DOCSLIB.ORG

An Interdenominational Heresy-Exposing Quarterly

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Volume 17, Number 3 July • Aug • Sep 1997 AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL HERESY-EXPOSING QUARTERLY Editorial 2 William A. BeVier An Open Letter to a Jehovah's Witness 4 Roy E. Knuteson, Ph.D. Why I Am Not a Bible Student (Part One) 7 Robert C. Hill, Th.B. Volunteering for Oblivion (Part One) 12 The New Age Path to Heaven's Gate Brooks Alexander God's All Sufficient Word vs. Psychology 17 Michael E. Amatucci The Discerner Editorial Committee Volume 17, Number 3 Dr. William A. BeVier July • Aug • Sep 1997 Timothy J. Buege Published Quarterly RO- Box 22098 Price $4.00 for 4 issues Robbinsdale, MN 55422-0098 Foreign subscriptions extra Printed in the United States 1-612-535-8715 /1 -800-562-9153 FAX 612-537-5825 EDITORIAL By William A. BeVier hope that by this time each of you errors presented in Jehovah's Ihas received your copy of our new Witness literature. 1997-99 Catalog. Should you desire additional copies, please notify us. As Many seemingly are not aware I indicated in the newsletter enclosed that the Jehovah's Witnesses have with the Catalog, the publication and experienced several divisions and mailing of this edition was a costly breakups during their history. One project. We welcome your special major division goes by the name financial support at this time. "Bible Students" (but also is known by other titles). Robert Hill has done The Catalog is the best means we extensive research on these divisions have of informing people what's and we are pleased to begin a series available in good literature for infor- of articles on this subject. I do not mation and to counteract the myriad know of anyone else currently writing of cults and aberrations of on this topic. I believe you will find Christianity in the world today. the articles informative. Information is available if we will take the time and make the effort to With the passing of a few months acquire it. of time, Marshall Applewhite and "Heaven's Gate" have probably faded In this issue of The Discerner we from the memories of many individu- present another article by a member als. However, the basic phenomena of our Board of Reference, Dr. Roy E. (UFOs, New Age Movement, etc.) Knuteson. The article is in the form which produced the tragedy are still of an open letter to a Jehovah's with us. Brooks Alexander, one of the Witness friend stressing the Biblical most insightful Christian writers of revelation of the absolute deity of today, wrote an article for the Jesus Christ as contrasted with the Spiritual Counterfeits Project 2 EDITORIAL newsletter last spring on this subject subject which Christians are divid- which we have received permission to ed today, the proper or improper reproduce. The article is so exten- relationship between Biblical sive, but so worthy of complete pre- Christianity and the broad field of sentation, that it will have to be con- psychology. Michael Amatucci has tinued in the next issue of The strong views on this subject and he Discerner. supports them from the Bible. Our concluding article in this issue is by Michael Amatucci on a 3 EDITORIAL AN OPEN LETTER TO A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS By Roy E. Knuteson, Ph.D. Dear Ralph: "Tetragrammatan" because of the four Hebrew letters JHWH some- Thank you for your gracious reply times translated <cYahweh." On page to my letter. I appreciated the spirit 17 we are told: in which it was written, and I intend to continue this dialogue in the same "The divine name in Tetragram- manner. Regardless of our differ- matan form has been eliminated from ences on such things as military ser- the text by copyists who did not vice, saluting the flag, blood transfu- understand or appreciate the divine sions, or such doctrines as hades, the name, or who developed an aversion second coming of Christ, and the mil- to it, possibly under the influence of lennium, the major and key differ- anti-Semitism. In place of it they ence that separates us is the question have substituted Kyrios (usually regarding the full deity of Jesus translated "the Lord,") and Theos, Christ. Is He "a god" as you insist? meaning God." "A mighty god," but not "almighty"? Is He Jehovah? Obviously, this means that they accept Kurios (the correct spelling) as It is my firm conviction that if a meaning Jehovah, which is, they say: person is wrong about the person of "the divine name." On that basis Jesus Christ, nothing else matters, then, whenever we see Kurios, or because our ultimate salvation rests Theos, we should read "Jehovah." upon a proper understanding of the This is exactly what your New World person and work of our Lord Jesus Translation does in Revelation 1:8 Christ. It is possible to believe sin- and in 236 other places in the New cerely in "another Jesus" as 2 Testament. This is good and correct. Corinthians 11:4 states and be eter- But, in order to be consistent, based nally lost. In that light I ask you to upon the above quotation, we must carefully consider several key then confess that Jesus is Jehovah as Scriptures from your own sources Philippians 2:11 states we should. In regarding the deity of Jesus Christ this passage, Kurios means Jehovah and His claim to be Jehovah in and is in complete agreement with human form. Revelation 1:8 and 22:6, where Kurios is openly translated "Jehovah" First a look at "The Kingdom in the New World Translation. Interlinear Translation," published According to your own translation of by your society, regarding the name Romans 10:9, if you do that, you will Jehovah, also referred to as the be saved now! 4 AN OPEN LETTER TO A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS On the Romans 10:9 passage, the as the one "whom they pierced Kingdom Interlinear Translation in through." Obviously another refer- the right hand column says: "If you ence to Jesus Christ. This means publicly declare that 'word in your that Jehovah-Jesus died for our sins, mouth' that Jesus is Lord... you will does it not? be saved." The left hand column con- tains the Greek word Kurios which is There is much more irrefutable translated "Lord" and the footnote to proof that Jesus is Jehovah. For this passage has several texts where example, in John 8:58 where the Kurios is equated with "haAdon," the Kingdom Interlinear translates ego Hebrew name meaning "Lord." Then eimi as "I Am," it then says, in the left curiously, they state: "Not Jehovah." hand column, this should be translat- However, on page 1453 of the New ed: "I have been." This is not an accu- World Translation, under the title: rate translation of the present tense "Isaiah 1:24 — The (true) Lord" it ego eimi. In John 18:5, Jesus claimed states: "This prefixing of the definite the title "I Am" again (left hand col- article before the title a-don limits umn). He was using the divine name the application to the title of Jehovah for Jehovah as God revealed it to God." If I understand what they are Moses in Exodus 3:13-15. For the use saying, the conclusion must be that of this name the Jews decided to kill Jesus. Why? Because they under- Jesus is indeed Jehovah! Wouldn't stood His, and their language, cor- you agree? rectly. He was claiming equality with In Isaiah 6:1-10 we have a clear God the Father. Compare this with statement about "Jehovah sitting on John 10:33, where the New World a throne lofty and lifted up" (NWT, Translation tries to avoid this conclu- page 778). The Apostle John refers to sion by using the words "a god" just this passage in John 12:41 and says: as it does in John 1:1. This is not "Isaiah said these things because he good grammar, as proved by your own saw his glory and spoke of him." The translation of Theos without the defi- context of this remarkable commen- nite article in Matthew 6:24, where it tary on this Old Testament passage is correctly translated "God," not "a clearly indicates that this a reference god." to Jesus Christ and not to God the Father. It cannot be understood any Ralph, you cannot honestly ren- other way. Jehovah is Jesus and der Theos "a god" in John 1:1 and Jesus is Jehovah. then translate Theou "of God" (Jehovah) in Matthew 5:9; Luke 1:35; Zechariah 12:1 records "the utter- and John 1:6 when Theou is in the ance of Jehovah, the one who is genitive case of the same noun and stretching out (the) heavens and lay- without the definite article. In one ing the foundation of (the) earth and case your translation renders this "a forming the spirit of man inside him" god" and another "of God." There is (NWT, page 1047). In verse 10, this no consistency on the part of these same person -"The One - is identified translators as there should be among 5 AN OPEN LETTER TO A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS good grammarians. Hebrews 1:8 has the Bible itself," and that anyone who the word Theos without the article lays aside his studies and reads only and yet the NWT renders it "God," the Bible will within "two years go not "a god." If your society is right in into darkness." On the other hand, stating that Jesus is "a god," then you he claimed that if a person "had not are forced to admit that you have two read a page of the Bible as such, he gods (a big one and a little one), and would be in the light at the end of the this is polytheism.
Recommended publications
  • Bible Students in Australia

    Bible Students in Australia

    CONTENTS Page Preface 3 Chapter 1 The Bible Student Movement 4 Chapter 2 Earliest Activities in Australia 5 Chapter 3 Australian Branch Office 7 Chapter 4 An Early Overseas Visitor 9 Chapter 5 The Colporteur Work 10 Chapter 6 The Photo-Drama of Creation 12 Chapter 7 Death of Brother Russell 13 Chapter 8 The Berean Bible Institute 14 Chapter 9 Institute Personnel 16 Chapter 10 The Radio Witness 18 Chapter 11 Overseas Associations 20 Chapter 12 Later Overseas Visitors 21 Chapter 13 Bible Study Classes 24 Chapter 14 The Christian Bible Students 26 Chapter 15 The Polish Brethren 27 Chapter 16 The Russell Street Class 29 Chapter 17 Media Advertising 30 Chapter 18 What of the Future? 31 Appendices A – M 32–60 BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE INC. P.O. BOX 402 ROSANNA VICTORIA 3084 AUSTRALIA APPENDICES A Watch Tower offices in East Melbourne B Publicity for Robert Hollister’s mission C Literature published D Obituary — R E B Nicholson E Obituary — F I McMahen F Obituary — E E Martin G “Frank & Ernest” — Radio Stations used H “Frank & Ernest” — Sample script I Press advertisements J “People’s Paper” Vol.1 No.1 — Front page K “The Voice” — Sample copy L Photographs M “Religious Bodies in Australia” — Extract PREFACE n 1989, the book “Bible Students in sources of information have included IBritain” was published by the Bible reports in the “Watch Tower” prior Fellowship Union, England. The to 1918, articles in early issues of the author was Brother Albert Hudson locally published “Peoples Paper” and the book set out in a kindly and and the few records held within the generous style an interesting account Berean Bible Institute itself.
  • Jehovah's Witnesses Perform the Boundaries of Their Community

    Jehovah's Witnesses Perform the Boundaries of Their Community

    Pastoral Psychology (2021) 70:53–69 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-020-00935-0 Life after Social Death: Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Identity Transition and Recovery Heather J. Ransom1 & Rebecca L. Monk1 & Adam Qureshi1 & Derek Heim1 Accepted: 23 November 2020/ Published online: 15 December 2020 # The Author(s) 2020 Abstract It is well documented that religiosity is linked with positive indicators of well-being, but less research has examined the psychosocial impacts of leaving “high-control” religions. Theoretically situated in recovery and desistance literature underpinned by the social identity approach, the current study examined cross-sectionally the extent to which ‘disfellowshipped’ former Jehovah’sWitnesses’ experiences of ostracism and post-exit identification with others are associated with diminished psychological well-being and identity transition success. It also examined the extent to which the type of exit (forced vs. voluntary) and prior religious commitment shaped these outcomes. The authors recruited 554 adults (62% female; M age = 37.26, SD age = 12.82) via online social support networks for former Jehovah’s Witnesses. Path analysis tested the mediating and mod- erating functions of exit method (forced vs. voluntary), commitment level during mem- bership, and post-exit group identification with groups on outcomes of identity transition, recovery identity, self-esteem, and well-being. Results indicate that individuals who voluntarily left the Jehovah’s Witnesses reported more ostracism than those who were disfellowshipped (forced out) and that a higher level of prior religious commitment was associated with post-religious identity transition success and diminished self-esteem. Findings further suggest that distinct aspects of respondents’ social identity were related differentially to outcomes in partial support of the theoretical framework.
  • A History and a Memory of Jehovah's Witnesses, by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

    A History and a Memory of Jehovah's Witnesses, by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

    Visions of Glory: A History and a Memory of Jehovah’s Witnesses by BARBARA GRIZZUTI HARRISON (September 14, 1934 – April 24, 2002), SIMON AND SHUSTER NEW YORK ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Without the support and generosity of friends and colleagues, and without the gift of time and space provided by the MacDowell Colony, I could not have written this book. For trusting me enough to share intimate details of their lives, I thank David Maslanka, Walter Szykitka--and others who are unnamed, but not unloved. My debt to them is very great. For the invaluable information and advice they gave so freely, I thank Bernard and Charlotte Atkins, Leon Friedman, Ralph deGia, Father Robert Kennedy, Jim Peck. For their creative research and editorial assistance, I thank Tonia Foster and Paul Kelly-and the librarians at the Brooklyn Public Library, who eased their task. For their perceptive insights and criticism, which helped me to understand not only my subject, but myself and my past, I thank Sheila Lehman, Tom Wilson, Sol Yurick, L. L. Zeiger, and David Zeiger. No words can express my gratitude to the members of my family who always listened, even when their patience was sorely tried, and who were emotional bulkwarks when I was sorely tried: Carol Grizzuti, Dominick Grizzuti, Richard Grizzuti; and my children (who managed, with grace, to live with my obsessions), Anna and Joshua Harrison. For Father Michael Crimmins, Alice Hagen, and Rose Moss, who gave me a very special kind of encouragement at a very crucial time, I have love and regard. And finally, I thank and esteem my editor, Alice E.
  • Millions Now Living Will Never Die: a Study of Jehovah's Witnesses

    Millions Now Living Will Never Die: a Study of Jehovah's Witnesses

    . I ILLIONS NOW LIVING M WILL NEVER DIE ~ A study of Jehovah's Witnesses by Alan 'l\Egerson ~ Constable London First published in 1969 by Constable & Co Ltd, 10 Orange Street, WCz Copyright © 1969 by Alan Rogerson All rights reserved Printed in Great Britain by The Anchor Press Ltd, Tiptree, Essex SBN 09 455940 6 Contents Introduction page 1 1 The Founder - Charles Taze Russell 2 The Second President - Judge Rutherford 32 3 The Modern Organisation, '932-'968 58 4 The Witnesses' View of History 77 5 The Basic Beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses 85 6 Doctrines for the End of the World 101 7 Life as a Jehovah's Witness 124 8 Beyond the Congregation· '43 9 The International Organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses 154 10 The People Who Believe '74 Postscript 189 Appendix A. Further Details of Pastor Russell's Chronological Beliefs '9' Appendix B. Russell's Time Chart '92 }Jotes '93 Bibliography 207 Index 213 Introduction Who are Jehovah's Witnesses? My impression is that most people outside the movement and many in it are unable to answer this question satisfactorily. For most people the only contact with the Witnesses seems to have been a brief encounter on the doorstep where they may have politely or impolitely dosed their door, engaged in some furious and fruitless argument or perhaps bought two Witness magazines (never to read them). I have questioned many outside the movement about their impression of the Witnesses and it seems to be one of a 'cranky' but sincere people who persist in calling from house to house at the most awkward times; their history is shrouded in mystery and their beliefs appear to be very peculiar.
  • Soldiers of the Cross

    Soldiers of the Cross

    Soldiers of the Cross A History of the Bible Student Movement · Foreword · In the Beginning... · Russell: The Early Years · Stumbling onto Adventism · Unlearning Error · The Herald of the Morning · Disappointment, Disagreement and Separation · Zion's Watch Tower: A New Beginning · Expansion · Relocating to Brooklyn, New York · The Photo-Drama of Creation · A Servant is Taken · Siftings, Schisms and Separation · Daughters of the Tower · Laymen's Home Missionary Movement · Epiphany Bible Students Association · Laodicean Home Missionary Movement · Pastoral Bible Institute, Inc. · Watchers of the Morning · Dawn Bible Students Association · Christian Millennial Fellowship, Inc. · Stand Fast Bible Students Association · Elijah Voice Society · Servants of Yah · Bible Fellowship Union · New Jerusalem Fellowship · Old Paths Publications · Forest Gate Church · Bible Students Publishing Company · Goshen Fellowship · Institute of Pyramidology · Angel of Jehovah Bible and Tract Society · Berean Bible Institute · New Covenant Fellowship · Christian Truth Institute · New Covenant Believers · Associated Bible Students · France · Germany · Greece · India · Poland · Conclusion Foreword It has been said that even a lie has a little truth to it, and that seems to be the case with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and its adherents the Jehovah's Witnesses. Go to any bookstore or library and look up "Jehovah's Witnesses" and you will find nine times out of ten the statement; "Jehovah's Witnesses, a sect founded by Charles Taze Russell". But nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, the late Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) was the founder and organizer of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and served as the editor of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence from its inception in July 1879.
  • Lest We Forget

    Lest We Forget

    Page 1 of 16 LEST WE FORGET A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BIBLE STUDENT MOVEMENT AFTER PASTOR RUSSELL’S DEATH The following resulted from an inquiry by one newly interested in the Truth about the history of the Bible Students and the Truth movement. This brief review attempts to relate experiences of Bible Students after Pastor Russell’s death as factually as possible. It is purposely brief, but hopefully it includes historical events that help explain present conditions amongst Bible Students. Its viewpoint and comments reflect the writer’s own experiences, readings and accounts told to him by older Bible Students. The writer began his consecrated life in 1948 at the age of 17 meeting with a Dawn class in Seattle, Washington, and remained there for over twenty years until changing conditions caused a division. Understandably, some would rather forget painful past experiences, but, hopefully, reflecting upon the past and its lessons will help some avoid repeating them in the future. The death of Pastor Charles Taze Russell, October 31, 1916, marked a dramatic change in the course of the Bible Student movement. PASTOR RUSSELL’S MINISTRY During Pastor Russell’s lifetime, he founded the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and other business entities to further the work of proclaiming “Present Truth” to the world, particularly, the Christian world. Under his leadership, the Truth message was available to all in the United States, Europe and many other countries. In his day, he was the most prominent Christian personage in the world. His sermons were carried weekly in 2,000 of our nation’s leading newspapers.
  • List of Christian Denominations - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Page 1 of 18

    List of Christian Denominations - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Page 1 of 18

    List of Christian denominations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 1 of 18 List of Christian denominations From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected fromChristian Denominations) List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships. (See also: Christianity; Christian denominations; List of Christian denominations by number of members). Some groups are large (e.g. Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans or Baptists), while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list. Also, modern movements such as Fundamentalist Christianity, Pietism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism and the Holiness movement sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups, (as is the case for many United and uniting churches, for example). Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here. Additionally, some groups viewed by non-adherents as denominational actively resist being called a "denomination" and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within Restorationism fall into this category. Note: This is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Christianity. As there are reported to be approximately 38,000 Christian denominations,[1] many of which cannot be verified to be significant, only those denominations with Wikipedia articles will be listed in order to ensure that all entries on this list are notable and verifiable. Note: Between denominations, theologians, and comparative religionists there are considerable disagreements about which groups can be properly called Christian, disagreements arising primarily from doctrinal differences between groups.
  • DICTIONARY of JEHOVAH's WITNESSES Killed

    DICTIONARY of JEHOVAH's WITNESSES Killed

    DICTIONARY of A Bible story to which Rutherford gave a 20 th - century parallel: JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES Daniel pictured Rutherford's obedient followers; King Darius pictured Jehovah; the conspirators against Daniel pictured the D clergy and rulers of Christendom; the lions pictured Jehovah's forces of justice; the lions den pictured the prisons in which Rutherford's Uploaded the fist time: 2015 August followers were imprisoned when arrested. (w1934 12/1 & 12/15) Latest update: 2021 August [See also: PICTURES ] D'HAENE, DONALD (1961- ) DARK SKINS A resident of London (Canada) and author of A The dark skins of Ethiopians (Isaiah 20:3-5; Father's Touch (2004 LTI Publishing) wherein 37:9) pictured: "those who are in the dark as to he documents child sexual abuse perpetrated Jehovah's promises." (w1941 12/1 361) by his JW father. DATES — GOD'S DAHOMEY In 1894 C.T. Russell wrote: See: BENIN Now, in view of recent labor troubles and threatened anarchy, our readers are DAILY FIELD SERVICE REPORT writing to know if there may not be a Printed form used in the 1930s and 1940s for mistake in the 1914 date. They say that reporting proselytizing activities. they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain. DAILY HEAVENLY MANNA (1907) We see no reason for changing the A 400-page book of Bible citations with a figures—nor could we change them if we comment for each day of the year. A Watch would. They are, we believe, God's Tower ad for the book said: dates , not ours.
  • Trinityand Other Doctrines of God.Pdf

    Trinityand Other Doctrines of God.Pdf

    TRINITY & OTHER DOCTRINES OF GOD Prof. M.M.Ninan Global Publishers Normal, IL April 2017 TRINITY & OTHER DOCTRINES OF GOD Prof. M.M.Ninan Contents PREFACE I INTRODUCTION 1 II MONARCHIANISM 25 A: DYNAMIC MONARCHIANISM: ADOPTIONISM ARTERNON SHEPHERD OF HERMAS PAUL OF SAMOSATA SPANISH ADOPTIONISM 8TH -9TH C 12TH CENTURY AND LATER: NEO-ADOPTIONISM B: MODALISTIC MONARCHIANISM = MODALISM. PATRIPASSIANISM SABELLIANISM III ARIANISM 46 IV DOCETISM, EBIONISM & SUBORDINATIONISM 61 A: DOCETISM B: EBIONISM C: SUBORDINATIONISM V COUNCIL OF NICEA 66 VI PNEUMATOMACHIANISM OR 'COMBATORS AGAINST THE SPIRIT'. 74 VII MONOPHYTISM 76 A: APOLLINARIANISM B: EUTYCHIANISM VIII NESTORIANISM 79 A: CYRIL AND HYPOSTATIC UNIION B: NESTORIUS IX COUNCIL OF CHALCEDONIA 100 X SERVETUSISM 109 XI SWEDENBORGISM 114 XII MODERN MOVEMENTS ONENESS PENTECOSTALISM 120 XIII SOCINIANISM 126 XIV CHRISTIAN SCIENCE:THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 128 XV CHRISTADELPHIANS 131 XVI JEHOVAH’S WITNESS 133 XVIII THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS 137 XVIII IGLESIA NI CRISTO 142 XIX UNITARIAN AND UNIVERSALISTS 146 APPENDIX I CLASSIFICATION BASED ON TRINITY RELATIONSHIP 149 APPENDIX 2 THE TRIUNE BRAIN THEORY 152 APPENDIX 3 MODERN CHRISTIAN GROUPINGS 159 APPENDIX 4 SCRIPTURAL ARGUMENTS OF VARIOUS PROPONENTS 162 APPENDIX 5 SYNODAL CHRISTOLOGICAL CONFESSIONS OF THE NESTORIAN CHURCHES OF THE EAST 168 APENDIX 6 CHRISTIAN GROUPS WITH NONTRINITARIAN POSITIONS 174 APPENDIX 7 PROOF TEXTS SHOWING JESUS WAS NOT GOD 175 AOOENDIX 8 CHRISTIAN HERESIES 176 The Doctrine of Trinity asserts the following: There is one and only one God. YHWH Elohim Echad God eternally exists in three distinct persons. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
  • A Historical and Critical Analysis of the Primary Mechanisms Employed

    A Historical and Critical Analysis of the Primary Mechanisms Employed

    140 Years Strong: A Historical and Critical Analysis of the Primary Mechanisms Employed by the Jehovah’s Witnesses to Grow in a Hostile World Donald Parkhurst Allen In Consideration For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of East Anglia Department of Art, Media, and American Studies Submitted 26 April 2019 "This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with the author and that use of any information derived therefrom must be in accordance with current UK Copyright Law. In addition, any quotation or extract must include full attribution.” 2 Abstract For most of their existence the Jehovah’s Witnesses have rarely been the subject of academic study. The works resulting from the little interest they have received have focused on how the Witnesses have affected the world around them through their constant proselytizing, their prohibition on blood transfusions, their strident conscientious objection and other beliefs and practices. Several nations around the world have attempted to destroy the Witnesses’ very existence within their borders. The internal aspects of the Witnesses however are given little thought and the question of why they have been able to survive in what is often a hostile world has remained unanswered. A close study of the history and development of the major mechanisms they continue to use is necessary to fully comprehend how they were able to have this impact. This work answers that question by focusing on the history of the Witnesses and analyzing how they developed and use three key mechanisms to combat any issues that arise from their often contentious relations with the world at large: the Governing Body; the concept of “new light”; and their constant preaching work and what it means to their unity.
  • Bible Students History Fragments

    Bible Students History Fragments

    Bible Students Fragments 1917- 1967 [very preliminary] Dissension Watch Tower Arrests Pastoral Bible Institute (PBI) Stand Fasts and the Elijah Voice Society Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement (LHMM) General Convention Dawn Bible Students Association Watchers of the Morning Other Endeavors Various Ecclesias Various Individuals Annual Conventions The PBI and the Dawn Compared Public Witness and Related Efforts Foreign Efforts Travels A Contemporary- The Watch Tower The Contemporary Denominations Appendix: Additional details Indexes ........................................................................ Bible Students Fragments 1917- 1967 After the death of Pastor C.T. Russell on 1916 October 31, multiple divisions rent the International Bible Students Association. At the moment of C.T. Russell’s death, the surviving directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were Alfred I. Ritchie, Vice President; William E. VanAmburgh, Secretary- Treasurer; James D. Wright, Isaac F. Hoskins, H. Clay Rockwell (replaced 1917 March 29 by Robert H. Hirsh), and Joseph F. Rutherford, all having been appointed by C.T. Russell. Two days later Andrew N. Pierson was elected by the others to fill the vacancy. The board thereupon constituted A.I. Ritchie, W.E. VanAmburgh, and J.F. Rutherford an Executive Committee. The publication of the Watch Tower continued under an Editorial Committee of W.E. VanAmburgh, J.F. Rutherford, H.C. Rockwell, F.H. Robison, and R.H. Hirsh.1 A.H. MacMillan continued in charge of the office staff. The pastoral work (organized "follow- up") continued under the direction of Menta Sturgeon. Election of the Society’s officers took place 1917 January 6 (Saturday) during a two day convention at Pittsburgh.
  • The Doctrinal Heritage of the Church of God in the Nineteenth Century

    The Doctrinal Heritage of the Church of God in the Nineteenth Century

    The Doctrinal Heritage of the Church of God in the Nineteenth Century (How God works in mysterious ways) “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:4) By Craig M White V. 2.5 2020, 2021 The Doctrinal Heritage of the Church of God in the Nineteenth Century Contents Introductory Remarks ............................................................................................................... 5 Background to the Christian Connexion ................................................................................... 8 The Origin of the Christian Connexion ............................................................................................ 8 Growth of the Christian Connexion ........................................................................................ 11 Summary of Influencers .......................................................................................................... 12 William Miller (1782-1849) ........................................................................................................... 12 Henry Grew (1781-1862) ............................................................................................................... 13 Dunbar Isidore Heath (1816-1888) ............................................................................................... 14 Henry Dunn (1801-1878) ..............................................................................................................