I would love to know more about the history of the Polish Bible Students Assocation. According to the summary, they took over the IBSA twice from the Society. There must be a very interesting story behind all this. Does anyone have more information?
mizpah
JoinedPosts by mizpah
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Daughters of the Tower
by mizpah infor anyone whose interested in the history of the watchtower society, there is a fascinating list and summary of bible student associations who broke away from the society and formed their own groups.
many of these still hold to c.t.
russell's teachings.
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Started to not attend the meetings
by mineralogist init is kind of a strange feeling.
not, that i would miss the meetings, but somehow i feel, that brothers and sisters will ask for explanations why i didn t come, and for me i have to honestly point out, that i wouldn t feel my beliefs being strengthens.
the fear to loose all friends and so on.
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mizpah
mineralogist:
If it is any comfort to you, all of us who left the organization went through similar conflicts and turmoil when deciding not to attend meetings. But many of us decided that not attending was far better than going to the meetings and enduring the programs. You probably will be approached by some in the congregation to determine why you do not attend. So, you should be prepared with some answers. Also, it is possible that the elders will call by to "readjust your thinking" on such matters. (I wonder if this expression is still used?)
Any person leaving the Watchtower has to contemplate the losses. Many have chosen to "fade out" rather than face the circumstances of being disfellowshipped or disassociated. A few have chosen to remain as marginal JWs. Whatever the choice, know that others before you have gone the route.
Whatever course you take, we wish you the very best.
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Millions then living have all but died...... who were they?
by zen nudist insince the 1930s, jws have claimed that millions alive would never die and this hope attracted literally millions....of suckers?
after all, since they have all but died, who were they?
they were not what jws claimed them to be, namely a great crowd would would survive the end of the world and help make earth a paradise.
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mizpah
Zen:
It was well before the 1930s that the theme "Millions now living will never die" became popular. In 1918 Rutherford delivered a talk in California with that title. Later, in 1920 a book was published by the same title. It became a well know "catch phrase" that was widely publicized. When Rutherford predicted the return of the "ancient worthies" in 1925, most Watchtower adherents interpreted that to mean that Armageddon would shortly follow. The same anticipation that Jehovah's Witnesses had about the year 1975 prevailed.
I can remember some older members still using the phrase in the early 1950s. But eventually it was dropped like so many other ideas that came from the Watchtower. The majority of people who heard this promise are long gone. Like the explanation of "this generation" the Watchtower Society hopes that people will forget what it once taught.
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e-watchman responds!
by czarofmischief inhttp://www.e-watchman.com/commentaries/nov_21_oblivion.html
this inane gibbering reveals the real motives behind e-watchman!
i will post my rebuttal of this bonehead's commentary in a minute.. czar
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mizpah
My wife and I have met Ray and his wife, Cynthia. A few adjectives that come to mind is humble, caring, senstive, kind, loving, hospitable and, above all, very truthful. Ray would be the first to admit mistakes and errors.
But it is precisely because he has these attributes that the Watchtower Society saw him as a threat and danger. Not only did the Watchtower maneuver to have him removed from the Governing Body and Bethel, but it made a concerted effort to destroy his good name and reputation among Jehovah's Witnesses.
Ray makes it very clear in his book "In Search of Christian Freedom" that he disapproves of leaders and man made organizations who claim to have the truth. He puts the responsibility for the search upon each individual. It's a lesson not yet learned by the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses.
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e-watchman responds!
by czarofmischief inhttp://www.e-watchman.com/commentaries/nov_21_oblivion.html
this inane gibbering reveals the real motives behind e-watchman!
i will post my rebuttal of this bonehead's commentary in a minute.. czar
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mizpah
Obviously, e-watchman has never met or known Ray Franz. Ray needs no defense. He is a fine Christian man that struggled with his conscience and decided for truth and righteousness. The trouble with most Jehovah's Witnesses is they equate the organization with God. Ray had a conflict with this premise even as most of us who have left the organization. Ray had the courage to write about his experiences and quest for Christian freedom. For this, he has never been forgiven by the leadership of the Watchtower Society or by Jehovah's Witnesses in general.
Actually, many of us think Ray was much too kind and considerate in his treatment of the organization. But his books will remain as invaluable information for all who question or doubt the Watchtower's claim as being the "channel" that God is using today.
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Daughters of the Tower
by mizpah infor anyone whose interested in the history of the watchtower society, there is a fascinating list and summary of bible student associations who broke away from the society and formed their own groups.
many of these still hold to c.t.
russell's teachings.
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mizpah
Special K
There is another group that has recently come to my attention that is located primarily in Roumania. I think they call themselves "True Faith Jehovah's Witnesses." As I understand it they had been cut off from the Watchtower Society for many years and were shocked by the changes in the teachings of the organization since Rutherford's tenure. They view Rutherford as the last legitimate spokesman of God and adhere strictly to his writings.
I guess it is in the nature of humans to disagree with authoritarian control and to form new groups. The process seems never-ending. Certainly, the whole Protestant movement is testimony to this tendency.
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Daughters of the Tower
by mizpah infor anyone whose interested in the history of the watchtower society, there is a fascinating list and summary of bible student associations who broke away from the society and formed their own groups.
many of these still hold to c.t.
russell's teachings.
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mizpah
jgnat:
We had always been told by the Watchtower Society that most of the "evil servant" class had faded away because of their break with "God's organization." Obviously, it was not true since many of these "Bible Student" groups still exist. In the 1950s I remember two groups in the city where I lived: The Dawn Bible Students and the Associated Bible Students. Occasionally, we would meet members of this group when going from house to house. Most were elderly and friendly. I remember several trying to tell me that they represented Russell and his movement not the Watchtower Society. Of course, I was too young and naive to accept their explanations. And we were warned not to get into discussions with any "evil servants."
Today, it amazes me how the life of one man, C.T. Russell, has influenced the lives of so many other people. Some of the Bible Student groups still study his writings and view him as the "faithful and discreet slave" and the "Laodicean Messenger." Yet, his writings are a classic example of failed predictions and expectations.
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Daughters of the Tower
by mizpah infor anyone whose interested in the history of the watchtower society, there is a fascinating list and summary of bible student associations who broke away from the society and formed their own groups.
many of these still hold to c.t.
russell's teachings.
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mizpah
Kenneson:
Thanks for the additional information. I had heard about the other Watchtower movement in Africa. But I didn't realize there was an indirect connection with Russell.
For several years I had correspondence with G. Boccaccio from the Christian Millennial Fellowship. He told me that his group had roots back to the "New Covenant Believers" that broke from Russell back in 1908/09 and included very close associates including Russell's sister, Mae Land. (Apocalypse Delayed) For a short time, Russell taught the church was not under the "new covenant." This caused division within the ranks. Among this group, two important men, Henninges and McPhail, had played a vital role in the organization. There were only about 10,000 members in the Watchtower at the time. Several hundred left the organization over this issue.
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12
Daughters of the Tower
by mizpah infor anyone whose interested in the history of the watchtower society, there is a fascinating list and summary of bible student associations who broke away from the society and formed their own groups.
many of these still hold to c.t.
russell's teachings.
-
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mizpah
For anyone whose interested in the history of the Watchtower Society, there is a fascinating list and summary of Bible Student associations who broke away from the Society and formed their own groups. Many of these still hold to C.T. Russell's teachings.
You can find it on the Yahoo Search under "Daughters of the Tower."
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Rejection by a Six Year Old
by CountryGuy ini have to share an experience, and i'm sure it won't be mentioned at the kh on thursday night!!.
this morning while eating breakfast with my parents and my six year old nephew at a local fast food restaurant, some jws came in for their morning break.
my folks and i are all inactive, so i leaned over and said, "i hope they didn't see us.
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mizpah
Countryguy:
I stand corrected. If it was not a gift, it was a proper refusal. It's just that we see so much rudeness and carelessness in society today that good manners are often forgotten. But in this case, I see it was not true. I apologize.