If so, what would be some examples?
Only questions that show a higher degree of thought and intelligence please.
Could you get disfellowshipped for simply asking questions?
by LogCon 41 Replies latest watchtower bible
-
-
Beth Sarim
yes
-
Wild_Thing
If you disseminate your doubts and questions to others in the congregation, then yes, you certainly can, and it has happened before. For example, if you question that they are God's true organization, or question they are the one true religion, that could definitely get you in trouble.
-
AndDontCallMeShirley
"To be disfellowshipped, an apostate does not have to be a promoter of apostate views....If a baptized Christian abandons the teachings of Jehovah, as presented by the faithful and discreet slave, and persists in believing other doctrine despite Scriptural reproof, then he is apostasizing. Extended, kindly efforts should be put forth to readjust his thinking. However, if, after such extended efforts have been put forth to readjust his thinking, he continues to believe the apostate ideas and rejects what he has been provided through the 'slave class', then appropriate judicial action should be taken." (Letter to all Circuit and District Overseers, 9/1/80).
.
BY definition, any thoughts that do not agree 100% with the GB/WT/ "faithful slave" constitute "apostasy" and can lead to DF. In practice, this happens when a JW questions the legitimacy/authority of the GB or questions a WT doctrine.
Note in the above letter excerpt a JW can be convicted for thought crime, not for actually promoting a differing view.
Note: "apostasy", according to WT's definition, is disagreeing with WT on any subject.
.
*** jv chap. 28 p. 629 Testing and Sifting From Within. From 2009 CD Rom
"But anyone who publicly or privately advocates views that are divergent from what appears in the publications of an organization, and who does so while claiming to represent that organization, causes division."
*** w86 4/1 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers ***
Questions From Readers
Why have Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowshipped (excommunicated) for apostasy some who still profess belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ?
....Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do such beliefs include?
... Following such Scriptural patterns, if a Christian (who claims belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus) unrepentantly promotes false teachings, it may be necessary for him to be expelled from the congregation."
--
"false teachings" are any teachings not taught by the WT.
-
Beth Sarim
if you don't want to get disfellowshipped, even after knowing about the truth, don't ask any questions at all, no questions which imply you're doubting at all, no questions at all!!
-
AndDontCallMeShirley
"In Jehovah's organisation it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organisation who are assigned to that very thing" --- Watchtower 1967 Jun 1 p.338
.
"[Avoid] questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization" --Watchtower 1983 Jan 15 p.22 Avoid Independent Thinking
.
"'Believe all things,' all the things that the Watchtower brings out" ---- Qualified to be Ministers (1955) p.156
.
"At that time, the life- saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. (4) Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith. " (W 11-15-13, p 20 study edition)
Paragraph 17. Here's the same point from the Stupefied (simplified) edition:
- "At that time, the direction that you receive from Jehovah’s organization may seem strange or unusual. But all of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether we agree with them or not, because obeying these instructions will save our lives."
-
villagegirl
Yeah its confirmed, it is a Cult. "Slave Class" ? the term is in itself non Biblical
and completely out of touch with everything Jesus said. The only scripture they
have to establish this absurd Hiearchy and absolute elite class system is a parable
about three servants who were left with resources "talents" that they could use
according to their own discrection and TWO of them, not ONE , invested the resources
and lived abundantly and the other, out of fear, did nothing with his life. This would
identify the Watchtower as the Evil Slave, because they do nothing to enrich or help
anyone and they cause their followers to fear doing anything with their own lives.
The Governing Body is a fraud and an Ant-Christ.
-
Satanus
I was. Basically, all i did was ask questions. Can't remember many of them. One was concerning a difference between the soul and spirit, as used in the bible.
S
-
ShirleyW
I would imagine you could get DFd for asking questions that you used your brain for that Jehovah provided you with for thinking up questions about things in the Borg that just don't add up, of which there are many.
-
Beth Sarim
I just don't know where the Borg came up with these terms like 'slave class' when they're not even in the bible