The Jehovah's Witness Two Witness Rule Explained

by God_Delusion 2 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  God_Delusion

  Righty then, if you've ever wondered what the Two Witness Rule was all about, your wondering ceases right here and now

  This article should shed some light on the Jehovah's Witness Two Witness Rule.

  Warm regards,
  Jaymes
• 

  glenster

  Deut.19:15,16 regards capital punishment under Mosaic gov't law.
  Matt.18:15,16 Jesus used Mosaic law to stop objections from Mosaic law follow-
  ers.
  NT Christians believed the crucifixion ended Mosaic law and didn't ask for
  their religion to be made law of the land let alone with gov't death penalties.

  The JWs leaders have a customized conservatism to feign exclusiveness for
  marketing. It plays fast and loose with research material, including the Bible
  (this, the blood issue, etc.). The approach I'd recommend if choosing Abrahamic
  religion is progressive/reform which requires the basic God concept keep up to
  speed regarding knowledge that's come up since old texts were written (Gen.
  creation taken allegorically, etc.).

  'Two witnesses'Jehovah's Witnesses' congregational judicial policies require
  the testimony of two material witnesses to establish a perpetrator's serious
  sin in the absence of confession, based on their interpretation of scriptures
  such as Deuteronomy 17:6 and 1 Timothy 5:19. The organisation considers this
  policy to be a protection against malicious accusation of sexual assault. The
  Watch Tower Society's Public Information Department specifies that this two
  witness policy is applied solely to congregational discipline and has no bearing
  on whether a crime is reported to the authorities. It is not necessary for both
  witnesses to have observed the same instance of child molestation to establish
  guilt. As of 1991, statements by two victims of separate incidents by the same
  perpetrator may be deemed sufficient to take action and impose internal sanc-
  tions. DNA evidence, medical reports, or information from forensic experts or
  police that proves sexual abuse is also accepted as a valid "second witness".

  In cases where there is only one eye-witness—the victim—to an allegation of
  child abuse, elders are instructed to monitor the accused individual closely,
  and in most cases suspend any conspicuous congregation duties. If there is
  evidence to suggest that the alleged perpetrator did abuse children, congrega-
  tion duties are suspended and a warning is given to the congregation for its
  protection.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses%27_handling_of_child_sex_abuse
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  FatFreek 2005

  " As of 1991, statements by two victims of separate incidents by the same perpetrator may be deemed sufficient to take action and impose internal sanctions. [2] [6] [7] DNA evidence, medical reports, or information from forensic experts or police that proves sexual abuse is also accepted as a valid "second witness"." From the following:

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah's_Witnesses'_handling_of_child_sex_abuse

  The above quote "as of 1991" is questionable. Of those 3 references, only 2 of them cite dates, the earliest being 2002. The last one, the "Pay attention to yourselves ..." book, the 1991 edition does not even mention DNA -- nor the term "second witness".

  Can anyone verify the quote, and the date, in anything Watchtower publishes?

  Len