New Light and Tacking in the wind

by Hondo 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Hondo

  I am not and never have never been a JW, nor do I intend to be, but for personnel reasons have become interested in their beliefs and practices of, as seeminly bizzare as they are.

  The similar doctrinal change examples of New Light, and of a sail boat tacking in the wind, to provide justification for their continual changes, when they occur, confuses me somewhat. If the JW's believe that the "end" is just around the corner, or "soon" as one will probably tell you, is the light at its brightest at this point in time; does the sail boat reach port? Is there a "last light" that may indicate in some way, shape, or form, when the end will take place? Is there that one "last tack" that would fortell the end? Maybe another prediction...???

  Or, do the JW's believe that the light and the tacking will just keep going on and on? and, if this is the case what good is it to think that the end will happen "soon". I know these are just examples and there is no "real" new light in the dark recesses of some Kingdom Hall, nor is there a sailboat out there somewhere with some Elder onboard tacking endlessly. Think about it though, a sailboat on an endless voyage can continue onforever, as can the reception of new light (how bright can light get? I suspect the lumins number is too large to comprehend).

  How long will the light continue to get "brighter"? Or the sailboat continue to sail? Ten years, a thousand, a million...??? Does the light ever lose power and go off? Does the sailboat ever run into rough weather and cease to tack? Maybe the end is not as close as the JW's think. Maybe, just maybe, there is some time left for that college education afterall... Maybe there will be a new light to change the new light and boat tacking doctrinal change policies/explanations examples.

  Thoughts/comments

  Hondo
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  Narkissos

  I think the boat comparison is a pretty good one inasmuch as it refers to a closed system: once you're on board, you get your reward and worth by performing your role and task within the system, not questioning the value of the system as a whole. IOW, as long as you're not in charge of steering you just trust the captain. And even when you're tired of your task and realize you don't trust the captain so much, you don't dive unless you can see the coast near enough.

  I guess many JWs do not really believe what they are taught; they just cannot picture themselves out of the boat (yet).
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  hubert

  There will never be an end to the "new light". That's how they can justify their constant changes. As for the "end coming soon", the Watchtower needs this to keep everyone of their flock working as hard as they can distributing their magazines, (and keeping them in line), so they will be perfect j.w.'s when the "end" comes,and then be allowed in "Paradise on earth".

  Welcome to the board.

  Hubert.
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  Terry

  Bear with this strange analogy, if you will.

  Around 1979 my wife and I went to Las Vegas for a fun vacation weekend. It didn't take too long before the money set aside for gambling "fun" was gone. So, we resolved we would do "other" things, such as take in a show.

  We soon discovered something that, at the time, seemed profound. Las Vegas isn't any fun if you AREN'T GAMBLING! The slots ringing when somebody wins, the action at the tables, the hurly burly with the crowd movements and blinking lights are like a science experiment where the rats are kept bedazzled and the rewards come only when you gamble. If you stop and just watch---it all seems mighty silly and wasteful behavior.

  Now I mention the above for a reason.

  I think Jehovah's razzle dazzle is like Las Vegas.

  Once you stop gambling you see everything for a silly and wasteful drain of resources and nothing more.
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  Sirona

  Terry your example was a good one, but I must disagree with you.

  I love Vegas, and I didn't gamble!

  Sirona

  PS does that make me sad?

  Hondo,

  I don't think they're saying they will be tacking forever, but just that this will lead them to the correct destination in the end.

  Sirona
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  Room 215

  Apropos of this thread, check out my earlier contribution to this subject:

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/31262/1.ashx
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  Happy Guy :)

  I am just waiting for the ball to drop. Sooner or later someone (or their spouse or children) is going to say "Hey you said some of us who witnessed the events of 1914 would never die because God would intervene. What about that WT book published in the 30s that said millions living now will never die? We donated our lives to you, sacrificed careers (some even sacrificed having kids), we sacrificed everything and worse gave you all of our money. You lied and we want our lives back or you lied to our parents to drain them and we want compensation." Ya I'm just waiting for someone to start the class action lawsuit - that will be entertaining.
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  95stormfront

  I think Jehovah's razzle dazzle is like Las Vegas.

  Once you stop gambling you see everything for a silly and wasteful drain of resources and nothing more.

  Great analogy.

  I had that same feeling on a recent trip to Harrah's in New Orleans. Of course, there's plenty to do there once you step out of the casino. You're tight down the street from Bourbon street and he French Quarter.
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  Satanus

  A person could pose the question, why should jehovah's speeding chariot like org need to tack, anyway? Is it a chariot or a boat? Is it being blown hither and thither by a satanic wind? Why cannot it's owner keep it on a straight path? Perhaps it is speeding faster than the skill level of the driver. Perhaps it should slow down to the speed limit. Less 'accidents' that way.

  S
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  MerryMagdalene

  Proverbs 4:18, 19..."But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.The way of the wicked ones is like the gloom; they have not known at what they keep stumbling."

  So how long does it take for their day to be firmly established? Wasn't that supposed to have happened when Jesus came onto the scene?..."I am the light of the world. He that follows me will by no means walk in darkness but will possess the light of life." (John 8:12)

  And there is actually a bit about boats in James: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgement....Look! Even boats, although they are so big and are driven by hard winds, are steered by a very small rudder to where the inclination of the man at the helm wishes. So, too, the tongue is a little member and yet makes great brags....It is not proper, my brothers, for these things to go on occurring this way. A fountain does not cause the sweet and the bitter to bubble out of the same opening does it?..." (James 3:1, 4, 5, 10, 11)