The Blatant SEXISM of Watchtower!

by Island Man 35 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  clarity

  Remember this lovely letter about not letting

  women touch the Elders Manual......

  "

  posted 3 years ago(1/5/2011)

  Post 11238 of 17417 Joined 3/7/2007

  This letter was sent as an addendum to the elders regarding their latest Elders textbook. I think you'll find this interesting and also disconcerting as well. TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS Re: Spiral binding of Shepherding textbook Dear Brothers : Since the release of the new Shepherding textbook, several elders have asked about the possibility of having their textbook spiral bound. There is no objection if an elder personally spiral binds or laminates his own textbook or does so for other elders. If he has another baptized brother who is not an elder do the work for him, the elder must WATCH WHILE THE WORK IS BEING DONE. Outside companies, unbelievers, or sisters ARE NOT PERMITTED to do this work. The material in the book is confidential, and confidentiality MUST be preserved. Each elder should make the following notation next to the box on the title page of the Shepherding textbook : " See letter dated October 7, 2010, to all bodies of elders regarding spiral binding of this textbook. " Please be assured of our warm Christian love and best wishes. Your brothers , Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses cc: Traveling overseers P.S. to secretary : This letter should be retained in the congregation permanent file of policy letters.
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  WTWizard

  I will one-up Deborah. Astaroth, a Goddess, is second in command only to Satan Himself. If a woman is good enough to be directly under Satan, than why are women not good enough to bind a damn book? Why are they not good enough to take the lead in field circus? Why are they not good enough to carry the damn microphones or work the sound system? Why are they not good enough to give a public talk?
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  zeb

  Imagine a female qualified accountant. Would she be allowed anywhere near the cong accounts?
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  Slidin Fast

  "Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment." - Judges 4:4,5 NASB

  This scripture offers WT just a tiny bit of "wriggle room" for their blatantly sexist position. They get shot down though by constantly referring to "Judge Barak". If they can point to a scripture that gives him that title then I will be glad to retract.

  Who sent who into battle? Deborah, though a woman went to the battle as well, Barak wouldn'd go without her. She sounds like Joan of Ark to me.

  So WT, your bit of "wriggle room" slams shut.
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  Splash

  No, no, no!
  The WT makes it very clear what Deborah's role was:

  *** w80 11/1 p. 30 Questions From Readers ***
  "while Deborah can properly be described as a prophetess, it is only in a general sense that she was doing a measure of judging in Israel; she was not taking the full place of a male judge in Israel."

  See, she only did a measure of judging, and that was only in a general sense. She knew her place!

  Splash
• 

  stuckinarut2

  I will answer this paragraph in the WT this week!

  CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

  Will let you all know how it goes....
• 

  dozy

  The WTBTS ( understandably ) has published very little analysis of these scriptures - this was the last QFR on the subject 34 years ago. They use similar torturous reasoning to say that Phoebe wasn't a ministerial servant. As ever - the WTBTS picks and chooses scriptures & re-interprets them to suit their own doctrines.

  *** w80 11/1 p. 30 Questions From Readers ***
  In view of Judges 4:4, can Deborah be viewed as one of the judges of ancient Israel, along with Samson, Gideon and others?

  The Bible account at Judges 4:4 reads: “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that particular time.” Earlier, the account at Judges 2:16 says: “Jehovah would raise up judges, and they would save them out of the hand of their pillagers.” Thus the main work of a judge would be to save Israel from their enemies. It appears, then, that the phrase at Judges 4:4 about Deborah “judging Israel at that particular time” does not mean that Deborah was usurping the place of a man and that she was fulfilling all the duties of a judge in Israel. Unlike Samuel, Gideon or other judges she did not judge all Israel and act as their deliverer or “savior.” In fact, at Nehemiah 9:27 the term “saviors” is used rather than “judges.”—Compare Judges 3:9, 15.

  Being a prophetess, Deborah told Barak what Jehovah’s will was in the matter. She was used by Jehovah to call Barak to serve as judge for the overthrow of the enemy. Barak served as the “savior” provided by Jehovah, not Deborah, although Barak asked that Deborah go with him. So it is most unlikely that Deborah performed all the duties usually associated with the office of a judge in Israel, the most prominent of which was leading the tribes in warfare against Jehovah’s enemies.

  Thus, while Deborah can properly be described as a prophetess, it is only in a general sense that she was doing a measure of judging in Israel; she was not taking the full place of a male judge in Israel. Judges 4:5 says: “She was dwelling under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the mountainous region of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel would go up to her for judgment.” As for the matter of giving the Israelites Jehovah’s answer to difficult problems that would come up, this she could do because of Jehovah’s spirit being upon her.

  In contrast, Barak certainly was one who effected deliverance for the Israelites. The reasonable conclusion to draw is that Barak was a judge in the full sense of the word, and this is in accord with Hebrews 11:32, where he ranks among the judges of ancient Israel. Thus the book Aid to Bible Understanding, on page 980, in listing the judges of Israel, does not include Deborah.
• 

  FeelingFree

  Argh! It makes me MAD!

  You have to remember that women have significantly smaller brains than a man, according to bro Heard of the GB. Never could they do the job of a man.......
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  Gentledawn

  All English translations of Judges 4:4
  http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Judges%204:4

  New International Version, with footnote:

  4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time.

  Footnotes:
  [a] Judges 4:4 Traditionally judging
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  Splash

  So here's the full flip-flop list:

  WAS DEBORAH A JUDGE?

  YES - (Judges 4:4, 5) Now Deb′o·rah, a prophetess, the wife of Lap′pi·doth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under Deb′o·rah’s palm tree between Ra′mah and Beth′el in the mountainous region of E′phra·im; the Israelites would go up to her for judgment.

  NO - w62 6/15 p. 367 par. 31 Foretelling Him to Whom All People’s Obedience Belongs
  the Reubenites did not go to the support of Judge Barak and the prophetess Deborah.

  YES - w66 8/1 p. 474 Barak—Judge and Deliverer of Israel
  Though judge and prophetess, Deborah kept her place, setting a fine example for all Christian women.

  NO - w73 12/15 p. 755 par. 4 Why Exult in Spite of Personal Hardships?
  as in the days of Judge Barak and the prophetess Deborah.

  YES - w78 2/1 p. 14 Success Only by Reliance on Jehovah
  Thirteen judges are named, including Deborah, a prophetess and judge.

  NO - w80 11/1 p. 30 Questions From Readers
  while Deborah can properly be described as a prophetess, it is only in a general sense that she was doing a measure of judging in Israel; she was not taking the full place of a male judge in Israel.

  NOT SURE - w86 6/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers
  Aside from these 12, the Bible mentions Deborah, Eli, and Samuel in connection with judging. (Judges 4:4; 1 Samuel 4:16-18; 7:15, 16) However, Deborah is called first a prophetess, and she is linked with Judge Barak.

  NO - w91 8/15 p. 26 Jehovah—"A Manly Person of War"
  through the prophetess Deborah, Jehovah summoned Judge Barak to assemble ten thousand warriors.

  Splash