Bridge of Reason

The latest issue of the Reachout newsletter , carried an article about The Watchtower Memorial Meal.  The article concentrated on the division between the great majority of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Great Crowd, and the Anointed Class, the 144,000, who alone are to partake of the memorial meal. A reader sent in some comments after studying the article and shared some interesting insights into how Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves in the great scheme of things. 'I've just read with interest your article entitled 'The Memorial Meal'  in the latest Reachout Trust newsletter. I was  born into the  Witnesses in 1967 and remained there until about 26 years ago when I  became born again. Most of my family are still in the JW organisation. I just wanted to point out a couple of things from the article. The  'great crowd' are encouraged to see themselves as having just as close  a relationship with the organisation as the 'anointed', the soc...

Mormons and the Bible Just as in other churches, Mormons face the question of what to think of the different Bible translations available today. Most churches have a standard text, a pew Bible, but often encourage members to use and explore other translations. Christians have found this very helpful as each translation brings its own strengths and weaknesses. It is also the case that… read more →

The Watchtower Society make much of the symbols and customs of what they call ‘Christendom’ that they say won’t be found in Scripture. It is true to say that people in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones and Witnesses certainly need to have a care, “for with the judgement you are judging, you will be judged, and with the measure that you… read more →

The Watchtower Society suggests for book studies for January and February: Good News from God! and Listen to God and Live Forever. What is this good news and how are we to benefit from it? Quoting Jeremiah 29:11, they say, "Soon God will act to provide a better future for people in every land. He will relieve mankind of the causes of suffering." This is the fond hope of everyone who sees the wickedness of the world. Jeremiah 29:11 is a text to which most Christians mistakenly turn for comfort in their individual trials. In this instance it is a correct application insofar as it is not about 'God's plan for your life' but about God's plan for his people. Of course, the question of who are God's people is another issue. They go on to make familiar claims of peace and good health in a better future, lifting verses from the Old Testament Isaiah 25:8;33:24; Daniel 2:44. But it is how this is to be achieved that draws this attention. It is here tha...

A Meditation and Devotion for Christmas Christmas is many things to many people. A busy time, a time for family, 'all about the children,' nativity plays, gifts, remembering loved ones, carol services, good cheer, painful memories, a festival of colour and warmth in the middle of winter, an opportunity to invite friends and family to church and hear the good news, have them understand the 'real meaning of Christmas.' Of course, some in this season face tragic circumstances, have sad memories, and entertain painful regrets. Not for them the Christmas cheer we all look forward to. For me it is a time to remember that we worship a God who keeps his promises. To remember that, at the time of the greatest tragedy in man's history, his terrible and devastating fall, God made this promise: 'I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.' (Gen.3:15) This i...

1. Jesus claimed to be God. 'I told you that you would die in your sins; unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.' (John.8:24) What we believe about Jesus is essential to our salvation. Unless we believe correctly we will die in our sins. Here Jesus declares, 'I am he.' Who is he? I AM is the name God gave to identify himself to Moses in Ex.3:14. We read further: "'Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.' So the Jews said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.' So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple."  (John 8:57-59) Here Jesus clearly claims to to have pre-existed Abraham. Not only so but, instead of saying, 'before Abraham was, I was,' he declares, 'before Abraham was, I am.' He uses the present tense to ...

Recent years have seen the Mormon Church redouble its efforts at repackaging itself for a new generation. They're use of Search Engine Optimisation, content marketing, and social media is astonishingly slick and professional. Enter the word 'Bible' into your search engine and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will appear on the first page of results. 'Christ' gave me the same result third entry down on that page. 'New Testament' gave them second place. Type in Mormon and top place is given to mormon.org, with half the page given over to Mormon sites. You have to be impressed.   Mormon.Org Mormon.org is a simple ( you might say simplistic) introduction to Mormonism. It has 12 simple, click and play short videos that present a misleadingly disarming picture of the Mormon faith. Are these the new Articles of Faith? You can ask questions in a live chat with a missionary, and link through to I'm a Mormon , a carefully selected set of testim...