directives to focus on recruitment, not brotherly love, and the elders are acting no better than the overseers did in the days of slavery, by trying to get more productivity out of the labour force for the 'Mastah' - aka GB!

10

"THE WATCH TOWER" 1865 - Volume 1 - Downloadable PDF 417 pages

by jwleaks in

the watch tower 1865, published by j.f.

shaw & co., for the proprietors of "the watch tower", 158 fleet street, london.

sold at all booksellers and railway book stores during the mid to late 1860's.. this volume of the watch tower was first published on march 29, 1865, for the benefit of learned members of the anglican church.

The Searcher

It looks like CTR plagiarised the title of his magazine, as well as many of his warped teachings!

406

Goodbye JWD/JWN (my last post)

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

after some considerable thought i have decided that i will no longer post on this forum because i want to return to jehovah.

thank you for all the kindness and many interesting discussions over the years.

i wish you all well in the future and the decisions you make.

The Searcher

Gone yersel' Big Yin!!

21

If all ''faders'' abruptly left the Watchtower and made no effort to hide the reasons why, what affect, if any, do you think it would make on the congregations?

by ThomasCovenant in

jw
friends

when you're part of a lovely big group of people who all seem to be happy in their beliefs, it's easier to quell your own doubts.

if i was the only person left in the congregation who still went on the door to door work, because every body else had stopped going , having said out loud what most think, ''it's a waste of time'', how long do you think before i too would cease going door to door?.

i know from my own perspective that having lots of fellow witnesses around me, steered me into making life changing decisions.

The Searcher

As someone who's still in in, I am beginning to hear rumblings of dissent/bewilderment at recent changes in teachings/understandings/attitudes coming through the literature, especially as one brother put it, 'the constant elevation of the FDS'.

To answer your question - the Org would immediately apply suitably worded Scriptures to their dilemma and just tell the 'faithful' (to the Org!) that it's part of the sign that we are so close to the end!

3

TIME TO KEEP QUIET

by The Searcher in

when people stick their fingers in their ears and start singing 'la la la la la la' very loudly, (figuratively speaking) we have to take the hint that the person (for whatever reason) doesn't want to hear what you're trying to discuss with them.

it's incredibly frustrating when you know that they really need to hear what you've got to say.

it's like trying to get your neighbour to look at the puddle of brake fluid under their car - they hear you, but they don't look!.

The Searcher

When people stick their fingers in their ears and start singing 'la la la la la la' very loudly, (figuratively speaking) we have to take the hint that the person (for whatever reason) doesn't want to hear what you're trying to discuss with them. It's incredibly frustrating when you know that they really need to hear what you've got to say. It's like trying to get your neighbour to look at the puddle of brake fluid under their car - they hear you, but they don't look!

I'm at that point with three or four in the cong with whom I have little discussions about various Scriptures. They agree on most things, but then the shutters come down. They simply do not want to confront the 'truth' with Bible truth! The outcome might cause too big a burden.

So I've decided to let them remove the veil themselves - they don't require any help right now. It's like 'The Road Less Travelled' written by M. Scott Peck. No matter what evasive action you take to avoid dealing with an uncomfortable obstacle on your road in life, sooner or later you will be confronted with it again. So it's better to deal with it quickly, and get on with living!