It's too bad you didn't have access to old WT literature back in the day.
Pastor Russell published that the end of the old system would come in 1914.
i haven’t posted in awhile.
my wife asked me after the year 2000 came and went without fanfare(because the wt organization said all the “new world” would be here within this 20th century would end), “ what would it take for you to leave the truth?”.
my reply was “ if i turn 60 in this “system of things”.
It's too bad you didn't have access to old WT literature back in the day.
Pastor Russell published that the end of the old system would come in 1914.
i was told by several elders to not get a dog when i was looking for one in the 80s.
the end was close and we needed to focus on the preaching work.
i know some have pets but a lot don't.
The WT thinks nothing should interfere with meeting attendance and field service...
my beloved grandmother has passed away and her funeral is next week at a kingdom hall.
she was a loyal jw, and unfortunately i am not understanding of the funeral procedures.
please could you kindly explain what what will happen in the funeral?
I don't have anything to add about what to expect.
I just want to extend my condolences on your loss.
in 1976 when i was a young lad of 6, fred franz came to glasgow and gave a talk in govan a suburb on the south side of the city (for those of you who dont know).
our congregation hired a bus to ferry us all to the hall and it was standing room only.
being only 6, i have only the vaguest of memories other than an old man shouting and bawling from the stage.
And the WT claims JWs aren't following men...
are you aware of any double standards promoted by the organization of jehovah's witnesses?
here a a few i am aware of:.
1. the wts equated joining the ymca with apostasy but felt free to join the un for 10 years (1991-2001).
JWs aren't following men... just the faithful and discreet slave.
JWs don't have leaders... just men who take the lead.
JWs don't go beyond what is written in the Bible... except when they do, such as with 1914 and other dates.
during gerrit loesch's talk just released, he goes on a long list of the false end times predictions throughout the millennia.
i didn't expect it, but then he goes into the precursors to the bible students who, when their dates failed, changed christ's presence to have happened 'invisibly'.
then it goes right into the jws, and he reads the quote from millions now living will never die about how we can 'confidently expect' the resurrection in 1925, and then the life everlasting book that predicted 1975. of course, he doesn't say how it's still going on, namely with the overlapping generation and its' accompanying convoluted chart, but still, this is more than they've ever said on the subject, especially recently.. it almost sounds like a forced statement, to address any backlash from people reading 'apostate lies' online, because he also says how the gb 'humbly' admitted mistakes, referencing the non-apology after 1975 that disturbed raymond franz.
Where is this video? Do you have the url?
fader here - last meeting was in autumn 2005. lurker on this site and others.
not one to get all controversial.. typical situation, pretty much a born in and left the church at age 38 and never looked back.. i'm 53 now, parents getting older - late 70s but very active, dad is still an elder.. parents, in laws, brother and brother-in-law still uber active jws.. my family (wife and 2 adult children) out since 2005.. we have stayed close to our parents - we have treaded religion lightly and have had a pretty good relationship and have kept our personal lives and beliefs/opinions separated from them.
this was intentional - as we love them and do not want anything to cause shunning since they are getting older and want to be there for them and we respect their beliefs.. got this letter today.
I agree with Vanderhoven7's advice.
Unquestioning loyalty and obedience to the GB, aka "the faithful and discreet slave."
some points for awakening jw's to consider in 2020: .
"joining a cult: religious choice or psychological aberration" by dena s. davis.
some of the following characteristics are listed:.
"All cults, no matter their stripe, are a variation on a theme, for their common denominator is the use of coercive persuasion and behavior control without the knowledge of the person who is being manipulated."
JWs are probably aware of the following at some level, but it all seems quite normal:
1. When you study with JWs and when you attend Watchtower studies, you stop asking your own questions; instead, you give the WT's answers to the WT's questions.
2. The WT quotes only a VERY selective number of Bible verses to "prove" its doctrines.
3. Constant repetition programs JWs to think nothing but WT thoughts.
4. The WT keeps JWs feeling guilty that they aren't doing more for the WT organization.
5. While assuring JWs that they are on the only "road to life," the WT keeps them in constant fear that they won't prove worthy to survive Armageddon ("he who endures to the end will be saved").
6. While insisting that JWs aren't following men, through the concepts of "Jehovah's sole channel of communication on earth" and "the faithful and discreet slave" the GB makes sure that's exactly what they are doing.
7. JWs think they are studying the Bible when they are instead studying WT literature.
8. Despite having the worst prophetic track record of any person or group in history, the WT keeps JWs convinced that Armageddon is just around the corner and that they therefore need to set aside everything else (college, careers, etc.) to "put kingdom interests first."
9. By poisoning JWs' minds to all alternatives to the WT ("where else could we go?"), the WT keeps even dissatisfied ones in line.
10. The WT isolates JWs from anyone ("apostates," "worldly people," "Christendom," etc.) who might help them see how they are being manipulated.
in the late 80's when i was in my late teens i used to with my then wife to be attend a monday night pre-watchtower study at a local elders house.. this guy was revered as very knowledgable and he was scholarly and interesting to listen to; so at the time it was a genuinely enjoyable monday evening spent with oftentimes discussion would veer far of the subject at hand and lasting to well after 11pm some evenings.. this particular night, the subject up for discussion was "the faithful and discreet slave" and how we should be obeying them without question.
right in the middle of the study this elder said as a question not in the wt article; "how do we really know the current fds as lead by the governing body are the real deal.
i mean what actual proof do we have?".
"Who else could it be? is the big reason.
The entire premise of a FDS having been appointed to micromanage JWs' lives is never questioned.On a smaller scale, JWs "know" the GB has "the truth" by constant repetition and by the "big" doctrines that never change:
-- Name "Jehovah"
-- Never-ending witnessing
-- End just around the corner (despite constant new light on when)
-- No Trinity
-- No hellfire
-- Neutrality