Did Young Jesus Have Any Memory of His Pre-Human Existence?

(Via this post at JWR.)

Did Young Jesus Have Any Memory of His Pre-Human Existence?

"Evidently", the Writing Department [celebrated WT scholars] cannot decide. . .

In this week's (2010-11-17) Book Study the following paragraph was studied in the Come Be My Follower book:

Think again of the incident when young Jesus spoke up at the temple in Jerusalem. Recall his words to his anxious parents: “Why did you have to go looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?” (Luke 2:49) As a young boy,  Jesus evidently did not yet have any memory of his prehuman existence.  Still, his love for his Father, Jehovah, was intense. He knew that such love naturally found its expression in worship. So there was no place on earth as appealing to Jesus as his Father’s house of pure worship. He longed to be there and hated to leave. Moreover, he was no passive spectator. He was eager to learn about Jehovah and to express what he knew. Such feelings did not begin when he was 12 years old, nor did they end at that age.

(My Follower: Page 133, Chapter 13 paragraph 12)

In the Watchower of August 15, 2010 that was studied 2010-10-03 the following was discussed:

Early in Jesus’ life, Mary apparently disclosed to Jesus certain facts about his birth. Thus, on one occasion when Mary and Jesus’ adoptive father, Joseph, found Jesus in God’s temple, the young child asked: “Did you not now that I must be in the house of my Father?” (Luke 2:49) Evidently from an early age, Jesus knew that he was God’s son. Magnifying God’s righteousness was therefore of great importance to him.

(WT-ST 2010-08-15, page 9)

Geez two changes in one year, usually they pace themselves better  

Technically, I suppose the celebrated WT scholars could say that "knew he was God's son" is not the same thing as having knowledge of his pre-human existence. However, to the outsider, it appears that they are clueless.

You would think with modern technology like email and twitter the two Departments could talk to one another once in awhile and get on the same page  

Did Young Jesus Have Any Memory of His Pre-Human Existence?

I think maybe some, but not all.

Technically, I suppose the celebrated WT scholars could say that "knew he was God's son" is not the same thing as having knowledge of his pre-human existence.

It isn't, really, as you point out. From the Gospels, several people came to know who he was, even the shepherds tending the fields around his place of birth at the time of his birth. I hate to say it, but there is no inconsistency between the bolded quotes. "Memory" and "knowledge" aren't exactly the same thing.

BTS

Wouldn't it just be easier to just write - "the Bible does not say, so we do not know"?

James- what's the fun in that when you can stir up religious folk with good speculation  

It seems odd that this would even be a subject for speculation, as the Bible is silent on the matter and it has no bearing whatsoever on the endgame--Jesus dying for our sins.  When I was still in, I made the mistake of saying to a couple of Catholics that Jesus had no memory of his prehuman existence.  "Where do Jehovah's Witnesses get their theology?" they replied.  I felt embarrassed, as I knew that statement had no scriptural support whatsoever.

I noticed this statement is also in the kids' book, Learn From the Great Teacher.  Why is there a need to mention this point repeatedly when it is speculation?  Odd.

-sd-7

Why is there a need to mention this point repeatedly when it is speculation?  Odd.

Well, by their OWN ADMISSION, those who simply use the Bible turn into apostates. The entire framework of the belief system requires special knowledge not found in the Scriptures. I'm beginning to think it might be a. . .cult.

A cult, huh?  Wow!  Why didn't I think of that before? 

The WT  quotes  sound a lot like the musings of  folks who believe in reincarnation of a past life. They recall certain things or have feelings about a certain  place and can't really explain it . 

There is so much about Jesus' life that we do not know about.  I have not read the "other" books that did not get included in the Bible but they might shed some light on his knowledge of his pre-human existence.

I found the same "Evidently" term in both of those paragraphs.  Yet, the witlesses never think of both simultaneously--nor do they think of the "Evidently" as meaning that it might not be true.  Where is the evidence?

For newbies:

Here are two ways you can spot the BS in WT publications: (1) Anything published in a 'Question from Readers' article and (2) all of the text following the word "evidently".

Carry on.

leavingwt many thanks for pointing that out. I remember going over the thursday study and remembering the other article, which imo aren't fully compatible. Anything that starts with 'evidently' is questionable. Also clauses starting with "Apparently" or "It appears that ...". 

Evidently, I was in a cult.

I agree that knowledge and memory are two different things.  I'm just wondering how they draw the conclusion that Jesus evidently had no memory of his pre-existence?  Just because he called a temple his father's house at twelve?  If I recall correctly, he also called a temple his father's house on the day he overturned the money changers and such.

Not that this means he was referring to the building over the people worshipping, mind you.

Tammy

I guess it pisses me off that they use words like Evidently without knowing the DEFINITION of Evidently. Evidently means that there is evidence of something, that it is a clear statement. Grrrr on them for publishing this bullshit. It just makes the rank and file sit there going "wow jehovah's organization has so much knowledge that others don't." They are so stupid and careless with their publishing. You would think after like 100 years of publishing, they would run out of lies to tell.

Definition: evidently['?v?d?ntl?]

My mother thinks he did.

When defending the global flood she said Jesus mentioned it and he should know because he was there.

Me, "He didn't say it was global and of course he knew about it.  He'd been down the synagog.  It was a religious doctrine of their day.  Everyone knew that story."

Her, ....change subject .... as usual

I still don't know how the Kiwis got to New Zealand