Logos Reading Lists gives JW information?
Can someone help me understand something that maybe I didn't know? The reading lists that come up... are they exclusive to Logos users, or when I type a search in, does it pull resources from outside of Logos. I am just wondering because I just came upon a ton of JW information under a search, and it wasn't until I clicked around a page that I even knew it was a JW site.
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Welcome to the forums Cynthia! [:)]
Cynthia Feenstra said:The reading lists that come up... are they exclusive to Logos users, or when I type a search in, does it pull resources from outside of Logos.
Reading lists are maintained by Logos users, who come from all sorts of theological and ecclesiastical backgrounds. HERE is an official page about reading lists.
[quote]Reading Lists are publically searchable lists of resources based on a specific topic or theme, created and maintained by other Logos users. They can be very useful whether you're looking for resources in your own library, looking for new resources to purchase, or just curious what resources other Logos users are using to research common topics. To view these lists, choose "Reading Lists" from the Tools menu.
Cynthia Feenstra said:I am just wondering because I just came upon a ton of JW information under a search, and it wasn't until I clicked around a page that I even knew it was a JW site.
What reading list? Do you have a screen shot?
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Logos users create these lists and can add hyperlinks web web sites outside of Logos. M.J. Smith, as well as other regular contributors are especially gracious for her contributions.
Depending on the topic of the reading list you were using, it could have very well led you to an outside web site.
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I typed in "prophet" which gave me reading list of MJ Smith in which there were links to something called the "Bible Students Movement" and lots of JW Links.
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Cynthia Feenstra said:
there were links to something called the "Bible Students Movement" and lots of JW Links.
The "Bible Student Movement" was a forerunner to the JW's, so you would expect there to be links to JW sites. If someone wanted to learn about that movement, the best way is to read primary sources. If you are curious, you can read these Wikipedia links:
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The link to the Wikipedia article was in the Reading List page, but above the start of what is displayed in Logos 4/5. I changed this and updated the description a bit. I think this comes up under "prophet" sind the "apologetics" section contains an article about true and false prophecy.
Have joy in the Lord!
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Cynthia Feenstra said:
I typed in "prophet" which gave me reading list of MJ Smith in which there were links to something called the "Bible Students Movement" and lots of JW Links.
The real problem here is that searching for "prophet" in reading list didn't provide relevant results. Just returning 10 reading lists that contain the word "prophet" is lame. There's nothing wrong with the Bible Students Movement reading list, but it shouldn't show up near the top of a search for "prophet" - particularly when there's a reading list called "The prophets".
In fact, even searching the Reading List tool for "The prophets" doesn't show the correct list. Something's definitely broken.
This is my personal Faithlife account. On 1 March 2022, I started working for Faithlife, and have a new 'official' user account. Posts on this account shouldn't be taken as official Faithlife views!
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The RL for "Prophet" is one of hundreds generated by "admin" some years ago and empty, thus excluded in the tool in L4/5 - you need to go through the website to check.
Have joy in the Lord!
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NB.Mick said:
The RL for "Prophet" is one of hundreds generated by "admin" some years ago and empty, thus excluded in the tool in L4/5 - you need to go through the website to check.
Yes, but the one for "The prophets" isn't empty, and it's much more relevant.
This is my personal Faithlife account. On 1 March 2022, I started working for Faithlife, and have a new 'official' user account. Posts on this account shouldn't be taken as official Faithlife views!
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Mark...I think you understand what I am trying to say.
I am very uncomfortable with the way it is coming up on the list. For them to come up under my search of "prophet" and be at the top like that is a little scarey, because I would think it would come out under false prophet, at the very least. The list didn't give me an indication that it was JW until I clicked out and around. Is that even remotely making sense?
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Cynthia Feenstra said:
Can someone help me understand something that maybe I didn't know? The reading lists that come up... are they exclusive to Logos users, or when I type a search in, does it pull resources from outside of Logos.
The list is user created. Users may or may not be from the same background that you are. Logos users are a diverse group, including those which you may consider "christian" and "non-christian" backgrounds.
Cynthia Feenstra said:The list didn't give me an indication that it was JW until I clicked out and around.
The heading for the list should have given you an indication that it might be JW related, since the JW come out of the "Bible Student Movement." I knew nothing about this BSM until I looked this up for you this morning, but reading through the list was able to learn more about this group.
Cynthia Feenstra said:I am very uncomfortable with the way it is coming up on the list. For them to come up under my search of "prophet" and be at the top like that is a little scary, because I would think it would come out under false prophet, at the very least.
Cynthia - I am not sure if there is a "bug" or not, but when it comes to reading lists, you are going to find many links to things you (or I) might find objectionable. Since the reading lists are user created, you are likely to come across things you don't approve of. If this concerns you, it might be better to avoid using this feature and sticking with resources with which you are more familiar. Understanding that the "Bible Study Movement" isn't in alignment with your faith tradition requires discernment on your part. It wont be labeled "false prophecy." A JW forum member would certainly object to Watchtower material being labeled "false prophecy." Whether you or I think so is irrelevant. Even if there is a bug (like Mark suggests... he very well could be right) and it is fixed, you WILL come across things like this in the future.
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Thank you VERY very much for you clear explanation. I had no clue that we had JW forum members here, and so I guess that answers my original question. While I realized they are a very diverse group, I guess I didn't realize how broad of a group it actually is. While I do always check the doctrinal and theological "bent" of the resources, I had no clue they may included resources from a JW. One final question, if you don't mind. Does that mean that my resources in my library that are part of my gold package may also include resources from a JW or a LDS perspective?
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Cynthia Feenstra said:
Does that mean that my resources in my library that are part of my gold package may also include resources from a JW or a LDS perspective?
I don't think so… but let me clarify just a little bit more:
Cynthia Feenstra said:While I do always check the doctrinal and theological "bent" of the resources, I had no clue they may included resources from a JW.
The "reading list" feature isn't a resource… it is a tool. Think of it as a "hey look what I found" about various topics. In this case, you did a search for "prophet." Since the "Bible Student Movement" list has the term "prophet" in the list, it was automatically included under that topic. Does that make sense?
The usefulness of this feature is that if someone ever comes across the term: "Bible Study Movement," they will have a place to find more information, including original sources. In this case, it means learning more about the JW's by reading JW material.
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I don't believe there are any overt Jw or LDS books available in Gold, and very little at all available in Logos. That said, you probably shouldn't confuse the two, as they are quite different. LDS, at least, have a growing number of legitimate scholars. There are several LDS contributors to the venerable Anchor Bible Dictionary, and involved with the international Dead Sea Scrolls translation group.
"The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected."- G.K. Chesterton
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Okay. I have a clear understanding of the Reading List feature now. Thank you (all of you included) for explaining it to me!
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Cynthia Feenstra said:
you (all of you included)
In Alabama we have one word which more easily expresses a plural second-person pronoun… We just say "y'all." [:)]
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The Prophets refers to the writings not to the people. The JW flavor was provided by R.A. Krueger. Early on, I helped keep the Reading Lists reasonably standardized so that people would recognize their value. As a Catholic, I assure you I'm not all that familiar with JW resources. I did add some resources I was familiar with.
There are a couple of links I personally find outside the tone of Reading Lists - articles that are abusive and links to sites rather than specific resources. See Mary as an example of how useful a reading list can be when it is truly a community effort. Some lists ... well, they best are considered personal.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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[Y] - Because I keep the internet off so that L5 is not so slow, I keep forgetting about this tool.Mark Barnes said:The real problem here is that searching for "prophet" in reading list didn't provide relevant results. Just returning 10 reading lists that contain the word "prophet" is lame. There's nothing wrong with the Bible Students Movement reading list, but it shouldn't show up near the top of a search for "prophet" - particularly when there's a reading list called "The prophets".
In fact, even searching the Reading List tool for "The prophets" doesn't show the correct list. Something's definitely broken.
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