Food For Thinking Christians: Why Evil Was Permitted And Kindred Topics

by Charles Taze Russell

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158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1881

About the author

See also: books about Charles Taze Russell

Charles Taze Russell, also known as Pastor Russell, was a Protestant evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania & founder of the Bible Student movement. He started the Watchtower Magazine, which is today published to disseminate the views of Jehovah's Witnesses, & also formed the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, which is also today the main legal entity of that religious group.
After having published several articles in various religious journals as early as 1876 he formed his own religious journal Zion's Watch Tower & Herald of Christ's Presence in 1879, as well as establishing Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society in 1881. In 1884 Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society published the first in a series of seven books (six of which Russell wrote himself) entitled Studies in the Scriptures with the first six originally entitled The Millennial Dawn.
In 1908 Russell transferred the headquarters of the Society to its current location in Brooklyn, New York.
Following Russell's death controversy arose over the practices of the new president of the Society, J.F. Rutherford. A widespread schism erupted which divided the movement. The majority of the membership broke away, eventually resulting in the formation of several smaller groups known as Bible Students, while those who remained in fellowship with the Watch Tower Society took on the name Jehovah's Witnesses. Several denominations later formed around, or adopted some style of, Russell's views, among them the Worldwide Church of God, the Concordant Publishing Concern & the Assemblies of Yahweh. The numerous Bible Student offshoot groups include the Pastoral Bible Institute & the Layman's Home Missionary Movement.
Russell was a charismatic figure, but claimed no special revelation or vision to authenticate his teachings & professed no special authority on his own behalf. He wrote that the "clear unfolding of truth" within his teachings was due to "the simple fact that God's due time has come; & if I did not speak, & no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out." He viewed himself–& all other Christians anointed with the Holy Spirit–as "God's mouthpiece" & an ambassador of Christ. Later in his career he accepted without protest that many Bible Students viewed him as "the faithful & wise servant" of Matthew 24:45, & was described by the Watch Tower after his death as having been made "ruler of all the Lord's goods".