WHY?

by LaCatolica 17 Replies latest jw friends

LaCatolica
greendawn

In short because a highly neurotic alcoholic and borderline moron called Rutherford decreed that they should follow all these restrictions, it was him rather than Russell that set the isolationist tone for the JWs as we know it.

Bruce that verse was wrongly translated from the original Greek it should read: "in your houses" or "in the privacy of your houses", and not from house to house. There was a thread on this a while ago.
stevenyc

Why do they have to go door to door?
Technically they don't, however it would be inappropriate to not preach. A person would be marked as 'spiritually weak', and unlikely to receive social activity if they weren't seen regularly out preaching. If physical health is a factor, then alternatives for preaching should be used. They get this from the biblical 'Go make disciples' command. However, there is a more practical reason. By an active recruitment program, the society is more likely to get more people, sell more literature, and identify the 'not-so-loyal' ones in the congregations. The proof for this is in the REQUIRMENT for every Jehovahs Witness to REPORT their time spent preaching to the congregation elders every month.
Why are they so ~~manipulated~~ brainwashed by the WTS?
Generally, people become Jehovahs Witnesses from two sources. Either, being born into the cult or by recruitment. The recruitment process is a slow, tried and tested model. If the real requirements for a Jehovahs Witnesses were used, such as shunning, fear control, abuse protection, , then every new recruit would ask for the cheque before the second study. People are repeatedly shown communal love, repeatedly told of Gods promise of living forever in paradise, slowly tempted to trust the society and its publications. They slowly remove their old friendship groups for the new society approved social groups. These new friends all confirm the societies teachings. Everything then becomes self fulfilling. You really do believe its all true. Questioning any teaching to a new friend will cause problems. Questions indicate apostasy. If a witness questions a society teaching to another, and that other witness does not report it, then that other witness is as guilty of apostacy as the first. Being identified as an apostate will have you removed from the congregation. Your new friends, and if you were born into it your family, will ABOSLUTLY shun you.
So, in short, slow indoctrination -> communication ONLY with people who believe it -> no-one questioning out of fear = brainwashing
Why do they consider other faiths pagan or bad?
Its part of the brainwashing. The society cant afford its publishers checking out other faiths. So, if you do, your banished and the shunning begins. Their proof text for this is Ephesians 4:5; "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." They twist this to imply that "one faith" means one man-made organization, not faith in Christ.
Who decided that birthdays are pagan celebrations and are thus BAD? What does one have to do with the other? I've never, in my 28 years of existance ever heard of birthdays being related to religion or God...only JWs do this.
Their official reason is this: Birthdays: The only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah. ( Genesis 40:20-22 ; Mark 6:21, 22 , 24-27 ) The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. The custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions. True Christians give gifts and have good times together at other times during the year.
However, as you can read, there is NO DIRECT BIBLICAL DIRECTION TO BAN BIRTHDAYS. If fact Job 1: 4 And his sons went and held a banquet at the house of each one on his own day; and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
Where in the Bible does it say that displaying flags is so BAD? Again, what does one thing have to do with the other?
The bible doesn't say anything about flags. The society sees saluting the flag as a form of idolatry. You should only 'salute' Jehovah. However, I live in Brooklyn, a couple of blocks from their HQ. They have many properties here. Huge properties. You can always spot a watchtower building by the motifs and idols included in the building. They have huge watchtower turrets. Entrance ways have motifs (ironically enough some are golden) of watchtowers. Their literature has always been thoroughly pasted with their own idols and images.
Why do JWs take the Bible so literally for some things and then symbolically when it's convenient to them?
You have to pick and choose to back up your claims, if your claims are written by you and not the author of the works you are subscribing them to. All cults and sects do this. The only thing as a Jehovahs Witness is that you are not allowed to question what you can pick and choose from. The society is free to change what they pick and choose at any time, and brush it off as "new light". They also change the original meaning of text to suit their needs.
steve
drew sagan

The answer to all your questions are simple. Think about this.. When somebody first begins to study with the Jehovahs Witnesss, they are taught many differant things "from the Bible". Most of the teachings are shown as "Basic Bible Teachings", fundamental things people must understand before anything else. This of course, is simply not true. The main point of the Christian gospel message is to draw people to Jesus Christ. The Watchtower on the other hand teaches people differant doctrines, many that are the opposite of mainstream churches, in order to prove that they alone hold the keys to the Bible. Once an individual believes that the Watchtower holds the keys to the Bible, they begin to be taught things that are further and further from the scritpures, but since the Watchtower is the only key, the "student" thinks nothing of it. All of the practices Jehovahs Witnesses are mainly known for are things that are not really laid out plainly in scripture, but are made to be such. The regular witnesses sees such things as "proof" that these are the only people really following Gods commandments, when in reality these arn't specifically Gods commandments at all. The house to house work is a perfect example. Even in the JW referance bible it's admitted that the Greek word used for "house to house" also means "in private homes", but the averadge witnesses is led to believe that if they do not do door to door witnesses they are somehow not doing what the bible commands.
Kenneson

It is certainly more evident that Jesus' favorite technique in preaching was having the crowds come to him. See Luke 6:17; Luke 8:1,4, 40, 42; Luke 9:11, 14 .Jesus also liked to preach in the synagogues where people already were assembled (Matt. 4:23; 9:35) He did go to individual homes, but it was out of invitation Luke 5:29; Luke 6:36; Luke 10:38, etc. When Jesus sent out his disciples to preach in the villages he specifically told them to look for a deserving person there and to remain there until they were done in their preaching. Only if the person was unreceptive would they move in with someone else. Likewise, if the city was unfavorable, they were to go to another. Do Jehovah's Witnesses follow this or do they take the city to court who try to stop them in order to continue their door to door work? The disciples were instructed specifically not to be going from house to house. Luke 10:5-7. Likewise, Peter, Paul, etc. preached mainly to crowds. Acts 2:41; Acts 4:1; Acts 8:6; (in the synagogues--Acts 9:20; Acts 13:5, 14-52; Acts 14:1, etc.); in the market place (Acts 17:17, etc.) That Paul did teach in some of the houses is undeniable (Acts. 20:20), but again, it doesn't mean that he went around knocking on each and everyone's door.
rassillon

I agree with some of the above posts, I am just adding some of my own perstective in addition. --- Why do they have to go door to door? *JW don't "HAVE" to go door to door, that is a misconception. In many areas it is considered the most effecient method to cover a territory and maintain records of such, making the effort to reach everyone possible. Other forms of ministry are acceptable, including informal, at work, street witnessing, letter writing, etc... Anyone who tells you that door to door is a "requirement" is not accurate, though it is strongly encouraged. Why are they so manipulated brainwashed by the WTS? *Once someone is convinced that something is true, an individual starts to rely on the source of that percieved truth. This is not necessarly a bad thing since if one did not have a strong conviction and loyalty they would be swayed by any idea comming along. Someone posted a good link to an article which discussed the physiology behind beliefs, it was quiet reasonable, It is a few post back in a topic I started. Why do they consider other faiths pagan or bad? *In their POV these faiths have compromised and incorporated pagan beliefs. Doing so in their minds makes them pagan. This is a point that could be argued, but you would have to examine JW beliefs as well. Who decided that birthdays are pagan celebrations and are thus BAD? What does one have to do with the other? *Many secular researchers have identified that the origin of birthday celebrations were associated with non-jew non-christian peoples often times noting astrological significance. As for birthday cakes well wishing and other common birthday stuff, these all have roots in superstition, pagan worship, and spiritism. One needs to ask themselves how far removed does a custom need to be from its pagan, spiritistic origins before it is not offensive to God. I am not the one to say, each has to choose for themselves. Where in the Bible does it say that displaying flags is so BAD? Again, what does one thing have to do with the other? *The bible does not say displaying flags is bad, infact the bible indicates that isreal used flags/banners, likely to identify belonging to a particular tribe. It is a symbol that identifys you with a particular country today, thus those taking the bible's command to be seperate from the world very literal may feel that displaying a flag is not in harmony with their faith. Why do JWs take the Bible so literally for some things and then symbolically when it's convenient to them? *The fact is that the bible is at times literal and at times symbolic. Different ones take various parts to be either or as they feel it agrees with their "understanding" of the bibles message and what they believe as "truth" HTH
MsMcDucket

(Cause, seriously, weren't you guys afraid of knocking on a door and finding yourselves in a dangerous position...it's far too dangerous this day in age! There are a lot of loonies out there...I grew up in NYC and there's no way I'd EVER go door to door for any reason...especially to preach to them about God. God will find a way to get through to people and people will seek Him when they are ready to.)
Yes, people can look at TV and watch evangelists and send them a check! And the evangelist will be able to heal them and save them through the TV!
Dismembered

rassillion
:*The bible does not say displaying flags is bad, infact the bible indicates that isreal used flags/banners, likely to identify belonging to a particular tribe. It is a symbol that identifys you with a particular country today, thus those taking the bible's command to be seperate from the world very literal may feel that displaying a flag is not in harmony with their faith
Funny I just got announced (I will not use the sick watchtower term disfellowshipped) at the KH for having a flag.
Dismembered

WHY?

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