While whole Trinity thing is a totally pagan concept, by simply reading Genesis 1:27, 5:3 and 9:6 (that says that man was made in God's image), the simple form of God is made plain by the inverse of those verses.
How hard can it be.
(matthew 24:36) “concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the son, but only the father.".
(jesus seems to have forgotten to include the holy spirit not knowing either).
(acts 1:7) "he said to them: “it does not belong to you to know the times or seasons that the father has placed in his own jurisdiction.".
While whole Trinity thing is a totally pagan concept, by simply reading Genesis 1:27, 5:3 and 9:6 (that says that man was made in God's image), the simple form of God is made plain by the inverse of those verses.
How hard can it be.
it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.
this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.
i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.
While I'll go out on a limb and stay that the Organization is itself moving towards JWLITE, the issue of having 'children in this system' will have to be addressed in some way, for a number of reasons.
However the stumbling block for the Governing Body, is that having children is incompatible to expanding one's service into SKE, Bethel service or full-time construction. Thus for the desire to a have children to become a blessing, instead of a selfish longing, a drastic devaluing of theocratic 'careers' would have to occur. Which will be hard as being a Bethelite, an SKE graduate or a LDC overseer, are definitely seen of a badge of honor ... and a reason why many make the sacrifice to take them up.
it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.
this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.
i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.
While I might look into this a bit latter, but could this stance taken by the Governing Body be another legacy from our 18th century Adventist past? I have a feeling that it might when we think about the nature of Firebrand Preachers of the time.
it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.
this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.
i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.
While I can't unfortunately add to you list, slim, it is very telling set of numbers.
To me, it seems rather evident that all the Governing Body members (and past Presidents) were true believers. Well true enough to make for themselves a social contract, where they traded having children for their positions in Bethel.
But fact most were childless, only goes to illustrate why the Organization has a real lack of understanding of problems of child rearing, teenagers in particular. For the constant repetition of 'prayer, bible study, field service and meeting attendance' as the solution to any problem a youth has, is clear proof that none of them have a real clue of the world around them.
Similar too is the Governing Body's strong recommendation of singleness and childlessness (done through to drive for young couples to serve full time), is really done only because they have never experienced the joys of being a parent themselves.
Would the Society look different though, if the Governing Body had normal families and kids? Undoubtedly ... a lot more humanist, I wager. Which is a pity.
Thanks for the original post.
as it’s nearly the new year my prediction over the next decade or so will see the sense of urgency dwindle.
then some huge huge changes.
for example by 2034 in a decades time, they will have address the 1914 issue and will come out and say we can’t be dogmatic.
As the numbers of disfellowshiped people are way smaller than those who become inactive and fade away, I wager that the faders are still believers (at varying levels of course), which would help explain the various surveys stating the larger JW population numbers. And within that group of course, would the JWLITEers.
However this doesn't really help the Governing Body that much because they really need 'bums on seats'. Yes, as more and more Witness kids move out and the falling birth rate of Western Countries only getting lower, it going to get hard, much harder to finance the Organization. Not until the GB formally embraces JWLITE and rebuilds the social side of congregations, will people start seeing the value in staying or think about returning it.
But will the Governing Body be brave enough to do it? I doubt it at the moment, not until the old guard are gone.
here's a question for those who still support watchtower on this forum.
why did watchtower leave out the word "me" in zech.
zechariah 12:10 reads like this: .
Again I'd like to remind you (aqwsed12345) that this site is not a debating forum. Nor is it a place for people who have never been a Jehovah's Witness to post topics or comments, that inflame others who maybe in some way be recovering.
However if a person does have something theological or encouraging to add, then the appropriate way to do so, would be to approach it academically, by providing your best evidence or reasoning in one post, and then leaving it for the reader to accept it or not.
here's a question for those who still support watchtower on this forum.
why did watchtower leave out the word "me" in zech.
zechariah 12:10 reads like this: .
The problems here aqwsed12345, is people like you try to support their arguments by getting louder and louder and now with ChatGPT, they can scream, in an attempt that by their many words it adds some kind of weight.
But it doesn't.
And when it doesn't work, people like you turn to insults.
You can be much better, than that.
5 shocking reasons why elders are leaving the jehovah’s witnesses — the hidden truth!
(kingdom wisdom).
thousands of jehovah’s witness elders around the world are stepping down… and no one is talking about it.
From my experience as having been an Elder is that there basically two kinds of Elders. While initially all young Servants are happy to receive their appointment as a kind of recommendation of their hard work and spiritual progress, a split develops (due to the person's base personality) where you begin to love the attention of the congregation and the fact your voice has authority, or you become an Elder just happy to work for the Brothers.
The first group very quickly learn how to pass of the more mundane assignments to the second group. The glory seekers are normally happy to do public talks or the Watchtower study but are often absent on work based committees and midweek field service groups.
As a result the glory hunters never step down from the body of Elders. Why? Because life is good for them.
But the story is quite different for Elders who are people focused. Very quickly it dawns on them that work is not equally distributed on the Body, in seeing how often the glory hunters beg off assignments. But they kindly reason, that it has to be done and so they pick up the load.
In time, number of things get on top of the humble Elder. Maybe their kids aren't progressing well. Maybe after juggling work, home life and congregational stuff, their ministry begins to suffer. Either way they start to fall under the eye of the CO and hints begin to be given, to pick up the pace. Or maybe this class of Elders begin to see how Jehovah's justice is not equally applied. Regardless, these are the men the ultimately leave their assignments. Not happily but out of disappointment. Disappointment in themselves and the Organization that they have worked very hard for and received very little real thanks for the sacrifices made.
And this is why older congregations often become quite dysfunctional or cold. Because all the Elders that actually cared, have stepped down or left.
Its just my perspective, but it is quite easy to get jaded as an elder ... and it burns you out in the end.
here's a question for those who still support watchtower on this forum.
why did watchtower leave out the word "me" in zech.
zechariah 12:10 reads like this: .
Slimboyfat,
While a unpopular position here, I'm a unashamed PIMO for a number of reasons, one of which is that I still believe in the very basic teaching of the WTBS but disobedient due to over-controling nature of the Governing Body and their position on child abuse. For many years I had hoped for some kind of reform might take place (perhaps as Ray Franz had hoped for) but as the years have gone by, I feel more disappointed, realizing that it looks unlikely to eventuate. Which is a pity because the faith, could be so much more.
Are they being still being used by God? It a fair question though. Perhaps, would be my honest answer.
But my mind keep on circling back to the position of people who are not Witnesses but out of a clean heart to genuinely sacrifice their lives to serve others spiritually. And ask ... how could that one be abandoned by God?
here's a question for those who still support watchtower on this forum.
why did watchtower leave out the word "me" in zech.
zechariah 12:10 reads like this: .
Thanks Slim ... I'll have a look for them.
Sort of for the record though, the way I've tried to now understand the Bible and Christianity in general (after my disillusionment with the Governing Body matured) is to try to learn how first century Christians worshiped and what they actually believed. In truth, there is not a lot archeological records of the very early Church. However there is enough to imagine that their meetings must have a homely vibe, just as our old congregational book study nights of years long past.
But I believe its really worth the effort to look back at that time, as their a form of worship was clearly approved by God and such digging made it plane to me, that many of the things the the GB expect today, were not issues at all to our early Brothers and Sister at all. It was far simpler and more genuine.