Thinking Witnesses have been left scratching their heads at the strange manner in which the revised New World Translation bible was released at the Annual Meeting yesterday.
Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson was chosen to announce the release to a combined audience of nearly 250,000, and used the occasion to make jokes about sisters (female witnesses), stereotyping them as complaining too much.
Even more questionably, Jackson related how the mild summer had fortuitously enabled more new bibles to be printed in readiness for the release, and suggested that “Jehovah’s hand” was responsible for this. Those Witnesses around the world who have lost loved ones in natural disasters will be interested to know why Jehovah intervened to manipulate the weather to aid Watchtower’s bible printing project while refusing to step in to prevent the loss of human life through storms and earthquakes.
Jackson’s fellow Governing Body member Guy Pierce has also left a number who listened to the Annual Meeting puzzled. Pierce raised expectations at the start of the meeting by indicating that there would “absolutely” be “new light,” or “new bible truths” revealed. In the end there was nothing of the sort.
And in his own item on the program, Gerrit Lösch drilled home the Governing Body’s “us versus them” message by insisting that non-believing relatives are not fit for association. He also urged Witness parents to “steer” their young children towards baptism, even though this could result in the same children being shunned by their parents if they stray from the organization in later years.
A distasteful book launch
Twice during his talk announcing the new bible release Geoffrey Jackson opted to make jokes at the expense of his female audience. His first joke came when mentioning that the Governing Body had instructed brothers to make the new Bible as “witness proof” as possible, before adding that they had also made it “sister proof.” Jackson did not elaborate on what he meant by this remark, so it is impossible to say with certainty. My interpretation is that he was appealing to a sexist stereotype of women being overly concerned about how an item looks rather than what it does. Others have suggested he was merely hinting at sisters wearing their bibles out more quickly. These were his actual words from which you are welcome to form your own conclusions…
“The Governing Body asked the brothers involved with printing our bibles to do some extensive research, to test out different covers, to come up with a type of cover that is ‘witness proof’. And they went even further than that, they found some covers that are ‘sister proof’!”
In further remarks, Jackson acknowledged the lengthy shortage in the months leading up the Annual Meeting when bibles were in short supply. Instead of recognizing that the Governing Body could have done more to keep Witnesses informed and manage expectations, Jackson insinuated that Witnesses should feel guilty for getting impatient, saying…
“Of course, as Brother Sanderson referred to, and you rather guiltily acknowledged, we had a lot of complaints about ‘where are the Bibles?!’ Letters started to pour in. One sister wrote (pause for laughter), ‘We have had bibles on back order for three months! Now what on earth is happening? We need Bibles!'”
You will need to watch the video below to hear for yourself how Jackson paused for comic effect while relating the experience of an irate sister writing in with a complaint to Bethel. In making this joke, he undoubtedly drew on another disparaging stereotype of women as being overly demanding.
And Jackson’s controversial remarks did not go unnoticed even by his fellow Governing Body members.
Anthony Morris III, who is no stranger to making the occasional outrageous comment himself, joked about Jackson later in the program saying…
“Now here’s what Brother Jackson mentioned. We’re gonna repeat it – repetition’s the mother of retention – if you didn’t get it when he said it, get it this time. No reflection on your teaching Geoff, I… but I DID tell him ‘I think you’re in trouble with the sisters! It’s that one sister you’ve gotta worry about. Forgive me Mr Chairman. So here was the policy – ‘literal where possible, but never distort the meaning.'”
And later in his own item David Splane alluded to Jackson while making his own not-overly-funny joke about pronunciation in different accents…
“Everyone else up here’s been getting in trouble, I might as well too.”
Though various Governing Body members and even the audience were determined to see the funny side, it is nevertheless confusing that sexist jokes were deemed appropriate at such a “historic” and, for many Witnesses, deeply spiritual event. There is also the bible verse, “out of the heart’s abundance [the] mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) If Governing Body members are capable of making chauvinist jokes, then there is every chance that they are, in fact, chauvinists.
“Jehovah’s hand” at Wallkill
Then as Jackson’s item drew to a close he related how there had been concerns among the factory workers at Wallkill about printing a large number of new Bibles over the summer months. Apparently printing is problematic during the summer due to the risk of machinery overheating. But, according to Jackson, “Jehovah’s hand” came to the rescue…
“It’s interesting when we think about the production of this [Bible] we truly have seen Jehovah’s hand in helping the project. Just one example. The brothers in the Wallkill printery mentioned to us that normally the worst time of the year to print Bibles is summertime, because of the humidity, the heat. Oftentimes they have to stop the presses. But they told us this year when they had to do a lot of extra overtime to get these Bibles ready for us, and as you can see there’s one for each person here attending our program, this year there was no stoppage of Bible production! We had the mildest summer for many many years and we thank Jehovah for that.”
I could scarcely believe my ears as I heard Jackson’s words above. Natural disasters regularly claim the lives of countless numbers of people – including Witnesses. And yet Jackson here postulates that Jehovah arranged the meteorological conditions to ensure sufficient copies of the new Bible would be printed, when he could have instead spared people from being killed by earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes and tsunamis.
This grotesque flight of fancy by Jackson reminded me of the most recent Yearbook in which “Jehovah’s hand” was said to have been involved in a plane crash that killed 153 people in Nigeria because one Witness family, whose apartment the plane crashed into, survived due to being out attending a meeting. This talk is similarly disturbing in that it dismisses the feelings of any who have lost loved ones in natural disasters by suggesting that Jehovah is so selective and uncaring in how he chooses to intervene.
Of course, these are just my opinions and observations. You are welcome to reach your own conclusions by listening to the relevant part of Jackson’s talk in the video below…
The “new light” that never was
Those in attendance at the Annual Meeting would have been forgiven for being almost giddy with excitement after the build-up offered by meeting chairman Guy Pierce.
In his opening remarks, Guy Pierce hinted strongly (to put it mildly) that “new light” would be announced – even reading Proverbs 4:18. He then said…
“Will food at the proper time be served at this occasion? Indeed it will. Will bible truths be refined? Absolutely. So we have a lot of things to look forward to in connection with this program as we proceed.”
In fact, there were no “refinements” in bible truths as understood by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Over the course of the annual meeting, two new releases were unveiled, namely the new bible revision and the JW Library app – but nothing that could remotely be considered as “new light” as Witnesses understand it.
Many Witnesses would likely argue that Pierce was just being playful and using a play on words rather than being deliberately deceptive. However, I would suggest that, given the far-reaching ramifications that so-called new light can entail (especially as announced last year), it is wrong for a Governing Body member to goad his audience in this way and treat “new light” as a trivial thing. After all, if someone doesn’t accept a new understanding propounded by the Governing Body, he or she can be disfellowshipped and shunned. It’s therefore no laughing matter.
Strange family values
Perhaps the most destructive words spoken during the program were uttered by Gerrit Lösch, the Governing Body’s longest-serving member. Lösch is developing something of a reputation for making rather strange and morbid statements from the platform.
I have already created two YouTube videos of Lösch speaking. In one he likens those who seek to pursue higher education to OCD sufferers, and in another he paints a grim picture of the methods of execution to be employed by God during Armageddon and explains how teams of Witnesses will need to scour the planet in search of bodies to bury. Lösch is clearly not the sort of person you would ask to tell your child a bedtime story.
In his latest ramblings, Lösch evokes memories of the recent “Close ranks on Satan” and “Be on guard” Watchtowers by urging Witnesses to reject association with anyone who could be classed as bad association – even if they are family members. “We must not let family ties overshadow bible principles,” Lösch cautions. “Relatives who are not in the truth and not on the way to accept it could exert a negative influence in our lives.”
Those like me who are already under pressure from more devout Witness family members who follow every word written in the literature without question will shudder at the idea that absolutism is such a popular ideology among the Governing Body. Basically, if you do not subject yourself fully to the Governing Body’s self-proclaimed authority, even if you are not disfellowshipped, expect to see less of your Witness loved ones.
But that was not the only message Lösch was eager to convey. He also told parents to be more assertive with their children by “steering” them towards baptism – from as young as seven or eight if possible…
“Do they [children] start out as unbaptized publishers at seven or eight or so? Yes not all children are ready at that age but many would be. However some parents are holding them back. Some put the brake on the spiritual development of their children. So please parents, don’t be passive, but actively steer children towards baptism.”
This website reported recently on similar words spoken by fellow Governing Body member David Splane at a Zone Visit to Sweden. During Splane’s talk, he essentially told parents that pushing their children into getting baptized was the “wise” thing to do.
Based on this more recent talk at the annual meeting, the notion of coercing young children into making a lifelong commitment to a religious order seems to be a popular one among Governing Body members. I can only hope that thinking parents who listen to such misguided advice will remind themselves of Watchtower’s repeated instructions for them to shun teenage children who are disfellowshipped if they are old enough to leave home – as was unmistakably drilled home in a recent YouTube video.
The recklessness with which the likes of Lösch and Splane urge the pushing of baptism on children, even though they should be aware of the number of teenagers disfellowshipped year after year, is most disconcerting.
Business meeting, or publicity opportunity?
Perhaps like me you always considered the Annual Meeting to be a sober function at which business matters related to the Society were discussed in compliance with the law. As these meetings have become more public in recent years, I am steadily getting a very different impression.
Yes, achievements are read out, backs are patted, and a feeling is exuded that the organization is moving forward – but who exactly is this organization responsible to? What is the mechanism for voicing disapproval if the organization veers in a wrong or harmful direction? The fact that there isn’t any such mechanism makes the whole notion of this being an “Annual Meeting” almost laughable. There are no checks or balances, and the Governing Body can do precisely whatever it likes. The audience is just along for the ride.
Rather than serving any business function, the Annual Meeting increasingly strikes me as being a mere vehicle for projecting the personalities of the Governing Body and elevating these men before their doting audience. And they seem to love every minute.
I have already suggested that the manner in which last year’s “new light” announcement was made suggested great vanity on the part of the Governing Body. They had the opportunity and resources to disseminate a key change in understanding simultaneously to the entire worldwide brotherhood in all languages via the magazines.
Instead the Governing Body chose to spread the news to a small, select audience and let it spread slowly through word of mouth over many months simply because they wanted the instant fanfare and applause. After all, you can’t hear the brothers clapping while they’re reading the “new light” in their Watchtowers, can you? Much better to get the instant gratification and acclaim from a small audience, and keep the rest of ’em guessing.
We see precisely the same narcissism in the way the new bible has been released. Repeatedly during this year’s annual meeting jokes were made about the scarcity of bibles and how brothers had run out and were confused about what was happening. Not once was it considered that maybe, just maybe, the Governing Body could have better managed the expectations of brothers by giving them advance notice of the change.
But why would they want to do this? Far better to keep everyone in the dark with bible stocks running dry and no explanation why. That way the Governing Body could keep the element of surprise, heighten the suspense, and ride to the rescue to fix a problem they themselves had caused. The fact that, as the “faithful and discreet slave” it is their job to provide bibles and spiritual food at the proper time is an afterthought.
Forgive me if I sound overly skeptical. It’s just the more I see the Governing Body lapping up the adulation at these events the more I see them for what they are – power-drunk deluded men who are taking out their late-life crisis on 8 million people.
And when you consider the work they should be doing, such as saving Witness children from sexual predators and bringing an end to shunning and deaths from refusal of blood transfusions – releasing a new bible and building a museum display seems as futile as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Rather than releasing a new bible I would much rather they read and apply the old one – especially the verse in Matthew 9:13 where Jesus says: “I want mercy, and not sacrifice.”
I gratefully acknowledge the unnamed persons involved in recording the annual meeting at great risk to themselves and thus making this article possible, hopefully for the benefit of all.
Further reading…
If I was still an active Jehovah’s Witness I might be discouraged by a new edition of The Bible. The reason why is the scriptures fall at different places on the pages. They are harder to find. It happened once while I was active and I did not like it.
Cedars, I agree with your assessment. I think you are spot on.
Amen to this.
Now i understand why my 9 yr old son has been talking about being baptised so much. He has also decided ” it is best we go our seperate ways ” following the summer convention talk about disfellowshiped ones. Looks like I will be returning to the family court again very soon.
So if they made it “black proof” or “Chinese proof” that would have been funny? “We got a call from a Mexican guy, ha ha ha, and of course this elderly man [insert eye roll] who wanted to know what was going on, and we all know how irritating it is to deal with them [pause for laughter]…” Never ceased to amaze me how they realize that racism and ageism is wrong, but sexism is just hilarious!
BTW, if it’s now sister-proof, aren’t they saying that women shouldn’t read it anymore? You baby-proof something you don’t want your infant to get into, something that’s waterproof keeps out moisture, so why are women still in the truth?
Very sad article. Clutching at straws. You obviously have issues and gripes that are fueling you.
I was there, found it very encouraging and the humour was in good taste.
Love my new bible too.
What I always ask people like you.. What are you offering that is better? Nothing. You are just tearing down.
“If these men are from God, you will not be able to overturn it.”
thank you Cedars for the timely information
let’s see now: “they will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another” do I have that correct?
Now let’s put that together with the fine comments about the Chinese, the Mexican, the Black and oh yes; do not forget the sisters!!! These poor deluded men who THINK that they are the “faithful slave” really need to get some common sense!
But you hit the nail square on the head with your observation of them grand standing for adulation. But then Jesus also made it clear that those who prayed on the street corners were getting their reward in full. Apparently the GB/FS can not connect clear Bible principles to their own conduct.
If they were out for glory, their names and the names of the translators would be published.
It’s good to see active Witnesses are actually visiting the site. I wonder what brings them here. Do they inadvertently stumble across these sites or do they intentionally seek out ex-JW websites to post comments that fail to demonstrate exactly how someone is lying and speaking untruths?
Vincent, you know what I’m offering that’s better? A life that is free from the fear that your child will be viciously raped by a brother at the Hall and you’re told, “Too bad, he didn’t get it on video so there’s nothing we can do and by the way, don’t call the police because that might bring reproach on Jehovah’s name.”
I’m offering a life for women that is free of having to suffer violent abuse at the hands of her own husband, by men who are also JWs and even elders, and then being told by elders that she “obviously provoked him by not being submissive enough” and being told she now needs to apologize to him.
I’m offering a life where a rape victim is not forced to sit before three old men and recount her rape, detail by gory obscene detail, so that they can determine if she screamed and resisted enough to satisfy them, and doesn’t need to go through the horror of being shunned by her congregation and family because they decided she “consented” and now needs to be disfellowshipped for “fornication.”
I’m offering a life where children don’t need to grow up in fear of beatings from their parents every time they just simply breathe too loud.
No, I’m not offering a substitute religion. I don’t know what the solution is to sickness and poverty. But I do know that Jehovah’s organization is not the answer either. There are far too many horrific, obscene flaws – not just minor imperfections and personality problems, but fundamental flaws in how it’s run and its major philosophies, for it to be the answer either.
BTW, no one has yet overturned the Catholic Church or Islam or Judaism, and they’ve been around for centuries. JWs have been around for about 150 years and their growth rate is dwindling while the organization is downsizing, so be careful about that brag.
They also don’t use their names to protect themselves in court, as they’ve shown previously, hiding behind the cloak of “anonymity.”
I don’t see the need for a new 10 million $$$ facility and I don’t see the need for a new Bible. But I am a woman and all’s I do is complain
They had to print bibles outside? LOL HAHAHAHAHA
Wow!
I used to be a printer and the words about how tough it is to print bibles in the summertime threw me back a bit. His remarks indicate their factories are not climate controlled as they should be to run their web presses, if true. In a properly controlled press-room weather simply wouldn’t be a factor and considering how expensive the kind of presses, be they web or sheet-fed, they use are, it is most shortsighted not to have the facilities properly climate controlled.
If they had to run for months on end at overtime to provide a quarter of a million finished bibles on time, I wonder how far they have cut back their press capacity? Those web presses print at amazing speeds and produce those bibles ready for final binding at the rate of hundred if not thousands of copies an hour each and they used to have a bunch of them dedicated to bible production. The final binding might be an area where production might slow down, but even that was done by machine the last time I heard about it, including the foil imprinting. I’m sorry, had I been in the audience I would’ve had to put my hand over my mouth as I choked out B@#$%&%T!
I used to do it the old hard way in lesser shops where I ran single color sheet-fed presses both letterpress and offset. One of the businesses I worked for didn’t have any climate control to speak of. I am well aware of how the performance of the presses I last knew of the Watchtower to have was versus what I used. I also ran the presses under all conditions both climate controlled and not. So I do think I have the experience to speak from. If the story of how long it took to produce the bibles is true, then it may be that the rumors of how far the Watchtower has cut back its production capacity may well be understated.
I will only say the the GB is out of touch with women today. Many Sisters hold high positions in business some are even bosses-OH MY! That aint true for Betel. So how is it that the GB does a great injustice to woman in the org but singling them out and calling them complainers? In my world that would be against company policy and they could be sued for such statements!
very good comment John
it actually shows the real problems this religion will face.. a slightly newly revised Bible with the omission of a critically viewed account being the least of them.
Good article Cedars! What does “Sisters Proof” Bible mean? free of these verses or New light/ New Bible Truths on them?
(Jeremiah 5:7, 8) . . .to the house of a prostitute woman they go in troops. Horses seized with sexual heat, having [strong] testicles, they have become. They neigh each one to the wife of his companion. . . (http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=Jeremiah+5%3A7%2C+8)
(Ezekiel 23:20) . . .And she kept lusting in the style of concubines belonging to those whose fleshly member is as the fleshly member of male asses and whose genital organ is as the genital organ of male horses. . . (http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=Ezekiel+23%3A20)!!
I guess saying “Sisters Proof” the man (Member of GB) wanted to say “Sisters Friendly”!!
Offering that is better:
– Freedom of thought
– Freedom of will
– Self-realization, therefore using your human potential to the fullest (you know, not everybody here leaves and becomes a drunk-drug-addict!) to the benefit of humanity and the environment.
These are just some benefits that come to mind.
As for: “If these men are from god, you will not be able to overturn it.” Here a few facts:
– The Cosa Nostra (Sicilian mafia) exists for over a century now and nobody has been able to overturn them. Does that make them or their actions legit?
“Not being overturn” means nothing. There are many evil organizations that have always existed and continue to exist (you could also name the catholic church that exists for far longer than the modern Watchtower)
Enjoy your new Bible, you will need it.
Their comments just show the expected reaction from a person who is under that kind of mind control. The first reaction is always to defend their beliefs, it’s part of the game. Time must be given so the mind is set free.
When I was in a UK congregation I’ve been hearing of bible shortages. Fortunately I had a spare one to give. It would have been more orderly and considerate, to let the R&F know of the new revised bibles coming. Since the brothers printing them knew, the JWorg must have told them to not tell anyone. Pride and vanity for the GB to announce at the meeting instead of just letting all know in a more orderly way.
And the jokes and “sister proof” is out of line for “anointed” members that should set the example of modesty, humility, and respect.
I look forward to what is added to their website later.
Andrew, I guess you are right. Watchtower is a problem; but bigger problem is in the mind of its followers: Their psychology and reasoning capacity!!
What happened to the 9 yr old honoring his parents like the Bible says? Surely depriving you of raising your son is not honor.
I wouldn’t want one of those bibles, the first one is an inaccurate translation and this one is probably even worst. These people are so FULL of themselves.
Dave- I am so sorry to hear about your 9 year old son. He doesn’t realize what he’s doing. How can the Watchtower Society claim to be an “all loving CHRISTIAN organization” when they are obviously determined to drive a wedge between families and cause divisions. The WTBTS makes me sick. They truly are a dark and sinister organization run by corrupt and evil men.
Are “Sisters” now allowed to become Elders or at least Ministerial assistants?
“Man and woman were not created equal in power and glory; the man came first and was given special prerogatives. As Jehovah is the head over his wifely organization, and as Christ is the head over his espoused church, so the man is the head over the woman. It is the woman that is commanded to show respect and recognition of the man’s position of headship, and women who rebel at it are not so much rebelling against men as they are against God.” (*** w52 4/15 p. 254 Questions From Readers ***, Is it proper for men to tip their hats to women?—G. S., Missouri.)!
Lösch uses the phrase “inappropriate love” in this 7min snippet when discussing family ties and bonds.
In my view the family bond of love is appropriate and should be cherished above all else.
The entire organization is [swear word removed]. The “new” bible, why? That just proves their full of [swear word removed]. The disowning of their family was already and has already happened.. Now you don’t even have to be df’d. Fabulous. Good to know the 3 ppl that even associate with me will probably no longer be. Amazing how these people are so worried about “steering the children” in the right direction, yet when the elders are molesting them, they could care less but to sweep it under the rug. I’ve respected my family for their choices and their religion, but the bible [swear word removed] really [swear word removed] me off and has set a new tone for how I feel about my family and how BLIND they are. Talk about a cult!
Did you know this(Deuteronomy 28:28) . . .Jehovah will strike you with madness and loss of sight and bewilderment of heart.
That is what is happening now, prophecy. “Let Contrasts Help You” (w13 9/15 p.3)!!
*** fy chap. 8 p. 96 par. 17 Protect Your Family From Destructive Influences ***
Yet it is not enough simply to teach your children to avoid bad associates. Help them to find good ones. One father says: “We would always try to substitute. So when the school wanted our son on the football team, my wife and I sat down with him and discussed why that wouldn’t be a good idea—because of the new companions that would be involved. But then we suggested getting some of the other children in the congregation and taking all of them to the park to play ball. And that worked out fine.”
THEN
*** w86 1/1 p. 13 par. 12 Days Like “the Days of Noah” ***
Shocking as it is, even some who have been prominent in Jehovah’s organization have succumbed to immoral practices, including homosexuality, wife swapping, and child molesting. It is to be noted, also, that during the past year, 36,638 individuals had to be disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation, the greater number of them for practicing immorality. Jehovah’s organization must be kept clean!
YES, “Let Contrasts Help You” !!
Ok so I am just having a little look at it now
a) Why so may maps?
b)1914 is still a date somewhere in the appendix it states…
About 1914 C.E.
Jesus hurls the
serpent, Satan,
to the earth,
confining him
there for a short
time.—Revelation
12:7-9, 12.
c) The headings at the top of the pages have been removed I can only speculate as to why that is
“That way the Governing Body could … ride to the rescue to fix a problem they themselves had caused.”
Good observation! They created the shortage and then proclaim themselves as heroes for doing what the FDS is supposed to do. Duh!
In fact, I would think Jesus would be more than a little upset that this allegedly “Faithful Slave” let His followers go without Bibles for many, many months. How do they justify that?
Where was the food at the proper time?
I trust you’ll apply this same advice to yourself and refrain from tearing down “false religion” like Catholicism?
Vincent the fact they do not publish their names does not mean they are not out for glory as you say. I believe they do not publish their names because it would be abundantly clear that no one on the so called writing or translation committee is actually qualified to render a bible translation!
If the names were published, that would give glory only to those certain individuals. By keeping the names secret, it continues to funnel all adulation towards the entire governing body.
I agree – I had previously misunderstood why weather mattered at all, so I appreciate this article clarifying that it’s heat and humidity that are the problem for the Watchtower printing facilities. But that doesn’t change my reaction: Ridiculous! Such large scale printing facilities ought to be climate controlled. If they are not, there are numerous issues which result in unacceptable levels of waste and downtime. Didn’t they JUST build this place? So is it the location that’s problematical? The construction? In new construction in 2014, it ought not to be so difficult to incorporate efficient climate control into such a facility. And yet they court disastrous waste of donated funds by apparently running without it.
Dave,
I’m sorry to read that you are dealing with that. Trying to instill critical thinking skills with your children will help you. I hope things turn out well.
Truly, the WT destroys families unless all conform to the control of the governing body. A sad state of affairs.
To be fair, few of the writers of the bible were scribes or educated men. Acts 4:13.
Never felt so let down. In the Uk only selected ones were allowed to go?…and we’re able to take their partners even if their partners are are a waste of space(IMHO) My first view of the new bible was on a social networking site so that’ll be interesting next time the CO turns up and decries them. At the meeting on Thursday the select ones will be using the new bible I have the highlights and am going to look an idiot. am only a mini of 8 years and my wife only pioneered for over a decade until coming off recently due to a difficult pregnancy…..nice to feel of less value than the new pioneers and partners of people who have only been coming to the meeting a for a short while. And that’s after I’ve been trying to get a new bible for my studies for the last 6 months… So fed up tonight. :(
@Gypsy Sam–the Wt truly doesn’t care about that, and will tell anyone in its influence that they shouldn’t either because that is WJWD (what Jesus would do) because in several passages Jesus states that he came to set asunder (split apart) families. So…
(a nod to my agnostic and atheists quietly chuckling at all this bruhaha as they note the conflicting verses that Jesus came to bring families together and then also he says, split them apart)
It will be a curious snipe-hunt to find where the Wt weaves its doctrines into the text, again–assuming they drop the ‘brackets []” where the “committee” inserted text for “clarity purposes”–an amplified version, one could say. Assuming they’ve not included any of the so-called Gnostic (heretical) Gospels or The Gospel of Thomas, really nothing exciting.
And, there’s the point, JC (hmmm?), by releasing a new bible that has a few words changed at an Annual Meeting? It couldn’t make the convention dates? Normally, this would be the “over the top” event found at district conventions, but with rumored scale-back, the Annual Meeting [which will morph into the Annual Convention and replace regional DC’s?] now takes the primary focus. So, scaling back a few district conventions and circuit conventions doesn’t seem so bad to r/f JW’s who will have new light shine forth brightly as the noonday sun at the Annual Meetings in coming years. Like a heroin junkie, they can still get their “fix” of “something new”; [trembling hands (aka “withdrawal”)] ‘see, Jehovah still gives us “manna”‘.
So you managed to stir up dirt without even being there, you guys whoever you are must really hate Jehovah.
@Hakiz – so, you’re saying this going to the park to play ball led to child molestation? Interesting note, by isolating your child from extra-curricula sports and so forth, you avoid exposure to talent scouts, tennis coaches, etc. Thus, no embarrassments from outstandingly talented tennis stars, Olympic athletes, authors or musicians with conflicting behavior to Wt policies.
This is very contrasting and confusing because on the one hand, some in the Wt seem to think vocational and community colleges are “okay” but clearly the policy hardliners think otherwise. In fact, the sad statistics are that JW’s align closely with many other so-called fundamentalists who believe in isolation from wicked companions, even those who attend corrupt churches of Christendom and live morally, in trailing when it comes to high school grades and academic progress. If you aren’t outstanding academically, no pressure to go forward to college.
There’s also a smug attitude when it comes time to take the college preparatory courses which are drenched in theories and discussions that open critical thinking. With parents mocking evolution theories and unaware of current scientific findings, students will see little need to adhere to academic literature or view it with an open mind to discourse and debate in classroom. With little sports accomplishments and very little competition to hone skills, children will lack any incentives to continue on the treadmill toward post-secondary and higher acadmic accomplishments where exposure to knowledge and access to where the knowledge is are revealed.
I also must state that the “corrupt churches” as taught by the Watchtower is a sad farce because time and again, they turn to biblical commentaries, dictionaries, encyclicals and councils that these groups created for misquotes or proof phrases. And, because, they do not encourage any scholarly research within their own membership. Training is there for ministerial and missionary duties according to their transcript of thought, but a rigorous examination and allowance of skepticism to cause examination and refinement is lacking.
Most of the rhetoric I’ve seen and heard seems an attempt to shift the Watchtower back to pre-1960’s morality codes [perhaps to regain the lost tribes in Romania?].
But, these contrasts also highlight an ongoing struggle between those with liberal, moderate and conservative interpretations of where the Wt should be heading in the future. A schism(s) is inevitable whether it be a clear separation of individuals or a coalescence of like-minded individuals into different congregations in the same city, region.
The new Bible is an instant revenue booster. It will eventually go “public” but in the meanwhile–3 million JW’s in the English-speaking countries will feel obligated to donate-buy the new edition at $16-25/copy [gone are the days of $1.00/copy bibles; triple digit millions in the first wave], then comes the large-print editions, study copies, language versions, leather-back/gold-trim, paperback, digital version, audio, interlinear [although that led to the 1980’s uprising and tada the dissenters on the internet..], commentaries, and on and on. They may be a little ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ but the Good-ole Brothers (GB) are getting the knack of turning tricks–er, making money.
I hope in the next october annual meeting they will simply announce the shut down of watchtower organisation forever.
What the hell? Sister proof !!! How can that cause controversy.