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| '''''Aid to Bible Understanding''''' was the first doctrinal and biblical ] of ]. The book, now out of print, was published in part in 1969, and in full in 1971 by the ]. It was superseded in 1988 by the two-volume work '']''. It is also referred to as the '''''Aid Book'''''. | |||
| ==Contents== | |||
| The first 544-page volume, released on July 9, 1969 at the "Peace on Earth" International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, contains articles on biblical topics listed alphabetically from '']'' through to '']''. The completed work, released in 1971 at the "Divine Name" convention, contains ]d articles on over 4000 subjects.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Watchtower|title=1,001 Questions Answered|page=31|date=15 July 1980}}</ref> It has 1,696 pages, contains color maps on its end sheets and some black and white illustrations within with the text, but is not indexed. | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| The writing of and research for ''Aid Book'' lead to different interpretations of ] verses and seems to have been a catalyst for Jehovah's Witnesses to adjust ]s after its publishing. For example, in the mid 1970's the ] delegated oversight of congregations and branch offices to committees of elders. (''See ]''.) The commentary on the subjects "Older Man" and "Overseer" in the 1971 publishing of this book had called into question the use of individual elders as overseers, or single points of authority, within the religion's ].<ref>{{cite book|title=Crisis of Conscience|author=Franz, Raymond|publisher=Commentary Press|date=1983|pages=23–25}}</ref> | |||
| Controversy also arose regarding the ''Aid Book'' as high-profile members of the religion who contributed to its articles eventually left the organization. (''See ]''.) Officially, the encyclopedia has an anonymous author, the ], though the organization states that over "250 researchers ... contributed to the work".<ref>{{cite book|title=Aid to Bible Understanding|page=5|publisher=Watchtower Society}}</ref> ], a former member of the Governing Body<ref>''1973 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', page 257</ref>, claimed to be one of these researchers and says the vast majority of the contributions submitted could not be used because of ] or superficiality.<ref>{{cite book|title=Crisis of Conscience|author=Franz, Raymond|publisher=Commentary Press|date=1983|page=20}}</ref> Franz adds that ] appointed ] (who later became a member of the ]), Edward Dunlap of the ] staff, along with Franz in the Writing Department, as the primary writers. ], the organization's vice president, advised these writers when scholarly questions arose, or referred them to secular ] held at the world headquarters' library.<ref>{{cite book|title=Crisis of Conscience|author=Franz, Raymond|publisher=Commentary Press|date=1983|pages=21–23}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | |||
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Latest revision as of 18:24, 22 July 2010
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