gen·er·a·tion
noun \ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən\
: a group of people born and living during the same time
: the people in a family born and living during the same time
: the average length of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their children
Webster's Dictionary
Full Definition of GENERATION
1 a : a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor b : a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously c : a group of individuals having contemporaneously a status (as that of students in a school) which each one holds only for a limited period d : a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type <first of the … new generation of powerful supersonic fighters — Kenneth Koyen> 2 a : the action or process of producing offspring : procreation b : the process of coming or bringing into being <generationof income> c : origination by a generating process : production;especially : formation of a geometric figure by motion of another 3 : the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring
Well, B and C are interesting. I think these are the two definitions that the WT likes to tweak. Notice that "B" says, " born and living ", NOT, " born, and or living." That's a big difference.
Then depending on how you tweak "B", definition "C" comes into play. If Webster's definition "B" is right then the WTBTS's definition is wrong. Also, no matter how much the WTBTS loves a certain spin on any definition, if they deviate from the scriptural definition of a generation then everything falls apart. FYI, Job 42:16 "And Job continued living after this a hundred and forty years and came to see his sons and his grandsons—four generations." I think "grandsons" included what we would call great-grandsons, so we get 4 generations, NOT one overlapping generation.
So it's all legalistic nonsense. What if I have been partaking for a couple of years in private? When was my anointing? Jw's say that baptism is a dedication in your heart first, and then you make a public declaration. So the private, personal dedication come first. Who can say when that takes place? So what if I knew 10 years ago that I should partake? What if I went to Bethel and met Sam Herd? Am I now a contemporary of that group? Do I qualify to be in the "generation?" I am advancing in years, right? I get older every year, right?!?! LOL!! What a bunch of watchtards!!
DD