My Questions Before Baptism Took Less Than 5 Minutes

by RubaDub 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  RubaDub

  After seeing the thread on books to read before baptism, I laugh about how my pre-baptism session went.

  As a born-in with both father and grandfather serving as servants (prior to elder arrangement) I certainly knew the answers to the questions in the yellow "Your Word is a Lamp to My Foot" book that they asked at that time. The brother who was asking the questions was the Assistant Congregation Servant and not the sharpest knife in the drawer (I am being kind). He was a very loving brother but was getting up in age, couldn't see very well and ... you get the picture.

  We sat down in the library after the Sunday meeting and he opens the book and starts to ask the questions. After I gave each answer he would read the answer from the book also. The problem was, he was reading the answers to the wrong questions! He thought the answers were above the question and not below it. I was trying not to laugh so after about 3 questions I explained to him how the answers were printed after the question.

  He then made a nervous laugh and said "Yes, I think you're right, some of these don't seem to match up very well" ... (another nervous laugh) ... then he said "You probably know this information better than I do" ... (nervous laugh) ... "Do you have any questions" ... then the nervous laugh again and he said "I guess if you had any questions you would have asked your father" ... (a loud laugh).

  He then closed the book and said "You know this stuff."

  So went my baptism questions.

  That was it.

  Rub a Dub
• 

  QueenWitch

  I don't even remember going thru my questions. My mother studied with me as she was pioneering or something.
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  Ding

  "I promise to believe everything taught by the faithful and discreet slave, whoever that turns out to be..."
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  Xanthippe

  I remember the only baptism question I got wrong was the one about disfellowshipping. I answered the question about what the purpose was by saying I thought after looking at all the reasons given that it was to punish people for wrongdoing. Of course the elder said no, no no it's a loving act to try and help people! Yeah right. At fifteen I just couldn't see it. Should always go with your insticts! If I havn't learnt that by now I never will.
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  wha happened?

  Man, since I was in the Nazi congregation, we scheduled three days to do the questions in three parts. We spent hours per day. What a clusterfuk
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  Chariklo

  Well, my experience could not have been more different. I had three first sessions, each with different elders, each lasting nearly two hours, as we exhaustively went through every single question and extra supplementary questions. They told me at the end of it all that I had been more knowledgeable that any other candidate, ever. Then, and here's the clincher...I "even knew more and had deeper understanding than many of the sisters in the KH".

  Well, after all, they are only women, with substandard brains, aren't they? Not to be expected that they'd understand much.
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  Phizzy

  Boy Chariklo ! you did get close to being dunked, and all that entails, well done for waking up to what was really the Truth.

  I am so old, and dunked as a pre-teen, that the pre-baptism questions did not exist, does anyone know when they came in ? 1970's ?

  The actual questions asked at the baptism were O.K in those days too, nothing about an organisation at all ! Look :

  " The first question is: Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?

  The second question is: On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?"

  I guess this shows how far the JW/WT religion has morphed since those days, the religion is so very different today, even though it was very cult like back then, it was much closer to being Bible based and to being vaguely christian.
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  Chariklo

  Boy Chariklo ! you did get close to being dunked, and all that entails, well done for waking up to what was really the Truth.

  Indeed I did, Phizzy! I was within...counting...about 4 days! Maybe, actually, less.

  Imagine!!!!!!
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  wha happened?

  It's so subjective. I've seen people get baptized that barely had any knowledge of this religion. I remember one person in the cong that shared our KH. He couldn't read, and his learning disabilities really prevented him from anything more than very basic knowledge to survive life. He was also a bit nutty. Had a bad habit of cursing at people in the Parking lot if they didn't move their car fast enough. (He didn't drive of course).Showed up to the KH in a prettty grim condition at times as he was bathing challenged.

  This guy managed to get baptized, and df'd twice and reinstated.

  I just can't imagine how any of that should have occured as he truly was mentally disabled.

  It's just a numbers game.

  The Mormans started baptizing the dead. Their numbers grew. JW's may try something similar when the numbers stop going their way