by JH 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Lets imagine that the Watchtower was a brand new religion that just started.
And up to now, they didn't make any false prophesy yet, and they would be preaching that the end is soon and they would have the same life style and internal laws.
In other words, their past wouldn't be there to haunt them.
Do you think that more people would join it?
Most ppl who join dont know the background , its when you leave, thats when you find out !!!!!
So it woulnt make much difference
I think people would join. There would be no way to check if their beliefs were correct or not, and there would be those who were disillusioned with mainstream religion who would give someone with seemingly fresh and certainly radical ideas a listen.Also, it seems to be a sad fact that whenever a religious cult springs up, there are always a few misguided ones who join it.
First of all, you need to frame some parameters, set some controls. Did you mean to ask if there would be more converts if a Russell appeared today in Pennsylvania and preached the same Gospel as the 19th Century Russell? Would he be using those loudspeakers, placards and photodramas? Or would he be using the latest technology to captivate his audience? Would the founders be using the same fiery condemnations towards Christendom or would they adopt the sneaky "oh it's a conscience matter, but we know what God's opinion on this matter is because....". How much is brand new? How much is old?
INQ
There are always people who want to try something new.
But, no, I would not join the Watchtower, or any religious group, ever again.
***And up to now, they didn't make any false prophesy yet, and they would be preaching that the end is soon and they would have the same life style and internal laws.***
Since the WTS systematically suppresses its discarded doctrine and false prophesies, they present themselves to potential converts as a virtually newly minted religion anyway. So I don't think there would be any real difference.
***In other words, their past wouldn't be there to haunt them.***
Their past doesn't haunt them as long as their JW adherents are content to be spoon-fed WT doctrine without doing any research for themselves.
Even if the WTS religion was brand new, starting today, with its "new light" current doctrines in place, it would immediately start racking up casualties with the blood doctrine, the shunning practices, etc. Within a week, it would have a shameful past to haunt them.
JH, where do you come up with this stuff? LOL! Keeps me thinking!
Well, if they were a brand new start up, I guess they could get away with "end is soon" for a while, but wouldn't that become a new false prophecy after too much time went by for the "soon" to hold water? Even without setting the yearly dates?
There are so many really divisive doctrines here: Blood, War, Flag Salute, Arianism & effective Polytheism, the stubborn Jehovah name fetish, anti-educational rhetoric, anti-government rhetoric, and of course the constant control freaking....
My theory is that this is a little cess-pool of a religion for people who already feel rejected by normal religion & society. In fact, they like the pain and perceived persecutions. Is it possible that the hint of a few past false prophecies and scandals just add to the "isolation and rejection of the world" fantasy for these new recruits? A lot of witnesses don't really acknowledge the existence of any of the failed dates.
I would just guess that their rate of growth would be affected only a very little by removing the false prophecy. There is still so much more there to put off people who expect a normal human experience within a religion. If you are not already born in it, dragged into it by parents, or have a huge chip on your shoulder toward regular society, you are probably not a good JW candidate. False prophecy or not.
Just an opinion, James
Agreed - most or all who join today do not know, do not care, and really don't have a way of finding out about the history of JWs. So the past lies and failures are non-issues.
So the question is, would it appeal to you otherwise?
For me, no. I cannot be totally objective since my history as a 3rd gen JW makes me a knee-jerk skeptic about a lot of things now.
But I still don't think it would appeal to me - I don't like in-your-face, manipulative, wild-eyed hypocrites. But, hey - that's just me.
That question is: Impossible for any of us to answer objectively.
Warlock
Surely any new organisation claiming that those that buy its book and magazines will live forever on earth, is guilty of deceiving.
