So much for Watchtower, er, Bible studies

by dgp 16 Replies latest jw friends

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  dgp

  On another thread, I wondered whether there was an objective way to determine the effect that the internet is having on new people being attracted into the Watchtower. I get the general impression that, while we can certainly know that the internet has been crucial in quite a few people leaving, or never joining, there is no statistics that would tell us something like "Millions Now Living Didn't Join Because of What They Read on a Website".

  That's for background. Now I would like to see the question the other way around. If you were a faithful witness, or at least a witness in good standing, wouldn't it scare you like the Great Tribulation to know that now you can't be sure the person whose door you knock on might know just a bit more than you do about your own thing?

  How would a witness respond to a housewife who showed him a scan of that 1969 Watchtower where they said that "if you are a young person you need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of the Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years... Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers".

  How would it be possible to offer a Watchtower, er, Bible study and tell the "study" not to research the internet because the Devil has it, et cetera, and then not expect that the person will suspect you?

  If all the information on the inner workings of the Watchtower were available in just one language, or just for one community, one could dismiss that as the words of grumpy liars. But, since very similar stories are available in many languages around the world, and scans and stuff are made available, how would it be at all possible to just blame Satan?

  (By the way, for someone who's never been in, being called a "study" sounds kind of derogatory. If we knew that's what we're called, well, we wouldn't like it.)

  If I were a member of the Watchtower and wanted to go out door knocking, I would be very careful to be very well prepared to answer certain people. And that would force me to review the past. As you know, truth does set you free.

  I hope people will comment on this.
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  garyneal

  I can't even get my wife to review the past beyond the Proclaimers book. While it is true that there is a chance that a householder would know more about their doctrines than they do, my wife has seldom came across such a householder. Just reading about Moshe's encounters, I would guess that if a witness did come across such a person, that witness will be looking to exit the situation as fast as possible and that householder would be marked.
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  factfinder

  I would not have known of that Awake! article. I guess witnesses would say something about how they were on the watch as Jesus said they should be and were understandably over eager for the end of this system to come. And of course, Jehovah grants his faithful servents who keep on the watch with increased light over time so now they have a better understanding of the generation Jesus spoke of! And witnesses are the only ones keeping on the watch!

  Of course, unless you had an actual copy of that Awake! to show me ( in which case something like the above would get said!) I would say you made the article up or changed it in some way and that it never said that! I'd want to see the actual issue. I'm sure this is how my brother would respond to this situation too.

  How would anyone else have responded to this?

  As far as telling your study not to do research on witnesses on the internet-yes, that would seem suspicious. I'd show scriptures about how Jesus said his true followers would be lied about and spoken against just as the first century christians were. So the student should realize there are "uninformed" people on the internet and that to find out the real truth about witnesses they need to read the WT literature.
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  factfinder

  @garyneal- yes, I think too that if the householder did not buy something like what I said in my post above, the witnesses would consider that householder "a waste of time" and quickly leave. Householders have to ask the "right" questions or the witnesses will not continue to speak with them.

  My brother does not care about what was written in the past. He says that Jehovah's celestial chariot is always moving forward and we have to keep moving forward with it. We should focus on current understandings of the truth and not waste time with or worry about what was written in the past because we are blessed to have more light and understanding now. We must always move ahead, never look back.

  Frustrating isn't it?

  Most witnesses must feel the same way. They have to keep up with current truth, not waste time doing research on the past.
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  GrandmaJones

  Most kingdom halls have in their library, bound volumes of the Watchtower and Awake. The old ones from the time you describe would be in Blue binders that say Watchtower. In the old blue ones is an actual Watchtower with the article.
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  Ding

  What are JWs trained to do nowadays if a householder brings up Ray Franz's books -- say something about "apostate literature," walk out the door, and kick the dust off their feet?

  Is this discussed in TMS?
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  Mythbuster

  *** km 5/92 p. 2 Service Meetings for May ***

  15 min: Protect Yourself From Apostasy. Discussion between an elder and a publisher seated at a table. Publisher explains that he met someone in service who has been reading apostate literature. Publisher tells elder he feels householder was sincere in questions he raised. Publisher refused householder's offer of apostate publication but would like to try to answer householder's questions. Elder commends publisher for his good attitude and actions. Rather than discuss what apostates have written or said, it is wise to concentrate on Scriptural viewpoint of matters as set forth in Reasoning book. Elder invites publisher to open his Reasoning book, and together they review pages 34-7. Discussion should be warm and encouraging as they consider definition of apostasy, each bold subhead, and selected key texts as time permits. Conclude discussion with positive comments on all the upbuilding and encouraging material we have available for study. Share upbuilding message with householder. If he is sincere, he will see difference between the positive approach of truth and the negative, critical approach of apostates. By our rejecting apostate thinking and material, we display our loyalty to Jehovah and to his visible organization.
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  wasblind

  Whenever I get visits I ask them questions from their own literature

  I showed two witnesses the proclaimers book and showed them about Beth Sarim

  they said JW's didn't build that, I said maybe they used the same people that build the kingdom halls

  trust, It was hard to hold a straight face. The sister I studied with left me that book

  I don't know if I'm marked yet cause they still show up, not the return visits much but different ones from the old cong
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  dgp

  If I understand Mythbuster correctly, the witness would be told to dismiss all objections or questions. But that would work for the witness, not for the "study" (horrible way to call a person), who could but notice that his questions are left unanswered and he or she is told to "wait on Jehovah". Maybe Jehovah's witnesses don't have all the answers after all?
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  kurtbethel

  In my career as a study I have avoided citing the internet or so called apostates, and stick strictly to quoting WT literature, which is damning enough itself. When doubts have been raised about its authenticity, I would reply that, "If you think this is inaccurate you can go to the kingdom hall library and get the actual copy of this publication. If you show it to me and it is different from this, I will crumple this up and throw it away and use your version as a reference."

  No one has ever taken me up on that offer.