The WatchTower

[Big_TJ]

JWs
Do you believe that the information in the Watchtower and Awake magazines are always 100% correct?

Also, are you allowed to look up/compare the information in these magazines with other [sometimes] reliable sources to ensure that the information in the magazines are correct?

If you are allowed, have you ever done so? And, if challenged, would you be prepared to do so [if it is allowed]?


Regards!

 

[Pegg]

JWs
Do you believe that the information in the Watchtower and Awake magazines are always 100% correct?

Also, are you allowed to look up/compare the information in these magazines with other [sometimes] reliable sources to ensure that the information in the magazines are correct?

If you are allowed, have you ever done so? And, if challenged, would you be prepared to do so [if it is allowed]?


Regards!

Sometimes errors do creep in as has been stated in the watchtower itself:

The Watchtower of November 1, 1931, in the article “Taught of God,” which stated: “The Watchtower recognizes the truth as belonging to Jehovah, and not to any creature. The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or set of men, nor is it*published according to the whims of men. .*.*. Jehovah God is the great Teacher of his children. To be sure, the publication of these truths is put forth by imperfect men, and for this reason they are not absolutely perfect in form; but they are put forth in such form as reflects God’s truth that he teaches his children.”


of course it is allowed for us to do our own research. Often we are given the references for where the information is derived so we can do further research if we want.

There are ways to minimise mistakes, whether deliberate or otherwise. Brother Russell even thought about this before he died and had it written into his will how to minimise errors...his will states:

“I direct that the entire editorial charge of ZION’S WATCH TOWER shall be in the hands of a committee of five brethren, whom I exhort to great carefulness and fidelity to the truth. All articles appearing in the columns of ZION’S WATCH TOWER shall have the unqualified approval of at least three of the committee of five, and I urge that if any matter approved by the three be known or supposed to be contrary to the views of one or both of the other members of the committee, such articles shall be held over for thought, prayer and discussion for three months before being published—that so far as possible the unity of the faith and the bonds of peace may be maintained in the editorial management of the journal.”

The Governing Body follows similar guidelines today. Every article is scrutinized by selected members of the Governing Body before it is printed. And those who write the articles are christian elders of all backgrounds who spend many hours in researching the Bible and other reference material.

 

[kjw47]

JWs
Do you believe that the information in the Watchtower and Awake magazines are always 100% correct?

Also, are you allowed to look up/compare the information in these magazines with other [sometimes] reliable sources to ensure that the information in the magazines are correct?

If you are allowed, have you ever done so? And, if challenged, would you be prepared to do so [if it is allowed]?


Regards!

Humans are imperfect, But when one searches for years in Gods written word, old writings, history, religions, languages--mistakes are found--corrections are then made--making corrections is proof--truth is what is sought in those hearts. And some were hidden until these last days as well-Daniel 12:4) but the light has grown pretty bright.
One thing for sure a domestic will never know certain truths before Jesus' real teachers do.

 

[Big_TJ]

The Governing Body follows similar guidelines today. Every article is scrutinized by selected members of the Governing Body before it is printed. And those who write the articles are christian elders of all backgrounds who spend many hours in researching the Bible and other reference material.

Thanks Pegg. Do you know if any member of the Governing Body has a scientific background? If they don't (which is highly unlikely that they do), how would they be able to accurately provide editorial review of articles that are of a scientific nature?

 

[Big_TJ]

Humans are imperfect, But when one searches for years in Gods written word, old writings, history, religions, languages--mistakes are found--corrections are then made--making corrections is proof--truth is what is sought in those hearts. And some were hidden until these last days as well-Daniel 12:4) but the light has grown pretty bright.
One thing for sure a domestic will never know certain truths before Jesus' real teachers do.

Ok. Thanks.

So, if it is likely that the Watchtower MIGHT contain some errors, why does it seems as if JWs rely solely on it as a reference document?

 

[kjw47]

Ok. Thanks.

So, if it is likely that the Watchtower MIGHT contain some errors, why does it seems as if JWs rely solely on it as a reference document?

If you studied with the JW,s you would learn--- every utterance from God. Jesus taught--Man does not live by bread alone, but by every utterance from God= ot-nt --Using the bible-- but as well the usage of the watchtower is so that worldwide every JW receives the same spiritual feeding on a weekly basis. Scriptures in every paragraph. A JW is taught to be a fisher of men, above seeking things of this world. By applying this ultra important teaching from Jesus.

Matt 6:33--- Therefore, keep on seeking FIRST the kingdom and his( Jehovah) righteousness, and all these other things will be added.( sustenance, covering, spirituality)

 

[Pegg]

Thanks Pegg. Do you know if any member of the Governing Body has a scientific background? If they don't (which is highly unlikely that they do), how would they be able to accurately provide editorial review of articles that are of a scientific nature?

they dont offer scientific reviews of such articles.

Our brothers research the subjects just as you and i research subjects and they read the literature produced by scientists....they then relate that information in the publications or articles about particular subjects and show how it may or may not relate to the bibles viewpoint on such matters.

As an example, here is an article about the races of mankind...the bibles view is that all races of mankind are related and the bible says that 'from one man God created all men to dwell on the surface of the earth'

This article shows how science agrees with the idea that all the races of mankind are related by ancestry
Jehovah[search_id]=bddda57d-7bde-4a82-b98b-c80812766d76&insight[search_result_index]=14

So our brothers are not scientists, nor do they try to be. They are keenly interested in how scientific discoveries relate to the information contained in the bible though, and that is why the produce articles about scientific subjects.

 

[Big_TJ]

they dont offer scientific reviews of such articles.

Our brothers research the subjects just as you and i research subjects and they read the literature produced by scientists....they then relate that information in the publications or articles about particular subjects and show how it may or may not relate to the bibles viewpoint on such matters.

As an example, here is an article about the races of mankind...the bibles view is that all races of mankind are related and the bible says that 'from one man God created all men to dwell on the surface of the earth'

This article shows how science agrees with the idea that all the races of mankind are related by ancestry
Jehovah[search_id]=bddda57d-7bde-4a82-b98b-c80812766d76&insight[search_result_index]=14

So our brothers are not scientists, nor do they try to be. They are keenly interested in how scientific discoveries relate to the information contained in the bible though, and that is why the produce articles about scientific subjects.

Thanks Pegg.

 

[HaEmeth]

Sometimes errors do creep in as has been stated in the watchtower itself:

The Watchtower of November 1, 1931, in the article “Taught of God,” which stated: “The Watchtower recognizes the truth as belonging to Jehovah, and not to any creature. The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or set of men, nor is it*published according to the whims of men. .*.*. Jehovah God is the great Teacher of his children. To be sure, the publication of these truths is put forth by imperfect men, and for this reason they are not absolutely perfect in form; but they are put forth in such form as reflects God’s truth that he teaches his children.”


of course it is allowed for us to do our own research. Often we are given the references for where the information is derived so we can do further research if we want.

There are ways to minimise mistakes, whether deliberate or otherwise. Brother Russell even thought about this before he died and had it written into his will how to minimise errors...his will states:

“I direct that the entire editorial charge of ZION’S WATCH TOWER shall be in the hands of a committee of five brethren, whom I exhort to great carefulness and fidelity to the truth. All articles appearing in the columns of ZION’S WATCH TOWER shall have the unqualified approval of at least three of the committee of five, and I urge that if any matter approved by the three be known or supposed to be contrary to the views of one or both of the other members of the committee, such articles shall be held over for thought, prayer and discussion for three months before being published—that so far as possible the unity of the faith and the bonds of peace may be maintained in the editorial management of the journal.”

The Governing Body follows similar guidelines today. Every article is scrutinized by selected members of the Governing Body before it is printed. And those who write the articles are christian elders of all backgrounds who spend many hours in researching the Bible and other reference material.

Please give me a link or a pdf of the Watchtower article of Bro. Russel's will you mentioned in the above post.

I presume it is in the November 1, 1931 article or is it in another publication.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Please give me a link or a pdf of the Watchtower article of Bro. Russel's will you mentioned in the above post.

I presume it is in the November 1, 1931 article or is it in another publication.

The poster “Pegg” hasn’t posted anything on here since March 2017. In fact, they deleted their account apparently.

Take care.