Posts by mizpah

53

Is the WT working on any new doctrinal changes

by fearnotruth22 in

mizpah

The 1914 doctrine is a difficult one for the Watchtower Society because its very foundation lies on it. Yet, it is becoming apparent to many JWs that a new view is necessary. If there are changes, the Society will probably make subtle ones first to prepare the body to accept a major one later. It's possible the "generation" change was the beginning of it.

Whatever changes are made in the future, most JWs will accept it as "new light." But for some it will be the "straw that broke the camels back."

32

A Curiosity

by ozziepost in

back in 1972 the wtb&ts published a new translation of the bible, "the bible in living english", otherwise known as byington's translation.. who was byington?.

the publisher's note tells us that steven t byington was born in 1868 and studied languages at a university and a theological seminary.

he was a member of the congregational church in massachusetts, usa and the translation was almost his lifetime's work.

mizpah

Ozziepost:

I can remember when the Byington's translation was released at an assembly. Most of us were curious as to why this was done when we had the NWT. It was seldom used. In recent years, I have concluded that the Watchtower BIBLE & Tract Society had to justify its name by publishing and releasing something new. Most Jehovah's Witnesses bought copies only because it was recommended by the Society. So, it also generated money for the Society.

The Watchtower Society knows that it has guaranteed buyers for every publication. JWs were always anxious to be the first in the congregation to have a copy. Some would even go to the earlier assemblies to accomplish this. It's all part of the psyche of JWs.

14

A Perfect Organisation?

by woodland in

my mum always says that she is an imperfect person within a perfect organisation.

now, what i do not understand is by her own admission she is imperfect, in fact, we all are.

so, how can imperfect humans create a perfect organisation?

mizpah

Woodland:

Jehovah's Witnesses often blur the distinction between "God's heavenly organization" and his "earthly organization." But in recent years, the Watchtower has admitted that it is not a "perfect" organization and has made errors. Your mother may have in mind "Jehovah's heavenly organization" when she speaks.

Rocketman makes an excellent point. The organization always escapes any personal responsibility. So it remains pure and unadulterated in the eyes of Jehovah's Witnesses. Individuals or members are blamed for its errors. But the organization is, in fact, made up of these very individuals. The Governing Body and other leading men at Bethel are the organization.

14

bound kms

by peacefulpete in

i have bound volumes 50s-2001, and very nearly complete kms from the 60s-2000.

i had them bound into 2 large hardcover volumes.

if a die hard apostate would be able to use them to further their work, contact me.

mizpah

peacefulpete:

My wife and I did that years ago. There was a feeling of finality and freedom when we did this. I guess it was a symbolic gesture. Now, my book cases are filled with other publications. But I have kept certain books like Crisis of Conscience and Apocalypse Delayed as a healthy reminder of what the past was like.

25

Have you been able to make up for the lost years?

by woodland in

i feel that my education was stunted due to the jw belief that education is not important.

as a result i have not been able to follow my dreams, or follow the career i?m sure i was put on this earth to do.

does anyone else feel this way?

mizpah

What a waste of time it is to dwell on the negatives of the past. XJWs are not the only ones to look back with some regrets. People make wrong decisions all the time. Hindsight is always better than foresight. The important thing is not to live in the past. There is nothing we can do to change that. It is the present and the future than we have some control over.

There were some positive things we learned as JWs. We learned public speaking by being on the platform in the service meetings and ministry school. We learned to express ourselves when meeting the public from door to door. We learned the discipline of study.

We can use now use these things to improve our lives.

15

Watchtower Tries Fraud--And Gets Caught!

by Voyager in

one of the meanings in the dictionary for the word fraud is:--a deliberate (deception) perpertrated for unlawful or unfair gain.

this is just exactly what jehovah's witnesses tried to do in bulgaria.

the city council adopted a law saying (no places of worship) can be built near schools.

mizpah

It's a wonder that the Watchtower didn't use the same deception it used in Mexico for years by claiming to be a "Cultural Organization" instead of a religion!

10

Can I get to heaven?

by JesusFreak in

i was wondering if i become a jehova's witness tonight and die tommorow, will i go to heaven?

mizpah

No...you would have to be in the organization for a few years...and then start claiming to be of "the annointed." That is the only way for a new person to get to the Watchtower Heaven. On the other hand, you could eventually go to Bethel and go to the Watchtower "Hell."

6

Special Offer of the month - how did it originate?

by truthseeker in

first of all, maybe the question should be, 'why do we need a special offer of the month?'.

every other week, i get a macy's catalog with their special offer of the month, the society is no different.

if this is supposed to be truth, you should not need to have any special offer of the month.

mizpah

It always puzzled me when I was a JW that the Society would encourage placement of old books that had old "light" by their "special offers."

Now, I can see it was just a good business practice to clean the shelves of old merchandise to make place for the new...and make a little money out of it.

33

What do you think the cover title will be of the Jan, 1st, 2014 Watchtower?

by cyberguy in

.

here?s mine (he-he): armageddon, it?s closer than you think!

1914 and the "gentile times.

mizpah

Here is another wishful thinking title:

"OPPS!"

34

Short update(s) on my neighbor

by bebu in

my neighbor didn't come on time, and her line was busy, so i went over to see if there was a problem.

she was cheerfully eating lunch, and by the time she finally made it over to my place it was 1 1/2 hours late.

she brought a printout from her elder (an old friend of her husband's .

mizpah

bebu:

You've made some excellent points that can not be ignored. I'm sure your neighbor is giving the entire subject some serious thought.

"Waiting on Jehovah" is an excuse. It's a feeble attempt to put the responsibility upon God that should be handled by the individual or organization. It's rather odd that the Watchtower Society didn't "wait on Jehovah" for many of its decisions and rules. The organization goes ahead with its arbitrary decisions even when scriptural proof is lacking.