Watchtower Questions

[Just Dave]

FUD. Yes there are 1st Edition copies of the Book of Mormon, and they will cost you a pretty penny on the resale market, but the LDS church isn't actively trying to remove them from circulation in order to hide changes. Yes there have been some changes from the 1st Edition, but most have been grammatical and spelling corrections. I have a reprint of the 1st Edition of the Book of Mormon (not an official LDS Publication) as well as the 1980 printing of the LDS cannon of Scriptures. There isn't much of a difference aside from the addition of an expanded introduction, chapter headings, and cross references.

If you want top dollar the Mormon church would be the ones to pay it.

Would they like these contradictory books out of circulation?
Of course they would, at the very least it's a source of embarassment to them.
Are they actively engaging in a campaign to find these books?
Probably not.

IIRC these are major changes, not minor ones.

[colossians323]

Watchtower was created to "Herald Christs Presence" Why is it no longer used to "Herald Christs Presence"?

Why is Awake no longer worried about those who passed away from the 1914 Generation?

“Why Awake is Published— Awake is for the enlightenment of the entire family... Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away” (Awake!, October 22, 1995).

With the release of the Nov. 8, 1995 Awake!, the masthead was altered to read,

“Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.”

Why in JW publication "the time is at Hand (1911 ed) p.239 did the JW's teach that 1878 was Christs second coming

Only to change it in "zions Watch Tower 1894 Jul 15 p 226 to the 1914 date?


Clarification in the watchtower Dec 1 1933 p 362


And then place the importance of the 144,000 that were the generation of 1914 as beginning of armegeddon?

Are there any from that generation of JW's that are alive or have they all passed? Has doctrine and dates changed again?





The 1915 Mar 1 issue of the Watch Tower admitted to these changes in the following article.

"CHANGES IN "SCRIPTURE STUDIES"
We call attention to a few slight changes which have been made in four pages of Vol. II. and six pages of Vol. III., "STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES." These are all trivial and do not alter the real sense and lesson, but conform to the facts as we have them today. The pages containing these corrections are as follows:
Vol. II., page 77, line 1, "will be the farthest limit," reads "will see the disintegration."
Vol. II., page 77, line 6, "will obtain full universal control," reads "will begin to assume control."
Vol. II., page 77, lines 16,17, "end of A.D. 1914," reads "end of the overthrow."
Vol. II., page 81, line 9, "can date only from A.D. 1914," reads "could not precede A.D. 1915."
Vol. II., page 170, line 16, "at that time they will all be overturned."*
*How long it will require to accomplish this overturning we are not informed, but have reason to believe the period will be short.
Vol. II., page 221, line 25, "full favor until A.D. 1914," reads "full favor until after 1915."
Vol. III., page 94, line 29, "in this end or harvest," reads "at the end of this harvest."
Vol. III., page 126, line 12, "at A.D. 1914," reads "after 1914."
Vol. III., page 133, line 21, "ere the harvest is fully ended."+
+The end of the harvest will probably include the burning of the tares.
Vol. III., page 228, line 11, "some time before 1914," reads "very soon after 1914."
Vol. III., page 228, line 15, "just how long before," reads "just how long after."
Vol. III., page 362, line 11, "some time before," reads "some time near."
Vol. III., page 364, line 14, "must not only witness," reads "may not only witness.""

Can an organization with so many changes on just one subject be trusted to tell the truth? I dare say no. Look at the op, it seems the changes, or as one poster calls them "clarification" with more studying just keep on changing.

[Lineman101]

The Watchtower organization also noted that the Colored make a good servant...

The Golden Age - July 24, 1929 - Page 702
It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, "Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren," he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants, but now in the dawn of the twentieth century, we are all coming to see this matter of service in its true light and to find that the only real joy in life is in serving others; not bossing them. There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world.

This is only one of many excerpts that the Watchtower used in reference to the "Colored race."
Sounds like Utah and the Watchtower held the same view. Maybe a LDS or a JW can enlighten us on this "race of servants" as quoted above?
Lineman101

[mfj93444]

Lineman 101-
We get it, you don't like Watchtower or JW. Do you feel like you're performing a public service by attacking a group that thinks differently than you?

Seriously, man, move on....

[sonofeugene]

And seriously, again, every religion changes its dogma to suit the times and those in power. Nothing new here. Move along. It's all man's creation.

[colossians323]

Lineman 101-
We get it, you don't like Watchtower or JW. Do you feel like you're performing a public service by attacking a group that thinks differently than you?

Seriously, man, move on....

I don't know, He kind of is. The watchtower society and JW's are categorized as both a theological and sociological cult. If he helps "just one" escape the clutches of this cult, wouldn't he be doing them a public service? I see no attacks, only using their own literature so they don't have to compare it to what a JW would consider apostate.

[colossians323]

And seriously, again, every religion changes its dogma to suit the times and those in power. Nothing new here. Move along. It's all man's creation.

Actually Christianity has not changed its dogma. The bible we read today is the same one that the ancient jews read. The new testament is the same one that has been in existence for around 2000 years. Are their blotches in Christian history? Certainly, but the doctrine has remained the same, No changes in doctrine have been made to support false prophesy. The devout that follow the bible have all the prophesy they need in the bible and don't need to add or take away to support their faith

[CPRAFAN]

An interesting history of the start of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe is "30 Years a Watchtower Slave" by a high ranking defector. The guy started in Germany and worked his way up high into the Brooklyn headquarters - as is typical in JW organizations, he quickly started looking for the office spy. Per the author, spies are rife in JWs to spot heretics and the disillusioned . . . Office politics were rampant then and the losers kicked out - an interesting autobiography.

[henmar77]

I had previously mentioned that I would post the Watchtower's "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth." What I wanted to share was the confusion regarding the Watchtower and the resurrection of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. I have these volumes that communicate opposite teaching regarding this subject.

These are photos of the volumes. As far as I know, these books are still being used by the Watchtower in their study.


These are the pages in question (page 179). As you can see, the pictures are the same.


This volume says that some of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah will be resurrected on Judgement Day-


But this volume says the inhabitants of Sodom will not be resurrected at Judgement Day-


I hope that there is an answer as to why these volumes are different in their teaching? Anyone?
Take care,
Lineman101

that's what happens when you write your religion over and over again.

[mfj93444]

I don't know, He kind of is. The watchtower society and JW's are categorized as both a theological and sociological cult. If he helps "just one" escape the clutches of this cult, wouldn't he be doing them a public service? I see no attacks, only using their own literature so they don't have to compare it to what a JW would consider apostate.

OR maybe, he is really a former JW with an axe to grind. That would certainly call into question his motives. It seems that he has access to publications I doubt you can find at your local book store.
From what I see on the Internet, there are a bunch of haters out there and you and he (?) appear to be obsessed with discrediting them. Makes me curious, so I think I'll examine their teachings a bit closer....

Just saying...

[mossy]

539 A.D.
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[colossians323]

OR maybe, he is really a former JW with an axe to grind. That would certainly call into question his motives. It seems that he has access to publications I doubt you can find at your local book store.
From what I see on the Internet, there are a bunch of haters out there and you and he (?) appear to be obsessed with discrediting them. Makes me curious, so I think I'll examine their teachings a bit closer....

Just saying...

When dealing with a theological/sociological cult, there are many tools to help those shed some light to those who are trapped.
So many are afraid to leave the JW's because they would be shunned by all the friends and family they know, this has to do with the sociological trap that is set to retain those who are born into it.

No one has to work to discredit JW's their writings over the years put the nail in that coffin.

[Lineman101]

Lineman 101-
We get it, you don't like Watchtower or JW. Do you feel like you're performing a public service by attacking a group that thinks differently than you?

Seriously, man, move on....

You should know that I don't have anything against the poeple involved with the Watchtower. My disdain is against the teaching that enslaves one to a teaching that certainly leads to destruction.

The Watchtower organization teaches that they are the mouthpiece for Jehovah. I only ask that if the Watchtower is the mouthpiece for Jehovah, why would Jehovah condone the teachings like I quoted? As has been pointed out, this material is from the Watchtower. It is their official material. Do you hold to what I quoted or do you find it offensive?

[mfj93444]

[QUOTE=Lineman101;14608897]My disdain is against the teaching that enslaves one to a teaching that certainly leads to destruction.

Source for that comment, please.

[Lineman101]

[QUOTE=mfj93444;14610340]

My disdain is against the teaching that enslaves one to a teaching that certainly leads to destruction.

Source for that comment, please.

The source for the comment = me.

Anyway, the question still remains:

Did Jehovah God direct the Watchtower to print the aforementioned view of racism?

If not, did the Watchtower print this material without the direction of Jehovah and thus speak presumptuously?

If the Watchtower did speak presumptuously and got it wrong, is it also possible that the Watchtower is wrong about other teachings?

Please answer these questions without Red Herrings. I am not attacking you as an individual. If the Watchtower claims to receive these through revelation from Jehovah, there has got to be a reasonable answer. Jehovah is not a God of confusion.

Take care,
Lineman101