Wisdom said: It is true that other false doctrines and false religious leaders are trying to "change" their teachings to somewhat fit ours, but they are still not preaching the "whole truth" because they still participate in wars, political matters, etc., and are not Jehovah's Witnesses...."
Actually, the Seventh Day Adventists have been around longer than what the WTS has. Charles Russell got most of his teachings and beliefs from THEM, not the other way around.
"....You cannot mix what is false with what is truth and then call it "preaching the same as the witnesses" for this is not from God and not logical. There can and is only one truth...."
You're absolutely right. Therefore, how do you explain the Organization's continual changing of the meaning "this generation" and enforcing it on 6.5 million Witnesses? For decades, they taught that "this generation" was referring to the generation of 1914. When it became obvious that they had in fact, been teaching a false doctrine, they changed it in November 1995 to mean 'those that see Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways' and earlier this year, they changed it yet again by claiming it's referring to the 'annointed class from 33 CE right on down to today.
How long before they discard THIS understanding? What would have happened to anyone who questioned the official doctrine before 1995? They would have been disfellowshipped for "apostasy" because they could not, in good conscience, accept a doctrine that was a false teaching.
Of course, the average Witness isn't supposed to dwell on matters like this. No matter how many times the "slave" gets "new light" and continuously change their minds, everyone is supposed to accept it fully, even if it makes absolutely no sense.
How is this "making sure of all things"? How is this reading "the scriptures daily" to "make sure these things are so?
HeatherB said: "...Considering I have not heard of any of those religions, I would have to assume that they are not as organized or greatly spread worldwide as JW's are...."
You've never heard of the Christadelphians? If not, you should look them up on the internet. You'd be surprised at how similar it is to the Witnesses.
As for these other religions not being "organized" or "greatly spread worldwide as JW's are", you really should research this a bit more. Wikipedia gives an excellent time line of Christian Missionaries starting with Jesus, right on down to our day. It's listed at the end.
Despite what you read in the Watchtower, there are many other Christian religions that have sent out missionaries to spread the gospel throughout the world. This is not something privy to Jehovah's Witnesses.
How can Jehovah's visible organization be identified?
1. It truly exalts Jehovah as the only true God, Magnifying his name.
Unfortunately, "Jehovah" is an incorrect translation of the original Tetragrammaton. You may not be aware of this but in the preface of your “Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures,” on page 23, it says: “While inclining to view the pronunciation ‘YHVH’ as the more correct way, we have retained the form of ‘Jehovah’ because of the people’s familiarity."
In other words, the Society is allowing their "tradition" to promote an incorrect pronounciation of God's name.
2. It fully recognizes the vital role of Jesus in Jehovah's purpose- as the vindicator of Jehovah's sovereignty, the Chief Agent of life, the head of the Christian congregation, the ruling Messianic King.
I don't think you'll find this "recognition" as being something only Jehovah's Witnesses believe. I'm pretty sure every Christian religion "recognizes" Jesus' role as King.
3. It adheres closely to God's inspired Word, basing all it's teaching and standards of conduct on the Bible.
Unfortunately, this isn't exactly true. Can you please point me to a scripture that says all Witnesses must turn in a field service report each month? Or that a brother can't wear a beard if he would like a responsible position in the congregation? Where does it say that Jesus would return "invisibly" in 1914? Did the first century congregation have a Legal Department?
4. It keeps separate from the world
Only to a certain degree. And there are other religions that keep a far greater seperation from the world than what the Witnesses do. Take a close look at the Amish: They keep seperate, they don't fight in wars, they don't get involved in politics. They do all this to a far greater extend than what the Organization does.
5. It maintains a high level of moral cleanness among it's members, because Jehovah himself is holy.
Surely you're not suggesting that every other Christian religion does not have a "high level or moral cleanness" amongst their followers. I know first hand that this simply isn't so. Do you have any references (besides the WTS's own publications), that shows they have a higher standard of morals compared to other religions?
6. It devotes its principal efforts to doing the work that the Bible foretold for our day, namely, the preaching or the good news of God's Kingdom in all the world for a witness.
Unfortunately, this message that they've been spreading for decades, has failed to materialize anything they've predicted. For years, the Society's message was that the generation of 1914 would see both the "beginning of the pangs of distress" as well as The End. This has since been discarded as a false teaching. So it really makes no difference that you preach, if WHAT you preach, isn't true.
7. despite human inperfections, its members cultivate and produce the fruits of God's spirit- love-, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self control- doing so to such a degree that it sets them apart from the world in general.
Once again, do you have any evidence that other religions do not also cultivate the fruitage of the Spirit? You say that "despite human imperfections", the Witnesses are superior to other relgious groups. By what standard to you judge them? Is it not by their own "human imperfections"?
For years, the WTS condemned the Catholic Church for harbouring pedophiles amongst the priests. When it was reported by the media, it was taken as gospel truth. Yet when it was exposed by the media that the WTS itself had been harbouring pedophiles, suddenly the media was being 'run by Satan' and 'apostates'.
What you should really be asking yourself is: Why, if the WTS is not guilty of harbouring pedophiles, did they settle a lawsuit late last year with 16 of the victims? This was admitted on their website, which I've included at the end here.