I notice the most qouted parts by the WTS is the OT and the Epistles . All there rules are reinforcements of what is already there. Infact the letters to the early congregations are very watchtowerish. Preach, don't question me I saw Jesus once, stop diddling with each other, "it is the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine".
I know there is lot of WTS bashing but really I think the proplem is the WTS is trying to preserve a dead religion that most "christians" don't believe in any more. In fact you may say the first century congration went extinct for a reason it was another silly little cult. I tried getting around some of the scriptures that the WTS cites and even using other bibles. It all boiled down to the WTS attitude is legit. The probelm is the implications. Not just for JWs but every christian on the planet.
Why are people still preching? Why hasn't Jesus "returned"? How come we don't have proof of the spirit like in first century? If we are saved by grace why all the rules in the Epistles? How come nasty rotten people in the OT that did anything they wanted are saved, but chritians are not? If there is going to be a resurection of the wicked how come we can't be wicked now?
I am begining to think christianity is a sham. The WTS bought into the sham, but figured how to make magazines about it. The model of salvation only makes sense if the christians that wrote the NT expected the kingdom to come after the romans destoryed jerusalem. Extend it 2000 years later it is a joke.
Also I figured out how the WTS make its docterines apply. It is the baptism system. If you want to get baptised they ask you a bunch of questions and if you awnser wrong they don't baptise you. By giving the correct awnser you convice your self they are right or cede just so you can "get in". Perfect example.
6. Cross: Jesus did not die on a cross. He died on a pole, or a stake. The Greek word translated "cross" in many Bibles meant just one piece of timber. The symbol of the cross comes from ancient false religions. The cross was not used or worshiped by the early Christians. Therefore, do you think it would be right to use a cross in worship??Deuteronomy 7:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14.
1 Corinthians 10
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Deuteronomy 7 26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
You can awnser either way but I am sure you can't get baptised unless you awnser correctly. I fumbled my question on the cross and almost didn't get baptized (I gave the wrong orgin). Also these scriptures only talk about idols and not symbols. They also say nothing about use in worship vs wearing. My point is not if you should ware a cross, but showing how the only way a person could possiblely get baptised is if they decided to let the watchtower tell them what they should do very early. Speaking of I notice the bible uses the word should too does that mean things like marriage is optional?