by LogCon 41 Replies latest watchtower bible
You can probably get away with it as long as you strictly say your questions are because of 'doubts' about certain things - see Jude 22.
But as soon as they figure out you are questioning because you no longer believe/disagree with certain teachings, you are toast!
Elderly sister recently confronted an Elder with the Org's claim that Isaiah's wife was a virgin when she gave birth to Maher-shalal-hash-baz. (Isaiah 7:14) She said this was wrong, because the wife had already had a child before this happened.
Long story short - three Elders got round her, and one of them told her not to speak about this with anyone else in the congregation - so she promptly came and told me and my wife!
Don't these little 'gods' (in their own minds!) really see what kind of scum they have become on their pedestals?
So the answer is a loud "YES", if you spread the word and cause "divisions"!
Yes. Definitely.
The entire body of elders in my last congregation had their finger on the trigger to d/f me for (on a single occasion) asking the question: "what is the gospel in one word?"
I was threatened privately and publically (in a local needs talk).
They did not want the R&F to discover that the gospel (especially according to Paul) was being carefully hidden from them.
I was told not to attend neetings or associate with any JW's whilst I had these questions....
lol
marked
And what yadda yadda 2 said.
The Searcher - interesting verse. Just did some research on it to find the Societies view:
(Isaiah 7:14) Look! The young woman will become pregnant and will give birth to a son... (NWT 2013)
(Isaiah 7:14) Look! The maiden herself will actually become pregnant, and she is giving birth... (NWT '84)
YOUNG WOMAN - w54 6/1 p. 351 Questions From Readers
It is true that ‘al·mah′ does not necessarily mean “virgin” the way the Hebrew word b e thu·lah′ does.
The divine Author of the Hebrew Scriptures doubtless had a purpose in using the Hebrew word ‘al·mah′ at Isaiah 7:14 instead of b e thu·lah′ (“virgin”).
VIRGIN - w97 8/15 p. 9 Part One—How the Bible Came to Us
For example, at Isaiah 7:14 the Septuagint used a Greek word meaning “virgin,” referring prophetically to the mother of the Messiah.
YOUNG WOMAN - w11 8/15 pp. 9-10 par. 8 They Waited for the Messiah
The Hebrew word bethu·lah′ means “virgin,” but another term (ʽal·mah′) appears at Isaiah 7:14. There it was prophesied that “the maiden [ha·ʽal·mah′]” would give birth to a son.
BOTH! - w13 11/15 p. 17 Seven Shepherds, Eight Dukes—What They Mean for Us Today
The Hebrew word translated “maiden” at Isaiah 7:14 can mean either a married woman or a virgin.
Splash
Back on topic, you can get disfellowshipped for anything at all if the elders determine that you are either brazen or a corrupting influence (read 'divisive').
These terms give enough latitude for the BoE to settle any grievances or punish you for hurting their feelings, eg by being unreasonable and asking for scriptural backing for what they are telling you.
Splash.
It's simple.
If you are 'simply' asking questions only.... then it depends on what the biggest bully on the BOE wants to do.
It depends who you ask the questions to.
Too true Punky, I know I trod a fine line a while ago while chatting to two Elders (dangerous combo!) that I met in a shop.
O.K, Phizzy is a crafty bugger and thanks to reading so much on here I couched everything as a question, and I hope planted the odd seed.
But I knew these guys from when they were born, so they viewed me differently to Elders who I do not know so well, I would not have risked even the questions with certain Elders, because the mere asking shows that you do not believe the Party Line.
I only took the risk because if I am DF'd now I really don't care much anymore and the one thing the Cult is not going to do is stop me questioning them,
BUT, a warning to others, do not take the risk if the cost is too high, even if you feel as I did that those two would not act upon my words, I could easily have misjudged them, even an Elder who is a close family member will do the dirty on you quite often, Cult is thicker than Blood.
