Why JW's don't believe in the Hell

[Kc906]

I had a look at a watchtower article online - April 2012 I think. As I understand it,and I could be wrong, JW’s still hold to 1914 being the year Christ became King in heaven and returned invisibly. What has changed, as it has many times, their interpretation of ‘this generation,’ in that anyone who recognises the’ signs,’ (the last days began in 1914) and doesn’t ‘repent’ is a member of ‘this generation?’ Is this correct or have I misunderstood? What I don’t understand is why 1914 is so important because I can’t see how it is in any way significant to, or related to, redemption and our eternal salvation?

The Modern JW religion sprang up from the Millerites and Adventists of the 1800’s. The very early literature put out by the Watchtower (which was run by Charles Russell) predicted the return of Jesus and Armageddon in 1874. When this did not come to pass, the new date for the return of Jesus and Armageddon was 1914. When this did not come to pass and WWI broke out, they changed their story again to suddenly state that Jesus returned invisibly to Heaven and the end was still imminent.

Jesus promised us in Matthew 7:18 that a bad tree cannot bear good fruit, and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. The date of 1914 was falsely used to predict the end of the world by the Watchtower/JW religion. As such, this date is of no importance to any Christian for any reason.

This thread is about hell and the soul. I can understand why people would reject notions of literally burning in hell for all eternity. Not all Catholics believe that. I know some Catholics do. Personally I don’t. I don’t have the exact extract from the CCC, but I believe it does say we do not know what the physical condition of hell is like. As such, it is not contrary to Catholic teaching to hold the opinion hell is not literal fire.

On topic, it is a hard one to understand and accept as a Christian. I don’t think of the idea of going to a literal Hell and burning eternity very often, because I don’t need that motivation to follow God’s will anymore. I have turned from my old wicked ways, and I have no intention of turning back. However, some people need to be reminded of the punishment for choosing not to follow God’s ways in this life, and that can very well motivate them to get their life in order before the day of our judgement.

 

[pacloc]

You’re right Kc on the unimportance of the punishment for the wicked once you are beyond doing things out of fear of death. It’s like wondering if the chair of a repeated child molester about to be executed by lethal injection was confy or too stiff. Concentrating on the future of ones that God hates and that we too will hate is a waste of time, let alone be a deciding factor in labeling our brothers in Christ as false.

Also the article that he is referencing is under news then Annual meeting report oct 2012.

 

[minkymurph]

You’re right Kc on the unimportance of the punishment for the wicked once you are beyond doing things out of fear of death. It’s like wondering if the chair of a repeated child molester about to be executed by lethal injection was confy or too stiff. Concentrating on the future of ones that God hates and that we too will hate is a waste of time, let alone be a deciding factor in labeling our brothers in Christ as false.

Also the article that he is referencing is under news then Annual meeting report oct 2012.

Pacloc and Kc - likewise. As I have no desire to go to hell, it doesn’t really matter to me what it is like or what those who are there experience. I would guess it doesn’t matter much to JW’s how God will kill people at Armagedon, if they sin at the end of the 1 000 years, or who will be killed.

Believing God confers an immortal soul on us also helps me make sense of abortion, in addition to stillbirth and miscarriage. It doesn’t make sense to me that God holds out no hope to the unborn child, and a human has the power to deny them any prospect of life in this world AND the next.

 

[redle]

Hi Pacloc,
Now you have a good assessment of me!

If I could have one prayer answered it would be for the Bible to be plainly understood.
I have been asked all sorts of questions on this thread (and I will answer them all, please give me a little more time everyone) and when I answer them I will use scriptures.

How is it even possible that 10 Christians can defend 10 different and coherent beliefs using just one bible??

I know JW’s have some doctrinal issues, I could give you points that JW’s are absolutely stumped and exposed on, but this is true even for the RCC.

Hell is one thing I genuinely don’t believe the Bible teaches. I admit there are tough scriptures for me to explain, but so are there tough ones to explain if you do believe in hell.

Mostly I’ve been answering questions, but of the few I’ve asked, some of the responses are as much a matter if faith as my own JW views.

I think we’re not meant to be certain what every detail means - if we were, we would.
Redle

 

[redle]

Sorry, double post thanks to my tablet thing.

 

[minkymurph]

If I could have one prayer answered it would be for the Bible to be plainly understood.
I have been asked all sorts of questions on this thread (and I will answer them all, please give me a little more time everyone) and when I answer them I will use scriptures.

Redle, certainly take time. You have a lot of posts to respond to here. It would be unfair and unrealistic to expect you to come back on every one immediately. There are many times I have been asked things that in my view, there is no definitive answer to.

How is it even possible that 10 Christians can defend 10 different and coherent beliefs using just one bible??

Quite easily - but it can’t be answered here, it would derail the thread. Just before I posted, I was looking through the homepage and I thought of starting a thread on the meaning of Scripture. Not for anyone to prove a point, and they are right, but to bounce ideas around for the purpose of gaining deeper insight. Personally I think you could spend your entire life studying the first three chapters of Genesis due to the fact there is so much in them. However I am apprehensive as such a topic lends itself to becoming ugly.

I know JW’s have some doctrinal issues, I could give you points that JW’s are absolutely stumped and exposed on, but this is true even for the RCC.

I think what you say is true in that all religions can be said to have doctrinal issues. What I see as problematic is holding to a doctrine and insisting others must believe it when your heart is telling you it’s not true. I’m not addressing this to you specifically, it’s a general comment.

Hell is one thing I genuinely don’t believe the Bible teaches. I admit there are tough scriptures for me to explain, but so are there tough ones to explain if you do believe in hell.

I can understand why people don’t think the Bible teaches hell in terms of eternally being burned by fire. However, the doctrine does not hinge on punishment. It hinges on the immortal soul. If we do not have an immortal soul, then hell would have no purpose. If we do, then that raises the question of what happens on death and our eternal destiny. Therefore, the question is is it true? I believe it is because the authors of the Bible believed it, the Jews believed it and still do, Jesus taught it, the Apostles taught it, the early Christians believed it. Other than JW’s, I know of no other religion that does not believe it. There may be, I just don’t know of any. What reason would I have to doubt it?

Mostly I’ve been answering questions, but of the few I’ve asked, some of the responses are as much a matter if faith as my own JW views.

That’s why it’s called ‘faith.’

Sorry for being repetitive -

The existence of hell hinges on whether or not we have an immortal soul. this is the crucial factor. Every religion teaches those who practice evil deeds will reap what they sow - somehow. On that point all can agree irrespective of how they think that happens. The question then is, is it true we have an immortal soul? I believe it is true for reasons I have stated above. If someone asserts it is not true, then they must state their reasons. If the soul reason (excuse the pun ) for rebuttal is the understanding or meaning of a Greek word, in this case ‘nephesh,’ (have I spelt that right?) that is not a rebuttal I could accept because with respect, it is a very weak argument. Truth does not hinge on our understanding of a Greek word.

I think we’re not meant to be certain what every detail means - if we were, we would.
Redle

I agree. If we could be certain of every detail we would have no need of faith.

 

[kimg901]

IMHO, if you are swayed by some other teaching other than what Christ taught and you know of His Church but will not/do not want to open your eyes and see or let your ears hear the truth then you may be bound to hell. I pray this is not true and all are forgiven upon our deaths.

 

[pacloc]

Fyi, there is a website specifically made for jw’s converting to catholicism that has conversion stories of ex elders and others. I just found it last week, it is very encouraging.

catholicxjw.com

 

[Kc906]

Fyi, there is a website specifically made for jw’s converting to catholicism that has conversion stories of ex elders and others. I just found it last week, it is very encouraging.

catholicxjw.com

One of the very first testimonies of an ex JW was from James Caputo. He has an article on the site you listed; if you have time (it’s very long) go and read his testimonial of his Judicial Committee Meeting on towerwatch.com > ‘About Witnesses’ > “Testimonies”

Quite amazing how you can be disfellowshipped for presenting old Watchtower literature to fellow members and coming to the logical conclusion that the men leading the organization in it’s early years were false prophets…

 

[fbl9]

One of the very first testimonies of an ex JW was from James Caputo. He has an article on the site you listed; if you have time (it’s very long) go and read his testimonial of his Judicial Committee Meeting on towerwatch.com > ‘About Witnesses’ > “Testimonies”

Quite amazing how you can be disfellowshipped for presenting old Watchtower literature to fellow members and coming to the logical conclusion that the men leading the organization in it’s early years were false prophets…

I can’t understand this “new light” “old Light” thing either. i mean like the source of the old light and new light are the same, so how can it be any truer.

 

[Kc906]

I can’t understand this “new light” “old Light” thing either. i mean like the source of the old light and new light are the same, so how can it be any truer.

Perhaps we are straying too far off the original topic, but as a religion who sets Doctrine and kicks out (disfellowships) those who speak up or against it, it probably is relevant. So you have a religion that sprang up out of nowhere preaching that the end of the world was coming in 1874, 1914, 1915, 1925, 1975, and this religion also holds to unique beliefs that early Christians definitely did not adhere to. This religion also claims that it is divinely inspired by God, that God speaks to the congregation of Jehovah Witnesses through the Governing Body.

So you have a very astute observation fbl9, why did God lie to the Jehovah Witness leaders in the past when they announced false dates for Armageddon and the end of the world, among other doctrines that have changed? Or perhaps, God didn’t lie to them because he was never communicating with them. Which makes them a man-made organization that has fallibly created doctrine and their own translation of scriptures. If that is the case, then on whose Authority do they teach, and disfellowship those who speak up in concern against particular teachings?

A few clips from their very documented history:

**“However, the Governing Body are appointed through the holy spirit under the direction of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.” Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.18 **

**“These overseers faithfully seek to apply instructions received from Jehovah God and Jesus Christ by means of the faithful and discreet slave and its Governing Body.” Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.20 **

**“To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.” Watchtower 1983 Feb 15 p.12 **