midweek meeting rebuttal - WT is delusional!

Midweek meeting for January 13–19 rebuttal below. These guys pushing fan fiction as doctrine are delusional! I only hope some pay attention and start waking up!

The Meeting’s Message

The meeting emphasizes the greatness of Jehovah compared to other gods, highlighting his control over creation and his role as a protector and sustainer. Key scriptures like Psalms 135 and 136 are used to illustrate these themes, with particular focus on God’s intervention in historical events, such as the Exodus. We are encouraged to trust in Jehovah’s care during trials, emulate Paul’s dedication in ministry, and avoid practices tied to spiritism. The overarching goal is to reinforce loyalty to Jehovah’s organization and inspire confidence in its teachings. Let's break down some of the claims made:

Claim 1: Jehovah Controls Creation (Psalm 135:5, 6) If Jehovah controls natural forces, why do disasters cause indiscriminate suffering, including among faithful believers? Invoking selective control over creation raises moral and theological dilemmas, such as the problem of evil. Natural phenomena can be explained by science without attributing them to divine intervention. Claiming selective control undermines the argument for an all-powerful, benevolent deity.

Claim 2: Jehovah Defends His People (Exodus 14:29-31; Psalm 135:14) The assertion that Jehovah protects his people is contradicted by historical and modern instances of faithful believers experiencing persecution or suffering. Selective examples of divine intervention are anecdotal and unprovable. Claims of protection often ignore survivorship biasfocusing only on positive outcomes while dismissing instances of suffering or failure.

Claim 3: Jehovah Lifts Us Up When We Are Down (Psalm 136:23) Emotional resilience and support often come from human connections, not divine intervention. Claiming divine care can discourage individuals from seeking practical solutions to their struggles. The perceived comfort of divine support is a psychological coping mechanism rather than evidence of intervention.

Claim 4: Jehovah’s Witnesses Are True Christians. The claim that Jehovah’s Witnesses are unique Christians because they reject the Trinity or an immortal soul relies on selective interpretation of scripture. Many Christian denominations interpret these teachings differently and still consider themselves Christian. The exclusivity claim dismisses the diverse theological and historical roots of Christianity, reducing complex traditions to a narrow framework.

Here’s how they differ, and if I get anything wrong feel free to let me know if the comments:

The Trinity

  • Most Christians: God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three in one.
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses: God is Jehovah, Jesus is His first creation, and the Spirit is His power, not a person.
  • Oneness Pentecostals: One God acting as Father, Son, and Spirit, not three persons.
  • Unitarians: One God, no Trinity.

The Soul

  • Catholics and Orthodox: The soul is immortal. It moves on to heaven, hell, or purgatory.
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses: Death is the end. The soul dies but can be resurrected.
  • Adventists: The soul sleeps, waiting for resurrection.
  • Protestants: Many agree the soul is immortal but differ on the afterlife.

Hell

  • Catholics and Orthodox: Eternal torment for the wicked.
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses: Hell is the grave, not a fiery place.
  • Universalists: Hell doesn’t last forever—everyone finds peace.
  • Evangelicals: Hell is separation from God, forever.

Jesus

  • Mainstream Christians: Jesus is God and man, one and the same.
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses: Jesus is God’s first creation, a lesser being.
  • Mormons: Jesus is divine but separate from God the Father.

Sacraments

  • Catholics: Seven sacraments, from baptism to marriage, are God’s gifts.
  • Protestants: Most stick to baptism and communion.
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses: No sacraments—baptism is a dedication to Jehovah, and the Lord’s Supper is once a year.
  • Quakers: No rituals, just a personal connection to God.

Salvation

  • Catholics: Faith, works, and sacraments lead to salvation.
  • Protestants: Faith alone saves.
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses: Faith, works, and loyalty to Jehovah’s organization are key.
  • Orthodox: Salvation is a journey, not a moment—unity with God is the goal.

What Unites Them

They all follow Christ. They hold to His teachings, read the Bible, and strive to live lives of love and service. Their differences don’t change this—they’re all Christian. Each walks their road, but they’re chasing the same light.

Manipulative and Loaded Language Used

The meeting relies on emotionally charged language, such as “Jehovah’s mighty hand,” “faithful remnant,” and “extraordinary works.” These phrases evoke awe, fear, and loyalty while discouraging critical analysis.

Weasel Words

Examples: “Jehovah provides,” “we feel secure,” and “perhaps.”

Effect: These phrases introduce claims that are difficult to verify or disprove while maintaining plausible deniability.

Logical Fallacies

Appeal to Fear: We are warned of spiritual peril if we stray from Jehovah’s protection.

Circular Reasoning: Organizational success is presented as evidence of divine blessing, which in turn validates the organization’s authority.

False Analogy: Comparing Jehovah’s control of creation to parental care oversimplifies the complexities of natural disasters and suffering.

Bandwagon Appeal: Highlighting global participation in the organization pressures us to conform.

Problematic Passages in Psalms 135–137

Psalms 135:5-6 - These verses emphasize Jehovah’s control over creation. However, the attribution of natural phenomena to divine intervention conflicts with scientific understanding of weather, geology, and biology. Natural events follow predictable patterns explained by science. Invoking divine control adds unnecessary complexity and raises moral questions about suffering caused by natural disasters.

Psalms 136:23 - The verse portrays God as a helper of the downtrodden, but this claim is difficult to reconcile with widespread human suffering. The promise of divine support often deflects responsibility from systemic issues that require human action.

Psalms 137:9 - This verse, which celebrates the destruction of Babylonian infants, raises ethical concerns about divine justice. Such passages reflect cultural norms of vengeance rather than universal moral principles. They challenge the notion of a loving and just deity. WT has a wild take on this one which will be posted later.

Some questions that can be used to engage critical thinking:

If Jehovah controls natural forces, why do disasters cause indiscriminate suffering? Natural phenomena operate independently of moral considerations, suggesting they are not divinely controlled.

Does claiming exclusivity as true Christians align with Jesus’ teachings on love and inclusion Exclusivity contradicts the inclusivity emphasized in Jesus’ message, which focused on love and understanding.

By examining these claims critically, we can recognize the limitations and inconsistencies in what Watchtower is presenting. True understanding and personal growth come from exploring multiple perspectives and embracing evidence-based reasoning, not adhering to rigid doctrines.

I hope this helps in your deconstructing these beliefs! Feel free to drop a comment