What if Judge Rutherford never became president of the WT?

by Roddy 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Roddy

  I was talking with a friend and an interesting point came up: What if Judge Rutherford never became president of the WT?

  Much of the heavy-handed, centralized, and authoritarian things we don't like about the WTS is the Rutherford presidency legacy. If the WTS stayed on the Charles Russell track, would we still be JWs (or "Bible Students"?) Would there be less scandal, controversy, and dogmatic rules?

  We rather thought that the WTS would be a kinder and less heavy-handed organization if it didn't have a Judge Rutherford presidency. It wouldn't have had its officers jailed in 1918, it wouldn't be arbitrarily injecting itself constantly into Bible prophesy, and so many things. I wouldn't be surprised if it would actually apologize for 1914 or other failed dates. And so much more.

  What do you think?
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  garybuss

  What if Judge Rutherford never became president of the WT?
  
  Just a wild guess . . . there wouldn't be a group called Jehovah's Witnesses and we wouldn't be posting here today.
  
  
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  blondie

  Then the ones Russell wanted to run things would have been in charge. Probably would have stayed Bible Students....no jws
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  villabolo

  Look at all the misery and self worshipping arogance during the Knorr/Franz and present era. The details might change but the basics would be the same.
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  leavingwt

  garybuss nailed it.
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  Mrs. Fiorini

  If I remember correctly, a large number of Bible Students did not continue on with Rutherford. They are still around though. Perhaps that would be all that was left without Rutherford.