THE WATCHTOWER - - - What's so wrong with it? Is there anything wrong with it? Please give your opinion.

Question

"THE PURPOSE OF THE WATCHTOWER is to exalt Jehovah God as Sovereign Lord of the Universe. It keeps watch on world events as these fulfill Bible prophecy. It comforts all peoples with the good news that God's kingdom will soon destroy those who oppress their fellowmen and that it will turn the earth into paradise. It encourages faith in God's now-reigning King, Jesus Christ, whose shed blood opens teh way for mankind to gain eteranl life. The Watchtower, published by Jehovah's Witnesses continuously since 1879, in nonpolitical. It adheres to the Bible as its authority."

I would like to let those of you who have or will answer this question... I am not a Jehovah's Witness. This was simply an inquiry...

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses, as a group, have my undying respect. They adhere in their faith with a devotion that shames most Christians. Unfortunately, they are not Christians.

1. Jesus, according to the Watchtower, is not God the Son but Michael the archangel (Aid to Bible Understanding, pg 1152). Christians believe that Jesus is God, co-equal and co-eternal with the God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

2. Jesus wasn't resurrected bodily, but only spiritually. (Aid to Bible Understanding, p. 1394). Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross at Calvary, and was resurrected 3 days later.

These are only two of the differences between what JW's believe and what Christians believe, and there are many more. Their "translation" of the Bible, the New World Translation, doesn't have a list of translators in the preface (preventing peer review), and is considered inaccurate at best by a consensus of Biblical scholars, Christian and non-Christian alike.

I love the JW's for their desire to serve God, but the god that they serve is not based on the Bible. What makes Christians what they are is their faith in the divinity of Jesus as communicated in the Word of God.

Answer 2

I'm a former Jehovah's Witness. This is not meant to be a blanket condemnation of Jehovah's Witnesses as individuals As individuals, many of them are people you would like to have as neighbors. But in answer to your question of what's wrong with the Watchtower:

The Watchtower, from its inception in 1879, has published untruths and called it "truth". The Watchtower has claimed from its inception that God Himself is using the Watchtower as his 'channel of communication' to people in the earth, in fact they claim to be the EXCLUSIVE channel that God is using and since they alone are being directed by God's Holy spirit, their interpretations are truthful and correct. The Watchtower was originally named The Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Presence because its founder (Charles Russell) felt an obligation to alert the world to the "truth" that Jesus had returned invisibly to the earth in 1874. Later Watchtower publications proclaimed that the dead would be resurrected in 1925. As recently as the 1970's, Watchtower promised that the Battle of the Great Day of Jehovah would begin within the twentieth century.

These are just a handful of reasons why I say that the Watchtower publishes untruths and calls it "truth". That, in my opinion, is the primary thing wrong with the Watchtower.

Answer 3

The Watchtower is the primary Bible study aid for Jehovah's Witnesses and interested ones. It has an average printing of 27 million, by far the largest circulation of any religious magazine in the world.

The Watchtower has been published continuously since July 1879, making it one of the world's oldest religious magazines. Currently, it is published in 183 languages, with 141 of those language editions translated and printed for simultaneous release. Braille, large-print, audio, and sign-language video editions are available for larger language groups.

Answer 4

I have studied many religions and have also lived for many years with no religion in my life. My honest opinion is that there is nothing wrong with the Watchtower Magazine or Jehovah's Witnesses. Both the magazine and the people attempt to live up to the standards of faith and conduct that Jesus gave as our example.

Answer 5

The first thing that is wrong is:

God Jehovah is not the Lord.

Jesus Christ is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

This is NOT God's Kingdom. Jesus Christ set HIS kingdom up in Acts Chapter 2. Jesus will deliver HIS kingdom to God Jehovah for the New spiritual Kingdom.

Jesus Christ did not open the way......HE IS THE ONLY WAY. THAT INCLUDES EVERY ASPECT OF GOD. PRAYING, TALKING, SALVATION, ANSWERED PRAYER, BLESSINGS. comes from The Father By: Jesus Christ, through, The Holy Spirit.

You have not in any way adhered to the Holy Bible in any authority from God.

You just bypassed Jesus Christ. Hello?????????

As a matter of fact, speaking of bypassing Christ....You do understand, Jesus Christ is YOUR only way to heaven? Right?
This JW concept, that Jesus gets you the scoop on God and once you get it, you no longer need Jesus for nothing, is a false doctrine kiddo.

You better get your life in check with Christ and learn TRUTH.

When you bypass Christ....You just bypassed salvation.

Bottom line, end of story. You better throw your JW book in the fireplace and get TRUTH.

You claim to have the Truth. God Jehovah says: ONE TRUTH..ONE BODY..ONE SPIRIT..ONE FAITH..ONE CHURCH..ONE DOCTRINE.

The Holy Bible is the ONE doctrine. Why do you have what God Himself says NOT to have?

.

Answer 6

I am not a Jehovah Witness, but Ihave to admit I have friends who are and I get to read those sometimes. i mean, i't nothing bad, ; but sometimes, the way they almost "attack" you when you're walking, or sometimes they ring your bell, and the way they walk around "preaching" seems a little too much for me. i mean, we should all have our oppinions, and not try to force what we think on other people, a lot of people find it offensive. They should just stop pushing, and give people options. My friends in the beginning always tried to get me into it, but I told them, you dont do that, or this friendship is over. STOP PUSHING!!! And I have heard tales about them in some poor countries, I dont think they act fair "in the best interest" at all.

Answer 7

Wow, you're getting torn apart so far, but I'm on your side.
I've been one of Jehovah's Witnesses all my life, and when people call my beleifs, my heritage, and my way of life a CULT, that really hurts. I love my family and our organization and the work we do in using the Watchtower and Awake magazines to help people understand the bible.

Keep your hate to youselves please.

Answer 8

I studied for a while with the Jehovah's witnesses. You are wrong to say it is not being non- political. But, what I read is you are looking for confirmation of your view is correect.

So many................sigh......many religions say they are adhering to the scriptures. Celebrate God and worship as your heart believes. That is all you can do!

For religions sake............Abraham was told he would have children to number the stars. His wife sarah was old. She said , " sleep with the hand maiden". The hand maiden, Hagar, gave birth. But Sarah, soon after , gave birth.

Jesus, from the Sarah mother.........Mohammad from Hagar. Two different lines of genealogy. 5 thousands years of birth right wars.

The JW tried to say they know the truth, but so does everyone else. How about praying and following your heart.

Be kind to you neighbor...........look out for your friend. Religion is such a sore subject for me!

I would rather look at all I come across as family. I will help, argue, love, feed, house, clothe, ask, BEFORE I ask for divine intervention to deal with fellow humans.

Answer 9

Prejudice comes from fear and ignorance.
If people would just take a moment and read the Watchtower, they would see that they could learn so much from this publication as well as it's companion the Awake!

Hopefully you won't get too many nasty comments..

Answer 10

I think the religion itself is very life-controlling and leaves very little room for free thought and expression. Also, if it weren't for blood transfusions, I'd be dead by now, so I got a problem with any religion that's got a problem with those.

PS--The answer above me should demonstrate that *many* religions have proselytizers and are believed to be *the* only one.