many people of all denominations are beginning to believe that hell does not exist - but the bible supports the claim that it does.
examine this verse, one under nkjv and the other nwt:.
nkjv - matthew 25:46, "and these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.".
Hell is pretty clearly taught in the NT, by Jesus in particular. Whole chapters were devoted to the topic in old JW study books, because it's a difficult one to refute,
On the other hand OT texts indicate that death is like sleep, with a few texts introducing resurrection. This is closer to JW teaching.
Scripture is not consistent on the topic.
why one woman mysteriously started hearing 'divine' voices.
after doctors admitted the woman to the psychiatric unit of the hospital, they learned that this wasn't the first time she felt a strong interest in religion and spirituality.
she described four previous times in her life, beginning at age 13 and again at ages 23, 32 and 41, when she experienced periods of intense spiritual and religious devotion.during these periods, which lasted about a year or two, she would join jehovah's witnesses and then later resign, when she lost interest, according to the report.as part of her psychiatric evaluation, the woman also underwent an mri.
Cured from religion by hemeopathy? Ha, sorry that’s funny! It’s like some sort of rationalist joke, except I can’t work out the punchline.
just spent 8 hours in a 1 day elders school last weekend.
clarification given: "moving forward any elder, ms, or pioneer who themselves or someone under their roof enrolls in higher education, may no longer qualify for privileges in the congregation.
their qualifications will have to be reviewed by their boe.".
So if an elder or his family member attends university they “may” no longer qualify, and they should be “reviewed”.
In some ways that’s worse than a clear rule excluding such people. It’s an invitation for all sorts of petty and small minded investigations into families and personal “attitudes” over what should reasonably be a private decision.
Thinking about all the inevitable tedious discussions about what counts as “higher education” as opposed to “further” or “vocational education”: it hardly bears thinking about.
just spent 8 hours in a 1 day elders school last weekend.
clarification given: "moving forward any elder, ms, or pioneer who themselves or someone under their roof enrolls in higher education, may no longer qualify for privileges in the congregation.
their qualifications will have to be reviewed by their boe.".
What scripture did they apply?
I think it’s time elders, and everyone, “reviewed” whether they wish to give any further service to this organisation as long as it continues such brazen conduct.
sometimes i have expressed a longing for jw organization to tone down its rhetoric and become, well, nicer and more loving.
i have not been alone in my hope.
some posters have even said that if a wave of kindness washed over jw organization and, say, the shunning doctrine was modified (e.g., left up to the individual's conscience without fear of retribution from elders), they'd go back.
It's darkest before the dawn.
more book research..
Singelenberg claimed there was an earlier reference in the Dutch editon of the WT, as I recall.
hopefully more are on the same path.
here is the story..... this person i know was the model jw, and them and their spouse could have really moved up.
they knew i was gone and awhile ago started asking me questions.
I only saw Dan Sydlik and Jack Barr of the GB give talks. I was impressed with both of them. They seemed sincere and engaging. And Barr released the Creator book at that convention (1998?) one of the best WT books, I think. And Sydlik gave the closing prayer which humble and gracious. These people made a good, if fleeting impression on me as a JW.
if you have a look at the december broadcast on jw tv they tell you that they wont be showing you a normal format for december but the 143rd event of gilead because the watchtower does not have the resources other wise to translate it many different lanuages.. with all the cuts the watchtower have made and are going to make you would have thought that they would have lots of resources.
They are in serious trouble, make no mistake about it.
it is not “preach the good news” nor is it “believe in jesus and get saved” neither is it “believe in the governing body of jehovah’s witnesses and get saved” although in practice they do teach this.
no, everything they claim depends on a belief in another doctrine which logic decrees cannot be found in the bible.
the leadership of jehovah’s witnesses put absolute faith in a protestant doctrine which is given a latin name, sola scriptura, meaning “by scripture alone”.. good evidence of the governing body believing in the primacy of this doctrine was when being questioned by the australian royal commission, they resorted to the ‘authority’ of scripture to defend their stance on having “two witnesses” when they are investigating child abuse cases.throughout the hearing they paraded their naive trust in the bible as the highest possible authority proudly ignoring the fact that most people regard it as having been superseded by modern scientific evaluations of what is true.. .
It is true that JWs sort of believe in sola scripture. Where they differ from the Protestant tradition is they do not believe that correct interpretation of the Bible is available equally to all. For example the October 1st Watchtower 1994 was about the role of the Bible, and included a box titled: "Channel to Understanding the Bible". In this box it states: "All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the 'greatly diversified wisdom of God' can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave." (Page 8) This seems to be at odds with the Protestant idea that a right understanding of the Bible text is available to all believers unmediated by any church authority.
On the canon of scripture accepted by JWs. I think there is a good argument to be made that Origen listed the Potirpestant canon over a hundred years before Athanasius. Origen was a subordinationist and arguably better aligned with JW Christology.
if you have a look at the december broadcast on jw tv they tell you that they wont be showing you a normal format for december but the 143rd event of gilead because the watchtower does not have the resources other wise to translate it many different lanuages.. with all the cuts the watchtower have made and are going to make you would have thought that they would have lots of resources.
They won't do unless circumstances force them. But circumstances may force them.
