We were having a discussion about this last evening and we couldn't seem to find the answer. I checked several pulblications to no avail. I see a lot of info regarding the TMS and SM but not the Book Study.

Does anyone know what year the Book Study arrangement (formally) began.?

Rub a Dub

Thanks Mulan ...

Yes, I was thinking like the late 1930's or 1940's ....just can't find it in print.

Rub a Dub

It was originally called 'Berean Circles for Bible Study' and begain in 1895. This was the oldest and longest running regular meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses. The first books studied were Russell's Millennial Dawn volumes starting with Divine Plan of the Ages. See pages 237-8 of the Proclaimers books.

The book study started long before the WT study.  If you look at the older WTS before the early 20's I think, there are no questions and no study articles.

If I remember right from Gilead, when Russel started them they were called "Dawn Circles".

A@G

M.J.--this is the damning evidence!

Always....always..did this religion feel it could trump scripture and Christianity by automatically knowing more than God had ever revealed.

Stop and think about the difference between Catholic Church and Protestantism.

Catholic premise was the Authority to interpret ON BEHALF of the members what pure worship consisted of.

Protestant premise was Sola Scriptura--the Bible by itself.  Each Christian stood alone before God. God's responsibility was to fellowship with man by his holy spirit.

Compare this to Jehovah's Witnesses premise. Only the Governing Body can tell you what true worship is by telling you what scripture really means.

JW's refuse to be called Protestants. Did you know that?

They are very Catholic in their core philosophy with the majesterium of the mysterious Faithful and Discreet Slave doctrine which was---surprise, surprise---invented by Maria Russell and applied to herself and her husband, Charles!!

Rutheford hijacked this doctrine and corkscrewed it back around to a corporate application (all the while retaining SOLE AUTHORITY himself).

Later, the cartoon doctrine was further squeezed into an official majesterium ala Catholicism.

The book study was always a means of making the Society's writings (i.e. the "pope") more important than bible reading.

This change is a way of deflecting from that obvious strategy.

Thr average JW doesn't delve to deep or to far into the beginnings of their religion.....Some of you are really knowledgable. 

 For me it's good reading. Thanks 

It dates back to the time of Christ.  He used to go out to the Mount of Olives on Sundays and read the washtowel scroll after a sermon and chastise with a whip made from ropes all who had not undelined their own copy of the washtowel scroll.  Then on Tuesday He would hold a ministry school and have the 12 rotate through a series of small talks. He would allow them a few minutes of time to do this and again whip the ones who either went over their alloted time or had deviated in any way from His script.  After the school, He hosted a service meeting where He drilled them over and over again in techniques for selling washtowel and asleep scrolls, and hounded them to do more more more.

Finally on Thursday came the book study  This was a MAJOR meeting that was meant to uplift the spirituality of the flock, however He was just not motivated enough to attend so many meetings all the time so he relegated this loving provision to Judas Iscariot, a most qualified brother with a mind of his own who would foster an atmosphere that would allow free minds to do some free thinking.