Ask one of Jehovah's Witnesses

[Won2blv]

I don't know, should I disregard the theory of evolution since it's from that era as well? Seems like a stupid premise for disregarding something as true or not

I'd think that you'd be able to discern a significant difference between a discipline whose predictions have proven true over that period and one that is famous for failed prophesy.
1914-end of the world----nope
1925-end of the world----nope
1975-end of the world----nope
At least the mainstream Christians have had sense enough to back off on specific dates and fall back to, "real soon now."

Honestly, you're right. I wish that they never made such brash predictions. Its one of those things that has made me question. My point to min is that his premise is stupid

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Somehow I have this feeling that I am going to get the runaround on this, but:

Why believe the Bible is true?

Do you believe every book in which there is a claim that it is written by divine inspiration?  Why not the Koran?  Or a Hindu text?

As for changes in people's lives, people claim that for every other religion.  So that is no evidence at all.

I actually answered that first question on another board started by Exian. Its titled "because the bible says so" the board... not my explanation 

If I were to get off the fence and become a full fledged bible loving theist again, it would be because I would find that the bible has demonstrated its divinity. If is the key word

As for the changes in peoples lives, I made sure to mention that it was a subjective point. But it is something that I have seen in other peoples lives and in my own. This could be chalked up to the broken clock fallacy. IDK, but I have read scriptures before that have altered some bad qualities for the better. I am talking about anger issues and selfishness to be more specific 

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Min's premise isn't that the load of crap dates from the 1880s; it's that it is a load of crap that was invented in that period. The TOE doesn't qualify on either count.

Either way, I wouldn't buy a load a crap if it was presented in the 21st century. If posters want to inject with ridicule they should expect it in return when deserved. Would you say that the question was asked in earnest anyway?

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Thank you for answering all of the questions, just reading your replies I've learned a lot more than from all the people knocking on my door.

One more question, do JW's actively do anything to bring about the end times, as some dominionists do, or do you just look forward to it?

Oh, one more, do you ever wish you could observe holidays or birthdays?  I mean, when you see other people having a good party (not like getting drunk or moshing, I just mean, enjoying each other's company and exchanging gifts with loved ones) do you ever wish you could be part of that?

Witnesses stay separate from the world. We do not believe that there is any man made hope, so we refrain trying to fix what can't be. I would say that most look forward to it though. But witnesses are charitable people. Whenever a disaster strikes, they will take care of their brothers and sisters and anyone else that they can. 

I personally have never cared about holidays and birthdays. When my french teacher in 7th grade was telling the whole class about the pagan background all the other kids were in shock but I was proud that I never was lied to about the holiday origins. And I don't think that we get jealous of others because JW's are such a tight knit group that we just have a party together whenever we want. And we don't have to every feel like presents are worth a hypocritical worship of god

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Are you an eye witness and what did Jehova do

We are not witnesses TO god but rather OF god. the name is based off a scripture in Isaiah. We believe that we represent pure worship to god. 

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Do the JW's have an explanation for Jesus' statement that one of this generation (meaning his) will still be alive when the kingdom comes?

The belief is that Jesus' statement, like a few others, applied to both his present and our future.  The JW leadership used it as a way of implying and end date without having to be specific.  Their initial claim was that the "generation" of people who "witnessed" the events of 1914 would not pass until the end came.  That allowed them to promote the idea that the end was very close in the 70s and very very close in the 80s.  But as time passed with no sign of the end, they began to modify the interpretation of the prophecy (or more accurately, their interpretation of their interpretation of the prophecy) to give themselves a bit more room to work with.

This page explains it in more detail.  In short, their final attempt to square the circle is to claim that the "generation" includes those who knew some of the people who witnessed the events of 1914.  This allows them to stretch the possible date of the end another 70 or 80 years, at which point I'm sure they'll find some "new light" that will provide another few decades during which the end of the world will be right around the corner.

Tonus you're exactly right. A recent Watchtower study pointed out that they're going to stay away from the constant typical and antitypical renderings of every bible account and focus more on the practical value. Too much emphasis has been put on the prophecies that don't really mean anything to day to day life. 

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Do the JW's have an explanation for Jesus' statement that one of this generation (meaning his) will still be alive when the kingdom comes?

The belief is that Jesus' statement, like a few others, applied to both his present and our future.  The JW leadership used it as a way of implying and end date without having to be specific.  Their initial claim was that the "generation" of people who "witnessed" the events of 1914 would not pass until the end came.  That allowed them to promote the idea that the end was very close in the 70s and very very close in the 80s.  But as time passed with no sign of the end, they began to modify the interpretation of the prophecy (or more accurately, their interpretation of their interpretation of the prophecy) to give themselves a bit more room to work with.

This page explains it in more detail.  In short, their final attempt to square the circle is to claim that the "generation" includes those who knew some of the people who witnessed the events of 1914.  This allows them to stretch the possible date of the end another 70 or 80 years, at which point I'm sure they'll find some "new light" that will provide another few decades during which the end of the world will be right around the corner.

Tonus you're exactly right. A recent Watchtower study pointed out that they're going to stay away from the constant typical and antitypical renderings of every bible account and focus more on the practical value. Too much emphasis has been put on the prophecies that don't really mean anything to day to day life.