Very interesting, thanks for the hard work!
I hope you will share the excel once you're done as well, this could be the basis for many such analyses.
Posts by Splash
-
7Video Showing Where in the World Jehovah's Witnesses Have been Active, 1926-2016
by ILoveTTATT2 inafter many, many days of learning how to write macros in excel and cleaning up a lot of data, i finally have the desired result: a timeline of where jehovah's witnesses have been active since 1926.there are some notes:1) "korea" was assumed to be both north and south korea up until 1950.
(i chose 1950 because that is the same year russia and other communist countries went "banned").2) morocco and western sahara are considered as one.3) in the years previous to 1947, i had to read the yearbook reports and make an educated guess as to whether i should include in the report or not.
my requirements were: not banned, report was for an entire year if there was more than one witness in the land, reports were official and not second hand.
-
-
-
65
Short stay
by midnight inafter much research and prayer i am returning to being a jehovah's witness i can find nothing that eliminates them from being god's directed people , in the end they will reach the end of there journey despite mistakes and errors just like the israelites entered the promised land , thanks for your input and all the best on your personal journey ☺.
midnight..
-
-
Splash
How does that JW illustration go...
Would you drink a glass of clear looking water if someone told you there was a single drop of poison in it?
I guess that only applies to every other religion then.
-
51
Truly I say to you, Amen I say to you, Inferences from a Gospel manner of speech
by kepler inin another topic changes in the nwt, one of the correspondents posted that.
concerning the comma in luke 23:43, http://www.dtl.org/alt/comments/today.htmhas some interesting comments.. .
to summarize what was stated at this website, the translator selected a translation for luke 23:43. .
-
-
Splash
Was Jesus speaking literally when he said '... today you will be with me..'?
Looking at Genesis 2:17 "But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die", it indicates that the bible can use terms like this as a guarantee of something happening rather than a literal timescale.
-
13
New flip flop document - updated from last year
by Splash inabout this time last year i uploaded a document as part of my going away post.. as stated at the time i had to lie low, and am still doing so.
sort of.
mostly.i pop up rarely to chip in when my 'ardour comes up into my nose' about something lol, but still read the leaks and back-and-forth between the members here.
-
-
-
3
Why JW's have a paedophile problem
by Splash ini just ran across this quote which resonated with me.. by way of introduction, hmp whatton is europe's largest prison for contact and non contact sex offenders against adults and children.
it's based in nottinghamshire in the uk.. david potter is one of hmp whatton's most experienced facilitators of treatment programmes.. in an interview with the bbc he said "in groups, a lot of the work we do is aimed at building the self-esteem of people that have committed a sexual offence, because a lot of sexual offending is as a direct result of low self-esteem.
in groups we try and build their sense of self worth.".
-
-
Splash
I just ran across this quote which resonated with me.
By way of introduction, HMP Whatton is Europe's largest prison for contact and non contact sex offenders against adults and children. It's based in Nottinghamshire in the UK.
David Potter is one of HMP Whatton's most experienced facilitators of treatment programmes.
In an interview with the BBC he said "In groups, a lot of the work we do is aimed at building the self-esteem of people that have committed a sexual offence, because a lot of sexual offending is as a direct result of low self-esteem. In groups we try and build their sense of self worth."
There can hardly be another organisation which instills such a constant and complete sense of shame, guilt, fear, low self esteem, lack of ambition, lack of achievement, lack of self worth as does the WT organisation.
The weekly brow beatings, demands for more, more, more, unachievable personal study regimes, need to be at all meetings and answering, public counsel on your talks, suspicion and taunting when missing field service, and the GB's foot on everyone's neck has turned the congregations into a Petri dish of mental health and abuse issues.
This is an epidemic of their own making, and after cultivating it for so long they are now being exposed, showing the consequences of their evil ravings.
The BBC interview was a couple of years ago and can be read here.
-
13
New flip flop document - updated from last year
by Splash inabout this time last year i uploaded a document as part of my going away post.. as stated at the time i had to lie low, and am still doing so.
sort of.
mostly.i pop up rarely to chip in when my 'ardour comes up into my nose' about something lol, but still read the leaks and back-and-forth between the members here.
-
-
Splash
About this time last year I uploaded a document as part of my going away post.
As stated at the time I had to lie low, and am still doing so. Sort of. Mostly.
I pop up rarely to chip in when my 'ardour comes up into my nose' about something lol, but still read the leaks and back-and-forth between the members here. Keep up the good work.Anyway, although I've not had as much enthusiasm for researching the WT as I used to - I reached a point where I was convinced in my own mind so didn't need to pursue it more - I have added about 3 pages per month during the last year to the document and hope it proves useful to someone or other. I'll not be adding to it any further now, but it just seems too much of a shame to keep it to myself if it might help someone else see the futility of believing WT teachings.
This forum is the author of the info, I'm just the collator. Well done you lot!
If you've seen it all before or are fed up with these sort of things then no worries, skip on to the next thread, I won't mind at all.All the best, Splash.
-
26
Feb. 2017 "Who is Leading God's People Today?"
by Saethydd ini know that i am not by any means the first person to take note of this article, but today i finally got around to reading it.
i quickly found the now infamous line "the governing body is neither inspired nor infallible.
" in the interest of fairness, however, i decided to finish the paragraph, which led me to finish the lesson.
-
-
Splash
If those of the Governing Body allow God’s Word rather than popular opinion to guide their decisions, who is really leading God’s people today?
So when WT change their child protection policies because of secular pressure, who is really leading God's people today?
-
11
The 31 date blunders of Watchtower
by FatFreek 2005 indates (ad) of events once taught by watchtower as significant but no longer supported since nothing happened.. .
"but bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.
zion's watch tower 1894 jul 15 p.226 incredibly, today’s jw’s dishonestly prefer to rewrite history, claiming "jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of "the conclusion of the system of things.
-
-
Splash
Here's my list, some of which are the same.
DATES WHICH HAD TO BE REVISED BECAUSE THEY FAILED
606 BC - Studying God's Word, we have measured the 2520 years, the seven symbolic times, from that year 606 B.C. and have found that it reached down to October, 1914, as nearly as we were able to reckon. We did not say positively that this would be the year. (Watchtower, November 1, 1914, p. 325)
1798 - Napoleon began this Egyptian campaign in 1798, finished it, and then returned to France on Oct 1, 1799. The campaign is briefly, yet graphically described in the prophecy, verses 40-44; and its being completed in 1799 marks, according to the prophet's own words, the beginning of "the time of the end. (Creation; 1927; p. 293)
1799 - The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874. (The Watchtower, March 1, 1922)
1872 - In this chapter we present the Bible evidence which indicates that six thousand years from the creation of Adam were complete with A.D. 1872; and hence that, since A.D. 1872 are chronologically entered upon the seventh thousand or the Millennium. (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 33, 1889)
1873 - If, then, the seventh thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the period of Christ's reign, we shall by showing that it began in 1873, be proving that we are already in it. (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 40. 1889)
1874 - We have no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology [for] the dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925. It was on this line of reckoning that the dates 1874, 1914, and 1918 were located; and the Lord has placed the stamp of his seal upon 1914 and 1918 beyond any possibility of erasure. (w1922, 5/15 p.150)
1878 - Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D... and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878, A.D. (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol.4, p.621, 1897)
1881 - To our understanding the general call to this joint heirship with our Redeemer as members of the New Creation of God, ceased in 1881. (The New Creation; 1899; 1915 ed.; p. 95)
1910 - According to our expectations the stress of the great time of trouble will be on us soon, somewhere between 1910 and 1912, culminating with the end of the 'Times of the Gentiles,' October, 1914. (The New Creation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 6, p. 579, 1904)
1914 - In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that the date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. (The Time Is At Hand, 1888, p. 76, 77)
1914 - Complete destruction of the 'powers that be' of 'this present evil worlds - political, financial, ecclesiastical - about the close of the Time of the Gentiles; October A.D. 1914. (Studies in the Scriptures, IV, p. 622, 1897)
1914 - When Uranus and Jupiter meet in the humane sign of Aquarius in 1914, the long-promised era will have made a fair start in the work of setting man free to work out his own salvation. (w1903 5/1 p.130)
1915 - In the coming 26 years, all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved. (C.T. Russell, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 98-99, 1889) [1889 + 26 years = 1915]
1915 - While it's possible that Armageddon may begin next Spring, yet this purely speculation to attempt to say just when. We see, however, that there are parallels between the close of the Jewish age and this Gospel age. These parallels seem to point to the year just before us part particularly the early months. (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1, 1914, p. 5527)
1915 - In view of strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the kingdom of God, will be accomplished near the end of A.D. 1915. (The Time Is At Hand, 1915 edition, p. 99)
1918 - Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by million, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of Christianity. (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 485)
1920 - Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy. (The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 258)
1924 - Even if the time of our change should not come within ten years, what more should we ask? Are we not a blessed, happy people? Is not our God faithful? If anyone knows anything better, let him take it. If any of you ever find anything better, we hope you will tell us. (Watchtower, Dec 15, 1914, p. 376.)
1925 - 'There will be no slip-up... Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised inheritance in the year 1925. (Watchtower Oct. 15, 1917, p. 6157)
1925 - There is evidence that the establishment of the Kingdom in Palestine will probably be in 1925, ten years later than we once calculated. (Studies In The Scriptures, Vol 7, The Finished Mystery, p. 128)
1925 - Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old. (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 89-90)
1925 - The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything. (Watchtower 1925, p. 56)
1932 - They had preached that in an early time God would overthrow "Christendom". Many had emphasized the year 1925 as the date, and then when that date did not materialize the date was moved up to 1932. Again, 1932 came and ''Christendom'' was not destroyed, and now it was discovered that "Christendom" would be spared for a while longer for the sake of the Jonadab class. (w1938 2/15 p. 54)
1934 - True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved. (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1908 ed.; p. 99)
1940 - The year 1940 is certain to be the most important year yet because Armageddon is very near. It behooves all who love righteousness to put forth every effort to advertise The Theocracy while the privileges are still open. (Informant, April, 1940, p. 1)
1975 - Discussion of 1975 overshadowed about everything else. 'The new book compels us to realise that Armageddon is, in fact, very close indeed,' said a conventioneer. (Watchtower 15/10/1966, p 629)
1975 - Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then ? Possibly... It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years. (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p499)
1975 - There are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of mans existence on earth is completed... The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those who are destroyed then. So, now more than ever, it is vital not to ignore that spirit of wanting to do more. (KM, March 1968, p. 4 [1968 + 90 months = 1975])
1975 - "Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to increase our activity?... Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end." (Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p. 3)
2000 - If the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century [the year 2000], which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation. However, the fact that their number is dwindling is one more indication that "the conclusion of the system of things" is moving fast toward its end. (w80 10/15 p. 31)
20th Century - Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom. (The Nations Shall Know (1971); 2nd ed.; p. 216)
-
11
December 28, 2016 BOE Re: One Study Edition of The Watchtower in Languages Other Than English
by wifibandit indecember 28, 2016 to all congregations re: one study edition of the watchtower in languages other than english.
dear brothers:.
for several years, the simplified edition of the watchtower has been produced in french,.
-
-
Splash
So they found another way of cutting back on the printing then.
-
201
I am glad to have found the true religion
by A Believer init really is great.
i remember browsing this forum the day after i had joined it, and their was a knock on the door.
i thought it was one of my package from ups but instead it was two sisters.
-
-
Splash
If you have the 'true religion' today, what was it 10 years ago when the teachings were different?
What will it be in 10 years time when the teachings have largely changed again?Along with all other JW's you can ignore the factual evidence which disproves the Watchtower's claim of being led by God and you can pretend to yourself that all is well - closing your eyes and ears every time you encounter a rule that's not scriptural, a teaching that makes no sense, a flip-flop back to an old teaching, a scandal which makes you no different to any other group.
If you wish to have your every decision made for you, made to believe everything you are told, untold and retold, give your time, energy and money to people who would cast you aside for merely questioning them, then you are perfectly free to do so. History tells us that there are always willing and fervent adherents to every kind of religion and you have found one that suits you and your non-enquiring mind.
Well done, I sincerely hope that you have a happy life.
As for me, I prefer to follow the advice of the scriptures instead of handing my thinking abilities over to complete strangers who have proven records of being deceitful:"Do not put YOUR trust in nobles" - Psalm 146:3
"The naive person believes every word, But the shrewd one ponders each step." Proverbs 14:15
"when he entered the house Jesus got ahead of him by saying: "What do you think, Simon?" -Mt 17:25
Jesus asking them "What do YOU think?" - Matthew 18:12; 21:28
"You must love Jehovah your God with ... your whole mind." - Matthew 22:37
"Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni'ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures" (Ac 17:11)
"keep testing whether you are in the faith " 2Co 13:5
"present your bodies...a sacred service with your power of reason" Ro 12:1
"think so as to have a sound mind" - Romans 12:3
"go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is" Eph 5:17
"make sure of the more important things" Php 1:10
"make sure of all things" 1Thes 5:21
"we request of YOU not to be quickly shaken from YOUR reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us" 2Th 2:1, 2
"Ponder over these things; be absorbed in them" 1 Timothy 4:15
"God gave us not a spirit of cowardice, but that of power and of love and of soundness of mind." 2Tim 1:7
"I am arousing YOUR clear thinking faculties by way of a reminder" 2Pe 3:1
"test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God" 1Jo 4:1
"he has given us intellectual capacity that we may gain the knowledge of the true one" 1Jo 5:20