Jehovah's Witnesses vs. other Christians

[Justin108]

To non-Jehovah's Witnesses - what do Jehovah's Witnesses believe about Christianity that is simply not true according to your own denomination?

To Jehovah's Witnesses - what beliefs do other denominations hold that is simply not true according to your own denomination?

[Elijah John]

Well as one of Jehovah's Witnesses we just stick to the bible and our own interpretation thereof.

This is a remarkably candid confession that JWs don't rely on Jehovah's actual words but on some interpretation of them. Clearly, JWs are not infallible, like the Pope in some circumstances, and they don't claim to be error-free, so interpretations are poor shadows of the real meaning.

Thus, when you say you believe " that that kingdom has been in operation since 1914"
it is awfully hard to restrain a smile. I failed. But as you admit, this is just a guess and 1665, the Plague Year or sometime in the 14th century, during the Black Death, could be even better guesses. The word "kingdom", used figuratively, does have a childish look. But as you say, we must respect the guesses of others, however wild.
For all its flaws I think I'd put my money on Catholicism which has been around long before the Battle of the Somme.... but only if I had to.

That date is not arbitrary, it is based on the failed prediction of Charles Taze Russell, who claimed that Jesus would return in 1914.

When Jesus 2nd coming failed to materialize on that date, they revised the meaning of the prediction to a "spiritual", invisible return.

Instead of simply admitting Russell was wrong, JWs double down to the point of absurdity.

[JehovahsWitness]

Well as one of Jehovah's Witnesses we just stick to the bible and our own interpretation thereof.

This is a remarkably candid confession that JWs don't rely on Jehovah's actual words but on some interpretation of them. Clearly, JWs are not infallible, like the Pope in some circumstances, and they don't claim to be error-free ...

Yes, at no point have Jehovah's Witnesses ever laid claim to being infallible, we are not Catholics. We have in the past and no doubt will again in the future made mistakes in both judgement and in interpretation. All we can claim is that when we are wrong we recognize this and make needed adjustments to the best of our ability.



JW

[2timothy316]

Well as one of Jehovah's Witnesses we just stick to the bible and our own interpretation thereof.

This is a remarkably candid confession that JWs don't rely on Jehovah's actual words but on some interpretation of them. Clearly, JWs are not infallible, like the Pope in some circumstances, and they don't claim to be error-free ...

Yes, at no point have Jehovah's Witnesses ever laid claim to being infallible, we are not Catholics. We have in the past and no doubt will again in the future made mistakes in both judgement and in interpretation. All we can claim is that when we are wrong we recognize this and make needed adjustments to the best of our ability.



JW

As often we say this and it's even in our books and magazines, yet people are always surprised. I personally would not be part of an organization that didn't change when it found itself on a wrong course. Being wrong is not a curse. Staying wrong is. It's an opportunity to move forward in the right direction. When going from a dark room into a brightly lit room and they bump into a piece of furniture because they can't see clearly at first. No one keeps trying to go in the same direction. No one hates themselves for the mistake. People shouldn't point, belittle and laugh at that person either. Call them names all the while they themselves are still in the dark room running into all sorts of objects but not changing course.

(watch)

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 13 by 2timothy316]

I think when it comes to religion people in a small way cling to the very "catholic" idea that those that represent God cannot be wrong. Something that is actually unbibilcal as the patriarchs, Prophets even Jesus' Apostles were wrong or failed to fully understand things on many occassions. I always say we are a progressive religion and changes, updates and adjustments are part of our religious culture and something as you said for us represents growth.

JW


Nice TED, funny, interesting.

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 14 by JehovahsWitness]

My favorite quote from that TED talk is, 'What does being wrong feel like? Being wrong feels exactly like being right.'

[marco]

My favorite quote from that TED talk is, 'What does being wrong feel like? Being wrong feels exactly like being right.'

How astute. This is an exact description of those who claim that they are certain about some future events and their interpretations of obscure pieces of Scripture. The intention to admit an error is not the same as changing one's wrong view, for the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

But it is interesting to hear that those who are wrong FEEL they are right..... and argue accordingly. Well said.

[marco]

That date is not arbitrary, it is based on the failed prediction of Charles Taze Russell, who claimed that Jesus would return in 1914.

If it came from somebody called Taze Russell then it is as good as arbitrary. He presumably didn't sit on Mount Olympus. Laughter is the best antidote to such nonsense that pretends to be prediction. But then many took Nostradamus seriously.

For those deceived in this way one must feel some sympathy. Presumably there were many broken hearts after WW1, and not just because of the war.

[2timothy316]

That date is not arbitrary, it is based on the failed prediction of Charles Taze Russell, who claimed that Jesus would return in 1914.

If it came from somebody called Taze Russell then it is as good as arbitrary. He presumably didn't sit on Mount Olympus. Laughter is the best antidote to such nonsense that pretends to be prediction. But then many took Nostradamus seriously.

For those deceived in this way one must feel some sympathy. Presumably there were many broken hearts after WW1, and not just because of the war.

Jesus became king in 1914. But no, he didn't return. We bumped into a table and make a correction. Then we bumped into another table and corrected it. We eventually got it when we accepted Matt 24:36 as true. I feel no need for sympathy for those trying to get something right. I cheer them on. I feel sympathy for those that stop looking and think they know it all. JWs can't afford to be dogmatic and call ourselves truth seekers. 'Seeker' being the word of focus. Eventually though truth is found and then it starts being refined. So even when we do find truth, we don't stop examining what we found.

[marco]

I feel sympathy for those that stop looking and think they know it all. JWs can't afford to be dogmatic and call ourselves truth seekers. 'Seeker' being the word of focus. Eventually though truth is found and then it starts being refined. So even when we do find truth, we don't stop examining what we found.

Socrates would have counted himself as ignorant but he would still condemn patently foolish ideas. Oscar Wilde expressed the situation thus: "On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one's mind. It becomes a pleasure.

All this bumping into furniture to decide if Christ was appearing in Rhineland in 1915 or on Dover Beach in 1916 or, riskily, in St. Petersburg in 1917 makes for nice metaphor but does little to put the bumpers into a good light. Do you suppose that divine inspiration and guidance are best portrayed by such awkward activity? Why not tear all the failed ideas up and just accept one is completely wrong? Then shout: "Help!" For, of course: Knock, and it shall be opened.

[JehovahsWitness]

I feel sympathy for those that stop looking and think they know it all. JWs can't afford to be dogmatic and call ourselves truth seekers. 'Seeker' being the word of focus.

Indeed, this remind me of Jesus' words to keep knocking, keep asking, keep seeking ... and you shall find.

Wise words I believe,



JW