"Immortal Soul" - A Watchtower Doctrine!

by Stephanus 21 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Stephanus

  In my 25 years or so in "Christendom" I've been to many different churches in different denominations and have heard hundreds, perhaps thousands, of sermons. In all that time I have never heard the term "immortal soul" used, not even once. Yet the JWs go on (and on, and on!) about the evil Christendom "Doctrine of the Immortal Soul". It seems to me that the only Christian sect that has such a doctrine are the Dubs themselves!

  The Doctrine of "Hellfire" is another term that is supposed to be central to corrupt Christendom, yet again, I've only ever heard the Dubs use the word.

  How many other doctrines are there that the JWs ascribe to Christendom that in reality are doctrines that only they hold, albeit in a negative sense?
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  stillajwexelder

  As far as I know -- all of Christendom and Islam believe in Hell -- and they believe it to be fiery -- so what you say is not quite true
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  Elsewhere

  I think the WTS just beats that drum so that they can say that they are different from other religions, and therefore correct.

  I have many oppinions that are different from other peoples'... does that make me correct? Of course it does!
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  Stephanus

  As far as I know -- all of Christendom and Islam believe in Hell -- and they believe it to be fiery -- so what you say is not quite true

  I was talking about the word "Hellfire", not the doctrine. The only people I know who have a "Doctrine of Hellfire" are the Dubs, albeit in the negative.

  But take the first example and help me out with this thread: what other "central doctrines of Christendom" only exist in negative as part of Dub theology?

  so what you say is not quite true

  Are you calling me a liar? My post was based on my personal experience. It is true that I have never "experienced" the word "Hellfire" in any of the many churches of "Christendom" that I have attended.
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  cypher50

  As far as I know -- all of Christendom and Islam believe in Hell -- and they believe it to be fiery -- so what you say is not quite true

  Not true...from my reading up on different religions such as Catholicism, Hell to them is the same as what JWs believe: eternal death. They explain that Hellfire was just a metaphor for the torment of being seperated from God's grace (even though, if you are dead, you wouldn't know anyway). Some Catholic scholars still teach the classic Hellfire doctrine but most go for the more 'sensible' explanation. I can't speak for Islam though....
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  Carmel

  Most Islamic scholars today take the term metaphorically, just as they do the virgins of paradise. Only the fring Muslim movements use the literal rendition to motivate the rank and file.

  carmel
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  dustyb

  i think the reason why you don't hear hell and immortal soul and such is because i think a lot of sermons don't vividly preach in them, they just preach in "letting jesus into your hearts". i remember watching TV the other day, and that what the pastor went about for like 3 hours....
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  blondie

  Actually, Luther and Tyndale did not teach immortality of the soul. In some obscure side articles, the WTS has mentioned that, over 30 years ago. But in the main articles, they paint Christendom with a tarbrush, saying that all "so-called" Christian religions teach this doctrine. I have searched the Lutheran teachings mostly and cannot find a statement supporting immortality of the soul. Why am I not surprised that the WTS lies about other religions.

  Blondie
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  Sirona

  What bugs me about the JWs is that they claim to be the only ones who have the correct version of the "Ransom Sacrifice" doctrine. I know this is sad, but I went for years thinking that only Jehovahs Witnesses interpreted the bible to say that Jesus died to wipe out the sins of Adam. When I left I talked to a few christians and low and behold, they too believed the same thing. Doh

  Sirona
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  ozziepost

  As far as I know -- all of Christendom and Islam believe in Hell -- and they believe it to be fiery -- so what you say is not quite true

  I can't speak for "all of Christendom" but I do know for a certainty that in the parts of Christendom that I have attended, Australia, Norway, Netherlands, and parts of the UK, it is defintely not correct to state that they teach a fiery hell - far from it, in fact. Like others here who've experienced worship in Christian churches, I have not heard that taught, nor in the the teaching of the immortal soul that the Borg likes to claim is being taught in churches. In fact, it was a real eye-opener to Mrs Ozzie and myself to find that so much that we had been told about churches was simply not true. But then, it's in their interest to keep the R&F in ignorance, isn't it? Cheers, Ozzie